tag, prayer, taxes, and a thumb up my nose

I've been tagged! I've never been tagged, thanks Kristi!  The tag is 7 things about myself.  Here goes:

1. I love the sound of Daly eating his crunchy cat food.  For some reason it makes me smile every time I hear it. I feel proud and satisfied that we're raising a healthy cat who knows where his food is.  

2. I have a love hate relationship with: television, routine, budget, my job, cooking, sugar, shopping, mail.

3.   Biggest thing I miss about living in the midwest: Thunderstorms.  I LOOOOVVVE the sound of rain and thunder, and it just doesn't happen very often in CO. I love it when I'm in the car with the radio off.  I love it when I'm in a public place--it just seems cozy even amongst a bunch of strangers.  I love it while curled up on my couch.  I don't love it if I'm outside--small fear of being struck by lightning.

4. I am married to my best friend, and wonder almost daily how I got so lucky.

5. I am a hopeful (as in hopefully someday I can call myself these things): gardener, printmaker, photographer, world-traveler, mother.

6. I hope to adopt a child someday, and I also really look forward to being pregnant. I can't wait to meet our kids.

7. I love garlic bread, cheese, and chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven (separately).  

 

There you go, world...or rather, hand-full of people that read my blog :)

*One more thing (or probably more. Let's face it, I'm on vacation, it's 9:15, I'm in my robe and I've got nowhere to be):  G and I did our taxes yesterday.  While we (Gabe) was entering all of the appropriate numbers and figures I prayed that we would get back a very specific certain amount.  For awhile it looked like we would be getting a fraction of that amount.  This amount was still a lot more than last year's refund, so I prayed a thank you for whatever we get. Whatever we get will be very much appreciated, I don't want to be greedy.  Gabe entered in the fact that he is a full-time grad student and suddenly our refund amount in the upper right corner shot up.  We were now $12 shy of what I had prayed for.  I couldn't believe it!  A few more additions, and when all was said and done, our refund amount was exactly what I prayed for---plus ONE dollar!  I know God always answers prayers, but it's so fun when it's such an obvious (welcomed) answer.  

This has happened before.  On two different occasions I remember praying about money and I ended up finding  random refund checks in a pile of mail I was meaning to throw away for a few days.  It was exactly the amount I had been praying for each time.

When I was working at Hy-Vee floral in college, there was a woman named Rose that worked in the store.  She was a sample lady.  She drove everyone nuts.  She was 70 year old

(or there about), staunch Catholic New-Yorker.  Rose always wanted us to give her our garbage flowers (which was against the rules) and so we were each given strict orders to NOT supply Rose.  She was relentless and our manager thought that if we cut her off, she would leave us alone.  She probably would have, but I felt sorry for her and continued to supply her with flowers here and there.  Her son had died in college, her husband had also passed away.  No one liked her (she was rather...grating). She was alone. 

One day I found out somehow that it was Rose's birthday.  I ran into her at some point and told her to stop by my department before she left for the day. Later that evening she stopped by on her way out.  I had wrapped up a bouquet of blown yellow roses that we would be tossing.  I wrapped them so they were completely concealed---so hopefully no one would notice Rose walking out of the store with flowers.  She asked what they were and I just told her it was a surprise, to find out when she got home.

The next day Rose came over to our department with tears in her eyes.  She told me that she had been praying a lot lately for some sign that her son was okay, or in heaven, or watching her, or anything. She said she had been feeling extra lonely and missing him more than usual. Apparently her son for years had given her yellow roses on her birthday before he passed away. So when she opened up her package once she got home the day before and found the yellow roses, she felt she had received her answer to prayer.  I teared up, too.  It's nice to be used by God.

How about you? Do you have some stories of answered prayers?  I'd love to hear them.

In other news, this morning as I was delaying the act of getting out of bed, I attempted to pull the covers up over me more, lost my grip and shoved my thumb up my right nostril.

Tag to Melissa and Marla (if you want:)

spring break, baby!

