This is an exhortation that I am wishing that all of my children will take to heart before they are grown.

Please read and pray This is a link of devotional thoughts about William Jennings Bryan.the 1900 expression of politics

One Pearly Gate stands between me and entering the war of words...

It is affectionately referred to as the SAT's

We learned to see it as a welcome friend. We learned test-taking as a post of accomplishment and achievement. It is not a pass or fail, persay, it is a monument to the time spent in the tutelage of an education system.

How Green

Kept coming into my mind and I was reminded that many earlier generations have had the younger children outshine their elder siblings, as if to say this is Ethan's turn to get all of NY's hand in to the game changing process. Just like before a big game, we come together, say the Lord's Prayer and cheer for ourselves with hands together; that was our visit to NY before the 6th's child's SAT attempt.

You are indeed entering "Big Word School"

And it just may be your lot to document our paultry attempts to change the world by rearing children in the fear of God. I pray that you will be encouraged to do your best, regardless of the outcome. Amen.

I told you Senior Year was hard!

We've Got the Seniors?

On our side!

From a midsummer fro to a more tame hairdo for your senior year. I know you still have some animosity about the hair curfluffle.

We are your parents and we love you and I am very glad to see your more mature look for your senior year. You will grow into it and visa versa. Thank God the first week was a good one. Let's run on to the end of your High School experience with the "victor's crown" in view.

You are our most wonderful Ethan! Keep the faith! Keep pressing on!

What does 17 mean for the mother/son relationship?

In my mind, you are still walking with me and Indiana squirrel down the childhood road to independence. Not so, mommy! You say that every day. I am a man. Not belligerent, but a man none the less, am I.

Seventeen means my suggestions must soften to another level. I am growing up as a mommy to learn this. I hope that you will be patient with me, while I oscillate between the infant mommy and the grown man mommy. I love you so much and love the man that you are becoming. I love the mommy that you are helping me to be. Happy Pre Birthday!

Spring Concert

Democracy or demagoguery?

Oh that Romney calling the recent expressions of the electorate demagoguery.  I think not.  it is only when the rich and powerful lose the control that they think that they have on the electorate that they condescend to belittling.  

   I am not a fan of Trump, persay.  But, I love the process that allows people to vote their consciences.  Emotions or prejudices are not called into play when you have a bunch of robots who are taught or pressured into voting in blocks because of false promises that have been made to them.  Now that the promises have been proved to be false and the controllers are wondering what did we do to deserve this overhaul that is happening that name calling is used.

   I think they fear a French Revolution in the politics where everyone who is in there is hauled out of office and a fresh bunch of poor zealots are voted into take their places.  Perhaps that would serve them all right.   The whole bunch of them have done little to lead in this change and technological revolution that has left so many unemployed and unable to pick up the pieces.  Just keep swimming, they encourage and we will see things get better. No we haven't seen things get any better for anybody but congress and the senate.  they get raises and they get taken care of, when they need nothing.  It is their place to get paid to direct us "lower folk" in law and legality.  Anyone who comes up the ladder by the voice of the people is a "demagogue".  Carry the consciences of the people.  Look at what they are saying and beware of dismissing the dismay and being provoked by demagoguery, lest you find yourself in the flames of civil conflict that we cannot assuage.

    Listen to the people and address the concerns.

Some Days are Diamonds?

We had a horrible squabble last week. But I know that my growing man is going to grow into a very great man, one day. He already is one super duper teenage fellow! Love you, Ethy!

Concerto, Maestro!

So sorry that you were sick.

A stuffy nose and an achey body are often a winter reason for missing school.  My usually ambitious scholastic young man, says, mom, I am sick.  Can't go to school.  I say Okay.  I don't question, when it is such a rarity.
We sometimes say, don't you want to take off today and you say, no way!
I love that spirit.
I would be on the train with piles of snow shaking the bridge.
One day, I was on the J train on the Brooklyn Bridge and the people were shoveling the tracks as we were going through.  The bridge was shaking so hard, I thought it was going to collapse, with all of us on it.  That is the New York ambition.  North Carolina submits to the providence of God, in humility.  It is to say, God you are the boss and you called a time out and we gladly take the time to look at what is at home that we must work on.  I love learning that.
I missed so much of what was happening at home, while I was chasing the Brooklyn Bridge.  You can't bring those days back.
Feel better!

Ethan is not a baby. I know.

We got through the hair, yesterday. Tangles are no fun. You are handsome with your long locks or dreds when we don't get to comb through the hair. Your style is your own. You are expressing yourself in your hair and we all have to go through these seasons. Expressing ourselves is a human wonder. Everybody is an individual and if you give freedom to others to be themselves, people will be able to grow through knowing you.

All I remember is my hair being a source of contention between me and Ruth. She ridiculed and ridiculed and despised me and my hair, I thought. We reconciled, before the end. I sat at her bedside, feeding her water and she said, "remember when you wouldn't come in my house?" I said yes. I was feeding water to her, now and it was over. Our love was over and our hate was over. Don't do that to people. Make a mountain out of a molehill. Hair is hair and it will grow or not grow, as the case may be.

Be who you are and let others be who they are.

Remembering the Christmas Pageant 2015

Thank you Sister Norris, for directing.

Learning to negotiate the conflicts

Conflicts never cease in a large family. How do we stay in communication with each other, when we are so often getting on each other's nerves? I am grateful to have found this letter from my sweet sensitive teen, from some conflict or other, I cannot recall which. It means that you are understanding the things that the Lord loves as well as the things the Lord hates! Love you!