Favorite Type of Saturday

Today I purposefully planned nothing with structure and time. Over the years I have learned to put days like today on my calendar to help vitalize every aspect of my life.

The alarm went off as usual at 5:00 am so I could feed the cats (if I don't get up and feed them, they will not let me sleep). This morning was a little different though. After feeding the ravenous "lions", I turned on the Women's World Cup quarter final match between England and United States. The World Cup is in China this year and they are several hours ahead of California time. World Cup Soccer is one of my most favorite sports to watch on TV (my favorites are World Cup Soccer, Olympics and Giants baseball). It was probably a good thing that the game was on early in the morning because it caused me to keep my enthusiasm quiet so I would not wake up my roommate. It started to rain outside while I was watching the game. I opened the slider door and listened to the pitter patter outside and let the cool fresh air come in. So delightful. USA won 3-0 and will now play in the semi-finals.

When the game was over at 6:45, I crawled back into bed to snooze some more. Ahhhhhhh, slept in to 9 something, don't remember exactly. Love it. After laying awake for some time I finally got up and went into the kitchen to make some good coffee to enjoy. In the freezer I had some Peet's coffee and thought I would make a special pot of coffee. Special? Oh yea, special. Special in that I can sit and savor my coffee,in my favorite coffee cup, and not gulp it down because I have to rush off somewhere. Coffee always tastes better on Saturday mornings that are not rushed. I actually made breakfast. After breakfast I was able to sit and open my Bible and spend some wonderful time with my Savior and my God. Nice time to ponder what I read and to use that time to lead my heart to prayer, very spontaneous and Spirit lead.

My co-worker called and offered me her Cal Bear football tickets for the game today. I so badly want to go to my first Cal football game but for today I was enjoying the way my day was going. I turned the tickets down and I don't regret it at all. Think I showered around 11:45. My sister Amy came over and we hung out for a bit and then we went shopping at Walmart and Navlet's Garden Store. We both were enjoying a relaxing day and were in no hurry with our shopping. We got some Chinese food for lunch and brought it back to my house to eat it.

Amy had read my post a few weeks ago about "Friendship Garden". She said that since she read the post she wanted to give me something that I could have in my friendship garden from her. She is such a sweetie. She bought me two hibiscus plants that have beautiful flowers in a bright and cheery coral/watermelon color and the other is a creamy yellow with a red center. I bought two cool cobalt blue ceramic pots to put them in. When we got home we planted the plants in the pots and placed them on my front door stoop. One on either side of my jet black door. It looks really nice. Now Amy is part of my friendship garden.

After Amy took off I spent the rest of the day working in the yard. Oh, I love working in the yard. I would rather do yard work any day than housework, although I enjoy doing housework (the only exception is folding my laundry- don't know why that is). I worked outside for a good 5 hours. I weeded, cleaned out the vegetable garden and planted lettuce, planted some beautiful pansies, cleaned around the yard, worked on the pool and now the back yard looks great. As I worked I listened to the Cal football game and part of the Giant's baseball game but I was satisfied in working in the yard. Both the bears and the Giants won. Good day in sports, all of my teams that I enjoy following won.

Just love a Saturday like the one I had today. I will be longing for the next one that I will be able to have. Next Saturday is my next favorite type of Saturday (it is equal with the first but sometimes it wears me out a little). I will be able to spend the day with my family. My sister Jen and her husband Joe will be in town with my dear niece Trinity. I can't wait wait to see them and play with my niece. I love her to pieces.

Getting Carded

This morning I spoke to my mom as they were driving down to visit my sister Jen, Joe and my sweet niece Trinity. Mom told me a funny little story about something that happened at dinner last night. My mom, dad and grandma went out for a bite to eat at Fuddrucker's. A younger waiter took the order from my family. When my 92 year old grandma- who looks great- (sorry grandma- for the sake of the story I needed to include your age-) ordered, the waiter asked, "Are you a senior?" He almost made her show her identification card to prove it.

I don't purchase alcohol often but more times than not, I still get carded, carded on the other end of the spectrum from my grandma. Gives me a belly laugh every time. The person checking my drivers license always looks at it very closely to make sure it is real. Lord willing, I have the same young looking gene as my grandmother. If I could look half as young as she does when I am older, I will be doing good.

