Ignorant Historian

1.  If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass on to your children, what would it be?

My intelligence.  Okay, that’s not really a personality trait, is it?  Then I’d say my determination.  Yes, I know that’s just a polite way of saying “stubborn.”  I’m willing to put up with the challenges of a stubborn child if that also means that they’ll stand up for what is right and not be easily swayed when they’re older.

2.  Where did you last see a real windmill?

I’m sure it was back when I was in the middle country, as I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one here in North Carolina. I have no idea when…I’m not observant. (Watch, I’ll notice that I have seen one here now that I’ve been asked this question.)

3.  Would you rather have a masters degree in economics or creative writing?

While a degree in economics would be more useful to my current job, I’d rather do the work for the creative writing degree. So if you’re just going to hand me the expertise and degree, I’ll go with economics, but if you’re just giving me the education (and the time to do it in) free, I’ll go with creative writing.

4.  When you realize you’re working inefficiently, are you more likely to grit your teeth and power through it anyway, or to put it all down and come back to it when the vibe is better?

I don’t know about a “vibe,” but I do take a break when I notice I’m not working as well as I should. Usually if I do something else or simply walk away, I can come back to it in an hour or so refreshed and ready to go at it again.

5.  Name a book that made you angry.

The Shack.

1. What’s your favorite science fiction movie? Make it a double feature. What’s your second favorite?

Favorite is probably the new Star Trek. I actually didn’t see it in the theaters (wish I had!), but I really enjoyed it. When picking a second, it’s really hard not to pick Inception since I just saw it and loved it. Instead, I’m going to have to go with a Star Wars…maybe Episode III? Sorry to purists out there, but I prefer the ones actually made when I was alive.

2. Which ethnic group has the best food?

LOVE Mexican food (both real Mexican food and Tex-Mex, though I must admit I prefer Tex-Mex). I could literally eat it every day. Chinese is a close second, but I’m pickier in which kinds of Chinese food I like.

3. What is your favorite Disney princess?

Toughie. Aurora, probably. I’d love her life in a rural cottage with plenty of time to think (and presumably to read).  Or maybe Cinderella.

4. What is America’s gift to the world?

Wow…hmmm. Though we are merely the bearers of this gift and not the originators, I think I’d have to say the Gospel. While it’s also been distorted here–often beyond recognition–America has also been the place God has chosen to incubate the Gospel, and many Americans have been major instruments God has used to spread it. The downside is that Christianity and America are often linked in a way that is highly unflattering to God. May God help us to de-Americanize the Gospel and continue to selflessly share this wonderful gift.

5. Excluding romantic love, when was the last time you told someone you loved them?

This past weekend to sweet little “Abby,” my friend’s 5-year-old girl. I treat her like a niece. She started calling me “Erica” to be silly, so I started calling her “Abby.” Then she started calling me “best friend” and then “sister.” She knows how to wiggle her way into your heart, that’s for sure!

Yep, another non-fiction review.  It’s about all I’m reading these days.

When my intentionally-illiterate roommate was excited about finding a memoir to read, I immediately took her to our small branch library (if I didn’t think that she would have slapped me, I might have forced her shoes on her feet just to get her there before she changed her mind).  While it didn’t have any of the titles that were recommended to her (by me or any one else) on hand, she browsed the shelf, picking up several.

Another Place at the Table was the one that stuck.

It’s the story of Kathy Harrison and her family as they grow their family through adoption and foster care.  Though I still haven’t written the post on it, I’m a huge fan of adoption, so when my roommate enjoyed it, I knew I wanted to read it next.

It reads about how you expect (many heart-breaking stories of abuse balanced out with many touching moments), but it was very good.  Reminds me that being a foster parent is HARD but worth it.

There are hundreds (thousands?) of children in my area who don’t have someone to love them.  I want to do that.  While I’m not in a position right now, I’m working on getting myself there.  Sure, this means denying myself (which I’ll admit I don’t usually enjoy).  But I have a great example in my Savior for this, don’t I?

As she said, ”We could have had more time and more stuff [if we hadn't been foster parents], but I don’t believe we would have been any happier.” (p. 126)

I definitely recommend this book.

Yesterday was an ending for me. Not OF me…I’m not posting this posthumously.

Side note: I have wondered what would happen to my blog if I die.  Not that I’m morbid or anything, but I’m not promised a single day more of life on this earth, so I don’t want to presume God will let me live until I’m 100.  Perhaps I should put my wishes for my blog in a will.  I’d hate for my last post to be one like this or this.  I’d hope to have something truly meaningful as my last blog words, you know?

End side note.

Yesterday was an ending because it was my last day teaching kindergarten Sunday School after 4 1/2 years.  I’ve had 5 different classes of students, each with their own style, and I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them.

I wasn’t looking to leave the kindergarten class.  While I’ve made no secret of the fact that it wasn’t my favorite age group, I was happy to be where I was needed.  I liked being in the same class year after year, as it’s something the kids look forward to after hearing their older siblings talk me up.

But one thing led to another, and I’ll now be teaching Sunday School for 5th and 6th grade girls.  I’ve asked several of the girls in that group what they would think about me being their teacher, and they loved the idea.  Always makes you feel good, because I love them too.

I actually wasn’t set on this move (I had other options) until Kids’ Camp.  Spending time with that age group reminded me of why I love it so much.  I have a few weeks before we start, but I’m already excited for it.

After 5 years of kindergarten, I’m finally graduating!

Photo by cryptic_star

I’ve already talked about how much I enjoyed Radical. It was the kick in the pants that I needed.

I needed to get back to the basics.  All the seminary training and reading won’t do me any good if I’m not whole-heartedly seeking God through His Word and prayer.  And all of that is meaningless if I’m not working out my faith.

