"Do the Right Thing"

I have spent the last 48-ish hours helping 150+ high school students make sense of the political chaos that now surrounds us. I talked with all six of my classes about the results of the election and I prefaced each talk with I am not here to tell you what to think. I also told them I would not share who got my vote (although I did admit to voting mainstream), I would not comment on my thoughts of Trump as president, and I felt Hillary conceded the presidential race in a very classy manner.

We live in North Dakota, a solidly red state, but that does not mean we unquestioningly follow the doctrine of a certain political party. I am not here to say I voted red and I am not here to say I voted blue. I will say that I chose to cast my vote as I did because I researched, discussed, and agonized over how to make the best use out of the political voice that was given to me.

What ensued in all six of my classes was any number of questions, some of genuine wonder, some of well-intended misunderstanding, and some with no other purpose than to just stir the pot. In one of my senior classes, a young man, who has been vocally pro-Trump for the entirety of the school year, commented that he couldn't believe a Hillary supporter was standing at a protest holding a sign that said "Do the right thing!" He couldn't believe how somebody could hold such a sign in that particular circumstance. My heart skipped a beat and I honestly had tears come to my eyes because I was sitting at the front of a room of completely silent high school seniors, some of whom voted in this election, looking at me for a comment and reaction. I looked this young man straight in the eye and said,

"You sure as hell* better do the right thing."

I continued with some form of "Regardless of who you voted for or who you desired to win, you have the responsibility as a decent, contributing human being to do the right thing in every situation life places before you. Your political affiliation cannot, under any circumstance ever in your life, dictate your decency as a human being. You owe it to yourself and to those around you to do the little things each day to make this country the best it can be and, in turn, the world the best place that it can be. I would fail you as a teacher and as a fellow citizen if I did not expect that best from myself and each one of you simply because an election may not have panned out as you desired."

I am not proud of myself for using such language, but I was so caught off guard. I am still sad, and at the same time I still feel the bubbles of anger in the pit of my stomach, that I have 17 and 18 year old young men and women who are processing this election in terms of "right and wrong," "good and bad," and "me versus you." That is exactly where our country is going to fall. As a Christian, as a teacher, as a female, as a white person-- I now feel a greater responsibility than ever before to cultivate a next generation who is not only competent, but caring. And wise, gracious, aware, discerning, responsible, and all those other good qualities we want in our fellow citizens.

I really don't even know how to end this post. I just keep chewing on this conversation and so many of the others I had with my students these last two days. I feel a greater responsibility to live my life with even more intention because (my relatively) little ones are watching. Granted, the "right thing" may look different for each of us at different points in time, but human decency is pretty much always the same. If we don't want to have this same mess of division and accusation in four years, that change needs to start now.

**Now, part of the beauty of teaching seniors is that they really are young adults and sometimes the language reflects the more mature age (even though the seniors aren't as mature as they think). While this was not my finest moment as a teacher, I have come to understand it may be one of my most effective.

A Midweek Brain Dump

It's been a month since my last post and I feel like it's been only a couple of weeks!

I am sad to be missing Blogtember this year. I followed it for a couple of years before I participated in its entirety last year. I had every intention of joining in this year, but it just hasn't happened. I've been working really hard, for once in my life, to let myself go more slowly than usual. And, for right now, that means no Blogtember. However, I am going to make the effort to start blogging once each week. First, I miss sitting down and having some "fun" writing time and, secondly, blogging is just a fun way of connecting with people. And, really, third, the English writer part of my loves having a journal to look back on and, in a culture of oversharing, why not make my journal public for the entire world to see, right?

Part of letting myself go slower than usual is choosing to focus on doing a couple of big things well and then make time for a few smaller things as time allows. My current graduate program (which I don't think I have ever actually talked about) has been much more challenging than I anticipated and I have not risen to the challenge on all occasions. This semester I am taking a class on literary criticism and, so far, I am really enjoying it. Lit crit was one of my favorite classes as an undergrad and I attributed it largely to my professor. Whether or not it was entirely him, I am really enjoying my second go at this class as well. Getting my Master's degree in English was something I never anticipated doing, but I am grateful for the opportunity as it has presented itself!

