Mash-ups seem to be popular. I love the Piano Guys who do mash-ups of classical and not classical music. My favorite of theirs is a Star Wars song paired with a classical song. I also love "Fight Song" paired with "Amazing Grace." It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it because I think it reveals a deep truth that God's grace is my fight song.
Last summer I took my boys to a Harry Potter birthday party at a library in a neighboring town. It was fun. Our local library didn't have one so I asked the children's director about it. Oh, there are fantastic plans in the works for this summer. Very cool.
I noticed at the Harry Potter party that moms had cool Harry Potter shirts. I decided my wardrobe is lacking and I need one, too. I searched Amazon and found a plethora of options. One caught my eye that said "Lorelei Gilmore is my patronus." Being a huge fan of the Gilmore Girls, I giggled but it didn't quite fit me. I searched a little further and found the perfect one: Jane Austen is my patronus.
For Christmas, my sweet husband gave this to me. I love it. The problem is my Jane Austen people don't know Harry Potter and my Harry Potter people don't quite understand my love of all things Austen. I myself am a unique mash-up.
Why do I love Austen? I just do. I read Pride and Prejudice as a senior in high school. I was in AP English and it was on a list of optional books that were recommended reading. I loved it. I took a winter term class about Jane Austen my freshman year in college where we studied all her books and even had a Jane Austen expert teach us how to dance in the style of the time. Wonderful. Not wonderful enough to change my major to English, but I still really enjoyed it.
After college I met my husband. We went on a few dates but I knew I wasn't ready to settle down yet. I was headed to Madrid to complete my Master's in Spanish and he would remain in Texas. When I told him I thought we needed to stop dating since he was clearly ready for marriage and I just wasn't yet, he told me he had read Pride and Prejudice for me since I had mentioned it was my favorite book. I kept dating him. I love that even though Jane Austen is not a favorite of his (way too wordy for his taste) he read the whole book for me. (Quick side note--I read The Hobbit for him around the same time. Not my cup of tea). We can thank Jane Austen for our happy 14 1/2 years as man and wife.
Harry Potter is just awesome. It's a great story. I didn't love it at first but I really got into the complexity of Snape's character. Is he good or bad? My favorite character of the series is Neville. (I hope I spelled that right. Sorry if I didn't). I talk Harry Potter a lot at the library with the customer service representative while I'm checking out books. I asked who his favorite character is and he said Hermoinine. (Sorry again about spelling. It's Saturday and I just don't feel like looking these crazy British names up). Yes, H is lovely and oh so smart, and my husband assures me I'm his H. So sweet. However, Neville is loyal, kind, brave and the underdog. I will always root for the underdog.
This quality drives my oldest son crazy. I will cheer for whoever I feel like in sporting events regardless of my loyalty to the team. Greatness is greatness and should be applauded.
My fantastic sister-in-law saw my new shirt over Christmas break and encouraged me to wear it proudly whenever I feel like and not worry if others get it or not. And I am. And I love it. The whole patronus thing in the books was never completely clear to me, but to me, Jane Austen makes me happy. She lets the ick of the world loose its power for a moment and I smile.
And when I wear it to the library's Harry Potter birthday party this summer I will happily explain its meaning to whoever asks.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Friday, January 19, 2018
Not perfect
I don't know where I got this idea, but I feel like everything I have to do has to be completely perfect all of the time. Where did I learn that? More importantly, how can I unlearn it?
I started a new job this week. I've come to expect the "ick" that comes with all things in this life, especially new things. Don't get me wrong--I'm still an optimist. However, this is a fallen world. We tell our boys "Life ain't fair and the world is mean." Expecting this world to be perfect is setting yourself up for disappointment. I do that and then get grumpy about it. I'm trying to learn to just go with the flow a bit more, accept that all's not perfect and just be happy with my best. Easier said than done.
Well, I'm teaching college kids. This is a new adventure and one I feel mostly qualified for. No, I feel completely qualified to actually teach this class. I actually really enjoy the teaching. For me, the "ick" is the technology. There's a lot of it and it drains me.
The good news is that the students are kind and helpful. I told them I'm really, really good at Spanish and teaching. Technology is not my strong suit. They get it and are quick to help out when I ask. And by golly, I'm learning to be more comfortable with the technology.
So I'm giving myself grace to not be perfect at everything. Feels good.
I started a new job this week. I've come to expect the "ick" that comes with all things in this life, especially new things. Don't get me wrong--I'm still an optimist. However, this is a fallen world. We tell our boys "Life ain't fair and the world is mean." Expecting this world to be perfect is setting yourself up for disappointment. I do that and then get grumpy about it. I'm trying to learn to just go with the flow a bit more, accept that all's not perfect and just be happy with my best. Easier said than done.
Well, I'm teaching college kids. This is a new adventure and one I feel mostly qualified for. No, I feel completely qualified to actually teach this class. I actually really enjoy the teaching. For me, the "ick" is the technology. There's a lot of it and it drains me.
