One Two Three

Do you guys remember this poem I used to read to you?

It was an old, old, old old lady
And a boy that was half-past three;
And the way that they played together
Was beautiful to see.

She couldn't go romping and jumping
And the boy no more could he;
For he was a thin little fellow
With a thin, little twisted knee.

The sat in the yellow sunlight,
Out under the maple tree;
And the game they played I'll tell to you,
Just as it was told to me.

It was hide-and-go-seek they were playing,
Though you'd never have known it to be-
With an old, old old, old lady
And a boy with a twisted knee.

The boy would bend his face down
On his little sound right knee,
And he guessed where she was hiding
In guesses one, two, three.

"You are in the china closet!"
He would laugh and cry with glee-
It wasn't the china closet,
But he still had two and three.

"You are up in Papa's big bedroom,
In the chest with the queer old key!"
And she said, "You are warm and warmer;
But you're not quite right," said she.

"It can't be the little cupboard
Where Mama's things used to be-
So it must be in the clothespress,Gran'ma!"
And he found her with his three.

Then she covered her face with her fingers,
That were wrinkled, and white, and wee,
And she guessed where the boy was hiding,
With a One and a Two and a Three.

And they never had stirred from their places
Right under the maple tree-
This old, old, old, old lady,
And the boy with the little lame knee-
This dear, dear, dear old lady,
And the boy who was half-past three.

Yes, Susanna, Calvert did indeed call me his elderly neighbor-ha ha ha ha ha - but he assures me that, in his country, this is a compliment...

Maryanne and the children stayed overnight as they are on winter break this week, and she was feeling rundown with ongoing cold and lack of sleep. Anna kept asking me to explain other religions to her. When I told her about Islam's virtual worship of Mohammad, she asked, "Did Mohammad die"...Yes, Anna..."Well, he's dead! Who would worship a dead man?" Out of the mouths of children...We have a LIVING Savior!

My cousin Jill sends me hilarious forwards. One this week was about why the author doesn't clean...This reason and that reason... and it ends with "Remember, a woman with a clean house has a broken computer." Does that hit close to home, girls?

Bill and Joanna Wieske are traveling through from Florida so are going to spend a couple of days in Chattanooga. They want to take us out to dinner tomorrow but - unfortunately - Dad will not be able to make it. He has an estimate to give for a fairly large job down in Atlanta...However, will be great to see them...Then Tuesday-Wednesday, Sally will be in Atlanta so will go to her hotel overnight for a visit. Lots to look forward to.

What did you all think of the Olympic opening ceremonies? I heard they were artistically good, but very much devoted to native spirituality - you know, what built Canada and made it a great nation...And then "Hallelujah", Cohen's song of praise to men, is it not? What a finale! Makes me glad that fourth pillar stayed down. Puts the "powerful" god-man Olympic ideal in its place.

Have just been reading again about Absalom's rebellion against David. Amazing that God Himself overrules Ahitophel's wise advice to capture and kill just David and to not engage in a general war where many would die...Instead, Hushai's advice to fight a war was followed - and 20,000 men die, including Absalom...One man traded off for 20,000...Who but God could ever make a decision like that?

It is a beautiful, sunny day here so will go out for a walk and clean my devastated house...

Calvert gave Dad and me a book on prayer by EM Bounds for Christmas. He opens with the following illustration, probably written in the late 1800's:

A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: "Rising early one morning," he said, "I heard the baying of a score of deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood. A moment later, two of the hounds came over, when the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs of the west could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength." So it is, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God.

A charming illustration, is it not?

Barbara? This is Deborah...Rod has had several heart attacks this week and he's in the hospital. Please pray for him. Please pray for him. He wasn't well for several days but he wouldn't go to the hospital. Finally he did. The doctors have said he has no damage to his heart, but has to have a triple bypass. He is so scared! Anyway, I don't have access to his bank account, so is it all right if I pay the rent next week?

Of course, Deborah....I'll call again in a couple of days to see how Rod is doing. Give him our love...I will.

Hi, Deborah. How is Rod?...Well, did you know he's an alcoholic?....Yes...The doctors have said they can't operate until they do an ultrasound of his liver. They have to check that and, as well, make sure he is completely detoxed, so we are not sure when they will operate...

Now, what a wonderful thing that could be for Rod...to be forced to leave his excessive drinking...He is smart and responsible in so many ways...What a life changer if all goes well and he remains sober for the sake of his health...

OK Deborah. We will continue to pray.

Dad and I stop by on our way back from Tim's yesterday to pick up the rent...Hi, Barbara. Here's your rent. Guess what happened today? Rod got saved! His kids' pastor went to visit him and he was saved! You know all his kids go to church, teach Sunday School, and sing in gospel groups, right?....Yes. Well he didn't have a chance did he, Darlene, with them praying so for him?...Exactly. This heart business could be the best thing that ever happened to him. He says he is not missing the beer at all. It will change our lives.

And may it, Deborah.

Heredity is calling, calling, claiming me - it was inevitable, I suppose....Grace put a simple little crossword book in my Christmas stocking -easy, quick variety - and in no time - it was done...And so I picked up another - somewhat more complex and demanding and - it is half done. I spend hours each week struggling, puzzling over: "Ragu competitor", "Broom Hilda, eg.", "More than a tee hee", and so on...The trivial and ridiculous...But then it gets more interesting,,,there are themed clues: "Cynics Snort #1, "Cynic's Snort #2" and so on up to #5..."What has a horn and charges?" (answer: a taxi)...Really clever things that challenge your way of thinking through a problem, understanding a word. Is it noun, verb, which of a variety of meanings are they intending here etc.? ...Really fun as I break into the puzzle world and see the possibilities for more and more interesting challenges. But I will have to be careful of my time. Good for the brain, good to wile away spare time - but could become a compulsion...Though probably not. Don't think I have the discipline to be a compulsive...Takes too much single-mindedness and I am, by nature, a generalist...In any case, a great distraction of the time being!

I did it! With the moral support of a friend, I did it...I chose a store from the many - Greenlife - picked my way through the many, many options, and chose- a brand, then picked from the many, many options - a color, and purchased - hair dye!

I went to sweet Julia and she applied it, cut it and told me it looks wonderful. What more can one woman offer another?

Thanks Julia!