Summer Reflections

As I sit down after a whirlwind first few days of school, I take a moment to ponder tomorrow’s writing assignment for my third grade class- “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”.  After reading Mark Teague’s highly imaginative and slightly over-the-top adventure of the same name, we will take some time during our first Writers’ Workshop session to give some thought and reflection to the summer we are leaving behind.  During our first writing sessions, I often like to journal with my kiddos, simply modeling the desire to transfer thoughts and feelings to pencil and paper, and so I find myself already thinking ahead to those reflections and memories I’m sure to write about.  What better to do with those thoughts than transcribe them into my blog?  I know this is an outlet to share lessons learned through teaching and experiences in education, but the truth is, I can only be a good teacher if I also learn from my life experiences outside the classroom as well.

Reflections on the summer of 2011 (or How I Spent My Summer Vacation)

Have you ever had a really intense season of growth, or shifting, or change?  When it sort of feels like gravity has shifted just a little bit…when you discover that not all your priorities line up the same way they used to?  Well, as I look back over the past few months, I consider that perhaps I’ve shifted a bit in my priorities and goals.  My time was consumed quickly in the short months between summer school and a new school year, but I spent that time living out experiences that I wouldn’t trade for the world. 

In June, I auditioned for a community theater production, one of those things I’ve always said I’d get around to someday, when I had time.  I’m so glad I decided it didn’t matter if I had really had the time or not…my small role was such a fun learning experience, and I look forward to spreading my wings in future productions!  Maybe I’ll even get to sing in the next show! ;-)  I loved being a part of the team…one of many who worked together as a cast to produce a class act.  I’m lucky to live in a place where community theater is something to take a great deal of pride in, and know that I will always hold that first show dear to my heart.

Throughout June and July, I also had the amazing opportunity to watch a group of young singers grow musically, relationally, and spiritually as we traveled together around Northwest Missouri and across the northeast United States, delivering a message God has privileged the group to share for the last 41 years.  Last spring I was overjoyed and amazed to be offered the role of adult sponsor for the New Generation Singers, and this summer was one big gigantic ball of blessings as I got to “live the dream” and give back to a group that gave me so much in my formative years.  And what’s really incredible to me is that this group continues to give back to me…friendships, and opportunities to lead, and a wonderful spiritual family.  How lucky am I?  No, scratch that- how blessed am I!

I would be remiss if I reflected on my summer without mentioning one other little unexpected blessing…a little ball of fur named Periwinkle.  A dear student from last year, who knew how much I loved the kitty I lost to cancer last January, had been telling me about this little kitten since she was born last spring.  Periwinkle came to join my little “family” in June, and there hasn’t been a dull moment since!  Curtains have come down, a goldfish has been traumatized, and she’s nearly drowned or strangled herself more than once…in fact, I’m not sure how many of her nine lives she has used up already!  And yet she’s brought a great deal of exuberance and joy (and maybe a bit of Pangur’s spirit) back to my home, and for that I am thankful.

So, to summer I say "farewell" as I look forward to the adventures next summer will bring, and in the meantime I will begin a new school year refreshed, rejuvenated, and recharged to do the job God has called me to do for another year.  And I will gratefully hold in my heart the friendships, adventures, and experiences of this gravity-shifting, life-altering blessing of a summer.