Megan went on a trip with her class this week. On Thursday, the same day Jon got back, her 4th grade class from Hillcrest Christian School, went to the Santa Barbara Mission. She loved it. The next day, I drove her to school and she could not stop talking about all the beauty and history of this church built in the 1780's. She talked about the panoramic views and how neat it was for her to see this place her class had just studied as a part of California History (check out the video clip below).
While compared to the trips of her siblings, her trip was the shortest distance (about 45-55 minutes from her school) and took the least amount of time (1 day), to her, it was as impressive as a trip to the Pali Institute or down the Colorado River.
She bought each of us a small gift from the mission gift shop. Lesli, Katie, Jon, and Megan got trinket souvenirs. She couldn't decide what to bring me. Remember this is a working Catholic Parish. She found a small pamphlet size book of prayers and got it for me. On our way to school the next day she told me she couldn't decide if I would like it more than the other thing she almost got me. I asked what the other thing was. She said it was a special tube of "Holy Water - whatever that is." She went on and said: "I know you like prayer things and holy things." Well, she is right. I will keep and treasure the Catholic prayer book simply because Megan knew I like to pray.
She loved the trip so much she wants us to go visit the mission as a family sometime. We will. Anyway, she had a blast.
1 comment:
HA! I can't beleive I "happened" upon this blog entry tonight as I am at home sick in bed again and I was wondering what I missed in Sunday's message... this was the best medicine I could have hoped for. Reading your reflection on Megan's feelings about our field trip on Thurday to the Mission made me smile. I wonder, as her teacher, what things are going into their hearts and what they are doing with all the different things they are experiencing. There is so much I wanted them to see having the CA history to teach them this year... yet, there is so much that happens that is unspoken. Should I explain the doctrinal differences?... did they even notice? What are they thinking? What is happening in their hearts? I watch their eyes and their faces as they just take it all in, appreciating the history of it all and pondering so much...many had never been in a cemetery before, some had. What did it all mean for them?
Megan was the only one who took notes... and she took them the ENTIRE time. At one point, she said she was frustrated because she "couldn't take it all down." This is a picture of a child excited about learning and experiencing all that God has for her...
This is why I teach and this is why I needed to read this tonight... to be reminded.
Thanks Pastor :)
Post a Comment