travel essential: be flexibile

I was recently reminded of the importance of flexibility. I am referring to a type of attitude or trait needed for successful international travel experience - especially in the developing world.

In October/November of this year, I had the opportunity to return India - a country that has enchanted me.

Photo of a woman on the street in Yelamanchili

As soon as I exited the plane, my heart felt full to overflowing. My dad, who is often my travel companion, said it was like I was "glowing." It had been six years since I had returned, and I was super happy to be back. I love visiting India. I cherish time with my mentor and "Indian Daddy" who lives there.

My "Indian Daddy" and my adopted dad and frequent travel companion

I love our dear friends in southeast India, and I am honored to be mommy, sister, and friend to hundreds of children who live there. These have held a special place in my heart for a decade.

Some young ladies from Light of Love Children's Home - including Chandini, the girl we tried to adopt.

However, I was quickly reminded of one very important travel essential: flexibility.

Cyclone HudHud hit southern India just two weeks before our scheduled arrival. Though we were told it would not affect our travel plans, I am a seasoned enough traveler to suspect that we were embarking on a bit more of an adventure than originally intended. My suspicions were accurate.

Sign at Visakhapatnam (Visag) International Airport

Our international flights from into India were cancelled as a result of storm damage to the airport. We were unaware of a change in our travel plans until we tried to board the flight from Dubai to India. We weren't stranded, but it did take some effort and patience to figure out that our flight itinerary had been rerouted to an in-country destination first, in order to reach our final destination in Visag as domestic passengers.

When we arrived in Hyderbad, our transit location, there were airline staff waiting to guide us through customs, the ticketing process, security, and to the awaiting plane. The plane that took us from Hyderbad to Visag was full and had been waiting for nearly an hour - for us. I was happy that scheduled departures are flexible, rather than rigid, because it meant we did not miss our flight. I was also grateful for the helpful airline staff and the hospitality we were shown during transit.

Once we arrived at our destination, power was intermittent due to damaged power lines from the storm. We had generator power available, but could not run it 24/7. One of the planned activities during the trip was a dental clinic for the kids. We didn't cancel our plans because power was inconsistent,; rather, we did our work with hand tools by head lamp.

Dental Clinic: without power

Incidentally, we also completed the dental clinic a day early and decided to spend our "found time" by taking 100 young people to the beach.

Fun at the Bay of Bengal

So, when traveling internationally, I recommend one important travel essential:be flexible. It's better that way.

Just Sheri, enjoying the adventure

Citizenship

This week, my friend Vy, and a few hundred other people, participated in a naturalization ceremony to become U.S. Citizens. A ceremony like this happens every week all over the United States. I attended my first ceremony in Kansas City many years ago to celebrate with my friend Gamil, who is originally from Egypt. 

There are a number of things that are striking to me about these ceremonies:

First, there is not a person who participated who did not struggle or sacrifice for the distinction. A distinction I was given at birth. I didn't earn it. I didn't even ask for it. And, if I am honest, I usually take for granted the rights and privileges that come with the distinction. In fact, I may even engage in unfair criticism of a nation that so many still flock to as a beacon of freedom and prosperity. When I traveled to foreign destinations, on the regular I was reminded of this gift - especially as a woman. 

Second, there is an oath of allegiance that is part of the ceremony. The current oath follows: 

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

I could write a dissertation on the meaning of the various statements in this oath. What strikes me as note worthy is that I, as a U.S. born citizen, never had to take an oath of allegiance.

Finally, scripture says (Philippians 3:20) that as a follower of Jesus my citizenship is in heaven. Like these new U.S. Citizens, this will require a leaving behind of the old and embarking on an unknown future. It also involves an oath of allegiance, that I am subject to an authority and have a duty to support and defend this rule/kingdom. And, that I will do so willingly. But, in the challenges, God is with me.

just Sheri, grateful for my citizenship status

memories are the BEST gifts

The Hubs and I spent this Christmas in Oklahoma City with my brother, sister-in-law, and adopted dad. I figure the last time we had Christmas together was somewhere around the turn of the century.

