These past couple of weeks have been somewhat trying at work. I spent last week filling out paperwork, making phone calls, and doing research for a meeting. This particular meeting was more difficult to organize than most. I had to find a way to cram meetings about 65 students into four class periods. First of all, there are about two weeks where all I do is send and receive e-mails to and from teachers about their students. Then, my next project is to compile those e-mails into an individual report for each student, listing teacher's concerns, interventions they have done, and interventions they would like our office to help with. I also had to talk to counselors, assistant principals, and sponsors and/or coaches, for all the students. Then came the fun part... my next project was to find attendance reports, current grades, and TAKS scores for every student. Needless to say, the work was tedious and it took a long time to get done. After all the research, feedback, and reports were done, it was time for me to set up the meetings. The meeting was set for this past Monday; for each meeting, we must have an assistant principal, an ESL teacher, a regular education teacher, and a parent representative in attendance. This, of course, meant making phone calls, working around four people's schedules and daily duties. I was able to find two parent representatives, schedule the assistant principals, and also find 35 teachers that had a conference period at the time the meeting was set. Then it was time to start filling out paperwork, proofread, spell check, and double check all my information.

When it was all said and done, I had invested about 80 hours of work, for a series of meetings that would last less than 10 minutes! I was so relieved when all was done... but it didn't last long... my supervisor found out on Friday, that she was to fill in for an assistant principal on maternity leave for the next 6 weeks, and that her time started on Monday... yes, the same Monday of the meeting that she absolutely had to be present in... And so, that is how I was put in charge of the meeting, with other ESL teachers filling in for my supervisor.

Usually, I stay in the background... I do all the "grunt" work, and when the time for the meeting comes, I just have to make sure everyone has a pen to sign papers, I check that there are enough snacks/candy for everyone in the meeting, and I do last-minute changes to the paperwork... this time around, I had to do all that, plus lead the meeting, propose interventions, take notes, and keep the meeting moving along in a timely manner. In other words... run like crazy from place to place and keep a clear head and a happy look on my face...

After four looong hours, the meeting was over, the paperwork signed, and my feet hurting... I was so exhausted and just wanted to go somewhere and lay down (I also had to finish two final projects, and take one final exam for my college classes during the weekend) to rest, when the phone rang...

One of the assistant principals that were at the meeting called to compliment me on the way the meeting went... He said that I had been very knowledgeable about every student, that I gave good suggestions, and that he was very impressed with my performance... Not only did he call, he also sent me an e-mail saying the same thing... the e-mail was CC'd to the school principal, two associate principals, and my supervisor...

I've written all that to say this... a simple compliment changed the tone of my workweek... 80 work hours of which 50 were spent in front of a computer, and 4 hours of running around dissolved into nothing with one simple, unexpected compliment...

After all was said and done... I was happy to do all the work, because I learned that I am capable of so much more than what I think I am capable of... I now know that no small or large project goes unnoticed, and that sooner or later, someone will take notice and say "thank you", or "great job"... a compliment means so much...

I am grateful that all that is over, and that my work was recognized and complimented... I only hope to get better at it...

Oh the life we lead...

I have spent my afternoon reading today. I am amazed at how much I've learned about the people that I love and respect so much. Reading their thoughts, and their stories has made me realize how much I miss my life as it used to be. I feel so disconnected from the people I used to be close to...

Today I ask myself if pursuing a career and a dream is truly worth the sacrifice... I hardly see my friends... I don't spend as much time in church... I do not participate as often... I feel... Alone... I miss my old life... miss being free to spend time with friends and family... I miss my family in Mexico... I miss life as it used to be...

So as I asked myself if the sacrifice was truly worth it, I realize... I've grown up... I am more responsible today than I've ever been, and I have learned to truly appreciate whatever time I can take to spend with my friends...

For the last two years, I've been disconnected from what feels like the heartbeat of my life... But I have learned... Oh, how I have learned... I have learned that my friends are those who still stand by me and with me... I have learned that I am capable of doing what I set my heart to do... I have learned that life is not always easy... and I have learned to look to God from whom I can gain strength and clarity of mind...

For my friends who feel a little abandoned... know that I truly appreciate each and every one of you, that I love you, and that I am what I am, and who I am, because of your influence in my life. To all my friends I want to say Thank You for being here... just a phone call or a text message away...

To my parents and siblings... I thank you for your support, and your love for the last two years... They have been harder than I ever thought they'd be... but you have been here for me, to offer me a hug... or a trip to Wal-Mart to clear my head... I love you soo much! I want to make you proud... and I will...

Seven months from now, I will hold in my hands the result of these past couple of years of work, tears, and late nights... I will make you proud... and you will see that your belief in me was not in vain...

