Celebrations, Transitions and Reunions

It was a week of celebrations, transitions and reunions.

On Sunday we ordained Tom and Linda as our newest Shepherding Couple at LifePark and celebrated at our house with 12 people for Sunday dinner. -- We had to stretch the meat loaf pretty far -- but we all had such a great time with five rowdy young singles, one of whom was a bar bouncer and had been shot in the foot the night before.

Tuesday we celebrated in class with one young gal who was going to get out of foster care to live with family. My prayer for her is that now life her will be loving and accepting of her. (She asked for a party and got a cookie cake baked just for her. She was so excited and couldn't believe it was her's that she wanted to take all our pictures.)

Several young ladies in my classes celebrated all day Tuesday because they were going to the Brittney Spears concert at the BOK ...one even paid $400 for her ticket. The air was electric in class that day -- they were anticipating so much and evidentally got a great performance. (Incidentally, on Wednesday they were all "unplugged" in their souvenir T-shirts.) This fit in well with our lesson on role models, so I asked what role information Brittney Spears transmitted. They explained that they see her as an overcomer! My hope is she will be that as she faces struggles of stardom and notoriety.

Thursday we celebrated in another class with a young woman who has been cancer-free for six years! Leukemia is gone! (This called for my super duper cookie cake.)
-- all the kids rejoiced with her marking this joyous anniversary.

Friday, one young woman was transitioning from the shelter of a safe group home back to family . . she wasn't sure how well this would work . . .seems there's not a lot of room for her there. I felt saddness to see her leave our school.

We have had out-of-town guests this week and have thoroughly enjoyed the time to relax with friends and family.

It was great to spend time with our sister-in-law who was traveling through to Texas with a new puppy on Thursday night. We welcomed old friends from Lubbock on Friday and Sat. morn. It's been fifteen years since we'd been together. Our friendship goes back to the late 60's when the guys were college buddies and traveled to India together in the summer of '69. During our early parenting days we shared so much. Where did the time go?

In those fifteen years. . .

Our kids have graduated high school and college,

Our firstborns have both gotten married and all four kids began their careers,

and we have taken care of aging parents and seen them Home.

. . . That must be where those months and years went. . . Sociologists would refer to that time as the Pre-Empty Nesters of the Sandwich Generation, in the Launching (and loving) Stage of the Family Life Cycle.

Terry and I had a great time catching up and renewing our friendship. They left with all of us promising to meet again soon.

Yesterday was one of those golden Fall days as the first day of Autumn. . . No, the colors haven't started changing -- it just felt GOLDEN. The weather was great -- a perfect time for transplanting and pruning. . . and playing with two precious little boys, one of which decided outdoors was the best place to potty and proceeded to "water" my mint plant and his brother quickly attempted to strip off his diaper to follow suit. Though their memaw was horrified, I couldn't stop giggling. The rest of their visit, I was fascinated at the way the youngest would set up the older to get exactly what he wanted. I kept pulling out more toys just to watch them interact. Hmmmm . . . How much of life we see in children's play.

This was week of encounters with wonderful people, all very different from each other, and it brought to my mind that Life is really all about PEOPLE. . .They are the reason we're put here and they are the reason we have joy. PEOPLE come into our lives and leave their footprints all over our hearts! Sometimes PEOPLE leave us and make such a gaping hole. . . Sometimes the PEOPLE HE sends make us wonder why in the world our paths crossed with THEM. God weaves folks in and out of the history of our lives and creates a completed tapestry of significant relationships that have their meaning in HIS purposeful plan.

This Week

20 Pizzas will feed 76 kids lunch, I learned yesterday. . . if nobody eats more than two pieces!

I saw how well my officers could adapt when our speaker had to cancel at the last minute for the Youth Alive free pizza lunch we had promoted all week. Two of them stepped up to "the plate" and did an outstanding job giving their testimonies.

It's fun watching them lead their organization -- reminding each other to pray before eating, taking prayer requests and sharing their faith to a packed classroom. I think God was smiling as he watched all 76 gobble down pizza and guzzle pop.

THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK . . .

High school students still do like to play with toys -- REAllY! The activity I planned for them to analyze toys to determine the lessons in leadership they teach us in our early years made for a fun Friday discussion.

