Composed by Aaron S. Robertson
A prayer for the souls in Purgatory
My Father, please hear my prayers today for the souls in Purgatory. I pray that in your love, your mercy and forgiveness, your compassion, and your healing, their torment and anguish will end real soon; that they'll be welcomed into your kingdom, real soon, by you and by all of Heaven, with loving and open arms. I pray this through your beautiful son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
For the souls in Purgatory, I pray: [Hail Mary prayer three times -]
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Monday, January 23, 2023
300 posts milestone
I'm very excited to have reached 300 published posts yesterday here on the Mr. Robertson's Corner blog! 300 posts strong and four years running! Thank you so much for your continued readership, support, and inspiration! Wishing you all the best, and God bless!
Aaron
Mr. Robertson
Aaron
Mr. Robertson
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Art for Kids Hub on YouTube
If you're not already familiar with this great resource, check this out - there's a channel on YouTube called "Art for Kids Hub" featuring many, many videos showing you how to draw all sorts of things, step-by-step.
Currently, I'm teaching K-8 art as a long-term substitute, and so I've turned to this awesome resource from time to time in my work.
And don't forget - you can always make use of the search box at the top of the YouTube site for anything, so if you're not quite finding what you're looking for while scrolling within the actual channel, try utilizing that general search box at top to narrow things down. For example, I recently recommended to a student who's interested in learning how to draw cars that she check out "Art for Kids Hub," which I know has many videos on how to draw all sorts of cars. I searched "art for kids hub drawing cars" and sent her this link that was created by my search:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=art+for+kids+hub+drawing+cars
I hope this helps you out a little. I'll continue to keep an eye out for other art and drawing resources that you may find fun and helpful!
Currently, I'm teaching K-8 art as a long-term substitute, and so I've turned to this awesome resource from time to time in my work.
And don't forget - you can always make use of the search box at the top of the YouTube site for anything, so if you're not quite finding what you're looking for while scrolling within the actual channel, try utilizing that general search box at top to narrow things down. For example, I recently recommended to a student who's interested in learning how to draw cars that she check out "Art for Kids Hub," which I know has many videos on how to draw all sorts of cars. I searched "art for kids hub drawing cars" and sent her this link that was created by my search:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=art+for+kids+hub+drawing+cars
I hope this helps you out a little. I'll continue to keep an eye out for other art and drawing resources that you may find fun and helpful!
Happy 2023
Hello! It's certainly been a while. I hope you're doing well. Usually, since I launched this blog a little over four years ago, I've been in the habit of writing a "Happy New Year" post in which I review and reflect on the previous year. I've been a little behind in this, and am first really starting to catch up now, both with this post and with some other tasks and goals I wish to complete for this blog.
Looking back on 2022, it was a very exciting, adventurous, and rewarding year for me, on a variety of levels. Let's dive in.
To begin, I spent all of 2022 rediscovering and growing in my Roman Catholic faith after a very powerful conversion experience in December 2021. You can read why I'm Catholic, my battles with demonic harassment, and prayers that I've composed. As a part of my faith journey, I began teaching Sunday catechism to a group of fourth and fifth graders this past fall at my parish (church), and I also participate in a variety of adult formation programs at my parish, as well.
Back in mid-February, I left my full-time position as a special education paraprofessional at a middle/high school in order to work as a substitute educator again. I absolutely love it. As a sub, I do both teaching and paraprofessional work, and, minus a few days here and there for appointments or being sick, I've managed to work every day as a sub since mid-February. I've become a full-time professional sub, which is usually pretty rare to see, as many work part-time or hardly at all (they may be retired, have other jobs, etc.). But as I explain in this comprehensive guide I put together on how to become a substitute teacher or paraprofessional, these are unique, strange times for the world of K-12 education. There's a shortage of subs, a shortage of new education majors and student teachers coming up through the ranks, and a mass exodus of full-time seasoned staff from the profession. All of these factors, combined, have made available subs that much more valuable. Pay and other incentives are getting very competitive between districts and schools, and I'm spending most of the 2022-2023 school year in long-term gigs. Again, I'm absolutely loving it. I'm very blessed and grateful to be receiving calls all the time from teachers, paraprofessionals, school offices, and even principals and district-level staff wondering if I'm available to sub. Very blessed and grateful. There's no shortage of work and opportunity.
From January through August, I had the wonderful honor and privilege to work with a young man, a seventh grader, with Down Syndrome, providing respite care services to he and his family. We would go out for lunch/dinner or ice cream (we both love Culver's!), go to nearby parks, play in his yard, read, color, visit and learn about various community resources, and shoot hoops in his driveway. And while I would occasionally teach him some basic life skills, the learning was definitely a two-way street, with me learning a lot from him. I'm grateful to still be in touch with he and his family from time to time.
