Those that can, DO! Those that can't, teach. Remember that old saying?
War is raging all over the world and I can't do anything to stop it.
There is genocide in countries I cannot even spell, much less find on a map.
There is violence in places I have never been, killing people I have never met.
There is heartache for those who are lost and I will never find them to talk to them.
There are floods and tornadoes like we have never seen before and I am not rushing down to help anyone.
There are earthquakes and tidal waves destroying towns and cities and even with television, I can't imagine the devastation.
Yet, the weight of the world is NOT on my shoulders.
What is my responsibility? To pray and put that weight on the shoulders of One far better equiped than any man. In Jesus name, I need to entreat the Father and then let God handle it.
So I say "those that can, DO, and those that can't, PRAY."
Imagine how much more the doers could do, if the idle prayed.
Never underestimate the power of a single prayer. (JN14:13-14)
Monday, May 9, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Mothers' Day
It's two days away and I really didn't address my mom in any blogs. That's because there is no blog that is enough to hold her.
I am from a time where moms could spank their children. I don't mean beat or slap, but a well aimed hand at a round bottom did make a difference in behavior.
I am from the time when moms expected to be kissed at night, usually before we were being tucked in and after we said our prayers.
I am from a time where moms stayed home, and if they had to work, it was 2nd or 3rd shift so they were there when the kids got up, got out, and came home.
I am from the time when moms had husbands - not significant others, or special friends.
I am from the time when you knew what homemade meant.
I am from the time where you weren't embarassed when mom stood on the porch and called your name because there were no cell phones, you didn't wear a watch, and you rarely went out to play beyond the sound of her voice.
I am from the time when Mothers' Day was for corsages and hand made cards - we went to church so she could show us off - she still made dinner but we did the dishes without complaining.
I am from the time when "mother" wasn't half a word - it was a whole word that meant everything to those lucky enough to have one.
I am from the time where when my mother died, it left a hole that I am yet to fill.
I am from a time when we understood that one day is not enough - Happy Mothers Day to all!
I am from a time where moms could spank their children. I don't mean beat or slap, but a well aimed hand at a round bottom did make a difference in behavior.
I am from the time when moms expected to be kissed at night, usually before we were being tucked in and after we said our prayers.
I am from a time where moms stayed home, and if they had to work, it was 2nd or 3rd shift so they were there when the kids got up, got out, and came home.
I am from the time when moms had husbands - not significant others, or special friends.
I am from the time when you knew what homemade meant.
I am from the time where you weren't embarassed when mom stood on the porch and called your name because there were no cell phones, you didn't wear a watch, and you rarely went out to play beyond the sound of her voice.
I am from the time when Mothers' Day was for corsages and hand made cards - we went to church so she could show us off - she still made dinner but we did the dishes without complaining.
I am from the time when "mother" wasn't half a word - it was a whole word that meant everything to those lucky enough to have one.
I am from the time where when my mother died, it left a hole that I am yet to fill.
I am from a time when we understood that one day is not enough - Happy Mothers Day to all!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
JOHN DOYLE
John was cool because he was 1) my first nephew and 2) born on my dad's birthday, which meant my dad hasn't aged in almost 25 years. I am still looking for the person who will take my birthday so I don't have to age. Volunteers?
Back to John...
John was born the year after my mother died and therefore Mary was able to ask Duke and I to be his godparents. I don't really know what that means but I do know that I see him with a different eye than most of his other aunts and uncles.
John was active and indestructible. He didn't shy away from dangerous situations, in part because he knew if he would get in too deep, there was always Emily to drag him back. He was a little cutie and tried to be a good son to both parents, but that was difficult. Doyle, his dad, had a definitely non-urban view of what a son should be. It appears that when you are born and raised with trucks, guns and good-ol'-boys, you don't have a lot of respect for foreign cars, sensitivity or fair weather friends. Doyle died when John was young and it's no surprise that John grew somewhat confused about his identity. On one side, we were all northerners - houses, yards, hunting in assigned areas with guns you stored most of the year. On the other was the southern element - farms and fields, hunting out the back door with guns out of the safe in the dining room. I'm not siding with either group because it is that very diversity that makes us what we are and keeps things interesting.
