One is Silver, the other is Gold

As any good American girl does (at least back in the day when I was young), I joined Girl Scouts. we would run around in our brown outfits (I was only a Brownie...why named after a food?) selling cookies, singing the Beach Boys "Kokomo" and doing crafts while trying to earn our badges. But the one thing that has stuck with me is a song that says "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold."

That is oh so true. This weekend, I went to Pella for a wedding. During my time there, I actually got to see several friends that I missed dearly. Like Justin. Justin is this really great little brother who I've had the privilege of watching grow and mature into a wonderful young man with passion for seeking the heart of the Lord. He continues to be one of the few people from college who call to check in on me....to just share life with me. It was fun to actually spend time with him in person instead of on the phone. Justin is just one of a three musketeers type trio of guys. Ironically, the other two share the same name...Nick. But I call one Nico and the other Nick. I was blessed with the prescence of both of them this weekend as well.

I spent some time in laughter over a Jeopardy game with Joel and Pam, Sherami, and Anna "Queen Helga." (She would shoot me for using that name, but that wouldn't be the first time she has beaten me up. ....hehe)

Old friends really are like gold in that they are great treasures.....they are comfort...they are laughter....they are hugs (no one hugs here like they do at Central)....they are a stable force....they are a blessing!

Just another week in my life

What a whirlwind of week this has been. I'm still looking for a job. The CityLights students are leaving next week so I'm trying to spend my last minutes with them. I'm leading an Urban Immersion to Chicago for a high school youth group next week so I'm preparing for that. Oh and I'm moving the day I return so I've packed my entire apartment in four days (while doing all the other stuff.

Moving....friends...Chicago...packing...so what else is new?

King-sized bed and Lifetime Television

My dear friends Jake and Colette got married this weekend. I did a brave thing. I went to the wedding alone, all the while knowing that I probably wouldn't know many people there. As I drove the 3.5 hours to the small town in Iowa, I contemplated what I would do if I ended up in a corner alone all night. Just why is it that a person has to feel this way about attending a wedding alone?

Once I arrived at my hotel, I didn't have to contemplate long...I had a king-sized bed and Lifetime Television. My new dilemma quickly became "should I go to the wedding?" knowing that this special treat was at my finger tips! Of course, I did attended the wedding (I have been waiting for this wedding for about 4 years now) and was acquainted with a hand-full of people there (mostly Central College people who graduated 3-4 years ahead of me.) I was lucky enough to sit next to the Brownlees - Tony was the neat guy in college who dubbed me "Patty" (for salmon patty in case some of you don't get it). After the ceremony, I gave Jakey and Letta a big hug and headed up the aisle out into the foyer...and what to my wondering eyes appears?? MATT OLIVER! If you know Matt Oliver, then you know why I say it just like that. I spent the rest of the evening laughing and catching up with not only him, but another long lost choir friend, Steph Messer. We all went to Romania together (as well as Colette).

I highly recommend attending a wedding alone just once. See what buried treasure you can dig up! (But make sure your hotel room has a king-sized bed and Lifetime Television just in case!)

Andrew

I had the privilege of serving with Andrew Stern this week. Andrew is the volunteer coordinator at our church by profession, but in reality he is a fighter of injustice. A Habbakuk, who sees injustice, sees the good, and seeks to make things right. He is a defender of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the immigrant and refugee - literally.

The opportunity to hang out with Andrew came two days before our youth group was going to move on site at our church and go through the week-long high school program....serving and working in the inner city. Andrew runs this summer program, which sees several church youth groups from all over the US throughout the summer. This particular week, Andrew was moving in with the youth from our church to serve as their leader (in addition to his usual role.) I moved in to be a leader on the women's side. (Side note: I know you are thinking "When did she start doing things with the youth group?" I didn't and haven't. They just really needed a female leader...Andrew asked me.)

Andrew spends time with all sorts of people. I use the phrase spends time with instead of works with because he has such great relationships with people. He doesn't go somewhere to fix someone or to fix a situation. He goes to meet the people...to know them...to find out their name, their story, their heart...and then to best help meet their needs. He spends much of his day building relationships, fixing houses, taking widows on errands, setting up volunteers. He is a huge tie between our church and the community. Anyone who knows him will tell you that he is a humble servant of His maker and of others. And at the end of a long day, where does he go? Home - to his wife and 5 young children. My response to that is simply an Andrewism "More mercy!"

I pray that the Lord would continue to open my eyes to the injustice that Andrew sees. I pray that he would mold my heart to be one of humility, bringing me before others to know them, not to judge...not to make a quick "fix." But to love.

