Lately I have been blessed with acts of kindness shown to ME. Me of all people! I don't know why because I am not near as thoughtful to other's as they are to me. And still I have had acts of kindness shown to me lately that has really touched my heart.
Yesterday my dear friend took me shoe shopping. Not an easy chore because I have horrible feet to try to fit. However, she assured me that this special store was up to the task. Well true to her word, this was the best shoe store I'd ever been to and they indeed were up to the task. There were lots and lots of shoes the expert salesman brought out for me to try on. It was so much fun. Then my friend surprised me so much when she announced that she was going to buy a pair of shoes for me. I couldn't believe it and was so moved by this act of kindness shown to me. It felt so good.
The day before an older lady from my church called my house to tell me she had something for me. This lady and her husband was in our small group at church last year. When we got together, she gave my husband and I a beautiful appliqued quilt hanging for the wall. She had made it herself. Her card to us said that she was happy that we had welcomed she and her husband into our church group. I was so surprised by this kind act.
I forget how nice people can be. I don't expect a lot from people and so when they do such nice things for me, I am overwhelmed.
My two friends referred to in this story are wonderfully thoughtful people. Thank you, Margaret and Bette.
June 29, 2005
June 27, 2005
Highly Distracted
At the rate I'm going, I should have all the boxes left from our move 2 years ago, emptied in 3 more summers. I am so easily swayed and give into the temptation to read a magazine article, watch TV, or get on my computer. After all, I have to read blogs and check email. But the real time waster has got to be watching my cats and the birds in my backyard.
Today I heard a mockingbird outside my bedroom window. He was carrying on so loudly that I knew for sure that he would be staring back at me when I opened the window blinds. He was almost that close as he perched on top of the patio umbrella. He sat up there and chirped his little heart out to whatever. Then I spied another mockingbird flying in with a bug in her mouth. I assumed it was a female bringing food to her babies.
Yesterday afternoon I let Homer, our male cat, go outside in the backyard. He just loves to prowl in the tall grasses like he is a tiger. I went back in the house to resume my work. I left the patio door slightly ajar because Baby, our female cat, likes to stay close and check back in to assure herself that she is safe. Anyway, after a while, I heard my mockingbird friend sounding very agitated. Then I can only assume that he must have told his fowl buddies that cats were in the yard, because those birds began the biggest commotion of chirping I'd ever heard outside of a zoo. When I didn't immediately see Homer, all I had to do to find him was to follow the sound of the chirping birds. I couldn't see him at first. Homer's fur makes great camouflage. Soon I saw him crouched down in the tall grass beneath the trees which inhabited the noisy birds.
Later, Homer decided to venture back out into the open yard where he became a clear target. A mockingbird swooped down on him like a kamikaze pilot bombing Pearl Harbor. Homer ducked then kept walking with little concern for the angry bird. I finally had to bring Homer and Baby back into the house just to shut the birds up.
Now, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, my distractions. I'm just saying, it doesn't take much to divert my attention from those pesky boxes to anything that isn't a box to unload. Well back to my work.
Today I heard a mockingbird outside my bedroom window. He was carrying on so loudly that I knew for sure that he would be staring back at me when I opened the window blinds. He was almost that close as he perched on top of the patio umbrella. He sat up there and chirped his little heart out to whatever. Then I spied another mockingbird flying in with a bug in her mouth. I assumed it was a female bringing food to her babies.
Yesterday afternoon I let Homer, our male cat, go outside in the backyard. He just loves to prowl in the tall grasses like he is a tiger. I went back in the house to resume my work. I left the patio door slightly ajar because Baby, our female cat, likes to stay close and check back in to assure herself that she is safe. Anyway, after a while, I heard my mockingbird friend sounding very agitated. Then I can only assume that he must have told his fowl buddies that cats were in the yard, because those birds began the biggest commotion of chirping I'd ever heard outside of a zoo. When I didn't immediately see Homer, all I had to do to find him was to follow the sound of the chirping birds. I couldn't see him at first. Homer's fur makes great camouflage. Soon I saw him crouched down in the tall grass beneath the trees which inhabited the noisy birds.
Later, Homer decided to venture back out into the open yard where he became a clear target. A mockingbird swooped down on him like a kamikaze pilot bombing Pearl Harbor. Homer ducked then kept walking with little concern for the angry bird. I finally had to bring Homer and Baby back into the house just to shut the birds up.
Now, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, my distractions. I'm just saying, it doesn't take much to divert my attention from those pesky boxes to anything that isn't a box to unload. Well back to my work.
June 25, 2005
Summer Baseball in Houston
Last night Kim and I went to Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston to watch the Astros play the Texas Rangers. It so happened that the Astros club was celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first World Championship won back in 1980. Many of the players from that 1980 team were also there to honor the occasion. Larry Dierker was on deck to M.C. the proceedings and introduce people like Nolan Ryan, Terry Puhl and Jose Cruz. Nolan Ryan even pitched the opening game ball, but I missed it.
