Tea and Sweatpants...

Snow days are perfect days for catching up on the blogging, sorry it's been so long. I may have lost a few of my readers in the last month because of the lack of blogs...bummer! Anyway, life has been so busy but so good in the last month. I am currently in the infant stages of what could potentially be life changing projects...more details to come on those as I pray like crazy about continuing with them. Today's blog however is about the crazy snow we've had this weekend and how God uses these still moments to talk to his peeps!

Nick and I have been working so hard on building relationships with our friends and neighbors and praying so deeply that they would trust us. In the last few days as snow has locked us into our home I was somewhat nervous that we would miss out on a weekend to go to a bar to shoot pool, or meet someone at a coffee shop, or even have someone over for dinner. We did actually loose that chance this weekend but God pulls through in amazing ways. Because of the snow we have been able to deliver Christmas trees, help neighbors with frozen pipes, and talk to acquaintances over the phone as a true friendship develops. I have been able to spend some one on one time with my husband dreaming and praying about our future. All of this to say that God once again showed me whats up. He continues to rock my world even when the world seems so still and quiet. How dare I question if the weather will delay the works of God, he gave us this snow...let it be used for His glory!

Yesterday I had to work at a school further out in the city. I was laughing at some of what I was hearing compared to my students at King Elem. When threatening another student here is what they said...

The other school: "I will sue you!"

Mt school: "I will beat you up!"

First of all I have to brag because I am blogging from the bus!

Yesterday when I was talking to my students about the electio I asked "whst would you do as president?". Here was the response...

I would buy everyone presents and hotels and limos

I would invite all the football players to live with me.

I would give everyone candy and meet Santa.

I would buy two golden retriever guard dogs.

So...what woulf you do?

While I was a NNU (Northwest Nazarene University) student I was so proud to be just that! When I reflect on my college years I see and feel the life experiences and friendships that shaped my life. There was a period of time (about the last three years) where I was angry and frustrated with NNU and had not been proud of my education.

I was thrown into a very tough teaching experience and felt as if my Ed classes failed me. I walked into a class of students who were not like the ones from Nampa, ID. I felt completely unprepared for...
thrown chairs
unsupportive administration
cursing
lack of resources
parents being sent back to Mexico
my car being broken into
the feeling of complete failure and helplessness
isolation
poverty
hunger
teen pregnancy
weapons
lock downs
lack of expectations
and many other things one experiences in an inner-city school


However, as I have reflected about those three year and it's relation to NNU here is how my school did prepared me...
genuine friendships
the Love of God
a theology of God and Teaching
the importance of holistic ministry
a passion for changing the heart of a child not just the mind
To seek out God in ALL things and all situations
dealing with the spiritual warfare in my work place
And most importantly it provided me with a safe place to become who I am so that who I am as a Christian can infect any place that I live or work.

As I walked on campus this week for the first time in 4 years I was flooded with memories and love that only NNU could have provided for me. The Spirit of God is in that place begging to dwell in the students so they can go into the world and face these unexpected, unplanned, and unprepared life circumstances that will inevitably come.

so, in the end...after some healing time that needed to happen I am proud to write my loan check to the bank every month that pays for my God inspired education. I went to NNU with a trust and understanding that every penny I paid would be spent on Kingdom-work and I truly believe today that my education through NNU will further grow the Kingdom of God.

Thank you Lord for my education!

