As part of Brian's job he visits "shut-ins". These are people who are members of St. Peter and for various reasons are not able to make it to church or worship. The three Pastors rotate visiting these members once a month. Brian always has great stories after his days of visits. I want to share one with you.
Brian was visiting a very elderly woman from St. Peter and as usual at the end of the visit he was going to give her communion. She asked him, "Pastor, if it is okay with you, can I use my own glass for communion?" Brian thought this was a great idea and was very excited because it seemed that this woman really got it, that communion was a personal thing between her and God and that using her own cup was very symbolic of this.
This elderly woman leaves for a minute and comes back with her own "cup". It turns out her cup was actually a souvenir shot glass! It had marks on it for one shot, double shot, and a "BIG" shot. The elderly lady said, "Pastor, isn't this a beautiful glass, it was a present from my niece?" Not quite what Brian was expecting, and not something they teach you how to deal with at the seminary. Brian punted, said a silent prayer to God asking forgive me if I'm doing anything wrong, and proceeded to pour the body and blood of Christ into the souvenir shot glass. It was early in the day so I think he stopped at one shot for her, though he might have needed a "BIG" shot himself!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Freedom Writers
If you know many teachers, you have probably learned that we are very passionate about what we do. If one is luke-warm on education, I feel they don't belong in it! (I told you we were passionate.) With the headline capturing movie Freedom Writers being in the spotlight, I can't help but to have some opinions about it. Read on only if want the rantings of a still wet behind the ears teacher. Read on...
Sunday, January 21, 2007
DA Bears!!!!
Well, I'm going to let you in on a little known fact of the Davies household. We are both obnoxious Bears fans. In fact, there is no way we could even watch the games in public we are so out of control. You might not believe this but during the game this weekend I could barely sit down and shouted at the TV like a maniac. I believe I may have uttered things like "Shut up cry baby, Sean Peyton. Stop kissing New Orleans butt, Troy Aikman." Brian may have been even heard yelling, "GO Baby, Go!" Both our stomachs were in knots. We were even so pathetic we instituted the slow-clap for really important plays. What is it about the NFL that can have two rational adults sitting on the edge of their seats like their own livelihood is at risk?
Read on by clicking here
North American Auto Show
So we are trying to embrace this whole Detroit native thing, and in our quest we took part in one of the biggest local events of the year. We went with many others to the Auto Show. The Auto Show is a huge event where all the car companies exhibit their 2008 and 2009 models as well as their concept cars. It was really fun and really neat to see downtown Detroit so busy. We tried to eat down town as well but it was a 2 hr wait! Many other people must have had the same thought. One of the coolest things we saw was the concept car the Volt. This is an electric car that you actually plug in over night. It has this long white appliance looking cord and was really interesting. You can see it in the picture above. We also have other pictures from the show on our flickr site which you can see if you click HERE . As for our future purchases we'll probably stick with the slightly used versions.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Brian's Slide Show
For Updated Dominican Republic Slide Show CLICK HERE
Brian made this slide show of pictures from our Dominican Republic Vacation. We've just started to figure out how to share these files with friends hence the January posting of a July vacation. The Video isn't as clear for some reason as on our computer, but we're getting better.
It was an awesome vacation for two travel addicts (okay maybe it's just me that's the addict). The Dominican Republic Punta Cana was gorgeous. The water and sand were beautiful and the beach was endless in both directions. We enjoyed long daily walks and body surfing. The picture of Brian and I in the show and on the blog where I'm wearing a blue dress is the night we celebrated our 4th anniversary. We had an awesome private dinner on the upstairs balcony of the resort's steakhouse. The ocean was and sounded beautiful. As the sun went down there was a storm out at sea and the lightening show was amazing. It was a great trip and much needed amidst our crazy summer. Hope you enjoy Brian's hard work in the slide show.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Barbie's Eulogy
When I told my mom & Uncle Rich I wanted to speak at Aunt Barb's funeral, I knew it would be difficult to say everything that I wanted to about Aunt Barby because she was such a special person. She was a loving Mother, Wife, Sister, Aunt, & Friend. Aunt Barby was a generous, loving, and fun person to be around. She had such a wonderful laugh that couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. Aunt Barb had such a positive outlook on things. She knew what to say when you needed comfort and knew when you just needed someone to listen. All of her friends that my mom spoke to this week talked about how Aunt Barby was always accepting of her lot in life, she never complained and was the go to call for help in hard times. She would always tell you it was okay, it would be all right, it was not so bad and you would hang up thinking she was right and your worries would be lessened. We will all miss making that phone call.
