Room to Bloom.....

Working weekend.....

2012-01-29T11:20:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning set my alarm for 3am to get up at watch the Utah Gymnastics meet online, back to sleep for an hour, up for a run, and then off to school for a two day weekend professional development conference. I love those early morning runs when it is still so quiet and lightly snowing....so peaceful and helps me sort things out...

Teaching for me has also been a journey of thought and new understanding of things spiritual. I think the context of our lives allows moments to be taught, if I just pause to reflect and listen...

The topic of the conference was, Image of the Child, and the role of play. I have found myself thinking a lot about this idea of image of a child and my principal has pushed us to really think about how we view children and that this influences how we interact with them and how we treat them. One significant point that has lingered is, "Seeing children as competent." As we sat and discussed, made lists, viewed clips of children learning.... it made me think what it really means to be a Child of God... it has taken on new meaning. I found myself during one of the coffee breaks looking over my notes of the image of child and the role of play and then began write thoughts of myself as also a child-- thinking of Heavenly Father's image of child..

Notes-- making connections--
What messages do we send about learning? Learning is doing--
Co-constructing meaning with children--
Learning includes deep understanding--questions drive our learning
The agentic child: We don't want to teach children something that they can learn by themselves. We don't want to give them thoughts that they can come up with by themselves.
How to bring complexity into the environment?
A child has rights, choices, play is an extra ordinary condition of life precious in itself.
Thinking about thinking begets more thinking--- working along side children
We have a innate need to inquire into the world
Play is essential for social-emotional development
Really listening and responding--reach for complexity
Role of the environment is crucial
Play is necessary to humans to reach their full potential
We value listening
Free choice
asking the right question is the answer
What is important?
we have an ongoing responsibility to plan actions to take into the future
walking the learning path with a child side by side, the child having agency-- with a listener who understands the complexity of the way --

I was reflecting on how we are that Child on our journey here of understanding as we yolk ourselves to our Elder Brother and co-construct meaning. I sat wondering how I can allow a new understanding to help me to become-- I was left with these beautiful images of how the plan was for us to use our agency to reach our full potential and that when we invite the Savior to co-construct I truly see how anything is possible. It is interesting that within an educational setting I walked away with the understanding that children need play, which means free choice, and the side by side conversations to grow and thrive-- so connected to my spiritual path as a Child of God. It was inspiring to think and explore the idea of our Heavenly Fathering viewing us as competent and believing in our abilities leaves me with such hope! The last words I wrote from the conference were, The Value of Listening-- I have work to do as I become spiritually fluent-- pause and reflect and listen!

"Hope is so sweet a comforter." Count of Monte Cristo

Geneve-- Old Town

2012-01-08T11:11:00.005-05:00

Three days of fun with the Newman family came to an end as Jane and I walked around Geneve--Old Town. Can't get enough of the architecture with the big clocks, cobble stone streets, stained glass window in Cathedrals, French style cafes, and lots of good chats!! We even had time for a bit of shopping as I bought a new scarf to go along with the beautiful atmosphere-- then Jane dropped me off at the train station....

A sweet way to end my Christmas break....good memories as I head back to school!

"Memories were like sunshine. They warmed you up and left a pleasant glow."
--Moon Over Manifest

Annecy--France!

2012-01-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

2012-01-03T13:39:00.001-05:00

2012-01-03T13:39:00.000-05:00

2012-01-03T13:38:00.005-05:00

2012-01-03T13:38:00.004-05:00

2012-01-03T13:38:00.003-05:00

2012-01-03T13:38:00.002-05:00

2012-01-03T13:38:00.001-05:00

2012-01-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

2012-01-03T13:37:00.004-05:00

2012-01-03T13:37:00.003-05:00

2012-01-03T13:37:00.002-05:00

2012-01-03T13:37:00.001-05:00

2012-01-03T13:37:00.000-05:00

2012-01-03T13:36:00.000-05:00

Beautiful Day!

2012-01-03T13:06:00.002-05:00

A bit homesick today.....so I guess that means count my blessings day... and my self help strategies! 1. Sun and blue skies! 2. Great run and reading 3. Meeting a friend to window shop in Zug 4. Find a Cafe and order Chocolate Mousse 5. Walk back home with hopeful sunset... A day filled with tender mercies...

Wengen

2012-01-03T12:46:00.007-05:00

Train to Wengen..Golden Pass!

2012-01-03T12:15:00.004-05:00

What a sight....blue skies, green hills, snow topped mountains, sun shining,spires of a church in every village passed... Taking the train through rugged land to get to a destination not possible on my own..

