How ' Bout Those Teachers?! Time for Some Major League Inspiration

We've come to that exciting time of year again...and I'm not just talking about baseball! It's fourth quarter- also known as the season when teachers reflect on the homeruns that made their classroom function more effectively during the school year as well as deciding what game-changers they need to implement next year.  I am blessed to work with some FANTASTIC elementary teachers that have discovered creative ways to encourage independent reading, optimize their organization, positively reinforce excellent behavior, learning habits, procedure following, and also display student work in a way that encourages ownership and pride.  Check out the photo playbook  for these teachers and see if it sparks some ingenuity in your world to guarantee a teacher win!

LIBRARY/READING CORNER

*Some common characteristics of these reading areas are inviting surroundings, organized book bins, comfortable setting, and easy student access.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INCENTIVES

Friday gum chewing is earned if students 'Keep
Your Bubble' during the week by listening and
not interrupting during instruction.



'Brag Bracelets' are worn with pride to show student
achievements.

'Brownie Points' are earned to
reinforce positive behavior
choices.

This class enjoys 'Warm
Fuzzy' reward time when their
jar is filled with pom-poms
representing acts of kindness.



BOOK ORGANIZATION



Class sets of literature are stored in magazine file boxes with
photos of the book covers on the outside making them
easy to locate.

Book bins can be color coded to match the Lexile level sticker
to aid students in searching for books that are at their level for
self-selected reading material.



Another way to organize self-selected reading books is to
label bins by topic and then show the Lexile level and quiz
availability with a coordinating label inside each book.

 

TEACHER ORGANIZATIONAL HELPS

Wheeled totes from Ikea hold supplies and fit under the
coat rack to conveniently roll out when needed.

Designating each shelving unit for a different subject and
labeling the materials on the shelves makes it easy to
find manipulatives and supplies.

Storing guided reading books, resource masters, study stations,
and school supplies in one area helps students be independent
at getting what they need during reading time.

Colorfully labeled bins can be an alternative to file cabinets
for organizing paperwork and sorting assignments/assessments.

A teacher organization board holds wall files for mail and
paperwork and  keeps calendars within view for a
clutter-free desk. Shelves with labeled canvas totes hold other
items used frequently that are too large for desk drawers.

STUDENT WORK/PHOTO DISPLAYS

*Effective use of wall/desk space, a welcoming atmosphere, and home-to-school connection are all characteristics to keep in mind when creating displays for student work and photos.

 

 

TEACHING STUDENTS TO USE RESOURCES AND PROCEDURES

Having a wall that is designated for anchor charts helps
students know exactly where to look for their learning resources.



A Word of the Week, Letter of the Week, and Number
of the Week bulletin board can assist students in keeping
 their attention on what the teacher chooses as the
main objective.

Keeping an uncluttered calendar area helps students
start the day clear and focused.

A key ring board becomes a space-saving birthday chart.

A dry erase board becomes a magnetic menu on which
students quickly  make their daily lunch choice.

Morning and afternoon procedures are
effectively taught using a visual photo reference.





The procedure for turning in reading logs is easy when students
put their log in the basket and then remove their name clip to
show completion.





Students always know where to find their supplies, where they will
be sitting, and when their center group is rotating by following
their group's mascot.



Sharing great ideas keeps all of us batting 1000 in our classrooms, so I really appreciate all of my
heavy hitter colleagues that contributed photos for this post!  We've almost made it to the end of spring series for 2015-2016 and I wish you the best as you bring it on home.  (Whew! It's a good thing...I've exhausted my baseball metaphors.)


*Thank you to all of these fine teachers for their contributions to this post: Sarah Tattershall, Brandi Frey, Michelle Robinett, Candace Bauer, Meredith Kliethermes, Bobbie Grant, Jennifer Wrye, Sara Wallis, Bobbie Underwood, Brittany Sneed, and Jennifer Tellman.

The Joy in Accepting That You Are Accepted

I was recently reminded of a testimony I had shared five and a half years ago. It was a good reminder to me of how God is so faithful to create peace out of chaos and confusion. He cares too much for us to let us struggle forever with misconceptions about His love and grace. May great hope be found today in His unconditional acceptance of you.

