LATE Update on the Queen Bee's Brunch

What a time that was had by all who attended this wonderful event at VWC! 

Here are some pics as promised--way back in May--it's almost the end of June--yes, late, but nevertheless, posted! :) 

Table all decked out

Kevin and Sam ready to flip pancakes on the mighty-giant grill! 

Rigo serving Miss Jayda a pancake

Smiley Brent serving up a yogurt parfait

A crazy game called "Finish Mommy's Sentence" 

We ended up with over 70 people in attendance--mom's, kidlets, grandma's, etc. The photo booth was a huge hit as well! 

It was the hope of everyone who attended that VWC have a repeat performance in 2015. 

It was a LATTE of fun and laughs! Thanks for stopping back by to look at the pics! :) 

Happenings Lately

The first of 14 INFED infusions in January-March

Another infusion....finally finished!




Dallas Arboretum with 500,000 tulips for Spring




Mom in front of the tulips



One of two giant peacocks at the Arboretum...fashioned with 10,000 pansies

Amtrak Station in Ft. Worth, TX after we'd ridden the rails from OKC!




Roosevelt display board at the Board of Education in Ponca City--
the art teacher and I designed, created and stapled!



 

Read a LATTE...

Travel a LATTE...

Drink a LATTE coffee!

Ode to Diane

ode

noun \ˈōd\

: a poem in which a person expresses

a strong feeling of love

or respect for someone

or something

(Merriam-Webster)

My dearest friend Diane was bestowed an amazing honor last evening. She was selected as the

Ponca City Public School's

2014-2015

Teacher of the Year!!

Dr. Pennington, Superintendent of PCPS; Diane Anderson TOY; Shelley Arrott, Assistant Supt. & Human Resources

 

 

 

Diane is a friend whom I greatly respect; therefore, this ode to Diane...

Diane was voted as TOY (teacher of year) by her East Middle School staff and then moved to one of the top three finalists across Ponca City in the selection process by virtue of her outstanding portfolio.

 

The three finalists were interviewed by a selection committee with the winner chosen by secret ballot. At the banquet, Dr. Pennington was handed a sealed envelope to add to the mystery before he made the announcement to a packed house of teachers and administrators from all over the district, board members, Friends of Education, and Education Foundation members as well as State Senator Eddie Fields.

 

I must admit, I did squeal when I heard the first syllables of her name as he announced the winner!! I was on my feet cheering in a nano second!

 

Here a few of the reasons I was so excited:

 

I have taught with Diane since 1995. Yes, that is NINETEEN years!!

 

First, we taught first grade together. First grade must have been the cement for our friendship which has endured all these years.

 

Walked countless miles together after school in our attempts to stay thin...thinner...and finally to just have an excuse to get together for a prolonged chat.

 

She taught my son for PreK and Kindergarten and deserves an extra gold star for those two years!

 

Then, in the payback of every teacher in the profession, I taught her son as a 5th grader. Nerve-racking but fun to have her as a support at home!

 

We have taught in two different schools together until the district realized they really should keep us separated. So, she teaches at East Middle School and I teach at Roosevelt.

 

I have sat in hospital rooms and waiting rooms with her through several scary moments as well as traveled with her to distant reading conferences.

 

Through it all, I must say that she is so deserving of the honor as she always seems to find the positive in people--even when she's been wrongly judged or treated. She always does what is right for the student, even if it's the hardest yet longest way for her. She is a forever student advocate! I love that about her!

 

Ponca City News, Friday, March 14, 2014

 

 

I have learned from Diane that a person can learn to laugh about just about anything. That's our normal pattern--fuss then laugh.

 

We've counseled each other through medical issues of all sorts, questioned the doctor's judgments and diagnosis and simply been there for each other.

 

We've shared many meals. We have developed a funny little pattern of always pretending it was "my turn" to buy since we really don't keep track of those petty little things.

 

We've loaned books back and forth...some just living in the wrong classroom for years on end.

 

We've sat at each other's dining room tables (not near enough I might add) and chatted some more in our ever-evolving attempt to keep up with each other.

 

We know each other's parents and she was a great support to me as my Dad breathed his last.

 

As a matter of fact, she's the kind of friend who took Blake for the weekend and for trick-or-treating...never knowing that night would be my last with my Dad. She cried when I called her with the news--like I knew she would.

