Monday Memory

Did I ever tell you about church shopping in college?

I read Melli's blog yesterday about church shopping. As I told her, I'm kind of back in that boat after 20+ years since DH is no longer a pastor. It took me back though to how we USED to do it....

When we were in college (in the early 80's), there were a bunch of us who went to church together. Sometimes it was the chapel on campus. Most of the time, though, we wanted more upbeat music and worship. We didn't all have cars, so we were often at the mercy of whoever was driving.

It was not uncommon for us to "let our fingers do the walking". This was a popular commercial for the Yellow Pages in the phone book back then that said, "Let your fingers do the walking, it's a snap!" So, one of us would open the yellow pages to "Churches" and we would close our eyes and point. Whatever our finger landed on...that's where we'd go. Believe me we found ourselves in some VERY interesting places with some very interesting people.

This is, however, how we found the church that we went to more often than not. It blessed us. We learned there. The worship was just what we wanted. The pastor was dynamic and could speak right into our hearts.

I've been tempted a couple of times this "church shopping" go around, to let my fingers do the walking. I have decided, though, that I am simply NOT that adventurous anymore!

No, THIS TIME, I surfed the Internet and talked to friends about churches to visit. At least that way, you can see more than print about a church...you can see pictures about it. You can also see more than one 3"X3" ad space.

We've gone to one church three different weeks now. It is one I found on the Internet, in a pretty "random" search. I really researched it there. We (DSs 3 and 4 and I) tried it once and enjoyed it. DH went for the first time yesterday. They are a young church (only three months old)...I do find myself thinking about a little tweak here or there that may make the experience better for visitors (I suppose cause DH now does this sort of thing for a living)...BUT for the most part, it "feels" right. Of course, I am having to get used to not listening to my DH preach (which I love)...but I DO learn from the pastor.

As I reflect on church shopping now and then, I suppose our fingers still "walk", it's just a bit different today than they did 20 years ago...instead of "walking across a yellow page", they "dance across a keyboard" and a whole world is waiting to be explored.

And, who knows? Maybe there IS still a BIT of that "Adventurer" of my past there somewhere!

Happy Monday, everyone!!

Monday Memory....

Did I ever tell you....

About my first date with my DH? I've been thinking about it in light of watching my DSs "do the dating thing". Here's my abridged version. Of course he wasn't my H then, he was just a guy I knew at school. We were very good friends and hung out together in a group of friends a lot.

My sorority was going to have a semi-formal just before the Christmas break. I really wanted him to go with me...but I was SO AFRAID to ask. My two friends, L and B, took matters into their own hands and asked him for me! Gotta' love friends like that.

I was looking at my college journal last night and here's what it says about "the big date"...

It's 1:00am and the "big date" is over. I don't know what to
think. He came over around 8:30 and we got to the dance around 9:00.
We stayed until midnight or so. It was nice ~~ we didn't dance, but we
still had fun.

We were coming home and we saw an accident. It was some guys from D's
section [in the dorm]. We stopped and went to check it out. One guy
needed stitches and he is a minor. D decided to go to school and call the
guy's parents and meet them at the hospital.

Needless to say, we rushed back here, and he didn't even say goodbye!
Oh well, I'm glad he's responsible, but I am worried about him. I wish he
weren't all alone.

Fast forward to today....I am pretty sure that event...set the tone for the rest of our 20 years! There have been dozens of times over the years when one of us has had to "rush somewhere" in the name of helping and have had to focus somewhere besides each other. The entry for the next day says--in part:

He called around 4:45pm and said he was sorry for not saying goodbye last
night, and that he had a really good time. I was touched!

Here's the part in the journal that I also think defined and continues to define our relationship:

Lord, I think tonight you've perfected our friendship. I thank you
for it and I receive it. I pray our friendship will continue to
grow.

I can honestly say that it is the friendship that we developed so long ago that has been our strong foundation. I am thankful that I went on that first date with my "best friend" and that we continued to seek each other even when we get distracted by other events.

I love that man!!

Monday Memories...become Tuesday's Treasures

I started this post Monday morning. I've come back to it three times. Now, it's past 9:30 and I'm thinking it may have morphed from Monday Memories to a Tuesday Treasure. Whenever you read it...have a great day.

I can't think of just ONE memory to share, so today I'm going to share my "Memory Tree". This is the tree that sits in our family room. It has all the kids' pictures and handmade decorations on it. It's FILLED with memories. Each year as I put it up, it takes me back to when they were younger and when I was younger.

