Always an Opportunity
This morning, I remember to always look for the opportunity. In particular, I consider how every situation–every single one!–offers an opportunity to exert kindness and offer blessing. Every situation invites us to trust God for something. An opportunity refers to favorable conditions for something desired to happen, so we often think we don’t have favorable […]
Simple Little Things
We position a parade of acorns: something small, something that costs us nothing, something that makes us smile as we glance at them.
The Clear Coat: Acorn Beauty
For the past decade, I’ve collected the fallen acorns every September to paint in cheerful colors as an autumn craft. We’d gather all the old nail polish bottles and enjoy painting the acorns. We’d always display our acorns in a glass bowl. In fact, as I walk across campus this morning, I stoop low to […]
My Homemade Autumn Wreath
I went to the craft store, and I found a grapevine wreath base, this bow, and some sprigs of little pumpkins and autumn leaves. I found a few sunflowers, too. I used crafting wire to tie everything to the wreath base. I’m so happy with how it turned out! I never knew I had it […]
For What Reason Do People Most Request Your Input or Service?
In one professional development question, we look at hints to our best kind of service to the world. Can we look for clues throughout our lives that point to a call to a vocation? We can look back and see why people request our help or input. Is it for wise counsel? For organization? For […]
Things That Taste Like Other Things
Following the theme of my Stuffed Dates that taste exactly like Snickers, I notice the Cotton Candy Grapes at Wegmans. They taste like cotton candy. I filled up a bowl of them as an afternoon treat. It’s always this delightful moment when you’re told something will taste like something else and it does. It made […]
Two Recipes I Love for Dinner and Dessert
Quick Dinner: Try this super easy Better Than Take Out Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe from Averie Cooks. We made this last night and cannot wait to make it again! https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-better-takeout-shrimp-fried-rice/ Best Dessert: You must try this simple Stuffed Dates dessert that involves stuffing pitted Medjool dates with a bit of peanut butter then dipping them […]
Your Morning Ritual
Today’s class Name Game involved sharing our “morning rituals.” It’s such a great way to quickly get to know one another. We learned, for example, how one student continues to eat the exact same breakfast every single day that he began eating as a 5-year-old (waffles). I now know he’s a man of routine. I […]
Who Can Show Us Any Good?
I love Psalm 4. Some translations say this is David’s “Evening Prayer of Trust.” I imagine David placing his head upon the pillow and reciting these words to himself. I highlighted my favorite phrases. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have relieved me in my distress;Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. O sons […]
In the Swing of Things
I’m into the second week of teaching in a classroom at Penn State. By this week, it feels like we’re in the swing of things already. It’s a great feeling to know your schedule, your rhythms, and your weekly goals. There’s something so reassuring and normal about an academic calendar. In fact, when I asked […]