Tonight's agenda....
Finishing up homework in bed with a twix and Reba on the tv screen.
Now that's perfection!! How could it get any better than this? Okay,
let's not get greedy ;o)
How is your perfect night off your feet look like??
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
I love my brothers!!!
Okay, so in class today I am sitting here listening to my favorite college professor (ya know, the one I mentioned in the previous post?) We are learning about different models from different theorists. Well today, we learned that in our classroom we need to especially look after those shy kids. At first I'm thinking nah, I was a shy girl and I didn't have any big problems. As she continued her lecture I'm pretty sure if someone were to take my picture my eyes would be bigger than...... Well they would be about to pop out of my head okay. This is her story: Michelle (an 8 year old girl in her 3ed grade classroom) always ask if she could stay after school. She would offer to scrub the desks, wash the chalk board, and even clean the errasers. After school is a time for teachers to finally collect all their thoughts and figure out what went good, what needs changed, and get ready for the next day. So the teacher would tell Michelle okay, but just for a few minutes then you have to get going because people are expecting you at home. This went on and the teacher would ask if everything was okay, Michelle would respond with a smile like nothing was wrong and say yea everything is fine. This went on for 6 or 7 days. Finally the teacher could not shoo this girl out of the room so she asked again, Michelle, is there something I need to know? The girl broke down isntantly into tears and this is what she said, "When I go home my brother brings his friends over and....well you know." The teacher responded was in schock, "What are you talking about Michelle?" "Everyday after school my brother brings his friends over and,..... they do horrible things to my body."
Michelle's (8 years old) brother (a highschooler) had his friends over and sexually assaulted his little sister until their mother came home from work.
I was in complete schock. My mouth was probably about to hit the table. I am the youngest of 3 kids and the only girl. My two older brothers were (and still are) completely opposite of Michelle's brother. If their friends were to even give me a look of like hey you're cute my brothers instantly would some how let them know, hey buddy back off thats my sister. Now at time, especially in my earlier teens, I would hate this. I mean, come on, they were scaring all the guys away!! Okay, I secretely thought it was pretty kewl to have two brothers that looked after me and who I always felt protected around.
As this story is not shocking enough, my teacher gave us a true statistic. Warning: you may want to sit down for this and have a glass of water handy. In little town of Maryville MO in JUST the ELEMENTARY school (not counting middle or high school) in this past SEMESTER there were 200 cases of sexual abuse. THAT IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!
Conclusion: I will watch out for those shy stand offish students, I will be on my tip toes, and I am soooooo grateful I have such LOVING and CARING brothers whom I adore (Shhhh don't tell them! I don't think they know I have this blog ;) )
Michelle's (8 years old) brother (a highschooler) had his friends over and sexually assaulted his little sister until their mother came home from work.
I was in complete schock. My mouth was probably about to hit the table. I am the youngest of 3 kids and the only girl. My two older brothers were (and still are) completely opposite of Michelle's brother. If their friends were to even give me a look of like hey you're cute my brothers instantly would some how let them know, hey buddy back off thats my sister. Now at time, especially in my earlier teens, I would hate this. I mean, come on, they were scaring all the guys away!! Okay, I secretely thought it was pretty kewl to have two brothers that looked after me and who I always felt protected around.
As this story is not shocking enough, my teacher gave us a true statistic. Warning: you may want to sit down for this and have a glass of water handy. In little town of Maryville MO in JUST the ELEMENTARY school (not counting middle or high school) in this past SEMESTER there were 200 cases of sexual abuse. THAT IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!
Conclusion: I will watch out for those shy stand offish students, I will be on my tip toes, and I am soooooo grateful I have such LOVING and CARING brothers whom I adore (Shhhh don't tell them! I don't think they know I have this blog ;) )
Thursday, January 26, 2012
I've always known...
Ever Since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to grow up to be a teacher someday. I would pretend play and act as though I was a teacher all the time growing up. I had an amazing kindergarten teacher who was the kindest of the kind. I looked up to her and still today I hope to be as good as teacher as she was. Now, I have an amazing college teacher. She has taught for many many years in all grades. She tells us about her experiences with many poverty schools. This teacher is one that just "get's it" so she teaches us so we can "get it" too. I wanted to share with you a story she shared with us about a little boy. (Remember this is from a poverty school in a town where families didn't have much.)
