Monday, December 11, 2017

She's Back

I literally forgot I even had a blog...

Then a few weeks ago I found out I was pregnant, and the whole world started to rearrange.
That's when the thought occurred- "I should totally blog about this."

Oh yea, I have one.

So guess who's back?

I write this as I'm cramming buttery smooth Great Value crackers in my mouth to avoid the horrid taste that I know will creep back up if my taste buds remain vacant for too long.
It's like I've been sucking on a penny that's been in the floor of my car for 5 months.

I've tried Sprite, Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta, RC Cola, Sonic cokes, etc..
Water it is....
Atleast I'm not consuming all the caffeine that Google says I shouldn't have.
Although, I am consuming hot dogs, lettuce, deli meat, and whatever processed junk I deem fit to eat.
At this point in life, if I realize I'm hungry for something, then I have to go get it or find it or cook it.
At that moment, all other foods become null in void- literally- they are deemed disgusting and are not fit to eat or be within visual range.

Needless to say, Piper is so confused by her momma's eating habits right now and why we avoid the chip aisle at the local Walmart.
Bleh.

When they say you forget all the pain and suffering of pregnancy after you have a child, they mean it.
I forgot how miserable "the sickness" is, and how real the struggle of figuring out what will not make you want to toss your cookies.

Well it's all coming back now. All of it.
Well crap.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Piggy-Backing

School is right around the corner, literally, like take a left at Thursday and a right after Saturday and straight on til 8:00am Monday morning at the "Welcome Back" professional development day where you'll find about 200ish professionals waiting to be motivated by the keynote speaker and mentally calculating the time they have left to prep supplies, copies, room arrangments, and schedule changes before children arrive at 9:00am on Friday for "Meet the Teacher" Day.

Run on sentence much?
Yes, but you get the point.

With school starting back comes a prep list, to-do list, don't list, and go buy list.

I still lack some dry erase markers, calculator batteries, and need more pretty washi tape and duct tape to finish labeling every beloved item in my classroom along with other random odds and ends. The top of the list though is Diet Mt. Dew to keep a girl going.

Although guess what I do have...
I have 100's of #2 pencils, blue ink pens, 100's of markers, highlighters, colored pencils, crayons, paper (lined and plaine), paper clips, staples, and tons of other random things a high school student might need throughout the day.

Why do I tell you this?
Well my dear friends, not all high school students believe it or not are capable or have the capacity or means to get their own school supplies.
Also, not all high school students have had someone in their lives care enough to make sure they have supplies.
Also, this piggy-backs with a beyond realistically fabulous article a precious co-worker of mine wrote on the realities we face in a school district where we see students above, below, and in the middle of the poverty line.  The link is at the bottom and I encourage every single person who reads this to read her blog because it hits the nail on the head, driving it right through the board of reality.

It inspired me to step up on my box that makes me feel 10 feet tall.
So here it is.

Last year as a first year teacher who had never seen such, my retired, veteran, professional educator of a mother tried to prepare me because no one else was going to.
She gave me youtube links to watch, and shared stories of her kindergarten babies that I would soon be teaching as juniors and seniors.

After experiencing my first year and this whole standardized testing/ratings/mumbo-jumbo, I whole-heartedly agree with Keri when she says that no rating can measure the love, the hugs, care, and everything else non-academic teachers do. No test as such can take into consideration the Little Johnnys and Little Suzies who have experienced and live in immeasurable conditions that we would probably condemn, deal with unruly relatives, or even just flat out don't have relatives to deal with or take care of them.
This is the reality, and this is what we see day to day.
Did you know that sometimes if you don't make it a point to say "Happy Birthday" to your students-- no one else is going to because they don't have anyone to say it to them or care to acknowledge it.

Am I an expert or know exactly what I'm talking about when I say these things?
By no means whatsoever.
But have a seen it and observed it and watched how others treat these situations?
Absolutely.

If you're on the outside looking in, please be careful of how you talk about your local public schools and district as a whole...especially on social media. We as teachers take pride in our jobs, our schools, and our districts.
It stings to see and hear the negativity when you know so much more is going on.
Tune it out you say? Then don't ask me why we can't {insert certain task unaccomplished by said school or test scores or ratings} while I'm buying school supplies at Wal-Mart because you see my staff badge.

