Good Stuff

Every February our town has a Camellia Festival. There is a parade down main street. The floats are covered with Camellia petals. At the end of the parade route everyone enjoys a Carnival at the park.

Since most of my students attend the festival, I wrote them some math word problems, relating to the festival, for tomorrow's math class. I put their names into the problems. I'm looking forward to their reaction.

Today I read the story of Ruby Bridges to a first grade girl. She was so inspired, she wants to write Ms. Bridges a letter. Ruby was one of the first black children to attend a white school. The children's book handles the story well, and Ruby's faith in God and in prayer shines. It's a pleasure to read the book at school and allow the children to see her strength and her faith.

My fifth grade class is reading a story about Sarah Winnemucca. She was a Paiute Indian who learned to speak, read and write English. She spent her life speaking out about fairness and peace for the Paiutes. (I'm sure learning a lot at school!)

Oh...and we just finished a story about Deborah Sampson. She wanted to fight in the revolutionary war. She dressed like a male soldier...and they never discovered she was a woman. Well...eventually a doctor discovered it when she became ill. After the war she married and lead a fairly normal life. She became a public speaker and traveled all over the country sharing her experiences.

That's all for now...

Except I just walked outside to the end of the driveway to bring the trash cans in. I saw a neighbor out in his yard and thought. I don't have time to talk...I have to start dinner. But something slowed me down.

I waved. He turned off his edger and we shouted back and forth--as he lives across the street and 2 doors down. I noticed his girlfriend (who I don't know well). She has an illness and is in a wheel chair. She was sitting in his driveway watching him edge the lawn. Then as I turned, to go back down the driveway, I saw my daffodils. It seemed I should give her one. I picked 2 and broke off some lacy green foilage from a bush. I walked over and handed them to her.
"Oh thank you! Daffodils were my grandmother's favorite flower."

I felt good inside.

I think she did too.



I'm off to make dinner...bacon and tomato sandwiches...with split pea soup.

Poor...but Rich

Daffodils are blooming everywhere in Southern California, and along our driveway.

I begin with distressing news.
Our son left today. It didn't work out for him to live here. I pray God will watch over him. He only has $50.00. But most important, I pray that God will place some Christians in his life who will guide him.

Which brings me to the thought...Could I be standing next to someone tomorrow who needs guidance and help? As I pray for help for my son...I need to be aware of the Spirit's leading in my own life...to be available to others—to be an answer to someone's prayer for their loved one.

How can I expect others to help my son, when I am not willing to help others?

I'm a little shy to "talk" too much about my son...so I will get on to something else.
I went for 2 walks today. One with a friend, and later with my husband.

Do you know what my most precious possessions are? My relationships with family and friends. And with the economy how it is, its comforting to know that lack of money will not take these away. My mother is a great spiritual support to me. And a walk with a friend is worth a million bucks.

Speaking of relationships...we are truly rich. Because the Creator of the universe desires to have a relationship with us.

A few other things...

In one week, my youngest son will turn 18. He's having some friends over for a barbecue. We are in the middle of a series of rain storms, so I hope its clear on Saturday.

On this current weekend, I have three days of "no school". Since the weather is cold and wet, I stopped by the library, and thought I'd browse around. I came across the DVD's. Wow...a good idea for a rainy day. I came home with the movie Music and Lyrics as well as a PBS series on the Revolutionary war, and a DVD tap dancing lesson! If I can't square dance...I'll tap dance. (I used to tap dance in college.)

I made Mozart watch Music and Lyrics with me on Valentines Day. He wasn't expecting it to be very interesting....but he actually liked it. We both did! When Mozart and I first met, we wrote a few songs together. He did the music, and I did the lyrics....so it brought back some memories!

"Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house.
You give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light , we see light." Psalm36:7b - 9

Choosing to Trust

My son returned tonight in the middle of a lightning storm. As the rain poured down, we negotiated by the back door. It was difficult. When I thought Mozart was being too harsh, I had to trust the Lord. I kept saying to myself I have to trust the Lord.

As I listened to Mozart and C, I reminded myself that--for the last 4 weeks I've been reading the Word and trying to have faith in God's promises. Now, after four weeks of "strengthening" my muscles were being tested. Had I learned anything?

It comes down to...do I believe that God is able?--or do I think he can't handle it.

We finally got through the requirements/expectations. C is now settling in.

There are a lot of loose ends relating to a missed court date and other matters and the coming days will not be easy.

But I must trust. Trust or die of stress. Trust I will!

After C dumped his stuff into his room, he headed for the shower.

I wanted to rest my mind. I noticed a CD sitting on my dresser...a bit dusty. A CD of hymns. I stuck it in my small clock radio player and the song "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" began to play. It was a simply done...on piano...no voice.

The simplicity of the song touched my heart. I ran and got my old hymnal so I could remember the words.
'Tis so Sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at his Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord"

Jesus Jesus how I trust Him.
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.
Jesus Jesus precious Jesus
O FOR GRACE TO TRUST HIM MORE.

I especially like the last line, because it seemed the writer of the hymn was not perfect and still needed grace to trust Him more.

I felt like God brought this hymn to me tonight. And tears came to my eyes as I realized this.

After that...I decided to google the author (Louisa M. R. Stead), and I read the story of a woman who tragically lost her husband.

I love the hymns that have been passed down to us, because so many of them were born out of real life experiences...hard struggles...pain...and also, joy and victory.

That's all for tonight. I hear C rummaging around in the refrigerator now...and I have to go rescue my pre-cooked roast. To back track...I cooked it tonight, but it took 2 hours longer than expected so I had to make another dinner...fast. Now I have pre-cooked roast for tomorrow night. C is asking if he can have some roast. (At least he is asking!) I've got to point him to the leftover Lasagna.

