When Others Encourage Me

My word for this year, as I wrote earlier this month, is ENCOURAGE.  I want to encourage other people, but this week others have encouraged me.  Here are five examples (out of many more I noticed this week) which I am sharing as my Friday Fave Fives.  Here is the link to Susanne's blog where she hosts our Gathering of Blessings and Encouragement.

1.  Out of the blue, I received a phone call from the mom of a former student.  For the last eight years of my teaching career, I taught homeschool students how to write--stories, essays, compositions.  Anyway, the mom called me and had her son tell me how as a jr high student now, he had been earning the highest marks in his class.  As he said, "I did what Mrs. Willow taught me and got extra credit."  Isn't that the most encouraging thing a kid could say to a former teacher?

2.  We have had a crazy week...just lots of 'little things'.  A younger mom from church assured me she was praying for me.  That's encouraging!  (and I'm supposed to be her encourager!)

3.  How can a memorial service be an encouragement?  Well, it was.  Yes, another funeral.  This week we celebrated the life of a younger man from our church congregation who was a great encourager.  Born with disabilities, he embraced life with the happiest and brightest smile.  He was a greeter at church and hugged everyone.  Bill's life was an example of how to be an encourager. And that encouraged me to 'be more like Bill'.

4.  On Sunday evening, I had a meeting and so did The Professor.  But they were at two different times in two different places.  Since we have only one car, I was blessed and encouraged when a friend who was going to be at the meeting with me, offered me a ride home.  Then we sat and chatted in her car for awhile--just because we could.  She encouraged me, and I hope I encouraged her.

5.  An hour or two later, the same friend texted me, "Look outside!"  It was the lunar eclipse which we didn't expect to see because our sky was clouded over.  But the clouds parted just enough.  I snapped this picture at about 3 minutes past totality.  I'm glad she encouraged me to go look!

How have you been ENCOURAGED this week?

And here are a couple of photos from our very very green wild landscapes as a bonus.  Where I live in Southern California, we don't have green mountains very often, so we revel in it when we do have the green!

There's not much green here, but you can see some new life returning after the Hill Fire burned through here in November.

Yes, we really were that high above the entrance to Hill Canyon.

TFFFF [Third February Friday Fave Five]

It seems like every week is a busy one these days.  If I'm not teaching, I'm studying, planning or reading papers.  I enjoy keeping busy but sometimes, I like to just rest.  I did that a bit this week, intentionally.  It helps me too to stop at the end of the week and remind myself what the highlights were.  I think that's why I enjoy Friday Fave Fives--it helps me focus on the positive events so I don't simply plod thoughtlessly through the days and weeks.  Here are my Fave Fives from Willow's Week.

1.  After the crazy hot days at the beginning of the week (87F), it cooled off and rained.  Here in drought land, rain is always a fave.  All these white blossoms are on the ground now, knocked down by wind and rain. I'm glad I took a few photos last week before the wind and rain swept through.

2.  I successfully signed myself up for a couple of official appointments online.  This is a fave because it didn't take as long as I feared.  And it was much easier than I expected.  Whew.

3.  My sweet students!  One young man brought me a lovely pink orchid plant.  Happy Valentine's Day to me!

4.  Wanna hear a joke?  My students love to share them---  "Why did the boy invite the mushroom to his birthday party?"   (Answer--see below*)

5.  The fruit guy at the farmers market often gives us the apples or grapes he can't sell because they're bruised or 'on the edge'.  He know what I do with them--dry them in my dehydrator and then I gift back to him some of the finished product.  This week we've been drying a huge box of apples.   Yummy!  These will last us for snacks for a long time!

I hope your week has warmth and flowers and jokes and kindness!

*because he was a fun guy.

Better Late Than Not at All

Friday Fave Fives.  A lot late.

1.  This is a picture free post.  That is not my fave.  The fave is that my camera was lost but has been found.

2.  The reason I was separated from my camera.  The Professor and I attended our alma mater's reunion Thursday night (which is also why my Friday Fave Fives are so late).  Because I was an original member of a singing group started by the director of the music department the year I was a freshman, I was invited to sing in a mini concert with others in the group from all the years it was in existence.  The Professor and I took lots of photos but somehow in all the excitement of seeing so many old and long time friends, we put down the camera but neglected to get it back in my bag.  That college reunion was The. Best. Time.  We reconnected with people we haven't seen for ahem-ahem years.  [FYI, the name of the college was changed after we graduated, so few people remember the college before its name change, Los Angeles Baptist College and Theological Seminary]

3.  The Professor's father was registrar and teacher at the college for many, many years.  So of course The Professor knew more people than I did.  He reconnected with a man who he has known since they were one and three years old.  [Yes, we have made plans to see them next weekend!]

