I’ve talked before about how much I love the mornings when the three oldest grand kids run up the stairs to my room to jump in bed with me. We have such fun talking and laughing before the “dirt” of the day comes. You know, the dirty dishes, dirty clothes, toys in the middle of the room.

First thing in the morning I NEVER remember all the dirt that seems to appear. Just like when the sun shines in the winter, you forget the much that will be here when it melts.

This picture was taken early in the morning over new snow. The sun is brightest when we allow God to reset our thinking every morning. Even if the sun doesn’t shine it certainly comes up and with our ability to allow yesterday to fall away.

When you are with grand kids in the next few days, reset your thoughts each morning so that the sun shines through God into your life.

I love the early snow around my faith garden. The snow makes new shapes that are already in the garden. New shapes are formed and sometimes it’s a real mystery what is under the snow. Ice always comes in November, makes for more interesting visuals in the snow. Each layer brings a new shape to November. And God is the artist.

The shape of home school starts to change a little in November, too. With the holidays, home school can take basic subjects and build on them with the holiday decorating, art appreciation, historical facts and family times.

Let’s talk about the turkey. Home school can study the natural science of turkey growth while smelling a turkey roasting. Turkey soup can be a cooking lesson. That is served before Thanksgiving. Make your own turkey broth by boiling just the turkey leg. The bone structure of a turkey leg is a good lesson when you are taking the meat off the turkey leg for soup. Add lessons of hospitality by serving soup to a neighbor. Social justice studies around turkey production would be interesting to study. Layer and layer of new study add to home school curriculum.

Change the shape of learning in November and see where God leads you.

Re-imagining the church is a constant state of being. People are the basis of the formal church or what we call religious communities. And people are the most creative beauties around. People are a constant stream of evaluation, adaptation and change.

These clouds over the Faith Garden, help remind me that I am created in the image of God. I am a created being and thus am Being created moment by moment. These clouds came after a storm and rainbow. But no rain every hit the Faith Garden. I can imagine that it is dusk or dawn and yet, it’s in the middle of the day. If you look at this picture and breathe deeply, you can imagine a million possibilities.

When we work in faith communities we need to celebrate the gifts of the people as create by God. It is not about what we do but what God does through us. There are not enough gift assessments in the world to describe all the gifts of God and the people of God.

YOU are a gift from God to the world. Celebrate all your gifts from God, today.

Seldom do we get to see the last leaf on a tree. We are so intent in raking all the ones that fell or seeing multiple buds in the spring or watching an entire tree. To see the last leaf is a holy experience.

The last leaf signals change. A change so subtle, that we often miss seeing it. The last leaf indicates that the tree has finished its growth. Colder temperatures and less sun move the tree into a dormant place where it rests. Growth is good, but so is rest.

What are the things in your family that you need to stay attentive to in order to know when rest is needed? We are more likely to see the big issues like illness and temper tantrums (both child and adult) that indicate rest is needed. But what about little things like the last leaf?

Try spending a few holy moments each day evaluating whole self. What are the aches and pains? Have you bitten your nails down? Are you unable to finish a book? Do you keep spilling things? These little indicators that point you toward changes, both good and bad. It might be time for rest.

One of my all time favorite resources is called Teaching Tolerance. Teaching Tolerance is published four times a year by the Southern Poverty Law Center. (www.teachingtolerance.org) This magazine never misses a way to teach children, families, schools and churches about bullying, diversity or acceptance.
This is not a church publication. It would be considered secular. However, the topics are timely to what is happening in churches. The materials and curriculum can be used in many ways in youth groups and upper elementary. Materials are free when requested.
Try it out and see how the stories, DVD’s, curriculum and recommended books might help with your home school, faith community or as a grand parent.

After a long, lonesome and scary time… the people listened, and began to hear… And to see God in one another…and in the beauty of all the Earth.

Children’s books help me to understand life better. Actually children help remind me to look at life and stop to think. But in this story I learned from a turtle-a very Old Turtle.

Douglas Wood published the book Old Turtle in 1992. It’s been 18 years and if it had been 1800 years it would still be a relevant book.

Think about the words. Not just long time, but long and lonesome and scary time. These words explain our times now just as well as 1992. Today it is scary. I think sometimes these long, lonesome, scary times teach us to see God in one another. Yet, when we live from a place of fear, we might also be afraid to see God.

Take the time to be attentive to life. If your world is covered in snow like mine, imagine the dormant seeds waiting for spring, the melting snow refilling the aquifer or the cold that gives the trees rest from growing. Listen and hear… listen and hear.