Lilacs and gardenias

I am anxious to plant a lilac bush in my yard. Lilacs have been a part of my life since childhood. We had a big bush in Hamlin until the 50's drought and the prohibition of watering killed it. Those were the days when water was brought in on trucks for the city, and when we bathed in a bathtub using the same water--yuck--maybe that is why I prefer showers today.

We had one at Potosi, and I always enjoyed cutting and bring the blooms in for a lovely smell in the house.

My date gave me a gardenia for the Senior Dinner in Hamlin (no proms then), and I have loved the scent ever since. I understand both flowers grow well in Nashville. If it ever stops raining, I plan to go to the nursery and see what I can find.

Hasn't God blessed us with a world full of wonderful smells?

The mystery of it all

It is a very rainy day in Nashville. Time to finish that mystery I have been reading.

Someone once said, "The woman who gave me the most pleasure in bed was Agatha Christie."

I have been reading mysteries since the Hardy Boys hit the shelves in my middle school. I liked them better than Nancy Drew who seemed a sort of elitist prude--although I read all of her books too.

Is it true that intellectual people like mysteries, and that others are bored by them? Perhaps. As an adult I have read all of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries "R
is for Ricochet" being the last one. All of Margaret Truman's mysteries set in Washington D. C. All of the books about the forensic scientist (can't remember the author's name) which really looked forward to C. S. I. ( I watch that too.) And of course, all of John Grisham. These authors cannot write books quickly enough for me.

I am currently reading Slaying is Such Sweet Sorrow by Patricia Harwin( about a librarian amateur detective)--gift of my friend Nancy Hutchinson who passed it on.

Must go now and see who-done it.

Sweetie and Honey

Why is that when one reaches a certain age and has white hair that all waitresses and clerks feel compelled to call their customer honey and sweetie? I have been called both today. I wonder what do they call male customers?

Don't get me wrong, they were very nice--but it grates and seems to me to be sexist when this happens.

Oh, well what is the female form of curmudgeon?

Birthing

Putting together and recording a Zoe cd is work--it is a birthing process of sorts. Planning begins months in advance. The breath of the Holy Spirit blows over the process as each piece is chosen, transcribed, practiced and perfected. Then the pregnant project enters the studio and through multiple and long labor pains, the cd is born. The gifts of accomplished musicians, engineers, and the producer help with the birth. The baby arrives ready to give pleasure to the thousands who will hear it and worship with it.

John Wesley, who promoted hymn singing in the Methodist movement he founded (and he wrote many of the hymns), was right: hymns are a "body of practical divinity, a sung theology." Don Saliers writes that where people sing of God, theology is formed and expressed. It shapes the religious community by its rhythm and pitch.
(From Practicing Our Faith by Dorothy C. Bass).

As a Zoe groupie, I affim that their recordings have both shaped the theology and the religious community where they are heard. Thanks, Brandon for taking me to the studio Saturday to watch you lay your solos down on the tracks and for allowing me to hear some of the new songs. All Zoe fans and God will bless and love the new cd
for the "practical divinity" and grace it contains.

Laid to rest

Still thinking about Jill.

One of the most interesting trips we took years ago was to the cemeteries where past Thomases and various other relatives are buried. Most were around Groesbeck in semi-East Texas where there are beautiful trees and old plots with real headstones.

I realized yesterday that I needed to tell Maddie and Ella where some of their relatives are buried for future historical purposes. Your Poppy Sam, his mother and father (Ludene and A.B.--Mow and Big Paw) his grandfather and grandmother (Sam A. and his wife--Back and Granny) and other long-gone relatives are buried in the Falkenbury Cemetery in Groesbeck, Texas. My mother and father (Pauline and Ollis--Granny and PawPaw) are buried in the Hamlin, Texas Cemetery. Pauline's mother (Lizzie Belle Herndon Tucker--Granny Tucker) is buried in Elmwood West in Abilene. (Granny Tucker's mother and father (William Samuel Herndon and Mary) are buried in the Anson, Texas cemetery east of town, along with many other Herndons.)Pauline's father is buried in Zephyr, Texas. Ollis's parents are buried in Hannah Cemetery north of Anson, Texas.

Because of my interest in history and genealogy, I think it is important to know these things. Two of my peeves are that people do not put enough information on gravestones and that families do not keep up with burial places. I guess another is the "modern" cemeteries with no headstones showing above ground. The ambiance of the Groesbeck cemetery is enhanced by the centuries old evergreens and moss and the unique headstones of the 19th century. The dead don't care, but the living are enriched by such a place, I believe.

Rest well, sweet Jill.

Jill

"Death comes equally to us all and makes us all equal when it comes." John Donne

My brother's stepdaughter Jill died last night after a long fight with cancer. She left a husband and three teenage boys. She was 36.

Jill had a hard growing up--her bouts with drugs, teenage angst, and early marriages almost got her, but she found toughness and reformed to live a happier life during her 20's and 30's. She fought the cancer with courage and a strong will to live. My heart goes out to her family. Death came way too soon as it does for many.

Even if your child is 37, call him/her today and tell him/her how much love you have for your sweet one.

We Are On the Take

Maybe we noncontributing members can be found sitting in pews and chairs all over the church building forever taking, taking, taking and never contributing.

Recently a group of three knocked on my door. They are beginning a new church in Antioch, and were gathering info about the community. One of the questions they asked was "Who do you think is the most underserved in churches today--children, youth or the elderly?"

I replied they are all overserved (using hyperbole, of course). I said if you are looking for a population to serve, go to the poor and underprivileged. ( I am taking Jerry and Sandra Collins' lessons on the minor prophets to heart.)

Are we overserved? Do we go the the meetings of the body seeking what we can get or give? What do we say about the worship, the sermon, the activities of the church? "That didn't do much for me." "I wish THEY would...." "The preacher, the other ministers, the elders, etc. don't even know my name." "Nobody in the church would know if I left this church." DUH

O, Lord, give us the discernment to discover the important things in our life with you and the courage to run the race required.

I Found Us

I'll tell you where we are:

We are watching television six hours after work.
Sitting at soccer/baseball/football/basketball games.
Working two jobs (for the new car and the 5 bedroom house)
Volunteering at schools, athletic events, political activities, etc.etc.

NONE of these is bad, sinful, obscene. But we have to ask ourselves what are we modeling for our children?

TV and sports are more important than spending time with God...
Marching in a rally and going to meetings are more important than helping your youth participate in a youth group mission or activity?
Working (doing) is more important than Being?
Manic days full of errands, meetings, activities and materialistic goals are more important than building up and supporting the body, the church community?
An apple for the classroom teacher and cupcakes for the class are more important than a hug or a note to the ministers?

Juliet Schor said in her book The Overworked American, "We live in an economy and society that are demanding too much from people." And we are exhausted! Choices must be made.

"I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live." Deut. 30:19

Contributing

I have heard folks lately lamenting the fact that members don't contribute to the church anymore. And I don't mean money.

Where are the members willing to take on teaching 3-year-olds or 6th graders for a semester? Sam and I taught Juniors (4, 5, 6th graders) for 10 years at Minter Lane. We had so much fun teaching together. We ran the class like the teachers we were--each student had textbooks (Bible, concordance, bible atlas, paid for out of the education fund). Lessons were centered around stories with moral values, but students had to do homework with their textbooks for each lesson. It was a different time--they actually did the work because we were heavily supported by their parents.

Along the way, we created games not seen then in Bible classes--Jeopardy, Concentration, To Tell the Truth, etc. We often used learning centers which included art, music and drama. We had a library of religious books they could check out. And we gave tests and report cards. A former students says she knows much more today about the Middle East because of the bible atlas.

Where are the members willing to rock babies in the nursery one Sunday a month? Why must we pay others to "keep" the nursery?

Where are the members willing to teach Ladies Bible class during the week or a class on Sunday morning? In the class I attended at Highland, after the topic for the semester was chosen, members of the class rotated teaching. Some were skilled; some were not. We bore with them as they learned more than we did. I am becoming more and more convinced that Sunday morning classes as our fellowship runs them now are an anacronism. They tend to make us think we know more than we do, and they give us another "act" to check off.

Where are the members who are willing to contribute money and time to church missions, the youth group, cooking for the homeless, newcomer dinners, adopting college students?

Where are the members willing to encourage the staff with hugs, notes, hospitality,
and other encouragement?

Where are we?????

Organized and orderly

"Life is too complicated not to be orderly." Martha Stewart (who else?)

Spring cleaning time has arrived. Davis Kidd bookstore has displays of books about how to clean and organize and how to live a life of simplicity. One of the best titles was How Can I Help Others If I Cannot Find My Keys?

I am drawn to these books, but not always to their content. Writers in this genre seem to enjoy either making their pronouncements too easy--as if they were writing to dummies; or they enjoy giving formulas for cleaning products which would strain the most experienced chemist. I prefer to buy Windex and Pledge.

The best advice I ever read on the subject was "When you take something new into your house, cabinet or closet, ALWAYS take something old out."

Now if I could just do it.

Listening to God

I spoke last week to a group of women on the topic of sittting quietly and listening to God. As I prepared, this vision of God came into my mind:

(Big Sigh!!!) Finally!!!It's amazing. She is sitting quietly and trying to listen to me. I have been speaking to her for years through her children, in music, in sermons, through my creation, through the Bible--and now she has finally sat down to listen. Miracles really do happen!!!

Be still and know that I am God.

Hope for the future

Celebration Sunday at Otter last night featured an open mic. Worshippers (men and women) were invited to come read scriptures of praise.

Allie Davidson (age 7) came forward and read Mary's visit from the angel in Luke 1 perfectly. Watch out church! Here comes the next generation of daughters uninhibited by past wrong-headed restrictions, feminine shyness or other silly things.

Thank you Allie Davidson for giving me hope for the future.

Holding

There have been several thrilling proclamations in my life: "Will you marry me?"
"It's a boy!" "I love you, Mommy." "Mom, we're expecting." and others.

