Comments for Neighborhood Homework House's Weblog http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com benefiting Azusa's most precious resource Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:22:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on A pivotal moment… by Jordan http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/a-pivotal-moment/#comment-8 Jordan Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:43:02 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/a-pivotal-moment/#comment-8 Carrie was a teacher I had in college, and through our love/hate relationship we grew extremely close. She'd cry with me when I was frustrated, challenge me when I didn't feel like budging, and vulnerably open her life up to the class so we could learn from her experiences. She was a single lady that deep down desperately wanted to have children and (I think) would have liked to be married as well. I'll never forget the day of my graduation when she was waving almost like a proud aunt from the crowd as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma. Shortly afterwards, she walked up to me, and with tears in her eyes told me that if she ever has a daughter she hopes she would be like me. I am not telling this story to show how great of a person I am, on the contrary. Carrie was someone I admired and looked up to, and it was extremely inspiring to know that she thought highly of me even when she had seen some of my worst moments of anger, self-righteousness and pride. I hope to make her proud and someday inspire someone else the way that she has inspired me. Carrie was a teacher I had in college, and through our love/hate relationship we grew extremely close. She’d cry with me when I was frustrated, challenge me when I didn’t feel like budging, and vulnerably open her life up to the class so we could learn from her experiences. She was a single lady that deep down desperately wanted to have children and (I think) would have liked to be married as well. I’ll never forget the day of my graduation when she was waving almost like a proud aunt from the crowd as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma. Shortly afterwards, she walked up to me, and with tears in her eyes told me that if she ever has a daughter she hopes she would be like me. I am not telling this story to show how great of a person I am, on the contrary. Carrie was someone I admired and looked up to, and it was extremely inspiring to know that she thought highly of me even when she had seen some of my worst moments of anger, self-righteousness and pride. I hope to make her proud and someday inspire someone else the way that she has inspired me.

]]> Comment on A pivotal moment… by Karen Rouggly http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/a-pivotal-moment/#comment-7 Karen Rouggly Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:31:11 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/a-pivotal-moment/#comment-7 In college, I went on a mission's trip to South Africa. It was there that I met a man who would change my life. His name is Pierre, and he showed me daily what a true servant of God looked like. He was constantly seeking after the Lord in everything he did. One day, we were driving in the car and he asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I told him that I knew I wanted to help people, enourage them and show them Christ's love. And he said, "Tell me who you have done that for today?" And I came up blank. He said, "You can't want to do something with your life in the future and not have it spill over into the present." I knew from that moment that I needed to make sure that I was making my actions were giving evidence to my words. Pierre taught me a life lesson that day, half way around the world. And God has continued to use him to teach me many more. Pierre, that day was my help, he was my enourager and he has continued to show me Christ's love. In college, I went on a mission’s trip to South Africa. It was there that I met a man who would change my life. His name is Pierre, and he showed me daily what a true servant of God looked like. He was constantly seeking after the Lord in everything he did. One day, we were driving in the car and he asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I told him that I knew I wanted to help people, enourage them and show them Christ’s love. And he said, “Tell me who you have done that for today?” And I came up blank. He said, “You can’t want to do something with your life in the future and not have it spill over into the present.” I knew from that moment that I needed to make sure that I was making my actions were giving evidence to my words. Pierre taught me a life lesson that day, half way around the world. And God has continued to use him to teach me many more. Pierre, that day was my help, he was my enourager and he has continued to show me Christ’s love.

]]> Comment on A pivotal moment… by Jan Wickersham http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/a-pivotal-moment/#comment-6 Jan Wickersham Wed, 07 Nov 2007 01:05:47 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/a-pivotal-moment/#comment-6 This story goes back many years when I was a fourth grade teacher. I had invited a friend of mine to visit our class as a special guest. She was born blind but had never allowed her handicap to keep her from being a contributing member of society. She worked at Children's Hospital with autisic children, sang in the choir, was a psychologist to name just a few things. In preparation for her visit, the children were asked to think of 10 really good questions as part of a homework assignment. We had a wonderful day as my friend, Carolyn fielded the questions from the children. As we were winding down, she asked if there were any more questions. A girl raised her hand and asked the most profound question. She asked, "Are there any advantages to being blind?" Carolyn thought for a minute. Then she said, "Yes, there is one. I never get fooled by outside packages. I can only see people from the inside". That incident will stay with me until the day I die. Hope you enjoyed it. This story goes back many years when I was a fourth grade teacher. I had invited a friend of mine to visit our class as a special guest. She was born blind but had never allowed her handicap to keep her from being a contributing member of society. She worked at Children’s Hospital with autisic children, sang in the choir, was a psychologist to name just a few things.
In preparation for her visit, the children were asked to think of 10 really good questions as part of a homework assignment. We had a wonderful day as my friend, Carolyn fielded the questions from the children. As we were winding down, she asked if there were any more questions. A girl raised her hand and asked the most profound question. She asked, “Are there any advantages to being blind?” Carolyn thought for a minute. Then she said, “Yes, there is one. I never get fooled by outside packages. I can only see people from the inside”. That incident will stay with me until the day I die.
Hope you enjoyed it.

