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rachel downing
Thoughts, Theories & Therapy.
I have always been proud of the fact that I never lose socks in the laundry. This, however, was before I had a child. I never realized how hard it is to locate these tiny little matched socks once they have been washed and dried. Ethan’s socks seem to vanish somewhere between the hamper and the washer, the washer and the dryer, or the dryer and the dresser. I cannot figure out what happens to these socks!
Such was the case when I was doing laundry before Ethan was born. Being the conscientious new-mom-to-be, I was washing all of my baby clothes before his arrival. As I was folding and putting them away, I was left with one light blue sock. I looked high and low but could not find that sock (I have since learned that socks like to hide in obscure places like in the feet of pajamas or in the sleeve of shirts, which has helped cut my losses tremendously).
Being the OCD person that I am, the missing sock drove me absolutely crazy. I figured I must have thrown it away with a dryer sheet or something because it was nowhere to be found and I could not comprehend the fact that a sock would just vanish into thin air. I finally gave up looking, but being the pack rat that I am, I could not bring myself to get rid of the other sock, so it sat in the sock drawer for months. Just in case.
Well, wonders never cease. Yesterday when I was doing laundry, as I pulled Ethan’s clothes out of the dryer, what do you think was right on top? That little blue sock.
As I was making peach cobbler this afternoon, I began to reflect on this summer and everything that has happened even in the last couple weeks. I have 2 more days before I return to work for a new school year and I believe I will return a vastly different person than when I left in May.
In late July, a few missionaries from Brazil and Japan came to stay in Peoria for several weeks as one recuperated from surgery. While they have been staying here, they have been attending our church. Their presence turned out to be an answer to prayer. They have been here for about 4 or 5 weeks now and we know that our church will not be the same after they leave. We have been praying for a renewed vision and passion within the church and it seems that we are about to get it. You see, the missions organization (PAZ) they come from in Brazil (that has extended to Japan) is seeing a mighty work of God. Their central church boasts of about 15,000 members, growing daily! Do we think of churches that size when we think of Brazil?
As they have been here, Isaac and I have felt a very strong urge to go down there and help next summer. I certainly didn’t see that coming at the beginning of the summer! We have been invited to go down there several times, and though, Isaac probably would have gone in a heartbeat each and every time, I have never really felt a strong desire to go, other than “it would be neat” or “maybe someday.”
Apparently, God had that “someday” planned quicker than I expected, because this time when the invitation came around, it was different. I can actually say that I really want to go and am very excited to pursue this journey throughout the next year. Those that know me know that I tend to be a worrier by nature, but things that would make me second guess this decision (like, what we will do with our dogs for 6 weeks???) don’t have me concerned.
Though we will be going to do whatever they need us to do, I am really excited to see how they run things and just how they operate. I want to learn and I want to grow. And I want to bring it back here. I think that is what God has in store for me.
In the mean time, please pray for us as we begin to prepare for this adventure. We are so excited we have already started taking Portuguese lessons!
Hopefully my Portuguese will turn out better than my peach cobbler.
Do you remember what it was like to be in Junior High?
By day, I am a middle school counselor. The school at which I work encompasses sixth, seventh, and eighth grades and hosts a variety of “crises” that one can only describe as drama. Remember being best friends with one person one day and the next day you hated each other, vowing never to speak again? THEN, the next day you are best friends again? (ladies, I KNOW you all can relate to me)
Ladies and gentlemen, this is what I deal with on a daily basis. Sometimes, it makes me laugh knowing that the crisis that comes to my office will resolve itself in less than twenty-four hours with no earth shattering guidance from me. In fact, the nuggets of wisdom I typically recommend, seem to entice the student to do the exact opposite.
Sometimes, however, it makes me cry (or want to pull my hair out — take your pick). Let’s face it — girls can be mean. If boys are mad at each other, they tend to hit or fight then get over it. Girls enlist allies then gather ammunition to use on their intended victim. It’s like a carefully planned game of RISK. Girls don’t forget. If a friend crossed them in grade school, they will remember it and bring it up when they are mad in seventh grade.
I usually find solace knowing that time will offer a favorable outcome… eventually. As soon as that students leave my office, it is only a matter of time before their problems are resolved … and they are well on their way to the next crisis.
So much drama. It has helped me learn a lot about myself this past school year. All the drama that I have had to listen to and attempt to resolve makes me realize, that if in fact this is my chosen vocation (one that I truly love), then I AM the ultimate drama queen.
I have no one to blame but myself.
