New Opportunities

This past Thursday night I was named as the lone finalist for Superintendent of Crisp County Schools in Cordele, Georgia. Since this announcement, I have been blessed beyond measure with the outpouring of kind words from friends and family.

 

These kind words will be etched in my heart forever and lift me up on days that may be  difficult... 

 

Best wishes on your new position.  I am sure you will inspire educators in Crisp County Schools the way you did here in Dalton.

 

I am so happy for you about the Crisp County school superintendent position. You have so many qualities that the students, employees, and parents will be very lucky to count with a person that will care and do great things for them. On the personal side I am sad to lose you and your support for our parents and myself. I wish you all the best luck and I will keep you and your family in my prayers. The watermelon capital of the world is very lucky!

 

 

I am so very happy for you, but I will miss you sooooooo much.

 

I hate that you will be leaving us, but know that Cordele is lucky to have you. Thank you for all your blood, sweat, and tears! We appreciate you and all that you have done for Dalton Public Schools.

 

I know you may not even know me with such a big system and I know Dr. Hawkins says it’s not official with the 14 day waiting period. However, I wanted to congratulate you and let you know you have been an encouragement this first year for me at Dalton Public Schools. I have always felt welcomed at our new teacher workshops seeing your smiling face! You did a wonderful job finding me immediate help with canvas to help find a solution to the printing limitations! Crisp County will be lucky to have you and Dalton has been lucky to have you!

Congratulations! But I am sad to see you go.

 

I am SOOO happy for you!  I know that I do now know you well but I did get tears in my eyes seeing the news on the inner-office mail!  I can only imagine what it feels like to get the job of your dreams. I know you will do a terrific job and I want you to know that you will be GREATLY missed! I think you have brought a light to DPS that will be hard to fill.  Best wishes!

 

I just read Dr. Hawkins' note and wanted to offer my congratulations to you!  What a wonderful opportunity!  However, you will be greatly missed in Dalton.  I appreciate your positivity, the personal encouragement you have given to me, and the dedication you have shared with our children and teachers.  It couldn't have happened to a nicer person.  Best wishes in your new journey. 

Congratulations, Rhonda!  So excited for you, but we will miss you!

It is with mixed emotions that I announce that Dr. Rhonda Hayes, our director of school support,  has been named the lone finalist in the superintendent search for Crisp County Schools in Cordele, Georgia. In keeping with Georgia law, the Crisp County Board of Education must wait 14 days before their official vote hiring her.

 

Dr. Hayes came to Dalton Public Schools in 2006 as District Literacy Trainer. Since coming here, she has been an integral part of the implementation of our literacy program as well as our leadership development program.

 

The district will wait till Dr.Hayes is officially appointed as the superintendent in Crisp County before we address any plans for recruiting for her position.

 

While I am excited that Dr. Hayes will be able to pursue her career goal of becoming a superintendent, I regret having to lose her passion, commitment and dedication in Dalton Public Schools. Her influences will have a lasting impact in our schools. It is an added benefit for Dr. Hayes that  this opportunity will allow her to return to the area where she grew up and be near her family. I wish her all the best in her future endeavor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Gratefulness

In many things that I've been reading, I've noticed that many people are writing about the importance of writing daily about things in which you are grateful. Being grateful is healthy. Teachers are writing that their students have grateful journals that they write in daily. Parents are writing about their children having journals to write down things they are grateful for right before they go to bed each night....and I've read about young mothers writing a list of things they are grateful for during their daily devotional time. Here are a few of things that I'm grateful for.....Grand baby number two...although she's tiny.....she's healthy....she's perfect:

 

 My mother and I spent two whole weeks visiting with my daughter, her husband, and the grand babies......it was an incredible time of devotion to family.

On our last evening, our daughter took us to a beautiful area behind their home.....we enjoyed a gorgeous Arizona sunset and she took some very special photos.

