Adventures in Teaching

I have chosen as a profession a job that is an adventure in and of it's self.  I debated writing this because it is so personal and hard to put down on paper.  I have started and stopped some version of this many times since I started this blog, but ultimately I decided to do it now.

Being a teacher never really stops and the things I say on a daily basis sometimes makes me do a double take.  It is not an easy job and I never quite know where my day is going to take me.  I'll admit that this time of year, just a week or so to go, can be extremely tough for various reasons and I can find my resolve being tested.  Sometimes I even thinking the dreaded thought that can lead to teacher burnout, "Why am I doing this job?"

I am not writing this for a pat on the back during Teacher Appreciation Week, but rather an explanation for those off you that have asked: "How do you do your job? "If you're getting your Master's are you leaving teaching?"  And really it's all so very complex and intertwined that I don't really know how to answer the question except with, "I do this job because I love it and I don't really know where I am headed, but I know what I am doing right now is being the best teacher I can be."  It would be too easy to say, "I do this despite all the obstacles that are put in an educator's way." It is to easy to say that because I am in the classroom every single day and I make that choice, obstacles or not, it is my choice.  Really how could I do anything else?

A few weeks ago, a former student popped into visit on a Friday afternoon after a very tough week. We talked about what she's doing, how college is going, how the "real world" is different than high school and then I hugged her and sent her back out to continue to grow as an adult.Today I cried as one of my former students practiced her senior speech in class and I gave another senior student an award.  I cried for many different reasons: pride, concern for their future, fulfillment, and because I am just a big sap.

Back to intertwined.  The future connects to the past and the past connects to the future. A bit of a cliche, but it is not to see every flower bloom in the spring; it is to plant seeds that may bloom later.

PS Sorry for the typos, but it's May...

I found a new type of adventure

*disclaimer* there are no pictures and just me reflecting, so if that is not interesting to you now is the time to stop reading.

Seriously you can still stop.

OK...if you're still here: 
Finishing up a much needed week long fall break and I discovered a newish type of adventure. I can't remember the last time I stayed home for an entire week of vacation.  The furthest I went was Wal-mart, Tucson, and Tubac. 


I am the first to admit that I am not good at sitting still.  I like to DO ALL THE THINGS and take advantage of the times I am not asleep at 8pm and working for hours on the weekends by traveling and visiting loved ones. This vacation I stayed home for a couple of reasons and wasn't really sure what to expect.  I had no plans except for me, myself, and I spending some time together (and yes I realize how corny that sounds). 

I knew it was something I needed to do and here is what I learned/did:
1.) I finished three books and am working on a fourth called Reconstructing Amelia that I am having a hard time putting down.
2.) Fell in love with the Great British Baking Show on Netflix and finished the entire 10 episode season.  FYI: biscuits are cookies, you whack the temperature up on ovens, and I will now be using the word fiddly to replace cuss words.
3.) Made some art...which I feel very successful at doing

I really didn't know what to expect going into this, but I did learn that sometimes the greatest type of adventure starts at home with me.

If you are still reading I challenge you to spend some time with just yourself and see what happens! What is your great solo adventure?

Adventure Junkie?

Is that a thing?  Can I be addicted to adventure?  Because I really enjoy it!  I really don't know the best way to break this trip down because I was HORRIBLE at taking pictures.  I was enjoying myself way too much and just forgot to take pictures most of the time.  However, I did promise that I would post the trips, so I think I'll just list the locations and a list of the most enjoyable things from each journey.
So here's how the summer vacation was spent:

Flagstaff-May 27th-June 5th
I already did a blog post on this part of the trip, but a recap:
1.) Flying in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon with my brother
2.) Attending my niece's 3rd birthday
3.) Getting to spend time with my family
These were the happy parts of this trip that I can remember!

Iowa- June 7th-June 18th
For this leg of the journey I got to see the person who is the closest thing to a sister I'll ever have and watch her 3, 5, and 8 year old while her husband worked and she went to camp with her 12 year old.  I am so grateful that I always have a place to stay and it's so much fun that the kiddos are getting old enough to play board games with us. A new generation of Yahtzee, Phase 10, and (Disney) Apples to Apples players reminds me that being connected away from the screens of tablets, televisions, and cellphones is so very important.

