Despite this busy week of coming and going, of being a wife and mother and teacher and mentor and friend and and and...
The Lord provided a few gifts of time. Just a few snippets of calm and quiet to gather my thoughts and rest my soul.
On Monday, I got up early and had some time in the Word before school.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
On Tuesday, I came home after school and took a nap while Calvin was at track practice. I was much nicer after a little sleep. I usually am.
On Thursday, I got to walk with a good friend, like a second mama to me, and catch up. It had been too long.
On Thursday evening, I dropped Calvin off at tutoring and then spent a quiet hour alone at the library with a big stack of books and a cup of coffee. Even the walk across the street was refreshing. I lingered and walked slowly, enjoying the usually warm breeze on the first evening of March.
God is good. He continually provides exactly what I need, exactly when I need it.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Friday, March 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Why this teacher would be bad at homeschooling.
Caroyln, this blog post is for you.
I don't know how you do it day in and day out, all day, every subject, every day.
Because I have a confession to make: I hate homework.
When we first started this whole process of becoming Calvin's parents, we asked him about some things he hoped would change when he moved in with us. One of the things he said was that he wanted someone to push him in his schoolwork, because he knew he was smarter than his grades were showing, but he realized he was incredibly unmotivated. He had never been pushed. Patrick and I, being the nerds we are, basically high-fived one another and said, "Done." This we could do.
We love school. We love learning. We love reading. I told you we are nerds. We make no excuses about that.
And so we started homework time every night. After dinner at the kitchen table or at Starbucks on occasion if Mom is needing a little motivation to get through Algebra 1 Part 2.
I will confess to you that this is a tedious process. Calvin had been behind on turning in work, since he wasn't really motivated to get homework done or study for tests, living where he was before, and therefore his grades were all over the place. But as we started catching up and his grades started to rise, he became more and more motivated and confident in his ability to "do school." Which is great! But also incredibly time consuming! He has had to go back and relearn things he blew through before and didn't really grasp. Which means that Patrick and I are working through it with him and learning right along side as we call things out and supervise practice quizzes. We've become Master Googlers at looking up what we don't know.
Right now we are studying:
-History of Rome: Think Augustus, Nero, Paul and Peter and the spread of Christianity, Pax Romana, and the fall of the empire (Ancient World History)
-Amino Acid Sequencing and DNA (Biology)
-Bass Mass Composition and healthy lifestyle choices (Health 10)
-Multiplying and Dividing Monomials (Algebra 1 Part 2)
-Research Paper Writing on Career Exploration (English 11)
-Website Building and Photograph Editing (Photography)
All good things to know! But I will confess to you that some nights it is just too much. Some nights it's tedious. Some nights we prioritize and pick two. Some nights it's like pulling teeth. I'm trying to "practice what I preach" to all my 9th grade parents but I'm seeing it from the other side now. This homework thing is hard. On all of us.
But here is the light: Our work is paying off. Grades are coming up! And we are finally getting caught up so there is less and less "extra" to have to do each night. Our boy is becoming a student.
And thank goodness. Because the OCD student in me is starting to get a little stressed out. I have found myself biting my nails to keep from taking the pencil from his hand and doing it for him! It was all I could do not to seize the keyboard and fix all the grammatical errors in his research paper! He did let me color in the lines on his bar graph the other night and it was enough to get my fix. I pulled up his grades yesterday and saw the A he made on the biology lab we redid the other night and almost cheered out loud, "We got an A!"
I promise I'm letting him do his own work. I promise I'm trying my very, very hardest not to be a helicopter parent when it comes to school work. I'm trying to make myself available if he needs help and be a motivater, but not put too much pressure on him.
This is difficult, people! It is a hard balance to find.
I don't know how you do it day in and day out, all day, every subject, every day.
Because I have a confession to make: I hate homework.
When we first started this whole process of becoming Calvin's parents, we asked him about some things he hoped would change when he moved in with us. One of the things he said was that he wanted someone to push him in his schoolwork, because he knew he was smarter than his grades were showing, but he realized he was incredibly unmotivated. He had never been pushed. Patrick and I, being the nerds we are, basically high-fived one another and said, "Done." This we could do.
We love school. We love learning. We love reading. I told you we are nerds. We make no excuses about that.
And so we started homework time every night. After dinner at the kitchen table or at Starbucks on occasion if Mom is needing a little motivation to get through Algebra 1 Part 2.
I will confess to you that this is a tedious process. Calvin had been behind on turning in work, since he wasn't really motivated to get homework done or study for tests, living where he was before, and therefore his grades were all over the place. But as we started catching up and his grades started to rise, he became more and more motivated and confident in his ability to "do school." Which is great! But also incredibly time consuming! He has had to go back and relearn things he blew through before and didn't really grasp. Which means that Patrick and I are working through it with him and learning right along side as we call things out and supervise practice quizzes. We've become Master Googlers at looking up what we don't know.
