This morning we attended the funeral of a young man,45 years, who died on Friday. He was sick for a short time with bladder cancer, and was in much, much pain through out his ordeal. He had buried his first wife 20 years ago, and was left with 1 daughter. He met and married a girl in our church 18 years ago with 1 daughter from her first marriage. Then together, they had a daughter. The whole extended families are in our church also. I have known him all my life. His uncle did part of the service and our pastor did another part. His wife said that this was not a funeral, but a celebration of his life. And, it was. One of the last things Mart said was, “I’m not afraid to die, I’m just afraid I might not have done everything the Lord wanted me to while I was here.” Friends, that is a sermon in itself, isn’t it? Cindy asked the pastor to be sure and give the plan of salvation in the service, so that anyone who may be there and did not know Christ, would have the opportunity today. What a testimony to the love and strength of God. He WILL give strength to those who need it…and His strength is enough.

Alex had a particularlly bad night last night…so I was up with him for 5 or 6 hours. So, today, I’m a little weary. And guess who woke me up this morning? Felicia (she of the high pitched and cutesy voice) calling me to remind me of my appointment with the D-man in the morning. And did I need to know the charges since I did not have insurance and did I have any questions. HUH!!!! “Yes, Felicia (of the annoying cutesy voice) I am aware of my appointment. I have been aware of DOOMSDAY since the beginning of June. It has been like a cloud of scary hanging over me everywhere I have been this summer…I thought about it on the beaches in Maui, I thought about on the beaches in Destin, I thought about it as I’ve sat in church, I thought about it as I have visited in Birmingham…I know when it is!!!!
And, I do not have any questions…they will all be asked when I get there…like how many shots of novacaine can I have?” No, I didn’t really say that…I just said,”I’ll see you in the morning.”

Don left this afternoon for Colorado. He is going on a big motorcycle ride out there. This is an invited only type of ride. It is through the————-Mountains. I confess I do not remember what mountains he said it was…..because I was thinking of Felicia and her wake-up call! And I do not know geography very well, either. All we teach of geography at MY school is learning the name of our town. So please send a prayer up for his safety as he rides.

And this would probably be a good time for y’all to get down on your knees and start the petitions to our Heavenly Father for this big ‘ole scaredy cat. You may need to throw one in there for Felicia….cause I’m sure I am NOT going to be in the mood to hear her in my time of distress.

ALMOST GONE! Summer, that is. My summer vacation, I should say. I have just one week left before I get back into the routine that structures my life 9 months out of the year. I always feel, at the end of May, that I have a l-o-n-g summer ahead of me. Lazy days just waiting to be filled with one whim or another. Days to do just as I please, and nothing more. Then August rolls around and I wonder where the days went, and what did I fill them with. Of course, this summer I spent 8 wonderful days in Maui with my 2 BFF. And I spent another 7 days at the beach in Florida with my sweet family. I tell you this friends, my soul comes alive at the beach…whatever the state. So, I have been richly blessed this summer…and I know it. BUT…I still am not ready to move into the “school year.”
My last week…hmmm, this is how it’s going to go. Monday, I have a funeral to attend for a young man in our church, And Tuesday….DUM DA DUM DUM…it’s D-Day again. But this time, I have to go to an endodontist for the root canal on that tooth that started out my summer on a sour note. Oh, pray for me sisters. I have to be there at 8:45. Don is leaving tomorrow for Arizona for the week, so it will just be Alex and Scooter and I. On Wednesday night, I have part in a program at church. That leaves me Thursday and Friday. Saturday, I have a decorating job to finish up. Then Sunday, and Monday morning…it’s off to work. And, it will be so good to see my friends who I teach with and then to see my children again the next week. I think that what I have described is the feeling of ‘ambivalence’. I dread ending the summer, but I look forward to the starting of school. I dread getting back into a routine, but I really do get more accomplished when I am. I dread fixing up my classroom for the year, but I love it when I see those sweet faces come to class. Oh, well it’s coming, whether I like it or not. So, I might as well like it….but only after Tuesday…I’m not going to like anything until Tuesday is over!

SWINGING
Originally uploaded by Tonja Owens

Here is a new statue that was placed at the rear entrance to our new preschool building at church. This statue and the one following were given to the church by an anonomyous donor. Obviously someone who loves children very much. Maybe someone who has 5 grandchildren……anyway. they are beautiful. I enlisted the help of my friend Bill to get this one moved into place. This is a new little tree, and my hope is that the tree will grow around it and eventually it will look as if the swing is in the tree. Of course, it’s God’s tree and He can shape it any way He wants, but maybe He will like my plan. Of course, I will have to move some of those plants around the little boy, cause I really do not believe he’s gonna grow any taller…even if I do pray about it. 🙂

3 CHILDREN PLAYING
Originally uploaded by Tonja Owens

This is a photo of the new fountain that was placed in front of our new preschool building at my church. I think it is so fitting for the space.