"Who hates negativity and told I can't pass the test"

I am sitting and avoiding the massive amount of planning I have for the school year ahead, because it just seems like so much I do not even know where to start. Before I left Memphis I slide a few old student papers into my stack of work to serve as inspiration.

Can I tell you it worked?
(well minus the fact that I am blogging right now! I just had to share this)

I had my students write "I am" poems at the end of the semester this past year. Most likely if you have taught you have done this assignment at some point with your students. It's pretty common, but their words are not. The samples below are not their complete ones, just bits and pieces.

"I am Simme-Sosa...
Who needs to strive harder, continue education and apply myself more...
Who hates abuse and neglect of any extent...
Who fears God...
Who dreams of changing a massive number of lives, communities, and the world itself all over...
I am Simme-Sosa"

"I am Josalyn...
Who needs love and attention at all times...
Who hates negativity and told I can't pass the test...
Who fears being hated or disliked because of mess...
Who dreams of doing big things...
I am Josalyn"

"I am Denzel...
Who neesds excuses for not being the best...
Who loves the joy of accomplishment...
Who hates injustice and ignorance...
Who fears for the education of young African Americans...
Who dreams of changing the world of others one person at a time...
Who lives in Memphis and wouldn't change it for anything...
I am Denzel"

These are just a few of the many. What you read above are the words of 18 year olds who have been entrapped within a system that has passed them along and neglected their full potential since they entered when they were 5. And 12 years, later a week before they walk across they stage, they know it.

I wish you all could meet those three students. When you meet them you would see a young man who has more wisdom than he realizes in his large 6'4" frame. A young lady whose creativity is going to launch her into whatever career she pursues. And a young man who as overcome more adversity than I could ever think to go through, yet has been given a gift of joy that is so contagious you cannot help but smile when you are around him.

By HIS mercy I am given this ministry. By HIS mercy I get to teach. By HIS mercy I get the incredible opportunity to live in Memphis. Oh Jesus give me strength in my large amounts of weakness and never let me forget why I am going this. Increase my creativity as I work today please.

A good friend started Teach for America and had her first day in the classroom today. She text me this morning and said "Teaching today was...interesting. I'll explain later, but so great that the Lord reminded me in a brief and crazy morning why I'm doing this. These kids deserve better and are capable of so much! So so thankful that He was able to bring that back to life for me today by seeing kids. They're wonderful!!!!"

Mmm. Love her words. They are so true and ....
So good.

They are wonderful! :)

So.... I .......
Can't be sleepin' Can't be slumin' Why not? Why not? Cuz my kids be comin'!

Until next time...
E

What drives me?

On Wednesday I played this commercial for my students. They had to tell me where they saw formal and informal balance along with how lines impacted the final piece. Let me tell you, when I played this video it was the first time my class of 40+ students were still and silent. That never really is my goal in class, but for the first time I had 100% of their attention.

You have on idea how cool it was to watch them watch the video. (make sure to watch it below!)

At the end of the video there is a quote from Kobe Bryant where he says....

"This is what drives me". Referring to playing in the NBA.

So, I asked my students for their "exit ticket" (they have to do one of these everyday to get out of my class) to write me a few sentences on what drives them.

Here are what some of my students said:

What drives me is a want to succeed and be great at everything I do. I never want to be the absolute best at anything because I have a desire to learn and grow and whenever I do something the second time I want it to be better than when I did it the second time. That’s what drives me.

What drives me is my determinations to do whatever I put my mind to. Especially basketball. Although I’ve stopped playing for the moment, I won’t let it stop me forever.

Every person has a passion. Personally, mine is anything that makes me feel alive. Whether it is camping, music, or anything physical that pushes me to the edge of my limits, I try my hardest. Specifically there are two things that force me to do almost anything: money and proving people wrong. In the real world, money equals power. Also, obviously things cost money and as a young man with expensive taste there must be a source of income. Having a desire to prove a person wrong is the biggest driving force behind anything I do. No one dictates my motives and I make it my mission to prove an untamed, free-thinking individual.