Right now we are studying:
-History of Rome: Think Augustus, Nero, Paul and Peter and the spread of Christianity, Pax Romana, and the fall of the empire (Ancient World History)
-Amino Acid Sequencing and DNA (Biology)
-Bass Mass Composition and healthy lifestyle choices (Health 10)
-Multiplying and Dividing Monomials (Algebra 1 Part 2)
-Research Paper Writing on Career Exploration (English 11)
-Website Building and Photograph Editing (Photography)
All good things to know! But I will confess to you that some nights it is just too much. Some nights it's tedious. Some nights we prioritize and pick two. Some nights it's like pulling teeth. I'm trying to "practice what I preach" to all my 9th grade parents but I'm seeing it from the other side now. This homework thing is hard. On all of us.
But here is the light: Our work is paying off. Grades are coming up! And we are finally getting caught up so there is less and less "extra" to have to do each night. Our boy is becoming a student.
And thank goodness. Because the OCD student in me is starting to get a little stressed out. I have found myself biting my nails to keep from taking the pencil from his hand and doing it for him! It was all I could do not to seize the keyboard and fix all the grammatical errors in his research paper! He did let me color in the lines on his bar graph the other night and it was enough to get my fix. I pulled up his grades yesterday and saw the A he made on the biology lab we redid the other night and almost cheered out loud, "We got an A!"
I promise I'm letting him do his own work. I promise I'm trying my very, very hardest not to be a helicopter parent when it comes to school work. I'm trying to make myself available if he needs help and be a motivater, but not put too much pressure on him.
This is difficult, people! It is a hard balance to find.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Happy Friday! And Some Random Things.
It's the end of this short, but somehow long week! We had a much-needed and restful snow day on Monday.. The weather is doing some crazy things. A snowday on Monday and then sleeping with the windows open on Thursday night?
But oh how I love Friday. Today is a good one.
I took a half day today at school. I have a doctor's appointment (just a physical, no biggie...) at 1:00 and I decided to go ahead and take the half day and meet my best friend for lunch! Yay for being out and about in the real world. This never happens at 1:00 on a school day for me! I feel like such a rebel
We moved Calvin's room upstairs this week because apparently we sound like elephants walking around upstais while he is trying to go to sleep at night. Our boy has not been sleeping really well. Transition can be hard. But, praise the Lord, last night was Night One in his new room and he said he slept better than he has in weeks! Pray for him that this keeps up. And in the meantime, enjoy this picture of the new orange bedroom in our house! This picture was taken before we finished moving all of his things upstairs. It looks a little more settled and homely in there now.
Have you tried this stuff? I have been bringing it for my lunch everyday in my efforts to decrease my caffeine intake. I have limited myself to one cup of coffee a day, which is HARD. I love my coffee. And I've been trying not to drink sodas. The carbonation in this satisfies my need for soda, but allows me to get more water in. It's the new love of my life. So far, I've tried lime, grapefruit, and lemon. I think lemon is my favorite.
I broke down and used the last of my birthday money to buy myself a Kitchenaid mixer. Is it bad that I just love how it looks sitting on the counter? Yes, I just admitted that. I made cookies last night and used it for mashed potatoes last week. I want to try using it to make some bread. Any good recipes out there? I would love to have them!
My student teacher is doing an amazing job at school. I almost don't know what to do with myself while she is teaching and grading. She has really connected with the kids and given me some great creative ideas for future years as well! She has been a very welcome blessing to me at this transitional time in our life. It has really helped to share the workload and have someone so capable running things in my classroom.
I saw these necklaces on this blog today and I love them! So cute. And what a sweet idea for a gift!
Ok, those are all of my random thoughts for today! Hope that you have a fun-filled and relaxing weekend! Bring it on!
But oh how I love Friday. Today is a good one.
I took a half day today at school. I have a doctor's appointment (just a physical, no biggie...) at 1:00 and I decided to go ahead and take the half day and meet my best friend for lunch! Yay for being out and about in the real world. This never happens at 1:00 on a school day for me! I feel like such a rebel
We moved Calvin's room upstairs this week because apparently we sound like elephants walking around upstais while he is trying to go to sleep at night. Our boy has not been sleeping really well. Transition can be hard. But, praise the Lord, last night was Night One in his new room and he said he slept better than he has in weeks! Pray for him that this keeps up. And in the meantime, enjoy this picture of the new orange bedroom in our house! This picture was taken before we finished moving all of his things upstairs. It looks a little more settled and homely in there now.
Have you tried this stuff? I have been bringing it for my lunch everyday in my efforts to decrease my caffeine intake. I have limited myself to one cup of coffee a day, which is HARD. I love my coffee. And I've been trying not to drink sodas. The carbonation in this satisfies my need for soda, but allows me to get more water in. It's the new love of my life. So far, I've tried lime, grapefruit, and lemon. I think lemon is my favorite.
