Learning is for Life, and Life is for Learning

How time flies...

For many, it's once again time to sit at a desk. It's time to share with others and be taught by another. Approaching another school year, we do so humbly. We lean into His grace one day at a time. As well as ask for grace, from teachers and principles, as we pull for activities outside the classroom, and work hard inside the classroom. We are excited about new friends, new knowledge, and new memories. We take each day as it comes, just as we take each year as it comes. 

As we approach school once again, we are pondering these articles as a family during dinner time. 

Jewish Literacy at PBS

Thought provoking, and an example for us all. Speaks to the power of early childhood education.

23 Signs You Might Be an Introvert 

Remembering, group settings can be tougher for some than others.

The Common Core from the NY Times by Charles M Blow

...Great teachers help to activate a small thing that breeds great minds: thirst.

Refugees in our Classrooms (at CNN)

How can we help those in our classrooms who are hard at work learning a new way of life?

Dear Jesus,

May we walk humbly into a new season, asking you to go with us and continually relying on your strength. May we bring peace into our classrooms and a helping hand. May we apply ourselves with diligence to the new knowledge you place before us, and may we use that knowledge to live your compassion and grace. Lord, sustain us, and guide us. Let us remember, oh Lord, "that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom" and knowledge. Let us persevere when the days are tough and let us listen well to those around us. Let us ponder deeply your world and your children, that we might live fully who you have created us to be. 

May we remember that school happens in moments when we are teachable, that all life is for learning, and that each family and child, is unique. May we not carry judgement into our classrooms or home school communities. May we lift burdens from others, and help to lighten their load in and through the participation of community. 

Above all Lord, may we make you Lord this year. You alone, are God. Forgive us when we make education, the arts, and the sciences our gods. Through these fields of study, may we see the beauty of your creation and handiwork. Help us, not to worship knowledge, but to worship you. For you alone, are the source of all knowledge, wisdom, and grace. 

Amen

Blessings to you this school year,

Kim

Water Birth

When you pass through the waters,  I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,  they will not sweep over you. ~ Isaiah 43:2

The water beckons me come. The memory of the womb, lies deep within. The water soothes me, gently lapping at lovely memories. The water and womb, a place where my chatter and chaos meets calm.

There are barriers to be crossed for sure. But, barriers, when crossed, birth us.

The water lapping against the piers, is just now, gentle. But some days the waves rage and the land disappears. There is only the wave, but it shall not consume. Though the barrier of the bar must be crossed, hold onto that wave. Ride it out. Ride it high. Trust. He who made the wave, will take you and I to shore. A shore in which we might hold our head up, and discover a new and distant land.

Ride the wave. Ride it high. 

~ Kim

Savoring Summer

Summer is in full swing around here and I'm struggling to find time to write. We found ourselves in Astoria last weekend and it was regatta weekend. The festivities kept us busy, but we managed to get over to explore Cape Disappointment. It did not disappoint!

Discovering the WA side at Cape Disappointment.

Your observations are to be taken with great pains and accuracy, to be entered distinctly, and intelligibly for others as well as yourself. ~ Thomas Jefferson

 

 

Looking for the light.

Life is a talent entrusted to us so that we can transform it and increase it, making it a gift to others. No person is an iceberg drifting on the ocean of history. Each one of us belongs to a great family, in which we each have our own place and our own role to play. ~ John Paul the Great

Celebrating the...

oldest maritime city, west of the Rockies...

and those who serve. 

To Wit, To Woo

Personally Responsible

I was grumpy today.

The black crow should have caused me pause.

Acted like a minion.

Despicable me.

Extending grace one day.

Blowing through it another.

Responsibly Personable

Boys don't want bodies.

Boys want brains.

They'll take your body, if it's what you offer.

All fluffed up, short and sassy.

They notice.

Boys want brains.

But like us, they crave connection - at any cost.

Be careful what you brandish, girl with brawn.

Develop your brain.

(Observations from a local college campus :-)

I am not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am. ~ John Newton

Summer Sunshine

There is this girl with the sun in her eyes and joy in her heart. She grows fast and it's a privilege to call her daughter. I am constantly amazed at the grace she exhibits, and the true generosity that pours out of her. I'm so blessed God has allowed her story in my life. 

For she writes with her heart: sometimes loudly, and sometimes quietly. Most of her stories, paper and pen will never do justice, and she writes these stories each and every day.

I watched one unfold this week, as the cusp of ten unfolded and opened in front of us.

She gave away gifts on her birthday, wanting to give, more than receive. She quietly and shyly approached others to hand out seagull birthday balls. A seagull birthday ball you ask? A bread roll stuffed with a super ball that you share with kids on the sand. The kids get to feed the seagulls a roll and keep the bouncy ball to play with later in the day.

The smiles of delight were a warmth spreading from faces to whole bodies, and whole families. People who have forgotten what generosity looks like, and spontaneity too, received grace and an infusion of warmth. The coastal clouds looming around their heads and hearts were chased away with the warmth of her sunshine. 

