I recently read an article about being happier everyday. There were 5 steps:
1. Make a list of good things in your life.
2. Journal for 5 minutes about one positive thing everyday.
3. Pray
4. Random Acts of Kindness
5. Talk to someone you love.
Five simple, short, to the point steps...and you're on the road to a happier life. Easier said than done my friend, easier said than done. Today, I'm going to do them because today I want to be happier.
#1) Jesus, smiling kiddos, sunshine, Utah, Prince of Peace, my job, my family, my guy, and coffee
#2) Start - 11:43
Today I was able to play "scoop ball" with one of my students at recess. This young man is specifically challenged in this sport. Do you know what scoop ball is? Each player has a large plastic "net" in which you scoop up a plastic ball. The "net" makes throwing and catching the ball much easier. This particular student had a hard time with the game in the first few weeks of school. Here in the 24th week, I saw so much improvement! He was throwing AND catching the ball very well. He even congratulated me on my "skills." I found myself smiling more and more through out the playtime...and so was he. :)
Stop - 11:48
#3) Tonight I'm going to pray for three things: forgiveness, patience, and perseverance.
#4) Today I picked up after 20 children for 7 hours...does that count?
#5) Today I talked to my friend, Katherine, about my wedding...sometimes it makes me feel good knowing someone else is interested in my life. Today Katherine was that for me. Thanks Katherine!
Well, that wasn't so hard. Maybe this won't be such a battle after all.
Good night, Void.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
all he asks is, "call me up"
Every Friday morning is Memory Treasure recitation in my classroom. Essentially it works like this: I call the grade. The children in that grade line up at my desk and one-by-one recite the Bible passage they were assigned for that week. I especially enjoy this time of the day, because it give me just a few seconds of one-on-one with each child studying and learning God's Word together. In addition, I usually come out of it with something to ponder, or at the least, smile about. Yesterday I did both.
Yesterday's passage for my first graders was the first part of Psalm 50:15, "Call upon me in the day of trouble." Eight words with tremendous weight and comfort. As I sped through listening to each six-year-old voice I was quickly halted at the very last reciter. Timid and shy, this little boy was pretty unsure, but after two deep breaths, a swallow, and an eyebrow crunch, he murmured, "Psalm 50:15, Call me up in the day of trouble."
Now, normally, I'm one to correct a mix-up of wording. Normally, I stop the child, say, "Try once more, think." Not this time. I smiled. I said, "Very nicely done!" I gave him his sticker and sent him on his way.
What the child had recited had not changed the meaning of the comforting words our Lord breathed. I found myself thinking later that day, and still now, how easy it is for us to forget that God is just a "phone call" away. There is never a time, a place, or situation we cannot close our eyes and talk to God. You can "call him up" anytime day or night and he will answer. The call will not go to voice mail. You do not have to leave a message. He always returns text messages and he never fails to pick up the phone.
Our God is faithful. Our God is strong. Our God is trustworthy. And because of all those things, I'll never think of Psalm 50:15 in any other way than the way this wise first grader interpreted it. I'll "call him up" in any kind of trouble - because he answers me.
Yesterday's passage for my first graders was the first part of Psalm 50:15, "Call upon me in the day of trouble." Eight words with tremendous weight and comfort. As I sped through listening to each six-year-old voice I was quickly halted at the very last reciter. Timid and shy, this little boy was pretty unsure, but after two deep breaths, a swallow, and an eyebrow crunch, he murmured, "Psalm 50:15, Call me up in the day of trouble."
Now, normally, I'm one to correct a mix-up of wording. Normally, I stop the child, say, "Try once more, think." Not this time. I smiled. I said, "Very nicely done!" I gave him his sticker and sent him on his way.
What the child had recited had not changed the meaning of the comforting words our Lord breathed. I found myself thinking later that day, and still now, how easy it is for us to forget that God is just a "phone call" away. There is never a time, a place, or situation we cannot close our eyes and talk to God. You can "call him up" anytime day or night and he will answer. The call will not go to voice mail. You do not have to leave a message. He always returns text messages and he never fails to pick up the phone.
Our God is faithful. Our God is strong. Our God is trustworthy. And because of all those things, I'll never think of Psalm 50:15 in any other way than the way this wise first grader interpreted it. I'll "call him up" in any kind of trouble - because he answers me.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
the safe road
My great friend, Monica, and I went skiing in Utah today. It was a wonderfully snowy day. The sun was not shining. The wind was blowing. The snow was deep. And the air was a balmy 27 degrees. On 131 inches of mountain powder, we spent five hours and 62 dollars going up and coming down a 10,000 foot Wasatch mountain. At the end of our day, we were satisfied, exhausted, and ready for a warm cup of hot cocoa...but not so fast. Someone had other plans.
