Perspective

I've heard it said many times, life is all about perspective. Well, for a little over a week now my little world has been shaken by this truth. My favorite football team may lose a game they should have won, but, it's still just a football game. I may spend days planning an amazing lesson that doesn't go off like I'd hoped, but, it's just one out of hundreds. I may have a no-good-horrible-very-bad day, but if I'm here writing about it, then I survived. You might be thinking, "Where did these thoughts come from?" Well, my friends, the blog world is crazy and it has deeply impacted my life this week.

It is amazing how reading one blog leads to reading another to another to another, until you have just about seen the whole internet. The blogging world has really become like a world-wide community where people literally share their lives with people they don't know and most likely will never meet. It is kind of strange actually, but, there are a lot of really smart, wise, and funny people out there who make it easy for you to get hooked.

In an effort to become more authentic, I'll admit it, I'm a blog lurker. I'll check on one of my friend's blogs and then click on a blog they read which leads me to another one. It unfortunately could go on for hours. Well, a little over a week ago I was reading Kristy's blog, which eventually led me to a blog about a newborn baby and family with unbelieveable faith and courage. At the time I discovered this family, the baby, Copeland, had just been born and they were rejoicing that she was alive and really doing quite well. You see, Copeland was born with Trisomy-18. Since there is no way I could adequately explain what that is, this is some information I found on the Trisomy-18 Foundation website:

Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) is a chromosomal abnormality where there is an extra chromosome present in every cell of the body. This is an example of where “the more the merrier” is not true. This extra chromosome means that every cell has extra information encoded into it. The extra information causes confusion in the way that the cells are formed and results in the potential malformation of all of the body systems. Just like with Down's Syndrome (Trisomy 21), there is a wide range of how this condition will play out (what the doctor's will refer to as your child's phenotype). Unfortunately because there is more information encoded on the 18th chromosome, the severity of this condition is greater than that of Down's Syndrome. Current studies show that while 1:1500 children will be diagnosed prenatally with trisomy 18, only half that number (or 1:3000) will be born alive at full term. Of those who survive to birth, only half will make it to two months of age, and only 10% will survive to their first birthday. Children who live can be an important part of their family and community, but are profoundly developmentally delayed.

So, every single cell in Copeland's body was effected by this condition. Her parents found out she had Trisomy-18 about three months before her birth. Can you imagine, rejoicing over the fact that you are going to have a baby in a few months and then suddenly finding out that if she is born alive at all, she will only live a short time? I have yet to experience the whole power of a parent's love for their child and all that good stuff, but still, I can't even begin to begin to begin to understand what news like that would do to me. That is why Copeland's story has intrigued me so much. The first night I found their blog I got all caught up and was totally blown away by this family's faith. While using their blog to pour out the truth of what was coming they simultaneously used it to proclaim God's sovereignty, His faithfulness, His goodness, and their unwavering hope in Him. I was hooked immediately. I checked their blog at least five times a day to check on her and to see how she was doing, sometimes even walking around my classroom with my iPhone in my pocket ready to check at any free moment. Her parents would post frequently with updates on how she was doing, if she was having a good day or bad day.

I will admit that I struggled deep in my heart with questions like, "How can they be so full of hope knowing what they know?" Or more importantly, "Why would God allow a little baby to be born just to die?" Last Tuesday night they celebrated her 1-week Birthday, knowing they would never get to share a real Birthday with her. Then Wednesday afternoon she was gone. A friend of mine who was also keeping up with Copeland broke the news to me. As I was driving home from church that night I was thinking about those questions I had been asking myself over and over. Then, like I've never really experienced before, I felt like God gave me an answer. Question: How can they be so full of hope knowing what they know? Answer: Jesus. Question: Why would God allow a little baby to be born just to die? Answer: Jesus.

God does and always will know exactly what He is doing, I will not. The Farley family rejoiced in the fact that while their time on Earth with Copeland was short, their time in Heaven with her, in perfect form, will last for eternity. While only for a short time, they loved her well. God knows exactly what it feels like to rejoice in the birth of a child only to have them die an undeserved death. And, just like the life and death of Jesus has completely changed my life, the little life of Copeland has also impacted me in a way that I hope I will never forget. This is just a temporary life and while I want to live it well and bring glory to God, my heart aches for home.

Yesterday was Copeland's Memorial Service and her family just posted the video they played and the letter they wrote to her. If you'd like to check it out, be warned, you will probably need some kleenex. Here is the link, Copeland Farley.

I'll end with this, no matter what happens on any given day, as long as I have Jesus, I have everything. I am thankful that God put some perspective back in my life this week.

Football has 4 Quarters

Today I got the opportunity to travel with some good friends (Aggie fans) to College Station, TX to enjoy a little football game. The day started out early, we officially hit the road at about 8, and arrived in Aggieland at about 11:15. This was my second time to attend a game at Kyle Field and I'll give the Aggies credit, 83,000 fans makes the game very exciting. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the Baylor defense was totally hanging tough and keeping us in the game. The offense, unfortunately, only showed up to play about one quarter. It was ridiculous, 70 yards of total offense and 5 completed passes at the end of the third quarter. And, honestly, it wasn't like A&M was just playing amazing defense, we were just stinking it up that bad. I believe the time of possession looked something like; Baylor 9 minutes and A&M 51 minutes. Which brings me to my point, you can't win a football game in 9 minutes, you have to play the whole game, all 4 quarters. So, surprise surprise, Baylor lost again. The final score was 34-10. At least Texas and OU lost too so it will totally take the attention away from Baylor. :)

Here are a few pictures from the game:

This was our view for most of the 1st Quarter, this guy and his sombrero just would not sit down.

This was our view once the guy and his sombrero sat down, much better!

