Inn Weekend, the Terrible Twos, and the Art of Yes

My family has a little tradition. Lots of little traditions, actually. Every year, we spend one weekend together at an inn not too far from home. The weekend is filled with food, games, and lots of laughter. Last weekend was "inn weekend" ... but it wasn't quite as relaxing as we had hoped. You see, the terrible-twos are out in full force at Casa Almeida, and they followed us all the way to the inn. And to the hiking trails. And to the restaurant. Especially the restaurant. Instead of the usual games and laughter, the weekend was filled with early bedtimes and timeouts. But you know what? We still managed to have a great time. That's what happens when you get to spend time with the people you love.  

Today we spent some time at the park as a family, and I got to work on my 2013 goal to be present. Whenever Asher asks me to play with him, my answer is usually "not now" or "in a minute." So today I practiced the art of saying "yes." As you can tell by the excitement on his sweet little face, we had a great time!

 There was a lot to be thankful for today, so here is a quick list of today's gifts: 

• #7 - A pinprick of orange sherbet sunlight piercing through thick-as-wool clouds
• #8 - Uplifting words from people higher up
• #9 - An invitation to "Sing with me, Mommy"
• #10 - Chipping away at a mountain of laundry, one mismatched sock at a time
• #11 - Dirty knees and sandy feet
• #12 - Learning to say "yes"
• #13 - Dandelion gifts in chubby, dirt-streaked hands

Good Reads and Gifts

There's a saying that goes "I collect books like some women collect shoes." That's me. If you look around my house, you will see piles of books on almost every usable surface. Neatly, of course. Although I usually prefer fiction, I've recently picked up several great books that are sort of memoir-ish in style. Because they are just too good not to share, here's a glimpse of what I'm currently reading:

Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table With Recipes by Shauna Niequist: Bread and Wine is a collection of essays celebrating the joy of the table. With humor and honesty, Shauna discusses how food is more than fuel for our stomachs - it is a celebration, a way to nourish the bodies and souls of all who gather at our table. Mouth-watering recipes are included with each essay, along with helpful hints for preparation and serving. In addition to its thoughtful discussion of hospitality, Bread and Wine is just plain fun to read. The essays are like conversations with close friends, filled with a few tears and lots of laughs. Best of all, Shauna makes even the most reluctant, lackluster cook feel like she can tackle any food-related challenge. Let's say, for instance, that your only culinary accomplishment prior to marriage was successfully serving Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Or perhaps you feed your family on a three meal rotation. Or maybe you know how to overcook every type of meat known to man. This is all hypothetical, of course; I'm not saying I have any experience with these cooking faux pas. :) BUT if you happen to fit into one of these categories, Shauna's book might be just what you need to build a little confidence in the kitchen.

Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh:
Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of Charles Lindbergh, penned her memoir during a solitary vacation by the sea. In writing that is lyrical and lovely, Anne's essays meditate on finding peace, contentment, and solitude in the midst of life's busy-ness. The author draws inspiration from the shells she collects during her brief seashore sabbatical, tiny reminders of beauty and simplicity in a vast ocean landscape. To read Gift from the Sea is to escape life's demands and join Anne on her island retreat. Her writing, like the ebb and flow of waves, invites the reader to make room for contemplation in daily life.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp:
I haven't finished One Thousand Gifts, so I'll save a more detailed review for later. However, this book is challenging the way I view God and the gifts He has bestowed upon me. I can't stop thinking about it, so I have to share! Ann Voskamp writes about the transformative power of giving thanks. By sharing her own beautiful and heart-wrenching stories, Ann demonstrates how we can feel the wild love God has for us by practicing gratitude. After reading about the importance of thankfulness, Ann creates a list of the everyday gifts she witnesses in her own life. Simple gifts. Beautiful gifts. Gifts that bare the fingerprints of a loving, lavish God. Learning to be thankful is like any discipline - it takes time and practice. Therefore, like Ann and so many others, I am going to practice gratitude by noting a few of the gifts I see around me every day.

Don't these books sound great!? I pretty much want to be best friends with each of these women! :)

Today's Gifts

• #1 - Sharing breakfast with Asher - a literal breaking of the bread in the car
• #2 - The sweet article called "The Man Who Keeps Falling in Love with His Wife" - a beautiful story of rediscovering love, every single day; a must-read!
• #3 -  A lice-free classroom!
• #4 - Neon frosting that stains fingers and tongues
• #5 - Memorizing the feeling of sun on skin after a too-long winter
• #6 - Parenting with my best friend

The Next Chapter

I'm going to miss being a teacher.

