The View from Here

Still Married

Yes, forty-two years ago Gary told a boat salesman we were engaged. While it would have been nice if he had asked me first, we have never been very concerned about formalities or based our life on traditions. We have just enjoyed each other’s company and tried to face challenges together. If I had to give advice to anyone else I would say “Be friends, be forgiving, and make sure you don’t do much that needs to be forgiven.” 

Sunlight

Today the house was filled with bright sunlight…the kind that either prompts you to open up the drapes and let it all in, or close them because the light is almost too harsh and hurts your eyes. A mixed blessing:  warm and cheering, but also highlighting the dust and spider webs I have neglected during the past few weeks. I’ve thought all day about how the sunlight symbolizes our witness as Christians. God says we are the light of the world and instructs us in Matthew to let our light so shine before men that they will see our good works. Sometimes I fear that we do just the opposite and shine our light in such a way that it simply draws attention to the flaws of others.

I pray that as we begin a new week and a new month we will be the kind of sunlight that brings warmth and cheer and encouragement to others. 

The longer I live...

the more people baffle and bewilder me. I don’t think people have changed that much. I think I was just so involved in my own life and my own problems and my own little world during my thirties and forties that I didn’t pay enough attention to the craziness in other families. Now I notice so much more and I just want to say, “Seriously????”

I think that another phenomenon occurs as you age. You notice patterns and repeated behavior and recycled problems. You say things like “I remember when that happened in 1965…” and eyes glaze over like you are just so out of touch with the modern world. Everyone wants to believe that whatever they are doing or experiencing is now and new and part of the latest trend. They want to believe that all the nonsense they accept as true will become the new normal and will last forever.

I’m not really complaining. Instead I find it rather interesting.  I wish now that I had paid more attention in my abnormal psychology class! 

This is why I teach...

Yesterday was a perfect example of why I love teaching:

Ten of my students made 100% on their spelling test.

Group reading was wonderful!

One of my students told a great story about finding out that he is going to have a baby brother.

Another student lost a tooth. Drama!

Everyone is super excited about our spring/flower study. Can’t wait to plant our own next week.

Our library book exchange has been successful.

Writing is improving!

We’re making progress in math.

One of my parents stopped by to tell me how well her child is doing on her word list.

I survived a boring but necessary test prep meeting! 

The Caddo Education Foundation

In my forties I decided to go back to college, thanks in part to the support and encouragement of the Caddo Education Foundation. I wasn’t a graduating senior. I wasn’t a young person with big plans. I was a wife and mother who wanted to improve her life and reach a goal she had abandoned during an earlier family crisis. Thankfully the group believed I could attain my new goal, despite my age, and the “second chance” scholarship was created. It wasn’t a lot of money, but the faith in my ability to succeed was priceless. And every penny helped with the books, fees, and other expenses that were not covered by my grant. I received my Master’s degree in administration in 2001.

Last night I met with that same group, as I have nearly every year, and helped them begin the process that will allocate scholarships for nine deserving seniors from this year’s graduating class, and one “second chance” adult. The number of scholarships is limited because the amount of money in their bank account is limited. And I’m writing this post to tell you that you still have time to make a difference in that number.

If you graduated from Caddo, if your parents graduated from Caddo, if your child or grandchild will graduate from Caddo, I urge you to contribute to this worthy cause. Don’t rely on your local gambling money to go to education. Don’t assume your lottery ticket is helping someone. Put your money directly into the hands of a group that is supporting local education. Do it to honor someone who died in the past. Do it to be a part of someone’s future. Do it because you have had a child in my class or you like to read my blog. I don’t need to know your reason. Most of you reading this can spare $10 to help someone else. Put it in an envelope and mail it to the Caddo Education Foundation at P.O. Box 82, Caddo, OK, 74729. If you are a local you can have money transferred from your account to theirs by simply stopping at the bank.

And if you have or are a graduating senior, or you are an adult resident of Caddo who wants to go to college, please make sure you get an application from the school in April. They will be due May 2. 

Wash, rinse, repeat...

Several people have asked me what I think about the plan to remove Common Core from Oklahoma schools.

Honestly?

I think that for the most part we are governed by people who have been in politics for so long that they are out of touch with reality and most have no clue what we need in our schools.

I think we spend far more time and money creating a plan, program, curriculum, or magic formula for education than we do in implementing one.

I think we blame the education system, and teachers in particular, for results that are beyond their control.

I think that we have a disgraceful history of adopting programs and then abandoning them. I would love to see an accounting of the money spent just on professional training for each plan.

I think we have expectations for our children that cannot and will not be met until we solve some major social, health, and economic problems.

I think that no matter what plan Oklahoma adopts, the only thing that will truly benefit our children is reading, writing, and responsibility. 

