Reading Frenzy!!

When school began, I decided it was time for a tv/movie fast for at least a month. It was SUCH a good decision!! The motive for the decision was that I was sick of postmodern, self-centered thought pervading my world with such regularity. It was time to shut down one avenue through which lies travel into my life. Sure, I can combat the lies, but hey, if I don't watch anything I don't have to concern myself with the drivel! So out went the movies.

Wow.

I've found such amazing benefits from my screen fast! Of course the obvious benefit was the one I was looking for upon undertaking this venture: I wasn't constantly being subjected to other people's ideas of what life is all about. Without those insidious voices, I have been able to hear more clearly the Truth - what life is really all about. I've found myself so content and happy with life, and with my fulfillment coming from doing what God has given me to do with all of my heart.

But there's more! Benefit two is that I have so much more TIME! And I really need that time, because somehow this year is busier than ever... My new Medieval Lit class is taking lots of research and prep, and I have found such rich reward in spending so much time on it. For the first time since I started teaching in 2005 I feel like I am truly giving 100% in my classes. I'm not doing the "ahhh, I'll just wing that one..." thing (at least not often!). I'm prepping thoroughly, and it is such a JOY to be able to get into the classroom every day and know that I'm totally ready, and see the benefit in my students' experience. I'm having a blast! And I love seeing my kids respond.

But there's MORE! Benefit three (and this is a major one!) is that I'm now on this reading kick, big time! Ahhhh, I've missed those days where reading was the thing I always did when I had free minute. And now it's back! Frequently throughout the day I'll find myself looking forward to being able to read in the evening. After my day's work is done, I'll happily pick up my book and jump back into that world I'd been thinking of throughout the day. Last Friday I got four books out of the library, and I'm already on book three (which, incidentally, is Pride and Prejudice, which I last began in 8th grade)!

So people, if you're looking for less postmodernism influencing your thinking, more time, and more joy in reading, I suggest you, too, join me in this screen fast! It's a great time :)

Gotta Love those Medievals

I have been enjoying my brand-new Medieval Lit class SO MUCH! Partly because it is a class with my best students, so the discussions are top quality, and partly because said discussions revolve around such profundities as those of Boethius and Augustine, and lead to conclusions such as this one by Boethius:

"We have concluded that both happiness and God are the supreme good; wherefore that which is highest Divinity must also itself necessarily be supreme happiness."

And such definitions of happiness as this one of Augustine's: "the full possession of all that the heart can long for," which is so obviously met in God alone and God in His fulness.

As Augustine put it so profoundly, "Thou has made us for thyself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."

Teaching this class is like going to church every day!

Funniest Moments of Today

Funny Moment #1:  Teacher Devotions

Our high school science teacher, John, is a tech-savvy kind of guy, who has many of the latest gadgets.  His latest gadgets collection includes a Nook (or a Kindle... I'm not sure which), which he uses for teacher devotions in the morning, instead of bringing a Bible.  The headmaster tells us the reference, and we all diligently go "flip flip flip flip flip" while John goes "click click" and is there. 

Well, this morning it went like this.  The headmaster said the reference and we all began flipping.  "Aw man," John said, "I hit a wrong button!"  There was a little silence, and then, ever so softly, a little "naa naa a boo boo" song came floating from Steve's seat.  And the second grade teacher followed that with a smug little, "I'm there already."  A win for the old school among us!


Funny Moment #2: First Drama Class

Since we're planning to put on a performance of various Shakespeare scenes at the end of the year, we were reading snippets of several of the Bard's plays during drama class today.  We soon came to the wonderful scene in "The Merchant of Venice" in which Shylock demands his pound of flesh.  Shylock, read by my student Rob (in a fabulously evil voice), had just finished his bitter diatribe in which, despite what anyone said, he was going to stand for LAW, and would NEVER give in to the demands that he forgive Antonio.  And then it was time for Portia to speak.  She began her wonderful, page-long soliloquy about mercy.  But this time, instead of a 15 minute speech, she got as far as "The quality of mercy is not strained.  It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath," when Rob's evil voice broke in with the shrugged: "Oh, okay."  Now there is some abbreviated Shakespeare for you!

A Sigh of Relief

The first day of school usually comes about three days after I become wildly excited about starting back.  This year, however, excluding a couple little moments of cheer, the excitement was noticeably at bay.  In fact the morning of my first day dawned and I felt... dread.  I just wasn't ready yet.  Not an awesome feeling. 

But off to school I went, knowing that it would probably be better when kids actually started walking through the door.  And it was.  And then it was more, and then more, and then it was awesome.

And finally came that moment where I breathed a sigh of joy as I felt, yet again, that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.  I was made for teaching, and there is nothing greater than doing what you were made for! 

So this night, as I sit down to write this blog, I am quite blissful.  Silly me, when will I ever learn that the transition is hard, but once past it's good again!? 

I've been at it for three days now, and already have some award-winning moments.

Cuteness award:  This award is given to the tiniest seventh graders I've ever had.  They are just so wee!  They walk into my room and I want to pat their little baby heads!  I'm not growing anymore, so I don't think it's just a perspective thing.  They really are exceptionally small.  I don't think they've hit five feet yet.  Is that possible?  Maybe not.  But it feels like it.

