In case I haven't mentioned it one or forty times, 6th graders tend to push me to the brink of a nervous breakdown most days. I mean everyday. I recently had this conversation:
6th Grade Girl: He called me the "B" word.
Me (to 6th Grade Boy): Did you call her the "B" word?
6th Grade Boy: No, I called her a Big Nose because she called me a Ping Pong Head.
Being the professional that I am, I immediately began scrolling through my mental library of appropriate and effective responses to ABSURD accusations and conversations. Unfortunately, I could only come up with "Go sit down, and please...just STOP TALKING."
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Three's
Okay, I admit it. I have been known to be a tiny bit stubborn from time to time.
My parents LOVE to tell this story...
When I was probably three or four and learning to write my numbers and letters, I consistently wrote the number three backwards. My mom and dad tried tirelessly to convince me to change the direction of my three's but to no avail. We had many conversations that went something like this:
Mom/Dad: That's very nice, but your three is backwards
Tiffany: No it isn't. That's how I make my three's.
Mom/Dad: But, a three is supposed to face the other way.
Tiffany: Okay, but this is how I make MY three's.
End of conversation.
As one might imagine, my childhood (teen years, college years, post-college years...) proved to be quite a challenge because of my unwillingness to back down...from anyone or anything.
I would like to point out here that my strong will has, in fact, saved me from a few fashion disasters over the years...such as the skinny jean. I meant it when I said that I will NEVER wear skinny jeans. Quite frankly, I believe they are a fashion mistake for just about anyone. On the flip side, my strong will probably left me with extraordinarily large bangs a season or two past their prime...as I was convinced that they provided a "classic" look.
But I digress...
Fortunately, the Lord placed people in my life along the way who began to teach me to turn my strong will into a determination to follow Christ. My stubbornness was not a curse but a gift that was being misused. While I know this to be true, there are still moments where I find myself refusing to change the direction of my three's.
Case in point...
I am a teacher. And, most seasoned teachers know that when given a suggestion or task by an administrator, it is okay to smile and nod in agreement...and then do whatever you want to do. This has worked well for me over the years...until now. I now teach in a special program in our district where many eyes are watching my every move. I can no longer blend into the crowd and do my own thing. I must give up control and CONFORM even when I think MY way is better. This has been more difficult than I care to admit. It seems that lurking around every corner is another test of my willingness to surrender and to CHANGE.
Come to think of it, life in Colorado has been one giant confrontation with life not done MY way...the way people drive, communicate, educate, decorate, eat, think, dress, worship, spend money, prioritize, and on and on. While entirely frustrating at times, living here has been an opportunity for the Lord to stretch me in areas of my life where I have held on too tightly.
And He has.
SO MANY TIMES, I have wanted to pack my bags and move back to Houston...because that would be easier. And SO MANY TIMES, the Lord has convinced me that He wants me to trust HIS plan and to stay. Change is NEVER easy, especially for Yours Truly who likes CONTROL. But, I have found that a willingness to surrender only leads to greater peace, increased contentment, and a deeper trust in Jesus Christ.
And a correctly constructed number THREE.
Disclaimer...
By no means does this imply that I intend to end the discussion of my bizarre life in Colorado. I am willing to make changes, People, but I will not surrender my quest for an acceptable pedicure, a restaurant that stays open past 9, or a well manicured lawn. Or an appropriately sized pumpkin for that matter. Change is one thing, but complete disregard for sensible living practices simply crosses the line.
My parents LOVE to tell this story...
When I was probably three or four and learning to write my numbers and letters, I consistently wrote the number three backwards. My mom and dad tried tirelessly to convince me to change the direction of my three's but to no avail. We had many conversations that went something like this:
Mom/Dad: That's very nice, but your three is backwards
Tiffany: No it isn't. That's how I make my three's.
Mom/Dad: But, a three is supposed to face the other way.
Tiffany: Okay, but this is how I make MY three's.
