Going Shopping

Going Shopping…
For the past few days, when I go outside, I aware of the silence outside my door, everything is strangely quiet. Ice and snow has slowed and silenced the neighborhood. School has not been in session all week.

Today, I decided to go the bookstore and grocery shopping. So little traffic..

Ice and Snow

No school

I am searching for words to describe the sound of the sleet falling on ice... or word to describe the sound of the tree branches heavy with ice... No school again tomorrow.

President Obama

Is this the first time in history that the outgoing Vice President is related to new President?
According to fact check, President Obama is related to Vice President Cheney.
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/are_barack_obama_and_dick_cheney_cousins.html

James Weldon Johnson's Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lift Every Voice and Sing...

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.

.....

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,

Thou Who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou Who hast by Thy might, led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee.

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee.

Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,

True to our God, true to our native land.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Il9r-VSu9g

A walk in the park

A snow covered lake

A quiet place in the park...

Leadership...

Leadership….

Can individuals learn leadership skills?

The Classified Aspiring School Leadership Program is a voluntary program. It is designed to offer Fayette County Public School Employees an opportunity to improve their leadership skills.

In the fall of 2008, I applied to become a part of this program. In my application, my definition of leadership was not original; I shared about servant leadership, because I believe that is the essence of leadership. In December, I joined classified Fayette County Public school employees from across the district to begin the journey of learning more about the art of leadership.

There are so many quotes about service, but one of my favorite is one from Martin Luther King Jr. “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

At our January 13, 2009 meeting, members of the program were divided into teams. Here is my group.

London Fog

London Fog is a new tea that is offered at Starbucks. I took my daughter's suggestion and tried this tea with nonfat milk with sugar free vanilla. It is very good.

Suggested reading while you are drinking this tea... The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams.

Flowers & Tea Cup

Flowers

and a tea cup

An Afternoon Tea

Now, all of the Christmas decorations are neatly tucked in boxes and carefully stored on shelves. It takes me about half a day to take down the tree, ornaments, and garlands. When all of the decorations are put away, I have more than a tinge of sadness. The excitement and anticipation of the holiday season have long since melted away like my vanilla candle. I do savor sweet memories of the past holiday, visiting with my sweet peas, laughing over card games, cooking Christmas dinner together and laughing over gifts. Most of all, I thank Him in whom makes all things possible.
After making several trips to the airports, the children have arrived safely to their homes and jobs. Now, the house is empty again…
In December, in anticipation of the holiday let down, I planned an afternoon tea with a few friends. While the tea only lasted an hour, I spent hours preparing for the afternoon. Once the guests arrived, I was able to sit down and enjoy the conversation and cup of tea. We sipped Passion Tea, Earl Gray, and Pomegranate Vanilla. This tea was a way to ease into the routine of work and welcome friends.
Friends, tea, sandwiches, dessert cakes, conversation, flowers, a sweet way to spend a afternoon. Here are some pictures from the afternoon.