Taking Time to Consider

It is always hard to jump back in to this blog because I feel the need to catch you up, dear readers, on all that has gone through my head since the last time I wrote. Because I am always blogging in my head, that is quite simply- IMPOSSIBLE. Maybe I will start with bits and bobs that have been floating around my mind lately.


As a side note, I googled "bits and bobs" to check out the definition and origin. Something I do often when writing which both enhances my writing and gets me stuck wandering around cyberspace in an endless chase of words. Any hoo- the definition is: A random assortment of things; small remaining pieces and things. Love it, especially the word remaining. In other words, after sifting through the endless stream of thoughts in my head, here's what stuck, what remains.


1. Yesterday as I was heading out the door for a walk, Elise asked if she could come. Usually I make an excuse because I really want the time to be alone with some music and the thoughts in my head. I always feel a twinge of guilt because I know the days of her begging to come with me, to do anything with me, are numbered. This day, I decided to embrace time together instead of being alone and I am glad I did. We walked hand-in-hand some of the time. I loved experiencing the world through her observations. She commented that it smelled like smoke so we breathed deeply and thought about what we could smell- plants and earth and maybe a barbecue grill or a fire pit. We decided that this smelled exactly like the beginning of summer. We listened to the sounds of the birds. I mean really listened. Actually heard the individual sounds. Appreciated the unique song of each bird. We commented on the houses as we passed them and what it might feel like to live there. As we walked, Elise commented, "I want a house with a gate because I am considering having a dog."  Love this girl. All the time but so intensely right there wrapped up in that word- considering. Such a grown up sounding word out of her eight-year-old mouth! I told her that I love the word consider and her response was- Yeah. What does it mean, exactly? Oh, the beauty of being young enough to use words without actually having a command of what they mean. I felt I would melt, right there on the asphalt, overcome by the simple beauty of the moment.

How often do we actually take time to consider anything these days?

con·sid·er
kənˈsidər/

verb

think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision.

synonyms:

think about, contemplate, reflect on, examine, review;


That's what I am going to do this summer. I am going to take time to CONSIDER things. I want to think about and reflect upon my first year back in the classroom. I want to examine what I did well and ways I can improve. I also want to take time to contemplate where I am, right here, right now as a mom of a sweet, still-young girl as well as a mom of a son about to take flight into the world.  

What will you think about, contemplate and reflect on during this GIFT we call summer?

Dina

PS. Funny, I started out making a list and got stuck on number one. Oh well, blog posts have a ind of their own sometimes.

Three is a Magic Number

Hmmm...third times the charm OR three strikes and you're out?  This is my third attempt to start a post.  THIS IS IT!  Whether it is a charm or a strike out.  I am not starting over.

I have been getting my house back together since guests left yesterday after being with us a little over two weeks.  Whew!  I wish I could quantify there trip for you.  Here are my best guesstimates:

16 days
10 people in the house
4 Mardi Gras parades
1 Mardi Gras ball
37 stuffed animals and 50 pounds of beads
2 trips to Bourbon street
1 trip to the outlet mall
Too many meals out
Not enough meals in
THOUSANDS of calories
Countless loads of laundry

My house has been buried under layers of decorations, beads, suitcases and such.  Slowly, finally order is once again emerging from the chaos.

My point in all of this is that I did NOT want to write tonight.  I mean, really did NOT!  As I was folding yet another load of laundry I thought about how I was dreading sitting down at the computer and using my brain to string even a few words together that would be worth reading.  Then I realized how my students feel.  Often they come to school tired, maybe not feeling great.  I get frustrated when they are not jumping up and down to do all the lessons I have planned.  There's the problem- the focus is on me, what I have planned, what I need to accomplish with them.  Sometimes, I have to remember that they are human beings with likes and dislikes as well as feelings.  Good days, bad days.  I need to be considerate about what I expect from them.  I need to encourage them and get the most out of them while being sensitive to each personality and situation.  Maybe this 31 day challenge will make me a better teacher.  Day two and already much good has come from pecking out  some thoughts on the keyboard...even when I don't feel like it.