One of the sweetest comes when Ella's blue eyes and sweetheart face turn up, and she says, "I want to hold you." I melt into a puddle.

I wonder if God feels the same way when we accept His outstretched arms? After all, He wants to hold us, to take us with His right hand, to hold us in the palm of His hand, to comfort, bless, and warm us.

Dear Father, I accept your arms of love today and forever.

Apt Words

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in setting of silver." Prov. 25:11

I love it when a writer uses words "aptly". The Baptist church down the road has begun a coffee house. Its title: Holy Grounds. I think that is clever. I smile every time I read it on their sign.

On this topic, I can't get away from Twain's proclamation: "The difference between the almost-right word and the right word is the difference between the lightening bug and lightening."

However, my favorite advice on the topic of choosing right words is, "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekhov

Looking forward

It is fun to think ahead about the future of Maddie and Ella.

These days, Maddie is intent on being either a princess or a ballerina. She is so "girly"--I can easily see her in a tutu on a stage doing Swan Lake. Ella is enthralled with babies; I am sure she is headed toward rearing a wonderful family. She is much more athletic and tough than Maddie, so I am certain she will kick a few soccer balls and mud-wrestle along the way.

As I babysat with the girls last weekend, I did see other possibilities for the future. Ella (age 2) is a storyteller. A lot of her stories are in German or Polish, but the gestures, faces and stage presence foretell a future in the theater. Maddie (age 3)is an artist like her mother and grandfather Poppy. Her recent picture of a rainbow was the talk of the teacher's lounge at pre-school. When she colors or paints, she does not use the colors one would expect, but artfully sets color against color to create a unique effect pleasing to the eye. Pretty good for a 3-year-old.

One thing I do know for sure, they will be women of God thanks to their mom and dad.

FDR

Tuesday was also the anniversary of FDR's death in 1945. I remember where I was, although I was only seven.

I was sitting in a cave my brothers and I had dug in a vacant lot across the street from our house. It was actually just a hole we had enlarged with seats dug out in the corners. I was eating a salmon croquette mayonnaise sandwich when the "fire whistle" started blaring. In our small town, the fire whistle called the volunteers to the station to fight a fire. But this siren went on so long, we all knew something extraordinary was happening. I ran home and found my mother listening to the radio announcer telling the sad news.

I wish I didn't know about FDR's affair with Lucy Mercer and about his ego which wouldn't allow pictures of him in a wheelchair. I guess I prefer my heroes mythologized rather than the warts and all buffet carried in today's tabloids. We needed heroes in the dark days of WWII, and we need them today.

Clois Fowler

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the announcement that Jonas Salk had found a cure for polio.

I never knew anyone in my small town who had polio, but I do recall the elation at the announcement: the extremely large headlines in the paper and pictures of Jonas Salk in magazines and newspapers, etc.

A dear friend in Abilene Clois Fowler has suffered terribly from post polio afflictions, and I thought of him yesterday. He missed the cure that benefitted my generation. But despite his health problems, he became a spiritual giant, long associated with The Herald of Truth, and he also served as an elder at Highland.
Clois also has a great gift for storytelling--love him! (and Betty too!)I am still waiting for the book he should write.

Night Ritual

How does one tell the flame-haired three-year-old sitting in your lap with her head in the curve of your shoulder, "No more books. It's time to go to bed!" ?

Well, when you're the grandmother, YOU DON'T. We continue reading about Mr. McGregor, a marshmellow chick, 10 jumping monkeys and a bunny who will be loved forever.

Finally, the eyes grow heavy, the bed beckons, and Maddie goes to sleep with the sound of wonderful words and Nonnie's voice in her ear.

Camping Out

When I married Sam, I came into a family with a long experience in camping out. We have pictures of his parents' road trip to Colorado in the 20's. They traveled in a "touring car" with shades that pulled down over the windows. At night, they slept in cots by a fire. My parents never did such things. The closest my dad got to nature was fishing.

Shortly after our marriage Sam and I accompanied his sister and brother-in-law (Dorothy and Sam Morse) on a camping trip to Big Bend. It was not only my introduction to camping, but also to many family dynamics. We slept outside in sleeping bags on cots (with mine as close to my Sam as I could get). Sam M. said that he woke in the night to see skunks playing under my cot.

I found that the best thing about camping was the food--the men always cooked. At first, I resisted eating anything cooked on "cow chips" (dried cow manure). When they introduced me to the tasty world of "fried toast", resistance fell. (Slather both sides of bread with softened butter and then fry in a frying pan with more melted butter.) Sam M. was a scoutmaster and a top-notch camp cook. Top off the fried toast with homemade strawberry jelly, bacon and scrambled eggs,
and camp coffee (coffee cooked in an old perculator on the fire), and it was a feast for the gods. There were also the baked potatoes,wrapped in foil and put in coals before we went exploring. Coming home to them was heaven.

Dorothy and Sam M. are gone now, but I treasure those pleasure-filled days when a city girl learned the joys of nature's bounty.

Early riser

Ella woke up at 5:00 Friday morning. Although she really wanted her mommy, she readily crawled into my bed and snuggled for a while.

I had forgotten the pleasure of feeling a warm lumpy body curved into my tummy like a puppy. I had forgotten how loudly a 2-year-old can snore. I had forgotten the sweet feel of warm breath from a sleeping child.

Ella is the early riser of the bunch, and she always awakes with a bang. There is not mistaking who is ready to get up. But she loves to cuddle with whoever appears to pick her up. While Mommy and Daddy are in Colorado, Nonnie had that treat.

Another joy of Nashville!

In the Country

I am so thankful that my little house is removed from the Nashville hustle and bustle by a patch of country.

Country where minature horses graze on a block of hay in the front yard of a country house, where some plots of land are vacant, and one can see the mountains beyond them.

Country where a pick-up truck and small tractor sit parked in the field and a sign out front says, "Gardens plowed". Country where pavement does not cover every inch of dirt and where wild berry bushes grow along a tiny creek.

Country where a small, well-kept private cemetery graces a field covered in dandelions. Country where traffic sounds like sirens and horns cannot be heard, but where crickets and cicadas bring music to the evening.

Thank you Lord for the lovely things you created. Help us to sit in awe among them.

The Chicken and I

In my early childhood, my father drove a chicken bus delivering baby chicks from the Hamlin Hatchery to farmers in a large area of West Texas. I often heard him say, "Chickens are the dumbest creatures on the face of the earth!"

I suppose that is true. For example when one chick is injured and shows blood, the others, sensing his weakness, will then not rest until they have pecked him to death. But on the other hand, I have seen people with much larger brains do the same thing.

The time I spent around chickens at my grandmother's house was pleasant, especially when the rooster was penned up. He enjoyed chasing and spurring anyone who came around his flock.

I loved the sounds chickens make at dusk and when they trumpeted an egg's appearance. I selected one of the hens as my pet and called her Annie. I called her by name when I entered the chicken yard and petted her when I gathered her eggs.
Imagine my horror and surprise when I walked out on the back porch one morning and saw my Granny Dobbins wringing Annie's neck. Annie had been targeted for lunch.

The fried chicken was delicious with biscuits and white gravy, and I forgave my grandmother quickly. That day I learned a lesson about the balance of our family's eco-system.

The egg and I

Eggs rolled into my life when I was about eight years old. My grandmother Dobbins, who kept a chicken coop full of chickens, decided I was old enough to gather eggs. Of course, I had been eating those eggs for years oblivious to their origin. Until that day, my job was scattering the chicken feed "in the yard" and filling the water jars--those glass jars which screwed into a large metal bowl full of holes just right for beaks to imbibe.

I watched as my Granny Dobbins fearlessly reached under the chickens and pulled out 3-4 eggs. Some were white and some were brown. Also in some nests were glass eggs (I forget what those were for). She showed me which chickens were "nesting"--the gatherer NEVER reached under them. We returned to the kitchen where she gave me a cup towel-lined basket, and I stepped off the back porch with these words ringing in my ears: "Watch out for snakes." It seems that snakes love to eat eggs and baby chicks, so the chicken coop is a favorite hang-out.

I was less a scaredy-cat then; I actually enjoyed going in, making a soft clucking noise to the hens and pulling out warm eggs. Fortunately, I never encountered a snake. That would have been my last time in the hen house!

Raised by appliances

Bill Moyers once said, "Our children are being raised by appliances." Noting the number of hours children spend watching TV in recent reports, I can see what he means.

When did this thing we sit goggle-eyes before at every opportunity take over our lives? We watch it for news (I am appalled at how few literate people read the newspaper), we watch it for entertainment, we watch it for .....and yet we say that our lives are so busy we don't know whether we are coming or going. Perhaps it is because we are so driven that we need the mindless 5-6 hours every evening to get our will built to go on the next day to more activity.

Maybe we just need to take a break every now and then to see how much we depend on it. Maybe our eyes would be opened to how addicted we are. The Sunday newspaper recently featured a woman who watches 8 hours of soap operas a day. She does have a job--just sets the recorder to catch all those she misses when working. What kind of mind set must that many hours of soap opera build? Can't be positive; can't be moral; can't be creative.

Lord, keeps us from idols whose arms entangle us with the world so tightly we cannot move or think.

The Ugly Duckling

I missed it! April 2 was Hans Christian Andersen's 200th birthday. He is the father of modern folklore, as opposed to the Grimm Brothers being the collectors of ancient folklore.

Andersen had a very unhappy life. Born in poverty, his father was a shoemaker (how ironic) and his mother a washerwoman. His father died when he was 11, and Hans had to go to work. His sister became a prostitute and his mother died in a charity old folks' home. Before his father died, he did start Hans down the literary road and often took the young boy to the theatre. He even bought him a puppet theatre of his own, so his son could make his own puppets and compose his own plays. His father was literate and often read to his son plays and the Arabian Tales.

