Catching the Squirrel

My daughter's MIL had a dachshund who lived to chase squirrels.  Chased them thru her yard, chased them up trees, high line wires, over and under fences.  She chased squirrels for years, this little red sausage. And they, in turn, tormented her, taunting her from the high places and the outsideofthefence places.

Ginger made  her Life's Mission to catch a squirrel.  Just ONE squirrel, so she could experience the triumph and Joy of having known she could do it.

But the years of practice rolled by, and even with daily exercises and Encouragement from her humans and dog friends alike, she never achieved her goal.

Then, one day, Ginger and her human were walking in the park across the street from her house. A familiar face showed itself on the path around the pond, and Ginger took off, her owners leash flying like a banner behind her.  She flew like the wind, and the squirrel, who was unaccustomed to such unbridled menace, had no instinct to escape this marauder.

Ginger caught that squirrel, right square around the ribcage, turned and headed towards her mistress to display the prized trophy.

If you have ever been around squirrels for any period, you will quickly come to realize that they truly are the embodiment of the definition "squirrelly."  Their movements are jerky and fast and certainly unpredictable.  They are squirrels, and they act like squirrels. And they have sharp teeth. And they bite.

Ginger is a very sweet dachsie, unaccustomed to violence or even discomfort of any kind.  Mostly she burrows under the quilts on the couch in winter, and people's laps in summer.  She's never bitten anything except her chew toys and various chair legs....

So What! does a city dachshund DO when she finally captures her prey in a beautiful park by the lake with her panicked mistress trying vainly to regain control of leash and deal with an hysterical rodent.

Ginger had caught the squirrel, and did not have the "tools" to complete the task.

She walked around with the semi-comatose squirrel wiggling in her jaws, telling the world around her, "Omigosh! Omigosh! Omigosh! I caught the Squirrel!!"

Eventually, Ginger released her prize,allowing the sodden rodent to run up the nearest tree. Ginger remained triumphant, proud, and a bit bewildered. She had received her Heart's Desire, and her life was changed.

Last week, I, too, Caught The Squirrel.

My Collies and I have been asked to dance at the Collie National Specialty in Wisconsin this spring.

At this point, I am still walking around repeating OmigoshOmigoshOmigosh.

Dancing Thru Life

Below you will find a note from our older daughter.......Their life has been in a (wonderful!) upheaval of moving to another state, selling and buying a home, unpacking, finding the closest Target and Kroger, deciding on a new church, locating a new hairdresser.......

And in the midst of all this Change, her daughter crossed into "Womanhood," momentarily blindsiding her and causing a great deal of introspection, and yes,...worry........

As we each rotate into our individual roles in Life, we expect the World to stop and slow down a bit. We need to get our bearings and understand  our management of these new titles.....

The planet doesn't wait for us to interrupt its rotation and gradually cope.  Instead, it insists we continue to fly thru the universe by the proverbial "seat of our pants."  

It makes us stronger.  Causes us to think on our feet AND savor each moment as well.....

 Here's what Emily wrote to me:

Well, yesterday I went shopping for sanitary pads with my baby daughter and today I taught her how to shave her legs.... I am still in a state of shock because she is just a baby.  She is so interested in discovering all that it means to be a young lady and it is difficult for me to watch her stretch out her longer-than-mine, beautiful legs and ask me questions about pubic hair and Listen to her whisper that "everything was okay when I went to the bathroom....".  We shopped for new, cute panties to celebrate "The Event".  She has quizzed me about my cycles and we have discussed how important it is that she be thinking ahead in preparation for the Job her body will someday do when she becomes a 
momma.  So much.....so fast.  I know it is a big change for her but I had No Idea as to what a big change it would be to me.  So, to you that have experienced it I want to say Good Job and Thank You. To those of you who are waiting to
experience these changes I want to say..... Soak everything up while you are where you are.   Everyone talks about the changes that a young woman goes through during puberty but no one warns the momma that her baby slips through her fingers In a mere second..... 
Em 

And here is my reply.....Red a tenting, indeed!

