Another celebration of Life!

I remember how many years I heard "older people" saying they couldn't believe they were already such and such an age, i.e., "How could I be this old already?!" And I specifically remember thinking, "Good grief, how can you be that old and not feel it?!" Yep, you got it, now I'm saying it!

I don't recall the event that aggravated me, but I remember animatedly, loudly, tearfully expressing my aggravation to my dad about my name being Faith, "I hate my name! Why did you name me this awful name?! Why didn't you name me a pretty name?" Dad called me into his study, sat me on his lap, and said, "I want to tell you a story." I was somewhere around 6-8 years old.

Dad explained that Mom and Andy (next older sibling) both very nearly died when Andy was born. (Mom was a severe Type 1 diabetic along with various other health problems.) Because of that the doctor made it plain to Mom and Dad that they were not to have any more children.

Five years later, however (ha! don't you love all of us howevers?!), they found out that they were going to have another baby! The doctor was very upset and insisted that they should not let this baby be born. Mom could die; the baby could die; both Mom and baby could die--lots of sad scenarios. Dad might be left to raise three or even four children by himself. They were to go home and think about what the doctor had said and be ready to discuss this at the next appointment. Mom and Dad said they didn't need to think about it. They would pray about this situation and trust God that both Mom and baby would be safe, but even if both weren't, then God would give them the grace and strength to face and get through a difficult experience.

While they were waiting for the baby to be born, the doctor again and again pressured them not to let this baby be born, but they prayed and prayed and asked everybody they knew to pray too. When the baby--a girl!--was born, they had a name picked out to name her, but when he held her in his arms, he said, "She's only here by faith. We must name her Faith!"

Well, that explained why Brother Fred Watson always called me "the Faith child" and "the miracle girl"! I had been so annoyed that he always called me that and fussed over me. Now, it was great. (Bro Watson and Dad were doing some evangelistic work together back then. Actually, when I was born, Bro Watson made it to the hospital and saw me before my dad did!)

As I key this, I still sense the awe I felt that day Dad told me his story. That was ME?! I was that baby?! What a wonderful story! What a wonderful name! :)

Dad continued that the doctor said I probably wouldn't live long, but they would keep an eye on me to help me all they could. With each subsequent appointment, he couldn't believe I was healthy and thriving. It was because of faith! The devil had tried to keep me from being born, but God gave me life! God surely had a special plan for my life. When I reached my first birthday, they rejoiced again that the devil's plan had been defeated and faith in God had brought LIFE! Every birthday of my life should be a celebration of that defeat and our victory by faith.

(Obviously I was having a bad hair day! lol)

So my birthdays have always been a day of rejoicing. I've never tried to hide a birthday. I've never tried to hide how many birthdays I've had. Why would I? Every one has been a gift from God!

In an email from my big brother, Tim, today he said,

• I am thinking of the day, nearly 48 years ago, when I came home from school and PRESTO! There was a baby lying on the couch! My new sister! I don’t remember knowing there was a baby coming. You just showed up!
  
  I was a proud big brother. Somehow, probably with money from Mom and Dad, I bought you a little pink squeezy, squeaky teddy bear, that I thought you liked better than all your other toys. It was my gift to you!
  
  You have added joy to our family! Happy Birthday Again!

Isn't he an awesome big brother?!! :) I responded that he has told me that before (altho I enjoy hearing it every time he tells me!) and I have long wondered, "How did the family experience 9 months of a pregnant mother and a very bright 9 year old never have a clue that a baby was ready to be born—especially with all the prayer they were requesting!" That amazes me.

He sent a message back:

• People just did not talk about pregnancy in those days. Mom was sick and in the hospital different times. I don’t know how it happened that I did not realize what was happening, but I’m glad Mom and Dad had the faith to risk all.

Wow. What a heritage we have. What a legacy of faith. (no pun intended! lol)

For some months I have been wishing for an mp3 player. Guess what Ken's parents' gift was? :) I'm not an earphones person, so Ken complemented their gift with a nifty little speaker.

Most years since Ken & I have been married, we have been at a Chinese restaurant for my birthday meal. The last 11 years have been at Mandarin House in Knoxville. I seriously considered getting out of the rut this year, but when push came to shove... we ended up at Mandarin House. Tasty but, yeah, a little boring.

