Depth and Understanding

This a pic of me checking out sunset while I was in Portland, OR. I just thought I would share it...cause its beautiful.

So...School has been going on for about 2 weeks now and we are all getting into our routines here in Athens, GA. New students adjusting to the way of life, and returning students picking up where they left off. Its been a hectic few weeks, with organizing the classes I am taking, and then organizing the classes that I am teaching. I think that I am finally settling into a routine once again. As most of my friend know, I spend a lot of time thinking and processing. Sometimes it gets me in trouble, but mostly it can be isolating. I say this because I am such a talker. I love to share stories, adventures, thoughts and ideas. I love to have intense conversation that stimulates the mind and drives the soul, but its not often that i find a person who is willing to invest in that kind of time or energy!!

In recent years, I have really tried to become a better listener(sometimes I still fail at listening). Listening is a skill that I am sure, not everyone has. Its not about hearing what people say, but its about ingesting who they are while they are saying it. Sounds weird...this I know, but think about it. How often to we ask people the question " Hey, how are you? " and not listen to the answer. Its a off the cuff greeting with nothing substantial response. How often do we pass up opportunities to tell people how they have impacted out lives? Why do we shy away from this honesty and purpose?
I think this what frightens people when i meet them. I listen and I remember conversations, encounters and ideas. I re account them and bring them back to conversation and ask questions, to show care and concern. I think this can be over whelming and I believe this kind of listening and response is a lost art.

Food for thought...for the Day!!! Think about how you conduct your conversations, How do they effect those around you? What is it that you do to not only enrich your own life, but those you come in contact with? I am not saying we all need to be as heady as i am, God knows...that could be tortuous, but I think we need to be more purposeful and the conversations and relationships we have...I think it would improve the quality of life not only for the individual...but also everyone around us.

I would love to here some thoughts about this....let me know!!

Back to school, Back to School

Well its that time of year once again, where purchasing books, writing syllabuses, creating course outlines, and causes us to get into schedule that is both exhausting and at times overwhelming. But its also a time of new faces, opportunities, and growth. This academic year plans to be and eventful one for me. I finish with all my core curriculum in December and student teach in the spring for 16 weeks. While I am both excited and nervous about the up coming academic year...I will be glad when I graduate...and have found a job. Back to the real world and hopefully some new adventures. I hope that as I update many of you on my life, that you will leave messages and updates on your day to day adventures. Good luck to all those new teachers, and those of you with kids....and keep me posted on life!!!

Fit or Family....thats the question!!

This past week was one of the best vacations I have had in a long time!! There was no fuss, no frustrations, just the beautiful state of Oregon!!! I loved hanging out with friends, taking in many sites and lots of great conversations and off course the good beer!! Here are some high lights..... dinner with Brianne and David, the beac/road trip with B-greiner, taking part in the babin (I think that's how its spelled) with Ken and Julie's, Rudy, zoo with Alyssa and Dominic,and of course Christa's wedding. The only low I can think of is...leaving...and knowing that I loved living there and I that I love being there!

The ability to find peace and space in the world is important! Sometimes i feel like mine is stuck in the great divide. I love Portland and the people, the church community, the mountains and the ocean, I also love my family dearly. Let me say this...Georgia has its benefits.. its sunny almost all the time, my sister is here and my parents are talking about moving here too, there is plenty of nature to explore and traverse, the ocean is with in 4 hours drive, the people are nice and church is an experience not just a place to go on Sunday! But there is something in Oregon, and in the west( i lived in Colorado too!) that speaks to me, that revives my soul, and enlightens my heart. So the question remains...do I have to choose between fit and family or can i have both...and how do I do this?? Only in time will this come to fruition. I may need to make my vacations happen in Seattle, Oregon, and Colorado for a while...and see how things develop. But god only knows how this will all end...I just have to be patient.

Happiness is found from within.....and i believe from what God has put around!