So...so...THANKFUL

I am thankful for...

I started a bulletin board in my classroom just like that.  I let my students use sharpies in their favorite colors to write things they were thankful for.  There were a lot of "family" and "friend" posts.  Some were thankful for peanut butter and jelly...and their pets.  Each student got to write as much as they wanted all week long.  And it made me think...about what I'm thankful for.  I've been posting to facebook here and there through the month of November, but as I really think about what I'm thankful for...I wanted to write a blog.  I want the people in my life to truly know how grateful I am for them.

1.  I'm thankful for the strength and grace behind my mother's words.
2.  I'm thankful for the gentleness of my dad's smile.
3.  I'm thankful for the generous and kind heart of my sister.
4.  I'm thankful for the unconditional love of my  husband. I am also thankful for his freckles...his smile...and how he looks wearing jeans.  :)
5.  I'm thankful for Big's freckles, smile, and the ability I have to crack him even when he is super mad.  I love his desire to be better and his intensity towards things he cares about.
6.  I'm thankful for Middle's beautiful blue eyes and his smile.  His smile can light up a room...or a baseball field.  I'm grateful for his giving heart and his concern at all times for his family.
7.  I'm thankful for Little.  His smile...his sweet heart...his nervous antics...I just love him so much.
8.  I'm thankful for my family and friends.  I have some that I can laugh with and some that I can cry with.  Most of them have seen me do both and love me anyway.  I'm thankful that my true friends allow me the chance to mess up and still want me in their lives.  I love that the people in my life understand the "real" in me and can take it.
9.  I'm thankful for my home.  We have more stuff than we know what to do with.  We live here.  We can clean it up for a party in like 45 minutes and we can mess it up again in 5.  My favorite time of the day is when the house is quiet and I can sit and be thankful for just that.  I also love the noise that takes over when the kids have friends here...or when our football family comes over after a game.
10.  I'm thankful for my job.  I had no idea how the plan would come full circle when I turned 35, but it did.  I love my students as my own children.  I'm not sure if that is normal, but I do.  I love watching them learn and have fun just as I do my own boys.  I can't think of a better place for me to work than in my school.  I'm grateful for all the support I've had and all the friendships I've made in that place.  Work isn't really work...when you "work" at MGS.
11.  I'm thankful for the health of our family.  I've had the opportunity over the years to see how precious that health really is.  I know how important those little things are and have learned not to take a single thing for-granted.  I am grateful for my friends in the Kyrie Foundation and am so thankful that God prepared my heart to work with and for that cause.
12.  I'm thankful for black Friday.  (Sorry Pastor Rick...but, I am.)  WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Let's do this.
Turkey
Nap
Shop

In that order.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3 23

Connecting Again

After spending time with my sweet Granny and Mom this weekend, I have a new perspective on my cell phone.  It is always interesting to me to get someone else's view on a topic.  On our three hour car ride home, we discussed many things as we were covered in packages and squished beyond belief.  One of those being how disconnected our society is because of our cell phones.  We've all seen the commercials.  We've all seen the Facebook videos about putting your phone down and finding life again.  What got me was my Granny's voice saying "I just don't get it."  She was so sincere in her words and it really made me think.  To be honest...I don't get it either.  I don't know why we can't go ANYWHERE without our phones.  I don't know why we can't sit through a dinner...or a movie...or a conversation without checking in with our friends, followers, etc.  I am guilty.  Guilty as charged.  And hearing my Granny ask about our family dinners and our rules for phones made me kind of ashamed.  We should be more present in our lives, yet we are living examples of what we dislike about our children and their phone habits.  I say we because thinking there are others out there like me, makes me feel less "bad".

So...I'm challenging myself and my friends and family to put our phones down.  Find a time in your day when you can sit and check all that the world has to offer via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.  Then...spend the rest of your day living in the present.

This is a difficult challenge.  Don't think for a second that this will be easy.  Make a list of the things you could do instead.  I have a million things that "I never have time for".  Yet, I find time to like statuses and pictures on social media sites.  I miss out on important conversations that happen right in front of me because I get so concerned with conversations that are happening on FB.

Social media isn't a bad thing.  It's like anything else in life.  You have to find the right balance.  Good luck friends!  Just think of how proud your Granny will be if you connect again.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3, 23

The Diorama (the full story)

Little enters stage left as I am checking the dinner in the oven.  Not to my surprise, the chicken is under cooked and the middle child who is recovering from a stomach virus voices that he is starving and storms off in a rage.  (a little exaggeration is included for dramatic effect)

Little:  Mom...remember that diorama I have that is due tomorrow?  blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...
(This is all I heard as I was thrown into full blown panic mode)
Me:  What are you talking about?

