a wild notion . . .

Prayer for Rain + Cooler Weather

2011-09-29T17:29:00.001-05:00

Ok, it's a good joke on us. I'm sure that every God-fearing person in Texas has been wearing holes in the knees of their jeans praying for

rain
cooler weather
the end of this drought and heatwave!

So, today, we got both in one shot. Wet and cold. Frozen rain. Hail! Check out this video shot from under the *relative safety* of our front porch.

I know, there have been worse storms and bigger hail.

I was just thinking that when you pray for something, you'd better choose your words carefully. You might just get what you ask for!

Getting it back

2011-09-27T17:58:00.000-05:00

I've launched an all-out war on my body, and so far I'm not sure who's winning this battle.

For the past month I've been going to LifeTime Fitness in San Antonio. I love that place!

I ache all over, but that's nothing new to me. This, after four sessions with Joanna, my personal trainer. She's the one they assigned to me, bless her heart, and she's just great. She's firm enough to push me to my limit. yet understanding enough to back off when I say I'm hurting. I guess you could say I have one of those love/hate things going. Love the woman, but hate what she's doing to me!

Actually, I am loving this process, and it's been a long time coming. After all those years taking care of family and students, I am taking care of myself. I have a lot of years to make up for, so this is just a very meager beginning. But it's a start!

Some cool things I've discovered:

the sauna (good for melting away those aches after a workout)
smoothies from their onsite Life Cafe
I can swim away some pounds and never break a sweat
a very cool app called My Fitness Pal (very cool!)

Best discovery of all though, is Susan. A workout buddy!

Pictures? Nope, not going there. Sorry.

The Earth is the Lord's...

2011-09-19T08:31:00.001-05:00

Just sitting here on my porch sipping coffee and meditating... This is my favorite way to start the day. I didn't even notice them encroaching in my yard until they were a couple of arms' lengths away. We've watched them from the few days after they were born until their spots were just a few marks on their hindquarters. We've chuckled at how they play chase across our back yard just like little kids.

So today I got an up-close moment with them and I thought to myself that I can't imagine ever wanting to raise a rifle and shoot them. People do that. There are days, of course, that I *say* I want to kill 'em dead because they tend to nibble my flowerbeds.

But today, that mother deer looked right at me and blinked and drank deeply from the birdbath I had filled with water only moments before.

It reminds me of Glenn Close in Sarah, Plain and Tall, screaming to her farmer husband as he raised a gun to ward off coyotes : "They just want a drink of water!!!!!"

For some reason it just warmed my heart to think that in this dry, thirsty end of summer, after the worst Texas drought and hottest temperatures ever, I gave that mama deer a drink. And those twin yearlings came, too, and trusted me to let them eat and drink alongside their mom.

Matthew 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Thanks, God, for the gift of this morning, and for sharing with me how good it is to be a gift-giver!

@ Wimberley for the 4th

2011-07-06T08:43:00.001-05:00

In spite of the heat and the dry river bed in Wimberley, we had a blast at the annual family reunion for the 4th of July, 2011.

Pictures as proof...

Nonnie Camp

2011-07-01T09:30:00.007-05:00

Just completed our first annual Nonnie Camp and had a blast! Dana and Kaylee got to come stay with us for a whole week -- without parents!

Here's what we did:

1. swam at Nonnie's pool (aka The Hawk Golfcourse) -- lots of times!

2. saw Cars2 & got some frozen yogurt

3. made a huge mess with playdough

4. visited the McKenna Children's Museum in NB -- wonderful!

5. went to see great grandparents in Wimberley

6. played at Emerald Rainbow

7. got pampered at Ivy Nail salon

8. swam in the river -- Dana even floated down on Dolly! *

9. tried out "Just Dance" on the Wii

10. celebrated Nonnie's birthday with cake (two!)

11. played with Barbie and her 3-story townhouse (with elevator!)

12. met Duchess the amazing dog @ the pool cafe

Can't wait till next summer when we can do it all again!

*Dolly the rainbow zebra float has been with us since the hurricane of 2008

Blog Break

2011-06-15T11:23:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the lapse in posts this summer. I'm taking a break from my blog, but please come back later and check on me.

What I'm busy with....

1. summer fun with my grandkids
2. learning Italian
3. reading The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand

Auguri! (all the best)

A presto! (see you soon)

God's breath

2011-06-07T10:36:00.001-05:00

Have you ever had your morning Devotional "by the ribbon"? Sometimes when I open my Bible to read a few scriptures to start the day I don't quite know where to read. Sometimes I let my ribbon decide. You know, that little strip of satin attached to the spine of your bible? It's a handy little built-in bookmark. Can you believe that you can be blessed by God through a tiny slip of satin?

Today I read Psalm 33 and was blessed - again - by these words:

"The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth."

Every time I read this part, about his breath, I'm left - well - breathless! I have to pray all over again for the Lord to increase my faith, because it is just so hard to believe. That He could just go "whooff" and a galaxy is born. Amazing! Unbelievable! {Lord, increase my faith!}

And not only that, did you know that He considers everything you do?

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth -- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do." (Ps 33:13-15)

Some days I'm a hamster doing the wheel-thing; some days I'm stumped as to what I'm supposed to be doing. Now, if I truly believed that He considers everything I do {Lord, increase my faith!} , then I want to be careful how I spend my time.

What are you doing today?

feeding the deer

2011-06-02T18:05:00.002-05:00

Some days I just can't believe how lucky we are to live in the lovely Texas hill country. Our neighborhood is peaceful and quiet, and full of wildlife that you wouldn't usually see in the city. I usually begin my day on the porch with a cup of coffee, watching whitetail deer, a roadrunner or two, squirrels, woodpeckers, and all kinds of birds taking turns at the feeder. We've had wild turkeys, raccoons, tree ducks, armadillos, and who knows what lurking about in the dark as we sleep. And here in Fox Hill we sometimes even spot a fox or two.

I have to say, though, that I am FED UP with the battle against those pesky deer. I bought a beautiful rose bush -- the kind of roses you see a lot of lately at subdivision entrances and such. It's called a Knock-out Rose. I had one already in the ground and put a simple wrought iron "fence" thingy around it to discourage the deer. It was doing great, so I bought another one and set the pot near the other one until I could manage to get it in the ground. At 1:00 a.m., when I couldn't sleep and was considering getting out of bed, I had a nagging feeling that I should have used the deer repellent spray on the new rosebush. Wasn't really wanting to go outside by myself at 1 a.m., soooooo.......

nothing but bare bones

on the other bush, one tiny bloom...!

Those pesky deer even came up on my front porch!!! and nibbled a newly planted Impatiens that was in full bloom.

I've been working pretty hard these past few months getting the outside of our home in shape. The inside is done, but the outside left something to be desired. So, here's a little photo tour of what I've been doing with my free time.

I've never really been that fond of working in the yard, but it's kind of growing on me (pardon!). Now, would somebody please buy our house???

Friends are like flowers...

2011-05-21T11:02:00.001-05:00

I was stopped in my tracks this morning by a post at Faith Barista. Now I have to go fix my runny mascara and re-powder my nose. *sniff*

This is something I've been struggling with lately, and wouldn't you know it, the Lord used someone I don't even *know* to speak His word to my heart.

I've just grown very weary of the way we seem so busy with our own lives that we don't have the time to relax and spend with friends. Our lives seem to have grown so complex that simple friendships are left to wilt and die on the back porch for lack of rain. (And we in Texas know all about lack of rain right now, don't we?)

Maybe I'm just longing for the good old days when neighborhoods fostered friendship and people sat outside on porches and passed the time of day together. We pretty much have to have a "play date" now if we want to see someone. We keep a calendar for that, much like we keep one for hair and dental appointments and kids' soccer games.

Bonnie, at Faith Barista, shared a beautiful post about friendship today as guest at the (in)courage website. I think you should go over there and read it, and consider your own relationships and how they fit in to her description.

Then, call a friend and just say "Hi. I was thinking about you and I just called to say hello!"

gators, ax men, and dirty jobs

2011-05-19T21:19:00.003-05:00

I give. What IS it with men and their shows?

Tonight, it's Swamp People. Toothless Willie and Shirtless-Man in Overalls pulling alligators out of the swamp one by one, alternating with shots of Goober and Bubba fishing for catfish with their bare hands. After an hour of being educated in all things swampy, hubby mutes the TV and asks if I would go "noodling" with him. Not in public, I say!

And before you know it, we've tuned in to a Ranger's game to watch guys chew, spit, adjust themselves, and hit a ball with a bat. And for an extra rush of TV-watching adrenaline, in case the baseball game isn't fast enough to keep your attention, we'll occasionally flip channels to catch some amazing pro-golfers in action. Walk, walk, hit the ball, walk some more, hit the ball. Ooooh's and ahhhh's from the crowd attest to the excitement of it all!

Of course, commercial-time for sporting events like these is the perfect time to check in on old Mike Rowe and see what kind of poo he's got his hands in this time.

Or Ax Men. Buncha hard-talking men in flannel shirts cussing each other for various mistakes in their tree-felling skills. Or there's Gold-Digging Families in Alaska. And let's not leave out dear old Mike and Frank picking through someone's dusty garage for long-lost treasures of American antiquity.

