Be free my child from the pressure you feel to have others' approval.
I hear their criticisms and see how it tears your heart apart.
But from the Creator of the Universe to your loving Dad, I need you to know my opinion hasn't changed.
You are loved.
You are my treasure.
I desire you.
Be free my daughter from the lies you hear that you're not good enough, pretty enough or talented enough.
Your worth my life.
I've made you wonderfully.
I have gifted you with talents all your own.
Be free.
Be free to accept My love.
Be free to live.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
What "Love is" in Teacher World
I've been reflecting on how teaching is 120% relational and thinking about what 1 Cor. 13 practically means in teacher world. Going to have this right by my desk so I can be reminded!
Love is…
1 Cor. 13
Patient
I don’t know the struggles others are up against.
Take time to learn before you assume.
Kind
Take every opportunity to be kind to others.
People are more important than tasks.
Encouraging
Celebrate other’s accomplishments with them,
sometimes we all need outside perspectives.
Humble
Don’t brag, no one else really cares.
I didn’t accomplish anything by myself.
Polite
Redeem rough situations with kind words.
Communicate how valuable people are.
Team Oriented
Always think about how the work I’m doing
can benefit my whole team and not just myself.
Calm
Take and deep breathe.
Don’t take everything personally.
Forgiving
I’m not perfect either!
Normally people give the best they have to offer.
Protective
Of other’s reputations when they vent.
Unity builds, division destroys.
Trusting
That administrative choices are made
with everyone’s best interest in mind.
Hopeful
That the work I am doing is making
a positive impact in student’s lives.
Persevering
Get back up and try again!
Love is…
1 Cor. 13
Patient
I don’t know the struggles others are up against.
Take time to learn before you assume.
Kind
Take every opportunity to be kind to others.
People are more important than tasks.
Encouraging
Celebrate other’s accomplishments with them,
sometimes we all need outside perspectives.
Humble
Don’t brag, no one else really cares.
I didn’t accomplish anything by myself.
Polite
Redeem rough situations with kind words.
Communicate how valuable people are.
Team Oriented
Always think about how the work I’m doing
can benefit my whole team and not just myself.
Calm
Take and deep breathe.
Don’t take everything personally.
Forgiving
I’m not perfect either!
Normally people give the best they have to offer.
Protective
Of other’s reputations when they vent.
Unity builds, division destroys.
Trusting
That administrative choices are made
with everyone’s best interest in mind.
Hopeful
That the work I am doing is making
a positive impact in student’s lives.
Persevering
Get back up and try again!
"Ms. Duggan"
Another new life transition along with a rainy day inevitably results in reflecting in the blogosphere... and ohh how I've missed it!
Life as "Ms. Duggan" has officially begun, as thankfully, I am going to finally be a teacher this fall! This life goal started when I was 9, playing school with my little cousin and never following through with my promise that she could have her turn being the teacher, she just didn't understand the passion I already had for the profession! ;) I wonder how many people in my position, who like me, already have a stocked "teacher closet" they've excitedly been adding to for years from clearance bins and garage sales for that day when I would finally have my own classroom. It takes a certain kind of person to get excited about post-it notes, books and construction paper, but I am definitely one of them.
This last month and the few ahead have been and will be a wonderful new teacher honeymoon stage. I am aware of it's time limit, but have decided to enjoy it while it's here!! I've had my first interview, first job offer, first class list, first teacher meetings and will be spending the summer loving putting my first classroom together! You can expect that I'll be taking a picture posed by my door as soon as my name is on it!
I am aware I was born with rose colored glasses, and because of them I grew up soaking in every Lifetime movie about teachers that made a dramatic difference in poor, urban schools. (All in under 2 hours!) Thankfully, a little maturity and life experience has set in, I've put my cape back in my closet, and have become much more aware of the struggles my students and I are up against and how much I have to learn. It's going to require an amount of strength that I'll have to stretch for everyday. I imagine this next year is going to be one for the books (and hopefully the blog!).
Life as "Ms. Duggan" has officially begun, as thankfully, I am going to finally be a teacher this fall! This life goal started when I was 9, playing school with my little cousin and never following through with my promise that she could have her turn being the teacher, she just didn't understand the passion I already had for the profession! ;) I wonder how many people in my position, who like me, already have a stocked "teacher closet" they've excitedly been adding to for years from clearance bins and garage sales for that day when I would finally have my own classroom. It takes a certain kind of person to get excited about post-it notes, books and construction paper, but I am definitely one of them.
This last month and the few ahead have been and will be a wonderful new teacher honeymoon stage. I am aware of it's time limit, but have decided to enjoy it while it's here!! I've had my first interview, first job offer, first class list, first teacher meetings and will be spending the summer loving putting my first classroom together! You can expect that I'll be taking a picture posed by my door as soon as my name is on it!