SPRING BREAK!!!! My spring break has officially begun, and it's off to a great start. Ken and Vickie and Janae came up Friday.  Janae spent the afternoon at school with me to check out what teaching is like, then we all had dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, the Bent Noodle (also where we had our first date, our rehearsal dinner, and our first wedding anniversary dinner).  Janae decided to spend the night, so we rented Martian Child (very heartwarming, very cute), and Enchanted (also cute).   Can I just say, Janae is very easy to be around.  We had so much fun hosting her.  Below is a picture of Gabe and Janae reading Pablo Neruda.  This picture was not posed.  Gabe found someone interested in reading his Spanish/English Pablo Neruda book with him.  Throughout the translations I heard lots of laughing, but I'm sure over all it was a very intellectual experience shared between brother and sister. 

Last night Keri and Charlie came over for dinner--take-out from our favorite nearby Thai place, Thai Garden. Gabe and Charlie watched basketball and Keri and I "caught up" for a few hours. We don't often have people over and it was really nice to have more people we love in our home.  

 Church this morning, and now time to relax and blog.  I'm spending tomorrow with my dear friend Amy and her sweet little Amelie.  I am going to remember my camera!  Every time we hang out I forget my camera which is disappointing because Amelie is one of the smiliest little one year olds you'll ever meet.  

Here are a few more pictures from Melissa's and my hay-days, as requested by Marla:
Awfully serious expression for someone wearing hollow, neon green, plastic glasses.  I remember this moment.  We were playing Bingo.  Something I apparently took very seriously.
Just diggin'.
In the playhouse.  Love the whale jumper Melissa.  You were so cute.

'til then

I'd like to post---later.  Hopefully I'll think of something to say...Until then, try not to fall off your chairs in anticipation :)

dodgeball

Today we had a Dodgeball tournament at school.  It was 6th grade vs. 7th, 6th won. Then it was staff '70's vs. the '80's (my team).  We lost---despite our far superior costumes in honor of that hideous fashion decade, the 1980's.  Then 6th vs. 8th.  8th won...and so on.  We played two more games and ended up getting 3rd place in the tournament.  The gym was PACKED and the kids (and staff) had a blast.  My ears are still ringing from all the screaming, cheering an jeering.  It was really nice to be able to have fun with our kids.  I kept thinking, "I hope they realize that we're here because we care about them."  I think that generally they don't think of us that way, and often we forget, too.  Nothing like beaning a rubber ball as hard as you can at someone to remind you that you really do care about them.

good memories

Midnight Ghost, summer garage plays, sledding at Wash, MNB Bike (and big wheel) races, lemonade stands (never selling any b/c we'd run inside anytime a stranger approached), Marla and Dustin putting Melissa and I in cardboard boxes and rolling the boxes around,  Melissa and I playing patients while Marla and her friend put whatever they could find in the blender to feed to us as "medicine", digging up a dead pet rabbit and being introduced to maggots, conspiring to dig up my dead dog and bring it back to life, spotting an injured "bird" around dusk and upon closer inspection discovering it was actually a bat, making a haunted house in Jones' attic (pealed grapes, etc.), Melissa punching me in the stomach (first time I ever got the wind knocked out of me),  Lodi punching me in the stomach (2nd time I ever got the wind knocked out of me), arguing over who would marry Ryan, My Little Pony, convincing Mel that I should get to play with the real Barbies because if she played with them she would hurt her cheap-o Barbies' feelings, listening to cicadas and finding their hollow skin, playing in my playhouse, Marco Polo--land version, Ryan hitting a golf ball into Lodi's mouth in the middle of the street, having my ring finger practically ripped off from being stuck in Melissa's Big Wheel's broken break, hide and seek in the basement (window wells were the best spot), Maggie, Bonnie, Tiffany, Lucy, Buffy, Morris, Bridget, Jack & Pauline and being terrified to set foot on their lawn, bravely riding bikes on Jack and Pauline's driveway when we were sure they were away, Vera and her stale candy, India, Smokey, riding wagons down the hill, sneaking up to watch Return of Oz and scaring ourselves silly, attempting to irritate each other during sleep-overs by singing Guns 'n Roses songs while the other tried to go to sleep, building card houses at your Grandma Mary's, St. Pat's Days, Playtime Poppy, lightning bug "jewelry", watching you all drive away for the last time and being so jealous that Ryan got to go with...and I'm sure there are a thousand more.  I loved those years so much.  We had so much fun.  Sigh :)

almost...no...close,but...not quite...ahhh, perfect.

easter sermon

Happy Easter to everyone!  Gabe and I are home again and our Easter is winding down.  It's been a lovely day, here is the run-down:

The Gathering (www.thegatheringcommunity.org) this morning at 9:30.  Gabe taught and I felt like it was one of his best talks.  There was a good number of people there today.  A few people brought some relatives for the first time.  