I broke down and used the last of my birthday money to buy myself a Kitchenaid mixer. Is it bad that I just love how it looks sitting on the counter? Yes, I just admitted that. I made cookies last night and used it for mashed potatoes last week. I want to try using it to make some bread. Any good recipes out there? I would love to have them!
My student teacher is doing an amazing job at school. I almost don't know what to do with myself while she is teaching and grading. She has really connected with the kids and given me some great creative ideas for future years as well! She has been a very welcome blessing to me at this transitional time in our life. It has really helped to share the workload and have someone so capable running things in my classroom.
I saw these necklaces on this blog today and I love them! So cute. And what a sweet idea for a gift!
Ok, those are all of my random thoughts for today! Hope that you have a fun-filled and relaxing weekend! Bring it on!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentines Day Our Way
Well, in the true spirit of love and Valentines, I went to the dentist today.
To get a cavity filled.
I was really feeling the love when he jammed a couple extra cardboard pieces into my cheek and proceeded to drill with abandon.
Calvin came with me.
He fell asleep in the waiting room.
And then laughed at me profusely all the way home for the way my face drooped.
It was quite a moment.
Then I made pasta and we watched Cake Boss and Sons of Guns.
We ate on TV trays.
Patrick worked late.
We took advantage of a sweet Buy One Get One Free hot chocolate deal and math homework at Starbucks.
Skim milk and light whip.
(This maybe explains the need for said dentist trip? Let's not think about that.)
Finally, we ended the day hanging out with good friends in their basement watching our favorite TV show.
I realize this is not most people's idea of a great Valentines Day.
HOWEVER,
we were all in good moods all day long.
Which means my son was being his very most pleasant self all day.
I did not get frustrated even once.
This, my friends, constitutes our best day thus far.
And that is worth celebrating!
I will also say that even the cavity filling did not hurt!
(Thank you Novacane.)
Dinner was delicious.
I even enjoyed Sons of Guns!
So, Happy Valentines Day from the Herndons,
who actually do not even celebrate Valentines Day.
But we do celebrate the best days.
And today was one of those.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The End of the Beginning
We are almost there.
On Wednesday of this week, we will officially become foster parents to a 16 year old boy.
And then the countdown really begins.
Because in one year, we will begin the process of adopting this boy as our very own.
We didn't know when we began this process where this would lead. We couldn't even get our heads around this whole idea. We didn't know that God would forge this path or lead us down this road. We thought we were just doing a good thing. Patrick laughed and said that I had finally found a way to bring one of my students home with me. We joked about gym socks and dating and drivers' licenses.
And then he asked if he could call us Mom and Dad, and we sat up a little straighter.
And then there is school. Because we are there all day together, you know. It's sort of like being a stay at home mom but not really. It began with checking in before football practice and then overnight it seemed I was elected Wrestling Booster Club Secretary (what?). Countless rice krispy treats later and a friend of his is leaning over to me during our in-class reading of Romeo and Juliet whispering, "Mrs. Herndon, are you adopting Calvin?" I pause because no one had just put it out there like that yet. "That is so cool," he whispers as I nod my head, very slowly. Is it ok to tell people that? Is that the word he's using when he tells his friends--adopting? Is that what we're doing?
And finally the day and the question that we all knew was coming. "So when Mrs. Herndon becomes your mom are you going to change your name?" He was afraid to say yes in front of me because we had not discussed this. I could tell this was not how he wanted it to come up, but then there it was, out on the table. And that is how the conversation began.
And so in March we will go to court and change his foster care plan from "Independent Living" to "Adoption." The process will take about a year. Everything needs to be established. Birth certificates will change. Rights will have to be terminated. The water will have to get a little muddier.
But the most interesting part is to watch those around us as we go through this process. So many people simply do not know what to do with it. Babies, people get. When someone announces a pregnancy we know how to respond; we know the right questions to ask: when are you due? what will the name be? are you so excited?! We know to throw a baby shower and bring a gift and say "aww" over sonogram pictures. But when it's messy? When it's a teenager? When the "due date" is a "move in date" and the child cannot look you in the eye or make cute noises or may be little scarred from the wreckage of life and the sin of others? What do you say? "Are you so excited?!" just doesn't seem to fit.
And that is ok. This is a weird way to have your first child. We realize that. And it's ok if you think so too. We know.
And we don't really know what to say either.
Except that we ARE incredibly excited.
And we so thankful to those around us who are excited with us and praying for us. We are grateful for a family who has loved our boy like he's always been there. Who come to wrestling matches and give him silly nicknames and Christmas and birthday presents. For generous friends who throw you a "shower in a card" from far away and give you Lowe's gift certificates so you can put a closet door in his room. For Scott and Krista who handmade a game of cornhole that we can play as a family. A pastor who checks in frequently and has already made a connection with our boy. Guidance counselors and co-workers and our school secretary who asks faithfully every week, "Are you a Mama yet?!"
