One of the things I needed to do during the three weeks I spent in Michigan over the holidays was to sort through some things at my grandmother's house. When she passed away in the spring her house was just as she had left it. My mom, aunt and uncle have been working hard to sort and box up everything to get the house ready for sale. It is a difficult job, both physically and emotionally.
Some of the items have gone to predetermined people. Grandma had "given" pieces of furniture, dolls, and dishes to us before she passed. Those were the easy things to distribute. Now it comes down to who wants what and how it will be displayed or stored. My parents have rearranged things are their house some to accommodate some larger pieces including a leather chair that belonged to my grandfather and he promised to me before his death in 1988.
When we went over to the house I was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of stuff that can accumulate during a lifetime. Everything I looked at brought back some memory of my grandparents. It was so hard to choose one or two things that would assimilate into my life. I asked my mom what would happen to it when the family too had chosen their treasures. She looked at me sadly and I knew. It would be sold or donated to charity. I cannot describe the sadness I felt and feel about the life someone built being tossed away. It made me angry and I wanted to leave it all the way it was, untouched.
Later that night after thinking about it some I had an epiphany of sorts. The stuff doesn't matter. The important parts of my grandmother are still being used by the people who inherited them.
My mother, the oldest of three siblings, has my grandmothers amazing ability to feed people. Having 100 people for dinner doesn't faze my mother nor did it my grandmother. Food was such an important part of my childhood as we gathered around the table for every occasion to celebrate each other.
My uncle Tom, the middle child, has a love of tinkering. He loved racing his car and being around old cars, restoring and driving. My grandmother loved this too. When she died she still had 3 antique cars in her barn.
My aunt Marie, the baby of the family, got my grandmothers love of sewing. She is so talented at weaving fabric together to make beautiful quilts and a variety of other projects.
The oldest grandchild, my sister, got my grandmother's love of writing. My grandmother wrote in a journal everyday about the happenings of the day. My sister continues the tradition and is working toward being a professional writer, my grandmother was so proud of her.
Next in line by age is me. My grandmother and I shared a love of children and making sure the next generation was better than the present one. She served on a committee that restored a one-room school house and was a space for children to go on field trips to see how the children of the past learned.
My cousin Nicole is the next oldest. She and my grandmother shared a love of nature. My grandmother loved flowers and plants and always had large prosperous flower beds. She would spend hours tending to them. Nicole has this same passion and loves to plant and tend her flower beds as well. She works in a nursery where she shares her knowledge and love of nature with her customers.
John is the youngest cousin and he too has inherited wonderful things from my grandmother. He is analytical and detailed. He has a passion for things of the past and is a hard worker. My grandmother was all of these things. She loved to know how things work and ask questions. I see those same traits in John. They also share an affinity for beer :-).
While struggling with the physical belongings from the house I now see that it is what we take away from the person in our hearts not our hands. I did take some crystal that I carefully carried on the plane and a globe from an amazing trip my grandmother took to Australia. They are little things that will be physical reminders of her love and who she was, not what she had.
As we drove away from 610 Bates Street for the last time I was overcome with emotion knowing that someone else will soon occupy the house to begin making their own memories.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Owl Pellets
My time of substitute teaching has brought me to a seventh grade science class. I had a science minor in college so some of the concepts are familiar to me. I was excited to learn that I would be dissecting owl pellets with the classes because this was something I had done in college.
For those of you not familiar with middle school science, an owl pellet is a hard egg-shaped pellet that consists of hair and bones. Owls swallow their food (mice, rats, voles, birds) whole and they cannot digest the hair and bones. The pellets are regurgitated and left to decompose. Unless you are a middle school science teacher and then you have your students take them apart, separate the bones and put the tiny skeletons back together to see what the owl ate for dinner.
This is a cool activity because the students do it all themselves and have to identify the bones. The bones are tiny and most of the time the skulls are intact which adds to the grossness factor for the more squeamish. Below are pictures from our project starting with the pellet, the bones and the final projects.
For those of you not familiar with middle school science, an owl pellet is a hard egg-shaped pellet that consists of hair and bones. Owls swallow their food (mice, rats, voles, birds) whole and they cannot digest the hair and bones. The pellets are regurgitated and left to decompose. Unless you are a middle school science teacher and then you have your students take them apart, separate the bones and put the tiny skeletons back together to see what the owl ate for dinner.
This is a cool activity because the students do it all themselves and have to identify the bones. The bones are tiny and most of the time the skulls are intact which adds to the grossness factor for the more squeamish. Below are pictures from our project starting with the pellet, the bones and the final projects.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Cedric goes to School
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 11, 2011
Ten years seems like a long time but when I look at ten years ago today it wasn't that long ago. It seems like just yesterday I got up and grumpily went to my 8 a.m. chemistry class. When I left class at nine I headed to work at the Wesley Foundation like usual. The secretary was sitting there looking confused and asked what was happening. The radio was saying a plane had hit the Pentagon. I quickly called Sarah and told her to turn on the television and find out what was happening. When I was on the phone with her she said a plane just hit in New York too. I quickly gathered my stuff and went home.
