If I had to pick a favorite year in the history of the United States that year would be 1953. Many interesting things happened that year; a queen was crowned...Queen Elizabeth the II, a new President took office...Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John and Jackie Kennedy got married on September 12th.
Scientists were busy then too, investigations into DNA were in infancy and the DNA molecule was described at a double helix. The average income was $4,011 a year and with that income you could buy a new house for about $9,525...a new car for $1,651....gas for your new car at $.20 a gallon...and pick up a $.16 loaf of bread, in your new car, going home to your new house after earning your minimum wage of $.75 an hour.
There was the police action in Korea....and you could go to the movies to see "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds", "Shane", and "From Here To Eternity".
But the most significant thing that happened that year was the birth of a baby. A boy baby to be exact. He was the third son born to that family and he was a little doll.
His parents taught him to be frugal, kind, intelligent, hard working, and loyal. He learned to appreciate music, reading, and how to treat a woman. But above all this, he learned about God. He had a strong Christian family who attended church regularly and prayed always, his mom praying most of all.
He grew into a fine young man with a strong work ethic and a dry humor that catches even me off guard. He has quite an imagination but you have to look for it a little bit, coax it out, but it's there right under the surface surrounded by the intellect that keeps people guessing.
The thing that I am in total awe of is that God, in His infinite wisdom, created this man and He had me in mind. You see, we are a perfect fit. The yin and yang so to speak. We go together like chips and salsa. To quote a sloth ice age II not tom cruise he "completes me".
He is strong, brave, humble and he is my hero. He makes me feel safe in this not-so-safe world and I am treated like a queen. Now I'm not saying this in mocking terms or to make one think that I expect to be treated that way, I saying it because it is true and I am amazed by it. He is not extravagantly spending money on me all the time well..mostly not and taking me to five star restaurants or on glamorous vacations...he is treating me like a lady. He holds doors for me, carries heavy things for me, works a job he really doesn't like for me and he listens to me. He tells me many times a day that he loves me and he often tells me he appreciates me and all that I do. He tells me I'm beautiful even when I'm at my worst and he takes time to be with me.
I think to myself, "how do I deserve this man?" And I thank God for the honor and blessing He gave in giving me to this gentle husband...the love of my life and the sweetner of my days.
Yes, 1953 was a very good year.
July 30th, 1953 was a very good day.
All leading up to this very good life.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Wind
Have you ever thought about wind? Have you ever taken the time to sit and enjoy the feel of it? Tried to discern the temperature of it? the direction of it?
Have you ever thought about where it comes from? Does it come from the rotation of the Earth? Are we spinning fast enough to kick up a little breeze as we whirl around in space? Is it caused by the ocean tides coming and going or the waves that splash on the shores? Rain brings wind...if you've ever sat outside and waited for rain to come, the wind always comes first. Does water cause wind? It seems that wind and rain are always together, doesn't it? Why? Why does it go hand in hand? Is that how it's meant to be?
Have you felt a cold wind? a hot wind? an in between wind? Have you noticed? Have you ever felt the abrasiveness of wind when it blows sand on the beach? or a sand trap on the golf course? Have you ever chased a hat or a piece of paper or an umbrella that has been stolen by the wind? Can you run that fast?
Have you ever flown a kite? Did your kite float toward heaven effortlessly or did you have to run? Have you ever found the perfect kite flying day where you could just stand there and let your kite go and it would fly for you? Have you noticed that when there is no wind your kite can't soar?
Have you seen how the trees bend to the wind? The leaves turn upside down for the wind? Do you notice the sticks and debris all over the yard after a good wind? Is the wind cleaning house?
When you sit outside late at night with only the wind for company does it comfort you? Chill you? Envelop you? Does it make you want to go inside? Do you feel its caress?
Wind.
The breath of God.
Touching
Moving
Warming
Chilling
Invigorating
Caressing
Can you feel it?
Breathe on me, breath of God...
Have you ever thought about where it comes from? Does it come from the rotation of the Earth? Are we spinning fast enough to kick up a little breeze as we whirl around in space? Is it caused by the ocean tides coming and going or the waves that splash on the shores? Rain brings wind...if you've ever sat outside and waited for rain to come, the wind always comes first. Does water cause wind? It seems that wind and rain are always together, doesn't it? Why? Why does it go hand in hand? Is that how it's meant to be?
Have you felt a cold wind? a hot wind? an in between wind? Have you noticed? Have you ever felt the abrasiveness of wind when it blows sand on the beach? or a sand trap on the golf course? Have you ever chased a hat or a piece of paper or an umbrella that has been stolen by the wind? Can you run that fast?
Have you ever flown a kite? Did your kite float toward heaven effortlessly or did you have to run? Have you ever found the perfect kite flying day where you could just stand there and let your kite go and it would fly for you? Have you noticed that when there is no wind your kite can't soar?
Have you seen how the trees bend to the wind? The leaves turn upside down for the wind? Do you notice the sticks and debris all over the yard after a good wind? Is the wind cleaning house?
When you sit outside late at night with only the wind for company does it comfort you? Chill you? Envelop you? Does it make you want to go inside? Do you feel its caress?
Wind.
The breath of God.
Touching
Moving
Warming
Chilling
Invigorating
Caressing
Can you feel it?
Breathe on me, breath of God...
Friday, July 27, 2007
Enjoy the show....
The kids and I went on an adventure the other day. We were going to the "Free Movie Wednesday" at Easton. We wanted to see "Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End" and seeing it free was even better.
We all got up early, leaving at 9:00 to get there in plenty of time to visit the concession stand who eats that stuff at 9:30 in the morning? get good seats and have a great time. We had no problem with crowds because we were almost the first ones there great planning i think and went directly to the ticket counter. I told the young lady she really didn't want to be there, I think she would rather had been sleeping at home or someplace I wanted tickets for four kids and one adult. She didn't even smile at me but punched a bunch of numbers on her little computer thingy and announced that it would be $28.50! "Um..." I said, "I thought this was Free Movie Wednesday"! She looked at me with her little borg microphoned face and said..."That's only for 'Flushed Away'."
Wow....I had four kids who had been anticipating this movie for a week, a little puppy romance involved and secretly didn't want to go into a theater with 16,000 screaming toddlers! I did ask them if they would like to see 'Flushed Away' but they all said, in that whiny pleading voice...."NO, PIRATES!" Needless to say, I paid the girl the $28.50 as I thought to myself, "This was supposed to be free!"
We went up to the concession stand and Devon took out his wad of cash; thank God I made him leave the bulk of it at home i didn't know crushing cans could be so lucrative and he proceeded to purchase candy for the three girls at $4.00 a pop and a bottled water for me wasn't that sweet and some nachos for himself. Haley bought slushies, a smaller one for Dev and a large one for the three girls to share. After they had made their purchases we began the long trek to the back theater down a long concourse...it kind of reminded me of an airport concourse....,we were at gate eight. As I walked along, I thought I would check the tickets because I wanted to be sure we were on time and I discovered that the movie didn't even start until 1:10 that AFTERNOON!! Sleepy the Ticket Girl had neglected to tell me that part. My brisk pace got slower and slower as I looked incredulously at the ticket time. What in the WORLD was I going to do with four kids at Easton for the next four hours after they had eaten all of that sugar???
I explained to the kids what was happening and told them to sit on the bench just outside of the theater and wait for me. They obediently did so. I hurried toward the concession stand in search of.......well, what...I didn't know. There, looming in the popcorn popper haze was a young man did they teach movie theater management in kindergarten? who looked fairly official i imagined him waiting to blow a bubble with his bubble gum taking tickets by the elevator as the toddler set poured in from all directions.
I walked up to him and asked..."Are you the man?" I swear he got a little bit taller and his chest puffed out a little bit bigger and he said with a little hesitation...."Yes" eyeing me as if to say, "What ever it is I can handle it." I began to explain my situation to him. I told him it was a misunderstanding on my part and that I purchased the tickets and that it was no problem because I misunderstood but now I had all these kids and was there ANY way he could play the movie now.
