MMMMMM - Ethereal

In past postings, you have been aware of my love of Hildegard's music. My friend, Trilla, told me about HildeGirls and their devotion to her music. Well, Susan Lincoln, their leader has a CD with her music. Mother Heart is a collection of Hildegard's music and Lincoln has produced a CD that offers a peaceful meditative collection of music to for today's listener. (If you want to hear a full excerpt of one of the selections, click here to download.
I had to read the jacket to see where it was recorded (in a studio I believe) because I could close my eyes and pretend I was in an empty cathedral, listening to the sound travel around the stone walls. In addition, I thought I heard a couple of overtones (was my ear playing tricks on me or what it the "magic" of a studio???) Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with the sound, and my DH's remark was, "this is nice music to go to sleep to" -- that is the supreme compliment from him, who thinks my musical tastes are a bit quirky, since he is mostly a 1970s music fan, but slowly but surely is coming around....

Think I will go and listen a little to the music. Susan if you are around, please let me know if my ears are hearing overtones, or did you all put that in there???

Interesting find - anyone remember these??? Knitting too

Having to make a pit stop this morning on my 100+ mile trip to the workshop I was begrudgingly attending (while the rest of the teachers were having the surprise 2 days off - compliments of Gov. Sonny Perdue), I walked by the aisle and this caught my eye:

Does any of you remember these? I thought they had disappeared, but lo and behold, a convenience store had them. There were so many things I wanted to photograph as I was passing today, but I was running late.

The 100+ (one way) mile trip was a bit wearying to this old soul, so have made a reservation at one of the few places around the town. A special place for sure, which will be kept under the lid until I return on Thursday. You shall NOT be disappointed, other than the fact that it DOES not have wireless AND there is only one touchtone phone in one of the rooms.

Lots of boiled peanut in this town too. Oh yeah.... forgot to tell you this part. We had bag lunches today.... and guess what? Our ham sandwiches??? They were on white bread wrapped in WAX PAPER!!! FOR real.... Now we were not so much in the boonies -- bottled water had found the place. (I should have taken my camera out for that, but there are limitations to how weird I want to be perceived).

The workshop I am attending is on working with students with Autism and the folks are from TEACCH (www.teacch.com). Excellent workshop, so my begrudgingness is no longer. And I could knit while they presented and they did not mind. How come most educators will allow you to doodle and they don't mind, but if you do something else like knitting, it is perceived as though you are not listening. I actually knitted 2 dishcloths today and I could watch them the entire presentation. Only when I K2tog did I occasionally have to look. The female presented said she has been known to cross stitch while listening. That takes too much concentration for me.
So unless I have some awe inspiring posting that hits me broadside out of bed this evening and I don't find internet access where I am, this will be my last posting until late late Thursday.

Hold all of blogdom fortresses down.. I'll be back.

Useless Cat

This is what this cat does best.
This cat doesn't "cat nap".....he's a serious napper.

Well "I Swanee"

My maternal grandmother used to say "I Swanee" for my goodness. And today that is all I can say. The governor of our state Sonny Perdue has cancelled school for Monday and Tuesday (as I type this, I just heard it announced on CNN, isn't up on their web site yet). I have NEVER seen school cancelled for such a thing, but because of the gas crisis and the fact that the refineries in the gulf will most likely sustain damage from Hurricane Rita, he has issued a mandate that schools be closed. All I can say is that this must be more serious than we ever imagined.

Wow......I am "speechless"

Yes we do have a sky

Oh yes, I am a sucker game for posting a sky scene for a skein or so of yarn. Sandy caught the attention of Yarn Harlot to become worthy of recognition. And, to give away Lorna's Laces as the prize. Is she a millionaire? Does she own the company? Is she allergic to the colorway? That I do not know, but I do know that my backyard is the scene of the cloudy sky of south Georgia at a cooler than yesterday 80 degrees (yesterday at 8:15 pm was 88 degrees).