Here's the best advice anyone ever gave me starting off as a teacher...

"You know most teachers tell their students that they aren't their momma so they need to take care of themselves...
Well sometimes you're the only momma they ever have. Treat them like you would want someone to treat your own child. Love them. Care for them. Go the extra mile."

Be a momma.

Now go read Keri's article on this ridiculous rating system----->
http://talesofahighschoolenglishteacher.blogspot.com/2017/08/best-and-worst-schools-who-makes-that.html

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Join the club...

Yes ok.
So I jumped on the train... just to get the kit, but if I can help others use chemical free products on the largest organ in/on their body then so be it.
I'm not a frilly, prissy girl by any means, but I do love putting on making.
Makes me feel good, and hopefully look good.


But this is the kicker as to why I chose to buy Limelight by Alcone.

The company who makes this chemical free make-up line is the same who makes MAC.
This came straight off the website.

"Incredible makeup and skin care for everyone…
At LimeLight, we empower people to achieve their goals and dreams and to inspire others to do the same. Our family-owned company was founded in 1952 to provide professional makeup to the stage and film industry. Now we are expanding our reach to help women everywhere look their best every day with our all natural skincare line and personalized makeup palettes.
Be Amazing Every Day with LimeLight!
Michele Gay & Madison Mallardi
Co-Founders | Aunt & Niece"

This company was even approached by the Blue Man Group for their unique blue-ness.
They also were approached by broadway production of The Lion King to provide all the make-up for the cast members.
It wasn't until 2015 that they expanded into Limelight- the multilevel marketing company.

Yes this is new.
But yes the products are chemical free and so smooth and creamy on your skin.
The foundation is heavily pigmented so it doesn't require so much to apply, wax-based, and did I mention chemical free?
They have a sweet smell to them too.
No there's not a minimum order to participate and be a beauty guide.
No you aren't required to buy or sell so muich.

If you have a question ask me, but in the mean while I'll be waiting on my kit to come in with all these cool products to play with and give makeovers.

www.limelightbyalcone.com/hannahhurley

Get you some. Your skin will thank you!
Limelight by Alcone- Hannah Hurley

Election Results & Other News

There was an election last night....

BUT....

TODAY....

It's my Poppa's birthday.

That's a little more important to me in all honesty seeing as it's a BIG ONE.

My Poppa is the big 8-0.

If you know me, you know that my grandparents are a big part of my life and my Piper's.

So I'm going to tell some stories... Ready go!

When I was little (only child little), my mom and dad decided to graciously have another child...
Along came Hayden, and my Gege came and picked me up to go see him at the hospital...
Long story short on that, I didn't go home for a month. I stayed with them. I didn't want to go home. From there sprouted my weekly Walmart trip with my Poppa and going to work with him at Therral's.
Every Saturday morning we would go Walmart or K-Mart and I got to spend $10 on whatever I wanted, but only after we went to the Post Office, took the mail and did some work at the office, and had breakfast whether it be his "famous flying flapjacks" or Spudnuts or my Gege's scrambled eggs with ketchup and toast.
That's right, I eat ketchup on my eggs and so does Piper.
To make a super long saga story short...
This man is my rock. He is my hero. He is amazing. He is my advisor. He is my Poppa. He is my Piper's Poppa. He is Poppa to many.

Our Side of the Fence

https://lifeonthissideofthefence.wordpress.com/2016/11/10/far-from-uneducated/

The article above popped up on my facebook newsfeed.

Being a farmer's wife...yes I said it....

My heart melted reading it.

It's true. Sorry folks, but it is.

So I'm going to expand on it.

I do not have a degree in anything agriculturally related nor have I ever thought that I would have anything to ever do with agriculture besides eat beef, chicken, and veggies.
Then I married a farmer.
I dated and married someone who ran chicken houses, grew watermelons, bales hay, and still runs cows.
He drives tractors, pulls calves when necessary, medicates cows, knows how to grow a variety of plants, and is ultimately a jack of all trades.
On top of that, he is a chemical operator at a bromine plant, and has a 4 year ag-business degree.

