11.06.09
Friday Five
All the time, something little will happen and I think, “I should blog about that!” But then I realize that it would make a lame 2-sentence blog post. So I am instituting a new tradition: Friday Five, a compilation of five of those little things throughout the week that really aren’t worth sharing. Enjoy!
—–1
I am taking a seminary class, and my prof reminds me very much of Bill Murray, both in looks and personality. He ended the first class with this: “Does anyone have any questions? No? Well, it looks like I taught another one of those perfect lectures.” It was that perfect dry Bill Murray humor that I so enjoy.
—–2
My favorite word is vehicle. I have known this for a long time. The word “hick” is in the middle of it! For some reason, I find that hilarious.
Now, I have discovered my favorite sentence.
He edited it. Say it fast. “ed-it-ed-it” Seriously, say it out loud or it won’t be as funny. A student and I repeated that sentence over and over this week until we dissolved into laughter. It was great.
—–3
LeCrae has this song called “Identity”, and one line from this song has been on my mind all week:
“Her beauty is her godliness, and she ain’t gotta flaunt it ’cause it’s obvious.”
What a good reminder.
—–4
The week that I made a resolution to drink more water, the faculty restroom is out of order. Ironic? Or a sign from God that drinking water really is overrated?
Okay, fine I know it is good for me. So I’m being stubborn and sticking to it, even though I don’t like it. I will become a water drinker. I will.
—–5
Remember the student with the blue blocks? On Wednesday he was disrespectful, so I took away his word-find. He kept being disrespectful, so I tore it up and threw it in the trash.
Instantly, tears sprung to his eyes, and he yelled, “I REALLY DON’T LIKE YOU!” It was very obviously the meanest possible insult he could muster. I almost didn’t laugh.
Wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place if that was the meanest thing you could think to say?
11.03.09
blue blocks
I enjoy teaching kids with autism. I enjoy figuring out how their minds work, how they tick, and how to teach them.
Teaching kids with autism really affects my speech and behavior as a teacher.
These are the things I find myself saying on a regular basis:
“Don’t put this in your mouth.”
“What’s going on in your world right now?”
“Come back to my world!”
“It is never okay to lick people.”
“Whoa, too close!”
“Take that out of your mouth!”
“Why did you call her ‘lumpy pizza pants?’”
“If you find it on the ground, it doesn’t belong in your mouth.”
“Look at my nose when I am talking to you.”
One of my favorite things is the mathematical mind that one of my students has. He sees the world in patterns. If we are using tiles or blocks, I cannot give him a mix of colors because instead of doing the assignment, he will build elaborate patterns.
Last week I forgot and gave him multicolored blocks, so instead of building arrays, he was patterning. I switched his blocks with other students’ blocks until he only had blue. He threw a fit the whole time.
But ever since then, he has been begging me to play with them. I knew it would all be okay.
Today, he looked up at me and said with the sweetest sincerity, “Ms. Moore, I love my blue blocks.”
It was like he was talking about his very most precious posession in the whole world. I’m surprised a single tear didn’t fall down his cheek.
“Ms. Moore, I love my blue blocks.” Those are the moments that make my day.
It’s November!
November is my favorite month of the year! A whole month anticipating the Christmas season…it is wonderful. I’m trying to decide when is the earliest possible time that is socially acceptable to set up the Christmas tree…next week maybe?
———————————————————————
Halloween costume: emo kid.
It’s a shame that you can’t see the lip ring in the picture. It is my favorite part.
———————————————————————
Wojtek loves to be my alarm clock, waking me up as early as he wants. His favorite method is to jump onto my bedside table and knock everything over. This usually corresponds with when I want or need to get up, so it’s not a huge problem. But Wojtek doesn’t understand weekends, and he REALLY doesn’t understand weekends + daylight savings time. I wonder if I will ever be allowed to sleep late ever again! This morning he started his mess at 4:30. Sick.
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This song came on the other day and has been resonating in my heart ever since:
Be still my soul
The Lord is on your side
Bear patiently
The cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God
To order and provide
In every change
He faithful will remain.
Be still my soul
Thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through stormy ways
Leads to a joyful end.
Be still my soul
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While he dwelt below.
Sometimes I forget that the Lord is on my side, and I accuse him of withholding good gifts from me. Instead, I am to leave to Him to order and provide, remembering that the stormy ways lead to a joyful end.
10.28.09
Renaissance Festival
Today my class took a field trip to the Renaissance Festival! “School Days” at the Renaissance Festival are fun and non-sketchy. It was a lot of fun and now I am exhausted.
Don’t tell anyone that I posted school photos on my blog. I don’t want to go to special ed jail. Okay, thanks.
We saw a hip-hop version of Romeo and Juliet.
We met beautiful Renaissance ladies.
We learned about birds of prey.
We ate Polish food!
We ate turkey legs – every last bite!
We watched this guy play in (and EAT) mud. My boys loved it!
We cheered for the jousting competition.