H. C. Andersen was extremely tall, had a very large nose, close-set eyes, and was quite effeminate--so he was the target for bullies of all ages. At age 14, H. C. moved to Copenhagen where he became associated with the Royal Theater because of his beautiful soprano voice. As his voice changed, he succeeded in gaining a mentor there who later paid his way to Copenhagen University. In 1928 he published a travel sketch and a poem called "The Dying Child". Later in 1829, he fell in love with a woman who was secretly engaged to another man. A letter from her was found around his neck in a leather pouch when he died.

Although he wrote many travel sketches, poems and novels, his fame rests on his book Fairy Tales and Stories, written between 1835 and 1872. The third volume of these stories contained "The Little Mermaid" and "The Emperor's New Clothes". He frequently identified with the poor and unfortunate which made his tales very appealing to the common reader. Many had very sad endings like "The Little Match Girl". His tale "The Nightingale" is considered a tribute to Jenny Lind a famous Swedish opera star known as the Swedish Nightingale. He fell in love with her in 1840, but the interest was not mutual. Andersen died in 1875.

My favorite story of his is "The Princess and the Pea".

The Sounds of Silence II

I have a friend who teaches communication at a Christian university who assigns her students a media fast during the first semester of school. They are to watch no TV or movies (DVD or theater), turn off the radio, the cd player, the computer, the fax machine, read no newspapers, etc. for one week. At the end of the week, they are to write their reactions to the deprivation.

Some of the students refuse to do the assignment; some do not get through the week. They take a lower grade rather than fast.

How would you do? Though some might say that since I am a widow with no one at home but me, I might do pretty well. That is not necessarily so because of my daily habit of Katie, Matt, Al and Anne and my love of Antiques Roadshow. How would a day go without music? I don't want to find out.

I read recently of a man who decided not to speak from dusk on Saturday to Sunday night as part of his celebration of Sabbath.

Any takers on either proposition? If you decide to do either, write and let me know how it went.

The Sounds of Silence

I heard a morning (mourning?) dove today. The lonesome wistful sound is so familiar and poignant. I heard it because the TV and radio were off. Madeliene L'Engle says, "We need both for our full development: the joy of the sense of sound and the equally great joy of its absence."

How did our world get so noisy? We allowed it. I remember when I first heard elevator music in the elevator at Minter's Department Store in Abilene. I thought it was an intrusion. We are no longer comfortable with silence, and some of our children have no first-hand knowledge of it. Much has been written about the demise of the front porch. I think silence "demised" when everybody moved inside.

Silence makes us more attentive to the little sounds which make our life more comfortable and enjoyable--the rhythmic ticking of the clock, the songs of birds outside an open window, the sizzling of bacon, the tune played by the coffee pot, and the padded thump of little feet coming down the stairs.

What can we do? For starters, turn everything off: the TV, the radio, cell phone, telephone, fax machine, cd player. Practice quiet moments around what one author calls "the edges of the day." Begin and end with silence. More tomorrow.

Making Beds

As I babysat last night while Zoe recorded, I was privileged to see one of those sweet moments I treasure.

I brought the girls new beach towels (on sale at the Disney store). Maddie, followed by Ella, of course, immediately began "making beds" all over the downstairs. Gathering a pillow here and a "blankie" there , any open space was open to being "made".

At one point in the evening, Maddie had labored for a long time spreading the towel over couch pillows until there was no wrinkle in sight (my own bed should be so smooth!). She positioned the right pillow in just the right place and spread a pink blanket over the bottom half for cover. Then she stood on the couch looking down at her handiwork and said, "That is so pretty!"

I pray that Maddie will always be enthralled by the simple work of her hands and by the soft gifts of rest she can create.

Storytelling

I have just started to read a book called Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts. In the introduction, Roberts speaks of the importance of the stories her mother told her about a famous ancestor, William Claiborne who in the late 1700's was the sole representative to Congress from Tennessee. Of course, Roberts is now a political commentator for ABC. She writes about the dearth of information about those early women who stood behind the giants who formed our country because they did not write down much, or what they wrote was not saved. Abigal Adams was the most prolific writer of the day, but she asked her husband John to burn her letters and other correspondence. Fortunately, he refused, and we know more about her and him than most of the Revolutionary group.

When I began this blog, I stated my goal was to preserve some of my life for Maddie and Ella--and I hope that my writings will be fun for them to read in 30-40 years.
I want them to know their grandmother and her philosophy of life, to know what she was thinking and what she was passionate about.

However, I have realized that I am not telling enough stories--so every now and then from now on there will be a random story for them.

A new Tennessean

I spent the day getting a Tennessee driver's license. They don't make it easy here--the registration place is out in the boondocks in west Nashville. I am so thankful Brandon could take time to lead me there. I don't think I could ever have found it.

I guess I will have to learn the Tennessee state song. Come to think of it, I really know only the first two bars of the Texas state song. I have heard it thousands of time, but it never stuck. It is not a hummable tune, nor does it have memorable words.

So, Tennessee, here I am to stay.

Twinkle, twinkle, little stars

Last night as I was babysitting (one of my favorite things to do), we were playing
"Let's Put on a Show". The girls have a microphone which is magnified (I need to buy another--it was hard to share). I had them wait behind the door in their little house in the play room, and then they would be announced--"Ladies and gentlemen, here's Miss Maddie Thomas singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." The spotlight would come on ( I needed a flashlight, but couldn't find one, so it was just pretend). Maddie would come out the door, do a deep bow and start singing. Meanwhile Ella waited in the wings for her turn.

Once, Ella grew tired of waiting and came out with Maddie, and they began singing together. Maddie's little sweet pitch-perfect version and Ella's raucous contralto, almost guttural version with her made-up words every now and then (sounding slightly German). It was the most hilarious things I have witnessed--wish I had a recording, because things like that don't happen again. What a joy. They also sang "Shout Hallelujah" with appropriate dancing.

That's the fun of living in Nashville, folks.

Blue True Dream of Sky

Yippee! The sun is shining; the sky is blue; and it is 71 degrees!!!! All that reminded me of this snippet from e. e. cummings:

i thank you God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

Yes, Thank you God for spring.

Which one is the salt?

On holidays, I often pour salt and pepper into decorative shakers--Easter rabbits, Mr. and Mrs. Santa, Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim, etc. So when we are sitting at the table, the question often comes, "Which one is the salt?"

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it's saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is not longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matt. 5:13

I once heard Rick Atchley say, "When we show up, the kingdom of God ought to show up too."

On this day after Easter, I was thinking about what comes next after celebration.
Whether I am in church, at play, in a store, or in any social situation, I don't want anyone to say, "Which one is the salt?" I want my saltiness given by God to be obvious in my actions, life-style and conversation.

Lord, I pray that I be so attentive to the needs of others and to God's wishes for my life that my saltiness shows.

The sacramental table

Honeybaked ham, sweet potato souffle, Aunt Dot's potato salad, fresh green beans with feta cheese, Puffy Muffin's frozen cranberry salad, Brandon's favorite orange salad (also Aunt Dot's recipe), baked beans, coconut cake, Sister Schubert's rolls, iced tea--now is that a feast? We thought so today as 10 of us sat in my dining room.

Much has been written about Christ's eating and drinking in all sorts of places with all sorts of people. Even after his resurrection, there were table stories. He must have been on to something. There is definitely an important lesson going on there. The table we share is sacramental in so many ways--the hospitality, the stories, the food (especially food with history), the blending of ages, good conversation, etc. What a joy!

Another joy of Easter weekend is finding Easter grass in the house well into April.
I do think it multiplies. And seeing all the little folks dressed in new clothes looking so fresh. The service this morning was blessed by the Holy Spirit. As I sat in the "choir" group on stage I was blessed to be able to look into the faces of worshippers as they sang and listened.

All in all, Easter is a wonderful time of renewal. Thank you God for the gift of your risen Son.

Spring's Incarnation

The Bradford pears are blooming all over town--glorious trees of sheer white. Abilene ain't never seen anything like this!!!! I wish everyone could see the showy display of God's creation.

Along with Brother Lawrence who found God when he looked at a barren tree and realized that soon it would blossom and then bear fruit, I believe spring is incarnational for all of us. We see in it God's promise of everlasting life and His love of beauty. If one doesn't believe in God this season, of course, there are many other indications in nature and humanity; however, this is the season to rejoice and sing Hallelujah for His unceasing love and care for his creation--the earth and its inhabitants.

So, let us create a beautiful day tomorrow as we celebrate the resurrection of His
Son and the promise of eternal life with Him. Happy Easter.

The men in my life

Sam Thomas was the God-sent love of my life. There other men in my 67 years of living whom I value, respect, and treasure affectionately (some are still living; some are not):

W. L. FLETCHER, JR., the father of my best friend in Hamlin. He was an elder, a kind, wise and gentle man. My major professor at ACU, DR. JAMES CULP, a brilliant, funny, and wonderful teacher. HAROLD LIPFORD, the husband of Jeanette Lipford, both strong and faithful friends through good and bad times. MORGAN PHILLIPS, DAVE JONES, and DON ROGERS, all Sam's teaching buddies whose lives have blessed me in so many different ways.

MIKE COPE--he and his family are entwined with ours, but I value his charm, intellect, soft and open heart. And last but foremost--RONNIE LORENZ, possibly the sweetest man I have ever known. Always willing to help, always ready to listen; a rock for me in many difficult times and a joy for me always.

Then there are those I love with a motherly love as well: CRAIG FISHER, STEPHEN BAILEY, and CHRIS DOGGETT (Brandon's college roommates), JASON MCARTHUR, VAL DURRINGTON, PAUL PHILLIPS and RYAN PORCHE--all of whom I would be glad to adopt as my sons.

There so many others who have enriched and blessed my life: ROLAND ORR, JOE SHARP, MARK LEWIS, GRADY JOLLY, DARRYL TIPPENS, STEVE WEATHERS. I do hope I will be forgiven if I have overlooked someone.