Aunt Barby never had it very easy, but you would never know by how she acted. She was only 10 when her mother Pat got sick, and 15 when she passed away. But Aunt Barby never complained. When Uncle Rich had his heart attack, Aunt Barby stood by his side and helped him recover. And still, Aunt Barby never complained. When her oldest sister Patty got sick with the same disease, again Barby never complained. That was the type of person she was. She always tried to keep a positive attitude. That is why as sad as this day is for us, I know in my heart Aunt Barby would not want us to be sad. And if she could be here with us today, she would be comforting us. It's hard for me to remember a time when Aunt Barby wasn't smiling. Even after she got really sick she always greeted her visitors with a smile and a laugh. Aunt Barb had a heart for all, if someone needed something she tried to be there. Aunt Barby was always a lot of fun to be around. She was always trying to think of the next great idea that would make her a million dollars. Some of these ideas were charity T-shirts, dog freeze spray, and even pre J-Lo and the Kardashians she came up with the idea of boochie bottoms-Underwear that had a padded butt. Every time Barby shared these ideas, we all looked at each other and laughed. But the joke's on us, because now all these things are million dollar products. As it turns out, one of her ideas was a million dollar idea, because She was the person who got my mom started on her Ebay business. Some of Aunt Barb's happiest times are when her and Uncle Rich bought the house in Algonquin, had David, and made their life there. She enjoyed her family, her dog Sandy, and being a stay at home Mom for David. David, She loved you with all her heart (which says a lot because Aunt Barby had the biggest heart I've ever seen). She would even get up early to drive David to high school so he could sleep in a little longer; being a newly sleep deprived mom, believe me David that's love! Aunt Barby encouraged Uncle Rich to build a huge swing set for David in their backyard, and picked up her best Garage sale find, the wooden adult swing that saw many years in their backyard. A lot of good times were spent on that swing by many. I only wished I was there when it collapsed with Uncle Rich & Dennis sitting on it. There were wonderful summer barbeques, David's awesome birthday parties with fantastic fireworks, and roaring fires in the fire pit or the family room. She loved her family vacations, in the summer with the Bundalo's at the Sandrift, and in the winter at River's Edge with Dennis and Nancy's family. Aunt Barb had that special vacation with just the girls in Vegas, a real treat for a Mom with all boys at home. Aunt Barby's life was devoted to others. Even her final work as a massage therapist was typical Barby, a job to help people feel better. Our family is a small family, but with a person like Aunt Barb in it, it felt a lot bigger. When I became an Aunt & Godmother, I used Aunt Barby as a role model for the kind of Aunt I wanted to be, because she truly was the best Aunt & Godmother anyone could ever have.
After Aunt Barby got sick, she never complained about being sick. She never once asked “why me?” And in a time when you thought we would be the ones comforting her, she was the one comforting us. When one of her friends took her back to Light of Christ church, and people were saddened to see her condition, she soothed them and asked why they cried she was all right. Her sister-in-law Holly shared a story of how she was so upset to leave Aunt Barby after a visit at Maplewood, that she was the one crying and Aunt Barby was the one comforting her. Once Aunt Barb was at Harbor House, she never thought to ask to go home. So many patients tried to get out, they wanted the passcode for the doors, but Aunt Barby never asked for the code. She accepted her illness and made Harbor House her home.
Aunt Barby touched so many lives, and you can clearly see that by all the things people did for her once she got sick. We thank each and everyone of you for everything you did for my beloved aunt. T hank you to The wonderful people at Harbor House that took such great care of her for two years and truly made it a safe harbor at that time of her life. Thank you to her dear friends who stuck by her and still traveled to see her, to take her out for the day, to do her laundry, brought numerous bibles and prayed with her, and supplied countless hershey bars, Aunt Barby's favorite. All her family members who made the effort to be with her at the Harbor house parties or just dropped in for a visit, often bringing the new baby nieces or nephews to brighten her day. And thank you to Sophie, for her constant cards, letters, and long visits whenever she was in town. They always brought a huge smile to Aunt Barby's face. Sophie, you were her mother's full-time nurse when Aunt Barby was so young, and you've always been like the second mother to Aunt Barbie. And thank you to my mom Cindy who visited Aunt Barby almost daily. Mom you cared for Barby in a way that truly inspired us all. I know Aunt Barby appreciates everything you did for her and is up in Heaven sending thanks to you right now.
Aunt Barby's faith sustained her through her life; she sought comfort in Christ always. Always the good Christian, her car after she was hospitalized was filled with all her Christian Cds she loved, and the final hours of her life she listened to those same songs. In her final months, she was happiest at church services at Manor Care. M y mom would see her through the windows at church services and attended two with her, where she just was a different person; she just lit up. A few weeks ago as she was failing, My mom had an exceptional visit with her where she seemed unusually alert right before Christmas. My mom told her not to be afraid, to let it go. She assured Aunt Barby that we would all take care of David for her and to go rest now and be with her Mom & Dad. She told her she could have the new job in Heaven to look after us all, especially David and the new babies in the family. She looked happy to have that job. My mom was able to tell her how she always admired her, she was truly the Strongest person we ever knew. Aunt Barby smiled and gave my mom a laugh,but yes how strong she was to not complain whatever hell she was going through, to give the disease a good fight and never want to be a burden on anyone.
May this disease never come again to this family, and may we take comfort in her acceptance, her never questioning faith that sustained her to her end, may Barby now rest in peace and look over David and our expanding families in her place in Heaven, where we know she is.
