Harbor Life Ministries

School in Norwalk was delayed today due to about 3 inches of snow that fell overnight, but it was not cancelled. That affects Kirsten and K.C. but not Kavin or Sara, who are home-schooled.

Karla is… “27.” Yeah, that’s it, that’s the ticket. She is 27 today but not looking a day over 26.

She does share her birthday with her sister-in-law Cathy (married to her brother Todd) and with George Washington. (And this time I’m being perfectly honest wit’ you.)

The kitchen at Harbor House is always a busy place prior to mealtime. Tonight was no exception.

Hanna prepared her special recipe, “Southwest Chicken Casserole,” her last meal preparation before she heads back home to Arizona tomorrow.

Hanna’s mother Sara helped her with the meal. It involves taking rotisserie chicken, deboning it, and putting in a casserole dish with salsa and lots of cheese. Lots of cheese. That makes it really great to eat.

To help keep from thinking about all those calories in the casserole, it was accompanied by a spinach salad. Not bad to eat either.

The best part of the meal, other than the food, was the spontaneous singing that broke out when Hanna, Kirsten, KC, Sara, and Kavin joined voices for a rousing rendition of “Wait For You,” a tribute to the unique and joyful version sung recently by contestant Paul Stafford on TV’s “American Idol.” Two thumbs up.

The worst part of the meal… knowing it was Hanna’s last one here. I know she’s ready to be back home, but Arizona already has more sunshine than they need. We’ll miss her warmth, her quiet and gentle spirit.

Whatever happened to boredom? I lost it along with my childlike innocence at some point in the faded, distant past.

Here’s a conversation I had with my youngest son Kavin after he made this observation:

“School work stinks.”

“Do you mean it smells bad?” I asked.

“No, I mean it stinks.”

“Why do you think it stinks?”

“Because you do it every day, then, ‘poof’, you’re dust in the wind.”

“Poof, huh? I hope i go out as a poof.”

“Homework stinks too.”

“Don’t you see the value of an education, though?”

“Yes I do, and it’s not very high.”

“Did you tell this to [your teacher] Mrs. Baugh?”

“No.”

“What do you think she’d say if you did?”

Kavin’s eyes got wide but he didn’t respond. I decided it was time for him to take his morning pills. As I went for them I thought of something that might make school more appealing to Kavin since he hates handwriting.

“The K-12 computers in the garage. Or maybe we can get the old one that’s at the office working. Do you do keyboarding?” He shook his head. “It’s more education for you but definitely worth it, because no matter how bad your handwriting it, knowing how to keyboard will level the field.”

Kavin thought about this, then asked, “Why did they call it ‘hand-writing’ before computers? What other kind of writing was there?”

“Penmanship,” I replied. “People had to learn how to use pen and ink without having ink spots or ink running down the page.”

“But why did they call it ‘hand-writing,’” he persisted. “Wouldn’t it just be writing?”

I handed his pills to him but didn’t provide him an answer. My mind had gone off to think about a different word, “penmanship.” I’m sure there must be a gender-neutral version of the word but for the life of me, I just couldn’t think of what it would be. Can you?