I missed Nolan Ryan's pitch because I sat next to an enthisiastic woman around 40 years old, clad in Astro t-shirt and cap, who was there with her husband wearing his matching 'Stro t-shirt. They were big fans of the Astros, especially the woman who fast became my "best friend". Ask me anything you want to know about this lady and I'll bet I know it because she talked non-stop the entire game. I politely nodded as I listened and tried to follow the game at the same time. She apparently doesn't go to many games, but had been a big Astro's fan for many years. She was also very excited that after the game there was to be a fireworks display for which she reminded me numerous times throughout the course of the evening.
I must admit that in the beginning this woman greatly annoyed me and when Kim asked if I wanted to go with him to the consessions for food, I gladly accompanied him. I needed a break from her banter and lame jokes that she found to be so funny. As we walked to the food court, I commented to Kim that the only thing worse than sitting by a woman talking non-stop during a baseball game, was sitting by a woman talking non-stop at a baseball game ABOUT baseball. It was amazing how many Astros baseball facts she knew or at least THOUGHT she knew.
Later as the game continued, and BTW the Astros were beating the Texas Rangers, it occurred to me that this woman acted compulsive. I began to think of her as having some clinical mental disorder that she could not control. I also noticed how happy she was and with a 12 year old boyish excitement for baseball, she was having the time of her life. How could I fault her for that?
You know once I began looking at that talkative woman in a different light, she did become my friend. It didn't annoy me near as much when I realized she was honestly talking about her passion. I never heard her name, she never once asked me a question. She seemed to be so caught up in just being at the stadium and seeing the Astros, both past and present, that it was clearly all about the moment.
Well it turned out to be a great game. The Astros won over the Rangers, 5-2. We got to see a spectacular open-air fireworks display with the Houston city lights in the background. We even saw some old Astros players from years past. Most of all, I met a genuine person. A person that wasn't shy about sharing her passion of Astros baseball with tidbits about herself as added flavor. I even found out that she once wanted to be a standup comedian. Although I'm not sure the world of standup comedians would be ready for the likes of her.
As I left the game, I was happy and satisfied that I had come. Even though it would have been nice if by seat partner had let up a bit or let me respond, it made me think about my passions. What are they? Do I even share them with others? Am I too shy to talk to strangers as if they were some long lost best friend? She gave me something to consider and I believe I learned a lesson in patience and acceptance of others.
Go Astros!
I missed Nolan Ryan's pitch because I sat next to an enthisiastic woman around 40 years old, clad in Astro t-shirt and cap, who was there with her husband wearing his matching 'Stro t-shirt. They were big fans of the Astros, especially the woman who fast became my "best friend". Ask me anything you want to know about this lady and I'll bet I know it because she talked non-stop the entire game. I politely nodded as I listened and tried to follow the game at the same time. She apparently doesn't go to many games, but had been a big Astro's fan for many years. She was also very excited that after the game there was to be a fireworks display for which she reminded me numerous times throughout the course of the evening.
I must admit that in the beginning this woman greatly annoyed me and when Kim asked if I wanted to go with him to the consessions for food, I gladly accompanied him. I needed a break from her banter and lame jokes that she found to be so funny. As we walked to the food court, I commented to Kim that the only thing worse than sitting by a woman talking non-stop during a baseball game, was sitting by a woman talking non-stop at a baseball game ABOUT baseball. It was amazing how many Astros baseball facts she knew or at least THOUGHT she knew.
Later as the game continued, and BTW the Astros were beating the Texas Rangers, it occurred to me that this woman acted compulsive. I began to think of her as having some clinical mental disorder that she could not control. I also noticed how happy she was and with a 12 year old boyish excitement for baseball, she was having the time of her life. How could I fault her for that?
You know once I began looking at that talkative woman in a different light, she did become my friend. It didn't annoy me near as much when I realized she was honestly talking about her passion. I never heard her name, she never once asked me a question. She seemed to be so caught up in just being at the stadium and seeing the Astros, both past and present, that it was clearly all about the moment.
Well it turned out to be a great game. The Astros won over the Rangers, 5-2. We got to see a spectacular open-air fireworks display with the Houston city lights in the background. We even saw some old Astros players from years past. Most of all, I met a genuine person. A person that wasn't shy about sharing her passion of Astros baseball with tidbits about herself as added flavor. I even found out that she once wanted to be a standup comedian. Although I'm not sure the world of standup comedians would be ready for the likes of her.
As I left the game, I was happy and satisfied that I had come. Even though it would have been nice if by seat partner had let up a bit or let me respond, it made me think about my passions. What are they? Do I even share them with others? Am I too shy to talk to strangers as if they were some long lost best friend? She gave me something to consider and I believe I learned a lesson in patience and acceptance of others.
Go Astros!
June 23, 2005
I Want My BTV
No that isn't a typo. I want my Bedroom TV not MTV. About 10:30 every night I get tired watching TV in the den. So I go off to my bedroom, put on my pj's, and sit up in bed to watch TV before I go to sleep. Then, one night a couple of weeks ago, my bedroom TV sadly stopped working. It fizzled without warning, giving me no picture or decent reception. I couldn't imagine what was wrong. Kim thought it might be the cable so I hauled if off to another bedroom to see if it would work off of another jack. It began with the clearest of pictures and I felt hopeful. Then after about 5 minutes it flipped out again to the black and white static dots that invaded my set before.
