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So Happy to See the Golden Aspens! Hello Elementary Friends, I did not realize how much I would miss the golden aspens of the Colorado High Country last autumn while I was in Australia.  As I was bemoaning my lack of glorious aspens, I received a very wonderful surprise.  The springtime Sydney Jacarandas began their yearly blooms.  They were just as glorious in a different way!   Now, this year I am missing my Jacarandas - I guess I can never be totally satisfied!    Springtime Jacaranda Trees in Sydney, Australia Presentation to Saint Andrew UMC Men's Ministries Breakfast Last Saturday I was honored to be asked to give a talk on my year on educator exchange to Australia to the Men's Breakfast at my church, Saint Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, CO.   It was a pleasure to relive some of our experiences while there.  Here is a link to the presentation: Healing Hearts for Harvey's Kids Last, but definitely not least - I have been a...

Healing Hearts for Harvey's Kids Elementary School Year #36 - Here we go! Mortensen Elementary School Staff        2017-2018 Hello Elementary Friends, Starting year #36 is in the books!  Wow - it is hard to believe how fast time goes by.  I am in my 10th year in Jeffco and at Mortensen Elementary School.  Someone asked me the other day if I am planning to retire soon.  I immediately asked if the thought was "out there" that perhaps I should start thinking about it.  Quickly the answer was "No!"  Several of my 55-65 year old educator friends are already enjoying retirement, and I will look forward to that day in the future.  How far in the future is still distant for me because in many ways I feel like I am just getting started.  I am still learning and growing each year, and as long as I am enjoying what I do and - more importantly, that I remain a notch above "effective," then I will continue to do what I can to affect our fut...

A Day with the Former Second Lady! Hello Elementary Friends, Last week in Breckenridge, CO at the annual summer Colorado Association of School Executives convention (CASE), I was honored to meet and learn from Dr. Jill Biden, wife of former Vice President Joe Biden.  Dr. Biden is a community college professor and an advocate for public schools and community colleges in the US.  In addition to meeting Dr. Biden, I was able to participate in professional development, attend inspiring sessions, and to engage in some "best practice sharing" with colleagues. Attending with me were my friends and co-workers from Mortensen, Linda Ciccarelli (Assistant Principal), and Brandi Stott (Instructional Coach/Fourth Grade Teacher).  Linda Ciccarelli, Karla Hankins, and Brandi Stott at the CASE Conference in Breckenridge, CO     July 2017 Professor Jill Biden is the wife of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. She used her position as America's second lady to advocate for milit...

  When You've Been Friends for Nearly 40 Years, You Don't Need to Go Somewhere Special - Just Visiting Will Do! It was the fall of 1978 when Cyndi Edwards Standefer and I first met each other at the First United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas.  We were helping to start a new young adult Sunday School Class, and eager to become a part of a new group of friends.  Cyndi and I hit it off immediately - I mean, Good Grief - we had both picked out the same everyday dinner pottery - Royal Doulton Inspiration! The class that we started at FUMC Austin is still going strong today.  Here is a bit of information about the class in the most current directory.  If you are in Austin on a Sunday, check them out! Koinonia Sanctuary Building, Room 210 Koinonia comes from the Greek word for “community.” All are welcome to attend this lively and diverse group of people exploring spiritual, social, and theological issues of faith through extended book studies. Service and fellowsh...

Is it True, Is it Kind, and Is it Necessary? "The Mountains are Calling, and I Must Go" Shortly after our return from Australia, the Director of Music Ministry at our church, Saint Andrew United Methodist, Mark Zwilling asked me to go on the church choir tour of Italy this June.  Of course Mitch was invited, as well.  We thought about it for about a day and decided that we better stay stateside for a while since we were gone for a year.  It does appear, however, that the choir is having an amazing adventure!  We are seeing postings of photos and videos.  They will soon be singing at the Vatican! For our summer 2017 road trip, we decided that a purely American journey through the "West" was in store for us, and we were thrilled that our friends, Becky and Dana Cossey were "keen" to be our companions.  Our pathway followed a portion of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 as the explorers discovered and charted the American West on their quest to find...