Five Crisps

2011-12-12T15:54:00.001-05:00

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Baptism

2011-10-21T09:28:00.000-04:00

Nora, Isaiah and Micah- Looks chilly. Olivia looks on.

Family and friends wait for the pastor and church members to arrive.

Pre-Baptism conference. Daddy and boys- so sweet.

Micah in the water- it was really chilly.

"Death, burial and resurrection!"

Isaiah ready to go under.

Death, burial and resurrection!

Family and friends hug, kiss and congratulate.

Elijah decided to wait for a while which is totally fine. We're glad he isn't swayed by his brothers. Micah was totally excited and wanted to share his Good News with everyone. He took the video of the baptism that Larry Foster made for us (thanks Larry) to school and the whole 2nd grade (31 kids) watched it together. We are so proud of all 3 of our boys! Praise God for their growing faith.

Elijah on hot rods and tomatoes

2011-08-10T21:16:00.000-04:00

Tonight at bed time.

Elijah: Mommy, sometimes I feel like a hot rod and I just want to be a plain old Ford.
Me: Explain more please.
Elijah: You know how a hot rod revs up its engine and goes from 0-60 in like 2 seconds. Then you drive it fast like 3 times and it breaks down and its just a mess.
Me: Yup. How is that like you again?
Elijah: I get all mad too quickly instead of having peace. (Yes, he said that.) Instead, I just want to be a good old steady Ford. Just running all of the time, not speeding too fast, overheating and breaking down.
Me: That sounds like a great goal. You know the fruits of the spirit we talked about tonight with your brothers?
Elijah: Yeah. When you were praying about the fruits I was thinking I've got them all covered except for the self-control one. It's like a tiny little green tomato and the rest are big fat red ones, especially the love one. I've got lots of love. Its like that big green tomato we saw in the garden tonight only mine is red and ripe. I even started crying when you were praying tonight. But the self control one... I'm still working on that one. Its not ripe yet.

A beautiful conversation with this son who tries my patience on so many days. We prayed a precious prayer together, asking for help with self-control for him and patience for Mommy. So blessed and thankful tonight.

Micah's Field Trip

2011-08-09T22:18:00.000-04:00

Micah's class went to the Baltimore Zoo, and I was fortunate to travel in the 105 degree bus for a hour with him. Bonding time.

Rocking the rope bridge

The giant tree slide

Big tortoise... little tortoise

I seriously love this guy!

Bird habitat

We walked and walked and walked to find the leopard. He was well hidden in a shady spot. Look, even he is panting.

This was our group- two very energetic girls, and my Micah on a heron nest

Now they're in the oriole nest.

These kids were such troopers... having fun despite the absolutely crazy HOT day.

Even the African animals were trying to cool off.

This snake was NOT in a cage, just slithering along the boardwalk beside us. Wild.

Thanks for spending the day with your mom at the zoo Micah! It won't be too long before you'll be begging me to stay home instead of begging me to come along, so I'll savor these sweet moments. :)

Two Months!

2011-08-09T22:03:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure I've ever gone 2 whole months without posting. Here is the newsy bullet point update:
- Elijah went to overnight church camp for the 1st time- a whole week in Denton and he loved it. Micah and Isaiah want to go too next year.
- All 3 kids did 1 week at YMCA camp while our amazing babysitter Danielle was gone. They didn't love it, but they liked it, and the exercise and social time is good for them right?
- We all went to Canada for a week at the beginning of July. This included a lovely vacation weekend in Gorham, NH at Santa's Village and Attitash. If you've never been and you find yourself in the New England area, consider a stop in Gorham- beautiful drive through Vermont to get there too.
- The 3 older cousins came to stay with us for a week when we returned. It was also VBS week and performance week for Elijah's play. Ahh yes... forgot to mention
- Elijah was in a performance of Narnia this summer which took up amazing amounts of driving time... back and forth to Thurmont every. single. day. for a few weeks. BUT, he loved it and so it was totally worth it to see him engaged in something with other kids, conquering his nerves and having fun.
- Then, off to Illinois for commune reunion for 4 days. Relaxing days were spent at Rachel's parents' farm in Lovington, IL. tractors, hay loft, goats, chickens, fields of corn as far as the eye could see, and best of all, good friends who are water to the soul.
- On to Indiana for Led-a-palooza 2011... we even have the t-shirt. All of us, the whole family together for the weekend. "Whole family" in this case being Grandma and Grandpa Ledbetter, their 6 children with spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I think someone said there were over 50 of us this time around. Wow. Ledbetters know how to multiply. :)
- Back home to MD where my summer classes are done (Woo Hoo).
- I was hired as an adjunct instructor at Towson for the fall semester, teaching a research writing class, so I'm preparing for that. Also, I'll continue with my research assistantship as well.
- Isaiah starts soccer in 2 weeks.
- School starts in 3 weeks.
And.... we're done. OK. Now, the next post can be more meaningful.

Lollipops and Field Trips

2011-06-14T08:42:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, it has been a while. In school news, I finished my busiest semester (3 classes plus work), but all is finished and I moved on to 2 summer classes which are going well. I'm still working over the summer, but half of my hours are work-from-home and 1 of my 2 summer classes finishes June 26th, so after that the summer will feel much more relaxing.

Eric is awesome. The church is going well, and he looks after kid, family and home stuff in my absence without even blinking an eye. I've been on multiple field trips with the boys this month- the post office with Isaiah, the zoo with Micah and the farm museum with Elijah. Eric covered two school events- kindergarten tea and recorder recital tomorrow. Micah is doing REALLY well with his piano lessons, and Elijah picked up the recorder pretty quickly. Micah was the only one of the three boys to memorize all of his verses in Sunday School and received a prize along with 4 other children last Sunday (Isaiah and Elijah were just one verse short and seeing Micah receive a prize totally motivated them to try harder next time).

Which leads me to a great story. Sunday afternoon after the church picnic, I walked into the entryway of our house to see Isaiah crying (not unusual) but it was unusual that he didn't seem angry or hurt. I asked what was wrong because Elijah was standing there too, but Lij just shrugged his shoulders and went back to playing with the water balloon he was concentrating on tying. Zay sobbed out... no...thing.... shoulders still shaking.

I gave him a minute to catch a breath while I set my stuff down, looked back and Lij one more time who looked back at me blankly and shrugged. I asked Zay if he could tell me why he was crying. Here's what he gasped out between sobs.

"Mommy, I couldn't ask for a better brother than Elijah" and he collapsed into my arms still holding back sobs. I looked at Lij who promptly started talking.

"Mommy, Isaiah brought home the etch-a-sketch from church because he thought it was a prize. I told him it wasn't to keep so I took it back over to the church. I told him that I'd get him a real prize (dum dums and Twizzlers were the real prizes) and bring it back over to him. Well, when I took the etch a sketch back, I forgot to get him a real prize and so when I got home and he was sad I gave him my lollipop."photo © 2010 Heather | more info (via: Wylio)

Isaiah again, clutched at me and held up the peach Dum Dum for me to see, proof of his brother's generosity.

2011-05-26T18:51:00.003-04:00

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2011-05-26T18:51:00.001-04:00

Sent from my LG phone

2011-05-26T18:50:00.001-04:00

Sent from my LG phone

Elijah's Field Trip

2011-05-19T21:43:00.000-04:00

Jacob, Lexi, Holly, Erin and Elijah

"Look Mommy, I'm a horse. Take a picture."

We were really hungry at this point, so I know I was thinking "Man that fake food looks tasty."

The kids all got to try out this loom. I couldn't take a picture because I was helping, but it was really fun for them.

Elijah loved every minute of every demonstration. This is his learning style for sure.

Is this not the hugest rocking chair ever?

Things I learned on the field trip:
- It takes/took longer to become a master blacksmith than it does to become a surgeon.
- Women used dead hair collected from hairbrushes to fluff up their real hair.
- In 1860, toasters, tea kettles, cast iron stoves and an ice box (as opposed to the spring house) were modern conveniences.
- A zither is a musical instrument common to German settlers
- Elijah and Holly are best friends- really and truly. They are kind to one another, share, talk, laugh and have fun,... and that's all.
- Elijah is a great kid!

Rainy Day Goodness

2011-05-15T20:28:00.000-04:00

It poured today, and our middle boy was made new. Great sheets of rain let loose from the sky and fell in giant waves across the parking lot outside the window. Micah looked outside to see the downpour and said, "I wish I could go play in the rain." I said, "Go for it! Have fun!"
So, off he went. We watched him for a while, dancing around in the huge drops, all by himself. At one point he looked like he was talking to himself and Eric said, "He's making up a great story out there for himself."

Skip ahead to bed time tonight. I was reading a devotional book to the boys and the we came to the prayer time after the lesson. All of a sudden, Micah said, "I prayed outside today."
I said, "That's great! What did you pray about?"
He announced without hesitation, "I prayed out loud to God and asked him to come into my heart."
I told him that was fantastic and that I was so happy for him. I told him it is an important decision and that God waits and waits to be invited into our lives because he loves us, and He wants to forgive us and help us love Him other people better.
He said, "That's what I prayed too. That he would forgive me."
I asked him how it felt.
He spread his hands across the top part of his chest and said, "It felt all warm in here, and really good. It felt really happy and nice." Then he smiled the hugest smile I've seen from him.

