Blue Like Jazz

So I just finished reading Donald Miller's book, Blue Like Jazz, which has been the talk of college-age Christian circles for quite awhile. Miller even came and spoke on SPU's campus last quarter, but I wasn't able to go. Several good friends recommended his book, saying that it was an easy read and that Miller is like Anne Lamott, but with testosterone.
In all honesty, I didn't really like the book. There are some very good points in it, but none that I found brilliant. None of what he wrote was really new to me, but some of it served as good reminders while growing in my faith. And my friends were right when they said it was an easy read; I found it too easy. In many ways, it seemed like Miller dumbed down the points he was trying to convey - so much so that at times I found it offensive, not to mention that my mind would frequently wander while trying to read it. It's true that Miller writes in the same form as Anne Lamott, being that they both write about their own spiritual journeys and stories. The difference that I see between the two, though, is that Miller's book lacks the deep intellect and thought that are woven throughout the pages of Lamott's works.

I'd love to hear any thoughts on Blue Like Jazz if anyone would like to share. I'm curious as to what the people who really like the book see that I don't see....

How long?

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long, O Lord, will you look on?
Ps. 13:1-2; 35:17

Prayer Request

I have a prayer request, and, since the people I know who read my blog are prayerful people, I thought I would post it...

My mom's health is deteriorating. She's been really sick since Novemeber of 2004 and every part of her - mind, body, and soul - seem to be in a rapid downward spiral. My family is doing all we know how to and can, which never seems like enough. We don't have any real answers, we don't know what will happen next, and we don't know how much longer any of us can handle it.


BUT I believe in the power of prayer and in God's faithfulness, so please pray for my mom. Her name is Cindy.

Blessings,
Val


I'm not going to post any real specifics here, but feel free to email me at val@spu.edu if you like.

Lead of Love

Looking back at the road so far
This journey's left its share of scars
Mostly from leaving the narrow and straight

Looking back it is clear to me
A man is more than the sum of his deeds
How You make good of this mess I've made
Is a profound mystery

Looking back You know you had to bring me through
All that I was so afraid of
Though I question the sky now I see why

Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view
Looking back I see the lead of love

Looking back I can finally see
How failure brings humility
It brings me to my knees
Helps me see my need for thee

Looking back you know you had to bring me through
All that I was so afraid of
Though I question the sky now I see why

Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view
Looking back I see the lead of love

~Caedmon's Call

Sweet!

I get to teach a series of lessons (four or five) on WORMS!
We interns are so geeked :)

Back to the phonics lesson plans - slightly less interesting than worms...

Pictures!

Okay, so here are a bunch of the pictures that I've been meaning to post for awhile...

Me and my best friend, Kim
Me and Kim again

The kindergarten classroom I taught in last quarter, alongside Caitlin Collins. Aren't they cute?!

Me and Kristen, at Kerry Park - yep, the Space Needle is growing out of my head :)

At Hurricane Ridge, in Olympic National Park
Hurricane Ridge and the Olympics

Teaching Uganda How to Knit

This is the cover of SPU's quarterly magazine,
Response. This quarter's focuses on C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia. The articles are all very good, with great photos of the Kilns and of Lewis himself. There's also an article on Dr. Kerry Dearborn, who wrote introductions and study notes to the Renovaré Spiritual Study Bible. Dr. Dearborn attends my church and she is one of my favorite professors.

What is also cool about this quarter's issue is this picture, which is on the back cover:

The caption reads: "WHEN HILLARY PRAG TRAVELED to Uganda last summer, she brought along her knitting needles and yarn. “I learned to knit from a friend during my freshman year at SPU,” she says. “It was a therapeutic remedy for homesickness.” For part of her seven-week stay in Uganda, Prag volunteered in the capital city of Kampala at Dwelling Places, a Christian-run orphanage where single mothers who run out of options bring their children. While the orphanage staff cares for the children, the mothers’ needs are addressed too. “Through Dwelling Places’ Family Empowerment Program, mothers learn how to support themselves by making and selling handcrafts,” says Prag. “Once the women can establish a sustainable income from these crafts, their children are re-established in their homes."

