Category Archives: Joy

Embracing the Rhythms of Summer

It has been over 10 years since I experienced the glorious Summer Vacation, the time I looked forward to every year as a teacher.

Now that I am retired, I’d like to encourage teachers, moms, college students to breathe in the summer rhythms and embrace this time in your life.

I know so many of you have young children and think “How am I going to make it through the day?” Or “I signed up to teach Vacation Bible School, what was I thinking?” Or “Why did I sign up for another grad class?” Or “Am I lining up Field Trips for the Swim Team and committing every day to 2 practices a day?” “I thought tutoring two to three times a week was a great idea!”

Take time to relax and take care of yourself. If it means getting up super early before the kids, sit outside and watch the sunrise. If it means taking turns with a friend to watch each other’s kids so you can go for a walk or read a book or journal, do it.

Don’t be afraid to ask friends or family members for help!

Now that I’m able to sit back and reflect on those years, I treasure each day I spent with my children, the VBS children, the children I tutored, the swim team kids, the basketball campers, etc…. it was all what made Summer so special.

Embrace the rhythms of summer and live each day to the fullest.

Comfort, Help, Quiet Love

Spending time with loved ones, eating yummy healthy food, dancing with neighbors as we celebrate marriage, walking in the park with Roger and Ruby, meeting students each am as they arrive at the park, and most importantly, taking mom to see her friends, “fixing” her hair, writing her cards, paying her bills, and making her precious videos: these bring me comfort and as you know: I LOVE to help.

I continue to read the same messages from multiple sources. I need to:

  1. Slow Down
  2. Be Still
  3. Be Quiet
  4. Enjoy God’s love for me
  5. Quit striving
  6. Realize I am His Beloved

Mom’s video this week was about me. We told stories of how much I loved playing sports and about my teaching career and SYNNEX.

Frankie Tells Fran Stories

Feeling grateful for neighbors and the opportunity to spend time hanging out and playing with our dogs in our backyard.

Here are my Top 3 Spiritual Gifts according to the test I took.

Be Still, Be Quiet, Slow Down, Quit Striving, Know that I am His Beloved and Enjoy God’s Love are my next steps.

Delight, Beloved, Joy

A well loved woman who chooses joy naturally blesses others like a river being filled by a refreshing spring rain.

Each week, Mom’s videos showcase her contagious joy and have blessed hundreds of people via social media. Last week we featured School Stories, A Trick the Dr. Played on Dad When Johnny was Born, and Beauty Secrets. (Vaseline and Cotton Ball sales increased in the Upstate!)

Frankie’s Stories

Whispers of Rest reflections and activities required drawing yourself as a little girl with all the experiences, people, color, places, foods, and music that brought you joy. As I drew mine, it reminded me of our VIP interviews in first grade and the graphic organizers we made as we interviewed our Star of the Week. We wrote sentences about the VIPs favorite things and each student wrote something we liked about that person and bound it into a book. I hope my students still have theirs.

Spending time with April from church and talking about how amazing it feels to rest and breathe and listen was a treat as we enjoyed breakfast at Biscuit Head. I’ve had the BEST time talking to friends and just being in the moment.

Reconnecting with my first grade teaching buddy, Pat Sandzen, and her family brought back so many great memories. She has the gift of hospitality and just walking into her house just makes you feel warm and welcome. What a great mentor she was to me at Palmetto Primary and in life. Loved celebrating Sig and Alice’s engagement with them!

Hiking at Paris Mountain State Park each am with Ruby was amazing!

I even saw my Paris Elementary students there! Also, I was able to watch Dr. Julie Hartman teach her Masters Students from Anderson University about the ecosystem as we hiked Sulphur Springs Trail

Dr. Bill Taylor is mom’s Doctor and is the kindest man. We love to visit him. She had a good report then off we went to celebrate at Happy Hour.

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Today, I was able to take mom to her Bible Study at Gail’s House. It was lovely and we studied the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians on Love and spoke of Spiritual Gifts. I’m so glad I was able to meet mom’s friends who had been praying for me, unbeknownst to me.

I’m so glad to hear from many of you who are taking time for TLC and rest as you restore your soul.

Thank you for the opportunity to share!