Today marks my last day as a summer tutor. I was privileged to work with a soon-to-be 8th grader over the course of the summer to improve his reading comprehension. Today at the end of our session we sat down and reviewed the graphs and charts of his scores from this summer, as well as a long list of his accomplishments.
I don't know who was prouder, me or him! I hope he knows how much he accomplished this summer, and I also hope that the things we worked on together will be things that will benefit him in the upcoming school year.
As I drove away from our tutoring site, I felt a small twinge of sadness over knowing I will probably never see him or his mom again. However, I also felt an overwhelming joy to know that I helped for a time, and he grew under my teaching.
I enjoyed working a student 1x1, and hope that tutoring will be in my future!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Changes
I don't want to say it too loudly, but here in Minneapolis it's starting to feel like Fall.
The air was crisp yesterday. This morning I had to put on a sweatshirt to go outside because the temperature is in the low 60's. And somehow or another, a few leaves on our hedge turned yellow overnight. That was quick!
Just last week I was feeling like summer was flying by way too fast. I have this desire to make the most of each day I'm given, and hang on to every moment of summer. However, this cooler air is kinda nice. Also, there are some really great things about Fall, like campfires on cold evenings, warm apple cider and hot cocoa, fresh apples, the brilliant changing leaves.
Oh my goodness. I might be excited for the seasons to change! Am I ready? Did I get in enough summer?
How about you? Are you ready?
The air was crisp yesterday. This morning I had to put on a sweatshirt to go outside because the temperature is in the low 60's. And somehow or another, a few leaves on our hedge turned yellow overnight. That was quick!
Just last week I was feeling like summer was flying by way too fast. I have this desire to make the most of each day I'm given, and hang on to every moment of summer. However, this cooler air is kinda nice. Also, there are some really great things about Fall, like campfires on cold evenings, warm apple cider and hot cocoa, fresh apples, the brilliant changing leaves.
Oh my goodness. I might be excited for the seasons to change! Am I ready? Did I get in enough summer?
How about you? Are you ready?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Landscaping Project Part 1
We have been working like crazy on a landscaping project these last few weeks. It all started when Zac took a chainsaw to one of our bushes in front. We never liked it anyway, and we just got sick of looking at it.
After that, we started removing the rock. We hope to use it again, but it has a lot of dirt mixed in with the rock, so we'll have to find a good way to clean the rock.
One of the most satisfying jobs was removing the edging. It took less than 5 minutes and we could quickly see our progress!
After the bushes and rock were gone, we had to dig out the stumps. Surprisingly, it didn't take a lot of strength or effort, just time.
Here is a picture of the house with a few stumps left to remove:
A few things I'm learning from this project:
After that, we started removing the rock. We hope to use it again, but it has a lot of dirt mixed in with the rock, so we'll have to find a good way to clean the rock.
One of the most satisfying jobs was removing the edging. It took less than 5 minutes and we could quickly see our progress!
After the bushes and rock were gone, we had to dig out the stumps. Surprisingly, it didn't take a lot of strength or effort, just time.
Here is a picture of the house with a few stumps left to remove:
A few things I'm learning from this project:
- House projects always take longer than you think
- I am capable of more than I realize
- It is possible to work outside in 90-degree weather and stay alive
- I enjoy doing landscape work
- Working in the yard creates more opportunities to interact with my neighbors
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Hearing God's Voice
I've been struggling for a few months with the idea of hearing God's voice. I envy those people in Biblical times and even today who have stories of how they have heard an audible voice. Oh, if I could be so lucky!
When I am praying for direction in my life, it seems that it's at those times that it's hardest for me to feel him directing my life. I long for a clear path to be laid out in front of me. I long to step forward with confidence and certainty.
Instead, I timidly take a step and look around thinking, "Is this you, God? Is this way right, God?"
Also, I know that God can help you know which way to go by placing an obstacle in your path, or a closed door, figuratively speaking. Sometimes he directs you in a new way because you simply cannot go down the same path you are going down any longer. However, how are we supposed to know if an obstacle is a closed door, or merely just a trial through which we need to persevere?
Lots of questions, but not many answers right now.
When I am praying for direction in my life, it seems that it's at those times that it's hardest for me to feel him directing my life. I long for a clear path to be laid out in front of me. I long to step forward with confidence and certainty.
Instead, I timidly take a step and look around thinking, "Is this you, God? Is this way right, God?"
Also, I know that God can help you know which way to go by placing an obstacle in your path, or a closed door, figuratively speaking. Sometimes he directs you in a new way because you simply cannot go down the same path you are going down any longer. However, how are we supposed to know if an obstacle is a closed door, or merely just a trial through which we need to persevere?
Lots of questions, but not many answers right now.
Monday, August 1, 2011
New Sunday Tradition
Have you ever noticed how peaceful Sunday mornings are? Here in the city, I think Sunday mornings - early in the morning - have to be one of the quietest times all week.
Two weeks ago, I persuaded Zac to go on a walk with me before church. To entice him to walk with me, I made us a smoothie. Yum! We put our smoothies in our reusable coffee mugs, and set out for a stroll around the neighborhood.
The sun was still fresh in the sky, and puffy white clouds dotted the crisp blue. It was so quiet that I felt like I was walking around my hometown; a town of 1,300 people. All I could hear was the birds chirping in the trees and our footsteps on the road.
We had so much to talk about, and conversation flowed freely between us. Every now and then a neighbor's flower garden made me stop and enjoy the spray of colors.
That walk was a wonderful way to set the tone for the day. As I walked, I dreamed about having this be a special tradition to continue throughout the years. I could certainly see us pushing a stroller through the neighborhood on future Sunday mornings, or taking our kids to a nearby park for a hike when they grow older.
This past Sunday, we were visiting Zac's parents in southwestern Minnesota. We ended up going on another Sunday morning walk, only this time it was on a crunchy gravel road with walls of dancing cornstalks on either side of us. A friendly puppy careened from a neighboring farmyard and trotted alongside us for the majority of our walk. He would run up ahead of us, look to see if we were coming, and then run some more.
What another great Sunday morning walk. What will next Sunday hold?
Two weeks ago, I persuaded Zac to go on a walk with me before church. To entice him to walk with me, I made us a smoothie. Yum! We put our smoothies in our reusable coffee mugs, and set out for a stroll around the neighborhood.
The sun was still fresh in the sky, and puffy white clouds dotted the crisp blue. It was so quiet that I felt like I was walking around my hometown; a town of 1,300 people. All I could hear was the birds chirping in the trees and our footsteps on the road.
We had so much to talk about, and conversation flowed freely between us. Every now and then a neighbor's flower garden made me stop and enjoy the spray of colors.
That walk was a wonderful way to set the tone for the day. As I walked, I dreamed about having this be a special tradition to continue throughout the years. I could certainly see us pushing a stroller through the neighborhood on future Sunday mornings, or taking our kids to a nearby park for a hike when they grow older.
This past Sunday, we were visiting Zac's parents in southwestern Minnesota. We ended up going on another Sunday morning walk, only this time it was on a crunchy gravel road with walls of dancing cornstalks on either side of us. A friendly puppy careened from a neighboring farmyard and trotted alongside us for the majority of our walk. He would run up ahead of us, look to see if we were coming, and then run some more.
What another great Sunday morning walk. What will next Sunday hold?
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