John loved gaming and his abilities to navigate on line are nothing short of remarkable. He understands the difference between trolls and ogres, warlocks and wizards. Because he has a sharp and eager mind, he is able to relate to many different groups. He memorizes movie lines and song lyrics like the rest of us do each others' phone numbers and addresses.
John has good friends, and not so good friends. Then there are the ones who sometimes masked their true nature and caused him not only emotional but physical pain. John moved to Milwaukee with his mom and they stayed here for a few years. Once he had nieces in Nashville, he and Mary moved back down but due to his friends being far from friendly, he came back to Milwaukee in 2011.
John had worked for me for about a year the first time they lived here. We took a chance on someone with basic computer skills and brought him aboard to learn how to work in an office. Our relationship took a break as I am a demanding boss, but he learned many things about working. First and foremost, he learned that he really was comfortable in a business atmosphere. Now the business I am in (tire sales and service) is not ideal but he saw abilities in himself he never knew he had - organization, manners, patience. When he left to go down south again, he had much to think about. John has decided to go back to school some day and pick up some business credits. When he came back a few months ago, he stopped in to let me know he was going to use me as a job reference and I just happened to be between assistants so he agreed to work here a few hours a day to help me out. Would I have asked him if he wasn't my nephew and godson? Who knows? It is a decision I didn't regret the first time and don't regret now.
John has a spiritual side - something that I never knew till we shared an office. We talk God and faith and life in general. He knows my opinions and I know his (like what he really thinks about the guys we work with and how some "graphic novel" based movies are really not true to their source.)
John is one of those guys who has to have a woman in his life. He is a romantic, looking for the woman who will be his forever. That same quality opens him up to women who take advantage of him, using his generosity as a reason to be with him and then using it to tell him he is controlling and immature. Somewhere there is a woman who will be generous back - with her things, her emotions and her future. For now, he is still looking.
I ache for him as he looks for a true love and encourage him as best I can. How does someone my age with "one true love" reassure someone his age? Can I get it through that sometimes trying too hard results in pain and just relaxing and letting it happen has much better results? Maybe I just did.
Well, this is a retrospective on me and John and very little about anything, but like I said, my blog - my rules.
Love you John!
Back to John...
John was born the year after my mother died and therefore Mary was able to ask Duke and I to be his godparents. I don't really know what that means but I do know that I see him with a different eye than most of his other aunts and uncles.
John was active and indestructible. He didn't shy away from dangerous situations, in part because he knew if he would get in too deep, there was always Emily to drag him back. He was a little cutie and tried to be a good son to both parents, but that was difficult. Doyle, his dad, had a definitely non-urban view of what a son should be. It appears that when you are born and raised with trucks, guns and good-ol'-boys, you don't have a lot of respect for foreign cars, sensitivity or fair weather friends. Doyle died when John was young and it's no surprise that John grew somewhat confused about his identity. On one side, we were all northerners - houses, yards, hunting in assigned areas with guns you stored most of the year. On the other was the southern element - farms and fields, hunting out the back door with guns out of the safe in the dining room. I'm not siding with either group because it is that very diversity that makes us what we are and keeps things interesting.
John loved gaming and his abilities to navigate on line are nothing short of remarkable. He understands the difference between trolls and ogres, warlocks and wizards. Because he has a sharp and eager mind, he is able to relate to many different groups. He memorizes movie lines and song lyrics like the rest of us do each others' phone numbers and addresses.
John has good friends, and not so good friends. Then there are the ones who sometimes masked their true nature and caused him not only emotional but physical pain. John moved to Milwaukee with his mom and they stayed here for a few years. Once he had nieces in Nashville, he and Mary moved back down but due to his friends being far from friendly, he came back to Milwaukee in 2011.
John had worked for me for about a year the first time they lived here. We took a chance on someone with basic computer skills and brought him aboard to learn how to work in an office. Our relationship took a break as I am a demanding boss, but he learned many things about working. First and foremost, he learned that he really was comfortable in a business atmosphere. Now the business I am in (tire sales and service) is not ideal but he saw abilities in himself he never knew he had - organization, manners, patience. When he left to go down south again, he had much to think about. John has decided to go back to school some day and pick up some business credits. When he came back a few months ago, he stopped in to let me know he was going to use me as a job reference and I just happened to be between assistants so he agreed to work here a few hours a day to help me out. Would I have asked him if he wasn't my nephew and godson? Who knows? It is a decision I didn't regret the first time and don't regret now.
