Inside the Mind of a Jesus Follower

WOW! It has been an amazing start to the school year. I am still amazed at the pace of the elementary building. Thankfully, my colleagues, students and parents have been really helpful and supportive as I transition from high school and college level back to the elementary.   Technology is one way we are making some crazy connections. Our project that started as a small idea has grown.  We aim to Skype with all 50 states, and multiple countries.  We have generated some buzz online and I have more invites and Skype contacts than I ever could have imagined.  Our class was actually accepted into a Skype group of teachers from all over the world because the interest in our project. Plus, the Fairfield Ledger shared about our story in their article last Friday. The first week of the project we have Skyped with a writer in Utah, and a paramedic in Nebraska  The online writer from Utah, Mrs. Beth Lee, told us many interesting things about Utah and we learned...

As an adult, we can tell you exactly where we were standing, what we were doing, and who we were with on the day the World Trade Center was attacked. The Twin Towers were destroyed, the Pentagon damaged, Pennsylvania rocked with the bravery of average citizens, and the world watched as Americans stood together with pride not fear. However, the children in my room were not born yet. So, I wanted to make sure they understood the facts, and could make a connection to the experience in a way they have never been able to do.  So, at 9:00 a.m. this morning we had an amazing opportunity to speak with a woman who lives in New York and was willing to share her story of that fateful day 12 years ago. Mary Beth Easley, explained what she saw, felt, heard, tasted and smelled as she and her husband frantically ran around trying to locate and collect their children from various schools.  ( THE VIDEO IS LOCATED BELOW)  She showed us the fear, the pain, the panic, and the hop...

Using our Student Reference Books to find interesting information. WELCOME ABOARD! Another year is here!   I am now the proud teacher amid a crew of some AMAZING fourth graders at Cardinal Community School District. These kids are so talented, fun, and such a great team. Playing Number Top It It has been a fantastic first week. The theme of my room this year is a battleship. We are the USS AMERICA and we must work together to make her float. The students must work in their battle stations (desks) to make sure we can "go with the flow." Each group of seven has a helmsman at the wheel and they are leading their ship. There are supply crews, quarters inspectors, security detail, navigators, and munition specialists, deck hands, and aquamarine specialists. They must all work together to make it get to the other side of fourth  grade.  Green Group Working Hard Red Group working on their Walk In My Shoes poster Blue Group concentrating o...

Growing up in Iowa gives us a unique perspective. A perspective learned through hard work, grit, and late nights in the fields during planting and harvest season. We are a people who know what the power of prayer really can do, and are always willing to jump in to help another in need, even if you do not know them. The outpouring of love for the Lettington family has been amazing, and donations raised for Loren, his beautiful wife Megan and their two small children have been truly outstanding. $3000 dollars was raised in a matter of two weeks. People from all over the world showed they have a little Iowan inside their hearts as they gave during the Christmas season. However, I am writing to update the readers on Loren and his progress, and let you know of another opportunity to give back to the community. “Tougher than Most,” is the motto around the Lettington household, as Loren and his family face the challenges of his horrific accident. Loren and Megan just arrived...

I know that it has been a long while since I last posted to my blog. However, life has been getting in the way, and it has been a struggle to find the “divine urge” to write. I am too positive a person to want to write without some inspirational tone flowing through the words. Yet, I fear that I am missing out on valuable “teachable moments,” due to my reluctance to share frustrations concerning my beloved profession. Moving 4,737 miles across the country has been stressful, exciting, interesting and a struggle at times. However, I know that where there is rain the rainbow always follows.   So, I remain positive and steadfast knowing that the Lord has already worked everything out for my family and I.    So, adjusting and taking one day at a time has become infused into my motto of; “bloom where you are planted.” Yet, blooming can be hard to do when the soil you find yourself transplanted into is harsh, full of pesky, life-consuming insects, and the greenhouse di...

   I teach my students about the power of perspective and getting out of their comfort zone all the time, but sometimes I need to listen to my own “preaching.”     Gavin and I have been preparing for a major move 4700 miles away from our cozy Alaskan home.   Gavin has earned a position as Director of Medical Simulation at the College of Medicine for the University of Central Florida, and I will be teaching at the most academically prestigious high school in Florida, Hagerty High School. We are actually enroute on our newest adventure from the Alaskan Tundra to Florida beaches.   It will be quite a change in scenery and climate, but after the -17 degree temperature we had last week, 75 sounds heavenly.   Outside of the weather, I have had mixed emotions about the move, but have cast my burdens upon the Lord. I have been keeping this move quiet for a while in an attempt to transition my students, families and to help prepare my replacement a...