I have one more semester of student teaching at Somerset this fall. Fifteen periods of Middle School Physical Education, eight hours of credential classes at CSU Stanislaus, coaching gymnastics, and whatever else needs to get done each week. After graduation in December I will be moving to Ukiah where Laura took a teaching job for this fall.
This is the first time that I'll really be moving. I moved from my parents house to an apartment to here (less than five miles away). But that doesn't really count. Things moved gradually. I got most things the first time around but three years later mom is still finding things that belong to me... and amusingly I'm still returning things that belong to her. I still get groceries from the same store, go to the same church, hang out with the same people. It's different to move away. The realization of starting a life in a new place hasn't really begun to affect me yet, however, the realization that I have to decide what to take, what to leave, what to throw away, and what to give away definitely has.
I've been packing and organizing and packing and organizing. I've realized how many collections I have. I just boxed up over 400 pounds of National Geographic Magazine. I have a coin collection, pez dispensers, trading card games (magic, pokemon, star wars, etc.), stamp collection, book collection, and I'm sure there is more. I have always had this desire to simplify and get rid of things and yet I still have mounds of material possessions. I'm trying to get rid of some of it. I'm selling my windsurfing board, struggling with what to do with my record player, getting rid of duplicate National Geographics, reducing my coin collection (it's compact but extremely heavy), considering passing my stamp collection on to someone else, and trying to decide which two trading card games I want to keep.
In addition to all of my collections, I have several boxes filled with sentimental stuff that I just can't seem to part with. I get rid of one or two things each time I do a thorough cleaning but the supply doesn't seem to get any smaller. The last two weeks I did the garage sale thing with Laralyn and sold a few things including my gymnastics warm-ups and a leotard which I was never going to wear again, my one lone my little pony, and a beading loom. In one sense it hurts to let them go but it's nice to know that they are being enjoyed instead of packed in boxes.
A friend of mine recommended getting a storage unit and putting everything in there when we move. He reasoned that if you take things out as you need them, then after a year you would know what you really need and what you should get rid of. The problem is I know that I don't need it. Most of the stuff I haven't touched since high school except to take out, look at, tell myself I should get rid of it, and place it nicely back in the box. But I still feel like I'll need a train to take all of these boxes if I can't start to let go.
June 20, 2012
May 18, 2012
Summer
I was getting ready to write another post about the beginning of summer. Then I read my post from last summer (three posts ago) and it basically said everything I was going to say.
Additionally, I want to play some sports this summer. If I'm going to be a P.E. teacher I feel like I need to be a bit more well rounded. So, I want to try to practice some basketball, soccer, football, frisbee, golf, and whatever else I can get a few people to play with me.
- Just a few more days of school left and I have grand plans for the summer.
- Started the garden.
- Cleaned out the rose beds and put the mulch in today.
- Working on rearranging the bedroom a bit.
Additionally, I want to play some sports this summer. If I'm going to be a P.E. teacher I feel like I need to be a bit more well rounded. So, I want to try to practice some basketball, soccer, football, frisbee, golf, and whatever else I can get a few people to play with me.
January 30, 2012
In Loving Memory
Psalm 100
Sing to the Lord all creatures!
Worship Him with your joy; Praise Him with the sound of your laughter.
Know that we all belong to Him, that He is our source and our home.
Enter His light with thanksgiving; fill your hearts with His praise.
For His goodness is beyond comprehension, and His deep love endures forever.
Yesterday and today mark the passing of Doris and Marian Storer into the arms of their beloved Savior, one and seven years ago respectively. They both loved Psalm 100.
I wrote this two years after Marian died.
Your voice will forever remain protected in my mind
Your beautiful smile, and the simple warming 'yes' that was spoken so often
Kind, deep, loving gaze
Forever you, the strong woman of God
In life's frailty still loyal to your sisters and to your Savior
Fall free away
Bring heaven to your feet
walk every day
Through pure and golden streets
But I'll still miss you forever and today
Sometimes I think that I grieve differently and longer than other people. But really, how do we mark the years as they go by? Close family is supposed to grieve and struggle and find ways to move on with their life. but there is little different about my life in the absence of a childhood model of kindness. I don't have routines to be altered, places in my home to trigger happy and sad memories. There is very little different except this deep sadness that doesn't seem to ease as the years go on.
I think my parents tried to protect me from death. Whenever someone close was dying they were deemed too sick to visit. I was told that I should remember them how they were when they were healthy, not sick and dwindling, that I didn't really need to visit them and that I would understand when I was older. But I think I did need to see them. My dad was right though, When I think of Doris I think of her lying in bed, like a small child, barely making an impression where the blankets were draped over her. I think of all of her kind words and smiling face. I think of the time that I visited and she came outside to greet me even though she needed help down the steps and didn't recognize me at all. I see the true end of her physical life, drawing breathes so shallow they could barely be heard, and that is what I want to remember. I know that she died in beautiful ignorance in the house that she was born, raised, and lived in. That is worthy of remembering.
Sing to the Lord all creatures!
Worship Him with your joy; Praise Him with the sound of your laughter.
Know that we all belong to Him, that He is our source and our home.