What drives me? My little brother. He drives me because I’m all he has. My dad is in prison and his mother is hooked on drugs.

My determination to be independent drives me. My want to have the better things in life and not struggle. Also to never have to ask anybody for anything drives me.

Basketball drives me because of the motivation and the cheer of the crowd. Knowing that everybody is depending on me to make the basket. Basketball is my outlet in life whenever I get mad, depend on it because it’s my future.

Education is what drives me. I feel that without education I cannot be the person God desired me to be. I know that I can do far with education.

My passion to be a lawyer is what drives me. Without a goal or a dream my life would be incomplete.

Winning drives me. Greatness and power also drive me. Everyday I work hard at practice to achieve these.

Being able to be a breadwinner for my family is what drives me. I strive hard and plan on being successful. One of my favorite quotes is “Pay now, so that you can play later”. I aspire to attend a 4 year University after high school. I want to be able to provide for my family and give my mother whatever she wants.

Confidence drives me. It drives me because I feel like I can do any and everything. It drives me to be the best.

What drives me is to be myself. The fact that I like to follow in my own footsteps and do what makes me happy. I love not wanting to uphold a certain image because its not me. I love being myself and doing me.

What drives me? My little sister drives me. She drives me to be a better big brother and to be a role model for her.

The arts drive me. Any kind, rather it be music, dance, theatre, art, etc. I love the creativity and unique value that all artistic media has. The arts have always influenced me and have made me who I am today. I guess you could say life drives me, but arts drive my life.

28

-- Welcome to room B-204 --

Well two weeks down. 28 to go.

This week was one of my hardest weeks in Memphis. I was homesick and impatient and exhausted and overwhelmed. I felt down right needy.

That is a feeling I hate and I wanted to go away. And I wanted it to go away fast.

I fought this feeling as I sat in my Thursday night class. After a long week in the classroom and feeling like I have accomplished nothing with my students, we began talking about literacy. My class is called "Reading in the Content Area". If you are an educator, you have taken this class at one point or another. If you are an urban educator, you realize this could be one of the most important classes you will ever take.

One of my classmates Stu began asking our professor how to teach his 8th grade social studies students how to read and write. Why?

Because he is almost completely illiterate.

How do you make it to 8th grade and not know how to read and write? How do my 12th graders not know how to spell basic words? (and I mean BASIC).

If there is something that makes me angry this is it... this is way the system is so messed up. Teachers just let students slide by because they are too much of a problem and do not want to deal with them. And then they end up in 8th grade illiterate and 12th grade not being able to write a complete sentence.

My professor was giving us ideas on where to start. We literally had to go back and learn how to start from the beginning. Teaching our 8-12th graders patterns of reading and the alphabet.

As my professor was talking about all of this I sat there and all I could think of was a conversation I had just had with nephew the day before. He knows the ABC's. All of them. Every single one. Capitalized. Lower-Case.

He is 2.

It blows my mind how much of a difference it makes in what home-life you grow up in when it comes to your educational career.

I cannot make excuses for my students. No excuses. Have high expectations. There are NO EXCUSES for these students. If I let them slide, they will fall back into the exact same lifestyle they are trying to get out of.

Education and knowledge is the ONE thing no one can ever take away from them or you.

So 28 weeks to go.

I'm not saying that in a sense of a countdown. Trust me. 28 meaning, I have 28 weeks to push my students to mastery. To help them learn how to spell. To teach them how to write a good resume. To teach them how to give a good handshake. To love them. To serve them. To push them. To not make excuses. To not waste time.

28.

That's a small number, but a very capable one.


(Prayer Requests: patience, creativity, confidence, CONTENTMENT, passion, church family, small group, mentor, my students, room B-204, Whitehaven)

Danny and Kevin.

I have to do a journal after everyday for my MTR Coach. This is an excerpt from Wednesday, August 11th.
All names are changed.