Ohhhh, and I could not leave out the one that enthralls me each and every time: Crazy Old Guy traveling the world on a quest for nasty-but-edible things. Like dung beetles, roasted lizards, and undigested contents of dead animals' stomachs. This can be trumped only by the one where Crazy Blonde Spikey-hair Guy raves about the food-wad in his greasy mouth while licking his fingers and sometimes the bowl. Would you let HIM eat in YOUR kitchen?

Sorry if I got carried away, but I'm sure I've left something out. Got any to add to the list? It's good to get it out of your system, so go ahead and join in.

Well, I've gotta go for now. MY show's coming on, and it's a critical episode. I need to direct full attention to finding out which couples are "safe" or "not safe" after tonight's dancing.

It's the voice, Scouts voice

2011-05-01T21:28:00.001-05:00

I'm re-reading an old classic, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Wow! I'm guessing that I first read this book when I was about 15, so it's been almost 40 years since I savored the tender voice of eight-year-old Scout Finch.

So I thought I'd share a few nuggets from what I've read so far...

When Scout is told that Jem is becoming a man, and that's why he's moody and might not want to hang out with her as much as he used to, Scout says, "He ain't that old. All he needs is for somebody to beat him up, and I ain't big enough."

Calpurnia tells her that whenever she needs company, she can come help her in the kitchen. This is when Scout says, "Jem could do as he pleased; Calpurnia would do until Dill came. She seemed glad to see me when I appeared in the kitchen, and by watching her I began to think there was some skill involved in being a girl."

Ha! I guess so! It's pretty tricky being a girl, I'd say. And add to that, the skills you learn being a wife, and mother, and all that! I'm still learning and I guess I will be for as long as I live.

If you're wondering why I chose this book to re-read, here's why. Last summer, while on vacation at Daytona Beach with my daughter and her family, I ordered drinks and snacks from a beach vendor who was reading TKAM, he said, for about the 20th time. It was his favorite book. Turns out, he was working on finishing up his college degree, a double major in something like English and psychology, if I remember right. He wasn't sure he would finish after all, as he had run out of tuition money, and was selling lemonade and hotdogs and beach toys out of a trailer on the beach in the meantime. "Why do you keep reading this same book?", I questioned. "I just love the voice, her voice, Scout's. It's because of the voice."

I have to agree with this guy, the liberal arts beach vendor guy. It's Scout and her innocence in telling the story that draws me in and holds me there, not wanting it to end but knowing it will. I also thought it a very unlikely conversation - a retired English teacher standing barefoot on the hot-sand beach having a conversation like this with the guy pouring my coke and recommending his best deal on buckets and shovels. You just never know about people, their stories, their dreams, unless you take the time to listen. It's because of him that I'm re-reading this book, and because of him that I am paying special attention to the voice. Wonder where he is now, and whether he dug in his heels and finished his degree?

I sincerely hope so. Thanks for the inspiration, beach vendor, wherever you are!

Oh Joy!

2011-04-28T23:32:00.125-05:00

Faith Jam Thursdays... an opportunity to share the joy-things of my life.

These photos reflect the many blessings in my life for which I am truly grateful. I tell my much-beloved husband of 32 years often that I do not deserve him. He can take that however he pleases, and it's true. I don't deserve him, and I am so blessed to be loved by him. A reflection of the Father's love for me, which I also do not deserve and may never comprehend. Grace.

So, among the joys of my heart.....

my faithful, forever friend. the love of my life.

*******************

the joys of family...

********************

brothers and sisters...

**********************

the joy of friendship.... priceless!

********************

and just for fun -- some favorite pics...

of some favorite people, places, & things

our first child and first grandchild

our adventurous son

such a tiny one in such big hands

dress-ups are fun !

Flowers say "I love you!"

Wonderful students at ORMS. I miss you!

Cool reflections.

Papa's blue eyes!

Little river rats

Yum-O!!!

Made to praise Him !

Family resemblance?

Lookin' cool at the beach

An interesting perspective

*******************

and finally, joy in our Home Sweet Home.

Meet "Sticky-cat", aka, "Stinky"

Dana's larkspur garden

The Mason mansion

Home is where your heart is.

this junction in life

2011-04-25T08:31:00.000-05:00

If you know me well, you probably know the predicament we are in with our house. We are waiting for it to sell so we can relocate to the small west Texas town of Junction.

It's not so bad, really. Since I'm now retired from teaching I have lots of time to keep the house tidy inside and work a little on the outside, too. The problem really is that this has been going on for so long. It's been over two years!

This little town seems to need us. I don't say that with pride or an inflated sense of worth. What I should say, maybe, is that it needs my husband.

He has become a part of their community now, a leader among them, because of his position as District Manager of their PEC office. It's a small town, and PEC is employer to many of them.

The real reason I wanted to post about this is because of what happened this past weekend. A fine young man named Tony Boone lost a battle with cancer and was buried there this past Saturday. My husband was asked to speak at the funeral, and that he did. He inspired and comforted and praised and prayed, and I was proud to the point of tears! After the service, I lost count of how many came to shake his hand and thank him for his words. Seeing my husband through their eyes just confirmed what I knew to be true. He's needed in Junction, and accepted and respected and, can I say even loved? And as an "outsider" moving in, it's not easy to gain that acceptance. I know without a doubt it's because of God's grace, and His blessing and faithfulness to go before us.

I'm striving to be patient. I know that makes no sense, but I am. I do know that God has perfect timing, and we'll move there when the time is right. Until then, I continue to be amazed at what the Lord is doing among the community of Junction, and I long to be more a part of it myself. Long-distance relationships are difficult!

Lord, only You know the plans you have for us, but we know they are good and perfect. And this we also know, that your Word says you will give us the desires of our hearts. Our desire is to be used of You, as empty vessels, willing to be filled and poured out wherever on this earth you please. We choose the road that leads to Junction, and we know it so well already, Lord. Help us to be patient as you prepare us to be fully there!

Faith Barista JamWithMeThursday: Joy

2011-04-07T07:46:00.001-05:00

I'm reading a book by Lysa TerKeurst called Made to Crave. I've been so blessed by this book and I know that it is a gift from God in my life right now. She chronicles her journey as she has struggled to keep God first in her life in the midst of trying to lose weight and get in shape. I so identified with her struggle! Like Lysa, I have often kept my "happy" tied to many things other than Jesus.

Often I've relied on people in my life for my "happy". Husband, family, girlfriends, precious grandkids!

Often, yes, even to places I go -- church fellowship, a favorite coffee shop, an upcoming vacation, my favorite porch-sitting, relaxing place, a shopping excursion.

And sometimes, things. I've found myself even relying on things like favorite foods...my Macbook...a good book I'm reading... my favorite TV show (Blue Bloods, anyone?) and skinny jeans. Yes, like getting back into my skinny jeans! Yes, even that! (Lysa!)

It's obvious that the world about us is filled with people who are hungry for something. We crave things to satisfy a hungry soul only to find temporary satisfaction in this temporal world we live in. Just watch a few commercials, glance at magazine headlines, read the newspaper and you must agree that everywhere there are people who are longing to be filled with something to ease their pain, fill their longings, remove their loneliness, erase their regrets. There is a fleeting satisfaction in these things. But the hunger remains.

Where do you find joy, true joy, everlasting joy?

Jesus. As a Christian, I can only answer, Jesus. Without Him, I am empty, searching, drifting, hungry for meaning in life. I know because I have been there before, and having Jesus in my heart is much better than anything the world can offer.

And this I also know - when my happy is tied to anything other than Jesus, God is not honored. "Being ruled by something other than God diminishes our commitment and will make us feel increasingly distant from Him." (Made to Crave, 66) I know from experience that distance from Him is no place of joy.

So, what are you tying your happy to? Where do you find your joy?

If it's tied to Jesus, you're anchored.

P.S. Joy thru a child's eyes...

what does your heart crave?

2011-04-05T15:17:00.000-05:00

Ok, there's a new book that is really knocking my socks off, blowing me away, leaving me breathless...however you want to put it. I'm still counting my blessings, adding to my list of One Thousand Gifts in my nifty Give Thanks journal. In fact, as a result of reading this book, I'm putting these things on my list...

   119. a moment of praise during my morning walk
   121. when my happy is tied to Jesus
   (not to skinny jeans)
   129. freedom from sugar cravings

If you're reading this you know that most of my blogging has to do with what I'm reading at the time. Go figure. (being a teacher and a librarian was just an extension of my book-loving self at work!) You must also know of my endless struggle to get back in shape and be healthy (translate: lose pounds that have mysteriously crept onto my body during the night)

Made to Crave, by Lisa TerKeurst is the book. Some nuggets that I've jotted down in my nifty journal:

"Is it possible that we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?" (p.28)

"Being ruled by anything other than God is something God takes quite seriously. And so should I." (p.66)

"Tying my happy to food, skinny jeans, or anything else sets me up for failure." (p.121)

"...I'm not on a diet. I'm on a journey with Jesus to learn the fine art of self-discipline for the purpose of holiness." (p.158)

Well, that's certainly food for thought. Need I say more...?

at a Junction in life...