A few people who know me very well have been asking about my job and how it's going so here is an honest update about how I'm doing! First of all, it's a challenge! Not the job its self but the rest of my life with a job that demands so much less of me. For the first time in a long time I am living nearly stress free (with the exception of a moment here an there). I feel as if I can actually make other people (children included) a priority over the things in my life that used to include several tasks and to do lists. For some reason I actually believed that stress, craziness, being overwhelmed and busy determined if I was serving God. I have learned now that it's how I spend each moment of every day not how much I do in each moment. It sounds so simple but I don't think I actually believed it until now, until life just suddenly slowed down. I have the freedom to do the following these days (things I couldn't do before)...
1. Spend time with my husband- I get to see him in his daily routine serving God here in our hood.
2. Exercise- I get to take care of my body without worry of missing something or wasting time
3. Cook- I love reading cook books and magazines about cooking and trying new foods. This in turn allows me to love on my neighbors with extras!
4. Blog- I didn't have time before to reflect on life and to really let moments sink in.
5. Study Scripture- I have been reading the Bible like I did when I was a new believer
6. Sleep-I get nearly a full 7 every night.
7. Volunteer- I get to spend time tutoring and mentoring. Using the gifts God gave me.
8. Greeting- I get to make friends in this new place. I have time to schedule lunch with people or go with a friend to get my nails done...all without sacrificing my marrage or job
9. Love-I have the opportunity to love more often and more purposfully


These are the few that came to mind right away. I am sure I will think of more later that I wished I had added. There are definately days when I waste this time or wonder exaclty how I'm supposed to use it but over all, I feel so blessed. I am so glad that I don't have to take a step back and slow down with life when I am retired but I can do that now. It's teaching me self worth and trust in Christ.

Thanks for wondering...

It seems like when I really want to make sure I follow through with something I should put it on my blog. From what I heard a few people I know a love actually read this! So...it is official. My mom and a few friends who have run marathons have inspired me...not to run but to do 3 events. I am going to train to participate in a triathlon! Running, biking, and swimming. I love biking and swimming it's the running part that is going to kick me in the rear. I have almost a year to train and many things in life could happen between now and then. In the mean time, I'm training!

Marathon Momma- We were in Long Beach last weekend becasue of my mom. She did it! A 50th birthday party and a full blown marathon in one weekend. She is a hero to me and I am so proud of her. What she accomplished is such a living example of living up to the challenges in life.

Full weeks of plans-God is blessing us with busy weeks that include new people at bible study, new friendships, and new challenges. It is all so exciting and an answer to prayer.

Portland Hope Meadows- Tomorrow we will be attending a fund raising banquet as honorary guests for a non profit that will be moving in across the street. I will have to blog about this more this weekend and tell y'all about this amazing organization that already exists and will soon be a big part of our lives.

God- He is mostly teaching me Patience and Understanding...two very hard things to learn and that I pray for daily. As I struggle with God's timing in my human mind I find that His timing is actaully perfect and my human mind needs to get the heck out of the way. I am praying that my heart will lead with patience and understanding and my mind will take a back seat to it.

According to a child of mine who was telling a story:
"Onetime when I was little I wanted to get my hair cut like a mohawk but I didn't really know what it was or what it looked like. So I asked them to shave it right down the middle and I looked like the president!"

Thought it was funny that he thinks Bush has an inverted mohawk.

If you know any child (especially a girl) between the ages of 6 and15, then you know exactly what I'm referring to! This post is not exactly about that (whew) but about musicals in general. I think all of us have at least one musical that we absolutely love and would watch again on any given rainy day. Nick's I believe is Newzies, mine is White Christmas, a childhood favorite was The King and I, all of you have one! I think many of us would love to live in that particular musical. I think we have all wondered what it would be like if with every prime moment there was a prime song and dance to accompany those moments. I realized today that that is the wonderful world two of my YMCA kids live in. In class, at the store, etc. it would be rude for them to sing and dance. But at the YMCA, within reason, I have no problem with it. So, most mornings are musical mornings. At any random moment these boys could burst out with singing or dancing or both. Sometimes they even back eachother up on it! I love it. At first it was a bit annoying but then today I sat back and realized the joy it brought them. So I've concluded that musicals, intentional or not, are one of the many child-like behaviors that we "grow out of" somewhere in our teen years. How sad... I hope that if you read this and the child in you is somehow rekindled that you would find the perfect moment to transform into a musical moment.