4.  I can still sing.  If you don't sing much, you may be bored with this fave.  Here it is:  I usually sing second alto.  Although I have a wide vocal range, I am most comfortable singing alto.  So my friend and I practiced the alto parts over and over, both on our own and together, until we felt a little bit confident that we had the music down OK.  Then when I arrived, the director asked if I would switch to soprano.  I agreed.  It wasn't too bad... (A little hint here: if you can't sing it, fake it.  Mouth the words.)

5.  Facebook.  Earlier in the week, a former second grade student posted an old photo of me with her.  She is holding her student of the month certificate.  Her caption was thanking me for being a blessing in her life.  Lots and lots of people 'liked' that picture -- more than 70.  Having students return and thank me makes all the difference in my attitude about teaching.  Of course I teach anyway, but being thanked just makes my day, week, month, year, life.

Friday Fave Fives

The week before Thanksgiving.

Seven more days of November Thankfulness

and

another week of Friday Fave Fives.

1.  My computer had a problem this week.  It didn't display the black screen of death, but it was a very sick and sad shade of gray.  I could still read my email.  Sort of.  The Professor, he of the magic hands, figured out what was wrong and fixed it.  Evidently it had something to do with the video drivers...I don't know exactly.  Go ask him.  He's the King of Computer Healing.  Whatever he did, it worked, and I have my shiny screen of summer brightness back.

This counts as my November 18th Thankfulness.  I don't have to purchase a new computer because the fix for the dark screen was really easy (if like The Professor you knew what you were doing).

2.  I had a very encouraging conversation with a student's mom.  She was happy that her son is loving my class and learning better writing skills.  This is what keeps me teaching.

And this is my November 19th addition to my November Thankfulness list.

3.  Another student, who I am also tutoring during the week, is moving next month because her father is taking a job in another state.  She wrote me a note to tell me that she doesn't want to move unless I move there, too!  How sweet is that?

4.  I love the colors of autumn.

See?

Southern California has autumn color, too.

5.  My potted geraniums just keep blooming.  Geraniums are wonderful.  They're easy to grow.  And their flowers are so very bright and cheerful.  

In comparison to what others around the world are suffering, my life is sheltered and so easy.  I don't want my Friday Fave Fives to seem trivial.  But sometimes it's best to focus on small, simple things which are also blessings.  I am truly thankful that I have clean water to drink, a warm and safe home.  No one is shooting at me.  I am very aware that others deal with these issues daily.  But sometimes kind words and beautiful flowers help to keep my priorities right.

Friday. It's That Time Again

Friday.  It's Friday Fave Five time.  As you read this, I am wending my east to visit my granddaughter. (Oh, and her parents, too, of course.)  We're going to celebrate her birthday.

1.  That's my first fave.  Our little PAL is ONE.  Stay tuned for photos :)

2.  Saturday afternoon, we drove up the coast hwy and turned off at one of the county parks where The Professor's brother and his wife were 'camping' in their fifth wheeler.  We enjoyed dinner and a long fun chat with them.

3.  I can never get enough of the beach.  This was the view from our 'dinner table'.  Yes, four photos because I can't decide on my favorite.  Those small bumps out at the horizon of the first, third and fourth pictures are a couple of the Channel Islands.

Do you see the tiny island with the palm trees and the bridge connecting it to the mainland?

That's a private spot, used by an oil drilling company.

4.  As long as we were traveling on the weekend, I decided that adding a bit of an extra trip would work out well.  So...I made arrangements to fly on to the east coast and visit my other children.  Arranging this was not an easy task.  Purchasing tickets.  Check.  Easy-peasy.  Packing for two distinct climates.  Check.  Not hard at all.  Finding a sub to teach for me next week.  Now that was a bit harder.  But.  Yes.  Check.  A retired writing teacher, who is also a friend of mine, rearranged her schedule to make herself available to take my classes.  That was a huge help and I am truly thankful for faithful, helpful friends.

5.  I think that maybe our horrible heat wave has broken.  That statement alone involves more than one fave--I'm thankful for slightly cooler weather; I'm thankful for air-conditioning at home; I'm thankful for AC in my car.  Autumn is my least favorite season in Southern California.  Soon we'll be into November and our weather will settle into lower temperatures.

This is Willow's Week in five short paragraphs.  How was yours?

Doors and Rain and Beaches and Students

Willow's Week in Friday Fave Fives.

Hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story

1. Rain!  Did you hear that it rained in Southern California this week??  We really don't know what to do when it rains but we're always happy when it does.  This buzzfeed video made me laugh!

When It Rains in LA

2. I teach homeschool kids how to write.  That's my job.  But teaching kids is more than just a job to me.  Teaching is my opportunity to 'change the world', to influence children (and their parents).  I love it when moms and older kids return to the upper classes and take the time to drop in and see me, give me hugs.  I check how tall they've grown--I'm always the shortest person.  When I greet the new parents, I hope I encourage the ones who know they have children with learning challenges.  Making a difference with these students is the real reason I teach and it encourages me to see the hope in their eyes.

3. I found this quote by Mother Teresa:

Let no one ever come to you

          without leaving better and happier.

Be the living expression of God's kindness:

Kindness in your face,

Kindness in your eyes,

 Kindness in your smile.

4. How I love living near the ocean.  One evening, we took our dinner to the beach.  We sat in our car during dinner, then walked a bit to enjoy the sunset.

5. I have a thing for doors and gates and windows.  I love photographing them.  This week at The Professor's university, I walked past this door on the way to the library.  There's just something mysterious and at the same time inviting about doors, especially ones left ajar.

And you? How was your week?  Were there open doors, inviting sunsets, encouraging words?

September, Here We Come!

Wow, it was a week.  My main focus has been on being ready for my classes which begin in two weeks.  Hours and hours of photocopying. Rewriting lessons and source materials.  Watching training videos.  Attending meetings. I haven't posted anything here for a week and didn't even get around to read others' FFF last week. I usually do, so I am sorry I missed last week.  Anyway, here are my Friday Fave Fives for the first week of September.

1.  So my first fave is an obvious one.  I'm thankful I am ready with lessons through Christmas.  My goal is to have at least the basics of the whole course worked out before classes start.  I'm half way there.

2.  While listening to the training dvds, I am able to simultaneously do some spinning of very brightly colored yarn.  I finished spinning this beautiful wool fiber which was gifted to me by a friend.

Details (if you care):

4 oz merino wool

from Judy's Novelty Wool

Centerville, UT

Color:  Dew on the Moab Desert

What shall I knit?

3.  Excellent meeting with the other teachers in the IEW program.  Wednesday afternoon we met and did business--sample lessons, supply distribution.  What started out as my friend learning this program to teach to her children, then teaching other kids, then inviting me to teach, has grown to include six teachers and an admin!  It's a blessing to me to work with dedicated, like-minded and passionate teachers.  Our goal is to change the world through teaching writing! Think:  a bad idea well presented can influence the world. (Hitler comes to mind)  How much more can a good idea well presented do to change the world!

4.  Some days are like this:  you just have to stop on the side of the road, hop out of the car and enjoy the peaceful view.  [Pt. Mugu beach next to the Navy shooting range where lots of Navy people were practicing and qualifying for their shooting competency, so it wasn't quiet]

5.  Last Sunday The Professor preached (three times!) at our church.  He was pleased to be invited to preach and spent A LOT of time preparing.  It went well.  My two take aways (he calls them 'so whats') were the most important things Jesus said after His resurrection that He wanted His disciples to know:  He is alive.  We are to tell everyone we know that He is alive.  (Acts 1:1-9)

How was your week?

December Faves, Take Two

I love Christmas, but it is also a stressful time.  This month it is more important than ever to focus on for what I am thankful.  Thanksgiving may be so-last-month, but giving thanks is always a current event.  Susanne's Friday Fave Fives is a great venue for doing that.  As I stare at mud everywhere on my street and in my neighborhood, I have been reminding myself of this quote I read last week (my paraphrase):  Be thankful for the many things that are right, and don't focus on the few things that aren't.)  Yes, my neighborhood is a mess.  But we are safe.  If you google mudslide, Camarillo Springs, California, you can read more about it.

1.  Strong and willing helpers were definitely a fave this week.  We had to move our piano.  Although it is a smaller upright spinnet, The Professor and I can not move it ourselves without help.  We asked around and could find only one young big strong guy to help us (huge shout out to Jason who is awesome!).  Then our dental assistant replied to our comment that we were stressed about moving the piano--as she was cleaning our teeth---her husband is big and strong and willing to help. And they brought another strong and big guy with them.  So we the guys got that thing moved right in up the five steps and into place in its new home.  They also moved all the book boxes (they asked, HOW MANY boxes of books do you have???) and the book shelves in less than a half hour total.  What a blessing it was for us to have found willing and strong helpers.

