Coming To Terms

The shining sun and chirping birds

display a striking contrast to the heaviness in my heart.

Spring - the season of rebirth and new life -

yet I'm filled with sorrow

and pleadings

and questions

and - finally,

acceptance.

You, O God, are Lord.

You are in control.

You are bigger than the box I want to put you in.

You have a master plan.

Your ways are not our ways, O Lord.

I do not understand.

I do not like it.

I still ask Why?

My heart aches.

But I trust.

I trust you because you are God.

I trust you because you are in control.

I trust you because you are bigger than the box I put you in.

I trust you because of your promises.

Spring - a season of new life,

eternal life

resurrection

reunion

the presence of the Son and all who believe

SHINING TOGETHER FOREVER

Continuing to Pray -

http://briankristi.blogspot.com/

Lessons Learned on a Late Morning Walk

After a beautiful church service yesterday morning, I decided to take Tosca for a walk at nearby VanRaalte Farm to enjoy the (finally arrived!) spring weather. Sunshine, singing birds, and nature trails beckoned. However, as we strolled slogged through the woods and meadow on the trails, I realized I had forgotten some important facts.

1. Although the weather is nice and sunny, the trails have not necessarily dried from the previous week’s rain.

2. Standing water + dirt = mud. Squishy mud that clings to sandals and paws (and jeans).

3. Wear shoes or hiking boots instead of sandals.

(because the sandals will be ruined)

4. Dogs enjoy traipsing in puddles and mud.

5. Always keep a towel in the car to wipe off dirty paws.

(Yuck - in my NEW car! At least there was a blanket on the back seat.)

6. You can only avoid mud for so long. Then, just enjoy the hike.

(But don't fall down in the mud ...)

Eavesdropping

Yes, it’s been a month since I last posted. I’ve been busy with my new iPhone – figuring out how everything works, checking out apps, and becoming addicted to playing games. I also bought a new car during spring break, and I’ve spent time becoming familiar with that as well. But now it’s time to get back to blogging!

In case you ever wonder what goes on inside our second grade classroom, here are a few actual discussions that have taken place during the past week.

• We had several indoor recess times because of rainy weather, and a group of boys was working together building an elaborate pattern block design. As they worked I heard: “We should make a movie of this and put it on YouTube.” “Yeah, we should make one of those movies that speeds it up and makes everything fast.” (time-lapse – I had previously shown them a time-lapse video of one of the Iditarod mushers getting all his supplies ready) “Yeah, if we put it on YouTube, we could get a lot of money for it.” “Wait, we should enter this in ArtPrize, like the guy who drew all the soldiers with pencils.” The boys had me take a picture of their creation and told me their plans. They asked if we could do a time-lapse video. I found a stop-motion app for my iPhone and figured out how to use it. So, check out YouTube in a couple weeks for some second grade time-lapse videos incorporating our geometry math unit!

• The following exchange took place on the bus to swimming lessons with two students sitting next to me: “Ms. Scott, we should get a big house with lots of floors to use for our school. Then we can sleep upstairs and have class downstairs.” “Yeah, like in the Madeline books.” (The second graders have been reading the Madeline books in music class as they learn some French songs.) “Well, who would take care of you after class?” “You would!" "Yeah, all the teachers could take care of the kids!” “But wouldn’t you miss your parents?” “They could visit us on weekends.” “We’d be together all the time!” O.K. - I'll be honest. I haven't pursued this idea like I did the stop-motion video. It's an interesting concept though. :)

• Friday morning was the British Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I had it streaming on our classroom screen when the kids came in at the beginning of the school day, waiting for the couple to appear on the balcony and the military flyover. Reactions from the boys and girls were quite different. “Oh, she’s so beautiful!” was the girls’ reaction. “Oh no, they’re going to kiss! Turn it off!” was heard from most of the boys.

Just a typical week in second grade!