Good morning, on this mid-February day. To most, it's Valentine's Day...the day 'o love. A fun day for children, with its parties and cards and good-things-to-eat. I remember it fondly: the little paperbag containers for the Valentines...the little candy hearts with words on them, lots of chocolate, etc etc. I remember having mixed feelings about it as a teenager, pre-John. Feeling a little left out, a little lonely when others were getting flowers and gifts. I am grateful for sweet remembrances from our children: cookies and cards and sweet words of affirmation. I LOVE my flowers and sweet cards from my sweet husband. Anything given in love is heart-warming and so appreciated.
I remember one Valentines when a local school sold flowers for $1. Some of the kids had literally lapfuls of them at the end of the day...and some had none :( Not such a great idea on the part of the school, in my opinion. Why set up some kids for sad feelings...whose idea was that??
Besides being Valentines, it's also the second day of Lent. Having grown up in a church where the Christian calendar is observed everyday of the year, I have vivid memories of Lent....giving up things, saving money in my Mite box...celebrating every Sunday as a little Easter...Shrove Tuesday with its pancakes, Ash Wednesday and the imposition of ashes; we were humbled with the ash cross on our foreheads and its meaning...to keep close to our hearts during the 40 days to follow...the darkness which would be followed by the great light of Easter at Christ's resurrection. I'm so pleased that churches other than Anglican ones now participate in Advent and Lent and other meaningful and wonderful times of preparation and emphasis. It greatly adds to the Christian experience and growth.
So today, we celebrate love...traditional and spiritual. Since it is Love Month, I'll close with some sweet words of love:
- Love never gives up.
- Love cares more for others than for self.
- Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
- Love doesn't strut.
- Love doesn't have a swelled head
- Doesn't force itself on others.
- Isn't always "me first."
- Doesn't fly off the handle.
- Doesn't keep score of the sins of others.
- Doesn't revel when others grovel.
- Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth.
- Puts up with anything.
- Trusts God always.
- Always looks for the best,
- Never looks back,
- But keeps going to the end...
Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.
And the best of the three is LOVE!
From I Corinthians 13 - The Message
CONCORD CHRONICLE - Dedicated to God, the author of peace and lover of concord
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
High School!
I've been reading a lot of Jennifer Niven lately. Dear friends recommended her books to me, and I was off and running with a three-novel series she wrote. Fascinating! Endearing! Addictive! I was sad when I finished the three and had enjoyed her writing so much that I investigated her other books and came across one entitled, "The AquaNet Diaries." Pretty catchy title, huh?
So I purchased it from the Kindle store and just finished it. It chronicles Jennifer's high school days and set me thinking about mine.
Some observations: high school days were fun! and trying...and hard...and mystifying...and wonderful...and awful. All the above. I don't remember much about my freshman and sophomore years. I remember being excited and overwhelmed and happy. I had come from two years at a public school grades 1-12; 1 1/2 years in a new elementary school; 4 1/2 years at a local elementary school...and felt suddenly like a fish out of water. Junior and senior years I remember vividly, down to small details! Must have found my waterwings because I loved every minute of those two years, particularly. Might have to do with a certain somebody named John! It was puppy love at first sight, and we've been together now those two years, two in college, and 43+ in marriage :)
Back to Jennifer's experience: I must say my high school years were tame in comparison to hers. I bet her mom got an instant education in what went on in J's life when this memoir was published. There were lots of parties, drinking, cigarettes, speeding, cutting class, and other shenanigans from the beginning to the end! As for me, I would have died rather than disappoint my parents by getting in trouble or doing poorly at anything. Miss goody-two-shoes of the first degree! And no regrets at all.
Her conclusion...and mine...is: high school can be a wonderful experience...and high school can be an awful experience. It's a wonder some survive, both physically and emotionally. So much competition; superficiality, self-absorption, pettiness, silliness, meanness...but so many friendships, great conversations, meaningful relationships, life-long soulmate formation, lessons in maturity...plus much learning and mind-stretching and reaching-for-the-star experiences academically. Plus some great teachers and crummy teachers...fun sporting events and heartbreaking lessons in losing.
She surmises that the high school experience is about the same worldwide! I wouldn't know about that, from personal experience, but I do recommend her books for your reading enjoyment. Beware that there is some language in all. Not horrible but perhaps a little too much for some.
All this being said, I rate my high school experience as super-good, and I wouldn't trade my friends in the Knoxville Central High School Class of 1967 for any in the world! I might add that many other friends, older and younger than I, are right there, too. Love you guys!
So I purchased it from the Kindle store and just finished it. It chronicles Jennifer's high school days and set me thinking about mine.
Some observations: high school days were fun! and trying...and hard...and mystifying...and wonderful...and awful. All the above. I don't remember much about my freshman and sophomore years. I remember being excited and overwhelmed and happy. I had come from two years at a public school grades 1-12; 1 1/2 years in a new elementary school; 4 1/2 years at a local elementary school...and felt suddenly like a fish out of water. Junior and senior years I remember vividly, down to small details! Must have found my waterwings because I loved every minute of those two years, particularly. Might have to do with a certain somebody named John! It was puppy love at first sight, and we've been together now those two years, two in college, and 43+ in marriage :)
Back to Jennifer's experience: I must say my high school years were tame in comparison to hers. I bet her mom got an instant education in what went on in J's life when this memoir was published. There were lots of parties, drinking, cigarettes, speeding, cutting class, and other shenanigans from the beginning to the end! As for me, I would have died rather than disappoint my parents by getting in trouble or doing poorly at anything. Miss goody-two-shoes of the first degree! And no regrets at all.
