Maps N Globes, Anyone?

I'm on fire, and I have maps and globes to prove it.  Two days ago, I met with Paul Havnen, a sales representative from Nystrom that I met at the SAI Conference earlier this month.

When I first met Paul, I was winding down from a three hour rampage of introducing myself to anyone and everyone who would lend me an ear toward My Dream. He was so receptive to me and willing to partner with me to bring literacy to eager minds in Africa.  Thanks Paul! 

As you can see, I now have eight globes, 24 huge pull-down maps, and numerous laminated maps for individual use.   I can't wait for others to join with me on my mission for literacy.

We can make a big difference if we join together for a common goal - the children.  This mission is much bigger than I am - so, hey - what is your expertise? Want to get involved? I am open to any and all conversation toward my burning desire to send educational supplies to Africa.  Talk to me!

 

An Unexpected Teacher

I thought my inspiration for writing this morning came in the form of the two deer I saw on the trail as I was running.  They paused in the middle of the the trail just long enough to twitch their tails and ears as if to say "hi," then - with two graceful leaps, the forest swallowed them up into safety. 

  But my true fire came at the half-way point in my jog.  As I walked off a midway pant, I noticed a man sitting, furiously writing.  With bated breath and a desire among two choiced questions, I asked the stranger, "Are you writing for business or pleasure?"  "Pleasure," he answered.

Smiling, I lunged at my fellow comrade of the written word to shake his hand and introduced myself as a fellow writer.  He gently said, "I don't know if I am a writer, but I write words." His humble, brillant response made me want to snatch his notebook from his grasp and breathe in his words.

I resisted my temptation with my response of "Continue in peace and write your words."  I left the unknown writer without knowing a single thing about him.  As I continued on my jog, it occured to me that even though we did not share the customary exchange of names, I know we both felt a commonality of desire - the love of language.

My humble teacher of the moment taught me a very imporant lesson today  -  I am not alone as a writer, though I always write alone in a solitary spot.  As writers, we are all driven to share our inspired words.

So fear not, dear writers of the world.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  We are all together in our aloneness.  Share your inspired words - purge yourself for the greater good, for the world is better for it.

Photo on Flickr by imapixistix

A Generous Start to my DREAM

Gotta Love those Mountain Top experiences, huh!  Well, I had a doozey a couple of days ago.  I was honored to meet a representative from a major educational publishing company at an out-of-the-way storage facility.  The unit was brimming full of educational supplies.

From his generous heart, I left with reading, math, and science curriculum that will bless African children who have no possibility of being exposed to such wonderful learning materials. 

As I drove away, I allowed my heart to envision these supplies being opened in the projects and make-shift classrooms in Africa.  Their imagined smiles filled my heart with joy and my eyes with tears.  In that instant, I was truely high on life in the possibility of making a difference in the world. 

Then, of course, I had to go to Dairy Queen for a huge cherry dip cone.  With the emotional high and a raging sugar rush going strong inside me, I drove home six feet off the ground. 

My African DREAM!

  Have you ever had a topic to write about that seems too big to tackle that you can’t even begin to write about it?  Well, welcome to my world.  I need to send educational supplies to Africa. I know!  You have so many questions racing through your head right about now.  Let’s just say – all of your questions will be answered in due time.  For now, listen to my heart and my passion. 

 

    My heart for African children and my dream to go to Africa have always been deep within me.  As a life-long sponsor through Compassion International, I have been drawn to Africa when the opportunity to sponsor a child was presented to me.  I cannot explain or qualify why that is - I just know that I know.  I believe God has given me this passion and I will not question it. 

 

With this passion deeply rooted in my life, God is now leading me to a much bigger calling - One that seems impossible in the natural.  The horrific marriage between poverty and illiteracy is undeniable.  It is a cycle that traps people in developing countries to an existence of mere survival.  It is a problem that is much bigger than I am - but I believe in the power of one.  As an advocate for those who have no voice toward their literacy, I am prepared to be the one who is simply the hands and feet of THE ONE who makes true change happen in the world. 

 

That is not to say I can do it alone though.  With the belief in "Knowledge Is Power," I am led to spread the word of my mission and invite others to come alongside me to work together for a greater good - THE CHILDREN.  I know that together WE can make a difference in the literacy of children from developing countries.  

