Disclaimer: I’m a good teacher. I hug my kids. I love my kids. I’m a good teacher. I really, really am. The scene. Two hundred Colombian kids in one small cafeteria. Eight teachers on duty plus all of the lunch ladies that I love. There are lentils for lunch. My favorite! There are two fourth […]

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Seriously, these are two of my very favorite people. She was my assistant my first year teaching. She’s organized and honest and she loves Jesus bigger and better than anyone I know. Part of her heart is in Africa and her car is always a disaster. She used to write me little notes on the […]

Posted in friendcitos 4 Comments »

I’m guest blogging for Dr. Mims today as part of his 1 Thing series. You can read my post here. (I’m really proud of this one.  Y’all check it out and let me know what you think!)

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I spent four of the five Thursday nights that I was home at The Sizzler. I ate until I thought I could hold no more and I laughed and visited with the regular crowd. And each of those Thursdays I’d make my way toward the register to pay my ticket only to find that “tonight’s […]

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Yesterday started out as a sort of bummer. I got home, took out my running shoes, laced them up and met some friends for a jog. We ended up on the track below my house. And I think my insides jumped a little. Ten years and thirty pounds ago I was really fast. That’s not […]

Posted in colombia, rambling 7 Comments »

Somedays it’s hard to find a rhythm. I catch myself hurrying about, not taking the time to settle into a comfortable pattern. I let memories of yesterdays flood me and forget that there’s a brand new today right in front of me. I get lost in daydreams and wanting and I picture myself in anywhere […]

Posted in faith, rambling 3 Comments »

Dear Boomama, I didn’t know who else might sympathize the way that you would.  We are kindred spirits, you know.  How could we not be?  Southern girls, Mississippi born and raised.  Bulldogs by choice.  MA-ROOON!  WHITE!  See the spirit?  Do you FEEL the spirit?  I have it.  You have it.  WE have it, Boomama! So, […]

Posted in colombia, friendcitos 5 Comments »

It’s no secret that I love cafeteria ladies.  I love the heart that they have for serving and I appreciate how hard they work, not to mention that I heard all sorts of tales from the lunch room as a child.  My grandmother, after all, worked in the cafeteria for umpteen dozen years.  So, each year […]

Posted in colombia, teaching 9 Comments »

I like beginning of the year activities. They’re a chance to get to know one another and to be silly and to build community. One of my favorites is Me Bags. I ask kids to put three objects that best represent themselves in a bag and to share the contents with the class. Today there […]

Posted in colombia, home, teaching 9 Comments »

I had the perfect outfit. Black shirt, business cut. Gray pants. Flat front. I had the perfect hair. Half up. No fly aways. A little oomph. Very teacher on her first day. Even Big Mama would have been proud. Oh, and the shoes. A Target special, but still dee-vine in every way. A divine that […]

Posted in teaching 11 Comments »