Kim, AKA Cinderella

For the last several years, I have been incredibly blessed to have what I affectionately call, "my handler."  I teach a "Bridge to Kindergarten" class and Kim is my aide.

I truly love being a teacher.  I love to daydream about new adventures to take the kids on.  I love to try new ways to help them learn to read.  I love to do the unexpected.  I long to leave a lasting impression on the kid's hearts.

When you are a dreamer, however, you often sacrifice the ability to look at the details.  That is where Kim comes in.  In the last three years she has always been there for me.  I often think about a surgeon and how he slightly turns and the nurse has the tool he needs right there and ready for him.  He doesn't even have to say a word.  That is what Kim does for me.  She is always ready and has already anticipated what I need.  She is always ready with the supplies and usually has everything ready for me 3 weeks ahead of time.  I am truly blessed to have her.

I think what matters the most to me though, is that she never criticizes or gets frustrated when I am a little flighty, she is just ready with such joy.  If she has to clean up one of my spontaneous messes, she just smiles and gives the kids a hug.

My co-worker and I lovingly call her, "Cindy" (short for Cinderella), because she is always doing chores for us.  In fact we had a Cinderella birthday celebration in her honor.  A handsome prince came and everything!

If I had to pick a pair of shoes for her it would definitely be the ones I have posted.  She is always comfortably stylish!  She does everything she can to do the best job possible, but always with a heart of humility and servanthood.  One of the many blessings of school starting back up is that I will have my beloved "handler," sister, and friend again.

Thank you, Kim.  See you soon!

The "Bucket List" Me

I have to say, I have more shoes now than I have ever had.  I have great tennis shoes, boots, snow boots, flip-flops, "Toms," and even some "Yellow Box" shoes.  I have tennis shoes to try to stay healthy by walking everyday.  I have boots to help me be taller once in awhile.  I have snow boots because I love to go home to Colorado as much as possible.  I have flip-flops, well because they are the closest thing to being barefoot, which is what I ALWAYS prefer.  I have a pair of "Toms" and some "Yellow Box" shoes because I wanted to move past one pair of black shoes and one pair of brown shoes and indulge a little bit!

For the most part, I am a very simple person.  I really could care less about fashion, but I try to look nice every once in awhile.  I am almost always practical and if you came to my house, no matter how prestigious you are, I would prefer to take off my shoes, fold my legs up under me, and listen to whatever is on your heart for hours and hours.  Shoes can be so unnecessary!

There is another side to me, however.  I took this picture of a dear friend and when I was looking at it tonight it reminded me of "The Bucket List Me."  This is the lady that believes the sky is the limit.  This is the lady that is willing to do whatever God asks her to do, wherever and whenever.  This is the lady that dreams.  This is the lady that is a little off her rocker!

Here is my "bucket list," shoes or no shoes:

• Write and publish a book
• Give special needs training in Colorado
• Give special needs training in another country that is out of my comfort zone
• Make a difference in the world and never know it
• Go to Alaska and Switzerland
• Teach more people how to read
• Lead children with special needs to Christ
• See my whole family love God 
• And my husband has instructions to put a big piece of cheesecake in my mouth and take me skydiving if I find out my time is running short :)

And that my friend, is the "Bucket List Me."