corporate to classroom: an update

Greetings from Ms. McConnell in sunny Tulsa, Oklahoma!

It's been a really long time since I've ventured over to this space and gave y'all an update, and I apologize for that. To say that the last month has been crazy would be an understatement. Since May 7, I have:

• Finished up my job at General Mills (and trained my backfill)
• Moved out of my house in Minneapolis
• Moved onto my friends' couch for 2 weeks in Minneapolis
• Shipped all my earthly belongings to a Charlotte storage unit
• Made the 18+ hour drive from Minneapolis to Charlotte with my mom
• Said goodbye to the Twin Cities
• Spent a week in Charleston, SC, with my family & Alex
• Said good-bye to Alex for 6 weeks (He's in Spain!)
• Freaked out
• Moved out of my storage unit and into a great house in Charlotte with 2 amazing girls
• Had TFA induction at JCSU in Charlotte (made some great new friends!)
• Packed up enough clothes, toiletries, teacher supplies, bedding, a printer, etc, for 5 weeks in Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Driven to Tulsa, Oklahoma (with a pit stop in Nashville, TN, to see Sarah!)
• Moved into a dorm for the first time since freshman year at IU in 2006
• Found out I'll be teaching 8th grade math at Hale High School this summer
• Survived my first week of institute (think LONG 16-18 hour days, lots of classroom management, lesson planning, etc, being thrown at you, and spending all your time with people you've know for 2 weeks or less)
• Found out I'll be teaching THIRTY-SEVEN kids this summer
• Freaked out
• Decorated my classroom with my co-lab (team of 4 that rotates through teaching our class - 2 ELA teachers and 2 Math)
• Freaked out again
• Wrote lesson plans on decimals, rational numbers, linear equations, positive and negative slope, and solving one-step equations
• Discovered I'm more type A than I thought ... kind of love writing lesson plans
• Met the kiddos I'll be teaching for the summer (only 25 actually!) They're awesome.
• Discovered that educational inequity - the reason TFA exists - it's a real thing. And my kids have been the victims of it.
• Fell in love with the classroom already
• Taught my first lesson plan on Comparing and Ordering Decimals
• Had a kid tell me I made the material make sense to him for the first time (yay!)
• Completely didn't see a kid on his phone for 40 minutes yesterday morning
• Realized I've got a lot to learn
• Confirmed that this is exactly what I want to do with my life

Well, it's 5:54 am (I've been up since 5) and I have to wrap up a few things before I head to breakfast and then to Hale for school! I'm teaching on Comparing and Ordering Rational Numbers today - get excited!

I'll try to give a more detailed update on what this whole teaching thing is like. In short, though, I'm falling in love with it and have developed the utmost respect for the people who taught me and invested in me throughout my life. 

Happy Wednesday!

{corporate to classroom} every child needs a champion

My favorite quotes from this incredible talk by Rita Pierson, an educator for over 40 years whose energy and passion for what she does is so evident in how she speaks about her role in the classroom, her relationships with her students, and the commitment she has made to providing them an education and the confidence they need to succeed:

"I gave [my students] a saying to say: ‘I am somebody. I was somebody when I came. I'll be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful, and I am strong. I deserve the education that I get here.’”

"You see, -18 sucks the life out of ya. +2 says, 'I ain't all bad.'"

“Teachers become great actors and great actresses. … We come to work when we don't feel like it, and we're listening to policy that doesn't make sense — and we teach anyway.”

{lately} back from indiana

top row: 1) our duplex in Charlotte! 2) me & Ashley 3) Sophs in the bathtub
middle row: 1) Ben Rector concert <3 2) IU Graduation 3) A & me on Friday night
bottom row: 1) the McConnell ladies 2) me & Kels 3) the IU spread at the grad party!

Guys. Why did last weekend have to end?!

1. My brother, Clay, and cousin, Marissa, became the (I think) 11th and 12th members of the McConnell Hoosier Alumni Club on Saturday! I was on cloud 9 driving into Bloomington to attend their graduation. So many memories of that town. IU pride is so deeply ingrained in my fam - it makes celebrations like this weekend's all the more fun!

