The Explorer of Warmth

Today, while I was standing at the drive-thru window at work, I realized that staring at my parent's Explorer gives me a certain feeling. I know that sounds weird. But what I mean is that there is a distinct warmth I get from seeing this vehicle. There is nothing special about it, other than the fact that it gives me this feeling.

And me being me, I needed to understand WHY I got that feeling. I'm not a "oh, that? okay" kind of person. I'm a "Why? I don't understand, and I really need to" person. Makes life difficult sometimes. But I learn a lot that way.

I know it sounds like I was wasting time at work, but honestly, this all took about a minute. Maybe less. I realized that my parent's Explorer reminds me of my dad. Which is weird because my mom drives it more than my dad, but for some reason, it's Dad I think of.

The sight of my Explorer makes me feel safe, protected. It makes me feel comfortable and at home. It's a warm feeling.

As I was standing there, a smile was brought to my face. I love these little things in life. I never want to overlook them. The little things can be much more meaningful and important than the big things.

Participation Please!

So at one of my placements, my coop teacher asked me if I had any book suggestions for her 7th-grade son. Now I have some, and I want to email my suggestions to her soon, but I would like to get some other input. These are what I have so far:

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
• Slam!
• Fallen Angels both by Walter Dean Myers (or anything by him)
• The Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini
• The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Monster Blood Tattoo series by D.M. Cornish
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• A Wrinkle in Time series, especially Many Waters (male protagonists) by Madeleine L'Engle
• The Giver by Lois Lowry

That's what I have, but I would like some more. She said that she wanted books other than Harry Potter. I think he has already read them or was not interested.

Let me know what you think! Thanks!

A Martha Striving to be a Mary

I find that stress is something that either inspires creativity or kills it relentlessly.

I, some days, can't find the happy medium. It's like everything happens all at once, and things that you knew were looming, creep up with an overwhelming intensity that you weren't prepared for.

And it almost always happens on a Monday.

So today is a Monday, and today I am overwhelmed to the point of tears (the point, however none have dropped).

I was looking over my schedule, planning out my life for the week on my Post-it calendar (which was a gift from my mother for Christmas; amazing gift), and I read over the verses I had put in the margin. It was from Luke 10. I'll tell you the whole story so you get the context:

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister had left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10: 38-42)

I've heard this story before, but last week when I was reading it, and now when I read it again, I am amazed to realize that I am a Martha who should be a Mary. The only thing that matters is the Lord and his Word. I can just imagine Jesus shaking his head, saying "Martha, Martha" or "Kate, Kate" in an exasperated, but loving, way.

My desire for the rest of this semester (and essentially the rest of my life) is to be a Mary who chooses the good portion "which will not be taken away from her."

Lesson #1 from Miss Alcott

Jo March is one of the four girls who are the main characters of this story. She is a tomboy who loves to write and who cannot control her temper (sounds like someone I know...intimately...). After a big fight with her littlest sister, Amy, Jo has a good conversation with her mother. Marmee (their mother) tells Jo that she also has a terrible temper, but in her forty years, has learned how to control it. Her husband, Jo's father who is away at war, has been a constant help to her. As he is gone, Marmee does not show her sadness even though it exists. She explains it to Jo like this:

I gave my best to the country I love, and kept my tears till he was gone. Why should I complain, when we both have merely done our duty, and will surely be the happier for it in the end? If I don't seem to need help , it is because I have a better friend even than Father to comfort and sustain me. My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust him, the nearer you will feel to him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother. (Alcott 111-112)

This gave me pause and served as an incredible reminder.

Praise be to God! His love never changes and is all encompassing.

Cheer up, Chickadee

Today it's gloomy outside. And it's a slow Thursday.

So:

Cheer up, chickadee.

For this slight momentary affliction

My mom is memorizing Scripture, and this was the passage God led her to memorize:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

What an amazing passage. For us is being prepared the weight of glory. The things of this earth are so insignificant compared to the eternal glory that we will one day experience.

And that is something I am looking forward to.