Pro Humanitate... in high school?

I will tell everyone who wants to listen (and even some who don't) about how much I love my job. I get to teach some of the coolest kids around in a school where the teachers care about teaching and the administrators work tirelessly to make sure that we have everything we need to do our jobs well. Tonight was a really good example of why I love my students and our school.

Stephen stole a line from Maryland!

We are in a single A sports division because our student body is just over 400 students. Many of the schools we play are not in Greenville, but are in other towns in the upstate. One of the schools in our region is the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind. These students come from all over the state to attend this boarding school in Spartanburg. Because we just had Spirit Week last week, we decided to share our spirit with this school. These SCSDB student athletes rarely get to play in front of their families and they are happy to see even one fan cheering for them on road games. So, instead of donning our blue Warrior paint for the basketball game tonight, our students painted up in green, sat on the visiting side of the gym, and cheered for the SCSDB Hornets- not because these athletes are deaf, but because it is high school basketball and everyone wants some fan support. Our cheerleaders cheered on both sides of the court- not because we wanted our own athletes to fail, but because we play our home games in a middle school gym and we know how it feels not to be at home even when you are "at home".

Chase, Ben, and Zack know how it feels to play for few fans- they are on the Warrior JV team!

I felt like a proud mother hen watching my sweet students waving signs and wiggling their fingers (the sign for clapping in American Sign Language) when the Hornets made a basket.

News 4 heard what we were doing and dropped by to talk to some of the kids!

In a world where so much is wrong and dismal, I am so glad to be associated with teenagers who are doing what is right and are spreading a hopeful spirit. So yes, without knowing it or thinking twice about it, these teenagers are teaching me about Pro Humanitate every day. I am so blessed to have them as my teachers!

me walk pretty

for those of you who are not aware- I am not what most would call "coordinated." I have, for many years, tried to mask this fact and may have succeeded partially. But this meager success came to a grinding halt on Thursday, Jan. 15. That morning, during my first period English class, I tripped over not one, but two bookbags, fell flat on my back, and wound up with a broken bone in my elbow! My students were great and did not disolve into laughter until I assured them that I was fine. I finished first period, tried to work out the pain in my wrist and arm during second period planning, went to the nurse for tylenol at the beginning of third period and thought she was being overly cautious when she told me she thought something was broken. By the end of third period, when my students told me that my swollen elbow was the grossest thing they had even seen, I figured I should call my dadddy and tell him what I had done. He called the radiologist to let them know I was coming so I found another teacher to cover my fifth and sixth periods and I left at lunch. I had to call my sweet friend Mary to come pick me up from school because it is hard to shift gears in a manual drive car when you can't move your right arm! The radiologist gave me a clean read but Friday morning I woke up with an elbow the size of a baseball and still could barely move my arm, so to the orthopedist I went. He told me that I did have a break in my radial neck and gave me a sling to keep me from using my right arm and to stabilize my elbow. So, now I am on week three of my six weeks wearing my sling and I will be so happy when I don't have to wear it anymore!

The next time you are in a classroom, beware of the bookbags- they can be a health risk!

a life well lived

two weeks ago, on Jan.14, my wonderful grandaddy died. he was 84 years old and had been married to my sweet grandmother for 65 years. i can't imagine living for 65 years, not to mention living with the same person, loving him for 65 years. they are both such a model for my cousins and me of sacrificial love and true devotion to Jesus. My grandaddy was gentle and soft spoken, he had a wonderful sense of humor and a mischievous glint in his eye when he was teasing someone. he was intelligent and wise and a leader of his family and in his church. i will miss him sneaking me a creme drop under the table at Thanksgiving dinner and his constant questions about what was going on in my classroom- always wanting to know if my kids were learning and urging me to be strict yet fair. i am a much better person for knowing and being loved by him.

looking for resolve...

in keeping with tradition at this time of year (the beginning) I have been pondering resolutions that I might make for 2009. Like many people I hold mixed feeling on the whole new year's resolutions phenomenon- why make one if no one keeps them? what qualifies a resolution? must you resolve to do something or can you resolve not to do something? what differentiates this resolution from the whole "I'm giving something up for Lent" deal that people will go through in March? There are many many things that I need to work on in my life. I could resolve to listen better; read more; not talk as much; love others well; wear my retainer more; spend more time in prayer... and the list continues!

But, after taking an informal poll on other's resolutions, and after much thought, I have resolved to try. Yep. Try. I'm not exactly sure what this will look like or what type of trouble this will lead me into...I'll keep you posted!

In "Star Wars," Yoda says,"There is no try, only do." I'm not sure I agree. For this year (or at least the next week) I am going to try.

