by April
In my college English class, I have always been a tough grader. One tiniest mistake made the whole answer wrong. Perfect or nothing.
However, now that I myself am learning another language... I find myself relaxing on my grading. I'd like to think of it as "having a little more grace". Yet, I want to teach my students to strive for excellence.
Isn't that the balance all teachers - all people - face? To reach high and forgive wide.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Pumpkin Provision
We haven't been in the US for the past 5 falls. In Hainan, where we have been, there isn't much to recognize about autumn. There, the weather cools off a bit. The kids know the season has changed when Mama gets out her fall decorations. We have been enjoying the sight of the leaves turning and, while Colorado's blue and gold autumns don't draw the crowds that New England's do, we have been thrilled by the spectacle.
Bryan, who was 4 on our last American fall, has been thrilled about every aspect of the experience. He was eager for the chance to dress up and attend the Harvest Festival at our home church. But he was really excited about the prospect of carving a pumpkin. They have pumpkins and various relatives in Hainan, but they pick them quite green. We never saw one of those big, bright orange pumpkins the entire time we were there. So you can see why Bryan was excited about the prospect of his own designer pumpkin. The other kids were looking forward to it too, but not with nearly as much anticipation.
Having some experience as a Pumpkin Carver, and as a mother with a few falls under her belt, I determined that we needed to wait till the end of October to get the pumpkins so that they would not rot too quickly. So even though there were piles of lovely orange pumpkins from the beginning of September on I was waiting patiently. John suggested contacting the local pumpkin farm and letting the kids pick their own. We both tried to contact them, but were unsuccesssful. Meanwhile, I had in my head that we needed to take everyone and let them pick a pumpkin.
I imagine you can guess the next part. That final week arrived and so did a dozen extra things to do. The 31st came and we were hustling out the door when Bryan asked if we were going to get pumpkins then. There wasn't time. We figured we'd go the next day. The next day and the one after that I called all over trying to find even one pumpkin for my very disappointed little boy. I had really let him down.
But we serve a tremendous God who loves us in amazing and lavish ways. He provided the perfect payment for our sins so we could be with Him for eternity. He provides for our daily needs; a roof over our heads and food to eat. He has seen to it that we have a vehicle, a place for our big kids to take Chemistry and other things that interest them, and violin lessons for Avonlea. He also loves Bryan enough to make sure he got a pumpkin.
The big kids and I were at the store today. There in a small bin in the produce section were, not one but FOUR, pumpkins. That was all that was there. There weren't three or five, but four. You can't imagine the smile on Bryan's face or the relief in my heart. Not just one for Bryan, but for each of our kids. It was as if God had saved those pumpkins just for them.
God gives us what we need when we trust Him. He even gives us what we want sometimes. And He loves to find a way to say, "You are very special to me. I love you, see!"
Bryan, who was 4 on our last American fall, has been thrilled about every aspect of the experience. He was eager for the chance to dress up and attend the Harvest Festival at our home church. But he was really excited about the prospect of carving a pumpkin. They have pumpkins and various relatives in Hainan, but they pick them quite green. We never saw one of those big, bright orange pumpkins the entire time we were there. So you can see why Bryan was excited about the prospect of his own designer pumpkin. The other kids were looking forward to it too, but not with nearly as much anticipation.
Having some experience as a Pumpkin Carver, and as a mother with a few falls under her belt, I determined that we needed to wait till the end of October to get the pumpkins so that they would not rot too quickly. So even though there were piles of lovely orange pumpkins from the beginning of September on I was waiting patiently. John suggested contacting the local pumpkin farm and letting the kids pick their own. We both tried to contact them, but were unsuccesssful. Meanwhile, I had in my head that we needed to take everyone and let them pick a pumpkin.
I imagine you can guess the next part. That final week arrived and so did a dozen extra things to do. The 31st came and we were hustling out the door when Bryan asked if we were going to get pumpkins then. There wasn't time. We figured we'd go the next day. The next day and the one after that I called all over trying to find even one pumpkin for my very disappointed little boy. I had really let him down.
But we serve a tremendous God who loves us in amazing and lavish ways. He provided the perfect payment for our sins so we could be with Him for eternity. He provides for our daily needs; a roof over our heads and food to eat. He has seen to it that we have a vehicle, a place for our big kids to take Chemistry and other things that interest them, and violin lessons for Avonlea. He also loves Bryan enough to make sure he got a pumpkin.
The big kids and I were at the store today. There in a small bin in the produce section were, not one but FOUR, pumpkins. That was all that was there. There weren't three or five, but four. You can't imagine the smile on Bryan's face or the relief in my heart. Not just one for Bryan, but for each of our kids. It was as if God had saved those pumpkins just for them.
God gives us what we need when we trust Him. He even gives us what we want sometimes. And He loves to find a way to say, "You are very special to me. I love you, see!"
Monday, November 5, 2007
On the Road Again
Well, Angie and I arrived in the USA last Tuesday night and we are busy packing our things in order to head out once more. Tomorrow morning (Monday), we take off for a fifteen day trip. First we will go to Louisville, Kentucky where every two years, Team Expansion hosts a Team Leader Summit. This is an opportunity to grow, prepare, be encouraged, etc.... in the role of Team Leader. After that we stay in Louisville for a few days of fellowship and meetings. Then on November 15th we leave for Cincinnati, Ohio for the National Missionary Convention. We will be there for three days before we return once more to home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thanks for your prayers as we travel!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Xs and Os
I love to-do lists. I'm the kind of person who writes down things I've already done today that are normal every day things (wake up, brush teeth) on my to-do list just so I can mark them off.
Matt has arranged for our team to use not one - but two - on line sites that help us list and mark off our to do lists! So, first I get to write it with my permanent marker on my paper and then I get to put it on line, twice if I want. So, it's double, even triple, the pleasure when I get to check it off. Fun, fun!
For the last few months, Italy has seemed so far away. I've been telling people that Italy will seem more real when my to-do list has more Italy things than Haiti things. And lately, I've been doing a lot of Italy things.
I have a giant tic-tac-toe board in my classroom. I think you're supposed to throw beanbags at it. I use it for math games. I put cards with math facts on the front. Answer the question right, and you're team gets to turn it to the X or O.
Last night I dreamed that the cards on the board were things from my to-do list. Then, the Xs were for Italy and the Os were for Haiti.
Hmmm... someone would have a field day interpreting this dream! I'll leave them to it. As for me, I'm going to mark off "post on blog" on every to-do list I have.
Matt has arranged for our team to use not one - but two - on line sites that help us list and mark off our to do lists! So, first I get to write it with my permanent marker on my paper and then I get to put it on line, twice if I want. So, it's double, even triple, the pleasure when I get to check it off. Fun, fun!
For the last few months, Italy has seemed so far away. I've been telling people that Italy will seem more real when my to-do list has more Italy things than Haiti things. And lately, I've been doing a lot of Italy things.
I have a giant tic-tac-toe board in my classroom. I think you're supposed to throw beanbags at it. I use it for math games. I put cards with math facts on the front. Answer the question right, and you're team gets to turn it to the X or O.
Last night I dreamed that the cards on the board were things from my to-do list. Then, the Xs were for Italy and the Os were for Haiti.
Hmmm... someone would have a field day interpreting this dream! I'll leave them to it. As for me, I'm going to mark off "post on blog" on every to-do list I have.
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