I thought it would be okay because I still had my television in the den . Now that wasn't too bad when Kim was gone almost every evening to play practice or one of the other many meetings he attends. But since the plays have ended, I have him home most evenings. TV hasn't been the same. Can you spell d-o-c-u-m-e-n-t-a-l bore?? He wants BTV too. That would be Boring TV. Okay I'm not being completely fair. I don't mind a little Astro action on the tube as long as I can flash back and forth between real TV and the game. At least he watches Seinfeld reruns.
But see, I wouldn't have to watch Kim's TV shows if the set in my bedroom had not died. Besides there is just nothing like snuggling down under my comforter, propped up on my back pillow, watching Debbie Travis on "The Painted House" while glancing at my home decorating magazines. Now if you aren't an HGTV fan, you probably don't know Debbie and her team of paint experts. Debbie is great to watch just before drifting off to sleep. I can dream of all the home improvement I'll do with Debbie someday. Others like Will and Grace, Dharma and Greg, or Chandler, Rachel and the Friends can produce the same sandman effect on me, with different dreams of course. The point being that it is very comforting to lay my back pillow aside, click the remote control and put my head down for the night after a bedtime story from my buddies. It just doesn't have the same effect if I have to get out of my recliner in the den, walk back down the hallway, get into bed and try to go to sleep. By the time I do all of that, I'm not sleepy anymore.
So I really hope to replace the dead TV soon. Kim has been thinking that a bigger TV in the den would be nice. Then, maybe the DTV will become my new BTV. Keep your fingers crossed. :-)
I thought it would be okay because I still had my television in the den . Now that wasn't too bad when Kim was gone almost every evening to play practice or one of the other many meetings he attends. But since the plays have ended, I have him home most evenings. TV hasn't been the same. Can you spell d-o-c-u-m-e-n-t-a-l bore?? He wants BTV too. That would be Boring TV. Okay I'm not being completely fair. I don't mind a little Astro action on the tube as long as I can flash back and forth between real TV and the game. At least he watches Seinfeld reruns.
But see, I wouldn't have to watch Kim's TV shows if the set in my bedroom had not died. Besides there is just nothing like snuggling down under my comforter, propped up on my back pillow, watching Debbie Travis on "The Painted House" while glancing at my home decorating magazines. Now if you aren't an HGTV fan, you probably don't know Debbie and her team of paint experts. Debbie is great to watch just before drifting off to sleep. I can dream of all the home improvement I'll do with Debbie someday. Others like Will and Grace, Dharma and Greg, or Chandler, Rachel and the Friends can produce the same sandman effect on me, with different dreams of course. The point being that it is very comforting to lay my back pillow aside, click the remote control and put my head down for the night after a bedtime story from my buddies. It just doesn't have the same effect if I have to get out of my recliner in the den, walk back down the hallway, get into bed and try to go to sleep. By the time I do all of that, I'm not sleepy anymore.
So I really hope to replace the dead TV soon. Kim has been thinking that a bigger TV in the den would be nice. Then, maybe the DTV will become my new BTV. Keep your fingers crossed. :-)
June 22, 2005
Impressions of a theater community
"From Here to Kalamazoo"
Impressions of AACTFest 2005
by Mary Lou Martin
"There Really Is a Kalamazoo" was the city's slogan I read on t-shirts, coffee mugs, magnets and other such souvenirs at the recent AACTFest 2005 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As I read those words I remembered, as a teen, hearing my mother say phrases like, "Your clothes are strode from here to Kalamazoo. Clean this up!" Now having been all the way to Kalamazoo from here, I understand just what my mom meant. It was a long way up there and my clothes must have covered a lot of territory in my bedroom.
My official AACT approved festival program stated; "AACT offers a wide range of opportunities to share experiences, problems, successes and love of theatre." What I observed among the 450+ community theater participants was exactly what was offered in the above statement. It is in essence a statement about community. In a community of any sort, people share experiences, live, play, and work together for a common interest. In this case the common interest is of course, live on-stage theatre.
I had the opportunity to participate in two classes having to do with musical theater performance. When I arrived alone in the small rehearsal hall, I felt somewhat alien to the other members of the group. However, within 10 minutes into the class, I was laughing and joining in with the presenter and the other participants seated next to me. We were becoming a community within ourselves. It is my belief that during the course of the four-day festival, similar scenarios were being played out within other workshops as well. We were different people with different occupations coming together to share a common interest.
Not only were the festival participants a community in Kalamazoo, but there exist a sense of community among theater people wherever one may travel. Take for example a story I heard at the Awards Gala and Dinner Dance the last evening of the festival. One of the festival chairmen related an event that happened last summer while he and his family were traveling on vacation through Colorado. The camping vehicle he was driving broke down in what he described as, "the middle of nowhere." Having no acquaintances within driving distance, he decided to call upon the local Community Theater for help. After phoning the theater and explaining his family's predicament, someone from the theater quickly came to his aide. That person helped him to find a place to fix his vehicle and stayed with his family offering food and a place to wait, until they could be on their way. Now that, my fellow thespians, is Community Theater at its best.