Growing Up award: My 8th graders get this hands-down.  They were one of my biggest challenges last year, and this year they are noticeably more mature.  What a relief.  They are going to be a joy to teach!

Epiphany award #1:  A freshman boy!  My students have these epiphanies in literature every once in awhile, much to my delight.  Today's epiphany came unexpectedly in my 9th grade Classical Literature class, which I'd been worried about.  The students are still a bit junior-highish, and therefore afraid to take any risks for fear of how their classmates will perceive them.  I was concerned that getting them where I wanted them to be would be a bit pulling-teeth-ish.  But today's discussion topic was "What is a true hero?" and they were excellent.  We used Perseus, Theseus, and Hercules as a springboard.  By the end of class we had a compelling list something like this on the board:

1. Buff  (haha - of course!)  2. Saves people  3.  Human  4. Overcomes his failures 5. Doesn't save for personal benefit, but for the benefit of others  6.  Self-sacrificial  (yes, 5 & 6 are a little redundant - think of 6 as a fine-tuning of 5...)

And THEN I asked them who is the best example of a hero, and they quickly arrived at the person I wanted them to, which was Jesus!  But the epiphany came when we were kind of glossing over #4 because Jesus didn't have failures.  It was then that my 9th grade boy came out with "yeah, but he overcame everyone ELSE'S failures!" 

It seems like a kind of small thing, but for me it was a huge moment, because it was a daring, original thought to pipe up with, and to me it represented the salvation of a class.  They are going to be great after all! 

Then we went outside to try our hands at throwing my awesome Atlanta Olympics practice discus that I got from Nate, because we'd been studying Perseus who accidentally killed his grandfather throwing a discus.  They had fun and didn't kill anyone.  Definitely a successful class!

Epiphany award #2:  My big kids, in their Medieval Lit class.  You should have HEARD them discussing Augustine today.  OH MY WORD.  They were getting SO into it as we contrasted Medieval writing, in which authors were striving to portray the true nature of the world, with modern writing, in which authors are striving to portray themselves.  They were making comparisons to art, and how it is inaccessible today because it's all about the artist, not the art.  And they were getting more and more animated until one broke out with "We should publish this!  Has anyone even said this stuff before?!?!"  I had to break it to him that yes, others had thought this.  But never in that classroom!  And probably never in quite the same way, since we were assimilating several different things into one big picture....... which, by the way, is EXACTLY what the Medieval writers were doing!  Ohhhhh the beauty of a discussion coming full circle :)

Awesomeness award:  Goes to two of my kids who, when one of my papers fell from the podium onto the floor, both dove for it so vigorously that they ended up crumpling it.  Such an almost-helpful moment.  It definitely made me laugh.

Last-minute award:  ME!  I get this one!  Remember how I was feeling unprepared when school was starting up?  Well it was for good reason.  I walked into school on Thursday, knowing I was going to be teaching music 6th period (and for the rest of the year) and NOT knowing WHAT I was going to be teaching.  Not comfortable.  I had a free period before class in which I needed to quickly figure out the year.  And guess what.  I did!  And I came up with an idea that I really like!  It combines some music appreciation, some music theory, and some music history in a (if I do say so myself) clever way that keeps the kids moving from one to the other before they can get bored:)  AND I walked into school without knowing what play I was going to be doing for Drama (what were you doing all summer? you may ask.  A TON! I will respond.  These things moved rapidly to the back burner and for one reason or another found it difficult to emerge).  But last night I found the PERFECT ONE ("Much Ado About Will" - a fabulous conglomeration of scenes from various Shakespeare plays, put together in an inventive and captivating way).  Ahhhhh the relief of FINALLY having my ducks in a row.

It was definitely an award-winning first week of school, that's for sure.  And this evening, as I sat down, I found myself looking forward to Monday.  Truly I am where I'm meant to be. 

The Maturation of a Teacher

Even I, with the horrible memory I seem to have, can remember what it was like to be a first-year teacher. I was euphoric with the reality that I had found something I loved and was good at. I was awed by the responsibility of preparing something every day that could help shape my students' futures. I was having a blast.

And then came year two: I had three students drop out in the spring of the year.

Year three involved a student facing a life-threatening brain tumor.

Year four involved the ugly break-up of a family at school whom I loved and respected.

Year five involved the most challenging student I'd ever encountered whom I completely failed to reach.

In other words, after year one the fun and games were over. Suddenly it wasn't just a job. It was a mission field. I was investing a ton into these students. And consequently it was a lot more painful.

Yet simultaneously each year held great joy.

Year two found me sitting on the floor in the hall with the students who had stuck it out after their classmates left, telling them how proud I was for having finished out the year so successfully.

Year three held the miraculous recovery of my student with the brain tumor, after I'd already been thinking about what songs of comfort I might be able to sing to her in the hospital.

Year four I witnessed the coming together of classmates around one who was in pain, and the great camaraderie of that class.

Year five showed me the precious thoughtfulness of students who observed me struggling. One student called me one evening to make sure I was okay. Another couple of students brought me M&M's the day after I'd left the classroom mid-class to go out and cry.

