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Psst... It's That Time

If the House of Shine is nothing else, it is a community - a gathering place for people who believe in excellence and who want to be surrounded by likeminded people. And, as such, we make commitments to our community members. Commitments that we then work hard to keep.

Our monthly High-low-aha ritual is one of those things.

On the eighteenth day of each month we stop what we are doing, so that we may reflect on the best, worst, and most teachable moments from the last month. Everyone is invited to participate and we have great fun catching up on one another's lives. The ritual is simple, but that invitation to share (and be shared with) is one of the things that help keeps this community strong.

A conundrum exists when the eighteenth day falls on a weekend (when we don't normally post), or on a Monday when we engage in yet another House of Shine ritual (of equal importance). The Yellow Envelope Project.

For all of those reasons, and a little Serentripity, we are celebrating this favorite monthly ritual three days late. If you are new to the game, render yourself lucky to have dropped in on this day and decide to jump in on the fun. Rules of play are easy:

Visit us in the comment section and tell us: Since last month at this time, what have been your...

Highs: (best things that have happened)

Lows: (worst things that have happened) and, 

Ahas: (most important things you have learned)

Shining off until tomorrow... 

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    Posted @ 6/21/2011 4:58 AM by karlie
    karlie's avatar

    Highs: Family, neice graduating, friends celebrating births, parties and showers, seeing relatives and making plans, Sophie making great grades and preparing for 4th grade, great trip to AZ for business.
    Lows: weather issues causing fence and roof damage, AC being repaired...
    AHA's: I don't want my life to be dictated by a list of things to do, but rather by what inspires me to help others

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 6:18 AM by Brian
    Brian's avatar

    HIGH: It's been a relaxing month for me... Students are gone for the summer, and I've learned to relish having quiet evenings to myself.

    LOW: Money has been tight this month... it typicaly is for me during summer months. (On the upside, I'm only a month away from having a HUGE bill paid off.)

    AHA: Been learning a lot my current role as the "housing assignment person" at the instutition I work for. Talking to both happy and frustrated students (and a whole lot of parents) provides for a lot of learning moments in a short amount of time.

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 8:02 AM by Peggy
    Peggy's avatar

    High: my son graduating from high school (am I really THAT old?) ~ a nice small family party celebrating him! Jeff getting a 'new' job.. a year in the works and his company was sold and bought

    Low: I don't want to say the 'worst' things... because I am so blessed... things that sadden me or have been a little rough.... acceptance... my son graduating from high school (my job is done) ... the long hours my husband has been working to get the new acquisition, my almost 16 year old... who has some very strong opinions. Feeling incomplete because I don't have a job outside the home to stimulate me and make me feel interesting.

    Aha: I can bake... everyone 'says' they love my Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes, wow people on stupid reality shows REALLY have adversity.... sucks to be them...reding the directions and finding out how something works, duh!

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 8:06 AM by chaotickristi
    chaotickristi's avatar

    HIGH getting to see son when I went back to Tx June 9-12
    LOW not having any money AT ALL (took 50% pay cut when I moved to MS)
    AHA realizing that money is a means to an end, not an answer to anything

    :-) and glad to see this still gets done!!

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 8:37 AM by Cheryl
    Cheryl's avatar

    Highs: My boys ended their school year strong with perfect attendance, Drew received the PE Award and JB received his class Citizenship Award. Field day was so much fun. I love taking part of that day with my boys. Nookem! I want to play. I painted two paintings for one commission request and delivered them to the house so the recipient could choose between the two. The other painting sold as well. Fun Happy Hour celebrations with work friends. Serentripity was a blast. Vacationing with my boys to see my family in South Texas. Watching them play in Flag Football. I bought my domain name- cherylewilson.com. It's just my art blog but now you don't have to type blogspot in there.

    Lows: Oh my gosh- watching flag football is hot! I'm a little anxious of the upcoming trip my boys are taking with their grandparents. I know they will have fun and I have plenty to do while they're gone but still... they're going to be gone for up to four weeks. That's a long time for a mom. The dating front has been in a slump this last month. Feeling a little burned out but trying to stay positive. I sometimes feel like I have too much on my plate and I feel disappointed when I can't do it all or feel like I'm letting others down.

    Aha: I have typed and deleted about five things that I'm just not ready to share with the wacky world the internet. :)

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 8:38 AM by Cheryl
    Cheryl's avatar

    hi. just wanted to check the box that says notify me of followup comments via email. Proceed with your own comments.

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 8:46 AM by Claudia
    Claudia's avatar

    Hi everyone. Checking in quickly to share my highs, lows, ahas.

    Highs: A trip to Georgia to see our friend graduate from high school, Warm weather, slow progress on some work related projects, our house is finally getting back to order, and Serentripity.

    Lows: Being displaced from our house for a week while our house was being worked on; interruptions at work; and lack of routine.

    Ahas: I love - actually thrive - on routine and when I don't have it I feel out of sorts.


    Thanks for sharing everyone. I will check back in later to see who else has visited us.

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 9:51 AM by Heather
    Heather's avatar

    Highs:
    It is summer and with that comes warm weather, swimming, and fun outdoor activities. This weekend was definitely a high spent outside all weekend with my family as we toured the Metroplex watching drum corps that were visiting for a competition in Saginaw. Finding out that Robin is visiting in September! YAY! (Okay really she is coming to a conference but I'll pretend she is visiting me!)
    Bal and I are losing weight. He is getting SO skinny that people have asked if he is sick...haha no just dieting.

    Lows:
    Work has been HECTIC...reports, assessments, etc...have all been due and that coupled with normal work that is coming in at an ABNORMAL rate has made for a challenging summer thus far. I'm with Brian on the money woes. Money is ALWAYS tight it seems. But like Brian we will have a major bill paid off in September when my car is paid off...YAY!

    Aha:
    Lily LOVES to swim. Really loves it.

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 11:49 AM by Katie K
    Katie K's avatar

    Highs: Fun trip to DC with friends; taking students to my first national conference; beach time on the weekends; meeting a lot of new first year students at Orientation; I hit the 15 lb mark in my weight loss!

    Lows: Work is also HECTIC here- I took on a lot of projects that happen during the summer and have been busier than I'd like. Worrying about my grandparents as they get older.

    Aha: As hard as it is to get away from work, a vacation is good for motivation. :)

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 1:37 PM by molly
    molly's avatar

    Highs: finishing lots of reports at work, watching my kids enjoy summer (swimming, camps, visits with family), a visit from my parents,

    Lows: my assistant director is leaving which makes me sad. his last day is in less than 2 weeks and I think I will be lost without him. He's become a good friend as well as an amazing employee.

    AHA : I am an assessment nerd and have learned a lot about assessment in the past 2 weeks which makes me happy.

    Posted @ 6/21/2011 2:16 PM by Robin
    Robin's avatar

    Wow, I made someone's list of highs! :-) And I am coming to visit you guys! I promise we'll do something together.

    Highs: Not moving, kids at camp, only two at home - so quiet!
    Lows: End of Kevin's job
    Aha: We'll figure it out even if we have to do it as we go along...

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