I must end with the major man in my life today. The cute, red-haired sweetie (think of Maddie with short hair) who grew up to be a strong, faithful, God-loving, articulate, sensitive man gifted in so many ways. Every mother should have a son
like Brandon Scott Thomas. I thank God for him everyday.

The presence of the sacred

Darryl Tippens recently said, "The potential for the sacred is everywhere." Doesn't that apply to the Ashley Smith-Brian Nichols encounter?

In a beautiful essay in the March 28th issue of Time, Andrew Sullivan says, ...every day we have smaller, calmer chances to turn another's life around, to serve, to listen. How often do we simply not see what is in front of us? Sullivan quotes a Leonard Cohen song(also quoted in Patches of Godlight by Jan Karon): Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

I am reminded of John Wesley's admonition (which I think I have written about before--but it can't be used too many times):

Do all the good you can
By all the means you can
In all the ways you can
In all the places you can
To all the people you can
As long as ever you can.

Junior Bacon Cheeseburger

The rain began as I pulled into Wendy's in Franklin to get a junior bacon cheeseburger for lunch. I suddenly had a flashback to a time years ago.

Take One and Reflections were recruiting musical groups paid by ACU to go out and gather in students. They sang in churches, youth group meetings, camps, etc. One summer Brandon was a member of one of them (can't remember which one), and I was privileged to chaperone them for a few days on one of their trips. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I learned how hard they worked, how much young students admired them, and what they did on the road (some things do not bear repeating.)

One night they were scheduled to sing at Camp Bandina in the Hill country ( I think--I know Brandon will straighten out the details). It was raining cats and dogs, so not only were we tired and cranky, but also dripping wet. We were invited to join the evening meal and mix with the campers, and then the perfomance would commence.

After the performance and the sales of cassettes, we loaded up in a driving rain and set out on unfamiliar roads, in a darkness unlit by street lights, for the next destination. I think Val was driving. I am so glad he did not know how scared I was--I always tend to get scared when driving in hills or mountains. It seemed to me we were careening off the hills, parting flood waters, gaining speed and energy listening to Steven Curtis Chapman singing "Get on Your Horses."

I very relieved when we reached the next town where we stopped at Wendy's for a bite--we were all starving because the camp food was not particularly appealing. This was where I had my first junior bacon cheeseburger. (Abilene did not have a Wendy's at that time.) I was never so thankful for a cheeseburger in my life!

Thanks to the group for the experience, to Val for being a good driver, and for the sweet memories.

Multi-tasking

I firmly believe that multi-tasking and 24-7 are ideas from Satan--to keep us from being still and knowing God and knowing our family.

Sunday's paper carried an article about how our culture is becoming a child-dominated society in which parents spend as many as 18 hours a day carrying children hither and yon.

Kim and Gary Zeiss are keeping their children busy by design. They believe it's a key to being a successful adult in a culture that rewards multi-taskers. "You know the old saying, 'If you want something done, give it to a busy person.' They are learning how to be that." A typical Monday for the family has four or five after- school- events. They are in constant touch by cell-phone, Blackberry and pager.
They get together for dinner on Monday, but not until the son returns from fencing practice (now that's a life-time skill) at`10:30 p.m.

My parents would say hogwash to such stuff. When my Dad returned home (we had only one car), he was too tired to go anywhere else. When my brothers began playing sports, we did go to Little League games, football, etc., but never lessons of any kind. We did homework, finished chores, and played outside.

Lord, forgive us for avoiding you with busyness and going out of our way to find other things to do than to be still and know you.

On the right footing

Last night I watched Maddie (age 3) "read" The Foot Book word for word. Ella was there too copying, trying to read 10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. I thought what an advantage these girls had with parents who are willing to take time to read to them and to hold books while they "read".

The morning paper interviewed the Teacher of the Year at Granbury Elem. School Christina Ward. She does not apologize for continuing the use of learning centers in her room while other kindergarten teachers have opted out of centers to incorporate more academics into the curriculum. Along with the usual reading, math, and writing centers, she has some which stimulate creativity and imagination. She says, "The pretend center, where they act out stories we've read or create their own with puppets...is very much about literacy and language. Ward tries to encourage the parents of her children by teaching them about the development of children. She says, "As far as helping children learn no complex computer games or toy can replace the simple act of reading. If they (parents) could just read to their child 10 minutes a night that would prepare them for kindergarten so much better than anything else they could do. Every kindergarten teacher would be happy if parents would just do that."

Music to my ears. But I must put one foot in front of the other and go fold clothes.

The glory of Texas

Now that spring is finally here, I am thinking of the appearance of the wildflowers in Texas--in the Hill Country, on that stretch between Abilene and Dallas, in the fields of Taylor County. A field of bluebonnets mixed with Indian paintbrush is truly on of God's most beautiful creations.

I asked someone at church today what wildflowers I should look for in Tennessee. The person I was talking to did not know, nor did she know what the state flower is. I will have to look that up. Daffodils are popping up, but those don't count. I am anxious to see some kind of flowers in the fields between my house and town.

We are all ready for sping and her new clothes.

Andre Norton

Long before Harry Potter, there was science fiction writer Andre Norton writing of mystery, magic and intergalactic chaos. Some religious people did not approve of her writing. I haven't figured that out yet; perhaps it is because our rational minds have not room for mystery, magic and chaos. Look at our love-hate relationship with the book of Revelation for starters.

Norton died in Murfreesboro, TN yesterday at the age of 93. She (yes, she changed her name from Mary Alice to Andre so that her books would appeal to boys)won every award given in the science fiction field. In my early days as a high school librarian, she was one of the sure-fire recommendations to boys along with Robert Heinlein.

I do not know her religious background. The newspaper said she asked that no funeral be celebrated and that she be cremated along with a copy of her first and last books. In 1999 she established a library in a three-car garage on a quiet Murfreesboro street for writers in her genre to do the research necessary for bringing their stories to life--research in ancient religions, weaponry, mythology, history, etc.

Thank you God for bringing us gifted writers who give us pleasure, challenges, questions and glimpses into the battle between good and evil.

Hotel Rwanda

After Brandon's review of this movie yesterday, I had to go see it today. I think Mike has also done a blog about it. It was truly heart-wrenching; more heart-wrenching to know that it happened while I was alive and well, and I didn't even care about it. I just "went back to my supper."

I must also tell myself now that tonight in East Nashville there are children who are in mortal danger, who are starving, who are homeless. Do I care about them?
I must reiterate the theme of the words of Mother Teresa on Brandon's blog--we start with one, one, one. She picked up one dying leper off the Calcutta streets and started a ministry which has thus far saved 50,000 people. The first one must be picked up. And if I can't pick him/her up, I must help those who can. There are certain people in our religious community who can go where I cannot. As a weak, gray-haired white woman, I do not need to be in East Nashville alone at night looking for the homeless. I can, however, support those who are.

Right now, I am really high on the Salvation Army and its work. I know a family in Abilene to which it has made all the difference in the world as their drug-ridden son is being fed with material and spiritual food, has a place to sleep, and counseling at the Army. As far as I know, there are no Christian folk in Abilene doing all that. I can and will contribute to this good work.

I know of missionaries from Otter Creek who are picking up street kids in Kenya and feeding and clothing them, giving them a place to live and teaching them a trade as well as about God. I can help them.

There are so many things we can do that we fail to do because we are absorbed in our 24-7 materialist culture.

I will remember Hotel Rwanda as the catalyst for my doing more.

The Spring Program

I got to attend Maddie's spring Easter program today. No, they didn't sing Peter Cottontail--the theme was built around colors. The director of the school said the teachers would be happy if the children just stayed on the stage--but it was so much better than that. There were even some original songs.

I know programs are a pain for teachers, and they are always so glad when they are over.
But I must say that for parents, grandparents, and anyone else who might be the audience, such events are pure joy. I can't describe the looks on the faces of parents as they waved to their children and took hundreds of pictures. I arrived early (45 minutes) to save seats for BST and Sheryl and there were already parents there setting up video cameras. It was an exercise in what is good in America--kids still like to sing and parents still enjoy watching them. May it ever be so.

Thanks to all the teachers who labor extra hours to make sure the stage is decorated, the songs are learned, and the parents are properly notified. Have you ever tried to teach a class of 12 two-year-olds a song with hand motions? Not easy.

The last song today was Jesus Loves the Little Children, and so He does. Thank you Lord for using them as models for us.

Creativity and Play

Children's author James Howe has said,"My greatest worry for children today is that they are losing the capacity to play; to create a city out of blocks, to find a world in a backyard, to dream an adventure on a rainy afternoon."

I got to babysit last night while BST and Sheryl had a date night. I watched Maddie create a tumble-gym on the den floor out of couch pillows and soft coverlets. And she and Ella had the time of their lives sliding, rolling and jumping. It was so fun. Of course Maddie was in charge, but Ella gleefully went along with everything, copying Maddie's every move.

Play is so programmed today with packaging and scripts about what the child is to do with the toy. I don't remember anyone telling me what to do with my doll and doll bed. Or telliing my brothers what to do with their cowboy guns and holsters.

I am thinkful that Brandon and Sheryl are encouraging free play with open-ended toys. And by the way, my bias is showing when I peruse the Leapfrog shelves which fill toy shelves today. Just expensive video games are they. Prefer school with real learning and a teacher who knows what to do the knowledge. The demise of recess also raises my bile. Now we must all have planned activities. I remember sitting in the corner of Hamlin Elementary School playing "Jacks" on the concrete porch with friends for what seemed like a long time each day. Hmmm Eye-Hand coordination? Sharing? Building Friendship? Now I am beginning to sound like an old curmudgeon.

For a good feeling, go somewhere and watch children invent their own fun today.

