Thank you for visiting with me!

The table is all set.

Electronics are ready.

I woke up early so that I will have time to visit with you.

Coffee is served, but I might prefer tea if it is early in the morning.

I am drinking Yorkshire tea.

What is your beverage this early in the morning?

I add a little milk and place a piece of toast on the plate.

I click away while I wait for you to come.

Our connection is so strong that I don't

even have to leave my chair 

to visit a few friends 

this morning.

Reading in the morning gets my day going.

I can always find a teachable moment to 

remind me to try that new idea that I've been pondering

or to laugh along the story that you have carefully crafted

to make us come to a wrong conclusion

before revealing the punchline.

I might tear up while reading about the tough times you

are having or the memories of loved ones.

You make me treasure the people I have around me!

You remind me to count my blessings, 

be brave and fly!

You encourage me to focus and 

discover something new--inside or outside.

It is almost time to leave for work.

Maybe just a few more clicks.

I need to let you know what your words meant to me this morning.

While driving to work

I am still thinking about the words that I read.

I wish I'd have time during the day to read your words,

but I have to wait.

Evening comes along with new words.

The stories of travel are so exciting!

I just bookmarked a possible new backpack.

Photos of quilts, markers, plants and sunsets

are making me wonder where I will be next year this time.

Will I return to read more of your words

or will life have taken me to a different direction.

Thank you for sharing a cup of coffee or tea with me.

Thank you for sitting with me early in the morning or late at night.

Thank you for leaving your footprint on my pages.

Thank you for opening my eyes to new possibilities.

Thank you for appreciating my words.

Spine Poetry

Book spine poetry is so much fun to write! One evening during the winter while volunteering at our local library friends' Bookstore, I was feeling a little restless. I think it was one of those really cold evenings when everyone wanted to be home under a blanket drinking something warm. I had some time before it was closing time  and no customers. Surrounded by books. Thinking about March Writing Challenge. Perhaps I could try? So I did. I took a few creative  licenses and inserted my words or phrases when I felt that the book titles did serve me just right. Mostly I did this not to mess up too many spots on the bookshelves (after all, I would have to place all the books back eventually).

  

Where the light remains

in the wonder spot

with thunder and rain.

Look again:

Shine, Shine, Shine

this heart of mine.

Live a little!

One day

when I fall in love

with this charming man

my heart will

shine, shine, shine

in my head I will hear

thunder and rain

my eyes will have

double vision.

Look again,

we are

friends forever!

There was excitement in my classroom

For the last two Fridays I have had two pre-student teachers in my classroom. Both are getting an ESL/TESOL minor to their undergraduate teaching degree!

Week ago the university students jumped right in and read with students who were all in small groups based on their fluency (this is after all a Sheltered English Class in high school). My students were focused, and yes, a little in awe of the university students as well. You know how it is when a beautiful young woman comes and teenage boys, who usually are quick to talk, find themselves watching the future students with a "grin" on their faces and mouth a little open but no words are forming.

During the second class that day I found out that one of the university students does dramatic readings. As we are in the middle of reading Romeo and Juliet, what could be more perfect than reading one scene from Romeo and Juliet to my students. The three of us read a short scene like the actors that we are! Students were mesmerized! We received an applause that definitely made us feel like real professionals! Everyone was engaged in listening!

Then this week the university students had planned an activity that focused on debate. It was FABULOUS!! Everyone was engaged. There was so much excitement that my principal walked in because he had heard it all the way in the hallway! Yes, we might have been a little laud, BUT we were learning!

We spent two hours learning about debate with hands-on-activities. Students listened, they practiced with sentence starters, they wrote topics and short sentences, they read a passage and talked about in small groups, they created their own argument, they revised and asked for more information, everyone in a group took turns standing up and speaking. Nobody realized when it was time to go.

These are the future teachers who are full of enthusiasm! They are the future of education! They are not afraid to spend time and plan a lesson that works. They radiate joy and love of teaching! These are the teachers that I would want to teach our new immigrant students. These are the teachers that will make sure that our English Language Learners are NOT left behind!

Spring MUST be coming

Spring is coming. 

It really MUST be coming.

My calendar says it is spring!

There is new life in my yard.

It is green.

I could chop it up

for my soup or salad.

Persistence and perseverance

must be the middle names

for these lovely sprouts.

Sheltering rocks

supporting me in my

yearning to leave my

safety blanket

and seek new ground.

I am thankful

for your warmth

and cover on a windy

spring day.

I have been standing here

for many months

without showing any

signs of life.

I had to hide.

The winter was brutal.

Even the snow blanket did not often reach me,

but I am made of sturdy roots

that reach deep within me and the 

ground below me.

I am a  survivor.

Now I am ready to welcome

my friend spring

with open arms.