2. Speaking of IU, the first 332A (the house of girls I lived with at IU) wedding is officially on its way! Natalie got engaged this weekend to the most amazing guy, Nick, and I couldn't be happier for them. There is seriously no better match for Natty Ice, and it's been so much fun watching their relationship grow into all that it is now - through over a year of long distance, grad school, internships, etc, to their finally living in Albuquerque, NM, together now. I can't wait to celebrate their wedding day - it's certain to be the best 332A Reunion yet :)

3. Saturday night's grad party doubled as a mini-reunion of some great friends, one surprise, one planned! I'd invited and got to see Kelsey and her boyfriend, Jeff, and then my friend Ashley was randomly at The Willard and joined us for the party and for a much overdue catch-up!

4. Before heading off to Indiana at an ungodly hour on Saturday morning, A and I had an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING Friday night. We started with drinks at an Irish bar in Dinkytown, followed that up with Greek food and wine at one of our favorite restaurants, Kafe 421,  and ended the night with the BEN RECTOR CONCERT AT VARSITY THEATER. I don't think the night could have gone better in any way (okay, except for maybe the weather, but we'll forget about that) - Ben Rector was amazing live. I love his music and how you could see how passionate he was about it. And the way he interacted with the crowd was hilarious and fun. Varsity Theater is also just a great venue, making the concert feel really intimate. Seriously, guys. If you knew how much A and I love Ben Rector, you'd understand just how huge it was for us to get to go on Friday. I was sooooo happy! Did I mention the tickets were a birthday present from A? He's the best.

5. I stopped to see Kelly, one of my oldest friends, yesterday after taking A to the airport. She's 8 months pregnant with baby Wyatt, who is sure to be a handsome little man! It's so sweet to me how easy it is so start off right where we left off, as though hundreds of miles and way to may days between texts doesn't separate us at all. Love that girl.

6. Last night, my dad and I threw ourselves over the arms of our two leather family room chairs and enjoyed a glass each of Malbec together. I've talked before about how amazing my dad is, and every time I get to see him I am reminded again of that truth. How did I get so blessed to have him and my mom as parents??

7. I woke up at 2am CST this morning to catch a flight back to Minneapolis. Holy cow, I'm tired. I've got a big presentation at 3pm today, and then I may have to head home and call it a night. Oy vey.

8. I went to a Pampered Chef party last week hosted by Tristin and her mom, and now I want everything in their catalogue for my kitchen.

9. The kitchen I would use said Pampered Chef products in is in an amazing house in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte because we found one and got approved today! I'll be living with Haley and Laura and can't wait to move in!

9. I have 3 weeks left in Minneapolis. 15 work days. 20 real days. 3 Small Group nights. 3 Girls Nights. 3 Yoga Nights with Melissa. 1 weekend actually in the state. And then I leave this amazing (I'm choosing to forget the snow last Friday) city that welcomed me in and let me call it home for over two years. It's really setting in now that I'm moving, and my heart hurts a little about that.

{recipe} simple summer salad

I never thought I would say this, but sometimes, a girl just needs a salad. After a weekend filled with indulgences like brats from the grill, mac & cheese, jalapeno-corn muffins, pints of beer, mexican tortas, nachos, stuffed dates ... the list goes on, this past Sunday night all I wanted was something light and healthy to ease me back into my norm of healthful eating. But I didn't want something lacking in taste. If I'm learning anything about eating healthy, it's that I'll never stick to it if the food is flavorless and unenjoyable.

So A and I set out on Sunday to make a salad that would be healthy, filling, and delicious. I'd call our efforts a success!

{favorite things minneapolis} coffee shop lovin'

I. Love. Coffee.

Black coffee, to be exact. And that means it has to be good coffee because I don't turn my morning java (or afternoon pick-me-up - yeah, that, too) into a milkshake with cream and sugar. I just like it black.

{finding joy} hospitality here and now

A couple months ago, my small group did a spiritual gifts questionnaire, and the three gifts that hopped to the top of my inventory were Administration, Hospitality, and Mercy. 

Administration? Yes. As I flip through my planner and skim my detailed layout of to-dos and deadlines or turn on my computer to look through my budget in Excel, I see how this gift is realized in my everyday life. I'm organized. I plan. I get things done. I love being in charge and executing social events with friends. Mercy, too, is evident in the decisions I make and the things that move me. I'm the girl that chokes back tears almost every time I pass a homeless man on the street or read stories of deep poverty in America's cities or third-world countries. I organize toiletry and food drives and spend time with the elderly to make them feel noticed and valued. I'm leaving my corporate job to help reach under-served kids in inner city schools and get them into college. My heart hurts for others and rejoices in their victory over difficult circumstances. I'm not saying these things to "toot my own horn." I'm saying them because I think it's good to validate the gifts God has given us and see how we're using them to glorify Him and further His kingdom (neither of which I do often enough). 