The Rivalry

Giants and the Dodgers have one of the fieriest rivalries in baseball. Steve Scott beat me to posting about this big rivalry. Click here if you would like to view his thoughts. The Giants either have a great year where they are in contention to winning the division or they are at the bottom of the barrel and they kick the Dodgers out of winning the division. Even though the Giants have absolutely no chance of anything in October except for watching on the sofa, they are having fun being the spoilers of the National League West. Some of my earliest memories are going to bed as a kid with my transistor radio next to me listening to the Giants play the Dodgers. Back then my beloved Giants were terrible. It was absolutely delightful to listen to that little radio and hear the Giants beat the Dodgers and eliminate them from playoff hopes.

This past weekend, my Giants played the Dodgers and started the Spoilin' September compain. Love it. Friday night I went to the game with my friend Neil. Neil is a good friend but sadly, he is a Dodger fan. The Giants won in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the 9th inning. Dan Ortmeier hit a walk off home run. So, exciting. I think I jumped up and down for 10 minutes. Neil hung his head down but he was a good sport about his team losing. They played the radio call on the stadium's PA system. Here was the call, "IT IS OUTTTA HERE. WE'RE GOING HOME!!!". That was my favorite quote for the weekend.

Saturday, my dad and I went to the ball game. Before the game there was a tribute for the 40th anniversary of Mike McCormick winning the Cy Young Award. In his speech he said a few words that are true to my heart. He said, "I hate Dodger blue!". The Giants lost this outing with the Dodgers.

Sunday, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Ray Durham, known fondly by his fans as RayRay, pinch hit a 3 run homer that allowed the Giants to win. So, the Giants won the series. I always love when the Giants beat the Dodgers.

I read a great quick read this summer called 101 Reasons to Love the Giants. This is what reason number 56 titled The Rivalry says,

"Giants- Dodgers. It's a rivalry that has been around nearly as long as
baseball has. The Giants and Dodgers first met as major-league teams way back in
1884 in an exhibition game won by the Giants, 8-0. Through the years, the two
teams have faced off countless times- and crushed each other's dreams with
an amazing regularity. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" is the most famous
example, and Juan Marichal's bat to John Roseboro's head in 1965 is the
ugliest, but the list goes on and on. The Yankees and Red Sox may have a
fiercer rivalry, but the Giants' and Dodgers' has been much more
consistently competitive over the years."

So, Giant fans wait to see how this year will play out in September. Maybe, from dead last place, the Giants will spoil a few of the other teams from going into October.

Back to Work

The joy and happiness of summer vacation are now distant memories and future longings. Things are settling in quite nicely though. I am trying to apply a principle that my college professor ingrained in his young ambiguous students. That principle is KISS- keep it simple silly (think he used stupid for silly). My life over the last few years has gotten quite busy or I have tried to keep up my busyness from my younger days. I was completely spent by the time last school year finished and I don't want that to happen again. God is teaching me to say no to things that come up, to keep 3 week nights a week to myself, to take more time to "smell the roses" and to enjoy relaxing with things I enjoy.
There have been many changes at work but I think the changes are for the better. I like my new principal and vice principal and love the returning VP. There seems to be a seriousness about students misbehavior. Yesterday, I walked a defiant student to a vice principal and that student received in house suspension for the day today. Very nice. It is important that teachers have the administration support for expected behavior and appropriate consequences for behavior that does not match up to that.
Enrollment is down this year by 130 students and that cut one full PE position. Even though the enrollment is down our PE classes are huge. My largest class is 49 and had 3 new added students in the last 2 days. One of my co-workers has 54 in one class. We are still trying to figure how to manage such big classes. All the more with big classes we need administration support. To say it from a women's athletic perspective- we need good support, just like a good sports bra- good and supportive (but not like Brandi Chastain from the US Women's World Cup Championship, showing it off to the whole wide world).
With classes starting to inch up in the 50's, I am reminded of my LA teaching days. It was very typical for my PE classes to all have 50, 60 and even 70 students in one class. Talk about crazy. But honestly those were some of my best days of teaching. Most of the population of the school were non-Americans, many immigrants who were attending their first school in America. These students wanted to learn, yet their test scores stunk. I have a few students this year who speak little or no English. Yesterday, I translated almost our who PE pamphlet to these students using the 3rd grade level Spanish that I have. These students are eager and they were sucking up the opportunity to learn. God refreshed the weary teacher in my just by working with these "chicos".
God is faithful and I know He will give me the grace to survive this year. I am looking forward to a good year.