While visiting a handcraft class, Prag met a Ugandan volunteer who introduced herself simply as “Maama Paula.” Not a teacher or a social worker, Maama Paula, says Prag, “was a mentor for mothers who were struggling to find their feet.”

Prag, who had her knitting needles and yarn in hand, suddenly got an idea. “Would you like me to teach you how to knit?” she asked Maama Paula, who agreed and caught on quickly. “She then turned around and taught the other women,” says Prag, who photographed her Ugandan friend.

Where knitting needles were scarce, the women created their own — out of wire coat hangers. “This new craft has caught on, and they are well on their way to establishing a new market for scarves in Uganda,” says Prag, who has since mailed boxes of knitting needles and yarn to Dwelling Places. This program is really a beautiful picture of the kind of ‘empowerment’ we at SPU so eagerly salute.”"

Guess what?! I am that friend who taught Hill how to knit her freshman year! I am so impressed that she remembered how, let alone turned around and taught women in Uganda. I'm asking Hill for a copy of the photo so I can have it matted and framed; it's one that will hang on my wall, serving as a reminder of how God uses us and our gifts in mysterious, powerful ways.

Soggy

Today was day #23 of the non-stop rain. The floodgates of heaven have burst at the seams every day for the past 23 days, and we are all very soggy. The grass beneath your feet says, "squish, squish, squish" very loudly, and if you don't walk fast enough you start to sink in the mud. My curls get frizzy and even curlier, my pants get soaked up to the knees, and I can't ever seem to dry off and warm up.

The worst part: indoor recess. Just as it takes quite a bit of snow to get a snow day in Michigan, it takes pretty hard rainfall to get indoor recess in Seattle. Everyone at school is ready to pull their hair out and can't wait until we can send kids outside!!

Student Teaching

Here it is, Sunday night, and my second week of student teaching is about to commence. Actually, I have classes Monday and Tuesday this quarter and am in the classroom Wed-Friday. I'm glad that they ease us into this experience some :)

My first days were good. Long, but good. I'd mastered all the students' names by lunch on my first day, which helped a lot. There are some real characters in that class, that's for sure. Here are some of the interesting names we have:

-Silver - a girl I have yet to figure out
-Jubilee - the cutest, sweetest, smartest little girl
-Siobhan (sha-VAHN) - a very sweet, considerate girl
-Sierra - very sweet and loving, and she's also somewhat of a perfectionist
-Kleo - a tomboy through and through, and she is nearly identical to her twin brother!
-Rory - yes, this reminds me of Rory from "Gilmore Girls," but our Rory is a little boy!
-Melle' - a very funny little girl, who also happens to be a huge challenge
We don't have a single Sarah or Katie, and our only repeat name is Sophia, but one of the girls goes by Sophie, so it works out. There aren't any really uncommon boy names in our class, but there is a Cedric in one of the other second grade classes. Simon, who is incredibly sweet, has a hearing impairment, so we teach with headsets. He's getting his hearing aids this week, which will allow our headsets to project only to his hearing aids, rather than to the entire classroom. The speech therapist is coming into our class this Wednesday to talk with the other students about Simon's hearing aids and to help him adjust. Ms. Niemann and I are teaching a few lessons on the five senses to help with the adjustment and student curiosity.

It turns out that Ms. Niemann is a life-long member of my church, Bethany Presbyterian! There are also quite a few Bethany families at Whittier Elementary, and I often recognize parent volunteers in the halls, which is fun.

