Should Bible classes be taught in public schools?? It's an age old debate coming to the forefront once again in Texas this time. A few issues come to my mind when I see this. At first glance, I am fearful that if we open up public schools to Bible teaching by ??? what will the result be? In other words, who in the public schools is qualified to teach the Bible? I'm sure there are many wonderful Christian teachers, but there's no guarantee they will be the ones handed this curriculum. I'm also leery that if we start teaching Bible classes, what's next? Koran classes? Yikes! I'm sure those same supporters of Bible classes would be heading to court over the Koran.
I'm not nearly as scared about not teaching the Bible in school when I know that I'm free to teach it at home, where I know exactly how it's being taught. I'm not signing my children up for Hebrew school expecting them to learn about about Christianity. I'm certainly not signing them into public schools expecting them to come home with new ideas about religion and beliefs! I don't really understand the push to include Bible in public schools, other than that Christians feel they are being pushed out the front door and are trying desperately to get their foot back in. I'm just not sure this is the best foot forward.
But, the truth of the matter is this: it's an elective. For those who don't know what that means, it's a class that students do not HAVE to take. They CHOOSE to take it. Under those circumstances, I'm all for it - I think! Again, I'd love to view the curriculum, know who's teaching it and want my child to choose to take this class - not force them to. I think under the most desirable conditions, this could be an awesome opportunity for my children. Under not so wonderful conditions, this could be a major roadblock in someone's faith.
Let's say a not so willing teacher is asked to teach this class, say someone who is an atheist. What if someone is chosen to teach this class who has no idea what the overall theme of the Bible even is; that God, the trinity, deeply desires to be in a relationship with every single human being out of an unconditional, indisputable love for what He has created? What if a student who really doesn't want to take that class is forced to by some "well-meaning" parents? What if said student learns from said teacher that there really is no overall theme within those sacred pages of a historical document? What then? Will we be jumping for joy that we won and that the Bible can be carried into a public school?
I try to wrap my mind around these issues, prayer in school, teaching theories other than evolution, adding a Bible class to public school curriculum, and I don't see it as really all that black and white like many others do. The last thing I want as a Christian parent is for my child to be the victim of a hostile, vindictive teacher who is forced to teach something he/she doesn't really believe in. I had an experience like that in my high school biology class, where my teacher, the most popular teacher in school, would systematically single out Christians who believed in creation and decimate us in front of our peers. I'm NOT interested in that for my child, but I don't believe forcing teachers to teach classes they are not interested in or knowledgeable about is the answer.
So, what is the answer? For me, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon either way. I'm not fighting for this or against it. If Bible classes are offered at my child's Maryland High School (I'm sort of laughing at this, as MD will be the VERY LAST state to ever accept a Bible class inside a public school!), we'll find out who is teaching it, what the curriculum is IF my child is even interested in taking that elective. If it's never offered, which would be my bet, then we'll just try to take care of that deficiency at home, which is what I would expect most Christian parents do.
If you want to put the Bible in public schools, send it in by word of mouth. Raise children who know it, who live by it, who can apply it to everyday situations. It won't be a class, it will be a lifestyle that their friends, teachers and peers will see as different and maybe someday will remember as something that was worth living by. As a parent, do the same. I'm not saying this because we have perfected this method - far from it! I wish this was us that I'm describing. This article actually is spurring me on to do a better job with this. (I'm kind of ashamed to admit this - but I know we can do better!)
Peace!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Proud Mama
Today I got to be a proud mama! I mean, everyday I'm a proud mama, but today was special because I am really celebrating an amazing year for my girls. I attended a Parent Volunteer breakfast at our school where Em's class sang a song. Each of the kindergarten classes sang and her class was by far the best! They sang a song called Tony Chestnut - adorable! - and their amazingly talented teacher sat down and never once had to help them. I'm totally proud of them, of their teacher and of Em.
I went from there to the third grade pod to drop of Kt's folder. She received her second ACE award, which is an achievement citizenship and excellence award given upon recommendation of a teacher. Em and Kt received their's together earlier in the year. Then Em got a second one about a month ago and Kt was not happy! She said that her teacher said once everyone gets one, she does not do them anymore (which I would tend to support!), but low and behold - Kt got another! She was thrilled.
While I'm really excited about summer, I am so sad to see the end of such a wonderful year. I think I usually get to the point where I'm ready for it all to be over, but this year I just don't feel that way. I want a continuation, because both girls are so happy, both teachers are so super... I guess I'm just afraid we'll never have another year like this one!
Oh, and my brother, his friend and wife blew in and out of town. He and his friend spent the day in DC yesterday. His wife and I did a little shopping, then picked up the girls early from school for lunch and fun. It was really nice. They left this morning to spend a couple days at Virginia Tech - I can't wait to hear about that - and then a wedding this Saturday in Manassas and one more night here. It's rare that they visit, so we really enjoyed it! I wish my family lived closer - because a day with them is about the best medicine I could wish for!
I went from there to the third grade pod to drop of Kt's folder. She received her second ACE award, which is an achievement citizenship and excellence award given upon recommendation of a teacher. Em and Kt received their's together earlier in the year. Then Em got a second one about a month ago and Kt was not happy! She said that her teacher said once everyone gets one, she does not do them anymore (which I would tend to support!), but low and behold - Kt got another! She was thrilled.
While I'm really excited about summer, I am so sad to see the end of such a wonderful year. I think I usually get to the point where I'm ready for it all to be over, but this year I just don't feel that way. I want a continuation, because both girls are so happy, both teachers are so super... I guess I'm just afraid we'll never have another year like this one!
Oh, and my brother, his friend and wife blew in and out of town. He and his friend spent the day in DC yesterday. His wife and I did a little shopping, then picked up the girls early from school for lunch and fun. It was really nice. They left this morning to spend a couple days at Virginia Tech - I can't wait to hear about that - and then a wedding this Saturday in Manassas and one more night here. It's rare that they visit, so we really enjoyed it! I wish my family lived closer - because a day with them is about the best medicine I could wish for!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Calm Before the Storm
When I exited the girls' school yesterday with nothing but my purse (and my girls!), I felt an uncertain sense of relief. I took a deep breath, smiled, let out a huge sigh and felt that overwhelming feeling that I had not allowed myself to feel over the past week or two: exhaustion! Yesterday, after a crazy week/weekend, I began my day by allowing myself to attend my water aerobics class. From there, everything progressed much like a race against time. I ran to the girls' school to collect last minute shower gifts, ran to Target to complete the shower ensemble, finished up the recipe book gift and packaged everything nicely while in the parking lot of the library before my tutoring gig, tutored, ran out and back to the girls' school to chaperone a Breadmake field trip, left that early to attend the bridal shower for Em's kindergarten teacher, ran back to Breadmake to help them finish up, left with my girls.....
Once home, I couldn't really do much but sit around. It had finally caught up with me, the exhaustion and that allergy/cold thing that's been chasing me over the last month. All day I "had something in my eye" that was driving me crazy. It was probably a big sliver of stress! It sent me to bed early, had me up al night and is still itchy and red. That's because I have another long list of things to do today before my brother, his friend and his wife arrive later. It's so long that I won't get to half of it. Right now, I just have to decide what the most important half is!!
I've had enough of my calm, now I need to go brew up a storm around here!
Once home, I couldn't really do much but sit around. It had finally caught up with me, the exhaustion and that allergy/cold thing that's been chasing me over the last month. All day I "had something in my eye" that was driving me crazy. It was probably a big sliver of stress! It sent me to bed early, had me up al night and is still itchy and red. That's because I have another long list of things to do today before my brother, his friend and his wife arrive later. It's so long that I won't get to half of it. Right now, I just have to decide what the most important half is!!
I've had enough of my calm, now I need to go brew up a storm around here!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
To all the moms out there - Happy Mother's Day! To all the kid's out there, don't forget to do something special for your mom!!
Our weekend has been relaxing. The girls went to T's parent's house Friday night while T and I went away, did a little shopping, went out to eat. Today, we went to church and now we are doing work in the yard - and blogging! LOL
My girls have had a fun time making things for me this year. I received Em's gift on Thursday - she couldn't stand me not seeing it! It was an adorable key chain that she made, a little cup of tea and all in a decorated bag. She kept warning me it was "breakable" and to be very, very careful. That was the plastic key chain! Kt made me a rag doll all on her own. Well, with a little help from her teacher!! It's adorable and I'll post some pictures later. T got me an oil fragrance candle thingy, plants and a few cards. It's been fun! Oh, and he's cooking dinner - Yippee!
Last week, the girls came home from church with invitations to invite a friend to church. Kt immediately had someone in mind, not one of her usual friends. I was a little skeptical, but she went ahead an asked. This girl's mom is an aide at our school and to my surprise (I don't give my daughter enough credit!) they came today. I have to admit, I'm completely impressed with my daughter - and they all had a wonderful time.
In the beginning of the school year, it became apparent to me that my daughter, as usual, was being chosen to do all the fun stuff at school. If something needed to be taken to the office, they asked her. If papers needed to be filed, Kt got to do it. And whenever given the chance to choose a friend, she would always choose the same friend.
One day, she told me about this girl in her class who was not nice, who disobeyed a lot and who was on a behavior chart. She said this girl had no friends. We talked a little about it, and I suggested that maybe this girl needed a friend, that maybe Kt could choose her sometime to help with filing papers or taking a trip to the office. The very next day, Kt did that. She changed the way she treated someone and was surprised by the result - a friendly girl, an improvement in behavior and no more chart. In fact, being a friend to someone can have a positive effect on them. It was this girl who came today, and she is sweet as pie!! Really, it was rewarding as a mom to know that I have the kind of influence on my own child that reaches beyond our home.
Em's little letter she wrote me, which she had to translate!, said as her number one thing she loves about me is that I "put her to bed". I totally laughed at this one. That child has a few funny quirks that she is consistent about. One, that she ALWAYS has to run up and group hug if she sees T and I together. She MUST be in the hug. Two, she will not go anywhere dark in the house alone, like upstairs or downstairs or even in the next room. Finally, she must have one of us "put her to bed" or she just won't fall asleep! This mean we have to actually lay down with her, pray and chit chat for about a minute. Once that is done, she's off to lala land. She once told me how she was the luckiest girl in the world because her mommy lays in bed with her. For such a seemingly insecure child, she is so strongly and willfully independent! I do see a lot of myself in her!
Now none of this would be possible if it weren't for my own mom, my experience from which I have drawn upon for guidance these past almost ten years. In honor of her, I had to tell Em today that if she kept eating all that candy her teeth would fall out!! I mean, you have to use at least some of your mother's lines on your children on Mother's Day, right?? I then told Kt that if I found even one shred of the tin foil she claims to be using on her bugzone on the grass outside I would throw that thing away - kudos mom, for giving me just the right words to say when I need them! I'm sure I'll be honoring her more later, when I ask them both to clean up! And as I'm screaming at them to cooperate, those little words will be ringing inside my head, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!" Ooops!
Our weekend has been relaxing. The girls went to T's parent's house Friday night while T and I went away, did a little shopping, went out to eat. Today, we went to church and now we are doing work in the yard - and blogging! LOL
My girls have had a fun time making things for me this year. I received Em's gift on Thursday - she couldn't stand me not seeing it! It was an adorable key chain that she made, a little cup of tea and all in a decorated bag. She kept warning me it was "breakable" and to be very, very careful. That was the plastic key chain! Kt made me a rag doll all on her own. Well, with a little help from her teacher!! It's adorable and I'll post some pictures later. T got me an oil fragrance candle thingy, plants and a few cards. It's been fun! Oh, and he's cooking dinner - Yippee!
Last week, the girls came home from church with invitations to invite a friend to church. Kt immediately had someone in mind, not one of her usual friends. I was a little skeptical, but she went ahead an asked. This girl's mom is an aide at our school and to my surprise (I don't give my daughter enough credit!) they came today. I have to admit, I'm completely impressed with my daughter - and they all had a wonderful time.
In the beginning of the school year, it became apparent to me that my daughter, as usual, was being chosen to do all the fun stuff at school. If something needed to be taken to the office, they asked her. If papers needed to be filed, Kt got to do it. And whenever given the chance to choose a friend, she would always choose the same friend.
One day, she told me about this girl in her class who was not nice, who disobeyed a lot and who was on a behavior chart. She said this girl had no friends. We talked a little about it, and I suggested that maybe this girl needed a friend, that maybe Kt could choose her sometime to help with filing papers or taking a trip to the office. The very next day, Kt did that. She changed the way she treated someone and was surprised by the result - a friendly girl, an improvement in behavior and no more chart. In fact, being a friend to someone can have a positive effect on them. It was this girl who came today, and she is sweet as pie!! Really, it was rewarding as a mom to know that I have the kind of influence on my own child that reaches beyond our home.
Em's little letter she wrote me, which she had to translate!, said as her number one thing she loves about me is that I "put her to bed". I totally laughed at this one. That child has a few funny quirks that she is consistent about. One, that she ALWAYS has to run up and group hug if she sees T and I together. She MUST be in the hug. Two, she will not go anywhere dark in the house alone, like upstairs or downstairs or even in the next room. Finally, she must have one of us "put her to bed" or she just won't fall asleep! This mean we have to actually lay down with her, pray and chit chat for about a minute. Once that is done, she's off to lala land. She once told me how she was the luckiest girl in the world because her mommy lays in bed with her. For such a seemingly insecure child, she is so strongly and willfully independent! I do see a lot of myself in her!