I am a bit overwhelmed by it all. I'm still processing what it all means. Still getting used to this whole idea. So bear with me a little bit.
Wednesday is coming. We are ready.
And we are so thankful.
On Wednesday of this week, we will officially become foster parents to a 16 year old boy.
And then the countdown really begins.
Because in one year, we will begin the process of adopting this boy as our very own.
We didn't know when we began this process where this would lead. We couldn't even get our heads around this whole idea. We didn't know that God would forge this path or lead us down this road. We thought we were just doing a good thing. Patrick laughed and said that I had finally found a way to bring one of my students home with me. We joked about gym socks and dating and drivers' licenses.
And then he asked if he could call us Mom and Dad, and we sat up a little straighter.
And then there is school. Because we are there all day together, you know. It's sort of like being a stay at home mom but not really. It began with checking in before football practice and then overnight it seemed I was elected Wrestling Booster Club Secretary (what?). Countless rice krispy treats later and a friend of his is leaning over to me during our in-class reading of Romeo and Juliet whispering, "Mrs. Herndon, are you adopting Calvin?" I pause because no one had just put it out there like that yet. "That is so cool," he whispers as I nod my head, very slowly. Is it ok to tell people that? Is that the word he's using when he tells his friends--adopting? Is that what we're doing?
And finally the day and the question that we all knew was coming. "So when Mrs. Herndon becomes your mom are you going to change your name?" He was afraid to say yes in front of me because we had not discussed this. I could tell this was not how he wanted it to come up, but then there it was, out on the table. And that is how the conversation began.
And so in March we will go to court and change his foster care plan from "Independent Living" to "Adoption." The process will take about a year. Everything needs to be established. Birth certificates will change. Rights will have to be terminated. The water will have to get a little muddier.
But the most interesting part is to watch those around us as we go through this process. So many people simply do not know what to do with it. Babies, people get. When someone announces a pregnancy we know how to respond; we know the right questions to ask: when are you due? what will the name be? are you so excited?! We know to throw a baby shower and bring a gift and say "aww" over sonogram pictures. But when it's messy? When it's a teenager? When the "due date" is a "move in date" and the child cannot look you in the eye or make cute noises or may be little scarred from the wreckage of life and the sin of others? What do you say? "Are you so excited?!" just doesn't seem to fit.
And that is ok. This is a weird way to have your first child. We realize that. And it's ok if you think so too. We know.
And we don't really know what to say either.
Except that we ARE incredibly excited.
And we so thankful to those around us who are excited with us and praying for us. We are grateful for a family who has loved our boy like he's always been there. Who come to wrestling matches and give him silly nicknames and Christmas and birthday presents. For generous friends who throw you a "shower in a card" from far away and give you Lowe's gift certificates so you can put a closet door in his room. For Scott and Krista who handmade a game of cornhole that we can play as a family. A pastor who checks in frequently and has already made a connection with our boy. Guidance counselors and co-workers and our school secretary who asks faithfully every week, "Are you a Mama yet?!"
I am a bit overwhelmed by it all. I'm still processing what it all means. Still getting used to this whole idea. So bear with me a little bit.
Wednesday is coming. We are ready.
And we are so thankful.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Monday Opportunities
Some day I will get my act together and participate in the Hello Monday link up that Lisa does, pictures and all. I love her blog and I love for enthusiasm for Monday and starting a new, fresh week. I am not often prone to take that perspective. But I did take a few minutes today to comtemplate my week and think about it in terms of "opportunities" and blessings, rather than the dreary, weekend-is-ending-how-will-I-function outlook I so often fall into.
Here are some things I'm looking forward to this week:
Here are some things I'm looking forward to this week:
- Finally catching up on grading, made a little better in my favorite spot at the coffee shop {I keep looking forward to finally not feeling like I'm drowning!}
- Enjoying having my student teacher slowly take some leadership in my classroom
- Family couseling session on Wednesday to help us all transition to this new adventure
- Coffee date with a fellow teacher and foster parent {Looking forward to gathering some wisdom and encouragement}
- Teacher Work Day on Friday! {I'm looking forward to closing my door and tackling the To Do List}
- A quiet and low-key weekend on the horizon {husband on a business trip and son at a wrestling tournament}
- Celebrating my sweet grandmother's 80th birthday and the blessing she is to our family!
What opportunities do you have on the schedule this week?
