autumn love

Exhaustion.  Sheer exhaustion.

The kind that wraps you in joy and love as your entire being hits the bed.

This is where I am after a weekend of warm autumn sun, autumn tradition, and loads of time with children.  Sunny blue skies, hayrides and horses, apple cider and bees.  Writing and creating.  Wonderful music.  Last of the tomatoes from the garden made into salsa.  Pulling plants and putting away the stakes.  Long sleeve shirts and lots of outdoor play.  Rosy cheeks and the realization that long sleeve shirts may be too warm for this 80 degree day.  Colors and scenes from storybooks.

This is perfection.  This is peace!

Here's a glimpse...

 

 

this moment (bedtime stories with dad)

Linking with SouleMamma and many others:


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Webs

I've never realized this, but I have a thing for spider webs.  Spiders - not so much.  But webs, it seems to me, are a great metaphor for the Universe.  

They're a great learning opportunity, too (says the teacher in me).  I often use a web activity with teams to demonstrate the interconnectedness of each team member and the importance they each play toward the health of the team.  If one drops their piece of the web, they compromise the whole web and, thus, the whole team. It is one of my favorite activities.

I am always amazed at the intricacy of the web - each strand constructed artfully, patiently, uniquely.  Each strand bearing the weight of the next, but contributing to the beauty of the whole.  Braun and beauty (ahem).

For me, this paints such a fitting analogy to how I see the world.  Each of us unique, in color, creed, culture.  Unique in body, mind, and spirit.  Each one of us beautifully crafted as self; yet, interdependent on all others.  The whole of the Universe is affected by what happens to each piece - the birth and death of each living thing. Awe-inspiring and temporary, these tiny little webs.

Here are a few for you to enjoy . . .

simply ten

I love women who inspire me to pause . . . and be grateful . . . in the present moment.

Today's post is inspired by Soulemama who often causes me to stop . . .if only for a moment.

Simply ten good things . . .

:: the smell of tomato sauce cooking on a cool, fall afternoon

:: silly faces that fill my heart with joy

:: changes in nature, a settling and slowing

:: children who tell stories to adults; adults who listen

:: rainy days and indoor tents

:: dads who read nightly to their children

:: Tuesday night yoga class

:: Fall decorations

:: making music

:: the beginnings of what will be my first ever handmade home decor

our classroom

So . . . recently I made the realization that I want to teach.  Some have already asked, "what are you thinking of teaching?"  Good question.  Really!

I'm not sure, to be exact.  But I know that feeding the minds of others thrills me so.  Watching the aha moments of engaged learners is a delight.  The subject area is a bit elusive at the moment.  But, I'm thinking that's okay.

There are three major and incredibly connected subject areas that resonate so loudly with me some days I think I can't hear anything else - faith, diversity and social justice.  If you know of a place where I can learn about teaching all of the above, be sure to let me know (ahem)!

It is also no secret that we've been searching for a church home. What we've found are places that talk a lot about God and the right way to believe in Him OR places that profess that finding a spiritual path is an individual journey; therefore, leaving finding God up to us.  I find that we (me and my husband) want something in between and feel saddened in our journey.

So, I got to thinking (uh oh!).  What if I tap into my desire to teach and husband and I turn our home into a Sunday morning classroom.  Somewhat of a Sunday School Home School! (For those of you that know me well, I can feel your jaw dropping!)  Husband liked the idea and jumped on board. 

The goal is to focus on social justice and diversity and connect our own understanding of the Bible with these lessons.  We'll use Bible stories, children's book, crafts, and music as teaching tools.  We'll decide as a family where to give our Sunday morning offering (cancer care, world vision, local food pantries . . . the choices are endless).  So excited!

And here it is . . . our classroom.

I need to acknowledge one source of inspiration for this.  A student invited me to chapel on Friday where she was speaking.  I've worked closely with her and admire her courage in life.  She shared that her parents were not churched when she was young, but she observed their faith through their every day interactions with people, their kindness, their giving, their service to others.  How important modeling behavior is for children.  I want to be sure that husband and I are modeling our faith in our every day interaction, rather than in our once a week obligation.

Happy learning!

this moment (marbles)

Linking with SouleMamma and many others:

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.