Rules #184

Every step is a little bit closer to the end of the journey.

This was the wrong week to....

As I looked down at my cold coffee stained white shirt, green scarf, and beige sweater I considered the fact that maybe this wasn't the week to try and cut back on caffeine. Maybe I should've given it up altogether?

Rules #183

No one ever said that fear had to be one way.

Rules #183

The last fifteen minutes of the day are the longest.

Rules #182

Even something you're afraid can brighten your day.

Rules #181

Don't kick the dog.

Soap Box: Good Songs Gone Sour

You ever hear a song on the radio and it's really good. Of course you come in half way through so you're a little lost but you listen anyways. The tune gets caught in your head and you find yourself singing the chorus long after the song has ended? You remember it for days and then finally, it comes on again. You're excited because you get to hear what that song is about and what it's called and who's it by! And then you realize that your wonderful song is about something terrible- something you don't want to be caught knowing, let alone singing. And so you sulk.

 

That's where I am right now. Therefore, I'm gonna rewrite these beautiful songs with lovely melodies and atrocious lyrics. I'm gonna make them tolerable. I'm going to make them better. And then I'm going to go sulk in my corner again because they were supposed to be GOOD songs and no matter how much I change them they're still about something bad. Grumble.

Soap Box: Changes

There have been a lot of changes in my life lately. I've gotten two more godchildren which brings my current total to three boys and five girls. I got a new job four months ago Friday. I no longer get to work directly with priests but I still get to talk to them regularly. My best friend is getting married next month (in twenty-seven days but who's counting?)  My much loved, barely tolerated cat passed away from old age. I started my second year as a teacher of English for non-native speakers and it is tiring but worth it.

 

I've seen a lot of the worst of humanity in my current job and sometimes it makes me jaded.  I think I teach my class because it allows me to witness much of the good of humanity too.  It also allows me to be part of something good, even if it exhausts me.  I work hard with my students but they work harder. These adults, many of whom are old enough to be my parents if not my grandparents, humble themselves to be taught in a classroom two to three times a week by a wildly abnormal teacher, in order to learn another language so that they may improve the lives of their children and grandchildren. They work two or three full time jobs a week and are never late for class. They always do their homework and come prepared with questions and all the materials I've asked them to bring. They are enthusiastic- they read the books I give them- they study and form study groups to help the weaker members of the class. Over and over again they humble themselves and I have yet to have a class where they have not thanked me for my time. They don't see that I am blessed by them.

 

Lately I've been hearing one too many people talk about "those people" who move here and don't speak English. I am first generation of some of those people so maybe my opinion is jaded, but it seems to me that if you go back far enough, all of us come from "those people".

 

Learning English is not a moral choice. Treating people like they are still people is a moral choice. So if you don't like your neighbors, as long as you love them, I don't really care, but for pity's sake, be nice to them. Be charitable. See the world through their eyes. And if you don't like what you see when you run into someone who doesn't speak your language, well I can always use an assistant teaching English.  Be the change you want to see.

Rules #180

Is it scarier to love or not to be loved?

Rules #179

Sometimes the only thing you need to hear from God is, "Be at peace; I am still with you" to feel better about the world.

Rules #178

Sometimes all you can do is try to do the right thing.

Rules #177

There are no instructions too simple for you to mess up.

Rules #176

Speak with purpose. Act with purpose. Live with purpose.

With the Birds

My blue jays are back. I thought they were gone when the ravens moved in, but the sun has come back and so have my birds.

My Happy Thoughts List

This Saturday morning I woke to the first damp, drizzly, windy, cold-enough-to-need-a-jacket day in a REALLY long summer. I'll admit- I'm elated. I love this. This is my kind of weather.

I went for a walk. I took the dog. I tried to take Attila but she changed her mind and forgot to tell me. I came back. I had hot chocolate with Raspberry, which a friend in college turned me onto. I took a nap. I dressed in long sleeves. I've been having a truly, epicly, good day. Then I started making a list of all of my favorite parts of fall.

