One Day Late...

Okay, so it's Saturday.  I have been a busy lady. I wanted this post to be so much more, then I decided that if waited any longer to find the time I need to make this perfect, it would be next week before I got it done.  The plan was, to show you some of the cards I have been making lately.  There have been quite a lot.

What have I been doing? Wednesday was our school's Parent/Teacher Interview Evening.  I was unable to attend for various reasons.  This meant that I had to contact the parents of the students in my class and offer them the opportunity for a 10-20 minutes phone call regarding the academic progress, behaviour and effort in my class.  This is sometimes a nice chat about a great student.  Unfortunately, I have found that most of the nice kids have nice parents and they know you are a busy person and as long as things are going okay, they don't want to waste your time.  The parents of the children who are not very nice OR are struggling fall into two categories.
1. They know their kid struggles and they don't want you to tell them again so they don't even respond to your messages.
2. They know their kid struggles and even though they have been to every interview every year and asked the same questions they still want you to meet with them.  They still want you to fix their child.  They want you to give them a different answer.

Parent Teacher Interviews are exhausting.  I'm sure it is difficult for the parents too.  I don't know, as I am not a parent.  I just know that I feel tired after.  Sometimes it's a good reason that I'm tired, like I have been excited to talk to a parent who truly cares for their child, doesn't make excuses, respects me and my colleagues, wants to work with me and has my back.

I think I'm exhausted because talking to a virtual stranger: tell them what can sometimes be the hard truth about their child, gain their respect, advise them on educational issues, listen to their stories about siblings and work and how hard life is, then remind them that you are here to see their child succeed. That's hard... it takes effort, restraint, a sense of humour, tolerance, patience and kindness.  It takes a lot of thought and energy.

So, if you are friends with a teacher, and they tell you it's Parent/ Teacher night, Hug them.  Cook them dinner.  Give them space.  Let them have a nap.  Forgive them if they don't want to go out and party.  Cut them some slack.  I know you did that during Report Card season, and Beginning of the Year season too.... but, you know what.... just be nice to your Teacher Friends ALL THE TIME!  They need it.  They deserve it!  They will love you for it!

Happy Teachers Day

for yesterday, everyone!!! 

Next Week: I promise there will be cards.

Scripture Typer: An Impartial Review

Let me begin by saying: I am not associated with the Scripture Typer Application in any way.  I have not been paid for this review and I won't be paid for it in the future.  This is entirely my own opinion.

In April, I bought a new phone and when I downloaded my Bible app (I love my Bible app) the Google store suggested some other apps, including some scripture memorisation apps.  This is when I found, Scripture Typer.

AGT regulars will know that I am working hard at reaching somgoals this year and blogging about it every month has been helping me stay on track.  One of my goals is: "Learn 12 scripture passages by heart."  I started out this year by writing out the verses of scripture I wanted to learn and reading it everyday as well as using the old spelling strategy: Look, Say, Cover, Write/ Recite, Check.  So, I can honestly say that Scripture Typer has changed my life!

Here are 10 of the great things you can do with Scripture Typer:
1. Access Scripture Typer on your computer (an excellent website) or you can download the app to any electronic device as it's available in the Google Play Store or the App store.
2. Import the text of scripture passages from 10 different translations including NIV, NKJ, ERV and ESV.
3. Search by scripture reference or theme.
4. Memorise collections of verses (already compiled) by theme or Book of the Bible.
5. Create your own collection/s of verses, organised how you want.
6. Divide longer scripture passages into individual verses to make them easier to learn and then combine them when you have mastered them.
7. Sketch prompts which appear on your screen with the Scripture reference before you type in the Scripture from Memory.
8. If you have the PRO version you can record yourself reading the text aloud and listen to it when working on memorising the scripture.
9. Share (brag about) your success on social media as well as create groups of friends who can support each other while working to memorise the same scriptures.
10.  Track your progress as you learn each scripture passage and add new goals to your collections.

I have the FREE version of Scripture Typer and it does everything I need.  PRO users can register for an account which syncs everything to the cloud so you can access your collections and progress on any device at any time.  It's as easy as creating a username and password.

Scripture Typer also features an excellent memorisation program. Once your verses are imported to your collection, you simply follow the review tasks each time you open the app and before you know it you will be reciting scripture better than ever.
1. Type It: The verse appears on the screen and you type into your device as you read.
2. Memorise It: The verse appears on the screen, but with gaps, and you type the whole text into your device.
3. Master It: the Bible reference appears on the screen and you can type the verse from memory.

Through all of these steps in the program, Scripture Typer gives you feedback on errors and gives you an accuracy percentage when you finish.  You get a point every time you review a verse.  One of the things I love about Scripture Typer... in case you doubted how much I loved it already... The program tells you how often you should review the verse in order to increase your retention.  Once you get a 100% accuracy on the "Master It" step, the program will tell you that you have mastered the verse and you should review it every 2 days.  After two repetitions every 2 days, the program tells you to review that verse weekly, then fortnightly, monthly etc.  This keeps track of each of the verses in the collection so you can review one verse daily while reviewing other verses every six months.  You can revisit verses as often as you like and continue to receive points.

