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Gratitudes

I left my gratitude journal at home today. Usually I put it in my purse. When I get to work it is the first thing I set on my desk when I get to work. Breaks, when I have moments between groups, I write gratitudes. I offer thanks for the good in my day, helps me process and focus when life is lifey.

This became my practice years ago when I was teaching fourth grade. I had a young man who was so challenging. Each day we would come in from recess and he was a wreck. He was a wreck as when I picked up the class there was a list of complaints about his behavior, his life was challenging, his behavior reflected it which made him full of angst making the class full of angst so we would come in, read. I would get out a pencil and write all the good I could find. This eased me and us into a greater, calmer space to complete our day.

A few years later I discovered Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. In this book she outlines why it is beneficial to write our gratitudes. I began my gratitude quest, each day writing and numberint my gratitudes. When I joined Bright Line Eating Susan Pierce Thompson outlined the science behind gratitude. This vlog outlines the benefits of gratitude. She described how and why giving gratitude benefits us and shifts our brains/mindset enabling us to live a better life. I had my list begun, an understanding settled into this habit. My life had already shifted in so many ways, truly I do believe the beginning was when I consistently numbered my gratitudes/blessings, naming them, writing them intentionally. My focus shifted from the hard to the good, opening up a pathway of growth and renewal. With this knowing I continue to write my daily gratitudes, list and number them. This weekend I broke 11,000. Weird, maybe, happy, me. Grateful, me. Growing, me. Life is good.

Working with thirty-nine readers in the lowest twenty percent of each grade level,first through eighth grade, life gets lifey or work gets lifey. Being a single mom of two young men, life gets lifey, homeowner, life gets lifey. Human in a pandemic world, lifey. Yet there is so much goodness, joy and blessings that my focus is not on the uggh rather the good. I just love noticing the good, recording and celebrating it in my gratitude journal. It makes me happy, joyful and is a consistent daily choice, happiness is. So, since today’s gratitude journal is at home, I am adding them here.

11005 Made it to work, thanks God. Beautiful drive in, sang and listened to Names (feat. Tiffany Hudson by Elevation Worship). Woke up with the song rolling through me, listened on repeat as I drove in. You are Emmanuel, God with us, prince of peace … beautiful.

11006 Got more reports done before students arrived. Only two left! Thanks God for a sharp mind, my job and ability to get it done!

11007 first group of eighth grade young men, shared about their weekend. Worked,discussed life, read, wrote and asked for insight into what a driving test looks like. Thankfully for them, they show up, read, write and work every single day. Thanks God…

11008 first grade young men, work hard, like to straighten up rooms. Their teacher worried about the one who went home sick today. Thankfully I can listen and work with such amazing educators.

11009 Added a new student to my third grade group. She fits right in, and works well with the other two. She has two cats, which generated great conversation.

11010 Hallway walking to pick up students, educators working with a student on math, walking and counting stairs. Love hearing and seeing students succeed, get their wiggles out learning.

Beautiful, thankful for our school, staff and students.

11011 Students thinking, reading, writing and sharing.

11012 First grader joy in reading and learning new words. Their sharing and hard work. Love them, thanks God!

11013 Having students remind me they need to share their good, bad moments from the weekend…. Listening.

11014 having an eighth grader tell me they were going to find a career that they loved like I love teaching reading so they will be happy every day. Thanks God.

11015 Granola bars, stickers, things that make students happy… They work so hard so a little joy at the end of a hard work session makes our hearts happy, thanks God.

11016 lunch late because of hard workers… love that we get so involved in our work we lose track of time, thanks God!

11017 Afternoons with students. I love my afternoon groups, the day goes so fast. Thanks God for these beautiful readers who love to read, write and discuss life, words and reading.

11018 Thank you for your words this am. The promise to go before me. You did, each and every student was ready to work and learn. I am so in love with you!

11019 Sunshine, it makes everyone happy. Thanks for lighting our world.

11020 Made it through the day. Gus did not eat my journal. When I got home it was sitting right where I forgot it. Thanks God.