He is a vet, farmer, operator, chemist, botanist, mechanic, and maid all in one.
Now tell me that he is of the "uneducated" breed.
Tell me this breed is the one who went to the polls blindly and just went with the first person on the ballot.
Tell me this breed is "alive and well." Tell me the "good ole' boys" are thriving.
Tell me that and you're a liar...

The men and women of the rural areas that put food on our tables were tired of the markets dropping, tired of their profit that (I personally know and have seen) they work 14 hour days for (sometimes more) being taken in taxes by the government, and tired of being low man on the totem pole so to speak.

It was time for their voice to be heard because they needed a change. They showed up.
Some may not like it, but do you want grass fed beef, organic eggs, and such to put in your nice 31 cubic foot fridge?
That's all I have to say about that.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Dear Piper...

http://www.inspiremore.com/why-i-will-teach-my-daughter-not-to-wait/

In a world full of questions of women's worth, sexual assault, he-said-she-saids, a presidential election of crooks, and down right mean people, the above link is worth the read for anyone with daughters and anyone who struggles to impress because they must conform to fit in.

So Dear Piper,

Be your own person.

Be a lady.

Please....
Key word is a lady... Be classy, be kind, be a good person, and love Jesus.

Wear appropriate clothing.
Just because society says these short mini dresses are cute does not mean you should wear them...
I really don't want to see more than a dollar bill's length above your knee without some sort of leggings underneath.
Be modest.
Be lovely.
Be a lady.

Be beautiful from the inside out.

Don't be ashamed to love Jesus.
Don't be ashamed to skip the party to go to church.
Don't be embarrassed to use your parents as an excuse not to go somewhere you know you shouldn't.
You don't have to be the party girl.
You don't have to be the "popular" girl.
Be you.
Be lovely.
Be kind.
Be your own person.
In a world of Kardashians, be a Jojo.
Be your own kind of lovely.
Be your own kind of nice.
Be your own kind of beautiful.

Be raw.
Be real.
Be true to yourself and your emotions.
Be respectful... of yourself, others, and your family.

Here's a hint about these boys you don't have to wait on to give you self affirmation and sweep in and save you.
...if he doesn't respect your parents' rules or your rules for that matter, he's not worth your time nor your tears nor you whatsoever.
Do wait for THE boy- ideally the man- who will respect your parents' rules, boundaries, and requests whether it be that he doesn't wear his hat at the table or curfew, for he will equally respect your worth.
He will respect your time, your heart, and value your true self.
Just ask your daddy... I waited for the man who would respect my parents' rules and requests.
My typical curfew was 10pm under their roof. He had me home by 9:45/9:50.
Simple things like that will hint to their true character and true intentions.

Learn to be fully you before you learn to be someone's other half.

Learn what it's like to be yourself.

Be fully you.
Be completely lovely.
Be utterly beautiful inside and out.
Be undoubtedly real.
Be committed to being classy and kind to others.

You own those descisions to be those things.
That's what I hope for you.
It's your responsibility to own those things along with your emotions.
Own it baby girl.
Rock it.

Above all else, be you...
for you is kind, you is smart, and you is important...

And we will remind you that everyday.




Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Life

My issue I watch and one that my heart hurts for is abortion.

It was compared to aborting one's husband the other day if he's no longer wanted. So where do you draw the line? Children and babies are "aborted" every year by their parents, yet those same parents typically go to prison. Tell me the difference in a 20 week in utero baby *ahem* 
Excuse me... "Fetus"
I forgot about being politically correct...

And a 2 minute old, living, breathing, screaming, non-fetus baby...

There's not one.
Both have hearts,
fingers and toes that they wiggle and suck on,
feel pain,
cry,
have a beating heart with blood rushing through their veins,
thought processes,
dreams,
and I imagine they have feelings.

At 20 weeks I got to find out with my sweet husband our baby was a beautiful, dainty, active, momma's girl.
As we saw her tiny fingers, toes, tummy, head, nose, eyes, and heard her heartbeat, I wept. I absolutely wept in amazement. This beautiful child was living inside me, depending on me to feed her and take care of myself to provide protection and nourishment until she was ready to make her appearance in this world.  She was whole. Was she by any means complete in growing? Absolutely not. 
But we never are complete in the growing process are we?

