The Minute You Feel

When the mind is quiet, the heart opens. A frantic mind keeps all the energy above the neck and keeps the heart closed. Sit quietly, breathe, and ask yourself how you REALLY feel. 


The minute you feel, your heart opens. 

- Chandra Alexander

Time Slows Down

I was thinking about 
how fast time goes, 
this day, 
a life. 


Feels like just last night that Mom had me and my brothers in the tub, red plastic soldier's bayonet poking into my chubby thigh. Dog sitting on the bath mat watching us. My mother's hand running over my wet hair.


Time.


Mom's been gone ten years.
Aunt Nip eight.
Dad will be 85 on the Fifth of July. 
Jesse's coming up on thirty.


What?


It was just yesterday when Mrs. Stewart, my second grade teacher, made home-made butter with our class. We spread it on saltine crackers. 


My mouth waters just thinking about it.


Tonight Claire and I  played a funny game involving Disney movies where we give each other a clue and hit the timer ~


tick tock tick tock tick tock


and you need to answer before the clock runs out. 


I give easy clues, Bear with a honey pot...


During the game I kept thinking, 


It's late and I still need to blog, 


when Claire said, "I wrote a poem, Mom."


I said, "Will you read it?"


Time


You can't see it
You can't feel it
But it's there
It will always be there
Time makes it hard
to stop and stare
Time makes it hard 
to even care.
Time goes fast, like
the human mind.
But if you try time
slows down. 
You close your eyes, 
hear every sound
and breathe.


by Claire Collins

Deep Breath

Deep Breath

Deep Breath

Deep Breath

Rest

Deep Breath

Deep Breath

Rest

- from Be Generous by David Marell

A Fine-Tooth Comb

Dear Parent(s) Guardian(s):

You have received a copy of the 2010-11 East Stroudsburg Area Elementary Handbook containing the East Stroudsburg Area School District Policies 103, 113.2, 201, 202.1, 204, 204.1, 206, 207, 209, 210, 218, 218.1, 218.2, 218.3, 220, 221, 222, 226.1, 226.2, 227, 247, 248, 249, 815, 815.1, and the school policy.

breathe breathe/ focus on the flower

The agenda/handbook as well as each of these school district policies contain important information that should be discussed with your child.

break kid out of school on day two

Note to readers: Rest assured that I went over every single one of these policies with Claire last night (with a fine-tooth comb). I wouldn't want you to think I wasn't taking this stuff seriously.