In a Moment of Weakness...

I took DS 4 to the animal shelter this weekend. I know I should know better. He is an animal magnet if there ever was one. I TOLD him we were NOT going to get anything. We were just going to look.

At our shelter, you sit in a room full of cats...wandering around you. Several were attracted to DS 4 pretty quickly. But this one....

This one latched on to him and wouldn't let him go. We sat. We played. We snuggled with others. But she stayed constant. We left to go look at the dogs. They were ugly and loud. Then it was back to the cat room. And, in the words of DS 4, "I looked at Mom with these eyes and she said, 'If I let you get this cat, then you have to take responsibility for it'." Between her eyes and his, I was gone. I asked him to share his eyes with the blogging world...so here ya' go...

After I agreed to take her, we went outside to fill out the paperwork. And do you know what? She came to the window in the midst of all the other cats and played with DS 4 THROUGH the glass!

And here they are...at home...where she is now living as a "foster kitten" until she gets fixed on the 25th of September.

And, guess who's not happy....and wants to remind everyone that he is the king of the litterbox? Yep, that would be DS 3's cat who was rescued from the very same shelter just over a year ago. Please pray for peace in the feline world that is now living in my house! It's really our goal for everyone in our family to get along including our four-footed friends. As soon as he knows that he's still loved and important to us, I'm sure all will be well.

In other family news...

I've decided that DH and I gave birth to our own "Alex P. Keaton" when we had DS 3! He's a staunch Republican who is very concerned about my occasionally standing on the fence in the political arena. In fact, he begged DH to make sure I didn't vote for a certain candidate earlier this year! I am only hoping that DH explained the word DEMOCRACY to him. But, alas, he knows about (and for that matter, cares about) politics more than I probably ever will. And I'm glad. It's people like him who help people like me sift in a way.

Anyway, he came home last week and announced that he'd be seeking the job of Freshman President for his new high school. He went to the meeting on Friday and was unswayed by the fact that there are 14 other candidates. Nope. He started his campaign via Facebook the night before. He painted signs before the game Friday night (only a few hours after the information meeting) and hung the first two up there. He plans to go to school early on Tuesday to meet kids at the busses. DS 2 took him to the school yesterday so they could hang posters in the "best spots".

Hey, I have an idea! Maybe he could be like his cat and sit on a litterbox to tell 'em who should win!

Seriously, though, DS3 is nothing if not persistent---and clever! I'm not sitting on a fence here. I hope he wins!

Book Review: Healing Promises

I was so excited when my SIL, Heather, sent me the proof of her friend Amy Wallace's second book, Healing Promises early in the Summer! I immediately put it in my "to be read" pile. Then I found the book at my local Christian bookstore and decided to buy my own copy so Heather could have hers back.

I reviewed Amy's first book, Ransomed Dreams on my blog over a year ago. It is a fabulous book that reads like a great episode of CSI or Law and Order but has Biblical truth woven throughout the story.
Healing Promises delivered the same satisfaction. It is the story of Clint and Sara Rollins. Clint is an FBI agent who receives an unexpected diagnosis of cancer after being shot on the job. Sara is an oncologist who has offered hope to many of her patients. Facing the familiar disease is totally different when it's her husband who's fighting the battle. Both Sara and Clint are forced to come to grips with their faith amidst the trials they are facing. As she did in the first book, Amy makes the faith thread a natural extension of the story and does not shove it down the reader's throat.

During his illness, Clint continues to work to help solve the case of a kidnapper and serial killer.
In the meantime, the reader gets to read the next chapter of Steven and Gracie's story which started in the first book while meeting Michael (Steven and Clint's co-worker) and Hannah (Steven's sister). Amy's books are suspense-filled yet brimming with hope and possibilities for Christians living in the "real world."

If you choose to read this book, I suggest starting with book one. While their stories "could" stand alone, these two books are definitely woven together as the reader gets to know the characters and the events of their lives. While the ending was quite satisfying, I found myself wanting to go back in and savor the characters just a bit more. I am anxious to do just that when I read Michael and Hannah's story in book 3 of Amy's Defenders of Hope series in 2009!

There's a SNAKE In My Boot House!!

My DS 3 grew up with "Buzz and Woody" of Toy Story fame. For years, he carried Woody around and pulled the string that made him say, "There's a snake in my boot." I never understood the saying. But today it's ringing in my ears over and over again.

In the last two weeks, I have found not ONE but TWO snakes, albeit little itty bitty baby "worm-like" snakes, in my house. Even though they are itty bitty, like 3 - 3 and 1/2" at most and VERY thin, they give me the CREEPS! (If you've been reading a while, you might remember two years ago when we found one in our bathroom that had come up through the drain.) That was then, though, and this is now.

Two weeks ago, DS 4 and I found a little tiny one slithering in his closet. As I said, think very very small...but still. It was quick. And it moved in the "S-fashion" which confirmed for me that it was, in fact, a snake. DS 3 removed it and disposed of it properly for me. We checked the closet to make sure there weren't any siblings lying around. We looked for other signs of the critters. I determined that it probably came in on someone's shoe.