2.  As of Thursday afternoon I am on Christmas Break!  No more explanation necessary.

3.  Oh, those students of mine--they are hilarious and adorable.  One set of classes wrote poems and made cards.  One girl wrote a cinquain poem:

Ms. (my last name)

You're very nice.

I think that you should know

that I love you. Have a Merry

Christmas!

4.  This hawk has been hanging around.  The little wrens and finches aren't thrilled, but I think he's quite handsome.

5.  Blogger got hacked this week.  Did anyone else have a problem?  My blog spent about a day redirecting to some ad site.  The Professor did some research and found out where that issue was and knew google was working on the problem.  I'm thankful it's fixed and I can just let someone else do the fixing.

Have a happy weekend!  Hug the people you love, and be gracious to the people who are grumpy.

Unlnteresting Can Be Good

Hello, it's Friday Fave Five time.  Lately, I've been so overwhelmed with life and responsibilities that I have hardly had time to write here at Willow's Cottage more than once a week.  Hopefully, soon, I'll be back on track.  But I am committed to focusing on Fridays and being thankful for the blessings from the week.  Thanks, Susanne, for leading Friday Fave Fives.

1.  I can tell it's autumn.  It's a little tiny bit cooler at night.  There have been a few foggy mornings. No leaves are shimmering gold or glowing burnt orange.  This is as autumnal as it gets here.  Yeah, it's not much...but it's a sign.  What a re-leaf.

2.  I am enjoying the birds which gather at my neighbor's bird bath daily.  Although I have no idea what kind of birds are playing there, I am amused by them.

3.  I do love my job.  Teaching late elementary school students means I get the best of all worlds.  They're still children.  But they're old enough to interact and contribute to discussions.  Why is it that the GIRLS write stories with sad and brutal endings more often than BOYS do?

4.  Last weekend we were in the land of dry deserts and palo verde trees and saguaro cacti.  The more than fourteen hours in the car was a small price to pay to see our new grandgirl.  Her parents asked me to bring the baby sling/wrap I used to carry my babies, but it is temporarily packed up with the rest of our belongings, so I made a new one.  Gotta love facebook!  I put out a request to my Papua friends to measure the dimensions for an Indonesian selendang, and within just a few minutes, I had the information I needed.  A quick trip to the fabric store for batik material and a spool of thread, an even quicker cut and sew session, and we had a perfect fit.

5.  My husband knows me so well. I asked him if he had a suggestion for a fave.  His immediate thought was, "Sharky's burritos".  Oh yeah!  We do love Sharky's!  I dropped by this afternoon and picked up two burritos to go for dinner--they're generous enough that they fill us up for two meals.  Sharky's = nom noms.

My week wasn't exciting, but it was one of those quiet work-a-day weeks which most often fill our months and years.  And that's ok.  I've been blessed with an uninteresting week.

Fave Fives in Mid May

It's very late on Thursday night and I am writing my Friday Fave Fives.  It's too late to be creative.  I can't think of a catchy title.  But here are Five things which have caught my attention and made me thought and grateful this week.

1.  How can a sad occasion like a memorial service be a fave?  I've thought about this a bit this week since we attended a memorial service for a friend and former co-worker in LA on Saturday.  It's always difficult and sad to see the family grieving and missing someone they love.  But I was struck by the positive attitude of our friend's husband and children.  They have hope in resurrection and that made all the difference.  It was also great to see so many of our former colleagues--it was like a big party.  I think our friend would have been pleased.

2.  He asked, "What do you want to do on Mother's Day?"  I answered, "No restaurants!"  Then I thought about it.  "Let's go for a hike."  So we did.   Yucca plants are blooming on the hillsides in Hill Canyon and Hawk Canyon where we hiked.

The wild mustard is in bloom, too.

3.  This was the last week of school.  Last week of correcting papers.  As I've stated before, "I teach for free.  They pay me to correct papers."  I enjoy my students and love watching them learn to be better writers.  But I also love my summers.  Can't. Wait.

4.  It's always so much fun to read the little cards my students give me at the end of the year.

 "Thank you for working with us so devoutedly [sic].  It has helped a bunch, and will continue to help us.  Again, thank you!"  

"Thank you for teaching me how to improve my writing.  You are a awesome teacher [sic].  You are kind, encouraging, friendly and always happy.  Have a great summer."

"Thank you for all the fun things we did in class, which helped me with my writing.  I really had lots of fun and look forward to next year.  Enjoy your summer and see you in the fall."