Everything worth doing, every worthwhile venture, I have come to realize, is going to involve a painful side. To truly reach my students I have to be willing to bear some burdens I wouldn't be bearing if I just showed up to teach them gerunds and prepositions and left. Every once in awhile I dream of a bank job where I'd go, count money, and then completely drop the job as soon as I walked out the door. But I know I wouldn't be satisfied, even if it did mean less pain.

I realized recently this is what the Fairwood staff must have been going through all throughout my blissfully ignorant growing up years: heartbreak over those who go the world's way, joy over those who stick with God through thick and thin. And I think of parents raising children, and how incredibly painful that can be, yet how they continue to pour out their love and time.

And I remember again the verse that Mom read to me during the lowest point of my teaching career: "I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls." - II Cor 12:15. And that's the great sum-up. It's worth it. Parents, Bible School teachers, Counselors, Friends, in whatever mission field you find yourself, it's worth it.

A little of this and a little of that

*This past week was "Teacher Appreciation Week" at school! We've never really done it before, so one of my fellow teachers has postulated that really everyone is appreciating Kimberly (the only new teacher this year), and we're just thrown in so we don't feel bad. But then, he has also postulated that Sir Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays, the US bombed itself on 9/11, and... well... he just isn't convinced that Osama is reallllly dead, since the body was thrown into the sea.

*Anyway, not to get sidetracked on conspiracy theories, Teacher Appreciation was awesome, and included streamers, cinnamon rolls, words of affirmation, posters, and even money! I felt, well, appreciated.

*Our drama class, now that we have successfully performed "12 Angry Men" (and I do mean successfully! We made people CRY! In a good way...), has turned to the end of the year awards ceremony in which each class presents something to show off all they've learned. We have decided to make a film entitled "A Day in the Life of a Highschooler at AICA," or some such catchy title. It was supposed to highlight things learned in each class, but has turned into a massive spoof. It. Is. Hilarious. So hilarious, in fact, that I'm a little afraid we won't be allowed to show it. But at least we're having a lot of fun making it!

*The part in which I'm spoofed starts innocently enough with a student walking down the hall toward my classroom, when suddenly a shrieking laugh (mine) blasts from the room he's headed toward, throwing him backward and landing him on the floor. Seconds later the math teacher pokes his head out of HIS door, wondering what all the hubbub is about. Hahahaha. Love!

*I'm hosting the cast party for 12 Angry Men tomorrow, and am serving my very own, made by my very own self, lasagna with my very own, made by my very own self, strawberry shortcake for dessert. I'm very excited about it!

*This will be followed by all 15 of us heading off to one of my student's houses to watch the Celtics game. I'm amazed by a mom who allows 15 people to invade her house. Go Celtics!

*I saw the first of my graduated students today! Now the trickle-back, reverse-exodus occurs, and I get to see my boys and find out how classes went, and which their favorites were, and how boring their English teachers are;) I say boys because in all 6 years I've been at AICA I haven't had a single girl graduate. This year, however, there are four.

*But this year's trickle-back holds a whole new element, because for the first time ever I have one who won't be leaving again in the fall! That's right, I'm going to be the former-teacher of a college graduate! My first college graduate. Who, coincidentally enough, was also my first high school graduate. What are the odds?! Anyway, I'm so excited that he's going to be returning to RI for the foreseeable future, rather than traipsing off to some corner of the world or other.

*And those are the things on my mind this delightful evening, and now it's time to find something for this rumbling in my tum...

How I Feel About Time

Time is a tricky thing. It is not always dependable - slowing down when you want it to go faster, speeding up when you want it to stop. But there is one dependable aspect: it keeps going.

For one who, as I believe I've expressed before, doesn't enjoy change, this has been a difficult concept to come to grips with. The passage of time inevitably means change.

My students, for example, will always change. I will have them for a certain period of years, and then they will be gone, moving on with their lives, leaving me behind.

My friendships will change. People drift out of my life as their paths take them to other places, and others drift in as their paths bring them my way.

My ideas will change. But usually I still agree with myself, so that's okay:)

But some things are constant. My former students are always and forever my former students, and I love that! My family's love is constant. There is constant learning going on, whether about how to deal with change, or how to relate to others, or what life is really about, or who I am, or who God is...

And most of all my Father is constant. "Change and decay in all around I see; Oh Thou who changest not, abide with me." His love is constant, His goodness is constant, and His plan for my life, no matter what seems to change from my perspective, is a constant progression toward Him.

How I Feel About Sports

I feel strongly about sports. When people say "it's just a game" part of me agrees... and part of me doesn't.

Certainly it isn't a matter of life and death. A team's loss is no reason for long-term depression. It is not nearly as important as God, family or friends. A high school student who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown because he's under so much pressure to perform needs to be reminded that it's just a game, and he's supposed to have fun out there. So yes, I agree to that extent.

But on another level there's a lot more there than meets the eye. Sports are about pushing for excellence. They are about the inspiring stories of the underdog overcoming, or the champion finding a way to be a champion once more, even in the face of impossible odds. They are about overcoming and persevering and focus and greatness. In a way, sports are allegorical of the entirety of the human experience in the same way that all great stories reflect THE great story. Also, there's such beauty in someone doing something so well, so exquisitely, so much better than I can! And there's such camaraderie amongst those who feel similarly.

