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.