Tomorrow is our sixth anniversary. Six doesn't sound very long but it seems it has been much longer because we've experienced so much. Those years have been full. New grandchildren, a book published and numerous books read, trips to faraway places, new friends, new churches. Time filled with laughter and heartaches, all in a short 2190 days.
Six and a half years ago I was single, worked four days a week for a chiropractor thinking I would probably be shuffling around in his office until I died. I had no idea I'd ever marry again. Then God transcended distance and brought Reid and me together.
Twelve years ago I was widowed.
Thirty years ago I got married for the second time. I hoped I'd marry again, but when I met Jim,I wasn't sure he was THE ONE. I asked God. He spoke to me, words that gave me a choice and told me if I chose to marry, all the things I'd been praying about for years would come to pass. I did and they did.
Sixteen years ago Second Daughter's son was born. That same year Mother died at the age of 89.
Twenty-five years ago First Daughter's son was born.
Thirty-four years ago Daddy died.
I could go on, of course. Years pass and they seem like nothing, but when we look back at them, they are forever ago.
What do I have left to do in my life? What's on my bucket list? I can think of one thing that I plan to do in two years--send Second Daughter and her husband to Italy on a Tauck tour. Other than that, I'd be happy to have books published and sold. Mostly I just want to keep living; keep loving life; keep seeing friends and family; meeting new people, loving God and knowing Him better. When I finally die, I'd like for people to say they were glad they knew me. What could be better than that?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Changing Times
Our grandchildren get to do things we never had the opportunity to do. Even our children didn't have those opportunities.
When I was a child, families were about eating meals together, kids going to school or playing and parents--well, just were parents. Maybe families with more resources than we had went on elaborate vacations, but most of the people we knew visited relatives on their vacations. My great-grandparents had a farm, but all I remember about it was a chicken pen that my little brother, in his white suit investigated.(Why in the world did my mother dress a two-year old in white?)
We took rare vacations with our girls. I remember a trip to Six Flags in Dallas, a camping trip in the Gila Wilderness and a vacation to the beach in Galveston. Other than that, our family visited relatives, our kids went to school and played and we were just parents. We had lots of neighborhood get-togethers and holidays with family.
Today's kids have so many more opportunities. Jaiden has been to a farm, stuck her hand in a goat's mouth (I still haven't done that!), watched a horse being shoed (I haven't seen that), been on a Disney cruise (I was almost 70 before I went on a cruise)and a myriad of other adventures. Our five Leachman grands take trips with their parents and friends to elaborate water parks and have been on numerous vacations to Disneyland, San Diego and places I didn't visit until I was an adult.
Taylor in Las Vegas went skiing and to Hawaii before he was ten years old. Maybe earlier than that. Our California grands who are teenagers traveled with us to London, Paris and Dublin.
The world is smaller and the opportunites greater today. Yet, I imagine there are families now who don't go on vacations with their kids, who don't take them to farms and theme parks or camping. They may not eat meals together either.
Is it because those activities didn't exist until the recent present? Or is it because kids have become more a part of the family's life than they were in the past?
Ideas change. Maybe, in this fast-moving, computer age world it takes more to interest kids. All that is fine with me. I just want to see our kids come out of childhood with good values. Those values can't be learned in theme parks, but they can be taught there if their parents are willing. In fact, they can be taught wherever the family goes.
When I was a child, families were about eating meals together, kids going to school or playing and parents--well, just were parents. Maybe families with more resources than we had went on elaborate vacations, but most of the people we knew visited relatives on their vacations. My great-grandparents had a farm, but all I remember about it was a chicken pen that my little brother, in his white suit investigated.(Why in the world did my mother dress a two-year old in white?)
We took rare vacations with our girls. I remember a trip to Six Flags in Dallas, a camping trip in the Gila Wilderness and a vacation to the beach in Galveston. Other than that, our family visited relatives, our kids went to school and played and we were just parents. We had lots of neighborhood get-togethers and holidays with family.
Today's kids have so many more opportunities. Jaiden has been to a farm, stuck her hand in a goat's mouth (I still haven't done that!), watched a horse being shoed (I haven't seen that), been on a Disney cruise (I was almost 70 before I went on a cruise)and a myriad of other adventures. Our five Leachman grands take trips with their parents and friends to elaborate water parks and have been on numerous vacations to Disneyland, San Diego and places I didn't visit until I was an adult.
Taylor in Las Vegas went skiing and to Hawaii before he was ten years old. Maybe earlier than that. Our California grands who are teenagers traveled with us to London, Paris and Dublin.
The world is smaller and the opportunites greater today. Yet, I imagine there are families now who don't go on vacations with their kids, who don't take them to farms and theme parks or camping. They may not eat meals together either.
Is it because those activities didn't exist until the recent present? Or is it because kids have become more a part of the family's life than they were in the past?