Little:  The Black Bear Habitat we have to turn in tomorrow.  It's called a DI-OR-AMA.  I need it to look like either Alaska or Canadia.  (insert Little slapping his forehead here and correcting himself)

Little exits stage left.  I panic.  Then I talk myself out of a panic by logically thinking about the issue.  

Me:  There is no way he has a project due tomorrow.  I would have known about this long before tonight.

Coach:  I don't see anything in his backpack.  Did the newsletter say anything?

Me:  Not that I remember.  (pretend the next few sentences are mumbled as I am eating Halloween candy to calm my nerves.)  I swear I went through all of his papers from the last couple of weeks just yesterday.  I didn't see anything.  (Not that I remember.  I did a quick run down before I divided them into the keep and throw away pile.  I was cleaning my kitchen for the first time in awhile.  I just wanted to find my counter tops.)

Me:  I know...I'll just call his teacher and another mother in the class.  They'll tell us this is either not true or due next week sometime.  Little is just now getting the details...I am sure.

An hour later, we find out that the diorama is in fact due tomorrow.  That they have been researching this in class and they were told to create a habitat to show their class...if they wanted to.  Guess who INSISTED on showing the class...


I'll try not to bore you with anymore play by plays, but this whole scene took place in two hours  I'm telling you...things got ugly.  Most of you know this, but I am a new teacher/mom.  Those two things don't always play nice with one another.  Last night was one of those nights.  As I was preparing sub plans for being gone today (which by the way is TOTALLY stressful and I believe there should be a college class just for sub planning), this ordeal shows up in my living room.  Some children would take the "we'll work on it this weekend and turn it in on Monday" answer just fine.  But not our Little.  He does not do change well.  He needed this project to be done.  Now.  He had no idea that we didn't know about it and I had no idea he'd been working so hard on this.  This is of NO FAULT to his teacher.  She sent the notes home.  This is the fault of the new teacher/mom.

When things get tough...I like to do the following.

• eat a candy bar
• yell at someone
• go to Target
• apologize

Usually in that very order.  I actually told Big and Middle to get out of my way as I was heading out the door to Target.  I didn't feel bad until I got to the Christmas section.  I wandered aimlessly around looking for a black bear and some snow.  All the while thinking...how did I miss this?  I could feel my eye start twitching.  That happens when I am overly stressed.  I knew immediately what I needed...so I headed to Starbucks.  I told the lady at the counter my story.  I think she thought I was crazy, but she made me one heck of a skinny vanilla latte and told me good luck as I left.  

When I got home, the boys were fast at work.  Big was making a cave.  Middle was cutting out trees.  Little was coloring a river and Coach was gluing down rocks.  As the five of us sat around the table helping Little...I realized that this crisis (I am dramatic...I know)...brought us together.  Even after I had acted like a candy crazed maniac.  The big boys were working to help Little because they knew it was important to him.  It was great to see them working towards something that didn't benefit them in any way.  I was kind of a proud momma bear.  (no pun intended)

The benefit to being a new teacher/mom is that I get it.  I understand that no parent has super powers.  I know that no parent is always on top of everything and that probably...there were parents out there scrambling before our Presidential Wax Museum yesterday.  And that's ok.  I get it.  The notes that came home...the ones you may or may not have read...the ones you probably threw away and felt accomplished because there was space on your counter again...it's okay.  

My name is Amy Nelson.  I have too much on my plate.  I am a procrastinating, eye twitching, candy eating, project forgetting, new teacher mom.  

And that's

OK.

Have a blessed day!

Referee of 3 23

Feelings

Feelings...nothing more than feelings...

I've been thinking about feelings this morning.  The older I get, the more I'm learning that it is okay to "feel" certain ways about things.  As I've grown, I am realizing more and more that our feelings are based on our experiences.  Too often, people get concerned because others don't "feel" the same way they do about certain things.  For instance...I used to get upset when people didn't "feel" the passion I do for the Kyrie Foundation.  I didn't understand how someone couldn't be moved the way I was moved when I heard the statistics for children's pediatric cancer.  However...I've learned that people "feel" moved by their own passions based on their experiences.  It makes perfect sense as I reflect.

