Hello #12...Brains?

Mom!  Guess what?  We got to look at brains today in class! The gears in my head started moving almost instantly.  I thought to myself.  Brains?  What?  (gears speeding up)  Ok, maybe they dissected a frog or something.  Then my son chimed in, “Yeah, a human one!”  (record scratches)   Wait, WHAT!  My mind then kicked into overdrive and I started to think of all the CSI episodes I had watched in college.  My oldest proceeded to tell me more.   I listened further.  “Mom, did you know there is a protective coating around the human brain and a sheep’s brain is really small."  The wheels in my head were still moving.  I had always heard sheep were dumb.  Turns out the all grade levels had a chance to view and touch the specimens. The fourth grade all the way down to the preschoolers had their chance to learn about the brain and got to experience them hands on.  I say this tongue-in-cheek, they were all grossly fascinated.  I was too.  “Tell me more, I said.”  I thought to myself, I have got to meet this woman!

Dr. Brenda Houck-Wolff is a research neuro-scientist and professor who specializes in the brain.  At the time of this interview she worked in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Colorado Anchutz Medical Campus.  She has since moved and has accepted a position at the University of Wyoming.  Brenda is a mother of two.  Thankfully she says her schedule is flexible and she is able to tend to them if they need anything extra.  She says balance without a doubt is the most difficult thing about motherhood.   The balance between doing her career and enjoying it, time for kids, and taking time for herself is difficult at times.  Aside from those things, she says “you also have to make sure your marriage is working.”  Sometimes guilt sets in.  She loves to work out because it helps her stay sane but often thinks of her kids when she’s away.   

Through all of it, Brenda really likes being with her kiddos and hanging out with them.  She likes to see them grow and learn new things.  As a scientist she finds she is constantly analyzing their behavior.   A couple of things people may not know about her is one, she bought a baby-sitting business to pay her way through college; and two, she accomplished four Iron-Man triathlons.   How awesome is that!  Have a wonderful day!

Switch!

Hello all!  Just checking in to say we will be winding up the rest of our Mommy Hellos tomorrow.  I had the greatest time chatting with all of you wonderful ladies.  Moms and Dads hang in there Summer Break is almost here!  We're on the long stretch over here! The last 50 yards has never been so hard to run, BUT it has been fun.  On another note, I am currently interviewing some awesome fellas to celebrate fatherhood next month. Yay!  If you know any awesome Daddys please take a minute and say something nice to them.  I know it would be encouraging.  When a man steps up to the plate and decides to be a father apart from conception amazing things happen to the children they raise.  Have an awesome night!

No doubt!

Disabilities, we all have them.  Some are not seen. They go undercover poking holes at our sides.  It is amazing when we find our abilities in our disability.  We are fearfully and wonderfully MADE.  Each roadblock, setback, detour makes us all the more beautiful!  Congratulations Drew, you showed some real muscle tonight.

Hello #11...Substance

She is very beautiful to say the least.  Any outsider would probably think this woman has it all together.  She always smiles and is such a pleasure to be around.  Sometimes it’s easy to tuck our desires away and occupy ourselves with the other wonderful gifts we’ve been given.  A great husband, job, house, and travel are some to name a few, but Jinny had always wanted to be a mother.  She continually prayed in her heart for a child.  Life’s highs shifted to lows when she and her husband decided to try and get pregnant.  It was found that a cancerous cyst prevented her from conceiving.  Surgery was required to remove the cyst.  The doctor warned her that even after surgery she might not conceive.  Not moved by the news, Jinny kept believing in God’s promise.

It is something when there is a bubbling up of faith to believe for what is unseen.  The first month after the doctor released her to conceive she found that jaw dropping word… POSITIVE!   She was pregnant!  She said it was a beautiful blessing.  At 20 weeks the doctor said there could be something wrong with the baby.  They wanted to do a test of the amniotic fluid.  She decided against genetic testing.  Concerning the baby, her husband said no matter what the outcome he was thankful for the blessing from God in their child.  She felt the same.  They wanted him just the way he is.  When the doctor notified her to say the baby was fine, Jinny was neither happy nor sad at the news she received.  She was joyous at the little gift she carried and was prepared for whatever the outcome was.  Regardless of the outcome she was thankful to God for sending him the way he is.   

