It is the last day of February and spring is in the air. Daughter #1 made it back to town and Mr. Smith was very happy. She’ll tell you all about her exciting visit with daughter #2 tomorrow.
In the meantime I have a few links.
This is a very interesting article about how there’s a “hole at its heart” in Oberammergau’s famous Passion play these days. Why am I not surprised?
There is only one way to avoid climbing a mountain and finding it is actually a doomed precipice over which you will certainly fall by your own power if you don’t ask someone—God—for help. And that is not to climb at all, but rather to begin by falling down. I love the way the psalmist [#137] put it this morning:
Well, of course, I had a really lovely time at my Big Event on Friday. I cut the ribbon on a newly renovated room named after me with a pair of hand-crafted wooden scissors which I now have in my office at home.
My former boss, the Dean Emeritus, said kind words about me and I was able to make some extemporaneous remarks without making a fool of myself. I even gave a little testimony about reading through the Bible under the heading “What I’ve been doing since I retired”. I read a poem. There was punch and cookies and I was hugged by a lot of people. Time well spent. God is good.
And in answer to the question, “What did you wear?”–I went full Eileen Fisher–i.e. old work clothes. And I got a corsage.
I spent the rest of the weekend recovering. I did make it to the Kirkwood Historical Society’s Black Heritage event on Saturday at Mudd’s Grove where I met some interesting people and reacquainted myself with a few others. And I got an idea for a Kirkwood Review article about Kirkwood’s own Tuskegee Airman.
The OM and I picked up the twins for church–The boy is still working seven days a week at his store–and I gave them a B+ for depravity control. Pappy was an usher so he was able to distance himself from them, that is until he went up to start passing the plate for the offering and the twins waved vigorously and stage-whispered “Pappy!” to get his attention. Soli deo gloria.
Meanwhile daughter #1 has been hanging out with daughter #2 and her petite famille in Silver Spring.
(That baby is growin’!)
If all goes according to plan and the creek don’t rise, she’ll return home later today. Mr. Smith will be so happy.
Blessed Lord, who wast tempted in all things like as we are, have mercy upon our frailty. Out of weakness give us strength; grant to us thy fear, that we may fear thee only; support us in time of temptation; embolden us in time of danger; help us to do thy work with good courage, and to continue thy faithful soldiers and servants unto our life’s end.
How was your weekend? Mine was pretty quiet, the highlight being when the OM and I wrestled the two carseats into his car and picked up the wee twins to go to church on Sunday. (Lacrosse season starts today so the boy was working at his store all weekend.) It is always a treat to drive with the twins in the backseat and listen to their running commentary. Their total depravity surfaced only a few times during the service–i.e. the bud sang lustily along with “Publish Glad Tidings” but using his own lyrics–perhaps he was speaking in tongues. (I turned to Lottie and whispered, “What is your brother singing?” and she said, “I don’t know!”) When they left for Kids Praise worship, I relaxed and enjoyed a good sermon.
The OM and I also attended the Mission Dinner on Friday night where we learned all about Presbyterians in the Ukraine and in the Yucatan. Presbyterians love their missionaries and their missions around the world, which is a big change from the Episcopal Church where the very idea of missions is embarrassing to them.
Presbyterians are serious about missions. (“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”–Mark 16:15) Basically they are serious. I am learning this about them and I appreciate it. I am also learning to curb by innate sense of frivolity. But I am a Calvinist at heart and have always had a strong Puritan streak. It is wonderful to find folks who share this attitude.
Of course, daughter #1 poured me a glass of wine when we got home.
And the Amaryllis just keeps on blooming!
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, To tell to all the world that God is light; That He who made all nations is not willing One soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace; Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.
How was your weekend? We had sunny blue skies but freezing temps. Still, Saturday was a lovely day to buzz over to Jeff City to check on daughter #1’s apartment and water her plants.
We had lunch at the Grand…
…and did a little mid-Mo shopping before heading home to walk the dog. It was a lot of driving, but the scenery of the rolling hills of Missouri never disappoints.
On Sunday morning I set up the dining room for a little after-church Valentine party for the wee twins…
In church we had a baptism and it was the twin’s Sunday School teacher’s baby and the little bud stood up and said “Hi Mr. Patrick!” and waved. When the pastor walked with the baby down the center aisle and we all sang “Jesus Loves Me” I cried and my mascara ran. Par for the course.
Later at home, after bagels and party favors, we played outside with Mr. Smith who is living his best life.
Meanwhile baby Idabelle continues to thrive…
…and Katie continues to be the best big sister, reading to her constantly…
“A bunny, that’s right a bunny!”
…and replacing her binky immediately when it falls out of baby’s mouth.
So onward to Monday! God is in control.
Be thou my battle shield, sword for my fight;
Be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
Thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower:
raise thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.
–Hymn #642, verse 3
(My latest floral arrangement for church on Sunday–not bad, right?)
Well, the weekend started out chilly and chill, the highlight being daughter #1’s sighting of a very large hawk on the back fence.
Later the same day we spotted a bald eagle flying over our neighborhood! We were not fast enough to snap a picture, but it was exciting. Mais vraiment, two large raptors in one day! According to our local news rag, it is the season for Turkey Buzzards to return from their southern migration, so we’ll be on the lookout for them, although, let’s be honest, it is not very exciting to see vultures.
Another highlight was going to The Cracker Barrel for dinner! We had not been there in many, many years, but after hearing that they now serve alcohol, we headed over to Fenton around 4:45 pm so we could get a table without having to wait on the front porch. We were pleasantly surprised with our meals (mine was from the kid’s menu) and the addition of a cold Blue Moon only enhanced the experience.
