This summer, I'm taking two grad classes to fulfill the requirements to keep my teaching license in our state. My license goes through June of 2014 so technically I had all of next year to get my 6 credits in, but realized this past May that once Samuel comes home, I'm not going to want to leave him to go to class two evenings a week or every Saturday morning or whenever the classes meet. So, Phil and I decided I would just take 2 fast courses this summer. I found an art education class on ceramics and an science for early childhood class that were back to back. The first one, ceramics, started June 17th and went for 3 weeks. During that class, we had several projects that we were supposed to make: four tiles depicting several different techniques, a large vase (smaller than 36 inches tall and 28 inches wide), two different types of dishes, boxes, and a raku project just to name a few. I worked hard on my tiles. But not too hard since Phil said to not make a big deal out of the class and to not worry about creating things that could be used or had purpose. I make a Chinese Checkers board for one of my large dishes. I made a very complicated vase, of which the top of the vase went down inside the vase instead of having a neck going up and out.
During the second week, I broke my tile. On the day that we found out Sammy was in the hospital that same week, I broke my vase. The next day, I broke my Chinese Checkers dish.
Want to know how it made me feel? It didn't make me feel anything... I was surprised, for sure, when I broke it. Almost in disbelief. But as I stood there, all I felt was... That none of this could even hold a candle to how important Sammy is to me, to how important my 3 children at home are to me. I almost wanted to just give up and quit the class. I lost all desire to keep working the clay when really? What did it matter in the grand scheme of life?
And now, here I am half way through my second class and I'm struck by the same attitude. I hate this class. I'm disappointed in the content. I'm half way through and continue to randomly think, what is the purpose in this? Should I just give up? Is this really worth it?
Yes, there are more important things in life. Yes, it was good to not sweat the broken vase, tile, and dish. But just because there are more important things in life doesn't mean I just skip, quit, or bemoan the lame things, minor things, or feel guilty over the fun/frivolous things. What it means is that "I do all my work heartily as unto the Lord and not for men" and give God the glory for the ways He works the small "meaningless" details into the bigger picture.
The blessings from this class:
Titus has had time to be away from me and with babysitters who put him to bed and he's comfortable (as am I) now.
I can feel renewed as a mom by getting adult interaction and having intellectual conversations.
I can feel inspired and refreshed for the next homeschooling year, even excited to get started on planning and preparing.
Phil can spend a lot more time with the kids and be able to experience some of what I do during the day.
I can renew my license (after passing these courses) and not have to leave Sammy once he comes home.
I can spread the word about adoption to more people. I can enlighten more people about the ministry for orphans. I can be a testimony to others about what Christ has done in my life to save me.
Potential babysitters for our kids when Phil and I are in China can get more accustomed to our routine and family dynamics.
The list can go on and on. God is doing great things because of these two classes. More and more people ask me about adoption. Why not domestic adoption? Why China? Why a boy? How did you get a boy? Can't you have more children of your own? Why did you decide to adopt? Isn't it expensive? Do you have to go to China? When will all this happen?
And it is a blessing to share with people the answers to all those questions.
I feel excited. I feel a renewed energy to finish this class strong. And I praise the Lord for the attitude adjustment. Don't get me wrong - I still don't like the class. But I'm happy to be taking it for the purposes God has for me and my family.
These are pics from the raku firing we did for the class - this is a raku kiln
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