All The Friendly Reminders

I love my kids. They bring joy to my 
heart.

This is your friendly reminder that if you are getting rid of paper, you can recycle it. 

If you are getting rid of a plastic bottle, you can recycle it. 

If you are breaking down boxes, you can recycle that cardboard.

If you are using glass bottles (or the food you have is in a glass container), you can recycle that container.

If you are opening containers full of jazzy jazz, you can most likely recycle that container.

Let's recycle things.

Also, friendly reminder - find joy in your job. There's always something to find joy about. 

Ode To My Haircut

Featuring: my bomb haircut and my new
dress from Poshmark.

Haircut.
Haircut.
I'm a big fan.
Thank you for letting me use less shampoo.

Haircut.
Haircut.
You make me look glam.
Thank you for not being a hassle to do.

Haircut.
Haircut.
I feel like I'm Pam.
You know, The Office, where she changes her hairdo?

Haircut. 
Haircut.
What more can I say?
You make me feel like flying away.

World. I like my haircut. I got it done at the school in town. I'm so excited. And I feel lovely. And I use less shampoo. And it doesn't take time to do. I'm so thrilled.

And, yes, I know I'm a babe.

Food is Fun

Foods, foods - lots of natural foods. 

I started a new thing. Well, a couple weeks ago I made a decision, but now it's going to be implemented because I went grocery shopping.

I'm starting to buy foods that I can recognize ALL of the ingredients to. I cannot explain how excited I am about this. I don't know how this works with restaurants or anything like that - for now, it's just the grocery store.

It's been harder than expected. I didn't realize that some foods I eat have random things that I didn't know what they were. Like half and half. Half and half has some chemicals (maybe chemicals...I don't know) in it that I didn't know about. My heart sank a bit when I noticed this...

I like half and half in my coffee.

This is my favorite. All natural, healthy,
and great for your tummy.

Let's be thankful for the natural foods aisle at the grocery store! I found some half and half that is just cream and milk (I think...it's at school). So I can have half and half in my coffee AND I know all the ingredients.

Anyways, this is a lot harder and easier than I thought it was going to be. And harder. It's humbling to not be able to have some of my favorite foods, but it's fun to find alternatives. 

The reason I'm doing this is to make sure I know exactly what is going into my body. I like to know exactly what it is so I know if I'm helping or harming my body. Berries and nuts and cheese are all things I can read the label and know what is in them. Processed food? Not so much.

It's a fun, humbling, wonderful time. Healthy food sustains my body (and brain!) and I'm thankful there are so many options. Now, if only I can find places that sell food without the plastic packaging, life would be grand.

Life note. I got a haircut and I'm a babe. Maybe
I'll write a post about that.

I encourage you to join me on this journey! It's fun, exciting, and humbling.

But mostly good for your body.

Let's be sure to take care of the bodies the Lord gave us.

Brain Works

Organized chaos. My life.

This summer I finally admitted something to myself.
That was fun.
Actually, humbling.
The word is humbling.

ADHD is defined as the medical condition that affects how well someone can sit still, focus, and pay attention. Attention deficit hyperactive disorder. For most of my life (make that all), I've had a struggle to focus. In 3rd grade, my teacher sat me next to the window and I didn't learn anything for almost the entire year. That's an issue.

You see, ADHD isn't something that comes out just as hyperactivity. I think that's where people get it wrong. ADHD is the overall term, but that goes into three different areas -->
1. Inability to focus coming out in hyperactivity.
2. Inability to focus coming out as distractibility (but quiet).
3. A mix of 1 and 2.

You see, most gals get diagnosed with depression before they get diagnosed with ADHD. The doctors see the symptoms lining up more with depression and less with ADHD. But later, it is realized that depression isn't the 'problem' - how the brain is working is the 'issue'.

Let's talk, though: this isn't an issue. It's difficult. It's different. But just because something is different DOESN'T mean it's wrong or an issue.