We watched this lady spin wool into yarn.
We saw men minting coins.
And despite the looks of this abysmal attempt at a class picture, we did have fun!
10.23.09
Mehndi day 2
So last night Payal “painted” that design onto my hand using henna. It looks like cake icing inside a plastic bag, you cut a tiny hole in the corner, and squeeze out a little at a time to draw the designs. Last night it was raised, like she used brown puff paint. Then she covered it with lemon juice and sugar, and I had to sleep with it like that over night. This morning when I woke up, I washed it all off, and the stain from the henna remains. Do you want to see what it looks like now?
I feel so pretty! It will stay like this for about 3 days, and then it will fade away. And I will be so sad.
Payal’s husband is an international student. Since they are not citizens and she is not a student, she can’t get a real job, so she does some small odd jobs to make a little extra income while they are here. Besides doing mehndi, she makes and sells chapati and traditional Indian paintings.
She has asked me to help her advertise, so seriously, if you want mehndi please let me know. For a cheap price, we can go together, have fun, feel pretty, and help out this sweet friend. I think it is more than worthwhile!
10.22.09
Mehndi!!!
My friend Payal gave me a menhdi tattoo tonight! (Don’t worry parents and grandparents – it is not permanent.)
Payal is frok India where she got a degree in textile design and is super artsy and has a precious daughter.
Look how awesome this is!
right back:
right palm:
I feel so pretty!
If you live in CS and want one, let me know, and I can hook you up!
10.19.09
Survivor Audition Video
Aren’t my kids precious???
My wonderful friend Amy finished editing my video, so as soon as this season ends, I will submit my application!
10.15.09
DONE
I just submitted a 24 page paper.
5,087 words. That is a lot.
And it is done!
I have a week-long break before my next class starts.
Therefore this weekend will include the following:
- sleeping late
- Where the Wild Things Are
- game night!
- champagne
Who’s excited?!
10.12.09
I’m an aunt!
Isn’t it exciting?
I have a great aunt. She is fun and hilarious, and I enjoy spending time with her. She came in town to visit this weekend, and I just really love her!
I have been reading Beezus and Ramona to my fifth graders at school, and in the story Beezus just loves her aunt Beatrice. And aunt Beatrice really is a special lady. She is so good at making her nieces feel special, she gives them advice when they can’t talk to their mom, and she just loves them to pieces.
These are my aunt role models. I am so excited!
You can call me Ciocia Rachel! Ciocia is Polish for “aunty”, and it is pronounced “cho-cha”, and it is super sweet. I like it a lot. I already love being an aunt!
Pray for my sister and her morning sickness. Thanks!
10.06.09
she’s shouting
Proverbs 9 has been heavy on my mind and heart since the weekend.
It tells a story of Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly.
You can read it here.
Both ladies are inviting people in for a meal.
Lady Wisdom has made many preparations – built the house, prepared the meat, mixed the wine, set the table.
Lady Folly only has stolen food to offer.
Lady Wisdom has sent her representatives with invitations into the town.
Lady Folly lurks in her doorway calling out to those who pass by.
Lady Wisdom has insight, knowledge, and long life to offer.
Lady Folly only offers stolen water and death.
Lady Wisdom considers the needs of others.
Lady Folly is seductive and manipulative.
I tend to imagine wisdom as a lofty thing that cannot be grasped, but I have discovered that is a lie I am believing. James tells us that anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God for it and He will give it generously. Proverbs 8 tells us that those who seek wisdom will find it.
And where is Wisdom? She is standing along the sidewalks, at the crossroads, at the entryways, at the highest places, at the city gates, at all of the places where you are bound to bump into her with only the smallest effort. And she isn’t just sitting there waiting for you to approach and ask for her. She is shouting! Wisdom is not hidden. She is out in the open begging to be found.
And where is Folly? She is lurking in her doorway, inviting in those who happen to pass by. SHE is the one who should be easy to avoid. But somehow I keep finding myself sitting in Folly’s house, drinking her stolen water, eating her bread in secret alongside those who are perishing.
It is now clear to me that I have been ignoring Wisdom and searching after Folly. I let Wisdom’s shouts pass in one ear and out the other and allow myself to be seduced by Folly’s deceptive charm.
This weekend as I sat in Folly’s house eating her lame contraband, I heard Wisdom shouting far in the distance. Suddenly I saw my surroundings for what they really were. But instead of leaving and searching for Wisdom, I invited over my good friend Self-Condemnation. We had a pity party, feeling guilty and ashamed and too proud to leave for what I knew was better.
I felt like Paul when he said, “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do is what I keep on doing.”
Then Grace stepped in and led me to hear what Wisdom was shouting:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
“You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers… with the precious blood of Christ.”
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart He will not despise.”
“Though your soul clings to the dust; He gives you life according to His word!”
“Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD.”
“The Lord will not restrain His mercy from you; His steadfast love and his faithfulness will ever preserve you!”
Wisdom is shouting. Can you hear her?
