Lesson(s) Learned

Searching… One....two... three...                 Hide -n- seek. It’s child’s play, and we all know how it works. One person counts (without looking!!), and all the others run to their assumed “spots” to hide. They wait, sit tight, and try not to move a muscle whilst the “seeker” comes to find them.                 Lately, I’ve realized that this whole hide -n- seek madness is no longer reserved for child’s play. Rather, it’s become a reality in my life. At times, I feel like everyone’s found their assumed “spots” in life. They’re settled in, and they’re just waiting there. Sitting tight. Not changing a single thing or making a single muscle’s move. Yet, I’m still role-playing as the “seeker.” While, no, I’m not necessarily trying to “seek” out everyone else and disturb them from their comfort places, I do somewhat feel like I’m the onl...

September 6, 2010 So, my house started smelling like bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S. and I soon realized that the trash just had to go. Then, I had these thoughts.... When you hear the word "disposable," what do you think of? A mother of little ones might think Diapers. Or Lunchables. Or Paper Towels. Ok, you get the idea. We all use disposable items in our lives. They aren't always bad. In fact, they're quite nice. Convenient. Not complicated. In some ways, recyclable. Easy-to-do-away-with. Disposable. My dear (and often inaccurate) friend, Wikipedia actually got it right when it defined disposable as being "A product designed for cheapness and short-term convenience rather than medium- to long-term durability." Disposable items often do have their place in our lives. But would you be surprised if I said we've taken this concept of "disposable. nice. convenient. easy-to-do-away-with." and  disposabilized things that shouldn't be d...

October 18, 2010 So, apparently, this fall, two things are in the air. Love. -and- Allergens. No joke. Seemingly, everyone I know is finding the love of their lives, getting engaged, or finding out they’re pregnant. While most are catching this thing called “love” that’s in the air, I’m finding myself catching onto the latter of the two - allergies.  I haven’t been ultra-sick lately. My allergy issues seem to come and go. But I recently noticed there was a problem when “Claritin” became the number two staple item on my weekly grocery list – right underneath “milk.” Eeeee. #whatsagirltodo Since I’ve become a pro at “catching allergies” (as if it were some accomplishment to check off of a “to-do” list), I figured I could move on to accomplishing Fall season objective number two: falling in love. But hold up. It’s not what you think. I’m not overly anxious to meet the love of my life, marry, and ride off into the sunset of my “happily ever after.” While it’s not a bad idea ...

November 30, 2010 I noticed something today. Something quite interesting. Informative. Humorous, even. Something quite powerful, actually. As some of my dear students were “cutting up” today, I simply glanced across the room and shot out “the look.” You know what “look” I’m talking about. It’s the teacher “look.” The mom “look.” The stranger’s “I-don’t-care-who-yo-momma-is,-but-you-best-straighten-yourself-up look.” We’ve all gotten it at some point in our lives. (Ahem. Some still do.) Though each “look” may vary in sight, they all carry the same poignant message. And we all know – without verbalizing anything – exactly what that message is. And you know what? That look. It always works. Always. It worked with my mom and me when I was growing up. I’m sure it worked with her and her mom. And it most definitely worked today in the classroom. Even if behavior doesn’t change immediately, something changes on the inside. A message is sent. A decision is made. Consequences...

January 17, 2011 Teen Spirit Don’t you wish we all had Teen Spirit? No, I’m not talking about the fruity-smelling deodorant for pre-teen girls that was oh-so-popular in the 90’s. I’m talking about the spirit many teens have. Let’s face it: they do some pretty crazy and ridiculous stuff, sometimes. And they do it because they lack a few things…. discretion, common sense, an ever-present momma to tell them “no.” But another thing they lack is a sense of fear.  Like Taylor Swift’s song, they’re (seemingly) fearless. But as the hands on the grow-up time clock move forward, many obstacles and realities of life steal away their ability to be naturally fearless. Relationships disappoint. Finances dissipate. Health disintegrates. Life doesn’t go according to (how they) planned. Thus, expectations drop. Dreams die. Vision disappears. And fear begins to set up camp in their little hearts and lives. The Bible tells us that God does not give a spirit of fear, but I know He’s m...

I love to write. There's something freeing about it. Something special. Something unique. Something that allows me to express what I'm thinking, feeling, and how God is moving me through the daily ins and outs of my life's routines. I typically draw spiritual lessons from the "mundaneness" of everyday life, and posts all of my babblings onto Facebook. I'll be the first to admit it. I spend a ridiculous amount of time on Facebook. #I'mworkingonthat In attempts to share just a little bit of what God's teaching me on a regular basis combined with the fact that my earthly Daddy inspires me and encourages me more than anything to write, I started this blog. Hence, the name "a girl and her daddy." On some occasions, you'll see my posts along with my dad's well-timed, wisdom-packed responses to them. But, in most instances, you'll simply see the inner workings of who I am through my writings. I hope my writing encourages you, gives ...

Why would the little boy think to push the button? Did his Mom teach him about it, or maybe he saw someone else do it and believed he could to. (Other people are watching what you are doing) So why push the button? (Replace the button with faith as needed) 1) There is a door too big for the boy to open by himself. But by the button the door will open. 2) The boy needs to go inside. The door is between him and inside. It must be opened. Couldn't find a brick so tried the button. 3) Other people need to go in. The boy can help them by using the button to open the door for them. 4) The boy can use the button to do what it would take a man to do. 5) The boy enjoys the blast of cold/warm air each time the door opens. 6) The boy opens the door so he can receive the praises of the people around him. 7) Little boys are made to push buttons. It is just something inside them that they can not control. 8) Let's face it, seeing big doors open by pushing a button is just exciting....

Disclaimer: I have no children of my own. All of the story that follows is based off of my experience with children through teaching, years of babysitting, and observance of others' children. For those of you with children, please enjoy what you are about to read. …. Or, correct me if I’m wrong. I still have MUCH to learn. The Automaticity of a Child I observed something this morning that sure did make me smile. As I was walking into Thomas Road’s “Main Street” to get to LCA today in the wee hours of the morning, a little kindergarten-aged boy rrrraaaannnn up in front of me and pushed the button for the automatic doors to open. His little face got SO excited that the door automatically opened for him, and even more so, because HE was the one to push the button that was as big as the palm of his hand. The way he lit up at that moment was absolutely precious to say the least. His eagerness for the day excited me, and for a brief moment in time, my mind wandered into thoughts of “...