I'll Fly Away

I love this picture of my dad, because it so epitomizes how he lived his life, head on.  He was not afraid of a good fight and fought with gusto, sometimes to his own detriment, but more often victorious.  He felt his convictions deeply and wasn't shy about sharing them.  My mother was the perfect helpmeet for him as she often tempered his zeal with a calm hand and a loving heart.

There was another side to my dad though, one that would still whisper sweet nothings in my mothers ear after decades of marriage and she would still blush, one that would sit and read a novel to his mother-in-law while she convalesced after a stroke, one that would go out to the streets on Sunday morning to feed the homeless.  He would take along a boom box and a microphone and sing hymns.  Dad loved to sing and some days you would find him and mother sitting at the piano, her plunking out a hymn and him singing along.

October 4, 2002 is a day I will not long forget.  I don't want to forget.  One day my boys are going to ask me about their grandpa, my dad, and I want them to know what he meant to me and how much I loved him.  His strength, his gentleness, his convictions and his compassion, his love for the Lord and his love of life.  This is the day he died.

He had cancer.  A cancer that took five years to claim his body, one that caused him immeasurable pain, but that he never complained about, but that you could see in his face when he thought you weren't looking.  So worried was he that he would become addicted to the pain meds that he rarely took them, but when they finally put him on a morphine drip at the end he was too tense from the pain to feel the release offered.

He died at home.  My sister and I had the privilege of caring for him in the last years of his life and we wouldn't have had it any other way.  Some might have thought it burdensome, but oh what we would have missed if we had not.

It was early morning when my sister woke me and told me it wouldn't be long now.  Only a few hours left to say goodbye.  I stood at his side, wanting to hold his hand but knowing that any touch caused him anguish.  My brother had asked the pastor to come pray for him, with him and they had just left.  Only me, my sister-in-law and Aunt remained in the room.  They sat at the end of the bed thumbing through a hymnal looking for a particular song.  Humming and singing when they found a familiar tune, and then they came across the hymn "I'll Fly Away", and as they started to sing Dad went home to Jesus.  It was almost like he was waiting for permission to go and when he heard the words of that old hymn his spirit felt sweet release from the earthly bonds that held him.  As the tears started to roll down my cheeks, I could barely speak, but managed to whisper, "He's gone", just loud enough for them to hear.

Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away.

Some say that hymn is a bit cliche and overdone, and maybe it is, but if it didn't have the power to stir ones soul we wouldn't still sing it.  To be quite honest, until that day I had never really paid attention to the words, but now I will not forget them.  If you have never heard it or read the lyrics, I hope that someday you will.

To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away.

I miss both my parents so very much and it doesn't get any easier but perhaps a little bit more bearable as the years slip into decades.  My heart aches for them and for my forever home and the promised someday reunion, when I get my wings and fly away.

In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  John 14:2.

Isn't that a lovely promise, one that makes you hold on to life, one that makes for joyful living?

Comfort Food

So when FringeGirl over at the Domestic Fringe said she wanted to do a blog carnival on comfort food every friday during the month of October I told her I would participate and I have been thinking about what I could do since then.  Fried chicken with potatoes and gravy, pot roast, meatloaf, "pork chops and applesauce" (name that 70's sitcom) and all sorts of stick to your ribs kind of dishes.

But that's it.

Thinking.

Not doing.

Therein lies my problem, I have been feeling overwhelmed and under-motivated to do much lately.

So this is what I came up with, my recipe for fried chicken.

1 Husband with food order, money in his pocket and car keys in the ignition.
Drive 10 mins due east to desired location.
Pick up 8 piece bucket original recipe with all the trimmings.
Return home.

Finger lickin' goooooood.

See.

Now wasn't that easy.

My other two favorite comfort foods are real simple too, whateveryoufix and fendforyourself.

Now its your turn, head on over to the domestic fringe and link up for some real comfort.


See you next week.

Service

Yesterday at church the pews were empty.

Not because of a lack of parishioners, or funding, or a general lethargy in our Christian community but because it was designed to be that way.

Yesterday was Faith in Action Sunday and as a congregation it was decided that instead of sitting in church for service, the church would go out in service to the community.

So we went.

I am happy to report that a good many people came and that we were able to accomplish what we set out to do.  We fed the homeless, gave away hygiene kits, cleaned up the litter from a section of a popular walking trail, cleaned and did some painting at the Rescue Mission and cleaned up a house and got it ready for several young girls aging out of the foster care system.   Did you know that most charities are closed on Sunday's?   Did you know that most of the kids in the foster care systems are left to fend for themselves the day they turn 18?  That many of them are left with nothing and no place to go?

The pastor sent us all out with a mustard seed in our pocket as a reminder to each of us that what we were doing was planting seeds and that as we are faithful in planting, Christ is faithful in growing.