“Throughout my life I have struggled with the truth that salvation is not earned. Now, I would tell you that I was saved by grace, but the way I lived was as though it depended on doing good deeds and being perfect. Then I would be accepted as a good youth pastor’s wife. (Self-talk can be really messed up sometimes.)  I didn't even realize I was living with the perception that through my works I could be accepted as a worthy example of a Christ follower.  The more my schedule was packed with doing good, the more I convinced myself I was more lovable to God. Being busy equaled greater self-worth in my mind. I considered self-sufficiency a virtue and invested myself accordingly. When I faced daily challenges (whether mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual), it became my mission to solve whatever the problem was on my own with as little involvement from others as possible. That would be seen as weakness, and I did not want to let anyone down…believers are strong in their faith, right? My vision of being holy was confused with having to be perfect. As I relied more and more on myself, I began noticing that I no longer felt hunger and thirst for the things of God.  That made me feel guilty, and my guilt seemed to push me further away from Him.  Weak and burned out, inadequate and overwhelmed, these feelings and misconceptions were affecting me in all areas of my life.  It was like I had created an isolation zone for myself in my fervor to be perfect and sufficient.  I was alone and discouraged. I was mentally stressed out and physically depleted. The harder I tried to be the perfect Christian full of good deeds, the more restless and empty I felt.

 

I’ll never forget the night that Mike was out of town on a student retreat and my own kids were all in bed. I lay awake in the night feeling like a big fake. For all my attempts at right living and acts of service, I was failing miserably at trusting in God and was falling apart on the inside. In desperation, I cried out to God to just ‘show me what to do because I can't go on like this!’ I raided Mike’s book collection and opened The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. As I read these words, all of a sudden the dry desert in my soul became flooded with new life and truth:

'Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness.  It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when year after year, the longed-for perfection does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage.  Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying, "YOU ARE ACCEPTED. YOU ARE ACCEPTED." Accepted by that which is greater than you.  Simply accept the fact that you are accepted...

Grace calls out, “You may be insecure, inadequate or mistaken.  Death, panic, depression, and disillusionment may be near you.  But you are not just that. You are accepted."

  

Overwhelming peace and joy came into my spirit and I just lay there weeping for this realization of just how powerful the grace of Jesus is.  He accepts me in all of my imperfections.  He accepts me in the midst of disappointing Him. It was like a great wave of healing as the Holy Spirit continued to minister to me.  Along with that peace of just letting go, came the conviction that my attempts at being self-sufficient were at odds with God.  At the root of it all was pride.  Pride is the opposite of the humility of Christ.  So I confessed this sin and received the cleansing made possible through the blood of Jesus because of His grace. My prayer continues to be, 'Lord, help me follow the example of Christ’s humility.' I continue to be in awe of how much God loves me and how His grace will always accept me.

'Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.' -Romans 5:6-8 (The Message)

 'My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.' -Brennan Manning



<<Watch "Who Am I" video by Casting Crowns>>

Who Am I by Casting Crowns is one of my favorite songs and testimony for my life because of its interwoven theme of grace. The message of the song is worth sharing over and over again… we are accepted and forgiven and it’s not because of who we are…it’s because of what He’s done.  It’s not because of anything we have done… but because of who He is. Grace continues to be what I am most thankful for and by which I am transformed. Transformed from a person whose goal used to be perfectionism, but now is to trust in a loving Savior to show me how to best glorify Him.  Now that I fully accept the fact that I am accepted, I am free to share the encouragement of grace with others.  I pray you find joy in the truth that you are NOT just your imperfections, you are LOVED and ACCEPTED. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.”

Creating Beauty on a Budget



Before

After. So Pinterest worthy.

Don't you admire people that can take a bunch of odds and ends and turn them into a masterpiece? I mean, I get oodles of inspiration from Pinterest and consider myself pretty capable of putting my own twist on some of those fantastic ideas. But ever wonder who comes up with those pinworthy posts in the first place?  I happen to know- because my sis, Renee, is one of those people. That's not just me being prejudiced. An objective survey identified her signature strength as creativity.

And boy, does it show.

One of the coolest things about her brand of being creative is that she is careful to live within her means. Her family is currently finishing their beautiful home they designed and built in stages to stay out of debt. So very wise- but oh so challenging in our instant gratification society! Last fall, Renee decided that since the perfect fireplace installation was slated for the future, she needed to get creative with the unsightly hole in the wall in her living room now. 



