Celebrating: Her Heart Burst

I typically write my Saturday Celebrations during the week and have them finished to post early.  Come back later in the day to read everyones posts, and I always find a few posts that linger with me. Our community and how we comment and share our thoughts is so important to me as a teacher and a writer. 

This week was busy, and I did not get my post written.  It's Saturday morning. I'm looking at the snow on the ground, birds eating in our feeder, drinking my hot tea, and I'm ready to share my journey of becoming a teacher. 

The picture above is one of my greatest treasures. If the house were burning, I would want this. I need this.  It begins my story of becoming a teacher. Both my grandparents were well educated. My grandfather was a world renown pediatric surgeon. His career started in Boston and ended at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. There is a library in the hospital dedicated to him.  My grandmother LOVED reading and words!  She shared with me some of my favorite books and taught me the love of writing thank you notes.  She continued into her 60's translating Russian documents for The Ohio State University. My grandmother gave my mother the statue above while she was still living. When she passed, my mother passed it on to me. 

Mothers are always our first teachers. My mom wanted to be a teacher and never had an opportunity. She became my teacher.  Weekly trips to the library, helping me choose books and puzzles, reading to me every night and sharing her favorite authors especially of poetry.  Opening my eyes to the gift of books and "how they allow you to travel anywhere."  

For me I played school in our basement as soon as I could walk down the stairs. I've written a little about this in past blogs, but I honestly believed I was a teacher everyday as I walked downstairs. Being an only child, I never felt alone because i had my students. My mom's friend, Kathy, who was a teacher gave me a few "teachery" things. My heart burst with my first real grade book at age 8. Remember they were red or green, spiral bound and smelled wonderful.

Fast forward to our daughter, Anna, who is teaching in South Carolina. She played in our basement, and I brought home "teachery" things for her to use. Her heart burst when I allowed her to grade real math papers. She believed she was a teacher playing in our basement. 

Yesterday I was pulling down anchor charts (they were becoming wallpaper) and I was going to throw them away. I remember having conversations with H. about playing school in her basement.  I asked her if she would like them to take home.  Her heart burst.  I believe it is our job to encourage younger teachers, open our classrooms and share with them.  H. will be getting every little "teachery" thing I can find for the for the rest of this year. 

I'm thankful for our Celebration Community.  I will be reflecting on Ruth's post today for a long time.  Thank you Ruth for writing about what your afraid of and sharing when you're ready. 

Celebrating The Story of Our Cross

Our daughter was married last Friday in Charleston, South Carolina on Johns Island.  She moved to SC immediately after graduating from Bowling Green State University. Her home is in SC, but I believe her heart is still at our home, 22 acres of country living. She asked her dad, Tom, 6 months ago if he could build her a cross for their wedding. My husband replied, "Yes," and he found the perfect walnut tree on our property.  My husband and son cut down the tree and placed in our barn to dry. 6 weeks prior to the wedding he took the tree to a mill in the small town next to where we live to get the bark trimmed "rough sawn" which was a new term for me.  When the gentlemen asked my husband what he was going to make out of the walnut tree, my husband replied, "A cross for my daughter's wedding."  The gentleman replied, " I don't charge for crosses. I hope you have a beautiful wedding."

Our friend, who is a master craftsman, offered to help my husband build the cross.  One of the biggest decisions was how big to build the cross since we had to transport it to SC in our truck. The decision was made 9 feet which make me nervous, but I trusted the two experts. After several meetings, Tom went to pick up the cross and again he heard,  " I don't charge for crosses. I hope you have a beautiful wedding."

It was a beautiful wedding, and as I sat in the front row with my husband watching our little girl walk down the aisle. I knew in my heart that the cross held our true story of love and family.  Marriage is a full circle moment for parents. Knowing that our daughter married her best friend with our cross watching over them, this will always be a lifetime celebration.

Four hours before the wedding. Anna sees her cross that came from Ohio

It's a celebration for me as I reflect on my memories only a week ago.  I always appreciate the posts when Ruth shares her intimate family stories.  I am honored to share our recent family story today on #celebratelu.  

Celebrating Family and Friends

This past week was not easy. I am reminded that it's important to live each day to the fullest and look for celebrations. When times are tough, I try to remember that everyone has those moments, hours and even days.  My celebration is that I was never alone, and I was reminded of the importance of celebrating my family.  I believe God gives me moments to stop and to slow down. Life can be so busy, and I often get all caught up in the craziness.  

I'm celebrating friends and family that were there for me this week. Cards were mailed to our home and left in my mailbox at school. I was blessed to have family from Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina and Washington DC come in for the funeral. Our house was full with love and support for everyone. Their hugs and conversations were exactly what I needed. I'm celebrating my family and friends who once again were there to pick up the pieces.  

I enjoy reading Saturday celebrations because I learn so many life lessons. As I read Ruth's posts, I am always in awe of how she handles difficult situations.  I always find a lesson, celebration or a chance to grow as I read her posts. I try to live my life with those three points in difficult times. Here is a quote from her recent post "We've gotta share our stories with a real, live, genuine audience. Because what I know for sure is when we take our stories out, with our hearts pounding and our palms sweaty, we become alive and the world becomes better. We understand one another in new ways and we gain grace. Story will only change the world if we share them."  I am thankful for Celebration Saturday, and I appreciate learning from everyone.  Happy Saturday my friends.  Find a moment to celebrate family and friends. I know I will.

Today's Wonder Made me Stop and Pause

Six years ago our family embarked on a journey that will probably never be repeated, and as I read today's Wonder #505 Who's on Mount Rushmore?  I pulled out our family album and all the memories come back to me.  In July of 2006, our family drove out West in our Honda Pilot all loaded up for a 2 week vacation.  At times, a Chevy Chase type of vacation but YES a vacation that I believe all four of us would say was one of the BEST for many reasons.  So travel along with us.........

We drove straight through not our original plan.

One of  my favorite picture taken between two cracks in a rock.

Traffic jam in Yellowstone National Park.

 

 

 

 

Riding in Cody, Wyoming. 

There are many pictures in the album that bring back so many memories, the conversations, the places we visited and most important just the time we spent together.  As life continues to change now that Anna and Marcus are in college, remember to take the time to create those special family memories. Sometimes you just need a wonder of the day to make you stop and think.  Thanks Wonderopolis!