 

One of my great joys in being a recovering expat is that I have been able to spend more time with these precious people. In recent years we have met up in South Carolina, Colorado, New Mexico and Florida. We took a Carribbean cruise. They have come to visit us in Virginia and we celebrated milestones.

 

This year they gave me an excellent Christmas gift. What's that? The gift of shared memories. My literal gift was a ticket to a Thunder game (Yes, Oklahoma City has an NBA team). But, we shared meals and laughs. We had dance parties until the wee hours of the morning. We came up with creative ways to cook meals, as the kitchen in their new home is under construction. We made memories...together. To me, those moments are priceless and make up a meaningful life.

Sure, there are many times I still long for the former days when I globe trotted with a purpose. However, that life comes with incredible sacrifice - one of those sacrifices was time spent away from loved ones.

I consider moments spent with these people a gift. And, while I am already missing them greatly as I am on the east coast and they are in the mid-west of the United States, I cherish our times together.

Wishing each of you a holiday season full of wonderful memories with loved ones.

just Sheri, making new memories

the great divide

I have recently realized something about myself that I do not like and want to change. I am not really sure how to write about it as it is something we don't normally talk about in the United States. When I first returned to my homeland one of the things I noticed was the obvious class divide, people who have wealth hang with others who are wealthy - never knowing and rarely interacting with those who are less fortunate. Perhaps the generous rich will write a check to an agency to help the poor, or on special occasions they may even give of their time, but do they invite someone who is poor to their home? are they intimately familiar with their circumstance? do they walk beside someone who is struggling financially? These are few and far between.

Research has shown that relationship/friendship is the best pathway out of poverty. A meaningful connection with just one person who can give a hand up will help change the oppression of generational poverty.

I knew immediately upon my return to the U.S. that I must be intentional in building relationships across class lines. I tried to do this in being selective about how I spend my time and who I spent time with.

Fast forward nearly three years (yes, we have been back in the States for nearly three years) and my intentions are for not. During the government shutdown when I heard that families who receive WIC (women, infant and children subsidies for necessities like food) were not going to receive their payments. I wanted to help. That is when I came to the uncomfortable realization that I live a sheltered life. While those I know have struggles, nearly all of the people I spend time with on a regular basis have good jobs, an emergency saving fund, a nice home and are not struggling to survive.

I don't like this truth. I don't want it to remain my reality. If I really believe the best way to help people who are struggling is through connection/relationship - then why am I not living that truth? My family was a recipient of WIC subsidies when I was growing up, it was a matter of circumstance not a reflection of effort. How can I now be so far removed from those in a similar circumstance? I find this unacceptable. I aim to change it. I would rather have Luke 14: 12-14 be true of me:

"When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your bothers or sisters, your relatives, or rich neighbors, if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

I am not sure how to bridge the great divide among classes in the U.S., but I hope to start in my circle of friends.

just Sheri, a sheltered professional

Congrats!

Today, my brother was sworn in. It's official - we have an attorney in the family. He worked hard for that giant piece of paper.

 

just Sheri, a proud sister

finish well

This is the year of faithfulness, and true to form my faithfulness is being tested.

In June, I quit my job. The reasons are complicated and long contemplated.

Until the end of my last day I worked just as hard as I always had. I did the job to the best of my ability. I put in extra hours (nights and weekends). At times, I questioned my own sanity, but I never questioned the value of the effort. I left at 8:40pm, Friday, August 30 knowing that I had worked hard on behalf of those my former employer serves. I pushed through the weariness. I did all I could to set-up my replacement for success. I fought off excuses like "it doesn't matter, because in a few weeks I won't be there anyway." I made a commitment to finish well and gave my best effort to keep that commitment. Would I have preferred a leisurely summer? Absolutely! Will all that hard work be noticed or appreciated? That wasn't the motivation.

The finish well campaign was about the condition of my heart and the content of my character. Will I do whatever it takes even if no one is watching? Will I do it though a reward for the effort is unlikely?

I did what I believed to be the right thing to do, both in exiting my employer and in giving it my all to the very end.

