What's it Really All About?

The house is nearly decorated- the weatherman said Saturday would be our best weather for the week --so I worked at feverish pitch all day putting the garlands up to the windows -- and setting up the 20 yr. old tree with lights. . .ornaments will find a branch over the next two weeks.

As I fell into bed Sat. night-- I asked myself why was I doing all this, anyway, since none of us were going to be home for the holidays and I didn't have any big parties on the calendar. . . wasn't it a waste of time? Terry did wander through all the holiday clutter in the living/dining room Sat. evening -- looked around and said, "I know it's up to you to do it all -- but I'm sure glad you do."


I guess it's about TRADITION! (yes, Tevia - like the song) -- Every year for as long as I can remember we have decorated the house Thanksgiving weekend. Years ago we always held a huge holiday open house for the church. I'd cook and bake for days and 150 people would come. . . and they added to our Christmas decor. Now that I teach fulltime -- we're lucky to have a couple of batches of candy made after school turns out for the semester.


Each piece I put up holds a certain significance - each a reminder of treasured relationships and special people -- special times in our lives. I get this warm glow inside as I unpack my Christmas treasures.

So, it's the same every year --

We use the holiday mugs the Altman's and Dot gave us.

I place the crocheted tree that Clyde's wife made for us with the Christmas village my Mom made several years ago.

I hang the dog ornaments Dot gave us so many Christmases in a row. . . she was a true holiday fanatic! There's ornaments from different friends and church family through the years as well.

There's all the decorations our kids helped me make years ago when their chubby little hands did such creative work-- the fabric wreath that Bethany stuffed -- the ornaments they made in school -- their hand-painted wooded houses -- and the ornaments I have collected for them through the years. The ornaments with scenes my mother painted, even a few from my grandmother's tree.


I set up the nativity creches from Bethlahem, Geeta and the Callahans,

Place my snowmen from Geeta all over the house and add the clip-on candles from Austria, the ornaments from Mexico and India.

I have to hang the Christmas quilt I made in '93 . . it took me so long to make

and put the reindeer out front my brother made with his bandsaw in the late 70's.

I don't have to buy any decorations for Christmas -- my attic is full.


I have a collection of Santa's that I love -- one looks just like the Father Christmas that we saw when we were ice skating in Vienna in the winter of '88.
He was a skinny old man in a tattered red bathrobe, looking worn and weary with a bundle of sticks -- just like the ones you read about in the old Christmas tales.

I have heard people upset about Santa robbing the true meaning of Christmas-- the thought came, isn't Santa really people's search for a Beneficent God? Isn't he like a God-substitute that someone created years ago?

That's where the whole point of the Christmas story gets lost -- We have the real thing!


This year as I explain the story to my Sunday school primaries in anticipation of their upcoming Christmas presentation -- I want them to see that the gift God gave to us in the manger has become the answer to all our needs each and every day. . . He is the Way when we feel lost, He is our Provider when we are in need, He's the Lamb of God who WAS the sacrifice for us . . .He's the WORD when we're clueless . . He's the Everlasting Father when our's are absent or gone. . .the Prince of Peace when we are upset and hassled. He is LORD over life . . . He truly is our King of Kings!!! HE IS THE GIFT!!!!

Blessed

It was a wonderful and blessed Good / Bell Thanksgiving! We have been building holiday memories in KC with them for some time now and had to keep all our previous traditions. . . Bethany and I always pre-prep in the kitchen on Wednesday together and cook together all day Thursday. (A new traditon we definitely want to keep: brining the bird with Williams Sonoma brine & herbs.) We spent our time tasing each other's culinary surprises and her trying out recipes from her new Pioneer Woman cookbook (Yeah Pawhuska's Ree Drummond for your pumpkin cheesecake!)

We couldn't all be together --
It was only the second year we weren't with Marshall for the holiday (in 2003 he was in Canada at the University of Northern British Columbia.) I did find out from Terry on Wed. night that Marshall had been planning to drive to KC and surprise Bethany and me. His wreck on Monday morning - sliding into a tree with his pick-up-- changed the course of his plans and he was left without a safe vehicle to make the trip and looking for a place to spend his four-day weekend.

Of course, B & I talked nonstop to catch up and our conversation always seemed to end up with our little #10 (as Mat's Dad loves to call him)! We tossed around possible baby names. Every now and then we had to stop and catch Terry or Mat up with our gabbing.




No trip to KC is complete without a trip to their little grocery market the "Hen House" -- Here's a pic of us two chicks on our way to the Hen House! Seemed we always were out of something. Bethany was craving more of my pineapple cheese ball and so for the little mamma I had to buy more stuff to make a second batch. We rushed in 10 minutes before closing time at Thursday noon.