I love it that he was alone in the pouring rain when he made this decision.
I love it that he knew words to pray to express what he was feeling.
I love it that he felt free to announce his prayer in front of his brothers and me.
I love it that he waited until the time was right for him. (We've had conversion conversations several times, and each time he expressed that he wasn't ready to decide)
I love it that God orchestrated our evening so that he could share his experience with us tonight. There was time and a peaceful space.
I love it that Jesus met Micah in the rain today.
Thank you Jesus. Be present in our dear son's heart, soul and mind always.
Amen.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-09T20:26:00.000-04:00

My wild animals

7:00am- Eric went over the the church
7:15am- All three boys sneak out to the kitchen. I can kind of hear them, but I stayed in bed.
7:45am- Boys bring a platter into my room, marching behind it saying, "Happy Mother's Day!"
I am so blessed!
Elijah: I made you the bagel, but I only buttered one side because I didn't know if you'd want butter or not.
Micah: This is juice in this cup, not coffee. I know you really like coffee, but I didn't know how to work the coffee maker, so I gave you juice instead.
Isaiah: Mommy, sorry I kind of poured too much milk in your cereal. I hope you like Special K.

They all sat around the bed, grinning and watching me eat, happy as could be. Their first breakfast for Mommy all by themselves was a huge success.

Repost from Marilyn

2011-05-05T10:35:00.000-04:00

Learning to be who we are is a bigger task than we know.

These two thoughts have become one thought in my mind. There are more ways to live on this interesting earth than any one life can envision. We can run and run to find what we might not have. But the one treasure is the one we take with us everywhere... But still must choose it. This is the choice to come to deep peace with who we are, uniquely and personally. Then it is not so important where we are.

Rest of her post here. (May 1st) Does everyone come to terms with the fact that they can not live all of the lives they want to live, or are only a handful of us ~~blessed with~~ subjected to this reality?

There are so many different lives I can imagine for myself and my family, and yet I am very content with the current day, week and month I am living- blessed and happily fulfilled. But oh how I love new experiences, people and places. Is this human nature and few of us are willing to share our dreams? Or are there only some of us who imagine ourselves in other worlds? Maybe we don't share because we feel judged. Maybe if I share my dreams with you, I also fear that you think I'm saying that I'm unhappy with my current lot in life when that's just not true. Dreaming doesn't necessitate discontent. In fact, I think just the opposite is true. If I am discontent, dreaming is difficult because I have lost hope.

Isaiah's Birthday

2011-05-03T16:57:00.000-04:00

The chosen birthday meal- mac n cheese with hotdogs and ketchup. Orange Kool-aid to drink.

Big 6 years old!

Isaiah had specific requests for his birthday. He is a man who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to ask. On Sunday, he addressed the Thorpe family at church. He told them that his birthday was on Friday and that he wanted to come over to their house to celebrate his birthday. He thought they should have a party for him.

Kym graciously offered to host if Kennady's softball game got rained out, but since the weather was looking nice, we told Zay that we'd have to make other plans. He said, "Why can't we just go to Kennady's game?" No reason at all so that's what we did... softball game for Zay's birthday followed by hot drinks and hockey with the Thorpe clan.

For his gift requests, LEGO. No surprise there and he is still engrossed in his building and rebuilding.

Dear Isaiah, youngest in our family,
We see you as the 6 year old boy you have now become. You articulate your thoughts so well, and have been doing so for so long, that you've seemed 6 to us for months. You are patient and people-loving, quick to forgive and easy to get along with in general. To say that everyone loves you is no exaggeration. School is a breeze for you, when you have the time that you want to do your work. You live, breathe and work at your own pace, and although we may at times try to speed you up, it often only results in our own frustration. No one can argue with the quality you produce with your pace though. Everything you do is done well if you care about it. We love you so much Zay, and we can't wait to see what being 6 will mean to you.

Featured Photo

2011-04-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

Poetry for People posts a photo as poetic inspiration each day. Ben Rimes is an instructional technology educator and operates the site. He chose my Micah photo for today's poetic inspiration. Visit the site to write a poem inspired by the photo (or one of the many other great shots Ben has collected.

Funny Micah story

2011-04-10T20:28:00.000-04:00

Micah loves to be first. He is the first one ready for school every day and the first one ready for bed. Tonight when I was tucking him in, I noticed that his socks were really dirty. I pulled them off while we were talking and he said , "hey , what are you doing?". I said taking your socks off because they're dirty. He said , (direct quote here) "I know your plan! You're trying to make me not first to get ready for school."

We talked some more and apparently about a month ago he figured out that if he didn't take his socks off at night, this was one less thing to put on in the morning. Efficiency expert in the making.

It's Been A While

2011-04-07T09:46:00.001-04:00

Micah was loving this attention, don't let the body language fool you. Check out his grin.

Athan after a long walk, enjoying a snack while a crazy looking bike rider enters the square from behind him.

Morgan. Sweet girl, full of life and imagination, riding the purple bike statue.

I thought we needed an update. Life is full and wonderful- not always happy and stress free, but full and wonderful. We enjoyed a visit with our friends the Strebecks who stayed with us over a weekend while Ryan spoke at a youth event nearby. I love these friends, and the boys do too! Morgan and Athan are such special kids who love wholeheartedly and without reservation. Their mom and dad are pretty great too.

We've been playing outside LOTS since spring weather is finally here, enjoying backyard baseball with the neighbor kids, skateboarding and roller blading. Eric and Erin are both in stressy season right now. Local church conference and Easter back to back have Eric at lots of evening meetings, and Erin is recovering from mid-term projects and tromping on toward final projects. Everything feels controlled right now- not chaos, and I can tell we're not overly busy because we still make time for weekly family movie nights, walks with the dog and movies/TV time without kids too. And, we just finished up a round of swimming lessons for the kids. Everyone can swim to some extent- some better than others- but we all have basic skills.

School has afforded us lots of opportunity to learn about how other people live differently than we do.
- My friends play video games whenever they want.
- Everyone I know is allowed to watch Spongebob
- What does "retarded" mean when someone says it in a mean way?
And other lovely conversations like why calling a girl on the bus "sexy Lexy" is not the same as "Funny Lexy," or "Silly Lexy." Isaiah and Elijah both got into some trouble on the bus recently, but it was a case of dealing with some name-calling. They may not have made the best choices in handling the kid who was doing the teasing, but again, more opportunities to talk about patience, and grown-up skills like ignoring the kid who is bigger and older and should know better but doesn't. And, the administrator at school who talked to them both called to tell me how wonderful they both were as she disciplined them- how sorry and genuine and lovely they both were as they respectfully took their consequence and didn't argue or get angry.

And I'm probably most excited to write about our very recent evening Bible and prayer times. I think the trials they've experienced at school this year have helped them mature into a sense of why we need God. They have caught very small glimpses of the sin in other people and in themselves, and it is changing them.

We had taken a break for a few months from bedtime Bible reading and family prayer. I'm not sure why, but we had, and I don't feel like it was a negligent thing, just a season. We started up the tradition again recently, and it's different. Everyone is silent and still while Mommy or Daddy prays and we pray slowly and deliberately for quite a few minutes ( a far cry from our hurried, pray, pray, stop-that, pray pray, be-quiet, lay-still prayers of before). Elijah has started joining in to pray a few words here and there when he feels that I haven't given enough detail- all on his own and very sincerely. There is peace and stillness that surrounds our prayer time and it is genuine instead of rushed and "required" as a part of the routine. They are growing and changing inside and out.

Playing in boxes. They are doing experiments mythbusters style trying to make dents in the box with a marble.

2011-03-11T19:40:00.001-05:00

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Never met a stranger... literally

2011-03-11T12:57:00.001-05:00

Isaiah has the tiniest bladder ever, so we stopped at a gas station to go potty on the way home from swimming lessons. I was standing in line to pay for a drink (post-workout dying of thirst) while he went. When he came out and joined me in line. We were standing behind a man, lots of piercings, tats, baggy jeans, black hoodie sweatshirt, you get the picture.

Isaiah was at eye level with the man's back pocket. I saw him staring intently at the contents of the pocket, and before I could say anything, he reached up and poked something sticking out of the man's back pocket. I tsked at him and whispered, "Zay, you don't touch people's pockets man." As I said this, the man reached around to check his wallet and I noticed his other hand was holding his cell to his ear.

Just as I was thinking about my gratefulness for his conversation as it would excuse me from making apologies for my son who likes to poke people in the butt apparently, I look back to Zay to see him tapping the man on the elbow. What? I say, "Zay, he's on the phone. Leave him alone."
The man then turns to us and says to the person on the phone, "Hold on, there's a kid here trying to talk to me and I don't want to be rude." To Zay, "Yeah buddy, what is it?"
Isaiah, "Do you know you have a BINGO card in your pocket?"
Man, "Do I?" He pulls it out. Sure enough there is a scratch off BINGO card that I couldn't see because his sweatshirt was covering it.
Isaiah: "Where did you get it?"
Man, "My girlfriend gave it to me. I don't know if its a winner or not. OK?" Very pleasant and polite.
Zay nods and he goes back to his conversation, turning around. I looked at Zay with a perplexed look.
Zay said, "What? I thought only kids played BINGO."

Birthday money from grammy spent on video games.

2011-03-04T22:32:00.000-05:00

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In Honor of our Home

2011-03-03T09:34:00.001-05:00

Since we live on Frances Scott Key Highway in Keymar, 1 mile from the birthplace of Francis Scott Key, I thought I'd repost this in his honor today.

It was on this day in 1931 that 'The Star-Spangled Banner' became the official national anthem of the United States.The lyrics come from a poem written by Francis Scott Key more than a century before, 'Defence of Fort McHenry.' He'd spent a night toward the end of the War of 1812 hearing the British navy bombard Baltimore, Maryland. The bombardment lasted 25 hours -- and in the dawn's early light, Francis Scott Key emerged to see the U.S. flag still waving over Fort McHenry. He jotted the poem 'Defence of Fort McHenry' on the back of an envelope. Then he went to his hotel and made another copy, which was printed in the Baltimore American a week later.
The tune for the Star-Spangled Banner comes from an old British drinking song called 'To Anacreon in Heaven,' which was very popular at men's social clubs in London during the 1700s. Francis Scott Key himself did the pairing of the tune to his poem. It was a big hit.
For the next century, a few different anthems were used at official U.S. ceremonies, including 'My Country Tis of Thee' and 'Hail Columbia.' The U.S. Navy adopted 'The Star-Spangled Banner' for its officialdom in 1889, and the presidency did in 1916. But it wasn't until this day in 1931 -- just 80 years ago -- that Congress passed a resolution and Hoover signed into law the decree that 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was the official national anthem of the United States of America. - From The Writer's Almanac for 3/3/11

So the tune for the Star Spangled Banner was a drinking song. Makes perfect sense. :)

Birthday Boy #2 (a few days late)

2011-02-27T17:41:00.000-05:00

There was 2...

