Friday, 28 March 2008
A not- so -odd request but a first for me nonetheless!
Approaching me in a panic this afternoon in class, one of my grade 8 female students begged me for a sanitary pad. No embarassment, no awkwardness. I would have rather died than ask my grade 8 teacher for a feminine product!! I am glad she felt free to ask me and I am glad I could bestow her request! In all my years of working with teenagers, I have never had any of them ask to borrow a pad. Glad I was able to "save the day" in the life of this adolescent girl!
Thursday, 27 March 2008
sun, surf and sand: where I long to be right now!
National Seashore, Cape Cod, 2006
Duck Harbour, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, 2006Monday, 24 March 2008
Lament of a single woman living in a couples world
Let's face it. We live in a couples world. For the single person - single meaning: over 30, never been married, widowed, or divorced - this couples world can be tough to navigate. Sure there are many perks of being single, especially without having the responsibility of children. And of course, the old adage is true, "the grass is always greener on the other side." Overall, I think I do well at making the most of my single life. Yet, for me, the most difficult part is being left out of things because I am single and not part of a couple. It is especially hurtful when friends who were formerly single or single again suddenly ignore you and exclude you from activities.
Before I move on, I must commend my friends at my church. They are wonderful at including not only me, but the other singles in our church community. I am grateful for their awareness and action! I LOVE that we are becoming more inter- generational and are breaking down the marital status barriers! For those in my church community reading my blog, I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you for the inclusive, supportive community you are building! I am also grateful these friends allow me to love, enjoy, and observe their children ( without having to babysit!!)! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
So, for those of you who are married or not married but have a significant other, I want to encourage you to reach out to your single friends. We need each other no matter what our marital status.
Here are some helpful tips:
** invite your close single friends along on a vacation with your family. I know travelling has become awkward for me as I get older. I don't want to go on a vacation alone ( well, I did to Paris but that was a unique situation) but it is hard to find single friends to go with on vacation.
**invite your single friends out to dinner with your family. Who likes eating alone. I have been to restaurants on my own, but prefer the company of people!
**invite your single friends out to the theatre with your family. Who likes going to movies or the theatre alone. Once again, I have been on my own but prefer being with people I know and care about!
**invite your single friends over to hang out with your family. Don't assume your single friends don't want to hang out and don't assume they have an amazing social life and are too busy! Most of the time they are home alone!
**invite your single friends on other family activities you may be doing, like hiking, skating,etc.
** help out in practical ways (ie)- offering to fix needs around the house or help solve issues with the car, etc.
I know there are times when you need to be a couple and need your family alone time. We singles get that and no need to feel guilty! But, I am just encouraging you to be sensitive to the needs of the singles in your life, whether it be at your church, your work or your neighbourhood. (I think it is especially difficult for "senior" singles. )
TOGETHER , let's make this world easier to navigate!
Before I move on, I must commend my friends at my church. They are wonderful at including not only me, but the other singles in our church community. I am grateful for their awareness and action! I LOVE that we are becoming more inter- generational and are breaking down the marital status barriers! For those in my church community reading my blog, I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you for the inclusive, supportive community you are building! I am also grateful these friends allow me to love, enjoy, and observe their children ( without having to babysit!!)! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
So, for those of you who are married or not married but have a significant other, I want to encourage you to reach out to your single friends. We need each other no matter what our marital status.
Here are some helpful tips:
** invite your close single friends along on a vacation with your family. I know travelling has become awkward for me as I get older. I don't want to go on a vacation alone ( well, I did to Paris but that was a unique situation) but it is hard to find single friends to go with on vacation.
**invite your single friends out to dinner with your family. Who likes eating alone. I have been to restaurants on my own, but prefer the company of people!
**invite your single friends out to the theatre with your family. Who likes going to movies or the theatre alone. Once again, I have been on my own but prefer being with people I know and care about!
**invite your single friends over to hang out with your family. Don't assume your single friends don't want to hang out and don't assume they have an amazing social life and are too busy! Most of the time they are home alone!
**invite your single friends on other family activities you may be doing, like hiking, skating,etc.
** help out in practical ways (ie)- offering to fix needs around the house or help solve issues with the car, etc.
I know there are times when you need to be a couple and need your family alone time. We singles get that and no need to feel guilty! But, I am just encouraging you to be sensitive to the needs of the singles in your life, whether it be at your church, your work or your neighbourhood. (I think it is especially difficult for "senior" singles. )
TOGETHER , let's make this world easier to navigate!
Saturday, 22 March 2008
a few of my favourite things
Given to my mom by her parents for her 11th birthday, 1948
I LOVED these books as a little girl! Little Women was given to my mom for Christmas by her Irish cousins Billy and Sarah, 1949. Heidi was given to mom by her parents.
My souvenir replica of a lobster trap from Newfoundland, 1975. Stuffed toy lobster - souvenir from Cape Cod, 2006.
Cafe au Lait, Baguette with cheese, Paris, 2007.
Turquoise retro clock, Sears, 2006. Eiffel Tower, Paris, 2007.
Vintage crocheted bathing suit, $2, Kingston, 2001. An assortment of my accessories!