I knew I wanted to be a teacher way back in second grade. Sure, there were times I dreamed about pursuing other careers. I wanted to be a nurse for a while. Thankfully my mom was there to remind me that nurses shouldn't cry, scream, or faint at the sight of blood. In high school, I went through a brief lawyer phase, filled with dreams of heated courtroom banter and perfectly tailored pantsuits. And, of course, there was my detective phase. And by detective, I mean Nancy Drew. And by phase, I mean era. Yup, I wanted to be Nancy Drew - girl wonder, super sleuth, detective extraordinaire - for an embarrassingly long time. Through it all, though, the desire to be a teacher remained. You know, as a back-up plan if the whole Nancy Drew gig didn't work out.

You know that old saying "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life"? It's true. For the past six years, I have done what I love every.single.day. I LOVE teaching. It's not only my dream job; it's also my hobby, passion, addiction. Now don't get me wrong - teaching is hard work. While there are moments of brilliance and satisfaction, most days are downright thankless. Especially these days, when it seems everyone is critical of our public education system. Depending on who you talk to, teachers are underqualified, or too demanding, or overpaid. (Can I just pause here to say how much I dislike the last group of people? People who claim that teachers are overpaid because they get the summers off are possibly the most ignorant people I know. Seriously. We can't be friends. Not even on Facebook.) In spite of all this, I am convinced I have the best job in the world. It's going to be so hard to say goodbye.

But ...

I am so excited for the future! I'm looking forward to focusing on my family for this season - playing with my little man, supporting my husband, possibly improving my cooking abilities (a girl can hope!). And although one chapter of my life is closing - the one where I learned that life is a balancing act, and that sometimes children are the best teachers, and that school pictures are still horrifying as an adult - I have a feeling the best chapter has yet to be written. How could it be anything but great when this little guy is one of the main characters!?

God Showed Up

Back in December, I felt God speaking to my heart. Maybe "speaking" is the wrong word. There was no booming voice from the clouds, no angels descending from a ray of heavenly light. Just a whispered hint, a soft tug. The suggestion that things could be different.

"You could quit your job and stay home to raise Asher."

It wasn't an order or threat. It was a suggestion, a impossible hint. And I refused to believe it.

Even thinking about staying home seemed foolish. After all, we live on a shoestring as it is; we are up to our ears in student loans. How could we possibly make ends meet on one salary? To be honest, I was mad at God for even hinting at the idea. He knew how much I desired to stay home. He also knew how financially unrealistic, how completely impossible it would be for me to quit my job. Why would He tempt me with something we both knew could never happen?

But the voice didn't go away.

"You could quit your job and stay home to raise Asher."

After a while, I couldn't ignore Him any more. So I prayed. A lot. I talked to God about my desires. I asked Him to give me wisdom. I even told Him that if I didn't have student loans, nothing would stand in the way of me staying home. And you know what? God heard my prayers. He showed up. He filled my life with people who (both knowingly and unknowingly) reaffirmed His message for me. He reminded me of His plan for my life almost every single time I opened the Bible. And He gave me an overwhelming sense of peace - a peace that passes understanding.

So last week, I took a leap of faith. I told my boss and my teammates that I won't be coming back next year. Even though there are several weeks until I am officially done, just telling my boss that I won't be teaching next year made the whole thing seem very real. And exciting. And a little scary. I knew in my heart that I was being obedient to God, but one thing was still unclear in my mind. One very important thing. How in the world was God going to make this work?!

And then yesterday happened.

Yesterday, Will was called into his boss's office for an impromptu meeting ... where his boss gave him a raise. A RAISE ... four days after we announced our plans to follow God without knowing how He was going to provide! Do you want to know the truly incredible part? The part that gives me goosebumps? The part that leaves me laughing at how good and generous and loving our God is? The raise boosted Will's monthly salary enough to cover our student loans ... with $30 left over! God didn't just hear my prayers. He responded to my prayers. And He was generous. Gracious. Extravagant. Praise God!

Next year, I am going to stay home to raise my son and God will provide!

Dear Asher

Dear Asher,

Last week we made a big decision. A decision that involved some tears. A decision that separated you from one of your most prized possessions. We made the decision to get rid of your pacifier.

You've been attached to that silly thing since the day you were born. After your first night in the hospital, the nurse brought you back to my room ... with a pacifier in your mouth. I wasn't crazy about the decision. After all, veteran mothers loved to tell me stories about how difficult it was to separate their children from their pacifiers. "It's easier not to let them have a pacifier in the first place," they warned, and the new mother in me took their warning to heart. But when the nurse returned you to my arms after that first night in the hospital, I let my resolve waver. At that moment, I marveled at how darling you looked as your little lips moved the pacifier in and out. For now I would enjoy my newborn; I'd have plenty of time to fight the pacifier battle later.