Then, last night, just before bedtime, the cat was playing with another itty bitty snake in MY BEDROOM! We caught this one and put it in a small container. I looked around for others. The cat looked around for others. We saw nothing, but I will tell you that rest did not come easy for me. At. All. At midnight, I heard DS 1 come in and I got up to show him what we found.

He promised me that he would research it and figure it out today. In the meantime, I went to bed and everytime my foot hit a cold spot under my sheet, I jolted awake to be sure there wasn't a reptile in bed with me.

DS 1's research turned up some answers. My critters are "ringneck snakes". The adults get to be about 6" long. They are subterranean. Most babies come into homes via the sliding glass door. The pest control company told DS 1 that they were 90% sure that there is no adult in my house. Uh. What about that other TEN PERCENT???

We all looked tonight. The housecleaner saw nothing today. I seriously considered moving out for the night. Or two. Or three. Or ten. My sweet in-laws offered me a bed. My DS 3 laughed. I guess one of the boys talked to DH and he called from Texas and did the "logical thinking" discussion. He says it's an anomoly. He says we should spray around the doors. He was happy we had already poured the boiling water down the drains (a trick we learned from a plumber years ago). It didn't take long for him to say, "The logic isn't going to work is it?" Uh. NO!

I've looked in all the dark places I can find. Well, most of them anyway. I checked the boots in case Woody's saying is right. I have toyed around with getting a second cat (uh, I know that's the irrational side of me). I'm not convinced we are totally snake-free. But I'm not convinced there are more either. I'm in limbo.

And, if I'm being honest, I won't be totally satisfied until I know that the reptiles around here have gone "to infinity and beyond!"

Gosh, I miss Buzz and Woody!!

The Mission Field

A couple from our church left Monday for full time mission work in Belize. Their story is an amazing one.

Nelson's Dad and StepMother have already been in Belize for eight years. They care for girls who have been abused in horrible ways. Our church found the Dad and StepMother a little over a year ago and linked up with them to help out where and when we could. His Dad had been praying for Nelson and his wife to come to Belize to help out in the mission. Nelson said he'd help by building a website for his Dad from his home in New York. In the meantime, Nelson and his wife moved to Florida and happened to come in to our church one day. Imagine their surprise when a photo of Nelson's Dad appeared on the screen!

After Nelson shared this story on Sunday, my DS 2 said he wanted to go back to Belize. He and DS 1 were there on a mission trip a few years ago. And he said, "Mom, have you ever even been on a mission trip?" I replied, "You mean out of the country?" I told him that I had not been out of the country on a mission. He said, "Awww, Mom, you HAVE to go!" I told him I might someday. But I also reminded him that I AM on a mission field every single day!

I choose to work at my specific school. Is it the "worst" school in our town as far as poverty and need goes? No. But it's one of the schools with a very high percentage of students and families in need.

I've been sharing about E. For those of you who have been curious, the goose was simply a connection from home. He actually never "used" it here at school. He simply threw it when the teacher tried to give it to him.

He is from a family that may not be considered "in need" by most. I mean they have financial resources and are well-groomed. Yet it's obvious that Mom, who is quite pregnant, is tired. In fact, I'd go so far as to say she's quite worn out!

Yesterday, I sat in a conference with another Mom who by all outward appearances wouldn't "look" like someone who has great needs. Yet the story she told was about her daughter who has been abused in ways that I cannot repeat here. Suffice it to say, this little girl has a seriously LONG road to healing ahead of her.

Last week, there was the Grandma who does live government check to government check and didn't know how she was going to get school supplies for her little girl.

And, there's the family of NINE grandchildren who have been raised by Grandma and Grandpa who were removed from the home just before school started. While I know several kids in the family, two of them simply stole my heart. I've been mentoring one since he was in second grade. He's in fifth grade this year. Last week he asked me if I'd seen his sister, who is in first grade. You see they were separated in the foster care system and he was so worried about her.

Now, he's been moved from the shelter to an Uncle's house and is no longer at our school. When he left, he asked me to promise to keep my eye on her when she comes. His sister showed up for the first time yesterday with her foster Mom.

And when I think of each of these cases and so many others that I simply cannot relate here a thought occurs to me. While I know it's not some exotic place, I can confidently say, "Yes, I've been on the mission field!"

Where's your mission?

My Weekend Window

This is definitely a weekend that is "worth a window"--a glimpse into our world over the past couple of days. First, there was the Monkey Bread Debacle. Friday was rather quiet around our house.

DS 1 went out with his friends. DS 2 was going to the movies with his friend E. DSs 3, 4, and I went to the store to check out aquarium fish. (Hmmm...did I forget to tell everyone in the blogosphere that all of DS 4's fish died this week?) When we came home, those two were occupied and I was busy preparing my pictures for an all day scrapbooking event on Saturday.

Soon after the two younger boys and I got home, DS 2 and E came in the door and said, "Did you get my text?" I told him that I had not. He said the movie was sold out and they had been sitting down at the mall trying to think of something to do. They decided to come home and figure it out. Somehow, "We're bored" evolved into "Let's make Monkey Bread!" So off they went to the store to get the ingredients.