Happy Monday!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Five Things Friday: The Christmas Money
Happy Friday! It's been a couple weeks since I've done a Five Things post, and in the meantime, we've had Christmas! So I thought I'd take today to show you Five Things that I've been excited to purchase with my Christmas money. Patrick usually gives me money for Christmas, which I know is not all that exciting to those of you who like having some substantial to open on the Big Day. But not me. I love having some play money. I love spending the next few weeks carefully planning out what I would like to purchase and I love having the freedom to just go to the mall or browse online and actually buy something if I want it! (Instead of the "window shopping" I usually do.) It's a luxury. Here's how it's gone so far:
I've been wanting a cast iron dutch oven in a bright fun color, so I finally got one! It's Lodge and the color is Island Spice. It just arrived in the mail yesterday and I'm excited to try out. In the meantime, it looks very pretty just sitting on my stove.
I've been needing some new running shoes and what great motivation to kick off my resolution!
I bought this yellow and cream striped cardigan at Target. I love having a little extra spending money when I go to Target so I can make a fun purchase with no guilt. I love this cardigan! It's a great length and it's super comfy and cute. I have already worn it a ton.
So I've used about half of it so far. I also have some birthday money to put with it to make it go a little further. I've considered using the last of it to buy one of these:
That, or splurge and buy a really awesome pair of shoes. I <3 shoes.
Just dreaming a little a bit.
Happy Friday!
I am looking forward to a 3-day weekend! How about you?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Resolution #1 - Read Through the Bible
So I'm already 10 days behind on my resolutions for the new year. What can I say? That seems to be the Story of My Life these days. But I did make some moves in the right direction today. I know my list-making, OCD self, and I knew that if I wanted to read through the entire Bible I would need a plan. Something I could actually stick to so that I would not vere from the course so easily.
I tried reading through the Bible in 90 Days. It was too much. I couldn't keep up with it, and then I felt like I was drowning and always playing catch up, and I felt overwhelmed, so I did what I always do when I feel overwhelmed, which is to crumble under the pressure and just give up.
And then I tried reading along with the calendar our church puts out, which was great. In fact it is stuck in my Bible and is my go-to in the mornings right now. But I just picked it up one day in the middle of the year and started doing it, and it bothered me that I hadn't started at the beginning. I want to start at the beginning and finish at the end.
And then I came across this post which was filled with numerous options and plans! So resourceful!
I chose the chronological plan because I thought it would really help me to read things in context of the time period.
So I'm ten days behind but I am starting this afternoon. It's a couple of chapters a day, so I think it is very doable.
And with that being said I am adding these two things to my list of resolutions for the year:
I tried reading through the Bible in 90 Days. It was too much. I couldn't keep up with it, and then I felt like I was drowning and always playing catch up, and I felt overwhelmed, so I did what I always do when I feel overwhelmed, which is to crumble under the pressure and just give up.
And then I tried reading along with the calendar our church puts out, which was great. In fact it is stuck in my Bible and is my go-to in the mornings right now. But I just picked it up one day in the middle of the year and started doing it, and it bothered me that I hadn't started at the beginning. I want to start at the beginning and finish at the end.
And then I came across this post which was filled with numerous options and plans! So resourceful!
I chose the chronological plan because I thought it would really help me to read things in context of the time period.
So I'm ten days behind but I am starting this afternoon. It's a couple of chapters a day, so I think it is very doable.
And with that being said I am adding these two things to my list of resolutions for the year:
Friday, January 6, 2012
Dear People Who Hate Teenagers and Think They Are Only Trouble,
I am here to tell you that I have living proof that
despite their moodiness
despite their hormonal craziness
despite their sometimes (most times) serious lack of motivation
they are capable of love.
They have the capacity to be grateful and actually make you feel pretty darn special.
I used to take the day off on my birthday to have a whole day just to myself. But I'll tell you what. Spending the day with these students whom I have spent the whole first semester growing to love was a present in and of itself today. I love my job.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy New Year!
Still working on pictures from the holidays.... Maybe that should be a New Years Resolution? Procrastination is really an art form, and I have worked long and hard to perfect it. In the meantime I wanted to tell you Happy New Year!
Edie had the most fantastic post on Resolutions. I loved it. And I totally agreed. Up until reading her post I had not made any resolutions, but she convinced me. So here they are! A new start and some new year goals. And whether I accomplish them or not is not the issue. It's the blank slate and the hoping and planning and allowing yourself to dream just a little bit. I didn't get too ambitious so maybe things will work out this year.
Edie had the most fantastic post on Resolutions. I loved it. And I totally agreed. Up until reading her post I had not made any resolutions, but she convinced me. So here they are! A new start and some new year goals. And whether I accomplish them or not is not the issue. It's the blank slate and the hoping and planning and allowing yourself to dream just a little bit. I didn't get too ambitious so maybe things will work out this year.
Happy New Year everyone!
May 2012 be the year where you meet the Lord in fresh and new ways.
May your faith increase and your love multiply.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Ahhh.
I promise to post some Christmas pictures soon.
But we left the camera at the in-laws and haven't drummed up the energy to go get it yet.
We have been being lazy.
And being Merry.
And being lazy some more.
I finally grabbed a free minute to give myself a Christmas manicure.