I spent my time in the homeless shelter's kitchen filling cups with orange juice and coffee.  Others would take it to the tables.  On one trip back my friend told me a little one had asked if there was any hot cocoa, when she had to tell him no, he sighed a little sigh and tried to hide his disappointment.  It just about broke my heart, this family living on the street heard about the promise of a meal on a crisp autumn Sunday morning and came to eat.  I'm sure they went away with their belly's full, but for how long, who knows where their next meal will come from, this child who hoped to sip a hot cocoa, went away wanting.  If I could have given him one I would have.

It made me mindful of the things I take for granted and grateful for the blessings I have been given.

I am going to take that mustard seed and plant it and see how big it grows.

Then He said.  "What is the kingdom of God like?  And to what shall I compare it?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."  -  Luke 13:18-19


Lord thank you for the promise that you will prepare a place for us and I pray that we all can find shelter under your branches.  Amen.

It Went Well

So yesterday was HT's first day of preschool.  He had a good time.

"Look, Mama, dey have fish!"

Can't wait to go back.

He is in the 4 year old class, even though he is two weeks shy of his 4th birthday.  It was that or not going at all and he has been demanding all summer, "Where's my school?"  The school administrator says that about 1/3 of the class are first timers also and that they won't be going on to kindergarten next year either.  We are grateful for this opportunity and  he wouldn't be here if it weren't for the generosity of a certain Auntie.  Thanks.

When I told him yesterday that it was time to go to preschool, he wondered where the bus was and when I explained that I would drive him, he was a little bit disappointed, but was so happy to be going that he was willing to let me take him.

When we got there, the classroom wasn't ready yet and we had to wait in the foyer.  He took the opportunity to stand there and tell everyone as they came in the door, "Welcome to my preschool!"

Once the classroom was open he went straight in put his sunglasses in his cubby then introduced himself to the teacher using his full name,  like he'd always been there and knew exactly what to do and where to go.

Then told me goodbye.

I'd been dismissed.

Huh?

Oh well.

He came home singing a little ditty about his name.  One I'd never heard before.

"Rickety, tickety bumblebee, will you say your name for me."

He repeated it until bedtime.

Like I said, he had fun and I'm glad.

Boogie Time

What?

Did you think that I meant a revival of 70's style disco dancin'?

Not hardly.

Even if I could I wouldn't, we won't even go into why not.

We've been sick here.  First EM caught a cold, then I got it (plus a nasty sinus infection) and now HT is getting over it.  I guess it will be Papa's turn next.

Anyway.

Have you tried these Boogie Wipes?  They are absolutely the best thing for little noses and they really do live up to all they claim.  Nothing gets off dried on crusted boogers discharge from a runny nose quicker and more efficiently.  But the kids hate them, probably because they are cold and wet, however once you tackle them, hold them down and endure the crying and carrying on they work really well.  EM would see me coming at him with a tissue and he would turn and run the other way.

Just thought I would share.

And, in other news.

HT went to a birthday party on the 11th and as we were driving there we saw several flags flying.  "Look, dere's an American flag." he says.  Oh no, I think to myself, here we go again.  However he tells me that he likes American flags now and that they no longer have the same effect on him.

Phew, what a relief, 'cause he is starting preschool tomorrow and couldn't be more excited.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Toodles.

A Fair to Remember

Nothing says fall to me like the state fair and since last thursday was opening day for our state fair we made a play date, packed a picnic lunch and went.  It turned out to be a lovely day despite the forecasted rainy weather.  Thought for sure we were going to get wet so I carried an umbrella around the entire time, but the longer we stayed the nicer the day turned out to be.

They have an exhibit called "Little Hands on the Farm" where the kids get to pretend to be a farmer, they plant seed (wood disks) and harvest their crops (plastic vegetables), they "pick"  plastic apples, "milk" a plastic cow, collect wool from a stuffed sheep, gather plastic eggs from stuffed chickens, ride a tractor and after they are all done they get a voucher to collect a treat.

They really enjoyed the rides and we spent a good bit of time letting them have the run of the place.  We decided to buy a wristband and it was well worth it.  The carnival area was blissfully uncrowded and there was no waiting on any ride they chose.

HT loved the slide and went down it twice.  

We saw goats, cows, ponies, sheep and pigeons and two seals, not really what you would expect to see at the fair, but they were there.

And last but not least the quilted wall hanging I made won a second place ribbon, not to shabby if I do say so myself.  Although I must confess that I was a teeny tiny bit disappointed since last years quilt won a first place ribbon.

A fun day for all.

I'm linked up today, for more fall fun visit This Blessed Nest.

You Know You're A Parent When . . .

taking a bath in private has become a luxury. . . .

 you finish rinsing your hair and you find a nose pressed against the glass . . .

 when the peeping tom in your bathroom isn't really a peeping tom at all . . .

"MAMA!"