Royal Celebrations!

Christmas now takes a back seat bookend birthdays of royalty! Shelby Grace' birthday is three days before Christmas and Emma Grace' birthday is seven days after. Emma will forever believe that the world is celebrating her birthday on New Year's Eve! Sharing a middle name was not the only thing they had in common this winter. They both had princess themed parties! Both are certainly worthy of such royal hoopla. Pink, crowns, bling and feathers were accessories to a castle cake and a crown cake.

Now....if Amy could manage to produce a male heir to the throne....we could break this tradition with camo or pirate parties in June! God is good!

Cinderella and Prince Charming

Recently Miss Shelby has discovered a timeless favorite...."Cinderella." It is now her current favorite movie. Finally we have moved from "Lady and the Tramp" to "Cinderella." She lives in her pretend world of castles and fairy god mothers. But....the cutest thing has to be her Prince Charming. It is autumn. The front porch is decorated with pumpkins and scarecrows. Suddenly Shelby turns to her mom and asks...."Mom, can I get prince?" Nonchalantly, mom says..."sure." She opens the door....steps out on the porch and drags in a wooden scarecrow about 4 feet tall.....just right for an almost three year old. Immediately, she swirls around the room....dancing with her prince. She stops....and gives him a big hug and a dramatic kiss....then begins to dance around the room once again! Poor prince is dragged around the room by his limp and patched sleeve until she finally tires of him. Then just as suddenly as he appeared....he is back on the porch. It is too cute!

Of course young females for generations have been dreaming of Prince Charming. I am sure some psychologist somewhere would remind us that it is not healthy to dream of a perfect man...that they don't exist. Well....she will find that out soon enough. But...it is nice to dream and pretend. She will fall in love with horses...and ice cream... puppies, her daddy and her Pop Pop. She will let her mind imagine all sorts of possibilities...all reality begins with the imagination.

For now...I will begin to pray that some day she will find a real Prince Charming....some one that will always love and appreciate all the unique qualities that she brings into this world....someone that will be her best friend....someone that will grow old with her. They exist....I know....I found one.

Reflections and Celebrations

It is that time of year again. Time for school. The years of my life are marked by the beginning of school. In the beginning I was a student anticipating a new year in a new grade with a new teacher. Later as a young adult this time marked moving into college dorms with roommates....and trying to figure out who we were and what we wanted to be or do....and who would we partner our hearts with to create a life. Finally I became a teacher...and for many many years taught first grade in a corner of an elementary. Now I roam from school to school teaching the gifted....and helping out other teachers. I am not sure I even know how to exist without this month marking the "new year" for me. It is my January 1st.

It is also a time, in Texas at least, that the newspapers release the academic ratings of the schools. I am not a big fan of such ratings....but for now they exist. In the last few years I have taught at an elementary that has carried the stigma of being "that school"....the one you didn't want your kids to go to. It is the school in the area of town that houses most of our families of poverty ....those kids. This year....those kids showed 'em! They became an exemplary campus! It was historical and emotional. I have never felt so proud and so inspired by a group of educators in my life.

On Monday the principal greeted his staff with a lump in his throat...He began by saying that he was not sure if those that were guests realized it....but we always begin every faculty meeting with a prayer. He said we have always prayed for the same thing.....help us to always do what is right for the kids. He added....we also promised that when we achieved our success we would remember to give God the glory....so we began with a prayer....perhaps not politically correct....but perfect. He spoke of the high expectations.....and the motto...."no excuses". A chair was placed up at the front with a plaque in it and he shared the story of how in an effort to motivate the kids before TAKS he lined up chairs across the stage.....with all the plaques that the school had achieved in the last 10-15 years. Lots of empty chairs......he told the kids that most folks didn't believe that the chairs could be filled. He said he saw their little eyes flicker.... it made them mad! From then on students would walk by him in the hall and say...."Dr. K....we are gonna fill that chair!" The empty chair became a symbol for them....he hadn't known it would...but it did. SO.....Monday morning when the kids walk in.....they will see THE chair.....filled!

He went around the community, to their homes... to the boys and girls club....with a camera.....taking candid shots of the kids playing in their yards....sitting on their old front porches....playing in the streets...all of the shots reminded us of their environment....and their poverty. It reminded us that these faces were why we do what we do........it was all about flesh and blood......regardless of where they are from.....who their parents are.....so inspiring!

Teaching gets wearisome...and we joke about longing for summer each year. But the truth is our profession is such an amazing opportunity to touch and shape lives. It is a magnificent honor and a tremendous responsibility. We can never underestimate the power we have to alter a life with a hug, a touch or a smile.....a word of encouragement or instruction. I am ready for a new year.....I am anxious to begin once again.....to see new faces and be a stepping stone for future generations.

Birthdays and Babies

Today I am 55 and very much alive! Never have been one to worry about parties or making a big deal about birthdays. But I do sometimes see this day as much like New Years Day....a day to reflect and re-group...and make a few mental commitments to myself....always trying to be a better me. This weekend was nice...filled with family and babies. Katie came and I had some Emma time. She is such a beautiful baby. Her blue eyes just twinkle and she is just the happiest baby. I wish that she could stay this innocent and this untouched by the world forever. Her taunt flawless skin is shiny new and baby rolls are just adorable. She is cherub like....dimpled and drooling. My heart is lost to her.

Shelby our first born granddaughter now has developed her own little personality. She is sassy and confident. She is brave and funny. I can't get enough of her either! When she sees me she flings herself into my arms and shouts....."GAAABBBY!" She throws her arms around my neck...squeezes it tight...then gives me a big hard kiss! Never have I been greeted with such enthusiasm....and it melts my heart! I look forward to the days ahead when Emma, Shelby and I are playmates in the backyard....playing mud pies with tea party saucers and tea cups.

