Rubber Ducks

It is time to get ready for the holidays...for me that means deciding on a theme for the Christmas tree. I was leaning towards jingle bells when my daughter suggested rubber ducks. I have to say, I have never seen a tree done in rubber ducks so the idea got my attention. At www.orientaltrading.com you can find rubber duckies to suit all your whims. We went with snowflake, christmas, nativity, and nutcracker versions for our tree. These armed forces duckies just caught my eye-may have to buy those for stocking stuffers!

Follow Me...

Piggly Wiggly isn't something people in North Louisiana are familiar with, but I certainly am! When I was a young person, my mom worked at our local Piggly Wiggly. It was ( I say "was" because it is no longer there) on the corner of Racetrack Rd. and Beal Pkwy in Ft. Walton Bch., Fl. In that same store was this really cute guy, shoulder length blonde hair, blue eyes-15 years old, and me, a very mature 12 1/2 or so. One night I went up to the store at closing with my stepdad to pick my mom up. This guy ( who will remain anonymous for the moment) was dancing around with a mop. I watched in awe! When my mom came out to the car, I asked who he was. She replied with his name, and in attempt to discourage me, informed me that he had a girlfriend. I, however, was not deterred and found countless reasons to visit the Piggly Wiggly. To make a long story short, a few years later, he asked me to be his wife...I have been following him ever since-around the globe for the past (almost) 25 years. "Follow me. You bet!"

Life is a highway

It has certainly felt like it this year! I did some rough calculations in my head and determined that this past year, I have traveled about 5,000 miles! Wow! How far is it across the United States? I didn't drive quite that far, but our adventures have included a trip up through Tennessee, through Ohio and into New York, across New York to New York City, back down the east coast as far south as Charleston, westward again to North Louisiana, back south to Florida, up again, and then across again, this time to North Carolina...and back, all within about a 10 month time span...oh yea..there are a couple short jaunts to Texas in there too. All those miles, all those moments of time with my family exploring and experiencing. Not a moment was wasted...it really hasn't been the miles or even the destination, but the journey. The journey has been priceless...a treasure of infinite value! Road trip?...yep...let's load up!

Love at First Sight

My daughter has this t-shirt which says "Do you believe in love at first sight...or should I walk by again?" Welp...I do believe in love at first sight, and this little one is the picture of pure love. Infancy is such a short phase of a life. It is here and gone. Last night, very late last night, I was holding my 3 week old grandson. Everyone was asleep, and I was trying very hard not to wake anyone up. I had fed and changed Aaron and was just holding him. He was making the funniest faces at me! I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud! He is beautiful, like his dad and mom. It is amazing, amazing love that our God would create such perfection, and loan it to us just for a moment!

Unconditional Love

It is so easy to say "I love you" but actually loving requires a little more effort. I have a new grandson, my only grandson actually, the son of my middle son. He is going to now experience what it really means to love. There have been so many people in my life that have come and go, many I thought or said "I love you" too, but it is just now that the full meaning of that is hitting me. If I am going to love, I have to give, completely, my heart, in such a way that it can't be taken back. If I can walk away or take back my heart, then I really didn't learn to love at all. I look at the picture of my grandson and remember when I held my own son. I would hold him and look at him, hope and dream, plan, pray... and give my heart. He still has my heart...as does his wife and their new son!

Doctor, doctor, give me the news...

My daughter has an arthritis which requires a trip to the doctor every few months. Her doctor is in Arkansas at the children's hospital, so....every 3 to 4 months, we pile in the van and make the three hour trek up there. Kat doesn't look forward to the occassion, and certainly doesn't dress for it. This trip, she had on shorts, a tshirt (she basically crawled out of bed into the van), and her neon green flip flop slippers. She walked around all day in those slippers. All the nurses commented on them which gave us quite a laugh. Hmmm..so glad she has her own personality and is comfortable with that!

Education: Purpose?

The first full week of school has come and gone. As in the case every year, it was a very tiresome week, very busy, but it went by very fast. This is my first year to really incorporate journaling into the classroom and to mass teach. We are an individualized program, so I do more one on one than addressing the entire class. This year, however, I decided to teach and re-enforce basic skills by involving the group. For the first time I taught with a chalkboard! It was a blast to interact with the whole class that way and to watch them respond. They got into it and (little did they know) they helped me teach them. One of the days this past week, I read them an essay entitled "Education, Our Own Work." It addressed the purpose of education. The students had to journal on the purpose of education. The essay answer is: to discipline the mind. Hmmm...I would agree to that, for it certainly takes discipline to educate oneself, but it is more than that. Someone has said that education is lighting a fire and it is! It is interaction with the world and people around us, gaining from life experiences, inspiring others to achieve, and finding in ourselves that desire to stretch just a little bit further. I pray this year, I accomplish that in my students...inspiration. I am already seeing their eyes light up, and I am thrilled to be just a small part of all of that!