Just as we were preparing to leave, however, we heard music start and could not resist hanging around for a little while--it was a man playing a steel drum! We love the sounds from this instrument. (Several years ago we were privileged to watch a group of steel drummers in Opryland Hotel. That was unbelivable!! Since then we have purchased several "Carribean" CD's just to hear steel drums.)

Celebrate YOUR GIFT of LIFE! :)

Thank God for His continued guidance!

The last couple weeks were very topsy-turvy. At the last minute, we changed our plans about staying home for Ken's week off. We had a list of companies lined up where Ken was going to apply, houses we were going to look at (outside only at this point), and communities we were going to scout.

Late Saturday night, I decided to check the company website for the company for which Ken works. Aha! They had just posted three jobs! I whispered to Ken to come see what I had discovered, and while we sat there in the dining room discussing if and how this might change our week, we heard Ken's mom come from the bedroom to the living room. Something she had eaten for supper wasn't agreeing with her and she wasn't feeling well. We decided to talk with her and get her advice.

A few minutes later, Dad shuffled out and sat in his recliner. He was suffering with a pain in his side (which was later diagnosed as shingles--oww!!) So we heard his input too. :) As a result, we changed plans again and decided to pursue these other positions within the company and in the Charlotte, NC, area.

Incredibly, Ken was able to make some connections and contact the Charlotte supervisor. Through a series of glitches, however, the interview didn't happen until Friday. Everything seemed very positive. The supervisor said he would let Ken know by the end of the following week. The only negative we saw was an adjustment to a different shift, 1:30-10:00 pm, but since we are night owls, we didn't think it would prove terribly difficult.

The week went by with no word. On the next Monday, Ken talked with the "big boss" here in Knoxville and he offered to find out what was happening. Surprise! They had hired someone else because Ken had said he preferred day shift. No matter that Ken had told him the 1:30 shift was very workable and even the 2:30-11:00 pm shift was okay.

Well, I know I said it before, but we have prayed that God would open and close doors, so, although we are shaking our heads at the apparent confusion, we aren't questioning a thing. We're thanking God for giving us clear guidance. Again.

What goes up must come down...

I first thought to title this post "Up, Up and Away!" --serious cliche notwithstanding--but basically we saw these hot air balloons briefly sailing above us and then showering all around us.

Our stay-cation plans abruptly changed and we packed up and went to visit Ken's parents for a week while Ken did one last job application "blitz" for 2008. When we arrived, Mom was excitedly telling us about a hot air balloon they had watched come down (intentionally) the evening before. Hot air balloon fest was for the whole weekend and a contest was on that evening, and would we like to go on a hot air balloon chase? You betcha!

We piled in their van and took off. Close to Anderson we started seeing the balloons wafting close by and this one landed in a parking lot just to our left, so we darted in there and watched the process from landing to pack-up.

Letting the air out of the balloon and pulling the panels straight.

Folding and bundling.

All folded and bundled, ready to be placed in the canvas bag.

Placing in the big canvas tote.

The trailer that transports the paraphernalia.

Just as that balloon was being packed into the trailer, we noticed lotsa balloons off to the west. Mom asked a few nearby spectators where they were located and off we dashed again.

We found a place to park near the airport and two balloons appeared to be ready to land... and then swooshed upward and floated away. Mom took this photo. I think it's postcard perfect. And then the chase was on again!

As we were stopped at this traffic light, just ahead of us, a balloon landed in the middle of the road and the pilots (is that what they are called?) were firing up in spurts trying to get out of the way as traffic swerved around them. After five or six "hops" they were across the lane and finally up over the curb. Mom was thankful we weren't closer... I was disappointed we weren't! lol

Finally we spotted shopping center parking lots on both sides of the road where the balloons were coming down seemingly all at once. The sky was falling! lol A lot of balloons were in the lot to the left, but rather than taking up our time to make a left turn, we hurried into the lot on the right, jumped out, and scurried to the edge of the lot/grass where they were landing. So exciting!! I hardly knew where to look because they were everywhere!

Judging by the speed and angle this one was coming down, we were pretty sure this one would land right in front of us.