The end of one chapter also marks the beginning of another - I still don't have a clear picture of the future, but I know my next steps and plan to implement these lessons on faithfulness in my new circumstance.

just Sheri, learning to push through

death of my social life

Last week marked the start of something unexpected - my return to school. Yes, I have been a student the majority of my adult life. Yes, I am committed to life-long learning. However, when I left (without completing) my PhD many years ago I figured that was the end of my academic pursuits.

The Hubs has asked many times in those years, "when are you going to finish your PhD?" I had no intention of doing so. In fact, I described that period of life as self-imposed torture - why would I subject myself to that again?

Why? Because we are place-bound for a while, this reality leaves me restless and my mind has been hungry to learn....Because I suspect that just as my masters degree opened doors, doctorate credentials will do so also...Because, after a series of stops and starts, I found a program that sparks my interest and is located six blocks from my new employer...Because I am ready to dream about the possibilities of a new future, that may or may not involve hopping on airplanes to destinations around the globe.

At the end of August I attended my first class. The reading load seems unattainable and the course requirements will be demanding. As if this were not enough, I am adding a job change accompanied by a daily commute of more than two hours. Someone asked me if I was going to survive. My response, "I am pretty sure I will survive, but my social life is dead."

This has already proven to be true as I spent the bulk of a holiday weekend (Labor Day) in my house reading and writing for school.

Friends, I will be hibernating through the winter - for the next three years (at least).

just Sheri, here we go (again)

marital communication 601: familiar voice

I've noticed something in recent months, my husband and I have been married long enough now that I recognize his voice anywhere. He can call without introducing himself, even without the assistance of caller ID I know it is him by voice alone. We can be in the company of a group and I can locate him simply by the sound of his voice, which to my ears is distinct among a crowd.

There are others in my life that have a distinct voice - my adopted dad for instance. I know my mom's voice on the phone, but in a family crowd she sounds like some of her sisters. My brother's voice sounds to me a lot like our biological father's. But, it is all in the family and there is a comfort in the familiarity of their voice.

I suspect there is a level of intimacy a relationship reaches when one's voice becomes this familiar to us. God wants us to know him in that way too. There is a story in John 10: 1-5 about sheep knowing their shepherd's voice, in this story we are the sheep and he is the shepherd:

"Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”

just Sheri, listening for the sound of a familiar voice

Snowden: revealing my inconsistencies

Recently I've engaged in numerous conversations on the topic of Snowden: hero or villain?

That really isn't the point of this post.

The media reports about the man who leaked top secret information has me thinking about the issue of privacy...

We live in interesting times where we use social media to announce to the world where we are (Facebook check-in) and what we are doing at any given moment (Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook status posts). I (obviously) have a blog and share portions of my life on the blog. I have user IDs for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and post status updates periodically on all of these.

In addition to these, I have a smart phone and subscribed to the Google app which I find amazing. If there is a flight itinerary in my inbox, the app will automatically give me the flight status. The app has memorized my schedule and frequently visited locations and will give me updates on how long it will take to get home from work or to a regular destination on Monday nights or Wednesday mornings. When I travel, because of GPS tracking on my phone, the app creates a listing (unsolicited)of activities or restaurants near me. Every weekend it gives me a list of events in my area. I like the convenience of these functions. I find them helpful and useful. I sacrificed privacy to get these features and apparently I am okay with that.

I am not, however, okay with the government tracking and cataloguing these things without a reasonable cause. I don't care if it is in the name of national security. While I have nothing to hide, it feels to me a violation of trust that they capture this information without my permission.

I have been thinking about this inconsistency in my stance. I willingly give up privacy for the sake of personal convenience, but I feel it a violation when those concessions in privacy are being monitored on a grand scale.

Is my expectation of privacy reasonable?

just Sheri, trying to reconcile my inconsistencies

Lessons from my father

I could write a whole book about all I have learned from the man I consider my father. He has taught me about car maintenance, cooking, how to be a person of character, how to serve others, and so much more. Much of this was by demonstration rather than lecture. What is really amazing is that he is not my birth father - but he has been just like a father should be.

Most recently I have been grateful to him for the lessons he taught me on financial responsibility. He has a terrible distaste for debt and while his job as a manual laborer never earned him a high salary, nor paid benefits, he always had savings and was generous with others.

Today, there are two primary things I do with the money I earn: 1) I save and 2) I give.

