compliments

i've noticed something about adults. it's hard for us to take compliments. some think it's awkward, yet we like to be complimented. it feels good. i often wonder why it's hard for us to take a compliment. it's hard for me sometimes. especially in large groups. i feel like the spotlight is all on me and it makes me uncomfortable for some reason. it's rather sad that we get all weird about it. it's even sadder when the person getting complimented turns it around to something negative.
example:
girl 1:"You look really pretty!"
girl 2:"oh please i like just woke up and threw this on"

AHHHHHHH that's so ridiculous to me. when i think about it... not only is it rude, it's making you think negative things. how cool would it be to say thanks and actually believe the compliment. and also thankful someone is loving you well.

on the flip side...
if you've ever been around ANY kid... all they want to do is show off to you. they like beg for compliments. ESPECIALLY if you are their teacher. and you know what, i love that. absolutely love that about kids. they take and give compliments so well. the greatest thing happened in my class this past semester. We were doing some art project and one kid said "omg! everyone look at wesley's it is soooooo cool" Everyone's heads popped up and glanced to table 2. Sure enough everyone agreed. Then someone else chimed in... "look at patton's. his is cool too!" one by one they all started complimenting each other and getting real excited. and then micah spoke. oh micah. she's about the cutest girl you'll ever meet. "we all have great art!!!!" she shouted. and the whole class started cheering! I agreed and smiled because i think that's the greatest lesson they'll ever learn in first grade.... we gotta compliment each other and learn to take compliments. and they taught each other that.

on another note.... i really miss those first graders.

and now for the gentlemen...

First let me say that you guys are so great. You are such a blessing to each of the girls and we love you lots! Thanks for treating us with respect and caring for us like princesses... and making us laugh...duhggers!

1.) tied bandannas around head. climbs everything he can get his feet on. needs to find one girl who doesn't think he's asexual. carries out his crazy ideas. wise. respected. abnormally long arms. often goes days without showering. after several months of competition, he won most in shape over his good friend. discovery channel: sunrise earth. cliff jumper.

2.) recently purchases some designer jeans and is worried when they drag the ground. claps his hands when excited. never a normal face in a picture. uncle of baby hank. often screams "girlfriend!" or "i love caitlin!" once ate his own poop. once pooped his pants on campus. rubs neck when uncomfortable. needs attention. hilarious. actor. likes to practice his spanish.

3.) can't control himself when he has a breakable object in hand... so he breaks it. loud noises. can't adlib but hilarious entertainer. forgets to think before he speaks. crosses the line with a running leap. dreams of going to africa. screams "ah! my back!" or "oh ditty!" deliberately does things to make people mad... but let's be honest it's funny when it's not you. speaks truth. journaler and strong thinker.

4.) owns everything made by jon hart. sassy pants. drives everyone everywhere in the big nig. generous. king of uvalde. knows no history. in a world of his own. gets what he wants. "chicasadonyer and ssk ssk" good at knowing what annoys people. nickname for everyone. besties with everyone. LOST watcher. loves every apple product.

5.) slowly increasing the designer jean count and wears them tighter that some girls. musician. competitive and you can see that competitive look in his eyes. currently tied with colin wood for dating the most girl young life leaders. Chelsea FC. snowboard/wakeboard. "degenerate" hates flip flops. hat always backwards.

6.) rocks the house at anderson high school. sideways hat. tiny, neon backpacks. business man. nerdy. lacrosse lover. humble. jumps a lot. master at young life skits. puts his heart into everything. nods head forcefully when he agrees with what you are saying. pursues people... girls... one girl.

7.) fat caddy records... which means he recently purchased designer jeans and converse all stars. sarcastic. die hard spurs fan and isn't afraid to talk trash. racist jokes. people often get frustrated with blunt, truthful comments. this is going to give it away but... everyone always says "ohhhh matt adams"


answers:
1.) porter
2.) brett
3.) jake
4.) hipp
5.) odem
6.) will todd
7.) matt adams

typical.

i have been thinking a lot about my friends lately and how predictable they are. everyone is uniquely odd and different in their own little ways and it cracks me up! i've brainstormed some "typicals" (as my friend rebecca puts it) for some of my girlfriends... see if you can guess who they are!

1.) tunic wearer. braided pigtails. picker of her fingernails. has green everything. often says "let's just..." followed by a crazy dream. when in the backseat, she sits in the middle, which is how she got her ever so popular name. journals in moleskins. writes class notes in moleskins. her dance moves involve her hands and resemble an indian dance. different ringtone for every person.

2.) peace sign. loud laugh at inappropriate times. anthro dresses. tails people while driving. rap music. lover of black guys. birkenstock sandals. diet coke in a koozie. fountain diet coke with no ice. chuys creamy jalapeno with a bean burrito a la carte with queso on top. often says "i'm a mess..."

3.) sunglasses. chloe purse. ratama park. the way she fingers her phone and ipod. random big words and politics talk. pointer finger in action when arguing. showers before bed every night. snap pants. always right. dead pan delivery of jokes and comments. westwing. grey holiday groupie.