It was my impression from that man's story that even though we may be strangers in a strange land, so to speak, our Baytown Little Theater is really a community functioning within a larger community. As I watched the brilliant performances of actors from eleven community theaters across the U. S. and parts of Europe practice their craft, I felt a definite place in this community. Strangers to each other, people from all walks of life had something to discuss. Their love of theater had brought them together. Conversations were jovial, intellectual and captivating as peers discussed their art.
So when you speak of Community Theater, remember it spans much wider than our own Little Theater in Baytown. Our theater community goes from here to Kalamazoo and places beyond.
Impressions of AACTFest 2005
by Mary Lou Martin
"There Really Is a Kalamazoo" was the city's slogan I read on t-shirts, coffee mugs, magnets and other such souvenirs at the recent AACTFest 2005 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As I read those words I remembered, as a teen, hearing my mother say phrases like, "Your clothes are strode from here to Kalamazoo. Clean this up!" Now having been all the way to Kalamazoo from here, I understand just what my mom meant. It was a long way up there and my clothes must have covered a lot of territory in my bedroom.
My official AACT approved festival program stated; "AACT offers a wide range of opportunities to share experiences, problems, successes and love of theatre." What I observed among the 450+ community theater participants was exactly what was offered in the above statement. It is in essence a statement about community. In a community of any sort, people share experiences, live, play, and work together for a common interest. In this case the common interest is of course, live on-stage theatre.
I had the opportunity to participate in two classes having to do with musical theater performance. When I arrived alone in the small rehearsal hall, I felt somewhat alien to the other members of the group. However, within 10 minutes into the class, I was laughing and joining in with the presenter and the other participants seated next to me. We were becoming a community within ourselves. It is my belief that during the course of the four-day festival, similar scenarios were being played out within other workshops as well. We were different people with different occupations coming together to share a common interest.
Not only were the festival participants a community in Kalamazoo, but there exist a sense of community among theater people wherever one may travel. Take for example a story I heard at the Awards Gala and Dinner Dance the last evening of the festival. One of the festival chairmen related an event that happened last summer while he and his family were traveling on vacation through Colorado. The camping vehicle he was driving broke down in what he described as, "the middle of nowhere." Having no acquaintances within driving distance, he decided to call upon the local Community Theater for help. After phoning the theater and explaining his family's predicament, someone from the theater quickly came to his aide. That person helped him to find a place to fix his vehicle and stayed with his family offering food and a place to wait, until they could be on their way. Now that, my fellow thespians, is Community Theater at its best.
It was my impression from that man's story that even though we may be strangers in a strange land, so to speak, our Baytown Little Theater is really a community functioning within a larger community. As I watched the brilliant performances of actors from eleven community theaters across the U. S. and parts of Europe practice their craft, I felt a definite place in this community. Strangers to each other, people from all walks of life had something to discuss. Their love of theater had brought them together. Conversations were jovial, intellectual and captivating as peers discussed their art.
So when you speak of Community Theater, remember it spans much wider than our own Little Theater in Baytown. Our theater community goes from here to Kalamazoo and places beyond.
June 20, 2005
Communities in a Larger Society
COMMUNITY: Webster writes that community is "...a unified body of individuals: as a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society." The simple definition in my third grade students' social studies books is a place where people live, work and play together.
I recently returned home from a trip to Michigan where I was fortunate enough to spend some time with my son's family. My two young grandchildren are learning to live within the friendly community of East Lansing. My son and I took his two year old son and 2 month old daughter to a park in town. Aidan, my grandson and veteran of this park, knew his way around and felt comfortable playing among the other children and their parents. Regan, our beautiful granddaughter, pretty much slept in her stroller during the park visit. However, that didn't keep several little female toddlers from trustingly requesting to look at "the baby." They trusted that I was a friendly stranger because, like their mommys, I was here with children playing in the park. The children and I had a common interest and therefore were part of this little park community. They felt comfortable talking to me even though I was a stranger.
It was also my experience on this trip to attend a theater conference in another MIchigan town. The fact that the attendees to this conference were from community theaters all over the United States and even one from Germany; contributes to my thoughts here in this blog about community. Even though most of the theater companys were strangers to each other, they shared a common interest in theater and would comfortably sit in conversation with each other. I have often thought that for many of our theater friends, our community theater functioned much like their "church". Everyone so different, but with this common interest in theater, they became a community at the conference.
I recognized that the common characteristics of community in those actors at the conference and the children and parents in the park were the same as the ones I share with my church family. We have a common interest. We want to help each other. We understand and make connections with each other. I also realized just how many communities I belong to. Christians, actors, parents, children, grandparents, teachers, neighbors,...whether for good or bad, are all in communities within the larger society.
I hear a lot of talk at church these days about this word "community". We are hearing that we should be more like a community. But what occurs to me is that we are already a community. We live among each other, we work, play and care about each other. We are already a community within the Church of God. What we should be working toward is being more in tune with the larger society. Live, work and play with other communities, not only church communities. Embrace the communities that form the larger society, and look for positives within that group . Encourage and lift up communities that are working to be on a path that helps each other whether it is a religious group or not. Reach out to communities that may not be contributing to our society in a positive way with the intent to help better their cause.
