Guitar Hero + Roy Williams = Awesomeness

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I L<3ve My Job

It's been an interesting week to say the least. I really do enjoy teaching, but I tell you what, the closer we get to spring break, the crazier & lazier my students get. Here is my favorite conversation from this week:

B walks into class w/ some new weave, about 8 inches longer than her normal hair length....
Ms. Kleber: B! Your hair grew super fast overnight!!! I ain't never seen anything like that in my life.
B: Dang I know Ms. Kleber! That miracle grow really works!

I will say that I have really been encouraged this week by some of my students from last year. I think my favorite so far has been a young many we will call Jason. Jason failed my world history class miserably last year - and to say the least we did not get along. He was constantly off task, talking, trying to wander around the room & in many cases trying to wander out of the room. Well lucky me, Jason wound up in my world history class again this semester. My first thought was "I can't teach him again! That is not fair!" (Not the nicest thing to say about a 15 year old, I know). Well guess what party people?? Jason is passing world history the 2nd time around with a B average. He may not be the best student ever, but he has shown so much more initiative and concern about his grade. I really don't take any credit for this since I pretty much teach my class the same way this year as I did last year. However, it is so encouraging to see the kids mature, learn from their mistakes, and improve themselves.

I took this pic during break between 3rd & 4th period today. It sums up how I feel right now. I tried to get "my son" Stevie in the pic w/ me but he informed me that he "doesn't do pictures." Typical 16 year old.

The Lord has been teaching me a lot about what it means to hope in Him & where our hope lies. I keep seeing this theme ALL over scripture - from I Peter to Romans to this verse I read in Psalm 33 today: "Our soul waits on the Lord: He is our help & our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, but upon us, according as we have hoped in You."

Elizabeth

We finished the Reformation & Counter Reformation in class today. We had started watching the movie Elizabeth yesterday, and I had only intended for us to watch the first 30 minutes of it at the end of class so the kids could see what Bloody Mary was like as queen and how her half sister Elizabeth became queen. I love this movie & Elizabethan England. It is absolutely one of my most favorite time periods in history. And because I love this movie so much, I decided we wouldn't start on our project today and instead continue to watch Elizabeth. I hate to be "that teacher" who is a pushover when the kids want to keep watching the movie, but I actually think it will be quite beneficial. I wish that I could spend so much more time on the Renaissance & Reformation than I do. It's such an incredible time period. The artwork that comes out of the Renaissance is absolutely breathtaking - particularly the sculptures of Michelangelo. How someone can make a piece of marble look like a piece of cloth is mind blowing to me. The religious revolution that Martin Luther began with his 95 Thesis is incredible as well. Luther's careful study of the Bible & the simple conclusions that he drew, Faith alone, Grace alone, the Bible alone, totally revolutionized Christianity and still influence the Protestant church today. Such obvious truths, yet for so many years, the Catholic church had completely overlooked the simplicity of the gospel. I get so excited when I teach this and my students think I'm crazy, but that's OK.

And just for fun, here is a few pictures from back in the day of me & my family. I am so greatful to my parents for sharing the gospel with me & then showing me how to walk it out daily.

uuummmm....

So, I'm not gonna lie. I really don't know why i started this blog. We'll see how long my blogging really lasts and if I think its worth wasting my time on. Maybe it will be useful, who knows. But I would like to think it would be a fun way to keep track of all of my various trips w/ friends and family since I have become horrible at keeping a journal. The pic to the left for example, is from my trip to Europe w/ the AHS Chorus a few years ago.

My next trip coming up is to Boston w/ Kendra. I have never been to Boston & I cannot wait. I LOVE visiting big cities. Most big cities I don't want to live in because I prefer simpler life. However, I think one of my most favorite things about big cities is public transportation. You can read a book, listen to music, talk on the phone, do some work, put on your makeup all while someone else does the driving. Which is much safer then when I try to do those things while driving.