Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I am still thankful. Over the past year, I began a journey of counting my gifts. I started a study with a couple of friends and we were challenged to write down 1,000 gifts. Let me tell you, IT'S NOT EASY!! While I'm always thankful it has been hard to consistently write down gifts. I have gone months without writing a thing and then I'll write for days. Currently I am at 225. I have a long way to go! But I love this time of year and we have so much to be thankful for so I thought I would share some of mine with you...

226: family- I spent Thanksgiving in my new home with my mom and dad. It was wonderful! I'm also thankful that I will be spending Christmas in Raton with my sister and Joey.

227: Africa- as most of you know, I have an incredible opportunity to go on a mission trip to Africa in June. We had our first meeting today and I'm beyond excited!!

228: new friends- I have made several teacher friends and we are beginning to do more outside of school and enjoy our time away from kids

229: old friends- I miss every single one of you!! I was fortunate enough to catch up with several friends on the phone this week and I look forward to seeing more of you in person when I'm home for Christmas break.

230: Marlene Pittman- a special shoutout to a very special lady! She volunteered to sell some of my crafts at a craft fair in Maxwell to help me raise money for my trip. She is a true blessing! I will never stop thanking you!!

As time flies by, we don't stop often enough to think about the little things that bring us joy. It could be as simple as smile or a cup of coffee. It could be as big as undeserving grace and sacrifice. Maybe you want to embark on the journey of being thankful... If so I highly suggest the book study "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. It may be easy for you or you could be like me and it may take your entire life. But whatever you do, BE AWARE of the gifts you've been given. 

I'd love to hear from you... What are the gifts you're thankful for?

You Are My Hero

For Veteran's Day, I had the bright idea to write letters to Veterans. However, it wasn't just any Veteran, it was my soon to be brother-in-law, Joey, who is in the Air Force in Clovis. We started off by watching a short video on the history of the day and then I showed my students these pictures and "introduced" them to Joey.

They loved this picture and wanted to write a letter to the boy in the picture too. (Joey's nephew)

Doesn't this look an old timey war photo?

Then, we brainstormed what we wanted to write to Joey. They came up with 4 different questions to choose from and then a closing statement. They were so cute!!

All the letters

A close up of one

The cutest thing by far was that most of the girls closed their letter with "I love you Joey!" Talk about melting your heart!

Then we sent a class picture to him as well. (Just don't look to close, because I didn't blur their sweet faces. Maybe cross your eyes while looking at it!! LOL!!)

The class

And lastly, one sweet little girl came up to me the next day and said she had something else to mail to Joey and that she would bring it the next day. I was expecting a picture that she drew. SORTA!! It was a hand-drawn flag taped onto a yard stick. I didn't have the heart to tell her it wouldn't fit in the envelope. So, I sent this picture and that will be his Christmas Present. Haha!

The Flag

So, I couldn't say it any better. Thank you Joey for all you do, but especially for loving my baby sister! Welcome to our family!!

The Hardest Part of Being a Teacher

So, this week was rough with some definite highlights... I came home every night emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. I've decided that one of the worst things about being a teacher is seeing the lives these kids have. It hurts to know that someone so little leads such a rough life. And while it's hard, I couldn't imagine doing anything different. Here are some of the struggles this week...

A little girl brings in the art project she made for me. It is all these circles cut out of really cute paper and glued onto a piece of cardboard. I thank her for it and set it aside. Later, as I'm cleaning my area up, I pick up the project and notice that it isn't any piece of cardboard. It is a Budweiser box. I know people drink all the time, and maybe her mom or dad only has one a night, but how sad is it that this little girl has to put her art project on a beer box? Instead of buying beer, maybe you could buy your child some real art supplies.

Another little boy comes into class on Thursday morning and just starts bawling. I ask him what's wrong and he tells me that his dad is telling him that his mom is a bad mom and that he is going to take him away from his mom. He explains that his dad is never around and he doesn't want to leave his mom. He just kept saying over and over that he didn't want to leave his mom and live with his dad. Parents, please leave your kids out of your marital or ex-marital drama. They don't understand and you are destroying them!!

Lastly, but definitely not least... A lot of kids call me mom and then correct themselves. (Normal... I used to do it.) What is not normal is when you have a student call you mom and not correct himself. I am his mom. He doesn't have one because his mom decided that drugs were more important than him or his older brother. His dad is doing the best he can as a single dad and I give him a lot of credit. But kids need moms and I am the closest thing this kid has to a mom. Talk about a heart breaker!!


