My Mind's Eye

Sometimes, we think big about a family outing.  We pack the diaper bag, load up the kiddos, and head out for an adventure.  More times than not, we arrive back home exhausted, frustrated, and wondering what we were thinking.  I don't know if it's because our kids are still in the toddler--"I can't do anything by myself" phase, or if we are really bad planners.  But once in awhile, we get things right.  We plan and organize an activity that both girls like, and we love it as well!  The one we loved this past month was Easter.  For the past three years, I've bought egg-coloring kits.  And each Easter, something happened where we couldn't actually dye the eggs.  But this year, things happened so that we were home Saturday night as a family, and we just had a great time.  It turned out exactly as I had seen it in my mind's eye.

 

 The final result:

Be very impressed.

Storytime

                                              These are moments I treasure...

...not just because they are in a contained space...

...but because Noel reads to Juliet...

                                             ...and they both end up laughing.

                                           

Finding the Helpers

We turned on the computer last night after dinner to find a job posting; two hours later, we still sat there, stunned. Not knowing the answer, or even the question to ask.  As we watched video after video, I wanted to see something of hope.  I've never been to the Boston Marathon, and I didn't know anyone running it this year--but I don't think you have to know someone to still feel the pain others are feeling.

Today, I continued to think and pray and feel empty inside.  I called my best friend Mary, and we talked about it.  She had heard a quote by Mr. Rogers on a news program that went like this:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping." 

It doesn't erase all the pain for the families, but it is a light in the middle of pain.  In the midst of people running away from the bomb blasts, others went to help.  They stayed.  They comforted.  They were the helpers.

I can't help but ask--if I was there, would I be one of the helpers?  And since I am here--will I be a helper where I can?

Support the Good

For the past few months, I've mulled over what role I play in society.  How active should I be in the community?  And--where can I find the time to actually be more active in the community?  In my job, I see many needs--students need tutoring in subjects, mentoring with service projects, and someone to point them in the right direction.  But what is my role?  Is it enough to help an individual student, or should I be doing something more?  Should I be part of a group that fights all the moral decay--or do I do something individually?

One day--I had an eye-opener.  I don't necessary have to fight evil to be doing good; I can actively support good.  I thought this when I was helping students raise funds to go to Girls State and Boys State.  Baking chocolate chip cookies by the dozen doesn't necessarily seem like a ground-shaking movement, but the reality is that one student wouldn't be able to attend without financial help.  A great kid that really loves history, wants to study law, but never had a chance before this year.   Somewhere between putting the chocolate chips in the KitchenAid and standing at a table asking people to buy the cookies--I realized that I need to do more to actively support good.  To help give kids great opportunities that will help them--rather than telling them all about the things they shouldn't do that will get them in trouble.

That's all.  Just a thought about supporting the good.