 

Last night, when she started her speech. She cried...a little. I knew she would and I really wanted to help her with her glasses and her paper.

 

 

 

Here are few quotes from her students:

 

"She goes out of her way to help all students. I always learn something new in her class; recently, I learned during the evaporation lab that heat makes water evaporate."

 

"Mrs. Anderson is cool and funny. She always has a photo, and video or an illustration to help us learn a new concept."

 

"Mrs. Anderson does experiments with us. I love the egg drop."

 

"Mrs. Anderson is a wonderful teacher. She always makes sure to explain things that are on a level so that we can understand. She pushes us to our full potential and she can relate to us. I am so happy to have her for my teacher."

 

So, what does the TOY do the day after she's won it all?

Teach...of course!

Build authentic relationships with 8th graders who are tough to love...

Smile at the accolades but...

will realize there's another kid out there

who doesn't quite "get it" yet.

Yes, Diane, my friend, PCPS's Teacher of the Year,

taught today just like all the other days!

If you're interested, you can see her school web site here.

Thanks for reading about my friend! As her friend, I just wanted to make sure the world knew what a great teacher she represents to the community, her students and to her colleagues!


Long time...No See

"May your cup runneth over with joy,

 

love, and laughter.

 

Oh and really fabulous coffee!"

 

~Champlain coffee.com

Trunk or Treat Book Monster

Yes, I understand that it's almost Christmas...

But, since I've been away so long, I thought I'd give you a QUICK update of my LATTE life since I've talked with you last.

So, I have been privileged to teach/lead a camp for 20Somethings--called Hyphen in June.



"Trunk" Fire truck from Kildare, OK



 

I also had the opportunity to attend our Oklahoma Camp Meeting in July where over two thousand people gather in Mustang, OK to worship God together, hear uplifting preaching and informative teaching.

 

 

 My mom and her "trunk" of everything

 

In late summer, I had a job re-assignment. My principal, Mrs. M., asked me to take on the role of CSI--which basically means, I am a Curriculum Specialist. I was thrilled and stressed all at the same time. Thrilled to finally use my newly acquired Master's degree of Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas-Arlington. Stressed to completely take-down my classroom and sandwich my stuff into an office--in one week.
 

My mom and I enjoying a "moment" at the end of the evening

 

In September, we had the opportunity to travel to St. Louis, MO to our General Conference. While in St. Louis, we had the pleasure of seeing many friends in ministry scattered throughout the fellowship. We were able to take our Urshan College kids to lunch as well as spend the day shopping on the St. Charles Riverfront with my dear friend Kelley. Our guys were finally able to join us for a L-A-T-E lunch after the business finally concluded. Conference was inspiring with the message to get back home to tell someone about Jesus!

Two little Veggie tale sweetie pies at the Trunk or Treat

In October, our church hosted a Trunk or Treat on Halloween night. The event started at 5:00 pm in a ferocious wind that threatened to tear every decoration off its hinge! We kept up the fight and pushed through to a great evening for families around our church facility. We were blessed with over 350 families that came to eat freshly popped-buttery popcorn, purple and green cotton candy and delicious hot cocoa! Families were able to sit and watch some Veggie Tales as they ate their delicious treats.

All in all, we handed out candy to over 1,056 people!!! We had almost TWENTY "trunks" for the Trunk or Treat with the First place going to my sweet next-door-neighbors--the Minions!

First place winners and recipients of the $25 Freddies Custard Card

 

That's me and my two sweet friends who helped me with taping my "monster" into my trunk!

 

 After this long absence, several people have made the comment to me, "Hey Val, have you ever thought about starting a blog?" So, I have decided to jump back in and attempt to post a new thought at least once a week--on Fridays.

The glowing book monster "trunk" that won 2nd place!

 This year has been filled with great memories as well as struggles. I am attempting to remember the better times more than I remember the struggles. At the moment, I am preparing to make three pans of fudge for a sweet lady that sampled my wares last week at the Christmas Market. She contacted a lady from our booth to request to purchase three pans of three different types of fudge. I was thrilled since our venture was to make money to send to MK's (Missionary Kids) for Christmas!

Perhaps next week, I will post the story of the fudge-making (disasters and near-misses) from last week and the Market from Saturday!

Stay well...
 
        Stay sweet....

                Drink a LATTE of coffee!