Tiny Talk Tuesday :: Christmas Edition

I've been blessed with some work hours at the daycare center over this Christmas break.  Next week I work every day for 8 hours!  Last week I worked 3:00 to close, & during those times I gleaned two little Christmas~themed tiny talk nuggets to share.

Here's a picture of the featured gals {taken last summer}:

Too bad they lack so much in cuteness & personality {sarcasm}! ;-)

Miss polka dots on the left was so excited about making pretend gingerbread men in our class after reading The Gingerbread Man.  She later related how she decorated her craft, and apparently not understanding her explanation, one of my co~workers asked, "What is it that you  made?"

"A chickenbread man!" she replied excitedly.  

Go ahead & say "chickenbread man" out loud; it does sound quite like "gingerbread man"!


Miss baby blues on the right has been featured on Tiny Talk Tuesday several times before & maybe some other blog posts too, but I can't really post her picture AND use the alias that I've given her {because then certain events that I've related before will start getting matched with images of certain children, & I'm not comfortable with that.}  

Anyways, as this little one was opening a mini gift bag that was given to her by a classmate, she pulled out two candy canes & exclaimed with glee, "Look!  TWO candy lands!"

Link up & share some tiny talk at Not Before 7!

I have an itchhhhhhh!!!

... to work on my blog!  New posts & new design are long time in coming!
  I have to finish up a few final assignments for
Monday, & then I'll be done for this semester.
I am in serious need of a BREAK!
I've found that many bloggers say that they'll be taking
some time off writing over the Christmas season,
but blogging is my leisure time, so I'm hoping to be back more frequently
in this little tiny corner of the web in a few days.
Hey, I can still spend time with family
& friends, bake cookies, go Christmas shopping,
AND enjoy time online, right?? : )
Additionally, I want to jump in {or maybe start from the beginning}
with Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotional for advent.

At any rate, I'll be back soon!  Until then, eat a cookie for me & sing a Christmas carol!

A Proverb

 "The rich & the poor have this in common: . . .

. . .The LORD made them both."

~Proverbs 22:2 {New Living Translation}

On Roots & Wings

My heart and my wings scream city skylines, subways, rowhouses, inner city teacher, & urban nomad of the downtown fast~paced & gentrified.  Yet, there is no doubting the bit of mountain & farm country blood that flows through my veins, diluted by time & experience.

At my mom's mother's home, she sees me open my red paisley messenger bag & remove my lap top, set up my materials & settle in with my companion through many nights of tireless work~ a companion monitor~faced and garbed with keyboard & touch pad.  

"You gonna study?  I guess you probably want online, don't you?"

"You all don't have online?" I ask, already knowing, eyes round in mock shock.

"No, the only line we have is the clothes line out back.  And it's in full service." 

Some Tiny Talk Soundbytes

 Earlier this month with one of my four year~old Pre~Ks

Three year~old Cheerleader half runs, half waddles down the playground sidewalk.

"Cheerleader, is your ankle okay?  You're limping a little bit."

"Yeah, I was just....*gets distracted*...umm, what was I talking about?"

"You were telling me what happened to your ankle."

"Yeah, I just hurt it at home when I fell off the jumpoline." 

::  ::  ::  ::  ::  ::

While enjoying free play in the pretend kitchen area of the classroom, two year~old Santa's Helper puts a tiny pretend piece of bread on the floor & exclaims, "Look!!  It's MANNA!!"

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

I give my two year~old cousin a Melissa & Doug Cupcake Set so that she can pretend to bake & decorate cupcakes.  We play this together at the kitchen table.
After Elizabeth finishes decorating a cupcake, she says, "Here, let me put its pants on," as she slips a paper liner on the cupcake's bottom.

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::





Tiny Talk to share?  Head over to Not Before 7!

The ABC's of Thanks

:a:  all of us; humans & all creation~ shalom
:b:  break~through moments
:c:  chocolate
:d:  dreams
:e:  education
:f:  field experiences in the early learning center & elementary schools
:g:  gatherings of family & friends
:h:  hearts ♥ ♥
:i:  intentionally serving
:j:  Jesus
:k:  kisses  xxx
:l:  little ones; namely, MY little ones {you knew that one was coming}
:m:  mocha java cooler crunch coffees {you also knew THAT one was coming}
:n:  new beginnings
:o:  open minds, eyes, ears. . .doors
:p:  Philadelphia
:q:  quaint coffeeshops
:r:  resiliency
:s:  Stacy, a friend like none other
:t:  teaching
:u:  urban culture & urban education
:v:  violin; though I haven't played recently, the ability to play & know music has been a gift
:w:  words & The Word who was & is God
:y:  youth {my K sisters & my "ia" triplets}
:z:  zzzzzzzzzz's ...aka, rest

The Girl on the Piano Bench

♫ I have been taken before.

