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eReaders…Do You LOVE ’em or HATE ’em

I LOVE paper books!  I do. I love the feel of the paper, I love that I can see how much is coming up on a page, and that I can flip ahead to see how much is left to a chapter–and, you know–make a decision for the next 10 minutes from there.  MOST of all, I love that I can continuously interact with the books right then and there, and THEN I can easily go back to it to remind myself of either what I learned or what moved me. I love paper books and I read them all the time.  In fact, I kind of prefer them.

Here’s an example of me interacting with a self-help book.  

Total Forgiveness by, R.T. Kendall

And this is what I look like in non-fiction in Palabra Amiga: Domina el idioma, by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. (As far as I can tell this is NOT available on Amazon…but only at Velazquez Press.)

And here I am relaxing in fiction with the glorious John Steinbeck, To a God Unknown. I can’t help myself.  Yes, I know that chapter 10 was the most moving while here I am marking the absolute BEST sentence in the whole book which is: “The trail left the river again, and as Joseph neared his tent the clouds rolled backward from the west to the east like a curtain of grey wool and the late sun sparkled on the washed land, glittered on the grass blades and shot sparks into the drops that lay in the hearts of wildflowers.”

You know what else I love? Reading.  Just plain reading. And technology. And I think it’s just fantastic that technology has met READING.  

So, I’m not here to say “tech only.”  I’m here to say that it has its place. Here are some of them. Do you sleep with someone by your side?   On those sleepless nights you (or they) can stay up late reading without disturbing each other by having the light on.

Or THIS!  My latest accomplishment…


Total Ilumination

I don’t have a ‘she-shack’ but I have created a sacred, peaceful place right outside my master bathroom. And I call it my “secret lair.”  (Do you know how many things three teenage boys took care of all on their own when they couldn’t find ME to take of things in the two minutes they spent looking for me and didn’t find me?)

They are all grown and gone now but I still have my secret lair.  And last week it was 102 degrees all day, three days in a row. So when it got dark and cool and I wanted to sit in my secret lair and read, for an instant, I thought “aw, shucks, now it’s cool enough but it’s too dark outside to read…but wait! The kindle!” 

BLISS.

Currently on my kindle I’m reading Serpent Box by a hometown guy Vincent Louis Carrella (And I LOVE it!)  Don’t get me started, but the way he weaves words in the MOST unique way is just amazing.  The story blends old time religion, snake oil, the Appalachian backwoods and story. What a story!  Just very, very unique all the way ‘round. I was in a hurry to read it when I found Vincent one fine day so I did purchase it from Amazon kindle.  I am highlighting my favorite sections-no it’s not the same as paper-but I am LOVING it. I DO get to keep it, and so I will be able to go back and share with Vincent some of the parts that I found most poignant.

I have a one hour commute-each way-to work.  Wouldn’t you know the kindle plays audio books as well.  I have subscribed to Audible.com before and have purchased some good books from there.  However I generally download books via the OVERDRIVE app.   There are few books that I read more than once and audible.com books can get expensive. One is bound to purchasing a $15 book every month. For me, that can add up quickly. FREE books from the PUBLIC LIBRARY! Who doesn’t love THAT!! No, I don’t get to keep them, but generally I’m totally OK with that. 

The most fantastic thing I did on Kindle last year was to go through the entire quadrilogy of Neoplitan Novels by Elena Ferrante. My sister and father turned me on to her.  If you love stories about the human condition and relationships and how people work things out…this four book story is for YOU. Ok, this is supposed to be about the Kindle, let me stick to my topic.   The reason I brought it up is that I “did” these four books in all THREE formats. Paper, e-reader AND audio! I couldn’t get enough of it fast enough! At one point I was listening to the audiobook on the way home and later that night picked up the paper book right on the chapter that I had left off on during my commute home. 

Here’s an article comparing OverDrive and Libby

Oh, and it’s NOT just for grown-ups.  Audio books come along on every road trip I take with my son.  I WANT him to look out the window still! He can’t do that if he’s playing a video game, watching a movie or reading a paper book.  So, audio book it is. I have really enjoyed the books that he has picked out in the genres that he likes. It broadens my horizons and we are even MORE together and gives us something literary to talk about.  We’ve listened to The BFG by Roald Dahl and several books in the series Spirit Animals by various authors. And something new he’s reading called Watermelon.

