I've thought a lot about gifts this week. Monday was the fourth anniversary of the death of a little Canadian boy named Andre. Andre was born in the spring of 2006 with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency and in December 2006 he received a bone marrow transplant from me. I was the only possible match for him out of approximately 6 million tissue samples and I was a good enough match that my marrow was harvested and sent to Canada for him. It was such an honor to do that even though I didn't know him or his family and to this day have not met any of them. Sad to say, I didn't save his life but I gave him the gift of time. My head gets that concept but my heart hurts for his sweet mom and dad and brother and sister who loved him and miss him very much.
The son of a high school friend is currently fighting for his life in a hospital in Austin. He was born with a heart defect that ultimately caused his heart to fail. In June 2012, he received a heart transplant from a grieving family who had the forethought to donate the organs of their son to give others the gift of time. My friend's son, whose name is Mike, has fought hard to live for the past 15 months. He's currently suffering a major rejection episode and only the good Lord above knows if he will survive this or go to Heaven. His family (parents, brothers, wife, and daughters) certainly hope he has more time with them and so do I.
If you are not on the bone marrow donor list, I encourage you to go to the website of Be the Match and find out if you qualify and if so, get on that registry. If you are not a blood donor, I encourage you to become one. Please make sure that your family knows if you would like to be an organ donor in the event of the unforeseeable. These are all things that offer others the gift of time--a most unselfish gift.
The Gift of Life is another matter. That comes from God above through his son Jesus Christ--the greatest gift ever. I'm so glad that I have received that gift.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Just Kids!
It has been my privilege for the past several years to teach History to our junior high students in addition to teaching first graders full time. It can be a challenge-- in terms of time, preparation, and in the difference between children of 6 and 7 and those who are entering their teens. It's always rewarding and never, ever dull!
We had a special program on Wednesday by a young woman who represented the NED program--Never Give Up, Encourage Others, and Do Your Best. A part of her program involved yo-yo skills. Now, I grew up in the day when yo-yos were made of wood and provided endless hours of entertainment for those who were interested. I really didn't know how our junior high students would react to this program and the very low tech toy used in the presentation. Imagine my surprise when they 1)loved it and 2) wanted a yo-yo for themselves!!
So............today, having completed their classwork and because it was Friday, I took the 7th graders and their yo-yos to the playground and they entertained me with their newly learned skills. Who knew that a simple yo-yo could be such fun in this day of hand held video gadgets and pocket cell phones! Who knew that they would be laughing and giggling and just having fun!!
It was a joy to see them being ----- JUST KIDS!!
We had a special program on Wednesday by a young woman who represented the NED program--Never Give Up, Encourage Others, and Do Your Best. A part of her program involved yo-yo skills. Now, I grew up in the day when yo-yos were made of wood and provided endless hours of entertainment for those who were interested. I really didn't know how our junior high students would react to this program and the very low tech toy used in the presentation. Imagine my surprise when they 1)loved it and 2) wanted a yo-yo for themselves!!
So............today, having completed their classwork and because it was Friday, I took the 7th graders and their yo-yos to the playground and they entertained me with their newly learned skills. Who knew that a simple yo-yo could be such fun in this day of hand held video gadgets and pocket cell phones! Who knew that they would be laughing and giggling and just having fun!!
It was a joy to see them being ----- JUST KIDS!!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
First Field Trip
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Musings from Mrs. Jones
I haven't blogged since last December. And I can't say why. Perhaps it's because I got busy during the spring semester with work and family and such. It's not because I don't like to write. I DO like to write. I like to write a lot. I'm going to do my best to keep up with this blog this year.
The 2013-14 school year has started out great! I have an awesome group of first graders and I'm privileged to teach World History to some amazing junior high students. I'm blessed to work with a caring staff who are devoted to giving our students the best educational experience possible.
Today is one of those dates that will be forever etched in our minds. None of our students are old enough to remember the events of September 11, 2001 but for the rest of us it's a day we'll never forget. A lot has happened in our world since then--some good, some bad. As a nation, we are divided in many ways but we are still citizens of the United States of America and as such, should work hard to keep our nation strong. We should pray daily for our leaders and vote our conscience when election time rolls around again.
Today is also the birthday of my youngest brother. I might forget the birthdays of others but never Tim's! Some of you know (others don't) that I was adopted as an infant and in 1999 I found my birth family. Tim is one of eight siblings from my birth mother. He has been a blessing in my life. He has helped put the missing pieces of the puzzle of my life in place.
Watch this blog. I will post pictures of class activities and field trips, possibly some videos of my students doing special things and also just my thoughts on various subjects.
The 2013-14 school year has started out great! I have an awesome group of first graders and I'm privileged to teach World History to some amazing junior high students. I'm blessed to work with a caring staff who are devoted to giving our students the best educational experience possible.
