Reading Reading Reading... and back to school

So, the last few days/weeks i have been busy doing things like painting my basement wall Show Stopper red and reading. It takes up a lot of my time. Anyhow, good old-fashioned work always feels good and gives me a strong sense of accomplishment. the red wall, for example, has been really fun (and laborious!) to paint. I'll post a pic when it is all done.

The book i just finished was titled Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. If you have not read it, do so and begin today if possible! It is a humanitarian book about a man who cares deeply about Pakistani and Afghan children. He makes it a life mission to build them schools and give them opportunities. I am inspired by his perseverance and how God worked through him to bring a small thread of redemption to that part of the world. At times I laughed and others, I cried. Here is a favorite quote from page 150:
" That day Haji Ail taught me the most important lesson I've ever learned in my life, " Mortenson says. "We Americans think you have to accomplish everything so quickly. We're the country of thirty-minute power lunches and two-minute football drills. Our leaders thought their "shock and awe" campaign could end the war in Iraw before it even started. Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work than I could ever teach them."

This week I am going to work on relationships. Greg is right, it is people who matter not things or accomplishments. I need to be reminded of that more often.

In addition, if I am honest with myself, I often don't go to my job with a sense that I am going to learn a lot from the 13 and 14 year olds that I teach. But if I really think about it..wow... I do.

For example, today one of my students made profession of faith. His grandmother, who is a former teacher in our school system, is on her death bed. Last week Thursday she was transferred to a Hospice home. He is holding to her story that Jesus is giving her one more week so that she can witness his profession of Jesus as his Savior (he said she had a vision.) When he told me this story, I was brimming in front of a classroom of students. Thanks, Kyle, for reminding me that God answers our prayers and is with us every moment of every day. This was a blessing from God.

Anyhow, I'll be a busy little bee in these next few weeks. Report cards are out next week, staff day and grad work to do.. ahhh. But I'll still be looking for the blessings!

Thanks for reading..

Crazy Breakfast Reunion!

Today was a particularly snowy day in GRaps! As you can see from the picture, it was beautiful. Early this morning I crawled out of bed to go to breakfast with some of my friends from Calvin.We don't get together enough! We all met at Russ'--which was closed (??! what!!!?)--and headed instead to good old Arnies on 28th street. After about three hours of fun--including a quick trip to the Dr. for a TB prick,three chocolate milks, one kids OJ, lots of coffee, lots of looks from other patrons who were seemed a bit frustrated with the roaming, but funny children running around our table, who knows how much breast milk (lots), some free danishes, pancakes, eggs, hash browns (yum!) and bacon-- I think we can all say that we had a great time!

Me and Logan (Jeanine's little one). What a cutie! He loves to pose for the camera! For the first time today, the kids outnumbered the adults--6 to 5! Holy cow!

Sweet Sara and Jonah. He loves his food and has a great set of lungs! What fun! Baby Joslyn (Jonah's little sister) was in the car seat next to mom.

Baby Ben in his car seat. WHAT A DOLL! (Ben is Becky's youngest )



Becky (mom) and Emma Lucille. Her hair is WILD and she LOVES chocolate milk! What a sweet pair!
PS: Love that smile Beck!

Sara (far right), Lisa and baby Ethan (he is only about five weeks old!) and Jeanine. Thank you Arnies for the big table and lots of free danishes!

White Elephant Mania

Check out our New Year's Fun! In this picture Talley (Blair and Lisa's yellow lab) is checking out the pig that Randy bought for Blair. The pig squeels when you yank its tail and oinks "dashing through the snow" when you press the button on its foot. It really is a scream. I'll try to post a short video later.

Here is Lisa in the Baptism hat Randy found for her. I think she loves it! And--what a bonus--it matches her outfit perfectly.


Blair got a home-made football sweatshirt complete with football buttons. Lisa (his wife pictured below) can't wait for him to wear it. Oh, and it really looks good while hopping up and down in a dance-like fashion.





Up close you'll notice that it is made from high-quality fleece and is reversible! It has two pockets... one for his snack and one for his drink. Unbelieveably crafted. I wish I had one!

Here is Tim with the sweet ornament sweater (size 22W) and high heel soaps. I'm sure he ran home to put the soaps in his bathroom. They are so cute! My favorite part is the fake flower inserted into the left one.

Below is Lisa H with her beautiful new sweater and twenty five cent snowman candles. She loved the candles SO much that she had to arrange and light them right away. They worked!

PS: There is a really cute snowman on the back of the sweater too. So HOT!

White Elephant gifts are becoming a tradition for Randy and me. I can't imagine New Years without them! Before I met Randy I had never had experiences with white elephant gifts quite like I do now. Every New Years, he goes out and purchases (from Salvation Army or Walgreens!) the most hideous things to wrap and give to our friends. It is always a barrel of laughs! I think he has a knack for finding the best (worst?) things ever and this year was no exception......

Prior to the party, my mom came over to hang out and do a little shop shop in GR.
In the pic above Randy is wearing the hat we gave Lisa A. My mom was laughing so hard she started crying. Apparently he found it in the "wedding section." Awesome.

H a p p y * N e w * Y e a r !