John has a spiritual side - something that I never knew till we shared an office. We talk God and faith and life in general. He knows my opinions and I know his (like what he really thinks about the guys we work with and how some "graphic novel" based movies are really not true to their source.)
John is one of those guys who has to have a woman in his life. He is a romantic, looking for the woman who will be his forever. That same quality opens him up to women who take advantage of him, using his generosity as a reason to be with him and then using it to tell him he is controlling and immature. Somewhere there is a woman who will be generous back - with her things, her emotions and her future. For now, he is still looking.
I ache for him as he looks for a true love and encourage him as best I can. How does someone my age with "one true love" reassure someone his age? Can I get it through that sometimes trying too hard results in pain and just relaxing and letting it happen has much better results? Maybe I just did.
Well, this is a retrospective on me and John and very little about anything, but like I said, my blog - my rules.
Love you John!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Emily Louise
My first niece!
Emily was born in July, a miracle as her mother had told me years before that if she didn't have any children by the time she was thirty, she would not have any children. MaryBeth turned 30 the August after Em was born. Had Emily been a month late...I shudder to think what would have happened!
Anyway, Emily was precious. From the beginning, she had the good looks of her mother with a little of her dad mixed in. She was born with a stubborn eye; it kept drifting and by the time she entered school had had surgery and, like most of her mother's family, glasses.
Emily was not my goddaughter. Not because I didn't want to be her godmother, but because my mother had decided that I should not be a godmother and encouraged (bullied?) MaryBeth to use our brother Kevin and youngest sister Elaine. That doesn't mean Emily wasn't dear to me, just that I only had responsibilities as an aunt. What an aunt does is unclear to me because I think it means I didn't have to do anything for Emily, and in retrospect, I really stuck to that.
When Emily became a big sister, she really stepped up and became John's protector. When Mary left her husband to protect herself and her children, Emily and John stayed a few weeks in Milwaukee. That was when I noticed that she constantly put herself between John and harm's way. I told her to lighten up and be a little girl, but by then she had defined her sisterhood as being a responsible little girl and shield for her brother.
I didn't get really involved in Em's upbringing as she lived down in Tennessee and Mary and I mainly talked about Mary and I when we talked. Oh we shared our kids stories, but it wasn't like being there.
Emily is smart; really smart. She completed her education to become a teacher and has shared her learning ability with many youngsters in Tennessee. She has many friends and a forgiving heart. Friends that have for one reason or the other betrayed or turned from her are simply stored in her love till they have the sense to come back again. Thay may because she has a stubborn streak (family trait from her mother's side) and doesn't give up on anything or anyone or maybe because she forgets what people do to her and is willing to forgive and forget. Emily was always creative and hard working.
When Shane Vivrette came into her life, he was just another guy who saw her as irresistable but he became a valued partner for Emily and member of the Nunnery family. Emily and Shane married in a beautiful ceremony on a hot summer day. The reception was in the yard behind MaryBeth's house and was filled with fun. In typical Emily fashion, there was a bullhorn, a bouncy-house, and the food was grilled fresh right there. After dark, friends who did fireworks professionally for the city of Mount Juliet, did a display in the yard. It was the starting point for them and soon they were a family.
Other than some looks and attitude, Emily inherited some bad back issues from her dad.
When Aubrey was born, she accepted the doctor's advice to have her children close together, and Olivia was born 12 1/2 months later. This was a blessing as the girls are so very close and, like Mary and I, will grow up as part of each other.
Emily is a good mother. She mixes discipline and love, learning and fun. I love hearing stories from Mary about her granddaughters because it shows how they are just like we were. (Sorry Em - it's destiny!)
Although the Emily blog is near the end, her life is moving forward. She has now achieved most of what will sustain her for a few more decades - she is a wife and friend, daughter and mother, teacher and learner, friend and worker. Emily is a beautiful star and a delicate flower. She sparkles at night and enriches our days.
I love Emily because she is my niece, but more than that, because she is a wonderful woman and deserves no less.
