Jun 262012
 

I live in my own world.

I have my own priorities & preferences, tendencies & talents, interests & idiosyncrasies, habits & hangups.

I live deep inside the house of my own thoughts and forget to open the blinds to see what’s going on “out there.”  I depend on others to tap, knock or bang on the door reminding me to engage with the world outside.

I know there are people who throw open their doors each morning and stride out into the world to see how everyone is doing.  They look deep into your eyes when they talk to you and ask just the right, not-too-probing question to start the flow of conversation.

I’m not one of those people.  I wouldn’t mind being more like them, I really wouldn’t, it’s just that most of the time it doesn’t occur to me.

I was thinking about this recently, determining to be more outwardly focussed when I found myself in one of those situations tailor-made to test my new resolve.  I failed.  Miserably.

No, really. Miserably.

My ‘job’ was to make new people feel welcome.  I spotted one person I’d never seen before, marched up to her, introduced myself and then spent the next 10 minutes standing next to her in awkward silence trying to think of something to say.

Miserably.

That little voice inside said, “See? You’re not good at this.”  Humpf.

It wasn’t very long before I was reminded that things could be different.  I found myself passionately singing these words:

“You make me new,

You are making me new.”

Aha!  God doesn’t want to leave me the way I am.  In fits and starts, he is transforming me.

Next time you see me I may be totally wrapped up in my own thoughts, or I may say something totally awkward in an effort to initiate conversation.  Be patient with me, God’s making me new.

 Posted by at 23:03
Jun 232012
 

The past two weeks have been jam packed with activity for our family.  There have been many endings and beginnings and very little time to stop and reflect.  That means almost no time to write.

sepia-clock.jpg

Even when I did have time to write, I didn’t know where to start.  I feel like we’ve undergone some gigantic shift and what comes next is more momentous than what’s gone before.  We’re leaving elementary school behind, I have a 7th grader, Freshman and Senior now.

 

We are completly immersed in the world of hormones, Freshman Football, college visits, SATs, youth group outings, driver’s training, dating, eye rolls, part time jobs, acne, growth spurts, and more hormones.

The weighty topics we discuss are now somehow weightier.  

When we stand together, we feel like 5 people with at least one foot each in the adult world.  There’s no going back.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about what’s ahead.  I love seeing my kids step out into the unknown and carve their own paths without me holding their hands.  They are each entirely unique, yet so alike.  And it’s not just my kids who have a bright future: being able to have an uninterrupted conversation with my husband is beginning to sound like an attainable goal.  

As I step into uncharted territory I’m reminded that every day is new, whether we recognize it or not.  Here’s to exciting things ahead and all the moments that led to this point!

 Posted by at 13:05
Jun 092012
 

 

My dog and I surprised a wild rabbit this morning on our pre-dawn walk.  As we got close to a small flower bed, I saw a white cotton ball go bounding into the street

.

 

 

 

 

rabbit tail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the bunny rocketed down the hill towards ‘safety’ the phrase “quick as a bunny” came to mind.  That creature sensed danger,

choose an escape angle and went for it with lightning speed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I searched the morning grey for another glimpse of the white tail, I thought about the power of experience.  Before this morning, the phrase “Quick as a Bunny” had a vague, foggy place in my lexicon.  After this encounter, I have a vivid visual to tie to it.

How important then is it to provide actual experiences for our children rather than simply ‘educating’ them?  A simple 30 second encounter this morning informed my understanding in a way that 30 minutes of talking about rabbits never could.  Even reading about them wouldn’t bring this level of comprehension. (Gasp!)   I admit it, the knowledge we get from the spoken or written word is qualitatively different from the knowledge we get from experience.  In a perfect world, the three tangle together creating a strong web of knowing.  

What new things will you experience this weekend?

 Posted by at 13:22
Jun 032012
 

The Sara(h) Syndrome.  That’s what I’m calling it: the urge to blog.  It’s true: all of my friends named Sara(h) have a blog as do many other friends and acquaintances.   But writing is not as easy as it looked when they did all the heavy lifting.

Here are some thoughts on why by someone way more eloquent than I am.

It’s long. It’s worth it.

Just start watching. Give it a chance.

You can turn it off if it bores you.

(The end is the best part.)

 

 

 Posted by at 20:12
Jun 012012
 

As we get to the end of the school year, teachers get tired.  We do.  

The kids think they know it all.  Everything is predictable and “boring”.  The kids get excited because they can sense the end is near and the teachers are drained.

It’s a perfect time to “Change One Thing.”

Sometimes that’s all it takes to right the ship.

Add water to the sandbox.  Add glitter to the playdough.  Stick googly eyes on the easel painting paper.  Swap scrapbooking scissors for the regular ones.  Have circle time in the middle of the basketball court.  

They’re all simple ideas, but each bring their own brand of magic to the classroom.  

Sad EggHappy Egg

Now here’s the real trick: it works at home too!

Do homework outside.  Picnic in the living room.  Mop the kitchen floor with your feet in old socks.  Set the table with the good dishes.  Add bubbles to the bathtub.  Sleep backwards in your bed.  Buy fresh flowers for yourself.  

What one thing could you change today to shake things up
?

 

 

 

 Posted by at 20:18