LindaG, WWI and soccer!

 On this Veterans Day I would like to recommend to you all to go to the World War I museum in Kansas City, MO.  It is outstanding and would rank in the top 5 of museums we have seen ever.  It sparked an interest in WWI and I am gathering my TBR list on this subject.

Above is my dear friend, LindaG.  We have been friends for 34 years.  Our husbands worked together that many years ago when we both lived in St Louis.  Andrew wanted to go with us to a soccer game in KC in October.  Carl and Andrew made that happen.  I texted Linda, who lives in the area, and she was able to spend part of the day with us.

We started our day at the WWI museum.

 Lots of poppies!  Inside the museum you can listen to poems written during the Great War. In Flanders Fields was written by Lieut-Col John McCrae as he looked out and saw the poppies on the battlefield.  One docent said that they believe that a chemical from the ammunition provided fertilizer and the poppies grew as a result of that.  Andrew recently read an article that said that the European soccer teams will wear a single poppy on their uniforms in honor of today.

 One of my favorite exhibits was a HUGE timeline of the war.  The war started in 1914 but the US did not enter until 1917.  The timeline gave month by month info on the war and at the bottom it told what was going on in the US at that time too.

 Here we are at the soccer stadium in KC, Kansas.

 We had great seats.  We were on the second row at midfield.  It was very patriotic, lots of red, white and blue.

 A man about 5 folks down from us was hit with a soccer ball!

 I don't know much about soccer but all those around me including Andrew knew all the names of the US players and were cheering them on by name.  The man in front of us turned around when the game started and got on to me for sitting down during the game.  I smiled and told him that my son wanted me at this game and I was here for him and that was my goal for the game.  The man and his wife sat for most of the game so I could see.  They were to first to high five Andrew when USA scored.

 USA beat Jamaica 2-0.  The young man who scored the first goal was from Kansas City.  When he scored...THE CROWD WENT WILD.  There were 18,000 folks at this game which is small compared to the American football games that have 80,000.  The crowd was electric.  So much fun!  Thank you Andrew and Carl!

 We went back to the museum on Saturday morning.

My grandfather was stationed in Paris when Sergeant York brought the German POWs there.  If you don't know who Sergeant York is and haven't seen the movie Sergeant York stop reading this and go rent it.  Great movie.  Sergeant York was on the set when the movie was made. You will be encouraged.  You are welcome!

 Carl and Andrew went to the top of the monument. Carl took this picture of me. That's me sitting on the bench.

 What a great trip with these two guys.

The reason Veteran's Day is celebrated today is this is the anniversary of the end of WWI.  The treaty was signed on 11/11/1918 at the 11 hour.  At the 11 hour today, a wreath will be placed on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Remember go watch Sergeant York!

A Day of Thanksgiving!

 A few weeks ago I decided that I needed, wanted, Had To Have turkey and the fixings before November 28th.  Sweet Carl had me pick a day and then he cook a turkey breast in the oven and we cooked the rest.  He will crank up the Big Green Egg for the 28th.  Kaitlin, Beth and Taylor helped with the potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, bread and the beverages.  I made pecan pie and pumpkin dump cake the day before.  What a feast!!! John, Marisa, Atticus, Kaelyn and Noelle joined us about 3 and Kelsey came after work.  Kelsey, I am sorry we didn't get you in a picture!!!!  Next time!

 Beth is in her last year of PT school.  Carl missed a step at work and twisted his ankle.  Beth checked out his ankle. In the picture above she is evaluating Robert's shoulder pain.  What a handy addition to our family.  Plus Beth loves to laugh so she fits right in with the Funroes!

The camera, a tripod and the timer!  First somewhat normal

 Then the craziness for the left side of the picture

 Beth told us to put our hands under our chins- do you see Beth doing it?????

 Now you see Beth doing it!!!!  Even Robert!

 The rest of our group sans Kelsey

 I never had a child lay on their tummy and look at toys like Mr Wonderful does.  Curiouser and Curiouser.

 How do you get to know your grandson?  You get on his level and play.  What a great Gpapa!

 Atticus loves the holding of the hands as we say the Blessing.  This day he could not be parted from his vehicles but he willingly held up his arms.  I caught a picture of him looking up at Gpapa as he prayed.  Here is this blest fellow standing between the two men he loves the most, his daddy and his Gpapa.

On Sunday morning for breakfast I had my first, of the season, turkey sandwich with leftover turkey and cranberry sauce.  Yum!!!

I am thankful for good food, friends, family, and a day spent together.

A fun evening with friends!

 Recently Carl and I were able to go to P. Allen Smith's house in Roland with our good friends, Terry and Sandy.  Sandy is the only one in our group who had ever been here.  She was here in the spring and saw the daffodils in bloom.  We all enjoyed the fall color and decorations.  Above is Allen's house. We got to tour it.  

 Sandy and Terry in the Pumpkin house.

 We were encourage to wear all black.

 We got masks!

 A pumpkin tree!

 Below is the Sister Oak.