In the Summer when this teacher received her list of students she was going to have when school started up, everyone told her, "Oh good luck with him, he is trouble!". They were talking about a particular boy who never had a chance from the beginning because he had that label. This particular outstanding teacher wrote each one of her future kiddos a short letter each a little different. To the boy she wrote somthing similiar to this, "Dear _______, I look forward to having you in my classroom. I know we are going to have a lot of fun this year. Love, _________" The very first day of school that little boy came to her and took out a folded piece of paper. It was the letter he had kept all summer long and he said, "Is this really for me?? Is this supposed to have someone else's name on it? Have you not heard about me from the other teachers?" My teacher told him yes that note was for him and she was looking forward to having a great school year. Right then that boy knew he had a chance. My teacher set up a system for this boy to succeed. I can't remember the details but she set a goal for him and if he reached that goal my teacher and her husband would take him bowling. He reached the goal and my teacher went to pick him up to take him bowling. When they arrived at the boys house, she knocked on the door and the screen literally fell down. A lady answered the door and said, "Who are you, what do you want?". My teacher explained that she was going to take the boy out for bowling. The lady said, "Why do you want to do that, he ain't good for nothin." My teacher did take him bowling and she knew she had to do somthing about the boys living situation. She contacted civil services. She called the second day to follow up on it. She contacted them the third day. She called and called until that boy was safe. She found out the little boy and his sister had been sexually abused by the father. The boy no longer lives in that household. It's no wonder that boy may have acted out in school and it just takes one teacher to give him a chance.
I stumbled upon this video recently....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q4zldF_AS4
Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. As a future teacher I promise myself I will be just like my kindergarten teacher and my college professor. I will give each and everyone of my darlings a chance. There will be no labels. I pray there are no issues like my teachers story and this video but I am sure there will be sometime in my career. If and when that time comes, I will NOT be one that lets this happen, "Alyssa lies with Jesus because there's nothing anyone would do."
If you aren't a teacher, you can help too! Some things I have learned to watch for are long sleeves and turtle necks when it's warm, a lot of makeup that looks like they might be trying to cover something, bruises, and actions. Abuse isn't only in children, it's in teens and even adults.
As another one of my teachers told me, I am aware teachers don't make a lot of money. I won't have a mansion, a butler with a white towel over his arm, or Ferarris in my garage. What I will have is somthing much greater than all that, and that's what I will have inside me, in my heart.
(I hope this post isn't too sad or brings you down because it shouldn't. Be happy, you can make a difference in someone's like, and that is exciting!)
In the Summer when this teacher received her list of students she was going to have when school started up, everyone told her, "Oh good luck with him, he is trouble!". They were talking about a particular boy who never had a chance from the beginning because he had that label. This particular outstanding teacher wrote each one of her future kiddos a short letter each a little different. To the boy she wrote somthing similiar to this, "Dear _______, I look forward to having you in my classroom. I know we are going to have a lot of fun this year. Love, _________" The very first day of school that little boy came to her and took out a folded piece of paper. It was the letter he had kept all summer long and he said, "Is this really for me?? Is this supposed to have someone else's name on it? Have you not heard about me from the other teachers?" My teacher told him yes that note was for him and she was looking forward to having a great school year. Right then that boy knew he had a chance. My teacher set up a system for this boy to succeed. I can't remember the details but she set a goal for him and if he reached that goal my teacher and her husband would take him bowling. He reached the goal and my teacher went to pick him up to take him bowling. When they arrived at the boys house, she knocked on the door and the screen literally fell down. A lady answered the door and said, "Who are you, what do you want?". My teacher explained that she was going to take the boy out for bowling. The lady said, "Why do you want to do that, he ain't good for nothin." My teacher did take him bowling and she knew she had to do somthing about the boys living situation. She contacted civil services. She called the second day to follow up on it. She contacted them the third day. She called and called until that boy was safe. She found out the little boy and his sister had been sexually abused by the father. The boy no longer lives in that household. It's no wonder that boy may have acted out in school and it just takes one teacher to give him a chance.
