How Do You Measure, Measure a Year?

At the beginning of the school year, when Target rolled out its shiny, fun school supplies, I treated myself to a $1 pack of Diet Coke pencils. I kept one of those Diet Coke pencils on my homework clipboard and I used it every day when I checked homework. It lost its pencil-cap eraser and it got shorter, but it hung in there for 174 days.

Yesterday, a student forgot to bring a pencil to class, stole my homework pencil and lost it. I think that sums up the kind of school year it's been.

Shower the People You Love

A few of you have commented that I haven't been blogging much recently. Since some of my favorite bloggers are mothers with four children, it seems trite to say that I've been too busy for blogging.

All the same, this month has been pretty full and, for the most part, it's been full of good things. One good thing was hosting a baby shower for Emily yesterday. At the beginning of the week I prayed that I would never become so stressed or overwhelmed that I couldn't enjoy what I was doing. God was so good in answering that prayer, and in giving me time throughout the week to make little preparations for the shower.

He also provided me some wonderful helpers, Beth, Katie, Seth, and my mom. This picture sums up all the help I received: table and flora by Seth, cake by Beth, Hungry Caterpillar from Katie, favors by Mom.



During the preparations and clean-up, I was showered with the blessing of friendship and the necessary reminder that I am not on this journey alone. The rest of the day belonged to Emily and a baby I cannot wait to know.

Today Was a Fairy Tale

Last Thursday night my Facebook status read: "Today was awesome. I don't want to go to bed." Perhaps you are wondering what makes an awesome birthday.

If you must wake up at 4:30AM and head to the gym for some early cardio on your birthday, this is an awesome thing to see as you get into your car.


While driving to work, my carpool buddy said, "Today calls for special drinks." Though the bars weren't open at 6:30, we did stop by Starbucks for a round.

Since there was end of grade testing going on, my students were quiet for a long period of time in the morning.

My teaching partner and good friend gave me a Tervis tumbler and a gift certificate to the hottest frozen yogurt joint in town. We ordered lunch--a rare treat in a rural school--and had it delivered to us on the playground. The students played together relatively nicely and blew off the stress of testing all afternoon.

I received my annual phone call--with singing--from two lovely ladies (and their Mom Mom) in Philadelphia.

My family gathered for dinner at a delightful, landmark restaurant. I received a Phillies beach towel--a reminder that the pool and the beach are not too far away.

Then my parents and I went to see Jerry Seinfeld perform and we laughed and laughed.

Crazy high school girls, thoughtful co-workers, friends near-and-far, and a close-knit family--they made it an awesome birthday. As one of those friends pointed out, it was a reminder that I am "vibrantly loved."

He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother

Here is a recent photo, taken in the aftermath of some family celebrating. We had a wonderful time honoring my mom for Mother's Day while my aunt and uncle passed through town on their way from Florida to Pennsylvania.



We do a lot of celebrating during this time of year and with good reason. Not only is my mom a star, but today is my brother's birthday. He's not the sort to celebrate himself, so permit me to do it for him.

Some reasons to celebrate my brother Dave...

He is a gifted, godly leader.

He is very useful in the kitchen. Around this time of year, he will head to the fields, pick scads of berries and then begin experimenting with various recipes. Depending on the success of his experiments, he may deliver some of his confections to friends and family.

Though the only family member who does not earn a living by teaching, he is a talented Bible teacher.

He married an awesome woman.

He has an amazing memory for statistics. Dave can probably tell you the date when Mike Schmidt hit his 548th home run and the batting average of the shortstop on Guilford College's softball team. Unfortunately, he probably can't tell you much about his childhood travels to Rome, Paris or Greece.

Some really difficult things have happened to him and, though challenged, he and his wife have managed to say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord."

It frustrates me that Dave could probably go out and run 5 miles tonight, even though he hasn't worked out recently. For all my devotion to treadmills and ellipticals, I couldn't even come close to that. Nevermind, I'm not sure that's worth celebrating...

All this to say, I am so thankful for my brother and the way God is moving in his life. Happy birthday, Dave!

She Loves Me Like a Rock

My mom is a star. I’m only beginning to see how profoundly she’s influenced me. Here’s a short list of ways I’ve been affected by my mom.