 This is the view out of Allen's kitchen window.  Breathtaking!  The water you see is the Arkansas River.

 We took a hay ride around the farm.  Below is a picture of Allen's brother's house.  It was written up in Southern Living.

 Allen has chickens and turkeys

 Allen's house with the sister oak

 The brown building below is the show barn.  We had supper there.

 We had some interesting guests join us too.

 Supper in the show barn.  The Chef was from Local Lime, Big Orange and Zaza's.  The food was yummy!

 The house and the tree lit up.

We had a great evening.  It was chilly and rainy but we laughed the night away with Terry and Sandy as we enjoyed the beauty all around us!

Far More Abundantly

Ephesians 3:20-21 says Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.


When Carl and I got married I dreamed of what our children would be like and of course how many.  In my mind since I was one of 5 and Carl was one of 6, I thought we would have about that many.  That was my plan.
Andrew's delivery was a nightmare.  I told Carl that this was it!!! No more children for us!
But God had other plans and He put the desire in my heart for more children and we had Kaitlin and John.  After I had John my OB strongly suggested that we have no more children.  He said that I had so much internal damage that I might not make it through another delivery and that my children needed a mother more than a brother or a sister.
Devastation was what I felt.
This was not my plan.
Carl would find me rocking John and crying.  Sweet Carl would ask what is wrong and I would say that I want a baby and he would gently say that you have a new baby and I would cry and say but I want another baby.  I have read that no matter how many children you have when you have the desire for another and that desire is not fulfilled there is a deep hurt.
The last firsts were hard but through God I was at peace.
The hardest age with John was age 5 because that is how old Andrew was when John was born and that was truly a door shutting to me.
My favorite age with my children is teenager to adult.  I loved my babies and I think yours are darling but I am not a random baby holder/cooer/kissthem/etc.
Someone recently asked how Carl and I came to open our home to young adults and I honestly don't know but if finally dawned on me that God is giving me all those children that I wanted and He is giving them to me as adults- the very age that I dearly love.
I was blown away when I realized this. Like fall on my face, with tears in my eyes and a heart so overwhelmed blown away.  He is fulfilling my desire in a way Far More Abundantly than I could even imagine.
Below is my latest child.  I don't know what number she is.  She is pictured with my 2nd child, Kaitlin.
Her name is Beth.
Her boyfriend is Robert.
Robert's sister is Marisa who is married to my 3rd child, John. So we are somewhat related!
Beth is in PT school and she is doing her different rotations now so some weeks she has class and some weeks she is with a PT.  After her last rotation ended she needed a spot for a few weeks and she picked our house.
We are so glad.
She fits right in here.
We may not let her go!
God, You are so awesome!!!!

A Privilege I Have

Every Wednesday I go to the Classical School in Little Rock and read to these wonderful children.

What a blessing it is to me.

I love reading.  I love reading out loud- I think I have a little actress in me- very little :-)  I now spend time in the children's section at the library and online researching books that are good to be read out loud.  Here are a few of our favorites so far-
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Drummer Hoff
Baby Brains by James
Chewie Louie by Schneider

These books are too old or not appropriate or we just haven't gotten to yet for me to read at the classical school but still good.
Captain Abdul's Pirate School by McNaughton- when I got to the part about teaching spitting and pirate swear words I thought mmmm maybe better not read this so that they don't go home and ask mama about swear words but it was a fun read.
The Carpenter's Gift by Rubel.  I may read this in December.  Beautiful pictures and great story.  Did you know that the Christmas tree from Rockefeller Square was donated to Habitat for Humanity??  I learned that from this book.
Boys of Steel by Nobleman.  I never knew who the inventors of Superman were (two shy guys with glasses) and when it started (During the Depression).  Really interesting book.

My own collection of children's literature is swelling as I read good books and then feel the need to have them on my shelves at home.

Enjoy your privileges today!!!

A Christmas Carol, The amazing Race and you

From the book of Genesis we know that we are made in the image of God.  Because of this 'imprint' that we have we see the redemptive story all around us- movies, books and TV shows to name a few.  One such movie is A Christmas Carol- I love all the different renditions. Why is that movie so popular? It is a picture of me and you.  I once was lost but now am found!

I've recently been watching one of Andrew's favorite TV shows and to me it is a picture- veiled and through a mirror dimly-of our Christian life.

The show is called The Amazing Race.  11 teams of two, race around the world in competition with the other teams.  The Teams travel to and within multiple countries in a variety of transportation modes.  Clues are provided in each leg that lead the teams to their next destination or direct them to perform a task.  These challenges are related in some manner to the country wherein they are located.  Contestants strive to arrive first at the end of each leg to win prizes but also the team that arrives last has the possibility of being eliminated..

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

I Corinthians 9:24  Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

We are in an Amazing Race!!  What is our goal?  To love the Lord thy God with all my heart, soul and mind and for me to love you as much as I love me!  The Catechism's first question is What is man's chief end?  Man's chief end is to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.  One day we will see Jesus!  One day we will BE with Jesus!!  What a prize we have set before us!

