My Momma didn't raise no dummy?

Nope. My Momma didn't raise no dummy? (Double negative for emphasis!!) I had to explain!! We're looking a new phones. Hubs has finally decided he shall leave the dark ages and go with a smart phone. Amazing. So... prior to checking with the mobile carrier that we have had for umpteen years, I checked out the price at other places. So when the young lady made an offer for a price for us, I countered with, "I guess I'll just go to X-vendor and get it for $79 less (per phone!!). "Well we wouldn't want you to do that now, would we." She says brightly. "Let me get you a senior representative on the phone. Perhaps they know of some plan that I don't have access to." So here I sit with my mobile on speaker phone, waiting for this mysterious senior representative to appear. Actually, my son taught me this trick. He's quite smart, that self-proclaimed "techy-nerd" of mine! I take his advice often. That would mean his Momma didn't raise no dummy, either!! That acorn doesn't fall far from the tree!! Ta-Ta. Oh. Glory! He's also giving me one month free service! Hee Hee. Can't wait to get my hands on that new phone with a 1.5GHZ dual core processor...in a phone! Who would have thought it! Certainly not Tom Watson. once IBM chairman, who said in 1958: 'I think there is a world market for about five computers.'

Unfolding Grace

I'm on a FB hiatus. Feels strange. I'm not sure how many time today I thought of some little phrase for a "status." It's no wonder that that daily posting is so addictive. The very idea that there are people out there willing to read some little tidbit posted is rather exhilarating. Or is that just me? I'm training myself to think in larger chunks now. Entire paragraphs. And I wonder why my students have trouble writing larger pieces! I just read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 in The Message "So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever." I experience that 'Unfolding Grace' on a daily basis. On hectic chaotic days, in troubled times, at moments in which I really don't know what to say, He's just there, speaking to my soul. Spreading Grace.

TEA GARDEN

My fav accomplishment this summer was creating a Tea Garden out of my blah, empty lot, side yard. I'd tried making the back yard livable...but apart from the small deck, had been unsuccessful at making it livable. It always felt small and confining, the fence too close, not room to move if I put a table there large enough for the family. SO I solved it with ideas from a few friends, a few articles, some elbow grease, and the help of a couple of guys to dig and plant! Of course, it isn't finished. I must create something to divide that fire table from the front part of the empty lot. The girls and I are working on stepping stones. The paths with a few more flowers might be just enough to do the trick. We shall see! I might need a few larger plants -- I've never tried growing roses. Maybe next year will be the right time!! Here's the work in progress:

So Finally, I'm blogging. What for? In order to upload to Pinterest!
Yep. I'm that addicted to social media. Use my precious blog to feed the frenzy!

RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A TEACHER

Sitting in my classroom this afternoon I opened an email that warned: " Two Worst Foods for Weight Gain." I, of course, was munching on hot wings dipped in potatoes and gravy. (That makes the best dip for wings!!) Yum! I stopped mid-mouth. Oops. No, I can keep chowing down. Two worst foods? Potato chips and soda. Whew! I didn't have either.

The next email contained five questions to diagnose ADHD:

• Have great difficulty wrapping up the loose ends on projects?

• Have trouble staying organized?

• Miss appointments or obligations?

• Procrastinate on big projects that require thought?

• Have trouble sitting still?

• Struggle with restless energy?

What? Like all the paper lying around my classroom; the stacks of chairs; the unpacked supplies; my home office that stays buried in piles of paper; my living room curtains that still need to be sewn (since Christmas); my habit of sharpening pencils. Although I generally don't have trouble sitting still. At least not my body sitting still. My mind, on the other hand, is most often a whirlwind. My body is tired enough of late that it isn't physical restless energy, but the mental kind sure. Get me some Rit*alin! Quick!

However, I have accomplished some things!

School starts on Monday, for teachers. Students come on Wednesday. I've been working for two weeks to get my classroom set up, books on shelves, bulletin boards up, desks arranged, curriculum ready for one more year. Today was productive.

• Purchased and cut gutters to serve as book display.

• Bought two new plants: a fern and a Brown-eyed Susan

• Put posters on wall - (bought the tape with which to mount)

• One more section in the writer's notebook (teacher version)

• Bought last of supplies (I've spent at least $700 on supplies and stuff this summer)

• Copies for first three lessons requested

This weekend: Finish the writer's notebook (And just maybe finish the curtains!)

Monday: Tidy up the room

• Organize my desk area

• Finish the PBIS brochure

• Consult the core about the website, begin maintenance

• Start core brochure

Tuesday: Panic because all of the above is not done!!!

Wednesday: Fake it really well when the kids arrive!! Aren't we excited about his year???