Flagstaff- June 26th-July 3rd 
It's been quite a few years since I spent a birthday with my family, so I decided it was high time to do so.  We went to one of my favorite restaurants, took family photos that my mother has been wanting for a very long time, and I got to spend some time at some of my favorite local places.
Some of the family photos:
*disclaimer* it was very hard to wrangle all of us as a group

Boston-July 4th-July 9th 
This trip was not planned until around the 20th of June and was the unexpected result of my oldest friend getting engaged and being asked to be the Co-Maid of Honor.  I decided to look on-line for plane tickets and found out that traveling on the 4th of July was still relatively cheap and had the added bonus of a pretty empty plane and fireworks over the bay as you land.

Some of my favorite parts of this trip:  Watching Julia try on wedding dresses and having the unexpected reaction of crying at one of the dresses she tried on.  She was just so beautiful and since it's the dress she eventually bought I get to say I was there acting like a blubbering fool.  In addition to that, we rode bicycles, drank margaritas, and celebrated the awesome new job she also got when I was there.  I am so grateful that I got to experience a bit of her excitement to all of the wonderful things happening for her!

I also spent some time in Harvard Square and the Natural History Museum while she worked.  I ACTUALLY TOOK SOME PICTURES!

                                                                    Harvard Square:

                                                                              Museum:

                                                                    So many rocks:

                                                               A whole roomful in fact:
                                                                       (I loved it!)

Perfect summer afternoon:

Three additional pictures from the museum:

Also, a few bees from the living exhibit had escaped their hive, so the panic surrounding that was pretty funny.

Northern California July 11th-July 18th

The perfect low key and mellow end to my vacation.  We pretended it was my birthday again with cupcakes, Thai, and kayaking.  It was an excellent day.  Also, my most favorite bakery and a performance of National Theater Live at the local theater.  I really love the fact that Sarah and I can just be together and find an adventure!

Oh, and a beach full of seals!

One of the other bonuses was my friend Amanda who lives in Mesa because I could spend nights in between trips with her and make trips to teacher stores.  She was also so very kind when I lost my wallet traveling to the DMV, bank, etc. with me.  I don't think I could have had such enjoyable times outside of AZ without her to ground me in AZ.

If I am keeping track: 7 airplanes, 4 birthday celebrations,  3 other states, 1 lost wallet and so many loved ones made for quite the summer vacation.  If I had any complaints it would be that I wish that everyone was just a tad bit closer.  Ready to see where this next year takes me!

Jimmy and Mo go on an adventure! Part Two

 You can do a tour from Williams, AZ on  a train

 There's a very pretty bird in this tree, that was a Western something or other, but I can't remember what the nice lady who told us said.

 I am not going to lie.  It took us about fifteen minutes to find the outlook from the Visitor's Center.  Jimmy said, "it's a big hole in the ground; it shouldn't be this hard."  It was pretty funny.

 Don't fall in!

 It's really hard to show how majestic and breathtaking the canyon really is.

 SQUIRREL!  I wanted to pet him, but I refrained.

 I am not so good at taking selfies!

 This toursit was playing a harmonica and doing it very nicely I might add!

 Jimmy got a bit of selfie stick envy after we struggled with taking selfies.  THEY WERE EVERYWHERE!

And now the helicopter pictures:

 Getting ready for takeoff!

 Pines

 Grand Fing Canyon!

 Colorado River

 We were about a mile above

 Jimmy would like me to note that my motion sickness did get the best of me.  He thought it was super funny since we were told only 2% of people got sick.  I wasn't going to mention it, but Jimmy insisted it was funny.

This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience.  45 minutes over the Grand Canyon was absolutely breathtaking.   I am so glad I got to experience this with my brother.  And the endorsement from Jimmy, "You know how to do an adventure!" 
And we even made it back in time for the first game of the NBA Finals.