Obviously I feel strongly about sports. But what about those who do not? Some people care for sports the way that I care for scarab collecting (that is, not at all). So how are those people to deal with such people as I? For those of you readers who fall under that category, I will give you a few tips for dealing those those of us in the sports-loving category.

* Never try to comfort a sports lover whose team has just lost the championship with the "it's just a game" idea. That's like trying to comfort someone whose dog just died with the words "it's just an animal." Even if that's true the very real pain is not lessened by the fact.

* Even more important: please refrain from the "what's the big deal?" line. Perhaps it's not a big deal to you, but it's a very big deal to me.

* Instead, a simple "I'm sorry" is fine. And maybe chocolate.

* But that's only if you're there at the moment of the defeat. If you aren't there, but are seeing the sports lover the next day, the above option might not be a good idea. To be safe, and listen carefully now, the best option is probably to refrain from referring to the loss at all. For those of us who have suffered through championship defeats, the tendency is to try not to think about it. I live in a state of denial for awhile until the pain recedes. So you non-sports folks, please don't pull me out of that denial even if it's to say something kind.

* This last point might depend a little on personality, and how well you know the person. It's just a general rule, and you can modify as needed in your personal settings.

* Now if there's a victory, please feel free to bring it up as often as possible! And if possible, have patience with my need to talk about it again and again. If there's another sports lover around I'll probably talk to him, but if not I might need your listening ear once or twice. Please try to smile even if you are completely zoning out (which is also fine - I don't expect you to be totally fascinated, as long as you're pretending to be).

In sum: it may mean nothing to you, but it means a great deal to me. So if you could give me a little understanding on this level, I'll try to patiently listen and smile while you tell me all about potty training and/or recent trips to Cancun.

(Hahaha - no, please do tell me about your children and trips! I just needed something to make a point here...) :)

How I Feel About Teaching

After a difficult year last year, I'm happy to report that this year is as different from last as night from day. Or summer from winter. Or milk chocolate from dark chocolate. I'm loving teaching!

Yesterday was a day I especially loved it, since I found out one of my seniors had written his "someone who influenced you" college application essay about me. I'm making a difference! Everyone IS making a difference, and everyone has a particular place in God's plan, but it's nice to get the concrete reminders. My favorite line from the essay was something along the lines of, "I would think she was impervious to other influences if it weren't for the fact that, since she has known me, she has developed a reluctant appreciation for martial arts." Hahahah - love :)

One of the things I love most about teaching is the classroom discussions. Every once in awhile I'll hit this gem of a question that will set kids off and running, digging into the meaning of a story, and even bringing up examples from their own lives to back up the point the author is making. Especially in the high school I have been edified by student insights, and have even added to my lesson plans for future years based on what the kids contribute. They are smart, and they are precious, and they are discovering truth and it's exciting to see. Sometimes we get into the really important questions of life - those things that kids are trying to figure out as they near adulthood. I love that I can give them Truth.

One of the great side benefits is that my students couple my name with those of famous authors. :) This is not due to any greatness on my part, obviously, but to the fact that I was the one who told them about these authors. Still, it gives me GREAT joy to have about ten heads whip around to wherever I am when the chapel speaker mentions John Donne, or the MFA Art tour guide references Achilles. And then I just glow about how educated my kids are... even if every other high school student in the universe knows who Achilles is. But not every other high school student can tell you of Achilles' redemption, or his entrance into the fellowship of suffering!

Of course, these great moments comes with some downsides as well. Sometimes I cannot believe how blunt a junior high student can be. "Miss Murray! What happened to your neck? It looks HIDEOUS!" Or "this is boring!" Or "Did you know when you drink you look like this [pantomime, pantomime]?" Wowwwwwww. I've been trying to drill it into one of my students' heads that if you must preface your remark with "no offense, but..." you probably shouldn't be saying it.

I imagine many young moms can relate to this aspect of things:)

But fortunately the good outweighs the bad. After all, it is also the junior high students who most readily dish out the words of aff, making cute little bookmarks that say "#1 Teacher" and such. Bless their little hearts.

I reminded myself last year that I'm not in teaching for what I get out of it. I'm there to serve others. But I must say, these sweet, heartwarming perks make it a lot easier!

God bless each of you, as you serve where He's placed you. And may you, too, rejoice in those little "perks" that make it easier!

How I Feel About Snow

I feel like I LOVE SNOW! I think it's beautiful. I feel cozy when it's snowing out and I'm in. It gives me snow days that make it seem like there really are more than twenty-four hours in the day. It sticks to trees and telephone wires and makes me think of Robert Frost.

You know how else I feel? People who continually complain about snow should probably should move south. If you live in New England, you're going to get snow, people! There's not going to be a winter without it! I'm not asking that everyone in the world love snow, but Northerners should be able to handle it.

I used to feel really strongly about this latter point, but I'm softening now as I realize that complaining about snow is some people's New England tradition. It's not that they're against New England, it's just that they believe complaining about snow is part of their New England duty. Or so my theory goes... And then there are those who would move if they could... (Backpedal, backpedal, envision all kinds of irate comments, backpedal backpedal backpedal).