Now none of this would be possible if it weren't for my own mom, my experience from which I have drawn upon for guidance these past almost ten years. In honor of her, I had to tell Em today that if she kept eating all that candy her teeth would fall out!! I mean, you have to use at least some of your mother's lines on your children on Mother's Day, right?? I then told Kt that if I found even one shred of the tin foil she claims to be using on her bugzone on the grass outside I would throw that thing away - kudos mom, for giving me just the right words to say when I need them! I'm sure I'll be honoring her more later, when I ask them both to clean up! And as I'm screaming at them to cooperate, those little words will be ringing inside my head, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!" Ooops!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Winding Down
So the week is near end and today was much quieter than the beginning of the week, which generally is not the way my weeks have been happening. This morning, I spent from 9-10:30 making 32 deviled eggs and about 30 fruit kabobs. I then delivered them to some hungry teachers, tutored for a few minutes and left to have lunch with T. I picked up some plants on my way out for the secretaries tomorrow. Oh, and one for the principal - always a good idea not to forget her! Then on to tutoring and back home.
I have a couple things left to do, namely figure out what I'm doing with my mother's day out class tomorrow - a mother's day gift will be nice, but my budget is a bit off due to Teacher Appreciation Week. I really wish they would move TA Week to March when there is absolutely nothing happening anywhere!!! Instead they put it in May, with Mother's Day, graduations, Memorial Day weekend, end of the year stuff, not to mention all the teachers are scrambling to fit in their field trips. Kt, who had one field trip all year, has four more in May!! YIKES! Why don't we just throw all these kids on a bus and do a cross country tour!
Tomorrow I have MDO and Steven Kellogg is coming - yay! I'm kind of glad Em's teacher decided to skip town - we'll do her shower on Monday and that will start off my next crazy week. If you really must know, Monday - shower and out for dessert for our poor couple we are doing premarital counseling for (I'm way too young to do that, just for the record!), Tuesday - my brother, his wife and his friend are coming for dinner, Wednesday - in DC all day?, Thursday - parent volunteer breakfast, tutoring the rest of the day and Friday is my second to last day of Mother's Day Out. Saturday, after I'm done planting all my flowers that I will buy when I have a spare moment, I have a Hungary team sleepover at somebody else's house - YEAH! Sunday, the team comes here.... again!
Oh, right... Tony is taking me away tomorrow night. I'm happy to be getting away, but this means I need to finish up laundry tonight AND clean the house for dogsitters. Oh, will it ever end???
I have a couple things left to do, namely figure out what I'm doing with my mother's day out class tomorrow - a mother's day gift will be nice, but my budget is a bit off due to Teacher Appreciation Week. I really wish they would move TA Week to March when there is absolutely nothing happening anywhere!!! Instead they put it in May, with Mother's Day, graduations, Memorial Day weekend, end of the year stuff, not to mention all the teachers are scrambling to fit in their field trips. Kt, who had one field trip all year, has four more in May!! YIKES! Why don't we just throw all these kids on a bus and do a cross country tour!
Tomorrow I have MDO and Steven Kellogg is coming - yay! I'm kind of glad Em's teacher decided to skip town - we'll do her shower on Monday and that will start off my next crazy week. If you really must know, Monday - shower and out for dessert for our poor couple we are doing premarital counseling for (I'm way too young to do that, just for the record!), Tuesday - my brother, his wife and his friend are coming for dinner, Wednesday - in DC all day?, Thursday - parent volunteer breakfast, tutoring the rest of the day and Friday is my second to last day of Mother's Day Out. Saturday, after I'm done planting all my flowers that I will buy when I have a spare moment, I have a Hungary team sleepover at somebody else's house - YEAH! Sunday, the team comes here.... again!
Oh, right... Tony is taking me away tomorrow night. I'm happy to be getting away, but this means I need to finish up laundry tonight AND clean the house for dogsitters. Oh, will it ever end???
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
God and Caterpillars
Tonight, Em was a little chatterbox! She does that sometimes when she doesn't want to go to sleep, or just when she has something on her mind that she needs to process out loud. Tonight seemed like a combination of both of those!
About a week ago, I came home to caterpillars all over our tiny front porch. My first thought? Gross! My second thought? I thought I asked T to spray those tents on our front tree!!! My kids' thoughts? Complete and utter joy, elation bordering on insanity! Since then, we've had daily caterpillar "events" ranging from feeding times, to prize giveaways to our daily afternoon neighborhood caterpillar races. I'll be rummaging through backpacks to the sound of all the kids in our neighborhood packed into our backyard chanting, "Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya....." That's the name of the favorite caterpillar.
Last weekend, we had our very first caterpillar tragedy. I missed it, but T had the privilege of witnessing it at the park. The girls each brought their caterpillars along with their scooters. Apparently, at one point Kt had the brilliant idea of taking her caterpillar for a ride on her scooter, which proceeded without incident. Until, of course, Em decided to give it a try and accidentally stepped right on that caterpillar. Kt (mind you, she's 9!) burst into tears and Em fled in shame to the hills. I'm quite glad I missed it, otherwise my cynical laughter might have had dire repercussions.
Had I not been so disgusted by the caterpillars themselves, I might have seen sooner the impact they are really having on my children. I was quite taken aback tonight when Em announced to me as I was cuddling with her in bed that she could not believe that God would do this to her. I had to delve a little deeper, because that was a statement I've never heard from her before. She explained that God had "given" them 13 caterpillars today. She went on to explain to me that until today, they were so sad that they were down to just one caterpillar, Maya. They originally had three, one accidentally got away, one was accidentally stepped on and then they just had one that everyone had to share.
I have to admit, her perception of what had happened stunned me. She went on to very eloquently describe to me the immense amount of sorrow if caused them that there seemed to be a caterpillar shortage. In the past week, the only caterpillars they could find were 4 dead ones on our driveway and about 10 dead ones in the street. This only added to their grief. But today, God saw their sadness and gave them 13 live caterpillars, and because of this they have been able to give some away and Maya has a friend.
This story has not changed the way I feel about caterpillars. They are still outside pets, never to enter the confines of my bugfree inner sanctum I like to call my house. I still inwardly cheer when they tell stories of caterpillars squooshed and I'm looking forward to the time the caterpillars morph into something I like even less - moths! But the connection that Em made between God and caterpillars, or better yet, God and her sorrow, was striking. I think she really gets it - that God cares. From there, she went on to tell me how nervous and excited at the same time she is about our trip this summer to Hungary. We'll have to make the connection about God caring.
I had to leave Em chatting away about creepy crawly things, all while she was yawning away. That child's mind is with every living creature on this planet, a true naturalist at heart. I wonder who she got that from - not me or T! I guess God knew He'd have a lot to teach her through that love, and He's decided to get started whether or not T and I choose to contribute. Very humbling, yes, very, very humbling!
About a week ago, I came home to caterpillars all over our tiny front porch. My first thought? Gross! My second thought? I thought I asked T to spray those tents on our front tree!!! My kids' thoughts? Complete and utter joy, elation bordering on insanity! Since then, we've had daily caterpillar "events" ranging from feeding times, to prize giveaways to our daily afternoon neighborhood caterpillar races. I'll be rummaging through backpacks to the sound of all the kids in our neighborhood packed into our backyard chanting, "Maya, Maya, Maya, Maya....." That's the name of the favorite caterpillar.
Last weekend, we had our very first caterpillar tragedy. I missed it, but T had the privilege of witnessing it at the park. The girls each brought their caterpillars along with their scooters. Apparently, at one point Kt had the brilliant idea of taking her caterpillar for a ride on her scooter, which proceeded without incident. Until, of course, Em decided to give it a try and accidentally stepped right on that caterpillar. Kt (mind you, she's 9!) burst into tears and Em fled in shame to the hills. I'm quite glad I missed it, otherwise my cynical laughter might have had dire repercussions.
Had I not been so disgusted by the caterpillars themselves, I might have seen sooner the impact they are really having on my children. I was quite taken aback tonight when Em announced to me as I was cuddling with her in bed that she could not believe that God would do this to her. I had to delve a little deeper, because that was a statement I've never heard from her before. She explained that God had "given" them 13 caterpillars today. She went on to explain to me that until today, they were so sad that they were down to just one caterpillar, Maya. They originally had three, one accidentally got away, one was accidentally stepped on and then they just had one that everyone had to share.
I have to admit, her perception of what had happened stunned me. She went on to very eloquently describe to me the immense amount of sorrow if caused them that there seemed to be a caterpillar shortage. In the past week, the only caterpillars they could find were 4 dead ones on our driveway and about 10 dead ones in the street. This only added to their grief. But today, God saw their sadness and gave them 13 live caterpillars, and because of this they have been able to give some away and Maya has a friend.
This story has not changed the way I feel about caterpillars. They are still outside pets, never to enter the confines of my bugfree inner sanctum I like to call my house. I still inwardly cheer when they tell stories of caterpillars squooshed and I'm looking forward to the time the caterpillars morph into something I like even less - moths! But the connection that Em made between God and caterpillars, or better yet, God and her sorrow, was striking. I think she really gets it - that God cares. From there, she went on to tell me how nervous and excited at the same time she is about our trip this summer to Hungary. We'll have to make the connection about God caring.
I had to leave Em chatting away about creepy crawly things, all while she was yawning away. That child's mind is with every living creature on this planet, a true naturalist at heart. I wonder who she got that from - not me or T! I guess God knew He'd have a lot to teach her through that love, and He's decided to get started whether or not T and I choose to contribute. Very humbling, yes, very, very humbling!
Of the Valley, perhaps?
| You Are A Lily |
 You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize. |
Beach Bums!
Can I just reiterate just how excited I am that summer is almost here? Here are the things I love most about summer:
1. It's hot!
2. Swimming
3. Shorts and T-shirts!
4. Going to Connecticut/Savannah to hang out with family - VACATION!!
5. Sleeping in
6. Longer days
7. THE BEACH!!
8. Eating fruit
9. Deviled Eggs
10. Having my beautiful girls home from school, no homework and with lots of time to mold and shape them. Maybe I'm crazy, but sending back to school in the fall is very depressing for me. I'm so looking forward to having them home this summer!!
What is your favorite thing about summer?
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Dissed
So, I'm reading this headline, "No Hollywood Stars for Dinner with Queen Elizabeth II", and I'm wondering ~ who in Hollywood thinks that President Bush, who a majority of them have attacked each chance they get over the war in Iraq, would even consider inviting them to a dinner with dignitary from a country that is our biggest ally in the war they so vehemently speak out against? What place do they have dining at a table with two enemies they continuously lobby against?? I'm having a really hard time understanding the double standard here.... then again, it's Hollywood. They probably didn't even think about how contradictory their "being dissed" sounds!
Day Two!
After yesterday's crazy start to a crazy week, today just seemed really, uh, hmm, well, non-phasical. I know that's not a known word to most of you, so I'll expound. The fact that my oldest daughter, despite more than ten strong, loud, intense warnings to get her heiny out the door this morning, chose to make her bus journey to school a nonpriority this morning didn't even phase me. That's because I'm in the non-phasical mode of expecting things to go against any and all pre-planned, preconceived idea of what my day will look like!
I had to, of course, remedy this grave error of hers by driving her to school. Let me warn you, a ride to school with a mom who has somewhere to be and driving you to school puts that off kilter, well it's just not a happy journey! We are going to have to work on this before we join the "team" this summer. But I already told her that!!
After scrambling to gather what I needed (and thought I'd have extra time to pull together) we jumped in the car, went the opposite direction from where I should have been going to get her to school, then reversed my trip to head to church where I arrived about 5 minutes late - not too bad! Except for the fact that my Connections leader saw me heading out of my neighborhood in the opposite direction - just bad for one's reputation. It was our last meeting, so my Tuesday mornings will now be free - YAY! It was fun, but very long today. I finally got out of there around 12:20 and went straight to Kt's room mom's house so I could make the cover for a book the kids worked on for Teacher Appreciation Week.
We sat for a bit, went through all the pages and I must say, I was making extra effort to try to enjoy that part. I finally allowed myself to relax and enjoy time with someone despite the fact that I still had to run home to make the cover, run to school to bind the book, get the book back to her and then do all our grocery shopping for the week. I ended up doing all that in record time - even an hour to spare! Now I'm relaxing because round two is about to begin tonight.
Kt has an "enrichment fair" tonight, I have to get stuff together for the Girl Scout Daisy meeting tomorrow and then make brownies for the teachers. I love Tuesday night - because we usually have no commitments! Usually. Tomorrow, I'm going to water aerobics if I have to make Kt walk to school - hahahaha... then I'll end up in jail for sure. Instead of waiting for her to get ready tomorrow, I'll be waking her up at 7:30! Like I said, not a fun trip to school this morning.
Tomorrow: water, free time!, tutoring, free time!, Daisies, free time!! In that free time: getting ready for Daisies, finishing up gifts for teachers, getting a start on those fruit kabobs and deviled eggs I need to make for Thursdays teacher luncheon. I have to say this - while this week is totally hectic and crazy and my kids are only contributing to those two factors, I am enjoying the opportunity to express our thanks to two of our very favorite teachers. I think they are awesome and we've honestly had just about one of our favorite years ever. It makes running around like headless poultry an honor!
I had to, of course, remedy this grave error of hers by driving her to school. Let me warn you, a ride to school with a mom who has somewhere to be and driving you to school puts that off kilter, well it's just not a happy journey! We are going to have to work on this before we join the "team" this summer. But I already told her that!!
After scrambling to gather what I needed (and thought I'd have extra time to pull together) we jumped in the car, went the opposite direction from where I should have been going to get her to school, then reversed my trip to head to church where I arrived about 5 minutes late - not too bad! Except for the fact that my Connections leader saw me heading out of my neighborhood in the opposite direction - just bad for one's reputation. It was our last meeting, so my Tuesday mornings will now be free - YAY! It was fun, but very long today. I finally got out of there around 12:20 and went straight to Kt's room mom's house so I could make the cover for a book the kids worked on for Teacher Appreciation Week.