It's the title of an old school worship song, most of you know the entire thing by heart and many of you worship leading folks could play it by heart. I was laughing and worshiping to this song in church today. Laughing because today I realized that the chorus "you're all I want, you're all I've ever needed..." sounds much like the intro to a 70's sitcom. Intently worshiping because this song has meant so much to me through the years. I "happen" to only hear it when I really need it. It's God's gentile way of whispering to me that He knows and understands my heart's desire and that He will take care of it as long as I remain focused on primarily HIM! So yes, today I needed to hear that once again. I have been praying for a long time for one very specific thing and lately I've been getting discouraged. I believe that God wants to bless me with this but I don't understand why it's taking so long. But today I am reminded, though the sitcom chorus, that God is truly all I ever wanted and needed.

I had an experience this week that was truly God inspired. First of all I have to say that this week in itself was a huge blessing. I had a town-hall meeting on Monday, Kenosis on Tuesday, a rain garden meeting and D'CAF on Wednesday, training for work on Thursday, Night Strike on Friday, and visiting with long time friends and family on Saturday. So, yes it was busy but I really thrive on exciting weeks like this one.

Monday I had only 3 sweet kindergartners in the afternoon and we had the most wonderful musical parade around the room. I couldn't help but watch and thank the Lord for the innocence of little girls. They just seemed so precious in that moment.

I later went to a meeting about the long time problem of prostitution on 82nd st. I learned that in Portland there are close to zero social services for women who wish to get out of prostitution. These men and women who have been victimized by life through pimps, mothers, molesting relatives, abuse, and insecurities have no way out. My heart broke as I heard many beg for the officers to "clean up the streets" and few ask, "how can we get social services for these humans being treated as objects?"

After the meeting and feeling so heavy hearted about it I walked back to the car and loe and behold was verbally treated as a prostitute for walking to the car alone. I had three men slow down and continually say degrading and embarrassing things to me out their car window.

On Friday, when speaking with a friend about homelessness, I learned that nearly 65% of the 150 beds available for the 3,000 homeless are for men only. Leaving nearly nothing for women on the streets.

It was the journey of this entire day/week that God used to open my eyes. The journey of many of the prostitutes began like the little Kindergarten girls I was watching earlier. The way I felt on the side of the road, wishing my husband was with me, is only a small glimpse of how these women feel daily. I have seen the effects of prostitution on children because I had kids whose mothers were prostitutes in Kansas City. Knowing about the limited amount of beds available for women is another cause of prostitution in Portland. All I know is that our society continues to feed this filth and the victimization of women and I am praying for God to reveal to me what to do with this information.

Sorry this was such a long blog...thanks for reading!
God bless you!
Men, keep loving your wives, mothers, and sisters like they deserve (most of you I know do this already--especially my hubby!)
Women, keep covered and don't allow the filth in this society to dictate your life, self-esteem, and body (I think we all struggle with this on some level).

9 year old Victor (singing): "I got the blues, oh baby I got the blues..."
singing stops and a look comes over him "do you know what kind of music that is?"
Me: "I have a good guess"
Him: "It's called gossip music"
Me: "hmm... did you mean gospel music?"
Him: "Oh yeah..."
back to singing "I got the blues oh yeah baby I got the blues..."
Me in my head: "I'm pretty sure that's blues"

We have a little mouse taunting me at our home. I hate mice! I am that old hag in cartoons that stands on chairs screaming and swatting with a broom. For a while I was the only who had seen the little bugger. In the last week Celina and Nick have witnessed it as well. It is to the point that early in the morning when I am getting ready for work I am prepared to leap onto a chair at any moment just in case we get a little visit. Well, it is late and we just got home from Night Strike and here is how it happened....

