The Birds Are Back in Town

At some point in every teacher's school year they will fall victim to a cold that knocks them flat. I have succumb to the inevitable. I am on day four of mine and am just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Everyday we sit in close proximity to little people with runny noses, watery eyes, rashes, coughs, flu bugs, the list goes on and on. Miraculously, teachers have built a pretty strong immunity, I think it has something to do with survival of the fittest. However, there is that day when some of those germs make it through the force field and they go for the jugular.

I have spent the last two days home sick, which is particularly unusual for me. While dozing in a cough syrup stupor I noticed something. The birds are back! As sun streamed through the patio doors this morning, I saw them. Little brown bundles of joy hopping over the bare branches of the black walnut tree which dominates our backyard. I could hear them chirping to one another. As Finnigan and I jockeyed for space in the sunbeam we watched as they flitted to and fro, both of us fascinated with their antics, albeit for widely different reasons. Finnigan is my cat. We have four wooden bird houses positioned around our yard. The sparrows were in and out of them, spring cleaning and calling 'dibs.' There were many heated arguments over the prime real estate in our yard. Out with the old twigs, papers, grasses and such as the busy birds worked tirelessly to empty the houses in preparation. Piles of old nesting materials litter the snow covered yard. If the birds are spring cleaning, could this mean spring really is just around the corner?

Yes, today was a sick day, but it was a sick day with a silver lining. It brings to mind that Sunday School favourite, His Eye is On The Sparrow. My eyes were on the sparrows today and they brought me more joy and relief than any cold remedy I have tried to date!

It's Snowing Again......

You know your emotions are too close to the surface when a Saturday morning snowstorm make you cry. There I stood, tears flowing, blood boiling, cursing the snow.

In reflection, I couldn't chalk my outburst up to my dreading more shoveling, that chore falls to my husband. Although the untouched depths are approaching eighteen inches (sorry, I have not yet adopted centimetres) and the snowbanks are over my head, it was not the accumulation that had me down.

I couldn't even rationalize away the tears because I would be delayed in getting out to get the carload of groceries we needed. Nope, my neighbourhood store is open twenty-four hours if I were so inclined.

After the tears dried, after the red eyes cleared I acknowledged that I was craving spring. This year, more than any other, I NEED spring. My disappointment this morning was all linked to my anticipation of the freshness, the renewal, the hope that comes as the snow melts away.

I am unable to pinpoint the exact moment when I equated spring with hope and new life, but I do. That hope seemed so far out of my grasp this morning as the flakes fell silently, blanketing the earth. After my reflection, my mint tea and hugs from my family I was humbly reminded that I am in no position to question. There is a season for everything and the miracle of spring cannot be rushed.

Did I Hear That Correctly?

Whether I am working with a class of Grade One students or just sitting at the dinner table with my own kiddos, I find myself amazed by what children say. In the split second before I crack up laughing after a priceless, off-hand comment I ask myself, "did I hear that correctly?"

Last night I had the pleasure of a quiet dinner with my parents. As my dad prepared to make hot chocolate for my children my daughter informed him, in her most serious voice, that he could ask her mom for the precise temperature to make the water! Despite my dad's good natured personality, even he struggled to suppress an eye-roll.

Today, while working with a unique bunch of first graders, I was teaching features of non-fiction texts (index, headings, diagrams etc.) One little angel interrupted the flow of my teaching with a rather loud emission of gas. With no trace of embarrassment, he excused himself amid the giggles of his classmates. Eager to get past the moment, I quietly explained that gas happens to everyone and that we appreciated his apology. Another little angel was determined to keep our attention focused on bodily functions and told me, with absolute certainty, that I was wrong, "toots don't happen to everybody Mrs. H! Girls never toot!" Before I could interject a red head with pigtails turned to him and declared, "We (girls) toot all the time, it's just that you (boys) never pay attention to us!" Before I knew it, we had a full-blown debate on our hands! Thankfully, there was another adult in the room or I don't think anyone would have believed me. I got them back on track eventually, but we were completely finished with non-fiction texts for the remainder of the day.

It is a good thing that I record these special moments. There have been a number of unforgettable quotes from my children and my students over the years. Whenever I need a 'pick-me-up' I leaf through my journals and revisit some of those great memories.

One Miracle Down, One To Go

"Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be open unto you..."