We sat for a bit, went through all the pages and I must say, I was making extra effort to try to enjoy that part. I finally allowed myself to relax and enjoy time with someone despite the fact that I still had to run home to make the cover, run to school to bind the book, get the book back to her and then do all our grocery shopping for the week. I ended up doing all that in record time - even an hour to spare! Now I'm relaxing because round two is about to begin tonight.
Kt has an "enrichment fair" tonight, I have to get stuff together for the Girl Scout Daisy meeting tomorrow and then make brownies for the teachers. I love Tuesday night - because we usually have no commitments! Usually. Tomorrow, I'm going to water aerobics if I have to make Kt walk to school - hahahaha... then I'll end up in jail for sure. Instead of waiting for her to get ready tomorrow, I'll be waking her up at 7:30! Like I said, not a fun trip to school this morning.
Tomorrow: water, free time!, tutoring, free time!, Daisies, free time!! In that free time: getting ready for Daisies, finishing up gifts for teachers, getting a start on those fruit kabobs and deviled eggs I need to make for Thursdays teacher luncheon. I have to say this - while this week is totally hectic and crazy and my kids are only contributing to those two factors, I am enjoying the opportunity to express our thanks to two of our very favorite teachers. I think they are awesome and we've honestly had just about one of our favorite years ever. It makes running around like headless poultry an honor!
The Inspiration of Prince
So, Purple Rain Prince is taking some time off to study ::The Bible::! Hmm... I have to say, I'm a little surprised, very curious but really interested. I wonder if Bono is starting to influence those in his circle of musicians and if there might be a stirring in some hearts. Then again, I could be way off on this one!
13 years of marriage
This July will mark 13 years of marriage - the same year and month my brother will have another Friday the 13th birthday. Total coincidence. LOL Anyway.... is that right? Aww, I don't know and it's too late for me to figure it out. Again... a couple we know, who were in our D-team when T and I led them years ago, asked us to assist them in premarital counseling. It's very humbling, surprising and even a little flattering all at the same time. I guess I just never thought of us being the premarital counseling sort of people. I'm scared!
Monday, May 07, 2007
What Can Go Wrong?
With a tight schedule, it works best for me if everything goes according to plan. That pretty much never happens! While I did make it to my water aerobics class (that I love!), the rest of my day went according to some haphazzard unintentional mess. My student sent me a text while I was serving up ice cream floats for the first day of teacher appreciation week... to Buddy Holly! When I finally got around to checking it, it said, "We don't need to meet today because I didn't go to school." I've spent a better part of this year instilling in this student the need to be responsible, keep his commitments, practice some common courtesy! I can see it's sinking in.... at least the part about "common courtesy" - I mean giving me 30 minutes notice when you're supposedly home all day is a great improvement over just not showing up!
Anyway, the next hour and a half of my day was spent dissecting the life of a repeating senior. Email is the greatest thing since sliced bread - for real! The truth? He went to school until third period, where he found out his notebook is due tomorrow. Not bothering to take home the list of assignments needed for a complete notebook (several of which he is missing), he took of early, which in his book means he did not attend school at all I guess. That means science, math and most of US History don't count. He only had one more class! Unfortunately, the other myth I've been chasing all year with this particular student is the one that if you aren't there for it, you don't have to do it!! I guess he was hoping to slip out before the notebook checkup was actually "announced"?? Luckily, the internet has provided a way of escape for his tutor and teacher, who kindly posted everything publicly online, so now everyone has access to it! Not that it will get done, but there is no excuse now!
Probably the best part was when my student texted me (after ignoring my call and text for an hour!) to let me know we could meet tomorrow. At least I know he doesn't read my blog!! I had to let him in on my little secret - I actually have a life outside tutoring him! I know, it's crazy and I'm a wild woman, but I have responsibilities and I take them seriously, which is part of the reason I have such high blood pressure. Doesn't that sound like something one might want to aspire to?
Anyway... I left that mess and ran over to Target, the arch nemesis of my purse, and did a little more shopping for Teacher Appreciation. I had to make a side trip to Staples because Target didn't have what I was looking for, just lots of other things I had no idea I needed until I saw them! Since Dick's Sporting Goods was right next store to Staples, I meandered in there to look for aqua shoes - my feet need a little break from all that water aerobics! No luck....
I'm now home, should be getting ready for a large Bible study group coming over tonight. It's going to be tight! Kt's piano teacher just arrived - glad I remembered that! Em is playing with the Little People I asked her to clean up, nothing new there! Dinner? Oh yeah... we have to eat, and I never even made it to the grocery store. Just something to add to my list for tomorrow.
Finally, my neighbor/co roommom called me to say that the teacher we have spent a couple weeks planning a bridal shower for, who I've spent hours and lots of $$ on, for this Friday!!! will not be in school that day. Hmmm... I mean, starting a week off like this, I always wonder, "What can possibly go wrong?" Well, just everything!
Anyway, the next hour and a half of my day was spent dissecting the life of a repeating senior. Email is the greatest thing since sliced bread - for real! The truth? He went to school until third period, where he found out his notebook is due tomorrow. Not bothering to take home the list of assignments needed for a complete notebook (several of which he is missing), he took of early, which in his book means he did not attend school at all I guess. That means science, math and most of US History don't count. He only had one more class! Unfortunately, the other myth I've been chasing all year with this particular student is the one that if you aren't there for it, you don't have to do it!! I guess he was hoping to slip out before the notebook checkup was actually "announced"?? Luckily, the internet has provided a way of escape for his tutor and teacher, who kindly posted everything publicly online, so now everyone has access to it! Not that it will get done, but there is no excuse now!
Probably the best part was when my student texted me (after ignoring my call and text for an hour!) to let me know we could meet tomorrow. At least I know he doesn't read my blog!! I had to let him in on my little secret - I actually have a life outside tutoring him! I know, it's crazy and I'm a wild woman, but I have responsibilities and I take them seriously, which is part of the reason I have such high blood pressure. Doesn't that sound like something one might want to aspire to?
Anyway... I left that mess and ran over to Target, the arch nemesis of my purse, and did a little more shopping for Teacher Appreciation. I had to make a side trip to Staples because Target didn't have what I was looking for, just lots of other things I had no idea I needed until I saw them! Since Dick's Sporting Goods was right next store to Staples, I meandered in there to look for aqua shoes - my feet need a little break from all that water aerobics! No luck....
I'm now home, should be getting ready for a large Bible study group coming over tonight. It's going to be tight! Kt's piano teacher just arrived - glad I remembered that! Em is playing with the Little People I asked her to clean up, nothing new there! Dinner? Oh yeah... we have to eat, and I never even made it to the grocery store. Just something to add to my list for tomorrow.
Finally, my neighbor/co roommom called me to say that the teacher we have spent a couple weeks planning a bridal shower for, who I've spent hours and lots of $$ on, for this Friday!!! will not be in school that day. Hmmm... I mean, starting a week off like this, I always wonder, "What can possibly go wrong?" Well, just everything!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain
~John Sammis
"Oh Lord Almight, blessed is the man who trusts in you." Psalm 84 11 - 12
I found this hymn on this website. I like this site because there is always a little history behind the hymn. I should have known that there would be some connection between this hymn and Moody. It was one of my dad's favorites and he spent a year at Moody Bible Institute. It was the first hymn that came to my mind when I was thinking of a favorite tonight.
I have found that in recent years, while I've been meandering around hymns that I loved, I wish I knew more of the verses. They are filled with little wise tidbits, especially Fanny Crosbie's!! Many times my favorite verse is the second to last - I don't know why. Just some wisdom that I never had heard before.
In this hymn, I think that is true as well. Sometimes we don't know what is pleasing to Him until we are able and willing to give up everything to find out! Maybe those things blind us to his pleasure, or they distract us from His amazingly good and loving intentions. Dangerous are the things of the world that entrap us in such a way that are distanced from what is truly good. A good thought to start off my week!
One Down
And the rest of the week to go! This is the week where I swear I will never overcommit myself ever, ever again!! Next week is the week I forget that I said that - bad me!
Just to give you a brief idea about how overwhelmed I am - someone this morning caught me in church to ask me if I would commit to teaching for one month this summer in the Kidzone and I almost burst into tears. Don't say I didn't warn you!!
Today we hosted our Hungary team and a missionary family that will be at the conference we are serving at this summer. It was amazing!! A great connection, a wonderful meeting and we got to ask a bunch of questions that have already started accumulating in our minds about this summer. I think God has really pulled a lot of things together for me so far - I'm just waiting for the first clincher... I know it's right around the corner, correct??
So, the meeting didn't come off without a lot of prep - yup, food for 15. Lasagna, garlic bread, salad and Tiramisu that T had to purchase from The Cheesecake Factory - it was awesome, especially because I did not have to make it!! The Lasagne and salad, yes, some labor was involved, not to mention cleaning the house. My feet hurt.
For this week, hold your head before it starts spinning: Teacher Appreciation Week, which involves making a cover for Katie's teacher's book, sending in daily gifts for teachers, aides, secretaries, etc, and a shower that my co-roommom and I are doing Friday for Em's teacher involving work I will not mention.... on top of that and all the volunteering it involves, we are having Bible Study here tomorrow night - cleaning and dessert, women's Bible study celebration Tuesday - make a cake, our second to last Daisy meeting on Wednesday that I'm in charge of, figuring out what cute Mother's Day craft I can have my Mother's Day Out kids do for Friday, get all the shower stuff together, and try to see Steven Kellogg on Friday after I work. I'm also still hoping to go to water aerobics, tutor and volunteer at school. Can I do it all? I honestly don't know, but the next person who asks me to do one more thing, don't be surprised if I implode right in front of you!
I think tonight might be a good night to read some Psalms, remember some hymns, go to bed!
Just to give you a brief idea about how overwhelmed I am - someone this morning caught me in church to ask me if I would commit to teaching for one month this summer in the Kidzone and I almost burst into tears. Don't say I didn't warn you!!
Today we hosted our Hungary team and a missionary family that will be at the conference we are serving at this summer. It was amazing!! A great connection, a wonderful meeting and we got to ask a bunch of questions that have already started accumulating in our minds about this summer. I think God has really pulled a lot of things together for me so far - I'm just waiting for the first clincher... I know it's right around the corner, correct??
So, the meeting didn't come off without a lot of prep - yup, food for 15. Lasagna, garlic bread, salad and Tiramisu that T had to purchase from The Cheesecake Factory - it was awesome, especially because I did not have to make it!! The Lasagne and salad, yes, some labor was involved, not to mention cleaning the house. My feet hurt.
For this week, hold your head before it starts spinning: Teacher Appreciation Week, which involves making a cover for Katie's teacher's book, sending in daily gifts for teachers, aides, secretaries, etc, and a shower that my co-roommom and I are doing Friday for Em's teacher involving work I will not mention.... on top of that and all the volunteering it involves, we are having Bible Study here tomorrow night - cleaning and dessert, women's Bible study celebration Tuesday - make a cake, our second to last Daisy meeting on Wednesday that I'm in charge of, figuring out what cute Mother's Day craft I can have my Mother's Day Out kids do for Friday, get all the shower stuff together, and try to see Steven Kellogg on Friday after I work. I'm also still hoping to go to water aerobics, tutor and volunteer at school. Can I do it all? I honestly don't know, but the next person who asks me to do one more thing, don't be surprised if I implode right in front of you!
I think tonight might be a good night to read some Psalms, remember some hymns, go to bed!
Friday, May 04, 2007
House Rules
I know I've stated these rules on many occasions, but clearly I am just not assertive enough to stand by them. The rule of the house is that we don't host if only one person does all the work around here. At this point in time, the help is scarce and we have 12 people coming for dinner on Sunday (still no menu has been decided upon!) and our Bible study on Monday, a number for which I have no idea, considering someone informed me Wednesday night they are "visiting" our Bible study. I think I need a housekeeper, because I'm off to an all day crop tomorrow and we all know what means! When I return home, the house will look twice as bad as it does right now! YIKES! I'm tired just thinking about it.
Steven Kellogg is Coming!
I mentioned last week we were having a special author come to our school, and now I'm telling you - it's Steven Kellogg! You may think I'm overreacting, but he's seriously my favorite children's picture book author. He is an incredible illustrator and his stories that he writes are excellent. I already have several books signed by him and I'm taking the rest of them in next week, although I'm doubting he'll have time to sign them.
I'm much more excited that my girls will get to meet him. He's actually from Connecticut, so he's been to my mom's school a few times (that's where I've had my books signed). He agreed to make a special trip down to Maryland - he doesn't travel far much anymore - because our librarian, Mr. B, called and begged him to come as he's retiring this year. I've been looking forward to this visit all year!
Just so you know... he'll be at the girl's school (if you live near us or know us, let me know if you need this info) next Friday, May 11, all day! I believe he's sticking around until 5 pm. During the day, he'll be presenting 3 sessions. There will be a table where you can purchase his books, which he typically signs with a small illustration, although I'm not sure he'll be able to do that for all of them.
I'm so excited!
I'm much more excited that my girls will get to meet him. He's actually from Connecticut, so he's been to my mom's school a few times (that's where I've had my books signed). He agreed to make a special trip down to Maryland - he doesn't travel far much anymore - because our librarian, Mr. B, called and begged him to come as he's retiring this year. I've been looking forward to this visit all year!
Just so you know... he'll be at the girl's school (if you live near us or know us, let me know if you need this info) next Friday, May 11, all day! I believe he's sticking around until 5 pm. During the day, he'll be presenting 3 sessions. There will be a table where you can purchase his books, which he typically signs with a small illustration, although I'm not sure he'll be able to do that for all of them.