I have never met anyone so Eager to start her period! I heard the "catch" in her voice when she called to tell me, and I melted....Delicate snow turning to rain on my skin.....

It is so wonderful that you can discuss this and cherish the Moment in Time when she steps over to Womanhood.  This is the Perfect age for her....She knows enough to be in awe of her body and to appreciate the miracle that surrounds and grows within her.  She is not afraid of going forward into Life, tho she certainly welcomes the company and the Support.

What a Great Age!!!  PERFECT timing on her Creator's part.

And you!  YOU get to sit beside her and watch her journey into places you can never go......You travelled this road at this age with your head in the stars, counting it all as Normal and Quite Easy.  You had no fear for the future, only anticipation and delight. You wondered how you could incorporate jewelry into each moment and desired, above all, that those around you be as content.....

Yes, I marveled at you, as I watched you depart from me into worlds I could not go. I see you now experiencing the same joy and trepidation and sadness that I felt when I realized you had to do much of this Alone, without me, and in your own style. 

Here I am, two generations away, and confirming, once again, what a Good Job I did......

xoxox

Momma

Musings of a 61-year-old on her Birthday......

Yesterday, January 21, I turned 61.  Not so bad.  Except that I'm fatter than I want to be.  More wrinkled than I want to be. Less limber and less graceful than I want to be.  More grey of hair than I want to be.

All outward appearance disappointments....Some of which can be modified with diet, exercise, Mary Kay, yoga, and Loving Care.....Mail order or WalMart should take care of most of these....

Where am I on the Inside matters? What have I done in these six decades to warrant another trip around the Sun? Have I improved Life on this planet?  Have I managed to leave the woodpile stacked a little bit higher? Have I accomplished anything of Merit as a woman way past her Prime?

This is one of the earliest photos of me. Probably the only "baby" picture of me.... Third child. Older sister, older brother....If you look closely, you can Tell that this is an "impromptu" photograph....taken while visiting my parents' hometown in Arkansas. Looks like Mom had hurriedly tucked in the front of my brother Nic's shirttail....My sister Sherry was dressed in playclothes, and why Daddy had on a suit and tie, I do not know. Mom seems relaxed. Almost sensuous.....Like me, she Enjoyed her role of wife and mother....

Below is me in first grade.  I'd already lost a few teeth.  We were growing out my bangs....unsuccessfully, it appears.....I never was a pretty child, and never thin.  But I had an Open Smile, and my eyes always said "yes."   

Birthdays make one think. At least, the more I have, the more I think about these things and where I am in relationship with the Earth, its Creator, and the folks travelling with me......

And, so, I believe, a List is in order.....For no one elses benefit except mine.....

 

 

 

If you continue to read, then perhaps this might cause you to create a similar list....and in doing so, perhaps it might help you sort some things out as well....Tho very few of you readers have orbited around the Sun as many times as I have, maybe the following paragraphs will give you a bit of insight regarding how it feels to live in an aging body with a mind who thinks it is still 17.....

Accomplishments:

  Probably the biggest and best and most important (besides the ones involving God, of course) would be our marriage of 41+ years. This, beyond all else, is the most difficult, frustrating, time-consuming, delightful thing I have ever done. Yep.  Certainly the most Difficult. And I am certain that Bikeman would agree to this. Being married to me is a Challenge at best, Hell at the worst.....And HE's no picnic, either! There were many days, weeks, months that both of us wondered What for and Why we were even Thinking of continuing together.
  As it turns out, we have come to realize that we both admire each other more than anyone we know. Respect and Honor are the hallmarks of our marriage (Lust comes in there as well, but that's another Blog). Understanding and Agreement never seem to come in to play, but give us another 41 years, and we'll see what happens.
  People who were married in the '70's did not tend to stay together.  It was the era of divorce and infidelity.  Look around you.  There are plenty of folks who have celebrated their 50th and even 60th, and their 25th.....but not many 40th...We are a strange and rare item, indeed.  A Great Accomplishment for both of us.

