rare

I often forget to be thankful for all the time I have to spend with children and teenagers. Every day after school, it's my 'job' to hang out with kids, or teach young teens how to run their own business, or help a 4th grader with multiplication homework. And I do love it. I love them. And sometimes, I catch a glimpse of their world. I see it through their eyes. I hear their perspective and can understand just a bit more clearly what they experience and how that is constantly and unnoticably shaping them.

The other day, I had this rare glimpse into the world of the 7th grader. There are two 7th graders involved in my after-school business program. I pick them up from school twice a week, and transport them to our ministry's youth center. I am beginning to love those conversations. Not because of what I can say, or how I direct it, but because of the kids' plain honesty and genuiness.

They tell me about their day. They laugh about funny situations. They complain about teachers. They tell me weird dreams they remember from the night before. They tell me the first thing they'll do when they get home. And my all-time favorite discussion topic: they ask how to pronounce words that they're learning from health class. They spelled out some of the words from their lesson on the human body and sexuality...and I couldn't help but giggle. It's like I'm transported back into junior high, and I feel just as uncomfortable as they do (maybe more?). Ah, the privileges of spending time with kids...

Come on, ride the train

I discovered a new love this weekend. Having decided to buy a car last weekend while I was 8 hours away from West Virginia, I had to leave a car in Indianapolis while I drove my new car back to W.V. Thus, I found myself on a Friday night riding a train back up to Indianapolis to pick up the car I left there. It was a great way to spend a Friday night. Seriously.

Yeah, sure it took eleven hours in a train (by way of car, only 7 1/2 hours) but I whole-heartedly still recommend it - travel by train if you can, whenever you can. Think of the gas you will save by not taking your car!

My favorite parts about the train:

• Knowing that there's a good chance the conductor is wearing a funny-looking hat.
• Not having to worry about keeping your eyes on the road - somebody else is doing that for you.
• Living in the mountains by a river is even better when viewed from a fast train.
• Way more leg room than a plane or car
• You can bring all the snacks you want!
• Time to think...lots of time to think
• Arriving at a train depot in the middle of the night with other dreary-eyed passengers and knowing that everybody feels exactly how they look...including yourself.

Every day, I hear trains pass by my house 2-3 times an hour. It carries coal, not passengers, to the rest of the world. I have always liked them, and have gotten used to their engines rumbling past. Now, I'm hooked. I don't know when I'll ride the train again, but I hope it's soon.

On a whim

I happened to be in Indianapolis last weekend (see yesterday's blog) with my family, and just so happened to notice a used car lot while driving past it, and happened to glance upon a pontiac vibe in my price range...and i just so happened to buy it. I'm glad my dad was with me, because, while I like to feel independent and capable of making important decisions on my own, it's good to have your dad agree with you about your decisions. And it's also good to have your dad help you negotiate with a used car salesman. No offense to any used car salespeople, I just think they aren't so pushy towards me when my dad's with me.

So, I'm pretty pumped about my 'new' car. It's real shiny. I had spray painted my old chevy cavalier where the rust was showing through, so I think this is a definite step up. In fact, I feel like it's so nice I don't deserve it. The coolant doesn't even leak! It's incredible.

And I also know that God provided it for me. I mean, God didn't necessarily write on the wall, "Buy the Pontiac Vibe in Indy this weekend..." But He did provide the funds necessary to get a good used car. One that is comfortable and safe and efficient. And I don't deserve it.

Absent and thankful

It's been a while since I've blogged. And I have reasons a plenty. Busy weekends, having no desire to be online, trying to catch up on missed 'Office' episodes, and so on and so forth...you know how it is.

I kinda feel like my computer is like my silent accountability partner...just waiting for me to talk and be honest again...it's visible presence a reminder to connect myself to others and to take time to reflect in writing.

So, I went to Indianapolis last weekend to see my new nephew be dedicated in church. I love this little 5-month old boy. He's a gift from God. And my brother and sister-in-law are wonderful loving parents. It's all so good. It was good for my heart to be there with them, celebrating with them their joy - their son - their blessing. It reminded me of God's words to the Israelites right before they were to cross over the Jordan and claim the land God had brought them to.

He reminds them that they are entering a place "with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards you did not plant." They would constantly use and be among things of value that didn't come from them. They had no claim to self-sufficiency, nor could they boast of themselves. Thankfulness - their only option. God had given them everything.

God has been good to my family. He has given us much. My heart is thankful for Levi, my nephew. For bringing him to my brother and sister-in-law, and providing Levi with a family of love. I am thankful. We are thankful.

Traveling Ahead

I've been on the road a lot recently. It's been good, but also tiring. Last weekend, I traveled to Indy to see my brother and his wife and new son, and then headed over to Illinois to be with my parents. Sunday, I spoke at my home church. It was a full day, but really encouraging for me as well.

I think speaking about life and ministry in West Virginia always challenges me: I find myself thinking, 'how can i put this all into words?' And somehow, God always shows me how to speak and gives me the words and His wisdom. This weekend was no different. And I'm thankful for that. Plus, my home church was incredibly affirming in their encouragement and support of me.

This weekend, I'm off to Roan Mountain, Tennessee for some backpacking with Mel. My favorite hiking spot with a good friend...can it get any better?

Next weekend, I'm back to Indy for my nephew's dedication at church. My whole family will be there - i can't wait for that!

The only sad part about all this traveling is my dog being alone...I don't miss him much, but I think he misses me. This past weekend while I was gone, he chewed off the water spicket outside my house. Water was gushing freely for who knows how long! His favorite chew toy is a 6 foot long drain pipe, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. :)

I'll write more next week.

I'm in it for the eggs

My dad grew up on a farm in Canada, but he went to college and moved far away from farm life, never to return again. Except for family vacation. Every summer, my parents would load up my brother, my sisters, and me and take a 3 week vacation out west. We visited the farm ever summer. The smell of cows, the old barns to play hide and seek in, fields and fields of harvested wheat (or whatever it is my uncle grows)- I think I grew to love farm life (or the idea of it at least.) So now I've become a farmer. Kind of.

This past spring, my friend Emily and I bought 12 laying hens and set them loose in a fenced-in yard near where both of us live. (don't worry, we got permission first.) These hens lay the nice brown eggs - their yolks are richer, more orange than yellow, and apparently better for you. I don't know if you can technically call yourself a farmer when all you have are 12 hens, but it's a start. The other day, someone dropped off 5 more hens and a rooster. Since 2 of our previous hens had disappeared (we think it was a fox), we now have 15 hens and a nice manly rooster.

Today, a friend of mine showed me how to tell the chickens apart (It's hard when a lot of them are the same color). Their comb is different. I didn't know what the comb was, though, so that didn't help. (It's the part on top of their head that's red. Some hens have bigger combs, some have smaller one...anyway). So, I'm learning the ropes. Next spring, we're hatching off some diddies (i.e. baby chicks). And I might even take a couple hens to the slaughter house this fall for some fresh meat. I think my grandpa would be proud. :)