2021 NOTE: When I wrote this, I had no idea (obviously) what would be happening a few years later. I can barely remember the specific issues, candidates, and conversations that spurred this post. It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial
Read moreYou don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu In a few minutes, I’m going to head home from Parent-Teacher conferences to have chili made by my daughter Megan, who is home from Columbus for a couple days. We’ll sit at the table eating and chatting, and if Bethany has her
Read moreOn a Palm Sunday in the early 1970s, I was confirmed as a member of The United Methodist Church. I was excited to officially join my church, and I looked forward to being active in the large, dynamic youth group which became the cornerstone of my social life throughout my junior high and high school years. At the time, the
Read moreNote: I wrote this in 2012; I’m surprised by how much of it I still agree with. Two days ago was Veteran’s Day. Yesterday Billy Owens’ birthday. In my mind, those are connected. Billy was a student in my epic AP class close to a decade ago. He wasn’t the usual AP student, but he wanted a shot and worked
Read moreNote: I wrote this in 2013, and I was only an English teacher at Lima Senior for a couple of years after I wrote this. I teared up while re-reading it, and I stand by my belief that MI did incredible things and being part of it was the highlight of my career as a teacher. I’m only going to
Read moreIf you don’t dust, it will be waiting for you later. You’re not listening if you’re mentally disagreeing while the other person talks. Sitting under a tree looking at a body of water is better for your soul than a sermon. Washing dark clothes with whites does not cause the apocalypse. As the members of each generation die, the next
Read moreThe longest hours of my life were the couple times I went to prayer meeting with Grandma. I was young, not more than eight or nine, and I have gauzy memories of sitting quietly in a small-town living room littered with lace doilies, surrounded by serious women wearing hats, dresses and semi-sensible shoes. Not their fancy Sunday hats, of course–this
Read moreThe final grades are in, and the lockers cleaned out. For our seniors, “school’s out, for summer…school’s out, forever,” to quote the great sage of education, Alice Cooper. All that remains are the goodbyes. For most people, that’s easy: a few tears, a long hug, reassuring that they’ll remain close…on Facebook…forever. Then, with a brave smile and a wave–“good luck,”
Read moreNote: I wrote this in 2012. It’s still all true, maybe even more true–except for the number of tech-related devices I carry at a time. My phone now replaces most of those! I like technology. In my purse right now, I have a Livescribe pen, a digital camera, a couple USB cords and a recorder that I can talk into
Read moreWe were talking about the Apostle Paul traveling around doing his apostle thing when this conversation took place (recreated as well as I can): Man: Well, I see the rules that Paul set forth and wonder why we’re not following them better. Teacher gets a gleam in her eye and turns to me. Teacher: Jeannine, do you have any ideas
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The Wave Returns 