{lately} in sunny minnesota

The sun finally decided to come out this weekend and warm up the arctic tundra that has been Minneapolis - and oh how sweet that was! 70+ degrees Friday-Sunday, with two 65+ degrees today and tomorrow before slipping back into some chilly, rainy days to finish off the (hopefully) last of winter weather up here. A, my friends, and I took full advantage of the beautiful weather, savoring every minute of the sunshine and warmth before heading back to cube-ville today!

i'm not the only crazy one

Guys. I'm seriously dying laughing right now. This video of Kristen Bell on Ellen is so hilarious and so validating for my "slightly" emotional self. At one point, she says, "if i'm not between a 3 and a 7 on the emotional scale, i'm crying." Well, ummm, that's me. This video is just too funny, though. Enjoy!

{lately} he's back!

A is back from Madrid! His flight landed last night around 7pm. We got to spend a couple of sweet hours together before jet lag got the best of him and he succumbed to the exhaustion. We are going out to dinner tonight, and I can't wait to get all the details of his trip in person - and discuss a really exciting possibility that popped up while he was over there! I'll keep y'all posted :)

{friday fashions} simplicity on a saturday

I have discovered the best t-shirt ever: the Simplicity on a Saturday tee from ModCloth.

{skincare 201} makeup must haves

I know I promised y'all a post on eating for healthy skin, but when I started my research I realized there is SO MUCH out there and I know so little! So hold tight, and I hope to get that post (skincare 301, of course) researched and written up sometime soon! In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you guys the make-up products I swear by and keep me feeling fresh (and pretty!) all day long. I am very much my mother's daughter in that I never leave the house without at least mascara and some tinted lip balm. She got it from her mama, and I got it from mine! It's really not high maintenance (in my opinion) to quickly brush some mascara on your lashes and swipe a tube of balm across your lips, and it's an easy way to pull yourself together - even when your hair's in a messy bun and your outfit includes leggings. I do not, however, wear makeup to the gym. I always make sure to wipe my face with a makeup remover wipe ($2.99 at CVS) before hitting the treadmill - it's a great practice to get into and can help prevent unwanted blemishes. Worth the time, trust me!

{favorite things minneapolis} the great outdoors

When I first decided to accept the job at Gen Mills and move to Minnesota, I got what seemed like the same question from everyone I told - but what do people do there?!

It turns out ... they do a whole lot more than people anywhere else I've lived. Minneapolis is a city filled with people that don't let 7+ months of winter fase them. They embrace the weather regardless of the season and find ways to stay active during months where others would prefer curling up on the sofa every night. In the winters, there's skiing at The Depot, observing or racing in the Loppett, dining at one of the many incredible restaurants  spanning the Cities, hitting one of the cities' many breweries ... the list goes on.

 I've never wanted for things to do in my time here - even when the temperature dips low into the negative realm. But let's be real. The BEST season to be a Minneapolitan is the summer.

{lately} with the other alex

I think I've got a thing for Alexs. 

A is in Spain right now - to return on Sunday (PRAISE THE LORD!) - but that didn't mean that I had an Alex-free weekend the past few days. No, no, no. A weekend without an Alex seemed unfathomable to me, so I had one of my best friends from IU, girl Alex, come visit me in Minneapolis! Okay, that's not why she came to visit. She came because she's amazing and lives in Madison and wanted to spend a weekend with me before I head south, BUT it did result in an Alex-filled weekend! 

The weekend started off a little rocky when Alex called me from the road to let me know that a) she forgot her wallet in Madison, b) she was out of gas, and c) she was still 45 minutes away in Hudson, WI. Never a dull moment! I quickly poured my full glass of Malbec back into the bottle (no waste here!) and hopped into my car to meet her in Hudson, laughing to myself because it was obviously something that I would do, too. After that, it was a great weekend, the highlight of which was brewery hopping in Northeast yesterday! I love the atmosphere at the local breweries here and wish I'd spent more time at them now.