And then 3... (with cousin Liv)

Then all of a sudden, a 7 year old...

And now 9? Wow.

You are becoming such a young man. As a 9 year old, starting a new life in Maryland, you have taken a few months to adjust but are now showing the real Elijah. You are ultimately kind and compassionate above all else. You feel deeply for every one and every living thing. You are complex, creative, full of story and drama. You love fast cars, drawing monsters and creatures, making up stories, acting out stories, watching Hot Wheels Battle Force 5, playing with Amani, and running around outside.

Recently you started going to Robotics club at 4-H and you love it. You decided on a skateboard with your birthday money and the roller blades you got from your cousins were a big hit. We love you Lij! Keep growing in love and faith.

Birthday Season

2011-02-17T10:45:00.000-05:00

Spring 2007- Tom and Cassie's house on the farm

February 2008- Barefoot Dr. house in Kentucky

Spring 2009- Raven Run, Kentucky

Good morning; it's my birthday- February 2011, Keymar, MD

We didn't have cake for breakfast. This was after school.

Micah opens birthday season around here; then its nonstop for 2 months. Our middle son turned 7 years old on Tuesday the 15th. Amazing.
Micah we love you more than ever. New adventures for you include piano lessons, which you are enjoying more every week, and very recently 4-H robotics club. As always, you love all things screen related- Wii, DS, computer games you name it. If someone is working on a screen, you want to be right there beside them, watching how everything is done. Your technology skills are quite proficient.

At school, you are doing wonderfully. Math seems to be your favorite subject although you say anything on "Success Maker" (a computer program you use in class) is your favorite. Your least favorite subject is art.
You are a joy my middle boy. We love you so much. Your thoughtful, contemplative heart peeks out every once in a while and when it does, we are astounded at the depth with which you understand things.

I overheard you recently giving your big brother some advice. He was walking down the hall with his DS in hand, ready to ask me if he could play. You came out of the bathroom and this was the conversation:
Micah: What are you doing?
Elijah: I'm going to ask Mommy if I can play.
Micah: (chasing after Lij) Don't take your DS with you. Look it's even on. (You grab it away and turn it off)
Eljiah: Why not?
Micah: She'll think you started playing without asking. (exasperated sigh as though you were thinking- "silly boy, you should know better)
Elijah: Oh, ok. (walks in to me) Mommy can I play DS?
I say yes and you give him his DS, smile at me and bounce out to go watch your brother play.

On the first day of school, way back in the fall, you fussed at me after school for putting an "I love you" note in your lunch box- its embarrassing you said. I laughed and we moved on with things. No big deal.

A couple of weeks ago, you tearfully confessed that you felt really bad for what you said about the note and for not really liking your lunch that day. Confessions are difficult for you and you hold onto your guilt for a long time, but your sincerity is such a blessing. Yes, we are watching you grow- inside and out.

Happy 7th birthday big boy! Keep learning and growing and loving! I pray that God continues to work in the secret, quiet places of your heart, rooting those seeds of faith that you possess deeply.

Productivity

2011-01-31T08:45:00.000-05:00

Author Norman Mailer says, "Over the years, I've found one rule. It is the only one I give on those occasions when I talk about writing. A simple rule. If you tell yourself you are going to be at your desk tomorrow, you are by that declaration asking your unconscious to prepare the material. You are, in effect, contracting to pick up such valuables at a given time. Count on me, you are saying to a few forces below: I will be there to write."

Isn't the same true with any discipline we're trying to develop? Count on me, I'll be there to pray or read or talk or write a letter... instead of waiting for inspiration.

Anticipation

2011-01-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

When I start feeling the least bit stressed about something, my brain immediately switches to "what-can-I-look-forward-to" mode. I start my spring semester of graduate classes tomorrow night. Three days a week of 12 hour days, 2 days a week at home to do homework and look after house stuff. It is a bit tight, but very manageable for a few months, especially when you have a wonderfully willing and helpful husband. :)

Nonetheless, I feel like I'm about to dive back into the water, not to truly emerge again until May 17th. Most people have heard me talking recently about how much I've loved having real snow- snow that piles up in banks behind our house, snow for sledding and trekking and building. The kind of deep snow that muffles the noise of life (or maybe people just stay home), but outside in the morning as the sun turns every branch into a diamond speckled scepter, it is blessedly silent- quiet enough to not only see your breath but to hear it. The kind of quiet that doesn't happen during any other weather event. Ahhhhh.

So then why today, did I find myself daydreaming of my garden? Why can't I continue to enjoy our present state of wintery whiteness? Craziness. All I can figure is that my coping strategy must go something like this.

Brain 1: "Can I handle this again? Four months of reading and writing and studying and family and church too? Am I crazy? When is the drop/add deadline date again?"

Brain 2: "Of course you can. Soon that lovely patch of mulching leaves in the back corner of the yard is going to grow warm and soft. You'll add a truckload of organic mulch and work your tools down into the earth and just imagine the smell... that earthy, mossy, wormy fresh smell... that's the smell of potential, of hope because what is more hopeful than a seed. So see? You'll be fine because you'll get to plant a garden before you know it."

In what world does any of that make sense? Yet that's what I'm dealing with here. Odd.

Lessons I'd Forgotten

2011-01-27T13:37:00.000-05:00

Snow + temperatures right around freezing with no wind and sunshine= the PERFECT sledding day. I couldn't wait to send the kids out into the snow AND join them. We left the house at 9am. I shoveled, they slid. At 9:50, they started trickling over to see what I was doing. I couldn't believe it. How could they be bored of sledding already? I used to sled for hours (it felt like). So, I planted my shovel in the bank and joined them on the hill. I watched them go down a few times, took some video and then realized that they were missing a few key ingredients for a perfect sledding day.

1) If you walk back up the same trail where you slid down, it ruins your trail and makes it difficult to climb the bank.
2) If you make some "steps" for yourself out of snow in a few key places on the snowbank, climbing back up to the top is much easier (and prevents you from ruining the sledding trails).
3) To keep your sled from sliding backward down the wrong side of the bank while you're climbing aboard, flatten out a section at the top big enough for your sled and a couple of foot holds. We even built a little bank behind the starting position spot to keep them from falling backward.
4) Getting tired is part of the fun. Make a snow bed/ fort/ cave for yourself and take breaks (important for Micah).
5) If you're getting wet, get wardrobe help before you get too cold.
6) The best sledding trails are made by sliding down the same spots over and over and not walking back up on the sledding trail. Therefore, the more people you sled with, the more fun it becomes, so when we saw our neighbors out, we hiked over to join them.

Lesson I learned- sledding with a 5,6 and 8 year old is even more fun than sledding with a 4,5 and 7 year old.

Mural #1

2011-01-21T16:22:00.001-05:00

This is Isaiah's mural choice. He wanted jets flying together. I still need to outline them in black to finish them off.

Funny Zay

2011-01-18T18:53:00.000-05:00

Tonight at dinner.
Isaiah: Can I be done?
Me: (looking at his plate with 3 bites left on it) Are you completely full?
Isaiah: Yeah
Me: Are you sure you're full.
Isaiah: Yeah, let me check.
He stands up and starts bouncing, jumping up and down like a pogo stick about 10 times.
Isaiah: Yup. Totally full. There was no sloshy sound so I must be filled all the way up.

:)

2011-01-17T14:51:00.001-05:00

There may be a valentine from the crisp boys coming your way soon.

The introvert in me

2011-01-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

"But I would like to go away on Sunday morning to the heart of some great solemn wood and sit down among the ferns with only the companionship of the trees and the wood-winds echoing through the dim, moss-hung aisles like the strains of some vast cathedral anthem. And I would stay there for hours alone with nature and my own soul." L M Montgomery from a post of Marilyn Elliot's.

Incredible words that reminded me of the first way I knew God- the, at times, intimidating but always majestic, peaceful God who met me in the woods and fields of Rosedale on more than one Sunday afternoon. I felt a small moment of this on a run here in Keymar yesterday; there is nothing quite like it for me.

On Being Inspired

2011-01-15T12:11:00.000-05:00

"Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration" Edison in 1902

Recently Eric and I had the opportunity to participate in The Gathering, a conference for pastors, ministry leaders and their spouses. It was a wonderful week for us, and not only because we were able to connect with old friends. That was an important part of the event, and I appreciate that the organizers provide time and space for that, but for me it is valuable because of the opportunity to be wholly inspired.

Out of necessity, most of us spend the bulk of our time working- perspiring. To do our work well, it is necessary to take time out to be inspired. There are many things that inspire me in small ways every week- articles I read, beautiful photography in magazines, people who create things, conversations with friends, time with my children and of course Scripture and Biblical teaching.

But when it comes to long-term, big thinking kind of inspiration, conditions have to be just right- kind of like how you can make instant pancakes from the box every Saturday for weeks and be satisfied, but every once in a while, a big batch of homemade from scratch pancakes with the best ingredients, real whipped cream and fresh strawberries makes the instant kind seem old and artificial.

Good Biblical teaching + extended time to process the teaching with Eric + time to process the teaching with friends + no children or work responsibilities to also think about during processing time + pushing ourselves to write down some concrete take-aways= the perfect recipe for large scale inspiration. Thank you to everyone who helped create these favorable conditions.

