Sheroes

This past Saturday, I had the humbling experience of being showered by some of my favorite women. My dear family friend, Kate, hosted a neighborhood and family friend wedding shower for me at her lovely home. As the shower began, I was filled with joy and excitement as the women who have shaped my life filled the room.

I have been raised by a powerful woman. My mother is a true force who is filled with immeasurable grace and love. I thank God every day that I am blessed to have this indescribable woman as my mother. Because of her, I have been doubly blessed to have sheroes in my life. Maya Angelou often uses the phrase "sheroes" to describe our female heroes. For my entire life, I have been surrounded by women who are my heroes and who have made me into the woman I am today.

As I sat in amazement at my wedding shower, I was overcome with bliss. God gives us glimpses into his glory and into his kingdom. At my wedding shower on Saturday, I saw a true glimpse into his glory. Every single woman at that wedding shower had taught me something and had created me in some way. They each hold a piece of what God means to me. To see all of them in one place was truly humbling and overwhelming.

Between laughter, champagne, tears, delicious food, and presents, I felt a great sense of love. I know the love I felt at my wedding shower needs to be carried forth and I need to show that love to the world. When I woke up on Sunday morning glowing in the aftermath of my shower, I found myself wishing I could give my future daughter the same gift. The gift of powerful women, sheroes, and never ending love.

So, thank you.

Thank you for teaching me to love, to care, to cry, to chase after my dreams, to teach, to learn, to feel joy, and to laugh. Thank you for 24 years of beautiful memories and thank you for being a part of my womanhood. I am blessed. I am humbled. I am grateful. Alleluia.

xo

Kait

What Teachers Make and Updates

I know it's been awhile ... sorry that I fail so miserably at updating blog posts. I promise that this blog will be well worth the wait.

What Teachers Make:
As a teacher, there are days that you feel broken down. Like all professions, teaching has ups and downs. I am constantly asking for God's mercy, grace, and patience so I can make each day positive. The past two months have really allowed me to grow as a teacher and I feel like I am learning something new every day. I have opened myself up to the challenges of teaching because that is the only way I can learn to be a better teacher.

Recently, I revisited Taylor Mali's "What Teachers Make" speech. Taylor Mali is a slam poet and is an advocate for the teaching profession after serving time as an English teacher. Mali's "What Teachers Make" reminds me why I teach because it expresses the joys and sorrows the profession brings. Just like my favorite book, food, or album, I like to watch Mali's "What Teachers Make" to fuel my soul. If you have 3 minutes, I encourage you to watch Mali's "What Teachers Make" and relate it to your profession, whatever it may be.


Miscellaneous Updates:
Although Taylor Mali is a riveting and inspiring poet, I do have some updates in my life.

I cannot believe that it is March. So many things have happened since my January Resolutions post. I am now 24, I feel very comfortable at St. Paul, I began tutoring at SOAR, I am coaching 5/6 grade girls softball (stories to come), enjoyed Winter Break, and celebrated my wedding at my first shower.

My days are busy and I constantly have something going on. I feel like I am in my apartment to just eat, sleep, and address wedding invitations - which I enjoy! I love being busy and I love being on the go!


xo
Kait

"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."
- Mother Teresa

New Year, New Resolutions

I usually do not make New Year's Resolutions. I've never really understood their hype or wanted to get caught up in making declarations I was afraid to keep. This year I feel differently and I know that there is room for improvement in my life right now. So, here it goes ... these are my New Year's Resolutions for 2012 ...

• Become a better friend.
• Make friends and form a community in Detroit.
• Run 26.2 miles.
• Cook a 5 course meal for my family and friends.
• Find my purpose at St. Paul. Challenge myself at St. Paul in order to become a better teacher. I need to find what will make me the teacher God has called me to be.
• Explore Detroit. I need to accept the fact that I now live on the East side of the state. I need to accept that I no longer live in the best city in the world (Grand Rapids) and explore the city that I now call home. This will help me accomplish Resolution #2 (friends and community in the D).
• Read 5 books. I know this seems like a low number but with teaching, planning a wedding, and living in a new city, 5 seems strenuous.
• Volunteer. Actually volunteer. Not just say that I am going to volunteer and then say I am "too tired" or "too busy" on the weekends. I am going to volunteer.
• Enjoy planning my wedding and not become swept away in all of the planning.
• Find peace of mind. I sometimes let myself get carried away in questioning where I am in my life. I have nothing to be anxious or worried about (Philippians 4:6). I have a beautiful life and I am surrounded by beautiful people.