Pretty in Pink

Sometimes God brings people into our lives for just a moment: other times, God allows us a lifetime. We met this family quite a few years ago, when little Edith (left) was still in her mother's womb. She is five years old now, and has taught us many things. Life and blessings come in many different forms. Edith has autism and epilepsy ( along with a few other problems). She is such a gift, but so much work for her family. Many tears have been shed, and many prayers offered up on her behalf. She is truly beautiful. Her sister, Veronica, has also struggled. We are thankful for the moments we have shared in her life too. Aren't they both pretty in pink?

Spraying Color

We took a moment off this Saturday to visit the Shreveport Riverfront fountains. It always strikes me how the light looks like it is shooting out of the water. It is fun to watch all the children playing safely in the midst of our city. From this vantage spot, much of the riverfront area can be viewed, and at night, it is full of light and color. It is definitely a must see when in Shreveport.

Time

Who was that band that sang....time keeps on slipping into the future? Skimming through the newspaper today, two-now adults-whom I have known since they were maybe five or so got married this week. Kids my kids played with, spent some of their school years with, and probably got into trouble at least once with. Now they too are grown. The funniest thing to me...I tend to immortalize people at the age I last saw them...so when years go by and they aren't that age anymore, it sure is weird to think of them in any other way. Time is slipping into the future. The band-Steve Miller Band, and yes, I had to look that up!

Newlyweds

What a challenge, what fun, what adventure, what new life lessons I have learned just watching my children grow up...and then adding members to our family. Robert and Gabrielle were married Dec. 06 and have begun their life together. Our newest addition is due in September of this year: Aaron Joshua. I am often scared, worried, confused, excited, humored, and a host of other emotions thinking about what faces each of my children as they choose their life mate and begin their own lives apart from our lives! We miss them but joy in their new love and independence!

A Handy Man

When my children were young, I used to tell them that their dad could "fix it" anytime something broke, and usually he could. They grew up believing their dad could fix anything! Both my boys are grown now. Their dad left with them a legacy that impacts their lives every day. When something is broken, they find out how to fix it, and then they do. Every problem is just an obstacle waiting for a solution to be found! Our washing machine went down this week, and my husband went on a mission to figure out how to fix it. With a little research and help from a friend, he got it all worked out. The same week my friend's machine went down too, and because of all the research, he was able to fix hers too. The experience proved to be a teachable moment for Billy also. He assisted (held the flashlight) and of course, he dressed for the occasion. Cost to repair both machines: $0, experience: priceless.

Cousins

July 2007

Billy, Alex, and Aaron (top) & Katherine (my daughter) with two of her younger cousins: Chance in the middle and Alex on the right. They may not appreicate it now, but to know your cousins and make memories with them is quite a privilege-one I didn't have growing up. I barely know any of my cousins, let alone did I spend any real amount of time with them growing up. Family is important. A family is a microcosm of the world...it is the place we get to be ourselves and learn how to love others alike and very unlike us all at the same time. We learn to relate, resolve conflicts, and accept others unconditionally.

Serenity

Serenity: Calmness...or maybe an acceptance which looks like a calmness. This is my favorite place on the planet (at least so far)-Destin, Fl. The sand is white, the water is translucent green, the sights, sounds, smells all add to the beauty of the scene. It is that one place in my life which calms my spirit and fills my being with a sense of peace and majesty. What an awesome creator to give us such beauty to drink in. If only it wasn't so far away from where I am, and if only I could spend more time there. Well...no use whining...instead I will be thankful for every moment I can steal away in this short life to recharge my serenity battery.

On aging

Everyone ages-obviously-but some of us do it more gracefully than others, as exemplified by a visit to the doctor's office. Sitting in the office of an internist, surrounded by people much older than I, I had the rare opportunity to witness the diversity of the aged. First of all, there was a power problem so the automatic doors weren't working. As I watched, patient after patient approached the doors, pushed the button, then stood back to let the doors open, which they didn't-no power! Some of the patients caught on quickly and manually opened the doors, others tried a few times. The scene was quite comical. To add more confusion, the power was off in half the building so there was no a/c and it was quite dark. In the light of the windows we all waited and wondered. Elderly of all sorts entered and exited. Some exquisetly dressed, others barely presentable. Some seemed quite independent, others were escorted by a family member or a friend. My favorite spry old lady was surely at least in her sixties (but I am guessing older). She arrived in white capris, a coral top and button down shirt, and the best part....the shoes. She had perfectly matched flip-flops, with a big floral center. Her hair was done, nails painted and....she had her cell phone. It rang while we waited, and we were serenated with, "Hello, darling...it's been a long time..." We all laughed, and she proceeded to tell us she loved country music and that her son had "text" her some other songs just yesterday. (I have trouble texting!) Ok...she is aging gracefully!

Infinity

Steve and Tina 1982 (year of engagement)

Mr. Rogers in The World According to Mr. Rogers talks about love as being like infinity. "You can't have more or less infinity, and you can't compare two things to see if they're 'equally infinite.' Infinity just is..." I think of infinity in terms of approaching a value which can't be defined. After 24 years of marriage, I believe love can achieve this boundless quality which can't be measured or really explained, it just is...and it is a result of an on purpose choice to love completely, trust completely, and give completely!

PS...I cut school the day this picture was taken and got caught, but it was worth it.