Next time you hear someone talk about how easy it is being a teacher, you direct them to me. I will tell them just how "easy" it is. This job is not for everybody, but I know that God called me to this profession for a reason. So I will gladly accept the art projects on beer cases, be the shoulder to cry on, and be mom to 19 2nd graders.

With Love to Africa

Time just flies buy. Even when I try to slow down and make a point to do certain things, the time is just gone. However, I have found time to still be crafty and I finally set up my Etsy Store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/withlovetoafrica) and Facebook page (https://www.etsy.com/shop/withlovetoafrica) to sell my crafts. The purpose behind this is to raise money for my mission trip to Africa this coming summer. I have a variety of things to sell and with the upcoming Christmas season, I hope you will keep me in mind when buying gifts for friends and family.

On to other things... I have had quite a few people ask me why in the world I would want to go to Africa with the Ebola stuff going on? Am I scared? Why would I want to put myself in danger? While these are all very good questions, there is one simple answer. I am being called to go. How can I say no to God when he has put this on my heart for years?  Sure, it is a little nerve wracking to go to a country on the other side of the world, where a disease seems to be taking over, but I know that I have someone AWESOME looking out for me. A book I have been reading puts it perfectly... "The Jesus of the Bible is a radical man with a radical message, changing people's lives in a radical way. In the Scriptures Jesus isn't safe." (Jefferson Bethke) Jesus isn't safe. He never let a situation or disease stop him from changing people's lives, so why should I? Another great point from this author... "We've lost the real Jesus--or at least exchanged him for a newer, safer, sanitized, ineffectual one. We've created a Christian subculture that comes with its own set of customs, rules, rituals, paradigms, and products that are nowhere near the rugged, revolutionary faith of biblical Christianity." (Jefferson Bethke) I'm going to Africa because I don't want a safe, sanitized, ineffectual Jesus! I want a Jesus who gets in there with the people and gets dirty. Are we not called to be like Him?

I'm not kidding! This book has already been eye-opening and I'm only two chapters in!! The book is called Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke. Jefferson is a 20 something guy who is passionate about his relationship with Jesus and got started by his spoken word poems on Youtube. The poem that was the inspiration for this book is "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." CHECK IT OUT BELOW!!

Everybody Needs A Guinea Pig

This is my daily routine...

"Boys! You are supposed to be buddy reading! Stop talking and read." 

"Boys! Why are you rolling around on the floor? READ!!" 

"Boys..." "Boys!" "BOYS READ!" 

"No, you two can't be partners because you just goof off and you misbehave together."

Today was a different story. I just needed to get some assessments done and so asked these two if they could buddy read and do it right. "Sure Ms. Mayes!" So... I gave in and agreeded. They even choose a spot where I could keep an eye on them. So, for making a good choice I decided to let them try to read to Claire. And guess what?! It worked!! It was magical. I never take pictures in the classroom, but couldn't pass up this sweet awesome opportunity! Check it out!

Time Flies when You Are Busy!

It doesn't really feel like it has been weeks since my last post. Probably because I have been SUPER busy! Last weekend, I got to go home for Homecoming and it was so great to see so many people who I miss dearly everyday! Here are a few pics from my weekend...

Met Gabrielle Hope White and spent time with her awesome mama!

Beki and I take a football picture every year. So glad I got to see this girl!

Made pumpkin cinnamon rolls with my mom and Natale

It was so very hard to leave my Raton family and friends, but it was inevitable. I came home and spent 3 days with my 2nd graders before heading of to ABQ for a reading conference. It was a long couple of days, but I learned a lot and even got to see some of the Balloon Fiesta as I was driving by Thursday morning. 

Balloon Fiesta from I-25 with New Mexico's beautiful blue skies

Now that I have been home for a weekend, I spent time working on my new Etsy shop! I have been crafting up a storm and will not quit! You can check out my shop on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/WithLovetoAfrica or you can like my page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/withlovetoafrica. 

Please, please share my shop listing and Facebook page with your friends and family! What I sell would make great gifts this Christmas and you would also be helping me get to Africa to serve the people over there. 

Meet... CLAIRE!!

Who is Claire, you might ask? Well, Claire just happens to be our class Guinea Pig!! She is a sweet, little, furry, baby girl who has made a new home in our classroom.

