Molly, Mike, Adreinne, Terry, Kirk, Lynn at Lake Lavon
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
End of Summer- 2015
Loved the summer of 2015, lots of traveling and spending time with friends. But my all time favorite thing to do is to go to the lake and just relax. Water seems to be good for my soul! So do my friends!
Cruise Baby Cruise July 2015
Life on the Boat:
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| Momma always remembers us on our birthdays |
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| Happy Birthday Kirk |
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| Salsa/Salsa where you get to make Salsa, drink margaritas, and learn to Salsa dance. Air Boat Riding in Belize  The beach at Mahagony Bay. We took an air gondala to get over there!
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Sunday, December 13, 2015
Puerto Vallarta
Still trying to catch up.....
Kirk and I also got to take a much needed vacation this summer to Peurto Vallarta with two of our couple friends. It was fun to just be a couple and relax. We slept, ate, shopped, and we were just normal tourists. We stayed at a beautiful condo that Greg and Debbie had secured from their friends. The view was beautiful, the pool was wonderful, and the beach was great. Dana, Mark, Greg, and Debbie had been there before, so they knew the ropes and how to get around the town and the best places to eat. We did catch a few tours and overall really, really, enjoyed ourselves. Here are some highlights:
Kirk and I also got to take a much needed vacation this summer to Peurto Vallarta with two of our couple friends. It was fun to just be a couple and relax. We slept, ate, shopped, and we were just normal tourists. We stayed at a beautiful condo that Greg and Debbie had secured from their friends. The view was beautiful, the pool was wonderful, and the beach was great. Dana, Mark, Greg, and Debbie had been there before, so they knew the ropes and how to get around the town and the best places to eat. We did catch a few tours and overall really, really, enjoyed ourselves. Here are some highlights:
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| The view from our condo! |
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| At a morning beach at Cabo Corricutes- the first travelors on the beach! |
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| Waiting for out friends to join us. they took a hike to the beach, we took a boat as Kirk was still suffering from his spraigned ankle. |
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| We took a boat to a circular island and swam through the volcano rocks into the middle of the island. Absolutely breathtaking! |
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| There is the gang! What a great group of people! |
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| View from the restaurant. Stunning!!!!! Cannot wait to go back! Count Your Blessings, Bella |
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Disneyland
Disneyland 2015
After the big wedding at Big Sur we drove the 5 hours to Anaheim to go to Disneyland! We had three glorious day at California Adventure and Disneyland. I have to say, Luci and I know how to do Disney! We saw it all, plus all the princesses in one day! I forget how many there are, but we saw them all! Bless my sweet husband's heart- he fell and twisted his ankle badly. He actually strained some ligaments and did not heal until August. He was a trooper and helped out immensely, plus he is very funny to have around! Here are some of the pictures for posterity:
Count Your Blessings, Bella
After the big wedding at Big Sur we drove the 5 hours to Anaheim to go to Disneyland! We had three glorious day at California Adventure and Disneyland. I have to say, Luci and I know how to do Disney! We saw it all, plus all the princesses in one day! I forget how many there are, but we saw them all! Bless my sweet husband's heart- he fell and twisted his ankle badly. He actually strained some ligaments and did not heal until August. He was a trooper and helped out immensely, plus he is very funny to have around! Here are some of the pictures for posterity:
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. Walt Disney
Jesse Gets Married!
Hello Blog,
It has been a while.....
I have to blog about my fabulous trips last summer:
Jesse- Luci's twin brother got married in June! We were all so excited. Luci asked Pops and I to come with her and Jeremy to help them at the wedding as all three kids were in the wedding. We also decided to make a trip to Disneyland as the wedding was in Big Sur, California. We left on a Tuesday and flew to Monterrey California. We had a two hour drive to Big Sur and passed Carmel along the way. Absolutely breathtaking country in this area of California. The wedding was spectacular, just like out of a Hollywood Movie! The kids did great and Luci's family always treats pops and I as family as well. We had a great time and were proud to attend. Thanks to Jesse and his beautiful wife, Erin, for making us feel so welcome.
It has been a while.....
I have to blog about my fabulous trips last summer:
Jesse- Luci's twin brother got married in June! We were all so excited. Luci asked Pops and I to come with her and Jeremy to help them at the wedding as all three kids were in the wedding. We also decided to make a trip to Disneyland as the wedding was in Big Sur, California. We left on a Tuesday and flew to Monterrey California. We had a two hour drive to Big Sur and passed Carmel along the way. Absolutely breathtaking country in this area of California. The wedding was spectacular, just like out of a Hollywood Movie! The kids did great and Luci's family always treats pops and I as family as well. We had a great time and were proud to attend. Thanks to Jesse and his beautiful wife, Erin, for making us feel so welcome.