Community: Family: Caring: United in a common interest for the larger society--how do we connect to other communities? Christian groups ought to broaden their view of community and take a lesson from the little children and other groups outside of their religious families. Perhaps we would see answers to our questions about interacting with people outside of our church communities.
I wish I had better answers the question of connecting to other communities, but sadly I do not. I do believe our hesitance has a lot to do with our comfort zone. It is when we are forced to step out of our comfort zones and learn about other communities that we might have a chance to unify within a larger society.
I recently returned home from a trip to Michigan where I was fortunate enough to spend some time with my son's family. My two young grandchildren are learning to live within the friendly community of East Lansing. My son and I took his two year old son and 2 month old daughter to a park in town. Aidan, my grandson and veteran of this park, knew his way around and felt comfortable playing among the other children and their parents. Regan, our beautiful granddaughter, pretty much slept in her stroller during the park visit. However, that didn't keep several little female toddlers from trustingly requesting to look at "the baby." They trusted that I was a friendly stranger because, like their mommys, I was here with children playing in the park. The children and I had a common interest and therefore were part of this little park community. They felt comfortable talking to me even though I was a stranger.
It was also my experience on this trip to attend a theater conference in another MIchigan town. The fact that the attendees to this conference were from community theaters all over the United States and even one from Germany; contributes to my thoughts here in this blog about community. Even though most of the theater companys were strangers to each other, they shared a common interest in theater and would comfortably sit in conversation with each other. I have often thought that for many of our theater friends, our community theater functioned much like their "church". Everyone so different, but with this common interest in theater, they became a community at the conference.
I recognized that the common characteristics of community in those actors at the conference and the children and parents in the park were the same as the ones I share with my church family. We have a common interest. We want to help each other. We understand and make connections with each other. I also realized just how many communities I belong to. Christians, actors, parents, children, grandparents, teachers, neighbors,...whether for good or bad, are all in communities within the larger society.
I hear a lot of talk at church these days about this word "community". We are hearing that we should be more like a community. But what occurs to me is that we are already a community. We live among each other, we work, play and care about each other. We are already a community within the Church of God. What we should be working toward is being more in tune with the larger society. Live, work and play with other communities, not only church communities. Embrace the communities that form the larger society, and look for positives within that group . Encourage and lift up communities that are working to be on a path that helps each other whether it is a religious group or not. Reach out to communities that may not be contributing to our society in a positive way with the intent to help better their cause.
Community: Family: Caring: United in a common interest for the larger society--how do we connect to other communities? Christian groups ought to broaden their view of community and take a lesson from the little children and other groups outside of their religious families. Perhaps we would see answers to our questions about interacting with people outside of our church communities.
I wish I had better answers the question of connecting to other communities, but sadly I do not. I do believe our hesitance has a lot to do with our comfort zone. It is when we are forced to step out of our comfort zones and learn about other communities that we might have a chance to unify within a larger society.
June 13, 2005
Long Hot Summer Days
I just read my friend Deana's blog. She is an extremely good writer and does it on a weekly basis for The Baytown Sun which is our hometown newspaper. The post was actually one she had written for The Sun. Her article was about how different her summer is now with two children. Her oldest child is 5 years old and the other is about 8 months old. Her description of her daily summer schedule compared to what it was when she was in high school was very humorous to us moms that have been there-done that.
As a school teacher I was always at home with my sons for summer vacation. I counted down those last days of school with the same excitement that they did. I was ready for a break. However, just as Deana has experienced, my summers with little kids was no break. The day started early and usually ended late. My husband always thought that we should try to keep the same hours that we had during school. I'm not sure what planet he was from, but here on earth summer vacation was meant for no schedules. Well at least not the same one we had for school.
The boys and I managed to stay very busy for the most part. I would always buy phonics and math workbooks on their ability levels and take them to the public library to check out books. Then we would practice school in the summer. It wasn't very strict, we just sat in the floor, colored and reviewed numbers and words and read books. Then I would try to get them to have a quiet time. I tried not to call it a nap because that was a bad 3-letter word to them. Sometimes we'd take lunch to the park and play or go swimming. Summers really were a lot of fun.
Now days I'm home alone except for my two cats. My husband is at work and my three sons are all married. I have to find things to do so I don't get bored with my day. I certainly have plenty to do since I don't do a lot of cleaning out and housework during the ten months of school. My problem is that I don't work well in a quiet house. I turn on the TV that distracts me, then I fall asleep and nothing gets done. So, I try to listen to the CD player instead. A lot of times I read a book. I'm not used to staying home all day by myself, so I generally make a trip to the grocery store or Wal-Mart whether I need something or not.
Yes, it is a lot calmer without 3 little boys running in and out of the house. Do I miss it? A little bit. Do I long to go back to those summers? Nope. I had more energy to keep up with them back then. I enjoyed my kids very much and I enjoy my grandchildren too. Right now, though, I'm working to become accustomed to summers with just me.
As a school teacher I was always at home with my sons for summer vacation. I counted down those last days of school with the same excitement that they did. I was ready for a break. However, just as Deana has experienced, my summers with little kids was no break. The day started early and usually ended late. My husband always thought that we should try to keep the same hours that we had during school. I'm not sure what planet he was from, but here on earth summer vacation was meant for no schedules. Well at least not the same one we had for school.
