Time for a heart inspection?

It started with just a little musty smell, not overwhelming, but it was there right when you walked in the door.  Then we noticed a little moldy spot in the downstairs bathroom, not a big spot mind you, but definitely an indicator that all was not well, but a little scrubbing or at best a small section of replaced drywall and it would be fine, right?  Then it happened.  Brian was taking a shower in the downstairs bathroom and all of the sudden the ceiling above him began to cave in.  At this point it became clear that we had a problem.   First of all, you may be asking, "Who is Brian and why is he in your shower?"  Brian is our good friend who is an amazing handyman, plumber, electrician, carpenter, guy who can fix anything and everything and he has made three trips to Greensboro so far to do a little fixing up on our house there so we can sell it.  He is staying at the house, thus why he was in the shower.  The little musty smell was from the upstairs powder room toilet, which happens to be just above the downstairs shower.  The problem was that the toilet had old seals which were causing leaking, which caused moldy spots, musty smells, and ultimately a collapsed ceiling.   Now the good news to all of this is that it happened while Brian was there, he can fix everything, and it will all be much better in the long run.  All of this got me to thinking. . . 

Sometimes, many times, we have little 'issues' that begin as just a little musty smell, which can be covered up, but it is always a symptom of something else that is going on.  Sometimes it is hurt feelings between loved ones, or 'little white lies' (what is a white lie anyway?) told to conceal something relatively minor, or just plain jealousy.  Regardless of what it is, the musty smell in the foyer almost always means a more serious problem somewhere.  We don't always have a super duper handyman to find and fix the problem, but we do have a Heavenly Father who desires to reveal and heal all.  

Tomorrow as you go to church to express your worship corporately, I pray you will spend a few minutes asking God to poke around your heart and make sure all is well.  I know that is my plan, for as frustrating as it is to have to fix leaks and replace ceilings, it is better than living with musty smells all the time.

Empty Nesters

Sunday morning our birds left us. We actually saw them moments after they had all left the nest. The mama and daddy bird along with all four little ones were in the front tree chirping away and fluttering about. All too soon they were gone and we could take back our front porch. There was one unhatched, I presume infertile, egg left in the nest, and I feel a small sense of pride that the other four survived so well. I was going to keep the nest, but it has a 'crown' of bird poop all around the top, so I am rethinking that decision.

Edgar, Ryan and I spent a great day at the Atlanta zoo on Saturday while Rachel attended both a morning and afternoon class at Barbizon. Then Sunday because Upstreet and Extreme were closed, we all got to worship together as a family. Eddie Kirkland did an amazing job leading worship, and I have yet to hear Andy preach a bad sermon. In light of the sad news of Maria Chapman this week, his sermon on "When God says no" was most appropriate.

The pool is now open and Ryan is so happy. That boy could spend all day everyday in the water if we allowed it! Saturday evening we enjoyed a little informal bar-b-que with the four other families in our community who actually use the pool! It is great motivation for him to finish his chores early so he can spend long hours at the pool each day--ahh, summertime!

I hope you watched the National Concert last night on PBS. It was a moving tribute to our soldiers past and present who make it possible for us to live this free lifestyle we enjoy. I grew up in a family that emphasized patriotism; my dad was a WWII vet, but it is difficult to instill those values in my children as it is not really popular. We know a couple of people now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and I need to remember to send emails and letters on a regular basis, not just on Holidays, to thank them for their service. We plan to spend a little more time today in memorial for the freedoms we enjoy.

Well, the Princess is still in bed, Edgar is playing with his new toy, I mean cutting the grass with the riding lawn mover he bought from uncle Jeff, Ryan is outside watching dad, and I need to head to the office to finish packing coffee. Have a great day!

Cinderella

We just learned that the Steven Curtis Chapman family has experienced a terrible tragedy today and we should all stop right now and pray God's mercy for them. Steven and Mary Beth are champions for children and for adoption. They not only adopted three daughters from China, but established an organization to help Christian families with international adoptions. Today, one of their teenage sons accidentally ran over their youngest daughter with the family SUV. My heart breaks not only for the family in general but especially for their son. I cannot imagine losing a child and the incredible pain they are experiencing. I certainly cannot imagine going through something like this without the love and comfort of our Savior.

I have recently come to love one of Steven's more recent songs: Cinderella. The song is a tear jerker anyway to anyone who has a daughter. In light of today's events, the words are almost haunting:

I dance with Cinderella, while she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
I dance with Cinderella, I don't want to miss even one song
All too soon the clock with strike midnight, and she'll be gone.

Oh God, let us never take our children for granted and when you do take them home give us your divine grace to ease the pain until we can be reunited in Your Presence.