At about 11:45 we left for the Springs (Colorado Springs for you non-Coloradans :).  Vickie made a fantastic meal of lamb, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and garlic bread (my fave).  And then of course, a tasty dessert.  Thanks again, Vickie!

Janae had decorated eggs and I was surprised that Ken had hidden them for us.  So J, G and I were each given a basket and the hunt began!  I haven't hunted for eggs in I don't know HOW long, but it was embarrassingly fun.  Janae won, finding 8.  I came in second with 5.  Gabe found 4 and then stole one of mine.  There was one egg missing.  It was still hidden in some forgotten spot when we left.

Lots of basketball was watched.  I got a nap in.

Now we're home and preparing to watch a few episodes of Arrested Development.  This could be our new addiction.  

Today at church Gabe paralleled Old Testament sacrifice to the sacrifice of Jesus.  During Passover, Jews sacrificed a lamb without blemish,  without breaking any bones. They used hyssop branches to "paint" the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the top and on either side of their doorway.  Some scholars have pointed out the image this creates.  Picture a doorway. Blood on either side, as well as the top.  Now picture the blood dripping from the top to the floor.  A cross connects these four spots, foreshadowing what was to come? This was done to signify to God to "pass over" them, honoring their sacrifice for forgiveness.  All of these details were specified to them by God. During this time, forgiveness went hand in hand with blood, with sacrifice.  

Hundreds of years later, when Jesus was arrested and put on the cross, an unblemished, perfect man (the Son of God, therefore equal to God), his blood was shed.  As he was dying on the cross, he was thirsty and given a vinegar wine.  He was given this drink with a soaked cloth on the end of a hyssop branch, raised to his mouth.  

Criminals died on the cross from suffocation.  This would occur when the criminals could no longer raise themselves up to breath, or when their legs were broken by the soldiers in order to speed up the process.  This was typical, yet Jesus' legs were not broken.  None of his bones were broken. His blood was shed, but his bones remained unbroken. 

None of these details, these parallels that would have been very obvious to the people of that time, would not have mattered were it not for what happened three days later.  Christ's tomb was found empty. Jesus was raised from the dead. Because of this, God's grace falls on us.  His forgiveness is ours.  We don't have to shed the blood of sacrificed animals (amen for that).  The final sacrifice was made for us.  

I don't want to sound preachy, but this is Easter, and I'm not forcing anyone to read this.  I know there may be people reading this with different beliefs. However, on this Easter Sunday, I would challenge people to think deeply about what they believe, be it in Christ, some other God, or no God.   There is a verse in Romans (1:20) that says:

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

I believe that this search for truth is more important than any other search.  We search for love, we search for wealth, we search for prestige, we search for solutions, we search for comfort.  How often are we searching for God?  How often are we searching for deeper meaning in life?  When I read that verse, I see that God is revealed all around me.  His creation (nature, relationships, emotions, forgiveness...) is always surrounding me.  I don't recognize this nearly enough.  This creation, this existence surrounds us all.  We are without excuse for recognizing this, evidence is all around.  What we can do with this evidence is our search.  We are not expected to have all the answers, but I believe we are expected to search for answers.  To ask questions and expect answers.

Friends and family still reading this (and those that may not be), I am so grateful to have you in my life.  I don't say that nearly enough.  God answers so many of my questions through you, whether you realize it, or not.  He reveals to me deep meaning about love, forgiveness, compassion and patience through my relationships with all of you.  

If you've not talked to God, or thought about Him for that matter, in awhile, I hope that you would.  Talking to and/or thinking about God can't hurt anyone. I believe there is a big God who loves us each more than we can fathom.  I believe there is a big God who made each of us and has placed us in the lives we are living.  I believe in a God who showed his love for us through the at-first-glance disturbing act of dying a bloody death at the hands of Roman soldiers 2000 years ago.  I believe this act was meant to save us from death.  These are radical things, I think, as I type them out.  But I trust them.  I trust that when I fail, when I get angry with my life, my loved-ones, my God, that He is big enough to forgive me, big enough to love me, and big enough to change me--and then some.  

