There is so much to enjoy every day. Why are some people always so grumpy? If you are a grumpy person, maybe you can pause and think about how many of these things you have the privilege to enjoy each and every day. Although every person's list is different, I bet your list might include some of the same things as mine.
Things I look forward to and enjoy each day (well, at least most days)
1. a warm shower
2. a cup of coffee
3. a bowl of cereal (Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts, Lucky Charms, Golden Grahams, Frosted Mini-Wheats)
4. Reading a short section of the Bible (I am working my way through the whole Bible -- I found a cool resource on reading the Bible in a year. This included reading three different chapters from three different books each day. I only do one chapter each weekday morning, so it will probably take me 5 years)
5. Waking my kids up for the day
6. Getting to plan and teach a German lesson each day
7. looking at the beautiful sky (sunrise) on the drive to work
8. one-on-one conversations with students, teachers, friends, neighbors
9. listening to stories at the lunch table (when there is a group of more than 5, I end up listening more than talking, but it's cool getting glimpses into the lives of others)
10. driving home and looking at the trees (everybody loves the colors of spring, but I think trees in winter are beautiful too)
11. picking up the kids from daycare and Kidsnetwork (after Kindergarten care)
12. making a supper for the 4 of us -- (usually it's pretty simple, but it's fun to call the kids up for supper and have their drinks, main course, vegetable, fruit, chips, etc. )
13. reading the comics and a couple articles in the paper (Omaha World Herald)
14. watching a TV show or two (The Office, Worst Week, Brothers and Sisters)
15. an afternoon cup of warmed-up coffee
16. reading a few pages of my current book from the library (Paul Theroux - The Elepahnt Suite) I usually get this reading done in the bathroom
17. a beer, glass of wine, or margarita (yes - or (not - and))
18. a phone call with my folks or my brother
19. filling in and reading the highlight calendar - We have this cool perpetual calendar - thanks to Nate and Becky - where you can record your highlight each day - each year. Then you flip through it each year and see what you were doing on this exact day two years ago, five years ao, etc.
20. Peeking at the kids who are sound asleep
21. Crawling into a nice warm bed next to Jen
My life isn't perfect. I'm so lucky to have been born into an amazing family, and I am lucky to be a father now in another amazing family. My social life may not be as impressive as many people. Sometimes I get depressed about this and that. Matt Staff knows about my mopy moods, but all in all - it's an amazing life. I hope we all take the time to enjoy the present - it truly is a gift from God. Ultimately nothing matters except our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -- and then helps me to enjoy the present -- knowing what a great life this is and knowing what a great afterlife awaits us.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
a busy week
Hi all. It was great seeing the brothers the weekend before last. We can't wait to see you all in 5 weeks, or so.
The conference in Crete went great. I had about 22 people attend my session, so that was cool. I presented on ways to not entertain but engage your students in a foreign language classroom.
Kylie's birthday party at the Mahoney State Park Activity Center was a success. I got to drive Kylie and 4 friends in our van. Jen and Pam took Davin and Claire in the other vehicle. The other 4 friends Kylie had invited came out with their parents. It was a fun place (and quite affordable) for a party.
Jen returned to work yesterday. Kylie now goes to Kids Network before and after school at a building across the street from her school. An adult walks her and the other students to and from the school each day.
We have parent-teacher conferences tonight and tomorrow night and the family music class on Thursday at church. Jim and Pam are babysitting tonight and tomorrow.
We went to Kylie's conference last night with her kindergarten teacher. That was fun. Kylie is doing great.
Although Friday is a comp. day for two nights of conferences, Jen works in the morning and I work in the afternoon. All teachers have to pick when they are working their 194th day on our contract. There are a variety of options of what sessions you can attend or on what you and a team of teachers can work on, so Friday was one of about 10 option days that we could work to fulfill that 194h day. We will both work 4 hours that day; then we each have another 4 days another day.
On Saturday, Kylie has dance. We switched her dance class from Mondays to Saturdays. I tried to practice helping her get her tights on for dance. I almost had that down. But I also had to learn how to do her hair. For dance class, you have to have your hair pulled back (ponytail, pigtail, or whatever). That was way too tough for me. So we decided instead of having crazy mondays with me getting her to dance class looking ridiculous, we switched her to an 11-12 dance class. (She also starts Daisies soon - the step before Brownies)
Kylie also has a birthday party to attend at some hair place on Saturday where all the kids get their hair and nails done and perform a talent show — or something like that.
We also may attend Touch-A-Truck — a free event that we attended last year that lets Kylie and Davin climb inside just about every type of vehicle you can imagine.
I knew it was a busy week, but now that I have typed it all. Holy cow — it's a busy week.
I'm trying to pull off a mini-surprise for Jen's birthday. After family music class, I take the kids home and go to bed. This Thursday the kids and I will try to pick up a cake, and have a little surprise birthday party in their room when Jen gets home. I bought her a new comforter for our bed — that was very similar to one she mentioned in a catalogue — I was actually paying attention. When she gets home, I hope to have the kids yell 'surpirse' and surprise her with a comforter and one of those goofy powerpoint albums I've made for others.
It was my turn to wake up with Claire to feed her last night, but she slept through the night!!
The conference in Crete went great. I had about 22 people attend my session, so that was cool. I presented on ways to not entertain but engage your students in a foreign language classroom.
Kylie's birthday party at the Mahoney State Park Activity Center was a success. I got to drive Kylie and 4 friends in our van. Jen and Pam took Davin and Claire in the other vehicle. The other 4 friends Kylie had invited came out with their parents. It was a fun place (and quite affordable) for a party.
Jen returned to work yesterday. Kylie now goes to Kids Network before and after school at a building across the street from her school. An adult walks her and the other students to and from the school each day.
We have parent-teacher conferences tonight and tomorrow night and the family music class on Thursday at church. Jim and Pam are babysitting tonight and tomorrow.
We went to Kylie's conference last night with her kindergarten teacher. That was fun. Kylie is doing great.
Although Friday is a comp. day for two nights of conferences, Jen works in the morning and I work in the afternoon. All teachers have to pick when they are working their 194th day on our contract. There are a variety of options of what sessions you can attend or on what you and a team of teachers can work on, so Friday was one of about 10 option days that we could work to fulfill that 194h day. We will both work 4 hours that day; then we each have another 4 days another day.
On Saturday, Kylie has dance. We switched her dance class from Mondays to Saturdays. I tried to practice helping her get her tights on for dance. I almost had that down. But I also had to learn how to do her hair. For dance class, you have to have your hair pulled back (ponytail, pigtail, or whatever). That was way too tough for me. So we decided instead of having crazy mondays with me getting her to dance class looking ridiculous, we switched her to an 11-12 dance class. (She also starts Daisies soon - the step before Brownies)
Kylie also has a birthday party to attend at some hair place on Saturday where all the kids get their hair and nails done and perform a talent show — or something like that.
We also may attend Touch-A-Truck — a free event that we attended last year that lets Kylie and Davin climb inside just about every type of vehicle you can imagine.
I knew it was a busy week, but now that I have typed it all. Holy cow — it's a busy week.
I'm trying to pull off a mini-surprise for Jen's birthday. After family music class, I take the kids home and go to bed. This Thursday the kids and I will try to pick up a cake, and have a little surprise birthday party in their room when Jen gets home. I bought her a new comforter for our bed — that was very similar to one she mentioned in a catalogue — I was actually paying attention. When she gets home, I hope to have the kids yell 'surpirse' and surprise her with a comforter and one of those goofy powerpoint albums I've made for others.
It was my turn to wake up with Claire to feed her last night, but she slept through the night!!
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