So there you have it, my review and reason for getting a Kindle…if you LOVE reading. The Kindle doesn’t do much except books. It CAN do other things but they are so slow and difficult to find. I did find the camera on mine once and the pictures are so low resolution it wasn’t even worth it. If it’s more of a tablet that you need then look at the Kindle Fires. I can’t imagine reading eBooks on my laptop and I broke my iPad a little over a year ago. So I purchased a Kindle because it was much cheaper. Charles just bought a Kindle Fire 7 with his birthday money on that Amazon Prime Sale last week for $29! The iPad and Kindle Fires act more like tablets–mini computers. So you might want to go that route and kill two bird with one stone. All the price differences come in when you increase the memory (or gigabytes.)


What about you, are you reluctant to try literature in a technological format?  Do you use a kindle already? Do you use a different eReader? Tell me what you think of it.

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Crowning Glory: River’s Journey

By, Taylor Thompson

STORY WELL TOLD.


Crowning Glory: River’s Journey profiles a competent woman paving her own way at work and getting getting caught up in a toxic relationship at home.  She is strong, capable and intelligent. She strives ahead on her own merits, navigates a culture built to keep her down, and takes charge of turning her own boat around like a BOSS instead of blaming anyone.

As a reader I felt angry when she takes up with her boyfriend, but we empaths are a trusting bunch! We see the good in people, ignore the red flags and bring our A-game…until we get burned and wisen up.  

I was a little disappointed in the ending.  Appreciated a couple of scenes loaded with characters in which the author goes out of her way to incorporate an explanation to keep them all straight.  This could easily be set to the ‘silver screen’ as a movie. Overall I really enjoyed Crowning Glory: River’s Journey and recommend it.

I read this during my “busy season.”  I’m so serious about everything so, if it isn’t seriously something I can USE to make work better or ME better then I don’t have time.  Coasting season comes but during my prep and build season there’s “no entertainment aloud.” But, I had said yes to reviewing Crowning Glory: River’s Journey and committed to a Thanksgiving timeline.  

Still, I started this book, put it down, wasn’t sure it hooked me, knew I had made the promise to read and review it but wasn’t feelin’ it… Maybe it was me and my mood. Then a twist came I and I couldn’t put it down!

Ultimately, I did find Crowning Glory: River’s Journey relatable and entertaining and I DO recommend it.  It’s an “easy read” and I really enjoyed breaking my trend at a time when I’m into a few books and audiobooks that are ‘heavy’ self help or teaching books that require my full attention and a highlighter.


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Dia de los Muertos

I would like to thank the Mexican people for ALL you bring to us from sea to shining sea (of course the SHINING sea is over here in California!) and now especially….

My new favorite holiday.  

 For some reason, after a few years of learning more and more about this festival, THIS year, it really sunk it’s teeth into my soul. Making beauty from our ashes and joy from our mourning. 

As a child I looked forward to Halloween.  As a mom, not so much. My kids, as kids, they are OK with it.  My first born was totally NOT into it as a child but is COMPLETELY into it as an adult.  My younger son, now 11, was too cool for candy this year. I couldn’t even motivate him to put on a hat nor mask and go to the trunk or treat 400 meters away!  Not even for candy! 

So, when I went to see what there was to see downtown for Dia de los Muertos that hook hooked me but good!  

I found several events happening from the events pages on facebook.  (In case you didn’t know, this is a GREAT place to sit in bed on a Saturday morning wondering what to do for the day-then jump up and GO! Of course one COULD plan in advance but hey….I’m a teacher, single mom living on a shoestring budget of both money AND time….so go read my blog post on GRACE and give me some!) 

My BFF and I headed out with a couple of addresses.  We couldn’t find the Latino Center for Arts and Culture and then realized that we had attended last year so we crossed it off our list and moved on to venue #2.  

Although I highly recommend stopping in at the Latino Center of Arts and Culture, the venue is beyond Old Sacramento proper.  About 2 miles so unless you like to wander somewhat aimlessly and have lots of time, I suggest driving. It has its own parking.   Find out ahead of time what is going on and get there EARLY or on time because there are GREAT things to see and DO here for kids.  Last year it got crowded after about an hour and arts and crafts supplies started running out. Once you’ve seen all there is to see do and here, you can head to Old Town and/or Downtown areas. 

