Spring Has Sprung!

Bountiful spring CSA box.

Tomatoes! Grow, babies, Grow!

Our cute little tent on its inaugural trip.

Beautiful view.

Happy campers!

Happy Canine.

If you look closely you'll see her leash's loose ends tied in a knot. She was so excited that she chewed through the leash in the first ten minutes at the campsite. Thank goodness for the screwdriver and hammer in the car that helped me take the whole thing apart and reassemble it - DRAMA!

Life Under a Rock

For the past couple of months I have been on an unintentional anti-news phase. I don't listen to NPR in the car, I definitely don't read more than one news article a week, and I don't watch any news programs on TV. It leaves me uninformed, illiterate about current events and . . . refreshed. Something about unplugging from faraway places means that I am left to focus more intentionally on my own life. I am more aware of my surroundings, more in tune with my thoughts and I feel closer to God.

There is one school of thought that says that any smart, educated young person needs to be knowledgeable and articulate about the goings-on in the world. And yet there is a part of me that realizes that when I spend too much time focused on issues and concerns outside of my small life, I become disconnected from myself.

I may have been the last person in the world to learn that Joplin, MO is recovering from the horrible aftermath of the deadliest tornado in decades. I don't have a clue what the White House or Congress is dealing with this week. And I don't even know if my old favorite news anchors are still on the air.

But this is what I do know: Today, the air outside smelled like summer - hot, heavy with moisture and the fragrance of grass clippings. I relish brief moments during the day when I can steal time for a quick reflection or prayer. I remember old friends more often. And I am surrounded by people I trust.

So there's something important to be said for a person who spends time keeping up with the world, as long as we don't use that as an excuse to avoid a little introspection.

Airport Bloopers

Our most recent trip to visit family resulted in some of the wildest flight adventures I have experienced! As a result, here is my Very Official Airport Cheat Sheet:

Best for Killing Time: Tampa

Least-Friendly Staff: Reagan National

Most Thorough TSA: Reagan National

Longest Distance Between Gates: Miami

Most Helpful Golf Cart Drivers: Miami

Best Appearance: Nashville

Friendliest Staff: Tampa

Shortest TSA Line (read: no line): Tampa

Worst Airport Food: Miami

Worst Potential for Overnight Stays: Tampa

Best Potential for Overnight stays: Reagan National (thanks mom)

I will also add that during this trip we ran to our gates on two different occasions. While running in airports, there is no shame about running lop-sided because of bags falling off your shoulder or your dainty shoes sliding on the floor. The act alone also instantly bonds you to other runners, with whom I felt some camaraderie as we passed them on our race against the clock. I'm sure that people with overnight layovers do the same. Fortunately, the Mom & Dad of the Year saved us from almost-certain public humiliation by doing a middle of the night Shuttle & Nap Service. While I am SO grateful for that, I am still curious as to the airport shenanigans that might have been in the dreary wee hours of the morning.

Bonfire

Two weeks ago, we took 30 7th Graders on a church confirmation retreat. It was awesome and full of special moments. Here is one of my favorites:

Every student took some time alone to write out their confessions on paper.

The papers were collected in a large paper bag.

The bag was thrown in the bonfire.

While we watched it light up, a student next to me said, "Oh no - I forgot to write something down."

"That's okay," I replied.

"But I didn't get it in the fire - will it still be forgiven?"

"Anything you confess to God will be forgiven, even if you don't write it down!"

"Really!?"

"Absolutely."

The student looks back into the flames and nods to himself. "That's so cool."

Confessions

I have a confession to make. I have turned down the opportunity to participate in . . .

. . . my community's garden.

It's true! My apartment complex, which has plenty of green space, has agreed to allow residents to use some of the green space for a community garden! One very go-get-'em kind of guy appealed to the manager, who probably had to climb the Ladder of Authority before giving the all-clear on this project.

What ARE community gardens, you ask? They are gardens built in space which is specifically designated by the landowners for that use. It could be privately or commercially owned space, like mine, or it could be city-owned space (which are in major cities across the US). The space is divided up, and each participant gets to cultivate the land anyway he chooses: flowers, herbs, fruits/veggies. It can be ideal for urbanites who have no backyard to cultivate on their own. It is also great for people who want to experiment with their budding green thumbs!

A community garden in Vancouver, BC.

The plots in our new garden are about 5' square. That's not a ton of space, but after strolling through today, I see that my neighbors have squeezed veggies and herbs into every available inch. I'm excited to watch them grow!

So while I'm a HUGE fan of this community-enriching program, I also know my own weaknesses. I don't have a green thumb (no matter what you think based on the previously entry). The garden, which is just a short walk from my apartment, is also just far enough for me to forget to check on it daily, and it is too far for a watering can to be practical. As a girl I loved to visit my grandparents and help with their garden, which was large enough to grow hefty amounts of about 20 varieties of vegetables. I have a good sense of the work committment! All that to say I'm not ready yet.

But for those who embark on such a project, I wish you a healthy sense of community spirit and a green thumb!

Spring is here!

My Awesome Spring Weekend

Fire is not so photogenic, but what you see is our homey fire at a pavilion in one of the local parks. Hot dogs provided. Bring Your Own Stick.

The first grilled steak of spring. Paired with a green salad, roasted sweet potatoes, and a roll. Dinner in the fresh air by candlelight.

We lugged all of our pots, dirt and plants down to a public area where we could make a mess in peace. Lucy helped. We earned the good neighbor award by not sweeping tons of dirt onto our downstairs neighbor's balcony. I hope they appreciated the sacrifice!

Ready. Set. GROW!

Young seeds getting nestled in.

Here's to hoping my green thumb emerges this growing season!

Race to Nowhere

A local school recently hosted a free screening of the new film, Race to Nowhere.

The mother-turned-director had children who were physically and emotionally spent trying to cope with the demands of a typical American schooling. After 8 hours of school, kids go home to 2-6 more hours of homework. They are also expected to participate in daily sports practices, be accomplished artists and musicians, do community service, and still get sleep at night. The film is a call to action for teachers, parents, schools and students to pursue methods of education that are beneficial to the whole person.

For many parents, it will be an eye-opener to learn how many students abuse drugs to stay awake on a regular homework night. In a recent study of 5,000 students, only 3% had NEVER cheated. The battle for them is just to cope. The film gives a constant stream of factoids about the developmental abilities of students at different ages and how ill-fitted our education system is for the needs of those students.

The sticking point for me was when a high school teacher said, "When did schools gain the right to tell students how live after the bell rings?" And conversely, I wondered when parents gained the right to tell teachers how to teach students in their own classrooms.

This is an issue for everyone - not just parents. It is worth your time to find a public screening and help your community change schools for the better. www.racetonowhere.com