Nine months of carrying her bundle of joy came to an end.   After 26 hours of labor and an emergency C-section because the baby had turned and the umbilical cord was wrapped around him Jehiel Marco Johnson was born.  Saying hello to her baby was a surreal moment.  She said of his birth, “When I heard his cry all the pain went away!  It was the most beautiful moment of my life.”  She recalled putting a picture of his ultrasound in the crib next to her bed five months prior to his birth. “Loving your child is an amazing love.”  Of her son Jinny says, "Jehiel is a very loving baby.  He is always smiling"  She noticed it was important to him to see others smile.  "He makes everyone happy!” 

When asked what hello means to her, she says, “Hello is the beginning.  It’s the first thing you say to someone.  It’s the beginning  of something beautiful, something  fresh.  In Spanish we say, hola!" Jinny lives in Puerto Rico.  Have a wonderful day!

And now a word from our sponsor...tee-hee!

Hey everybody!  We're getting back into the groove of things from spending a fabulous Sunday  at Rock the Food Co-op II: Bluegrass and Brews at Conservatory Park in the Northfield Stapleton area. This was a great event for a great cause to raise money for the Northeast Community Co-op Market that is in development and will support local Colorado farmers, businesses, etc.  Yay!  For more information or to become a member go to http://www.northeastco-op.org   We also had the pleasure of chatting with many wonderful Hellos both local and from abroad.  Special shout out to Jan from Cape Cod!  You are hilarious!  Thank you Adrienne, Delicia, and Sweetie Man (that's my husband) for your assistance and prayers.

We'll resume this month's tribute to the wonderful mom's everywhere.  More awesome mama's to come.  With that said, if you know any mother's in need of a lift, a laugh, or a bit of encouragement please have them read this month.  In June it will be the Papas' turn to have some recognition for all they contribute to their families.  Have a wonderful day!

Hello #10...Rosie Jon continued

(PHEW!  Made it!  Hello everyone, sorry for the delay...yesterday was very interesting to say the least.)

As women, we do an amazing job of comparing ourselves, our bodies, jobs, and interests.  We are constantly asking, am I good enough; when God is saying SURE YOU ARE!   The introduction to this blog states that we are people beautifully created.  Why wouldn’t we be enough?  My hope for moms everywhere is for them to realize they’re worth instead of the many titles they wear.  Stepping out on a new adventure is like jumping off a cliff but very exciting.  With that said, we continue our interview with inspirational artist Rosie Jon.

Of taking on a new adventure, such as, painting she says, “God is the best encourager.  We are the ones who are too afraid,”  Once she took the first step to do what she was called to do it was like letting go and having absolute trust in Him.  “We live in a world where everything is materialistic. The definition of beauty is distorted.”  She likes to work with mixed media.  Every time she paints it’s a new experience and she learns something new.  She finds inspiration for her subjects through visions she has.  On one painting she used little square mirrors for light.  She loves to create videos through painting and is interested in film making. 

It took her forever to even upload any video from her artistic endeavors to the internet.   She recalls sitting at the computer with her toe hovering over the enter button for hours, finally deciding to press the button.  When asked how she would encourage mothers to step out, she says, “Just like how we expect our children to fall into our hands when they’re in trouble we need to fall into His hands.  We need to let ourselves be covered up by God’s love.”  She also admits stepping out takes a lot of courage and it’s not easy.  She shares from her own experience to never look back in regret.

Can you imagine the trail she is leaving for her little people follow?   She says being a mom has been a really big learning experience about God’s love, unconditional love, and what it truly means to love one another.  “Nothing is perfect but to live your life.  Perfection doesn’t exist except through Christ.  There is a huge amount of blessing you experience through it (life).”   When asked if she and her husband plan on having more kids she stated they both want a big family but want to take their time.  Two busy boys are enough for now.   Have a wonderful day!