I figured they are two 18 (almost 19) year olds who can handle their cooking quest, and I know it's sexist, but E IS a girl, so I left them alone and continued my preparation. It wasn't long after the bread was in the oven that we started to smell something odd. I heard them open it up and suddenly, as if the flood gates opened up, there was SMOKE everywhere! It seems the recipe they used called for FOUR cans of biscuits....and they put ALL of them into the smallest pan (the white pan at the top of the picture). The smell was the butter, sugar, and cinnamon mixture flooding the bottom of my oven.

We opened windows. Turned on fans. And they removed the cooked layer and spread out the rest in a larger pan to continue cooking. This meant that the butter continued to cook and smoke on the bottom of the oven. And in the midst of all of this, they decided they really wanted us all to play a game of FARKEL. And that's exactly what we did while they tried to fix the bread. No matter what they tried, however, it simply wasn't going to cook....the effort to finish the project went on, though, until well after midnight. I had to go to bed because I was supposed to pick Sandy up at 7:30am.


And that is exactly what I did! With DH out of town, I had to chose to bribe the boys to care for, and be kind to (thus the bribe), their little brother all day. I figured if they older three split the day, they'd only be responsible for just over three hours each. DS 4 also received renumeration for his cooperation and hard work. So, with that out of the way, and cell phone close by, Sandy and I took off early Saturday. Here we are all set up and working away.



We went to a scrapbooking event with one thousand other women! It was a BLAST! Of course, the boys had a ball teasing us about it.
We cropped from 8:30AM until 8:00PM! Our day included door prizes, a chair massage, and being able to browse so many great ideas from other croppers. I took the second picture from one corner of the expo hall so everyone could see what it looks like when that many scrapbookers join together.

Once again, Sandy and I were reminded just how important it is to take time out to do this sort of thing. Whether it's scrapbooking, spending time just chatting with a friend, or any other thing that rejuvinates us, it's important.

The nice outcome of our day was that we both got so much accomplished! I finished half of my Alaska album and have the rest all ready to put together quicker. Sandy worked on one of her girl's childhood albums...

Of course, after cropping all day, we were exhausted. When I arrived home, the boys were all happy and the house was in one piece! I don't know what else a Mom could ask for. What a nice surprise, also, to come home and find out that Mary had almost finished my new blog!

Sunday was spent at church and simply resting up for the coming week. I hope your weekend was productive and fun as well!! Have a GREAT week!!

Isn't she WONDERFUL???

Oh my goodness! I love the way God works. In one emotional moment this week, I posted that I wanted a new blog. I was frustrated. Now I know there are far more important things to think about and worry about. But I had been asking for a new design for several months from several people who design blogs for pay and had had no response. None.

I hit "send" on that post and then went to my hotmail account. There, sent before I posted, was an email from my SWEET friend, Mary. asking me if she'd like for me to "play around with a blog design for me" for FREE! Now, I am no fool. Mary has been working hard redesigning her own blog and creating her new church. I said yes and Mary went to work. Quick work. By this morning, she had this design done for me.

I met Mary on a Christian Women's forum a few years ago. We met in real life almost two years ago before her precious Zoe was born. I was pleased as punch when she called me to tell me that she'd delivered her little girl! We've read each other's blogs, shared email, cards, and prayers over the years. Although we're primarily "cyber-friends"...she's a PERFECT example of just how good a cyber-friend can be. I love visiting her blog and hearing what God is doing in and through her.

She is a wife, a working Mom, and a musician with quite a heart for people and for ministry. This week, Mary, you ministered to me in a BIG way as you BLESSED my SOCKS OFF! Wait, I don't usually wear socks. Anyway, you know what I mean.

Now I can even play with the whole template too because she's got it in New Blogger which is easier for those of us who do not know or understand HTML.

Mary, you are simply the BEST! I'm sending you MUCH LOVE!

The Mother and the Goose

This post could just as easily be titled: "What I learned at school this week"!

E is the Kindergarten Student that I told you about earlier this week. We have had to physically take him to class every day this week. On Monday afternoon, Mom asked me if I would meet her at the parking lot every day to get him from her car and escort him to class. She is very pregnant and has back trouble. Since I am there each day, I agreed.

The first day, I had to escort him he kicked and screamed the whole way there. Someone who is trained to physically handle children came soon after we arrived in class and removed him. He did eventually go to class with a turtle puppet that belonged to one of our counselors.

The second day when Mom showed up, I met E at the car with my smiling teacher face and welcomed him back to school. As I am physically pulling the flailing child from the car, I put him in one arm—kind of in a football hold—and went to grab the backpack and lunchbox from the back seat. Mom, in a very serious voice, handed me this two inch tall plastic goose and said, “Here’s the goose. He’s going to need it.”

OK. I am curious, but I am not stupid. I was not going to stand there for an explanation with the child wriggling, squirming, screaming and kicking in my arms! I took the goose and said, “OK.”