It just wasn't helping her feel peaceful, calm, or satisfied with her surroundings when she wanted to relax in that space with her family after a long day at work. What could she do to make that unfinished room "rise up to meet her" and stay committed to her family's time table and spending plan in their house projects?

A work in progress...



I couldn't find a better example of my blog's slogan to adapt, execute, and enjoy than my sister's work to transform that empty space! Her adapting started with gathering meaningful things that bring her joy to collect or have sentimental value for her family. From gifts received, to special finds from road trips and vacations, to a stained glass window from the church her husband attended as a boy- the possibilities of what she could use to create good vibes seemed pretty limitless. Her executing took place when she decided that she could implement her plan immediately, regardless of the time of year. In fact, she uses the changing of the seasons to aid her with decorating ideas. Renee's seasonal execution keeps the room fresh and inspires her spirit. Now she is free to enjoy the room that is the first one she walks into at the end of the day because it greets her with her most special and favorite things. She experiences the feeling of satisfaction that she achieved her goal of having a focal point of beauty on a budget. True to her personality and character, she is most happy when she is using her signature strength of creativity. 

Christmas nativity- the beauty is in the simplicity

 

'Snow' much fun for winter!

She even takes it a step further to make it fun for her family by letting her two year old play in the decor. Her little guy loves to watch birds out the big picture window. When he found an injured baby robin out of its nest, he made it his mission to take care of that little bird until it was back on its feet (with parental support, of course). He is a hoot to watch moving the colored wooden bird eggs in and out of the nest in her spring display. I really kind of think that is a stroke of genius that she thought of a way to make her focal point interactive for him as well. How awesome is that?!

Look closely and you can see Henry's eggs...

Making memories during the process is a bonus.

By telling about her inspiration, I hope it might inspire you to take the initiative to gain fulfillment in some area of your life. You have nothing to gain by waiting for more money, more time, more fill-in-the-blank with whatever you feel you are lacking. But think of the satisfaction and happiness you'll experience bringing your own brand of peace and meaning to your surroundings. You know, it is never any better than it is right now, so stop waiting. Your ability to adapt, execute, and enjoy is going to enrich your life. YOU CREATE THE JOY THAT MAKES YOUR LIFE BETTER.

Why I Traded Baskets and Bunnies for Peace and Promise

We've all had a moment sometime in our lives when we realized the main thing was no longer the main thing. As a Christian, I have always testified to the unequivocal importance of Easter morn. But two years ago, I became convicted about how fluffy and shallow my observance of the Resurrection had become. I questioned how really spiritually impacted my kids were by coloring eggs and filling baskets and wearing new carefully coordinated outfits to church. Those things are not wrong, (I do love me a good Easter egg hunt), but unfortunately I was putting way too much emphasis on the superficial and not enough on the significant. Knowing my limited amount of time and resources (did you know you can run yourself ragged keeping up with it all?),

I began evaluating my priorities... and found them to be a little skewed.

My husband Mike came up with an awesome idea. He began a tradition of serving the Seder meal (Passover) to our family as a way to illustrate the significance and fulfillment of Jesus' death and resurrection in a visual and tangible way. And our Easter has never been the same.

Not being Jewish, I needed some education on the importance of this tradition. God's chosen people observed a very special annual remembrance of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The serving of bitter herbs and saltwater reminded them of the travesty and tears of bondage. As Mike explains their horrible slavery and offers the boys a taste of the herbs dipped in the saltwater, I am reminded of how enslaved my heart has been when mired in hurts, habits, and hangups that feel a lot like chains.  Chains that need to be broken for me to experience freedom of the soul. When he talks about the pure and unblemished lamb they ate at their table, my thoughts go to the beautiful and sinless life of Christ, His perfect example of love, and His ultimate sacrifice. Every time my husband explains that the lamb was the centerpiece of the meal and how its head was purposely adorned with the semblance of a crown, tears come to my eyes because I can visualize the Lamb of God with His undeserved crown of thorns harshly pushed into His head, in pain as He sheds His holy blood to forgive my unholiness. Thankfully, this is not where the symbolism ends. One of my favorite parts of the tradition is when Mike hides the three pieces of unleavened bread in white napkins and my own heart stirs with the anticipation and excitement that comes from knowing that although Jesus' body was hidden in the grave wrapped in burial cloths, HE DID NOT STAY THERE. Because He was resurrected and conquered death, He breathes new life into my soul here and now and forevermore.

