Monthly Archives: May 2017

Graduation: That Time of Year! -By Karla

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A Quick Refresh in Time for Graduation

By the first post planning day, I wanted a nap. But a nap was not in my time frame as it was graduation evening for Tucker, Donna’s youngest. So, I ran into the house, dabbed a light layer of makeup over the faded one and slung my head upside-down. Adding some fluff into my hair that had been in a ponytail all day, I turned on the blow dryer and began moving my hands through the strands. I jerked off my clothes and grabbed a dress to shimmy on. Fastening the buckle on my shoes, I snatched a granola bar and some water, and I ran to the car. I reminisced of past graduations on my drive to Rome, Georgia. Since this generation started graduating, this is the twelfth family ceremony. Luckily, several of the kids graduated at the same rituals!

Concerned

I reached into the pocketbook to feel for some lipstick when I realized my purse did not match my sandals. Oh, great! That’s not good. At the red light near the auditorium, I texted Donna, “Mom would not be happy with my shoes and purse situation.” She replied, “Mine doesn’t match either and just from looking around the parking lot, I think I’m over-dressed!”.

Sitting down, it did not take me long to understand what she meant. Donna and I have had a fascination with people watching since our teenage years. I forgot my faux pas shoe/purse issue as we watched the crowds fill up the thousands of seats. We exchanged glances as pink hair and multiple-tattooed bodies meandered in. We eyed each other when there was too much skin showing. Our heads turned toward each other when we saw a man dressed in gym shorts with cowboy boots! We needed no words to convey the look of “something’s not right here! What happened to the days when people dressed up for special events?”

Restless

It took little time for my near fifty-year-old derriere and back to wish they would get the show on the road! Beginning his speech, the principal quickly realized he was addressing a different group of people, and he quickly apologized. There were a few more chuckles when he asked for no explosions of excitement or artificial noisemakers. Honestly, I was growing a little impatient for the whole ceremony to be over.

Educated in America

The crowd was noisy until a young lady walked up to the microphone and began to sing our national anthem. She had such power and strength in her voice, which snapped me back into the significance of the moment. Our youth are so privileged to live and be educated in America. As she sang, my thoughts fled for a moment to the sixth grader, who was from Uzbekistan, that I taught several years before. God love him; during his first four years of schooling, he use a stick and dirt as his writing supplies. As the young lady walked back to her seat, my thoughts were brought back to the present as the principal shared how her father, who was overseas serving in the military, would be so proud. (Though, I was a little confused as to why there was no flag in sight.) The band then played, and I smiled as I recognized the notes to “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”. As a Christian, I am so pleased, when the growing minority, is able to share out beliefs.

Extraordinary Effort

After a few speeches, the graduates began walking across the stage. Toward the R’s or S’s, I noticed a graduate pushing a wheelchair up the ramp in which sat a young boy dressed in his cap and gown. Though I had not an inkling of why he was in the wheelchair, I knew the magnitude of this moment. He rose, and the crowd stood immediately. He leaned on a peer and struggled successfully across the entire stage. The cheers respectfully boomed as he fought his way to the superintendent to receive his diploma. It was an incredibly wonderful interruption of the ceremony.

Tassels switched sides, caps were tossed, and chaos commenced as families found their graduate. Smiles and pictures. Then Donna shared, “He was diagnosed with cancer when he was about eleven. One leg and arm was amputated. He doesn’t use a prosthetic leg, but wanted to walk across the stage tonight.” Softy, she added, “A recent article in the newspaper stated that his cancer is back, and he has decided not to fight it.”

God, forgive us for taking so many things for granted: freedom to pray, public education, and health .God, gives us a heart to help those in need of a smile to encourage, not just on special days, but the ordinary too.

And so, while Donna and I went in for a sneak-attack-kiss-picture with Tucker, I realized that all twelve of these ceremony moments should never be taken for granted.

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Graduation: “Well, Gotta Go” -By Donna

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My youngest,

They say there is something special about the oldest child. Not that they are loved anymore than the others, but after all, they turn you into a parent. Your sister Emily did just that. So many first with her; first labor pains, first steps, first words, first day of kindergarten, first sport game, first broken heart, and the list could go on and on and on. Travis, being the first boy, let me enjoy all the “boy” firsts. The first BB gun, Power Rangers, and a different kind of potty training. Unfortunately being the youngest of three, you were always last. Last to loose teeth, last to ride without training wheels, last to get your driver’s license, and last to graduate high school. I had already experienced most first motherhood moments with your siblings. But there is something you get to be first at; catapulting me into a new chapter in my life.

Changes Ahead

In four short days you will walk across the stage to receive your high school diploma.  When the other two graduated, I had no tears. I felt excitement for their upcoming adventures. You, my last born, will be different. When you move your tassel from right to left, the role that I have played since your sister began kindergarten will cease. Through the past nineteen years, I have always had a child in school. There were field trips, class parties, folders to sign, homework, spend the night parties, picture days, projects. and more. I realize my role as mom isn’t over, but it will be different.

For the most part, I usually know where you are and who you are with. I know what you are doing and how you are. But as you enter this next phase, I may not always be privy to this information. You will begin living your life more independently. I am aware of this because I have already experienced it twice. The difference with them was, I still had you to fill my maternal itch while they were away.

They Saved the Best for Last

So just as Emily’s arrival changed my life twenty-four years ago, so does your departure from high school. Don’t be surprised when the lady who never cries, has a hard time helping you tie your tie. When you walk out the door Friday night saying your standard, “Well, gotta go” line as you leave the house, those words will have a greater magnitude. You are my baby and the last to go. Sometimes I watch you sleep, and I still see you little. If I could push the pause button of life I would. But I know you are eager to move ahead. So walk proudly my son Tucker. As you cross the stage, my eyes may water a bit. But I will smile knowing what your witty mind will be thinking about being the youngest…”They saved the best for last.”