The good news is that the students are kind and helpful. I told them I'm really, really good at Spanish and teaching. Technology is not my strong suit. They get it and are quick to help out when I ask. And by golly, I'm learning to be more comfortable with the technology.
So I'm giving myself grace to not be perfect at everything. Feels good.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
New Adventure
I recently realized I'm not doing enough to release emotions that build up in me. The pace of life I lead is not the pace I think God intended for us: juggling home, family, church and two new jobs is just hard. Having "tween" boys doesn't help; they emit lots of emotions and I find that I can stay calm, but it takes a toll on me emotionally.
It's been a while since I've posted on here. A friend said her daughter is beginning a blog and I was reminded how much I enjoy writing. I decided to begin posting again. It's a great way for me to release the emotions and stress that are making me grouchy.
Since I last posted I worked in a new field and have since decided to leave it. I don't love that since leaving full-time teaching 10 years ago when my boys were born I haven't landed on my "dream job" back in the work force. In the past few years I've worked part-time as a Spanish tutor at the local community college, taught elementary Spanish at a homeschool co-op and conducted speech therapy sessions with kids as a therapy assistant.
A few years ago my husband challenged me to decide what I wanted to do outside the home when my youngest began kindergarten. After reading, praying and soul-searching I knew the specific job wasn't so clear but that it needed to be something that would help make the world better and it should include my ability to use Spanish. All of the jobs I've done since that time have fit and I've come to learn that while juggling all my other hats, my job outside the home might not be absolutely perfect.
I think the expectation that a job is perfect is unrealistic. At the end of the day, Christ should fill my needs, not a certain profession. All that said, I've taken a new job that begins Tuesday. I am going to be a Spanish instructor at a local community college. It's the same class I tutored a few years ago but at a different location. Instead of tutoring, I'll be the instructor. When tutoring I noticed some trends: poor study habits, lack of confidence in learning the subject matter and just a general defeatist attitude. I'm hoping that I can lead this class to not fall into those traps.
I've never taught students older than 6th grade before now, but I have a Master's in Spanish and I know how to teach. I'm confident I'll figure it out as I go along and if I need help there's a fantastic support system in place.
I'm also substitute teaching. Wow, that's a special job. It's tiring and I'm doing it to supplement my income as teaching one section at a community college doesn't pay all that well. It's a great way to work truly part-time when I choose to but it's lonely and it reminds me of how much I used to love being a part of the community of other teachers at an elementary school. But those teachers work really hard and put in many, many hours. I'm just not ready to do all that again when my kids are still at this age.
So, my new adventure of teaching college kids awaits. I've printed off the syllabus for the class and prepared for the first class meeting. Wish me luck!
It's been a while since I've posted on here. A friend said her daughter is beginning a blog and I was reminded how much I enjoy writing. I decided to begin posting again. It's a great way for me to release the emotions and stress that are making me grouchy.
Since I last posted I worked in a new field and have since decided to leave it. I don't love that since leaving full-time teaching 10 years ago when my boys were born I haven't landed on my "dream job" back in the work force. In the past few years I've worked part-time as a Spanish tutor at the local community college, taught elementary Spanish at a homeschool co-op and conducted speech therapy sessions with kids as a therapy assistant.
A few years ago my husband challenged me to decide what I wanted to do outside the home when my youngest began kindergarten. After reading, praying and soul-searching I knew the specific job wasn't so clear but that it needed to be something that would help make the world better and it should include my ability to use Spanish. All of the jobs I've done since that time have fit and I've come to learn that while juggling all my other hats, my job outside the home might not be absolutely perfect.
I think the expectation that a job is perfect is unrealistic. At the end of the day, Christ should fill my needs, not a certain profession. All that said, I've taken a new job that begins Tuesday. I am going to be a Spanish instructor at a local community college. It's the same class I tutored a few years ago but at a different location. Instead of tutoring, I'll be the instructor. When tutoring I noticed some trends: poor study habits, lack of confidence in learning the subject matter and just a general defeatist attitude. I'm hoping that I can lead this class to not fall into those traps.
I've never taught students older than 6th grade before now, but I have a Master's in Spanish and I know how to teach. I'm confident I'll figure it out as I go along and if I need help there's a fantastic support system in place.
I'm also substitute teaching. Wow, that's a special job. It's tiring and I'm doing it to supplement my income as teaching one section at a community college doesn't pay all that well. It's a great way to work truly part-time when I choose to but it's lonely and it reminds me of how much I used to love being a part of the community of other teachers at an elementary school. But those teachers work really hard and put in many, many hours. I'm just not ready to do all that again when my kids are still at this age.
So, my new adventure of teaching college kids awaits. I've printed off the syllabus for the class and prepared for the first class meeting. Wish me luck!
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