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Count Your Blessings, Bella
Monday, July 27, 2015
I made it to Harvard!
Harvard, July 2015
That's right friends and colleagues- I made it to Harvard! When I was an AP, my principal went to Harvard through Raise Your Hand Texas and brought back so many ideas, but most importantly came back a strong leader. I learned so much from her, it was my goal to go to Harvard to the Principal Leadership Program. I never let go of this goal and during my first year as Principal, I applied to the program through Raise Your Hand Texas and made it! I was so excited. I could not wait for my week of the Urban School Leadership Principal Training Program to arrive. My district did a news story on two of us that were going before we left and here is a quote about my expectations:
So here are my top 10 learnings from a week at Harvard:
10. Meeting other Urban School leaders and understanding that our gaps and challenges are all the same. As a collective group we must pivot our learning and thinking to meet the challenges our students face.
9. It really is about the climate and culture in a school. Strong schools have strong climate and culture in their schools.
8. It is also about the mindset of adults in your school. Do they really all believe that all children can learn? What you do as a principal to change that mindset is critical to the success of your students.
7. A small group of Educators- my small learning group from Harvard- can change the world! We talk everyday through GroupMe and are better leaders for it.
6. Dinners with Raise Your Hand Texas colleagues are important as you learn best from those around you that are dealing with something just like you are.
5. Reshaping culture is hard work. I left with 10 excellent strategies to begin this work.
4. Through the consultancy model, I was able to present a challenge to my small group and leave with over 25 strategies to solve the issue I am facing at my school.
3. A huge AH HA moment was when I realized the impact of change ( how ever small I think it is) on my staff. You see I thought they were right up with me and as I have had time to reflect and learn about organizational change, I now realize they are a few miles behind me. I have the skills now to implement change that will work!
2. To Quote Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman, the leader of our institute, "Democracy Isn't Destiny, Leadership Matters. Our students are counting in us!
1. Finally, we began with a song each morning. An Apartheid song, "Something Inside Me So Stong." To quote some of the song:
Labi Siffre - Something Inside So Strong
I learned that I can do this work successfully because there is "something inside me so strong".
I have to thank Raise Your Hand Texas and the wonderful gift in this opportunity to attend Harvard. The organization did it right! The accommodations were wonderful, The travel agents were easy to work with. The Raise Your Hand Staff is excellent in every sense of the word. I now have an organization behind me as I continue this work. I also have Harvard behind me. This Urban Leadership is hard work and it takes support to be successful. I would be remiss if I did not thank my parents and husband for helping me get to Harvard! Yes I got them the shirts- Harvard Mom and Harvard Dad! My husband got a Harvard shirt as well. I am proud to represent My District and Raise Your Hand Texas as a participant in the Harvard National Institute For Urban School Leaders.
That's right friends and colleagues- I made it to Harvard! When I was an AP, my principal went to Harvard through Raise Your Hand Texas and brought back so many ideas, but most importantly came back a strong leader. I learned so much from her, it was my goal to go to Harvard to the Principal Leadership Program. I never let go of this goal and during my first year as Principal, I applied to the program through Raise Your Hand Texas and made it! I was so excited. I could not wait for my week of the Urban School Leadership Principal Training Program to arrive. My district did a news story on two of us that were going before we left and here is a quote about my expectations:
"Smith hopes to share her experience with other principals in Dallas ISD and use what she’s gained to support her teachers’ instructional strategies’ growth. She believes growing her teachers’ instructional strategies is instrumental in the success of the students she refers to as “at-hope” versus “at-risk,” citing the population of students who are expectant mothers and special needs students receiving career skills and support to help them transition into the adult world."
So here are my top 10 learnings from a week at Harvard:
10. Meeting other Urban School leaders and understanding that our gaps and challenges are all the same. As a collective group we must pivot our learning and thinking to meet the challenges our students face.
9. It really is about the climate and culture in a school. Strong schools have strong climate and culture in their schools.
8. It is also about the mindset of adults in your school. Do they really all believe that all children can learn? What you do as a principal to change that mindset is critical to the success of your students.
7. A small group of Educators- my small learning group from Harvard- can change the world! We talk everyday through GroupMe and are better leaders for it.
6. Dinners with Raise Your Hand Texas colleagues are important as you learn best from those around you that are dealing with something just like you are.
5. Reshaping culture is hard work. I left with 10 excellent strategies to begin this work.
4. Through the consultancy model, I was able to present a challenge to my small group and leave with over 25 strategies to solve the issue I am facing at my school.