By the way if you want more information about Rosie or  want to view more of her work please check out her website at www.rosiejon.com.  She's on twitter too ya'll!

Hello #10...Rosie Jon

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
                                                                                         Psalm 42:7 (NIV)

Annyeonghaseyo!  That’s Korean for Hello.  Oh, if you could see the smile on my face!  I was over-the-moon at the chance to do this interview.   Every now and then something happens that literally gets your blood pumping.  You can feel a surge of energy make its journey from the bottom of your feet all the way through until it reaches your mouth in one big shout, “YES!”  It's what I felt when seeing a video post from Jesus Painter Ministries on Facebook. (See May 5 post entitled, busy, Busy, BUSY!)  The blue and white is what caught my eye.  The ocean, my favorite place to be.  Ironically enough the video was set to “Oceans” by Hillsong United which happened to be one of my most favorite songs.  The view felt so intimate.  It was as if I was perched on her shoulder watching her paint.  The movement of her toes, holding the brush was like a dance between paint and canvas.  It took my breath away. Then came the tears.  First drops and then a steady stream of salty water dripping down my chin.  My two youngest were with me at the time.  Their big brown eyes were also in awe of what they were seeing and they were concerned with the sudden flood of water on my face.  “Is mommy sad”, asked my two year old.  It was quite the opposite.  God is good.

Rosie Jon is a descendant of Korean parents.  She was born in the UK.  She is a wife, mother of two, and as of a little over a year ago inspirational artist.  Amazing things happen when we decide to say yes.  Through the course of her life I believe yes has pushed her to this point.  The fact she doesn’t have the full length of her arms is minimal compared to the fact that on a daily basis she is willing not just to live, but pursue what she is called to do.  Her mom had a vivid dream of her grandmother opening a big book to reveal her name.  Of the dream Rosie says,"It was that dream that gave her clear understanding that God had a great plan for her from the very beginning."  As a little girl she was very determined.  Stubborn, she was driven to achieve greater things.   Her way of proving to the world she could do more than what they thought she could was to go for it!  Everyone expected her to go to art school.  Instead, she pursued a degree in math and computer science where she meant her husband. 

The destination of standing at the edge of a canvas is recent.  While feeling a nudging to paint she joined CBS, Community Bible Study which led her to meet Cindy Halsted of We want more.org.  Cindy invited her to a woman’s retreat and asked her to paint.  It was a little more than a year ago Rosie stood on her left leg for an hour and a half painting the vision of what she saw;  Jesus smiling.  Of this new passion she says she just wants to use her gifts the way He wants her to.  To not be afraid and basically go for it! 

One of the definitions of joy is a source or cause of great happiness.  It amazes me that when we find ourselves doing what were called to do it propels us into worship because it allows the Gifts God has been given to flow from the source…Him.  Return, we’ll have more about Rosie tomorrow.  Have a wonderful day!

Note:  I misquoted Rosie in saying her Grandmother had the dream.  It was actually her mother's dream.  Thanks!

REWIND…Hello #2 (officially) Yay!

Remember the wonderful lady who was like the child whisperer to both my kiddos who were melting down before entering school.  Her name is Christine.  She has three kiddos of her own and is very active in the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) at Monarch Montessori.  You wouldn’t know it by seeing her.  She does not flaunt who she is or what she has done to help the school.  She is PTO by her actions. With gentle, purposeful interaction she tries to make everyone feel comfortable and welcomed.  That was certainly the case for me on more than one occasion.  There is also more than a few people who think she is great person too.  More about that in a little bit.

Christine found Monarch and “totally fell in love with it because it fit.”  Her daughter had a hard time adjusting to traditional learning.  She was enrolled in a private school.  Everyday her daughter would melt down before class because she didn’t want to go.  This is one of the reasons why she has such empathy for other parents because she’s been there.  At Monarch there is such a sense of community.  The school rallied around her and supported her and her kids while going through a nasty divorce.  The whole Montessori philosophy of teaching kids order and how to focus on a task to see it through to completion was two-fold.  It taught her kids how to be more independent which helped out at home. 