Christmas with the Crisps

2011-01-01T10:34:00.002-05:00

museum

2010-12-31T16:12:00.001-05:00

While Isaiah listens to the explanation behind how dinosaur footprints are discovered,

Sent from my LG phone

Science center

2010-12-31T16:09:00.002-05:00

The other two play on the footprints of dinosaurs.

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Take a look at thi

2010-12-30T15:55:00.001-05:00

On our way home.

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Elijah's drawing

2010-12-16T18:52:00.001-05:00

Micah's First Lost Tooth

2010-12-16T08:39:00.000-05:00

During the Christmas play at church on Saturday night, after the first song when the lights dimmed, Micah crept off stage to tell the director, "My tooth is loose. What if it falls out while I'm singing?" She laughed and assured him that it would be all right. He finished the show without incident. Sunday he made sure to excitedly show every person we know "ook, I ha a oose ooth." I had forgotten the excitement of your first loose tooth.

A couple of weeks ago, he showed me that he had a tooth growing up behind his baby teeth. While I contemplated finding a new dentist, paying for said dentist and making an appointment, the tooth falls out on its own. Score for procrastination.

Every night this week, after lights out at bedtime, Micah comes into the living room saying his loose tooth is preventing sleep. Eric would try to wiggle it for him, but Micah wouldn't let him do much. Finally on Wednesday, his annoyance trumped his low pain tolerance, and he let Eric pull away. The tooth popped out and you've never seen a happier Micah.

Our tooth fairy has been a little unreliable in the past. She is sometimes unprepared for Elijah's teeth because his seem to just fall out all of a sudden and she is caught on vacation, or she has a cold. This time though, she was ready.

Elijah's comment the next morning when Micah emerged from his room with his dollar: "Wow, the tooth fairy remembered you on the first night. That never happens to me."

Watch "Sleddi.g2" on YouTube

2010-12-11T21:13:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS4mR_5q9pg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
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Singing

2010-12-11T13:57:00.001-05:00

Sent from my LG phone

Take a look at this picture!

2010-12-11T13:42:00.001-05:00

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Elijah's verse

2010-12-09T19:09:00.000-05:00

Christmas Program

2010-12-09T19:08:00.002-05:00

Elijah and Micah sing solos

Zay dances

2010-12-09T19:08:00.001-05:00

Gift Giving

2010-12-01T10:58:00.001-05:00

For over a year I've been reading and thinking about micro-finance. There are several reputable non-profits that provide individuals with the opportunity to financially invest in the livelihood of a person who would use the funds to receive training and grow a business for themselves and their families. Because women have been deprived of education for so many centuries in some countries, I felt most burdened to support their efforts.

Cambodia is a country famous for many positive things, but also for sex-trafficking. Many organizations are working hard to end the sex trade using a variety of methods, and World Hope International is certainly doing their part. Adelphe is one of their more recently developed programs where international sisterhoods are coordinated. Women commit to sponsoring other women (many from Cambodia right now). This gift of monthly sponsorship, $1 a day, provides the Cambodian sister with education for herself and potentially her children, capital to grow her livelihood, health and nutrition education, resources and tools for agriculture, entrepreneurship skills and animal multiplication skills. All of these gifts result in a woman who will be able to care for herself and her children, and who will not feel forced to resort to prostitution in order to provide for her family.

My new sister's name is Yat Luoen. She is a young single mother and currently earns about $0.08 a day for her family by growing and selling vegetables. Consider giving the gift of opportunity through Adelphe of World Hope International or some other trusted organization as you make your gift giving list for Christmas.

2010-11-19T17:29:00.002-05:00

Colorful Frames Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Community Life Memories

2010-11-11T18:58:00.000-05:00

For my Community Life ladies. Love you Guys!

Experiments

2010-11-08T20:36:00.000-05:00

You asked for oatmeal this morning

I mashed bananas and mixed them in, since

they were going bad and variety is good

right?

Your first bite.

Gag. choke. big tears well up in your eyes.

You spit the mouthful back into the bowl

and look at me in despair and anger.

How dare I taint your favorite breakfast dish?

I'll put some chocolate chips on it. Bananas are

good with chocolate right?

You nod. Oh how you trust your

Mommy.

2nd attempt.

Gag. Choke. Alligator tears spill down over your cheeks.

You chew a few more times, moaning, apparently trying to

convince yourself that chocolate chips make

everything better

but they don't.

thin brown drips of pureed banana oatmeal chocolate chip

mush begin streaming from the corners of your mouth

swallow. I order. just swallow that bite and you

don't have to eat anymore.

um! um! You shake your head.

nauseated chipmunk cheeks puffed out.

Daggers in your eyes.

JUST swallow and take a drink

um!um! moreheadshaking

don't spit that out.

ummmmm, moaning, desperation

you hold your mouth open like a baby bird

keeping the watery goo in, but taking some breaths

of air through your mouth.

gulp.

done.

drink.
finally.

You've earned a bowl of Lucky Charms instead.

Lesson learned: mashed bananas in oatmeal sounds better

than it tastes.

On bullies/teasing

2010-11-08T20:24:00.000-05:00

Elijah is the new kid, and let's face it. His interests and talents are a little bit outside of the mainstream. We knew that moving to a new school for 3rd grade would not be easy for him, but he has handled it with more maturity and courage than I thought possible.

For the first several weeks (two months really) there were a couple of boys in his class who had been picking on him regularly. He says they "bug" him. He says Joe hurts his feelings while Jacob's specialty is pushing him around. We encouraged him to tell an adult nearby when the boys were bugging him and to avoid them as much as possible. Daily he brought home more stories of being pushed in the hallway and being called 'stupid' and 'cry-baby.' I went to talk to his teacher and she assured me that she'd keep an eye out. She said that the two boys doing most of the "bugging" were not in groups with Elijah, and he concurred that most of the teasing was going on in the hallway, at recess or at lunch.

The same day I talked to Elijah's teacher, he came home with an office referral. Apparently Jacob took his lunch box and was playing keep-away with it. Elijah looked for an adult, couldn't see one close by so he punched Jacob in the stomach to get his lunch box back.

Fighting is a serious offense. Eric was the parent on duty when Elijah came home, and could see that he was already very upset by the trip to the office and the referral, so they talked about how to make better choices next time. When I got home, I talked to him as well, and he agreed that forgetting the lunch box and ignoring the teasing would be better options if no adult could be found.

But here's the thing. Since the fight, two weeks have gone by and the daily teasing seems to have lessened significantly. Today he said they were making faces at him across the room, but the verbal teasing and pushing seem to have stopped for now. There is a part of me that feels, "Way to go standing up for yourself! Its probably what needed to happen." I don't want him to resort to fighting again, but I'm not disappointed in him for taking a stand.

Sometimes parenting makes that line between right and wrong so VERY blurry.

From Isaiah

2010-11-04T18:24:00.002-04:00

I was a ninja for Halloween!

Halloween Group Shot

2010-10-31T20:58:00.001-04:00

Soldier, Indiana Jones and the Ninja!

Painting

2010-10-31T18:40:00.000-04:00

Painting #1

Painting #2

Painting #3

Just because I was in a painting mood (and I love to share the love), we decided on a theme and painted dragons together a couple of weekends ago. These are watercolor on canvas from the craft store, and they will be displayed in the basement play space. The boys worked really hard on them, and I love how each one is so unique. Any guesses on who did what?

Isaiah Sings

2010-10-25T20:48:00.000-04:00

We were playing with the video camera on the computer tonight. Isaiah decided to sing a couple of songs.

Pumpkin carving with papa

2010-10-20T12:49:00.002-04:00

Educational Moment

2010-10-04T14:28:00.000-04:00

I love everything Dan Meyer has to say about problem solving in this clip. Its long, 15 minutes, but you'll learn so much from him. I believe his same philosophy can be applied to the church as well. How often are our sermons and devotional talks scripted just like the math problems in a textbook? Are we letting people think and explore and involve themselves in the Kingdom? Or are we relying on neatly packaged devotional type messages that leave people trying to follow formulaic methods for living a life that reflects a Kingdom and God who are not formulaic, nor are they chaotic. I'm going to think about this more, but I see a lot of parallels here.

Barrel Riding

2010-10-03T17:41:00.000-04:00

Favorite entertainment lately! Everyone gets invited to go barrel riding, even the lawn mowing guys. I'm not sure what Isaiah said when he ran up the hill, but it illustrates his excitement. Micah has bruises all over his shoulders, but he continues to beg to go riding. When I told him today that he needed to take a break for a while, he threw a fit saying, "the bruises don't hurt." Crazy.

After (Basement/ Guest Room)

2010-09-26T15:57:00.000-04:00

New carpet and trim painted, but no walls yet.

The whole family painting. Everyone was actually quite helpful.

Finished 'living room' area downstairs and...

Finished guest room. Well, except for furniture.

Basement transformation in process

2010-09-25T17:27:00.000-04:00

Remember this room? It now has new carpet and paint. Stay tuned for photos of the new and improved space. The plan is to make the 1st picture a guest bedroom. The 2nd picture will be the boys' toy room but will also be easily transformed into another bedroom for cousins or friends. More to come.

Stopping to Breathe

2010-09-23T20:51:00.000-04:00

There are a few things you should know about these three boys. They are amazing young men and grow more a part of my heart and soul every single moment I know them.

Zay has become a man of precision. Everything about him right now is meticulous. He is always the last one in the van, ready for school, finished with homework... because he does everything with a level of determination and thoroughness that is awe inspiring (and more than frustrating at times) but notable none the less.

Micah is thoughtful, contemplative and incredibly perceptive. There is no hiding anything from him. His soft heart and sensitive spirit stay guarded often, but once he lets you in, there is a whole world of love and connection that is complex and beautiful.

