Disclaimer: Homework is seriously kicking my butt, however, I am compelled to share this story.
Tonight between putting the girls in bed and actually closing their door for the final time, I had to run upstairs for Claire’s nighttime meds. When I came back into their mostly dark room I could hear Ada’s little voice:
“I am bee-u-tee-ful. The Bible says, God loves meeeee.”
Best song ever.
Last week was the Missions Conference at our church. It is my favorite (and busiest) time of year. Although I spend much of the conference being completely humbled by my comparative lack of commitment and faith, I am always challenged by the stories of the missionaries.
Earlier this year Dan had the opportunity to travel to Brazil to visit with some of the missionaries who attend our conference. Marcondes and Ruth Marques operate an awesome ministry called CBC, or, the Channel to Brazil for Christ. The primary tool of their ministry to street children is a supplementary education program called The University of Life. In Brazil only 8% of students will graduate from high school. CBC tries to fill the educational holes by offering tutoring in basic subjects as well as training in fine arts, sports, and computers.
When Dan visited last year, the most moving day for him was a Saturday when the students at The University invited the children in their neighborhoods to a special event on the grounds. Volunteers came in with hygiene lessons, make-up bags, and hair cutting stations. Dan said it brought tears to his eyes to see children washing the feet and hands of their young friends, literally scrubbing away their neglect and abuse with fingernail brushes and soap. By the end of the day, children left clean and coiffed. What a message of love.
I hadn’t thought of this before, but Leap Day is the perfect day to celebrate Rare Rocks. This whole year is really a celebration of the Uncommon. Every other year is just a common year, but Leap Year is called the Uncommon Year.
Fortunately, Leap Years are actually more of a Common Uncommon. I mean, they roll around every four years, making them special but not freakishly strange. I think Rare Rocks are like that. We are trying to live a life that stands above the frey, believing in a Spirit world and the God who made it. We are striving for virtue and living in a way that tries to make a difference at least in our own respective corners of the world. We may be few, but we are mighty.
When I was 11, Halley’s Comet came through our part of the Universe. This is a once in a lifetime event (basically – someone could catch it twice, but since it appears every 75 years, one of those times they probably won’t remember it). We prepared for it in school for weeks, reading all about comets and stars. Halley’s Comet is Uncommon.
But, like Leap Day, a Rare Rock is more of a Common Uncommon. We are rare enough to be exceedingly valuable, but common enough to wear everyday. We are royalty, but we live among the people. The Common Uncommon.
So, today we celebrate the Common Uncommon. How should we do it? Good question. I had breakfast with my sister, one of the first Rare Rocks I ever knew. It isn’t something we get to do as often as we would like and there was no special occasion (except Leap Day, now that I think about it). And we ate and talked too much and laughed. By our presence, we celebrated each other, which is, in a way, celebrating the Common Uncommon.
You’ll love Serenity’s post about the Oscar party her friend Michelle threw for her. Red carpet and everything!
I wasn’t home and I don’t get ABC anyway, but I did catch some clips on YouTube, especially those mentioned by Seren. I loved the winning song from Once. That was beautiful. Almost as lovely were the acceptance speeches of the writers (who were also the actors in the movie). They were all about believing in your dreams and not giving up. (In really cute accents, which only serves to reinforce the magic!)
But my favorite part came when Jon Stewart brought the girl back out after the commercial break. She had been cut off and didn’t get a chance to give her acceptance. Stewart ushered her toward the microphone and said, “Enjoy your moment!”
How insightful of him. That was her moment and if he hadn’t stepped in, it would have been robbed from her. How gallant. I teared up a little after he said that. He is Hollywood, afterall, and sometimes we imagine that they have no idea what matters to people in the real world. But in that gesture, he knew.
I loved it. It was my favorite part.
I just spent the morning with my sister. We weren’t in the same town, but we hung out together while we fed our children and surfed the Internet. It was awesome. Thank you, MacBook camera!
Sometimes I worry that the conveniences of the digital age are more trouble than they are worth, but when I can spend a quiet morning with my 8 month-old AND my sister – while we are both in the warm comfort of our own homes – this is SWEET!
Here we are video chatting with Aunt Serenity:
Cleaning up around the house on Saturday night I came across all the various remnants of a relaxing “Stay-Home Day.” Crumbs in the carpet, sippy cups under the coffee table, and crayons in the sofa cushions were just a few of the offenders. The most telling find was a pile beside the bathroom door; it included a satin Cinderella gown, a tube of lip-gloss, and a blue light saber.
I’m not sure which girl dropped all of this at the last moment before she jumped into the bathtub, but it is indeed a fair reflection of the day. My son, Jesse, is in full-on Star Wars mode. His little sisters are doing their best to be right in the mix.
It is a balancing act, this job of being a woman-warrior, but with the right ratio of strength and glam, it is also a lot of fun.
