Dream #1

I have had some very unusual dreams lately. I’ve waffled on posting them, fearing that they may land me in the looney bin! But here goes:

Several nights ago, I dreamed that a bald eagle was flying in the ‘huge field next to our house’ (which is obviously wishful thinking – both about the bald eagle and the huge field!). As I reclined on the ground, watching upward, the eagle would occasionally fly out of my view making huge circles in the sky, but would soon return to my view again. When I heard a thump beside me, I cowered, assuming that it was the eagle. I soon ceased to be afraid when I heard it whimper in pain. As I turned to take a look, I discovered that the eagle was, in fact, a child in an eagle costume, complete with a computer printout showing how far he had flown that day – all the way to Kentucky!

My sleeping mind, at this point, realized this was a dream, and was trying to wake up, but the dream was strong and continued. My memory of the dream, however, faded at this point but I was very disturbed when I fully awoke. And you, (my three readers) are equally disturbed, I’m sure! Just think, this is only the beginning. There are three more dreams that are equally strange, that I can recount fully. Am I just getting old?? I normally only remember dreams when I’m ill. Hmmmmm, What do you think?

Wordy Wednesday 9

Today’s word is avarice. I was sure that I had heard that word in Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s speech on the 24th. I read back through the transcript and found that yes, Ms. Worthy did indeed use the word in describing “the Roman Goddess of Justice (who) is the idealization of the moral force that (SHOULD- my word!) underlie(s) the legal system”. “She is almost always draped in flowing robes, symbolizing the fair and equal administration of the law without corruption, avarice, prejudice, or favor.

I think this was the only word in Ms. Worthy’s speech that I was not sure about. In context, we can assume that it is not a good thing – but what exactly? According to The American Heritage Dictionary, avarice is “An extreme desire for wealth”. Unfortunately, there seems to be a gap between the ideal legal system and the real legal system.

Not so wordy Wednesday:(

How’s this instead? How do you make a snowman when there are NO carrots in the house? And, heaven forbid, NO COAL!!!!

Too good not to post

I am so sorry that I’ve haven’t posted lately.  I really have been swamped with work.  I’ve been subbing for another teacher as well as teaching my own classes for the last 2 weeks.  Recitals are coming, and while it won’t continue to be as nuts as it has been the last 2 weeks, it won’t totally slow down until after the recitals.

A friend sent me an email that made me cry – I know- that isn’t all that difficult- but I wanted to share it with you.  May we all have the desire to share the gospel that this little guy does.

FROG HAT

My 9-year-old’s last-second request surprised his doctor and taught me a valuable lesson about sharing the gospel….

Tina Blessitt

Last fall, my 9-year-old son, Austin, had his tonsils removed. Before the Surgery, Austin’s anesthesiologist came to start an IV.  He was wearing a cool surgical cap covered in colorful frogs.   Austin loved that “frog  Hat.”

The doctor explained that he had two choices.  He could either try to start the IV, or he could wait until Austin was up in the operating room.  In the OR the doctor would give Austin some “goofy” gas, and start the IV when he was more relaxed.

“So, Austin ,” he asked, “which do you want?”

Austin replied, “I’ll take the gas.”

But when the doctor started to leave, Austin called, “Hey, wait.”

The doctor turned.  ‘Yeah, buddy, what do you need?”

“Do you go to church?”

“No,” the doctor admitted.  “I know I probably should, but I don’t.”

Austin then asked, “Well, are you saved?”

Chuckling nervously, the doctor said, “Nope.  But after talking to you, maybe it’s something I should  consider.”

Pleased with his response, Austin answered, “Well, you should, ’cause Jesus is great!”

“I’m sure He is, little guy,” the doctor said, and quickly made his exit.

After that a nurse took me to the waiting room.  Someone would come and get me when Austin’s surgery was done.

After about 45 minutes, the anesthesiologist came into the waiting room.

He told me the surgery went well and then said, “Mrs. Blessitt, I don’t usually come down and talk to the parents after a surgery, but I just had to tell you what your son did.”

Oh boy, I thought.  What did that little rascal do now?

The doctor explained that he’d just put the mask on Austin when my son signaled that he needed to say something.   When the doctor removed the mask, Austin blurted, “Wait a minute, we have to pray!”

The doctor told him to go ahead, and Austin prayed, “Dear Lord, please let all the doctors and nurses have a good day.  And Jesus, please let the doctor with the frog hat get saved and start going to church.  Amen.”

The doctor admitted this touched him. “I was so sure he would pray that his surgery went well,” he explained.  “He didn’t even mention his surgery.  He prayed for me! Mrs Blessitt, I had to come down and let you know what a great little guy you have.”