Clockwise from top left: Check out the photobomber behind Alex at Indeed Brewing!;
Enjoying Let it Ride IPA at Indeed Brewing; I loved the Six and Rated R brews at 612Brew;
Beer flight at 612Brew

 

{friday fashions} penny parka

It's not the springiest of colors, but this green Penny Parka has become a staple in my wardrobe. I'm loving the fatigued army(ish) jackets, and I think this one does a great job of playing on that trend while keeping it cute and somewhat feminine. (They only have size Large on Piperlime now, but it is on sale!) I was originally inspired to buy this after seeing a similar jacket worn by Jessica Quirk over at What I Wore. I love her style, and she's pretty tall like me (I'm 5'10''), so I enjoy seeing the outfits she puts together and knowing they'll probably look similar on my extra long frame. Check out her blog if you're ever wanting to switch your look up a bit and need some ideas! She's a Hoosier alum and still lives in Bloomington, IN, so you know she's legit!

I wear this jacket over my work clothes on warmer days (ie, not this week) but especially love it with my more casual looks, my favorite being skinnies with a striped tee and fun flats or riding boots.

I hear North Carolina falls seem to last forever (yes, I am actually moving to heaven), so I'm excited to get plenty of wears out of this purchase in the many coming months!

Jacket: Penny Parka; Flats: Piperlime (no longer available); Shirt: JCrew

sophia & all her best parts

I miss Sophia. I found this little collage I put together when I watched her in February, and it  made me so happy! I'm amazed at how much she's grown already but love that I put this together and can look back on all my favorite little baby parts. I'm a rather proud Auntie. Can't wait to see her in a month for her Uncle Clay's IU graduation!

{finding joy} when it snows in april

Minneapolis is expected to get 6-8'' of snow between today and tomorrow.

Also, it's April.

Needless to say, I'm antsy to move south right now. But I'm also determined to enjoy my last weeks (6.5, to be exact!) I have left in Minnesnowta. So I've been working extra hard to find the joy in the little things this week, and that has calmed my anxiety over having to break out my winter coat and brush the cold, wet, white stuff off my car this morning.

{favorite things minneapolis} restaurant edition

Okay, friends. It's here. The (non-)critically-acclaimed favorite Minneapolitan restaurants of yours truly. I can hear your stomachs grumbling already (oh wait, no, that's mine. late lunch today!), so I won't keep you waiting.

favorite things minneapolis - restaurant edition:

{lately} lots of goodbyes

Oh, Monday. Here you are again! Five more days until the weekend, you say? I suppose I can handle that.

I've never actually hated Mondays. Tuesdays are the mean guys for me - it's like sealing the deal that the week is really happening, that Monday wasn't a fluke and you still have 4 days left in the office. This week, though, I'm happy to have work to keep me busy, the reasons why you'll quickly see in this week's "lately" post ...

{friday fashions}

Happy Friday, everyone! I decided that Fridays are to be savored and enjoyed - not spent writing long blog posts (even though I do LOVE writing), so my new plan for Fridays is to share with you a favorite fashion piece that I have either purchased or wish I could!

{finding joy} give a little love

Sometimes, I can be ridiculously self-centered. 

It's not pretty. It surfaces when I'm at work after 5pm and want to go home or hit the gym but a co-worker needs my help with a deliverable. Or when A has had a long day at work and needs to decompress but all I want to do is talk about me and how crazy my day was. Or when I'm shopping for a friend's birthday present and see the flats I have to have - so I contemplate downsizing the present I choose for them so I can afford both (yeah, that's an embarrassing one). Or when I know a friend is going through a rough spell and could use someone to talk to but I hate talking on the phone and haven't watched the latest episode of The Bachelor. 

{favorite things minneapolis}

In two short months, the last piles of Minneapolis snow will finally give in to the warming spring temperatures and begin their imminent melt into a perfectly splashable puddle on the walking path around Lake Calhoun. In two short months, Minneapolitans everywhere will have traded in North Faces and snow boots for t-shirts and Keen sandals, nights savoring a glass of red wine by the fire for evenings savoring local music groups by Lake Harriet, and winter comfort foods for fish tacos at Tin Fish. In two short months, professionals young and old will come home from a long day at the office and, instead of throwing on sweats and settling in with a sitcom on the couch, will round up friends and family for a walk around the nearest lake or dinner on a local terrace. In two short months, Minneapolis will emerge from its winter cocoon and begin the time of year that stole my heart almost three years and nudged me to call this city home.

