7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 34)

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 Why I Love Religion, and Jesus.  Check out this is a very well-done response to the popular Youtube video of a poem Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus which brings up some interesting points about the pitfalls of false religion, but fails to recognize some factual truths pointed out in Why I Love Religion, and Jesus.

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Nothing Is Impossible with God:  I was thinking about that truth from the Bible a lot last weekend.  My sister Mary was installed as a deacon at Christ Presbyterian Church.  I’m not surprised that my sister has been chosen as a ministry leader in her church, especially since she and her husband, Jordan, have long been doing the prayer in outreach in their church and neighborhood that would be customary of people in such a role.  What’s amazing and truly miraculous is that my sister has done more than survived, she’s thrived since she joined the church’s youth group back in high school.  She’s been through an awful lot in her life, and God’s turned it all into good, as only He can.  Thank, You, Lord Jesus! 

    

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 Unborn Baby Saves Dad’s Life This is a really neat story you’ll definitely want to read about.  http://www.lifenews.com/2012/01/16/unborn-babys-kick-prompts-mom-to-save-fathers-life/.          

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Who are you today?  Since I substitute regularly at school both for academic teachers from the toddler class up through middle school as well as work in Montessori Enrichment, it’s not unusual for people to ask me, “Who are you today?” I know that they mean who are you subbing for today, but that’s not what they say.  I’ve gotten in the habit of introducing myself, “I’m Trisha,” though most people know me there, then I add, “and today I’m subbing for so-and-so.”  It catches people off-guard which can be fun.   

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The Waiting Game Lately the combination of different substituting, babysitting, nannying, afterschool club teacher mix I juggle has kind of been up in the air.  I’m doing my best to roll with it and not worry about what’s next.  As of yet, I don’t have enough kids signed up to run either of my afterschool clubs, so I’m postponing the start date for one more week to give parents more time to get their forms and fees in.  I know it will all work out one way or another, and I’m grateful to have work to do even if I’m not certain what the combination will look like over the next few months.

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 I remember you! Since I am the lead teacher for several of the different summer camps held at Richmond Montessori School, many children recognize me when I come into their classrooms to substitute.  Some will remember my name.  Others recall I’m “Miss Trisha” and ask me if I remembered having them in camp.  A little boy approached me while I was subbing in his class yesterday to ask me if I remembered when he found the beetle during Nature Camp.  I did recall that occurrence.  It’s really fun to see what kids learn, remember, and take in.  They’re such little sponges!   

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Respect Life Sunday This weekend is Respect Life Sunday at our parish.  Kevin and I have had so much going on with work, family, ministry things, that we decided that it would be better for us right now if we didn’t commit to one more thing.  I thought I might feel tremendously guilty not helping set everything up and man the tables as I have in previous years, but then I recalled some of the more day-to-day things Kevin and I have done in recent months that most definitely fall under the category of respect life, and I felt better realizing it’s become a way of life for us, not just an occasional Sunday. 

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 12)

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Mark Your Calendars!  One of my absolute favorite Catholic singers/songwriters Danielle Rose is coming to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church to do a concert on Saturday Sept. 17, 2011 at 7:30pm.  Admission is free.  A goodwill offering will be collected for the orphanage Danielle sponsors in China.     

     Danielle Rose has clearly been open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit working in and through her in many ways.  One of her greatest gifts has been that of her complete devotion to carrying out God’s will for her life.  She has produced beautiful music, songs to inspire the hearts and minds of us all, so that we know that we are wonderfully and fearfully made by the Lord.  She rejoices in the Lord’s abundant blessings of compassion, joy, peace, forgiveness, mercy, love, guidance, wisdom, and Truth. 

     Few modern singers/songwriters have expressed the Truth of the Gospel and the beauty of Catholic beliefs in a manner so inviting as this amazing performer has.  Her lyrics are thoughtful, divinely inspired reflections on Christ’s life, love, and legacy.  She masters varying styles of music and tailor fits each one perfectly to the tone and spiritual subjects of each one of her songs… click here to read full post.

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Watch out for me!  For a number of years, I’ve told my husband that he needs to “Watch out for me!”  I’ll remind him of this part of his vocation after I have forgotten something at home that I need for the day, if I bump into furniture, or drop some item when my hands are too full to pick it up…This week I ended up leaving some things home I needed for the day which I didn’t realize until my husband texted me asking if I’d brought them.  I hadn’t, so he brought the items on his way to the office, so I wouldn’t be late to work.  Prince charming indeed! 

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Make a list and check it twice.  A very dear friend/surrogate sibling invited us over for dinner this week.  When asked what we could bring, he joked about wanting us to come with a live chicken, but later conceded that stuff to make salad would be just fine. 

     The evening we went to the grocery store I reminded Kevin of this exchange, thinking I need to pick up a bag of salad greens.  I told him I’d also asked our friend if we should bring salad dressing, and the response was no.  (I got the Ranch dressing mainly for laughs.  A while back when we were at this friend’s place, we found an opened bottle of dressing hidden in the seat cushions of the couch.  No one’s sure how it got there, but I took note when it was opened, smelled, and then put back in the fridge.) 

