Monday, December 31, 2012

Oldie but Goodie! Blessed New Year!

Sleighbells ring? I'm listenin'

It is just like Ju to monopolize Mommy and the snow, like that. I am jealous. xoxoxoxo

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Sisters and Brothers in the Lord have blessed us so much and we are truly grateful.

The children were all elated at their Christmas presents. They enjoyed entertaining eachother and opening presents and eating their fill. Today we are basking in the playful day and enjoying the sweetness of the blessings of God. We miss many and we are full in our tummies and we didn't get everything that we wanted, but we are so blessed and grateful. Hopefully, photos of our lives will be better with a new camera. Sweet Christmas memories.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

We have a wonderful feast planned for the Christmas Day celebration.

I have no infants, this year and so I had to visit my neighbors across the street and next door to get my Christmas spirit looking into the innocent eyes of the future. They are adorable and Christmas is certainly gleaming from their eyes. My fine fellows are standing like soldiers around my table and awaiting my every whim to make Christmas as festive as can be. The young fellows at 9 and 13 are quite companionable and I am so happy that their sweetness is concentrated in the energy and busyness that their presence is a unifying influence on our ever-maturing Walker household. Our Christmas feast is starting with a stewed turkey. I soaked it in a little wine for about a half an hour. I stuffed it with onions and celery and then the stuffing, before the treatment of the skin. I covered the skin with a slight drizzle of olive oil, before applying the salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. No one cooks a turkey like my mother-in-law did, but I forwent her massage therapy of the turkey before cooking this year, on account of time. I used my mothers technique of placing the turkey in a paper bag, which I had to ask for specifically from the supermarket, {for ecological reasons]. I usually use plastic bags at the store and my children were all looking at me crosseyed: at the tree murderer who came into the house with paper bags from the supermarket..."Go figure!" While the turkey cooked and roasted, or whatever turkeys do in a paper bag, I made a lasagna, macaroni and cheese, calzones {for the pre-Christmas celebration], String beans and salad stuffs and dinner rolls. The banana pudding is for dessert. I am feasting on assorted candy chocolates, which are my favorites of the season. If you ask me, all of the food groups are represented in peanut m&m's. I give myself leisure to indulge, since I distracted my little ones with healthy alternatives. LOL. I had no shopping in my chores, because my adult and late teenage children did the lions-share of the shopping and my darling husband loves the stores in this season and I was no worse for the want of shopping. I shopped only for the love of my life and our 30th Christmas celebration is certainly underway.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Thank God for the comfort of Church!

A smile arose upon my face, at the delight of sharing Christmas Eve, Eve in the fellowship of brethren, here in NC and other places around our internet. We delighted to worship in the morning and all of my children were praising God beside and behind me. I wiped the tears at those loved ones that I haven't here in my arms on account of the most important ones who are here. Then, in the evening, Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, had their Christmas music worship service, which was the lifting of my countenance. Scripture and God centered music, perfectly shared with me via the live webcast. The prayers and readings and music and instruments, were like a salve to my soul, amidst my sullen "allergies" {as I call them}. Mother was laughing and rejoicing and glorifying God at the delight of worshipping God, with like-minded brethren. We will never know, until heaven the joys and the comfort that we have given to one-another sharing truth over the internet. The church's tool to triumph over the world, the flesh and the devil. I am grateful that we are all well and here and that the emotions of the near-catastroph are just the after-shock of the hard difficulty. God is healing our hearts and minds and lifting us up, through our pain. He uses worship to do this. God bless the pastors and worship leaders who gave of their time and talents to comfort us in this tremendous way. As we put the last trimmings under the tree and pray for the sad people in Newtown, who will not be comforted this season for their griefs; God's mercy surrounds us and we find the truth of the reality that God does truly inhabit the praises of His people.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

What happens in the Walker House, the day before Christmas Eve

"Stop crying, mother."Mother always cries that she can't see her sisters and friends. She cries that she can't ride down the LIE or the Belt Parkway. She cries that she can't see Ms. Lee or Pam for the holiday. She cries at the little births that she has missed, being down here in NC. Stoney is talking already and Netties tummy is bulging something aweful, I hear. She cries that Santa doesn't have a big enough sleigh to carry her to her loved ones' chimneys. She cries that she hates skype and the phone and will only be comforted when she has her baby nephew in her arms to bite him sorely, as we do. We get ready for church and the children bid their mother not to cry.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