Maybe it's the fact I have started my sixth year of teaching and have finally figured things out a little bit, maybe is the nonconventional class schedule that actually gives me time away from students during the day (I promise that's not as bad as it sounds), or maybe I'm just riding a stroke of luck, but I am not feeling entirely overwhelmed by my job at the beginning of this school year. Things are not perfect by any means at all-- heck, I'm already dreadfully behind in grading in two of my classes and I basically flew by the seat of my pants this last week as (virtually) every free (and not-so-free) moment from Wednesday to Friday was filled with meetings of one sort or another.

After I stepped off the plane from Dallas, post-Poland, this summer, I was of the mindset that the next time I stepped on a plane better not be in the next decade. However, I have made it about two months before the Wanderlust and desire to "Go" has reared its beautiful head again. I fly to Pittsburgh next month for a work conference, so I'll get my airplane fix. But that won't satiate the desire to "go!" Although I did "go" to Grand Forks this past weekend to celebrate Kelly's birthday! Currently inter-continental travel destinations include Seattle and Banff National Park. Current global destinations include Iceland, Sweden, and back to Thailand. What I wouldn't do for some passionfruit, pad thai, and murgh makhani right now.

May your week be blessed!

A Dizzying Start to the Year

I remember one summer, I think I was a third grader or so, all of my older cousins came to North Dakota from Pennsylvania and we descended upon my grandma's hamlet of 100 (I think our family singlehandedly increased the town population by 25% the week we were there) where we spent so much time at the local playground. My older Pennsylvania cousins, who all happen to be male, were able to spin the merry-go-round the fastest I had ever experienced. All of my other cousins were eating it up and I wanted so much to enjoy what was going on, but I couldn't handle it. I hated it. The feeling of my head spinning and not knowing where my center of gravity had gone made me want to go home to grandma's and just read a book. You know, once the words made themselves still on the page and all. But I knew mom would send me back to the playground to play with everybody else so I tried to make the most of it, but I just couldn't.

All that to say, I feel like I am finally off the proverbial merry-go-round that was Thailand and now I'm back in the States waiting for my head to stop spinning.

As I alluded to at the beginning of the year, I was not sad to see 2015 go. We are almost done with 2016 and I have mixed feelings on the year. But, as a teacher, my "actual" year is just kicking off. I have switched over the agenda pages for the next twelve months and my fresh start in life is here. Maybe that's why this week really had me feeling so much joy and sorrow at the same time. I had a great first week at my new school, but I found myself missing the school in BKK. I full disclosure, I feel like I pretty much failed at my school in Thailand. I never felt like I was really on top of things and I expected much more of myself than what I was able to give or produce. I want to be clear, though, that I do not believe in any way that my moving to BKK was a mistake. I still stand by that it was 100% God's will at that point in my life. I just moved there to be a teacher and a not very good teacher is what I ended up being. It's a tough pill to swallow.

At the beginning of my own personal "teacher" year, I am at a place to start afresh. I talked to my mom this weekend and told her how, honestly, I wasn't excited to be teaching again. But (and I didn't tell her this part) when I find myself around students, I know it's right where I am supposed to be. I can't imagine myself doing anything other than teaching. Even when I think about what I want to do after my high school teaching career, I find myself considering adult education, preservice teacher education, third-world education, and the like. At my heart is a desire to teach. My purpose in life is to equip. But, right now, my self-confidence is shaken and, honestly, I'm a little (lot) bit scared. What if I fail as a teacher at my new school? I know not every day is going to be perfect and I expect to feel failure as I go through the school year, but what if I walk away at the end of this school year and my proverbial head is still spinning?

Much of my identity is as a teacher and, as a result, I am a little shaken in who I am. I did a lot of coping in Thailand, much of it quite unhealthy and I now have amends to make as a result. Right now I am feeling the resolve to buck up and make sure things end up better this time around, but I also find myself considering what I will do if some of the mistakes I have made cannot be rectified. What does that mean for the future? So many thoughts swirl through my head and so many feelings weave their ways in and out of my heart. I know I can't do everything at once, but working to do little bits at a time to get my overall self back in order is exhausting and painful.

