"To Infinity And Beyond..."

Day 31/366 (1/31/2012)

Seriously?!!  Naked eye viewing of the moon at 2:40 this afternoon.  Lord, you take my breath away.

How I miss the rest of my school staff.  We are split up between two campuses and only come together once a month as a whole staff.  Today we had our once-a-month staff potluck.  Have you ever noticed how often great teaching occurred in Scripture over a meal?  Fellowship over food?  How I love eating and laughing and brainstorming with my compadres! 

Let's please not allow our meals to become about nutrition intake.  Rather, let's make the time with our fellows and family...out of this world!

"Bind us together, Lord, with cords that can not be broken."

Gilead*

Day 30/366 (1/30/2012)

As I ran today (P.S. Holy cow, I actually ran today...fairly monumental for a weekday), I contemplated which photo I could take to illustrate the greatness of our Creator.  I wished it was possible to take my camera with me as I ran.  Near our home are rolling hills and orange groves all nestled into the foothills of the lower Sierra Nevadas.  On the return trek, the view of the valley was wholly breathtaking.  Irrigation water ran off down the sides of the street, the air was crisp and tinged with citrus, properties lined with palm trees sat like sentinels in the twilight.  Perfect.  Our own So Cal Gilead.

Instead...you get salad.  Shrink yourself down and pretend with me that you're in the midst of the groves, the palms, the cool runoff.  Or just appreciate a really beautiful Asian sesame salad.

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.

Refrain

If you can’t preach like Peter,
If you can’t pray like Paul,
Just tell the love of Jesus,
And say He died for all.

Refrain

                              African American Spiritual

 *In the Bible, "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, (Genesis 31:21), a mountainous region east of the Jordan River.  (Wikipedia.com)

Ambassadors

Day 29/366 (1/29/2012)

Spent the night at the Andersons', worship at Crossroads, lunch from Rubio's eaten as a picnic on the Lemonia Grove lawn basking in the glory of the Lord's day in the company of the dearest of friends, Stations of the Cross meeting, then home for udon soup and an early bed.

Phenomenal message delivered by Bill Heydorn this morning.  I am inspired by the reminder that I am to live life in such a way that all would see and know the love of the Lord, how much He cares about us, and how desperately He desires fellowship with us.  No matter what happens in life (and the horrible does and has happened), He promises to take our dark and transform it into light.

"17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."                                                                 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Tasty Treats

Day 28/366 (1/28/2012)

Life is rich, sweet from start to finish.  I began the day with my running team of teachers ("Team Teach") doing a 10-mile run from our house (see the photo I posted on Facebook).  Then I reveled in the beauty of marriage watching Kelli at her bridal shower, followed up by appreciating all the Lord has done in the life of Andy P. at his Senior Recital at Hope International University.  We reflected on the whole day back in the Anderson living room with good friends. 

Oh, Lord, you are a tasty treat.  Life is particularly sweet right now.  No matter how the season changes or swings, my heart will ever sing your praises

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
                                                                                      Psalm 34:8

Tortillas and salsa and puppies...Oh, my!!

Day 27/366 (1/27/2012)

Today is one of those days that shoots sunshine into the soul.  How can I not rejoice in all the Lord has done and blessed me with?  I had a lovely Friday with my students, an absolutely delightful lunch with my girlies (with loads of laughter, challenging conversation, and SALT- both edible and spiritual), and topped the afternoon off with a puppy romp.  Really?

 "4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

"8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
                                                                                                    Philippians 4:4-9

Running in place...

Day 26/366 (1/26/2012)

"Running in place will never get you the same results as running from a lion."
                                                            The Most Interesting Man in the World

Think about it.

Extended day, time with Amy at her sister's hair salon, home for a seafood marinara pasta from Jesus...

Windows to my Soul

Day 25/366 (1/25/2012)

One of those basic days.   YHS counselors visited campus to talk with our 8th graders, drama (did choreography on my vampires vs. werewolves rendition of "What Is This Feeling (Loathing)?"...oh, yeah, I said it), then choir tonight...

If a day is mundane, does that mean that I missed opportunities to be extraordinary, to further the Lord's kingdom?  Did I accomplish what He had prepared for me today?  I'm uncomfortable because I think I've missed the boat.  Days can't be meant to just be merely lived.  I feel I'm supposed to be His hands and feet and leave His handprints daily.

Lord, please forgive me my complacency.  Please open my eyes to all you have prepared for me each day.  I want to be wholly effective for you.

