life beyond the well…

Tag Archives: Life


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First Day

It seems like every year the summer goes by faster and faster.  As a child, I enjoyed summers- they gave me time to read endlessly, play outside for hours, travel to see family members, go to camps to meet more new people.  Summer was a source of endless adventure, and I looked forward to it.

But…I also looked forward to going back to school.  I enjoyed the routine, I enjoyed the environment, and perhaps more than anything, I enjoyed learning.

I have spent all of my professional career in education, and I can honestly say that I STILL get the same emotions about back to school.  As much as I “needed” a break and a slower pace, after a little bit of travel and some extended quality time with Preacherman, I was ready to see the kiddos again.

Today, they were back.  And there’s absolutely no feeling like the first day of school.  This morning, I had the privilege to meet so many wonderful members of the Class of 2022.  This morning, I met so many little faces of hope, of possibility, of excitement; and I got overwhelmed with the same feeling I get every year when working with students: gratitude.

I am grateful that God called me to work in education.

I am grateful to have a job in education that I love and that contributes to my life’s purpose.

I am grateful for parents who trust me with their children.

I am grateful for previous students and parents who have shown me how to be better.

I am grateful for my current students who continue to defy statistics and prove what is possible.

I am grateful to work alongside (and to have previously worked with) some of the most caring, gifted, and talented educators.

Working education is tough. The days are long, but the years are short. It’s hard work, gut-wrenchingly tough work, that often times keeps you up far too late, or startles you awake far too early.  But it is SO worth it.  The time and energy spent investing in these lives is never wasted, and it is never in vain.  I can’t always see the results of the seeds that are planted, or being watered; but I can trust and believe God for the increase- in them and in me.

Day one down. 189 or so to go.

Cheers to the new year!


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Summer Reading 2014

I don’t think it’s any secret that I love to read.  It’s been one of my favorite pastimes for as long as I can remember.  I’m excited to have some time to read this summer, and I plan on tackling the following books:

  1. The Fault in Our Stars
  2. Lost at School
  3. Simple Church
  4. What’s Best Next
  5. Handle With Care

I heard many good things about The Fault in Our Stars from my students, and some of them have it has their summer reading book for high school.  With the moving just being released, I figured that now was as good a time as ever to read the book.  I’m about 4 chapters in and I’m enjoying it so far.

For professional development, we’ve been asked to read Lost at School.  I have yet to start it (hey, I still have a month or so before it needs to be finished), but I’m looking forward to it.  I’m very interested in understanding how we can improve school discipline for our students AND our schools.  I hope that it will be a refreshing perspective.

Preacherman has read Simple Church and he loves it.  As we continue in our church-planting process, he asked me to read it to gain a new understanding and perspective on how church is done, and how we can disciple others.  His excitement about the book has me excited to read it as well.

It is a personal goal for me to be better about managing my time.  My hope is to develop strong systems this summer that can carry me into the next school year in a good way.  I just started What’s Best Next, and I’m already getting some good wisdom.  I’ll be sure to share what I’ve learned when I finish!

Preacherman and I believe that it’s important to keep growing our marriage, and that we can do that by reading and learning together.  To that end, we are reading Handle With Care together, so that we can take the time to reflect, share, and process the book at the same time.  The book is written by our pastor, and we look forward to seeing what other nuggets of wisdom he has to share through this book.

So, that’s what’s on my bookshelf for the summer!  What are you reading?

Until next time…

Be encouraged!  Peace and Blessings!