Dina

PS.  For new readers, as you may now gather these "postcards" are no longer from the UK.  I started the blog when we moved there for a semester and have not been able to bring myself to change the title.  I am back in my hometown of New Orleans.

Rise and Shine

I have a board on Pinterest called Rise and Shine.  I use it to collect breakfast recipes.  I enjoy cooking.  I enjoy breakfast.  I don't necessarily enjoy the two together.  Although my board is called rise and SHINE, I am good at rising but the shining comes a little later.  After my coffee.  About an hour after the alarm has gone off.  By the time I begin to shine and ponder cooking breakfast for the family, it is easily brunch at best.

This morning, however, I was inspired to rise and shine a little more quickly than usual.  We have had friends visiting from out of town for two weeks.  Today was their last day with us.  One friend especially, loves bacon and I was determined to give him a warm, cheesy, bacony (should be a word, shouldn't it?) send off.  This casserole fit the bill.  It inspired me to decide I should try a different breakfast casserole every Sunday in March.  Two commitments in one day: 31 days of writing and 5 new breakfast casseroles.  Great start to the month!

Dina

PS.  I am excited to be joining the Slice of Life challenge this year.  Hope to share more about myself with fellow slice-of-lifers as the month unfolds.

Postcards from Our College Tour

Here I sit, finally home after more than two weeks on the road.  Funny...sounds like I have been touring with a band.  Anyway, my plan before I left was to write a "postcard" every day.  The thought of sharing experiences of our road trip reminded me of blogging in England.  I was really excited to have the opportunity again.  Then it happens.  You know, LIFE.  You start out fresh and organized but it is a short journey to worn out and disheveled.  And if I think back to the day of departure, I don't know about you but I rarely leave *fresh*.  More like exhausted from all the preparation.

I still want to share some of our experiences so I will give you some photo postcards and the thoughts that come to mind.  Here goes:

Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia

First stop:  Washington and Lee University.  W and L is a cozy school in a quaint town in the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley.  Everything about the school is manageable and the thought of sending my first born here makes my heart happy and at peace.  It feels like high school kicked up a notch.  It feels safe, like nothing bad could possibly happen here.  It is well-manicured and well-run.  It is small enough that for the most part, like the bar Cheers, "everyone knows your name".  What mom wouldn't be happy sending her baby into the world in such a gentle way.  Gentle reminds me of genteel which reminds me of the South and the tradition of gentlemen.  Both George Washington and Robert E. Lee were, if nothing else, the consummate Southern gentlemen.  This legacy is strongly felt in the Honor Code.  The W&L website explains it best: 

The Honor System is one of Washington and Lee University’s most important traditions and traces its roots to the mid-1840s at Washington College.  During Robert E. Lee’s presidency (1865-1870) the Honor System under which students live today took form.  Even more important, he did away with the former written rules and regulations and established one central idea: that each student "conduct himself as a gentleman."  As a result, today’s understanding of the Honor System has one central tenet, that breaches of the community’s trust will not be tolerated.  Trust, safety, student autonomy- just a few more reasons that W&L is such an unusual place.

A school that encourages my son to "conduct himself as a gentleman".  What's not to love?

More postcards to come,

Dina  

Sunday Morning Snapshot

Saw this on Pinterest this morning and thought it would make a fun, quick post to keep my writing going.

Found the idea here.

CURRENTLY I AM:

*Listening-  I am usually listening to Christian Rock as far as music goes but right now I am listening to my kids chatter on around me.

*Eating- I made homemade waffles this morning.  Yum!  It's amazing how quick and easy they are.  There is a recipe for waffles with sunflower seeds and since I am a total seed freak, I am going to try them next time.

*Drinking- I am enjoying a lovely cup of Hunan Gold tea that Mark made for me in my beautiful Crabtree and Evelyn Blue and White teapot.

*Wearing- I am still in my comfy, cozy pajamas- pants that have places from all around the world on them and a purple K&B t-shirt that Mark gave me for my birthday.  Only New Orleanians will get that reference.

*Feeling- Sad for my friend who lost a child.

*Weather- Gray like the sky is sad and tired.

*Wanting- to sit here all day.

*Needing- to take a shower and get ready for Mass.

