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To Wait

by Shaun

I’ve discovered... while I enjoy change, I don’t like waiting. Some people don’t like change, but I’ve always found it exciting and fun, like the improv game where you’re in a scene and then someone yells “freeze” and tells you that you’re now in a new scene, and “go.”  It’s electrifying! One minute “you’re Lebron James shooting a jumpshot,” and then you freeze mid-shot and become “a blade of grass trying out for American Grass Idol” (or something like that).

I like the change in that game, but I wouldn’t want to stand there frozen for very long. I’d get tired and impatient and I’d just want to be moving, either following through on the jumpshot or belting out Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary” in front of the grass judges. And the thrilling, deep satisfaction in acting is that you really dive in and unleash all you’ve got into that one character or that one moment. I think it just feels good to give everything, no matter what you’re actually doing.

Some people don’t like change, but I don’t know anyone who likes to wait. 

Yet, that’s what I’m doing right now. I just turned in my second application to the Literature and Environment program at the University of Nevada, Reno. And now, we wait. Which isn’t all that new, I’ve sort of been waiting since June of 2008. I waited to apply, applied in Jan. 2009 and then I got rejected and have waited to apply again. But I think it’s starting to wear on me now.

The wear isn’t really from a need to necessarily get in (though, that’s what we’re aiming for here!). The wear has been the waiting to know what I can give myself to next. I’ve spent a year and half in a sort of limbo and I’m ready to get out.

In the improve game, I was “doing ministry with kids and families” and I called FREEZE on myself ... and the crowd (the world, the Man, me, whoever) is still talking over what my next role will be. Somebody needs to call something out and say “Go!”

And I’ll be that embarrassing blade of grass, I really don’t care. I just want to be.

On a practical note, I think I’ll know something within the month. Then I can break a leg.

"blogworthy"

 by Kyndra

Shaun and I have gotten in the habit of claiming, "blogworthy" to certain events that we see as particularly funny or interesting enough that we think they should be published on this blog. This story, I could not pass up sharing, for it is truly, blogworthy ...

I was at work, reading to a 5 year old girl with autism who loves to learn and loves books. (I should also mention, that she really loves food too!) She chose the book Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson to be read to her while she swung in her hammock-like parachute swing. 

 

As we turned to this page, and I began to read about Henry crossing a swamp and finding a bird's nest in the grass, I was abruptly interrupted from an innocent voice requesting, "Are those corndogs, Kyndra?!"

 

I was completely caught off guard (because what would corndogs be doing in a child's book based on Henry David Thoreau's life?) And then, I realized her thinking ... "No", I said, "those are called cattails. They are plants that grow in fields called marshes." 

What a reflection of the culture this generation of children are growing up in where there is little connection to where food comes from. The corndog might as well grow on a plant out in a field, right? And nonetheless, it is juxtaposed with the book series based on Thoreau's life!

Not to worry however, after this we had a wonderful 5-yr-old-appropriate-discussion on bugs eating the growing strawberries in the strawberry patch at her home. 

blogworthy? thoughts? :)

Birthday #27

 by Kyndra

A few weeks ago (April 30th), I turned 27 years old. My wonderful co-workers surprised me with a home-made delicious vegetarian lunch! They made falafel (which I LOVE), tofu stir-fry, and a blueberry cheesecake to celebrate. A client of mine and a client of Judy's participated in all the fun as well, which made the birthday even more special. Here's a few pictures from the birthday lunch at Transition Point / Abe-L Bodies Corp.

 

Spending my Days

by Shaun

Reading Dan Price today, he quotes Viktor Frankl:

"He who has a why to live can bear with almost any how."

I was expecting to live that quote out for a while, as I looked for employment and anything to get us by.  When we moved here for Kyndra's internships and my studies at UNR, we knew I'd have to land a job for a bit.  I really had no idea what kind of job that would be, and that unknowing was exciting.  I figured it would be something small and short-term, honestly. 

But the "belly-itcher", as he's tauntingly called, has decided to throw us a curve, perhaps trying to brush us back.  It's just that we're deadset on swinging away, and there's nothing that will change that now. 

