I did something tonight that I haven't done in years. I went to the library to check out a big ole pile of new books. Going to the library is an activity that is part and parcel of the foundation of my childhood. My first library memory was walking for what seemed like hours to get to the Nicholson Memorial Library on the town square of Garland, Texas. I can remember how cool the tiles felt on my bare feet, after pounding the hot pavement. And the smell of that place is still inside my head. It was an old building and the books were old and, even at five, I could feel the sense of history and life that was contained there. We moved away when I was nine. I came back years later just to see it again and was heartbroken to find that it had been torn down.
We moved around quite a bit during my childhood and, everywhere we went, we always staked out the library. I've read from the Chicago library and the library in Falls Church, Virginia and bookmobiles in a variety of locations. (You want to talk about a memorable place! Stepping up into that dim, cool book-smelling cave out of a hot, bright parking lot was like leaving the real world for a little while to explore a parallel universe.) Our family hunted out second hand book stores and bought huge boxes of books at garage sales. But we always had library books checked out and due back in 2 weeks. (The greatest annoyance of my childhood, aside from the fact that I was not allowed to eat all the corn on the cob I wanted, was that there was a limit to the number of books you could check out of the children's department.)
When I grew up, I fell in love with a fellow reader. Although his tastes are wildly different from mine, we were in total agreement that having your own books was the way to go. We (mostly me, actually) developed the attitude early on in our marriage that a book worth reading was book worth owing. At one point we were member of 3 book clubs. Hardly a week went by without the delivery of a box of new books. And we kept them all. Even moving half way across the country--twice--didn't cause us to pare down our collection.
The one mile move from our house to our daughter's house, though, was a different story. They didn't have the room (or the inclination) to absorb the hundreds of books that we had acquired over the years. And we had to face the fact that we hadn't read some of our treasures in more than several decades, and it wasn't reasonable to keep them. So we sold and donated our way down to the ones we really loved and couldn't do without. And for the first time in over thirty years, I've gone six months without buying any books. I've had plenty to read here, but it's been an unusual period of adjustment to stop buying a book just because I wanted to read it.
I have given myself some new reading goals in my 101 list, so going to the library is once again the thing to do. As I wandered around the rows of books tonight, I was amazed by a number of things. One was how many of the books I had already read and another was how many books I hadn't. The biography section seemed surprisingly small and the range of subjects was almost funny. Lots of books about John Wayne and Shakespeare and Hitler. Some people I'd never heard of, some people that I'd heard of that didn't seem to warrant a mention. The whole experience felt new and old, all at the same time. I came home with a novel by Chaim Potok that I read years ago. I didn't really get it then, but I think I might understand it a little better now. I brought home a biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning because I remember being so enchanted by The Barretts of Wimpole Street when I was in 7th grade English class. Three novellas by one of my favorite authors. A biography of C.S. Lewis because my grandchildren are currently enthralled by the Chronicles of Narnia. I haven't had such a huge stack of reading material since I was a little girl.
It's all due back in two weeks. And then I can check out another big pile, as many as I want.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
school and babies
GeeGee commented, about my last post, about how nice the days off and the holidays and the summer and the not-being-in-charge will be. And I'm not the least bit ashamed to tell the whole world that those were the exact reasons that I chased down a job at a school. I've spent 22 years working 10 hour days with no paid vacations and no benefits. The school schedule just totally fits what I want life to be. As I was praying about it, I came to the realization that I would be willing (except for lunchroom, because of the gluten) to do whatever was available. The first thing that came along was the position of special ed bridging aide in middle school. So that's what I am now.
The reactions to this announcement have been at the opposite end of the spectrum. Several people have looked at me with a look on their face that screams, "Are you CRAZY?" And one wonderful response was, "OH! You will LOVE it!" And that probably covers how I'm feeling about it. So excited...and a little nervous. But I think I would be a little nervous about any new job. I'm leaving a comfort zone of 22 years. So a few deep breaths are in order. The nice thing is, I feel like what I will be doing is work that really matters.