The Newest Addition to our Tree came

in a wonderful and bounteous birthday present from my Sister's in Christ at the Northlake Church. It has come to represent church plantings all over this beautiful state and city that we are with. The churches that have blessed us with their activities. Movies and vacation bible schools and services and sunday schools. I pray for the efforts of these dear people whose commitment to see Christ formed in the next generation goes oftentimes unsung. I am very grateful for their perserverance and when I adorn my tree with the angel of my 51st birthday sisters, that angel will remind me of the work of the gospel to the little ones and in remote communities, where the poor and poor in spirit can have the gospel preached to them.

Friday, December 21, 2012

This is the angel of the Sunday School classes.

I stood on line for her, with a heavy heart that year. My dear Sunday school teacher looked me in the eye and wished me a Merry Holiday. I could not see merriness for the grief of my heart which had overwhelmed me, but her hug broke through the brooding condition of my heart. When I look at the angel I can feel the hug and hear the pouring of Sunday school teachers throughout my life, pouring truth; which has benefitted me greatly. I see my dear Sister Green, who won me to the Lord, at the altar at Bethel. I see the teachers in my youth and adulthood, as it were, kneading truth into this soul, for my growth and sustainance. I am grateful and I pray for each and everyone, in humble gratitude for their kind consideration of this poor soul.

Under a ceiling of flags, My Ethan combines his musical efforts in concert.

We dressed, as though we were going on a date. It was a date. A date with my favorite boughs. I can't remember a more exciting concert that I went to. Every child of mine whose concert I am able to attend, gives me chills and thrills. I remember the squeels and chills that rang down our necks in the beginning of this clarinet journey. Will he ever get past this squeekie season? Days ag
o, Emma {our dog} and I looked at eachother in front of the practicing protege and winked that we are glad to be able to sit in the same room now. It was real musical sounds coming from his clarinet. Delightful. Well, the concert was last night and I always imagine my Grandma Monica and adorned myself in makeup and some acrylic nails to remind myself of the significance of the day for me. Very little else is a documented ambition of mine for my children other than to enjoy the sense of concert with a group of others. A very similar feeling to the family life that we enjoy, but to a more tangible and appetizing end. Appetizing to me, who am satiated at the musical endeavors. He did his part. He is not a glutton for music, as his mother, but he appreciates it and that is all that I can ask from my artistically bent brood. I was delighted, Ben was impressed at the effort and Ezra soaks the enjoyments of these last little bears being reared in our den, with all of the sweetness of the youngest brother in the family. I think that youth is not wasted on the young;)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Today, I reminisce about my children's many heartfelt creations that have adorned the tree.

They are represented in one popsicle stick tree that Ezra made in the kindergarten that has survived the tumult of Christmas cleanup rush. I pray for all of their continued creative endeavors and their promising artistic minds. I pray that they will be enabled to use their gifts for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom and for the continuance of family love upon the earth. God grant them many blessed memories of Christmas and traditions to pass on to their children that will guide and keep them in the blessing of Christian love. May the tree signify hope and perserverance from generations past, into the future until we see Christ face to face. Bless our tree and our remembrance of the wondrous gift that these children are in our lives and the blessing that Jesus gave us in redemption and restoration of fellowship with God in payment for our sins. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Praying over the decorations on the tree!

