Best Weekend Ever Part 1

Grace was singing Carrie Underwood during SLT on Thursday. We decided that perhaps rather than distracting everyone with her singing she should do a presentation with visuals, a powerpoint and poster. I was joking. She was serious.

Friday morning Grace burst into my room with a rolled up poster so excited that she had really done it. At the end of the day she stood up in front of everyone and gave a 5 minute presentation about her favorite singer for the fun of it. She wasn't getting a grade or any credit at all. She held their attention and made us laugh--this creative initiative is one of the many reasons why I love this girl.

Tomorrow is a CILT reunion at camp but friends gathered early tonight.

Maggie and Mary Claire came early from Peoria and Molls and Emily Chandler met us for dinner. One of MC's old cabinmates was working and was in shock when she realized they had been in a cabin together.

I taught them a word association game I learned a couple weeks ago and we couldn't stop playing it the rest of the night.

To finish off the food tour of Carmel we headed up to Orange Leaf and met up with Alli Kenney. Mags also recognized one of her campers from Shoshone while we were there and the girl screamed and almost started crying she was in such disbelief.

Our last camp surprise of the night was a visit from Olivia Odle who hopped on over to say hello. She's a gem. So much more fun to come this weekend.

Thankful

My new students this semester are already great. Different than the beginning of the year, they come in with preconceived notions about this class because of what their friends have said. I know of them because of their friends or older siblings or hopefully recognize faces from seeing them pass in the hall. This week as I try to learn names and start building relationships, I realize I'm so excited for these next few months.

I love theme days. Today I saw multiple 7th grade girls dressed up as superheroes with shorts over leggings and capes hanging behind them. These girls ran and skipped down the hallway so their capes would fly behind them. In the words of Kelle Hampton, "Let your freak flag fly," and don't worry about what others may think.

The girls of the FBC are precious. Today we only had about 20 girls come and I love when it's a smaller group. They get so excited about playing the human ladder game in the hall. Writing all over my white board with a rainbow of markers is a huge deal for them. When I ask the 8th grade girls to help new people learn the hardcore or three braid they jump in and do it without hesitation. I get to sit with girls like Sarah, Sophie, Malayna and Maddy as they figure out how to make friendship bracelet headphones and we talk about life. Watching girls that were once shy make friends within this club and run around laughing is a beautiful thing.

Being a part of this school and this community has taken time but is something I'm so thankful for. Tonight I went to watch the 8th grade girls basketball game. I jumped into this job a couple years ago totally clueless but now I know these kids--the ones playing on the floor, the girls waiting to play the B game, cheerleaders on the sideline, kids in the student section and working the concession stand. Parents recognize me as a teacher or the one who does FBC or the person that helps with Bible study and they stop to talk to me. Sometimes I still feel like such a brand-new teacher that's still figuring everything out but tonight I felt like I'm doing just fine.

I met with Jon and a group of women from Fishers tonight to talk more about the possibility of starting Young Life in Fishers. It is incredible how God has his hand in this process--so much of the excitement, early conversations, and groups of people ready for this are because of his perfect plan. I'm so excited about what could happen here with these kids.

My roommates Colleen and Emel are hilarious. I'm so thankful for conversations in the hall before bed, for their unique personalities, that they care about stories of my students and they want to know more.

Prayers from my friends. It is a blessing to know that I have people that are eager and willing to pray for me whenever I ask. Their support gives me strength.

"Miss Wright, I told my mom that I really admire you because you're a teacher but you still have a lot of friends."

5 things that made me happy today: Wolf shirt Wednesday twin day, eating Chipotle with Alli Kenney, collaging with great friends, starting every class with a quick game and realizing I have really fun students, the anticipation and planning for the reunion this weekend at camp.

5 things Sara Westfall loves: Macaroni and cheese, Rob (her husband), Hank (her dog), sunshine, playing sports

5 things Emily loves: summer at the pool, driving with the windows down, singing loudly, laughing with Eric, crafting with my friends

5 things Rachel loves: laughing with my students, anything to do with Christmas, singing at chapel at camp, J. Crew, walks outside

5 things I love: devotions at camp, when people give you something they've made, pizza and Diet Coke, intentional heart to heart conversations, reuniting with people I love and just thinking, "My life is so much better with you in it."