Because of the snow and the wind and the cold, our very fulfilling day on the mountain turned into a rather frustrating drive down. Bumper-to-bumper we rode, taking over an hour to travel what normally takes a mere 20 minutes. We joked it would be better to ditch the truck and ski down the mountain. Not to be bested by the elements, we followed suit with the rest of humanity. Just then, disaster struck.
Forced into submission by the inching vehicles ahead of us, we soon found ourselves in a not-so-great situation. Void, did you know it is possible to get in an accident traveling too slowly? I didn't. Two cars ahead of us, a small four-door was obviously causing an issue. At 2 mph, our Trailblazer wasn't fit for the job. Going downhill, riding on slush, with a ton of weight, a slippery situation ensued. Before we knew it, our vehicle just...slipped. Right into the railing. Just like that. It was as if we were an egg that had just been cracked into a frying pan. SLIP! And there we were. Me, my great friend, a guard rail, and a very steep cliff. I have to tell you, I was a little scared out of my mind. I was also praising God for road construction men who know exactly where to put the railings.
I'm not going to explain what happened next. Long story short - Monica, with skill and adaptability, was able to guide the vehicle back onto the road safely, and here I sit today...alive to tell the Void about it.
In the past month, I've been in two could-have-been-nearly-fatal-under-other-circumstances car incidents and one slightly not-so-fatal fender bender. As I look back on the past month: a ditch mishap, a rear-view mirror mistake, and the guard rail rendezvous, I am happy to report that in each situation all parties (myself, driver, and any other vehicles involved) were unhurt and only temporarily shaken. I am happy and grateful.
Everyday our very life is on a balance. It only takes one accident and that's it. EVERY TIME you get into a moving vehicle, whether that be a car, a truck, an ATV, or a canoe, you are putting your life at risk. You are putting your life in the hands of the operator of that vehicle and in the hands of all the other drivers on the road...or lake I suppose. 99 out of 100 times, you are just fine. But it only takes once and that's it. You're history.
I, for one, am thankful for guard rails today. Even more-so I'm thankful I have a Lord and Savior who loves me. Tomorrow when I get into a moving vehicle, I'm going to say a prayer. "Dear God, keep me safe on my way." Perhaps accidents (and just near-ones) are God's way of getting us to talk to him more. I'm okay with that and am looking forward to the day I get to talk to him face-to-face and personally thank him for all the times he sent some angels to keep my car on the road.
On this snowy night in Utah, I pray you, Void, have some angels keeping you safe on your road. Safe travels!
Because of the snow and the wind and the cold, our very fulfilling day on the mountain turned into a rather frustrating drive down. Bumper-to-bumper we rode, taking over an hour to travel what normally takes a mere 20 minutes. We joked it would be better to ditch the truck and ski down the mountain. Not to be bested by the elements, we followed suit with the rest of humanity. Just then, disaster struck.
Forced into submission by the inching vehicles ahead of us, we soon found ourselves in a not-so-great situation. Void, did you know it is possible to get in an accident traveling too slowly? I didn't. Two cars ahead of us, a small four-door was obviously causing an issue. At 2 mph, our Trailblazer wasn't fit for the job. Going downhill, riding on slush, with a ton of weight, a slippery situation ensued. Before we knew it, our vehicle just...slipped. Right into the railing. Just like that. It was as if we were an egg that had just been cracked into a frying pan. SLIP! And there we were. Me, my great friend, a guard rail, and a very steep cliff. I have to tell you, I was a little scared out of my mind. I was also praising God for road construction men who know exactly where to put the railings.
I'm not going to explain what happened next. Long story short - Monica, with skill and adaptability, was able to guide the vehicle back onto the road safely, and here I sit today...alive to tell the Void about it.
In the past month, I've been in two could-have-been-nearly-fatal-under-other-circumstances car incidents and one slightly not-so-fatal fender bender. As I look back on the past month: a ditch mishap, a rear-view mirror mistake, and the guard rail rendezvous, I am happy to report that in each situation all parties (myself, driver, and any other vehicles involved) were unhurt and only temporarily shaken. I am happy and grateful.
Everyday our very life is on a balance. It only takes one accident and that's it. EVERY TIME you get into a moving vehicle, whether that be a car, a truck, an ATV, or a canoe, you are putting your life at risk. You are putting your life in the hands of the operator of that vehicle and in the hands of all the other drivers on the road...or lake I suppose. 99 out of 100 times, you are just fine. But it only takes once and that's it. You're history.
I, for one, am thankful for guard rails today. Even more-so I'm thankful I have a Lord and Savior who loves me. Tomorrow when I get into a moving vehicle, I'm going to say a prayer. "Dear God, keep me safe on my way." Perhaps accidents (and just near-ones) are God's way of getting us to talk to him more. I'm okay with that and am looking forward to the day I get to talk to him face-to-face and personally thank him for all the times he sent some angels to keep my car on the road.
On this snowy night in Utah, I pray you, Void, have some angels keeping you safe on your road. Safe travels!
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