Still lakes, boats with fishermen, paths for walking, ducks with heads and bottoms going up and down.... "For the beauty of the earth..."

Sitting in my cozy seat with the warmth of a heater close by.. eyes constantly looking up to where we are headed, steep mountain... wondering how it is possible for the train to take me there....

A rock Cairn,(Steinhugel in German) out my window marking the way as if it is saying, "You're on the right path." The higher we went the more sparkly white snow I saw!

Brunig train stop--- deep snow travelers with sleds, hats, backpacks carrying ski poles....

As the train rambled on I was left with the thought, "Ponder the path of thy feet.."

The Christmas I read, The Count of Monte Cristo

2012-01-01T08:43:00.015-05:00

Well the past three days I have been a captive audience to a powerful story. I did manage to go the grocery store yesterday, munchies are a must when couching it. Just needing a frosty REAL diet coke to make it perfect! I went to grab my wallet and I looked in my bag and couldn't see my kindle-- panic struck for 15 seconds until I found it. I wondered what this book was doing to me! I was teary as I finished.. the story, language, a long journey that has left me with words and images still floating in my head.....

"Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope.”
― Alexandre Dumas

"Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes."
--Alexandre Dumas

"For in prosperity prayers seem but a mere medley of words, until misfortune comes and the unhappy sufferer first understands the sublime language in which he invokes the pity of heaven."
--Alexandre Dumas

“Woman is sacred; the woman one loves is holy.”
― Alexandre Dumas,

“Abbe Faria: Here is your final lesson - do not commit the crime for which you now serve the sentence. God said, Vengeance is mine.
Edmond Dantes: I don't believe in God.
Abbe Faria: It doesn't matter. He believes in you. ”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

Lake Zug---morning runs

2011-12-29T06:41:00.002-05:00

Love Christmas break and quiet morning runs....

Christmas Night in Cham....

2011-12-28T12:54:00.001-05:00

Snow, snow and more snow in Tirol, Austria

2011-12-28T12:03:00.003-05:00

It was a cozy couple of days in a little village called Itter. We stayed at a charming place called, Club Hotel Edelweiss where they cooked us traditional Swiss dinners. I tasted Wienerschnitzel and won an Austrian snow globe at Bingo Night... With the prizes it was between the shot of schnapps and the globe... toss up really!! And ohh those deserts... I was stuffed every night. My body was in shock from my usual meals of bread, yogurt, and salad....

The quiet morning walks through the village were almost storybook like... As I went around the church a group of children were walking from the school to the church with instruments... wondered if they were practicing for Christmas Eve....

Markets in the quaint village of Worgl Austria

2011-12-25T10:03:00.003-05:00

Out and about in Innsbruck stopping at an Austrian cafe along the way for.....hot chocolate!

2011-12-24T17:04:00.005-05:00

Traveling....

2011-12-24T16:02:00.005-05:00

On a train headed for Austria to meet Theresa-- a friend from school... Out my window is the winter landscape of Lake Zurich...thinking about being brave and reminded of a favorite children's poem by Jeff Moss...repeating it in my mind as I settled my bags...smiling to myself...

Brave Things: "To be an astronaut lost in space, to stick your head in a lion's face, to explore the jungle of the amazon, to sleep all night with no night light on!"

Funny thing...never noticed in this poem how they all are traveling....but I guess in a sense we are all traveling some place and interesting how sitting on a train-- allows a context to teach...

I'm sure those around me at the train platform would question my bravery as I check my ticket over and over again, hoping today isn't the day when my lack of direction takes over in a place where I don't speak the language.. My baby step of bravery just taking a train to somewhere new is such a small step in comparison to so many... and left me humbled, thinking of those whose bravery and courage is comparable to climbing the beautiful rugged Alps that I view from my comfortable, warm seat in a railjet.... Ahhh teachable moment... my thoughts along with powerful words I brought to read and pausing to look for meaning..

"This light had infused such joy into his soul."

We are all travelers... becoming fluent in a language that lights my way...

Winter wonderland!

2011-12-20T11:33:00.003-05:00

Beautiful snow that never stopped all day today! I went to a class at the gym--- If I didn't have to focus so much I would have been laughing the whole time--- class in German-- music in English-- a little Bon Jovi at one time!

Ready to Dance! I am on Christmas vacation!