What are your gratitudes? For me writing them down, numbering them has been transformative. If you aren’t writing them, three in the evening is a good place to start per SPT. A fun experiment if you are seeking joy and happiness…

Gus says “hi”… someday I will tell you more about this rescue…

Languish No More…

My 30 day listening quest has ended, yet I listen. Each day I get up and there is a passage I am buringing to read, read, listen. Lectio Divina, the practice of wholly listening. This is day 5 listening on my own without a script (the book Enjoy the Silence, A 30 Day Experiment Listening to God by Maggie and Duffy Robbins). Ohhhh the joy I am finding in my listening. I have only uploaded today’s entry, words and am writing about today’s listening time.

Today’s passage was Jeremiah 31: 1- 14. Read here:

The Lord Will Turn Mourning to Joy

31 “At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”

²Thus says the Lord:
“The people who survived the sword
    found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
³    the Lord appeared to him^[a] from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
⁴Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
    O virgin Israel!
Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines
    and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.

Again you shall plant vineyards
    on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant
    and shall enjoy the fruit.
⁶For there shall be a day when watchmen will call
    in the hill country of Ephraim:
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”

⁷For thus says the Lord:
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
    and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
    ‘O Lord, save your people,
    the remnant of Israel.’
⁸Behold, I will bring them from the north country
    and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,

among them the blind and the lame,
    the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;
    a great company, they shall return here.
⁹With weeping they shall come,
    and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water,
    in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,
for I am a father to Israel,
    and Ephraim is my firstborn.

¹⁰“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
    and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
    and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’
¹¹For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
    and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
¹²They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
    and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,

over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
    and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall be like a watered garden,
    and they shall languish no more.
¹³Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
    and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
    I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
¹⁴I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,
    and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,
declares the Lord.”

I read this, listened to it read, and entered this into my listening journal.

Then I sat back drank my coffee. The words, “I have heard your prayers, they are answered, languish no more,” rolled through me. Tears ran down my face, “Lord I do not know what I have prayed for, thank you.” Again, “I have heard your prayers, they are answered.” I sent text messages with my journal entry to the names He presented in my mind. I listened again to the passage by audio as I worked around the house, each time drawn to the passages,

They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
    and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
    and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall be like a watered garden,
    and they shall languish no more.
¹³Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
    and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
    I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
¹⁴I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,
    and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,
declares the Lord.”

I got into the car driving, visiting my family, running with Gus. As I was driving again the words “The Lord says, let those who have ears, hear. They shall laguish no more.” At one point I actually typed the words into my phone so I would not forget them. “I hear you Lord, I receive Your words. I will languish no more. I will listen, I will obey, I will share Your words,” was my reply. Then I stopped at Lake Michigan, got Gus out of the car and went for a run, listening to His words as I ran. Over and over Jeremiah’s words in chapter 31:1-14 rolled through me. Each time I stopped, to take a picture it was on the words, “and they shall langush no more.”

I wanted to run more, further, “write, go home and write” rolled through me. So here I sit writing, honoring Him with words, processing my listening. Before I wrote I looked up the definitions of languish, languishing and listened to Susan Pierce Thompson (SPT)’s vlog on the Brightline Eating website on languishing, reread the article from New York Times, “Feeling Blah During the Pandemic? It’s Called Languishing“, printed it out, revisiting as SPT recommended.

What I found was the defintions of languish is 1) to lose or lack vitality, grow weak or feeble, 2) suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation. SPT defined it as the absence of well-being. Languishing meaning faling to make progress or depression. Oh Lord I know so many laguishing with the weight of the pandemic, COVID, other ailments, Ukraine war, life is lifey right now for so many, me included. Lord, we have been languishing. Again, the words, “the Lord says let those who have ears hear, they shall langish no more.”