Understand now, the whole time I was trying to explain my plight, there were mommies and daddies pouring out of the elevator with strollers and toddlers and all their stuff...handing tickets to Doogie the Theater Manager in an effort to see 'Flushed Away' but he handled it better than I did....too...many...people....in...my....vicinity..... and replied to me "Ma'am, Pirates is a three hour movie and I'm not sure we can play it now and have it ready for it's regular showing time." It didn't look good but he got on his little walkie-talkie thing and spoke to a voice asking if the voice thought they could run 'Pirates' and finish in time for the next showing. The voice said yes, they could run it. Doogie the Theater Manager asked me if I could be in the theater in five minutes and I said "I sure can!" to which he replied....
"Enjoy the show..."
I thanked him and blessed him and...well...gushed thanks all over the place as I literally ran yes i can run to movie theater eight. I yelled to the kids, who were sitting nicely on the bench to go in and get seats. WE HAVE A PRIVATE VIEWING!
I was so excited and thankful. I got to see almost all of the movie this time, filling in parts I missed last week and enjoyed it immensely! i will certainly add this to my collection as soon as it comes out...it's a two thumbs up kind of movie...
As the beginning trailers started I thanked God for this blessing. What if Doogie the Theater Manager had treated us like Sleepy the Ticket Girl? What if he didn't think he needed to be there? What if he didn't want to take the time to speak with me? We would have had to see the show later that day but he would have missed a blessing. He was NICE. A rarity in today's world.
I'm not going to try that again. I mean after all, that was a gift. But I do want to say "Thank you Doogie! Thank you for restoring my faith in mankind...." Knowing that there are still young people out there who care makes it easier to handle all the Sleepy the Ticket Girls who come in between....
So I think I'll relax, sip a slushie....and enjoy the show!
We all got up early, leaving at 9:00 to get there in plenty of time to visit the concession stand who eats that stuff at 9:30 in the morning? get good seats and have a great time. We had no problem with crowds because we were almost the first ones there great planning i think and went directly to the ticket counter. I told the young lady she really didn't want to be there, I think she would rather had been sleeping at home or someplace I wanted tickets for four kids and one adult. She didn't even smile at me but punched a bunch of numbers on her little computer thingy and announced that it would be $28.50! "Um..." I said, "I thought this was Free Movie Wednesday"! She looked at me with her little borg microphoned face and said..."That's only for 'Flushed Away'."
Wow....I had four kids who had been anticipating this movie for a week, a little puppy romance involved and secretly didn't want to go into a theater with 16,000 screaming toddlers! I did ask them if they would like to see 'Flushed Away' but they all said, in that whiny pleading voice...."NO, PIRATES!" Needless to say, I paid the girl the $28.50 as I thought to myself, "This was supposed to be free!"
We went up to the concession stand and Devon took out his wad of cash; thank God I made him leave the bulk of it at home i didn't know crushing cans could be so lucrative and he proceeded to purchase candy for the three girls at $4.00 a pop and a bottled water for me wasn't that sweet and some nachos for himself. Haley bought slushies, a smaller one for Dev and a large one for the three girls to share. After they had made their purchases we began the long trek to the back theater down a long concourse...it kind of reminded me of an airport concourse....,we were at gate eight. As I walked along, I thought I would check the tickets because I wanted to be sure we were on time and I discovered that the movie didn't even start until 1:10 that AFTERNOON!! Sleepy the Ticket Girl had neglected to tell me that part. My brisk pace got slower and slower as I looked incredulously at the ticket time. What in the WORLD was I going to do with four kids at Easton for the next four hours after they had eaten all of that sugar???
I explained to the kids what was happening and told them to sit on the bench just outside of the theater and wait for me. They obediently did so. I hurried toward the concession stand in search of.......well, what...I didn't know. There, looming in the popcorn popper haze was a young man did they teach movie theater management in kindergarten? who looked fairly official i imagined him waiting to blow a bubble with his bubble gum taking tickets by the elevator as the toddler set poured in from all directions.
I walked up to him and asked..."Are you the man?" I swear he got a little bit taller and his chest puffed out a little bit bigger and he said with a little hesitation...."Yes" eyeing me as if to say, "What ever it is I can handle it." I began to explain my situation to him. I told him it was a misunderstanding on my part and that I purchased the tickets and that it was no problem because I misunderstood but now I had all these kids and was there ANY way he could play the movie now.
Understand now, the whole time I was trying to explain my plight, there were mommies and daddies pouring out of the elevator with strollers and toddlers and all their stuff...handing tickets to Doogie the Theater Manager in an effort to see 'Flushed Away' but he handled it better than I did....too...many...people....in...my....vicinity..... and replied to me "Ma'am, Pirates is a three hour movie and I'm not sure we can play it now and have it ready for it's regular showing time." It didn't look good but he got on his little walkie-talkie thing and spoke to a voice asking if the voice thought they could run 'Pirates' and finish in time for the next showing. The voice said yes, they could run it. Doogie the Theater Manager asked me if I could be in the theater in five minutes and I said "I sure can!" to which he replied....
"Enjoy the show..."
I thanked him and blessed him and...well...gushed thanks all over the place as I literally ran yes i can run to movie theater eight. I yelled to the kids, who were sitting nicely on the bench to go in and get seats. WE HAVE A PRIVATE VIEWING!
I was so excited and thankful. I got to see almost all of the movie this time, filling in parts I missed last week and enjoyed it immensely! i will certainly add this to my collection as soon as it comes out...it's a two thumbs up kind of movie...
As the beginning trailers started I thanked God for this blessing. What if Doogie the Theater Manager had treated us like Sleepy the Ticket Girl? What if he didn't think he needed to be there? What if he didn't want to take the time to speak with me? We would have had to see the show later that day but he would have missed a blessing. He was NICE. A rarity in today's world.
I'm not going to try that again. I mean after all, that was a gift. But I do want to say "Thank you Doogie! Thank you for restoring my faith in mankind...." Knowing that there are still young people out there who care makes it easier to handle all the Sleepy the Ticket Girls who come in between....
So I think I'll relax, sip a slushie....and enjoy the show!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Superglue...
There are a lot of adhesives out there for which to fix things. There are the usuals; Elmer's Glue, Gorilla Glue, pastes, glue sticks, sticky dots, tape, duct tape and super glue. That of course is not a comprehensive list. More of a topical list. And you can choose just about any of them to fix, adhere or mend just about anything. Each one of them has a specific purpose and can be used in a pinch for many things if necessary, but in its intended use it is unbeatable.
I've broken many things in my life and have probably used at least one of these items to mend the broken piece, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. Say for instance I have a special coffee mug that crashed and now the handle needs to be glued on. You find each of the broken pieces, fit them together and hope the glue will hold. Usually it does but if you will notice, along the cracks of the break there are little scarred places where bits of ceramic have broken off that are to small to re-glue. The glue seeps into those little places and it holds. It leaves little dinks in the handle so that its not perfect but it is mended...still usable but damaged none the less.
There is one thing I own that has been broken many many times. Sometimes I wonder if it can survive another crash or if the glue will hold a little longer. It has been broken several times since I was a little girl but it still works and amazingly it seems stronger but there is a part of me that wants to protect it. I don't want it to break again but I know it will. And I can't put it on a shelf and not use it...hoping not to break it...because then I would miss it...I don't want to break my....
heart.
We can be broken hearted as children over lost toys or dying pets, mommy or daddy going to work or friends "not sharing". Sometimes, as we grow, our friends say and do things that upset us or we can't afford the video game we long for. Perhaps we "fall in luv" that puppy love thing only to find out ten minutes later that our new interest is interested in someone else. 'Tweenie hearts are especially fragile. Then as we get older and more mature, our hearts are broken by our spouses, children and grandchildren often through no fault of their own.
My heart is broken.
How do I, as a mature Christian woman...wife...mother...grandmother...friend...daughter...aunt...sister-in-law...daughter-in-law...sister...neighbor...mentor, lead the way? How do I set an example or guide them, or teach them or watch over them without causing them pain? How do I show them that some their actions are hurtful to others without hurting them? How do I discern who is "right" and who is "wrong" without loosing them? Do I let them go and just make sure they don't kill each other? Do I let them to their own devices and hope they find the right path? After all, we have taught them the basics, that's all they need right? Do I "stay the course" or do I back off?