 

From Crayons to Curriculum, we can impower African children with the knowledge and resources they need to become literate in the 21st Century.  Come back to my site often to see what God is doing through me in making this dream a reality.  Your suggestions and help in this endeavor is essential to me.  I am open to any and all help I can find.  Let's see what we can accomplish together!

 

photo from flickr artinallofus.org

My Belief Statement

At the request of a dear friend and after much soul searching, I am attempting to put into words the things I believe in most. 

I believe in living my life and fulfilling my ambitions through the Principle of the 3 P's:

Purpose - I must find purpose in my days or I am living aimlessly.

Passion - It is my driving force.

Perserverance - With all my dreams and goals, there have invariably been obstacles to overcome.  Digging in deep and forging through the hard times make the achievements of my dreams that much sweeter.

With these principles in mind, I believe in the Power Of One.  Anyone can change the world!

I believe on being open to God's call on my life at any given moment because He provides Divine Appointments through which His good work can be accomplished.

Promises need to be kept, especially to children.  Adults may understand a broken promise, but children's hearts are splintered by lost promises.

I believe in a "spot" - a place where I can think, meditate, pray, find perspective, and enjoy my surroundings.  My spot is always in nature.

Finally, I believe in laughing hysterically, loving purely, hugging firmly, kissing slowly, and smiling always.

 H/T to Mike Sansone (Emgee) for the great wordle.  You are keeping me above water in figuring out what I am doing in the blogosphere.  Great Friend and True Believer in Dreams!

Children's Curiosity of Nature

There is nothing more magical than for a child to interact with nature for the first time.  Yes, I know as an educator they are building schema which they can reference later.

In that initial moment, though, curiosity takes over the child.  They use their senses to interact with nature to the fullest. Thinking about this reminded me of my niece. 

I wonder what was going on in her little brain as she watched the frog move around in the bucket?

Remember the first time you experienced something in nature?  Would love to hear your thoughts!

The Business of Education

The attended the Superintendents and Administrators of Iowa (SAI) conference this past Wednesday.  I am neither an Administrator nor a vendor. I am a teacher.  So how is it I was able to attend an elite function such as this?

I went in hopes of furthering "My Big Dream."  More on my dream in another post. For now, I want to reflect on the conference.

As a life-long learner, I took in all the sights and sounds of the event. (I even sneaked in on one of the event's speakers- don't tell though). 

After I left the event, I found myself reflecting on the concept of education as a business.  Vendors from every aspect of the educational process vie for the attention and money from the ones who make the crucial decisions for our schools.  Speakers hammer away at the newest research and techniques they feel administrators, principals, and teachers must employ to provide a safe, productive education for our children.

The event deepened my understanding not only of the elements it takes in providing quality education for students, but in the mulitfaceted pressures and decisions our Superintendents and Administrators face on a daily basis.

I came away with a greater sensitivity toward these decision makers and the pressures they endure between the business of education and the realities within the classroom.  Let's all keep the children in the forefront of our minds while making all of this come together.

I found this slideshare a powerful reminder of my responsibility as an adult, teacher, and learner.

Enjoy!

Child In Our Eyes

View SlideShare presentation (tags: children child in)

The Cost of Reclaiming the Land

Chainsaws could be heard for days after the microburst deconstructed the manicured neighborhood yards.  My dad spent hours cutting up the trees into manageable sizes to be burned at a later date. 

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to rake up the remaining branches and twigs.  Some of the remnants of the trees were stuck into the ground up to a half a foot from the shear force of nature's wrath.  As I pulled these daggers from the ground, I thought of my delicate purple flower that nature spared.

My heart sank as I approached it.  It appears as if it still clings to life even though the flowers are gone and it lies helpless on the ground.  This fragile survivor had inadvertently been trampled under foot while clearing the trees. 

What was once a symbol of mercy and survival is now a testament to the human need to reclaim the land for our own purposes.

Nature vs. Man - This battle continues to wage on throughout the world, but for my precious flower, Man won this round.

Nature's Mercy

On July 27th, we had a severe microburst plow through my area.  After the storm had passed, all the neighbors ventured out to survey the damage.

We had several trees uprooted and ripped apart.   Nature found its own way of designing the landscape. 

After closer inspection, I noticed delicate purple flowers in the midst of the carnage. One in particular caught me eye.

 

Reflective moment:  How is it that nature can mercifully spare temporary flowers that will inevitably die off in the fall while ruthlessly shredding trees that have adorned the landscape for years?