Finding the Balance

"Find Balance, Lane..." this phrase has always been a part of advice friends and family have given me in the past. It was something I reminded myself of the other day. I found myself praying, "God, teach me to have balance." It is something I have to constantly work at and something I have to consciously remind myself of ALL the time!

Read this article today from Relevant Mag. and thought it had some great tips for those of us who struggle with this "balance thing."
I especially have a hard time with #2!!

kris allen pick

Def. liked Kris Allen's version of "Heartless" over Kanye's.

Go VOTE!

Several of the folks that lead worship at 12stone have a shot to go to London and participate in Battle of the Bands and play with Bruce Springstein! They are battling it out with 4 other bands from across america to get to travel over to London! They need our votes! So click here to go vote for "Rudy Vaughn Band!" Also go check out there interview on the Atl. news! Such exciting stuff for these guys!

no more Shrimp for me :(

A few weeks ago, I went to this great, new restaurant on the square in Carrollton(where I'm from) and ordered one of my all time favorite meals...Shrimp and Grits! (if you haven't had this combo...AMAZING! I know it sounds a little interesting, but oh my goodness! it's oh so good!) Anyways, it was probably one of the best bowl of shrimp and grits I have ever had.

On my way back to Atlanta my chin started to feel very heavy.... well, extremely heavy! I looked in the mirror and oh my goodness was it a sight to see! My entire chin was swollen and red! Reminded me of the scene in Hitch when he realizes he has a food allergy to shellfish. I took some benedryl later and it had gone down, but whew it was scary!

Apparently, Hitch and I have the same food allergy...shellfish. I have never had any kind of food allergy, but studies show that more and more people are developing food allergies in their adult years than every before. This is a little sad for me simply because I love all shellfish.....no more shrimp and grits for me! so sad:(

the new "hello"

Saw this segment on the TODAY show this morning. Apparently, hugging has become the new "hello" for teenagers. I find this very difficult to understand...because "hello" for me has ALWAYS been a hug. I realize, however, that hugging is not everyone's "hello." I hugged a sweet friend the other day and realized very quickly she was not a hugger....it could have been an awkward moment, but I wouldn't allow it....I just poked fun at myself for being such an enthusiastic hugger. I personally love that hugs are the new "hello" :)!

Summer Reading

Normally, this time of the year i would do a blog post to get ideas for my summer reading list, but since my summer reading list has already been decided for me thanks to this wonderful thing called grad school...I am going to make a list of books I think anyone who has anytime on their hands should read! (in no particular order)

1. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: Jim Cymbala-beautiful story of Jim Cymbala's journey to The Brooklyn Tabernacle. It challenges me in my faith everytime I read it.(mile marker)
2. A Severe Mercy: Sheldon Vanauken-This book is filled with some of the most beautiful language......it truly is one of the greatest love stories I have ever read.
3. Edward's Eyes:Patricia McLachlan-Young Adult Literature. About the sweet relationship of two brothers.....it's a quick read with just over 100 pages, but the visual images Patricia McLachlan can create in your mind in just those 100 pages is worth every page!
4. Wisdom Hunter: Randall Arthur-Christian Fiction. I'll be honest I normally don't do Christian fiction books. I don't have anything against this genre...just not been one of my faves in the past....UNTIL my husband insisted I read this book. I promise if you pick up this book...YOU CANNOT put it down. Amazing faith journey of a pastor, husband, and father. (mile marker book for me)
5. Uncensored Grace:Jud Wilhite-Amazing stories of people who are beginning their journeys with Christ in the streets of Las Vegas. Their life change and stories of faith are incredibly moving.
6. Windows of the Soul:Ken Gire-I promise if you read this book you will see things in your life in a totally new way. After reading this book I can honestly say that the lens I see life through became much more focused and clear. A true picture of Christ in every window of our lives. We keep a couple copies of this book on hand to give people when they stay with us.
7.(Warning:Teacher Recommendation...will only interest a certain group of people...to everyone else: BORING!)
When Kids Can't Read by Kylene Beers: Kyleene shares how to help kids on ALL levels in their reading abilities. I know as a teacher sometimes when we diagnose a reading problem we dont' exactly know what to do from there. She literally will take the problem and give you step by step on what to do and how to take students from that particular reading struggle and help them grow as readers. I am reading through it (again) after June to get some ideas for the upcoming school year.
8. Night by Elie Wiesal(winner of Nobel Peace Prize): Autobiography of a child and his father and their time and journey through the Holocaust concentration camps. Amazing strength and will to live.

