My girls go to a very academically challenging school. They are really big into tests. My youngest, Hilary, is in her second year at this school. She works so very hard to be successful. She is diligent to study for tests.
Recently Hilary has been complaining that she has a hard time seeing the board at school. Seeing as how everyone else in the family wears glasses, we figured it was about time to get her an eye exam.
The eye doctor was surprised that she was having a hard time seeing the board. He said she could get glasses, but didn't really need them. We went ahead and got them. I was still surprised, though, when she came home complaining that she still was having trouble reading the board.
I took her back to have her eyes re-checked. I took 2 of my daughters on the same day, and they took them to 2 different rooms. Somehow, I didn't end up going in with Hilary. Afterwards, she brought me her new presription for glasses. Apparently, when it was time for her to take the "eye test," she automatically wanted to do well. Her solution was to squint until she could make out the letters. Unfortunately, it did not accurately give a picture of her struggle in seeing the board at school.
Thankfully, the second "eye exam" she did not try so hard to be successful and see perfectly. She admitted her inadquacies in being able to make out what letters she could see. Imagine her amazement when she received her glasses with the new prescription. She could hardly get over how "sharp" things looked. Don't you wish all kids tried so hard on tests and exams???
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
FALL
As I see and hear the sights and sounds of Autumn, I remembered something I wrote a while back. After yesterday's snow and my posting, this will sound contradictory.
I have never been fond of Fall. I supposed it was from growing up in Phoenix where there aren't any seasons. But I don't think so. We have seasons in our lives, and for me change is hard sometimes. I like to be comfortable. I love the warm, carefree summers. I love the new life of Spring. I love wearing turtlenecks and sweaters in the winter snow, but I am not fond of the change that Fall brings.
As I see the leaves turning beautiful, brilliant colors
Everything looks so alive
But what is really happening is
They are dying.
The nights too cold to sustain them.
Shortened days and not enough sunlight
To maintain their green color.
So although beautiful,
Death is at their doorstep.
The bright red, gold, yellow, and orange
Are not symbols of life,
But of change.
Soon they will be nothing
Dry, dead cracklings beneath our feet.
Crushed and gone, totally lifeless.
The time has come to prune, to go deeper
To strenthen the roots to stand strong through the storms of winter.
(Coming from Arizona, this was all so new to me.)
The season of Winter is coming
Summer is over.
Where is the harvest? I must have missed it.
Where is the harvest? I can't see the harvest when I'm not in the fields.
Have I missed the harvest season
With nothing stored up for winter?
Fall is gathering time before EVERYTHING is dead.
I haven't much time left. Fall is upon me, and I didn't even see the signs.
Why plant and water if I won't prune and harvest?
Utter foolishness. And there is no harvest if you did not plant in the spring.
I have never been fond of Fall. I supposed it was from growing up in Phoenix where there aren't any seasons. But I don't think so. We have seasons in our lives, and for me change is hard sometimes. I like to be comfortable. I love the warm, carefree summers. I love the new life of Spring. I love wearing turtlenecks and sweaters in the winter snow, but I am not fond of the change that Fall brings.
As I see the leaves turning beautiful, brilliant colors
Everything looks so alive
But what is really happening is
They are dying.
The nights too cold to sustain them.
Shortened days and not enough sunlight
To maintain their green color.
So although beautiful,
Death is at their doorstep.
The bright red, gold, yellow, and orange
Are not symbols of life,
But of change.
Soon they will be nothing
Dry, dead cracklings beneath our feet.
Crushed and gone, totally lifeless.
The time has come to prune, to go deeper
To strenthen the roots to stand strong through the storms of winter.
(Coming from Arizona, this was all so new to me.)
The season of Winter is coming
Summer is over.
Where is the harvest? I must have missed it.
Where is the harvest? I can't see the harvest when I'm not in the fields.
Have I missed the harvest season
With nothing stored up for winter?
Fall is gathering time before EVERYTHING is dead.
I haven't much time left. Fall is upon me, and I didn't even see the signs.
Why plant and water if I won't prune and harvest?
Utter foolishness. And there is no harvest if you did not plant in the spring.
Monday, October 10, 2005
On Saturday, Michael and I went for an 8 mile bike ride. It was nice, but a little hot on the ride back. It's a good thing we turned back when we did, as it was uphill home and 82 degrees.
This morning we woke up to snow. That is what I love about Colorado. I love change. Variety is the spice of life, right? So Saturday we were enjoying the Indian Summer biking in the beautiful outdoors. The leaves were in an array of golden, red, yellow and other autumn colors.
Today I have a pot of soup on the stove, fresh bread baking in the oven, and the fireplace aflame. Outside the temperature is a brisk 34 degrees, with snow steadily falling. What could be better than this?