     Don’t I get all the way to the check-out line with a bottle of Ranch dressing and no salad greens? Yup!  Fortunately my husband was again looking out for me, and asked before we’d finished checking out where the salad stuff was?  Further proof, I still need him to look out for me (and vice versa).

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Explicating Nursery Rhymes.  My husband and I were laughing hysterically at Matthew Archbold’s article, “The Horrible Meaning Behind Nursery Rhymes.” My husband learned nursery rhymes to some extent, but I learned practically all of them while growing up and subsequently working with young children.

     A couple weeks ago, my sister-in-law Wendy was saying to me that she wasn’t teaching nursery rhymes to her grandkids and didn’t teach them to her own children because of how violent and awful they are. I’m definitely sending her this article. Her fears confirmed with a laugh. Priceless!

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We’B’Scrapbookers. I've always had a passion for paper, stationery, kids, teaching, arts, and crafts, so this week’s scrapbooking camp has been a recipe ripe for fun! 

     On Monday we began with an overview of scrapbooking and talked about the importance of selecting good photographs (which had already been done for us). 

     Before they began cropping their own photos, we practiced different cropping techniques using some summer camp photos I’d printed out along with the stencils and other neat materials available to us this week.

     The kids had the opportunity to look at some scrapbooking pages in magazines and books to get an idea of what appealed to them, what looks best on what paper, etc.  We encouraged creativity and inspiration, while offering suggestions for design, lay-out, cropping techniques, and page decorations. 

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Satellites are linking up in outer space, but someone can’t figure out our church database.  This week my husband received a letter from the parish asking him if he’d be interested in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  I find it hilarious and quite ironic that at a time in Kevin’s life when he is more involved, devoted, and interested in the Catholic faith, more active in ministry, attending daily Mass, they are asking him if he wants to become fully initiated in the church.  He was Confirmed in eighth grade, so he finished the Sacraments of Initiation quite some time ago.  What amused me even more is that Kevin has served as one of the leaders for Christ Renews His Parish retreat, and what’s more, has served for many months at our church as an Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist.  In order to be a Eucharistic Minister, you must be a full-fledged member of the church, attend Mass each week, and be a Catholic in good standing.  Kevin’s comment to that was that he’s wearing a boot right now, but he’s still able to stand okay.   

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So long, farewell!  I can’t believe that today’s the last day of summer camp.  This summer, I taught two Nature Camps, two French Camps, one Paper Camp, one Scrapbook Camp, and monitored a few weeks of nap/rest Extended Care shifts thrown in for good measure.  Kevin and I got to spend over three weeks in Rochester, New York visiting friends and family in the place where we first met and fell in love.     
     Check out Jennifer Fulwiler’s 7 Quick Takes Friday series and her high-traffic for good reason blog Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 11)

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H.A.L.T. Who goes there?!  I can identify all too well with the negative line of thinking that seems to spiral out of control when I haven't gotten enough sleep.  I'm blessed with a husband who reminds me of the blessings we have and what's going well.  Prayer time, reading, writing, laughing…often help me get things in perspective, as has trying to implement what I've read about H.A.L.T. When feeling Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, it's good to stop and address those feelings and take care of those needs, because when we're one or more of those four, we tend to sin or at the very least make less-than-stellar decisions. I've still got a long ways to go in learning this rather than sinking into the negativity, self-loathing abyss, but it seems worth working on.

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Ever since I was young…I have enjoyed caring for and being around children.  Even when I was only in second grade, I liked holding babies and helping to take care of them.  I remember being the one to get the baby up and dressed at our babysitter's house before school.  God's always made a special place in my heart for children, and has given me many to love over the years as a sister, cousin, babysitter, nanny, tutor, and teacher.

One hundred years from now

It will not matter

What kind of car I drove,

What kind of house I lived in,

How much I had in my bank,

Nor what my clothes looked like.

One hundred years from now

It will not matter

What kind of school I attended,

What kind of typewriter I used,

How large or small my church,

But the world may be ...

a little better because...

I was important in the life of a child.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

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Is it naptime, yet?  One of the things about children that is quite ironic (and there are many) is that most do not want to take a nap.  They feel as if they’re missing some great party or some essential playtime if they go to sleep sometime during the day.  Without fail, the adults around them would absolutely love to take a midday nap, but they rarely get that chance, especially with little ones who want to talk, play, and run around instead of sail off in the sea of dreams with Wynken, Blyken, and Nod.

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Nothing says loving like a homemade lunch.  During this week, one of the signs of love I’ve appreciated most from my husband is that he’s been making my lunch.  It’s been a rather rough, tiring first week back to the daily grind after being gone for two weeks on vacation, but eating my lunch prepared by my honey, who is not someone who really enjoys making lunches, has been a nice reminder of how much even the little things can mean when done out of love. 

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Laugh, I thought I’d die… I’m a Stranger Here Myself will have you laughing out loud, reading passages to your family, friends, and co-workers, and marveling at these amusing anecdotes reflecting American culture in all of its glorious splendor.