{lately} in little rock

Happy Monday!

I just got back from an amazing weekend in Little Rock, AR, with A and his family. After 8 hours of traveling, we got in at 1am Friday and didn't fly back to Minne until this morning. The extra night in LR made it seem like an actual getaway, which it really was. Dinners with his best friends (and one new girlfriend!), spending Saturday morning with his dad (his mom and sister were hosting a friend's bridal shower), relaxing on his family's back deck, grilling out and playing cards with his parents and sister, celebrating Easter with church and brunch at their club ... the weekend was the perfect mix of relaxation and "g0-go-go!".

{skincare 101} keepin' it clean & clear

Hi there!

I've spoken a couple of times about mixing up my skincare routine in order to make sure my money maker is as clear, healthy, and (in the future) wrinkle-free as possible. I'm really happy with how much having a set regimen morning and night has paid off so quickly for me! I do have to admit that I inherited good skin from my mama. Aside from the tortuous days of middle school breakouts (possibly brought on by the mop of bangs I had yet to grow out), I've had a relatively easy road when it comes to keeping my face clear of acne. Which is really good because I also inherited an incredibly fair complexion from mi madre, and nothing stands out more on a white canvas than a bright red blemish. I always envied my darker complected friends during my teen years, as their breakouts were easily masked behind that golden glow. The only glow my skin put off was the glare from a camera flash bouncing off my pale cheeks and forehead. Sexy. 

so ... i bowl

I'm in a bowling league. Yes, it's true. On (most) Tuesday nights, you can find me at Park Tavern, over-indulging in pizza, Michelob Golden Light (the pride of Minnesota), and pathetic bowling scores.

{finding joy} a series



photo from revelife.com


Given that the entire aim of this blog is to point people in the direction of finding joy in the everyday of life, I realized that I should probably do more of that, so I'm going to start a weekly "finding joy" post. I'm not sure what it'll look like yet, but for the first post, I thought I'd share with you some of the little joys I've found in MY everyday just this week. I hope it encourages you to celebrate some of the seemingly normal but really extraordinary moments that we experience each and every day.

{lately} in chi-town

1. Had a great time in Chicago this past weekend with my family! Had brunch at Little Goat, the new breakfast place from the same chef of Girl and the Goat - so yummy. Followed that up with manis and pedis with the girls (thanks, Abby!) while the boys hit up a legit "man cave" to smoke cigars and drink bourbon. Reunited in the afternoon at Barn & Company for linner (two meals in the day: brunch & linner) - surprisingly great BBQ for a place in the city! And finished the day with the Million Dollar Quartet, which was pretty much a tribute to Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. I'm pretty sure days don't get much better than Saturday was. After the show, my mom and dad stayed in to watch Soph Bug while the 3 kids and our better halves met up with my cousin, Grant, at the local Logan Square bars. Can I just say that I love my family?

happy birthday to you

Happy 25th Birthday today to my sister-in-law, Anya! I gladly forfeit the "baby of the family" title (by 5 days!) and opening Christmas presents first to have you for a sister! I love the spunk you bring to our family, your incredible fashion sense, your loyalty to the Volunteers and that hideous orange (I kid! Kind of ...), and the way you love my brother and everything that makes him Clay. And I'm so excited for you to teach me all about what it takes to be a southern gal!

I love you and can't wait to celebrate you this weekend in Chicago!

{must read} Bread & Wine

Anyone who knows me know that I am a HUGE Shauna Niequist fan. Sometimes I think we're best friends despite never having met and her not knowing I exist. But it's okay, the best friendships take time, so I still have hope.

Anyway. Her first two books, Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet are both in my top 5 favorite books. She writes in a way that makes you feel like you're sitting across from her at a local coffee shop while she shares her life with you. My copies are both currently in circulation around the greater United States, making their ways into the hands of and encouraging my closest friends that I insisted read them.

keys to a successful roadtrip

I'm driving to Chicago Thursday night for a weekend of McConnell family fun. When A drives, it takes six hours because he's a) a good driver and b) doesn't stop. ever.

