More Quick Quotes

A good teacher of young children needs to be wiling to be the same kind of learner that she expects each child in her class to be. - Carol Hillman

Best Recipe

It was 75 here today and felt like late spring back home.

Back home there is talk of a blizzard right now. A big 2-day storm.

What different worlds I know.

I wish sometimes that I could just take the best of every bit of the world I have known and mix them together.

A little Texas hospitality and warmth here. A dash of Nebraska pride and helpfulness there. Midwestern scenery sprinkled with tall Texas pines. Add in some Alaskan mountains right there. Oh, some Polish foods there. A splash of coffee shops, summer rooftop and fire escape conversations, and lying on the beach. Friends and family until filled to the brim. Enjoy!

Yeah, that'd be cool.

Quick Quote

The last time you're doing something — knowing you're doing it for the last — makes it even more alive than the first.
-Gloria Naylor, Mama Day

Agree or disagree?

I personally would disagree. I think it brings a certain magic to it, but that magic is tainted with bittersweetness. That's different than the novel magic that comes with the first time you do something. There's something special about the first time, and there's something special about the last time. Both times are very alive, but in different ways.

What do you think?

Why I Love Preschool

The look on the preschool boy's face when I told him I'd never seen a snake hole before. It was a mixture of amazement and horror, like he couldn't tell if I was lying and didn't know how it was possible for somebody to have never witnessed something so cool.

Watching a group of my preschoolers make "the biggest birthday cake ever" out of leaves and pine needles. It was so big that when they told me one of the girls was inside, I believed them and was about to look through it...until I turned around and saw her on the other end of the playground.

Practicing how to write 6s:

Me, after noticing a little boy could use a little more practice: "Would you like to flip over your sheet and show me a few more?"

The little boy, without a hint of sarcasm or joking: "No, ma'am."

[My outer and inner teacher instincts at battle: don't laugh. laugh. let him go play because that was cute. have him practice because it'd help him.]

He practiced anyway.

Children's books are the most fun kind to read out loud.

I've learned that preschoolers are the most fearless group when it comes to hug. No time, location, or person is not suitable for hugging.

We sing fun songs that have silly motions to go with while waiting for their parents, and it's okay to make faces. The more faces, the more they laugh. The more they laugh, the more fun it is.

Spaceships. Moon rocks. Shooting stars. Space adventures to fix satellites. Astronaut-puppies. Imaginations know no bounds.

~"An understanding heart is everything in a teacher." [-Carl G. Jung]~

[Sidenote: I'll be at a conference for the next few days...we'll see how blogging goes while I'm there. No guarantees.]

LoveLyrics

I love the lyrics to this song. They capture so much: optimism, a shared peace, determination to fix the problems and learn from them, enjoying time together...and that love is more than sappy songs make it out to be.

Love is the downs just as much as the ups. Love can be so, so difficult. Love is challenging

...whether it's a romantic kind, a friendship kind, or a family kind.


And love is necessary.

~"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." [-1 Cor. 13:13]~

Blessed Days

blessings...

today blowing a terrible yesterday out of the water by being good simply by being routine. bombarding hugs from preschoolers in the middle of a story. friends knowing me well enough to read my mind. words that comfort the heart and mind. the silenced voice that tells me i'm a burden, not good enough.

tears of joy

of realizing how blessed i am.

all of this with an underlying hint of homesickness, Sewardsickness, of thinking of the blessings back home, of the faces and places i miss there. love to all of you wonderful people. :)

but i wouldn't trade where i'm at today.

~"Learning is the best of all wealth; it is easy to carry, thieves cannot steal it, and tyrants cannot seize it; neither fire nor water can destroy it; and far from decreasing, it increases by giving." [=-Naladiyar]~

Love In Action

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [Romans 12:9-18]

How I wish I could do this...totally, utterly, and completely.

Game Day

Today we're playing for a Superbowl spot. I'm excited. :)

Simple Quotes and Thoughts

From The Shack:

"You don't play a game or color a picture with a child to show your superiority. Rather, you choose to limit yourself so as to facilitate and honor that relationship. You will even lose a competition to accomplish love. It's not about winning and losing, but about love and respect."

"Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not know I love you, you cannot trust me...but together we will watch that change take place."

