What It Is and What It Isn't, But Mostly What It Is

I don't claim to be an expert on anything these days, except maybe in messing up. But I have been learning a lot about what it means to minister and be ministered to. I have been more guilty of what mistering is not, than what it is, and, yes, a couple of items on this list are borne of frustration, disappointment, and anger. But the majority of it is born of humility. I have been humbled by true examples of ministry, and when I am out of this and on the other side and when I (if I) become the person (I hope) that I'm meant to be, I want to help people, to minister. I am also learning that I didn't know as much as I thought I did about anything, including ministering (maybe especially ministering). Thank you for ministering to me. Thank you.

Ministry drives an hour (or five or ten) to sit with someone, listen to them talk, listen to them cry.

Ministry speaks words of healing.

Ministry is available at a moment's notice; it makes time.

Ministry tells someone that they are worth the trouble.

Ministry does not just send an e-mail or two and leave it at that.

Ministry lets someone know they are loved.

Minsitry loves someone in the midst of their unloveliness.

Ministry does not wait to be asked.

Ministry calls you every day, whether or not you want to be called.

Ministry doesn't always ask, "What can I do?"
Ministry just does - something, anything - because ministry knows that doing something is better than wondering what should be done.

Ministry helps you laugh through tears.

Ministry does not just wait at an alter, but pulls you toward it.

Ministry hugs with big, big hugs, and long ones.

Ministry has big shoulders, and lets you use them.

Ministry does not judge, but ministers with the grace already experienced.

Ministry does not always say what we want to hear, but always says what we need to hear, even when it is painful (to say and to hear).

Ministry wounds faithfully.

Ministry does not just listen, but hears.

Ministry offers hope.

Ministry is not afraid of you.

Ministry is not afraid of the hard stuff.

Ministry is not afraid to get dirty.

Ministry will sit on your bedroom floor and talk with you for an hour and a half (or more).

Ministry says, "Call anytime. Anytime," and means it.

Ministry knows what you can't ask for, and offers it anyway.

Ministry remembers you next week.

Ministry believes for you, when you cannot believe.

Ministry meets you where you are.

Ministry accepts you just the way that you are, right now.

Ministry brings chocolate. :o)

Ministry lets you have another cup of coffee.

Ministry says, "I will always be your friend, and nothing that you do or say can ever change that. I love you."

Ministry is personal.

Ministry can save your life.

You Are One, Little One!

Our sweet Baby Butterbean turned one on Friday! It's hard to believe that he could have started out at just a little over 5 pounds. Now he is my chubby little monkey. I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we've had him in our lives for an entire year.

We love you Baby Butterbean! I'm so glad you are part of our family!

Summer School, Part II

I think I have realized the reason I agreed to teach summer school is that I had a subconscious need to be punished for all the bad things I have ever done in my life.

The Teacher

East of Houston
a teacher
her students

Many days she wonders
Sometimes she knows

Three dots tattooed
Between the thumb and first finger
She knows

One of her students broke a finger
It was black and blue,
purple
so swollen

The teacher said to her,
Why don't you go to the doctor?
That must hurt . . .

Her beautiful student
with the loveliest dark eyes
framed by long eyelashes,
curly, curly hair
and a ready smile
said to her,
Miss, you don't know . . .
you don't know how it is
with us.

Edgar was in the hall
laughing with his girlfriend
and talking to Jose,
who said,
My uncle has some of that stuff
it was in his car last night
we can get some tonight . . .

Jose and Edgar
laughing, jovial,
always ready
with a greeting
for the teacher.

Today she knows
what tonight will be
for the two boys

The teacher sits at her desk
in a school
just East of Houston.
She sees the large, round city,
a gray outline each morning
as she follows lines of other cars
going that way . . .

And knows that what is there
and East of there
and West and South
of the round, gray city
is a world filled with people
wanting to escape

and those people have children
who want to escape, too
But until they can,
she will teach them
from a book filled with stories.

Summer School

My summer is not here yet. I'm teaching summer school. So I'm waiting for July 1st to arrive so that I have my break.

I'm not on my normal campus, and I've taken over a room that a math teacher uses during the school year. It appears that the math teacher is also a coach.

So I am spending this day cleaning trash out of the classroom, arranging desks, and doing lesson plans. Oh, and blogging.

And thinking.

I know what I'm in for here. Well, kind of. I know that these students have failed their course for the year and need to make it up. I also know (because some of these students will be my former students) that some of them won't pass in summer school either, because they just don't care.

And that makes me think about a lot of other things. About people and life in general. About wanting more for yourself. About selling yourself out for stupid things. At least some people know better. I wonder if these students know better.

Bad things have happened to many of my students. Really bad things. And yet, the human race continues. We go through pain and mistakes and we continue. We chose to have babies and raise families, all the while knowing that there is pain in this life. But we do it because we want to or think it's the right thing or the best thing or it's just what human beings do. No one wants to be alone, and maybe togetherness will ease some of the shared pain.

I don't know.

As I live over my many mistakes, maybe this summer with these students full of pain will offer some kind of cleansing. Maybe we can share some pain and some literature and by July 1st something new and better will show itself for all of us.

My Favorite Sunday Secret This Week . . .

A Few Pics from the VW Show

We went to the Bay Area VW Club's VW Show at the San Jacinto Monument on May 17th. Here are some of the pics. More to follow when I can ever figure out how to download more pics from my cell phone.
The kids had a great time looking at all the cars! So many colors!!!!

My favorite car at the show.

Banana had to touch everything on every car.

Half a Decade

Noodle is five years old today!

And, again, no pics. I have them on my phone but cannot figure out how to download them onto the computer.

For her birthday, Noodle requested a mani-pedi and a movie. So yesterday, that's exactly what she got. She looked so cute and way too grown up for her own good as she sat in a cute little pink chair with butterfly wings on it. She was totally into getting pampered as her feet, legs, hands, and arms were massaged and her nails painted. She even got cute little designs on her nails. Too adorable. She thought she was a princess. Well, she IS!!!

Then we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens, which was really cute. She was so happy to go to the real movies. It was Noodle's perfect day.

And she is the best Noodle in the whole wide world!

When Noodle was born, she cried and cried and cried. I was so worried about her. It broke my heart to hear that little cry. But as soon as the nurses handed her to me, she stopped. Chicken Nugget and Noodle are five years apart, so I was a little bit scared that maybe I had lost my baby touch. But Noodle and I became close right away. I remember once when she was just about five or six months old, I had to leave her with a babysitter for a few hours. I hugged and kissed and cuddled little Noodle before handing her off, and I told the babysitter, "I'm not used to being away from her. She is just my little friend!"

The babysitter said she could tell that we were like a team. :o)

Now my little Noodle will be going off to big school next year. I can't believe it. Let me tell you, Noodle is really something special. She is very selective about handing out affection, and you know that it is really a treasure when Noodle gives you hugs and kisses. I've had to get used to that, since I'm an affectionate person, but it has just made me appreciate Noodle all the more.

Noodle loves to draw and paint and do any kinds of art. She also loves to sing. She is so talented, and she hangs a new picture on our bedroom door every other day. Noodle is very generous with her artwork, and when you come to visit us, you will not leave without about five pictures she has made for you.

Noodle, we love you so much and I am so glad you are part of our family! You are amazing! Happy birthday!