But since he'll be flying in from Raleigh, I'll be making the Minne to Chicago leg of the trip alone and am thus in full road trip preparation mode. It's only seven hours (yes, I added on an extra one there, given past experiences), but seven hours after working a full day is a long seven hours - and I'm not exactly the best at being awake in a car after dark. So, alas, below find the keys to a successful roadtrip for Mary:

{recipe} caramelized balsamic red onion, goat cheese & bacon pizza

A left yesterday morning for a week of training in Raleigh, NC, which meant that I had a rare Sunday night to myself after church (we normally get dinner with small group or watch something on Netflix before parting ways). I love every minute I can get with that man, but I certainly enjoyed my time alone at home Sunday night, whipping up some yummy chocolate chip & pretzel cookies for my lucky co-workers today and throwing together what's probably my fav homemade pizza to date. Also, I should probably clarify that by "favorite homemade pizza to date" I mean the only one I've ever made, so therefore it's my favorite. But seriously, how can you go wrong with caramelized red onions, goat cheese, and bacon? Well, my foodie co-worker did suggest adding figs next time, so maybe that's one way because that sounds incredible, but this pizza tasted so great last night and almost as good for lunch today! The best part is that by buying a pre-made crust and microwaveable bacon, it only took me about 15 minutes to put together. Baby steps, people.



I couldn't wait to have a piece before taking the picture ... oops!

Happy St Patty's Day!

Hope you're all enjoying whatever festivities you have planned! I ran the Get Lucky 7K with my friend Kristen yesterday and plan to do a lot of relaxing today, starting with brunch with my small group ladies :)

ode to mi padre

My dad turned 53 on Wednesday. I turn 25 today. 

Oddly enough, thoughts of my closing in on a quarter century this week have been silenced by thoughts about my dad's 53 years and how blessed I am that I got to be a part of the last 25 of them.

People are always talking about heroes. The people who inspire us. The people we look up to. The people we one day hope to be like or make proud. Anyone who goes to Bethlehem with me here in Minneapolis knows very well that John Piper's hero is Jonathan Edwards. I've heard others in my small group throw out Tim Keller as theirs. For others, it's a teacher that pushed them in high school and encouraged them to pursue a dream. For still others, they are successful businessmen and women, world leaders, peacemakers, etc.

For me, it is and has always been my dad.

I could share with you the story about how my dad worked three jobs to pay his way through Purdue, not having any financial help from his family and taking on the additional debt of my mom's education when they married his junior year. I could tell you my favorite story of how he added on the job of Dominoe's delivery boy just to save up extra money so he could afford an engagement ring six months after he proposed. And then there's the story of how he graduated third in his class in law school all while helping my mom support my older sister with my brother on the way. I love those stories because I love hearing where my parents came from and how hard my dad had to work to get where he is today. 

I love those stories, but they aren't why he's my hero.

It's not how he somehow knows at least one person everywhere we go. It's not the confidence he seems to have been born with. It's not the beautiful home he and my mom made for my siblings and me. And no, it's not his business success that makes him my hero, either. He would never claim it as his own anyway, given that without the Lord he wouldn't have accomplished any of it - and he'll be the first to tell you that.

I'll tell you what it is, though.

It's the look of relief I saw on his face as he rushed into the gym after the commute home from Indy and realized that he'd made it in before tip-off to watch me go for the jump ball. It's the big bear hugs he gives me when I walk into my parents' home after months away in Minnesota and the way his salt & pepper beard scratches my forehead every time. It's the calm voice on the other side of the phone explaining to me how I'll make it through my first B, car crisis, work mishap, or broken heart. It's how I never once heard him yell at me in my 18 years under his roof but how knowing I'd disappointed him hurt worse than any sharp words ever could. It's walking in on him in the morning before school to find him deep in prayer over his Bible and knowing that he's never too proud to say he can't do a thing without God. It's standing by his side in the mud in Honduras, digging a seemingly endless trench to keep the local clinic from flooding. It's reading the prayers he's written for me every day for years, even in the days I was so far from God in college, and seeing how those prayers have been answered. It's the tears I heard in his throat when I called him last fall to tell him I'd asked God back into my life, knowing that he'd never stopped believing it could happen. It's notes I receive in the mail, written on his business stationery, reminding me to complete some task and telling me again how proud he is of me (and it's knowing that he thought of me in the middle of his work day to take time to write that note). It's the weeks and weekends he sets aside for our family to spend in Charleston or Chicago or Bloomington, all to ensure that despite living all over the place we still stay close as a family. It's sitting on our front porch with a glass of Malbec or my mom's sweet tea and talking about everything under the sun. It's seeing him curl his 6'1'' frame up on the floor to play with my niece and envisioning him doing the same with my kids one day.