2011-03-25T14:44:00.000-05:00

109. sunset from Junction bridge

122. new friends in Junction - Doug & Tina,

Stephani & Leroy

123. our little cabin in the woods (God's provision)

The Gospel according to Anna Karenina

2011-03-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

I was so pleasantly surprised at the ending to the world-famous novel that I recently read - Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Who would have known that I would find a message of faith here between these pages?

I didn't know much about Tolstoy, but the librarian-teacher in me said to myself a few weeks ago: "you should read something worthwhile for a change. Enough of those fun-to-read but meaningless (but funny!) girl-bounty-hunter mysteries. Enough! (for now.)"
(I might mention that I've read them all --thanks to my sister Amy for this addiction-- and the next release date isn't until June 21st. I needed something to read until then...)

So, I bought a paperback copy of Anna Karenina and dug right in. It was fascinating for several reasons -- insight into the history of Russia, for one -- but I was so pleasantly surprised to find toward the end that one of the main characters, a man named Levin, comes to a realization that with all the philosophical reasoning in the world, he cannot find peace in his existence. He finds his peace in believing God!

See for yourself, if you'd like. You don't even have to read the entire book (it's pretty long!) You can click here and by reading only a couple of chapters, get an idea of who Levin is and how he has been reasoning, doubting, struggling, and finally, finding his answer -- living by faith in God. (read Part 8, Ch. 9-13 -- very short chapters, only 12 pages in my book; or at least read Ch. 13)

How refreshing, to find a message of faith in what is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written.

more gifts

2011-03-09T14:39:00.000-06:00

"Bend the knee and be small...and let God give what He chooses to give because He only gives love, and whisper surprised thanks." (Voskamp, p. 179)

my whisper of thanks:

104. bright stars in a black sky
105. redbird in a bare winter tree
106. hot shower on cold skin

in all things give thanks

2011-03-07T14:24:00.000-06:00

I love this quote from One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.

"Remembering is an act of thanksgiving, a way of thanksgiving, this turn of the heart over time's shoulder to see all the long way His arms have carried." (p. 152)

What I read in this book has changed my life. I don't know why, but some of the simplest things she wrote about became "aha" moments for me. This realization here was one of them. It's helpful to look back over my life and see all the long way He has carried me.

I've been discovering that more and more lately. Not that I always want to be looking back. Looking forward finds me full of hope and expectations of what God is doing in my life. But remembering is good for the soul. It's what He commanded of the Israelites, isn't it? To recount all the ways He took care of them all those years?

But the quote reminds me of the "Footprints in the Sand" poem, where you think you've been so alone in your struggles, only to find that you'd been carried along by God's grace every time.

Some additions to my List from looking back....

64. measuring hands with little-boy Brazos
77. mom's advice during my grad school, house-building, teaching days: "one day at a time"
84. wedding-cake-in-a-box

Springtime in Texas!

2011-03-05T11:05:00.000-06:00

On my list of One Thousand Gifts...
redbud blossoms in spring

Finding a balance

2011-03-04T12:41:00.000-06:00

For the first time I'm taking part in something called a "Faith Jam" which is hosted by a blog I recently discovered, Faith Barista. If you know me very well, you know that my mornings begin with a few moments of quiet reverence over a steaming mug of coffee while my eyelids finally open wide. So Faith Barista and I are becoming good friends.

If you know me very well, also, you know that ten months ago my brakes screeched as my daily life went from crazy stress-full to what-do-I-do-with-all-this-free-time-now? I retired after 29 years in public education, teaching middle schoolers the last 17.

So where I find myself right now, at age 52, retired, kids grown, husband working, quiet house....only the cat meowing to see if anyone is here... is that I am feeling quite LOST without the stress of my job to guide my use of time. I am drowning in time now. I have rest, plenty of it, and I had asked, begged, pleaded for it. And now that I have it I am quite drowning in it!

There was once a sense of urgency, of filling in the tiny slots of time in a carefully balanced act of putting daughter on speakerphone to catch up on family matters while loading the dishwasher and setting up the coffeemaker for the next day, nailpolished toes drying as I slip around the kitchen, chicken broiling, clothes on spin-cycle, clock ticking the few minutes until I leave for Bible study, guitar and bookbag already in the car, proving that I could multi-task and pack the most into each minute of the day. Now, though, now that I am looking time in the face and wondering how I will use it today...why can I not seem to figure this out? This dilemma of HOW to find the button within me that puts things into motion and accomplishes something, anything, to show for all this time? I wonder often, how I ever did it before, and what has caused me to find myself shifted down into Neutral and unable to go forward or even backward?

A friend said use this time to take care of yourself for a change. That's what you need to do. Take the time while you have it to rest, to sleep, to heal and strengthen weary bones and be re-equipped for whatever the Lord has in store for you next, soon. Just rest!

Yes, I am doing that. But what I am learning is this: REST is not just about getting enough sleep and having some time to yourself. Being rested is not about de-stressing from activities in our lives. Sometimes a break from it all is good, very good. But true Rest is about knowing that whatever you are doing, you are doing it to please Him and no one else. True Rest can only be found in Him. And whether your pace is frenzied or free, rest can be found therein. He is our Peace, beyond understanding, and we can find rest in Him.

I cling to His Word written on my mind and heart long ago:
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Cor 15:58

So I am standing firm in this time of rest, knowing that as long as I am seeking Him first, giving my heart and my life fully to Him, He assures me that I am right where He wants me to be.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. " Isaiah 26:3

Peace. Yes, perfect peace.

Seeing-through-to-God places

2011-02-24T10:44:00.000-06:00

I'm a bit slow to respond to something I've been reading, and I wonder if it's that I'm truly just a "bit slow" at a lot of things! In One Thousand Gifts, we're on ~~chapter 5~~ uh, now that it's Thursday, Chapter 6. I still can't get past this part about "holes" in our lives, in our way of thinking, becoming "seeing-through-to-God places". Ann Voskamp, you know not what you do to me!!!

All she does on this page -- at the very end of Chapter 1 -- is to ask a question:

"I wonder too ...if the rent in the canvas of our life backdrop, the losses that puncture our world, our own emptiness, might actually become places to see.

To see through to God.

That that which tears open our souls, those holes that splatter our sight, may actually become the thin, open places to see through the mess of this place to the heart-aching beauty beyond. To Him. To the God whom we endlessly crave."

So it's a choice we must make, to "allow the holes to become seeing-through-to-God places." That's where I seem to be right now, asking Him to allow me to see through His eyes. So, I'm making that list, and I think it's helping me to see. It has to! Because it's true that everything is a gift from Him. Seeing IS believing. And, I've always known that this also is true: To know Him is to love Him.

Lord, I want to know You more fully. I want these eyes of mine to begin to drink it all in, all the wonders of this world around me to convince me of just how wonderful You truly are, the one who is the I Am, who dwells in our very hearts. Lord, open my eyes!!!

Time on my hands

2011-02-17T10:09:00.000-06:00

There is a blank slate before me and I haven't a word to write! I've come from a place of raising kids and teaching school and a busy church-life to a place where I have so much time I haven't a clue where to begin! And I wished for this for sooooo long!

So I am taking part in a book club called Bloom. We're reading One Thousand Gifts, a book by Ann Voskamp, which is delightful, insightful, and just what I needed right now.

It's about giving thanks in every moment of our lives, no matter how seemingly small the increment. She explains how, at the suggestion of a friend, she began a list of 1000 things she was thankful for, and in the list-making, learned what it is to truly live in the moment.

This is something I needed to hear. Especially at times when I tend to look back over life and wonder how I might have done differently. How my kids would have experienced a fuller life had I myself lived it more fully... I'm finding that looking back does me no good. No good at all. And neither does looking forward, hoping for times that are better, fuller, happier.

So today I'm starting my list. It begins with being thankful for the quietness which envelopes my house.

1. Hearing the clock tick (savoring the silence so I can listen for His voice)

For this I'm truly grateful. Here I am, Lord. Speak, I'm ready to listen!

Cold weather

2011-02-10T10:32:00.000-06:00

Ok, I'm ready for summer, or at least springtime. We're now into our second straight week of temperatures staying well below freezing. We had a dusting of snow a few days ago here in Spring Branch but no other ongoing problems with sleet and icy roads like we usually have. I've been in hibernation mode most of this time, only venturing out when I have to or when I need to see someone besides the cat.

Ironic, though, that after two weeks of freezing temps, today, the supposed last day of this winter weather, our water ceased to flow. I have no idea why yet, since I'm still in my pajamas and finishing my coffee. It caught Brazos in mid-shower, all lathered up, he said. So he'll smell extra soapy-fresh today.

For all my readers - I know this post is pretty boring. So here's something to think about. What's life without good old H2O? It's certainly something we take for granted, yes? So when the water's not working, we're pretty much stopped in our tracks. Can't wash hands, body, hair, can't run a load of laundry, can't flush!!!, can't get a drink, can't cook much, can't fill the cat's waterbowl, can't make orange juice, can't, can't!

Guess I'm going to have to brace myself, bundle up and go out to the pumphouse and see what I can see. Out I go! Brrrrrrr!

Realization

2011-01-21T13:41:00.000-06:00

Crikey! I'm older than the American President. That's a first for me.

Well, he's a young president, one of the youngest we've had. I feel so much better now.

Why I haven't posted in a coupla months.

2010-09-18T18:17:00.000-05:00

As if I need to explain it to all of my three readers. I haven't posted in a while, and actually, the blog has been neglected for quite some time. I started it thinking I'd really keep it up and maybe even have lots of people enjoying the posts. If you know me very well, you're probably thinking that's kinda the way she is -- she starts something but doesn't finish. I know my self pretty well, too, and am admitting to it. I never thought of myself as a quitter, but I am definitely someone who is either in or out. I don't like doing things half way, and I'm an "all or nothing" kind of person.

So I was cleaning out some things since we're trying to sell our house and found some of my journals. I spent the afternoon reading over my thoughts from about a decade ago. Whew! There were a couple of journals filled with sermon notes from church, decorated with doodles and important events like baby dedications, birthdays, funerals. The other journals are a slice of my life across the years of raising kids and welcoming grandkids.

What I realized was that in each of the journals, there was a recurring thread of a desire for self-improvement. Always a new way of eating, a new plan for exercise, a claim that this was a new way of life for me. Hah! Each "lifelong" plan lasted at the most -- a whopping two weeks. I wrote about Weight Watchers, Atkins, Jenny Craig, the new gym, my walking partner, aerobics classes, DVDs, the "French" way of eating, juicing, toxic cleansing, going organic... you name it, I tried it.

So, now that I'm retired and have all this time on my hands, I should have no excuse not to finish what I started, right? Right. I read in my (new) favorite magazine, Real Simple, that trainers recommend you have a saying that gets you going, that helps you find your resolve. Funny, I did just that recently, and even used the word RESOLVE.

What I've actually RESOLVED to do.....is to ditch the journaling. I'm resolving not to write about dieting and exercising ever again. Then, when I uncover this decade's notebooks and read back over them, I won't feel like such a loser! Hah!

Translation, please.

2010-06-06T19:26:00.000-05:00

A word of warning. If you use the words for

and

in a blog post, you are likely to get some interesting comments.

......................

Comment 1:

"How do u do."

Comment 2:

(in Chinese. Censored)

Comment 3:

" 無一事而不學，無一時而不學，無一處而不學 "

Translation:

"No matter without learning, no moment without learning, no one without learning."

Comment 4:

(In Chinese. Censored)

Comment 5:

Somebody named Rex says: " I love readding, and thanks for your artical."

Comment 6:

(also in Chinese. Also Censored. Something about "video babes")

Comment 7:

"All roads lead to Rome. 堅持自己所選！"

Translation of Chinese: Stick to the selected

and lastly,

Comment 8:

" 雖然說上班很累，不過還是得努力應付每一天，看看文章休息一下，謝謝你哦 "

Translation:

"Although work tired, but still have to deal with every day to see the article rest, thank you oh!"

....................

That last one, really now, I agree with wholeheartedly. Sometimes the words don't come easily, but the meaning is still clear. Thank you, OH!

RE-TIRED AT LAST.

2010-06-01T18:05:00.000-05:00

I am officially retired. I don't know how I feel about that yet, so I'm just posting an entry to say that I am retired now. Those who are close to me know how this past week has been, how my last school day was spent, and thank you for understanding. In a word, Bittersweet.

I'll be back to blogging regularly now, I think. It's surprising how much it helps to put my thoughts here, however carefully I word them!

So, dear reader(s), come back in a few days when I've had some time to rest and think and get myself back together. It's been a long time since I was among the unemployed. I think I can get used to all this free time. Yes, ma'am, I'm pretty sure I can!

Blog neglect, and counting down the days

2010-03-08T12:44:00.000-06:00

Poor Bloggy! I've been neglecting you! My last post was December 26, 2009, the day after Christmas. That's a long time! There hasn't really been anything to post lately, or I've just been lazy, or both.

You might be wondering what I've been doing all this time? A little Facebook, a little Words with Friends, but mostly work. And we go to the movies a lot. Speaking of work, after today I have only 55 more workdays left before I retire from teaching.

What will I do with my time after that? Hmmmmm. Let me get back to you on that! Maybe I can come up with the Top Ten things I plan to do after retiring. I know you're just dying to see my list, so be sure to check back here later!

Bloom...an online book club

2009-12-26T10:03:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post to say that I am joining an online book club!

I have to fill you in on the status of the little book club -- and I say that loosely! -- that I'm currently a part of. In an attempt to get some good friends together on a more consistent basis, I asked them to read a book with me and then we'd get together in a warm, cozy place and discuss what God is doing in our lives, hoping that reading the same inspirational book would help our conversation.

We've met about three times this past year, and read a total of two books, I think. Seems I've gathered some very busy non-book-reading friends into my little "book club"!!! After we met for the second book, one of the gals sheepishly admitted she hadn't read the book yet, in fact, hadn't bought it ... yet.

Anyway, being the avid reader that I am, I've discovered this online group, led by two young Christian ladies. I'm going to participate just for the fun of it and see how it goes. To be honest with you, I'm jealous. It's another instance of that familiar feeling -- why didn't I think of that?

So, my dear readers, if you're interested in joining with me, let me know, ok? In fact, our other little non-book-reading book club will be meeting soon for coffee. Come join us for that, too!!!

The book for Bloom is Same Kind of Different as Me, by Hall and Moore. Click the button on my blog to get to the bookclub website.

Bittersweet

2009-12-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

I've been to two funerals in the past two weeks.

That might explain why this morning, the first day of vacation for me (a teacher), while I'm sitting in my flannel pjs enjoying a cup of coffee, our little tree all lit up with unwrapped packages scattered at its base, just a bit of sorrow is eating away at my heart.

Christmastime is supposed to be full of joy and giving and sweetness. It's such a difficult time for people who have lost a loved one around the holidays. I'm going to try to be more sensitive to that this Christmas.

My friend lost her son in a car accident last week. I immediately sent a text to Brazos suggesting he never drive again, especially in foggy weather. Not to mention riding his bicycle or the motorcycle he's having repaired. Do you ever get past the worry of your kids being hurt? Ever?

My heart goes out to Carol and her family right now. She was devastated, as expected, and Christmas will never be the same for their family, I'm sure.

Sons and daughters - be careful with your mothers' hearts!

I'm off to finish up my shopping now. To the bike shop to get a gift card for Brazos. Why worry? It's all in God's big strong hands anyway.

Bloggy Give-Aways

2009-12-09T13:01:00.000-06:00

Exciting news! There's a drawing for a new HP TouchSmart 600 computer. I know the idea is to get the word out on behalf of HP...what better advertising than to flood the entire blog-world with the fact that you have a new product and you're giving one away???!!!

So, at the risk of decreasing the odds of ME winning it, Im joining in the blog frenzy. Now, all of my three followers -- get over there and enter the contest! You can't win if you don't enter!

For information on how you can enter this drawing 5 times:

http://www.blogher.com/hp-touchsmart-review-and-sweepstakes?reviewer5

Good luck!

WARNING. Do not try this at home.

2009-11-28T21:29:00.000-06:00

A good friend once gave me some advice that I did not heed. Ever look at yourself in a mirror as you hang your head upside down to blow dry your hair? Don't do it! Scary! Here's another tip. Be careful of those magnifying mirrors. Look too closely and you'll see things never meant to be seen by the naked eye.

Turning 50 has brought many surprises. Never thought I'd worry about wrinkles but here I am.

I'm in the market for something that will prevent those wrinkles around the lips. I've heard them called "marionette" lines. Seems they are a result of something similar to that "hanging your head upside down" trick. My slack facial muscles, while asleep, are making my lips squish together, so that in the morning there's a crease just above my mouth on the right side. It's not pretty, especially when viewed in the 5X magnifying mirror that has become a necessity if I want to be able to see my eyelashes well enough to apply mascara.

So, for my many, many followers... (now three, I think. Welcome, Andy!) my question is this: short of having botox or collagen injections, what's a girl to do?

Am I being too worldly? I know the Word of God says that though man looks on the outside, our Heavenly Father looks on the heart. I should, therefore, be much more concerned about the beauty of my heart than of my face. Come to think of it, here's another question for you, dear readers. Can hearts get wrinkles?

Weakness for books

2009-11-27T09:04:00.000-06:00

I went into Barnes & Noble one day when I was bored and came out with over $80 worth of books. That's my weakness. Books! So if you know me at all, you'd just say, well, that's your job. You're a librarian, after all. Yep, and that's the story I'm sticking to. (Pardon the pun!)

Thanksgiving day was a wonderful time of family and friends, good food, lots of laughter, and enjoying the beautiful weather. As usual, the conversation with Janis turned to books. It never takes us long to get around to the important question: what're you reading these days?

So, here's what I've been reading lately:

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls
It's a memoir that takes you along for a ride with a family led by a doubly flakey, irresponsible, most likely bi-polar set of parents. Amazingly, the daughter turns out ok, even capable of writing a book.

Then, I read her account of her grandmother's life, Half Broke Horses. It's good, too, but the grandma turns out to be some kind of bigger-than-life Annie Oakley kind of gal. Still, it's a good read that gives you a glimpse back into time.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski. Now this one was interesting. Until I had finiished, I had not read the discussion of the book as a retelling of Hamlet. (So you might not like the ending.) I loved the style of writing - purely lyrical writing, reminiscent of The Yearling. It's a lot about dogs, so if you're not a dog person you might want to skip this one.

Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout. Wonderful! Surprising. It's a fictional piece, written in the form of short stories that each include at least one common character, Olive Kitteridge. At first I didn't think I'd like her if I had met her. By the end of the book, you love her because you have seen deep into her soul.

The Return, by Victoria Hislop. Fascinating! I never knew anything about the Spanish Civil War. Now I am afraid I know more than I wanted to know about that terrible struggle. A wonderful historical fiction piece.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Shaffer and Barrows. I'm still reading this one, but I'm loving it. A bit of history revealed by way of correspondence between an author and the folks who endured World War II on the the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. I love it when fiction teaches me history!

Next on my list? A book by Anita Shreve called A Change in Altitude. I have no idea even what it's about, but I've enjoyed several of Shreve's books and I'm hoping this one's good, too.

I'm going to stop here and get back to my reading. I'll be back when I've finished.

Oh, and by the way, Happy Thanksgiving!

Facebook Friends

2009-11-01T18:39:00.000-06:00

Ok, I think I'm getting it. I've been on Facebook for only a short time, so I'm just now catching on to how it works. My kids would be so proud!

I'm on the computer much of my day at work, so getting back on in the evenings isn't my favorite idea of a relaxing evening. So far, it has mostly been a way of reconnecting with old friends and finding out where they live, who they married, and what life has brought their way. Funny, but it's been a little hard for me in some ways. I'm pretty sure that as a young girl, I was very self-conscious, insecure, and as a result, fairly shallow and self-centered. I'm not so sure I treated my friends very well, or knew them very well either. I know, chalk it up to the folly of youth and all that.

But I wish I knew then what I know now.

My memories are a little vague, and I can only hope that reconnecting with some of the more important people from my past won't dredge up things that I'd be reluctant to know. Such as, how I might have hurt someone unknowingly.

I work with middle school kids, and if I could impart just one bit of wisdom into their lives, it would be to value your friends most of all. If only we as adults would take that advice to heart, we'd all be the better for it!

It's GRAND !

2009-10-10T14:05:00.000-05:00

It's really GRAND being a grandma! Our little grandson was born on Wednesday afternoon. His name is Colt Renner Calame, and he is a precious little thing at a mere 6 lbs. 1 oz. He surprised us by coming a day earlier than was planned, so I missed being at his birth and got there as quick as I could (without getting a speeding ticket on IH35).

I'm enjoying seeing things through the eyes of two little girls who are just busting at the seams with pride and joy at the reality of a tiny little brother coming home with Mom from the hospital. When I tucked Dana in for bed on Thursday night, she grinned a sleepy little grin and said, "I feel like I'm just going to pop!" It was a really, really big day!

So, I can't just say "I'm going to see my girls" now. There's a little boy in the mix, now, and only time will tell how that will work, what with all the pink girly stuff, princesses, and Barbies in the lives of the Calame family. Just imagine the roar of motorcycles along with the singing Barbies and you've got it. What fun!

If it's not one thing, it's another.

2009-10-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hooray for modern medicine! After a shot in the hip of some kind of super-anti-inflammatory and a day or two on some super-anti-inflammatory pills, my hand is miraculously healed. Thank you Lord! I even played my guitar for our ladies' fellowship this past Friday night and have not suffered for it.

Well, not my hand, anyway. Saturday morning it was the "another" thing.

I woke up thinking I was Dorothy atop a spinning bed. When I put my feet on the floor in an attempt to get up and go to the bathroom (an early morning ritual, of course), well, then it seemed like someone had picked me up and dropped me in a funny house at a carnival, with the floors all slanty and things slipping out of reach. I made it to the bathroom by holding onto walls and furniture and doorways.

Vertigo. That's what the doctor said as he checked my vital signs and my coordination and my motor skills, eyes, ears, and such. Just a bout of vertigo. It can come on suddenly, just as mine did. In fact, he calls my case of vertigo "classic". A most common occurence, in fact.

So on day two, I'm still taking Boniva, similar to Dramamine, and sleeping all day because of the drowsiness effect. Might as well, since I am resigned to couch-sitting anyway.

All this is so ironic ... My grandson is due to come into this world on Thursday, and even if I have to hitchhike I'm going to Dallas come Wednesday afternoon. The irony? The only other time this has happened to me was the week before my first granddaughter was born. It was much milder then. I was only a tiny bit dizzy if I moved my head a certain way. I didn't tell Mandi about it in fear that she wouldn't let me hold my new little grandbaby, Dana. I held her ever so cautiously, making sure I was steady on my feet or planted firmly in a chair. I'll do the same with this little one, I hope!

So, back to the couch for now. Gotta make sure I've got my bearings again. Now, what will it be tomorrow?? We'll just have to wait and see... Meanwhile, I've got some napping to do.

One-Handedness...

2009-09-29T15:29:00.000-05:00

I have an inflammation in my wrist that flared up suddenly and it hurts like *#$%!

Top Ten Things I Can't Do (easily) With My Sore Hand

10. Put on my earrings

9. Get my keys out of my pocket

8. Clean my eyeglasses

7. Adjust my chair

6. Use my flatiron (critical!)

5. Blow my nose

4. Peel open a package of...anything

3. Lift a cup of coffee

2. Reach behind me for my seatbelt

and the # 1 thing???.......

1. Pull down my jeans to pee! Yikes!

Do you have a Top Ten list?

Back to School

2009-09-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

My last first day!!!!!

School started a couple of weeks ago...and I'm already having to try really, really hard not to say "whatever" too often. It's my last year at this job (after 17 years!)because I'm planning to retire in June 2010. At that time, I'll be 52 and will have worked in the Texas school system for 28 years. I've been the librarian at OakRun for 16 of those years. Wow!

The first week of school was the usual...scrounging up whatever the teachers needed to get started for the year. We added 13 teaching positions this year and had no classroom equipment for them. I spent some time assembling new overhead projectors and adjusting AV carts to suit tall vs. short people and their various teaching styles.

The second week, I thought I was ready to roll with classes coming for library orientation. We would make do with the old library furniture and only a few computers, since the new furniture wasn't here yet and computers were being moved into the new classrooms and mine would come in later. Wednesday morning, first day of a full class schedule in the library...and the furniture truck pulled up in the parking lot! They wanted to know where it should be put, and where they could assemble the computer desks, etc. Talk about mass chaos!

But it is bee-yoo-ti-ful !!! I am very proud of the result, as I got to give some input to the architect of our new library, as well as design the layout and purchase all the furniture. It looks like an academic library now, plus we have three cafe tables that the kids are crazy about already. I'm going to enjoy this last year immensely!

After a week of working from 7:30 am to around 6 pm, I'm ready to sit back and enjoy working the best job in the school at the finest library in the district. IMHO !

In all the excitement and chaos, I haven't had time to take pics yet, but I will post pictures here next week.

My last back-to-school week! Bliss!

Niagara Falls!

2009-09-03T12:12:00.000-05:00

Squeezed in a vacation just before my LFD of school (last first day!) It was, needless to say, fabulous! If you've never been there...Go! It was more than I could have ever imagined. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

The most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen!

The New York falls.

The Canadian Horseshoe Falls

The Maid of the Mist...We're on that boat!

Blue slickers that were just for looks...!

Back to Blogging

2009-09-01T10:49:00.000-05:00

I realized today that the last time I had posted was April 22 ! I apologize to all my readers... all two or three of you!

I had a very difficult spring semester and really didn't feel much like talking about it. I was in Survival Mode, to say the least. Get up, go to work, come home, eat, sleep. I know people who have serious hard times and I am amazed at how they cope with the difficulties. They seem so strong and resilient and constant compared to me! And many of them have no end in sight. I'm very grateful to have at least that. I'm much better now, thanks!

With all that behind me, I feel like I'm finally back to my old self. "Old" in the sense that I am getting back to the things in life that I once enjoyed, like blogging. "All that" includes skin cancer and knee surgery (June 8), all the while having a sore heel (spur), putting our home on the market, and moving the entire contents of our middle school library. (all that b/t Feb and June) Numerous trips to Goodwill, emptying closets at home and at work without the ability of bending or kneeling. Doctoring a place on the side of my nose twice (about the size of a dime) where the dermatologist 1) cut out the cancer and replaced the skin with a skingraft from next to my left ear (Apr 1); then 2 months later (June), 2) took the hide off that same area via dermabrasion (not micro-) to make it (eventually) much less noticeable. Hmmm. let's see, what else? No, that's it. and now that it's over...

I'm back. I'm me again.

No worries...

2009-04-22T12:26:00.000-05:00

Just checking back in to say that for those of you who were surprised and maybe a little worried about me after the last post about skin cancer and surgery to remove it.... I'm fine! Really!

