Dear Reader:

Most of us in our careers make hundreds of decisions daily without giving much reflection or thought to them…they are more like automatic responses. I remember reading in an educational journal one time that a teacher, on the average, makes 1500 (yes you heard that right) 1500 decisions each day which averages out about 4 decisions a minute. Whew!

Thinking back on a typical teaching day for me…I can honestly believe that number. From the moment a teacher walks through the door of the school he/she is bombarded with questions from administrators, office personnel, parents, fellow teachers, maintenance staff, and of course, constantly students. It is amazing that as much gets taught as it does with so many split-second decisions bombarding a teacher constantly throughout the day.

From the article…Teachers Are Masters of Multi-Tasking comes this thought-provoking observation:

“Any teacher worth their salt–and thus aware of the incredible demands of instructional design, personalizing learning, classroom management, the always-on demand of student and collegial relationships, grading, and so on understand the ceaseless maze of decision- making. In other words…Teaching isn’t rocket science; it’s harder.”

Then comes the life-changing type of decisions that we pray about a lot…moving to a new school, town, city, state or country, new job or career, advancement opportunity, broken relationships, when to stay and when to go, serious health issues and related decisions on procedures. These are the harder decisions that force us to fall on our knees and and reach down deep… find our soul and go with our “gut instinct.”

Thank goodness for me…we don’t have to do it alone…even when it feels like we do. Reflecting back on my “benchmark” life-altering decisions…there were always signs around me pointing me in the right direction. Guardian angels disguised as friends or strangers… with comments at just the right time, inferring the right decision to make…forcing me to take leaps of faith with their solid support surrounding me. God is with us under so many guises if we just are open to them.

So until tomorrow…None of us were ever meant to go it alone…God provides the right people at the right time to be there for us and the final push in the right direction for that moment in our lives.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

As I started to my oncology appointment early yesterday morning (a little before 8) fog surrounded the yard…a few rays of sun were trying to break through the fog and a few beams of light caught the bottle tree as I pulled out.

Then, while stuck in the early morning, bumper to bumper traffic, on Lincolnville Road heading into N. Charleston… I took a beautiful photo of the fog and sun beams once again competing against the trees in the woods running beside the road.

When I got home Michael Salvo, my fireman/lawn maintenance supervisor, but mostly friend… texted to ask if it suited for him to stop by…I was so happy to see him and ask about his shoulder, surgery, etc. He came in like Santa Claus bringing me a Norfolk Island Pine. I laughingly told him we would trade plants…I had been saving him a big red poinsettia. *Please keep Michael in your prayers as surgery is still facing him.

Interesting Tree Tale:

The oldest living Norfolk Island pine is believed to be 170 years old!

Jo…Last night I went back in the kitchen to get some water after turning off all the Christmas tree lights, along with the den lights…EXCEPT I had forgotten to turn off the candle inside the Sammy the Cardinal Christmas ornament you gave me…my newest ornament. It looked so beautiful lit up by itself…I was joyous over the outcome of the photo.

It shows just how magical it is at night when the rest of the Christmas tree and house are asleep!