JWalking: The Blog

I wrote a fan E-mail the other day. I told you how much I enjoyed reading Nora Raleigh Baskin 's book Anything But Typical . Since writers are now listing websites and other means of contact on their book jackets, it made it fairly easy to find her. Just had to say how amazed I was with her ability to get inside the brain of an autistic teenager and to have him speak to us in "our language." Absolutely captivated me. Well, she wrote me back, which was awfully kind. I wasn't really expecting anything, and the part of me that might have expected something was expecting one of those pre-packaged thank-you's. (Who has time to write thank-you's to readers?) No, she was sincere, and she was grateful to have someone take the time to find her and to acknowledge her work. Her thank-you was a warm, fuzzy start to the day, as if her book hadn't touched me enough. * * * S peaking of the book, I have to share this wonderful story from the book. ...

A long time ago, Edie posted a Random Question that all had us thinking things. It was challenging--a knowledge-deepening experience. This past week, she posted on the "Five Random Words" meme, which I'm not sure will bring the same kind of knowledge-deepening experience. I might be "going deep" to get these thoughts together, but otherwise.... Here's what she gave me to work with: Gather; Glean; Bleep; Worth and Wrestle. Ready...set...GO! * * * " Glean this truth, friends: To wrestle with what you are worth in terms of earthly value is to gather to yourself a mound of [ bleep ]." It would seem that I have spent some time in Proverbs recently. For those interested, ' bleep ' only has one definition--to censor, as in a telecast, by substituting a beep. To say that "...his horn went ' bleep ' ' bleep ' ' bleep '" would not be on target. Perhaps, instead of that kernel of knowledge...

* * * FOR TODAY, Tuesday, September 15, 2009... OUTSIDE MY WINDOW... The sun is still working its way up; seems to come up slower in the fall. Still crisp and cool. Fall is definitely on time per the calendar this year--early for central Virginia. And, there's a gorgeous pink morning glory blossom out this morning, its vine wrapping and winding its way up the bird feeder pole. I AM THINKING... About last night's first bell choir rehearsal of the year. We have two new members, bringing our total to 13 ringers and one substitute. For a 3-1/2 octave choir, this is amazing! I've had to write in parts to make sure everyone has bells, and, in some cases, I'm writing in percussion accompaniment for tunes in which there just aren't any more bells to add. Now the challenge of meeting the needs of 14 people.... It's all good! I AM THANKFUL FOR... God's blessing and provision for the above. We started our 5th year, and each year has had its ch...

W e're riding the bus to school to school, riding the bus to school....

I knew the news would likely not be good when a second prayer concerns E-mail came from church. It was the one I knew was coming one day but still wasn't ready to receive. A friend in ministry, Kate, passed away yesterday afternoon. Kate had joined another woman and I in leading the kids' worship ministry last fall. I still remember the evening when the three of us were chatting before it was time to begin our program. One said that I really should do something about that dark spot on my arm. I had already made the appointment, though I hadn't known it was melanoma at the time. Meantime, there was Kate, a two-time survivor of breast cancer. Two of her children came out to sing and play handchimes in the program, and Kate was asked to accompany us on piano. She shared that she was having trouble swallowing, like something was catching in her throat. Seemed minor at the time--cold or allergy-related or something? But, no, as she shared a few more weeks into the program. The ...

* * * FOR TODAY, Wednesday, September 2, 2009... OUTSIDE MY WINDOW... Appears a light breeze is in the air, moving the leaves, the purple grass and the bird feeder. The backyard is really sterile right now. No big flourish of blooms like spring. September is the time to start closing things down outside. I'm having a "master gardener" friend come to visit this fall so she can evaluate the backyard and offer some helpful suggestions for trying to make something--besides trees and ivy--grow past spring. I AM THINKING... That I need to organize my projects so I don't look at a huge list and freak out! (Those projects I was working on a month ago are all "hot" this month, and I need to make a checklist so I don't forget anything.) And, what color red to paint the family room. I AM THANKFUL FOR... School starting in six days! FROM THE LEARNING ROOMS... Trying to find the best ways to communicate with my girls about certain aspect...