Last night I brought her home and got her cage all set up and snapped a couple more pictures before I took her to school. I made her a little hammock as well as a hidey-hole. After putting up the hammock, I'm not quite sure she is big enough to climb into it, but at least she has a place to hide out.

"I'm not so sure about this hammock thing... What do I do?"

"The ground is much better!"

The students FREAKED out this morning. They had no idea we were getting a class pet! It was a total surprise. I used this little furry friend to motivate them to do things today. We worked on being quiet so that we wouldn't scare her, and so that we could try to listen to her talk. They also wrote about her during their daily writing time. Here is one journal response I received...

And just in case you can't read 2nd grade writing, here is what it says:

We have a new pet. We feed her healthy food. We love our pet. We love Miss Mayes cause she was the one that got the pet. Thanks Miss Mayes. The pet is a Guinea Pig. We have to be quiet. We have to be gentle. We have to be nice. She is little. She is scared. She was born wrong just a little. She is still pretty. She is still pretty good. She is my favorite pet. 

And yes... Miss Claire was born a little wrong. She has a deformed front foot, but can do everything she needs to. She was a big hit and I'm sure I will have many stories to share as the year goes on.

Busy, Busy, Busy!!

Hey y'all! 

Thought I would pop in and give you a quick look at my last few weeks... 

Albuquerque with my mom and sister was fun and tiring! We didn't make it to the state fair, but tried on dresses and registered for wedding gifts. It is so much fun to "spend" other peoples' money. 

Then Friday night our school invited students and parents out to the High School football game. Bloomfield whooped the Taos Tigers and it was fun being back under the Friday night lights. Several of my students showed up and they were just so excited to see me. I guess the tough teacher act works... They do what I need them to (most of the time) but yet they can still find it in their little hearts to love me! In fact, one of my little boys (the naughtiest one) told me on Friday that he just loved my necklace and my shirt and that they were just sooooooo pretty! "I guess you're not so bad after all kid!!"

Sunday, I went to church and out to lunch with a new friend and it was great! We went out to Outack courtesy of a gift card. Shout out to Joelyn Pafford! You are awesome and we both appreciated it so very much. 

Now this week consists of crafting and school... I hope to have my Etsy shop up and going by the end of the month. I can't wait to show you what I have been working on! 

Stay tuned for a surprise guest...

And no... It's not a cat. This one was just so CUTE!

Weekend Getaway!!

WOW!! Time sure has flown by and I think we are finally setting into a routine. I now leave the school at a decent hour and even though I take some work home, it usually doesn't take me too long to finish. I am also ahead of the game and have my lesson plans complete for next week! If you are a teacher and have not looked into Planbook, I highly recommend it. It is a great tool for teachers and my lesson plans maybe take a half hour at the most!! I am so lucky because my plans don't have to be super detailed and the district pays for Planbook. However, it is only $12.00/year and is totally worth it!

Now, that my lesson plans are done, I can focus on crafty things and spending the weekend in ABQ with my mom and sister! I'm so excited to see them and spend the weekend planning/shopping for weddings and eating great food!

I can't wait to upload pictures of my completed projects that will go on sale. I hope you will enjoy them as much as me!! I'm also hoping we can squeeze a trip to the State Fair in. It has been so long since I've been to the fair.

Don't be too jealous!! I hope everyone has a fabulous Friday and an awesome weekend!!

Africa Bound 2015 (Hopefully)!!

I have an awesome opportunity to go on a mission trip to Kenya next summer to build houses for the locals there. I have always wanted to take a mission trip to Africa and I'm so very excited that this opportunity has come up. It is quite an expensive trip and we will be doing fundraisers through the church, but I know that I will need to earn some more money. So, I am going to sell the crafts that I make. I want to open an Etsy store and would love your help promoting it. This will help me earn money as well as give you an opportunity to reach out to the people in Africa. I figure this is a perfect time to open a store because Christmas is on it's way. I hope to have a variety of crafts for you to choose from. I hope that as I get this up and running that you will help spread the word. I appreciate you all so much!!

Some of the things you will find in my shop...
Scarves
Hair Bows
Aprons
Baby Blankets
Baby Clothes
Kitchen Accessories
Beanies

I can't wait to share pictures of my creations with you!!

