tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72597130253689758042024-02-26T12:35:16.151-05:00Our "Wright"-ing PadRichelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.comBlogger2139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-6709395529768245962023-10-08T21:36:00.001-04:002023-10-09T15:27:07.026-04:00Faithful are the wounds of a friend...I had someone use that phrase when speaking with me the other day.My first thought?In the middle of a difficult conversation, throwing a Bible verse at someone is playing dirty - because how in the world can you argue with God's inspired words, especially when your whole life has been built around trying to integrate it's truth into every aspect of your life?So due to the context, the comment wasRichelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-83676740439928599062023-06-30T18:55:00.007-04:002023-06-30T19:32:54.302-04:00Can't remember the last time I so looked forward to summerWhen I was a kid, I remember my dad (well, at least I think it was him) sing-song saying, as summer vacation started, "School's out, school's out, someone's let the fools out!"He couldn't be more right and I will gladly accept the title of "fool" this year, for what a year it was. As I wrote back in December, I've never felt more unequipped, unqualified and under stress in a job than this past Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-61237629737998176432022-12-29T17:05:00.003-05:002022-12-29T17:44:38.208-05:00I don't write much any more... Don't write much these days.I hardly have time to breathe.Elle me manque beaucoup.I truly do think with my fingers, processing life as I write about what is happening, what I'm mulling over in my mind. So much has happened since I last visited this space :One has changed jobs, at least twice.One has traveled to South Korea, learned to speak the language, and then come back home to Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-89567153839895100072021-09-11T17:30:00.003-04:002021-09-11T18:43:45.881-04:00The cost of choosing choiceAccording to at least a couple of sources I found, the word "count" appears in the Bible 105 times.Here are few examples...Genesis 13: "...if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted."Numbers 12: "...Oh, my lord, please don't count this sin against us, in which we have done foolishly, and in which we have sinned."1 Chronicles 21: "David said to God, 'Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0Quebec City, QC, Canada46.8138783 -71.207980918.503644463821153 -106.3642309 75.124112136178837 -36.051730899999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-21435145037108355642021-04-24T14:33:00.002-04:002021-04-24T14:34:51.729-04:00Emptiness and Well-being Do you remember the moment the COVID pandemic became real to you? I do.Juniors and seniors at the school where I work were preparing for their trip to Washington DC. It was Tori's senior year and I had been invited to accompany the group. Tim and I had just returned from a trip to the National Broadcasters Convention (in Nashville) and it was clear that the virus was worrying people. IRichelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-37437877800058684042020-02-09T22:29:00.001-05:002020-02-09T22:29:02.845-05:00Rowdy Ruffians and Tough Tormentors
Sometimes people ask me what I do at École L'Eau-Vive.
Sometimes, I wonder myself, because I wear several different hats. I imagine if I asked different students, I'd get a variety of different answers.
For instance ~
I'm not a teacher, although I certainly do do lots of teaching.
I'm not an "orthopedagogue" or learning specialist, although I lead reading workshops and Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-10982608439411009682020-01-19T18:42:00.000-05:002020-01-20T06:08:33.823-05:00Language of LoveIf you were to visit my house while my crew was sitting around, fiddling on their electronic devices, cleaning, folding laundry or working on homework some Saturday morning, the probability is high that you'd hear them singing a really (and I mean really) silly song called The Language of Love (by Ylvis). When I was a kid, it was Weird Al Yankovich... When my bigs were littles, it was Silly Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-57032311757624252712019-05-20T15:52:00.001-04:002019-05-20T22:40:45.797-04:00When parenting is agonizing
Two recent conversations have had me thinking a lot about what it means to wear the hat of "Mama." It is, undoubtedly, one of the titles in my life of which I am very proud. But it is also one which often leaves me immensely stressed.
