Out my Window: Beautiful end of summer with a hint of fall weather. The moon and stars have been amazing.
Enjoying: Cooler nights, beautiful days, the night sky, subbing, all the wild flowers
Listening to: Finished Becoming by Michelle Obama. I loved this so much. She is so good at processing her life and sharing. It is a very insightful book about life, growing, learning, race, and America. So many quotes to ponder.
Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.
If you don’t get out there and define yourself, you’ll be quickly and inaccurately defined by others.
Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.
I downloaded Malcolm Gladwell’s new book Talking to Strangers to listen to. The presentation is unique. It is part podcast and part audiobook. It seems like it is going to be a bit more challenging and emotional to listen to, but very interesting with much to think about.
Reading: New book launch group… so excited to get on the launch team for Kelly Minter’s cookbook, A Place at the Table. I have done a few of her Bible studies and love the recipes she included in them. Looking forward to this different type of book to launch. Should be fun. https://kellyminter.com/a-place-at-the-table/.
Carrying around: Unhurried Leader: The Lasting Fruit of Daily Influence by Alan Fadling
By my bed: participating in a Bible Reading Challenge. Reading through the Bible by April, so when I sub I have been catching up at night. It has been good to read through larger passages at a time. It has been awhile since I have done this.
Pondering: Why do we wait until we see someone’s ship burning and sinking before we go talk to them about our concern? I have been guilty in the past too. It is no fun to be the one not clicking “like” on someone’s new relationship they share on social media, but being the one asking deeper questions about the person. It is no fun not jumping on someone’s bandwagon of what they are doing, or being part of, but being the one questioning if that is something they should be part of, or if it is the right time. I get that, but it amazes me how many people care and stand up for truth once the ship is on fire and sinking, then they let the person or people know what they disagree with, but very few beforehand. I was thinking about how we need to develop relationships with people who have courage to bring to our attention potential fires, or when they notice small fires. I want to know way ahead before I am sinking. Once the ship is sinking I have noticed that people will very rarely listen to concerned people, and will turn into blame and anger. Pondering how we can encourage people to lovingly approach people ahead… to help them and myself to have courage to ask the tough questions… to know when and how to ask those questions when we see things that do not sit right. Sometimes things work themselves out, but other times people end up in deep with bigger consequences. We need each other desperately because it is easy to “buy what I am selling”. I can convince myself of things, and need others who love me enough to ask good questions despite how I may respond to do so.
Learning: This past week I was offered an extended maternity leave subbing job. I was encouraged that I was asked, although to be honest I thought I might be in trouble when I got called down to the principal’s office. (Some of the kids thought so too. lol) As I thought about it and chatted with my husband, I learned that heading back into a fulltime teaching position is no longer a desire of mine. It wasn’t even tempting. I would miss the flexibility subbing allows, and I would miss being out of the high school for that long. It was interesting learning how much I have changed. Before coming home to raise my kids I worked very hard trying to get a fulltime elementary position. My education and pursuit of the certificate was all around setting myself up for that. I would not trade that ,and it was fully used and is still used in a variety of ways, but my focus and purposes have changed. I have known this, but this was a confirmation of the deeper change in me, so now I continue to see whether my future still involves teaching in a school or whether it is a changing of careers. This in between has been very fruitful and taught me much about who I am becoming and how all my loves can be used, but looks different than the original plan. So I try to hold loosely to each day and especially the future.
Home: I have been surprisingly busy with subbing already so just maintaining. I have not thought too much about a system. On my counter are lovely mums from a friend and a fall candle.
Fitness and Mental Health: Still schlogging and doing the Pilates Challenge. I am two days off because of being away this weekend, but I think even after this I will find a way to include Pilates. I think they are helpful for my issues in my back, core, and hips. https://youtu.be/o5G0ctUCwXA. Mental Health… The structure has been very good for my mental health. Jumping back in with the students has been good. I did pull out my autumn candle and lit it this week even though we have another week until Fall. I love the smell and warmth on these cool nights. It relaxes me.
Giving Thanks: For friends who were willing to help me this past weekend with a program I was running. So thankful for heart friends who are willing to jump in and also who love me well. Two book launches this week. Such great teams and opportunities with these. Getting back into the Word in larger chunks, being reminded of the overarching narrative of the Bible, so thankful for God’s character in spite of us. My younger had a job interview, my older’s project is working out. For all the people who offered to help us with our son’s car issue. For all the acts of kindness I have been blessed with in the last week. It has encouraged my heart.
Inkblot Life 
So much truth and good here. Love you
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