Sifting and dusting

I'm sifting through Christmas cards; saving pictures and enjoying the cards one more time.  Got the Christmas tree down thanks to the BST and Sheryl. So those little pieces of leaves from the tree have to be vacuumed--honestly, they seem to breed in the corners.  Dusting is a must too--quotidian tasks after a great time!

Pictures are mostly up in my house.  That makes such a difference in making the space seem like it is really mine.  Plus, I get to look at them each time I enter a room. 

Thank you God for such menial, small tasks that make us happy on this day in January.

Dog Days After Christmas

Nope, not depressed.  Just dog-sitting Cisco and Bear for a while.  They are generally well-behaved except when Cisco is biting Bear's tail and getting retaliation.

Our Christmas Day was just as wonderful as expected--presents, fun, good food and church.  Maddie read part of the Luke account and Ella was Mary in the nativity scene.  Brandon and Sheryl led worship.  There was a bigger crowd than I thought there would be. 

The girls got some handsome clothes and hats which they wore to church.  I told them that they looked as if they stepped out of Mademoiselle.  I don't think that magazine exists anymore, but they were so stylish.

They received a Wii and the game Just Dance.  It was  SO  fun to watch Sam perform the dances like a pro.  His daddy would not perform.

Went to see War Horse with Ronnie and Darla.  It is a good movie for the family--except for some scenes of WWI which are realistic.  The horse gets tangled up in wire from the barracades.  Although predictable, I enjoyed the film.  I think it will be nominated for the Oscar.

I hope to see Sherlock Holmes for sheer entertaiment this season.  And, of course, can't miss Tom Cruise.  Looking forward to Meryl Streep's Margaret Thatcher too.
Why do all the good movies come out at once?  The family and I enjoyed We Bought a Zoo.  Recommended except for one word which could have been left out.
Boo!

All, in all, I think we had a very merry Christmas.

I already miss the Christmas carols on the radio.

The weather is weird; it is supposed to almost reach the 70's this week.  It was very cold on Christmas Day, like winter is supposed to be.  As they say, in Texas one has to wait only a minute until the weather changes.

Christmas Eve

It is actually snowing in Abilene, Texas as I write this--melting as it touches the ground; but it is still snow....what a way to spend Christmas Eve! 

We are having chicken spaghetti tonight as we open presents at my house--all my gifts to them.  Probably will have trouble getting the kids to eat with the gifts under the tree calling to them.  I was cooking Brandon's requested hash-brown casserole while the Christmas carols were playing on the radio, and I couldn't help but remember those days at Potosi when I did the same thing on Christmas Eve.

Tomorrow, I will go to the kids' house for Santa and opening more presents, then to church.  We are having Sharon's brisket for lunch  YUM.  It all sounds like lots of family fun which it always is.  Very often there is a tinge of nostalgia or longing as we remember the days when Sam was here, and we spent the holidays either in Pasadena or Groesbeck and sometimes at Dorothy's house in the Woodlands.  Those days are all gone, but good memories still remain.  Those memories thrust at us to try to create those good feelings for Maddie, Sam and Ella.  I hope that is happening.

Then Monday the carcass of Christmas will remain with the attendant boxes, tissue, wrong sizes, and credit card bills.  HOWEVER,  it is worth it to watch children enjoy the days.

On, Donder and Blitzen!

I read to Sam's class yesterday at Thomas Elementary.  It was so fun; but even more moving was the thrill in Sam's eyes  as he watched me read.  I gave them a little history about Clement Clark Moore, the author of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" or as he titled it "A Visit from St. Nicholas". 

And we discussed the difficult words like "coursers" ( do you know what they are?) and sugar plums and "threw up the sash".  Bruce Whatley's illustrations of this old classic are beautifully surprising.  And he adds a little side story about the man who saw Santa.  It was such a trip to ask them questions and hear their answers.  Kindergartners are very imaginative.