"Grace Like Rain"

I had the opportunity to sit in on a Bible study with the Salem staff yesterday, and they were discussing the concept of truly knowing grace before sharing grace.

And this song crept into my head. We sang it my very first weekend as a college student at CUC's New Student Camp (a trip to a camp about an hour or so away from campus), and I sang it many, many more times before leaving CUC. I haven't gotten too many opportunities to sing it since then so it always makes me nostalgic -- especially for those few nights around the campfire in the last of the summer heat singing along to the guitars with a bunch of other new students. We were all just as anxious and excited as we faced a seemingly endless journey through college.

It was beautiful.

Moses Mind

Today I taught my first-ever preschool Bible lesson. The subject was Jesus' baptism. It was the first time they'd talked about baptism in the class. I was terrified. What if I misspoke? Left anything out? David and I long ago dubbed that kinda mindset the Moses attitude.

That guy had all kinds of excuses for God. "But God, what if they don't believe me?" "Here, show them this awesome staff." "But God, I'm terrible at speaking in front of people." "Here, take your brother Aaron. What excuse are you going to try now? I can silence 'em all really fast." Geez, Moses, man up!

See, it's not my job (or ability, even) to create faith in these young hearts, but it is my job to share what I know and love in hopes that the door will be opened for them. But that Moses attitude creeps in and makes me wonder who I am to think that I can teach them any of this when I have so much to learn myself.

Thank goodness I have a co-op so I'm not alone. Her words provided an attitude shift: Pray while preparing the lesson, and pray before you give it. God will give you the words.

He listens to my excuses, and then hands me the anti-excuses. He shows me He can use me. And He gives me what I need.

Wow. Just wow.

I'm still waiting for my staff-snake, though. ;)

~"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." [-Phillipians 4:13]~

Opinion Poll

What do you think of a sermon series done on a popular book or TV show?

The church I'm at now has done a sermon series in the past on The Shack by William P. Young. I've heard of one back in NE that did one on Seinfeld.

I'm kind of torn on this issue. I'm a firm believer that different congregations have different needs, and that even includes styles of worship. I'll never pick on set side in the traditional vs. contemporary debate, period (although I do have my preferences). Maybe some people just aren't ready for being fully submerged in the Word right off the bat and may need those secular references to grasp it before branching away from their comfort zone of the familiar. Some congregations do have a lot of people who have had that solid Lutheran upbringing, but some congregations have people who have not come from any sort of religious background at all. If I had to take a stand, I'd say that as long as the people leave there knowing and believing they have a loving Savior who died for each of them, a lot of good has been done. At the same time, I know that it's dangerous territory. It'd be so, so easy to slip into the wrong focus (worldly versus Godly) on the part of the message or what an individual walks away with. This just brings me back to my thought of different congregations, different needs.

So what do you think?

~"He can speak intelligently about almost anything, and even though you sense he has strong convictions, he has a gentle way about him that lets you keep yours." [The Shack]~

Escapes

Bookstores and coffee shops.

Those are two places where I go to run away from the world, to find peace, to find a home away from home.

The sounds. The smells. The people.

Being able to get lost in music, books, a good cup of coffee, and sometimes in conversation...but that last one's optional.

Because I can just blend in if I want to, get lost in a tiny corner of the world in a literal corner of a building, claim my very own space for a while.

Where do you go to escape?

~"Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature." [-Albert Einstein]~

Sharing Sunday

I can't remember the last time I got to read an entire book in 2 days. That's what I did this weekend. I love being so gripped by a book that I don't want to put it down.

Anyways, I've come across a few videos that are too good not to share.

This one is from Salem Lutheran Church, the one connected to the school and preschool I'm at this semester. So many extremely talented people in this congregation, including the children.


This IS Dexter (my GPS) to a T. Oy.


Hilarious, but true! This comes from the series we're doing in Bible study right now -- Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage. Love it!

A Texas Tail Tale

It finally warmed up from the 40s to the 60s today! Now that's is what I'm talkin' about, Texas. Keep it comin'.

It was sunny when I woke up, so naturally I wanted to open my curtains, so open them I did.

And then it hit me. Literally.

I later found out this little guy doesn't do any damage. He's not dangerous. But he was way, way unexpected. I hear they make good pets, actually.