I met the antidote to those snow-complainer types though, and it made me cheer inwardly. One of my students' moms told me this morning that she was kind of jealous of the people in Chicago right now. It's so exciting to know there's a major blizzard coming! It could set records! Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?! I mean, besides the obvious answers, like people who actually have to leave their houses...

Granted, this mom was originally from Chicago, and much of her family is still there, and her family used to have season tickets to see the Bears play in all kinds of foul weather, so she's probably used to it, but still... ! That's what I call a Northerner!

Speaking of northerners, I jumped out of the car to drop off a movie, and realized, on my way back, that I wasn't wearing a coat, and that I'd grabbed clogs for my shoes. Yessss. Northerner.

And that's how I feel about snow.

Also, sometimes it's fun to play in. Especially when you have a raging snowball fight in the parking lot with sundry students...

I'm Thankful for my HOME!

I am amazed all over again, as I return home for Thanksgiving break, to remember how right and normal everything is at home!

The hot water is just the right temperature.
The piano in the Main House library has just the right pressure in the keys.
The items in the kitchen are all in the best and most logical places.
The bed is juuuuuust right.

I can point to the exact moment list night when Kimberly and I stopped being the two grown-up, fending for ourselves, making our way in the world career women, and became "The Girls" again (the title we've had in our family for almost as long as I can remember). Suddenly the burdens of life and responsibility were gone, and we were safe and comfortable and ever so slightly giddy (part of which may have been due to the fact that we pulled in at 12:30 am!).

I wonder if any other place in all the world will ever be as home as this place is now. If I were to get married, buy a home, settle down, and live in one spot for the rest of my days, would it ever fit as well as Fairwood fits? I don't know. I do remember Mama talking about one time when our family was driving to RI, after all four of us kids were born, when she was filled with joy at the idea of going home.

And then I was thinking: that's how Heaven will be. Everything will be just, just right. It will fit. It will be comfortable and secure. We will be happy, and free from worry and responsibility. And it will last forever!

So this Thanksgiving I'm thankful for home, and I'm thankful for Home. And I'm thankful for the countless blessing bestowed by the One who is preparing that Home for us.

15 Authors

I got this idea from a friend's facebook, and had great fun compiling my list!

The Rules: Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen authors (poets included) who've influenced you and who will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.

So now that you know what I'm doing, here's my list!

15 authors who've influenced me & who will always stick with me:

Tennyson "In Memoriam"

I am amazed at Tennyson's portrayal of grief and hope, and think of the language of this poem fairly often. Really I love most anything by Tennyson...

Bronte "Jane Eyre"

I think this is my all-time favorite book, and am amazed at the depth of thought and feeling, as well as the depth of character portrayed.

Mauriac "Woman of the Pharisees"

I read this book in college, and came face to face with someone I didn't want to be. I've never learned so much from a negative example.

Hopkins "Carrion Comfort"

This poem gets me every time I read it. I'm only kind of kidding when I say that I would never be able to really backslide, even if I wanted to, because of having read it!

Goudge "Pilgrim's Inn" & "The City of Bells" & "The Dean's Watch"

I love Elizabeth Goudge. She's taught me so much about love and human connection.

James "Portrait of a Lady"

This book fascinates me. My brother told me, when I was 18, that I reminded him of the main character, and it's been a favorite ever since.

Shakespeare "Hamlet" & Sonnet 116

Hamlet changed the way I think about life. His picture of acceptance of the Divine will is an inspiration to me. Sonnet 116's line "love alters not when it alteration finds" was a specific lesson to me on unconditional love.

Homer "The Iliad"

I was stunned, after reading "From Achilles to Christ," and after teaching it to an enthusiastic class, at the lessons to be taken from Achilles transformation. Truly beautiful.

Tolstoy "War & Peace"

I didn't absolutely love this book while reading it, but discussing it later with my students made me see new meaning in it. Tolstoy's message of relinquishing one's grip on the earthly in order to attain the heavenly is one that I keep thinking of over and over.

PG Wodehouse - pretty much everything!

I just love Wodehouse. I think he is a genius.

Edith Wharton "House of Mirth"

A depressing book, in a way, but I was completely captivated by its world, and by the main character.

Hugh Walpole "The Cathedral"

This book goes deep with me, since it talks about what seems to be my role in life as a person trying to hold on to what used to be in the face of what's becoming... :) Heartbreaking, but so good.

Herman Melville "Moby Dick"

I read this book exactly exactly when I needed it most, and clung to its message about acknowledging evil, but not staying there. "Gaze not too long in the face of the fire, O man... There is a Catskill eagle in some souls that can alike dive down into the blackest gorges, and soar out of them again and become invisible in the sunny spaces. And even if he forever flies within the gorge, that gorge is in the mountains; so that even in his lowest swoop the mountain eagle is still higher than the other birds upon the plain, even though they soar."

Evelyn Waugh "Brideshead Revisted"

The "Hound of Heaven" message in this book is one that has helped to shape the way I think about God's pursuit of the soul. The book itself is edgy enough that I don't really recommend it, but I'm glad I had to read it at PC because it gave me new understanding.

Prentiss "Stepping Heavenward"

This story of a woman's surrender to the Will of God helped me through a crisis in my own faith.

