"Here We Come A'Caroling"

The Martin Family Christmas Chorus

Kim and I continued a Martin family tradition of going door to door during the Christmas season to sing carols to unsuspecting neighbors, last Saturday night. We may not go out every year, but since I have been in the family (33 years) we've managed to go out more years than not. Some years we have more people singing and some years less. Other years we might have non-family members join in the Martin Chorus. No matter who shows up, one thing is for sure, it is always a fun time to sing choruses of Winter Wonderland and We Wish You a Merry Christmas with this family of singers.

Sometime in the late 1960's, the tradition started when Kim's parents, Kelly and JoAn Martin, decided to pile the family into their vehicle and serenade their friends at their houses with Christmas carols. Kim recalled how his dad invited those they sang to, to join the caroling party. Many of their friends would join the ban of carolers and continue along their way singing Christmas carols to neighbors. Kim added that the evening of caroling usually ended up with hot chocolate and a party at his family's house.

Now we have introduced the caroling tradition to a 4th generation of Martins through our grandchildren, Regan and Aidan. They and the other children in the family enjoyed going door to door to be greeted by delighted residents as we all sang Hark, the Heralded Angels Sing or some other carol. Sometimes the people even give out candy or cookies that you can imagine is a big hit with the kids. This year our Aidan and Regan, with cousin Gabe standing timidly by, would station themselves in front of the chorus to add an "interpretive dance" to our singing. The kids were clearly having a good time.

In the spirit of the first caroling party, although not as impromptu, we ended the evening with a party back at our house. It brings me pleasure to continue this spirited tradition and offer a Christmas song to our neighbors. I'm thankful that Kelly and JoAn thought to start such a fun event. Even during the rush of the Christmas season, it is a happy surprise that family and friends want to take part in the caroling. It is my hope that we will continue going Christmas caroling for years to come.

Christians Go To Heaven

Do people still say, “the Church of Christ think they are the only ones going to heaven”? An expression I haven’t heard in a long time was mentioned in a Bible class at church last night. I just can’t imagine anyone would still ask that about us today unless they heard it from an older generation of Church of Christ folks. In fact I’m 55 years old and no one ever seriously asked me that question when they found out I was going to the Church of Christ. It was like an urban legend. You heard about its happening, but never experienced it. However, there are those of the Church of Christ persuasion that claim it is true and has happened to them. Oh, and before I go any further…No, we don’t believe we are the only ones going to heaven. God would be mighty lonely in heaven if that were true.

Christians, followers of Jesus, seekers, sinners, righteous, faithful believers in the Son of God are the only ones going to heaven. I don’t believe that Elijah was a member of the local Church of Christ or any other fellowship when he was taken up to heaven. Christ had not been born in the manger yet, so how could he? What’s more, Jesus was Jewish! A Rabbi! Not a member of The Church of Himself.

In Hebrews 11, Paul writes about many men from ancient times that were made righteous through their faith in what they could not see. He writes that God has prepared a place for them. Therefore, we see it is the faithful, righteous believers that will go to heaven.

(Hebrews 11: 13b-16) …And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

That country the strangers are searching for is not the Church of Christ. When we hear about the wars, death, pain, and suffering the Evil One is causing on earth, all of mankind should long for a better place. That place is heaven where we won’t cry, have pain, or die. We can’t be so ignorant as to believe that Church of Christ Christians are the only ones that long for a better place. How absurd to even think that would be true!

To my Church of Christ brethren, let’s squelch this urban legend right now. Make it a page on the Snopes website and people can see that it simply isn’t true. Let’s teach them it isn’t true by our acceptance of fellow Christians of all faiths to illustrate that the same blood of Jesus saves us all. Our mission should be more about getting the Good News about Jesus Christ out to the people who truly don’t know Him, than trying to answer absurd questions. Questions or responses to questions about which church is going to heaven should never even come up in our conversations. Let us not put thoughts into people’s minds who are trying to formulate opinions about Christians by bringing up old rumors. Drive that old topic over the cliff with the demonized swine. Don’t rescue it by dragging it up again in any conversation about God.

The Church of Christ is part of a diverse family of Christians created by God. It isn’t your church affiliations that will save and give you a home in heaven. Christians are believers in Jesus Christ and follow his teachings to be born again. Christians, not a particular religious group, believe they are going to heaven.

Xmas

I must give some credit here to Heartlight.org for the picture. I was drawn to the tiny toes peeking out from the little blanket.

The photograph shows a well crafted manger and the baby has some nice "swaddling clothes" wrapped around him. Although, I would venture to guess that the manger Jesus lay in was not even as nice as the one in the picture. Luke didn't say anything about the accommodations other than, "...there was no room for them in the inn." Surely, Mary or Joseph put more cloth over all of that itchy hay for the infant of royal lineage. It could be that Jesus was like the princess in the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Princess and the Pea. If the noble skin of royalty could feel a mere pea beneath the weight of many mattresses, just think what all of that hay felt like under one thin layer of cloth swaddled around King Jesus. Ouch!

The birth of Baby Jesus is written in the Holy Bible in the books of Matthew and Luke, but not in Mark or John. The latter books get straight to the point of Jesus ministry as an adult. Were it not for Matthew and especially Luke's account, we might not even know about the manger and the lack of rooms in the inn. I wonder, if it were not for the writers, Matthew and Luke, how our celebrations at Christmas might be today.

While growing up in a conservative Church of Christ family at Christmas, there was no more emphasis than usual about the birth of Jesus The church we attended basically said that we celebrated the birth, burial and resurrection of our Christ each time we assembled together as a church body, which was basic theology of the time in many congregations of that particular belief. Today, many Church of Christ congregations honor the Birth of Jesus in Christmas pageants and carols sung during worship services on and leading up to December 25.

Of course, another reason I was told we didn't celebrate Jesus' birth at this time was because no one really knows the exact date that Jesus was born. As a child, I accepted those teachings and just thought all those other religions were misinformed and were making a lot of noise about a non birth on December 25.

Maturity and knowledge, of course, has taught me that it is perfectly acceptable to acknowledge the birth of Jesus on December 25. Still, it is difficult for me to think of the Baby Jesus first over all the elements surrounding the Christmas season. Even though Christmas is literally a mass, or festival, for Christ, I still think about decorated trees, Santa Claus and wrapped presents first when gearing up for this time of year. Those are ingrained teachings of my childhood. Jesus, I think about everyday, on Sundays and "anytime the saints assemble to worship".

December 25 is just a date in time to me. The date has no more meaning for me as a Christian than any other day. Now I hope that doesn't sound sacrilege to any one reading this blog. It is not my intention to shake any religious foundations or upset my brothers and sisters in Christ. Nor do I wish to imply by my title, Xmas, that I want to take Christ out of Christmas. In fact, if you followed the link, you'll notice "this X and P arose as the uppercase forms of the Greek letters χ and ρ),used in ancient abbreviations for Χριστος (Greek for "Christ")." Therefore, Christ is in Xmas, it's just Greek abbreviations.

"So, what is your point?" you might ask. My point is that when I was a child in the 50's/60's, it was common teaching at my church that we celebrate Christ' birth everyday, not just on December 25. The fact that I celebrate Christmas more as a secular holiday rather than a religious holiday makes me no less a Christian. Nor does it mean that I am a gift monger, grabbing all the goodies I can get. The Christmas season can hold different meanings for individuals whether they be of a religious nature or not. There is nothing wrong with pretending Santa Claus leaves treats and gifts for good little boys and girls. Some kids need all the incentives they can be offered to behave. Although, I was never taught to believe in the mythical jolly old man, I don't assume to advise a parent to the contrary. Nor would I advise lying to children about the existence of Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas. For truly there was a St. Nick, who was a third century bishop from Lycia.