Alright, that's ten New Year's Resolutions. So, here it goes. Bring it, 2012. I'm ready for ya!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Unknown

xo

Kait

Class Meeting, December 6

Our homeroom holds a class meeting once per week. Each homeroom class at St. Paul does this so we can give our students leadership opportunities, discuss issues at St. Paul, and set goals for ourselves to improve. The class meetings are completely student run and I sit back to observe while once in a while adding my opinion. My students had some good ideas that I wanted to share ...

Things we are doing well:

• Respecting each other
• Recognizing and stopping bullying
• Improving behavior in special classes (gym, art, music, computers, Spanish)
  

Things we could work on:

• Helping each other
• Including all our peers
• Less talking out of turn
• Stop saying pass ... volunteer more!

Goals for this week:

• Respecting all teachers and students (even substitute teachers)
• Boost our creativity and humor
• Recycle
• Be more productive
• Watch our conduct (behavior) at all times

After reading over the classroom notes, I realized that these ideas and goals not only apply to 6th graders but also adults. Just some things to think about and to work on as we journey through our days.

xo

Kait

p.s. 16 days until Christmas Vacation (not like I am counting or anything)

Marriage Prep

Bill and I went to our first marriage prep workshop yesterday. I was giddy and so thrilled to be at our first workshop to prepare for our marriage. The most comforting feeling was knowing I was there with my best friend. There was no moment where I was nervous or hesitant or second guessing myself. Yesterday's workshop fulfilled even more the feelings I have for Bill and knowing we are supposed to marry one another.

However, the workshop did raise new questions and new thoughts to ponder ...

What do we do for holidays? How do we trek across the state to see both of our families? When do we set up our Christmas tree? How much will the Tooth Fairy pay?

How do we operate our finances? How do I make sure that I am paying off my student loans and not Bill? How do we begin saving for our future children so they may go to college? How do we control our love for concerts, vinyls, and book sales?

Bill and I are very used to spending time together but we also need our independence. How do make sure we correctly balance our need to be together and our need to have "me" time? Will we ever be "sick" of one another?

How do we want to raise our children? What type of school will they go to? How will we discipline them? Are they allowed to go downstairs on Christmas morning before they wake up their parents?

Bill and I need to spend time with our families. We both depend on our families for so much. How do we ensure that we are both seeing our families equally? Even more so, how do we bring both of our families together?

Do we buy Detroit Tiger's select package season tickets? Do we buy MSU football young Alumni season tickets? Do we decide between the two or just go for both? (seriously, suggestions?)

When we move in together, how will we organize all of our things? Where will put ALL of the books?! Or ... a better question before we worry about books ... WHERE are going to LIVE?

These are questions that I am consumed in when I am not lesson planning, trying to make new friends, laughing with 6th graders, or wishing I was with my loved ones. They seem overwhelming but also exciting. I feel that everything right now with Bill is "so right". I am completely comfortable thinking about all of these big new steps and I know that I am supposed to be thinking all of these things over with him. We just have to jump into the abyss together.

xo
Kait

"A-Ha!" Moments

As a teacher, I have the incredible privilege of teaching students something for the first time. This comes with many challenging moments but it also comes with some of the most joyful moments in my career. Seeing students finally understand something makes my heart sing. Simply seeing the "A-ha! I get it!" expression on their faces makes all the long nights and busy weekends well worth it.

When I was told I would be teaching 6th grade Math, I was terrified to say the least. As time goes on, I am getting the hang of it and I am not disliking Math as much as I thought I would. Math comes with so many opportunities for students to understand a concept for the first time. The reaction is always the same. The student will sit up a little straighter, then take in a deep breath, their eyes will widen, and they gasp, "OOOH!!! I GET IT!!!!" This moment is thrilling and it is a highlight of my career. It happened today multiple times as we studied "solving algebraic equations".

