Jiggidy Jog

"Home again, Home again Jiggidy Jog." These are words from an old nursery rhyme but that's all I remember about it. They sum up how I feel about being home again. The trip was good but "there's no place like home." (Another applicable quote.)

I promised to include a picture of the Outer Banks and I have two. I'm not sure if I can manage to get both of them in but I'll try. I got one to load. This is the Crocodile River. We saw one man fishing in it but saw no crocs. What we noticed was the perfect image of the shore in the water.

Most of the beach houses in Kitty Hawk are three story. All look like they are built of wood with wood shingle roofs. I don't remember ever hearing of the eye of a hurricane hitting these banks. I'm sure they can get flooding and wind. Another fact about them--they are large. Many were for sale. It would be interesting to know what they sell for.

I learned a lot about the Wright brothers flights, too. I have always thought they flew once, but that wasn't true. They had many flights in 1903. The first ones were in gliders. Then they added a motor and managed four in one day. The last flight was an impressive 852 feet in 59 seconds. Sure glad they made it work. Otherwise we would still be driving back from North Carolina. Reid managed to climb in beside Orville but I stayed on the ground. If I'd been able to climb up there (which was iffy), I might still be there. As you can see it's a little high off the ground.

Now you know all I know.

Best get off to the laundry room and wash some of that NC red dirt off our clothes.

By the way----I'm so HAPPY to be home!

A Note

Rather than continue to watch the Cowboys implode, I'll add a note here.



The Outer Banks--a series of barrier islands on the Atlantic Seaboard from Norfolk, Virginia to South Carolina.

We were in Kitty Hawk Friday and Saturday--a typical beach town. I will add pictures when we get back home.



Two more nights then we can go back home and sleep in our own bed. Yea!



Other than that, we've had good food, good company and been on the go all the time.



Clouds and grey skies here. Brown trees. Dreary. I'm ready for the blue skies and beautiful NM landscape.

Outer Banks Adventure

A few years ago I read a book--"Beach Music"--can't think of the author. The story took place in Paris and North Carolina and was about a huge southern family. It took me months to read it because I'd read awhile on it then move to another, less intense book. I always went back because the story and the author's characters, his use of descriptions and words drew me in.
The reader became intimately familiar with every character through pages of back story--a no-no in writer's workshops and seminars. But it worked for this author.

In "Beach Music" I read about the Outer Banks. Still don't know what they are but that's where we're heading today. When I get back, I'll let you know what it's all about. Have you been there?

Off to another new adventure!

Christmas Musings

Granddaughter is supposed to be taking a nap. Grampy and Dad are in the garage assembling an electric car. Mom is in the kitchen preparing something for Christmas dinner. Granny is upstairs adding to her blog.

We got in to Greensboro, NC early this morning--about midnight fifteen to be exact. It's grey but no snow or rain here. A quiet neighborhood. When the beagles aren't barking or Granddaughter isn't laughing and squealing, even the house is quiet.

A beautifully decorated house (that someone younger did), Santa back in the mix of Christmas and family. What a great way to spend the holiday.

I remember Christmases past that were filled with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. We lived close enough to have most of the family around. Today Granddaughter's cousins live across the country in New Mexico, up north in Washington and on the west coast in California. Chances are slim that she'll be able to spend many Christmases with them. She will never know what she's missing.

All my aunts and uncles, and of course, my parents and grandparents, are gone, but my girls remember those years when we drove to Memphis, Texas, every Christmas Day and spent a week with their grandparents in Lubbock.

Never to be repeated, but never to be forgotten.

Christmas is all about family. Jesus's birth, His Life, His Death and His Resurrection put us in God's family. Although we can't spend time with our blood relatives here, the day will come when we'll be with them and with the Daddy of us all forever.

Merry Christ-mas!

Good News

A lot has been happening at our church lately.

Since last March we've been looking for a new pulpit minister. After careful consideration by many people, including the entire congregation, a new man has been called. I voted for this man.
I prayed, as did many others, and although the man doesn't have the most powerful vocal delivery, what I saw and heard from him was humility, unconditional love and a deep spirituality. My prayer is that our congregation can ingest those qualities and grow into the image of Christ.

At church Sunday morning all the children brought blankets to the front of the sanctuary. The blankets will be given to needy families. They stayed and sang with the congregation. And sang they did. Being in a church with no musical instruments I've noticed young people singing more than when I attended churches with pianos, bands and organs. These same kids were in a Christmas program before church the week before. With the help of the praise team humming in the background, they sounded like pros.

We had a Christmas program last night. A choir, a family sharing from the scriptures and several young and old people signing a beautiful four part carol. What looked like months of practice by the man, his wife and their young daughter, Brooke, turned out, they said, to be quickly put together and unrehearsed. The mom would speak and ask the daughter questions--the same with the father. Every answer the child gave was perfect. Although they didn't rehearse these scenes, it was evident they have taught their daughter well. At her young age she knows the reason for Christmas.

After church we went to our son's house for our Christmas with them. Their four year old knows the answer to "What is the good news?" Pierce's answer: "Jesus is the son of God!"

Pierce and Brooke have it right. They have been taught the real reason we celebrate this holiday. Thank you parents for bringing up your kids in the Truth. I pray that our new minister will help us older ones grow in that Truth, too.

The Christmas Sweater

"The Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck.

We attended an encore presentation last night of a simulcast from the night before. A small orchestra and fantastic singer backed up Glenn's monologue as he told the moving story of a gift he received from him mother when he was twelve.

I'm reading the book now. The book goes into more detail, of course, but the performance was excellent. Glenn is a natural actor, and because he lived the story, his depiction of the events brought the audience into his world.

For me, the moral of this story is to enjoy every day--to love every person in my life with abandon, and to be grateful. At twelve we think we have forever ahead of us, but the truth is we don't, and the people around us don't either.

I've said it before--life is too short to waste it being angry and hating someone--even ourselves. As Glenn was told, no one is in charge of your happiness except you. Many times we have to learn this the hard way when it seems easier to lay blame on others or look to someone else to fulfill our lives.

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If you're looking for an extra gift for someone or yourself, this book is an excellent choice.

Random Thoughts

After a long, hot summer, winter is welcome. Low clouds, snow, cold days when staying indoors is preferable to bundling up in heavy coats and hats to brave the wind. But, as I said, winter is still a welcome change.

I love the seasons--all of them: spring, summer, fall and winter. Each is distinctive. Each has positive and negative elements. Like all situations, good or bad, the seasons change.

All situations change. We may be ecstatically happy or deeply despairing--neither remains that way forever. Like the change of seasons, knowing change will come gives us hope.

It's good to remember that no one is in charge of our happiness except us.

Life isn't fair but it's still good, and life is too short to hate anyone.

Just some random thoughts for a grey winter day.