Today was my first real teaching day in front of the students. There was so much going through my mind with each movement, question, response, and interaction with each student. Did I have enough wait time? Have I been standing in one spot too long? Why is this group reacting so much different than my last group? Did I tell them what to do or what not to do? How is my proximity? The list goes on and on. I am so grateful that I am a part of MTR and I can already implement so many things that I have learned so far in class. I have found the classes where I know the students names better, I have greater success in responses and interaction. I realize I need to really work hard on getting to know each one of their names and more about them as my students. I am so grateful to Mrs. Simpkins for allowing me to jump right it and help teach with so much. She has let me teach over half of the class each class period and trusts me with the students.

One of the neatest parts of the day was in homeroom this morning. Yesterday I saw a young man walking through the halls who was in my homeroom the day before. I stopped him and told him I missed him that morning in homeroom and asked him why he wasn't there. He said he just slept and did not feel like coming. I then asked him if he would be in homeroom the next day, because I really wanted to see him in the morning. He said "Yes ma'am" and started walking away. I then just shouted down the hallway, "Danny, you better keep that promise. I'll see you in the morning, have a great night." Guess who came walking down the hall this morning? Danny! He came to homeroom, sat down, looked incredibly disengaged and annoyed that he was there. Then when he left I told him thank you for coming and I look forward to seeing him tomorrow. I was so proud of him for keeping his word, something that is not held to such a high importance in today's society. I hope I see Danny tomorrow.

Another story is with one of my Art II students named Kevin. Kevin brought me his art portfolio today and was so excited for me to look at it and wanted feedback on his work. He smiled really big and was thrilled to be in class. He told me to just keep it and look over it during the day. I was so impressed that he trusted me with all his artwork and valued my opinion already.

Both of these stories are mainly to say that I have already seen growth in my students and it is just day three! There is so much potential in each one of them and I see a huge difference in the students that I have started building a relationship with rather than the ones that I do not have one with yet. I have to keep pushing myself to ask names and shake hands even if it seems uncomfortable or annoying at times.

Lately I have been praying that every interaction with students and co-workers would be done with the compassion of Jesus Christ. The Lord is so faithful in reminding me of that in my moments of impatience, selfishness or frustration. For example, I found out today I am suppose to do lunch duty. I was not too excited about this in all honesty. As I walked in I saw the administrators looking stressed out and overwhelmed. I thought of my Dad (who is a principal of a large Urban High School) and realized I can do so much to help them out in this short 20 minutes I am required to be in the cafeteria each day. When I left I noticed a lot of trash on the floors and tables and was humbled in picking up each piece. Wow, the Lord reminded me that every interaction with someone is huge; whether that is a face-to-face interaction or an across the cafeteria glance. EVERYTHING I do must be in HIS name and for HIS glory, not my own. No matter how big or how small that task or service is. I am strangely excited about lunch duty now; hoping that my service will be a light to my administrators and hopefully at least alleviate some of their stress for the day.

Just another day at the Haven....

First few days....

It's official. I'm a Urban Educator.

I am sitting in a coffee shop GULPING down some wonderful coffee. I only allow myself to have it once or twice a week so I don't get addicted, don't worry. Working on all my master's coursework and need to focus, but thought I deserved a break so I'm on here.

There is SO much from this week already. Mainly this:

You know you are in MCS when your students ask you if you are German or Canadian because you are white and NOT from the South.

Alright that's enough for today :)
There is so much to say, but I have to get back to studying.

The photo above is of KIPP DIAMOND Academy here in Memphis.
It is a charter school that is really pushing academic achievement and succeeding in incredible ways. We have 7 residents doing their internship their this year.

The old guys at Panera.

I'm sitting in Panera right now working on school work. I came here just because it reminds me of home. Sad but true... There are very little things in the town that are similar to home, so I take it up as much as I can.

There are three old guys beside me, enjoying coffee and talking about the upcoming high school football season. They have switched from buying hard wood floors and the outrageous cost of it all. I have never heard so many curse words and every one is putting a smile on my face. Especially when he says Home Depot as Home "Dah-Poe". Oh I love old guys. :)

He just said, "Damn right... I have never seen so many obese women as I have seen in the city of Memphis...." Oh my goodness this conversation is getting better and better. I want to record it!