And to top it all off. Brandon was there after eating lunch with Sam, so he took some good pictures.  They  are on facebook.  Sam has Nyla Rideout Davis for his teacher.  My Sam and I taught her in Sunday School at Minter Lane, um, years ago.  And now she has grandchildren.

Thank you God that children still enjoy good books, and that I got to read to them.
By the way "coursers" are a team that pulls something, like a team of oxen or a team of horses.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a goodnight. (This is the correct way to end the book as Moore wrote it.)

RIF

Are you looking for a place to put tax deductable money  at the end of the year?  Try Reading is Fundamental  This organization provided 4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year.  I know it is hard to believe that there are millions of children in the U. S. who do not own a book of their own--but that is true.

We have today 33% of 4th graders who cannot read at the most basic level.  Less than half of the families in the U. S. read to their kindergarten children on a daily basis.  THIS IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FOREMOST INDICATORS OF DOING WELL IN SCHOOL LATER.  Speaking of later, forty million adults in the U. S. can't read well enough to share a simple story with their children.

As a recent communication from RIF says, "these kids aren't just falling behind in school, they are falling behind in life.

RIF is the only organization of its kind; since its founding in 1966, RIF has provided more than 380 million books for children to choose and keep.  RIF works through schools, libraries, child care centers, Head Start programs, Boys and Girls' Clubs, hospitals and homeless shelters.

83cents of every dollar given to RIF goes directly to support these literacy programs.

Give a child a big hand up and donate to RIF:

Reading is Fundamental
P. O. Box 96897
Washington, DC 20090-6897

And so the month goes... The Joy of December

Mark Twain once said, "Never put off until tomorrow what you can put off until day after tomorrow."  Hence, the blog suffers from being put off.

This is a month of many wonders:  the decorated houses (some beautiful and some tacky), the bustling mall, the Dollar Tree store where one can buy for $1 what used to cost $3.95, crunchy leaves and softly falling rain (here in Abilene, thank goodness!), the rewards of getting most of the packages wrapped, and knowing that one only has one more thing to buy, radio stations that play continuous Christmas music, receiving picture Christmas cards from friends, the Christmas musical at church and more and more.....

It is also a month to grieve :  for all those lost in Iraq (THANK YOU LORD, OUR TROOPS WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, JUST AS PRES. OBAMA PROMISED), for the bad news about Liam Lowe, for the invective still being spewed in debates and in Congress, for those who will have a missing person in their Christmas celebration, and for those who entirely miss the point of Christmas.

It is a month to look forward to:  Santa's visit, the children's musical at church, the day or night when all the presents are open (and one can breathe a sigh of relief that the present is enjoyed and fits), sharing Christmas lunch with family, a quiet night for sitting in front of the fire, drinking hot chocolate and admiring the "kid-decorated" Christmas tree, reading the new books under the tree, hearing Maddie read "The Night Before Christmas", and more and more....

It is a month when one hears the mention of Jesus and his birth everywhere!

Thank you God for this month of wonders!

The Good and the Ugly

Is  there anything more fun and more maddening than Christmas shopping?  O, for a magic wand to just wave and have it all complete.

In her book 1,000 Gifts, Ann Voscamp suggests that we give God gratitude not only for the good, but also for the ugly--that is, things that make us stop and realize how blessed we and have been.

There are so many good and ugly things happening at Highland these days--sicknesses and death; baptisms and disappointments; beautiful decorations and sad people.  Good news and bad news.

Thank you God for Jimmie Gomez and her life encouraging others.  Thank you for the apparent good news about Liam.  Thank you for the life of Judy Fisher and the beautiful eulogy at her funeral J. New gave.  She is why we have women in the ministry.  Thank you for the promise of a life after this one--it is such a comfort to know we can mess up here and still go to be with You.  Thank you for those good
thoughts that pour out of people as they drop off food for the Food Bank and feed 8,000 people a holiday meal (Thanks HEB).  Forgive  us for forgetting some of the people we serve now  when the holidays are over.  Thank you for the wonder and excitement in the eyes of children as they pour over Christmas catalogs and search the internet for gifts.  Forgive the old curmudgeons who scrooge their way through Christmas--they don't know what they are missing.  Actually they are missing the whole point.  Bless those who are sad these days for various reasons.  Help us to not overwhelm them with our joy.