I'm so excited!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
High Maintenance?
I don't agree with that part... everything else sounds strikingly familiar! (OK - maybe not ALL of it!)
| You Are a Club Sandwich |
 You are have a big personality. It's hard for anyone to ignore you! You dream big. You think big. And you eat big. Some people consider you high maintenance, but you just know what you want... and when you want it. Your best friend: The Tuna Fish Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich |
The Fractured Prune
Today, I participated in a field trip I was finally "chosen" to chaperone. I am never chosen for the good ones - theater, museum, aquarium - then again, they are few and far between! Instead, I get "chosen" to hike a mile to the local donut shop!!
Anyway, I figured it was worth mentioning on here because I'm completely impressed with a tiny donut shop that will agree to take the time to show almost 90 third graders, their teachers, chaperones and aides how they make donuts, run a business and then teach them to dip their donuts AND let them all dip their own donut as a treat. All that for the small price of $0. Yup, that's no typo, it's a big fat zero, zip, nada, nothing!! I mean, I would have paid $1-2 and thought nothing of it, but no, they charged nothing. I guess that's why we walked! That, and to burn off the donut (which I did not choose to partake of - aren't you proud of me!)
Anyway, if you have a Fractured Prune near you, you might stop in and support a place that so graciously supports our children and education. Their donuts aren't half bad either!
Anyway, I figured it was worth mentioning on here because I'm completely impressed with a tiny donut shop that will agree to take the time to show almost 90 third graders, their teachers, chaperones and aides how they make donuts, run a business and then teach them to dip their donuts AND let them all dip their own donut as a treat. All that for the small price of $0. Yup, that's no typo, it's a big fat zero, zip, nada, nothing!! I mean, I would have paid $1-2 and thought nothing of it, but no, they charged nothing. I guess that's why we walked! That, and to burn off the donut (which I did not choose to partake of - aren't you proud of me!)
Anyway, if you have a Fractured Prune near you, you might stop in and support a place that so graciously supports our children and education. Their donuts aren't half bad either!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Blog Break!
Wow! Has it really been over a week since I have posted? OK, maybe not a whole week, but it sure feels like it. Sick kids do that to me. I spent 3 hours at the pediatrician last Wednesday, but only a very tiny, minute fraction of that time was spent in the presence of a doctor! How pathetic. I spent 1/6 of that time sorting out an insurance issue (the new insurance company put down our enrollment date as Kt's birthdate! She was so excited, not because she was only 6 weeks old, but because that date happened to be her best friend's birthday so now they are "twins"!), 1/6 of that time with an actual medical professional and the rest of that time waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
Fortunately, nothing life threatening, but it brought back memories from last May when 3/4 of our household were on antibiotics. Repeat! Kt had asthma, fever and then a return visit on Saturday resulted in another strep throat diagnosis. Em had a double ear infection - again! T was on antibiotics for an infected (and removed) tooth. That leaves me, who spent a week with a house full of sickos! I listened to them all complain about their meds, runny noses, aches and pains. For once, it was nice to be the healthy one!!
I did manage to get myself into a fitness routine despite everyone's ailments. I have been participating in a water aerobics class 2-3 times a week and love it. Unfortunately, the amazing instructor (who does a full aerobic work out, just in water! None of this arthritis joint stuff - just real aerobics!) is leaving May 15, so I've been dropping everything to participate in her classes before someone else takes over. I hope they are just as good.
My neighbor convinced me to try a cycling class, which I took with this same instructor. I believe cycling is a cross between ultimate self-torture and suicide. Really, I can sit on my sofa. Anything else right now feels like I'm sitting on a bed of nails - pointy side up! On top of that, (pun intended), I felt like my legs had been reduced to jell-O for the remainder of yesterday. Today they just feel like two lead pillars! The sad part? I didn't even barely make it through the whole class!! (I'm just so embarrassed to admit it!) I performed pathetically. If she said "hill" I saw "red light"! When she said "recovery" I thought "lunacy!". Will I go back? I don't know about that. Apparently, other instructors aren't so forgiving. Mine told me if they were climbing a mountain, it was OK if I was wandering aimlessly through the countryside. Luckily, my break on the park bench was met with a smile!
So, here I am, back in the blogosphere until the next round of sniffles, sore throats and cavities. Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week - help me now, before I am completely submerged and breathless in a sea of obligation! I'm so glad I love the girl's teachers this year - makes next week something to look forward to!
Fortunately, nothing life threatening, but it brought back memories from last May when 3/4 of our household were on antibiotics. Repeat! Kt had asthma, fever and then a return visit on Saturday resulted in another strep throat diagnosis. Em had a double ear infection - again! T was on antibiotics for an infected (and removed) tooth. That leaves me, who spent a week with a house full of sickos! I listened to them all complain about their meds, runny noses, aches and pains. For once, it was nice to be the healthy one!!
I did manage to get myself into a fitness routine despite everyone's ailments. I have been participating in a water aerobics class 2-3 times a week and love it. Unfortunately, the amazing instructor (who does a full aerobic work out, just in water! None of this arthritis joint stuff - just real aerobics!) is leaving May 15, so I've been dropping everything to participate in her classes before someone else takes over. I hope they are just as good.
My neighbor convinced me to try a cycling class, which I took with this same instructor. I believe cycling is a cross between ultimate self-torture and suicide. Really, I can sit on my sofa. Anything else right now feels like I'm sitting on a bed of nails - pointy side up! On top of that, (pun intended), I felt like my legs had been reduced to jell-O for the remainder of yesterday. Today they just feel like two lead pillars! The sad part? I didn't even barely make it through the whole class!! (I'm just so embarrassed to admit it!) I performed pathetically. If she said "hill" I saw "red light"! When she said "recovery" I thought "lunacy!". Will I go back? I don't know about that. Apparently, other instructors aren't so forgiving. Mine told me if they were climbing a mountain, it was OK if I was wandering aimlessly through the countryside. Luckily, my break on the park bench was met with a smile!
So, here I am, back in the blogosphere until the next round of sniffles, sore throats and cavities. Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week - help me now, before I am completely submerged and breathless in a sea of obligation! I'm so glad I love the girl's teachers this year - makes next week something to look forward to!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Eating HIS Words
I've been reading variations of this story, about the children's author Richard Lynn Stack, for a few days now. I don't know this author or any of his books that I know of. I have no idea the actual context of the conversation everyone is reporting on but I do have some background knowledge about the difficult job these authors face when visiting schools and interacting with hundreds of children they've never met before in one day.
We had an author visit our school a month or two ago (and another coming - I'll write about him later) and I sat in on his talk. He was funny, as many authors are, and he used a story about peeing in his pants as an example of writing from an experience in his own life. You would NEVER tell that story to a group of adults and expect the same reaction as the kids had. The adults laughed, thought it was funny and moved on. The kids were horrified, some did not react at all but looked more embarrassed and others laughed themselves silly either because they'd never heard of such a thing or wanted everyone else to think they'd never heard of such a thing. It was an interesting story to tell, it was from a book he'd written and set the stage for a relationship these children would have with this author for the day that involved humor.
As part of the "deal" in having a visiting author, it is always a pleasure when the author agrees to meet the children, sign their BOOKS and some even agree to have a picture taken with the children. I can say as a former teacher, now a parent, that this really means a lot to the kids, but it's a huge commitment for the author. He/she will meet lots of children in a short amount of time, ask for their name, sign their book, smile for the camera, onto the next. In fact, we still have not received a book by the previous author who was to sign all 300 books the parents purchased AND give 4 talks during the day AND have his picture taken with all the students. It's really asking a bit much, don't you think?
So, I'm envisioning this author, having spent a day with these children, given talks, signed BOOKS, trying to remain the goofy kids author that he presented to everyone and some little girl catches him completely off guard by asking if he'll sign her forehead?? He's not a rockstar or in the movies - he's a children's author! Obviously, from the request, this child is a bit of a clown or just plain odd. So, he replies, "sure if....." what would you say, completely off the cuff, not even knowing what kind of crazy stories this author may have told these kids already?? would you say "jump off a bridge?", "do 10 jumping jacks?" or "if you sign mine, I'll sign yours?" Instead, he said, and I'm sure regrets, "get up on the table and take off all your clothes!" In other words, "NO, I SIGN BOOKS, NOT FOREHEADS!" If he'd said any of these other things OR if he'd signed her forehead, he might be in the same boat without all the media attention.
I agree, what he said was just plain bad and very inappropriate, but I'm totally doubting this guy, who is probably an amazing children's author/speaker/advocate for kids, meant any harm regarding this incident. Chances are, it will never happen again, of course he'll probably never have the chance to speak again around here, nor will he choose to interact with students the way that the kids LOVE when an author visits. It's really a shame. I could be wrong, but I'll give this guy, knowing what he does for a living, the benefit of all this doubt!
(Steven Kellogg is coming to our school - I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited!)
We had an author visit our school a month or two ago (and another coming - I'll write about him later) and I sat in on his talk. He was funny, as many authors are, and he used a story about peeing in his pants as an example of writing from an experience in his own life. You would NEVER tell that story to a group of adults and expect the same reaction as the kids had. The adults laughed, thought it was funny and moved on. The kids were horrified, some did not react at all but looked more embarrassed and others laughed themselves silly either because they'd never heard of such a thing or wanted everyone else to think they'd never heard of such a thing. It was an interesting story to tell, it was from a book he'd written and set the stage for a relationship these children would have with this author for the day that involved humor.
As part of the "deal" in having a visiting author, it is always a pleasure when the author agrees to meet the children, sign their BOOKS and some even agree to have a picture taken with the children. I can say as a former teacher, now a parent, that this really means a lot to the kids, but it's a huge commitment for the author. He/she will meet lots of children in a short amount of time, ask for their name, sign their book, smile for the camera, onto the next. In fact, we still have not received a book by the previous author who was to sign all 300 books the parents purchased AND give 4 talks during the day AND have his picture taken with all the students. It's really asking a bit much, don't you think?
So, I'm envisioning this author, having spent a day with these children, given talks, signed BOOKS, trying to remain the goofy kids author that he presented to everyone and some little girl catches him completely off guard by asking if he'll sign her forehead?? He's not a rockstar or in the movies - he's a children's author! Obviously, from the request, this child is a bit of a clown or just plain odd. So, he replies, "sure if....." what would you say, completely off the cuff, not even knowing what kind of crazy stories this author may have told these kids already?? would you say "jump off a bridge?", "do 10 jumping jacks?" or "if you sign mine, I'll sign yours?" Instead, he said, and I'm sure regrets, "get up on the table and take off all your clothes!" In other words, "NO, I SIGN BOOKS, NOT FOREHEADS!" If he'd said any of these other things OR if he'd signed her forehead, he might be in the same boat without all the media attention.
I agree, what he said was just plain bad and very inappropriate, but I'm totally doubting this guy, who is probably an amazing children's author/speaker/advocate for kids, meant any harm regarding this incident. Chances are, it will never happen again, of course he'll probably never have the chance to speak again around here, nor will he choose to interact with students the way that the kids LOVE when an author visits. It's really a shame. I could be wrong, but I'll give this guy, knowing what he does for a living, the benefit of all this doubt!
(Steven Kellogg is coming to our school - I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited!)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Eating My Words
It was a short two evenings ago when T and I were sharing with our Bible Study friends that ever since we had our sewer line fixed back in January, we have all been fairly healthy, other than the stomach flu the girls brought home from school. I do remember that slight feeling of angst when the words slipped from my mouth, wondering if I'd jinxed us! Both Em and Kt have had some allergy issues over the past month and Em, I had noticed, was having some trouble hearing these days. Just a kindergarten thing? or something more??
Fast forward to today, which was shaping up to be one of my busiest days of the year! Last night I finished up calligraphying Kt's teacher's wedding invitations, purchased some craft supplies for the Daisy Girl Scout meeting I was in charge of and went over my busy schedule with T. On my list: water aerobics from 9:30-10:30, Girls Grace Adventure meeting/luncheon 11:00-12:30, tutor 1:00-2:00, Daisies 3:30-5. I had planned on getting some planning done for that meeting in my little free slot, as well as putting together a lasagne for dinner. It was a tight schedule, but I was ready for it!
Then, I had to eat my words! Kt came into our room at 5:30 am wheezing like crazy. After medicating her, we listened to several hours of the dry, hacking asthma cough... none of us got any sleep! We ended up making a doctor's appointment for her and sending Em on to school. Because of our new medical insurance, I arrived early, only to find that the extra 25 minutes I gave us was not nearly enough time to undo the mess that is our insurance! We finally saw the doctor an hour after we arrived, and by that time Kt seemed much better.
While there, I mentioned Em's hearing and the doctor mentioned I should bring her in, so on my way out I made an appoint for her at 2:30. I got Kt home at 11 (when I was supposed to be 25 minutes away at my lunch meeting), we gathered all her school things, fed her and whisked her off to school. I then decided to return home to plan for my Daisy meeting before I needed to make another craft trip since I would not have time in the afternoon to pull anything together... went to tutoring and I'm pretty sure I had a granola bar for lunch. Yup, that sounds right!
After tutoring, I ran over to school to pick up Em for her doctor visit, ran into the school nurse who upon returning from lunch walked into her office to find Kt sitting there, having nearly fallen asleep at her desk! After going back and forth with her, I ended up taking both girls to the doctor. We waited another 45 minutes for that visit to find out that Em has a double ear infection. I then ran back to school slightly late for Daisies, T came to pick up Kt and bring her home to sleep.
And now? Kt has a temperature of 103 and Em LOVES her Zithromax. Tomorrow is "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" and Kt is very upset that she likely will not make it. I had a successful meeting and nice nap when I got home, oh, and pizza for dinner!