Today I was able to teach one of my favorite Social Studies facts of the year. I told my students that Christopher Columbus did not discover the United States of America. At first, the students are always taken aback. They often look like I told them the Tooth Fairy was actually their parents (Maggie actually told me the Tooth Fairy wasn't real in 5th grade. Sad day.). This initial reaction then slowly turns to anger. The students are offended that they have been "lied" to their whole lives and they want to set out on a mission to discover who really discovered the United States. Today, one of my little 6th graders was walking out the door at the end of the period. She stopped and looked at me with purpose and asked, "Ms. Koperski, next year can we celebrate Native People's Day instead of Christopher Columbus Day?" She doesn't know it, but she gained a load of brownie points.

Teaching "firsts" also comes with difficult moments. 6th graders (and, hey, sometimes adults!) are young and experiencing things for the first time. They do not know that "funny" jokes are sometimes not so funny but actually hurtful. 6th graders do no know that ruining their friendship over a boy will end up as a regret. 6th graders do not know that wearing a certain pair of shoes does not make them more popular but actually causes you to exclude friends that cannot afford them. All of these lessons, I have had to teach my students. They have been what we call in the teaching field, "a teachable moment". Sometimes I have to stop class to address a "teachable moment" or I will have to interrupt children at recess to discuss an important issue. Either way, I am helping students learn something for the first time. Whether it's a tough or easy lesson to teach, it is exciting to be one of the firsts to help my students work their way through this crazy world.

"What we have loved, others will love, and we will teach them how."

- St. Catherine of Siena

xo

Kait

Falling in Love with Fall

Usually I have a hard time getting into Fall. Summer is by far my favorite season (sorry skiing fans). I love the feel of a Michigan summer, going to farmer's markets, running in 90 degree heat, and actually having the time to read a book. This year, however, Fall has been an easier adjustment. I don't know if it's the extra crunchy leaves, my new love affair with pumpkin puree, or the success of the Lions and Tigs, but I am digging this season.

Part of my new love affair with Fall goes hand in hand with the many firsts brought on by September and October ...

• Bill and I registered for our wedding at Macy's and Kohl's (it will go live soon!). Gift registry might be one of the cooler parts about getting married. I mean, getting to marry my best friend is awesome and all but going on a shopping spree that I do not have to pay for is excellent. ;) It is a thrill to be able to plan our future home and our future lives together. We even registered for a set of 101 cookie cutters just because we know there will be future mini-Popielarz's running around (but NOT for awhile!).
• Bill and I took our engagement photos. It was a blast! Ashley Umstead, one of my best friend's younger sister's, took our photos. She is a senior at GVSU and she is talented!!! I have been in love with her photos for years and I was beside myself when she said she would do our wedding photography. Bill and I will make sure you all see the photos soon!
• I found out that I am coaching 6th grade girl's basketball for St. Paul this year. Practice is 2 days a week and we have our games on Saturday mornings so it won't be time consuming. Basketball at St. Paul is a BIG deal and my 6th grade students were pretty excited I was coaching. I miss coaching softball at East Kentwood so I am anxious to get back into the role of a coach again.
• Lately I have been obsessed with pumpkin puree. I add it into my oatmeal, my pancakes, and my frozen yogurt. Just a little bit will go a long way so a can of puree should last you awhile. I make sure to add ground cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla to give it that pumpkin pie spice taste. Yum ... tastes like Fall!

In other happy news ...

• Bill and I are going to the playoff game this Thursday at Comerica!!! I am so anxious, so excited, and so giddy. My Brandon Inge jersey will be worn with pride as a drink a Summer Shandy, eat a hot dog, and watch the sun set on my favorite baseball team.
• I went home on Sunday for a family dinner. Going home is such fuel to my soul. I love East Grand Rapids and I love spending time with my family. Being able to come home for a home made dinner is such a blessing and a joy ... especially when Tracey makes apple pie!
• If any of you use Pandora, I created a playlist that makes me feel like I am walking on clouds. Mix Josh Ritter, The Avett Brothers, and Paul Simon together to create the most epic sounding playlist. Enjoy!

I hope you are all well!

xo

Kait