Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

30
May

The Real Memorial Day…

Memorial Day

For those born after the 1960s this little statement may come as a shock: Today is really Memorial Day. Yes, today. Once upon a time (before 1968) Memorial Day was always celebrated on May 30th (at least in northern states). This little factoid was drummed into my head because it was part of an inside family joke. My dad, the naval officer, knew he would forget his wedding anniversary and thus, chose (with the permission of his bride–aka Mom) Memorial Day as the day to get married. Unfortunately, for Dad, the U.S. government chose to make Memorial Day the last Monday of the month in 1968.

If Mom and Dad were alive today, they would be celebrating anniversary # 72. They made it to # 61 in 2003, but Mom passed away a short time after that final anniversary. They accomplished that despite the odds. Both of them grew up in the Great Depression. Mom became a war bride, marrying her handsome naval chaplain less than 6 months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Dad traveled the world at the behest of the U.S. Navy and was assigned to some significant posts–becoming the chaplain for an all-African American Seabee unit (a rarity for a white officer in those days) and ministering to those who were on troop transport ships going from Seattle to Korea in the Korean War. In the former post he discovered that many soldiers in the unit were unable to read. Dad, who always maintained that God loved everyone, took it upon himself to teach them to read.

Meanwhile back at home, Mom had more gas rationing stamps because of her husband’s status in the military. She took it upon herself to take people to the doctor, to the store, to church and for other errands just so they wouldn’t have to walk. Some of her “hitchhikers” were pregnant military wives themselves and in Washington, PA (where Mom lived in the beginning) where hills are frequent and steep, this was a real help.

When Dad finally made it into the reserves in the mid-1950s he resumed his studies and while working full-time, managed to acquire his Ph.D. in Christian education. This, too, was a feat, since Dad had grown up in a humble country home with no indoor plumbing. Mom was always his faithful, supportive wife and helped out at the churches he served in whatever way was needed. If the church needed a Sunday School teacher, she taught. If it needed a President for the women’s group, she served. If they needed an organist, she played. If they needed a choir director, she led. One of my earliest memories is of my mom (who would tell you readily that she had no artistic talent) painting a brightly colored-mural on the walls of an elementary classroom in our church. Such things were rather novel in those days. When it was time to pay for two boys to go to college, Mom returned to work part-time to help meet the additional financial need. But, home was not neglected–she taught me to cook and clean and always had a “menu” with instructions for dinner ready for me when I came home from school. She even got one of those new-fangled microwaves (Anyone remember Amana Radaranges with an actual dial?) to make the dinner preparations a little easier for me.

Even after Dad retired and they moved to San Antonio, Dad still preached at various churches when the minister was on vacation or had a family funeral to attend. He managed to pass the IRS tax preparer’s exam and helped people prepare their tax returns each year, often without any compensation. He converted the Navy Retirement Center’s newsletter to a computerized process–again, a rarity for retired military personnel at that time.

Mom always kept her home immaculately and one afternoon, late in the day, she was informed that a military couple needed to marry before the groom needed to “ship out” the next day. Mom quickly put away the Sunday paper, changed into dressy attire, lit some candles and created a nice ambiance for the couple in less than an hour. The couple was absolutely stunned at how Mom made her home special just for them.

In between these activities Mom and Dad still managed to spoil my three children as they grew up. Mom would “hide” toys around her house for my kiddos to find when they visited and made “napping nests” for them on her living room floor out of blankets and couch cushions. Dad was always willing to cart them off to museums, movies, Sea World and Fiesta Texas when they were around. A child’s wading pool was always in the back yard for the early years.

The examples of “servanthood” and sacrifice go on for “miles” for this couple and I am proud to call them my parents. So, if my eyes mist up a bit a few days after our nation celebrates Memorial Day, you’ll have to forgive me. May 30th will always be my Memorial Day. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Monday’s Post: What’s the definition of this week’s word?

