Merry Christmas

Rejoicing in the birth of our Savior!

Golden

I’ve been thinking about the word “golden” lately. It conjures up feelings of contentment and happiness in my mind, as well as a brightness in both the color and the idea. When I looked up the word in the dictionary, I loved one of the definitions: “rare and precious.”

That’s the image I have of my parents – precious and content. And today, they are celebrating their Golden Anniversary; something rare indeed in today’s world. I’m so thankful for them and the model of Christian living they have shown me and the rest of our family. And I look forward to our family celebration of their milestone this weekend.

Until then, here’s a look at the past fifty years of our family!

Congratulations and God’s Continued Blessings, Mom and Dad!

A Lesson in Drawing Conclusions

So, apparently when the floor in the basement is wet underneath where the bathroom toilet is located and when the floor around said toilet is buckling (been going on since at least this summer), this means there is a leak. That needs to be fixed. Now.

Thanks, Mom, for noticing and making the connection that I, an adult with apparently no common sense, never made.

Anyone know of a good plumber in the Holland, MI area?

Thanksgiving List

On this Thanksgiving Day, I have so much to be thankful for. I often think of the “things” I have, like food, clothes, house, car, etc. and I am thankful for them. I’m so blessed with conveniences here in the U.S. when compared to so many people around the world.

But this year I wanted to go further and think about some of God’s gifts that money can’t buy; things I don’t often think about and often take for granted.

So here’s my Top Ten list of things I’m thankful for.

1. Salvation – Number one on my list is the ultimate gift from God; that He has provided a way for me to be in His family through the atoning death of Jesus. I’m so thankful that Jesus is my savior, I can call God my heavenly father, and that His Spirit lives in me.

2. Hope – I’m also thankful for the gift of hope. When life’s circumstances get discouraging, we live in hope – that things will get better, that circumstances will change, that tomorrow is a new day. And the ultimate hope of eternal life in heaven with God and the reunion with loved ones who have died is an especially comforting gift from God.

3. Music – When I think about the variety of music we can listen to (and play or sing), it amazes me. I love the contemporary Christian music that plays on my radio station (91.3) as it keeps my thoughts Christ-centered throughout the day. But I also love the great classical music and the old hymns of faith. The gift of music with it’s various rhythms, tempos, note combinations, as well as all the instruments that have been created can set or improve my mood, and I’m so thankful that music exists.

4. Love – This is my way of showing thanks for my family and friends, but the fact that we can love other people is another gift from God. I’m grateful for the close relationships God has allowed me to create with both my family and friends, and I’m also thankful for the (different kind of) love for pets.

5. Colors – Every time I venture outside I’m overwhelmed by the broad spectrum of colors in nature. I’m thankful for the many shades of green on trees and plants, the bright blue sky and the shining sun, the brightly colored flower petals, the beauty of a morning sunrise or evening sunset, the various stripes and spots on animals, and the spectacular autumn foliage. I love the fact that God created a colorful world.

6. Communication – I’m also grateful for words and the gift of communication. From the simple “I love you” and “Thanks for being my friend” to the sharing of knowledge through voice, books, computers and internet, the fact that we can communicate with and encourage one another is a blessing.

7. Sight – I’m thankful God has given me the gift of sight. Although not perfect, with my glasses I can see fairly well and I love seeing the smiling faces of people I care about as well as the world around me.

8. Mind – I’m thankful for the ability to think, plan ahead, and make decisions. I’m thankful that I can form ideas, make predictions, deliberate various viewpoints and options, and come to conclusions. I’m thankful for the ability to remember good times and reminisce with friends.

9. Water – After traveling to South Africa and seeing firsthand how the scarcity of clean water affects people’s lives, I’m thankful for my easy access to water. We just finished a science unit in my second grade class dealing with the importance of water on Earth and we talked about how to conserve water. But I’m also thankful for the beauty of a mountain stream, the majesty of a flowing waterfall, and the steady rhythm of Lake Michigan’s waves. And the imagery of Living Water found in the Bible provides an added dimension to God’s gift of water.