Mile Marker=I can remember where I was and what I was doing and what I thought when I read these books.

What books are you planning to read over summer? I hope you all get to pick up some good books over the summer. Let me know if you check out any of the books from the list. I love book discussions:)

Happy Reading!

summer is here:)

School is out.....and while I am so thankful for it to be out and the wonderful break from kids....the month of June is going to be crazy. I will be posting and updating, but probably not quite as often as I would like. Too much right now. Pray for June 27th. I take my comp. exam so I can finish my Master's degree. It entails so much...anyways, I hope you all keep blogging....because I love, love reading:) I will have a life again after June 27th....Happy Summer Everyone!

Just The Piano

I love piano music. I like orchestra too....but there's just something about the sound of one piano being played. My grandmother (dad's mom) gave me piano lessons when I was little (I can play a little...not much). She was the grandmother who always took us to plays, Phantom of the Opera, art shows, etc... She really wanted to make sure we had a deep understanding of "the arts." One thing I loved is that she always had some kind of piano music playing at her house. If she wasn't giving lessons...she was listening to some kind of classical station.

Some days i have a "piano day." On my commute to work, sometimes I just get in a piano only mood and that's all I'll listen to all day. I find it very inspiring and motivating. (I realize this is quite a contradiction to my previous playlist...but it really is motivational and moving to listen to.) Could be another reason I enjoyed this commercial so much, and why I think Coldplay and John Legend are so amazing...they incorporate so much piano (and every instrument) into their music.

This probably sounds a little nerdy, but I've always wanted to go to a symphony concert outside in a park (I'm sure this dream probably stemmed from something I saw on a movie or read in a book), but I think a "symphony in the park concert" on a summer evening would be amazing. I'm pretty sure ASO (atlanta symphony orchestra) does this at Piedmont Park in the summers....it's definitely on my "want to do soon list." Anyways...here are some of my faves:

George Winston (anything by him is so great!)
Chris Rice (I love his instrumental album)
Forrest Gump Suite
Michael W. Smith Instrumental Album
August Rush Soundtrack

Doodle 4 Google

Thought this was really cool: Christin Enelberth won the "Doodle 4 Google" contest and had her "google" logo displayed today on the Google search page. Here's what she said about her art:
A New Beginning
My doodle, "A new beginning," expresses my wish that in the current crisis discoveries will be made. That in these discoveries solutions will be found to help the Earth prosper once more. That those solutions will help the world get back on its feet, and create a better place for everyone.
Christin Engelberth
Bernard A. Harris Jr High School
San Antonio, TX

I watched the interview with her this morning on TODAY show....she said, "I couldn't believe I won it!" I love seeing kids live beyond themselves! Love it!

Polarized

If you are wondering how these pics got this super polaroid look it's due to my new favorite app on iPhone....Polarized. Go get it...it's a free one!

Unchained Celebration with 12Stone

Today was the "Unchained" event with 12Stone at the Gwinnett Braves Stadium. So many things happened that made this event so much FUN! Quick rundown: 9,000 people from gwinnett and surrounding areas worshipped an incredible God together, t-shirts shot in the air, beach balls everywhere, "Bring Me to Life", people "signing on" to the vision of 12stone, ice cream, a bizillion volunteers who served their hearts out, I heart FB (flowery branch) t-shirts, and praying for the Next Generation.

It really was an incredible morning. Here are a few pics:

Canon Rebel XSi Commercial

Absoloutely love this commercial. Maybe because it captures moments of people doing life....moments of passion.

