"I want to see mountains again. Mountains, Gandalf!"

"On what grounds did I fast from the daily bread of birdsong and starlight?"

                                                              -- Barbara Brown Taylor 

                                                                 Leaving Church

It has been far too long since I've been outside. And even far too longer since I've seen the world from my hammock. There's a lot I love about winter, but due to my ridiculous intolerance to the cold, I definitely start to feel cooped up before spring arrives. 

I suppose I should save up a little, invest in some good warm layers, and go back outside to explore. 

But, for this morning, while I'm wrapped up in a blanket with my coffee mug beside me, I suppose I'll just reminisce about the view of the mountains from my hammock in the Dominican. I have to go back someday. Until then, I am so thoroughly excited that next year in North Carolina we will reside much closer to awe-inspiring mountains. I'm convinced that there exists a particular sliver of Divine Presence which can only be experienced by climbing a mountain.

Saturdays at School

"Earth is so thick with divine possibility that it is a wonder we can walk anywhere without cracking our shins on altars."
I just love Barbara Brown Taylor.

I want to live like I believe that today.

I hope that Joshua and Rachel are cracking their shins (only metaphorically though please) on lots of altars way over there in Norway. And Caleb and Caits in Minnesota. And Mikey in Rwanda. And Erica in St. Louis. And errybody in Greenville. My friends are all spread out, and although there are parts of me that wish we could be at NSO right now and do college again, I know this year will be great. In many many ways.

 

 

Also, its been a while since I've blogged in depth so you'll have to forgive me in advance for the jumble that will follow.

Wonderful things about today so far:

• We got to watch Michael tear it up on the soccer field this morning.
• We also got Culvers for lunch and the flavor of the day was strawberry shortcake. Yum.
• Got to catch up with Corrie on the phone just now. I just love her. And whenever I talk to her, I just smile throughout our entire conversation because she is so excited about life, and it's contagious.
• Also, my husband is the most entertaining. Especially when he stands up, textbook still in hand, to dance to Whitney Houston Greatest Hits, as we spend all of the hours of all of the days in his classroom. [He is being super productive and doing work on lesson plans. I am occasionally productive but mostly blogging, taking a multiple intelligence test, and writing letters.]

Speaking of that test, because I really enjoy those kind of things, my top three are Verbal-Linguistic, Intrapersonal, and Spatial. Jordan's top three are Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic, and Logical-Mathmatical. Totally predictable, but still really fascinating to me.

Also, I miss my sibs. I'm so glad they came up last weekend and we got to hang out. And I'll get to see my sis again and mis padres next weekend!

Also, I don't think I've updated this blog about preschool yet.
1. This is also just in general discovery #1 since we've moved here. Real life is the most exhausting. I'm sure that people have been trying to tell me this for a long time now, but I never knew how serious they were about it. Friday after school Jordan and I went straight home to take a nap. Could have slept til this morning I'm pretty sure.
2. I'm way out of my league in the education field and overwhelmed and nervous that I won't get my 7 kids ready for kindergarten in time.
3. Despite all that, I have a lot of help, here and back home, so I'll make it through, it's just crazy overwhelming at the beginning.
4. It's fun having so many Hohms in one place. Besides Michael going here, we have a whole row of mailboxes:
                                     Hohm, Mr.       Hohm, Mrs.      Hohm, Pastor
5. My kids are adorable, so I already know the exhaustion will be worthwhile to spend time with these kids. One of my girls is super petite and talks a little bit like my cousin Ellie. Precious. I also have a tiny little Indian boy in one of my classes. Oh, my goodness. So cute. He doesn't speak much if any English, at least so far, but I've had so much fun getting to know him as I've observed so far this week. He is understandably super shy and overwhelmed, but he has already started warming up to me a little bit and I discovered at the end of the day Friday that I can have little conversations here and there with him if I ask yes or no questions for him to shake his head or nod in response. I hope I can learn at least a little bit about his language and culture this year to try to make that barrier smaller.

It's going to be a good year.

 

 

Lead me Lord

Sermon prepping. Made possible by Jordan, Barbara Brown Taylor inspiration, a frosted cranberry candle, Keana, Special K Red Berries, my parental units, Grandpa & Grandma, and Grandma's cookies. 

I love that I can't come over to Grandma & Grandpa's without being fed a meal and at least two cookies. Regardless of the time of day.

I also wish that Grandpa or Barbara Brown Taylor could take over for me this week. These lectionary texts are stumping me. 

But, since that not possible, my real wish is that I'll get to meet Barbara Brown Taylor someday. She is simply brilliant and it would be incredible to hang out with her for an afternoon.  

Alright, back to the books.