When people ask how this first week back to school was, I smile and say all was fun and fine. After all, I got mistaken for a high school student again, and seeing as this summer was my 10 year reunion, I'll take it! Truthfully, this first week back was bittersweet and it was all my own doing.

I have no resolution in the way of either new year "resolution" or make things better "resolution" at this point. My only seeming resolution is to step away from teaching, but that's not an option right now. I have never been one to quit when things have gotten hard (even though I feel like I quit Thailand) and part of me is, honestly, looking forward to the grit of this upcoming semester. I want to dig in and prove to myself that I can do this teaching thing. This grad school thing. This running/health thing. This life thing.

But at this point, I need my head to stop spinning. It's almost there and then I'll figure out in which direction I need to take the first step and I'll go from there. One step at a time, with as many tears shed as necessary along the way.

Rectifying mistakes and shortcomings also means extending grace.

Even if I-myself- is the hardest person to whom I can give grace.

Five Friday Things: Getaway, Planning, Olympics, #TeamLuke, and Relaxing

One. I finish my district's new teacher orientation yesterday and today I am off for a quick, but relaxing, overnight in Medora. We have been going every year since third grade and while much has changed in the twenty years (eeek... Seriously?!) we have been going, a certain charm continues to pervade the little cowboy town.

Two. I have three preps for this year and, for the first time in my life, I actually have a curriculum laid out for the entire year! I know things won't go exactly how I have them laid out but it feels good to have that big picture ready to go for the school year.

Three. I know I am far from alone in this, but my evenings have been spent watching the Olympics. Of course, I cheer for Team USA first, but Poland and Thailand are my backups. I have yet to see any Thai competition televised, but I'm pulling for them all the same!

Four. When I'm not watching the Olympics, I have been completely sucked into Gilmore Girls. I just started the third season and am way too emotionally involved. I am #TeamLuke and #TeamDean although I know that Dean is coming to an end soon. Sad day. I am also sure Kelly loves all of ridiculous text messages with my reactions and opinions.

Five. I am relishing this calm before the storm. This is the longest summer break I have had in a couple of years and, honestly, I wish it wouldn't end. But I am ready for consistent paychecks and a bit more routine than I have had as of late, so back to school we go! Next week. Still one more week of vacation.

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

I Have Officially Arrived...

...to adulthood. Per my own determination. No official Olympic ruling on this one.

It's taken 28 years (my half birthday is on Monday but I know nobody's counting) but I feel like I have finally feel like I have reached the ever mythical status of "adult" whatever that actually means.

I am in a new town, in a new apartment, three-fourths through new teacher orientation in a new district for a new school, and, for the first time in my life, I have no forward trajectory in mind.

In high school, my trajectory was college. From college, my trajectory was a job. I always new my first job was a stepping stone, so the trajectory was always the next job which turned in to Thailand. The trajectory in Thailand was always back to the States and now here I am.

I still refuse to say that I am settled or rooted because I know that's not the case. But, for the first time in a long time, my trajectory switch is flipped to off. It's an odd feeling, but I'm rather digging it, as the hippies say. This new "off setting" has given me the peace and freedom to feel like I can breathe.

As I have been introducing myself to teaching colleagues and administrators these last couple days, I find myself saying something along the lines of "Hi! My name is Aubrey. I'm a senior English teacher at (insert school name here) and I AM FINALLY A REAL ADULT!" Okay, so I don't actually introduce myself as a real adult, but, for the first time in my life, I feel like I have made it. I really don't know why it has taken me so long so feel like I'm adult, but I'm finally there.

As part of my newfound adult-hood, I have been working to establish a new routine of productive habits and practices. I am constantly reminding myself that I don't have to do everything at once. That habits and procedures take time to establish and failure is inevitable. But since I'm an adult now and all and have finally gleaned this mature understanding of life I figure things should still be easier than what they were before. Cough. #Right?