This is how Deneise enjoys an A&M Football game! I was impressed she could read with all that noise! :)
It really was a great day. We had lots of fun and laughed way too much. I am even sportin' a new sunburn, I like to call it "half-baked," because really only one side of my face is red. Thank you so much Deneise, Shellee, and Kelly for taking me along and tolerating my gold shirt. :)

Game Day

Today's the day! The 104th meeting of the Baylor Bears and the Texas A&M Aggies will begin in about 4 hours. A friend asked me last night, "Is there any possibility Baylor could win this game?" My answer, of course, was YES! As long as I've been a fan this game has been close. Now, I just read some statistics that made me a little nervous, Baylor has only won this game 10 times when it has been played in College Station! This is what is going to make today so special! :) If we were to pull out the win it would be my first Baylor win over A&M to witness in person. I'll let you know how it turns out! Sic 'em Bears!

At a loss

Once again, I'm at a loss for blog material. This will have to do...

At the moment, I'm quite frustrated with my computer. I have spent several (really too many to count) hours trying to create "Science Licenses" for my classes. I made them take a test over the Scientific Method and our Science Safety Rules, and in order to earn their license they had to make at least a 90 on it. It is kind of like a Driver's License, you need it to drive, so you need your Science License to participate in Science experiments. For some reason Microsoft Word is not working quite right on my computer. It litterly takes forever, when I started this little project it was still Summer, now it is Fall. Do you see what I mean? My plan was just to print them on business card paper for quickness and neatness. I just finished my first 10 out of 60, I went to print them and they were all messed up. They don't line up with the perforations on the paper. I'm giving up for tonight. I will just tell the kids who have been begging for their licenses that it's like getting a real license, it takes a couple weeks for them to send it to you. :)

On a brighter note, I have had a really great weekend! I made it to 7 baseball games yesterday, all of them very entertaining. Unfortunately, I will be unable to make it to any games next weekend. I hope I don't disappoint anybody! I also went to the mall and out to eat with a great friend. The highlight of the evening for sure though was learning that an optimal pool shape is indeed five concentric circles. Then today I went to church and got to spend the evening with great friends again. We went and saw "Hairspray." It's definitely an interesting movie, but I don't know that it's going on my must-see-again list. It was still a very fun time though! :)

Now, this is a big week. It is the one week out of the football season that I set myself up for the sweetest victory or the most disappointing defeat. Just for fun and to get some of my good friends all fired up, I'll leave you with this:

Multiple Personality Disorder

Today, I finally got to teach Science for the first time this year! I really love teaching Science because it's fun and the kids love it so much. Well, before we can get to the good stuff we have to know the Science Lab Safety Rules and the steps to the Scientific Method. In the middle of the night during my first year of teaching I had a brainstorm. I thought it would be fun to dress up as a "scientist," and be a guest speaker for my class to teach them the basics. The first year all I could pull together was a white lab coat and some glasses. Last year I traded in the normal glasses for the big fake nose disguise glasses. This year though, I took it to a whole new level. I added some crazy hair. This other personality of mine, Dr. Experimenta, has truly evolved! I didn't actually see myself until the end of the day when I had someone take a picture of me. It made me laugh so maybe it will make you laugh too!

Quite a day!

Yesterday was quite a day! In one word, it was full. Yesterday was the first day of the Fall baseball season and I got to spend all day yesterday at the ball fields catching game after game. It was really fun to watch some baseball and hang out with friends. I may have spent a tad bit too much time in the direct sunlight, but my bright red head is already looking better.

Once I got home from the ballgames I got to spend some quality time with Will and Allie. Seriously, could the day have gotten any better? Allie was her usual cutest-kid-ever self. She's very into copying your facial expressions so I had a good time teaching her a really great smile. I think Will has learned the power of saying just the right thing to get what he wants. First of all, if he is talking to anyone else about me he calls me Aunt Emily, but if he is talking to me and needs to say my name he calls me Miney. That was his name for me before he could say Emily and I guess it stuck. It makes my heart smile every time I hear it. So, anytime he wants me to do something for him he calls me Miney. It's very cute.

Will and I were getting ready to go on a quick walk to the park and while I was trying to change his diaper we were talking about his sister Allie and what he likes to do with her. This is a portion of our conversation:

Me: Who's your sister?
Will: Allie's my sister
Me: What do you like to do with Allie?
Will: I teach her how to say Miney.
Me: (I couldn't respond, I had melted into a puddle on the floor)

He continues to amaze me. We had fun at the park, but Will was disappointed because we forgot to bring "hamburgers" for the ducks. I guess the last time he went to see the ducks he had some hamburger buns for them. I assured him that next time we wouldn't forget. Here's a self-taken photo of us at the park (I told you my face was red)!

The Magic Number

I have mentioned once before my high hopes for a Baylor Bowl Game. I'm certain there have been many in my lifetime, just not any in my lifetime as a fan. The thought of spending a few days out of my Christmas break traveling to a Baylor Bowl Game just makes me really happy. Every season starts off with the hope, it just always ends disappointingly (is that a word?). Now, I'm not expecting the Rose Bowl or the Orange Bowl, I'd even settle for the Toilet Bowl. I just want Baylor to go to a bowl game. In order for Baylor to be bowl-eligible we must win six games. We are well on our way with 2 wins. We've got an away game at Buffalo this week that SHOULD be very winnable. If we win, we would need to pull out 3 Big 12 wins. Tough, but not impossible. For now, the magic number stands at 4. Just for fun, the three I would most like to see us win: Texas A&M, Texas, and Oklahoma. And, because I'm realistic, the three we have the best chance at winning: Kansas, Colorado, and Kansas State. We'll see how that goes, just keep believing!!