Names

Isn't it strange what your mind does when you are asleep? I awoke this morning thinking about names--about which names are an alphabetic letter and the people I knew with those names. For example, B--(Bea, Bea Arthur), D--(Dee, Sandra Dee),
J--(Jay, Jay Leno), K--(Kay, Kay Hawkins), M (Em--Aunt Em in Oklahoma). Why was I thinking that? Don't know.

The most popular names in 2004 for babies were Madison for girls and Ethan for boys.

Strangest name I ever heard for a girl was Girley Q. Gold (Hamlin, Texas) a classmate of mine. For a man--Iron Andrews (a man in my mother-in-law's genealogy. We once threatened to name Brandon Brandon Iron. Glad we didn't.

Names are important to our lives--I never knew a Delilah or Bathsheba. But I have know many Marys. Never knew a Judas, but know several Pauls. Teachers shake their heads every August about the strange names in their class, almost unpronounceable, which the child will be stuck with for life. Harry Truman spent his life explaining that was no period after S; it was just Harry S Truman.

The name above all names blesses us whatever our names and aren't we glad. Some one once said that "Grace means we don't all have to be Pauls." Thank you Lord.

AR again

Dear Kendra,

How stupid of me to put off Accelerated Reader (AR) on the teachers. Of course it is a program touted by overly ambitious principals and competitive PTA moms who love to brag about the scores their kids bring home. I think the public would be angry to know how much of their money and PTA money is spent for mediocre paperbacks, stickers, and all the paraphernalia which comes with the program. I keep hoping it will just collapse under its own weight. Unfortunately that is not happening. No, I don't know how to deal with a mediocre program--especially when some principals insist the teacher report all the students' scores to him/her and insist that those scores be part of the reading grade. Otherwise, I might suggest a subversive tactic.

Just keep trucking like the wonderful teacher you are--nobody can make you choose a certain book to read aloud to the class. I guess that is where I would start.

Evolving language

When one has grandchildren (or small children) one no longer speaks of dogs and cats. They become puppy dogs and kitty cats. "Fruities" enter the language, as does string cheese.

Another amazing thing is how much leverage can come from a single piece of gum--thank you, Mr. Wrigley. I try to keep a fresh supply of your product in my purse at all times.

It is endearingly sweet to hear Maddie sing "Hosanna, hosanna" in her little voice with perfect pitch and in tune. Heaven must surely have a children's choir.

All this is worth moving to Nashville.

Toddler Books

Jana, my list of toddler books includes some classics and some new ones. Following is a sample of the 50 on the list:

Baker, Keith. MY FAT HEN
Berenstain, Stan. INSIDE, OUTSIDE, UPSIDE DOWN
Brett, Jan. THE GINGERBREAD BABY


Curtis, Jamie Lee I'M GONNA LIKE ME

Eastman, P. D. ARE YOU MY MOTHER?
Ehlert, Lois. EATING THE ALPHABET

Galdon, Paul. THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF (any folk tale by him is good.)
Guarino, Deborah. IS YOUR MAMA A LLAMA?

Martin, Bill. CHICKA, CHICKA BOOM BOOM
BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Potter, Beatrix. THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT

Rosen, Michael. WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT

Schneider, Howie. CHEWY LOUIE
Seuss, Dr. THE FOOT BOOK

Taback, Simms. THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A FLY

McBratney, Sam. GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU?
Mayer, Mercer. THERE'S A NIGHTMARE IN MY CLOSET.

Oxenbury, Helen. TICKLE, TICKLE

Zelinsky, Paul. THE WHEELS ON THE BUS

Enjoy!

On a Lighter Note--Sorry state of children's books

I am gathering today a list of preschool books for Otter's Wayne Reed Day Care Center. I have been struck at how many of the books I am listing have been published before 1990. I don't think it is because I am not keeping up with new publications--I am.

I do believe that there are very few children's writers today writing books like Where the Wild Things Are or The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Even Eric Carle's last few offerings have not been up to his former standard. And who today can beat Goodnight, Moon as a bedtime book? We have degenerated to potty training books, books that have very poor illustrations, and books that are just take-offs on old classics. We need good new children's writers and illustrators! Teachers, get off
Accelerated Reader and begin to give your children good books without questions at the end. Art teachers, start training your students to illustrate books--it is a good living if the artist is half-way decent.

Face to Face, One Person At a Time

More than 20,000 people perished yesterday of extreme poverty. More than 8 millon people around the world die each year because they are too poor to stay alive.Approximately 1.1 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty. These are all figures from the March 14, 2005 issue of Time in its cover article "How to End Poverty." The economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, whose new book The End of Poverty prompted the article ends the article with 9 goals for eliminating poverty from the earth.

The last goal is "Make a Personal Commitment." He says, "Great societal forces are the mere accumulation of individual actions." I am so pleased that Brandon took his girls to Room at the Inn last night where they met the men they had been talking about at home--the homeless. It was face to face. Later, Maddie asked to pray for one of them. Our "streetwalkers" at Highland in Abilene walked the streets of the deteriorating neighborhood, meeting the folks face to face. Now many are coming to the Oasis meals and to church. A small group of people at Highland decided to do "missional" work at the Colonial Apartments down the road from Highland which is housing for some of the poorest people in Abilene. Highland inhabits an apartment there from which the servants operate face to face. Several have been baptized. Families have been healed. Druggies have been saved. Children from there now present a Christmas Pageant every year in the Highland auditorium.

Edmund McDonald, a Presbyterian minister once wrote, "When God wants an important thing done in this world or a wrong righted, he goes about it in a very singular way. He doesn't release thunderbolts or stir up earthquakes. God simply has a tiny baby born....for each child comes with the message that God is not yet done with humanity, but is still expecting goodwill to become incarnate in each human life." Goodwill incarnate--is that us? Has the baby been born who can save the world? Oh, yes, if only his followers will follow him....face to face, one person at a time.

On the edge

One of the new books I bought recently is Interrupted by God, Glimpses from the Edge by Tracey Lind. Lind, an ordained Episcopal priest, says in her preface, "...as a child of an interfaith marriage (Methodist and Jewish), a lesbian, and one who has spent a great deal of time with the homeless, I belong to the edge, to the fringe, to the people who are never certain if, when, or where they fit into the great scheme of things."

Several years ago, a former college roommate of mine opened the closet and declared herself a lesbian. Not long ago, a very dear friend owned up to having similar leanings, although never acting on them. The roommate is now living in a marriage with another woman who loves her. The friend has begun a ministry in her home to university students who are wrestling with their sexuality. I don't pretend to know why these two women, raised in straight (very straight) Church of Christ homes, came to these realizations. My roommate was abused by a crazy husband with a theology degree. And the friend had issues with her father. Other than that, I can only guess. In agreement with many biologists, I think that God did not make them lesbians from birth. And in my struggle with these things, it is hard to get around those scriptures of condenmation about homosexuality. But is also hard to get around those about greed, materialism, and care of the body. Thus far, I am continuing to love them as they continue to love me in my sinful state.

It is true as Lind says, that these folks are at the edge in our fellowship. Yesterday, someone mentioned a friend who was gay (we were talking about the acceptance of Jesus of the woman and the perfume in Luke 7) and conversation came to a dead standstill. We just don't know what to do about it, and therefore, we do nothing except recoil in horror. Some churches have "recovery" classes or counselors on staff. Others ignore the growing problem. Others have begun churches for those on the edge, as if another church would help. Why can't THE CHURCH help? Why can we not be "missonal" and reach out to those on the edge? By church, I mean the church universal--even the Episcopalians had a heresy trial over this topic.

I realize this is a hot topic. I am trying to be as non-homophobic as my background will allow. No hate comments, please. And by the way, Lind also mentions the homeless as being on the edge. More about that later.

The Jones family

Lela Maude Jones was a gangly, awkward, red-haired, over-protected child of older parents. She was my best friend in the third grade--We both had pigtails and were more bookish, as opposed to the tom-boyish traits of our classmates.

One night very near Christmas in 1947, her father killed her and her mother, and set their house on fire to cover the crime. Of course, the incident was the talk of our small town with everyone wondering why the railroad worker, church-going man would do such a thing? I think he pleaded temporary insanity--but committed suicide before entering prison. Needless to say, it was traumatic for me and for Lela Maude's other friends. As far as we knew, there was no child abuse remotely touching our lives, and certainly no murders.

That is not true today for our children. The news is full of molesters and abuses of all kinds (here in Tennessee there were several parents recently arrested for starving their children). The news is full of Michael Jackson (and I say to myself, "What were those parents thinking?")

In my imaginary Hell there is a special hotter place for those who harm children. I know many abusers are simply continuing cycles which began in their childhoods. Somewhere the cycle must stop. Adults like teachers, principals, and Sunday School teachers must help stop it. There have been many times when I wanted to intervene at the grocery store after overhearing a parent's remarks to her/his children. And there have been several times when I have stuck my foot out in front of a running child and said,"This is not the place to run. You might knock someone over and hurt them," while thinking unkindly thoughts about their parents.
It seems to me that the epidemic of abuse in our society could be compared to those heinous crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lord, help us to remember your sweet words to children and your willingness to have them come to you.

Quotidian matters

One of my favorite new words--quotidian--everyday, commonplace. I have busied myself this morning with quotidian matters:

Folding laundry. When did that start? Who first decided that towels, washcloths and cuptowels had to be folded and stacked neatly? Wonder how far back that goes? At any rate, there is something quieting about folding laundry: The wonderful smell of clean clothes, the sense of accomplishment when it is all folded and put up. Plus the added benefit that when visitors open your linen closet or kitchen drawer, they think you are a good housekeeper!

Anyone with the slightest obsessive tendency should not buy a glass-topped table. There is always a fingerprint or mark that needs taking off. Even if no one has been near the table in 3 days. But when it is pristine and shining, it is a thing of beauty.

By the way, Brandon first mentioned my obsessive tendency when he noticed that I had all the drinks in the frig lined up like soldiers marching off to battle--all the milks, the juices, the waters, and colas were sitting one behind the other in straight lines on the shelf. Only children mention those traits. Friends are too polite to tell you.

