Christmas

When our older daughter was in kndergarten, her class sang a song for the Christmas Program called, "Christmas is a Time to Love". As I was reflecting on the words of this song, which I am sure has many Youtube videos to watch, it reminded me of all that God's gift of Jesus means to me. Our younger daughter is currently teaching a 3 year-old class and they are busily practicing, rehaearsing, being fitted with costumes and full of joy as they prepare to present their version of the Christmas Story tomorrow for the parents. I would love to be a jingle bell in that room and hear the excitement, the words that weren't rehearsed and the expressions on their faces, their parents' faces and my own daughter's face:)
I was teaching the little ones at my church a couple of Sundays ago. There were only 4 childen in the class that day. We were making Advent ornaments and I was telling the children that Jesus is the BEST gift of all at Christmas. I have one in the class that is an especially deep thinker. He said,
"Jesus is the BEST gift everyday of the year." Outdone once again by someone much, much younger but much wiser than his teacher.
So this Christmas, may we each hold the wonder of all that God has done for  us, which truly is  more than we can fathom. In the words of an old hymn, "God rest ye merry gentlemen ( and women and children), let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day...."
Merry Christmas!

The Mattress Debate

For the past few weeks, President Obama and Mitt Romney have been debating issues that pertain to our country. They each want what is best for us. Although, there is no way anyone who is hooked on Obama or on Romney will be swayed to change their opinion of who should be the next leader of America. The die is cast as they say. However, there is another debate that is ongoing. It is The Great Mattress Debate. Today, our new extra firm Simmons Beautyrest Classic was delivered. Yesterday, when my husband and I decided to purchase a new mattress set, I had an idea of what kind of mattress I wanted. Our daughter had told me about the Westin Heavenly mattress and the one we purchased is very much like the Heavenly one. My husband said the decision was totally mine as apparently he didn't want to lie down on the numerous beds to try them out. So, I was presented with an array of mattress choices. There's your traditional mattress with coils. Some have thicker, sturdier coils. You have your extra plush top of the line traditional mattresses. There are pillowtop mattresses which I had been told by a friend not to get that kind. Also, there are latex mattresses made from tree sap. I think rubber tree sap, but maybe some other tree. Then there are memory foam ones. There are sleep number beds, but I don't want to  plug in my bed to an electric socket to sleep.There are water beds, but the sensation of being at sea while sleeping isn't appealing. I guess I never realized what a weighty decision I had to make. I tend to be a fast decision maker, so after lying down on various ones (by the way, they all felt good), I chose the one my daughter recommended. The one that I was leaning towards  prior to seeing any of them. I sure hope my night's sleep is a heavenly one tonight!

G. Lee 3 at 15 months

As I sit here waiting for a friend to visit from NC, I have a few minutes to write about this sweetheart in the picture. Last October, I blogged about a happy 3 month old who had to be propped up next to a pumpkin bigger than he was for an autumnal photo op. This October, G. Lee 3 is on the move and on the move some more. He loves to be "youtyide" as he says. He loves books, he loves his bath and loves to do lots of fine motor activities. Years ago, when my older daughter was his age, a wise friend told me to let the kids mess up the room and try not to let the constant state of disorder get to me. I have kept that advise and am happy to see that my younger daughter doesn't fret over her little guy's toys and books everywhere. Yes, she and her husband pick up the clutter when company is coming and sweet baby boy quickly makes company feel at home by bringing a ball, blocks, stuffed animals and books out of their "hiding places" to share with those who visit. Then everyone feels right at home!! They are only little once and he is learning to pick up his toys and books when we sing the "clean up" song.  People, there is just so much to do and learn when you are 15 months old, don't ya know! Anyway, thank you God for this contented, well-adjusted, smart, adorable, fun  and always on the move grandson of mine!!

