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...

Love > Fear

In the past week I have been asked the question "do you ever feel afraid?" more than usual. The question is usually asked by a friend or family member who means well, but doesn't completely understand where I live.

People often fear what they do not know. They make assumptions about what they think they know.. Our news channels are often slanted, and depict the city as a crime ridden place where no sane person would raise a family. That is absolutely bogus.

I cannot change people.. I did not come to the city to do so.. If that were my intent, I should have left on the first day.

I can acknowledge daily that where I live is a beautiful place... My liberation is bound up with those around me. We all have a story, we all belong to each other.

Yes, it isn't always clean. Yes, I do hear gunshots on occasion. Yes, my neighbor did get arrested for dealing drugs... I am not blind to these things.

Yet, the richness of life that surrounds me each day is something I see most often.. My neighborhood has an amazing marketplace where almost every culture is representing selling clothes, jewelry, food, and other goods. I live within walking distance of an amazing park where a community parade will take place this weekend. This park is a place where I can walk with the neighborhood kids, and they have the freedom to play in a wide open space. I live two blocks from one of the many Youth Farms that exist in the city. The youth farm provides jobs for kids, and shows kids where food comes from, how to grow it, and the impact they can have on the local food system. Many of the people who live on my street are friends, families that I've broken bread together with. Families that I've gone to birthday parties for, or have seen their first child enter the world. Our doorbell rings on a daily basis with kids wanting to hang out.. Many of these kids are now teenagers, and I've seen them grow up . I work 4 blocks from home, and am within biking distance of so many places. Their are several bus lines close to my house that can connect to anywhere in Minneapolis. I could write an endless list of reasons I love where I live...

At first when people were making comments like "aren't you afraid," or "why would you choose to live there," I felt like I needed to defend myself, defend my neighbors, and set people straight. Typically as this question was presented, I ended up having some amazing conversations... It was strange getting so many comments in the past week, when I have lived here for 5 years.

I am grateful to live in such an incredible place. It's not always comfortable. Our lives inevitably collide. Yet, it is a place where beauty can be found in the most remarkable ways.

St. Martin's table.

Last Wednesday I volunteered as a waitress at St. Martin's table in Minneapolis.
This was honestly one of the most life giving experiences I have had in months.
The overall presence of this oasis in the city reminded me so much of my time at the Schloss retreat center when I studied abroad in college. People from all life stations coming together over a shared meal.


St. Martin's Table serves vegetarian meals with and emphasis on locally grown and organic food.

All of the tips at St. Martin's go towards program organizations working towards alleviating hunger in the global community.

The restaurant/bookstore was named for five Martins who have been models of change, truth and resistance in the Christian faith:

-Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer who taught the theology of the cross
-Martin Luther King, Jr., for his leadership in nonviolent protest to end racism and injustice
-Martin of Tours, a fourth century Roman soldier turned pacifist
-Martin de Porres, a Spanish-Indian healer who served the poor of Peru in the 1600s
-Martin Niemoeller, a German pastor imprisoned for his nonviolent resistance to the Nazis during World War II

I am planning to volunteer at St. Martin's twice per month. I just happened to bike to this unassuming place last week with a friend for lunch. It is a place where justice is sought and individuals come together of all ages to share life.

The day that I volunteered I couldn't get the African-American spiritual out of my mind; Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us drink wine together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me

10

One of my favorite parts about being in this neighborhood is living life alongside kids while they grow up. I met some of the kids from our block while in college. Many of them were 8-10 years old, and are now in high school!




On Sunday Kathy turned 10. I remember meeting her when she was 8 and in the second grade. I began tutoring with DinoMights, and moved into an apartment 3 blocks from her house. I remember taking her to the park with two of her sisters and having them over to play UNO. Over time Kathy has become a consistent part of my life. She has an amazing support network that surrounds her. She is so bright, and full of irrepressible life. In the past few months some life circumstances have become more difficult for her. I have been in awe of her ability to grasp what is happening in a healthy way. She is the youngest of 5 and is the family organizer. All of her siblings have been in the DinoMights program. As the youngest she has had to learn a great deal of patience. Kathy has watched each of her siblings go to camp, or have different experiences and she continually has had to wait until she is "old enough." This summer she finally got to go to an overnight camp that all of her sisters and her one brother have been to. She loved it so much...




I have confidence that I will see her graduate from college in 10-11 years and become some type of event planner. Happy Birthday Kathy! I wish you well. I am beyond grateful you are in my life...

nature.

Let children walk with Nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams . John Muir

Their is something to be said for being in the splendor of creation. I am drawn to the city and the rich diversity that lies within it. Yet, the wilderness to me is a place of solitude, discovery, and rest. Whenever I have had the opportunity to bring kids from an urban setting camping or to the "woods" the experience has been both liberating and therapeutic. God has created this vast spread of beautiful landscape for each of us to discover.. Even kids who may not like being outdoors learn about themselves through seeing new animals, hearing different sounds, and looking up at a sky full of stars.

I love living in the city and being within walking distance of a pretty amazing park. It doesn't necessarily take a roadtrip for us to have opportunities to play in the outdoors.

This year I have been trying to appreciate Minnesota Winters more by making the most of them. I have XC skied more than any other year, gone skating, sledding, and have taken part in a few other shennanigans.

A few weeks ago Minneapolis did not have school so I took some DinoMights sledding.



I also went XC skiing with my brother Dan at a park in MPLS, with a view of the skyline.

In less than a month I am hitting the open road with a friend.. We are going camping and hiking out West. In and among creation is where my heart is set free. I am looking forward to this time of discovery and being in the wild.