My dad is my hero because throughout all of his successes, all of his business ventures, all of his many "titles" in the world outside our home, he never compromised his faith in the Lord and he never forgot his role as our dad. I'm so thankful for him.

Happy Birthday, Papa Bear! Thanks for never taking lightly your leadership over our family and the influence you had on each of our lives. I love you!

{corporate to classroom} why teach for america??

I've had a lot of people ask me why I've chosen to part ways with General Mills to become a teacher. Fair. It's a good question. General Mills has been great to me, and I've loved my time both here and in Minneapolis. So why the big switch? I figured I'd help answer that question with an excerpt from the essay I wrote and submitted with my TFA application. I've included that below. But the reader's digest version of why I want to be a teacher is that I think it is a huge tragedy that children in this nation are served the great injustice of being denied a good education. Whether the future finds me teaching math, serving as a principal to an underserved school, or working with a non-profit to end educational inequity, I feel so strongly about the broken education system in America that I couldn't not join the fight to fix it.

The Longer Version:

  In September 2011, I walked through the front doors of a Minneapolis elementary school to meet Jennifer, the girl with whom I would be reading for an hour each month during my lunch break. Sixty minutes later, as I drove back to work for a one o’clock meeting, my mind reeled with questions and frustrations about the experience I’d just had. Despite being in third grade, Jennifer spent most of our time together struggling to sound out the words to a book meant for a child just learning to read. Thinking back to the Boxcar Children books I devoured when I was as young as seven years old, I couldn’t make sense of this spunky eight-year-old, with her gapped front teeth and Hello Kitty tee shirt, reading at barely a first grade level. It wasn’t right.

     I chose to join Teach for America because I want to be a part of the movement to close the achievement gap currently preventing children like Jennifer from reaching their potential and realizing their dreams.

     I spent the past year and a half working in a cubicle on the second floor of General Mills headquarters, far removed from the battle taking place in North Minneapolis schools to provide well-deserving yet underserved children with an education that will get them to and through college and give them a chance to succeed in the 21st century. It’s happening, though. I see these kids riding bikes down the streets as I staple shingles on the roof of a Habitat home, and I help fill their bellies on weeknights at a church after-school program. Every time, I think, “These kids deserve so much more than this.”

     But wishful thinking will not help Jennifer fulfill her dreams of becoming a nurse. Good teachers will. Teachers that are invested in the lives and futures of their students, that don’t see a child’s skin color or socioeconomic background as justification for illiteracy, and that truly believe educational inequities can be overcome – those are the teachers that can change the "forevers" of kids like Jennifer. I want to be one of those teachers.

     I’m not looking to put TFA on my resume; I’m looking to put kids in college. That is my ultimate goal in becoming a teacher – that every child who enters my classroom leaves with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to successfully pursue a higher education and a better life. My success would not be measured merely by test scores, though those are undoubtedly integral in helping my students progress. Test scores mean nothing, however, if I haven’t transformed each child’s attitude from one of resigned acceptance of the status quo to one where they all believe that they not only deserve to succeed but can and will.

     The education system in America is broken, and I am passionate about the work being done by TFA teachers to piece it back together, one child at a time. I can't wait to join them.

{lately}

I've been eating ... food from a lot of great new restaurants around the Cities! A and I have a "restaurant bucket list" for the time we have left here in MSP, so we've been trying to make our way through that on our Sunday brunch dates and Wednesday date nights! Sometimes we choose to stay in and veg with something from the crockpot (eating out gets pricey!), but I've loved exploring more of the foodie scene in a region known for their great eats! Last night we enjoyed Goat Cheese Fritters, a Bacon Burger (the bacon is IN the burger, y'all!), and Beef Short Rib at Pat's Tap. The food was great albeit the short rib a little overpriced. I especially loved the fritters (you say goat cheese, I come a runnin'!). But the whole meal was kind of dampened by how noisy the place was. A had a long day at work, so the inability to have a nice conversation and just decompress made this a place we're happy we went to once but probably wouldn't hit again. Brunch at Bulldog Northeast on Sunday was great, though!

