Circle of Trust

 

I remember a couple years ago making the statement, "I'm good. I don't want to meet anyone new. My circle of friends is perfect, just the way it is." Of course, at the time it was perfect. I really wasn't ready to let people into the protected, safe world, that I had created. It was created out of necessity, and perfect in it's simplicity. Plus, at the time it was all I needed. I had too much to handle and trusting new people was a challenge...potentially painful. I couldn't handle any more pain.

 But even when I said it, I knew or hoped that wouldn't be the case forever.

"Heal the past,

Live the present,

Dream the future."

I hoped for a future where people were kind.

A time when I could step out again
and be the Lori I once was.

I really liked being her.

She giggled, belly-laughed,
and even snorted a time or ten, at a joke.

She sparkled.

I really missed that in my guarded world.

So, what happened to make this guarded girl step out?

People.

The kind of people that knew kindness and gave it away, freely.

The kind of people that looked around them and saw needs to be met.

The people who greet you with a smile and accept you into their fold, nothing asked.

That was comforting.

These people created a new world for me.

A world where even if it's pouring down rain, scorching hot,

muddy, ground so packed with rock or clay that you can't dig, or a perfectly blue sky...you can't imagine being anywhere else.

They don't really know it, but they helped me trust again.

It happened quickly...they made me feel safe.

They gave me a new extended family.

I love them all and would help them with anything.

Because as my original "circle of trust" knows, once I let you in, you're in.

Man, that sounds a lot like a border collie I know.
Wonder where he picked that up from?

The only difference is that I don't growl...not often anyway. ;)

So, who are these amazing people? 

You've seen their pictures,
you may even know their names,

But you can be guaranteed that they are all a part of

Fences For Fido.

They don't just build fences.

They take a broken, battered hearts and make them whole again.
Like mine.

They made me sparkle brighter than ever.

They made me, well....a better me.

So thank you all, from the little pieces of my broken heart.

You may have not known, but with each fence, each smile, hug, and twist of the tie, 

you helped put the final pieces of my heart back together.

And even better than that...I see you sparkle bright with me.

Just follow that sparkling smiles and hugs in the pictures,

and feel the love that they give.
These people are experts at love.

German Pancakes-Chambers' Style

German Pancakes.

Dutch Babies. 

Puffed Pancakes. 

Saturday Morning Special.

Whatever you call them,
I just all them delicious. 

They're a pancake, but with a crunchy edge that my brother and I would fight over.

As a kid, we would see the pie plates out and know that it was German Pancake morning. 

In our world, there wasn't a better breakfast than that.

While visiting my dear friend in Seattle, I thought that I'd test these pancakes out on a new audience. Though I had taste-tested (and still do) these often, there's really nothing more enjoyable to me than watching someone else try something I've made. I live for it.  So I had a captive audience that I knew would be honest...brutally if needed. 6 & 4 year-olds tend to be that way.  Plus, I could show my friend how crazy easy these are to make! And they are crazy easy, but the hungry mouths don't need to know that.

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1/4 tsp baking powder

1cup flour

1 & 1/4 cup skim milk- 

        if you don't have skim, it's ok. Just add 1cup milk and 1/4 cup water...

        it's a little trick that I've learned.

Butter

***Easy vegan substitutes: Use Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer, almond or soy milk, and vegan butter.  Still works very well and yummy too.  Also, shhhh....no one will know the difference.
 

Toppings:

Any pancake toppings you LOVE!

The Chambers Way:

-Syrup

-Lemon Juice

-Powdered Sugar

Directions:

You can make this in two 9 inch glass pie plates or a glass 9 x 13 pan.
I'm sure you can cook it in other pans, but this is what I use.
Go for it and let me know what else works.
The key is a hot pan and a hot oven.

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and place your baking dish in at the same time. You want your baking dish to heat up with the oven.

2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

3. When the oven and baking dish are heated, take the dish out and place a pat of butter in the hot pan. The butter should sizzle, if not place it back in the oven until the butter has melted.

4. Pour the batter into the sizzling pan and immediately back into the oven.

5. Bake for 15-18 minutes depending on pan size and oven.

6. When the edges are crispy and remove from the oven.

7. Serve immediately. 

This won't be a problem, because your kids/family/loved ones
will be hovering around the kitchen because of the delicious smells.

To serve this in the classic Chambers' Style, you will make a puddle of syrup on the pancake, then drop lemon juice into the puddle.  Finally, top with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.  Dig in and I promise, you'll love these and make them often.

Enjoy!