Since then, you and your pacifier have been inseparable. No matter how you're feeling - tired, shy, hurt - you always ask for your "blankie-paci" (a hybrid term you created for your two favorite things). So last week I knew it was time to bite the bullet; it was time to wage the pacifier war. I knew the battle would not be easily won, so I sat down and discussed the decision with you bribed you. "If you give me your paci," I said, "I'll give you a fish." You agreed, so we picked out three goldfish and threw away your pacifier. You still ask for your pacifier a couple times each day, but guess what? You haven't used it at all! Obviously, I'm relieved - I thought I was in for lots of tears and bedtime tantrums. But I'm also a little sad. Because my little boy is growing up. Because you get a little bigger each day, a little more independent. Sounds silly, right? If you were old enough to understand how sappy this is, I'm sure you would say, "Come on, Mom. It's just a pacifier. It's not like I'm getting married or something." I know we will encounter much bigger milestones in the years ahead. But for now I'm going to hold you tight. Because you are my baby. Even without a pacifier.

Love,
Mommy

Spring Break 2013

I remember meeting Will's family for the first time. As you can imagine, I was calm, cool, and collected a nervous wreck! With butterflies in my stomach, I wondered if they would like me. What would we talk about? Would we have anything in common? It's funny to think that back then we were strangers.

During spring break, Will and I were able to spend time with his brother's sweet little family in Florida. The trip has become an annual adventure, full of yummy food, late night conversations, and lots of laughs. I know what you're thinking - spring break in Florida sounds like a relaxing escape from the cold, wet brownness that is Michigan in early spring. However, let me remind you that we have a two year old. And Will's brother has a two year old. So we spent our spring break trying to corral TWO two year olds! And you know what? I wouldn't change a single thing. Somewhere between cleaning up smooshed fishy crackers, constant reminders to say "please" and "thank you", and finding Asher covered in vomit when he woke up one morning (yes, that really happened), it hit me. This is MY family. These people, who were once strangers to me, are now people I care deeply about. Now when we say goodbye at the end of our visit, I'm not simply leaving Will's family; I'm saying goodbye to my own brother and sister. I am so thankful for the week we were able to spend with these wonderful people. I am blessed to call them my family.

The Persistence of Strangers and Some Southern Hospitality

Mr. Gillette distributed copies of a tattered novel to each student in my tenth grade English class. I turned the book over in my hand, enjoying the delicious anticipation of being enveloped in a new literary world. The cover, featuring a pocket watch and ball of yarn nestled in the knothole of a tree, offered little information about the story I would encounter between the covers of the book. The title seemed equally enigmatic. I broke the cardinal rule of reading; I judged the book by its cover. I decided this book wasn't for me before I even turned to the first page. 

I had no idea how much To Kill a Mockingbird would move me as I sat at my desk in tenth grade. I had no idea that I would stay up late every night until I finished the book, absorbed in the world of Maycomb County and its residents. I had no idea that I would reread the book almost every year, eager to rejoin Scout and Jem in their sleepy southern town. I had no idea that I would eventually teach the novel to my own students when I became a teacher. And I had no idea that I would eventually visit Monroeville, Alabama, Harper Lee's hometown. 

We decided to stop by Monroeville on our way to Florida last week. And by "stop by" I mean travel several hours out of our way to visit the Old Courthouse Museum. (I still can't believe I talked Will into making the trek to Monroeville. I have the best husband!) When we arrived at the Old Courthouse Museum, we were greeted by a very kind woman ... who informed us that the museum was closed! My heart sank. The woman must have seen my disappointment because she let us tour the museum even though it was closed! We soon learned that another teacher was visiting Monroeville, hoping to tour the museum. When he discovered that it was closed, he was devastated. His wife, armed with a great deal of perseverance, called several people in Monroeville until she reached the museum curator who agreed to open the museum just for them. We happened to arrive at the same time the curator was expecting the other couple, so we were invited to tour the museum as well. What a treat it was to stand in the courthouse! I truly felt as if I had stepped into Maycomb County! 

Thank goodness for the persistence of strangers and Southern hospitality!

The set designer for the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird used this courthouse as a model for the courtroom in which Atticus fights on behalf of Tom Robinson. 

Such a beautiful building! 

A view of the courtroom from the judge's bench

Jem and Scout sat in the balcony during the trial.