I am aware I was born with rose colored glasses, and because of them I grew up soaking in every Lifetime movie about teachers that made a dramatic difference in poor, urban schools. (All in under 2 hours!) Thankfully, a little maturity and life experience has set in, I've put my cape back in my closet, and have become much more aware of the struggles my students and I are up against and how much I have to learn. It's going to require an amount of strength that I'll have to stretch for everyday. I imagine this next year is going to be one for the books (and hopefully the blog!).
Friday, December 17, 2010
Elisa's Makeover
Yesterday my 4yr old niece Elisa and I had such a fun and sweet memory. We were doing our usual...me hanging out in my room and her taking full advantage of my costume box (everyone has one of those right?) and putting on a new pretend character or music video with each find. She's hilarious, completely crazy and wild, and fearless when it comes to her dancing and signing, such a beautiful sight. She found an old make up bag I had in there, and we had fun figuring out where all these weird powders went, she found that she preferred the 10 layer multicolor lipstick look as well as the eyeshadowed eyebrows. We agreed it was a good look on her. Well, I made the mistake of leaving for awhile, only to come back to her completely naked, with lipstick lines from her lips to her toes, and a lip-stick colored-in bikini top, where she even drew the strings!! HAHAHAHhahahaha!! All I could muster up to do was laugh and say, "Well, it's important that you're creative! So when your mommy sees this, you just tell her that!" So we practiced her line, then, like clockwork, she went down stairs and immediately I heard a big gasp from her mom, and with all the certainty and confidence I heard in her sweet little girl voice, "Mom, it's important that I'm creative!!" Ahahaha, I about lost it. Then my sister's typical response, EMILY!! We had to soak her in the tub for awhile, it turns out cheap old lipstick really sticks well to the body, and the carpet, ohh well, definitely worth it!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Don't Do It
PEDESTRIANS. You're driving along, progressing at a completely legal speed and it happens...
V=T/D + several thousand pound vehical + steel + 6 cylinders + you in the car + blur in the shape of a human walking + split second = BRAKES!
This person, after what must have been a flash hypnotizing from the road's striped lines, dives directly into your path. I do mean dives, you've all seen it. It makes you half-way wonder if, as part of the human moral code, you should stop, give them a hug and tell them they have so much to live for, or at least find a way that's less messy. I'm only kidding.
Then, after slamming on your breaks and screeching to a halt, your forehead to the window, and your mom arm extended, you take a moment to awe at this human wonder. As they progress at the speed of snail in front of you, you have plenty of time to size them up. You realize they appear as a logical person, how could this have happened? Where did their educational experience do them wrong where it told them that it made more sense to demand to go first before a bone crushing machine weighing X1000 times their weight? Could this be the consequences of an educational system too bent on positive reinforcement and confidence boosting? Not to mention this machine also posses the ability to pass this small section of road in split seconds, but you're right, we should all watch your malleable body stroll across the path and admire that you have the ability to make time stand still.
The best is when you've had to come to an obviously abrupt stop to save their life, and they give you this look as they roll their eyes, ... I mean, how dare you enter their space like that?
I'd like to think we could all learn from life when it was simple and the rules of life were basic: T-Rex is on direct route to his prey, little baby raptor is in a hurry to pass him, what happens? Baby raptor goes to the Land of No Time, aka eternity.
I mean, maybe there's more to it than I understand. Maybe people just aren't getting the adventurous rushes in life they desire, I get that. Maybe they think they look really cute that day and just need someone to notice. Maybe they've always wondered what it would feel like to be flat? Quickest way to fit in those jeans again? I don't know, maybe it's not something I will understand until I get older.
V=T/D + several thousand pound vehical + steel + 6 cylinders + you in the car + blur in the shape of a human walking + split second = BRAKES!
This person, after what must have been a flash hypnotizing from the road's striped lines, dives directly into your path. I do mean dives, you've all seen it. It makes you half-way wonder if, as part of the human moral code, you should stop, give them a hug and tell them they have so much to live for, or at least find a way that's less messy. I'm only kidding.
Then, after slamming on your breaks and screeching to a halt, your forehead to the window, and your mom arm extended, you take a moment to awe at this human wonder. As they progress at the speed of snail in front of you, you have plenty of time to size them up. You realize they appear as a logical person, how could this have happened? Where did their educational experience do them wrong where it told them that it made more sense to demand to go first before a bone crushing machine weighing X1000 times their weight? Could this be the consequences of an educational system too bent on positive reinforcement and confidence boosting? Not to mention this machine also posses the ability to pass this small section of road in split seconds, but you're right, we should all watch your malleable body stroll across the path and admire that you have the ability to make time stand still.
