Why The Song "Defying Gravity" Means So Much To Me...

Hello dear friends!

I have been wanting to write this particular blog post for a while, but life kept getting in the way.

Anyway, by now, most of you who know me will know that "Defying Gravity" (originally from the Broadway musical "Wicked") is pretty much my favourite song ever.
But what most of you don't know is why this song holds so much significance for me. So I decided to use this blog post to really break it down for y'all :)

But first, here is the YouTube link to Idina Menzel's latest beautiful version of this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LG5i4K5mzU

Anyway, on to the exegesis!

Something has changed within me, something is not the same

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!"- 2 Corinthians 5:17

I'm through with playing by the rules of someone else's game

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ"- Galatians 1:10

Too late for second guessing, too late to go back to sleep

"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not sleep, but let us be awake and self-controlled" - 1 Thessalonians 5:5-7

It's time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap
When I think of this line, it makes me think about taking a leap of faith, and that leads me to remember Hebrews 11:1- "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance in that which we do not see".

It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down

This whole chorus speaks to me about attempting to do the impossible: "defying gravity". And I am reminded that "All things are possible with God" - Matthew 19.26

I'm through accepting limits, coz someone says they're so

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"- Philippians 4:13

Some things I cannot change, but till I try I'll never know

This line reminds me of the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference".

Too long I've been afraid of losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love, it comes at much too high a cost!

Funnily enough, this phrase reminds me of a Dr. Seuss quote that I love: "Be who you are, and say what you feel, coz those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind".

Unlimited, together we're unlimited,
Together we'll be the greatest team there's ever been
Dreams the way we planned 'em
If we work in tandem, there's no fight we cannot win

This verse speaks to me of the incredible, overcoming power of friendship. It reminds me of the verse "By yourself you're unprotected, with a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped". (Ecclesiastes 4:12, The Message)

Unlimited, my future is unlimited
And I just had a vision, almost like a prophecy
I know, it sounds truly crazy
And true, the vision's hazy
But I swear someday I'll be...
Flying so high, defying gravity

This verse speaks to me about having hope for the future, which of course leads me to Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future'."

It also brings to mind Proverbs 31:25- "She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come".


So if you care to find me, look to the Western sky
As someone told me lately, everyone deserves the chance to fly

I equate flying with a sense of freedom, so this phrase calls to mind the verse "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" - Galatians 5:1.

And if I'm flying solo, at least I'm flying free

This is a line that I really held on to after my last relationship broke up. It gave me the strength to recognise that the relationship was unhealthy, and that I was actually much better off single (single, NOT "alone"), than staying with him.

And since my heart has healed, this line has been a celebration of my singleness- enjoying this season of my life, and chasing all my little bucket-list dreams. For example: travelling to Austria, attending innumerable theatre shows, and meeting a few of my favourite YouTubers.

To those who'd ground me, take a message back from me...
Tell them how I am defying gravity.

And finally, this phrase speaks to me of the power of my testimony- the belief that my story will be an inspiration to others. And of course, the relevant Bible verse here would have to be "They have overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony"- Revelation 12:11.

So there you have it!
Thanks for reading, friends xx
Love
Melanie Raye.

All the Musicals I have seen live

Hi friends!
This blog post is going to be an active document, so that every time I see another musical, I will add it to this list.

So here are all the musicals that I have seen live, so far:

1. Oliver (twice)
2. Mamma Mia (five times)
3. Sweet Charity
4. Stomp
5. High Society

6. Godspell (twice) 
7. Grease
8. Spam-a-lot (twice)
9. The King and I
10.The Sound of Music (three times)
11. Oklahoma (twice)
12.The Secret Garden
13. Dirty Dancing
 14. Mary Poppins
15. Aladdin (twice)
16. Beauty and the Beast (three times)
17. Peter Pan
18. Wicked (six times)
19. My Fair Lady (twice)
20. West Side Story (three times)
21. Bonnie and Clyde
22. Les Miserables (twice)
23. High School Musical (twice)
24. The Little Mermaid
25. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (twice)
26. Sister Act
27. Frozen (twice)
28. The Wizard of Oz (twice)
29. Jesus Christ Superstar (twice)
30. The Phantom of the Opera (6 times)
31. Annie (three times)
32. Into the Woods (twice)
33. Alice in Wonderland
34.  Fiddler on the Roof
35. Miss Saigon
36.The Color Purple
37. Ragtime (twice)
38. Cats
39. Fame
40. Nunsense
41. Chicago (twice)
42. Rent (four times)
43. The Wiz
44. The Aristocats
45. Big Fish
46. Evita
47. School of Rock the Musical
48. Shrek the Musical
49. 42nd Street
50. The Last 5 Years
51. Muriel's Wedding the Musical
52. Hair
53. Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (thrice)
54.Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
55. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
56. Spring Awakening
57. Crazy for You
58. Once
59. Legally Blonde the Musical (four times)
60. Company
61. Seussical the Musical
62. Shakespeare in Love
63. The Lion King (twice)
64. We Will Rock You (twice)
65. Catch Me If You Can the Musical (twice)
66. Avenue Q (twice)
67. Whistle Down The Wind
68. State Highway 48
69. Little Shop of Horrors
70. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

