Shadowfeet

And since I'm had a bunch of free time today, I've made a significant dent in my iTunes library while cleaning my room.  I ran across this song which I LOVE, and I think you should maybe love it too!

Shadowfeet by Brooke Fraser


When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
You make all things new

THUNDERSNOW!

Yes, you read that right.  Last night we had a thunderstorm, hail, and snow.  All at the same time.  WHOA.  It was WEIRD to see lightning/hear thunder and to witness the quiet of snow at the same time. So today I enjoyed a snow day while the plows tried to clear the aftermath of 5 inches of snow (we got a dusting compared to other places).

Feel free to check out the Google traffic map from last night.  Green (if you can find any) means cars are going at the posted speed limit.  Red lines mean 10mph.  Black/red dashed means STOPPED.  I had a friend who left at 4pm to make the 30 minute trip to Dulles to pick up her parents.  She got home at 11:30pm, just trying to make the 20 miles to and from the airport!  Another friend spent the night in a hotel lobby because all the rooms were taken.  The hotel was less than ten miles from home!  NUTS!

It took one roommate 2+ hours to make the normally 10 minute commute home.  It took the other 3.5 hours to get home thanks to a car accident (her car :(, but she's ok).  I braved the elements to drive half a mile to pick her up at the collision place.  We got stuck going back up the hill to our house and I let loose some words I don't usually say.  But we got free and had no accidents.  I promptly got in my jammies, snuggled under a blanket, and did a crossword.

No word on tomorrow, but I'm enjoying the quiet while it lasts!

P.S the only reson im giving this a 1 is beacuase the voices where pretty good. but thats it!

There have been several thoughtful blog posts in a row.  Tonight I'm feeling unthoughtful.  Hmmm.  Not quite.  Actually I just found this really funny (thanks Mollie and Jon) and it somehow soothes my grammatically inclined insanity.  My students can't spell either.  In fact this is scarily similar to some of the stuff they crank out.  Did this kid even have a CLUE what he was typing as a comment???

Dyyyyyyying in First Grade

The following are actual events.  They have not been fabricated in any way.  Names have been changed to protect the innocent (me).  This occurred in the span of 10 minutes with two different students. 

"Ms. A, my neck hurts."

"What?"

"When I move my neck like this (throws head backwards), it hurts."

"Well, don't do that anymore."

"Oh.  Ok."

"Ms. A, I can't walk.  My leg hurts."

"Well, right now you are supposed to be sitting at your desk reading silently, so you don't need your legs."

"Oh.  Yeah." (saunters off to desk)

"Ms. A, my knee hurts."  (grabs knee in an act worthy of an Oscar)

"Well, you are STILL supposed to be sitting at your desk, so it doesn't matter."

"Sigh.  Ok."

Thus my days in 1st grade.  I tie lots of shoes, hand out tissues, and tell kids we'll talk about their stomach ache in 10 minutes.  Even on a good day, I have several tugs on my shirt.  Seriously, who needs to pay for longer shirts if kids will lengthen them for you?  The extra amount of pestering got me to thinking today about how much I complain.  Do I get so distracted by the inevitable negative things in life that I can't maintain a perspective that transcends my circumstances? 

Have you ever been called out on grumbling?  (Your mother doesn't count).  Or do you have a hilarious story about a melodramatic child?

New Years Resolutions

I was chatting with my sister Mollie yesterday about New Years Resolutions.  She, being the big sister, super-organized, out-going go-getter, has assembled a list of resolutions in each major category of her life, ranging from healthy, home-cooked meals to home organization to gym workouts. I, Captain Fly-by-the-Seat-of-My-Pants, signed up for a 10K.  HAH.  I've never run anything before in my life.  Ok, so one time I ran downstairs because I forgot about cookies in the oven.


As much as I may grumble over the next two months (which I will probably do a lot of), I am excited to have a goal to run toward.  [Sorry, that wasn't very punny]  By running slowly jogging this race, I will cross another item off my bucket list and hopefully improve my quality of life.  This will be a long road [Sorry again, I can't help myself]-- I can only make it about a third of the distance at this point without keeling over.  Fortunately HGTV and a great audio book keep me going at the gym.  In fact I have to keep exercising consistently or there is no way I will be able to run 10K in April.


Similarly, our spiritual journeys take time and persistence.  It cannot be done indifferently.  13th/14th century theologian and philosopher Meister Eckhart wrote, "There are plenty to follow our Lord half-way, but not the other half. They will give up possessions, friends and honors, but it touches them too closely to disown themselves."


What is your purpose in running?  How far are you willing to run?  At what cost?




Warning:  This is the first of barrage of running analogies...