Our living room tree (shared yesterday) has all burgundy and gold on it. It includes all of our Nativity ornaments (that are wood or folksy) and other collectible ornaments. I love decorating it and sitting in front of it.

The family room tree almost pulls me up close to it, though. I want to touch each ornament and think about who gave it to us, who made it, and/or what it means to me.

Another thing I love putting together, is my village. These pieces have been collected over the years. My favorite holiday movie is "It's a Wonderful Life". I have several houses and buildings that are replicas from the movie. A few years ago, I got a train station that is called "Lexington Station". I bought it because I LOVED the time we lived in Lexington, KY.

Things are coming together at my house...thank goodness!!

Happy Preparing!!

Monday Memories--Christmas Shopping

I love to shop for the holidays. I usually go the day right after Thanksgiving and hit all the stores. I also pick up stuff throughout the year. I keep a journal telling who I shop for each Christmas and what we get them. I have done this since 1999.

I want to tell about shopping early in our marriage though. Dh and I were living in Kentucky. We were definitely POOR seminary students with a young son. Christmas shopping for everyone was a challenge for me. I love to buy gifts...and knowing we couldn't really afford gifts, I was sad. That Thanksgiving was just dh, DS 1 and I at our home. I don't remember seeing the add, but Lazarus had an "After Thanksgiving Sale". That year, they were giving away free Lazzie Bears (just like the one in this picture) for EVERY purchase.

Now, let me explain. When we got there, we found out that for EVERY item you purchased, you could get a free Lazzie Bear. DH and I bought socks, underwear...anything cheap and necessary and we left Lazarus that year with 20---yes, that's right TWENTY Lazzie Bears! I am pretty sure we didn't just give them away that year...but perhaps the next two years after that. I've never seen a store do that before or since....it was a blessing to a poor seminary student an his teacher wife though..that I KNOW for sure.

I have since lost my Lazzie Bear. I found this picture on eBay and this memory just came flooding back. While I wouldn't go back to that time in our lives for anything, I am thankful for the ways that God provided for us as we struggled to "make it". This is just one of many many examples of blessings that we received during those lean times. And yes, I even think He cared enough to help us be able to give that Christmas....those cute fluffy, white lovable bears!!

Happy Monday Everyone!!

Thanksgiving Memories....

Since I'm Counting My Blessings this week, AND it's Monday Memory time, I thought I'd share some Thanksgiving Memories with you.

As a child, I remember traveling to Georgia a few times on Thanksgiving to visit my Grandparents. We usually had some other extended family there...Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. It was always cooler there than it was in Florida. I loved the "crispness" of all of it. The day was always filled with parades, food and football (both indoors and outdoors).

I can picture Grandpa sitting in "his chair" right next to the sliding glass door. He was always ready to let a kid or the dog in or out. He'd play "Ladies go pace, pace, pace" (or as he said it, "paize, paize, paize") with the youngest children in the room....or he'd "whisper" in your ear...which meant a great deal of laughter was coming. I miss him so much.

As we grew older, we celebrated in Florida more often and Grandma and Grandpa would come down here. The day was always the same though...the same food, the same parades, the same football...and the SAME FUN!!

I still remember the first year DH and I were married. We traveled to Georgia for Thanksgiving. I was a couple months pregnant and didn't feel good. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me...and probably HORMONE H#!! for my DH. Thank goodness he didn't just turn around and "run"...instead he loved me as he always has...he put up with the rollercoaster and was ever-patient with my emotions. Now I look back and laugh at that year...trying to be the perfect "just married/just pregnant" couple...who were we (OK who was I) trying to kid?????

We have traveled to Tennessee twice in the past decade or so for Thanksgiving. This is always fun as it puts a whole new "spin" on the holiday. We again were able to meet with our extended families and enjoy the crispness and delights of the holiday together.

I have "hosted" Thanksgiving in my own home several times in the past few years as well. I enjoy the preparation...I enjoy the fullness of the house...the love and joy that permeates every crevice as we converge on the holiday. It's a holiday that really has no expectations other than to enjoy (and be thankful for) those you love and the blessings you have.

For us, there are many....and those make the BEST MEMORIES!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK, EVERYONE!!

Monday Memory

I was trying to think of a good memory to share. Then I went to Lazy Daisy's place last night and read her memory of a church nursery nightmare. It reminded me of some of the funny stories I have had in church nurseries and Sunday School with my own kids. So.......

Did I ever tell you about the time my DS 2 fired his Sunday School teacher?