I stumbled upon this video recently....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q4zldF_AS4
Growing up I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. As a future teacher I promise myself I will be just like my kindergarten teacher and my college professor. I will give each and everyone of my darlings a chance. There will be no labels. I pray there are no issues like my teachers story and this video but I am sure there will be sometime in my career. If and when that time comes, I will NOT be one that lets this happen, "Alyssa lies with Jesus because there's nothing anyone would do."
If you aren't a teacher, you can help too! Some things I have learned to watch for are long sleeves and turtle necks when it's warm, a lot of makeup that looks like they might be trying to cover something, bruises, and actions. Abuse isn't only in children, it's in teens and even adults.
As another one of my teachers told me, I am aware teachers don't make a lot of money. I won't have a mansion, a butler with a white towel over his arm, or Ferarris in my garage. What I will have is somthing much greater than all that, and that's what I will have inside me, in my heart.
(I hope this post isn't too sad or brings you down because it shouldn't. Be happy, you can make a difference in someone's like, and that is exciting!)
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
J's Jewelry
Welcome to J's Jewelry! A custom "personal business" I created. I have enjoyed it! I love creating unique pieces. I like having something noone else has. I am working on getting something better set up in terms of viewing the jewelry so hold tight! In the mean time I will try to post some pics on here and if you are interested contact me and I will personally send you more pics of what I have. You can also order your own custom with the colors you would like and I will personally make one to fill you desires!
This set is sold!
Hope you love it Jess!!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Church, LORD, religion....
Did you get the chance to watch the last episode of Extreme Home Makeover the other night on ABC?? If you did not, I would encourage you to look it on the web somewhere. It was absolutely AMAZING! For those that don't know, the episode did 7 houses in 7 days in Joplin MO!! (Joplin is the town where that horrifying tornado blew through and flattened the whole town basically. The biggest tornado there is on the scale.)
I have a friend who goes to school in Joplin. She is majoring in education, just like I am. I met her through my cousin. We share the same cousin but we are not related. Well, not through blood or marriage anyway. If you ask us though, we are unbiological twins ;) As we've gotten to know each other this past year or two especially, we've come to find out we're a lot a like.
If you saw Deidre on the street you would think she was a normal college girl living and loving life. I'm here to tell you she is so much more than that. She is an angel and the LORD has such a big and beautiful plan for this girl. She has been through more than I could even imagine being through my whole life and she's only in her early 20's!!! She probably has been through more than I know but let me tell you about the two biggest life changing events in her life (that I know of).
Thursday May 24, 2007
At the age of 17 Deidre was hanging out with a friend on a typical Summer day. They were driving down the highway headed to pick up her friend's brother. Deidre got into the loose gravel on the side of the road and overcorrected trying to control the car. This sent the car rolling 3-5 times. Her head, outside the drivers side window, hitting the pavement each time. (Can you even imagine???) After sliding even further down the road the car came to a stop on it's hood. Deidre was trapped inside her car for 40 minutes or more unconscious. Her friend walked away with a few scrapes and bruises. Deidra was put on a stretcher in the bed of a truck where they hauled her to the top of the hill where a helicoptor was landing to rush her to a hospital.
At the hospital
Deidre spent 6 or 7 hours in a room where teams of 20 or more doctors put stitches in. They lost count after 250 stitches. She spent 3 days in the hospital. This whole tragedy is horrible enough but theres more. Deidre could not have her mom beside her holding her hand until Saturday. (Remember the wreck was on Thursday.) Her mom had gone to Guatemala the day before her wreck for missionary work and she was not able to get a flight back until Saturday. Deidre broke her eye socket and her nose.
Deidra was not able to attend our cousin Luke's graduation (which is where I first heard about her accident).When I was talking to my aunt at my cousins graduation party about Deidre's wreck. My aunt said if you saw her you would not have recognized her. She said on the back of her head you could literally lift her skin. Deidre still to this day has several pieces of glass and asphalt in her face and head. I can not imagine the pain Deidre went through. Also, I can't even begin to imagine the pain her mom went through not being able to be there with her daughter.
