A Day of Remembrance

Today is Memorial Day. A day to remember all who have served our country, both the living and the dead.

We remember the two soldiers in our family: Major Stephen W. in Iraq and Private Andrew C. in Afghanistan.

Heavenly Father, bless these two men as they serve our country. And make them a blessing to those around them. Give them boldness to speak of your love for all mankind. Give them a ministry of comfort to the hurting and to the fearful, how to have a peaceful heart in Christ.

We also remember Charles, who served in WWII and came home a broken man.

It is the Lord's Day

This morning the pastor preached on Job. Several tears ran down my cheeks throughout the sermon. He is the first pastor I've heard who had compassion for Job's wife, who wrongly told Job out of the depth of her own despair to curse God and die. She also lost 7 sons and 3 daughters, and the family wealth and position, and social standing, and even her husband was detestable with running sores so that she couldn't even be comforted in his arms. My heart has always been tender toward this woman even though I've lost only one child.

Later in the book God blessed them again and restored their riches and children...but no one mentions she had to go through 10 more pregnancies and get 10 more children through their running around years to adulthood.

And when God was rebuking Job's friends for giving pat answers about how or why God does what He does, He didn't rebuke Job's wife.

Psalm 103: 13, 14 "Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame, that we are but dust."

He can handle our frustrations and even anger, as long as we don't turn our back on Him, because He knows we are unaware of the ending of the story.

Job 23:10 "He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

Graduation Day

Three of my young lady piano seniors

are graduating from high school.

Here's Carrie, who began with me when she was 9.

She was always so soft spoken with such proper manners,

always the feminine lady even as a child.

Here's Kiersten, the eldest of the three Harris girls, all my students.

She gave the best speech of the evening - like a Valedictorian speech.

She has such depth of character and a heart for God.

I am continuing to mentor her in two areas:

She is my partner in ministry,

helping me and sometimes teaching

the Micah House Good News Club each week.

She is also studying with me to be a piano teacher.

Kiersten and Carrie graduated from Citrus Valley Christian Academy, a home-school organization. It was a very moving ceremony. With only 14 graduating, each senior and their father stood side by side and made a short speech. It was so touching to see fathers affirm their young adults with love and pride, that my throat tightened even for the ones I didn't even know.

And both girls included pictures of their piano experience in their video collages,

shown during the program. It gave me a lump in my throat

to have influenced their lives and be part of their education.

Eden Roses and D'Elias

It started on my morning runs when I pass this house.

The roses 'round the door are so beautiful,

I stopped one day to ask their name.

Pierre De Ronsard also known as Eden Rose

Well, I must have some!

After ordering them from Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar

I found them much closer (and much cheaper) in Riverside.

So I bought four:

two to cover my arbor, as the current roses there

are not so beautiful or prolific,

and two for each side of the garage.

This one's mine. So feminine.

White outer petals with a delicate pink center.

Of course this means I'll need a trellis over the garage opening

so the roses will climb onto the roof also.

Can't wait!!!!

Next we had lunch at D'Elias Grinders on University Avenue

just west of the UCR campus.

It's still in business, but in a nicer building.

I used to eat there in the 70s while a student at UCR

and studying through the dinner hour.

Next stop would be the library for hours of reading.

Excellent home-made bread! Still a local favorite.

When I ate there it was a road-side walk-up sandwich shop.

I'm glad they have survived all these years.

I see they were voted most popular grinder shop in Riverside.

With good reason.

Treehouses

Two tree houses found on walks through Redlands.

This one looks comfortable. Even has a porch.

This one looks difficult to get into...

somehow totally encased in the branches.

It looks better now that the leaves are coming out.

It is the Lord's Day

Today is Grant's 11th birthday.

So what was his unusual request for his birthday this year?

An orange tree.

No, really.

An orange tree.

Well, that and a phone.

So he got an orange tree and phone

among other gifts at the family party.

This is the same kid who asked for a coffee machine for Christmas.

Happy Birthday, Grant.

So is that your favorite outfit?

I see you wore the same shirt and shorts

for your birthday and Easter picture.

The Music in my heart I bore, long after it was heard no more...

This evening Noor and I heard the Redlands Symphony play an all Gershwin program. The most beautiful music in the world. Gershwin's rich harmonies allow every section of the orchestra to shine. It makes me so sad that he died so young at 38. So much beautiful music unrealized. Thank you, George Gershwin, for enriching our lives.

More answers to prayer...

