Welcome to Jen's Pond

Finding My Joy I've realized I need to focus more on joy. Not just doing things that bring me joy, but realizing everything that brings me joy. There's a lot that brings joy to me, but I'm not sure I see it all the time. A quick list of things that bring me joy as I sit here: my family, sitting in my house, watching soccer, writing, even paying bills (sounds weird, but I am happy I have the ability to buy what I want and need)... Today's world can be overwhelming. News of bad things happening around the world can make me feel anxious, sad, angry, drained, upset... all the feelings. Thereare a lot of good things happening, too. I don't have a lot to say in this addition, except that I hope my writing encourages any reader to start recognizing all the joys in their life - the small joys, the big joys, and all the joys in between. They're there, I promise.  Tater Tot is chilling, while I write. 

Working on enjoying the little things... Since the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine(s), there have been so many changes in our lives - work, family, play, community, etc. for many of us. My work found itself closing its doors, opting to share a work space when we need it and work from home. This has been different to say the least. I sometimes go use the shared office space every day, but there are times being in my own space that are super cool. The other day... on another windy Spring day in Oklahoma, I decided to try out the kite I'd purchased late last year but hadn't tried it out. The only audio in this video is the wind - and it was windy out there - so feel free to mute and add your own music.  Here's to taking more time to enjoy all that life offers, but I forget.    

  I think I didn't realize how lucky I am for the family - immediate with my Mom, Dad, brothers... my brother's families... and their families... and my many, many cousins.  My Dad's family has a large reunion every three years. It first began with us all meeting in the Branson, MO area. I remember as a kid going, enjoying Silver Dollar City, canoing the river, swimming, eating, and more with all the Uncles and Aunts and the many, many cousins. We've since then moved the reunion to different locations. We've grown together, partied together, hugged on each other in places like Williamsburg (VA), Keystone (SD), South Haven (MI), Red River, Pigeon Forge (TN) and many places in Colorado.  These are extraordinary weekends. We just have a lot of fun, enjoying what the places have to offer - together.   Some may be thinking how does family relate to joy?  I mean, many of our family members we see and/or talk with a lot.  But do we really think about the joy ...

As I sit here listening to one of my new favorite songs, Joy, by Andy Grammer, I realize I don't celebrate enough. There is so much joy around me...and I'm missing it.  So here's to finding my joy - each and ever day.  My goal is to post something every day, to share my joy with others.  I hope this will help others realize the joy around them and to enjoy those moments. 🤟

Lately, I've been focusing on 'silencing my inner critic.'  My life coach, Mandi , has really been a huge help in me realizing how damaging this critic has been.  I haven't even realized how bad it's gotten, but my self-talk wasn't nice.  I've named this critic 'Sneaker' because its been sneaking around my life, throwing in gut punches, jabs, upper cuts, and knock outs to my psyche for a while.  Oh so long....  Sometimes it doesn't sneak around though.  Yesterday was one of those days. Omigosh, I was such a crank! I think this stemmed from feeling overwhelmed with things I need to do and want to do in my professional and personal life.  And then things started happening that just started me griping about - an email here, a meeting there... and then BEEP.  The smoke alarm started beeping. No, not a fire beep, but you know the sound when the battery is low?  Yes... that beep that keeps coming... every so often, though never in any sort of rhyth...

  It's Mom's birthday.  😁 While I may feel a little down, I think this time of year also helps.   The Christmas decorations, the tree, food smells, family...  I look at the Christmas tree (with the lights you put on), watch the birds flock to the bird feeders (with the occassional hungry squirrel shoving his face in the hole), look at the plants in your green house... I don't think there's a day that goes by that I don't think of you and Dad...and I don't think I would want it any other way.    I never thought much about my middle name until you were gone... It wasn't that I didn't like it, but never really thought about it.  I've thought a lot more about it now.  I've been working on clearning the attic and finding things saved.  While you were great at letting go of the clutter (something I need to master), you still saved a few things.  Finding the dress you bought and wore on your wedding in Mexico or the tiny sweaters your kid...

