Slice of Life Tuesday: Stuff Changes

Today my brain is rambly-scrambly and tired. State testing, house woes (Et tu, water heater?), children running amuck... however!

Less than a week ago I found out I got the job I interviewed for -- Instructional Media Specialist! This means I'll split my time between managing two campus libraries and handling the technology needs in the computer lab, helping teachers integrate techie stuff into their classrooms, and even get to facilitate some professional development in the district! Woohoo! Very exciting news!

Of course, the flip side of this is saying goodbye to my classroom. This has made for some very weepy writing sessions with my young learners! I love the side by side time we share. This means I'm already thinking of ways to stay tuned in to the many students I'll be seeing next year at my two campuses. Peer-led writing center, anyone? School-wide NaNoWriMo club? Hmm... I know I'll find a way to keep writing with my new position. With any new adventure, it's as grand as I make it!

And I'm looking forward to a very grand adventure, my friends.

Slice of Life Tuesday: Everybody Wants a Robot Monkey

The dogs are on my very last nerve tonight, so I grumble at Daisy and say, "I wish you were a robot monkey instead of a dog!"

The Husband stops what he is doing, turns to looks at me and shakes his head.

"Who even says... WHERE did you even come up with... I mean, sometimes... the things you say. I just don't know."

"What?" I say, quick to defend my brilliance, "Robot monkeys are way better than dogs. If people could choose, everyone would want a robot monkey."

"Uh. Okay... but where did you even come up with that?"

"It's sort of obvious. You can train monkeys to do whatever you want, but robots have to live by the three rules of robot law. So they can't kill you when you sleep. Or throw poo at you. I mean, duh. It's definitely the best of both worlds."

He just keeps shaking his head.

Just another typical night at home.

Slice of Life Tuesday: The True Meaning of Success

Today was the first day of our state writing test, or STAAR. We've spent nearly 8 months together -- reading, writing, thinking, questioning, reflecting, and more.

They're stronger. More confident. Well-prepared.

They have created a solid craft as writers in the months we have shared.

I'm not worried. My stomach isn't twisted in knots.

This is a strange phenomenon.

By all accounts, I probably should be concerned.

Even though what they have learned is solid, it's possible they haven't grown enough to pass at the state standard. They came to me struggling to learn. They arrived such a short time ago, with low self esteems that often got in the way of their own success -- and this had to be tended to before we could do anything else.

So. We've grown by leaps and bounds. They are proud of their writing -- where once it was difficult to write a coherent sentence, now there are paragraphs of well-thought sentences.

I could not be more proud of them, each and every one. And results from this test won't shake that away.

#Slice2013 - Day 31 of 31

A month in reverse...

Easter celebrated with family,
A beautiful finished harlequin floor,
Lunch with friends and a reminder to make time for the happy moments,
A phone call that may just lead to a dream job,
Wrote side by side with eager learners,
Shared the power of "believe" with Dos,
Remembered the strength in helping people be their best,
Time with The Husband turning our house into a home,
Stepped out on faith and still trusting the process,
Asked questions of my learners instead of giving them the answers,
Said yes to a possibility that holds infinite rewards,
Found the strength to be honest about where my shame hides,
Enjoyed quiet moments at home with Dos and The Husband,
Thankful for Dos' quick recovery from the surgery that rattled my nerves,
Learned patience and dedication through our work in the house,
Beat my head against the wall over floors that didn't want to be transformed,
Laughed with friends over ridiculous Shakespearean insults,
Stretched my ability to grow comfortable with my soon-to-be 20 year old son,
Grabbed up my old writing self and refuse to let her go,
Connected with the reasons to hold fast to dreams,
Became an experienced floor grinding, concrete sanding, staining expert,
Searched my heart for the path I want to be on,
Reflected on my life as a writer,
Lived through an in-home dust storm,
Cherished my mom on her special day,
Lamented the pains of a boy that I miss every moment,
Sent out a passionate call to action for educators everywhere,
Battled it out with The Husband on the first round of floor tear down,
Finally (finally) chose the right shade of grey for the living room and took action,
Told the truth of my hermit crab mental life,
Made a promise to write without ceasing for thirty-one days.

All in all, I'd call March a success.

My heart is full, my life is energized, my family and friends are healthy.

And it only gets better from here. April is already promising to offer more everyday blessings.

I'm ready to get started. How about you?

#Slice2013 - Day 30 of 31

The floors are done!

Let me repeat that: the floors are done!

The harlequin pattern turned out beautifully. In fact, I can barely believe I am responsible for how amazing they are! Immediately upon brushing on the last stroke, I took pictures and mass texted everyone I could think of that might care. I danced around the house sing-songing that everyone must quickly, "Come look, come look!"

Unfortunately, both The Husband and Mom-in-Love were busy finishing up the second coat of paint in the living room.

So I waited. And waited.

"Now??" I demanded, as they finished up their work.

They oohed and ahhed and I thought about my children when they were younger, how they would grab my hand and drag me off to see their latest Lego creation or video game triumph. How even the littlest things gave them such huge feelings of accomplishment, and how I went shuffling along behind them, smile at the ready, to share those moments with them.

And so I looked at the new floor, and smiled at my own accomplishment, eager to share it with our Littles, happy to be creating a space that feels like home.

#Slice2013 - Day 29 of 31

Today I went to lunch with some friends I rarely get to see. We spent a few hours on the patio of a local Mexican restaurant, gabbing and laughing and yes, even drinking a lunch time margarita.

It made me realize I do not kick back and enjoy time with all my friends often enough.

It made me remember there is power in conversations - in women gathered together to motivate, share, inspire, and even gripe. We all need these things.

It made me realize that all those women I know that have a commitment to themselves for some "me time" at least once a month are genius.

I have been crazy-busy these past few weeks: house stuffs, kid stuffs, new business stuffs ... but all good stuffs!

It's definitely time to add a purposeful day of girl-gabbing "me" time into the mix, on a much more permanent basis.

#Slice2013 - Day 28 of 31

Have I mentioned lately how much 2013 has been rawking my socks off?

I mean, let's get serious for a minute:

• Completion of savings budget? Check!
• New home? Check!
• House remodeling successes? Check!
• Possible career enhancing opportunity of ultimate rockstar happiness? Check!
• Dos' knee surgically repaired and healing beautifully? Check!
• Back on track and eating clean? Check! (YES! Finally! Yay! It feels sooooo good!)
• Writing daily, working on new ideas? Check!
• New fitness venture, enabling me to motivate myself and thousands of others -- while working with the inspirational fitness diva from The Sweaty Betties? Check!
• Ability to bring people along with me on this unbelievably fabulous fitness adventure? Check, check, and uber-check!

And there are other blessings as well -- too many to list, too many heart-happy moments, too many smiles, too much joy to keep all to myself.

Loving life, my friends. And there's still more to come!