Friendships and relationships sometimes end over a difference of feelings.  We think too hard about how we should feel about something when we are missing the idea of feelings altogether.  Our feelings are simply that.  Ours.  We feel about things because it is what we think.  I've seen my children and my students try to feel differently about something to be accepted or to be understood.  When the truth is..we feel what we feel.  We over think how we should feel when all we should be thinking about is how we are going to react and respond to our feelings.  If something makes us happy...we should be happy.  We should have the opportunity to feel and BE happy.  If something makes us mad...we should have the opportunity to feel and BE mad.  (I know Coach is shaking his head right now because I get upset when he gets mad about anything.)  If something brings us to tears or moves us to action...we should have the opportunity to cry or be moved to action because it is what we feel.  AND THEN...we shouldn't judge others because it isn't the way they feel about it.

If I can teach my students and my children something about how they feel...it's that they have their feelings and others have theirs based on what they've been through.  You have to allow yourself to feel what you feel and then decided what you'll make of those feelings.  How will you respond?  What will you learn?  And how will you affect the lives of others by your thoughts, actions, and words?

It's okay to surrender to your feelings.  God makes us the way we are.  We are all unique.  Our make-up...our experiences...our feelings.  They are all ours.  Don't let someone's feelings hinder a relationship.  Understand that their feelings are theirs just as yours are your own.

On an end note...I went on a field trip with Little yesterday.  I'm afraid of birds based on an experience from my childhood.  Go ahead...laugh it up.  I didn't go near the bird cage and I saw pictorial evidence of why this was a good idea.  Birds were actually landing on children.  I would have been a mess.  (Remember...these are my feelings...and stop laughing).  I did however spend a great deal of time with a giraffe who I shall call Sophie.  She and I became instant friends when I took a selfie with her and let Little touch her sweet face.  My sister and I are in the works of purchasing our own Giraffe.  I'll keep you posted on how that goes.  For now...we are off to two football games.  Have a great day!

Referee of 3 23

What have you done for me lately...

Facebook.

The never ending series of events of other peoples' lives that make me feel unworthy.

Or...the place where I can keep up with all of my peeps.

Which is it?  To be honest...it depends on the day.  I think I started my Facebook account in 2009.  I can remember my friend telling me not to do it.  She said...it will take over your life.  As I laughed at the time thinking maybe she was being dramatic, I now realize that she was serious.  There have been times when scrolling through Facebook has taken the place of "life".

I was chatting with my sister tonight about how complicated life has become.  Partially because of our schedules.  Coach and I are full time teachers and parents.  Coach is also a full time coach.  (obviously)  Our kids are full time students and are involved in athletics.  While we are all very happy about our lives, it is crazy...no doubt.  This is not news to you or to me.  I know that some of the complexity of our lives comes from my new job and the fact that our kids are getting older.  I often look back on the time in our lives when Little was brand new and the boys were still little.  Life may not have been simple, but I can say that it was "simpler" than it is now.  As I said...part of this comes from my career change, but I think Facebook is somewhat guilty of complicating my life.

Facebook can be a great way to spread information and ask for help.  It can be a great place to find encouragement and hope.  It can also be a place that drags you down.  I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I've felt like I didn't measure up as a parent or even now as a teacher because of things I read or saw on Facebook or Pinterest.  I find myself comparing everything I do to other moms, friends, and teachers.  Why?  Why would I do that?  Why would I put myself up against an experienced teacher, or a stay at home mom if I am neither of those things?  I don't know.  Because in my mind, (like most people) I think I want to be good at everything.  I try and try to be all that I can be and more...and come up short from time to time.  I've noticed that not very many people put their short comings out for others to see.  This is understandable as we don't want others to see us fail.

What I think...is that it's okay for people to see failure from time to time.  I think that we as people need to understand that no one is good at everything...we just have to be good at being who we are.  I tell my students all the time that you don't have to be the best.  You just have to be your best.  Too often we forget what our best is because we are trying to be something we are not.  I also think that maybe it is okay to unplug from the crazy world of Facebook and Pinterest from time to time.  There was a time in my life when I had no idea how un-crafty I was because I didn't know how crafty others could be.  I didn't know how unoriginal my first day of school pictures were because I didn't know how creative some parents could be.  There are some really cool pictures out there, but none that compare in my heart to our traditional front porch pics.  They are boring and normal...and they are mine.  I love them for that very reason.  