Does this sound really somber and other-worldly? It's not. Rest assured, the E boys are going to ask their own brand of questions about somewhat strange aspects of the rituals that have a tendency to lead down rabbit trails. There is laughter as we realize that some of our modern substitutions for the traditional meal are a far cry from the real thing- we use a large meat bone because I just can't bring myself to cook a lamb!  There is a kerfuffle at the end when they all clamor for the last drink from the fancy goblet of grape juice. I've yet to see any halos around our heads as we sit in the darkness with only candles for light on the coffee table elbowing each other to see who gets the most comfortable ottoman and who has to settle for pillows as their seats. Just keeping it real here, folks.

But the joy that has been created by exploring this celebration on a deeper level has undoubtly enriched our lives. I can't adequately express the peace and happiness in this mama's heart when I see my boys gathered around a little table filled with symbols of promised deliverance and salvation through the lens of history and hope. And when I see the evidence of new spiritual understanding dawning in their hearts and minds,  I HAVE NO REGRETS about not spending an inordinate amount of time shopping for everyone's favorite candy to fill plastic eggs or preference of chocolate bunnies. The exchange of connecting the people I love the most in the whole world with our compassionate Christ instead of the pressure of perfectly personalized Easter baskets is a trade I will gladly make. Every time.

I welcome your comments about how your family keeps the main thing as the main thing when celebrating the Resurrection.

Do the Thing Only You Can Do-Experience Freedom

There really is something to this whole freedom in your forties thing. It's like suddenly I'm not so worried about what other people think anymore. I know what I'm good at and I can own that. The pressure I used to put on myself to meet unrealistic standards and measures (real or perceived) has fallen by the wayside where it belongs.

It's not just about letting go. I used to think by this point in my life I'd have it all figured out and have perfected THE career of my choice with single-minded focus. But guess what? I continue to discover horizons to expand and a depth to my calling I never knew was there. IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT. It's about opening yourself up, sharing your gifts, and being available to do this thing called life with abandon.

Read the chapter "Run Your Race" in For the Love by Jen Hatmaker for further inspiration to DO YOUR THING.

<<Order "For the Love">>
Personal testimonial here. I've known for a long time that I am meant to be an encourager to kids. A huge part of being successful as a teacher is helping kids believe in themselves and recognizing even the smallest steps of improvement on their way to mastery.  Bolstering their courage to try something new or persevere in the face of challenges happens on a daily basis in my classroom. It's part of my job. I'm paid to do it. And I love it.

But my calling to encourage is not limited to the way I earn my living. Through an awakening process involving my own disillusionment and soul searching, I have realized that there is immense joy in being vulnerable and taking risks to go deeper in my calling and branch out of my comfort zone to reach a place of peace and fulfillment that glorifies the Father.

This desire I have to encourage and inspire others to be their best selves is not limited to the children in my classroom. What a blessing and source of personal happiness it has been to me to discover new ways to encourage the adults in my life as well. Why did I not see these other opportunities for me to use my gifts before turning forty?  I'm not sure. I think maybe it took the earth-shattering, mind-numbing, stress-ridden, emotional turmoil, and the dark disillusionment of the worst year in my teaching career for my eyes to be opened to a bigger purpose and personal vision for my life. Without the crash and burn, there is no revitalization.  God wants to redeem the ruins of what you perceive as failure and build something stronger with a greater impact in its place.

If you feel forsaken in that spot of being completely disheartened or disenfranchised,  I want to share with you that it is possible to embrace the epic letdown of your life (whatever aspect that might be) with the hope that greater good is in store. Keep the faith. What the enemy of your soul means to use to destroy you, God means to use for GOOD. Your good. The good of those around you. Even the good for others you have yet to meet.

