Here are a couple of tid bits of information to help you navigate around this page (esp. for those who don't have much experience with blogs, this post is future dated so that it will stay at the top of the page.)
1. You can add this website (http://elevenmonthsindenver.blogspot.com/) to your bookmarks, which will allow you to easily find it without having to remember the address everytime you want to catch up on my adventures.
2. You can become a follower of this blog and you will receive an email letting you know when I have updated it, there is a link on the left hand side of the page to do this. All you need to do is click on the link and follow the instructions.
3. You can leave comments about any of my posts. There is a link underneath each post labeled comments in which to do this. You don't need to be a follower to leave a comment but if you aren't a member please leave your name so that I know who left what.
4. You can look through my old posts by clicking on any of the links in the Blog Archive section
If you have any other questions please feel free to get in touch with me. I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means but I will do my best to get back to you with the answer. I hope that you enjoy hearing about my YAV year.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Where did it go?
So over the last two months I have been home celebrating my cousin's graduation, I have seen the largest hail ever, I was in a snow storm in June, I spent two days in the hospital, a week recovering from the hospital, fell and scraped my knee (and now feel like a little kid again) and started working full time for my agency.
I spend my time wondering where my time has gone but looking at this list makes me realize how much I have really done. I can't believe this time as a YAV/Dweller is about to come to an end.
(Don't worry my hospital stay was brief, though I did leave without my appendix but my recovery went well and starting Monday I will be able to lift items over 10lbs again.)
I spend my time wondering where my time has gone but looking at this list makes me realize how much I have really done. I can't believe this time as a YAV/Dweller is about to come to an end.
(Don't worry my hospital stay was brief, though I did leave without my appendix but my recovery went well and starting Monday I will be able to lift items over 10lbs again.)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Lots to catch up on
So I know its been two months since I have posted anything, its crazy how fast time has gone. I barely remember the month of May, one minute it was Cinco de Mayo an the next I was hanging out with friends for Memorial Day. June was just as bad from being home the first week getting to spend lots of time with my family to spending the last weekend in the hospital recovering from an emergency appendectomy. I have lots more to write and will be posting it tomorrow along with some new pictures.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Response to Heavy Heart
I wrote this a week or so ago after some reflection:
I spent some time reflecting tonight and began to wonder how we break the cycles we have created. How does a child, raised by a parent who was in turn raised by their parent who had no time, tolerance or parenting skill break out of that to become a great parent? How do they become role models for the next generation and create an environment that encourages their children to grow? How do we spread the love that we have for those that are close to us to everyone and make those societal changes that allow and encourage us to love our neighbors as ourselves? I don’t know the answer but do know how we live in community here has really changed my approach to interacting and caring for everyone I come in contact with. We live by Matthew 18 and know that our intentions for each other are good and important and I encourage all of us to really start to think the same way.
Molly has a great saying, “we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions.” What would our neighborhood, city, country and world look like if we all walked around with this in our heads?
I spent some time reflecting tonight and began to wonder how we break the cycles we have created. How does a child, raised by a parent who was in turn raised by their parent who had no time, tolerance or parenting skill break out of that to become a great parent? How do they become role models for the next generation and create an environment that encourages their children to grow? How do we spread the love that we have for those that are close to us to everyone and make those societal changes that allow and encourage us to love our neighbors as ourselves? I don’t know the answer but do know how we live in community here has really changed my approach to interacting and caring for everyone I come in contact with. We live by Matthew 18 and know that our intentions for each other are good and important and I encourage all of us to really start to think the same way.
Molly has a great saying, “we judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions.” What would our neighborhood, city, country and world look like if we all walked around with this in our heads?
Things to make you pause and think
Is it ever acceptable to suggest sending dog food to the starving children in Africa?
I mean, it’s nutritious and cheap…
Ex-offenders don’t really need new, clean underwear, do they?
I mean, they were in prison anything has to be better than that…
When offered anything they might like for Christmas, low-income high school students shouldn’t even think to ask for ipods, TV’s and Nintendo’s right?
I mean, they are low income and should be happy with whatever they get…
These are just a few of the stories I have heard since I moved here, one of which was actually part of a conversation I had with someone. I think sometimes its easy to view everything through the lens of more for you money the better.
I encourage everyone who reads this to think about “those” people as your kids, your mom, your brother or your grandpa. Think about how you would treat them and remember “those” people fill someoneelse's family role…
I mean, it’s nutritious and cheap…
Ex-offenders don’t really need new, clean underwear, do they?
I mean, they were in prison anything has to be better than that…
When offered anything they might like for Christmas, low-income high school students shouldn’t even think to ask for ipods, TV’s and Nintendo’s right?
I mean, they are low income and should be happy with whatever they get…
These are just a few of the stories I have heard since I moved here, one of which was actually part of a conversation I had with someone. I think sometimes its easy to view everything through the lens of more for you money the better.
I encourage everyone who reads this to think about “those” people as your kids, your mom, your brother or your grandpa. Think about how you would treat them and remember “those” people fill someoneelse's family role…
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Great Post by my Roomie Meghan!