Since Mary Michelle was born 10.5 years ago, we've gone through lots of transitions. We stopped adding to our family and kids have actually started moving Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-76394495906207243912019-03-04T11:55:00.001-05:002019-03-04T12:34:05.321-05:00Ma chaise berçante... otherwise known as rocking chair "internship"
Tomorrow morning some time, my two older girls are taking off with a friend to visit their younger sister who is attending school in a different state. I'm delighted they are going to check up on their lil' sis. Yet, my mama-heart is exceedingly worried - the weather forecast ain't so great and even though they are all grown up and competent drivers, I know from personal experience how scary it Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-53230028347775184712019-02-23T12:21:00.000-05:002019-02-23T12:21:55.347-05:00Be patient and just give it time... (FMF post)
Just.
When I saw the writing prompt for this Five Minute Friday write, this most certainly IS NOT the direction I originally saw myself going.
But it is what I've been thinking about and it does include the word just, so...
Here we go!
I first took the Myers-Briggs personality test almost 30 years ago. It is a took I've come to appreciate, not as it it reveals gospel-truth about Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-54802901946335852352019-02-16T08:11:00.000-05:002019-02-16T15:48:15.421-05:00Five Minute Friday ('cept for me, it's on Saturday) ~ ConfidentWhile I was never a person who thought I knew it ALL, when I was a young mother, I was pretty confident I knew an AWFUL LOT.
As folks here in Quebec commonly say, "Ouff!"
Because now, as far as what I KNOW, I'm not nearly so
self-assured...
sure...
presumptuously puffed up...
arrogant.
At least I don't think so. I'm not in my head.
I hope I'm not (at least not most of the time)Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-13247087634101592962019-02-01T20:05:00.000-05:002019-02-02T05:28:45.047-05:00just one of those days where I don't like very much what I've signed up for
We signed a lease today.
That means this July, we will make our 32nd move in 25 years of marriage. Thankfully several of those were "smaller affairs" back before we had lots of kids. But it will be our fifth move in the last 10 years - and two of those were international.
I'm a little sad.
Actually, if I'm going to be "authentic," today I'm a lot sad.
I'm also a lot tired, justRichelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-11095358452807977982018-11-09T11:05:00.001-05:002018-11-10T13:36:58.148-05:00of alarm clocks and such
My kids have a favorite radio station and they always ask to listen when we are commuting back and forth from school. It isn't a Christian station - the organization Tim works with has an application in with the government and they are just waiting on final approval from the government... I think - and so sometimes we turn the volume down for a song or conversation (and then discuss why we Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-68328938351810682862018-07-20T15:13:00.000-04:002018-08-11T13:44:08.271-04:00Another way
The phrase "soccer mom" generally refers to a married middle-class woman who lives in the suburbs and has school age children. She is sometimes portrayed in the media as busy or overburdened and driving a minivan or SUV. She is also portrayed as putting the interests of her family, and most importantly her children, ahead of her own The phrase derives from the literal, specific description of aRichelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-45929081831640246102018-03-12T22:27:00.000-04:002018-03-12T22:27:21.130-04:00Blown Away
You know, there are at least 153 synonyms for that expression. I just looked it up. Of course, that includes many different nuances, not all of which are applicable to the sense in which I'm using it tonight, but still...
I digress.
Sunday, the sermon at church was drawn from a passage of the Bible that I love. It's a passage I've studied and taught several times and the lessons drawn are Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-87346831163448206622018-03-09T12:44:00.000-05:002018-03-09T13:07:04.106-05:00Five Minute Friday ~ Tired (of those who try and explain and justify instead of using another's criticisms or observations as the impetus to jump start much needed change - myself sometimes included)
I had a conversation with a teacher friend of mine recently. At the private Christian school where this teacher works, support personnel (i.e. speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, learning specialists, etc.) are not employed by the school. They are either hired by the parents or are provided by the public system to ensure that children with identified disabilities (and Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-12799225939471520242018-03-04T19:11:00.000-05:002018-03-04T19:11:43.026-05:00Five Minute Friday ~ Regret
Life is busy and I don't often find (or make) time to participate in these Five Minute Friday free writes. And honestly, this topic didn't really "tempt" me, not even a little. But, it is Spring Break, I so have a little more time these next several days, and if I don't take advantage of the opportunity, I might regret it later. Then, I saw this quote by a really unlikely source of Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-30967785017685310402018-03-03T15:53:00.002-05:002018-03-04T08:10:42.081-05:00Sous le manguier... or... Under the Shadow of the Mango TreeI've often been known to remark that I'm not a sentimental mother.