Next topic....

I've GOT to do a better job of updating this thing. It's going to be my "school-year" resolution!
Here are a few things I've been up to lately...

Master's Classes:
1. Got my first 3 A's in my master's program :)
2. About to finish up 2 more courses.
3. Finished observing at KIPP DIAMOND, a charter school in Memphis. That is what the picture above is... my group with our KIPP shirts. Don't we look like teachers?!?
4. I start in the classroom Monday with teacher inservice and then on the 9th with students! Crazy!

Outside of MTR:
1. Went to my first southern wedding outside of Nashville. It was BEAUTIFUL. A small town called Franklin, TN. When we pulled into town, someone asked me if this is what small town Kansas looked like. My response? I just started laughing. They said... so what DOES it look like? My response to this one? Beat up farm trucks and a stop light if you are lucky. Anyway, we danced the night away and it was such a fun experience.
2. Went to Shelby Farms, a large part in Memphis, this morning with a friend for a long bike ride. It was great. I miss being outside and in the country and that is going to be one of my favorite places in Memphis. It is beautiful! There are buffalo, running trails, turtles, ducks, biking trials, strawberry fields, and lots more.

Those are a few things going on. I need to get back to work.
The old guys are still going... Now they are talking about air conditioning and plumbing.

Peace.

I promise I'll do better!!

I promise I'll do better updating this thing! :)

After having a class from 8-3 today...Tonight we went to a redbirds game (triple A baseball). The MTR krew rocks (see all my new wonderful friends above), just love all these people a whole lot. Our director took us to the game, fed us and there was a fireworks show at the end! The only DISadvantage was the stinkin Memphis HEAT and HUMIDITY. Oh my goodness, I looked a hot mess.

Anywho. I will be updating this more. Please keep reading you like! Love you all. Gotta get some zzz's.

P.S.: Memphis Moment of the week: Watching the sunset on the Mississippi, with a Sonic slush, and seeing a shack/boat float down the river. I think the real Huckleberry Finn was in there!

Rosa you rock.

This city has history.

Strong history.

From Holiday Inn to FedEx to Elvis to Johnny Cash to Martin Luther King Jr.

I have only lived in this city for about 3 weeks now, but I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. Thanks mainly to MTR for doing such a wonderful job taking us around and having speakers come talk to us as well. But I've also learned a lot just from the people I have met here.

This place is so diverse. Full of many different people. From skin color to socioeconomic level to cultures. I live in the heart of the city and I can drive 1 mile one way and be by a million dollar house or I can drive 1 mile the other way and be in the projects.

Let's back up to that history. The history of Memphis still effects it greatly today. I had the privilege to go the Civil Rights Museum with my classmates and professors. I admire the Civil Rights leaders so much more than I ever have before. They are my heros without a doubt. We were on the tour and there was a bus we could climb in. I sat down. And the bus driver (an automated voice) started yelling at me to move. I just got up and moved. I didn't want to make him mad or cause a scene. I'm no Rosa Parks. For the first time, I had an itty-bitty-tiny experience of what it would've felt like to not be able to sit on a bus because of something out of my control: my skin color.

Rosa Parks was strong. She was courageous.

As I walked through this building I read story after story of courageous men and women who stood up for something they believed in. One group called the Freedom Riders even handed in their wills before they left, because they knew they would mostly be killed for their selfless act. They were working towards something that they would never see.

Or how about the sit ins? A group of college students (both African American and White) literally would practice getting food thrown on them and cigarettes burned on their heads, because they were determined to just sit in these segregated restaurants and not revolt back in violence. They wanted their kids to be able to eat lunch together. Or how about the police charts. I read through the police charts and calls for one month in the sixties. One (of hundreds) said that a young African American who had a mental illness was killed in front of his mother. She called in to report the incident and the police ruled it an accidental homicide.

Really?

An accidental homicide?