The Principal saw that E wasn’t happy and came and took him from me. I took the backpack, lunchbox, and the goose to the teacher. I told the teacher, “E is here today. Here’s the goose. Mom says he’s going to need it.” The teacher, looked at it quizzically but stuck the little figure in his pocket.

Yesterday afternoon, E’s Mom found me on my way to our Parent Pick-Up line. And she approached me very seriously and said, “I gave you the goose. We are going to need it.” I said, “I gave it to Mr. B.” She said, “Well, we need it.” So, I got on my radio and called the office. Can you imagine what my call sounded like to everyone with a radio?

“Um, Office, this is Mrs. N. Can you please call Mr. B. and ask him to bring E’s goose to Parent Pick-up?”

The reply came quickly, “Mrs. N. I don’t think I understand your request.”

I said, “E’s Mother sent a goose to the room this morning and she needs it back.”

The Office person, hearing the seriousness in my voice, said: “OK I’ll call him and ask him for it.”

Soon, the goose and Mr. B. showed up at Parent Pick-Up and all was well in the world again.

When I was relaying the story to my boys last night, I mentioned that I am not “trained to do restraints” and they replied: “MOM, you’ve raised FOUR boys…you are QUITE TRAINED!”

Well, OK-then. I guess what I need is a little “goose training”. Cause I know I’m missing something somewhere!!

I WANT a new BLOG!!

In the past month, I have emailed three different blog template creators to ask for a new look and have yet to hear back from ONE.

Can SOMEBODY help me and suggest a creator. I'm sick of blue!! Maybe that's why I haven't been motivated to blog.

I'm the kind of person that if I knew how to do it, I'd change it all the time. But I don't.

Suggestions, please???

School and Storms...both are calm

Yesterday was the first day of school. I loved sitting around and listening to my boys give the run down of their day at dinner last night:

DS 1 was there to offer advice to his younger brothers since he's been where each of them are.

DS 2 had his first day of classes at the community college. He's dealing with a couple of things there...

* How do you borrow a pencil from someone who is the same age as your parents?

* Or worse yet, get their number to form a study group?

* What does it mean when the prof introduces himself and notes that this is his last semester of teaching and he wants everyone to know where his nitro pill is in case he has a heart attack in class?

* How do you keep from looking like a "know-it-all" when the speech teacher talks about knowing your audience and says "obviously no one in this room would understand if Einstein stood up here and explained the theory of Relativity"? DS 2 said he kept picturing every movie he's seen of college classrooms with the kid who always has his hand in the air. And he physically held his own hand down! (Don't get me started on this sort of thing.)

* How do you handle it when a peer that graduated with you from high school says, "Wow, I'm surprised to see someone like YOU here! I mean you were one of the top students at (our)HS!" DS 2 didn't explain that this is just a stepping stone for him while he waits for admission to the other school.

Then there was DS 3 who had a pretty good first day of 9th grade. As you might expect, the biggest issue for a new high schooler is whether they'll know anyone when they get there. It seems like he connected with someone in most of his classes and most importantly in lunch! A few of his observations:

* My classes are spread all over campus! As he showed us the map, DS 2 had a good laugh because they are QUITE as spread out as DS 3 might have made them.

* I don't know WHERE my locker is! And there's not time for me to go there anyway!

* It's EARLY to get up and go to school! He's TIRED!

* There's only 719 more days that he'll have to get up that early!

DS 4 had a great day in fourth grade. He had dance for his special on day one. He knows a couple of kids in his class and enjoyed connecting with some of his "old friends" at the school. Of course he'd be grateful if we'd do SOMETHING about the wasps that are outside the FRONT door of his classroom. Thank God I was able to tell Sandy about his wasp issues. She said when she announced to the class that they'd be using the back door to stay away from those pesky critters, A breathed a HUGE sigh of relief!

For me, it was a typical day one. We usually have a few Kindergarteners that we have to chase. Yesterday I got to chase E. He is a darling little boy who has a very pregnant mother and a father in Iraq. As he layed under the classroom table screaming, he told me, "I don't think I can make it!" You should have seen his eyes when I put my hand on my own head and said, "I don't think I can make it either!" Of course, for me, it was because we were hunched under a little Kindergarten table!

Anyway, he finally came out and ended up having a guidance counselor escort him through the day. (Forgive my humor, but this counselor just got surplussed to our elementary from a high school. All I could think was, "Wow! She may be bagging groceries at the local Publix by Wednesday!" I'm not sure chasing K students is what she thought SHE'D be doing for a living!)

So, as we sit here listening to the wind whistle through the trees rather gently, I am going to catch up on some filing that I needed to get done.

A New Day Dawns...

Here we are at the first day of school. I usually LOVE this day. I love the smell of new crayons. Having new school supplies. I love seeing the boys get dressed up in their new uniforms and clothes. I love it all.

Today, though, I had a tear in my eye. I dropped my DS 3 off at High School for the first time. He walked confidently onto the campus, and I had a tear in my eye. I'm allowed. I'm the Mom!

I am not one of those Moms who wants to keep them forever small. I love watching them grow. And, in fact, I've quite enjoyed the high school years with my older two. But, it means I am one step closer to having less in the nest.

