How I Made $3

Last Saturday was a busy day. The boys and I went into town to run some errands and on the way, Josh asked me if he could ride his bike when we got home. I reminded him that his tire was flat, but assured him that we would stop at Target to get a tire pump so we could pump it up. So, before heading home we did just that. After several minutes in the bike gear aisle, I chose an electric air pump. (Who needs all the work of a hand pump anyway?) We also got training wheels for Adam's two wheeler so that he could ride, too.

We went to the grocery store and post office and headed home. Before I could even get out of the car, Josh had the garage door open and was waiting for me to get the pump ready. As soon as I got the milk put away, I went outside and opened the package of our new pump. I was surprised to find that it ran from the cigarette lighter in a car, not a regular outlet. (Lesson #186 on reading labels.) I've never in my life plugged anything into a car cigarette lighter, and when I plugged in the pump and turned on the switch nothing happened. (Who knew that the car had to be on?) The look of disappointment on Josh's face was unbearable, so we loaded 3 bikes (their two-wheelers and Adam's tricycle just in case the training wheels didn't work) into the back of the van and headed north to the gas station in the closest "town." We drove around the building with no air station in sight, when at last there it was. The boys were so happy. And so was I. If I went through all this and they still didn't get to ride their bikes I don't know what I would have done.

I was through about 3 of the 7 tires I had to fill when a lady parked two spots away from me and started walking toward me. She asked, "Are you good at that?" I smiled and answered, "I can get air in the tires." She said, "My front tire is low and I usually get more air out than in. My daughter usually does it for me, but I think my tire is really low. Could you check it for me?" Of course I obliged and stopped what I was doing and headed toward her car. The air hose was tangled and I had to get it untangled so that it would reach her car. The hose was dirty, so I was too by the time I was finished. We used her guage to check her tire and it was so low that it didn't even register. She said it needed to have 30 lbs. of air, so we aired it up and checked it until it got there. She kept thanking me over and over and saying how glad she was that I was there. Then she said something that didn't strike me as significant until later. She said, "You are such a Godsend." She also offered to give me something for helping her, but I refused. As I finished airing up the bike tires, though, she came over and gave me $3 to "buy a treat for the boys."

It wasn't until I was driving home that I began to think about what had happened that afternoon. Maybe I really was a Godsend. Maybe He sent me to that place at that time to help that woman. All the circumstances of the day had led me there. One little change and I wouldn't have been there to help her air up a tire that I have since found out was dangerously low to drive on. I pray daily for God to use me and I think that Saturday was one of those wonderful times when I realized just how He chose to do so. So as I drove home, I got tears in my eyes and said a prayer thanking Him for the opportunity to serve and asking him to care for the lady in the car.

So I returned home with full bike tires, $3, and dirty hands. But that day, and I hope everyday, they were my Father's hands.

Green Thumb and Halo

Today for show and tell in kindergarten we had:

1 Polly Pocket
1 Barbie Horse
1 stuffed puppy named butterfly
2 Batman dolls...I mean action figures
1 Roboreptile
1 pink make-up purse

And...

1 "Gardening" Angel "to watch over me and keep me safe." :)

Trivia

Question (in chapel this morning): When Esau was born, was his hair silver or red?

Answer (from a 4 year old): Green!

(Just in time for St. Patrick's Day!) :)

The Awakening

For my American Literature class I have been reading stories from the late 1800's and the early 1900's. Crane, London, Okison, Gilman, Garland, Freeman, Jewett. Boy, can these guys (and gals) write. The language is beautiful and amazing and brilliant. The stories are captivating and emotional. I have begun to feel like I have been deprived in my 35 years that I have never read some of these author's works. (I did read Call of The Wild by Jack London, but I was too young to appreciate it.)

