LITTLE PLEASURES

I love violets.  If I had the money, I'd have a whole row of them blooming on my windowsill at all times.  Not that they are all that expensive, but I admit I'm not that good with getting them to "keep on giving".  I have occasionally kept one for years and had it bloom and bloom again, but more often, something "happens" and it bites the dust (occasionally literally).  Usually I have a display something like what  I have now - one in bloom,  one green but not blooming and one clearly on its last legs. 

PRODUCT PLACEMENT

This is another Medical Marijuana establishment.  I had Sergei snap this photo as we drove by.  As I mentioned in my blog post, these businesses are not opening in areas where people go to seek medical treatment.  On the far side of this place is a tavern.  To its left you can see the Rescue Mission.  Earlier in the day, before the mission opens at 4, the sidewalks are covered with homeless men, more or less camping out until they can get into the mission. 

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-inspired form of religious education.  It is very spiritual, and the curriculum is based on Scripture and Liturgy.  I never cease to find it inspiring to watch the children in class.  The religious potential of children is extraordinary, as is their ability to concentrate and focus.  Why do we so often plan activities that presume children must always be moving?

In the CGS classroom (as in a good Montessori school) even children this age can be found to be deeply engaged.  These two had chosen to listen to the Bibl story about the Epiphany.  Although they can't read,they have the opportunity to find the actual passages in the Bible and they recognize the Bible as a Sacred book.  They can also "work" with the figures you see at the lower left....but these are presented as holy objects, to be used with respect, and it is lovely to see the children respond so wholeheartedly to this idea. 

WINTER BLAST

The secondary students went on a weekend "camp", leaving Friday afternoon. Sergei went, but Anastasia didn't want to go because we had Russian school.  Also, I think she is beginning to recognize her limits. 

ART

I love teaching art; I absolutely love it.

SOUL FOOD

English Class Soul Food Party

I am writing more about this on my other blog.

LUNCH

Amazing Mexican Food - Less than Perfect Ambiance

DENTIST DAY

Apart from Craig, we all go at the same time.  They dedicate three hygenists to the job and we can be out of there in about an hour and a half.  I cleverly scheduled these appointments for MLK day, knowing there would be no school - and what do you know?  Last week, we got an e-mail that the days off were switched, and we'd have Friday off instead.  Sheesh!  So much for planning ahead.

EARLY SUNDAY MORNING

Why does 7 a.m. on Sunday morning seem SO much earlier than 7 a.m. any other day?  I've wondered this for years.   On Sunday morning I get to "sleep in" until 6!  Then it's off to the church to prepare for a twelve-hour work day.  This is what greets me,  and somehow, after having to get ready in a cold, dark house, followed by the cold, dark drive through mostly empty streets,  this dim hallway and unfriendly gate just illustrate how unwelcoming it all is!  The feeling I have about it all is so gloomy, that it was almost therapy to confront it by taking this photo!

After I get the gate open,  lights on, and doors unlocked, everything has begun to seem more "normal" and better.  Soon the catechists begin to arrive.  Happily, this year I have two volunteers for the 8:30 session who are so wonderfully cheerful and sunny that they get my day off to a much better start - after the first cold, difficult hour.  (And, in the spirit of this blog, I'll say - I am truly grateful for them.  I've told them so, too!)

SATURDAY MORNING

Wouldn't you think that the one morning of the week that I can sleep in, I would?  Nope!  Woke up in the cold dark, with a headache.  But, the nice thing about it was that Craig and I got "mommy-daddy time" (as we call it).  There was a long time when Craig and I got up early every morning for coffee and talk, but phone English with my Korean students has taken up that time slot.  Anyway, Craig has not seemed generally disposed to get up earlier than he needs to, anyway.

BIG JOB



Jinhui scraping the gym floor

 Friday I came into Summit and found about twenty kids spread around the room, all removing wax from the gym floor.  This is one satisfying task!  The many layers of wax actually come up rather easily.....and, in fact, you can catch a corner with your fingernail and pull up sections without any tools.  And, there is a sort of challenge to get the biggest piece up.....all the while, the kids can chat, of course.  I couldn't help myself, there was a draw......   I got down there myself and started working; it's like eating chips - hard to stop! 

Estimates were that it would cost several thousand dollars to sand it, so - why not use ready labor?

IT'S TIME



I love this Russian ornament



They all come in their own little wooden crates....

 Back to the crates they must go.  Past time to be put away......