I know I talk about wanting a "pink room". And I'm not kidding about that. I want a place where I can do what I want. Watch Lifetime movies. Laugh. Cry. And, in general, be a "girl". My friend Kelly keeps telling me I need to fill my room with American Girl dolls and only allow girls inside!! And I might.

The truth is, however, that I LOVE having my boys. I love being around them. I love how they tussel. I was meant for the life I've been given. And I'm not in that big a hurry to have them gone just so I can have a little space.

And watching each of them take a new step in their schooling just means I am that much closer to bigger changes. DSs 1 and 2 have finished that season of their lives. They are doing the "college thing" now. I know that I will but blink my eyes and DS 3 will be done with high school. That will mean my DS 4 will be much older too.

And THAT'S why I get all sappy!

Blogger Blahs...

I've decided that I have the "Blogger Blahs." I really don't know WHAT to post, so I haven't posted for a couple of days. Here are a couple of random thoughts and things going on here:

* School starts tomorrow. It looks like we're going to be in for a day then have a day off for the hurricane. Our neighbors to the south have already had school cancelled.

* DH is out of town, so the boys and I are preparing without him. Now we are perfectly capable of doing so, but it doesn't mean I don't miss him. He normally takes control of all prep work.

* Even though he's out of town, he sent the boys a list of "to-do's" to take care of things around here.

* That is just one of the things I love about him...and reasons we've been married for 21 years. He takes care of us so well.

* Took DSs 3 and 4 shopping yesterday. We got some school clothes. Nothing like shopping last minute. But today we went for more supplies...even MORE last minute. Oh well.

* Stayed up to watch Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal last night. I enjoyed it. But I have to say that I disagreed with his teammate who basically told the world that Phelps was better than all other athletes out there. The guy said Phelps win was bigger and better than the Tour de France and other competitions. I disagree. Yeah the guy is good. In fact, he's downright amazing...but so are so many young athletes out there.

* DS 2 is starting at the community college tomorrow. There will be four of us up and out before seven. That'll be fun!

* Now I'm cooking dinner and planning to wind this household down cause morning's going to come EARLY for all of us!!

Book Review: Coming Unglued

When I was shopping for fun reads in our bookstore a few weeks ago, I was so excited to see the second book in this series of Sisters Ink by Rebecca Seitz. I won the first book over at Stacy's blog earlier this year and read and reviewed it in March.

The second book, Coming Unglued, hones in on another Sinclair sister, Kendra. Kendra is a flamboyant artist who has a rough past behind her. Before being adopted by the Sinclairs, she lived with her single Mother who had a parade of boyfriends in the house. Although it is not mentioned with great depth, some even used to "visit Kendra's room".

Kendra is forced to face her past while also learning to understand the adult she is as she deals with not one, but two relationships. This book deals with betrayal and reminds the reader that often betrayal is nothing more than emotional. But even then, it can be very damaging to the people involved and those around them.

Seitz does a great job giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of the Sinclair sisters in her book. While they help Kendra face some of the hurdles that her life choices bring, they are also planning Tandy's wedding. These are sisters who care deeply for one another and aren't afraid to confront issues head on when necessary. And they do it all while surrounded by two of MY favorite things: scrapbooking and chocolate!

This book is definitely a good (and quick) read! Like the first book, the faith thread is woven throughout the story, but it is not overly heavy. The message of redemption and moving beyond our past is strong. And the fact that God's love is stronger than any of the lies that roll around our heads is clear.

Once again, I'll be waiting for book 3 to come out in February!!


{Note: I am very excited because I am now down to my last three books from my Summer reading list...which is good, since school starts Monday! It's about the best I've done with intentions and reading in a while.}

Things I Learned from a Box...

In the past week, cardboard boxes have filled my life. And they are teaching me lessons.

As most of you know, I am a Literacy Coach at an Elementary School. This year our state adopted new reading texts, so that meant that all the "old stuff" got boxed up and returned to the warehouse and was replaced with a brand new program.

As with most things in our world, new often means MORE. This reading series has MORE components than ever before. For each teacher, there are close to 10 large boxes of materials. I know ten sounds manageable, but when you multiply that times sixty classrooms, that's a lot of boxes.

Earlier in the summer, we had a team of teachers come in to sort and mark grade level materials by teacher. Everything was neatly laid out by grade level and further divided by teacher. I made arrangements to meet with our custodial staff for delivery to classrooms. Although it may have seemed a bit anal, I decided to give each custodian a cart and only put ONE teacher's materials on it. After they delivered it, they returned to me to pick up the next teacher's stuff.

I don't know how much more carefully we could have done this.

It wasn't long before my friend Brenda (see her photo in the post below) came to me and said Mr. SoandSo doesn't have any materials, and I'm missing a box. My head nearly spun on my neck as I reiterated how methodical we were being to avoid this sort of thing. And it was worse because her grade level (K) was the first one out of the chute!

We scoured the school. Several times. We put out an email APB for the missing materials. I looked the next day. I was devastated. I mean the cost is nearly $3000 per teacher! It didn't take me long to get in touch with my judging side and decide that one of the custodians must have taken my kit. And I determined to look at the security cameras to find out.