DH and I had just been appointed to a new church. We had two young sons at the time (ages 5 and almost 4). The almost-4-year-old went to Sunday School one week not long after we arrived at this church. The teacher came up to DH and I after church and said, "I need to talk to you about M." This always made me cringe because he was a bit strong-willed as a toddler. She continued, "He got upset with me in class today." I still can't remember exactly WHAT he was upset about...but it really doesn't matter. She said, "He looked at me and said, 'My Dad's the boss of this church and he's going to fire you!'"

Now you or I might have told a young mother this story with a smile. It IS kind of funny, if you think about it. She wasn't happy though. She was a bit older and really seemed to be from the "children were to be seen and not heard" era. OK, maybe she wasn't quite that bad...but it seemed like it to me.

The young pastor's wife turned beet red and pictured the next Staff Parish meeting where they decided that DH just wasn't a good "fit" for this place! It didn't happen (thank goodness).

Did I Ever Tell You About....

How I spent my weekly allowance?

When I was young, we lived in a neighborhood that was quiet. It was one of those places that you could walk or ride your bike around and no one was going to worry that you'd be taken. There were many many kids in our neighborhood. At the edge of it was a small "mall". Back then the mall had a few stores and just meant there was an indoor corridor. The "anchor store" at this little tiny mall was Zayer's. Now for those of you who have never heard of Zayer's, it was the precursor to Walmart and Target...kind of the KMart calliber.

Every Saturday, I'd get a dollar from my Mom. We'd hop on our bikes and ride up to Zayer's. The front wall was lined with 45 records. Again, for those of you too young to remember, this did not mean that there were 45 (as in the count) records but records that played at 45 RPM's (rotations per minute) on a record player. They cost 49 cents. Every Saturday, my friends and I would buy a 45 and bring it home and play it again and again and again on a small (non-stereo) record player. I remember buying The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Locomotion, Everything I Own (by Bread), Little Willy, Seasons in the Sun, and Crocodile Rock.

After we had our records, my friends and I would practice singing and dancing to them and plan neighborhood variety shows. It was great fun. Those were certainly simpler times....that make me smile even now!

Have a GREAT week!!

Monday Memory

Did I ever tell you about the time(s)....

We'd go to the lake? Every year when I was about 5 - 7 years old, we would go out to the "Lake" for extended visits with friends. I don't know what lake it was. I know it was (is) somewhere in Florida (near the Tampa Bay Area). But, if I wanted to find it today, I couldn't. I also remember that it seemed to take us forever to get out there and now it's only about a 25 - 30 minute drive from my childhood home.

The Thompson's owned the property. We would go out there with three or four other families and all their children. I think there were about 10 - 15 kids and 8 - 10 adults. es. The Moms (all stay at home) would take us out during the week and then the Dads would join us on the weekends after work.

The property housed a trailer. I can't remember if it was double wide or not, but I know we crammed in there for sleeping purposMost of our days at the lake were spent swimming and fishing, though.

We used to build sand castles called "dribble castles". We would dribble wet sand on our masterpieces for hours until we had a work of art.

We fished for bream using bread or hotdogs for bait. We scooped up minnows into cups and determined we would take them home to put into our own aquariums (I don't think this ever happened).

We swam and swam. There was a floating dock and a rope swing near the shore. We would play "King of the Mountain" on the floating dock. Everyone would stand on the dock and try to not get knocked off. The last person standing was the King of the Mountain.

One of the Dad's, Mike, who was a prankster loved to go "get" a creature from the bottom of the lake and bring "her" up to scare us. He would go to the bottom, cover his entire head with seaweed and grass from the bottom then come up and talk in a funny voice. I think I was scared of this at first, but soon came to LOVE "her" visits!

I remember eating my first pimento cheese sandwich there and okra (not necessarily at the same meal). I didn't really like either of them. I also remember waiting VERY impatiently after every meal the "required" 15 minutes so we wouldn't get an "upset stomach" from swimming. I don't think I have ever made my children do this, but we sure had to. It was painstaking and long.

I don't know why we don't have any pictures from these visits. There were so many of them, and to my knowledge, none are recorded in photos. I can still see it though. I can picture the shore where we played. I can almost smell the fresh water. I can hear the laughter and giggles of children playing for hours upon end (with no TV or game system)and adults who were genuine friends and enjoyed just sitting and gabbing with each other.

In the words of an old song...."Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end..."

Monday Memory

Since I pretty much gave you all my weekend window as a play by play, I have decided to do a Monday Memory for my blog today. In honor of going back to school this week (for teachers) and next (for students), I thought I'd do a memory of my own school days.

Did I Ever Tell You About My Elementary School Teachers?

