Keep Calm and Sing

I realize that most parents and grandparents post videos of their talented little ones; however, that is not the case here.  I am posting this because my grandson, Cross, cannot carry a tune (much like me).  You have to hang in there until he belts out, “….all is bright!”  I think it actually gets a little worse at that point.  Keep Calm and Sing Silent Night!

Fat Mirror or Skinny Mirror

         Mirror mirror on the wall! You know that full length mirror that all women own……the one where we stand back and scrutinize ourselves in from all angles (and I do mean ALL) before we head out the door. Well, on my daughter, Jodi’s, recent visit, she completely turned me against my mirror. As she was looking at herself in my full length mirror, she said, “You know mom, your mirror is a skinny mirror!” Puzzled, I replied, “What do you mean a skinny mirror?” She proceeded to tell me that it makes you look skinnier that you really are! I think I actually heard my mirror gasp at this point. To be honest, I was not thinking that I looked particularly skinny in my mirror to begin with! Now I am not sure if I should go purchase a “fat mirror” or just keep my skinny mirror. Mirror mirror on the wall, surely you do lie!

Potty Training Gone Bad

        My grandsons, Cross and Ryder, were recently featured on America's Funniest Home Videos for this little incident.  Cross, the older one, decided to snatch the potty training seat out from under his little brother "on an accident". This must have been right after he decided Ryder should also brush his teeth while perched on the toilet.

JOKIN IN THE JOHN

        JOKIN IN THE JOHN! When I walked into the bathroom at work recently, I suddenly heard a male voice say, “Well come on in, I’ve saved you the best seat in the house!” Glancing around, I noticed this little Halloween ghost perched on top of the paper towel holder. For the sake of this story, I will just call him “John”. John, who was holding a toilet plunger, continued making wise cracks to me throughout my entire visit to the powder room. John made me very uncomfortable; especially when he said, “It must be Halloween; I just saw a full moon!” Thank goodness John has disappeared!

           

Behavior Intervention

     Several weeks ago, one of my students brought me a bag of chocolate candy.  I am not sure I can adequately describe this bag of candy.  It had obviously been in the bottom of his backpack for a couple weeks, left in the sweltering sun at some point, and I am not ruling out, ran over by a steam roller.  Obviously there was no way I could put this flattened mess in the candy jar.  Well last week, he approached me as he was leaving class and sweetly said, “Ms. Wise, when are you going to put my bag of candy in the candy jar?”  Bless his little pumpkin heart…..now I feel bad that I threw it out.  Looks like I will be buying a bag of chocolate candy this week.  Anyone know where I can rent a steam roller?  Maybe I can just iron it and get the same effect.  I wish I had taken a picture of it; however I did not know I would have to go on a guilt trip over throwing it away!  #ironingcandy

Practical Joke Gone Bad

          A new custodian came into my classroom today!  Suddenly he was motioning towards the front of the classroom and very upset!  I had no idea why he was excited as everything he was saying was in Spanish.  My first thought was, “I wish I had paid a little more attention in my Spanish class!”  All I can remember are simple things like hello, goodbye, and crazy.  Ok, so I have the foreign language skills of a preschooler.  As he is frantically gesturing towards my computer at the front of the classroom, I try to look like I am in control as I approach the computer.  Ah…..there it was…..whiteout spilled on top of my computer.  I tried to explain that it was just a joke…..not real, fake! It looked like I was playing a one-sided game of charades. I even showed him that I also had a bottle of fake red fingernail polish spilled on my desk.   He did not seem at all amused……actually he probably thinks I am a little loco.   As he left, I said, “Gracious!”  Only, I instantly knew that I had not pronounced it correctly…..I said it a little too drawn out…..like a Southerner. 

Praying for Strangers

            Have you ever encountered a look-alike?  I saw my mom at church today.  Oh, I know it wasn't really her as she has been dead for many years now; however, from the side profile, this lady looked so much like my mother, Mary.  She had the same gray hair sprinkled with white strands as my mom.  Even the cut and style, full of body and waves, reminded me of mom’s hair.  Her blouse resembled something my mom would wear with orange, brown, and yellow flowers. 

          I found myself staring at this lady throughout the service.  I kept hoping she would turn so I could see more of her face – knowing she would probably no longer remind me of my mom.  In the end, as she turned to leave, I saw that she did not resemble my mom from the front.  As I think about this lady, I feel lead to pray for her, a stranger, this week; praying for good things in her life.   As I reflect on this experience, it made me think more about praying for strangers; something I should do more often.

            In her book, Praying for Strangers, River Jordan states, “Praying for Strangers is specifically about connecting with one person at a time. To do so, one must first become aware, really aware of the human condition in a personal way. As you move through the days ahead, don't let the need to pray for someone rule your mind. Don't think it. Just open your eyes. Truly, open your eyes. In the course of any given day you will cross paths with many people through your life or by way of social and mass media sources.”