Mat had to work Thanksgiving Day -- so we cooked even more -- way too much for the five of us. Mat invited a co-worker, a Cardio Fellow from Lebanon, for dinner and we enjoyed getting to know Bossum and learn that his wife will join him in KC in late January. In some sense, it made Marshall seem a little closer --










Serious talk time. . .




"Black Friday" meant B & I had to hit the shops just to see if there were any deals we couldn't pass up. With careful spending and good sales I'm happy to report, I'm 3/4 done with holiday shopping!



Time with our children relaxes and re-energizes Terry and me . . .here's a pic of our tired little mamma Friday at noon -- post holiday -- post shopping -- ready for a nap!!
We hit the road for Tulsa and Bethany went to bed!

Thankful

It's the holiday when our hearts and minds remember what we're most thankful for.
If we live everyday being thankful -- wouldn't we have a whole lot less depression?

I heard a woman say one time she had a journal that was her gratitutde book that she wrote in every day to remind herself of all her blessings. Very quickly mine turns to prayer requests, "bless ___________, help them get over, get through or get well."

I DO have so very much to be thankful for.

Of course, I'm thankful for my four favorite people:

>My husband of 37 years who always sees the best in me, gives me the benefit of the doubt and puts my needs above his own. These cherished years have seen us through so many changes in our lives and we've come to know each other so well that we can finish each other's sentences.

> Our two children who give me such joy as I watch their lives unfold and thankful for the upcoming holidays with them.

>My son-in-law -- (or son-in-love with my daughter). He is the answer to our prayers for Bethany's mate in every way. He's a kind, caring conscientious man who goes out of his way to make certain that others are well taken care of.

SOOOOOO thankful I'll be a grandma in the early summer!

>For the legacy of faith my parents lived out in front of me every day and for my brothers. I so enjoy the times I get to be with them and their families. What a proud aunt I am to Chelle & Michael, Angie, Tyler & Emily and Casey and Layne!

>Thankful for some very deep and lasting friendships -- you know who you are -- and as I get older -- friendships become even more dear -- and I purpose to work harder to nuture them. Thankful for new friends I have made this past year.

>Thankful for our Church family and the ministry God is allowing us to continue in.

>Thankful for my students and the wonderful school where I teach.

>Thankful for the little ones in my Sunday school class who give me an "up close and personal" view of God.

>Thankful for my good health and energy.

>Thankful for my husband's ongoing healing from his rheumatoid.

Thankful for my freedom!!

Paul says in the scriptures "In everything give thanks" -- so here goes:

>I'm thankful for the stresses and challenges of the past year. I can always look back and see lessons God taught me during those times.

>Thankful for times I have had to wait for answered prayer -- it opened my eyes to all the ways God was working and made me doubly appreciate all HE is doing in each situation.

>Thankful for the students who push my buttons. . .it really does build patience in me even when I want to scream! Thankful for kids who make me laugh and praying for those whose lives are falling apart right now.

>Thankful for lesson planning and teaching that helps to keep my mind moving -- not always in the same direction at once, though! (I can't bring myself to say papers to grade!)

GOD IS SO GOOD TO ME! He continues to shower me with everything I need for the situation at hand that day. Thank you Father!

Matters of the Heart –

Today I got a voice message from Bethany of our FIRST grandbaby’s premiere recorded heartbeat at 11 weeks prenatal. We’d all been waiting for that heartbeat to reassure the GOOD – BELL clan that everything was just fine. Somewhere in all my treasures, I have a tape of her first heartbeat recorded in my obstetrician's office back in 1979. June 5th (give or take a few days)– we’re anxious to meet our #10 as Mat and Bethany like to refer to him (her).


Marshall called Sunday to say that he was going to be on private jet with a team of doctors to retrieve a donor heart for one of the patients on his floor. He called later, and, of course, I had several questions -- one of which was about the family who had to give consent at a painful time in their lives– so that another person would have a greater quality of life. Marshall talked about the rushed flight there and back -- and in a matter of a very short time --not more than five hours – the disconnected heart started beating again in someone else’s chest. I’d loved to have heard the cheers that went up in that operating room with that first heartbeat.




So much of life is measured by the heartbeat – We monitor the heartbeat on a screen- -- do ultra sounds and doppler readings --check pulse rates at the wrist when we exercise. We even make old wive's predictions of a baby's sex by the rate of the heart beat (our baby's was 176). We read health and life by the heartbeat.


I've been thinking about all that has transpired this past week regarding the heart: the confirmation of new life in Bethany with the sounds of our baby's heartbeat-- the impact of one heart given so that someone else's quality of life could be restored– and one of those “light bulb” moments occurred for me –– that’s what our redemption is –SOMEONE gave consent – so that we could have quality of life – abundant life -- Eternal life— living forever with our Savior's heart now beating in us.

Who's Coming to Dinner at Your House?