(see baseball glossary)

I didn't see the job at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd coming ... and I don't know exactly where it's going.  It doesn't necessarily seem small or short-term...
I do know we've had some wonderful visits and I had a splendid first day as Children and Family Ministries Coordinator.  Now, I'm looking forward to this special (unexpected) work I can do while we are here. 

3, 4, or 5 things - an Update!

-Shaun

1...went to the Andrew Bird show on Wednesday night was simply amazing.  I had never seen him in concert before, but have followed his music fo years.  His talent with a live audience is mezmerizing and his band is great as well.  I especially dug trying to keep up with his drummer, looping beats and playing keys with one hand and drums with the other.  (He is the artist Dosh - check it out).  And make every effort to see Andrew Bird live!

2...I got offered a job on thursday!  Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd has offered me the position of “Children and Family Ministries Coordinator,” and I’m happy to accept.  It has been an interesting journey to this particular job and it has us analyzing our lives here in Reno (more on that another time).  This small church, just down the road from our house, seems like a unique, open group of people concerned with really serving the poor and hurting in Reno.  It will differ from what I’m used to, but we’re really beginning to see how it is (was) the next good step.  I’m very excited about it and will update more soon.  I officially start on July 28th.

3...Kyndra just wrapped up week 3 of her fieldwork with some hard, but good, evaluations.  She is no longer a mere observer and is having to learn while doing it  - sometimes for the first time.  But she works with good people and has the best attitude about it all.  It’s really eye-opening to hear the real stories of therapy every day.

4...I’m enjoying having more time to read books and blogs lately.  I admire someone like Annie Dillard who claims to try to read about 300 books a year.  I’ve been reading, but not quite like that.
The most enjoyable book lately has been rereading Dan Price’s stimulating memoirish book - Radical Simplicity.  It really is a creative workout.
The blog I’ve enjoyed following is McLaren’s notes on Faith, Politics, and Voting.  He is releasing them in parts, of which there are 6 so far.  All are good, clear, and challenging.  Take a look and let’s discuss!

5...Guests from Texas will arrive late tonight and stay for a week.  I’m really looking forward to Richard and my brother Brendon being able to hang out with us here.  It’s a bummer that Kyndra will have to work during the week ... but I’m still free, so that’s all working out pretty well!!  We’ll make plans when they arrive, but the skies are clearing out and it’s not so smoky from the California forest fires ... so it’s a good week to be here.  I’m thinking we’ll head out to Desolation Wilderness just southwest of Lake Tahoe - to hike and camp.  Some rafting is probably also in the works, along with sitting around with pipes, showing off the campus, and some casino time if someone feels lucky!  We’ll keep you posted with pics and stories along the way. 

There’s the Ohome update.  Peace and all good. 

Noodle Arms

by Kyndra

I have finished 2 weeks of my internship, and now I have 10 more to go ... not that I'm counting or anything! The first week was fabulous. I met so many nice people on the therapy staff. I enjoyed observing my instructing OT treat patients and explain to me the reasoning behind it all. It was a great start to something that I had been anxious about for a very long time.

The second week was a roller-coaster for me. I began feeling overwhelmed by all that there is to learn with all the different diagnosis, hospital procedures, and OT treatments. It became too much for me, and I started getting really down on myself. Then, I decided that spending as much time worrying and fretting as I was ... was exhausting. So, I chose to go in with a positive mindset and take one patient at a time.

I have two instructing OT's that split me half the week like a child of divorced parents. The rules and the "way of doing things" are very different between the two of them! I observe most of the first week with Instructor #1 and she spends a lot of our time explaining, training and answering my questions. I get out of doing treatments and evaluations when I show slight hesitancy. ;)
Instructor #2 is the type that stays true to the occupational therapy motto, "Learn by doing." He essentially throws me in the deep end, as the saying goes. I'm the type that could sit back for 12 weeks and observe and be happy as a clam. I am so uncomfortable jumping in and trying things for the first time ... I like to know what I am doing, I don't like to mess up, and I am very hard on myself when I do. I've had to learn to be kind to myself more than any other time in my life. This internship is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but each day, as I do more and try things, I gain confidence. The confidence feels really good, even though I have a long way to go!

 “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

- Eleanor Roosevelt
(of course Eleanor would say this ... she is my fav!)