You Might Also Like: The Anniversary; Eulogy for a Brother; We’re Still Losing this War; Why I Stopped Writing; and Another Kind of WOW

20
Jan

Another Kind of WOW…

I know my WOW (Word of the Week) readers are hoping to see the new WOW for today and learn the meaning of last week’s WOW. However, I’m afraid I can’t oblige right now. I’ve been reluctant to write about this because it is not my story to tell, but someone else’s. And I want to respect that person’s privacy.

However, someone very dear to me is struggling mightily against a vicious, vicious enemy right now: esophageal cancer. And while I have been a huge proponent of fighting breast cancer because of losing my best friend to that disease, I am now awakened to the fact that esophageal cancer is a far more devastating disease because of its mere location.

Without much warning esophageal cancer can quickly block a very important function in one’s body: swallowing, digesting and providing your body with nutrition. This creates horrific complications and yet, surgical removal of the tumor is also very risky. While this person is valiantly trying to get through this battle, he is fighting increasingly more difficult odds simply because a lack of nutrition to the body creates a multitude of problems.

The survival rates for esophageal cancer make the survival rates for breast cancer look great, even though that I know that those who fight that cancer have no less an easy route to survival. But, this has awakened me to an area of cancer that desperately needs funding, research, and support systems for those who fight it.

Contrary to popular belief (or at least my erroneous belief), you can be perfectly healthy, not smoke and still wind up with this cancer. It is increasing in the U.S. in men at alarming rates and no one knows why. This person was, indeed, perfectly healthy prior to this diagnosis and looked as if he would live a good 15 to 20 years more, at the very least. But, now that is deeply in doubt.

Thus, with great reluctance, yet again, I am going to suspend writing the blog posts for MIP for a while. His care is rather demanding at this point and he deserves my full attention. I hope you will understand and forgive the lack of posting. And when we are successfully past this chapter of his life and mine, I will be back, in full force to bring you my normal “insanity” here at MIP.

I hope you will return to MIP when I resume writing, but of course, that is completely your choice. But sometimes, some things are just more important than learning a new word for a new week.

May God be gracious to you and those you care about. And yes, those of you fighting your own struggles are still ever in my prayers and thoughts.

Until we “meet” again…

 

 

06
Jan

Word of the Week: stichomythia…

Book Club Lovers:  Where are you in reading Killing Jesus? 

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Good morning, WOW lovers! The last WOW (Word of the Week) for 2013 was styptic. Merriam-Webster defines styptic as: tending to contract or bind or tending to check bleeding. Where was this word last fall when I was definitely in need of something to be styptic for all those blood tests I endured???

The first 2014 WOW is stichomythia. Here are my definition guesses for stichomythia:

stichomythia: (sti-kə-ˈmi-thē-ə) 1. a fictitious land in which all things are styptic 2. when “sticking it to the man” is merely a myth 3. the German way to spell mythical sticks

What are your definitions for stichomythia???

Wednesday’s Post: Keeping Those Resolutions for Good…

You might also like: Word of the Week: New Words for a New Year; Word of the Week: styptic; Word of the Week: pinchbeck, and Word of the Week:suffuse

16
Dec

Word of the Week: pinchbeck

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Book Club ReadersBig News! Author Jane Christmas will be answering questions about her book, And Then There Were Nuns on December 20th! Please finish the book (or at least start it, if you’ve been slacking!) and think up some questions for her to answer. You are welcome to submit them to me in advance via the Contact page, if you like. Click here to go to the Contact Page. She’s being ever so kind and simply wants to make reading and discussing the book more fun for us! Don’t miss this rare opportunity!

Last week’s WOW (Word of the Week) was suffuse. Merriam-Webster Online describes suffuse as: to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light or to flush or fill. Right now the number of ornaments in my home are pretty well suffused! I need bigger trees. And yes, I think we can say I have an ornament addiction. I wonder what detox treatment for ornament addiction is like. Hmmm….there may be a post in there somewhere.

Today’s WOW is pinchbeck. Since my middle name is Rebecca and my brothers sometimes called me Becky or Beck when I was a child, you will now understand my reasoning for definition guess # 1:

pinchbeck: (ˈpinch-ˌbek) 1. a painful process initiated to keep pesky younger sisters at bay 2. a retaliatory pinch 3. the person one calls when you are in dire straits. 

