Poverty, Zen Mowing and Other Ramblings
I suppose that seems like a random title, but it's been a while since I posted, and a lot's been going on.
For starters, I've been in Huntsville and at my job for a month now. I'm starting to learn my way around the city and taking on more and more responsibility at work. I'm finding it difficult to pace myself and not become overly involved in a lot of "extra" things. I'm a joiner by nature, but I made myself a promise that I was going to give the Cowboy and my job my full attention for the first six months before I go out and start committing myself to other enterprises (like the amazing community theater program or that really awesome yoga class at the community arts center). I really am loving being up here and I feel like this home. We have an amazing garden at the house that continues to get bigger and bigger everyday. It reminds me so much of growing up in Missouri and the gardens my parents used to plant. I don't have many "warm and fuzzy" childhood memories, but playing in the garden is one that I treasure. It's been so nice to relive some of those moments with the Munckin.
With 6 acres to take care of, I've discovered that I'm in love with mowing the grass. We have one of those cool "zero-turn radius riding lawn mowers" (boys and butches get all the cool toys). It can take up to four hours to cut the whole thing, and oddly enough I've found a meditative quality to going around and around in circles. Puts a whole new "country" spin on walking the labyrinth.
My job is going so well. It's amazing how being in my field actually gives me such a sense of accomplishment and energy to do this unbelievably hard work. Everyday I seem able to find at least one moment of pure "grace" while working with my families and becoming a part of their lives. You can't help but become invested in them and their triumphs and struggles. My job isn't without it's difficulties and you want to scream sometimes. I've spent the last several weeks studying poverty and classism. I highly recommend a book called "Bridges Out of Poverty" to anyone who has any interest in the way class affects our world. From language to the way I dress for work, I'm constantly aware of the way class impacts my job and the families that I work with.
As seems to be my pattern I think my bosses got much more with me than they anticipated. I have two years as a VISTA here to make a mark, and I plan on making it so that they can't picture going on without me at the end of my service here. I have no doubt that this is where I belong, and despite the fact that the road was so long and arduous getting here, I continue to believe that it was all for a purpose.
So onward and upward...there's a world to save today; or at the very least one life to touch.
For starters, I've been in Huntsville and at my job for a month now. I'm starting to learn my way around the city and taking on more and more responsibility at work. I'm finding it difficult to pace myself and not become overly involved in a lot of "extra" things. I'm a joiner by nature, but I made myself a promise that I was going to give the Cowboy and my job my full attention for the first six months before I go out and start committing myself to other enterprises (like the amazing community theater program or that really awesome yoga class at the community arts center). I really am loving being up here and I feel like this home. We have an amazing garden at the house that continues to get bigger and bigger everyday. It reminds me so much of growing up in Missouri and the gardens my parents used to plant. I don't have many "warm and fuzzy" childhood memories, but playing in the garden is one that I treasure. It's been so nice to relive some of those moments with the Munckin.
With 6 acres to take care of, I've discovered that I'm in love with mowing the grass. We have one of those cool "zero-turn radius riding lawn mowers" (boys and butches get all the cool toys). It can take up to four hours to cut the whole thing, and oddly enough I've found a meditative quality to going around and around in circles. Puts a whole new "country" spin on walking the labyrinth.
My job is going so well. It's amazing how being in my field actually gives me such a sense of accomplishment and energy to do this unbelievably hard work. Everyday I seem able to find at least one moment of pure "grace" while working with my families and becoming a part of their lives. You can't help but become invested in them and their triumphs and struggles. My job isn't without it's difficulties and you want to scream sometimes. I've spent the last several weeks studying poverty and classism. I highly recommend a book called "Bridges Out of Poverty" to anyone who has any interest in the way class affects our world. From language to the way I dress for work, I'm constantly aware of the way class impacts my job and the families that I work with.
As seems to be my pattern I think my bosses got much more with me than they anticipated. I have two years as a VISTA here to make a mark, and I plan on making it so that they can't picture going on without me at the end of my service here. I have no doubt that this is where I belong, and despite the fact that the road was so long and arduous getting here, I continue to believe that it was all for a purpose.
So onward and upward...there's a world to save today; or at the very least one life to touch.