Posted in doing something creative, tagged week in the life on April 26, 2010| 3 Comments »
What a fun week! I got much more comfortable with pulling my camera out in odd places and even used my self timer to get some shots. I used a small moleskine for daily reflections and To-Do lists so I have notes. Now I will need to find some time to print photos and make my pages. Can’t wait to see how Ali’s book comes together.
Posted in alzheimer's, tagged daughters, week in the life on April 21, 2010| 1 Comment »
I am not taking the number of photos that many of the participants have recorded – in fact I don’t have one of me yet. But I am trying to think from a backwards perspective – what kinds of things would I want my daughters to know about my day-to-day life – the getting up, making breakfast, and living my life sort of things. I think about this a lot these days. Mom’s Alzheimer’s is beginning to be more obvious. The forgetting leaves her unable to carry on a conversation for long. It is really hard on the telephone where I can’t use visual cues to help her out. There are so many questions I would like to ask but the frustration of not being able to retrieve the memories keeps me silent. I am hoping that this story of a simple week in my life might offer up some of those snippets for my daughters.
Posted in books, tagged children's lit on April 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »
In spite of majoring in English at college, I have never been much of a poetry fan. Lately I have discovered some wonderful poems and have begun to collect bits and pieces as inspiration for my personal writing. But April is National Poetry Month so I headed to the library and picked up some books for kids. I like make recommendations in my monthly newsletter at school but I don’t want to recommend any that I have not previewed. This is the pile that made the cut. Last year I did a poem in my pocket book with my class and they had a variety of poems that we inserted into pocket pages. Missing from this pile are Mother Goose and A.A. Milne’s works but they would also be on my list of recommendations.
Posted in doing something creative, Slice of Life, tagged WITL project on April 13, 2010| 4 Comments »
Ali has begun posting her preparations for the Week in a Life project that begins on April 19. I dug through my scrapbooking supplies and found a 6×6 journal with a bunch of page protectors. One set of page protectors was a bit shorter so I decided they would be good for the journal pages. I used my machine to stitch them down to a 4×6 size. This way I can journal right on index cards. I also found a bunch of supplies about play and time so I pulled them out. If you are thinking about doing this project, be sure to visit Ali and sew how she is getting ready.
If you want to read more Slice of Life stories or learn about telling your own story, visit TwoWriting Teachers.
Posted in doing something creative, tagged a week in the life on April 10, 2010| 2 Comments »
I have been reading Ali Edwards’ blog for a long time and I have always wanted to take a class from her. One of the things she does so well is to record the ordinary moments in life. And soon she will be creating a new album based on an ordinary week. This isn’t an online class but she will be going through all of the steps as she takes pictures and records her week. And the timing is just screaming out to me, right on the heels of the Slice of Life challenge. So, I am planning to take the challenge. Today I am going to sort through my supplies – I know I must have an album in my collection that will be perfect for this project. Visit Ali’s blog for more information.
Posted in Slice of Life, tagged spring break on April 6, 2010| 6 Comments »
This year I decided not to make any plans for my spring break. I knew that activities and opportunities would emerge. I am on day 5 – right in the middle – and I am enjoying the pace. I have had plenty of time to read, visit the library, run on the trail, practice my drums, sew, nap, and write. This may be one of my best spring breaks EVER!
To read more Slice of Life weekly entries, visit TwoWritingTeachers.
Posted in prayer, tagged faith on April 4, 2010| 1 Comment »
Can you see it? Between those tall buildings, off in the distance, there is a ferry dock. And if you stand and watch long enough, you will see the boat, coming and going, taking people and cars and bicycles from one side of the water to the other. I remember the first time we took the girls on a ferry-boat. They had been on grampa’s boat in the lake and they could not imagine how we were going to get our car on a boat. There are so many things I cannot imagine. I can’t imagine why people walk away without talking. I can’t imagine how we will ever be able to live in peace if we can’t stop and listen to one another without rushing in to say what we think. But at least I can imagine that I don’t have to do this alone. And that helps me see past the obstacles, to the view that is so lovely, so promising, so hopeful.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
Posted in wonder, tagged faith on April 3, 2010| 1 Comment »
Sitting in worship these last two days, an image came to me – those women, at the foot of the cross. I cannot imagine the grief they must have felt, watching Jesus suffer and die such a horrible death. One of my friends told me that her small group would be watching The Passion on Good Friday. At the Good Friday service I attended, there was darkness, shadows, a large wooden cross, quietly carried into the sanctuary. I know that I need these symbols, these reminders, my own time to stand at the foot of the cross.
At the foot of the cross by Kathryn Scott
At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received
And You’ve won my heart
Yes You’ve won my heart
Now I can
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me
I’m laying every burden down
I’m laying every burden down
lining up my words 