My son may or may not have fallen asleep right on the hardwood floor today from complete exhaustion after what I am referring to as Christmas Explosion Weekend.
I may or may not have just left all the wrapping paper strewn about right in the middle of the living room for an entire day and a half.
I finally found time to actually start reading Harry Potter. Yes, I'm a little behind The Rest of the World.
I was actually relieved to have grapefruit and oatmeal for breakfast this morning after the last few days of what I am referring to as Extreme Christmas Sugar Explosion.
We are snuggled up together on couches, watching lots of good movies, surrounded by good books and copious amounts of free time, napping spontaneously.
I think it is safe to assume we are perfectly happy enjoying The Post Christmas Glow.
We hope you are too!
But we left the camera at the in-laws and haven't drummed up the energy to go get it yet.
We have been being lazy.
And being Merry.
And being lazy some more.
I finally grabbed a free minute to give myself a Christmas manicure.
My son may or may not have fallen asleep right on the hardwood floor today from complete exhaustion after what I am referring to as Christmas Explosion Weekend.
I may or may not have just left all the wrapping paper strewn about right in the middle of the living room for an entire day and a half.
I finally found time to actually start reading Harry Potter. Yes, I'm a little behind The Rest of the World.
I was actually relieved to have grapefruit and oatmeal for breakfast this morning after the last few days of what I am referring to as Extreme Christmas Sugar Explosion.
We are snuggled up together on couches, watching lots of good movies, surrounded by good books and copious amounts of free time, napping spontaneously.
I think it is safe to assume we are perfectly happy enjoying The Post Christmas Glow.
We hope you are too!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
And Stop.
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
Exodus 33:14
What a week this has been. It has been a week where the To Do List was longer than the hours in the days allowed. We have our first of three home study visits tomorrow. Tomorrow. That would be three days before Christmas if anyone is counting. As if the Christmas To Dos weren't enough, add to that the panic of someone coming to your home with the sole intent of judging you on it. I mean, aren't we always secretly afraid that guests are doing that anyway? Hello, stress. Hello, fighting back the good enoughs and big enoughs and clean enoughs. I have cleaned and organized, taken bags to the Goodwill, rearranged, cleaned some more, stored some things in my parents basement, and, oh, cleaned and organized a few more times.
But somehow God has made a way.
He provided just enough hours in the day.
He blessed me with an encouraging husband who reminded me each day that the love in our home in what they are actually judging us on. And we have plenty of that.
He gracefully and quietly led me to this post. Oh, how I have clung to those words today.
He brought forth kinds words from friends who gently let me know they were praying.
He provided a break in the midst of the chaos for Christmas shopping and quality long-lost time with good, good college friends in town for the holidays. Just what I needed.
He answered my prayer of desperation to help me get up on time this morning by causing the button on my alarm clock to get stuck. Literally. I'm not joking! My Father has a great sense of humor.
And in the craze of cleaning and organizing like there is no tomorrow, He gently reminded me of the purpose behind it all when I answered the phone tonight to hear, "Hi, Mama. I'm bored. I miss you."
So now, with a clean house, tired feet, and a happy heart, I am satisfied to stop, rest, and trust in Him. Though the To Dos have pushed out time that I would have loved to have spent in quiet stillness reflecting on this season, God has chosen to teach me in another way over the last few weeks by quietly and compassionately meeting every need. Just when I think I can't do any more or give any more or go any more, He has provided just what I needed. Isn't that just what this season is about? Remembering that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” And that "at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Christ humbly came in weakness as a baby to ultimately make our weakness perfect in his strength. What powerful truth for ears that so desperately needed to hear it and a heart that so desperately needed to learn it.
Here's to Christmas Weekend of finally stopping, finally resting, and learning to trust in the Lord's perfect ways.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Taking Back My Kitchen
Life has been a little crazy. Have I mentioned that? Oh, three or four times? Sorry. I tend to repeat myself these days; mostly because I can't remember who I said what to when. We've been a little bit busy.
But this is the week. Not because it's Christmas Week. But really sort of because this is the first time in about, oh, three or four months that I haven't had a standing appointment, practice, game, training class, Bible study, or school event every single night of the week. This week, the busiest holiday week of the year, ironically, we are home every night! So I'm using the time to get my house in order and take back my kitchen. I've declared it - no eating out this week (except for that one night when my college roomie will be in town all the way from Texas!). No take out chinese food. No chik-fil-a.
Yesterday after school I made WHO Bread in my new-to-me breadmaker. It made for some yummy toast this morning.
And we actually had dinner. At the table! Woo-hoo!
Tonight I'm making soup for dinner, which will last for a couple lunches too.
