Another precious baby girl. This one we did not plan. When she asks me later in life if she was a mistake, I say, no you were a wonderful surprise. And she was....Aunt Liz and Uncle Donnie come to visit and Uncle Donnie takes her in his arms and sings O Susanna as only Uncle Donnie can. Grandma insists that she have a new dress for her baptism, and pays for the lunch we have at the church afterward. She is her father's "Lily", all innocence. Our second daughter is most welcome. We now have the "millionaire's family" and we feel most blessed.
At several weeks of age, Daddy puts her into a high chair, laughing at the way she droops. Then, all of a sudden - Oh No!!! - she slips out from under the tray onto the floor. Awful! Horrible! I phone my pediatrician and ask her what to do...Bring her in, just to check that she has not fractured her skull. No, God, please. She is placed on the table to be x-rayed. Right beside her is her Raggedy Ann doll that Grandma has bought her. It is her chief comfort. She looks at the oversized eyes and gurgles and goos. Thank-you, Raggedy! And, wonderful news, she is fine...
When Susanna is seven months old, we move to a larger home. There, she is adopted by Rachel, one of the children's friends. Her first steps are taken into a delighted Rachel's arms...She grows into a dreamy and imaginative little girl. Her perspective on things is always fresh and unique...Her self-expression is delightful....Mommy, when you do that, you hurt my failings...I don't believe that Bible story. No one could sneeze seven times....You funny little Susanna!
Off she goes to school and becomes part of the smart kids' crowd...Such wonderful friends - Emily, Deanna, Jentine...and when a dark side begins to evidence itself in her social circle, she sees it and identifies it immediately. She sees things with a frightening clarity, and always calls a spade a spade. Take me or leave me. This is who I am.
In adolescence she is torn. Who am I? Am I a romantic, or am I the girl who sees it like it is and tells it like it is? And for a time she is torn. What? Who? A trip to L'Abri compounds the problem...May the ghost of Francis Schaeffer haunt you all!...And there are a few rough years. But God works. And a wonderful young man comes into her life. They break our hearts by moving to New York. But God knows what is best.
And Susanna becomes the young woman that now richly blesses others. She loves many, listening, compassionating and offering solid advice. She thinks and ponders and writes. She continues to see with that unwavering eye, but there is rich grace and mercy in her responses. She loves her Saviour, her husband and her children with all her heart. Susanna, I love you and am proud that you are my daughter.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
THE Catch
I realize I am several decades behind in being excited about this ,but...While I was at Tom and Jeannette's, Timmy wanted to look through some baseball books with me, so we decided on one recounting greatest moments in World Series games. The last entry was the most famous - that is, Willie May's CATCH. I had never heard of it before...A fielder who sees a baseball being slammed, turns his back to the ball and home plate, runs with all his might toward the back wall of the stadium, and -WITHOUT EVER TURNING AROUND-sticks up his glove and catches the ball as it comes from behind...What blows my mind is that, from the moment he saw the initial trajectory, he KNEW where, in that vast field, the ball was going to land!!!And when!!! Amazing!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Odds and Ends
I had an interesting talk with Anna last week while visiting at their place. Her closest friend had been told she could not play with her for a week as Anna had been so vocal about her faith with this little girl. I asked, Does that hurt your feelings, Anna?....Yes....People don't like to hear about God, Anna. He tells them about their sin and they don't want to believe they are sinners. It makes them angry....Well, if they are angry, then they are sinning....Out of the mouths of babes.
Randy Nabors, the pastor of New City, preached on legalism last week. In doing so, he touched briefly on the nature of the Sabbath and Sabbath Day observance. He feels the basic principle behind the Sabbath is "justice" - that God's primary purpose in instituting the day was to see that people were not worked beyond what is "just". I certainly can agree that it was God's merciful provision to protect people from both oppressors and even their own desires to work endlessly, but still feel it is, positively, to promote rest....The Lord's Day is the day to take time to contemplate the realities behind day to day existence. I have never appreciated that fact the way I do now, with our present way of life. It is a spiritual rest, restoring grandeur and dignity to ordinariness, as our minds are renewed.
Getting back to what Randy said, though, I do appreciate his perspective. He is not liberal, theologically, nor am I - obviously...But I can see why so many professing Christians who become involved with the poor do go in liberal direction politically (then can translate into theological liberalism, I guess)...It interested me greatly to read that Schaeffer, after one summer working in a factory, was tempted to become a labor organizer...And so on to David and Ellen. As you know, he was, entirely illegitimately, denied unemployment after paying into it for eight years. Simply would not give it to him, end of story. Then there was the problem of his identity theft - different illegals using his social security number, so he has paid taxes for several years for different people, eventually had his own wages garnished to begin to pay these back taxes. A year later,, after submitting all proper documents to the IRS, he has not received a cent back - for taxes paid for others, or for the wages unjustly taken from him. Last week, he received a letter from the state saying they would not allow his case to proceed unless he can provide them with proof of criminal conviction in his case, including names of the perpetrators...Sure...They have disappeared into the illegal immigrant netherworld; no one is interested in pursuing them. In other words, he will never see that money, either. Their own government is systematically destroying them.
Have been reading David McCullough's book on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge - liberated it from your order, Tim...He outlines there what he did, as well, in his book on Truman - that each city was - presumably still is - run by crime "bosses", who absolutely control policy in that area. Most important areas seem to be public projects - can control contracts, expenditures - always delaying progress, inflating costs to scoop off myriads of dollars. One Brooklyn building, City Hall I believe it was, began with a projected cost of one-quarter million - ended up being thirteen million...Democrats were worse than Republicans...Interesting that, even now, I don't think there is a major city run by Republicans...
