TCTELA 2015

Texas Council of Texas English Language Arts Conference 2015

The Literacy Triad with Donalyn Miller

The Literacy Triad with Jeff Anderson

The Literacy Triad getting ready to present

The Literacy Triad with Teri Lesesne

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

How are you spending the first day of 2015?

I started the day walking 2.5 miles for the 2015 #100DaysOfMiles challenge.

We have eaten our black-eyed peas, cabbage, and cornbread.

We have not watched any football.  Once in my life, I lived for college football.  I watched several games over the break and loved them.  I once thought I could see myself married to a coach (middle or high school or even college). Now, I'm not so into it.  I could be again, I guess.

There has been a lot of lounging around, but I have not taken a nap yet.  I really could use one though.

I hope you are having an amazing start to the new year!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year's Eve!

How do you spend the last day of the year?

I am not a partier.  I am normally home, watching movies or one of the shows showing celebrations around the country, and snacking.  When I was little, I would spend the night with my paternal great grandmother and we would watch the ball drop.  Other than staying with her, I can probably count on one hand the number of times I was not at my own house relaxing on New Year's Eve.  Tonight, I know I won't make it until midnight.

How do you feel about ending the year and starting a new one?

Many people look at it as ending one chapter and starting another or wiping the slate clean to begin anew. I don't see it that way.  Maybe it is because I am in education, and our year runs August to August instead of January to December.  I can't just wipe the slate clean and start anew when I am in the middle of a professional year.

Sometimes, I just want to ignore the idea of ending and beginning and just think of it as another day.  I don't set goals or create resolutions, so really the day is just like any other.  Looking back can be sad or joyous, depending on the year.  Looking ahead can be scary because of the unknown.

One of my BFFs posted the following:

I really struggle with this, so this is a verse I plan to revisit this year.  I have faith and believe in God.  He is in control, and all things happen through Him.  He knows His plan for me (and family members), and I need to let go of my plans and let His prevail.

This goes back to what I wrote earlier in this post.  I guess my professional book begins each August, but my personal book can begin each January 1st.  I wonder what God has in store for me this year.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

My amazing niece and nephew with me on the last seat of the train at the zoo.

My talented niece and nephew with my wonderful mom on Christmas Eve.

Girl Scout Camping 2014

I didn't realize it until we returned, but with 10-12 days to go before Christmas, we took 9 amazing young ladies Girl Scout camping.  We had the best time!  They created their SWAP on Friday night, which was connected to their Scouts Own ceremony. They participated in a flag ceremony first thing Saturday morning, did a team building activity, had a great time with archery, learned about structures and bridges with Mad Science, and did a great job with a skit before making S'mores on Saturday evening. They led the camp in a Scouts Own first thing Sunday morning and then went hiking in the drizzle before breaking camp.  It was just the best camping experience!

Our girls 

(some were not able to join us for camping)

Team Building

Archery

Structures/Bridges

After our Scouts Own

After our final hike

I love this picture of my niece and me!

At One with Nature

You know how you are sometimes asked, "What is your dream vacation?" The last few years, I've said, "Hanging out in a cabin in the woods near a lake or river." 

Today, was very close that.  

The temps had me wearing a sweater.  Perfect.  

I got to hike at my speed in nature.  Perfect.  

I got to hike along a river (the Colorado River).  Perfect.  

While I like people and sharing experiences like this, today I was alone.  Perfect.  

There was a place to stop and rest.  Perfect.  (If I had had a bag, I could have taken a book to read in the woods.)    

I saw the brightest red Cardinals.  I've never seen so many together or that brightly colored.  

A hawk flew right over my head. 

Squirrels scurried all over gathering and eating pecans. 

We saw deer both mornings.

After walking, I went back up a trail near those stairs and sat near a fire pit (not lit) overlooking the river.  Wonderful.  Fire pit being lit would have been close to perfect.  

I could see families biking, playing horseshoes, and playing other games.  

I could hear all kinds of animals scurrying, tweeting, etc.  

If I would have had my book or even my computer to do some work in that environment, I could have been out there all day.  

It was absolutely something I needed today.  

It is something I would love to do again.  

My niece was at a dance convention at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa.  I walked along behind the main building toward the McKinney Roughs Nature Center and then onto that property.

I came down these stairs from the main lodge to the path near the Colorado River.

Once at the bottom and on flat land, this was my view of the Colorado River and dock area.

My view as I walked along the path near the Colorado River.

The closest point to the Colorado River as I walked along the path.

After walking nearly 2 miles along various trails, I came to a picnic table. 

This was my view as I sat to rest.

Thanksgiving Reading

Since we were going to be gone and had a 5 hour drive to and fro, I grabbed 3 books to dive into during our trip.  Well, I managed to only read one of the books while we were gone, which was read only while we were driving.  I just read/finished Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan.  I really enjoyed the book. It had a good pace, and I didn't get bored. On page 360, I ran across a line that touched me.

"I'm not brave; it's just that all other choices have been thrown out the window."

I thought, "If 'brave' were changed to 'strong,' that would be me."  I don't mean for that to sound conceited or anything, but I find that with everything that I have thought about, felt, and gone through the last few years, that I haven't been brave.  I have had to be strong.  Stronger than I ever thought I needed to be.  Strong enough to get through.  Maybe I have put things off, not mourned when or how I should have, over or under reacted, but I have survived.  Strong and the way I have handled things is the only way I knew how b/c "all other choices" were "thrown out the window."