Yep. That’s right. Yours truly!
I’m now team teaching a CTR 5 class. And, by the way - let me tell you, I love the team teaching concept! My previous wards have been so small, it was a struggle just to get one teacher for many positions, much less two. Having two teachers makes it so much easier - especially for 5 year olds.
There are 6 children in the class - 3 boys and 3 girls. I know. I can hear you saying, “And for that number you need two teachers???” But it certainly is helpful to have another adult to ride herd on the boys.
The kids are so precious, though. One boy seems to have so much anger inside, and acts out frequently; but when he decides to take part in class, he knows what’s going on and where we are in the lesson. Another boy wears a tie every Sunday, sits so quietly and always takes part in the lessons. It was fun to see him exhibit his talent for last Sunday’s lesson by breakdancing! The girls are so quiet compared to the boys and none of them are quite ready to accept me yet. Maybe after I've been in class for a while...
Although I feel exceptionally ill-prepared to try to teach these young souls anything, there has to be a reason for me to be doing this at this time. I suspect the lessons are as much for me to learn as for the kids!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Reading
Reading is probably my favorite pastime of all time - some have even whispered the word “obsession” behind my back - and I’m not always real picky about what I read. If caught bookless at one of those more compulsive times, I can be found reading recipes, junk mail, cereal boxes, and even Chinese take out menus. Just about anything with words on it.
My taste in books is what I choose to think of as “eclectic”, with two strong contenders for favorite genre.
On one hand, you have feel good, uplifting romantic books. Not bodice-ripping romance novels… RomanTIC. Think more in terms of Susan Wiggs and Debbie Macomber or even CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Light, easy reading usually with an underlying moral or two that always ends well, even though the characters may have an issue or two to work through.
On the other, you have deep, dark mystery and suspense - the more intricate the better. Murders and other heinous crimes, played out in convoluted plot twists that leave you totally surprised at the end.
And then - everything around and in between.
I’ve always read voraciously. Even as a child, I can remember setting my library book behind the faucet on the kitchen sink so I could read as I did dishes, or reading by the light of a flashlight, when it was way past time to turn off the lights for bed. My mom used to say that a bomb could go off beside me, and if I was really engrossed in my book - and I usually was! - I wouldn’t even know.
I learn so much by reading - even light romantic fiction. A well-researched novel can give all kinds of information about other cultures, history, different peoples, customs… I’ve often been able to toss out little-known facts to liven up a stalled conversation - and it makes people think you’re really smart if it just happens to be something they didn’t already know.
I think reading is fun. It can take me totally away from cares and woes of all kinds, keeps me from ever having to say, “I’m bored”, and opens up the world to me. Fiction (my undoubted favorite) and nonfiction alike can take me places I could never go otherwise.
My taste in books is what I choose to think of as “eclectic”, with two strong contenders for favorite genre.
On one hand, you have feel good, uplifting romantic books. Not bodice-ripping romance novels… RomanTIC. Think more in terms of Susan Wiggs and Debbie Macomber or even CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Light, easy reading usually with an underlying moral or two that always ends well, even though the characters may have an issue or two to work through.
On the other, you have deep, dark mystery and suspense - the more intricate the better. Murders and other heinous crimes, played out in convoluted plot twists that leave you totally surprised at the end.
And then - everything around and in between.
I’ve always read voraciously. Even as a child, I can remember setting my library book behind the faucet on the kitchen sink so I could read as I did dishes, or reading by the light of a flashlight, when it was way past time to turn off the lights for bed. My mom used to say that a bomb could go off beside me, and if I was really engrossed in my book - and I usually was! - I wouldn’t even know.
I learn so much by reading - even light romantic fiction. A well-researched novel can give all kinds of information about other cultures, history, different peoples, customs… I’ve often been able to toss out little-known facts to liven up a stalled conversation - and it makes people think you’re really smart if it just happens to be something they didn’t already know.
I think reading is fun. It can take me totally away from cares and woes of all kinds, keeps me from ever having to say, “I’m bored”, and opens up the world to me. Fiction (my undoubted favorite) and nonfiction alike can take me places I could never go otherwise.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Georgia in General
I’ve lived in Georgia a little over two years now, having made my way here from Virginia by way of Florida. So far, I love it. While both the mountains and the ocean have a lot going for them, north central Georgia seems to suit me just fine. I’m not quite in the North Georgia mountains, but close enough that the temperatures are usually just a little cooler than downtown Atlanta.
Actually living in the city - “inside the perimeter” as they say here - doesn’t appeal to me very much, but I’m really surprised by how much I enjoy having easy access. My little home a half mile - for now, at least - from my office, surrounded by stores and restaurants serves me very well. While I feel fairly certain I’ll never enjoy driving downtown, it’s nice to know I’m close for those (granted, very few) times I want to take in the sights or take care of business.
The climate works well for me, too. It’s much less humid than I thought it would be; but after living at the beach, I guess almost any place would be less humid. I don’t mind that snow isn’t a huge part of the winter weather scene.
I love my job, except for the fact that the office I work in will be moving to midtown - Lenox Park - after the first of the year. The people are great. The work is often challenging, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
All in all, life is good.
Actually living in the city - “inside the perimeter” as they say here - doesn’t appeal to me very much, but I’m really surprised by how much I enjoy having easy access. My little home a half mile - for now, at least - from my office, surrounded by stores and restaurants serves me very well. While I feel fairly certain I’ll never enjoy driving downtown, it’s nice to know I’m close for those (granted, very few) times I want to take in the sights or take care of business.
The climate works well for me, too. It’s much less humid than I thought it would be; but after living at the beach, I guess almost any place would be less humid. I don’t mind that snow isn’t a huge part of the winter weather scene.
I love my job, except for the fact that the office I work in will be moving to midtown - Lenox Park - after the first of the year. The people are great. The work is often challenging, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
All in all, life is good.
Who Knew?
My friend Faye is blogging, and I really enjoy reading about her life. It seems like a good way to capture all that's going on. Not that a lot goes on in my life, but still... We'll see how this gets on.
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