  Then there are the children.  I think they might just go hand-in-hand with this struggle of 41 years.....Whatever the reason, our beautiful (inside and out) daughters, maturing into successful women with families of their own----They are certainly an improvement to this planet....
  If you search the archives, you will see many pictures of them.  They even have blogs of their own. The links are there on the side of this post.

This is Baby Toni and Baby Emily.......We kinda raised each other.....

Here she is with a baby of her own......A true Treasure on this big blue marble.....

 

This one is very like ME....only an Improvement, to say the least. 

 

She tells me very Wise things....I learn a lot from her....

 

 

 

Ah.....Sisters......

And Red Tenting (Have you ever read The Red Tent by Anita Diament?  I will SEND you a copy!)

 

  So.....even though I cannot take much credit, because I certainly was sent some very GOOD raw material.....these women are truly people who continue to improve the planet....At least I can say that I had a small part in developing that.  Stir in a wonderful father, Girl Scouts, love of God, Music, and a sense of Humor, and itsa nice formula.....

 

And the Third Accomplishment.....Helping the Animals of the Earth......

  From the time I was very small, I was always bringing home ill and injured animals to heal and be whole again. My parents were very indulgent in allowing sodden, broken-winged birds and flea-infested mammals and disgusting reptiles into our home. Mostly they were defenseless to my tears, and hoped that I would eventually outgrow this need to comfort the wild things.

  I never kept count of the creatures I helped return to the lives intended for them.  I only know that I got "better" and more aware as more came into my hands.

 

 

  Several years ago I discovered that I could actually communicate with animals, and have been able, through wonderful mentors, to hone my skills and use them to help out the Animal Kingdom.  Plants and Rocks, too....

  This is a mystery that continues to unfold and develop before my very eyes.  ALL I have had to do is keep myself open and willing, and The Creator does the rest.  The most Difficult part has been moving beyond the ordinary norms of society and allowing myself the freedom to continue on this unfamiliar path.

 

So......Marriage.  Children.  Animals.  Not a bad assessment, now that I have written it all down.  I could probably take a few more years of life on Earth....and maybe, just Maybe, continue to improve my surroundings. Please remember me always with a smile....and perhaps a shake of your head....

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Breaking Things as Art

 

Well, who knew that breaking things into pieces and gluing them onto something else could be considered "Art." I've never considered myself an artist until a friend of mine who is an incredible artist, introduced me to the art that I have within.....She showed me that I Do have an "eye" and a gift for placing color in beautiful designs. So we broke a few plates together, and she set me free to find my Muse.

 

It quickly became an addiction.......

 



Here's a few examples of some of the creations I've made.

 

Mostly, the colors are broken dishes, cups, chunks of pottery, marbles, and glass "dots" that go into fish aquariums. They are mounted on various pieces of ceramic/pottery stuff.

Can you guess what THIS base might be.

 

 Yeh....it's uh....well....it's a Toilet Tank lid.  Dunno HOW I have come across so many of these, but they make wonderful "yard art," or even fit upon some of your exisiting toilets. 

 This is supposed to be a human/dog dancing.  It was a prize for one of the dog dance competitions that we go to.

 

Here is another one.......

 

 

And another.....

 

Below is one of the many bowling balls I have "re-created" into a face.  This one is my Nerd.  His glasses are cup handles, and his hat is a lid to the base he is setting on....Any suggestions for a name?

 

 

This green guy I named Stoner.  He was a gift to one of my dog dance friends. His nose is a "bonnet" from some figurine that was broken. He is pictured on the turnaround in my Studio.  A nice way of saying that DH Bikeman has agreed to hand over half of the storage barn to my "broken-ness."

 

 

 

And then, there's Pinkie.  She is made from mostly pink Fiesta ware.  She is pictured before she got grouted.

 

 

Here she is with her "makeup" on.  Her hat is an upside down vase. I love the green eyes. And the border of yellow hearts for hair. Cup handles for nose and mouth.

 



 



 Here's a birdhouse I decorated for Habitat for Humanity auction.  I think it sold for over $100!

