I'm Tired...

And when you are tired, it's harder and harder to see your blessings.  That's the way to dig yourself out, you know.  Look around and see all the wonderful things your work has given you.  Then you won't be so tired.  But instead today all I can see is more work to do.  And very little appreciation for what has been done.  Not at work.  Not at home.  I guess I am more that tired.  I am spent. 

Lord, pick me up and move on down the road.  Let me be grateful that you have given me work.  Amen.

Don't Make This World Your Home

Everyone does it sometime, although when you catch someone else doing it, you rarely remember that.  Everyone says what appears to be the right thing at all the wrong time...to the wrong people...about the wrong thing.  Sometimes you even know when you are doing it that it might be the wrong thing, yet, something propels you into the murkiness of pettiness.  When I do it, I am usually under a great deal of stress that manifests itself with my big mouth.   At this stage of my life, few things mean so much to me.  But some do.

It wasn't competitiveness.  And the argument was with a dear friend.  Others heard it.  She and I discussed it  soon. She apologized, although when the whole story was revealed, she did not need to.  I apologized, and I seriously needed to.  So we are fine.  But others heard it.  And we didn't publicize the fence-mending because it was between the two of us.  Simply, I acted childishly.  She and I talked through it, and we are at peace.  But not the others.

Perspective changes everything.  I was again reminded of that through this.  Good friends make up.  Follow God's guidelines for forgiving and living peacefully as much as possible.  I saw that, too.  Mistakes hurt everyone.  I wish this to be my last...and I can only work more on my walk with God so that I can get closer to that wish revealed. 

Ten Things I Wish I Would Change About Me

In no particular order, I wish that I . . .

1. Ate a consistently healthy diet.  No excuses allowed.
2. Walked before or after work every day.  Now that my nest is empty there is no excuse for not doing this almost every day.
3. Liked to clean house.  I really don't think I am lazy, but maybe.  Instead, I seem to put off everything because of overwhelming guilt over not jumping at the cleansers and vacuum (like the rest of my family).
4. Organized my time so that I could do everything I want to do.
5. Was more social.  I could be a loaner who only came out for groceries.  I like people, but I just like myself better when I am challenging myself in other ways.  I care about others deeply, but I don't think I am very good at showing that.
6. Why don't I spend money on clothes!  
7. Cooked meals and froze them. 
8. Wrote in a gratitude journal.  
9. Read more fiction / liked more fiction
10. Watched less TV

Nashville and the Parthenon?

Did you know that Nashville has a replica of the Parthenon, to scale?

Fun fact of the day.....

Baby Zoee

So here she is, the once in a generation, Zoee Kay Tyler.  A Tyler girl has been born.  Do you hear the angels?  Yes, it is that moment that comes so rarely, the heavens part and all God's creatures celebrate.  Beautiful Zoee Kay.  Sent from heaven to save her mom's sanity.  Sent from heaven to melt her dad's heart. Sent to us for joy.  She makes the whole world just that much more beautiful, doesn't she.

METRO - Making Every Test Reveal Opportunities

My coworker Lindsey has great ideas.  I appreciate and recognize good ideas when I hear them, even though mine are coming slower and slower, and I am so grateful when someone has one and INCLUDES me. 

Today, teaching students and scoring them isn't enough.  Students must have some documentation of their skill set from a third party.  Most high schools use end-of-instruction tests in May to validate student learning.  We use Brainbench. 

Lindsey's great idea was to create a giant game board on the hallway wall where students would move along the pathway toward a finishline.  To move, students have to pass a Brainbench test.  Students have unique game pieces and different Brainbench tests to pass (depending upon their career majors).  There's optional short stops along the way for special achievements beyond great test scores. 

Along the way, students go from propelling themselves through the world as a pedestrian, bicycle, ATV, Ford Mustang, and eventually, at the end of their career major, students fly off through the finish line on a jet plane to amazing professional success.

How motivating is the METRO?  So far, pretty great! 

Addicted to Friends

"Do you have an iPhone? I want to play a game with you." It started just that innocently, with an email from Texas bestie Regina. From that moment of innocence came a six-month obsession with a scrabble-like battle of wits played with friends and strangers. Beware the simplicity of seven tiles and twenty-six letters.





So with iPad in tow, I have lost more than I have won of the umpteen gillion games of Words With Friends that I have played with instigator Regina, Teresa, Nena, Sara, Katie, and Reanonda. Reanonda and I have played one gillion of those games together since then, and we have made a lifelong commitment to never stop playing. Never ever. Like hoping for wireless access in the assisted living center never.

There is just something so fun about playing a game all day while the rest of life goes on around you that is especially fun. Did I mention the chat feature? Yes, you get to play AND pass notes to each other while the rest of life goes on around you. For a green personality like me, this is almost bliss.