Friendship Garden

This summer I started my Friendship Garden. A friendship garden is a garden that includes plants, pots and memories that have been given to me by good friends. My dear friends Alex and Charity moved away to North Carolina and they gave me their "lemon aid" lemon bush. I know it was hard for them to part with this great, little lemon bush but they told me that I would give it a good home. It has not been put in the ground yet because I am want it to be part of my front yard make over. When I got this citrus, it was in bloom. The plant now has little lemons growing on it. Alex and Charity, he is doing real good, he misses you though. My garden also has "sweet vinca". My dear friends Matt and Eileen moved to central California this summer. They gave me a great pot to add to my friendship garden. I planted several vincas in the pot. It is a beautiful display of color. So bright and cheery, just like my dear friends. Each time I water these two plants I think of my dear friends who are now in a different location. I pray for them as I water my garden.

Creating a blog hymnal

My church is in the middle of a series called "Beware of Idols", click here if you want to listen in. The series has been really good and has convicted my heart in a few areas. Praise God for His Spirit that works in and on my heart. The songs that are song at my church are carefully and prayerfully planned out to assist the proclamation of the Word of God. I love singing songs that are deeply rooted in who God is and what Christ has done on my behalf. My intent in sharing these songs with the blogging world is to cause you and I to gaze upon Him. I can go back and look at past posts (in my blog hymnal, hahaha) and remember my God and my Savior. Here are a few of the incredible songs that I want to share with you this week: In Christ Alone (I want this song at my funeral), Psalm 62 and Surrender All.

In Christ Alone by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend@ 2002Thankyou Music.

In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless Babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid; here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain;
Then, bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand;
'Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand!

Psalm 62 John Michael Talbot, EMI Christian Music Publishing

Only in God is my soul at rest, in Him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock, my strength and my salvation.

My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be afraid at all.
My stronghold, my Savior, I shall not be alone.

Only in God is found safety when the enemy pursues me.
Only in God is found glory when I am found meek and found lowly.

Surrender All 2005 Sovereign Grace Praise

Take all I am, Lord, and all that I cling to.
You are my Savior I owe everything to.
Take all the treasures that lie in my storehouse.
They cannot follow when I enter Your house.

So I surrender all to You.
And I surrender all.
I surrender all to You.
I surrender all.

Take all my craving for vain recognition,
Fleshly indulgence, and worldly ambition.
I want so much Lord to make You the focus,
To serve You in secret and never be noticed.

Take all my hunger for all that's forbidden,
Every desire and sin I keep hidden.
Search me and know me, I want to bring to You
A life that is holy and sanctified through You.

Enjoy the songs. I love them. They are dear to my heart. Imagine the songs that will be song in heaven.

Barbi Backpack

I am watching the Giants play ball and saw something funny. A new rookie pitcher was going to the bull pin. He was wearing a pink Barbi backpack on both shoulders. The "newbies" have to carry all the supplies that might be needed in the bull pin in a Barbi backpack. This poor fellow had to walk from the dugout all the way to the Coors Field bull pin. Made me chuckle. I don't think this player minded carrying the pink supply bag because he was now in the big leagues, a dream he has had since he was an 8 years old boy.

My 8th grade boy students carry pink Barbi backpacks too. These "young men" carry little flimsy Barbi, Ninga Turtles, Superman, Spiderman, Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake, and Care Bear backpacks. What a laugh.

Summer Fruit and A Green Lawn

Love, love, love summer fruit. This morning I ate a huge bowl of fresh raspberries, blueberries and peaches for breakfast. "Yumahuh!" What is "yumahuh!"? You will probably here me talk about "yumahuh!" from time to time. "Yumahuh!" is a delightfully delicious meal or food to me. When you say "yumahuh!", you say it like the old Yamaha motorcycle commerical. So it would be "Yummmmmmmahuuuuuuuuuhhh!" It is also said kinda in a rhetorical question, "it's yummy, huh?" I wished I had a digital camera to take a photo of the delicious bowl to show you. Beautiful array of the colors of the luscious fruit, the white background of the inside of the bowl (outside of the bowl was blue and yellow plaid) and the silver spoon dipped deep into the bowl of color.

