Music to my Ears or Defiant Child....You choose

As we embarked on our nightly ritual (and I might add that it was about an hour later than usual since I had class), Bradley insisted that it wasn't bath time. He wanted to write.

He had found a purple marker and a piece of paper (actually, it was directions on how to sew a tablecloth). He wrote something and said, "This says: 'No more baths' mommy."
(The purple writing below Round Table...).

He then turned and walked into his room.

So of course the mommy/teacher side of me is thrilled because even though he has written stuff in the past, he has never really put it together with print conveys a message. Yes, he writes names and such, but not usually a message. And to add to that, we weren't even working on writing or anything. He just got it in himself to make him self heard through print.

Then of course there is the mommy/mommy side of me....you know, the "Don't talk back. Do what I tell you."

And for those wondering, yes, he still had to take a bath although to get him to the tub he was kicking and screaming and me with no voice so I couldn't really do much other than a loud whisper.

Heaven

"Here's your own little piece of heaven," is what the note read. Tears came to my eyes instantly. It was a graduation gift for my college graduation.

(**intro from writing journal on 8-30-04....story never finished)

The gift was a replica of Sullivan's Island lighthouse. Words cannot begin to express the feelings I have for Sullivan's. For me that is the beach. Sure I can go to other beaches and have a good time and even feel the overwhelming peace that the ocean brings, but there's something special about Sullivan's Island. So special in fact that Mark and I got married there almost 5 years ago.

With such a special place and an ingrained passion and need for the beach it only makes sense that our children's first beach trips are to Sullivan's.

Bradley was lucky enough to have his first trip when he was only 2 months old:

And again at 1 1/2 years old. He's now 3 and we finally made it back a few weeks ago, but no camera so no pics.



Tori's first trip just happend a few days after her first birthday (and I think she loves it...no crying from her):

Now to get the whole family down for a family pic would be nice.

Lord, you know my burdens and my heart right now. I trust in you that you will provide, you will lift us up, and you will be here no matter what. I want to thank you for making me get back to the beach this year. It has eased so much stress. As you know, even though I feel you constantly, there is something about the beach that makes your presence more known, more powerful, more intense. Thank you for creating this piece of heaven on earth. In your name I pray, Amen.

My Baby's 1!

Well we've certainly had an eventful week plus since Mark was hospitalized back on May 1 and just came home yesterday, May 9. That being said, we kinda missed the originally planned at the minute birthday celebration we were supposed to have had on May 3, then of course only got a few precious moments with Tori Brooke on her actual birthdate, May 5. After getting home from the hospital yesterday Mark and I decided to just go ahead and get the birthday celebration set for today.

Now please go easy on the cakes....first attempts at real decorating and nothing was working as planned and I had a different icing that what I had practiced with before. But all in all I think things turned out okay. I told Mark he should pay for me to learn how to decorate cakes, then I could go into cake business for all those out there with allergies to milk, egg, etc. (And for those of you who do suffer, several Duncan Hines mixes are okay. You can bake in one of 2 ways....substitute eggs with individual container of applesauce OR just use mix and a 12 oz. soda (2 ingredients that's all!) I recommend the soda mix especially if you need a cake that needs to take the form of a cake pan such as the 3D bear (yes, it's supposed to be a bear you can check out www.wilton.com if you don't believe me).

Anyways...enjoy the pics below. For more you can visit www.dropshots.com/ladypiper

Here come the presents: books, dolls, cards, money, tea set, Precious Moments....

Here comes the cake. Make a wish!

Oh boy! Wow! I can't believe you're letting me eat like this!

This was great! Can we do it again?

....and one more gift...a new outdoor playhouse. Is this mine? Really, really mine?

Tea anyone?

The Icing on the Cake

As I sat with my PASS camp group of third graders, we finished review early and started playing some literacy games. One student sitting beside me started playing with my hair and kinda inspecting it.

"You know, you've got some gray hair," I heard her say.

"Thanks," I said nonchalantly.

"What do you mean thanks? You don't care?" she asked in surprise.

"Nope."

Ah, the funny part is this came within hours after my previous post...the day after the doctor used the phrase "that age." LOL!!!!!

I'm not one to really think of my age other than..."Wow, I didn't realize that much time has passed." I know I'm not old and I pray I have many more years ahead of me. As a matter of fact, what is age other than a number? There are times I stop and it hits me....when did I become old enough to be a mom? a wife? a teacher? The list could go on and on.

So yes, the icing on the cake from yesterday is now I have students finding my gray hairs. Gotta love their honesty.

That Age

So what is that age?

A few years back my mom returned from the doctor with her first story of "Well, you are getting to be that age." Ever since she's had similar stories from doctors.

So much so that we often use that line around the house for various reasons.

Yesterday I went for a follow up appointment with my regular doctor that should've been done months ago. Of course he went back over family history double checking who has diabetes, etc. Same ole same ole...I thought.....

After stating that my dad, uncles, grandparents, etc. have diabetes and it was clarified that diabetes runs on both sides of my family, the doctor looked up from his note taking and told me, "Well you're getting to that age where I think you should have blood work done yearly since there is a history. This way we can keep a check on cholesterol, blood sugar, anemia,etc."