Emily was born in July, a miracle as her mother had told me years before that if she didn't have any children by the time she was thirty, she would not have any children. MaryBeth turned 30 the August after Em was born. Had Emily been a month late...I shudder to think what would have happened!
Anyway, Emily was precious. From the beginning, she had the good looks of her mother with a little of her dad mixed in. She was born with a stubborn eye; it kept drifting and by the time she entered school had had surgery and, like most of her mother's family, glasses.
Emily was not my goddaughter. Not because I didn't want to be her godmother, but because my mother had decided that I should not be a godmother and encouraged (bullied?) MaryBeth to use our brother Kevin and youngest sister Elaine. That doesn't mean Emily wasn't dear to me, just that I only had responsibilities as an aunt. What an aunt does is unclear to me because I think it means I didn't have to do anything for Emily, and in retrospect, I really stuck to that.
When Emily became a big sister, she really stepped up and became John's protector. When Mary left her husband to protect herself and her children, Emily and John stayed a few weeks in Milwaukee. That was when I noticed that she constantly put herself between John and harm's way. I told her to lighten up and be a little girl, but by then she had defined her sisterhood as being a responsible little girl and shield for her brother.
I didn't get really involved in Em's upbringing as she lived down in Tennessee and Mary and I mainly talked about Mary and I when we talked. Oh we shared our kids stories, but it wasn't like being there.
Emily is smart; really smart. She completed her education to become a teacher and has shared her learning ability with many youngsters in Tennessee. She has many friends and a forgiving heart. Friends that have for one reason or the other betrayed or turned from her are simply stored in her love till they have the sense to come back again. Thay may because she has a stubborn streak (family trait from her mother's side) and doesn't give up on anything or anyone or maybe because she forgets what people do to her and is willing to forgive and forget. Emily was always creative and hard working.
When Shane Vivrette came into her life, he was just another guy who saw her as irresistable but he became a valued partner for Emily and member of the Nunnery family. Emily and Shane married in a beautiful ceremony on a hot summer day. The reception was in the yard behind MaryBeth's house and was filled with fun. In typical Emily fashion, there was a bullhorn, a bouncy-house, and the food was grilled fresh right there. After dark, friends who did fireworks professionally for the city of Mount Juliet, did a display in the yard. It was the starting point for them and soon they were a family.
Other than some looks and attitude, Emily inherited some bad back issues from her dad.
When Aubrey was born, she accepted the doctor's advice to have her children close together, and Olivia was born 12 1/2 months later. This was a blessing as the girls are so very close and, like Mary and I, will grow up as part of each other.
Emily is a good mother. She mixes discipline and love, learning and fun. I love hearing stories from Mary about her granddaughters because it shows how they are just like we were. (Sorry Em - it's destiny!)
Although the Emily blog is near the end, her life is moving forward. She has now achieved most of what will sustain her for a few more decades - she is a wife and friend, daughter and mother, teacher and learner, friend and worker. Emily is a beautiful star and a delicate flower. She sparkles at night and enriches our days.
I love Emily because she is my niece, but more than that, because she is a wonderful woman and deserves no less.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Do you know how important you are
Do you know that when you laughed at that restaurant, someone smiled?
Do you know that when you cried at that movie, someone was moved by compassion?
Do you know that when you finished your report at work, someone had a weight lifted off their shoulder?
Do you know that when you yielded on the road, someone made it to work on time?
Do you know the food you gave to the food pantry restored health to a little girl?
Do you know the prayers you said raised the spirit of a destitute man?
Do you know your old jacket that you gave to charity kept an old woman alive last winter?
Do you know that all your actions affect someone, somewhere, even if you don't know who?
Think about it before you act and your actions will definitely affect you, too.
Do you know that when you cried at that movie, someone was moved by compassion?
Do you know that when you finished your report at work, someone had a weight lifted off their shoulder?
Do you know that when you yielded on the road, someone made it to work on time?
Do you know the food you gave to the food pantry restored health to a little girl?
Do you know the prayers you said raised the spirit of a destitute man?
Do you know your old jacket that you gave to charity kept an old woman alive last winter?
Do you know that all your actions affect someone, somewhere, even if you don't know who?