You're not the first to rob me of my peace & sanity.

You run over my heart, 

and then ask for it back.

But you're not even human.

You're just the lovely idea

of one who I accidentally loved

and gave everything~

to become the girl on the piano bench,

singing all of her tears away.♫

Lyrics excerpts from "Not Even Human" by Angel Taylor

Allow Me to Be Petty For Just A Moment. . .

. . .
while I take a break
from the not~so~petty pre~Thanksgiving
crunch time that has left me up to my ears
in practicum observation reports
& online quizzes
& lesson plans
& pointillism for two year~olds
&. . .


Some of my blogging pet peeves:


:: using word stubs like "delish", "presh", "maybs" & "hubs"...I've maybe done this in a comment or two before, but the problem is that my brain repeats what it hears & sees.  I annoy myself.  It's true.


:: syrupy sweetness.  Now, if this is the blogger's true style, the posts can be really quite homey & cute!  However, I have a very sensitive BS detector with an alarm that goes off if it senses...well...BS.


:: pre~packaged comments like, "Thanks for sharing!"  You may as well have said, "I'm just popping my head in here to invite you to click over to my blog, comment, & follow." 


:: when people get mad at their followers for not contributing enough $ to whatever cause they are currently championing.  I LOVE when bloggers use their blog as a platform for supporting altruistic organizations, but when it doesn't turn out as the host blogger had envisioned, reading a huge guilt trip rant does no one any good.


::  punctuating! the! end! of! every! sentence! with! an! exclamation! point!  Is! it! really! that! exciting!???  Well! then! carry! on!!!!!


:: excessive complaining in general {this post might qualify, huh? ;-)}.  But seriously, can you tell  that it makes me want to pull my hair out when people don't realize that there's life outside of blogging & people that exist outside of themselves?


/pettiness.  Back to the daily grind. : )

When I'm a Mommy. . .

How will I guide my children in the way they should go,

when I am still myself figuring all this out?

How will I teach them to value & respect their bodies,

while avoiding the obsessive modesty standards that seems to say, "I am what I wear."?

How will I teach them that certain behaviors are unacceptable,

while encouraging kind & nonjudgmental hearts towards those who make different choices?

How can I justify primping in the mirror every morning,

while insisting that character trumps outward appearance?

How will I protect them from the dangers "out there" in the world,

while allowing them to hurt as God hurts when He sees suffering & injustice?

How will I teach them HOW to think,

 without attempting to teach them WHAT to think? 

How will I teach them the importance of being grounded & stable,

while encouraging them to live the questions, be inquisitive, always ready to learn something new?

How will I tell them that I am their support & advocate, that I'll always have their back,

when I know that I will fail them?

How will I teach them what I believe & pour my heart into forming them into adults,

yet gracefully accept when they come to believe differently than Mommy believes?

How will I give them roots

. . . and wings?
 

Miscellany Monday

{1}  recent coffeeshop digs.

It's no secret that I love coffeeshops & that I frequent Organic Grounds, a local coffeehouse.  However,  recently I've begun stopping by our on~campus coffeeshop.  Here are a few pictures {excuse the quality;  taken from my phone}:

Now, this may not look like much, but this space is very sleek & suave for our small, Christian liberal arts university.  I love the contemporary Manhattan loft feel of the space!

Below is another camera phone shot, this one taken at Barnes & Noble:

That's a Mocha Toffee Frappuccino.  Note the tiny plastic Starbucks shot glasses provided for water. 
Too cute!
Or maybe I'm just strange.

{2}  fear forest.

This is where I toured last Saturday night.  I've never been to a haunted house {or forest, as it were}, so this was certainly a new experience.  To be honest, it wasn't that bad!  The goblins that jumped out mostly targeted the squealy girls {you know the ones}, so I was careful to keep my cool. 
I wasn't scared at all!~  BUT... I must admit, the claw marks in poor Cory's hand and arm tell a different story.  ;-)

{3} home is where I'm with you.

I've substituted at the daycare center 3 afternoons in the past week.  I was so happy to see the kids again because I've been sadly MIA since my school year has begun.

