Christmas Eve services. Zoe said, "I can't wear jeans to church, it says so in the bible." Aidan say, "I don't know the stories, sometimes it gets very awkward when you are singing about stuff you never heard of." So we are starting a bible study.
Yes, me, a former Catholic and my two grandchildren who now are proud owners of their own bibles complete with study notes. Possibly one, two, or three of my daughters. In Catholicism, reading on your own and trying to comprehend was not encouraged. But we are going for it. We are jumping around, reading what we want or need to. I hate to admit it, but being led by the Spirit. That would freak out all the members of our group. So, randomly choosing to read.
We of course started in the beginning. First four chapters of Genesis. We thought the first two but were intriqued by the sin of chapter 3 and the murder in chapter 4.
It is all on email so everyone can comment when they can. No pressure of time committment.
Zoe and Aidan were fascinated in Chapter one with the evolution vs creationism debates. I hedge with a morphing of the two. I was so excited to see in my study guide that the sin chapter is sometimes referred to the relationship or respect for loved ones chapter. Chapter four as the fellowhip of man.
We are going next to do a point of view study. Comparing a same story written in different books of the bible. Kind of like all the stuff we will share. Points of view from the spots in our relationships with our loving Lord. What a nice way to get to know each other again.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Sizzlling Car
I have been driving my daughters' dream car on and off (mostly on) since she graduated college and left for Africa and the Peace Corps. She paid cash for it. She loved it. She drove a 9 hour drive to and from college in this Honda Passport. When she left for Africa, it sat in the driveway - dejected and lonely. I started driving it to keep up it's spirits. And to miss Krissy less.
I had an accident in it one summer day. A truck carrying oxygen and welding tanks ran a red light coming down a hill, I was turning onto the highway....And stopped. I don't know why, I saw a blackness I said later. That truck plowed my front corner, the driver threw up after he finally stopped. It was amazing the lack of damage they said. See, I love this car.
Trips to the grandkids, journeys around the area, the soft sound of rain as I drive, the float of snowflakes in the morning, jack frost greetings...I love this car.
I walked home a couple of weeks ago, it went in for a checkup. Final analysis - not worth fixing unless you do it yourself. Which is IMpossible for a no nothing like me.
So I drove it home, figuring he said anytime between tonight and months. It started heating up, then steaming. I made it to the driveway. My neighbor kids and I sat and watched. She whistled and squealed and sighed and steamed. Then it was done.
"Pat, what are you going to do next?" I can't bury her. She deserves that, I won't think of what happens next. But I sure will remember all that happened with her. A carload of memories.
I had an accident in it one summer day. A truck carrying oxygen and welding tanks ran a red light coming down a hill, I was turning onto the highway....And stopped. I don't know why, I saw a blackness I said later. That truck plowed my front corner, the driver threw up after he finally stopped. It was amazing the lack of damage they said. See, I love this car.
Trips to the grandkids, journeys around the area, the soft sound of rain as I drive, the float of snowflakes in the morning, jack frost greetings...I love this car.
I walked home a couple of weeks ago, it went in for a checkup. Final analysis - not worth fixing unless you do it yourself. Which is IMpossible for a no nothing like me.
So I drove it home, figuring he said anytime between tonight and months. It started heating up, then steaming. I made it to the driveway. My neighbor kids and I sat and watched. She whistled and squealed and sighed and steamed. Then it was done.
"Pat, what are you going to do next?" I can't bury her. She deserves that, I won't think of what happens next. But I sure will remember all that happened with her. A carload of memories.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Rally for Sanity
I loved looking at youtube this morning...checking out the interviews from the rally.
All the young people, where do they come from?
From hippie parents, woodstock loving parents who let materialism and their own self-importance carry them away from an ideological base that would have/could have changed the world! These older generation types turned into a self-righteous generation that speaks of having "made it on their own" all the while having had social security and medicare pay for their own parents' care ...those same parents who put them through colleges at a new rate unheard of before. They dsreguard the student loans, va loans, free education, park systems they vacationed in...man, need I go on?
We messed up. Our kids have a chance to fix it. But we sure didn't provide much leadership in the stand up and do what is right department much past 30 years of age. We witnessed civil rights, we benefited from medicare and social security as we left our parents to the "political machinery" and took care of ourselves. Do our children have the moxie to do it right? Or is 30 the new age to forget others? Or have we been doing it a lot longer than we think?
All the young people, where do they come from?
From hippie parents, woodstock loving parents who let materialism and their own self-importance carry them away from an ideological base that would have/could have changed the world! These older generation types turned into a self-righteous generation that speaks of having "made it on their own" all the while having had social security and medicare pay for their own parents' care ...those same parents who put them through colleges at a new rate unheard of before. They dsreguard the student loans, va loans, free education, park systems they vacationed in...man, need I go on?
