Why I Had Children

[I make no apologies for this entry, but I do tell you right up front it is filled with pictures and thoughts from a still-smitten grandmother. I still encourage you to read to the end.]

The Georgia National Fair is a huge event in the town where I live. This year saw a record of over 500,000 fair-goers. My husband, children and I have been attending every year's event since its inauguration in 1989 when Ray Stevens was the featured entertainer. Yes, our children have practically grown up riding "The Gentle Giant" Ferris wheel, feeding exotic animals and watching more circus acts than most people their ages can boast. But it's what we did; and what we still do.

However, this year was different. Of the 11 days that the fair was in town, our 4 year old grandson was here for the first 5 of them. What was really only to be a one day excursion turned into 5 days of fun; and, boy, what fun we had!

Each morning began with the little fellow sitting in my lap out on the deck in the Adirondack chair cuddled up in a honey colored blanket. Sometimes we would read, but most of the time we would just watch the birds. He got quite proficient at naming the "Go, Dog!" birds (a.k.a. cardinals) and telling me whether they were girl birds or boy birds. On more than one occasion, a flock of noisy geese flew over. I taught him one should not gawk heavenward when that happens but rather close his mouth. We watched woodpeckers and doves and hummingbirds among many other assorted feathered friends. And his belly laugh at the squirrels chasing each other around and around the tree was enough to make this grandmother chuckle out loud herself.

Before too long, the day was in full force and it was time for some fair fun and food.

His cousin accompanied us on several days.

Dumbo was the first ride.

Way up in the sky on the Gentle Giant Ferris wheel took some nerve.

Learning to flip on the trampoline was a major accomplishment.

On to the train.

The world famous carousel! One must always ride (including this grandmother) this one.
Not only was it in the movie, "Big," with Tom Hanks, Elvis Presley himself also did a gig with this one.

The brave young man tackled the swing.

Getting on our game faces for Robinson"s Racing Pigs.

He fed EVERY animal at the petting zoo -- except for the huge cow with the daunting horns. I don't blame him.

We stayed so late that first night that we even got to watch the fireworks.

His Uncle Bobba's tepee is always a hit -- and fun. And being family, they got to cross the "Do Not Cross" rope.

We saw cows but we got to ride horses.

The Agrilift at night is a must.

And at the Saturday morning parade, we got to meet Minion.

He begged to do the Muttin' Bustin', but this is as close as we would let him get without his parent's permission. Maybe next year, little man.

I-flip was a hit!

As were the bumper cars.

An up close encounter with a REAL race car.

Cutest little Captain America I ever did see.

He rode the race car roller coaster with Uncle Charles.

And the Tidal Wave.

And the bumper cars again.

He got to fly solo for a change.

And climb a rock -- sort of. 8 feet was about as high as he would go.  After 45 minutes of waiting in line.

Day 5 found his mom and dad in tow and him sportin' a tiger's face. 

Did I mention he liked the bumper cars?

And the roller coaster.

We drank milk and milked cows.

And we discovered that trees can walk and talk.

We also went to the circus, saw the pirate show, the magic show, watched the monkey show, the sea lion show and spent way too long in the building demonstrating to us the process of growing a chicken. We ate corndogs, hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, roasted corn and funnel cake. And, yes, he and his cousin even danced wildly to Grand Funk Railroad's,"We're an American Band," as they played live on stage opening night. Yes, fun was indeed had by all. But especially by this grandmother.

The end of Day 5 saw our little man safely strapped into his car seat after having been kissed profusely and thanked a hundred times for coming. As they always do, his daddy rolled down the window so we could see him waving to us and so we could throw one more kiss. And as the Jeep was placed in reverse and began making its way to the end of the driveway, my grandson waved one more time and yelled, "Thank you, G-Nan! I loved watching the birds with you!"

YES!!!!!!! A thousand times YES, my sweet one. So did I. So did I.

And that, my friends, is why I had children.

Children's children are a crown to the aged. 

Proverbs 17:6

Just an ordinary moment...

A Cup Overflowing, 241-260

With this being November -- and the month of Thanksgiving, want you join me in adopting a season of "thanks living"?  Begin by counting...

 

#241  that apart from Christ, there is no joy

 

#242  at God's right hand are pleasures forevermore ... and in His presence is fullness of joy

 

#243  turning a knob and having instant water rush out ... and plenty of it, too -- how often I take that for granted

 

#244  reality checks that remind me of my place in life

 

#245  dancing with Lynn

 

#246  fair friends (and food)

 

#247  sitting around the table with my son and his wife enjoying family

 

#248  young talent

 

#249  disappointment ... it allows me to practice grace

 

#250  God's loving providence in my past

 

#251  His constant protecting love in my present

 

#252  pink mornings

 

#253  the rich warmth of a friend's voice on the phone

 

#254  the season's last hydrangea

 

#255  choir rehearsal ... and community

 

#256  cakes and a mother who taught me to bake

 

#257  content with the quiet

 

#258  that every day God says "Do it again!" and the sun rises in the east

 

#259  experiencing God's love afresh through the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux

 

#260  holding hands

Happy Thanksliving...
 