Lest you think I'm becoming some sort of pretentious post-adolescent, you should know I had macaroni and cheese with hotdogs for supper. The heart wants what the heart wants.

2CBC Questions-- April

April and May are crazy times for us teachers and Kelly's life is no exception. I am stepping in to help her with book club this month as I was blessed with spring break a couple of weeks ago which allowed me to dig into this month's read. I hope you have enjoyed reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-- I know I have been completely sucked in and I'm loving it! 

1. Did you like the book? Was it what you were hoping for or expecting? Why or why not?
2. This book portrayed a poor family's life. Do you think their experience was really unique to their socioeconomic status or is theirs' simply a story of human existence?
3. Although Francie is not the narrator, the story is told primarily from her point of view. How do you think the story would have differed if it had been told from another character's point of view?
4. In the same way, Francie has a mistaken innocence about various aspects of life. How does this affect your perception of her has a character?
5. The tree mentioned in the title is a Tree of Heaven which is considered invasive and is very prevalent in the vacant lots of New York City. How does this metaphor exist throughout the book and what does it mean for the characters?

Please come back on Saturday to share your answers. I will actually have a way to link-up this time so, hopefully, we can make our discussion a little easier to share with each other!

Five Friday Things: Adulting, Healing, School, Tattoos, and Habits

One. If anyone say inside my life right now, my adult card would be immediately revoked. I'm just going to own up to that now. My apartment is a disaster, I have no idea where my extra sunglasses are, my kitchen is a mess, this blog is sorely lacking, and I'm pretty sure my classroom is just a couple of seconds from imploding upon itself.

Two. I am still peeling from a sunburn that is almost three weeks old and how I'm healing from a motorbike wipe out. I don't know where all of this skin is coming from, but I'm pretty sure I am on my sixth new layer of skin.

Three. We are already three weeks into the 4th quarter! This school year has positively flown by which is so bittersweet. I am grateful for the prospect of summer vacation, but this has been one of my best groups of students in the five years I have been teaching. I will really miss them. (But please don't tell them that.)

Four. I am really itching for a new tattoo. I have in mind what I want, now I just need to get it.

Five. I am really feeling this new crossroads in my life. I am working to finish up well in Thailand, but the struggle is real. I'm trying to set myself up to continue in the States positive habits that I have developed here and am also trying to get myself to a place to be able to resolve some bad habits I have fallen into here. Here's to making the most of the next six weeks!

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Change of Trajectory

I resigned my job yesterday.

I didn't envision my departure from Thailand going down like it has. I mean, I'm not leaving the country until mid-June, but I'm already beginning the transition back to the States.

My decision to leave was made pretty quickly, but I have complete peace about it and I know it's the right thing at this point in my life.

I am working on getting some irons into the fire, as they say, and we'll see what happens. I'm looking to go back to North Dakota to regroup, at least for a year or two. 

I know this is not the end in any sense of the word. Life's trajectory has just changed angles again and I have to figure out where I am now going.

Thus, the adventure continues.

Soli deo gloria.

Five Friday Things: 5 Things You May Not Know

Today I am joining up with 5 on Friday, Oh Hey Friday!, Friday Favorites, and Kelly's relaunching of SUYL. Since I'm apparently trying to see how many blog link-ups I can join at one time, I thought I would share with you today five things you may not know about me. I just updated my "About Me" page this fall and, let's face it, I haven't gotten all that more exciting since then.

One. I have never had the chicken pox. Due to a poor family history with chicken pox, my parents chose to have us vaccinated against the disease when we were young. The vaccine worked and I have so far escaped the itchy torture of the childhood disease. I have had more than my share of strep throat though. I lost track after 17 instances, thankyouverymuch.

Two. To describe a person or food from Italy, I say "Eye-talian." I guess the normal thing to say is "Ih-talin" with a short "i." I was not aware I said this until a friend pointed it out to me shortly after I moved to Bangkok. So I have lived all of my life thus far sounding like a fool whenever I speak of the things of Italy. Good thing I don't live there, I suppose.