4.) typical middle child. go with the flow. jokes are funny because they are so bad and cheesy... but that's why people love them. 12 year old boy at heart. sweaty... less these days. artsy. pretty painter. red and yellow everything in living room. purchased really expensive necklace. beautiful eyes.

5.) puppies and chocolate. rolled up jeans. snow white in person. addicted to tcby. often sits down to study but scans facebook/blogs/email for various hours. graceful dancer. organized. hilarious family. child like excitement about the littlest things. loves brie and crackers. "brett... why would you do that?" indecisive... well maybe. dreamer.

6.) fashion. knows how to network. always wearing a great purse. technology tiger. meal splitter with her bestie. rule follower. disney world. advertisement analyzer. best impression of sssk sssk.

7.) often falls into peer pressure to hang out instead of do what she needs to. banana republic/gap/anthro. 1000 shoes. vera bradley and john hart. monogrammed everything. picks favorites in her class. freaks out if she's not on time. song repeater. often says "I feel bad..." makes up words. cat noises and shrieks.

answers:

1.) alissa (peebs)

2.) rebecca (reebs)

3.) julie (pooooooter)

4.) anna (ab)

5.) caitlin (comps usa)

6.) cecelia (cease fire)

7.) me (jordan)

i love you girls. these are funny little things that i notice about you and it's what i absolutely love you. i smile when i think about the great little quirks that god gave each of us.

the hands that hold the heavens are the hands that hold me

i like the singer caroline cobb a lot. i was just talking with my friend cecelia about it's great to hear a woman's heart in music form. there is a song by caroline cobb that keeps ringing in my ears. it's called far beyond me. more specifically, there is a verse that says..

"the hands that hold the heavens are the hands that hold me"

everytime i hear this i'm just in awe. the hands that made the heavens and the earth and EVERYTHING.... HOLD me? it seems too crazy. i think one of the coolest things to see is when people live in that freedom. they know God holds everything, but he still holds me. what a great picture of how mighty our God is but also how intricate. every detail is from him.

my goal is to live in that this week. i want to rest in that the God who holds the heavens, holds me.

1st graders are my favorite

I've decided that first grade is the grade I want to teach. I can't pinpoint what I like most about working with this age. You just have to get it. You have to be in my class and see 18 little space cadets in their own little worlds. You have to hear the comments that come from their mouth and the body language. They are just learning about reality and it's hilarious. For example today in my class I had to give a little talk about how I am an adult and that I need to be respected just like I respect them. Here was the stream of dialogue that took place from various kids around the room. Everyone chimed in as they pleased....my comments are in blue...

"You aren't an adult... you don't have a baby"
"...and you're not married"
"so what... guys can't have babies, so that means they can't be adults?"
"my mom says that my dad's not an adult"
"my dad acts like a kid sometimes"
"miss gardner how old are you?"
"22"
"oh... yeah i guess that's an adult age"
"i consider myself an adult... i live without my parents, i'm in college, i have my own bank account, i can drive"
"did you pass your drivers test? oh! i mean your teachers test?"
"yes"
"oh good! so now you are going to teach here?"
"I would love to but it's not all that easy. There is a lot of stuff you have to do before you can just work someone"
"we will tell the principal that you want to work here"
"ooooooooooook we've gone far off track"
"...but you still doesn't have a baby"


They are a hoot. They have no clue and that's what I love about their questions/comments. It's somewhere in those scattered conversations that I get to teach not only the academics, but how to live in community with each other, live life to the full, and to love with their friends. That is why I choose to spend my days with children.

I encourage you to go spend time with a 7 year old. You'll be blessing each other :)

i miss being a kid

maybe it's because i'm 2 months from graduating college and entering the "real world". maybe it's because i'm in a 1st grade classroom 40 hours/week. maybe because i just spent a day at disney world. whatever the reason: i've been craving my childhood. those were some of the best memories ever.

i miss falling asleep on the couch watching tv and somehow (my dad carrying up to my bed) waking up in the morning in my bed. i miss riding bikes, rollerblades, running through all the neighbors yards, flashlight tag, knockout, four square, teatherball, and using my imagination like crazy. i miss christmas parties, book it pizza parties, jump rope for heart, sea world, summer camps, bead art, saved by the bell, summers in south padre island. i miss sitting in my backyard eating popsicles. i miss my swing set and running through sprinklers. i miss my blanket. i miss my blue and white polka dot shorts that i lived in. i miss my dad telling me the same story each night at bed time where prince stewart would save princess jordan. i miss birthday parties. i miss 16918 hidden oak woods. i miss 493-8513 calling 492-8176 about 80 times a week. i miss jellies. i miss night swims at the blanco woods pool. i miss longhorn cafe on friday and saturday nights. i miss playing soccer everyday. i miss my bows that my mom made me where. i miss having a bedtime. i miss riding in the car with my dad listening to oldies. i miss spending every weekend at sonterra country club. i miss one page of homework.

i miss the innocence.

i couldn't be happier with were i am now, but it brings some tears and smiles to look back on those days.