Sunday Reflections

I always get reflective on Sundays. It seems to be such a quiet day, a slow day, good times for thinking. Often the songs we sing at church bring about these reflections and today I have been thinking about knowing God and His love.

"Quiero ser mas como tu (I want to be more like you)
Ver la vida como tu (To see life like you)
Saturarme de Espiritu (Saturate me with your Spirit)
Y reflejar al mundo tu amor." (And reflect to the world your love.)

May God show you His love today and reflect it to the world through you!

Con Carino,
Liz

I was told to never to put the cart before the horse. 

Students

I am in my Chemistry class right now enjoying a lab with my students. A thought has just come to my mind. It is not an original thought, but a good one for today.

"We live to learn."

We learn every day that we live. But, what do we learn? Do we actually learn if we are not paying attention? Should we write down what we learn so we can remember and share? Or do we try to remember it and learn it again another day?

Now, the lab is finished and my kids are smiling. They have learned about exothermic and endothermic reactions. The weekend is here, and now they leave. I wonder what they are thinking. Maybe they are thinking about their upcoming test, or maybe not. Maybe they are focused on the weekend, maybe they are looking to college.

Be blessed today in your lifelong education.

Alex (my department chair) and I enjoying an AP Chemistry class.  

Three of my sponges enjoying lab time.  

Four Tardies on the First Day

I have been receiving a lot of questions about teaching high school. How is it? Are you scared? What is it like? Do the kids listen?

So, this is my first year teaching high school and CHEMISTRY at that. So, how did my first week go? Well, on the first day I had 4 tardies in one class alone. So, what did I do? I asked the 4 perpetrators to wait outside until I had finished my thought with the class, and then I went outside and made a deal with them. The deal was: they make it to my class before anyone else the following day, or they will serve an after school detention alphabetizing my chemical closet. Not fun.

The high school has a 15 minute break before this particular class which is nice and relaxing. So what happened? The next day, as break begins, I see a commotion in the hall. My four students are running fast to get to class. People were amused to see these four students busting tail to be the first in the room. They made it, while the rest of my class enjoyed their break. How many minutes were left? 12! I let them in my class, and then I went to grab a drink and some sunshine.

So, who has been late since? Not a one. So, how is high school? Pretty fun as of week one. Enjoy your day and smile. Somewhere in the world there are teens arriving early for education.

Liz, Libbie, Tim (Liz's brother and his wife) and I watching a beautiful Lake Michigan sunset. Yes, my face does show how heavy Liz felt! 

Liz and I at our friend's wedding in Grand Rapids. We enjoyed the wedding and visiting with our friends and family. 

We Have Returned

Liz and I have returned to Colombia after a wonderful summer in Texas, Colorado, and Michigan. We visited with family and friends, we ate, we played, we laughed, we cried- well she cried anyway. We start back to school this week, preparing for the students to return next Tuesday. It was a great summer and we miss you all already. We love you and hold you close in our hearts.

Alan & Liz