In my mind, she was whole and perfect. 
In my mind, I can't fathom how anyone could see their sweet precious child and not see a creation in which there is no proper terminology in how amazing the whole thing is. How do you purposely throw that away? How do you throw away your responsibility to advocate for that baby?
Moms we are our babies' spokesperson. 
Woman up and do your job as their spokesperson. Don't take the "easy" way out. 

In saying that, where will the line be drawn in aborting precious lives that could be future doctors to cure cancer, teachers, or of all things an actual God-fearing, American president? What is the difference in a mother deciding to abort her 16 week old in utero or her 16 month old? I don't understand the justification and the circumstantial evidence in one or the other when they are one in the same. A mother chooses to end the life of her child. 
Same end result. 

Which is where I am led to my next chapter of confusion...
I get it ok? Women's rights, blah blah blah, our body our choice, more crap-o-la, etc. , how can men think they can regulate women's healthcare, more bull, and so on and so forth. 

Wrong. 
I'm a woman. I have a child. I am strong-willed and hard headed as they come. I am convinced I can do anything. 

Ask my people...

Yet as a woman, I'm typically disgusted with the whole "women's reproductive rights" mess. It's stupid. 
Yea it's your body, with someone else's body growing inside it therefore it is no longer your own body anymore. 
It's "their, our, them". 
Plural pronouns I do believe. 
More than one. 
Therefore there should be a vote. 
Votes only hold if there's a majority and I guarantee that vote would not end that way. 

For lack of better words, it just fuels my hate fire.... 
I mean... My I'ma pray for you kinda attitude. 
Therefore I will be voting for the party that holds closer to my belief on this issue. 
End it. 
Illegalize it. 
Throw the whole thing out. 
Absolutely defund it. 
Reproductive healthcare services my rear end. 
There are plenty of other resource centers that do the same thing. 
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. 

Oops did I step on some toes?

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Throw Back

Tomorrow I'm in for a throwback.... along with every other MHS teacher.

Ya'll it's 90's day... (insert wide-eyed emoji)

How did it ever come to this? 90's as a decade dress up day?

What's cracking me up is the students asking what the 90's was? Afros and big glasses?
No honey. Sit down.

Will the real 90's child please stand up?

Ahem.. Cough*Cough*

Remember I said child.

So what did I do?
Got on that handy dandy Amazon.com and ordered the original butterfly clippies for my hair, got me a pair of white keds, non-ankle socks, jacket to tie around my waist, and just going to throw on a pair of skinny jeans- no tight rolling needed.

Yes I was born in 92' but I remember the jean and denim everythings, the butterfly clips in sections of hair, white tennis shoes with EVERYTHING, overalls, Tommy Hilfiger, keds of all kinds, straight leg pants, jackets tied, baggy pants, Spice Girls, NSYNC*, TLC, Cotton Candy-Sweet'n'Low-finish that sentence.

As a math teacher you know we're all about bell to bell baby. Bell to bell.
It's 90's day so one must play it up.
We're going with it tomorrow now.
Everyone loves a good carousel activity to music, so why not do one with 90's inspired tunes? On 90's day. Absolutely.
We're doing transformations of graphs so...
 To the left, to the left, to the right, to the right, now slide, slide....

We just might have to end the day with some Casper Slide  just for kicks.

Tomorrow will be another great day to be a panther as always. Except in classic 90's style.

Monday, October 3, 2016

The Beauty of It

In our great country...

**Disclaimer: America was founded and delegated by the great men who made it great such that we have freedoms such as the 2nd Amendment, and the 1st, and the 19th, and so on and so forth. In my personal opinion there have been leaders of this great nation who have cast dark shadows on our bright and shining lady liberty, giving off a negative vibe and putting bad tastes in peoples mouths.

America has never "not been".... sorry Aunt Michelle.... a great nation. There have simply been people who have given off bad vibes, passed bad laws, and made bad decisions.
There is no sole person or heir to the throne that can "make America great again."
It takes the people; we the people.

