Among Other Things

this past week was supposed to be our first week of school. It barely happened and in a blink, it was already Friday.

Typically, during the month of August, I slowly break myself in. I visit one coffee shop after the next; laptop on table, books surround, music in my ears and I scope out the year: goals, curriculum, sequence, outcomes, bullet points and agendas. I visit book stores to load up on read alouds, thematic works, artful prose and inspiring authors. I flip through pages on the net, looking for that "I have to have it" find...order it and await it's arrival. i book field trips and all aspects of education click and fit together. September - May has a 'look' to it. I look forward to this time, to break away and find the passion that had flickered out by the last day of school. I look forward to that "First Day" of school excitement that I plan out and present to the kids.

I have not visited any coffee shops, a book store, once; and quickly - in fast paced thought, bought some CDs online, simply because I did not have the time to go out and buy it first hand.

August came in quickly and left without even saying good bye.

As soon as Perry started school, i thought i would at least have that one last week to get settled in a quasi fashion - but there has been no down time. I settled into a quiet day last Friday and did nothing (for a change - i even found myself taking in an afternoon nap. I needed this time. In retrospect, it was my only alone time I had had since the middle of august. I reveled in Sidney's nap on this day).

We began Monday with a breakfast out to a bagel shop (kids request) and followed by a visit to church to 'check in' with the newly hired children's ministry director (I am on the CM committee). The three kids played downstairs while i helped out with Children's Ministry and assumed the role of getting our Sunday School program off and running by the 19th of this month. 5 rotating stations, filled with curriculum. So, Monday was a wash. we came home, looked through our school boxes, talked about what we would like to accomplish this year and called it a day. Tuesday I was back at church - but only after I put Sidney down for his nap and read aloud our first book of the year --- something I picked up last year and has absolutely nothing to do with our current study (although, there *is* no current study). Wednesday, we had dentist appointments, church, errands to run for Thursday and choir. Thursday was piano lessons and getting ready for later that night. Thursday evening was our first homeschool meeting of the year --- this was all planned, organized, and executed by yours truly - so when i wasn't running around planning church things, i was trying to fit in time to get an agenda together and all the paper work that needed to be organized for Thursday's meeting. Also, because we were hosting it at All Saints Church (my church), i took it upon myself to decorate the very bland church room that we were assigned. more running - but what a welcoming site when these women entered. Thursday came and went and Friday was Simon's pre-op in the morning and Perry's cross country meet and banquet in the afternoon/evening. This weekend opened up with a father in law coming to visit for two days, a child who had piano at 11:15, another child who had a soccer game at one park at 11:15 and a third child who had yet another game at 11:15 at a different park. Upon arriving back at home by 12:30, I put sidney down for his nap, packed up my blue plastic bin of stuff and headed back to church to design and put together a prayer station for tomorrow morning's rally day (the congregation will enter in a made up room of Jesus' home. I designed His living room/dining room with a sign (our rally motto) "Come, Taste and See." It looks lovely. Sunday - rally day. I will be there all day. Monday will come and it will be Simon's surgery. Tuesday, a play date. Wednesday, Photography class with grandma and grandpa....THANK YOU grandma and grandpa. This will be the highlight of the week, confirmation class, choir class and the new W.O.W Wednesdays at church from 5:30 - 6:30. Friday begins homeschool gym - close to 30 families have signed up for this gym class in which I lead.

This is not a bragging post - but an introspection into my life at the moment. I can't breath! Literally, I can not take in deep breaths and when the stress is higher than usual (when i went to church and figured that no one was paying attention to next week's Sunday school), i almost passed out. with each passing activity (mhea meeting, station being completed, rally day put together....), I find that i am able to take in breaths on a more regular basis. But until I have something concrete in front of me in regards to my children's education - i'm afraid that I will continue to be short of breath.

You say, "Katie, learn to say no." That's not the point.
1. MHEA - We are a board of 7. Each one has a job. Mine is to be the director. That is *my* responsibility. It is fine throughout the year. it just happened to come up in the midst of stuff.

2. Sunday School: This was an "I stumbled upon it while trying to help scenario, She has her own overwhelming moment and in trying to help, i .....well, there is no finishing that sentence.

3. Homeschool Gym: again, a no brainer. It would be a piece of cake if i had had time - but like I said, August was in need of my attention in other facets rather than school.

So, this will be an interesting year. I have said in the past - my biggest obstacle will be working around Sidney and his needs and his own goals. But, presently, my only obstacle is me.

As my friends talk about their first weeks or the curriculum they have bought and planned or the field trips they have signed up for - i can say with confidence, "I think my kids will like the read aloud that i bought last January."

Deep Breath......and I mean it this time.

Church Prayer Stations

HERE I AM LORD: This was the theme of the stations this year. I had made a personalized powerpoint presention that looped continuously on our large screen with the song and lyrics. Each station also had a stanza from the song.

#1: When you first walked in, there was a baptismal font, asking you to baptize yourself and reflect upon yourself as a child of God...preparing yourself for the stations. To the direct left was the Homeless Station: Each of the passages on the white board where testimonials from homeless people who have either recieved help from our church and/or our local food shelf. The sign on the purple chair says, "Homeless and Hungry....please help" There is a shopping cart that I borrowed from our local grocery store.

"I the Lord of wind and flame, I will send the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save."

Station # 2: Community Mural of Thanks. I had the participants make a mural and write, and/or draw anything and everything they were thankful for or felt blessed by.

I the Lord of snow and rain. I have borne my people's pain. I have wept for love of them. They turn away.

Station #3 :On the alter, there was a "Blessing of Your Enemies"

"I will break their hearts of stone. Give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my words to them. Whom shall i send?"

At this station, the participant was led in scripture passage and asked to take a rock and reflect upon someone who is in need of thier forgiving. THey were then asked to write down the persons name on the rock, submerge it in a bowl of water and watch, as the ink from the persons name became no more. In teh same vein, they were also asked to write something they have done that needs God's forgiveness. Submerge the rock and watch it be taken away.

#4: This was behind our alter. This is where all the band equipment is stored (and there is a lot). I moved everythign out, put up the red and black screens and moved in some chairs from another part of church. This station was a 'mediation" station and there was prayer journal to write in as well as a 'prayer string' where you can write your prayer out and hang it from a clothes line. The cross represented here is one i have used in past years. People have nailed nails into this cross. It's one that John made for me when I first began creating the stations.

"Here I am Lord, is it I Lord? I have heard ou calling in the night. I will go Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

Station #5:(THE LAST SUPPER) For some reason, I did not take pictures of this one. In the far corner of our church, we have a small sectioned off and private area. This is where I made the Lords Supper. The table was set as if the apostles and Jesus were just in the middle of their dinner. I made an 'audio' of conversation noises from a party to quietly play in the background. On the table, i had bread and wine with small church communion cups and invited guess to sit at the table (Jesus' seat had a read stole around it and a special chalice) and BE with Jesus during his last supper. Share communion with him and be at peace. In the background, i had coat hook with what might look like something Jesus would have worn. Candles were everywhere as well as mood lighting. Palm frawns ran down the center of the long table.

Finest bread I will provide, till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send.

Station #6

Reflection

I the Lord of sea and sky. I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin. My hand will save.

In this station, I had 5 mirrors. BTW: Each station had reflection passages written up by our church pastor. You were asked to sit in a chair, facing the mirror and look at yourself - reflecting on the title presented. Ashamed, Sinful, Failure, unlovable. Then, you made your way to another mirror, sat in the chair, looked in the mirror and written upon it was "FORGIVEN."

7 stations in all. Three days.