In my effort to teach the right thing, I broke a heart. Oh, we had a conversation and lots of hugs and I apologized and I was forgiven but how do I not do it again and still teach good morals...teach respect...teach Jesus?
My heart is shattered. I only want what is pure and holy and of good report for them....but I fall way short. I want to give up....no try...leave them alone and just play all the time. I want to be fun...but I'm not...and I can't.
But I do know this...
Jesus is my Superglue. Although I my heart is broken He looks at it with compassion because His has been broken too. He has felt everything I am feeling but on a much grander scale. I have a handful of children...He has the world including me. He holds my heart in His hands. He sees the pieces scattered all over the floor and He picks them up one by one and puts the pieces together. He coats each edge with the glue of His Love and fits it together until it is whole again. And as He looks it over when it is finished, He sees the little dinks and pits...the pieces that will never be found. He is not concerned though because He knows that my heart still works and that it will be stronger for all the scars.
He puts me back in the battle because He knows it's worth it...they are worth it.
My heart will break again but that's okay...it is mendable. I know Jesus is my Super Glue and He will put it back together again with the binding strength of His love.
I've broken many things in my life and have probably used at least one of these items to mend the broken piece, sometimes successfully and sometimes not. Say for instance I have a special coffee mug that crashed and now the handle needs to be glued on. You find each of the broken pieces, fit them together and hope the glue will hold. Usually it does but if you will notice, along the cracks of the break there are little scarred places where bits of ceramic have broken off that are to small to re-glue. The glue seeps into those little places and it holds. It leaves little dinks in the handle so that its not perfect but it is mended...still usable but damaged none the less.
There is one thing I own that has been broken many many times. Sometimes I wonder if it can survive another crash or if the glue will hold a little longer. It has been broken several times since I was a little girl but it still works and amazingly it seems stronger but there is a part of me that wants to protect it. I don't want it to break again but I know it will. And I can't put it on a shelf and not use it...hoping not to break it...because then I would miss it...I don't want to break my....
heart.
We can be broken hearted as children over lost toys or dying pets, mommy or daddy going to work or friends "not sharing". Sometimes, as we grow, our friends say and do things that upset us or we can't afford the video game we long for. Perhaps we "fall in luv" that puppy love thing only to find out ten minutes later that our new interest is interested in someone else. 'Tweenie hearts are especially fragile. Then as we get older and more mature, our hearts are broken by our spouses, children and grandchildren often through no fault of their own.
My heart is broken.
How do I, as a mature Christian woman...wife...mother...grandmother...friend...daughter...aunt...sister-in-law...daughter-in-law...sister...neighbor...mentor, lead the way? How do I set an example or guide them, or teach them or watch over them without causing them pain? How do I show them that some their actions are hurtful to others without hurting them? How do I discern who is "right" and who is "wrong" without loosing them? Do I let them go and just make sure they don't kill each other? Do I let them to their own devices and hope they find the right path? After all, we have taught them the basics, that's all they need right? Do I "stay the course" or do I back off?
In my effort to teach the right thing, I broke a heart. Oh, we had a conversation and lots of hugs and I apologized and I was forgiven but how do I not do it again and still teach good morals...teach respect...teach Jesus?
My heart is shattered. I only want what is pure and holy and of good report for them....but I fall way short. I want to give up....no try...leave them alone and just play all the time. I want to be fun...but I'm not...and I can't.
But I do know this...
Jesus is my Superglue. Although I my heart is broken He looks at it with compassion because His has been broken too. He has felt everything I am feeling but on a much grander scale. I have a handful of children...He has the world including me. He holds my heart in His hands. He sees the pieces scattered all over the floor and He picks them up one by one and puts the pieces together. He coats each edge with the glue of His Love and fits it together until it is whole again. And as He looks it over when it is finished, He sees the little dinks and pits...the pieces that will never be found. He is not concerned though because He knows that my heart still works and that it will be stronger for all the scars.
He puts me back in the battle because He knows it's worth it...they are worth it.
My heart will break again but that's okay...it is mendable. I know Jesus is my Super Glue and He will put it back together again with the binding strength of His love.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Rain....
Cool
Crisp
Green
Wet
Nourishing
Refreshing
Calming
Cleansing
Healing
Replenishing
Rain.
No more moving about like automatons in the dust bowl of life. No more hacking away at dried weeds in an effort to beautify the bleak habitation of our lives. No more trying to bust through the concrete earth in an effort to grow. No more self sacrifices in the battle for thirst.
Rain.
Life saving
Hope giving
Spirit lifting
Life changing
Thirst quenching
Filling our souls with life giving water. Individualizing us. Honing us. Strengthening us. Hydrating us. Preparing us. Inspiring us. Anointing us.
Shall we dance in it?
Lift our hands and faces to it?
Feel it?
Taste it?
Rain.
Beautiful
Powerful
Celestial
Rain...a symbol of the Holy Spirit Who gives us all we need to grow.
Holy Spirit rain.
Filling our souls with life giving power. Individualizing us. Honing us. Strengthening us. Hydrating us. Preparing us. Inspiring us. Anointing us.
Shall we dance in it?
Lift our hands and faces to it?
Feel it?
Taste it?
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink..." ~Jesus
Are you thirsty?
Crisp
Green
Wet
Nourishing
Refreshing
Calming
Cleansing
Healing
Replenishing
Rain.
No more moving about like automatons in the dust bowl of life. No more hacking away at dried weeds in an effort to beautify the bleak habitation of our lives. No more trying to bust through the concrete earth in an effort to grow. No more self sacrifices in the battle for thirst.
Rain.
Life saving
Hope giving
Spirit lifting
Life changing
Thirst quenching
Filling our souls with life giving water. Individualizing us. Honing us. Strengthening us. Hydrating us. Preparing us. Inspiring us. Anointing us.
Shall we dance in it?
Lift our hands and faces to it?
Feel it?
Taste it?
Rain.
Beautiful
Powerful
Celestial
Rain...a symbol of the Holy Spirit Who gives us all we need to grow.
Holy Spirit rain.
Filling our souls with life giving power. Individualizing us. Honing us. Strengthening us. Hydrating us. Preparing us. Inspiring us. Anointing us.
Shall we dance in it?
Lift our hands and faces to it?
Feel it?
Taste it?
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink..." ~Jesus
Are you thirsty?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
She's Here!!!
Thirty years ago, in a galaxy far far away, I said those words...."She's here!"
I had just gone through a great deal of waiting, sickness, labor and pain and was given the most beautiful baby girl you would ever lay your eyes on. She was a delightful shade of purple of course she pinked up right away and she was chubby and had dark hair and she was crying. She was the picture of perfection. And I thanked God.
My baby girl.
We named her Elizabeth Anne...a sophisticated name but a strong Biblical name too. I forbade anyone from calling her Liz. Oh, I didn't mind calling her Liza...Liz with a short "a" at the back...but I didn't feel Liz was appropriate. Liz was too strong a name for such a beautiful girl. I was wrong.
My daughter is an amazing young woman. Where I thought she would be meek and demure, she is just the opposite. She is sure of herself, confident and strong. She knows what she wants in life and will seek it out but she puts everyone else ahead of her plans. And little by little she is accomplishing her goals but she is working even harder on maintaining her family and raising her kids. No sacrifice is too much for her.
She came home yesterday after a horrific trip to Washington D.C. It was supposed to be a mother-daughter thing with Jasmine and they were supposed to get to see the sites of the Nation's Capital. But that's not how it turned out. She got sick and Jasmine did things on her own. of course she had supervision But because she has instilled her strength in her daughter, Jasmine did fine and will, I'm sure, have lots of stories to tell me soon.
The wait for her return was like I was giving birth all over again. I was pacing and hurting and fighting worry. My baby girl was so sick, I couldn't get to her quickly and she had to come on her own, in her own time, and through a difficult path. She had to drive home with her little girl, feeling so horrible and just wanting to lay down and sleep. And with each mile, she was closer to doing just that.