Last night we had our first Knit in for Cloths for Katrina. Seven were in attendance and we are well on our way to the goal of 50 cloths. Unfortunately, Rita is attempting, quite successively it seems, to give us a repeat performance in Texas. RITA, OBLITERATE YOURSELF!

This, herein, concludes the posting of the sky picture to maybe, just maybe become the proud recipient of Lorna's Lace Yarn. If I dont, it was fun anyway to post!

Lost Dog Now Found

A new picture is to the left - my college daughter took this picture and sent it to me through email. It's a better picture than the one I had taken - this one is attached to the mailbox.

Our dog must be able to read. Our daughter Rachael, posted this on the mailbox Sunday and Chin must have read it:

(You can click on the image to read it - it's legible enough for our dog to read).

Rachael is in 2nd grade and is proud of her ability to write.

We live in a small town - the kind of town where our mail person found Chin a couple of blocks away and put her in the mail truck and brought her home. (Not divulging any more info so as not to get the postman in trouble). Also, we do not intentionally let our dogs go free. Chin is an escape artist and can weasel her way through LOTS of situations. She loves walking with the walkers in the neighborhood and then will spin spend ( one of my daughters left a comment for me to correct this - good catch!) the night at their house and mosey on back to the house.

Chin has a distinctive feature that makes her who she is - she has an underbite in which her lower teeth are visible. She was an orphan brought to church in side of a baseball cap on a cold February night. She likes to perch herself on top of the sofa to keep up with the activities of the neighborhood. She will walk with the daily walkers if given a chance, spend the night (or 2) and show up back home. Some claim her as their part time dog.

So......if you come walking down our street, you just might find a dog that wants to walk with you, or you might find a sign on the mailbox doing an all call for our gypsy dog....

For the time being, Chin is sleeping underneath the chair at the computer, saving up her energy for her next walk.

Fall Questions

Lutheran Chik has succumbed to the Fall Meme that is making the rounds ‘round blogdom. I, too, will take the plunge into Fall Favorites. In the deep South, we are still in summer mode, and think that when our lows are in the 60s that we have a touch of fall in the air.

Favorite fall dessert: My grandmother’s apple cake – email me and I will send you the recipe. Lots of pecans since we are in the heart of pecan country.

Favorite fall holiday: Thanksgiving. Turkey, cornbread dressing, broccoli casserole, apple pie. And, at night, a turkey sandwich on WHITE bread and a coca-cola – no diet coke tonight! Not to mention the required nap in the afternoon.

Best fall memory: There is something about the angle of the sun in the fall that I love. I can see the change in September. Excitement is in the air with football, homecoming parades, and anticipated holidays.

Worst fall memory: Probably when I went home from school after the assasination of JFK and saw the maid ironing and crying in front of the tv.

Most puzzling fall memory: My memory fails me on this one.

Best thing about fall walks: Fall doesn’t last long here, but there is something about kicking up the leaves and hearing the crunch they give when the weather cooperates. The summer humidity leaves (sort of) and allows the drier weather that we get with the cool/ occasional cold fronts come through our way.

Favorite fall chore: Taking logs into the fireplace

Least favorite fall chore: Laundry - and that is for every season

Best change in the home: The first fire of the season, even when we truly do not need it.

Favorite flower: Mums in the fall come to mind

Best tree in the fall: Sweetgums have pretty leaves in the fall. On the downtown square there is a gingko tree that sometime in November has the most beautiful yellow leaves on the tree. Then they all fall at once and there is a yellow blanket underneath the tree, waiting for a child to sit on them to get a fall picture.

Fall ritual: Almost fall - our church grape stomp

Most frustrating thing about fall: The anticipated very short days of winter and the winter funk sets in.

Favorite childhood game: Loved jumping in the leaves

Favorite childhood memory: I remember my dad getting all of the kids to rake the yard and he would give away prizes (method to that madness).
Note: Lutheran Chik went to town with her dad and would get a coke for a quarter. Either she is younger than me (bet she is) because I remember the coke machines with 6 cents on them. I loved looking at the bottom to see where the bottle was made. Favorite decorations:

Favorite clothing: Doesn’t change much here from summer, but I have a couple of sweaters I do like, and I love my flannel gown.