Yay me! Woo hoo! NOT! I guess I finally got to "That age" of course I thought I still had another decade before that. Afterall I don't recall my mom getting that speech until she was closer to her 40s. Maybe that's just selective memory on my part.

So for all you 20somethings out there BEWARE...you're almost to "That Age"

From a 29 year old who is now "that age"

Cracker Jack Degree

As the decision time draws near for my dissertation topic, I am reminded of the decision I made a year ago. Pursue my doctorate in education? Where? How?

Even before achieving my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy from Lesley University, I was already thinking about a doctorate. My masters was set up in a cohort format that met one full weekend a month every month for almost 2 years. The weekends were intense, but the schedule worked for me and I wouldn't do it any other way. I still can't imagine how I would have done it if I had to attend classes on a weekly basis. I know I would have, but the format I chose was great and I got to learn from professors from all over the states.


After taking a year off from schooling I couldn't stop the itch to return. Some people are addicted to drugs, others alcohol, others shopping. Well, I guess I'm addicted to learning. So I began comparing my options.

With 2 little ones at home, I knew I needed a program with a lot of flexibility. I also talked with 2 colleagues who are also pursuing their doctorate in education. One actually attending USC and the other online through Walden. I looked at both of their course work loads and quality and sometimes thought the online way had more work to do, but I knew this was probably going to be the way to go.

Unfortunately I'm also one who worries about what others think and I constantly plan and live in the future (although I'm trying hard not to). With so many people with the thought that online degrees are a dime a dozen or cracker jack degrees, I really struggled with committing to an online program, but then I got to thinking....

What does the future hold? Technology certainly isn't slowing down. As a matter of fact, there are many high schools now offering classes via online format. And to tell the truth, I honestly think that one day, online will be the norm for schooling. Scary...I know. After all what about class discussion, face to face communication, etc. Well apparently that's what things like Elluminate and video classes are for.

So here I am. In my third semester with Nova Southeastern pursuing my Educational Doctorate in Instructional Leadership with concentrations in Curriculum Development and Early Childhood.

Not only do the classes fit my schedule, but it is so eye opening to read other perspectives from peers across the world. Yes world. This is something hard found by attending a local university where all the students are living and working in similar settings.

So am I receiving a Cracker Jack degree? A degree that is a dime a dozen? I don't think so and for anyone who disagrees. Have you challenged yourself to be disciplined enough to pursue an online course let alone degree? Have you compared the curriculum of the doctorate from the local university to that of an online program?

And for everyone wanting to know how I do this with children and with all that has occupied my year....by the GRACE of GOD! and lots of family support.

Broken

When I started the post below on March 13, it was supposed to be about broken items and finding uses or ways to fix them, not giving up, somehow it turned into something else. A message someone needs to hear? I don't know, but the words are now written and my original intent is lost. Guess not having my writer's notebook all the time can sometimes lead to the unplanned writing below. I pray that if this was written because someone out there needs to read it that they either read my blog already or because they found it somehow through Divine intervention.

Psalm 34:18 (New International Version)
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

What does it meant to be broken? Is it beyond repair? Can it no longer be of use?

As we sat in a back pew at church a few weeks ago I heard Bradley saying, "Mommy, look it's broken."

"What's broken?"

"My crayon," and Bradley held up the crayon.

The tip of it had been broken off.

So many times we look at things and declare them broken, but it's not this label that distinguishes it from everything else. It is what we decide to do about it. It's our actions that determine what it truly means to be broken. I chose to show Bradley the crayon could still be used, we just needed to peel back the paper.

Can you think of other instances in your life when you've declared something broken or felt broken? Have you ever cried out to God asking, "Why?" Have you ever had those days when you think it may be an okay day, but then you get one piece of bad news, followed by another, and it feels as if you can't go any further? What do you decide to do?

Whether the broken item is something concrete, tangible or whether it is a feeling; it is up to you to decide. As the scripture verse at the beginning of this post says, God is with the brokenhearted. Even if you feel as if you are broken, God still loves you, he still cares.

As I've written in the past, sometimes you have to fall in order to become stronger. The same is true for being broken. So you make the choice, do you give up on life just because a few things go wrong and you feel as if you will never have the strength to go on? Or do you give in, hit rock bottom, then fight to survive and pick up the pieces so you become stronger? Can you pick up all those pieces without God?

Lord, please help us all to find you through our struggles. Help us to find the belief in our self and to find the strength that you know we possess. Amen.

Broken by Lindsey Haun

Wake up to a sunny day,
Not a cloud up in the sky
Then it starts to rain.
My defenses hit the ground,
and they shatter all around
So open and exposed
But I find strength in the struggle
Face to face with my trouble

Chorus: When you're broken,
in a million little pieces
And you're trying,
but you can't hold on anymore
Every tear falls down for a reason
Don't you stop believing in yourself
When you're broken.
Little girl don't be so blue
I know what you're going through
Don't let it beat you up.
Hitting walls and getting scars
Only makes you who you are
Only makes you who you are.
No matter how much your heart is aching
There is beauty in the breaking
Yeah

(Repeat chorus)

Better days are you gonna find you once again
Everything will find its place
When you're broken,
when you're broken

(Repeat chorus)

Oh when you're broken
When you're broken
When you're broken