Been a long time

I realize that I haven't blogged in a while...okay, since April is actually a long while. Due to the many complaints I received during my trip to Iowa (I didn't actually think that many people read my blog :) ) I am now doing an update and hopefully will continue to write on here.

Job Status: I'm still under contract with The Freedom School for another month, but will be unemployed after that...the job market is not very good right now....but don't you worry, I've definatly been applying.

Camp Ewalu: I worked there last summer as the day camp coordinator. This year the director, Adrian or A-train as I call him, asked me to lead the Chicago Urban Immersion. Basically this means that I'm taking a youth group from Minnesota to Chicago to serve and to look at city issues. Oh, and we will play some too...I'm so excited!!

My trip to Iowa: was GREAT! I spent four days with the Rohde family. We camped out in their backyard. Mr. Rohde grilled for us almost the entire weekend (including breakfast!) I literally just sat around most of the time I was there...it was beautifully relaxing! I also made a couple of new friends - Joe Peter, Matt Ploeger, and Joel and Jake's friend Will Norton. I also got to see Jaron play baseball. Oh, and I had some ice cream at the oldest(still running) soda fountian in the world. After 4 days in Wilton with the Rohde's, I traveled up to Ewalu for two days to iron out some Chicago trip details and hang out with A-train, and then headed over to Pella. Pella was still Pella. However, I was able to catch up with several friends. Kurt made it back from Africa, but he's going back (no surprise :) ). Anna is still the tough, but funny softball coach...only she gets paid for it now. Joe...now, when I visited Joe he was moving in about 6 days. He was going to be gone for 4 of those days, and he had yet to even begin packing. HAHA! We didn't get to feed my ping-pong craving though due to the Upward Bounders being on campus..that was sad. Funny story: one evening I was locked out of the house where I was staying. I tried to call them and I knocked on the door, but I could get anyone to hear me. So I pulled my sleeping bag out of the car.....and slept on the porch. The sad part is that it was really funny, and I really wanted to be able to tell someone that I was sleeping on the porch.

CITYLIGHTS: I have been hanging out with the CityLights students quite a bit. (CityLights is the InterVarsity St. Louis Urban Project. I was on the 2001 summer team). The team is really great.

Okay, I really don't have much more to say. I promise to blog more often...oh, and if you can think of a good title for my blog, PLEASE let me know!

oh what a day...

one child with a complete full day melt down
one child with peed pants
one child with a bead stuck clear up his nose
one child who "needed" to be on my lap or right next to me all day
shoes untied
toys everywhere
loud voices
and a near disaster of a craft project

can I play ping-pong yet?

Christin

Christin was here. that was absolutely wonderful. It was strange how normal it felt to have her here...exploring the city with me....it was as if we had been side by side the whole past year. God has given me such a blessing in her. She has been a sense of stability, a prayer partner, and a rock of a friend. How many people can say that they have been able to form a great friendship mainly over the phone? It was fun to have her see where I live and who my friends are...and explore the city I call home. now when I talk about people, she can put faces to names, and she can picture my home. Anyway, it was sad to put her on the plane tonight, but that's how it goes....life must continue....

Things we did while she was here: The Arch, Crown Candy, Forest Park, the Basillica, Science Center, Botanical Gardens (free before noon on Saturday), soulard, budweiser tour, city museum, church, ted drewes, blueberry hill, zoo, kayaks.....phew...we actually did all of that....

I've been bad!?

Sponge Bob, Snake kid strikes again! Earlier this week, I had my hair all pulled back. Torey said to me, "Ms. Salmond, you know I like it when you wear your hair down." Three days later, I did wear my hair down. This time Torey said, "Ms. Salmond, I told you that I like it when you wear your hair down." :) haha

Apparently, I threaten to call parents too often. During rest time one afternoon, I used my cell phone to call and make arrangements for a field trip. I accidently left my cell phone on the table where little hands could reach it...soon into play time, I look over and see Marie with the phone to her ear, saying, "Hello? Ms. Salmond's mom? I need you to come get her. She's being very bad." She giggled as she handed the phone back to me :) When I relayed that message to my mom, she thought it was very funny, and wanted to know what I was doing to the children...

T minus five days my best friend from California will be here. We haven't seen each other since last March (2004) when I flew out there....I can't wait!!!

I bought a geranium today...I'm actually going to try not to kill it....I'm not good at plants, but I want to be....doesn't wanting count for something??

