Working

The desk hides under sheaves of papers. It was my desk. Will be, I guess, until next week. Strange to think how I can spend a year at a place and then leave, the school still going on much as it had before. It's a good thing.
It was a good year. Not a great year, or an easy year, but a good year still. I look at the rows of textbooks on the shelves across from me and remember. I see my students trying to succeed, or sometimes even trying to get out of succeeding, and I hear their concerns and triumphs echoing in the almost-empty classroom. I will miss them.
It will be strange, this new work; no work to grade, no school programs to prepare for, no staff meetings every Wednesday. And yet, amidst the reluctance to leave teaching after only a year, I find my heart hopeful. Excited. Expectant.

Massachusetts

Yesterday afternoon Mitch called the school.
"What are you doing tonight?" he asked. "Would you like to go out for dinner?"
(These are words I love to hear.)
We ended up at the Nile, this tiny, incense-filled Greek restaurant that has amazing falafels and spanakopitas. While we were waiting for our food, Mitch pulled some papers from his pocket.
"I brought something for us to play," he said. "Do you want to play a game?"
(I am always up for games.)
"Okay. Each of these papers represent a sound," he explained.
Like a rebus, I thought, and looked at the first picture he laid out. The pope?
"No, but what do popes go to?"
"Mass?"
"Exactly."
The pictures he laid out were these: the Pope (Mass), a pouch of snuff or (chu)ing tobacco, and a (set) of tools. Massachusetts has been on my mind. Easy. Then he spread out the rest: tents (camp), a runner (win)ning a race, and (a keg) of beer. I hope that one never gets out. Here, honey, think of a beer keg. But honestly, how else could he have played it?
A couple months back, we applied for a job at Camp Winnekeag (assistant ranger and assistant cook). We visited near the end of April, and May 15 was the final decision date. Somewhat nervously we prayed for God's will. I was tempted to check Mitch's email yesterday, and almost did, but God asked me not to. "Let Mitch tell you himself," was the thought that came into my mind. Well, okay, I said, and closed the window.
Now here Mitchell was playing games, and when we hadn't heard yet!
Then, from his jacket pocket, he pulled out another piece of paper. It was white, with words typed in black. "We extend to you a welcome..."
God, what are You doing? I started to cry. Looking up, I saw tears in Mitch's eyes.
"Looks like we'll be heading east," he grinned.

Happenings

Last night, I finally finished my Union classwork!
(Yes, it's true that I marched down the isle almost a year ago this month and finished my internship in July. But just the end was in sight, I found out I needed to complete several more things before grades and diploma could arrive.)
So... now I hope to see proof of a degree in the mail!

Thoughts of Union bring nostalgia and the desire for fellowship like I remember it. Don't you think heaven will be something like Union? Or, for those alum of other institutes, just like college in general. That is, I mean, learning and growing with friends and family. Not to idealize college in any way. But that part of it I loved, and I miss it now.

Regarding the last posting, I have nothing to add and probably won't for another couple of weeks. Prayer is good.

Meanwhile, I prepare for class trip (Chicago!) this Thursday, and 8th grade graduation in just two weeks from tomorrow! My "lone ranger" graduate chose black and silver for his colors, and we're working to put together videos, speeches, and special music for the occasion.

Then it's off to Michigan for Eric's academy graduation. College already? Eric, here's to you. Congratulations, little brother!

Sparrow

I saw this picture of a little sparrow singing his heart out while around him a storm threatened to blow off his wing feathers. Right now I feel a bit of the storm. Life is somewhat unsettling, and it's only by remembering that spunky sparrow that I'm not discouraged. I'm thankful for a God who keeps our hearts calm if we ask and choose to sing the song He puts on our lips.
Anyway, I know this is cryptic. :) It's meant to be, a little. And meanwhile, I am enjoying the spring weather and the thought of only three more full weeks of school and the anticipation of a trip out of town this weekend! I love fresh starts, all kinds: newly sharpened pencils, a just-filled glass of water, the way a soft-serve ice cream cone has that little swirled tip at the top. So spring and a different routine and new places are great.
God just reminded me of those things, and now I have more to sing about. Isn't He good?