71. Hairspray 

72. Jersey Boys

73. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

74. Priscilla Queen of the Desert 

75. Sweeney Todd

76. That Bloody Woman

77. Chess

78. You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

79. Camp Rock the stage musical 

80. Hello, Dolly!

81. Tick Tick Boom!

82. The Addams Family The Musical

83. Heathers

84. The Boy From Oz

85. 13 The Musical

86. & Juliet (five times)

87. Be More Chill

88. Kinky Boots 

89. Hamilton

90. Twisted

91. A Chorus Line 

92. Ghost the Musical (twice)

93. Stepping Out

94. Matilda the Musical (twice)

95. Gypsy

96. The Music Man

97. Ruthless

98. All Shook Up

99. Footloose the Musical (twice)

100. Disco Inferno

101. Moulin Rouge the Musical

102. Some Enchanted Evening 

103. Next to Normal

104. In Pieces (twice)

105. The Drowsy Chaperone

106. Madagascar the Musical

107. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (twice)

108. Anything Goes

109. Tina- The Tina Turner Musical

110. The Lord of the Rings Musical

111. Flashdance the Musical 

112. Dear Evan Hansen

113. Six

114. Tell Me On A Sunday

115. La Cage Aux Folles

116. Three Forty One the Musical

117. Newsies

118. Come From Away (twice)

119. Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical 

120. Prom the Musical

121. In The Heights

122. The Producers 

123. Assassins

124. Georgy Girl

125. Flock!

126. Merrily We Roll Along

127. Kimberly Akimbo

128. HMS Pinafore 

129. The Wedding Singer the Musical.

130. Calendar Girls the Musical

131. 9 to 5 

132. Amélie the Musical 

133. Freaky Friday the Musical 

134. Something Rotten 

135. The Golden Mickeys

136. Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic

137. Anastasia the Musical 

138. MJ the Musical 

139. Rocky Horror

140. Tootsie the Musical 

141. The Book of Mormon 

142. A New Brain

143. Menopause the Musical 

144. Carrie the Musical 

145. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 

146. Layna Lately 

147. Waitress

148. Hadestown

149. Natasha,Pierre,& Great Comet of 1812

150. Dog Man the Musical

151. Bugsy Malone

152. Done to Death

153. We Are The Tigers

Musicals are AWESOME, y'all :)
Bless
Melanie Raye.

I need to respond to this.

Hello, dear readers!

I saw this today, and I want..no, I NEED to respond.

There is a story in the Bible, in Mark chapter 2, where Jesus was inside a house, preaching and healing people, and quite a crowd had gathered. 

There was a man in the neighborhood who could not walk, so 3 of his friends took him to see Jesus. But when they got there, they could not get through the door! So they literally broke a hole in the roof and lowered the man down through it, right at the feet of Jesus. 

And how did Jesus respond? Did he say "You twats, use the freaking door like a normal person"?
No, no He did not. Instead, He met the man's needs, and said " Your sins are forgiven, now pick up your mat and walk".

Philippians 2:5 tells us that our "attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus".

There is another Bible story, a parable that Jesus told (in Luke 10:25-37) that talks of a man who was attacked by robbers, and left to die.
A priest and a Levite both walked past, but ignored the man and crossed over on the other side. Now, from a purely legal standpoint, they had done nothing wrong by reacting this way. 

But then a Samaritan walked by- a man from another culture, potentially even an enemy of the injured man, with no legal or cultural obligations to the injured man at all. 
But the Samaritan stopped, tended the man's wounds, placed the man on his own donkey, and took the man to an inn where he could be taken care of, and the Samaritan even footed the bill himself.

Jesus finished his story, and asked his audience "Who acted more like a neighbour to the injured man?" 
To which someone replied "The one who had mercy on him".

I will leave you with Jesus' response:
"Now go and do likewise".

Love,
Melanie Raye.

It's Time I Spoke Up.

Hello dearest readers <3

Before I begin, I want to say that I know a lot of you are currently feeling a lot of feelings about the presidential election. Please trust my heart when I say that I have no intention of adding to your pain and confusion by discussing my thoughts and feelings here.

With that said, I know that I need to make this post today, and I will tell you why.

Yesterday, I was in church, just like basically every Sunday morning. The preacher was nearing the end of his message, when he somehow randomly segwayed into talking about the presidential election. And then, he said it. "I think we could even call Donald Trump's election as president to be a miracle". A few people in the congregation cheered and clapped.

But me? I just made myself as small in my seat as I could, and all I could manage was a quiet, desperate whisper: "no...no...".

You see, I was not prepared in that moment to share my thoughts. Neither do I think it would have necessarily been the right moment or the right platform in which to voice my opinion. It's not my pulpit, after all.

But for the last 24 hours, I have felt sick to my stomach. I believe that the standard I walk past is the standard I accept, and I know that evil prevails when good men do nothing (Edmund Burke). 
Therefore, it is time that I spoke up. I cannot be silent anymore.

I hope you will believe that "my words come from an upright heart. My lips sincerely speak what I know" (Job 33:3).