     A few years back, I read Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, and found myself laughing so hard I was fighting back tears, so when I saw this book sitting on the shelf at my sister-in-law’s house, I was fairly certain that there’d be passages within that would be so hilarious my stomach would hurt from laughing so much.  I must say my assumption was 100% accurate—without any substitutions, exchanges, or refunds. 

     I read most of I’m a Stranger Here Myself out loud to my husband because laughing together is one of our favorite pastimes.  In retrospect, I probably should have saved certain chapters for when he wasn’t driving.  (We made it home safely and in relatively good spirits for such a long car trip.)

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Awww, shucks!  The kids had lots of fun in Nature Camp this week.  We talked about a number of insects, plants, and animals, did some cool arts and crafts, and learned about the many nonliving things in the classroom that were once living.  We tasted corn in one form or another each day for snack.  Monday we had corn on the cob, Tuesday-popcorn, Wednesday-candy made with corn syrup, Thursday we had smoothies made with corn syrup, and Friday we had popsicles.    

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No more tears.  This was the first week ever coming to our school for one of my students, and she was feeling a bit sad and reserved, missing her mommy, as is common for little ones first starting school.  I was absolutely thrilled yesterday when she didn’t shed a single tear when dropped off.  Yesterday with a huge smile on her face she told me, “I like school!”  That’s some of the best news I’ve heard all week.  What a transformation from Monday to Friday.  I’m so grateful that I was blessed to witness it.

     Check out Jennifer Fulwiler’s 7 Quick Takes Friday series and her high-traffic for good reason blog Conversion Diary.

A Bug’s Life

     It would be really funny to take a close-up picture or two of the front of my car, where there is now a large community of smashed bugs, and see how many insect splats the kids in my next Nature Camp are able to identify.  Don’t worry, I’m not actually going to have this be one of the works they do, but I do appreciate the irony of carrying out such an idea at a Montessori school where we catch insects we find inside to release them back outdoors.

     Not too long ago, I read about a company that’s doing studies on how the insect population is at risk due to the number of bugs killed by moving vehicles.  They’ve gone so far as to enlist people to count the number of insects squashed on their car after a drive and report it to them as part of their research.  I find this rather amusing in a what-the-heck-are-people-thinking sort of way. 

     A while ago I saw a poster and a T-shirt that had different bird poop splats on it and the feathered fowl responsible for each particular plop.  That matching activity would be another unusual exercise to try with the kids at school.  I suppose I could even use some of the same pictures of the front of my car, as the insects squashed and the bird poop are sometimes in quite close proximity. 

     Hmm, I wonder if there’s some environmental scientist, mathematics or physics professor interested in studying the wildlife that is sprawled out across the front of my car before I wash it.  Maybe there’s more to those carwash fundraisers than it would seem at first glance.  Perhaps they’re really being held as physics or biology experiments cleverly disguised as fundraisers for the band or athletic boosters.

     After all, life is like a windshield full of squished bugs, you never know what you’re gonna get.     

It’s a Jungle Out There!

Today a parent whose child was in my Nature Camp last week told me this morning that her daughter’s friend, also in my camp, had informed his parents he’d gone on the school bus to a jungle with my class.  Of course, the mother was a bit disconcerted to hear this, since nothing had ever been mentioned about an off-campus field trip anywhere, certainly not to a jungle. 

     
I laughed and said he had quite an imagination.  I assured her we didn’t go on a spur-of-the-moment, no-permission-slips-needed trip to the jungle.  We did, however, talk about different animals who live in the jungle, because some of the children’s foam visors to color with markers had a jungle theme. 

     
We explored nature around campus and in the classroom, but we didn’t exactly go on safari.  What’s even funnier is that, though I checked out a number of books from our school library, I didn’t end up reading a single one of Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus books I got during last week’s camp. 

Don’t get me wrong.  I love Scholastic’s The Magic School Bus series, where the class always goes on exotic field trips, and they get there by their transformer-like school bus which can morph into all sorts of cool things.  Ms. Frizzle, the teacher in the book, always has really strange outfits and seems oblivious to the fact that the excursions she takes her students on are a bit out of the ordinary. 

     
The series of books is great as a fun educational tool.  I could understand a child perhaps getting a bit confused if we read one of The Magic School Bus books and pretended to go to the jungle, but that’s quite a jump from a foam visor with a monkey, an elephant, a snake and some plants on it.  (Maybe he’ll join me for creative writing club in a few years.) 

     
Perhaps I should send home a disclaimer on the letters to parents about what we did at camp during the week.  Maybe I need to emphasize that we didn’t go on any exotic, unannounced field trips: not to visit the jungle, nor the Eiffel Tour, nor the zoo. 

     
My camp this week is called Trip to France, though no parents have brought in their child’s passport and suitcase, so I think we’re good.    

Disclaimer: Your child will, at no time while under our supervision, be leaving the school campus, the state of Virginia, or the United States of America without your expressed written permission, required stuffed animals, and a current passport.