So, venue #2 on our list  was sponsored by Sol Collective and held in the beautiful Old Sacramento.  There were many beautiful crafts and altars (called ‘offrendas’ in Spanish). The plaza was lined with booths.  There was a stage ground with Ballet Folklorico dancers.  I DO LOVE traditional dances–Irish, jitterbug, line dancing, swing, tango, Flamenco, Tarantella—I do just LOVE them all! 

At this venue there were food trucks with lots of places to sit and enjoy a meal.  My birthday was last week and although I have decided NOT to celebrate until my life’s hiccup is over and behind me, my BFF has been bugging me about taking me out to dinner for my birthday.  We saw most of what there was to see and she said that she didn’t see my birthday dinner as coming from a food truck, but we were both really hungry and if that’s what I wanted it was totally up to me.  We sucked it up like buttercups and moved on to the 3rd venue on our list.

Midtown.  

THIS is where the magic happened! 

As accidental tourists in our own town, we drove by my son’s comedy hotspot venue (unsolicited shout out to The Comedy Spot which has nothing to do with my blog but all to do with my heart!) And there, right there, as I said  “OH! There’s Tomas’s hang out, The Comedy Spot”…we couldn’t miss it because the street was blocked off by the police right in front of us so one couldn’t even GET to The Comedy Spot if they tried!  We quickly found parking at a hilarious public parking lot just a block away.  Wish I had taken a picture of the pay spot because the owners are clearly anarchists when it comes to fighting off technology–but that’s a whole other blog post–my hats off to them! 

Are you following along with me?  We parked and then walked back in the direction of The Comedy Spot to run right smack dab into The Procession.  There was a wild person with a cracking whip, tap dancing-side stepping horses with their caballeros, Mayan dancers, Ballet Folklorico (folk dancers) yellers & screamers and a Mexican marching band.  Do you wanna hear a good Mariachi Band? Tonight was NOT the night. That was the ONE thing that I did not see nor hear all night. 

Seriously talented tap dancing horse!

We shot and filmed segments for your viewing pleasure here with our crappy smartphones.  Next year I will go with my camera and some intent to do justice to the beauty surrounding us.

There was one area full of booths selling arts, crafts and merch.  I’m rather particular at craft fairs. I’m crafty myself and if I can make it, I’m not going to buy it.  I go to craft fairs looking for unique items and inspiration. So, I DIDN’T purchase any head dresses… but I did purchase hand crafted cross–because I love hearts and crosses and I can’t make this cross…very easily anyway. 

We’ll be ready with head dresses next year!
Pretty sure I’m going to create head dresses for us next year.

Connected but separate was another area of offrendas and alters that families had set up.  Below are some of my favorites. Again, I only brought my crappy cell phone with me so I didn’t take a whole lot of pictures because I’d rather have no photo than a low quality photo.  

There was a community altar with supplies to write a note to our own loved ones.  We each added a tribute to a specific loved one, and I’ll be damned if I didn’t feel the presence of mine the next day while I was getting groceries.  

We were STARVING at this point.  So we meandered around a few city blocks.  Of course all the Mexican restaurants were packed full.  We had Cantina Alley on our list to eat at, however there was a 1 hour wait.  So we wandered some more.  

Weigh laid-even though we were STARVING at this point…we stumbled upon Kulture  which my co-worker had mentioned to me.  And we dipped in here as well. It was NOT to dissappoint!  Absolutely gorgeous alter. And this lovely family. Again, not too many pictures because of the low quality of my crappy cell phone. 

Trattoria style dining
Again, my crappy smartphone does not do justice to how beautiful these crosses are.
Amazing alter

We ended up at Burger Patch.  My BFF is vegan and gluten free and I LOVE a good burger.  The burger here was amaze-balls! She was a little disappointed to take me to my birthday dinner at a burger stand but I was perfectly happy and in case I didn’t mention it…we were STARVING at this point.  We had burgers and their apple pie milkshake. The shake was great because it wasn’t too sugary. I don’t eat a lot of sugar-try not to anyway-and so many things are just loaded with sugar and that sugary taste that the guilt overtakes me and I have trouble really enjoying what I’m eating.  This vegan shake though was not too sweet so I was able to sip away, guilt free…like I was filling my body with health food instead of junk-foody desert that I would have to exercise off later. (Hey, some of you know the huge ‘hiccup’ in my life at the moment so cut me some slack.) 

