I AM FROM

I have a Curriculum and Instruction class on Tuesdays and Thursdays that I really don't enjoy very much. My disdain for the course is largely due to a) the fact that the class is from 3:40-5PM b) the subject matter seems pointless/common sense and c) the frequent use of markers, games, and other elementary type activities often frustrates me.

The other day we had the option to get 4% extra credit on our exam if we wrote a poem. Typical Anna fashion, I scoffed at the assignment labeling it as "lame" but knew I'd do since I have a hard time passing up the chance for extra points. The assignment was pretty specific-- to do an "I am from" poem addressing sights/sounds/phrases/smells etc of where we're from. To be creative within that paradigm. 

Then I started writing...I loved it. Thinking of imagery that described the heart of who I am and what my family is. Working within specific questions to give a complete understanding of 24 years of life. It was a game I actually enjoyed.

So, I thought I'd share. A blog is kind of like the grown up version of the family fridge of proud papers, pictures and stories. Welcome to a taste of home.

I AM FROM

I am from the Midwest, wherever my dreams or family take me.

I am from tradition and love. Monday night soup night, Friday family night,

I am from a welcoming home—full of strangers, friends, and family. The door is always open.

I am from a culture of debate and teasing, grow some thick skin to survive the dinner table.

I am from walls and halls of pictures. Friends competing for their faces to make the “wall of fame” or the coveted top of the baby grand piano.

I am from the smell of homemade oatmeal bread baking in the oven, freshly popped popcorn, and wisk laundry detergent.

I am from the constant hum of activity: the sounds of worship music blaring at all hours of the day, the Hallelujah Chorus on full blast as the standard alarm clock for holidays, and the door swinging on its hinges as people come and go.

I am from a home full of books strewn across the arms of chairs, half completed board games ready to be conquered, and an extra plate set at the dinner table in case a friend stops by.

I’m from a home with lots of chiefs and not enough indians where life is a party and food is our hobby.

I'm a movie star!

Well. I'm not REALLY a movie star. It just seems like it.

Have you ever seen the movie Facing the Giants? I love that movie for a multitude of reasons.

1. Who can resist a high school football thriller?
2. It's a nice movie. No raunchiness. No crude language. It's a nice breather from the bleepity bleeping that I feel like happens so often.
3. There are characters in the movie that remind me of people that I know--the teacher that prayed for students in high school, the friend or aunt that has infertility problems, the families with drama.

My one qualm is the fact that EVERYTHING turns out okay in the movie. I mean EVERYTHING. I think sometimes we get fed the lie that if you're a real Christian and are 'right with God', life will be easy. Or life will suddenly just be hunky dory. If you pray hard enough ALL sickness will be gone from your body, or a job will magically appear even though no applications have been filled out.

So now you wonder why I brought it up? I feel like I'm living in a Baptist made for TV movie. Everything seems to be going my way. Seriously everything. 

• I got in to Iowa State.
• I got approved for in state residency (even though my last two tax returns have been in Texas and I've lived in Chicago for 3 of the past 5 months). 
• I got into all 7 classes on my "wish list" including one that had a 12 person wait list. The registrar's office did an override to put me in since I seemed like I "cared" more than the waitlisted people. 
• I checked my university bill to see how much I owed and saw that I had been granted financial aid for over half of my tuition. That meant I was able to pay for all of my tuition and books on my savings--I only have to get a part time job if I want to, not out of necessity. 
• God had put some amazing women in my life here in Ames. FRIENDS. Sweet sweet friends. ALREADY! What a blessing.  

The new path has been forged: I'm going back to school to get my teaching certification in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. Tomorrow's my first day! I've definitely got the whole freshman jitters thing going on. My bro jokingly told me to just give my fears to God. Drew was so right. His eye is on the sparrow--and clearly on me as well. He's got my back. He has moved mountains on my behalf. He's already claimed victory over death at Calvary. He can help me find my classrooms. He can do all things. I really hate first days. I don't have my first day outfit picked out yet. Well. That's kind of a lie. I HAD it picked out, but I ended up wearing it for church instead. I guess I could wear it again. I don't know anyone in my classes...they'd never know. Muaha.