Bronte "Wuthering Heights"

This is, I think, my all-time favorite. I know I already said that about "Jane Eyre," but that's okay:) I know it's a highly polarizing story, but I've never been so swept away by a book as I was by this one. I think I've read it at least four times.

And there you have it! I'm sure I'm forgetting something major, but this is what I thought of in the 15 minute (more or less) time period.

Now you should all compile your own lists, because it was great fun! :)

Affirmation Inspired by Running into Pagan Philosophy Recently

This Sabbath morning I affirm that Jesus is the center, the goal, the point, the everything of life.

I affirm that living my life for Him is all that truly satisfies.

I affirm that living my life for myself is the path to destruction.

I affirm that loving others is worth it, even when it's hard.

I affirm that God has led me to where I am, and that He has a purpose for me here.

I affirm that God has a purpose for every human being, and that He is drawing individuals to Himself.

I affirm that the lies of the world about being "the captain of your fate" are just that - lies. It is impossible to control your life, and trying will lead to desperation and destruction.

I affirm that God is GOOD, and He is a completely trustworthy Captain of my fate. I would want no other.

I affirm that my heart is His, all over again, today.

First Week of Teaching!

My first week of teaching is now behind me (well, first week #6!), and it was a wonderful one. Here are some moments that stand out:

*Seeing the smile on the face of my new student - it's always a joy to win someone over.

*Seeing my freshmen and sophomores really take hold of the discussion based on Louis Markos' "From Achilles to Christ," and having one say "I feel like I'm being brainwashed!" Hahahaha - ohhhhh my dear, you have no idea...

*That same class, leading my kids through questioning to get at the root of the worldview problem of one of the books they read over the summer, and reaching that conclusion just as Mr. Bailey walked through the door. "THERE IS NO GOD!" exclaimed my student. "EXACTLY!" I enthusiastically affirmed.

*Introducing this year's play to my high school students, and having one of the seniors enthusiastically say "this is awesome," thereby setting the tone for the whole group.

*On the same occasion, hearing people totally adopting characters, from hand gestures to Brooklyn accents on the initial read-through.

*Having a student call for help on a Lit assignment, only to express fears about the new Algebra teacher, stating, "it seems like he's not really sure what he's doing. Is this true?!" and being able to assure him that the contrary was the case:)

*Confiding to my seniors that they were doing WAY better than my last class in their discussion of the Winthrop/Franklin dichotomy, and having them be very pleased.

*After having shown my students that I'd written "Classical Lit (best ever)" on my notebook, having them ask if I'd written the same thing for all the other classes, and being able to show them (to their GREAT glee) that I'd written "American Lit" and "7/8 Lit."

*Knowing that Classical Lit class will be able to live up to my expectations.

*Coming up with an inventive and enjoyable way to teach TYPING of all things...

*Loving, loving, loving my students.

*HAVING KIMBERLY WALKING THE HALLS WITH ME!!!!!!!

*And most of all (except for the Kimberly part... or maybe partly because of it), suddenly feeling, after over a year of not having felt it, that I couldn't WAIT for the next day of teaching.

Praise the Lord for His innumerable blessings!

Our New House!

Kimberly and I have now moved in to our delightful cottage on Aquidneck Island. Hurrah!

Well perhaps I should rephrase that to say that pretty much all of our stuff is somewhere in our house. Whether it's out of its box or not is another matter...

But we're loving it so far! And now that the friendly Cox guy has come and gone, and the other friendly Cox guy has come and gone (yes, we were a two Cox guy home), we have internet and can inform the world of our joy!

We've had some wonderful moments already, first thisses and first thats, and it has inspired us to keep a little notebook of our favorite moments in our home.

The first entry will have to be that first time we toured the house, where we were awestruck from the beginning, and then erupted into squeals and shrieks upon seeing the spiral-ish stairs leading up to Kimberly's room.

The second entry will doubtless be our zucchini dinner last week. I remember it that way because that was the day I snatched from the fridge what I thought was a cucumber, peeled it, sliced it, and served it as our cold vegetable, only to figure out later that the reason it was the strangest, most tasteless cucumber in the world is that it was a zucchini. But that, while humorous, is not what will get this dinner into our little record.

Due (so I hear) to a water main break, the water on our island tastes distinctly earthy. I purchased a Brita filter to make sure we didn't die, but some of the earthiness makes it through the filter at times.

Kimberly and I sat down to dinner, and I took a nice, cool drink of... dirt-water. Ew. "This water tastes like dirt!" I exclaimed. "Hm," said Kimberly, unphased.

I ate some food and took another drink. "This water tastes like dirt!" I exclaimed. Original, I know. "Yeah, that's weird," Kimberly patiently responded.

Chomp chomp slurrrrp gulp. "This water tastes like dirt!" I exclaimed. "Andrea, if you say that water tastes like dirt one more time, I'm going to throw this water at you," Kimberly responded adamantly, pointing to her oversized blue plastic cup.

Sip. "This water... That's all I'm going to say," I smirked. We sat there at the table in a profound silence, both casually pretending that we weren't thinking of any next step. I toyed with the "cucumbers" while Kimberly quietly casually glanced out at the birds in the rhododendron bush and tightened her grip on her cup.