Interestingly, I have a sense that my plan to rock babies at the hospital is one of the most important things that will come out of this life change. I have an unshakable belief in the power of words. What you speak over a child helps to direct their destiny. To go and hold a child who may have been born to a crack-addict mother and pray love, blessing and protection over his or her life can, I believe, change the course of that life. I want to promise them that Jesus loves them and has plans to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them a hope and a future. I want to tell them that He sent me to tell them that and that He will continue to send people into their lives to help them. They will not remember me. But I know that the Lord's blessing in their lives is not dependent on that.
So, hurry summer and be over quickly. I've got things to do.
The reactions to this announcement have been at the opposite end of the spectrum. Several people have looked at me with a look on their face that screams, "Are you CRAZY?" And one wonderful response was, "OH! You will LOVE it!" And that probably covers how I'm feeling about it. So excited...and a little nervous. But I think I would be a little nervous about any new job. I'm leaving a comfort zone of 22 years. So a few deep breaths are in order. The nice thing is, I feel like what I will be doing is work that really matters.
Interestingly, I have a sense that my plan to rock babies at the hospital is one of the most important things that will come out of this life change. I have an unshakable belief in the power of words. What you speak over a child helps to direct their destiny. To go and hold a child who may have been born to a crack-addict mother and pray love, blessing and protection over his or her life can, I believe, change the course of that life. I want to promise them that Jesus loves them and has plans to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them a hope and a future. I want to tell them that He sent me to tell them that and that He will continue to send people into their lives to help them. They will not remember me. But I know that the Lord's blessing in their lives is not dependent on that.
So, hurry summer and be over quickly. I've got things to do.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Goal No. 95--CHECK!
I didn't list my goals in order of importance and number 95 is a biggie. Life changing, as a matter of fact.
I've been doing daycare for 22 of the last 24 years of my life. I started when ksl had just turned 2. A neighborhood schoolteacher was looking for part-time care for her almost 2 year old little boy. We hooked up and that, as they say, was that. Even though there were times when I desperately wanted out, wanted just to take care of my two little girls, doing daycare was a necessary part of keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table. After they were grown, I stayed with it because it pays well and it was easy to just keep on keepin' on.
A couple of years ago, I talked to a friend who had started working at a school. She had been a stay at home mom for a decade and a half and she got a job because her husband was out of work and they needed health insurance. And it got me to thinking. If I had a school job...I could go on the spring break mission trips. I could go to the training at the county hospital and be a volunteer to rock the indigent babies in the nursery. I could have the summers off!
I filled out an online application last month. I went to the Job Fair screening interview last week. I got the call last night. They offered me a job. OH MY. I have a school job. It doesn't pay much, but I don't care. I don't need much. And the trade-off is so huge.
Now, instead of saying, "if", I'm saying, "I'm gonna!" Go on the mission trip to Colorado next spring, rock those babies and tell them Jesus loves them, help with Camp Elijah...
And, oh yeah, I'm going shopping for school clothes, too.
I've been doing daycare for 22 of the last 24 years of my life. I started when ksl had just turned 2. A neighborhood schoolteacher was looking for part-time care for her almost 2 year old little boy. We hooked up and that, as they say, was that. Even though there were times when I desperately wanted out, wanted just to take care of my two little girls, doing daycare was a necessary part of keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table. After they were grown, I stayed with it because it pays well and it was easy to just keep on keepin' on.
A couple of years ago, I talked to a friend who had started working at a school. She had been a stay at home mom for a decade and a half and she got a job because her husband was out of work and they needed health insurance. And it got me to thinking. If I had a school job...I could go on the spring break mission trips. I could go to the training at the county hospital and be a volunteer to rock the indigent babies in the nursery. I could have the summers off!
I filled out an online application last month. I went to the Job Fair screening interview last week. I got the call last night. They offered me a job. OH MY. I have a school job. It doesn't pay much, but I don't care. I don't need much. And the trade-off is so huge.
Now, instead of saying, "if", I'm saying, "I'm gonna!" Go on the mission trip to Colorado next spring, rock those babies and tell them Jesus loves them, help with Camp Elijah...
And, oh yeah, I'm going shopping for school clothes, too.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Happy Birthday, Cute Boy!
