tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228434872024-02-18T18:10:12.299-08:00Concerning the LiliesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-34122979945344419092015-06-06T16:28:00.004-07:002015-06-06T16:28:50.036-07:00Parenting 2.0<br />
<br /><img align="center" src="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/7684a9fa8ac3fa779b65e10ccd7ab9f1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /><br />
Parenting 2.0<br />
<br />
Y'all. Having two kids is really hard. I don't know how my grandmother raised 6 essentially by herself. I don't know how anyone has more than two, honestly.<br />
<br />
We have been having lots of paradoxical moments where I think, "Oh man, we so don't got this." and five minutes later am glowing with our seeming success in managing a newborn and a 3.5 year old..."Oh yea, we got this!"<br />
<br />
For example...<br />
<br />
The threenager got out of his bed 72 times last night with various claims<br />
... there is hair in my mouth.<br />
... I need more water.<br />
... I'm still hungry.<br />
... I bumped my elbow.<br />
.... I need more love!<br />
<br />
We went from patiently putting him to bed to yelling, "GET IN YOUR BED" in about 2.5 minutes.<br />
::We don't got this::<br />
He finally went to sleep about an hour and a half after his bedtime. Whew...<br />
<br />
I cuddled our newborn (aka the blessed child because he cannot talk and therefore cannot ask us 1789 questions), watched a little Game of Thrones (so f-ing good) with the hubbie, had a beer and thought...<br />
::We got this!::<br />
<br />
Cue threenager to wake up at 11pm, about 20 minutes after husband got precious newborn to sleep and about an hour before I anticipated having to be up again to feed said newborn.<br />
... I'm scared of the "dark-i-ness"<br />
... I need more love.<br />
... I need three night lights, not two!<br />
... I need you to tuck me in!<br />
<br />
The expected yelling match, sweating, struggle ensues.<br />
::We don't got this::<br />
<br />
Today I was changing newbie's diaper in the living room and the no-longer-hysterical three year old wanders in with a fist full of parsley and basil he has picked from the kitchen garden so that his baby brother could smell them.<br />
<br />
:: We got this::<br />
<br />
On the way to the grocery store the three year old asks husband, "What does Mighty One Who Saves mean?" after hearing a song lyric. A discussion about sin and our need of Jesus ( holy cow do we need him) begins.<br />
<br />
:: We got this:<br />
<br />
At dinner, three year old declares to me, "Mama you cannot ever leave me. That is SIN."<br />
<br />
:: Ok, maybe we don't got this.::<br />
<br />
We are exhausted, over caffeinated, in love, exasperated, ready to cuddle and/or sell our threenager at and kissing/begging our newborn to sleep at any given moment. We are thankful for grace upon grace, for mercies new every morning (and espresso).<br />
<a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-5698347855770192092011-12-12T12:04:00.000-08:002011-12-12T12:20:28.374-08:00ready... set... motherhood.<p>11 days.<br /></p><p>thats how long i've been staring at this little bundle known as my son, jack.<br /></p><p>i can stare at him as i type this, his little face peeking out of a bundle of blankets as he sleeps next to me. i stare at him at 2am, 4am, and 6am (hah if only it were that predictable) as we figure out the mystery of nursing.<br /></p><p>staring probably isn't the right word... gazing, gulping him in, being in awe. those are closer.<br /></p><p>today i was struck by the way that Jesus is teaching me to love this little man and showing me how He loves me in the process. at 5:24 am jack started sqwuaking (i dont know how to spell that word) and i did my best to ignore him and pretend he wasn't waking up. again. to eat. again. i was desperately tired from the breastfeeding battle 2k11 that rages on in the wee hours of the night and really wanted to use jedi mind powers to talk him into going back to sleep. with a small sigh of defeat (and by small i mean loud enough that matthew heard me and said 'i'm sorry honey'), i got up, gathered the little bundle, and shuffled to the nursery to assume the position.<br /></p><p>then i looked. and saw my son. and felt patience and love flood past my tears of frustration. settling in for a half hour of looking.<br /></p><p>it hit me today while i was at the gym (one of greg's sermons <a href="http://www.trinitycville.org/worship/sermons_online.php">on unity</a> i had listened to while nursing being the catalyst for these thoughts) that this is exactly what Jesus wants for us. he wants us to feel how love can put our selfishness in check. how we can acknowledge someone else's needs are greater than ours and we can put them before ourselves. in humility. with love. making our joy complete. </p><p>while i want more sleep (a lot more), i want more of Jesus putting my heart in check even more. at whatever time of day that may happen. <br /></p><p><br /></p>sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-44459398688859907842011-08-24T18:02:00.001-07:002011-08-24T18:04:56.659-07:00Comments on the Baby Bump<p>School started today!!! I'm so happy to be back... I pretty much ran on adrenaline all day but had to share a few funny comments from kiddos about the baby bump:</p><p>
<br /></p><p>
<br /></p><p style="font-style: italic;">K asked, "When's your baby coming?"</p><p style="font-style: italic;">I replied, "December 1st!"</p><p style="font-style: italic;">K asked, "What time?"</p><p style="font-style: italic;">I said, "Thats a surprise!"</p><p>It's funny how some kids know too little... and some know wayyy too much!
