This video was in an email I received recently. It is so cute, but also reminds me how important it is for us to hold each other's hands figuratively and encourage each other as we go through life.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Road Construction
Road construction is like winter ...
Just as we appreciate the warmth of summer after trudging through the long, cold winter
so we also enjoy the beauty of our original travel route when road construction finally ends.
The Seventh Street project downtown is finished (and looks nice). Taking my "regular" route to school today for the first time in a long while was so pleasant.
Just as we appreciate the warmth of summer after trudging through the long, cold winter
so we also enjoy the beauty of our original travel route when road construction finally ends.
The Seventh Street project downtown is finished (and looks nice). Taking my "regular" route to school today for the first time in a long while was so pleasant.
Friday, August 21, 2009
You Know It's Time...
You know it’s time to go back to school when:
* You have finally learned to sleep in until 9:00 a.m.
* The road construction project begins on your route to school.
* The outside temperature finally rises above 80 degrees.
* You have absolutely no idea what day of the week it is anymore.
* You finally decide where to go on your summer vacation. (Oh well, maybe we'll actually go somewhere next summer.)
* You realize you will never get caught up with scrapbooking.
* You miss spending the days with seven and eight year olds.
* You prefer to listen to a DVD on Differentiated Instruction rather than mop the basement floor.
* Your dog looks like she’s waiting for you to leave the house, so she can have some time to herself.
* You’ve read over 20 books during the last two and a half months.
* You look forward to meeting your new second graders.
After spending several days at school this week preparing my classroom, we have teacher meetings all next week and begin classes on August 31. I'm excited about everything except the "getting up early" part. I'm especially eager to meet my new students and say hi to students from previous years.
* You have finally learned to sleep in until 9:00 a.m.
* The road construction project begins on your route to school.
* The outside temperature finally rises above 80 degrees.
* You have absolutely no idea what day of the week it is anymore.
* You finally decide where to go on your summer vacation. (Oh well, maybe we'll actually go somewhere next summer.)
* You realize you will never get caught up with scrapbooking.
* You miss spending the days with seven and eight year olds.
* You prefer to listen to a DVD on Differentiated Instruction rather than mop the basement floor.
* Your dog looks like she’s waiting for you to leave the house, so she can have some time to herself.
* You’ve read over 20 books during the last two and a half months.
* You look forward to meeting your new second graders.
After spending several days at school this week preparing my classroom, we have teacher meetings all next week and begin classes on August 31. I'm excited about everything except the "getting up early" part. I'm especially eager to meet my new students and say hi to students from previous years.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Summer Hiking
After several days of being gone quite a bit, I decided Tosca deserved some special attention this afternoon. So we headed off to the VanRaalte Farm trails for a little hike. It was such a beautiful, sunny afternoon; perfect for taking a walk. I've only been to the farm trails once before, but the area is huge. We walked along part of a meadow and then through some trees and eventually the trail led to the river (it was just a creek by us, though). Part of the way was a dirt path which led to a raised boardwalk along the riverbank. Tosca enjoyed all the smells along the trail and I loved the nature (except for the mosquitos. Note: bring bug spray along next time.). Although Tosca's sense of direction is similar to mine (let's just say she has no hound in her genes), we eventually found our way back to the parking lot and had a great 50 minute walk.
Anyone know of any good (dog-friendly) hiking trails within 1-3 hours of Holland? I'd love to spend a day or two hiking this summer yet. It would also be fun to go somewhere for a fall weekend to hike.
Anyone know of any good (dog-friendly) hiking trails within 1-3 hours of Holland? I'd love to spend a day or two hiking this summer yet. It would also be fun to go somewhere for a fall weekend to hike.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Helping Others Around the World
Several of the speakers at the Leadership Summit reminded us of the church’s obligation to help the poor around the world. A Ugandan businessman, Andrew Rugasira, described how many years of simply providing handouts to people in the continent of Africa has not led to economic improvement because they rely so heavily on exports. He urged us to increase our trade with African businesses and help entrepreneurs learn to succeed on their own rather than simply providing aid. I think the whole idea of “teaching a man to fish” instead of simply “giving him a fish” is what will really help, and I know many churches and organizations are already involved with this type of aid.
I became aware of a really neat non-profit organization dealing with this type of help when the co-founder, a young woman named Jessica Jackley was interviewed at the Summit. Kiva is the world’s “first peer-to-peer online micro-lending website which allows individuals to lend as little as $25 to specific entrepreneurs, providing capital to help them start or expand a small business.” You go to the website, look through the profiles of specific people requesting loans from around the world, and choose one or more to lend $25 (or more) to. Kiva partners with micro-financing organizations with proven track records around the world who also provide training for the entrepreneurs - the success rate of repaid loans is over 98%. Once your loan is repaid you may either take the money back or reinvest it to help another person. Your loan goes completely (100%) to the person or group that you identify. I was so excited to hear about this opportunity started by someone who has wanted to help the poor since she was a young child.