I took this picture after a pretty bad ice storm that hit much of my state in October.  I say bad because many people in cities and rural areas lost electricity for over a week and trees were snapping with frequency.   So when our temperatures rebounded, thawing us out, I assumed that the flowers that had been encased in ice would soon fall to the ground and wait to try again til next year.  It was a pleasant surprise to see that not only did they stay but are thriving. I walk by them every day and just yesterday noticed a smile on my face and the feeling that washed over me (and washed over me again as I think about it).  Look at the photo again. Closer this time. I didn't see it when I took the photo. I merely wanted to keep the blooming fresh in my mind. But seems I was photo bombed. Look again. There is a bee visiting.  Hope. I took this photo when I was doing my best to hang on to Hope, while I felt my hope dwindling.  This gave me the...

Welcome to Jen's Pond!   I hope this blog gives you something to think about and maybe even challenge you, and then... hopefully, some things that I talk about will give you insight about something and will spread positively, like a ripple in a pond to others.   Please feel free to leave comments.  I welcome discussion from you.  Remember... one drop can cause a ripple.  What can you do to make more?

30 years ago. As I prepare this morning for another week at the Oklahoma Youth Leadership Forum, I make sure I’ve packed the memories of 30 years ago at Camp Jened.   Thirty years ago, this summer (1989 for those who dislike math as much as me), was as one of the best summers of my life.   Thirty years ago, during the fall semester of college, I had switched my major to Special Education. As the school year progressed, I wanted to do something different and yet I still wanted to work at summer camp. My college hosted a “Camp Fair,” and invited summer camps from the US to our campus to recruit camp counselors. There were a few that attracted me. I remember one that offered air conditioning in their cabins.   I visited with a few of the camps there, especially Camp Jened in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. The Camp Director, Gary Baker, was there personally.   We visited for a while and the more he talked, the more intrigued I became. I did have to c...

Last month (January 2018) I discovered a story my Mother had written in her high school days.  There are so many emotions I had (and still do) as I found this gem. I lost my Mom about 9 years ago and there really isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her.  The photo to the left is one that was taken a few few years before her passing. She was such an incredible woman... and I wish I'd taken advantage of learning more from her. As a member of a Toastmasters club, I have a few speaking manuals saved up that I thought would be good to work through to develop my speaking skills further. I presented this story for my first project in the Toastmasters Interpretive Reading Manual. Because of project constraints, I had to cut some out.  I've copied it here as she originally wrote it.    Hear me read it to my Toastmasters Club. Peace Comes Easily – by Ann (Edsall) Randle Ridiculous human beings, so blindly stupid, so easily led astray; chained in the ...

#OU was playing in the  #RoseBowl  on New Year's Day!  Expectations were high for this team.  I was nervous for them but looked forward to a win.  What resulted was such an incredible game between both teams...one for the ages and I think, well played for "the Granddaddy of them all."   Unfortuately,  #OU  came out on the wrong side. Excited for Georgia's players and heartbroken for the Sooners. As I sunk into the couch after the game...watching the victorious 'Dawgs get their winning trophy surrounded by heaps of confetti...  I remembered some words from the great Dr. Seuss.  "...You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.  You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t. I’m sorry to say so But, sadly, it’s true That Bang-ups And Hang-ups Can happen to y...

Access. Webster's online dictionary defines access as a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone.  A way of being able to use or get something.  Permission or the right to enter, get near, or make use of something or to have contact someone. Simple definition, I think, and yet the concept of access seems to be difficult to achieve. I'm referring to access to buildings, airplanes, homes, parks, schools, and learning. Why not have a universal way of thinking, which would make things readily available to everyone, as it should be!  We need to plan for everyone. For example, curb cuts may have the purpose of giving access to people who use a wheelchair, but they make things available to so many more.  It's use is universal .  How difficult would it be to go grocery shopping with kids if you have to lift a stroller over a curb to get into the building?  Ramps make buildings available to so many people! We have to shift our thinking: ALL. ...

Today I'm at the Oklahoma People First Statewide Conference. It's always a fun time getting to meet advocates from across Oklahoma.  This is an annual conference for People First Members.  People First is an organization that is ran by people with disabilities. I love their motto: What a powerful message! Our history is filled with instances of making decisions for groups that are not included in the process.  We still do.  This has to stop and People First is a great organization for people with disabilities to learn how to advocate for themselves and others! At this year's conference, I have the opportunity to help them learn about internet safety and about blogging and vlogging.  These are great tools that can help them advocate. It'll be a great time! Be sure to check out Oklahoma People First online.  