Because that is what he taught me to do.

I haven't had a credit card balance in over 15 years. I have a credit card and I use my credit card, but I never carry a balance. In fact, in all those years I have not paid a single dollar in fees or interest to any credit card provider because I pay off the balance before the bill is due.

Other than our mortgage, I have no debt. We bought both of our cars used and with cash.

I consider myself frugal, but not cheap. What's the difference? I will still splurge on a nice evening out with the Hubs. At least once a year I take a vacation that includes exotic destinations. But frugality is a lifestyle. The majority of the furniture in our home is used, with a few newer pieces purchased from discount stores/vendors. When we take a cruise vacation I opt for an inside cabin rather than paying hundreds more for a balcony room. Travel destinations often include visiting friends, which means we can save money by staying with them rather than paying for a hotel (granted, I am lucky enough to have friends who live in places like Australia, China, Dubai, and South Africa).

My father taught me to be prudent with my hard earned dollars. To live within my means. To save for the future and things I want. I am grateful to him, because putting these lessons in to practice has brought financial freedom, regardless of the salary I receive.

Last year when the Hubs was unemployed for a series of months, we were fine because we had savings. I am now facing the very real possibility of unemployment by fall. I was talking to my father about this reality and discussing options for the future. During the conversation I thanked him for teaching me how to manage money, it is a gift that has served me well in life.

Because he is my dad and he loves me, he also said, "if things get too rough, you always have a home with me."

just Sheri, daddy's girl

quotable quotes: somebody do something

create your future

I have heard people say, "I will wait and see what happens." You have probably heard the same thing. Maybe you've said it yourself. Lately I've noticed I have a strong reaction to this sentiment - I am almost completely intolerant of it. How about influencing what happens?!

I think we have a lot more power to create our future than we give ourselves credit for. We can be people of intention. We can be change-makers. Those whom we admire most made a difference, because they waited for made something happen.

I am not sure who said it, but I like this quote:

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created - created first in the mind and will, created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating."

just Sheri, working on the future 

catch up

It has been nearly two months since my last post, not for lack of stories to tell, but more because I have been enjoying life...offline. Here is sample of what has happened in recent months...

I traveled to San Francisco for work, but the highlight of the trip was spending the weekend with my college roommate Samantha, her husband Chris, and their two kids. The last time we were in the same place was my wedding reception; at the time she was pregnant with her daughter (the oldest). While emails and Christmas cards keep us updated, there is nothing like sitting across the table from someone and sharing a meal or conversation. I credit  Samantha with teaching me what it means to be a good friend; because she is exceptional at it. We have shared a lot of great memories through the years. I LOVED seeing her as a mom!

Speaking of moms...my mom came to the DMV for a visit. It was her first time in this part of the U.S. She came to experience the beauty of the cherry blossoms - instead it snowed three times in March; including a few days before her visit. Sadly, she only saw bare trees. We did make time to visit the national monuments, but her travel wish list consisted of every day experiences; so, we had a couple take-my-mom-to-work activities, meals with friends, and even spent an afternoon at my favorite grocery. Activities only a mother would love...or perhaps only my mother.

There were also some celebrations of life events with friends, family, and friends who have become family.

We celebrated Joyce's birthday and on a separate occasion (not pictured) Naomi's dedication.

My friend Angela was recognized at a celebration event for her service to the community.

'Tis the season for graduations!

Phim graduated with her MBA.

My brother graduated from Law School.

Now that she is a high school grad, my goddaughter is off to college.

I also participated in a family trip to celebrate my brother's BIG accomplishment. Here is a photo of me enjoying fresh coco(nut) juice from a street vendor in Puerto Rico. I get nostalgic when drinking one of these. It takes me back to villages in India, Cambodia and Mozambique. My heart still resides with those I met in those places.

My sister-friend Theresa drove to Oklahoma City for a quick visit while I was there for the weekend. Have I mentioned I am blessed with a wealth of great relationships? Because I am. I count Theresa among those blessings.