UNFORTUNATE EVENT

Terrible snow the last couple of days.  Very slick.  I was leaving a conference at another parish in the midst of a snowstorm.  As I drove slowly across the parking lot, approaching the street, a boy on a bike swooped across the parking lot and turned to go onto the sidewalk.  His bike lost traction in the snow sending him sliding on the ground toward the front of my car.  Of course I turned to avoid him, and also slid.  I was watching him, of course, and happily missed him; he (undoubtedly embarrassed) jumped back on the bike and took off (even faster) down the sidewalk without even glancing in my direction.  I had heard a grating sound, and now looked to my right and saw, to my horror, that I'd scraped some sign at the side of the driveway.  I backed away from it, and all seemed well.  I drove across town to get the kids from school, worrying about the damage.  I was hoping that there wasn't a dent; from the sound it seemed hopeless to think there wouldn't be a scrape.  So, imagine my horror when I saw this!  There had been no impact at all!  I must have hit that sign going about two miles an hour, if that.  Imagine a real accident!
I don't want to!

COLD MORNINGS

Rosie

In the golden lamplight of a very early morning, I caught Rosie getting as close to the heating vent as she could possibly manage.  Soon Zhen would be right next to her, and Sergei sitting next to the one in the dining room.  Wouldn't a fireplace be nice?

Another Churchy Bit

Rosary boxes, made by the fourth graders.

Next year, I'm going to move this project to older kids.  The final boxes were nice, but I did this once with older girls and the results were much more aesthetically pleasing - not just a picture slapped on top of the boxes.  But a little lacquer did wonders.

HIGH LEVEL WORK

How many descendants was Abraham promised?

Let's just say that the only appropriate "stars" I could find to help the children recall this quotation, required that I sort through six (for all my fourth graders) boxes of Meijer "Starfish and Friends" crackers.  We DEFINITELY have enough "friends" to give the first graders when they study the apostles (fishers of men). 

NEW CAMERA

Anastasia got a camera for Christmas



She's really enjoying it.



Really.



YOLKA

Дед Мороз (Grandfather Frost) and Snegurotchka watch as Zoya offers her gift of dancing. 

Mainly Russian families, with a few adoptive families....Next year I want to "dress up".

Nastia invited her friend, Conner to come.  Well, now he knows how weird we are.

AM I THE ONLY ONE?

I took this photo of a gate the last time I was in Ivanovo.  Appropriate place for red stars, I thought.

Am I the only one who sees a red star and thinks - USSR! (a symbol that does not seem even vaguely appropriate for some little elementary school?)

AND OVER TO MY RIGHT....

...Zhen is lying on the couch with Rosie.  I am glad that we have that extra week of school vacation.  Otherwise it really would have been no "vacation".....just holiday business.  This week, even though I am at work myself, is restful.....no constant rush from one thing to another. 

No; we have to hurry home, so I can get to the store. 
We have to hurry and eat dinner so you can get your homework done. 
Hurry!  You'll be late for basketball!
Hurry!  We have to get home so I can help Sergei with that homework!
Hurry and brush your teeth, so we can get to bed.
We can read one chapter only; we have to go to sleep!
Hurry and get up. 
Get down here and eat something; hurry!
Hurry and get in the car. 
Hurry!  We're late! 
Run!  Hurry! Get into the school so you aren't late for Chapel!
We needed the rest.

SENILITY SETTING IN

 I ran into a shop and when I came out was horrified to see I'd parked in a handicapped spot.  My first thought, was "Oh, my gosh!  What is coming over me?  Am I becoming a danger to myself and others?  How could I be that oblivious???

I had sufficient time to be really dismayed before seeing the "whole picture", as it were.

So far I really like this blog; it encourages me to be more aware of the funny moments and little things around me, as the day goes by.

SATISFACTION

Dishcloth in progress

I cannot fathom why crocheting a dishcloth should be so satisfying, but it is.  My goal is to make many of them this year, and give them as Christmas gifts along with embroidered tea towels.  That has been my goal for many years now.....  Ah, well.  All the dishclothes are mine so far.  None perfect enough for a gift, yet.

CREATIVITY



Motif on Anastasia's wall

 I took this for my (long-awaited) post on my main blog about Anastasia's room.  Oh! I enjoyed doing this! Though stenciling was FAR harder than I'd imagined....so I got to do a little problem-solving.....and, actually - I enjoyed that part of it, too!

A PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE

Some people make useful resolutions, not me!

I hope to post a photo a day this year....somewhat related to all that I am grateful for - and I am truly grateful for almost everything!  (Working on the last bits.)

Baby gifts donated at Christmas Eve Mass

I took the photo of the baby gifts for the Religious Education website, but my gifts - that's what I hope this will be all about.  And, I took it on January 1!