Friday, January 20, 2012

the ticking crocodile.

Warning: This blog post is the result of what happens when you abandon your blog for a month. The "I-should-blog-that"'s pile up. So here it is...grab a cup of tea, and enjoy.


Lately I have been thinking about Captain Hook and the ticking crocodile.
(Ever thought about how profound the story of Peter Pan is?)

I realize what my mom often says is entirely true: the older you get, the less you realize it. You still feel the same inside. And so, with that in mind, I want to share a few ways in which I know time is ticking onward, whether I embrace it or not.

"Kathleen, look at my big musk-els! Don't I have such big musk-els?"  

One of the most obvious indicators of time is this chica...

Then:
And now:
I bought this dress for Charlee one of my last summers in Costa Rica.
She put it on a few days ago, and I had to laugh. It was a reminder that
a.) I have not been to Costa Rica in a long time, and
b.) she's grown so much.

Not only in stature, but she has also grown in her ability to explain her thoughts, to reason and problem-solve, to dream, to understand humour and develop her own great sense of timing. I am privileged to have seen the development, to have witnessed the transformation. And now, as she grows to understand her relationship with her Creator, to hear the sincerity in her prayers...the use of words that aren't just formulas...she prays the things she knows she needs. Carleigh recently wrote about this on her own blog...

I keep looking at the kids and thinking about what type of students they'll be when they come to Bible college.
It's a pretty fun game to play.

"Am I really getting paid to have this much fun?"

Speaking of fun and Bible college students, I am already over half way through my first year as Associate Dean. Just before school started up again last week, I had my commuter hosts (student leaders) over for a dessert and games night. While we savored chocolate fondue, I explained to them how this games night would be unlike any other they had ever experienced. It would be epic. (And, inside I prayed to Jesus that they would actually enjoy what I had planned). 

Before Christmas, I had the blessing to join Carleigh's family for early Christmas. Her parents are incredible hosts, and put together a games night for all the siblings which I got to participate in. It was a competition, with five levels of various activities with red cups, points awarded with each round, and a first prize "cup" for the winners to take home. And so, from this experience, I was able to fashion games night for the students. It was a great night. They played a version of beer pong (minus the beer, don't worry!!), a "minute to win it" team-effort-build-a-tower-tear-it-down challenge, and the finale...marshmallow gun shooting range (to knock the cups over for various points). 

As you can see, the competition was fierce:
And some had an amazing marshmallow gun technique:
The night reminded me how much I love my job, and also the fact that I had one more semester with this group of fine leaders...so I better cherish the time.

"It was a different generation, one with class, and matching china..."

 Back in November, my parents came to Abbotsford to help me celebrate my 30th birthday (another shocking declaration that time is passing) and I took them for an afternoon venture to Fort Langley, where we wandered around the Antiques Emporium for a while. We ended up reminiscing about china patterns and how they've become a thing of the past...and if you've ever thought about selling your grandma's china, you might as well hold off, cause the Antiques Emporium has most of it already...

But as we poked through, I found something of great significance:
These two china sets represent my heritage. 

On the left, Grandma Doll's "silver maple" and on the right, Grandma Davies' "petit point". Something about the two sets, on display side by side made me stop for a minute and think about time. I miss the presence that these two women had on my young life when they passed on to the next, and in many ways I wonder what life would look like if they were still around today to invite me over for tea on "silver maple" and "petit point".

"For some, maybe it feels as though time has stopped and forgotten them..."

This last week, we've had our share of snow (If you're from Saskatchewan and you're reading this...please just remember, this is totally abnormal for us. And we're not built for this weather. You are, and I congratulate you for it, honestly. Our city only budgets for like, 2 days of plowing. I'm 30 and I finally own the necessary clothes to walk outside in the cold and not freeze. So, now you have your context.)

Not only did it snow. The temperature also dropped more than 20 degrees. With wind chill it was minus 24. MINUS 24. (that's celsius, my American friends...which means it was minus 11 farenheit...now you have your context.)
 Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful....
 ...but considering our un-preparedness here for snow, and the fact that I had been rear-ended the week before, I was pretty nervous out on the roads. 

Tuesday night when I got home from work, I knew I needed to go out later that night, in the minus 24, and get groceries for work. I asked Carleigh if she would come with me, just for the sense of security that would provide me. She agreed, and we decided to bring Charlee with us for the ride. 

We were leaving Costco when I turned a corner and saw a man standing at a stop sign, panhandling. 

"You have GOT to be kidding me!" I shouted. 
I stopped the car.
I opened my wallet.
I pulled out the cash I had - $10 - and told Carleigh,
"I don't care how he uses this money, I just want him to get warm...no one should be out here right now"
I opened the door (my window was frozen shut) and handed the shivering man his money, and he mumbled "thanks ma'am" as he ran towards Tim Hortons. 
Literally. 
Ran. 

We drove on towards home.
Charlee piped up from the back seat, "What just happened, guys?"
Carleigh explained to Charlee the scenario, and the little one went silent.

Carleigh asked her what she was thinking.

"He's like....he's like a wild horse", she replied.

Carleigh and I looked at each other.

"What do you mean by that, Charlee?" I asked. 

"Well, he's like a wild horse. He has to search for his food. And he's out alone, looking for shelter. He's like a wild horse that doesn't have a home."

And it made sense.

That night I thought about the fact that for some people, time must seem like it has stopped and forgotten them. Kept them stuck where they are at. The scenario they find themselves in is likely not something they ever imagined. And for those, I dream and hope and pray for new seasons. New times, where the ticking crocodile is a hopeful presence.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

The quiet...is deceiving.

So, lately this blog has been abandoned.
One would think it is rather quiet...
And yet my life has been very full (hence the non-blogging).
At this moment, I am procrastinating from a whole heck of a lot of homework, and thus, this blog post will be short.

The last three weeks?
* Christmas
* Manning snow day
* New Years "take 2" extravaganza
* New class
* Return of the student leaders
* Return of the students
* Rear-ended
* Insurance agencies
* Doctor appointments
* Muscle relaxants
* Homework
* Semi-flu
* More doctor appointments
* New bumper
* More homework

The next three weeks?
* Therapeutic massage
* Conquering time management
* Blogging 

This should tide you over: 

Charlee: Hey Kathleen, how do you spell Elliot?
Me: E...L...L...I...O...T
Charlee: Ok, thanks...
(to herself): Ok, now, "I"
(and then back to me): Hey Kathleen, how do you spell "want"
Me: Um, ok, "W...A...N...T" 
Charlee: Ok, how do you spell "to"? 
Me: T...O...But, Charlee what are you trying to say to Elliot? 
Charlee: Oh, well, I want to say, "Dear Elliot, I want to show my heart to your heart, in joy and peace".
Me: Um, does your Mom know about these plans to show Elliot your heart? 

It begins, folks...