We had our first date exactly 2 months before his 22nd birthday. We got married exactly 2 months after his 23rd birthday. We thought we were such grownups. Looking back, we both looked like cradle robbers. But Browning got it right when he said, "Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made: Our times are in His hand Who saith 'A whole I planned, Youth shows but half; trust God, see all, nor be afraid!'"
We talked this morning on the way to the worship service about the fact that it seems strange not to be young anymore. We used to feel strong and invincible. Now, most of the time, something on one or the other of us hurts. Everything is slower and weaker and grayer and wrinklier. But the journey from starry eyed youth to middle age to...what comes next is a sweeter trip when you have a companion who has been with you all the way. Our collective youth is in one shared heart. He still thinks I'm cute; I still think he's handsome.
So Happy Birthday to the love of my life, this year and for many more to come!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
...and then there was MORE dancing...
I should have put something about dancing myself into a coma on my 101 list. Because once a month I do that. I did it tonight. Went to worship service this morning. We had practice for about 30 minutes before the service. Then we danced during the service for about 20 minutes. Then we have dance lessons in the afternoon for people who want to learn how to do it--2 hours long and after the lessons are over, the dance team practices Israeli dances just for fun--another half hour or so. Then in the evening, we have a fellowship called Chaverah--covered dish dinner followed by---did you guess? More dancing. Almost 2 more hours. When it was time to go home, I nearly had to crawl to the car on my hands and knees. I wish I'd had Kelli's pedometer on today. I feel like I logged about 26,951 steps--give or take a dance. Next month I'll have to borrow hers (or buy my own) to see how it adds up. Dance--it does a body good.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
101 things in 1001 Days
I haven't seen much of this lately, but it was going around all over in January. I made my list and then did my disappearing act. When I came out of hibernation, I went back and found my list. I had to tweak it a little, but here it is now in all its glory. I'm just posting it to have some accountability. Once you say out loud that you are going to do something, there is always someone coming along later asking if you did it. And it would be real nice if I broke my pattern of putting things off until the last minute. I don't want to have to pull an allnighter to do the last 98 things on my list. (I just read where Kelli posted her list--I'm sure she must have been inspired by the magnificence of my progress!!) And She had the rules--so I shamelessly copied them from her blog and pasted them in here.
Here are the rules as stated from triplux:
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.
101 Goals in 1001 Days
THE LIST
1.Compile the “101 in 1001” list
BIBLE
2. Read the entire Bible, cover to cover (I'm up to Numbers)
3. Read through Psalms in one month, w/o missing a day (make-ups don't count)
4. Read through Proverbs in one month, w/o missing a day (make-ups don't count)
5. Memorize at least one song off of every DVD of Scripture Memory Songs
6. Listen to 10 sets of Joel Young teaching tapes (0/10)
7. Sign up for the Adult B’Nei Mitzvah program
8.Take the “Prayers and Blessings” class
9. Write a paper on Jamie Cowen’s History class
10. Take Biblical Hebrew 1
11. Take Biblical Hebrew 2
12. Write a paper on Biblical Hebrew studies
13. Memorize Proverbs 31:10-31
14. Take at least 3 more Yeshiva classes at BHS (0/3)
15. Learn to cant
16. Make aliyah to the Torah
MOVING
17. Finish moving out of the old house
18. Finish unpacking at the new house
19.Get the old house repaired
20.Get the old house sold Actually, we rented it out, but that's just as good
HUBBY
21. Give CG 10 oil-massage back rubs
22. Rub CG’s shoulders every day
23. Learn to close the cabinet doors after I open them (because it drives him crazy)
24. Plan a surprise evening for CG
25. Another special project for the love of my life
FAMILY/FRIENDS
26. Go to the zoo, collectively or individually, with all the grandkids
27. Take each of the grandkids, individually, for the day to do something special
28. Block out a weekend to go see Mark/Lucy
29. Send out Holiday cards with a newsletter
30. Get in touch with my ex-college-roommate who is so good about writing me every Christmas
31. Plan another complete family vacation
32.Spend the weekend with the children of Daughter#1 so she and her husband can get away (they went to Vegas for 4 days!)