Aunt Barby never had it very easy, but you would never know by how she acted. She was only 10 when her mother Pat got sick, and 15 when she passed away. But Aunt Barby never complained. When Uncle Rich had his heart attack, Aunt Barby stood by his side and helped him recover. And still, Aunt Barby never complained. When her oldest sister Patty got sick with the same disease, again Barby never complained. That was the type of person she was. She always tried to keep a positive attitude. That is why as sad as this day is for us, I know in my heart Aunt Barby would not want us to be sad. And if she could be here with us today, she would be comforting us. It's hard for me to remember a time when Aunt Barby wasn't smiling. Even after she got really sick she always greeted her visitors with a smile and a laugh. Aunt Barb had a heart for all, if someone needed something she tried to be there. Aunt Barby was always a lot of fun to be around. She was always trying to think of the next great idea that would make her a million dollars. Some of these ideas were charity T-shirts, dog freeze spray, and even pre J-Lo and the Kardashians she came up with the idea of boochie bottoms-Underwear that had a padded butt. Every time Barby shared these ideas, we all looked at each other and laughed. But the joke's on us, because now all these things are million dollar products. As it turns out, one of her ideas was a million dollar idea, because She was the person who got my mom started on her Ebay business. Some of Aunt Barb's happiest times are when her and Uncle Rich bought the house in Algonquin, had David, and made their life there. She enjoyed her family, her dog Sandy, and being a stay at home Mom for David. David, She loved you with all her heart (which says a lot because Aunt Barby had the biggest heart I've ever seen). She would even get up early to drive David to high school so he could sleep in a little longer; being a newly sleep deprived mom, believe me David that's love! Aunt Barby encouraged Uncle Rich to build a huge swing set for David in their backyard, and picked up her best Garage sale find, the wooden adult swing that saw many years in their backyard. A lot of good times were spent on that swing by many. I only wished I was there when it collapsed with Uncle Rich & Dennis sitting on it. There were wonderful summer barbeques, David's awesome birthday parties with fantastic fireworks, and roaring fires in the fire pit or the family room. She loved her family vacations, in the summer with the Bundalo's at the Sandrift, and in the winter at River's Edge with Dennis and Nancy's family. Aunt Barb had that special vacation with just the girls in Vegas, a real treat for a Mom with all boys at home. Aunt Barby's life was devoted to others. Even her final work as a massage therapist was typical Barby, a job to help people feel better. Our family is a small family, but with a person like Aunt Barb in it, it felt a lot bigger. When I became an Aunt & Godmother, I used Aunt Barby as a role model for the kind of Aunt I wanted to be, because she truly was the best Aunt & Godmother anyone could ever have.
After Aunt Barby got sick, she never complained about being sick. She never once asked “why me?” And in a time when you thought we would be the ones comforting her, she was the one comforting us. When one of her friends took her back to Light of Christ church, and people were saddened to see her condition, she soothed them and asked why they cried she was all right. Her sister-in-law Holly shared a story of how she was so upset to leave Aunt Barby after a visit at Maplewood, that she was the one crying and Aunt Barby was the one comforting her. Once Aunt Barb was at Harbor House, she never thought to ask to go home. So many patients tried to get out, they wanted the passcode for the doors, but Aunt Barby never asked for the code. She accepted her illness and made Harbor House her home.
Aunt Barby touched so many lives, and you can clearly see that by all the things people did for her once she got sick. We thank each and everyone of you for everything you did for my beloved aunt. T hank you to The wonderful people at Harbor House that took such great care of her for two years and truly made it a safe harbor at that time of her life. Thank you to her dear friends who stuck by her and still traveled to see her, to take her out for the day, to do her laundry, brought numerous bibles and prayed with her, and supplied countless hershey bars, Aunt Barby's favorite. All her family members who made the effort to be with her at the Harbor house parties or just dropped in for a visit, often bringing the new baby nieces or nephews to brighten her day. And thank you to Sophie, for her constant cards, letters, and long visits whenever she was in town. They always brought a huge smile to Aunt Barby's face. Sophie, you were her mother's full-time nurse when Aunt Barby was so young, and you've always been like the second mother to Aunt Barbie. And thank you to my mom Cindy who visited Aunt Barby almost daily. Mom you cared for Barby in a way that truly inspired us all. I know Aunt Barby appreciates everything you did for her and is up in Heaven sending thanks to you right now.
Aunt Barby's faith sustained her through her life; she sought comfort in Christ always. Always the good Christian, her car after she was hospitalized was filled with all her Christian Cds she loved, and the final hours of her life she listened to those same songs. In her final months, she was happiest at church services at Manor Care. M y mom would see her through the windows at church services and attended two with her, where she just was a different person; she just lit up. A few weeks ago as she was failing, My mom had an exceptional visit with her where she seemed unusually alert right before Christmas. My mom told her not to be afraid, to let it go. She assured Aunt Barby that we would all take care of David for her and to go rest now and be with her Mom & Dad. She told her she could have the new job in Heaven to look after us all, especially David and the new babies in the family. She looked happy to have that job. My mom was able to tell her how she always admired her, she was truly the Strongest person we ever knew. Aunt Barby smiled and gave my mom a laugh,but yes how strong she was to not complain whatever hell she was going through, to give the disease a good fight and never want to be a burden on anyone.
