Author: jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Thursday!

Another day, another “gratitude challenge” post.

Today, I’m reflecting on two days to get caught up.

Day 6 is…a failure or rejection you are grateful for…

Gosh – It’s probably been at least ten years ago, I applied for a job where I would be an instructional specialist and work with teachers in various buildings. I was familiar with the organization as I’d worked with them while my school was a part of a grant. At that point in my career, I just wanted to do something different. I would have been able to service schools not too far from Lexington, but I’d have to go to Louisville a couple of times a week.

It’s no fun “putting yourself out there” only to be rejected, but in retrospect, I don’t know that it would have been a good fit for me in the long run.

Only a couple of years later, I moved to my current district which provided me with a good change that I needed.

Day 7’s topic is…something in nature you are grateful for.

Definitely the ocean. As soon as my feet hit the sand and I see the water, I feel at peace.

Even this summer in Oregon, Travis tacked on a couple of Oregon coast days because we needed some days to relax and rest, but also just because he knows how much I love the beach.

Obviously, you know I also love a beach sunset. It just amazes me that we’re all watching the same sun set, but at the beach, it’s even more stunning.

Also, I love fresh few inches of snow….along with a snow day!

Sweet story from the other day…I picked Hayden up from PT, and he was talking about how they really stretched him out. Then, we went on about how he loves natural daylight, especially when the sun trickles in the window. I guess his PT room had lots of natural light, so he was relaxed during his session. He just gave me so many details which is very unlike him. haha

What, in nature, are you grateful for?

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Hello and happy (Election day!) Tuesday!

Today’s post is continuing on with the November Gratitude Challenge.

Day 5 is…a fear you are tackling or have overcome.

Choking has been my biggest fear since I choked a couple of years ago. I swear, I didn’t think this much about choking when they kids were little and I had to cut their food up into little bites.

On fall break two years ago, I choked on a huge bite of lobster (bougie, I know!), and I tried to swallow a few times, and it just wasn’t going down. I immediately stood up and looked at Travis and then my friend immediately knew I needed help. One Heimlich Maneuver later, and the lobster flew right out…almost comical. haha…but not the choking part.

Any time I hear someone coughing while eating, I worry that they are choking. Of course, Hayden likes to “fake me out” which I certainly don’t appreciate.

So, my fear of choking is definitely a fear that I’m trying to overcome.

What’s a fear that you have or have previously had?

Have a great day,

Hello!

Did you catch my posts on Saturday and Sunday? Friday, on a whim, I decided that I was going to try blog using the topics from…

So, I’m picking up where I left off, and sharing about someone from your past you are grateful for…

The first thing that popped in my mind are the teachers I had in elementary, middle and high school. I can remember most of them, and every year, I had at least one teacher who made an impact on me.

Who doesn’t love their kindergarten teacher? I went to PM kindergarten, and I really liked school. My first grade teacher was so kind, and I remember loving my 4th grade teacher because she volunteered at a wildlife rescue and would share her animals in class.

I had some great teachers in junior high/middle school, but those were my least favorite years of school. I do remember loving home ec and learning to cook and sew.

In high school, I had great English teachers who obviously impacted my love of English/Language Arts. I had a wonderful social studies teacher my sophomore year, and I took his zero hour class…one hour before the traditional school day started.

Shockingly, one of my teachers I connected with the most was my Spanish teacher. I think I only took Spanish two years, but then I was her teacher’s aide when I was a senior. Hey! Even all these years later, I’ve remembered enough to help Hayden conjugate some verbs for his Spanish homework.

College was a different story…while I did have great professors, I just didn’t connect with them the same as my teachers from elementary, middle and high school years.

In adulthood, I had a mentor for a few years when my school was a part of a grant. During those years, I was an instructional coach in my building and had a couple of classes for reading intervention. She encouraged me to get my second Master’s degree, and because of that degree, it opened a lot of doors for me and is how I’ve had the schedule I’ve had the past few years so I can work with struggling students.

She’s now a principal at an elementary school, and we keep in touch on Facebook.

My mom recently had a couple of former students be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the district/town she retired from, and in the programs that were passed out, both students acknowledge what a great teacher she was and how she impacted their lives.

I hope I’ve made a difference in my students’ lives through the years as well.

I guess I really covered this topic and talked about more than just one person who has impacted my life…but I guess that makes me pretty lucky to have so many to write about.

Today, was a double post day…feel free to check out my Prime Purchases post today too.

Hello and happy Sunday!

How’s the “falling back” treating you? I, for one, really appreciated the extra hour of sleep last night. We had a really long, but good Saturday.

Did you catch my post yesterday? I’m back for day 3 of…

Day 3’s topic is remember the time you laughed so hard that you cried.

I’m really not sure the last time I laughed until I cried, but teaching freshmen keep me laughing daily. One of my classes always keeps me laughing…as do my kids.

Hadley is kind of the more quick witted kid where as Hayden is quietly funny.

One day last week, Hayden said he needed more deodorant, and I was frustrated and ask him why he didn’t put it on the grocery list. (I tell the kids, when I place a grocery order, I only know the things to buy that we routinely do…and if they have anything out of the ordinary, they need to write it on the list)

Anyway…the following weekend, I was making the grocery list and said I’d put deodorant on it. He said, “Dad already bought me some.”” I kiddingly said, “Dad spoils you!”

Without missing a beat, he said, “Uh…it’s a basic necessity!” And I just laughed because I wasn’t expecting that “comeback.”

I hope you have a great Sunday!