12-12-12

If I thought I could quietly sneak in a milestone birthday this year, I was mistaken. I turned fifty on 12-12-12 (what a cool date!) which happened to be a Wednesday school day. This is what I saw when I opened my classroom door in the morning.

There were streamers and "Happy Birthday" signs all over the room, along with a birthday hat and noisemaker blowers at each student's seat. I was given a birthday tiara and 50 necklace and escorted to our teachers' lounge and seated in a decorated chair for our staff devotions. The teachers all had party hats as well - we do love to have a good time at my school! 

The kids loved the hats and blowers, so I gave them a few minutes to pose for pictures and then we settled in to the day's work. 

The fun was just beginning, however. All throughout the day gift bags, signs, singing telegrams, and classes of students kept appearing at our classroom to wish me a happy 50th birthday. The whole school actually sang Happy Birthday to me in the hallway just before recess. How cool is that?? By the end of the day I had a box filled with gifts and remembrances from my colleagues!

I later found out that my colleagues friends had set up a Google doc to plan the whole day, each writing down what they would do. 

lots to eat and drink

gift cards

beautiful scarves

just for fun ... and to help me get used to that big number

staying healthy and organized

even a "personal" birthday greeting from Donny Osmond!

50 jean days!

(a gift from my principal)

At lunch time I was surprised by a couple moms from my class with a pizza lunch for our class, along with a beautiful (and delicious) cake and a gift card to a local store from the kids!

The kids also made me a book:

I love these two examples (can you tell which was made by a girl and which was made by a boy?)  :)

My birthday treat for my students was s'mores - baked for 5 minutes in the oven. They loved them, even without a campfire. 

And another friend sent a large chocolate-chip cookie to school for my birthday.

Finally, after a day filled with surprises and plenty of sugar, I sent my students home and went to our district Christmas after-school coffee/carol sing ... where I was sung to again! Definitely not going to forget this birthday!

That evening my parents took me out for a wonderful dinner at Alpenrose Restaurant.

Whew - what a day!

But there was still one more surprise. I had made plans with another teacher to meet for supper the following night. But when we walked to the back of the restaurant there were nine additional teachers there to surprise me! How fun!

I am very blessed to work with such wonderful, fun people! 

I will remember 12-12-12 as a very good day. 

I loved my forties ... maybe the fifties will be just as good?

Some Days

Some days are hard.

It takes all your effort just to get out of bed and begin the new day.

You feel disconnected from everything and everyone.

You set a smile on your face and say I’m fine.

But there’s an underlying sadness that goes deep to the core of your being.

You just want to go home, pull the blankets over yourself, and hide.

You tell yourself, Snap out of it, but that’s easier said than done.

Some days are just hard.

Other days are better.

You can sit and talk with friends, laugh, and enjoy yourself.

You live in the moment and can look forward to planned events.

The sadness is still there, but it’s hiding below the surface.

You say This is a good day.

You feel like you’re making progress – moving forward on this journey.

          Hoping for more "better days" to come.