Just like in the TV show as we travel through life we encounter Challenges, Road blocks, and Detours.

The teams we enjoy the most are those that take the time to realize that they are traveling in a place or doing an activity that they never would have done before and may never do it again.  A book that encourages us to do this in our lives is Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts . Her premise is to be thankful for the things that are right here right now.  She wants us to be very present with our gratitude. Life is hard but in the thankfulness of the moment I reset my eyes to the prize that is set before me and that helps me endure/ succeed/continue on with the tasks that are set before me.

I recently saw this on a blog/web site I follow.  Christy Jordan is The Southern Plate.  I feel like I know her.  I enjoy all that she writes because she is so encouraging.  This past summer as she was on her family vacation in of all places- Arkansas, she was thrown off a horse and broke both her legs.  Let me make sure you read that right- Broke BOTH her legs.  Oh my!!!  I wondered if she would still be her encouraging self during all of this.  I was not disappointed.  One day she wrote about all those things that we do for our children that we really shouldn't but it is just easier, well, she had to say to her children that mama can't help you today because I've got two broken legs!!!  Also at the beginning of school when the school is begging for volunteers she had to tell them that she couldn't help because she had two broken legs!!  She was able to find humor and thankfulness in a very hard situation.

The other characteristic that we enjoy seeing on the TV show is when the teams encourage their teammates.  They tell them that they can do it!  Keep your eyes on the prize!!

The apostle Paul gives us encouragement for keeping our eyes on the prize-

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

II Cor 4:17  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison   

Do you think that what you undergo is more than slight momentary affliction?  Listen from II Corinthians 11 what slight momentary affliction Paul went through- 5 times of 40 lashes less 1, 3 times beaten by rods, once stoned, 3 times shipwrecked, a night and day adrift at sea, frequent journeys in danger from rivers, robbers, his own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and hardship through many sleepless nights, in hunger and in thirst often without food, in cold and exposure.  And apart from other things there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.  I would say that he knows a little about affliction!

How can we see this on our amazing race?  When we come along side of each other as we go through the challenges and tasks of life.

My friend, Linda, broke her hip a few months before her youngest child, a daughter, got married.  I took a meal to her and found her in the midst of flurry of activity as she sat in a chair and directed, as others did tasks that she physically couldn't do.  Her friends came along side her so that she could finish the challenge that was set before her and not get bogged down.  I was so encouraged by them.

My friend, Faith, delivered a son at 20 weeks.  His name was Alex.  I was on the phone with Faith as she was in the hospital getting ready for the delivery.  I was helping her get her other two children situated.  As we were nearing the end of our conversation, I was at a loss.  I could tell my friend that I loved her and that I was praying for her but I couldn't relate to the exact feelings she was feeling.  Before we hung up someone came into her room, it was a another friend from church, Renee.  I heard such relief in Faith's voice because Renee could offer the comfort I couldn't.  Renee has lost several children and could offer words and hugs that ministered greatly to Faith.  How that ministered to me also!!

Life is hard.  We are faced with tasks, challenges, road blocks and detours that can be overwhelming.  Failed marriages, wayward children, death of a loved one, loss of a friendship, car wreck and just the general busyness of life.

So today on your Amazing Race

1- Look around for those you can cheer on to completion, those you can encourage
2- Be thankful for your challenges and in them name things that you are thankful for
3- Realize that this is 'slight momentary affliction' and we are being prepared for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison!

Your task at hand is not the end, Seeing Jesus is!!!

Beach, Family and Low Tide

 Carl and I recently went to Hilton Head Island.  Wow!!!  It is beautiful. I hope we can go back again.  We went at this time because my brother, John, and his wife, Elaine, were there for a few days and they invited us.

Above is an artistic shot for Kaitlin.

Carl and I relaxing.

 Andrew and Taylor joined us.  We rented chairs and an umbrella.  It was windy and sunny.

 Carl and Andrew are pointing to our condo.

 On Saturday night my brother, Charles, joined us.  We ordered supper from a local seafood place and Carl and Andrew brought it to our condo so we could eat and watch football.

 We brought in the TV from a bedroom so we wouldn't miss any of the action.

 The Seafood was outstanding.  Here are John and Carl getting after their supper.

 One of the cool things about Hilton Head is how far the tide comes in at high tide.  In the picture below notice the dark sand and the lighter sand.  The dark sand is high tide.  We didn't stay on the beach long enough to see it come in but I would like to next time.  The dark sand is packed down.  John rides his bike on it.

 This was my view.  I am still stunned by how far out low tide is.

 I loved all the tidal pools the tide created.  The picture below was taken standing in ankle deep water and look how tiny the chairs look.

 A very nice stranger took a picture of our whole group. She took lots of pictures with my camera and Elaine's. I am sorry this photo doesn't have sound.  You would hear John commented loudly on the coolness of the water.  Notice his body language, he is ready to jump out of the picture and out of the water the second the picture taking is over.  We are all laughing!!!

 My brothers and me.

What a great time we had that weekend.  I enjoyed the time to just sit and look at the beach and the time to visit.