As a result of my mother's teaching, that it was alright to pretend there was a Santa Claus, but not to believe in him, I didn't "believe" even as a young child. However, neither did I believe that Christmas was about Baby Jesus. So, for me Christmas was, for the most part, about having days off from school, parties, and parades with the red-suited man sporting a fake white beard while riding on a firetruck. More than that, though, it was about a time to be with my family, to submerge in all the noisy conversations, laughter and time spent making up for missing them during the previous months. Christmas for me has always been my favorite time of the year. Not for the commercial buying and giving frenzy, nor the Christian belief that it is Jesus' birth, but simply because it is a guaranteed time of enjoyment and happiness with family.

So, do I recognize Jesus birth at Christmas? Sure I do and on all the other 364 days of the year. As a Christian I praise God for the birth of Jesus because without it, he would never have died for my sins. He is my savior, and for that I am eternally grateful. Therefore, I do not write Xmas as an attempt to remove Christ from the holiday, but as the Greeks, to write of Christ's name in line with a festival. A time of celebration in which Christians in particular will join in the singing of carols and pageants during this winter season of joy. Even though I didn't grow up with the idea that Christmas is about Jesus' birth, I am trying to think more on Luke's account of the holy night than I normally would at any other time of year.

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11.

Merry Xmas to you all,
ML

Embracing Today

For all of the years I was at home and even for many years to follow, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, and my grandparents, all gathered at my parent’s house for Christmas. My mom’s parents, who lived a short drive away, celebrated with us every year. My dad's parents lived in Oklahoma and I have assumed all of these years it was because they just lived too far away.

(Picture: Some of my family, about 1986 or '87.)

If the Abilene relatives drove down by Christmas Eve, mom and her sister would bake in the kitchen for the next day. While that was going on, we kids would play games, the men watched football on TV, and at some point in the evening a domino game of Forty-Two would start up. What a great memory for me to recall the shouts of victory, explanations of why someone had lost or the laughter as a team caught up to the winners. Those happy sounds were a real comfort to me as a child.

All the beds in the house, plus sofa beds and pallets on the floor, were filled on Christmas Eve with family members. When us kids woke up, we'd head straight for the Santa presents. I had to be careful not to reveal Santa’s true identity to my younger cousins. Mom explained the Santa thing sort of like this: "It’s fun to pretend there is a Santa Claus, but we are the ones that bring your presents." I never "believed" in Santa as a real person, but I sure believed in Christmas. I loved the decorated tree, the presents, the fun I had with my cousins and all the wonderful food my mom, aunts and grandmother would fix. Those are special times locked away forever in my memory.

Just thinking about all the scrumptious foods prepared at Christmas makes my mouth water. My aunt and mom were experts at making fluffy white divinity candy so sweet that one piece was all you could eat. Mother's pecan and coconut cream pies were a standard for the holidays. She baked a ham, yams, potato salad, baked beans, fruit salad, hot soft rolls and often, turkey and dressing, in spite of having just had it on Thanksgiving. There was always enough food to feed "Cox's Army" as my mom would say. It all came so naturally for her to make Christmas a joyous time to be with family.

The last Christmas we celebrated in my childhood home, was in 1992. Mom cooked her usual spread of Christmas food for all of us who gathered. We played games and laughed ourselves silly. However, mom was sick and would not be with us for the next Christmas. She passed away in May 1993 with cancer. That same year, my brothers and I learned that Daddy’s forgetfulness wasn’t just natural aging. He had Alzheimer’s disease. Mom and Dad's passing closed the book on my childhood. Even though I was an adult, as long as my parents were living, I felt that I was still a child.

Though I made attempts to continue my mom’s kind of Christmas with my brothers and sisters in law at our house, it never caught on. We all knew it was time to split up where we spent the holiday. I have spent many happy Christmas holidays since with my husband's family. Their traditions became mine. While there may not be a lively game of Forty-Two, there is sure to be a spirited conversation usually revolving around politics. Although, political talk isn't my idea of fun, singing with the Martins is an experience I've grown fond of.

Christmas 2007 will be at our house and I anticipate a wonderful day with my husband, our three sons, daughters in law, and two grandchildren. With Mom’s recipes, I can prepare some of the tastes from my past and honor her. Traditions are perhaps a past generation’s ideal and I am learning that it’s okay to let them go. Our kids will come with their energy and youthful joy to fill our house with laughter and fun. So, this year I’m dusting off my Christmas Spirit and embracing the present generation through our children while fondly remembering my parents. Hopefully, I’m learning that holidays don’t have to be a memorial for what we had in the past, but can be a celebration of what we have in today.

Christmas with the Guys (and Gals)

This is our youngest son, Ryan, and his Pekingese dog, Augustus. They are sporting the latest in Christmas fashion, the Rudolph Blinking Nose. I couldn't resist snapping a picture of those "reindeer".

Here it is two and a half weeks from Christmas Day and my tree is up, stockings are hung and decorations are set out around the house. Never did decorating for Christmas happen this early before I retired from teaching school. I not only have one tree up in our living room, but I even have another small 4 foot tree in the breakfast area. My grandson, Aidan was visiting with us Saturday. He and I had fun decorating the little tree with my old school ornaments. He was so patient with me as I fumbled around trying to find a short string of lights that worked.

This is the first Christmas since all three of my sons were married that "the schedule" is working out. You all are probably familiar with a "schedule" of some sort around the holidays. That is where the married kids have to share the holidays with their own families and the in-laws. Thanksgiving is spent with one spouse's family, then Christmas with the other side. The next year the schedule flip-flops. They will have Thanksgiving at the house where they had Christmas the previous year, and Christmas with the family they had Thanksgiving with last year. So, my boys have been trying to make that plan work for several years now and for one reason or another, it had not worked. This year the boys spent Thanksgiving with their in-laws and we get all of them here for Christmas Day. Needless to say, I'm thrilled to have our family together for this holiday.

Christmas Is Coming!

Christmas is Coming!
By Mary Lou Martin
11/27/07

Christmas is coming and I’ve got to get ready.
The house is a wreck, but I’m not complaining.
The carpets are dirty, and stuff all around,
But surely I’ll clean up before family’s in town.

So, starting right now, this very minute,

I’ll vacuum the floors and dust off the spinet.
Next, I’ll dress up the house for the season,
Make candies and spirited punch within reason.

The thing is I’m sitting here on the couch.
Thinking of cleaning could make me a grouch.
But, it won’t get me down; I’ll get right to the task,
And eagerly clean, carols make the time pass.

All the cleaning and cooking won’t get done overnight.
I’ll pull down the ornaments and Christmas tree light.
It’s quite a big chore I don’t want to quit,
To have my house perfect is a dream I’ll admit.

So, here I go, the task now has started,
Wash all the linens and clean off the carpet.
Put up the tree and string it with pearls,
Hang homemade stockings for my boys and girls.

What a sweet blessing for family to come.
Everyone talks and grandchildren run.
We eat and we laugh, play games and sing songs.
For me it’s a joyous time and no wrongs.