Till that day comes, though... keep trusting, and loving me... keep me in your prayers... keep me in your hearts... I love you all...

Chely...

Christmas Tree Part II

So here it is! My first Christmas tree!! In the spirit of School Spirit, I decorated this tree in the Conroe High School colors, gold and black, and in lieu of a star, I added a tiger instead...

Christmas Tree

I am soo excited today! Tomorrow, I will get to decorate a Christmas tree for the first time in my life. Growing up, we never had a Christmas tree or decorations at home; it has never been a thing to do... but tomorrow, in my office, I will get to decorate a Christmas tree of my own, and am very excited about it... I will buy ornaments and ribbons tonight and tomorrow is decorating day!

I will try and post a picture of my first Christmas tree as soon as I'm done decorating it...

Giving Thanks

I have just realized that it has been a while since I took the time to think and give thanks for the people in my life...
Thinking back to Thanksgiving Day of 2000, I remember that we were brand new to the church and the city of Dallas, TX; we had just moved from California, heartbroken, and personally, scared... But there was a family that took us in that day, and opened their heart and home to my family... For this, I am more thankful than words can say... If there was a way for Sis. Norma to see this, I'd be so glad... It has been 8 years, and today, I can say that thanks to Sis. Norma and her family, I have found a friend that means the world to me, though he's so far away, fighting for American freedom.
This holiday season I am thankful that I have a family that loves me and supports me in every venture I take... I have a father who is my hero, my pastor, and my friend; I have a mother that has taught me to be gracious, modest, and respectful; I have a wonderful younger brother that has been there for me through thick and thin, and who knows that no matter how many fights we have, and how many things happen, I still love him more than anything; I also have a precious younger sister who has made me more proud than words can say.... I am so thankful that I have a family to love and who love me....
I am thankful that I have a home in Conroe UPC where I have found another kind of family; the kind of family that is sometimes hard to find... The church family has embraced us and supported us in our endeavor to raise a Spanish-speaking church...
I am thankful for my pastor and his family... I can count on them at a moment's notice and I have the certainty that if I need them, they'll come running... I am thankful for their prayers, and their support....
I am thankful for my friends... They were there for me at the happiest moments of my life, and they held me up during the hardest times... We've been through a lifetime's worth of pain, fear, drama, happiness, silliness, laughter... Vacations, shopping sprees, Starbucks, or even a simple text message... I love you guys with all my heart, and I am so happy that you guys are being successful in your endeavors....
I am thankful for my close friend USMC Sgt. Humberto Mena.... Betito... I am so thankful for your friendships.... you always tell me like it is, and you've been there for me through highs and lows... I truly do love you, dear friend.... I know you're far, fighting for freedom, but know that my prayers are with you every day, and that me and my family are hoping for your safe return...
Words fail me at this moment to describe how thankful I am that God has given me so much... it is my hope that I can show Him my thankfulness in a tangible way... My goals for next year will be to work harder in the Kingdom, give my all to family, friends, church, and school... To make the time count....

Greetings and blessings to all....


Meli

Selfish Praise

As I browse through my music in iTunes, I try to find a song of worship and all I can find are songs that, though christian, only express my needs, wants, complaints, yet none of these are praises to God. How can I call a song worship song, when all the lyrics say is "fill me", "give me", "help me", and not I praise You, You're worthy, Glory to you?

I find myself realizing that these songs express what I feel, but not my adoration to the One that has given me everything. So I have proposed this to myself... I will stop singing about me, and I will start singing about Him.

It is all about Him; instead of asking all the time, let us give something back and praise Him as He deserves to be praised; instead of filling our sanctuary with prayers about us and us alone, let us enter His gates with praise in our hearts... It is all about Him...

Catching Up

The last couple of months have been some of the hardest in my life. One of my dearest friends was on the brink of death for several weeks. Another friend almost lost her unborn child. Yet another close friend of mine recently gave birth to a premature little girl named Nahomi.

As the chaos erupted inside me I realized that it has been such a long time that I have truly been on my knees praying. The daily happenings of life have had my mind wrapped around work, and school, endeavoring to find independence, that I forgot that there is ONE whom I need more than anything in the world. Then I realized that more than me, my friends needed my prayers. I realized that by being so busy trying to run away from life, life had caught up to me, and it was time for me to make a decision.



Sink or swim...



Pray or complain...



Remember or forget...



Say I love you... or be quiet...



I tried so hard... many times I wished someone could see inside my mind and help me... I stood before the altar trying to be the same person that had burdens, visions, dreams... life caught up to me and I wasn't ready... Instead of asking for help, I complained... Instead of praying, I lost myself in work and school...



Life has a funny way of showing us what we need to do... While my friends' health was in danger I tried to help... all I heard back was "pray for her" "pray for them"