Celina went to get in the shower and Nick just got up to turn the sprinkler on, just when the door opened I saw Mousie bound across the living room from curtain to couch. I screamed "it's in the house!" Nick, in sheer panic by my yelling, just about closed me in the house to protect himself (I'm sure he didn't mean to). I got out the door and Nick was trying to figure out what exactly was in the house, so I told him. We bravely went back in and put Chance in our bedroom and tried to scope Mousie out. Nick found him under the curtain so I had to stand on the couch and shake the curtain so he could direct the scurrying toward the door. well, it worked and I was yelling obvious things in a panic like; "there he is" "push him out" "hurry hurry hurry" "ahhhhhh!" Mousie only made it half way and found a secure spot behind the bookshelf, a foot from the door, so I began chucking shoes toward the one side to scare him out...that didn't work. We moved a chair near there and got a second broom, I stood on the chair and banged the bookshelf with all my might to get it to scurry out the other side....It Worked!! Mousie made it out the door and we are off to get a dozen traps tomorrow so hopefully he doesn't come back (for his own sake). Celina missed the entire thing...lucky girl!

...so you can tell the police you were drunk." This is what I learned from a kid in my program after he made it to me from a fight. It was a mostly good first week, actually it was really easy. I really love just getting to spend time with children without testing pressure. It's extremely less challenging but extremely more fun. I get to play soccer, paint, read, and chat with children and get paid for it. I'm really enjoying it! King is a school much like New Chelsea (my school in KC) so it's exactly what I prayed for. I have been able to watch relief come across parent's faces when I explain my background and what brought me to this point. My two biggest challenges are a second grader and a third grader, both of which love to fight and disobey! They are what what will fuel my passion this year. I am praying that God will redeem the program that exists currently, that He will rule that room where we spend hours on social skills, and that His love and mission would be lived out in my life and spill into the lives of these children.

God has been answering prayers and I am so excited about it! I am working at King Elementary School in N Portland with the YMCA. There are only four children currently enrolled there but I believe God will find ways to grow the program. Here has been the response when I tell people about me taking the position there...
*Eyes pop out of their head and they say, be tough...
*"I subbed there one day and a kid got scissors thrown at him"
*"I worked there for a week and a kid said 'F.... you'"
*"Get to know the music teacher, she saved me when all the kids walked out"
*"Do you have any experience with tough kids??"
*"That should be interesting"
*"Call me if you need help, I know how tough those kids are. One has eased up on me now but I've known her for 2 years."

Anyway, it should be a pretty sweet challenge! I am praying that I can empower these children to change the face of the Y program at that school. I am praying that I can be a support to these children amongst their frustrations. I am also praying that more children would be drawn to this Christian organization and the God that inspired it.

It's official, I do have a job! I am working for the YMCA before/after school program. I was hired as a site director and will tell more about it later. I have been working at the camp to train until school starts next week. Here is a silly story about something that happened while I was there...
I have been really working with the 6 year old boys group and little boys love to talk about discus ting things. There was about 5 of them who were talking about burping and farting and such so I finally said..."no more talking about bodily functions..." one of the other boys said, "okay, lets talk about barfing." Before I could speak another boy piped up and said "NO, that is also a bubbly malfunction!" They all looked at me to see if he was correct but I couldn't stop laughing. So, the new thing at Y camp is "bubbly malfunctions" and the little boys are yelling at each other..."no more bubbly malfunctions!"

This is the name of someone I met at Night Strike on Friday night. When he told us his name he explained that he has about 7 aliases and this was his most common one. When he said this the motions that came with the name ended with swinging hips like a hula dancer. Night Strike has become a way for God to put me in my place...weekly! I have had the chance to take on different roles there; handing out clothing, hostessing, and taking night strike out from under the bridge and to other parts of Portland. I think the most important thing that I have learned is how God uses simple conversations to teach me things. Time happens to be the most valuable thing I can offer and I still don't give enough of it. I heard a leader of Night Strike explain what makes it unique. Portland is know nation-wide for being one of the most giving cities. We give money, food, blankets, clothes, medicine, and probably even drugs. However, people have become so accustom to giving they've forgotten why they give. The most valuable thing we have to offer is Love. Love is often shown not just through how much we give but how we give. Night strike is time we set aside to give in a very unique and loving way. We sit on the sticky floor next to people, we listen to people ramble about the things they are passionate about, and we keep an open heart to what others might have to offer us. Giving in Love is also about receiving in Love. So I challenge you, family and friends, give and receive in love this week even for just an extra hour. It just might change your life, much like it is doing in mine.

