29 Gifts, on the first day of my 33rd Year- Oct 29th.

[Andrea]

Today is my birthday, and I have been barraged will well wishes. It's been wonderful. No physical gifts, but lots of word gifts, and sometimes those are the best kind. I didn't do anything special today my first day of giving, instead I gave a little bit extra- well a lot extra. I am a teacher and often times teachers can burn out on giving all day. Yes, we receive too- the blessings of watching our students learn, but there are days I long to receive and not just give. In some ways it can cause me to be inadvertently stingy. I need to have a refreshed view on giving, and that's one of the reasons I signed up.

Today I gave a gift of a lesson I myself had never tried. It took hours upon hours of prep time, a lot of time to buy the supplies, and well not too long to learn. I made paint from scratch with my students. We mixed boiled and blended grass with egg yokes, amongst many other things. We probably tried out about 50 different combinations and voted on what worked well- what binders, colorants, and results we liked. The kids learned, had fun, and enjoyed themselves. It was exhausting, but it left me with that fulfilled feeling at the end of the day- that this was something special.

The other reason I signed up, is much like Cami's story, it has taken me several years to overcome being diagnosed with MS. Last year I was very sick, and it was really hard. I believe that my spiritual state can affect my physical state and I am also hoping that a refocusing of energy might continue me towards healing.

[Joyce Kirby]

What an awesome give to your students. I can just imagine when they go home and want to do this!! LOL!! I think you are absolutely right about your spiritual state affecting your mental state. I have tons of books on that subject, one being The Biology of Belief by Bruce H.Lipton, PhD. It tells about the stunning new scientific discoveries about the biochemical effects of the brain's functioning show that all the cells of your body are affected by your thoughts. He is a cellular biologist and I found the book fascinating.

[Harriet]

welcome, andrea! what a huge gift with the homemade paint with your students. you taught them so much that day- patience, experimentation, trying something new and going for it..etc.. they are blessed to have you as a teacher!