—-Donna

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Overcoming: For Whom the Bell Tolls -By Karla

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John Donne’s Troubles      

John Donne lived in England in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Distress filled his life.

  • His father died when he was only four.
  • He married and his wife had twelve children, but five
    died as infants.
  • His father-in-law refused to help his family in the financial crisis.
  • During his first year of ministry in a Protestant church, his authenticity was questioned
  • His wife died when she was only 33.

     At her funeral he had Lamentations 3:1 read: “I am a man who has seen affliction by the rod of the Lord’s wrath. (NIV)”
   

And Yet 

     Yet, despite all these afflictions, he became the pastor of the largest cathedral in London.

 

But Then

      A plague in Europe killed one-third of the total population while he was the pastor at this church. Donne too was ill
for a time, but not until he recuperated did he realize how truly sick he had been. It was then he remembered hearing the cathedral bells chiming. In his delusion, he thought they were sounding his death. It was after his illness that he wrote the famous quote:

No man is an island,
Entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,

As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

     Our world is filled with pressures: daily annoyances, schedules, and deadlines. Our world is filled with pains: relational strains, financial hardships, sickness, and death. Often I wonder how does one cope and move forward?

Back Stories

     I love backstories of people’s lives. They inspire me. 

    And I love God. He is our comforter and guide. He is our hope. Our worldly woes may try to stop us, but the Light of the World encourages us to hold fast to him, persevering steadily day by day.

     As we nestle ourselves in his comfort, He transforms our hurts into strengths. These strengths can be used to glorify him because we can use our back stories to encourage others.

 

 

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Rescue: To Save From Danger -By Donna

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A week ago as Tucker left our house, he passed a car on the side of the road. Horrified, he saw a man choking a dog.
Tucker has a soft heart and is an animal lover like me. Instantly, he turned his truck around to confront the man. However, the dog stood alone on the side of the road by this time; the car appeared nowhere in sight. Tucker’s heart bleed and had to do something.
Unfortunately, the dog wouldn’t get into the truck. So, Tucker lured her through the woods to our home.
I saw him approaching; she was struggling to walk. Quickly, we saw the neglect. Matted hair, smelly, and covered with what appeared to be tar. Moreover, her long nails curled over the end of her paws. We had no choice but to cut off her collar because the buckle was severely rusted. Furthermore, when we removed it, we discovered dried blood underneath. Her collar was partially embedded in her neck. Obviously, She had led such a sad life.

Rescue Groups of Georgia

Knowing I couldn’t keep this sweet girl, I researched rescue groups of Georgia. I found one for almost every breed of dog. But I also discovered stipulations.
  • No mixed breed, must be full blooded
  • Not over 5 years old
  • Current on all shots
  • No illness

I assumed these guidelines applied for people surrendering their pets. So I read further and found: We cannot accept stray or abandoned dogs. We are only allowed to accept dogs from animal shelters, another rescue group or a legal owner.

No Stipulations

Definition of rescue:

  • (verb) save from a dangerous or distressing situation
  • (noun) an act of saving or being saved from danger or distress.

Heartbroken! A rescue group (which I think needs a new name) should rescue those truly in need.

I thought about my God and am so thankful that when we call out to Him in need, there are no stipulations. It doesn’t matter your ethnicity, gender, age, health, or sins, God is a true rescuer. 

“I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.”  Ezekiel 34:12


–Donna

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Standardized Testing: Oh, The Joys -Karla

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I have a friend who has given some form of standardized test for over thirty years.  During these days some pretty humorous things have occurred.  

 

Top Ten Things Kids Do 

After Rushing Through a Standardized Test

10. Make puppets with their fingers.

9. Move an arm at the elbow continuously, making to sure the joint still works.

8. Yawn repeatedly, attempting to make it wider each time.

7. Move a leg at the knee back and forth, also assuring this joint’s operation. 

6. Examine a pencil intensively to ensure its optimal usage… Even though it’s never used.

5. Watch fingernails grow.

4. Smile at your teacher in 1,000 different (and silly) ways. 

3. Stare at the minute hand, hoping it will miraculously speed up. Frown.

2. Entangle feet into a web with a desk.

1. Extend a shirt collar. Glare inside in hopes the chest has changed.

Need a Kleenex?

Allergy season is in full swing when public schools test in the spring. My friend explains that often she gives several Kleenexes to the sniffling students and places a trashcan beside them. This year she had a student who continued to whisper, “No, thanks.  I don’t need a tissue.”  My friend concluded that the student must have preferred the softness of his blue hoodie to wipe and rub his nose for three days! I will spare you the visual of how it looked by the third day.

Hot Flash! And I Don’t Mean a News Bulletin! 

My friend also shared the horrific event that she experienced this year. The teachers were required to switch classrooms, not testing their own students. In case IT happened, she packed her book bag with an extra large, ice cold water and a small fan.  

Monitoring as instructed, the hot flash engulfed her. She nonchalantly raced to the back of the room and jabbed the plug into the outlet. Nonchalantly, she eased backward on the table, allowing the fan’s stream to cool her. 

Gulping the ice water, she prayed the fire would cease, yet the flames raged. She ripped through her pocketbook but ever so quietly not to disturb any testers. No hair tie was to be found. 

Don’t do it!  Don’t.  Mom said never! But in desperation, she slid open the teacher’s desk drawer in hopes to find a rubber band. She grabbed her hair off her neck and wrapped the tangle-maker around to provide possible relief.

Standing in front of the steady stream of air again, a thought crossed her mind. Perhaps, no one would see if I just sat down behind this teacher’s desk and shimmied off my black leggings.  Ummm, it would bring such relief! 

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