*Thinking- about all the things I hope to do this summer.

*Enjoying- that I actually wrote another post.

Dina

Having my Cake and Eating it too

Well, hello there, stranger!  Long time, no see.  What's been keeping you away?  Oh right, I haven't been writing.  Well, it's time to remedy that.

This morning my husband and I were sitting on our usual perches, sipping tea and poking around the internet.  My husband commented that I seemed quite upbeat this morning and I immediately realized why:

Today is the day BEFORE my birthday!

Photo Credit 

There are several other reasons for the spring in my step today but tomorrow being my birthday is definitely the main one.  Other contributing factors are having exam week behind us.  Three high-schoolers with three different exam schedules plus a husband out of town and me substituting three days last week made for a crazy, hectic schedule.  Add two cherries on top: the start of swim practice AND dance recital rehearsals and you can see how fun last week was for our family.

Then we arrive at Monday morning.  A holiday.  The day before my birthday.  It doesn't get much better.

One of the cutest, cuddliest children's book characters- Kipper the Dog- posed this question:

"Which is best, I wonder, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?  

Presents or expecting presents?"

I vote for Christmas Eve.  Expecting presents.  Always.  No doubt.  Day BEFORE the birthday is better.  Once your birthday begins, you can feel it slipping through your fingers, knowing it won't come for another year.  Just like Christmas Day.

So here I am enjoying this fabulous day-before-my-birthday which happens to be the day AFTER the dance recital.  Always a glorious day.  Always a relief.  Combine that with it being a holiday and I am feeling downright giddy.

Here's one more secret to my lighthearted mood.  I LOVE the start of summer.  Putting the school year to rest and starting a new chapter.  It's even better to me than New Year's Day.  All the possibilities are there:  lists of books I'd like to read, crafts I'd like to do with the kids, outings and fun times all waiting to be enjoyed.

So here I sit, full of possibility and anticipation.  It's a great place to be and I just wanted to share it with you.

Happy today!

Happy tomorrow!

Dina  

Embracing the Messy Glory

Lately death has been intersecting my life- friends and acquaintances dealing with lives cut short,  terminal illness, tragedy.  It seems to come in batches, doesn't it.  Like death is a person and when he comes calling for anyone near us he hangs around for awhile casting a shadow on our days, our thoughts, weighing heavy on our hearts.

Last week I finished the book I was reading.  I love the feeling of finishing a book.  I love the sense of accomplishment but, more than anything, I love that the world of books is open again.  Hmmm...where will I go next, what adventure will I share?  In the library, I'm like a kid in a candy shop.  It's just too hard to decide when faced with the endless shelves of stories waiting to be read.  Finally I narrowed down the choices and went home with four books, including Each Little Bird That Sings by a new favorite author, Deborah Wiles.  I had no idea what the story was about.  

I was a little surprised when I realized the book is about a girl whose family runs a funeral home.  REALLY?  Was death looming that large over every aspect of my life?  Well, I thought, it may help me gain some insight.  It is a children's book, after all, so I knew the subject would be handled with care.  Maybe this could soothe my heart.

I love a book set in a small Southern town filled with quirky characters named funny names like Peach and Comfort.  I love a book that makes you cry when you least expect it.  I love a book that displays the heartbreaking beauty of life so vividly it takes your breath away.  This is just that kind of book and Deborah Wiles is that kind of author.  There is a forward that sets the stage when she reveals that this book was written out of her own personal experience of surviving a significant death, which makes me want to hug her even more.

The quote which sums up the book (without giving anything away in case you want to read it) is spoken by great-uncle Edisto who spent his life dealing with death:

Open your arms to life!  Let it strut into your heart 

in all it's messy glory!

When life seems so fragile and it appears that tragedy is lurking around ever corner, "It takes courage to look life in the eye and say yes to the messy glory".  In the end, a life lived without challenge, without tears, isn't living at all.

Thank you Deborah for using your pain to create a beautiful story that we all can share.  Thank you for reminding us of the messiness of life.  Thank you for reminding us to embrace it anyway.

Dina

PS.  Check out the SHOP tab at the top of the page to see this book and others by the author.