La Sonya

Aren't they so cute! Maybe not so much in this first picture  but by the time you get to the end you will agree :)  The bunnies on Sep 14. They were 3 days old.  September 15. 4 days old.  September 18. 1 week old. September 21. 10 days old and eyes open.  (just not in this picture)

Space takes you so much closer to Heaven. It offers a new perspective of where we have come from, it is unknown and it is beauty. I don't necessarily want to fly to space on a rocket ship (I would get rocket sick and have to barf in my suit and that sounds awful). But I could stand to stare at the stars for hours and hours. If you want to make my night, invite me to stare at the stars. If you want to impress me learn about the stars and teach me. Check out these pictures from the year:  BBC Astronomy Photography Exhibit .

I read this and I liked it. mal de coucou dictionaryofobscuresorrows : n.  a phenomenon in which you have an active social life but very few close friends—people who you can trust, who you can be yourself with, who can help flush out the weird psychological toxins that tend to accumulate over time—which is a form of acute social malnutrition in which even if you devour an entire buffet of chitchat, you’ll still feel pangs of hunger.

King Brownie had baby bunnies this weekend and on Monday. Today I was trying to feed one with a bottle and kitten milk because I knew it wasn't nursing. It died in my hands. The hard part was I knew it was dying because it's not a new process to me, the gasping, the slowing down, the coldness and the last struggle for life. Nothing new to my heart or my eyes. I feel like a bit of me is dying right now. I really want these bunnies to live so the students can watch them grow and be amazed at God's goodness, but they are dying because I can't do anything else to help them along. I really want to run all the time but am dying because of so many meetings in the evening when I can run. I really want to be a good teacher but am dying trying to figure out how to put so many things together. I want to be financially good but am dying because each day that passes the interest on my loans adds up. I hate watching with that helpless feeling that there is nothing more

So many thoughts tumble around in my head. I've had some bubble out and some sink in. These are just a few. Texting like it was water to a dying plant Pintrest has given me renewed inspiration and ideas for my classroom Learning to play the cello  Listening to my new favorite album The Goad Rodeo Session with Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile (from Nickel Creek fame) and a few other guys I don't know. Learning how to teach math, reading and phonics Preaching a sermon on faith like a child Painting art for my house/room Growing plants (I love green) Paying bills Friendship and what it means to be honest about thoughts and feelings Hunting in thrift stores for great finds to put in my house Dressing like a kindergarten teacher, think Mrs Frizzle :) Banging my head against a wall coming up with lesson plans :/ Feeding and watering our class pet: King Brownie the Fluffy Lion Lizard Hiking around up at Wawona Baking cookies Talking on the phone to make up for lost time last y

I was inspired to listen to some music from Tanzania.  I hadn't liked it while I was there,  it drove me nuts. But if you think about listening to it ALL THE TIME you too would go nuts. Now, however, when I push the play button on the youtube video and the funny notes hit my ears, I smile. The words are familiar and they bring with them memories. Memories of walking down the road to catch a Daladala into town. Memories of walking around the market looking for tengos  or a memory of falling asleep to Mary blasting these songs into the night. They remind me of Sabbath afternoons with my neighbors, Tanzania Adventist Secondary School, playing their afternoon sound track over the speakers at the church. Their personal gift to the neighborhood. Time has gone by, some memories have faded away There are others who are finding a place to stay The thoughts of laughter, giggles and smiles Brings it all back in a flash flood that covers miles The glimpses of disapointment, hurt a

I love many things, mostly I love created things; trees, stars, people. I love holidays, mostly I love Earth Day, Forth of July, and Thanksgiving. I hate it when something happens to any of those things. I especially hate it when it happens to both of those lists at the same time. This year on Earth Day, April 22, a stupid sulfur truck spilled hundreds of pounds of that stuff on EARTH DAY burning up and ruining TREES! What a jerk. Now when I drive up to Camp Wawona I am constantly reminded and pained by the results of that man. It's a mistake that will take years to fix.  Here's a clip of the whole story.