It's worth mentioning that injected into my day of despair was an IM from Jeremy, who wrote a nice blogpost about one of T's posts and wanted to share it with me. It was a reminder to me that God is constantly there, even when we have checked out for the day. Thanks, Jeremy! His conversation also reminded me (as I was complaining!) that I need to be thankful for my problems - like what a pain in the neck insurance is. At least I have medical insurance to be annoyed by! So, that was my day and I've decided against thinking about what tomorrow might bring!
Fast forward to today, which was shaping up to be one of my busiest days of the year! Last night I finished up calligraphying Kt's teacher's wedding invitations, purchased some craft supplies for the Daisy Girl Scout meeting I was in charge of and went over my busy schedule with T. On my list: water aerobics from 9:30-10:30, Girls Grace Adventure meeting/luncheon 11:00-12:30, tutor 1:00-2:00, Daisies 3:30-5. I had planned on getting some planning done for that meeting in my little free slot, as well as putting together a lasagne for dinner. It was a tight schedule, but I was ready for it!
Then, I had to eat my words! Kt came into our room at 5:30 am wheezing like crazy. After medicating her, we listened to several hours of the dry, hacking asthma cough... none of us got any sleep! We ended up making a doctor's appointment for her and sending Em on to school. Because of our new medical insurance, I arrived early, only to find that the extra 25 minutes I gave us was not nearly enough time to undo the mess that is our insurance! We finally saw the doctor an hour after we arrived, and by that time Kt seemed much better.
While there, I mentioned Em's hearing and the doctor mentioned I should bring her in, so on my way out I made an appoint for her at 2:30. I got Kt home at 11 (when I was supposed to be 25 minutes away at my lunch meeting), we gathered all her school things, fed her and whisked her off to school. I then decided to return home to plan for my Daisy meeting before I needed to make another craft trip since I would not have time in the afternoon to pull anything together... went to tutoring and I'm pretty sure I had a granola bar for lunch. Yup, that sounds right!
After tutoring, I ran over to school to pick up Em for her doctor visit, ran into the school nurse who upon returning from lunch walked into her office to find Kt sitting there, having nearly fallen asleep at her desk! After going back and forth with her, I ended up taking both girls to the doctor. We waited another 45 minutes for that visit to find out that Em has a double ear infection. I then ran back to school slightly late for Daisies, T came to pick up Kt and bring her home to sleep.
And now? Kt has a temperature of 103 and Em LOVES her Zithromax. Tomorrow is "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" and Kt is very upset that she likely will not make it. I had a successful meeting and nice nap when I got home, oh, and pizza for dinner!
It's worth mentioning that injected into my day of despair was an IM from Jeremy, who wrote a nice blogpost about one of T's posts and wanted to share it with me. It was a reminder to me that God is constantly there, even when we have checked out for the day. Thanks, Jeremy! His conversation also reminded me (as I was complaining!) that I need to be thankful for my problems - like what a pain in the neck insurance is. At least I have medical insurance to be annoyed by! So, that was my day and I've decided against thinking about what tomorrow might bring!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Could It Be God??
Here's a very interesting article on the positive impact growing up in a religious home can be. Here's one of my two favorite quotes:
Hmmm.... could it be God? Just an educated, somewhat informed guess. They fall short of saying this because they don't ever say exactly what religions they are talking about. OK - here's my second favorite quote:
LOL! That one almost made me fall off my chair! You know, I wish that one were completely true. Sometimes, we lose that heavenly perspective where our kids are concerned. It was pretty humbling reading that considering the amount of time this year I've spent fretting about which reading class my daughter is in or which math class she'll get into next year. I need to be more heavenly oriented in my thinking I believe.
In our study on Colossians, we talked today about this very thing. My friend and BS leader mentioned a phrase I'd never really heard before, but it really intrigued me, in relation to putting off our old selves and putting on our new. "We are no longer earthly beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having an earthly experience." I've got to be thinking more like that.
Really, the most disturbing thing in this article was the tiny part about how detrimental it can be to a child growing up in a home where religion is regularly argued over. One might assume that would give a child an "open mind" about religion, but it would appear that just the opposite is accomplished. Food for thought, I guess!
But as for why religious organizations might provide more of a boost to family life than secular organizations designed to do the same thing, that’s still somewhat of a mystery, said Annette Mahoney, a psychologist at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, also not involved in the research. Mahoney wondered: “Is there anything about religion and spirituality that sets it apart?”
Hmmm.... could it be God? Just an educated, somewhat informed guess. They fall short of saying this because they don't ever say exactly what religions they are talking about. OK - here's my second favorite quote:
University of Virginia sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox, who was not involved in the study, agrees. At least for the most religious parents, “getting their kids into heaven is more important than getting their kids into Harvard,” Wilcox said.
LOL! That one almost made me fall off my chair! You know, I wish that one were completely true. Sometimes, we lose that heavenly perspective where our kids are concerned. It was pretty humbling reading that considering the amount of time this year I've spent fretting about which reading class my daughter is in or which math class she'll get into next year. I need to be more heavenly oriented in my thinking I believe.
In our study on Colossians, we talked today about this very thing. My friend and BS leader mentioned a phrase I'd never really heard before, but it really intrigued me, in relation to putting off our old selves and putting on our new. "We are no longer earthly beings having a spiritual experience but spiritual beings having an earthly experience." I've got to be thinking more like that.
Really, the most disturbing thing in this article was the tiny part about how detrimental it can be to a child growing up in a home where religion is regularly argued over. One might assume that would give a child an "open mind" about religion, but it would appear that just the opposite is accomplished. Food for thought, I guess!
Monday, April 23, 2007
A Conversation You Don't Want to Have
Tonight, while T was outside cooking dinner, Kt asked him something, he replied and she said, "What? You think I'm a lesbian?" I cannot even tell you what prompted her question except that it had nothing to do with being a lesbian! I looked up from the cooktop and asked her to repeat herself while T jumped back up to the sliding door to see my reaction. I wisely deferred the question back to him!!
We quickly determined that Kt has an extremely vague idea of what a lesbian is, and I'm not certain that I want to delve into all the intricacies of the idea with a nine year old just yet. What is entirely disturbing to me, however, is how she came to hear this word. Apparently, this word was used on her playground after a boy kicked a ball into another girl's face and Kt's best friend went to this girl's aid. The boy then asked Kt's friend if she was a lesbian because she was helping her friend. And the boy? He's the one that moved into her best friend's house, his dad is a pastor and that's all I'll say.
This boy, according to Katie, got in A LOT of trouble for using this word in such a way. Clearly Kt was not worried that the same would happen at home! That child has a mind like a sponge and today was a great reminder to me that our children are growing up, and they are going to hear and be exposed to many things we might not be ready to discuss but will be wise to. With events such as the shooting at Virginia Tech, the war in Iraq/Afghanistan and Christian friends who throw words even they don't understand around at school we just cannot ignore these issues with our children. I might have sat back and thought about how evil school is until I realize she might just hear all these same things in church on Sunday! She's just growing up. And there's nothing I can do about that!
We quickly determined that Kt has an extremely vague idea of what a lesbian is, and I'm not certain that I want to delve into all the intricacies of the idea with a nine year old just yet. What is entirely disturbing to me, however, is how she came to hear this word. Apparently, this word was used on her playground after a boy kicked a ball into another girl's face and Kt's best friend went to this girl's aid. The boy then asked Kt's friend if she was a lesbian because she was helping her friend. And the boy? He's the one that moved into her best friend's house, his dad is a pastor and that's all I'll say.
This boy, according to Katie, got in A LOT of trouble for using this word in such a way. Clearly Kt was not worried that the same would happen at home! That child has a mind like a sponge and today was a great reminder to me that our children are growing up, and they are going to hear and be exposed to many things we might not be ready to discuss but will be wise to. With events such as the shooting at Virginia Tech, the war in Iraq/Afghanistan and Christian friends who throw words even they don't understand around at school we just cannot ignore these issues with our children. I might have sat back and thought about how evil school is until I realize she might just hear all these same things in church on Sunday! She's just growing up. And there's nothing I can do about that!
Global Warming and Toilet Paper?
Now, I've heard some farfetched ideas about global warming, but this one is just a little out there for me. Sheryl Crow is starting to sound like my father!! He was not worried at all about global warming, just overflowing toilets and his weekly grocery bill. I don't wonder if we're taking this a bit too far when we begin to regulate bathroom trips and sanitation. I'm sorry, but I'm just not following her on this one. I understand it's "just an idea", but I think we better wipe the slate clean so to speak and start over on this one. Remind me: what is the connection between wiping and warming???
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Another One Bites the Dust!
I'm talking about suitcases!! I have NO IDEA what the baggage employees are doing at airlines these days, but either suitcases are just not made to last more than one trip or there is some serious baggage abuse going on behind the scenes. In the past two years, we have thrown away a number of mutilated suitcases and we've never had to do that before. I just used an Eddie Bauer one that my mom gave me for our Savannah trip. Each destination brought shards of suitcase support plastic. Do you think the airline baggage guys would prefer that we all go out and my steel cased suitcases???
Summer Support
T and I are in full swing for this summer. He's super busy, I'm planning food for meetings, the girls are grumbling about cleaning the house - isn't this just the kind of family you'd love to support this summer? (YIKES!) Here's a copy of our support letter. It's probably too long, but I'm not one to be brief. I don't need to tell you that! There are some pictures and stuff to go along with this, but I don't know where they are.... sorry!
CAI's existence is based around impacting Europe via the multiplication of high-impact leaders and churches, and a family from Grace has been working with CAI for the past few years. Our team's main goal will be to assist with different facets of the children's ministry for the kids of CAI workers. This trip has great elements including: blessing Grace's network of families who have invested everything for humanity's sake in Europe; having students spend some time with these innovative and unconventional people; and the opportunity to do ministry in a spiritually hungry post-Christian culture that is Europe. Being that this trip is focused on children, our own kids will also have lots of great opportunities to serve beyond themselves. The 16 of us fly out on August 8 and return on August 18, and our travels include flying in and out of Vienna, Austria; children's ministry during the conference; and a service project day trip with the whole conference back into Vienna. There may also be possible opportunities for our students to travel with CAI middle and high school students to do some service projects with local ministries in Vienna for a longer duration.
We would love for you to be a part of our support team. To start, you can pray for:
- all of our summer teams [Baltimore, NYC, Liverpool and this one] - for their leaders, their students and the logistics.
- for our Hungary team - for unity, for our leadership and for the vision to know that we will prevail.
- passports, airline tickets and logistical details.
- for our Mission Advance weekend, a missions prep weekend for all our summer student teams, June 22-24.
- for Tony and I as both leaders and parents, and the discernment about both roles.
- for K [9] and E [6] and for the contributions they will bring to the CAI kids and our team in general.
We also have to raise a significant amount of money - the total for our family being $7100. If you feel led to support financially, that would also be a huge blessing. There are two ways you can financially support our team. First, you may send a check in the enclosed envelope with the response card. Please make checks payable to Grace Community Church and in the note section please specify, "SPACE Hungary - Shengs". You may also contribute via the Internet, by clicking the "Online Giving!" link at the top of the Grace Church webpage - http://www.gcconline.org. Click the "eGive" link and after entering the appropriate donor and bank information, fill in the amount for "Short Term Missions" and specify for "SPACE Hungary - Shengs".
We dream of how this summer will catalyze the lives of our students, our church, and our children - giving them a direction for shaping human history because of the passion that Jesus has placed in their hearts. Thanks for your support and prayers, for supporting SPACE [Students Prepared to Act For Christ's Empire] and being an integral part of mobilizing students for mission. ~Tony
(I have no idea what happened with the font - just bear with me!)
Dear Friends, Family, Co-laborers,
Each year, right around this time, Tony sits down and carefully constructs a support letter for one (or two) of his many missionary adventures. For years, I have been the whisper in the background, voice of reason (hehe – OK, maybe not ALL the time!), prayer support, and the organizer of funds, maker of hotel reservations, an administrator of sorts and the point person the homefront. It has honestly been a fun journey, while a little sketchy at times (like the two weeks while he was in Brazil and we had no shower to speak of in our house!), and I would never trade those years for anything else.
This year, things have come together for a different sort of adventure, one that we have been dreaming of in our hearts for several years. God has opened the door for us to go this year as a family on a trip that seems, in many ways, designed just for us! We have the opportunity to embark on a family adventure with a team of leaders and students from our church to Vienna, Austria and Sopron, Hungary to serve the European missionary families working through Christian Associates International. These families will be meeting together for a week long conference and retreat and we have been chosen to serve these families by providing childcare while they are involved in learning and planning together.
I would like to invite each of you along on this one in whatever capacity you feel comfortable. We will need lots of preparation and prayer, patience and wisdom as we attempt to be Godly leaders/parents/servants, and a huge amount of faith as we tackle the daunting task of raising support for our family of four. We are excited and scared all at the same time, so please join us in any or all of these areas in the first Sheng missionary adventure! ~Deanna
CAI's existence is based around impacting Europe via the multiplication of high-impact leaders and churches, and a family from Grace has been working with CAI for the past few years. Our team's main goal will be to assist with different facets of the children's ministry for the kids of CAI workers. This trip has great elements including: blessing Grace's network of families who have invested everything for humanity's sake in Europe; having students spend some time with these innovative and unconventional people; and the opportunity to do ministry in a spiritually hungry post-Christian culture that is Europe. Being that this trip is focused on children, our own kids will also have lots of great opportunities to serve beyond themselves. The 16 of us fly out on August 8 and return on August 18, and our travels include flying in and out of Vienna, Austria; children's ministry during the conference; and a service project day trip with the whole conference back into Vienna. There may also be possible opportunities for our students to travel with CAI middle and high school students to do some service projects with local ministries in Vienna for a longer duration.