10. God’s Plan for Me (Trust) – I’m so thankful for the assurance that God is in control of my life. Although it hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would, I know God is with me and I trust that His plan is best. I’m thankful for the places and people God has brought into my life and the experiences He has led me through. Although I sometimes worry about the future, at the same time I whole-heartedly trust in God’s promise that He will “never leave me or forsake me” and that “all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

For these gifts and so much more, thank you Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Relax

The last two weeks have been very busy with school - first working on report cards and then meeting with parents for parent-teacher conferences. I enjoy meeting with parents as we talk together about their child's strengths and discuss goals for continued growth, but it does make for a very busy week.

And now I can finally relax a bit. It feels good.

My school books sit on the kitchen table, beckoning me to work on next week's lesson plans. And the backyard is again strewn with leaves after I worked so hard earlier this week to finish the yard work (sometimes I think the big, old oak tree just laughs at me as it waits to drop the leaves until after I've finished raking). The laundry (from two weeks) is in piles, waiting to be carried downstairs to the washer. And the vacuum cleaner is still in the front closet.

There's always work to be done. But today I'm relaxing. I'm reading a book. I'm checking out blog sites I haven't visited since summer. I'm playing my favorite Facebook game: Pathwords. I'm making spaghetti for supper. I'm sitting on the sofa with my dog cuddled next to me and reveling in the quiet peacefulness. No immediate pressures. No looming deadlines (at least not this weekend).

There's a time for everything. Today is a time to relax.

Anyone for a cup of hot chocolate?

Guaranteed to Make You Smile

Blessings

I love those unexpected “wow” moments that God occasionally brings me. I had an awesome moment like that last night; actually, the entire evening was awesome. After attending a technology workshop all day, I was looking forward to a quiet evening at home. It was a great day of learning, but seven hours of computer workshops is enough to give anyone a headache.

After getting home, I began clearing a pile of papers off the kitchen table and discovered the ad I had torn from a newspaper announcing the Steven Curtis Chapman concert (“A Night of Music and Hope with the Chapmans”) which was…in two hours.

I hadn’t bought a ticket and had no one to go with, but I really wanted to support the Chapmans after praying for their family during the last two years (and I love Steven’s music), so I decided to just go and see if there were any tickets left.

When I arrived, there was a long line and the person I asked thought the line was for buying and picking up tickets, so I went to the end and waited. When I was near the front, I found that there was a different line for purchasing tickets, so I moved to that line. It was much shorter, but there were still four or five people in front of me when I happened to turn around and saw someone asking people behind me if they were buying a single ticket. They weren’t but I caught the lady’s eye and said I was. I thought she had an extra ticket and I could buy it – it had to be a better seat than what I would get at the ticket counter.

Well, she did have an extra ticket, but she handed it to me and said “It’s free. Come and sit with my sister and me.” I couldn’t believe it; she was giving me a ticket! Their seats turned out to be way better than any I could have purchased at the ticket counter – right near the front; in fact, we ended up in the front row! I’m so glad I first waited in the long line or I would have already purchased my ticket before they arrived. Wow – what an unexpected blessing. Thank you God.

I thought I would be sitting by myself in the balcony, but God’s plan was so much better. I met two wonderful women, Jill and Wendy, and enjoyed getting to know them. In fact, Jill used to live in the same Grand Rapids neighborhood that I had grown up in. They were so much fun to be with that I felt kind of like their extra sister. They had purchased an additional ticket for a friend who couldn’t attend the concert and then prayed that God would show them who to give the ticket to. Wow – God chose me to be the recipient of their gift. Thank you God.

