Build it and They Will Come!

Working our way through the corn maze!

Tesfaye, SaraJane, Micah, Laura, Joel and Hermon at the Pumpkin Patch!

Step Into Africa

This weekend we made a trip down to Fort Collins to experience the World Vision exhibit, Step Into Africa. This walk-through exhibit was very interactive and takes you into the heart of Africa and into the life of a child. The exhibit features four different children and how the AIDS crisis has affected their personal life. We highly recommend that you check out the site and find if they will be coming to a town near you. It is a great way to remember the children of Africa and find out what you can do to help them.
If you cannot attend the exhibit in person then please check out the following link Step Into Africa Online to hear some more of the stories.

Motivation

Coincidentally brother Jonathan introduced us to the author Jonathan Kozol early last spring. We had the opportunity to attend the John P. "Jack" Ellbogen Symposium for Teaching and Learning this afternoon and listen to Mr. Kozol himself speak on his latest book, Letters to a Young Teacher. This is his most recent publication and addresses many controversial issues such as: high-stakes testing, corporate involvement in public schools, and yes, as hard as it is to believe, the re-segregation of urban schools. it is a very interesting book and I am reading through it for a second time.
Now maybe it is because I am a teacher, maybe it is because I am one of the most emotional people I know, maybe it is because of both, but I spent a portion of this address crying. This man was so encouraging of teachers and spoke so highly of them. He spoke of the hardships they endure, the battles they come up against everyday and of the many, many joys of breaking through the HUGE walls that surround some children academically and emotionally. My heart swelled with joy listening to this person, whom I have never met, speak so passionately about the many things I myself have felt so deeply. It made me feel like someone was out there advocating for teachers-and still believed in supporting us and public education.

Blossom

A little over a year ago I met my dear friend Emily. Emily moved to Laramie after her husband decided to go back to school for education. She had just finished her schooling and was now a practicing nutrition therapist and yoga teacher. I had a goal to complete a yoga class. Despite the nervousness I first felt - and the need to have Micah drop me off so I would actually make it - I really enjoyed the practice and it would be foolish for me to not admit how much I have grown from yoga becoming a more regular part of my life.
So when Emily mentioned that she was considering opening up her own yoga studio, I was very excited for her. This is a person who has such passion and excitement for life-it is hard to not get excited and passionate with her! Emily found a place downtown and with the help of family and friends fixed it up quite nicely. You can't even tell that it used to be a candy store! So after many longs days of hard work she opened up Blossom Yoga Studio on October 6th. We are so proud of her and know that she will bring so much to this community with her dedication to people and her passion for life. Way to go Emily!