Clearly, they love this spinner. 

Would you believe me if I told you that I wedge myself down

into that seat & spin with them, which promptly sends hoards of more children

over to us squealing & laughing & demanding room be made for them, too?

That would never happen.  I am far too dignified.

{5}  how can I.. 

..change the color of my Feed-jit?  I can't figure out how to  customize the color without having to download this & sign up for that.  Please help me if you have any ideas!  Additionally, I want to design a new header for Musings Aloud, so if you have any pointers on that, I would be so thankful!

Link up your miscellany with Carissa at lowercase letters! 

While I Should Have Been Reading Piaget and Studying Biodiversity & Toxicity Levels...

I changed my blog!  I actually have the same background because I'm not yet
willing to part with this "Fabulosity" print, but I've purged the clutter & made it a bit
airier and brighter.
Hopefully a new header to come.  Possibly soon.  Most likely in the far future.

However, the special Scriptura font that I downloaded &
installed for my post titles is now gone.  Apparently selecting a
new template altered that customization..?  The strange thing is, the
Century Gothic that I set as my default font has remained.  I don't have the time at the moment to
go back & muddle through the html to find out vhat ees dee pwoblem with the
vanished Scriptura font, so if anyone has any ideas,
do enlighten me!  

Oh, & have a marvelous weekend! 

I Count Because. . .

. . . when I give intentional thanks,

my heart is worshipful, my restless spirit is content, and my mind ponders the praiseworthy.

~.:Gifts 100 ~ 113:.~

~:  the long~awaited & ardently hoped for "let's catch up soon"

~:  unseasonably warm temperatures

~:  apple cider

~:  dinner on the rooftop

~:  goldenrod, scarlet, crimson, amber, burnt sienna & rust

~:  birthdays & 49 years of life for the person who knew me before I realized I existed

~:  night out with one of my besties at a funky, artsy joint

~:  courage to join the spinning, dancing circle

~:  boom box necklace purchased during my last visit that distant & happy summer

~:  one~on~one time with the new third grade student, frail & meek

~:  leading toddler music & going crazy with bean bags, scarves, & rhythm sticks

~:  an email to my prof from my field placement advisor praising my skills & abilities {for real, now?}

~:  cinnamon rolls with buttercream icing from the farmer's market

~:  tears that wash clean the eyes of my heart

Photo taken April 2009 in North Philly, Puerto Rican quarter; Lehigh & N. 5th area



 Count with us as part of the Gratitude Community at Holy Experience:

Top 15 Worst Pick~Up Lines ~ Compiled by Yours Truly

{1}  Have a baby by me, baby- be a millionaire!  {compliments of 50 Cent}

{2} You make me wanna say 'oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh my gosh!!!!' {compliments of Usher}

{3}  Is your dad a terrorist?~ because you're the bomb!

{4}  I've heard that my shoulder makes a pretty good pillow.

{5}  I forgot my phone number.  Can I have yours?

{6}  Is your daddy a pirate?  'Cuz you could have fooled me with booty like that!

{7}  Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

{8}  If you were a booger, I'd pick you first.

{9}  Wouldn't we look cute on a wedding cake together?

{10}  Call me Fred Flintstone; I can make your bed rock!

{11}  You look like my ex.

{12}  You be my Dairy Queen, and I'll be your Burger King.

{13}  You must be tired, because you've been running through my head all day.

{14}  Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk past again?

{15} What's the name of your perfume?  "Catch of the Day"?  

Now, the million dollar question:  Have any of these gems been used on me?

Unfortunately. . . . yes.

Can you think of any other heeby~jeeby~inducing pick~up lines to add to this list, ones that are either totally cheeseball or grossly stale?  Do share!

Tiny Talks with a New Batch of Little Ones

It's been awhile since I've participated in Tiny Talk Tuesday.  The reason?  Resuming my college courses this fall has packed my schedule so that I can no longer work at the daycare center {except an occasional late afternoon}.  My life has been sorely lacking in little people, and I miss them oh-so-much!

However, some of my current education courses require that I spend a few hours a week in our lab preschool, so I've gleaned a few tiny talk soundbites to share!

I don't know these children well enough to give them aliases yet, so the first letter of their names will have to do for now.

: :

"What kind of flowers are these, E----?" her mother asked her as we entered the school, pointing to a flowerpot of yellow flowers.