Mission: Random Act of Kindness

On New Year's day I was presented with an idea. Sheila Wilimitis and Heidi Olson, two of the women I admire most, decided that this year we all need to twenty-twelve-it. What a brilliant plan. Move forward! Upgrade! Expand! Launch Ahead! It's a new verb, a new vibe, a new movement. We all need to move on and embrace the New Thing that is ahead. Twenty-Twelve your phone, your attitude, your habits, your relationships, your outlook. How are you going to twenty-twelve-it? 


So I have been thinking about how I will twenty-twelve-it when I got a letter from my friend Grace McGill last night. She wrote, "Do you have a New Year's resolution? I think I'm going to put some effort into being a more consistent friend and do more random acts of kindness. The other day I was returning a book to the library late so I had a $1.60 fine to pay. I reached into my purse to pay for it, but to my surprise the woman behind me in line handed two singles to the librarian before I gathered the money from my own purse. I stammered a little, I think it was because I felt uncomfortable with her charity and I was a little shocked at a stranger being so sweet. I tried to politely pay her back or pay the fine myself, but the woman just smiled and insisted. I thanked her and said a prayer for her as I left the library. I was astonished the whole drive home and vowed to pay it forward. It's kind of strange how shocked I felt receiving a random act of kindness. What if everyone vowed to perform a random act of kindness this year? Just one per person--can you imagine how much good that would create?"


Grace's story inspired me-- I decided that today I would make sure to carry out a random act of kindness. But I kept thinking about the bigger picture that Heidi, Sheila and Grace all dreamed of. What if not just me, but tons of people did random acts of kindness today? How much of a difference could we all make in just one day?

I quickly spread the word to friends of all ages all over the place that today's mission was to complete a random act of kindness. I have been amazed all day as people's reports of doing something kind for someone else keep flooding in.

-I was in line in the cafeteria in the morning to check out and this kid in front of me who I didn't know and he didn't have enough money to pay for breakfast so I bought his.


-I sprinkled a couple dollars of spare change all over the sidewalk when I went on a walk for some lucky person to find.


-I mailed something to one of my friends that I know will make her laugh when she gets it in a couple days.


-I left a cupcake for my friend in her mailbox just to brighten her day.


-I taped a friendship bracelet and a note to a car window when I saw a high school girl that looked like she'd appreciate one walk into the store.


-I put up Operation Beautiful post-it notes in Target. My favorite? "You are beautiful. If someone makes you think otherwise then they're mean."


-I helped a girl in my photography class. She was printing her photo and couldn't get it to focus right on our enlargers so I helped her with it cause my teacher way busy.


-I was talking to a 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed with cancer today and we got on the topic of highs and lows of our day and he told me, "My favorite part of everyday is everything because I'm alive and thankful for that." Not a random act of kindness, but camp related and humbling.


-I helped a kid who dropped their books in the hallway.


-I made a delicious batch of brownies with extra chocolate for my friends.


-There's a new girl at school on my volleyball team that people are being mean to. So I talked to her about the upcoming season and tried to make her feel welcome.


-Yesterday I helped an old man to his car when he picked up food from where I work. Today my friend Henry bought my friend and I Subway at lunch- just to be nice!


-I gave the kid behind me the last bag of cheddar Ruffles because he asked for them and I had taken the last ones.


-My friend was really upset because he got grounded for grades. So I offered to help him with a few of the classes that I'm good at.


-I left dollar bills in random places all over town for people to find.


-I made brownies for a class today and gave out all my extras rather than keeping them to myself.


-I offered to tutor the kid who doesn't talk much in my chemistry class during our work time.


-I sat with a special needs girl at lunch. Then I stopped and gave a homeless man some money on my way home from school.


-I befriended a girl who I had never met before but had done some stuff that effected me. She was really nervous at first because she didn't know if I would be mean but I totally shocked her and was 100% nice and welcoming.


-I delivered plates of cookies to all of my friends stuck studying for finals. I have barely seen some of them since we split up for High School and it was so fun to surprise them all.