I have unfortunately seen some people speaking in such a way that it appears that they believe that Donald Trump is a good voice to have in authority, from a Christian perspective. So, in response to this, I am going to make some comparisons between what the Bible says and what Trump says, since the Bible implores us to "test everything, and hold on to what is good" (1st Thessalonians 5:21).

Now, some of you are probably saying "But what about Hillary?" Trust me, if she were the one in power, I could easily complete this same exercise with her. (Psalm 139, anyone?) But she has not just been elected POTUS, so she is not my concern right now.

So here goes:

The Bible says: The love of money is the root of all evil. (1st Timothy 6:10).
Trump says: Money money money money, MONEY! (The Apprentice Theme Song).

The Bible says: Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is sufficient for building others up, according to their needs, so that it benefits everyone who is listening. (Ephesians 4:29).
Trump says: "It was just locker room talk".

The Bible says: The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. (Proverbs 20:23).
Trump: brags about tax evasion. (And even though there is the question of whether his dealings were "legal" or not, that is a different issue from whether or not it was morally right).

The Bible says: I was a stranger, and you invited me in. (Matthew 25:35).
Trump says: Let's send all the illegal immigrants back to where they came from. Let's build a wall between us and Mexico. Oh, and they have to pay for it, too.

And for those of you who might get stuck on the train of "it's just the illegal immigrants he wants to get rid of", remember: Jesus was basically an illegal immigrant too, when he and his parents escaped to Egypt as a young child. Also, remember, "Whatever you do to the least of these, my children, you also do to me" (Matthew 25:40). Right now, I would say that the "least of these" is anyone that has felt threatened or marginalised by Trump and his supporters.

The Bible says: When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27).
This passage shows that Jesus respected women, and ensured that they would be cared for.

Trump says: I'll just let you look this one up yourselves...

The Bible says: The worker deserves his wages (1 Timothy 5:18).
Trump says: I want all the jobs to go to American workers.
(That doesn't really give workers of other nationalities a fair chance to earn their wages, does it?)

So there you have it.
In my eyes, Trump does not align with the same values that the Bible professes, so therefore I do not endorse him.
Now, can I get him kicked out of the White House? Probably not. Am I going to go and act violently towards his supporters? No, I am not.
But neither do I choose to condone his actions or look at him through rose-tinted lenses. 

Finally, I want to say, to all of you who are feeling marginalised by Trump and his followers right now: I see you. I stand with you. You DO matter. And there is a God in heaven who loves you.
Keep fighting, coz it can't rain forever. The sun has to come out sometime.

Bless
Melanie Raye.

These are a few of my favourite things...(or, you know, 30 of them...) :)

Hello friends! Thought it was time I did another one of these :) Enjoy!

1. My favourite animal is kittens.

2. My favourite restaurant is Genghis Khan.

3. My favourite food is spaghetti bolognese.

4. My favourite drink is vanilla coke.

5. My favourite movie of all time is The Sound of Music.

6. My favourite books are Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

7. My favourite colour is navy blue.

8. My favourite composer is Ludovico Einaudi.

9. My favourite Broadway musical is Wicked.

10. My favourite song is Defying Gravity (from the aforementioned Wicked).

11. My favourite scents are sweet pea and jasmine.

12. My favourite band is ABBA.

 13. My favourite item of clothing is my blue dress with the gold stars.

14. My favourite dessert is soy chocolate mousse.

15. My favourite singer is Idina Menzel.

16. My favourite season is autumn.

17. My favourite TV show currently is Grey's Anatomy.

18. My favourite TV show of all time is Full House.

19. My favourite actor is Hugh Laurie.

20. My favourite actress is Julie Andrews.

21. My favourite Disney princess is Belle.

22. My favourite fruit is mandarins.

23. My favourite vegetable is corn on the cob.

24. My favourite board game is Articulate.

25. My favourite pastime is seeing live theatre shows.

26. My favourite form of exercise is dancing.

27. My favourite number is four.

28. My favourite cookie is peanut butter choc chip.

29. My favourite nickname that people call me is “Mellie-bean”.

30. My favourite place that I have traveled to is Salzburg, Austria.

Love,

Melanie Raye.

Creativity Unleashed

Hello readers!
Part of my centre's philosophy relates to encouraging creativity in the children and providing a stimulating environment for them, so today I would like to share with you about a few of the great creative experiences that I have been doing with the two year olds in my classroom.

I love inspiring children to use everyday objects in interesting ways to create art. This innovative approach to using resources relates to the Tataiako competency of Wananga (Communication, Problem Solving, and Innovation).

It also links to one of the Te Whaariki learning outcomes in Communication Goal 4, which says "Children develop skill and confidence with the processes of art and craft".

The first experience we did was cotton reel painting. I selected several different shaped cotton reels that produced different patterns. As the children stamped the cotton reels onto the paper, some of them recognised the different patterns, and could also distinguish which cotton reels produced the same pattern. This kind of visual discrimination will actually help the children when they learn to recognise letters and numerals later on.