The boys and I managed to stay very busy for the most part. I would always buy phonics and math workbooks on their ability levels and take them to the public library to check out books. Then we would practice school in the summer. It wasn't very strict, we just sat in the floor, colored and reviewed numbers and words and read books. Then I would try to get them to have a quiet time. I tried not to call it a nap because that was a bad 3-letter word to them. Sometimes we'd take lunch to the park and play or go swimming. Summers really were a lot of fun.
Now days I'm home alone except for my two cats. My husband is at work and my three sons are all married. I have to find things to do so I don't get bored with my day. I certainly have plenty to do since I don't do a lot of cleaning out and housework during the ten months of school. My problem is that I don't work well in a quiet house. I turn on the TV that distracts me, then I fall asleep and nothing gets done. So, I try to listen to the CD player instead. A lot of times I read a book. I'm not used to staying home all day by myself, so I generally make a trip to the grocery store or Wal-Mart whether I need something or not.
Yes, it is a lot calmer without 3 little boys running in and out of the house. Do I miss it? A little bit. Do I long to go back to those summers? Nope. I had more energy to keep up with them back then. I enjoyed my kids very much and I enjoy my grandchildren too. Right now, though, I'm working to become accustomed to summers with just me.
June 11, 2005
Thoughts To Ponder
I STOOD UPON A HIGH PLACE by Stephen Crane
I stood upon a high place,
And saw, below, many devils
Running, leaping,
And carousing in sin.
One looked up, grinning,
And said, "Comrade! Brother!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (Leaven, Summer, 1998) "What is Freedom? Journey" by James W. Thompson, professor of New Testament at Abilene Christian University.
"...Freedom, as Paul tells the Galatians, can cancel itself out when it leads to a new kind of slavery--a slavery to the impulses and passions. Freedom is lost when we misunderstand it as the freedom to indulge ourselves in whatever way that we wish."
"Where do we go when we have discovered freedom? As much as we say that we don't want to go back, we are tempted."
"The fact is that God wants us to live as grown-up children in our Father's house. To enjoy our freedom--but freedom where the Father's will is our will."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BOTH of these quotations speak to me. The poem puts to light the reality of being a sinner alongside the "devils". The other puts to light the reality of my freedom is only free if I choose to keep it.
What do you think?
I stood upon a high place,
And saw, below, many devils
Running, leaping,
And carousing in sin.
One looked up, grinning,
And said, "Comrade! Brother!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Article (Leaven, Summer, 1998) "What is Freedom? Journey" by James W. Thompson, professor of New Testament at Abilene Christian University.
"...Freedom, as Paul tells the Galatians, can cancel itself out when it leads to a new kind of slavery--a slavery to the impulses and passions. Freedom is lost when we misunderstand it as the freedom to indulge ourselves in whatever way that we wish."
"Where do we go when we have discovered freedom? As much as we say that we don't want to go back, we are tempted."
"The fact is that God wants us to live as grown-up children in our Father's house. To enjoy our freedom--but freedom where the Father's will is our will."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BOTH of these quotations speak to me. The poem puts to light the reality of being a sinner alongside the "devils". The other puts to light the reality of my freedom is only free if I choose to keep it.
What do you think?
June 9, 2005
Watching Homer in the "Wild"
My male cat,
Homer
has discovered that he loves the outdoors. I was opposed to letting him experience the big world outside because so many of my previous animals didn't fare well outside. They always wound up beneath the big 4-wheeled monster I tried to warn them about.
However, it seems that Homer rather likes the confines of our backyard. It is enclosed with a lot of plants for him to investigate. I have come out here with a laptop to keep an eye on him....and it appears that I didn't do a good job. I just had to get up and call him back from the neighbor's yard. It always looks greener on the other side you know. I am thinking that the neighbors, who were out beside their pool, may have spooked him because now he is content to stay nearby on his own side of the fence.
Homer's curiosity keeps him looking for something exciting and fun. Once he experiences a new place that intrigues him, its hard to go back to the way it was before. He always knows what is over there. I wonder if he liked "the other side" or if it just scared him? He seems to still be intrigued by that area of the yard and I have to occasionally call to him to come back.
Homer reminds me of us humans. There have been times when my curiosity took me to "the other side". Other people were doing things that seemed to really be fun. I was intrigued and wanted to have some fun too. There were times that my ventures into the "unknown" spooked me a bit and I would have to come back home. However, I knew it was out there. I enjoyed it and wanted to experience it again.
Well a lawnmower has started up and Homer is totally freaked out. He has come running back to the safety of his home and master once again. I do the same thing when I get a little "freaked out" about where I've been. I run back home to the safety and comfort of my Master. Although, I am sure both Homer and I will one day want to venture out again to "the other side."
However, it seems that Homer rather likes the confines of our backyard. It is enclosed with a lot of plants for him to investigate. I have come out here with a laptop to keep an eye on him....and it appears that I didn't do a good job. I just had to get up and call him back from the neighbor's yard. It always looks greener on the other side you know. I am thinking that the neighbors, who were out beside their pool, may have spooked him because now he is content to stay nearby on his own side of the fence.
