Shoe Shopping

I wear size 6 when it comes to sneakers. Not 6.5 or 8 or 11 or 9 or any other size stores like to have in stock, but size 6. And I like blue sneakers, or at least sneakers with blue on them, not pink or teal or plain white or any of the other colors that stores like to have in stock, but blue.

Maybe I am picky, but I really didn't want to have to wear Hannah Montana sneakers, which seemed at first all I could find in my size. So after visiting 4 shoe stores in one mall and 3 in another and finding absolutely nothing in my size in the color that I wanted, never mind the price, the lady at J C Penny offered to order some in my size. Wasn't that sweet of her? I didn't even have to ask her to order them, she just offered. We took the offer and hopefully sometime this week I will have new sneakers, size 6, white with light blue and silver designs, for a lower price than any I had found in the stores.

I am excited. I like new sneakers. My next quest in shoe shopping is some black dress shoes that have a small heel and don't look like I am trying to be a teenager. Oh, I would like to replace my tall black boots too.

Oh, the trials of being the shoe size of a junior high girl... and being very particular about my shoes.

Philadelphia

Yesterday, I went to Philly for the first time to really sight see. I have been to the art museum and the Franklin Institute and the zoo, but never to walk around and really see Philadelphia. But we really went for the food. We had to go to the Reading Terminal Market (?) for world food and Jim's for cheese-steaks sandwiches. I got a Middle Eastern spinach and cheese pie made with spinach (I wasn't expecting that) feta cheese, olive oil and a vinegar of some sort all wrapped in a yummy pastry similar to the pastry of baklava but not sweet. It was delicious. The cheese steak was very good. I split one with my friend, so we would have more room for ice cream. We had to leave the city before we got ice cream, so we stopped a Giant and got those little pint cups and ate them. I thought I was going to be disappointed because we didn't have ice cream cones, but I got some Haagen-dazs dark chocolate and Thomas got mint so I was happy.

We took the scenic way in, along the river, where there were lots of runners and bicyclers and people on boats (I can't remember want the group boating races are called - where there are three to eight people all rowing - but it looked like there was a race going on as we drove by.) Then we stopped by the art museum for the bathroom and the steps, but we soon drove down town to find a parking garage (a specific garage, mind you) and went to eat. After we ate we went to the Kimmel Performing Art Center, which was beautiful. It is like two great big concert halls inside a glass domed building. On top of one of the halls was a "tree garden" in the boiling heat, right near the top of the building. The view was magnificent from up there, but it was also really stinking (literally) hot up there. Even though the concert halls were closed, the lady there let us go in to one. It was shaped like the body of a cello and was absolutely beautiful. It reminded me of my dream to sing on a stage like that. There was an organ there too. I believe she said it was the largest organ inside a concert hall in the US, but I might have overheard incorrectly.

We then drove down South Street, saw some murals, and stopped briefly at the crazy mosaics. The guy made them out of all sorts of "junk" like bicycle tires and glass bottles and broken plates, but the walls and ground was covered with it. It was really quite impressive and fascinating. After we found another parking spot we walked to see some historical sights, like the Liberty Bell, which Thomas had the urge to touch, but resisted manfully. After walking around a bit we made it to Franklin Square and the museum there. You could peek down through some windows in the ground to see the original foundation of his house as well as the "privy pit." There were all sorts of interesting historical facts around and in the museum you could "call" historical figures on a phone. Unfortunately my phone didn't work, so I could not speak with the dead folks, I mean, listen to the recordings that people made so it would sound like the dead people were telling you stuff.

Then we walked back to South street and had our cheese-steak sandwiches, which we had to wait an hour for. Then we came home, hot, sticky, and exhausted but we had had an enjoyable time.

Human

You know, people are complicated. Everybody has so many nuances and facets and layers. But there are things that we all relate to. Things that make us human.

We all want to feel loved and we all want to love.

We all know what it means to be lonely, and afraid, and angry.

We all long for peace and happiness.

We know how to laugh, and we like to do it.

We have been hurt, betrayed, or let down, and we don't like it.

We like stories and music.

We enjoy things that make us think or feel, even if we don't like what we are thinking or feeling.

And more...

You tell me. What makes us human and connects us with every other person that is alive and has ever lived? 

Forget not all his benefits...

Kate said it. "God is so good, Carrie, God is so good."

And he is. Sometimes we forget, sometimes we are not paying attention, sometimes we don't understand, and sometimes we don't know how to say anything else. God is good.

How is God good? Well, last week was awful. I had to sleep sitting up for three nights because of a cough/persistent tickle in my throat. So I didn't really sleep well and neither do Thomas. And I had a pretty bad attitude because I was tired. So poor Thomas couldn't do anything right and neither could I. And I was just grumpy and crabby and nasty. But God was good and still is.

But He still loves me. He forgives all my iniquities, heals all my diseases, redeems my life from the pit, crowns me with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies me with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagles. (paraphrase of Psalm 103)

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

God is so good.

And don't forget it, Carrie Joy. :-)

Good-bye Kindergarten

I am officially out of the Kindergarten classroom. I left it slightly messy, so I will go back and help the new Kindergarten teacher clean up, take down posters, and such. Even though I will not be teaching Kindergarten, I will still be teaching - Latin and Music - and directing the play. So it looks like it will be a busy fall at least. I might be directing the church Christmas pageant too. Looking at my calendar is a little daunting, especially when I realize that I will need to do lots of new lesson plans, nothing to fall back on or anything.

I am still trying not to think about leaving Kindergarten too much. When I do, I am a mixture of melancholy and excitement. I am excited about the new possibilities for this year. It is especially good to be an at-home wife, making the house a home and being more regular with the chores and all. I am also enjoying getting back into Latin and am looking forward to teaching kiddies to enjoy and create music. But, at the same time, I am sad to not be able to see my little baby Kindergartners grow into big boys and girls. I will miss their hugs and bright eyes and stories. I will miss not having a classroom to make my own. I will miss being part of the teacher things. I am not looking forward to being on the outside edge of the happenings at school.

This just seems to be the next step in figuring out what to do when I grow up. I often think that if I knew what God wanted me to do with my life, I could better pursue actions that will prepare me for whatever it is. But I also know that this is then right thing to do, even if I don't know what God is preparing me for.