Here with us

Christmas and Christ were ushered in last night at the Paramount Theater in Abilene.  Brandon, Sheryl and about  40 others presented a wonderful Christmas  performance which not only honored God and Christ, but moved many people in the audience to tears in several places.

The band was great, the soloists terrific and the songs sung (many of them new to me) were heart-stirring.  The next-to-last selection "Jesus Saves" rocked the house--it is one we need to learn acapella.  SO MUCH BETTER than the old "Jesus Saves" in our hymnals.

Betty Hukill, the executive director of the Paramount, came in and took a picture of the stage.  She said it was the most beautiful Christmas set they had ever had.

Thank you, thank you to all those who worked weeks on it--definitely one of my  favorite spiritual experiences!

Owning a house

Finally after six months, I am now the proud owner of my house at 918 Reeves.  I am amazed that I have owned three different houses in less than ten years.  No wonder I can't find anything!!  I do remember where things were in Nashville--problem is, I'm in Abilene now.  I guess it will all just take a while to feel really grounded in the house. 

It is nice to know that this little piece of brick is mine (as long as I pay the payments), and that we can finally hang all the pictures.  Isn't it strange how much difference that makes in feeling at home...  I am really tired of stumbling over them on the floor.

The gremlins must know that the house is mine now; I just spilled a glass of orange juice on the fireplace and carpet.---thank goodness for Resolve.  The air outside smells of rain, and it has turned cold--we are supposed to get a real "norther" this weekend.  I am really enjoying the gas heat in the house--so much warmer.  This is the first gas heat I have had since living in Potosi. 

The kids came over and decorated the tree on Monday night.  Brandon asked if I minded a "kid decorated tree".  Mind??? I love it!!! So much better than having to do it myself.  The tree also makes the house seem more like my home.

Thank you God for my new-to-me warm house.  May you be honored inside its doors!

Nostalgia

"A wistful yearning for something past"  says the dictionary.  I have been a little nostalgic this week of Brandon's birthday and my 49th wedding anniversary.

I drove out to our old house in Potosi to see how the red maple we planted in front of the house is doing--it is beautiful.  It turns red from the inside out--green leaves around the trunk and gorgeous flaming red leaves in front.  Wish I had one here.

Sam would have been amazed at the change on Potosi Road--so many housing additions.  He used to say that he bet a mall would one day be near our house. So far it is only a convenience store and a fire station, but he may be right with all the people around.

I, however, am so glad to be living in town a little closer to things.  And I do have other trees in my backyard to look at--an old gnarled mesquite, some fruit trees, including a fig tree and others I can's identify.  When God created, he went all out to do trees of all varieties.  One that I am missing here is the magnolia tree (one I call the Christmas leaf tree since all Southerners use them for mantel and mail box decorations).  I know they must grow in Abilene; I just have not seen one yet.

Christmas is stealthly entering my house and brain.  I am playing Christmas music in the car and living room and making lists because the time seems so short between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

My favorite time of the year!!!

The Big Day

He wasn't the billionith (sp?) child born--but he was the most important in my life--my one and only.  Today is the 42nd birthday of Brandon Scott Thomas.  Looking back on that cold November day when we brought him home to Potosi, I can't help but think of the blue blanket (made by Pat Phillips) in which he was wrapped,  and the Manhattan Supper Soup she brought by--yum.  We have eaten it every winter since.

We put him in the bed borrowed from Wanda and Fred Hughes, wound the little nursery rhyme mobile (still have it somewhere!) and hoped he would sleep a little while.  Sam and I both just stood, looked and sighed over this treasure from heaven.