I attended a small school in Tampa. The school, Riverhills, was a neighborhood school with VERY few students bussed in. I started there as a first grader (no mandatory K back then) in 1970. I went there all the way through Elementary until I was bussed to the sixth grade center.

I remember all my teachers. I'd love you to meet them:

1st Grade: Mrs. Hudson was my teacher. I loved her! I learned to read in her room. I remember our textbook had a character named "Mark" in it. I loved the story about "Mark in the park after dark." Do you think I learned phonics?

The special thing about Mrs. Hudson is that she also let us read "real" books. We got to read Dr. Seuss books to partners. The person who read the most books got a prize at the end of the year. I won! I still have the little "Bookmouse" that she gave me. It was a prized posession!!

2nd Grade: Mrs. Wadsworth came along early in the school year as the original teacher had to leave. She, too, was such a great teacher. I remember doing my first book report in there on Dr. Seuss's McElligot's Pool. That year, I had an intern: Mrs. Beverly Lewis. Oddly enough, I would teach with Beverly many years later!

3rd Grade: We were in a pod during this year and "moved classes". The teachers in the pod were: Mrs. Alonso, Mrs. Woodruff, and Mrs. Hunter. I had Mrs. Hunter most of the time. I went to reading with Mrs. Woodruff. She loved to do extracurricular things with us. I remember eating "Japanese style" with kimonos and all...and taking a trip for Tacos after reading about Mexico. We also made 8mm movies with her. It was great fun.

4th Grade: Mrs. Brewer was my homeroom teacher. She loved to say funny little poems like this: Itty bitty fly upon the wall, Him got no friends at all, Him got no one to comb his hair, Him don't care, him got no hair!" I don't know why I remember that! I also went to Mrs. Almand for reading during that year. I would later go to high school with her daughter. Mrs. Almand was my language arts teacher. I made my first diorama in her class for the book, "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell. I also remember Mrs. Brewer reading "Old Yeller" to us and all of us just crying!

5th Grade: I had Mrs. Pate. She had a reputation for being a tough teacher. And she was. But, she also had a soft side. I remember doing state reports that year and having to make floats representing the state. I also remember cooking foods from "around the world" as part of social studies.

Riverhills was a very special place. The teachers genuinely seemed to like their jobs and kids. They weren't under the same pressures we are today as far as teaching and learning goes. But the common thread that makes good teachers has not changed...they must be passionate and love kids!

And that, my friends, is MY Monday Memory!!

Monday Memory

I have been traveling with DSs 3 and 4 today. We are on our way to Ohio. Tonight we stopped in Knoxville, TN. I have told you before that I am a music fanatic. I love most of it and really have to carefully plan music to bring on the trip. Believe it or not, some of the music that I like to bring is nostalgic in that it is the very same "stuff" that I had to travel with as a child...before I truly appreciated it.

Today, while traveling up I-75, I was going back in my mind. I was wondering exactly how many times I have made that journey. I think I can safely say dozens. I have done it with my Mom and brother, Dad and family, DH and I alone, DH and kids, and Some configuration of my own children and me. I have done it at least four times in the last 12 months.

And while I know flying is faster....I LOVE certain "touchpoints" on this journey. The music is one. Some of the "music from my past" that I have listened to today included:

* Jim Croce (I just realized today that the song "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" says, "You don't spit into the wind..." and not "You don't speed into the wind.") Not bad for listening to it for 30+ years!!

* The Statler Brothers (I know some of you are blown away by this). I love the songs "Countin Flowers on the Wall" and "Susan When She Tried". Today I realized just how "obsolete" some of their songs are as they recount "heroes" from the first half of last century...and talk about fads and trends that I have only "heard" about and for which I have no schema of my own.

* George Jones and Tammy Wynette...I just got this one. It's one of those that we "had" to listen to when we traveled. I thought I'd enjoy memory lane a bit more...but found myself forwarding this one quite a bit.

* Peter Paul and Mary...now we didn't listen to this in the car (that I am aware of) when I was a child....but my kids have grown up on this CD and I love listening to it and singing along in the car...I even shared with DS 3 today that Puff the Magic Dragon used to make me very sad because at the end he "slips into his cave"....

* Journey....another one that would have NEVER played on our trips...but I LOVE it anyway. My favorite?? "Lights" and "Open Arms."

* Cher...her greatest hits. We didn't really listen to this on our roadtrips...but I do remember getting to our destinations and singing her songs with my cousins.

* Songs from the Loft (Amy Grant)...this is one that DH and I listened to in the car and enjoyed with the boys when they were younger. It's always a joy to bring it back out.