Ideas change. Maybe, in this fast-moving, computer age world it takes more to interest kids. All that is fine with me. I just want to see our kids come out of childhood with good values. Those values can't be learned in theme parks, but they can be taught there if their parents are willing. In fact, they can be taught wherever the family goes.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Mountains of Love
I look out the windows from the back of my house and see 10,000 foot high Sandia Peak. The Sandias snake around from north to east. To our south are Four Hills. With the exception of our west, we are guarded by mountains. Even farther to the west over 65 miles away is Mount Taylor. On the other side of the mountains to the east the weather is quite different. When it's cool here, it is cold there. When we get a sprinkling of snow flakes and light breeze here, they have strong winds and snowdrifts. The Sandias protect us from the inclement weather.
The thought came to me yesterday how much like God these mountains are. They are immovable, solid and faithful. Whatever is on the other side can't get to us on this side--as long as we stay here. An Ephesians 3:18 scripture came to mind. Paul prays for the Ephesians may comprehend with all the saints (us) what is the width and length and depth and height of God's love. What does that mean? The width of His grace; the length of His long suffering and mercy; the depth of His forgiveness and the height of His redemption. In other words the width, length, depth and height are without end. There's no stopping place.
Sometimes I feel God isn't as present as I need Him to be. Then I look across the miles to Mount Taylor and know that He is guarding all sides of my life even when I'm not aware of Him.
My mountains remind me of Him every time I look at them. I think it would do us all good to find something in our lives that we see every day as a reminder of God's love.
The thought came to me yesterday how much like God these mountains are. They are immovable, solid and faithful. Whatever is on the other side can't get to us on this side--as long as we stay here. An Ephesians 3:18 scripture came to mind. Paul prays for the Ephesians may comprehend with all the saints (us) what is the width and length and depth and height of God's love. What does that mean? The width of His grace; the length of His long suffering and mercy; the depth of His forgiveness and the height of His redemption. In other words the width, length, depth and height are without end. There's no stopping place.
Sometimes I feel God isn't as present as I need Him to be. Then I look across the miles to Mount Taylor and know that He is guarding all sides of my life even when I'm not aware of Him.
My mountains remind me of Him every time I look at them. I think it would do us all good to find something in our lives that we see every day as a reminder of God's love.
Friday, May 22, 2009
A Few Thoughts
Just a few thoughts.
There are people who get their energy from other people/crowds/noise. Then there are those like me who are totally sapped by those things. We get our energy by being quiet/not talking/not hearing anyone else talk.
I'm in one of those places this morning. We've had company all week and have enjoyed it, but we've done a whole lot of talking and I'm worn out. The problem I have is this: Our company is still here and my husband still talks.
I've never known how to work all this out. When I taught school, all I wanted to do was come home and be quiet. For nine years our grandson and daughter lived with us and I didn't have much quiet--ever. They moved out and I retired. I spent months sitting in my living room loving every minute of the quietness.
I don't know how people who are constantly in the limelight or have big families cope unless they get their energy from noise. As I said, these are just a few thoughts.
There are people who get their energy from other people/crowds/noise. Then there are those like me who are totally sapped by those things. We get our energy by being quiet/not talking/not hearing anyone else talk.
I'm in one of those places this morning. We've had company all week and have enjoyed it, but we've done a whole lot of talking and I'm worn out. The problem I have is this: Our company is still here and my husband still talks.
I've never known how to work all this out. When I taught school, all I wanted to do was come home and be quiet. For nine years our grandson and daughter lived with us and I didn't have much quiet--ever. They moved out and I retired. I spent months sitting in my living room loving every minute of the quietness.
I don't know how people who are constantly in the limelight or have big families cope unless they get their energy from noise. As I said, these are just a few thoughts.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Waiting For A Publisher
I just got home from meeting with the author, Melody Groves, who critiqued my manuscript of "Copper Penny." She liked the story and sometimes had to remind herself she was working. Still, there are some changes I need to make.
This is the first time I've used someone outside friends or family to do a big critique like this for me. It was well worth the money, and after I make the changes, I think I'll have a really good book. I plan to start sending this out every week to two or three editors/agents/publishers. Melody thinks I have a good book. Maybe someone else will think so, too. She said that since the economy tanked her book sales have gone up. Maybe people are beginning to read again.
Since I think I was born with a book in my hands, I can't imagine not reading. I know that a certain age group today doesn't read much and they have no idea what they are missing. I've learned so much from books about places I'll never go; about people's lives different from my own; about cultures and religions and ways of thinking.
I hope reading comes back into style. And when I finally get my book published, I hope everyone reads it.
This is the first time I've used someone outside friends or family to do a big critique like this for me. It was well worth the money, and after I make the changes, I think I'll have a really good book. I plan to start sending this out every week to two or three editors/agents/publishers. Melody thinks I have a good book. Maybe someone else will think so, too. She said that since the economy tanked her book sales have gone up. Maybe people are beginning to read again.
Since I think I was born with a book in my hands, I can't imagine not reading. I know that a certain age group today doesn't read much and they have no idea what they are missing. I've learned so much from books about places I'll never go; about people's lives different from my own; about cultures and religions and ways of thinking.
