Saturday, October 30, 2010

Drudgery

5 am.  Did you know that the stars are really bright at 5 am?  I do.   I know this because that's what time I get up to take Christopher to swim practice.  Every morning.  Ev-er-y morn-ing.

He's great about it.  He comes in and wakes me up and says, "Mom, it's time to go."  I drag myself out of bed, walk downstairs, look for keys, glasses, purse, shoes, jacket.  Oh, and I mumble something about "Do you have everything you need?"  At least I think that's what I say.  I think it. 

I walk outside, and I'm hit with the silence.  It's kind of nice though.  And then, inevitably, my eyes are drawn upward because the stars are that bright.  I never realized how much I missed that until I came back to the states and walked outside.  Taiwan had a lot of light polution, and you couldn't see much.  But there aren't a lot of street lights here.  I really like that.

Yesterday morning the Milky Way stood out quite a bit.  It looked like a misty band of stars draped across the sky.  Christopher and I just stopped and took it all in.  We do that every morning.  We both like looking at the night sky. Or morning sky, depending on  which side of midnight we're on.

We don't say much on the way to swim practice.  But I get to just be with my third born, and that's nice.  I drop him off, and he says "I love you mom."  Every time.  And then he flashes the I love you sign.

Getting up that early is drudgery, but drudgery isn't all that bad.  It's actually kind of nice.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Project

So the project is moving along.  Slowly.  My main idea is still the same, but there have been some changes as well.

In the meantime, I'm still loving the job.  It's a great way to keep my creative skills fine tuned, and as always, the kids just keep me motivated.  They're such a good group.  Chatty, but good.

I love having a job that I can't wait to get to each morning.  God is good.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Keep Waitin' For That Change...

...But it's still the same.  *sigh* I always hold out a little hope, but I'm really beginning to think some things will never change....

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Stacy Squared

Kindred spirit and I had a day out.

Held puppies.

Ate sundae cookies.

Talked girl talk...with no testosterone interference.

Twas a good day.

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Post High School Years

There are times when I really work to put myself back into situations when I was younger, to try and remember what things might be like for my kids.  Of course I know that things are very different today, but a lot of things are the same as well.  Difficulties with school, hard times with friends, fear of the unknown...

...I remember when my mom dropped me off at college.  I went to school two weeks into the semester.  My roommates already had their room situated.  Classes had already started.  And I was scared to death!  I had never been away from home like that before, completely on my own, knowing no one.  Mom drove away in the parking lot, and I was like a lost puppy.  I was sick within a week, made it through that, and just put my feet to the ground and started working.

Well, Em's doing that now, but she's doing it much better than I did. So much more poised. If she's scared she doesn't show it.  And she just keeps putting herself out there, completely out of her comfort zone, but just taking it all on.  I'm so proud of her.  It's nice when you see your kids doing things better than you did!  It gives you so much more confidence in them.

Yeah.  I'm proud. ;)

Friday, October 08, 2010

The Importance of Questions

I was in the teacher's lounge years ago (not one of my favorite places), and the teachers there were discussing the events of the day which happened to be the Branch Davidian situation in Waco.  The Davidians were still in a stand off, and more and more information was coming forward about David Koresh and his followers, and what they believed and practiced.  A fellow teacher looked at me and said, "So, what do you think is going to happen to your guy David in Waco?"  Shocked, I asked him what he meant by that statement.  "Well," he said, "You're a christian, he's a christian...you must know what he's teaching."

In that moment I realized that it was important for me not to be offended, but instead discuss the differences.  I explained that Mr. Koresh demanded to be followed without question, but as christians we are supposed to question our leaders.  We are to study ourselves and we are to hold our pastors accountable for what they teach.  He was quite surprised, but his question led to a great discussion. And it led to a realization:

Truth is not afraid of questions.  Truth welcomes questions.  It welcomes testing, because testing = proof.

Beware of those who do not allow questions.  They fear truth.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Sometimes I wonder about my life...

...I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void.

Just love a good movie.

Saturday, October 02, 2010

What a Day!

Just finished facilitating a MARATHON 18 hour GT training in two days.  Wow.

But it was fun!

You know, there are lots of teachers out there with really good ideas.  Lots.

And they never cease to amaze me.