Fine job, young and faithful servant

It was an exciting night at the State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines last night. We took Patricia for her first time, and she was really appreciative and loved it. Both Gustavo Martinez and Aaron Gonzalez pinned their opponents, and I was glad that we were there to cheer them on. I don't know if so few Marshalltown fans were there because the two wrestlers are not rich, popular, white boys or if wrestling just isn't an important sport to many, but I remember when we were in High School, and Marshalltown would fill the bleachers. In the past the school has always announced how our wrestlers did the day before, and they didn't do that this year. I might have to make my own poster today to hang up in the hall and ask the administrators to make an announcement. They always talk to us in our staff meetings about celebrating all of our students successes, but it is so rare anymore. Well, I did make two nice posters with the pictures that I took at the Wells Fargo Arena and hung them in the hall. I went down to the cafeteria to say hi to the girls, and Patricia had made us a very nice homemade thank you card. I prefer to eat with students these days because in the office, my coworkers order pizzas without inviting everyone, call people wackos, cuss with the door wide open to passing students, and complain about students and their parents. Eventhough I don't care for some things about the First United Methodist church, I do like their slogan, Love God and love people, and I think about it before I speak or act. I ran into Marty this morning at HyVee, and we are going to take her and Marge out to dinner in LeGrand next week. I was planning on looking up Marty's phone number today, so it was very cool that God put her in my path. This morning a coworker sent the quotation,
"Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine, as perhaps it may be thought, the true poetry of life." I pray that we all see the purposeful poetry of life and that it stops us in our steps in awe at how awesome our poet is. I love it that TJ is spending so much time with his guitar. The first thing he asks every morning is if he can play. I think it's great that he asks permission since his sisters are still sleeping. They haven't minded being waken up by his playing at all. Chloe's girl scout outing was canceled tonight, so I would like to go see Callie perform in Cedar Falls again. John, the more practical one, suggests we stay home and clean house for TJ's birthday party tomorrow evening. We've had a very busy week, so we need to visit the nursing home tonight for sure. Mara had Pre K Open House at MCS today. I am excited to hear all about it. Skylar's grandma, Sharon, wants to put on a fundraiser concert for the school. I have not had good luck with these being profitable in Marshalltown in the past, but I gave her my suggestions, and we'll see if God wants it to happen. It would be pretty cool to get Needtobreathe, Ginny Owens, Natalie Grant, or Sara Groves to come play at the Martha Ellen Tye theater. I left enevelopes for our two wrestlers with pictures of last night and a good job note in the office for them to pick up. I would like to be better at doing that because everyone likes to have a pat on the back and hear the words, "Fine job". One of my students was selected to play soccer in a big event in Austria next month, and I should write him a little note, as well as the young lady that won Poetry Out Loud, and to other students that I "catch being good". Maybe I will have a pizza party for lunch every Fri and hand out invites to kids that say "I caught you being good" because I really feel that a lot of great students don't receive the recognition they deserve. I entered a contest to go to the John Mayer and Michael Franti show and backstage through Capital 106.3 so I have my fingers crossed. A young man from Harmony Park named Callen passed away on Valentines Day in a snow boarding accident. I pray for his family and friends. I saw on the news that there was a horrible house fire in Barnes City, and I pray for the two young girls and their grandparents. I will send them a check and note this weekend. We are very excited to see Grandma Betty, Tyse, Jimmy, Janet, and others at the parties this weekend. John was great at talking to TJ last night during the wrestling meet about sportsmanship and pointing out good and bad examples of being a good sportsman. John made the effort to get up after Gustavo's match and go and give him and the coaches a hug. I pray that we continue making it a priority to acknowledge other's work and sacrifice and accomplishments. Neither of us had a good father to say that he was proud of us, so we're grateful that our Father is there to pat us on the back, and to lead us to be a fan, a supporter, a cheer leader, a believer for others who may need one to encourage them. Mara is too often looking for compliments on how she looks, and I pray that we can teach her to compliment others on their characteristics such as being kind, patient, loving, sharing, and funny, and that these are the compliments that are important to receive as well. Sometimes when girls come to class with newly colored hair or a new fancy outfit, I question whether I should compliment them on it because I don't want to enable girls feeling that they need to tan and dye in order to look beautiful. I pray that kids love themselves for who they are, hug their opponent, thank their coach, and know that they are winners no matter what.