End of conversation.
As one might imagine, my childhood (teen years, college years, post-college years...) proved to be quite a challenge because of my unwillingness to back down...from anyone or anything.
I would like to point out here that my strong will has, in fact, saved me from a few fashion disasters over the years...such as the skinny jean. I meant it when I said that I will NEVER wear skinny jeans. Quite frankly, I believe they are a fashion mistake for just about anyone. On the flip side, my strong will probably left me with extraordinarily large bangs a season or two past their prime...as I was convinced that they provided a "classic" look.
But I digress...
Fortunately, the Lord placed people in my life along the way who began to teach me to turn my strong will into a determination to follow Christ. My stubbornness was not a curse but a gift that was being misused. While I know this to be true, there are still moments where I find myself refusing to change the direction of my three's.
Case in point...
I am a teacher. And, most seasoned teachers know that when given a suggestion or task by an administrator, it is okay to smile and nod in agreement...and then do whatever you want to do. This has worked well for me over the years...until now. I now teach in a special program in our district where many eyes are watching my every move. I can no longer blend into the crowd and do my own thing. I must give up control and CONFORM even when I think MY way is better. This has been more difficult than I care to admit. It seems that lurking around every corner is another test of my willingness to surrender and to CHANGE.
Come to think of it, life in Colorado has been one giant confrontation with life not done MY way...the way people drive, communicate, educate, decorate, eat, think, dress, worship, spend money, prioritize, and on and on. While entirely frustrating at times, living here has been an opportunity for the Lord to stretch me in areas of my life where I have held on too tightly.
And He has.
SO MANY TIMES, I have wanted to pack my bags and move back to Houston...because that would be easier. And SO MANY TIMES, the Lord has convinced me that He wants me to trust HIS plan and to stay. Change is NEVER easy, especially for Yours Truly who likes CONTROL. But, I have found that a willingness to surrender only leads to greater peace, increased contentment, and a deeper trust in Jesus Christ.
And a correctly constructed number THREE.
Disclaimer...
By no means does this imply that I intend to end the discussion of my bizarre life in Colorado. I am willing to make changes, People, but I will not surrender my quest for an acceptable pedicure, a restaurant that stays open past 9, or a well manicured lawn. Or an appropriately sized pumpkin for that matter. Change is one thing, but complete disregard for sensible living practices simply crosses the line.
Monday, November 10, 2008
10-0!!
I just returned from a GREAT weekend in Lubbock where I got to cheer on my Red Raiders as they went 10-0 Saturday night! WRECK 'EM TECH!!! The town is CRAZY, and it was SO MUCH FUN to be a part of the excitement.
Because I recently had to purchase airline tickets for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, I decided a few weeks ago that DRIVING to Lubbock (after school on a Friday) seemed like an okay idea. Fortunately, I enjoy a little peace and quiet after school, so I managed to suffer through the 7 1/2 hour ordeal. My excitement about the game even led me to find a way to entertain myself for the trip's entirety. This included convincing those on the highway with me that I am an untapped musical talent who needed to practice a few numbers for my debut as Belle in Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast". I don't want to brag, but my performance was magical.
Probably the most invigorating part of the night was being pulled over for speeding. Fortunately, I was in West Texas and was pulled over by a county sheriff...who was apparently a Tech fan. I'm not sure why, but my voice went completely country as soon as I began to explain that I am not an out-of-stater...and that Texas is my home. Apparently, my talent extends beyond Broadway. Anyhow, when I shared with him that I was heading to the Tech game, he told me he would run my license and give me a warning so I could be on my way. I LOVE TEXAS!
I then made one quick pit stop at the Toot 'n Totum in Amarillo for gas and a Laffy Taffy before arriving into Lubbock just after midnight. It was quite a night...and quite a weekend!
Here are a few pics...