Lasik: My Fears- Are these yours?

My eyes.
Everything about them has always freaked me out.
Going to the eye doctor was always like stepping into a haunted house...
all those pictures of the inner-workings of your eyes...freaking.
Growing up many kids have fears of monsters lurking in the closet or hiding under the bed. 
Those monsters were probably hairy and scary,
not mine.
My biggest monster was a big, shiny, scary eyeball...with legs.
It would chase me around with it's huge blinking eye yelling, "I see you! I see YOU!"
Simply terrifying.

In high school I had the best job. 
I worked for a Veterinary Hospital...I played with puppies and kittens. 
While there, one of the doctors learned vividly about my fear of eyes.
While helping with a surgery removing a tumor, we were talking about things that could be found in tumors...from teeth to, get this, the forming of an eye.  EEK!
That solidified my fear.
But, it didn't stop there.
My favorite doctor to work with, Dr. Q took my fear a little further.
While I was a lunch he created a fake eyeball tumor...with suture eyelashes and everything...
and placed it somewhere so that I would find it.
Well, it worked, I was completing freaked out!
Needless to say, anything to do with the eyes, terrified me.

For years, I had convinced myself that I was too scared to have Lasik.
And I came up with every excuse in the book.
Plus, wearing glasses and contacts wasn't so bad anyway....
At least that's how I used to feel.
Until two years ago when my contacts weren't so comfortable anymore.
It's as if my eyes were rejecting them.
I guess after wearing them for 23 years, it wasn't so surprising.
So I had a choice...Either wear glasses for the rest of my life, or face my fears.
I chose to face my fears.

If you are in the same place that I was, scared, I totally get it.
But believe me, if I can have the surgery, than anyone can.

So what were my fears?
1. I'll blink in the middle of the laser cutting.

Ok, there is NO WAY that you can blink! None at all.  Keep in mind that your eyes are numb and you can't feel anything...you can only feel the coolness from the solution that he uses to keep your eye lubricated. You can't blink..they have taped your eye open and there is a device that is holding your eye open as well. But you can't feel it! You can't at all! Dr. Waldman talked me through every step, so I knew exactly what was happening. Really, you can't blink.

2. Wait, I have to be awake?! Why can't they just knock me out?! 

This one really freaked me out! Anything to do with the eye already freaks me out, and now I have to be awake for someone slicing into it?! Seriously? While you are awake during the procedure, you have been given a relaxer to help take some of the edge off your nerves. Believe me it helps...a lot. I felt me relaxed, but fully able to understand and follow directions. The reason they can't knock you out is because they need your eye to have "active eye movement." It sounds creepy, but it's just so that the laser can accurately track your eye.  Your job the entire time is to stare at the blinking light. Needless to say, me and the blinking light became best friends. I loved that blinking light, and stared at it like it was the most interesting thing I had ever seen. And it was interesting because I can see. 

Though being awake was scary before the procedure, it was calming to know exactly what was happening. Plus, in my experience with Dr. Waldman and staff, they were extremely comforting and kept my nerves under control.

3. I'll move and the laser will slice my face apart!

This isn't the movies, but I really had pictured the machine going out of control and leaving me missing half of my face. I know. Ridiculous. And it really is. The laser only activates when it has everything lined up AND your surgeon initiates it. If your eye moves at all, the laser shut down. In actuality, the laser is only working, cutting, for 30 seconds, and again, you're just staring at a blinking light. It would be impossible to have it slice my face off. 

I'll have it done, but it won't actually work...I'll still won't have good eye-sight.

Yes, there is that chance, but to me it was worth it. Also, I knew that Dr. Waldman would only perform the surgery if he was confident that the outcome would be close to 20/20 vision in the end. And close to 20/20 is WAY, WAY better than what I had ever seen in my life. So I figured, "Cool!"

4. I'll actually be blind!

Again, small chance of this happening...and really it would be because of a genetic issue and not because of the surgery.  But, they have to tell you all of the statistics, even the small ones. Of course, I was ok with this, to a certain degree because I had always wanted a seeing eye dog. I know. Weird, but totally true. The reality was that I felt completely confident in Dr. Waldman. He was extremely detailed and even double-checked the numbers the night before the surgery...I liked that. I knew that every angle was being evaluated...I really liked that.

5. It will be too painful.

Is there pain? Yes. Unbearable? No, it's bearable. To me it felt like getting soap in my eyes...but it lasted for a few hours. The good part was that I slept through most of it and that when I woke up, about 4 hours later, I could see perfectly and the pain was gone. It was amazing!