I may even make a batch of Shannon's granola just because. I'm just crazy like that. (Shannon, do you know that I still make your granola? I think about you every time!),
And finally, on Friday, I'll be preparing for our annual Christmas Eve Breakfast at my house. A tradition I love and that I took over for my grandmother a couple years ago. I feel very honored that everyone piles up in our house to kick off the Christmas celebration. I love the different spirit that is in the air on that morning. The chill that waves through the air as people come in the door. The coffee brewing, Christmas music in the background, the smell of cinnamon buns, and a lit up Christmas tree at 9:30 a.m. It makes my heart oh so happy. This year I'm making Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Buns and my grandmother's Sausage and Egg Casserole.
Bring on the Holidays! I may not be ready yet, but my kitchen sure is.
But this is the week. Not because it's Christmas Week. But really sort of because this is the first time in about, oh, three or four months that I haven't had a standing appointment, practice, game, training class, Bible study, or school event every single night of the week. This week, the busiest holiday week of the year, ironically, we are home every night! So I'm using the time to get my house in order and take back my kitchen. I've declared it - no eating out this week (except for that one night when my college roomie will be in town all the way from Texas!). No take out chinese food. No chik-fil-a.
Yesterday after school I made WHO Bread in my new-to-me breadmaker. It made for some yummy toast this morning.
And we actually had dinner. At the table! Woo-hoo!
Tonight I'm making soup for dinner, which will last for a couple lunches too.
I may even make a batch of Shannon's granola just because. I'm just crazy like that. (Shannon, do you know that I still make your granola? I think about you every time!),
And finally, on Friday, I'll be preparing for our annual Christmas Eve Breakfast at my house. A tradition I love and that I took over for my grandmother a couple years ago. I feel very honored that everyone piles up in our house to kick off the Christmas celebration. I love the different spirit that is in the air on that morning. The chill that waves through the air as people come in the door. The coffee brewing, Christmas music in the background, the smell of cinnamon buns, and a lit up Christmas tree at 9:30 a.m. It makes my heart oh so happy. This year I'm making Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Buns and my grandmother's Sausage and Egg Casserole.
Bring on the Holidays! I may not be ready yet, but my kitchen sure is.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Watching and Learning
Since I'm embarking on this great adventure of becoming Mama to teenage boy, I have been watching more closely. I teach teenage boys all day long you know, and I have found myself becoming more observant in my own classroom of just how do those crazy little volitile minds work. Some of it I knew, but have never had to make application. Some of it just plain out right baffles me. Teenage girls I get. Obviously I have my own experience to draw from there, plus the countless hours I have put in in ministry to this population. And coaching cheerleading helps a little on that front. But boys. Boys are all new to me. And so I find myself fascinated trying to soak it all in.
For instance, I engaged a boy in my 4th period class in conversation for approximately 10 whole minutes before class started on his skin care routine (we did do some grammar that day as well, before you think we wasted the entire class...). But he was in a craze about one small little pimple that just had to go before the big important night where he would be seeing some girl. He wanted to know, "What should I do, Mrs. Herndon?" Walk through it with me, I said. "Clearsil this. Neutrogena, that...But is it going to go away in time?" Oh, the drama.
Last Friday I gave the assignment to, over the weekend, write about what you did using so many action verbs, so many adjectives, etc. At first I was just mindlessly reading and grading these papers, but then my mind started to hang on some of them. This was a window into their home lives. I was drawn to my seemingly most happy, most successful students who I know have good relationships with their parents. What were their lives like outside of school? What do they do with their time? It was actually very plain and simple. There was talk of eating dinner with their family, watching movies, going to get a Christmas tree, working on some homework, having a few friends over. It was a very sharp contrast to students I have whose lives are on the fringe. A sense of normalcy and just wanting and liking being home with their parents was such a desireable thing.
And then there are wrestling matches. I'm becoming quite the pro at this whole Team Mom thing you know. And each week I am baffled that this boy wants to sit with me in front of all of his friends. Chooses to ride home with us instead of riding the bus with all of his friends. I look around and see the other boys with parents there doing the same thing. Sitting with Mom. Sitting with Dad. There is another student on the wrestling team whose parents are MIA. Last night he turned around to me and said, "Did you get to see my match?" "No I missed it!" I said. And he proceeded to tell me about it play by play. And when that wasn't good enough, he found someone who had videoed it. "You gotta watch!" And so we sat side by side and he showed me, play by play, pausing and rewinding, until I was completely up to speed.
I guess it is not all that surprising a discovery to make. And yet it makes this job of parenting hold even more weight than we ever imagined because it does not decrease or diminish with the age of the child like some tend to think. I will be honest and say that I was a little afraid. I feared that starting with a teenager and not a baby was not going to fulfill this mothering heart that God has put in me because really, how much would a teenage boy actually want a mom anyway? But it's only been a few short weeks - for goodness sake we are not even the "official" parents yet! - and already I'm seeing it. I'm learning it.
And so just when I think I have made my adult self too available, just when I think I have not been "cool enough," just when I think I have crossed the line and am going to completely embarass these boys by actually paying attention to them, I have learned that this is exactly what they want.