I didn't travel much during the year. And while it's definitely not the Key West, Florida trip I took the previous summer (2021), I did visit Door County, Wisconsin for the first time in many years, back in August. Also in August, I got to experience Appleton, Wisconsin a little bit when I traveled there for a cousin's wedding. Both trips were very nice.
In fall, I met my girlfriend, a fifth grade teacher. She is truly wonderful, and I'm more than blessed to have her in my life.
And in December, I turned 40. The big 4-0. Wow. I'm very grateful to have celebrated with family, neighbors, friends, and my wonderful girlfriend, and it was awesome to reconnect with several old college buddies. We vowed to keep in better touch.
Well, that's largely my 2022, in a nutshell. How was your year? I'd love to hear all about it! Feel free to share in the comments section below.
Wishing you and yours a healthy, joy-filled, and prosperous 2023! Thank you so much for your continued readership and support! God bless!
All the Best,
Aaron
Mr. Robertson
Looking back on 2022, it was a very exciting, adventurous, and rewarding year for me, on a variety of levels. Let's dive in.
To begin, I spent all of 2022 rediscovering and growing in my Roman Catholic faith after a very powerful conversion experience in December 2021. You can read why I'm Catholic, my battles with demonic harassment, and prayers that I've composed. As a part of my faith journey, I began teaching Sunday catechism to a group of fourth and fifth graders this past fall at my parish (church), and I also participate in a variety of adult formation programs at my parish, as well.
Back in mid-February, I left my full-time position as a special education paraprofessional at a middle/high school in order to work as a substitute educator again. I absolutely love it. As a sub, I do both teaching and paraprofessional work, and, minus a few days here and there for appointments or being sick, I've managed to work every day as a sub since mid-February. I've become a full-time professional sub, which is usually pretty rare to see, as many work part-time or hardly at all (they may be retired, have other jobs, etc.). But as I explain in this comprehensive guide I put together on how to become a substitute teacher or paraprofessional, these are unique, strange times for the world of K-12 education. There's a shortage of subs, a shortage of new education majors and student teachers coming up through the ranks, and a mass exodus of full-time seasoned staff from the profession. All of these factors, combined, have made available subs that much more valuable. Pay and other incentives are getting very competitive between districts and schools, and I'm spending most of the 2022-2023 school year in long-term gigs. Again, I'm absolutely loving it. I'm very blessed and grateful to be receiving calls all the time from teachers, paraprofessionals, school offices, and even principals and district-level staff wondering if I'm available to sub. Very blessed and grateful. There's no shortage of work and opportunity.
From January through August, I had the wonderful honor and privilege to work with a young man, a seventh grader, with Down Syndrome, providing respite care services to he and his family. We would go out for lunch/dinner or ice cream (we both love Culver's!), go to nearby parks, play in his yard, read, color, visit and learn about various community resources, and shoot hoops in his driveway. And while I would occasionally teach him some basic life skills, the learning was definitely a two-way street, with me learning a lot from him. I'm grateful to still be in touch with he and his family from time to time.
I didn't travel much during the year. And while it's definitely not the Key West, Florida trip I took the previous summer (2021), I did visit Door County, Wisconsin for the first time in many years, back in August. Also in August, I got to experience Appleton, Wisconsin a little bit when I traveled there for a cousin's wedding. Both trips were very nice.
In fall, I met my girlfriend, a fifth grade teacher. She is truly wonderful, and I'm more than blessed to have her in my life.
And in December, I turned 40. The big 4-0. Wow. I'm very grateful to have celebrated with family, neighbors, friends, and my wonderful girlfriend, and it was awesome to reconnect with several old college buddies. We vowed to keep in better touch.
Well, that's largely my 2022, in a nutshell. How was your year? I'd love to hear all about it! Feel free to share in the comments section below.
Wishing you and yours a healthy, joy-filled, and prosperous 2023! Thank you so much for your continued readership and support! God bless!
All the Best,
Aaron
Mr. Robertson
Why I am Catholic
By Aaron S. Robertson
Several weeks back, in an adult formation program I'm currently participating in at my parish (my church), we were asked to write down three sentences explaining why we're Catholic. I joked that, being the good student I am, and wanting to go for an A+, I came up with four sentences.
But in all seriousness, it's been an amazing, uplifting, joyful journey that I've been blessed to be on over the last year or so, since December 2021. I tell God all the time that human language can never fully encapsulate what I'm feeling and experiencing. Here's what I said as to why I am Catholic:
Catholic prayers for spiritual warfare (my testimony to the power of the confessional and battling demonic harassment)
Prayers that I've composed
Several weeks back, in an adult formation program I'm currently participating in at my parish (my church), we were asked to write down three sentences explaining why we're Catholic. I joked that, being the good student I am, and wanting to go for an A+, I came up with four sentences.
