When I'm a Mommy. . .

How will I guide my children in the way they should go,

when I am still myself figuring all this out?

How will I teach them to value & respect their bodies,

while avoiding the obsessive modesty standards that seems to say, "I am what I wear."?

How will I teach them that certain behaviors are unacceptable,

while encouraging kind & nonjudgmental hearts towards those who make different choices?

How can I justify primping in the mirror every morning,

while insisting that character trumps outward appearance?

How will I protect them from the dangers "out there" in the world,

while allowing them to hurt as God hurts when He sees suffering & injustice?

How will I teach them HOW to think,

 without attempting to teach them WHAT to think? 

How will I teach them the importance of being grounded & stable,

while encouraging them to live the questions, be inquisitive, always ready to learn something new?

How will I tell them that I am their support & advocate, that I'll always have their back,

when I know that I will fail them?

How will I teach them what I believe & pour my heart into forming them into adults,

yet gracefully accept when they come to believe differently than Mommy believes?

How will I give them roots

. . . and wings?
 

Miscellany Monday

{1}  recent coffeeshop digs.

It's no secret that I love coffeeshops & that I frequent Organic Grounds, a local coffeehouse.  However,  recently I've begun stopping by our on~campus coffeeshop.  Here are a few pictures {excuse the quality;  taken from my phone}:

Now, this may not look like much, but this space is very sleek & suave for our small, Christian liberal arts university.  I love the contemporary Manhattan loft feel of the space!

Below is another camera phone shot, this one taken at Barnes & Noble:

That's a Mocha Toffee Frappuccino.  Note the tiny plastic Starbucks shot glasses provided for water. 
Too cute!
Or maybe I'm just strange.

{2}  fear forest.

This is where I toured last Saturday night.  I've never been to a haunted house {or forest, as it were}, so this was certainly a new experience.  To be honest, it wasn't that bad!  The goblins that jumped out mostly targeted the squealy girls {you know the ones}, so I was careful to keep my cool. 
I wasn't scared at all!~  BUT... I must admit, the claw marks in poor Cory's hand and arm tell a different story.  ;-)

{3} home is where I'm with you.

I've substituted at the daycare center 3 afternoons in the past week.  I was so happy to see the kids again because I've been sadly MIA since my school year has begun.

Clearly, they love this spinner. 

Would you believe me if I told you that I wedge myself down

into that seat & spin with them, which promptly sends hoards of more children

over to us squealing & laughing & demanding room be made for them, too?

That would never happen.  I am far too dignified.

{5}  how can I.. 

..change the color of my Feed-jit?  I can't figure out how to  customize the color without having to download this & sign up for that.  Please help me if you have any ideas!  Additionally, I want to design a new header for Musings Aloud, so if you have any pointers on that, I would be so thankful!

Link up your miscellany with Carissa at lowercase letters! 

While I Should Have Been Reading Piaget and Studying Biodiversity & Toxicity Levels...

I changed my blog!  I actually have the same background because I'm not yet
willing to part with this "Fabulosity" print, but I've purged the clutter & made it a bit
airier and brighter.
Hopefully a new header to come.  Possibly soon.  Most likely in the far future.

However, the special Scriptura font that I downloaded &
installed for my post titles is now gone.  Apparently selecting a
new template altered that customization..?  The strange thing is, the
Century Gothic that I set as my default font has remained.  I don't have the time at the moment to
go back & muddle through the html to find out vhat ees dee pwoblem with the
vanished Scriptura font, so if anyone has any ideas,
do enlighten me!  

Oh, & have a marvelous weekend! 

I Count Because. . .

. . . when I give intentional thanks,

my heart is worshipful, my restless spirit is content, and my mind ponders the praiseworthy.

~.:Gifts 100 ~ 113:.~

~:  the long~awaited & ardently hoped for "let's catch up soon"

~:  unseasonably warm temperatures

~:  apple cider

~:  dinner on the rooftop

~:  goldenrod, scarlet, crimson, amber, burnt sienna & rust

~:  birthdays & 49 years of life for the person who knew me before I realized I existed

~:  night out with one of my besties at a funky, artsy joint

~:  courage to join the spinning, dancing circle

~:  boom box necklace purchased during my last visit that distant & happy summer

~:  one~on~one time with the new third grade student, frail & meek

~:  leading toddler music & going crazy with bean bags, scarves, & rhythm sticks

~:  an email to my prof from my field placement advisor praising my skills & abilities {for real, now?}

~:  cinnamon rolls with buttercream icing from the farmer's market

~:  tears that wash clean the eyes of my heart

Photo taken April 2009 in North Philly, Puerto Rican quarter; Lehigh & N. 5th area



 Count with us as part of the Gratitude Community at Holy Experience:

Top 15 Worst Pick~Up Lines ~ Compiled by Yours Truly

{1}  Have a baby by me, baby- be a millionaire!  {compliments of 50 Cent}

{2} You make me wanna say 'oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh my gosh!!!!' {compliments of Usher}

{3}  Is your dad a terrorist?~ because you're the bomb!

{4}  I've heard that my shoulder makes a pretty good pillow.

{5}  I forgot my phone number.  Can I have yours?

{6}  Is your daddy a pirate?  'Cuz you could have fooled me with booty like that!

{7}  Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?

{8}  If you were a booger, I'd pick you first.

{9}  Wouldn't we look cute on a wedding cake together?

{10}  Call me Fred Flintstone; I can make your bed rock!

{11}  You look like my ex.

{12}  You be my Dairy Queen, and I'll be your Burger King.

{13}  You must be tired, because you've been running through my head all day.

{14}  Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk past again?

{15} What's the name of your perfume?  "Catch of the Day"?  

Now, the million dollar question:  Have any of these gems been used on me?

Unfortunately. . . . yes.

Can you think of any other heeby~jeeby~inducing pick~up lines to add to this list, ones that are either totally cheeseball or grossly stale?  Do share!

Tiny Talks with a New Batch of Little Ones

It's been awhile since I've participated in Tiny Talk Tuesday.  The reason?  Resuming my college courses this fall has packed my schedule so that I can no longer work at the daycare center {except an occasional late afternoon}.  My life has been sorely lacking in little people, and I miss them oh-so-much!

However, some of my current education courses require that I spend a few hours a week in our lab preschool, so I've gleaned a few tiny talk soundbites to share!

I don't know these children well enough to give them aliases yet, so the first letter of their names will have to do for now.

: :

"What kind of flowers are these, E----?" her mother asked her as we entered the school, pointing to a flowerpot of yellow flowers.

"Chrysanthemums," itty-bitty-tiny-petite two year-old, squeaky-voiced E---- replied with perfect articulation.

One of the teachers later commented to me with E---- nearby, "She speaks with such great articulation!"

"Articulation," E---- echoed with each syllable pronounced and consonant crisp.

Later, I was playing with L------ in the pretend kitchen area of the classroom.  As we were serving up a tea party, P----- wandered over to join us.  {Both, like E----, are girls, two years old, and extremely verbal}.

"Oh look," L------ said to me.  "I think P----- wants to be our guest."

"No," P----- replied.  "I don't want to be a guest!  I just wanna live!"

Overheard any tiny talk from the little ones in your life?  Link up and share over at Mary's Not Before 7.

~J*O*Y~

"A single joy shatters a hundred griefs."

This week's photo challenge at Aspire is JOY and I immediately knew I have no better selection than this photo in my archives with that simple title.

The contagious cheerfulness on the faces of these two beautiful baby girls radiates off the photo.  How blessed I was to be their teacher for a time!
   

Her fingers say "peace" and their faces say "joy" . . . sheer, innocent, untainted . . .