"Thank you for this wonderful year you helped me improve my writing oh so very much.  I made you sugar cookies but my brother ate them. :(  Thank you!!"  [NOTE:  we discussed this--and, yes, her brother really did eat all the cookies she baked.]

5.  It has been really really really hot here.  Like melt-my-chocolate-candy, blister-my-bare-feet, make-me-sweat hot.  In Southern California, heat+wind=fire. Have you heard on the news about the combination of heat, wind, and drought that is causing wild fires in California?  No good news there.  The fave is since our neighborhood burned last year, we probably aren't in danger of having another fire whip through near us.  The other part of this fave is the heat is supposed to break by the weekend, and we can have some relief from the three digit temperatures.  On the plus side, I have noticed that the heat has brought more blooms to the heat loving plants on my patio.

Heat, fire, funerals, flowers, hikes, thanks.  Quite a disparity.  This simply proves one can find blessings in all the hot messes of life.  How are you?

When You Teach Students to Write Similes,

this is what you might get:

"Leah was as pretty as a princess."

"These unusual owls had brightly shining blue and red feathers which were as beautiful as sapphires and rubies."

"The dog seemed as smart as a human."

"Raven who was the toughest, meanest girl in all Ventura, teased her hair so high it looked as big as a beehive.

"He was as angry as a gorilla."

And my all time favorite (for this year):

"She was as worried as a porcupine carrying a bundle of balloons."

More May Days

Welcome to this Third Friday in May for Friday Fave Five, Willow's Week edition.

1.  Mother's Day!  All my children called me.  It's a tradition since we live far apart.  The one who was home  decided that evening dinner should be eaten 'out'.  Pad Thai.  Yellow curry.  Green curry.  Wanna know why there are no photos?  We ate it all too fast!

2.  The end of the school year!  That's all I need to say.  Think sleeping in.  Leisurely hikes.  Road trips.  For Three months.

3.  It's also a bit bittersweet.  My students make me laugh every time they read their stories in class.  They let me know they appreciate me.  As the wisdom of this proverb inside the wrapper of a Dove dark chocolate candy says--All you really need is love and a little chocolate doesn't hurt.  My students must know this because as thank you gifts they gave me on the last day of class:
          Chocolate topped toffee.
          World's Finest caramel filled chocolate.
          Godiva chocolate morsels.
          Dark chocolate Tahitian vanilla caramels.

4.  They also know I love to garden.  They gave me:
          A five gallon pink hydrangea plant.
          Potted succulents.
          A vase of garden flowers.
          Home Depot gift card.

5.  Since I am a writing teacher, I often receive notes and poems:
          Dear Mrs. Willow,
             Thank you so much for being my writing class teacher.  I learned a lot.  My absolute favorite thing was writing the 'why story'.  I hope that I have become a much better writer.

          Mrs. Willow is super awesome,
          there is no part of her that's dumb.
          She has a great smile,
          that reaches a mile,
          and that is why this note has come:
          (has come, and that is why this note has come!)

          Our year is finally done,
          everybody has had some fun!
          We partied all year,
          and it is so clear,
          you get a thank you from everyone!

For me, it's officially summer.  More knitting soon.  What shall I cast on?  Any suggestions?

NICU hats?

More felted bowls?

Didn't Mean To

Honestly, my silence on the blog has been unintentional.  I didn't mean to ignore this space for more than two weeks.  It just happened.  Next Wednesday, I begin the 2012-13 school year for teaching writing and composition to elementary aged homeschool kids in my county.  Working from my home (ie. living room) and teaching in three different cities in the county, I spend a large amount of time either maneuvering around my home/workplace or driving to and from classes.  Right now, my living room looks like a paper supply company's storage unit. That's because I have the papers for six classes tidily strewn in orderly piles around the room so I can collect and collate everything I need for the 30 weeks of classes.  That includes the many reams of paper I photocopied at my boss/friend's house last week.  In addition, my brain seems to be locked in to one channel:  school prep.  It's not that I haven't done anything else in the past few weeks. I have.  It's just that I've had no mental energy left for public writing.  Hence, the blog silence.

Unfortunately, I fear that this period will turn in to Silent September.  Six classes in three locations in two cities means I will be busy and focused on setting up my yearly routines.  The Professor has started back to teaching also--fourteen and two/thirds units at the university plus a drama dept. play that is already in production for which he is doing the technical bits like lighting. That means he's a bit busy himself.  I'm not going away forever, just for a couple more weeks until I have settled in to the schedule.  I hope you'll stop by occasionally to check in and let me know you're still thinking of me.