Is the grass greener on the other side?....((well it is here in Normandy, literally!!))

**This blog is a space for self-reflection, conversation and sharing life stories....if you're interested in receiving the ElrodFamily Newsletter please email me directly amielrod@gmail.com and I will add you to our email list as our Newsletter is not publicly posted.  

   I recently heard someone state the familiar expression: 

"the grass is always greener on the other side"  

It is true that people will often assert that their circumstances leave much to be desired...therefore: somewhere else, or someone else, or simply 'anywhere but here' mentality will often feel quite attractive and comforting at the time.  Unfortunately, (or perhaps fortunately....depending on one's assessment),

wherever you go....there you will find yourself.  

I heard this expression for the first time many years ago, and I've revisited this phrase many times since, as it has shaped and challenged my individual perspective and growth. I remember being in a distressing, discomforting season of life when all I wanted was to run away...somewhere else...I guess one could say I was suffering from the debilitating affects of the mental entrapment 'anywhere is better than HERE.'  I will never forget the hopeless feeling I had when after sharing my ridiculous, fanciful plan of running away from home, a dear friend laughingly replied, "well, wherever you go...there you'll be."  

I soon came to grips with the fact that the discomfort I was feeling was not induced by anything or anyone other than myself.  The grass may appear greener somewhere else....and I will certainly not discount the fact that in many cases changing circumstances can be beneficial in the long run for any number of reasons....What I'm attempting to share here is the reality check that ascertaining the 'anywhere but here' desires and how that can shape one's perception.  In my humble opinion, it takes a great deal of courage to look at where you stand....take a deep breath, and decide to make the grass green right where you are. 

photo  taken in Normandie, FR by Ami Elrod

Girls in OK visiting Papa Elrod @ Oklahoma State Fair, 9/26/15

We have officially completed 6 weeks of school here at Elrod Academy! My students have been working hard each day (way to go girls!!) I am proud of their improving self-discipline, and diligence. In honor of their hard work, I would like to share a couple of their papers:

Ivy Joy Elrod

September 16, 2015

Gecko Effects

Geckos are an interesting type of lizard. In their feet they have teeny tiny microscopic-like hairs similar to tiny toothbrushes on each toe pad. Their feet have an electric charge when their toe pad touches a surface. Millions of tiny electric charges attract to the surface allowing the gecko to hold itself upside down on a surface.  Gecko’s fingers bend the opposite direction of human fingers so they can turn off the electric charge.  Their tongue can stretch very long to catch bugs without their prey knowing. Geckos eat insects, flower nectar, and fruit.  Some geckos lick their own eyes because they do not have moving eyelids to keep their eyes clear and moist. Geckos are the only kind of lizard that can sing. These fascinating lizards live for 2-9 years.  That’s the Gecko Effects.

Petra Elrod

September 15, 2015

A Cat’s World

Did you know that cats are one of the most popular pets? There are over 500 million domestic cats in the world! To conserve energy, cats sleep from 13 to 14 hours a day. Domestic cats which weigh approximately 4 kg, have flexible bodies, and teeth adapted for hunting rodents (such a mice or rats).  They are naturally sneaky which makes them prime hunters.  A male cat is called a tom, females are called molly or queen and babies are called kittens.  The average life of a cat ranges from 12 to 15 years.  The taxonomy of cats are as follows, kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Carnivora, and Family: Felidae.

ds.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/cat.html

www.ducksters.com/animals/cats.php

 

Thea Elrod

  9/15/2015

Amazing Little Creatures

These fascinating little birds are called hummingbirds. They weigh less than a dime and take 250 quick breaths in a minute. Their average heart rate is 1,200 beats per minute. They surprisingly push the limit of metabolic energy.  Their small head reveals a tiny straw like tongue that helps pump flower nectar up quickly. They drink 10 drops of sweat nectar in 15 milliseconds. To drink nectar they hover over flowers. Their wings beat 80 times per second. These tiny birds, known for their speed and delicacy, are extremely aggressive. Normally hummingbirds attack larger bird-thieves in their territory. They make extensive migrations. Some journey more than 3,000 miles, soaring from Mexico to Canada and back again. These amazing little creatures have limits: they have no sense of smell, they can't walk, and they weigh less than a dime.

*Pictures: retrieved from GOOGLE Images

Welcome to Hands to the Spindle

As I thought through the many different titles one could chose, I kept coming back to 'hands to the spindle.' (from Proverbs 31:19) A part of me was apprehensive in that it may come across as unfamiliar and somewhat vague. However the more I considered its meaning and reference, the more I appreciated its depth. 'Hands to the Spindle' not only reminds me of my hope and desire for a peaceful and productive home, it is representative of a season in my life where hard work has been of the essence. A spindle is the functional apparatus in the spinning process of thread. Women back in the day would spin their own thread and yarn to weave material and clothe their family. In my mind, this couldn't have been an easy task, nor one that was instantly gratifying. I imagine this to be a slow, methodical process by which time, patience and consistency is required.  I can also imagine mothers teaching their children this essential process...again, time and patience being required in teaching young ones a new task.

As I continue my story over time and share my life's journey then & now, I hope that what it means to lay one's hands to the spindle will resonate with you a deeper understanding of what it means to dedicate yourself to the task at hand...to be diligent with the mundane of life's demands...to know that by doing so you are participating in the bigger picture of life...

"William-adolphe bouguereau the spinner" by William-Adolphe Bouguereau - Art Renewal Center Museum, image 68