THE STOICS

 

Sharon (my best 4th grade friend) Evy, Jay, Davy, Me: Jefferson Manor, Alexandria, VA 1954

When my dad was a little boy he received a small red wagon as a gift.  The other boys in the neighborhood began playing with his wagon.  He stood there and watched.  The next day he realized that he was angry about that.  He said, "I relents that."  

When my mom was small she received a ball as a gift.  Her sister, Evelyn, and their friend, took it away from her, and played with it.  She grew very angry.  She got the ball away from the girls and took it home.  

It is possible that my sister, brothers, and I took after our dad.  As you can see we didn't mind sharing a very small swimming pool.  Maybe we were not only slow to anger, but we were just slow! 

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

THE KING IS COMING

 

I love choirs.  This rendition of "The King Is Coming" was performed by a Baptist Church in 2017.  The way the world is going right now points to signs that Jesus will be coming back soon.

IT'S APRIL AGAIN

 

Janet and Alf's wedding day

I felt depressed.  I couldn't figure why.  I survived my second covid vaccine.  I had food, clothing, shelter.  It was even sunny out.  I asked God to reveal to me why I was wallowing.  I thought maybe it was because I had read all of Tracie Peterson's books and that Roseanna White's new one would not be out until May.  Then I remembered-- my cousin Janet passed away 3 years ago on April 2. Her husband, Alf, passed away one year ago on April 2. I was mourning -- that's all.

The first time this strange depression set in was when my sister, Evy, passed away in January 1997.  For the next 5 Januarys I would become very sad for no reason.  Then I would remember that Evy had passed away in January.  

Evy's headstone

To cheer myself up I would go into the local drug stores or department stores and try on all the sample perfumes.  I would check out all the Mary Engelbright greeting cards wherever I could find them-- in toy shops, Hallmark stores, and stationary sections of various stores.  I would watch a bunch of movies.  One time I went to Elizabeth and Alexander's Tea Room (no longer exists) at The Country Village in Bothell, and ordered a huge breakfast. I also would listen to my favorite music.

How do you cheer yourself up if you have a time of sadness?

Proverbs 17: 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

HAPPY EASTER

 

I hope you have some happy memories from Easters past.  One of my memories is of the above Easter Bunny bookmark.  I recall seeing these bookmarks around the house as I was growing up.  The crafted Easter Bunny must be at least 50 or 60 years old.  I have no idea who made it.  It could have been created by my mom.

My other joyful memory is of Reverend McPherson, Pastor of Calvary Presbyterian church in Alexandria, VA--  teaching us to say-- "He is risen indeed," after he had proclaimed that --"He is risen."

Then third are the hymns-- "Up from the grave He arose," and "The Easter Song."

May God bless you with good things this Easter as we celebrate our hope that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

AROUND THE CLOCK PRAYER AND HYMN SING

 

Here is the story of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival in a hour long You Tube presentation.  Because of the power of the Holy Spirit thousands were converted to faith in Christ.   Crime stopped. The police were only needed to sing at the revivals.  My idea would be to open all the churches for 24 hour prayer and hymn sings.  Maybe this will be in God's plan when Jesus is ruling on Earth!

MUSIC FUN

 

Back row-- Jack, Ruth, Brad, Evelyn,Wayne, Grace, Martha, Dave, Jay, Dorothy, Chris, me, Evy, Lou, Davy, Sue, Lane

Front row- -John, Diana, Mike, Sue, Tina, Mark, Jes, Heather/ Diana and Mike's wedding

"Now the sun is sinking
In the golden west;
Birds and bees and children
All have gone to rest:
And the merry streamlet,
As it runs along,
With a voice of sweetness
Sings its evening song."

I can hear Grandma's sweet voice as she sings while we drive into the sunset on our way home from Spokane.  Music was a comfort and a joy in our family.  Grandpa played the fiddle and the piano by ear.  Mom and Aunt Evelyn played piano and organ.  Aunt Ruth sang.  Uncle Jack sang, was a music teacher,  directed the church choir, played clarinet, and sax professionally.  Wayne played the baritone and bugle. Martha played piano and organ.  Jay played the sax.  Dorothy played the clarinet. Chris took an interest in playing flutes, guitars, ukuleles, harmonicas, and other small instruments. I sang in the church choir and in girls chorus in high school.  Evy played the clarinet. Lou sang in the church choir. Davy played oboe, clarinet, sax, flute, and bugle. John plays the trumpet. Diana plays clarinet and sings.  Mike sings. Sue dabbled in playing the bass. Tina took piano lessons. Mark played clarinet and was a professional drummer.  Jes was also a professional drummer, and Heather plays piano.

So whether we were amateurs, or received pay, we were a musical family. I'm looking forward to when we are all with Jesus singing worship songs to God.

Psalm 96:1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!

MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING

Mary, Martha, Emily, Mary Anne, Grace, Jeanne, 1996

My Aunt Ruth said one time, when we were all young, "I'm glad we don't kiss and hug like some families do.  All that mushy stuff is very uncomfortable."  I chalk it up to the scientific mind.  She was an RN with a BS from Whitworth.  The rest of my family were scientists, mathematicians, or engineers, and didn't kiss or hug either.  My grandfather on my mother's side was an accountant for the city or county.  I'm not sure which one.  He worked at the Spokane court house. My grandfather on my father's side was Superintendent of the Post Office building in Spokane.  He grew award winning African Violets in his basement.

So this mask wearing and social distancing works very well for many of us.  We can avoid all the mushy stuff.  So, of the ladies in the picture above, my mom, aunts, and sisters-in-law, and cousin-in-law, I don't recall hugging any of them.  My Aunt Jeanne did kiss me on the cheek when I traveled to Spokane for my uncle's memorial service.

But my Aunt Ruth said in her later years, "I wish we did hug." As soon as this social distancing is over I plan to follow the example of my cousin Kit, my cousin Dorothy's daughter Cindy, and  my daughter-in-law Jessica, and begin hugging!

Romans 16:16 Holy hugs all around! All the churches of Christ send their warmest greetings!  The Message