We would love for you to be a part of our support team. To start, you can pray for:
- all of our summer teams [Baltimore, NYC, Liverpool and this one] - for their leaders, their students and the logistics.
- for our Hungary team - for unity, for our leadership and for the vision to know that we will prevail.
- passports, airline tickets and logistical details.
- for our Mission Advance weekend, a missions prep weekend for all our summer student teams, June 22-24.
- for Tony and I as both leaders and parents, and the discernment about both roles.
- for K [9] and E [6] and for the contributions they will bring to the CAI kids and our team in general.
We also have to raise a significant amount of money - the total for our family being $7100. If you feel led to support financially, that would also be a huge blessing. There are two ways you can financially support our team. First, you may send a check in the enclosed envelope with the response card. Please make checks payable to Grace Community Church and in the note section please specify, "SPACE Hungary - Shengs". You may also contribute via the Internet, by clicking the "Online Giving!" link at the top of the Grace Church webpage - http://www.gcconline.org. Click the "eGive" link and after entering the appropriate donor and bank information, fill in the amount for "Short Term Missions" and specify for "SPACE Hungary - Shengs".
We dream of how this summer will catalyze the lives of our students, our church, and our children - giving them a direction for shaping human history because of the passion that Jesus has placed in their hearts. Thanks for your support and prayers, for supporting SPACE [Students Prepared to Act For Christ's Empire] and being an integral part of mobilizing students for mission. ~Tony
(I have no idea what happened with the font - just bear with me!)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Happy Birthdays!!
Today marks the birthdays of two really special people in my life. First, my sister, who while we haven't always seen eye to eye, we are happy to be sisters! I can honestly say that my sister has made me a better person by expanding my thinking on just about every subject on all ends of the spectrum. Let me explain!
From the time we were little, my sister and I have been polar opposites on almost every single subject. It started in fashion, when she told me in high school that she would wear anything that I wouldn't wear. Since that time, it seems almost like a passion of hers to be different than me, and I can totally respect that. I've learned from her that there is more than one solution, that I'm not always right (that is a difficult one for me!) and being a marine biologist, she has displayed to me the importance of being a protector and good steward of the earth that God created.
As children, I think that S and I spent much of our time jousting over Barbies, friends, snacks, our little brother and oodles of other insignificant things. (OK, our brother was not insignificant!) We fought over having to sit in the middle in our station wagon, who got the good Big Wheel, who got the car.... it seemed never ending, but in the end, there really isn't anything I wouldn't do for my sister, no matter what our differences.
While in second grade, my sister contracted Reye's Syndrome and nearly died at Yale New Haven Hospital. Her speedy and miraculous recovery led to the discovery that she is officially a genius. All that cognitive and developmental testing revealed her intelligence that is often overlooked because of her idealistic and sometimes quirky independent streak! One time, having devised a way to sneak off with a much older friend (and her manager at Dominoes pizza) during college without being discovered to a Redskin's game, her roommate mistakenly presumed her a missing person. The campus and Virginia State police agreed and an APB was put out on her. To this day, we joke around with her that we were convinced we would someday see her face on a milk carton!
Now that we are both moms, things don't seem so black and white to us anymore. We have more in common, we see the world differently and while we've remained true to our individual beliefs, we are much more prone to see things similarly and highly respect each other's differing opinions. My sister is an amazing person, who juggles the demands of motherhood, being an overworked program director/kitchen supervisor/camp counselor at an aquarium, a wife and a devoted friend. She is intimidatingly smart, intensely frugal and an avid researcher of any topic she deems interesting, right now the new car she is going to buy herself.
While we occasionally still enter into jousting together, she never fails to put a smile on my face with her funny stories, her absolutely breathtakingly beautiful children, her simple faith in Christ and her love of the world. Today she is 35, and I'm so glad she's my sister.
Now, for number two - my good college friend, Eli. She probably thinks I've forgotten it's her birthday, but I haven't! If I could choose anyone at all to be my next door neighbor, it would be her. She is by far the one friend in my life that I had the most adventures with, laughed the most with and long to be near. We have grown apart in many ways, mostly distance, but whenever I see her it's like we were back at Gordon together yesterday!!
Her passion for ice hockey (stars), dogs (in large numbers), SCC (I'm still a little miffed she got to meet him and didn't invite me!) and our long lost home of Connecticut bonded us together. She introduced me to three of those four things, and for that I am truly grateful. Well, only for SCC!! LOL Really, though, she was the first person who expanded my boundries and helped me break out of my goodie two shoes mentality. Skipping class to head into Boston was honestly our favorite past time in college, along with crime scene investigation (I've fallen and I can't get up), Wheatables (which we would have bought in bulk if we could have!), mad crushes on men we would never actually meet in person but would happily stalk together and middle of the night trips to LL Bean just because it was the only thing open when we were the only ones awake!
Today, she's the same age as me. I always like it when friends catch up. I'd love to be kidnapping, blindfolding and dragging her out for a night on the town, but I'm afraid that it might scare her adorable little son and I'm not sure I'd make it home in time for work tomorrow, seeing as she lives several hours away from me - boohoo! Eli, when are you finally going to move here??
Happy Birthday, girls! You're both really important to me!
From the time we were little, my sister and I have been polar opposites on almost every single subject. It started in fashion, when she told me in high school that she would wear anything that I wouldn't wear. Since that time, it seems almost like a passion of hers to be different than me, and I can totally respect that. I've learned from her that there is more than one solution, that I'm not always right (that is a difficult one for me!) and being a marine biologist, she has displayed to me the importance of being a protector and good steward of the earth that God created.
As children, I think that S and I spent much of our time jousting over Barbies, friends, snacks, our little brother and oodles of other insignificant things. (OK, our brother was not insignificant!) We fought over having to sit in the middle in our station wagon, who got the good Big Wheel, who got the car.... it seemed never ending, but in the end, there really isn't anything I wouldn't do for my sister, no matter what our differences.
While in second grade, my sister contracted Reye's Syndrome and nearly died at Yale New Haven Hospital. Her speedy and miraculous recovery led to the discovery that she is officially a genius. All that cognitive and developmental testing revealed her intelligence that is often overlooked because of her idealistic and sometimes quirky independent streak! One time, having devised a way to sneak off with a much older friend (and her manager at Dominoes pizza) during college without being discovered to a Redskin's game, her roommate mistakenly presumed her a missing person. The campus and Virginia State police agreed and an APB was put out on her. To this day, we joke around with her that we were convinced we would someday see her face on a milk carton!
Now that we are both moms, things don't seem so black and white to us anymore. We have more in common, we see the world differently and while we've remained true to our individual beliefs, we are much more prone to see things similarly and highly respect each other's differing opinions. My sister is an amazing person, who juggles the demands of motherhood, being an overworked program director/kitchen supervisor/camp counselor at an aquarium, a wife and a devoted friend. She is intimidatingly smart, intensely frugal and an avid researcher of any topic she deems interesting, right now the new car she is going to buy herself.
While we occasionally still enter into jousting together, she never fails to put a smile on my face with her funny stories, her absolutely breathtakingly beautiful children, her simple faith in Christ and her love of the world. Today she is 35, and I'm so glad she's my sister.
Now, for number two - my good college friend, Eli. She probably thinks I've forgotten it's her birthday, but I haven't! If I could choose anyone at all to be my next door neighbor, it would be her. She is by far the one friend in my life that I had the most adventures with, laughed the most with and long to be near. We have grown apart in many ways, mostly distance, but whenever I see her it's like we were back at Gordon together yesterday!!
Her passion for ice hockey (stars), dogs (in large numbers), SCC (I'm still a little miffed she got to meet him and didn't invite me!) and our long lost home of Connecticut bonded us together. She introduced me to three of those four things, and for that I am truly grateful. Well, only for SCC!! LOL Really, though, she was the first person who expanded my boundries and helped me break out of my goodie two shoes mentality. Skipping class to head into Boston was honestly our favorite past time in college, along with crime scene investigation (I've fallen and I can't get up), Wheatables (which we would have bought in bulk if we could have!), mad crushes on men we would never actually meet in person but would happily stalk together and middle of the night trips to LL Bean just because it was the only thing open when we were the only ones awake!
Today, she's the same age as me. I always like it when friends catch up. I'd love to be kidnapping, blindfolding and dragging her out for a night on the town, but I'm afraid that it might scare her adorable little son and I'm not sure I'd make it home in time for work tomorrow, seeing as she lives several hours away from me - boohoo! Eli, when are you finally going to move here??
Happy Birthday, girls! You're both really important to me!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Down South
My mom and I had a wonderful visit in Savannah. We spent a considerable amount of time with my niece and nephew, who are the two most adorable little things you'd ever meet! Sky is a spunky, intense, determined, beautiful little toddler. Bren is an easy-going, smiley, carefree and bouncy little baby. We just couldn't get enough of them!!
On this visit, we were sure to hit the Byrd Cookie Company and Moe's Southwest grill. A trip to the beach would have been fun, but we couldn't quite fit that in between wind gusts and sprinkles. My mom and I actually spent most of our time babysitting, and it was such a treat, really! It's always fun to have access to great kids that you don't have to take care of 24/7. Hehe!
The only disappointment about our trip was the tragedy at Virginia Tech. I am so heartbroken for all those who lost a son, daughter, sister, brother, friend, mother, father.... There are hardly words that cover exactly how I feel, so I'm certain they are finding it difficult to think of any. There are so many circumstances surrounding this incident that I do not understand, so many questions I have but I think it's becoming clear that evil penetrated a peaceful, tranquil college campus. I hope and pray for those students who will return to campus, that they can regain some sense of safety and overcome any fears they may have about returning.
Our good friends who work at UMD for Campus Crusade both graduated from VA Tech and are heading there this weekend to help out their counterparts, who lost three students in the shootings. We also know of a Navigator student who was shot in the arm. Please keep this campus in your prayers as those who minister to this student body have found themselves in a position to reach many students with messages of hope and healing. Pray that God would move into the heart of this campus, bringing light into the darkness that overshadows this incident.
I must admit that the world sometimes scares me to death. I look at my little niece and nephew, my own girls and the friends they all have and wonder what will the world have to offer them? How much worse can it get? Will I ever feel like my kids are safe when they are out from under my roof? Really, when I dwell on these things I am just sad and fearful.
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Whatever is good, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:7-9
Philippians 4:7-9
Funny Convos
OK, I have so much fun reading A's conversations, I realized we had a couple today in the car. Here's one I remember (I'm getting so ooooold!)
Em: I just saw a firetruck!
Rest of us in the car: (Ignoring her, because we didn't know we were supposed to respond)
Em: I just saw a FIRETRUCK!!!!!!
Mom: You just saw a what? (laughing under her breath)
Em: I JUST SAW A FIRETRUCK!
Kt: A what??? (smirking)
Em: A FIRETRUCK?
Kt: You saw what? (being bad)
Em: I saw a firetruck!
Mom: And what do firetrucks do? (being a teacher!)
Em: They water fires.
Kt: Then why do we call them firetrucks. We should call them watertrucks!
Mom: You're right, Kt. Do you know what your mom used to think about firetrucks?
Me: Oh, here we go! (rolling my eyes)
Mom: She thought they were coming to fire our house!
Me: Yup, I thought they set our houses on fire.
Kt: Haha, that is so funny!
Me: Yeah, so funny!
Thanks, mom! Of course, we did have a good laugh about it!
Em: I just saw a firetruck!
Rest of us in the car: (Ignoring her, because we didn't know we were supposed to respond)
Em: I just saw a FIRETRUCK!!!!!!
Mom: You just saw a what? (laughing under her breath)
Em: I JUST SAW A FIRETRUCK!
Kt: A what??? (smirking)
Em: A FIRETRUCK?
Kt: You saw what? (being bad)
Em: I saw a firetruck!
Mom: And what do firetrucks do? (being a teacher!)
Em: They water fires.
Kt: Then why do we call them firetrucks. We should call them watertrucks!
Mom: You're right, Kt. Do you know what your mom used to think about firetrucks?
Me: Oh, here we go! (rolling my eyes)
Mom: She thought they were coming to fire our house!
Me: Yup, I thought they set our houses on fire.
Kt: Haha, that is so funny!
Me: Yeah, so funny!
Thanks, mom! Of course, we did have a good laugh about it!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Sadness in Savannah
My mom and I are having a lot of fun here, hanging out with S and B. They are both adorable, and we've given my sister and her husband some much needed rest. Right now, they are out car shopping.
I am sick to my stomach over the news out of Blacksburg at Virginia Tech. What a senseless act of violence on a beautiful, peaceful college campus. My brother graduated from Tech in the '90's, so that college holds a very special place in our hearts. To see something so gruesome happen there is heartbreaking. Please keep those students and families in your prayers, as well as hope that it's over. What a terrifying event!
We have the rest of today and most of tomorrow left here before we return to Maryland. I'm hoping all that wind dies down so we can have an uneventful flight! Can't wait to see my family!
I am sick to my stomach over the news out of Blacksburg at Virginia Tech. What a senseless act of violence on a beautiful, peaceful college campus. My brother graduated from Tech in the '90's, so that college holds a very special place in our hearts. To see something so gruesome happen there is heartbreaking. Please keep those students and families in your prayers, as well as hope that it's over. What a terrifying event!
We have the rest of today and most of tomorrow left here before we return to Maryland. I'm hoping all that wind dies down so we can have an uneventful flight! Can't wait to see my family!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Happy Friday the 13th!