33.Spend the weekend with the children of Daughter#2 so she and her husband can get away (they went to Houston for a wedding)
34. Something special
HEALTH
35. Develop the daily discipline of drinking 8 glasses of water
36. Eat no sugar for one week every other month. (0/6)
37. Get my hair highlighted (not “healthy” but definitely a stretch!)
38. Get a massage~~twice (0/2)
39.Use my Central Market gift certificate YUM!
40. Eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies every day for one month (for the purpose of developing the ongoing habit)
41. Take a complete day off—no work, no errands, no responsibilities (0/3)
ORGANIZATION/CLEANING
42. Do a closet purge
43. Get the “rogue’s gallery” hung in our bedroom
44. Clean out the car and keep it clean for a month
COOKING
45. Learn to make a decent loaf of GF Challah
46. Develop 10 weeks of menus, including grocery lists, for doing recycle menus
47. Do a session of Once-A-Month-Cooking
48. Go through my stack of printed out, never tried recipes. Try one a week to either save or throw away (0/10)
49. Make a GF cheesecake
GARDENING
50. Plant and maintain a container garden: Tomatoes
51. Plant and maintain an herb garden
BOOKS
52. Read 10 classic books that I’ve never read before (0/10)
53. Read 10 biographies that I’ve never read before (1/10)
1. The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis
MOVIES
54. Sit and watch a movie with CG w/o squirming or multi-tasking (0/10)
TRAVEL/SIGHTSEEING/ACTIVITIES
55. Get my passport
56. Go to Six Flags with grandkids
57. Go to St. Louis to visit the family
58. Take a 3 or 4 day get-away weekend, just the two of us (likely to the GF Bed & Breakfast in San Antonio)
59. Take a tour of City Park (not necessarily at Christmas)
60. Save $1000 toward our trip to Israel
61. Visit the aquarium at West End
62. Visit a state I haven’t been to (I had 31 when I was 9 and haven’t added one since then)
63. Spend a whole day at the Canton flea market
64. Spend a whole day at the McKinney flea market
65. Hang the hammock out at the land and spend the afternoon in it
SCRAPBOOK/MEMORY STUFF
66. Finish Katie’s graduation scrapbook
67. Scrapbook the Colorado vacation pictures
68. Scrapbook the Arkansas vacation pictures
69. Do one double-spread page per month in a scrapbook for us (0/20)
70. Start a scrapbook for Kelli
71. Get 10 double-spread pages done in Kelli’s book
72. Get 10 more double-spread pages done for Kelli
73. Sort through old family pictures
74. Get our 8mm movies converted to DVD
75. Make a special project, using the stamping stuff I have
CRAFTS/SEWING
76. Finish quilt top
77. Finish cross-stitch project
78. Make Gillian a plaid nightgown like her mother’s
79. Finish tapestry fabric vest
80. Finish pink/white flannel nightgown
81. Repair the beading on the red top I bought in Missouri
82. Mend the rip in my red tiered skirt
83. Alter my two denim vests myself (instead of sending them out)
84. Make a piece of bead jewelry
85. Get 3 pairs of jeans that really fit (0/3)
WRITING
86. Finalize the stories for the One-a-Day book
87. Write out 20 of the stories for the One-a Day book
88. Write out 20 more stories
89. Finish the “Grandmother’s Memories” book that Gillian gave me for Christmas several years ago
90. Blog at least once a week (I’ll check this off when I’ve done it 20x)
MINISTRY
91. Attend the orientation to qualify to rock babies in the nursery at Parkland Hospital
92. Get set up to go to Parkland once a month to rock babies
93. Mission trip to Hooper to work with Bill/Lisa
94. Mission trip to another place
WORK
95.Get a job in a school district
FINANCES
96. Pay off 4 credit cards and close the accounts (0/4)
MISC
97. Get my mother’s watch resized to fit me
98. Donate blood
99. Get a penny whistle and learn to play two songs
FINALE--Sunday, February 21, 2010
100. Do something major to celebrate the completion of my list
Make another list for the next 1001 days
Here are the rules as stated from triplux:
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.
101 Goals in 1001 Days
THE LIST
1.
