Small Victory

In teaching, I have learned that there are small victories that can make your entire week. One small thing can overshadow a week of dealing with 250 adolescent, hormonal 12,13 year olds.

I recently had one of those small victories. Let me set up the background for you. Johnny Boy is new to my school this year. Johnny Boy hasn’t had the greatest life, but he is surrounded by love and support. Johnny Boy’s dad died a long, painful death 3 years ago. Since then, his teachers have (in my opinion) babied him through school. Now Johnny Boy is light years behind and can barely tell me his multiplication facts. Johnny Boy’s mom has since remarried a former Dallas Cowboys player who is awesome. He is a wonderful, fatherly influence on Johnny Boy and is striving to help him succeed.

On my tests, I will never put anything lower than a 50. I will “flat line 50” you. Johnny Boy has received a flat line 50 on every. Single. one of my tests all. Year. Long.

I have been emailing step dad almost daily with powerpoints and  extra tips; we have been in constant communication.

Cue a small victory:

 This is Johnny Boy’s most recent test. A 73!!!! Holy cow. I about died when I saw it! Most of the time when I’m grading I do not pay attention to whose test it is; it’s not until I’m putting the grade in the grade book that I really focus on who scored what. A 73! He passed a test?!

The next day I pulled Johnny Boy out in the hallway and said, “Guess what you made on your test?”

He responded with, “A 40.”  

Me: “Higher”

Him: “50”

Me: “Higher”

Him: “60”

Me: “Higher”

Him: “There is no way I made a 70 on the test.”

Me: “You made a 73!!! And I expect a 70 or higher on every test from here on out!”

Small victory. 

Matthew West

Matthew west was another speaker at Game Changers. It was like almost to the point where you were starting to just feel overwhelmed by the authenticity of every speaker and then they send a singer out there. Cue: praise and worship service. Just Matthew's guitar and his voice. Cue: Mollie losing it and finally crying. He started with a song I am very familiar with, but after all the prior speakers, I heard the words completely differently.

I don't wanna go through the motions. I don't wanna go one more day. Without your all consuming passion inside of me. I don't wanna spend my whole life asking what if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?

Then after he played that song he told us how he wrote his latest album. Most artists write songs based upon their life; he wanted to write songs based upon our lives. He has received over 25,000 letters and he's still reading. We then watched a video over Jordan's story. He is a pk (for those of you that didn't grow up as a minister's child... that's a preacher's kid). He played college football until he needed ankle surgery and after his surgery he became hooked on oxycotton. A preacher's kid turned drug addict. It was a powerful story and he told it with tears streaming down his face. This story touched Matthew so much that he wrote the following song about Jordan's story - "Hello, my name is."

Hello my name is defeat, I know you recognize me. Just when you think you can win, I’ll drag you right back down again. Hello my name is child of the one true King. I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free. Amazing Grace is the song I sing. Hello my name is child of the one true King.

Matthew ended with asking us these questions:

What if you decide you want to be a real character in your kids story? 

What do they need? They need you to pour into their lives. It goes beyond the one game; it's about the legacy you leave.

Game Changers

On Monday I went to the best professional development I have ever been to: a coaching leadership summit. This summit felt much more like a church revival than a boring, sit and doodle all over my notes professional development. The style of the summit was short speeches.. I loved this style. You didn't have time to get distracted and each speaker had a new topic that blew your mind away. I think this will be several blogs because I just have too much to say. I took pages of notes on my phone and will in no way be as powerful as these speakers were, but I love what I wrote down and couldn't wait to blog about it all. 

Here are my notes from some of the speakers.
Joe Erhman –

·         24 million Children live absent their biological father 

o   Of those 50% have not seen their father in over a year

·         Transactional vs transformational
Transactional - coach 1st, team 2nd, players 3rd
Transform - players 1st, team 2nd, coaches needs met by meeting needs of players 
Transactional love vs transformational love

·         What is your coaching purpose? 
Most coaches burn out bc they are not coaching to a higher purpose.

·         The prophet Malachi 

Wow. I want to be a transformational coach. I want to be a transformational teacher. I need to be a transformational role model. Transactional sounds like I'm at a bank; that is not what I want my classroom/gym to feel like. Joe actually had written a physical coaching purpose (it had to do with creating men with kindness, empathy, and service) and I think that is a good practice - so I will be taking the time in the future to write my own personal coaching purpose. 

