Remembering with Gratitude

Six months ago today I said goodbye to my beloved dog, Tosca. Although I still miss her incredibly, I’m adjusting to life without her.  I’m glad we didn’t have school today (Presidents’ Day scheduled winter break) – I took a nice long walk through the woods this afternoon at one of our favorite hiking spots, Hemlock Crossing. I don’t think I’ve ever walked there in the winter before; it was beautiful and peaceful. It felt good to just walk and remember the good times we had.

I’m so grateful that we could spend fourteen years together and for all the things she taught me.

Tosca - thank you:

- for reminding me to be joyful in the simple things, like taking a walk or playing with a friend

- for helping me to develop a love of nature and hiking 

- for making me realize that when you love someone, you put their needs before your own

  (even when it involves going outside in the rain or snow)  

- for helping me somewhat fulfill my “maternal instinct” by being my “child with fur” 

- for greeting me at the door each day when I came home

- for being my 45 pound lap dog

- for your unconditional love and the close bond we shared

I love you

Melanie & Jan's Mushing Adventure

Puppy Therapy

Our winter weekend in Michigan's snowy Upper Peninsula continued after our stop at Tahquamenon Falls to our main destination - Nature's Kennel (located near Newberry) and our overnight sled dog adventure! Our wonderful hosts picked us up at our motel on Sunday morning as my car would have gotten stuck long before we reached the kennel.

Before we set off with our sled dog team, we had some time to play with two groups of puppies. The newest litter was about a month old - three cuties named uno, dos, and tres. They were so cute and curious (with sharp teeth!). Still had that sweet puppy breath! I loved cuddling with them!

We also got to visit the four-month old "Monster Trucks" litter outside. They had fun jumping around in the snow and loved the attention.

I still miss my dog, Tosca, so much. This weekend "with the dogs" was just what I needed! 

Next up - our dog sled overnight adventure!

Winter Wonderland (Tahquamenon Falls)

Last Saturday morning my friend, Jan, and I set out for a wonderful winter weekend in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The weather was great for driving – clear and relatively mild temperatures – but we knew the snow was coming the farther north we went. We were happy to find plenty of snow after crossing the Mackinac Bridge.

Thankfully the driving conditions were still pretty good as we headed for Tahquamenon Falls, one of my favorite places to visit in the U.P. We never got lost and only made one wrong turn, although it was a pretty significant wrong turn! 

The sign for the Upper Falls was right next to a narrow road, so we turned right to go down the road. It seemed awfully narrow and twisted around after we went down a small hill; we quickly figured out it wasn’t the right way … as my tires started spinning. Jan got out of the car to check – yes, we were definitely stuck. Just then a group of snowmobilers pulled up and asked why we were driving down a snowmobile trail!! They graciously pushed us back up the hill and directed us to the correct turn for the Upper Falls (a much wider, plowed road!).

(In retrospect, the signs facing the other direction should have provided a clue that we weren't supposed to drive down this "road.")

We enjoyed a delicious late lunch of (fresh) fish and chips at the Upper Falls restaurant. The restaurant was packed with diners; apparently Tahquamenon Falls is a busy place all year long.

After our lunch we hiked to the falls. What a spectacular sight! The fresh-fallen snow on the trees, the ice formations, and the majestic water continuing to rush down – definitely the highlight of the day.

After our visit to the falls we drove west to Newberry where we enjoyed the hot tub at the Comfort Inn, knowing we would be much colder the following night.

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.

Thankful List

For the past several years I’ve developed a Thankful List in November.  (See previous lists: 2010, 2011) With this Thanksgiving post I’ve decided to share some of the items on my students’ lists.

I noticed a Facebook trend this month in which people list things they’re thankful for each day on their status update. I think it’s a great idea, and it’s been neat to see the different lists people share.

I decided to adapt this idea a little with my second graders and have them make individual thankful lists. So, each day as part of our morning routine during the month of November, the students open their ipad and go to the Pages app where they add another thing they’re thankful for to their list. We haven’t done any group brainstorming for ideas, although each week students may share a few of their items with the class if they wish. And it’s been fun watching them share their lists with each other in small groups. The kids have found it fairly easy to think of a variety of blessings to be thankful for. We’ve even talked about continuing our lists through the month of December. As of yesterday, our lists consisted of 20 things (although several students have gone ahead and were on #30 or 34!)

Although many of their items are fairly typical (family, friends, etc.), I was impressed at the thoughtfulness and deep thinking of many of their items. So, here’s a compilation of some of the things my second graders are thankful for:

     rain                    animals                    neighbors                    peace                    butterflies

     colors                books                        love                            water                     forgiveness

     chapel               music                        shoes                          faith                       Bible

     time                   ice                            church                         sand                       tools

     healing             beach                          holidays                      sports                     grass

     air                      sky                           The Cross                     Jesus                  heaven

We give you thanks, O God.