Share Three Somethings – October

Yes, I know the format for this post is supposed to include four somethings. I will explain later why I only have three to share this month (and maybe for several months to come).

Something Loved

 

My oldest grandson is currently attending school  in-person two days a week because of restrictions due to the pandemic. Three days a week, his learning is virtual.

My son (his father) is in charge of monitoring the virtual learning. He, of course, has work obligations and other duties around the house that prevent him from giving his full attention to my grandson for hours each day.

I, on the other hand, have very few obligations and, ahem, some experience with education. I happily volunteered to help my grandson with his virtual learning.

I think the experience was good for both of us. We got the work done in a timely fashion, there were no shouting matches or hurt feelings, and we even had fun with some of the work.

I did need to call in some expert advice for the science lesson, however. My area of expertise is chemistry. When a biology question had me stumped, I admit it – I texted one of my biology-teacher friends for some guidance.

I loved the feeling of helping an exceptional student to learn. I hope I still have the opportunity to help when some chemistry questions arise.

Something Read

I don’t remember who recommended this book to me, but whoever you were, thank you!

In The Ministry of Ordinary Places, Shannan Martin writes about her life and the lessons she has learned along the way.

She is not living the idyllic rural life she once imagined; she now lives in a gritty urban setting. Here she realized that the richness of life comes not from one’s surroundings, but from opening your heart to others. By opening her eyes and committing herself to reflect God’s love to those whose lives intersect hers, she found goodness all around.

Ms. Martin makes a point of reminding herself and her readers to show up and pay attention, a prompt I most certainly need. 

The author intertwines compelling personal stories with profound lessons. One spare, beautiful sentence has kept me pondering for weeks: “The death of self is marked with scars.”

I will definitely search for more books by this gifted author.

Something Treasured

 

In Colorado, the first Monday in October is officially Cabrini Day, the first state holiday which honors a woman.

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini., canonized in 1946, was a U.S. citizen who helped to found the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. These devout and diligent sisters founded schools and orphanages in New York City in the early 1900s, rescuing children from dire poverty and chaos.

She had a special fondness, however, for the foothills west of Denver, Colorado, where a shrine exists to honor and remember her.

My Colorado son and grandson, having the day off school and work, decided to honor Mother Cabrini by spending the day outside in nature. They went fishing.

My father, who never got to meet my grandchildren, was an avid fly fisherman who loved to visit Colorado and fish in the Yampa River for rainbow and brown trout. He would have approved wholeheartedly with his grandson’s and great-grandson’s decision to spend the day fishing.

My grandson caught his first trout, which he and his dad ate for lunch, along with some potatoes from their garden.

I think it will become a Cabrini Day tradition.

Something Ahead

So, this is the section of the post I am struggling with. The phrase “We make plans, and God laughs,” has never been more apt than during this pandemic.

Who really knows what is ahead at any given point in time, but especially now.

I think, at least for this month, I am going to leave this part of the post unfinished, spend my time just enjoying the “now“, and not look too far ahead.

Maybe next month, I will feel differently.

 

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