What’s your guess for pinchbeck? Or, do you know the actual definition? (If so, I am showing up at your place of business tomorrow to pinch you! :D) Comment below!

Wednesday’s Post: The 12 Days of MIP: 4 & 3…

You might also like: Word of the Week: suffuse; Word of the Week: fard; and Word of the Week: hawkshaw

22
Nov

December MIP Book Club Selection…


Nov

Slow Reader Friday: Undaunted

23
Jun

Thank you, SCC…

guitar

In the heat of the “battle” of two heart attacks, I asked the hubby to have our youngest (who was holding down the fort at home and taking care of our dog) to reload my iPod with songs that would help me cope with all these crazy health issues. I asked the right person to do that…my kids know my taste in music way too well….probably because I kept blaring it at them at ear-shattering volumes throughout their childhoods.  When this song played one night right after heart attack # 3, tears streamed down my cheek. While this is an oldie, it’s definitely a goodie. And nobody writes music or lyrics like Steven Curtis Chapman. So, Mr. Chapman? Thank you for writing what I could not. This song is “spooky” in terms of how much it applies to me. But then, my God has been called a Ghost before, so “spooky” just happens to be His domain.

If you have the time, listen to the actual soundtrack at the bottom–the music is powerful, too.

Bring It On by Steven Curtis Chapman

I didn’t come lookin’ for trouble
And I don’t want to fight needlessly
But I’m not gonna hide in a bubble
If trouble comes for me
I can feel my heart beating faster
I can tell something’s coming down
But if it’s gonna make me grow stronger then…

Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on
Let the trouble come, let the hard rain fall, let it make me strong
Bring it on

Now, maybe you’re thinkin’ I’m crazy
And maybe I need to explain some things
‘Cause I know I’ve got an enemy waiting
Who wants to bring me pain
But what he never seems to remember
What he means for evil God works for good
So I will not retreat or surrender

Now, I don’t want to sound like some hero
‘Cause it’s God alone that my hope is in
But I’m not gonna run from the very things
That would drive me closer to Him
So bring it on

Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on
Let the trouble come, let it make me fall on the One who’s strong
Bring it on
Let the lightning flash, let the thunder roll, let the storm winds blow
Bring it on
Let me be made weak so I’ll know the strength of the One who’s strong
Bring it on
Bring it on

Here’s the link to the audio track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mktjoryv_8Y

Tomorrow’s Post: Those infamous Lessons Learned…

You might also like: So, Where Are My Posts?, The Real Winner, Pomp Romp, Back-a-Hairy-It, Wedding Cake, I’m Glad to Be Your Man, When East Meets West, For Boston 

21
May

26 Tuesday: Emilie Parker

skaters

Last Tuesday we honored Anne-Marie Murphy, one of the teachers at Sandy Hook, who unselfishly covered some of the children with her body to attempt to save their lives. How do you honor a hero? I certainly don’t consider myself a hero, so this was a tricky one for me. But, fortunately, a child and a teen came to my rescue. Ms. Murphy was described as artistic and hard-working and I can think of two young ladies in our church (among many others there) who are extremely artistic, talented and hard-working. One began working hard before she even entered school full-time, singing her way into my heart with her ginger locks and pretty blue eyes. She is now about to graduate high school and also plays a mean piano. While doing 9000 things at once well, she is also the piano and voice teacher for 6 young, aspiring young ladies who pretty much idolize her (They’ve picked an awesome role model!).

One of her young students is just audacious and equally as talented as her mentor when she was the same age. In fact her piano teacher would say she’s even more talented than she was at that age, which is really saying something. This past Sunday the PH and I decided to go and listen to this young lady’s first piano recital and hear her young teacher present her students in concert. Both were awe-inspiring, as well as her other 5 students. We hugged that audacious little lady afterwards and she beamed as we told her how much we loved her performance.