Best scenery: The hills between here and TallahasseeBest fall travel tip: Do I travel in the fall? Hmmmm, teaching seems to get a little in the way of that, but I do remember a great cruise my mom and I went on two years ago. I did notice that my photos had a different look in the fall in the same tropical place because of the sun’s location. I do enjoy the beach in the fall and winter better than the summer.

Favorite drink: Again, I have had REAL cider before and it is wonderful. The best we can get is hot apple cider.

Traditional fall candy: Somehow I do love Candy corn

Lutheran Chick remembers Kraft Fudgies – Hadn’t see them in a long time, but do remember them. I loved the texture and flavor. Wonder if Vermont Country Store can get them???

Favorite Sound: I do enjoy the sound of the band in the night air at the football game. I always do get a head start on Christmas CD choral music starting in November. I love singing them when no one is around.

Fall song/hymn: We Gather together to ask the Lord’s Blessing

Reliable prediction: I will wonder why I ate so much for Thanksgiving. I will eat the turkey sandwich on Thanksgiving evening. Also the whole family will come to our house to eat.

Best fall television show: Hmmmmm…. Someone give me a hint.

Hildegard

O God, by whose grace your servant Hildegard, kindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for Hildegard of Bingen

As I looked on the church calendar, I noticed that today observes Hildegard of Bingen. She is a favorite of mine for several reasons. She was a Renaissance woman before her time. She was a musician and wrote songs during her life in the 12th century ( when notation was just becoming to be where we recognize it today - therefore her music is some of the earliest music where music historians believe that what is sung today is probably close to what she intended). She was an abbess who preached throughout Europe and her writings include letters to emperors and popes, bishops, nuns, and nobility.
For more info on Hildegard visit the Mission St. Clare web site.

Her story is interesting, but what sets her apart for me is her music. Interestingly, a resurgence of interest in Hildegard of Bingen began when a nun sang her music, "nuked" it to the 20th century for today's listener. Vision climbed to the top of the charts and crossed over from the classical to what would be thought of as New Age music. Her music is surprisingly simple in its sound, but with that simplicity, it is difficult to sing to convey the purity of its sound that is believed to be what would have been intended to be sung. The group that I sing with in Tallahassee has performed part of "O Frondens Virga", and was a challenge yet the end result produced a yearning for more of her music. The antiphon is tranlated here into English:

O verdant maiden,
standing in thy nobility like the dawning light of day,
now rejoice and be glad,
and think us feeble ones worthy of freeing from
our evil ways;
and even stretch forth thy hand to lift us up.

Little did I know that there is a group that devotes their focus to Hildegard's music. Hilde Girls is a Texas women's group that "honor and explore the mystical wisdom of 12th century mystic and healer Hildegard of Bingen, one of the Earth's most evolved and visionary individuals. "

With her music, several important aspects of my life collide and merge. I find great enjoyment in listening to her music and gives me a sense of calm and closeness to God. I also find that it accompanies knitting nicely and gives me an opportunity to pray and knit together, while listening to great music. Several CDs are available - one mentioned above,Mother Heart - Songs for the Sacred Feminine by Hildegard of Bingen , and The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen (by Anonymous 4).

I wonder what Hildegard would have been like if she were a woman of our time? Or does she transcend time and she IS a woman of our time?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!!!

10:55 pm September 16 -
8 lbs 5 oz. 21 1/2 inches long.

2 weeks longer in the oven than the average bambino.

and....that was 21 years ago..hard to believe.


(Note her ballet picture - we paid for over a month a ballet lessons before she would actually put her toe out on the dance floor when she was about five years old - she still is that cautious with things that are new.)