One guy after cutting paper dolls in a peer leadership activity yesterday decided to put them on his rear view mirror. . . hmmm wonder what he's heard from his buddies on that one.

The play dough statue of their friend with the spikey hair really does look like him. They all decided to immortalize it and save for graduation.

Don't cross a student who is growling, squatting on the counter and calling members of his discussion group parasites and imbeciles.

When a student calls another student "THE THING", he really DOES NOT like the person.

Kids don't always look like their name -- I was sure her name was __________. How many days have I been calling her that? Better bone up on my seating chart this weekend.

Students, given the chance, can organize and run a great Youth Alive! I am so amazed at what I've been hearing from them, with their requests to be able to have prayer groups before and after school. What awesome sessions they had at both lunches on Thursday - with two juniors speaking -- it was so personally uplifting!

The weekend does go better when the papers are all graded! (Why do I give quizzes at the end of the week to 110 kids?)

By the time they are 18, there are kids who have had a deeply hurtful home life and are still SURVIVORS.

It's already Friday night and these are my thoughts and I'm sticking to 'em.

Life Lessons My Plants Taught Me

I planted my first vegetables this summer. Terry has noticed through the years that I always like to plant flowers but lose energy with the upkeep of a garden. This year was different!

I started with a few tiny vegetable plants -- a little late in the season - and they struggled against the heat and the broadleaf weeds -- but they were survivors --Peppers, Tomatoes and Cucumbers! - My first produce in our 36 years of marriage!



While struggling to get my garden going and growing -- I learned a bit of Botany Philosophy 101.

You don't harvest the day you plant - this holds true with relationships, raising kids and marriage, too.

Weeds choke out the good stuff. . .Junk, excess of all sorts and stress do the same thing.

Pruning produces an even greater crop. Cutting Back, trimming away (even budgeting) gives way for new growth in people, as well.

All God's seedlings and critters need water and rest. It's refreshing, renewing, rehydrating and gives new energy

Picking the fruit makes way for more to come and the harvest makes it all worth the effort. Isn't life's harvest what we're really working' and waitin' for?

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal. 6

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
2 Cor. 9:10

These verses remind me that in my life's work where at the time I may not be seeing much fruit -- at some point the harvest will come -- if I just keep at it. . .tillin' and toilin'

My Garden

"I went in search of my mother's garden and found my own" was on a plaque I saw while antiquing this summer.

It got me to thinking about Mom's garden. . .

My mother's garden was a source of joy from browsing through the Burpee seed catalogue in the Winter to her last harvest of tomatoes, cukes and peppers in late September producing her tasty relish.

My Mom said she could work out lots of life situations as she tilled and toiled in her garden. She'd work the dirt and forcefully hoe the rows as she thought through the challenges that were at hand. I remember the garden was also her retreat when all three of us kids would practice our instruments -- flute, trombone and drums.

I know the garden was what kept us busy as kids growing up in Illinois during those long hot summers. She'd be in the garden at sun-up to pull the ears of corn before it got too hot so we could shuck them for her to begin the process of cutting, blanching and quick-cooling her corn for the freezer. (This produced the sweetest, most scrumptious creamed corn.) Next it might be beans to break for canning or cans to wash for the tomatoes or peaches she was putting up for winter.

Mom believed working the soil was good for a person and loved the resurrection of new life in the early spring. She saw so much of God's wonder in watching the tiny seeds transform into fruit, flowers and veggies. During her last months with us, I realized that my garden was a place I could find God's comfort.

Fall's coming soon and my garden will be at it's peak -- the colors will be deeper and richer -- the brisk mornings remind me that Winters on it's way and we will get to begin this cycle all over again.












His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, filled with young plants, springing up everywhere. Isaiah 61:11.

Up and Running

Well, my first day of school finally got here -- and I was able to meet my 110+ students -- the older I get the longer it takes me to remember their names.

I thought I would try out their names (without my seating chart) on the 3rd day -- Sergio wasn't Sergio -- he was Mario or was it Marco? Right now they all still look alike to me. I called one guy by his last name, thinking it was his first. (I was close) I tried it out -- good thing I don't embarrass too easily -- I'd have to close up my briefcase and go home.

One young woman let me know who she can't sit next to because they get into fights.
(How old are these kids, anyway?)