The evening was filled with wonderful music by Steven and also by his sons’ band (Caleb), as well as testimony by Steven’s wife, Mary Beth Chapman, about how God has been working in their family’s life, particularly during the past two years since the accidental death of their five-year-old daughter, Maria Sue. The evening ended in worship to God, who is always with us: in our mountains and in our deep valleys.

The Chapmans and their friend, Jeff Moore, also shared how their foundation, Show Hope, which provides orphan care in China and assistance to families adopting children throughout the world, has grown. They shared pictures of “Maria’s Big House of Hope,” a care facility in China for special-needs orphans and challenged those in the audience to respond to Christ’s call to help care for the orphans. Although I already sponsor a child through Compassion International, God was working in my heart and I signed up to sponsor the Show Hope foundation as well. I had not intended to do this when I arrived at the concert, and honestly, I’m not sure I would have if I had purchased my concert ticket. But God’s plans are so much better than mine, and I’m glad I will be able to help out every month. Wow - I was blessed in order to bless others. Thank you God.

I came back home filled with gratitude and blessed by God – through the gifts of Jill and Wendy, the Chapman family, and the presence of God in my life. So much better than a quiet night at home. Thank you God.

Stairs or Escalator?

It's a busy week, but this is a great (short) video. Would you take the stairs or the escalator?

(And yes, the "Fun Theory" has implications for both education and life.)

Enjoy!

Update Note:

I've been trying for a half hour to adjust the size of the video, so you can see it here completely, but I can't figure it out. What I thought would be a quick, fun post is turning out to be a pain. Maybe I should find a set of stairs to climb ... note, this would only make sense if you can actually watch the video. So - hopefully the link will work. (Otherwise, copy and paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw)

It Never Really Goes Away

The news caught me off guard. Two little sentences in the middle of the 6:00 a.m. radio news update, which wakes me up every Monday through Friday. I heard his name and instantly froze. It was a just a simple announcement that the federal appeals court was hearing arguments in his case today, and then the announcer went on to the next news story. No big deal; life as usual.

Except for me. I was surprised at my reaction. After all, it’s been eight and a half years since the trial. I thought I was over it, that his name wouldn’t affect me so deeply anymore. But as I got out of bed and prepared for school, the memories of the courtroom came flooding vividly back.

I was a member of a federal jury for a murder case in February/March 2002. Although there have been a number of important and defining events in my life, the experience of this trial has probably had the most profound and lasting affect on me. It was more than “just” a simple murder case. For three weeks I saw and felt pure evil in a way I have never experienced before or since. I could sense the spiritual warfare taking place in the courtroom. It took a long time for me to work through and process the entire experience. For several months I had trouble even going for walks outside by myself. I wrestled with spiritual issues of good and evil and free will. Even five years later, I would think about it on March 16, the anniversary of our verdict. But gradually I shelved the memories in the back corner of my mind and moved on with the new and exciting adventures God was taking me on (trips to Russia, Alaska, Israel, and South Africa, precious second graders to teach, time spent with family and friends). In fact, during the last couple of years I hardly thought about the trial at all and could finally enjoy the month of March again.

Which is why my reaction yesterday morning totally shocked me. Because I thought I was over it. I thought I had moved on. But as I began crying uncontrollably in the car on the way to school, I realized it really hadn’t gone away for good. The experience permanently changed who I am, and it will always affect me in some way when I hear a news story about it. I’m very thankful for my parents and friends who prayed for me yesterday morning and for my students who kept my mind occupied throughout the school day. Today was better; more numb than teary, but still images occasionally flitted through my mind. I guess it will take a few days to work through it again. And hopefully I’ll be more prepared when the next story hits the news.

Because I guess it will always be there. It will never completely go away, no matter how much I wish it could.

Autumn Beauty

What a perfect day for a hike through the woods to see the beauty of God's creation.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe!

Silly Bands

This is what happens to confiscated silly bands in second grade!

O.K., not really.

But I've threatened to give them to Tosca if the kids are playing with them during class!