Laura Catherine - some facts about her that you may or may not know:

• She was so quiet in utero, I was convinced she had no legs
• She was a quiet baby
• She didn't start crawling until 9 1/2 months of age
• She could entertain herself with baby dolls for hours and hold conversation with them as though there were other people in the room
• She still doesn't understand why her little or older sister doesn't/didin't play with dolls like she did
• She still has her baby dolls
• She wanted to be a princess when she was small
• Still wants to be one too
• She has the most fair skin and blue eyes - I believe she could make a good Snow White
• She has quite the stubborn streak (got a bad "grade" her first 6 weeks of PE in kindergarten -- for lack of participation -- she didn't want to go running around in a gym -- she wanted to play with her dolls)
• She made an "A" in organic chemistry this summer
• She loves buying children's clothes
• She thinks she needs braces (look at those gorgeous teeth in the picture above)
• She hates spaghetti (something is wrong with her)
• She likes pizza (does this make sense?)
• She is allergic to shrimp (poor thing)
• She has a cat named Zoe that is a male (for now she does...living with us.. not her)
• She knows alot of "The Sound of Music" by memory
• She can create and sew a dress without a pattern
• Her brother and sister call her "Lord-o"
• She used to have a bed time ritual of giving me the number of kisses that she was old (she doesn't remember this, but I do - it stopped at around the age of 7 or so....)
• I miss those good night times.

She comes home on her birthday and we get to celebrate this weekend! Happy Birthday Laura!

Please leave a Happy Birthday comment in the comment section - I know she is reading my blog so I can't tell you EVERYTHING and I am a bit sentimental and soppy at the moment.
Happy Birthday Laura.

Love, Mom

Hit and Miss of the Spiderwomen

I knew today would not be ordinary. A new student was coming into my classroom and from his prior visit, I knew to come prepared. This was the first new student for the year since all of my students were in our room last year, so the routine of the classroom was going very smoothly. Other than some power struggling with a three year old who thought he was going to be in control of the room, his first day was going nicely. Picture day was also scheduled so the yearly glamour shot documented that aging is taking place and gravity does have an impact on the face as well as other parts of the body. Picture day is always interesting for our class. Three and four year old children are often unpredictable when it comes to picture taking time. Three and four year old children with developmental delays add an extra dimension. Positioning, focusing, balancing are all issues that come with the territory. Add the heat and humidity of our part of the world in a room that is not airconditioned with incandescent lighting and kids, teachers, and the gnats that seem to swarm around the kids and by the time it's time for the teacher's picture, sweat usually has the hair wet, and the hoped for glamour shot become a post office most wanted mug shot.
Pictures taken, breakfast completed, center time begins. Most of the students were in the "kitchen" an area where they pretend to take care of all of the cooking, dressing up, and playing that preschoolers do so well. (Want to know how parents talk on the phone? Listen to a preschooler.) We have a nice little washer and dryer where the kids pretend to wash and dry clothes. Attached to it is an ironing board that lifts up for them to "iron". Well, one of my coworkers brought to my attention that there was a big spider. Well, spiders are not something that alert me too quickly. She said, "it's pretty big" - so I looked underneath the ironing board and it was underneath in a little indentation. I look for a weapon (hmmmm.... that little toy looks like it can kill a spider). That spider took off lickety split to behind the refrigerator. I figured that it was well hidden enough that I would just notify the office to let them know that the exterminator needed to come and spray the room, since this was not the first one I had seen. Called the office and alerted them. They said they would get it taken care of. Little did I know that the bookkeeper and the custodian were literally going to take care of the matter.
Now, anyone that works in a school knows who runs the school and who knows all that is going on in the school. Yep, you got it. We know that the the two abovementioned folks are the ones that really can move and shake. So I knew the job would get done with "Spiderwomen" arrived - one with a broom, the other with a broomstick with a tennis ball attached to the bottom (that is used to remove scuff marks off the floor but obviously has higher aspirations as an arachnid annihalator). With weapons in tow, furniture started to be moved, and the task at hand began.


"Oh... I see the spider.... right there...."