I also got to live a dream when the Hubs and I were chauffeured to a wonderful evening at the Kennedy Center. I've wanted to attend an event at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts since we moved here. This iconic building has hosted many performances I've watched from afar (on TV) for a lifetime. It would have been a shame to live this close and not attend an event at this venue. I can now cross this off the list. Done! Though I wouldn't turn down an opportunity to attend another event at the Kennedy Center...if such an opportunity were to present itself.

just Sheri, living in the present

Overcommitted

I have spent the first part of this year with too much activity. The Hubs has termed this "doing too much" and he has had to bring this to my attention on numerous occasions over the years. I then am forced to reevaluate my schedule and priorities and make adjustments. For months numerous commitments have had me out of the house every week night:

• Monday: Vy and I are taking a conversational Spanish course at the community college
• Tuesday: I meet with Johanna, and once a month I participate in a book club meeting
• Wednesday: I teach writing at the local community college as a literacy volunteer 
• Thursday: every other week is a second book club meeting, on off weeks Jennifer and I hang out

Weekends are then filled with various volunteer and social activities.

While I could easily classify all of this activity as "good"- it is not good for me. So, two book clubs must become one. When my conversational Spanish class ends in April, I will not replace it with another activity. I have informed the literacy volunteer organization that, while I love the students and believe in the cause, I cannot continue to teach the course. After some time of rest, I will consider returning to one-on-one sessions like I did with Vy. I am constantly evaluating what else must go, what should stay, and whether or not there is anything else I should take on.

What has sparked this sudden re-evaluation? Well, there is a new, all-consuming commitment that is necessitating this...but more on that in a later post.

just Sheri, evaluating my commitments

Container Garden

Another benefit of being place bound and having a home, is that I can (attempt to) plant and grow herbs or vegetables. Since my knowledge base of such things is pretty much zero, I attended a class with the master gardeners in February. I learned a lot about microbes and bacteria, organic gardening and planting-harvesting-rotation. Most of it was WAY over my head. But, I really wanted to try to grow a few things this summer. So, here is my first attempt at gardening - herbs in a container.

I also bought another small container for my favorite herb - cilantro. I really hope I can keep this alive because I use it often and would prefer not to have to buy it, at least for a few months.

I also bought a little tomato plant and put it in a pot...this one is more of an experiment. Let's try and see what happens.

I'll keep you posted on any progress.

just Sheri, amateur gardener

Free Food for Millionaires

A book club I was a part of a number of years back read a book by the title, Free Food for Millionaires. If memory serves, the title came from a conversation at an office on Wall Street. A catered lunch was  delivered for all of the wealthy Wall Street types and in a discussion with the protagonist of the story, a young second generation Korean immigrant, he coined the phrase "free food for millionaires."

I have been thinking a lot about this lately. The thoughts were sparked by the comments of a colleague who participated in a SNAP awareness program. For those who are unaware of what SNAP is, this is the food subsidy the government offers to those who are poor in America. It is designed to run out before the end of the month...and true to design, that is exactly what happens. My colleague lived on $5 a day, the allotted SNAP subsidy, for a week. One of her reflections were that she didn't realize how often in her own life food is readily available for free - at catered work meetings, or reimbursement for work lunches, etc. This is what sparked my reflection. It led me to the conclusion that I live a subsidized life.

While many criticize those who rely on such safety-net programs as SNAP, the majority do so without appreciating the abundance of their own privilege or acknowledgement of the subsidies they enjoy. I took stock of my current subsidies and here is a short list that I came up with:

• Like those in the story - I am the lucky recipient of many lunches or dinners paid for by my employer or partnering institutions in the course of my work. While it doesn't happen every day, it does happen at least once per month and usually more frequently than that.
• My employer offers mileage reimbursement, which subsidizes the expense of auto fuel for my vehicle. I have a fuel efficient vehicle so the reimbursement rate is generous.
• My employer picks up a portion of my cell phone bill. While there is also an expectation that I use this for work purposes, and I do, that reimbursement amount is a subsidy that I receive, because I would have a cell phone bill with or without the job.
• While there are IRS rules that restrict this and I am always VERY conscious of not appearing to receive favored treatment or to compromise  integrity - I do receive invites to events and meetings that may have an entrance fee for others. That is a subsidy.

