lookin' up to you....

Lacy (4th gr/9 years old) 2007


Lacy now




Last week the DinoMights had their annual academic Powercamp.

We had 18 new students attend the camp. Often when we recruit kids, if their siblings are in elementary school we invite them to join as well. One of the new kids had an older 4th grade sister who decided to join DinoMights. The other 4th grade girls were not being very inclusive during game time. They all attend the same school, and this girl does not.

I have hope for these 4th grade girls.....

I began tutoring/mentoring Lacy when she was in 4th grade. She is now going into 7th grade. This past week at camp she asked this new 4th grade DinoMight to play a game with her. I observed this interaction and welled up with emotion. Throughout the week she continually included this girl. Lacy has 3 younger siblings looking up to her, but also many other eyes watching and admiring her actions. She is such a beautiful girl and I am continually grateful to have her in my ife.

neurobics

Little did I know that doing routine tasks with your non-dominant hand helps with brain development. Yes, it seems like common sense that it would help stiumulate the brain in different ways. Apparently this is called neurobics., which is essentially doing things you normally do but done differently. Like brushing your teeth with the other hand, taking a shower with your eyes closed, writing with the opposite hand, taking a different route to work, etc.
Writing a paragraph a day with your non-dominant hand supposedly will make you ambidextrous over time.

What happens in your brain while you’re doing this becomes a brain exercise because different, underused nerve pathways and connections get activated. This stimulates the growth of new brain cells and brain connections.

I have been attending physical therapy twice a week. Yesterday I showed up with a list of questions.. While it is difficult each day to come to terms with parts of my independence being taken away, I am learning a great deal.I may not be able to drive until mid to late August. Since the break was so bad, I will have some type of splint/brace until October. I will be able to student teach and I will be able to write with my right hand starting mid-August. Each day it gets a little better.



The most difficult parts about this experience are:
-learning to ask for help/having to rely on other people
-figuring out how to do activities that seem so natural with your dominant hand
-certain tasks taking 3X as long as usual
-not being able to quickly get somewhere biking or driving

Things I am thankful for:
-phenomenal friends
-amazing family
-understanding professors & co-workers
-that this has strangely taught me A TON

4th o' July

On Saturday our house had a bbq & a small fireworks display.
It was a lovely evening. At first the kids who live below us, and our friend Angel's kids were all sitting together on a blanket watching the fiery display. Then, some little neighborhood kids began to watch through the fence. We invited them in to join the group. 9 kids who had never met each other were dancing around the backyard with their sparklers. Native American, African-American, and Latino kids enjoying the moment. Children are our greatest teachers and examples of beauty.

summer lovin...

Now that got your attention with that title, or I got you singing the hit from "Grease."

I recently broke my arm rollerblading. I was listening to one of my favorite Lauryn Hill songs on a beautiful summer afternoon and three miles into my workout I was on the ground. I keep replaying the accident in my head and cannot piece it all together. I can say that I am grateful to God for the Andersons. They were driving along, also enjoying the beautiful day and witnessed the accident. This beautiful couple, whom I had never met brought me to the ER. The doctor on call at the U of M was a hand surgeon which is pretty fortunate! I ended up getting a compound fracture, and needing surgery/hospitalization.

Prior to this accident life was going "as normal." I had recently gotten back from a vacation to Seattle. I went with my good friend Laura to spend time with a mutual friend, Brea. At work we had just finished our summer "hockey in the hood camp" with 18 new DinoMights!




This situation has been entirely humbling. I would say I can be pretty stubborn and independent. I have had to rely on others for some of the most basic things we take for granted. I am becoming quite skilled with the left hand. I will keep you posted on my journey to ambidexterity.

Prior to this accident I had been really stewing in my brain, and having conversations with people about entitlement. This has made me think all the more about it. What are we entitled to here on earth? Especially if we consider ourselves followers of Jesus. He came to this earth demonstrating love, and desiring that we "love him with all our mind, heart, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourself." We make it complicated. We fail. We say it's hard... But what if each day that was what we actually did? What if we attempted to love well with our whole being.