I'm grateful that I could take the time from work to help my daughter adjust to a new baby.
I'm grateful that my mother could accompany me on the visit.
I'm grateful for the meals we prepared and shared together. I'm grateful that my mother likes to clean up the messes I make in the kitchen!
I'm grateful my mother LOVES to work.....she's the greatest cleaner-upper.....she loves to wash dishes, wash/dry/fold clothes....and I'm grateful she taught me how important it is to help your children.
I'm grateful for the wonderful friends that my daughter has.....and that I have been able to meet and spend time with many of her friends.
I'm grateful that my daughter can stay home with her babies.
I'm grateful for a son-in-law that is an awesome father and husband.

I read this tonight....it's a great post about being the power of gratefulness.....I wanted to re post it on my blog....enjoy!

The Power of Gratitude

By Kevin Eikenberry

If I could offer you a magic potion that would make you happier, healthier, more optimistic and more productive, and tell you that potion would cost nothing and will require very little effort to use, would you be interested?

Let me ask the question differently.

If this potion existed would you want some?

Of course you would! Unfortunately, I don't have a potion that will do these things. But each of us has something even better than a potion that will do all of those things and more...

Gratitude.

Science tells us that an "attitude of gratitude" is a good health choice. Being more grateful more often makes us happier and more optimistic. But gratitude also adds to the bottom line - in very real ways. And the best news about gratitude is that it requires little time and no money.

Here are five reasons gratitude improves your productivity and results:

Gratitude attracts what we want. The universal law of attraction says that we will attract into our life the things we think about and focus on. Since this is true, wouldn't you want more of what you are thankful for? (I think I know the answer to that!) Remember that when you are consciously aware of your blessings, and are grateful for them, you are focusing more clearly on what you do want in your life - and are attracting more of those things into your life.

Gratitude improves relationships. We learn the importance of saying "thank you" as little children. We are taught that habit because it is "good manners." This childhood lesson is extremely powerful. Think about those people that you know who are most appreciative of you - and let you know it. How do you feel about them? Does their appreciation positively impact your relationship with them? Of course it does! Be grateful for people, their contributions, their talents and their actions - and make sure you let them know how you feel.

Gratitude reduces negativity. It is hard to be negative about your situation when you are thinking about things for which you are grateful. One of the fastest ways to improve your mood or outlook is to count your blessings.

Gratitude improves problem solving skills. Too often we look at problem solving with a very jaded view. "Something is wrong. We have barriers in our way. Then, we have to put in effort to fix it." Conversely, when we think about what we are grateful for we open our minds up to new possibilities and connections. We also enter a problem solving situation with a perspective of improvement and opportunity rather than challenge or issue.

Gratitude helps us learn. Every dark cloud has a silver lining. Behind every problem lies an opportunity. Being grateful for our situation - even if we don't like everything about it - allows us to be thankful for the opportunity to learn something new.

That's Fine, But How?
At this point you may be thinking, OK, sounds great, but how can I really be more grateful, more often?

It's really very easy.

Let's practice right now.

1. Make a list of five things you are grateful for right now. These can be big things (like your family) or little things (like the fact that someone held the door open for you this morning). This can be a mental list or written down. Do it now.

2. Reflect on your list and allow yourself to feel good about these things.

3. If there is a person you can thank or show your appreciation to, do that now too (a quick call or email is a good start!).

You can do this exercise anytime, and you don't have to stop at five things. In fact, it is a great idea to keep a running list in your Journal, planner or notebook - this way you can return to your list anytime you wish, reinforcing your gratitude.

But at any moment you can make a list, bask in those thoughts, and share that thankfulness with others.

You've probably thought of being thankful as a good thing to do or the right thing to do. But now hopefully you see it can be even more powerful than "right."

Gratitude is an attitude. Gratitude is a choice. And gratitude is a habit. When we consciously practice being grateful for the people, situations and resources around us we begin to attract better relationships and results. The habit will be strengthened as you make the choice each day.

http://www.successconsciousness.com/guest_articles/power_of_gratitude.htm

Art Washes Away the Dust of Everyday Life

Art brings so many blessings to our lives....through color, shape, and design. Here are some quotes by Picasso that bless my heart...

"Everything you can imagine is real."

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

"The chief enemy of creativity is good sense."

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."

"To draw you must close your eyes and sing"

A very special day...becoming grandmother of two....