Enter His light with thanksgiving; fill your hearts with His praise.
For His goodness is beyond comprehension, and His deep love endures forever.
Yesterday and today mark the passing of Doris and Marian Storer into the arms of their beloved Savior, one and seven years ago respectively. They both loved Psalm 100.
I wrote this two years after Marian died.
Your voice will forever remain protected in my mind
Your beautiful smile, and the simple warming 'yes' that was spoken so often
Kind, deep, loving gaze
Forever you, the strong woman of God
In life's frailty still loyal to your sisters and to your Savior
Fall free away
Bring heaven to your feet
walk every day
Through pure and golden streets
But I'll still miss you forever and today
Sometimes I think that I grieve differently and longer than other people. But really, how do we mark the years as they go by? Close family is supposed to grieve and struggle and find ways to move on with their life. but there is little different about my life in the absence of a childhood model of kindness. I don't have routines to be altered, places in my home to trigger happy and sad memories. There is very little different except this deep sadness that doesn't seem to ease as the years go on.
I think my parents tried to protect me from death. Whenever someone close was dying they were deemed too sick to visit. I was told that I should remember them how they were when they were healthy, not sick and dwindling, that I didn't really need to visit them and that I would understand when I was older. But I think I did need to see them. My dad was right though, When I think of Doris I think of her lying in bed, like a small child, barely making an impression where the blankets were draped over her. I think of all of her kind words and smiling face. I think of the time that I visited and she came outside to greet me even though she needed help down the steps and didn't recognize me at all. I see the true end of her physical life, drawing breathes so shallow they could barely be heard, and that is what I want to remember. I know that she died in beautiful ignorance in the house that she was born, raised, and lived in. That is worthy of remembering.
August 11, 2011
More Environmental Musings
If you read my blog (why else would you be here) you know that I often set out to do grand things in the form of making my life more sustainable. While some changes end up being more successful than others I like to think that on the whole at least I make changes. This link to The Story of Stuff has always intrigued me. It's a little bit long but if you haven't watched it you might find it thought provoking even if a little overdone.
I want to be separate from my things. I don't think I could go so far as living in a tumbleweed house but I do try to get rid of things. Of course, I've found that freecycle is a much better way of getting rid of things than throwing them away.
I guess this post ended up being shorter than I thought it would be... oh well.
I also realized today that sort of like Cory I generally have two types of posts... except instead of cat videos and theology I post Pearls comics and environmentalism.
I want to be separate from my things. I don't think I could go so far as living in a tumbleweed house but I do try to get rid of things. Of course, I've found that freecycle is a much better way of getting rid of things than throwing them away.
I guess this post ended up being shorter than I thought it would be... oh well.
I also realized today that sort of like Cory I generally have two types of posts... except instead of cat videos and theology I post Pearls comics and environmentalism.
May 31, 2011
Summer Restoration
On Friday I walked across a large cement block with a piece of paper in my hand letting me know that I participated in a commencement ceremony. Grades have only been posted for two of my classes though I assume I passed them all and will receive a real diploma in the mail at some point in the future. I have never really cared about walking across that or any stage that represented a milestone in my educational career. However, I am now able to say that I am finished. While I am most likely going to enter into the credential program next spring I really don't have to. If I wanted, I could avoid that classroom for the rest of my life. But for now all that really matters is that I don't have to worry about getting into the classes that I need or setting aside money for books.
So, this summer I plan on a long time overdue restoration. At the beginning of each summer I make a blog post about what I plan to do (like this one from last year) and rarely actually get much accomplished. Last year I did more than usual. This year I plan on doing a lot more than usual. I have already started a garden in the Heim's backyard with the help of the Girl's Group from Trinity. The past week I have been cleaning out the rose beds and finally was able to put the new mulch in today. I rearranged my bedroom and added a desk and computer so that I can avoid the laptop-television syndrome that runs rampant in our house. I also have grand plans for the garage. I have way to much free time on my hands and need to find a consistent place outside of the house that I can apply myself, but for now, I am getting more accomplished in a few days than I felt like I have been able to over the last several months.
I find it interesting that without looking or thinking I titled this post the same as I did last year. I think that my soul desperately yearns for simplicity and a connection to the earth. Purging and manual labor seem to be my inevitable calling.
So, this summer I plan on a long time overdue restoration. At the beginning of each summer I make a blog post about what I plan to do (like this one from last year) and rarely actually get much accomplished. Last year I did more than usual. This year I plan on doing a lot more than usual. I have already started a garden in the Heim's backyard with the help of the Girl's Group from Trinity. The past week I have been cleaning out the rose beds and finally was able to put the new mulch in today. I rearranged my bedroom and added a desk and computer so that I can avoid the laptop-television syndrome that runs rampant in our house. I also have grand plans for the garage. I have way to much free time on my hands and need to find a consistent place outside of the house that I can apply myself, but for now, I am getting more accomplished in a few days than I felt like I have been able to over the last several months.
I find it interesting that without looking or thinking I titled this post the same as I did last year. I think that my soul desperately yearns for simplicity and a connection to the earth. Purging and manual labor seem to be my inevitable calling.
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