When the car pulled around the corner and we saw them, a rush of relief surged through my body. Jasmine's friends help up a congratulatory banner they had made for her and we were clapping and hollering when they pulled up but my thought was to get to my baby. I wanted to hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I loved her. I needed to let her know that she was safe and that I would take care of her and help her to feel better. I wanted her to lay down and rest, just for a minute.
This time, after our long labor for her arrival, she was an awful shade of green but she will pink up soon and she was almost crying but still the picture of perfection. I hugged her tight and told her she was going to be alright. I would take care of her and that I had missed her and that I loved her so much. And I do.
She's here!
She's home!
She's safe!
and soon she will be well...and I thank God.
I had just gone through a great deal of waiting, sickness, labor and pain and was given the most beautiful baby girl you would ever lay your eyes on. She was a delightful shade of purple of course she pinked up right away and she was chubby and had dark hair and she was crying. She was the picture of perfection. And I thanked God.
My baby girl.
We named her Elizabeth Anne...a sophisticated name but a strong Biblical name too. I forbade anyone from calling her Liz. Oh, I didn't mind calling her Liza...Liz with a short "a" at the back...but I didn't feel Liz was appropriate. Liz was too strong a name for such a beautiful girl. I was wrong.
My daughter is an amazing young woman. Where I thought she would be meek and demure, she is just the opposite. She is sure of herself, confident and strong. She knows what she wants in life and will seek it out but she puts everyone else ahead of her plans. And little by little she is accomplishing her goals but she is working even harder on maintaining her family and raising her kids. No sacrifice is too much for her.
She came home yesterday after a horrific trip to Washington D.C. It was supposed to be a mother-daughter thing with Jasmine and they were supposed to get to see the sites of the Nation's Capital. But that's not how it turned out. She got sick and Jasmine did things on her own. of course she had supervision But because she has instilled her strength in her daughter, Jasmine did fine and will, I'm sure, have lots of stories to tell me soon.
The wait for her return was like I was giving birth all over again. I was pacing and hurting and fighting worry. My baby girl was so sick, I couldn't get to her quickly and she had to come on her own, in her own time, and through a difficult path. She had to drive home with her little girl, feeling so horrible and just wanting to lay down and sleep. And with each mile, she was closer to doing just that.
When the car pulled around the corner and we saw them, a rush of relief surged through my body. Jasmine's friends help up a congratulatory banner they had made for her and we were clapping and hollering when they pulled up but my thought was to get to my baby. I wanted to hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I loved her. I needed to let her know that she was safe and that I would take care of her and help her to feel better. I wanted her to lay down and rest, just for a minute.
This time, after our long labor for her arrival, she was an awful shade of green but she will pink up soon and she was almost crying but still the picture of perfection. I hugged her tight and told her she was going to be alright. I would take care of her and that I had missed her and that I loved her so much. And I do.
She's here!
She's home!
She's safe!
and soon she will be well...and I thank God.
Monday, July 16, 2007
And I can't even help...
My girls are scattered all over the eastern sea board.
Lori and her mom Sue, took Chloe and Mikeala to Myrtle Beach and from Lori's blog, they're having a blast. They are riding boogie boards and jumping on trampolines and playing in the sand and....well...having a blast! They are safe and they are contented.
Liz left with Jasmine yesterday to go to Washington DC. Jasmine (Jazz) won a poster contest for the Tar Wars non-smoking campaign and is representing the great state of Ohio. They are at the National Championship meeting with the thirty-nine other winners from the rest of the US. They are going to have a parade of winners today at noon and a fancy banquet tonight along with many site-seeing activities planned throughout today and tomorrow. They are both excited and if Jazz wins this National Contest, she will win an all expense paid trip for herself and her family to Disney World.
Jazz is worried that we will all be disappointed if she doesn't win. Heck no! We are so proud of her! And we couldn't be more proud of her. Disney World will be there for a long time and if she doesn't win, then we will go some other time. No big deal!!!!
But here's the rub....
Liz called early this morning and she is sick. She has the whole intestinal thing going on with the vomiting and the other stuff. She is alone with Jazz in a strange city hundreds of miles from her doctor that would be me and is miserable. I can't bop over there and bring her some Gatorade or Popsicles i'm beginning to think i have a Popsicle fetish or minty-gum or any other holistic or regular medicine. I can't offer to watch Jazz so Liz can sleep and I can't even offer to take Jazz to all of her stuff so Liz can recuperate. I mean, I could but I would have had to leave yesterday.
She may have a case of the nerves....a bit of a bug....ate something that didn't agree with her...I don't know. But I feel so sorry for her. I know when I get the tummy thing I just want to curl up in the middle of my bed and die. I told her to call the hotel front desk, i mean this is our nations capital and she is in a Holiday Inn and she is the mother of the Ohio representative she should be able to get some help from the hotel, don't you think? I also spoke with Jazz and told her to help her mom today and to make sure she drinks a lot of fluids.
I feel so helpless. I do know one thing though. She is in the best hands ever. I know that God is watching over the two of them and that she is healthy, healed and whole. It is through His power that we are all healed and He has healed her. And it gives me comfort to know that.
So we're praying for our Liz and the rest of our girls. By Wednesday they will all be safely back in the fold, then I can bop over any time they need me and wouldn't have had to leave yesterday.
Lori and her mom Sue, took Chloe and Mikeala to Myrtle Beach and from Lori's blog, they're having a blast. They are riding boogie boards and jumping on trampolines and playing in the sand and....well...having a blast! They are safe and they are contented.
Liz left with Jasmine yesterday to go to Washington DC. Jasmine (Jazz) won a poster contest for the Tar Wars non-smoking campaign and is representing the great state of Ohio. They are at the National Championship meeting with the thirty-nine other winners from the rest of the US. They are going to have a parade of winners today at noon and a fancy banquet tonight along with many site-seeing activities planned throughout today and tomorrow. They are both excited and if Jazz wins this National Contest, she will win an all expense paid trip for herself and her family to Disney World.
Jazz is worried that we will all be disappointed if she doesn't win. Heck no! We are so proud of her! And we couldn't be more proud of her. Disney World will be there for a long time and if she doesn't win, then we will go some other time. No big deal!!!!
But here's the rub....
Liz called early this morning and she is sick. She has the whole intestinal thing going on with the vomiting and the other stuff. She is alone with Jazz in a strange city hundreds of miles from her doctor that would be me and is miserable. I can't bop over there and bring her some Gatorade or Popsicles i'm beginning to think i have a Popsicle fetish or minty-gum or any other holistic or regular medicine. I can't offer to watch Jazz so Liz can sleep and I can't even offer to take Jazz to all of her stuff so Liz can recuperate. I mean, I could but I would have had to leave yesterday.
She may have a case of the nerves....a bit of a bug....ate something that didn't agree with her...I don't know. But I feel so sorry for her. I know when I get the tummy thing I just want to curl up in the middle of my bed and die. I told her to call the hotel front desk, i mean this is our nations capital and she is in a Holiday Inn and she is the mother of the Ohio representative she should be able to get some help from the hotel, don't you think? I also spoke with Jazz and told her to help her mom today and to make sure she drinks a lot of fluids.
I feel so helpless. I do know one thing though. She is in the best hands ever. I know that God is watching over the two of them and that she is healthy, healed and whole. It is through His power that we are all healed and He has healed her. And it gives me comfort to know that.
So we're praying for our Liz and the rest of our girls. By Wednesday they will all be safely back in the fold, then I can bop over any time they need me and wouldn't have had to leave yesterday.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
He Can Say...."I Did It!.....
Jasmine, Devon and I took a break from the pool and went to COSI yesterday. It was crowded but not too crowded. Several "camps" were there, each one wearing a color coded tee shirt so they could be readily found and of course us grandparents and some families.
It was pretty cool there, not only in temperature but in sites and activities. Of course turning Jasmine and Devon loose in COSI is like unleashing a tornado and off they went. I had to say several times....."NO RUNNING!" because I wanted to be conscientious of the other visitors but also because I couldn't keep up. They did really well and we visited each display for a little bit, enjoying the "hands on" fun.