-I bought a $5 gift card to Starbucks for the next person who came in after me.


-It was our first day back from school and I saw a new kid who looked lost so I guided him to his classes. Also I got to translate between Spanish and English for a mom of a student and the office.


-I put dollars under people's windshields with a note that says, "Have a great day."


-I went to a girls' basketball game to cheer them on because no one ever goes and they won! I helped my brother on this huge project for an hour. 


-I texted my friend Abby and told her how great she is and then left a note for my friend Deanna on her desk.


All of this good happened in just one day. So many people's days were made brighter and better just because. Let's keep this up. Let's believe that we can make a difference in the lives of both the friends and strangers around us. Twenty-twelve-it.

"My grandma got me clip-on earrings for Christmas that look real because I can't pierce my ears until I'm 14."

Just like that we're back in the routines and rhythms of real life. I felt like a camp counselor meets Junior High teacher today-- as my new kids walked into my room every period it was like having new campers arrive to your cabin on check-in Sunday. You've seen their names on a list, maybe heard a little bit about them, and are excited to finally put a face to the name. We played a loud name game, I told them stories about camp and Young Life, and we learned about the graffiti artist Banksy.

I was thrilled to find this pop can angel waiting on my counter when I arrived. One of my students from last semester made it for me over Christmas Break, she's quite the craftster. It's bittersweet to switch classes at semester. I get nostalgic when some of my students come to visit me and tell me they miss my class but it's exciting to have this fresh start again.

I feel like I have new energy and renewed positivity for this crew of kids. I've got my key phrases up for positive reinforcement, a new set of lessons and activities, and I want to focus on one kid at a time being the best teacher I can for each one of them. This is going to be a great semester--I can feel it.

Tonight also brought the return of Young Life. Oh how I have missed this. Mondays just aren't the same without gathering together in the Miller house. This community is a beautiful thing to be a part of. As per our usual routine, I had dinner at Bella with girls before hand. Everyone trickles down to the basement and finds their circle of friends on the couches or on the floor. It seemed like forever since I'd seen the other leaders and all of us had missed one another's presence these past few weeks. Tyler Bender played guitar, Tony rocked the box drum and together this choir of High School kids sang the words of Glory To God, Heaven Son, and Arms Open Wide like it was their job.

Tonight's Campaigners will go down in the books as one of my favorites. Just as the new school day reminded me of check-in at camp, tonight was echoing one of my very favorite devotions. We read, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 1: 4-6 together and Jake talked a little about living a life worthy of the calling in the next year.

While Tyler played guitar we spread out around the room and wrote letters to ourselves as though we were writing them a year from now about what we had done in the past year to live this life worthy of the calling. Maybe it's because I love reading and writing so much, but I think that this act of writing a letter to yourself connects you to God in a different way than when you're just talking about it. Later, one of the Senior girls said, "I don't know why, but I'm in like a different place when I'm writing these things. I look back at it and think who is this girl?"

We sat upstairs in the guest room and talked about our letters with our whole Campaigners group and I was encouraged to hear these girls talk about the people they want to be. Yes, we've got to do the hard work of becoming those people day in and day out but they have a picture of the person God has called them to be. When we split into even smaller groups I sat with Samantha and Megan talking about our specific hopes and fears about living this life worthy of the calling and then prayed together. These girls are shining the light of Christ and they don't even realize how bright it is. Sitting in a triangle with them was one of my best moments of the whole day.

But I don't have anything to blog about...

Wednesday night I went to sleep anxious and excited to meet my new 139 students the next day. My classroom was ready with handouts copied, posters hung, bulletin boards prepared and lesson plans full of first day get-to-know-you activities.

Then I woke up between Wednesday night and Thursday morning with the stomach flu. It always comes in the middle of the night doesn't it? I don't think I've thrown up since getting horribly, awful sick in the middle of the Serengeti during college when I was cooped up for two days praying I wouldn't have to be helicoptered out to a hospital. Luckily, no helicopters or hospitals were needed this time either but I did have to miss the first day of school. Being sick is no pretty sight.