Dance, shout with a loud voice, praise Him. Listen to the water break against the rocks,

“With weeping they shall come,
and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,

their life shall be like a watered garden,
    and they shall languish no more.
¹³Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
    and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
    I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

Languish no more. He has heard our prayers.

Lanuish no more, I have heard YOUR prayers. Believe, I am with You always, even until the end of the world. You are not alone.

May you lean into Him, know His love. Find nourishment and listen to His words, they are alive, fire within our souls. Oh He is a good God. He loves you, knows the number of hairs on your head, walks and talks every step of the way. Step into His embrace, know His stillness and love. Be well, love to all!

Friday Reads, Women’s History March 4

Here are this week’s reads, from my desk to yours! Enjoy

Shared Last week and again this week as our world needs kindness more than ever! Love this one!

Just love this illustrated speech. It is great to have it come to life, easy and informative for children and adults.

Beautiful content, graphic novel with teaching guide to help you navigate and share with students.

Beautiful stories about women scientists who have shaped our history.

Another graphic novel about real superwomen in our world and history. Wonderful read, sparks great conversation.

Beautiful poetry by a wonderful woman author, Yoland Sealey-Ruiz, speaks into the soul.

Excerpt from Love from the Vortex, Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz.

The Movement of Me (an excerpt taken from 49-52)

Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz

I have changed.

There is no possible way

I can remain the same

after sharing time and space

with you.

Never in my life’s history

have I experienced

the meshing of worlds

the colliding of spirits

the depth of reaching

into another’s galaxy

while (re)shaping the definition

of my own.

Realizing that making known this shift

takes absolute grace and courage

all of which, I have learned, I have in abundance.

There was an absolute beauty in my discomfort

of having mind occupied by a stranger,

who, in record-breaking time, has become more

familiare to me than people I have known

all my life.

This field, this harvest of green

that I have discovered, a place that continues

to be live-giving requires I pause to ask:

Yolanda, now exactly what have you learned….

I have learned to exhale.

I have learned peace.

I have learned that I am a farmer.

That I enjoy the idea of tilling this land

of growth and maturity for seasons to come.

Even when storms hit and crops are threatened,

I will harvest.

I will tend to the land of me

because I have learned

that I am worthy.

Know how fabulous you are. Worthy of all the good. May you find words, books to nourish your soul. Love to all!

Best,

There is a Walrus reading in my chair

There is a walrus reading in my classroom.

Sitting in my chair,

He likes it there.

I wonder,

Who put him there?

He is quite rare,

Gave me a scare.

Not sure how we will fare.

Is this his new lair?

Does anyone care?

There is a Walrus reading in my chair.

Who should I call?

Everyone is having a ball.

I have hit a wall.

Maybe it is ok,

This walrus sitting in my chair.

He is quite fair.

He has cool hair.

He likes this lair.

He is no longer a scare.

Should I care?

I will feed him a fish.

Then make a wish.

The fish goes swish,

He doesn’t use the dish,

This walrus in my chair,

With cool hair,

Who is no longer a scare,

I do care.

Is walrus a he?

Is walrus a she?

Ahhhh walrus is thee.

Thick skinned thee,

Doesn’t care

Isn’t scared

Has cool hair

Walrus is thee,

Walrus is me.

Walrus is bold

Unafraid of cold

Kinda old

Never sold

Untold

Walrus doesn’t care

Isn’t scared

Has cool hair

Walrus is bold

Unafraid of cold

Never sold

Untold

Walrus is thee

Walrus is me

Walrus calls

Stand tall

Be bold

Unafraid of cold

Kinda old

Never sold

Untold

Walrus is thee

Walrus is me

Walrus is free

There is a walrus

In my chair

Thy Chair

Calling out

Be Free!

Friday Reads…

This week’s reads from my desk to yours. Nothing makes me happier than reader’s walking into my room asking, “What are the new reads this week?” Here are a couple they have been enjoying today (I think I have a couple still in my bookbag, will share next week)… have a beautiful day and weekend!