I walked through and was so frustrated and embarrassed at the fact that people my skin color afflicted so much pain and torment upon others. And not only my skin color, but people who claimed they knew Jesus Christ as the Son of God. As this thought was going through my head one of my new, amazing friends grabbed my arm and said, "Isn't this crazy? 40 years ago we wouldn't have been able to walk by each other like this."

Wow.

And I wondered what caused the KKK to do things in the name of Jesus like they did. And I wondered why God-fearing, bible-believing people still judge people TODAY based on their skin color. And I wondered why people still make jokes like it's over and past and we don't have to deal with it anymore so let's just make fun of it.

It's not over.

It's still very much alive.

You see Martin Luther King was shot and killed in Memphis in the 1968. That still effects today. Why? My students. Their grandparents where here in this city when that happened.

The school I am teaching at is 99.4% African American. My school gets less money than a school a few miles away that is in a white community. I don't want to say why I think they do but it's pretty obvious.

So Rosa. You rock. I pray that I have the courage and passion to fight for my student's right to EQUAL education. Something they do not get right now.

Thanks for all your prayers. I'll update this more since I have internet. Promise :) LOVE YOU ALL! SO MUCH! Come visit :)

only in memphis...

went on a run by the mississippi and heard a sweet old man playing his sax. only in memphis. :)

Hello Memphis!

Well I made it to Memphis and have moved in and am starting this new stage of life whether I'm ready for it or not! The transition hasn't been too bad.

Mom and Dad helped me move and I would not have been able to do it without them that is for sure. They are the best parents ever and we had a really good time together, from trying to figure out where we were in Memphis to 1898230984 Target stops to Mom thinking she is really from Memphis and talking to everyone like she knew them. Ha! Saying bye was tough but I really was trusting the Lord in being here.

I am in school with some amazing people. My roommate is just awesome and we have had some great times already. There are a few girls who worked at KAA and I have had some great times with them so far. I went with one of them downtown last night and we cooked hamburgers for the homeless that live there. It was great. They were awesome guys, I loved it. It was through Life Church, I'm gonna check it out tomorrow I think.

Don't really know what all to write on here, besides I'm doing good. It's been very overwhelming at times but I'm trying to just take a day at time. I have my moments but then after that I tell myself to not sit and sulk but get up and do something!

Oh and I found out that I will be working at Whitehaven High School with my mentor art teacher. It is in the Southwest corner of the city. I get to drive by Graceland everyday and salute the king :) I know you all are jealous!

Here are a new thing I'm gonna do on my blog... It's titled ONLY IN MEMPHIS...

So here is the ONLY IN MEMPHIS for today.

Will you find a bus stop and a sign that says no standing, sitting, or parking at anytime.

AND

Will people fight at WalMart in there Southern accents and still sound polite and nice.

Love you all, thanks for the prayers. Keep praying if you don't mind. For my workload coming up, for solid community and a church.

Goodbye ITC

Well I'm off to Memphis on Monday.

For those of you who don't know I am moving to Memphis, TN to start a Master's Program in Urban Education called MTR (Memphis Teacher Residency). It is a year long and then a 3 yr residency afterwards, so I'll be there for 4 years.

So why Urban Ed? After working at Kids Across America (KAA) my eyes were really opened up to the realities of the injustices within the U.S., specifically in Urban Cities, specifically in the educational systems in Urban America. I had the privilege to work with and meet some of the most incredible 12-15 year olds in these cities, but my heart was broken to know some of the situations they had to back to and live within. And I believe on of the greatest ways to change the crime, poverty and some of these generational cycles is to help get these kids through high school and beyond.

So why Memphis? For some reason I love this city. For some reason after kamp this year I could not get away from this city. I don't know why but I know I'm suppose to be there. I know it's rough, I know in some parts it's dangerous, but I also know that we are suppose to go where no one else wants to and that the Lord has gone before me and that Memphis is full of amazing people who need a relationship with an amazing God.

I'll try and keep updates on here as often as possible. My schedule is pretty intense this year with classes but I'm sure i'll have time to get distracted on here. Please stay in touch too. One of the hardest things about moving is leaving all the friends and family. So I would love to hear from all of you as much as possible :) Come visit me.