“Yeah, that’s a big bite. I’m a big boy.” (The hashbrown casserole is delish.)
At church on Sunday, the wee laddie filled out the welcome card as usual…
…before heading down to Sunday School. The service still fills me with joy and sets me on my course for the week. Amen.
We went home afterwards and ate bagels and then went outside to frolic…(Lottie was sick at home with her Mom, but Mr. Smith got quite a workout with just the wee laddie, chasing the car and playing soccer.)
It was even warm enough to do some driveway sittin’! It was so great to see the sun and that blue sky!
Meanwhile, the two sisters continue to bond adorably…
Have a good week! “By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2: 24-25)
From prayer that asks that I may be Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee, From fearing when I should aspire, From faltering when I should climb higher, From silken self, O Captain, free Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things, From easy choices, weakenings, Not thus are spirits fortified, Not this way went the Crucified; From all that dims Thy Calvary, O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way, The faith that nothing can dismay, The hope no disappointments tire, The passion that will burn like fire; Let me not sink to be a clod; Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
My oldest granddaughter Lottie and I have a little joke about bears.
Whenever the adult conversation at the dinner table gets away from her, she says, “Guys! Guys! Does anyone have a story about bears?” This is hilarious because everyone knows Mamu is afraid of bears. This fear was exacerbated by the time a bear sauntered through our town a few blocks away our house. Now the joke is that a bear will be enticed by the smell of Pappy’s barbecue and will attack him in our backyard.
Anyway, on Sunday I did, indeed, have a story. It was about a bear hibernating under someone’s deck, which I had heard about when I was in Maryland. Lottie’s reaction was to say, “Why would a bear want to hibernate under a deck?” 🙄
Usually Lottie moves on to asking, “Does anyone have a story about scary animals?” On Sunday I had one such story. It seems a gruesome attack by a great white shark last week resulted in a Mexican diver being decapitated. 😲 That was a little too scary for Lottie and she retreated to her father’s arms. I hope she didn’t have nightmares.
I don’t want to give my grandchildren complexes, but a healthy respect for the dangers of the wild is a good thing.
Life is not a Richard Scarry children’s book, much as we would like it to be.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
How was your weekend? Mine was a nice back-to-normal one–estate sales, going out to lunch, happy hour with music at home, and church on Sunday. The boy and Lottie came over after church for Presbyterian Souffle. (The bud was sick and stayed home with Mom.) Mr. Smith continued to grow.
And Baby Ida went for her first walk in the stroller.
We watched some good movies: The High and the Mighty (1954), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).
This was an interesting article about the turnaround of Barnes and Noble (and a lesson for the church.) “There’s a lesson in the Barnes & Noble turnaround. Remember your first love. And don’t lose sight of your ultimate purpose.”
Keep reading, keep praying, keep showing up. Pay attention. “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1)
Well, I am heading home later today. It has been lovely spending quality time with this little fam. Lots of conversation and sitting around staring at the new baby. We also toasted the baby.
Additionally, Katie is a never ending font of information and idiomatic toddler pronouncements. “I’m doing my own thing!” Brilliant.
Also I have enjoyed talking to DN and finding out more things we have in common, such as our classmates thinking we were Chinese when we were children. He directed me to this comedic routine of John Mulaney who evidently experienced the samething. This was a revelation to me: this happened to other people?!
The world is more than we know.
Please pray for no delays, fair weather and an easy trip back to flyover country.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
Katie and I have played with a lot of Play-Doh and cut up a lot of Washi tape. She is more fun than a barrel full of monkeys. We have also cleaned up when we needed to.
And I have read a lot of good books over the last few days (and some really boring ones as well). My favorite books, besides the classics…
…are anything from the Pete the Cat oeuvre.
These books are gold and I highly recommend them to anyone who has small children!
A children’s book that quotes Emerson! I mean, the author James Dean is one groovy dude!
James earned his degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and went on to work for Georgia Power for a number of years. Eventually, he was called to pursue his art full-time and began selling his work at art festivals around the Southeast.
It was during this time that he began creating paintings and drawing of his cat, Pete. The little blue cat showed up as a character in James’ artwork around 1999 and has been a permanent fixture ever since.
In 2008, James partnered with Eric Litwin to create the first Pete the Cat children’s book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Now, James has helped create over 70 Pete the Cat books, including many NYT Bestsellers.
James is humbled every day by the success that this groovy blue cat has brought him. He says positively affecting children’s lives is his number one priority, and he is grateful to have such an amazing audience to work for.
Good stuff is out there if you look!
And, of course, holding an infant is the best therapy for anything that ails you.
Well, I made it to Baltimore without any delays (thanks for all those prayers and well wishes) and wonderful DN was waiting to pick me up at the airport and drive me to Silver Spring. Since then I have been enjoying lots of quality time with precious daughter #2 and sweet Katiebelle.
We are waiting patiently for baby #2 to arrive.
In the meantime, here’s a poem, a sonnet by Christina Rossetti (1830-94), “Sonnets Are Full of Love”:
Sonnets are full of love, and this my tome Has many sonnets: so here now shall be One sonnet more, a love sonnet, from me To her whose heart is my heart’s quiet home, To my first Love, my Mother, on whose knee I learnt love-lore that is not troublesome; Whose service is my special dignity, And she my loadstar while I go and come And so because you love me, and because I love you, Mother, I have woven a wreath Of rhymes wherewith to crown your honoured name: In you not fourscore years can dim the flame Of love, whose blessed glow transcends the laws Of time and change and mortal life and death.
dual personalities 