This week we read Kate Chopin's The Awakening. I was once again struck by the wonderful writing. I had never read this story before, and couldn't put it down. Never have I enjoyed homework so much. In this story, Edna, a wife and mother, begins to "awaken" to her more independent and sensual side. I could see the slow progression from her little flirtations to all out rebellion. Her situation was common in those days. She had a socially acceptable marriage, two sons, (who were taken care of by a nanny), a big house, and spent summers at the coast. But, without understanding why, she felt unhappy. Her unhappiness confused her and she tried to make it go away. No matter what she did, though (painting, music, gambling, moving), she still wasn't who she wanted to be. Her husband certainly didn't understand her. (Depression in women was so misunderstood back then.) When she finally realized what would make her happy, it didn't come to be. The story didn't have a happy ending, but it was written so amazingly well that I didn't mind.

Reading writing of this caliber is a little intimidating for someone who someday wants to write a book. But at the same time, it gives me something to strive for. (Especially knowing that Kate Chopin did all of her writing in the afternoons while her 6, yes 6, children napped or played around her writing table!) All of these classics have definitely made me hungry to read more. I can't wait to read what's next!

5 More Things

Here are 5 more things to be happy about today.
(I love this calendar!!)

*singing in the shower
*exploring a foreign city
*rereading Pride and Prejudice
*chips and dip
*an empty seat next to you on the plane

35

Today I turn 35. Not so long ago, I couldn’t imagine being 35. I don’t feel 35. I don’t really feel any age, I just feel like me. 35 is good, though. I like being my age. I would not want to be a teenager again for sure and the twenty somethings were kind of weird; I wasn’t really sure where I fit in. But now I feel comfortable. Old enough to know better (most of the time) and young enough to be young. So here I am, closer to 40 than to 30 and halfway to 70. I have learned a few things in my short time on earth. Here are 35 of them.

*Sunny days make me feel better than gray days.
*A child’s laughter is the best sound on earth.
*Good meals are best shared with good friends.
*God’s timing is perfect.
*Change little boys’ diapers as fast as possible.
*Father (and Mother) really do know best.
*It’s fun being married to my childhood sweetheart.
*Always order the combination plate (and be prepared to share).
*God did not give me a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
*Wear pajamas as much as possible.
*Summer vacation is best spent on the beach.
*A clean house makes me feel good.
*Prayer is my most powerful tool.
*There’s nothing better than a good nap.
*Sisterhood gets better with age.
*Marriage to a godly husband is a great gift.
*Bugs aren’t scary at all in the hands of a five year old.
*Music soothes the savage beast and the grumpy child.
*Going to the movies alone is good.
*Teaching children (especially my own) is very rewarding.
*Grace is amazing.
*Sister-friends are the best friends.
*Chasing butterflies is good exercise for body and soul.
*Sometimes I need help.
*Motherhood is wonderfully scary.
*Health is underrated.
*The Lord truly works in mysterious ways.
*Ice water is my favorite drink.
*Laughter really is the best medicine.
*The book is always better than the movie.
*Eating cold watermelon on a hot summer day is the best.
*Family is why we are here.
*God’s ways are best.
*God’s ways are best.
*God’s ways are best.

5 More Things

Here are 5 more things to be happy about (edited by me).

--a whiff of spring (I'm soo ready for more than just a whiff!)

--crab cakes with tarter sauce (Yum!)

--the crisp feel of new money (Preferably 100s. They do make those, don't they?)

--a puppy rolling on its back (As long as it belongs to someone else.)

--the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona (It's warm there, right!?!?)

Have a happy day!

Thursday Morning

I have been sick for a week. Stomach flu. The worst. But this morning I woke up feeling almost normal. I even smiled when I woke up and realized that I was feeling better. So I got up, got myself and the boys ready for school and went out to start the car. In the last few days we have gotten about 14 inches of new snow, including about 3 that I had to clear from the car this morning. After one little complaint to myself about winter, I did what I had to do. So I got everyone and everything loaded into the van and started to pull out of our long driveway. About halfway to the road, we stopped. (Did I mention the 14 inches of snow?)

Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. Get out to check. See nothing that should keep me from moving. Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. Tromp up the driveway to get the shovel. Shovel around the tires. Reverse. Spin. Forward. Spin. 20 minutes later, call my "knight in shining whatever" to rescue me.

I just knew that he would get home, get in the van and pull right out. Then I would know that it was a girl thing. But fortunately...I mean unfortunately, it took him over half an hour to get us out. He had to jack up the van and put a board under the tire spinning on ice under all that snow. I'm not exactly sure how it happened that I got so stuck, but since the little rollover I had last spring, I am of the mind that everything happens for a reason. Maybe we were meant to be on the road a little later than usual today. Or maybe I was meant to have 20 extra minutes to clean the kitchen. Either way, I'm thankful that I made it to school, AND the dishes are done. And I'm especially thankful for my knight who didn't complain once, but actually smiled while he dug snow from under my van!

Twinkle, Twinkle

There are several reasons why living thirty minutes out of town doesn't make sense for our family. We drive two different cars into town at least once a day. Work, school, and church are all in town. Most of our family and friends live in town. But then, every once in a while, a moment happens when I am so glad to live where we live.

I had one of those moments last night. I walked out on the porch to shake out a tablecloth and looked up. The sky was dark and clear and the moon and stars were shining brightly. I have always loved the fact that we can see the stars so well from our front yard. It's one of my favorite parts about living out in the country. But last night it just struck me in a different way. I stood on the porch, in the cool breeze, thanking God for his amazing creation and for making me a part, although a tiny part, of his world. Although looking up at the galaxy made me feel so very small, I smiled because the spirit reminded me that God loves the tiny dot that is me.

Tomorrow..Tomorrow

I remember loving the movie "Annie" when I was younger. What's not to love? A poor little orphan gets to spend Christmas with a billionaire and then, beating the odds, gets adopted. It's a great story.

Saturday, I got to enjoy a live performance of the play. It was wonderful. The little girls were amazing in their singing and acting and dancing. Sooo adorable. The sets were beautiful. Even the dirty streets of New York seemed attractive. The adult actors were great. Miss Hannigan was the perfect mixture of funny and creepy and Daddy Warbucks, with shining head, was so believable as the grumpy old man who learns to love a little orphan. But my favorite character, of course, is Annie. She's smart and funny and brave and, above all, optimistic. No matter what, she looks at the world through eyes that see the good in people and circumstances. Through all she goes through, she is able to see the good in her life. And more than that, she spreads this to all those around her. What a good reminder that, after all, the sun will come up tomorrow...

Valentines

I didn't have time to blog yesterday for Valentine's Day because I teach kindergarten. And in kindergarten, Valentine's Day is huge. Easily as exciting as Christmas. I think it must be because of all the preparation. Kids pick out valentines, then choose just the right one for each classmate. Plus there are treats and candy and little plastic bags filled with surprises. They are all so excited to give each other their treasures and can hardly stand the anticipation. I don't know how many times between 8:30 and 10:30 (when the party began) that I had to remind some of the students that it wasn't time to pass out valentines yet. They kept going to their little bags and pulling them out. Just to make sure they were still there I guess. Or maybe they were hoping I wouldn't notice and they could start the party early. By 10:30, they were bouncing with excitement. It took about 5 minutes to pass our their cards and then they spent the rest of the time exploring their decorated bags full of fun and munching on more pink and red food than is probably healthy. And at the end of it all, they left for lunch with full bags and full tummies and smiles on their faces. And I was glad to have another holiday over and time to actually teach the curriculum. At least until St. Patrick's Day!


P.S. In case anybody wants to know, I have the best valentine ever!!!

Thanks

I have found out in the last few weeks how much I am loved. When it comes right down to it, those around me have shown through their words and actions how much they care. So...