BIBLE
2. Read the entire Bible, cover to cover (I'm up to Numbers)
3. Read through Psalms in one month, w/o missing a day (make-ups don't count)
4. Read through Proverbs in one month, w/o missing a day (make-ups don't count)
5. Memorize at least one song off of every DVD of Scripture Memory Songs
6. Listen to 10 sets of Joel Young teaching tapes (0/10)
7. Sign up for the Adult B’Nei Mitzvah program
8.
9. Write a paper on Jamie Cowen’s History class
10. Take Biblical Hebrew 1
11. Take Biblical Hebrew 2
12. Write a paper on Biblical Hebrew studies
13. Memorize Proverbs 31:10-31
14. Take at least 3 more Yeshiva classes at BHS (0/3)
15. Learn to cant
16. Make aliyah to the Torah
MOVING
17. Finish moving out of the old house
18. Finish unpacking at the new house
19.
20.
HUBBY
21. Give CG 10 oil-massage back rubs
22. Rub CG’s shoulders every day
23. Learn to close the cabinet doors after I open them (because it drives him crazy)
24. Plan a surprise evening for CG
25. Another special project for the love of my life
FAMILY/FRIENDS
26. Go to the zoo, collectively or individually, with all the grandkids
27. Take each of the grandkids, individually, for the day to do something special
28. Block out a weekend to go see Mark/Lucy
29. Send out Holiday cards with a newsletter
30. Get in touch with my ex-college-roommate who is so good about writing me every Christmas
31. Plan another complete family vacation
32.
33.
34. Something special
HEALTH
35. Develop the daily discipline of drinking 8 glasses of water
36. Eat no sugar for one week every other month. (0/6)
37. Get my hair highlighted (not “healthy” but definitely a stretch!)
38. Get a massage~~twice (0/2)
39.
40. Eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies every day for one month (for the purpose of developing the ongoing habit)
41. Take a complete day off—no work, no errands, no responsibilities (0/3)
ORGANIZATION/CLEANING
42. Do a closet purge
43. Get the “rogue’s gallery” hung in our bedroom
44. Clean out the car and keep it clean for a month
COOKING
45. Learn to make a decent loaf of GF Challah
46. Develop 10 weeks of menus, including grocery lists, for doing recycle menus
47. Do a session of Once-A-Month-Cooking
48. Go through my stack of printed out, never tried recipes. Try one a week to either save or throw away (0/10)
49. Make a GF cheesecake
GARDENING
50. Plant and maintain a container garden: Tomatoes
51. Plant and maintain an herb garden
BOOKS
52. Read 10 classic books that I’ve never read before (0/10)
53. Read 10 biographies that I’ve never read before (1/10)
1. The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C.S. Lewis
MOVIES
54. Sit and watch a movie with CG w/o squirming or multi-tasking (0/10)
TRAVEL/SIGHTSEEING/ACTIVITIES
55. Get my passport
56. Go to Six Flags with grandkids
57. Go to St. Louis to visit the family
58. Take a 3 or 4 day get-away weekend, just the two of us (likely to the GF Bed & Breakfast in San Antonio)
59. Take a tour of City Park (not necessarily at Christmas)
60. Save $1000 toward our trip to Israel
61. Visit the aquarium at West End
62. Visit a state I haven’t been to (I had 31 when I was 9 and haven’t added one since then)
63. Spend a whole day at the Canton flea market
64. Spend a whole day at the McKinney flea market
65. Hang the hammock out at the land and spend the afternoon in it
SCRAPBOOK/MEMORY STUFF
66. Finish Katie’s graduation scrapbook
67. Scrapbook the Colorado vacation pictures
68. Scrapbook the Arkansas vacation pictures
69. Do one double-spread page per month in a scrapbook for us (0/20)
70. Start a scrapbook for Kelli
71. Get 10 double-spread pages done in Kelli’s book
72. Get 10 more double-spread pages done for Kelli
73. Sort through old family pictures
74. Get our 8mm movies converted to DVD
75. Make a special project, using the stamping stuff I have
CRAFTS/SEWING
76. Finish quilt top
77. Finish cross-stitch project
78. Make Gillian a plaid nightgown like her mother’s
79. Finish tapestry fabric vest
80. Finish pink/white flannel nightgown
81. Repair the beading on the red top I bought in Missouri
82. Mend the rip in my red tiered skirt
83. Alter my two denim vests myself (instead of sending them out)
84. Make a piece of bead jewelry
85. Get 3 pairs of jeans that really fit (0/3)
WRITING
86. Finalize the stories for the One-a-Day book
87. Write out 20 of the stories for the One-a Day book
88. Write out 20 more stories
89. Finish the “Grandmother’s Memories” book that Gillian gave me for Christmas several years ago
90. Blog at least once a week (I’ll check this off when I’ve done it 20x)
MINISTRY
91. Attend the orientation to qualify to rock babies in the nursery at Parkland Hospital
92. Get set up to go to Parkland once a month to rock babies
93. Mission trip to Hooper to work with Bill/Lisa
94. Mission trip to another place
WORK
95.