"TASTES LIKE DIRT!" I shrieked, while simultaneously leaping from the table. SPLOOSH! The water hit me before the word dirt was out of my mouth. She'd been anticipating my action before I'd even decided to take it.

Ahhhh the laughter that ensued.

There was a Kodak commercial that used to play while I was in college, which showed a series of snapshots or something and sang the song, "Life is good when you've got your friends." (It might have said "when you got your friends," but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt...) I agree with Kodak, but I'd add a verse two:

Life is good when you've got your sister!

Of Vacations

Pilot once famously asked, "What is truth?"

I now ask (not quite so famously), "What is vacation?"

Or, more postmodernly, "What is vacation to you?"

I have an amazing ideal in my mind which every vacation tries to live up to: that of our family vacations at Uncle Joe's camp in Maine. We'd go up there, to the middle of nowhere, with banana boxes full of books and activities and projects. Then we'd stay at that little cabin for two or three weeks at a time, only venturing forth for yardsaling. We'd sleep as late as we wanted, then spend the day reading, swimming, reading, swimming, Daddy would read aloud at night while we worked on puzzles, and then we'd go back to our own books and read as late as we wanted. Occasionally this rhythm was punctuated (how's that for mixing metaphors!) by family games or a magic show or a birthday party (if we were there in mid-August). Absolute bliss.

So since then, my ideal vacation has been one in which there is limitless time in which to do... NOTHING. There are no responsibilities, no schedule, not even any people (family doesn't count). But there's lots of time time time to read read read or do whatever strikes my fancy (like blog!).

Recently I was stating this to a friend who was surprised by this reality. For her the ideal vacation includes lots of traveling around and seeing people. While working, she's pretty home-bound, so when vacation hits, she wants to be up and doing ("with a heart for any fate"), seeing friends all over the place.

HUH!

So there you have it: another instance of different strokes for different folks, I guess. What about for you?

Hiking & Me

I look up to people like Wordsworth and the Bronte sisters, as well as Gerry Anderson. These people all have one thing in common: they were/are into things like hikes and walking tours. Emily Bronte rambled all over those wild moors, Wordsworth and his sister traversed the woods of the Wye River, Gerry climbs anything over 2000 feet. There's something rugged and adventurous about it - something inspiring in the thought.

And yet, this summer, I have come face to face with the incontrovertible fact that I would rather do almost anything else in the world rather climb another mountain. Ever. Except bungee jump or sky dive.

As I trudged up the slopes of Gap Mountain (which is about 10 feet high), I realized that trudging is not my favorite. Not even the most amazing view in the world can make the toiling worthwhile. I don't like walking. I definitely don't like climbing. And I pretty much loath gasping for air.

So my similarities with the Bronte sisters will have to end with the world-famous novel I'm about to write. My similarity with Wordsworth will have to remain in our mutual admiration of Tintern Abbey, and my similarity with Gerry will have to be......... ummmmmmmmm......................... our musc... nope, our ability to rhy.... nope, our leadership in the men's dor..... nooope, our sanguine perso.... nope, our attendance of Fairwood Bible Chapel. Yessss.

And yet, despite these strong statements, every six years or so I decide it's time to toil up the slopes of Mt. Monadnock again. Strange. They do say, though, that your cells renew themselves often enough that you're an entirely new person every five years. So I guess that explains it (along with one bonus year to gear myself up).

It must be six years since I climbed Mt. Monadnock, because today I was game for Ravenswood Park, where my family and I took the trails by storm. The walk was enjoyable, partly because of the amazing boulders everywhere and the lovely trees, and partly because of the view of Gloucester Harbour from the top. And the slope was definitely my speed at about a one foot incline per half mile (except for near the top of the trail). Plus the company was excellent, and we were all in the mood to laugh.

So I took care of that for another six years or so. See you in 2016, Mt. Monadnock!

New Summer's Resolution

This past year, while full and exciting in some ways, was also a little much for me, and I found myself stressed out and bleh a lot of the time. I started wondering who this new grump was, and where the old me had gone. And so, when the school year came to an end, I decided to set myself a goal of learning to love life again.

My friend Karen, when I was telling her about this, asked how I planned to accomplish this goal and I set myself a few objectives:

1) Spend more time with God
2) Spend more time with people I love
3) Spend more time with books
4) Spend less time with tv/movies

Here's an update on these objectives:

1) Unexpectedly doing the Girls' Week again was a great blessing, because as I reminded the girls how important it is to cultivate that hidden, unseen depth with God every day, it was an excellent reminder to myself. As is often the case, I think I got more out of the GW than the girls did! Richness has ensued.

2) Summer is a wonderful time for FRIENDS! So far I've been to Concord with Linds, VT with my family, had Katie and Diane to my Portsmouth house, saw lots of gems at the Fam Convention, and am currently road tripping it up with Diane, visiting with such treasures as the Vaughan Posts, Nate & Penny, Brad & Claire, and Grace!

3) War and Peace. Ohhhhhhh yeah.

4) Haven't touched hulu in weeks! :)

So how is this all working out for the loving life thing, you may ask. VERY WELL, I would respond. The most important things are getting their proper attention, and everything else is falling into place. I'm recharging, and remembering how good life can be. Of course, being on summer vacation isn't hurting!