Elijah. He is still the explorer, the adventurer, the incredibly creative boy that he's always been, but there is something new too. He's learned to complete the menial non-creative tasks of life like feeding the dog and doing homework with a smile and a bounce (most of the time) instead of tears and stomping. At dinner tonight he was telling us a wildly imaginative story, then stopped midstream and said, 'Just to clarify, what I mean is..." and then went on. There was a time when he wouldn't have cared to notice if clarification was needed or not... and he used the word "clarify".

They amaze me. I remind myself almost constantly now to stop. breathe. soak up these moments and days and weeks. To be gentle in my words.... ALWAYS because every. thing. I. say. or do. makes a difference.

PS- Most of these pics (except the tiger face paint) were taken at the Science Center where we'll take you if you come visit us. :0 ) Everything I write lately comes with that ploy.

IMG00117.jpg

2010-09-11T19:38:00.001-04:00

Bruises on Micah's back. He's been rolling down the hill in a large plastic barrell. Fun is painful I guess. When I asked him if it hurt he said "kinda but its more fun than painful. "
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IMG00118.jpg

2010-09-11T19:36:00.001-04:00

Hairwashing with goggles is so much more fun.
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Jersey Shore with the other Crisps

2010-07-30T10:16:00.000-04:00

Before we moved to Maryland, we made a stop to visit the cousins in New Jersey. All 8 kids and the adults all had so much fun at the beach for a day.

The boys requested that I post this picture of Gid the Kid. They said, "You have to post it because he's just soooo cute." I agree!

Maryland Science Center

2010-07-30T10:11:00.001-04:00

This place was awesome! We will definitely be returning... soon. Elijah is in the bones and medicine area of the kids room which had a skeleton to play with, a microscope, a couple of computer games and the costumes and xray center you see above. Elijah says he's Lex Luthor.

Isaiah is piloting a submarine here. The submarine is a two-level play space where the kids are free to roam, explore and pretend and they did plenty of pretending! Isaiah says he is the king of the sea.

This giant water table was really cool! If I were a kid that's where I'd spend my time. Isaiah is building a dam right in the middle of the picture. To the left you can use PVC pipes to reroute the water and make different fountains.

Newtons Alley had all kinds of experiences that show Newton's laws. Zay and Micah both played with this air tube and ball for a long time.

More from Newton's Alley... playing with clouds. Elijah pretended he was Harry Potter and made the clouds his experiment.

There is so much more I could show from the science center, but you'll just have to visit so we can take you there to experience it for yourself.

MOVED IN- the tour

2010-07-30T09:58:00.001-04:00

We are officially moved in and VERY excited about it. This is Micah and Isaiah's bedroom with the airplane curtains.

Our living room. We might eventually have couches that you can sit on when you come to visit.

Dining room area is at the end of the living room. I found this table, chairs and china cabinet set at a resale store.

We're calling this the entryway even though this door goes to the back of the house. Its the door we most often enter and exit. Micah calls it the lobby. We're putting our kitchen table and chairs in here for daily use. We'll probably take up the carpet in here too so we have a daily eating spot that isn't carpeted.

This is the table we put in the entryway. The church folks put a new faucet and dishwasher in our kitchen- which I love. They made quite a few other updates as well and have continually been bringing fresh garden veggies. Very thankful for them!

The view out the front door down the street toward the rest of Keymar.

Out the front door up the street toward Taneytown. The building you see on the right of the picture is the church.

The family room. It looks better than this now. It used to be a garage which explains the long, narrowness of the room. All of the boys' toys, puzzles and games are in really nice built in cabinets on the wall to the left of the room behind that open door you see. It also makes a nice guest room when you come to visit.

The basement is still under renovation. There is a full bathroom and several rooms down there that make for great storage and play space currently.

Living room safari

2010-07-23T11:04:00.001-04:00

Its amazing what the boys come up with to entertain themselves while we move in. VBS at our church has been a huge blessing this week since the boys have quickly made some new friends and the VBS theme of an African safari has made for some awesome play ideas. Today they built a hippo, elephant and cheetah in our living room out of blankets, sheets, VBS crafts and newspaper, and brought the VBS CD out for background music. They played out about 10 different story lines all morning and made up their own tribal language. I'd say their adjusting well!
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Pretend blogging

2010-07-08T18:55:00.002-04:00

Micah has started playing with our broken portable DVD player. Things he does with it:
-Cleaned every scratch and scuff with wet wipes.
-Asks to take it with him into church and stores.
-Blogs numerous times every day. We asked him what he blogs about and he said "oh. Just stuff that's in my head. "
-Checks his facebook happy pets, feeds them and buys new ones.
-emails friends and family.
All of this with no internet access or a keyboard.

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Travelers

2010-07-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

What amazing little travelers we have. 12 hours in the van with only 2 very quick pee stops and they're still smiling. Amani, our new puppy, is a great traveler too- sleeps the whole time.
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MOOSE

2010-06-27T21:05:00.000-04:00

In an ocean of canola beside our house,

I was driving by and saw the distinct sleek black image of a bull moose. Contrasted against the yellow of this field, he was hard to miss.
I turned back to tell my family, but alas, when we returned to look, he was gone. The boys thought Grammie and I were crazy, taking them out to look at a moose. For some reason they thought a moose was dangerous. Only when he's on the road in front of your car. :)

FYI- These pictures were not taken on the same day as the moose sighting.

Perfect Moment

2010-06-25T22:00:00.001-04:00

There's a John Mayer tune on the radio,
Both windows in my brother's battered grey pick-up truck are rolled
all. the. way. down.
Micah and I ride toward home, each with one hand out our open windows
our other hands meet in the middle to share a basket of fresh
strawberries from the farmer's market. Blue sky and wispy clouds above,
waves of winter wheat and bright yellow canola flowers
roll along next to the truck.
I look over at him; he's quiet, intent on picking a stem from a large
juicy red berry. He throws the stem out into the wind and looks at me.
Pink stains on his fingers and chin are accompanied
by sticky red drips down his shirt. He bites into one
and oh that smile. Ruby red lips embrace juice stained teeth,
tiny fragments of berry and seeds still plastered to his face.
He turns back to the window, pressing his face into the wind,
and John Mayer continues to serenade our perfect moment.

Happy fathers day

2010-06-20T23:34:00.000-04:00

I was just about to go to bed when I decided to post this picture of the best daddy I know. Even though we celebrated him from afar this year (week long class in Kentucky right now while we're in NB), we missed him and want him to know what an amazingly caring, devoted and intentional father he is.

And, I was just about to post this when I heard Elijah on the stairs. I went to see what was up and he puked from about halfway up the stairs to the bottom where I was standing. I ran to get a bowl and he made it in the bowl for most of it, but I think that's a pretty good father's day gift. Eric is fortunate to miss out on the puke clean up and sick-kid vigil tonight. I'm off to bed, hopefully to sleep but probably not. I love you dearest.

Park Sprinklers

2010-06-18T17:29:00.000-04:00

Warming up after playing in the frigid sprinklers.

These umbrellas from Grammie were a big hit with all of the kids at the park.

It was a rare HOT day in NB today. Right around 85, so we took advantage of the sun and nice weather to visit the Woodstock park. The sprinklers are a fantastic addition to the park since I was a kid. Free fun all day every day.

Elijah is obsessed with this tank.

Wedded Bliss

2010-06-16T22:30:00.001-04:00

My brother is officially married and the boys were awesome through all of the ceremony and reception. Seriously, they stood just like you see them here through the whole thing; more than I can say for my bro who is the tall slim guy in the middle. Poor guy had to go sit down half way through.

Outside waiting for pictures in the shade. It looks lovely and peaceful but what you can't see are the millions of black flies. The boys handled it like pros. Wondering why?

See that cute little thing in the pink over there? As soon as she and her two flower-girl cohorts entered the picture, our little men became perfect gentlemen. Ahh the power of women.

And HUGE kuddos to my sis-in-law. This was one kid friendly wedding! The candy bar was open while we waited for the reception to begin making every child's dream come true. And the cute little books with pink ribbon on the table were made by the bride and groom for all of the kids to use during the reception. There were mad libs about Garth and Jodie, wedding word searches, coloring pictures and more.

This is the loft at my mom's house. It is the boys' domain for this month. They love playing up here.

This is at the other end of the loft. There is a great little shelf that they use for all kinds of play. The triangle window behind Zay looks down onto the living room. Elijah loves laying in this window like a cat and watching the TV down below.

Watching Daddy mow from the back of Uncle Garth's truck.

Trying out Grammie's new mower with Isaiah. That's the same view I grew up with and never appreciated until now.

The woman who makes it allllll happen.. my momma. :)

First full day in Keymar :)

2010-06-08T19:18:00.001-04:00

Find of the day... This great park just minutes from our house. Maryland welcomed us with perfect weather. We toured the boys future school and found a Redbox for a bedtime movie. Can't wait to move in.

We found a bike shop to get Micah's bike repaired, bought enough frozen dinners for lunches and dinners for 2 days, and played in our back yard/ church parking lot all afternoon. At the checkout, Micah told the cashier, "Look! We got Kid Cuisine! We never get those. I mean it. My mommy has NEVER boughten those before ever even though we always ask. But we're in Maryland, not Kentucky." He waltzed off and left me there to try and explain that one with a bewildered looking cashier.

Speaking of the grocery store, we happened through the "Family Friendly" lane. I was unsure of the meaning of this at first. I eyed the cashier critically- was she going to be extra nice to my kids? Suckers? Discounts? Then I noticed the racks next to the lane that are usually laden with candy and gum. Instead there were toddler snacks, mini-tissue packets and magazines for moms. Very smart. My boys however, not to be fooled, picked up a "mom" magazine and flipped through until they found an ad that they could "show" me, packaged with, "Mommy, I'm not really asking for this but LOOK at this bike. If someone wanted to trade me my bike for this one, would you let me trade? This bike is soooo cool. Its not all rusty and old like mine."