]]> Comment on Hierarchy of Needs #2 by Kerry Freeman http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-5 Kerry Freeman Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:33:59 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-5 A sense of safety and belonging was a rare commodity as the daughter of an Air Force officer on the fast track. As the perpetual new kid on the block and at school, the only constancy in my first eighteen years was my grandparents' home. There they welcomed me with open hearts, there I didn't need to prove myself worthy of their esteem and love, there I had roots, a history and a future. They modeled Christ's unconditional love and acceptance and gave me the confidence to face my forever challenging and changing environment. Safety is feeling welcomed and valued - in a truly welcoming atmosphere our potential can shine through - sounds a little bit like what Homework House is all about doesn't it? A sense of safety and belonging was a rare commodity as the daughter of an Air Force officer on the fast track. As the perpetual new kid on the block and at school, the only constancy in my first eighteen years was my grandparents’ home. There they welcomed
me with open hearts, there I didn’t need to prove myself worthy of their esteem and love, there I had roots, a history and a future. They modeled Christ’s unconditional love and acceptance and gave me the confidence to face my forever challenging and changing environment. Safety is feeling welcomed and valued - in a truly welcoming atmosphere
our potential can shine through - sounds a little bit like what Homework House is all
about doesn’t it?

]]> Comment on Hierarchy of Needs #2 by Stuart Aldrich http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-4 Stuart Aldrich Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:34:18 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-4 My safe place when I was in grade school was always the playground; it was truly my sanctuary. The class room was not an easy place for me and because I was always the biggest kid by a long shot my short comings there were only magnified. What’s funny about this is that because of the playground I loved school; I got there early and stayed late; where the classroom was sometimes confusing the playground always made sense. It was on the playground I learned how to get along, how to be part of a team, how to manage, take responsibility and how to lead; and along the way something else kind of funny happened; the classroom stop being so confusing. What I love about the Homework House is that for so many kids it like what the playground was for me; a safe place, a sanctuary, that place where things are just a little less confusing. My safe place when I was in grade school was always the playground; it was truly my sanctuary. The class room was not an easy place for me and because I was always the biggest kid by a long shot my short comings there were only magnified. What’s funny about this is that because of the playground I loved school; I got there early and stayed late; where the classroom was sometimes confusing the playground always made sense. It was on the playground I learned how to get along, how to be part of a team, how to manage, take responsibility and how to lead; and along the way something else kind of funny happened; the classroom stop being so confusing.

What I love about the Homework House is that for so many kids it like what the playground was for me; a safe place, a sanctuary, that place where things are just a little less confusing.

]]> Comment on Hierarchy of Needs #2 by Samuel Martinez http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-3 Samuel Martinez Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:32:51 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-3 With me it was not so much a safe place as a safe person. Previous comments emphasize my view. Since home was not a safe plalce I found safety in the church I attended as a boy and later as a teenager. It was there where people treated me like I was somebody. God bless those people. I did not have to do anything to gain their love or respect. With me it was not so much a safe place as a safe person. Previous comments emphasize my view. Since home was not a safe plalce I found safety in the church I attended as a boy and later as a teenager. It was there where people treated me like I was somebody. God bless those people. I did not have to do anything to gain their love or respect.

]]> Comment on Hierarchy of Needs #2 by Karen Rouggly http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-2 Karen Rouggly Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:15:55 +0000 http://homeworkhouse.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/hierarchy-of-needs-2/#comment-2 My safe place was with my grandma! She was always there for me with open arms, and still is to this day! My safe place was with my grandma! She was always there for me with open arms, and still is to this day!

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