"Ladies and gentlemen...the Lord."

~Day 24/366 (1/24/2012)

The Lord takes my breath away.  I am profoundly grateful I own a camera to capture even an iota of His greatness.

I just listened to President Barack Obama deliver the State of the Union Address.  Would that the idealism and the passion presented come to fruition.  Lord, we need you!

" We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000. A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance. Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives. Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies - just to make a difference.

"Teachers matter. So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal. Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones. In return, grant schools flexibility: To teach with creativity and passion; to stop teaching to the test; and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn."

Reflections

Day 23/366 (1/23/2012)

Lenny Kravitz has a song that pretty much says it all for me: "I Love the Rain."  It rained off and on all day today.  We had Marie Callender's potpies and crab legs for dinner, blackberries for dessert.  Watched a little "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off," cleaned the kitchen...

Why do I write all the minutia and seeming tedium?  I know that some days things will be hectic and panicked, and I'll love being able to reflect back to these times of peace and coziness.

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man."
                                               Proverbs 27:19

 What do you see?

Worship Sunrise

Day 22/366 (1/22/2012)

Yet another early morning, but this time for a day filled with worship.  For the first time in over a year, I got to be on the worship team in the main worship center.  It was a glorious day singing the Lord's praises over and over again.  (Worship Set: Salvation is Here, You Are My Passion, Tear Down the Walls, and Everlasting God [Fellowship Church], then I Can't Wait sung by Amy)

"I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad!"

One For the Books...

Day 21/366 (1/21/2012)

So today I'm a wee bit proud of myself.  (Thank you, Jesus, for health and an able body!)  I not only ran my second 12 miles (Woot Woot!), but I did it in the pouring rain...6 minutes faster than the last time I ran it!!  (AND today involved a change of clothes at 7.5 miles and two additional water stops we didn't have two weeks ago...Happy dance!)

The first 5.25 miles I was on my own (it was raining so hard I was blowing water drops off my face and out of my mouth).  Then I was joined by my running buddy extraordinaire, Sherri (her Tinkerbell Half-Marathon through Disneyland is next weekend, so she had cut-back miles today), at the first water stop.  Michele, our God-gifted and inspirational running coach, drove home to get me a change of tops, caught up with us at my mile 7.5, and we did an impromptu outfit change on the side of the road.  Even though I had been wearing her "waterproof" outer jacket, we discovered I was soaked through all layers to the bone.  Oh, how refreshing a dry shirt and jacket are!  By the end of 12, we were both completely soggy again.  Truly the only dry spot on me was a strangely asymmetrical "W" on my back side.  Wonder Butt?

Waterlogged calluses, 3 shirts, two jackets, a towel, a blister, tons of cheering ILCS students and families, fruit and Gatorade, and a hot, long shower later...I'm rather in awe of all God does in the body...and in the Body!

 "We are the Family of God, yes,
We are the Family of God.
And He's brought us together to be One in Him
That we might bring Light to the world!"

Dance 'Til You Can't Dance No More

Day 20/366 (1/20/2012)

Began reading Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo.  An absolute must-read for everyone.  What a beautiful Friday!  Back to school with my kids, lunch with my girlies, then I got to chaperone the Middle School Winter Dance.  Totally pulled a muscle whipping my hair around (yeah, getting way too old for this...but having SO much fun!) and our fog machine actually set off the fire alarm.  Watching the kids dance, not dance, hide behind cell phones (the boys, mostly), giggle, run, and generally make fools of themselves...Ain't life grand!  I love my job!!

Daddy

Day 19/365 (1/19/2012)

No matter how old I get, my father will always be Daddy (all right, sometimes he's Daddy-O, Papa, or Papa-san).  I got to spend some golden hours with my Daddy today, all topped off with lunch at Baker's.  I felt like a little kid on a date with her childhood knight in shining armor.

I have a rich heritage, an incredible father, and blood I am incredibly proud of on both sides.  Most importantly, I have been pointed all my life to the richest heritage of all: my heavenly Father.  Abba.  Daddy.

^"26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6:26

*For my own remembering, that is my grandfather's ring on my dad's finger.  More heritage!

"Mutton, honey..."

Day 18/365 (1/18/2012)

So today my photo is a bit of an embarrassment.  At almost 11:00 p.m., as you can see, I realized with horror I hadn't taken a photo yet.  I grabbed my camera and snapped what was in front of me: Seinfeld.  We had just been watching the episode where Jerry stuffs his chewed mutton into napkins (and his couch) to disguise how much he hates it. 

