#24 SOL A Simple Saturday

A simple Saturday is blessing. A Saturday with no commitments. A Saturday with time. A Saturday with a act of kindness.

A simple Saturday is a blessing because I had no commitments today. The calendar box was blank and I had the gift of filling it with my choice of activity. It's sad that a simple Saturday is considered a blessing because I had no plans. It's sad that I'm on the run so much and so often that I don't have more blank calendar boxes.

A simple Saturday is a blessing because it feels like I was given extra hours. Time to get back into an old habit. Time to wander around Meijer and buy too many clearance items. Time to soak in the tub and give this aging body a little overdue TLC.

A simple Saturday is a blessing because I was able to spend the day providing an act of service. I was able to spend the day being creative in the kitchen. I was able to spend the day cooking a chicken pot pie, from scratch, for a friend recovering from surgery.

A simple Saturday is a blessing, a gift, an usually occasion. No commitments, time and kindness add up to a simple Saturday.

#23 SOL Counting My Blessing

I awoke up at 6 am today. It is now 11 pm. That is 17 hours. I lost about 12 of those hours. How in the world can a day go by so quickly? Tonight is a short post about a few of the blessing in my life.

I am thankful for...

... a mechanically inclined husband who can fix just about anything.

... the talented members of my community who dedicate hours of time to create a performance.

... rainy days that wash away the uglies and brings beauties.

... good health.

... friends that make you think.

... the opportunities in my life to explore and pursue my interests.

... the ability to feel passion for my work.

... Two Writing Teachers for pushing me to form new habits.

#22 SOL Feedback!

Last night I shared by journey message that I have spent several days writing. WOW! To post my writing on my blog for a community of writers to read hasn't been easy, but I have held onto the idea that it's unlikely I will meet any of my fellow bloggers on the street. There is safety in distance and the digital world.

However, to stand in front of my church family and share my writing with people I see all the time, now that is stepping out-of-the-box.

It went so well. AMAZING! And I think I know why...the feedback. Instant feedback on their faces, their nods, their eye contact. The instant feedback made me feel like I was on cloud nine.

It's great to check everyday for feedback on my posts, but to receive it on demand, so to speak, so beyond powerful! And, then, came the verbal feedback after I finished. AMAZING! I was lit-up! The power of the music, the beautiful windows and the acceptance of my words...AMAZING! Did I already say that?

I'm so thankful. God doesn't call the equipped; he equips the called. Amen!

#21 SOL 15 Random Things About Me

I was inspired by a fellow bloger's post from last night. (I need to look back to give credit where credit is due.)

15 Random Things About Me

15. I eat peanut butter and jelly toast as an snack at least 6 days a week.

14. I have no appreciation for the beauty of birds; they give me the willies.

13. I learned to swim at 40.

12. I DVR Days of Our Lives ... it's a connection to my grandma.

11. I have never been fishing.

10. I want to be a rock star.

9. I can butcher a chicken.

8. I collect writing utensils.

7. I have more shoes than one person could ever wear, need or want.

6. I am a home-body that loves to travel.

5. I am fascinated by William and Kate.

4. I love being lazy.

3. I'm little worried about growing old.

2. I like organization, but I'm messy.

1. I think being a farmer's wife has it's perks.

#20 SOL Teaching Portion of Reading Lesson

I worked on the teaching section of my reading lesson. It has been a crazy, long day and I'm brain dead. So, here is some of my teaching section. Most of the words came from a mentor text, Navigating Nonfiction in Expository Text Determining Importance and Synthesizing by Lucy Calkins and Kathleen Tolan. I'm using Session VI Talking to Grow Ideas About Nonfiction Texts.

Writing mini-lessons is hard work!

Teaching Point

The important idea that I want to teach you is that as we read deeper, we start asking questions that get at the core of the motivations and consequences of the events we study. We may ask ourselves, ‘Why does this matter?’ or ‘What difference does this make?’ or ‘What parts are important to explore?’

Has readers of non-fiction books it is important to develop and grow ideas. It helps to use deep questions that push us to think and increase our understanding. One way to do these is to pause when we sense our minds getting full to the brim and ask, ‘Why does this matter?’ See if you can be readers who talk back to the text. This is one of the few times it’s okay to talk back or back talk. Push yourself to remember what you have reading to form an answer. Your goal is to use talk as a way to mull over the information you are reading, so that you can go from trying memorize every word on the page to actually growing thoughts, theories and ideas about what we read.

(Need to write a demonstration here, but I don’t have a text to use tonight.)

We ask questions that lead to deep thinking. ‘How come?’ ‘Why?’ You are doing just what nonfiction readers do. You are digging, probing, wondering. Now, nonfictions readers go a step further and try not only to ask deep questions but also try to speculate possible answer, saying. ‘Could it maybe be ….?’ We work with our reading partner to grow ideas and thoughts together.

I working a reading lesson for Thursday. I am using the Curricular Plan for the Reading Workshop, Grade 5 (Unit 8 Informational Reading).

The Units provide teaching points, so I'm working on writing the other sections of the mini-lesson.

Here's what I have so far.

Becoming Specialists and Reading as Researchers

Connection

Two years ago, I learned to swim by enrolling in an adult swimming class. When I was registering for the class I remember asking the assistant what I needed for class. Simple questions: Can you recommend a brand of swimming goggles? Is this class appropriate for someone who has very limited swimming skills? Will I need to bring anything else?

My questions were ‘definition questions,’ simple questions that gave me the basic information I needed to get started on my new learning.

Now that I have been swimming for a couple of years, now that I have learned the basics needed to swim, the questions I ask my swim instructor are deeper. Is my torso rotation in sync with the downward pull section of my stroke? Is my hand entering the water at the correct angle? Is my kick starting at my hip joint? The questions are deeper and get to the specifics of being an effective swimmer.