Dr. Waldman and all of the staff at EyeHealth Northwest were so supportive. This was fantastic experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  If you are even contemplating having the surgery, you should do it.  It will literally change your life. Guaranteed.

Promote Love

People spend a lot of time griping

about what they don't like about the world, people or things in it. 
I have to admit, that I too sometimes fall into the grip of the gripe.
It can be difficult to avoid. 
It's easy to gripe, but it never, ever makes me feel any better. 
In fact, I often feel worse. 
That why here on my blog,

I only like to promote the positive...the things that make our world better.

To me, the simplest things make the biggest impact.

Kindness.

I think kind people get a bad wrap...

people sometimes act as if kindness makes you weak or if anything, a pushover.

To me, kindness is the exact opposite. 

Kindness=strength 

It takes strength of character to look into someones eyes
and see a need.

It takes a gentle word or touch to make someone trust you with their weakness.

I've known many people who use fake strength and the power of intimidation to get their needs met.

That's a temporary fill.

Nothing enriches the soul and leaves a lasting impact, like kindness.

 

Are you thinking of someone who showed you kindness?

Not the person who was kind because they wanted something in return, 

but they were kind because, well...just because.

I've been lucky.

I have the greatest example if kindness around me.

She is the epitome of kindness.

Always the person to give a loving smile and a gentle heart...

My mom.

Now mind you that I have the best parents in the world.

No, seriously.

I know that people say that, 

And I'm sure that those parents are outstanding too...but mine, well they're my favorite.

There's a reason that this year is their 40th wedding anniversary.

But more on that another day.

My mom.

The other day she was shopping.

Normal shopping day.

As she entered the security guard said, "Hello! Good morning." 

My mom, "Good Morning! How are you?"

Now the guard had done this to every customer...

The surprising part...my mom was the first to smile and respond...it was almost noon.

They talked for a bit.

The lady said that she smiles and greets every person, but rarely gets a reply or even a simple smile.

Are we so egocentric that a simple smile is too much to give away?!

I shiver at the thought, and pray that isn't true.

If I have anything to do with kindness and love, that will not be our world.

Kindness isn't weakness...no way!

It takes a strong, secure person to care...step out of their own needs and fill another.

So today... Say hello to the person at the door greeting you.

Talk to the cashier and ask them about their day.

When they person cuts you off, just breathe...take ten if you have to.

Hug your parents if you're lucky to have them near.

And for goodness sake...

SMILE!!

So simple, yet so overlooked.

No go out there and promote love.

Together we can make an impact.

It may be small, but not to the one that needs it.

Hugs,

Lori

The Power of the Paw

Date: September 9, 2013

Location: The Oregon Public House

Cause: Fences for Fido- What else is there?

Watching tonight in action I knew that I was watching
the power of paws.

Us, dogs folks are all alike...

Besides being basically the best humans on earth,

we, like our furry best friends are ready and willing to lend a paw.

Whether the paw is for play, or difficult work, we stick together.

Need help? Sure, I'm in!

Need food? Gotcha covered.

Need a sympathetic ear? You got it...I'm here.

See, dog folks are instant friends.

We don't have to exchange long introductions, or even names really,

we're just friends.

We like each other because we have commonalities that make us connect.

We love dogs.

Period.

What more needs to be said?

I knew all of this,
but as I was leaving I realized how many folks I had spoken to
and how I only knew their dogs' name!

But the funny thing was, as I introduced myself (walking out the door) 

one of the owners that I had spoken with all evening said,

"Names?! Does it really matter?! It's all about the dogs!" 

Ha! So true.
So true.

We don't need names, we're already fast friends.

Tonight was amazing.

It was fast paced.

It was hot and loud.
It was a packed house.
It was beautiful.
It was filled with smiles and laughter.
It was a night to remember.
And the best part?

It will change the lives of dogs throughout 2014.
All it will take is hungry pub consumers going to eat at The Oregon Public House
and selecting our name from the board.

We had one night.
One night to show The Oregon Public House
what happens when dog advocates come together.
One night to make it on the charity board for 2014.
What is that you ask?
Oregon Public House is the first of it's kind...
the first non-profit pub in the nation.
And they choose 8 local charities to donate all of the profits to over the course of the year.
We had one night to bring in $3500 in sales to make it on the board.
"Could we do it?" we asked ourselves.
Well, we can't do it alone...
But when we join together, it's a powerful force.
Not only did we raise $3500 dollars in sales,
we exceeded that amount by $1300!
$4800...now that is an example of The Power of the Paw.
And now we have another partner in un-chaining dogs with
The Oregon Public House.