Three. I am also unintentionally really bad at geography. As of two weeks ago, I just found out Guam is in the Pacific. I have spent the majority of my life thinking it was by Cuba. I also struggle to remember which, between Toledo and Toronto, is the US and which is in Canada. I also think India should be an 8th continent and I am forever unsure of where exactly Japan belongs in relation to China and Russia.

Four. I really am not a fan of surprises. I startle easily and my initial instinct is to hit at whatever emerges in my way. This doesn't work so well when students try to be funny and startle me. Likewise, I often read the summary of a movie before I go to the theatre because I much more enjoy being able to watch the story unfold as opposed to having to figure out the story as I go. I also Wikipedia TV series when I start watching them. I have been known to read the online summaries of books as well. And, not that it has ever been a concern, but the idea of a surprise party makes me really uneasy. #Funsucker #Iknow

Five. All the apps on my iPhone are organized in pages by frequency of use and they are alphabetized within the page. I get made fun of all the time, but haters gonna hate. Maybe it is part of not liking surprises, but I like to know that each "thing" has a place to belong and is in some semblance of order.

And in the case you are further interested...
What's in a Name? About the Author. Now You All Can Know. 10 Things about Yours Truly.

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Five Friday Things: Clothes, Facebook, Email, Simplicity, and Plans

One. I love Pinterest and the ability to build my virtual closet at no actual cost to myself. Too bad I spend most of my time pinning outfits that are just not practical for Bangkok. If I lived in northern Thailand, I would be able to get away with some of these outfits. But, alas, I live in the tropic megalopolis, so all cozy outfits will have to remain on Pinterest. I'm currently loving this outfit...


These riding boots in black...



This necklace...


This bag... 


This versatile top... 


Two. Earlier this week, my Facebook notifications were up to something like 50+ after just three days of not logging in and I couldn't handle it. I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook as it is, but then seeing that made me want to run from the corner and not come out until all was back to normal. I finally put on my big girl pants and dealt with it but uffda.

Three. Along with my Facebook being out of control, my emails are currently out of control. I am working on switching over from Hotmail to Gmail (I know, shun me), but even within Gmail, my inboxes are insane. Part of getting a grip on life again is getting my inboxes under control. Yesterday, I was able to get my graduate school account under control. I am going to conquer my work email next. My personal email will just have to wait and continue to haunt me for the time being.

Four. I haven't been homesick per se as of late, but I have really been missing the simplicity of North Dakota. I daydream about driving my own car, about quickly running to the grocery store after work, about leisurely strolling around outside and not breaking into a fierce sweat. Yesterday I went to Home Pro, a glorified home improvement store, and found myself wishing I could go to Menard's and shop around for a project. Like I said, I'm not really homesick, but I am missing a more simple way of life.

Five. I am off to the beach this weekend! I'm also looking at tickets to Singapore and seeing how I really don't have many more free weekends until June! I can't believe how the spring has filled up already but I'm looking forward to everything to come!

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

2CBC Questions-- February

I'm just popping in today to share the questions for this month's book club selection, Me Before You. I'm excited to see what we all have to say about it next week!

(via)

1. Did you like the book? Was it what you were hoping for or expecting? Why or why not?

2. What do you think the book title Me Before You means? Who is the me and who is the you?

3. "The thing about being catapulted into a whole new life-- or at least, shoved up so hard against someone else's life that you might as well have your face pressed against their window-- is that it forces you to rethink your idea of who you are. Or how you may seem to other people." Louisa Clark, Chapter 5 What do you think of Louisa? Was she a better person at the end of the novel? Why or why not?

4. Will gets a tattoo that reads "Best before 19 March 2007." Will lost a lot in his life but he also chose to leave a lot behind. Did you find anything about the way Will chose to live his life inspiring? Or did you find the way he chose to live is life more difficult to grasp and/or reconcile?

5. What are your final reactions after reading the book? So many issues were raised and so many ideas were presented. How do you feel as you walk away from the book?

See you on Saturday, February 27 for our second meeting of the "Second Chance Book Club!"

Currently...

As I work to recover from the plague that infested my head this last week, I present you the current goings-on in my life.