My nose isn't perfect and won't ever be the same, but it's not all that bad. I've heard of worse. I'm thankful that it was something that could be taken care of as easily as it was.

But I have to admit that I did worry. It was a loooonnnng week waiting for that appointment, and then a much longer week or two before I could see the final result. When do we get to the place where we can truly trust the Lord with all our hearts, which means truly -- no worries. ?

I wish I knew how to do that.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New King James Version)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Perspective.

2009-04-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, this too shall pass. The surgery on my nose went as well as expected, and it's been 5 days since. I sure hope you're wearing your sunscreen today.

I have a sewn-on patch over the area the doctor removed and patched up. It's not pretty, and time will tell whether the result is very noticeable or not. I have one Frankenstein ear, too. The skin just in front of the ear is most like the skin on your nose, so they took some of that to fill in the place the cancerous tissue was removed from. What the doctor didn't mention and what I should have seen coming is the swollen eyes and nose. Each day I've spent countless minutes sitting on the couch with frozen lima beans resting on my cheeks, eyes, and nose. The skin below your eyes is the thinnest, so any fluid buildup from trauma to the nose goes there. Lovely. I was glad to have a couple of days I could take off from work. The kids at our school would have been terrified!

Doesn't this just sound crazy? Who would have thought this would come up so suddenly. Do people deal with this kind of stuff all the time? You think your life is just going along fine, and then, Bam! something like this happens to slow you down and make you think a little harder about what's important in life.

I've been very worried all along of the resulting effect of this surgery. I'm worried about what my nose will look like. I'm really just worried that it won't look good and I'll have to work really hard to get makeup to conceal what has been done to my nose. If it will conceal it at all...

But I hope that through all this I am able to be more compassionate and understanding of people who have endured something like this and so much more. It has made me think a lot about suffering, and I mean real suffering, not just a little skin cancer. (I do hope you're wearing your sunscreen, girls!)

I recently read a book (Finding Calcutta, by Mary Poplin) about Mother Teresa that has profoundly affected my outlook on life. Her mission in life was to aid the "poorest of the poor", and if you've ever had a glimpse of the poor in India you know what that means. We are filthy rich in comparison. Above the doorway of the Mission home is her favorite saying, "Do something beautiful for God".

People who worked in her Missions were told that whatever they did to minister to someone, they did to Jesus. They considered as they washed someone's wounds that they were the wounds of Jesus. That is how they are able to do the things they do for the poor. One young novice reported back to Mother Teresa that she had "been touching Jesus' body for three hours", as she had cleaned maggots from the wounds of a poor man who fell into a drain and was left there for days.

We are so concerned about our outward beauty that we lose sight of what's really important. It's very hard living in a world where beauty is a "treatment" (right out of Beth Moore's Esther study). I've shed a few tears this week as I sat in front of my mirror and tended to the wound on my once-perfect nose. "Beauty treatment" takes on new meaning, here. I'm dreading the "unveiling" this coming Wednesday, as I finally see the result. I have wavered back and forth, from a little fear of the unknown (what will it look like? will I have a scar? will it be ugly? ) to trusting that God will take care of the details (it's just a little skin off my nose. it could be worse.)

So, here's the thing: Beauty is not just skin deep. It's much, much deeper than that, Siestas! It's what you DO, and who you ARE. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

So, make your life count for something. Do something BEAUTIFUL for God!

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it ?

At a Junction in my life

2009-03-27T12:06:00.000-05:00

I realize it's only been a couple of weeks since my last post, but it's time for me to put into words what's going on in my life right now. It's mostly for me, but for the one or two readers I have out there, this will fill you in on what's swirling around in my mind and heart and emotions. It will certainly give you an idea what to pray for me, and oh how I hope you're praying for little old me.

In fact, I'm feeling pretty darn old lately. I am still hobbling around on a sore heel, as a result of trying to pamper my knees which have BOTH been in bad shape lately. So getting out of the high heeled shoes and into something more sensible seems to have caused a heel spur to flare up. Feels like a stone bruise. This comes in the middle of trying to pack up an entire school library and move it into a newly built one a few yards away, plus packing up and giving away the majority of the junk in all my closets at home in preparation to listing my house with a realtor and moving to Junction, Texas. Yes, Junction. So, for fun, check out the LPM blog and see what that has to do with our darling Bible study teacher Beth Moore @ http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ .

But, the knees are better, yes, much better, and now for the worst of it. I am going to have a little surgery on my nose to remove a spot that has proven cancerous. Yes, the C-word. It would scare me to death if it weren't for the faith I have in the Lord to keep me sane after all of this. And, of course, to keep me from having an ugly nose as a result. I'm going to an expert -- this coming week! -- and I am sure I'm in good hands with this doctor who comes highly recommended for this particular type of procedure.

So, if you see me soon looking like this....

You'll know it's not due to having a nose job. If that were the case, I'd say, take care of those puffy eyes and crow's feet while you're at it, Doc!

Looking forward to summer, like you can't imagine!

My Bi-Monthly Blog Entry (roughly)

2009-03-07T17:24:00.000-06:00

Hmmm... The last time I posted here was during the Christmas holidays when I was bummed because my knee was injured and it was 3 days before Christmas and I had done little or no shopping or decorating. Seems a little ironic that I wandered over here to my Wild Notion blog to see what was here, when I knew perfectly well what was here. Nothing since December. Unless, of course, someone else had posted FOR me, which would mean that they had hacked into my blog and discovered my password and spent time impersonating me on my own blog...

So, here I am again. Yes, again! The knee thing has struck me yet again! Can you believe it? Only -- get this -- it's the OTHER KNEE. Same problem, just the other knee. What gives? My doctor said the knee problem might have been just a strain, although I could think of nothing that I had done to have caused it to become painfully swollen. And yet again, nothing. Well, except maybe bowling. When your back hurts and you go bowling, the release is not so smooth, and the only thing that I can think of that might have affected the knee is the rather ungraceful bowling technique that I was forced to endure because of my painful back.

Ok, enough about the knee. But, dear reader, the knee is the precise reason that there is anything at all here for you to read after all. So, read on.

My big sister visited me today. She wanted to come by and pick up an item from me that I had promised to give her if we could only lift it into the car and get it to her house. (2 years ago, she reminded me) It turns out that in spite of some issues between us -- some from way back, some fairly recent -- we visited for a solid two hours about what the Lord is doing in our lives. Seems that since she was forced to quit her (almost)lifelong position at a bank with no other prospective jobs or a plan for her life or income, she found herself with lots of free time on her hands to reconsider her life. For years she spent her days at a stressful job, only to come home stressed and exhausted, to deal with cooking dinner and dealing with her kids and school stuff. She's spending time with the Lord now! She talked of time spent in the Word, and a growing hunger for knowledge of it, and of precious time spent in prayer to begin her days. Where there once was a deficit of time and much needed sleep, she has found that she can have peace in His presence for the first time in a long time. What the enemy intends for evil (a lost job), God intends for good !

She shared with me about how she starts her day with reading from the Word and prayer, and that her day just goes so much better when it starts that way. She's not willing to give that up, no matter who or what interrupts her good start to the day. The other day, she asked the Lord to bless her, and indeed He did just that! She acknowledges that it was Him, no doubt, and it just blew her away.

I shared with her a statement from our latest Beth Moore bible study on the book of Esther. She said that morning prayer time is critical if we want to be able to respond through the Holy Spirit rather than react out of impulse to whatever comes our way that day. If something happens that demands our quick response, we're more apt to be able to use godly discernment if we've already turned our hearts and our day over to God.

I know this to be true, yet so often I slip back into old habits of valuing sleep over morning devotions. When I get in the mode of being stressed out about something, I so quickly return to just persevering, sticking it out, working hard to get through day by day, rather than making it a point to rise even earlier to ensure that I start my day with God. Why do you think that happens? What I know to be true is that when I humble myself before the Almighty God, He blesses me.

So, back to spending some "face-time" with God. That is, face down in prayer before Him, as low as I can make myself in His presence, so that He knows and I know that I mean business. Mother Teresa said that it takes a lot of humiliation before one can become humble. I'm willing to do that. Because God's Word says that He gives grace to the humble.

And I need a lot of grace!

I haven't posted since October !

2008-12-22T18:09:00.000-06:00

After a couple of months of writer's block, I'm posting this to the blog in spite of still having nothing much to say. I'm watching the news with an ice-pack on my knee. I'll likely have lots of time on my hands to think of something to write, so check back in with me soon for lots of entertaining dialogue.

If I could reach my camera, I'd take a picture of my pitiful little skinny pine-Christmas-tree with boxed Target ornaments and 2 wrapped gifts underneath.

There is a wreath on the front door and colored bulbs lining half of the sidewalk. Very festive. That's about all I managed to do before the knee problem occurred.

There must be about a thousand dollars worth of decorations up in our weightroom, and as much gift-wrapping supplies in the guest room at the top of the stairs. Alas, at the top of the stairs.

But don't mind me, and don't mind the temporary humbug. I'm really ok. Really!

This is for Molly and Erica !

2008-10-04T19:38:00.000-05:00

Here's proof that our Gulf Coast beach can be clean and beautiful!