"Move that over just a little bit.. be ready now when you move it" You see it? "

Nuh uh...but we'll get it...

("Children move out of the way now - you know I don't like spiders")

Whap.."got it"... "you see that"?

"Yup"

"Let me go get the camera - no one's going to believe me that we made such a big deal out of this."
"Let me take a picture of you in action" Click...
"Let me look at the pictures. Oh my... my arms look fat, don't use that picture, do another one..."
Click....
"Hey, this will be a fun blog story."
"What's a blog?"
"You'll see."
Now you know...welcome, y'all, to the world of blogging. You have officially been blogged.

The BOOK BOOK BOOK2 has arrived

Yarn Harlot : The Secret Life of a Knitter' has arrived.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Update on Katrina Cloths: I have 8 and the above wad of knitted washcloth is a new pattern I created - it's a combination of Granny's favorite (the garter stitch one) and Darrell Waltrip's washcloth. I don't know who Darrell Waltrip is, but it sounds more NASCARish than a knitting junkie. Notice the pattern has not been divulged for public viewing. We are having a Knit in Public Knit-in at our Courtyard Cafe next Tuesday, September 20 at 6:00. Y'all come. We have a goal of 50 to make to send.

Personality Defect Test

I promise my blog will not become inundated with "tests" that float around for us to take, but this one was interesting

To put it less negatively:
1. You are more INTUITIVE than rational.
2. You are more EXTROVERTED than introverted.
3. You are more GENTLE than brutal.
4. You are more HUMBLE than arrogant.
Compatibility:
Your exact opposite is the Sociopath.

What type are you?

Here ends the "quizzes", at least for now....

What Coffee are You??

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Hmmmm..... I don't think I have ever had my coffee black... I drink mine fully polluted. Actually, if given a choice, I will drink iced tea. I drink about a cup of coffee in the morning, and then go directly to iced tea.

Ok, if you take the test, leave a comment and let me know what you are. I am curious has to what kind of coffee drinkers there are.

UPDATE on Cloths for Katrina: I have 8 made!!! We have a goal of 50 to make to send!

Treasures of Blogdom

One of the blogs I like to visit is Songbird. She's a "Mainiac" (what are folks from Maine called???). She is a knitter and fellow Christian and always has good postings to "chew on". Today she posted a blog that she found of two people living in the ravaged torn area of Mississippi who are documenting post Katrina activities. Written by a Methodist minister and Presbyterian attorney, these two give the random acts of kindness, the hope and tragedy, and the questions we all ask when something of this magnitude hits. Visit it to read a personal account of what is happening at Katrina Response. Great photographs and stories.

Shawl Ministry Meeting September 10

Today we had our shawl ministry meeting. Many shawls blessed from the busy hands and needles. Some shawls were created for specific people and are ready to go to those prayed for while being knitted. Others were prayed over while knitted for the future receiver as the Holy Spirit leads us in finding the receiver.

A picture of pure joy on the faces of these participants in the group!


Hildegard von Bingen's music on the CD Vision was the background music during our meeting.
I have had the CD for years and remains one of my favorites. I call is crossover music, because it has taken the ancient music of Hildegard and "nuked" it to a new age sound and pallatable for today's listener.




Several of the group will work on a project "Cloths for Katrina" and make cotton washcloths for the victims of the hurricane. We have set a goal of 50 washcloths over the next month. I KNOW we will do it! Will keep all updated on how it is going. I have 6 completed now.

Cloths for Katrina - Simplicity

Knitters have certainly come to the forefront in blogland in doing their part for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Not only are they opening their wallets, but they are keeping their fingers and needles busy knitting items for those that have lost so much in its aftermath.

One email group that has newly developed is Cloths For Katrina. This group's focus is knitting dishcloths/washcloths for those at the shelters in the Gulf Coast Region.

These cloths, made of 100% cotton, provide something to wash the face, wipe a tear, clean up a spill, the most common and simple of tasks. Folks may wonder why knitted cloths? Why not buy them? It's faster, cheaper, and easier to go to the local dollar store and buy them.