Tessa, Taleigh, me, and Morgan (one of my former students who was checking out the campus)
The SISTERS in front of the Tech seal. GUNS UP!!
Two good reasons NOT to go to OSU. Yes, her eyebrows are orange....because we might not have thought it was natural otherwise!
GAME TIME!!!
10-0!!!
And because it has been so long since my last post, here are a few of the "goings on" of Tiffany over the past couple of weeks...
One of our sweet friends from small group hosted a breakfast at her house before church. The view from the house was incredible...you could see the entire city. This is my friend Kari and me (and Kari's cousin's daughter).
Our Fall Festival was the night before the UT-Tech game. Someone (with really bad taste) chose burnt orange shirts for the volunteers. You REALLY can fix ANYTHING with duct tape, can't you?
Kari, Christy, Becky, and I all have birthdays in September and October, so we decided to celebrate with brunch at the Broadmoor. This was the morning after Tech beat UT, so....YES, I wore my Tech shirt to the Broadmoor!
In front of the lake at the Broadmoor
My BFF Sarah Palin came to see me the night before the election.
Unfortunately, the spotlight behind the stage ruined my pictures, but if you look really carefully...you can see Todd and Sarah...LOVE THEM!
Because I recently had to purchase airline tickets for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, I decided a few weeks ago that DRIVING to Lubbock (after school on a Friday) seemed like an okay idea. Fortunately, I enjoy a little peace and quiet after school, so I managed to suffer through the 7 1/2 hour ordeal. My excitement about the game even led me to find a way to entertain myself for the trip's entirety. This included convincing those on the highway with me that I am an untapped musical talent who needed to practice a few numbers for my debut as Belle in Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast". I don't want to brag, but my performance was magical.
Probably the most invigorating part of the night was being pulled over for speeding. Fortunately, I was in West Texas and was pulled over by a county sheriff...who was apparently a Tech fan. I'm not sure why, but my voice went completely country as soon as I began to explain that I am not an out-of-stater...and that Texas is my home. Apparently, my talent extends beyond Broadway. Anyhow, when I shared with him that I was heading to the Tech game, he told me he would run my license and give me a warning so I could be on my way. I LOVE TEXAS!
I then made one quick pit stop at the Toot 'n Totum in Amarillo for gas and a Laffy Taffy before arriving into Lubbock just after midnight. It was quite a night...and quite a weekend!
Here are a few pics...
Tessa, Taleigh, me, and Morgan (one of my former students who was checking out the campus)
The SISTERS in front of the Tech seal. GUNS UP!!
Two good reasons NOT to go to OSU. Yes, her eyebrows are orange....because we might not have thought it was natural otherwise!
GAME TIME!!!
10-0!!!And because it has been so long since my last post, here are a few of the "goings on" of Tiffany over the past couple of weeks...
One of our sweet friends from small group hosted a breakfast at her house before church. The view from the house was incredible...you could see the entire city. This is my friend Kari and me (and Kari's cousin's daughter).
Our Fall Festival was the night before the UT-Tech game. Someone (with really bad taste) chose burnt orange shirts for the volunteers. You REALLY can fix ANYTHING with duct tape, can't you?
Kari, Christy, Becky, and I all have birthdays in September and October, so we decided to celebrate with brunch at the Broadmoor. This was the morning after Tech beat UT, so....YES, I wore my Tech shirt to the Broadmoor!
In front of the lake at the Broadmoor
My BFF Sarah Palin came to see me the night before the election.
Unfortunately, the spotlight behind the stage ruined my pictures, but if you look really carefully...you can see Todd and Sarah...LOVE THEM!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Not EVERYTHING is Bigger in Texas!
This was the view from my front porch Wednesday morning...the first snow of the season!
And, lest you think it is always a winter wonderland here in Colorado Springs....
I took a different route home from school today and stumbled upon a rather unpleasant scene. Is THIS what happens to pumpkins in high altitude? Does anyone else feel the need to put some pants on these babies, or is that just me?