A gust of wind blew this balloon into another one just landing.

I love the designs and vibrant colors. They are so beautiful!

This one I mentioned earlier DID land right by us. I waited and waited to get a shot of the fire. No go. Finally, as we were walking away, I heard the whoosh and got this picture. :)

Have you googled Sarah Palin today?

I imagine "Sarah Palin" will be the most googled phrase today... and maybe for longer than today! Reportedly, McCain said to be prepared for "an unconventional choice." He wasn't kidding!

Of all the articles I read about her today, this article at RealClearPolitics (posted to the web June 4, 2008 and purporting that Palin would be the ideal VP choice) was most interesting. Some people are fussing that we don't have enough time before the elections to get to know her, but from everything I've read in a little over an hour, it doesn't take much time because she has a clear stand on many issues. Some would say it doesn't take much time because she hasn't much experience, which in some ways is true, but I'm pretty impressed with how much she has accomplished in such a short time. More than can be said for somebody else!

One comment I saw elsewhere made me chuckle. Someone who has been viewing the news today said that McCain must have made a great pick or the Dems wouldn't be so all-out furious.

Now you see it... Now you don't!

When we moved into our mobile home 7 years ago, we inherited a varied collection of flowers and bushes. Now don't get me wrong, We love to drive by other people's houses and ooh and aah over their beautiful flower gardens. We just don't want those gardens where we have to take care of them! Neither Ken nor I enjoy working in the dirt, with plants, however you want to describe it! Several times when visitors have remarked about one or another of them we have urged, "Would you like to have it, because we would like to get rid of it!" and some have said they would love to have this or that plant but never actually took us up on our offer. One time a friend was going to take us up on it, but she ended up weeding everything and then it looked so nice she wanted to leave it for us.

Some time ago we got into a discussion at church about yardwork, and I blurted, "I wish I knew someone who would come pull all the stuff out at our place and cart it away without charging us an arm and a leg." Pastor Bentz assured us he would. We discussed it further and he agreed to come do it "sometime."

Today was "sometime!"

This bush had gotten so big we could hardly pass by it on the sidewalk. Several of the top branches had been cut down when I snapped this picture, but there was so much sawdust flying in the air, I stepped back inside the house, and then,

Now you see it, ...

Crazy me. I got distracted and didn't take any more pictures while they were working! They used chain saw, lopper (sp?), chain hitched to van, pickax... what else?! It was quite the operation. They cleared out every shrub, bush, vine, flowering plant, and edging too...

The edging was great material for a "lake effect"--not to mention how many times people have stumbled over it, us included. During and after a hard rain, the stepping stones were veritable islands in a lake. Now the water can run down the hill instead of puddling!

I should also have gotten a picture of the loaded van. I was sure some of the brush wasn't going to fit, but Bro Bentz got it all in there somehow. There was barely room for them to ride home.

...Now you don't!

Whew! The cleared look is wonderful!! Now it's mow. Weedeat. Done!

* I'll get an updated pic tomorrow.

I went for WHAT?

Somebody's birthday is upon us... so this evening I trekked to Big Lots! to see what I could find for a birthday gift.

I have two Fiskars paper punches, and I really enjoy using them, so when I saw these neato paper punches (imitations of Fiskars to be sure, but not in price, cuz these were a mere $3 each!), I couldn't resist getting them. (Click on the picture to get a closer look.)

On a clearance shelf was a bin of ties. Ken has fun wearing ties, which is a bit of a switch for me since nearly all of the 23 years I had my dad, he didn't wear a tie (personal conviction), and my brothers wear conservative to very conservative ties. We've looked for an Easter tie but haven't found one we liked. I thought this one was pretty nifty--reminds me of the hand-painted Ukrainian eggs. At 30% off of $5.19, I couldn't get outta the store without it!

Surprise! I found Herr's potato chips in TN! I had to buy a couple bags just to enjoy the back home flavor. Yummmm...

Found some stamper markers and more nameplates for Tab's school in South Africa.

Asked an employee to reach a couple paint-by-number kits from way up high.

Snatched up 5 rolls of plain brown wrapping paper for $.70 each for the books I'll send out on Paperback Swap.