My back yard lawn was not as green as I would I like to be. My lawn had "highlights" of brown and yellow. A few weeks ago I used a 16-16-16 fertilizer to make the lawn more deep green. What a difference, my lawn is now beautiful, lush and healthy looking. But with extra fertilizer that means extra growth. Gave the neighbors a little time to sleep in (since it is Labor Day) and at the strike of 9:00 on my grandfather clock, I started up the mover. It's been hot around here for the last week and by the time I was done I had droplets of perspiration on my brow. The whole backyard looks much better with a nice, freshly mowed green lawn. Looks real sharp. I then mowed the dead (very dead intentionally) front yard. What a contrast. Lord willing, sometime soon I will be giving my front yard a make over, just waiting for all the fundage to be lined up. But the back yard looks wonderful.

I enjoy yard work, it is very therapeutic to my soul. Right now I have a little anxiety in my heart with the first day of school tomorrow and all the changes that have taken place at my school. Just worked for half an hour but had a nice time of prayer lifting my concerns up to God. When I finished, I ate the fresh bowl of fruit sitting outside enjoying the fresh air and the chirping of the birds.

40 Years of Marriage

Today is my Mom and Dad's 40th wedding anniversary! I am so grateful to God for my parents and the marriage that they have. May God continue to bless you richly in many more years together. Love you!

Roll on Bears

You go Bears!!! Good job with Tennessee. Fun game to watch tonight. Maybe this will be the year for a "real" bowl game.

I am a big Cal fan but not a Cal alumna and have never been to a college football game (can't count DVC or CSUN games). Back in high school I played on a club volleyball team. We practiced and played in tournaments on the Cal campus. Our team name was California Bears Junior Volleyball. I mainly only follow Cal football and volleyball. Hopefully, someday soon I will make it to my first Cal football game.

Holy, Holy, Holy

I have wanted to blog this post for several days now but am still awe struck by God's Holiness. Words have not seemed adequate to try to express my thoughts. Last Sunday's sermon was from Isaiah 6. Here is verses 1-7:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and
lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the
seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he
covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and
said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of
his glory!"And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who
called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am
lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of
hosts!" Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."

Still I am a little short of words. I have felt and still feel a little like Isaiah. God revealed His holiness to Isaiah's heart and that awesome reality made him look at his own sinful and lost heart. Isaiah knew he was lost, undone, worthless before a Holy God. Yet God in His holiness saved Isaiah from his bottomless pit of dispare. Only a holy God can save a man. The holy God sent a seraphim to bring the soothing balm to Isaiah's burning soul, "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for".

One of the obvious songs we sang was Holy, Holy, Holy. I love singing these rich songs so here are the lyrics.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in morning our song shall rise to
Thee; Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed
Trinity.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee. Casting down their golden crowns
around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which
wert and art and ever more shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Through the eye of sinful
man Thy glory may not see; Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow'r, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in
earth and sky and sea; Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three
Persons, blessed Trinity!

I was inspired to go and read more on God's holiness from a few classics: Attributes of God by A.W. Pink and Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer. Decided that I need to reflect on God's holiness much more than I do.

It is interesting to me that when God puts something to ponder on your mind and heart, it seems to pour in from many different sources. Recently, I have decided to re-read Pilgram's Progress, by John Bunyan when I go to bed at night. From my nightly reading (the same day I read the above classics) Christian is answering Prudence's questions.

"What makes you so eager to reach Mount Zion?"

"Why, there I hope to see the One who hung dead on the Cross alive again; and
there I hope to be freed of all the things within me that are such a struggle to
me. They say that there is no death there, and that I will live there with
wonderful companions. To tell you the truth, I love Him because He delivered me
from my Burden. And I am so tired of my inward sickness that I long to be where
there is no more sin and death and where I will be in the fellowship of those
who continually cry, 'Holy, holy, holy.'"