I'm amazed at how many students are new to the school this year, coming in from Colorado, Denver, Wisconsin. Those are the ones that seem to need me to talk to them a little more. I have one question on my get acquainted activity, I like to ask -- "Where would you rather be, than sitting in that seat right there?" They willing volunteer where there hearts are right now. You know being a new kid on the block is hard at any age -- even for teachers.


Gave my dress code and cell phone lecture -- I'm always glad to get that over with.
The cell phone situation is a big deal -- It seems to be their lifeline. Who are all those people they talk to anyway? What do they have left to talk about at lunch? They will tell me their mom just txt msg to tell them they have a dr. appointment after school. Must have a lot of appointments. Hope they have healthcare.

Seems like a great bunch -- can't wait to get to know them better! 'It's gonna be a good year!

SO THAT WE CAN BE FREE

Wednesday after checking out of our B & B we toured Fort Scott. We spent over an hour learning of life on this outpost -- seeing the exhibits and a great video presentation of this period between the late 1840's - to approx 1866.


Fort Scott was first a military outpost to settle disputes between the settlers and Native Americans who were being forced westward and then was later used as a training post for soldiers during the Civil War. No wars were fought at this location but twenty-five miles at Miles' Creek there was a significant battle, which I wrote about in yesterday's blog.
My favorite outbuilding was the bake house. They would bake bread for 223 people at once. Interesting that they never served fresh bread to the men. At the time it was believed that toasted or stale bread was better for digestion.

The oven was huge and fired by wood or coal. The dough trough ran the length of the room.


The Army used no set recipe and the standards for "good bread" varied widely. Every soldier had to serve shifts baking the two hundred loaves. The pans were quite large
and like the oven and proofing shelves could accomodate many loaves at a time.


What we found most interesting is the fact that one of the buildings became an orphanage from the early 1900's until as late as 1958.
Ft. Scott has a National Cemetary that we visited on Monday evening. Driving the cemetary road between plots of ground with the customary rows and rows of white headstones, I couldn't help but notice that on some the names were faded from wars long since past and on others names were recently etched of those men and women who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On these burial grounds lie men and women who fought for our freedom in every conflict - both at home and abroad, giving their lives so that we can live FREE we owe them a tremendous debt.

Life Then

Tuesday after an early dinner, we drove to a Civil War Battleground near Pleasanton, twenty-five miles North of the Fort. I have to tell you when we first got there we were a little disappointed at what we saw. A lone museum out on the Kansas prairie and a couple of monument signs. . . I guess we expected to see a whole reinactment and statues and plaques for a half acre (and it was after closing time, at that.) As we walked the 1/2 mile back to Mine's Creek we starting thinking about what really occurred there. 2500 Union soldiers came up against the 8000 Confederate and won the battle in less than thirty minutes with only about 120 casualties. The Confederates sustained losses upwards of 600. This became a turning point in the war for the Union Army. We realized that it was sacred ground as many of these me lay buried under this soil. We thought about what all took place on such a little-known plot of ground. We were told earlier that since it was Kansas, it wasn't considered a major Civil War Battleground.

Walking a path between the tall prairie grass fields, got us to wondering what rural life might have been long ago -- This trek had us winded but it would have been nothing for the homesteaders back then. . . why, their kids probably covered three times the distance on their way to school in all kinds of weather. Speaking of the younguns' they wouldn't have had after-school sports -- just the chores their folks had designated them to do since they were old enough to carry a bucket or work a plow. Furthermore, they didn't have tv to watch or video games to play and there wasn't an attic full of old toys or e-waste piling up in the shed.

All of life was pretty much contained to their land, their small cabin-type houses and the people who lived there.

Was life simpler back then? Don't know for sure . . . I know it was hard . . and oftentimes they fought against the elements in order to settle the midwest.

There I was taking pictures with my iphone to download to my computer and copy to my blog to send out on the internet . . .Wouldn't that boggle their minds!

BEING COMPANY

You know, hospitality is a concept introduced in the book of Hebrews with a "Practice Hospitality . . .don't forget to . . . because in doing it some have entertained angels."
In our 36+ years of marriage we have enjoyed lots of company and and love being able to host friends and family during the time they are under our roof. When we go on vacation, I like to go to places that treat US like company.