Spending last week with the kids at camp I learned the same thing: it’s all about the basics.  Not only do I need to teach them the how of the faith, but I need to model it.

This is why I’ve been working on re-establishing good habits: reading 6 chapters of the Bible everyday (3 of each testament), praying not only for those around me but for the world, and memorizing  and meditating God’s Word.  These are building blocks…but they are necessary.

I’m far from perfect even in these small things (in fact, part of my reason for writing this is to be held to it), but they’re necessary.  Not that doing the right things will earn favor with God, but it is how I will know God.

“When you or I open the Bible, we are beholding the very words of God — words that have supernatural power to redeem, renew, refresh, and restore our lives to what he created them to be. That is why I believe it is more important for you and me to read Leviticus than it is for us to read the best Christian book ever published, because Leviticus has a quality and produces an effect that no book in the Christian marketplace can compete with.” – Radical by David Platt, p. 192

Photo by Artful Magpie

• Camp was just as easy as I expected.
• It was also as exhausting as I expected.
• We had one girl get sick our first morning at camp.  Thankful, after spending the morning resting and taking it easy the rest of the day, she was back in tip-top shape the next day.
• It was a super hot week (the hottest in my 6 summers in NC), but our kids met our challenge to drink more, and more, and more water.
• It IS possible to be cold in 100 degree weather, if you’re standing in wet clothes.
• The girls kept their rooms neater than I did (the incentive of an ice cream party is a great motivator).
• Watching a game of dodge ball made me realize just how dishonest kids will be when they think no one is noticing.  But I was glad that our church’s kids were more honest than most.
• We had some great discussions started by some great questions from the kids.
• I look forward to going again next year!

1.  Should juveniles be tried as adults if they commit murder?

This is SUCH a hard question. I think in almost all cases, youths know that murder is very wrong. But do they always recognize the consequences of their actions (I’m not talking about the punishment, but the finality of death and the impact that has on others)? No. I suppose it would depend on the situation. I don’t like the idea of minors serving time in adult prisons, nor do I think that they should merely be released when they are 18 or 21.

2.  Would you rather teach a young child to read or have to learn again for yourself?

I would NOT like to learn how to read again, since it’s harder for adults. Plus, that would mean I couldn’t read while I was re-learning. I would like to teach a child to read…I LOVE to teach and want to share the world of books to children.

3.  Name 1 thing you love about being an adult:

Driving (and the freedom associated with it).

4.  If you had been named according to your personality what would your name be?

Lola Vavoom (JUST KIDDING…that’s a minor character’s name in Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series).   I’ve always thought that Rebecca would have fit me (a name my parents had considered). When I was little I always thought Naomi Ruth Russell would be an awesome nom de plume (no, I wouldn’t have used the French back then, but I like to now!), but I definitely don’t think so now.  I also relate a lot to Hannah in the Bible, so that’s another option. Though really, Ronnica sums me up quite well.

5.  What texture irritates you?

Velvet.

While sitting in my carrel waiting for my next tax client, I saw a sight that made me smile.

A child ran by.

Nothing unusual in a place that offers numerous services to families.  All children make me smile (except, perhaps, when they’re disobeying me), but I had extra reason to smile when I saw this cute little girl.

Under her blonde pigtails I saw a face touched by Down Syndrome.

I couldn’t tell you how long it’s been since I saw a small child with Down Syndrome.

Perhaps it’s just the children I’ve been around.  I see dozens of children a week between church and work.  But something makes me think that’s not just it.

According to a medical study mentioned in the Washington Post, there should have been a 34% in the number of children born with Down Syndrome from 1989 to 2005.   In actuality, there was a 15% decrease.

While I don’t wish more children to have Down’s Syndrome, I most certainly wish more children with Down Syndrome to have the chance to live.  Actually, I want ALL of them to have a chance to live.  Sadly, 92% of parents who find out they are expecting a child with Down Syndrome kill that child through abortion (according to the same study).

Statistics are just that–numbers.  But each child denied the chance to live (as if life and death should be in our hands) is one less child to bring a smile to our faces, to humble us, to give glory to our Creator.

I don’t necessarily think that pre-screening is a bad idea.  But if we’re going to use that screening to determine which child should live or die, it should be stopped.  What basis do we use to determine if a child should live or die?  Quality of life?  I think having a life is better than not having one.  Potential for early death?  There’s no earlier death than death in the womb.

What a price to pay for the sins of others.

Photo by Charlotte Morrall

Early Morning and Late Night Babysitting!

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m a teacher at heart.  One of the many things I’m passionate about teaching is geography/culture.  I think we Americans fall WAY behind in our knowledge that indeed, there are other people in the world besides us and perhaps their culture isn’t funny/weird but actually contains things of value to us.

Anyway, one way that this passion comes out is that I teach the kindergarteners at church geography when we learn about missions and the like.  They all know where Turkey is, no problem, but the use of our world map has interested them in learning about more places.

This past Sunday, a couple of boys were eagerly looking over the map and finding places that they knew.  One boy astonished me by finding Bulgaria on the map and saying, “Hey, you could go there when you’re in Turkey since it’s so close.”  I believe I’m above-average at geography, but even I only knew that Bulgaria was somewhere in Eastern Europe.

Later, they showed their childlike eagerness again and said, “Look!  We’ve found China!”

Only problem was that they were pointing at Canada, hehe.

So, I gently corrected them, told them that China was in Asia, and pointed out the big area that was Asia.  On their second try, they identified the right country.

I just love that they were excited to find the places they’ve learned about.  Later in the lesson I took some time to show all the children pictures of my past visits to Turkey so they could get an idea of what the country is liked.

Seeing the women with their hair covered, one little boy asked in all seriousness, “Are the women bald?”

Oh, to have the eagerness to learn like a child.

Photo by ToastyKen