I want to honor her by

blossoming and saying my final

goodbye to the winter

that none of us will miss.

Enjoy the sun and wind

even if it may rain

where you are.

Welcome the signs of new life

both outside and inside.

Treasure the moments when a new sign will

reach your eyes.

This is the cycle of life.

Post # 300

When I started my blogging journey four years ago, I had no idea that I would still be writing today. I had no idea how meaningful this community would become. I had no idea how much I would learn by being a part of this community. I have been blessed. Truly blessed by so much.

As I look at back, I thought I would share a few posts that I really enjoyed writing. My first posts did not get many comments. Some not even one. But I persevered. I also learned that receiving comments meant that I needed to read and comment (which I was a little scared to do in the beginning).

My 10th post was about what I Believe. You can read it here. This was personal, and at the same time empowering to write.

One day I decided to write my 6 word story (in my way of course). Suddenly, I had more comments in one post than I had had all month long! I really felt like a writer now.

I Remember... is a post I wrote while visiting family and friends in Finland. I was reminded of so many things from the past that had changed. Revisiting them made them a new memory. It was also during this trip that I met Terje! What special encounter that was! I hope that this year will bring more encounters with other bloggers!

Books and Memorial Service was a very special post about Edna. Edna and her husband Earl were both book lovers! If you went to visit their home, there would be books everywhere! Edna was also the one who recruited me to help out at the Friends of our Library booksales over 17 years ago. I am still there!

Thank You My Fellow Teacher is still one of my favorite posts! I had a lot of fun after I posted an anonymous copy of this in our teacher's lounge. The conversations about who wrote it were interesting. Everything in that post/tribute still holds true (well, just no more Diet Coke for me).

Physical and Spiritual Exercise

                                   

Today I am writing my Slice of Life Story Challenge and linking up with Holly's Spiritual Journey Thursday. At Holly's blog we are writing about the different One Little Words that each of us have chosen. Today we are writing about Mary Hill's OLW: EXERCISE!

Quote found here

I have been pondering exercise. I have been doing physical exercise pretty regularly for the last two years (with a few breaks in here and there). During the month of March I have had a special rhythm: get up, exercise and read,  post my daily blog and write a few comments while eating breakfast. My rhythm was becoming part of me.

What about the spiritual aspect of exercise?

Quote found here

Keeping my body in shape (yes, I know mine could in a whole lot better shape), is not all that God is asking me to do. He wants me to exercise my faith!

Quote found here

What does it mean? Reading my Bible. Praying. Going to church. Fellowshiping with other faith-exercisers. Being generous. With time and money. Serving the poor. Reading about other faith-exercisers. Listening to God. Doing what He is telling me to do.

Can I do all that????

I feel like I am falling short even before I start.

Quote found here

Isn't this the point of exercising my faith--it takes faith!

I will not see the results right away. I will have to wait. When at the gym, I cannot be doing every machine every time. When I start pedaling my favorite bike, I have faith that I can do the time that I preset at the speed or incline that I choose. I have faith.

When practicing or exercising my spiritual gifts, I don't need to do everything at once. Do I need to keep my ears and my eyes open for what God is telling me to do? Yes! can I make a mistake? Yes? Will God use me or talk to me if I make mistakes? YES!

Could I combine physical and spiritual exercise?

Riding a bike and praying. Reading while biking or on the stepper. Why not? Walking and praying for your neighbors. Running an errand for someone in need and praying for them at the same time. 

Opportunities are endless. I just have to take the first step. God will be with me. He has promised.

Today I will exercise my faith. Both physical and spiritual.

Neighbors, Friends and Coworkers = Blessings

Getting sick is never fun. If you are a teacher, getting sick really means extra work = substitute plans! These sub-plans are a major reason why I don't like to take time off. This week, however, I had no choice. I had to stay home. Today is my third day at home and hopefully the last.

During the last few days when I have been sick, I have been privileged to be reminded how  many great friends, coworkers and neighbors I have! My neighbor friends have gone to the store for me. I got drinks, chicken soup and one even picked up my medicine!

Coworkers have printed lesson plans for the sub, talked to students about their projects, and assured me that they will take care of everything. Sweet emails from students have lifted my spirits: "I miss you Ms. Jaana. Ms. A. is nice, but she is not you." I can't wait to get back to school and tell my students how much I have missed them!!

Then there are the text that have come. "Do you need anything?" Friends who don;t even live close by have offered to come and help. I am truly been touched. Prayers have been so appreciated. I am feeling them working.

Comments on my posts when I felt that I was not able to write that well or comment that much have still appeared on my blog. Thank you! Well wishes and prayers are counted as blessings!

I have truly been blessed while being sick! It is amazing when you are feeling so miserable, you can be so blessed at the same time!