I love to encourage people. It takes so little time and effort, yet the rewards are instantaeous and true.
Yesterday, I wrote one of my dyslexia student's mom to tell her how very much I enjoyed her son's manners. In the days of teaching, 2008, you hear a lot of "Huhs?" and "Yeahs" and "Idunnknows". This little fella is almost - well, I guess he is if I took the time to write his mom - out of the ordinary with this politeness. And it doesn't make him wierd! I guess that it truly what makes him stand out; he is an active, goofy little boy who could handle his own in any social situation.
I wrote his mom because she is actually his "step" - not a rarity in any school, and she's only been in his life about 3 years. I told her to feel good, that all the work she's pouring into this little man is paying off even when she's not around. In no time, I had an email back, so happy was she to hear from me.
That made my day - a happy mom made so by 5 minutes of my time. What better thing could I have done with that 5 minutes?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thoughts on Lent, Fasting, and Sacrifice
There's been a lot of talk around me lately from people who've chosen things to "give up" during this Lenten season, and I've been doing quite a bit of introspection into my own life. My own choices and decisions. My own sacrifice.
What I've come to realize is that I'm not in the mood to deny myself. I've hit a spot in the road that is not willing to put something I love aside even in the desire to draw closer to God.
Right now, I'm just about dealing with myself and my daily walk. Sounds kinda depressing to me, now that I see it, but maybe it will pass soon.
I'm proud of all of you who are disciplining yourselves - you are my role-models. Keep it up and grow stronger. I'll catch up with you later.
What I've come to realize is that I'm not in the mood to deny myself. I've hit a spot in the road that is not willing to put something I love aside even in the desire to draw closer to God.
Right now, I'm just about dealing with myself and my daily walk. Sounds kinda depressing to me, now that I see it, but maybe it will pass soon.
I'm proud of all of you who are disciplining yourselves - you are my role-models. Keep it up and grow stronger. I'll catch up with you later.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Farewell, Scary Bear !
My mom went through a phase with QVC where she bought porceline dolls that looked like family members and mechanical "robot" animals. We had the gray furry cat with a Santa hat, a little girl with arms that waved to "decorate" the Christmas tree, a tall Easter bunny wearing a straw hat and SCARY BEAR !
A few weeks ago, my family had a garage sale, and out came the robots. The gray cat's head was deformed and the little girl had mold on her face. The Easter Bunny no longer moved, but went for $5 because he still looked cute. Scary Bear went, too. Before we could get a picture of the girls with him for posterity's sake, he was gone. He was a tall brown bear wearing a red striped nightgown and holding a candle to see with. He usually stood by the grandfather clock in the living room, his arms making a scraping noise as they moved back and forth. I never knew how the girls hated him, although they loved to torment their cousin Casey with him each year. Once they 'fessed up about being afraid of him, of course Andy took great pleasure in leaving him in new places to catch them off guard. I never did figure out what made him so scary to two little girls. Now, he is gone.
Just goes to show you that you never know how things will affect a kid until they grow up and tell you!
A few weeks ago, my family had a garage sale, and out came the robots. The gray cat's head was deformed and the little girl had mold on her face. The Easter Bunny no longer moved, but went for $5 because he still looked cute. Scary Bear went, too. Before we could get a picture of the girls with him for posterity's sake, he was gone. He was a tall brown bear wearing a red striped nightgown and holding a candle to see with. He usually stood by the grandfather clock in the living room, his arms making a scraping noise as they moved back and forth. I never knew how the girls hated him, although they loved to torment their cousin Casey with him each year. Once they 'fessed up about being afraid of him, of course Andy took great pleasure in leaving him in new places to catch them off guard. I never did figure out what made him so scary to two little girls. Now, he is gone.
Just goes to show you that you never know how things will affect a kid until they grow up and tell you!
Saturday, February 09, 2008
A Goose-Bump moment
I think I'm mentioned Naythan before. Wish I could post his little face for you to see; blond, babyish, missing all those teeth.
The students have been issued id tags made of hard plastic, and he's chewed or broken up his second one since Christmas.