The Impact of Little Things

I've lost track of the years now.

But I continue to carry the note with me, wherever I go.

It's in my wallet.

It's just a piece of paper,

folded into a little bundle,

Given to me on the last day of school...years ago.

But to me it's so much more.

It's the reason that I wake up at 5:30 am, 

coach volleyball, 

basketball, 

and all the million things that teachers do everyday.

It's a reminder of impact.

Written years ago by one of my students...

I read it and cried...not because it was sad, no...

I cried because of it's kindness.

I cried because I had no idea of the impact I had.

I cried because I wish I had known...

See, this girl was quiet.

She wasn't the type of student who drew attention to herself 

or demanded the intense interaction that other students did.

She sat, did her work (mostly), and was sweet.

But I wish I had known.

I wish I had known that this was one of the first stable years 

where she stayed in just one school.

I wish that I would have drawn her into more discussions.

I wish that I had known more about her hopes and dreams.

But, man...she knew me.

She wrote about the stories I told, 

and about my stupid, yet surprisingly funny jokes.

Mostly, she just thanked me.

She thanked me for a great year and for being her favorite teacher.

See, I wish I had known.

But I do now.

Each year I read her note at the beginning of the year
to remind myself of the impact we have on our students.
Most of the time we have no idea...

I always tell my students that words are powerful,
so be careful with them.

They can break or build a person.








 

But her words build me up.

I might start off the year reading her note,
but it makes an appearance often,
especially on the really challenging days when I question everything about my job.

In those moments I take out her note...
all crumpled from years of use...

I read and remember.

I don't teach for money.

I don't teach for control.

I don't teach for the praise.

I teach for students like her.

Tomorrow as you move through the world,

Remember that you are seen...for the good and bad. 

Make it a day that your impact on the world will leave a good mark,

an impact worth writing about.

Thank you Savanna, for teaching me...again and again.

With Love,

Ms. Chambers

How to Survive the Year

At the end of last year, I asked the 8th graders what advice they would give to the students next year.  I wasn't sure how serious they would take it...but the answers weren't surprising.
But what surprised me was that so many of these answers could relate to any point in life.

Though I'm going to take their advice and try to get a little more sleep tonight, but it's not easy.  I enjoy staying up late...but somehow, we'll all survive.



Way to Survive 8th Grade (According to 8th Graders):
**All emphasis is from students, not me. ;)

Don't talk about someone in a bad way (gossip/rumors)
Stay organized
Get involved
Own up to your mistakes
Turn in work on-time
Don't look at the clock because it makes time go slower
Don't take stuff too seriously
Find some good friends that are REAL and stick with them
Don't be that person who dates EVERY girl or guy
Be yourself
Don't be fake
Be honest
Get sleep
Stay after and come in the morning
Don't get involved in drugs
Find who your friends are
Do you work- Even the little things add up
STUDY!!
Stay out of trouble
Make friends
Be nice to everyone
Not leading boys on
Make sure you bring your own food- NOT the school's food
Get help
Don't start drama-if you hear rumors, don't spread them
Don't lie
Remember, if you're going through a hard time,
                       keep your head up and think that every little thing is going to be okay
Violence isn't the answer- it just gets you into more trouble
Don't give up
Pay attention
Don't skip class
Surround yourself with GREAT friends
Girls, don't focus on guys
Guys, don't focus on girls
Don't procrastinate
Show a decent amount of respect
Don't make eye contact
Don't talk to anyone, ever
Be original
If you are going to date, actually like the person!
Find a couple good friend-quality, not quantity
Make good relationships with teachers
Know your locker combination
Get involved
Pick reliable friends
Be on-time
Play at least one sport
If you have a question, ASK THE TEACHER!
Good binders
Be nice to the 7th and 6th graders
Bring supplies
Do you work, ALL OF IT!
Be nice to teachers
Don't give in to pressure
Bring back-up pants and female supplies!
Nice guys DO NOT finish last
Separate you real friends from your fake
Bring own lunch...don't eat prison food
Try to always keep a good attitude
Watch what you wear
If you have a problem with someone, confront them nicely or walk away
Do homework. I know it's boring, but just do it

The most common response:
Stay out of the drama!
-------------------------------------------------------------
I think that's a good reminder for everyone.
No one needs drama in their life, so don't stir it up.
Just be yourself and for goodness sake, please, please be nice to your teacher.
Have a great school year!