Teaching Point

The important idea that I want to teach you is that as we read deeper, we start asking questions that get at the core of the motivations and consequences of the events we study. We may ask ourselves, ‘Why does this matter?’ or ‘What difference does this make?’ or ‘What parts are important to explore?’

On the agenda for tomorrow night the Demonstration / Teaching section.

#18 SOL Final Version of my message for this week

I decided to put the final touches on my message that I wrote for this Wednesday's Lent message at church. Whew, it's been a nerve-raking experience. I also have to work with the Praise and Worship Band to select songs. So, here it is ... my journey. It's time to surrendered control of it to God and let the words flow on Wednesday night.

Please pray with me.

Father,

You have taught us to overcome our sins

by prayer, fasting, and works of mercy.

When we are discouraged by our weakness,

give us confidence in Your love.

We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

Who lives and reigns with Your and the Holy Spirit

One God, forever and ever. Amen.

I have been awed by the messages shared during this lent season: the stoic, pillar of salt Bob Beckett; the contagious, energetic Mary Arlth; and the articulate, graceful Jennifer Davlin. Thank you for the words from your heart.

A Chinese proverb tells us "a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." Sometimes that first step is difficult to take and we're faced with uncertainties. Where is it that I have come from, and where am I going on my journey?

Mary Magdalene's Sunday morning walk to the garden tomb could be considered too short to be called a journey. Yet, that is exactly what it was, a soul-transforming journey. Much like my journey, Mary traveled from darkness to light, from fear to hope, from despair to joy.

Where is it that I have come from? I come from an un-churched childhood. I come from darkness, fear and despair. My father was raised in the Catholic Church, however as an adult he chose to distance himself from the church. Although dad never speaks poorly of the Church, it is easy to sense the resentment he feels towards his Catholic roots. Right or wrong that attitude shaped my understanding of religion as a child and young adult.

I also had a close high school friend who was Catholic. I remember wanting to be part of her church life. As any teenager, I wanted to belong. However, when I attended church with Cindy I was reminded of the things I could not do; communion, stand or kneel at the right time or recite the correct response. These experiences convinced me that “church” was unavailable to me. In my young mind I didn’t meet the requirements.

I spent much of my early adult years, searching. Searching to belong, searching for acceptance, searching for love. One could say I was the non-observant Samaritan woman at the well. Desperate.

That need to be part of something took me to the Portland Playhouse one evening in the fall of 2004. (This is where you all will need to use your imagination and hang with my metaphor.) When I got to the Playhouse there was more than just a man there, there was a group of man and women, who in a sense, created a “living well” for me. An introduction and many hours of rehearsal grew into a friendship that resulted in a simple invitation.

“Kelly, you should come to church this Sunday.”

Well, I did! I came to the “well” and it seemed as if you all knew what I needed. You knew what I was craving: grace. Although I didn’t ask, you all set about showing me the ‘gift of God’.

The ‘gift of God’ has been shown to be in so many, many ways for which I will be forever grateful. However, there is one thing in particular that seems to speak directly to my heart: the music. (Not only did my new friends from the theater sing on stage; they sang with a band. How cool is that?) I doubt that this comes as a surprise to any of you, but it was through music that I came to know God’s amazing love.

The woman of Samaria, my church family and music have taught me that each person matters to Jesus. Jesus wanted to bring new life to the woman at well; as a matter of fact he wants to bring new life to all of us.

John 4:13-14 “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst-not ever. The water I give will be a spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

This story teaches us that Jesus offers to forgive everyone. He offers new life to all, even if they have been very wicked. I still struggle with accepting God’s forgiveness. Sometimes it’s hard to believe He loves someone like me. Sometimes it’s hard to believe God has forgiven me when I have yet to be able to forgive myself. Sometimes it’s hard to fight off the evil.

When the evil strengthens its hold, it is music that speaks telling me, and hopefully Samaria woman, ‘you are more than the choices that you’ve made. You are more than the sum of your past mistakes. You’ve been remade. Thank you Tenth Avenue North for those words.

The hold of my sins is weakening … He forgives me of my sins. He has given me great hope and I find my hope in Him because of my community of faith here at PUMC. The woman at the well had her sins “washed away” by Jesus. This church (as a body of Christ) has helped me realize that God through Jesus “washed away” my sins. I have discovered His divine mercy in the living water of grace. The woman went to the well to get a jug of water. I went to the theater to find acceptance. Instead, I got so much more, a cleansed and refreshed spiritual life.

The journey that Mary Magdalene took that morning is for me, and you and you. It is for those who have doubts and questions or those who accept it all without any doubts. It is for all of us who are willing to leave the comfort of where we are to discover where we might be. It was a journey that started in darkness and ended in the light.

When Pastor asked me to give a message about my journey my first thought was music. 30 minutes of Praise and Worship music could easily be my journey. However, I quickly realized there are way too many songs for 30 minutes.

So, here is my journey, in music, it goes something like this:

Come just as you are, taste the living water…

I’m desperate for you, I’m lost without you…

Oh how I need you

I once was lost and oh so bound by your grace I have been found…

Open the eyes of my heart Lord…

Lord I come to You, Let my heart be changed, renewed …

I surrender it all to you

Let you love surround me…

You lifted me out; your love rescued me

To you I lift up my soul

I choose Jesus

You hold my life, you know my heart and you call me by name…

Here I stand forever in your mighty hand…

My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength…

Your love is a mountain firm beneath my feet…

Living everyday in the power of your love…

It’s my joy to honor you…

He calls me friend…