<br /></p><p style="font-style: italic;">N looked at my belly and said, "Miss Shannon what happened to you??"</p><p>R asked, "What face you gonna make when the baby comes out?"
<br /></p><p><img style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://fotos.fotoflexer.com/7684a9fa8ac3fa779b65e10ccd7ab9f1.jpg" align="center" />
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<br />sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-47479340168979656152011-03-31T15:57:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:58:10.312-07:00dear children,<br />again, i think you overestimate cousins.<br />love,<br />ms shannon<br /><br />me: dont be a bully. you're not going to have friends if you are being mean.<br />k: so. i dont need friends. i got cousins.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-71448068739176093632011-03-31T15:54:00.001-07:002011-03-31T15:57:04.272-07:00child: ms shannon. i got bad news.<br />me: oh yea whats that?<br />child: i peed all over myself.<br />me: bad news indeed.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-91609813108578934512011-03-31T15:43:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:44:00.520-07:00man these grapes are smokin' yummy.<br />-- t.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-72427896801678890422011-03-31T15:40:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:41:19.705-07:00me: what did you build?<br />c: a house.<br />me: who lives in the house.<br />c: america.<br /><br /><br /><br />i hope you do build houses for america to live in, little friend.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-28086982232622315382011-03-31T15:29:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:33:18.490-07:00dear babies,<br />science is hard. i know.<br />love,<br />ms shannon<br /><br />me: do you know what gravity is?<br />z :I KNOW!<br />me: what is it?<br />z: MAGIC!sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-13627098669805117312011-03-31T15:18:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:21:45.416-07:00dear munchkins,<br />i wish i could take all of you on vacation with me.<br />then i rethink that wish.<br />love,<br />ms shannon<br /><br />me: boys and girls i wont be here tomorrow because me and mr matthew are going on vacation to a cabin in the woods.<br />z: where are you gonna sleep?<br />s: where are you gonna go to the bathroom!<br />me: guys, cabin is another word for house.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-39350875738311066252011-03-31T15:16:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:17:24.515-07:00speaking of professionals...<br /><br />while at the writing center, T interrupted A as she was about to go to town with the stapler.<br /><br />T: No, A! you can't use the stapler. you have to be a professional. here watch me. i'm a professional.<br /><br /><br />clearly all you need is confidence.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-62294618341899926922011-03-31T15:15:00.001-07:002011-03-31T15:16:31.843-07:00dear children,<br />i can't wait to see what you actually become when you grow up.<br />love,<br />ms shannon<br /><br />me: C, what do you want to be when you grow up?<br />C: (((long pause))) santa clause. (shorter pause) does santa live in outer space?<br />me: last time i checked he lived in the north pole.<br />C: where's the north pole?<br />t: oh the north pole is way out in the country.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-40551559666989175462011-03-31T15:13:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:14:13.474-07:00dear children,<br />cousins and colors are two different things. we'll work on this after spring break.<br />love,<br />ms shannon<br /><br />C: look ms shannon! d and me and both wearing blue! that means we're cousins!<br /><br /><br />close, so close.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-72498359608993130172011-03-31T15:09:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:12:28.046-07:00happy spring breakdear children,<br />sometimes you are great at telling the truth.<br />love,<br />ms shannon<br /><br />earlier this week we had a literacy event at school and i had planned to bring j with me because her family doesn't have a car. r immediately begged me to bring her too.<br /><br />r: why can't you bring ME tonight?<br />me: because your mom can bring you.<br />r: but i need a BREAK from my mom! my mom needs a break from me! we all need a break!sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-76047193814240119342011-03-31T14:52:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:00:30.795-07:00dear children,<br /><br />i love it when you try and cover all your bases to get what you want.<br /><br />yesterday a little hispanic boy rode up to me and ms va and pointing at ms va's bike said, "me want that bike." (which happened to be the exact same bike he was already riding but no matter)<br /><br />ms va prompted him, "por favor?"<br /><br />he responded, "pleasethankyouyou'rewelcome."sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-90881147078863137722011-01-18T16:17:00.001-08:002011-01-18T16:18:25.256-08:00R: Why didn't you get a tv for Christmas?<br />Me: Because I didn't have any money.<br />R: You don't need money! God'll make the present and Santa delivers it.<br /><br /><br />"Ms Shannon can I have a new book log? Michael Jackson broke in my house and stole mine."sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-44734034807240493622010-12-02T17:51:00.000-08:002010-12-02T17:53:47.714-08:00Some recent quotes...During a lesson on Hanukkah...