Homer's curiosity keeps him looking for something exciting and fun. Once he experiences a new place that intrigues him, its hard to go back to the way it was before. He always knows what is over there. I wonder if he liked "the other side" or if it just scared him? He seems to still be intrigued by that area of the yard and I have to occasionally call to him to come back.
Homer reminds me of us humans. There have been times when my curiosity took me to "the other side". Other people were doing things that seemed to really be fun. I was intrigued and wanted to have some fun too. There were times that my ventures into the "unknown" spooked me a bit and I would have to come back home. However, I knew it was out there. I enjoyed it and wanted to experience it again.
Well a lawnmower has started up and Homer is totally freaked out. He has come running back to the safety of his home and master once again. I do the same thing when I get a little "freaked out" about where I've been. I run back home to the safety and comfort of my Master. Although, I am sure both Homer and I will one day want to venture out again to "the other side."
June 7, 2005
Martin Acrostic
Martin Men
Actors
Rational
Tenacious
Influential
Noticeable
Kim
Knowledgeable
Initiator
Mellow
Jason
Jovial
Adviser
Scholarly
Opinionated
Nurturer
Kyle
Kindhearted
Youthful
Loveable
Energetic
Ryan
Reserved
Youngest
Audacious
Non-conformist
Aidan
Angel
Inquisitive
Darling
Alert
New brother
Martin Women
Artistic
Reliable
Tantalizing
Interesting
Notable
Mary Lou
Mother Loving
Adult Overindulgent
Religious Uncertain
Yielding
Kari
Kind
Achiever
Responsible
Innovative
Amanda
Amiable
Married
Affectionate
Nice
Devoted
Attractive
Amy
Attentive
Musical
Yoked
Regan
Ravishing
Engaging
Girl
Aidan's sister
Neophyte
Actors
Rational
Tenacious
Influential
Noticeable
Kim
Knowledgeable
Initiator
Mellow
Jason
Jovial
Adviser
Scholarly
Opinionated
Nurturer
Kyle
Kindhearted
Youthful
Loveable
Energetic
Ryan
Reserved
Youngest
Audacious
Non-conformist
Aidan
Angel
Inquisitive
Darling
Alert
New brother
Martin Women
Artistic
Reliable
Tantalizing
Interesting
Notable
Mary Lou
Mother Loving
Adult Overindulgent
Religious Uncertain
Yielding
Kari
Kind
Achiever
Responsible
Innovative
Amanda
Amiable
Married
Affectionate
Nice
Devoted
Attractive
Amy
Attentive
Musical
Yoked
Regan
Ravishing
Engaging
Girl
Aidan's sister
Neophyte
June 6, 2005
Home Again, Home Again Jiggidy Jig
Well I was going to spend a weekend at home all by myself. Then the evening before Kim was to leave for Arlington, I decided to go. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get motel a room, but Kim always works things out. It was the Texas Non-Profit Theatres' Youth Conference. This is probably the 6th year Kim has taken a group of preteens and teens to the conference from our local community theater. They performed a musical called "Honk! Jr." The junior indicates it is a shorter version of the real play. The play is the "Ugly Duckling" story. Our kids were just great!
Kim and I went up on the second day of the conference due to Kim having to work. (All play and no work, makes Kim a poor man.) Our group had traveled the day before with their chaperones so they had already been to a day and a half of activities when we walked into the auditorium at UTA Friday evening. Kim was so surprised when the kids all cheered to see him. Its a great thing to watch my husband work with the group. They really like and respect what he does.
I mostly hung with Kim which was the real reason I decided not to stay by myself at home. Even though we've been married for 30 years, I still miss him when he is gone for a couple of days. Besides I just thought alone in the house for the weekend would bore me out of my mind. However, I had to keep reminding myself why I was there. The motel room was not too great. It was clean but located far off the beaten path. No restaurants or stores were within walking distance. It was hot! We had to make a room change due to the broken air conditioner in our room. The plays were pretty good, but not that great. Some were just confusing, but one called "The Rimers of Eldritch" while confusing was done with a great deal of maturity on the kids' part. When viewing youth art, you have to look at it from a learning/growing point of view. They were all very brave and spunky to even get up there.
I know that Kim would really have liked for me to take a more active part in this activity. I've done things with theater for him in the past and I'm not saying I won't ever do it again. I'm just saying that I've been a little selfish with me lately. I want to do some things that I know I need to take care of.
Anyway, if I don't get up from this darn computer, I will be wasting that "me" time.
Kim and I went up on the second day of the conference due to Kim having to work. (All play and no work, makes Kim a poor man.) Our group had traveled the day before with their chaperones so they had already been to a day and a half of activities when we walked into the auditorium at UTA Friday evening. Kim was so surprised when the kids all cheered to see him. Its a great thing to watch my husband work with the group. They really like and respect what he does.
I mostly hung with Kim which was the real reason I decided not to stay by myself at home. Even though we've been married for 30 years, I still miss him when he is gone for a couple of days. Besides I just thought alone in the house for the weekend would bore me out of my mind. However, I had to keep reminding myself why I was there. The motel room was not too great. It was clean but located far off the beaten path. No restaurants or stores were within walking distance. It was hot! We had to make a room change due to the broken air conditioner in our room. The plays were pretty good, but not that great. Some were just confusing, but one called "The Rimers of Eldritch" while confusing was done with a great deal of maturity on the kids' part. When viewing youth art, you have to look at it from a learning/growing point of view. They were all very brave and spunky to even get up there.