A Cup Overflowing, 221-240

I read recently that gratefulness is the measure of our aliveness.  And that we are dead to whatever we take for granted ... because to be numb is to be dead. 

 

So how's your pulse?

 

I'm taking mine now.

#221  a life-long friend ... literally

#222  three territorial hummingbirds

#223  1.74 miles -- it's a start toward a future 5k

#224  emotions -- messages from God that can tell me much about my spiritual quest

#225  pin-pointing a wound

#226  forgiving ... again

#227  trying to learn how to live with a sacramental view of life

#228  yearning for Christian community for it is my context for finding companionship in Christ

#229  inconveniences that cause me to slow down and exhibit patience

#230  praying with a mantis

#231  October skies

#232  quiet mornings -- so much so that even my breakfast toast is deafening

#233  making family connections with a mother of a dear high school friend who is long departed

#234  GA National Fair -- unless one lives in Perry, one cannot appreciate the excitement of "fair days."  It is counted down for 50 weeks on a local sign, and we all anticipate its arrival.  Only an 11-day season pass will do! 

#235  cowboys being cowboys

#236  spending the day with my parents on my dad's 82nd birthday

#237  my daddy -- a man of integrity and faithfulness -- so thankful for this man!

#238  laughing so hard with my kids that my side feels like it's going to split wide open

#239  time spent with family -- after 22 years, my husband's sister and brother-in-law were finally able to take in a full day of fair activities with us.  We love them so much...

#240  that God sees the disconnect of my heart and still loves me

Awake my senses, O Lord.  I want to live.

Doing This Together

Just last weekend, I read Henri Nouwen's book, In the Name of Jesus.  In it he writes of going to the Center for Human Development in Washington, D.C. to speak to a group of priests and ministers about Christian leadership in the then approaching 21st Century.  Being aware that Jesus did not send out His disciples alone to preach the word, the Daybreak community, a home for mentally handicapped people and in which Nouwen was now a priest, decided to send Bill Van Buren along. 

 

Nouwen wrote, "Of all the handicapped people in the house, he [Bill] was the most able to express himself with words and gestures.  From the beginning of our friendship, he had shown a real interest in my work as a priest and had offered to help me during services."  So when he was invited to join Nouwen, he accepted it as an invitation to join him in ministry.  In fact, the words he said over and over again on the plane were, "We are doing this together, aren't we, Henri?"  And each time Nouwen would answer, "Yes, Bill.  We are doing this together."

 

In the epilogue of the book, Nouwen explains what happened during the speech to this prominent group of listeners.  He tells of Bill leaving his seat and coming up on stage with him and planting himself right behind Nouwen.  Each time Nouwen finished reading a page, Bill took it and put it upside down on a small table near by.  Every now and then, Bill would blurt out, "I have heard that  before!"  He wanted everyone listening to know that he knew Henri very well and was familiar with his ideas, reminding Nouwen it wasn't as "new" an idea as he would like for his listeners to think. 

 

When Nouwen related the most often asked question he gets from the residents of Daybreak, "Are you home tonight"? Bill interjected, "That's right, that is what John Smeltzer always asks."  He wanted people to know about his friend John.  Nouwen wrote, "It was as if he drew the audience toward us, inviting them into the intimacy of our common life."

 

To top off the evening, when Nouwen had finished his speech and was getting an ovation, Bill whispered, "Henri, can I say something now?"  Truly not knowing what might come out of Bill's mouth, Henri agreed and called everyone to order.  "Bill took the microphone and said with all the difficulties he has in speaking, 'Last time, when Henri went to Boston, he took John Smeltzer with him. This time he wanted me to come with him to Washington, and I am very glad to be here with you.  Thank you very much.' That was it," Nouwen wrote, "and everyone stood up and gave him warm applause."

 

No doubt a lengthy and unusual introduction to this particular blog entry, but allow me to use it to segue to an incident that happened at the GA National Fair last week.  My cousin Lynn, her older sister and her 96 year old mother came from Jacksonville, FL to the fair.  On Thursday afternoon, I joined them and my parents for a few hours of fun.  One of the stops was to listen to Leon Jacobs, Jr.  Lynn, who has Down Syndrome, LOVES music, especially "rock and roll."  And  NO one enjoyed the hour more than she. 

 

Leon ended the afternoon show with Chubby Checker's The Twist.  As soon as he hit the first chords, Lynn jumped up right where she was and began to dance. 

 

I snapped a quick shot and then knew what I needed (and wanted) to do.  We were to "do it together."  And, Lord have mercy, did we ever!  We twisted until the cows came home.

 

 

When the song ended, Lynn threw her arms around my neck and said over and over again, "That was so much fun!  That was so much fun!  That was so much fun!"  Indeed, it was, Lynn.  Because we did it together. 

 

Jesus positions Himself where 2 or 3 are gathered together.  And on this warm, October afternoon, a little piece of land at the GA National Fair became holy for me.

 

I might not remember a lot about this year's fair, but one thing's for sure.  I'll remember dancing -- because we did it together.

 

Just an ordinary moment...