I don't remember much else except that I had to go get my roommate at her job at Office Max because her dad was being evacuated from a building in Chicago. I remember people coming to our apartment and quietly watching television all day. I remember calling my dad and saying "Daddy I'm scared. They closed school and I don't understand what's happening" I remember him telling me he loved me. He didn't have any answers to give me, but no one did that day.
I have put off thinking about today all week. I haven't watched any of the specials or talked about it. This morning Reverend Kathy asked us to take 6o seconds and talk to the person next to us about that day. I told Sarah I didn't want to think about it let alone talk about it so she told me a joke. I needed that because I needed to not break down there.
What I haven't wanted to admit to myself is that the wounds of that day are still fresh. Ten years later I can't talk about it or watch anything about the events of that day without getting emotional. I haven't' wanted to admit it because it feels strange to remember that day in such detail with so much pain.
Our world changed that day. The students who came to my class this week have no idea what life was like before that day. They have grown up in terror. I hate that idea, that children don't know what life was like before terrorism became part of our everyday vocabulary.
Today I was thinking about the anniversary and this popped into my head:
America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.
Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.
It is part of the speech from "The American President" and I think it illustrates that America is strong and we will rise to any occasion. It gives me hope.
As you reflect on this day listen to this song by Alan Jackson, it is a good reminder of the events that followed the fateful day 10 years ago.
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Spinning)
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?
[Repeat Chorus 2x]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
I don't remember much else except that I had to go get my roommate at her job at Office Max because her dad was being evacuated from a building in Chicago. I remember people coming to our apartment and quietly watching television all day. I remember calling my dad and saying "Daddy I'm scared. They closed school and I don't understand what's happening" I remember him telling me he loved me. He didn't have any answers to give me, but no one did that day.
I have put off thinking about today all week. I haven't watched any of the specials or talked about it. This morning Reverend Kathy asked us to take 6o seconds and talk to the person next to us about that day. I told Sarah I didn't want to think about it let alone talk about it so she told me a joke. I needed that because I needed to not break down there.
What I haven't wanted to admit to myself is that the wounds of that day are still fresh. Ten years later I can't talk about it or watch anything about the events of that day without getting emotional. I haven't' wanted to admit it because it feels strange to remember that day in such detail with so much pain.
Our world changed that day. The students who came to my class this week have no idea what life was like before that day. They have grown up in terror. I hate that idea, that children don't know what life was like before terrorism became part of our everyday vocabulary.
Today I was thinking about the anniversary and this popped into my head:
America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.
Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.
It is part of the speech from "The American President" and I think it illustrates that America is strong and we will rise to any occasion. It gives me hope.
As you reflect on this day listen to this song by Alan Jackson, it is a good reminder of the events that followed the fateful day 10 years ago.
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Spinning)
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?
Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?
[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
you the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?
Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?
[Repeat Chorus 2x]
And the greatest is love.
And the greatest is love.
Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Lenten devotional
Maundy Thursday, April 21
John 13:1-17, 33-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another”
As a teacher I understand how challenging it is to see your student not
understand something time and time again. Jesus faced this same
challenge throughout his time on Earth. He was sent here to show
God’s love and was instead misunderstood, mistreated, and ultimately
betrayed by one of his closest friends. The disciples knew there was
something special about their teacher but they couldn’t quite put their
fingers on it. They couldn’t see the big picture Jesus was trying to paint
for them and for those who would come after them.
It wasn’t until Jesus was preparing to make the final sacrifice that he
was able to get through to some of the disciples. His final lesson was
perhaps his most important: “A new command I give you; Love one
another”.
As students of Jesus we, as Christians, do many things to reach an
understanding of what he intended for us. We read scripture, attend
church services, join Bible studies and volunteer to help those less
fortunate. However, if we do not follow this new commandment all of
that is for naught. As Christians we must love first and let everything
else follow. Without love, God would never have sent Jesus to be our
teacher and we would not have chance after chance to learn the
lessons He meant for us.
As we observe Maundy Thursday and prepare for Good Friday
remember that Christ came in love, taught in love and died in love. For
me, and for you.
- Angela Knapp
John 13:1-17, 33-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another”
As a teacher I understand how challenging it is to see your student not
understand something time and time again. Jesus faced this same
challenge throughout his time on Earth. He was sent here to show
God’s love and was instead misunderstood, mistreated, and ultimately
betrayed by one of his closest friends. The disciples knew there was
something special about their teacher but they couldn’t quite put their
fingers on it. They couldn’t see the big picture Jesus was trying to paint
for them and for those who would come after them.
