Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A striking question

"What do you think is considered a true education?" a friendly fellow inquired of me yesternight. "And what is the goal?""To empower yourself by being an articulate reader, writer, and speaker who can discern from all the different worldviews so you can advocate for what is true and honorable and just and lovely," I replied sans hesitation.

And that, laddies and ladies, succinctly sums up my overarching vision for my students. Thus, we begin with the end in mind. 'Cause greater things have yet to come. Greater things are still to be done.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sunday's best

customarily entails flippantly fun frocks and spiffy shoes,or, for some, no shoes at all.You might gratify the hankering that we've some hippie organic folks in the church family, for sure. Or, I could just broadcast the nitty gritty truth that 'tis possible for one to be in enough of a flurry to jet out of the door that it slips the mind to slip on some footwear. A recommended feat if you're attempting to rivet all eyeballs to your attention, nonetheless.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Every singularity

"Everything in your life that doesn’t fall under the category of loving God falls under the category of pushing you away from loving God." - PJ Tibayan

Jeepers, I just really wanna love God with all that I am - with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength to take every thought captive to obey Christ. And though I fall short of doing so all too often due to the weights and sin that cling ever so closely, praise God for the grace afresh through the gospel that enables us to do so by the aid of the Spirit! God is so overwhelmingly infinitely lovely as the first and best of beings. Lord, may you be first and most lovely in my life, forever ever, as 'tis my singular objective to live a thoroughly grace-driven life. Alongside consistently encouraging and exceedingly amazing chummies
with the mouthwatering accompaniment of tasty delights, of course!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

It's going to be an epic school year,

as deduced by a succinct e-memorandum from my principal:
"Great to have you aboard - your desire to help is most appreciated. While we wait for your fingerprints, you may want to lend your services to the current UCLA football team - as they were REALLY beat this past weekend."

Disclaimer: School districts require proof that you're not an ex-con before they board you inside the classroom with 150+ exceedingly impressionable young minds. Hence, the fingerprinting.Ample planning, prepping, and classroom decor crafting carries on.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

The Shiekh-sponsored soiree

transpired in the razzle-dazzle hotbed of Tinseltown this Friday pastat the scene-stealing Highlands,where Shiekh hosted an exclusive Fashion's Night Out afterparty,
whose illustrious entertainment rundown featured friendly fellow,fame-claiming singer/songwriter extraordinaire Jarell Perry.Yessirs and madams, we made haste to accompany the seasoned superstar on the ritzy plush red carpet in beatific pomp.And, as inculpably surmised, his performance with Nino Magzoon resonated as a stellar crowd-roaring feat.Catch the visionary spectacle vicariously via video below:

Post-show boogieing
and shimmy shakin'
before scoring swag bags chock full o' lackluster trinkets and publicity merchandise
served as the timely impetus for the goal-driven getawayto grub on the heftiest hunks of pizza known to humankind.A success-oozing eveningtide on inadvertent habitual haunt Hollywood & Highland, indeed.

Monday, September 13, 2010

WANTED: your unwanteds

Greetings, faithful readers, accidental perusers, family, friends, colleagues, and lovely folks all around,

As you might or might not know, I've recently joined Teach For America, and I officially commence my teaching stint as an 8th grade English teacher in an urban public school this fall. As a first-year teacher, I am attempting to garner as many resources as I can in order to establish, particularly, a robust classroom library which shall be crucial in improving my students' literacy prowess.Therefore, I am reaching out with a request with which I hope you can help. (My students and) I would really appreciate donations of any of the following that you may happen to have strewn about that you no longer want:
  1. mid-upper elementary books (fiction, nonfiction, series)
  2. middle school books (fiction, nonfiction, series)
  3. early high school books (fiction, nonfiction, series)
  4. comic books
  5. topic centered books (e.g. Eyewitness book on dinosaurs)
  6. age-appropriate magazines (e.g. Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek)
  7. bean bag chairs
  8. rugs
  9. bookshelves
  10. storage bins
  11. floor pillows
Please divulge to me in a jiffy if you're able to contribute any of the above by commenting this post or sending me an efficient e-letter. Also, please feel free to disclose to anyone you believe possesses the potential to help with this ongoing project. I really truly indubitably appreciate your help from the bottom of my corazรณn!

Thanks a bunch,
Helen

Friday, September 10, 2010

My flesh and my heart

may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:26Thank you, Lord, for being everything I'm not and for being everything I need, more than I'm able to fathom in my manifold shortcomings. For knowing the depths of my heart yet loving me just the same. For being my living hope and lifting my spirits with your soul-quenching Word, through which your grace, holiness, faithfulness, patience, sovereignty, humility, servant's heart, steadfastness, omniscience, mercy, and unparalleled goodness are made apparent, most gloriously so on the cross. You never ever fail.
And thank You for friendly folks who remind me of these copious truths o'er an intense stromboli feast. You can bet your bottom dollar that a dagger was imperative in vanquishing the beast of an Italian turnover. Happy Friday, you amiable lot!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Rockin' down the House of Blues

We promenaded o'er to the sapphire-tinged section of the Sunset Strip yesternight for destination premier live music venue, the world-renowned House of Blues,whose swanky Indian palace reminiscent Foundation Roomfostered an intimate backdrop forlegions of faithful fans and friendly folks to mingle, move, and groove tothe svelte vocal stylings of rising singer/songwriter, Jarell Perry.He serenaded the sundry audience with all-original hits from his recently released mixtape (available for free download here),singing crowd favorites such as "My Life," "Universal Love," and "Change My Mind" with his stellar band, whose electrifying accompaniment amplified Jarell's dynamic vocal impressions.He kept us on our tippity tiptoes by dabbling on the keyboard whilst crooning heartfelt tunesand collaborating with a smattering of other artists, too,effortlessly executing a monumental and musically versatile eveningtidewe all esteemed with uttermost oomph.Nary a doubt waltzed through anyone's nogginthat his scores of groupies were likewise spellbound by the live performance,and all exited the scenefurther persuaded of Jarell's veritable route towards superstardom.Congrats, dear friend! You were absolutely awe-inspiring per usual. Cheers to enticing the City of Angels' musical palate for the better yesternight.'Tis only upward bound from here on out, and I am all ajitter with excitement to ascertain how God shall subsequently pave your path to superstardom as you abide in Him.