If you didn’t know, Dia de los Muertos, (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican tradition of remembering, honoring and celebrating loved ones who have passed on.   Watch the movie Coco for some fun ideas surrounding the beliefs that our ancestors affect us even from several generations passed. Or some children’s books , or some more  or watch this video on a wonderful modern history of the celebration or this one on the significance of the butterfly (this one isn’t subtitled so enjoy the videography first and then let the thread fly-pun intended- or start searching youtube for other butterfly references to Dia de los Muertos.)  Forgive me but I teach 2nd grade and it’s all about rainbows, butterflies and soccer…not to mention All you need to know or Simon & Garfunkel’s Everything You Needed to know tends to get over shadowed by crap later on.  But do NOT miss the humor in this! Cuz if you can’t laugh at yourself then you end up laughing at others, and that’s just rude! (WARNING: be sure you don’t have a drink in your mouth because you might spit it out laughing out loud and ruin your computer.)

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Ever Alice by, H.J. Ramsay

On the level of the human condition, PRAISE for Ever Alice!

On a literary level, PRAISE for Ever Alice

On an educator’s level PRAISE for Ever Alice

Families addressing mental health issues from a status quo perspective.  Mental health professionals addressing mental health issues from an exploratory perspective.  Teenagers addressing their mental health by speaking out but their words falling upon deaf ears.  Ever Alice has it all.  

Taking place in 1888, teenaged Alice is committed to an insane asylum by her parents because she is telling stories about talking animals and a cosmic Wonderland ruled by the wicked Queen of Hearts.   Harmless stories, really. And since Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865, it’s completely likely that Ever Alice’s parents introduced her to the very fantasies they were now attempting to rid her of.  In Ever Alice you will see all the beloved characters from Alice In Wonderland.  H.J. Ramsay’s connection to mental illness is well done and modern stroke of genius, really.  Middle schoolers, in the USA anyway, read Alice in Wonderland as part of the canon.  A modernized version or addition might well open up healthy dialogue while capturing the creativity of today’s students.  Making literature relevant instead of just historical really is key to education after all. 

I must say, the times that I got up in arms as to the actions of Alice’s family and doctors kept me returning to the chapter title to remind myself that the story takes place in 1888.  Calming my nerves that we don’t treat children exhibiting mental health issues in this way still. Today’s argument is that we are not doing enough. Ever Alice reminded me how far we’ve come.  Offering some solace.  This novel could be used as a catalyst to open up dialogue among youth that read it.

On a literary level, Ever Alice moves quickly.  In part one the story moves back and forth successfully parallelling Alice’s decent into being lost in her mind and separated from her physical reality.  Chapters are short, two to three pages, before jumping back to or from Alice’s mind in Wonderland to her physical reality in England or Switzerland. Part two has Alice completely lost in Wonderland.  In part three as madness and mayhem prevail in Wonderland. The queen’s realm is in upheaval, Alice fights-albiet conflictedly- for justice to prevail, though she is constantly nearly upended and her plans foiled time and again as  she then returns to her physical reality in Switzerland.

As a teacher, I am always guiding students to use similes to enhance their writing.  Ever Alice is chock full of them-without being overdone-because it adds to the whimsy of the theme.  The similes in this book are unique. A couple of my favorites: “her thoughts kept scattering like unruly school children” and “A chill blanketed her shoulders as grey clouds filled the sky.  They looked like they could crack open like eggs and drench her within seconds.” There are many more scattered throughout the book which I’ll leave you to discover on your own.

Ever Alice would be a fantastic modern addition to introduce students to Lewis Carroll’s iconic novel.  I see so much potential not only for creative writing, compare and contrast but also, as stated earlier, an open discussion on mental health issues.  An online lexile framework website ranked Ever Alice at a 700-800 level.   The same website ranks Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland  at 580.  This upholds my thought that middle schoolers to high schoolers could benefit and become engaged in such dialogues and lesson plans.  And if you’re going to go that route, may I suggest you hook them with Jefferson Airplane’s 1966 “White Rabbit” as an anticipatory set!

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3 Things you need to know about helping the homeless.

I Don’t know where YOU live, but where I LIVE it’s over 100 almost everyday and the dry hot sun beats down on us relentlessly. 

Yesterday as I walked into a local Dollar Tree store a homeless woman meandered my way and let out a loud comment “Ugh, I’m burning up! I’m so hot, I’m burning! “   I suddenly felt really badly for her and acknowledged how hot it has been. She then wandered into the air conditioned store continuing to moan “Ugh, I’m burning up!” She was clearly distraught and I was feeling a lot of compassion, empathy and worry that the store clerks were going to kick her out of the store. 

Then I noticed a worried looking young store clerk who looked like she didn’t know what to do.  A lot went through my head. Does she have store directives NOT to let homeless people into the store?  Was she afraid of the homeless woman? Was she conflicted because of the directive and her own empathy for the woman.  Seriously, it has been 102 degrees for a few days now. And when you’re out there on that black asphalt, no shade, the sun beating down on you.  I’d be burning up too!

I got my item, and I said something humanizing to the clerk.  Something like “I just can’t even imagine what it must be like to be homeless.”  She agreed with me. And I decided that she was more worried about the woman than the situation.  I told her I was going to buy the woman a water and she was OK with that. I know, stores don’t want homeless people wandering around the store just to seek shelter from the elements outside.  I know it can cause all kinds of other problems later. And I didn’t really know if another clerk would have discouraged me from doing so. Anyway, I wanted the clerk to know not to accuse the woman of stealing or anything, that I was going to buy the drink for her. 

When it comes to committing random acts of kindness, as your heart is suddenly moved and the opportunity presents itself…I say DO IT!  Don’t hesitate. Don’t overthink it, your heart feels compelled in that moment-so obey! 

Here are some tough lessons that I learned the hard way.  I didn’t let it stop me but instead I learned from the experiences and was careful to put into practice in future similar situations.

  1. One time someone asked for money while I was at a stoplight.  I GAVE them what I had sitting in the center console. A couple of coins.  The person spit at me. I learned, maybe it’s better NOT to give at all unless you have something substantial, like $1.  I mean what I gave them really wasn’t enough to do anything with. 
  2. When I was at a Dollar Store with my-then-6 year old son,  I neglected to really notice the homeless person outside the store but my 6 year old didn’t.  While walking through the store he asked if we could buy something for the guy and I said “Absolutely! Pick something out.”  He picked a bag of pretzels. With ME by his side, my son offered the guy the pretzels and the guy turned him down saying he was gluten free!!  I was briefly stunned, grabbed my son, walked away, almost cussed (because I’m from NY and I DO that sometimes!) and I spent a minute feeling sooooo badly for my son, when the lightbulb went on and I told my son about lesson #3   I learned: it’s not about ME, not about my son. It’s about helping and moving on.
  3. After a school picnic in the park we had a LOT of food left over and no one really wanted to cart it back.  A homeless person was in the park and if it weren’t for the kids, I would have invited him to join us…but safety first!  I wrapped up a bunch of it and walked it over to him. He suddenly got hoppin’ mad at me. He argued and insulted me and then found a reason to take the food “if it was doing ME a favor” but insisted that he didn’t NEED it…..aaaaaaand it all sunk in.  Seriously, I’m a good listener. I’m a BETTER listener than I am a speaker, especially when it comes to speaking up when I NEED HELP. The lesson I learned that day is my #1 most important lesson and it has stuck with me for decades. Lesson: Turn the tables and let the other person DO YOU a favor.  Just begin with “Can you do me a favor?” More details below….keep reading.

THREE things you need to know to help the homeless:

  1. Some of them are mentally ill.  If they WEREN’T when they started, they might be NOW.  (Research the effects of solitary confinement on prison inmates.)  You should learn that external stimuli can CHANGE the brain.  So, don’t talk to or treat or have expectation that you would have of others whose brains are healthier.
  2. If you do NOTHING wrong but the homeless person accuses you of doing something wrong….see #1 above and DO NOT take it personally.
  3. WHATEVER YOU GIVE make it a favor.  Doesn’t matter how stupid you THINK you sound…please see #1 above.  It may not sound stupid to them. This six-word preamble could make ALL the difference.  

Here are the six words again:  Can you do me a favor?

Here’s what I said to the woman today who was “burning up!” — “Can you do me a favor?  I bought too many waters, could you take one off my hands please?” 

When we have half-days at school, the cafeteria gives EVERY student a bag lunch.  As far as I know–for liability reasons– students need to eat school food ON SCHOOL property. So, I tell my students on THOSE days “If you aren’t going to eat something please do not open it.  I will give it to some homeless people on my way home.” They put it in a box, they feel like they are helping and NOT wasting food, they never see the food again. THEN, on my way home, I find a homeless person and I tell them what a problem I have.  “Can you do me a favor? I teach second grade and the kids didn’t eat this food. Do you know anyone who might want it?” NEVER has this failed me. The person I encounter has ALWAY taken a BOX of PBJ, carrots, salsa, apples and yogurts.  One time a woman hesitated because it was a lot of food. She picked things out for herself before saying…”Well, I might know someone who wants it. Ok, I’ll take the whole box.”

Do you have other ideas that help you to help someone else?  Have you had a bad experience helping someone? Maybe we kind find the lesson in it together.  Do you have good stories about helping someone spur of the moment?

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Coffee…’Nuf Said.

Allow me to let some pictures paint my 1,000 words.

This is SO me rolling out of bed to stumble down the hallway, into the kitchen before grabbing the counter top and pushing the button on the coffee maker.  The counter top has never failed me like it did this woman.

My husband used to get up between 4 and 5 a.m. so by the time I got up at 7-ish he was raring to go and would greet me like it was 1pm like a tidal wave and then…

We’re not together any longer. Maybe because it took him unusually long to learn this poem…maybe because when I recited it, I was not nearly as cheerful.  

In any event here, science–or at least this very scientific drawing–proves where awesomeness comes from…

or bloggers, or men, or women, or moms or dads…

And if YOU want to be awesome too, well, try some COFFEE!

ME? 

And THAT’S why I’m SERIOUS about this thang!

A client actually GAVE this to my husband.  Like I said, we aren’t together any longer and so far, I got to keep this coffee machine.  So, I guess that makes ME awesome. (See scientific drawing above.) Although, I am very grateful for all the times he brought me coffee in bed after learning that poem. NO k-cups!  Just straight coffee beans in one bin and water in the other. Would I have spent THIS much on a coffee maker? Honestly, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I didn’t know that I could get Starbucks taste right off my kitchen counter with the push of a button.  I don’t even put designer coffee beans in this and it comes out so perfect! I have SAVED a lot of money by avoiding coffee shops, to be honest.  

I watched the videos that it came with more than once.  The coffee strength can be adjusted by turning a dial. Also, the ounces per cup.  So, one could dial down the ounces and up the strength or vice-a-versa depending on one’s…er’h’m…personal character traits.

The client who gave it to us was downsizing to this Nepresso.

   

It ONLY makes espresso, which is FINE BY ME! To prevent just slurping it down, I turn it into a cafe americano just by adding some hot water.  I loved the bold taste of this machine also when we visited her place. It takes k-cups though. Which take up storage in cabinets. They looked elegant and this is what she keeps at her vacation place in Tahoe. 

For everyday, I need a bigger cup.  So, I really do prefer the Jura. I especially like that I can get any kind of coffee beans.  I don’t have to worry about k-cups nor the plastic waste.  On the weekends I make cappuccino and, again, it does not disappoint.  It’s super easy. Just fill that thermos thing, and-again-press ONE button.  It grinds and mixes the coffee, syphens and steams the milk all on it’s own! 

It does take up a bit of space on the counter top, but coffee takes up a bit of space in my life.  Someone else might want to go with one of their smaller machines. Read the specs and check out the counter space that you have, it’s definitely a ‘featured item’ in any kitchen.

Just so you know, for routine maintenance, the filter needs to be changed periodically.  And it needs to be cleaned with these tablets.  There’s a message on the machine when it’s time to do that.  It can be bypassed when I’m out so I can still have my coffee on demand. 

If you aren’t traveling around with a Yeti yet…you are also missing out on an amazing product that REALLY-also-does it’s job above and beyond. But THAT’s a whole other post.





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All Walks of Life

Lessons From Nature–This Time From an Agapanthus

Photo by: Marisa Salisbury

Our lives take many twists and turns.  Some are forced upon us just by the general nature of us living on planet earth with billions of other people.  But sometimes we make our own choices, calculated or not. Sometimes we simply interpret something a certain way, perhaps two of us may interpret or react to the SAME thing in totally different ways.  Why? Because we are each unique, with innate, unique gifts. YOU are unique–ONE OF A KIND—and that’s a GOOD thing! Be your BEST you! 

There is something at the root of us all-I believe-that connects us though.  I noticed this agapanthus this week. All of these shoots are coming from the same roots, the same plant.  They are within inches of each other and receiving the same sunlight and shade. And I thought, the way they are all growing in their own way reflects how we humans live our lives.

Photo by: Marisa Salisbury

This shoot has its eye on a goal and is headed straight for it.  Directly, taking no turns, accepting no obstacles. Is it taller than the rest?  No, not really. Will it bloom before the others? I will let you know. Will it bloom bigger?  I will let you know that as well.

Photo by: Marisa Salisbury

This shoot is either shy and trying to hide from what is good for it.  Headed away from the light and back down into the darkness. I know that the sun will not allow for this.  No matter how hard this shoot reaches for the dark shade and thick underbrush of the roots, the sun will continue to shine on it and it WILL turn around and head back on the right path.

Photo by: Marisa Salisbury

This one looks like it tried to do the same thing but saw that the sun is good and turned around to reach for the light.  But what a twist and turn it took!! Is that a bad thing? Not really. When we take a detour in our own lives and head in the wrong direction for a while maybe we make some friends along the way, maybe we help someone out with the unique gifts that we have.  MAYBE it was following that second shoot, gave it a second thought and high tailed it out of there earlier!  We can learn from the mistakes of others…even if we tag along for a while making bad choices ourselves.  We can leave those situations a little earlier than others do.

Photo by: Marisa Salisbury

This shoot is going straight-ISH.  Story of my life!  In fact…here in lies MY uniqueness.  I definitely see my path as reasonably flexible.  I turn but would prefer not to twist per se. I meet and influence and AM influenced by many people along this winding path.  I am not the rigid type. I think that there is much to be learned from others that only strengthens what I truly believe to be at my core.  What I truly believe to be the ultimate truth or “way,” if you will. 

I know I always have my eye on the goal but I DEFINATELY make choices to steer away from them so that I’m looking at them over my shoulder instead of directly AT THE GOAL.  My feet go one way while my eyes are looking in the direction that I should be going.  I tell my students the same thing when they are sitting during a lesson or listening to a speaker.  To sit with their whole body facing the speaker.  Because if their body is facing their friend while the speaker is talking, it is their friend they are going to see and follow when they look up to make eye contact. 

Right now…today…I am HIGHLY focused on the goal.  I have spent a decade allowing myself to be dragged in a spiral away from a life I know that I’m destined for.  Through it all, I had my eyes on that lovely life full of light but I got farther and farther away. This season, right now, I AM that second shoot.  I am so glad that like that third shoot one can always turn that ship around and start heading back in the right direction.

What about you?  What actual direction are you headed in right now? What kind of story can you tell about where you’ve been and where you’re headed now?  

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GRACE part 2

In Galatians 5:22 lists the fruits of the Spirit as 1) love, 2) joy 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) goodness, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness and 9) self-control.  In trying to memorize these, I thought 9 was such an odd number. I can’t think of another time that 9 was a “thing” in the Bible.  There are 12 Disciples, 7 comes up a lot, 3 also, even 40 comes up both in the old and new testaments…but 9? I thought that 10 would have been a better number to work with and I wonder if the illustrious and ever so outspoken Paul had actually written 10 but one was left out of the cannon.  If there WERE 10 what would that last one have been?

MY projection, coming from Paul, is that the 10th fruit of the Spirit might have been “swift kick in the arse.”  Yep. You heard it here first. With our loved ones, with EVERYONE, truly, we are to act in a manner separate from this world.  We are to act according to the Spirit. We are to offer ALL these 9 things to those around us–and if we are becoming a doormat instead of a covering we are to offer that #10— give them a swift kick and start the routine over.   Like this, love on them, be patient with and kind to them, be faithful that things will be ok, treat them with gentleness and exhibit self-control NOT to reciprocate with wrong. Things not ok? Give them a kick and then love on them some more, be patient and kind to them etc etc…

Perhaps.

But, do you have a bruise? A black eye? Has your bank account been emptied out do the actions of another?  Are your friends telling you that you look worse for the wear-that you are either gaining weight or losing too much weight.  Are you stressed and unfocused, losing your hair, chewing at your fingernails–do the the repeated actions of another? If so, you have crossed the line and you are being a doormat.  It’s time for that swift kick.

The sins listed in Galatians are first listed as “obvious.”  In case you don’t know Paul, he’s pretty blunt about things.  He doesn’t often sugar coat the message he has to deliver. So even here, he explicitly states “it’s OBVIOUS what the sins are.” Specifically though, sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and orgies.  

But I THINK I figured something out.  How do we cross that line from grace to doormat?  The more I process it the simpler it seems. It has to do with exactly what is being covered over.  Is it A sin, A wrong, A misstep?  I mean were you stood up ONCE, lied to ONCE, cheated on ONCE…or does the offending party have an addiction to this behavior?  Is the offender prone to a certain unacceptable behavior? Because if its an ADDICTION, way of life or prone to behavior then THAT is what needs to be addressed and changed.  NOT the offensive act itself but the fact that they are prone to a certain behavior. If the offender is unenlightened and repeatedly engages in fits of rage, verbal abuse etc…then they need to change and become more enlightened or be retrained (or TRAINED!).  They need to learn to exercise the brain to end the fight-or-flight responses and train it to push their reactions up higher into the thinking brain. That might take counseling. They might not go to counseling without you first bestowing that 10th fruit of the spirit upon them.  If they respond to the kick–then offer grace while the change is happening. But it is wrong to think that we are offering grace for an addiction or ingrained behavior-because the repeated acts are then NOT really the issue and THAT is what victims might be looking at–the wrong thing.   

Paul, the author of so many books in the Bible, is a supreme example of it being possible for a person to change.  Paul was a genocidal maniac, really. He repented and really changed his entire behavior and thought process. So it IS possible.  Many people had to offer him grace. But he CHANGED.

Is there someone that YOU have seen change?  Do you know someone who NEEDS to change? What kind of ‘swift kicks in the arse’ have you bestowed on someone else?  What was the result?

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GRACE Part 1

Grace is a covering NOT a doormat.

Are you in a great relationship or a messy one?  If you’re in a GREAT relationship I would like to know your thoughts on my musings and if they are are helpful to you.  If you’re in a messy relationship, READ ON.

We all cover the dirt to make ourselves look good.  We cover our dirty walls with paint, our floors with carpeting and our sins and pains with a smile.  And that’s all right and good because accidents happen. We all make mistakes and others make mistakes that have an effect on us.  The people we love (and are SUPPOSED to love) will make mistakes and we SHOULD cover it up–give them GRACE. That way we BOTH look good.

But what about when it gets messy?  I mean REALLY messy. What if the person who loves me (or is SUPPOSED to love me) has such an effect on me that I no longer look good…but THEY DO?  May I offer–THAT is NOT grace. That is being a doormat.

Grace is something that is OFFERED not TAKEN.

Grace covers up a stain, a sin, a wrongdoing and GRACE looks good on the outside.  It’s clean, bright and shiny. People walk by and say “Oh, that looks so good!” The problem or dirt is still there but to those on the outside, it can’t be seen.

A doormat, however is filthy.  People wipe their feet on it and the dirt is left there and now, their feet are clean and THEY look good but the doormat doesn’t.   Wiping one’s feet on a doormat that’s just laying there, also, is something that THEY take-they do. The doormat has no reaction. The covering of GRACE must be lifted by the giver.   Not the doormat. The doormat is stagnant and just lays there getting dirtier and dirtier. And has anyone ever cleaned a doormat? Of course not. When it’s dirty and tattered enough, it just gets thrown out.

Is there a fine line between offering grace and turning into a doormat?  You BET! And why is that? I would love to hear your thoughts if you have ever crossed the line of consistently offering grace but then turning into a doormat.

I have but one projection to offer. Which will be coming in part 2.  It is rooted in the scripture from Galatians 5:22.

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Won’t Pop a Wheelie

I’ve had this bag for about 4 years and I am REALLY tough on it! I teach 2nd grade and since I live 1 hr from work, I take work home daily. This thing is RUGGED! It’s roomy on the inside and the side pockets are large as well. It has withstood me pounding it up my stairs at home and daily flinging it down a large step behind me at work. Honestly, I pause some days and wonder why I’m so tough on it…but not one single thing has broken, gotten stuck, or torn. And the zippers are super thick and durable too!

When I originally ordered it, the company sent me a wheeling backpack by mistake and when I contacted them to exchange it they told me to go ahead and donate it instead. I LOVE THAT! I gave it to one of the foster mom’s at my school and she found a good home for it. I’m so glad there’s one more kiddo who won’t be moving her things in a garbage bag.