We messed up. Our kids have a chance to fix it. But we sure didn't provide much leadership in the stand up and do what is right department much past 30 years of age. We witnessed civil rights, we benefited from medicare and social security as we left our parents to the "political machinery" and took care of ourselves. Do our children have the moxie to do it right? Or is 30 the new age to forget others? Or have we been doing it a lot longer than we think?
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Speed of Light
AHHH, the speed of light. I contemplated it as I walked home Friday night. IF I was light rather than chubby, the walk would have been faster and easier. Because it was a long walk, faster and easier both appealed to me like apple pie and ice cream use to...as of Friday.
Then, as I neared mile 3, I realized that the speed of light does not apply to those of us heavy in the family department either. My billfold is full of old pictures. Showcases of my daughters as children, as high school graduates, my grandchildren as toddlers and infants. My billfold is not light. My droid's picture gallery displays all the heaviness of a large extended family. Inside my purse I also carry my camera complete with battery charger, "Just in Case". Alas, the weight of memory needs for those blessed with family heaviness.
I watched cars zip by, trucks surge through, four trains toot along slowly as I trudged towards the tracks. People traveling the speed of light don't notice a walker, or more to the point of my blog, each other. Ipods plugged into ears, cellphones up against faces, eyes down on technological games on their laps and oh so many dvd screens flashing movies to buckled in toddlers. We all know the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. So it is no surprise actually that no one talks to one another. They all get into their spots and connect with a world outside the realness of one another.
When people talk about life moving too fast, I wonder, how can they tell? It seems that the speed of light has already taken them away from the reality of one another. Bless my weighty family and the body that shows I sit and eat and visit and enjoy those closest to me. Close to me inn ways real, and all the ways I carry on the long walks home to them.
Then, as I neared mile 3, I realized that the speed of light does not apply to those of us heavy in the family department either. My billfold is full of old pictures. Showcases of my daughters as children, as high school graduates, my grandchildren as toddlers and infants. My billfold is not light. My droid's picture gallery displays all the heaviness of a large extended family. Inside my purse I also carry my camera complete with battery charger, "Just in Case". Alas, the weight of memory needs for those blessed with family heaviness.
I watched cars zip by, trucks surge through, four trains toot along slowly as I trudged towards the tracks. People traveling the speed of light don't notice a walker, or more to the point of my blog, each other. Ipods plugged into ears, cellphones up against faces, eyes down on technological games on their laps and oh so many dvd screens flashing movies to buckled in toddlers. We all know the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. So it is no surprise actually that no one talks to one another. They all get into their spots and connect with a world outside the realness of one another.
When people talk about life moving too fast, I wonder, how can they tell? It seems that the speed of light has already taken them away from the reality of one another. Bless my weighty family and the body that shows I sit and eat and visit and enjoy those closest to me. Close to me inn ways real, and all the ways I carry on the long walks home to them.
Monday, October 18, 2010
driving
My oldest is learning to drive in Singapore. I am having troubles with drivers in Nebraska. THIS is my question, when did stop signs develop a new definition. Someone will be sitting at a four way stop and turn right...no matter when...like right turns don't count...even if that is the way I want to turn. Or when did it become, "If I go very fast, it is a two for one sale...just sneak by really fast with the guy who has the right of way. Or when the blinker says they are turning and the front of the car indicates it's turning...when did that become a clue for a straight away drive? Laurel, Singapore at least has the regulations of the left side. I think stop's regulation means do whatever you want. No wonder life seems confused.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Life's Turns
Big, BIG, Biggest month ever. I'm not sure my life could be more dwarfed as the days roll over me.
My first born daughter moved a half of a world away...great joy in the opportunities for her young family in their potential growth and for me in travels! "Roll with it Baby."
My eldest brother become so ill that he thought it was a heart attack! Instead, it was "only" the stresses of life and work. He was too busy to be sure he was taking his high blood pressure and high cholestrol pills and he became very low. Spent 7 days at home...unheard of behavior and has worked almost 7 hours in the last two days. I have never known life without him. I can't even contemplate it.
My busiest brother has pneumonia. His stress with his former business partners and continuing lawsuits won over his good spirits. He wouldn't know Stevie Winwood to roll with it anymore than I would know some rap star. He also wouldn't know how to slow down and enjoy it. He was named after a cartoon character - Tom Terrific - who flew everywhere and tried to fix everything with many misadventures. Very apt.
I miss Evelyn. I even miss my other siblings. It is hard to have them dead to you over stupid things. Irreversible events. Family dysfunction. But I get lonely for what should have been.