Hat Thief

Here's something amusing from school today:
N (to G, his "special friend"): You've taken my hat like thirty times today!
G: No I haven't! Only five.
J: Well, five times six is thirty!
C: Where'd you get six?!
(My thoughts exactly, as I tried to pretend that my giggles came from the work I was reading.)
J (mumbling, looking confused): I don't know. (His face clears.) She stole it six times yesterday, I think.
Truly, my students' logic astounds me. :)

The Library

The Anderson library inspires me. When I lack creativity or feel like a sole-less shoe after a long day of teaching, a walk through the doors of the library is a breath of fresh air. I think it's the knowledge of all the knowledge inside. Redundant. But for a recovering sick-ee, it's about all I've got. Which is why I'm returning to the library. Tonight. Plus, two overdue books are putting pressure on my spleen.

My Favorite Picture

Updates

Downstairs, Mitch relaxes in dreamland. Upstairs, I sit in the "spare" bedroom full of junk and sunshine.

Time for an update. At the very least, I'll have this to look back on in five years...if the Internet does not implode.

In the last year, much has happened. New job, church, and home. New roommate. New name! Much has been amazing. Some not so great. I think of family who are sick, out of work, discouraged. Yet joy lurks, and the space around the darkest shadows shines. Life is not colorless.

Best events of 2007:
Communication & design learning at Union
Graduation weekend (again)
Guide internship
Finishing the first semester of teaching
Gettin' hitched!

Ah, the wedding weekend and its overwhelming emotions: stress, joy at seeing loved ones and friends, awe as you stand before the one you love and promise your lives to each other, shock when it is over and regret for the moments you missed with others.

And then, the honeymoon...

Hail, the conquering hero comes!


On the beach by the lodge.



And on Christmas morning!


More later.

Drifting

Probably blogging has slowed like the housing market because (unlike the housing market), I am busy. But even as I write this my head starts to shake because busyness should never bury me.

Right now sickness is threatening to bury. I feel myself slipping underneath the mountain of aches and sniffles, and in the back of my mind lurks the temptation to call a sub...until I remember that it will be more work than to go to school. Ah but I am thankful for my work, even when I can barely make it there.

I hung snowflakes and snowmen in my classroom as soon as the students let out for Thanksgiving break. Kristina, if you read this, know that I pine for snow like you have on the mountain, snow to run in and build forts out of and get stuck in so that I can't make it to school. Ha.

I love baskets. Did I ever mention that? Not too long ago I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased some baskets. Now writing this I feel guilty. Why? Because I recently read an article about the "buy nothing new" outfit/campaign/way of life. And I know that somehow I supported an evil industry. We'll see if "buy nothing new" makes it onto this next year's list of things to do. I'm on the fence, still. But right now I do like the way these baskets sit on the shelves Mitch built, holding fruits and pasta and beans and potatoes.

Also, I can't believe I missed Miss van der Molen and Greg Leavitt's duet. There are few opportunities in life to catch something like that, and the Boyds are some of the few/proud/strong/brave to enjoy/listen to/hear/endure it.

School

I should be grading. Instead, I am vainly trying to update this blog, a place to which my thoughts have dug in their heels and refused to go for awhile. Stubborn. Anyway, I type an update on my life, with some pictures to prove that there are people here in this "new" place. (It doesn't feel quite so new anymore.) The ones below are in my charge for eight hours each day.

Grandparents' Day! We played the chimes and did a skit. I felt like Miss van der Molen, my music teacher thru high school.
All right, must go. More later.

Indiana!

In the kitchen of my Anderson apartment, I found counter space! I've been unpacking on and off this week, and now almost everything has a place of its own. Except my mountainload of books. Those are stacked in boxes in the living room.

I'm not sure what I think of Anderson yet. I'm taken with the church, the school, the people. Not sure about the town. I haven't done much exploring so I'll hold off on any opinion yet except to state that it's pretty flat. :)

Guide Magazine

I realize my previous posting about Guide was rather cryptic. Mostly because I wrote thinking everyone would know what I was thinking. That never works too well.

So, if you scroll down, you'll see I've revised it somewhat. I briefly considered making up all of the details and laughing silently while reading the comments about my obviously gargantumly unrealistic account, but it's been done. So I stuck with the facts.

Friendly

Starting over in a new place makes me thankful for good friends. Or rather, it reminds me, "Don't take them for granted." It's easy to do that with people you've been around for years, who you feel comfortable with, who you'd think nothing of calling in the middle of the day for a chat or to get together.

