I can hardly believe that it has been almost a week and a half since I blogged. It certainly isn't that I haven't had things to blog about! There have been mountain-top times, such as the ladies' retreat I went to last weekend. Even being the "new kid on the block" with this church did not deter me from having a truly good time. I learned a thing or two as well...like I am NOT too old to chase my dreams, and that what is "going on" and what is "happening" are not necessarily the same thing. And to remember that God is the only One who has the whole picture! I learned also, (I am sure I already knew this, but did not always live it out) that it is okay to be me. I teased the other gals and yakked as if I had known them for years. (Turns out I had known one of them years ago!) I laughed loudly when I felt like it. I sang loudly too. I cracked jokes and cried tears. And I felt very accepted and loved. Amazaing! I try to tell younger people that one of the lessons of my life, learned the hard way, is to never stop being yourself to please others. I have been extremely more accepted when I was just me and not worried about impressions.
Then there were the challenging times this week. Times when a cardiologist calls (at retreat no less) to tell me they need more tests done ASAP. And times when the bone spur that has damaged my Achilles tendon hurts so badly I want to stay off my feet (rare occurrance for me!), AND times when time pressure and/or financial stress made me revisit my priorities and tune in a bit more to that still small Voice...
There have been days of successes! Handsome is a natural in math. Today, for instance, the lesson was on place value, something which made sense to him and was easy to grasp. He sat on the couch after finishing his workbook and asked, "So, then, is 10 + 10 + 10 = 30?" "Yes, Handsome, You are so smart!" He proceeded to inquire about many equations involving tens, getting most of them right. YES!
Hunky has learned the first letter of his name, along with 5 more letters. He seems to really like this program, and letting Handsome be "teacher" or "teacher's assistant" really gets him motivated as he reviews without realizing it. He has made fewer errors with his own reading and spelling, since helping Hunky with his work. Hunky loves doing workbook pages and listening to the Social Studies and Science part of Handsome's school. He does, however, fail to see the need to not interrupt certain other school times. We are working on that by special activities and crafts, and Hunky being Baby Girl's "babysitter" during those times.
Then there was the birthday party for Handsome the day I got home from retreat. Actually, only about an hour later...
We decided to go to the park across from their home and Daddy left early to prepare the barbeque pit. Good thing, since another family arrived only a few minutes later and would have taken up the entire ramada. As it was, we all crowded between the four tables and two barbeques. We had nine adults and eight children while the other group had more like twelve adults and six children. The interesting thing, though, was the similarities and differences of the two groups. Their gathering appeared to be a birthday celebration as well. Their children ran around just like ours, jumping and yelling, and occasionally squabbling. The biggest difference, however, was that this group was obviously Muslim. Some of the ladies dressed in the traditional attire, with their heads covered and long skirts circling their ankles. Other women wore pants and remained without a head cover. There were few men. They had a prayer blanket laid out on the grass and one man and one woman knelt and faced North and kissed the blanket repeatedly. Then they turned the blanket to the East and repeated the ritual. The woman remained on the blanket with her hands cupped and slightly lifted and her eyes closed while chanting quietly. The children (from both groups) ran around the blanket without even looking. We pulled ours away and sent them scampering into the water spouts.
The other group did not seem to pay much attention to the children, even when they wandered into our group, or off on their own. Thankfully, they did not wander far. The thing that struck me to the core, however, was something of my own weakness.
Here were these people, of Muslim faith, boldly and faithfully praying in public, oblivious to what was happening around them. Yet I, who proclaim to be a person of faith, sometimes feel awkward saying a grace over my meal in public. I have justified it that I am not embarrassed, but rather do not want to make anyone else feel uncomfortable. Yet these Muslims did not waver even if they had made us uncomfortable. (They did not, but my own conviction did) I had to admit that the root of my discomfort is probably embarrassment, yet I do not know why. I am not embarrassed about my faith nor waver in what I believe. I have shared it with others when it was appropriate. So why is a simple, quiet prayer uncomfortable? I also am not easily embarrassed by most anything that I encounter. I think it shall not be an embarrassing issue again! (My husband is very bold and has no discomfort in any setting, giving thanks unto God.)
So, you can see that my week and a half has been full of challenges and victories... and I feel I am a better person for it.