Some random thoughts and updates

First of all I am a year older, well actually just about a week older since my last post, but I did have a nice birthday yesterday and appreciate the many well wishes. Billie and I had a great time in Atlanta on Friday. We went to lunch and looked around some cute shops in the Virginia Highlands area and ended our afternoon by going to the movies, such fun! On Saturday Edgar, the kids, and I attended Amanda's wedding and took some pictures since we were all dressed up. The wedding was lovely and they looked so happy. Of course they are on their honeymoon this week so we have no extra help in the office!!

As for our little birds, it seems we have 4! Their eyes are open, their fuzz is beginning to shed and feathers are beginning to appear. The pictures are not too good as mama bird was not happy to have me peeking into the nest, so I took the pictures from inside the house. We also became concerned that once they start to fly the nest is not in a tree over grass, but on our door over a wooden front porch, so we set up a little safety net, "just in case". I am really excited to see them learn to fly, a little sad to know they are almost gone, and a little excited to have my front porch back--especially since the weather has been so beautiful.
Lastly our garden is overflowing with strawberries! We planted four plants late last summer and they have spread all throughout the garden. We carefully kept them covered through the various frosts, and now the garden is overflowing with sweet, red strawberries. Of course Rachel and I are in the dog house because we have not done any strawberry picking yet, but we will I am sure. For now, Edgar has been faithfully picking a couple of bowl fulls each day, yummy.

Sharing Mother's Day with the other Mother here

This Mother's Day I find that I am not the only Mother in this house today; our baby birds have arrived!! We confirmed 5 little eggs last week and think all five hatched, but for goodness sake they are so small it is hard to tell! We pulled a chair into the foyer, up to the glass door and each of us took turns peeking into the nest. We saw a nest filled with little squirming, fuzzy, lumps. We didn't stay long because mama bird was hovering nearby anxiously wanting to return to her nest. With all of the high winds we have had the last 24 hours, these little birds have no idea who well protected they are to have their nest on our front door under the porch!

Hope you all had a restful day of worship and a time to treat moms like a queen! I got flowers, cards, and an itunes card--it has been a great day!

I remember. . . .

She was born in 1915. She lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, The Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict and spent over 70 years in the work force. Her own mom died before she was 10 years old and she practically raised her younger brother while taking care of her dad. She made most of her own clothes, the few she owned, and learned to be quite a cook.

She loved to sing, and as a young woman shared a radio show with her best friend where she sang and played the piano. During this same time she worked as a waitress for a small diner and after a 12 hour shift would go dancing until all hours of the morning. Although a woman of high morals, she told me she "felt so sorry for the young men going to war, so she got engaged to a few of them--so they would have a reason to come home." I don't know how many actually did come home, but one young soldier from Oklahoma made it back and she married him. When I asked how daddy proposed, she replied, "He said, 'do you want to get married or something?', and I said, 'We'll get married or nothing!!'".

She never lost her work ethic. Yes, even in the 1950's when June Cleaver was the ideal wife and mother, my mom worked outside the home--she had to. It took two incomes to support her dad and we two girls. Even though finances were always tight she managed to save enough pennies from her grocery budget to make sure every holiday had special meaning and special treats; a box of conversation hearts at Valentine's, a hollow chocolate egg at Easter. We never knew that we were poor.

Mother never met a stranger. She would strike up a conversation with anyone she met and made friends with most of them. Her big smile and generous ways were her trademark, but she was no pushover. On more than one occasion I remember my father attempting to deal with a car repairman, insurance agent, or less than attentive sales clerk. If things were not progressing to his satisfaction, he would simply say, "Would you feel more comfortable speaking to my wife?", to which the answer was always the same, "Oh no sir, I'll be right with you!' Don't even asked how many times we would be eating out and see mom march back to the kitchen with a plate of food that was not prepared to her satisfaction!

Formal education was a luxury and completing the eighth grade was as far as she got. Her skills in math were exceptional, and at 48 years old she began working at a service station as their bookkeeper. The previous bookkeeper had kept most of the figures 'in her head', so it took mom over two years to fully reconstruct the books, but she did it, and kept them 'penny perfect' for many years. Two decades later, she taught herself how to use a computer to keep books for another service station.

Although I never heard my mom say an audible prayer, I know she prayed, often. She took us to church faithfully and lived out her faith to all who knew her. Once in an adult Sunday School class an insensitive teacher asked her a question to which she did not know the answer. She never overcame her embarrassment of that moment, and never returned to an adult class, but she did not forsake Sunday School. For over 27 years she served in the church nursery. "The babies have no idea if I can answer Bible questions, I just rock them and sing to them." (I am confident that in the last 11 years she has been in heaven she has found some babies to rock!)

When I was in college, Roe vs. Wade was a very hot debate and I mentioned to her that when the mother's life is in danger, or the viability of the fetus was at stake, certainly abortion would be OK, wouldn't it? She then told me that when she found herself pregnant at 37 years old with her second child, the Dr.'s all advised her that to attempt to carry a child to term could endanger her life and the odds of the child being born healthy were slim. She thanked them for their medical advise, but reminded them that the child she carried was a gift from God and if He did not want her to have it, He would let her know. Nine months later she gave birth to her second healthy daughter, me.