Thanks, Arrty, for your patience, love, and kindness.
Thanks, Josh and Adam, for loving me no matter what.
Thanks, Mom and Dad, for being the best and for letting me nap on your couch.
Thanks, Ada, for calling to check on me.
Thanks, Kathy, for cheering me up and getting me out of meetings.
Thanks to my co-workers for watching out for me.
Thanks to all my brothers and sisters for your prayers.
Thanks, God, for your ever-present protection and unconditional love.

Happiness

February 6, 2007

5 Things To Be Happy About:

*kindness

*Irish brogues

*a Cobb salad for lunch

*leather-bound books

*insights from dreams

Huck Finn

I was reminded in the last two weeks, while reading "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" for my American lit class, why I love Mark Twain. He has always been one of my favorite authors and remains so. He is so funny and creative and ridiculous. And I love every minute of it. I found myself thinking, "How does he think of these things?" I know that this book has caused quite a stir in the public school system, but it is amazing and to not read it is missing out. This story of adventure and friendship and freedom doesn't get any better. There is nothing more exciting than traveling the mighty Mississippi River with Huck and Jim.

This time reading it, though, I found myself reading it through a mother's eyes. I felt sorry for Huck. All he really wants is a place to belong where they accept him for who he is. He doesn't necessarily want to keep moving, but feels forced to when things go wrong. He blames others' misfortunes on himself and takes himself out of the situation. He's just a little boy who needs a mother to love him and tell him he's okay and the world's okay, but at the same time to let him sleep outside and skip school now and then to go fishing. Now that I think of it, he can come live with me. I'm that kind of mom. (Just don't tell the boys' teachers. Wait, that's me!!):)

Changes

I remember the first time Josh came wobbling over to me with a book in his hand. He climbed on my lap, handed me the book and looked at me expectantly. He couldn't really talk yet, but I knew what he wanted. We had read lots of books together before that, but I'll never forget that first time that he "asked" me to read to him. What fun times I have had reading to my boys. We have shared adventures through our reading and learned a lot about the world and each other. Our whole family loves to read and our house is full of books.

So I wasn't surprised last night when Josh came walking toward me with a book in his hand. He sat down beside me on the couch and said, "Mom, can I read this to you?" Not what I was expecting, but wonderful just the same. He has been reading for a while and has read to me often, but this time was different. He chose a book and came to me to share it. It was great. A little bittersweet, but great. It seems like every day Josh grows up just a little bit more. I cherish each moment, even the challenging ones, because with each moment that he grows up, I grow up a little, too.

Happy Day

On my desk at school sits a daily calendar. (Given to me graciously by someone who knows that I'm needing a few reminders these days.) You know, it's one of those that you tear a page from each day. The title is "5 Things To Be Happy About." Each day there is a list of 5 things that make someone, somewhere happy. Usually one or two are things that actually make me happy and then there are a few that I don't quite get. Like "a cat in a puddle of sun." I don't get that. I am so not a cat person. And "delicate swirls of lace." I don't think I own anything with any kind of lace, especially in delicate swirls. And "red grapefruit." Yuck. But today's page is a good one (parentheses added by me):

-throwing a surprise party (especially for someone you love)
-crayon boxes with sharpeners (64 count Crayola is the best)
-bunny slippers (fuzzy pink ones, of course)
-ornate calligraphy (on antique books)
-going to the movies with friends (chick flicks with sister chicks)

What's not to love? Any one of these would make me happy today or any day.

Have a happy day!

I Love (Cheap) Books!

I don't really like to shop. I grocery shop because I have to feed my family. I venture into the mall 2 or 3 times a year for school clothes and Christmas gifts. I go to Target once a month for laundry detergent and toothpaste. But yesterday, I went shopping. Kathy and I went to the Scholastic Book Warehouse for their annual clearance sale. (One of the perks of being a teacher.) Every book in the building was $1, $3, or $5. They had hundreds of titles available, and between the two of us, I'm sure we touched every single one. I bought books for my classroom, gifts for family and friends, books for home, and a biography of Mark Twain for myself. I bought calendars, cookbooks, games and toys. I bought books about school to make a basket for our school auction and an antique collecting book for my mom. We had a great time finding our treasures and trying to out-shop the other teachers who were there. (They didn't stand a chance!) Two and a half hours later I walked out with a box full of books worth over $200 for just $60. And if you ask me, that's the only way to shop.

