A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

Summer days have been flying by!  We've done a little of This.....

 

 

 

 

We have spent a *few* days at KI since it's only about 4 miles from our house.  We've had several first ride celebrations now that all our girls have grown.  Our oldest is 52 inches so she can ride the Banshee at Kings Island!  The second to  last picture is of her first ride.... IN THE FRONT SEAT! (NO... I did not ride with her, I'm not that crazy!) Our middle just rode Congo Falls for the first time AND she's now able to ride The Beastie (or The Woodstock Express if you want it's for real name) by herself!!! Our youngest LOVES Shake, Rattle and Roll (it's my favorite too!). 

 On her first ride, in flight she said, "I can touch God!" It was the sweetest thing!

 

Now for a Little Bit of That.....

 

 

 We played Footgolf, impromptu picnics under the tree, walking our neighbor's dog, and the American Ninja Warrior Park. hahaha  It's just a park that has lots of obstacles so that's what we like to call it. :)

 

And a WHOLE Lot of Tennis, Tee Ball, Softball, Golf, Swimming, ......

 

 I L.O.V.E. being a teacher mom!  I get the best of both worlds.  I'm blessed to be able to work with all our firsties and help them achieve their dreams of being authors.  But then when school is over, I get to go home and watch how my girls are being the author's of their own stories.  It's interesting to see the chapters unfold as they are each choosing different paths.  Paths that have led each of them to find joy and happiness, new friendships, and new adventures.  At the beginning of this year I chose One Little Word.  Author. I'm not sure I'm doing a great job authoring my own story, but sometimes watching the story in front of you unfold through a child's eyes is much better than the one you could write on your own.

My One Little Word

It's 10:22 PM.  Sunday night.  We just returned from a VERY QUICK trip to Cleveland and Mansfield visiting family.  I opened my school email to find a post from the Two Writing Teachers.  If you don't follow these ladies, do.  Especially if you're like us and love all things about writing. :)

Here's what was written to start the post about One Little Words or OLW. :)
"Have you chosen your One Little Word (OLW) for 2015 yet? A One Little Word acts a beacon, a guiding light, directing one’s way for the year. When you get inundated with all that life brings, this is a word that can help you know what deserves your YES, and what really should get a NO. The right OLW will help to focus your time and energy away from that which is making the most noise and toward that which you truly value."  -  Anna Gratz Cockerille

Well, this got me thinking about what my beacon will be for this year, what my OLW is going to be.  There are so many great words out there.  So many.  But if I had to choose just one, I choose this one....

Author

 



This word speaks to me for so many different reasons.  One reason is that I want to be the author of my story.  This story for the last AHEM... 37 years has been carefully orchestrated and full of twists and turns.  It has been a story rooted in faith that has been shaken and strengthened.  It's been a story that has had MANY, MANY highs and several lows.  This year as the author of my story I will be able to share with you how we, as a family, are living out the story that has been already written for us.   I'm going to keep Anna's word about time in the back of my mind because as the author of my story I'm able to carefully choose what goes into our story.
Another reason I'm choosing this word is for the firsties in my class.  I want to show them that I am an author.  I want to write WITH them and share my love and passion for writing.  I am currently reading Boy Writers by Ralph Fletcher and he's inspiring me to dig in with my boys. To help my boys understand they are AUTHORS in whatever they choose to write. 

So for these two reasons and countless others, this is my one.little.word. for 2015, what's yours?