Realizing that my love of writing and desire to help others discover their creativity combined with the gift of encouragement, could find a voice in a new way was a huge force in motivating me to write a blog. The temptation of comparing myself to other writers I've admired and finding myself lacking is something I have previously succumbed to and let stifle me. It had to be let go. Being vulnerable and sharing my imperfections is risky.  But since starting to blog, every time someone tells me that they have been uplifted or inspired by a post, I am reminded that it's not about my insecurities. It's about giving it all and being real for the greater good. I have a fear of public speaking in front of adults, but when considering my personal vision of empowering and encouraging my fellow teachers, I decided it was time to abandon my insecurity and replace it with an opportunity to give a workshop of what fuels my passion to be a teacher. Feeling in over my head is something I've previously avoided at all costs. That fear had to be surrendered and faith that bravery would be found when it was needed won the day. When I read another teacher's comments after the workshop about how excited they are as they now strengthen their connections with their students and families or hear their stories about the positive results of trying new strategies we've brainstormed together,  I am reminded it's not about my fears. It's about sharing life lessons for the benefit of others and working together for the good of strengthening our relationships professionally and personally.

Whether you have reached your forties or not, you can decide to let go of unrealistic expectations or pressure from the perceptions of others. It's time to own what you are good at. This thing that is your gift has new ways to be practiced and other venues in which it may be shared. I pray that what you previously perceived as a setback, can be recognized as the new opportunity that it really is. God can use it to grow new branches on your tree of influence and ability to do good. Whatever your thing is, do it with confidence because you are meant to do it, and you are the only one that can do it like you! You'll never know the feeling of floating in overwhelming freedom and abandon until you let the waves of truth crash over you and allow yourself to be in over your head.

I love "In Over My Head" for the encouragement to abandon and trust and use these lyrics in my blog. Take a listen below.

<<Watch "In Over My Head" on YouTube>>

God's ability to use everything that is consecrated to Him for your good and the good of others in your life is waiting to be embraced. Be encouraged today! You are not perfect, but you are available and THAT IS WHAT DELIGHTS HIM. Adapt your gift to share with the people in your life, execute your gift with the gratitude that God will use it to bless others, and enjoy the fulfillment of moving away from the comfortable shore and being in the ocean of possibilities... beautifully in over your head. -In Over My Head//Bethel Music

Being a Mom of Boys - What No One Ever Told Me

Life is brimming with the unexpected. If anyone had told me when I first became an adult that I would be a mom of four kids, I would have told them no way. If they would have said I would have four boys, I would have laughed in their face. But here I am. Four kids and all boys. The only one in my family with the pair of x chromosomes. I am, in fact, referred to as the 'Queen of the Castle'. In earning this title, I have learned several things that NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT BEFORE BECOMING A PARENT OF BOYS. So if you are a  member of the M.O.B. club, find a place to be alone (you and I both know that is in the master bathroom), enjoy some solitude (that means lock the door and stick a towel underneath the crack), and relate to the challenges and rewards of being a M.O.B. (laugh, cry, eat chocolate-whatever...solidarity, sister).

I've become pretty good at blending in with the E boys.

1) Any object of any shape or size becomes a ball for whatever sport is in season. Socks, pencils, shoes, soda cans, books can all become basketballs, footballs, or baseballs. These items will be thrown into the nearest receptacle or aimed/batted at the furthest target regardless of what fragile items are in the line of fire. We have the broken light fixtures to prove it.

2) Danger thresholds are frequently confused with fun things to try. Pellet gun wars, making smoke bombs from sugar and stump remover, lighting bottle rockets to throw out of bedroom windows, building a sledding hill using the deck stairs...need I say more?

Deck stairs can become a snow hill...who knew?

3) Your bare feet will suffer multiple injuries from stepping on Legos. I do believe I have permanent indentations on the soles of my feet in the shape of these toys from "The Lego Years".

4) Punching each other is the universal language of brothers. Punching can mean, "Hey, man. What's up?" or "Let's throwdown MMA style in the living room, " or "I'm getting ready to kill you and you better run".

5) The refrigerator is never closed for more than 10 consecutive minutes before it is being raided for food and drink. I call them 'grazing omnivores'. Right now my oldest is a teenager and can outconsume the Hulk. I'm fully resigned to the fact that I will be taking out a second job when I have more than one son in the teen years just so I can afford to buy groceries.

6) Shirts are optional. I guess the reasoning here is it takes less time to start the MMA wrestling if your shirt is already off??? All I know is there are no farmer tans in this house.