<br />Me: Ok, so who remembers what the name of building is where the Jewish people worshiped God?<br />Student: Oo I know! Nipple!<br />Me: Close... its temple. Good try.<br /><br />A student at mg's school:<br />"Hi this is my good friend P. She's severely autistic."<br /><br />A child at my school after working very hard to peel a tangerine and eating one piece:<br />Ahhh that was refreshing.<br /><br />Me: Are you going to work hard to be a good friend today and not hit or spit?<br />Child: Yes. I was in my bed and I prayed to Jesus that he would help me not hit my brother too.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-79688791705532355352010-11-02T15:34:00.001-07:002010-11-02T15:35:52.002-07:00A child rolling over on her cot at nap time:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh my gosh.... I broke my hip.</span><br /><br />Conversation with a 6th grader about my job:<br /><br />6th grader: You teach preschool!? I don't know how you do it.<br />Me: Well... they're cute.<br />6th grader: Cute won't get you through the whole day.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-55062450680116167832010-08-30T13:23:00.001-07:002010-08-30T13:44:31.154-07:003x5Have you ever seen or used a 3 x 5 index card? I'm willing to bet if you've ever been to school you have. My dad used to joke that I should buy stock in them because I used them for every single subject to study... they held my organic chemistry compounds and equations, my english vocabulary words, my life cycle sequences and my Bible study memory verses.<br /><br />As a teacher this really hasn't changed much. I still really enjoy organizing my thoughts in a defined, pre-lined space (preferably with a Sharpie in hand).<br /><br />As I began my home visits this summer for my pre-k students I made up a card for each one of them. Their names where written at the top (in orange Sharpie) then their parents/guardians names on the other side with an address and phone number.<br /><br />That's it.<br /><br />That's all I knew about these children before I met them.<br /><br />I was struck today by how much more I could write on those cards. I now know and have had the privilege of meeting parents, grandparents, guardians, aunts, siblings, and several pet fish. Some of these details-- who lives at home and who else goes to our school-- have been added to the cards.<br /><br />But I could add that K is the best helper in my class-- he is always showing someone how to open their milk or where to sit at circle. I could add a running narrative of funny conversations between R and S, two half sisters I have in my class. I could start a diagram of who should and should not sit next to who if you want anyone to listen. Who can tie shoes and who has yet to conquer those pesky laces. Who goes to the bathroom 20 times a day. One child sings at nap time in full voice... in Spanish. One child seeks my attention-- and needs it-- almost constantly.<br /><br />At the end of the year, I doubt much more will be written on those notecards, because my favorite way of organizing information is insufficient to hold the streams of information I learn about these 16 children on a daily basis. I could group and re-group them by ten different attributes a day. At the end of the year I think I will be overwhelmed by how much I have learned about them. What a privilege.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-69570359172617970302010-08-18T04:57:00.000-07:002010-08-18T05:00:44.966-07:00Opening CeremoniesA few days ago we had our Opening Ceremonies for Charlottesville City Schools... all the teachers from the 11 schools packed into the CHS auditorium wearing our various school t-shirts and the dust from our classrooms.<br /><br />The vice superintendent Gertrude Ivory spoke (where was Superintendent of the Year Rosa Atkins? No one knows). But Ms. Ivory is an incredible speaker. She is sincere, inspirational, and honest. While listing CCS's accomplishments, she also mentioned that we have all too many non-proficient readers graduating from our schools. She mentioned test scores and diversity, growing ESL populations and creative innovations.<br /><br />She led into her speech with this statement (or close to it):<br /><br />We need our schools to be filled with both <span style="font-style: italic;">excellence</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">equity</span>. Because excellence without equity is privilege. And equity without excellence will lead our students to mediocrity that serves no one.<br /><br />Here we go...sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-23043663293657313402010-07-26T14:22:00.000-07:002010-07-26T14:36:32.575-07:00New Neighbors, New SistersWell friends,<br /><br />We did it! We're moved into Prospect Ave... and its such a story of God's faithfulness.<br />Five years ago when I was a Fellow God put it on my heart to move to this neighborhood... Ellen and I prayed about living here four years ago, and the Lord led us elsewhere (which was awesome), and in His timing has fulfilled the dream I had of being a part of this community. A community of people sitting on front steps and in front yards. Of walking to and from Blue Ridge Commons. Of a culture of yelling back forth across the street. Of children running from house to house. And a community where Jesus has been long before we arrived.<br /><br />There are other new arrivals to this neighborhood: a Bhutanese family who lives adjacent to us. And if you're like me and need a geography refresher: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan">here you go.