I can't help it; were we not told to do things in decency and order?

Save Our Landfills

I spent an hour last night getting a new toy out of its box. Has anyone except me noticed that manufacturers spend billions touting their products, but they don't want people to get into them once they buy them?

This toy was in a box within a box which was plastic wrapped, wired and stapled.
Notice the industrial strength staples that hold boxes together today? Can't get them up with that handy tool, the staple puller. One must use the business end of a screwdriver and risk bodily harm if the screwdriver slips. Then after getting into the box, each piece is double-wrapped with cement-like plastic which does not tear off easily, but must be cut with very sharp scissors, if the point of the scissors can be poked into the plastic (not likely--too thick).

And those child-proof bottles which are also adult-proof--once you figure out how to get the top off (couldn't those be made generically too?), you must use a very sharp object to puncture the plastic covering which does not come off in one piece, but a dozen little sticky pieces. After that, you must dig out what seems to be a whole box of cotton to get to the pill. I am all for child-proof bottles, but let's give a break to arthritic adults. Maybe a smart engineer could figure something out.

Isn't here way too much packaging everywhere? Trying to get into a CD or DVD requires a masters in breaking and entering. And while in the grocery store, why do we put something that is already bagged into another bag so that we can take the bags home and throw them away in the garbage? I understand that some places are considering charging customers for all the plastic bags they take home.

I guess it is just another look at our over-kill society. Thank you God for all the things I don't have.

Work on taxes or read?

I have spent all morning gathering materials for taxes, checking bank books for deductions, etc. In a way, it is comforting to know that I kept and highlighted all the deductions along the way in such an organized fashion. My bookkeeping teacher would give me an A.

But what I really wanted to do (the book almost reached out arms and pulled me to it) was to read my new Anne Lamott book Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. I have said before that her book Traveling Mercies was one of my favorites of all time.
But I must do the adult thing and finish up so I can get the stuff to Bill Rieder next week. Anne will be there when I am done. Why can't we take deductions for books we have bought?

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It snowed here this week--Some got 3 inches; others got a dusting. Since coming to Nashville, I have fanticized about a huge snowstorm with drifts of velvet white and me with a book by the fireplace looking out the window at the glorious flakes.

So far, it is still fantasy. I don't know why I love snow so much; it is cetainly not from many experiences with it. Some of my favorite memories are snow related. When Brandon was about 3, Sam's family (including us) spent two Thanksgivings in Cloudcroft, N. M. We ate ham and drank hot chocolate by a wood fire watching skaters on the pond, and we slid down the mountain on inner tubes. I still marvel that I did that! Later in Abilene after a big snow, Sam took a plastic box and built an igloo with Brandon and the Lorenz children. Going out to the Abilene State Park after a big snow is also a pleasant memory.

I love snow songs like ...let it snow, etc. "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas" Wish we heard them more frequently than Christmas. Of course, I begin playing Christmas songs on November 1 and play them until Jan. 15.

Perhaps God created snow so that we could use the "white as snow" metaphor for our cleansed sin. At any rate, Thank You Father for what Emerson called "the whited air" and the dancing snowflakes.

End notes on lists and misc.

One of the things about being a former English teacher is that people are always scared to write or talk in front of you--afraid of making a grammatical mistake. Add to that being a librarian too (O, dear I have an overdue book, and I haven't read a book this year)--one can easily see what I am fighting. I am not a grammar Nazi, nor do I check other's book records. I do, however, have the following advice to adult readers:

l. Never underestimate the role model you are to your children in modeling the
habit of reading. Parents who have nothing in their houses but People Magazine
and The National Inquirer and who never go to a library or buy a book must ask themselves "What am I teaching my children?"

2. Never waste your time reading a book that hasn't grabbed you in the first 50
pages. Life is too short.

3. Just because a book is on the best-seller list for weeks does not mean it is a
good book.

4. Just because a book is a classic does not mean it is a good book for you--try it
by checking out a copy from the public library (One of the best bargains
around!) and then buy it if you like it.

5. Just because someone like me has recommended the book does not mean you will
like it too. Reading is very personal.

6. If you read 250-500 wpm (very average), you can read at least 30 books a year
depending on their length.

7. It is amazing how much the desire for reading increases when the television is
broken.

8. Conversely, no one in the last 25 years has spurred reading like Oprah Winfrey.

List 8 GRAMMAR

Yea! These are the last few books on my favorites lists--couldn't find a list to put them on, so even though there are only two, they deserve a place. (Both books would condemn that sentence.)

Grammar:

O'Connor, Patricia. WOE IS I, THE GRAMMARPHOBE'S GUIDE TO BETTER ENGLISH IN PLAIN ENGLISH.

Truss, Lynne. EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES, THE ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH TO PUNCTUATION.


Both are witty and helpful--wish I could have used them when I taught high school English.

I Love Paul Revere, Whether He Rode or Not, List 7

I minored in History in college and fully intended to teach it in combination with English until I hit Ralph Smith and Russian History. My interest in history is a little quirky as you will be able to tell by the titles:

History and Sociology

Ambrose, Stephen UNDAUNTED COURAGE--wonderful account of the Lewis and Clark
expedition

Durant, Will and Ariel. THE LESSONS OF HISTORY

Pipher, Mary. THE SHELTER OF EACH OTHER, REBUILDING OUR FAMILIES--wise advice about
community and family
ANOTHER COUNTRY, NAVIGATING THE EMOTIONAL TERRAIN OF OUR ELDERS--a
must read for children whose parents are aging

Pool, Daniel. DICKENS' FUR COAT AND CHARLOTTE'S UNANSWERED LETTERS, THE ROWS AND
ROMANCES OF ENGLAND'S GREAT VICTORIAN NOVELISTS

Shenkman, Richard. I LOVE PAUL REVERE, WHETHER HE RODE OR NOT." Myths and illusions
about American History. The first chapter on religion should be read by all
Christian conservatives.

Winchester, Simon. THE PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN, A TALE OF MURDER, INSANITY AND THE
MAKING OF THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY.

List # 6 Quotations

In 1979 I began to collect quotations from books, sermons, cartoons, speeches, etc. mainly because my feeble memory would not bring them back when I needed them. Most are about reading, books, teaching, and God. It is my habit to always have a journal and a pen handy when I read a book so I can write down what strikes me. In addition, I have taken to buying collections of quotations on certain themes--No, I do not have a Bartlett's--it is too overwhelming. Here is a list of my favorite books of quotations and a quotation from each book:

Glaspey, Terry W. A PASSION FOR BOOKS. "Where is the human nature so weak as in a bookstore?" Henry Ward Beecher

Jacobs, Ben. THE QUOTABLE BOOK LOVER. "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekov

Kaplan, Rob and Harold Rabinowitz. SPEAKING OF BOOKS. "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend; inside of a dog, it is too dark to read." Groucho Marx

Karon, Jan. PATCHES OF GODLIGHT, FATHER TIM'S FAVORITE QUOTES. "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." John Wesley

Levanthal, Sallye, ed. NOTATIONS, QUOTATIONS ON MUSIC. "Where words fail, music speaks." Hans Christian Andersen

Petras, Katherine, ed. AGE DOESN'T MATTER UNLESS YOU'RE A CHEESE. "I have everything now I had twenty years ago, except now it's all lower." Gypsy Rose Lee
(I needed this one on the blog about boobs!)

Robinson, Ray. FAMOUS LAST WORDS. "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist---."
General John Sedgewick at the Battle of the Wilderness, commenting on Confederate
sharpshooters.

List #5 READING AND EDUCATION

Now is the time for the list by which I ran my professional life for 33 years--those years when I was a middle and high school English teacher, a school librarian and a university teacher of children's and young adult literature

Reading and Education

Manguel, Alberto. A HISTORY OF READING

Calkins, Lucy. RAISING LIFE LONG LEARNERS--a must read for all parents

Codell, Esme Raji. HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD TO LOVE READING

Fox, Mem. DEAR MEM FOX, I'VE READ ALL YOUR BOOKS, EVEN THE PATHETIC ONES
RADICAL REFLECTIONS, PASSIONATE OPINIONS ON TEACHING, LEARNING AND LIVING
READING MAGIC

Healy, Jane. ENDANGERED MINDS--a must for every parent and teacher--exposes the
vacuous content of Sesame Street
Hunt, Lois. HONEY FOR A CHILD'S HEART
HONEY FOR A WOMAN'S HEART--slightly dated bibliographies of good reading

Karolides, Nicholas J. 100 BANNED BOOKS, CENSORSHIP HISTORIES OF WORLD LITERATURE--
I have always been interested in and incensed by censorship. Books included here
are the Bible, To Kill A Mockingbird, Oliver Twist, Dr. Zhivago, The Scarlet
Letter, etc.

O'Hanion, Susan. WHO'S IN CHARGE? A TEACHER SPEAKS HER MIND.--how did she know my
philosophy of teaching?

Pearl, Nancy. BOOK LUST, RECOMMENDED READING FOR EVERY MOOD, MOMENT AND REASON--
love the book title, the reviews and the connections she makes

Quindlen, Anna. HOW READING CHANGED MY LIFE

Trelease, Jim. THE READ ALOUD HANDBOOK--another great help for parents with chapters
on the importance of reading aloud and the insidious intrusion of TV into family
life, plus bibliographies of books to read to kids of every age

Schwartz, Lynne. RUINED BY READING

Yolen, Jane. TOUCH MAGIC

Conclusion of List 4--Inspiration and Spirituality

Blaise Pascal wrote about a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person. These books have helped me see God more fully as I invite him into that vacuum.

