Superheroes Unite

I have so many things that I'm thankful for....
I have the BEST FAMILY EVER. Enough said.  Really, they're the best.

My friends, well, they fit in the family category...BEST EVER.

Murphy...he might be picky, but he's a funny, funny dog and keeps my life full everyday.

I love my job...love. it.  I work with the most amazing group of people ever created. They love each other and love their job as much as I do. Plus, there's never a dull moment working with teenagers, and we're just weird enough to handle it with humor.

Yes...it's about that time to start thinking about the Fall and the start of school... 
Summer, for us teachers is coming to an end.  I know, I know...we're lucky, but really this time is needed to go back and give all that you need to...every day.  If you don't work in a school, then you really don't know what it's like. 

People can say whatever negative things that they want about teachers...they have that right.  People have lost their lives defending that right...so go for it, if it will make you feel better, but for me...teachers are superheroes. 


Teacher Superhero Powers.

10. Supersonic Hearing:  We can hear everything.  Our rooms are designed as a box.  This box does amazing things.  It can bounce sounds off of the surfaces and throw them around.  Plus, when you whisper...that just makes our hearing stronger. 

9. 360-degree Vision:  We can see everything.  Yes, we have eyes in the back of our heads.  We know what you're going to do before you do it. Yep.  And it has nothing to do with the fact that we've seen it a thousand times, by a thousand different students. Nope, that's not it.  It's a superpower.  We're like a fly on the wall... an awesome fly.

8. Camouflage through Stealth Tactics:  I use this one all the time. As a fun-sized person, I can blend into a crowd easily.  They don't even know that I'm there.  When a student thinks that they're doing something sneaky...Boom!  I'm there.

7. Enhanced Lung Capacity:  We can talk.  We can talk all day long.  And we can do this everyday of the school week.  Everyday, all day long.  Yeah...enough said.  For now.

6. Voice Projection:  Do you need 300 teenagers quiet all at once?  No problem.  We do that everyday.  Our voices can carry across a room and can stop EVERYONE in their tracks.  Now you try it...no seriously.  You try it and then we'll talk.

5. Eidetic Memory/ Enhanced Memory:  Defined as "The incredible power in which one remembers absolutely everything." Ever wonder how your Kindergarten teacher remembered your name and the time that you ate all of those crayons?  Yeah, teachers have incredible memories and remember everything. 

4. Intuitive Aptitude:  In case you don't know what this is (you must not be a teacher), here is the definition. "The power to instantly learn and understand the complexity and exactness of organisms, objects, and even powers without the need of long-term or special education."  Yep, we're smart.  Really smart, and we're not afraid to use it.

3. Quick Wit: Who can tell a fact, a joke, and ask a question in one breath?  Teachers can.  And it will totally make sense to the class.  Have you ever tried to teach a group of 35 teens something?  Can you keep their attention?  Yeah, well, we can!  (High-Fives all around the schools.)

2.  Iron Bladders:  You may not think of this as a super power, but it is.  Mortals without this power know the weakness that they feel when they really, REALLY have to go.  Teachers, well, we can hold it.  We can hold it so long that we forget that we have to go. 

1. Defuse Bombs:  This is one of the most important abilities for a teacher.  We can defuse volatile situations quickly.  Superheroes have people that don't like them...but teacher superheroes can defuse the "Bomb" with an understanding look, listening ears, and a calm voice.  Even the most angry person or emotional teen is no match for these SUPERHEROES.

Who's your superhero teacher? 

You should tell them...write them a note. 

Kind words are our superpower fuel.

I feel fortunate that I have a summer to help refuel

and recharge me for the challenges that lie ahead.

With my other superheroes beside me, there is nothing that we can't handle...

If needed, we'll add coffee...which is our second fuel.

I'm going to definitely need an espresso...a double.

Even Wonder Woman Needs a Sidekick

It's true.
But, be careful what you ask for in that sidekick.
I asked God for a dog who needed me and would keep me busy...
...no surprise, that's exactly what I received! 

Murphy has 2 favorite speeds, super fast and asleep. 

Seriously...if you ever wondered if God is listening to you, just remember, He is!

And when I forget that, which sadly, is often, I just remember this face...

Generally, I don't have to look to hard for this face, because it's always right by me!

A LITTLE BACKGROUND:
Two years ago, when I had to put my dog, Quincy, of 16 years down, I asked God to bring me a dog as loving as Quincy, and a dog who needs me as much as I need him. Needy?! What was I thinking?!! Crazy, that's what I was, crazy-girl!  Well, ask and you shall receive...Murphy is needy...VERY NEEDY, but he a bundle of love to HIS people.  This little fluff ball came with trust issues with humans, but when he loves ya, he LOVES YA!

So, two years later, and 12 humans that he trusts completely
(yes..only 12...slow progress), here we are. 

Murphy has 3 gears, moving fast, waiting to move fast, or too tired to move fast.  So this summer provides him more opportunity for both hobbies.  Having me around during the day is what Murphy waits for all school year.  If I'm home, than he wants to play and he wants me to watch him.  :0)  Just like a little kid, he likes me to watch him run, jump, splash, etc.

He really knows how to party.

I know that you were wondering what the Murph does while I make, bake, sew, or craft...

You were wondering...weren't you?! I knew it!

So here's a little run down of what Murphy does during my projects.

5th Gear = FAST

Blurry...

1st Gear = Waiting to Run/Play

 He has a special bench by the window so that he can watch the neighborhood and keep cats out of his yard.

In Park = Sleeping and almost sleeping (This is his general state while I make things.)

Murphy is a creative sleeper...