After the success of the cotton reel painting, I decided to share with the children another everyday object that we could use to make art- this time it was fly swats. For this experience, I got large pieces of paper and invited the children to do the painting in groups of three or four. This encouraged collaboration, a sense of group ownership over the experience, and spatial awareness as they worked together to cover the whole sheet of paper with fly swat patterns, without going over the top of their friends' fly swat prints too much. This links to the Te Whaariki Exploration Goal 4 learning outcome "Children develop an understanding of how two-dimensional objects can be fitted together in space".
It also relates to Te Whaariki Contribution Goal 3: "Children experience an environment where they are encouraged to learn with and alongside others".

Finally, we did "car track" painting. One of the children's current interests in our room right now is transport, so I took that as inspiration for this experience, and we dipped toy cars into paint and rolled them across the paper. Since doing the fly swat painting as a group had been such a success, I decided to do the car track painting in a group with a large piece of paper, too. My ability to consider the children's interests and create experiences based on these relates to my competence in knowing about my learners and their learning, and this relates to the Pou of Matauranga in He Pou Tataki.

Where to from here?
I believe that children are naturally creative beings, and as such it is likely that creativity will continue to be an interest for the children in my room on an ongoing basis. I am undertaking a self-review at the moment about how I can provide a better variety of resources and experiences for children to be creative with, so if you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them! In the meantime, I am enjoying sharing my learning with other teachers, just like I am doing with all of you whom are reading this blog :)

Links to Practising Teacher Criteria:
Key link: #5i: actively contribute to the professional learning community.
Other links: 6, 8, 9, 12.

Bless,
Melanie Raye.

I contain multitudes.

Hello friends!

My good friend Corrigan Vaughan posted this story on twitter today:

http://www.treknews.net/2016/07/01/rihanna-is-a-bigger-star-trek-fan-than-you/

I have got feelings about this, and I need to share them.

Here's the thing, guys. Rihanna can like Star Trek if she wants to. And even if she didn't, and just chose to make her "Sledgehammer" video tie in to Star Trek because that was her best option at the time, that still wouldn't give anyone the right to jump all over her about it like some silly people have done. Rihanna is quite capable of steering her own rudder on the ship of her life.

My two favourite podcasters, Corrigan Vaughan and Kristin Latourelle of the Electric Fancave introduced me to the saying "Women contain multitudes". And it's true. You will be hard pressed to ever find two women who are made up exactly the same way, with the same sets of hobbies and interests, the same dress sense, and the same beliefs and values. And that's a beautiful thing. It's what makes us unique. So when people start losing their lids over Rihanna being a Star Trek fan, I get a little concerned.

See, I'm a mish-mash of different, seemingly incompatible likes and dislikes myself.

I love wearing pretty dresses, BUT I am most comfortable in sweatshirts and jeans.
I love classical music, AND I love 90's boy bands.
I love romantic comedies AND action-packed spy movies.
I hate wearing make-up, BUT I am never seen without my favourite lip gloss.
I can't play video games myself (because I have zero coordination), BUT I think that "Portal" has a great storyline.

I contain multitudes. And so do you. And so does Rihanna.
So can we please, PLEASE stop chewing each other out every time someone breaks away from our preconceived narratives of how another person should act, think, or feel? Muchas gracias.

As always, I love you all. Go forth and embrace YOUR "multitudes", whatever they may be.

Bless
Melanie Raye.

My Reflection for the Week 2-6 Nov 2015

The question I would like to investigate this week is:

What are the benefits to myself and the children in learning Māori waiata?

The Practising Teacher Criteria says:

Key Link:

10. work effectively within the bicultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand. 
i) practise and develop the relevant use of te reo Māori me ngā tikanga-a-iwi in context.

Other Links:

2 ii. acknowledge and respect the languages, heritages and cultures of all ākonga.

3. demonstrate commitment to bicultural partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand
i)  demonstrate respect for the heritages, languages and cultures of both partners to the Treaty of Waitangi.

9 i. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of social and cultural influences on learning, by working effectively in the bicultural and multicultural contexts of learning in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Recently, as I was teaching the tamariki a basic group clapping game, I shared with them that Māori children through the ages have sat together and played clap games too. This inspired me with the idea that Māori waiata can be used as a springboard for teaching them about Māori heritage, culture, and values. It doesn’t need to be complicated or in depth – just a sentence or two acknowledging Māori culture, used as an introduction to a song, can be enough.
One example could be the waiata Tohora nui, which is about a big whale. This could link to a discussion about the sea and sea animals and the special connection that Māori have with these.

These small nuggets of information help to gradually enlarge children’s world view, as they simultaneously embrace their perspectives and validate the perspectives of other cultures (this links to a Te Whariki Contribution Goal 3 learning outcome which says “Children develop an increasing ability to take another’s point of view and to empathise with others.”) Also, when you explain to children what the Māori waiata mean, it can help children to gain an understanding of te reo Māori as a living and relevant language (Te Whariki communication goal 2 learning outcome).

-       Ako Aotearoa recognises the importance of Māori waiata and the role it plays in language acquisition in Te Reo Māori. The benefit is multi-faceted – not only is it easier to recall new words when you have previously used them in a waiata (e.g. by remembering the Māori colours through sing the song “Ma is white”), but the sentence structures within Māori waiata reflect correct Māori sentence structure and syntax, making it simpler to learn how to create simple sentences in the Māori language when speaking.