Gabe keeps looking at me, wondering if we'll ever watch Arrested Development.  So I'll close this Easter Sunday by saying something that means life or death to me: He is risen indeed.

For Marla and Maizie

Marla, I just typed out a LONG comment on your blog about how I saw this idea on another mom's blog and thought it might be fun to do with Maizie. Then my computer died before I could finish.  So instead of retyping a comment, I made a sample to show you in case my instructions are lacking.

step 1: cut out two large circles from an old cereal box (or something similar)

step 2: divide one circle into equal sized pie pieces

step 3: have Maizie think of that many different "moods" or feelings

step 4: draw and/or write each mood in its own pie piece

step 5: cut a "window" out of the second circle

step 6: poke a hole in the center of each circle and fasten together with craft metal fastener (or something else)
Voila!

Maybe something this tangible would help Maizie let you and Joe know her mood without feeling like she has to get upset with you?  I thought it was a cute idea, of course I have no idea if this would interest Maizie, just thought I'd throw it out there!  

I think you SHOULD take your weekend away, that's important.

oh lovely day

I had a couple of sixth grade sweeties want to stay after school today in order to clean some paint trays.  It turns out that they each normally stay after for an hour of homework club. Neither of them had homework and weren't being picked up for an hour anyway, so needed a place to be---but I'm not complaining.  So while they were working, I became very ambitious and decided to get some grading done.  After 45 minutes of that I decided to also seal a bunch of paper-mache Alebrijes (look for wonderful pictures soon).  This involves spraying an aerosol can of noxiousness.  Despite doing this right outside my door in the courtyard, within 20 minutes or so, my head was spinning.  So I went back to grading, but I could SEE the cloud of fumes lingering inside the classroom.  Suddenly my head began feeling like it was being pressed on both sides and I couldn't focus very well.  I decided to go home.

Upon leaving the building, I found that the weather and sky were having a beauty contest.  I'm not sure who won.  It was close.  But since I can't adequately photograph the weather, I snapped a few of the sky. Happy first-official-day-of-spring!  (And in true Colorado form, after a nearly perfect 72 degree sunny day, the forecast is for snow tonight.)

pics and sad conversation

Well, I don't have much to write about today.  Luckily, Marla requested some more photos, so here are some oldies but goodies.  Mostly from our wedding and one of Gabe looking very serious (a rare occurrence).

Sean,Dan,Micah,Gabe,Tim,Bob,Nate,Eric. Jessica,Cori,Lexi,me,Kristi,Janae,Chrissie. Josie,Lauren,Eva.

I did have a sad conversation with a sixth grade boy today.  Toward the end of class he approached me and said he would be switching schools in a few weeks.  He's has only been at our school for a few weeks as it is, so I asked him why.  He went on to tell me that he is living with his Dad, which apparently means he is living with his grandma (because he doesn't like Dad) and that he will be moving to the mountains with his mom soon when she gets out of jail.  He said she was in jail for tickets, that they are poor and couldn't pay the tickets, that his dad lied and accused his mom of doing drugs, that he really wants to live with his uncle, that he has 1 1/2 year old and 3 year old brothers who don't know his dad and that they don't know how to act like good people so he's the one who tells/shows them. He said at his old school he tried to get bad grades so he could prove to his parents that none of them cared enough about him, so why should he bother trying?  He's a really sweet kid and his grades have been pretty good at Horizon.  I told him what a great, smart kid he was and that his brothers are so lucky to have someone like him to look up to.  He said he didn't know what he thought about himself anymore.  I told him that I thought he'd be a really good dad when he grew up.  He said he wasn't going to have kids because he couldn't know for sure his wife wouldn't be a big loser that would hurt his kids.  But apparently his current girlfriend is "pretty nice."  He's 12. To hear him talk you'd think he was at least 18.  Poor guy.  I hope he is able to stay at Horizon somehow.

for marla and melissa

One more post because I forgot Marla requested a picture of my mom and Melissa was curious about Jessica.  These are from September '06, but it's all I've got on my computer.  There we are...