This app really has taken my memorisation and made it so much easier for me.  I can review verses at home, in bed, on the train, even at work on my break (when I get one).  Scripture Typer has not only helped me reach my goal of memorising 12 scripture verses this year, but I have surpassed it, "mastering" 15 verses.  I plan to continue working on these 15 verses and reviewing them weekly (even though some of them don't need to be reviewed for 6 months) until the end of the year.  Next year I will create a new collection of verses to memorise over the year.

If you are looking for a memorisation app, I would definitely recommend Scripture Typer!!

When did that happen?

Internal Dialogue..

When did I become responsible?
When did people start to think I was a good person to keep their secrets?
When did I learn all that I know now?
When did I get so old?
When did I become that girl who people come to for help?
When did I become a mother hen?
When did my parents get so old?
When did those children grow up?
When did the world get so sad and mean and violent and dangerous?
When did that happen?

What was I doing when that was happening?

I'm how old?

Are you sure?

Finding where you fit

I will do my best to keep this short.  It might meander a bit, but trust me it's all important.

I'm turning 34 at the end of this year and I have to say that a big chunk of those 3 and a bit decades were not easy.  I spent a lot of time feeling like I didn't fit in.  I was the broken puzzle piece, the extra fitting in the flat pack and the 11th Tim Tam.  I still really struggle to make friends.  Social situations are difficult for me.  They are exhausting.

It took me a really long time to learn what I was really about, why I was feeling certain things and how I could prevent those yucky feelings.  You can't control everything, but if there are things within my control that will improve my quality of life, it seems silly not to change them.

Today, I want to tell you about three times when I didn't fit.  I'm concentrating on these because they all occurred when a 'chapter' of my life ended and the next one hadn't started yet.  I felt really lost during these times. In retrospect, the 'in between' times were so important in shaping me for the future, preparing me for new chapters and helping me become the awesome person I am now.

1. The end of university.  I had finally finished and it took me a really long time to get a full time, permanent job.  It took 5 years.  Of course, I worked part time, doing contracts and relieving other teachers.  In fact, 4-5 months after I submitted my final assessment, I was thrown into the classroom as a supply teacher.  During that first year after I finished uni, I was really disappointed that I didn't get offered a job.  I had never been without a purpose or a reason to get out of bed.  I had always been at school and I went straight to university.  I spent holidays babysitting, doing housework, planning a wedding and being very busy.  Suddenly, life was not going to plan and I had to figure out what I as going to do.  I considered lots of things and I worried that I would never be a real teacher.  At the end of the first year, I realised that supply teaching was a pretty good gig for the time being and I figured it would eventually lead to a permanent job.  I decided to say "yes" to every opportunity and be the best supply and contract teacher I could be.  I learned sooo much in those 5 years and I earned enough money to survive.
When I was finally offered a full time, permanent job, I was not only more qualified and experienced, but I appreciated it so much more.  I succeeded because of all the things I had learned while in the 'in between' stage of life.

2.  The end of my marriage.  My husband and I had been married for2 and a half years and we had been 'together' for 8 years before that.  I couldn't really remember a time when he wasn't my boyfriend.  Suddenly, I was back at my parents house with only a few boxes of my belongings.  He was living in the house that we shared.  Then, I learned that one of my friends was sleeping with my husband.  My world shattered.  I had put years of my life and all my energy into my marriage and building a life with my husband.  It took a very long time for me to adjust to the idea of being a single lady and it took even longer for me to be happy about it.  Now, I love being single!

3. The end of Dad's life.  I'm still in the midst of adjusting to this new way of life... so bear with me.
When Dad got sick, my life changed.  When, as a family, we decided that I would take time off work and share the caring responsibilities with Mum, my life morphed into something different. I still had some time to myself.  My purpose was to make Dad comfortable.  While I certainly wasn't perfect, I was good at caring for Dad.  Most of my time was spent with Dad or thinking about Dad, or thinking about how I could help Dad.  When he died, I was obviously sad for him and of course I grieved him.  I also grieved the life I had with him.  I realised that my everyday purpose was suddenly gone... again.

The first few months were hard.  I didn't want to get out of bed or leave the house.  I forced myself to do these things, most of the time.  Knowing now, that my time is not filled with "Dad" I am beginning to find other useful things to do with my time.  I'm finding a new 'place' to fit.

I worked out that I have a bit of a knack for words!  I enjoy making cards.  So, I am spending my time, using my talents and the things I enjoy, to encourage others.  I am sending cards to people in my church who are unwell, or struggling.  I don't send one to everyone, because I don't know everyone.  I am simply trying to do something small with what I have, where I am.  I am happy with that for now.

The future holds great mystery and right now, I want to appreciate everything I am learning and look forward to using it to make people smile.

Love.