P.S. Thanks to A.B. for letting me borrow her silly bands. :)

Busy, busy, Busy

The beginning of a new school year is always busy. Getting in the routine again, setting the alarm clock, planning lessons, meeting new students and learning their personalities. Someone recently mentioned that going from August to September for a teacher is like riding up a hill in a roller coaster (August) to suddenly zooming down at breakneck speed (September). That example seems to fit perfectly. But that’s not all that’s been going on this September. I’ve also spent the last month taking an online class dealing with integrating technology into the classroom. It’s been a great class – I’ve learned a lot, but the timing was not the best. The beginning of the school year is not a good time to take a class. It turned out to be much more work than I thought it would be; I’ve spent every weekend and several nights during the week working on it. That, along with regular schoolwork (and a new math series to get used to), has provided very little free time.

But now I can breathe again. I finished up my work for the class last night (at 6:50). I celebrated by opening a novel that’s been sitting on my dresser for the past three weeks, just waiting for me. I read two chapters; it felt so good to read for fun again. And today, I celebrated with my first Sunday since the school year began, truly at rest. I slept in and went to the later church service, had a great walk through the woods and meadows at VanRaalte farm with Tosca this afternoon, made bowtie lasagna, and finally posted a blog entry. What a blessed day.

Monday Moment

This video is perfect for me at this busy time of year. Maybe it will speak to you also.

Summer's Last Fling

With the new school year beginning on Aug. 30, I ended my summer vacation with a weekend trip to Chicago with my mom and sister. The weather was glorious – sunny with beautiful blue skies, temperatures in the low 80s – absolutely perfect for our weekend plans.

My mom and I drove to Michigan City and took the South Shore commuter train into Chicago on Thursday afternoon after my school “teacher meetings.” We arrived in time to enjoy supper at an outdoor restaurant in Millenium Park and part of a jazz concert at the park pavilion before walking to our hotel a few blocks away.

We met my sister at the train station the next morning and then took a trolley to Navy Pier. The Festival of Tall Ships was taking place so I was afraid it would be terribly crowded, but it wasn’t and we were able to ride the Ferris wheel right away. We walked along the pier, checking out the tall ships and shopping area. Then we enjoyed a buffet lunch cruise on the lake aboard the Spirit of America ship. It was awesome – the food, the entertaining wait-staff who sang and danced for us, the view of the Chicago skyline and the boats on the lake, the company of my mom and sister – two hours of relaxation.

We took a bus back to Millenium Park later that afternoon and then said goodbye to my sister. On our way back to the hotel, I stopped at the Ford Theatre where the Broadway musical Billy Elliot is playing to see if they had any discounted tickets for the evening’s performance. I was thrilled to get 2 tickets at a little more than half price in the orchestra section! It’s a great show – the choreography is spectacular – about following your dreams. (There is some questionable language, so I wouldn’t recommend it for kids.)

On Saturday my mom and I took a tour from the Chicago Neighborhood Tours focusing on the 1893 World’s Fair and the “White City” of Chicago. We had both read the book The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson about the World’s Fair and wanted to see the places the book described. The tour was great (I highly recommend it); it even included a delicious lunch at a charming Italian restaurant in Old Town. After our tour we collected our luggage from the hotel and made our way to the train station to take the commuter train back to Michigan City. It had been a perfect weekend!