This year I won’t reminisce with regret,
Or sigh because of what I don’t get.
My delight is in watching the smiles and the oh’s,
As my kids unwrap gifts with green and red bows.

Children will shout, I’ll delight in their glee.
I just wish my folks could share it with me.
But now I’ll get ready, I don’t want to be late.
I’ve cleaning to do and cookies to bake.

Is It Christmas Yet?

A truly amazing thing happened this evening. The Martin holiday letter was written and it's not even December yet! Okay, it isn't really a letter. It's more of a quick overview of the high points from our year.

I must admit that I'm pretty impressed with myself. Normally, I might write a letter and it may or may not get mailed. Or, I give up and just sign my name to a traditional card. Then, there are those Christmases when a post card wasn't even sent.

Maybe its the Christmas decorations in the stores, or the cooler temps here in hot old Texas. Still it could just be that I'm excited because all 3 of our boys,their wives and the grandchildren will be here at the same time for Christmas this year...on Christmas Day. Of course,those two cute grandkids really make Christmas a lot of fun too.

No, I'm not going to post my holiday letter here. Christmas cards and holiday computer paper were made for snail-mail. The postal department even sells Christmas stamps just for the season. Besides, I love going to my mailbox and finding a hand addressed envelope with my name on it. So, I figure others might like that too.

Warning, if we are friends or family, chances are you'll receive a holiday note from me in that box that hangs outside somewhere near your house. Check it out, its an attachment anyone can open.

Enjoy the season!

Double-Nickels Day

Yesterday was Kim's 55th birthday. He looks great too, don't you think? That title up there is a term that I only became aware of when I turned 5-5 last August. (Yes, I'm older than my husband.) I've thought it was a clever way to describe that age ever since. We should come up with more of those sayings for birthday milestones like the 5th decade b-day or the half dollar and dime b-day. Okay, I didn't say they'd be great sayings, but it's a start.

Anyway, we had a big family bash last night for Kim. His parents, brother, sister and their spouses come over. Two of our 3 sons were here, a daughter in law and both of our grandchildren. There was even a big, white canine family member in attendance, much to our cat's chagrin. We had a fun, loud house of family talking all at once. My grandson, Aidan, would try to jump into the conversation by yelling that he had something to say. You really have to be fast to get a word in edgewise at a Martin function.

One of Kim's birthday presents from me was a photo DVD that chronicled the many facets of Kim Martin's life. So, early in the week I began perusing my iPhotos, Flickr pics, plus those that I could lift off of the internet on my son's photo page and the Baytown Little Theater website. Next, I began going through our family photographs. There are literally thousands of pictures. So, I had to know what sort of pic I was searching for. It was also fortunate that Kim's mom had given him some albums with pictures of his childhood. Now the video project included baby and adolescent Kim photos. Then, I spent long hours during the day Thursday scanning photographs and setting up the slideshow using iPhotos on my computer. With the addition of what I'd call Kim's signature song, Seventy-six Trombones from the musical The Music Man, as background music, I could finally burn the DVD. (Kim performed in the show as Prof. Harold Hill in high school and again at the BLT.) Pleased with the finished product, I was fairly certain that Kim would enjoy watching his life parade by on the screen for all of 12 minutes. However, it surprised me how much the rest of his family enjoyed it too. I'd not thought about how much they'd like reliving some of the earlier family moments on the DVD. It was a lot of time and effort putting together a video like that, but well worth the pay off in the end.

Here's to the next 50 years of music, love and good times. Happy Birthday, Kim.

The Daily Grind Smooths Out

Now retired, I can relax most mornings while sipping my decaf and sitting on the couch with my laptop. Admittedly, too much time is being spent on the internet, but it keeps me connected to people and the world. I've never been much of a newspaper junkie. I only watch TV news when the channel wasn't changed. However, should something major arise in the world, I'm glued to CNN or the weather channel. Of course, I don't really know when something happens unless the TV show I'm viewing is interrupted or I read it on the internet. But hey, at least I voted yesterday...before 7:00 p.m. too!

As I see it, my work hours have changed. No more shocking my body every morning at 6:00 a.m. in a cold shower and taking it out into broad daylight by 7:30 or earlier. I'm often out of bed by 7:30 anyway due to the fact that I don't sleep hard. Then, armed with decaf, I can check email, get the latest news, read blogs, and do some writing all in the privacy of my own living room while still in my gown. Less you begin to think that I'm becoming a slug, allow me to explain that most of my computer work is done before lunch. If I'm out of bed by 7:30, I am usually finished sitting with my laptop by 10:00...or so. After a much friendlier wake up, I'm ready to move, shower and get the day going. Now I can be the homemaker I've really wanted to be all of my married life. The laundry is done, the dishes out of the sink and dinners actually are cooked more evenings than before. Another plus is that I believe my husband is enjoying my retirement also. Now, he notices I'm more agreeable to going places with him and working on his theater productions.

One thing is for sure, I love being retired. Not only can I devote more time to activities I enjoy, my availability to my family has increased. Whether it's my husband calling on me to help him or my son and daughter in law suddenly in need of a baby sitter at the last minute; I'm usually here. It's a pleasure to be able to help my family. It feels so good to know I have the time to be there for them. Going on a weekend trip is so much better without book bags filled with work. Now my book bag is only packed with my iPod, magazines, a good book and my laptop.

Sometimes I feel guilty about indulging my new lifestyle with so much unscheduled activity. Then, I think about the last 33 years and all of the work that was crammed into each and every single day. I have come to the conclusion that I'm just making up for all the overtime put in as a mom, wife and public school teacher. There was no such thing as an 8 hour day. The days never ended except for the 6 to 7 hours that I slept. So, retirement is turning out to be "my passion" if I can call it that.

One of these days, I'll need to get out to earn some money. Of course, it'll only be part time after 10:00 in the morning, my cup of decaf and checking the internet for news. After all, I don't ever want to go back to "the daily grind."

Autumn's Eve

Okay, I made up that title/holiday. It sounds better than Halloween. I will say that even though I don't like Halloween, I enjoy this short season and mild temperatures. It seems that we just barely start enjoying autumn leaves, baked pumpkin bread (I'll get around to the baking soon) and a little spiked apple cider, then we have to start on Christmas.

The earth tones of orange, brown, red and green are so pretty even here in East Texas. We may not have as much changing of the colors as the folks up north, but I do enjoy the crunch of brown leaves under my feet as I walk. The squirrels are gathering in families as they unearth their buried acorns. I've never seen so many squirrels in one place as we have in this yard. Of course, it helps that we have several oak trees for them to enjoy. The autumn picture the squirrels and leaves make is very pleasing.

I actually put out fall decorations in my house this year. I hung my "Happy Fall Ya'll" sign on the front door. I don't care that my sons have made fun of that before, I like it. My tables have fall-colored cloths on them adding to the seasonal look. There is a cute toothy terra cotta Jack O' Lantern named Punk, alongside some other pumpkin likenesses glowing on the hearth. The house feels all cozy and warm with the pumpkin candles lit in the evening.

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and I'll be ready for it. The turkey and dressing, pumpkin bread (which will be baked by then) and all the other fine foods make for a family holiday that I really enjoy. Its a slow day and everyone seems to like sitting around while their food settles and watching football or perhaps getting up for a walk. In my husband's family, there is a traditional walk through the cemetery after Thanksgiving lunch. Sounds more of a Halloween tradition doesn't it? Oh well, its the togetherness that is important on that day, and not so much the traditions.

