Thankful!

I am very thankful for this blogging experience.   I have been able to accomplish a lot! 

From Box to Blog!

First, I was able to take a box full of pictures, treasures, and letters of my mother's and transform them into a story.   These stories were a 'gift' to my newly found sister - who was, until recently, just a story to me!   (and....here she is!)....God is incredible to bring us across the hall from eachother!

 

 From Book to Blog!

 Well, I was able to blog about the Bible!   The Best!  The Bible is the ultimate in my "More Than A Story" theory!   "For the Word of God is living and active."   It and its author have penetrated my life and changed it forever.  

 From Blah to Brillant





This blog is a great outlet for me...and for my students!   Blogging is an excellent and creative tool for students to bring their life and their knowledge to the forefront.   Although middle schoolers are larger than life already, blogging can showcase their education.  (Spoken like a true "to-be" teacher! HA!)



Loaves and Fishes

Flower City Work Camp 2012

Over this spring break, 700 youth and over 100 adults served the city of Rochester, NY.   Homes of the needy were repaired, Sidewalk Clubs ministered to the kids in the area, hundreds of  bags of food were given out...just a few things that we did over our spring break!  

One of the Bible stories we read and shared with the kids (over 740!) that came to our Bible clubs was from John 6:1-15.   It is about a litte boy that gave Jesus his lunch and He feed 5,000 men and thousands of women and chidren too!   At the closing service, on of the youths said that this is just what Jesus did during Flower City Work Camp.   Jesus took what little we had:  our spring break, our minimal remodeling skills, our age, our nervousness, our lack of sleep.....  and multiplied it to bless so many.  Christ can do great things through us!  

Once again, the Bible becomes more than a story!   The little story of Jesus feeding the multitude happened with us during Flower City Work Camp.   We brought Him what little we had to offer and he blessed the city....So that the city might see Jesus!
Below is my animoto about this awesome experience.
http://animoto.com/play/0xX311M8FlfNXEhksKKukg

This is a link to the local paper coverage.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120411/NEWS01/304090064/Flower-City-Work-Camp-Faith-volunteering-spring-break-rehabilitate-homes

Jesus....

He Is More Than A Story

I think Jesus is the most misunderstood person in history. Who's fault is that? The church. Me. Other Christians. Hypocrites. Judges. I am writing today to tell you about the God that loves us.

Did you know that he hated religion? Did you know he loved the sinners? How about that He loved the unloved. He healed the sick.

Or that He reached out to women. He healed a women with a incurable disease. He saved the life of a woman framed for adultry. He validated and appreciated the heart of the woman that annointed Him with her life savings in perfume. He loved children. He loved me- a stubborn, hurting little girl that hated Him. He forgave my sin - of thinking He had abondoned me too. The sin that my way would be best...the way without Him.   The audio below is a favorite song of mine because it depicts my life very well.   "Everything to Me" by Avalon...more than a story...

Nicole C. Mullen, a singer/songwriter writes : "He runs to the weary, the worn and he weak and the same gentle hands that hold me when I am broken conquered death to bring me victory. I know my Redemmber lives...."  In the YouTube video below, Nicole C. Mullen sings, "One Touch."   "He reached way down and touched me... when no one else would touch me... It is an extremely powerful video explaining the power of Jesus' love and healing.

That is why I want His words to be more than a story, more than history... HIS story must be told through my life. 

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

-Romans 5:8

 

ALL THINGS

My mother always said, all things work togther... Please listen to this audio of my blog post. 

Mom, I found her. We are together. You were right, ALL THINGS worked together!

THIS IS A PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED ASSIGNMENT

My Mother’s Artifacts:

A Few of My Favorite Things….

As the only living family member alive, it is my responsibility to share this tribute of my mother. I wanted to show my family why Mom did the things she did. I wanted them to understand the pain of separation and the things that she used to fill the voids in her life. I wanted to evoke understanding, awe, and compassion for an incredible woman.

I imagined each stage of her life in a ‘store front’ image – a collection of treasures from that period in her life. I wanted to take all of that and make it meaningful…not just rings and pictures in a box. – Something living.

I tried to use symbolism: The rings were meant to symbolize her unending love. The pink ribbon was a symbol of my mother’s undying love for her first baby girl.

I feel that the music choices reinforced my themes: I thought "My Favorite Things" complimented the video. "Separate Worlds" by Journey’s lyrics really heightened my mother’s desperation and loss. I timed it so when I showed her parent’s divorce, these lyrics were heard:

Troubled times
Caught between confusions and pain, pain, pain
Distant eyes
Promises we made were in vain, vain, vain

Then, when she gave her baby up for adoption, these lyrics were synced:

If you must go, I wish you love
You'll never walk alone
Take care my love
Miss you love

However, my mother probably would have liked "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole.