Christine became a room-mom which ultimately lead to her joining the PTO.  She attended outreach gatherings and helped organize a Trunk or Treat event at the school that brought over 200 parents, students, and staff together.  She wishes parents would get more involved in school because the teachers work so hard.  She says of the PTO, “It connects students and teachers.  It also helps bridge the primary school to the charter school.”

Besides being a loving mom of three and a major supporter of her kiddos, she also has much going on behind the scenes.  Isn’t that the case with all moms?  She is also a seamstress and designer.  She learned to sew when she was a little girl.  Growing up she always liked fashion.  She became a stylist for professional athletes.  The job taught her a lot about fabric. Most athletes as she says are, “crazy unproportioned”.  As a stylist she wore many hats.  Her girls loved frill and so she designed their bedrooms.   A friend asked her to make the drapes for a hotel down town.  With success and five sewing machines she is forming her own business step by step.  One thing she says people don’t know about her is that she is really shy and nerdy.   

When asked what hello means to her she says, “It could mean so much.  It says you’re interested in knowing about others.  Hope your day is beautiful orI’m wishing you the best for your day!”  She wants others to feel comfortable.  Maybe by saying hi to others their day might not be so grumpy.  I couldn't agree more!   Have a wonderful day everyone!

Celebrate!

Happy Monday all!  This month we will continue to celebrate by posting amazing stories about amazing women who have the pleasure of calling themselves mom. Tomorrow we'll wind up our posts about some of the wonderful people from Monarch Montessori.  This one is a busy mother of three who takes time to be involved in the PTO.  I wanted to spend some time interviewing ladies who are also mothers.  So many times in the case of motherhood the heart of a woman, who she is, and the gifts she possesses takes a backseat to chauffeur, cook, nurse, etc.  Who are these awesome mamas?  What do they enjoy?  What has been the success and challenges in motherhood?  Is there anything about them you do not know?  Of course there is!  My grandmother used to say still water runs deep.  We'll find out what currents are swirling beneath the surface.  Have a wonderful day!

Hello #9...Walk it Out

You'll usually find Rob Clements in his favorite spot:  assisting teachers with the Drive Line.  It is a kind of valet to facilitate kids and their parents.  Parents drive through. Their car doors are opened to a friendly face who greets both child and parent.  For kids, they are received into their day with a smile and parents have the reassurance their children are in good hands.  What a way to begin a school day!       

Mr. Clements is used to providing kids with an introduction to their day.  He previously worked for Adventure Trek an organization that took kids into beautiful remote areas of the U.S. wilderness to ultimately teach them life skills and how to build relationships.  It was a dream job that combined his love for the outdoors with teaching others how to become more independent and thrive.  He became a small businesses consultant who advised businesses to improve their function by building strong communities, so they could survive the recession.  As the journey continued, he applied for a random job listing in education. 

Walking out the dream sometimes requires leaving the path your on and starting a new one.  The theme of independence and thriving along with building things to last has become a concrete theme to follow.  The trail continues, after working at a couple of schools with major successes and one who was resistant to the possibilities involved with change he landed a job at Monarch Montessori.  He knew nothing about how a Montessori school functioned but had to assess what worked and what needed fine tuning.    Monarch was open for change for better without interrupting the true character of Montessori and its curriculum. 

Rob oversees two institutions within one school.  First steps and charter are actually two separate entities; daycare and academics.  Bottom line, find money for it and a school can grow.  Financing is critical.  Rob says, “Most charter schools fail because of lack of funding.”  Regular principals usually come from the classroom.  He is in charge of the business aspect of the school.  He creates the budget for successful programs such as Super Kids reading program!  He is the manager of finance. 

Leadership must be versatile.  A person’s ego has to be swiftly kicked to the side.  He says the hardest thing about schools is that they are full of people.  “You can’t get anything done unless there’s a relationship.  It takes a lot of time and goals to create a sense of family.”  Along with valet, add mediator, host, (Coffee with Mr. Rob is a place for parents to ask questions and get answers about what’s happening at school).   He can also add school nurse to his repertoire. (He cleaned up a nasty cut my son received at school.  He thoroughly explained how it would heal and it was my choice if I wanted to take him home.  He was so calm in handling the situation.  I felt comfortable letting my son continue his day at school.  His finger healed up fine by the way.) 