And came back home with no birthday gift! Go figure.

Blessed are they who having nothing to say...

...shut up! :) (Yes, I've used that line before, but it's true!)

No, I can't accurately report that I've shut up for three whole weeks (I already know you already knew that), but you should probably be glad only Ken had to listen to me! lol

One benefit of not much happening is it isn't hard to catch up on blogging! Oh, it also saves money (read: locksmith).

Which reminds me of our highlight of the past three weeks!! After a second lock-out that happened due to our doorknob flying off and jangling down the front steps but from which we were able to rescue ourselves by reassembling the pieces inside the doorknob and getting it back on the door, we bought a new knob at Walmart for a measly $12. (Something in me wants to diagram that sentence! lol) We've had trouble with the old door knob for years, but nothing drastic enough happened to motivate us to investigate how much a new one would cost because we didn't realize that even we could install a new one! If only we had known, we could have been enjoying our new door knob long already.

Just under the highlight of a new doorknob is a jumble of

• working;
• keeping up with and fussing about 08 election news;
• ranting against all the Chinese propaganda of Olympic proportions (literally!) spued out through the Olympic venue;
• following Michael Phelps' Olympic gold medal quest (Ken is also from Baltimore, so he was very interested... and wishing a little bit that we still lived in Baltimore);
• being stirred up again to pursue making a move to SC (or GA?) which means checking out the availability of jobs, houses, churches, etc. and deciding to sacrifice our "stay-cation" (stay-at-home vacation) for gallivanting to various companies in sundry places. (We will appreciate any prayers for this situation to be resolved and finished!)

I'm not changing my blog into a political soapbox, but today, since the Democrats' convention has started, I've been fussing about election stuff and nonsense. I can't really pin down when I started being somewhat interested in politics. Perhaps an accumulation of experiences drew me in:

• attending Memorial Day and Labor Day parades with my dad and listening to all the speeches;


• shaking hands with Bob Dole when he visited the campus of KCCBS;


• shaking hands with Ronald Reagan at a campaign rally in Kansas City;


• the thrill of casting my first vote (back when they had those massive lever machines--you pulled that lever to cast your vote and felt like you had just changed the world!);


• meeting and campaigning in Dallas for U.S. Rep. Dick Armey (R-TX) when he ran for his first term, introducing him to residents via knocking on doors for literature distribution as well as working in his phone banks (he won in a HUGE upset and then was reelected 8 times before he retired!);


• working the polls several years in both Dallas and Baltimore


• keeping my students in Taiwan abreast of daily American news (actually, my interest probably fueled this flow of information rather than the other way around!);


• shaking hands with Pat Robertson at a Dallas campaign rally--my friend and I stole front row seats to qualify for that privilege (Robertson didn't win, of course);


• attending the historic "Rally for Life" in DC;


• teaching American Government to a lively group of 9th and 10th graders (we spent the first part of every class listening to and discussing the latest news coming in from Desert Storm). Ok, I'll end my list with that.

So what raised my ire today? I'm so glad you asked! :)

1. Tonight's news mentioned this month's Rasmussen poll that revealed an all-time low approval rating of 9% for Congress (which is Democrat controlled) and a tie for an all-time high for a poor rating, 52%... and yet 45% of the American public can hardly wait to resolve such incompetency with what else but Democrats for President and Vice President!

2. Did you catch that the Democratic convention is hosted by a pastor, opened and closed with a Christian prayer, pledges allegiance to the American flag including the phrase, "under God," traipses a traditional family across the stage, and features a children's choir all while they meet precisely to promote candidates who want to remove Christianity from American culture, silence Christian prayer, remove "under God" from the pledge, dismantle traditional marriage and family and promote unnatural, unintelligent unions instead, and continue the slaughter of millions of unborn children as well as some who have miraculously managed to survive the horror of abortion? No worries about separating Church and State--an issue they totally misunderstand*--while "core values" voting Americans might be paying attention! Wolves in sheeps' clothing indeed. Pulling the wool over many Americans' eyes. Dear God, help us!

Blessed are they who having nothing to say shut up. Umm, that was about the last three weeks, not today! :)

* Separation of Church and State does not mean separation of faith and politics.