 Our birdbath.....remade into something more colorful for the birds' needs.

 Oh, yes....Here's a wonderful mosaic of the heavenly bodies.....It's actually a toilet tank, but I've made it into a planter.  The design goes all around....Jupiter and Mars and Earth are on the other side.  The moon with the cow jumping over it (a cow-shaped cup handle) is on one of the ends.

 

 

Finally, here are a few more pictures of a work in progress. It is a turquoise toilet tank lid (from the 60's?), and will be a prize for the Thanksgiving Dance competition in Oklahoma City next month.

 

First, you draw a design (thanks for the help from my artist friend JT DeShong ), then you stick on the pieces with Liquid Nail.

 

 

And here is the finished product.  Wonder whose prize it will be?!

 

 

 

Everyone seems to enjoy these mosiacs in one way or another.  Remember Mrs. Whitworth? Well, she has been with us almost a year now, and truly enjoys being a part of a Home instead of a shelter...One of her favorite passtimes is to sit on the front porch, advertising that This is HER place of residence now.  And forever.  A Mosaic Cat on a Mosiac Chair.  She knew where to land....From broken-ness into something beautiful......

 



 



 



 

A Moral Issue

Digging in my east garden yesterday. Planting some lavender and sage that a friend gave to me.  Oh, and some "society garlic." 

I love this garden.  Used to be full shade until my neighbor's 100+yr-old tree fell across the fence and had to be cut completely down.

Now the garden is full sun.  Some of the plants, well, most of the plants, are stressing from the full sun since the tree fell.

Now I am trying to replace some of them with plants that will tolerate the heat and the burning sun.

I overturned a ceramic pot, and this is what I saw:

 

 



Black Widow spider, right?  Poisonous, right?  Could possibly ruin my day/weekend/life if I came upon her, and she got scared, right?

 

 

Prolly should kill her and put me out of my misery.....right?

 

I turned the pot back over, and will strive to remember where she is from now on....

 

Yes, it was a moral delimma to me....and the spider won....

 

 



Meet Max

Meet Max.  Approximately 2 years old, neutered male Cocker Spaniel, relinquished by his owner from her kennel when she had to move into a nursing home. He spent most of his young life in a pen with his (intact) sire. Rescued by a very compassionate nurse and taken to her home on several acres out in the county.  Max has run the countryside with his family of dogs for nearly a year, gathering ticks and fleas and lots and Lots of cockleburs and sticktites in his plush sable fur.

Now meet my friend Denise. 

Denise has sent me Max's picture several times, imploring me to please find him a Forever Home.  He's been going up to the highway, trespassing on the neighbor's fields, and generally setting himself up for  a bad ending. Plus, my friend told me, he truly "deserves a home where someone will love and cherish him. And where he can be safe."

I was busy.  I deleted the pictures, and hoped she would not mention it again.

Meet Kathryn.  Baby daughter who lives in Kansas City with our wonderful son in law and two of our grandchildren.

(Here I will insert a piece of advice for you if you have small children in your household: 

If you spend your time when the children are little, trying your very best to raise them into caring, kind, loving human beings, I will guarantee that it will come back to bite you.  Big time.  When you Least expect it.  Certainly when you haven't the Time or the Energy to deal with it.  There is really no escaping it, for they are only repeating the behaviors you have taught them, and Kindness is such a much-needed commodity these days. You cannot say no to it....For if you did, it would then seem that you had been lying to them all these years.) 

And, so, even tho your children have been grown and living their own lives for many years, you never cease being the parent....and, hopefully, their friendwhowilldoanything

....It just never stops.....And I am quite glad of it, truthfully.

Now meet Miranda.  Single mother of two darling children, ages 9 and 4.  She is a friend of Kathryn's, and her sister lives in the cul de sac where Kathryn lives.

Miranda, after many years of being "dogless," decided that the time had come for her to consider adding a canine to her family.  The children were old enough to appreciate and care for a dog, and she was ready now to make the commitment.  So Miranda told her sister.  Her sister told Kathryn.....And Kathryn, knowing that I get several "rescue requests" daily, told me.