Classroom Reveal (Almost 2 Weeks Late)

I finally was able to snap some pictures before open house the other night. The room wasn't 100% perfect but it looked good enough. Being a teacher has put me out of my perfectionist comfort zone. I actually told my students that their cutting didn't need to be perfect today!! **GASP** I even shocked myself!! Alright, enough talk...

Love this FREE door sign from TeachersPayTeachers!

Student cubbies and book bins for independent reading.

Writing Center! Hopefully we can use it soon!

Didn't get to use "Wish Upon A Star" but it was such a cute idea. 

Calendar and Job Chart

Desk Arrangement as of yesterday! Love all the space... Hopefully soon a smart board will replace the white board.

Library and my teacher corner. 

Love the storage space!

Computer center (doesn't include the 5 chrome books that students use all over the room!!)

Daily schedule, attendance board, and birthday chart.

Laughter is the Best Medicine! (And Benedryl Allergy & Sinus Medication)

I survived my first week!! I have a pretty good class. We really just need to work on the constant chatter and humming. It's enough to drive a person batty!

I thought I would share with you a couple of funny things my kids told me this week.

I was telling a little boy that we needed to let the girls go first because that was the polite thing to do. Another little boy pips up and says, "Ms. Mayes, that means if there is danger we should let the girls go first, right?" I had to tell him he should be brave in that case and go first.

Another one... The first grade teacher is about my age, white, blue eyes, and light brown hair. My kids keep calling me Ms. Crabtree. I keep saying, "My name is not Ms. Crabtree. I'm Ms. Mayes." They respond with "but you LOOK like Ms. Crabtree! You SOUND like Ms. Crabtree!" One girl even went as far as to tell me that I SMELL like Ms. Crabtree! (But that's a good thing she said...)

Not only do they make me laugh, but they also graciously share heir germs with me. I ended up with a sinus infection and spent almost the entire day on the couch yesterday. After feeling miserable, I finally dragged myself to the store and bought some medicine so I could sleep. All in all, I slept really well and woke up feeling somewhat better this morning

I hope everyone has a blessed Sunday!

BIG Steps People!!!

Alright y'all, I've recently moved up big time in the world. This morning I killed a freakishly big, crazy quick, blackish cockroachy looking thing and I'm sharing my living quarters with a spider who has really lllllooooonnnngggg legs! Why is this big? I DON'T DO BUGS!! However, I've had to put on my big girl panties and deal with it!

Another big thing that is so awesome is the technology available to us at this school! I was issued a laptop for my own use, I have 3 desktops computers and a laptop for student use, a brand spanking new iPod touch JUST for DIBLES Assessment, and 5 Chrome Books for testing or learning centers in the classroom. I've never had this much technology to use with students and I'm so excited to integrate it all in my classroom. All I can say is DON'T BE JEALOUS!! 

Have a great night!

New Job, New City, New Blog

Hey y'all! I figured that I would start a blog so that if you want to know what is going on with me you can just follow me here! (If I can figure that part out... haha... give me some time...)

So here it goes!

I made it to Aztec, NM August 1st and my awesome parents and one of my aunts graciously helped me get settled in. Without them I would still be trying to set up my apartment. Pictures will follow soon, I promise!

August 4th, I walked into my classroom and thought I could get it all set up with my stuff in a week and have the next week for planning. BOY WAS I WRONG! I walked into the classroom and realized that a TON of stuff had been left behind and I would have to clean it all and organize before I could start adding my touches. I pulled EVERYTHING out of the cabinets and started sorting. And sorting. And sorting. And sorting. There was stuff from the late nineties in the classroom. ARE YOU KIDDING ME PEOPLE?! THROW YOUR STUFF AWAY!  I finally manged to sort through all of it and finished that last Saturday (Yes, I worked on the weekend. :( Sad face).

Monday morning brought New Staff Orientation and then a week full of training in the mornings and afternoons spent in the classroom. Students start Monday and many have asked, "Are you nervous?" No, not yet, but I will be!! There is still so much left to accomplish and once I'm done (by this weekend) I will post pictures of my new classroom.

Even though I've been keeping myself busy in the evenings with school stuff, I still find myself missing everyone that I have moved away from. Some days it is worse than others, tonight being one of those nights. I hope that through this blog I will be able to share my journey with you and that we can keep in touch.

I love each and everyone of you and I thank each one of you for supporting me in some way.