A list on my thirtieth birthday

Sunsets and skylines,
Purples and greys,
Four on my fork tines,
Drizzly days,
Cheerful and tuneful--
The chirping of birds,
Mournful and wistful--
A song without words,
Leaf fall and snow fall,
Earth, grass, and bark,
Sunlight and rain fall,
Nights clear and dark,
Moonlight and starlight,
Whispering trees,
Ears hearing, eyes sight,
Knowing God sees,
Greens greys and blues,
Tea, blanket, tasty bread,
Fall colours, many hues,
Thoughts inside head,
Confession, Mass, Eucharist--
This itself completes the list.

Who'd have guessed?

From way back at Bethel

So, I sat down to supper with some cool people (Jocelyn, Mary-something?, and Kelsey Collins) and skittles was the topic.  We had a serious discussion about the order in which skittles are eaten and the flavours.  Jocelyn commented that it was the best discussion she'd had all day.  I thought to myself, "I just had an even better discussion in class--WAIT!  That was an education class!"  That never happens.  I should say "almost never happens," but this class is different.  We are not required to read the text book.  Dr. Able talks with us about the exceptionalities in a practical sort of way and encourages a lot of class discussion.  Today we were talking about gifted students and ways to help them.  I really think those students I have a particular passion for helping to learn beyond the curriculum.  Anyway, we discussed compacting of lessons.  (Give a pre-test, those who score above a certain level get to skip the grind work and do a related "enrichment" project instead).  After class, I talked with the teacher a bit more.

Here is the thing I think people should realize, giftedness is not necessarily just an inborn trait, it can be developed through an encouraging environment.  I think if more parents or other adults spent more quality time with young folk, working with them, playing with them, teaching them, they would develop the attributes associated with giftedness--intellectual curiosity, analytical and creative faculty, asking the questions, discovering answers, designing, researching, inventing, leading . . .

(I still think "giftedness" can be developed, as a teacher I see some students grow from seeming to be backwards at everything, to developing talents in particular areas, to doing well in much.)

End of Summer Vacation: Masque Ball

It was the party of the season as we celebrated Abby Fodor, Esther Mahoney, and Naomi Mahoney. I didn't get many pictures at all of the dancing, but at least I didn't take all shadow pictures :-)