Life is Still Good...

...but I'm ready for Jesus to come back!

A few months ago a position came open in my school district for a curriculum coordinator. After some encouragement from different colleagues, I went ahead and applied. I mainly applied so that I would regret not applying after they hired a new coordinator. I applied on a day that my students were extremely frustrating...culminating with a student yelling, "Why are you so mean?!?!" I walked straight to my computer and started the process. Over the next few weeks...I had so much fun with my students. High School kids still make me laugh....they don't care about my class...but they make me laugh. So after opening the email asking me to schedule an interview multiple times...I finally emailed back that I was going to stick to the classroom. My kids this semester have intrigued me and humored me...and had some extremely interesting conversations. Some conversations disappointed me and I was sad for a few hours...some made me smile and made my next class ask what was going on...and some just baffled me and made me hurt for the kid. They might be 15 and 16 but they are still kids who think they are grown-up and who, unfortunately, have to deal with some pretty grown up things at home. Jesus come back!

Yesterday at about 2:30 I was told that I needed to be in a meeting for a special education student that had only been in my class for two days. The meeting started when school started and we were told it would only take a couple of hours (even though we had lawyers involved more people than I've ever seen around our conference table). So...I arrived at 9:00...we started at about 9:40...and we finished at 2:30. No lunch...a couple of breaks...and a sub with no plans for the afternoon in my room. I left the meeting wondering what the world was coming to. The hate felt from the parents trying to help or rectify a situation was so strong...the accusations were tough to sit and listen to. And I left wondering what the world was coming to. Jesus come back!

So I got back to my classroom for the last 10 minutes of one class and then my last period. Because of the day I had not wanting to get my classes off schedule from each other...we were just going to have a free day. So one of my students asked if we could watch Pocahontas. What?? Really?? Sure! So I played the movie while they played games and visited quietly. I had two random but fun conversations with two students. At the end of the day I read the sub notes...and all of my classes had done so well with her. Leaving school today, although frustrated from how I had to spend the school day, I was reminded that I really do love my job. Even if I do get yelled at, cussed at, and disrespected often...deep down...I love it.

Because of the kids I have had this school year I have some great stories...and some of them are DOOZIES! So that I don't forget them, I'll be writing them down here. Most days I wish I could video tape all the kids (mostly boys) who walk into my room. We just stand in the hallway and laugh...cause that's all I can do!

I started a business...what have I done?!?!

Haha! I still can't believe I signed on for this...but at the same time I am SUPER excited to see where it can go!

Here is a compilation of information from emails and conversations... I would LOVE to share this with you guys! 

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My home group leader contacted me a few weeks ago about joining her on selling Rodan + Fields skincare products.  I always get emails from friends who are trying to sell products and they continue to have party after party...and I did not want to do that! Well...Rodan + Fields is not a party company...it's not an inventory business...

It is an anti-aging skin care line (not makeup) company created by the same doctors that created Proactiv…It’s a clinical line, not cosmetic…So it is not makeup but skin care products that actually treat different issues going on (wrinkles, sun-damage, eczema, pimples, etc.).  The company doesn’t host parties…but we do start off with a business launch party. 

Here is the link for the invitation. I am pretty sure most people who read this blog don't live in the metroplex...so I'm sure you can’t make it…but thought I’d send it anyway! 

http://tinyurl.com/kq6pn84 

P.S. Paperless Post (www.paperlesspost.com)  is a great site to send invitation that are more private than evite and look a little nicer. I'm pretty excited about learning about Paperless Post.

 If you would like to just look at the products, you can visit my products site…and even walk through the solutions tool to see what products would be best for you! If it intrigues you, DON’T order from that site. I do have a way to save you 10% and get FREE shipping. J Look through my site whenever you have a minute. reneecole.myrandf.com

Second, I wanted to let you know about the business and see if you might be interested in joining me on this venture!  Please read it knowing that I truly just wanted to share because I can see what a blessing this will be for me and maybe could bless you, too. I would LOVE that!

The Rodan + Fields brand has been around for over a decade (used to be sold by retailers) but they recently brought it to direct sales to expand their market. It is a VERY different approach to direct sales in that we don't have to host parties and we don't have to stock inventory... And since R+F is new to direct sales, there are tremendous opportunities. But at the same time, since it was sold in retailers it already has an amazing following and the reputation of the doctors behind it (esp. because of Proactiv).

I was not looking for anything like this when my friend Emily approached me about joining her team.  I originally thought "no way" because I couldn't imagine adding one more thing to my plate... but then I watched her and in a matter of 2 months she had already started paying both of their car payments from this business!  As I started looking in to the company, I was even more impressed.  Anyways, I thought of you guys because I think each of you would be awesome at this business and it would be a fun way to continue to work with you after the girls leave me at Vines!  This is a great way to bring in supplement income with very little hours a week!  Most people do this job alongside of full time jobs... and they say the busier you are the better because it truly is lifestyle marketing!  I’ve only been doing this for a few weeks and am ready to get things really going after my business launch! Since I am not coaching next year, I am excited to have another way to supplement that coaching stipend. All of the ladies that I have talked to only spend about 3-5 hours a week on their business. Once people use the products, they really do sell themselves. So seriously... I wouldn't even bring this up with you unless I really believed it was a great way to supplement the income.