This morning we woke up to snow. That is what I love about Colorado. I love change. Variety is the spice of life, right? So Saturday we were enjoying the Indian Summer biking in the beautiful outdoors. The leaves were in an array of golden, red, yellow and other autumn colors.
Today I have a pot of soup on the stove, fresh bread baking in the oven, and the fireplace aflame. Outside the temperature is a brisk 34 degrees, with snow steadily falling. What could be better than this?
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Humbled
I had 2 packages to mail. It was a quarter to 5 and I knew I had better get going. One was to my son at college, the other to my neice who is in the hospital. I wanted these out today. So off I went.
While driving through the neighborhood, I saw a firetruck returning to the station. Shortly afterwards, I noticed flashing lights behind me. Gosh, I better get to the side of the road so this officer can get by me. I quickly pulled over next to the fire station.
Imagine my surprise, as I glanced in my rearview mirror, and saw the officer had pulled up right behind me. Was I getting pulled over??? Oh my goodness! I have been driving for 27+ years and have never gotten a ticket. It's amazing how your mind races in just a few short moments. I have been telling my teenage kids about how I've never gotten a ticket, bragging I suppose. Hmmm...pride goes before a fall. The next thought was, gosh, maybe if I am nice and smile he will be merciful to me. I look in the mirror again, he isn't out of his vehicle yet.
Maybe he just happened to be in a hurry to get to the fire station. Maybe I'm not really being pulled over. How long should I wait before driving off? Oh wait, the door is opening. It's a female officer...I'm sunk! (What kind of attitude is that????)
I pull out my driver's license and unroll my window. The officer asks me if I know why I'm being pulled over. "Uhhh...no, I really don't."
"Well, you didn't make a complete stop at that stop sign back there."
Gosh, how many times have I told my kids how important it is to make complete stops at the stop signs. We have 3 of them in a row to get out of our neighborhood. I don't know how often I see cars blow right through them, hardly slowing down. I am always careful to completely stop.
"I am usually more careful, and honestly, I was in a hurry to get to the post office."
"Can I see your registration?"
I opened the glove box and grabbed the first piece of paper and handed it over.
"This is your proof of insurance, try the other one."
Fumbling again, I pull the other sheet out.
"I'll try to make this quick for you," and she began walking back to her vehicle with my license and registration.
I hang my head in shame as cars are passing. These are my neighbors. How many of them know me and are going to ask me about it later? How embarrassing to be one street away from your home and be facing the humiliation of breaking the law.
The officer hands me my paperwork and her business card. "I'll just give you a warning, but make sure you make a complete stop next time."
I drove away humbled and thankful.
While driving through the neighborhood, I saw a firetruck returning to the station. Shortly afterwards, I noticed flashing lights behind me. Gosh, I better get to the side of the road so this officer can get by me. I quickly pulled over next to the fire station.
Imagine my surprise, as I glanced in my rearview mirror, and saw the officer had pulled up right behind me. Was I getting pulled over??? Oh my goodness! I have been driving for 27+ years and have never gotten a ticket. It's amazing how your mind races in just a few short moments. I have been telling my teenage kids about how I've never gotten a ticket, bragging I suppose. Hmmm...pride goes before a fall. The next thought was, gosh, maybe if I am nice and smile he will be merciful to me. I look in the mirror again, he isn't out of his vehicle yet.
Maybe he just happened to be in a hurry to get to the fire station. Maybe I'm not really being pulled over. How long should I wait before driving off? Oh wait, the door is opening. It's a female officer...I'm sunk! (What kind of attitude is that????)
I pull out my driver's license and unroll my window. The officer asks me if I know why I'm being pulled over. "Uhhh...no, I really don't."
"Well, you didn't make a complete stop at that stop sign back there."
Gosh, how many times have I told my kids how important it is to make complete stops at the stop signs. We have 3 of them in a row to get out of our neighborhood. I don't know how often I see cars blow right through them, hardly slowing down. I am always careful to completely stop.
"I am usually more careful, and honestly, I was in a hurry to get to the post office."
"Can I see your registration?"
I opened the glove box and grabbed the first piece of paper and handed it over.
"This is your proof of insurance, try the other one."
Fumbling again, I pull the other sheet out.
"I'll try to make this quick for you," and she began walking back to her vehicle with my license and registration.
I hang my head in shame as cars are passing. These are my neighbors. How many of them know me and are going to ask me about it later? How embarrassing to be one street away from your home and be facing the humiliation of breaking the law.
The officer hands me my paperwork and her business card. "I'll just give you a warning, but make sure you make a complete stop next time."
I drove away humbled and thankful.
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