It was the perfect weekend ... until we got to the train station. There we found that the trains would only be going as far as Gary, IN for the entire weekend. The rest of the route was closed for upgrade work. Uh oh! (To be fair, this announcement was posted on their website, but I had gotten the dates wrong and thought the closing wouldn’t happen until the next week). Now what? How would we get home? Thankfully we didn’t panic (much) and found God was still directing our path. We found that there was an Amtrak train leaving at 6:00 that would stop in Michigan City. We made our way to Union Station, got tickets, and boarded the train with just enough time. However, the Amtrak train stop was a few miles away from the commuter train stop. We’d have to find a way to get to the other train station where our car was. God was still directing our path, and He provided us with an unexpected gift when we got off the train in Michigan City. The information I had said that there was no train station, just a platform stop. This is true, but there is also a cute little restaurant called “Swingbellys” right next to the station parking lot. As it was now almost 8:00 at night, we decided to have supper there before calling a cab. The food was delicious and the waitresses were so friendly and helpful. When we found that the taxi wouldn’t be able to come for another hour, one of the waitresses drove us to the train station! After the unexpected stress of the last few hours, these women were definitely an answer to prayer and used by God to reassure us that we were still under His care. We finally got to our car around 9:30 pm (the time we had originally planned to be back home) and had an uneventful drive back to Holland. Whew!

What a way to end summer vacation!

Just a Girl and Her Dog

In an effort to make up for all the “un-walks” we’ve taken this summer because of the heat, I took my dog hiking for two days last week. Call it “bad dog-mom guilt” or an excuse to get away for a couple days before school begins or just time spent in the woods; we had a great time. We went to Turkey Run, one of Indiana’s state parks, which is known for it’s great hiking trails. There are 11 trails, ranging from easy to moderate to rugged. We hiked some of each and the rugged are definitely challenging. We scrambled over huge boulders, wound our way up and down canyons, hopped stones across several creeks (well, I hopped across the stones; Tosca went straight through the creek), and enjoyed the beautiful scenery surrounding us.

Tosca is 13 years old and I wondered how she’d do on the more rugged trails, but she was eager to go and rarely needed to stop and rest. She must have been tired though, because she slept very soundly at night. We stayed overnight at a little motel about fifteen minutes away and returned for a second day of hiking before heading home late Wednesday afternoon.

It was so nice to spend some time away, just the two of us: enjoying God’s creation, praying as I walked, listening to the birds, thinking about the coming school year, being “still.”

I hope Tosca remembers these two days when the “too-tired-to–take-you-for-a-walk dog-mom” begins school.

And, after my tech training, I’ve put together a little video of our hikes. The song is“The Mountain” by Steven Curtis Chapman from his album “Heaven in the Real World” and I think it perfectly captures my feelings on the hike.

Monday Moment

Inner Peace:

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,

If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without liquor,

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

…Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

Technology at School

As I’m preparing for the new school year, I’ve been thinking about how things have changed since I first began teaching some ? years ago.

Back then we:

• made copies of worksheets with ditto machines, which constantly stained your fingers with purple ink
• traced letters on construction paper and cut them out by hand for bulletin board titles
• used a large opaque projector to enlarge “cutsie” characters and then colored them with markers for bulletin board displays.
• handwrote tests and quizzes (which always seemed to slant downward at the end of each line no matter how much I tried to keep my writing straight)
• relied primarily on school-purchased textbooks for lessons
• utilized filmstrips and movie projectors (and learning how to thread both reels of the projector)

Now we:

• use a copy machine, white board, or computer screen for student worksheets or practice
• punch letters using an acu-cut machine or a computer-generated sign or banner (and laminate so they can be reused)
• sometimes use an overhead projector (much smaller than the opaque) if something needs to be enlarged for display
• use the computer to make professional looking tests, quizzes, and booklets
• rely on the internet for topic research and lesson enhancements
• utilize video clips, student projects, and various interactive websites

As part of a team of teachers from our school who received a year-long technology grant, I spent two full days last week learning more about the ways technology can be used to enhance education, and I’m excited about the possibilities. The students I teach today are growing up in a different world than the students I taught twenty years ago. Today’s students have always known about computers and ipods, the internet and YouTube. This is their world, and I’m excited about the ways I can incorporate these kinds of things to impact their learning.

This school year I’m looking forward to using a new interactive whiteboard with my students as well as creating a classroom wiki, which will showcase their writing, videos, and audio recordings. Further training during the school year with our team as well as attending a technology conference in the spring will provide additional ways to utilize technology in my classroom to benefit my students.