If you have the slightest intrigue, I would love to visit more... maybe a chat on the phone!  If you would like to do a little more research on your own, I included a couple of helpful links for you. After reading this short little description, if you have no interest whatsoever, NO WORRIES!  I would rather have brought it up and have you tell me "no way, Jose" than for one day you ask me why I never told you about it.  

I hope this doesn't come across too random or forward, but I hope you are encouraged to know that I genuinely would love for this to be a blessing for you as it has been for me!

Renee Cole

reneecole.myrandf.com - Award Winning Clinical Products
reneecole.myrandf.biz - Independent Business Ownership

http://youtu.be/pLMbk6DwenU - Rodan & Fields Story    

http://tinyurl.com/RFProductOverview - Products and Business Philosophy Overview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFhQ-jgXpzE-  Success story!

Good Singles Day....

So I'm not all about online dating...I'm not all about the set-ups...I'm not all about blind dates.
So....for some reason the Singles Link Up on KellysKornersblog.com intrigued me...and then my mom asked a friend of mine about it...and that's all it took I guess...and I'm thinking that NOTHING will come of it!

But...tonight was good! I got a lot of my friends to write a posts for each other...so I got to write about one of my really good friends and then one of my favorite co-workers. It's a lot of fun to write about other people in order to post about them on a blog! I've been on the computer for 2 hours just trying to find the right words and the right pictures. So fun!

So as much as I don't enjoy the upcoming "Single Awareness Day"...which by now it really doesn't bother me...and I'm pretty sure I will have volleyball practice that night anyway...today was a GOOD Singles Day!

Good busy and sick couple of days...

So...I woke up Monday with a cough that was just annoying. By the end of the day, it started hurting...and then by midnight I realized I wasn't gonna get any sleep...took some mucinex...got ready for school but felt horrible. Before I walked out the door I requested a sub through the online system. I only needed one for the morning in order to go to the doctor to get some meds. I showed up to practice with the worst headache I've ever had and body aches and chills. Last time I felt like that I thought I had the flu but it ended up being a sinus infection....so I assumed this time it was the same.

When practice was over, I went to the office to check on a sub. They were running around crazy. The first thing I heard was, "Renee Cole is out too." When they saw me, they proceeded to tell me that I needed to stay because there were not enough subs in the building. I was frustrated and starting to feel even worse knowing I couldn't stay any longer. I left the office fighting back tears. I then realized I only needed two periods covered...since I had to be back for a couple meetings and a parent night. As I was asking that, the tears just started coming...and they weren't stopping.

Long story short, I guess the tears meant "I am really hurting" and the girl I teach next to took over covering my classes...the girl I coach with got my meetings taken care of...and my assistant principal took over the parent night. I work in a good place with good people. One of my engineering kids went to the parent meeting to talk about my classes...our counselor said she was super impressed. I have good students.

I have the flu. Tamaflu is good stuff. I feel lots better!

I have a sub for tomorrow to go talk to middle school kids...as I have been thinking about the timing in this...I think The Lord might be wanting me to trust Him in filling my classes (just like he did this year) by simply praying. So...I might just have another sick day and be ready to go on Thursday. Yeah....that sounds really good.

Good Start to School

School started off great this semester....it definitely helped to have two weeks away!

However now it seems as if I had my classes for a month now....rather than just four days! The week was busy and full...but good!

Monday started off with a depressing note of the weigh-in at Weight Watchers...but it will be good. Eating and working out has been really good this week!

The rest of the week was full of school, volleyball/basketball, and the 30 day shred video. So getting up, Friday morning I was tired and not extremely motivated about going to school....and The Lord decided to show off! This is a pic from a stoplight by my house....picture doesn't really do it justice...but it was a super good start to the day!  (Will have to load picture later)

Now....volleyball tournament and my first visit to a new home group Sunday night! Looking like a good weekend!!!

Good Time to Start Over...

I was thinking as I drove to a good friends' house in Nashville (which is a very boring drive by the way...) that now would be a good time to start again at trying to be positive and focusing on the good in the days ahead. So...starting on the first...I'll be back! :)

Life is Good...

Ready for the random???

Good weekend...
This weekend was my first weekend off from volleyball in over a month. Finally! I can't say I did anything super exciting...but it was good to not have to spend the gorgeous day inside a warehouse gym!

Good Monday...
Monday definitely felt like Monday...but we only have four work days this week so it was a better Monday than normal...

Good stormy Tuesday...
In case you didn't see on the news, Dallas had some tornadoes touch down today. Everything missed Plano...but not before we spent a couple of hours with our 5th period classes. I'm not saying that I enjoyed that by any means! My 5th period class is my hardest class. Some of them are disrespectful, mean, not self-motivated, and immature. But some of them are just lovely! They actually all have their moments. However, after about an hour and a half I don't think any of us were very lovely. I not-so-quietly reminded them that they could be sitting out in the hallway on the hard floor leaning against a cement wall, but instead they got to sit in my classroom in a chair and play on the computer. The grass is always greener I guess. Anyway...what made Tuesday good was that because of the storm...volleyball practice was cancelled. A night off! Wahoo!
I had a lot of work to get done for some things I volunteered for as well as a lot of grading. Because of our stormy lock-down and now my night off...I got almost all of it finished!

So...so far...it's been a good week!
Life. Is. Good.