2011-12-19T05:46:00.002-05:00

Sunday with snow--

2011-12-18T13:14:00.004-05:00

Peaceful Sunday morning and first day that snow sticks... beautiful morning walk. Needed that serenity later as I missed my train home and had to take another route home.... but no worries I found my way, which we all know is a little miracle for the directionally challenged!

Luzern Christmas Market

2011-12-17T14:25:00.007-05:00

First day of Christmas Break! Woke up to snow falling as I went out for a run...with Christmas music on my ipod. Found places to stop and take it all in. Spent the afternoon walking along cobblestone streets of Luzern filled with music, lights, and Swiss crafts to buy. Then stopping for a hot chocolate for the train ride home....Christmas is magical here.

Konstanz Germany Christmas Market

2011-12-11T10:37:00.004-05:00

My first trip out of the country was to a Christmas Market in Germany! What a festive atmosphere! I went a little crazy for the prices of things that are half of what they are in Switzerland... How can you go wrong with shopping and sweets?!

Turnip Festival

2011-12-11T10:29:00.000-05:00

Turnip Festival

2011-12-11T10:28:00.003-05:00

Turnip Festival

2011-12-11T10:28:00.001-05:00

Turnip Festival

2011-12-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

Richterswil Turnip Festival

2011-12-11T10:08:00.003-05:00

Who knew that turnips were so beloved and could grow so big! My Kindergarten class joined in the celebration as we carved turnips to make lanterns. The legend says in the 19th century the wives of farmers living in the hills above used turnip lanterns to find their way home from evening church in the winter. They have a parade and all around the charming village you see lanterns! The only draw back is my classroom stunk for a week!

Gstaad

2011-12-11T09:56:00.003-05:00

Change of scenery as I went to Gstaad with the swim team! It took us about 2 1/2 hours to arrive at this beautiful location. I hear it is quite a posh ski village... We placed third and it turned out to be a great day!

Merry Christmas Sunset.... Just need music to go with it!

2011-12-11T09:07:00.001-05:00

2011-11-06T10:53:00.003-05:00

Just finished a sweet read-- Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper--
A young girl that has cerebral palsy and cannot speak but has words within pleading to come out-- Left me wondering if when we are challenged-- do words from within and words around us move us to hear and see with new meaning-- wide awake and pushing us to remember-- quote that has lingered....

"Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes--each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands.

Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts, Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas, clever expressions, jokes, and love songs.

From the time I was really little- maybe just a few months old- words were like sweet, liquid gifts, and I drank them like lemonade. I could almost taste them. They made my jumbled thoughts and feelings have substance. My parents have always blanketed me with conversations. They chattered and babbled. They verbalized and vocalized. My father sang to me. My mother whispered her strength into my ear."

New appreciation for words--heavenward-- I read each day that anchor me....whispering strength!

2011-11-06T10:48:00.000-05:00

Peaceful way to begin a day.... Lake Luzern on a Sunday morning. There is something about water surrounded by mountains-- Alps off in the distance that feels hopeful....

Out and about

2011-11-05T14:26:00.000-04:00

On a walk through Luzern..... Back drop for my thoughts....

2011-11-05T14:06:00.000-04:00

2011-11-05T14:05:00.002-04:00

New Friends

2011-11-05T14:05:00.001-04:00

New friends

2011-11-05T13:59:00.001-04:00

New Friends!

2011-11-05T13:49:00.002-04:00

A day in Zurich for a Stake Youth Activity with Jill and Maddie... Yep-- Maddie and I found a slid we had to go down during our race around the city.. Impressed by their love, friendship and strength...

Fall Break.....Paaaarty at Jane's

2011-10-23T13:42:00.003-04:00

Three days filled with: Laughter, great chats, Mt. Blanc and Chamonix, lunches with a view looking up at the mountain and then down on Lake Geneva, chocolate, castles, views of vineyards, streets of Geneva, episodes of Modern family- after not watching TV for three months, beautiful village of Nyon, getting a feel for the French-ness of Switzerland, and sleeping in a home filled with love and happiness--- Just what I needed!

Taking the train to Bern...

2011-10-23T13:05:00.003-04:00

My day started out with directions in one hand, umbrella in the other, and a heavy backpack on my shoulders. I was off to find the temple in Bern and then on to Geneva to visit Jane...