I'm not sure what is more disturbing...the morbidly obese pumpkins or the shrub garden disguised as landscaping.
And, lest you think it is always a winter wonderland here in Colorado Springs....
I took a different route home from school today and stumbled upon a rather unpleasant scene. Is THIS what happens to pumpkins in high altitude? Does anyone else feel the need to put some pants on these babies, or is that just me?
I'm not sure what is more disturbing...the morbidly obese pumpkins or the shrub garden disguised as landscaping.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Random
I finally got around to downloading the pictures from my camera.
First, my awesome small group surprised me with flowers, a tiara (much like the ones I wore in my pageant days), and some yummy goodies for my birthday.
Brian gave me a spaghetti squash from his garden. Sadly, I was as excited about the squash as I was about the flowers. I'm old. Next year...party at Luby's!
I went to see Beth in Basalt last weekend. The fall colors were so BEAUTIFUL! These pictures were taken a few houses down from where Beth lives. I started my morning jogs here. The weather was perfect...crisp and cool! The second half of the trail took me along one of the best fly fishing rivers in the U.S. I forgot to go back and take pictures though. Just check out any magazine with pictures of a trail along a river shaded by a canopy of trees in fall colors, and that's pretty much what it looked like.
Snowmass...between Basalt and Aspen. I plan to be here this winter!
We had breakfast in Aspen and then took a stroll around town. I like to walk into the shops in Aspen and pretend to be very rich. We first visited Pitkin Country Dry Goods...a favorite of mine...and of my good friend, Jennifer Aniston. The first sweater I picked up was $700. Since one of the employees was watching me, I simply nodded at the price as if to let her know that I thought it was a good deal....and then proceeded to size it up by stretching the sweater against my chest and looking down over the top of the hanger at my new look . It wasn't quite what I was going for, so I put it back and continued my pretend shopping spree. After a few minutes, I left Pitkin County Dry Goods...and communicated to the employees through my convincing facial expressions that I would be spending my large fortune elsewhere.
We made a quick stop at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory where I enjoyed a chocolate covered pretzel. Adelaide chose an M&M covered marshmallow kabob. I don't think she ever ate the marshmallows. They simply served as a glue that held the M&M's to the stick. Beth would want me to tell you that Adelaide (almost 3) insisted on wearing Grace's (9) vest.
This past Friday night, a few of us celebrated the birthday of our friend Abraham at the Blue Star. I'm not sure why, but the conversation eventually centered around Angelina Jolie.
First, my awesome small group surprised me with flowers, a tiara (much like the ones I wore in my pageant days), and some yummy goodies for my birthday.
Brian gave me a spaghetti squash from his garden. Sadly, I was as excited about the squash as I was about the flowers. I'm old. Next year...party at Luby's!
I went to see Beth in Basalt last weekend. The fall colors were so BEAUTIFUL! These pictures were taken a few houses down from where Beth lives. I started my morning jogs here. The weather was perfect...crisp and cool! The second half of the trail took me along one of the best fly fishing rivers in the U.S. I forgot to go back and take pictures though. Just check out any magazine with pictures of a trail along a river shaded by a canopy of trees in fall colors, and that's pretty much what it looked like.
Snowmass...between Basalt and Aspen. I plan to be here this winter!
We had breakfast in Aspen and then took a stroll around town. I like to walk into the shops in Aspen and pretend to be very rich. We first visited Pitkin Country Dry Goods...a favorite of mine...and of my good friend, Jennifer Aniston. The first sweater I picked up was $700. Since one of the employees was watching me, I simply nodded at the price as if to let her know that I thought it was a good deal....and then proceeded to size it up by stretching the sweater against my chest and looking down over the top of the hanger at my new look . It wasn't quite what I was going for, so I put it back and continued my pretend shopping spree. After a few minutes, I left Pitkin County Dry Goods...and communicated to the employees through my convincing facial expressions that I would be spending my large fortune elsewhere.