"What's the matter with you?"

"Mutton, honey."

Went over contracts with the kids, taught drama, pulled together sub plans (doctor's appointment tomorrow), bought chicken and cucumbers, went to choir and sang part of a Bluegrass Mass, came home and, well, watched Seinfeld.  Anything else?  "Mutton, honey."

Lord, thank you for life!

Tear Down The Walls/Magic Happening

Day 17/365 (1/17/2012)

 

 

 

Tear down the walls, see the world
Is there something we have missed?
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this

Look to the skies, hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life, there is love
There is hope, and this is real

'Cause I don't need to see it to believe it
I don't need to see it to believe it
'Cause I can't shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart

This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It's all for You

Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

~ Hillsong United ~

Day 17/365 (1/17/2012)

Today I couldn't choose.  I am struck (stricken?) by the imagery of tearing down walls, walls meant to separate, conceal, remove people from the full purpose of God.  This is a time of Jubilee, a time for freedom from despair, and a time for tearing down walls that keep us from the Lord's glory.  Hope is rising!

As for documenting my day,  I spent most of it in the computer lab at school with the kids, showing them different online photo editing sites and letting them explore.  Magic was pouring from their creative minds into their intensely focused fingertips.

Magic is indeed happening...

He had a dream...

Day 16/365 (1/16/2012)

Today is MLK, Jr. Day.  I am so proud of how much has changed in fulfillment of his "dream."  At the same time, I am not so naive as to not realize how much is left to be done.  I want to be a part of fighting injustice, all injustice in our world.  God, you have called us to be warriors for you.  Please show me the opportunities.  I'm ready to fight for you.

On a wildly different note, Mike surprised me with "The Artist" in theaters today.  What a TREAT!  I had absolutely no idea what it was about, who is in it...I was completely charmed.  An incredibly unique movie experience in today's theatrical age.

O'dark-thirty

Day 15/365 (1/15/2012)

Yup, I took this photo when I got up.  Oh, what an exquisite day unfolded after my early morning shoot!  I got to lead on worship teams in both a Chapel service and in three additional services in the main worship center.  My girlies, Lo and Karen, came to church, then took me out to lunch.   Prayer, prayer, prayer!  Oh, family of God is exquisite.  Then not one hour but two I got to spend in heart to heart Jesus talk with the lovely Patti.

Home to my sick hubby, steak, shrimp and quinoa and Food Network "Chopped" and "Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off" with two puppies on my hips.  A common theme?  One word: HOME.

Lord, my heart is full...and YOU have filled it.

"Lord, You have my heart
And I will search for Yours
Jesus, take my life
And lead me on..."

The Gold Coast

Day 14/365 (1/14/2012)

The day began at o'dark-thirty, loading into the truck, joining with Lindsay and Jim, and heading to La Jolla for a surf trip.  A couple of hours and three frigid surfers later, we trucked home, bellies full of pancakes and french toast.  Thus began my organizing frenzy.  Christmas has officially been put away up in the attic (cue 80's Amy Grant Christmas song "Heirlooms"), and all kinds of other organizing went on (so sad to think that there is SO much more to be done).  We settled in to watch "Contagion" (not really big fans...fairly slow and meandering) and get caught up on "Alaska Gold Rush."  A truly golden day, start to finish!

Thank you, Lord!

Heavenly Sunshine!

Day 13/365 (1/13/2012)

All right, there are certain days that lend themselves to being a musical!  Today, I woke up (DIDN'T have school), strapped myself into my running shoes, hit up Mama Mia! and Wicked as my running companions (I defy anyone to be glum listening to "Dancing Queen" and "One Short Day"), browsed Pier One and Michael's, photographed my tree in the blissful sunshine, spent 4 1/2 perfect hours with my parents, talked on the phone with Karen, chatted online with Julia, then settled into a beautiful evening with my hubby of all hubbies...who just put on Enchanted!  One Hungry Man pound of food later (a favorite meal of mine, seriously) and two puppies curled around my lap: Life at this moment is a musical celebration!!!!

"Heavenly sunshine, heavenly sunshine
Flooding my soul with Glory divine
Heavenly sunshine, heavenly sunshine
Hallelujah, Jesus is mine!"