Think about it before you act and your actions will definitely affect you, too.
Monday, April 4, 2011
From Eden to here and home again
God watched his land flourish, creation was nourished, or so we are led to believe,
When man’s spirit receded, God saw what was needed, and blessed His man, Adam, with Eve.
They lived life in bliss, nothing there was amiss, the sun warmed their skin in the day,
Soothed by nature's own sound, food and drink all around, and at night, in soft moonlight, they lay.
As the days turned to years, in the absence of fears, evil waited to start conversation.
When Eve passed by his den, this unholy of men, confused her with bad information.
Eve caused Adam much grief, when she took like a thief, the sweet fruit from the tree that’s forbidden
Yet he stood by her side, his young, gullible bride, though now paradise from them was hidden.
As they grew in their love, knowing God watched above, over them, their sons Abel and Cain
And He gave watched as their sons, with their offerings done, learned of anger and vengeance and pain.
So the story goes on, parents, daughters and sons, living in God’s embrace and without,
Till He gave us His Son, ensured salvation won, and we still lived in anguish and doubt.
God watches us change, all that He has arranged, for us to survive on our own
But with all mankind does, God still loves us because He is hopeful we find the way home.
When man’s spirit receded, God saw what was needed, and blessed His man, Adam, with Eve.
They lived life in bliss, nothing there was amiss, the sun warmed their skin in the day,
Soothed by nature's own sound, food and drink all around, and at night, in soft moonlight, they lay.
As the days turned to years, in the absence of fears, evil waited to start conversation.
When Eve passed by his den, this unholy of men, confused her with bad information.
Eve caused Adam much grief, when she took like a thief, the sweet fruit from the tree that’s forbidden
Yet he stood by her side, his young, gullible bride, though now paradise from them was hidden.
As they grew in their love, knowing God watched above, over them, their sons Abel and Cain
And He gave watched as their sons, with their offerings done, learned of anger and vengeance and pain.
So the story goes on, parents, daughters and sons, living in God’s embrace and without,
Till He gave us His Son, ensured salvation won, and we still lived in anguish and doubt.
God watches us change, all that He has arranged, for us to survive on our own
But with all mankind does, God still loves us because He is hopeful we find the way home.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
another mini-series
I have written about my sisters and brother. I have shared devotions and prayers and just my thoughts about things, but I have not written about my mom or my dad or my husband, son or daughter (in-law if you prefer.) I do have three nieces, one nephew and a number of animal relations too. I think I will talk about each of them first and then do mom and dad and then my immediate family. I am doing the easiest first to buy time to get my thoughts in order on the hard ones.
Mom and Dad are only hard because there are many events in my growing up that deserve mentioning…and many that I really don’t want to talk about. That will take some sorting.
The people who I don’t live with are in my mind as highlights and headlines only so being interesting and concise will not be totally difficult. BUT, all those in my house are anecdotes and long, biographical tales.
If I pull out the highlights for everyone else, I may be able to discern the highlights for Duke, Chris and Sam.
That may be the way to go…
So look forward to EMILY LOUISE, JOHN DOYLE, RACHAEL ELIZABETH AND KAYLEIGH JOAN,
Disclaimer: I will be writing from my own skewed perspective and any commentary you may have or editing you desire will not be considered (comments however are welcome)
It’s MY BLOG …. MINE!! MINE!! MINE!! (ok, enough with the temper tantrum. Time to close and think about Emily.)
Mom and Dad are only hard because there are many events in my growing up that deserve mentioning…and many that I really don’t want to talk about. That will take some sorting.
The people who I don’t live with are in my mind as highlights and headlines only so being interesting and concise will not be totally difficult. BUT, all those in my house are anecdotes and long, biographical tales.
If I pull out the highlights for everyone else, I may be able to discern the highlights for Duke, Chris and Sam.
That may be the way to go…
So look forward to EMILY LOUISE, JOHN DOYLE, RACHAEL ELIZABETH AND KAYLEIGH JOAN,
Disclaimer: I will be writing from my own skewed perspective and any commentary you may have or editing you desire will not be considered (comments however are welcome)
It’s MY BLOG …. MINE!! MINE!! MINE!! (ok, enough with the temper tantrum. Time to close and think about Emily.)
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