Back to School

Yes, I’m ready. I have missed my students and I’m anxious to hear their sweet voices. They always have stories that are better than mine! We have lots of work to complete over the next nine weeks and more testing, and then…summer. Wow!

Yesterday was a day of mixed feelings. My dear friend’s mother passed away after suffering for months with advanced cancer. My friend’s care of her was an example of love and devotion for all of us to emulate. I’m happy that she is no longer in pain and that my friend knows she is now in God’s hands, but I know she will be deeply missed by her children and grandchildren.

I visited with my dad yesterday and was reminded that his days on earth are also numbered. We have to make the most of the time we have left together- whether that’s a day or ten years.

Robert also came out to see me and we had some serious birding discussions. I miss him when he is off traveling!

Had a big crowd for dinner last night! I counted six raccoons, two opossums, and three skunks (one black, two white). There were a couple of arguments among the raccoons, and a brief stand-off between the two white skunks, while the opossums simply waddled around enjoying the food.  Gary and I talked about the fact that the opossums never bother each other or any other creature. They just move over and wait!

I’ve enjoyed my time off and I have been thinking of some things I need to do this summer, but today I will enjoy being Mrs. Maurer! 

Busy

I will be the first to admit that I have not accomplished a lot during my break. Oh, I’ve taken care of a few small projects. I’ve done a little extra house cleaning. I’ve worked in the yard. I’ve done some research. But I haven’t pushed myself the way I might have in the past. I haven’t made lists and set goals. I haven’t even felt the need to post something on my blogs each day. I’ve just relaxed and let each day flow. One of the things I enjoyed the most this week was being outside. Listening to the birds and frogs and even the wind brings me peace.

I think sometimes we equate “busy” with productive. If we are stressed to the max by all the things we must do, we feel needed and skillful and perhaps even virtuous. But sometimes that need to be needed damages our health, our heart, and our relationships. We need to examine whether our activities are motivated by necessity or ego or guilt. And sometimes being “too busy” is simply due to a lack of organization or poor decisions. It’s a complicated topic, but I have just found that the more I simplify my life, the more I enjoy it.

I was pleasantly surprised to see our old friend Mrs. Squirrel today. She is most likely nursing another batch of babies in the old bois d’arc tree. I know some people consider them pests and I should probably resent the fact that she raids the bird feeders, but she’s just so much fun to watch. The rabbits have been bouncing around the yard for days, but this is the first time I’ve seen her since the snow melted.

I’ve been researching some interesting criminal cases from the 1890s. If you are interested in that sort of thing be sure to visit my Caddo website. I’ll be posting several of them over the next few days. Most concern the Bohanan family. You may have visited the Bohanan cabin at Fort Washita.

I’m tweaking my diet again. I still eat five foods each and every day: eggs, milk, spinach, nuts, fruit. I eat yogurt, broccoli, avocadoes, and tomatoes weekly. Now I’m trying to incorporate even more vegetables and eat less bread and cheese. Yes, too much bread during the winter snows!! And now that my foot is almost completely healed I can get serious about walking. Yeah!

Can’t believe next week is the last full week of March! Where did it go?

Hope your weekend is restful.

Be kind to someone…including yourself. 

Worth the wait!

I don’t care what the calendar says…spring arrived on the hill today! The birds and butterflies and assorted other critters were out and about. The flowers are blooming. I heard a frog croaking near the pond. All the worries of winter have melted away and it’s a whole new world! 

Nothing Exciting...

I didn’t do anything exciting yesterday. I don’t have a lot of photos to post. I just spent the day doing a little of this and a little of that. And it was wonderful!

I think the best thing about being on vacation at any time of the year is the freedom to do things at a more leisurely pace. So when I took my books to the library I drove down a street that I don’t normally take the time to travel. As a result I saw some of the new construction and development going on in Durant. When I visited the genealogy library I had the time to have two lengthy conversations without feeling that I was losing some of my research time. When I went shopping I didn’t worry about what time I might get home. When I cleaned my refrigerator I didn’t worry about the laundry still piled up. Time…it’s a wonderful thing.

We had a few different visitors to the feeders yesterday. The wind was blowing so wildly that I didn’t get many photos, but hopefully these little goldfinches will return and give me another chance.

The turtles are out of hibernation and making their appearance in the pond and on the rocks and stumps. I expect to see or hear frogs soon!

More flowers…and I will photograph them as soon as possible. The wind is beyond crazy!

Had dinner with Robert and Amber last night. And since we were celebrating his birthday we also found our way to Braum’s. Always enjoy seeing both of them! Lots of good conversation and laughter.

So…nothing exciting, but it’s great to be on spring break!