When Denise sent me Max's picture for the third time, I finally forwarded it on to Kathryn, knowing full well that this was probably going to be just another dry run request. I had no hope of placing this young dog.  After all, who wants a Cocker Spaniel with huge feet and no socialization? 

Unbeknownst to both Kathryn and me, Miranda's "dog of choice" was a Cocker Spaniel.  She'd had them in the past (pre-children era), and this is the breed that she truly wanted to have again.  As soon as she received Kathryn's email with Max's picture, she called her and firmly told her this dog was "the one."

Okay.  I'm a dog trainer, right?  And a darn good one who Knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that one does Not just choose a dog companion from a photograph.  This is a minimum 15-year commitment.  This is a sentient being, not a car or a bicycle that can be replaced once we tire of its color or its style. You don't just choose it by looking at a digital image.

So Denise and I drove out into the country so that I could lay hands on this dog and assess his temperament, conformation, health, and general makeup.  I took pictures and videos. Sent them to Kathryn. She sent them to Miranda.

Miranda's heart overrode everything practical and logical that I tried to present to her, so I took him home to further evaluate him and give him a bit of a Spa Treatment. Once he was cleaned up and smelling better, parasites eliminated, THEN, perhaps, we could make a more Intelligent judgment call. I'm Not hypercritical, truly, but I DO know that sometimes people can change their minds....

and, bottom line, I didn't want this little guy to be traumatized by floating from one home to another any more than necessary.

Max got a warm bath, pedicure, ear wash, blow dry, anal glands expressed, fleas and ticks combed out, cockle burrs removed, teeth cleaned, and introductions to cats, Collies, water gardens, and men.

After that, a nap was in order.....On my lap.....He snores.



.....He had passed all MY tests and evaluations with flying colors.  Nothing really bothered him (except maybe the embarrassment of that anal gland thang). Had he spent more than one night, DH Bikeman would have insisted he stay on....This dog has rather a magical quality about him.

He slept the night quietly in a kennel beside our bed.  The next morning, I loaded the minivan with 3 dogs (two Collies, one Cocker) and headed for the Northland.



I do not believe I have ever seen a happier adoption.



Welcome to Kansas City, Max.....You handsome, Smart, big-footed little guy.  You have your Forever Family now. 

Many thanks to God for allowing me to be His Agent in all this....Mostly, I just drove the car....Now...where did I put that hairbrush?!



Update......
Max is firmly ensconced in this family and living the Dream.  Jacob is driving now, and Avery is in third grade and reading everything in sight.  Next month they will welcome a new member into their family.......A tiny white and striped kitten named Samson.  Rescued from dire circumstances when he was only a day old, Samson already knows the warmth and love of humans and will continue his life in Kansas City. 

Staining the Deck

DH Bikeman does not like to be outside for any reason, unless there is a bicycle involved.  So, when Deck Maintenance this summer reared its sizzling head, I was amazed at his total immersion in the task.

He stuck with the job until the final brushstroke, and even admitted that he had a fun time.

I, of course, reveled in the time outside together, and rejoice in the Final Product of a nicely-repaired and sealed deck.   

Bikeman doesn't listen to music "casually," so we didn't have the radio or ipod playing while we labored.  It's distracting. He says that he "writes down" every note when he hears music, so I just don't even push the issue when we work on a project together.  Instead, we talk.  We talk a LOT.  Lots.  Lots and Lots. 

At one point, I asked him, "What tune is playing in your head right now?"

This man, who performs in a major symphony and has a doctorate in music, replied, "You Are My Sunshine."  .........

"What tune is in YOUR head?" he asked me.

"Un Bel Di, from Puccini's Madam Butterfly......."....................................


go figger.....

Confessions of a Collie Mom

1)  I have brushed out a Collie without spritzing
      him with water.
      a) but of, course, under no circumstances should one neglect the water when brushing out the      
          nether regions......

