Rob's Blog

I just finished reading a book called Whatever it Takes. The book is about Geoffrey Canada’s attempt to change one of the poorest communities in this country, Harlem.

From a teacher’s perspective this book challenged me to do whatever I have to do to help prepare my students to be productive members of this world. Some may go to college and some may not. Either way, I can’t give up on any of them.

Only kinship. Inching ourselves closer to creating a community of kinship such that God might recognize it. Soon we imagine, with God, the circle of compassion. Then we imagine no one standing outside that circle, moving ourselves closer to the margins so that the margins themselves will be erased. We stand there with those whose dignity has been denied. We locate ourselves with the poor and the powerless and the voiceless. At the edges, we join the easily despised and the readily left out. We stand with the demonized so that he demonizing will stop. We situate ourselves right next to the disposible so that the day will come when we stop throwing people away. ~ my favorite quote from the book “Tatoos on the Heart”

As I have mentioned, it is the little things we do for people that mean the most. Today, I want to post one more thing that I believe makes Lynn the “Best Wife Ever.”

Nine or so years ago (I have lost track of time), when we were working on adopting a baby, Lynn gave up her career to stay home to be with our child. She didn’t take a leave of absence. She resigned. She was all in.

You may or may not know, our road to adoption was a very bumpy one. It was uphill all the way. It took years. Although she subbed a little, she never went back to teaching full time because we never knew when we would get the call.

To this day, she sacrifices each and every day. She puts her wants and needs aside for those of the girls and of me. She is typically without adult conversation. If you haven’t tried this for days on end, it isn’t easy. Many look at stay-at-home moms as less than productive because they are not in the workforce. I would argue that parents that stay home to raise children have the toughest job around. She gave up what she spent four years studying in college to become.

Lynn is the best wife because of all the little things. There are too many little things to mention. But most of all, she is the best wife because of the big thing she has done not only for me, but for the girls.

For all of the wives reading this, I am sorry. You’ll have to settle for second place.

Yesterday I posted how much I appreciated Lynn bringing the girls to my school to see me at lunch. I thought I would spend today appreciating another thing she does that makes her the “best wife ever.”

From time to time I need a card. You know, a birthday card, sympethy card, thank you card or congratulations card. As a man, you can expect that I wait until the last minute to realize I need a card. The way Lynn is the best is because she makes my cards. She doesn’t buy them, she takes the time to make them.

Just the other night I realized I needed two birthday cards. One for a friend whose birthday was three weeks ago. (Sorry Joe) Lynn whipped two up and they got sent yesterday.

She also sends cards to my family, her family and our friends. Most of the time I am unaware that she has sent cards.

Again, it is the little things that make her the best wife ever!

I don’t have to tell you this, but I am going to anyway.

I have the best wife in the world! Last Friday, as I was walking to the office from the cafeteria, tired and worn out from a week of teaching students who would rather be outside in the warm sunshine (so would I), I looked up and who did I see walking toward the front door? You guessed it, Lynn and the girls. That really made my day. They all looked so beautiful and the girls were excited to see their dad!

Although I only had 30 minutes to spend with them, it was wonderful. Funny how something little can mean so much!

Today is Rebekah’s Gotcha Day!

Five years ago we drove to Columbus in hopes that we would bring home a baby girl. We started the trip before knowing if the birthmother had signed the final relinquishment papers. After an hour into the trip, we had a call. The birthmother had signed the papers. The baby girl would be placed with us.

I couldn’t help worry. Would this finally be the baby we would get to keep? Would something go wrong? Would she connect with me as her dad?

When we arrived at the social workers house, where we were taking placement of the baby, I was very nervous. The minute I saw her, I fell in love. I just wanted to hold her forever.

Five years later, as I look back, Rebekah not only got to stay, but she connected with me like I wouldn’t believe. She is a real daddy’s girl.

To my little princess… I am so glad I get to be your dad!

I spent last weekend at the Ohio/West Virginia State Advocates Meeting. One would think that after a while, the videos and testimonies of children in poverty would get watered down. You would think that it wouldn’t “get to you” any more. But that is the furthest from the truth. The more I see and do, the more emotional I get.

I have heard Richmond’s story a couple of times, but this weekend I heard it differently. Sure, he added some extra details, but I feel like God opened my heart to really hear what he had to say. God was speaking right into my soul.

He lost his dad to violence. His mom suffered a cardiac arrest at the sight of her husband being shot. He had no food to eat. He lived in the mist of violence and drugs. He felt hopeless.

After hearing Richmond’s story again, I can’t shake this sense of guilt I have. WHY do I have so much? Why was I born in the US? Why do I waste so much money? Why, Why Why? I don’t think God wants me to feel guilty. I think God wants me to act.

So I will continue to act by speaking for the children who have no voice. I will be an advocate for those in poverty. I will act as I write Katherine, Anthony, Edison and Gracia.

Will you act? Will you sponsor a child in need? Will you change a child’s life for eternity?

Today is the retirement party for a man that I admire and respect more than any other teacher I know.

I met Mr. Ojala when I was in fifth grade. He was my math teacher. I can still picture his classroom. (The district hasn’t used that building in 15 years.) I can remember how he made school fun but educational. He was firm yet fair.

As a preservice teacher, Mr. Ojala opened his classroom to me to do my student teaching. The ten weeks I spent with him helped to mold me into the teacher I am today.

But what I respect and admire most is that throughout some tough years of teaching he held onto his love of teaching. I contribute this to his love of Jesus and the joy that comes from our Creator.

Mr. Ojala, thank you for the example of a Christian man educator you have provided for me and so many other men you have mentored over the years. Your influence in my life is without compare.

You will be missed! May God continue to bless you as you start this next chapter of life.

I have been reading the book of Numbers. Like in Exodus, the Isrealites continue to question God. They travel to a place with no water and they start to gripe. I don’t understand how you could witness the Red Sea parting and manna falling from Heaven and still question whether or not God will intervene.

But then I think about the times I question whether or not God will intervene. He has always provided in the past, why would now be any different? So in a way, I am just like those Isrealites.

I wrote my last post sitting in the auditorium at RiverTree waiting for the 10:00 worship service to start.

God has a way of speaking right into us and letting us know He is with us. He did this a few minutes after my last post by the song that was being sung. It is one of my most favorite worship songs. It was recorded by Cory Asbury. The chorus goes… He’s been so good, so so good to me. So good, so so good to me. He has been so good to me!