-       Finally, I believe that when Te Whariki says in a learning outcome in Communication goal 4 that “children develop an increasing familiarity with a selection of songs that are valued by the cultures in the community”, its meaning goes deeper than children just “knowing the words”. It is one thing to be able to sing a song by rote from memory, and another thing entirely to understand a song and connect to the heart and emotions in it.

This is why I think that little introductory discussions about Māori waiata prior to singing them with the children are so important. It opens the door for us to discuss things like “the person in this song is feeling very happy, or strong, or they are worshipping God”. This has the added benefit of developing children’s emotional intelligence, and they might even find that sometimes they want to express their feelings through songs and music too.

As I incorporate these Māori waiata into my teaching, and talk about waiata and their meanings with the children, I am developing the Tataiako competency of Manaakitanga, in that I am demonstrating respect for Māori culture through the “delivery process” of presenting waiata respectfully to the children. Also, I am developing the Tataiako competency of Tangata whenuatanga, as I present cultural knowledge to the children alongside the waiata.

With all this in mind, over the Christmas holidays I am going to learn 2 new simple Māori waiata and the meanings and cultural links that those waiata have for Māori, so I can return next year and teach them to the children. Also, I will seek to educate others on the many benefits of learning Māori waiata, for both kaiako and tamariki.

Breaking Down the Fruit of the Spirit of Self-Control

Hey friends! Lately I have been thinking about the fruit of the spirit of self-control, and all the different aspects of this fruit, so I thought I'd share a little breakdown of my thoughts with you.

Some of it is based on things I have read, and some is based on my own personal revelations.
First, self-control = resisting temptation to instigate or participate in evil thoughts, words, or actions. This is kinda the obvious one.
Second, self-control = self - responsibility. Taking care of your own chores/work/study etc, not expecting someone else to do it for you. And if you have a issue that you can't resolve alone, you responsibly seek help from experts who are qualified to support you (eg teachers). Also, take responsibility for any mistakes you may make. Third, self-control = self care. Only you (and God) really know what you need, so take it upon yourself to get enough sleep and exercise, eat everything in moderation, have enough alone time and enough social time, seek help from doctors, counselors, etc as necessary to maintain your physical and emotional health. Fourth, self- control = self-management. Another word for this is autonomy. This is something you gradually develop throughout your life. It involves making decisions for yourself, such as what your boundaries are, what kind of company you choose to keep, what you will study at university (and possibly where you will study it), managing your financial situation and obligations, deciding where you will work, etc. And fifth, self-control = self - regulation. It spans from the idea that even a good thing in too large a quantity is no longer beneficial. It means being able to say no to yourself sometimes. This could involve not taking another biscuit when you have already had three, not spending all day in bed when there are other obligations already in place, not spending all night on Facebook when you have an assignment to finish, etc. Again, all these things are great, as long as they are done in moderation. E.g Facebook is a wonderful social tool, but it becomes unhealthy when it starts to consume your life and take up all your time. I hope this is helpful for you, dear readers!

Love,
Melanie Raye.

10 Random Things That You Might Not Know About Me

Hey my friends! Well, I think it's time again that I should give you some random insights into who I am, so enjoy!

1. The first book to ever make me cry was Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

2. I prefer eating raw vegetables over cooked ones.

3. If I was ever going to cosplay, I would be Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

4. I like to have lots of pillows underneath and around me while I sleep.

5. I also struggle to sleep when it is completely silent. I usually have quiet music or a soft YouTube video playing while I go to sleep.

6. I love planning parties. But only about 1 in 5 of the parties I plan ever actually come to fruition.

7. My favourite scents are vanilla, lavender, jasmine, peppermint, and apple.

8. I like going to the movies by myself sometimes.

9. I am an adrenaline junkie.

10. I can read really really fast.

So there ya have it!
Bless you all!

Love,
Melanie Raye.

My Favourite Movies

Hello friends!
Since I have recently been posting pictures of the DVD's that I am adding to my collection on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, I thought that this would be a good time to share my favourite movies with you all. I have divided them into 2 lists: my top ten favourite Disney movies (#1 being my favourite), and my top ten favourite non-Disney movies (again, #1 being my favourite). A couple of times, you will find a movie and it's sequel/s together - don't judge me ;) These top 10 lists have been carefully thought through, and there are plenty more films that I love that were contenders for these lists- I could probably make a top 30 for each list, if I had to!
My goal is to own all of these movies on DVD, so that when people view my DVD collection, they will get an insight into who I am as a person.

 But for now, let me just type out my lists for you :) Oh, and if you are a fan of any of these, please let me know in the comments (either here in the blog comments, or in the facebook comments), and we can fangirl (or fanboy) out together! I love sharing what I love with people I love!

