Saturday, February 28, 2015

#powerful


#powerful

Tomorrow will mark two weeks since I've exercised.  Boo.  But breathing and staying upright have sort of trumped running.  I'm so excited to get back out there!  

Today's Lenten reflection word is powerful.  I cannot think of anything I've done over the last few years which has made me feel more powerful than TRAINING for a marathon.  Obviously it was physically difficult but what makes me feel powerful is the fact that I set such a huge goal for myself and I stuck to it.   I ran so many times when I really didn't want to, when things were piling up around the house, when I felt like I was neglecting friends.  The end goal was important to me and I knew the training was temporary so I stayed focused.  I had lots of time to pray and seek direction and the greatest gift of that time is the fact that a year later I am still benefiting from all those hours with God.  

I think I'm convincing myself to run another marathon.  
I really need to run!!




Thursday, February 26, 2015

#place

I'm officially OVER this week.  
Just when I'm starting to feel pretty good, Emma gets sick!
So it goes.

Today's Lenten reflection word is place. 
Initially I thought my picture would be of a place.  A peaceful place, a happy place or maybe a quiet place.

Instead this is my photo...

#place

Leaving work this afternoon I got a flat tire. 
It was not awesome.  
It was 20 degrees outside and I was looking at a 45 minute wait for AAA. 
 Five minutes into my wait a man from the Pine Lawn Public Works stopped and told me I was going to get a ticket if the police saw me just sitting there (never mind the flat tire).   He apologized and said if he wasn't on the clock he would change my tire.
  I'm sure he would have.  
Then the guy pictured above pulled up, hopped out of his pizza delivery car and while shaking his head mumbled  "You're gonna get a ticket, you can't just be here".  
Without a second thought he got a jack out of his trunk and put my spare on.  
I felt shocked and silly but grateful.
I could have felt scared.
Suspicious.
But that would have been ridiculous.
I could see both the Pine Lawn Police Department and the school at which I work from where my car was broken down. 
But I could have chosen to be scared.
Suspicious.
Wondered what his angle was. 
 And in my worry  I would have missed the fact that 
this man was taking care of his neighbor.
How many times do we miss what is right before our eyes?
Over the last few months I have never been more aware of my place of privilege.
How much my privilege causes me not to see.  It's as though my eyes have been closed when I was so sure I could clearly see.
I am in Normandy to teach and yet I am the one learning.  
And sometimes it's more than I can handle.










Wednesday, February 25, 2015

#Remember

I still don't feel like myself.  
  I'm doing my best but this morning I forgot to put dinner in the crock pot before leaving for the day.  Around 2:00, while in the middle of a gigantic mess in the library with 5 5th grade boys I realized this.   Since I knew they'd be no help in the sympathy department I kept quiet and thought....pjbs tonight??
 Once home we scrambled around and the girls were able to put together a pretty awesome pizza for us.
Feeling a little puny  I said---well so much for the word remember since I totally forgot dinner! 
 And El responded---Mom!  REMEMBER, mistakes happen. 
How are these people part of my tribe? 
 I am so darn blessed!


#remember

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

North


What a week!   Flu 2015.   I'm getting better but I'm still not there.
We're behind on our Lent photo photos but I know we'll catch up.



#path

 Past Delmar
and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive 
and Natural Bridge Road
Those streets I've been told to avoid.
Past burned out houses and boarded up schools.  
5 miles from home
So close.
Where everything seems familiar but nothing is the same.
So far
Where I never quite catch my breath.
and I wonder
I wonder
how
is 
this 
ok?










Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Ash Wednesday

It's Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. 
How I love this season!
I had planned to get ashes this morning and attend service tonight.
A nasty virus has other plans for me though.
I wanted to share some ideas for our family reflections and talk with the girls about what they want to focus on.
Instead the girls are heating up soup for me and entertaining each other perfectly.
I am really thankful for those girls.
Over the next 40 days I'd love to write here often.
One of the other things I'd like to do this year is this photo a day project.  I'd really like to get the girls involved too.  

#announce

Lucy made this "lemonade" for me this afternoon.  Water, fresh squeezed orange juice and brown sugar.   To me, this picture is an announcement of love.  I am so lucky