We made a quick stop at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory where I enjoyed a chocolate covered pretzel. Adelaide chose an M&M covered marshmallow kabob. I don't think she ever ate the marshmallows. They simply served as a glue that held the M&M's to the stick. Beth would want me to tell you that Adelaide (almost 3) insisted on wearing Grace's (9) vest.
This past Friday night, a few of us celebrated the birthday of our friend Abraham at the Blue Star. I'm not sure why, but the conversation eventually centered around Angelina Jolie.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Quotes
**Update**
Two gems from today:
Apparently, one of the most famous stock exchanges in America is the "Wal-Mart Stock Exchange". You can really buy ANYTHING there, can't you?
AND...
I also learned today that "most Americans claim to have roots from Jermaine." (Germany). As in Jackson?? So, does that make Michael my uncle?
I have just a few minutes before I need to start packing. I'm heading to Aspen, my home away from home, this weekend. I know, I lead a rough life! Anyhow, I wanted to take a minute to share a couple of my favorite student quotes from the week. Enjoy...
"Immigrants should have the same rights as us. They are human beans too."
I am considering hooking this girl up with the creators of Veggie Tales. I really think she might be onto something.
"I will stop enter roping class so much."
This is the year-long goal of one of our 6th graders. Perhaps we should add SPELLING to the plan as well!
Two gems from today:
Apparently, one of the most famous stock exchanges in America is the "Wal-Mart Stock Exchange". You can really buy ANYTHING there, can't you?
AND...
I also learned today that "most Americans claim to have roots from Jermaine." (Germany). As in Jackson?? So, does that make Michael my uncle?
I have just a few minutes before I need to start packing. I'm heading to Aspen, my home away from home, this weekend. I know, I lead a rough life! Anyhow, I wanted to take a minute to share a couple of my favorite student quotes from the week. Enjoy...
"Immigrants should have the same rights as us. They are human beans too."
I am considering hooking this girl up with the creators of Veggie Tales. I really think she might be onto something.
"I will stop enter roping class so much."
This is the year-long goal of one of our 6th graders. Perhaps we should add SPELLING to the plan as well!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Chocolate Cake
Every few weeks, I have the unique privilege of teaching writing skills to a handful of students during Saturday School. We try to make it as painless as possible because, let's face it...NO ONE (myself included) enjoys spending a Saturday morning reviewing the finer points of grammar, writing, and revision. During my most recent Saturday School session, I gave students the task of writing about their three favorite desserts. We then reviewed the entire writing process. When the kids were finished, we put a few of their essays on the SmartBoard (without their names, of course) and practiced editing together. For those of you who are unfamiliar with a SmartBoard, it is essentially an overpriced interactive white board that we educators use in an attempt to appear as if we are on the cutting edge of technology.
Anyhow, I came across the following sentences nestled strategically in the middle of a paragraph we were editing. I considered sharing the entire essay with you but fought the urge for fear that you might lose any remaining confidence in our education system.
Saturday Student Extraordinaire (an 8th grader) writes:
"And don't even get me started on chocolate cake. I love me some chocolate cake."
I'm assuming "And" is the transition word here.
Seeing as how these were two of her more successful attempts at appropriate sentence structure, I focused on the positive and praised her for her passion. After all, I love me some chocolate cake too!
Anyhow, I came across the following sentences nestled strategically in the middle of a paragraph we were editing. I considered sharing the entire essay with you but fought the urge for fear that you might lose any remaining confidence in our education system.
Saturday Student Extraordinaire (an 8th grader) writes:
"And don't even get me started on chocolate cake. I love me some chocolate cake."
I'm assuming "And" is the transition word here.
Seeing as how these were two of her more successful attempts at appropriate sentence structure, I focused on the positive and praised her for her passion. After all, I love me some chocolate cake too!
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