I'm not a pro at this blogging stuff...not yet anyway.  I started this blog many years ago to have some way of writing about experiences I've had.  I'm not into earning money, at least, right now, not yet.  If someone learned something from something I've written, gets another view point, or has a chuckle, that was good.  I've recently thought about getting rid of my blog, but something told me no. Instead, I thought maybe I could even vlog!  When I hear those words: Blogging and Vlogging, I had to find out what the difference was first. After doing some reading of blogs and viewings of vlogs (and reading other websites), I'll define blogs and vlogs this way: A “ blog ” is usually an informal, personal website someone creates to share with others online.  Writers reflect or give an opinion of something, they may teach readers how to do something, or they may rant in written form.   Some writers will let readers commen...

Thanks to a friend of mine, I have begun meditating.  Now, it's not as consistent as I would like - yet - but at least I've gotten started, right?  I've tried to meditate before, but get very frustrated as things pop into my head when I'm trying to relax.  Take this morning for example.  It was not easy to keep still!   I began my music, lit my candles and then sat down.  Once I was comfortable, I sat my timer.  My back was comfortable (and straight)...  In my mind, this is a snippet of what was going on. Deep breath...  in...  out...  in... out...  shhhh...  in... out...  ah...  My neck is kinked... I need to stretch it.  To the right...to the left...  Now jump two times...  WHAT?!    It's okay...  Just acknowledge and move on...  Breathe...  in... out... in... out...   My nose itches...   I continue to acknowledge those random thoughts until I finally settl...

So the other day I went to the store for a few things (namely toothpaste) and after making my purchase, I found myself walking along the curb.  Before I knew it, I was walking and balancing on it, though I'm not sure why.  As I realized what I was doing, I quickly stepped off the curb. What was I doing?  I'm over 40 years old and I'm walking along a curb, trying to balance on it like I'm Nadia Comaneci.  I wasn't acting my age...was I? So anyway...  On the way home I started to wonder about what I was doing.  Was I acting my age?  I mean really now...when is the last time you've seen an over-40 year old doing that?  Like she has no care in the world...just like a "little" kid would do.  I got into my car and drove away with thoughts of "grow up" swimming around in my head. Last night I saw a book with a catchy title.  It's called The Book of Doing .  It seemed odd for me to find it at this point, with the current theme in my ...

Not much to say this morning - I'm hopeful it will be a lazy Sunday, allowing me to do some work on my house and catch up on reading my book for my class.   The further along I get in my graduate work, the more times I'm struck with the thought "If I knew then, what I know now..."   There's some great things going on in education now days.  I've just recently discovered "Flipped Classrooms," a new way of presenting instruction to students.  If you've not heard about it, watch this video out. I've found other videos and websites - this one seems to be decent.  I've gotten some good ideas as well as learned some things too, from these short, instructional videos:  Teacher Vodcasting & Flipped Classroom Network. Okay - I've got to get busy on my lazy Sunday...  Until next time.  

Who participates in the Youth Leadership Forum? Students who will be in the 11th or 12th grade after the YLF and who  have a disability.   Students should want to discover their potential  for leadership. What should students expect at the YLF? ·    To discuss topics such as leadership, systems change,     goal setting, disability aware­ness, advocacy, career     exploration, disability culture, volunteering and much more. ·    Exciting presenters, community leaders, legislators and     other professionals. ·    To identify existing barriers to personal and professional     success and develop plans to deal effectively with those     barriers. ·   Developing your own Personal Leadership Plan. ·    Participating in large & small group activities with successful    ...

YOU AND I   by Elaine Popovich I am a resident. You reside. I am admitted. You move in. I am aggressive. You are assertive. I have behavior problems. You are rude. I am noncompliant. You don't like being told what to do. When I ask you out for dinner, it is an outing. When you ask someone out, it is a date. I made mistakes during my check-writing program. Some day I might get a bank account.  You forgot to record some withdrawals from your account. The bank called to remind you. I wanted to talk with the nice-looking person behind us at the grocery store. I was told that it is inappropriate to talk to strangers. You met your spouse in the produce department.  Neither of you could find the bean sprouts. I celebrated my birthday yesterday with five other residents and two staff members. I hope my family sends a card. Your family threw you a surprise party. Your brother couldn't make it from out of state. It sounded wonderful! My case manager sends a report every...

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