3. A huge AH HA moment was when I realized the impact of change ( how ever small I think it is) on my staff. You see I thought they were right up with me and as I have had time to reflect and learn about organizational change, I now realize they are a few miles behind me. I have the skills now to implement change that will work!
2. To Quote Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman, the leader of our institute, "Democracy Isn't Destiny, Leadership Matters. Our students are counting in us!
1. Finally, we began with a song each morning. An Apartheid song, "Something Inside Me So Stong." To quote some of the song:
The higher you build your barriers the taller I become
The farther you take my rights away the faster I will run
You can deny me, you can decide to turn your face away
No matter 'cause there's
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone
Oh, no, something inside so stro.o.ong
there's something inside so strong
I learned that I can do this work successfully because there is "something inside me so strong".
I have to thank Raise Your Hand Texas and the wonderful gift in this opportunity to attend Harvard. The organization did it right! The accommodations were wonderful, The travel agents were easy to work with. The Raise Your Hand Staff is excellent in every sense of the word. I now have an organization behind me as I continue this work. I also have Harvard behind me. This Urban Leadership is hard work and it takes support to be successful. I would be remiss if I did not thank my parents and husband for helping me get to Harvard! Yes I got them the shirts- Harvard Mom and Harvard Dad! My husband got a Harvard shirt as well. I am proud to represent My District and Raise Your Hand Texas as a participant in the Harvard National Institute For Urban School Leaders.
Dr Mary Grassa O'Neill and Dr. Deborah Jewell-Sherman with Lynn Smith at Harvard
I am one lucky girl! Count Your Blessing, Bella
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Lady A and Friends
It is so very important to spend time with friends and enjoy each other as a couple. We have a few couples we meet for dinner each week. We really enjoy out time together with our friends and treasure the moments and memories. We just went to Lady Antebellum with Dana and Mark, Greg and Debbie, and Lori and Blake. We had a great time and heard some awesome music. Kirk and I had forgotten how much we enjoyed the old starplex at Fair Park. I think there will definitely be more concerts in our future!
To quote Kirk's favorite Lady Antebellum Song:
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.
Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without.
I just need you now.
Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.
And I don't know how I can do without.
I just need you now.
Count Your Blessings, Bella
Easter 2015 and Hudson's 4th Birthday
Much of Easter was spent in College Station. We did get back in time to see the Dallas grandkids and Brooke came in with her kiddos. We went to Ross and Debbie's for a lovely spread. We then had my family over for an Easter cookout. The next day we went to the zoo and celebrated Hudson's 4th birthday! He got to spend it with the Dallas cousins and Ross and Debbie's kids. Lot's of family in three days, but you know that is how I roll!!!
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| Always Fun - Confetti Eggs |
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| More Confetti Eggs |
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| Happy Birthday Hudson! Your Bella and Pops Love you! |
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| Lots of kiddos at the table. |
Grandsons
A few posts back, I write about my granddaughters. Now I am going to tell you about my four incredible grandsons.
They are all within two years of each other and my hope is they will always be friends. We are off to a good start. They love to play together especially at the ranch. They are all sleeping in the bunkroom now and it is so fun to watch them play. I love to cook for them and read to them. I have tried to get to know each one and do activities with them that they enjoy. Here are a few picks from the past few months. They are growing so much and I will always be there for them no matter what!
Carter Mark
Hudson Alan
Caleb August
Wyatt Darin
They are all within two years of each other and my hope is they will always be friends. We are off to a good start. They love to play together especially at the ranch. They are all sleeping in the bunkroom now and it is so fun to watch them play. I love to cook for them and read to them. I have tried to get to know each one and do activities with them that they enjoy. Here are a few picks from the past few months. They are growing so much and I will always be there for them no matter what!
Grandsons:
"A Grandmother's Prayer"
Oh Lord, I do not ask for much,
Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.
Just give me a little hand to hold,
And I'll forget that I'm growing old.
I do not ask for cloudless skies,
A life that's free from tears and sighs.
Just give me a little face to kiss,
And anxious moments will turn to bliss.
For what is there, really, that means so much
As little hands that reach and touch,
As little eyes that search and see
Only the best in fragile me?
So let me grow more loving and wise
By looking at life through their wide eyes.
For through these little ones, you have given
This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.
Eternal beauty, or youth, or such.
Just give me a little hand to hold,
And I'll forget that I'm growing old.
I do not ask for cloudless skies,
A life that's free from tears and sighs.
Just give me a little face to kiss,
And anxious moments will turn to bliss.
For what is there, really, that means so much
As little hands that reach and touch,
As little eyes that search and see
Only the best in fragile me?
So let me grow more loving and wise
By looking at life through their wide eyes.
For through these little ones, you have given
This grateful grandmother a glimpse of Heaven.
Count Your Blessings, Bella
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