But in all seriousness, it's been an amazing, uplifting, joyful journey that I've been blessed to be on over the last year or so, since December 2021. I tell God all the time that human language can never fully encapsulate what I'm feeling and experiencing. Here's what I said as to why I am Catholic:
I am Catholic because my faith has caused me to have experiences that cannot be explained by anything in the natural, physical world. I am Catholic because I have experienced no greater joy, love, beauty, and truth outside of my faith. I am Catholic because I know we each have our own special role to play in God's plan. I am Catholic because I was personally called by God to be.If you enjoyed this, you may find these other posts to be helpful and meaningful to you:
Catholic prayers for spiritual warfare (my testimony to the power of the confessional and battling demonic harassment)
Prayers that I've composed
Sunday, November 20, 2022
How to discover your fulfilling career
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| Image via Pexels |
Your Passions Can Lead to a Fulfilling Career
Many people dream of turning their passion into a successful business. After all, what could be better than getting paid to do something you love? While it's certainly not easy, it’s possible to convert your passion into a thriving business. Mr. Robertson’s Corner discusses a few things to consider if you're thinking of making the jump:
Different Business Ideas
There are endless possibilities when it comes to starting a business based on your passions. Perhaps you love to cook and want to start a catering company or food truck. Or maybe you're an amazing artist and you want to sell your paintings or sculptures.
If you’re a strong leader and communicator, and you have construction knowledge, you might flourish as a general contractor. Construction is a high-demand industry, so you can quickly find good-paying projects if you position yourself for success.
If you choose to become a contractor, make sure you take advantage of the technologies that can help you run your business more efficiently. Learn to use software for general contractors to improve your invoicing, designing, estimating, and project management processes.
Conducting Market Research
Once you've settled on a business idea, it's important to do market research to confirm a demand for your product or service. This will help you determine the viability and profitability of your idea. Consult the plethora of resources online and in libraries if you're not sure how to go about conducting market research.
Creating a Business Plan
After doing your market research and finding that there is indeed a market for your product or service, it's time to start putting together a business plan. Many templates are available online if you need help developing a business plan.
Your plan should include any and all information related to your company (e.g., goals, strategies, financial forecasts, etc.). Don’t rush through this stage; the more thorough your business plan, the better it will guide you through the challenges and decisions ahead.
Marketing Your Business
Marketing is key to the success of any business, but it's especially important for businesses that are just starting out. You need to tell people about your product or service and why they should choose you over the competition. There are many different marketing channels available (e.g., social media, email, traditional advertising, etc.), so use the ones that will work best for your particular business.
Changing Industries
If you're unhappy with your current career but don't think starting your own business is the right move for you, consider switching industries instead. This can be especially fulfilling if you find a field that aligns with your passions. For example, someone who loves animals might want to become a veterinary technician, while a music lover may thrive as a music therapist.
Education and Certifications
When making a career change, it's essential to obtain the necessary education and certifications. This will ensure you're qualified for the new job and have the skills necessary to succeed long-term.
It can take time and money to get the required training, but it will be worth it in the end. Be sure to research different programs and schools to find the best option for you. Once you've completed your education, continue learning and staying up-to-date on the latest trends in your field. The more knowledge and experience you have, the better positioned you will be for success in your new career.
Conclusion
Pursuing your passion can lead to a more fulfilling personal and professional life. If you're thinking of making the jump from the 9-5 to running your own show, remember to brainstorm business ideas, conduct market research, write a business plan, and create a marketing strategy.
Whether you decide to become an entrepreneur or pursue a job in a different industry, embrace the hard work involved in making your passion project into a success story. You’ll be glad you did once your dreams come true!
If you enjoyed this article, you can find more helpful content on MrRobertsonsCorner.com today!
Thursday, October 27, 2022
A prayer before meals
The traditional, common Roman Catholic prayer before eating, preceded and followed by the Sign of the Cross: "Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."
The traditional, common Roman Catholic prayer after eating, preceded and followed by the Sign of the Cross: "We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen."
A meal prayer composed by Aaron S. Robertson, a Roman Catholic layman
My/Our Lord, bless the meal I'm/we're about to eat, along with everyone who had a hand, in any way, in making this meal possible for me/us. I'm/we're always grateful for the opportunity to be able to eat. Hear my/our prayers for those who struggle with, and suffer from, food insecurity and hunger. Grant them the resources they need, and let them know that you're always there for them. Amen.
The traditional, common Roman Catholic prayer after eating, preceded and followed by the Sign of the Cross: "We give Thee thanks, Almighty God, for all Thy benefits, Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen."
A meal prayer composed by Aaron S. Robertson, a Roman Catholic layman
My/Our Lord, bless the meal I'm/we're about to eat, along with everyone who had a hand, in any way, in making this meal possible for me/us. I'm/we're always grateful for the opportunity to be able to eat. Hear my/our prayers for those who struggle with, and suffer from, food insecurity and hunger. Grant them the resources they need, and let them know that you're always there for them. Amen.
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