Good report from the vet yesterday, he is doing better! He still isn't 100% and there isn't a guarantee he will keep his eye yet, but he is looking good. His cone is off and he is playing with toys again. The one in the picture his grandma gave to him, he loves this squeaky cow. For those of you who were willing to pray for a puppy, thanks. I really mean that, God answered prayer and I know Chance will heal fine on his own!

I went downtown yesterday to find a fingerprint place that is so new it's not even listed on Google yet, so I didn't know what I would find. My directions sent me to the heart of the city. When I got off the bus not one, but two people asked me where things were! I didn't exactly have an answer for them but the point is they asked! I looked like I knew where I was going and that I was from here:) That made my day. I then found the building I was supposed to go into and learned that it was an old bank that was built in like 1902, this is a picture I took from the stairs. I was loving this old building, maybe I'll take you there if you come to visit some time!

I have been going down to the community center lately to work out and it's been a mostly good experience. The weight/aerobic room is tiny but it works! As a side note, our shower clogged and is out of service for about 24 hours, thus forcing the need to use the community center showers. I've showered in many showers...gyms, hotels, home,(some very old and some very new) but none like this. My shower today was an entire aerobic experience in itself. Let me walk you through this experience, don't worry I'll keep it at a G rating. I walked in to find clean showers, this is more than I expected. I got all set up and found the first obstacle; turning the water on. You know those annoying hand washers that you push down rapidly and hope to get a total of 15 seconds of warm water? Well, that was how this shower worked. When you get these stupid things for washing your hands the most annoying part is when you're all soaped up and have to get the water going again...same situation but worse with soap all over your face. Here was the real experience...this was either designed by a very tall person or a complete idiot. The shower head didn't move, it only sprayed one way full force...parallel to the ground, directly into the wall across from it. So here I am pumping the water thing and getting blasted in the face with high powered water, to remove the soap from my eyes. The true aerobic experience happened when I had to rinse the soap off the rest of my body...the water didn't reach so I was jumping in the shower. Needless to say, my workout today lasted a lot longer than I expected. I really hope the shower is unclogged in the morning for a better shower.

Friday: I had the chance to be a participant in the community of Night Strike. Nick blogged about it so you can check the details there. But, last night here are a few things are learned from the homeless that I met. First, I got to see Lance and Sandra Jean again and God has blessed them with an apartment!!!! What an answer to prayer. This is a couple who I could talk so much about, they have amazing knowledge of the homeless in Portland and have been sharing some of that with me. But, what I wanted to say was that I was informed that if anyone is sitting or laying on ANY street or sidewalk in the whole city of Portland, the police will either ticket you or take you away. Now, I met another man named Mario who got to experience Night Strike for the first time who lived in Beaverton. He was telling me about how the police were even stricter out there about homeless. So...if the city isn't providing a fresh start (can't get a job without an address, can't get an apartment without a job...) then that still leaves a problem of homelessness. Then, if you can't be homeless in Portland or any of the surrounding suburbs, what are the homeless to do? Anyway, food for thought for now, I'll blog more on this another time.

Saturday:
I got to spend my day roaming downtown with my BFF Jolleen. What a joy it is to be in a wonderful city with someone you love! I highly recommend the rush of jumping the light rail to train to bus to get to Made in OR, Powell's, and the Saturday Market. What a bustling time with crowds of people...I loved it!

