Silver Apple Award sponsored by Ace Air and 3TV

Do you have a child enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade in an Arizona school that has been positively impacted by the dedication and inspiration of a special teacher? If you have seen your child make unusually large strides in their education as a direct result of an individual teachers efforts, then you might want to take a moment and nominate that special educator for the Silver Apple Award, created by 3TV in 1991. This year, eight Silver Apple awards will be awarded to exceptional teachers during the 2009-2010 school year, one award per month. Each winner will receive not only the recognition of this prestigious award but will also be given $500 for use in their classroom. In these difficult economic times, when salaries are being cut and teachers are scrambling for classroom resources out of their own pockets, this is truly a wonderful way to support the daily efforts they make for the benefit of our children.

Teachers are some of the most important people in the lives of our children and yet they often receive the lowest pay, fewest accolades and least amount of respect. Of course, everyone loves to recall the nightmarish teacher that scarred them for life!…but the ones we truly remember are those that have quietly influenced every aspect of who we are simply by their subtle inspiration and extreme patience as they attempted to fill our minds with useful knowledge and temper that knowledge with the ability to use it wisely.

My daughter had one such teacher last year who cheerfully brought excitement and wonder to the entire learning process. I was amazed as I assisted in her classroom at how her students responded to her contagious zeal for learning and soft-spoken methods of teaching. It is these few and incredibly priceless teachers that these awards were meant for!

If you feel you’ve got a teacher that fits the bill, then download the Silver Apple Awards form, have it signed by their school principal and then either mail or fax it back to 3TV by March 5, 2010 by 5 pm. Completed forms can be faxed to 602-207-3545 or mailed to:

attn: Silver Apple Award
c/o 3TV
5555 N. 7th Avenue
Phoenix Az  85013

For more information, you can visit their Arizona’s Family Cares Passion to Action website.

There's no one else like you

I was given this amazing poem (I actually think they may be lyrics) as a handout and was buoyed up by the message. I wish I knew who to attribute it to. Unfortunately, I have since lost that information. But in finding it again, I feel impressed to share it with other busy moms that struggle with balance in their lives and hope you gain some inspiration from it too…

“I know you wonder if you’ll ever have a day,
When the kids stay calm, the laundry’s done
and the dishes put away,
And sometimes you feel like your days are spent and gone
And the question running through your mind
is what have I gotten done?

“At the end of your day
I know Father would say:
Believe in what you’re doing
Believe in who you are
Hold tight to the truth that you’re a
daughter of God
Believe in who you’re becoming
Believe in who you are

“It may seem simple – all the little things you do
But the lives you touch matter so much
And there’s no one else like you
And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful
To be all you can be
Oh, if you could see what He sees…

“When it’s hard to believe in yourself
And you feel like you’re beginning to
doubt, Remember…

“He believes in what you’re doing
He believes in who you are
Don’t lose sight of the truth that you’re
a daughter of God
That He believes in who you’re becoming
He believes in who you are.”

“My Father”

My father’s feet will lead me
in paths I know are right.

My father’s knees will bend with mine
as we say prayers at night.

My father’s lap will hold me
when I need a place to rest.

And when I’m sad, I like to lay
my head upon his chest.

My father’s hands are big and strong,
and they work hard for me.

My father’s arms can lift me up
so I may better see.

My father’s lips will speak to me
with words of truth each day.

My father’s ears will listen
to the things I have to say.

I like to sit so very still
and look into his eyes.

I know he understands me,
and he is good and wise.

I’m glad I have a father
who guides me with his love.

He helps me better understand
my Father up above.

– The Friend Magazine