I was lucky enough to have Colleen brave the plague when she came to bring me feel-better incentives like saltine crackers, ginger ale and ice. She says her mom taught her how to take care of people when they're sick and Mrs. Kelley did a magnificent job. Next best thing to having my own mom here, Coll did whatever she could to make me feel better and didn't make fun of the odd things I said while I obviously wasn't totally with it. Moll came over to make sure I was still alive later in the day and brought with her the glorious gift that never stops giving-- Netflix. I didn't manage to stay awake for many hours in a row that day but remember stories from Cold Tangerines and quick visit from Rachel and Emily.

I like to think that I'm invincible sometimes, even though clearly I am not, and refuse to be taken down by mono, bronchitis or the measly stomach flu. So Friday morning I got up, forced myself to get ready for the day and drove the half hour to school. As soon as I had left my apartment door I knew I had made a horrible mistake and was fearful I was going to get sick once again as I drove north on highway 69.

On my way to my classroom to type up sub plans for another day, I stopped in to ask our sub coordinator to find me another replacement for the day. She smiled at me and said, "Sure honey," with a look on her face that told me the right place for me was back home in bed. Luckily, a sub arrived by the time the bell rang and students were walking to their lockers. I gave him the run-down of the days itinerary and then waved good-bye to the four mysterious students that were already seated in my classroom, "Uh... Hi guys--I'm your teacher... See you Monday."

The rest of the weekend has been a steady stream of sleep, naps, movies online, and resting. The best interruptions to the recovery plan of uninterrupted sleep were Krafty's good-bye party, being kidnapped to the Kelley house, lounging on the girl's couch, going to Common Ground this morning and running errands with Emel. My appetite is slowly coming back (and if you know me at all, you know that having an appetite is never a struggle for me) and after giving up Diet Coke for three days I had a couple sips today.

So once again I'm gearing up for the first day of school. I'm anxious and excited to meet my new 139 students tomorrow. My classroom is ready with handouts copied, posters hung, bulletin boards and lesson plans for third day of school activities.

"I made carrot ginger soup, but I don't really think that's your kind of thing."

Top 10 Reasons Today Was A Great Day Back In The Real World:

1. Because it was a teacher work day I got to organize random parts of my room, hang up my new Taylor Swift calender, make two new posters that I'm sure will motivate my kids as much as any poster can, and get papers and lessons ready through next week. I feel ready for the new students tomorrow.

2. Sarah Desautels came up to Fishers to meet me for lunch. I loved having her visit my classroom and then taking my lunch break with her. The more I talk to Sarah the more I realize how very cool and unique she is and I love discovering things that we have in common.

3. Kathy, another teacher in my building, is back from a maternity leave. I got to spend time talking to her about adoption and Africa and her son Jesse and the Kisses from Katie story. I so admire heart through this whole adoption story. I helped her figure out the basics of Read 180; a class I used to teach that she is taking over.

4. At the end of the day our entire staff drove out to the site of our new Junior High that is in the process of being built. Everyone wore hard hats (we get to keep them #constructionswag) and got to walk through part of the building. It's crazy that we will be starting a new school year here in just six months.

5. I drove up to camp after school to visit the resident staff reunion that was in process. I wish I could go for the whole thing but some is better than nothing. It was a fun mix of counselors from both villages and all the age groups-- good to see people I haven't since summer.

6. After dinner everyone was hanging out but six of us were playing with the camp kids Liam, Shay and Bryn. We all really miss chasing kids, being chased by little kids, playing dead till they tickle us, swinging them around in a circle, and making them laugh when we're away from camp and our campers.

7. Being with camp friends is always just the best. The shared experience of being counselors together and feeling like camp is home is just something that is so hard to explain.

8. We played running charades--one of my favorite games of all times. Team 4 was stationed in the library and was comprised of Bobby Dorn, Carrie, Lesem, Carolyn, Krafty and I. We won. Perhaps we're a tad bit competitive...

9. I want to work on reconnecting with a couple of my best friends from Hope this semester. Tonight I worked on making that happen during my drive home tonight.

10. Number 10 is a collection of texts, facebook posts, Skype messages and tweets from friends that just made my day. On days like today I just really love technology.