Saturday, April 24, 2010
Home in Chamberlain!
Fr. Hendrick from Lower Brule helped with the driving, and we made it back last night. While cliché, there really is no place like home.
Today was a settling back in day, doing laundry and starting to dive into the piles of mail and paperwork surrounding my desk. It was also a day to start reconnecting with students and staff.
I feel a great sense of relief and will be happy to return to as much of a normal routine as I can over the next month.
This morning we had the graduation for our FAST (Families And Schools Together) program.
Ten families took part over four weekends; they appreciated the structured activities our program offered to help them improve parent/child communication and relationships.
During the prayer service, one of our counselors read some prayer reflections on what people got out of the weekend – mostly the chance to more deeply appreciate one another.
After certificates and an honor song on the drum, we gathered in the school assembly room for a meal. Rain squashed plans of an outdoor picnic, but the grilled food tasted almost as good inside.
Yeppers..There is nothing like putting your feet under your own table at home..!
Just have fun, now..I know you can do that about anywhere..but better at home !
Love, Hugs..and Prayers,
Mia and Bob
It’s pouring down right now. So I decided
to share with you another example of Pacific
Northwest humor. I think it’s relevant to your line of work. Lately folks have been sneaking up on me on the bus and telling me,”I can tell your ethnic background by the shape of your nose!” I had to wave my pruners at one such zealous person and loudly forbid him to ever speak to me again.
Then he said,”You’re Polynesian aren’t you?”
My teacher says that I argue too much. I should just say “thanks” and let it go. OR “you’re right” OR “so?” I think she’s right, but I think people really pick on mixed bloods. Most of us are mixed one way or another, and why should anyone feel bad about his/her heritage whatever it is? I go to cultural festivals to try to understand
the differences between people. AND to have good conversations. Then I get discouraged
about myself a little. Then the water heater
blew up, and I couldn’t fix anything by myself. Help arrived, and the mess wasn’t too great. Nobody was harmed or too upset.BUT I felt more discouraged. So today I went to the library and checked out books for myself and my students. I solo teach this Fri, and I wanted to be ready and encouraging. Sometimes life asks you that you just keep trying and do your best. I hope you are not having pain and feeling
nauseous. Peppermint tea helps the stomach
and chamomile calms. Oatstraw tea also calms
and provides calcium. Nettle tea or cooked in the soup pot decreases inflammation, provides calcium and is good for the joints.
I drink a lot of it–no toxicity for any of the above. Seeping it all overnight,brews it up strong. A good dose is what would fit within the palm of your cupped hand–put that in a strainer. Enjoy! Take care.
I’m cleaning the house today from all my water disasters, and it keeps raining outside.
You keep trying and don’t overdo it
and get too tired,
Arian
This is a “thank you” to Arian:
We drank a lot of chamomile tea for stomach problems when we grew up in the Old Country. Also Linden tea to ease bronchytis. Thank you for mentioning different teas – I will try them! Paula