Nouwen, Henri. CAN YOU DRINK THIS CUP?
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON
BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD--helped me understand the true meaning
of icons
BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY

Osborne, Carroll. ESSAYS ON WOMEN IN EARLIEST CHRISTIANITY

Rupp, Joyce. THE CUP OF OUR LIFE

Smalley, Gary. THE BLESSING

Teresa, Mother. WORDS TO LIVE BY

Thompson, Marjorie. COMPANIONS IN CHRIST--a workbook published by the Upper Room and
very helpful in spiritual formation groups
SOUL FEAST--my favorite book on spiritual formation

Many of these books would be wonderful for study in small groups (especially spiritual formation groups). My group Trilogy shared many of them in our 10 years together, and we were nourished by their content.

Seeing the Lord's glory--List #4

Michelangelo once said, "Lord, make me see thy glory in every place." While I often see His glory in people and the creation, I most often see His glory in the writings of wise and spiritual authors. Following is a list of some of my favorite inspirational and spiritual readings:

INSPIRATION AND SPIRITUALITY

Campolo, Tony. LET ME TELL YOU A STORY--he is probably one of our most gifted story-
tellers and these are some of his best.
Counsell, Michael. 2,000 YEARS OF PRAYER--this book opened my eyes to the gifts
offered by the saints and church fathers which in younger years I had often
shrugged off as old, boring Catholic writers. How prosaic! But in my defense,
there were many good gifts offered by others that the fellowship in which I grew
up neglected or condemned. A blog about that later.
Cloninger, Claire. A PLACE CALLED SIMPLICITY

Edelman, Marian Wright. THE MEASURE OF OUR SUCCESS. A letter to her children about
how we all should act.

Foster, Richard. CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINES.
STREAMS OF LIVING WATER. I am so glad to see Foster embraced
widely now. He is a visionary.

Heatherly, Joyce Landorf. BALCONY PEOPLE--probably my favorite metaphor about "the
great cloud of witnesses."

L'Engle, Madeleine. TRAILING CLOUDS OF GLORY--in fact, all of her books are great!
Lamott, Anne. TRAVELING MERCIES. Probably my very favorite read in this area over
the last few years--it is her spiritual memoir.
Lucado, Max. HE CHOSE THE NAILS. I can see Max's picture of Him saying goodby to
the carpenter shop in my mind today.

Norris, Kathleen. DAKOTA. Her story of how this secular poet regained her faith
after moving back to her grandmother's town.
CLOISTER WALK. Her account of growing deeper spiritually after
her "immersion in a liturgical world" at St. John's Abbey in Minnesota.


More tomorrow.

You Can Go Home Again

Sorry, Thomas Wolfe, you can go home again--I just did it. And it was glorious!
The week was full of so many good things, I can't write them all. But read Mike and Brandon's blog about what was one of the most extraordinary Sundays at Highland I have ever seen. You can go home again, but not without weeping.

Staying with our friends Ronnie and Darla was such a blessing. I cannot articulate how much I miss them. As I told them, I seem to be subtly pushed toward an older group at Otter, and that is not what I desire. My "group" at Highland was at last 10 years younger than I, and that didn't bother them or me at all. Anyway back to R and D who date back in our lives to when they were mere children at Minter Lane, Darla was Sam's secretary at two schools, our kids grew up together, got in trouble together and survived teenage together, and we attended Minter and Highland together. Sam didn't live to see it, but one of my proudest moments was seeing Ronnie accept the position of elder at Highland. Both of them are a team for the Lord in so many ways I cannot even begin to enumerate--not the least of which is their love for us. They know us well, warts and all--and still call us family. And besides that, they have fallen in love with Maddie and Ella. Love them!

I didn't get to attend too many of the classes and lectures--but there are always the Gaylor tapes. A wonderful one I did hear was Harold Shank, who provided many moving stories about missionaries and other of God's servants.

It was strange to attend as a visitor.Kinda Nice.

And we had two days of 82 degrees--That's West Texas--today it is probably 30 degrees like it is here. One strange thing was that we did not have enough wind to get Maddie and Ella's kites very high. There is ALWAYS wind in Abilene.

Thank you God for the opportunity to go home and see those I love. Help all of us never to forget how important community and friends are to our lives.

Favorites #3

Red Smith once wrote, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter (computer) and open a vein." For years, writing has been one of my most pleasurable activities. I enjoyed writing my lessons I would teach; then I wrote many speeches given to workshops, conventions, etc.; a couple of years ago, I wrote a book about how to write a spiritual autobiography; and now the blog continuum. Here is a list of my favorite books about writing:

WRITING

Coles, Robert. THE CALL OF STORIES--a must!

Heard, Georgia. WRITING TOWARD HOME

Lyon, George Ella. WHERE I'M FROM

Lamott, Anne. BIRD BY BIRD--another must

Stanek, Lou Willett. WRITING YOUR LIFE

Welty, Eudora. ONE WRITER'S BEGINNINGS

We are headed to Abilene tomorrow. I will be otherwise occupied until Thursday. Have a happy week!

Favorites list #2

Thanks for your comments on the Fiction list. George Bernard Shaw said, "People get nothing out of books but what they bring to them."

I bring to this list of biographies and memoirs a life-time of reading about great men and women and several years of teaching people how to write their spiritual memoirs.

BIOGRAPHIES AND MEMOIRS

Ackroyd, Peter. DICKENS

Bragg, Rick. ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTIN'--a look at what made a famous journalist

Delaney, Sarah and Elizabeth. HAVING OUR SAY--among the first black women professionals, they share their 100 years of living.

Dillard, Annie. AN AMERICAN CHILDHOOD--I love comparing her 50's childhood with mine--so different!

Edelman, Marian Wright. LANTERNS--her account of the people who made her the accomplished lobbyist she is (Definitely one of my heroes)

Haley, Alex. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X--The account of how Malcolm X learned to read and write in prison bears sharing with all students who do not understand the value of an education

McCullough, David. JOHN ADAMS
TRUMAN (Not the movie, Harry S)

L'Engle, Madeliene. THE SUMMER OF MY GREATGRANDMOTHER--should be read by all who have aging relatives

Lindbergh, Anne. GIFT FROM THE SEA--This visit to the sea has inspired thousands

Lindbergh, Reeve NO MORE WORDS--Anne's daughter recounts the last days of her mother

West, Michael. CONSUMING PASSIONS--the story of an eccentric family told through their recipes.

MY FAVORITES

Some have asked me to share my favorite books. Why anyone would care, I don't know. Fulfilling the request is both challenging and humbling. Someone once said, "Tell me what you read, and I shall tell you what you are."

As I have written before, we had no books at home because of a tight budget. The first contact I had with books was in school. Those were the days of classroom libraries which were filled with out-of-date textbooks and cast-offs from publishers. So the pickings were slim. The first book I really remember getting into was BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell. It was a book about animal abuse before animal abuse was really a cause. Susan Jeffers did a beautiful picture book of it several years ago, but the one I remember had no pictures, untrimmed pages and an ugly green binding.

Perhaps my love of reading stems from the days when the cupboard was bare. But I am now like Nicholas Barker who wrote, "When people ask, Do you collect books? I always say, No, books collect me." For the next few days, I will put out my lists of favorites divided into genres. Those who compare the list with their own must remember that we all have different interests. My lists show my interests in reading, education, art, biographies, spiritual formation and young adult books. I might even try to do a list of favorite children's books.


FICTION: (I read very little fiction, except mysteries)

Alcott, Louisa May. LITTLE WOMEN
Bradbury, Ray. FAHRENHEIT 451
Brooks, Geraldine. YEAR OF WONDERS--the newest book on this list. About the bubonic
plague and a very Christ-like decision made by a small town during the plague
Karon, Jan. Any of her Mitford series
Lowry, Lois. THE GIVER (young adult)
NUMBER THE STARS (young adult)
Maclachlan, Patricia. SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL (chapter book)
Paulsen, Gary NIGHTJOHN (young adult)
WINTERDANCE--one of the funniest books I have ever read. Paulsen
decides to enter the Iditarod. His adventures with the dogs are hilarious.

And three of the great American novels:

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. THE SCARLET LETTER. This was the first novel I taught to an
high school English class. We all loved it.
Lee, Harper. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD--The scene where Scout learns to read is
wonderful
Twain, Mark. HUCKLEBERRY FINN--again, a favorite book to teach.

Why I Read

The following is an excerpt from a poem by one of my favorite young adult authors, Richard Peck:

I read
because one life isn't enough
and in the pages of a
book,
I can be anybody.

I read
because the words that
build the story become
mine,
to build my life.

I read
not for happy endings but
for new beginnings;
I"m just beginning myself
and I wouldn't mind a
map.

I read because every journey
begins at the library and
it is time for me to start
packing.

Stanzas two and three are especially apropos for reading the Bible, I think.

Valentine's Day

"To a couple of honeys
from your little bunny
to wish you a happy Valentine's Day
in a nice little way
with no misses,
so here's love and kisses."

Handmade Valentine with lots of hearts and xoxoxo's February, 1979 from Brandon Scott Thomas to his parents.


Thanks, Babe and here are xoxoxoxo's to you today!

Valentine's Day is not the favorite day of those who are single. If your parent is
widowed or if you know a widow or widower in your church, this would be a nice day to call and say how much you love and admire them. This too is a good day to tell your children and remind yourself of the forever love of God. It is not a love dependent on a day or a box of chocolates. It does not depend on time and space, on day or night, or the weather. It does not depend on a whim, or a feeling. You don't have to deserve it, crave it, or look for it in hidden places--it is there for you because of Christ and because your Creator loves you with a love so large no one can take measure of it or earn it.

Thank you God for your forever love.

Lord, We Come Before Thee Now

As we sang Lord, We Come Before Thee Now, my heart went back to the thousands of times I sang the hymn in the old (now torn down) Hamlin Church of Christ. With its number frequently posted on the song board (remember those?), it was truly a church favorite. Bro. B led it as a rolling gallop; Bro. H led it as a funeral dirge. I preferred the gallop--although surely there was a happy medium we never found.

