Taken For Granted (June 27, 2009)

While I gazed at flowers bountiful
With appreciation of nature's presence
I seek their beauty and peaceful stand
Of tint, calmness, and grace.



Walk the path of solid ground
Pebbles, rock and granite stones
Without a care then heavy steps
Trampled, broken but headstrong



Ignorance of what is small
That made its life from cracks abound
Becoming of being and vivacity
Charm, delight yet carefree.



The plight of small things would
Always be taken for granted
To recollect where life begins
Minute, a dot, but life a-beating.

Second Chance (June 24, 2009)

I was given a beautiful plant as a Christmas present but with no instructions on how to take care of it. Thinking it was just plain sun and water, I transferred it from one spot to the next for the plant to get maximum exposures. It died because of the constant rain.



Then I received another one from a parent who commented that she is giving me one for she discovered I like strange looking plants. I thought for a while where she got that piece of news but I shrugged my shoulders and extended my thanks.

We will always make mistakes in dealing with life's challenges and dilemmas. We either accept and do something about them or abandon them with neglect but they’ll surely haunt us again. Facing the troubles with a strong determination to solve them makes us more of a person. We have to believe that help comes from within us, not from outside. That we are warriors of this world, and giving up hope is a no-no.

I tried to resuscitate the first plant by drying the main trunk with newspaper but I was late. The first plant was already dying. The second plant is like a new beginning, a second chance. It is a new life that I need to care for given the experience and know how. The result had been great. This time, I know what to do. The plant is in full bloom and growing brilliantly well.

When we look at things, we either embrace the darkness and stay within our own comfort zone hoping things will just pass. But for those who grant second chances to our own mistakes and misgivings, we become hopeful and alive.

Let's Take a Walk (June 20, 2009)

I haven't been attending my garden for lack of enthusiasm but the funny weather of summer heat and heavy rain had been taking care of my precious plants. So one fine sunny morning, I walked around and discovered a forest with some plants needing trimmings, some needs staking and a lot of cleaning up. Along with the walk are some surprises of bursting colours.

Butterflies a-flutter, in whites and blues.

Heavenward colours of green and purple.

Cups extended of yellows bright.

Warrior red and feisty looking.

Bountiful whites in quiet serenity.

Mother nature, I am loving you!

A Big Thank You (June 17, 2009)

I had a previous entry stating why 22 is my favourite number. This 22^nd year of teaching and nurturing young minds had been the most gracious in terms of parents’ support and trust.

You are a fantastic teacher and Todd and I truly appreciate your support of Jack. He loved being in your class and his self confidence has improved greatly. You have done a great job with him. Jack will really miss you.



Thank you so much for being the wonderful person you are - caring, innovative, talented, fun, flexible, compassionate and humble. I have continued to be impressed with your natural gift for teaching and loving young children. We are so thankful that God provided you to be Caelyn and Caspian's teacher.



Madeline is going to miss having you as a her teacher, too. Mondays have been her favourite day of the week because of the drama class.



This has been such a wonderful year for Cole! We can't begin to tell you enough thanks for all you have have done for him. He has really grown and gained so much confidence, both academically and socially. Thank you for making this such a positive and happy experience for Cole, and all of us. We will truly miss you, and will come back to visit.



Emilia and I are sitting in our playroom crying right now. Crying that tomorrow will be Emilia's last day with her wonderful Teacher Jonathan. Words are not enough for all the good things you have done for Emilia. Words are not enough for what a great person and mentor you are. That is why we simply want to say "Thank You".



The class would like to thank you for a fantastic year. We truly appreciate your dedication, love, kindness and energy that you put towards our kids. You are a wonderful teacher and will be truly missed.

Thank you for a wonderful year! God had always been generous.

The End (June 10, 2009)

Flipping through the pages of the year past
Of chapters and anecdotes
Some frowns, some smiles, iconoclast
Of teachings’ antidotes.

Thus begin with greetings and knowing
Of faces unfamiliar
Lives intertwined yet stories of sharing
Webbed a thread congenial.

Each face speaks, each life unfolds
Of life’s awes and vicissitudes
Bound by work, graciously mold
Children’s minds and attitudes.

Months gone when work fills each day
Of triumphs and small successes.
Still happily rowing through the tide
Of stress and false pretenses.

As I write the last few pages
Of friendship and growing.
Moving fast with each exhales
Of farewells and going.

25 Years (June 6, 2009)

Mother Goose rhymes are favourites in preschool classes. One traditional and well-known rhyme is Hey Diddle Diddle. One of my students asked me why the dish ran away with the spoon and I told him that they are probably going to play.

Stashed in my library at home is a wonderful book called The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon and I brought it to school for sharing. It is a romantic story about the dish running away with the spoon and building their own lives by being vaudeville performers. With some dramatic twist and turn, they turned into bad guys then good guys, separated and later on, reunited after 25 years.

I paused when I told the children that the spoon found the dish after 25 years and made mentioned that 25 is when they turn 30. And 25 is when I turn…dead (as most of the children answered). I started to shed tears and I became very quiet.

Why are you crying?
Is it because we said you’ll be dead?
No, I think the teacher is sad because the dish is broken.

At that moment, I came to a realization that in 25 years I might be actually dead. And that I won’t be seeing the children whom I had fallen in love and developed a strong bond with. The end of the school year is around the corner and with all the emotions swelling up, the dam that holds the tears just burst.

Please don’t cry, because if you ever die, you’ll be in heaven.
Yes, and you’ll be with your friends and family.
And when we die, well see each other again.
It’s a cycle, we are all born and we all die.

Theoretically speaking, I might still be alive 25 years from now, but it was a realization that whatever I am holding off right now should be done right now.

(The italicize print were conversations from my students ages 4 and 5.)

Remembering (June 03, 2009)

When I started teaching many years ago, my salary was the equivalent of 17 US dollars given on a monthly basis. I started as an assistant teacher working for half a day while studying in the late afternoon till nine in the evening for a Master degree. A common friend who became my teaching colleague works as a teacher so her salary is twice mine. She also works part-time.

One book that simply fascinated me for its story is The Giving Tree. I wrote a blog entry about this in the very beginning of my blogging days. Anyway, my colleague knew that I like the book so much that she gave it to me as a present. She stayed in our school for only a year but she finds it endearing to give me a book I love.

The book costs around 11 dollars at that time since it was a hardbound cover. She gave me a copy and wrote in her own words, “Here’s to one of my intelligent but weird friends. May you always be doing what makes you happy. Remember that the best things in life are the simple things in life.”

A mother of my student read this book today and it reminded me of the person who gave me this book. She used half of her monthly earnings to buy this magnificent book to give to me. She is a giving soul, someone to behold, but someone I let go.

I have no idea about her whereabouts. Though this incident of giving had transpired exactly 15 years ago, she will always be remembered and cherished.