Week 8, Mission Accomplished, Feeling GREAT!

 Bear with me, this may take a bit of explaining. I view many of life's challenges as missions so you can imagine how excited I was to spend a week at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama as one of the crew during International Space Camp for Teachers. I learned so much about science, team work, and the gift of intellectual curiosity. I left Space Camp with a new appreciation for real heroes. Not media heroes, or athletes, but astronauts. Astronauts are curious scientists who are willing to take enormous risk for the sake of the common good. In the case of the astronaut, the common good is science and space exploration.

 We had a mission this term as well. We were asked to explore international contacts to help us better understand early childhood efforts on a global scale. Although I never made contact with anyone, I dug into the global web and podcast resources with great gusto. While I was at Space Camp, I had the opportunity to learn about 'space junk'. I had no idea before then that space is littered with all kinds of science waste from rockets, satellites, star and planet residue. The news hit me like a flying piece of space junk. I was overwhelmed and actually said out loud "UGH! I just don't have enough time in my life to care about space junk!". I felt that way about the overwhelming amount of resources we were asked to explore. It was too much for me. I will be happy to make a minute difference in the lives of children and families right here in my own corner of the state. The more I know sometimes, the harder it is to find my place in making a difference.

 I did know that the rest of you were on the same failed mission with me and I took some comfort  in that. I was happy that it wasn't just me. As I read your discussion posts this week, I realize we are all being asked to take on a new mission. Hopefully, one we will be successful at! I love our optimism! I am excited to see what we can accomplish individually. We will  all need to create teams to support our efforts. I hope that many of you, like me are starting to feel like we have each other to rely on as well.

I am starting to get a sense that we can do anything we put our minds and hearts to. And even if we shoot for the moon and miss, we will be in the company of a brilliant abundance of stars! Good luck to us all. I am ready to take on my mission. So long for now, Roger. Over.