For you praying folk, please pray for all the uncertainities that exist in my life right now....I actually am very peaceful about where I'm at, but prayer is also an added bonus!

God and ping-pong

My pastor said something a couple of weeks ago that has really been sticking with me so I thought I would share it with the four of you who actually read my blog (hehe) (Neil, were you at church for this one?)

Stop hanging on by a thread, and let God hold on to you.

Think about it.

In other news, spring is in full force. We had our first good spring rain today, although it lacked in thunder and lightening...always a disappointment. I am definitely getting spring fever...It makes me think of ping-pong at Central with Joe...by the way, Joe, do you remember? It was about this time last year that I started achieving occassional victory over you. Those were the days.

The Stinkin' Snake

Remember the cute Sponge Bob kid from the other day? Here's another one that happened this week with him.

Every Wednesday, we have all school chapel. This year's theme is Luke 10:27, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself." This past week, the principal wanted us to practice one way of loving your neighbor...getting to know them. So each class sat in a circle and asked questions that the principal had put on the overhead. When each class was finished, the principal chose one child from each class to report one new thing that they learned about someone. John, my child that can remember ANYTHING including big words that most children can't pronounce, raises his hand and says, "Torey has a pet snake." (Torey is the sponge bob kid from below). The following is the conversation that then took place between Torey and the principal in front of the entire school.
Torey: I have pet fish too.
Principal: You don't feed the fish to the snake, do you?
Torey: No, I feed the fish. My daddy feeds the snake.
Principal: What do you feed it?
Torey: Mice. I don't feed that stinkin' snake.

At this point the principal and I are dying with laughter!

Bravery and Sponge Bob

I was brave today. I decided that it would be a fun, springy activity to plant a garbage garden with my students. (A garden made out of kitchen scraps such as fruit seeds, vegetable parts, etc.) I seriously thought that the mom that comes in to help sometimes would be here today, but that was the wrong thought. I led THIRTEEN 4 and 5 year olds in planting plants! Needless to say, there was dirt EVERYWHERE!! But it was still fun! Please pray that something grows. I don't exactly have a green thumb!

Every morning before school, parents can drop their kids off at 8am. We provide supervision until 8:30 when school begins. Teachers are supposed to be at "carpool" around 8:15. Yesterday, I went to join the crew and was distracted by one of my super cute, super sweet, super funny students. (This is one child, not three). He was telling me about how his legs hurt because his dad made him walk to school (they live close and it was a beautiful day out). I suggested that he sit on the curb to rest them. Enjoying the morning air, I popped down next to him. Of course several other students needed to come see Ms. Salmond after our long break. So here I am with one girl yelling in my ear about her Easter hat that she happened to have on her head at the time, another girl trying to get me to look at her new outfit, and two children trying to climb a tree. Out of nowhere, this super cute kid starts clapping very slowly and deliberatly. Then he said, "Yeeeeesssssssss, well done, Sponge Boob." Talk about random and really funny! He later informed me that this is the phrase that Plankton says to Sponge Bob on the movie. I asked him to say it at least five more times during the day. Today during center time, he said, "Ms. Saalmoonndd. Are you thinkin' about it?" Isn't that great!?

A whole bunch of randomness

Well, I think the whole world knows now....I'm not returning to The Freedom School next fall. Or to teaching at all for that matter. So Amanda, what are you going to do? I have no idea. Isn't that fun?! If you have any ideas, let me know. Actually on second thought, please only let me know of a job if you have one to offer me. At this point, I don't know if need input from all different angles. I don't want to get confused!

Despite the fact that I am leaving, I still love my students very much. This is the last night of a much needed Spring Break, but I'm excited to get back to the kids tomorrow. To see their big eyes light up when I tell them what's in store for the next couple of weeks. To see them hug each other (or wrestle...they do both). To hear them make those Thomas noises that they do so well. I wish that I could make them on this blog for you...you would die laughing!

I know this stuff is really random....I made another new friend. His name is Lukas. He's from Germany and is an intern at my church. He's a lot of fun to talk to mostly because we can learn so much from each other...plus he's renewing my knowledge of the German language which I have progressivly been loosing over the past 5 years. Not to mention that because of him, I have an opportunity to get to know another family better. (He lives with one of the church families.)

By the way, watch Band of Brothers, the HBO mini-series about the Easy Company, 101st Airbourne Division in WWII. Ah-mazing! Some of my friends and I spent every night this past week working our way through them....Ah-mazing! I'll say it one more time...watch them!