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Archive for April, 2019

Family and Feasting

Posted in Family, General, Grandchildren, Photo, Relationship, tagged , , , on April 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »

I told my brother that my wife and I would be in town to visit our children and grandchildren Resurrection Day weekend. Might we get together with him? He replied that he would get the whole family together at his eldest son’s house for a party. Along with his wife, he has three children with three spouses and 13 grandchildren and one on the the way. One was not there. Of my five children, three were there, one with his wife and four children and the another with his fiancee. My youngest brother was also there with his wife. My ciphering puts us at 34 souls. The clan is growing. If you count my missionary brother and his wife and my two other children with their spouses and two more grandchildren, that brings the clan to 42 at present. The last picture is of my 3rd born and his fiancee at his church breakfast on Sunday morning. The conversation seemed to go through catching up and news, serious political or religious conversation, and then crazy old stories, particularly about growing up in my parent’s house. 

20-4-19 Resurrection Weekend 025

Mothers are always busy

20-4-19 Resurrection Weekend 022

Food and Fellowship

20-4-19 Resurrection Weekend 020

Do crossed arms mean it’s a serious discussion?

20-4-19 Resurrection Weekend 018

Are we skeptical?

20-4-19 Resurrection Weekend 015

“Candy Land” Carousel

20-4-19 Resurrection Weekend 085

My second son and his fiancee

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Scottish Birthday

Posted in Family, General, Grandchildren, Photo, Scottish, tagged , , , , on April 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Scotch-Irish blood runs in our veins on both sides of the family. I had not thought all that much of it until I took my young family to the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina many years ago. My oldest son has never been the same. Combined with significant family history studies, he frequently dresses himself and his children in kilts and tartans. His oldest son has a very Scottish name, the middle name of Royal descent and protectorate of our own family name. So, it was no surprise when his eldest son asked for a Scottish birthday party, complete with dressing up, listening to bagpipes and ballads, and Scottish food. The boiled eggs deep fried in sausage, the bannocks, and the leek salad were of most interest to me and very good. With my wife, our eldest son and wife, their four children, and two of our other sons, one with his wife, we had quite a merry event. We even shot rifles and a pistol on an appropriately drizzly day. Check out some of the festivities:

Black Watch?

Old Duffer

The Feast Begins

Sprawled out Uncle

The Matron is ever multi-tasking with a smile

This little box can capture pictures of you!

Mamaw Observes

Dressed for the Feast

Holding up the Royal Standard of Scotland

“Please, kind sir, what is going on in my house?”

Cuddly Moment

Intense Moment

Mamaw gave me new sandals.

Changing of the guard

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Owning the “O” Word

Posted in Experience, General, God Thoughts, Hike, Old, Poem, Praise, Remembering, Wisdom, tagged , , , on April 13, 2019| Leave a Comment »

I awoke this morning with a number of thoughts rolling around in my mind. Of the ones that rose to the top, I skimmed off the following in a poem that came fairly quickly:

Running fast was once a thing
But now I have grown old
Working ’til the break of dawn
But now I early fold

Once I walked with heavy pack
Many miles in a day
Now I sit in rocking chair
Recalling hard won play

Recovery was quick then
Endurance that would last
Injury slight problem when
Healing would come so fast

Now there is strength in wisdom
Knowing when best to stop
Working smarter not harder
No need to be on top

Much there is I’ve yet to learn
New vistas I would see
But lack of energy
Means that I am not free

My good days are not done yet
Though now I slow the pace
My hope is not in sprinting
But finishing the race

If it were in my own strength
Long since I would have failed
For God is my provision
Or long since I’d have bailed

As life begins to wind down
Vigor begins to wane
Glimpses I see of heaven
Through a dimly lit pane

One day before God I’ll dance
I’ll sing and serve and praise
In His strength forever there
His glories I will raise

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Functional Not Fancy

Posted in General, Poem, Random thoughts, tagged , on April 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »

I took more time convincing myself to do a chore than I used doing the chore. Why? I knew that I didn’t have the skills, tools, or experience to do a very good job. But that has rarely stopped me before, so why the hesitation? Well, the results are quite visible and frequently so, too. I consoled myself by saying that it would be functional if not fancy. The repair rescued the object from deteriorating into uselessness. The result of my repair was adequate and I am mildly satisfied with the result. There is nothing wrong with something looking good and functioning well. And if you can have a better look without excessive money or time or pride, I’d say go for it. But not everything you own has to look “just so”. Functional will do.

My short poem that resulted from these thoughts took a turn from my consideration of the project I did. I don’t know if they quite correlate, but I think the thoughts in the poem are worth considering.


Functional not fancy is the way to go
Enduring not faddish I do prefer so
Beautiful not fashionable, better you know
Prudent not frivolous, the best seed to sow

In so doing no good advice away throw
Not reap consequences of wild oats you sow
Not wasting life on what may glimmer and glow
Savoring peace in your heart to spread and grow

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Lifelong Learning

Posted in Education, General, Learning, Poems, Random thoughts, Truth, Understanding, Wisdom, tagged , , , , , on April 1, 2019| 1 Comment »

It’s Marvelous Monday! Just before I stepped back out into the refreshingly crisp and slightly breezy 32 degree morning, I spied the signed that read “…Learning Commons, Encouraging collaboration, exploration, and creation. Supporting lifelong learning since 2007.” I proceeded to my parking lot duty station to stand watch just after 7:15 AM, making my school a kinder and gentler place to be. My mind began to stir with thoughts and comments I had with a student the Friday before concerning the way we do school. As the Sun rose above the small ridge behind the school into a nearly cloudless sky and a songbird repeated his song, my thoughts came together. 

Lifelong learners
They tell us we should be
But how do you touch the heart
By compulsion and decree?

Critical thinking skills
Synthesis to high degree
But without facts in their toolbox
What hope that they will see?

College is a must
AP courses, advanced degree
But where is creativity
Without time to explore and be free?

Learning is for high pursuits
For wisdom for you and me
But when will we understand
Growth of the spirit is key?

Look the look, play the part
Be all that you can be
But have you learned of heaven
To be eternally set free?

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Overflows from the Heart

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…" Matthew 15:18

CreatorWorship

Pointing to the One who made, saved, and sustains