Friday morning, I spent three hours with my AP going camera by camera to watch the kits move around the school. As we entered the third hour of second by second detective work, I noticed the K kit leaving the K building and heading for another building via one of the custodians. Then he came out of that building with an empty cart. My answer was somewhere in that second building.

I immediately left the office, grabbed Brenda, and headed to the building in question. It was there that the "mystery" suddenly made sense. To protect the people involved, let's just say the kit was going to "Mr. Smith". In the second building is our school's Science teacher...whose name would be equivalent to "Smithers". See? They SHARE the same first five letters of their name. The custodian, who has just begun reading in the past few years, delivered by "sight"

Mystery solved!

Mystery two occured when a first grade teacher came to me to tell me that she was missing one particular box. I asked her if she'd checked with her teammates because I KNOW the boxes were delivered. She asked a few of them. But not ALL of them.

As she headed off to ask a teacher in another building, I walked to her neighbor's room around the corner and found the box. In five minutes!

Mystery solved!

Lessons learned:

1: Don't be so quick to judge a situation.

2: You've got to look at things from all angles to find a solution.

3: Sometimes the answer is right around the corner!

And finally...

You never know what you can learn from a box!

Dragon Hunt...and then some...

Melli decided she wanted to initiate this dragon hunt. And I was so excited to play since there are dragons all over my school. I just haven't had time to take a photo of ONE of them this week (yet). BUT...I decided that I could put this one up here:

This is the dragon ice sculpture from our cruise. It's a little hard to see with the lighting, but I was having trouble with the flash reflecting. You can make it bigger if you'd like.

In the meantime, it was "back to school" for teachers yesterday for me. We always have some sort of "back to school" party for our staff. Last night we went to the antique car museum that is in our area and we had a little fun...

Here are Sandy, Debra, and I in our "period costumes". We literally found the accessories and shirts at the last minute. But I think they worked.

This is my Principal and Assistant Principal posin' by one of the cars. My school is a very "tough" place sometimes due to the populations we serve, but these two never forget to help us stop and have a little fun along the way. I think it's one of the things that makes our school successful.

Here is my friend Brenda. She is going to turn 70 in not too long and has more energy than most 20 year olds I know!! Brenda's costume (the piece over her pants and shirt) was her Grandmother's in 1917!

And just to show that this seating area can span the ages, I decided to do my best statue pose! That's all for now, I've got to head out to work. I'll be around later to read!!

Book Review: The Shack

Back in December, my blogging friend Connie read this book, The Shack by William P. Young. She came over here and encouraged me to check it out and read it. I told her I'd try and add it to my list of books. And I DID make a mental note to do so.

It wasn't until I was purchasing some books for summer reading, however, that I actually purchased the book to add to my pile. I started it just after we returned from Alaska. Then, I thought I left it in a hotel on our July 4th weekend. And after I bought a new copy, I found out I'd just tucked it in my tote bag for safe keeping.

It was when I went to buy my new copy that I heard about all the controversy that is following this book. The sales lady said she had read it and enjoyed it. She said she especially "loved the ending" but she wanted me to be aware that there were people in the Christian community who are emphatically against the book. In fact, our local Christian bookstore put the following notice in the book:

The management of [insert name of your local Christian bookstore]does not agree with the theology and doctrinal statements of the book entitled, "THE SHACK",but since it is written as FICTION,you be the judge and make up your
own mind.Comments are welcome.

OK, in many ways, that is like telling someone "not to think about a pink elephant." And never being one to shy away from the "pink elephant" without a clear reason not to forgo my reading of this book, I decided to plow ahead.

I took the new copy on my cruise to the Caribbean, but couldn't bring myself to pick it back up. In fact, I gave that copy to my cousin, Lynn, and decided I'd read it as soon as I returned home. I looked for a deeper reason for the delay in my finishing this book. But there wasn't one, of which I am aware.

I finished the book, however, during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics last night. And I'm glad I did.

At first, the story reminded me a bit of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" as we find the main character "Mackenzie Allen Philips" heading back to an abandoned shack in search of answers regarding the brutal kidnapping and murder of his daughter. He ends up meeting up with God or Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu (Young's version of the Holy Spirit) in a very unique way--that's the "Dickens part".

I tried to keep in mind that this was, in fact, a work of fiction. And, for me, I did not find the areas of "issue" of great concern. Here is a great article on the controversy surrounding the book in USA Today.

Here are a couple of highlights from the story for me:

While Jesus and Mack are talking, Jesus discusses where Mack's imagination is most of the time. He notes: "When I dwell with you, I do so in the present--I live in the present. Not the past, although much can be remembered and learned by looking back, but only for a visit, not an extended stay. And for sure I do not dwell in the future you visualize or imagine. Mack, do you realize thatyour imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures me there with you?"

OUCH! I am guilty of worrying about that future and forgetting that Jesus is a part of it as He walks with me each and every day of my life. Rather than worrying about it, as the Bible tells us...we need to live in the here and now.