In my group of friends from college 3 friends have had parents die at a young age. Four friends have had parents battle cancer. 1 friend lost her brother at the age of 21. I think of those instances and my heart grieves. I think of the many broken, unjust things of this world and have trouble making sense of it all. The beatitudes were written as a promise of God's kingdom to everyone, regardless of status, circumstances, or condition. God comes alongside people and somehow displays his mercy, justice, and comfort.

I am only in a cast for 6 weeks. I will learn to ride the city bus (kelsey, maybe you can give me a tutorial...) I did an entire math assignment with my left hand today. 6 weeks is just a teeny, tiny fragment of my entire life.

We belong to each other. Yet, in American/Western culture we often say "I deserve this, or I want this for my family or friends." I admit that I think these things. Meaningful, life giving experiences are something everyone desires and needs. Yet, their is too often an imbalance. Some kids get too much attention. Some kids are neglected and crying out for love. Some families go on summer vacations, some parents wonder where their next meal will come from.

What would happen if we recognized how much we need each other? What if we recognized people's gifts and skills and used them in beautiful ways?

My friends are not ultimately mine, neither is my community, nor my church, or my family. We are all on this earth passing through. We do belong to each other, but more importantly we belong to God. How are we going to love well on this earth each day? Even when its hard, even when things don't make sense, even when we feel like we failed the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd time? I can tell you personally that it will continue to be hard to do, but that is our first and greatest commandment we have been given... TO LOVE.

I am from

For the past two years while in grad school I have worked part-time @ DinoMights. I also occasionally subbed in the Minneapolis school district. Each day subbing was an adventure. I learned a lot about how I would like my classroom to be someday.

At one of my favorite schools the 5th graders were writing "I am from" poems as part of an ancestry unit. The assignment was really powerful for many of the students. The classroom was diverse socioeconomically and culturally. Some students in the class were adopted, some were recent immigrants to the U.S. Through this unit they really began to appreciate who they are and what has shaped them.

I decided to write my own "I am from" poem.

I am from books upon books lining the shelves in the living room
From golden retrievers and long walks around the neighborhood

I am from 1002 Westview Drive, the house where the road begins to curve
I am from waking up to public radio and my Dad grinding coffee
I am from the block where neighbors became like siblings

I’m from malt-o-meal and sports
And a green vegetable at every meal
From Ken, Carol, Dan, and Dave
I’m from favorite meals on birthdays and trips up north
And from canoeing until the sun sets

I’m from “never, never, give up”
And “May the Lord bless you and keep you, may his face shine upon you, and give you peace”
I’m from a first generation high school graduate
I’m from Ireland, Germany, Poland, England, France, and I am Cherokee.
From a Dad who read with me every summer
Instilling the value of always learning
And a Mom who taught me to swim and to love deeply

I am from family that insists on living with passion and intention.
I am from my ancestors who have gone before me.
I am from stories upon stories and so many idiosyncrasies.

Dino girls weekend.

Amy ( one of the girls coaches ) & I took a group of 8 DinoMights to the cabin this weekend for a retreat. We had 4 sets of sisters! It was such a wonderful weekend. we went to a waterfall, played lots of apples to apples, and came away with some fun stories.

day by day.

Rich Mullins once said " each day we must find opportunities to be reborn."

Each day the spectrum of joy and pain is present in our lives.

Something so incredibly beautiful happened this week to a family I know. They moved up here from Chicago in the fall with the intent of building a new life for themselves. They have been living in a homeless shelter for the past 7 months. One of my friends has been advocating for them for quite awhile, and has built an amazing relationship with them. Just yesterday, they got to move into a home! A mom, and her 5 children now have a place to call home with a yard to play in and a kitchen to make meals...