As a teacher:
My first observation as a teacher was a disaster: 29 recommendations, 6 commendations. My post-observation conference with the supervisor was such a disaster that the superintendents and the union became aware of it. The supervisor was told to do another observation. My mom sat with me at the dining room table and helped me plan a lesson sure to dazzle a supervisor with something to prove.

As a friend:
When my heart got broken, my mom sat at the kitchen table with me while I poured out my heart and its many, many layers of brokenness. She told me a similar story about how a friendship of hers had ended. But all she ever said about the mean boy who broke my heart was that she always liked him. Fast-forward nine years, and the mean boy is still one of my best friends. I know the reconciliation he and I experienced was from God, but He used my mom to plant the seed that grew into forgiveness.

As a believer:
The soundtrack of my childhood was not Adventures in Odyssey or Amy Grant. Thank you, Mom, for introducing me to Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Elton John. I can’t hear Goodbye Yellow Brick Road without being transported to the hot, vinyl seats of a ’69 Chevy. I learned that faith is manifested in how you treat people and in how you handle adversity—it’s not a bumper sticker or a Janette Oke novel.

As a wife, maybe…:
My mother’s advice has always been, “Marry your best friend.” She and her best friend have been having fun for the past 40 years. My mother’s entire adult life has been spent with my dad. My adult life could not be more different. And even though the life she knows has been such a good one, she doesn’t pressure me to get married. One reason I can live so confidently and freely as a single woman is because my mother isn’t hurrying me.



All of us women have moments when we realize we’ve become our mothers. Here is one from my week.

When I was in elementary school, my mom sat with me at the kitchen table while I worked on book reports. My instinct was always to sloppily scrawl something across the cover, but she would slow me down with a ruler and an exhortation to “do it in pencil first.” This week my students were doing flow charts about hurricanes and I reminded them to “do it in pencil first.”

There are so many things I want to do and be in my life. At the top of the list is my desire to be a woman of influence—a woman like my mother.

It's Been One Week

Sunday—He is risen! Delightful meal with the family. Note to self: next year, make a double batch of pineapple stuffing. Donovan McNabb traded to the Redskins—say what?!?!

Monday—Back to work with a groan. 88 degrees and no air conditioning to be found, but it’s opening day for the Fightin’ Phils. President Obama throws out the first pitch. Later, Placido Polanco hits a grand slam. Welcome back, baseball season!

Tuesday—Yes, Joy, that IS a poop smear on your classroom wall. Still hot, still no AC—anywhere.

Wednesday—My first visit to the warehouse that will house our church plant. Big space, big hopes, big dreams. Another day of 88 degrees.

Thursday—After repeating the same instructions to my class at least five times, I cry out to another teacher, “What is my purpose here?” A fifth-grader responds, “To listen!” So that’s what I’ve been doing wrong all year, I thought I was supposed to be doing the talking. Thursday night Bible study is awesome, though rattled by a tornado watch.

Friday—A visit to the middle school. Hugs and tears as I try to persuade last year’s students to return to elementary school with me. “But it’s just so perfect here,” one tells me. Evening activity: watching “An Education.” Note to all: run to the Redbox, it’s that good.

Saturday—First meeting with women who will facilitate women’s ministry at the church plant. Whatever you do, don’t call us a WIC board.

Nobody Knows, Nobody Sees, Nobody Knows but Me

There's a line in the movie "Singles" that I love. A guy says, "I just like the way the world looks from a bike." I took my bike out for its first 2010 adventure today and this is how the world was looking...


I've never seen the lake this high before.


Caught this couple enjoying lunch and a nap on the lake.


The aftermath of Sunday night's Tornado-palooza.

I also saw some firefighters on bikes and really wanted to get a photo of them, but I suppose if you're going to put out fires on bikes, you have to be fast. They got away before I could capture them for a friend of mine who is equally fond of bikes and firemen.

I didn't want to be rude, so I passed on the chance to photograph a dog wearing a saddle bag. But I had to wonder, was the dog carrying his owner's stuff, or his own?

Here are a couple photos taken from my brief trip to the beach--not from my bike.

We have a hard time remembering the restaurants we visit at the beach. Hopefully we'll be able to remember this one.


Sunset at Murrell's Inlet.