What Teachers Make

Yesterday, our principal read us this poem during insesrvice. I thought it was too good not to share to all my teacher friends out there. Let's have a great school year, and good luck!

By Taylor Mali
http://www.taylormali.com/

The dinner guests were sitting around the table
discussing life. One man, a lawyer, decided to explain
the problem with education. He argued:
"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided
his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn
from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about
teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.
"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"
And I wish he hadn't done that
(asked me to be honest)
because, you see, I have a policy
about honesty and but-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.
You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.
You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you make, you give them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a damn difference! What about you?

Have a great school year!

Happy 3rd Birthday Holli!

Today we celebrated our niece Holli's 3rd birthday. She had the party at McDonald's play place. Everyone had a good time and the kids really enjoyed it!

Me and the birthday girl!

Cousins!

Happy Birthday to you....

Present time....

A couple of weeks ago was Sadie's birthday, she had a few presents there too....

At the end of the party, Nathan talked his dad into climbing to the top and sliding down...

Nathan loved it!

It was a fun day and Nathan pooped out as soon as we left

Happy Birthday Holli, we love you!

Walk on the Water

I just love it when God speaks to me. Saturday, while I was driving to a friends baby shower, I was praying and asking God certain things. This song came on the radio and one little paragraph really stood out to me like a sore thumb. You know how you feel when you know its God talking you? That's exactly what I felt. I know these words were from him. I working on what they mean to me and how to apply them, but I thought I would share with you. I enjoyed the whole song, but this part really stood out:

"Step out, even when it's storming

Step out, even when you're broken

Step out, even when your heart is telling you

Telling you to give up

Step out, when your hope is stolen

Step out, you can't see where you're going

You don't have to be afraid

So what are you waiting, what are you waiting for?"

We need to strive to "step out" for Christ no matter what is going on. In everything we do, "step out" Here is the song if you would like to listen.

Walk on the Water by Britt Nicole

New Life

Today, a long time family friend had a baby. Stacy and I were meeting in Tyler and we went by to see them. We had to stop a Genghis Grill first, I had been wanting to eat there for a LONG time!

Nathan really enjoyed playing with the bowl and spoon!

It was great food!

Then we got to see the little baby. I always forget how small newborn babies are until I get to hold them again. What a miracle! I saw this quote, but don't remember who it is by:

"Babies are God's opinion that the world should go on"

Jackson Wade Baucum

7 lbs 1 oz

18 1/2 inches

I just love being around babies!

Congratulations Terri, Chuck, and Ashton on your new bundle of joy!

The Boys were pretty good in the hospital room (for about a minute). Then they just played with Ashton the rest of the time while me and Stacy took turns holding Jackson.

Truth is good!

So you would have had to of read my last post The Truth Hurts to understand this one.

I don't really understand why the truth hurts. In my opinion, and I know that I think differently than most people, the truth doesn't hurt at all. I would much rather have someone tell me the truth than lie to me, or dilute something. I would hope that most people would feel the same way, but I don't know. If you wouldn't want someone to lie to you, then why do we get so upset when someone actually tells us the truth?

 Just something to think about I guess.

The Truth Hurts

I was driving yesterday and saw this bumper sticker.......

"Love Jesus or go to Hell!"

My first thoughts were, WOW, not very compassionate and loving towards non-believers, and not the way to get the message across. But the more I thought about it, the more the saying "the truth hurts" came to mind. This is a very true statement. If you do not love Jesus, and have a relationship with him, you will go to Hell. I do think this is a little VERY harsh, and not the way I like to present it to people, but still its true.

I just thought this was very interesting, and it made me wonder, why does the truth hurt so much? Let me know your thoughts!

Beavers Bend Camping Trip

This past weekend, we went on a camping trip to Beaver's Bend State Park in Oklahoma. We went with Matthew's family and we had a great time. Our cabin was beautiful! Here are some (it will probably be a lot) of this weekend.

Here we are on our way, Uncle Danny and Aunt Kelly rode with us!

The first night we were there, we just hung around the cabin and played with the kids. The girls did make a quick trip to the winery and gift shop. Here we are playing at the cabin.

Holli wanted to do my hair....it felt really good :)

The next day, we went on the lake. Broken Bow lake is so beautiful, I love looking at all the scenery and tubing of course!

Nathan driving with Papa

My two favorite people...

I love the scenery

Danny tubing

Me..

Matthew...

Nathan and  Mimi

Holli got to tube with me!

I really enjoyed her riding with me!

Then we stopped for a swim

We went back to the cabin, to eat some lunch and let the kids take a nap. It was mine and Matthew's 5 year anniversary, so once we got Nathan to sleep, we went out to have some fun !

It was a fun afternoon just hanging out together!

That night, we all went to play putt-putt

He was so cute playing!

The next morning we went for a train ride..

Nathan was really enjoying it, until.....

It broke down!

We sat there for what seemed like FOREVER

The boys even got off!

They finally got it going again, but we went super fast the rest of the way back to the depot! It was so funny!

That afternoon, the "big kids" took the boat out to have some more fun

 

Then we all went to the river to wade around, it was FREEZING!

We all had a great time!