Later I decided to embark on an adventure to b&n, Half-Price Books, and Target. b&n is always one of those places I like to find ASAP after moving to a new place because I can always feel a certain kind of untouchable peace in a bookstore, especially b&n because of how much time I've spent at the one at home.

But I did not end up where I wanted to go. At all. I drove for 45 minutes, had my first encounter with Whataburger (verdict: delicious), and turned around to come back to Tomball. I then settled for a trip to Target in town and finding a good book, only half of my goal for this trip. I sat reading in the Starbucks there for a little bit with some coffee before heading home and calling it a day.

It's such a strange feeling not knowing where anything is. I vaguely felt like I was going the wrong way, but I wasn't certain. It was fun exploring the area, but it was also frustrating not to get where I wanted to go. And the traffic around here is much more than I'm used to after life in Seward. I'm looking forward to when I won't have to depend on my GPS to get me where I want to go. If I keep having excursions like this, hey, I'll be set, right? :)

~"Crying's not humiliating -- it just lets others know you're human." [Falling Home by Karen White]

Bed(Writer's)Block

I meant to have something to blog about tonight...some fantastic summary of life here so far, the wonderful new things, how God's at work here...but my bed looks fantastic.

You'll have to wait in suspense until tomorrow.

~"Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I'll understand." [-Chinese proverb]~

Resounding Truths

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." [Psalm 65:11]

Words proving true only 13 days into 2011.

"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot -- come, let us rejoice in him." [Psalm 66: 5-6]

Words that will prove important to remember in 2011 when things feel impossible.

Badge of Honor

Sometimes it's the little things in life.

name badges. keys. finding quotes you were trying to tell friends about. preschooler hugs. quiet nudges from God. playing with puppies. getting to know people.

~"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater." [-Gail Godwin]~

Texas Tidbits

This this week has reminded me of so far:

- How exhausting it is to be on your feet for 8 hours

- How exciting it is to spend the day with small children

- How prepared I am for this

- It is what I chose to make it

- Asking questions is totally okay, even if it feels silly (people appreciate that more than having to fix the goofs, anyway)

- Insecurities do more harm than good...and are silly half the time, anyway

- Accents are fun. And fascinating.

Some fun facts about Texas so far:

- The big grocery stores around here are Kroger and H.E.B...hm.

- It's been cold here (like in the 40s). Texans aren't okay with that. And they have to cover their wells and plants at night when it dips down into the 20s because the plants and wells aren't okay with that.

- The people here are super-sweet and polite. Even the kids. One of my little boys came up to me, introduced himself, and even shook my hand. I was speechless.

- There are Jack-in-the-Boxes everywhere. And Sonic. And I will try both before I leave at the end of April.

- Tomball has a magnet-effect similar to Seward: once people are here, they don't seem to leave, and they're okay with that.

~"Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey." [-Unknown]~

Not Mine But Thine

Somebody today illustrated life's shake-ups as God throwing lighting bolts into our lives -- they strike when you least expect them.

I believe it.

Every single one of my future plans has been shaken up lately...including my intention of graduating with two degrees. We'll see how that goes.

God, take this life and lead it. Take me where you need me. Take my will and replace it with yours. Your plans are far better than mine, anyway.

~"Enthusiasm is the Spirit of God working with you." [the quote on my daily calendar]~

Adjusting.

Whirlwind day: Bible class. Church. Being prayed over during the service. Lots of new names and faces. Settling into a new home. Meeting the principal, assistant principal, EC program director, and a number of other teachers.

Feeling excited/nervous/ready for tomorrow. We'll tour the school and town, get taken to lunch, fill out paperwork, go through the guidelines and expectations, and get keys and IDs.

I keep getting struck over and over that this is it. The real deal. I'm a full-on student teacher. No methods classes, just teaching. And learning. And experiencing.

God's already at work here. I'm blessed beyond what I imagined, and it's only the 2nd day.

~"Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." [-J.R.R. Tolkien]~

Arrival At Last

If I could stop my car, get out, and take a picture (okay, lots of pictures) of every beautiful, inspiring, thought-provoking, funny, or inexplicably attracting object/sign/thing I see when I'm driving, I'd never get anywhere.

But I wish I could do that.

So far Texas is beautiful.

And I have pictures and stories waiting to be shared. But they'll have to wait...unless you go to my secret website. If you don't have the link and want it, let me know. I'll be putting lots of pictures of life around here up on there (mostly for the family's sake).