"Chrysanthemums," itty-bitty-tiny-petite two year-old, squeaky-voiced E---- replied with perfect articulation.

One of the teachers later commented to me with E---- nearby, "She speaks with such great articulation!"

"Articulation," E---- echoed with each syllable pronounced and consonant crisp.

Later, I was playing with L------ in the pretend kitchen area of the classroom.  As we were serving up a tea party, P----- wandered over to join us.  {Both, like E----, are girls, two years old, and extremely verbal}.

"Oh look," L------ said to me.  "I think P----- wants to be our guest."

"No," P----- replied.  "I don't want to be a guest!  I just wanna live!"

Overheard any tiny talk from the little ones in your life?  Link up and share over at Mary's Not Before 7.

~J*O*Y~

"A single joy shatters a hundred griefs."

This week's photo challenge at Aspire is JOY and I immediately knew I have no better selection than this photo in my archives with that simple title.

The contagious cheerfulness on the faces of these two beautiful baby girls radiates off the photo.  How blessed I was to be their teacher for a time!
   

Her fingers say "peace" and their faces say "joy" . . . sheer, innocent, untainted . . .

Who is that Girl?

Just a few oldies. . .

 on this Wednesday. . .

 

for your enjoyment. . .

and my embarrassment!

{baby in the car seat = sister.  little boy = brother. the blonde in each photo = me, of course}

Whether wordless or wordfull, share you Wednesday with us and link up with a lovely photo 

at Hannah's Aspire.

For Who? For ME??

I've been given my first blog award by the lovely Hillary!  This lady has even published a book, so I'm both shocked and honored to learn that I was one of the bloggers she had chosen for this award.  : )

I don't know how soon I'll be able to write the "About Myself in Seven" considering my coming days will be filled with exams, quizzes, papers, and presentations. . .

but I do want to express my honor and gratitude.

I've often pondered my lack of a blogging niche, but describing my multi~faceted~ness as "versatile" makes it seem like a positive thing!
Thanks Hillary! I'm not blushing ~ but beaming!

 

MiScellaNy MoNdAy

source

{1} someone get these squirrels a Nicoderm patch.

In the winter/spring of 2009, I spent a semester at the Philadelphia campus belonging to my former college. Part of this experience included taking courses at Philadelphia's own Temple University.
Fun fact about Temple University: The squirrels that frequent Temple University's campus allegedly have a nicotine addiction because they chew on the cigarette buttes galore smoked and littered by the Temple students.

{2} the three~story crash.

Speaking of college craziness, an apartment in a local college complex collapsed last Friday night. A party was in full swing on the third floor, the floor gave way, and many people crashed through to the ground floor. The result: crushed pelvic bones and clavicles, injured spines and numb legs.
I tell you this because my young 15 year~old friend was one of those who fell. Her eye was busted and people fell on her head after she crashed to the ground from the third floor; she was taken to the hospital in one of the ambulances.
I stopped by her home on Saturday to check in with her and give her a get well gift card to her favorite restaurant, Chipotle. She is doing well, but please pray that the vision in her injured eye will be restored and for the other people injured in the accident. I'm thankful that no one's injuries are life~threatening.

{3} almost autumn. fairly fall.

source

All of the "autumn is here!!!" gleeful celebrations make me think, "Oh yeah? Where?" We're still having daily temps in the 80s around here.
I've already made the first step in transitioning to this new season, and that is accepting that I'm back in school. ;-) The second step is one over which I have no control, and that is for the weather to match the season. However, we've been experiencing such beautiful days, it's difficult to wish too hard for some aerial crispness. One seasonal trademark that I HAVE been enjoying, though, is apple cider from our local orchard!

{4} not a bed of roses.

Have you heard of Iya Isoke? She's a poet laureate in Harrisburg, PA, a place where I have many fond memories. {If you're ever in Harrisburg, you must visit City Island and Cafe di Luna}. But back to Iya Isoke. . .
She once spoke a quote about the practice of writing to which I deeply identify. These words may as well be my own, if only I were as eloquently articulate and poetic:

"I have tried looking at the world through rose~colored glasses, but the thorns of reality continue to pierce my eyes, and so I blink back the bloody tears and write what I see."

Miscellany musings to share? Link up with my bloggy friend Carissa at lowercase letters.

Counting the Endless Gifts {89-99}

"Sing to the Lord of the harvest, maker of field and of sky. God of the seasons both fallow and full, speaking the world into life.