Lots of tree climbing and only one pseudo-injury. Micah turned over a brick under a GREAT climbing tree beside our house and a million baby ants swarmed all over his feet. He dropped the brick on his foot, screamed and started stomping all over. When I ran over to him, he had most of the ants off. Their nest was so full it looked like the ground was moving. He was still sobbing so I said, "Does your foot hurt from the brick or did the ants scare you? He said, "the ants!!!!!" Isaiah promptly ran over to the nest and started squishing the stray ones that had scurried away from the brick saying, "Leave Micah alone!"

I would imagine Micah will be leaving them alone from now on. :)

Graduation weekend

2010-05-24T21:34:00.000-04:00

Surrounded by friends.

Caught a friend's birthday party before all of the graduation festivities.

Staying busy with army men and dinosaurs. Its amazing what becomes interesting when all of the other toys are packed.

They are displaying the Bionicles (sp?) they each built (perched on the boxes and bookshelf). Elissa, their favorite babysitter ever, gave each of them a going-away Bionicle and became their heroine forever.

Friends

2010-05-18T22:55:00.000-04:00

These women (and others not pictured) are treasures to me. Know that behind these beautiful smiles there are hearts that love God and others.

New York Times Op-ed from February

2010-05-17T06:45:00.002-04:00

The New York Times
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: February 27, 2010

For most of the last century, save-the-worlders were primarily Democrats and liberals. In contrast, many Republicans and religious conservatives denounced government aid programs, with Senator Jesse Helms calling them “money down a rat hole.”

Over the last decade, however, that divide has dissolved, in ways that many Americans haven’t noticed or appreciated. Evangelicals have become the new internationalists, pushing successfully for new American programs against AIDS and malaria, and doing superb work on issues from human trafficking in India to mass rape in Congo.

A pop quiz: What’s the largest U.S.-based international relief and development organization?

It’s not Save the Children, and it’s not CARE — both terrific secular organizations. Rather, it’s World Vision, a Seattle-based Christian organization (with strong evangelical roots) whose budget has roughly tripled over the last decade.

World Vision now has 40,000 staff members in nearly 100 countries. That’s more staff members than CARE, Save the Children and the worldwide operations of the United States Agency for International Development — combined.

A growing number of conservative Christians are explicitly and self-critically acknowledging that to be “pro-life” must mean more than opposing abortion. The head of World Vision in the United States, Richard Stearns, begins his fascinating book, “The Hole in Our Gospel,” with an account of a visit a decade ago to Uganda, where he met a 13-year-old AIDS orphan who was raising his younger brothers by himself.

“What sickened me most was this question: where was the Church?” he writes. “Where were the followers of Jesus Christ in the midst of perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time? Surely the Church should have been caring for these ‘orphans and widows in their distress.’ (James 1:27). Shouldn’t the pulpits across America have flamed with exhortations to rush to the front lines of compassion?

“How have we missed it so tragically, when even rock stars and Hollywood actors seem to understand?”

Mr. Stearns argues that evangelicals were often so focused on sexual morality and a personal relationship with God that they ignored the needy. He writes laceratingly about “a Church that had the wealth to build great sanctuaries but lacked the will to build schools, hospitals, and clinics.”

In one striking passage, Mr. Stearns quotes the prophet Ezekiel as saying that the great sin of the people of Sodom wasn’t so much that they were promiscuous or gay as that they were “arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49.)

Hmm. Imagine if sodomy laws could be used to punish the stingy, unconcerned rich!

The American view of evangelicals is still shaped by preening television blowhards and hypocrites who seem obsessed with gays and fetuses. One study cited in the book found that even among churchgoers ages 16 to 29, the descriptions most associated with Christianity were “antihomosexual,” “judgmental,” “too involved in politics,” and “hypocritical.”

Some conservative Christians reinforced the worst view of themselves by inspiring Ugandan homophobes who backed a bill that would punish gays with life imprisonment or execution. Ditto for the Vatican, whose hostility to condoms contributes to the AIDS epidemic. But there’s more to the picture: I’ve also seen many Catholic nuns and priests heroically caring for AIDS patients — even quietly handing out condoms.

One of the most inspiring figures I’ve met while covering Congo’s brutal civil war is a determined Polish nun in the terrifying hinterland, feeding orphans, standing up to drunken soldiers and comforting survivors — all in a war zone. I came back and decided: I want to grow up and become a Polish nun.

Some Americans assume that religious groups offer aid to entice converts. That’s incorrect. Today, groups like World Vision ban the use of aid to lure anyone into a religious conversation.

Some liberals are pushing to end the longtime practice (it’s a myth that this started with President George W. Bush) of channeling American aid through faith-based organizations. That change would be a catastrophe. In Haiti, more than half of food distributions go through religious groups like World Vision that have indispensable networks on the ground. We mustn’t make Haitians the casualties in our cultural wars.

A root problem is a liberal snobbishness toward faith-based organizations. Those doing the sneering typically give away far less money than evangelicals. They’re also less likely to spend vacations volunteering at, say, a school or a clinic in Rwanda.

If secular liberals can give up some of their snootiness, and if evangelicals can retire some of their sanctimony, then we all might succeed together in making greater progress against common enemies of humanity, like illiteracy, human trafficking and maternal mortality.

Raven Run pics

2010-05-15T16:16:00.000-04:00

We were collecting leaves for a school leaf project. It was Elijah's homework. I love this pic of him. Totally spontaneous.

Isaiah took this picture and I didn't crop it at all. He's quite the photographer.

Climbing the falls. Miraculously, no one got wet, and I didn't have to go chasing after Micah's shoe down the stream either.

FROM A STUDENT

2010-05-13T11:01:00.001-04:00

Grading memoirs today and ran across this 14 year old girl's piece. Here is part of it:

We had listened to them fighting. I was in my room, hiding, scared. My brother came and got me. We ran into his bed room, and closed the door noiselessly. We turned on his TV with the volume up loud, but that only muffled the sound of our parents fighting. I sat down on the wooden ladder, staring at the door knob, waiting for something to happen that would make this all disappear. The noise finally stopped, the door knob turned. I ran to my dad and hugged him. He said we needed to talk. We took a ride in his truck with its blackish purplish color that I so much adored.

The divorce all happened at once. The word we didn't understand had the power to tare a family apart. The tears ran down my face like rain. This memory haunts me. It is truly the one thing I can remember from my childhood.

A reminder to me today. This is part of my calling- to do whatever I can to bring the healing power of Jesus to hurting marriages.

ANOTHER ONE- She writes:

...This went on and finally my dad told me about my mom cheating on him. She did it when I wasn't around for her to look after. I knew that if I didn't leave the house, she would have to stop so that's what I did. My dad had told me that he was going to leave if she didn't stop. I made this my new goal, not to let him leave again. To do this I first had to stop her from going out which meant I couldn't go out and that's exactly what I did for five years. I stayed inside every single day and night so she had no chance of leaving. It worked. She didn't leave the house. Instead my mom decided she was leaving this time and she was taking me with her. This made me sadder than ever. I had to leave my house and all of my friends and go somewhere I hated. All for some stupid reason.

Today, I am with my mom still unfortunately. I hardly ever see my dad anymore, but that's okay because I would rather have nothing to do with either of them than something to do with both of them.

IMG00030.jpg

2010-05-10T15:16:00.000-04:00

Lunch on the trail. Hiking Saturday. Elijah is off chasing dragons with a stick.

Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Testing

2010-05-10T15:13:00.001-04:00

Testing mobile blogging.
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry

Micah story

2010-05-10T08:55:00.002-04:00

Micah: My armpit is really itchy. (scratching this morning)
Me: Let me see. You have a dry patch of skin in your armpit.
Micah: Oh. Do I need lotion or Gatorade?
Me: lotion. Gatorade is for a dry throat, not dry skin.
Micah: No, not Gatorade. What's that stuff you and Daddy rub on your armpits?
Me: Deodorant?
Micah: Yeah, (walking off to himself) deodorant... that's a hard word to remember.

Table Versus Clock

2010-05-05T11:10:00.004-04:00

(My poor attempts at poetry, part 13 -not an exact count- done as an assignment with my students this week) The assignment- "Write about something that matters to you right now."
----------------------------------------------------

Solid and rectangular
We gather around you.
The melodic clatter of forks, plates and glasses
is punctuated by fits of laughter-
symphonic resonance.
Tears soak into napkins, discarded
on your surface.

You support the weight of empty
plates, full hearts, sadness and joy.
You are the foundation
of elbows that support fists on temples
of heads that contain minds
that give voice to words
that change the world
of the women who gather around you.

A clock on the wall bears silent
forboding witness to the beauty,
genius and fortitude that you
are privvy to on this night.

Rank and file hands march steadily onward
mocking this masterpiece.
There is nowhere to run from your force.

Table versus Clock: the two are at war.
But memory of beauty triumphs over
time.
To you, o clock, I say- "Do your worst!"
Our memories are keen
And the table will see us again.

Zay turns 5

2010-05-01T19:00:00.005-04:00

How can you say "no" to that face..., and yet we do- on a regular basis.

I can hardly believe that our baby is 5 years old. Isaiah, at five years old... if I had to describe you in a word it would be 'charmer'. Some distinctions about your blossoming personality right now include your precision in speaking. You speak with careful enunciation of every syllable which often makes your speech slow and deliberate but easily understood. Adults find you charming because you know how to make conversation, and any stranger can understand you well.

You can be strong-willed at times, and you are VERY independent. Often, we'll notice that you're not with the crowd and when we go looking for you, we can usually find you building in the LEGO box or squishing sand between your toes in the sandbox. You have no fear of being alone for long periods of time- which makes you GREAT at playing hide and seek.

We love your easy laugh and smile, and you show a special affinity for music and dancing. In church, most Sundays you'll sing along with the worship music, even when your brothers and the other kids are drawing or whispering to each other. You are a special young man, we love you tons and can't wait to see who you become as a 5 year old this year.