I know that Kim would really have liked for me to take a more active part in this activity. I've done things with theater for him in the past and I'm not saying I won't ever do it again. I'm just saying that I've been a little selfish with me lately. I want to do some things that I know I need to take care of.
Anyway, if I don't get up from this darn computer, I will be wasting that "me" time.
June 3, 2005
Original Writing
"Poetry in Prose"
by Mary Lou Martin
June 2, 2005
I wanted to write this as a poem,
But the words were hard to form.
My heart knows what I want to say,
My brain knows not how to say it.
So I will just say what is on my mind.
It won't rhyme or be clever prose.
The words in my head will tumble and fall.,
Have patience as I explain my woes.
You see I struggle with right and wrong.
NO, I mean I struggle with good and evil.
NO, I mean I struggle to do what God wants.
What I mean is, I have sinned…again and again.
I didn't mean to, it just happened.
Well that's not exactly true.
It didn't just happen.
I LET it. I encouraged it.
So now I struggle with my sin.
We wrestle and go back and forth.
I know what I should do.
Walk away and leave it forever.
That word "forever" seems huge.
Can I really do without it forever?
It has become part of me,
A fact I know all too well.
Some mornings I wake up
And say to myself, "this is the day."
This is the day when I'll quit and then,
I find that I'm with it again.
Some people think "it" isn't a sin.
They consider it a social thing.
I do and I don't, I can't decide.
So I indulge…again and again.
by Mary Lou Martin
June 2, 2005
I wanted to write this as a poem,
But the words were hard to form.
My heart knows what I want to say,
My brain knows not how to say it.
So I will just say what is on my mind.
It won't rhyme or be clever prose.
The words in my head will tumble and fall.,
Have patience as I explain my woes.
You see I struggle with right and wrong.
NO, I mean I struggle with good and evil.
NO, I mean I struggle to do what God wants.
What I mean is, I have sinned…again and again.
I didn't mean to, it just happened.
Well that's not exactly true.
It didn't just happen.
I LET it. I encouraged it.
So now I struggle with my sin.
We wrestle and go back and forth.
I know what I should do.
Walk away and leave it forever.
That word "forever" seems huge.
Can I really do without it forever?
It has become part of me,
A fact I know all too well.
Some mornings I wake up
And say to myself, "this is the day."
This is the day when I'll quit and then,
I find that I'm with it again.
Some people think "it" isn't a sin.
They consider it a social thing.
I do and I don't, I can't decide.
So I indulge…again and again.
Homer&Baby
Homer is the younger gray cat and Baby is our 3 year old black cat.
They make such good friends.
They make such good friends.
June 2, 2005
Get the Message?
I read Today's Verse put out by Heartlight on the web. This is a very good website for religious articles, wallpaper for your computer desktop, ecards, power point graphics, Christian book reviews and more. I've read it for years. The Today's Verse is sent to my email address everyday and offers a verse of scripture, a thought and a prayer.
Many times these verses come to my inbox and I just knew that God was talking to me. Its like He is saying, "Mary Lou, you know you can't keep doing that." If I try to ignore those messages and click delete, another one will just show up in my box the next day. I've even caught myself saying aloud to my computer and God, "Okay, I get it!"
Today's Verse was such a message. The verse was Romans 6:1
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
The thought was the usual comment on that verse about grace and surrendering our lives to Christ. The author of the thought had some very good commentary on the verse and I read it nodding my head, "yes" all the way. Then came the line for me from God. He said, "...and sin is breaking our Father's heart to choose our own self-destructive path." It's the "self-destructive" part that hits me square between the eyes, because recently a person that was trying to help me with a problem used those same words.
I ponder now to consider if I should even send this out on my blog. Especially since I'm going to need to make some decisions about the path I'm following. Is it really self-destructive? Do I need to make those changes in my life to be right with God?
Even words in the prayer offered at the end were similar to my own prayers. "Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy."
Okay, God. I get it.
Many times these verses come to my inbox and I just knew that God was talking to me. Its like He is saying, "Mary Lou, you know you can't keep doing that." If I try to ignore those messages and click delete, another one will just show up in my box the next day. I've even caught myself saying aloud to my computer and God, "Okay, I get it!"
Today's Verse was such a message. The verse was Romans 6:1
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
The thought was the usual comment on that verse about grace and surrendering our lives to Christ. The author of the thought had some very good commentary on the verse and I read it nodding my head, "yes" all the way. Then came the line for me from God. He said, "...and sin is breaking our Father's heart to choose our own self-destructive path." It's the "self-destructive" part that hits me square between the eyes, because recently a person that was trying to help me with a problem used those same words.
I ponder now to consider if I should even send this out on my blog. Especially since I'm going to need to make some decisions about the path I'm following. Is it really self-destructive? Do I need to make those changes in my life to be right with God?
Even words in the prayer offered at the end were similar to my own prayers. "Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy."
Okay, God. I get it.
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