We made animated projects in the Cartoon Network exhibit, played in the water at the Ocean's exhibit, traveled back in time in the Progress exhibit my favorite and I think Jasmine's too, they experienced the inside of a mini-submarine i didn't care to experience the claustrophobia I explained about the petrified babies in the Life exhibit, it was sad, i recall how sad i was when i was a kid looking at those babies. i'm just happy their little souls are in heaven and we went to outer space in the Space exhibit. They each sat on a shuttle toilet and thought that was a hoot. And we had fun in the Gadget's exhibit. LOTS of activity.
We they had lunch at the Atomic Cafe, personal pan pizza's from Pizza Hut and Capri Sun and then we headed to the outside. There was a Big Machine exhibit filled with forklifts, bulldozers, back hoes, tunnel diggers, cranes, and all sorts of other construction machinery. We each got a cool "hard hat" and Jazz and I added Bob the Builder stickers to ours. i'll give mine to william But it interested me that Devon wasn't as enthused about the machines as he was the geese and the Scioto River. We wandered down to the edge and sat on the concrete steps and just watched. We relaxed a little bit while Devon tried to get closer to one goose in particular. Only until Jazz said, "I'll be it thinks you have a rock..." long story, maybe i'll blog about that some day that he gave up and we headed in to go to Big Science Park.
There were all kinds of things to do there. The whole "cause and effect" thing. I had fun watching the other children, little children, enjoy the activities because I was waiting.....I was waiting for my two lunatic kids to get out of the giant centrifuge! I was a little concerned because they all have a bit of motion sickness when we travel but they wanted to do it and who am I to say no? I heard the COSI staff person give the instructions and heard the door slam and LOCK and then I saw the barrel begin to turn. Faster and faster it spun and I heard them scream isn't it funny how we can tell our own kids scream from other kids? There was a loud "BANG" that's when the bottom dropped out more screams and then it began to stop. I was relieved but wondered if either of the were sick.
They came flying down the stairs, grinning from ear to ear and begging me to let them do it again. I did. While I waited a very sweet elderly guy came up and chatted for a minute. He asked me if I had had my honey today. I said "um....no" and he grinned and handed me a Bit-O-Honey candy. I wonder if that's how he attracted his wife? When the kids came out they wanted to do it again and I said "NO!" They begged but I very loudly said "I want to go home now!!!" All of the adults in hearing range laughed.
But the thing that amazed me was Devon. He decided to go on the High-wire unicycle. i know, i was in shock too He stood in line for about 30 to 45 minutes, waiting patiently to be strapped onto a unicycle that would take him out over the main floor at a height that made me dizzy just to think about. I didn't think he would do it. I thought he would get up there and back down....
He was second to next in line and the boy ahead of him was barefoot. Against the rules...but Devon slipped off his shoes and loaned them to the boy! How cool was that? of course that boy's mom is going to wonder what died in her car on the way home But after that boy was done, Dev threw on his shoes and climbed aboard the unicycle. He was given all of the instructions, strapped in the seat and the doors opened. I held my breath as they gave him a little shove and he peddled backward through the doors and out over the floor. He made it about half way and then came back. He used all his muscles to get back through the doors.
He had done it!
We congratulated him when he came out with hugs and words. He said he was about to pee himself he was so scared. But HE DID IT!!!
Way to go Devon!!!
They overcame claustrophobia, fear of the dark, and lots of people in one place okay, that was me but they had a great time. And on the way out, they ate Dippin' Dots....I don't know, some space age ice cream that looks like little tiny balls of...well...ice cream, cost space age prices too but they loved it.
I don't know what adventures we will take next or how many of my grandbabies I will have with me but I will tell you that they sure keep you young!
Thanks for going to COSI with me guys, you did a great job and I had a blast!!
It was pretty cool there, not only in temperature but in sites and activities. Of course turning Jasmine and Devon loose in COSI is like unleashing a tornado and off they went. I had to say several times....."NO RUNNING!" because I wanted to be conscientious of the other visitors but also because I couldn't keep up. They did really well and we visited each display for a little bit, enjoying the "hands on" fun.
We made animated projects in the Cartoon Network exhibit, played in the water at the Ocean's exhibit, traveled back in time in the Progress exhibit my favorite and I think Jasmine's too, they experienced the inside of a mini-submarine i didn't care to experience the claustrophobia I explained about the petrified babies in the Life exhibit, it was sad, i recall how sad i was when i was a kid looking at those babies. i'm just happy their little souls are in heaven and we went to outer space in the Space exhibit. They each sat on a shuttle toilet and thought that was a hoot. And we had fun in the Gadget's exhibit. LOTS of activity.
We they had lunch at the Atomic Cafe, personal pan pizza's from Pizza Hut and Capri Sun and then we headed to the outside. There was a Big Machine exhibit filled with forklifts, bulldozers, back hoes, tunnel diggers, cranes, and all sorts of other construction machinery. We each got a cool "hard hat" and Jazz and I added Bob the Builder stickers to ours. i'll give mine to william But it interested me that Devon wasn't as enthused about the machines as he was the geese and the Scioto River. We wandered down to the edge and sat on the concrete steps and just watched. We relaxed a little bit while Devon tried to get closer to one goose in particular. Only until Jazz said, "I'll be it thinks you have a rock..." long story, maybe i'll blog about that some day that he gave up and we headed in to go to Big Science Park.
There were all kinds of things to do there. The whole "cause and effect" thing. I had fun watching the other children, little children, enjoy the activities because I was waiting.....I was waiting for my two lunatic kids to get out of the giant centrifuge! I was a little concerned because they all have a bit of motion sickness when we travel but they wanted to do it and who am I to say no? I heard the COSI staff person give the instructions and heard the door slam and LOCK and then I saw the barrel begin to turn. Faster and faster it spun and I heard them scream isn't it funny how we can tell our own kids scream from other kids? There was a loud "BANG" that's when the bottom dropped out more screams and then it began to stop. I was relieved but wondered if either of the were sick.
They came flying down the stairs, grinning from ear to ear and begging me to let them do it again. I did. While I waited a very sweet elderly guy came up and chatted for a minute. He asked me if I had had my honey today. I said "um....no" and he grinned and handed me a Bit-O-Honey candy. I wonder if that's how he attracted his wife? When the kids came out they wanted to do it again and I said "NO!" They begged but I very loudly said "I want to go home now!!!" All of the adults in hearing range laughed.
But the thing that amazed me was Devon. He decided to go on the High-wire unicycle. i know, i was in shock too He stood in line for about 30 to 45 minutes, waiting patiently to be strapped onto a unicycle that would take him out over the main floor at a height that made me dizzy just to think about. I didn't think he would do it. I thought he would get up there and back down....
He was second to next in line and the boy ahead of him was barefoot. Against the rules...but Devon slipped off his shoes and loaned them to the boy! How cool was that? of course that boy's mom is going to wonder what died in her car on the way home But after that boy was done, Dev threw on his shoes and climbed aboard the unicycle. He was given all of the instructions, strapped in the seat and the doors opened. I held my breath as they gave him a little shove and he peddled backward through the doors and out over the floor. He made it about half way and then came back. He used all his muscles to get back through the doors.
He had done it!
We congratulated him when he came out with hugs and words. He said he was about to pee himself he was so scared. But HE DID IT!!!
Way to go Devon!!!
They overcame claustrophobia, fear of the dark, and lots of people in one place okay, that was me but they had a great time. And on the way out, they ate Dippin' Dots....I don't know, some space age ice cream that looks like little tiny balls of...well...ice cream, cost space age prices too but they loved it.
I don't know what adventures we will take next or how many of my grandbabies I will have with me but I will tell you that they sure keep you young!
Thanks for going to COSI with me guys, you did a great job and I had a blast!!
Friday, July 13, 2007
UGGG!!!! EEEWWWWW!!!! OMG!!!!!!
My swimming pool area is my Eden. I can go there anytime I feel stressed and relax in my new almost finished cabana and either watch the kids swim and play or read a book often both or read my paper. I watch the birds and at about 9:30 or so start looking for the bat. "My" bat comes to fly around just above the surface of the water to eat the mosquitoes and other bugs hanging out there. He/she is a cool little bat and if you aren't watching closely you miss it. It's a really fast little critter!