It is always a relief when I suddenly realize, sometimes every few minutes, that I'm not lost! I had made it to Bern...now the smaller community of Zollikofen. The rain was really coming down as I stood by the train station wondering which direction to go with directions smudged and minus an umbrella I left on the train I headed up a street that I thought was in the right direction. I pulled the hood down low on my rain jacket and stopped every few minutes so that I could look up. After a few minutes I noticed an awning where I could get out of the rain for a minute and see where to go next. I shook the rain from my hood-- I began to doubt that I could find it on my own and wondered why I attempted it and I was on the verge... As I looked up I saw through the street the white and gold of the temple! I gasped and couldn't believe that it was right in front of me and immediately felt a rush of relieve and joy! I can check that off---- "Not lost!" I was overcome with emotion again when I walked through the doors and heard those sweet words, "Welcome to the temple."

Fall Break......

2011-10-23T12:49:00.004-04:00

A crisp fall day in Luzern..... a walk from the station to a few of my top ten favorite things.....hot chocolate at Starbucks, and highlighted hair! On this field trip I wasn't counting how many children were around me but endless sights to photograph!

Seeing the World!

2011-10-09T15:03:00.004-04:00

Seeing the world through the eyes of my Kindergarten class as we read stories this week---

"When I grow up, I too will go to faraway places, and when I grow old I too will live beside the sea." ..... "but there is a third thing you must do."

"You must do something to make the world more beautiful!"--- Hopeful thoughts....

Zermatt......the Matterhorn!

2011-10-09T14:50:00.003-04:00

We came and we conquered! Great weekend with Uncle Doug, Aunt Suzanne, Jane, Emily, and Peter.... First adventure in Switzerland and it was Perfect!

Ahhhh.....weekend with family, food, and amazing views!

2011-10-09T14:41:00.002-04:00

Swiss Mayberry!

2011-09-29T13:02:00.002-04:00

Autumn days on my bike as the sun is setting... rolling hills of green, the quiet contrast of climbing a hill with not a soul in sight only to hear bells from cows on my way to the top. I stop more on these rides, wanting to take it all in. I ride through open narrow paved roads.. pausing and pulling over tonight for a tractor to pass.... welcome pauses. I ride for a mile or two and off in the distance I see the red steeple of a church with a big gold clock on the side. I continue on and as I reach the next village I see another bright steeple, and clock. It has become a hopeful sight to see a small town or village surrounded by this symbol and with my chorus of cow bells... it has made me think...

One Saturday morning I headed out for about a 20 minute ride to Alison's home where we were going to meet and take the train to Zurich....see the city. Alison's village is one of those that I have been thinking about. It has 600 people that call it home, big Swiss style homes, green farm land, children laughing, tall sunflowers along the path, and a feeling of a secret garden protected from the world. A Swiss Mayberry, I began to call it. Her home is a beautiful older farm home which makes you think, "If these walls could talk." We walked up the stairs to the second floor where there were slanted ceilings, wooden floors and views of a green farmland out the window. It reminded me of a tree house and as we looked in on one of her daughters, sitting on the floor writing-- it reminded me of one of Richard Wilbur's pieces----

The Writer

In her room at the prow of the house
where light breaks and windows are tossed with linden, My daughter is writing a story

I pause in the stairwell hearing from her shut door a commotion of typewriter like a chain hauled over a gunwale

Young as she is, the stuff of her life is a great cargo, and some of it heavy. I wish her lucky passage

But now it is she who pauses
As if to reject my thought and its easy figure
A stillness greatens, in which-- The whole house seems to be thinking

It seems that my new experiences have brought thinking and doing that has pushed me to new understandings. I have thought on these rides, "This is my new starting line."

Evening ride...stopping to take it all in

2011-09-25T11:53:00.000-04:00

Biking through Beauty...

2011-09-10T13:10:00.003-04:00

After a long, busy week a bike ride brought Gratitude... "It is not joy-- that makes us grateful, it is gratitude that makes us joyful!"

New windows....new doors...within my school

2011-09-10T01:52:00.002-04:00

New windows...new doors... View within my school

2011-09-10T01:52:00.001-04:00

Back in the Saddle

2011-09-04T10:48:00.000-04:00

Back in the Saddle

2011-09-04T10:26:00.003-04:00

I played Swiss German charades on Saturday but I now have a bike, all put back together again.