Instructor #2 has been including me in his treatment sessions with patients. Usually, he takes the patients that are very involved and lets me eval/treat the patients with less complications. (So ... maybe he's not as hard-nosed as I described!) But, with his patients, I climb in the bed and support (which often times means hold) them up as they sit at the edge of the bed for treatment, which usually lasts about 30-40 minutes. I have pretty wimpy arms, so I am getting a serious workout each day! It's the end of week 2 and I am pooped ... and my arms feel like noodles.

Happy Hour Blog

[by kyndra]
I just finished my "Midterm Madness," as Shaun called it. And ... it was MADNESS! I only had 3 midterms this semester compared to up to 7 (yes 7) in semesters past. But this round was quite a doozie! I have an incredible professor, who is brilliant, and has been teaching since before I was born! It seems though that she has had more than 25 years to perfect the most impossible tests. She expects a lot out of us, which makes it hard, but I'm sure worth it in the end.
So, I am really looking forward to my 2 internships, which will be in RENO, NEVADA!! I will begin my first in late June at the medical center there. My 2nd begins in September at a private clinic that uses an inter-generational approach by combining their adult and child day care programs. I have been interested in this type of approach since my undergraduate studies in family dynamics and child development. There is so much to learn and experience when we move, and I am anticipating an exciting, adventurous year ahead. I am most excited for Shaun. He loves school and anyone who knows him well, knows that he loves to read and learn. He has an amazing mind, and I can't wait for him to be in a place where he can spend all of his time invested in learning about the environment and literature. It will be wonderful to see where this upcoming path leads us!

ps. Here are some pics of me putting OT training to work.  First is us in a lab, using  a Nintendo Wii as therapuetic activity for people with spinal cord injuries.  The second pic is me pretending I have a C7 SCI and trying to put pants on ... not so easy people!

"Slippery" - Sunday Scribblings

Per Reagan's suggestion, I plan to answer the call of some sites and blogs for creative writing from other bloggers.  One Reagan mentioned is Sunday Scribblings - a site that offers up a weekly challenge to write on a certain topic or prompt.  This past week was "slippery," and I did some poetry/prose in response.  It was fun, so I hope to keep it up.  (also, it's a work-in-progress and a working title!)  Humbly, here it is:

Walk from Work

Our work and life lead to inevitables; we exist upon a slippery slope. 
I live down the street from the building in which I work, and convenience was good, at first.

Now the proximity is in my life. 
Things are too close, and blurred,
and I stumble through the mess of tangled umbrage.

Sometimes I arrive home dirty, because the hill behind where I work is often saturated with rain and run-off.  Splashes of bitchy mud bind to my legs and shoes as I walk down the hill to my car, headed home. 

Once, I slipped and fell, performing an awful emergency landing on the tufts of grass and mud.  I threw my backpack off my shoulders and punched the ground, my fist vibrating hard like an old church bell, ringing out time, or announcing ... something.

And I began to laugh.  Not in sorrow or joy, just unzipping frustration.

I laughed at the work I was coming from.
I laughed at the home I was going to.
And I laughed at the short, but potent, journey between them -

A dirty, slippery, dangerous little hill,
wild clarity,
my daily mini-hike.

Spring Break!

Kyndra gets a Spring Break this week! Yahoo!!!

Many kids from IBC were recently on break this past week, so things around IBC were kinda sparse.  So many staffers with kids were hanging out at home. 
So, we did some staff get togethers where families could come - it was great!  Reagan Pugh came in town and so we ended up haning out a bit.  Very cool.

Anyway, HERE'S a video I made after we did a rootbeer float staff get together on the back patio of IBC.  For entertainment, we mixed dry ice into half empty bottles of Sprite and watched them explode!  Cool Spring Break fun!

and, this week should be even greater (especailly for the crazy school-involved kyndra!).
peace and all good,
-shaun

child care

Real Live Preacher keeps me awake and challenges me.  Now and then, he even speaks to what I do for a living! 
Check out his post about children and their care - Soft True Strong & You.

When I pause to think about it, I do wonder about children & faith & "children's pastors" & what's all really going on there.  I know my own tradition and experience and that's it!  I don't really know another way to do things ... but sometimes I feel like there is another way.  How can I position myself to get a glimpse?