Today's lesson: 

Yes, be careful what you wish for...but know that you'll get exactly what you need.

I sure did, and I wouldn't want it any other way!

He might be needy, but I am too...I guess we just needed each other. :0)

Unleashing My Inner Wonder Woman

~Finding my Sparkle~

Some of my earliest memories involved Wonder Woman.  My brother and I watched the TV show in awe of her.  My brother loved Wonder Woman, I wanted to BE Wonder Woman!  She was/is amazing to me.  She wasn't afraid of anything and used her brains to figure out how to solve the problem.  But the best part...I mean the BEST PART was that she had those awesome deflecting cuffs. 

Bam! BAM! Evil banished! BAM! BAM!

Weapons deflected back at the evil doer. 

Those cuffs have helped me a lot over the years...more on that later.

A journey to finding my sparkle, starts at the beginning...
For the five of you who read this, some of this story you know, some, you may not...but here it goes.

2 1/2 years ago, my world came apart.  People say that things bad happen in threes...well in my world, it felt like 300!  The short version is the following;  I left a very unhealthy, turbulent marriage, my grandfather died, and the icing on this horrible cake was putting my dog of 16 years down.  At that time, my dog was really the only thing that keep me going...he hung on a while for me, but I knew that I had to let him go.  He deserved to be a peace...All of this was tough on a girl like me.

Then, one day, a friend who was subbing in my school walked into my classroom.  He had retired, so I hadn't seen him since my world tumbled.  He gave me a huge hug and told me that it will get better, that I deserved only the best.  He also said that he knew something was wrong the last time he saw me because my sparkle was gone.  That stopped me.  It really hit me...my sparkle?!  That was it!  My sparkle was gone.  I'd had it my whole life and..poof! It was gone!

That was it...I wanted it back!  Sparkling was a part of ME!  Somehow I had to find it again. No matter how long it would take, I would get it back.  I was determined. 

I WILL SPARKLE AGAIN!

Along my journey to finding my sparkle, I learned a few things....Here's the long and short of it!

My Top 10 Ways to Finding Your Sparkle

10. Be Courageous
Stand up for yourself and do what you know is right.  No matter what others may say.  Trust yourself, and have only those with your best intentions around you.

9. Ask for help
This one was really difficult for me, since it would require me to admit, shocker, that I had made a mistake.  A mistake that everyone would see.  Not surprisingly, my dear friends and family were right there to help me in anyway they could. 


8. Sadness is temporary, joy is eternal. 
The abyss of sadness seems deep, but there's always a ladder. Don't be afraid to reach for that first rung on the ladder. It's the toughest one to reach, but the next is easier. Plus, the view at the top is spectacular!

7. Plan one thing a day
Say, "NO." It's okay to say no...nope...Nada...shake your head if you have to. But set limits.  It's easy to keep yourself busy when life is difficult, but it's hard to take time and listen to yourself.  During my journey, I had a rule.  Only one thing planned a day.  You may think that it limiting, but it's actually freeing.  One thing a day does not mean that you don't do anything, but instead, you only make one commitment to someone else each day. You can make as many commitments to yourself every day, but to others, one.  If I make a date for coffee...that's it.  My one commitment to someone else.  This way, I'm never rushed.  I can stay as long as I want with the other person, without worrying that I'll be late to something else.  The other person also knows that they are your only focus for the day.  It has helped me, make my relationships stronger.

6. Forgiveness is not forgetting
In order to heal, you must forgive, but that does not mean that you forget the reason that you found yourself in the pit.  In fact, never forget the little steps that got you there.  And hopefully, those memories, while painful, can help you avoid that drop again. 

5. Laugh
...or at least find something that will make you laugh.  For me...laughter came in the form of a little fluffy pup.  He saved my heart.  Literally...there was a point where I felt my heart closing up, but then this little bundle of love would wiggle and jump on me.  Murphy's exuberant joy was and is contagious.  He kept me laughing daily.

4. Breathe
It seems simple, but it's vital.  Take the time to sit alone and breathe.  Give yourself time to reflect, pray, and clear your thoughts of all of the jumble.
My favorite place to breathe...Oregon Coast...with my Murphy.





3. Lean on others...literally.
It takes a village to take care of me.  No...really...I'm very fortunate because I have an unbelievable family, dear friends and work family.  Not everyone is as lucky as I am, with the village of people that surround me.  I know that I'm lucky and try to thank them often.  They were there everyday for hugs, kind words, encouragement, cards, breakfast sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches and cookies! (Love you Carol and Vanessa!!!)  I'm not sure that I would have found my sparkle without these folks.  I'm a truly lucky girl.

2. Find your Superhero

Mine, is Wonder Woman...on rough days, when people are mean, I put on my imaginary cuffs and cape to blast away at the negativity.  BAM! BAM! I shatter the bad moods and deflect it away from me and my circle of people. BLAM! POW! Away you go bad thoughts! POP! BOOM! Cast away doubt and fear!  Tada!  My world is clear.  Some days, I wasn't sure that the cuffs and cape would be enough to get rid of the fear...but I kept on going.  Who's your superhero?

1. Believe in your STRENGTH
My true strength comes from God.  I couldn't have made it this far without Him.  Whatever your strength is, rest your head and know that you are strong enough. That NOTHING...nothing will take you down without your permission.  I was determined to not go down.  I might have lost my sparkle for awhile, but it wasn't truly lost.  It was just buried under the muck.

So...did I find my sparkle?  YES!

It didn't happen quickly, and I'm not sure it's totally back at 100% but I definitely sparkle again.

I am thankful.

I am happy.
I sparkle.