The other day I connected with one of those Facebook links for a Biblegateway.com questionnaire--"What Old Testament character would you like to ask to dinner?"
I was amused by some, intrigued by others. It did make me pause and ask the question of myself, since I teach Sunday school to primaries and spend most of my time retelling the Bible stories.

I grew up with Kathryn Voss's Bible story book, and every night my Dad would stand between our two rooms and read us a story about these heroes of old. As a child, they became so familiar it was as if they were members of our church.

A couple of years back, I felt a strong impression from the Lord -- that all we needed for life was there in the stories of those real-life people. They had the same joys, same trials, same longings that we do today -- They made the same mistakes and reaped the same consequences -- just in different costume.

I couldn't invite only one person to dinner -- and since I'd be the person inviting --I'd have a sit-down dinner with several of my Old and New Testament favorites.

I'd ask Sarah because I want to know how she kept up with a toddler at 90 years of age -- of course, she must have had a lot of nannies.

I'd invite Hagar to come, too-- maybe not sit her too close to Sarah. It seems as if she was the pawn in everybody else's game and then was banned in an effort to solve their problems. Life for her really wasn't fair. Once I wrote her into a skit for a ladies' class and ever since --her words "I have now seen the God who sees me" -- have impacted me.

Moses of course-- he's been a favorite of mine for years.


I'd want Hannah -- I identified with her as I prayed and begged for children.

The Shunamite woman -Wow what faith when she bravely said to Elijah's servant "it is well" after losing her only child. I like the fact she kept a room for God's prophet.

Enoch and Elijah -- I want to ask what it was like to just get "swooshed up" to Heaven by God. . . they didn't have to go through all the diseases and decisions of old age.

And also Elizabeth -- I wonder how mute Zechariah broke the news to her she was going to have a baby -- did he draw a picture or pantomime the words?

(seems to be a pattern here -- women and babies in old age -- see my next blog!)

I'd ask Peter -- he was so impulsive during those years as a young apostle -- kind of like me from time to time -- he then grew to be a rock!


I'd want Martha -- she knew how to throw a banquet -- seems like that's where she spent a lot of her time, doing kitchen prep -- what was it like to see her brother come out of the tomb? Of course she'd have to bring Lazarus.

Dorcas -- I've taught about her to ladies classes -- such a helpful doer in the early church -- she stitched and sewed. . .without a fancy sewing machine like mine.

When times have been especially difficult in my life, these silent characters of scripture have given me help and direction, though long dead.

Jesus would need to sit at the head of the table -- or would it be like his last big meal with his friends -- Him serving, washing feet, loving on us --reminding us to keep strong and connected to Him?

I believe God's still writing His stories -- He has us in this present time, at this place, for a specific reason. He'll not re-write a second Book, or "dub" us into one of the vintage stories -- but He's still doing the same thing with ordinary people living out their lives in a purposeful way as He did centuries ago -- drawing them into relationship -- redeeming their lives.

Wherever You Set Your Foot . . .

Early Thursday morning, one of my gals in Youth Alive came to me and said that we needed to organize another prayer walk because so many students are getting sick with various types of illnesses. With other things going on in our school, she said we needed to walk around the school and pray Friday afternoon.

As Youth Alive met Thursday for our weekly lunch, 102 kids (almost 8% of the student body) showed up to hear Rev. Kev, the youth leader from Central Baptist, challenge them to go start a revolution and ACT like Jesus with people in their school.

One student didn't plan on being there -- but was making up time for my class and said he wasn't religious so he would try to concentrate on something else while Kevin was speaking. (I'm thinking he overheard a good dose of Jesus!)


Rev. Kev. heard about the prayer walk and gave them a verse from Josh. 1:3. "I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you" (hmmmm . . .pretty timely for me as well, considering my last Thurs. post about the promises of God.")

Friday morning kicked off in it's usual way and it was quite interesting . . . the precious girl who wanted the prayer walk to ward off sickness -- text messaged that she was home sick -- bemoaning the fact that she couldn't be at school to call on help from Heaven for all our school's needs.

Five to six students met at 2:30 and walked the halls to quietly pray for students to be protected from the flu, for students who were struggling to learn, those tempted by drugs and premarital sex, kids who are fighting depression, and ones who are lonely -- just needing a friend.

I am reminded that worn out, at the end of school last Spring, I was struggling with my decision as to whether or not I could take on sponsorship of Youth Alive and add one more thing to my schedule. God sent my friend Leeca with the words, "Maybe He wants you to give up something else so you can do this." These students have been a huge blessing to my life this school year. Their faith and testimony has encouraged me beyond measure.

One star athlete rushed in Thursday so excited -- and asked me if I'd heard yet that one of our other guys had just led a student to Christ after band practice the day before!!! They both were thrilled and couldn't wait to do it again.