Now, We see through a glass darkly. I am grateful, as I look over the decorations on the tree that they remind me to pray for myself and for others in this season. Because of the soreness of my soul in this season, it pricks me to stay in prayer as my heart longs to be with my family members over the holiday season. My seasonal allergies are sensorious and emotional;unfortunately, but truly the season includes the attending some pity parties. {I don't plan them, but sadly have very little defense against their invitations} I miss family and dear ones that are departed and my heart is often weighted with the sadness of these losses and griefs amidst the festivities and lights of the season. I long for greater control of these emotions, but they lead me to pray as I look at and on the decorations of the season. As we take the Christmas tree out and put the items on it, I pray for the people that the decorations remind me of and glory in the reality that "The True Emmanuel" is with us by faith as we celebrate Him in these psalms and hymns and decorations and gifts.
Today it is the shiney Christmas Ball. Lord, as I see my reflection in the ball and my heart reminisces to the childhood memories of festive carefree love, bless each of the siblings and cousins who danced with me to the Jackson 5 and Johnny Mathis and my mommy who must have her memories jarred by the lights and tinsel, as well. Bless my children with good memories of these days of rejoicing in the Greatest Gift that You Gave, Your only begotten Son! Bless us to be renewed in faith by knowing that You are present as we turn our minds and thoughts to You for grace to bless others with gifts also. Help us not to judge our time by our reminiscences too harshly, but to direct our childrens' thoughts to the one who sanctifies every festivity with His presence. Give us grace to be the directors of the next generation to want to know Him, because of the desire and need of Him that they see in us. Help us to remember that You love us and to be agents of love to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Made it to 51? Happy birthday.

So blessed a birthday to have gifts from a loving family. I am grateful for all the prayers and well wishing. Thank you.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Title- The Studious One!

Title-  The Studious One!
artwork by Elyse

Of biscuits and syrup

Of biscuits and syrup
tasty treats

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday!
a day at the Raptor Center.

Widdle Emmie in outer space school

Emmie jumped on the bus and off it flew out into the atmosphere. There was a set of clouds with turbulence right above the house and it took a few minutes for my Emmie to buckle her seatbelt. They hit the bump hard and it knocked my Emmie out of her seat and she bumped her head. The video camera came on and the monitor looked through and stated, Ms. Emmie, where are you? You are not in your seat. Where are you? I am alright I fell because I hadn’t buckled correctly. Well jump up Emmie we have a long way to go and you have to be buckled there is entirely too much turbulence in the stratosphere for you to unbuckle now. As soon as we are through this weather system there will be straight sailing but right now you must buckle. Emmie scrambled into the seat with intensity and purpose now. She watched every cloud pass her window and her nose was pressed to the window trying to see the top of the house as it drifted slowly out of sight. Soon they were not only out of sight of the house, the sun came out brightly and just as quickly they were putting on the atmospherical breathing apparatus and the outerspherical lights. The ABA and the OL. These precautions were to make them appear to be satellites to the radar as they were out in the ionosphere. Emmie knew all about this now. She had gone to the orientation and had a good breakfast and it took them 20 minutes for her to get out past the atmospherical pull and to feel the zero gravity. It would be 15 minutes before the gravity simulators would take effect, a glitch in the system which was being worked on. Until then, they enjoyed the couple of minutes of floatation, while being connected to the seats by belt. The first thing they saw everyday was the strataflotsam. The items which had been dumped into the atmosphere by earlier generations. What would their generation do about this ecological waste area that remained floating above their heads? This was a question for the generations. For now it was the area that they had to guide through on the way to school.

Midnight at the OASIS

Midnight at the OASIS
Sunset in Huntersville

My little Emmie

ran to the bus on the first day of the last year of school. 2 buns on the side of her head. She kissed me and ran at dawn to the bus. She was starting the adventure of a lifetime. I would never see that little girl again, she was going to woman school!

My Father and I 1989

My Father and I 1989

to the tune of Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

A VISIT TO PAPA











Are you going to Mary Immaculate?

Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



Remember me to the one who lived there,



He once was a true love of mine,



Tell him to buy me an acre of land,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



Between the muddy Hudson in Jamaica Bay,



Then, He’ll be a true love of mine,

Tell him to sow in it seeds of pure cream,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



And build Ice cream mountains and buildings of whipped cream,

Then, He’ll be a true love of mine,



Tell him to reap them with sickles of M&M’s,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



And chew bubble gum and eat till we’re done,



Then, He’ll be a true love of mine.



Tell him to run it off down the motor parkway,



Apricots, Chocolate Cherries and Pie,



After your done 50 pushups



and jog down the West Side Highway,



Then he’ll be a true love of mine…

(Don’t wait for me today dad, The kids are sick again, My tummy’s bulging again, My heart is aching again, And now there’s no love there…)





He once was, a true love of mine….So, Girls, I do beg you don't miss your Daddy,Apricots, Chocolate cherries and Pie,You have one short chance to see him on this side, Go visit him and let your light shine.