1. Apple scented candles.
2. Autumn leaves.
3. Birds flying "South" for the winter.
4. Candy Cane hot chocolate.
5. Cold wind in my face as I walk out the front door.
6. Chasing down whatever child has borrowed my hat this week.
7. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins.
8. Christmas lights coming out of the box.
9. Crisp cold mornings.
10. Crunchy leaves.
11. Eighty pounds of apples.
12. Eskimo kisses.
13. Fake chattering teeth.
14. Fall wreaths.
15. Fire in the fireplace.
16. Frost on the windows
17. GLOVES!.
18. Halloween.
19. Harvest Moons.
20. Having to run back inside to get warmer clothes.
21. Hats and jacket combos.
22. Heaters.
23. Holding little gloved hands.
24. Hot chocolate with raspberry.
25. Jumping in the leaf pile.
26. Leaf Angels.
27. Making apples sauce.
28. No more bugs.
29. Norbert sitting on my feet.
30. Peppermint coffee.
31. Pumpkins.
32. Rain boots scattered in the entry way.
33. Raking leaves.
34. Real Apple Cider
35. Rain dances.
36. Running after Attila with her hat.
37. Running to get out of the rain.
38. Relishing standing in the rain.
39. Scarves.
40. "Sneaking" out early to play in the cold with the kids.
41. Snow angels.
42. Snuggling with Attila because she's "cold".
43. Stage-three candy.
44. Thanksgiving dinner with Mischa's family.
45. Tiny people hiding under my jacket while I'm wearing it.
46. Turkey.
47. Using all my blankets.
48. Warm boots with mismatched socks.
49. Wind blowing the hair out of my face.
50. Wrapping Napoleon up in her scarf so she can't move but she's warm.

For the record, this is just the beginning of my list.

Rules #175

The Truth shall set you free.

Book Post

So I have fifteen fairly unimpressionable students that I am attempting to teach English as a second language. My youngest students are in their early twenties and my oldest students are old enough to be my grandparents. I am trying to encourage an environment of reading and writing. I am having them write sentences and we're working on paragraphs. 

 

I am trying to set up a book lending group within the class. What books should I have them read outside of class? Keep in mind that their speaking level is higher than their reading level. One of my students would prefer books that have pictures. Some of them are higher level than that but none of them are at a normal English Speaking Adult Reading level. This is not meant as an insult; they are working hard and are learning, but I want to help them expand their abilities without scaring them with the enormity of the task they are undertaking.

Rules #174

Make time for God; He always makes time for you.

Remembering

Today is another year since one of the most terrifying days of our country's history. But it is also a day to remember one of our most heroic days as well. Say a prayer for those who lost something and another one for those who gained something in themselves as well.

Rules #173

The only person who can make you a better person is you.


And God.

Rules #172

Never be afraid to walk away from a bad situation.

Rules #171

Don't apologize when you didn't do something wrong.

Rules #170

Days that start at an ungodly hour cannot be restarted.

Public Notice

Dear California Residence,

Remember there is a two hour time difference between Texas and California. If it is 9pm there it is 11pm here. Unless there is an emergency (i.e. someone is dying and only I can save them- not someone just died/had a baby/couldn't sleep) don't call me after 9pm, even if I called you three and a half hours earlier. I get up at 5:20am and it takes a long time for me to get back into REM sleep.

Thank you,
me

Rules to Happiness #169

Love and accept yourself for who YOU are.

Rules to Happiness #168

You will never know how strong you are until someone tests your mettle.

Rules to Happines #167

Cookies won't make it better.

Rules to Happines #166

"Whoever said unmerited suffering is redemptive" is either a genius or an idiot.

Rules to Happiness #165

The snooze button is one of the world's greatest self inflicted pains.

Rules to Happines #164

"All will be okay in the end. If it's not okay then it's not the end."

-Stolen from one MI Leader, Janet.

On the Last Day of a Perfect Summer Weekend

Have you ever been outside when that first gust of Fall comes blowing down your path? When the clouds all start playing tag with the sunshine? When the leaves give a wistful smile as they think that they soon shall be going on lots of grand adventures? When the sky is perfectly blue and the trees perfectly green on the last perfect day of Summer? I think that was today.

Oh sure, the last day of Summer isn't technically until September 21st, but I don't believe it. I believe that fall is coming and it is so close you can almost taste it. I believe a lot of things but I'm longing for fall. I'm praying for fall. I'm hoping for fall. I am sitting and awaiting in joyful expectation of what might soon be cooler weather, and pleasant walks out in the less than murky heat of the evening. I have so much to look forward too. Even if school starts tomorrow and I have tons and tons to do before then. I am ready for one more adventure; how bout you?