New places mean building relationships all over again, from scratch, easier said than done.

Blast from the not-so-distant past

Go look up Jonathan Meharry and listen to his song "To the End."

Now, some pictures from Guide.


This summer I spent approximately seven weeks at the Review & Herald offices in Hagerstown, Maryland. There I was given a kind welcome as the newest Guide intern. I enjoyed eating lunch with the staff, writing, and siphoning creative juices off of Randy and the Guide team. Here I sit in my office at the Review & Herald. When they revamped the previously (mostly) empty room, Randy and Rachel kindly and ingeniously replaced a heavy, somewhat morose painting with these colorful Guide frisbees.


The illustrious editor, Randy Fishell, in his campsite/office.


You'll notice with some surprise that I've taken over (all that siphoning was put to good use). Randy and Rachel, the assistant editor, seem mildly amused.
Okay, well, this part isn't entirely factual. Randy let me sit in his desk like he would any other huge Guide fan. Seriously. All the kids that visit his office get to do that if they want, and get their picture taken. So as you can see, I'm still a kid at heart.


And part of the bi-daily walking crew. Such a suave group of hopefuls.
(I don't even know what I meant by that phrase. But this really is part of the walking crew. Every day around 10am and 3pm, staff takes a break. This was part of the group with whom I took my break--we'd walk around the building in the sunshine. When it rained, we'd walk through shipping and the bindery and the hallways. Once we went through "paper roll storage.")


Last, but certainly not least, Frank and Dolly DeHaan. A pleasant stay thanks in ginormous part to this wonderful couple! I stayed with them while I worked at Guide. They made it homey and often offered to take me places or showed me things that were going on at church or in town. A wonderful Christian couple.

Appalachia

Crikey! It's the Appalachian Trail!











Which way to Georgia?

Lost

I have come to the sad realization that I will forever be getting lost. It's what I have to look forward to everytime I visit or move to a new place: getting in the car, directions in hand, then ending up in quite a different spot than I'd imagined, or taking three times as long as I should have to get there.

Case in point: Sunday, I took myself off to Antietam Battlefield, the great expanse of hilly fields and woods where the bloodiest battle fought on American soil took place. I made it there fine, but soon realized 1) I had not entered at the beginning but in the middle, 2) I was on a one-way driving tour road, and 3) I had lost track of the tour signs somewhere in a tiny town and had no way back.

That's when I took Harper's Ferry Road through the moutains, into West Virginia, and finally out again by route of a freeway whose sign miraculously matched one I could actually locate in my spiral RandMcNally road map. Home to Hagerstown!

I love exploring. But I did get a panicky feeling in my chest when I realized I was somewhat low on gas and had no idea where I was.

One first-rate event was that I walked down to the Burnside Bridge (historical sketch, top right) and felt Mr. Reichert's chalkboard diagrams come alive. I was hoping to go to Harper's Ferry, as well, but that was before I got lost.

P.S. I just realized that the last several posts have been made on dates that are multiples of seven. Ah, well. If you add up the 2 and the 5 from today's date, you can still end up with the perfect number! Ha.

Engaged!

I still haven't found free wireless internet, but . . . I'm taking a slight break from work anyway.

Mitch and I are tying the knot!

December 23, 2007
Cedar Lake, MI

Una Postita

I shouldn't be blogging from work, and I can't blog from home. That does it. Tomorrow I'm hunting down free internet.

Wishes

Regarding dandelions, I feel ambivalence.

Cons:
Dandelions are considered a weed.
They stink.
They grow profusely, taking over yards and fields and highway medians.

Pros:
Dandelions are bright.
They scream, "It's spring!" after what has usually been a very long, very cold, very dark winter.
They grow profusely, taking over yards and fields and highway medians.

Plus, I love how dandelions seed. I like looking out over a field of smoky dandies in sunset, feeling the silky fuzz between my fingers, blowing hard on the seeds in hope of a thousand wishes.

I think the pros win. Except, why, oh why, must people be allergic to dandelions?

Happy Easter!

In tradition's (and Jesus') honor:
Carrie, Vanessa and I sat down to an Easter picnic breakfast.
It was amazing.
(Note the monkey bread.)