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I'm a Teacher and I am in LOVE with Our School's Principal!!!!!

 As a teacher I must be forthright. I owe it to my students and posterity (oh,  my students ARE my posterity.) So, I admit it. I AM IN LOVE WITH OUR SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL!!!  (Who also doubles as my amazing husband!!!)

We are in the stress of finishing up three weeks of school curriculum in less than two weeks and I've been a bit overwhelmed. We've been pushing hard through the recent heat wave and spending the majority of our day with our noses in the books, pounding out our lessons. We must finish through week 20 in order to be in tandem with the other family with whom we will be participating in school once we arrive back at New Hope in Uganda in October.  With all that business going on Geoff made an executive decision and whisked us off to the beach today--albeit with some books in hand.

At break time around 11 a.m. he told the kids to change their clothes and they were confused--it was only 11 a.m. and they'd been studying hard--they hadn't even had a chance to get dirty yet, why change?  When they realized he meant to change into their swimming suits the whoops and hollers almost kept me from hearing their feet pounding as they excitedly ran around the house! In less than 10 minutes we were out the door and on our way to our own little piece of paradise in Laguna Beach. But, we kept the kids in suspense. They guessed Seal Beach, Sunset, Huntington (notice they are listed in south-going order?? That's because once we passed the "guessed beach" without stopping, they adjusted their guess.) Newport . . . "WHERE are we going, DAD?" Finally, they saw the Laguna Canyon sign and we had whoops and hollers all over again!

General silliness along the route to the beach

Focused excitement when they realized we were going to Laguna--our own little corner of paradise!

some leisure reading for the teacher

a little rest for the body surfing boy

snacks for the famished

mmmmm, smoothie on the go!

The beloved principal

This is what qualifies it as a school field trip .. . reading school books at the beach

And I had a revelation at the beach today. It's not very deep, but it's a revelation nonetheless. I had to use that word because it's a big word and apparently teachers use such words, and apparently I'm a teacher, although Tim Hawkins would probably beg to differ since I'm a HOMESCHOOL "teacher".  He wouldn't be surprised, I suppose, that we spent half of our school day at the beach--it fits right in with his frequent comedy jabs at homeschoolers and I'm happy to oblige him.  Sooooo, anywaaaaay, while the kids were jumping in the waves and trying a little body surfing, Geoff and I snacked on some Athenos Spicy Three Pepper Hummus. Here's the revelation, Athenos Spicy Three Pepper Hummus is simply Spicy Bean Dip in a can repurposed for today's hipster. I know, you're welcome for my assistance in helping you to identify why you like it sooooo much.  

Our time in the states is coming to a close and it is days like these that I will truly miss! Yes, we had cancer. Yes, our set plans had to be adjusted and tweaked. Yes, it wasn't what we wanted. AND, YES, we are thankful!

Everyday we thank God for our gifts of life.  Today, we thank Him for the extraordinary beauty of His creation!  To see it up close--to touch it--to feel the pounding of the waves and the intensity of the sunshine!   mmmmmmmm, very good!

mmmmm, so beautiful!

RED LIGHT RUNNERS

During our time here in S. California over the past 5 months our kids have developed some funny habits.  Often when we are sitting at a stop light waiting our turn to go, one of the kids will shout out “RED LIGHT RUNNER!”  Someone just ran the red light in front of us.  It is almost daily that we experience it.  To me it seems to be happening far too often, people just don’t seem to be respecting the driving regulations here like they use to.  

This has led me to think about why that is.  I have come to the conclusion that as a culture we have grown to hate people telling us NO.  That’s right, our American liberties have grown to the place that we are free to do what we want and who are you to tell me I can’t?  It’s a free country isn’t it?  Not that this is a new predicament that is unique to our day and generation, but there has definitely been an increase in people resisting boundaries. 

I have used the saying often that says “what one generation tolerates, the next will abuse”  and I am becoming more and more convinced that this is the case with many of the situations that are arising today.  People have been less inclined to spell out clear boundaries for their children and slower to inflict discipline when they violate the ones that do exist.  

We have become tolerant of disobedience, and we have become resistant to boundaries in our lives.

We strive as a culture to ensure our kids are happy and have everything they need, often at all costs.  We fear to crush their spirits or limit their personal expression, not wanting to limit them by telling them no.  The question is where is that leading them?  What world views and expectations are we engraining in them?

The idea of sitting still and being patient are foreign to children today.  Sitting in a restaurant parents need to entertain their children, giving them a video game or phone to occupy them.  The idea of sitting there quietly while we wait for our food is nearly impossible for most.  Vehicles come with video screens in the back for our children, they must be entertained, give them what they want.  Arrgh! the light is turning red, I don’t want to wait, I NEED to go! 

When I was growing up if you wanted something you began to save for it, waiting until you could afford it.  Yet today you can have what you want now, no need to wait while you save up, you have credit.  You want to reach your destination, the light only just turned red, why stop?

I am convinced that when we grow up expecting and experiencing a life without boundaries we struggle to fit into a culture that requires boundaries.  Yet boundaries or laws are what preserves order in our culture.  Boundaries define what is acceptable, and are there to keep us safe.  Without boundaries we have chaos.  If I am so used to getting what I want and people being afraid to tell me no then why should I stop at the red light?  The red light will just slow me down and besides I have somewhere to go.

You may be getting the idea that this blog is all about running red lights, but really it’s not. If boundaries are not instilled in my life, when sinful temptations arise I am not as quick or able to resist and tell myself no.  The need for personal discipline, self-control and boundaries in our lives in crucial.  Just as we all need these characteristics in our lives our children need to be trained and equipped for their future as we know that a “a man without self-control is like a city whose walls are broken down”,  vulnerable to attack, without protection and destined to be overthrown.

The lack of boundaries in our culture these days is promoting a newer culture that says I must have what I want.  Selfish undisciplined children grow into self-seeking adults with little respect for others.  Adults that want the moral constraints of God’s holiness thrown off and to be able to live life their way.  A people resistant to a righteous standard that God intended to guide our lives.  Where God has intended us to be imitators of His holiness we have chosen to be a people searching to remove boundaries, but only finding chaos and emptiness.

Boundaries are not restricting, but on the contrary are liberating.  Only one who is subject to the rule and authority of another can truly be free.  Will you embrace them?

Geoff