Viva vacation!

Writing Skills (and I do mean skills!)

Recently in my 7th and 8th grade writing skills class, I wanted to attack the daunting task of literary analysis (how to write about books). But I didn't want to take the time to read anything very long - I wanted to just dive into some tips on writing. Therefore, I decided to have them analyze shorter works. Children's books, to be precise. I had them tackle such classics as "Go Dog, Go" and "The Cat in the Hat." I told them to be super intellectual and make up deeper meanings and such. I was incredibly pleased with some of the results, and want to share some highlights.

Paper 1:
"Bears on Wheels" by Stan and Jan Berenstain, is a unique, contemplative novel, about a group of bears who have encounters with a variety of life-changing experiences with wheels. Even though this story may seem like a cute children's story that has been read and enjoyed by children all over the world, through many generations, it also was written for an important purpose. Through "Bears on Wheels," the Berenstains engage in an armed conflict with the popularized view of the Renaissance."

Wowwwww. Have you read that book?! The basic text is "One bear, one wheel. Three bears, two wheels," and has pictures of collisions and such. Armed conflict with Renaissance ideas? Not bad, not bad!

Paper 2:
"Go, Dog. Go!" was written sometime before 1961 when it was published by Random House Inc. P.D.Eastman..strongly believes that unity brings out the best in people, and separation only leads to sadness and bad relationships with others. Eastman was not a transcendentalist."

Awwwww yeah, Eastman was anti-transcendentalism. Not too shabby! :) Of course, I don't think he himself even knew that, by my 7th grader sure figured it out...

Paper 3:
The renowned childrens' book "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss, under great speculation, is shown to contain more than just rhymes. In fact, Dr. Suess is trying to say that we all have a Cat in the Hat within us: a daring inner turmoil that breaks loose when trying to find something to do on a rainy day. This Cat in the Hat, that is part of the nature of man, likes to release a wild childlike behavior. As Seuss says, 'I will pick up the book. You will see something new. Two things, and I call them Thing One and Things Two' (Seuss,33). These proverbial "things" unleash a freedom inside us that seems nice at first, but can destroy many items with simple shenanigans.

Hahaha - awesome.

Of course, I realize I'm setting up a difficult scenario for myself in future years with these students. As it is, students already tend to question whether an author meant all the things that literature teachers say they meant... I distinctly remember sitting in a high school class, thinking my teacher was totally making things up that the poet probably had no idea of while he was writing. I also remember one of my students saying something about how he was going to write a story in which there was no deeper meaning at all, and just see what lit teachers did with it.

But I pointed out to them that we were just practicing with these children's books, and making things up that may not really be there (although more is probably there than they're aware of!) but that when you're dealing with the great authors of history, like Shakespeare, and Melville, and Milton, those deeper meanings absolutely are there, which is what makes them so great!

So we'll see if, in three or four years, I have succeeded in making students thirsty for the depths of literature, or if they just figure it's all made up, like their analyses of children's books. Whatever the result in the future, the short-term results of the assignment made me laugh - and that, after all, is what's most important.

This and That in March

*One of my dear students was chosen as athlete of the week in the Newport Daily News! Yeah! Not only is it a great (and deserved) honor for him, but it also puts our name out there in a new way. Good for all!

*One of my most difficult - no, the most difficult - of students from the beginning of the year is fast becoming one of my favorites. I don't think I've ever seen such a marked difference in one person's life in such a short amount of time. He waved across the gym at me last week and it made me leap to my feet and exclaim about it being the best day ever! :)

*I washed about 10 hours worth of dishes over the past week... My choir is putting on a dinner theater thingy, and anyone who isn't performing is roped in to do the dishes and waitressing and stuff. Yeahhhhh. But it was actually quite enjoyable, and included some quality chatting time. Also I was chosen by the head guy to carve the pork. The honors just don't stop rolling in.

* I was teaching the other day when I heard my headmaster let out a mighty howl in the next room. One of my students leaped to his feet saying he would go save him, but I told him to sit back down, and appeased his fear (and my curiosity) by telling him I'd go check it out myself. I popped my head in the door of the room where he was, and he looked over and saw me and said, "Oh don't YOU even THINK about looking in here!" Hahahaahahah - I guess I really have no leg to stand on as far as noise pollution at school...

* This morning I was racing out to my car, late as usual, when I discovered a nearly flat tire. I know it has a slow leak, but I try to stay ahead of it. Apparently I had fallen behind. So I gave up any thoughts of timeliness, and headed for the gas station. I put in my 4 quarters, and the air compressor fired up. So far, so good. But I couldn't make the air come out! I thought it might be a kink in the hose, so I untangled it, but still no air flow. Ay ay ay. Finally I realized there was a little button you had to push. I pushed it down, heard the cheery whoosh, and then, silence. I'd run out of time and the compressor had turned itself off. I'd just let out a "you've got to be kidding," when the gas station attendant came out and not only started it for free, but filled the tire himself. Awwww. Still, I would have much preferred doing it myself. And then I started wondering if acts of service are not only at the bottom of my love language list, but are actually crossing into my hate language list! Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Very interesting.

* And on that note, I must go consume my tea before it gets cold.