I read a book this summer called The ADHD Advantage by Dale Archer. Here, check it out. It gave me hope in myself. I was, for the first time it seemed, not feeling bound by this idea that I couldn't focus. Coming to terms with the fact my brain isn't the same as the 'normal person' is great (because I know myself more and can learn how to live better), but it's hard. Reading this book was something that gave me confidence in myself.

I feel like this gives a bit of context. I'd like to say
that I was cleaning and this is just how my
bed looks while cleaning. Lies. I got distracted a
weekago cleaning. I've been sleeping with this pile
ever since. #ADHDlife

For example, because I have ADHD, I am able to do multiple things at once. I can have many tasks going and know what is happening with all of them. Because of my ADHD, when something doesn't go my way, I forget about it somewhat quickly. I'm able to relate to my students better and understand their need to move. I understand my brain a bit better now and I'm less frustrated with my brain. 

I'm thankful God made me with my brain. I get it. Well, I don't. But I'm thankful. I get to lean on Jesus more. 

I can admit new things to myself, like...
1. I can't be in a situation with an excessive amount of stimulation because it's too much for me (and that's okay). 
2. I learn better from people talking because it requires less focus.
3. Part of ADHD can be the struggle to read (and a lot of people with ADHD have some form of dyslexia). It's okay not to be a good reader, but it's not okay to not try.
4. Coffee actually helps my symptoms. Weird, right?
5. When it gets to be too much and too much stimulation happens, I have to take myself away from a situation (situation = group of people, room, some sort of work,...).
6. ADHD helps me teach better.
7. My room is messy because of the ADHD. It's not an excuse, but it makes sense.
8. Sticky notes are my friend. And lists.

Anyways, I'm getting better at knowing myself. It's nice. It's humbling. It's helping me sustain myself.

Here's some helpful videos/YouTube channels -->
How to ADHD - she talks really fast so you can follow better.
The Unofficial ADHD Test for Adults - see my brain work.
ADHD sucks, but not really - TedxUSU talk

Also, this is highlighted weird because it did it on its own and I wasn't wanted to hurt my brain and fix it. The end.

I LOVE MY JOB.

Encourage and uplift always.
You never know who needs it.

I LOVE MY JOB.
I HAVE THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.
I LOVE CHILDREN.
I GET TO WORK WITH CHILDREN.
THE LORD BE PRAISED.

Have I mentioned I love my job? I do. I really do. I think it's the best blessing that I've ever been given. I cannot believe that God put me in a place where I get to serve and be a blessing and be used as His vessel. My heart has trouble comprehending the joy of it all. 

Help always. Never give up on a child.

Literally. I get so excited I can't do anything. 

Teaching is what I'm supposed to do. Now that I'm back in the classroom, I know for sure.

I love kids.

I like the chance I get to sustain them.

And teach them.

And love them. Well.

Peace.

PS - Today we learned about the phrase, "Everyone is worthy of love and respect." Think on that. What do you think? Yes? No? Why? 

PPS - Why is a very important and hard question to ask. I think it's a grand idea to ask it every once and a while.

Why I teach - that 'me too' made all
 the difference for my heart today.

Apples and Bikes

Today was my first day of school this year. Rephrase. Today was my first day back at work this year. This school year. Help us all.

It's true what is said - the best apples are
at the top of the tree

When I got home, I first stopped at the West Side Market. Here - learn more about them and then go there yourself! I got spaghetti squash, grapes, and O'Henry peaches. The amount of joy in my heart is huge.

I got home and didn't want to sit inside, especially because I'd been working all day and wanted the be outside. Note. I am outside now writing this with my feet in the dirt and heart in the sky with happiness.

But, I didn't want to sit around. That's not entertaining or taking joy in the earth that the Lord has made. One of my favorite Scriptures says the following -->

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world." 

All the love and happiness.

That's Psalm 19:1-4. It goes on, speaking beautifully about the world the Lord has made. Every part shows the beauty that He has made to show us His glory. 