An Observation

Just last week, I was on a girls' vacation with 2 of my friends. We had a relaxing week at the beach. During this time, we played tennis- Australian style- meaning 1 against 2, swam in the ocean with the fishies, visited a botanical garden, did a little shopping and enjoyed every minute. One day it rained and poured, but we still went out and did non-beach things, like shopping and eating. I loved watching the fish through the waves. As the sun shone through the waves, we could see small fish playing and probably trying to out-swim the bigger more aggressive fish interested in making these little guys their next snack. On one of our days in the water, many small fish acrobated themselves out of the water dodging my friend standing in their path. It was fun to see, but a little scary for said friend.
I really enjoyed just being in the ocean. I don't think I have ever been in more then a half an hour at one time  in my life, but on this vacation, my friend and I went in for at least an hour on two different days. Wow! I might add in case my niece is reading this that the ocean was very,very calm on those two days and we were in no danger of being eaten and spit out! Another side benefit was I didn't get a sunburn.
I loved watching the families with their young children. It was great seeing moms, dads and kiddoes relaxing and enjoying each others' company. Dodging the waves, digging in the sand, and eating gritty "sand"wiches- literally!! As the waves, birds, fish and sky declared the wonders of Our Heavenly Father, I would whole-heartedly say- Amen!!!

Happy Brthday to My 1st Born!

On September 4, 1981, at 7:49 AM, I met my first child face to face. I won't go into any labor stories because there are more than enough of those. My first thought upon seeing her was that something magical had just happened. I clearly remember having the feeling that the doctor had just performed a trick akin to pulling a rabbit out of a hat. It was truly amazing. My husband had been with me through the loooooonnnnnnggggg labor part, but chose to skip the delivery and call my parents and his mom to let them know that their grandchild was about to be born. This were be the first grandchild for my parents and the fourteenth one for my husband's mom. I wasn't in the delivery room for very long at all. By the time baby girl and I were wheeled to the recovery room, there was my mom eager to greet her granddaughter. Her first name was a name that I carried around in my mind for several years thinking that if I ever had a daughter, this would be her name. Her middle name  is her paternal grandmother's first name. So Happy 31 to a most wonderful, beautiful, caring, fun-loving, intelligent, contented, etc., etc. daughter. Thank you so very much, God!!

100 years ago today, my father was born

100 years ago on this date, my father was born. He was born at home in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He was 11 years younger than his only sister. He had 2 made-up friends, Jugga and Keega because there weren't any boys his age that lived nearby.  He went to Greenbriar Military School from the time he was 6 years old through his graduation from there in 1930. His father was a home builder and his mother was a homemaker. He married my mom within a month or so of turning 36. She was 11 years younger. I was born when he was 38 and my brother was born when he was 40. He was a loving dad and faithful husband. He was a Christian. He never drank or smoked. He had a great sense of humor. He loved people. He was handsome. He was kind. He was humble. Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you!

What an Awesome Day!

This past Sunday, I was the KidsZone teacher at church, which means I didn't get to be in "Big" church. We had a family visiting  from Bosnia. I really wanted to hear them speak, as my brother's last mission, before he went to heaven, was to provide several tons of architectural glass from his company, Guardian Glass, to the war torn city of Sarajevo, Bosnia. The glass was delivered to a hospital and installed after my brother's death. A plaque was placed in David's memory outside of the hospital.in Sarajevo.  I had given the printed information about the gift of glass and my brother's written testimony to the family in our church who are close friends of the missionary family. After church, the Bosnian missionary was waiting for me as he had looked over what I had handed to his friends. He said the hospital is only 400 meters from their home church in Sarajevo!!! Not a coincidence- God's plan. Also, his father had surgery on his leg that had been injured in the war there in the early 1990's. He said, if I came to Sarajevo, he would take me to the hospital so that I could see my brother's plaque and that he would take me to the crash site in Croatia where there is also a plaque in honor of each one who died in the plane crash- all perished on April 3, 1996. I was close to tears at this point. He said, "We have a connection." I hugged him.
As I was getting in our car after church, I told my husband that I was probably going to go to Sarajevo. He asked why I thought that. I explained. My husband said that while the missionaries were preaching, he was thinking the very same thing!!!
I don't know when this trip will occur, but I do know God is in the midst of it. Thank you God for such a touching surprise.

You're Prettier

Recently when visiting my mom, I had a chat with one of her caregivers. The caregiver said she'd like to tell me something my mom had said. Well, with that, I kind of held my breath, because my mother is known for saying exactly what she is thinking. A nice way of saying this is she is very honest. So, the woman began her story. One day the caregver had to bring her 2 daughters to work with her and when they were near or with my mom,  my mother said to the one daughter, "You're very pretty." Compliment given and compliment accepted with pleasure. Whew, I am thinking, that's good. Then to the second daughter, who according to her mom doesn't get comments like that, my mom said, "But you're prettier." The caregiver told me that those words given to the daughter that doesn't hear that  as often as the other one, has never forgotten what Mrs. Ford said to her that day. Now when the one daughter, says something flattering about herself or hears something nice being said about her, the other one will say, " But I'm prettier." Also, since that time, when the girls need to be at work with their mom, they ask if they can go visit Mrs. Ford. I am thankful that my mom's words had such a positive impact on this young child and at the same time didn't hurt the other one's feelings.
Psalm 19:14 says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
This story also reminded me of the Miranda Lambert song, Only Prettier. Thank you, Lord, for allowing my mom to be such an encouragement!!!

It's HOT!!!

Welcome to July! August is supposed to be 'The Dog Days", but we have experienced a beginning to this 7th month with record-breaking heat. As June said goodbye on Saturday, we had been without power from Friday night until 5PM on the last day of June. Many people in our area were without power much longer than us. Some, didn't lose power at all. My hisband began to contemplate that we are becoming a nation of must have air-conditioning to survive. When he and I were children in the '50's, we just didn't have A/C in our homes, cars, stores, anywhere. I remember a black occilating fan in our home.That seemed to keep us happy. Of course we could do the folding fans or just the stiff piece of cardboard type fans. It was very much like scenes from Andy Griffith in Mayberry.  People were content without air conditioning. It wasn't until 1964  that we had central air. We thought that was amazing!! Maybe my husband is right, maybe we have become wimps in the heat. As I write this, the coolness of our air compressor is blowing sweet, refreshing, chilled air in my direction. Lord, I thank you for that. Also, thanks for ice, swimming pools, portable fans, and all the other cool comforts You have provided.  Lord, I will try not to complain when I read the thermometer.

Waiting and Watching

Recently my daughter posted a video of my grandson watching for his daddy to come home from work. Apparently when G. Lee wakes up from his afternoon nap he has figured out that his daddy comes home soon afterwards. So,he goes to the window, looks up and down the street while calling out for Daa-daa-daddy. If his daddy doesn't come, then he calls louder thinking that then his daddy will come home. So thoughtful of the little guy to continue this waiting and watching routine each day. It struck me when I watched as his searching eyes looked up and down the street, that my grandson has provided a spiritual message that all of us should heed. Just as Gordon Lee eagerly awaits his daddy's coming home, we need to be just as determined to spend time with our Heavenly Father. We don't know when Christ will come again, but The Bible does instruct us to be ready. I can honestly say that I need to eagerly await my quiet time with God in the morning. Do I always have a "can't wait to spend time with God" attitude? No, I don't. I enjoy the quiet of prayer in the morning, but I need my grandson's determination and longing to be with Him. This picture paints more than a thousand words and speaks volumes to me. I couldn't post the actual video, perhaps when my daughter reads this, she can exchange the picture for the video. As he waits and after he has called out for daddy several times, he begins to gnaw on the window sill....so thankful for non-leaded paint!Thank you God for little ones who teach us Your ways.

Tennis Morning!

This morning was a perfect one for tennis. I put on my red tennis top and white tennis skort and headed for the courts. I am into my second year with the AASSTC (that stands for Active Aces Super Senior Tennis Club). In order to be on the team, one must be 50 or older. I qualify-woo-hoo! I'm not the youngest on the team, but then again I'm not the oldest. Today, I played 4 games. We didn't have as many people on the courts as several from our group were out-of-town at a tennis camp in Pennsylvania. Tennis is such a fun sport! You don't have to be an Ace player to play tennis. For me, it's  a way to stay in shape, to get some vitamin D,to socialize with  friends and to learn new skills as I play. When I was at the Y yesterday, I saw a little of the French Open. Those guys are playing on a clay court. I have only played on a clay court one time in my life and  I believe it makes for a more challenging game. This year, I actually bought shoes for tennis. If I say tennis shoes, I think of  shoes from my childhood days with the blue "Keds" label on the back of the heel. So, no, I'm not playing in those kind of tennis shoes. These are specifically made for tennis players. I found them at a local athletics' store for a reasonable price. That is the other thing about tennis, it is a low-cost sport. I pay a small fee to be on the team, a couple team shirts adds up to less than $30.00, a racket for about $20.00 and free court usage. The only thing I truly don't understand about tennis is the scoring. Our club doesn't do the "add-in add-out " system, we just play love-5-30-40-45- DONE!  Still, who thought of this method? Oh well, it doesn't matter. The other day, the team my partner and I were playing against, started off so well, that they had 40 before a few minutes had gone by. I said outloud, " They have 40 points already!" One of the more seasoned players laughed, so I guess you don't say the "points" part in tennis. If you want to have a great time, with many health benefits, come on out and play some tennis! LOVE this game:)

My Husband's Theme Song

A few days ago, I was watching the very last minutes of House. This song, Enjoy Yourself, began to play. Up until that day, I don't think I had heard it before, although it was recorded one year before I was born. This has to be my husband's theme song since he retired a year and a half ago. Before this, the song, I've Seen Fire and I've Seen Rain by James Taylor, reminded me of him. When I told him that, he told me of the story that Cliff of the TV show Cheers told to his bar buddies. Cliff was saying, "I've seen fire and I've seen rain" in his ever so philosophical way, when one of the other regulars said, "Everybody has seen fire and rain." To this Cliff says, " That's all I got." So with that bit of TV trivia, I started to rethink my husband's theme song. This is for sure the one! He has always loved to hear Doris Day sing. He thinks she is adorable. I know she is my mon's age now, but you can only picture Doris Day in her heyday. Now that my husband is retired, he is thoroughly enjoying his life of play, play and more play.. He tells everyone he sees that he highly recommends retirement. So here you go babes.... Enjoy Yourself!!  http://youtu.be/Ha04SVS3KMg

May Day

Happy May 1st!! Enjoy this oldie but goodie on this May Day. I never get tired of watching this one.


http://youtu.be/yR0lWICH3rY

The Passing of Charles Colson

Yesterday as I was on the treadmill at the Y, my husband was watching one of the TVs and said to me, "Hey your friend died." I looked up and saw that Charles Colson had just died. When Mr. Colson was in prison serving his time for his part in the Watergate scandal, I had written a letter to him. I had seen him on a tv show about his conversion to Christianity and wanted to know the name of the book that helped him become a Christian. I wrote the letter on January 4, 1975. On March 25, 1975, after his release from prison, he wrote back with a copy of the book.. The book was Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I still have the letter that he wrote, however the book was loaned to my sister-in-law who also just passed away. I guess when the time is right, I will ask my brother-in-law if he might look for it for me. So, was Charles Colson my friend? Well, I never met him in person, but I did have that Christian connection. I know he is with God and one day when I leave this earth, I hope to meet him.Thank you God for saving Charles Colson and for our kinship in Christ.

Not Rushin'

Today has been a not so rushed kind of day. I have never liked to rush through anything. Today, I got up at a reasonable hour. When I went downstairs to get my husband and myself a cup of coffee, I opened my dog's crate door and even she didn't want to get up. Now that is my kind of dog! When I went back up with our coffees, I felt like I needed to bring Penny her own doggie latte. I am sure she would have lapped it up, but at a leisurely pace of course. After waking up in a fashionably-late way, I headed out with my friend and her granddaughter to get farm fresh eggs and then to a local market for golden beets. At the farm, we visited with the chickens and the horses who were kind enough to come over to the fence and be petted, the horses that is, not the chickens. The chickens were holding a ninja-pose with one leg off the ground. We assumed the same position to let them know we were not to be messed with..  At the market, they always have "on the house" coffee, so I had my second cup of the morning, mmm, yes! I came home, cleaned our bathroom~ well I had to do something productive, right and  did a load of laundry to boot. I fixed the golden beets for lunch. My vote on the beets is, I liked them, but no great shakes. Red beets, which had been the only kind I have ever had up until today, are sweeter than the goldens. I am glad I tried the golden ones, but the red ones can't be "beet", ha! I was going to plant my vegetable garden today, but being a Saturday, I envisioned the nursery to be packed with other aspiring home gardeners, so Monday will be set aside for that task. Just finished a short walk with Penny and friends, then a relaxing dinner at home with the G. man. The lesson in all of this is... Jesus never rushed ( or at least that is how I picture Him). Whether He was praying, writing in the dirt prior to asking the question " He who is without sin, cast the first stone."or chatting with the woman at the well, He was purposefully and quietly paced.  I do think He rushed along when He overthrew the tables in the temple, but that is the only time I recall a hurriedness about Our Savior. Slowing down helps me to focus, count my blessings and enjoy all  that God has planned for me right now. Here's to a laid-back kind of day.