My evening didn't go so well. After Celina and I had just had a talk about Exodus (which was wonderful) and were ready to get jammies on, we took Chance out. MY DOG HATES CATS, I HATE CATS (unless they are declawed an indoors and cuddling with someone else)! Well, one had roamed into our back yard and Chance chased it into a corner bush. The cat let out a few scratches and my puppy my very well loose an eye...literally. We had to go to the Emergency Vet and opted not to do the $3,000 surgery and pray that it will heal with the meds they gave him. If he doesn't heal alone they will have to remove his eye. I am so choked up even as I type this...Hence the reason I'm blogging at 2 am. I never thought I would be one of those who would ask for prayer for a pet...but will you pray? Even if you can't think of praying for a pet, think of praying for our finances and we have unexpected vet bills. I think I finally got a closer glimpse as to why moms freak out when their children get hurt. I just hate to see my puppy in so much pain.

We had the wonderful opportunity to experience Celebrate Recovery on Sunday evening. I found in a matter of minutes there that I have been living in denial. It's amazing when you are faced with the opportunity to confess, what actually comes out! I surprised myself in my confessions and I was surprised by what freedom I felt. I found that God is healing many areas of my life and other areas that I had buried deep so He would leave them alone. I pray that the Lord would continue to encourage me to go back so that I can face denial and sin and proclaim victory. If anyone is reading this doesn't know what CR is please do three things for me. 1. Do not assume it's only for drug and alcahol users. It exists for ALL hurts, habits and hang-ups. It exists for even people like me who think they actually have been working on all the sin in their lives. 2. Please look at the web page for information. http://www.celebraterecovery.com/ Even if you just read John Baker's testimony it will blow your mind! 3. Find a CR near you and go at least 4 times. I am committing to do the same. A man said to me the first 5 minutes we were there, "I have experienced more church in 30 min. than I have experienced in 30 years."
Well, Amen! Just as scripture says, let us confess sins to one another and pray andwe will experience healing.

I watched Nick do what God has called him to do. I took him to meet someone at a coffee shop that I had met a few weeks ago. It took about a total of 5 minutes before this guy trusted my husband and began to share about some of the struggles he has faced in the last month. It's amazing to me how strangers can be so comforted by the face of God reflected in a man like Nick. I watched him do it again tonight when he checked on a great neighbor of ours. The Holy Spirit has been working on the heart of this guy and Nick and been the human hands, feet and face that he needed. Praise God for Nick, this amazing man that God chose to be a walking and living reflection of Him.
Amen

I have just been slapped in the face with the reality that if I don't really start looking for a job, then I'll still be waiting for a job a year from now. I had not been stressing about job hunting for such a long time until about 3 days ago. I was hit with the reality that we really are in a recession. That may only be true in Portland, and honestly it may not be true at all! But...my grocery and gas bills have hit an all time high and there just simply aren't jobs available ANYWHERE! There are currently only a total of 17 postings for the entire PPS district and I was told by a principle that he has over 200 applicants for each position he posts. Of those 17, I only qualify for about 2. I have been glued to the computer for so many stinking hours to fill out nearly a dozen applications. Which, by the way, takes FOREVER to fill out. I am finding myself either unqualified or qualified in the wrong field. I even filled out a stupid application for a part-time cake decorating Safe Way position! I don't even know how to frost a cupcake, but hey maybe they'll see a degree and think I'm trainable or something. Anyway, I've been playing it pretty cool up until now, so much prayers are needed. Thanks so much for taking the time to read about my wak-o life and what we're up to here in Portland.

We had game night last night with a couple our age that we just met! It was so much fun, they killed us at skip bo. We grilled out, ate yummy corn on the cob and learned a lot about each other. My favorite part about all of this is they felt comfortable enough to share about the road they have been on and some of the pain that the church has caused them. She grew up going to Catholic school and has now described a "falling out" with church. He was raised Catholic, became a Satanist (he was laughing as he paused to reflect on those days), he then became licensed in the Nazarene church (small world!), and now claims all will find a way in their own time... Anyway thought this was an interesting journey and thought some of you might find it interesting. The good news is we didn't yell of preach at them, Nick didn't wear a suit and tie, and we didn't sing any weird songs. This is all good news because they've invited us to their home to meet the couple they live with and to share a meal with them. God is blessing our home by creating a hospitable space where we can love on the people who come here.
Amen!

Nick has been very patient in getting to know a neighbor of ours. He has been so open and ready to chat when this guy needs him to. I loved watching the Holy Spirit at work yesterday and using this amazing man I married to bless another. We were ready to head out on a prayer walk when this buddy from next door came knocking to chat. Celina and I acted busy to give him time to talk with Nick. At then end of the conversation he was pleading with Nick, and the two of us, to pray for a family that is very dear to him. So, we were blessed with the opportunity to usher this man with us into the presence of God. It was amazing to see his willingness to let us pray for his family and for him to actually ask us to pray for them. God is doing great things in his life and I can see layers falling away every day. What a blessing and honor it is when others (especially faint believers) ask us to pray for the people they care the most deeply about.

I really thought we were past the days of Bible pounding and screaming at people as they walk by on the street. I'm not sure who's idea it was to yell at people to make them love Jesus but I'm pretty sure I've never seen it work. The other day I was in downtown Portland waiting for the bus. I had been standing there for a very long time, only to find out my bus wasn't going to be coming by that stop on that day! That's besides the point. Anyway, I just bought this great book from Powell's and had taken that stupid plastic cover off that always gets in the way. So I'm standing there waiting and reading this big fatty book when two girls (about my age) walked by. They didn't just walk, they starting screaming at me! It took a minute for me to figure out why they were yelling but I guess they thought I was going to preach at them! They were yelling things like "don't you tell me how to live" "Jesus also said..." I then started being like..."this isn't a Bible" and defending myself. But then I was really feeling strange about that too, was I saying I didn't want to be "caught" on a street corner reading a Bible? Grrr... I found out that I was standing under a sign for some ministry and I'm assuming those girls had been yelled at and called sinners by them before. So, all in all, I'm a bit frustrated that I can't read a book that looks like a Bible while standing on a street corner without a stranger fearing that I would call them a sinner and tell them that they will burn in hell.

Here they are in no particular order...

European Americans
Native Americans
African Americans
Latin Americans
Middle-Eastern Decent
Old
Young
New
Lonely
Single
Vegan
Transsexual
Gay
Lesbian
Gangs
Skaters
believers
Non-believers
Meat Eating
Plant Eating
Angry
High
Loud
Silent
Home Owners
Renters
Government Housing

And Jesus loves and is active in each of their lives!

Nick and I were walking back from the bus (which is a frequent for us now) when we met a new neighbor! This gentleman was sitting in a camping chair in his front lawn absorbing the sun, a great way to spend your hot evening I might add. When we got close we introduced ourselves and began the common chit-chat when people meet. He was an older man, about 75 years old. At some point in the conversation he leaped out of the chair to come closer for the chat. This, I learned was not a good idea. Not good for reasons you might expect. Now, I can understand that everyone has their favorite lounge clothes and I am certainly not one to judge. But this guy was wearing a cut off tank-top and a nice pair of boxer briefs! The best part about it is that he went on to explain to us about how he felt pretty good that he fit into this pair of shorts he found! Thus drawing awkward attention to the underwear. I didn't have the heart to tell him. After we left he went right back to his seat and the evening just kept going on. I think that one of the hardest things, when ministering to the elderly, is to ignore the awkward and funny things they do while you are listening to their crazy life stories. So, yes, I plan on listening to more of his stories and am actually praying for his outfit. I don't think I've really prayed for people's outfits before today!

The school year has been over for weeks now... I am in such a huge transition place that I don't even know what to do! After a whole school-year of dealing with the drama and emotion of urban 4th graders my life feels as if it has come to a screeching halt. At first I found peace in having time to myself. Then, I was exited for the move and that mostly occupied my time. Now, I'm in Portland and my heart yearns to be with those babies again. As we spend evenings on prayer walks and I see a neighbor kid I find my body naturally gravitating toward them to just hear the energy and passion that children have for living. I'm longing to have the comfort that I will be teaching in the fall, but God may have other plans. If you read this and you are one who prays, pray for God to give me peace and to trust his perfect plans.