 2)  I have yelled out un-Christian names to my Collies when  their feet refuse to stay on the grooming table.
      a)  none of the neighbors ever complained
      b)  DH Bikeman looked at me askance and asked if I   needed to "give him a break" from brushing.

 3)  I have jerked on the leash in correcting my Collies.
      a)  did no good whatsoever with James.
      b)  caused Prosper (the one who so lovvvveeees his Mommy) to shut down immediately
      c)  created a buttload of Guilt on the part  of the Mommy.
           i) not worth the Guilt.

 4)  I have bicycled with my Collies at speeds over 11mph.
      a)  and Prosper still insisted on stopping to pee
      b)  I think he was trying to write his name
      c)  if he had needed to "dot an i" he probably would have popped the leash

 5)  Some mornings I don't let the boyz out until after 10 am
      a)  I like to sleep in, stay up late
      b) James has the biggest bladder in the world.

 6)  I dremel my Collies' nails every Friday
      a) and they still believe that I am trying to kill them
      b) sometimes I skip a week
      c) neither of them complain if I skip a week.

 7)  I always lock up the van when I leave the boyz in the  van.  
      a)  even tho I leave the windows halfway down

 8)  I always feed the boyz at the same time every evening.
      a)  unless, of course, it is very hot outside, then I wait till the world cools down a little.
      b)  unless, of course, I get sidetracked with mosaic'ing or digging in the yard.
      c)  unless, of course, I forgot to thaw something out earlier in the day.

 9)  Dogs are not allowed on the furniture
      a)  Prosper seems to think that he is
      b)  I shall always rejoice that my dogs are "young" enough to jump onto the couch.
10) Dogs are not allowed to sleep in the bed.
      a)  sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night sleeping on one quarter of the mattress.

11) I make sure that I am prompt and uptodate on flea prevention.
      a)  this spring we had a Big Infestation
      b)  treating twice in one month was a Necessity

12) Daily Training is imperative.
      a) somedays all we do is "commercial" training
          i) defined as "training during TV commercials."
      b) dogs do not understand about "too hot" "too cold" or "too wet" to train
      c)  training daily leads to we Must train daily or they will become self-employed

13) I am able to walk over a mile with my Collie off lead.
      a)  this "validates" the question, "what good is it to perform this task in Obedience trials?"
      b)  the less control I exhibit over them, the more control I seem to have.
           i) Dang, you, Barbara Janelle!
          ii) is this Zen or Tao?
      c)  I have wonderful heeling behavior off lead.
           i) once again....Dang you, Barbara!

14) Chasing cats is Not Allowed in our household.
       a)  unless, of course, the cat runs away.
            i) our cats do not run away.
       b)  Prosper has his  very own cat

15) Barking is Not Allowed to excess in our household.
      a) which brings us to the question:  what IS "excess"?
      b) yelling dammit shutUP is ineffective.
      c) sometimes ya just gotta sing!

16) Jumping up onto my chest is cause for correction.
      a) this is also a huge reward for Prosper
      b) I use this behavior in the performance ring when food rewards are not allowed.

17) Teaching your dog to retrieve is a Good Thang.
       a) make sure that you have an Otterbox on your iPhone.
       b) do not drop your panties/bra/jammies onto the floor.
           i) this can become embarrassing when you have male guests over.

18) Collies are extremely drawn to children.
      a) their movements tend to slow down and they become more gentle.
      b)  they will leave you in the Obedience/Agility/Dance ring to interact with a child in the
            audience.

19) I am frequently asked, "Do Collies shed?"
      a) Wish I had a nickel for every time someone has asked me that.
      b)  Hopefully, you who are reading this, know the answer.
      c)  Collie Wool spins into some very warm yarn.
           i) I have the name of a Very Wonderful Spinner if you want to save your Collies' wool.
          ii) I can teach you how to knit.
      d)  I vaccuum every day.
          i)  I own a Dyson vaccuum.