Today I baked sugar cookies in the shapes of pumpkins, ghosts and bats for my grandchildren. It may not be my favorite holiday, but going to their house this evening to see them dressed up in their Halloween costumes will be a treat for me. I also have a little holiday treat for each for them. I see stuff all the time to buy for my grandkids, but try not to indulge them too much. However, a treat on a special day from their Mama Lou can't be spoiling them. I say that it is better than a trick. At least this day is good for something and that is to see my Aidan and Regan. It's going to be fun, and I look forward to being with them this evening.

Whether you are treated or the one doing the treating, I hope you don't get tricked this Hallow's Eve...I mean...Autumn's Eve.

Home Decorating

This is a photo from the HGTV.com website. I love the painting on the brick wall and the black cubby-like shelves on that same wall. To decorate our house with such simplistic comfort is a dream of mine. I pour over design and home decorating magazines. The only channel I care to watch anymore is HGTV so I can see what other people are doing to make their home not only appealing to the eye, but functional.

If I could go back to college, it just might be in home design. Although, there surely must be some natural ability, it would make sense that a talent for decorating could be learned and cultivated. I believe, however, that I do have a creative bent toward the arts. It just needs some cultivating and self-motivation to bring it out. I have a love of music, color and theater; all of which are attributes of creative home design. A learned knowledge of how to create a cohesive palette of color and design in our home would be helpful in accomplishing my decorating goals.

Sometimes I think that it takes a lot of money to fund a designing itch. After watching a lot of HGTV and reading the design magazines, a lot is done with things the homeowner already has. Being able to change the way furniture, pictures, fabrics and colors were used in the past and initiate new uses or places for them in the house is all it takes.

That being said, sometimes I also see the designers chunk an old worn out sofa in exchange for a new one. The sofa in our den is a 5-piece sectional that I really never liked from the beginning and have experienced buyer's remorse ever since it was purchased from dear "Mattress Mac". When we bought it, the idea was that we had three growing boys that had been pretty rough on furniture. We were down to a piano stool and one heavy sofa in the living room and we were aching for more places to sit. The purchase was made while living in our previous, smaller house that really couldn't handle the giant-sized sectional either. However, my husband liked the large comfy recliners, sofa bed and pull-down table that made up the large one-piece living room set. I thought I liked it too until we got it home and I could see what a mammoth it really was. It has served us well over the years and given us an extra bed when the boys brought friends over, but there are no more little boys and it is time this mammoth became extinct.

We have never really had a lot of money to invest in furniture. There are some pieces in our house that we've had for most of our marriage and are still in modest condition. However, my taste and need for it has changed. The wood color, size and shape are not as functional anymore. At one time the trend for bedroom furniture was maple colored and heavy. Our heavy dresser with the big mirror standing on top and heavy chest of drawers just isn't practical in our bedroom. Our master bedroom is really too small for such large pieces. So, the furniture overpowers the room size. I'd love to get something more to scale with the proportions of the room to aid in the flow and feel of the space.

However, I realize I need to start inexpensive. The first step will be to paint walls. When we bought this house, every room was painted a different color. Designers say its good to add color and pop to a room. However, the colors were not of my choosing and not ones that I would have chosen. So, we had all of the walls throughout painted a neutral, new-house beige with white trim. It felt fresh, new and I liked it. Now, having lived here for five years, I am ready for that bland color to disappear. All the designers say that paint is the least expensive way to change and update a room. So, that is where I'll start. I'm thinking the trendy mossy green color on the walls of my formal living and dining rooms might look nice with dark wood furniture.

The house will be an ongoing project for my retirement years. Creative projects will be a lot of fun as I see and enjoy the end results. As I progress from one project to the next, I'll get better at redecorating. I will look forward to and enjoy the challenge of turning this house into a decorative, functional home. That is, with a little help from my friends at HGTV and most likely, also Lowe's. I'll let you know how it goes.

Closings and New Beginnings

The BLT-I (Baytown Little Theater the first) took a hit and sank last July, but the real heart of the theater, still beats strong through each person volunteering their time and talents to producing her plays. Our new space, the BLT-II, as it has been dubbed, will carry on the long tradition of dramatic theater in Baytown for as long as it is needed. The future is looking like a bright star for the Baytown Little Theater.

The Good Doctor closed to a receptive audience Saturday night. As our cast and crew were moving out, the church group meeting in that same space on Sunday mornings, was moving in. The 230 or so patrons that graced the sanctuary of the Presbyterian church building gave favorable critiques to the BLT production for which I assisted Kim's direction. In spite of all the hassles associated with sharing a facility, I really enjoyed the challenge of putting on the play. We had a great cast and crew to work with. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ll miss seeing them as much.

Today I’m left with costumes to dry clean then return to the University of Houston theater costume shop next week. There is also a small assortment of props to be returned to their rightful owners, not to mention some leftovers from the cast party on Friday night with which something must be done. The fact is, the play has ended and oddly enough, I’m ready for another one. Well, perhaps not right away, but definitely in the future.

Furthermore, the future of the Baytown Little Theater is definitely all the buzz right now. Excitement is building along with the theater's new digs in the middle of Baytown. Many of us working the late night set strike of The Good Doctor were locking up some of BLT’s properties in our new permanent/temporary theater, presently undergoing renovations. I have made several quick visits to the space over the past month to follow the progress of transforming 5000 square feet of space from a physical therapy clinic into a playhouse of theatrical renderings. Walls have been knocked out, risers constructed for seats and theatrical lighting of all kinds are being installed to illuminate the acting space. Yes, it is very exciting times for the Little Theater.

It is my perception that many of my thespian friends are getting as itchy as I am to start producing plays in our renovated space. The upcoming much anticipated move of costumes, properties, sets, tickets, make up and mirrors to Hugh Echols Drive, will truly be an opening we won’t want to miss. Though it's location has changed, the BLT will continue to bring award-winning theater to our community.

Secrets

Secrets are those things we keep hidden from other people because we are afraid of what those people might think about us if they knew..........

I found a blog that apparently has been around for a year or more and is the most read blog with Blogspot. It is called PostSecret. From what I can tell, the person that began the blog started this project by asking people to anonymously mail a homemade postcard to him with their secret written on it. He has received so many (which he posted to the blog) that now he has published his 4th book with their postcards and secrets. The secrets are a poignant commentary on people's everyday lives.

I watched a YouTube about the project and it was very intriguing to me. All people have secrets, or at least I believe most people do. I do. There are usually a safe few with whom we trust our secrets, but still something inside of us wishes everyone, not just our confidant, knew the real truth about who we are.

Here is a little secret about me. There was a time in my not so distant past that I wished I was Catholic so I could go to confession. It seemed like a good way to finally tell an unbiased person, who didn't know me, about all the sins I'd committed. The priest would absolve them, making them nonexistent and the burden of my past would be lifted.

In the church where I attend, anyone can confess sins by walking down front after the message of the preacher, while a song is sung. Then, one of the preachers or elders sits down with that person to hear their confession. Next, they announce to all who have assembled for that service, what was shared and a prayer is led on their behalf. The glitch for me comes with confessing to everyone in the sanctuary and not just one person who is sworn by God to secrecy. So, the Catholic confession seemed to me less open to ridicule by all who were present at that service.

Frank Warren is the author of the book "A Lifetime of Secrets", recently released on October 9, 2007. My plan is to buy the book and read it cover to cover. In some weird way, it makes me feel better about myself to know there are other people that have secrets like mine. Who knows, maybe one day I'll send Frank an anonymous postcard too, or perhaps visit a Catholic confessional.

"Now make confession to the Lord, the God of your fathers, and do his will." Ezra 10.11

Theater 101

Having survived the first week and slim crowds on opening weekend, The Good Doctor is doing quite well. Kim had to replace two actors the week the play opened with one of them starting right off on opening night and the other taking over his new role just last night on the first performance of our second weekend. Surprisingly, and with much relief, our replacement actors both preformed as if they had been rehearsing for a month instead of the one and two weeks they actually had. I was very proud of these two talented young people for coming in at the last minute and working hard to rescue our show.

Of course, for me, Ryan’s performance is wonderful, and like his grandfather said, it’s just too bad that he can’t make a living at acting. He probably could if he didn’t care so deeply for paying his bills. Ryan plays the part of the writer and narrator of the nine vignette type stories. His character is supposedly the playwright, Neil Simon or perhaps Russian storywriter, Anton Chekhov, the inspiration for Simon’s play. The writer is supposed to be writing the short stories he and the rest of the troupe is acting out throughout the evening. It is a most entertaining performance by Ryan and the rest of the cast.

This play has taught me a lot about putting a show together under different circumstances from which we were previously accustomed. Our beloved Little Theater was comfortable from the standpoint of having a moderate collection of props and costumes at our ready disposal. That is not to say that we didn’t have to construct or search for an appropriate prop or call on a seamstress to sew up a dress or suit every now and then. Though for the most part, our theater attic housed a treasure of stuff to browse through as if visiting a flea market. I missed the convenience of simply climbing the pull-down staircase to venture into the emporium likeness of our theater’s attic.

A lot of back and forth between the church-turned theater, our garage and the old theater set shop took place during the construction of our sets. Being a bit displaced, Kim and other cast members, cut and hammered wood for flats and platforms in our garage. We painted the completed products inside of the church fellowship hall working hard to keep paint off of the floors. I brought furniture pieces home to apply painted stencils and then went back to the theater set shop where I sweated in our Texas heat to apply stencils to our flats that were awaiting transport to the church. It is a relatively simple set, but nice.

The biggest challenge of all for working on this play was the sharing of the building with a religious group that was also renting the space. They were in the building first and we have tried to accommodate and respect their scheduled activities in the building by striking our set before each Wednesday and Sunday. This weekend is particularly difficult because we have a matinee on Sunday afternoon. This means that we not only strike after the performance Saturday night, we then have to return as soon as the church group has completed their Sunday morning services, to reset our stage for the matinee. Even though our set is not too difficult to put up and take down, it does take time and hands of several helpers to get the job done.

At the end of our run in another week, I just hope we won’t be forgotten. The Good Doctor has been a good play. It wasn’t a big musical and not near as many people have come to support us as did Titanic that took place right after the crash, but I think the ones that see it, will be glad they saw the first show of this 2007-2008 BLT season.

Just Hanging Out

Pink flamingos at the Fort Worth Zoo. They look so carefree.

For a retired person, I sure have been busy. The Good Doctor, a play by Neil Simon and directed by Kim, opened this past weekend. (Which, BTW, you should see if you are near Baytown. Ryan is such a good actor!)

Everyday last week I was running errands for the play, finishing sets and getting things completed for opening night. Kim and I had the cast and crew to our house for an opening night party that went on way into the morning with a small number of us sitting around our patio table talking about the play. I enjoy conversations after a play I've seen or worked on. Discussing the play, the performances of the actors and hearing the interesting viewpoints from others can be a lot of fun.

So, with the play underway, my days are not as busy. This morning I've been online writing and reading email, on the web reading blogs and taking it very slow and easy. I've made a couple of lunch dates this week and hope to do some volunteer work for a friend at her school library and perhaps tomorrow at our church.

A friend that has already retired once told me that when I retired I would have not trouble staying busy. She was right and I like this kind of busy. It's not near as stressful to me as teaching school always was.

Well, I've got to get up and get moving this morning. Don't want to be late for my lunch date.

ML's Update

(top) Rehearsal for "The Good Doctor". Zak, Mackey, Jessica, Joy, & Ryan.
(bottom) The Martins in Fort Worth at the Grey/Rose wedding. Kim, Amy, Ryan, ML, Kari, Aidan, Jason, & Regan.
It has certainly been a busy September. My cousin's son, Trevor, just married last Saturday. We drove up there Friday after Kim got off of work, to the rehearsal dinner. Jason and family left early Friday and were already in Ft. Worth as we were unfortunately delayed by Houston traffic getting out of town. Even though Kim and I were very late to the rehearsal dinner, so was the wedding party. So, we didn't miss a thing.

Then, on Saturday Kim and I joined Jason, Kari and the kids at the Ft. Worth Zoo. It was so much fun watching how excited Aidan would get at seeing the animals. A four year old is the perfect age for the zoo. He was very enthralled by it all. However, our little venture to the zoo made us all rush around to make it to the 5:00 wedding. Also, Ryan and Amy were speeding their way from Baytown to make it on time to the wedding.

Everyone made it to the ceremony in time. The wedding was beautiful. Courtney was a gorgeous bride and Trevor just beamed as he watched her come down the aisle. I was so glad that we could be there to celebrate this special day in our family. Trevor and Ryan are the same age with Trevor being 2 months older. It sure is weird to think that our youngest children are now married.

The reception was just a blast. Courtney's family spared no expense and threw a most exceptional party. However, I don't think that anyone in that whole place including the bride and groom had as much fun as our Aidan. He met the flower girl, Ashley, who is 2 years older than him. They danced and played the whole evening. By the time Aidan was going home, he was exhausted from dancing so hard at the wedding.

Sunday morning Kim and I had to rush back to Baytown. We are in our last week of rehearsals for the Baytown Little Theater's production of "The Good Doctor". It opens this Friday, September 28th and there is still so much to do. Kim is the director and I am trying my best to be his assistant. Ryan is playing the lead actor and we were all in a hurry to make it back in time for our 7:00 rehearsal which involved costumes and photos with the newspaper. This volunteer gig with the Little Theater has kept me pretty busy all month. We got a late start on the play due to the relocation of the theater after the car crashed through our building last July. Kim and I managed to rent the space of a nearby church building that is up for sale. Its been a trial though because we are sharing that space with a religious group that is meeting there on Sunday and Wednesday. That necessitates our breaking the set down at every rehearsal before their meeting days. What a huge hassle!

The show has had other problems too with a cast member telling us two weeks before we open that he can't perform the last 5 shows (out of 7) with us. So, a new person is frantically learning his lines. I earnestly hope he will know them in 1 1/2 weeks from now when he'll have to step into the part for the first time. The wonderful costumes I rented from University of Houston have not worked out very well. The men's pieces are not fitting like they were supposed to and I've had to track down costumes used by the BLT on our last show. Which was a challenge in itself since most of the things were at other people's houses and the theater's very packed storage unit here in town. Of course, now that we have another actor to costume that is no where near the same size as the original actor, that's a whole other matter. Fortunately, he was in the last BLT show, "Titanic, the Musical", which was set in about the same time period. So I told him to bring up all the costumes he wore for that show and we'd make them work.

So, I'm busy even though I'm retire. That's not bad, except all of this busy has been for no pay. After the play finishes, I'll get serious about finding a job to help our finances and give me something else to do.