Glenn Beck –

·         Exodus 3:14 – God says “I am who I am.”

Use the power of God with truth - I am strong. I am confident. 

·         Don't take his name in vain - I am stupid. I am incompetent. 

·         Relentlessly pursue the truth then apply it. 

Uh. Mind blown. I have been a Christian for 16 years and I've never thought about it that way. Especially in middle school I hear of kids talking about themselves negatively all the time. It's part of the reason why kids cannot even say "shut up" or "stupid" -- the dreaded s words -- in my room. It's part of the reason why every Friday we turn to a neighbor and tell them how great they are before they leave for the weekend. And I just really love the word relentless; I love everything it stands for.  

Bob beaudine –

·         Triple threat: encourage, declare, dream bigger 

·         We've forgotten people matter most.. God taught it, we've forgotten it.

The energy between two people is what creates great marriages, families, teams, universities, and "legendary results"
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 two are better than one

I believe there is a lot of things society has forgotten that God has taught us; but the Bible definitely teaches us people come first. I want my kids to be service leaders so badly, but how am I supposed to impress that upon them while teaching them 50 minutes of math? I believe I can do that by showing them that people matter most. I love the quote about energy creates great everythings and then it's supported by a scripture reference. 

Dewy gray –

·         Our job as a coach is to make someone else great, add value to their life

·         "Unleash massive amounts of people that can win the game of life"

           You can be the answer to a player’s prayer.  

I want to create athletes that can win at the game of life. Especially in middle school, I want to instill in them the character traits that will carry them past middle school athletics.

It was so good. I left feeling motivated, inspired, my eyes were opened, and I want to do something about it. I want to be a game changer. Stay tuned for more. 

Click Here to watch a video about Game Changers

Pineapple Mint

Water.

Water is something you have to have to live.

I personally hate drinking water. I know I need to drink more, but I have the hardest time. Here are my water stipulations:

1. It must be ice water cold.

2. I really prefer to have lemon in my water.

Hence my mission to find water that I can force myself drink on a regular basis.

I saw an idea and happened to have the ingredients to make it: Pineapple Mint Water. It was very fresh and quite refreshing.

I have also found the product MetroMint. This is pre-made, flavored water with mint. Mint is supposed to help curb appetites. I’m not sure if I believe that is true, but I do like the way it taste. I preferred my fresh pineapple mint water to MetroMint, but I do enjoy the spearmint and peppermint flavors.

If anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to let me know.

Spring Style Trends

Style. I do not really know if I have a style, but I do like to follow all sorts of trends. There are days I feel I dress really urban – usually include my combat boots (which Hannah loves so much). Days I know I dress really preppy – typically include a bubble necklace or cardigan. Days I dress casual cute – always wearing my keds or sperrys. And days where I just throw on whatever feels right – typically when I get the most compliments…. And I wasn’t even trying!!

  

So, please do not take this post as a die hard fashion post that must be strictly followed. I wear what is comfortable. However, I do love to look ahead and see what the upcoming trends are going to be! I’m pretty excited about the ones I’ve seen so far.

1. Chambray/Denim - still obsessed with all denim, all the time

All time fav outfit.
2nd fav is with white shorts.

Paired with a skirt, as a
cardigan 

2. Stripes - super fan

   

3. Mod - as long as big hair comes with it, I'm game

                      

I love taking what I find and applying it to my closet. So for my last home basketball game today I decided to combine all 3. I thought I was just combining the first two until my fellow coach told me I looked very 70's today. So there you have it folks! 

Foil Packs

Who says they're for camping? Why can these not be enjoyed as quick throw together recipes. I cheated even more when I knew I was going to have a ridiculous week and grabbed pre cut vegetable medley when it was on sale! It had all my favorites in it - squash, zucchini, onion, sweet potato. The only thing I was really missing was mushrooms. I cooked my foil pack in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. It was perfection. 

Ingredients (minus chicken)

Soaked about a cup of stuffing mix in water, then
put the chicken over it

                

               Seasoned with lemon pepper and garlic powder

                          

Topped with cheese and a Tbs of ranch!

Yummy! 

I sent a picture to Hannah and her only response was, "You made all that for lunch?" It was definitely worth it!