As I reflect on the “good old days” of teaching, I’m thankful for the “good new days” as well and the continued advances in education and technology. My goal is to help my students learn more about God's world and their place in it. And technology can be an asset in our classroom experience.

Monday Moment

I've seen this several places on the internet and don't know if it's true or not, but I like to think it is. What a sweet story.

The Wallet

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.

The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then I saw the dateline -- 1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John" letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she wrote that she would always love him. It was signed, Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information, the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.

"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?" She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak with you." I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"

"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.

"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter." She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living. I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.

This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a letter that was almost 60 years old?

Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. " Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come to see her. " Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in the day room watching television."

I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah. She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in her eye. I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever had with Michael."

She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said softly, "I loved him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."

"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no one ever matched up to Michael..."

I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to help you?" I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find the owner of this wallet." I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red lacing on the side.

When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute! That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that right red lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at least three times."

"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake. "He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks." I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed that Mr. Goldstein would be up. On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."

We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, " Oh, it is missing!"

"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?" I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this afternoon. I want to give you a reward." "No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet." The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?" "Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is." He suddenly grew pale.

"Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged. "She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly. The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You now something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. "Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."

We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to her. "Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in the doorway. "Do you know this man?" She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word. Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michail. Do you remember me?" She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!" He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with tears streaming down our faces.
"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will be."

About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home. "Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!" It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their best man. The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a 76- year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

Hold Tight!

The water is (unusually) warm; the waves brisk. My seven year old nephew and nine year old niece (visiting from Indiana) love the water and can't wait to start splashing around. The beach is filled with people on this hot summer day. The water, too, is teeming with people – children near the shore, adults a little farther out, and teenagers out near the buoy markers signaling the end of the swimming area. The sun sparkles on the water as the waves crest and crash. What a beautiful day!

The kids want to walk farther out in the water to catch the deeper waves, but they listen to my instructions to stay closer to shore. At first, they don't like my other condition: we have to hold hands. They want to splash in the waves on their own, jumping and falling in the water. They want me nearby but not too close. They want their independence.

But I know something about Lake Michigan that my niece and nephew don't yet understand. This is a large and powerful lake, with strong undercurrents that can trap even the most capable swimmer. And the swimming flag today is red, which means extra caution needs to be taken when going in the water. So even though my niece is on a swim team at home, I still require her to hold my hand. And we stay in the more shallow area of the beach – deep enough for them to splash and jump, but shallow enough for me to maintain strong footing on the sandy bottom when the waves come. And I hold their hands to keep them safe. We laugh and splash and enjoy the experience together, but I am constantly on guard for the coming waves. And when my nephew pulls away, I grab his hand. I love these children and I hold them fast.

And as I grip their hands in mine, I'm suddenly struck with the imagery – the realization that God holds me in His hand as well. Just as my niece and nephew need to trust that I know what's best in the lake and holding my hand will protect them, I need to trust that God knows what is best for me. I need to stop pulling away, trying to do things on my own, because the undercurrent of life has dangers that I'm not aware of. I need to keep my hand in God's hand and hold tight.

What a beautiful day!

Monday Moment

What makes someone rich or poor? It all depends on your perspective ...

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a Creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We buy our food, but they grow theirs and eat it fresh. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless as his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?

Book Reviews

One of the things I love most about summer is that I have plenty of time to read. Although I make an effort to continue reading during the school year, there's always schoolwork to do. During the summer I can spend an entire day reading a book if I want to. And I've been up reading until 2 am several times during the past month, until my eyes just can't stay open no matter how much my brain tells them to keep reading. I've already finished our local library's summer reading program for adults, but I still have several books on my summer reading list. And with August coming next week, I know my free reading time is quickly coming to an end. (I really need to start planning for school next week…and I still have some items other than reading on my summer "to do" list.)

