CANDY AND GRANDPARENTS

This 1 1/2 minute video sets the tone for this post.



We recently spent a week at Kent's, thoroughly enjoying family and lovingly spoiling our grandchildren.

When our first grandchild was born, we morphed into something brand new.  J.D. made us Nana and Papa.  Rules changed.  Priorities shifted.  Our strengths became weaknesses. We turned into mush.

It's my mother's fault. She set the tone.  She had a candy drawer in her kitchen.  I do too! She kept frozen treats in her freezer.  "Want an ice cream sandwich, Kent?"


Kimberly once told her, "Mamas have more NOs than grandmas."

To which my wise mother answered, "That's because I used up all my NOs on your mama, Honey."

Only once do I recall Grandma saying no to Kimberly.  It was too close to supper when she asked for candy from the precious drawer.  So she scampered right out to the back yard to try my dad. Plan #2.  "Granddaddy, can I have some candy pwease?" (I doubt she actually mispronounced please, but it's cuter that way.)

Granddaddy, also very wise, suspected something.  So he asked her a question back, "Did you ask Grandma already?"

Kimberly, not quite so wise yet, lied, wide-eyed, "No-oooooo."

"Are you sure?"

"Ye-eeees."

"Kimberly, if I go inside and ask her, what will Grandma say?"

Silence.  Wide eyes grow wider.

"Honey, would she say you're telling the truth or could you be lying to me?"

"I could be lying."

Busted.

Our 14 grands know to expect treats when we visit.  Amazing how thrilling The Dollar Tree finds become when passed from grandparents to grand kids.  Sometimes we hide them for the hunt, sometimes they close their eyes and guess what it is by feel. Elizabeth, our first granddaughter, dubbed them spoilers because we spoil the kids with them.  We try.

Katy once remarked indignantly, "Mom!  You would never have allowed us to do that! Boy, do the rules change."   Of course they do.  Our roles change.  Now I confess, if our family lived in the same town, we might tighten up a bit.  Might.  But they live far away. Visits are spread out. So Nana and Papa are big squishes!

We can be only because their parents are good disciplinarians. They undo our damage rather quickly.

Two of life's greatest joys:

• seeing your kids parent well
• spoiling their kids

If you are in the throes of rearing your own little ones or teenagers, I implore you.  Don't kill them! They may one day transform you into grandparents. Then it's worth it all.  If you get frustrated, instead of murder, try Will Roger's suggestion: Bury 'em at 13, dig 'em up at 21.  

COMPUTER SEX

Shame on you for coming here after reading my title.  It's NOT about what you thought but is, nonetheless, accurate.  It's a short story, a joke actually, about  both computers and sex.

As an adolescent I lived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for two years.  My father, a Naval officer, was stationed there and we soaked up the beauty of the Caribbean.

At the base school we took conversational Spanish.  Today's teaching methods may differ. One Spanish teacher recently explained that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated either masculine or feminine.

"House for instance, is feminine: la casa.  Pencil, however, is masculine: el lapiz."

A student asked, "What gender is computer?"  

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher divided the class into two groups, male and female. She asked them to decide for themselves whether the word computer should be a masculine or a feminine noun.  "Give four reasons for your recommendation," the teacher instructed.

The men's group decided that computer should definitely be of the feminine gender, la computadora, because:

    1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.

    2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

    3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for later retrieval.

    4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck to buy accessories for it.  

The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine, el computador, because: 

1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on.

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves.

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

  
The women won.

Probably my female readers are smiling about now, while the men are groaning, "It's not fair." LIFE's not fair, guys!  Get over it!  It's MY blog.  I'm FEMALE!

GLOOM, DESPAIR AND AGONY ON ME

There are two kinds of people in my life.  Those who infuse and those who drain.  Positive folks are fun to be with, filled with joy, peace, laughter, even when trouble comes their way.  Negative Nellies whine, complain and walk around with the mulligrubs no matter the situation.  Zig Ziglar has a suggestion about that.