My Top Ten Favourite Disney Movies:
1. Beauty and the Beast (and Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas)
2. Frozen
3. Enchanted
4. Into The Woods
5. Big Hero 6
6. Tangled
7. Princess Protection Program
8. Camp Rock (1 and 2)
9. Robin Hood
10. Mulan

My Top Ten Favourite Non-Disney Movies:
1. The Sound of Music (this is my favourite movie of all time!)
2. A Walk To Remember
3. Titanic
4. Raise Your Voice
5. Pitch Perfect (and Pitch Perfect 2)
6. The Hunger Games (and all the sequels)
7. The Swan Princess (and the sequels- and nope, these ones are not Disney!)
8. Mamma Mia
9. Dirty Dancing
10. The Babysitters Club: The Movie




So there you go my friends! Let the fangirling (and fanboying) begin!

Love,
Melanie Raye.

Reflecting on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Describe:

This week I was thinking about the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi : protection, participation, and partnership.  I wanted to take some time to think about what applying these principles would look like in my practice.

Inform:

Protection: I think that in my practice the principle of protection looks like not discriminating in any way against children/staff/parents and whanau of Maori or any other descent. It means having high expectations for Maori learners, that ensure that they will succeed academically, as this benefits their family and community in the long run. It means upholding tikanga practices and respecting Maori ways of being. I think it means continuing to use Maori language, so that the language does not become extinct. I think it means respecting the land and not abusing it, keeping in mind that we as Europeans are manuhiri, and that the Maori are tangata whenua- we should respect them and their tino rangatiratanga over Aotearoa by being respectful and treating the land well, just like we would be respectful of other people's possessions if we were experiencing someone's hospitality in their home.

Participation: I think that in my practice the principle of participation looks like everyone being involved in using Maori language, and taking part in Maori waiata and games. I believe that taking part in tikanga and kaupapa Maori is beneficial for all children, staff, parents, and whanau, regardless of their cultural heritage. This is consistent with Te Whaariki, which informs us that "curriculum in early childhood settings should promote te reo and ngā tikanga Māori, making them visible and affirming their value for children from all cultural backgrounds. " 

Partnership: I think that in my practice the principle of partnership looks like parents and teachers working together collaboratively, sharing knowledge and strategies that will lead to the best outcomes for children. I think it means involving the local community, iwi, and kaumatua in our centre life, such as inviting them to our centre events. I think it also means teachers partnering with children, empowering children to take responsibility for their own learning. Finally, I think it means teachers working together as a team, with everyone contributing their strengths, to provide the best learning and environment possible for the children.

Confront:

Some of these things I already do (such as singing Maori waiata with all the children at mat time), but I want to carry more of an awareness within myself about why I do these things- keeping the principles of Te Tiriti in mind as I work with the children during the day. I think that mindfulness about why we follow tikanga and practice partnership shows that Maoritanga is important to us, and that we respect it.

Reconstruct:

I will continue to uphold the principles of Te Tiriti in my practice. I will also share my thoughts from today's reflection on my blog and on a facebook early childhood page, and welcome discussion, feedback, and any articles they might like to share with me. In this way, I can actively contribute to the professionial learning comunity by sharing my knowledge and understanding, and also gain new knowledge, understanding, and feedback from other members of the learning community. I can then read and respond to their comments and/or articles. (I can take a screen shot of this in a week or so, to give time for people to respond, as evidence, and I can take copies of the articles and highlight/comment on them and put them in my portfolio).

Links to Registered Teachers Criteria:

3. demonstrate commitment to bicultural partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand: ​i. demonstrate respect for the heritages, languages and cultures of both partners to the Treaty of Waitangi. 5(i) : Actively contribute to the professional learning community. Other links: 2 (ii, iii), 9 (i), 10 (i), 12 ​(i, ii).

My Fan Theory about "Mystical Feather" (from Heather Feather's ASMR Role Plays)

Hello dear readers!

Today I want to write you about one of the most interesting characters in Heather Feather’s ASMR Role Plays (henceforth referred to as “RP”s). This character is Mystical Feather. I have been working on this fan theory for about 4 months now, & I by no means think that I have it all together (heck, I could be WAY off-base, for all I know!), but I wanted to share it with you guys, anyway.

So, let’s jump right in, okay?

In the 2^nd Comprehensive Physical Exam RP, Doctor Feather informs us that she “knows all about” people undergoing testing in exchange for cake, which we know from the first Science RP takes place at ASMR Science (we as the audience underwent some of this testing ourselves). This implies that ASMR Science is a well-known company or entity in the Featherverse. We can therefore assume that because Mystical Feather owns ASMR Science (we learned this from the ASMR Science, Testing Your 5 Senses RP), that she too is well-known by many if not all of the characters that exist in the Featherverse. What we don’t know however, is how well she is liked or disliked.

Doctor Feather, as a medical practitioner, seems to disapprove of Mystical Feather’s unconventional methods. I also wonder if the “Skynet” program that logs all our information at Dr. Feather’s office is being imposed on Dr. Feather by Mystical Feather. This would indicate that Mystical Feather has a desire to acquire information about the people who are interacting with other members of the Featherverse. Would this be to gain new potential candidates for testing at ASMR Science, perhaps?

