Heather Holleman's Blog, page 119

Everywhere You Look

I’m finally in a place in my life where I find beauty everywhere I look. Even in the gutters, beauty.

Autumn sends down a confetti of color today.

It’s a celebration, and I accept the invitation.

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

Today I remember that just because I can meet people on Zoom doesn’t mean I should. In this new world of online, immediate accessibility, you might find yourself overwhelmed with Zoom (or other platform) get togethers. You might find yourself exhausted when you imagined you might feel refreshed or even happy about all these new screen-to-screen interactions. Every day, you might receive an invitation to meet up online with people.

But if you’re exhausted, remember that just because you can meet online doesn’t mean you should or must. I ask myself if the meeting absolutely requires video. If not, I make it a phone call or an email. I feel so much better! When emails come asking for a Zoom call, I’ll ask for a phone call or email instead, and every one is happier.

Zoom sometimes exhausts us. It hurts our eyes. It can wear us down. I find that taking a walk in the woods while having a business phone call can accomplish the same results. So living with flair in this new virtual world means setting boundaries on your online life.

Asking for a Steadfast and Willing Spirit

I love David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10, 12. These words echo in my mind from my college days when I prayed this for myself over and over again. David cries, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

What a wonderful and powerful prayer to seek a pure heart, a steadfast spirit, a joyful understanding of salvation, and a willing spirit to follow the Lord.

I pray this for my family today, too.

The Week Ahead for You

I do love the pause of Sunday. I love praying over the week ahead. Think of the days stretching out ahead of you. What will each day bring? What makes you worried, nervous, or exhausted already?

Pray for your sleeping, your working, and your eating. Pray for your walking, your talking, and your thinking. Pray for your family, your neighbors, your co-workers, and your friends near and far. Pray for peace and joy and laughter. Pray for unity, wisdom, and hope. Pray for everything, large and small.

A Little Something You Didn’t Know You Needed: Dorat Frozen Ginger Cubes

The other day at Trader Joe’s I wondered where to find the ginger I needed for a Veggie Lo Mein recipe I wanted to try. The sales associate brought me to the freezer aisle and handed me a little square tray of frozen crushed ginger from Dorat Gardens.

Each little cube equals 1 teaspoon of ginger.

I love these trays. I love them so much I always buy two or three every time I’m at the store. I don’t just pop a cube of ginger in all my stir fry recipes, but I also pop a frozen cube in my tea and water bottle. I love how a ginger drink can ease an upset stomach, help with inflammation and soreness, fight infection, and aid your immune system. There’s just something about these ginger cubes that I just love.

I’m about to expand my frozen trays by adding frozen chopped garlic, basil, turmeric, cilantro, and dill to my collection.

The Week I Discovered Nanaimo Bars

I’ve been alive nearly 45 years, and I’d never before tried a Canadian Nanaimo Bar. Our Canadian neighbors delivered a container of these delights as a thank you to my husband for watching their dog, and I can honestly say they are one of the best desserts I have ever had. Ever. Ever! My daughter and I want to learn how to make these as our new holiday treats. We want to take our time to perfect them!

Here you go: https://www.nanaimo.ca/about-nanaimo/nanaimo-bar

Autumn in Pennsylvania

Thoughtful Listening

Today, everyone in class agreed that nobody really listened to each other during the first presidential debate. We all agreed, for once, that we miss civility and civic discourse. We miss kindness and thoughtful listening. My students tell me that nobody won the debate; we all lost.

Ironically, we all feel more united because of this common enemy of hatred, insult, and rude behavior on both sides of the debate. A rare moment of togetherness!

I Suppose I Had Been Worried

My COVID-19 test returned negative less than 24 hours later.

I was so relieved!

I supposed I didn’t realize how worried I was. After all, I’ve been teaching residentially in a hot spot for over six weeks. I’m on campus 3 times a week; I’ve been in grocery stores; and I’ve even been in Pittsburgh for a weekend. And while I always wear a mask and practice social distancing, I did carry this underlying fear of becoming ill with the virus. How could I not?

In fact, when I wake up in the morning and feel great with no fever, chills, sore throat, or any other symptoms, I always praise God and thank Him for one more healthy day. Maybe teachers everywhere do this as well.

So I breathed a deep sigh of relief to know that at least for now, I’m still healthy.

Sitting and Listening and an Update

Lately, students come to my Zoom office hours to talk. It’s wonderful. I sit and listen. I ask all my good questions. I see their dorm rooms or apartments from the square on my screen. I notice that it doesn’t feel so odd anymore. It’s a cozy time as the wind blows outside in the changing leaves. We’re not together in the same office, but the wind blows where they are, too, across the town.

Earlier in the day, I received the email that my turn came up to participate in Penn State’s mandatory COVID-19 Asymptomatic Surveillance Program. Since PSU randomly tests 700 people a day (students, faculty, and staff), I knew my number would come up soon. So I journeyed to the big Beaver Stadium, only not for a football game. I stood there with a few others to log onto a special website on your phone, scan the barcode of your testing kit, and complete a health screening. My COVID-19 test was the saliva test where you spit into a test tube until you fill it up. Then you shake a blue liquid into it before you toss it into a big box with all the other COVID tests. Health care workers hover around you to make sure you’re doing the test correctly, but you do everything yourself. I receive results in 48 hours. It all felt like I was in a science fiction movie. Thankfully, every case I’ve heard of on campus from students and friends involves asymptomatic positive cases, or at the worst, a sore throat or headache for a few days. I’m glad to hear that news.