happy but also confused~journal May 30-June 5, 2011

On My Mind...odd weather everywhere we go....

Celebration...time with family...but wish I knew how to help people feel more at ease...what is the secret...happy but also confused.

Scripture Meditation...and my father dwelt in a tent....right now the meaning of this short scripture is in the forefront of my mind....but personally I feel a bit like a wanderer myself....

Deliciousness...after a darth of food choices all weekend, we found a delicious vegan Indian restaurant and a place that makes green smoothies in Santa Barbara. Ahhhhh...the end of hunger...

Praying For...Gayle and Spencer...peace, health, security, and happiness for families and orphans...
Commitment to Modesty...I just don't like white tennis shoes at all. They look like the shoes that nurses used to wear in the 60s. So I was delighted when my step-mother, Jo, gave me two pair of walking shoes that look nothing like tennis shoes. One is the ECCO brand and look cute with my skirts. I haven't had time to try the other pair yet.

Towards A Real Education...some of the scholars I mentor are really taking off with their studies. I've seen this happen time and again with young adults, youth over 12 are in my book. To raise the bar high over their heads, expect that they can reach it, and encourage them to do so is a win-win situation in my experience. Young people respond so well to this especially when they have supportive parents and an interested mentor. Certainly, it is hard and a bit stressful at first, but when a youngster decides to step up, the results are typical and predictable--they excel. Enjoying a blog challenge to read the great books and am attempting to follow their schedule. We'll see. I have to keep up with my scholars. True, I've read all the books dozens of times. Nevertheless, to be fresh in my responses to them, I need to be fresh in my memories and ideas. Plus, traveling so much doesn't leave me oodles of time for study or writing. Exam week is next week, when I'm hoping to see all my young people shine. Then we'll break for a few weeks to let me get back on my feet before diving in again.

Happy Homemaking...in the few days I was home, I got the laundry caught up and the house surface cleaned...Spencer did a great job keeping things done, but, well, he's not me....Even though I was his teacher, I still like things done a bit deeper. No worries, he did a fantastic job. I'm pleased that all my children learned how to work hard and to clean well. But each of them have their own comfort levels. 

Sound of Music...so very glad I brought my violin on this trip. Playing hymns provides me with a deeply satisfying form of worship.

Natural World...I have wanted to visit Santa Barbara since I read the book The Keeper of the Bees. It was even the setting of a children's book I wrote. It is everything I dreamed and more. Funny though....It's unseasonably rainy and cloudy right now so we probably won't stay. Last night I saw pelicans diving into the sea, gulls and turns cruising, and seals riding the wakes of boats. Priceless. Last night I heard the delicious sound of waves crashing on the sand and the funny sound of seals barking.

Bee Buzz...last Monday we got our new package of bees from Texas. Because of a cold snap they arrived deader than a door nail. But...the next afternoon showed us that hive number one pulled through and is quite strong. The bee dances of all three hives let us know that it should be a great year for honey. I really wish I liked honey....hmmmm.....but I do like keeping bees. Weird!

Simple Pleasure...sitting in bed while looking our the window at the beach, rainy or not...I could get used to this...