How do we know if it spring?

Well, I don't know how you know if it is Spring but I can tell you how I know it is Spring.

First off, mother nature is unpredictable, one moment she is sunny and warm the next cold and downcast...just like a good woman. Secondly, once mother nature has gotten her stuff together she begins to spring forth new foliage in colors that I am unaccustomed to, for I have already forgotten last Spring. The yellows, pinks and greens are only the start...I begin to see people bloom as well. Sun kissed cheeks, freckled bodies revealed in new spring and summer wardrobes to show off the stems that have long missed the light of the day. Eyes shaded by bright colored sunglasses whose purpose of protection is less apparent than the effort for stylistic expression.

This spring I have seen people in my life make huge decisions about life, to me this symbolizes our ability to let God wreck and ravage our lives, only to bring up new blossoms of things more beautiful and glorious. It is spring in my life, although my heart is clinging to the winter months, I am hopeful for the deep thaw that only come from my creator. I am ready to bloom and be seen by the world as a creature that is a product of the Spring...the everlasting Spring that can endure all the seasons.

I know, deep thoughts about the seasonal change, but it stems from my desire for change in my own life.

Take it or leave the underdog is ready to be on top.

APK

Parent/Teacher Conferences

So, I am not entirely sure that any parents will show up to see how their student is doing in "gym", but I am sure that I will get to watch two eighth grade girls basketball games and stay here till 7:30pm. Yikes. Positives to this scenario: I get to see my students outside of class with their friends, and I could quite possibly get some homework done. I have really found some students that I love and want to tuck under my wing to bring home. I have two students whom I am particularly drawn to, partially because they are charismatic people and because they make me laugh.

One student is real bright and does well in school but has a past with gangs and violence, for instance in the same day he got on the honor roll he also got suspended for fighting. And he calls himself a BAMF...only one of those letters is a non-curse word. But I love him, he is great.

The other student has emotional needs...meaning he is one pissed kid. He flies off the handle real easy. I would too if I couldn't read and got in trouble for it. His story makes me sad, but he also loves being active and doing things that are hard. When we read together he tries real hard and it makes my heart happy.

I just hope that both of them find what they are passionate about and get to do the things that make them the happiest in life.

Who knew that it was going to be this glorious, hanging around a bunch of middle school kiddos.

Ah the sweet life,

Ashley

Just Another Manic Monday

Well hello there, fancy seeing you here. Please note the time that this has been written and let's talk about how many hours I have been up already...DOS, DO, TWO!!! I am student teaching and learning what early mornings look like. Thankfully I was blessed with a beautiful sunrise. I am excited for the day that waking up at five is as natural as breathing. But till that day arrives...I am tired and there is no amount of coffee to get this going.

Hope you are having a most splendid day.

A-train

HIR..HIRI

"He is Risen....He Is Risen INDEED", that might be my most favorite statements on Resurrection Sunday. I love saying it with my fists pumping in the air, because it speaks of victory to me. So, I woke up at 4:25 on Easter Sunday to participate in the Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It was a fun experience, waiting in traffic to sit in a packed amphitheater watching the Colorado sunrise, who could ask for anything more. Afterwards, some friends and I went to Duffyroll for breakfast. To say the least, I loved my Sunday. I hope that the victory of the cross continues to have a profound affect on me this week and so on, it is miraculous and splendid to part of something so divine.

He is Risen,

Ashley

Adventures in Student Teaching

At the urging of one particular person, I am forced, coerced into updating my blog. I have many things to talk about, but the most topic that occupies 90% of my thoughts is Student teaching. I am in my 1oth week, with 6 more to go...yikes. I can give the highlights of my time with the littles(elementary) and then swiftly move on to my experience with the middle school crazies.

Littles(moments of laughter or confusion):

Cody(first grader) gyrates his hips near a friends head(unbeknownst to himself or his friend) because his excitement to play star wars tag overfloweth. I could not continue to teach I was laughing so hard.

Kindergartener Kaden wipes a booger on my hand, on purpose. How does one respond to that, unsure but this is what I did. "Kaden, take that off my hand and let's go wash our hands and talk about it." The teacher who observed this act of rebellion said she would have lost it and that I was too nice...I was just confused, not nice, I was in disbelief that stuff like that happens.

As we move to the middle school I am struck with a whole new set of concerns...these kids can't read. What am I to do? Still processing that one.

Till next time,

McBalla

I guess that wasn't so hard to do...enjoy!