Saturday morning I had been out for a run and I stopped by the local bike shop to see what their hours were, my bike had arrived and was ready to be put back together, but I just got a shake of the head as we tried to communicate. Not sure what to do but watching bikers go by and the beautiful sunny weather inspired me to just take it down there and see if I could figure it out. An old gentleman and what looked like his son own a bike shop that I would classify as old school. My brothers would love it! I parked my huge bike box, with wheels, right in the doorway and the older gentleman and I tried to communicate. Not happening. I started to open the box and tried to act out putting a bike together. I guess my acting was good enough because he went in and got a calendar and kept pointing to Monday. And I thought okay I'll come back on Monday. I still wasn't sure what he meant. He went inside for a minute and I got teary as I packed it up again; thinking about lugging it back to my apartment again. Soon the man and his son came out waving his hands for me to stop packing it up and he put all ten of his fingers up and then 1. He wrote and talked really slow as he did what looked like to me as two cursive L's but then I figured they must be two ones and that I should come back at 11:00. I can really relate now to any language slow, big and loud doesn't help with understanding. Later out on my bike, I had to laugh and wonder if my dad was in his ear saying, "Come on give the poor girl and break!"

True to the Swiss, as I arrived back at 11:00 he was wheeling it outside all put together. I could have kissed him I was so happy. So, for 35 francs and a healthy dose of humility I have a bike which feels like freedom.... and reminds me of a passage in Running Dream,

"Running aired out my soul. It made me feel alive."

On my maiden voyage those were my thoughts!

Thanks for the pic..Annie, James, and Mary Jane! I love you!

2011-09-03T03:48:00.001-04:00

Hiking Mt. Rigi

2011-09-01T13:54:00.001-04:00

Hiking Mt. Rigi

2011-09-01T13:53:00.000-04:00

Mt. Rigi

2011-09-01T12:23:00.005-04:00

I step out on my back patio and my view is Mt. Rigi. When I leave my flat and walk towards the train station as the sun is coming up I look up at this mountain. Funny thing, different sections of our school are named for mountains in Switzerland and my building is the Rigi Building. One of our opening school activities was hiking on Mt. Rigi. It seems that there is something about this mountain that is a part of my life in various ways right now. Whatever I am reading always seems to weave its way into my thinking helping me process what is happening in my life.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard
"Mountains are giant, restful, absorbent. You can heave your spirit into a mountain and the mountain will keep it, folded, and not throw it back as some creeks will. The creeks are the world with all its stimulus and beauty; I live there. But the mountains are home."

I find my bag heavy as I make my way in the dark with the sun just coming up, giving me a little more hope and light. It has made me think of the Mountains we all have to climb and while I am surrounded by trees and looking down at my path, if I look heavenward there is someone who sees the top. It has also made me think of the call to come to the Mountain of the Lord. I see it with deeper understanding as I look at my mountain each day... the temple helping to gather strength while the nature of the path I am on, the obstacles we all face push me up the mountain as I rely on our Savior. It has also made me think of works and grace... I trudge along my way, knowing that I can't do it all and trusting that Grace will help me become more.. This is what I am thinking it means to get to the top!

The creeks are the world with all its stimulus and beauty; I live there. But the mountains are home.....

On the way to church....Lake Luzern

2011-08-28T08:13:00.000-04:00

My walk to church

2011-08-28T08:12:00.000-04:00

My walk to church...after a train and bus ride

2011-08-28T08:11:00.000-04:00

My new Einstein's-- Von Rotz

2011-08-27T14:04:00.000-04:00

Walk around my neighborhood

2011-08-27T14:03:00.000-04:00

Lake Zug

2011-08-27T13:58:00.000-04:00

Morning run around Lake Zug

2011-08-27T13:57:00.000-04:00

School

2011-08-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

School

2011-08-27T12:02:00.001-04:00

School

2011-08-27T12:02:00.000-04:00

School

2011-08-27T12:01:00.002-04:00

My school is on a hillside surrounded by trees, meadows, and cows. There is a church right next to the school and right off the playground is a field of green, paths for hiking, and more Cows. I am still in awe of the surroundings. It has been an intense start to a school year. I can't say that I have experienced anything like it. There is a wonderful professional feel but expectations of teachers are really high. The days before school started were spent in so many meetings, then race to get some things done in my classroom and then meetings again. My day would begin at 6:00 and as I walk from the train back to my apartment the tears would often flow wondering how I'm going to do this followed by, what have I gotten myself into? I was looking for a place that would push me professionally and allow me to think outside the box and boy did my wish come true... I guess I should have thought this one through a bit more.

The school day will be a bit different that at home, they attend: German four times a week, music, PE, Library, computer, and swimming.. I was surprised, the school bus picks us up and takes down the hill where there is a local pool. It is part of every grades curriculum.. So if there is a flood of some kind the kids in Switzerland are, "water safe!". I really think it is great!

