Thank You, Fay

God has blessed me in so many ways. However some of the blessings have come in unusual packages. Let me take you for a little trip down memory lane. After graduate school, I began work with the Head Start Program in Knoxville, TN. While working as a Master Teacher, I became friends with a lovely lady, named Fay Gluck. Fay worked as a social worker in the program. And Fay was Jewish. You see, being a "little girl" from Jefferson City, TN, I had never known a Jewish person much less been friends.

When my husband, Lee, took a job in Nashville, I prepared to leave my job in Knoxville. We got an apartment in Nashville, and Lee left me behind to work out a notice. Who came to my rescue? Fay. She invited me to stay in their home the remainder of time I would be in Knoxville. Well if I had never known a Jewish person, I certainly had not stayed in the home of one. Staying with Fay, her husband, Bob, and her 3 children was a wonderful blessing. Not only did I enjoy their company, I learned so much about Jewish faith and traditions. And I loved their cook, Viola. She knew how to prepare food and keep everything in the kitchen kosher. The first bar mitzvah I ever attended was Fay's son.

At last my employment with the Head Start Program came to a close, and I was given a farewell party. Fay and others had collected money for a going-away gift--a silver charm bracelet with two significant charms attached. One charm was the Head Start symbol. The other was a fish. Why a fish? Because Fay knew I was a Christian and respected me and my faith. Thirty-seven years later--and I still have those charms and they are both still special to me.

This past week my walk intercepted Fay's once again on a sadder note. I attend her husband's memorial service at the West End Synagogue here in Nashville. I had never attended a Jewish funeral service before just as I had never attended a Jewish bar mitzvah until I attended her son's so many years ago. I didn't get to talk with Fay. She might not have remembered me anyway. But I will never forget her and the kindness she showed me so many years ago. Thank you, Fay!

This story is not over. There is more to come soon. See ya then.

Snippets of Trying Times Now Make Me Laugh

Let me set the stage. It is a Saturday afternoon in Sarasota, Florida. I am at the home of my son and daughter-in-law, Chad and Candace. They have gone out to run some pre-Christmas errands. I (Mimi) am at home with Hadley (4 ½ years) and Shepherd (almost 20 months). Shepherd has just had palette surgery and must eat through a tube attached to a large syringe. Now mind you this little guy likes to eat and eating through a tube is not a cup of tea for him or for the one feeding him. But I, Mimi, am doing my best to get some pureed waffle down the little guy fast enough to satisfy him. He is continually giving the sign for “more” just one hint that I’m too slow, he wants more, or perhaps he wants something completely different. While I, Mimi, am pushing “food” into Shep’s mouth, Hadley is pulling a chair over to the pantry and proceeds to get out a container of Nesquick, insisting she really must have some chocolate milk. Within seconds the container drops to the floor and there now is a huge pile of Nesquick on the floor. No problem thinks my precocious granddaughter, I’ll clean it up. She begins wetting a slew of paper towels. My mind races ahead to a sticky, chocolately mess all over the kitchen floor so I begin yelling: “No Hadley. Don’t clean it up. Mimi will clean up. Hadley, please don’t bother to clean it up. Leave it on the floor. Mimi will get it. You did not mean to spill it.” Finally she transferred her attention from the pile of Nesquick on the floor to the blender her mom had left on the counter. The blender is directly in front of Hadley because she is standing in a chair (another precarious move). Next thing I know the blender’s motor is revving on high, and Hadley looks like she is about to jump out of her skin. Meantime, Shepherd is still begging for more to eat. Then I, Mimi, have a flashback to my days as a young mom with two young preschoolers. I thought how frustrated I would have been then in a situation like I was finding myself. But today it all I can do to keep from cackling out loud. The situation truly was a comedy because I know now these snippets of trying times are just that—snippets. They pass so quickly and it did! And all is well and I can tell you about it with great pleasure!

Peanut Butter, Poop and Alimentum

You know what peanut butter is. And you most certainly know what poop is. But do you know what Alimentum is? Let me describe them in the order of their odor. If you like peanut butter, the aroma can be pleasing at first. Poop—well there is nothing pleasing about the smell. Then there’s Alimentum. Alimentum is a formula for babies who have dairy allergies. It’s smell? HORRIBLE! Maybe even worse than poop.

Yesterday was my day to wear all three fragrances. You see I was caring for my grandchildren, Analayne and Leighton, while Leeanne went back to work—her first day back since Leighton was born.

Picture Analayne and me eating peanut butter and crackers. Not uncommon for a three year old, she gets peanut butter on her fingers and before I know it, she wipes the gooey stuff on my capris. So much for that!

Let’s move to baby Leighton. He is sitting in his swing—happy as a lark. I thought to myself he must be “pooping” because he is always cheerful when doing his business. When he starts to crank up his motor, I know he’s done. He’s thinking get this mess out of my pants. So being the good Mimi I am, I pick him up to take him to the changing table for a clean diaper when I realize poop is everywhere! It’s leaking from his diaper--all down his leg, soaked into his blanket, and dripping on the floor. The floor I could get back to; the rest required haste. Somewhere in the transport, I manage to get poop on the sleeve of my shirt. Now I’ve got gooey peanut putter on my capris and poop on my sleeve. If you know babies, what happens when they have a big poop? They’re hungry, like famished they would have you believe. So being the good Mimi that I am, I make him a bottle of his formula—Alimentum. I cuddle him close and begin to feed him. A happy lad he is! Then I feel something wet. It’s Alimentum soaking through my shirt. Remember what I said earlier about Alimentum? It smells horrible—especially when it dries.

Finally dad Russell gets home from work. I tell them bye and give the “babies” hugs and I’m on my way. When I got home, I was glad to exchange my “mimi” clothes for some non-smelly duds.

Do I share this story to complain about the “fallout” from taking care of my precious grandchildren? No, not at all. As I see it, it is just life in the day of a Mimi who loves her children and grandchildren.

It is a joy to be a mom and a grand mom. And for me that’s the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Mimi
(2009)

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day to any of you moms who might be checking in!

Headed Toward a Mess

I'm speaking about my house. We are headed toward a mess because we are getting our old hardwood floors sanded and some additional hardwood floors installed. Actually at the moment I am freed up not to sweep, vacuum, or dust, for in few short days everything will be covered with dust. Amazingly I feel freed up.




Do you suppose Jesus' words in Matthew 6:25-34 were meant to free us up? He is telling us not to get too caught up in the present things like clothes, barns (houses), food and the like. Someday (in God's timing) these things will only be "a mess."




Now am I saying we shouldn't take care of things? Absolutely not. The things that really matter at my house are being cleaned and taken care of even though the "mess" is inevitable. We need to take care of what God has entrusted to us. At the same time we need to remember that these things are temporary. What is Jesus antidote? Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and He will take care of everything else now and forever. Now that's freeing!

Getting Started Is the Hardest Part

Today is my first day to blog. When I set up this blog, I had so many things I wanted to share. Then when time came to put words to screen, it was like having "writers' block." Nothing seemed to come. I thought about the days when I coached many a curriculum writer to "just write something to get started." You can always refine later. So today I am writing "something" just to remove the "block." In the days ahead I hope to have many a story to tell as God is continually teaching me things from His word, from His creation, and from His people. These I hope will be stories worth telling and will bless your heart.