Thursday, March 6, 2008

Prayer And Thoughts On Life From A Five-Year-Old Boy

Our dear grandson, Mr. G., recently prayed at bedtime: “Dear Jesus, I was wondering if you would help my big brother's owies get all better? And I was also wondering if you would help my owies get better too 'cause I have lots of 'em? Thank you that the Bible lives in our heart and thank you that you live in our heart and thank you that we get to go to heaven. Amen.” Several weeks ago he shared his perspective on life with his daddy: “After you’re all done being little then you grow up and be a daddy, then when you’re done doing that you become a grandpa and get to have a mustache (my sweetheart has a mustache), after becoming a grandpa you get to be like Nana (my dear little mother) and then when you decide you’re all done, you just go to heaven – Right dad?” His dad replied, "That pretty much sums it up".

Profound thoughts on life. Out of the mouths of babes!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Why I Did Not Pursue A Career In Art

I admire the work of true artists. Some of the blog friends I have met through the last few months are so creative with their art. I, however, have not been blessed with such talent. It was obvious early in my life that I should not pursue a career in art. I would never make a living at it - no one would buy what I offered for sale. But I did try to share my view of life and the world around me. I did try to portray what my young mind saw. Here are a few of my not-award-winning pieces. A portrait of my mother obviously showed how I viewed her. While my perspective was off by a long-shot my view of her was right! A mother with a big smile. Notice that she is just head - with a BIG smile - and legs. And her purse!

It didn't get better as time passed. The following year - in First Grade - I missed a few important details. Like the shape of the spots on cows. By the time I was in Second Grade no hidden talent suddenly surfaced. One of the favorites that my dear mother saved was my rendition of 'The Shepherds'. She always thought the shepherd on the left looked like George Washington. I have to agree.Interestingly enough, there are talented artists in my family. My grandmother and my aunt were very good. My cousin offers his work for sale in galleries near his home. They were gifted with the enviable ability to translate what they saw - with their eyes or their imaginations - into works of grace and beauty. I did inherit artistic, creative talents. Mine are in music. I'm very happy with that.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Songs In The Night


Where is God my maker,
Who giveth songs in the night?
Job 35:10

It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is skillful who sings when there is not a ray of light to read by, who sings from his heart. No man can make a song in the night of himself; he may attempt it, but he will find that a song in the night must be divinely inspired. Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow on my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewith shall I frame a hymn of praise to God?

No, it is not in man's power to sing when all is adverse. . . Since our Maker gives songs in the night, let us wait on him for the music. . . Let us not remain songless because affliction is upon us, but tune our lips to the melody of thanksgiving. Charles H. Spurgeon

Friday, February 29, 2008

It's A Small World

I collect miniatures - all kinds of little things. Several years ago I saw a wonderful, old printer's drawer for sale in an antique mall near our home. It was well used, stained and had signs of ink in some sections. It was all I could talk about. I seemed like the perfect home for my miniatures. The price was right and I knew it was just what I needed. We were on a very tight budget so I didn't pursue it farther than in my thoughts. A few weeks later I was in the antique mall again with a friend and I noticed that the old printer's drawer was gone. Someone must have bought it. I told her about it and how much I would love to have had it for my miniature collection. Christmas Day was not long after that and when my sweetheart handed me his gift I was surprised that it was a very large package. Yes, you guessed it! It was the printer's drawer. The one I had so wanted to have. He listened to my description and knew how very much it would mean to me. He secretly went to the antique mall, found it and bought it just for me. A cherished gift that means more than if I had bought it for myself.
At first my collection was very small and there were more empty spots in the old drawer than there were little treasures. Through the years I have added more and family and friends have given me sweet little things to fill the sections. There are only five empty places left. A challenge. Something to look and shop for. Now it hangs on my laundry room wall. Nearly full. Some of the little things are old. Some are new. All have special meaning to me. You will see a little duck made of seashells, a tiny dictionary, a wooden baby buggy, a feedsack of 'grain', two sweet 'rag' dolls and a teeny, tiny glass jar full of chocolate chip cookies.
You will also see a pewter birdnest and little bird, a wooden apple, an 'S' from a printer's typeset (for our last name), a mini church, a tiny card of the sweetest little buttons, a can of Coke and a little brass bell.Nearby you will see a yellow blown-glass fish, two ducklings at play, a teacup, a little stack of books, two lazy frogs and a miniature scale.You might enjoy the blue and white teacups, the ice cream maker, the pewter horse and carriage or the darling little pitcher. I like everything in my printer's drawer but I think my favorite is the little Scottie dog from my childhood dollhouse. He and I spent many hours playing together. He may have been the beginning of my collection. No matter what every time I see this collection of miniature treasures I enjoy each one of them all over again. I think it really is a small world, after all!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Getting To Know You

One of the fun things that happens in the world of blog is to be tagged by a blogger friend to share things about yourself. It's a great way to get to know a person better. Sometimes we learn deep, serious things. Sometimes fun, silly things. I've been tagged by Hope at Second Time Around to share seven weird or random things about myself. First I have to post the rules. Then I tell you about me - what you may (or may not) want to know.

The rules are:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

Here we go:

1. I can read upside-down. I don't know why or how I learned to do this. Maybe it was a time when I was across the table from someone and tried to help them with homework. Maybe I was trying to snoop and read what someone else was writing. Anyway, I can do it. Unless the handwriting is so bad I couldn't read it right-side-up!

2. I tie bows left-handed, even though I'm right-handed. My father was left-handed and he taught me to tie my shoes. As a result my bows are never quite straight. My sweetheart always tried to tie the sashes on our dear daughters dresses so they wouldn't be at an angle.