Her conclusion...and mine...is: high school can be a wonderful experience...and high school can be an awful experience. It's a wonder some survive, both physically and emotionally. So much competition; superficiality, self-absorption, pettiness, silliness, meanness...but so many friendships, great conversations, meaningful relationships, life-long soulmate formation, lessons in maturity...plus much learning and mind-stretching and reaching-for-the-star experiences academically. Plus some great teachers and crummy teachers...fun sporting events and heartbreaking lessons in losing.
She surmises that the high school experience is about the same worldwide! I wouldn't know about that, from personal experience, but I do recommend her books for your reading enjoyment. Beware that there is some language in all. Not horrible but perhaps a little too much for some.
All this being said, I rate my high school experience as super-good, and I wouldn't trade my friends in the Knoxville Central High School Class of 1967 for any in the world! I might add that many other friends, older and younger than I, are right there, too. Love you guys!
Monday, February 4, 2013
One Step Up, Two Steps Back
You'd think I'd learn. I'm 64 years old and old enough to know better. But I still can open mouth, insert foot with the best (or worst) of them.
Here's the story: I feel passionately about grandmothering. I love the role. I get to do it lots. And I take it seriously. I love the little guy and want to be the best I can be with him and for him and to him. I don't want to be competitive with my role. Others may do it better...or differently... That's fine. But for me, I don't want to spoil my grandson or to overdo certain areas or to neglect certain areas. I just want to do a good job and have a sweet, honest, happy, well-adjusted, healthy little one as a result.
A longtime friend posted something that got my interest and made me question myself, as to what I would do in her situation. Her eldest grandchild (school-age, kindergarten, I think) said she might be bored today, in her grandmother's care, since there were no Barbies or babydolls at her grandmother's. So they all went to Target and got some...plus other gifts for each of the three grandchildren in her care. Very sweet gesture on the grandmother's part.
My question, to myself, was: would I do that? Probably not. Not this soon after Christmas. My parents wouldn't have, not for me, my brother, nor our children. They were good to us. But what we didn't need we ususally didn't get, except on VERY special occasions.
All this is fine, except on Facebook, I asked if the little granddaughter could have brought some Barbies from home. And then I went on and explained why I was questioning, wondering. It was for MY sake, not meant as a criticism of her decision.
But you know what? I was wrong. It came across as a criticism, I'm sure. I reread it and thought: uh oh. I've screwed up (again.) And I'm very sorry. I should have kept my wonderings to myself. Everyone should do or be what they feel is best. Who am I to question for all the world to see! Do I have the corner on the grandparent market? Certainly not! Would I intentionally hurt my friend? No indeed. But I'm sure I did, and again, I'm so sorry.
Lesson learned. I'll keep on trying to do my very best as a grandmother. I'll love and play and read and pray and try. But I will not wonder publicly, aloud, or at the expense of friendship. I'll follow the leading that I should have before, and Good Lord willing and with His help, I won't make this mistake again.
With that being said, we'll move on to another day in the life of a struggling Christian who is weak and incomplete and taking baby steps toward maturity. One of these days! Thanks for coming along on the journey.
Here's the story: I feel passionately about grandmothering. I love the role. I get to do it lots. And I take it seriously. I love the little guy and want to be the best I can be with him and for him and to him. I don't want to be competitive with my role. Others may do it better...or differently... That's fine. But for me, I don't want to spoil my grandson or to overdo certain areas or to neglect certain areas. I just want to do a good job and have a sweet, honest, happy, well-adjusted, healthy little one as a result.
A longtime friend posted something that got my interest and made me question myself, as to what I would do in her situation. Her eldest grandchild (school-age, kindergarten, I think) said she might be bored today, in her grandmother's care, since there were no Barbies or babydolls at her grandmother's. So they all went to Target and got some...plus other gifts for each of the three grandchildren in her care. Very sweet gesture on the grandmother's part.
My question, to myself, was: would I do that? Probably not. Not this soon after Christmas. My parents wouldn't have, not for me, my brother, nor our children. They were good to us. But what we didn't need we ususally didn't get, except on VERY special occasions.
All this is fine, except on Facebook, I asked if the little granddaughter could have brought some Barbies from home. And then I went on and explained why I was questioning, wondering. It was for MY sake, not meant as a criticism of her decision.
But you know what? I was wrong. It came across as a criticism, I'm sure. I reread it and thought: uh oh. I've screwed up (again.) And I'm very sorry. I should have kept my wonderings to myself. Everyone should do or be what they feel is best. Who am I to question for all the world to see! Do I have the corner on the grandparent market? Certainly not! Would I intentionally hurt my friend? No indeed. But I'm sure I did, and again, I'm so sorry.
Lesson learned. I'll keep on trying to do my very best as a grandmother. I'll love and play and read and pray and try. But I will not wonder publicly, aloud, or at the expense of friendship. I'll follow the leading that I should have before, and Good Lord willing and with His help, I won't make this mistake again.
With that being said, we'll move on to another day in the life of a struggling Christian who is weak and incomplete and taking baby steps toward maturity. One of these days! Thanks for coming along on the journey.
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