That Face

Here are two recent pictures of G. Lee 3. I love his expressions. We call the bottom picture his Churchill face.

Happy Easter!!

Just a short blog today to wish all a Happy Easter. A few days ago, I received an email with a quote from an Icelandic Hymn. Here is one stanza that is especially meaningful as we focus on all that Jesus did for us on the cross.  

                    My transgressions were borne by Thee,                                                     

                  When Thou didst suffer on the tree.                                                  

Great love to me, Lord, Thou hast shown,                                               

Thou didst atone –                                                             

There Thou didst reap what I had sown.

                                                                   

Absolutely Show Love to Others

I just returned home from a few fun days with my daughter, son-in-law and the star baby! While I was there, I had a thought which I am sure was God-given. I never hear God's audible voice, however this came pretty close. I heard, " Absolutely, show love to others." Now here is the dictionary definition of "absolutely":

1. ab·so·lute·ly/ˌabsəˈlo͞otlē/

   Adverb:

   With no qualification, restriction, or limitation; totally. After thinking these words through, I wondered why "absolutely" was needed, then the definition came into play. Later that day, I was with my daughter and grandson for his 8 month check-up with a brand new doctor since they were just transferred. Our first encounter came with a nurse who wasn't very friendly and rather abrupt. The words "absolutely show love to others" came to mind. So, I just smiled.. When the nurse left the room, my daughter said, she isn't very freindly and I told her I agreed. Then I shared with my daughter those words that were still fresh in my head.  Maybe she had a nasty patient before us or something had caused her to be short. As my little grandson's appointment continued, the nurse began to change.  She was giving us his growth numbers and sharing that he was in excellent health, so  I added, "He is also the cutest baby." She shared with us that she was a grandmother and her love for her grandchildren was apparent. Our entire impression of this person was a 100 %  turn around from the few minutes earlier. She became extra helpful to my daughter. The doctor entered to meet and examine and she was thorough and pleasant. I guess the idea of putting action to God's Word is what I have learned. We might be tempted to immediately respond with similar words when someone is unkind, but God tells us to go the extra mile. Is this hard to do? Yes, humanly speaking. But, with God's nudging and us following Him, the results are ABSOLUTELY amazing!!

SpRiNg

In two days time, spring will officially arrive. However, winter never came this year. We have had spring most days since winter was supposed to have arrived. We did have a few snow flakes in February that made an appearance and quickly vanished with the sunny weather. So, with the mid 60's to 70's temps. this year, I am beginning to wonder if  we will have winter in April or May. Hope not. I took my mom for a walk today and she wanted me to push her wheelchair faster. Mom has never been one to "stop and smell the roses." As a matter of fact, I paused her wheelchair today so she could look at a plant with lovely purple blossoms. She plucked a piece of the plant off and said let's go. I tried to get her to observe the pretty blue skies, she said, "there sure are a  lot of cars." It was still good for her and me to get out and stroll, I mean speed walk down the picturesque street where my mom lives. The blossoms of the pear trees, the redbud trees ,the daffodils and the fresh air, as well as the extended daylight hours thanks to daylight savings time (which I wish we would just keep all year long), make me especially grateful. Today in church, our pastor gave a wonderful message. He reminded each of us to: 1. Be thoughtful. 2. Come along side someone to encourage. 3. Forgive. So don't waste another minute inside. Get on outside, enjoy this gorgeous weather and bless someone with random acts of kindness.

Here's the Mom video

http://youtu.be/yotq4zr0dRc

Being a Mom

There are many different kinds of moms out there. Quiet ones, anxious ones, trendy ones, old-fashioned ones, etc. The one thing that I have noticed lately, now that my own daughter is a mom, is that it is important to remember not to compare yourself to another mom's mothering ways. God chose you to be THE mom to your child/ children. You have your own God-given maternal style. You are best suited to know the needs and "what works" for that pink or blue bundle of energy.Never second guess what you choose to do for the good of rearing your little one in the way he/she should go. Go with your motherly instinct- that's why God gave it to us!!  I can remember being concerned when my first daughter was born and listening to her breathe in her crib. I would put my finger under her little nose to reassure myself that she was fine. If I felt  my children needed to see the doctor, I would take them. The doctor may have been less concerned. Perhaps he thought I was an overly anxious mom since he saw countless moms with their babies, but my baby was just that~ my baby. So trust those instincts and don't worry when your contemporary moms are rearing their babies differently. I saw a commercial the other day and sent it to my daughter. I have copied the commercial in my next post entitled, "Here's the Mom video." Watch it and be warmed.
I am thankful that God allowed me to be the one and only mom to my 2 daughters. I think they turned out just right!! Thank you, God

Devotions

When I became a Christian way back in December of 1969, I didn't have a method to my devotion time. Truthfully, I don't remember what my "quiet time" was. Over the years, I have read the One Year Bible, but not consistently for a daily devotional. I have sat and prayed, then read a few Bible verses. However, my feeble attempts to spend time with God each day were just that...pretty feeble. I have recently acquired a Kindle. It was  Christmas present to myself. I am enjoying the games, the free books and a devotional I bought for the Kindle. It is called Jesus Calling. It's daily ~ by date. I am finding that I look forward to reading the very clear and brief thoughts and the Scripture verses that pertain to the thought and the verses are written out. Yes, I am lazy to look up the verses if the reference is just sited. Jesus Calling is visual. There are no pictures, it's just the words themselves that paint a peaceful picture and help me to focus upon what trusting God is all about. Sometimes, my devotion time is first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee. Sometimes, it is at the end of the day. The point is that it is becoming more consistent. Praying is a large part of my devotional time. I thank Him  for my family, for His presence, His blessings, His guidance. I pray specifically for my husband, my children, my grandson, my mother, my son-in-law, my friends and other requests that have been given to me. A devotion book in and of itself is not going to make one a stronger Christian. What will do this, is talking to God  and reading His Word each day. Meditating upon these words should be an essential part of your time. So I will seek to be more consistent in my time with God, Lent begins next week. This is a great time to gain an even better focus of my time with God.

Day One

Today is February 1st. I have decided to watch what I eat until April 7, the day before Easter. My husband has gone on a fast of sorts for the past probably 20 years. Here is how his goes.... right after his birthday in the beginning of January, he gives up all alcoholic beverages, no dairy (including eggs) and eats poultry and veggies/fruits. He doesn't give up cookies, but does give up other sugary treats. February is fish month and no more poultry. March until Easter is bean time. He will consume all kinds of beans with rice, protein powder and no meats. Since I have never been as disciplined as my "better half", I usually just give up chocolate. My stomach can't seem to tolerate "just beans" like his can, so I just eat sensibly from March til Easter. This is a kind of Lent exercise even though Lent doesn't officially start until Feb. 22.
From today until Easter, I will write down everything I eat in a handy little purse-sized notebook so that I can stay accountable. My major weakness, along with chocolate, is any kind of bread. Since a few days ago, I have not had any bread. I thought that taking bread out of my daily diet would be super hard, but so far, I have not had a problem. Instead I will eat crackers or these 20 calorie a piece whole wheat popcakes from Wegmans. These are sort of like rice cakes. I am giving up all sweets. If we go out somewhere then I make an adjustment and may eat a slice of pie, but I will still write it down. If someone is having a birthday party, I believe it to be very rude ( right? right!) to refuse to eat the cake, I just don't have to eat a big slice.
From time to time during this however many day period, I will check back in here and write a bit about how it's going. You know, like seeing a picture of a brownie and eating the picture, that kind of thing. Wish me Godspeed, since I don't believe in luck.