First day of Anna's last year of high school, August 2017
Don't get me wrong. I love my children, I love being with them more than almost anything else. But I don't long to return to those earlier days of this journey. My heart is too full with the right here and right now. My days are full enjoying life and just being Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-33385361927044394002017-11-28T22:22:00.001-05:002017-11-29T20:24:19.423-05:00I'm Braver speaking French
Does that seem strange to you?
It did to me too, at first.
But it is something I'm noticing to be true, beyond any shadow of a doubt.
Apparently I'm also not the only person who's made this discovery.
What do I mean? Here's one example:
I was in a Tim Hortons parking lot (I often meet English language students there). The spaces are a little on the small Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-66361346692569365222017-09-23T20:56:00.000-04:002017-09-23T20:56:37.302-04:00Five Minute Friday ~ Accept
It is hard to accept criticism.
Why?
I think the primary reason is pride. I also think our current world where image means so much and people (myself included) attempt to cultivate their desired image via social media, etc., only feeds that pride and makes it an even greater temptation.
True. Sometimes the criticism is offered with less than altruistic motives. Does that give me theRichelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-58618425988303327702017-09-19T22:17:00.000-04:002017-09-20T06:16:42.241-04:00"To die would be an awfully big adventure!"
Or actually, not! At least not according to Mary Michelle.
She prefers the "To live would be an awfully big adventure" version of that quote.
But she is, without a doubt in my mind, one of the toughest little eight-year-olds I know.
Last Saturday, a few of us (Tim, Richelle, Anna, and M&M) decided we wanted to take advantage of our about-to-expire yearly membership to Parks Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-84074470975261778072017-09-04T22:01:00.000-04:002017-09-04T22:01:34.416-04:00Five Minute Friday ~ Neighbor{hoods} and Community
I've spent the majority of my Labor Day Weekend out wandering around several different neighborhoods... My sore and tired back and legs attest to that fact every time I try to move! My littlest littler would agree, as she was hoofin' it along right beside me - at least most of the time! We were busy helping friends distribute door hanger advertisements, and for their participation, our Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-27905710390325943062017-08-26T11:04:00.000-04:002017-08-26T11:06:29.373-04:00Five Minute Friday - Guide
What kind of person are you?
One who comes alive at those opportunities to strike out into the unknown without map or sometimes even plan?
Or one who meticulously makes lists, charts courses with Google Maps and sketches schematics to ensure that all luggage will fit in the back of the car - considering every possible detail determined prior to unlocking the front door.
I Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-8152715065541912942017-05-12T17:26:00.001-04:002017-05-12T17:26:24.946-04:00Five Minute Friday (from a week ago) ~ Should
I'm a perfectionist.
And I don't usually have a problem meeting expectations, or achieving what is considered "acceptable."
Efficient, usually energetic, hard-working, perseverant -
But I rarely measure up to my own standards.
You know ~ the ones I set for myself, and work so hard to try and attain (sometimes driving my family crazy in the process). And yet... almost Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7259713025368975804.post-86841788597227791672017-03-31T23:16:00.000-04:002017-03-31T23:16:44.896-04:00Five Minute Friday ~ Define
On April 22, Tim and I are scheduled to take a French test - actually four tests: Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression. We need to attain a certain level of proficiency if we then want to submit applications for permanent residency.
It seems simple. We studied French for a year. Then we lived and worked in a French speaking environment for 13 Richelle Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04083189929795613771noreply@blogger.com2