My sister, Virginia (Ginger), survived her open heart surgery and just 11 days later she is not only out of ICU, but will be transferred from acute care to a rehabilitation facility nearer her home. She called me so I would know she was okay, and it was wonderful to hear her voice. Her excellent recovery is an answer to prayer.My son-in-law, Eric, was taken by ambulance to the hospital yesterday. He has been ill for over a week and while that was being taken care of they discovered he has high blood pressure and has a fast heart rate. Then he had dizziness and chest pains...so he was rushed to the hospital. After a couple nitroglycerin "sprays" he was feeling great and considered walking out, but was convinced to stay overnight for tests. Both Papas (Terry & Tom) and his sister Tammie have high blood pressure, so this seems to be a common thread running through the family. Still holding him up in prayer.

Keely Proctor had her last tube (to the liver) removed and is cleared to return to school today. She is a living miracle. Here she is being welcomed back by the principal.

Euphoria

THE TAXES ARE DONE!

And I didn't stay up late.

What relief. What a lighthearted, happy feeling.

And we got back from the state more than we owed the federal. When has that ever happened before? I had it in my head I was going to owe $1000. But I get some back! Wow.

I asked Tom to nag me every Friday night to update my receipts for the week. I may regret that.

But the taxes are done! There's plenty of time for regret later. I'm happy right now.

I hate taxes

I hate taxes. Wednesday is our postponed tax appointment. We prepare our own because we also hate to pay someone else to do them. I hate taxes.

This morning I got up early to begin AGAIN on tax preparation. I hate taxes.

But first, I remembered I didn't update the family on Virginia's surgery progress, which led me to FaceBook where I got distracted reading friends' news.

And while I was on the computer, I had to email the English teacher our group's collaborative lesson plan assignment due by noon today. I had to do homework this weekend! But at least it kept me from doing taxes.

Since I was going downstairs to the computer, I brought the sheets and began laundry. I hate taxes.

Then I cleaned up the kitchen from breakfast and last night's snack before I mixed brownies for this afternoon's Good News Club and put them in the oven. Oh, and later this morning I have to study my Elijah lesson some more. But that's much better for me spiritually than taxes. Must put God before taxes (although I'm skipping Monday morning Bible study to get all this done).

And the bread maker was sitting on the counter, so I threw in ingredients for a loaf of bread and got that started. I hate taxes.

Then I had a stern talk with myself to go running, even though I don't want to, because I gained weight this weekend eating three normal meals instead of my lightweight or skipped meals. I hate the scales as much as I hate taxes (!) so I went running (Oh, "Hi, Vanessa," who just honked as she drove by me on the way to school). I wonder if she knows how much I hate taxes.

So I got home just in time to take the brownies out of the oven. But I'm rambling on here. Now I need to shower, wash my hair, curl or straighten it, make up the bed, bake the bread, and FINALLY begin sorting through a mound of receipts and adding up my deductibles, which I hate doing, by the way.

And it had better get done before Good News Club, because afterward I have four make-up piano lessons. And in the evenings I'm wiped and good for nothing. I'd really hate working on taxes then.

But then I decided to blog. But I can't think of any more excuses, and I REALLY don't want to spend an all-nighter Tuesday night.

So here I go.

I'm signing off.

Bye.

It is the Lord's Day AND Mother's Day

This morning's church service and our prayer group afterward

was just the sweetest time with Christians full of faith.

God has given me such a great gift of being a mother.

I love my daughter soooo much.

We had a lovely catered luncheon here at home with the family.

Roxanne, and her family, gave me a pretty sarong swimsuit cover from Hawaii.

Sorry, I'm not posing with that one for pictures.

This is what was in the package from Sweet Romance.

Mini jeweled enamelware frames.

You have such good taste, Tom.

Reasons to Celebrate

1. VACATION: I was on vacation this week.

During the mornings I worked on the house, prayed for my desperately ill sister, weeded the garden, worked on taxes, layed in the sun, and tried not to think what time of day it was or even what day it was.

Except for Tuesday night when one of my students had a master lesson at the University (which I paid for and didn't want to miss).

And except for Wednesday night which was my "How to teach English class" (so interesting I didn't want to miss that one either). This is Madeleine, our excellent teacher.

And except for Thursday night when Grant had his end-of-the-year concert (He's in the elementary Honor Band, so I didn't want to miss that one either).

2. GRANDSON GRANT: Thursday was his concert, and today his last soccer game of the season. I'm one of those several on the sidelines who get excited and yell, "Follow the ball" and "Good save," etc. Roxanne says, "Mom! Your voice is on the video!" Meanwhile I'm ready to say, "Send me in coach! I'll help out the team." I think at the end of the season there SHOULD be a game of the parents as players. I think we'd discover there are no shin pads big enough to make us get in a scuffle for the ball.

3. MOTHER'S DAY: Tomorrow is Mother's Day. A couple days ago Tom called me from work and said, "O, by the way, I invited the family over to our house for a Mother's Day luncheon." Then VeRy QUICKLY explained he was going to buy restaurant food so Roxanne nor I would have to cook. Good so far.