And because I see and hear over and over again people trying to say that "God caused a tragedy because..." OR "It was 'his/her time to go' because God needed him/her in heaven..." I loved Papa's words to Mack when speaking of the horrible tragedy that claimed his daughter's life:
"Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."

I love that!

Another poignant part of the story is when Mack is confronted with his own habit of judging. I'd love to say that I couldn't relate at all to passing judgment in some of my own life situations. But I can't. And neither could Mack. He is forced to realize that each time he judges something, he is playing God. And no one has that right.

The book is centered on relationships and facing the things that can "grip us" from our past--requiring each reader to visit our own "shack" of sorts. Again and again Mack is reminded that he must have a relationship with God (Papa) through his son Jesus. And while Young's critics note that he doesn't mention "The Bible" in this book...I know of no better way to learn the character of God and to be in relationship with Him than to be "in the Word".

I can see this being a book that appeals to those who are seeking God in a very real way. The story reminds us that God is there even when we endure unspeakable pain. Speaking about his main character, the author says: "Mack is me, a guy who has made a mess of everything," Young says. "The book takes him[Mack] outside everything familiar, back to the worst experience of his life and lets him recognize God is so much greater."

And, in my opinion, Young "hits home" the most important message of all: God loves each of us deeply regardless of where we are in our life's journey!

I'm Stepping In...

I invited DS 3 to guest blog and he said he would, but alas he is still a 14yo boy and it didn't happen in his "Mother's timing". So, I'm stepping in and sharing some of his flight information here.

Here's DS 3 in the "roomy" cockpit ready to go. NO A/C on a HOT summer day...but ready to go.

Here he is in the air. Gliding....

Coming in for the landing...He got to go up another time and was up for 40 minutes after the first flight.

He did it!! He did it!!

Did you know that after you make your first solo flight, they cut your shirt? The shirt tails get signed by the pilot, marked with the date, the instructor's name, and the flight location and glider type. Then they get hung on the wall with the shirts of all the other pilots.

From my DS 3: "Getting to fly solo yesterday was very fun. I had a great time and the feeling of being up in the air, alone, felt great!"

Wordless Wednesday: He's Going Solo

(These three have gone to watch DS 3--in the middle--complete his solo flight in a glider this morning. Although this is NOT a glider, it is the three of them with the thing they enjoy so much: an airplane.)

He's 14 today...

My DS 3 has a birthday today. He's 14. It's hard for me to believe it. It seems like just yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital.

Tomorrow he solos in a glider airplane (which you can't do until you're 14). He is passionate about this whole aviation thing. It's neat to see him explore and develop his passion at such a young age. He knows more about airplanes than I could ever relay here. And when he talks about them, he just lights up.

DS 3 is a steady presence in our family. I think he gets more text message updates from his brothers than I do. They often tell HIM where they are and when they'll return! Perhaps it's because he is reliable and "always there".

I'm very proud of the young man he is becoming. I can't wait to see what his future holds, because I know it's awfully bright!

Happy happy birthday son!

Whoever...

Our church service today, my personal reading, and some blogs that I've read lately, have left me thinking.

Deeply.

The Pastor kind of summed up much of what's been marinating in my head for a few weeks. He used the very familiar passage of John 3:16--"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life." He kind of zeroed in on that word "whoever"...and really continued to drive home that point...WHOEVER means just what it says: anyone, everyone, whichever person, all humanity. It's there for everyone.

Yet we live in a society that throws conditions into almost everything. I'll love you IF, or WHEN, or BECAUSE. When you do X, you'll get Y. Additionally, our society bombards us with images that shout to so many of us, "You're not ____ enough." You fill in the blank...pretty? smart? thin? tough? happy? good?

But, this verse in John says WHOEVER. It doesn't say "Whoever gives enough money..." "Whoever has the right clothes..." "Whoever knows enough stuff..." "Whoever drives the right car..." Nope. It only says "WHOEVER BELIEVES". There is no other condition.

Believe.

I remember when DH and I first married I took an Evangelism Explosion course. One of the illustrations in there about belief asked the seeker: "You're sitting in that chair right? When did you believe that chair would hold you? You had to believe it before you sat, otherwise you wouldn't have given it a try." Once you've sat, however, there is no "belief"...there's only reality that the chair is holding you.

Belief doesn't require proof...it requires faith. And it's OK if we take that journey one little step at a time.

WHOEVER.

The pastor asked us today, "Do you have friends who believe or act differently than you? Do you have friends who are Buddhist? Muslim? Atheist? Gay?" No matter who it is, or what the lifestyle, the entire human race fits into God's WHOEVER. And they fit where ever they are right now...

And when I really think about it, there are people with whom I "rub elbows" every single day who I am certain don't feel like they fit in the "WHOEVER" of God. For whatever reason, they are stuck behind a wall of self-doubt, pride, hate, anger, bitterness, fear, shame...and they don't let themselves believe that GOD GAVE HIS SON for WHOEVER. But HE did.

And he did it for one reason and one reason only.

Because he LOVED the WORLD. EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in it.

And because of that amazing love, WHOEVER can have FOREVER!

