And Now She’s Growing a Lemon Tree
Ever since the success of the avocado tree that now sits in a pot in a sunny warm place in our home, my daughter has wanted a lemon tree. Why stop with avocados? Why not grow a lemon tree? On the kitchen window sill, she’s preparing lemon seeds to sprout. She soaked them, and now […]
Simple Traditions of Easter
I announce all day long, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’” It’s a good Friday. We eat Good Friday pastries–little danishes and chocolate filled croissants–and we talk about our cooking plans for the weekend. We’ll go to a Good Friday service this evening, and then tomorrow, we’ll do some spring cleaning. […]
When I Showed Millennials the Millennials Video
My oldest class of students considers themselves millennials, so I wanted to show them the “Millennials in the Workplace” video by Simon Sinek. I honestly hoped they’d all throw down their phones in disgust and agree with everything Sinek tells them. They’d confess their addictions to their phones. They’d talk about how depressed they all are. […]
A Video Helping Me Understand Millennial
My friend sends me this video last night, and I love the insights and suggestions the speaker offers. Enjoy! It’s called “Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=hER0Qp6QJNU
What We’d Do With More Confidence
I think about what we would do if we felt more confident. How many opportunities do we pass by because we lack confidence? I think about the people we don’t walk across the room to meet, the words we don’t say we want to say, and the risks we don’t take. Imagine the confident you–the […]
Rise. Cry. Hope.
Early this morning, I read the words of the priest in Psalm 119:147: I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. As you know, I love concise writing; in fact, this week, I’m teaching my students the art of the “micro-message.” It’s a way of condensing writing […]
Marveling Over Growing Things: The Avocado
The Search for Signs of Spring
It’s beginning! Despite the snow still covering the ground, I see signs of spring: the Northern Cardinals have returned to the Winterberry Bush, so I know they’ll build their nest there once again this year; the daffodils and crocuses have both sent shoots up; and the trees will soon bud. Soon, I’ll begin my favorite […]
Playlist
I’m on my regular neighborhood walk, but this time, I made my perfect playlist before I embark on the journey. I grew tired of putting all my songs on “shuffle” only to pass by all the musicals, the VeggieTales, or anything else we happened to have in our family music collection. You can stop skipping […]
Making Life Here Less Appealing
I read something so refreshing in a book I’ve found, Keep a Quiet Heart–the collection of entries by missionary Elisabeth Elliot. She wonders why God doesn’t always spare us from hardship here on earth as she examines how Paul’s ship runs aground on an island even while an angel stands beside him to guard him […]