Birthdays and babies...

"Who is getting more pleasure from the rocking, baby or me?" -Nancy Thayer


We spent the weekend in South Carolina, surprising Rob's mom for her 50th birthday. She didn't know we were coming, and we were able to decorate the house before she came home from her birthday getaway.
Streamers, balloons, posters, photos and even two cakes... we had it all. But just so you know... "next time we try to surprise her... she prefers chocolate cake with white icing." :)
But despite that, we got to spend the weekend with this little guy. He's nine months old and has the sweetest disposition.
I like the feel of a sleepy baby in my arms. And a wiggly baby in my lap. And squeezing those chunky legs. And watching Rob hold and play with him. I already miss that baby.

Yesterday...today...tomorrow...

"Our faith in the present dies out long before our faith in the future."
-Ruth Benedict

Yesterday... after a bummer of a day where nothing seemed to go right, I had a visit from two of my students from last year. I know that you're not supposed to pick favorites, but one of these girls I felt a special connection to. She wasn't the most diligent student... in fact, she had to go to summer school for the first semester. But she kicked it into gear second semester, and she came back to tell me that she currently has an A in 9th grade math (a class which kicks many students' butts!). I'm so proud of her!


Today... I'm feeling like a really naive teacher, thinking that when you teach a concept for two weeks the students should actually learn it. I'm also feeling like I've spent all week running behind the bus, trying to catch up. Deadlines are upon me. The stack of papers to grade is growing. Meetings are scheduled. I haven't even started to think about my certification assignments. Aaahhh!!


Tomorrow... is Friday! Thank goodness for short weeks! I tutor Saturday morning, and of course have to plan lessons for the week. But, I'm also looking forward to football games, dinners out, and maybe even a bike ride! And, sleeping in... oh the joy!!

Shoot for the moon...

"If we can send a man to the moon, then why don't we send a woman?"
-Kylie Bax

At the MoonPie General Store in Charleston, SC. Maybe the best store we see on this vacation.

Hooked on wheels...

"It never gets easier, you just go faster."
-Greg LeMond


We may not have cable television, but we have found our new favorite station. Believe it or not, our eyes have been glued to Universal Sports lately. Saturday was the start of the Vuelta a España, the last of the three Grand Tours of cycling. And, we've been hooked. Obviously Rob, but me, too. I'm a sucker for odd sports like this. We almost stayed up really late to watch the end of the stage. Tonight they were nice enough to start the coverage earlier. They are currently flying down the mountain. It's amazing!

Sacred places...

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.”
-Joseph Campbell

Image by Gerard DuBois published in Time magazine, August 30, 2010.

Every morning I read a couple articles from Time magazine, hoping to get through the whole issue before the next one arrives on Friday. This is my connection to the outside world. I don't read the paper, I rarely even have time to scan the headlines at cnn.com.

As with many magazines I always look forward to the last article, the one in the awkward spot, neighboring the back cover. It's often a witty piece with a slightly different perspective than the rest of the magazine. Last week's Time concluded with an essay from Nancy Gibbs (whose work I sometimes grimace through...a couple of weeks ago she wrote how her family dog had helped raise her girls...gag me...) explored the idea of sacred spaces. See it here.

The essay was written in response to the NYC mosque controversy, an issue which I've been somewhat following. I find the issue interesting because I can't decide on which side I stand. It does seem a little insensitive to the victims' families, and yet I wholeheartedly believe in religious freedom and am against persecution in all aspects.

But I think Nancy Gibbs' article is particularly interesting because it asks the question, does a place become less sacred when someone else of differing or opposing views also recognizes it as sacred?

The article also made me stop and think about what places I consider sacred. And, in true Listography fashion (Callie, I'm loving my birthday gift!), here's my list:

• The sanctuary at my home church, Noel UMC in Shreveport
  
• The altar at Epworth UMC in Atlanta
  
• My bedroom in my childhood house
• My father's grave
  
• My grandparents' house
• Bobby Dodd stadium at Georgia Tech
• Basil Garden at the Georgia Tech Alumni House, where Rob and I were married
• Little Mulberry Park
• Rialto Beach, Washington
• the top of Bell Rock in Sedona, AZ
• Each of the houses I've helped repair on mission trips
• the Statue of Liberty
• Vietnam Memorial in D.C.