After listening to him cry for what seemed like hours, this little treasure lost some of its luster.  Fortunately, my mother was visiting, and she knew just the right technique to soothe him.    Sam and I wearily shook our heads about what we did not know about babies.  We were bound to learn a lot in the next few years, and we enjoyed every minute around our red-haired, blue-eyed explosion.  He made our lives exciting, energetic, (sometimes frenetic) and full of laughter and joy.

While Sam is gone, Brandon still does those things for me.  I thank God every day for this sweet baby and fine man he has put in my life.  I can't imagine my life without him, without all the memories, and without each day's joy.  What a treasure!

Happy birthday, Babe.  I love you.  Mom

Age-Old Question

With the death of  an ACU student, killed last weekend in an auto accident, comes the eternal question, "Why?". 

Here was a girl fresh and new in her young adulthood going on a mission trip--killed quickly in a wrecked bus. 

Why? Why did she die, while evil terrorists  still live in  Afganistan?  Why was the death necessary?  Why didn't God lean down and change the circumstances?  Why?

No human can answer these questions.  God is God and we are not.

The spiraling circumstances continue in this world of pain and sorrow; but, God is in this place and He weeps with is as He did at the tomb of Lazarus.  And so, we trust in Him and go forward in His grace

An attitude of gratitude

We have been reading Ann Voscamp's book 1000 Gifts in ladies' class this semester.  Listing the gifts of each day helps bring to one an attitude of gratitude for all that God has done.  That is the premise of the book.
I like the premise; however, the writing is verbose and repetitive.  She really needed a good editor.  But every now and then, she comes up with some beautiful description.  I would recommend this book for the premise and her occasional good words.

I am on 275 on my list and I thought I would add today's weather to it.  The wind that blew in today has the bite of winter in it.  And I am a fall-winter person who likes to huddle round the fireplace with an afghan around my lap and a book in my hand.  So # 275 is the bite of winter in the air today.

The heritage of the table

The communion speaker spoke Sunday of the table's heritage in our lives, and its power to draw us into community if we let it.

I had to think back to the various scenes in my history with the communion table.  In my spiritual memoir, I write about the weekly Sunday morning ritual in my sleepy home town Hamlin, Tx.  The table was always covered with a sparkling white ironed cloth which the table director ceremoniously folded as the ritual began.  The servers (all men and always only men)dressed in suits and ties marched  down the aisles and lined up in front of the table with their hands crossed over their stomachs.  The grape juice and crackers were prayed over, generally with a doleful prayer emphasizing the death, blood, bones and burial of Jesus (but rarely the resurrection).  There was never a song during the ceremony--but maybe one before it started.  The whole ritual took about 10 minutes.  Each evening, the same thing was repeated for "those who were providentally hindered" from attending the morning service.

Then there were the communions at youth meetings, sometimes outside near a rough cross or around a campfire.  These were usually preceded by a homily noting that we should "search our minds to see if we were worthy to partake"--I don't think that was in the Christ-instituted one.

At Otter Creek, communion was often served on Wednesday night during vespers.  The setting was candle-lit and often served by a woman or a woman and a man, with the communicants coming forward to the table which featured wine and unleavened bread.  The screens were often filled with beautiful Renaissance art.

At Highland, we sometimes ask the whole congregation to come forward on a Sunday morning.  Songs are included before, during and after the ritual.  It is truly a time of bonding, because we get to see more of our community than the back of their heads.
On other Sundays, men, woman and children often serve the church down the aisles.  Again in other Sundays, members gather in small groups in the corners of the sanctuary to partake very personally in
scenes which look very much like a family meal.

All this to say, I have experienced many kinds of communions.  I believe they all have their place and are blessed by God. 

I am thankful that I have a Maker who not only desires that I have communion with Him, but who also desires that his children come together as a family for the remembering.

Gains and Losses

Not a good week for the Rangers!  Maybe next year!  I guess Academy will have send all those World Series shirts (with the Rangers on them) back.  Seems a waste.