Psalm 127: 3 Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

Praising this very special blessing bestowed upon our family today....the birth of a precious baby girl, all 6 pounds and 10 ounces of her. I'm looking forward to so many things.... watching her grow; watching our grandson become a big brother; watching our daughter become the mommy for two little ones; and watching her husband become the daddy for two.....one little boy and one little girl.....watching my parents become "great" grandparents of this little girl....and watching my grandmother become a "great-great" grandmother of this little girl. We are parents of an "only" child... our hearts have so much room to love these grandchildren.....welcoming this baby with an open heart and outstretched arms.

Counting my blessings....naming them one by one....

Having an only child, our daughter's FRIENDS have always been a big part of our lives. During her most recent visit home, many friends came to our house to visit....and we went to their houses..... sometimes we met them at special places....we didn't capture pictures of all our friends who visited with us....but here are some of them....

 Special friends from college.....they look pretty natural with a baby don't they?

 One of our daughter's dear friends from high school and his lovely wife.

 Special friends from Alaska were visiting their family in North Carolina and took the time to come visit at our house too!

 The boys had so much fun playing together....the grandmas did too!!

 Sorority sisters came to visit....

 Aren't they gorgeous? They are as sweet on the inside as they are on the outside....I love these girls!

 Kaden and Brandt sharing toys.....

 Marla and Brandt.....

 Maureen and Brandt....

 Megan and Brandt...she came to visit us and they went to visit her....I can't believe that I don't have more pictures of her! Meggie you are a real sweetheart!

 Visiting a special teacher friend in Habersham....Mrs. Hicks, we love you!

 Brandt and Aubree went to rush....my husband and I had fun hanging out on the square in Dahlonega and going to a North GA basketball game.

 Shannon and Bennett....your visit meant so much to all of us!

 Shannon....you are such a sweetie!

 Mrs. Stephanie....one of the greatest mothers and grandmothers I know....

 Thanks for taking the time to let us visit in your home....

COUNTING OUR FRIENDS AS ONE OF OUR GREATEST BLESSINGS....thanks for making memories with us....we love you all!

Counting blessings....naming them one by one

We were blessed this fall by having our daughter and grandson spend an extended vacation with us. Because all good things come to and end.... we spent this past week helping them settle back into their home in Alaska. This evening my husband and I are back at our house. In the stillness and quiet, I'm counting my blessings. Number one: FAMILY. We've spent an enormous amount of time this fall with our family.I wish we could have spent more time...because... there are still family members who haven't met this precious addition to our family....but there will be other opportunities. Our family came to see us and we went to see them. We went to special places and had lots of fun. Below are a few of our memories.

                                       

                                                  We took a special trip to the Aquarium

                                                                  We played with cousins.

                                             We made caramel apples! Ooey...gooey...good!

 

We experimented and learned new things at the Discovery Museum.

                                                  We spent time with our son-in-laws family.

                                             Went to football games to cheer for our cousins!

                                                                 We had fun with our aunts!

                                              We met some great aunts and more cousins!

 

                                     We  picked papas oranges...a special Thanksgiving tradition!

                               This special baby has two grandmothers and three GREAT grandmothers.

                                        He even has a GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER!!!

                                                                          GO TEAM!!  

                                                           Fun times in Chattanooga!

                                                             Love the GREAT aunts!!

                                        Celebrated birthdays with cousins and grandmothers!!

                                       Learning that GREAT grandmothers are oh-so, special!

                           Visited with more cousins during the holidays.Looking at what Santa left!

                                                  Special times with Great Grandmothers.....

                                                                   Learning lots of songs!

                                                                  Wishing Happy Birthdays....

                                                             Meeting GREAT Uncles.....

                                                   More GREAT Aunts and cousins to love!

 Fishy, fishy....swimming in the water....fishy, fishy, doing what you want to do.....You're so sweet and I love you so....fishy, fishy.....swimming in the water!!

                                           GREAT, GREAT Uncles and Aunts came to see us!

                                                   GREAT Grandmothers making us smile!

                                                    Only ONE GREAT GRANDFATHER!!

                                                                         FAMILY.