Today is one of those dates that will be forever etched in our minds. None of our students are old enough to remember the events of September 11, 2001 but for the rest of us it's a day we'll never forget. A lot has happened in our world since then--some good, some bad. As a nation, we are divided in many ways but we are still citizens of the United States of America and as such, should work hard to keep our nation strong. We should pray daily for our leaders and vote our conscience when election time rolls around again.
Today is also the birthday of my youngest brother. I might forget the birthdays of others but never Tim's! Some of you know (others don't) that I was adopted as an infant and in 1999 I found my birth family. Tim is one of eight siblings from my birth mother. He has been a blessing in my life. He has helped put the missing pieces of the puzzle of my life in place.
Watch this blog. I will post pictures of class activities and field trips, possibly some videos of my students doing special things and also just my thoughts on various subjects.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Perspectives
The events of last Friday are fresh in our minds and the horror of it all is not lost on this teacher. First graders and their teachers lost their lives in the murderous rage of a mentally ill young man. It's frightening for all of us. It's frightening because it drives home the fact that safety is in some respects a fleeting illusion.
Make no mistake--we do the best we can at FBS to ensure the safety of our children and our staff. Our doors are always locked and to gain entrance to the building requires a key or someone in the office granting admittance remotely. Is that fail safe? No, but it makes us all feel a bit safer. Make no mistake--the teachers and staff at FBS, like educators everywhere, love our students and would give our lives to protect and preserve theirs.
What can we do? Well, for starters we can be thankful at this Christmas season that God sent His Son to earth. We can be thankful and full of awe that God sacrificed that Son so that we might have eternal life in Him. We can and we should pray for the families of those who lost loved ones, including the family of the shooter.
We can also focus in on mental illness and not sweep it under the rug. It's a very real issue in our society and not one that we like to discuss. It suggests weakness. It suggests that parents or others have done something wrong. The truth of the matter is that mental illness is just that--an illness. Instead of a sore throat or a fever or chronic pain or whatever the person has an illness in his/her mind. We should be supportive of people and families who deal with this on a daily basis. We should pray for them and encourage them to seek the professional care that is needed.
As we close out this year and look back on the year that was, we see many signs of evil in our world. But we also see many evidences of the love of God and His mercy and grace. As we face a new year, let's focus on the positives and what we can do to make our world a better place to live. And let's pray without ceasing.
Make no mistake--we do the best we can at FBS to ensure the safety of our children and our staff. Our doors are always locked and to gain entrance to the building requires a key or someone in the office granting admittance remotely. Is that fail safe? No, but it makes us all feel a bit safer. Make no mistake--the teachers and staff at FBS, like educators everywhere, love our students and would give our lives to protect and preserve theirs.
What can we do? Well, for starters we can be thankful at this Christmas season that God sent His Son to earth. We can be thankful and full of awe that God sacrificed that Son so that we might have eternal life in Him. We can and we should pray for the families of those who lost loved ones, including the family of the shooter.
We can also focus in on mental illness and not sweep it under the rug. It's a very real issue in our society and not one that we like to discuss. It suggests weakness. It suggests that parents or others have done something wrong. The truth of the matter is that mental illness is just that--an illness. Instead of a sore throat or a fever or chronic pain or whatever the person has an illness in his/her mind. We should be supportive of people and families who deal with this on a daily basis. We should pray for them and encourage them to seek the professional care that is needed.
As we close out this year and look back on the year that was, we see many signs of evil in our world. But we also see many evidences of the love of God and His mercy and grace. As we face a new year, let's focus on the positives and what we can do to make our world a better place to live. And let's pray without ceasing.
Friday, December 7, 2012
A Day of Remembrance
December 7, 1941-- "a date which shall live in infamy". That was 71 years ago! But it was indeed a date that has lived on in the memories of those who were there and in the minds of those of us who have merely heard and read about it. Just as some of us recall where we were the day the JFK was shot, or when the Challenger space shuttle came crashing down, or the events of September 11, 2001. The lives of an entire generation were changed on that day. Indeed, the world as it was known was changed on that day. What arose out of the ashes of Pearl Harbor was what has come to be known as "the Greatest Generation". Those are people who sacrificed their youth and sometimes their lives to ensure that the American way of life endured.
My junior high students and I had the privilege of hearing Mr. Horace Hamilton speak. Mr. Hamilton was a 17 year old Navy gunner's mate stationed aboard the U.S.S. Phoenix. He witnessed the Japanese attack. He fought to protect his ship, his friends, his way of life, his country. He gave over 4 years of his youth to the service and defense of our nation. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. Thank you for sharing your experiences with my students and others. God bless you and God bless America.
My junior high students and I had the privilege of hearing Mr. Horace Hamilton speak. Mr. Hamilton was a 17 year old Navy gunner's mate stationed aboard the U.S.S. Phoenix. He witnessed the Japanese attack. He fought to protect his ship, his friends, his way of life, his country. He gave over 4 years of his youth to the service and defense of our nation. Thank you, Mr. Hamilton. Thank you for sharing your experiences with my students and others. God bless you and God bless America.
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