Kids LOVE bubbles and stickers.  I’m not kidding.  I work with kids that typically range from one to five years old.  Stickers and bubbles are life savers or feeling crushers.  The response to them is so powerful that I use them for leverage. When I have a child that’s temperamental, or especially expressive, about their wants (and their wants don’t line up with my plans), I pull out my secret weapons.  They have been known to turn a frown upside down and soothe the most terrible tantrum.  Even my most hardened kids have a soft spot for bubbles and stickers. Bubbles and stickers are sooooo cheap and readily available.  You…

You know you’re an adult when water cooler conversation at the office revolves around the landscaping at your home.  Not even just at the office.  I regularly talk with my bestie about ways to eliminate weeds in my flower bed.  We debate about whether we’ll use mulch or switch over to stone.  We dream of our ideal flower beds out loud. Just the other day, I overheard my co-worker saying that they were trying to get rid of bamboo that the previous owners of the home had planted.  She said bamboo is almost impossible to eliminate because it has such a strong root system.  I hadn’t ever thought about the…

Almost five years ago, I got a tattoo.  I wasn’t alone.  Bible Study Brother and Cousin were there.  As a matter of fact, Bible Study Cousin got the exact same tattoo in the exact same spot.  The crazy thing is that I had always been vehemently opposed to tattoos.  Until, I started getting this itch to get one. My good friend that I refer to as Princess just knew I was having some kind of crisis.  Not only did I get a tattoo, but I also dyed my hair.  It was crayon red.  Not burgundy or plum…red red.  Maybe I was subconsciously rebelling against the “system” or people’s expectations, but…

By now, you likely have a better idea of the activities that I like to do for fun.  You can probably guess things that might entertain or thrill me.  I told you before that I’m childish, and I meant that.  I often find myself very easily amused.  I laugh a lot because I find so many things to be hilarious. That may explain why I have found so much newfound joy in my job.  Kids are hilarious.  And working with kids makes me utter phrases that sound ridiculous in AND out of context.  “We don’t pee on our friends.”  “Pick it up…it’s right there…it’s RIGHT there…IT’S RIGHT THERE!”  “My name…

I often hear people say that God can shut doors that no man can open, and He can open doors that no man can shut.  What happens when there is no door?  You may be wondering what I mean by that. I’m very dramatic.  During my teenage years, I was even more dramatic than I am now.  Slamming my door was the punctuation to my sentences.  When my parents didn’t go with my program, I emphasized my displeasure by slamming my door.  I was a master at the twirl and slam. My dad quickly got tired of my scenes.  He thought outside of the box and came up with an…

Depression is real.  It took about two months for my anti-depressant medication to kick in last year.  There was no overnight miracle.  I knew my anti-depressants were working when I felt ready to throw a party.  And not just any party.  I wanted to throw a murder mystery party. Had I ever thrown a murder mystery party before?  No.  Did I know anyone else who had thrown one or even attended one?  Double negative.  For some reason, it seemed like a good idea.  I sent out a mass text message to my tribe and waited for a response.  Almost instantly, people were on board for my impulsive decision.  Once people…