He comes to me for 50 min. daily with two other boys for dyslexia services. They read circles around him, and when I first met him in August, he was not able to sound out three letter words. Led, dog, you get the idea - it was torture. Going to the library went like this: "Naythan, are those your books?" as he stand there with Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or some other nonsense. "Yes ma'am, I'm not going to read them anyways, so I may as well look like I can." Reading was just not something he ever thought he's do... and I was just about convinced myself.
Well, we got him tested for more services - he qualified as LD and Speech. His mom and I sent tag phone messages, and notes in the planner with things for them to work on, and lo and behold, yesterday happens.
We go to the library. Naythan and his buddies split off from me, and begin looking. I wait. Eventually, Naythan comes and sits by me with Green Eggs and Ham. He opens it and begins to read to me. Sentences. Multi-word sentences. Not every word is perfect, but I'll take it. My eyes begin to water - those pesky allergies - and Naythan looks at me for assurance. I wanted to grab that little kid and kiss his face all over. Naythan read....
I've never liked Dr. Seuss and his convoluted stories with made up words, but that book read by Naythan was the sweetest book I've heard in a long, long time.
The students have been issued id tags made of hard plastic, and he's chewed or broken up his second one since Christmas.
He comes to me for 50 min. daily with two other boys for dyslexia services. They read circles around him, and when I first met him in August, he was not able to sound out three letter words. Led, dog, you get the idea - it was torture. Going to the library went like this: "Naythan, are those your books?" as he stand there with Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings or some other nonsense. "Yes ma'am, I'm not going to read them anyways, so I may as well look like I can." Reading was just not something he ever thought he's do... and I was just about convinced myself.
Well, we got him tested for more services - he qualified as LD and Speech. His mom and I sent tag phone messages, and notes in the planner with things for them to work on, and lo and behold, yesterday happens.
We go to the library. Naythan and his buddies split off from me, and begin looking. I wait. Eventually, Naythan comes and sits by me with Green Eggs and Ham. He opens it and begins to read to me. Sentences. Multi-word sentences. Not every word is perfect, but I'll take it. My eyes begin to water - those pesky allergies - and Naythan looks at me for assurance. I wanted to grab that little kid and kiss his face all over. Naythan read....
I've never liked Dr. Seuss and his convoluted stories with made up words, but that book read by Naythan was the sweetest book I've heard in a long, long time.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Two out of three??
On Thursday, I will go to Lola Fae's funeral; the second one in two weeks. Mom always said death comes in threes - I hope not in this case! I feel a real responsibility to attend these ceremonies - to honor the lives of those who have been a big part of mine. Not that I was that close to Lola Fae or Karo, it's just that we have a commonality of faith and a hope of the resurrection to come, and they led the way ahead for me.
I always wonder at funerals who will come to mine; what will people remember about me or say in my memory. Whatever it will be, I hope it's not for quite a while.
I always wonder at funerals who will come to mine; what will people remember about me or say in my memory. Whatever it will be, I hope it's not for quite a while.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Karo and Becky
Some couples just have "it." Their love is visible and real to all who know them, and you can almost smell the connection between them. Andy and I have commented through the years about couples we knew that had "it," and some who you just couldn't figure out how they got together to begin with.
Karo and Becky had "it." You couldn't imagine one without the other, and their names had grown into one over the years.
At Karo's funeral on Wed., Ray said they'd been married 62 years. Together a lot longer than some people live. And now, Becky is alone. You know they talked about the day one of them would die and leave the other, and now it is here.
62 + years of hand holding, kissing goodnight, riding in the car together, eating dinner at the same table. At his visitation the night before his funeral, she sat beside him, just as I'd seen her do on countless occasions, and wondered how being alone will feel. I can't imagine....
62 years. Half of what I have had with Andrew. I feel like a bride!
Karo and Becky had "it." You couldn't imagine one without the other, and their names had grown into one over the years.
At Karo's funeral on Wed., Ray said they'd been married 62 years. Together a lot longer than some people live. And now, Becky is alone. You know they talked about the day one of them would die and leave the other, and now it is here.
62 + years of hand holding, kissing goodnight, riding in the car together, eating dinner at the same table. At his visitation the night before his funeral, she sat beside him, just as I'd seen her do on countless occasions, and wondered how being alone will feel. I can't imagine....
62 years. Half of what I have had with Andrew. I feel like a bride!
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