I get a kick out of watching the squirrels do their high-wire act and the birds singing to each other every evening. The blue jays screech at everybody and it can be annoying but they usually settle down quickly and it's harmony all over again.
My Mimosa trees are in bloom and let me tell ya, if you love unusual trees and/or plants, this one is for you. Essentially it is a tree that consists of large palm-like fronds and pretty pink blossoms that look like the blossoms of a Truffala Tree Dr. Seuss's book The Lorax and the scent of those blooms is intoxicating! I have lots of Mimosa starts in my yard, want some?
I still have a lot of work to do in my Eden but it will get there in time. Meanwhile, I sit on the pool deck in my cabana and watch, read, rest and learn.
Last night while I was there preparing for the rain.....you know, the rain we were supposed to get that was supposed to get heavier through the night, that rain that would help the grass...I folded numerous beach towels and put them in the towel bin on the deck and I made sure that all of the toys were stored and that the cool lighted palm tree was pulled away from the pool so it wouldn't fall in during all of that rain. I was just potsing around picking up after kids and enjoying "Bat" and listening to the birds tell each other good night when I went to the far end of the deck to throw away some trash......
UGGGGG!!!!! EEEWWWWWWW!!!!!! OMG!!!!!! ICK!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAH!!!!!!
My feet i never wear shoes in the summer if i can help it had minds of their own and curled into tight little fists, one foot on top of the other as I backed up and then stretched to throw out my trash. I backed up again and started to jump up and down and pound my chest to keep my heart going! 'Skeeter looked at me as if to say "What the HECK are you doing? What's wrong with you? Should I bark hysterically or run for my life? But first I'll sit here and scratch a minute." i think he is used to me making sudden ridiculous movements I was jolted out of my wits and I ran as fast as you can run if your feet are balled up into fists back to the safety of my cabana.
Now mind you it is almost after dark so my eyes were glued to the trash can far across the deck. I didn't want IT to sneak up on me.....to devour me.....to EEEEEKKKKK....slide it's tail across my toes!!!!! by now my kids are rofl because they know what's coming next To my horror... sitting next to the trash can.....just inches from my hand.....and too near my feet.....was an.......dare I say it????? OPOSSUM REX!! It was huge! about two pounds soaking wet and it had a tail about six inches stretched out and large pointed teeth covered in slimy spit i didn't see them because his back was to me as it sauntered off but i know they were there and it wanted to bite me OR WORSE! but i think it wanted it's momma more. I was tingling from the tips of my balled up toes to the top of my head...the kind of tingling you get when you are totally FREAKED OUT.
"Bat" wasn't going to save me, 'Skeeter was busy obsessing over the floating duck in the pool and Dave was doing Dave things in the house so it was just me and Opossum Rex, sitting on the pool deck, in the dark, waiting.........
Actually, I think that baby opossum was thinking to its self, "UGGGGG, EEWWWWW, ICK! What was THAT thing. It sure makes weird noises, and how does it possibly walk around with it's feet balled up like that? I think I'll go on home to momma."
My Eden is still my Eden. I'll go there to relax, rest, read, listen and WATCH....because after all....you never know when Opossum Rex may attack!
I get a kick out of watching the squirrels do their high-wire act and the birds singing to each other every evening. The blue jays screech at everybody and it can be annoying but they usually settle down quickly and it's harmony all over again.
My Mimosa trees are in bloom and let me tell ya, if you love unusual trees and/or plants, this one is for you. Essentially it is a tree that consists of large palm-like fronds and pretty pink blossoms that look like the blossoms of a Truffala Tree Dr. Seuss's book The Lorax and the scent of those blooms is intoxicating! I have lots of Mimosa starts in my yard, want some?
I still have a lot of work to do in my Eden but it will get there in time. Meanwhile, I sit on the pool deck in my cabana and watch, read, rest and learn.
Last night while I was there preparing for the rain.....you know, the rain we were supposed to get that was supposed to get heavier through the night, that rain that would help the grass...I folded numerous beach towels and put them in the towel bin on the deck and I made sure that all of the toys were stored and that the cool lighted palm tree was pulled away from the pool so it wouldn't fall in during all of that rain. I was just potsing around picking up after kids and enjoying "Bat" and listening to the birds tell each other good night when I went to the far end of the deck to throw away some trash......
UGGGGG!!!!! EEEWWWWWWW!!!!!! OMG!!!!!! ICK!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAH!!!!!!
My feet i never wear shoes in the summer if i can help it had minds of their own and curled into tight little fists, one foot on top of the other as I backed up and then stretched to throw out my trash. I backed up again and started to jump up and down and pound my chest to keep my heart going! 'Skeeter looked at me as if to say "What the HECK are you doing? What's wrong with you? Should I bark hysterically or run for my life? But first I'll sit here and scratch a minute." i think he is used to me making sudden ridiculous movements I was jolted out of my wits and I ran as fast as you can run if your feet are balled up into fists back to the safety of my cabana.
Now mind you it is almost after dark so my eyes were glued to the trash can far across the deck. I didn't want IT to sneak up on me.....to devour me.....to EEEEEKKKKK....slide it's tail across my toes!!!!! by now my kids are rofl because they know what's coming next To my horror... sitting next to the trash can.....just inches from my hand.....and too near my feet.....was an.......dare I say it????? OPOSSUM REX!! It was huge! about two pounds soaking wet and it had a tail about six inches stretched out and large pointed teeth covered in slimy spit i didn't see them because his back was to me as it sauntered off but i know they were there and it wanted to bite me OR WORSE! but i think it wanted it's momma more. I was tingling from the tips of my balled up toes to the top of my head...the kind of tingling you get when you are totally FREAKED OUT.
"Bat" wasn't going to save me, 'Skeeter was busy obsessing over the floating duck in the pool and Dave was doing Dave things in the house so it was just me and Opossum Rex, sitting on the pool deck, in the dark, waiting.........
Actually, I think that baby opossum was thinking to its self, "UGGGGG, EEWWWWW, ICK! What was THAT thing. It sure makes weird noises, and how does it possibly walk around with it's feet balled up like that? I think I'll go on home to momma."
My Eden is still my Eden. I'll go there to relax, rest, read, listen and WATCH....because after all....you never know when Opossum Rex may attack!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
It's Like Herdin' Cats.....
Have you ever tried to hold a cup of water in your hand without the cup?
How about....dumping a bag of marbles on a flat table without them running off, or leaving a Popsicle out in the sun and wanting it to stay frozen, or trying to catch the water from Niagara Falls in a bucket.
Did you ever try to herd cats?
It can't be done.
I am a momma hen. I like all of my little chicks to stay in the coop with me, under my wings, so I can love them and protect them and provide for them. I want to make them happy and help them along their path in life. I want to make sure they are safe. But I can't.
In the week to come, several of my loved ones will be traveling. They will be out from under my wings, soaring for themselves, to see what they can see. I am happy for them but...
Alex is on her way home to Georgia. Traveling with her mom and baby sister...she is heading away from me. I've gotten used to it and look forward to her visit when-ever that will be. In the meantime, we have e-mails and stuff to keep in touch.
Lori, Chloe and Mikeala are on their way to Myrtle Beach with Lori's mom, Sue for a fun-filled week on the beach. Hooray! that's me being excited for them but.....this is Mikeala's first time away from the nest....for a week....
Liz and Jasmine are leaving on Sunday for Washington D.C. where Jasmine will represent Devonshire Project Adventure school with her state winning poster entitled "Tobacco Free You And Me". She is entering the National contest and could win a trip to Disney World. I'm happy for her and very proud. She will have three days of fun looking at the Nation's Capital and sight seeing and going to a banquet and perhaps seeing the Senate and will also to have three days of mommy and Jasmine time. Her mom drove through a hurricane once, when she was seventeen, by herself...in a pickup truck. I know they will be okay.
Even Catherine my niece is leaving for a week at camp on Sunday.