For now, there are things left to do to get ready for the morning and slept to be had.

It sure feels good to finally be somewhere that's been a year in the making.

~"Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world. Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before." [-"Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera]~

New State, New Adventures

Moving is hectic, even if it's just for a semester.

Sorry for being MIA for agree days, but I wanted to make the most of the few days in KC with David and his family (and did. It was fanatatic.)

I'm in Dallas now, and I'll be "home" by tomorrow afternoon.

The Texas adventure is officially underway!

~"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary..."~

And So It Begins.

It is 2:20 in the morning.

And I still have some packing left to do.

I'm going to sleep, finish packing, and then hit the road. On time. Which is anywhere before 8:30.

It snowed earlier. It was just an inch, but it happened to be the beautiful fat, fluffy, and glittery flakes that are mesmerizing. I admired them on the way to my aunts, praising God for their beauty. "Thanks for one last beautiful bit of snow!" I mentally told Him.

Later, as my car was sliding around on the snow and ice covered roads, I thought to myself, "Goodness, it'll be great to be in Texas."

(A few seconds later... )

"Sorry, God. It is still pretty. I'm sure I'll miss it at least a little."

Mission Texas Adventure:

Kansas City today. Spend time with David and his family.

Dallas on Friday. Spend time with Matt and Kelly.

Tomball on Saturday. Meet host family. Settle in. Think about the high of 18 degrees back home while there's a high of 66 degrees in Tomball. :)

~"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." [-Lao Tzu]~

Brain Result(ing) Humor

It's official: I have a brain.

Got the MRI results today. Turned out to be mostly normal except for two small spots. Doc's going to run it by the neurologist and see if it's something that I should get checked out or not and when (leaving for TX means that I would have to find somebody there or wait until I get back in May...which I would rather do so it's in a system I'm familiar with, less nerves, yadda yadda, but we'll see).

I'm not worried. (Although this may fall under the catagory of "things that qualify for legitimate worrying rather than the petty things I choose to worry about instead.")

I'm just relieved there's a brain there after all. Otherwise I'd have to change my name. Goodness knows I've already got the clumsy part down, anyway. ;)

~"I wish my name was Brian because maybe sometimes people would misspell my name and call me Brain. That's like a free compliment and you don't even gotta be smart to notice it." [-Mitch Hedberg]~

Football Fan(atic) Family

I come from a family that loves football. Half of my family (Mom's side) lives in WI and are Packer fans, half (Dad's) is from IL and loves the Bears.

When it comes to football, I'm totally a Daddy's Girl.

Dad's side also has a lot of superstitions that come with the football season. We are very particular about what jerseys or Chicago gear may or may not be worn on game days, what foods we eat, etc. We're serious about keeping them; we're not serious about believing them. It's just a fun tradition we have going on.

I love Bears vs. Packers games the most because of the rivalry in the family. My brother's a Bears fan, too, so it's fun when the two of us get to watch the game with Mom's sides. It's more fun when Da Bears win, but that's obviously not always the case. (Today we lost...10-3. Ouch.)

I think the family togetherness is secretly the true root of my passion for this sport.

~"In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard." [-Theodore Roosevelt]~

ReNew(Year).

Sometimes I can't wrap my head around what is...

engagements and marriages

graduations

student teaching

seeing my cousins grow up

having the joy of watching a nephew grow into this little curious person

friends moving all over the world

How did we get here? It doesn't feel like we should be old enough for this. These concepts were always so abstract...and now they're real. And they're here. Nestling in to stay, even.

I was overwhelmed last night as my aunt, uncle, cousins, a few family friends, and I rang in the New Year. I had to walk away and sit for a few minutes to review what this year is bringing with it:

student teaching. graduation. the end of college life. the beginning of the real world. interviews. my first teaching job. growing relationships. new friendships. moving to who-knows-where. my first place. new opportunities.

And with a deep breath, I got up from the stairs and went to start this landmark year.

'Cause God's got this. May He work through this year. Work in our lives. Shape us and teach us. Lead us. Forgive us. Love us.

Bring it on, 2011.

~"Couldn't wait to get going, but wasn't quite ready to leave." [-"American Honey" by Lady Antebellum]~