Just Trust Me

 Last week, I was following my daughter's car to their new home. It was a gorgeous day and she was doing a wondeful job of driving and not losing me as I drove my little Smart car at speeds of 70 mph down a major highway. My Smart can keep up with the Big Boys. About halfway through the trip, she called me and said she'd like to stop at the next Cracker Barrel. It's a nice place to change the baby, use the restroom and grab lunch. I reeeeeaaaaallllllly had to go to the bathroom, so I said the sooner the better. Her little baby was being very good, so she wanted to keep driving just a little further to the Cracker Barrel. I did some wiggling in my driver's seat and kept right on following. Hmmmm, The Cracker Barrel was in the town of a dear friend whom I hadn't seen in about 10 years.  I thought it sure would be nice to see Suzanne, but we didn't have time today and I didn't have her phone number with me. Oh well, maybe next time. We arrived at the Cracker Barrel, I jumped out of my car and scurried to the ladies room as my daughter got the baby and baby stuff out of her car. When I came out of the restroom, my daughter and baby were just coming in the front door of the store. I held the door for her and then looked to my left. I said to my daughter, " Is that Suzanne?" " I don't know", she replied. So I walked over with baby and my daughter, the lady looked up and started to say, "May I help you", but in that instant saw me and said, " Debbie!!!!!!" What is amazing to me is that God knew all along where we were going to stop. I didn't even know Suzanne worked at Cracker Barrel. It was God's doing totally. It was as if He were telling me, " I know you want to see Suzanne. I know you don't have much time. I have everything covered. Just trust Me." Also, on the way home from my daughter's two days later, I stopped and got to visit with my friend for one more time. Yep, she was working the same hours that day too. Thank you, God, for being concerned for such little things in our lives. It is in the little things that cause me to realize how much You love me and how very near You are each and everyday.

Spelling Words

Next week I will once again be the Spelling Mistress for grades 0ne through five. I have a list of words to go over before then. Some are words I have used most of my life. Others, on the other hand,are ones I have never heard of before. My husband has a much better vocabulary than I have. For many of the words, I just ask him , "What does this word mean?" He will then tell me and look it up just to be sure he is correct. There have been several words that even he didn't know. The second part of being a spelling caller-outer-of-words is to use the word in a sentence prior to having the child spell the word. This can be tricky when I'm unfamiliar with the word. Here are a few examples: gelid, moue, shallop, hawse,teetotum and jimjams. I didn't have a clue as to the meaning of these words. My husband knew one and for another he knew an older definition of the word. I have penciled in some sentences to use for the more difficult words and will remind the child to say the word, spell the word and then say the word again after it is spelled. The whole goal for these s-p-e-l-l-e-r-s is to just do their best. Some of the younger students get so worked up before and during a Bee that they will cry if they miss a word. I definitely don't want to see these little ones upset about missing a spelling word. There are a slew of brilliant people who can't spell. So, spelling is not a measure of intelligence. However, what spelling bees do do is give kids confidence in speaking before an audience. In addition to this, the bees help them to figure out the parts of the word and their meaning which aids in spelling the words. Finally, for the spellers and for me, our vocabulary is increased. Let's relax and spell with enthusiasm, kids! Hey, here's a little word history of enthusiasm -( theos, god.) "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm," said the very quotable Ralph Waldo Emerson, who also said, "Everywhere the history of religion betrays a tendency to enthusiasm." These two uses of the word enthusiasm-one positive and one negative-both derive from its source in Greek. Enthusiasm first appeared in English in 1603 with the meaning "possession by a god." The source of the word is the Greek enthousiasmos, which ultimately comes from the adjective entheos, "having the god within," formed from en, "in, within," and theos, "god." Over time the meaning of enthusiasm became extended to "rapturous inspiration like that caused by a god" to "an overly confident or delusory belief that one is inspired by God," to "ill-regulated religious fervor, religious extremism," and eventually to the familiar sense "craze, excitement, strong liking for something." Hmmm, I wonder if you can spell "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious"? By the way, I wonder what it means?