So I'll hang out with the boys, Devon and Will and their dads. I'll keep the home fires burning. And I will pray. I know the One who can and does keep our loved ones in His care. Although I can't see them or hold them or protect them, He can. He knows exactly where they are and what they are doing and He will hold them in the palm of His hand. He has sent His Guardian Angels to watch over them and protect them. And the best thing is, He can watch over me too. He gives me comfort when I fret over my chicks and helps me to understand the He loves them even more than I do. And I am thankful.
We can't herd cats but Jesus can.
Let's watch!
How about....dumping a bag of marbles on a flat table without them running off, or leaving a Popsicle out in the sun and wanting it to stay frozen, or trying to catch the water from Niagara Falls in a bucket.
Did you ever try to herd cats?
It can't be done.
I am a momma hen. I like all of my little chicks to stay in the coop with me, under my wings, so I can love them and protect them and provide for them. I want to make them happy and help them along their path in life. I want to make sure they are safe. But I can't.
In the week to come, several of my loved ones will be traveling. They will be out from under my wings, soaring for themselves, to see what they can see. I am happy for them but...
Alex is on her way home to Georgia. Traveling with her mom and baby sister...she is heading away from me. I've gotten used to it and look forward to her visit when-ever that will be. In the meantime, we have e-mails and stuff to keep in touch.
Lori, Chloe and Mikeala are on their way to Myrtle Beach with Lori's mom, Sue for a fun-filled week on the beach. Hooray! that's me being excited for them but.....this is Mikeala's first time away from the nest....for a week....
Liz and Jasmine are leaving on Sunday for Washington D.C. where Jasmine will represent Devonshire Project Adventure school with her state winning poster entitled "Tobacco Free You And Me". She is entering the National contest and could win a trip to Disney World. I'm happy for her and very proud. She will have three days of fun looking at the Nation's Capital and sight seeing and going to a banquet and perhaps seeing the Senate and will also to have three days of mommy and Jasmine time. Her mom drove through a hurricane once, when she was seventeen, by herself...in a pickup truck. I know they will be okay.
Even Catherine my niece is leaving for a week at camp on Sunday.
So I'll hang out with the boys, Devon and Will and their dads. I'll keep the home fires burning. And I will pray. I know the One who can and does keep our loved ones in His care. Although I can't see them or hold them or protect them, He can. He knows exactly where they are and what they are doing and He will hold them in the palm of His hand. He has sent His Guardian Angels to watch over them and protect them. And the best thing is, He can watch over me too. He gives me comfort when I fret over my chicks and helps me to understand the He loves them even more than I do. And I am thankful.
We can't herd cats but Jesus can.
Let's watch!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Sweet Little Way-back Machine....
I took a little travel in time the other day. Back to 1961 or '62...I can't really remember the exact year. I only remember the apricots and birds.
My grandmother Margaret lived in California and had an apricot tree in her back yard. She also had a fig tree and an aviary filled with beautiful birds. Her aviary was built on the side of her house and wasn't anything real elaborate but it was fascinating for a little girl. She showed me how to eat a fig and that apricots were sweet but that is about all I remember except for seeing my cousins that week and my aunts and uncles. I was very young but I will never forget that visit.
We were all there as I remember, my family, Mom Dad and my sister Sabrina, but I don't remember if my little sister Nancy was there or not. If she was, she was an infant. My aunt Esther, my uncle Jim and his wife Betty, and my cousins, I think both of them were named Mike. It seems like there were other cousins there too and other people but I don't remember who they were. We had a picnic outside under the fig trees next to the aviary and someone took a picture. And we all had a great time.
That visit ended tragically though. It makes the memory bittersweet. After we got home and this is just from childhood memory so the recollection may be off somewhat we got the call. My Uncle Jim's family were in a car accident and Uncle Jim and little Mikey were killed. My Aunt Betty was severely injured and was on crutches to help her walk for the rest of her life........
I buy six apricots every season just for me i will share though if someone wants to taste California although I'm not sure why, and when I get them home I look at them with their slightly blushing little red cheeks and I feel their soft fuzzy skin and I smell their sweet fragrance as I finally prepare to taste each small perfect orb. And they taste so sweet but a slightly bitter at the same time. It's almost as if the sweet-bitter taste is a trigger to remember because they seem to be a miniature time capsule zipping me back to the apricot trees, the birds and, for that moment, happier times.
My grandmother Margaret lived in California and had an apricot tree in her back yard. She also had a fig tree and an aviary filled with beautiful birds. Her aviary was built on the side of her house and wasn't anything real elaborate but it was fascinating for a little girl. She showed me how to eat a fig and that apricots were sweet but that is about all I remember except for seeing my cousins that week and my aunts and uncles. I was very young but I will never forget that visit.
We were all there as I remember, my family, Mom Dad and my sister Sabrina, but I don't remember if my little sister Nancy was there or not. If she was, she was an infant. My aunt Esther, my uncle Jim and his wife Betty, and my cousins, I think both of them were named Mike. It seems like there were other cousins there too and other people but I don't remember who they were. We had a picnic outside under the fig trees next to the aviary and someone took a picture. And we all had a great time.
That visit ended tragically though. It makes the memory bittersweet. After we got home and this is just from childhood memory so the recollection may be off somewhat we got the call. My Uncle Jim's family were in a car accident and Uncle Jim and little Mikey were killed. My Aunt Betty was severely injured and was on crutches to help her walk for the rest of her life........
I buy six apricots every season just for me i will share though if someone wants to taste California although I'm not sure why, and when I get them home I look at them with their slightly blushing little red cheeks and I feel their soft fuzzy skin and I smell their sweet fragrance as I finally prepare to taste each small perfect orb. And they taste so sweet but a slightly bitter at the same time. It's almost as if the sweet-bitter taste is a trigger to remember because they seem to be a miniature time capsule zipping me back to the apricot trees, the birds and, for that moment, happier times.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
I live in the DMZ.........
The Fourth of July.
I look forward to it and yet....I don't.
You see, we live in a neighborhood that thinks any time is a great time to set off fireworks. Now I'm not talking about sparklers or "poppers" or smoke bombs or even firecrackers. I'm talking about those big ones that go "FOOOM"...........silence at it reaches its zenith......."BOOOOM crackle crackle" with all the lights in the sky. They light up the whole night and then there is the heinous laughter that follows each explosion....or am I channeling Adam from Mythbusters. And this goes on and on and on into the night, well after midnight most times.
Dave gets mad and well, so do I. But not because of the fireworks. To each his own I guess. It's the fact that there is no respect for the other neighbors who may have to work the next day. What about the elderly and the babies who can't speak for themselves. What about their sleep?...no i'm not talking about dave and i... The police can't take care of it because there are to many fireworks-law-breakers and besides that they are too busy chasing down the bad guys.
The problem with fireworks though is how do you distinguish the fireworks from the actual gun fire?...we do have lots of that around here sometimes... I can hear the police now as they go door to door investigating a shooting......"Ma'am did you see or hear anything around mid-night last evening....did you hear gun shots? Hear heinous laughter? Anything like that?"
"Of COURSE I did. I hear it all the time!!! Why is a crazed Mythbuster running amok in my neighborhood? "
"Um...no ma'am."
See what I mean?
I'm grateful though that we have a free country where folks can light fireworks and get a bang out of it. I'm thankful for the whole Declaration of Independence boys. That took a lot of chutzpah!
And speaking about chutzpah, Liz and I went to the parade at Westerville with Jasmine and Mikeala devon didn't want to go an is probably regretting it now and the girls carried off about ten pounds of candy! A piece! They would just run out into the street and get it! and I was thinking "who's kids ARE those anyway?"
The fireworks that night were fun. It's a tradition that I am so happy my kids are continuing. Every year we go to St. Ann's hospital and watch the fireworks from their parking lot. It is such a blast...no pun intended. The little ones ran around popping "poppers" and lighting sparklers and stuff and William repeatedly said, "And now we return to the Red White and Blue marathon!" I wonder if he was tired of all the festivities?
The neighborhood is quiet now. At least until the next holiday. That might be the "First Saturday In July And We Have Extra Fireworks" holiday. We'll see.
I just hope a crazed Mythbuster doesn't laugh heinously at each explosion.