Memphis greats: BBQ, Elvis, Blues and Chicken and Waffles... Come on ... Roadtrip! You drive, I've got a place for you to stay!

Lastly if you wanna...

Prayer points for June:

Transition to Memphis

Roommate (Maya)

Classes

Good Community/Church

Donate Somebody Else's Mooo-laaaahhh!

I was educationally surfing the net today at work ;) and ran across this awesome website. It's called See Jane Advocate: a busy mom's practical guide to social justice. Now I'm no mom and won't be for sometime, but it was created by an awesome photographer who married an old Sterling grad. Too much info? Ok I'll cut to the chase. Anyway one of her posts was about a way to donate somebody else's money. This rocks. Check this out.

An Australian based company called Hotels Combined has a new marketing initiative. Instead of spending their normal marketing/ad budget the "normal" way, they are donating to several different non-profits in exchange for word of mouth reference. Like me putting this on this blog. You can even tweet (yes kellie!) or facebook and they give back. How sweet is that?

I'm donating $20 to World Vision without spending a single penny.

Thank you Hotels Combined for taking a risk and using your money to help those who really need it. You guys rock.

My dream job....

Check out this website.

www.keelymariescott.com

It's a photographers journey through several trips with Compassion International. She is the photographer that gets to capture the sponsors meeting their kiddos. Wow. So jealous.

It's WAY worth your time.

I can follow their journey this month as they go visit kids in Kenya. (so can you by clicking on the box below) My little girl Faith is there. I hope I get to see her someday!

lil' peanut

found this pic today on my computer at work. then i messed with it on picasa. a cheap photoshop basically that i have to use for our website to get photos on there. anywho.... just love my lil' peanut. he's gettin' soooo big. i took this on my computer at work when he came to visit me for my birthday! i love you buddy!

--ti ti

MTR

[I seem to go through blogging SLUMPS. DESERTS. DRY-SPELLS.

Well, here is my 189734092 attempt to try and re-start this blog.

So to all my faithful readers (all 2 of you!) I'm back! haha...]

Post-Grad.

What a weird stage of life. Transition from a whole life of education to the real-world has to be one of the most challenging, awkard, and unsure times.

All the sudden it's all over.

So... now what? Hmm.... It's the time where people say you can to whatever you want. To some extent this is true. I have nothing tying me down, no obligations, no serious relationship (sorry about that one grandma), and praise the Lord I even came out of Sterling with no loans.

Here is my latest kick. And it's not just a kick this time. Kellie likes to remind everyone that I just throw out crazy ideas of what I'm going to do but change my mind 2 days later. (Hello you know I don't like commitment!!) But this one I've been praying about since September.

MEMPHIS! The city of BBQ and blues... There is a great possibility I'll move their at the end of May. I am in the application process for a master's program called MTR (Memphis Teacher Residency). My final interview is March 19th. I find out at the beginning of April if I'm in. With over 200 applicants and less than 40 spots, it's gonna be tough. I would explain it, but this video does a much better job. Check it out if you have time.

Peace.

africa + christmas

a couple Northern Ugandan boys

last night a got home late after going to the hospital with one of my players who got a really bad concussion in our game. so i get home, opened my computer. don't know why because i hate getting on it after i work on one all day long. then i randomly found a song a youtube by Sara Groves called "I saw what I saw". It was about her time in Rwanda.

I watched it and cried. Completely aware of the fact that I had forgotten about Africa. I mean I remembered, but forgot at the same time. I miss that place so much.

So then I went to a bunch of random sites to see how war-ending efforts are going, especially in Uganda and the Congo as the LRA (the Lord's Resistance Army) is continuing to abduct children and force them into their army to try and over throw the government there. I checked out Invisible Children and realized it's still going on and I forgot about all those kids.

Ugh.

Anyway, one thing I love about Invisible children is that 100% of there profits go to helping in the war in Uganda. Not this pathetic, buy a 300 dollar (RED) iPod and 4 dollars goes. Wow. Way to go Apple. As much as a rave about your projects and am obsessed with them that is ridiculous number.