Thirty seven years later when I became pregnant I found great comfort in the knowledge that giving birth at an older age ran in the family. I am so sorry that she did not live to see Rachel grow up and never even met Ryan. She would so have loved knowing them.

My mother was not perfect, but she was a great mom. She sacrificed much and did the best she knew how. I am so grateful for her strong will, her undying faith, and her unconditional love. I only hope I can be half as inspiring a mom as her I miss you mom, Happy Mother's Day.

I Have 11 Friends

That's right, I have 11 friends.  I know this because I signed on to my newly acquired Facebook account and it told me so, right up there at the top.  I'm feeling pretty good about this, I mean I know I have a lot of acquaintances, but now I have 11 people who actually consider me their friend.   

I have no idea what a Facebook actually is, I presume it is a book of faces, but it says I have 11 friends so why isn't it called Friendbook?  I don't know what to do with it either.  I see there are walls, although I have have never actually seen a wall, is it supposed to be made of brick?  I see that people write on these walls, I don't know how to do that either.  Oh, there is a Super wall, I guess it is bigger or maybe more expensive, not sure.

Then there are groups, and one of my friends has an Entourage---I had no idea!  I have noticed that sometime people poke each other.  I have not done that, I was taught that was rude.  

I have heard about Twitter and asked my nephew Phillip, who makes a point of knowing all about these things, what it was.  He simply said I had no business getting involved with that, and since he is a professional Christian, I didn't question him (although a lot of professional Christians seemed to be into Twittering).

There is this thing for we older folks called TeeBeeDee, but I think I will wait to join that one.  It could be more complicated than this book of Faces thing.  The point of all of this is simply to say that I am quite happy to have 11 friends.  Four of them are related to me--do they still count?

Have you seen my table?

I had the strangest dream last night and it has preoccupied my thinking all day, without any resolution, so I thought maybe you could help.  

In my dream we were having dinner on the table I inherited from my parents.  It was not an expensive table, I grew up in a home with few material items, but it was a very interesting design.  It looked like a simple hallway-type table, about 3 and a half feet long and maybe 2 feet deep.  When Edgar and I had it, I kept an embroidered cloth over it and a couple of hurricane lamp/candles on it as I recall.  It was a brown veneer, and not very pretty, but it had a great design.  See, the front part pulled out and stored behind the doors in front were 4-5 leaves that stored folded in half, but when opened fit across the parallel pull-out panels creating a table for 4, 6, 8 or 10 people.  We used it many times growing up and Edgar and I used it a few times when we had company.

Now here is the mystery:  I have no idea where it is!  I don't know if we gave it away, forgot to pack it in one of the moves, or simply lost it.  I do know that it is not in this house and we do not have a storage unit, so where could it be?  I remember having it in our first home, 22 years ago, in Vero Beach,  and I am pretty sure we had it in the apartment in Deerfield Beach.  I can't visualize where it was in the Pompano Beach home, nor do I ever remember seeing it in Greensboro.  Can you help?  

If you remember seeing it, or dining on it please let me know where.  If we gave it to you, then could you refresh my memory on that also.  I don't necessarily want it back, but it does have sentimental value and I hate to think that I simply lost it somewhere.

That's it.  If you know where the table is please let me know!  Thanks so much.

A Few Observations

I love to watch people. You know, in public places when you can just sit back and observe human behavior. I had many opportunities to do just that at the Orange conference. Young student pastors, new moms, seasoned pastors, teenagers. Most of the participants were there eager to learn more of the Orange approach to ministry, but it was interesting to observe the skeptics. Some of the ideas are difficult and require mental and spiritual wrestling. For many it was as if they were hearing truth, or heresy, for the first time. For most it was a time of great excitement and a little frustration--loving what they were experiencing and trying to figure out how to implement it in their church. I remember those days.

I mostly enjoy observing children, especially really young, non-verbal children. Their sense of wonder and natural curiosity is really amazing; you can almost see them learning. Every interaction is a lesson, every activity a scientific experiment. Discovery leads to bolder experimentation as they move from their comfort zones to new and more challenging discoveries. It is much more rewarding to observe them making self discoveries than to always give them directions. Of course some direct instruction is necessary, but the lessons learned by experience seem to "take" quicker and last longer.

Maybe that is why God left so many mysteries to our faith. The Bible, although very interesting, is not always an easy read. There are many concepts for which there is no reasonable explanation, they simply require faith. Maybe He delights in our discoveries as we study His Word and desire to know Him. Perhaps He intentionally leaves us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. With this thought, I pray as we endeavor to bring glory to our God, may our lives filled with amazing discoveries that delight our Heavenly Father.