I have a student who is mentally retarded and who has really been through a TON. He is a refuge from Bosnia and has faced many challenges here in the states. Needless to say, he is full of energy and is often looking for other things to do besides schoolwork. Here was his latest...

...early in the morning...
"E is spraying candy in people's mouths"
This was said while another student was roaming the room and knocking chairs over so naturally I ignored it while I dealt with the other problem.

...sometime after lunch...
Me: "Why aren't you doing your work?"
T: "I'm just soooo tired, E sprayed medicine in my mouth that makes you sleepy. Watch, other kids will start falling asleep too!"
At this point I was beginning to wonder what E had! I asked him about it and he denied having anything.

...finally, at the end of the day...
E was walking to the buses and had some small white bottle in his hand, and I was struck with the reminder of the previous incidents from the day...
Me: "is that what you have been spraying in peoples mouths all day?????"
He pulled away, "it's nothing"
As I looked at it I realized it was spray hand sanitizer that he found on the ground and had refilled with water!

This kid who has been underestimated by all, managed to convince 3 classmates that it was candy and 2 others that it was sleep medicine, and keep it hidden from me all day!
Brilliance.
The unfortunate thing is that he easily could have gotten them all sick.
But alls well that ends well:)

As most of you know, we are preparing for the Kansas State Assessments. Thanks to No Child Left Behind, these are VERY important tests. For the last 5 months we have been taking formative tests to target our instruction. After each practice test I talk to my students about the strategies they use. Some of the ones listed below have been told to me, other have been caught by observation. Let me remind you that many of my students have more street smarts than book smarts.

Here is what you need to know about the test. It allows calulators on some of the questions but not on others. It also lets you see the correct and wrong answers for the qustions you missed after it scores you. When they take the real deal they won't be able to use these following strategies for a number of reasons. I also have talked to them a hundred times about not cheating.

Top Ten Testing Strategies
By Mrs. M's class...
1. Guess
2. Just pick my favorite answer.
3. When my teacher stands behind me I try to feel what her brain is thinking about what I'm choosing.
4. I get up to go to the bathroom and check as many computers as I can while I walk by.
5. I make myself fall asleep so that my teacher thinks I'm too tired to take it today.
6. Write some posters from class on my hand and use it on the test.
7. I finish the whole test really fast then write down the correct answers when it lets me check. Then I take the test again and make sure I agree with the answers. I also take my time so it looks like I did a really good job.
8. Sometimes I just check with the person next to me to see if I'm getting it right.
9. If I get stuck on a math question I can write it down, then go back to a question with a calculator, and use the calculator to answer the question. Then I go back and find the right answer.
10. Wait for the person next to me to finish and check their answers so I know if I'm getting them right!

This happened just when we returned from Christmas Vacation. All of my students were very squirmy, naturally, because they were dying to share about their time apart. So, I started our day with some journaling. I had one child, "sadness" who just got up out of his seat and starting roaming the room and ho-humming as Eeyore does. I got him to settle down for a bit and to talk to me...
Me: "what's going on?"
Him: "I don't want to write in my stupid journal"
Me: " do you want to tell me why?"
Him: "NO"
Me: "did something bad happen to you?"
Him: "NO"
Me: I just sat there with him for a minute...knowing that this 9 year old would probably tell me soon
Him: "My daddy killed him"
Me: "what are you talking about?"
Him: "My dad killed a man on Christmas Eve and now he is in jail"
Me: "are you alright?"
Him: "yeah"
Me: "well, it's alright to be upset about it ....

And the conversation continued with me faking as if I am a counselor. I don't have a freaking clue what to do or say to these kids... I did find out later, from the secretary, that his father did shoot a man at a bar on Christmas Eve night. His dad is now on trial for murder.