The Home That Travels With You

My awesome cousin Sam is venturing out on his own - to a different state - to be a preacher. 

I am - and have been for a long time - in awe of him. He's one of those people that is friends with everyone, an inspiration to everyone. A networker from birth who uses his relationships to share all good things. A hero to the littles, a joy to the elderly, and a friend to everyone in between. 

Lots of families live far apart  - so I am fully aware that I am entirely spoiled by my close physical proximity to my extended family.

Quite selfishly, I don't like that he'll be farther away. But, I am so proud of who he is, and I'm excited for the experiences he will have and the things he will do. 

So here's my note to him - to remind him of a few of the best parts of our family - the parts we are blessed to share - the parts that he can carry with him no matter where he travels to. 

♥️

→  The Home That Travels With You ←

You’re leaving home.

For new adventures. For important callings. 

For noble intentions and doings.

And some days it will feel fantastic.

Some days you will so obviously be in the right place.

New sights. New people. New friends. 

Important works. Breakthrough learnings.

May those days be plentiful and cherished.

But some days … Some days you will just miss home.

And, so, let me remind you of something

something so beautiful, so wonderful, so important

That it will get you through even the toughest days.

The kind of home our family has built is not a home you can move away from.

Oh sure, you’ll have a new bedroom and a new dining room table.

A new roommate will pester you and be pestered by you.

Someone will charge you rent.

Different people will see you on the daily.

But our home goes with you. You can’t escape it.

While you are gone, in your new place …. You’ll find home there with you.

It’s enriched deep within your heart, and in your subconscious it remains.

You will drive down a quiet gravel road and think of the farm, 

It’s likely you’ll chase a stray cow back in the field or help a farmer out…

You will wonder what Uncle Jamie would say, and you will be home.

You will open your Bible to study and hear the wisdom of Grandpa Jess -

You will bow your head,  and you will be home.

As you wander the halls of your house you’ll straighten a mess,

And think of your parents and Rebecca, and be flashed back to home.

Someone will cook you a delicious meal and invite you to sit around their table,

And you will think of Grandma, and Aunt Nina, and your Momma, 

You will smile - tell a story - and be home.

Eventually you’re bound to sit on someone’s front porch and visit, 

And you won’t be able to help picturing Uncle Jim sitting in a black chair - 

You’ll chuckle a little, and you will be home.

An excited child will squeal your name and tackle-hug you.

And as you hug them back and wind them up just a tad - oh, you will find home there.

If you listen close, someone will sigh an Uncle Steve sigh. 

Robbie’s sarcasm will find you in the form of someone else.

Someone will play guitar while you sing along at a get together like Isaac.

And in those moments, there are pieces of home.

You will open your own home for a Bible study and think of Heather and Josh.

You will mentor someone in need, and wonder what Aunt Alisha would say.

You will step up to the plate. Every time.

And in each situation you will draw on your home.

Your home is here. It will be waiting eagerly for your physical presence.

But we won’t wait idly by.

It will be with you - surrounding you - both encouraging you and grounding you.

Your home - deep in your heart - remains no matter where your body goes..

Draw on it. Expand on it.

Call to talk about it …. 

Or trust me - “it” will call you to talk about it.

And when you visit and bring stories to share and new learnings to impart.

You  might say “It’s good to be home”, 

but you will also smile, knowing a part of you never left.

The Tina Kean

 It's a silly way to honor her, and I still bawled while proof reading.

My mentor, my friend. So much of the teacher I am is because of the teacher and friend you have been to me! I have a hard time imagining next year, and the rest of my career, without your room, your wisdom, listening ear, and endless idea bank, to go running to. BUT I do know the team you have helped guide and build is strong and will think of you often as we keep doing what we do! ...and probably texting you quite a bit, also. Enjoy retirement - it is well deserved, and I look forward to hearing about all of your adventures!

The Tina Kean

(Click the picture to read the poem)

And, because writing silly things is my go to, here's a fun (still emotional tome) throwback .... 

"The Kim Shockley"

And a just for fun one - it wasn't sad because she still has to work with me (ha) - "The Melissa Keeney"

Mistakes Happen

Today I watched a kiddo mess up. He did the wrong thing. I had to call him on it. Thankfully, I was able to point it out to him privately and kindly - but he still didn't like the redirection .... And he shut down. I'm talking hard core, pout central - head down, slumped body, stomped away and threw himself into a chair. 

At first I let it go. We have 1.5 days left of school, and people, I am aaaallll about choosing my battles. 

But then he didn't want to play the game we were starting. And when his friends tried to comfort him, he snapped at them. And when my cadet offered to help him, he grouched around. So, after unsuccessfully trying to talk to him, I slid him this image pulled up on my phone: 

He didn't say a word. He slid my phone back to the edge of the table to me, and he stayed there. And I thought maybe it hadn't worked .... But then, moments later, he got up, and joined our game. And I just smiled and welcomed him subtly as we moved on. 

I don't know that he'll remember that moment "forever" ... But I will. 

All he needed was a gentle reminder of something I need reminded of aaaallll the time: it's okay to mess up. 

Try as we might, we aren't petfect. You aren't, my students aren't, and I am certainly not. And sometimes it just plan stinks to not be perfect. Being wrong doesn't feel good and knowing you've done wrong isn't a good feeling either.

But messing up HAPPENS. It has. It will. Probably more than we like to think about  and certainly more than we care to admit. 

And .... It's okay.

God knew we'd mess up. In fact, he had a whole plan to save us from our mess ups before we even had a chance to begin. HE is the only perfect one. You and I? We just have to keep trying our best. 

So, you get up. You apologize. You clean up and fix up whatever mess needs handled as best you can .... And then you just keep going. Don't stagnate. Don't sulk. Get up and try again. Try a different way. Try with a bit of help. Try a different thing. But don't stop.

Pouting has never made anything better.

But moving forward does.

Maybe that means going back to church after years way. Maybe it means swallowing your pride and apologizing to a friend. Maybe it means going back and doing a better job at something you did half a job at the first time. 

Take the time. Put in the work. Keep going. Because everyone makes mistakes - but it's how you respond to and move forward from them that matters.