The Small Lives of Reilly still exist!

While working on a research paper for the Diversity and Social Issues in Education course at Cedarville University, I took a study break with our 13-year old. I mentioned to her that I was reading and writing about her--about TCKs. She paused, thought hard, and then asked with a smile, "Totally confidant kangaroos?"

-- Perhaps. :)

Here she is pictured with two other TCKs (third culture kids) and Aunt Joanna Salley (ABWE coworker).

From smelling the roses to watching the penguins--Life is good

See more photos in slideshow at right.

Smelling the roses again!

What a sweet (-smelling) surprise! A friend, Phyllis, took my blog quite literally and had delivered to my house today three rich-pink roses.
. . . . The Lord keep blessing and surprising--another friend, Debby, brought dinner over to us. That's a great help, too. With these grad classes, I spend all day in class (typical vocabulary: deculturalization, meritocracy, determinism, interruptability, sorting, solidarity, functionalism, etc.) . . . and then I come home, throw in or out some laundry, and back to the books, I go. Oh, and in between I see my kids, kiss my husband, and email Mimi. I'm having fun! How about you?

Praise the Lord for sweet surprises, great friends, and stopping to smell the roses.

Summer Psalms

Yesterday we were supposed to have a wedding...I can only imagine how different life would be today if that had been the case. I pray for Sean and Christina, and praise them for their maturity in this postponement decision. Not easy.

Overall, a very strange summer. Coming back to our OH home always encourages us. The smiles, the hugs, the visits, the laughs. Good stuff. But also this time, some hard stuff--visits to doctors, grad school classes (plus 3-5 hours of homework), postponing major life plans, and only having Katy here for one weekend.

Today in church Bob Rohm (Cedarville Univ.) reminded us of great truths from Asaph's Psalm 73. Two verses here-- 23 and 28.

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand....
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

God is omnipresent--am I remembering that? Am I putting myself in His sanctuary (presence)? Or am I living a "practical atheism"? as Bob Rohm coins it: do I say that God is omnipresent, but live real life as though He were nowhere around?

--Tia Louise

P.S. Major Cedarville flashback during SS this morning. Dr. Al Monroe was our substitute teacher--anybody else remember Foundations or Geography with Dr. Al? :)

I can't agree with this one, Emily

I love almost everything I have ever read by Emily Dickinson --but I have not read anything near the upward of 1800 poems. (Click here or here if you are unfamiliar with her work and wish to be....)

Someone writes of Emily Dickinson "Though she lived in seclusion, she lived a passionate life." And of herself, she writes "I find ecstasy in living, the mere sense of living is joy enough" (letter, 1870).

With that later quote--with the more insight into life I accumulate (in other words, the older I get) I so totally agree.

However, one thing I do not agree with her on is her dislike of being published (she only published about a dozen of her poems and had her sister promise to burn the works after her death). Here is her opinion....

Publication – is the Auction

Of the Mind of Man –

Poverty – be justifying

For so foul a thing...
In the Parcel – Be the Merchant

Of the Heavenly Grace –

But reduce no Human Spirit

To Disgrace of Price

Emily Dickinson, c. 1863

Of course, today, publishing is any recording of our passion, perplexity, and pain. Even if no one buys it or reads it, it must be written down . . . .

What do you think?

Saturday, July 12, 2008

I do believe in "stopping to smell the roses."

Two problems: 1) no roses, and 2) no sense of smell.

But I still really believe in SLOWING DOWN and observing what the senses can realize all around us. We so often zip through the day that we don't notice the cracks in the sidewalk anymore. When we were kids, we did. We don't hear the thunder as a "roll" anymore--it's just noise. But listen--hear how it rolls in, grumbles a lot, and then rolls out again. And have you ever listened to thunder in the mountains--wow!

Why should we stop and "smell the roses"? I have my opinion. I would love to hear yours! Or share with me what you enjoy "stopping to smell"?

"It's great to love people this much."

--Tony Snow talking about his family during an NBC interview in 2007. Tony Snow succumbed to cancer at age 53, today July 12, 2008.

Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all -- the apathy of human beings. -- Helen Keller

Back to school!

This week has been my first week back to school -- again. This time at Cedarville University -- again -- for grad work in secondary education. First course, all morning, Advanced Technology in the Classroom. Theoretical and practical--good stuff. Then, all afternoon, with Dr. Ager (previous professor and family friend) I have Standards and Assessments (that's testing and such). I am really enjoying the work and reading (and to some extent, the homework). But the day is long and the campus is large. I'm discovering that I am a bit out of shape. :)

Fourth of July on the Sixth

Oh, say can you see! The fire department of Cedarville put up an enormous flag for the community churches block party last night (July 6). We stayed put on our front porch, a block away. Kevin had to stay home with his leg elevated.

We had so many visitors! Debby even brought us pie! Our kids brought us sandwiches from the pig roast--delicious. Our guest list for the day: the Stanfields (Christina's parents); Beth Leightenheimer; Debby Zavodney...and then later, her husband, Larry; the Jacobs, including son Grant; their neighbors, Bob and Jen Czerniak and 3/4 of their children; Dave and Marcia Baits...with their daughter Alicia who is visiting from Brazil for a week. Did I miss someone? Probably. Our porch was really crowded.

Great moments...see the slideshow at right.

Summer 2008

A year has passed since we last wrote on this blog...pretty much do my own thing at www.hisnet.net/reilly/ but I would think that blogging should be easier...so maybe I'll try this again. Or perhaps a blog on facebook would be a better way to go.

This will be my experimental summer.

Right before we left Costa Rica... Beatrice delivered her kittens (june 26). Here's a peek.