I'm so excited for her, because ten has been a big deal to her. She has been waiting to hit "double digits" for "forever". She filled her heart full of encouragement and love this week and hit ten living out loud with love in many locations.

She cherishes life. She lives life. She discovers life. She thinks thoughtfully about others and makes time for them. She gives generously and without finding fault.

 

She's reaching for the stars, to pull His heavenly light to earth for others. She's reaching for the stars, to put a little light up above.

If You Want to Change YOUR World, Pick Up Your Pen and Write

Around here this summer, we are working on living Martin Luther's words. Sister and brother both submitted essays to a local water park in an attempt to earn tickets for a wet adventure; they are quite sure it will change their world in good ways! 

Brother's essay fell short of the required 500 words, but we'll extend some grace. He's just eight, and writing is definitely not his favourite thing right now. His writing style is short, sweet, and to the point. Sister, however, had lots to say! While, she did not win the four tickets they offered, they were gracious and sent her two tickets for her effort. Way to go! 

The calm before the chaos!

One day, I woke up and got out of bed and fed the sea monkeys. Then I had breakfast. Around 8:00 a.m., we left to go to Evergreen's Waterpark. When we got there, I realized that I had put the sea monkeys in the car. I took them out of the car. Somehow, they got in the water park. Luckily, a life guard caught them for me.

P.S. I think they had fun. 

 ~ by Brother

Just wait, soon it will take off with kids!

Dear Evergreen Wings and Waves Park Board,

Here is my essay. I hope you enjoy reading it. I am nine years old. I'm going to be in fifth grade next year. I have been to your Wings and Waves Waterpark one time. It was really fun. I want to tell you what I liked about the H2O Museum, the Wings and Waves Waterpark, and how I think you could improve your Waterpark and Museum.

First, what's the best the best part of the Wings and Waves Waterpark? The slides! What's so great about the slides? There are so many of them, that's what! With a great variety of slides, you never know which one to choose. Should you take the yellow one, or the orange one? Maybe go on both? It's your decision! Another great place to have fun is the wave pool. With the great waves, it easily could be the funnest part of Wings and Waves. And the way the helicopter dumps water on the little kids area, it's just as much fun! I definitely like the water park as much, if not more than the museum!

Next, there are some things in the H2O Museum that I like. The vapor machine is really cool. It is so fun to get a cloud of fog right in your face. The water damming station is perfect for even the smallest child. The Mars Rovers are super fun to play with.

Finally, I think you have room for improvements. When I went to the H20 Museum your Mars Rovers quit working because there was a problem with the battery pack. Also, I never got to use the Mars Rovers because everyone wanted a turn. Evergreen should add another Mars Rover exhibit and also encourage time limits on this exhibit. In addition, the H2O Museum doesn't have many exhibits with water. I understand why you have the Mars Rovers because I know that NASA (National Air and Space Administration) is looking for water and life on Mars. Others may not know that though, so it would probably be a good idea to put up a sign by the Mars Rovers exhibit explaining that. An improvement you could make to the water park would be having a pool with fish that you can swim with. I hope you don't mind my giving you ideas for improvements.

Truly, the Wings and Waves Waterpark is a great place. I hope you enjoyed my essay about what I like at the water park, the museum, and also my suggestions for improvements. Thank you for all the fun attractions you've made, Evergreen Staff and Volunteers. I would like to share some verses with you: Genesis 1:6, “And God said, let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” Genesis 1:2b, “And the Spirit of the God was hovering over the waters.” Certainly, water is very important to life, and I think it's great, that you've created a really cool water park! 

~ Sister 

Eight Year Old Boys are Completely Incompatible with Introverts

Eight year old boys are totally incompatible with introverts, or most anyone, except other eight year old boys. I'm just saying. I can barely handle him this week. I have deemed his eight year old year all about yo-yo's, whistling, snapping one's fingers, and of course any other sound he can make with his body. Help me, please.

His father took him swimming the other night to blow off some energy and steam. Even he thought he was too loud! This from the man who was given a broken megaphone when he was about eight and guess what? He fixed it, and then of course, tormented his neighbourhood. See? Eight is all about noise, mayhem, and movement.

Just recently brother heard about the book series Walter the Farting Dog. Thanks, Young Explorers. I thought I was handing him something that would give me five minutes of peace and quiet while he perused the pages. NOPE.  He is now begging for Walter. ("Don't even think about it, Grandma!")

I dare say, if he got his hands on a copy, it just might surpass his favourite book of the past two years: John, Paul, George & Ben. Such a lovely book, that one. His favourite line? "Extra-large underwear!"  In the most unfavourable of conditions, without warning, and with no one understanding a lick of what he's talking about, he'll yell out that line. Like lightening on a stick it is: Heads snap around, brains fry, and hairs stand on end. I try to shush him as fast as I can, but it's never fast enough. He cracks up hysterically. The looks I get? They are the same as when one asks a woman when her due date is and oops, you realize she is NOT pregnant. YES, NOT. Eight year old boys put foot in mouth exponentially every day. The kicker? They enjoy ever moment of it - along with other eight year old boys.