FINANCES
96. Pay off 4 credit cards and close the accounts (0/4)
MISC
97. Get my mother’s watch resized to fit me
98. Donate blood
99. Get a penny whistle and learn to play two songs
FINALE--Sunday, February 21, 2010
100. Do something major to celebrate the completion of my list
Make another list for the next 1001 days
Friday, May 25, 2007
...and then there was dancing...
On the grand highway of life, DH and I found an unexpected detour about 10 years ago when we went with some friends to a worship service at a Messianic congregation. (I fell in love instantly. It took DH a lot longer to get on board, but he did finally come around.) Our getting involved in this lifestyle has been a real gear-stripping experience for our extended family. I have frequently made the mistake of sharing what I'm learning with a little too much gusto, which has caused some folks to stick their fingers in their ears and sing, "LA LA LA!" at the top of their voices.
One of the things I love. Love. LOVE. about Messianic worship is the dancing. Worshiping the Lord with movement just reaches into the deepest part of my soul. And it's fun. And for someone who works at long hours at home and doesn't get out much, it's also really good exercise. I've started putting on some of the praise music in the playroom and dancing with the kids. They love it and it uses up some of their very high levels of manic energy.
Kelli and I both are trying to be more healthy and one of the things she read about recently was making sure you take 10,000 steps in the course of your day. She got out a pedometer that she had and started wearing it. She wasn't logging enough steps so.....she started coming in for the dancing. I've known for awhile that she was actually paying attention, but neither of us had said a word about her hidden interest. This week she started dancing with us. A few days ago, she asked about some of the steps. And tonight, oh the wonder of it all! She and Gilly and I went into the playroom and just danced and danced for the glorious fun of it.
After we'd danced for about half an hour, Kelli started laughing. "You're just about to explode, aren't you. You just want so bad to say, 'Ha, Ha, I got you!!' " (And I did want to say, "Holy cow! Isn't this great! Don't you just love it!")
But see how much I've learned. I make no loud noises or sudden movements, no big "HA HA" so no one is scared away. And we just keep dancing, 3 generations of dancers. And it is so good.
One of the things I love. Love. LOVE. about Messianic worship is the dancing. Worshiping the Lord with movement just reaches into the deepest part of my soul. And it's fun. And for someone who works at long hours at home and doesn't get out much, it's also really good exercise. I've started putting on some of the praise music in the playroom and dancing with the kids. They love it and it uses up some of their very high levels of manic energy.
Kelli and I both are trying to be more healthy and one of the things she read about recently was making sure you take 10,000 steps in the course of your day. She got out a pedometer that she had and started wearing it. She wasn't logging enough steps so.....she started coming in for the dancing. I've known for awhile that she was actually paying attention, but neither of us had said a word about her hidden interest. This week she started dancing with us. A few days ago, she asked about some of the steps. And tonight, oh the wonder of it all! She and Gilly and I went into the playroom and just danced and danced for the glorious fun of it.
After we'd danced for about half an hour, Kelli started laughing. "You're just about to explode, aren't you. You just want so bad to say, 'Ha, Ha, I got you!!' " (And I did want to say, "Holy cow! Isn't this great! Don't you just love it!")
But see how much I've learned. I make no loud noises or sudden movements, no big "HA HA" so no one is scared away. And we just keep dancing, 3 generations of dancers. And it is so good.
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