This is a great post that I encourage all of you to read even though I didn't write it. Please copy and paste the link below!
http://megindenver.blogspot.com/2010/02/bus.html?showComment=1271305909853_AIe9_BHvdRhBy_rkBNJYomXJDfQJolpyybqFPr4Llz9E5kkaXXnO-Vc7k7Z6ei_PpD97Midk78jvPd2xv1JzFG0LjtDxr-2mzEOTSSmjWCSBVh5eMNks0-idUZu9NR2vbtGImW4YIzvBH90u_tTNNrG-RuOoKIkCuYcrkB2dtc4Rrh-Qi1LJXpl9eu3UXto6k4G2-6ZF3IVEHDZ2CNHNDXvhM9k7fI1Zw#c5884028354927188394
http://megindenver.blogspot.com/2010/02/bus.html?showComment=1271305909853_AIe9_BHvdRhBy_rkBNJYomXJDfQJolpyybqFPr4Llz9E5kkaXXnO-Vc7k7Z6ei_PpD97Midk78jvPd2xv1JzFG0LjtDxr-2mzEOTSSmjWCSBVh5eMNks0-idUZu9NR2vbtGImW4YIzvBH90u_tTNNrG-RuOoKIkCuYcrkB2dtc4Rrh-Qi1LJXpl9eu3UXto6k4G2-6ZF3IVEHDZ2CNHNDXvhM9k7fI1Zw#c5884028354927188394
Heavy Heart
I write tonight with a bit of a heavy heart, noticing that I have let the things out of my control once again sneak up on me. After a particularly interesting day, with many twists and turns, I come home wanting and needing answers but know that only time will provide them. The discomfort brought on tonight is one that stems from the differences of my life and the ones that I have been asked to serve. These differences are ones that I hardly notice anymore except on rare occasions when someone, somehow points them out.
Tonight was worship, worship without our Head Pastor. I was asked to step in to help, which included canceling Children’s Church (as we call it these days). This meant that the children would have to sit through the whole service. As they arrived I invited them to join me, to help make up for the part of church that has become routine for them, the hour that we spend God and learning about him.
Now I don’t always look forward to preparing for Children’s Church but I have come to realize how much many of the children enjoy it. So tonight while we prepared for regular worship to start I knew the children would want to talk and interrupt the service so I pulled out some of the coloring sheets that I store for when we run out of things to do, as well as some markers. For the most part the children stayed quiet and joined in during the prayers as we went. After worship I was approached by a regular member of our worshiping community who proceeded to tell me that they don’t allow children to color and draw during the service, that they should be paying attention. I apologized and let him know that I hadn’t heard that before and was trying to keep them quiet to let the adults enjoy the message. Although this didn’t seem to satisfy him he moved on with a grumble. I apologized again after dinner, making sure to let him know that I had in no way meant to upset or disturb the normal proceedings of worship at the parish, but was left wondering how that rule every got put in place. I understand the importance of children paying attention in God’s house but as a 7 year-old there is only so much sitting quietly that they can handle.
It was during the ride home that I was challenged once more about raising kids and how different that can look. I think in many ways I was raised on a rewards system, which turned me into a pleaser, always wanting to know that I had done a good job and that whoever I was trying to please was proud of me. That system can look different in every home but it is the opposite that I have a hard time understanding. I believe in discipline, and respect and know how important those lessons are for all of us to learn. I also understand that its not my place ever to tell someone how to raise or treat their kids but I feel that so many children really want to please someone and many times aren’t given the opportunity to do that.
I’m not a parent, just the oldest child out of an extended family made up of four kids and someone who thinks she has learned some about working with children over the last few months. I want and wish that I could provide the place of comfort that my family provided for me as I learned the many lessons life has to teach us. The hardest part is knowing that I won’t be here for forever and that I’m not their parent but somehow finding a way to share our lives with each other during this short time we have together.
Tonight was worship, worship without our Head Pastor. I was asked to step in to help, which included canceling Children’s Church (as we call it these days). This meant that the children would have to sit through the whole service. As they arrived I invited them to join me, to help make up for the part of church that has become routine for them, the hour that we spend God and learning about him.
Now I don’t always look forward to preparing for Children’s Church but I have come to realize how much many of the children enjoy it. So tonight while we prepared for regular worship to start I knew the children would want to talk and interrupt the service so I pulled out some of the coloring sheets that I store for when we run out of things to do, as well as some markers. For the most part the children stayed quiet and joined in during the prayers as we went. After worship I was approached by a regular member of our worshiping community who proceeded to tell me that they don’t allow children to color and draw during the service, that they should be paying attention. I apologized and let him know that I hadn’t heard that before and was trying to keep them quiet to let the adults enjoy the message. Although this didn’t seem to satisfy him he moved on with a grumble. I apologized again after dinner, making sure to let him know that I had in no way meant to upset or disturb the normal proceedings of worship at the parish, but was left wondering how that rule every got put in place. I understand the importance of children paying attention in God’s house but as a 7 year-old there is only so much sitting quietly that they can handle.
It was during the ride home that I was challenged once more about raising kids and how different that can look. I think in many ways I was raised on a rewards system, which turned me into a pleaser, always wanting to know that I had done a good job and that whoever I was trying to please was proud of me. That system can look different in every home but it is the opposite that I have a hard time understanding. I believe in discipline, and respect and know how important those lessons are for all of us to learn. I also understand that its not my place ever to tell someone how to raise or treat their kids but I feel that so many children really want to please someone and many times aren’t given the opportunity to do that.
I’m not a parent, just the oldest child out of an extended family made up of four kids and someone who thinks she has learned some about working with children over the last few months. I want and wish that I could provide the place of comfort that my family provided for me as I learned the many lessons life has to teach us. The hardest part is knowing that I won’t be here for forever and that I’m not their parent but somehow finding a way to share our lives with each other during this short time we have together.
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