My morning walk to the train

2011-08-15T03:00:00.001-04:00

Switzerland

2011-08-14T15:03:00.000-04:00

Seeing

2011-08-14T14:54:00.000-04:00

Seeing

2011-08-14T08:03:00.003-04:00

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, "Seeing-- it's all a matter of keeping my eyes open. Nature is like one of those line drawings of a tree that are puzzles for children. Can you find hidden in the leaves a duck, a house, a boy, a bucket, a zebra, and a boat?".

Paused to look at Lake Lucerne as I walk to church... Today I see familiar faces as I walked to the back, picking up my new friend, a headset to hear the translation. I forgot my English hymn book so I worked to try and think of the words to the melody of familiar sounds. It is so interesting to me that this one piece, language, has pushed me to see more. The meeting began and during the first speaker suddenly I noticed the Bishop at my side asking me to share my testimony after the speaker.. He had left the stand during the meeting, I was stunned. I had never seen that before. My heart began to beat fast.. I'm really not sure what I said as I paused every few sentences for someone to interpret. I sat back down kind of wondering what just happened. No easing into these waters just jump in.

I said the young women theme in German! The young women joined the sisters and I found myself looking around to really strangers in a new land and smiled knowing we share a common thread of the gospel. The relief society president sat behind me and quietly translated. She is an American and is a mother of six children. Her husband works for a Swiss bank, they have been here for 13 years and she served a mission to Germany. Again, I listen to their words in German and then I hear them in English, I find it so beautiful. The Bishop's wife talked about helping her daughter look for a wedding dress that has sleeves. She went on to say they were in France and she and her daughter began to notice that the young women who were more modest, you noticed their face and their clothing accented that. It was a sweet comment but to hear her say it in a language... Showed these tender feelings of a mother that truly spoke of virtue and I felt it.

A place of refuge!

2011-08-07T09:12:00.005-04:00

With my directions written in pen on my hand I exited the bus in Luzern. I quickly put up my umbrella and looked at my hand and then at the street signs. Not feeling so confident i quickly walked back to the bus and asked the driver, "English?". He shook his head but I showed him the blue ink written on my hand of the address. He shook his head but pointed in a direction so I thought I'd give it a go. I walked down the quiet street with the rain hitting my umbrella. I came to an intersection and saw the words, written in German but I knew what they said, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." A big relief, not lost! I had found it, church...

It is funny that everywhere I have been the last 7 days I have wondered, will someone speak English. But as I entered the doors to the church this morning I knew it didnt matter because I would be welcomed with open arms. That feeling in and of itself was worth the hour journey. I was greeted by a young couple and their children, saying hello while they are negotiating all the gear of an early morning with little ones and RAIN. I was next greeted by the Bishop's wife, which seemed so appropriate as I thought of her role of helping to gather.

I walked into a large room with chairs set up, no benches. I sat behind a mother of 3 little children and she inttroduced herself as Nadia. The prelude music was playing, "I Am A Child of God," I immediately felt the calm sweet feeling that I had come in search of. One of the little boys in front of me began to sing along to the prelude music, in German. I took a deep breathe to pause and remember the moment.
The prelude music continued as she played some primary songs. I smiled to myself as one of them had more of a polka feel to it...which seemed it fit even in this reverent setting. The congregation was a mix of young families and older people. It was very similar to my Wilford Ward. The chorister was a young woman, maybe 16, and I thought of the young sweet girls I had left in Salt Lake and a tear came to my eye. In that moment I thought how we all have talents to share no matter our age.. I noticed the Swiss sang out to every hymn, a moment of sincere reverence during the sacrament, while love abound within. These are people I can learn from.

I sat next to the Bishop's wife and her son, daughter in law and little one. A beautiful Swiss family. The Bishop's son quickly left and came back with a microphone and handed me a headset. So much for quietly blending in. Despite feeling uncomfortable I was so happy to hear the sweet testimonies of happiness, freedom in Christ, and hope of seeing loved ones again.... Being in a new place can make familiar words take on new layers within me and my new understandings brought peace, light and tears... I guess spiritual growing pains can be shown in different ways...

I noticed a spunky red haired three year old with round framed glasses the moment I came in and her voice was the last thing I heard when I left. She reminded me of my nieces and nephews that I adore urging me to, "Enjoy the journey!". She taught a powerful lesson herself. My step was a bit lighter and a lot more hopeful as I left.

Hmmmmm!