Officially official (its been a while... sorry)

2010-04-28T21:22:00.006-04:00

This will be the two younger boys' room in the parsonage.
This is the living room; I'm thinking about keeping the tables and chairs. :)

-----------------------------
We will have a new home. Relief. Excitement. Anxiety. Nervousness. Adventure. All of it, all wrapped up together. Mostly it just feels really good to have direction- to know where the boys will go to elementary school in the fall, to know where we'll live, and just to know.

Now comes the hard part, preparing to leave. I love my people here, and I love knowing where to get a free muffin with coffee before 8am, how to get fresh vegetables all summer long, where the discount bread store is and who to call if I need... anything.

Keymar, Maryland. That's where we're headed and we're excited.
But that's all I can write because there's a lump in my throat for all we'll leave behind.

Easter Suits

2010-04-04T15:30:00.004-04:00

The boys have never had suits before. We have them this year for Uncle Garth and Aunt Jodie's wedding in June. For the most part, no one complained too much about getting dressed up this morning- that is after I convinced Elijah that he was dressing up as James Bond.

Spring in Jersey

2010-04-04T08:23:00.005-04:00

A few days in Jersey with our cousins and Uncle Josh and Aunt Jess, and we're back home again now. We had a terrific time together as always and can't wait to do it again. I didn't ever get a good picture of Garrett or Nora so you'll have to see them on the steps in the picture of all of the kids. We love you guys! Happy Easter!

On Teaching

2010-03-24T14:00:00.002-04:00

Love this whole article from Rob Bell, but especially this part. From my experience teaching, I can definitely say AMEN to this.

Things Taste Better When They've Been Marinated

I work on teachings for as long as four to six months, a year. You'd think I was obnoxious because if we go out to lunch I'll be diagramming on a napkin.

If you're married and I said, "Tell me about your wedding day," you could tell it to me. You wouldn't say, "I forgot my notes." No, you just tell me.

Those of you who have kids, if I asked, "How old are your kids, and what are their names?" You won't say, "I have my notes some place. I don't have my PowerPoint with me." No. Boom, boom, boom, these are the ages. Why? Because it's a part of you.

What if your teaching was such a part of you it was like telling about your wedding day or like telling about your first job? What would it be like if you could tell it like it was a story you told 200 times?

That's my passion. I have found the harder I work and the farther out I've been working on it, the more freedom I have.

The people who are listening to you, they know when it's become a part of you. They can feel when the speaker is just giving some information and observation, and they know when it is coming right through your soul.

We don't need people who sing the notes off a chart. We need soul singers. We need prophets. We need poets. Our generation needs people who have had an experience. They've got their hair set on fire. They're wild-eyed, and they can't wait. I got to say this, or I'm going to explode.

You can read the whole article here:

Creativity Abounds

2010-03-17T21:18:00.003-04:00

I was at the sink. The boys were at the table doing homework. Isaiah whispered to Elijah.
I told them to stop talking to Elijah so he could finish.
Isaiah said, "Mommy, how did you hear that. I was so quiet."
Me: "I have super sonic Mommy ears. Its my super power."
Isaiah: Mommy could hear an ant screaming for help.
Then he imitates an ant screaming, opening his mouth wide, teeny high pitch sound coming out just barely, then giggles contagiously.
Elijah chimes in: Mommy could hear the trees blowing in Africa.
Isaiah giggles some more.
What about Micah? Between his sore throat (he was home from school that day) and his usual focused, stoic attitude toward homework, he merely frowned at his brothers in protest of their frivolity. :) I love these boys.
My heart is full!

Peace for a New Day

2010-03-10T10:55:00.002-05:00

Falling asleep with
Shalom whispered past my lips
Brings new life at dawn.

Control: Dr. Suess Style (in honor of his birth week)

2010-03-05T20:58:00.005-05:00

merimnaō- thought, WORRY:
1) to be anxious, to be troubled with cares
2) to care for, look out for a thing, to seek to promote one's interests,
--------------------------------------------
Do not worry about your life (Matt. 6:25)
Do not worry about your wife (1 Cr. 7:33)
Do not worry about food or water (Matt 6:25)
And do not worry about sons or daughters (1 Cr. 7:34)

But shouldn't I, like Martha, work hard every day? (Luke 10:41)

No. Sit with Me.
I take troubles away.

No worry for life? No worry for water? No worry for food or sons or daughters?
What about clothing- a stylish outfit from Macy's
Surely I shouldn't be stuck in the 80's.

Do not worry about stylish clothes
Not hats, pants, boots or ribbons and bows.
Look at my flowers with their delicate beauty
And tell me if Macy's can live up to them, truly.

But how do I know what will happen tomorrow?
We might be in a bind, and then have to borrow
From friends or family or a perfect stranger,
What then? What then? We could be in danger?

Worry not about what will happen tomorrow, (Matt 6:34)
Worry not about having to beg, steal or borrow.

For after all these things the world does seek
your Father knows you have need of these things. (Matt. 6:32)

Worry not for my house,
not for a career.
Not for my kids, pizza, job or root beer.
I think I might like this trusting in You,
I think I might like it
I do. I do.
And....
I think I have learned my eventual goal
That faith in You
means releasing control.

Book Orders

2010-03-04T22:17:00.003-05:00

It is a battle I've chosen to fight, but one that I know he just can not understand right now. The Book Order.
You know those paper fliers we brought home from school every month. I LOVED them when I was in elementary school. I eagerly read book descriptions searching for that one perfect choice.
I feel like things have changed since 1986. Elijah's book order is FULL of media driven junk. Here was our conversation today:

Elijah: Can I get something from the book order.
Me: Probably. Why don't you circle the things you think you will want.

Later he brings me the paper and we sit down together to go through it. His choices include a mini-scooter with accompanying pamphlet, a Transformers book, a spy video camera with some kind of booklet, a door alarm with booklet and a SpongeBob book. We talked about his choices one at a time. I asked why he wanted it and why he thought it would be a good book.
Elijah: Its a scooter
Me: Its a toy scooter. It is tiny, and it isn't a book. We're choosing a book.
Elijah: Look at the spy camera one.
Me: Its not a real camera. Its just a box with a lens. It doesn't really do anything.
Elijah: Oh.
Me: Why did you pick Transformers and Spongebob?
Elijah: I love them.
Me: Really? Because you haven't seen either one on TV in probably a year. Are the stories really that interesting?
Elijah: I don't know.

So I made some suggestions... other boys themed books about adventures, magic, science, there were plenty of other good choices.
But alas, he was blinded by the fancy, media driven items. Oh how I wish they would just disappear. Every scrap of it muddies the waters of so many other more edifying, wholesome, high-quality items that kids would LOVE if they weren't so bombarded by mindless characters and endless trinkets.
Revolt!
Anyway, we bought some books that I think he'll love if he'll give them a chance. And I'll sleep well tonight.

Birthday Boys

2010-02-27T19:33:00.004-05:00

Another year flies by and our two oldest boys are a year older. Elijah turned 8 last week and Micah turned 6 two weeks ago. I can hardly believe it. We love them both so much! We had a shared party with a few friends. Mommy made a guitar cake, gifts were opened, games were played and I think they felt celebrated.

Elijah loves learning all about new places and people. Micah loves sharpening his math and reading skills. Elijah loves to run and jump and play and create. Micah loves to compete and spend time with friends and play video games and carefully observe. Both boys surprise us every day with the new things they're learning and doing. We love watching America's Funniest Home Videos before bedtime some nights, and both boys can be found curled up with a book or comic book at any given moment.

We love you so much boys! Happy Birthdays!

Lent and Maple Syrup

2010-02-25T09:51:00.010-05:00

"Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water." Numbers 31:22-23

One of the first signs of spring in my hometown corner of the world was a trip to my grandfather's sugar shack, usually with my cousins. It was a crude little dirt-floored structure nestled at the edge of a stand of sugar maples. At one end of the shack, a huge metal vat the size of a bathtub filled half of the shack. Underneath the vat, and of a similar size, was a wood burning stove with a curvy little stovepipe that rose from behind the vat and escaped through a hole in the slanted aluminum roof. Bright winter sunlight broke through a thousand tiny cracks in the walls, and on every available stud inside, nails held ladles, spoons, nets and filters. Two folding chairs and a small homemade table were the only other furnishings. It wasn't especially colorful or comfortable inside the shack, but I remember it with a smile. Maybe it was the smell. For 2-3 weeks every spring, a sweet, woodsy aroma of smoke, syrup, moisture and the earthy outdoors combined with the barn-like smell of my grandfather's coveralls. I can almost taste the hope of spring as I type.

The syrup making ritual involved checking sap buckets daily, collecting it in 50 gallon size containers that would then be dumped into the vat in the sugar shack- 43 gallons of sap yields just 1 gallon of sticky, sweet syrup, so this was truly a labor of love. Mixing, testing, stirring, feeding the fire that raged below the vat, skimming the syrup with a net to remove impurities that were distilled to the surface, day and night, batch after batch, waiting for the exact moment of perfection- too long and it would burn, too short and the flavor was weak.

For my part, I was involved as a tourist, but for my grandfather and uncles, it was laborious. The end product? Clear glass quart jars of syrupy, caramel-colored goodness would file into my grandmother's mudroom weeks later.

Today, during this same season of the year, I am involved in an entirely different ritual of purification.

With my prayer, "Cleanse my heart Lord. Purify me from impurities."
I imagine, "Turn up the heat in the old wood stove. Load on the firewood Lord."

With the common practice of giving up something for Lent,
I imagine the excesses of my life being distilled at a rumbling boil, escaping through the curvy stovepipe of my spirit into the vastness above.

With the difficult work of self-reflection and prayer,
I imagine the physical labor of my family members, toting heavy buckets of sap, standing or sitting around a steaming vat day and night, chopping and feeding logs to a ferocious fire for days on end.

