Odds and Ends

Now that most of us have the first week of school under our belts, I'd love to hear how it went for you - any great moments to share? or horrible moments you'd rather forget but know others will appreciate you sharing so they can commiserate? Comment here or on FB if you have a sec...

I started back two weeks ago, one full week before the students started back, and in the last two weeks...

-I took part in my first full blown Flash Mob, seriously. Yep - my first time EVER to learn dance choreography and then perform publicly.
Our fabulous principal informed us at a team building staff event the Friday before we officially started back that the entire staff of our school would be learning a dance to the song "Right Here, Right Now" to flash mob perform at Convocation on Monday morning in front of the staff of our whole district. I practiced at home about 47 times that weekend (not exactly known for my mad dancing skills) and pretty much had an amazing time with that whole thing. I'm pretty sure we were awesome.

-We went to a Ranger's Game (Greg, Abby, and I) the night of the FIRST day of school and didn't get to bed that night until midnight - a little nuts, but we were given great tickets with a season parking pass and sat 13 rows away from the batter. And we won while sitting next to obnoxious Red Sox fans which made it so very sweet.

-Greg and I went to an opening of a new show at Valley House Gallery and panicked when the only parking option was valet. We had two dollars between us (how much are you supposed to give those guys anyway? I NEVER opt for valet, partly because I don't mind walking, and partly because I NEVER have cash). The exhibit was inspiring, and we ran into another artist/sculptor, Micheal O'Keefe, who has been a big source of inspiration to Greg while we were there. Check out his work on the Valley House Gallery website; it is amazing... We had a great conversation with him, and then, it was time to go.
Greg wadded up our two bills as thickly and indiscriminately as possible and took off as fast as he could without running over one of those nice valet guys working in 100 degree heat after handing off our tip.

-I chopped my hair, which was fun and I like it, which is fortunate.

-Grace had a wonderful first week of second grade, and much to my surprise rattled off the morning routine to me on the way to her second day of school (a challenge to remember just about every day of first grade). "Wow, Grace. You really listened yesterday; I'm proud of you!"
"Mom, Mrs. Weir acted it out for us - that's why."
Of course - epiphany... Will be figuring out a way to incorporate a little more of that at home.

-And, so far we have incorporated the idea of sabbath as a family rhythm for two weeks. This is not Old Testament law-driven sabbath but sabbath as rest and replenishment. There is no way around crazy, hectic days in our stage of life, so we've decided to claim one day a week for only those things that refresh and inspire creativity and spiritual, physical, and relational replenishment. We've declared it a no tv or consumerism day and instead read, create art, write, play instruments, play games, exercise, have extended time to pray, enjoy listening to music, linger over a yummy meal planned by Greg (2 delicious meals so far), have friends over, and will some day get outside to enjoy creation...

You get the idea. I'm loving this so far, and although there are and will be challenges, with flexibility, it might work. Saturday is pretty crazy, because we try to fit all the weekend work into that day... But, sabbath makes the rest of the chaos tolerable, because you know it's coming.

I'm hoping we can keep it going...

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The Dinner Question

I start back to school on Monday, a week before the girls go back. It's been a great summer. I've loved having the opportunity to check back in as a mom, wife, daughter and daughter-in-law, sister, friend, granddaughter...

I'm working through the idea of incorporating healthy rhythm in my life as I head back into the full-time work week. Greg and I have had many discussions about the book Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton after she came to speak to our church leaders. I'll try to share updates as we experiment with this idea through trial and much error, I'm sure. I have to personally unpack it a little more before I even attempt to explain some of my thoughts, but I am hoping to get there.

On to dinner...
We had a wonderful time the other evening with some new friends, Stanley and Jenny, we've been wanting to get to know a little better. They turned out to be the type of people you feel like you've known for a long time once you have a real conversation with them (slight disclaimer: Jenny is a counselor, but she was not on the clock).

As I was talking with Jenny, the topic of my personal retreat came up. I had merely introduced the subject when she asked one of those perfect questions that you don't realize you've desperately been wanting someone to ask until you hear it.

"Kelly, what did God say to you that weekend?"

Now, sometimes people ask that question when they shouldn't and it freaks me out. But Jenny isn't like that, and she knew as clearly as I did that there was an answer to that question.

My eyes got a little misty as the surprising strength of that answer formulated itself into words:

"He said, not audibly but certainly, 'I'm so glad you are finally 'going there' with Me. I've been here in the quiet space where you couldn't go, always here even though you couldn't be here yet... And I knew that, so I've waited.'
And I knew with intense certainty that He never left or blinked or abandoned, but orchestrated within a Love that I cannot comprehend."

And I don't want to stop listening, but life is loud, so I'm thinking through that one.