Our four second grade classrooms are situated in this little alcove, with two rooms on each side of the square alcove. We have some comfy chairs outside our doors and a little table with flowers. It's cute. The BEST part of that little table is the sign that sits on the table, which reads: "Cookies for teachers graciously accepted. :)" And what's even better is that the sign works! Apparently cookies arrive regualarly, as they did this past Friday. :)

I worked on my knitting some this weekend. I got a generous gift certificate to the really nice yarn store from one of the families I nanny for, so I finally was able to buy the yarn I'd been eyeing for two years. It's a really soft, chunky Merino wool in an ice blue that's varigated. I also purchased a beautiful pattern for a wide, lacy scarf - I think the lace is called "climbing vine", or something close to that. Anyhow, this scarf is the most beautiful thing I have ever knit, and I love it. I want to finish it soon, seeing as it doesn't stay scarf weather for much longer in Seattle. Afterwards, I'm going to knit a couple teddy bears and other baby gifts for a few pregnant friends. I'm using my favorite book - Simple Knits for Cherished Babies - for those projects.

I'm off to bed. I'm reading this fantastic book called Still Life with Rice, by Helie Lee. I can't put it down! My best friend sent it to me in our transcontinental library system. I highly recommend this book!

Memoirs of a Geisha

A bunch of us went and saw "Memoirs of a Geisha" tonight. It was amazing, and I'd actually pay to go see it in the theaters again. I walked down to Barnes and Noble right after the movie got out and bought the soundtrack, it was that amazing. Apparently, my friend Henry is an extra in the movie, but I forgot to look for him! I'll have to call him and see if he made it into the final version of the film. Now I can't wait to read the book the film is based on!

Off to bed to read and then sleep. I can't wait to return to my church tomorrow morning; it's been too long!

Petrified and Overwhelmed

Things our professors said to my fellow student teachers and me:

-"This quarter will be busier than next quarter, even though you're only student teaching part-time."

-"You will cry at least once this quarter - hopefully not in front of your students."

-"You all will get sick."

-"You will be very stressed, tired, and overwhelmed."

-"DO NOT slack on your SPU classes, and DO NOT slack on your student teaching!"

-"This quarter sets you up for the rest of your teacher certification; should you not do well this quarter, you will not earn your resident certification."

-"If you choose to work while student teaching and it effects your teaching, you will be dismissed from this professional program."

-"You are in a professional program in one of the best teacher certification programs on the west coast. The chance that you will be hired where you are student teaching is very high, so do your very best - and then some."

Needless to say, I had the crap scared out of me this morning. I felt like I could throw up at any moment, I was so petrified of walking into that classroom tomorrow morning. I met Lynne for coffee right afterwards, and she helped me to feel better. And Ellen calmed me down while I was freaking out this evening. Roomie has been a blessing, too. She's excited for me and wants to help me pick out my "first day of school outfit" before we go to bed tonight. My lunch is packed, my clothes are clean, and I'm setting three alarms so I don't oversleep.

I can do this.
I can do this.

The Call of the Rain

...Water is always an invitation to immersion [for me], an immersion with the quality of totality, since it would accept all of me, as I am. Some primal urge invites me to return whence I came.
At times I have done so. There is some special delight in simply walking into a stream, stepping into a lake. The child's delight in a puddle is my adult's in the sea...
No rain falls that I do not at once hear in the sound of the falling water an invitation to come to the wedding. It is rare that I do not answer. A walk in an evening rain in any setting is to walk in the midst of God's loving attention to his earth, and, like a baptism, is no simple washing, but a communication of life. When you hurry in out of the rain, I hurry out into it, for it is a sign that all is well, that God loves, that good is to follow. If suffering a doubt, I find myself looking to rain as a good omen. And in rain, I always hear singing, wordless chant rising and falling.
When rain turns to ice and snow I declare a holiday. I could as easily resist as stay at a desk with a parade going by in the street below. I cannot hide the delight that then possesses my heart. Only God could have surprised rain with such a change of dress as ice and snow...
Most people love rain, water. Snow charms all young hearts. Only when you get older and bones begin to feel dampness, when snow becomes a traffic problem and a burden in the driveway, when wet means dirt - then the poetry takes flight and God's love play is not noted.
But I am still a child and have no desire to take on the ways of death. I shall continue to heed water's invitation, the call of the rain. We are in love and lovers are a little mad.

Matthew Kelty, Flute Solo, Reflections of a Trappist Hermit, pp. 117-19