(if you want to read more, here - read this)

I went outside. I took my bike.

Note. I saved up ALL summer for a bike. Side jobs only, nothing that comes from my teaching job. I wanted to have something economical (more so, environmental) that I could ride to the store. Sometimes walking a mile with a watermelon in the 100 degree heat is a bit too much. So, bike. I got a bike. I'm so excited. 

But. Continuation. I rode around the park. About a week ago I discovered an apple tree on the side of the park. Today, I went to it. I tried the apples to make sure that they were edible (otherwise it would be pointless to pick them). THEN. I picked them! Not too many because, to be honest, they were too high. I need tall friends. Well, tall friends to help me pick apples. I have tall friends.

Until next time, Mr. Tree.

I tried to climb the tree, only to come to the sad realization that apple trees seem to grow out and not only up...and a branch whacked me in the eye. 

Anyways, I picked lots of apples! I'm excited. Thrilled, really. I'm going to dehydrate them and take them to school as a snack. It'll be wonderful and healthy and (...) free.

Go outside (and take joy in the Lord!). Ride a bike. Find a fruit tree.

Peace.

Today

Today begins a process.
Today we start looking more intentionally at clothes.
Today we get rid of things.

Here we begin. This works.
It made me feel joyful and it's modest.
AND. I can teach in it. Here. We. Go.

Today we decide what is necessary and what is not.
Today is the day we begin to try on all the clothes and see if they are needed.
Today we see if all the clothes fit.
Today we get rid of the things that don't fit.
Today we contemplate the necessity.
Today we begin to get rid of things.
Again.
Still.

I think that's why starting towards being minimal is a long process when you believe in using things before throwing them out.

It's continual.

And long.

Peace.

Oh, and let's be honest - this won't just be today. It'll be a long while.

I Did A Thing/Fire Starters

Today, I did a thing. Not necessarily a big thing, just a thing. I officially opened an Etsy shop. That's nuts. I think it's because of my excessive amount of fire starters that I just want to do something with them...(y'all, this didn't last very long. I can't stand having to monitor a shop when I don't understand it).

So, speaking of fire starters, I'd think it'd be cool if I explained those to you. I got the idea from a small shop in town that sold little odds and ends. Fire starters were one of those. I studied it for a bit and got the basic concept - put together wax and other flammable things.

So, that's what I've been doing. For the past two/three/seventeen years or so, I've been making fire starters!

So, how to do it? Well, first, you kind of have to get all the random things together. Random flammable things. Some of these can be found around the house, some are found at garage sales (...wax...).

So, take a muffin tin (that you hope to never use again) and put in cupcake liners. You maybe wouldn't have to do this, but I think it makes life easier.


After that, put the flammable objects in! So, take fabric (cut into pieces), broken up pieces of wood (popsicle sticks...), crayons broken in half, dryer sheets that have been used, lint, and other things of the sort and fill the liner. This part gets weird because it starts to seem like everything is flying out of the liner, but really, it's just the right amount.

Then comes the part where you may have to wait. I like candles and a lot of the time they are put in glass containers. This means that when you finish getting the wax out, you can recycle the glass! When it gets down to the part where you can't light the wick anymore, you can put it on a candle warmer/put it in the oven to melt the wax.

When all the wax is melted, you then CAREFULLY dump a lot in each muffin tin hole cupcake liner thing. This is the part that takes a long time. That's why, sometimes, I get old candles at garage sales because it makes life easier (and I don't have to be so intentional about burning candles all the time to use them up...).

Then, you're done! Sometimes you have to use lots and lots of wax on the fire starters. So, patience is key.

Oh, and the point of a fire starter? Light it when making a bonfire or even a fire in the fire place. It keeps the fire going because the wax very slowly melts, causing the fire not to go out. It's magical, really.

That is all.

I'm not sure if that made sense.

Oh well.

Oh, life note: this is also a really good way to reuse old socks that gets holes in them or some random fabric that has no purpose. That's another reason I like making these.

Peace.