</a><br />The six of them arrived in America after 8 months of "being in process" as refugees from Nepal. They were forced to leave Bhutan 18 years ago, selling a large farm where they grew rice, maize, and cardamum, and two houses as they left. Now the grandparents, parents, and children all live next to us! Their names are Bol and Kina (grandparents), Caabi and Gonga (dad and mom), and Tek and Rubina (son and daughter). They are unbelievably delightful.<br /><br />Before we had solidified our friendship with them, they were run outside everytime we came out to come and go from our house. They would stand on their little stoop and welcome us home, nodding and waving. Today, as I came home from the grocery store, my arms full and one hand holding a cell phone I was on, Gonga approached with two oranges and handed one to me and then handed me another and said, "Matthew!" Her intention was clear and I thanked her. I ran inside to dump the groceries, returning to the stoop with my orange and asked to sit with the grandparents. They said yes and I plopped down. Bol said to me, "No English," as a way of indicating he didn't know how to communicate, and I said, "It's ok. We'll just sit." And we did, peeling and eating our oranges. Naming a few things around us in Nepali and in English. Bol asked where my mother was (in their culture its unheard of to leave your parents living alone, sorry mom) and I tried to explain Lynchburg.<br /><br />Soon Matthew came home and promptly joined us on the stoop, which got the attention of Gonga and Caabi, who invited us into their house! We sat on the couch, admiring their maps on the wall of Virginia and of Israel. When I asked why they had a map of Israel, Caabi replied, "It's just a poster from IRC."<br /><br />We took them over to our house to show them around after some conversations, and they returned the favor. As we left our house, Tek, the 11th grade son, pulled me aside and said this is the first them they have been in someone else's house. He explained that in the camps in Nepal their homes were very small and they ran from place to place. His grandmother, he said, is very lonely because she has no one to visit and is in one house all the time. It causes the loneliness, he explained. I told him they were welcome at our house anytime.<br /><br />When Gonga led me upstairs to their home (which is almost identical to ours), she put a necklace around my neck and a ring on my right hand and proclaimed, "My gift to you! We are now sisters."<br /><br />What does it mean to have a Bhutanese sister!? I supposed we will now find out. I am so very thankful for these friends and that we can welcome them to the neighborhood.sgillikinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603294662732465266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-81473935288375679802010-07-24T14:00:00.000-07:002010-07-24T14:02:11.285-07:00AAAAAAnd we're back...Sometimes a lack of exposure to children + wedding planning = a blog drought.<br /><br />We're working on this.<br /><br />Matthew and I thought this would be an appropriate place to start logging some of our funnier encounters with some neighborhood kids, particularly a 6th grader named Garlodi who is originally from Liberia and one of the most inquisitive and hilarious kids I know.<br /><br />Today he said, "Was Gilli born in the woods?"<br />Me: No! Why?<br />Garlodi: He's so tall! I thought maybe he got his tallness from the trees.<br /><br /><br />This led to a discussion about DNA and genes...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-81662294429058809602010-03-07T15:50:00.000-08:002010-03-07T15:52:06.168-08:00<span style="font-style: italic;">"When we adopt-- and when we encourage a culture of adoption in our churches and communities-- we're picturing something that's true about our God. We, like Jesus, see what our Father is doing and do likewise (John 5:19). And what our Father is doing, it turns out, is fighting for orphans, making them sons and daughters."<br />-- Adopted for Life by Russell Moore<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-5982715401563220542010-01-10T18:32:00.000-08:002010-01-10T18:34:08.524-08:00A conversation between two four year olds...<br /><br />Boy: Can you tie your shoes?<br />Girl: No.<br />Boy: How many are you?<br />Girl: 2. (thinking he was asking how many shoes she had)<br />Boy: How can you be 2 if you have big arms??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-23186322227362162332009-11-19T09:42:00.000-08:002009-11-19T09:44:18.017-08:00quotable plebiansOur lessons on Ancient Rome continue... today we had some UVA students teach a lesson so I had the chance to observe and write down these little tidbits...<br /><br />Teacher: The Roman soldiers put their shiels over their heads to protect themselves.<br />M: Like a hermit crab!<br /><br />Teacher: What might the Romans do to people they conquered?<br />W: They might make them scrub their bathtubs.<br /><br />Teacher: An empire is a group of countries under one ruler?<br />S: Does that mean that one ruler is a REALLY big person!?<br />(We clarified that as our President Obama is over us but is not in fact sitting on us.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22843487.post-15250542180626127622009-11-10T05:04:00.000-08:002009-11-10T05:05:27.935-08:00ancient romeMe: Would you be able to vote in Ancient Rome?<br /><br />Kids: No!<br /><br />Me: Why not?<br /><br />J: Because it's really far away!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1