Good Luck with your own resolutions in this fresh, new year. Won't it be cool to see what comes next?

in the bleak midwinter...

aside from that being one of my favorite songs heard this time of year, that particular song reminds me of Dr. Ed Wilson reading Christmas carols and poetry in Thursday chapel the week before exams at Wake Forest.  I wonder if he still does this?  It just didn't seem like Christmas until I had gone to the Love Feast and heard my most favorite professor read this carol in chapel... the traditions we create!

It has been a while since my last post... I'm not sure where time goes these days.  Nothing tremendous or even slightly exciting has happened lately, so you are not missing much- school and family and a slight semblance of a social life.  I am glad that I have had this week off from school.  I have enjoyed hanging out with Ferf since she and Michael are up for Christmas this year.  

The highlight of the season so far was taking little M to see the Roper Mtn. Lights on Monday night.  We loaded up the front wheel drive sleigh to introduce little M to a Greenville tradition.  Little M is from Haiti and has been living with Mary since May.  He is here to get a corrective surgery on his feet and has been such a joy to get to know.  I'm not sure about all of the privacy laws about him, so for now we will keep it simple and call him M.  He was so excited about riding in a "big" car with all of his friends and all of the lights were almost too much to take in.  His exclamations and obvious delight were good for the soul... to be a child at Christmas!  When he saw the huge star at the top of the mountain, he declared, "Wow, it's a big star!  That is a BIG one!"  The shepards and wise men probably said the same thing upon seeing the first Christmas star, "Wow, it's a big star!  That is a BIG one!"  After all of the lights, we went back to Mary's for dinner and a few presents for little M.  No one was surprised that he enjoyed the wrapping better than any of the presents, but delighting in the little things is what Christmas is about anyway!  Lizzie was the appointed photographer for the evening so when she is able to send me a few pictures, I will post them!

Until then, I hope everyone enjoys a night where all is calm and bright.  I will leave you with the the last verse of In the Bleak Midwinter.  Merry Christmas!

What can I give him,

Poor as I am 

If I were a shepard

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give him-

Give my heart.

so much, so much, so much to be thankful for

This fall has been slightly crazy and jam packed full of short trips and excitement. But I figured that today, on the birthdate of the newest addition to my ever expanding circle of firends, I would take a minute to be thankful!

Today, I am thankful for:

1. My pretty terrific family: The first weekend of November was a big one in our family as my sweet Daddy turned 60. Mom and I planned a weekend full of surprises for him which began with the Ferf and Michael flying home for the weekend and ended Saturday night with a surprise party with his friends! Mom did a great job keeping everything a secret and he was truly surprised the whole weekend. I am so thankful to have such wonderful parents who are such models of what a Christian marriage and love in action look like.

2. My sweet friends (and their husbands and babies!): I cannot be thankful enough for my friends. Since August, three of my best friends have given birth to the most precious babies and I will be an Aunt for the fourth time by the end of February! It is so special to watch my amazing friends mother their children and I am honored to be just a small part of these beloved babies' lives. How quickly time passes as we transition from wedding showers and china patterns to baby showers and nurseries! I can hardly wait to watch Mary Moulton, Will, Addie, and Baby C grow up together and form the types of friendships that their mothers have!

3. My crazy students: I love my job. In fact, many days, it doesn't feel like a job. Yes, I have to plan, and grade, and fuss when the little bits don't do what they need to do to hold up their end of the education bargin, but I don't mind those things (except for the fussing- I'm not good at the fussing!) I think my kids are really cool, interesting, individuals and I am fascinated by the way they learn and the cool ways they choose to show me what they learned. I am so thankful for their hearts and the way they care for each other, our school, and me. I am thankful for the respect they show for their education and to new ideas or people. And I am thankful that my crazy students make each day different and challenging and fun!

4. Winston: He is the master of his tiny domain and he knows that I know it. Winston is getting a little age on him- he will be 7 in March and we will celebrate our 7 year anniversary in May. While he is not as energetic as he once was, Winston is a go getter and always greets me at his gate, ready for a walk and a cuddle! I am thankful at the moment for his warm little body curled up in my lap keeping me toasty and just in general for being such a sweet little companion. I could learn a lot about unconditional adoration from him.

There are lots of other people and things that I'm thankful for but I'm not going to list them all here. Just know that I am thankful for the multitudes of blessings in my life- I can only wish that I were more deserving.

Happy Thankgiving!

he's here!

while it is really not my news to announce, I am so excited about the arrival of my newest playmate William Samuel Howard! After only a few short hours of labor, Will joined us at 1:20 this afternoon. I got to meet him after school and he is just the most perfect miracle I have ever held in my arms. Will's proud parents, Gayle and Sam are both doing well and are so proud of their son who is already the most popular kid in the nursery. We think Will is going to be a basketball player like his daddy so look for him to be sporting a Vandy jersey in 2026 (unless Aunt Cara can sway him to Wake Forest!)

Will, I'm so glad you are finally here. I have been waiting for nine months to meet you and can't wait to watch you grow up! You are wonderfully and fearfully made. Love you already!