Balance and Passion

My older daughter Mallory graduates in December with a BA in Mathematics...she just finished her "Abstract Algebra" course (Modern Algebra) with a 100 average. Yep, 100 average, when most in the class failed or scraped by, and while I didn't fail or scrape by back in the day, I did need a LOT of tutoring and hand-holding to get my brain to think about those things the first time around! I'm really not that smart. She's so much smarter than I was in math. The student has definitely outgrown the teacher.

And yet...when we were talking this week about what *exactly* gave her the edge in math in high school, when I screwed around with her textbooks year after year, and she never used the same curriculum two years in a row, and I don't think we ever finished any book, and she only used Cliff's Notes and about 3 chapters of Jacobs Geometry for Geometry (!), she said, "It was the consistency." ROFL!!!

I honestly believe that mathematics is more real to her because she just did it every day, along with reading and writing, in pretty much the same fashion she did reading and writing. I know I couldn't "dig in" to tough literature every day, and I certainly couldn't write a research paper every week. So, when her reading got heavy, her math got lighter. When the math topic needed "digging" the reading slacked off to lighter works. And when she was in the year of the novel at age 13, when she wrote ridiculously long passages just for the joy of writing...well, I don't think we did much math that year at all.

She's very balanced as a result. You know, as beautifully talented in art as math. Reads voraciously. Writes wonderfully.

But whatever she did...and whatever she does, she does with a passion for it. I have never seen her half-heartedly attempt anything. She lives with her whole heart. She gives with her whole heart. She loves with her whole heart.

Passionately balanced. I think it's a pretty great way to live.

Garden Gifts

Summer Gardening

Oh, how delightful it is to walk in the garden in the early morning! No wonder Genesis is full of God's pleasure in creation, and God's delight in walking in the garden.


I have spider friends guarding my veggies now, and have noticed a dramatic reduction in the pest population. If only I could issue banana spider invitations with the first planting...


Rattlesnake Pole bean guard...



Yellow Pear Tomato guard...

I am so proud of my tomatoes...I grew these plants from seeds!

Enjoy your summer!

Harry Potter in our World

We all attended the midnight premiere of the newest Harry Potter movie--Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We've done this every movie, since the very beginning...all four of us, in wizard robes, going out to dinner or to Wal-Mart to parade our little family of extroverts and then off to the movie.

Last night, Maggie's Trelawney costume was good enough for 2nd place in the local radio show competition, beaten out only by Mad Eye Moody. I find it hard to believe he "became" the character the way she did. Mallory's Ginny is a perennial favorite, and who could I be besides McGonagal?

A lovely time was had by all.

My birthday is fast approaching

I have arrived (nearly) at the end of the year where my age was the answer to the ultimate question in life. It was definitely an amazing year! I watched a child turn 16, a young woman (I don't think I can call her a child anymore) turn 20, my husband retire after serving his country for 22 years (and 8 days), and saw a 23rd wedding anniversary come and go. I began a new job with a great group of coworkers who humble me with their witnesses every day. I got to know a group of young people who are bright, curious, and funny, and began developing a relationship with them that I hope lasts for eternity.

So, to new adventures in the coming year...a graduation, a wedding, a new start for my firstborn. New staff in our school. New college courses for my younger daughter. And probably a flying RV-10 in the family! Here's to forty-three...

Summertime

Today was my first real day of summer. We took last week to "vacate" and it was lovely. We are leaving again Friday for another short camping trip, and then we will visit family, and family will visit us. Suddenly it is BASIC Blowout season, and then I'm back at work at least parttime in order to get started on the busyness of class planning.

But today, I meandered about with ideas, with good books, with quotes, and with some light housecleaning. And the never-ending organization that I enjoy--nothing like relocating a few piles to make you feel productive.

Oh, and I started two new blogs: Math Marathon and Creation Exploration. I'll use these for my math and science middle school classes next year to continue our "further up and further in" studies.

Summertime. The living is definitely easy.

Lenten Prayer for Spiritual Renewal

GOD, heavenly Father,
look upon me and hear my prayer
during this holy season of Lent.
By the good works You inspire,
help me to discipline my body
and to be renewed in spirit.

Without You I can do nothing
By Your Spirit help me to know what is right
and to be eager in doing Your will.
Teach me to find new life through penance.
Keep me from sin, and help me live
by Your commandment of love.
GOD of love, bring me back to You.
Send Your Spirit to make me strong
in faith and active in good works.
May my acts of penance bring me Your forgiveness,
open my heart to Your love,
and prepare me for the coming feast
of the Resurrection of Jesus.

LORD, during this Lenten season,
nourish me with Your word of life
and make me one
with You in love and prayer.

Fill my heart with Your love
and keep me faithful to the Gospel of Christ.
Give me the grace to rise above my human weakness.

Father, our source of life,
I reach out with joy to grasp Your hand;
let me walk more readily in Your ways.
Guide me in Your gentle mercy,
for left to myself I cannot do Your will.

Father of love, Source of all blessings,
help me to pass from my old life of sin
to the new life of grace.
Prepare me for the glory of Your kingdom.
I ask this through our LORD Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one GOD, forever.

Amen.