May this disease never come again to this family, and may we take comfort in her acceptance, her never questioning faith that sustained her to her end, may Barby now rest in peace and look over David and our expanding families in her place in Heaven, where we know she is.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Brian's Birthday Surprise
So yesterday was Brian's 27th Birthday and what he chose to do was orchestrate a surprise for me! Go figure. I did protest but it is his birthday after all.
In the morning I made him some special french toast and took him on a shopping expedition as part of his present. Some of the star finds were travel size Polo colognes, comfortable and trendy Timberland shoes, and a purple Polo dress shirt. He is really starting to branch out in fashion which is so adorable. You can check out some of his new duds in the picture to the right.
Anyways, back to the surprise. Brian took me to downtown Detroit which I admit at first I was a little nervous. My nervousness quickly disappeared as Brian drove us through a very nice neighborhood by the GM headquarters downtown. As he turned a corner past the Hard Rock Cafe I saw the surprise. Ice Skating! My reaction I guess was what Brian was looking for because he said, "There, that was my birthday present." We had such fun and downtown was so pretty. Detroit really does have some potential. The only fall we had was mine as I was trying to perfect my Minnesota learned spins. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner, sat at the bar, and watched the Cowboys Seahawks game. According to Brian (and me) it was a great night!
Friday, January 5, 2007
My BFF!
Bethie and Michaela modeling our matching hair styles!
For this and more of our recent Christmas, New Year's, and parsonage pictures please click on any of our flickr picture links on the top left.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Christmas
What a great end to 2006 and start to 2007 we had! Brian commented several times that this Christmas was one of the best we can remember in recent years. We really enjoyed establishing some of our own Christmas traditions. For Brian's first Christmas at St. Peter we certainly weren't lonely with our Chicago contingent visiting. We had the traditional Bundalo family meal of Italian beef and mostaccholi, played euchre for many hours, and even had a showing of Bundalo family classics. Joined by my cousin, Ginger, we opened stockings and gifts and just enjoyed being together. Shortly after we flew to NY and enjoyed the company of family there. We got to spend 48 hours straight with Michaela and then another sleep over later in our trip. What a treasure she is as a five year-old. Extraordinary in our opinions, but we obviously have no bias. We capped off the Holiday with a visit to Brian's grandparents in D.C. and a New Year's celebration at Geoff and Giselle's with Mark and Erin. Geoff and Giselle were awesome hosts. They have a great townhouse in a neat location and they planned a very fun visit. We all enjoyed catching up and the guys certainly enjoyed their three hour stogie to ring in 2007. What great memories!
I commented to Brian that this was the perfect way to celebrate the Holidays and if I could I would do it the same every year. He laughed a little at my sometimes over enthusiasm, but I know he agrees. We might not be able to swing this again in the future but for now we can just be happy that our Christmas was indeed the P-word.
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Back to School
After a great personal Christmas Holiday it was back to Roseville High School today. Besides a little extra grogginess due to our holiday extravaganza, I was looking forward to being back. The kids were actually a little off today. I expected a little bit of droopy eyes but also some rested smiles. This was not the case as I found a large number of saddened faces, due I discovered to largely unmet expectations and bitter disappointments from a Christmas season that holds so much promise for most of us. One of my students lost his sister due to a car accident, another got jumped, and another student's parents violently split from the sounds of her story. A fourth was excited to tell me how just today he was going to go shopping for his Christmas presents that were mysteriously absent the day of Christmas. We did a little goal setting with the start of the New Year where one student responded his 2007 aspirations as to not get shot. I think he made this comment for effect, but it still resonates. It is always eye-opening to see another part of students' lives and it makes you ever more thankful for the hand that you have been dealt. It also helps put the importance of factorization versus self esteem in perspective. The good news is they are getting back to a routine something they really desire and need out of school and we were able to crack a few smiles with a warm welcome back.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Macomb, MI
Here is an article that appeared on the front page of the Real Estate section of the Detroit Free Press. It details a development in our town, including our gym!
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070107/BUSINESS04/701070494/1017
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070107/BUSINESS04/701070494/1017
ARCHIVE The good and not so good of the midwest
Well today is a sad day for Bears fans. What started out looking very promising with Hester's kickoff return for a touchdown, turned into a big disappointment as the Bears handed the ball over to the Colts five times, couldn't get anything going on offense, and really couldn't stop the Colt's drives. So now we Chicago fans enter the all too familiar land of "next year". "Next year" it will be the Bears recovering five turnovers. "Next year" it will be a matured Grossman that connects for a string of first downs. "Next year" it will be the Bears running back interceptions for scores. The land of "next year" always holds so much promise for us often disappointed Chicago fans, but "next year" does look good for the monsters of the midway.