The Empty Pink Blanket

The Empty Pink Blanket
Dedicated to my mother, Joann Ellen Bourne and my sister.

Alone
Pain
Fear

Fullness

but emptiness consumed me

it consumed my whole being

As she left my body

She left me forever

As I closed my eyes to weep
She vanished into the world

Never to be seen again

Torn apart for a life time

The only thing she took with her is my heart

Alone

Pain

Fear

Emptiness

Joann postponed the inevitable.  Her body constricted in pain.  She knew she was in labor.  She tried to wish it away.   The baby she held close for all these months was about to leave her forever.   She had hoped her pregnancy would never end.   The pain her body was experiencing was nothing compared to her heart.   All at once, she felt unsure of everything.  How did she know her baby would be okay?   What would the parents be like?   Will the doctor really make all the arrangments he promised?   Joann's world was spinning out of control.  

She found herself in a sterile hospital room.   She was about to give birth.   The last thing she wanted to do was to push her baby out of her body.   If we could only be together this way.   Instead, a blonde haired, blue eyed baby girl emerged into Joann's world, only to it leave forever. 

The adoption took place, the records were sealed.  Joann dulfully signed papers through tearful, blurry eyes.    She felt like she was signing her life away.  She was.   She left the hospital mechanically, as if leaving after a workday at the lab.   She was numb.  Was this all just a nightmare?  She starred blankly into space and let the tears come.   Blonde hair and blue eyes.....

Everything Is More Than A Story

Words Come Alive With Technology

http://morethanathousandpictures.blogspot.com/

A bored student stares off into space while an open book is on his desk.   Uninterested and unconnected, he shuts down academically.   His book never comes alive.   It is just words on a page.   Imagination on some levels is replaced with technology.  Technology is fast.  Books are not. His patience and insterest are wanning.    Mere books may not be enough to draw the average student into its world.  

"What is the solution?" the frustrated teacher asks.  How will textbooks, history, and heros ever come to life?  There needs to be a connection between the written world and his world.   His world is technology.  From video games to ipads, his life revolves around gadgets.   However, these gadgets simulate life, live music, fluid information - quickly.  

Technology needs to be infused in the classroom.  This is the new mode of connection with our young people.   Technology:  Kindles, Ipod surveys, texting answers, laptops, designing websites and blogs will all draw the students into learning- on their own terms.   Teachers need to impliment digital storytelling, images as writing prompts, audio, video, etc..  The opportunities to enter their world are endless.    Teachers cannot beat this digital age, so they might as well join it.  

With technology, books will be more than a story, history will be resurrected, as well as students' imaginations and interest.  And this is my passion. 

The Navy Dress

Dedicated to my mother, Joann Ellen Bourne, and her first daughter she gave for adoption

      Joann Ellen Bourne felt gleefully hopeful. The year was 1962 and Joann was  a pathologist at Strong Hospital. After a long day of looking through a microscope and eating only a  tuna sandwich from the vending machine, it was time to unwind. The kink in her neck started to relax as she entered East Avenue Lounge and saw him. She flashed a gleeful smile. This was their meeting place. Her new "him" was handsome-blonde hair and green eyes - "A perfect match for my fiery red hair and blue eyes," she thought to herself. A match - for now - should she even hope for the future? "Always leave an air of mystery about you, Joann - Don’t get over-anxious.," she scolded herself.

       He was a professional, good job, handsome…what more could she want? Especially as they sat together at a distant table sipping gin and tonic and talking about the day. Just like the candle between them, she melted. Their days turned to weeks, weeks to months.   

  As she was getting ready for yet another night on the town, Joann noticed something.  "That’s odd, my navy dress doesn’t fit," Joann sighed. It’s his favorite, espeically when I wear that pearl necklace with it. "Alabaster skin," he always says. She hurried on another outfit fitting for dinner at the Top of the World. She made a mental note to stop by Sibley’s and check outtheir skirt selection! Must be too many dinners out for this waistline! 

  In the days to follow, the truth settled on her.  She found herself pregnant.  "How could I? What was I thinking - I wasn’t - I was falling in love. Now, so I don’t ruin our reputations, I must disappear from his life - our life." 

    Thanking God for large lab coats, she perched herself on the small stool in the lab. She hurried around, hoping no one would get a closer look at her. Cloaked in shame, she stayed home with her roommate, Rita. Her apartment was her cave. She hid there while the baby hid in her womb. Now, she began to avoid her mother - easily done, given their always strained mother/daughter aganst. But, Daddy - that was another story. They saw eachother weekly. The flu, a date, working late…the excuses grew as much as her midsection.

     Her only solace was her kind OBYN at Strong. His understanding and care made her feel safe. He said he would take care of her - and the baby. Her baby……but not for long….