May 22, 2010 (almost exactly 3 years to the day later)
Three quarter mile wide tornado blew through Joplin. Single deadliest tornado in more than half a century. A warning sounded 24 minutes before the tornado actually hit. The damage is unreal. Two blocks down from where the edge of the tornado hit is where Deidres apartment stands. TWO BLOCKS!! Deidre had the opportunity to help Extreme Home Makeover with the houses which is so cool!
So, how is this girl still here today? Living life to the fullest, like any other college girl? She is an angel sent from the heaven above and the LORD has a plan for her. I can't wait to see what all this girl has set for her future. For God to protect her the way he has, it's got to be big.
This blog is getting very lengthy but I think it's a miracle. I believe in miracles, I've seen them many time in my life from people that mean very much to me. My cousin with INAD (very rare genetic disease) is still here with us today, he will be 10 this year! (He is one of these miracles, you can view his story on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaredose/mystory)
I've been going to Adam's church when we go to his house. It's a Catholic church, I am Bapitist so I don't participate in Communion. The Catholic church is very different than what I'm used to. This is an issue we struggle with. In our future, what will happen if one of us is Catholic and one of us is Baptist. What church will we go to? Where would our children go to? I came accross this video and I thought it was very interesting, it makes you think a little....
Saturday, January 7, 2012
I NEGU, do you?
I like to "catch up" on news on the yahoo website every now and then. Today I was shocked, heart broken, inspired and joyed all at the same time.
I've mentioned before that I would love to get involved in helping in the children's hospital some day. That is one of my ultimate goals. Finish college, find a teacher position, raise a family, and find a way to get involved at a children's hospital.
NEGU is a non profit organization that a 12 year old started up with the help of her family and friends. NEGU is short for Never Ever Give Up. Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with brain cancer in March. Her ten month long battle ended Thursday as she was sent to heaven to watch over her family, friends, and all those children who have serious illnesses and need a guardian angel who will NEGU.
I've mentioned before that I would love to get involved in helping in the children's hospital some day. That is one of my ultimate goals. Finish college, find a teacher position, raise a family, and find a way to get involved at a children's hospital.
NEGU is a non profit organization that a 12 year old started up with the help of her family and friends. NEGU is short for Never Ever Give Up. Jessica Joy Rees was diagnosed with brain cancer in March. Her ten month long battle ended Thursday as she was sent to heaven to watch over her family, friends, and all those children who have serious illnesses and need a guardian angel who will NEGU.
Look Jessie up on facebook! Glance through some of her pictures, read the picture discriptions, and you will see how this young 12 year old had a heart of gold.
Jessie started Joy Jars. These jars were filled and handed out to children with illnesses.
This picture was on her facebook. Her caption said, "I do". Jessie, I do too!
Prayers going out to the Rees family!
I wish I could put all her amazing pictures on here but that would probably take too much room. I do encourage you to check out her facebook! (You don't have to have a facebook account to view hers) I can not get her blog to open but she also has a blog that she posted on when she became diagnosed.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Customers
Do you ever have those customers who you wish you could take a wash cloth and wipe those nasty stuck up looks off their face? Maybe even give them a recorder to show them how rude they sound??
I love going to work each day and helping brides, bridesmaids, prom goers, and any other girl (or guy) who walks in make their occassion easier and as joyable as I can. I love bringing a smile to their face and truly making them happy. This past week I have been working with a bride who has stopped in a few times.
Day 1: A gal called and asked if she would be interfering with anyone's appointment is she stopped in to glance around at some dresse. I told her not at all and to stop in at any time.The first time she stopped in (about 30- 45 minutes after she called) she was just trying to get an idea of what kind of budget she needs to start planning for for a wedding gown. I showed her what we have here on the floor, the catelogs we can order from and other options some brides choose to take if they are on a tight budget. She said she didn't want to try any on that day because she wanted to include her friends. I told her that was just fine. I sent her home with a few little books to look through.