Feuding 101

I just finished creating a presentation on the Hatfields and McCoys for my English class. I was given that topic for my project and was so excited and interested that I researched and wrote it all today. I won't send it for a few days though, so I can go back and re-read it. But, just in case you're not on top of your hillbilly history, here are a few things I found interesting.

1. The Hatfields and McCoys were peaceful neighbors for years. They socialized and intermarried.

2. The most vicious part of the feud was over ownership of a hog. Ole Randall McCoy said it was his. Floyd Hatfield said it was his. A jury of 6 Hatfields and 6 McCoys gave it to Floyd. (One of the McCoys was mad at his family making the verdict 7-5.)

3. Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield were the Romeo and Juliet of the Appalachian Mountains. Only Johnse wasn't a very good Romeo. He left a pregnant Roseanna after her brothers tried to kill him. (And then married Roseanna's cousin, Nancy.)

4. Dozens of bounty hunters who were sent in to calm the hostility between the two families disappeared without a trace. The National Guard was then called in by the governors of Kentucky and West Virginia.

5. 13 people from the two families died during the feud, but the patriarchs of the families lived to be 80 and 88.

6. In 2003, descendants from the two families gathered and signed a truce. (Just in case any of their pigs escaped the pen, I guess.)

Eng. 278

This week is my first week taking a class online. The class is American Literature from the Civil War to present. I was actually disappointed when it was full because I really wanted to take a literature class. But when I went back to put it on my list of preferred classes, there was 1 opening. I was so excited. (I know. Weird.) So I am in the process of reading the section comparing realism with romanticism and trying to determine which I am the most drawn to. Then I have to journal about it and read and comment on the other student's journals. Frankly, I'm not that good at commenting when I don't know someone. I guess I'll just have to pretend like I know them and be honest. And remember that sarcasm doesn't work well in writing.

(Next week we start reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I can't wait! Really. I'm not being sarcastic in case you couldn't tell.)

To Stay or Not To Stay

A few months ago, Josh was invited to a birthday party at Triple Play. On the way, he said, "Mom, you're not staying are you?" I sucked up my tears, took a moment to let the little tear in my heart heal, and much to his dismay, said that I was in fact staying because it was a public place and I didn't trust just anyone to watch him like I wanted him to be watched. But I assured him that I would stay hidden in the shadows and leave him alone. He agreed reluctantly. (Like he had a choice.) At one point though, during an exciting game of laser tag, he ran into a wall and hurt his arm. And where did he run? To me, standing in the corner. I wanted so bad to say, "See. You need me." But I didn't. I just hugged him, asked him if he was okay, and sent him back to the game.

This past weekend, he attended another birthday party at a friend's house. He again asked me if I was staying. This time, since I know the family and they were not leaving the house, I told him that I was not staying. I was so glad that he didn't cheer or sigh or anything. He just said okay. I guess everything turned out fine. He said the party was fun and his friend liked the gift he took and that his favorite part was playing with their cats. So, we both made it for 2 1/2 hours without each other.

And on the way home, with only the two of us in the car, we had a great conversation about school (how we'd both rather stay home), how many more years of school he has (15 including college), what he wants to be when he grows up (a teacher), how he doesn't think he'd want to be a doctor even if he didn't have to go to school longer (15 more years of school is enough), what we should have for supper (corndogs), and what his dad and brother were doing at home (puzzles and games). I guess that as long as there are these times for talking, I can give him up for a few hours of fun with someone else...just not very often.