The Foundation is Set

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I grew up on a dairy farm in northeast Kansas.  Family, hard work, participation in extra-curricular activities at school and 4-H were the foundational elements of my childhood.  The core values that I learned that stick with me today are:

• You need to be at least 15 minutes early to everything!  (The cows can’t wait to be milked!)
  
• The quality of your work matters!  Each time you complete a task you need to consider and be aware of the quality of work you are producing. (4-H—Purple-White Ribbons)
  
• Your work is not done until the paperwork is filed.  (4-H and 4-H Record Book time)

Like everyone, I suppose, I am very proud of my family and my community.  My husband Gary and I have been married for 32 years.  We have two children: Travis who is a dentist and Jenny who manages on-line livestock auctions.  When Gary and I graduated from Kansas State University we moved to Southwest Kansas for his position.  We landed in Copeland, and have made it our home.  The easiest way to describe Copeland is to say it’s the opposite of Baltimore.  Our biggest riot takes place when the homemade pie is gone at the local café.  When you are driving down Main Street in Copeland, you stop while the dog crosses the road and you know not only its owner’s name, but the dog’s name as well.  

This town has allowed us to raise our family in a culture of “community”.  An example, this weekend my husband smoked ribs for a friend who has cancer and I was busy making cookies for a funeral reception today.  My kids grew up going to a small 1A school, but received an education that allowed them to be college and career ready.  Both graduated as valedictorian, Governor’s Scholar, National Honors Society members, and participating in numerous extra-curricular activities.  

But the most important lessons they learned are not represented in those accomplishments.  They learned from their coaches that perseverance reaps rewards. They learned from their teachers that the first draft is not your final paper, and that persistence is a vital part of being successful in life. They learned from their family that it all starts at home.  Say please and thank you.  Offer your arm to the elderly lady as you walk into church. And after church, Sunday is family day.  There is never a time to lie.  Make a difference in someone’s life every day.  

"Life is what we make it, always has been and always will be!"
--Grandma Moses

My entire life I have been passionate about learning!  I want to grow and learn and move quickly each and every day….even if that means I make mistakes (many of them) along the way.  I believe we need to squeeze every ounce of what we can out of this life and positively impact people….students, parents, board members, teachers, administrators and others.  Anyone with whom we come in contact should remember us when we walk away. 

"If you want to feel secure, do what you already know how to do…
If you want to be a True Professional and continue to grow…
Go to the cutting edge of your competence, which means a temporary loss of security.
So, whenever you don’t know quite what you are doing, know you are growing."
--Madeline Hunter

(Photo:  by TumblingRun on Flickr “Leaving the Farm”)