Blended Life of an Educator

Beautiful Hope Darwine Glover Expectant Hope Darwine came bounding into my life August 2014 as a bright eyed 11 year old all-the-frills GIRL. She was (and still is) all about the beautiful feminine side of life- "the complete outfit," the make-up, the hair, preparing the party plan, the grand entrance... and leaving for "a night on the town" with her friends... still is, and I love that about her! Upon first meeting, Hope compared me to a famous model, which of course made me feel fabulous and ready to accept this expectant child's fantasy of having a beauty queen for a Bonus Mom the following year. I could do wrong with this girl; she was elated her dad was smiling again-- ear to ear. Literally. Although the transition in our relationship when we officially became related, didn't go as I'd dreamed, this determined young woman's name reminds me everyday of the One who is after our heart's affections (whether we are ready to receive His Love, or n

Creating culture has been on my heart. Culture in my mind is the ways we do life-- what we were taught as right and wrong, what's appropriate in certain situations, how to communicate with others, maybe even how to make particular meals, etc. within the homes and communities in which we were raised. Culture shapes our vernacular, how we refer to ourselves and others, what we wear, what we eat... even how we view the world and those who are not part of our culture. Culture, in my opinion, shapes our view of success and what we're capable of as women and men. Culture is defined (from an Anthropology perspective) on  dictionary.com  as "the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another." It's also "the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc." And "the behaviors and beliefs characteristi