We started our 3-day getaway with our very FAVORITE spot, OUR DAUGHTER AND SON-in-LAW'S house. Those kids could run a B & B and in some cases they almost do. They had just had a family of four in for the weekend and we nearly crossed paths in their driveway. It meant Bethany hurriedly changed the linens so we would have fresh ones, Mat rushed to the grocery in the village and started his grill. They served the most delicious grilled pizzas!

I can tell we are already into role-reversal, because whenever we're in her kitchen, Bethany will say such things as, "No, Mom -- just sit still and talk while I cook -- you're on your vacation." Wow! When was the last time I heard that? Mat will come through and make sure that we have plenty of snacks and beverage. Nobody did that for us at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando last summer!


Because I like to BE company as well as HAVE company, we decided to find a B & B in Kansas on our way home. We discovered a GEM --- Lyon's Twin Mansion in downtown Ft. Scott, KS! Mat grew up spending summers on his grandparent's farm there and was puzzled why anyone would choose a B & B in Ft. Scott.


Miss Pat is the gracious innkeeper and has helped us discover the rich history of this town and the house which predates the 1870's and her turn of the century house. Breakfast this morning was the full fare in a lovely dining room set with the prettiest china. Conversation was equally delightful as all told where we'd come from and where we were headed. . .what antique shops were a "must-browse" . . .and where the best historical sites were.

We chose this getaway time as a work / relax vacation because Terry and I both needed to tie up the loose ends of our Fall courses. We prayed for the right spot and good weather and God gave us both. . . Since the "White House" Cottage had no other guests --we have the whole place to ourselves.


A rain yesterday blew in cooler weather. Our little cottage has 3 porches where you can soak up the smells and sights of their gardens. We've been gone 48 hours we're getting lots done and have started to relax!

Time to CLEAN!

OKAY, OKAY -- so I did say I was going to clean lots of closets this summer. Why does the "spirit of toss" not kick in until the week before school starts? I decided the month of June would be all about catching up with my family and I did. I wanted to do SUPERKIDS in July and I did. NOWWWWWW -just as it's 'bout time to get back to school --- I get the urge to sort and organize. As I was getting my boxes and baskets I had moved home in May cleared out of my office to head back to school, I discovered you could see the floor once again -- I decided it was time to CLEAN IT!

Earlier this summer our daughter, Bethany, said, "Mom I'm glad you're going to do a major toss this summer, but you'd better start on your office." At that I got pretty defensive -- "that's everything I use for my projects and my teaching" -- at that she rolled her eyes as only a child of mine can and gave a huge sigh.

I tackled my closets first -- there were sewing utensils, banner fabric and notions for the ones we made for church 3 or 4 years ago, scrapbooking supplies and a bazillion other things. I decided it was okay to part with the boxes of various crafts my mother had started and I somehow couldn't part with when we divided my parents things six years ago -- I made "an ennormous donation bag" of these craft items -- does anybody out there cross stitch or make dolls any more?

I had worked up a big steam by then and decided to go after my bookshelves. WHERE did all these books come from? --- I made a toss stack and a "can't part with this one yet stack" I don't consider myself an avid reader -- I would have to say I am an impressioned reader. (I just coined a new phrase). My keeper books are the ones that in my adult years have left a lasting impression on me and taught me something significant. I COULDN'T see myself parting with these "old friends".
There were my fiction ones, our marriage workshop books, my personal improvement books, various editions of my textbooks and educational theory books, my sudoku books, inspirational books, and Bible study notebooks. My later books are highlighted and underlined - marked with notes at the ideas I wanted to remember.

I was feeling pretty confident -- I had a sizeable toss pile and made the mistake of looking through it a second time -- "oh, can't part with THAT one -- remember what I learned from it" -- or -- "I might need this one in a mentoring session -- it could be a good referral for someone else." (There were parenting books from the early 1970's. Has childrearing changed since then?)

I woke up this morning remembering all the books I have upstairs AND those sitting in baskets by my favorite chairs AND the ones on end tables where I like to read. Needless to say -- I didn't cull many books . . . oh well, I'll leave that for my kids to deal with someday.

