Lilley of the field

              I am learning about being slow. I have noticed a pattern in myself where I just rush. I try to maximize all time,= by doing everything quickly. I try sleep as late as I can in the morning, but when I get up I rush. I rush to make lunch, eat breakfast, read a few verses, and run out the door. I don't budget time for  conversations with Aaron or any mishaps. I rush and I mean RUSH alot at school. It just feels like there are so few hours to do what I want and it takes so long to do hygiene stuff, that I rush through it so we can do activities. Even during working with children I try to do things quickly so we can get as many goals worked on rather than focusing on one.               Last week I wrote about learning to eliminate things. I am eliminating to do things well. I don't want to rush. When I am rushed, my attitude is completely different. I don't enjoy what I am doing. I am trying to get it d...

Oh my. So much has happened this week I am not even sure where to start. So I will start with little things, because it was such a CRAZY week. So here is my week in a few nutshells. We figured out a new and great routine for changing students (yes... when I say change I mean diapers). Now it doesn't take up so much time... although it does take more time than I would like, but I have to work with what we have! I laughed alot again. I mean like pee my pants laughing, rolling around on the floor. Not kidding.  Ripped my pants. One of my assistants said, "I'm not trying to look, but I think you've got a hole in your pants." Sure enough, right there in the behind was a little hole wearing through my pants. I am quite sad because it's my only pair of khakis and I only have 3 pants I can wear to school. I just rotate until I do the wash. I think a trip to Anderson is in store for me this week (no pun intended... "in store" :)) One of my students is ...

I have had a song stuck in my head the past few days and the fun thing about it is that it is a song a friend wrote! The end of her song lists the fruits of the spirit and says, "These are the things that will define our family." Those lines have been playing in my head. I've been meditating a little on some of those fruits of the Spirit that aren't talked about much- like kindness and gentleness- and thinking about how they define my family (being Aaron and I) or even define myself. What defines me? On the whole, I'd like to say, "My faith in Christ," but sometimes that can seem abstract. But the fruits of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control- those are so tangible it seems. And although they are each similar, they are each different in their own way. Kindness. I experienced that in such a simple beautiful way today. I was a little down at school today. Actually, quite discouraged. I have 11...

Nutshells and praises: 1. WE GOT iPADS! NOT JUST ONE, BUT TWO! Moral of the story, ask, ask, ask, and you shall recieve. Back in April, I applied through our district for a grant for 2 iPads. We got turned down and I thought, "Really? A special needs class? We could use it more than anyone." But since we only asked for 2 and most classroom teachers asked for 8-10, they decided to buy us 2 to keep permanently in our classroom... way better! I am so pumped up! It is going to be amazing for my students. 2. I laughed alot this week. I love my assistants. 3. One of my students has had a lightbulb come on this week. He is non-verbal and struggles auditorally to listen and answer questions. All of a sudden this week he has been answering questions during our ELA time by touching the right answer on the smartboard. He has been "singing" with us during calendar as well- he does talk a little, but only says the first syllable of words... and that only started last year! A...

relax. I can spell it. relax. I know what it means. relax. Can I do it? eh... sometimes :) Well today I did. After our special ed meeting I thought about going back to school for about an hour. And then I thought, "nope." I am taking time to do something I enjoy. Not something for school, not something on my to-do list at home, not even something for Aaron, not something for dcf. Does this sound selfish? I'm not sure, but I do know from experience we just need to take time to enjoy life. I am not going to let my years teaching pass me by always crossing things off my to-do list and thinking about the next thing I need to do at school. So what did I spend about 2 hours doing today? Making pesto. TONS of it. Sound relaxing to you? It was to me. It felt so cool outside and a gentle rain was falling from the sky. I just sat next to our garden watching cars pass by and picking basil from our enormous bush enjoying the fresh smell of the herb. There's something about th...

I am going to try to write these "weekly nutshells" to remind myself of things that happened and most importantly the good things that happen.... you can't forget those good things as a special education teacher. My week in a nutshell: One of my assistants was out the first 3 days of school. We had no sub Tuesday, and a sub Wednesday and Thursday. One person out for the day= crazy days. First week of school+person out for the day= CRAZY DAYS!!! First cry of the year... BUT only one cry this week... that's a step up from everyday last year :) Made some positive schedule changes. Snack in the morning instead of evening.  Had my first student who is on a feeding tube (we are going to be best friends with the nurse by the end of the year because she's coming in multiple times a day!) House church was moved to 6:30 instead of 7:30... Hallelujah!  I got a new students. What?! That makes 11 in a TMD special ed classroom. That's almost unheard of. I had to ...

Aaron came home to meet me today and gave me a big kiss and said, "One day down." I said, "And 179 to go!" Yep, today the students came. It was a pretty good day. A little chaotic seeing as one of my assistants was out due to surgery and we didn't get a sub. But everyone got home safely and happily so I was happy. I am so pumped up about this year. Now I understand when teachers say the second year is way better than the first. It's so true. Things aren't catching me by surprise. I don't have to ask someone else where to find something or how to print something. I am so thankful. God has given me so much strength and confidence. I know this is where He wants me. These are His beautiful children that He has graciously given to me. I thought it would be fun to show some pictures of my classroom here. I am "owning" it this year. I organized it much more and was able to decorate in some ways I didn't get to last year. Here is a v...