As someone who oversees Monarch Montessori he wants parents to know, “He doesn’t have all the answers.”  Rob wants the school to be a better place for every child.  For him hello means is a beginning.  “It’s like having a blank slate to build upon.”   He also feels it is really important to give everyone a new beginning.   If know a good principal, conventional or otherwise, take some time to say hello their  jobs are not easy but worth it.  Have a wonderful day!

Hellos 7 and 8...Caped Crusaders!

Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.

~Nikos Kazantzakis

Upon meeting Ms. Grace for the first time I felt a combination of excitement and intimidation.  As a mother one can feel in her gut when something good or bad is on the horizon.  In this case it happened to be something great.   Ms. Grace exudes a certain type of confidence and that pushes her class to possess a certain poise when it concerns their education.  You almost want to stand up a bit taller when she comes into the room.  She is quick minded, witty, and sharp; just the perfect qualities to keep fourth graders on their toes.  Coming from a background of educators she was destined to become a teacher.  Her grandfather was the first African-American educator in New Jersey.  She likes teaching fourth grade because she can talk to them more candidly.  Also, she likes working with kids who are reading to learn rather than learning to read.   Such is the case with children in lower grade levels.  When asked how having children has affected her in class she says, “ It helped her better understand the age group and what they’re going through.  It makes you fearless.”   At home it helps her learn to pick and choose her battles.  Having a fourth grader at home she has an inside view of what’s trending in the fourth grade. Her son helps her understand MindCraft.

Every superhero needs a sidekick.  For Ms. Grace that would be Ms. Leslie.  She is laid back yet not one to be a pushover.  She reminds me of my dear friend April who was from North Dakota; very earthy with a great sense of humor.  Ms. Leslie has taught music and also comes from a family of educators.  She worked as a substitute for Monarch before Ms. Grace kidnapped her and asked her to be her assistant teacher.  Leslie always saw herself working with younger children, but was up for the challenge.  Being a teacher’s assistant she has learned none of the kids are that different when it comes to their emotional needs.  At home it has taught her to pay more attention to her child’s needs.

These educators make an awesome team.   When asked what they want parents to know concerning their children Ms. Grace responded by saying, “Don’t freak out!  This will pass (She’s told me that!).  Kids are just learning how to be people.  All children secretly want to do well.   “They’re learning about community”, says Ms. Leslie.  When asked what hello means to them Ms. Grace recalls living in Senegal for two years.  It is a Muslim country and the primary salutation for hello is As-salamu alakum which means peace be with you.  She found that people wished greetings of peace upon arriving and departing and thought it was very interesting.  For Ms. Leslie hello is always a chance to make a new friend.  She also say’s, “It’s good to have interaction and say hello”. 

Much gratitude is wished to these two awesome women, all the hard working teachers at Monarch Montessori, and all the teachers around the world.  Please, keep on keeping on.  They are the awesome people who pour tirelessly into our kids everyday.  Thank you so much for ALL you do seen and unseen.  Happy Teacher’s Appreciation Week ladies and gents everywhere.  Have a wonderful day!  (Hope to have a picture of these two ladies soon! AHEM!)

busy, Busy, BUSY!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO EVERYONE! The beautiful thing about blogging is that it is all about real life.   Last week was a whirl wind of wonderful activities.  We had a great week in sales and productively.  We helped the preschoolers at Monarch Montessori make foot scrub for a special mother's day event.  They were all so cute, with their big, curious eyes. I hope to have photos soon but I need to check on that.  I interviewed two awesome people for the blog.  Next, family life...We had three soccer games, a birthday party, and even a flat tire. Still to come more posts about the awesome Monarch Montessori and the wonderful women we will be celebrating ALL month!  Until then, I found an amazing video that is just propelling me forward even more. Whenever you think you can't THINK AGAIN!  Would love to interview this woman!  Until next time, have a wonderful day!