Reading... Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs, Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand (for March's 2CBC!), Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and, as always, all things graduate school!
Playing... catch up on life. Thank you, double ear infection and sinus infection.
Watching... Duck Dynasty.
Trying... to be more intentional with my time and my choices.
Cooking... not much of anything. But I think this egg roll in a bowl is on the menu for next week!
Eating... trail mix. Easy peasy breakfast!
Drinking... water. Water, water, and more water. I'm trying to flush this sickness out of my system!
Calling... myself crazy for all I need to get done right now.
Texting... Kelly. My sister. Amy. The usuals.
Pinning... Anything and everything. Specifically, my hypothetical closet and all things food.
Tweeting... I check Twitter multiple times each day, but it's mainly for news. I don't tweet much myself.
Going... to the beach this weekend. I'm looking forward to getting out of town!
Loving... that I have a decent routine in my weeks right now. I know that since I have now said this, life will now turn itself upside down, but I'm liking what I have right now.
Hating... being so far behind on grad school. I am legitimately ashamed of where I am right now.
Discovering... that I really should have shaved my legs last night. I am stretching things one day too far today.
Thinking... about what I need to pack for this weekend. So far on the list are my swimsuit, some shorts, and my iPad. I can make everything else work.
Feeling... tired. Being at work all day is exhausting. I really need to figure out how to fit 10 hours' worth of sleep into about 6 hours.
Hoping (for)... a productive evening. I'm heading to one of my favorite coffee shops to (hopefully!) go like a mad woman on grad school!
Listening (to)... the Rent soundtrack. Old habits die hard!
Celebrating... the end of my 28th birthday. I was good and sick on Monday so I didn't do anything, but this weekend will make up for things for sure. And a 30/30 update coming early next week!
Smelling... not much at all. I have been so stuffy as of late. But I did smell my soap this morning so that's a win!
Ordering... workout gear and books. Yay Amazon!
Thanking... the doctor for demands to not go on the service trip this week and to stay home and rest instead. I'm definitely sad to be missing out on this time with the kids but I am so grateful to have slow days and evenings to really rest and recuperate.
Considering... what my new budget is going to look like. I finally get my pay raise with my Master's degree at the end of this month and I am going to move some things around to make the most of it.
Starting... to think about running another half marathon by the end of the year. This summer will not be conducive to training, so I don't want to start something only to put it off for six weeks.
Finishing... grading annotated bibliographies. It is such a worthwhile assignment for students but such a pain in my behind to grade!

What are YOU up to currently?

The Second Chance Book Club, 2016

I suppose, now that we are a month and a half into this thing, it's about time I get things laid out for book club.

This year, Kelly and I branched out from just classical literature and are, instead, reading a variety of genres for a variety of ages. As was last year, the purpose of the 2C Book Club is to read more books. By having the responsibility of the book club to run, I feel much less guilty letting myself take time to read books that are not for school work and I hope you will be willing to do the same for yourself!

Here is the lineup for our 2016 Second Chance Book Club!

January: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

*Questions-- January 23

*Discussion-- January 30 February 1

February: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
*Questions-- February 18
*Discussion-- February 27

March: Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
*Questions-- TBD
*Discussion-- March 26

April: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
*Questions-- TBD
*Discussion-- April 30

May: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
*Questions-- TBD
*Discussion-- May 28

June: The BFG by Roald Dahl
*Questions-- TBD
*Discussion-- June 25

July: The Lost City of Z by David Grann
*Questions-- July 21
*Discussion-- July 30

August: Maus by Art Spiegelman
*Questions-- August 18
*Discussion-- August 27

September: Passing by Nella Larsen
*Questions-- September 15
*Discussion-- September 24

October: Yes Please by Amy Poehler
*Questions-- TBD
*Discussion-- October 29

November: Bossypants by Tina Fey
*Questions-- TBD
*Discussion-- November 26

December: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
*Questions-- December 22
*Discussion-- December 30

I have lead The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and will also lead Me Before You, The Lost City of Z, Maus, Passing, and The Paris Wife. Thus, Kelly will lead Seabiscuit, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Light Between Oceans, The BFG, Yes Please, and Bossypants.