When it's like this, you're glad you've kept coming back. This was my fourth time to Port Aransas this year, and by far the most beautiful I've seen it in a long time. We only stayed for the weekend, and I really didn't want to leave. In fact I came very close to telling my little sister to go on ahead and I'd catch the bus. So very close.

No explanation necessary

2008-09-25T18:58:00.000-05:00

Words cannot describe what I felt as I walked into the condo to see this:

As hard as I've tried, I could not come up with a caption. I'm sure the tears in your eyes from laughing would keep you from reading on anyway. So, enough said. Laugh if you must, but these folks are family and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Ok, here's another one of the whole gang, self included.

Now you might be wondering why, but I cannot answer that. I can only explain whose idea it was simply by saying that she bought a whole bag of them for only a quarter. If you know our family at all, you'll know who was behind it all.

Suffice it to say, we may be the over-the-hill girls of the Evans family, but we still know how to have some fun!

God is in your mop closet

2008-09-20T14:22:00.000-05:00

I'm at a condo at the beach. On a cool morning. Sitting outside, sipping my hot coffee. Still in my pajamas. What a perfect time and place for a quiet time with God, I think.

It's easy to be at peace here and to focus my thoughts on my heavenly Father. It's just so perfect.

Now, here's how it really went:

The view is of the balding pot-bellied Pool Guy cleaning out the pool, the roar of the nearby Boiler Room drowning out his hacking cough. Laughter mingles with the roar. It's the cleaning ladies getting their mop carts ready to push out the door. I can handle this. Just a few minor distractions. And the coffee's not so bad.

It was the Dog-Walker that did it. He walked just feet from where I sat trying to relish the moment. He didn't speak or interrupt, or even glance my way. He was just walking his dogs. But I could have lived without that glimpse of the Bag O' Poop in his right hand as he passed by my chair.

Here's the thing: God is near to you where ever you are. Even in your least favorite place. Especially in your least favorite place! Sometimes we put forth such effort to make sure that things are just so. Like a cat circling a few times before settling down to sleep. We so treasure our comfort and pleasant surroundings.

But where ever you find yourself, in spite of the distractions or unpleasant surroundings, just the mention of His Name will allow you to enjoy His presence. Your Place doesn't have to be the coziest, or the prettiest, or just so. It doesn't have to be a church pew, or an altar, or a beautiful spot outdoors. He hears us when we cry, and He draws near. Yes, even if you're in your mop closet. And when God draws near, He reminds us Who He is and Who we are In Him.

And I can be perfectly content with that!

Antiques are overrated

2008-09-15T22:39:00.000-05:00

Our microwave died. It won't be missed. We got it waaaay back in about '29... wait, I think it was more like 1981 or something like that. Anyway, it was a steal at $250 back then. It was such a good deal that when our friends called us to tell us about it, we rushed right out and bought us one, too. Then we told our other friends, and well, it was such a good deal... They just don't make them like that anymore either. It had a built in annoyance feature that reminded you to open the door by BEEPING UNTIL THE COWS CAME HOME. Yes, the beep was relentless. Persistent. A N N O Y I N G ! Needless to say, I won't miss it. But it was good to us over the years and made many a bag o'popcorn and reheated many a leftover.

So, here's to our new addition to the family. A bee-yootiful, shiny new SHARP microwave that doesn't beep its little head off. Yay!!!

I'm baaaaack!!!

2008-08-31T23:33:00.000-05:00

I'm so sorry for those (1 or 2) of you who have checked my blog a few times to see what's new in the Masons' neck of the woods. It's true that the last time I posted was July 12th. Summer was a whirlwind. If you want to see what I was doing, you'll have to get an invitation to Mandi's blog. She's got pictures and everything! Me, I'm feeling a bit too lazy to do that just now.

So, school is back in session. We survived the opening of our "new" campus, which is really a remodeled one. We've added another grade to our campus, so now we have 6th and 7th graders. It's a whole 'nother planet we're on now!!! We have cheerleaders, a football team, volleyball, and all that stuff that makes a middle school not an elementary school. I'm not so sure about all this yet. Life, er, work, that is, was so simple before.

You won't believe how I have spent my Sunday evening. You won't believe it because I'm pretty sure when you think "middle school librarian", you don't believe for a second that I might be so busy as to need to "bring my work home". So, check this out:

This is how I spent my Sunday night before a holiday on Monday for Labor Day. Cataloging some new books so they'll be ready to be checked out next week. What devotion!

By the way, do you know how many paid holidays teachers (and school librarians, counselors, principals, etc.) get each calendar year? You are SO not going to believe this. You know how we have WEEKS off for Christmas, and a WEEK for spring break, plus all those other days like Good Friday and Memorial Day and Labor Day and... oh yeah, and ALL SUMMER -- 3 WHOLE MONTHS! You wanna know how many ? ZERO. Yep, Zero paid holidays. Zip. Nada. We are contract laborers. So, no more bad-mouthing those Teachers-Who-Get-So-Much-Time-Off but still complain about low pay and difficult teaching jobs... Ok, now I've said it. Whew. Gotta get back to work. It's midnight, after all. Gettin a little sleepy!

What a wonderful world...

2008-07-12T10:01:00.001-05:00

I'm probably one of the last people to catch on to this, well, actually, I'm the 1,246,209th person. There's a video on YouTube of Louis Giglio talking about the human body protein called Laminin. You need to see the video to understand, so watch this...

Did you watch it? It's very mind boggling. I believe he said that if you're wondering whether this proves that God exists, well, no, it doesn't prove anything.

But it sure makes you think.

"For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Colossians 1:16-17

In the NKJ, a footnote says: "consist" means to hold or stand together, and portrays Christ as the Sustainer and Uniting Principle of the universe.

Yes, He is all that!

Independence Day 2008

2008-07-06T23:20:00.000-05:00

We celebrated the 4th of July as we always do -- family, friends, food, fun! I'm still trying to recover from so much of these that I am going to leave it at that. I've posted a new family picture, missing only Jon (our son-in-law) who couldn't make it this year. We think this is the largest gathering yet of our family at the homeplace in Wimberly on the beautiful Blanco River. Each year we add someone else who has been a part of the fabric of our lives over the years. Who knows who might show up next year!!!

Thanks, mom and dad, for having us, and for bringing our family together once again. We're blessed!

PS. I think I fixed the video. Try it again and let me know! I'm new at this.

How's this for Nifty Fifty?

2008-06-30T23:18:00.000-05:00

I've reached the half-century mark. Yep, today was my 50th birthday.

And in honor of turning 50, I'd like to share this with you, dear reader. If you know me very well, you might have seen this already. If not, prepare to be shocked, amazed, entertained, and... perhaps pee in your pants laughing! (especially if you reached 50 before me!) So, my 50th birthday gift to you....me and my hubby shakin' our booty !

(Well, I think it might not be working. Until I get it fixed, you can see it at:
http://www.youtube.com/v/GBAyhyLaejw )

Thought you'd enjoy that!

Now, about today.....

I had a wonderful day, in spite of being made to wear Maxine slippers at our Bible study tonight.

I am blessed to be still so madly in love with my husband, proud as can be of my son and daughter, and tickled pink to be called Nonnie by my 3yo granddaughter, who actually sang Happy Birthday to me on the phone today ( with her little sister jabbering away in the background. )

Today I was blessed with lots of hugs, kisses, well-wishes, balloons, gifts, and cards, not to mention a birthday cake the size of a football field. Add to that a pink corsage and a blue ribbon pronouncing me a winner. And, a bouquet of fruit from the fruit-salad-queen of our family!

Blessed. I'm totally blessed, y'all. Thanks!

How not to look old, indeed!

2008-06-29T15:14:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of this book?

I know, I know. You're laughing. You're thinking how shallow, how insecure, how self-absorbed a person must be who would read that book. Well, just call me Shallow then. I read it, and I liked it! I have even unashamedly posted it in my Library Thing listing.

The best part of it was The List of top 10 things that can make you look old (as opposed to looking Y&H) Curious? What does the Y&H mean? Well, I'm not telling! Ha! Read it for yourself!

What struck me the funniest but the most true: Let's just say that "bagging and sagging" don't just apply to the fashion nonsense of the gangster-wannabes. Use your imagination here, ladies!

Soon to arrive at the ripe old age of 50 -- yes, 50, the Big 5-0, I feel I have earned the right to add something to these thoughts about "not looking old". A friend once gave me some very timely advice. I wish with all my being I could say that with a grateful heart I heeded her warning and am glad of it. I did not. With deep regret I must say that the very thing she warned me NEVER TO DO, I did. There is now forever imbedded in my memory a dreadful sight and I'm going to share this with you in hopes that YOU will learn from another's experience and not have to endure the consequences as I have.

And this it: never, never to allow your eyes to glance in the mirror while holding your head upside down to blowdry your hair. Gravity can be so unkind. Trust me on this, dear ones!

Not liking damp panties (it's not what you think!)

2008-06-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

The joys of a day spent at Fiesta Texas:

Blister on my foot.
A touch of sunburn.
Slight rash (not telling where).
Puffy eyelids.
Sore shoulders.
Tired, aching feet and back.

I'm waaaaay too old for that much fun.