2011-08-07T09:03:00.003-04:00

You know you're not in Kansas when......walking along shore at Lake Zug and I see a guy in a speedo.....no big deal going swimming right? Nope! He is fishing with a pole and everything and smoking. Then as I walk back to my flat a girl passes me on her horse... It was just one of those afternoons. Hmmmmm!

Language and Flowers

2011-08-06T07:52:00.006-04:00

The limits of my language are the limits of my world. I remember an English professor sharing that with me at Utah State. I have thought about that as I now live in a world of words and sounds that I don't understand. In some ways it is a beautiful thing like observing someone else's life set to music. Watching a young family laugh and play by the lake not distracted by knowing the words that are said, enhances the whole of the experience and then the laughter and cries that are universal. I pause as I take a deep breathe both to take it all in, check to see if it is real, and anchor me. I sit by lake Zug reading an artticle for school when I stumble across these words, "Language helps us construct our world---lighting the way forward.". The other side of hearing another language is the feeling of being lost. I have found kind people who are patient with my lack of German but a bit like being underwater and trying to communicate with those above.

With a pocket of change I went into the shop at the train station to buy something to eat I hand the clerk a coin with a 5 on it, thinking it might be 5 dollars. I asked her if she spoke English and she shook her head but looked at my coin like she was thinking....and what else. I quickly figured that it must have been 5 cents I got the right amount. I smiled and laughed, knowing how expensive it is in Switzerland that my first purchase I tried to buy a snack for 5 cents!

I took the train, bus, walk to IKEA with a new teacher named Kat. It was a day of getting lost and feeling overwhelmed. We just made the last bus that would take us to IKEA and we had to pay. I didn't have any large coins and grabbed a handful of smaller ones and began to get a little flustered and confused-- I finally looked up at the bus driver with, probably eyes on the verge of a melt down, and just held out my hand and he counted out what I needed. Nothing like a dose of humility to KEEP IT REAL here. I have thought since, that it is funny that I
am coming here to teach Kindergarten and in some ways I am that little one finding my way. I won't lie somedays it would be nice to have a note pinned to my shirt from my mom-- telling them I need it.

In contrast to the challenge of a new place and language is the beauty. I am struck by the contrast and again am reminded of a student's thoughts that fit here: The roses from Esperanza Rising symbolizes that life cannot go without problems. That there is bitterness and sweetness, light and darkness, that a rose cannot lives without thorns, just like life cannot work without problems. That out of the terrible comes wonderful and out of the wonderful comes terrible. A rose could not live without it's thorns,--- Emily

With these thoughts of language I keep thinking of the Language of the Spirit, while I am limited with my German, I think of the understanding that spiritual fluency can take me-- toward heaven. I think again about how the limits of my language are the limits of my world. Wow, I see now how important that spiritual fluency is in our journey here and thinking of this with my feet in a new place gives me a new perspective. Also a feel of need for spiritual fluency comes with these new eyes. My thoughts of what matters most become clearer, that of our spiritual growth and progression. So maybe I uncovered a big idea for me-- progressing pushes us to discover what matters most. In Hebrew joy means progressing!

There are so many flowers here! The bakery with it's window boxes overflowing. The gardens and everything so green. I went for a run and have to stop and again take it all in.

Switzerland

2011-07-29T11:59:00.004-04:00

I have arrived in Switzerland and it has been exciting and overwhelming at the same time. When I walked around the first day here the words to a favorite song came to mind,"I wasn't odd or strange just quietly rearranged. Sometimes the biggest change stays out of sight.". As I take on this new adventure I have thought about how this experience is already doing some, rearranging, of my thinking and my perspective and I find myself craving my comfort zone..

After I left Mark at the airport I walked towards my gate, the security officer looked at my passport and ticket and then said just a minute. He came back with a box of kleenex and said, "Don't tell anyone I have a reputation to uphold.". My leap of faith was looking a bit wide and I had a hard time hiding it.

