It's in the day to day.

Reflecting on the Christmas story this Advent season, I am impressed by how Jesus enters into the day to day.... For Simeon, for the Shepherds, the wiseman, it was just another day, or so they thought. It was in the ordinary that our Creator was at work. Changing everything. Bringing hope, peace, joy, love to the world. May I, may you, be as inclined to embrace the Miraculous when it shows up the day to day.

the music of messes

6th grade

This week Sam is on vacation with a friend. I am helping Spencer make sense of their shared room. Spencer has moved into the walk in closet in effort to create his own space.

As these projects go, the more you clean, the bigger the mess. The only thing that keeps me from chucking the entire mess into the garbage is the treasure found in the sorting.

7th grade

As I clean out Sam's backpack, I learn that buying school supplies is not going to be the daunting task it usually is. His school supplies are still in his backpack much the way I put them at the beginning of the year. I only had to clear out a couple items - a shirt and a french horn book (neither of them his), a couple bags of valentine candy that he never opened and a couple worksheets that he most likely repeated when he thought he misplaced them. So, no trip to Walmart - didn't even have to leave the house and I have school supplies for one.

Each year, teachers give awards at the end of the year. I found these "awards" that Sam received from his teachers. These explain a lot about Sam. They make me smile about all the times I have asked him to not whistle when I am speaking to him, to not tap on the table during dinner... They also tell me why he is often unaware of when his projects are due. While it has not always been the case, I am also glad that along the way there are teachers who can appreciate the music of Sam.

Now, back to work...