I hope everyone is having an uneventful Friday the 13th. My day has been OK so far, but for the incident at the grocery store, when I remembered half way through checkout that I had left my credit card at home and could only find $6 cash on me... We'll chalk that one up to, well, just plain old stupidity! Nothing bad luck about that.
Tomorrow bright and early my mom and I will board a plane headed for Savannah for a few days. It's been an interesting trip so far. Spring break for my mom has been difficult since my dad died 4 years ago, as they used to head out for every vacation, being teachers, and go to fun and exciting places. My mom has her car packed and has hit the road as I write this, reluctant to stop to eat not due to her wanting to get here but because each little stop along the route we have all traveled more times than we can count is teeming with memories of years past. There's the Montclair stop in NJ that my dad loved, the Pilot in Bordentown where he HAD to get gas no matter how full his tank, the Roy Rogers in Delaware and Maryland that are quickly disappearing... Just so many reminders of what she would rather be doing - going away with my dad, planning their retirement together and visiting their grandchildren.
My mom and I will be heading out tonight to stay at the airport hotel, flying out at the crack of dawn, renting a car and spending four days with my sister, her husband and two children. I'm excited because it's much warmer there! I can't wait to stick my feet in the hot sand, babysit my little niece and nephew and do a little Southern shopping! I will miss not having my own girls down there, but we'll go again this summer.
Pray for us, for safe travels, good moods, rest for my sister and her husband and for my mom's heart, that it would survive another Spring Break without my dad. It's been a long time, and she's amazingly strong, but for anyone who has lost someone they love dearly, you know the memories can all come rushing back and flood all your senses at the most unpredictable times, catching you off guard.
On a lighter note, the cherry blossom trees have held their blooms for an amazing amount of time this year!! I'm still seeing trees in full bloom and the Festival is a week over. I guess the lack of rain and the cold weather has helped - the view, not our allergies!! The wind today has swept away some of the blossoms, sometimes making it look like it is snowing. God is amazingly creative!
Tomorrow bright and early my mom and I will board a plane headed for Savannah for a few days. It's been an interesting trip so far. Spring break for my mom has been difficult since my dad died 4 years ago, as they used to head out for every vacation, being teachers, and go to fun and exciting places. My mom has her car packed and has hit the road as I write this, reluctant to stop to eat not due to her wanting to get here but because each little stop along the route we have all traveled more times than we can count is teeming with memories of years past. There's the Montclair stop in NJ that my dad loved, the Pilot in Bordentown where he HAD to get gas no matter how full his tank, the Roy Rogers in Delaware and Maryland that are quickly disappearing... Just so many reminders of what she would rather be doing - going away with my dad, planning their retirement together and visiting their grandchildren.
My mom and I will be heading out tonight to stay at the airport hotel, flying out at the crack of dawn, renting a car and spending four days with my sister, her husband and two children. I'm excited because it's much warmer there! I can't wait to stick my feet in the hot sand, babysit my little niece and nephew and do a little Southern shopping! I will miss not having my own girls down there, but we'll go again this summer.
Pray for us, for safe travels, good moods, rest for my sister and her husband and for my mom's heart, that it would survive another Spring Break without my dad. It's been a long time, and she's amazingly strong, but for anyone who has lost someone they love dearly, you know the memories can all come rushing back and flood all your senses at the most unpredictable times, catching you off guard.
On a lighter note, the cherry blossom trees have held their blooms for an amazing amount of time this year!! I'm still seeing trees in full bloom and the Festival is a week over. I guess the lack of rain and the cold weather has helped - the view, not our allergies!! The wind today has swept away some of the blossoms, sometimes making it look like it is snowing. God is amazingly creative!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Turning Over a New Lily Pad
We've gone and done it!! After much thought and careful consideration, our family has joined CA, which is a network of gyms, pools, recreation facilities in our area. We've never joined before because the pricetag of $125/month for our family was just way out of our comfort zone. However, since T got a job in Col., we were able to join at a nice discount, so we're giving it a try.
It's a little different having so many options each day and this summer, while we will miss our former pool greatly!!, we will have the opportunity to choose from many pools and even a small waterpark. I think we will enjoy it, but am a little nervous that we might have given up something for good that was a nice alternative. We all, except for Em, have mixed feelings about giving up our summer pool. The $800 price tag for this summer, though, is quenching all our doubts!
Today I decided to try out a water aerobics class and I loved it! I will definitely go back, as the teacher is phenomenal and the music is sort of fun. When Love Shack came on I thought, "Cute!" When AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long" came on I thought, "Well, this is different!" But is was honestly super fun, an hour long and while I had intended to stay for some laps afterward, I found myself quite worn out. I need to get back in shape!
I'm happy, now, to have joined an indoor pool as swimming is just a very peaceful form of exercise for me. Since I stopped working, stayed home with little kids, it just hasn't been affordable and was way too time-consuming for me. Now I'm really enjoying it - and Em? Well, she has asked us every single day since we got those cards on Monday when we can take her to swim. What a little fish, off to our new lily pads!
It's a little different having so many options each day and this summer, while we will miss our former pool greatly!!, we will have the opportunity to choose from many pools and even a small waterpark. I think we will enjoy it, but am a little nervous that we might have given up something for good that was a nice alternative. We all, except for Em, have mixed feelings about giving up our summer pool. The $800 price tag for this summer, though, is quenching all our doubts!
Today I decided to try out a water aerobics class and I loved it! I will definitely go back, as the teacher is phenomenal and the music is sort of fun. When Love Shack came on I thought, "Cute!" When AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long" came on I thought, "Well, this is different!" But is was honestly super fun, an hour long and while I had intended to stay for some laps afterward, I found myself quite worn out. I need to get back in shape!
I'm happy, now, to have joined an indoor pool as swimming is just a very peaceful form of exercise for me. Since I stopped working, stayed home with little kids, it just hasn't been affordable and was way too time-consuming for me. Now I'm really enjoying it - and Em? Well, she has asked us every single day since we got those cards on Monday when we can take her to swim. What a little fish, off to our new lily pads!
Monday, April 09, 2007
Cowboys and Yankees
I guess I won't be headin' to Texas anytime soon! I assumed as much since I've only ever driven through it - dry, barren land that it was. All I remember about Texas are oil rigs, red dirt and brush. Then there are, of course, the Dallas Cowboys, who I spent much of my younger years routing for while my dad was obsessed with them!
| You Are 24% Texas |
 You're as welcome in Texas as a skunk at a lawn party. |
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Corrective Measures
Happy Easter!!
We had a wonderful weekend with my family here in MD, aside from freezing weather! It's always nice to visit, clean my house (thanks, oh neatnik sister-in-law) and make some awesome food together. We celebrated a holiday that is near and dear to my heart.
We figured we had a little corrective work to do when I asked the girls in front of my family - never a good idea - what Easter is really all about. Em was quick to chime, "The Easter bunny!?" Once corrected, I could see the confusion written on her face. I can say that I'm partly to blame, as I insist in our family on carrying on traditions that were a part of my own upbringing that I felt afforded me some amount of imaginative, magical wonder.
As a child, I was always excited when Easter rolled around. It's a unique holiday in that it always falls on a Sunday, due to it's falling on Passover week, the day after the Jewish sabbath. In our house growing up, the one thing I knew for sure was that my dad had an "in" with the Easter bunny. I was so proud of that!! He typically spent every single Saturday night up at our little Baptist church preparing for Sunday morning. Whether it be Sunday School, his organist job or just general church meetings, he would be up there late into the night. So, how did I know he personally knew the Easter bunny?
As a child, my inquisitive mind was constantly questioning each and every circumstance. I recall needing to see everything for myself, as I am extremely visual as well as curious. There I would wait, Christmas Eve, Easter Eve with my chin on my arm on the windowsill waiting to catch a glimpse of either Santa and the reindeer or the Easter bunny. It was tradition. I'm pretty sure I even continued it after I knew the truth. But for the Easter bunny, I would watch for my dad. I had asked my mom one year when the Easter bunny actually comes. Her reply? "He will come home with your dad." That sealed it - my dad had direct access with my candy, and I had visions of my dad walking home (the church was within sight of my house!) and that big bunny hopping along next to him with my basket!
I had to chuckle when Em answered, because sure it's my fault! Today, we read the Bible together as a family so we would all be clear about Easter, and she was just filling in the blanks. She knew the story well, all while munching on her malted milk eggs!! Very matter-of-factly, she explained to us that Mary didn't find him, just his cloth... still not really grasping the full truth, but knowing enough of the facts that I felt a little better.
Will we ever truly grasp what Christ did on this day? It was the culmination and the beginning, the redemption and the charge, the agony and the glory. For those who witnessed that day, I cannot imagine what was going through their minds. The grief, the anger, the fright, the amazement. To walk with him after he'd risen and not recognize Him? We still do that today. It's just so mindboggling to me. I don't even know in my heart if it's enough to just be thankful for what Christ did for me. I ought to be repentant, in awe, ashamed, bewildered, mortified, astonished all at the same time.
I ought to take some corrective measures in my own life today. I ought to live like Christ did something amazing for me and for each person that I meet every day of my life. I don't know why it's so hard, I don't know why I get so distracted, I don't know why the Easter bunnies and their candy are sometimes more enticing to me - but I'll admit I am shamefully unfocused much of the time. It's time to grasp the grace and mercy that has been extended to me from the only person worthy to do that - I am ever so thankful, and everything else....
We had a wonderful weekend with my family here in MD, aside from freezing weather! It's always nice to visit, clean my house (thanks, oh neatnik sister-in-law) and make some awesome food together. We celebrated a holiday that is near and dear to my heart.
We figured we had a little corrective work to do when I asked the girls in front of my family - never a good idea - what Easter is really all about. Em was quick to chime, "The Easter bunny!?" Once corrected, I could see the confusion written on her face. I can say that I'm partly to blame, as I insist in our family on carrying on traditions that were a part of my own upbringing that I felt afforded me some amount of imaginative, magical wonder.
As a child, I was always excited when Easter rolled around. It's a unique holiday in that it always falls on a Sunday, due to it's falling on Passover week, the day after the Jewish sabbath. In our house growing up, the one thing I knew for sure was that my dad had an "in" with the Easter bunny. I was so proud of that!! He typically spent every single Saturday night up at our little Baptist church preparing for Sunday morning. Whether it be Sunday School, his organist job or just general church meetings, he would be up there late into the night. So, how did I know he personally knew the Easter bunny?
As a child, my inquisitive mind was constantly questioning each and every circumstance. I recall needing to see everything for myself, as I am extremely visual as well as curious. There I would wait, Christmas Eve, Easter Eve with my chin on my arm on the windowsill waiting to catch a glimpse of either Santa and the reindeer or the Easter bunny. It was tradition. I'm pretty sure I even continued it after I knew the truth. But for the Easter bunny, I would watch for my dad. I had asked my mom one year when the Easter bunny actually comes. Her reply? "He will come home with your dad." That sealed it - my dad had direct access with my candy, and I had visions of my dad walking home (the church was within sight of my house!) and that big bunny hopping along next to him with my basket!
I had to chuckle when Em answered, because sure it's my fault! Today, we read the Bible together as a family so we would all be clear about Easter, and she was just filling in the blanks. She knew the story well, all while munching on her malted milk eggs!! Very matter-of-factly, she explained to us that Mary didn't find him, just his cloth... still not really grasping the full truth, but knowing enough of the facts that I felt a little better.
Will we ever truly grasp what Christ did on this day? It was the culmination and the beginning, the redemption and the charge, the agony and the glory. For those who witnessed that day, I cannot imagine what was going through their minds. The grief, the anger, the fright, the amazement. To walk with him after he'd risen and not recognize Him? We still do that today. It's just so mindboggling to me. I don't even know in my heart if it's enough to just be thankful for what Christ did for me. I ought to be repentant, in awe, ashamed, bewildered, mortified, astonished all at the same time.
I ought to take some corrective measures in my own life today. I ought to live like Christ did something amazing for me and for each person that I meet every day of my life. I don't know why it's so hard, I don't know why I get so distracted, I don't know why the Easter bunnies and their candy are sometimes more enticing to me - but I'll admit I am shamefully unfocused much of the time. It's time to grasp the grace and mercy that has been extended to me from the only person worthy to do that - I am ever so thankful, and everything else....
Nothing But the Blood
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my pardon this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my cleansing this I plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Nothing can for sin atone
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Naught of good that I have done
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
~Robert Lowry
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my pardon this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my cleansing this I plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Nothing can for sin atone
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Naught of good that I have done
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
~Robert Lowry
Friday, April 06, 2007
Capris and Cold - CRAZY!
I am wearing capris today, even though it's only in the 40's. I just can't wait for winter to be over! I guess I went a little overboard, though, because now SNOW is in our forecast? What??? I'm so over snow, and now we're getting it, with cherry blossoms and all. How totally depressing... gotta go put some socks on. My legs are cold!
Just Call Me In Control
NOT!
| You Are Balanced - Realist - Powerful |
You feel your life is controlled both externally and internally. You have a good sense of what you can control and what you should let go. Depending on the situation, you sometimes try to exert more control. Other times, you accept things for what they are and go with the flow. You are a realist when it comes to luck. You don't attribute everything to luck, but you do know some things are random. You don't beat yourself up when bad things happen to you... But you do your best to try to make your own luck. When it comes to who's in charge, it's you. Life is a kingdom, and you're the grand ruler. You don't care much about what others think. But they better care what you think! |
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Teacher Gift
After reading this, I'm thinking I might send in some clothespins for Em's Kindergarten teacher!
Pre-Easter Preparations
Today we've been relaxing and cleaning.... relaxing and cleaning.... birthday partying.... relaxing and cleaning.... gymnastics.... relaxing and cleaning.. My fam is heading our way tonight. I have some time, but it's running out. While I was in Connecticut, I overheard a conversation at the movie theater on Sunday. It ended with, "Happy Passover!" It sounded kind of funny, but not really. I've been in Passover mindset ever since.
