"How can you be the good in the world?" I posed this question to the students of Mrs. Cross' and Mrs. Burgess' fourth grade classes during our first kindness lesson in September as we distributed Kindness Journals for them to record their thoughts. The question brought forth a multitude of memories as they shared kind… Continue reading Kindness Share Fair 2021
Weathering Kindness and Change
Winter weather in the south is often a hit-or-miss event. There are some years where we have so many snow days occur that our district calendar is modified to make up for the loss of instructional time. There are other years where rain and sleet are the best we get, making for a long, dark… Continue reading Weathering Kindness and Change
One Step Closer to Heaven
I always knew I was destined to be a reader. While I can't quite recall the moment when letters became words and words became stories, my memories are scattered with still-frame snapshots of me reading. I can see myself in my mind's eye, stretched out on my twin-sized bed, completely engrossed in yet another Judy… Continue reading One Step Closer to Heaven
One Word 2021
Wow. What a crazy year. Each time I sit down to reflect on this past year, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I think back to that first day in January when the shining brilliance of opportunity glimmered like diamonds on a sandy beach. The future was beautiful. Pristine. Limitless. Never in a… Continue reading One Word 2021
Socktober 2020
One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is to scale back a bit from the daily rush of life and reflect on events of the past year. If you know me well, it is no surprise that my phone is filled with photos, capturing monumental memories as well as minuscule moments… Continue reading Socktober 2020
Lighten the Load
December is a tough month. Whether it's enduring financial hardships from a strained economy or the forced separation from family and friends due to a pandemic, this holiday season is one of the heaviest we've endured as a nation and as a global community. People are hurting. The weight of emotional and physical stress is… Continue reading Lighten the Load
Are You OK?
I woke at sunrise, my internal clock overriding the realization that today was a day off from work. I walked quietly down the wooden planks of my hallway, nearly tip-toeing past the bedrooms of my my three children sleeping soundly in their beds. My three children. Three. My daughter arrived home from college last Friday… Continue reading Are You OK?
World Kindness Day 2020
It's been a while since I've written a kindness-themed post, so I wanted to take the time to share a few of my adventures from World Kindness Day and perhaps inspire you to do the same! Each year on November 13, people all around the world join in the fun of completing kind acts for… Continue reading World Kindness Day 2020
In the Eye of the Hurricane
As far back as I can remember, I have been transfixed by severe weather, specifically thunderstorms and hurricanes. My childhood home included a sunroom, where three sides of transparent glass encased a room filled with floral patterned furniture and a large ceiling fan. Many afternoons were spent in that space, a juxtaposition of calm and… Continue reading In the Eye of the Hurricane
Living My Best Life
Transitioning from summer-mom mode to working-school mode in August is always a challenge. The warp speed from 0-60 mph happens so quickly you can almost feel the whiplash before it happens. Being an educator and a mom is a balancing act that always get toppled at the start of the school year. As much as… Continue reading Living My Best Life