I've been watching ... Friday Night Lights Season 4. A and I finished Season 3 last fall and for some sad reason didn't pick it back up until now. It's like rekindling my relationships with long lost friends. Tami and Eric Taylor are so great. And so is cuddling up on the couch with A after a long day of work!

I've been celebrating ... passing the Praxis! A getting put on a project in Spain (and actually getting to go)! A getting the okay to move to Charlotte! My dad's 53rd birthday! My 25th Birth Week (it's this Saturday, and really, I've come a long way from my Birth Month last year)! And, most recently, finding a couple of girls that I might get to live with in Charlotte and who will at least make great friends!

I've been listening to ... a lot of Beyonce. That girl really keeps me amped up when I'd prefer to collapse on the treadmill. I've been training for the Lucky 7k this Saturday in Minneapolis. 4.3 miles! I'm gradually working my way up to a Half Marathon. 5K, Check! 7K, almost! Next on the plate will be a 10K, 15K, 10-miler, and then, hopefully, my first half! The best part about increasing the races is that you PR every time! Heyo!

I've been reading ... Shadows of the Almighty. Wow.

I've been wearing ... no new clothes :) I gave up clothes shopping for Lent and am so glad that I did. Doing so has really put into perspective how much I spent on things I didn't need, and I think will help me be much more intentional and wise with how I choose to spend my money in the future. It's also helped me rediscover a lot of great items already in my closet and to rework them into new outfits. Success!

What artists help get you pumped up for a long run or tough workout? I could use some recommendations!

on waiting

I started a new bible study today with She Reads Truth and am so excited to dive into "Songs of Ascent." For day one, we were to read all of Psalms 123-134 (yes, that's a whole lot of Psalms!), and it's so incredible how even when reading 9 full chapters, one little verse can stand out and speak to me like Psalm 130:5 did this morning. 

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope." 

 I have a lot to look forward to in the coming months and year. Really, a lot. I get to make the hop from Minneapolis, MN, to Charlotte, NC, to pursue a calling and work toward changing the forevers of middle school kids in an under-served inner city school. And the love of my life gets to transfer with his job to Charlotte, too, so that we can start our own forever in the Queen City.

But so often these days, I find myself wishing the present away so that I can fast forward to the amazing future awaiting me. I want to speed through my last two months at General Mills and through the five months of long distance with A because I just want it all right now. 

It's funny how despite God's history of never failing me, never leading me astray, I still think my timing is better than his. It's far too easy to forget the lessons I've learned in waiting. Lessons that have helped mold me into a stronger Christian, a better friend, and a more diligent employee. Lessons that weren't always fun to learn but the value of which far exceeded the instant gratification I would have received had I done things according to my own timeline. 

No, my motivations for wanting the future to be here are hardly "evil". I want my classroom so that I can start leaving an imprint on the lives of kids who for far too long have been dismissed as hopeless cases with no future all because of their zip code or the color of their skin. I want A to move to Charlotte quickly because nothing makes me happier than thoughts of building our lives together in this city God seems to have pointed us to. But if I were to get these things tomorrow without living through whatever the next five months hold, I would be missing out on God's plan to teach me things that will undoubtedly make me a more effective and compassionate teacher to my kids and a more loving and supportive girlfriend to A. Do I know what it is, exactly, He plans to show me? Ohhh, now wouldn't that be nice! But no, I haven't the foggiest clue what epiphanies await me in the coming days. 

I do know, though, that judging by how sweet the things I learned were in the past, I can't wait to see what lessons await me tomorrow.

all things new

... I'm making a fresh start in my new blogging home - blogspot! I'm ready for the additional customization you get from running your blog from here versus on tumblr, so I've decided to part ways with life so sweet part I and make my mark in life so sweet part II. I'm really not so interested in migrating all of my old blog posts from their home at lifeissosweet.tumblr.com, so instead I've included a link (you just read it!) to my old posts. You know, just in case you're ever pining over not being able to read all the reasons I loved fall in 2010 or about how all the things that make Minneapolis a rockin' place to live.

So ... here's to starting anew :)