Heart Burns

Day 12/365 (1/12/2012)

It's a bit surreal that I'm already back on a vacation: a four-day weekend, that is!  Woot woot!  Oh, how I am praying to be productive.  For accountability's sake, here are some of the things I would hope to accomplish this weekend: run 8 miles tomorrow morning, clean my kitchen, get Christmas put away, vacuum, return items to my mother, sing in worship team in the Chapel on Sunday, sing in choir in the main worship center the other 3 services, read a book, grade papers, write a contract for my middle schoolers, bathe my puppies, shred junk mail, clean off the dining room table, begin clearing out the garage, and...relax!

I so love the reminder, "Be still and know that I am God."  I drove Mike out to Corona tonight so he could play for Radiant, the women's ministry, and I could go to choir practice.  He royally burned his esophagus earlier today, so I spent much of the evening tracking down food that wouldn't hurt going down (epic fail) and a coating antacid that would soothe either direction.  Third Place Cafe at church was the meeting place for our medicinal interaction.  (Only I would pause in such a time as that and say, "Ooh!  Beautiful picture spot!")  The worship rehearsal I got to be a part of later was a beautiful time for the heart to burn for the Lord.  My prayer for us all is that we would have hearts that burn with His passion and grace.  Praise the Lord!

"Skin As Dry As Bark"

Day 11/365 (1/11/2012)

Oh, how the 7th graders loved exploring with photography assignments today.  I think it's possible that several became life-long photographers in the span of 30 minutes.  Of course, I had to snap a few pics myself, too.  :)

Choir practice tonight.  Began singing through a Bluegrass Mass.  Despite my initial horror at the idea, it sounds pretty incredible. 

Dry, flaky skin.  Nothing new there.

Holy cow, I'm pooped.  To bed I go... goodnight all!

Oo, Ooh, Udon!!

*Day 10/365 (1/10/2012)

Aahhh!  One of many food-oriented photos, because (let's face it) I am deeply blessed by food.  More work on the 100-Photo Project with my kids today, upper grades PLC meeting, debrief with one of my bosses, then home...and Udon!  My hubby completely rocks.  Period.

Birch Capillaries

Day 9/365 (1/9/2012)

Today I introduced to my 8th graders a 100-Photograph Project.  The idea is to choose an item, large or small, to photograph over at least 10 sessions and in no less than 3 weeks.  Once all the photographs are compiled, the best 100 are chosen to build into a portfolio.  The challenge is to figure out ways to photograph the item in different and unique styles, settings, angles, vantage points, lighting, etc.  I called it an exercise in creativity and problem-solving.   (NOTE: I can in no way take credit for this idea; I read about it somewhere.  Supposedly it's a pretty popular assignment with art students.)  It was fascinating to watch the kids get excited and immediately begin futzing with which item to choose.

I, too, was excited!  Which to choose, which to choose...  The front yard tree is what I settled on.   Already fairly highly photographed, I'm curious to see what I'll be able to come up with over time.  God, in all things I look to you.  Ideas?

Anyone else want to take the challenge???

"I Lift My Eyes Up..."

Day 8/365 (1/8/2012)

Today was a day of Stations; I attended the first meetings for both Stations of the Cross at Crossroads Christian Church and Stations of the Light at Inland Vineyard Church.  With two Stations now assigned, I look forward to many more days, hours, months of looking up.

Lord, please guide and direct and be the inspiration of both of these art pieces.  What do you have for me?

It is Well With My Soul...Soles

Day 7/365 (1/7/2012)

The kids?  Those are students of mine who rode their bikes alongside us the last two miles shouting encouragement, holding up signs, and blowing on their noisemakers.  Living masterpieces.  The shoes?  Those are the feet that ran 12 MILES TODAY!!!  The blister?  Well, it's my recurring friend whenever I do something crazy like this on our long weekend runs training for my first half-marathon ever.  The TITAN next to me?  That would be the phenomenal Sherri Whitlock, my God-sent running buddy.  She encourages me; I encourage her.  We laugh, we talk, we pray.  And when the going gets unbearably hard, we sing together, "It is well with my soul."

Thank you, Lord, for yet another way to learn how much you want to bless us, to walk...to run with us, especially when it's unbearably hard.

Viva La Girlies!

Day 6/365 (1/6/2012)

Fridays are absolute ministry for my soul.  All staff are invited to Friday lunch, though we often have a rather small core group of girlies who always go.  This week we sat for hours in Jake's Italian...something-or-other...and just talked and talked and talked.  Praise the Lord for Soul Food!