I recently read the book Enrique’s Journey with my book club and we discussed the difficulty so many women in Central America have in making a living there. Through Kiva.org I am helping a woman named Daysi, a teacher in Nicaragua, improve her home for her two young children. This is a very practical way to provide specific help for a specific person in addition to the more general help organizations like Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and Church World Service provide. I encourage you to check out the Kiva website.
Bono, the lead singer of the band U2 and an activist, was also interviewed at the Summit, three years after he challenged the church to become more actively involved in the fight to end world poverty and Aids. He said that he has seen a difference in the church during the last three years and argues that we can end poverty in our lifetime if we make it a priority.
Compassion International and World Vision, Christian child sponsorship organizations, were both represented at the Summit. I think it’s interesting that my sister and her family sponsor a little boy in Rwanda through World Vision and I sponsor a little girl in Rwanda through Compassion International!
I'm so grateful for the various ways that we can be involved in helping others around the world. Although Jesus said the poor will always be with us, we can each do our part in helping to alleviate world poverty and disease.
I became aware of a really neat non-profit organization dealing with this type of help when the co-founder, a young woman named Jessica Jackley was interviewed at the Summit. Kiva is the world’s “first peer-to-peer online micro-lending website which allows individuals to lend as little as $25 to specific entrepreneurs, providing capital to help them start or expand a small business.” You go to the website, look through the profiles of specific people requesting loans from around the world, and choose one or more to lend $25 (or more) to. Kiva partners with micro-financing organizations with proven track records around the world who also provide training for the entrepreneurs - the success rate of repaid loans is over 98%. Once your loan is repaid you may either take the money back or reinvest it to help another person. Your loan goes completely (100%) to the person or group that you identify. I was so excited to hear about this opportunity started by someone who has wanted to help the poor since she was a young child.
I recently read the book Enrique’s Journey with my book club and we discussed the difficulty so many women in Central America have in making a living there. Through Kiva.org I am helping a woman named Daysi, a teacher in Nicaragua, improve her home for her two young children. This is a very practical way to provide specific help for a specific person in addition to the more general help organizations like Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and Church World Service provide. I encourage you to check out the Kiva website.
Bono, the lead singer of the band U2 and an activist, was also interviewed at the Summit, three years after he challenged the church to become more actively involved in the fight to end world poverty and Aids. He said that he has seen a difference in the church during the last three years and argues that we can end poverty in our lifetime if we make it a priority.
Compassion International and World Vision, Christian child sponsorship organizations, were both represented at the Summit. I think it’s interesting that my sister and her family sponsor a little boy in Rwanda through World Vision and I sponsor a little girl in Rwanda through Compassion International!
I'm so grateful for the various ways that we can be involved in helping others around the world. Although Jesus said the poor will always be with us, we can each do our part in helping to alleviate world poverty and disease.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Get Out of the Huddle
I'm attending the Willow Creek Leadership Summit for the first time via satellite at my home church, Christ Memorial, in Holland, MI along with over 500 other people this week. Today's afternoon sessions were awesome and inspiring. In trying to decide which to blog about first, I decided I had to begin with our last speaker of the day, a black Baptist preacher from Detroit named Harvey Carey. I've never heard a black Baptist preacher before, but I could get used to it - he was powerful and definitely kept our attention! I'll try to summarize, but you really had to be there to hear it straight from him!
Pastor Carey's theme was "Against All Odds" and he shared how God can do the impossible and has brought about tremendous changes in his church's inner-city Detroit neighborhood with "the poorest zipcode - in the poorest city - in the poorest state." He reminded us not to base our ministry only on the resources we've budgeted, but to do ministry based on God's vision. Trust God to provide the resources. He told us that God is preparing to do a great thing in today's poor economy; people will give all the glory and praise to God when they recognize that they can't accomplish things with their own means. Follow God's call, guided by prayer, and be involved to make a difference in the world. Instead of merely focusing on what the church can do; focus on what God can do (through the church).
The analogy that really struck me dealt with a sports event. He told us to imagine we bought very expensive tickets to a ball game (say the Super Bowl). We'd be excited to see the team come out at the beginning and watch them go into their huddle. But imagine how you'd feel if they stayed in their huddle for 30-40 minutes and then left the field and went home. They never played the game. Then he compared that to the church. So often we're tempted to go to our church services and stick together (our "huddles") and we never go out into the community to "play the game." We need to get out and change the world. Our job is to be renewed in our church "huddles" but then to share what we learn; to get out in the world and play the game - share the good news of Jesus and live our faith among the unchurched.
