Family Exchange

circa August 2012

when Oppa visited Philly

 

Text to Parents:

 

Text to Children:

 

Parents win.



Teaching through the Heart

My school recently added the Pledge of Allegiance to the morning announcements. With that, unfortunately, came the threat that if students did not stand, they would be "written up for a suspension," which came as a surprise to all the teachers, including me.

The thought of punishing students for not following through did not sit well in my stomach. My students, dumbfounded and even angry, would eye me as only about a third of the class actually stood to recite the pledge. Is she actually going to write my name down?  I would quickly change the subject, unable to take sides--I felt subjected to the authority of the principal yet felt wrong to go through with such an order. They were never even taught the meaning of the pledge and this practice was never instilled in them before.

After reading some war poetry by Claude McKay and Langston Hughes with my poetry classes, I decided to wrap up the unit by writing to a soldier who was actually in the forefront of war.

A friend currently serving in Afghanistan graciously forwarded me the names of some of the soldiers he was serving with and each student chose to write to one. Their letters evolved from simple Thank Yous to deep, heartfelt letters writing about their own "battles" here in Philadelphia and expressing their appreciation to those fighting for them on the other side of the globe. It's been a while, if not the first time, that students have written hand-written letters--not surprising considering the social media-ridden generation of their days, so it was doubly refreshing to see them write raw letters with pen or pencil in hand..quietly writing to an unknown soldier and, in the process, making a new friend.

What I didn't expect was the loudspeaker to abruptly interrupt the peace in my classroom. It all took me by surprise.

No, not the loudspeaker. The kids.

They put their pencils down, and I could see them contemplating the flag that was plastered to the front of my classroom wall. I could see them shift a little in their seats. And then, for the first time, I could count on my one hand how many were still seated.

Because well, nearly all of my students stood up. Right hand across their chest, they stood for their comrades in Afghanistan. They stood for Private Thomas, Lieutenant Wolfe, Sergeant Kang, and Captain Bowen. Their actions now stood for something...for someone.

I was a given a glimpse of what it meant to teach through the heart.

Lord, teach me.
Show me.
Help us to Love You and Your People in room 209.

Moments in the Classroom

Encounter A:
"Ms. Kang, you must be tired,"
notes Rasheem, walking in and taking his seat in class.
"Just a little. haha Why do you say that?"
"Because you didn't ask me how I was today"


Encounter B:
"Ms. Kang, did you have a bad day?"
notes Astan, very alarmed.
"haha why do you say that, Astan?"
"Because your water bottle is empty!"


My students  may struggle with using context clues while reading complex passages, but they're so perceptive when it comes to reading the little things. I'm blown away by encounters like these. So attuned to human beings in ways that I miss too frequently. Children, you humble me.

And a whirlwind it was.

P r o c e s s i n g

I realized that writing is the way in which I take time to breathe, gather my thoughts, meditate, and organize all that The Lord is teaching me into coherent words that I can digest.

As you can see, I have not written in the past NINE months. Although I could attribute that to the madness that comes with first year teaching, grad school classes to top, and numerous other excuses, I think I can simply say that it was all due to my simple neglect of finding joy in rest. I have honestly forgotten what that feels like. Instead of taking those rare free times to simply write, I have instead filled it with other activities, which, though fun in their own ways, have not been fulfilling. Such fleeting satisfactions! Reflecting these past few days has taught me the importance and grand purpose of the Sabbath. God rested. THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE even rested. Surely a tiny being like me would innately desire rest as well...I was made in His image, was I not?

"And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves." -Mark 6: 31-32       

So here I am. I am back. A part of me misses those carefree college days when I could easily curl up in an abandoned nook of an academic building and type my heart away. Now I must fight to grasp these times because they surely don't come to me by chance. Father, take me to that desolate place to rest a while in your presence. Take me away on that boat to that place, just You and me.

           

Return for a Special Toast

Happy Birthday dearest Margaret Ann Hazelton.

 This seems like yesterday. Ya know, mimosas and toasting to your

many more happy years to come. Mm just us and our cozy Cabell 104. 

I miss baking with you...the endless giggly get-flour-all-over-our-hands kind.

The one where we get globs of sugary goob on our fingers and I catch you enjoy dabs of cookie dough. 

As teaching get harder, plan B is sounding more appealing by the minute. 

Get that spatula ready! I'm so serious about this.

 hehe. In our favorite Dollar section at Target.

Those endless runs (and embarassing drive thrus at Bank of America. HA) grocery shopping,

TJ Max shopping, birthday present shopping, chic-fil-A stopping, etc. 

Oh, and let's not forget our outlet runs! 

sigh. I miss you.

 Even when we were abroad, you came and found me at Paris.

Let's travel the world again. This long distance thing is harsh!

 How can I forget this day?

The day you kidnapped Quackers and duct-taped the poor little bird.

I found him helplessly strapped to the back of our passenger seat. Sigh. 

[Status: still recovering]

Don't worry. He's keeping Mahopiny company, thank you very much. 

 long leisurely walks through campus, scoping out events, walking through CW,

sitting on the bench with our short legs just barely fitting...toes touching.

"LOOK! It's our size!!" :)

Simplement, je t'adore, ma chérie.

Thank you for being there when I needed you most--even several states and countries away.

Thank you for being so silly and making me giggle, even when I don't want to.

Thank you for lovingly rebuking me, even when I don't want to hear it.

I treasure you and all that you are, you beautiful woman.

I praise God for you today and every day.

joyeux anniversaire.

que tes rêves se réalisent. 

Food for Thought

The most profound essence of my nature is that I am capable of receiving God. 

- St. Augustine 

Blessed sisters

Washington DC, Kentucky, Missouri,

Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.

It's so crazy to see the directions that He has taken the five of us, 

and yet, it's so amazing to see that nothing has really changed. 

"Oh how Great the Father's love for us"

I am so thankful for you. 

Thank you for constantly speaking Truth into my heart.

 "I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God's thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking." -George MacDonald

Here's a quote that my dear sister Lydia shared with me a few weeks ago after a lovely conversation. Yay for technology and the ways it has blessed me with such precious opportunities.

It's amazing to think that two girls who fell in love with a community through short mission trips--would eventually settle down for a little while to serve, and more often than not, learn.

Indeed, we are learning.
...learning to trust in a Lord that is bigger than the difficulties that we face every day.
...learning to remember that He loves our kids more than our human hearts possibly ever could.
...learning to praise God for every little thing that comes our way...be it good or "bad"
(quotation marks around bad because even those, I'm learning to see, carry much good)

I am so thankful for you.