Anyway, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite summer reads. I love books that stretch me and make me think, that show me different cultures and ways of life, and broaden my horizons.

• Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese is about twin brothers, born and raised in an Ethiopian mission hospital. The story is narrated by one of the brothers, Marion, and explores themes such as love, family, betrayal, forgiveness, home and country.
  
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a novel told from the viewpoints of a young white southern woman who has just graduated from college and is looking to pursue a writing career and two black women who work as maids for white families in Jackson, Mississippi. The three women join together, scared, yet determined to complete a dangerous project in order to make a difference and expose the realities of southern life in the 1960s. This book is beautifully written and the author's note at the end adds to the authenticity.
  
• The Line by Olga Grushin deals with the hopes and dreams of life as well as the everyday realities of life. The setting is 1960's-ish Soviet Union when people stood in long lines daily for everyday items. Telling the story from the viewpoints of several family members - a father, mother, grandmother, and son - the family joins a long line at a kiosk that will be selling tickets to a one-night orchestra concert. The catch is - no one knows for sure if the concert will actually take place. There is no scheduled performance date and the tickets are not on sale yet. A crowd of people wait in line for over a year for the kiosk to open and sell the concert tickets; along the way we see how strangers interact with each other and how standing in the line transforms the members of this family.
  
• La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith is a little lighter read, telling the story of a young widow living in the English countryside during World War II and how she and her neighbors work together to get by. It's light and sweet, but is also a testament to the tenacity of women in a time when women were not encouraged to be independent.
  

Next on my list is House Rules by Jodi Picoult. She is an author who always stretches my thinking. I also plan to read The Space Between Us (Thrity Umrigar), Secrets of Eden (Chris Bohjalian), and Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. If I can squeeze it in, I'd also like to get to Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone before school begins. So many books; so little time!

Monday Moment

Faith is a dog that was born in 2002 with severe deformities, including only 1 front leg that later had to be amputated; the local veterinarian advised putting her to sleep, but her new family loved her as she was and helped her learn to walk upright on her two rear legs. Now Faith spends much of her time visiting and encouraging people. She even has her own website: http://faiththedog.info/

Faith is definitely an example of perseverance. You can't help but smile as you watch her enjoy a walk in the park in this video; she's certainly smiling!

Legoland

My nephew had his 7th birthday this week, and we celebrated by taking him to Legoland on Wednesday. I was amazed at how much they could fit in the building – a simulated factory room, a miniature exhibit of the downtown Chicago area, a 4D movie theatre, a jungle expedition walkway filled with lego creatures, dragon quest and technicycle rides, a café, and the most important area – the store. It was crowded and overpriced, but we had a good time. In Joey’s words, his favorite part of the day was “spending your money!” :)

It’s amazing what can be built from legos – the buildings, animals, characters, etc. – what a tremendous amount of planning must go into the design of each creation.

And, after helping Joey put together his new Toy Story Wild West sheriff’s office and gold mine, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the lego kits that build a specific item. I’ve always liked the concept of the lego tubs: a large container filled with various pieces, which kids could manipulate to build things using their imaginations. I thought the kits which built one specific thing stifled kids’ creative thinking. Now, however, I realize that these kits stimulate a different, and just as important, type of thinking. As we worked throughout the evening, following the instruction booklet, Joey was learning how to read directions (both written and pictorial) and gaining experience with geometric concepts. He also learned about persistence and patience and was rewarded with a completed set that looked just like the picture on the box when we finally finished at 10 p.m. (too late and too tired to take a picture!).

I loved spending this time with my nephew. Although our Legoland trip was probably a one-time birthday outing, I look forward to working on additional lego kits with him in the future. Happy Birthday, Joey! I love you.