puncture wounds and works in progress

Recap of Daly's and my freak-out ten minutes ago:

I'm sitting on the couch.  Daly is sitting in window behind the couch.  Gabe bangs on the front door.  Daly panics and catapults off my head, digging his claws into my forehead.  I scream. Daly runs into a dining room chair face first.  I scream in pain and shock.  Daly's tail puffs up to 4 times its normal size.  Gabe feels very bad.  I stomp upstairs to blot the blood off my forehead.  Daly hides.  Gabe follows me.  I stomp back downstairs and pout a little.  Not proud.  Gabe hugs me.  He's nice.

Below are a few photos from the day.  Mostly eighth graders' works in progress, along with a t-shirt I was (pleasantly) surprised to see on one of my students.  He also had a Bible sitting on his desk.  Despite my rant last week about "kids these days" I find that some of them are thinking about more than just the opposite sex.

You know those cooked chickens they have at grocery stores? I'm pretty sure they pipe the scent through the ventilation system.  Well today, I caved and bought one.  I was craving Clementine oranges as I left school, so I stopped at the store.  The clementines were 7.99 a box!  So instead I bought bananas, daffodils, shampoo and a chicken.  I could barely stand the delicious fumes that filled my car on the drive home.  So I saved 7.99, but ended up spending $15ish.  Stinking chickens and their heavenly smell.

clay

Here are a couple pictures from Cori and Clay's visit yesterday.  He has grown so much since I last saw him!  Look at his eyelashes---so sweet!  

babies!

I got some pictures in the mail yesterday of Jessica's new little man, Max.  Thought you'd like to see them, Mom :)

Max

Max

Cori and Clayton were in town this afternoon and stopped by for awhile.  I got some good pictures of Clay, but for some reason they aren't uploading right now.  I'll try again tomorrow...

spring is starting to spring

The first flowers of Spring are blooming (at least the first I've come across). Here are a couple of pictures.  Notice the unbloomed tulips in the lower right quadrant...

After church today, I asked Debbie if I could take a picture of her sparkly feet.  Have to say, I've never asked someone that before, but she reluctantly agreed.  Thanks, Debbie!

Yay for Spring!  (Minus the snow we're supposed to get this afternoon, evening.)  

daly

yick

So as it turns out, yesterday when I thought I was chewing on my numb tongue, I was actually chewing on my numb lip.  Woops!

Today my 8th graders were finally at that great place in a project when they start realizing that this might actually be cool when they finish.  Once things really start coming together and they reach a place where their art is starting to look like, well, art---suddenly the class begins working more intently without my prompting them.  It's such a great time as a teacher because they start to take more pride in what they are making/doing.  It feels so fragile, like if I talk too much or sneeze that I'll break the concentration.  It's like trying not to wake a sleeping baby.  I want to get close and watch with pride and affection at what they're doing, but I don't want to be noticed too much.  So I tip-toe around beaming on the inside at the great art my surly 8th graders are making, careful not to "wake" them from these moments of concentration and creativity.

7th graders have been working with clay the last two days. Consequently I am a very popular and powerful person in their world right now.  Clay to students is like crack to an addict.  They'll go to great lengths to get it, use it, and get it again tomorrow.  Lengths even as far as following directions, and being kind to one another...It was a good day.

some art

One more post today:  Gabe and I have found a GREAT dentist.  This doesn't maybe sound like a big deal, but for us it is.  Neither of us had had our teeth cleaned for well over five years until last week.  Unfortunately our dentist found one cavity in my mouth (but after about 6-8 years of no cleaning, not so bad :). My first cavity.  So today I went straight to the dentist after school let out to have my cavity filled.  The whole right side of my jaw is numb and I forgot how funny it feels to have so much numbness!  I just tried to eat garlic bread and am pretty sure I was chewing on my tongue just as much as I was chewing the bread.  

Anyhoo, despite my earlier rant, I had a very nic

e day.  Here are a few pictures from the day and one older one (the text portrait) by an eighth grader last semester.  Enjoy!

These projects turned out really cool.  The entire portrait is made up of words (10+ synonyms for the emotion shown on the subject's face)

These are non-objective chalk pastel drawings by some 6th graders.