Today, the daughter of an old friend tracked me down to say her mother asked to find me so she could say thank you for our friendship. Gail developed MS the year after she was crowned MIss North Platte and was the runner up for Miss Nebraska. She fought it forty years. In rest homes the last 15. I kissed her cheek, wished her a peaceful journey and she smiled in her semi-conscious state.
Life is so big. So without road maps. Completely unpredictable.
But God is good. When it seems tough, He reminds you of what is important. He shows how people are more meaningful and love is big, bigger, Best!
My first born daughter moved a half of a world away...great joy in the opportunities for her young family in their potential growth and for me in travels! "Roll with it Baby."
My eldest brother become so ill that he thought it was a heart attack! Instead, it was "only" the stresses of life and work. He was too busy to be sure he was taking his high blood pressure and high cholestrol pills and he became very low. Spent 7 days at home...unheard of behavior and has worked almost 7 hours in the last two days. I have never known life without him. I can't even contemplate it.
My busiest brother has pneumonia. His stress with his former business partners and continuing lawsuits won over his good spirits. He wouldn't know Stevie Winwood to roll with it anymore than I would know some rap star. He also wouldn't know how to slow down and enjoy it. He was named after a cartoon character - Tom Terrific - who flew everywhere and tried to fix everything with many misadventures. Very apt.
I miss Evelyn. I even miss my other siblings. It is hard to have them dead to you over stupid things. Irreversible events. Family dysfunction. But I get lonely for what should have been.
Today, the daughter of an old friend tracked me down to say her mother asked to find me so she could say thank you for our friendship. Gail developed MS the year after she was crowned MIss North Platte and was the runner up for Miss Nebraska. She fought it forty years. In rest homes the last 15. I kissed her cheek, wished her a peaceful journey and she smiled in her semi-conscious state.
Life is so big. So without road maps. Completely unpredictable.
But God is good. When it seems tough, He reminds you of what is important. He shows how people are more meaningful and love is big, bigger, Best!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer To Do List
I officially started the back to school inservices Monday. My to do list is still endless!!! I am not exaggerating. Bob has had ten gallons of paint for the exterior for four years and we have been working on it for four weeks. 32 tubes of caulk (yes, laugh at how the word sounds) and so far, 40 gallons of paint. My daugher and son-in-law gave us two days of work as did my brother with the spray machine. Sunday, I got a concussion but kept on working after a landscaping pole fell off the roof and bounced (twice) on my head. Monday, we again, ran out of paint.
Four years to almost get this off my to do list. It will get done by the official start of school but that is only a week and 2 days away. Which made me consider, did I get anything important done on my list? The answer is "The Important Listless".
1. Talked to my 4 daughters more than they probably wanted to, more often than they would choose to. It was always grand.
2. Sat in wonder on the fourth of july - not at the fireworks but the idioticacy of men and fireworks and the joy of children.
3. Enjoyed many sunrises as they swept the plains of Nebraska.
4. Blessed by stars at night.
5. Chased lightning bugs.
6. Cold beer, hot night...need I say more?
7. Fascinating reads for a stimulated mind.
8. Time off from the attachment of teaching and loving other peoples' children.
9. Cancer free Theresa.
10.Prayers for grandchildren who are now adolescents and pre-adolescents. More prayers for their parents...been there/done that.
11.Friend relationship time...something I put to the side too often.
12.Gardening....I LOVE dirt and flowers and vegetables.
Needless to say, that list can go on but the joys of it are everlasting. My to do list, short joy and long staying list. No wonder I keep putting it off.
Four years to almost get this off my to do list. It will get done by the official start of school but that is only a week and 2 days away. Which made me consider, did I get anything important done on my list? The answer is "The Important Listless".
1. Talked to my 4 daughters more than they probably wanted to, more often than they would choose to. It was always grand.
2. Sat in wonder on the fourth of july - not at the fireworks but the idioticacy of men and fireworks and the joy of children.
3. Enjoyed many sunrises as they swept the plains of Nebraska.
4. Blessed by stars at night.
5. Chased lightning bugs.
6. Cold beer, hot night...need I say more?
7. Fascinating reads for a stimulated mind.
8. Time off from the attachment of teaching and loving other peoples' children.
9. Cancer free Theresa.
10.Prayers for grandchildren who are now adolescents and pre-adolescents. More prayers for their parents...been there/done that.
11.Friend relationship time...something I put to the side too often.
12.Gardening....I LOVE dirt and flowers and vegetables.
Needless to say, that list can go on but the joys of it are everlasting. My to do list, short joy and long staying list. No wonder I keep putting it off.
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