And the end result of both processes? A beautiful sweetness that can only be produced through a process- a process of bringing what I have to the sugar shack, stoking the fires of reflection hot, releasing that which is impure (allowing another to skim off the really nasty stuff), and looking forward to the hope of a sweeter, closer relationship with my Maker.

As I allow Him, God is happy to illuminate the clouds of my watery self being released toward Him. He accepts it, releases me from the burden of carrying it, and I anticipate the closeness of knowing Him in all of His flavorful goodness as the days of Lent progress.

God Moment with Isaiah

2010-02-16T12:47:00.003-05:00

After lunch today, I was still eating, the older two were gone from the table and Isaiah was playing with the LEGO pieces he "borrowed" from seminary childcare this morning. Here is our conversation:
Zay: Mommy, I took this LEGO from childcare.
Me: I know. You're borrowing it though right? We'll take it back next time we go because if we don't that would be stealing.
Zay: No. I'm steeeeeealing it. (mischievous smile)
Me: Really? Do you think that's OK?
Zay: ....(playing).... God sees everything doesn't he.
Me: Yes he does. I think God is disappointed when we do things we know are wrong.
Zay: .... (playing)... Mommy, I think I have a little greed in my heart.
Me: I think we all probably have a little greed in our hearts. What can we do?
Zay: ... (looks at me, looks back at toy)...
Me: We can pray and ask God to replace our greed with contentment. We can say we're sorry for stealing and he'll forgive us. Have you prayed about the little greed in your heart?
Zay: No.
Me: Would you like to pray now?
Zay: (immediately- like 'I thought you'd never ask) Yeah!
Me: Do you want to pray or do you want Mommy to pray?
Zay: You.
Me: (he grabs my hand) Dear God, we know we have greed in our hearts sometimes. Its hard to be content with what we have. Would you help us and replace our greed with contentment? Forgive Isaiah for stealing. He is sorry. Help him to know he's forgiven. Amen.
Zay: (smiling) Mommy, I think my little greed is gone. Just like that (snaps his fingers) God can just take it right away.
Me: So are we borrowing the toy?
Zay: YES. (He hops off happily playing)

Best Medicine

2010-02-15T22:21:00.002-05:00

"Researchers estimate that laughing 100 times is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike."
"The psychological benefits of humor are quite amazing, according to doctors and nurses who are members of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor. People often store negative emotions, such as anger, sadness and fear, rather than expressing them. Laughter provides a way for these emotions to be harmlessly released."
And it just feels good to laugh. Oh women of Wilmore, my friends, what can I say? I love laughing with you. Thank you for your freedom, your honesty and your openness.

Weather Woes

2010-02-14T15:55:00.007-05:00

I don't know the science of it, but I do know that at a certain temperature, the snow makes a squeaky, crunchy sort of sound when you tromp through it. Each step sounds like wet skin on an inflatable pool chair. Nostril hairs freeze into tiny icicles, and even short periods of time outside color exposed patches skin bright pink. With bright sun shining, the sky is a primitive, clear blue, and the snow reflects a brighter white than can be recreated under any other circumstance. This is the winter I knew for 18 years of my life.

While the southern half of North America has other redeeming qualities, winter here is NOT one of them. Where oh where has the sunshine gone and when will she return?

34 Excuses

2010-02-04T20:04:00.004-05:00

I have a student who begs, BEGS to leave class over and over and over.
He does it in every class, all day long (his other teachers and I have talked). We've tried all strategies. I thought it might be fun to record a list of the ones I can remember from the recent past. Keep in mind that every request is met with begging, arguing and complete disrupting of class until he gets his way or you give him a discipline consequence for being argumentative.
1) I have a nose bleed (holding his hand over his nose, head tipped back. He didn't really have a nose bleed.)
2) I bumped my knee on the desk. I need to go get some ice.
3) I have a splinter in my finger and it really hurts. I need to see the nurse.
4) I really have to pee. Please can I go. (After having just come back from the bathroom 10 minutes earlier.)Please please please please please
5) I have a scrape on my knuckle. I need a Band-Aid. See it?? Right Here... for real Mrs. Crisp. Look. (I look, there is nothing that I can see without a microscope).
6) I need to turn in a form to the guidance office. Me: And where is this form? Oh it's in my locker, but I have to go get it and turn it in right now. It has to be in today. I promise. Its in my locker. Just right outside the door. They said...
7) _______ took my shoes in gym class and I have his on and they're too tight. Can I go find him and trade back with him? If I take these off they're really going to stick cause ___ has smelly feet and they'll be smelling up this whole room.
8) Can I go get a drink of water? I'm so thirsty that I can't even pick up a pencil or listen so I'm not going to do anything anyway until I get a drink.
9) I twisted my ankle in gym and it really hurts. Can I go get some ice?
10) My mom said that I needed to call her at 2:00 to remind her to come and pick me up. I need to go to the office to call home. I'm for real. She'll forget me.
11) I need to go call home to have my dad bring me some Advil. I've got a headache. I'm not going to get anything done until my headache goes away so you might as well let me go.
12) I have the wrong binder. Can I go to my locker to get my LA binder?
13) ______ has my binder and I need to go get it from him. It has my homework in it.
14) I don't have a pencil. Can I go buy one from the machine?
15) I don't have any paper. Can I go buy some from the machine?
16) I can't see from my seat. Can I go get my glasses out of my locker? I didn't wear my contacts today. (Comes back with no glasses) I must have left them at home.
17) _________ took my glasses between classes. Can I go get them back?
18) I need to go to the office to call home. Its an emergency. Its personal.
19) Can I go wash my hands? I've got ink all over them and its going to get all over the desk.
20) Can I go wash my hands? I think ____ has the swine flu and she sneezed on me with her germs. Hand sanitizer just isn't going to cut that crud.
21) Can I go wash my hands? I've got white-out all over them and I can't do my work because my pencil keeps slipping right out of my fingers. (He had painted every finger completely white)
22) My chair keeps tipping. Its broken. I need a new chair. I can't learn like this. Can I go ask Mr. Wayne for a new chair? (custodian)
23) (15 minutes late for class) My locker was stuck. You can call Mr. Wayne. Call him. He'll tell you. It was stuck I swear.
24) Can I go to the bathroom? I have a note now. From my doctor saying I have a medical problem. I need to go when I need to go.
25) Can I go talk to the counselor? I have an issue. Its too personal to talk about here right now.
26-30) Can I go talk to ___(insert and one of his 5 other teachers names here)_____ because she wrote me up. I got called to the office last hour because she wrote me up for no reason. I need to go talk to her.
And on and on and on.....
Oh oh oh, I forgot all of the braces related requests
31) My bracket broke
32) I need a rubber band from my locker
33) There's something stuck in my bracket and it really hurts. (totally in my personal space opening his mouth) SEEE!!
34) I just got my braces tightened and they really hurt. I need some ice.

There are so many more if you can believe it- all from one child, Every. Single. Day. By the time I get home, I don't want to answer a question ever again. Can't something be done, you ask? Where is the justice? Where is the system? Where is the principal? Haven't you told someone, you ask?
My answer: all of the someones have been told and there's nothing left to do but blog about it. :)

open windows & unlocked doors: prophets (luke 10:28)

2010-02-01T20:14:00.001-05:00

open windows & unlocked doors: prophets (luke 10:28)
Great poem here today. I loved the last stanza- so beautifully challenging (copied below if you don't want to read the whole poem, but it's worth the 2 minutes).
What do you think?
-------------------
If I were a prophet, I might say to you:

“In this perfectly broken world,
you must
see that which strives to be hidden,
hear those voices others would deny,
taste the bitterness of the forgotten,

and yet love all of it without exception,
as if your life depended upon it –

because it does.”

Give Wisely

2010-01-30T11:04:00.003-05:00

Just a reminder to think twice about where you give for Haitian relief efforts. Sometimes large organizations have their own political interests in mind over the best interests of individuals and families. Just make informed choices.
Heartline Haiti Ministries and World Wide Village are both small Christian organizations with experienced ministry professionals in Haiti. They are making good choices for kids unlike UNICEF. Read these two stories 1 family's story and Livesay's story for more on UNICEF. I'm only posting this because I had no idea. I like to be informed, and I thought maybe my 4 readers might like to know too. :)

Playing Detective

2010-01-30T10:39:00.003-05:00

Pretending this AM. Elijah is a detective; I am the receptionist at his agency and Zay is his cooky assistant.

Elijah: Have you had any calls recently?
Me: Yes actually. A lady just phoned in and said that someone stole her magic tricks.
Elijah: I'm on it. Assistant Cooky, come with me. (that's cooky as in spooky)
(Both run out of the room 5 minutes later they return)
Elijah: Mystery solved.
Me: Great. I'll let the lady know. What happened?
Elijah: The tricks were sucked up by our arch nemesis.
Me: Really. So how did you defeat him?
Elijah: I threw him in jail. His name was Sucky Face. He just sucked them up.
Zay: According to our calculations.
(Runs out of the room again... new adventures await)

College Age Group

2010-01-26T22:19:00.003-05:00

For the past 2 weeks, Eric and I have been hosting a group of college aged kids from church. We eat food, play games, talk about our lives and laugh. In the mere 10 years its been since I was in college, I've forgotten how appreciative I was of having a home to join for a few hours a week.

When we first talked about hosting the group I was all for it and knew in my head that it would be great, but somewhere there was the nagging thought, "What if they don't like it? What if they don't come back?" In 10 years, I had forgotten.

They are a great group of students, so polite and appreciative of the smallest gestures we make toward them (trust me, its nothing fancy). I am a little amazed by how little effort it actually takes to be of value to someone, and yet I'm so hesitant to make that little effort sometimes. Why is that? Anyway, all of that to say that its going great. We love having them over, they seem to enjoy coming over, and I'm looking forward to next week. AND I'm AGAIN encouraged to make the little efforts.