So here is my Christmas wish. Since I never know what people should get me for Christmas.... Invisible Children have started a product line called "Mend". It's a hand bag making line, giving the women in Uganda who's kids have been abducted by the LRA a way to make money and provide for themselves, without having to sacrifice their bodies. I actually was in the application process for being the design liaison for this line in May, but turned it down because of KAA. It is an incredible program.

Anyway. I want a bag. One of these bags, the women make.
I'd like the MEND cinch-black-pink-and-polka-dot one to be exact.

I always never know what to do with my life. Now I really don't know. Memphis. Kenya. Uganda. Sterling. Wichita. Who knows. Well He does, but I'd like to.

confession time.

i have to make a confession.

no crushes this time. unfortunately all hope for some have been lost. but here's my real one....

i listened to christmas music on my way to work today. i don't know what's happening to me. the once scrooge mentality that i possessed just can't wait for candy canes, twinkle lights, and the colors red and green to be flooded everywhere.

plus i'm in the middle of making christmas stationery/letterhead at work. i think that's only encouraging my desire to see santa fall through a chimny.

mmmm.... i just thought of christmas cookies and got real excited. yum.

I have a crush.

It's time.
After being off of here for a few months I'm gonna start blogging again. I know you are all so excited. So at least to make me feel better read through this first one :)

The last few months have been CRAZY so i'm not even going to update any of you on them, except to let you know I am a graphic designer/college basketball coach who is trying to take one day at time in the little town(s) of sterling and lyons kansas. learning a lot right now so i figure i might as well share some of it with whoever wants to know.

main thing right now: i have a crush.

yes, that's right a crush.

since i've been in lyons working i have had the great opportunity to meet some pretty incredible people. most of them are over the age of 65 and i think that's why i like them so much. so my crush is an older, local artist who has the sweetest, most compassionate heart. i just finished designing some postcards for him and his wife's show coming up in Ellsworth this month and every day he would come in just to check and see how things are going. i have loved listening to his many stories and just getting to know him. i am sad that i finished his project because now i don't get to see him. long story short, he stole my heart. i hope i get to work for him again sometime soon!

panama and camp

(had to add a pic! this is some of my favorite people and me mud wrestling before graduation!)

A lot has happened since my last post. My show. Graduation. Moving Home. It's been a crazy time, but only gonna get crazier! Which I am so ready for!

Part 1:
I leave for Panama on Sunday. pray pray pray for us. you can see what we are up to on our blog at
http://scpanama.blogspot.com/.
If you didn't know I am going there with some of the players from the men's and women's basketball teams at Sterling. We are doing a sports ministry trip down there. The men will be playing some international teams as well (we might get to too! just have to wait till we get down there to see!)

Part 2:
The day i get back from Panama i will be headed to KAA (www.kidsacrossamerica.org) for the summer. We can't have our phones or use internet so if you ever need anything or just get really bored and want to write a letter you can send it to this address.

KAA 2 c/o Erin Thiessen
26272 Private Rd. 2232
Golden, MO 65658

Part 3:
Would someone please find me a job for when I'm done at camp? thank you :)

Love you all so much. I will miss you all so much! Make sure to keep me updated on your lives as well.

xoxo.
Erin

Senior Art Exhibition

Below are several pieces from some pieces featured in my Senior Art Exhibition. The show is running at Sterling College from March 29-April 9. The gallery reception is on
April 2nd from 7:00-8:30 in the Sterling Art Center (located on the corner of 8th and Washington)
If you are interested in any of this work or other pieces please contact me at erindthiessen@gmail.com

Title: Kibera
Medium: Acrylic on Masonite


Title: Missions Chapel Kick-Off
Medium: Computer Graphics


Title: Sterling College Music Brochure I
Medium: Computer Graphics


Title: Sterling College Music Brochure II
Medium: Computer Graphics


Title: The Garden
Medium: Acrylic on Paper


Title: The Mara
Medium: Digital Photography


Title: Hawa
Medium: Digital Photography


Title: Self-Portrait
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas