The Pirate Who Missed the Boat

This is the second Friday in a row that there has been rumors of inclement weather causing school to be canceled.  Last Thursday I made a pot of soup and stayed up late in anticipation of a day at home.  I woke up Friday to clear roads and sky, so off to school we went.  Last night I went to bed early because I had learned my lesson.  I woke up this morning to see that there was no precipitation and the roads were absolutely dry.  Therefore I preceded with my morning routine and waking Peter for school.  There was the extra flurry of dressing "piratey" as today was "Dress like a Pirate" day at my school.  I had not really planned (you know there was the rumor of sleet and ice) so I threw together clothing with a pirate feel and dashed out the door.  I was evidently too preoccupied with plans to switch out my head scarf to realize that there were no school buses on the road.  I was surprised to reach Peter's school and be greeted by an absolutely empty parking lot!!  No, not one single car or person.  I will let you imagine from there the conversation in my car at that point. Someone wanted this pirate to "walk the plank!"  After inquiring, I learned that my school was closed as well.  A couple of years ago, there was a staff member who sent out text about school closings and other important information   She no longer works there but I just figured that I would get a text from someone if school was closed.  And did I mention that the roads were clear and there was NO precipitation!!!  I guess I have learned my lesson. Next time I will do a little more investigation when there is talk of canceling school even if the roads and sky are dry!!!!

The Christmas Family Photo

Plants Family Christmas Photo 2012

Peter was told that to receive a  Christmas gift from a family member, he had to first give a gift.  (Experience has taught me that this requirement is necessary training.) He told me his grand ideas and I told him that I was not sponsoring his Christmas gift list.  I told him that his gifts did not need to be expensive and that his grandparents would probably really enjoy a framed picture of himself.  As Christmas was quickly approaching, Peter decided it was time to figure out his gifts.  He told me that his gift to Mama Millie, Papa Bob and Uncle Larry was going to be a family photo.  He  wanted  me to arrange for us all to get together for the photo to be taken. He then requested to be taken shopping because he needed something to wear for the photo. I asked a friend to come and take some family pictures.  A week before Christmas, we all gathered at my house after school and work for the family Christmas photo.  On the way home from school, Peter informed me that he was taking one photo.  He told me that he was not moving around the house for different poses nor various groupings.  Of course I was not in favor of this option so there was discussion about choices and consequences.  However when all was said and done, Peter did just as he said he would do and he posed for one photo. He stood with the family and when he heard the click of the camera he walked back into the house.  Taking copies of that one photo he put them in three dollar store frames  and gave one each to his grandma, grandpa and uncle.  They are all proudly displayed at their house.  My mom says she loves the photo thinking it captured us all very well!  That kid has some pretty fabulous grandparents!!!

New Year's Resolutions

I am not a very good blogger, am I???  I am as consistent with blogging as I am with a lot of things in my life which is "not very!"   I want to be consistent and disciplined, really I do.

As the New Year approached, I could feel "New Year's Resolutions" welling up in my head. Yet I refused.  Personally, New Year's resolutions only bring disillusionment and disappointment.  I refused to make resolutions this year.  I however did ask God to help me make one commitment at a time and give me the ability to follow through.  Then I would ask him to guide me to the next commitment and provide the grace and ability to keep it.  I want to rejoice with each little " keeping of the commitment," being grateful for the success of the moment instead of concerned with how it fits into a 12 month period.

My first commitment was to be a consistent attender of the  Sunday School class studying J.I. Packer's Knowing God.  I want to complete the book and participate in the weekly class.  I have almost finished chapter 3 and have attended the first two classes.  Woo Hoo!  Go Linda. I am rejoicing in what I have completed so far.

I do have several other plans floating in my head but confess I am afraid they are baby Resolutions instead of gentle nudging from the Holy Spirit.  One of these is to "run one 5K a month".  Okay, so this was someone else's resolution from last year that I read about in the Newspaper.  Great idea, but is it something I am to commit to? Could it be that it is just someone else's great idea that I wanted to copy so I can be celebrated like the ladies in the Newspaper?  Good question.

Another brain child I had was to have specific days of the week for specific activities.  For example, Monday would be "write my lesson plans" day.  Thursday would be "shopping" day. Saturday would be "blogging" day. That has not worked out so well.  And I can feel disillusionment and disappointment creeping in.  So I am going to toss that one out the window for now. It was a resolution, not a God guided commitment.  I think it was too big. There were too many spaces to breed failure.  I do believe God is leading me in the way of discipline in my daily (and weekly) life.  Therefore I am going to break that big plan into small bite size pieces.  For now I am going to post at least one thing a week on my blog.  I will start there and see what's next. Well, I have fulfilled my commitment for this week.  Woo Hoo. Go Linda!

Rejoicing in the success of the moment!