These cloths come from the heart. Prayers can be said while they are being knitted. It doesn't matter what you are wearing, it doesn't matter if it matches the color of the recipient's kitchen, which may no longer exist. It's a gift from one to another, no strings attached. It takes less than an evening's worth of time to start and finish it.

For those of you that are interested in this tried and true pattern, go to get your free pattern from here. And if this one doesn't do, there are hundreds of free patterns at many sites.

A simple project for simple tasks. It's a small token that comes from many big hearts.

Grape Stomp

Oh the things you learn along the way....
I learned yesterday that scuppernongs ARE muscadines and scuppernongs were named after the Scuppernong River in North Carolina. And for even more trivia, if you find wild muscadines in the woods, they are referred to as bullace. Thank you Joe Clark, who is a repository for all kinds of UBIs (useless bits of information) and words of wisdom...

Sunday evening, members of St. John's, families and friends gathered for a good ol' fashioned grape stomp. Last year there was a hiatus, compliments of Hurricane Frances, but this year's scheduled stomp was accompanied by beautiful weather sans the love bug convention that was held there in 2003.
Children young and old picked the muscadines in the buckets, eating a few on the way (no bellyaches reported). The weather proved to be warm, but the humidity was kind and was held at bay.

Rachael collected her fair share of the abundant grapes that eventually became a part of a larger communal collection of the thousands of the grapes that will become the Communion wine for the congregation of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Each row of the vineyard looked to have a different type of grape, which was apparent in the stomp "pool "that was graced by anyone willing to get grape juice in between their toes. Some were more willing than others. "Little Lucy", not to be confused with a former TV Lucy(who was known to stomp a grape or two), was less than enthusiastic with her participation.
Grandmother Sue, however, made sure she had a good hold on her. It wasn't long before she made her way out to get a good foot washing - no toe jam for this little one!
The stomping took some time and there were those that made sure there were no grapes that were not tended.
Following the stomping of the grapes, the juice was pressed to remove the skins, seeds, and toes and stems that remained.

After the "work" was done, the group congregated around the food and drink brought by all to share. Boiled peanuts, potato salad, beans and other picnic and southern delicacies allowed us to enjoy each other's company with what we seem to do best - eat!
I could not help but notice a similarity to something mentioned on CNN earlier in the afternoon. A reporter walked through the Superdome, amidst the remnants of what was once "home" to those that evacuated there for Katrina. I use the word "home" loosely, since it was NO home, but a temporary shelter for the many, who for one reason or another, did not leave the New Orleans area. The reporter noted the collected circle of chairs that remained, of people that had formed communities, perhaps out of the need for safety, but I can't help but think they were forming communities for more than safety, but the need for each other, for fellowship and community, albeit short lived, was nonetheless their needed community.

When I got to the grape stomp, there were a scattering of chairs where friends were placing themselves with their family and friends, strategically or not, by meal time, a larger circle had formed, with the food in the middle. Inside the circle were the occasional small circle, for those with young children to provide an area where the children could eat and not wander beyond the larger circle.

No matter where we are, we need some form of community. There are those of us that may want to be in the thick of it all, while other sit on the outside, coming occasionally for nourishment and nurturing.

Joe, thank you for the opportunity to allow us to participate in your ministry for providing the communion wine. Thank you for the gift of hospitality as you and your family offer memories for all of us to bring along with us as we journey as a church family.

A Collect for the victims of Hurricane Katrina

By Lonnie Lacy

During Morning Prayer September 1 at Virginia Theological Seminary, Lonnie Lacy, a senior M.Div student, offered the following collect for the victims of Hurricane Katrina:

God of all mercy, in the beginning your Holy Spirit brooded over the waters of the deep and turned chaos into life: Send that same life giving Spirit, we pray, to the displaced people of the Gulf Coast, that they may be delivered out of the waters of their own chaos and brought into safety; provide them with adequate medicine, dry shelter, and warm food; stand watch with those who are still alive yet remain unrescued, that their lives may be spared and their perseverance may not be in vain; bless all who are working to bring relief and rescue, that their coming in and their going out may be safe, fruitful, and secure; and finally, hear us as we commend to you those souls who faced Hurricane Katrina but could not survive her torment. In our common humanity, we cry out "kyrie eleison" through Jesus your Son, the Christ of Compassion. Amen.