On a positive note, after entering what could be a rough day as a Bears fan, I am experiencing the Best day as a teacher. Today is one of those days where you are really thankful you chose the career path of education. At 3:00 this morning I got the call... School is canceled! They have actually deemed it too cold here in the Midwest for school to meet, with a temperature of 4 degrees and a windchill that makes it feel like -20. Though, Brian and I both say this is nothing compared to Minnesota weather. You haven't experienced cold, until you've experienced Minnesota cold, where your insides literally hurt to be outside. If they canceled school for weather like this in Minnesota, we wouldn't have met for all of January. But I am not complaining with this cancellation by any means, as I sit here still in my pajamas wondering what to do with this "free" day, and thouroughly enjoying one of the very best added bonuses of my profession.
On a positive note, after entering what could be a rough day as a Bears fan, I am experiencing the Best day as a teacher. Today is one of those days where you are really thankful you chose the career path of education. At 3:00 this morning I got the call... School is canceled! They have actually deemed it too cold here in the Midwest for school to meet, with a temperature of 4 degrees and a windchill that makes it feel like -20. Though, Brian and I both say this is nothing compared to Minnesota weather. You haven't experienced cold, until you've experienced Minnesota cold, where your insides literally hurt to be outside. If they canceled school for weather like this in Minnesota, we wouldn't have met for all of January. But I am not complaining with this cancellation by any means, as I sit here still in my pajamas wondering what to do with this "free" day, and thouroughly enjoying one of the very best added bonuses of my profession.
ARCHIVE Da Bears!!
Well, I'm going to let you in on a little known fact of the Davies household. We are both obnoxious Bears fans. In fact, there is no way we could even watch the games in public we are so out of control. You might not believe this but during the game this weekend I could barely sit down and shouted at the TV like a maniac. I believe I may have uttered things like "Shut up cry baby, Sean Peyton. Stop kissing New Orleans butt, Troy Aikman." Brian may have been even heard yelling, "GO Baby, Go!" Both our stomachs were in knots. We were even so pathetic we instituted the slow-clap for really important plays. What is it about the NFL that can have two rational adults sitting on the edge of their seats like their own livelihood is at risk?
That was us this past weekend and this past weekend was good for Bears fans. Those of you that are not Bears fans are truly missing out. It is so fun to root for a team that plays hard-nosed defense oriented football, in a cold weather city with a no baloney attitude. It is awesome to cheer on Urlacher and even the much maligned Grossman, as all the anchors can talk about is the story book year of the Saints and the leadership of Sean Peyton (who by the way didn't even have his team practice on a real field in prep for Sunday's game.) The Bears are shuffling into the super bowl despite just about every paid sportscasters predictions. But I personally want to thank the Jim Romes and Jay Mariottis of the sports world for giving the Bears even more to prove, and I am glad they are continuing this in the build up to the Superbowl. If you are wondering what Brian and I will be doing February 4th, we'll be sitting on the edges of our seats, like it's our lives that hang in the balance, rooting for none other than the Chicago Bears, who will hopefully beat a much touted yet inferior team....maybe like....Peyton Manning's team.
Monday, January 1, 2007
Opening Day
As I write, Brian and his Dad are sitting feet up, beers in hand, and watching in HD what Brian describes as one of the greatest days of the year. Baseball's Opening Day! Such excitement for baseball fanatics and the glimmer of new hope for Cubs fans. The only question, how soon will our hope shift from this year to next year? Hopefully, it will remain this year with Alfonso and Lou as our additions. I also want to share this picture of the new Busch Stadium Brian took last spring. Enjoy the season!
ARCHIVE Freedom Writers
If you know many teachers, you have probably learned that we are very passionate about what we do. If one is luke-warm on education, I feel they don't belong in it! (I told you we were passionate.) With the headline capturing movie Freedom Writers being in the spotlight, I can't help but to have some opinions about it. Read on only if want the rantings of a still wet behind the ears teacher.
Every so often a movie comes along that highlights kids from a tough background and the one messiah-like figure that takes the earth on their shoulders and solely unlocks their potential. Each story has it's own emphasis and it's own spin but basically follows the same plot. Stand and Deliver is one example. These movies are inspiring, and I definitely believe one person has the capability to make a difference, otherwise I'd be doing something else, but I think these movies also romanticize the really tough issues inner-city public schools face. For instance, did you know that the teacher featured in Stand and Deliver had a nervous breakdown shortly after the very year of teaching the movie chronicled. I'm not sure that sequel would draw at the box office.
I really respect the main character Freedom Writers highlights. Her personal commitment, her belief in the capabilities of each student, and her initiative are inspiring. As a teacher myself, I really strive to have the same values, but I guess I get more bogged down than she did on what has become the red-tape of public education. I wish I could teach whatever curriculum I wanted, or at least a little more of what I wanted. I wish I could teach something that really captured my students attention every day. I wish I could reach my students like this movie shows, but I don't. Comparing this movie plot to my experiences can only logically send my thinking down one of two paths. Since the movie and my experiences don't quite match, I am left thinking that either these movies are to romantic and unrealistic; or I take the second path of thought and its me, I don't measure up. I think I prefer the first, though I've considered the second.
I guess I don't like these movies because they seem to give the general public the perception that only if we had better teachers, teachers like the one in Freedom Writers our educational problems would be solved. People have the perception that teaching is an easy job, but I invite you into my classroom.