I hope reading comes back into style. And when I finally get my book published, I hope everyone reads it.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I Love This Song
I sent a link to many on my address book asking them to go to one of the blogs I follow. You can access it at Inkhorn Blue just to the right on my blog. She downloaded a great song and I think you will like listening to it over and over. I'm so happy it is God who has the very last say so about everything.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Hardest Job
Maybe I said it before but I feel compelled to say it again. The hardest job in the world is being a parent. Not only is it the most difficult, it's the most important.
When I was a child, I could play outside after dark, go anywhere in the neighborhood, ride the bus to town and wander all over Polk Street--all without worrying that some crazy man was going to pick me up. I'm sure that happened, but we weren't scared about it. My friend, Anna Lou, and I would fix a lunch and walk about a mile and a half across vacant lots to a cemetery on the outskirts of Amarillo where we'd spend the day. This cemetery had a little bridge that went from the main area and the mill, over to to a small island. I don't know how we spent the day, but we stayed for hours. Then we'd walk home and our parents, knowing where we had been, weren't the least bit worried about us.
My brother was 7 years younger than I was and when Mother went shopping, many times he and I sat in the car--ALONE. Nobody ever noticed.
My girls in the 50s and 60s were able to play outside, ride their bikes to school and around the neighborhood--safely. I don't remember ever leaving them in the car alone until they were teenagers, and that would have been their choice to wait for me--if they went with me at all.
According to TV ads a parent has to have a GPS on their child and can't let them out of their sight. We hear about kids being stolen from their front yards and from a baseball field in plain sight of hundreds of people. I can't imagine the pressure that puts on parents. Not only do parents have to worry about what someone else will do to them, they have to be concerned about what their kids are seeing on TV, on the computer, in school and at their friends' houses. Who can they trust any more? How do they even choose a babysitter? Or do they just stay home unless they have a friend or family member to babysit?
As I've said before, I heard someone say we are putting people out from our high schools and colleges that have no moral compass. How will that affect your kids, parents?
Hard? Worse than hard. Frightening. That's why we have to grab hold of the Saviour and hold on tight. And we have to help our kids come to know Him and His power. Not just a long haired man in a Sunday School story, but a real, living, loving being who wants to have a relationship with them. When my oldest daughter was about 3 she had an imaginary friend. This friend was Dr. Kildaire from a TV program. He was with her all the time--sat in a chair when we ate, when we watched TV, when she went to bed. He wasn't someone far away in Los Angeles. He was her friend and was with her all the time. That's how our kids need to know Jesus. He's not someone far away in the sky that they'll one day meet in Heaven, but someone who lives in their house, in their heart, is with them at school and when they go to bed.
I wish I'd been as "wise" back then as I am now. :) I pray that all the Godly parents I know are teaching their kids to believe that "Jesus loves everyone, but I'm His favorite."
When I was a child, I could play outside after dark, go anywhere in the neighborhood, ride the bus to town and wander all over Polk Street--all without worrying that some crazy man was going to pick me up. I'm sure that happened, but we weren't scared about it. My friend, Anna Lou, and I would fix a lunch and walk about a mile and a half across vacant lots to a cemetery on the outskirts of Amarillo where we'd spend the day. This cemetery had a little bridge that went from the main area and the mill, over to to a small island. I don't know how we spent the day, but we stayed for hours. Then we'd walk home and our parents, knowing where we had been, weren't the least bit worried about us.
My brother was 7 years younger than I was and when Mother went shopping, many times he and I sat in the car--ALONE. Nobody ever noticed.
My girls in the 50s and 60s were able to play outside, ride their bikes to school and around the neighborhood--safely. I don't remember ever leaving them in the car alone until they were teenagers, and that would have been their choice to wait for me--if they went with me at all.
According to TV ads a parent has to have a GPS on their child and can't let them out of their sight. We hear about kids being stolen from their front yards and from a baseball field in plain sight of hundreds of people. I can't imagine the pressure that puts on parents. Not only do parents have to worry about what someone else will do to them, they have to be concerned about what their kids are seeing on TV, on the computer, in school and at their friends' houses. Who can they trust any more? How do they even choose a babysitter? Or do they just stay home unless they have a friend or family member to babysit?
As I've said before, I heard someone say we are putting people out from our high schools and colleges that have no moral compass. How will that affect your kids, parents?
Hard? Worse than hard. Frightening. That's why we have to grab hold of the Saviour and hold on tight. And we have to help our kids come to know Him and His power. Not just a long haired man in a Sunday School story, but a real, living, loving being who wants to have a relationship with them. When my oldest daughter was about 3 she had an imaginary friend. This friend was Dr. Kildaire from a TV program. He was with her all the time--sat in a chair when we ate, when we watched TV, when she went to bed. He wasn't someone far away in Los Angeles. He was her friend and was with her all the time. That's how our kids need to know Jesus. He's not someone far away in the sky that they'll one day meet in Heaven, but someone who lives in their house, in their heart, is with them at school and when they go to bed.
I wish I'd been as "wise" back then as I am now. :) I pray that all the Godly parents I know are teaching their kids to believe that "Jesus loves everyone, but I'm His favorite."
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