While it may have been a very small act of kindness, I think the point is that all of our youngest citizens need to be praised for all of their positive efforts, even if they are at the beginning stages of the learning curve. And I think Anne-Marie Murphy would have liked that we supported some young artists in this small way.

This puts our MIP Acts of Kindness at 35 to date.

Today we honor Miss Emilie Parker. Here is what CNN said about Emilie:

Emilie “was the type of person who could light up a room,” her father told reporters Saturday. His oldest daughter was “bright, creative and very loving,” and “always willing to try new things other than food,” Robbie Parker said. “Emilie Alice Parker was the sweetest little girl I’ve ever known,” her aunt, Jill Cottle Garrett, said. The family is devastated that “someone so beautiful and perfect is no longer going to be in our lives and for no reason,” Garrett said. “My daughter, Emilie, would be one of the first ones to be standing up and giving her love and support to all of those victims, because that is the type of person she is,” her father said. Emilie’s “laughter was infectious,” he said. “This world is a better place because she has been in it.” Emilie was a mentor to her two younger sisters — ages 3 and 4 — and “they looked to her when they needed comfort,” her father said.

What did you do to honor Ms. Murphy? Please let me know if you participated by submitting a comment below. Thanks!

Tomorrow’s Post: You 3.0: MIP Exercise Plan

You might also like: 26 Tuesday: Anne-Marie Murphy, 26 Tuesday: Grace McDonnell, 26 Tuesday: James Mattioli, 26 Tuesday: Ana Marquez-Greene

07
May

26 Tuesdays: Grace McDonnell

 

polka dotsAs a reminder, I only share what I’ve been doing as acts of kindness to a) keep myself accountable and b) to encourage my readers to think in creative ways about how they can do acts of kindness for others. Honestly, it’s awkward to write about what I’m doing–I feel like I’m calling attention to what I’m doing and that’s not what an act of kindness is all about, really. But, I hope my awkwardness about it does somehow inspire you to do these acts just because all of us could use some kindness from time to time. And maybe the act of kindness we do will be enough to stop another tragedy sometime in the future.

James Mattioli, last week’s honoree, loved to eat. So, this week I used a gift card I had for a local restaurant to pay for the next person’s order (the person behind me). I left before I could see the reaction on the person’s face, but the person taking my payment smiled, so that made my day!

So, that leaves our total at 33 for right now. What did you do to honor James?

This week’s honoree is Grace McDonnell. Here is what CNN had to say about Grace:

Grace McDonnell, 7
Grace was the “light and love of our family,” her mother told CNN. She loved her brother, school, the beach and wanted to be a painter. For her 7th birthday in November, Grace requested a purple cake with a turquoise peace sign and polka dots. And that’s exactly what she got. “She was all about peace and gentleness and kindness,” Lynn McDonnell told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “Grace didn’t have an ounce of hate in her, and so we have to live through Grace and realize that hate is not how our family is.”

The family drew cupcakes, ice creams cones, lighthouses and seagulls — all things Grace loved — on her tiny white casket.

Tomorrow’s Post: Being a healthy weight is actually patriotic???

You might also like: 26 Tuesdays; James Mattioli, 26 Tuesdays: Ana Marquez-Greene, 26 Tuesdays: Jesse Lewis, 26 Tuesdays: Nancy Lanza, 26 Tuesdays: Chase Kowalski

06
May

Word of the Week: thimblerig

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Last week’s Word of the Week was bosky. Bosky means having abundant trees or shrubs. In other words most of Texas is sans bosky.

This week’s word is thimblerig. As usual, submit your guess for thimblerig either via my contact page or through a comment below.

thimblerig: (ˈthim-bəl-rig) 1. the necessary equipment needed to hoist the Statue of Liberty’s thimble, if she had one 2. the size of a fire ant’s truck 3. the amount of oil generated from a drilling rig in downtown Manhattan.

Tomorrow’s Post: What was your act of kindness for this week?

You might also like: Word of the Week: bosky; Word of the Week: nepenthe; Word of the Week: provenience; Word of the Week: zarzuela