On the other side of the coin though, we notice that several Featherverse characters have business dealings with Mystical Feather. Twin Feathers Spa gets the supernatural hair growth tonic from Mystical Feather, and the Apothecary gets the special pills from Mystical Feather. A worker at ASMR Science (who obviously would be working for Mystical Feather), gives us as an intern a potion for “H” in the Jekyll & Hyde RP. The Twin Feathers Spa girls even mention that they got the hair tonic from “a little shop”, which I would assume is the same shop that we as the audience visited for crystals in the Magic Shop RP. These characters seem to trust Mystical Feather, at least enough to do business with her. Or maybe, Mystical Feather is holding something over them that pressures them to do what Mystical Feather wants. Is Mystical Feather capable of blackmail? Or does she have good intentions, but sees her more shady dealings as a means to an end? This would explain her interactions with us as the audience in the Magic Shop RP, where she essentially tricks us into letting her put a spell on us that somehow transforms us into someone (or something) that would be useful to her as an ally/apprentice.

Mystical Feather strikes me to be quite similar to Rumplestiltskin’s character in Once Upon A Time. She has her fingers in everybody’s pies (or, almost everybody’s anyway). Mystical Feather tells us this straight-up when she says in the Magic Shop (Crystals) RP that "I have my hands in a few projects. I dabble. I have a web with a thousand threads, and I know how each and every one dances". She also seems to like making deals with people. She even made a deal with us as the audience when she cast a spell on us in the Magic Shop RP, in exchange for a crystal. We also see in that same Magic Shop RP just how sweet, charming, and disarming Mystical Feather is. She invokes trust in people. We do not yet know whether we should trust her or not. Does she really care about us, or does she really want control? Maybe it’s both. Maybe she is an idealist with a specific view of what Utopia should look like, and she feels the need to control the other people in the Featherverse in order to make her Utopia a reality, but while still believing that this Utopia she imagines is the best thing for everyone.

Another little note is that Fairy Godfeather in the Fairy Godmother RP pinched “sleeping powder” from a woman with a cape that had MF on it. I can only assume that this is again Mystical Feather. This makes me wonder if whatever we ate at the end of the ASMR Science “Testing Your Five Senses” RP was also laced with the same stuff. This would mean that we are not dead, only sleeping. But why? The message from Doug Ratmann that was hidden in the eye chart in that same 5 Senses RP indicates that he thought everyone at ASMR Science was crazy. Could that be because he thought that Mystical Feather’s (and the other ASMR Science workers’) attempts to create Utopia through human testing were too extreme?

The tests that we underwent during the “Testing Your Five Senses” RP indicate a desire to give humans super-human senses/abilities, such as improved eyesight (with the eyedrops), increased hearing (through the spray), and the ability to smell things more strongly or smell things just by seeing pictures of them (with the stuff that gets shoved up your nose). Could this be because Mystical Feather believes that in order to have a Utopia, the humans dwelling within Utopia need to possess these aforementioned special abilities? It would appear that Mystical Feather also desires for humans to live forever, as she says in the Magic Shop RP "The chains that were binding that mortal body are broken".

The hidden message within the “welcome video” at the beginning of the “Testing Your Five Senses” RP seems to be that people have lost their lives through the testing that they underwent at ASMR Science. Does Mystical Feather regret this loss of life, and fear it like Jekyll in the “Jekyll & Hyde” RP, or is she more like “H”, seeing these people, too, as a means to an end in the pursuit of Science/Utopia/Eternal Life?

In conclusion, Mystical Feather seems to be a key player in the Featherverse, & I know for sure that we will see more of her, both in our direct interactions with her as the audience, and through the impact/ influence that she has on other members of the Featherverse. When it comes to this fascinating character, we always seem to have more questions than answers. One thing is very clear though- Mystical Feather is extremely morally ambiguous. I am excited to see where Heather Feather decides to take her. 

So there you have it- my own little fan theory about “MF” (as she has come to be known).

Bless you all heaps!

Love,

Melanie Raye.

15 Reasons Why I Love My Mama

Hey guys, 

So tonight I'm taking a break from studying coz I want to do something special for my mama. She has been so amazing these last few weeks while I've been practically tearing my hair out from stress, so I wanted to do something to honour her. So here is a list (not comprehensive, by any means!) of 15 reasons why I love my mama.

1. She supports me. She has always let me make my own decisions with regards to what I want to study, my extra curricular activities, etc. Nowadays, she supports me with things like my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/melanieraye89). It's so amazing to have her in my corner like that.

2. She doesn't just accept my crazy...she joins in, too. One great example of this is the day that we parodied the movie "Mamma Mia" over skype chat. It was glorious, I tell you.

3. She is the most amazing baker. And, ever since I was a little girl, she would let me help her bake...and then came my favourite part. She would let me lick the wooden spoon, the spatula, the beaters, and sometimes even the whole freaking mixing bowl. YUM.

4. She shares some of the same tastes in music that I do. Three artists/bands that immediately come to mind that we both love are ABBA, Shania Twain, and Celine Dion.

5. She lets me share my love of Glee with her by watching a full season of the show with me almost every time I go to Australia to visit her.