From the Mouths of Babes

I often relate stories from my preschool and elementary kids in my Sunday School class (aka "Super Kids") who keep me humble, on my toes and delight me with their insightful and ready answers. Yesterday I had taught a class of three very active preschool boys the crossing of the Jordan River (complete with costumes and enacting the parting of the water in a plastic swimming pool and carrying the large stones from the dry "riverbed") during the worship session and then rushed in to teach my school-age boys and girls.


I began by reviewing the various names for God we'd been studying and how he reveals himself to be that. We had spent our last Super Thursday doing our service project -- and I wanted them to have a deeper understanding of what it means to "serve the Lord" and see the connection. I asked the question, What does it mean to be a servant?" Precocious Pete, I referred to him in an earlier post) a first grader who is always working up an answer to any question excitedly waved his hand and said, "it's like being a waitress and not getting to sit down or get any money."

I continued, "so let's give an example -- if the Master or Lord that we're serving needs something to drink, despite how tired we are, we" . . . to this, another quipped, "We get him a beer." At this point my co-teacher covers her mouth to keep from laughing out loud and I try to bring the class back from the bottle and suggest Koolaid or something a little less intoxicating.

I went on to explain, that God is not a selfish Lord who makes us jump through hoops or do things just to make us squirm, but what he asks of us as servants is good for us and for other people. This was reiterated in my quiet time this morning in
the book I am reading which had me journal the thoughts of Psalm 40 -- I've included it because I think it best described this loving relationship of our LORD to us HIS Servants.


Psalm 40
A David Psalm
1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn't slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
ignore what the world worships;
The world's a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.

Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.

6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that's not what you're after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that's not what you're asking for.
You've opened my ears
so I can listen.

7-8 So, I answered, "I'm coming.
I read in your word what you wrote about me,
And' I'm coming to the party you're throwing
for me."
That's when God's Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.

WHERE DID THE SUMMER GO?

I've had great quality time with my family having been on a couple trips with them. Now it's time to pack up and head back to school in 12 short days. . . I never did get to the summer toss project I planned for my attic nor did I get the desk refinished I'd hoped to.

Hmmm . . . It's time to get it all going again. I need to -
Set up my classroom
Get course objectives together
Scan those new textbooks
Look over class roll sheets
Arrange seating charts and first week activities.


One of the best helps in pre-prep for this coming year was the coffee time at Panera's I had last week with my Youth Alive officers -- three vibrant young ladies who want so much for their Youth for Christ activity to be a strong organization this coming year. Afterwards, we did a "Prayer Walk" through our high school and I believe all four of us were blessed by it. Hearing these young women pray for the needs of our administrators and every department in our school was such an uplift for me.

Approaching any upcoming school year, I always like to set personal as well as educational goals for myself. They often look like . . .

"This year I am going to work smarter -- not bring home 3 hours worth of papers to grade or do homework for a couple of hours at night,
"I am going to eat healthier - I'm going to exercise EVERY day -- not just three or four."
"I am going to relax outside more to renew my spirit."

Just maybe I COULD work in one more 2-day get-away -- knowing that when the school year starts, there's not much getting away for 9 months. I could maximize the time away by packing in my new textbooks to review while we're gone.

All that said, teachers experience an overwhelming sense of anticipation when they walk back into their classrooms for the first time after summer break . . . wondering who will sit in those seats this year, what the year will unfold and what new things THEY will learn in the coming year.

SUPER KIDS Earned Their Name!

I've just spent a great month with 8-12 "SuperKids" each Thursday. I wanted the kids in my primary department to have something to look forward to every week in July. Our theme was Our Great Big God -- we had lessons focusing on a different name for God each week and then followed up with food and something fun -- a splash down pool party, trip to a kids' museum, trip the zoo and yesterday did a service project for Operation School Bell which outfits over 1800 school kids with new clothes to start the school year.


I believe that kids today are looking for more. They really do want to help someone else. They watch the news with their parents. They see poverty on TV and in their school -- but they are at a loss for what to do about it. Studies show that young people who are involved in serving others have less problems with low self-esteem and depression. By helping someone with needs greater than their own, young people appreciate what they have and learn to give back to help others.

A good friend of mine has worked with Operation School Bell for many years and is passionate about it. Several weeks ago I approached her with the possibility of our SuperKids lending a hand. My objective for yesterday was for our kids to learn HE is the Lord and we are His servants, along with "to whom much is given, much is required" and that we can all grow when we learn to give back.