Well, that's about as much as anyone would want to read about what I've been up to. Until next post...good bye. ML

Back in the Saddle Again

Another school year has begun and Kim is in yet another classroom. This time he is with the Deer Park High School, North Campus as the new theater arts teacher. He is working hard to help the new ninth grade students get to know each other.

Weeks before school resumed, Kim got busy planning a Theater Fish Camp to welcome the new ninth grade students to the theater program. He was pleased to learn that the upper class theater club officers were willing and eager to assist in the camp. So, on the last Saturday of their summer vacation, about 30 kids met with Kim at the school for a day of games, fun and getting to know each other. The picture here was taken that day as he observed students playing a theater game.

Kim is to be commended for his tenacity. Teaching theater in public school has not been as easy as directing plays with a community theater where the actors chose to be there. I realize I am slightly bias, but he is a talented actor, director and teacher. I know how hard it is to juggle lesson plans, district policies, student discipline and what is often much more than an 8 hour day. I am very proud of my husband for what he does with young teens and for his ability to hang in there when the going was tough.

Kim, as well as all the other teachers working in our public schools, need our prayers as they head into a new school year. Many, like Kim, are facing new students, new principals, new colleagues and a whole new teaching environment. If you ever thought that being the new kid at school was hard, try being the new teacher. There are many similarities.

Lord God, please be with those individuals that give hours of every day to helping young minds grow and learn. Take care of the teachers and administrators as they enter schools each day in places near and far to create a safe place for learning.
Through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

IT Is Most Uncalled For

"This has not been my day," said the 40-something year old woman standing beside me at Kroger's yesterday. Torrential rains had suddenly begun pouring and not wanting to be absolutely soaked, we stood watching out the windows. "Yeah, I know what you mean," was my reply. Even though I really was not having a bad day, but understood that she was lamenting over having to wait out this rain.

Prior to going to the grocery store that day, I had lunch with two of my best friends. We enjoyed a nice meal while visiting and talking about whatever popped out on the plate of conversation. Having time to meet girlfriends for lunch has been a rare luxury in the past. I was in a good mood. So, on this soggy day, I did not feel the rush to get on my way. I was content to watch the rain fall as others braved the showers to rush in and out of their cars.

While the woman and I waited she proceeded to tell me how she'd already gotten wet once today while frantically putting up the roof on her convertible. Apparently, the car got wet before she actually accomplished the task. Mental note to self, "rain can be a threat and a hazard for a convertible owner."

Having had bad days myself, I understand the frustrations that comes from running into an IT blocking our day. We start out the day driving almost mechanically doing what we do, checking our list, accomplishing tasks as if our feet were on gliders greased into smooth action. Checking our watches the time ticks on and we smile because we are accomplishing our tasks according to plan and in record time. Then, out of nowhere IT drops into our day like a boulder dropped in front of us. IT has sent our well-oiled machine screeching to an abrupt halt. We are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown off schedule like a derailed train. Apparently, on this day, the pouring rain was this woman's IT.

As I listened to the woman talk, I observed a young mother come in from the rain with a girl of about 10 years and four little ones perhaps under the ages of 3 or 4 years. It intrigued me to watch as she dealt with the IT of her mini-nursery under these damp conditions. While the girl, I assumed to be the mom's younger sister, waited with the children, the young woman pushed two rain soaked shopping carts with the big plastic Tonka-like cabs into the store's basket area where several of us were now waiting out the rain. The over sized carts allow the little children to "steer" their way through the market aisles while their moms shop. I noticed that the children were happy at the prospect of playing in these big toys.

The young mother had a roll of paper towels secured from store workers, and was wiping down the wet cars while four little sets of eyes watched and waited to be loaded into the toy vehicles. One lone little boy in the group had already claimed the red and yellow colored car with a roof for his carriage. However, when the girl, I took to be his aunt, suggested his legs might be too long for it and that he should ride in the roofless blue cart, tears began to streak his sweet brown face and cries of disappointment rang out from his mouth.

The young mother had already placed her two tiny twin girls in the red and yellow cab seats much to the little boy's dismay. His mom, continuing to wipe out the taller blue cart, calmly informed her son that IT was nothing to cry about and IT was most uncalled for. However, as she completed the drying of the taller blue car, she reasoned to the other girl, that the little girls would be up higher and closer to her if they rode in the taller blue cart. So, as the aunt lifted the twins into the blue cart, I saw the little boy was now smiling. I believe his mom realized that the baby sisters would not know the difference or care in which toy car they rode. So, the mother allowed her little son the privilege of "driving" what he thought to be the better of the two vehicles. It was then I realized the little boy's IT had been resolved and he was quickly pacified in his little world once again.

The rain finally let up a bit, so the woman and I decided we could make a break for our cars with minimal dampness incurred on ourselves. I wished her well for the remainder of her day and hurried off to my car under my small umbrella. As I awkwardly held the umbrella while loading wet grocery bags into my trunk, I didn't mind getting a little wet. I also realized that my days of juggling obligations of a job with children's schedules, outside activities and family demands were slowing down. My days of worrying over the potential ITS that tend to block my paths are numbered. Unscheduled time afforded to me by my resent retirement was already paying off. One more worry, one more IT to mar a perfectly good day was not going to be the threat it was in the past.

As a point of clarification and assurance, I am well aware of the occasional IT or two that will block my way as my days progress. However, hopefully, the next time a big IT stands blocking the road of my day, or yours, perhaps the young mother's words calmly spoken to her weeping child will come to mind, "IT is nothing to cry about and most uncalled for."

Hear the calmly spoken words of our Lord Jesus Christ and contemplate the unworthiness of our worries.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?--Matthew 6:27

Please, have a great day!

Depression and Anxiety

At some point in a person's life, he or she may experience some type of depression or anxiety. In a booklet entitled, The Bible Cure for Depression and Anxiety Don Colbert, M.D. quotes J. R. Davidson, as writing that "Depression is a global problem. One in six people around the world will suffer from major depression at some point during their lives. It has been estimated that by the year 2020 depression will be the greatest disability worldwide". Well, I don't know what the other five people were like, but only a short four years ago, I was depressed and needed some meds my doctor prescribed to make me happier.

As I perceive depression and anxiety, it appears to be more rampant in varying degrees than it has ever been before. We live in such a fast paced society where competitions to be "top dog" are high. Much is expected out of us as employees and for some of us living up to high expectations are daunting. We sometimes pull over to the side, to slow down and find some peace from the tasks our bosses and family want us to complete...yesterday. That is just one cause of stress in our lives. We go to work, work for our jobs, think about our jobs, miss time doing fun things because of our jobs and that can really get to us. Then when something unexpected happens like an prolonged illness, a death in the family, or any number of traumatic events over which we have no control happen; the super moms, dedicated dads and anxious kids have a difficult time coping with all the anxieties of life.

Well known Christian comedian and singer, Chonda Pierce, in the last year has gone public about the depression that almost ruined her career. For her, an extremely taxing road schedule, family, her past, and her present all collided while on vacation. A panic attack and the inability to overcome on her own, brought doctors to diagnose Chonda as clinically depressed. Fortunately, with counseling, loving family and friends, and some medication, she is back on the road with limited engagements and maintaining her mental balance.