6. She loves my friends. It means the world to me that she approves of the people that I have chosen to do life with.

7. She knows that a movie marathon is not a movie marathon without popcorn, chips, dip, and lollies of some description.

8. As I have grown into a young woman, she has become a close friend as well as my mother. I love that we can go out and "be ladies" together, get our hair done, go shopping, out for coffee and/or dessert, or to the movies.

9. She raised me to love Jesus. I have her to thank for a good part of why I am walking so close to God now.

10. She taught me to live generously. I know that one of the main reasons why I so love giving gifts, sharing food, and donating to charities or even random buskers on the street is because she modeled that to me.

11. She shares my love of reading. I never have to pack any books in my suitcase when I go visit her in Australia, because I know that she will let me raid her bookshelf to my heart's content.

12. She says often that she is proud of me and loves me...and not just to me, but on Facebook for all her friends to see. I am glad that she sees me as someone worth declaring her love for.

13. She has always put in the effort to make birthdays, Easters and Christmases really special days for us. I like our special little traditions such as eating pancakes on Christmas morning.

14. When I was little, she used to leave notes for me in my lunchbox to surprise me at lunchtime. I loved getting those little notes so much.

15. No matter how old I get, she will always call me her baby...and I will always call her my mama.

I love you mama!

Bless,
Melanie Raye.

A Special Love

Hi guys!

Tonight I'm taking a quick break from studying to tell you about a special love of mine- my love for books. There are few things more calming than cuddling up in bed with a good book and getting lost in it for a few hours.

My mama will attest to the fact that when I am on holiday in Australia staying with her, I will sometimes hole myself up in my bedroom for hours on end, consuming one book after another.

I would literally rather spend my spare time reading than going to a party (that is, unless said party involves karaoke...)

So now, I would like to recommend some of my favourite books to you guys. These are all books straight off my own bookshelf...books that I loved so much that I simply HAD to have a copy of my own to keep. Let me know if you've read/would like to read any of these- I'd love to hear from you!

The first book is a classic: "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. I first read this book when I did a study on it in English class in my final year of high school. I find Jane's character so relatable, and always admire her strength through tough and unjust circumstances. There is also suspense in this book that will keep you on your toes, as well as romance. The perfect mix, in my opinion.

The next book I want to talk about is "The Shunning" by Beverly Lewis. This book is an incredible tale about finding yourself and what you believe, in a world where you are surrounded by people telling you what to say and do, or you will be "shunned". It made me look deep inside myself and ask "would I still hold fast to my faith, even if it meant having to leave everything I know and everyone I love behind?" This is a beautifully written story- I couldn't put it down.

"The Shack" by WM. Paul Young made me think about God and Christianity in ways that I never had before. It made me question what "faith" really means, and what a real relationship with God looks like. It also confronts the hard questions, such as "Where is God when I am hurting?" and "Why do bad things happen to good people?" I recommend this book to everyone, but especially Christians who want to have their relationship with God re-ignited and see His Father heart in a new way.  

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins have become recent favourites of mine. These books carry beautiful metaphors of love being about sacrifice, and show how empathy and the human spirit can still survive beneath terrible oppression. They are also incredibly well written- I devoured the entire series in a weekend :)

I own all 6 of Jane Austen's published works, and I think that all of them are fantastic. The female characters are especially well-rounded. They are witty, sarcastic, strong, and yet charming. These are women that would have gone against the grain of the time period that they were in. The men are dashing, mysterious, and chivalrous. The romances are sweet, elegant, and understated. These are must-reads for all book-lovers, in my opinion.

Ahhh, The Babysitters Club. Sweet, sweet nostalgia. God bless you, Ann M. Martin! This photo is of just one of my 400 (yes, 400!) Babysitters Club books that I own. I've been collecting them since I was nine. I grew up with the characters in these simple, sweet, wholesome novels. They have great messages such as teamwork, friendship, and the importance of family. The books also deal with sensitive topics such as death, divorce, racism, and domestic abuse in ways that are both honest and age-appropriate. Also, some of the supporting characters add great humour to the stories. They're a really easy read, and I still love them now, even as a 24-year-old.

"The Fault In Our Stars"by John Green is really hot right now, and for good reason. This book is incredibly well-written and heart-warming. It is honest and witty, sad and joyful. You will get swept up in the story, and charmed by the characters. I also can't wait for the movie to come out soon! Finally, it must be said that John Green is simply the best at everything. Ever.

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott was one of my absolute favourite books as a teenager, and I still love it to this day. I felt really connected to the characters, in particular Jo March. I still maintain that she is the book character I relate to the most out of any book I've ever read. This book is a classic, and one that I will definitely share with my children one day, when they are old enough. I look forward to sitting on my little girl's bed and reading to her each night before she goes to sleep, just like my mama used to do for me. I look forward to hearing her say "Just one more chapter mama! Pleeeease!" And I look forward to smiling down at her, tired as I may be, and saying "Of course, sweetheart".

And lastly, "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. This book is a modern-day, loose interpretation of the book of Hosea in the Bible. It will break your heart. It will make you cry. It will open your eyes to people. It will open your eyes to love. You will be reminded of how God loves us: Gently. Passionately. Unconditionally. Forever.

There you go guys! I hope you all have a great week, and thanks for reading :)

Love,

Melanie Raye.