20) Statistics say that the "average" pet owner spends $200 a year on vet bills.
       a)  I tripled that amount in 2 days last month.
            i)  Worth every penny.
       b)   having a healthy, Annoying Collie is a most wonderful thing.
       c)  good veterinarians have a Special place in Heaven.

21)  I change the water bowls in our house about 4x a day.
       a)  and the towels underneath the bowls.

22)  Having Collies in our midst has been a Great Joy in our lives.
       a)  I waited almost 50 years to find this out.
       b)  here's hoping I have another Collie in me......... 

         
  

     


 
      
         

Mother's Day, 1973

My first Mother's Day wherein I celebrated my own motherhood took place 39 years ago.  Emily turns 40 this year....oh, my.....

We were in church. A tiny little Methodist Church in southern New Jersey.  Rob was stationed in the Navy across the Delaware River in Philadelphia, and we chose to live off base in a tiny little town called Lindenwold. One mile down the pike was a beautiful, idyllic, Brigadoon-ish type church, called "Gibbsboro Methodist." We joined it our first Sunday after we arrived in NJ, newly married, full of hope and anticipation of our joined lives.

Right away they gave us some cast-off furniture which had been buried in the attic of the parsonage.....We had nothing except a bedstead and a dining room table. They saw our need, and with the help of some strong men of the church, they filled our tiny apartment with their old, unused, antiques. We are still using them today, 41 years later.

The congregation quickly enveloped this newlywed couple into their fold, assigning us jobs and bringing out our inner gifts to serve the Lord. They smiled indulgently at my thick Southern accent, were duly impressed at Rob's job as Lead Trumpet in the Admiral's Band, and treated us like family.  Family that we had left behind thousands of miles away.....We were no longer alone in the big sea of the metropolitan throng.....We were now intimate and close knit with our Church Home.

Oh, yes.....Mother's Day, 1973. Emily Ellen was 6 months old. We were in church.  Rob was the choir director, and sat up front in the loft. I was in the congregation, Emily close by my side (because I was young, and very unsure about leaving this baby with anyone else in the whole world....so she played quietly beside me during the service).

Emily began enjoying the service a bit too much (never, Ever a fussy baby, just very happy and very vocal---SOMEthings never change.....), so I inched down the aisle with her to the back of the sanctuary.

Gibbsboro United Methodist Church was housed in a very old, beautiful building, built sometime in the early 1900's.  Their stained glass windows on either side of the pews displayed Bible stories and also the names of the folks who had long ago paid for their beauty.  The bottom portion of the windows actually swung down, on a chain, to allow the fresh air to circulate. No air conditioner. Southern New Jersey weather, at least back then, was balmy, even in the summertime.

Towards the back of the sanctuary, right before the vestibule, were some stairs, probably 20 of them, leading down to the basement and our Adult Sunday School classroom.

I took baby Emily down those stairs, put her on a blanket on the carpet, tossed some toys around, then climbed back up to the top of the stairs where I could continue to view the service and hear the music....and also watch my baby one flight down......

I stood singing beside the 6 ft+ tall usher, Russ Burk, my eyes ever assessing the child downstairs, agreeing with Russ (her surrogate, New Jersey grandfather) that she was, indeed, the Most beautiful baby in the Whole World.

As the Worship Committee acknowledged the "oldest" mother, the "youngest" mother (that would be me), the mother who had the most children, the mother with the oldest child, etc, I stood in the back, vigilantly watching my baby girl downstairs, while trying to pay attention to the activities in the front of the church as well.  Emily was happily playing on her tummy, and then it happened......

The little bitty human looked up at me, grinned in recognition, slipped her leg under her tummy......and sat up for the Very First Time!  Smiling triumphantly at her achievement, she collapsed to her prone position again, then succeeded again in sitting upright.

I wanted to scream and yell and tell the Whole World of my baby's accomplishment, but Worship was going on, and it was a time of quiet and introspection.  I looked over at my friend Russ, who had also observed our Emily's incredible attainment.  I mutely looked up at him, my eyes full of tears.  He looked down at me and softly said, "Happy Mother's Day."

It is a moment I shall always remember.