Really cool weather is here, and I tried out the heater in my house for the first time---I have never had one that heated so quickly and so warm!  Thank you Lord.  You knew I needed warmth for my thin blood and quaking bones.

Maddie and I played a game similar to Scrabble last night, and she won--and we had a good laugh when she made up a word to gain points, and I said "What is that?"  She pronounced it phonetically and just laughed and said "I made it up."  It looked like a Russian version of an English word to me.  What a girl--she is way ahead of the rest of her class in a math race too.

And Ella, sweet Ella, was thrilled when I let her make pumpkin cupcakes this morning--she christened my new Kojie apron.  Ella loves to cook, and she also got to do another favorite thing:  Plant a flower--hope it doesn't freeze.  But I think mums are almost industructable.

It is such a joy to be here close so I can watch them grow and change and enjoy life.  Maddie hand-printed some Bible verses for me to put on my fridge.  She has such a beautiful hand, unlike her grandmother whose handwriting is quickly deteriorating into hen scratching.

When they come, we usually watch the Disney channel, and I am always struck at the insistence of their marketing--always pushing new programs and new products and new stars.  No wonder they make billions a year.  I rather resent it, although I am glad that there is one station my grandkids can watch anytime of the day and night safely.  And I really do like their new program "Jessie".

Today I am going to watch some of the programs I recorded while the Rangers were on--love that DVR.

I just might take time to read a book too.  I am anxious to get into Mike Cope's new Megan's Secrets. 

Trail Days

Since the last post, many things have happened--can't remember them all, which is why I need to post every day or so....I can't believe how full each day is.

We are going through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp in our Ladies' Bible Class at Highland.  I am enjoying the book, although she is over the top at times--verbose and repetitive.  She needed a good editor.  However, the premise of the book is very affecting--listing for yourself 1,000 gifts of God in a journal to motivate the attitude of thankfulness to God in yourself.  I have made several presentations on the idea of seeing God in the everyday mundane things which surround us.  Perhaps I should have written a book about it as she has done--I understand the book is selling like hotcakes (now what does that mean?)  At any rate, I am now on 270 in my journal and going strong.  It is a wonderful idea worthy of praise. My latest entries happened last night when I kept the grands--271.
Seeing the thrill of my granddaughters as they received the small bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion I got at the hotel this weekend.  272.  Seeing Sam's face as he surveyed my freezer and saw popscicles (sp?)  273.  The warmth in my heart as I watched them play with their father's wagon in the driveway.

Another big happening was my trip to a family reunion in Lubbock this weekend with my two cousins, Wanda and Linda.  This is a yearly Carpenter-Brandon reunion.  I am not big on family reunions, (which is strange, given my interest in writing spiritual autobiographies)  but decided I would go.  I had a wonderful time meeting strangers who are in my family tree. I met a first cousin of my dad's who looks very much like him, although shorter in stature.  I couldn't keep my eyes off him--so much like Ollis Elton Brandon!  At any rate, I found out a lot about my dad's family and gathered some pictures of my great-grandfather's "home place" in Winnsboro, Texas.

I have volunteered to teach Ecclesiastes in Ladies's Class next semester, so I am gathering a library of books for study.  That is always fun.  What is not fun is paying for them.  I taught this class at Otter Creek about four years ago, and it went well, so here goes again ( I will miss Sandy Collins, my co-teacher).

So many years have passed, but we it seems we can't keep our minds off the Holocaust (nor should it ever be forgotten!).  I saw the movie "Sarah's Key" last week--from the book of the same name by Titiana deRosnay.    Sarah locks her younger brother in a secret closet as she and her family are taken away, saying that she would be back to get him. (She too is a child and has no idea where she is going).  Months pass, and she is desperate to get back to him.  Unexpectedly she is able to escape....to find him dead, of course, in the closet. The rest of the book tells the story of the journalist who began to do research into these incidents in France who found herself living in the very same apartment where Sarah lived.