Still Alive and...Evil

Day 5/365 (1/5/2012)

Today I picked up the Newbery Medal Winner The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox.  It was a riveting read...and completely disturbing.  What worked at my conscience is the awareness that the horrors of slavery and human trafficking are not just confined to the 1800s and before.  Rather, slavery and human trafficking are alive and well...well, EVIL, in our world today.  The injustice has compounded and multiplied exponentially over the years...yes, even in our own country.

January has now been declared U.S. Anti-Trafficking month by President Obama.  To read more about the horrors of modern-day slavery, please follow the links to The CNN Freedom Project and to The Frederick Douglass Family Foundation, as well as International Justice Mission.  Education and awareness are the first step toward making a lasting difference in our world TODAY.

Comfort Food

Day 4/365 (1/4/2012)

A day of basic comforts: first day of drama class with my 5th-8th graders, finished the slideshow of the 1st Trimester's Winter production of "The Christmas Wizard of Oz" (oh, yeah, I said it...), then home for sweet cornbread, "Hairspray," and "Mamma Mia!" sharing the couch with my hubby and puppies...the sweetest of comfort food.

Free Rice Bling

Day 3/365 (1/3/2012)

One of the most brilliant websites of all time is Freerice.com.  Originally begun as an entrepreneurial SAT review site, participants answer multiple choice questions; for every correct answer, 10 actual grains of rice are given to real people at different Free Rice Food Distribution Sites, all paid for by sponsors through the United Nations World Food Programme.  If a player answers incorrectly, the correct answer is given, and the question reappears later.  In this manner, Free Rice fulfills its two goals:

• Provide education to everyone for free.
• Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

Players can choose from a wide range of subjects, including English Vocabulary, English Grammar, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Literature, Famous Paintings, World Capitals, Flags of the World, Identify Countries on the Map, Basic Math (Pre-Algebra),  Multiplication Table, and Chemical Symbols.

In my classroom, I challenged each of my students to personally earn 50,000 grains of rice, therein feeding 25 meals each (I counted 2,000 grains to equal a small bowl of rice).  Today in my first day back we held a medal ceremony (complete with Olympic anthem and a victory lap) to celebrate all those who have completed the goal.  It was cheesy and cheap...but priceless.  Middle schoolers taking time out of their own lives to literally feed others...invaluable!!!  Great day.

It Must Be Time...

Day 2/365 (1/2/2012)

Today was my last day of Christmas vacation.  Back to school tomorrow.  Upon turning on our beautiful tree, it appeared the tree was trying to tell us something...

All right, already, Christmas is over.  I'm supposed to take decorations down.  I get it.

Thank you, vacation.  You have been sweet and filled with many beautiful memories (a 9-mile and an 11-mile run, Christmas show at church, breakfast with Gretchen, 50th birthday celebration with Susan and the ILCS ladies, took parents to Palm Springs Airport, girl time with Karen and Lauren, singing with Patti and Jim and hubby at Mid-Day Alive, travel day #1, time with family in Fairfax outside of San Francisco, LATE night[s] preparing for Christmas, Christmas Eve service, caroling at the Lorentz home, Charles M. Schulz Museum and ice skating, travel day #2, picked parents up from airport, Christmas with my parents, New Year's Eve at the Anderson Cabin up in Green Valley Lake, New Year's Day photo hike and games, ham dinner with parents, Rose Parade [twice!], movie day with hubby [blechy movie/lovely hubby]...and now...BED).  Kids, I'm all yours...tomorrow.

New Dawn...New Day

Happy New Year 2012!!  Day 1/365 (1/1/2012)

I always say I was born two weeks late and it set the tone for the rest of my life.  Day 1 of my own photo project...and I'm LATE already!!  Oy vay.

"Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me...
And I'm feeling good."
              Newley & Bricusse

Today began up at the Anderson Cabin in Green Valley Lake with a breathtaking photo hike with Lauren and Karen.  The day, the new year, dawned crisp and exquisite. Games (Spicy Farkel and DICEcapades!) with the Allens and the Andersons, then ham dinner with my parents.  Praise the Lord for new beginnings!  Lord, may our eyes be open to see Your will, our hands and feet ready to do Your bidding...

And 2011 slips away...

Lake Arrowhead at sunset as seen from Green Valley Lake...Countdown to 2012 (12/31/2011)

Looking back on 2011, I am profoundly grateful for all the Lord has done.  My incredible husband, my dear family and loved ones, my puppies, my phenomenal job, my sweet Jesus and all He has provided...life is extremely blessed.  Thank you, Lord, for 2011.  Great is Thy faithfulness!