Each month we will post a series of questions concerning the text we read. Feel free to answer all of the questions, some of the questions, or none of the questions (although that would make it difficult to participate) and join us each month, as you have time, or for just the title(s) that catch your fancy. Take our button, add it to your post, and link up with the month's host. If you don't have a blog, just leave your response in the comments.

When I imagine being part of a book club, I envision rolling out of bed on Saturday morning, throwing my hair on top of my head, putting on my coziest yet socially acceptable pants and a comfy top, and meeting up with some of my favorite ladies at a local coffee shop to talk about our book over our favorite drinks of choice. I'm looking forward to this little treat on the last Saturday of each month. Please join us! 

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A Brain Dump to Begin the Week

...This has been the longest two week stretch ever. It started with an inservice day two weeks ago and has since contained two basketball tournaments, two trips including a flight and a bus trip, as well as my normal loads of teaching and grad school. Part of the reason the two weeks have seemed so long is that I inherited the girls' basketball team with about 30 hours' notice and have been, all of the sudden, going full blast with them on top of everything else. I'm not even going to pretend to be on track with anything any more. I'm just straight up behind on it all.

...That being said, I have officially made my varsity coaching debut in basketball. I coached a tournament last weekend where we finished third and this past weekend we took fifth in another tournament. Funny story-- being good sports actually cost us a chance to play for the championship. We finished third in our pool after losing a tie breaker by 4 points (as in 2 baskets). We played two teams we could have blown out by 40 to 50 points. We actually held one of those to a complete shut out, 32 to 0. I am a firm believer that no game needs to be won by more than 20 points, maybe 30 points playing young players, so I took active measures to stop my team from being that bully team. Well, we shot ourselves in the foot the first game against our #1 pool team when we just did not show up to play and lost by 30 points. We then blew out the next two teams, including the shut out, and then putzed around and ended up tying with a team we would beat 7 times out of 10 any other day. We lost the tie breaker to the #2 seed because they put up 4 more points against opponents than we did. And we could have easily posted another 50 points if I had let my team and/or we had shown up to play. I have no regrets about not posting a bigger score or being beaten when we didn't earn the victory anyhow. But I am snarkily amused the #5 team in the tournament should have been at least the #2 team and possibly the champion (I think we'd go 50/50 with the top team if we played well) just because they were good sports. What's the lesson learned? Play hard in every game. Never be the bully. And always wash your hands after using the bathroom. That's just common sense.

...I wouldn't go as far as to say that I am home sick, but I have really been missing my family back in the States. I blame it on the chance to coach the varsity basketball team. It is something that I could actively share with them and they could be around to see. Rehashing the game through text is just not the same as sitting down to talk things through in person. And sharing about victories with a 13-hour time difference is just not the same because it's usually a good 8 or 9 hours before I hear back from anybody. But this is just a good chance to remember the opportunity I have been given to improve myself while investing in students' lives through a game I love. I am also being reminded of all of the people who have chosen to invest in me through basketball throughout the years and I continue to push myself to make them proud. Always pay it forward.

...We leave for our annual school service trip a week from today and I am looking forward to it. We will be going to serve some Karen people in western Thailand, literally within walking distance of the Thailand-Myanmar border. I enjoy the opportunity to work with students outside the walls of the classroom to complete meaningful work by their own hands and efforts. Some kids love it, some kids hate it, but all kids always walk away changed regardless.

...With everything going on, I am continually reminded to live with grace, truth, and perseverance because this is the only life I will be given and it is my real life. I keep reminding myself:

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I know this is meant for parents, but my students are who God has given me to invest in right now so they "my children" for this season of life. And for most of these students, I will have them for only one year so I must make the most of the opportunity that has been given me.

Soli deo gloria.

Glory to God alone.