It takes we the people, of the United States of America to understand that we're looking to the totally wrong people.

Out of the millions in our country we pick these 2 goobers?
Really? That's the best we have?
Wrong.
In this great nation that's the beauty of the word opinion, it's my right to have one.

So seeing as it's my right here it is.

We as a country are looking to the wrong people, putting our beliefs in the wrong systems, and inputting our faith in the wrong outputs.
What happened to the good ole' boys wanting to make a positive difference without bashing the other half? What happened to the advocate for the people and not the political party?

Ever thought that what's wrong with the people running for president is that they don't remember what it's like to be a real person?
Ever think that real politicians who have been in the business for 30+ years make horrible candidates because they are so good at twisting their words into lies and tricking the general, middle class society into believing their sick "truth."
I believe it takes a stupid person to lie, but a special type of stupid to be able to twist said lies into something people routinely believe.

I think the presidency will take someone inexperienced in politics.
Someone such as Trump- absolutely not. I believe him to be a fool and a big mouth, but Hillary is a genuine crook. Sadly we're at the battle of the lesser of 2 evils. It's genuinely heart breaking that this is the best we could come up with....

We need someone who knows what its like to be a normal human being living paycheck to paycheck.
We as a country need to fall to our knees and fully turn our backs on the idols of society.
We need America to fully face God or it will crumble as it is crumbling before our eyes.

Babies are being murdered.
That's where it ends for me.
Society is corrupt in its view of life and where it begins and where it ends.

This is my big issue I'm watching. Mass murder. Legalized murder.
Along with...
Taxes. Who's taking more money from me?

2nd Amendment. Who thinks they're taking my right to carry and own certain fire arms?

Have I made my choice? Absolutely. Am I proud of it? Not in the least. Picking the lesser of 2 evils is still an evil.
Sad man....sad...

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

See You at the Pole #1

In light of the recent presidential events, let's shed some light on what good is going on in the world.
For example, See You at the Pole was today.

I participated for years in "See You at the Pole" as a student. Today for the first time I watched at a distance with fellow teachers from the other side.

I watched students lead worship and it's a good feeling AMAZING to see that at work.

I watched students I had student teaching last year, and I watched students I currently teach.

I watched girls read scripture, boys lead prayer, small group prayer and devotion, students lead in song, students reach out to others who were getting off buses or waiting on buses by passing out and offering donuts and milk, and I also watched students watch.

I watched teachers stop and pray, teachers stop and listen, and teachers stop in awe of students leading  that weren't your typical go-getters in class, so it seemed.

I listened.
Yes there was noise in the background consisting of cars, students talking at their vehicles, buses running and stopping, and random sounds coming from different directions, but it somehow didn't muddy up the sound of students praising Jesus and the explaining the sacrifice of the cross. It didn't muddy up the fact that I saw 12 of my own students passing out donuts, praying for others and their school and their principals, and giving testimonies of how God changed them.

I heard specifically marked scripture read. I heard thoughtful comments.
I saw things too.
I saw hearts breaking for our school.
I saw faces melt hearing about the sacrifice on the cross.
I also saw teachers watch.
I saw administrators watch.
I heard people pray.

Yea we do this every Sunday- we pray, sing, take up offerings, listen to scripture, listen to sermons, listen to testimonies, etc..
Except when it's out of the building, led by possibly future ministers, pastors, evangelists, music leaders, youth pastors, and missionaries- it's a little different.

Remember high school? Your peers judged you, talked about you, and sometimes thought negative things about you whether provoked or not.
Ever thought about how your peers would look at you if you shouted the name of Jesus at the flag pole?

Yes gathering at the flag pole were kids and peers alike who believe the word of God, but the people on the outside watched them gather. Others watched them pray, and as I have students entering my room today they ask questions...
"Why were there people at the flag pole?"
"Why didn't they announce they were doing that? I would have come."
"Where did the donuts come from?"

I can't answer all these questions. Some I just tell "I don't know."

It's different from the teacher side. It was wonderful to see my peers love Jesus, but it's just as wonderful to see my students love Jesus.

Have I mentioned I love my job? Have I mentioned I love my kids?
I do. Very Very Very MUCH.