I typically write this sort of blog post as one year comes to an end, but this year I am writing as a new year begins. 2015 was an amazing year during which our adventures continued, my learning continued, and my teaching shifted once again. Family was at the center of our everything. An item on my 40x40 list included taking CD and Miss Hollywood on a "real vacation" and we accomplished that for the first time in 2015. I am so pleased with how they are growing into amazing people. We had taken weekend trips and short trips, but in 2015, we did some traveling much like the types of trips I remember taking with my family as a child.
Our second short trip of the summer took us back to Lassen Volcanic National Park. We have decided that this is and will be one of our regular places to visit. Going in early July is perfect and we love the Lassen Mineral Lodge. In fact, we have already tentatively calendared our 2016 trip. Our "real" vacation kicked off about two weeks later. We camped for two nights at Pinnacles National Park where we encountered fearless raccoons and decided to invest in a National Park membership. While we camped, we cooked on our camp stove, did dishes the way my parents taught me, and walked around the grounds close to where we camped. The raccoons were annoying and at times discouraging, but we didn't let them get the better of us. We will return and camp there again eventually. We already have a hiking trip to Pinnacles planned for Spring Break 2016. After our two nights camping, we hopped back on the road and stopped in San Luis Obispo to visit friends on our way to the Ranch. The kids got to check out Bubblegum Alley and eat ice cream. Once at the Ranch, we spent a few days visiting with family, hiking, exploring, learning. The Ranch "summer day camp" is another part of our must do summertime. On the return trip, we stayed two nights in San Francisco and caught a Giants game, visited Muir Woods (sort of) and Muir Beach. All of this came together in a video and a photo entry for the National Parks Centennial Project contest where we shared our #findyourpark adventures. One of our photos became a finalist in the contest. We are awaiting the final results to see if we placed as a Grand Prize, First Place, or Second Place winner, but we were excited to make it as a finalist. So, we have entered 2016 with anticipation. There are other sources of anticipation, as well. (Stay tuned.)
We camped again in September. We visited two Renaissance Faires, the All Hallows Faire, and had great fun creating and developing costumes. We spent a day at Disneyland. We caught an Angels game with my brother and his family. The adventures seem endless as I look back over 2015. Our awesomeness abounds and we look forward to more adventures in 2016. Perhaps a return to Disneyland even!
My career took an interesting twist and turn. I was extremely hesitant when I was first approached about taking on a new role at my current school. The conversation with my principal included me saying, "I want to be the best." When she stated something to the effect that everyone wants to do their best, I reiterated that I want to be THE best at what I do. It is what I expect of myself. It is wired in me genetically. She and I have navigated the changes together and amazing things are happening at our school. I love being a part of it. How wonderful to see our students learning new skills and trying new things. Over these two weeks off, I have looked over two things. One, a memo I created on my phone that includes a list of students who completed an Hour of Code. The other is a blog post from two years ago where I outlined some of my EdTech goals. I am achieving them as our students are achieving great successes at the same time. This excites me to no end! I have presented for the first time at a conference and I am scheduled to present at another one at the end of February. After averaging about one conference (or PD/networking session) per month (perhaps slightly above that really) for nine months, I took November and December off to catch my breath and so enjoyed implementing some new things with the students, including doing the Hour of Code with every grade level. It was fantastic! The smiles on the students faces, the joy I saw as they made progress and learned...it all was wonderful. Our students rock! In the meantime, I also invested time into my role as EdTech coach and have had the opportunity to work with some truly amazing colleagues. One of these colleagues nominated me for CUE's Outstanding Emerging Teacher in December. Another source of anticipation. The winner will be announced at the CUE Annual Conference in March. I look forward to this conference every year. There are some truly amazing people to encounter, meet, and network with at this conference.
I celebrated my 20th high school reunion and traveled with My Chico and had a chance to reconnect with old friends in new ways. I opened my mouth an inserted my foot at least once. Shrugged it off and moved on to other things. I had a chance to reflect and look ahead all at once. I am thankful for the experience. 2015-16 also marks a huge life shift for me. I attended the University of Tennessee 20 years ago. For one year. I consider it a small, but significant piece of this very big puzzle called life. I was academically dismissed. Not my finest moment. And yet, I would not be who I am or where I am without that experience. I needed a little reminder from my dad last night, but I do know in my heart of hearts that I needed each experience to become who I am and to do the things I do. Dad reminded me, too, that the only failure is not getting back up after a fall. I have always picked myself up, dusted myself off, and moved forward. And look at me now!Faby and Bekah's Epic High School Reunion
Life takes us through many twists and turns. We get pushed outside of our comfort zones. That's where the magic happens, of course. Yet again, in 2015, I felt shoved so far out of my comfort zone and saw magic happen. The best part is when the magic happens for people around me as a result. I have seen magic happen for my kids, my students, my family. There are things that never would have happened this past year had I not fallen into that shove out of my comfort zone, picked myself up, and decided to run with it. TADA!
As I look back on the year that was 2015, I see that family was central and I know it will be again. I have quietly reprioritized in a couple of areas that needed it. I have once again embraced my singleness, recognizing that I know what I need to focus on and the relationships worth investment. My parents, my children, my brother and his family, my "sister" and her family, my aunts and uncles, my cousins and most importantly, myself. There is no "new year, new me" for me. I have worked really hard to regain parts of who I was on this Journey of Bekah Rose. A person once joked about my name, "what's the matter, you couldn't 'Bekah" right the first time?" I did it right the first time, lost a part of that Bekah, and now I am re-Bekah-ing. It's an ongoing process. I like who I am. I will continue to embrace that.
As the end of 2015 neared, I started using #lovebeginswithme in posts. There have been so many words of hate and intolerance. We need to recognize that love begins with each and every one of us. Bad things happen in the world. Let us work on making good things happen. Let us grow in love. Invest first in ourselves, and then in our friends and families. If there is something you need to leave behind, leave it. Move forward. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move forward. And do it in love. We must act....in love.
Our Christmas cards this year included a quote from Dr. Martine Luther King, Jr.
Here it is:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
Let us be light and love in the world. Please feel free to use #lovebeginswithme in social media posts this year. I also participated in the #whattup "movement" that a friend started. I have joined a group of people looking to focus on things for which they are grateful this year. #gratefuleveryday
Other hashtags I will use this year #BeLiveBelieve and #anticipation #joy
I look forward to the year ahead and feel full of anticipation. And joy.
Last year, I knocked things off a list I haven't looked at in over a year, traveled, learned, taught, presented, grew, met one of my favorite bands, held hands with my children, spent time with my brother (and family), spent more time with My Chico (my "sister"), hugged, cried, laughed, cried some more, experienced frustration and hurt, and most of all....I loved. I lived. Here's to another year of living and loving! Cheers to 2016! Bring it on!
No comments:
Post a Comment