About Me

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Beyonce or Jane Austen or . . . does it really matter who?

Seeing this picture makes me happy. It is a
wonderful contrast to the 11 degree day and the
snow flurries I see out my window. 
THE QUESTION MAKES ME HAPPY, TOO.  JUST THINKING ABOUT WHO I WOULD SIT WITH MAKES ME SMILE SO . . .

I asked the University of Kentucky social work students that I teach this same question hoping to get to know a little about them from their responses.  One girl wanted to sit with her grandmother who has dementia and another wanted Morgan Freeman to sit and read to her because his voice is so calming.  Nice answers.  However, in this class of junior and senior students most of them (all females) wanted to meet the two celebrities in the picture to the left.  Around ten young women who will soon be professional social workers chose these two women.  Those who chose Ellen wanted to talk with her to see if she is as genuine as she seems to be on TV.  Okay - good idea.  However, those who selected Beyoncé just wanted to look at her!


The other class is an introduction to social work.  Some of the students are freshman.  All of the students are new to Social Work as a profession.  Their responses were varied and interesting from Jane Austen to George Washington to grandparents who died before the students were born.  Not only did they want to spend time with interesting people, they  wanted to have meaningful conversations with them.

Two students wanted Jesus to sit with them:
One to ask him questions
The other to just say "Thank You"
 
My leap of faith near the time that my husband died was to take a chance, go to college, and become a social work professional.  And now I am teaching future social workers.  Am I still growing as a social worker, learning... maybe from my students?

My initial response to the students who wanted to "look at Beyoncé" was to think that they were pretty shallow.  But as write this Blog, I remember laughing with the students in my "Beyoncé" class as we all saw the humor in their responses.  And then I remember the tenderness I felt as the others shared their choices (such as the picture on the right). 

I would like to spend some time on the bench with each of them and have each tell me their story - and why they REALLY wanted to sit with the person each chose - and I would learn from them just like I would like to have them learn from me. 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Isn't it great to have YaYa's in your life?


WHEN MY SISTER POSTED THIS I KNEW I HAD TO BLOG ABOUT SOME OF THE YAYA'S IN MY LIFE... THESE PICTURES REPRESENT SO MANY FANTASTIC WOMEN WHO HAVE SHARED AND CONTINUE TO SHARE THE GLORIOUS JOURNEY OF LIFE...

FAMILY YAYA'S!

Thank goodness there are no limits to the YaYa's in my life.  When my sister Pat posted this on Facebook I immediately thought of my four sisters and how lucky I was to start my life as the 4th of 5  YaYa's!  - make that the 5th of 6th YaYa's because I need to include my mother, Mildred.   Sisters in order:  Barb, Sally, Pat, Me, Kathy.  Amber, Haley, Kelsee, Me, Amber Tanya!  Love my family YaYa's.


Family YaYa's - Sisters, daughters, granddaughters
 

Work YaYa's 
Top: Tonya, Bethany, Stephanie
Bottom:  Jennifer, Mary, Janet

How about work YaYa's?  These few pictures represent so many who have touched my life in unbelievable ways as we worked together...

More Work YaYa's
Katie, Brandy, Whitney, Sheryl, Natalie, Jennifer, and Sharon
 
 

       
I recently retired from being a social worker for 13 years!  My last position was with the Palliative Care Center and Stephanie christened our group with the title "YaYa's".  We used to laugh about the diversity of group - we were like a visual aid for a diversity training.  Wonderful memories of colleagues who became friends . . . YaYa's never to be forgotten no matter where we go or what we all do next.  During my Hospice days I worked with a fantastic group of counselors when I spent several years as a grief counselor.   Creativity, passion for the work, tears, and lots of laughter - never to be forgotten.


SISTERS IN THE GOSPEL - YAYA'S FOREVER!


Members of the Corbin, KY Ward at the Atlanta Temple
in the Summer of 1992
Never to be forgotten experiences with my YaYa's (don't
even look at the men because they aren't really a part of this)
 
Pioneer Ward In Lexington
YaYa's for sure!