Well, folks. That's the first week of school for ya! I'll be sure and remember to leave off the chips and soda. So glad I read that!!!

Bulletin Board -- Done!

Gutters/shelves purchased

Me, doing the Vanna White thing

Boston Fern

Brown-eyed Susans

Sunflowers

A poetry bulletin board

Another view of the shelved books and bulletin board

The entry welcome!

Aha!  Still to do!!  Papers everywhere!

More piles and stack of STUFF!

      Stacks and piles of other stuff!!

TaTa for Now!

An idea

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 5:29-32

I love social media.  It's given me so many opportunities to connect with people I otherwise might not even know.  And the re-connections! To see how my childhood friends have grown and blossomed has been nothing but a blessing.


There's one feature I would like to build in, though- something that Christians could have installed on their accounts as a safeguard: a passion-delay option.  When someone's feeling especially riled up, it would be great for a little screen to pop up with the following questions before they change their status:

Did you pray about this?
Are you being kind? Even to your enemies?
Are you helping the situation?
Are you sure this is true?
If an unbeliever reads this, will it draw them to Christ?
What is your honest motivation?
Is this truly a prayer request, or is this an attempt to find a loophole big enough to slip gossip through?
Are your words causing unity or division?
Would this be better leftunsaid?
Is anyone going to be hurt or stumbled by this?
Who will benefit from this post?
Would this be better said privately?
Are you SURE you don't want to cool down before you post this?

Wouldn't it be nice if this feature existed? Wouldn't it be nice if everyone used it?


It makes me cringe when I see someone I love post remarks on FB or Twitter that are clearly meant to be a barb at someone else I love. Do they realize the rocks they throw hit other people in the crossfire? Are they aware of the pain they're causing? Do they worry that the world is watching us tear each other apart?  I can't know.


Here's what I do know- it's making me much more aware of the words I use in social media.  When I feel compelled to complain about service in a store, I am going to remember that it's someone's livelihood. When I want to insult a person's outfit, I'm going to remember that the wearer is someone's child.  When I feel compelled to take a stab at someone's church leadership, I am going to remember the congregants. If I wanna say something about a celebrity or politician, I'm going to remember that person has a mother, a child, or a spouse who loves them.  Above all,  I'm going to try to be really mindful of the fact that Christ died for all sinners, not just me.


I can't control what other people write, but I can be more careful about what I write.  Will you join me in an effort to make social media a brighter place?


May God bless us all.

 

(Courtesy of His Girl )

THE FIRST SENIOR MOMENT

That's what happened to the dinosaurs!

Don't forget to take the Garbage Out

By PJDHuerta

Euodia and Syntyche, saints without doubt,

Would not take the garbage out!

They'd pray in the altar and sing in the choir,

Teach little children, to sing higher and higher.

They'd give of their tithes every nickel and dime;

They'd go feed the poor every single time.

Reading the Bible was fun to do;

Memorize scripture, they knew quite a few.

They would wash the windows and polish the sash;

They simply would not take out the trash.

Deep in each heart, it piled up every day.

They wouldn't let go, no siree, no way.

Each offense they remembered and harbored them near.

They could quote much gossip they happened to hear.

They knew every sin of every member.

Some dating back past the year 51, November.

Every fault, every error of each saint on the way,

They kept tight in their hearts -- refusing to say

"I forgive.  God forgives.  There is grace for you.

We can pray gaining strength every day, anew."

It piled high in each heart, the injury to self.

The things people said, stored safe on a shelf.

They remembered well every jot and tittle.

"You don't belong. You're too Ugly and Little"

In each brain echoed daily, the faults that were found,

The list of the failings, tossed round and round.

It kept them from living each day to it's fill.

It kept each soul in a permanent chill.

That garbage piled high it blinded the view.

Grumbling set in, depression, too.

Finally, Syzygus, in sheer desperation,

Called them aside, despite aggravation.

"You very well know God doesn't like grudges.

Here in this church, we can't act like judges.

Jesus himself set us an example.

On Love, we don't dare to trample.

Forgive one another; be friends; learn to trust.

Trample your differences into the dust."

And so they did, cheerfully, no bickering.

Not even a sneer or an eyebrow flickering.

They cleared out their hearts with a cheerful smile,

Remembering God's goodness all the while.

The Master came by and offered free

to cast it all out to the sea.

"Please do." they echoed with felicity.

"We need to be free of toxicity."

And so with a smile and a happy shout,

Euodia and Syntyche took the garbage out!