What I'm thankful for the day after:

Not having damp panties. From the water rides, mind you!

Now, seriously.....

One thing that was too cool not to mention about our day at Fiesta Texas was a show we took in before we ever even hit the rides. It's called Blast Fever, and it was a totally unexpected delight! Fabulous. Might be because of my tendency to love brass bands (I played the French Horn in our high school band) and drumlines (I did not play percussion in our high school band). You've gotta see it to believe it.

These are a few of my favorite things....

2008-06-22T22:13:00.000-05:00

For lack of anything interesting to talk about today, I thought I'd just test the results of adding ads to my blog. If I talk about some of my favorite things, will I see ads for other such items that might become new favorites? Let's just see.....

Top Three Favorite Things

1. My mother's day gift this year was a new coffeemaker. A red Cuisinart. In addition to it being perfectly lovely on my countertop, it has a charcoal filter. I love it! Hard, limey Texas water, beware!

2. Then, there's my next favorite thing: my old Kodak EasyShare camera. I've had it for years, and I just can't take a bad picture with it. Unless it was a shot of me, first thing in the morning, no makeup, wandering to the kitchen for a cup of coffee from my Cuisinart .....you get the picture (and you wish you hadn't! )

3. Oh, and then there's my phone. I love my red Samsung Sync mp3 cell phone. More than the basics, less than the techno-geek-ware. I can listen to inspiring music on my mp3/phone while plodding along on my treadmill, and if I go into cardiac arrest, then 911 is only a click away!

So tell me, what gadgets can't you live without?

Forever

2008-06-20T23:03:00.000-05:00

If you know me at all, you know that my nearly 50-year-old heart has been stolen by a three year old.

When I visited her the last time, she asked me if I was coming to her house. I said yes, of course, and could I stay the night?

Yes, Nonnie, you can spend the night. Can you stay forever?

That just makes my heart hurt!

And then there's her baby sister...

What's not to love???

Happy Father's Day 2008

2008-06-15T21:25:00.001-05:00

I thought it would be nice to pay a tribute to the important men in my life. The first to claim me was the one circled in red, my Dad, Ken Evans. I was his baby girl for about six years. Then my little sister came along to ensure that I wasn't too terribly spoiled. He raised four daughters and has lived to tell about it. It amazes me that there are still things about him that I'm just discovering after all these years! I especially love seeing him enjoy his three precious granddaughters. Girls, more girls! He's a good man and I'm very proud of him.

Next to claim me was the man in my life, my husband Ted (circled in yellow). We've been a couple since the young age of 16, married since 20. I can't imagine life without him now. He's a part of my very being. Together we have a son and a daughter, and I've loved seeing the dad he's become to them. He's better at remembering things than I am, so it's really good to have him around! He makes me laugh, and I just love that about him!

Along with this man who stole my heart came another who has been like a father to me for the past 30 years, Tom Mason, my father-in-law.(circled in blue) I've always claimed to be his favorite daughter-in-law. I'm content to think that, anyway. He raised three sons, all of them fine men and a living testament to the loving father who helped to shape their lives. He's a very special part of our family.

I have been blessed. Truly blessed, to have these men in my life. I love them so! Happy Father's Day, dads!

Glorious Sunny Days

2008-06-13T18:19:00.000-05:00

Three days. Three wonderful, glorious sunny days. At the beach. With three friends. You just can't beat that! We had a great time together, just the four of us... The sun, the waves, the scenery, the food, the adventure...wow!

It was such a wonderful trip, I thought I'd just share some beach photos with you.

What we actually DID do? Oh. Yes. Well..... We did so thoroughly enjoy ourselves!!!!!
Yes, we did!

(I must confess: Remembered camera. Forgot to take pictures! None of these pictured are friends of mine. Perfect strangers, all of them.)

Alton Brown, the food science guy

2008-06-10T07:09:00.000-05:00

For lack of anything else profound to say today as I'm chugging my coffee and trying to wake up enough to pack my things and head to the Texas coast... I thought I'd introduce my newest favorite friend, Alton Brown. If you know him, you know what I mean when I say he's a bit Q U I R K Y. I love that word, quirky. It says so much in so few letters, and you get to use your pinky for the Q just as your typing teacher taught you.

His show is called Good Eats and is on one of the food channels. I may have to admit that I, too, am becoming "addicted to Alton". Thanks to the "page down" button on the remote I have no idea what channels my shows are viewed on. I just click away until I see them. Anyway, Good Eats is worth your time for several reasons, which I'll list here:

You will laugh a lot, and laughter is good for the soul (really!)
You will learn a little food science, like how things grown on a vine, or why they react with some other substance, or what the molecules look like (you really want to know that)
You will learn how to cook something, usually something strange or using a strange method, like cooking biscuits over your fireplace on an upside-down Dutch oven
You'll meet some interesting characters cooked up by Alton Brown's imagination (literally, maybe!)
If you pay close attention you might even recognize the host himself dressed up as something like, maybe a cow, or an amoeba or an ear of corn
You will learn a little bit of history about a plant or a food or a technique of preparation
You will learn some unique ways to use your kitchen tools
You will learn new uses for your old pantyhose, among other things
You will learn What Not To Wear in the kitchen (safety, people, safety!)
You will like, it, you really will!!!

So, we used to watch Mark DeCarlo on Taste of America. We still watch him, but Alton Brown has taken his place in our living room as king of the food shows. Actually, Mark's show is on the travel channel. I wonder how they decided which channel to show him on. Flipped a coin, saying heads, it's Travel, tails it's Food ? (or maybe it had something to do with which network produced the show, I don't know...)

Time to head out to good old Port A. I'll miss you, Alton. See ya when I get back.

Five, six, seven, oh-eight !

2008-06-07T19:00:00.000-05:00

I don't usually get into things like this, but as I'm sitting here watching You've Got Mail for the thousandth time, I realized that it is precisely 5:00 on 6-7-08. Funny.

Blogs are funny. Who , exactly, are we writing to or for, if nobody ever logs on to your blog? I've decided to write for you, Mandi, since I'm pretty sure you'll read this even if it's just to make sure I'm not saying anything that would embarrass you. Need I remind you of what I've always said is my Job as your mother:

1. nag
2. worry
3. embarrass

I try my best , always!

So, I decided that my blog might be my new journal. It can be wiped out in an instant, if I decide to give it up. that's a bit easier than finding all those little dusty notebooks I once tried to keep up with. There might still be some dark family secrets in them, so here I go to fetch them and toss them on the burnpile. Well, maybe in winter when we have a burnpile. There's still a burn ban for the summer, and it's too dang hot for a fire in the fireplace.

Anyway, I needed a place to put my rambling thoughts. This might just help.

So I am trying to "regain my health". That is to say, I don't feel very strong and healthy right now, and I want to so I can keep up with my rambunctious granddaughters. (precious!) I am proud to say that for a full 5 days I ate ONLY vegetables and fruit and nuts. I can't believe it was that easy to make the switch to an (almost) vegetarian diet (oops, I had some chicken on a salad one day, and oh yeah, a "gyro" salad another day.) It has been a drastic change from what I usually eat: breakfast tacos, chips, burgers/fries, queso & chips...(my tummy is growling now). I wanted to jump right on this, as it's now summertime and I have time to concentrate on ME for a while, and try to get into better physical shape, so starting with my diet seemed the right thing to do. I've been Eating Healthy for 5 days, plus I've been taking all kinds of supplements guaranteed to get your digestive system back on track and give you energy and make your wrinkles fade away and your skin glow and...

Well, guess what!!!??? I got on the scale this morning and.....

I have gained three (more) lbs.

Hello world !

2008-06-06T18:01:00.000-05:00

June 6, 2008 ·

My first blog entry…..what to say. Hmmmm. Reading other people’s blogs makes it seem so easy to write something in your own blog. A first blog entry is so difficult! So I guess I’ll just jump right in and try to say something worth saying.

I think I will just begin by telling about the photo I chose to use as my header (for now). This–is my family. Yep. Almost all of them. The Evans side, anyway. We are four sisters, both parents still married and still living (I know, wow!), and all married with children. Some with grandchildren even. How did we get so far in our lives and remain a family? We’ve not had much tragedy in our lives, as some have, but we’ve weathered a few storms and come out fairly well. Us girls, we’re baby boomers, I guess. I’m old enough to remember the Beatles being fairly new and exciting, but young enough to not have been a swooning teenager back then (just a kid).

We still get together - the whole lot of us - at mom and dad’s at Christmas. We eat too much, exercise no will power whatsoever, play a rousing game of Mexican train, and if it’s nice outside, maybe even toss a football around.
At the present time, our family is 25 strong. That includes four generations of us! Not that large by any means, but impressive that we all get along fairly well. I’ve heard some family horror stories that make our family seem pretty much like the Cleavers! (see, Baby Boomer. I warned ya.)

If I live to be 100, well then, I’m at the precise half-way mark of my life. Looking back, I think I’ve lived a little, but maybe not enough in some ways. Looking forward, I hope to regain some ground (better health) and live a bit more purposefully for Christ in the future. After all, I’ve only got 50 more years on this planet to make (my) His life count for as much as possible!