It happens to the best of us and it happens to Christians as author and physician, Don Colbert, explains in the opening paragraphs of his booklet. He explains the function of specific vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements as natural alternatives to the more common and sometimes addictive synthetic antidepressants. His open talk about how depression and anxiety can make us physically sick and what we can do to combat these ailments is presented from his years of medical research.

Colbert is also an advocate of a healthy diet free of high-sugar foods, processed white flour foods, alcohol, cigarette smoke and caffeine. His advice to increase fruit, vegetables, and essential fatty acids while also drinking 2-3 quarts of water a day is advice I've read recently from many doctors. South Beach Diet guru, Arthur Agatston, M.D. would surely agree with Colbert's recommendations for a nutritional diet.

In addition to a healthy diet and taking essential vitamins and minerals, he promotes a routine of exercise. (I could have done without that one too.) Colbert writes, "Exercise is the absolute best natural antidepressant." The exercise a person does releases endorphins into the body and brain which elevates a person's mood. So there we have it, the walk around the block that we sweat over will make us a happy camper or employee, or parent, fill in the __________.

Along with that exercise we should be getting more restful sleep. It seems that during the night while we sleep our bodies are repairing damaged or worn tissues. Apparently our bodies need more time to do that repair. With more restful sleep we get "an improved immune function, improved mood, a more youthful appearance, improved stamina, improved mental function and improved memory". Okay, so now we know what happened to me and maybe you? It's probably time that we shut off the TV and GO TO BED!!

Another very essential part of Dr. Colbert's cure is written in the title of his book, "The Bible". Scriptures are printed throughout the pages of this little 74 paged booklet. They are God's words of promise that will help readers focus on the "healing power of God". There is a reason that Alcoholics Anonymous advocates that its members look to a "higher being" for a cure to their disease.

My analysis of this booklet, "The Bible Cure for Depression and Anxiety" is favorable. I found the information provided by Dr. Colbert to be useful. The emphasis given to The Word for Divine encouragement was an added bonus for me. If you too are one out of six people suffering from depression or anxiety, I would suggest that you pick up a copy of this small book. It is a start, however, as Dr. Colbert writes, "if your depression persists or deepens, consult a physician, pastor or Christian counselor before you take any steps. At times even the strongest ones among us need a helping hand to climb over an obstacle."

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid."
--John 14:27

Fear Not

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah 41:10

It is a sad life to live in fear. Fear of the unknown produces a continual state of worry. When one lives with thoughts of doom, "what if this feeling is cancer?", "where will I get a job?", "when will I ever pay these debts?" it is injurious not only to that person, but to those that live around or with that person.

When I worry or fear the worst, it can literally make me ill. My body feels sick to the point that my thoughts run wild thinking the worst has happened to me. My husband might not notice that I'm worried or feeling sick, because I don't want to talk about it. Or he might not be tuned in to what I'm going through because it is all in my head. However, he isn't getting the best from his wife when I am in this worrisome state. The dishes tend to sit in the sink longer, I don't get dressed as soon or get my day started before it is already time for lunch or later. My actions are in limbo not really knowing what to do next. If I allow myself to linger, my thoughts take over and solutions to my problems seem to be lost in a black hole somewhere in my brain.

I recently saw a book title about the Bible cure for depression and anxiety. The little book proposes that many of our illnesses come from allowing ourselves to stress and that we can do something about it with God's help. It also suggested that if we also do some of the things recommended by the doctor that wrote that book we can overcome our depressive thoughts. I will tell more about the book and author after I read the book. I found the concept intriguing and one that I've thought about before. Just some of my thinking this morning.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." Psalms 23: 4

Life is a Stage

Oh my gosh! I've wasted so much time the past several days trying to find parts to craft a candlestick telephone. I am Kim's assistant for the next Baytown Little Theater play after Titanic the Musical. Kim is directing the 1927 play, Front Page. It is the story of a 1920's news room and the writers that inhabit it. When the play was written it was a modern-day story, but today it is a period piece. That makes the play's properties list a challenge since so many of the pieces needed are not produced any longer. One such thing are candlestick telephones...five to six candlestick telephones to be exact. We have a wall telephone at the theater that I bought for another period play. We only have one candlestick telelphone like the picture here, that we bought on eBay. They don't go cheap and so to spend $150.-$200. of our show budget on telephones just isn't an option. I'm hoping that local community theaters will come to our aide.

Kim brought two books home from the library about making various types of props for plays. Each has a design for the candlestick telephone. I have worked on one of them using thread spools, an oval wooden craft plaque, a wooden dowel and other things to make it look right. It doesn't look right. Then I searched Lowe's today for pipe and lamp parts to make another version of the phone. Some of the parts were so unknown to me and I was reluctant to just ask for help. I figure that other people need help to find materials for home projects. It's hard to explain to a serious home repair person that I want PVC pipe to make a telephone.

When and if I find the 6 candlestick telephones, I'm not finished. We still need a human sized roll-top desk that a small man has to actually hide in it.

Ah, theater...what a joy! Seriously, what a joy. It really is a lot of fun being part of a theater.

Get a Job, Sha-na-na-na-na-na-...

Over 50, retired, white, female, still productive, desires to contribute to the financial status of current household. Will work part time or full time if hours are flexible. Skills include, but not confined to, writing composition, problem solving, managing people under age 10, ordering supplies, computer expertise in Word, Excel,and Power Point, can type at least 60 wpm, answer telephones, however will not do telemarketing, has experience in the theatrical arts industry, can operate an automobile, plan and implement a lesson on reading skills to 5-10 year olds, can use copy machine and unjam paper from all areas of mechanism with minimal frustration, has a desire to accomplish tasks at least 20-25 hours a week not including weekends.

I recently found a website called, Retirementjobs.com/ I thought I'd give it a try and I began filling in all the little spaces on the forms. After which I clicked "search" and got 0 hits. So I narrowed my search criteria and clicked "search" once again, still 0 hits. This went on for quite sometime until I put in something like "sales" and job title "sales representative". That got 60 hits, none of which I would want at this stage of my retired career.

I can see that this will be no easy task to change a 30 year profession in education. I would rather not have to teach children directly. That is to be translated as no substitute teaching and perhaps no tutoring. However, I won't rule out tutoring since my last school asked when I left if I'd be willing to come back as a TAKS tutor. Its a paying job, but not one that will pay enough to supplement the TRS paycheck.

"What do you want to do?" many friends have asked. I'm not sure. I wish I had a simple, positive answer for what I'd like to do, but I don't. I've thought about working in a teacher supply store selling all the stuff I used for 30 years in the classroom. I have been approached by a neighbor that works in a nearby school district about testing students for pre-AP courses and the TAKS which doesn't sound entirely bad, but still it is in education.

What I picture myself doing (in the perfect world) is a job at my computer with the occasional phone conference or face to face meeting with a client or customer and working my own hours, preferably in my houserobe and slippers. Or perhaps working in a small office situation where I do some computer work, a little phone calling, filing and working for a couple of bosses would be nice if the bosses were pleasant guys. (I say guys because I'm not too keen on working for a female. Please no hate mail.) But how to go about finding such jobs and ones that will supplement my pay enough to make a difference is going to be another thing altogether.

Any suggestions on what I can do for the next 10-15 years would be appreciated.

