Transfiguration Sunday

Almighty God, on the mountain you showed your glory in the transfiguration of your Son.  Give us the vision to see beyond the turmoil of our world and to behold the king in all His glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

This prayer from last Sunday expresses, I think, most clearly my prayer right now.

Another day

Every day I get up and watch the sun rise and think, Today is another day that Aiden didn't get to see.  I would just really like an explanation of what happened to Aiden that night.  We are dogsitting Goober right now.  He is the only one who was with Aiden, when I found him on the floor, his face was all scratched up.  I think that Goober tried to wake him up.  It's like the murder mysteries where the dog-or cat- is the only witness and the clever detective finds a way to get the animal to let them know what happened.  Goober, what do you know?

Only small miracles

Chach says there are no coincidences, only small miracles...Yesterday Donna, Chach, Mary and I went to the Gene Autry Museum and PF Chang's and Ikea...a big day for us small town girls.  The museum was empty and I sat on the saddle and got to chase bad guys, or be chased...I am not sure which.  I did not fall off, that I do know!  But small miracle #1...I am reading the book Halfway to Heaven, about a man climbing all the "14ers" in Colorado...mountains over 14,000feet.  One of the first ones he climbed is the Mount of the Holy Cross.  He gives all the interesting background and I was intrigued so I looked it up.  It had a big cross of snow on it and a photographer named William Henry Jackson took a famous photo of it, then Thomas Moran painted a famous painting.

We walk into a gallery and there is the Moran painting on the wall.  I had just read all about it, and now here it was. live and in person.  So fun!

Another book I read this week was Gold Mountain, Lisa See's book about her family's journey from China to America.  Her great grandfather started the F. Suie One Co in Chinatown in LA.  And guess what?  Small miracle #2--The Autry Museum has an exhibit showing the F. Suie One Co!  I had just read all about it and now here it was, (almost) live and in person!  So fun!

Thanks Donna for driving your big red truck all over LA and even in the parking garage

Tigger or Eeyore?

The last day of 2011.  Good.  Really what I want to do is sit on the couch all day wrapped in a blanket, with a cup of tea and an absorbing book.  But, actually, that's what I want to do every day.  We have been invited to Mary's in the afternoon, and then to see Robert Downey in the new Sherlock Holmes and then to Jay and Donnette's for a glass of wine, and so that is what we will probably do.  And, we will have fun.  I do not want to think back on the year that has passed, I want to wipe it from my memory!  I don't really want to look forward, I don't want to know what is in store for us.  I will just be happy for today.

Elves

As usual, we bought  the kids pencils with their names on them.  This morning, I stopped them at the door to the classroom and told them that the Elves had come during the night and left a present for them on their desks.  Not one child accused me of being the "Elf"  but over and over this morning, children asked me how the Elves knew their names...

christmas card

No amount of joy will balance out the burden of sorrow this Christmas
Nor any amount of water wash away the layer of grief and sadness
This will be the year that changed us all
Not stronger for the grief
The muscles of mourning help only to carry on to the end
Not to make lighter the weight

Surely

 Not happy, but still, I AM thankful.  I am thankful for terrible things, like: Aiden did not have to live any part of his life in a vegetative state, and that three peoples' lives were saved by the donation of his organs. I am thankful for regular things, like: hot water in my shower, Sirius radio in the car and DVR on the TV; and important things, like: Imitrex, friends and family, Muna's big house that allows us to all gather in a "The Relatives Came" sort of visit, weddings and babies, and a nice class of kids that I am glad to spend the day with.  I can recognize that yes, indeed, I am blessed.

Lauren "You're Not Listening To Me" Newkirk

(While the kids were here this weekend I caught Lauren sitting in front of Alex, with his face between her hands, staring into his eyes and saying to him, "Focus, Alex, focus, focus, focus!" Pretty sure he didn't have a choice.)