In order for me to feel good about who I am I need to do two things.  Unplug from time to time...and remember that I am exactly who I am supposed to be.  And that is enough.  Thanks to my sister for the reminder.  <3

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3 23

Today I am thankful...

Today I am thankful...

Actually, I'm thankful for things everyday.  Today I am posting that I am thankful.  That as a title was less catchy so I went with the original statement.

Back to my thoughts...

Today I am thankful for a few things that I wanted to share.

1.  I'm thankful for new days and better perspective.  Sometimes...so many things can happen at once and you are left in a pile of butterfingers trying to sort it all out.  Negativity takes over the happy places of your brain and panic sets in...until morning.  This is where the thankful for new days comes in.  I was so thankful today for a new day.  This day brought different challenges, but also brought a new perspective on how to handle them.  His mercies really are new each morning...

2.  I'm thankful for a note from an old friend.  God works in such amazing and mysterious ways sometimes.  In the training I was attending for the past two days,  a couple of teachers from Norwich, KS were also attending.  Norwich is a small place here in Kansas that as a child I became quite familiar with.  We have some very close family friends that lived (and still live) there.  Anytime I meet someone from Norwich, I know I can ask them about our friends, and they'll know exactly who I am referring to.  When I asked one of the teachers if they knew the family, she happened to know them very well.  As we talked, I asked her to mention to my friend that I said hello.  These are the kind of friends you can barely see, yet can pick up right where you left off the last time.  This friend is actually a friend of my moms.  She and my mom modeled what true friendship meant.  Her daughters and my sis and I became very close as a result of our parents' friendship.

Long story short...

After a very challenging day yesterday, the teacher from Norwich handed me a card from this friend first thing this morning.  It was full encouragement and love.  It was JUST what I needed to read.  Thank you God...and thank you Linda H.  

3.  I'm thankful for bite sized butterfingers.  These little beauties help me get through tough moments and don't bring me the kind of guilt that a regular sized candy bar brings.  I can eat it and be satisfied knowing that I am completely dependent upon peanut butter, chocolate, and sugary goodness to calm my nerves.  I truly wish carrots had the same effect.  Sadly...they do not.

4.  I'm thankful for the love I have in my marriage.  As I was waiting on BIG to come out of the locker room after practice, I allowed myself to watch the youtube video that has been going around about the gentleman that recently lost his wife of 73 years.  He wrote a song and entered a contest with the lyrics as a tribute to her.  After sitting in my car trying not to completely lose all control...I realized how special their love was.  I realized how precious this music was in reminding me of my own love.  So often we wait until we no longer have the chance to share how much someone means to us.  I am challenging myself to share my feelings with the ones I love TODAY.  I am also challenging myself in the daily grind of life, to slow down and show them my love as well.  This video...this wonderful video...shows us that when love is given and appreciated as it is intended...it truly is AMAZING.  (Please take a minute to watch this video http://twentytwowords.com/2013/08/26/widower-submits-a-song-about-his-wife-of-73-years-to-a-songwriting-contest/...you won't be sorry.  I promise.  If you need to just see the song, click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BJzzNMv9Oo

5.  I'm thankful that God intervenes in my life when I need it the most.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3 23

Referee of 23

Coach told me the other day that he knew I was busy right now.

Understatement of the year...

The reason he knew I was so busy was because I hadn't put our kids' first day of school pictures on Facebook.  Apparently I have a reputation with my friends and family of blasting facebook with pictures of certain events in our lives.

I really have no idea what he is referring to...

As I sat planning for my "new" kids, it hit me that he just might be right.  I've been so busy for the past week and a half getting things organized for school, that I have neglected a few things at home.  My last post was about balance.  I was happy to report that with the help of my loving family and God...I had found it.

It would appear I have lost it again...

Here's the kicker.  I'm not crying.  I'm not sure what's wrong with me, but I've only cried once since school started and I'm pretty sure I'm more overwhelmed right now than I've ever been.  I've also not had ANY cookie dough.

I have (however) had a Butterfingers at least once a day since the beginning of school.

I can't write for long because I have to finish lesson planning, pack lunches, get ready for school, and find my sanity before I walk out the door.  I have so much to say and no time to say it.  So for now, I'll leave you with this.

This is WAAAAAAAAAAY harder than I ever thought it could be, but as McDonald's would say...

I'm LOVIN' it.

Have a blessed day!
Referee of 3 23