I have to say that when they learned how young our kids are, some of the sponsors had doubts as to how well our Life Park SuperKids could perform. I was so proud of them when they all showed up in their red and blue shirts they'd painted the first week. (we added a few teens and Moms and even a precious 7 month-old baby brother) and were able to fill over 1200 hygiene bags to be given away to each student who has the opportunity to "shop" at the OSB store. The ladies in charge of this effort kept remarking at what great workers they were, how well-behaved and what an awesome job they did!

I reminded the kids that though they were tired -- it was a good kind of tired and they could know that they had done something significant. At their young age they had been able to help a student, maybe even one from their school have something that we all can take for granted -- new clothes.

SUPERKIDS --YOU'RE THE BEST!

DENVER GET AWAY

We had a wonderful trip to Denver last weekend to visit Marshall in his newly acquired condo and enjoyed the time to kick back and get into his world for a couple of days. He gave us his only bed, made a pallet for himself in his spare bedroom and went out of his way to give us a great time.


Marshall planned that on Sunday we would go up Estes Park to enjoy the mountains and have a leisurely lunch. We chose a little rooftop restaurant that specialized in the best tappas in town and had a great view of the valley and it's surrounding peaks. At his suggestion, we all three decided to ride the tram up the mountain to get a better view of the area.

Once on top Marshall bought peanuts in a shell and we found ourselves totally engrossed in throwing peanuts to the chipmunks and watching how rapidly they would crack the shell, chomp on the "goobers" and race for more from the next passerby who happened to toss them a treasure.




We found a critter who attached himself to us, named him after a favorite friend of ours who equally enjoys his food and then decided to see how much this little guy would cram into his chubby cheeks. He was so tame he would eat out of our hands. He continued to keep packing it in. For this short time we lost ourselves in this game of "stuffing the rodent".

Our ride down was just as breathtaking as the trip up. We found ourselves asking our young porter questions like, "How many times a day do you ride this trip?" "Where do YOU go for vacation - the flatlands?" "How do you handle it when people have panic attacks on the ride?" 'Funny the things you think of when you start relaxing and just start observing life.


We noticed that in the party of 10 waiting to board when we disembarked, there were 4 little Hispanic boys chatting excitedly in Spanish about their awaiting trip. The delight in their eyes showed they expected much from this ride -- Humorously, we thought of all kinds of things we could say like, "Watch out for the black bears up there." (none of us knew the spanish word for 'bears' -- and we thought better to let that one pass.)

We packed a lot into those 3 short days. . . what fun . . just enough to wish for more!

Stinkin' Happy

Out on my walk this morning I remembered it's July 13th and realized that it has been 6 years today since Mom went Home. For what I know of the way time is measured in Eternity -- it's only been a short "breath" . . . however, it's been much longer down here and those 13 months we got to have her in our home left a lasting legacy for us all.


Our kids have remarked at what a special time this was for our family having grandma with us. You see, she taught us a great deal about living life to the fullest and about making this very important transition. Her grandkids found her full of wit and ready to laugh at their antics and stories even though her body was debilitated by Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). I would see pure delight in her eyes whenever any of them came to hang out in her room. There was so much she could complain about -- but she looked for the positive and stayed interested in other people. Bethany came home with a situation of some of her students needing school clothes and Mom was eager to help provide the funds. About this time, she picked up the phrase "Stinkin' Happy" from a little four yr. old who would visit her.

We tried to make sure she had no worries and that her care was superb. She had nurse's aides while I was at school and Terry would get up every two hours of the night to check on her and move her from side-to-side to keep the soreness away. His household rule was "What ever grandma wants, grandma gets." Every night he'd make her favorite sundae - icecream with crunchy peanut butter and chocolate sauce.

Many of Mom's friends and family came to visit from her home in Illinois during those last months and I would hear her give them words of blessing and depth. I watched her life's work being affirmed by them during these visits and enjoyed listening to the encouragement she gave them.

One of our favorite memories with her is pictured above when we got her to go with us to look at Christmas lights. That was our yearly tradition and our grown kids still wanted to keep this ritual and wanted grandma to do it with us. We asked her and she begged, "please, don't make me." However, we persisted and she relented. Bethany got her all "dolled up" in winter garb and Terry held her up as we drove a short trek through the neighborhood. When I put her to bed that night she thanked me over and over for her Christmas outing.

