Gathering Graces 3/20/2017

*Happy Spring!!  Spring is officially here.  We had some sun for the first day of spring, which was very much welcomed!

*In my journal was this quote this morning.  “That is God’s call to us--simply to be people who are content to live close to Him and to renew the kind of life in which the closeness is felt and experienced.”  Thomas Merton

*We had our book discussion after school today, talking more extensively how trauma effects the brain, and how important it is to intervene early in the lives of children to help them with the effects of the trauma, so they can deal with it throughout their lives, and become more effective learners. 

*The water is very high in our Silver Valley, and much flooding is occurring.  I live a block from the river, and thank goodness for the dikes along the river.  Many people have water in their basements (we have had some off and on), and the flood warning continues until noon on Wednesday.  We have been asked to cut back on our water usage because there is a strain on the sewer system. 

*What better way to celebrate the first day of spring than enjoy some fresh strawberries for dinner.  They were very delicious!

*I finished The Great British Baking Show, and was excited to see Season 3 is also on Netflix.  What a delightful show.

*I finished making a P.E.O. presentation for the lunch our chapter is hosting for the junior girls tomorrow to let them know some information about how P.E.O. support women in education.

*Paul talked about this E.E. Cummings poem, and sharing it with his students, and how it reminded him of his childhood with his friend Rory, and what wonderful memories it brought about.  I leave you with...

in Just

in Just-

spring          when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman

whistles          far          and wee

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer

old balloonman whistles

far          and             wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's

spring

and

         the

                  goat-footed

balloonMan          whistles

far

and

wee