Tomorrow as you enter the heat might not be on, or maybe the heat will be broken in the on position, maybe a student will be arrested out of your class, maybe you will run out of photo-copies, maybe you'll have to break up a fight, maybe you will have 38 kids and only 36 desks, or maybe the power will go out for five minute intervals. (These things have all happened to me this year.) How does this compare to your working environment? Don't forget all the while you need to be teaching a pre-college math class to students who failed three years of junior high math. Remember, kids are supposed to be learning here. And what are they supposed to learn? You can't teach topics of your choosing, topics that you feel might really interest them. You have to teach a stretched out, watered down curriculum set by government officials who have never been in the classroom, and it is one that will be annually assessed at very high stakes, so as to not leave any child behind. I told you there would be passion.
Don't worry I won't be looking for an office job anytime soon, though there were times at the beginning of this year I was on monster.com. I teach some great kids and if you knew them, they would keep you coming back. If you knew how good they felt about themselves to finally be getting math, if you saw the smiles that are returned to me when I welcome them into the room, you too would dress in layers to brave the elements of your classroom.
I know in this movie the teacher faced similarly tough issues, but I think this movie is unrealistic and unfair because as audience members in a movie we judge the teacher's success on how far she can take her students, but as a society that is not how we are judging success in public schools. Let me put this in perspective for you, the movie Freedom writers doesn't climax when Hilary Swank gets her kids MEAP scores, yet that is what is becoming the measurement of success in schools. I know it could be partly my district, but in Michigan we are so focused on the state curriculum and state achievement tests that we lose the bigger picture.
Where I am, I see public education so focused on test results it handcuffs their teachers. The ironic thing is this test focus does not lead to better test scores or student achievement in the end anyway. Standardized test scores do not and cannot tell the whole story of education that's why they weren't featured in the movie. Standardized test scores do not tell you that a school might be the safest place many students go all day. They don't tell you that it is the only place a student may have a positive interaction with an adult. They don't measure the self-confidence the students gain or the self worth they were taught, yet if a school's test scores on these poorly written standardized tests don't go up a school is labeled deficient or failing.
I guess my main complaint is that these movies, just like standardized test scores, fail to tell the whole story of public education. Maybe that's because it's a story way too complex to capture in a feature length film or a blog for that matter. I will end my thoughts here as I have to go and get some rest. 5:40 comes pretty early, and I have to save some passion for my kids....I wonder if the heat will be working?
Every so often a movie comes along that highlights kids from a tough background and the one messiah-like figure that takes the earth on their shoulders and solely unlocks their potential. Each story has it's own emphasis and it's own spin but basically follows the same plot. Stand and Deliver is one example. These movies are inspiring, and I definitely believe one person has the capability to make a difference, otherwise I'd be doing something else, but I think these movies also romanticize the really tough issues inner-city public schools face. For instance, did you know that the teacher featured in Stand and Deliver had a nervous breakdown shortly after the very year of teaching the movie chronicled. I'm not sure that sequel would draw at the box office.
I really respect the main character Freedom Writers highlights. Her personal commitment, her belief in the capabilities of each student, and her initiative are inspiring. As a teacher myself, I really strive to have the same values, but I guess I get more bogged down than she did on what has become the red-tape of public education. I wish I could teach whatever curriculum I wanted, or at least a little more of what I wanted. I wish I could teach something that really captured my students attention every day. I wish I could reach my students like this movie shows, but I don't. Comparing this movie plot to my experiences can only logically send my thinking down one of two paths. Since the movie and my experiences don't quite match, I am left thinking that either these movies are to romantic and unrealistic; or I take the second path of thought and its me, I don't measure up. I think I prefer the first, though I've considered the second.
I guess I don't like these movies because they seem to give the general public the perception that only if we had better teachers, teachers like the one in Freedom Writers our educational problems would be solved. People have the perception that teaching is an easy job, but I invite you into my classroom.
Tomorrow as you enter the heat might not be on, or maybe the heat will be broken in the on position, maybe a student will be arrested out of your class, maybe you will run out of photo-copies, maybe you'll have to break up a fight, maybe you will have 38 kids and only 36 desks, or maybe the power will go out for five minute intervals. (These things have all happened to me this year.) How does this compare to your working environment? Don't forget all the while you need to be teaching a pre-college math class to students who failed three years of junior high math. Remember, kids are supposed to be learning here. And what are they supposed to learn? You can't teach topics of your choosing, topics that you feel might really interest them. You have to teach a stretched out, watered down curriculum set by government officials who have never been in the classroom, and it is one that will be annually assessed at very high stakes, so as to not leave any child behind. I told you there would be passion.
Don't worry I won't be looking for an office job anytime soon, though there were times at the beginning of this year I was on monster.com. I teach some great kids and if you knew them, they would keep you coming back. If you knew how good they felt about themselves to finally be getting math, if you saw the smiles that are returned to me when I welcome them into the room, you too would dress in layers to brave the elements of your classroom.