About dying she would say, "God will do it in HIS time, no point doing a lot of talking about it." Before Hospice was engaged to care for her -- she quipped "all they do is talk about dying and if you don't, they're disappointed!" (She did love her Hospice caregivers and greatly appreciated the service they rendered.)

Hospice worked early on at preparing us for what was to come. They explained that sometimes when it was time to pass, people would see bright lights or dearly departed loved ones. As her speech failed, we often misunderstood what she was trying to communicate. Bethany was sitting with her grandma one evening while we were out and she was saying something with the word "light" in it. Bethany asked everything she could think of "Do you see the bright light?" --- "Do you see Grandpa?". At this Mom strongly responded, "NO, TURN OUT THE LIGHT!"

After her 83rd birthday party and making a video interview with her six grandkids, my sister-in-law, Sandy, put her to bed; she looked up at her and said -- "They think this will be my last -- but they're going to have to do this again next year!" When I turned out her lights that night after having all her favorite people with her Mom said, "Jan, I'm Stinkin Happy"

When Did I Get Old?

Play dates for our kids didn't seem this difficult when our kids were young.
But since I'm a little out of practice, I felt I needed to plan in greater detail to minimize chaos, so I shopped post VBS sales at Hobby Lobby and $Tree, sprayed "S" on lots of shirts until the fumes nearly made me loopy.

I wanted this to be a time when our Life Park kids would grow in God while they had fun, I planned the theme several weeks ago and wanting it to flow consistently through these four Thursdays in July. I worked on my lesson for a couple of hours, knowing it could take any course as their discussion unfolded.


Wednesday's rain, I thought was a sign that Thursday would dawn clear, warm and sunny, but we woke up to dark skies, rain and lightning. I kept praying, "Lord, let it stop" -- What could I do with that many kids indoors for 3 hours? (I remembered two years ago that 3 of the 4 Thursdays it rained and kept us out of the pool.)Whatever the weather -- I knew their Moms needed a break and I was bound and determined it would be fun! When it didn't look like the rain would let up, at 10:00 I decided we were going to need a Plan B. We'd have Foods lab 101: Cookie Decorating (I kicked in to Home Ec Teacher mode) -- I talked our house guest, Omar, through the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, and he made some dough just in case we needed it.

Oh me of little faith, my prayers were answered and just before the kids arrived so did the sun! I had fun -- the lesson progressed as planned -- the mothers came back from their R & R just at the right time.

The house still echos with the noise of the 8 of them. I loved listening to their chatter and clatter as they ate lunch and painted their "superkid" shirts.
One said "I may not look like it -- but I'm a pretty creative guy." And when it came time to ice their superkid cookies he remarked, "My second talent is cooking."
They always give insightful answers from their precious little hearts during our Bible lesson time. Since our lesson was GOD reveals himself as THE WORD they wrote their favorite words with these neat glass markers on our patio windows. -- "God" "Jesus" "Love" "DAD" "Ice cream" and "Candy" Since I haven't had kid art on our walls in a long time, I decided we needed to leave them up.

I learned several things --
1. Try out every craft before you teach them to the kids. (Not all craft supplies work as the label says.)
2. Bags of decorator icing in the sun make a huge mess on the patio --
3. Pick up the markers as soon as they are done with them. . . they don't blend well with the couch upolstery.
4. The shirt next to your's will probably smear it sometime during painting.
5. 60 yr.-old men with cameras are targets for 8 kids in the pool. . .we rescued the camera -- and soaked the man!


I tell our own kids that I want to have "Camp Grandma" one week every summer when they have children -- hmmmm! How long is a week?

SO WHAT is a SUPER KID?

When I have “kid times” in the summer at our house – my purpose is always to provide an outlet for the children in our primary classes at Life Park to have a day out and their moms have a bit of a break. I remember what it was like to keep a super summer going with enough activities and food to reduce the squabbles to a minimum. There are only so many VBS that a kid can go to before they know all the routine. There are only so many trips to Wal-Mart you can make and who wants to be out in the heat, anyway? By July everybody is getting a little restless and the excitement of summer is beginning to wane.