The Undefeated by Kramer Alexander and Kadir Nelson

A love letter to America, to black Americans, to the grit, passion and perseverance of our dreamers and everyday people caught in history. A beautiful read.

Sophie’s Squash is written by Pat Ziegler Miller , illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. Pat Miller is a native Wisconsinite, from Madison. This is a charming book about a young girl who adopts a squash for her friend. She Carrie’s it with her until it be becomes mushy, buries it, watches it get buried by the snow and grow into new squash the next season.

Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill. Tanisha spills grape juice on her dress in class. Her classmate hears her mother say, “Be kind” and tries it out. What does “Be Kind” actually mean? A good lesson for us all…

The final one for this list, Schomburg, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Eric Valesquez, the man who built a library. A beautiful historical piece on a Puerto Rican man’s ambition to bring light to the achievements of people of African descent. Beautiful illustrations and history.

Friday reads

As a reading specialist my Friday practice is to share new reads with students and staff. Loving to read is a gift as books are magical, they take us to beautiful places, teach, heal and restore. After attending the Wisconsin State Reading Convention I was inspired to share with you. So from my desk to you, these are the books shared this week.

This beautiful book of poetry explores love, COVID and the times we live in. It reaches into our souls speaking peace and love in these trouble times.

This is a beautiful book full of rhythm. Carol Boston Weatherford shared her journey as the author at the WSRA. This book is written in 3 line rhyming stanzas, each row ending in the ee (long e) sound. As you read with your readers they can chant with you and spell out the words, great fun!

A legend, what more could one want? Fun read, historical notes in the end are perfect for readers of all ages.

Enjoy, may you find magic in your day as you explore new horizons with these beautifully gifted authors.

Listening quest

Initially I thought I would embark on this quest, post everyday… life is lifey, full and beautiful. I have my listening moments, devotions at 4:30 am on weekdays, do yoga, run with Gussy, shower and leave for work. At end of day all I want is to walk Gussy, eat or go to dinner and rest. Life is good, beautiful and full. So I have been listening, learning and growing. Here are my journal entries for days 1-15. I am growing in ways I did not anticipate. Amazed at the beauty of our Savior. So incredibly loved, my heart is full.

My format is simple, set timer to 20 minutes, read text once, read meditation, read text aloud, meditate, listen, read text aloud a final time, journal (often weep as He ministers to my heart). Each day listening is a minimum of 20 minutes. On the weekends my time has been up to one hour or more. I have begun to wake up anticipating time with our Savior, no longer rely on the clock.

My bedroom wall… feel like God had primed my heart before this quest began….correlations so beautiful. Each day a miracle.

My biggest take away so far is, I have less and less to say. He knows my needs. As I listen, lean in and He speaks. My days go so much smoother. I do not come to Him with a long list, He knows exactly what I need. I listen, He leads. He goes before me, I trust Him, He leads me, often my prayers continue as I run, shower and move throughout the day. Each day unfolds exactly as it should. When I begin to feel anxious, His spirit assures me. I lean in and watch the day’s events unfold. He is always a breath away, as I move throughout the day my heart whispers and He replies. Resting in the assurance of our morning conversation.

Know He is waiting to talk with you. Listen, draw near. He knows each thought, each intent of Your heart, lean in and watch His glory unfold in your life as it is in mine. I am so imperfect, if He speaks with me, how much more will He speak with you. You are precious, loved and He is there for you. Life is hard, your battle is already won, no need to go it alone.

Sending you so much love and strength as you walk in His will.

Here are some songs that have been rolling through me as I move through my days:

May we draw even closer to Him than ever before. The devotional I am using for this quest is Enjoy the Silence; A 30 day experiment in Listening to God by Maggie and Duffy Robbins. Each scripture passage for listening quest has come from this text.

Listening to God quest; Day 2

I awakened at 3:30 praying, dreaming of a prayer meeting. Flowing between conciousnsess and dream world. I saw a heavenly host poised, ready to battle. Prayer warriors gathered together in one accord. In anticipation of my time with Jesus I got out of bed, 3:40. Made my coffee, ate breakfast. They only utterances from my being were, “I love you Jesus.”

