14 boys, running, and God's Long Nose

It's Back to School Day, folks. I met most of my 21 kids and their parents and gave the annual speech about missing papers, sign-up sheets, dress code, you name it. I have 14 boys and 7 girls. I had 3 parents tell me that they were praying for me with all of those boys, 1 mom tell me that it is hilarious that my name is Butts and I have all the guys who will laugh about it, and 1 dad tell me how this group is so athletic and yet so humble (weird remark, I thought, here's hoping) and one boy tell me that he is very smart. Not sure what to think, but with 3 girls not showing today, it felt like I taught at an all-boy school. There were siblings everywhere, too. I felt sweaty and probably said "um" too much, but hey, what do you do? I just try to catch as many names as I can of parents, learn the kids' names and faces and try to come across as a with-it professional, young though I am, capable of handling "all those boys". Shew. I know that I'm incapable, but the Lord is gracious. I like teaching boys; I don't have a preference. I'm just used to about 9, not 2/3! :)

At any rate, my classroom is squeaky clean and back to a peaceful quiet. There is much to be done with planning, especially with my new curriculum for reading.

Dustin is gearing up for another semester at Southern. He'll be taking 15 hours, which is a LOT in seminary. He has over a dozen books on his desk, and he hasn't even bought them all yet! And... he's taking Hebrew II. So, out come the flashcards and Jamie's giggles as he sounds like he's coughing up hairballs pronouncing those ridiculous-sounding words. One thing Dustin learned in Hebrew was that when the Bible says that God is slow to anger, it really says "God has a long nose." To have a long nose was an idiom for being patient. So, I decided I'm super thankful that God has a long nose. :)

Inspired by my friends Becky and Robin, Dustin and I have taken up running again. I checked out a book from the library put out by Runner's World. I read it over our anniversary trip and was further motivated. They put you on a basic plan where M, W, F and S, you jog/walk 30 minutes, with certain amounts of time for each. On T/Th, you just walk for 30 minutes. Sunday, you are off. I'm up to "alternate jogging for 4 minutes and walking for 2 minutes for 30 minutes" now, which is much harder than it may sound. Next week I graduate to alternating 5 minutes jogging/2 minutes walking. (Dustin can run the whole time. He cheers me along on my plan.) A few of us friends here in town want to run in Southern's Missions Fundraiser 5K in October. For extra incentive, Dustin and I decided when we have 20 days of running in our exercise logs, we will go and buy new running shoes! I can't say that I love running, because I don't. But, I like it. I like that it motivates me to eat healthier. I like the 30 minutes of no talking, no doing, where you just think or pray or look at squirrels or people. I like that it makes me crave water instead of Dr. Pepper. And, I like it that it really does make you think of all the running analogies in the Bible, just like Becky said it would!

I have a quote about marriage that I want to share soon. I think it applies to so many other things, too. The pattern of my life is shooting REALLY high with goals and then crashing and burning and starting over. This summer was no different. You think you will do this and that and this and that... yet you only do this and you don't even quite finish this. Sigh. Yup. This is my life. BUT then... you have verses and friends and books and wisdom and TRUTH that comes in and reminds you that you are not righteous. Not saved by works. Not slaves to legalism. And you start thinking that maybe you should think realistically about that old quote that ONLY God finishes His to-do list. Summer was yet another reminder for me that I am not God. Another reminder to trust and love Him and think through realistic goals, balance, grace. But this is a post for another time...