Monday Moment

I’ve always loved the Hallmark commercials; the sweet and touching reunions, the loving sentiments expressed, and the emotional responses. For me it’s not about the cards; it’s about the situation. And yes – sometimes I even tear up a little. I thought it would be fun to have my own version – a “Monday Moment” instead of a Hallmark Moment. So, I’m going to try posting a video clip, photo, or short inspirational story each Monday to begin the workweek on a positive note. They won’t all be sappy however; some might provide a chuckle instead. But hopefully we’ll get our “aawww” fix for the day.

Since it’s summer time and it’s been quite hot (at least in Michigan), I thought I’d begin by sharing a cute video of some characters playing in the sprinklers to cool off. Enjoy!

New Name; New Layout

Summer is my time to “re-do.” I sit back, take stock of things, and decide what needs a change. So far this summer I’ve painted the patio, stained the deck, and I’m in the process of redecorating my bathroom. So why not refresh my blog as well?

Actually, I’ve now been blogging for two years. What started as an experiment in a summer tech course has turned out to be fun and has (hopefully) helped further develop my writing skills. However, I’ve never been happy with my original blog title. “My Life” seemed boring and unimaginative, but I couldn’t think of anything cute or catchy.

During the past few weeks I’ve been trying to come up with a new title; something short and succinct that will capture what I like to write about. I wanted something that will reflect my faith as well as the everyday events I write about.

This new title comes from several different places.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 has long been one of my favorite Bible verses; it’s even cross-stitched in my bedroom. I am so reassured by the fact that God directs my path and is in control of my life.
• I don’t usually enjoy reading allegories, but I loved the book Hind’s Feet in High Places by Hannah Hurnard. In this allegory of the Christian life, the Shepherd tells Much-Afraid to follow the path he has prepared for her, and she will develop hind’s feet that can leap on the high places. It’s a long and sometimes difficult journey with a joyous transformation at the end. I’m planning on rereading it this summer.
• While in Israel I learned about the sheep paths on the mountains and the importance of staying on the path. This “staying on the path” was reinforced on my backpacking trip to Isle Royale as we carefully picked our way along the muddy path. Anyway, all these thoughts dealing with path converged during the last week, leading to my new blog title: Feet For The Path.

I want to have feet for the path God has chosen for me. I want to follow His will for my life and trust Him to provide what I need each step along the way. Through the daily and sometimes mundane times, in the difficult and challenging circumstances, and amidst the exciting and joyous events I know God is sovereign and with me. And He will continue to help me develop my “feet” for this path of life that He’s leading me on.

So I’ll continue to write about lessons I’ve learned, thoughts about God and life, special places God might bring me, as well as some of the everyday happenings that maybe you can relate to.

You're welcome to join me; I'd love the company.

Mini-Vacation Up North

My parents, brother and sister-in-law, and I took a three day trip to the upper peninsula earlier this week. The weather was cloudy with just a little rain, but thankfully we missed out on the really humid weather at home.

We drove up to Tahquamenon Falls on Monday, stopping for a picnic lunch at a rest stop along the way. We were able to see both the lower and upper falls - such a beautiful area.

We drove back to St. Ignace Monday evening and spent Tuesday at Mackinac Island. Our ferry ride to the island also brought us under the Mackinac Bridge, which was pretty cool.

We took a 2-hour carriage ride which was fun (it was especially nice being in a covered carriage during the brief rain shower of the day).

After lunch we did some shopping and had old-time photographs taken.

Don't I look like a southern belle?

Mom and Dad will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this December, so they did a wedding portrait.

Yes - there is a Starbucks on Mackinac Island! Mom had her first frappuccino - great on a warm afternoon!

Later in the afternoon I rented a bike and rode some of the bike paths in the state park. I'd love to spend a whole day in the interior of the island - it's just beautiful.

We enjoyed dinner at Millies on Main Street together before taking the ferry back to St. Ignace.

We returned home on Wednesday after a quick stop at "Castle Rock," a tourist trap complete with a Paul Bunyan statue. The view at the top of the rock was worth the long stair climb.

It was great spending time together as a family in "da yooper" country!