SO....as I reflect...life is good. My children are settled and having children. And...maybe...just maybe the wise men of life are right....these are the golden years. I am me... content with all the parts. I am at peace with the past and blessed in the present.... filled with hope for the future.
Thank you, Father.....and Happy Birthday to Me! :)

Texas Boys and Tree Stumps!

In the spring storms a tree we had planted many years ago twisted and landed on our house! The tree groomed for climbing is now in pieces drying out for winter firewood. The stump....well, frankly....stumped us! It was large....with long roots. Jim has been tackling the tree stump for a while. Smoke it out? Cut is out? Pull it out? Or a little of all three! Saturday his best buddy from high school came by with tools and they conquered the stump! Mike commented that he had the kind of faith that moved mountains...Jim rolled is eyes as if to say, "Yea, but what about stubborn tree stumps!" Mike's optimism with Jim's pessimism...plus an added dash of that "I am a Texas man" spirit succeeded in driving that tree from the ground. John Paul...our creative nephew, another bold Texas spirited younger (much younger and stronger) man pulled up in the drive to haul off the stump. Yep, he was looking for a big stump and it turns out our stump was just perfect. He is going to turn that old red oak gnarled bark into a beautiful large natural bowl. Isn't God great? Takes a spring storm and uses it to bring old friends together with a creative genesis....and then transforms the mess to make something new and useful! Hmmmmmm......sounds familiar....don't you think? Yep.....our God is mighty good!

Time

As I reflect...as I often do...some may call it daydreaming.... attention deficit disorder....head in the clouds...or all of the above...but once again I digress! The word time seems to creep into our conversations multiple times a day.......see what I mean! Just a few phrases about time....

In the beginning....

It is time!
Arrival time...
Time to sleep
Time to eat
Is it time for...teething, sitting up, crawling...or walking?
Time for your bath.
Playtime
Happy times
Time flies...

And then....

It is time for school!
You must be on time.
Lunch time, break time, test time...
Time to buckle down.
It is about time...
Summer time!
Time after time, year after year...
It is that time of the month!
That time of the year...
That time in your life.
Springtime...time for love
Get me to the church on time!

Never enough time.
Never enough time.
Never enough time.

Life time...
This time...
Our time....
Is it that time again?
Time and again
Running out of time
Wasting my time
Make good use of your time.
In a time crunch
Hurried times
Make the payments on time.
What happened this time?
Do you know what time it is?
How many times have I told you?
For the hundredth time....
Do we have time?
Don't have time.
Time to leave the nest....

Time on your hands
Me time...
Lonely times
Time of your life!
Hard times
Time to retire!

And finally....

What to do with the time?
Looking back at the good times
Too much time..
It has been a long time.
Next time...
Treasure the times...
Time to eat.
Time to sleep.
Timeless
We had a good time.
Do we have time?
Time out...
Time's Up!

Ages and Stages...

While visiting mom last week at her new "home" I couldn't help but be amused by the dynamics of the place. She is the new kid on the block....and just like middle school or high school there are cliques. Little groups that hang out at the "popular" table at dinner. There is no assigned seating...but trust me... make no mistake about it...folks know where their seats are! You sit in somebody's seat and they will let you know about it. Her "place" right now is at a table with four or five other ladies that sit by a big window. All of them are in their nineties. Mom is seventy six. They are sweet and kind ladies...but remarkably old and hard of hearing. Conversation is labored. Mom is bored. She was never a big fan of old people or dogs...so she is really making a big effort here. As we ate at the table she said in a big voice....."I have a surprise for us!" I was surprised because she hadn't mentioned any surprises to me before coming to what she affectionately calls "The Bean" (a reference to the cafeteria at ACU). She pulled out a little pair of scissors from her bag that sits beside her in her wheel chair. "Look! We can use these to cut the mayonnaise and mustard packages." As she demonstrated....snip....snip.....Well, I am telling you she broke some serious barriers with her gift to the table. Lots of approving nods.....and smiles. Right away one of the more serious ladies told her they must not leave them at the table....or they would disappear never to be found again. They all agreed....this treasure must be kept under wraps! I smiled.....Mom was trying and she succeeded in building a bridge.

Mealtime is interesting. I was reminded of the times when I went to help Dad feed the cows. They would see his pick up rounding the corner. They would follow behind the pickup as he would lead them to the pen for hay or buckets of feed. Around 11 or so it is like cattle call....everyone starts gathering and there is a steady line of walkers headed to "The Bean". Some are decorated...others are practical. Some have baskets for "stuff", a few have tennis balls on the legs to help them slide along. The cool ones have wheels and seats that fold down....with brakes. Mom wants one of those...with a basket. Meal time is nutritional and social....food for the body and the soul. It becomes the highlight of their long days.

Mom has made one friend....she is younger like Mom. Her name is Mary Jim...not Mary....but Mary Jim and you must call her by both names. She is a mess....fun, intelligent and interesting. She and Mom share a love for pickeled things. So I must remember to bring pickeled okra, corn or just about anything pickeled for them to enjoy. Mary Jim shared her pickeled cactus with Mom and she giggled like a school girl that had tried something dangerous. Mary Jim was a the wife of a rancher in Amarillo. She cooked for ranch hands....and she has the look of a weathered rancher herself. Her body is crippled but her heart is whole and good....and kind. I am glad she is my mother's friend. They will have adventures together I am sure.

Everybody has a story....Mary Jim will share hers bit by bit. Mom will learn of others as time goes by and soon I suspect she will create her own circle of friends that she gravitates to and learns to love. Time....give it time. Time to adjust.....time to heal.....time to remember and a time to create new friendships and a time to add new chapters to a life that already reads like a novel.
Time......