I still remember my first day of teaching. I can vividly recall standing proudly in my new dress as my husband took my picture to document the beginning of my education career. My excitement was laced with a little trepidation. I had prepared my whole life for this. Looking back now, I never once questioned my decision to be an educator. Although there have been ups and downs, the thought of leaving the profession has never entered my mind. Education is my calling. Unfortunat

I love the state of Arkansas with its rolling hills, flush green countryside, and underground caves. Many of the caves are still living, slowly growing colorful stalactites and stalagmites. On one particular tour we entered a large cave with a seating area. Moments after everyone was settled, you could hear gasps when the lights were shut off and the room became pitch black. No telling what all of us looked like at that moment. I was waving my hand in front of my face thinkin

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him . Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ . Colossians 3:22-23 These two verses happen to be two of my favorite memory verses. I have them posted on the wall behind my computer as a constant reminder

Two of my favorite things are family and nature. There is something about the beauty of God’s creation that transports me to a different place. Couple this with family (especially the granddaughters), and I feel I am experiencing a little slice of Heaven. This past August my two favorites converged as I strolled hand-in-hand with my oldest granddaughter through the botanical gardens. We were walking and talking when suddenly she pulled me back toward something she had seen. W

Our world has become so busy, and educators are some of the busiest people I know! It’s as though being busy has become a badge of honor. The busier we are, the more important we appear to be. While there is nothing wrong with being busy, if we are not careful, busyness can distract us and turn our focus away from God’s purpose for our lives. Let me ask you a couple of questions. Have you ever spent time with God in the morning, but once you entered the school building compl

It’s football season, and schools across the country are gearing up for the battles that will occur on the playing field each week. Months of hard work and practice will be put to the test. No Friday night football game experience would be complete without cheerleaders urging family and friends to root for their respective teams. Although I am sure much has changed since my junior high cheerleading days, I am quite certain the premise behind cheerleading remains the same—chee

An educator recently shared this point of view with me: Life isn’t all about sunshine and ice cream. Students today need to be exposed to the real world. Needless to say, I found this a bit disturbing. I have concerns on two levels. First of all, the statement was made by a very young educator. Most young educators I know are full of excitement and determined to make a difference. Have I been living in an alternate universe? Are young teachers becoming more cynical? I surely

Last week many of you responded to my blog, “My Hope for Harper.” It seems we all share a passion for education and the critical role educators play in the shaping of young minds and hearts. As I reflected during my quiet time this week, it seemed as if God whispered this question, “What is your hope for educators?” I automatically thought of Paul and his intercessory prayers for the Ephesian believers. Because of his love for them, he took his hopes and put them in the form

Over the past year, I have had so many opportunities to spend time with my four-year-old granddaughter. I don’t take this for granted. I had the amazing opportunity to grow up in the same town as my maternal grandmother. I am so grateful for her influence. She always poured love and truth into my life. Right now, I plan to do the same for our precious Harper. When Harper and I have time together, we engage in many different types of activities— read books, build puzzles, pla

“When God enters the equation, His output always exceeds your input.” Mark Batterson ( The Circle Maker , 2011) I wonder. · Do you think Moses envisioned parting the Red Sea? · Do you think Esther imagined she would be instrumental in saving her people from annihilation? · Do you think Joseph predicted he would save his family and an entire nation from starvation? · Do you think Deborah thought her words would be the impetus for the Israelites’ critical victory over the C

For the past year and a half, I have posted a weekly blog. For those of you who have been on this journey with me, you know it has not come easy. I love to talk, but writing is not natural for me. However, God has called me to serve in this way—for now. Each week is literally a step of faith and an act of obedience. Each week God seems to provide the words, and lately I feel we have been on a roll. Until this week. I have started three blogs, and while I have written quite a

A couple of weeks ago, our oldest daughter sent us a video of our granddaughter, Harper, jumping off the diving board for the first time! You could see the angst in her face as the words of her patient swim teacher coaxed her to the edge of the board. She wavered, wanting to jump but simultaneously shaking her head as she glanced down at the water below. It took a little while, but eventually her trust in the instructor and her desire to please those around her outweighed her

August is just around the corner. Can you believe it? Educators are gearing up while children (and parents) are counting down the days to the first day of school. I love the start of the school year! There is a buzz in the air as rejuvenated educators enter spotless, empty classrooms awaiting their special touch. Magic happens here. Students who were lonely over the summer will feel part of a family once again. They will learn. They will grow. They will make new friends. It

· A parent accuses you of treating his child unfairly. · A colleague misinterprets something you said and responds by talking to others, not you. · Your supervisor criticizes you in front of others. · Your additional responsibilities take away from your effectiveness in the classroom. All of these examples (and more) are pretty legitimate reasons for having a good ‘ole pity party. Most educators I know work extremely hard and are committed to doing their very best for kids. W

We love summer! For many it is a time to catch our breath and squeeze in a vacation with the family. Vacations are about making memories, bonding, and enjoying life! However, sometimes the hardest part of any vacation is the journey to the destination. “ Are we there yet?” becomes the proverbial nails on the chalkboard for many parents. Children (and some adults) find it difficult to embrace the journey even though special memories are often made along the way. I have be

An examination of employment data in education reveals that most classroom teachers are women. Over 75% of teachers are female; that number is 90% in primary schools. Additionally, though leadership positions in education have historically been dominated by males, a growing number of females are assuming administrative jobs. Recent studies reveal that over half of principals are female, and the number of women in leadership positions at the central office level is increasing

As I shared last week, I love nature and the outdoors. I always look forward to summer time. I grew up in Kansas where we had four distinct seasons. Each season revealed creation’s beauty. Fall brought colorful leaves. Winter gave us soft, white snow. Spring produced new blooms. Summer generated flowers, garden vegetables…and weeds. We live in Texas now. While there are four seasons, the variances are more subtle. Summers are hotter, so I have to be a bit more diligent in th

When we bought our house several years ago, we inherited a beautiful jasmine vine. The vine encompasses a space between our two garage doors which allows us to enjoy it on a regular basis. In the early summer the vine abounds with fragrant blooms that fill the air—one of God’s gifts of creation! About a month ago, we were entering our home and happen to notice something was wrong with the jasmine vine. The once flourishing plant was half dead. Brown leaves were scattered up a

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” If you have lived very long at all, you know this familiar children’s rhyme is simply not true. In fact, I suspect there are many who would rather be hit with a stone than endure some of the ugliness spewed these days. While criticism can often be instructive, we’d all be lying if we said it didn’t sting, even a little. I had the blessing of receiving a healthy dose of criticism lately, and while it was har

Last week’s blog, Hello Summer https://www.victoriouseducator.com/blog/hello-summer challenged all of us to use this summer as a time to strengthen our walk with the Lord by establishing spiritual routines of prayer and Bible study. I promised this week’s blog would follow with resources and suggestions, but before I share my thoughts, I want to lay some groundwork. First, I am no expert on this topic. I am sharing what has worked for me, and I truly hope many who read th