On a personal note, continue to pray that I will sleep. I am one tired Mama!
Randy Nabors, the pastor of New City, preached on legalism last week. In doing so, he touched briefly on the nature of the Sabbath and Sabbath Day observance. He feels the basic principle behind the Sabbath is "justice" - that God's primary purpose in instituting the day was to see that people were not worked beyond what is "just". I certainly can agree that it was God's merciful provision to protect people from both oppressors and even their own desires to work endlessly, but still feel it is, positively, to promote rest....The Lord's Day is the day to take time to contemplate the realities behind day to day existence. I have never appreciated that fact the way I do now, with our present way of life. It is a spiritual rest, restoring grandeur and dignity to ordinariness, as our minds are renewed.
Getting back to what Randy said, though, I do appreciate his perspective. He is not liberal, theologically, nor am I - obviously...But I can see why so many professing Christians who become involved with the poor do go in liberal direction politically (then can translate into theological liberalism, I guess)...It interested me greatly to read that Schaeffer, after one summer working in a factory, was tempted to become a labor organizer...And so on to David and Ellen. As you know, he was, entirely illegitimately, denied unemployment after paying into it for eight years. Simply would not give it to him, end of story. Then there was the problem of his identity theft - different illegals using his social security number, so he has paid taxes for several years for different people, eventually had his own wages garnished to begin to pay these back taxes. A year later,, after submitting all proper documents to the IRS, he has not received a cent back - for taxes paid for others, or for the wages unjustly taken from him. Last week, he received a letter from the state saying they would not allow his case to proceed unless he can provide them with proof of criminal conviction in his case, including names of the perpetrators...Sure...They have disappeared into the illegal immigrant netherworld; no one is interested in pursuing them. In other words, he will never see that money, either. Their own government is systematically destroying them.
Have been reading David McCullough's book on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge - liberated it from your order, Tim...He outlines there what he did, as well, in his book on Truman - that each city was - presumably still is - run by crime "bosses", who absolutely control policy in that area. Most important areas seem to be public projects - can control contracts, expenditures - always delaying progress, inflating costs to scoop off myriads of dollars. One Brooklyn building, City Hall I believe it was, began with a projected cost of one-quarter million - ended up being thirteen million...Democrats were worse than Republicans...Interesting that, even now, I don't think there is a major city run by Republicans...
On a personal note, continue to pray that I will sleep. I am one tired Mama!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Today
Last night, unfortunately, was in keeping with my recent sleep-pattern....ie.next to nothing. However, I am determined to become more interventionist and try to control this thing! A couple of nights ago, about 2AM, I ordered an Amazon book on insomnia - wondered as I did so, how many are ordered in desperation that time of the morning...In any case, I pulled myself out of bed at 6AM , got dressed,then phoned both of our senators at their various offices to protest the bailout plan..."I am shocked and appalled" etc...! For what that is worth! I must say the staffers sounded a little shell-shocked - understandable with sentiment of populace being roughly 95% opposed!
I then dragged Dad out for a long walk in the country. We went several miles in truly beautiful countryside - were passed by cyclists, a John Deere tractor or two, and not too much else. The vistas are lovely, but my favorite part of the walk is when we come to a field where several horned cattle are pastured. The bull is always close to the road and eyes us questioningly as we trot by...Every time I see him, I feel we have gone back in time...(Cows actually are - or should be- horned creatures, and were, I imagine, until fairly recently)...
Back home and made several loaves of bread - something I have been doing recently after many years of neglect. Can't be beat and costs perhaps 75 cents per loaf...
As I work I am always aware of what is going on outside. Across the street, in an empty lot, carnival workers are setting up a midway for this weekend's fall festival. It is interesting to see this little slice of life - men who travel with the fair, essentially North American gypsies. All is now set to go, so where there is normally dead space all will be full of life and energy for three days. Fun to watch, from our front row seat vantage point! My question now is, shall I let cars park on our side lawn for $5 a piece....would be easy money if I am willing to stick around!
And so the evening has come. I will tidy up, perhaps watch an episode of a British drama - or perhaps not!- and try to be in bed by ten, at the latest. May I not be woken by Mary Mental tomorrow!
I then dragged Dad out for a long walk in the country. We went several miles in truly beautiful countryside - were passed by cyclists, a John Deere tractor or two, and not too much else. The vistas are lovely, but my favorite part of the walk is when we come to a field where several horned cattle are pastured. The bull is always close to the road and eyes us questioningly as we trot by...Every time I see him, I feel we have gone back in time...(Cows actually are - or should be- horned creatures, and were, I imagine, until fairly recently)...
Back home and made several loaves of bread - something I have been doing recently after many years of neglect. Can't be beat and costs perhaps 75 cents per loaf...
As I work I am always aware of what is going on outside. Across the street, in an empty lot, carnival workers are setting up a midway for this weekend's fall festival. It is interesting to see this little slice of life - men who travel with the fair, essentially North American gypsies. All is now set to go, so where there is normally dead space all will be full of life and energy for three days. Fun to watch, from our front row seat vantage point! My question now is, shall I let cars park on our side lawn for $5 a piece....would be easy money if I am willing to stick around!
And so the evening has come. I will tidy up, perhaps watch an episode of a British drama - or perhaps not!- and try to be in bed by ten, at the latest. May I not be woken by Mary Mental tomorrow!
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