It wasn’t until Jesus was preparing to make the final sacrifice that he
was able to get through to some of the disciples. His final lesson was
perhaps his most important: “A new command I give you; Love one
another”.
As students of Jesus we, as Christians, do many things to reach an
understanding of what he intended for us. We read scripture, attend
church services, join Bible studies and volunteer to help those less
fortunate. However, if we do not follow this new commandment all of
that is for naught. As Christians we must love first and let everything
else follow. Without love, God would never have sent Jesus to be our
teacher and we would not have chance after chance to learn the
lessons He meant for us.
As we observe Maundy Thursday and prepare for Good Friday
remember that Christ came in love, taught in love and died in love. For
me, and for you.
- Angela Knapp
Monday, September 27, 2010
Not an Option
In the fall of 2003 I was in the midst of my student teaching assignment. I remember a talk I had with my mentor wherein I told her I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a teacher. This after 4 and a 1/2 years of school in order to do just that. I was tired and running on empty, I felt as though I were being called to something else. One day after a social studies lesson to the first graders I was teaching my mentor wrote in my journal something I will never forget. She wrote, "You can't not teach, this is your calling. Whatever road you choose, you will educate".
7 years later as I am struggling to find a permanent job, have worked in some crazy places, faced budget deficits, training after training and encountered kids from every walk of life I know this is true.
For a while this summer I was under the impression I was at a crossroads. That my tenure in education was over and I was on to find something bigger, better to do with my life. I was wrong, the only crossroads I am facing is where will I teach next. I am a teacher. I see clearly that my mentor was correct, I cannot not teach, it's who I am.
7 years later as I am struggling to find a permanent job, have worked in some crazy places, faced budget deficits, training after training and encountered kids from every walk of life I know this is true.
For a while this summer I was under the impression I was at a crossroads. That my tenure in education was over and I was on to find something bigger, better to do with my life. I was wrong, the only crossroads I am facing is where will I teach next. I am a teacher. I see clearly that my mentor was correct, I cannot not teach, it's who I am.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Top Ten Best Things About Michigan in the Summer
Thanks to summer vacation and my parents I was able to spend three fun filled weeks in my hometown. Here's a list of the best things about it!
10. Air Conditioning. When the humidity hits in Michigan you can bet you are gonna want air. Thankfully my parents had it installed years ago and it was so nice to sleep cooly!
9. Water. Michigan has lots of water and we took advantage. From the Niblocks swimming pool to the fresh water lake complete with seaweed to the clear clean water of the Rolling Hills wave pool and lazy river.
8. Cheap movie tickets. Only after living in LA can I appreciate the $4.50 matinee at Brighton's MJR Cinema. Over the 3 weeks I saw "Despicable Me", "A-Team", "Toy Story 3", "Knight and Day", "Eclipse", and "Iron Man 2".
7. Books! I love love love to read. I can't read much during the year because once I start a book I can't put it down. Through the last 21 days I read NINE books and they were all great!
6. Catching up. When I get home I try to catch up with people and see what's been happening. This time I was able to visit with friends from college, old family friends and of course the grandparents! Grandma Mac is settled into the nursing home and being well taken care of and grandma and grandpa Cows are selling the homestead and headed for a condo while Grandma Millie is continuing to enjoy her friends in Lansing.
5. Games. I was able to take in part of a Lugnuts game after a nasty thunderstorm receded a bit and have a great meal courtesy of Chem Trend and their anniversary celebration. Euchre was the name of the game at our place this year as my mom defended her trophy nightly. Dad didn't have too much luck but I am sure he'll be ready next time.
4. Sleeping. Let's get one thing straight, sleeping is in no way over rated. I slept in, went to bed early, and took naps. Basically slept as much as possible.
3. Food. No vacation is complete without good food and we were not in short supply. Bar-B-Ques a plenty were had, s'mores, ice cream birthday cake for Ms. Emma's 5th, potato salad, and Johnny Carino's, but nothing tops mom's baked beans!!!!
2. Sights. I lived in Michigan for 25 years and am surprised to continually find new things and enjoy the old. We took a fantastic tour of the Frederick Meijer Gardens, played some spectacular golf (if I do say so myself) and hit King Cone TWICE!!!!
1. Family. Plain and simple. I love my family. I have said it before and I will say it again, my parents are the most loving, supportive and giving people around. They even paid a bucket load so I could stay an extra week for more fun!
10. Air Conditioning. When the humidity hits in Michigan you can bet you are gonna want air. Thankfully my parents had it installed years ago and it was so nice to sleep cooly!
9. Water. Michigan has lots of water and we took advantage. From the Niblocks swimming pool to the fresh water lake complete with seaweed to the clear clean water of the Rolling Hills wave pool and lazy river.