Lonnie's prayer is posted on the Episcopal News Service's web site

What a beautiful collect. I post this for several reasons. Marcia, a fellow sister in our St. Sophia's Chapter of Daughters of the King in our parish, shared this with us this morning. The words offer comfort and and solace during a time where, for many, there is none.

The words also come from a young man who I remember was once a teenager in our diocese. His faith has always run deep in to his very being, and it was apparent back then. Out of this young man, who is now an adult, comes a prayer that can offered to all of us for those directly affected by this Hurricane of all Hurricanes, to those of us who sit by the sidelines.

Lonnie, if you read this, please know how very thankful I am that you offered from your heart and soul these words to our world. Your prayer touches many and can put into words that many of us know, but cannot express as eloquently as you. Thank you for this wonderful gift.

For those of you that read my blog, the focus usually leans usually to knitting - however the last two postings have focused on two people I know that are making a difference because of the past week's disaster. Two people at very different parts of their lives, but offering their part to those who have been affected. We have ALL been affected, as has been obvious from the television, the radio stations, newspapers, blogs, emails, and from those of us that count pennies and write prayers. Thanks to Lonnie, and below to Davis for being two of many.
Cathy

Counting Coins for the hurricane victims

One can never be too young to begin giving to others. Davis, who is not new to this blog, but might be new to counting money, is doing mighty work right now. This three year old is helping his parents count the loose change they collect each day so they can give it to the hurricane victims.

This seems like a small activity - but it is laying the groundwork for a lifetime of remembering that giving to others in need is what we are called to do. No task is too small and no child is too young to begin to know what it is to give to others. Davis's parents are building the foundation for this young man so he may know the gift of giving to others.

We, too, will do the same. Rachael, our seven year old, will count our loose change and our donation will go to Episcopal Relief and Development - on their web site they state:

"Episcopal Relief and Development supports children and families who are suffering from disaster, disease and poverty. Our programs save lives today and build hope for the future. Your partnership with us provides emergency assistance and long-term solutions to fight poverty and disease. "

No amount is too small and no person is too young to become involved in this process. They may not fully understand the devastation and magnitude of this disaster. However, it plants the seeds that last a lifetime to give to others less fortunate.

A big thank you goes to Davis - for helping count his pennies to give to others. Thank you also goes to his parents who understand the importance to begin early the gift of giving.

Happy Birthday Mom!

~~~HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!~~~

(a picture of us on a cruise 2 years ago)

Today is my Mom's birthday. They don't get any better than her! Some things that you may or may not know about her:

• She was born in Perry, Florida.
• She attended FSU the first year it became coed.
• She worked 34 years at Florida State University before retiring.
• She has a room named after her at FSU in the Center for Professional Development.
• She and Dad were ALMOST married 50 years until he passed away 2 months before their anniversary.
• She ate a lot of beans and weiners because my Dad loved them (we won't go into detail about what happens afterwards).
• She doesn't eat them now
• She has 5 grandchildren, 3 of who are mine - they love their "Mimi"
• She and I went on a cruise and she loved it and she would like to go again (save those pennies Mom)
• She snores.
• She has spunk.
• She's given up cooking and has never looked back.
• She especially likes my husband's cooking.
• She thinks my husband is a keeper (and I do too).
• She enjoys going out to eat at different places.
• She is going out to eat for her birthday.
• Her dog is named Annie (and her picture has been on this blog before she was).
• She is the BEST MOM!

Please leave a Happy Birthday to my Mom in the comments - this blog posting is one of her gifts for her birthday - she is a gift to me!

love,
Cathy