I am always interested in the stanzas that we did not sing because they were not printed in our hymnal or because we did not agree with them. Stanza four of this one says: Send some message from Thy Word
That may joy and peace afford;
Let thy Spirit now import
Full salvation to each heart.

In those days of the 50's we barely mentioned the Spirit and then only when reading a Bible verse containing it.

Thank you William Hammond for the hymn I sang as a child and still love.

Children's books

This topic could go on and on. Thanks for reading and responding. Answers to yesterday's lines:

l. Peter Rabbit Beatrix Potter

2. Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak

3. Little Women Louisa May Alcott

4. Love You Forever Robert Munsch

5. Anne of Green Gables Lucy Montgomery


Sandy, what is the one about the scrubbing brush????

One of the best books about children's books is How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, Activities, Ideas and Inspiration for Exploring Everything in the World through Books by Esme Raji Codell. Her web site is cool too: www.PlanetEsme.com

Answers

I enjoyed your answers to yesterday's quiz. Thanks, elizabeth for some new ones...What is the five little puppies book? Stumped me. Here are the answers:

1. Papa..axe Charlotte's Web, E. B. White

2. Great green room... Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown

3. All children grow up Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie

4. Four children The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis

5. Dark and stormy night, Meg Murray Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle

6. Really sorry Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, Kevin Henkes

7. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard Make Way for Ducklings, Robert MacCloskey

8. Herdmans The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Robinson

9. The hand Pink and Say, Patricia Polacco

10. In an old house... Madeline, Ludwig Bemelmans


Let's try some others sent and another I remembered:

l. Now, my dears, you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into
Mr. McGregor's garden

2. He found his supper waiting for him, and it was still hot.

3. "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!" grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.

4. A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang....

5. Marilla came briskly forward as Matthew opened the door. But when her eyes fell on the odd little figure in the stiff, ugly dress, with the long braids of red hair...

Lines from children's books

This is a little quiz that I often gave to my children's literature class when we were in the doldrums of February. Parents who read to their children will have an up on this. Answers tomorrow. From what famous children's book is the line?

1. Where's Papa going with that ax?

2. In the great green room there was a telephone and a red balloon....

3. All children grow up except one.

4. Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy.

5. It was a dark and stormy night. In her attic bedroom Margaret Murray, wrapped in an old patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of her bed and watched the trees tossing ...in the wind.

6. Because I am really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sorry.

7. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard were looking for a place to live.

8. The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.

9. This is the hand, that has touched the hand, that has touched the hand, that shook the hand of Abraham Lincoln.

10. In an old house in Paris, that was covered with fines, there lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.

Can you think of lines that I can add to my list?

---oobs

I think we need a laugh today, and wanted to write about boobs. When Oprah interviewed Maya Angelou on her 70+ birthday, she said, "Regarding body changes, there were many occuring every day...like my breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach my waist first."

My friend, Anell Crew sent this: "I am getting into swing dancing. Not on purpose--some parts of my body are prone to swinging. The good news is that even as we get older, guys still look at our boobs. The bad news is they have to squat down first."

It continues: "Don't let aging get you down...it is too hard to get back up."
Remember: You don't stop laughing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop laughing.

Eye-candy

Another comment about driving in Nashville--it is so much fun for me to see the beautiful trees (yes, even in their winter drab), the "mountains" clad in fog, and the twinkling city lights from one vantage point on Pettus Road.

Although there is no leisure in driving here because of the ditches and the curves, I enjoy seeing old mansions--I have never seen so many houses with columns!, the rock fences lining the road (some say they were built by slaves; others write that Irish immigrants built them),and the exquisite mansions on Concord Road (Who lives in a house with four stories?). There is one house on Concord Road which looks like it was lifted out of the English countryside and brought here piece by piece--a true English manor. Then there is the house on Granny White Pike which has several add-ons, one resembling a castle tower and right below the tower is what must have been the old kitchen for the plantation--a separate little rock structure ( or it could be the pump house for the water well?). At any rate, my archetectural interests are whetted every day.

Man's creativity in building a habitation knows no bounds here---just like the habitation God has built for us is indescribable.

P. S. Thanks, "tine" for your comments--I will try to drop in a list of favorite books here and there--certainly one of my favorite things to do. By the way, you are one of the best actresses I ever saw at ACU (and I saw a bunch!).

Night

I am gradually making my way around Nashville, learning which streets to avoid at 5:00 and all the time. Nashville has streets which change their name several times and that makes the Nashville novice nervous. I am also finding it more difficult to drive at night because many of the streets do not have shoulders--even in residential areas, and I am afraid of slipping off into the deep cavern on the side of the road. I have read that one of the traits of elderly drivers is that he/she hugs the yellow line--I guess I have just joined that class. Only Brandon knows how much of a big deal it is for me to even attempt driving in such a big city.

In the words of a prayer in the New Zealand Prayer Book: The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities--and that I do. Thank you Lord.

Great cloud of witnesses

Tim talked this morning about the great cloud of witnesses from Heb. 11, except he talked about those we don't often think of from the conversions of Paul on to the 1700's. When do we ever hear about those? Where was the church in all those years--during the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, the Napoleonic period, the age of exploration?
Who were those people? He didn't give names, but he did strike a chord in my mind as he spoke of the faithfulness of God's people even after Paul and Peter and John died. It is like a dark abyss formed after the apostles died and that great hole was suddenly filled up by Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone and David Lipscomb in the early 1800's. I confess to being ignorant of church history--oh, yes, the Martin Luther film helped some, but really--how long have we thought that church history began with the Restoration Movement?

And we seldom talked about that Restoration history (except to praise Campbell) as I was growing up--thanks to Doug Foster, Richard Hughes, Leonard Allen and others, we are now aware of our Restoration Heritage in all its warts and glory. And of course as we talk about that church history, we seldom mention
Selina Holman whose questions and letters often frustrated David Lipscomb, Clara Hale Babcock and Sadie McCoy Crank who were ordained as official preachers in the Stone-Campbell movement in 1888 and 1892. But then, we seldom speak of Phoebe and Priscilla either.

I guess what I want to testify to is that the great cloud of witnesses also included many women whom our children and grandchildren need to hear about. End of sermon.

Beloved daughters of God

Wednesday night I was privileged to serve communion at the emergent service, and as a blessing I said to the women communicants, "You are a beloved daughter of God, adopted by Him through Jesus Christ." How often do you hear the words "daughters of God" from the pulpit?

In this morning's paper (I am loving the Tennessean!) announcement was made of Zondervan's release of Today's New International Version. It aims at being more gender neutral, providing clarity and more precise word meanings. The same group of scholars that worked on the NIV developed the new translation. While being savaged by the Southern Baptists and other evangelical groups, Zondervan said that all gender-related changes are intended to update only the masculine terminology that--"in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages of the Bible"--were intended generically.

I am looking forward to buying a copy soon.

Out with the old

Though every fiber of my being said no, I threw out 40 years of cards, clippings, conference programs, old newspapers this morning--contents of a box I had been working around in my unpacking.

I did find some treasures--valentine's cards from Brandon he made in elementary school, my invitation to join a social club in ACU, congratulations on our 25th wedding anninversary and on and on.

I hope I don't regret this action, but right now I am feeling lighter--on to the next box.

All the stories in the world

I think Maddie is going to be a librarian--Tuesday we were trying to get her to tell us the story of The Three Bears (which she can do) and she said, "I can't, but the book is upstairs; I will go get it." Just like the librarian would say.

Last week Kim and I took the girls to the wonderful public library here to see a puppet show about Anansi the Spider. In this story, Anansi is tired of being a trickster and wants to be a storyteller. He asks the Lion King for "all the stories in the world."

This morning I walked into my very favorite bookstore Davis-Kidd and felt like Anansi--I wanted all the stories in the world too. This store really knows how to merchandise--and the personnel (is that plural or singular?) know books. Anything bookish you would desire (Even a Harry Potter neck scarf) wonderful games, puzzles, book ends, etc. can be found there. From now on, I am requesting Davis Kidd gift cards for all birthdays and holidays.

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you." Mortimer J. Adler

Buttons

My mother collected buttons. Or more accurately, she SAVED buttons. There was no room in our lean budget for collecting. Mother was a seamstress/tailor. I don't think she ever threw away a garment without cutting the buttons off.

I now have her button jar. I like to look at it often to remind me of her and her skill and desire to save small bits of money--after all, buttons could be used over and over until the eyes broke. I see buttons from dresses I wore when I was 6-10 years old and skinny with a high forehead. I try to remember age 7. I try to remember skinny. It is fun to picture those times.

Have you ever thought how much the button is a part of our language? "Button your lip," "button up your overcoat," "right on the button, "bursting your buttons,"
"buttonholing" a person, "you've lost your buttons."

The earliest known buttons date from 2000 B. C. They really came into their own in those medieval dresses with buttons up and down the sleeves.

The Amish consider buttons too ornamental and fasten with hooks and eyes. According to some button historians, Napolean is responsible for instituting metal buttons on military coat sleeves. He hoped to break his soldiers of wiping their noses on their sleeves.

I don't have any really valuable buttons--some people have been know to pay thousands for just the right button. I just enjoy looking at them and wondering what garment they came from. Perhaps some stories could come from that.

So, button up your overcoat--it's cold out there.

Neverland

I finally got to see Looking for Neverland, the Acadamy Award nominated film about J. M. Barrie the creator of Peter Pan. I loved it--an old-fashioned, beautifully filmed movie without one bad word. Of course, the literary aspects of the film fascinated me. I knew nothing about Barrie before I saw it, but research shows that the film is fairly accurate.

There are legions of readers who are grateful for Barrie, R. L. Stevenson, A. A. Milne, Frank Baum, E. B. White, J. K. Rowling and others for creating those magical worlds where we could play, fly, be pirates, walk through walls, follow the yellow brick road, meet a heffalump, and talk to spiders all from the safety of our personal reading spot.

I highly recommend the film.