For instance, I engaged a boy in my 4th period class in conversation for approximately 10 whole minutes before class started on his skin care routine (we did do some grammar that day as well, before you think we wasted the entire class...). But he was in a craze about one small little pimple that just had to go before the big important night where he would be seeing some girl. He wanted to know, "What should I do, Mrs. Herndon?" Walk through it with me, I said. "Clearsil this. Neutrogena, that...But is it going to go away in time?" Oh, the drama.
Last Friday I gave the assignment to, over the weekend, write about what you did using so many action verbs, so many adjectives, etc. At first I was just mindlessly reading and grading these papers, but then my mind started to hang on some of them. This was a window into their home lives. I was drawn to my seemingly most happy, most successful students who I know have good relationships with their parents. What were their lives like outside of school? What do they do with their time? It was actually very plain and simple. There was talk of eating dinner with their family, watching movies, going to get a Christmas tree, working on some homework, having a few friends over. It was a very sharp contrast to students I have whose lives are on the fringe. A sense of normalcy and just wanting and liking being home with their parents was such a desireable thing.
And then there are wrestling matches. I'm becoming quite the pro at this whole Team Mom thing you know. And each week I am baffled that this boy wants to sit with me in front of all of his friends. Chooses to ride home with us instead of riding the bus with all of his friends. I look around and see the other boys with parents there doing the same thing. Sitting with Mom. Sitting with Dad. There is another student on the wrestling team whose parents are MIA. Last night he turned around to me and said, "Did you get to see my match?" "No I missed it!" I said. And he proceeded to tell me about it play by play. And when that wasn't good enough, he found someone who had videoed it. "You gotta watch!" And so we sat side by side and he showed me, play by play, pausing and rewinding, until I was completely up to speed.
I guess it is not all that surprising a discovery to make. And yet it makes this job of parenting hold even more weight than we ever imagined because it does not decrease or diminish with the age of the child like some tend to think. I will be honest and say that I was a little afraid. I feared that starting with a teenager and not a baby was not going to fulfill this mothering heart that God has put in me because really, how much would a teenage boy actually want a mom anyway? But it's only been a few short weeks - for goodness sake we are not even the "official" parents yet! - and already I'm seeing it. I'm learning it.
And so just when I think I have made my adult self too available, just when I think I have not been "cool enough," just when I think I have crossed the line and am going to completely embarass these boys by actually paying attention to them, I have learned that this is exactly what they want.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Five Things Friday...I mean Tuesday
Patrick went out of town this weekend.
Hello, California! (And, um, hello I was jealous.)
Hello, California! (And, um, hello I was jealous.)
While he did have a lot of business to attend to, he did send me this picture.
But I did enjoy a little "me" time over the weekend.
Here's a Five Things Summary of how I spent my time:
I caught up on this show:
I started reading this:
(right on point with my "Bronte Book at Christmas Time" tradition)
(right on point with my "Bronte Book at Christmas Time" tradition)
I sat here and happily did a lot of Christmas shopping with a huge cup of coffee in my hand.
I have been putting this in every cup of coffee lately and it's so yummy:
And I made this for dinner:
This is not my picture. I actually forgot to take a picture before I had eaten over half of it. Oops.
This is my favorite thing that I know how to cook!
Sadly, Patrick is not the biggest fan of Anything Pot Pie, so I really only make it when he is out of town or working late for couple days in a row and thus will not be eating dinner with me.
It is loosely based on a recipe I got out of Real Simple at one point, but adapted and changed it over time.
It's really easy!
Chicken Pot Pie Recipe:
1 lb. chicken breasts (I used tenderloins), cut in small chunks
4 carrots, diced
bunch of green onions, diced
3 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp. flour
1/2 c. white wine
1 c. 2% milk
1 c. frozen peas
3/4 to 1 c. frozen corn
1 tsp. dried thyme
salt
pepper
1 refrigerated pie crust
(I used a store bought one, but you could certainly make your own!)
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Saute the chicken in 1 tbsp. of the oil until browned. Pull out of pan.
3. Add remaining 2 tbsp. of oil and saute the carrots and green onions about 5 min. until the carrots are soft.
4. Sprinkle the flour over and cook for about 1 minute.
5. Add the wine to the pan and combine with the veggies and flour to thicken. Simmer a couple minutes.
6. Stir in the milk. The sauce should thicken pretty quickly. Once it thickens add the chicken back in, along with the frozen veggies, thyme, and salt and pepper. Allow everything to heat back through.
7. Pour into a pie pan. Drape your pie crust overtop and press along the edges to the pan to seal. Cut a few vent slits in the center.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the crust is golden.
And I would be remiss if I did not say that I am SO PROUD of my foster son,
who won his very first wrestling match this past weekend!
(He is the one being goofy on the left...
The one on the right is a wrestler from our school that won the entire tournament!)
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