routines

Hello, Saturday morning. I am really starting to enjoy this little routine I have going for my Saturdays - sleep in a little bit, have an extended quiet time with a very large cup of coffee, write in my journal, and write on my blog. Since I've started my job, drinking a cup of coffee in the morning is now considered a luxury. Let me explain. I get to work around 7:30, and my students arrive at 8:00. Then I teach non-stop until 12:20. I am lucky if I can squeeze in a bathroom break, but that is just not always possible. Therefore, I have to be very careful about how much liquid I consume in the morning.. if you know what I mean. I have also started cleaning my house every Saturday morning. I NEVER would have thought that house cleaning would become a routine for me. It has always been something I put off until I can't stand it any longer, or when I know that people are coming over. But now I am actually enjoying this new routine. I listen to my ipod and clean to my heart's content. The hard labor is well worth the satisfaction of getting to enjoy a clean house for the rest of the weekend.

I think God created the world with routines in mind. He made 24 hour cycles- day and night- so that we could rest everyday and wake up ready to start a new day. We get to experience morning (my favorite) every single day! He didn't have to do it this way- he could have made us so that we only need 5 minutes of rest, or maybe that we wiggle our ears in order to be rested. He also made 7 day cycles, and gave us the perfect example of working 6 days and resting on the 7th day. And now, thousands of years after the world came into existence, the world still slows down (if maybe just a little bit) on Sundays. I am learning to take my Sabbath very seriously- He knows what I need so much more than I do!

small moments

I had a physically and emotionally exhausting week. But here are some small moments of my week that made me smile...

* I received emails from two different friends this week, simply encouraging me and telling me that they were praying for me. What a blessing to know that people are sharing my burdens with me!

* One of my students wrote me a note on the top of his word study quiz that said, "You rock!"

* On Wednesday during 5th period, my eighth graders didn't want to stop reading. They begged me to give them a few more minutes to read. So I did, gladly! That just doesn't happen in the world of self-contained special education.

* One of my students experienced a writing breakthrough when he came up with a fantastic lead all by himself. He was beaming and couldn't wait to share his story with the rest of the class.

And this is the best of all..

*I came home last night to a spotless house. Adam had spent his day off cleaning the house for me, so that I wouldn't have to this morning. :) He's the best!

weekend

I haven't forgotten to write- I just haven't had the energy during the week to write. I'm afraid this may have to be a weekend blog instead of a daily blog. But I'm ok with that.

Yesterday, one of my students - a short, spikey-haired blond with a squeaky little voice- actually thanked me for doing a good job helping him with his reading. In the world of middle school teaching, that almost never happens! But when it does, it reminds me I why I am doing this job. It is not only my profession, but also my ministry and calling.

On another note entirely:
When we decided to move to South Carolina, I wrote down a list of ideas for how to live intentionally and purposefully- things I was already doing in New York and wanted to continue, but also new ideas. This list sits on my desk so that I see it everyday, but it will now go public:

In South Carolina: (dated 4/25/09)
- establish daily rhythms
- find places of beauty
- explore- notice the small things- appreciate and wonder
- love: listen and care about people
- look for ways to restore and renew creation
- be intentional and deliberate in my actions and words
- celebrate God's blessings
- cultivate my passions: teaching, writing, learning (and discover new passions?)
- seek God's kingdom- join him in what he is already doing
- embrace interruptions, changes, confusion- listen for God's voice in these moments

I can't count how many times God has brought me back to an item on this list in the past 2 months of living here. Today I plan to find a new place of beauty in (or near) Anderson.

new name

I have changed the name and look of my blog as an outward sign of my renewed motivation to begin writing down my thoughts for an unknown audience to read. Writing makes me happy, so I will write- even if my only reader is my dear mother.

Current status:
We have moved from the most exciting city in the world to a small town in South Carolina. Needless to say, I am still adjusting.

I get to spend much of my waking hours teaching reading and writing to 11-15 year-olds. I told them on the first day of school that my goal for them was simple: to help them love reading and writing. So far, they still don't like it much. But- I have 166 more days to accomplish this goal..

I have planted a garden. After almost 2 months of minuscule change and growth, I can now proudly say that I have 9 cucumbers, 4 bell peppers, and 2 tomatoes that will be ready pick very shortly.

Stay tuned.