True.  Sometimes it's hard to avoid them because they're family or friend.  So the best one can do is take them in small doses!  I find trying to lift them up doesn't work.  They enjoy misery.  I try being jovial myself.  It seems to make them even more sullen.  Not only do THEY avoid joy, they want to destroy yours!  My answer to that:

Real joy from the Lord takes time with Him. Spending less time with the joy stealers protects that.  If you're even wondering if you might be one of the gloomy ones, you probably are.  Try adding some sweetness to your sour disposition when life squeezes you.






This short but hilarious clip from Hee Haw has a blooper at the end.  These guys are actually the optimists posing as pessimists. One mispronounced word reveals their joy.  They infuse me!  



Now don't you feel resuckatated too?  

The cure for you gripers is just. . .

Until you do, don't call me.  I'll call you and don't sit by the phone.  Quit draining yourself and others around you.  In this life we WILL have troubles but how you handle them is your choice. Choose joy. God transforms us but we must have the spiritual discipline to renew our minds in His Word. . .daily. Try God's suggestion because it's true: as a man thinks in his heart, so IS HE! The battle is in the mind.  The choice is yours.
  

ALL THE PIECES FIT

Doug owns a huge collection of Coke products. We once visited the Coke Museum in Atlanta and it probably felt familiar and homey to our kids.  He spent days putting the pieces of this puzzle together. As he came to the last dozen or so pieces, we gathered around to help and see the finale.  We took turns filling in the few gaps left.  

When it came down to three, he looked at us to see who had the missing pieces.  I shrugged. Kimberly and her friend turned their palms up. Doug looked under the table.   Nothing. Panic flashed across his face.  Then one by one we each handed him a piece we'd hidden, unaware of the other's mischief.  All the pieces fit! 

We sing  a song at church and one phrase is

All the pieces of my life, from the beginning to the end, held in Your hand. . .

Life can feel fragmented.  The big picture is not clear.  Gaps, voids, missing pieces can cause unrest.  Trusting God to supply all we need is a process of learning.  It's not something instant nor natural.  Even Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state. . .to be content."

God is sovereign.  God is also in the details.  My part is to listen, learn and lean.  One of the joys of my life is planning the worship service at church.  My details may include music choices. The pastor works on his sermon, choosing scripture.  Soloists choose songs.  We seldom discuss our various aspects.

But over and over during worship we see how God put the pieces together with one theme, a central message He wanted His people to hear.  Wow!  That's exciting!  

Our individual thoughts recently went something like this.

KATHY: These songs all focus on the name of God.  I have an idea.  I'll use the artwork on canvas to show God's names.  Oh, I saw something on Facebook that would make a good handout.  If folks had the card in their Bible they could pray using God's various names.

PASTOR JIM: I'd planned to preach on another commandment but I keep feeling the need to change my sermon to the command to not use God's name in vain.   I want to stress calling on God for Who He actually is.  I wonder if this sermon is right for now.

Sunday morning when he entered the sanctuary, he knew it was the right message.  He spotted the canvas on the easel and asked me, "When did you decide to use this, Kathy?"

"Sometime after Wed. choir practice.  We were talking about the names of God in our special.  Sheree sent me the source for the cards on my Facebook page.  Why?"

I already knew.  God did it!  He put the pieces in place to give us all His clear message.

Last week it happened again.  
Sermon:  Choose you this day. . .make the decision
Amy's new solo:  I Choose Jesus
Hymn: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

Today even as I write this, I prayed for and with three people in the hospital, 2 friends facing surgery tomorrow.  And our grandson, James, is being admitted with double pneumonia. The song has another line:

Sovereign in my greatest joy, sovereign in my deepest cry, with me in the dark, with me at the dawn. . .God, whatever comes my way I will trust You. 

Being part of a team, a church or a family who hears God speak is exciting.  We each may hold only a piece of His plan but He fits it all together for His glory and our good.  

The same letters are used to spell both

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

REFLECTIONS ON AGING

Tomorrow is my birthday so this beautiful series of great photos is timely.