My adventure began in Salt Lake when my flight was scheduled for 8:30 and at 9:00 I talked with the airline to see what to do about my connecting flight in Denver to Zurich-- worried that I might miss it. She told me that if we didn't leave by 10:00 then I should come back and we would have to figure something out but luckily right after talking to her the plane came and we were able to take off by 9:25. Whew! I had to run in the Denver airport to make my flight. I was seated next to a young Swiss girl from Bern on the plane and we chatted for a bit. She was a nurse and had been on a trip to Hawaii to ,"Surf and work on my English.". Her English was really good and she was able tell me what to expect and where to go next.---grateful for tender mercies

I got my bags and headed out of the Airport when I spotted a sign with my name on it, another big whew, and it was a driver from the school to pick me up. He was a tall dark haired man who is from Russian. As we walked to his car I said a quite prayer and then smiled thinking how I am just trusting that he is from the school and not some crazy slave trade thing. His name was Bobby and he was so nice, letting me use his phone to call my mom and let her know that I was safe. Bobby had keys to my apartment and when we got there we saw an older woman and she immediately started chatting in German and then she was gone. Bobby turned to me and said, I think that is your landlady and she said that if you need anything just let her know. I laughed, imagining that conversation. After Bobby left I found myself close to one of those ledges wondering what I had signed myself up for. This was a point for some perspective change and the intense reality that I needed to depend on the things that anchor me pretty quick--- looking heavenward!

My apartment is clean and nice but the previous renter must have smoked so it has a bit of a cheap motel smell as you come in but this will be home for awhile. Before Bobby left I was able to make contact with my buddy from the school and she was able to meet me in the afternoon. When she said she could come right away, I know it sounds dramatic, but I felt like the rescue party was being sent out and I was so relieved for help in this beautiful place where I was surrounding by a language that I didn't understand. It was operation employ the positive self talk: you're fine, this going to be great. Followed by a few thoughts like: what have I done!

Rachel and Amy arrived and brought some needed things, they have been down this road and knew just what I might need: towel, toilet paper, blanket, and lunch. I hadn't eaten for a while and I was starving! They were great and brought wine and apple juice to celebrate my arrival. I wasn't quite ready to celebrate this wild ride yet but I could certainly celebrate my gratitude that everything would work out. I am reminded of a student in my class talking about the theme of hope in the book he was reading when he said, "it's like hope is a survival skill.". Thanks Will I needed that......some hope rising

Olympics!

2008-08-17T15:23:00.004-04:00

I wonder why I have been tired all week? Maybe because I have been addicted to the Olympics, staying up until 1:00! Courtnie has been quoting Sienfeld all week.....

Lucky number 7??

2008-07-04T16:48:00.004-04:00

Jen and I went for a ride in Central Park while she was here! Jen's bike was hard to pedal so I gave it a try and it was stuck in the hardest gear......number 7. I had to stand up just to get moving. We didn't plan on riding all the way to the top of the park and around but I found that if I slowed down that I couldn't get going again so we just kept peddaling. It was still a great ride but when we got through I didn't know whether to ask for my money back for a lemon of a bike or tip him for the great workout!

Magnolia Moment

2008-06-19T20:58:00.004-04:00

Lizzie B. emailed me a line from a book that she is reading called, Cornelia and the Audacious Escapes of the Somerset Sisters, and we remembered when we went to 11th Street and Bleeker for a taste of heaven and so I went and stood in line to celebrate!

"She loved visitng the Magnolia Bakery on Bleeker Street. In the front window, the bakers arranged lines of dainty cupcakes covered with pale pink, baby blue, or buttery yellow frosting! Cornelia's mother called them "fairy cakes" and customers stood in long lines down the block just to buy one."

AHHH! Summer

2008-06-18T14:58:00.008-04:00

Today I went out in search of finding another cool bike shop and found one on the lower east side. Then off to a favorite library that used to be a church, Jefferson Market Branch in Chelsea. I'm pretty sure that one of the doors inside leads to Narnia. With a new book in hand, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, I found a spot in Central Park to read. With the sound of birds chirping and taxies honking........ could life be any sweeter?!

Girls weekend in NYC!

2008-06-16T14:24:00.008-04:00

What does a girls weekend in New York look like?

Van Cortlandt Park- Bronx

2008-06-15T23:00:00.003-04:00

Achievement day hike highlights!

It was worth the taxi ride and then hour on the subway to be surrounded in green!

Taking in deep breaths while hiking on a trail, following two bouncing heads.
Learning what poison ivy looks like
Eating a smooshed peanut butter and jelly sandwich and loving it
Listening to the laughter of a group of girls singing songs and playing games entertaining a subway car of people
The good kind of tired that makes your heart sing!

Guggenheim

2008-06-15T19:16:00.007-04:00

My first summer course was on Block Building! Did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright played with blocks and designed the Guggenheim museum that looks like........... ? Luckily my final project was not designing a museum but I am now a believer of playing with blocks! Perks of living in NYC and having a summer break........field trips.

welcome to my blog

2008-01-16T13:03:00.001-05:00

Easy as 1-2-3 I have a blog now! Welcome and happy reading.