That's creepy.
I look forward to it and yet....I don't.
You see, we live in a neighborhood that thinks any time is a great time to set off fireworks. Now I'm not talking about sparklers or "poppers" or smoke bombs or even firecrackers. I'm talking about those big ones that go "FOOOM"...........silence at it reaches its zenith......."BOOOOM crackle crackle" with all the lights in the sky. They light up the whole night and then there is the heinous laughter that follows each explosion....or am I channeling Adam from Mythbusters. And this goes on and on and on into the night, well after midnight most times.
Dave gets mad and well, so do I. But not because of the fireworks. To each his own I guess. It's the fact that there is no respect for the other neighbors who may have to work the next day. What about the elderly and the babies who can't speak for themselves. What about their sleep?...no i'm not talking about dave and i... The police can't take care of it because there are to many fireworks-law-breakers and besides that they are too busy chasing down the bad guys.
The problem with fireworks though is how do you distinguish the fireworks from the actual gun fire?...we do have lots of that around here sometimes... I can hear the police now as they go door to door investigating a shooting......"Ma'am did you see or hear anything around mid-night last evening....did you hear gun shots? Hear heinous laughter? Anything like that?"
"Of COURSE I did. I hear it all the time!!! Why is a crazed Mythbuster running amok in my neighborhood? "
"Um...no ma'am."
See what I mean?
I'm grateful though that we have a free country where folks can light fireworks and get a bang out of it. I'm thankful for the whole Declaration of Independence boys. That took a lot of chutzpah!
And speaking about chutzpah, Liz and I went to the parade at Westerville with Jasmine and Mikeala devon didn't want to go an is probably regretting it now and the girls carried off about ten pounds of candy! A piece! They would just run out into the street and get it! and I was thinking "who's kids ARE those anyway?"
The fireworks that night were fun. It's a tradition that I am so happy my kids are continuing. Every year we go to St. Ann's hospital and watch the fireworks from their parking lot. It is such a blast...no pun intended. The little ones ran around popping "poppers" and lighting sparklers and stuff and William repeatedly said, "And now we return to the Red White and Blue marathon!" I wonder if he was tired of all the festivities?
The neighborhood is quiet now. At least until the next holiday. That might be the "First Saturday In July And We Have Extra Fireworks" holiday. We'll see.
I just hope a crazed Mythbuster doesn't laugh heinously at each explosion.
That's creepy.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Suffer the little children...
(Serious Alert)
Okay, I know it is rare for me to write twice in a day but I need to relay an urgent prayer request and The Carrier Pigeon won't be out for a while.
My nephew is going through an extremely difficult time right now having been told by his wife that she is leaving him. He is 28 she is about 26ish. She is living life in the fast lane and has left him with their two-year-old daughter indicating she just wants out. She didn't want anything but her clothing and a few personal items. He could have the house and everything in it including the baby.
Now it appears that she wants half the house and the child.
Friends, without going into a lot of detail after all when does detail turn into gossip, this young lady doing all sorts of things that she shouldn't and a small child would never survive that kind of lifestyle. Let me assure you that my nephew is an extremely wonderful daddy and has dedicated his life to his little girl.
Would you please help me pray for my nephew and his baby? He is trying to remain strong for her but it is difficult as you can imagine. I am sure the courts will look more favorably on him than on his estranged wife. But prayer NEVER hurts. Also, he is searching for Truth. He wants to learn more about Jesus but well......you know? Let's pray for his salvation, the baby's safety and for his wife to seek Jesus too.
Thank you for your prayers. I know God is still in the miracle business and my nephew needs one now.
Okay, I know it is rare for me to write twice in a day but I need to relay an urgent prayer request and The Carrier Pigeon won't be out for a while.
My nephew is going through an extremely difficult time right now having been told by his wife that she is leaving him. He is 28 she is about 26ish. She is living life in the fast lane and has left him with their two-year-old daughter indicating she just wants out. She didn't want anything but her clothing and a few personal items. He could have the house and everything in it including the baby.
Now it appears that she wants half the house and the child.
Friends, without going into a lot of detail after all when does detail turn into gossip, this young lady doing all sorts of things that she shouldn't and a small child would never survive that kind of lifestyle. Let me assure you that my nephew is an extremely wonderful daddy and has dedicated his life to his little girl.
Would you please help me pray for my nephew and his baby? He is trying to remain strong for her but it is difficult as you can imagine. I am sure the courts will look more favorably on him than on his estranged wife. But prayer NEVER hurts. Also, he is searching for Truth. He wants to learn more about Jesus but well......you know? Let's pray for his salvation, the baby's safety and for his wife to seek Jesus too.
Thank you for your prayers. I know God is still in the miracle business and my nephew needs one now.
Press 2 for la Espanole.....
I am learning to speak Spanish and it's mucho mucho fun
My house is hacienda and uno number one,
la lalala lalala la can't remember the words, sombreo is my hat
and the little yellow kitten is el gato now the cat!
I learned that song in first grade when I was taking Spanish while my family and I lived in El Paso Texas. Everyone took Spanish there starting in first grade. I thought it was a good idea and still do. You know, the little sponge brain thing.
I can also speak a few sentences in German (fourth grade, Mrs. Lichstenstieger), Japanese (our exchange students....Hi Hideki!), French (seventh grade...don't remember the teachers name) and various words in Turkish, Italian, Valley Girl, Sign language, Opple, Pig Latin, Medicalese and Dog. And because I LOVE words, I do dabble in other languages as well and also have a Prayer Language which is a whole 'nother lunch, so to speak :) ....
There is a new language that has developed though that I need to become fluent in so any help I can get will be so welcome hint hint... and that is the language of txtng. My 'Tweenies like to speak "txt" and I need to know if they are speaking good txt or bad txt. Also, even though I DON'T txt takes too much time and cost too much money, it's easier to pick up the phone and leave a message it appears to be necessary to learn how to.
Like the other day for instance. The kids were all swimming and having fun and one of them got frustrated with another and yelled "Hey! WTF!" WELL...since I knew what that meant I made a major correction immediately to avoid that kind of talk in the pool again! WOW i hope there isn't a bad word for WOW, it's bad enough when the words are real and you know what they are and you can put a stop to if but when it is in txt????? I sure hope I can keep up. If not, because none of the kids are quiet in that pool, the whole neighborhood is going to hear an earful.
So. This summer sey habla Espanole gracias Jerry and cn u hr me nw.
Me multi-lingual? hoo knw?
My house is hacienda and uno number one,
la lalala lalala la can't remember the words, sombreo is my hat
and the little yellow kitten is el gato now the cat!
I learned that song in first grade when I was taking Spanish while my family and I lived in El Paso Texas. Everyone took Spanish there starting in first grade. I thought it was a good idea and still do. You know, the little sponge brain thing.
I can also speak a few sentences in German (fourth grade, Mrs. Lichstenstieger), Japanese (our exchange students....Hi Hideki!), French (seventh grade...don't remember the teachers name) and various words in Turkish, Italian, Valley Girl, Sign language, Opple, Pig Latin, Medicalese and Dog. And because I LOVE words, I do dabble in other languages as well and also have a Prayer Language which is a whole 'nother lunch, so to speak :) ....
There is a new language that has developed though that I need to become fluent in so any help I can get will be so welcome hint hint... and that is the language of txtng. My 'Tweenies like to speak "txt" and I need to know if they are speaking good txt or bad txt. Also, even though I DON'T txt takes too much time and cost too much money, it's easier to pick up the phone and leave a message it appears to be necessary to learn how to.
Like the other day for instance. The kids were all swimming and having fun and one of them got frustrated with another and yelled "Hey! WTF!" WELL...since I knew what that meant I made a major correction immediately to avoid that kind of talk in the pool again! WOW i hope there isn't a bad word for WOW, it's bad enough when the words are real and you know what they are and you can put a stop to if but when it is in txt????? I sure hope I can keep up. If not, because none of the kids are quiet in that pool, the whole neighborhood is going to hear an earful.
So. This summer sey habla Espanole gracias Jerry and cn u hr me nw.
Me multi-lingual? hoo knw?
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