Photographer Tom Hussey created a series of pictures that will speak to you, no matter your age, race, beliefs or occupation. The Reflection photos illustrate just how much we change in our lives and how it seems to happen all at once, no matter how many years actually go by. These will grip your soul.

Reflection gives insight into the former lives of these senior citizens.  We look in the mirror and see our former selves.  Yet when we see old photos of ourselves, we realize how much we've actually changed.

Cherish every day.  Life is a vapor.

SUMMER BREAK. . .TEACHERS' VIEW

My sentiments EXACTLY, Thomas!

Doug and I finished up piano lessons this week.  This was his first year teaching in our studio so he was a bit surprised at the teacher's view of the end of the year.

Junah came in for his last lesson with his usual smile.  I greeted him, "Well, today's the last lesson.  Aren't you happy not to see me again after this?"  His smile broadened and he started to nod and say yes, then caught himself.  Big brown eyes looked at me, not wanting to hurt my feelings.  "It's OK, Honey, I'm glad not to see you again too. . .even though I love you.  Teachers love summer too!"  It was news to him as well.

Party prep

We end with a music party.  It includes my own version of some old games.  We play Pin-the-Flag-on-the-Eighth-Note and kids play the piano fast for musical chairs.  I promise the parents that I will spoil their kids' appetites for supper.  No apologies for sugar.

Once outside, I handed off my camera to an older student.  Here's what Jeremy captured.

Callie

Jack

One distinct advantage to teaching piano is that we retain the same students, sometimes for years. Usually during high school we lose them to sports or college.  Seeing them begin at age 8 or 9, feet dangling above the floor beneath the piano bench, we introduce them to a new language. When they leave us, often they continue to grow musically.  Our hearts and lives are bonded for life.


I recently asked an intermediate student, "Do you remember your fist lesson, how strange those black dots on the staff looked?"  A knowing smile beamed across her face.

I love what I do, love the kids and the music.  We share a closeness because of the one-on-one weekly time.  We see them right after a full day at school, full of whatever the day held.  It's an honor to go beyond the role of teacher, sometimes co-parenting.  These are a sampling of what I hear from the piano bench:

"I'm sick and tired of the bullies calling me a nerd."

"I cheated on a Bible test today.  My mom just yelled at me in the car."

"My teacher's husband died yesterday."

So we keep tissues and a soft shoulder ready too.  If they stay through the years, we hear:

"The girls think I'm cool now when I play piano."

"My youth group wants me to play with the praise band.  Can you help me with these songs?"

This is Courtney with her little sister, Callie.  I taught big sis and now little.  Callie is not so little though. The lovely teen is the one who played  last week for her youth band and asked for my help with the lead sheets.  Blessed!

Parents probably feel this exhilaration both at the beginning and the end of summer.  This is a funny, but accurate, snapshot of how parents begin and end the school year.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/parents-at-the-beginning-of-the-school-year-vs-the-end

It's not that we don't love our kids, speaking for the parent and the teacher in me.  We're just all ready for a break.  By the end of summer parents are thrilled to send them back to us.  We're equally excited to see them.

Enjoy your summer off!  We will too.

10 MORE PARAPROSDOKIANS

For you wordsmiths who enjoy the playful twist at the end, here is a continuation of last week's blog.

1. "He taught me housekeeping.  When I divorce, I keep the house."  (Zsa Zsa Gabor)

2. A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove you don't need it.

3. "Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go." (Oscar Wilde)





4. Kittens play with yarn.  They bat it around.  What they're really doing is saying, "I can't knit!  Get this away from me!"

5. Why does someone believe when you say there are four billion stars, but have to check when you say the paint is wet?

6. Always borrow money from a pessimist.  He won't expect it back.

7. "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing--after they've tried everything else." (Winston Churchill)

8. "I belong to no organized party.  I'm a Democrat." (Will Rogers)

9. "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."  (Albert Einstein) 

10. Silence is golden.  Duct tape is silver.