I asked, well to be honest I pleaded and begged, but He answered. When you put your faith in our Creator you must accept that He will do what is best. I am so grateful that what I prayed for was part of His ultimate plan. So as I bow my head in praise and thankfulness I also find myself asking for the miracle of healing once more.

In a previous post I shared the story of two special members of my family in need of miracles. My 'person' has received hers. I cannot express to you the total relief I feel and I want that feeling for my mom. Her 'person' is battling cancer and we are praying for God's mercy.

Our Lord's power is infinite and I encourage you to lift up your prayers to Him. He is miraculous. Put your trust and faith in Him. I do.

God Bless!

The Gift of Giving

I wish you all a Happy New Year as we prepare to ring in a new decade. When I look back on the last ten years, the blessings far outweigh the losses. However, all the ups and downs have helped shape my family in some way. The last ten years have brought about my own two angels, a niece and nephew for my brother and his wife and new homes for everyone in my extended family. As Advent draws to a close I want to reflect on the highlights of my Christmas.

We were surrounded by family and friends over several days and we all enjoyed too much food and sweet stuff. There were quiet moments, moments of laughter and time for introspection. I watched my own angels give gifts they thoughtfully selected and wrapped. I held babies and hugged elderly relatives. It was a magical Christmas.

As we look forward to 2011 my mind and my prayers are concentrating on the miracle of healing for several loved ones. These individuals have all played an integral part in shaping my life and the lives of those I love. Two of these incredible people are friends who are more like family. I ask you to join me in adding your prayers to mine and those of my family. Prayers to bring healing and peace to these special ladies and their families. At this special time of year, when we celebrate God's greatest gift to us, we need to trust in Him.

May He continue bless us all in 2011. Happy New Year.

The Power of Advertizing

You can't doubt the power of advertizing, explicit or subliminal, in society today. My little people are of the age when they are no longer content with Treehouse television being the extent of their viewing options. Earlier this year we opted to add some shows from YTV and TVO. With these new stations came the introduction of my nine and six year old to the power of commercials. Never before had they whined for the latest toy or begged for a certain game. They had remained oblivious to the fads and trends in Canadian toy stores. Now, with Christmas ads a-plenty they are being tempted and taunted by all the bells and whistles used by advertizing agencies.

Gone are the days when we could cruise the aisles of the grocery and department stores without one of my little people reciting the benefits of night cream, the volumizing properties of shampoo and the stain removing power of laundry detergent. Amusing at the best of times, and nauseating at the worst of times my offspring can repeat, verbatim, several ads they have seen on television. You might say they watch too much. They don't, honestly. However, their rapt attention to commercials speaks to the power of those 30 seconds of persuasion. My concern, as a parent and an educator, is how to instill an ability in children, to think critically about what they see and hear? I talk to them about what they watch and caution them against believing whatever they see on television, but how do I know I am getting the message through to them? Time will tell, and until then I'll ignore my youngest's suggestions to start fighting my wrinkles now, while I still can.....it's too late to avoid gray hair, television advertizing has seen to that!

What Do You Do When......

From the time you hear your baby's first lusty cry you are blessed with the incredible job of being this little person's protector. A formidable job, to be sure and one that gets harder as your little people grow. It is a relatively easy task when they are small. They're hungry, or wet, or tired and they cry. You feed, change and settle them to sleep and all is right in their little worlds. As they grow the job description changes slightly.

Gone is the simple solution, their hurts take more skill to heal, but a lot of things can still be made better with a band-aide, a hug or a cookie. But what do you do when a cookie can't fix their problems and a hug doesn't heal their pain? Nothing prepares you for the moment when you can't fix what is bothering your little person. Some of these situations even call for the 'protectors' to step back and wait as their young ones flounder about. Nothing prepares you for the helplessness you experience when you can no longer make it all better. In order to raise responsible, respectful children we sometimes have to watch from the sidelines as they take their lumps, endure natural consequences and begin to learn to 'fix' their own hurts.

I don't know who this frightens more, the child or the parent. I seem to be experiencing this in spades this year. My daughter is unhappy in school for the very first time and I can only help her cope with home support and platitudes that, "we can't always love our teachers" and "next year will be better." My son is the peacemaker who wants everybody to like him and despite his best efforts and noble intentions, one little classmate remains elusive. They're both learning valuable life lessons and I've been downsized from protector to pained observer and silent cheerleader.

The song Life Is A Highway comes to mind right now. Not every journey is a smooth one, but it brings us slightly closer to where we want to be. As they journey, I'll always be right beside them, just as a back seat driver.