Bunny hunting with no shirts, of course.

8) Bathrooms are optional. Way out of a girl's comfort zone, but boys have no qualms about dropping trou in the great outdoors when nature calls. Why interrupt a backyard football game just because you have to pee?

7) Things are never truly put away. I have found Hot Wheels cars in the ice tray in the freezer, all manner of debris i.e.-  clothing, drink containers, TV remote, DS devices/games, money, and homework shoved underneath the bed after so called 'cleaning my room', vile smelling ingredients for science experiments left on the kitchen counter, and dirty socks every-freaking-where.  But I guess my all-time freakout favorite is finding an athletic cup on top of my makeup basket in the morning after a night of baseball games. (Yeah-I'm still not over that one. Can you say scarred for life?)

Killer Whale Hot Wheels frozen in the ice tray- whaaa???

Just when I think I am the wrong person for the job of mothering boys because I just don't think that way (women are from Venus, you know) or cannot handle being grossed out one more time (the farting and burping are continuous), a ray of light will shine through the clouds of chaos and confusion (and dirt and grime) and remind me that there is NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE THAN A HOUSE FULL OF BOYS. I've heard some of the best affirmations of my life out of the mouths of my sons. Here are a few of the sparkling gems of encouragement I have enjoyed in the language of my little boys:

1) "Mom, when I grow up, will you marry me?" my once three year old asked me this while putting his hands on each side of my face followed by humming "Here Comes the Bride".

2) "Wow, Mom. You look good today! Like a 30-something with no kids." It was one of those rare times in my 43-year-old life when a good makeup day and a good hair day coincided. Love it when that happens.

3) "Thanks for dinner, Mom. That was the best lasagna ever!" It was Stauffer's from the freezer, but I will totally deny it if you tell them that.

4) "You should get The Mom of the Year Award." This was declared after I got them breakfast from The Donut Palace on two school mornings... in a row. The way to a boy's heart IS donuts.

5) A love note assuring me in a most endearing second grade boy way that he knows I am always on his side and will always be his biggest fan. Seriously the best note I've ever received.

All. The. Feels. It doesn't get any better than this.

6) Nightly prayers and confessions. Whether it's hearing my little boy asking God to "help us rock and roll our day tomorrow" (they have their own bedtime prayers) or being asked if he can "please be baptized because of asking Jesus to come into my heart and I'm ready to show everyone I want to live for God",  my own heart is melted at their sincerity and moved by their intention to just be who God created them to be.

Sometimes there are just no words to express the happiness.

I have resigned myself to the fact that I am NOT THE PERFECT PARENT. Oh, how I wish I was, but no one can be. What I can be is a mom whose purpose it is to create an environment that makes it easier for my sons to hear that still, small voice inside them that helps them discern right from wrong.  To be a mom that instills in her sons the belief that their choices have the power to positively impact others. To be a mom that recognizes the reality of what makes her sons who they are and embraces the truth that God has created them JUST THIS WAY to live a life that worships Him. I know not to expect them to be perfect either, but I am so very humbled when I think about what God has entrusted me with. These four boys, rowdiness and all, that will one day become men investing in a career and sharing their talents and abilities with others, committing themselves to their wives with all their hearts, and raising a family with the intention of making this world a better place. When I consider that, my feelings of being overwhelmed when surrounded with an abundance of testosterone and the 'men are from Mars' worldviews, are changed to feelings of being overwhelmed at the incredible blessing I experience of being the first woman in their lives to help them build a foundation of faith, freedom, and caring that will serve them well their whole life through.

Yes, life is brimming with the unexpected.  You see, NO ONE EVER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS MUCH LOVE IN MY HEART. I never knew I'd have tears in my eyes at a parent teacher conference because I heard that my son stood up for someone being laughed at by other kids at school and offered to help him with his homework. I didn't anticipate the joy I'd feel at hearing my son declare at our family Thanksgiving dinner that what he is most grateful for is Jesus' sacrifice as our Savior. I didn't foresee the depth of emotion I could know when I get a hug and a compliment from my son on how glad he is that I am his mom and he says "I'm so lucky- I just can't imagine a better mom in the whole world than you, " and a promise to take care of me if I ever can't take care of myself.

It's very true that sometimes life is not what you expect. Sometimes it's better.