Savon de Marseille Soap, Paris, 2007. But, Pamper & Soothe in Port Perry carries this line!
Antique orange clock bought at an outdoor antique street market in Paris, 2007.
Bead bracelet was a gift from the Powers family, summer 2007.
Thank you for your Prayers
My dear bloggy friends...thank you so much for your prayers and encouraging words for me as I sang at our Good Friday service! I felt them and know God was glorified! It was a God moment! On Thursday, a special lady at my church gave me a verse that was so timely. She had no idea but God sure did! She was so cute. She even made me repeat it after her to make certain I had it memorized! Here it is:
" Whatever you do in word or deed ( or song!) , do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father." (Colossians 3:17) I didn't even peek as I wrote this out!!!:) It is memorized now!!:)
I give thanks to God for using this song to bring glory and honour to Him AND to remind us our sacrificed Jesus set us right with God. How can you say no to this man!
" Whatever you do in word or deed ( or song!) , do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father." (Colossians 3:17) I didn't even peek as I wrote this out!!!:) It is memorized now!!:)
I give thanks to God for using this song to bring glory and honour to Him AND to remind us our sacrificed Jesus set us right with God. How can you say no to this man!
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Oxymoron
My students, in a way, are an oxymoron -a love dislike relationship! Allow me to paraphrase Forest Gump:
Each school day is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you will get.
For the most part, my week with my students ( the regular stream ones) has been very disheartening. The majority of teachers feel the same way I do. It is a new challenge trying to teach this generation of students.
But, God in His mercy and love encouraged me today through the "special ones" of our school! It amazes me how two children with autism can brighten even the darkest hour.
I was walking by my dear "S" 's class ,who were standing in the hallway, when "S" came up to me and asked me about my dog.
I need to give you some background info that will be helpful for you to understand my conversation with "S". About 3 months ago "S" asked me if I had a dog. I told her the whole story about Toby and that she got sick and died. "S" asked if she was buried in a cemetery. I say yes just to keep things simple. Well, little did I know that my dear "S" would occasionally keep asking me about my dog Toby. Her memory is amazing, especially with remembering birthdays.
"S" hasn't asked me about Toby for over a month now until today- totally random - to us non- autistic people that is! We have no idea how the autistic process their thoughts and for "S" this was not a random conversation. So, here it is:
"S": Miss Whalen, where did you get those ear rings. I love them.
Miss Whalen ( that would be me! ): Thank you. I got them at H & M.
"S": Miss Whalen, what happened to your dog?
Miss Whalen: You know "S" what happened to my dog.
"S": She died. She is in the cemetery.
Miss Whalen: That's right.
"S": Bye Miss Whalen. Can I help "C"?
Miss Whalen: Yes you can help "C", but later. Bye "S".
"S": Okay. Thank you. Bye Miss Whalen!
Then when I went to my next class, I had the cutest encounter with my sweet "D"! We were sitting at the computers in the library when I looked over at "D" to see how she was making out. Our eyes met and all of a sudden she blew me a kiss and then immediately gave me the thumbs up signal! Somehow I think that little girl knew I needed that priceless moment today!!
I thank God for creating these "special ones" and allowing them to be part of world! We have so much to learn from their lives.
I ended my week knowing I am blessed to be part of these love dislike relationships!!!
Each school day is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you will get.
For the most part, my week with my students ( the regular stream ones) has been very disheartening. The majority of teachers feel the same way I do. It is a new challenge trying to teach this generation of students.
But, God in His mercy and love encouraged me today through the "special ones" of our school! It amazes me how two children with autism can brighten even the darkest hour.
I was walking by my dear "S" 's class ,who were standing in the hallway, when "S" came up to me and asked me about my dog.
I need to give you some background info that will be helpful for you to understand my conversation with "S". About 3 months ago "S" asked me if I had a dog. I told her the whole story about Toby and that she got sick and died. "S" asked if she was buried in a cemetery. I say yes just to keep things simple. Well, little did I know that my dear "S" would occasionally keep asking me about my dog Toby. Her memory is amazing, especially with remembering birthdays.
"S" hasn't asked me about Toby for over a month now until today- totally random - to us non- autistic people that is! We have no idea how the autistic process their thoughts and for "S" this was not a random conversation. So, here it is:
"S": Miss Whalen, where did you get those ear rings. I love them.
Miss Whalen ( that would be me! ): Thank you. I got them at H & M.
"S": Miss Whalen, what happened to your dog?
Miss Whalen: You know "S" what happened to my dog.
"S": She died. She is in the cemetery.
Miss Whalen: That's right.
"S": Bye Miss Whalen. Can I help "C"?
Miss Whalen: Yes you can help "C", but later. Bye "S".
"S": Okay. Thank you. Bye Miss Whalen!
Then when I went to my next class, I had the cutest encounter with my sweet "D"! We were sitting at the computers in the library when I looked over at "D" to see how she was making out. Our eyes met and all of a sudden she blew me a kiss and then immediately gave me the thumbs up signal! Somehow I think that little girl knew I needed that priceless moment today!!
I thank God for creating these "special ones" and allowing them to be part of world! We have so much to learn from their lives.
I ended my week knowing I am blessed to be part of these love dislike relationships!!!
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