you're killin' me, smalls

I miss my students. (I can't bring myself to say "former;" they'll always be mine.)

According to my Facebook wall, they miss me, too. They have a new Literature teacher and I'm getting mixed reviews from the kids. I'm so grateful that someone has come to take my place and I know they will learn from him just like they learned from me. It's just hard for me to hear them say "I really miss you" and "Please come back."

It's hard for two reasons: One, because I can't come back. They have a new teacher from whom they will learn much. And I have an amazing job I know I'm supposed to be at.
Two, because we're all wearing rose-colored glasses. I know that if I went back I would have tough days and so would they. We would get frustrated with each other and I would lose my mind.

But secretly? I'm glad they miss me. It means that for all my failings as a first-year teacher, for all the mistakes I made, what they carry with them are good memories. And sure, they remember those times I got all red-faced and upset. But those memories are outweighed by whatever I accidentally did right.

So as much as it kills me to hear them beg me to come back, I'm glad we have such great memories from our year together. I, for one, will never forget that.

oh the youth

Can we talk about being the young one? About being the new kid on the block? About changing your hair style and color to give the impression that you are not, in fact, twelve years old?

Welcome to my life.

I mean, okay, I guess I'm a bit youthful. No harm in that. I guess. Except when your face breaks out like a hormonal teenager.

It started last year when I was a high school teacher. And I looked no older than my students. Seriously, pictures of me with my 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students is like playing Where's Waldo with Miss Maggie. Which one is she? Where's the one who's not a teenager? I can't tell.

In the background, I hear singsong voices reminding me that this is good, that when I am 40, I will appreciate looking young. Except for this face breakout thing. That has got to go.

Now that I'm a member of a professional higher education team, I feel the need to prove myself even more. Although I may look young, I am, in fact, an adult with insights and suggestions. Also there's the constant reminder that some of our students are older than me. (Not that again.)

Let it be noted that my coworkers are truly amazing at validating my contributions to the team. I am sought out, listened to, and respected. I am taken seriously. And all that just might contribute to why I love coming into work in the morning.

But for. the. love. I just want to look like the 23 years I claim. There's only so times I can wear wrap dresses and pearls before I start channeling June Cleaver.

SSP

If you haven't caught wind of it yet (which is doubtful because I've orchestrated a veritable fire storm on Twitter, Facebook, and our website), I'm now getting paid to write blogs for my company, Rivendell Sanctuary. It's all very exciting.

This just might be as good as it gets: getting paid to do something you love.

And this is what my blogger friend Allison would call shameless self-promotion, or SSP:

Read our blog (and my introductory post) at: Rivendell Sanctuary Blog.

P.S. There are a record 5 hyperlinks in this post. If you click on all 5, you will not only boost traffic for all of these lovely people and organizations, but you will get a thousand cool points in my book. Win-win, really.

i've got friends in many places

Part of the fun of having overseas experience is that you now have friends all over the world. While my travels may never take me to all the places my friends (and students) have spread out to, it's nice to know that I could theoretically throw a dart at a map and land on a country that's home to a friendly face.

It's especially nice when I can see friends again and know that the miles that separate us are just that: miles. Miles that can be traveled and traversed and ultimately, reduced.

A good friend of mine from Nigeria volunteered to bring back my 3rd suitcase and I retrieved it with a weekend trip to Indiana. My favorite part was the 20 mile bike ride up Lakeshore Drive during Chicago's air and water show.

Being that I was practically in the neighborhood, I also stopped in at Life Church this morning for a sweet sweet reunion. After being away for almost a year, it was a precious reminder of how the body of Christ feels a lot like family.

Old friends, new friends, British friends, American friends, church friends, international friends. Selfless friends, supportive friends, hospitable friends, encouraging friends. Phone-a-friend, too...the drive through Wisconsin gets long, you guys; somebody's got to get you through it.

Friendship has to be the most practical, tangible way that we can be Christ to each other. There was a whole lot of Christ-being going on this weekend and I am the overwhelmed, humbled recipient.

help wanted!

Part of my new job is brainstorming ways to improve our current Facebook ad campaign. Our goal is a high click-through rate.

That's where you come in.

I need to know how you feel about the following questions. Please give me some feedback!

1. Which ad element makes you most likely to click through: headline, image/graphic, or text?

2. In regards to the headline, which is most important: it grabs your attention, it's catchy, it addresses you directly (ex. "Hey YWAMers!")?

3. In regards to the image, which is most important: clarity (recognize what the picture is), relativity (relates to ad subject), color/attention-getting?

4. In regards to the text, which elements are most important: words/phrases, complete sentences, numbers, calendar dates, symbols?

Examples are welcome, as are multiple responses.

Thank you for helping me do my job well!

EDIT: I also need help/resources for SEO information. If you have any links that might explain it/how to do it in non-tech language, I will kiss your hand. Thanks!