Quetzalcoatl-
Mayan god of morning,
Plumed serpent prophecies
That floundered,
Set off on a new path of discovery
Across the dawn of 2013.

Go Vikings!

Family
Like pickets on the fence
Holding each other up
And keeping us safe within.

Powdered sugar trees
with Icy layers
On the ground
Chocolate colored birds
Alight on cinnamon branches...
Seeing the world
Through too many Holiday treats.

Truth is as we find it
Not as we make it.

Trumpeter Swans

At Albertville

And Happy New Year

what a difference a year makes...

Merry Christmas to all...

Christmas lights

At Phalen

Anger seeps out
Leaving a hole
A cavity where love can live
A soul to refill.

Writing resumes

Laughter and tears
Ho ho ho and boo hoo hoo
Wishes and dreams
Last Christmas with my class.

Singing Christmas Carols

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

A dark and dreary Monday-
Beginning of the week.
Looking forward to Christmas
To lift the gloom-
Fill our heads with sugar plums
And the Joy of the season!

My whole life
Has been wrapped up
In kids.
Looking to the past
I see their future.
It's always been about
Looking ahead.
Dreaming, working, focusing
on what they will become
With what we could provide.
So much potential
So much to look forward to
So much of tomorrow
In today.

What can you say...
You can only smile at a child
Through your tears
Give them an extra hug
And hold on tight
To dreams
Of a brighter future.

With smiles full of mirth

And eyes mirroring the wonder of life

How could you hurt a child... 

The church of people
Bound by compassion
Sharing stories
And helping kids.
The school of thought
Building community
Creating a place
Where everyone can live.

12/12/12

Snow fall
On a December Day
We shouldn't be surprised
Yet marvel at the wonder.

Smiles that make your day!

Walking

In a Winter

Wonderland?

A moral platitude
A sound byte saying
Lacks the heart and soul
Of the people
But plays better
In the news.

TGIF

Down the rabbit hole
Choose your own adventure
Lost in space
Incredible journeys
Reading with the kids.

In between
The week
In between
colds
In between
Seasons
In between
Classes
In between
Sadness and joy
Be in the moment.

My whole teaching life is wrapped up in this neighborhood.
In June of 1976 my grandma, who lived across the street from St Francis de Sales told me about an opening in the school. I took the bus after school to her house, changed into my “interview outfit” and met with Sister Annabelle.
The care and compassion and love for this school was instilled in me early on from the wonderful people I worked with and the families I came to know.
Miss Mayer, Mrs Kunik, Diana Komarek were all co-workers and friends, along with many others through the years. I loved working with generations of families and felt their love and sense of community.
The ideals of hard work and responsibility were important components of learning at SFSJU. Students learned to do their best and be empowered to create a better future. I hope I helped them learn to love learning and themselves.
I will be sad to leave here, but am heartened by the knowledge that we made a difference. Our presence in the neighborhood touched many lives and will be felt even when we're gone.

Going to the dogs

Meandering down Grand

At Grand Meander

After over 125 years

Countless children blessed with the love and support 

Of W7th families and teachers

This will be our last year...