These were just the subsidies I encountered in the course of a week, while it was on the forefront of my mind. While I am far from being a millionaire, and do not aspire to such, I do receive generous subsidies that allow me to do other things with my money.

In the past I received even more benefits: a corporate car where I had zero financial obligation and a housing allowance that covered living expenses.

I post this, because I want to maintain a position of gratitude for my good fortune. I do not want to take my blessings for granted. And, I have no place to judge those who rely on assistance for survival when I am benefiting from assistance myself. The source of my aid may not be from the government, but it is a subsidy just the same.

just Sheri, a subsidy recipient

quoteable quotes: Margaret Thatcher

In memory of the Iron Lady, my favorite quote:

Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.
~ Margaret Thatcher

GPS tracking for aid workers

It is sad that we live in a world where inventing such a device is necessary. Human decency should dictate that those who are helping should remain unharmed, but that is not the reality. My last year "in the field" a female colleague was captured and held captive for over 100 days. Stories like this are becoming far too common. In response, technology has been developed to send early warning alerts, but it still requires courageous individuals to act on behalf of another...courageous individuals seem to be in short supply. God, strengthen our courage that we will confront the evils in this world.

 

Bracelet For Human Rights Workers Sends Kidnapping Alerts to Facebook, Twitter http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-04/bracelet-human-rights-workers-sends-kidnapping-alerts-facebook-twitter?dom=fb&src=SOC

2013 theme: siempre fiel (always faithful)

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3

Image: Zenia via Flickr

If you are a faithful reader of this blog, then you know that I gave up New Year's resolutions many moons ago. However, I do use the start of a new year as a time of reflection. In the place of a resolution, I create a personal development plan. There are various sections: physical, relational, intellectual, and spiritual. I write it down and check back in multiple times throughout the year. This approach has produced far superior results to a single resolution. 

I borrowed the idea from a Pastor I once heard at an inner-city church in Kansas City; I made it my own by giving each development plan a theme, usually centered around a fruit of the spirit. This "fruit" is a character quality I want to grow in my life.

This year's theme: faithfulness in small things

There was a time when I had a BIG dream. Then I was afforded the opportunity to live my calling. For some reason unknown to me, these things were stripped away - leaving me with questions about identity and the future. I made a choice to press on, but the struggle with contentment and a lack of a defined purpose remained.

I have begged and pleaded for a renewed sense of purpose, for some kind of instruction about what is next. I have received the same answer for an extended period of time:

I Peter 4:2 From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God's will and not by human desires.

For this period of time I have been trying to rise each day to receive my marching orders, then carry them out. However, I don't rise each day anticipating or listening for marching orders. Even when I receive them, I don't always carry them out.

Enter the theme of faithfulness...It is my aim to listen, anticipate, and act. No task is too small. Negotiating is unproductive. Delaying reduces the potential impact. Act immediately. When I have done this, the results have been staggering. I have been used as a tool of encouragement or provision to meet needs I was not told about directly. While I may not have know, God knew. As a result of my obedience, these folks felt loved by our Heavenly Father because He was the one they were crying out to for direction or relief.

This year, I am making a conscious effort to be faithful in the small things...things that could be interpreted as insignificant, but matter a LOT to those who are discouraged or hurting.

just Sheri, hoping to be transformed in to a faithful servant

storyteller

In my homeland of New Mexico there is a common image - the Native American storyteller. There are variations on the theme; but it is basically a woman, surrounded by children with her mouth open because she is telling a story. Something like this.

Photo via The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (Wikimedia Commons)

Well, I recently participated in a real life reinactment.

Actually, I really like this picture and I am glad someone captured this moment. Recently, I have been surrounded by families and welcomed in to their lives in very meaningful and intimate ways.

While I may not have children of my own...to run round and round and round the dining table....or duck behind the couch because they just can't resist crawling in the space between it and the wall...or slide on the wood floor in their socks...or be amazed at the small trampoline in the basement...to color with or read to. Other people have kids that will come to my house and make the space a play zone or leave pretty pictures that they colored.

I am honored these families have invited me in to their lives and I like the frenzy of activity and creativity their children bring to our home.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."



just Sheri, looking forward to the next storytime