Clever Characters

When I created this blog I picked the name CLEVER CHARACTERS because both words and life are made up of characters that have left me changed, usually in a good way. I am hoping to update more often and share with you the world as seen by me.

NEW JOB:
I am loving it!!!! I have clients from Laos, Vietnam, Mexico, Honduras and even Chicago. Those from foreign countries have incredible stories of immigration. I am learning about their cultures and their heritage and hopefully helping shape their legacy.

The other half of my class are Americans who have caught some rough breaks and are now seeking life skills and strategies to pass the GED. Some are trapped in the pain of their past and do not trust me to help them walk into their future. It is easier for them to goof off and know they will fail than it is to actually make the first attempt toward success.

KATIE BETH:
I am thrilled to share that KB is thriving in her new school. I have seen a marked difference in her confidence. This improved self esteem has allowed her to blossom in her art and riding. I am looking forward to her next horse show in a few weeks.

BRAD:
Brad has a tooth ache which apparently causes the volume of his snoring to increase by one hundred fold. (-:

Brad made the observation last night that you should not transform a gym into an auditorium for the PTA program until you can make the smell of gym socks go away. PTA moms out there take note: hot dog and gym sock ambiance is a BAD combo.

FRIENDS & FAMILY:
I know a lot of folks walking through a very hard time right now. Here is a favorite verse I have been sharing."I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you" Ezekiel 36:26 This video is a song I find very encouraging too. Love these words!!!

And remember...It's never too late to be who you want to be.

Comments

"I think we can all learn a thing or two from KB," my sister Jana.

Tuesday night I went upstairs to get Katie Beth for dinner. I found her seated in the family room with her father deep in conversation. When KB turned around I could tell she had been crying. As Brad looked at me he said, "I think you should ask your mom about this too." And so she did. "Mom, why did Adam and Eve have to sin? What made them want to do things their way instead of God's way. Why didn't God stop them? And now look around at our world, so many people are hurting from sin." Tears ran down her face. I won't go into my response because I want to focus on her wisdom. At eight she knows that individual sin impacts generations. She knows sin is the choice of not yielding our will to God's desire. In short she understands the root of sin is self. AKA selfish, self-reliant, self serving... Sin, the decision to allow "my will" into the driver's seat instead of "God's will", separates me from God. Sometimes my driving ...

Observations of the Circus

I took Katie Beth and two of her friends to the circus this summer. I jotted down the following observations while I was there. 1. People attending actually dress as clowns. WHOLE families showed up in clown attire. Which leads me to the obvious question: Why? It is 5 million degrees and the way your clown make up is running down your face scares me. 2. Watching the acrobats perform I was reminded of a fantastic book I read this summer. Think Differently, Live Differently by Bob Hamp. You should read it. 3. What leads one to the following declaration, " Mom when I grow up I want to train zebras." ? 4. When we were led in the National anthem I made the scientific discovery that by and large Texans can sing pretty darn good. 5. Not sure what this is about but I was very jealous of the sheen of the horses' hair. Seriously how do they get that beautiful shine? I think my hair is having a mid-life crisis. 6. Souvenirs: Boys want a sword. Girls want a stuffed animal. Hmmm, boy...

Lowest Common Denominator

The phone rings and I answer. Tell me more about your child. What is going on at school? How long does homework take nightly? What is their attitude like? Panic, anger, and fear tumble awkwardly out. Can you help my child? My response is simple, "Sounds like we need to get an accurate picture of what is going on. We need an assessment to show us how your child learns and where they are academically." With that one call their journey to hope has begun. The parent and child arrive for the assessment. I sit and talk with the parents while the assessment is taken. It is so common to hear, "My child has developed a horrible attitude" or "My child lies to me all the time about school" or "my child's teacher says he daydreams all the time." From my experience I know these are common coping mechanisms. I remember in fourth grade I was a daydreaming fool. I was overwhelmed by a new school and math was torture. I would leave to a happy place in Lubbock...

Clever Characters

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