Takes me back to a time in my life several years ago when so many things about the future were uncertain.....a constant prayer in my life was, "God, what is your will? Show me your will." During that time I read a book by Erwin McManus and he wrote, "Even if you feel paralyzed...just DO SOMETHING. There's so much good to do. So do something."

Such an inspiring message that even to this day reminds me to get off my "donkey" (in P.K.ism) and DO SOMETHING....to live.

MSM a mi casa:)

We had our Middle School Volunteers and kids over tonight for a cookout. I am so thankful for all of them and the ministry they have to the junior high students at 12stone. Truly....ministry can't happen without these incredible people! B. only ended up getting this one pic. of the night. Here I am teaching some of our precious MSM vol kids how to play "Spoons." We had the best time!

A Red Carpet Kind of Day

We have had a very eventful week in my classroom. I'll start with our red carpet event yesterday. Earlier in the week I shared about all of our read alouds from the year and the one we voted on to be inducted into Mrs. Moore's Book Academy. Well, yesterday we had our red carpet, podium, and it was the first book to be inducted into the Book academy. It was so dramatic, but my kids loved it! During writing workshop Thursday, they helped me write the speech that was shared about Home of the Brave. We had special guests come in and even a real red carpet that topped it off!

I gave a short speech about literacy and the importance of the passion they have created this year for reading and writing. Can you believe I got misty-eyed??! Probably not if you read this.( I don't know how you people with kids make it....I know I will be wreck at every single important event for my kids....cross that bridge when it comes:).... I am just so proud of these kids and how much they grew this year as readers and writers.

After the book academy ceremony I had my own Literacy Awards day. Each student received an award for something spectacular they did this year in reading or writing workshop. Here are just a few of the awards given out: Best Lead Sentence in a Narrative, Best Use of Sensory Details in a narrative, Best use of Persuasive Language, Best use of Rule of 3, Spiderwick Award (who went to the student that read the most Spiderwick Books), Rotten School Award, The Reading Workshop Award, The Writing Workshop Award.... each student received some kid of literacy award....it was such a great time.

The biggest surprise came when I told them they would get to pick a book out of my classroom library to take home with them for the summer. You would have thought I was giving out gold! I love that they think books are like gold.....goal: accomplished:)

Here are some of the pics from our red carpet kind of day:) (Don't you just love my ghetto red paper carpet?!)

Reading and Writing Workshop: Part 2...come join us!

Speaking of summer:
I try not to get too teacher-esque on this blog, but because time is not on my side I have not updated "Across the Hall" the way I would like....so I'll just say it here at LaneDMoore:

My "Across the hall" friend, Katie and I will be teaching two professional learning courses this summer for Hall County! "Reading and Writing Workshop: Part 2" It's a secondary course to the introductory "Reading Institute" taught by Heather Wall and the "Writing Institute" taught by Cheryl Cole. Ever since my Reading Institute experience last summer in NYC with "The Reading and Wrting Project" I have been so fired up about some cool things and practices in the classroom (concerning reading and writing). We are so excited about WHAT we are teaching and can't wait to get some teachers fired up about it too! We have been planning like crazy and have some great things in store for our teachers! If you are a Hall County teacher, grades 2-5 sign up! Course will be held June 10-12 8am-3pm and June 17-19, 8-3.

a doozie of a to-do list

Summer is approaching....and I must say of all summers this one is going to be a doozie. Dont' get me wrong....I'm pumped for any kind of break and SOOO thankful for a break from the daily routine with students. But I'm taking my comp. exam for grad school...because again..I graduate in August! I started my summer classes tonight and got a little overwhelmed....actually that's a lie....I got A LOT overwhelmed. This requires so much preparation and study on my part...and there are so many other "to do's"!

Made me think of this.... P.K.'s message on Mother's Day this past Sunday: "God doesn't remove the tension, but gives you the grace to withstand it."

Mother's Day Dance

Loved this video the production team made for Mother's Day. So much fun.

10 things I love, love, love about my Mom!