Tonight is a Maundy Thursday service at our church that we're missing. I would have liked to go, but we're a bit bogged down right now. Terrible excuse, I'm feeling a bit like Martha right now! For real, to think about what Christ went through thousands of years ago for me - well, it's really just overwhelming. I think we'll do our own family thing tonight to talk about it.
Back to cleaning, relaxing but no more fun!
Tonight is a Maundy Thursday service at our church that we're missing. I would have liked to go, but we're a bit bogged down right now. Terrible excuse, I'm feeling a bit like Martha right now! For real, to think about what Christ went through thousands of years ago for me - well, it's really just overwhelming. I think we'll do our own family thing tonight to talk about it.
Back to cleaning, relaxing but no more fun!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Beach
Having grown up near the beach and spent four years of college near it, I can honestly say that the one thing I miss most in Maryland is being minutes away from it. There's nothing like a walk on the beach after a long day of work or with your friends or even a romantic evening strolling along.... I try to make a trip there each time I come home and the girls love it as well. Yesterday, since the sun broke and it was slightly warmer we decided to head down there.
Before we left, Kt made a big "Spring Break Beach Scavenger Hunt" checklist. The girls had some high hopes, both asking if I'd brought along their bathing suits! I reminded them that it was still like winter around here (at least to us!) and that the beach would be too cold for that. My warning were unheeded, however, and "towels", "beach umbrellas" and "hermit crabs" remained on the list!
When we arrived, the lot was nearly empty, but the beach itself was bussling with the beach hopefuls. I've been there! Some had worn shorts in anticipation of the next beach season, others wisely brought along their winter jackets worn oddly with flip flops! The girls quickly found most of their beach items - seagulls, sand, shells, rocks and swings - and then hit the swings, reveling in how easy their quest was without the usual beach bums.
As I stood there with them, a car load of teenagers pulled up, music blaring, slushees in hand, even a blow up globe (I guess there weren't any beach balls yet) who ran up to the swings. Just watching them reminded me of growing up around that area, scrounging up pennies for a snack at the beach and just relaxing after school. Then a school bus pulled up, loaded with short and t-shirt clad boys on some kind of sports team. They all ran out yelling, "It's high tide!" After a quick snack, off they went on a beach run. That is the only way anyone could have enjoyed the beach in shorts and a t-shirt yesterday!
After swinging and burying their legs in sand, the girls and I left. I was an ice cube - but a salt-water one, they were not going easily. There is something about the beach that draws us in. It really calls our name. For me, it's years of memories and a longing to be close to those. For the girls, it must be the fun and carefree time with no responsibilities. For all of us, it's the novelty of something we just don't have at home. We love it, and if we had it our way, we'd take it back to Maryland with us!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Impressive
The girls and I had a very interesting morning. After watching the utility company put in a new pole, we picked up lunch for mom and took it over to her school. Em notified us that she was supposed to be on the lookout for her kindergarten teacher, who is spending her Spring Break in Connecticut as well. We have no idea where, but she's here! LOL
After leaving, the girls had an itch to go somewhere else, so we took a little detour to my old elementary school, which happens to be across the street from my author friend. We first tried to go to her house, but she wasn't home. Kt took it all in - wow, we know where an author lives, what kind of car she drives, that she has pretty flowers in front of her house. Em just wanted to crawl through the mail shoot!! I decided to let her check out the mail shoot once I knew our intended victim was nowhere to be found. I mean, an author of children's books is all about kids exploring, right? Em was quite intrigued that the mailshoot gave her eyes passage to a set of stairs. I wonder where she thinks those stairs lead?? We'll have to find out some other day!
Across the way stood my old elementary school. Everything about that school screams grand and old! It just so happens that they are having a book fair, so I took the opportunity to visit. We walked around the front of the school and up the hill to the side entrance. The whole time, the girl's were asking me how I knew we had to go in the side and not the front door. Had they not heard me say that I went to school there for 7 years? Sure, they still didn't believe me though!
When we walked in it was obvious that the book fair was in the gymnasium. I always loved our gym, with it's rubber floor and grand stage. When we walked in I was even more wowed by the book fair - I've never seen one quite so large! They had changed out our old yellow padded walls for royal blue, but the ropes and cargo net were still the same! The stage was packed with gymnastics equipment and still the same old doors.
When we left after purchasing a couple books, Em spotted a stairwell. The girl's school doesn't have any stairs at all, so she was amazed. I then spotted a huge framed photo collage dating back to the good old days - it's a wonder it's still hanging! I didn't see many students that I knew, but that is no surprise. I did see my old school secretary, Mrs. Lucas, and my principal, Mr. Previs. It's kind of sad to return knowing they aren't there anymore.
On our way out, I couldn't help but take a little detour. I'm sure it didn't go unnoticed by the teachers passing through the hall, but I just couldn't resist. I ran the girls by the school cafeteria, which is the size of the gym, and down the front stairs out the front door. All the old cubbies have been replaced by noisy lockers, all the ivory doors painted blues and purples. It's actually kind of scary looking! They also have put rainbow tile on the hallway floors. YIKES!
We exited out the front door, which walks out next to a brand new playground, the likes of which I could have never dreamed as a child. It's amazing. We will never see anything like that back at home, I can assure you. It was flanked by a triple high slide on one end and a climbing wall far across the other. I'm not even sure what lies in the middle. I told the girls it was very different when I went there, but still three times the size of the girl's school playground. That is not including the side school playground, three kickball fields and the blacktop next to the gymnasium that is now cluttered with portable classrooms. I guess with all that space they can have the biggest book fair on the block.
I never realized as a kid how little I appreciated where I grew up!
After leaving, the girls had an itch to go somewhere else, so we took a little detour to my old elementary school, which happens to be across the street from my author friend. We first tried to go to her house, but she wasn't home. Kt took it all in - wow, we know where an author lives, what kind of car she drives, that she has pretty flowers in front of her house. Em just wanted to crawl through the mail shoot!! I decided to let her check out the mail shoot once I knew our intended victim was nowhere to be found. I mean, an author of children's books is all about kids exploring, right? Em was quite intrigued that the mailshoot gave her eyes passage to a set of stairs. I wonder where she thinks those stairs lead?? We'll have to find out some other day!
Across the way stood my old elementary school. Everything about that school screams grand and old! It just so happens that they are having a book fair, so I took the opportunity to visit. We walked around the front of the school and up the hill to the side entrance. The whole time, the girl's were asking me how I knew we had to go in the side and not the front door. Had they not heard me say that I went to school there for 7 years? Sure, they still didn't believe me though!
When we walked in it was obvious that the book fair was in the gymnasium. I always loved our gym, with it's rubber floor and grand stage. When we walked in I was even more wowed by the book fair - I've never seen one quite so large! They had changed out our old yellow padded walls for royal blue, but the ropes and cargo net were still the same! The stage was packed with gymnastics equipment and still the same old doors.
When we left after purchasing a couple books, Em spotted a stairwell. The girl's school doesn't have any stairs at all, so she was amazed. I then spotted a huge framed photo collage dating back to the good old days - it's a wonder it's still hanging! I didn't see many students that I knew, but that is no surprise. I did see my old school secretary, Mrs. Lucas, and my principal, Mr. Previs. It's kind of sad to return knowing they aren't there anymore.
On our way out, I couldn't help but take a little detour. I'm sure it didn't go unnoticed by the teachers passing through the hall, but I just couldn't resist. I ran the girls by the school cafeteria, which is the size of the gym, and down the front stairs out the front door. All the old cubbies have been replaced by noisy lockers, all the ivory doors painted blues and purples. It's actually kind of scary looking! They also have put rainbow tile on the hallway floors. YIKES!
We exited out the front door, which walks out next to a brand new playground, the likes of which I could have never dreamed as a child. It's amazing. We will never see anything like that back at home, I can assure you. It was flanked by a triple high slide on one end and a climbing wall far across the other. I'm not even sure what lies in the middle. I told the girls it was very different when I went there, but still three times the size of the girl's school playground. That is not including the side school playground, three kickball fields and the blacktop next to the gymnasium that is now cluttered with portable classrooms. I guess with all that space they can have the biggest book fair on the block.
I never realized as a kid how little I appreciated where I grew up!
Night Owl
This is why I had to run outside in my pajamas this morning at 9am to move my car for the utility guys that have decided that today is the day to move the utility pole that has never been touched in the 35 years our family has been in this house. Oh, and I'm still in my PJ's!
Thanks, Deana!
| You Are a Night Person |
 For you, there's nothing worse than having to get up and moving early. In fact, you probably don't hit your peak until well after the sun has set. So if your struggling to make it on a normal schedule, realize it's not your fault. You just weren't meant to do anything during the day! |
Thanks, Deana!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
It's Official
Em believes that teachers know everything! I can still remember when Kt placed all her chips on whatever my parent's said because they were teachers. Of course, my girls have never applied the "teacher" title to me!
This morning Em and I were eating breakfast together and I noticed a Robin Redbreast outside the window. He was just sitting in the same spot for our entire breakfast. Em kept a close eye on him and finally said to me, "I wonder why he is just sitting there?" I replied, "Maybe he is waiting to see if this is a good place to build his nest after coming home for spring. Maybe he wants to know if this is a safe place for his baby birds." I then rambled on about some interesting Robin facts, including that there eggs were blue. She looked impressed, interested, engaged.
After a few more minutes, she looked outside again and he was still there. As if everything I knew about Robins was a farce, she said, "Maybe we should just ask mom. She's a teacher!" What did my mom say? "He's waiting for a worm to pop out of the ground." Unlikely, but that's the one we're sticking with. I mean, it is more exciting AND now we can sit in the kitchen all day watching for worms!
This morning Em and I were eating breakfast together and I noticed a Robin Redbreast outside the window. He was just sitting in the same spot for our entire breakfast. Em kept a close eye on him and finally said to me, "I wonder why he is just sitting there?" I replied, "Maybe he is waiting to see if this is a good place to build his nest after coming home for spring. Maybe he wants to know if this is a safe place for his baby birds." I then rambled on about some interesting Robin facts, including that there eggs were blue. She looked impressed, interested, engaged.
After a few more minutes, she looked outside again and he was still there. As if everything I knew about Robins was a farce, she said, "Maybe we should just ask mom. She's a teacher!" What did my mom say? "He's waiting for a worm to pop out of the ground." Unlikely, but that's the one we're sticking with. I mean, it is more exciting AND now we can sit in the kitchen all day watching for worms!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Something Missing
I've been spending some time in "career counseling" with my mom, a teacher for over 20 years. While I love teaching, there are just many factors that are making it not such a viable option for me right now. First of all, I'm no longer certified and my 5.5 years of experience was over 10 years ago, so it's basically null and void. I'm just not sure about what I'm interested in doing anymore. Add to that list this:
Something is missing from this list! LOL!
| Your Career Personality: Original, Devoted, and Service Oriented |
 Art directorBook editorCollege professorComposerFilm directorGraphic designerNovelistStage actorPsychiatristWriter |
The'>http://www.blogthings.com/quickanddirtycareertest/">The Quick and Dirty Career Test
Something is missing from this list! LOL!
Circle Diner
We decided on one of our favorite spots for dinner, Circle T. One of the things I've always loved about CT is the number of small, private restaurants as opposed to large chains. When I was a kid, we had to drive 1/2 and hour to a Pizza Hut, but we rarely did that as we had an ample number of totally awesome pizza places within 5 minutes of our house! None that you've ever heard of, but awesome none the less!
Here's a picture of Kt and my mom enjoying time together at the diner!
Shopping!
We made it safely up to New England yesterday. My allergies from all those blooming cherry blossoms trees got the best of me, though, so I'm just glad I was able to stay awake for that 6 hour trip! Driving through Newark, NJ at 6 pm is just totally miserable! That's why I settled for the McDonald's, especially when the sign under it said "Next food 30 miles" - YIKES!
Today is a warm 60 degrees, sunny and not quite as spring as MD. We are taking it easy, lots of shopping, lunch at Duchess and dinner we're not sure about yet. I am toying with the idea of taking both girls to see the movie Bridge to Terabithia. I've read mixed reviews about the movie and while I'm sure it will be perfect for Kt, I'm just not sure about Em. I'm leaning towards going, as my mom REALLY wants to see a movie. It's one of our regular activities when we're up here, so we just can't pass it up!
Right now, the girls are outside jumping rope barefoot in the grass. At some point, we'll need to hit the bathtub! Uncle D and Aunt J are up in NH, so one of our dinner options is pizza, which Aunt J isn't a huge fan of. She wouldn't be very happy if we waited to have that when she's home! LOL And then, there is the Christmas Tree Shop - we can't pass up a visit there!
Today is a warm 60 degrees, sunny and not quite as spring as MD. We are taking it easy, lots of shopping, lunch at Duchess and dinner we're not sure about yet. I am toying with the idea of taking both girls to see the movie Bridge to Terabithia. I've read mixed reviews about the movie and while I'm sure it will be perfect for Kt, I'm just not sure about Em. I'm leaning towards going, as my mom REALLY wants to see a movie. It's one of our regular activities when we're up here, so we just can't pass it up!
Right now, the girls are outside jumping rope barefoot in the grass. At some point, we'll need to hit the bathtub! Uncle D and Aunt J are up in NH, so one of our dinner options is pizza, which Aunt J isn't a huge fan of. She wouldn't be very happy if we waited to have that when she's home! LOL And then, there is the Christmas Tree Shop - we can't pass up a visit there!
Friday, March 30, 2007
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