I know in this movie the teacher faced similarly tough issues, but I think this movie is unrealistic and unfair because as audience members in a movie we judge the teacher's success on how far she can take her students, but as a society that is not how we are judging success in public schools. Let me put this in perspective for you, the movie Freedom writers doesn't climax when Hilary Swank gets her kids MEAP scores, yet that is what is becoming the measurement of success in schools. I know it could be partly my district, but in Michigan we are so focused on the state curriculum and state achievement tests that we lose the bigger picture.
Where I am, I see public education so focused on test results it handcuffs their teachers. The ironic thing is this test focus does not lead to better test scores or student achievement in the end anyway. Standardized test scores do not and cannot tell the whole story of education that's why they weren't featured in the movie. Standardized test scores do not tell you that a school might be the safest place many students go all day. They don't tell you that it is the only place a student may have a positive interaction with an adult. They don't measure the self-confidence the students gain or the self worth they were taught, yet if a school's test scores on these poorly written standardized tests don't go up a school is labeled deficient or failing.
I guess my main complaint is that these movies, just like standardized test scores, fail to tell the whole story of public education. Maybe that's because it's a story way too complex to capture in a feature length film or a blog for that matter. I will end my thoughts here as I have to go and get some rest. 5:40 comes pretty early, and I have to save some passion for my kids....I wonder if the heat will be working?
ARCHIVE Brian's Sermon...and the Golf Cart
After a few months into his job at St. Peter, Brian is preaching regularly, and though he will hate that I write this, he is doing really well. He has preached 3 of the last 5 Sundays, and when you are on at St. Peter you are really on. Each weekend you preach you preach Saturday night, multiple services Sunday morning, Sunday night, and then again Monday night. It makes for a busy weekend, but Brian really enjoys it. I find things to do with the time he is away in the evenings, like writing this post.
Well, a couple of weeks ago Brian preached on the topic of following Jesus. He talked about how living in a suburban community like Macomb, it is so easy to just work, shop, and go out to eat in the manicured, fabricated, pleasurable comforts of an upscale community. We don't have to be bothered by more unpleasant aspects of life if we don't want to be. Brian challenged people to think about whether this is really how Jesus calls us to live as his followers. He talked about how Jesus' ministry was with the poor, the sick, those hurting physically and emotionally. He said if we are following after Jesus, then we should really be following after his heart, and if we are after His heart then it might take us out of our nice little Macomb community.
Brian's message was well received, especially one of the illustrations he used (actually a little too well received). Brian talked about how when we first moved to Macomb, he saw a golf cart for sale, and he and I joked about how he should buy it. We laughed at how he could use it to go to the church (which is just across the street) and to the golf course (which is just down the street). That would pretty much take care of his needed transportation. In his sermon Bri put an image of a golf cart for sale on the screens in the sanctuary, and he explained how he too could lead a similar sheltered "golf cart" existence staying protected in his own little bubble. He carried this imagery throughout his sermon. Well, hopefully people got the REAL message of the sermon, because all they keep talking about is that stupid golf cart!
Whenever someone see Brian walking to church, they ask (even from their passing cars), "Where's your golf cart, Pastor?" On the way home from a meeting on a cold winter night, "Bet you wish you had that golf cart tonight, Pastor." I even got it today as I walked to church, "Beth, maybe you should have let Brian get that golf cart, huh."
The first couple or dozen times it was funny, but now I think Brian is rethinking the use of that illustration. I know people are just being nice and making polite conversation, but it has become a little joke between Brian and I. I think we are starting to understand a little bit how Mark Winterhoff must have felt when people from BLC always told him he looked like he had gotten taller. The more we hear the golf cart joke, the more we'll probably relate to his experience. Brian finds this whole situation especially ironic because the serious indictment he was trying to make with that illustration about living too comfortably is being overshadowed by the image of him driving to church in an actual golf cart. Hopefully, people got Brian's bigger message out of the sermon too because it was really good.
Well, a couple of weeks ago Brian preached on the topic of following Jesus. He talked about how living in a suburban community like Macomb, it is so easy to just work, shop, and go out to eat in the manicured, fabricated, pleasurable comforts of an upscale community. We don't have to be bothered by more unpleasant aspects of life if we don't want to be. Brian challenged people to think about whether this is really how Jesus calls us to live as his followers. He talked about how Jesus' ministry was with the poor, the sick, those hurting physically and emotionally. He said if we are following after Jesus, then we should really be following after his heart, and if we are after His heart then it might take us out of our nice little Macomb community.
Brian's message was well received, especially one of the illustrations he used (actually a little too well received). Brian talked about how when we first moved to Macomb, he saw a golf cart for sale, and he and I joked about how he should buy it. We laughed at how he could use it to go to the church (which is just across the street) and to the golf course (which is just down the street). That would pretty much take care of his needed transportation. In his sermon Bri put an image of a golf cart for sale on the screens in the sanctuary, and he explained how he too could lead a similar sheltered "golf cart" existence staying protected in his own little bubble. He carried this imagery throughout his sermon. Well, hopefully people got the REAL message of the sermon, because all they keep talking about is that stupid golf cart!
Whenever someone see Brian walking to church, they ask (even from their passing cars), "Where's your golf cart, Pastor?" On the way home from a meeting on a cold winter night, "Bet you wish you had that golf cart tonight, Pastor." I even got it today as I walked to church, "Beth, maybe you should have let Brian get that golf cart, huh."
