Happy Birthday to Me

Two years ago, I took a few months off of Facebook to prepare for the arrival of our first daughter.

This past winter, I stopped my endless streaming of episodes for 6 weeks to make better use of my time during the day.

And, starting tomorrow morning, I will be spending 30 days unplugged.  No more logging in to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  No more mindlessly scrolling through my phone while not entirely engaging with the conversation around me.  No more "multi-tasking" while my daughter finishes lunch or guilting myself into writing a blogpost that is well past due.  From May 4-June 4 I will be offline. I'm deleting apps from my phone and putting my phone in a separate room when I'm at home.  The only exception due to necessity (unfortunately) is my email.  I am going to check it once or twice a day from my laptop.  Other than that, toodles!

Why now?  The weather is getting nicer.  Then worse again. But mainly nicer. I'm starting to become more disciplined in my strength training and cardio.  My daughter is so fun to play with and I hate not giving her the attention she deserves.  We have many upcoming travel plans both within the state and outside of the country.  God has given me a greater hunger for Scripture than ever before in my life.  I even think I want to try to memorize a whole book of the Bible!  I'll let you know how that works out. We have major life decisions coming up as a family.  I want to implement some form of fasting (maybe a version of this plan?) periodically.  I have an ever growing list of prayer requests and seemingly fewer minutes in my day to pray over them.  It's my birthday month.  So, really, why NOT now?  When I write all those goals out, I can't help but feel like 30 days won't even be enough!

As I struggle with how to make these big changes and huge decisions, Romans 12:2 really convicted my heart:

"...let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

So, I'm going to give God a little more peace and quiet to work in my heart and mind.  To transform me into a new person who can learn His perfect will for my life by changing the way I think.  I'm not saying a break from the internet is the answer to everything, but for me it is necessary from time to time.  And as Romans 14:22-23 reminds us, "Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it.  For you are not following your convictions.  If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning."

If you like seeing pictures of my daughter, or you enjoy articles that I read or crafts that I have tried, I look forward to seeing you back here in June!

Toodles :)

Staying Focused on Easter in a World of Bunnies.

First of all, I blogged every day last week two weeks ago on my teacher blog.  That's unheard of from this blogger-wannabe.  I'd like to say that's the explanation for why I haven't blogged on here all week for a while, but I have not yet fully committed to a set schedule in blogging, so that can also be blamed.  Thanks for hanging around, even when I'm inconsistent, y'all :)

As we get closer and closer to Easter this year, I'm increasingly convicted by how much I just let it creep up on me.  I anticipate Christmas and plan out a whole week of celebrations for birthdays at times, but when it comes to the celebration of my Savior rising from the dead, I just do my normal thing and try to be more grateful?!  How utterly lazy and ridiculous. 

For the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to intentionally plan out ways of reflecting and celebrating Christ's life, death and resurrection.  Last week I really began to (try to) put the plans into action!  My list includes some things for me personally, some activities I want to try to do with Naya, and some things that we will do as a whole family.  Here is what I am shooting for:

1. John Piper's 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die:  My goal is to read 3-4 of these short chapters each night before bed to help me slowly process the multifaceted purpose of Christ dying.  My husband read this aloud to me two years ago, but this year I am hoping to really spend more time in it.  Piper's readings can be pretty deep for some people, but I have really enjoyed reading more of his articles and this particular book includes a lot of direct Scripture quotations (which I really appreciate).

2. Easter Breakfast/Sunday Service: Our home church has a free breakfast before the church service on Easter.  The food is great, the conversations are genuine and enthusiastic and I love seeing Naya interact with our church family.

3. Hidden In My Heart: Volume III A Lullaby Journey Through the Life of Jesus:  This set of CD's was first brought to my attention on Revive Our Hearts when I was listening to a podcast.  With Naya's obsession with music, and our playlists getting annoyingly short and repetitive, I thought this would be a great "Easter gift" for her.  I know I will enjoy listening to it, too!  My favorite part is that this volume is explicitly the words of our Savior set to music.  How lovely.

4. The Gospel of John: My husband reminded me, when I was trying to select a passage to read, that the Gospel of John has the most amount of chapters dedicated to the time between the Last Supper and the Ascension.  That, in addition to the fact that we are in a long series on Mark in church and I am very familiar with Matthew, led me to believe John might guide my mind and heart well in this time. Side note: I'm reading it aloud, and in Spanish.  It's SO CHALLENGING for me this way, and I think it really makes me stop and focus on each word and phrase.  I feel like I'm reading John for the first or second time.

" 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive." -John 7:38-39

  5. Focus on the Family's Free Resources for Holy Week: This was a direct answer to prayer! I received this email on the exact day that I was asking God how I could start teaching Naya about the meaning behind Easter.  I am hoping this year we will start by making the palm branches, baking bread, foot washing.  I know that the conversations will be pretty much by myself at this point, but I also want to get into the habits (for me AND her) of being intentional. Celebrating things worth celebrating.  Learning by doing.  Experiencing.

6. Extended Family Luncheon: After church we will drive to my parent's house where my mom's family will celebrate by eating together.  I always enjoy being around my cousins, aunts and uncles and other family members.  Now that there are 3 great-grandchildren in the bunch, it is really fun to see them all around each other.

7. "O the Blood" by Kari Jobe: Last Sunday, Marc Eckel did his Splat Experience display during our church service and used this song as his background music.  The words combined with the incredible image brought tears almost instantly.  I have listened to it many times since, and will continue to listen to it throughout the week.

" O what love, no greater love.  Grace, how can it be that in my sin, yes even then He shed His blood for me?!"