Bye!

Random

Maggie wants you to know that its okay to have a bad hair day. She has them all the time.


I always enjoy the pictures of my dog-niece my sister-in-law sends. This is the latest.

Well...I don't have anything exciting to report---except that its pouring rain. Yesterday it was 80. The weather is full of surprises.

I can tell this is going to be a "random" post. (My younger son would call it that.) Everything is "random".

I quit the square dancing class. It just doesn't feel right without Mozart. However, I'm resuming my tennis. I had stopped playing because I strained my elbows when I held the hedge clippers over my head and clipped a giant bush.


My writers critique group meets tomorrow. As usual, I have nothing to bring for critique. Writer's block I suppose. However, I've been studying a website called http://www.lulu.com/. You can self-publish a book for a minimal fee. But one must be pretty computer savy. For example, you must be proficient on Word. I have 2 children's books that have never been published. I'm thinking of trying LuLu...if I can get through the technical aspects.

My oldest son had a court date today. The court date relates to unpaid tickets. He hasn't been able to pay his tickets because he has trouble keeping a job. He also has forgotten to go to court dates in the past, so the whole thing is snow-balling (fees and community labor). I hope he remembered to go today.

They're talking about lay-offs at the school district where I work. I think my job is okay...but one never knows.

I'm enjoying my afternoon job with Mrs. L.

That's it for now!

I wish I had a picture of my yard. (camera's broke) The grass/weeds are so green and the lemons and oranges look bright. Nature and the outdoors keep my cheerful. Absolute beauty...and free of charge!

A Time to Dance

The phone rang the other night. It was Rich and Carole who live about 30 miles from me.

"You want to go square dancing?"
"I don't know. I've never square danced."
"No problem. We're going to a beginning class and it's only 2 miles from your house."

I couldn't think of any reason why not.

So on Tuesday night I found myself holding hands with a tall husky 70 year old man with no hair.

Now, the only old man I'm used to dancing with is my dad. Here we are doing the swing in 2004.



Well the tall husky man was pretty good. He promenaded me around. I weaved in and out , grabbed arms, and occaisonally got run over by dancers who were going in the right direction. We learned about 10 different steps and formations. I really had to concentrate. In a way, it's so easy...but in another way....well let me just say...you cannot be daydreaming. When someone gets lost...it's so funny. For a woman, if you get lost...sooner or later (mostly sooner) and an arm reaches out and grabs you---folding you back in.

I did try to talk Mozart into going but he says square dancing is for squares.

When I got home from square dancing, Mozart said that son "C" had called. He wanted to stop by to pick up some mail. This was earth shattering news, because we've heard very little from our son. Mozart said, "We almost had a conversation." (on the phone) When C stopped by to get the mail, Mozart said he looked dirty and scraggly and was in and out quickly...leaving with a friend.

Because this situation is so...out of my hands—it prods me to trust the Lord completely. The worries do creep in...and when they do I imagine sweeping C and all my worries under God's wing. I can't see what's going on under the wing, but I bring my mind to rest by reminding myself he is completely in God's care.

In closing...
Here's a photo of my mom and dad doing the swing!

My Article Came Out

My dirt biking article came out! I received an advance copy and a check. It will be out in the March 29th edition of Evangel.

Evangel is a church take-home publication with a circulation of 11,000. They publish about 100 articles per year.

I originally called the article, "When God Rode a Dirt Bike", but after the article was accepted they asked me to come up with some alternative titles. They chose, "Off-Road Riding With God".

The title "When God Rode a Dirt Bike" came to me because I mention, in the article, that God was riding with me on my dirt bike when we climbed a monstrous hill. God goes everywhere with us!



I will let you read the article after March 29th--because the magazine bought "first rights" and I can't publish it elsewhere before that date.

I've been a little slow at posting because my camera is broken. It is NOT fun to post without pictures! I have taken some pictures with my son's camera, but its very hard to get them OFF his camera. It can be done, but involves a trip to CVS to dump the pictures into their computer and burn a cd. Oh...the picture above---that's a picture of my dog, Jasper, with his glasses on. (He is now in dog heaven.)

Son update: My son is still gone. But I sense he is staying with someone. (He's not on the street, thank goodness.) Last week, my cell phone rang while I was driving. When I checked my phone later, I noticed an unfamiliar phone number with a different area code. There was no message. I called the number back...and it turned out to be the cell phone of a young man who I do not know. I asked to speak with C (my son) and he said, "He's out with my dad right now."

It seems as though he's staying with a family.

I did speak with C briefly, because he called me back. I can't really go into things much more than that. I continue to pray for him.

I continue to pray for George Bush too. I've prayed for him for 8 years, and it feels strange to stop. ..since he's no longer at the helm. So I'll continue. I'm adding Obama to the list now.

I'll close with the words of our first President:

Direct my thought, words and work, wash way my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit...Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.

--George Washington
1st U.S. President

Son Update

My son is okay. He came by today to pick up something. Mozart was here--I was at work. Mozart told him what we expect for him to live here...and didn't make it easy for him to return. My son (who doesn't have a working car) was with a friend that Mozart didn't recognize. He picked up a change of clothes and left again. At least I know he's still alive, and for that, I'm thankful.

Today I had a usual challenging but fulfilling day in the Special Education class. Then I picked up the woman that I "caretake" and we went to the local museum of the town she lives in. It was facinating. I love local history. This town was at the end of a famous pioneer trail and many of its streets are named after the pioneers.

After that, I had to attend a meeting at the school district.

It feels good to be home. All is quiet. My youngest is working at his new job tonight, and the oldest is "somewhere" but okay.

He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord "my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2