After eating I made my way to my chair, fully alert. I sat down and opened my book Enjoy the Silence by Maggie and Duffy Robbins. Set my timer to 20 minutes. I read the scripture once, read the prompts, closed my eyes, wept at the beauty before me. I felt His hand, His spirit filled me. I opened my eyes, through watery eyes I read the passage again. Then a third time. Sitting with my eyes closed, His words rolled through me.

After a while I got my journal and drew what I felt in my being. While not as beautiful as in my minds eyes the words are captured.

My time with Him over an hour. Blessed, beautiful. I was able to run, move and make it to work with energy. A student in my third group of the day asked, “How do you get to the top of the stairs with so much energy?” my 53 years to her 9, Him, His work in me, thanks God.

I will listen, I will learn. Day 2 in progress, beautiful. Thanks God for showing me the way. Imperfect me, blessed beyond measure. If I can listen, how much more can you? I am nothing more than you, lean in and see what He will do.

Just a thought

One month ago a student came to me, no knowledge of letters, no experience holding a pencil, never put a puzzle together. That day we laid on the floor, handing him the pieces he pounded them together, struggled. When he finished, I simply said, “pat yourself on the back young man. You are so smart, look what you did.” His teacher let me know when he went back to his classroom he announced, “I am Smart.” Later that day another teacher stopped me and asked if I was working with this young man. I said yes to her reply, “I knew it he told me he was smart today.”

Four weeks later, a lot of struggles, he no longer needs to trace my pictures, letters… he is writing them on his own. When he reads back his work outloud if he makes an error he slams the book shut and starts over, until he is able to read it with no errors. In one month he has doubled his inital reading score. He is smart, capable and able to do great things, he is owning it. Today he took out a puzzle, laid on the floor and told me to just sit there and watch him. He could do it on his own, he did. When he finished he asked me to take his picture, send it to his teacher. “I am smart”, he stated. He insisted I walk him back to class, let his teacher know he is smart and that I sent the picture.

My thought is this, one simple statement. If one simple statement like “I am smart”, repeated daily, makes such an enormous difference, what would happen if we took one affirmation about ourselves, looked ourselves in the eye, believed it, walked into the room shouted it outloud or to ourselves? Seriously, the simplicity of it, what would happen? Every day, one month, why not? Claim your intelligence, gifts, shout them with belief, see what happens. Take those challenges, hold them in both hands, lay them out, pound them with all your might, struggle…and all the while repeat your affirmation, “I am smart, thin, happy, able…” whatever you choose. Just believe it, say it with gusto. Own it….

Know that you are beautiful, smart, full of boundless potential. Claim it, look yourself in the mirror, shout your affirmation, own your magic. Believe, know there are struggles, it is tough, you can overcome, you will. Lean in and watch your magic unfold, you got this! Why not if it works for one, why not you and me?

Just a thought…..

Freedom

Today I read this:

Freedom is not a condition or circumstance; freedom is a choice.

Really, is it? If so how do we attain it? Following my first read, after sitting in it for a bit I recalled my daily food journal. At the top I write “I am living happy, thin and free.” As a brightline eater this is a daily mantra I have chosen. What does that mean?

My brief conclusion is, it is my choice. I have chosen to live happy, thin and free. Other mantras that align and I have chosen to live by are:

One day at a time (ODAAT)

I am unstoppable

I can do All things through Christ who strengthens me. If God be for me who can be against me.

In everything give thanks.

While life is not easy by any means. I do choose to be happy, thin and free. This is seen in my daily choices, commits and lifestyle. So freedom is a choice. There is more to it but this is my simple conclusion, today. Today I choose to live happy, thin and free. What is your choice? What are your mantras? Sending you so much love and strength for your journey, may you have all that is yours! Choose well!