The first couple or dozen times it was funny, but now I think Brian is rethinking the use of that illustration. I know people are just being nice and making polite conversation, but it has become a little joke between Brian and I. I think we are starting to understand a little bit how Mark Winterhoff must have felt when people from BLC always told him he looked like he had gotten taller. The more we hear the golf cart joke, the more we'll probably relate to his experience. Brian finds this whole situation especially ironic because the serious indictment he was trying to make with that illustration about living too comfortably is being overshadowed by the image of him driving to church in an actual golf cart. Hopefully, people got Brian's bigger message out of the sermon too because it was really good.
ARCHIVE Our Videos
Click below and enjoy our videos!
Kate's Baptism
Kissing Kate
Kate Smiling
Kate and Aunt Katie
Kate Holding Head Up
Kate Six Weeks
Dada Song
Kate's Church Outing
Kate Close Up
Kate's Outing
Daddy's Girl
Kate Searching
A Day in the Life of Kate
Kate Tummy Time
Daddy Diaper Duty
Kate's First Bath
Kate the Glow Worm
Kate's First Day at Home
Kate at the Hospital
Baby Wave
Puerto Vallarta Slide Show
Dominican Slide Show
Brian Fishing
Beth Skating
PVR Sunset
Room at the RIU Vallarta
Downtown Puerto Vallarta
Kate's Baptism
Kissing Kate
Kate Smiling
Kate and Aunt Katie
Kate Holding Head Up
Kate Six Weeks
Dada Song
Kate's Church Outing
Kate Close Up
Kate's Outing
Daddy's Girl
Kate Searching
A Day in the Life of Kate
Kate Tummy Time
Daddy Diaper Duty
Kate's First Bath
Kate the Glow Worm
Kate's First Day at Home
Kate at the Hospital
Baby Wave
Puerto Vallarta Slide Show 
Dominican Slide Show
Brian Fishing
Beth Skating
PVR Sunset
Room at the RIU Vallarta
Downtown Puerto Vallarta
Archive Vacation Slide show
This is a slide show of our vacation pictures to the Nora Jones song Come Away with Me. I might make it my new theme song! Brian is really getting quite creative when it comes to photography. Hope you enjoy.Click here to view the slide show.
Some stories from our trip:
Besides walking on the beach and enjoying drinks and food, we took a day trip into the town of Puerto Vallarta. The night prior to our trip we asked the lobby bartender where we should eat lunch in the downtown area. The bartender whom we had seen a few nights already and Brian had fast befriended gets really excited, pulls out a city guide, and flips to his recommendation. According to Luis, the best place to eat in Puerto Vallarta Mexico was Outback Steakhouse. Not exactly the authentic Mexican we had in mind, but we got another recommendation from him and enjoyed our day trip. It was certainly ironic as we were on vacation to do things we couldn't do at home. I'm sure though Hunter might agree with the bartender's recommendation.
The downtown itself was very nice and we walked along the beach and boardwalk where there were older resorts, restaurants, a market, and touristy shops. The center of the town is a square with a large church in the center. It was interesting as there were tattoo parlors and advertisements for happy hour surrounding the church on all sides. There was an elderly women begging in front of the church as tourists passed by on a guided tour. It was kind of eerie actually. We bought a rosary from the church as a souvenir that I zipped in my bag, but by the time we returned to the hotel we had lost it or something happened to it. I honestly, don't know.
The rosary might have done the trick however, on the way back to the hotel . The cab driver on the return trip was the Mexican Mario Andretti. He was driving through the narrow crowded streets of downtown at like 60 mph. Let's just say it was our excursion for the trip. Who needs to rent a wave runner or do a zip-line tour through the jungle, when you get to race through the city like we did. He was using medians, curbs, honking, and all the while the song I Will Survive was playing on his radio. Luckily we did.
Another of our (or at least my) favorite activities was afternoon Volleyball. As you know Brian and I are competitive, but it is also nice to get up and move a bit on your vacation, meet other people, and enjoy the beach. Brian is actually a very good Volleyball player. His passing skills could use some work, but he has exceptional "net presence", instincts as to what moves to make on tough plays close to the net. Whenever he was in the front row our team did well. We hooked up with some other people from Michigan and one afternoon won 10 straight games. These are quick games so it didn't take long and to be honest the winning streak was fun.
Vacationing with Brian is so much fun. He is truly as his Dad dubbed him long ago "the friend of all man kind." These RIU resorts are neat for meeting a collection of people. We met a group of snowmobiling construction workers from Michigan who are going to be working on a project just down the street from our house and enjoyed breakfast and a political discussion with a judge and his wife from Canada. By the end of the trip Brian also knew most of the hotel staff. I would hear, "Hola, Senor Brian," just about everywhere we went. He spent lots of time talking in Spanish to the hotel employees. He is getting pretty fluent because I only understood half of his conversations. Marna would be proud. By the time we got back on the plane to return to Michigan Brian knew about half the people aboard our flight.
Such Fun!
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