Second Chance Book Club, January: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks-- Rebecca Skloot

Hi. It’s me. And I’m 48 hours late. In my small defense, I ended up on an emergency-of-sorts work trip and at a hotel with extremely limited internet access. So limited that I could connect but not even Twitter would load. So I spent a weekend living in 1998 and falling behind in exactly everything in life. I’m finally 65% caught up on grad school, about -110% caught up on high school (I worked so hard today and still ended up farther behind than when I started), and I am counting myself 75% behind on blogging since I have three different posts bouncing around in my head and exactly zero written to completion.

All that to say, I’m sorry to get book club off to a late start this year. I know things don’t look so promising based on last year’s performance, but last week just ate. me. alive. That's all behind me now and I’m excited to finally get this show on the road and talk shop with you!

Look, I even have my iced Americano with me so you know this is legit. And don’t judge me for typing in Microsoft Word first. My computer is (was) failing to connect to the internet at the coffee shop but I will not be defeated. #Commitment #Whateverthecost So let's do this thing-- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

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1. Did you like the book? Was it what you were expecting or hoping for? Why or why not? As I admitted before, I had pregamed this book a couple of years ago so I had a little idea of what I would be reading. However, what I didn’t realize was the two parallel story lines that would co-exist throughout the book. Overall, I appreciated the intertwining of the personal Lacks story with the scientific research and development so, yes, I did like the book. I found myself constantly thinking about how much I would love to use this book in my classroom, but my current school is too conservative for some of the content. The issues raised about medical ethics, healthcare, poverty, race, etc. would be fascinating to work through with high schoolers as many students are just starting to form their own opinions on such things at this stage of their lives and this book offers valuable insight into such a life-changing discovery that still affects us in so many ways today.

2. What did you think of the style of the book? Skloot wrote a nonfiction piece that read as a piece of narrative fiction. Did you like that? Why or why not? At this point in my life, I really appreciated the narrative tone of this book. I read so much academic nonfiction for my job and graduate school that I enjoyed getting lost in a book that read like fiction but was actually nonfiction. I just finished another book of the same style, Brain on Fire, and I highly recommend checking it out—I finished it in four days!

3. Of the two concurrent storylines in the book, did you find yourself favoring one over the other?Going into the book, I had no idea that the scientific research storyline even existed. Overall, I enjoyed the humanistic storyline of the Lacks more, but I really do appreciate the insight and development brought on by the more objective research. While I do not necessarily agree with the way Henrietta Lacks’ situation was handled, the research storyline helped me to see and understand how events were able to unfold as they did and why the doctors felt they were justified to act as they did. I found the Lacks family to be very deep and complex, even if they may not appear as such on the surface. Their issues of poverty and lacking education really gave life and reality to many issues Americans have faced in the past and some are still facing today, especially with the issues of Common Core and Obamacare at the forefront of our nation.

4. Who was your favorite character and/or to whom did you find yourself most attached? My favorite character had to be Henrietta’s daughter Deborah. As much as I attached to Henrietta at the beginning of the book, I found myself enjoying Deborah even more as the story unfolded. Her story is so deep and complex and truly reflects the situation of somebody who is poor and uneducated in life. Perhaps I was reading this too much from a teacher's perspective, but I found myself fascinated with all of the possibilities to help my students see life from somebody else's point of view-- especially since I work in a school with quite affluent families who will send their children to the top universities in the world. For these kids, a lack of education means having to attend a state school instead of a private college... not being unaware of what a cell is. Furthermore, I just loved Deborah's spirit and spunk. Maybe I identified with her after having walked along my dad on his own extensive journey to recovery, but I remember the feelings of wanting to do the best by him and understand as much as I was able in his complex medical journey.

5. What are your final reactions after reading the book? So many issues were raised and so many ideas were presented. How do you feel as you walk away from the book? I don't have any super strong reactions other than I am just very glad I read the book. I am grateful for the journey into somebody else's life and I feel convicted, once again, to recognize how blessed I really am. I am grateful for all of the advances in medical research, but they truly did come at a price. A few cells may not seem like much to some, but look at the snowball these few cells caused. I walked away from this book challenged and I think that's the best feeling to have.

I hope you enjoyed the book as well! Thank you for joining me this month!

PS-I look forward to sharing Me Before You by Jojo Moyes with you in February. Please come back on February 18 for the questions!