Then a package was delivered from Sweet Romance, my favorite retro jeweler, while Tom was a work. Hmmm. Getting better.

Then today Tom suggested "we" go shopping and buy matching tablecloths for the two smaller tables we will use at our Mother's Day luncheon.

And he went to TWO stores. This is epic. He didn't make me buy the first one we saw. I was pushing his limits when I asked if I could look in a dress shop, but he said, "No, you're on MY time." Meaning: the shopping is over.

But it's all good. He was soooo proud of himself and asked if I was going to take a picture of the tablecloths and put it on my blog.

He wants to be on my blog :) How sweet.

Okay, honey, here's the picture. Oops. I forgot to get a picture of the round table. But you get the idea. The tables were elegant.

Sorry for the diatribe, but I'm feeling kind of raw right now

My sister, Ginger, was taken into 5 hours of emergency open heart surgery during the night after suffering a massive stroke. Here she is just one month ago at our father's memorial gathering.

When I wrote extended family about it, asking for prayer, one of the responses was, "Our prayers are that Virginia will not have brain damage and will be alert and well following surgery...of course if the Lord wills."

It made me angry. I've been struggling for some time now what it means to pray in faith.

I don't recall ever reading in the Bible when someone asked Jesus to heal them that He ever said, "Oh wait, let me see if it is the Father's will" or "Sorry, it's just not in My will or my 'timing' to heal you right now." He pitied them and answered their cry of faith. I think we try too hard to cover our bases when He doesn't give us our requests (It must not be His will, or It must not be His timing), so we can blame it on Him rather than on our lack of faith.

He told us He would even move a mountain if we had miniscule faith. Why would He say such a thing? What kind of pointless prayer is that? Who needs a mountain to move? I don't think He meant it metaphorically either. Because Jesus scolded the disciples for their lack of faith on the sea of Galilee, I've been wondering if the winds and waves would have obeyed THEM if they commanded them (not timidly asked) just as Jesus did. And they didn't just accept it might be God's will for them to die right then. They cried out desperately to Jesus to rescue them. And He did, even after scolding them.

When I pray, I've begun to EXPECT God to answer. He's God. If I don't expect Him to answer, why do I pray at all? Why not expect Him to intervene when He went to all the trouble to give His own Son for us so we could be His family and cry out for His help in every area of life, not just repentance? HE wrote the promises in the Bible and scolded his disciples for not believing them. Do I believe Him? Do my prayers reflect that?

Does anything really move me to stop what I'm doing and devote myself to prayer? Do I honestly care enough to cry out desperately to Him? Are all my times of talking to the Lord only "quiet times?" No, today I will have a "loud time" with the Lord. Praising Him that He has the power and the desire to answer prayer and asking Him to heal my sister, Ginger. He told me to cast my cares on Him because He cares for me. Will He scold me for being disrespectful or be grateful that I finally "get it?" I honestly don't know. But I also don't recall Him ever saying in the Bible, "You ask too much of Me" or "Why are you always asking for my help?" or "Stop whining! and leave me alone!"

God will do whatever He wants, but that won't stop me from banging on his door and begging Him to give me my heart's desire, and be terribly and unashamedly disappointed if He doesn't. I won't leave Him, but I won't pray timidly and try to cover my bases to explain why He's sometimes silent.

Sorry for the diatribe, but I'm feeling kind of raw right now.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

I know I'm supposed to be on vacation this week, but writing is cathartic for me. And did I ever write today!

I had an assignment due by noon today, and it got me on a roll. This morning it took me 2-1/2 hours to prepare one lesson plan for this assignment. I spent the same amount of time last evening after church on another lesson plan, then in the middle of the night remembered it was supposed to be Intermediate level, and I had done Beginner level. So I had to do another one.

This afternoon I roughed out a proposal (including a proposed budget) for the Trinity Missions Committee requesting permission to be under the church's umbrella to teach this English class at Micah House in the Fall. If they agree, they will provide partial scholarships for those students who cannot afford their workbooks.

This evening I spent 3 hours on a rough draft syllabus for 40 two-hour classes. I need a framework for sanity. I'm feeling panicky about the scope of this project, and a syllabus is like building a fence around what I will include and what I will discard. THEN I can begin writing lesson plans.

There are wonderful resources available: books full of ideas, activities, target vocabulary, word games, etc., but we still have to make detailed lesson plans for every 50-minute time period.

For peace of mind I want to have several lesson plans completed with feedback from our excellent teacher before this class ends, even though only one is required.

I still managed to lie in the sun for an hour today.

Holland Days

Today is Holland Days at Redlands Christian School.

We took Grant after soccer. He enjoyed a snow cone and games.

These cute kids put on a dance performance.