Book Review: Sex God

Now, if THAT title doesn't catch your ear, I don't know what will! A few weeks back, my DS 2, who never reads, told me he was reading "the best book". After I made sure my ears weren't clogged and I was hearing him right, I asked him to share what it was. This was it.

My first reaction was, "Duh, what 18 year old boy wouldn't want to read a book about that topic!" But, he let me browse it and began telling me what it was about. I told him I'd like to read it when he was done...and thus, I've been working through it. But it wasn't as easy for me. You see, this is no "how-to" manual. It's really a "WHY-manual".

First of all, the entire title is, "Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality." The book was written by Pastor Rob Bell who was the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

In Bell's words: "This physical thing [no matter what it is]--a picture, trophy, artifact, gift--is actually about a relationship, that truth, that reality, that moment in time" [it is connected to the spiritual]. He goes on to note, "Sex. God. They're connected. And they can't be separated. Where the one is, you will always find the other....To make sense of the one, we have to explore the other." And spends the entire book doing just that.

I am still not certain this would have been a book I would have chosen on my own. In fact, I know it wouldn't have been. BUT, I can see where it is an excellent read for someone like my own older sons. People who are bombarded with the physical each and every day. It'd be so easy to "give in" to the world's view of sexuality. Yet, as Bell notes, that is what makes it empty and unfulfilling. It is a deep thinking book. I had to reread several sections to really get my head around his thinking. In the end, I'm glad I did.

I'm going to close with the book review that was given by "Publishers Weekly". I think they sum it up much better than I ever could:

Bell raises the bar with this evocative follow-up to last year's bestseller Velvet Elvis....Bell's book isn't a sex manual, an exploration of the differences between men and women, or a marriage how-to, though all of that is here. Instead, it's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God, and love made manifest in the messiness of our humanity. Sex God is about relationships revealed in a way that elevates the human condition and offers hope to those whose relationships are wounded. In Bell's spare, somewhat oblique style, he addresses lust, respect, denial, risk, acceptance, and more. His love for God and the Bible is clear, as is his ability to ask probing questions and offer answers that make readers think deeply about their own lives. He does a fine job using the Bible and real life to show that our physical relationships are really about spiritual relationships. This book joyfully ties, and then tightens, the knot between God and humankind. — Publishers Weekly

Photo Hunt: Clouds

I don't know what's going on with Blogger, it keeps shutting down blogs before I can open them. At any rate, here's my photo hunt picture for this week: One of my favorite "cloud" pictures from Alaska.

It's all fun and games until...

Someone FARKELS!

While in Alaska, DH and I saw this little pocket-sized game called, "Moose Farkel". This is a dice game where you can roll as much as you want as long as you continue to score. If you don't roll a moose or a five, or another set of "scoring dice" then you FARKEL!

I liked it because the box fits in the palm of my hand. And it reminded me of a game that I used to play with my Grandmother called "Blow up". I am pretty sure they are loosely related.

I took the game to the Caribbean with me. We played a few nights while we were there. And I've played some with the guys at home.

Today I found out that you can buy a whole "Party Farkel" kit..I guess in the same line as Bunco. At any rate, this little game is a lot of fun and easy to learn. It's light and portable too which would make it easy to take along to fill time while waiting in a restaurant or a doctor's office.

And who doesn't love a good distraction when you're waiting to get food or an examination?

And...speaking of fun and games....

I saw this meme over at Melli's earlier this week- and I loved it...so I'm copying. If you want to play along, let me know so I can come and see your answers.

8 Things I Have a Passion For

1. Jesus

2. My Guys.

3. Extended Family

4. Friends

5. Teaching and Learning

6. Reading

7. Church

8. Mountains

8 Things I would Like to do Before I Die

1. Go to Italy

2. Be a Grandma and perhaps even a Great Grandma

3. Travel all 50 states

4. Have a house with a wrap around front porch

5. Teach a college course

6. Write more books

7. Cook better

8. Have a house in the mountains (even if it's only a vacation home) with a wrap around front porch

8 Things I Say A Lot

1. No way!

2. Please!

3. My boys' names

4. What!?!

5. Diet Coke, light ice...

6. What do you want for dinner?

7. Where are you going?

8. How did THAT happen?

8 Books I Have Read Recently (This was hard because they are right over there in my sidebar. I tried to include a couple that aren't quite finished and those I will probably not review here.)

1. Flies on the Butter (Denise Hildreth)

2. Teaching Essentials (Regie Routman)

3. If you Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name (Heather Lende)

4. Intelligence for Your Life (John Tesh)

5. Sex God (Rob Bell) (I'll review as soon as I finish)

6. The Shack (William P. Young) (Not finished with this one either)

7. Mama, Do You Love Me (Barbara M. Joose)

8. Responsive Literacy Coaching (Cheryl Dosier)

8 Movies I Have Seen 8 Times (This one made me wonder why I thought this meme was FUN to begin with...It's harder than it looks.)

1. The Sound of Music

2. The Wizard of Oz

3. It's a Wonderful Life

4. Holiday Inn (sometimes mistakenly called, "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby)

5. Grease

6. ET

7. Born Free

8. Aladdin