The Gift of Time

I am a person who tries to see the gifts of time when they are given. Sometimes it is hard to be thankful for them. For example... last night I had a sweet four-year-old who wanted to chat with me all night! She finally drifted off to sleep sometime after 3:00 AM; my body could not be so easily convinced. So, I was given the gift of time. I had two hours to be alone before kids and Jon would be awake. I prayed; I listened to my family breathe (or snore); I thought about how much I have in my life. This was truly a gift of time, but I didn't always enjoy it.

I was kind of dreading tonight. After no sleep last night, I knew I was going to be home alone with the kids tonight. (Jon has ski club on Tuesdays.) Although I love my sweet ones, I was thinking I would be a bit tired (and perhaps grouchy).

We were able to invite a friend over for dinner. She came, because the person she normally meets with on Tuesdays had something else to do tonight. (The gift of time!) We had a wonderful time!! We had dinner together, talked about Lent, and even danced to Michael Jackson (yes, that was from Allie). I was able to fold some laundry while watching the kids get hugs from another mom. I was able to snuggle with one kid while the other two were getting some special attention from a dear friend. I was able to enjoy those crazy kids, give them what they needed, and enjoy our friend. Such a blessing today!

Today I enjoyed the gift of time. I hope that I pay attention to see those other gifts that I am so freely given.

Funnies and Sweets overheard in my house this week

Allie: "Have you noticed I am wearing pants more often? I am really liking the feel of pants these days. It's the zipper. I think zippers really make the pants!"

Allie (in a bathroom at a Chinese restaurant): "Holy Chinese, Mom! This is an amazing bathroom!"

William: "How does that happen? Moms just know what to say to make things right."

Kate: "I don't want to have anymore birthdays! When I have a birthday, I have to get a shot!"

Allie (after an extremely long toot): "Excuse me. What? I had to wait until it was done."

William: "I cleaned my room. Now... I can't play, sleep, or do anything in there for one week. That way I won't have to clean it again."

Kate: "I can't sleep in my own bed, because my room makes noises at me. Well, Allie makes noises, but I can't sleep with those noises. I need to sleep in your bed."

Ask for a stronger back...

I have been trying out a new toy this week... TOSWF. Sounds fun, huh? It is a Test of Silent Word Fluency. This brief test gives an idea of a student's reading level. I was the first guinea pig;I don't want to brag, but my score was great! I tested my Vincennes Class and was surprised that some of them had below a ninth grade reading level. I tested my kids and husband... (the downside of having an English teacher in the family). Very fun. When I tested an entire class today, I was shocked that 83% of the students are below a 6th grade reading level. 83%?!

Another part of my week has been catching up with friends (either personally or via facebook and blog) regarding their time in Haiti. I look at those pictures of tiny, malnourished babies and my heart just breaks. So many with no home, food, clothes, etc.

So... all of this to get to the point in the title. I was reading an essay by Zora Neale Hurston (again... English teacher) where she talks about the label of "colored" and being reminded that she was the granddaughter of slaves. She says that those labels on press her forward to individuality and success. She talks about how all of us have labels in our lives, but they only make us happier when we succeed. I wonder if my students with such low reading levels, poverty, broken homes, and more will see it that way? Will they excel in spite of their history, or will they use it as a crutch?

Each day on my drive home, I pass a sign on a church that says, "Don't ask for a lighter load, ask for a stronger back." Although I usually hate those silly sayings, this one has stuck with me. I wonder if I am willing to ask for the stronger back.

I have life pretty easy. I love my family, my job, my church, my friends, and the list goes on. I like to be comfortable. I like my easy life. When we pray at night, my kids' prayers (after thank-you, God items) sound something like this, "Please protect us. Please protect our house. Please keep our van running. Please keep us happy, safe, and together. Please keep my parents here to raise us. Please keep us."

In truth, I think my prayers are more like that, too. Again, I like comfortable. Am I willing to be uncomfortable? Am I willing to ask for a stronger back? Am I willing to stretch?

I don't know.