The book details the collaboration of the French govt. with the Germans to get rid of the Jews--a fact almost lost to history.  There is a lot of French in the film with subtitles, but that did not bother me.  The movie is just as riviting as the book.  Our Otter Creek book club read the book when it first went to paperback.

Must go and get ready for the World Series--Go Rangers!!!!

Homecoming

The conceopt of coming home has always touched my heart.  Homecoming at ACU is  special to me and my family.  I believe we really do bleed purple!  One of the float featured a hospital situation where the IV had purple blood.

Best of all the weekend, besides seeing people we love, was the musical.  While dated in some ways, The King and I contains some of my favorite musical music.  And the dance scene never fails to thrill me.  I have seen three (I am old!) of the King and I productions at ACU, but I do believe this one was the best.  Thank you ACU theater department--you did it again!

Worship on Homecoming Sunday is always special; but yesterday was even more so because I was led in by my son and daughter-in-law. Sheryl sang "Redeemer" and made all of us cry in joy.  Thank you Sheryl, daughter of my heart.

It was  fun to see the grands so into Homecoming and ACU.  They have new ACU shirts and wore them to church Sunday morning.  It is surprising to have figured that Maddie will be in the freshman class of '17 if I counted correctly.

Thank you Lord for homecomings.  We look forward to the grandest of all when you come.

Anniversary

This is the 20th anniversary of my husband's death in 1991. (Actually he died a little after midnight, so officially it is October 14th).  But this was the day on that Sunday when we spent all day watching his every movement and listening to his breathing, surrounded by family, friends and it seemed hundreds of ACU students.

Shortly after his death, an oak tree was planted in the courtyard of Austin Elementary where he spent so many years as a teacher and principal.  One of his teachers and friends, Renee Collins wrote the following  thoughts which are now on a plaque in front of the tree:


          Sam Thomas  (1933-1991)

One man's life:

Seconds of direction and advice

Minutes of jokes and laughter

Hours of sharing and encouragement

Days of tenderness and compassion

Weeks of leading and teaching

Months of strength and endurance

Years of knowledge and wisdom

a Lifetime of love.

Rain, rain, rain!

Thank you Father for the soaking rain!  We are refreshed and pliable and ready to pull the weeds out of  our lives.

The Magical Universe

"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."

It is so easy to miss things as we go through our days--so easy to miss some of the gifts of God strewn upon our way, as the song says.  For example, as a new season is turning here, it is easy to miss the first few signs of that--leaves slowly floating downward to the ground, a slight breeze from the north, the earlier darkening of the day...but, yet, it is fall here in Texas.  Currently at 3:13 p. m. it is 88 degrees and was 56 this morning!  So different from 110 and 78.  Who knew that it would finally get cooler and we could rejoice at God's universal order? 

Maddie has her first braces--Brandon's facebook has a neat picture.  But I didn't know that they made braces in shapes until Maddie came by yesterday and showed me her heart-shaped metals.  So cute!  And magical.  We have come a long way from George Washington's horse's teeth to heart-shaped braces.

I spent almost 2 hrs. this morning being examined and grilled by a new doctor.  I was so impressed!  She let nothing slip by, and she was quick to offer solutions to small problems that had been bothering me.  I highly recommend a woman doctor for women.  They empathize so much more readily--magical.

It was a glorious time Sunday as our church came forward to be served communion.  I was fortunate enough to be one of the servers--such a blessing to look into the eyes and touch the shoulders of so many I love and so many I do not yet know.  One of the eye-opening things was our company of really tall men college students.  I had a hard time looking them in the eye without hurting my neck.  There were so many good-looking men and beautiful college women.  It was truly a commnuity-building event for me, and I hope for others.  When we do something like we did on Sunday, it always makes me wonder why we don't have more "innovative" approaches to communion.  It was definitely not the "let's see how fast we can get this done" approach in the early days of the church, nor was it the "let's sit in rows in front of one another , and get a guy to start the elements down the aisle." approach.  It was a sitting around a common table or rock and really remembering the man who had not been gone too long with bread and wine.
In short, it was magical.