President Lincoln and the war

We moved back in time this weekend. It was hot, slow, and (mostly) unplugged.

It started with the unexpected invitation to ride the Little River Railroad steam train. The destination was a nearby village. President Lincoln was giving a speech on the library steps and the train would carry him and his party back to our town.

I see "President Lincoln" every week at church, so I haven't made the effort to attend any of his events to see him in his presidential finery. I also have never been an observer at a war reenactment, or heard explanations about the rules of war in the 1860's.

Shame on me.

True to life as it was then - a baby, loving the breeze in the train window... tired, hot, big sister holding him on her lap.


The politicians and Lincoln family on the library steps. Speeches and then the short walk to the train to their private coach. (I wonder... did Abe long to hang his head out the window to catch a breeze?)


The reenactors battlefield was small, but we got the idea. When the line of "soldiers" from the south marched past me, I saw a young teen boy in the ranks. It was a heart wrenching moment, realizing, for many mothers that was life.

Shots in the air. Horses darting in and out. Sabers flashing. The boom of cannons. We knew what we would see when the smoke cleared...


imagine the fear of real waiting.

The 21st century family of President Lincoln invited us to join them. Thank you! We had a great time!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith... Hebrews 12:1,2

Long ago and far away...

LONG AGO - In the years when small children inhabited the rooms of this house, I spent numberless hours in basements, living rooms, and waiting rooms of various piano teachers. I heard scales, sotto voce counting turn into foot tapping turn into habit, beginnings, endings and middles of songs over and over again.

Once... just once... when my youngest daughter was playing her part of a piano duet during her lesson, I heard the teacher (a concert pianist named Dzidra) join her on the piano, playing the other part of the duet for approximately 5 measures. It was 5 measures of Heaven! She was sooo good. Then, as abruptly as it started, it stopped. There I was, soaring through the heights of delight, only to be plopped back into the reality of the waiting room. I wanted to yell "Encore! Encore!" But it was over. Though I waited... and longed for it... it never happened again.

FAR AWAY - A new family came through the doors of our church. There were brothers and sisters enough for every Sunday school class. They were a wonderful family - loving God and each other, happy with life. We loved getting to know them.

But... for one reason or another, they moved away from us to a church closer to their home. Years passed. We saw them occasionally, amazed at how many new faces were added to the family, and always in awe of what nice people they all were.

HERE BESIDE ME - A new new family came to our church. There are brothers and sisters enough for almost every Sunday school class. They are a wonderful family - loving God and each other, happy with life. We love knowing them.

HERE AT LAST - Friday night all the parts came together. Family 1 has a daughter who teaches piano. Among her many students are four of the kids from Family 2.

We were invited to the end of the year recital in a beautiful old church.


The kids did a great job. The hours of practice were apparent. We heard everything from Jesus Loves Me to the Flight of the Bumble Bee!

And my treat? The teacher finished the program with a wonderful duet with her oldest brother. Sometimes... deep longings are finally satisfied.


My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Psalm 130:6

Indiana shines

I went back to Hoosierland on Tuesday to watch an end of the school year play. It was an absolute delight! The teacher did an excellent job teaching these 5th-6th graders comedic timing. It was sooooo engaging I forgot to take photos until they all took their bows.

The following afternoon I visited The OP Shop. The factory (in the back) is where they have been making opalescent glass since 1888. While in the workroom, I spotted a window that was a work of art... stained glass type, but waaaay beyond stained glass.

After admiring the window, I discovered a rack of 8"x10"x1" slabs of glass (they have a name that I can't remember) for sale. Seconds. (Yay!) My price range. (Double yay!) I bought 2 for my flower beds.

I thought I wanted color, so I picked a deep green with some rust colored surface swirls. Then I spotted the white one. Oooo... love at first sight. I touched a few other colors, but in the end, the white and green came home with me.

The pictures are untouched except for cropping and rotating, and still this glass glows.

In the fading afternoon sun...



... or tucked in the shade garden...



...they show their good breeding.

Best of all? I can't kill them!

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:18

Way down in Indiana

We relived history on Friday (a story for another day) and spent the day Saturday driving home through back roads in Indiana.

There is this interesting condition that occurs when you leave the main street in a small, excuse me, small town in Indiana. The "other" lane in two way streets disappears.


Seriously! There are stop signs on both sides of the intersection. The streets have signs with names. They just don't have both lanes! I guess the "city" fathers count on the fact that there is so little traffic that it won't be a problem.

Their housing is also very interesting. I was amazed at the creativity of this storefront home - the garden, the porch furniture, the grill ready to go. As I studied the situation however, I observed that the "porch" roof covered the sidewalk! The sidewalk "walked" right through the little patio/garden area that these homeowners had claimed as their own!


Hmmm. I'm picturing a Saturday night barbecue - family sitting around the grill, steaks sizzling, almost ready to serve, and the neighbors decide they want to walk to the store for a bottle of milk. Do they crash right through the barbecue? Do they walk in the street?

A most unique situation.

You have to give those Hoosiers credit... they know how to use every last inch of everything!!

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:13,14

Deadlines

I promise.... I have not been a slacker! The last week of no blogging has been spent trying to catch up with self-imposed deadlines that flew by with no consideration whatsoever for my time.

The deadline was for submitting articles to Associated Content...


(see helpful button in the right column. Over there-----> down... down... now CLICK!)

Twelve years ago this month, I made the decision to be a person who prays. It changed my life. Not just sorta... huge, wonderful, silent leaps in my relationship with God. I couldn't wait for everyone to share in this same adventure, so I decided to write a book.

I learned the fine points of Word. I learned the guidelines for formatting and submitting manuscripts. I learned the rules of the writer's life... hurry up and w-w-w-a-a-a-i-i-i-t-t-t. To make a long story short... I re-shaped the manuscript and it has now been published on Associated Content.

That's right, over there -------> Click any time you want and see all but the final step. I'm still reworking that.


Soon. It will be there soon.

In the meantime, that decision I made 12 years ago? About being a person who prays? One of the best things I have ever done - "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." I Timothy 1:12

Experiment 2

I know there will be flowers on mine...


Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies... Psalm 23:5

Experiment

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:13