There are little groups of kids praying and studying in all parts of the building at different times. I have to get there early on Tues. mornings for a group of Juniors to pray in my office. I can't wait to see what God will do with their young, fresh faith. HE said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 18:3

I AM BEING RICHLY BLESSED, Thank you JESUS!

REFRESHED!!!

We don't get to be with our grown kids as much as we'd like --so Fall Break was my refresher!!!
Terry and I got to spend time with Bethany and Mat and just relax. We lazed around their house, went out to eat, and enjoyed the scrumptious food they served up. (Every meal at their house is an event -- with time spent talking. . laughing and sharing.)

Bethany and I got our "girl time" and went shopping. I got a brief "momma fix" and maybe, just maybe, I can make it until our next visit.

If only Marshall weren't so far away! We sorely miss him! We call and txt. msg. but that's not like being together. Well, Christmas will be here soon and he's promised to take charge of one of the special celebrations for the WHOLE family when we get to Denver! Pray for good traveling weather or CHEAP air fares!!

Promises, Promises, Promises

We live in a world where, so often, people do not keep their word. The "JK" or "just kidding" era we have just come through has left a group of people who don't feel it necessary to follow through with what they have committed to others that they will do. That is disheartening if you are in a situation where you depend on others to help you get a job done.

This mindset has, I believe, caused us, from time to time, to water down God's promises.

There is a passage in Romans 4 that is especially convincing to me this week:

Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.


The God who . . . creates new things out of nothing - - -

Abraham's faith did not weaken even though at 100 --


That's a long time waiting --


Often we try to speak things into happening and we convince ourselves that we can give God a hand -- as if HE's needing some help -- Sara and Abraham tried that -- and it got them 13 more years of waiting. . .and a dysfunctional relationship with a maid and a rebellious teenage son for Abraham.

We first have to ask ourselves -- is it for my good and HIS good? Abraham had a direct WORD from God that this was to come about.

Question to ask ourselves: Did GOD promise me this or do I want this so badly I've convinced myself that HE must want it too?

We waited a long time before God blessed our home with children and I thought God had given up on us -- that HE had some how lost interest in answering our prayers.
BUT in HIS time -- HIS answer was so strong and so profound! Two beautiful, healthy children.

Disappointment does that -- causes us to lose hope and faith in the one who can meet our needs. It can somehow get us into not only doubting God but doubting ourselves and questioning the relationship we have with HIM. We have to not only trust HIM for answers, but trust HIM that HIS answer will be the very best for us.


He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever HE promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, vs. 22-24

Do you see that we're mentioned in this part of the chapter??? Abraham kept believing and living out of hope -- and it not only kept him going --it was for us too. We're in this part of the story.


The one who called you is faithful and HE will do it! Thess. 5:24



I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Genesis 28:14-16

SIGNS

The Old Song Said, "SIGNS, SIGNS EVERYWHERE THERE'S SIGNS" . . . .

I love unusual signs. . . On a trip to Europe a few years ago -- I took pictures of the most unusual signs I could find. There was the one that said "Elderly People" . . . there were various sorts of signs that showed all kinds of twists and turns to the roads. . . there was the yellow caution triangle that showed a black sheep -- recently I came across these signs on line while preparing a class presentation.






MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE


It's been a week of varied discussions in both my Life Skills and Marriage & Family classes-- The topics ranged from Conflict Resolution, Communication, Anger Management, Resources, Goals and Decision-making (a lesson I am the most passionate about)

-- I give the topic of Decison-Making my utmost as I explain that "senioritis" is sure to hit -- as sure as February turns into March which welcomes SPRING BREAK. I go on to say that the nearer we get to graduation in May the more invincible the seniors seem to become and as a result some of the decisions they make reflect that.

I remind them that when they are out being wild and crazy with their friends the level of thinking usually falls to that of the wildest, zaniest person in the group and as a result this is not the time they make their best choices. I often add "an angry brain is not a smart brain" to urge them to slow down and not make major decisions when they are angry.

At the conclusion of the discussion, I ask them to write (anonomyously, of course) about the worst decision they have made and explain what the consequences were for them and the impact that decision had on others. They, then, are to write what they learned from all of it.

My objective is not to determine the scariest, wildest or the worst but to get them to think through life choices and realize that a three-second decision can affect them for a lifetime -- positively or negatively. For some, it's the first time they have ever thought about who else might have been impacted by their decision.

I want them to understand that we all (myself included) make "dumb" choices and even bad ones at times. When that happens, we pick ourselves up, make the necessary mid-course corrections and live differently and hopefully, much wiser. The questions is not what we did -- BUT, did we get any SMARTER?

Perhaps we could create signs that would warn them of some of life's pitfalls:








I don't know how much will resonate with them through the months and years to come.
I only hope they heard my heart and even half of what I said
. . . they are so very young!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalm 32:8

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.