I believe this time is best served if it is built around a Biblical theme with time in the Word, in the pool, with games to play, a chance to do some serving, and even a little cooking lab time.

We have a lot more boys this year – I previously have done this for girls and taught them to sew, cook and do crafts. This year I have a greater number of boys – so it promises to be a little rowdier.

Ladies and teens quickly signed up to help and at present it looks like we can expect 8-10 Primary SUPERKIDS! This year I want them to become aware of all the different names of God we see in the Word and learn how HE reveals himself in each of those ways.

I’ve been praying about this and I ask you to pray for us --- It’s sure to be exciting, a little messy and hopefully some great spiritual fun!!!

The Room Upstairs

I have been touched by the unnamed Shunammite woman in 2 Kings for many years. I identified with her early in my marriage because she, too, was a woman who was infertile. As the story unfolds, the prophet Elisha, in repsonse to her generous hospitality of building a room on the top of the house for him, prayed for her and her elderly husband to have a child.

I like it when our extra room upstairs becomes an "Elisha" room.. . . for the folks God sends our way. I enjoy stocking it with goodies. (Terry and I have a rule of checking the other’s schedules first before we fill up the house.) We are housing such a man of God right now who is preparing himself for the ministry. It is thrilling to anticipate the ways God is going to use him.

From time –to-time God has sent some extraordinary guests. . . ones in whom I couldn’t necessarily see a God-shaped plan – and I find I wrestle more with it because it isn’t always the smoothest of times. The rewards of that time are often seen much later and I have to keep praying to continue that spirit of hospitality. God reminded me recently of our friend Chad, who has this generous heart that gives and gives unconditionally. You see, he believes that if he has it and you need it or want it– it is your’s.

Bethany's wise words echoed that, “Mom you don’t know what God wants this person to see and know from living at your home. “ Scripture confirms – do not forget to entertain strangers because in so doing you may be housing and hosting angels. I don't want to miss out on that possibility.

Pappa's Hands

We found ourselves going through "family withdrawal" as we began to pack up our bags and head back home. It was difficult to leave my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and for that reason, I have added this final installment to my blogs about Pappa Bell.

It was something that just came about accidentally. Bethany, our family photographer, carries her camera everywhere she goes and began taking pictures of Pappa's hands as he lay sleeping on last Friday afternoon. They were swollen from so many ports and IV tubes -- but still they were same hands that had worked tirelessly during his lifetime.

Pappa was a fisherman, hunter, gardener and builder. He could build anything he set his mind to and loved even more doing it from used items as he was very frugal. After the Tornado struck Wichita Falls in 1979, he collected all sorts of discarded doors, plumbing and two by fours and built a shed in the backyard. He planted pecan trees everywhere he could and spent the fall and winter harvesting the pecans and shelling them out for all the rest of us. He cared for Meemee with those strong hands and even made some of the best pies and soups. We all received our share from Pappa's hardworking hands.

One thing we all noticed was that even to the very end Pop's hands still had a firm grip. I found that out whenever we had to do a procedure he didn't want to endure.
Early on they wanted to restrain him with velco wrist straps, but we found that when we held his hand his restlessness would subside and his breathing become more peaceful and he would relax.

Bethany and her cousin Delaney decided to capture photos of Pappa's hands with his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter and combine these with other pictures of him during his lifetime and back it with the song "Daddy's Hands" to create a memorial powerpoint. It became the theme of his service on yesterday.

About my father-in-law, Artie Bell, I would say, The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. HE has watched over your journey. Deut. 2:7

He's Home!

We had been praying for Marshall and Bethany to get to TX in time to say goodbye to their pappa. God was so gracious to bring them in and let us all be together to give him the tenderness and love he's given to all of us during his life.

Our family has spent the past days around his bed with David, Candy & James, Delaney, Zac, and Tambi remembering stories of our Pappa and retelling them to each other. That seemed to draw us closer and heal our hurting. Terry spoke at Pappa's funeral about this time between the beginning of dying and the end of living where this shared effort of ministering to him, ministered to us.

He's been released and He's free of dementia, pain, loneliness and all the other maladies of aging.
He's Home.
He's with Jesus
. . . and his beloved Wanda.