My Kind of Halloween

dear self,

thank you for taking me to a movie tonight. it was a wonderful delight, and a great escape from normal life. let's do it again soon, shall we?

yours truly,
me

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Today was Halloween at school (we are off tomorrow), so much of the staff dressed up. The following took place this morning, before school:

our music teacher (who was dressed - very clearly- as a witch): Cristiam! Heeeheeeheee (imagine a cruel witch cackle)

Cristiam: Are you a leprechaun?

What My Students Learned Today

Michael Jackson's dance moves in Thriller. It's true. One student piped up and said she had never heard of Michael Jackson (what?!), and the day couldn't go on until we got it taken care of. I would like to think their lives are better because of it.

Here's one to you, Michael Jackson.

and again: today

"In the midst of my striving and straining, Ive lost sight of the other side of this wonderful mystery: He pursues me. Not because I'm beautiful or smart or worthy of His affections, or even because I'm looking for Him - but simply because His love for me is too consuming to do anything less." -Stephanie Voiland, Holy Pursuit

surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life! -psalm 23:6

Today

Walk along here,feel You move somewhere in front of me
I can't place You with these eyes for the doubt I can't see

How could someone so beautiful
Feel something for me?
Hold me and love me and touch me again
And show me why i believe

That the first time I see Your face
Everything else around me will fade to the background
And I'll be struck full by the truth in Your gaze
As You work and indelible change in me

All I have and all I am and all I think and do
Can find it's purpose and meaning and life only in You

How could someone so beautiful
Feel something for me?
Won't you hold me and love me and touch me again
And show me why I believe

-Indelible, Brooke Fraser

Kids & the Election

I'm teaching an election unit to my 5th graders right now. At the beginning of the week, we studied the candidates. As homework, I asked each student to write down 5 questions they would like to ask Senator McCain and Senator Obama, if they were to come into class the next day. Their questions blew me away! Perhaps the kids need to be the ones doing all the asking...

Huh.

You remember when you were a kid, and you got a haircut that you were excited about, until you actually saw it on YOU? That moment when you looked in the mirror and realized that you were going to have to go out in public like that?

That's me right now.

Don't get me wrong: my beautiful friend Alison who cut my hair did EVERYTHING I asked her too - she's great...I think my judgment was slightly impaired by the presidential debates we were watching while cutting the hairs. I asked her to keep cutting it shorter, and shorter and shorter...until I asked if we could put an inch back. I've gotten lots of "it looks incredible!" and a few "wow. it's different" - which shout at me louder than the others. Eh. It's only hair. And it'll grow back. Right?

Truth at Last

An old friend and I were chatting tonight about the male mind (dare we even approach such inexplainable things), and the conversation was too good not to post....

me: Brett, explain to me how exactly the male mind works.

Brett: There's really no understanding out minds. Assuming that we have them...actually, our minds are so simple compared to the female version that what you think is misunderstanding is simply y'all lapping the field on us.

Thanks for clearing that up, Dr. Cooper!

Jorge and Jesus

I'm dismissing a 5th grade class today, and we have a few minutes to spare before it's time to go home. I walk over to Jorge, who happens to be one of the funniest kids I know. He asks if we could play Heads Up, 7-Up. I told him there wasn't enough time, but maybe another day. He pulls a picture out of his homework folder, with the head of the person covered by his fingers. He tells me he'll give me the photo if we can play. I tell him that I didn't want a photo of his brother. He pulls back his fingers, and shows me that the photo is of Jesus. He gives me a strange look, and says "Miss Miles, it's not my brother. It's Jesus. He watches out for me." We talk for a second about the photo, and then....THEN, Jorge looks at me with a very serious look on his face, and says this: "Miss Miles, Jesus don't like sports. He can play them, He just don't like 'em."

Seriously. I have NO idea where it came from. But, in case you're wondering if Jesus would like to kick the ball around abit, according to Jorge, the answer is no.

To Be 10 Again...

Today, in class:

me: On Friday, we're going to play Jeopardy.

one of my students: Yes! Sweet Cinnamon Buns!

Friendships Make the World Go Round

My best friend got married last night. It was beautiful, elegant, and insanely fun! It was great to spend several days before the wedding with her, but I'm back home in Kansas, missing the heck out of California. I've been thinking today about our friendship, and how beautiful it is. About how much I need her around to stabilize my life, to lend an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on. This girl knows my insides and my outs and loves me the same. The fact that I can be 100% myself when I'm with her is what truly makes it work so well: when we are together, I have no walls up, no boundaries that can't be crossed, and will go out of my way to make a fool of myself: because I know she is doing the same. I am truly myself with Liz - the person God intended for me to be. This is what true friendships are about - and are the most beautiful treasure when they are found!

Uh...Come Again?

Setting the Stage: California for my best friend's wedding.

Who: Liz & Josh, Me, Josh's mom, dad, and brother.

The conversation:

Josh: So how did you like San Francisco, Dad?

His dad: It was great! Nothing like I thought. I expected to see half naked and gay people running around.

Yep. I witnessed this.