The best is when you've had to come to an obviously abrupt stop to save their life, and they give you this look as they roll their eyes, ... I mean, how dare you enter their space like that?
I'd like to think we could all learn from life when it was simple and the rules of life were basic: T-Rex is on direct route to his prey, little baby raptor is in a hurry to pass him, what happens? Baby raptor goes to the Land of No Time, aka eternity.
I mean, maybe there's more to it than I understand. Maybe people just aren't getting the adventurous rushes in life they desire, I get that. Maybe they think they look really cute that day and just need someone to notice. Maybe they've always wondered what it would feel like to be flat? Quickest way to fit in those jeans again? I don't know, maybe it's not something I will understand until I get older.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Problems I Love Having
I can’t stop one kindergarten boy from sneaking a kiss on my check.
Can’t get another to stay seated when I walk in because he has to run to give me a hug and say good morning.
I can’t get a second of free time because another wants us to put the dinosaur puzzle together …again.
I dont have a break at recess because I can’t turn down one's invitation to Duck Duck Goose.
Can’t get another to stay seated when I walk in because he has to run to give me a hug and say good morning.
I can’t get a second of free time because another wants us to put the dinosaur puzzle together …again.
I dont have a break at recess because I can’t turn down one's invitation to Duck Duck Goose.
I've been thinking about real problems at my job too. Days when I question whether the meager salary and exhausting responsibility of my job is worth it. Long days of kids with all their gusto refusing to follow directions, violent tantrums and out of control emotions, which easily can turn my world into a frusterating chaos. I realized what a good feeling it was though was to be able to look back and see... we were there, remember that awful day-- but we survived, ...we were dedicated to support,... we kept coming,... we had a lot of rough spots but we are still here now, and things are a little better,... and the kids are still being taken care of and loved the best we can, ...and they are making it through life with the best we have to give,... and its been a journey, and we were apart of it, ...and its good.
Notice the bottom of the swing says "Miracle"
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Up Close and Personal
So I just got over with one of the best experiences I've had as person wanting to follow Christ and it feels awesome. This is totally the way God works and it's so beautiful and genuinely felt so thankful to be able to be a part of it.
Here's how the story goes...
While I was in South Africa I wanted to be away from all the influences around me so I could deal with some blows I had to my faith and to be able to sort things out with God by myself. The time away was just what I needed, but my purpose there to reconnect with God didn't happen until a few bumps in the road.
So when I came back, I felt weak, knowing and believing in God, but I was dealing with the aftermath of my mistakes and again feeling malnourished in my faith. It was at that time that I couldn't' get the idea out of my head and felt so driven and passionate about bringing the Just Walk Across the Room Course to the church I grew up in but hadn't really been to since high school.
I can't tell you how uncomfortable I felt presenting the idea to these two pastors that I really admired but was really intimated by -- what "right" did I have to lead this course in the position I was in? Surprisingly, I was given the go ahead, and then started the 7 month uncomfortable process of promoting and getting leaders involved from the church (where I was a stranger) and then lots of other administrative things that were over my head.
The 4 week course finally became a reality and took place in November. The course was a video and group discussion set up all about Jesus' love for people and how to share that love and the gospel. There were about 200 people, and it seemed to go over really well. I don't really care to know if or how people were affected by it, what was so cool to me was what it meant from me to God-- that He let me be a part of something so worthwhile when I was in a position of having nothing to offer.
I get the feeling that is how it's always suppose to be.
Here's how the story goes...
While I was in South Africa I wanted to be away from all the influences around me so I could deal with some blows I had to my faith and to be able to sort things out with God by myself. The time away was just what I needed, but my purpose there to reconnect with God didn't happen until a few bumps in the road.
So when I came back, I felt weak, knowing and believing in God, but I was dealing with the aftermath of my mistakes and again feeling malnourished in my faith. It was at that time that I couldn't' get the idea out of my head and felt so driven and passionate about bringing the Just Walk Across the Room Course to the church I grew up in but hadn't really been to since high school.
I can't tell you how uncomfortable I felt presenting the idea to these two pastors that I really admired but was really intimated by -- what "right" did I have to lead this course in the position I was in? Surprisingly, I was given the go ahead, and then started the 7 month uncomfortable process of promoting and getting leaders involved from the church (where I was a stranger) and then lots of other administrative things that were over my head.
The 4 week course finally became a reality and took place in November. The course was a video and group discussion set up all about Jesus' love for people and how to share that love and the gospel. There were about 200 people, and it seemed to go over really well. I don't really care to know if or how people were affected by it, what was so cool to me was what it meant from me to God-- that He let me be a part of something so worthwhile when I was in a position of having nothing to offer.
I get the feeling that is how it's always suppose to be.
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