3. I LOVE pickles. Dill pickles are a weakness of mine. One year when I was young my family spent a few days around New Year's Day at the home of good friends. Their daughter and I were best buddies. Just after midnight on New Year's Eve we lay in bed in her bedroom upstairs. Our parents were asleep downstairs. Her brothers and sisters were either in their rooms or at the homes of friends for the night. We decided it was much too quiet for a New Year's Eve. We needed to celebrate. What could we do? We quietly tiptoed downstairs to find something yummy to eat. Her mother was one of the best cooks. We found our way through the kitchen to the big pantry/fruit room where 'millions' of jars of home-canned foods were stored. As we turned on the light we immediately spotted rows and rows of pickles. Dill pickles. I told her how much I love dill pickles and soon we decided to celebrate by eating her mother's wonderful homemade dill pickles. I had in mind a pickle or two. She suggested that we each could have our own quart of them. I questioned the wisdom. Would we get in trouble? Would her mother mind if we ate two quarts of her beautiful pickles? No, not at all. So, we took them back upstairs and enjoyed every single bite. For a few minutes. Then, all of a sudden I said I didn't feel good and I thought my tummy was sick. She admitted the same. Within minutes we both raced down the stairs to the bathroom that was between the two bedrooms where our unsuspecting parents lay quietly sleeping. Two VERY sick little girls. In agony. Praying to live. Vowing to never again eat a whole quart of dill pickles. Our mothers were immediately by our side. We had to admit our deed and suffer the consequences. We are still very good friends and we and our two dear mothers meet for lunch nearly every month. We often laugh and reminisce about that New Year's Eve celebration. We both still love dill pickles. One.at.a.time.

4. I whistle off-key. I am a musician. Piano. Keyboard. Vocal. I have a good ear for music and can immediately hear when music is off-key. Once in awhile I whistle a tune as I work around the house. One day when my children were young I whistled a familiar song that was on the radio only to be told that it sounded terrible. They said I was off-key. No, I couldn't be! I could hear it myself. And I was right on key. I'm a musician. I know whether something is on or off-key. My sweetheart spoke up and told me it was really bad. Not on-key at all. I disputed their opinion so we taped me whistling with another song playing. Terrible. Not to be believed! How could this be? Apparently when I whistle the sound that travels to my ear is distorted in some way. It sounds on-key to me but it's not! It's really bad! I think I'm tone-deaf to my own whistling. Occasionally I suggest to my family that I would be more than willing to whistle a special song at church or at a function we will all attend. That always brings loud protests and much laughter.

5. I was never allowed to use the word hate when I was growing up. But I HATE asparagus! I can't stand the smell of it cooking and the taste of it is enough to make me ill. When I was about five-years-old we travelled to the home of friends far away. Periodically I would ask my father to stop so I could get something to drink. He obliged until, finally, he said we would not stop again until we arrived at the home of our friends. Don't ask to stop. We aren't far away. A bit later I sat in the backseat of our car and said to no one in particular - but hoping my father would hear and have pity on me - "I'm so thirsty I would even be willing to drink asparagus juice!" Through the years I've often been teased about asparagus juice. I've never seen it on the market. Thankfully. If you have, please don't send any to me.

6. I am an only child. I did have a brother who didn't live when he was born. As a result I grew up an only child. When I was very young I had a constant companion. My rag doll, Susie. Maybe someday you will meet her. She would love to pose for a picture and meet you. Susie was usually slumped over my arm. Wherever I went, Susie went. Wherever Susie went, I went. Susie was often blamed for things that I did when I thought I would be in trouble for my actions. Something was broken. Susie did it! Something was spilled. Susie did it! Something wasn't put away as it should be. Susie did it! She was a character, that Susie, but she still loves me. She lives in my garage but soon she hopes to move into my sewing room where she has spotted a new shelf that's waiting for her to take up residence. She thinks that's what's going to happen. I'm not sure. But I sure don't want to disappoint her. We.will.see.about.that!

7. I drink Diet Pepsi first thing in the morning. Before you email me or comment about the dangers and affects of this behavior, I already know about them. Several years ago I was the office manager at a manufacturing plant near my home. Each morning at 7:00 we began our work day. Most of the men in the plant loved to tease me about drinking Diet Pepsi first thing in the morning. They often commented that it didn't make sense to them. My response - "What do you have in your hand?" "A cup of coffee." "Well, you like your caffeine hot - I like mine cold." Enough said. I did the trick every time.

Well, there you have it. Aren' you glad you know all of this about me? I have to tag seven people to share about themselves. I have chosen to tag friends whose blogs I visit often. Some new friends. Some friends for awhile. Some live nearby. Some live far away. I hope you will visit their blogs and get acquainted with them. They are:

2. Susan at PawleyFarm Seasons
3. Rosie at Rosie's Whimsy

4. Yolanda at Perfectly Imperfect
5. Katherine at Yellow Rose Arbor
6. Rose at Classic Charm

7. Mimi at Listen To Your Grammie

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Forever

Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise


With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that's been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever

From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever


Song: "Forever" by Chris Tomlin

Friday, February 22, 2008

Sweet Boys

Last weekend we drove to Salem to attend the basketball game of our oldest grandson, Mr. R.We really enjoyed watching him and his team. It was fun to be there with his parents and his other grandparents from out-of-state. And his two brothers, Mr. G. and Mr. H.
Both teams listened to the referee's instructions and worked hard to follow the rules and show good sportsmanship.
But we especially loved watching our "star", Mr. R. work hard to play a good game.
You can be sure he was pretty proud to have both sets of grandparents on the sidelines cheering him on.
After the game we all enjoyed supper and a good visit together at our son and daughter-in-law's home. Family times are always so special. Add grandkids and it's even sweeter!