Pastor Carey's theme was "Against All Odds" and he shared how God can do the impossible and has brought about tremendous changes in his church's inner-city Detroit neighborhood with "the poorest zipcode - in the poorest city - in the poorest state." He reminded us not to base our ministry only on the resources we've budgeted, but to do ministry based on God's vision. Trust God to provide the resources. He told us that God is preparing to do a great thing in today's poor economy; people will give all the glory and praise to God when they recognize that they can't accomplish things with their own means. Follow God's call, guided by prayer, and be involved to make a difference in the world. Instead of merely focusing on what the church can do; focus on what God can do (through the church).
The analogy that really struck me dealt with a sports event. He told us to imagine we bought very expensive tickets to a ball game (say the Super Bowl). We'd be excited to see the team come out at the beginning and watch them go into their huddle. But imagine how you'd feel if they stayed in their huddle for 30-40 minutes and then left the field and went home. They never played the game. Then he compared that to the church. So often we're tempted to go to our church services and stick together (our "huddles") and we never go out into the community to "play the game." We need to get out and change the world. Our job is to be renewed in our church "huddles" but then to share what we learn; to get out in the world and play the game - share the good news of Jesus and live our faith among the unchurched.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer in Michigan
I’m sitting outside on my deck enjoying the gentle evening breeze. The flowers are blooming, the grass is mowed, Tosca is exploring in the yard, the neighborhood is generally quiet - ah. Life, at the moment, is calm, peaceful, and good. I love that about summer. And summer in West Michigan is extra special. (I guess that’s why we put up with winter.)
Where else can you sit outside and enjoy a Christian concert right next to Lake Michigan? As I listened to the group Avalon in Grand Haven a week ago, I marveled at the fact that we could gather to listen and sing Christ-centered songs in a public, outdoor venue. How awesome. The evening was filled with worship and praise to God for His marvelous creation as we looked out at the water, the sky, the birds flying by, and the large cross displayed across the channel.
A few days later I was able to go boating on Lake Macatawa and enjoy lunch with several friends and again thought about the gift we have here with the lakes as well as the gifts of friendship and time.
Summer is also a great time to organize, although I rarely accomplish this. But this year I finally did. I’ve spent the last couple weeks cleaning out and organizing almost every drawer, cupboard, and closet in my house. Even my Tupperware is organized! It feels so good to have everything put in its place, plus I now have six boxes filled with items to donate to charity. I am definitely a saver but took advantage of my momentary “dumping” mood.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, eating outside, working in the yard, reading books, spending time with friends, coffee out on the deck, a relaxed pace - I love the fact that I can calm and renew my spirit during the summer, so I can be ready for another year of teaching eager (and not-so-eager) young children.
And I need to get ready because we turned the calendar over to - August. Which means I need to start thinking about school…and getting up early…and homework…and a new group of children to love. I’m getting ready, but I’m also going to enjoy this evening breeze and the setting sun.
I love summer in Michigan!
Where else can you sit outside and enjoy a Christian concert right next to Lake Michigan? As I listened to the group Avalon in Grand Haven a week ago, I marveled at the fact that we could gather to listen and sing Christ-centered songs in a public, outdoor venue. How awesome. The evening was filled with worship and praise to God for His marvelous creation as we looked out at the water, the sky, the birds flying by, and the large cross displayed across the channel.
A few days later I was able to go boating on Lake Macatawa and enjoy lunch with several friends and again thought about the gift we have here with the lakes as well as the gifts of friendship and time.
Summer is also a great time to organize, although I rarely accomplish this. But this year I finally did. I’ve spent the last couple weeks cleaning out and organizing almost every drawer, cupboard, and closet in my house. Even my Tupperware is organized! It feels so good to have everything put in its place, plus I now have six boxes filled with items to donate to charity. I am definitely a saver but took advantage of my momentary “dumping” mood.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, eating outside, working in the yard, reading books, spending time with friends, coffee out on the deck, a relaxed pace - I love the fact that I can calm and renew my spirit during the summer, so I can be ready for another year of teaching eager (and not-so-eager) young children.
And I need to get ready because we turned the calendar over to - August. Which means I need to start thinking about school…and getting up early…and homework…and a new group of children to love. I’m getting ready, but I’m also going to enjoy this evening breeze and the setting sun.
I love summer in Michigan!
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