The Recycle Trailer
“Mom this is so dirty and messy do we really have to do this?” asked my oldest son
“Not everything we do for God is clean and neat. Yes, we have to do this.” I replied
This is the recycle trailer that I have used on campus for the past 5 years all year long. I voluntarily coordinate a recycle program for our school and parish called HOPE – Help Our Planet Earth. The children bring in newspapers from home. Each classroom has 2 recycle boxes; one used for newspapers the other for white papers, school papers etc. Once a week the kids bring their boxes to the trailer and I dump them into the correct box. Twice a month before and after Church we have volunteers collect papers, cans, magazines etc. So far we have made over $8,000 in 5 years that has gone straight back to the school in forms of student scholarships towards tuition. Because I coordinate the program if a shift has not been filled my children and I work the trailer; crushing cans, unloading papers from parish member’s cars and dividing the papers into the correct boxes. I am dealing with trash that can be recycled to save space in today’s dumps. If anyone is interested in the program I have created email me. I have a detailed report on how it works and how to set it up in your Church/School (and of course it is free).
It stinks and is very hot in that trailer. The cans we crush are nasty and usually wet. The bags of newspapers are heavy and we have to use our muscles and sweat. That is all just fine with me because what I am doing is for God to honor His earth and preserve it. It’s only one school, one Church, one neighborhood but it is 400 different children that learn how to recycle each year, forming habits for a lifetime; habits that will aid them in caring for the earth.
We teach our children so many lessons in this life from how to say please and thank you, to how to love. Everything we do and say sets an example for how they will or will not live as they grow older. It’s good to show them it’s important to be ok with dealing with trash and serving our earth. If the only service we do for God is writing a check to a Church/Organization how will they learn to serve hands on in this life? Get out there and find a way to serve God that they can help you with even if you will get messy.
“Because not everything we do for God is neat and clean.”
Posted: Sep 3rd, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: Example · Parenting · Service
Rearview Mirror
We are constantly driving forward yet if we don’t use our rearview mirror we are likely to be in an accident that will stop us for some time. So we look back and we look forward so that we might proceed in this life to head towards the next one. Continue reading →
Posted: Sep 2nd, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: future · growth · past
Grandpa's Grave
On a small fieldtrip by myself I wandered about a beautiful old cemetery in my town. Mature trees line the many roads that meander through the majestic park like setting. It is known not only for the unbelievable monuments and unique headstones but also for its ponds and the ducks that occupy the land. Wanting to photograph the entire area I drove in my minivan in no particular direction. Every time a statue caught my attention I stopped the car took my camera and started shooting. Having witnessed the geese landing on the pond, the beautiful swan spreading her wings and the rolling hill sides I explored more. Continue reading →
Posted: Sep 1st, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: Listening · Relationships
The plant turning toward the sun
Notice how the stems of this plant are all straining to reach the light of the sun. They are seeking the nourishment they need to survive. We all strive to seek the nourishment we feel we need to survive.
What do you seek in your life for nourishment? We all need water, food, shelter and clothing and after that it just depends on each person’s individual priorities. Some say they need a new car but many just take the bus. Some say they need the best cell phone/handheld computer money can buy but many don’t have a cell phone at all. Some say they need more things and many just need to be loved. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 31st, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: God · Needs · Source
A walnut
Spencer, my seven year old has the eyes of an eagle. He spotted this opened walnut in the grass and brought it to me. The seed fits so perfectly into the shell. I enjoyed placing it back inside the shell fitting it like a little puzzle. When the seed sat inside it was protected by the thick wood of the shell but out of the shell it was fully exposed to the little claws of approaching squirrels and the possibility of sinking into the ground and becoming a tree one day. Yet, in my hands it was safe from both natural consequences. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 30th, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: God · life
Shadow of a tree branch
“Mom you have to take a picture of this. Come here mom look at it.” Anna said breathlessly on the trail in the woods.
The shadow of the leaves is so vivid that if one only glanced they would think it was the actual plant. Yet, the strength of the sunlight is what cast the shadow so crisply upon the dirt of the beaten down trail we ran upon. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 29th, 2010 | topics: Tidbits.
tags: acceptance · God's Light
A golf course
It’s beautiful, peaceful, refreshing and soothing to look at this picture. Nature should never be underestimated. God created nature filling it with vibrant colors, tantalizing waters, enduring trees; all hold a beauty that no man made treasure can give us. There is no substitute for the beauty of nature. We can look at pictures and take a deep breath imagining us in the scene but being there is all together different. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 28th, 2010 | topics: Tidbits.
tags: Nature · Relax
Kids playing Pooh Sticks
Each one of the children found a stick different from the next child to launch into the creek to play “The Stick Game”. We have played this game for years each child finds a stick and has to remember what it looks like then on the count of three they all throw their sticks into the water and run to the other side of the bridge to see whose stick came out the quickest. They toss their new found treasure into the current and just let it take a ride, watching it ever so carefully as well as keeping a close eye on the competition. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 27th, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: Competition · gifts
A Shade Tree
Bearing down on us was the blazing heat of this unforgiving summer, sweat trickled down our backs and on our foreheads. So we found refuge under the welcoming branches of this tree. The shade relieved us temporarily and we were appreciative for the reprieve. We knew we would have to venture once more into the heat of the mid day sun but if only for a few minutes we were cooled by the shade of the tree. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 26th, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: Relief · rest
Jake pushing on the rod iron fence
Is he trying to get in or is he trying to get out?
Where are you going? Are you trying to get into something a group, a club, a career, a hobby or a sport? Or are you trying to get out of something headed towards retirement, leaving behind some things in life your body will no longer let you do, burned out and ready to get out of a deadbeat club? Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 25th, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: growth · Perspective · Treasures
My kids on our family vacation
“I have to take a picture of you all in front of the log cabin. So we will remember what it looked like.” I told my kids before we departed from the scene above. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 24th, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: memories · Photographs
A butterfly on the path
“Mom did you see it? Over this way, come on and follow it. It might land on a flower!” yelled my oldest child to me as he ran down the hiking path in pursuit of this beautiful butterfly. It is a bit of a quest for my children and me to take one good picture of a butterfly up close. Often times we will chase the butterflies and they never seem to sit still long enough to photograph. This particular day we were on our very last fieldtrip hiking in a park and Ethan spotted it. This was the best picture I could get of him, not on a flower or against a natural background, but on a concrete path. Continue reading →
Posted: Aug 23rd, 2010 | topics: Daily Reflections.
tags: Appreciation · Good