Day 2: She called again asking if she would be interfering with an appointment. (What a considerate gal!!) She came in and she said she decided she wanted to go ahead and try on a few dresses to see if she liked any. I said sure, not a problem. She picked out two that she liked and I helped her get them out of the bags, fluffed and on. The first on she tried on she fell in love. She asked how much it was. IT WAS SHOCKINGLY ONE OF OUR $95 DRESSES!!!! She thought I was kidding. She mentioned the only thing she would change is to make it fuller. I thought fast, I grabbed a poofy slip from the back and walaa, perfect! So, she decides to try on the other dress just to make sure she wouldn't like it better. She didn't. This particular gal was not on too tight of a budget. She was thinking more of the $1000 budget for a dress. She puts her clothes back on and I asked her if she would like to try any others on while she was here. She glances around again and just loves the one she aleady chose. She calls her mom to see if she was in town and had time to come check it out. She can't. The gal turns to me, "I really love this dress, and it's weird I would choose the cheapest dress, but I don't want to make a final decision without someone else seeing it on me also." I said that's totally fine, I would be the same way. She asks, "is there anyway I can hold it to make sure noone buys it?" Usually we have to have some money down to hold a dress but this gal was so polite, sweet, and the dress being as cheap as it was I told her I would hold it and make sure noone would take it from under her. The look on her face was priceless. She was so pleased. She thanked me many times and I thanked her right back. I wanted to tell her I wish there were more people in the world like her. She assured me she would let me know about the dress in the next day or two.
The very next day (day 3): She calls, again to make sure she wouldn't infere or take attention away from an appointment. She comes back in and brings her mom (an equally sweet lady). Tries on the dress, her mom loves it also. Long story short, they buy the dress and the slip I had her try on under it. She was so thrilled!! On the way out the door she told me she would be back saturday with her bridesmaids to pick out their dresses!
Heres to 2012 and being filled with more customers like her!!!! :o)
I love going to work each day and helping brides, bridesmaids, prom goers, and any other girl (or guy) who walks in make their occassion easier and as joyable as I can. I love bringing a smile to their face and truly making them happy. This past week I have been working with a bride who has stopped in a few times.
Day 1: A gal called and asked if she would be interfering with anyone's appointment is she stopped in to glance around at some dresse. I told her not at all and to stop in at any time.The first time she stopped in (about 30- 45 minutes after she called) she was just trying to get an idea of what kind of budget she needs to start planning for for a wedding gown. I showed her what we have here on the floor, the catelogs we can order from and other options some brides choose to take if they are on a tight budget. She said she didn't want to try any on that day because she wanted to include her friends. I told her that was just fine. I sent her home with a few little books to look through.
Day 2: She called again asking if she would be interfering with an appointment. (What a considerate gal!!) She came in and she said she decided she wanted to go ahead and try on a few dresses to see if she liked any. I said sure, not a problem. She picked out two that she liked and I helped her get them out of the bags, fluffed and on. The first on she tried on she fell in love. She asked how much it was. IT WAS SHOCKINGLY ONE OF OUR $95 DRESSES!!!! She thought I was kidding. She mentioned the only thing she would change is to make it fuller. I thought fast, I grabbed a poofy slip from the back and walaa, perfect! So, she decides to try on the other dress just to make sure she wouldn't like it better. She didn't. This particular gal was not on too tight of a budget. She was thinking more of the $1000 budget for a dress. She puts her clothes back on and I asked her if she would like to try any others on while she was here. She glances around again and just loves the one she aleady chose. She calls her mom to see if she was in town and had time to come check it out. She can't. The gal turns to me, "I really love this dress, and it's weird I would choose the cheapest dress, but I don't want to make a final decision without someone else seeing it on me also." I said that's totally fine, I would be the same way. She asks, "is there anyway I can hold it to make sure noone buys it?" Usually we have to have some money down to hold a dress but this gal was so polite, sweet, and the dress being as cheap as it was I told her I would hold it and make sure noone would take it from under her. The look on her face was priceless. She was so pleased. She thanked me many times and I thanked her right back. I wanted to tell her I wish there were more people in the world like her. She assured me she would let me know about the dress in the next day or two.
The very next day (day 3): She calls, again to make sure she wouldn't infere or take attention away from an appointment. She comes back in and brings her mom (an equally sweet lady). Tries on the dress, her mom loves it also. Long story short, they buy the dress and the slip I had her try on under it. She was so thrilled!! On the way out the door she told me she would be back saturday with her bridesmaids to pick out their dresses!
Heres to 2012 and being filled with more customers like her!!!! :o)
"Too often we under estimate the power of a touch,
a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment,
or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential
to turn a life around."
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