cicados tuning up

the different part of the orchestra tuning up

the pauses and then the loud outbursts

what all does an orchestra do

In Loving Memory of Me

Last Tuesday I started sharing a series of poems that my students wrote several years ago after studying the Holocaust. These 7th grade poets astounded me. I hope you feel the depths of emotions they shared.

In loving memory of me,
in loving memory

of my hopes and dreams,

Because in here it seems

I don't have any.

In here there is nothing,

Nothing but fear and hatred.

There is not even a slight smile

on the face of a child.

All I ever see on their faces

is worry and no hope of freedom.

All I ever hear is

"in loving memory,"

but today is different.

It's "in loving memory of me."

As I walk down the long hall,

I feel as though

there is still hope for me.

As I am waiting in fear

taking my last breath,

As I am watching the drunken soldier

laugh at my tears,

I take one last look around me,

I look at my mother

dying in her own tears,

And I wave to her that last goodbye

and whisper to her,

"In loving memory, Mother,

in loving memory of me."

by Shelby

front porch plants

This is update:

Jacob, everything looked so, so good this morning!!!! Actually, I came up on Sunday afternoon because I couldn’t wait to see it. The courtyards and the flower bed out front all look amazing! The teachers have been commenting on it all morning. I guess I’m not used to having people do stuff for me & the school, for free, etc. I’m overwhelmed by the efforts you all put into the project.







I really meant for us all to gather and pray for the school before I left, but I forgot. I hope all of you will pray for Henderson and for me as we start our year on Wednesday. I actually hired a Baptist minister as an English teacher this year. He and I are going to do some prayer-walking before Wednesday. It will be nice to know that others around town are also lifting us up.







Again, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of all of you. We would love to keep this relationship going. If we can ever do anything for you, please let me know.







Sincerely,



Steve Geurin

multitude monday

for gentle breezes that lift billowy kites to the heavens,

for colorful kites to fly,

watching children at play,

and the waves that pound upon the shore--

for morning sun that bathes a hydrangea in its warmth,

for the dew that sparkles like a million diamonds,

for old churches where our heritages were forged,

For our ancestors who prayed so diligently for us--

For mission trips,

And helping hands--

For all of these I give grateful thanks.

#'s 11-20 in connection with

photo credits

My friend Marianne's grandson Jack-

a hydrangea in my yard

a picture of an old church in NW Arkansas

a picture my granddaughter took in Africa on a mission trip