*****************

When Naya is a bit older, I hope to spend more time diving into resources such as these: 

1. Resurrection Eggs DIY

2. Age Specific Activities from Focus on the Family

3. Dr. James Dobson's Pinterest Board!

And if you are reading this post thinking "What IS the Spiritual Truth behind Easter?  Why don't we just go on Easter egg hunts and eat chocolate bunnies like everyone else and call it good enough?  What is so special about Easter?"...oh, dear friend, let me show you.  Read this for a good starting point. Then, comment here or reach out to me with questions.  Because the reason behind Easter is the reason for life.  It's everything.

Crossover Post: Teacher turned Stay at Home Mom

**This post was originally published on my teaching blog "Language Is Influence".**

Maybe you're like me.

Your life is changing directions very quickly.  

You're a young wife and teacher.  You are learning new things in the classroom and you love pouring your energy into getting better and trying new things.

You're looking for your first house and you search online for something that could be part of your future.

And BAM.  One day you find out your pregnant.  And your life priorities and energy and five year plan sorta kinda goes down the toilet...as you knew them, anyway.  Perhaps you go back to work after having your baby.  Or perhaps, like me, that wasn't a sustainable way to live for your family.  So, for now, you are no longer the young wife and teacher who loves to learn new strategies for formative assessments and search for inventive new apps.  Maybe you are now the young wife and mother who goes to baby music classes and says "please don't play with the trashcan/outlets/cough syrup/permanent markers" a lot lately.

Maybe, like me, you still feel like that young teacher.  You still have a heart for teaching and learning and traveling and languages and students.  You're not ready to be DONE but you are choosing something different (and better, for you) for now.  You've been wondering things like How can I keep using and improving my target language? How can I keep a foot in the door in my local school corporation?  How can I keep connected with students I've invested in?  How can I stay involved?

I've been there.  Actually, I'm still wandering around there a little bit.  But, here are five ways I have found to stay connected to Spanish teaching, even while staying at home with my baby.

1. Social Media:  While teaching I created a "teacher account" on Twitter and Instagram.  Even now, I re-tweet articles I have found about traveling, jokes in Spanish or resources for students.  Sometimes I post pictures of my daughter or things I'm doing with Spanish captions to engage students in reading a bit...and often times they will comment me or message me, which keeps those lines of communication open, safely and professionally.  Plus, I participate in Twitter chats where I'm still interacting with teachers and administrators in this area and learning what is going on in their classrooms.

2. Group Tutoring Classes:  I had heard people say before that companies might hire a tutor for their employees to learn Spanish, but I actually had better success within the church.  A local church and organization sends missionaries to the Dominican Republic and they were looking for a teacher to help them learn what they need before going on short term and long term trips.  One night a week, 1-2 hours at a time, and ADULT LEARNERS who are very motivated.  Hello, dream job.

3. International Travel:  I had planned and enrolled students in both my Peru and Spain trips before deciding to stay at home.  So, I kept my word.  Education First (EF) has been amazing at helping me prepare for meetings, communicate with parents and make a near flawless transition.  One meeting a month, a few emails in between, and a bit of organization.  EF does not require you to be a teacher to lead these trips, so if there isn't a program in your area...consider heading it up. I get to promote my tours in the schools, meet new students and travel. to. other. countries.  So.

4. Individual Student Tutoring:  I sent an email to all of my teacher/friends in the Spanish department at two middle schools and the high school, letting them know they could pass my information on to students and parents who needed additional tutoring.  I meet one night a week for an hour at Starbucks and help the student re-learn what they missed.  It's ideal for me (additional income & practice), the teacher (ain't nobody got time for that), and the student (additional reinforcement).

5. College Supervising Teacher:  The Christian college in my area has a strong education program and sends many prospective teachers into the public schools to complete their student teaching.  I get to observe them 5 times throughout the semester, evaluate them, mentor them and then eventually recommend them to pass student teaching if I feel they have earned that. It's entirely on my own schedule and allows me to not only know what is going on in the area public schools, but also keep up to date with what is expected of prospective teachers.

I didn't include the reading, ESL volunteering, conference attending and other ways I have enjoyed practicing Spanish and learning how to improve my teaching.  Obviously, you find options that work best for your family and passions.  I have loved my decision to step back from full time and even part time teaching "officially" and spend this time learning and growing "unofficially" as I soak up every minute possible with my precious daughter.

If you're like me, maybe you can find ways like this that you didn't know existed and enjoy some of your favorite aspects of classroom teaching...without the actual classroom, for now. 

What ways have you stayed involved in your temporary, or long-term, absence from classroom teaching?

A New Normal

Nineteen days.
That's how long it has been since our whole world has changed.
Nineteen days since my job went from being middle school Spanish teacher to Mommy.
Nineteen days since I slept peacefully for any amount of time.
Nineteen days since anything felt normal.

And for the past nineteen days we have been experimenting with this new adventure of parenthood.  We have laughed, cried, learned, questioned, snuggled and prayed.  We have had days of impressive success and days of emotional defeat.  It's only been nineteen days...and yet it feels like a whole new life lived by entirely new people.

So, to preserve my sanity and to challenge my perspective, I have vowed to attempt to record my thoughts, prayers, questions, decisions and experiences through this new blog.  I have always been an avid writer in journals/diaries/etc, so I want to preserve this fleeting season of life in a way that offers insights to others and simultaneously records my reflections for the future.

Here it is:  the beginnings of a new stage of life.  New priorities, new challenges...and the finding of a new normal.