A few minutes later a nurse came to take me to post-op.  She had a big smile on her face as we walked to the elevator.  “Mrs. Blessitt, I couldn’t wait to tell you something exciting that your son did.”

With a smile, I told her that the doctor already mentioned Austin’s prayer.

“But there’s something you don’t know,” she said. “Some of the other nurses and I have been witnessing to and praying for that doctor for a long time.  After your son’s surgery, he tracked a few of us down to tell us about Austin’s prayer.  He said, ‘Well girls, you got me.  If that little boy could pray for me when he was about to have surgery, then I think maybe I need his Jesus too.”

She then recounted how they joined the doctor as he prayed to receive Christ right there in the hospital.

Wow! Austin had played a small part in something wonderful.  But then, so did the nurses who prayed and  witnessed.   I thought about John’s words in his Gospel, “One sows and the other reaps”  (John 4:37).

Austin ’s experience taught me that, although we never know which role we may be called to play, in the end it doesn’t matter.  What’s important is that we remain faithful in sharing the gospel.

Tina Blessitt, a freelance writer, lives with her husband and four children in Kentucky

More traffic Woes!

What a day!  I left the house at 9:00 this morning to sub for a ten o’clock class.  On a Saturday morning, it should only take me 20 minutes to get to work.  As I got on the expressway, there was a multiple car accident in the clearing stages.  The middle lane was open, so I very carefully made my way through, figuring it must be slippery and not wanting to hit all the people milling around.  As I got past that, I looked up and saw a wall of traffic.  The expressway had been shut down due to black ice -  and I was going nowhere.  It took me 40 minutes to go one exit and then get to a surface street that was fairly open. It ended up taking me 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to work.  My boss, Chris had to start my class – fortunately, hers started at 10:30. I have never ever been late to work before – not even when I drove in that big snow storm that we cancelled classes for!  UGH!

I’m not one to whine about Michigan winters – I love where I live and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.  But – HOLY COW!  It has snowed every other day here this winter!  YIKES!  I’m not sure Spring will ever come!  Can it really be March?

Wordy Wednesday 8

UBIQUITOUS: existing or being everywhere, or in all places, at the same time. Let me give you an example (from Dictionary.com). “Before Tarzan, nobody understood just how big, how ubiquitous, how marketable a star could be.” John Taliaferro, Tarzan Forever
Here’s one from real life…. In my house, whining about school is, unfortunately, a ubiquitous problem.

What is ubiquitous in your life?

Life goes on

So sorry blog readers -but there’s really nothing exciting going on in my life right now.  I am working crazy busy hours (for me) but nothing bloggable! Until Wordy Wednesday then!!!

Wordy Wednesday 7

For all one of you who were waiting anxiously for this Wordy Wednesday, I apologize. I posted it last night, double checked it, and went to bed. This morning it was not there! So sorry – here it is.

Did you all see the lunar eclipse tonight? It was pretty cool. Jim doesn’t understand why I get so excited – but I do! Do you think things like that are tres extraordinaire? (to quote Eloise)

So what does the word eclipse mean?

An eclipse is the obscuration of the light of the moon by the intervention of the earth between it and the sun (lunar eclipse) or the obscuration of the light of the sun by the intervention of the moon between it and a point on the earth (solar eclipse). (Get your dictionaries out) It also can refer to a similar phenomenon with respect to any other planet and either its satellite or the sun. It can also refer to any other planets and their satellites, or the sun. Other stars can have eclipses as well.

There is another use for this word that does not directly refer to astronomy. An eclipse can be a reduction or loss of splendor, status, reputation, etc. “Illness caused the eclipse of his career” would be one way to use it. It can also be used as a verb. To eclipse is to make less outstanding or important by comparison, surpass. “His great success eclipsed his brother’s achievements.” Come up with some more NON astronomy uses (noun or verb) for the word eclipse.

Wordy Wednesday 6

“He is a class -A kvetch when it comes to Michigan’s weather.” To whom am I referring???? That’s not the point What is a kvetch? A kvetch is a complaint or a habitual complainer. It can also be used as a verb, as in – “She kvetched about the noise level of the TV”.

What do you kvetch about? Come on readers!  Think!  Use a new word!

Ouch

For a number of years ( as an adult), I refused to skate because I was afraid. I actually got back on the ice a few years ago – and really enjoyed myself. The kids and I were going skating about once a month – an-to the point where I did the face plant…. right in the middle of “Y-M-C-A”. I guess I can’t skate and dance do arm motions at the same time.

I had my camera with me – thankfully, not when I fell though. Sorry – no pics of the fall:( I’m sure you all would have enjoyed that! Here are a few other pics of CBC’s Family Skate at The Peak.

EDIT: I am feeling MUCH better today! Still sore – but not out of commission. I had commented on facebook this morning that I only felt old this morning – not decrepit!