I am sure there are some I forgot...afterall we drove more than 600 miles today.

On the menu tomorrow...

* Ray Stevens...gotta love "The Streak" and "Mississippi Squirrel Revival".

* Donny Osmond...again my addition to the family trip music...he sings broadway and we love it.

* Love Songs and Inspiration....one of my favorites as it makes me sappy and think about DH.

Well...that gives you a bit of an uppdate on the Here and Now and the There and Then....

Monday, Monday!

It's Monday and I am not going to do a weekend window since you've been peeking in my window all weekend anyway!!

I thought I'd do a Monday Memory....

Since Graduation has been on our minds this weekend, I thought I'd tell about my own high school graduation.

I graduated in 1982. I was a member of a class of 648 students (actually, I was #123 of the 648). The day I graduated, I got a name plate necklace. These were really popular at the time. The necklace had my name written in gold script on it. I also got my first pair of diamond earrings from my Dad. We graduated in the Sun Dome at USF...so the place was packed. There were no limits on the number of people who could attend with you. I know in addition to my immediate family, both my Grandparents, and one or two Aunts and Uncles were there.

I don't remember speeches. I don't remember the details of the ceremony. We came back to my house, where more family and friends gathered for an open house celebration at our house. I received many special gifts that prepared me to leave for college in August. More than the gifts, though, was that feeling of love and support that was woven throughout the day.

I know we cannot relive our lives through our children, but it was my prayer all weekend that DS 1 would feel the same at his graduation: supported and loved. I think the mission was accomplished.

Monday Memory

Since my weekend was pretty much already posted on my blog, I decided to share a memory of sorts. I found this Evolution of Dance on another blog. I figure since I lived through most of these dance crazes, I would pass it along. It truly is funny.

And just so I can be true to the whole Monday Memory thing....

Did I ever tell you about the recitals we used to do when I was a kid? We would all bring old costumes from ballet and tap classes...choose music...and put on shows for hours! The music we chose was usually found on our parents' old LPs (those are vinyl records for those of you who don't remember them). I remember dancing to "Hang on Sloopy" and "Leader of the Pack" and "Bye Bye Blackbird" probably HUNDREDS of times. I also remember "I Got You Babe" and "Dark Lady" by Sonny and Cher (well Dark Lady was only by Cher).

Personally, I think it was more fun than video games and computers.

Monday Memory

Many of the blogs I read include a Monday Memory. There's evidently a code, but when I click on the link for the code, it says "bad URL". So I thought....hey, you can do a "Monday Memory" without the cute graphics....drumroll please....Here's MY FIRST MONDAY MEMORY!


Did I ever tell you when I learned the phrase: "Stay RIGHT There!"

I was almost four years old and living in Ohio with my Mom and Dad. Mom and I were going to go get Dad from work. He worked at GTE Data Services. The year was 1968 and it was the winter. I don't remember snow on the ground, but I do remember being bundled. I know there was at least ice out there...but I am getting ahead of myself.

Mom brought me out to the stoop...we don't call them that in Florida....but it's the steps and the landing that lead outside a door of your home. Ours was a small concrete landing with about three steps down to the ground. I don't know why, but Mom said, "STAY RIGHT THERE!" and she went on to the car and was going to come back up and help me.

I suppose even at this young age, I was a bit stubborn...OK a lot stubborn. I had an "I-can-do-it-myself-thank-you-very-much" attitude. And while she was turned around doing whatever she was doing, I took a step. That step was NOT a good decision. I split open the back of my head and had to go to the hospital to get stitches!

I still remember screaming. I still remember the feel of that hospital. It was kind of like being surrounded by terrazo floors, stainless steel, and lights. I remember there being a doctor and a nurse in there. I also remember my Dad meeting us over there at the hospital...luckily, his office was right in front of it.

I am sure that was the first of many times I didn't heed the words, "Stay right there"! Instead, I would set out to do whatever it was on my own.

Tonight, while in Target with ds 4, I realized that I have passed this same gene on to him. He insists on pushing the cart. I needed to get something and he was ahead of me...rather than having him back up the cart in the midst of people and displays, I said, "Stay right there!" He didn't. He insisted on turning around and following me. Luckily, his choice to move didn't cause him pain....but I am certain this may not always be true.

Then I thought to myself...I wonder how many times God has wanted me to "Stay"...."Rest"...."Stop"...."Wait"....and I have said, "No-thank-you-I-can-do-it-myself!" And even more than that, I wonder how many emotional falls down the stoop I could have avoided if I simply would have said, "OK"!