Study Saturday: Rural Rewards

Happy Birthday to my fellow school teacher, my Lola Rosing, who would’ve turned 106 today!

This spring☘ has challenged me in an array of ways along this countryside, which makes my work worthwhile.

Recently, we had our 🌎cultural🌏 🔖reports, and next week will be filled with résumés📑 and 💼interviews!

I aim for my students to accomplish these A’s💯 this semester:

• Appreciation of cultural diversity 🌍
• APA research writing style mastery 📚
• Ambition of maximizing their potential 🏅
• Audience-oriented speeches 🎤
• Advocacy of their teammates 🏆

As for yours truly, my own scholarly growth continues as I prepare my 🏐🏈🏀sport⚾️⚽️🎾 psychology presentation next month!

Southwestern Psychological Association-bound!

Motivational Monday: Mis Padres

Pope Francis offers his take* on how home influences our faith [my commentary in brackets]:

“Faith opens a ‘window’ to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures.

‘Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded,’ Jesus says (Mark 9:41).

“These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, by brothers and sisters. They are little signs of tenderness, affection, and compassion.

• “Like the warm supper we look forward to at night [my mom‘s homecooking], the early meal awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work [my dad‘s coffee].

“Homely gestures.

• “Like a blessing before we go to bed [blessing my honorary GODdaughter Maggie at bedtime, as her family does], or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work.

“Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs that make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life and life to grow in faith.”

*Pope Francis in the U.S.: Words of Mercy and Hope (2015), Daughters of St. Paul, pp. 22-23 ~ as said at the Closing Mass of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, September 27, 2015.

^– I actually used this passage as my pre-brunch prayer of grace with my parents today! –^

Bearing in mind these homely gestures, let’s also consider our cultures and upbringings…

Have you ever wondered why your parents act the way they do then realize that you’re turning out more like them as you grow up?

Wong Fu was right on point:

Have you eaten yet? = Priceless ♥love♥

Speaking of family …

Happy 17th Birthday to Rey-Rey, my beloved GODdaughter Reyanna mañana!

Study Saturday: Presentation Prep

Who would’ve thought that the advice offered by Belinda Selene in this month’s Seventeen magazine would actually help yours truly (who’s double the title age)?

Belinda Selene also suggests concealer to prime eye shadow ~ which can be used in lieu of eye liner to prevent smudges! | Courtesy Seventeen magazine, October 2015

Indeed, this tip is relevant to ~ not only social media trendsetters with followers, but also ~ anyone who has an audience ~ in particular:

• My speech students, including for their upcoming informative speeches
• Yours truly in my rounds of dissertation defense, starting with committee

Apparently, Jessica Alba must be extremely influential with her following ~ she’s now branded produce! | Courtesy Seventeen magazine, October 2015

Bottom Line: Public Speaking revolves around our Audience, just as Writing revolves around our Readers!

I’ve already been on-point with making this Neutrogena base for my face as my go-to double-function foundation for SPF coverage and acne prevention/protection! | Courtesy Seventeen magazine, October 2015

Motivational Monday: Making History

Today was one of those perfect productive ☼days☼ …

What better way to kick off my so-called ♣Spring Break♣?

• My good friend‘s book is making history (literally) and waves ~ here on Texas Public Radio ~ an inspiration!
• On my agenda, I interviewed the Rhodes Brothers for the biography, in addition to helping with their foundation
• I progressed further into my doctoral research, partially from my interviews in addition to more schools I can survey

Now my Doogie Howser, MD (YES, my Neil Patrick Harris love runs deep and dates back before HIMYM‘s Bro Code and Playbook‘s Barney Stinson) “blog” question is this:

Would I prefer to make history or write about it?

To which, my answer would be: BOTH ~†GOD†-willing!