Fourth of July festivities, included a visit from a little fat froggy-pooh, {Go figure?}

Ruth's Quips, "Here's Your Hat"...etc

Since Gramma Ruth passed, nearly 13 years now, I have thought of compiling her terse sayings together into a book for my children. Oh, how I remember, though not often with fondness the sayings rolling off of her lips, over and over and over again. For Ezra, who is my only child who never met, "Ruthy" {as Dad would call her} I did a before school series of discussions on the sayings of Ruth. We talked about the way she pulled her sword out of sheeth and she had specific intentions for each word. ie "Youth is wasted on the young"

She got these sayings from her travels and she didn't intend a one of her offspring to die without their inheritance. These sayings were the inheritance and what they meant were for the lot of us to dig out in our own experience.

I must say that at the time I was not disposed to respect her reusing other people's sayings the way that she did. I was more inclined to respect the contemporary muses of my day and poo-pooed the likes of "a stitch in time saves time" crowd. I know now that she and I were kindred spirits, weaving words into the minds of our youth, hopefully, for their profit. I was privy to her early efforts, before she calmly learned how to skillfully enter the admiration of youngsters. She used to just slam us with sayings.

Toward the end of her life, we had made peace with eachother, which was confirmed by her saying to me, "remember when you wouldn't come into my house?" I do remember Gram. I do remember. Now, I see her everyday. When I look into the mirror, when I see the terse way that I handle my younguns. I am thankful that she taught me to love her, over time.

She wove word usage into my psyche the hardest way possible and taught me to wrestle the word usage into my unwordy children as well as my wordy children. For that, I am truly grateful. I came to her house one day and she was playing the memory game with Muffy. What is up, Ruth? I thought to myself, where is your sword? This is my sword and yesterday, I learned the memory game with her, for the profit of my own children who say the same to me, when I am a softy. Where is your sword? {tongue} I do want to hold your hand, Ruth and weave words into the minds of my kids...

Today, I'm the 'fool on the hill", admiring the nationalism of rooting for Andy Murray.

What a pretty picture of nationalism is Andy Murray! The whole country is rallying for him to win Wimbledon. Not, you can do it, but we can do it! It is for all of us that you win. What a unifying factor is winning. We all want to do it and we all want to enter into the thrill of victory for our nation. I look at this in the shadow of our Independence Day. We celebrate together our victory over "dependence". We are no longer "dependent" we are "independent". But, will we ever get to the point of our forbearers in interdependence, as expressed in the UK through Andy Murray? It's a victory for our country, if our fellow wins our national tourney? Maybe. We had days of Jimmy Connors and John MacEnroe and Arthur Ashe and now the winners of the Williams, etc. But does it form a cohesive bond? It doesn't seem to. There is room to grow in our independence or interdependence as we strive toward God's intention for the image of God, as it shows itself in our nationalism. Not pride but unified striving. Moral support that is more than that. Something that gives us a reason to win. I do hope Andy wins it for them.

We woke up, a little late for Spring Cleaning!

It is Summertime! Jobs are scarce, but not around this house. The past couple of days, the cleaning bug has hit the young people in my house. I am very grateful. I am usually behind them, picking up and they are doing the major part of the cleaning these past few days. I thought it would pass. I didn't expect the thoroughness that they are exhibiting. It is delightful that the conflicts, although they are not fewer are about tossing stuff, instead of hoarding. They are going through the toy closet and the desks. Wow! Many hands make light work. But a lot of people can collect alot of stuff. It is true! Teamwork is delightful to see, also.

Congrats to Grandma Jackie, another successful delivery, under belt!

Elijah is a daddy? I wish I could see that sweet baby. I know the sweetiepie, probably looks just like my sister. Addison looks like Juju to me and I can just imagine the sweet baby that came from Elijah's new family. I keep reminiscing when baby Jackie was a newborn like this baby. I was 3 years old and thought that I could hold the baby. Miss Newsome was our nanny. She kept smacking our hands, mine and Ju. "Don't touch the baby!" seemed like the only thing we heard in those days. We were a couple of troublemakers, for sure. And, if given the opportunity we certainly would have played catch with her. We were not allowed to touch her. I remember asking what is so special about her that she can't be touched? Little minds with much love for baby and lots of fun to enjoy in those days. I do hope that baby Elija"mina" is a sweetiepie and the love of her grandma's life. A new love, always enjoying the loves of children and the earlier grands. Congrats and happy felicitations for the great treasure of having another grandbaby. Love, Jayne

Here come the sunflowers!*************

In my garden, today I found one sunflower blooming. I have been anticipating this highly auspicious occasion for days now. I have been looking at this unplanted garden of sunflowers that cropped up, unsolicited and planted by the birds, tossing the sunflowers out of the birdfeeder and up popped these 5 sunflowers. Today one came to full bloom. What a delightful providence and the enjoyment of my young boys at home is even more delightful. The almost high-schooler and the almost 5th grader are mom's right and left sweeteners. I just love the interaction of these fellows with each-other.

We've had rain, nearly everyday, for quite awhile, here in Charlotte!

Rain, covering us like the grace of God.

I am so grateful for the greening of Summer. For a couple of years, we had drought conditions. This year the beauty of the constant drenching is a beautiful thing to me. Now, we are praying that the timing of the rain would be convenient for us. I have one grapevine coming up and four strawberry plants in the garden. They are delighted at the plentiful waters and watering.

My bird feeder, though empty, because of not buying the seeds for my dear friends in the neighborhood, sprouted 5 sunflowers from the birds dropping those seeds into the soil, instead of eating them. This morning, Mrs. Bluejay had a good-morning song for me as soon as I opened the door to look out at the beautiful morning sky. The clouds hadn't quite decided what they would do, yet. The sun was bright and promising of a sunshiny day. Now, it seems that Mrs. Bluejay, was warning me, get outside, now, she warned, there are some clouds forming outside of your view. I saw them on my way over here and I here there will be rain today. Really, I queried? She darted off to discuss the matters with my neighbor, through her opened window. I wasn't offended, because I have learned that is the bluejay way. They give a quick newscast and hardly have time to discuss any questions. They leave socializing to the sparrows.

Right now, though it isn't raining, the sun is covered by the gathering clouds and seem to be threatening to keep the day overcast, for a while. We will see.

Summer, in NC is full of wild and life and challenging weather patterns. I enjoy it. So many stories are on my tongue and on my computer, having gotten to know my animal friends in the neighborhood. Kissed my honey good bye and a good day and then prepared for the young people to come downstairs for the day.

fictional blog link, stories. False Alarm, the sun came back out! It looks like a lovely day, now.9:39am.

**********Happy Father's Day**********

Serving your family and your church, we are grateful for your kind and merciful provisions for us. Love and hope the best for your Father's Day!.

Thankful to God for 30 years of His Blessing

Enoch's Graduation, Halleluia!