10 things I love about my Mom:
1. Anything makes her laugh.
2. She makes the best homemade biscuits I've ever put in my mouth.
3. She has the thickest southern accent that definitely gives Paula Deen a run for her money!
4. She has the sweetest hugs.
5. I love that every night as a child she used to tell us stories from her childhood on the farm.....we would beg for story after story.
6. She is super crafty....she has some of the most beautiful paintings and can turn a junky piece of furniture into a treasure.
7. She whistles ALL the time.....walking out the door, in the door, in the parking lot....ANYWHERE! (as a teenager, this embarrassed me....but I so appreciate it now!)
8. She ALWAYS thinks of others before herself. She is truly selfless in every way.
9. She's completely transparent.
10. She has the most pure view of people...doesn't judge...just loves.

I have such a great mom! So thankful for all the beautiful traits she's instilled in all of her children and grandchildren:) Happy Mother's Day, Mom:)

Lyndsay Deidox Movies

Ran across this video on Trinity Grace Church nyc website. Loved this video of a teacher in Brooklyn....I could really relate to her story and life. Another reason i do what I do....it's inspiring. Thankful for people who live life selflessly.

Red Carpet coming soon....

This year we had 5 read alouds: 1.Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman 2. Edward's Eyes by Patricia McLachlan 3. The Miraculous Journey of Edward TuLane by Kate DiCamillo 4. Rules by Cynthia Lord 5. Home of the Brave by Katharine Applegate

Along the way we played "Siskel & Ebert" and voted each one according to plot, character development, and language. The following got A's: Edward's Eyes, The Miraculous Journey of Edward TuLane, and Home of the Brave.

Finally, we voted on one to be inducted into Mrs. Moore's Book Academy. And the winner is......Home of the Brave by Katharine Applegate!

We will be having an Academy (red carpet) ceremony this Friday to celebrate this significant event! Check back soon for pictures! My kids are so pumped for their first "Red Carpet" event!

One side note: If you have kids grades 3-6...any of these books are great reads! I promise you..they will love them! They are excellent to practice any reading strategy with and they all have such beautiful story lines.

The images in our mind

Just finished this book with my class Friday afternoon. Such a beautiful story about a "Lost Boy" from Africa who searches for his mother throughout the book. The novel describes his experiences and interactions with all of the "firsts" of American culture. In his broken English he explains how he rode on the "flying boat" to get to America (the airplane)....or how he saw tiny red suns hanging by a wire in the streets (red lights). My kids had so much fun trying to figure out what it was he was describing. Besides all of the beautiful language used to portray English words, the book was written in free verse! This was my first novel I've read that was written completely in free verse.

I can honestly say that the ending is a tear jerker. I could barely read the last page aloud to my kids. As I read the last few lines, I looked around the room and half of my class (boys & girls & me) were all in tears! When I shut the book my kids all applauded....which will forever confirm this idea: the images and visualizations we create in our mind are so much better than those we see on a screen. Don't get me wrong...I love movies more than most people, but the movie is never, never, never better than the BOOK!

A little bit of Heaven on Earth....yes I'm talking about food:)

Had one of these the other day at the baseball game. A funnel cake is a necessity in my life at least once maybe twice a year. It was so good. I hope this isn't just a southern thing because every bite is a divine encounter...I think all should get to experience this little piece of heaven on Earth:)

Nutritional Backpacks

Saw a commercial tonight advertising the Backpack Program. Such an awesome idea. Students who would struggle to receive nutritional foods over the weekend at their homes are sent home each Friday with a backpack filled with nutritional foods for the weekend. I know for certain the school I work at would benefit greatly from a program like this. Love this idea....thankful that people are so creative to continue to invent new ways to help others.

yard sales

Went to some great yard sales downtown Atl with my friend Leslie this past Saturday. I am all about a "good deal" and oh yes...I found some great ones! I have been looking for an "antiquey" chair to put in the corner of our bedroom and finally found one! I'm going to strip the color this summer and paint it white and cover it with some of the fabrics from my spring break project.

I also found this great skirt...for $1! Can't beat it!