8. Cheap movie tickets. Only after living in LA can I appreciate the $4.50 matinee at Brighton's MJR Cinema. Over the 3 weeks I saw "Despicable Me", "A-Team", "Toy Story 3", "Knight and Day", "Eclipse", and "Iron Man 2".
7. Books! I love love love to read. I can't read much during the year because once I start a book I can't put it down. Through the last 21 days I read NINE books and they were all great!
6. Catching up. When I get home I try to catch up with people and see what's been happening. This time I was able to visit with friends from college, old family friends and of course the grandparents! Grandma Mac is settled into the nursing home and being well taken care of and grandma and grandpa Cows are selling the homestead and headed for a condo while Grandma Millie is continuing to enjoy her friends in Lansing.
5. Games. I was able to take in part of a Lugnuts game after a nasty thunderstorm receded a bit and have a great meal courtesy of Chem Trend and their anniversary celebration. Euchre was the name of the game at our place this year as my mom defended her trophy nightly. Dad didn't have too much luck but I am sure he'll be ready next time.
4. Sleeping. Let's get one thing straight, sleeping is in no way over rated. I slept in, went to bed early, and took naps. Basically slept as much as possible.
3. Food. No vacation is complete without good food and we were not in short supply. Bar-B-Ques a plenty were had, s'mores, ice cream birthday cake for Ms. Emma's 5th, potato salad, and Johnny Carino's, but nothing tops mom's baked beans!!!!
2. Sights. I lived in Michigan for 25 years and am surprised to continually find new things and enjoy the old. We took a fantastic tour of the Frederick Meijer Gardens, played some spectacular golf (if I do say so myself) and hit King Cone TWICE!!!!
1. Family. Plain and simple. I love my family. I have said it before and I will say it again, my parents are the most loving, supportive and giving people around. They even paid a bucket load so I could stay an extra week for more fun!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Memorial Day
Growing up Memorial Day was an important day in our family. We would get up early, go to the parade and listen to the speeches thanking falling soldiers and watching the wreaths float out into the water. Then the guns. I was always so scared of the gunfire. The noise.
My father served in the Air Force, his father in the Army. My mother's father in the Navy. When I was young my best friend's father was deployed during the first Gulf War. When I moved to Yuma I met many families who watched their loved ones go to the current Gulf War. But never have I experienced the true meaning of this holiday as I did this weekend.
Saturday Sarah and I drove to Camp Pendleton to spend some time with our friend Julie. I first met Julie in Yuma where her husband Wayne served in the Marine Corp. Currently Julie and Wayne have 2 children ages 5 and 3. Two beautiful, brilliant children. Saturday night we went the base family fun center bowled and ate pizza. We chatted a while and then went to bed. Sunday dawned early as the kids were up and raring to go! I jumped on the trampoline with the kids, watched cartoons and ate breakfast burritos. We chatted with the neighbor and had a great time.
I did not see Wayne this trip because he is in Afghanistan. He is serving his country while his family lives a seemingly normal life here in southern California. Of the 20 occupied houses on Julie's street 18 of them have husbands and fathers who are deployed. That is one street in one neighborhood on one military base.
This Memorial Day was special, I was able to see into the world that few get to see. I experienced the vacancy in a family. Julie and the kids are doing well, they are happy, busy and enjoying summer. But there is a vacancy in their house. One that will be happily filled this fall when Wayne returns to the United States.
My father served in the Air Force, his father in the Army. My mother's father in the Navy. When I was young my best friend's father was deployed during the first Gulf War. When I moved to Yuma I met many families who watched their loved ones go to the current Gulf War. But never have I experienced the true meaning of this holiday as I did this weekend.
Saturday Sarah and I drove to Camp Pendleton to spend some time with our friend Julie. I first met Julie in Yuma where her husband Wayne served in the Marine Corp. Currently Julie and Wayne have 2 children ages 5 and 3. Two beautiful, brilliant children. Saturday night we went the base family fun center bowled and ate pizza. We chatted a while and then went to bed. Sunday dawned early as the kids were up and raring to go! I jumped on the trampoline with the kids, watched cartoons and ate breakfast burritos. We chatted with the neighbor and had a great time.
I did not see Wayne this trip because he is in Afghanistan. He is serving his country while his family lives a seemingly normal life here in southern California. Of the 20 occupied houses on Julie's street 18 of them have husbands and fathers who are deployed. That is one street in one neighborhood on one military base.
This Memorial Day was special, I was able to see into the world that few get to see. I experienced the vacancy in a family. Julie and the kids are doing well, they are happy, busy and enjoying summer. But there is a vacancy in their house. One that will be happily filled this fall when Wayne returns to the United States.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)