People Make Mistakes

It's why they put rubbers on the ends of pencils.

-Fleabag

Thought of the Day: Spotify

Song of the Day: CityAlight-There Is Mercy

The 'Nevers' of the Gospel

O LORD,

May I never fail to come to the knowledge
        of the truth,
  never rest in a system of doctrine, however
    scriptural, that does not bring or further
      salvation,
  or teach me to deny ungodliness and
    worldly lusts,
  or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly;
  never rely on my own convictions and resolutions,
    but be strong in thee and in thy might;
  never cease to find thy grace sufficient
    in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;
  never forget to repair to thee
    in all my spiritual distresses and outward
      troubles,
  in all the dissatisfactions experienced in
    creature comforts;
  never fail to retreat to him who is full of grace
    and truth, the friend that loveth at all times,
    who is touched with feelings of my infirmities,
    and can do exceeding abundantly for me;
  never confine my religion to extraordinary
    occasions, but acknowledge thee in all my ways;
  never limit my devotions to particular seasons
    but be in thy fear all the day long;
  never be godly only on the sabbath
    or in thy house, but on every day abroad
      and at home;
  never make piety a dress but a habit,
    not only a habit but a nature,
    not only a nature but a life.
Do good to me by all thy dispensations,
  by all means of grace,
  by worship, prayers, praises,
And at last let me enter that world where is
  no temple, but only thy glory
  and the Lamb’s.

Thought of the Day: Seating Charts
Song of the Day: Mazzy Star-In The Kingdom

Teaching Hope

One of my students told me she would be missing class tomorrow to attend the court trial for the man who recently murdered her father. It saddens me to think how much trauma many of my students carry with them every day, trauma that has probably not been addressed or processed in a healthy way. She is in my largest class of 47 enrolled students and I often wonder what I can do to best support them when there's only one of me and...so many of them.

I just finished reading Teaching Hope, a book that I had borrowed from a good teacher friend of mine. Years ago, I had read the Freedom Writers, stories written by high school students who were taught by Erin Gruwell in Long Beach. This book is a collection of stories written by teachers who show the perspective of working in many challenging situations and environments; hence, its title. My biggest takeaway is that teaching will always be hard, but students need good teachers in their lives.

How do I become the good teacher that my students need?

Thought of the Day: Instant Pot
Song of the Day: Vince Guaraldi-A Taste of Honey

Seasons Finale

I think for the first time in my adult life, I do not have a show I am excited to watch. I tried to start one new show and four different seasons of different shows in the past month. Everything feels repetitive. Nothing original is engaging. With the hundreds of shows available at the click of a button, I have finally run out of things I want to watch.

And it feels liberating!


Thought of the Day: Day 1
Song of the Day: Green Day feat. Miranda Lambert-Ordinary World

Serenity Prayer

O God, 
give us the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, 
the courage to change what can be changed, 
and the wisdom to know the one from the other.
-Reinhold Niebuhr, 1932

Thought of the Day: Testimony
Song of the Day: Vince Guaraldi - Star Song

Upgrades and Downgrades

The past couple of weeks have been filled with consecutive life improvements.

New Phone
I probably could have used the S7 for a bit longer, but it's kinda hard to say no to a brand new phone for $500. I even got Verizon to waive the $40 upgrade fee! Glad I waited till post-Cambodia.


New TV
My brother and I were watching Gran Torino and thought it was strange how they had filmed the movie with these weird horizontal lines. Turns out Clint did not film the movie with those lines; they are signs of failing graphics or damage. It is not easy watching a TV that resembles binder paper. Also kinda hard to say no to a 4K TV for $380!

New Rice Cooker
We knew Simon's rice cooker from college was on the older side, but it still got the job done...until yesterday. The rice smelled something evil even though I had just made it a couple of days ago and it left a permanent stain on the inner lid. Kinda hard to say no to a new multi-purpose pot for $50.



But school has been a different story.

The principal left our school (again).
My school buddy, the Librarian, emailed me today that he would not be returning.
The assistant principal hired someone today to replace my current co-teacher.

The upcoming school year feels like a downgrade.


Thought of the Day: Prepping
Song of the Day: Beach Boys-Good Vibrations