Come to the Lord of the harvest, come to the table; rejoice! God, who has given the hunger for song, fill us with breath and with voice.

A field of voices raised up and gathered, now we offer a harvest of song. Hear our hallelujah! Hear our grateful amen!"

::pumpkin smoothies

::veggie croissants

::new friends

::concerts, dramas, and musicals

::cornfields topped with a golden~baked crust of tassels

::apple spice cake

::skies splashed with sunplosion, tree silhouettes in the foreground, rays streaming

::learning new teaching strategies and child development principles

::the ability to miss, to feel, to grieve an absence

::baristas who know me by name and begin to make my drink as soon as my foot crosses the threshold

::second chances


Song is "Sing to the Lord of the Harvest"
Lyrics by David Wright
Music by James Clemens
Copyright 2004

Head First Into the Books

{via}

Now that school has resumed {the time distinguished by my running around like a chicken without a head}, I'm not too sure how often I'll be able to steal away moments to blog. I hope I can keep up somewhat with my "out loud" musings, as this is a creative outlet I've really enjoyed during my semester off school.

There probably won't be as many stories written about my kids {yes..MY kids..I insist that they are} because my academic schedule doesn't permit me to work like I have been for these past months. I will, however, be in a field experience in a local elementary school as well as in our university's early learning center. The privacy policies at these schools are more stringent than I'm used to; simply making up online aliases for the tots won't be sufficient I'm afraid. :-/

Perhaps the only written pieces that I'll be able to post are class writing assignments. You wouldn't mind, would you? I know you'd be so thrilled to muddle through some gritty first drafts and edit them for me! Awesome.

Maybe I'll have more free time than I currently anticipate, but just remember: even if I'm gone awhile and only post sporadically,

{via}

What are little BOYS made of?

.:Unwrapping the gift of the little boys in my life this Tuesday/Wednesday:.

What are little boys made of, made of?



What are little boys made of?



Smiles and stains. . .



trucks and choo~choo trains.




That's what little boys are made of.

7 Quick Takes Friday

~1~

Question: What could cause my "vain" twenty~one year~old self not to care if snot and smooshed green beans are wiped upon my white shirt?
That would be if this little dumplin' flips backwards in her chair during lunchtime. Which she did.


These littles always have the same look on their faces when they take a spill; they look utterly shocked, but at the same time, they look right at me and know I'm coming for them.

It wasn't until after I had comforted her, calmed her down, and had her focused on devouring her mashed potatoes again that I noticed my shirt was decked out with the beans that had fallen with her and her boogies. And I didn't even care. :-)

~2~

After taking this past semester off, I'm returning to college this fall. I transferred to a university here in my hometown, but I'm keeping the same major, of course: elementary education.

I'm learning that sometimes the plans we make for ourselves aren't always what God has in mind. Letting go is difficult, but "I'm had by the love unexpected, the hope still strong, the tender surprises only God can imagine," as so beautifully said by Ann Voskamp.

~3~

Here's another gal in the midst of making an academic transition:


Meet Princess Tiana, star of several Tiny Talk Tuesdays.

I would have included Princess Tiana's photo in my Lovely Photo Wednesday post along with the other little girl who is leaving the center, but I actually borrowed this pic from her mother's facebook and then edited it myself.

When I talk to Princess Tiana, I honestly feel like I'm speaking to an adult! She is so advanced and will do great in the Pre~K program. And she's clearly adorableness overload!!

~4~

One web tool that I have been utilizing and enjoying is the Colorzilla. This Firefox plug~in allows you to click on any color on any webpage and copy the color code to your clipboard; then all you have to do is paste the code where it belongs in your html! This point-and -click color dropper has been super handy as I've been making some changes to my blog. It's so much more convenient than trying to match colors and muddling through all of those six digit color codes!

~5~

One story that I saw on my Yahoo homepage a couple weeks ago that immediately captured my interest was about a woman who is making a dress every day for an entire year, using an old dress and making it new with a budget of $1 per day. That's 365 days, 365 dresses, and 365 dollars. Check out her site here!

~6~

I have enjoyed meeting up with my friend Marilea this summer and talking about everything from school and love to spiritual gifts and exorcisms. *Laughing* Marilea and I attended the same high school, but it's been since graduating that we've actually become closer friends. Funny how you think you know everything at 18, but things still manage to change! We've "met in the middle" and I'm glad for these life surprises.


~7~

"You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song;
I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can't thank you enough." ~Psalm 30:11-12