Drama at the Theater

Please, excuse our mess. Friday the 13th proved to be a very bad day for a woman that lost control of her vehicle at a traffic light more than 500 feet away from the east wall of the Baytown Little Theater. Apparently she had a medical emergency and never applied her brakes as she picked up speed and ran through the traffic light to a grassy field across the street. She dodged bushes and a tree as she continued across the vacant field and into the theater parking lot where she avoided collision with a line of parked cars and rammed through the east wall of the theater taking out everything in the car's path before resting center stage. As you see from this picture, it left quite a big hole in the side of the theater. You can view more photographs of this freak accident on Kim's blog. You will need to click on Touchtone's Globe to find the video and pictures.

The first play I saw at the Baytown Little Theater was Fiddler On the Roof in the summer of 1972 when Kim, his dad and brother performed in the summer musical. After college, Kim and I were married, moved back to Baytown, and continued the family tradition of performing and working with the BLT. Kim's first play to direct/perform in after our return was a spunky little comedy called, Born Yesterday which stared Judy Holliday in the 1950 film version. My involvement in theater began with the BLT 1984 summer musical, Music Man. Kim played Prof. Harold Hill and the whole Martin family, minus 3 year old Ryan, had parts in the play.

Ever since then the Martins have performed on stage, worked backstage, made costumes, worked box office, managed the house, directed plays, served on the board of directors and various committees to help the theater. The non-profit organization depends on its membership support and donations to produce quality plays. Many families, friends and acquaintances from all over the community have enjoyed and profited from their involvement with the Baytown Little Theater.

So, what will this recent accident do to the BLT? Well, as the saying goes, "the show must go on" and so it will. Our current production Titanic, the Musical was due to go up July 27 and run for 3 consecutive weekends through August 11. It will likely open a week or so later, but plans are being worked out as I type to find another venue, possibly a local school, in which to perform the play. The director and assistants were busy immediately following the accident, calling cast members and finding rehearsal space to continue preparations for the show.

As to the future of the theater's building? We aren't for sure, but given the age of the building and repairs needing to be made prior to the accident, it well may have to be demolished. If that happens, we will be sad to see the old structure go because of all the great memories we've shared from play rehearsals, performances and just general good times. However, we also look to the future with the knowledge that we will rebuild and make new memories in the new BLT for many generations to come. As the Unsinkable Molly Brown said, "We ain't down yet!"

Summer Reading

Many months ago, Kim handed me this Billy Crystal book with a comment that he thought I'd like it. I said, "Yeah, okay," and laid it on my dresser.

In past summers I have come to really enjoy a good read. I'm sure my parents are smiling about that in heaven because I was not a reader in the sense of picking up a book and reading it for pleasure. It took too much time and with my head in a book, I missed a lot that may have been going on around me. In fact it was with great pain and gnashing of teeth through first grade that I even learned to read at all. So, no, I wasn't a reader in that way. All that said, I would pick up a short novel as a junior high aged girl and read it providing there was nothing better to do. On those rare occasions if it was summer, I'd do my reading outside under the trees or laying in the middle of my bed with the blinds wide open. I suppose I wanted to make sure I didn't miss the house suddenly falling down.

Now, for some reason this summer it has been hard to settle down enough to read. Yes, I am retired, but summer is merely a mini-retirement for all teachers and I've not fully realized the state of retirement as of yet. Therefore, my lazying around the couch and computer all day long is really just an extension of my normal summer routine, retired or not. But I digress.

It is not for a lack of reading material that I can't get into a reading groove. I keep an accumulation of books to read on my cedar chest at the foot of my bed, a book or two on my nightstand, and 700 Sundays by Crystal on the dresser. The order and placement of the books around my room is sort of ranked as to when I expect to read them. Think of it like baseball players awaiting play in the game. My cedar chest is the bull pin from which I'll pluck my next read when the others are finished. The nightstand is the on deck circle and batter up for the current game. The dresser is where the rookies wait to be pulled up from the minor league. That is where the Billy Crystal book sat for months until one day on my way to the bathroom, I picked it up. Now, don't tell me you don't do that. I know you do. Even George Castanza did that when Seinfeld was in the bookstore with him. Nevertheless, the 700 Sundays has become a pretty good read and has earned a place on deck by my bed.

More on my latest summer read in a sequel post.

Thoughts to Ponder

We Are One in the Spirit

I read a lot of emails, blogs, website articles and sermons via the Internet. Some are very good, thought out writings and some are just peoples’ opinions. A lot of the writing as to what God wants or instructs us to be/do is being conveyed through this modern mode of communication. Contrary to what some may think, many people from all walks of life, believe in God and that he is active in our lives today.

There are scores of people who lean on God for the hope of a better tomorrow. Recently I have read chats on an Internet AA forum. The people who have been working the steps for a while believe there has to be a greater power than themselves on which to call on for help with their struggle against alcoholism. However, for many people this understanding of a higher power only comes after much trial and error. Some of the newcomers appear to struggle with that aspect of the program.

Daily devotional thoughts also make up part of what I read online. For example a typical devotional will have a quote from scripture and then the author’s thoughts are written so we can contemplate the morals being taught by God. Quite often I find that the devotionals fit in with what are in my own thoughts that day.

Some may think that the daily devotionals and the AA Forum chats would be totally different subject matters. However, I find many similarities in the two. For example both write about getting out of our own head thinking. A quote from a daily devotional I read recently says,

“It (our worship) requires a transformed mind and an obedient lifestyle to test and approve what God’s will is.”

And here is a quote from an AA member:

"AA tells me to think of the 24 hours ahead of me and
ask God to direct my thinking especially asking that
it be divorced of self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking
motives…. AA tells me that my thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when my thinking is cleared of wrong motives".

Did you catch that? “…when my thinking is cleared of wrong motives,” sounds a lot like a “transformed mind and obedient lifestyle” doesn’t it?

We can learn a lot from so many people and not just the ones at our church. The fact that I find people outside of my church-going family to be believers in God is encouragement to me. Although, I expect the folks I share a pew with on Sunday morning to be believers in God’s mercy and grace. However, it is as much, maybe more meaningful to me, to realize that I have comrades outside of my church family believing about God the way I do. Whether they are members of another church or the AA, our struggles are much the same. Until we succeed in transforming our thinking to be more like God, we must continually seek His help 24/7, 365 days and one day at a time.

"When My Love to Christ Grows Weak"

"When my love to Christ grows weak,
When for deeper faith I seek,
Then in thought I go to Thee,
Garden of Gethsemane!"
(Songs of Faith and Praise)

While Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he advised them to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41)

Truer words were never spoken. Our spirit wants to be right, but this mortal body and all of its entrapments of sin, are weak vessels. Be on the lookout, watch out because when we are tempted, no matter how much we have said we would not fall...we do. Weak vessels on the water will sink. Holes in the sides of the boat will not allow it to float. I am one such weak vessel and even though my spirit wants to be strong it is not.

But glory to God, Christ died for me. He comes to me in my dreams, in my prayers and through His Word saying, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Words of comfort for the times I stop watching and the heaviness of my eyes cause me to fall asleep. I fall asleep and sin overcomes me.

Dear God in heaven, "hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."
I pray this morning for strength. With my guard down, temptation came to me. Forgive me of my sins and give me strength to do your work on earth. As Paul said, "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." (Romans 7:18) Like the disciples in the Garden, I am tired, my eyelids are heavy and I stopped watching. I pray for deliverance from the temptations that play on my weak body. My desire is to be a servant for Jesus sake.
It is in Jesus' name I pray for my sins to be forgiven. Amen.

May we all be at peace today seeking God's will for us.