And I thought we had a lot of snow!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

      I really have to learn to use my cell phone for recording stuff.  Stuff, like ideas.   I think of the most marvelous things to blog about...when I'm driving, when I'm sitting in church, when I'm up singing.   Whenever I'm in a situation that I can't write down my ideas.    And now.....when I'm settled in nicely ready to write....my brain freezes.  Completely.    I could blame it on chemofog...but it's been almost 3 years since I finished chemo.  The brain does heal itself.  So I'm thinking I have to admit that part of it, at least, is simply due to age.   There I said it!

   Like this morning, I'm looking in the mirror and trying to fix whatever it was that happened with the primer for the eye makeup that I was applying.   Little globs of "stuff" appear.  Not very attractive "stuff."   While cleaning it all off to start over again, I noticed that woman in the mirror.   "Who is that old woman looking at me?"   Or maybe I should be politically correct and clean up my thoughts to myself about myself.  (Do I need to do that?)  Probably not, but as a teacher, it's habit.

     So, the "elderly lady" in the mirror.   What happened?  What happened to the face that used to greet me every morning?    The face went from Bible School, through a couple of assistant pastoral stints, then to a missions assignment. And a couple of baby boys born.  Life in the jungle for a few years.  Life in a mile-high city in South America for another year.  Steamy jungle; dry mountain air.  Then back to the mid-west for a few decades.  A few decades of assisting, pastoring, studying,  (a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, a Psy.D, a teaching certificate, a couple of endorsements, etc.)  a liver donation, breast cancer and chemotherapy.  A few side jobs squeezed in there somewhere:  immigration counseling, administrative assistant, counselor, emergency room consultant.  Always the pastoral work, public school teaching, parenting and grandparenting.     I suppose the wrinkles are well-earned.  Every dry spot, every scar, every droop and jiggle of skin.  All well-earned.   All contribute to the look of that stranger in the mirror.

     Interestingly, inside I feel much the same.  Still have hopes and dreams, things I'd like to accomplish.  However, with the miles comes some wisdom, with wisdom, a measure of peace.   So....as the cup a friend gave me for Christmas says:

"ALL I REALLY WANT ... IS PEACE ON EARTH AND A CUTE PAIR OF SHOES!!!

Blessings!! 

    

or three...!!!  (Models:  Hubby & Granddaughters, 12-31-08

   

        

It's a Winter Wonderland World out there!
 

 Right above this tree is where the moon would be if it were not hidden by clouds and snow.  So much for staying up to see the Lunar Eclipse tonight.

 Home, where the heart is!

The empty chair by the fireplace where I'm headed as soon as I finish with these pictures!!

 Snow falls softly outside, a snow globe world where all is silent in a blanket of white.   Huge flakes falls, adding volume to beautiful, awful piles of snow.




 

Merry Christmas! A Savior Is Born! (E-Card)

Over-Stimulated Teens

Over-Stimulated Teens

The amount of words and ideas that I am unable to use due to over-sexualized boys this year is amazing. Story Topics like "My favorite Toy" (Okay it was dumb to have on a list -- one I procured from another school) in a list of 50 ideas, resulted in the disruption of 30 students for several minutes. I am appalled at the lack of parental supervision, at the lack of control over these children.

For 25 years I've taught public school adolescents and have never had a group this reactionary. It makes teaching tantamount to walking on eggs. I can't even remember what previous triggers have been this year; they are many and diverse. The entire English language is mostly off-limits to these little boys who have been subjected to an adult-oriented world that I can only guess at. They listen to music that contains vocabulary and innuendo that I neither know nor want to know. They watch the trashiest of TV programs and apparently believe that the world does or should operate on such lurid devices and with total lack of principle.

How does one teach common civility to such ill-bred children? How does one even have conversation, much less encourage them to explore memory and imagination when such as been contaminated by the basest and vilest that American media can offer?

I'm not ready to give up, nor am I ready to blame the victim, for I do see them as victims as much as little girls whoa re treated as sexual objects by perverted family members, other adults, or even by the same adolescent boys.

How does one go about rescuing the most vulnerable among us from the vile filth to be found online, in media and very possibly in their own homes?

Indeed, it seems as though this year will be spent putting Band-Aids on damaged psyches. However, at the same time, I must encourage them to find a healthy outlet for natural energy to be expected in adolescents and find some manner of helping them drain off the disgusting putrification that has collected due to damaging experiences.

Heaven help us all! No wonder I'm exhausted on a regular basis. It's a battlefield out there. Pray for teachers!! Pray for Students!!! Pray for parents!!

Thanksgiving Dinner

 Appetizers:  The food you eat before eating food.

Papa Entertains us all with a B-Me  (Best Memory Ever)

 Dinner:   The food you eat

 Dessert:  The food you eat after eating food!

He's just resting his eyes!!!

 The World's Slowest Game of Speed!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all