Potential: Good News Inside

I have been reading a book called Half Full: Meditations on Hope, Optimism, and the Things That Matter by Mina Parker. It is one of these books that you can read a page a day and it gives you something to think about. On each page she combines her thoughts with a quote and a photograph by Daniel Talbott. This was on the page I read today:

" Everyone has inside him a piece of good news. The good news in that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!" Anne Frank the view from my study on a recent sunny day

'Potential is a funny thing. In one way, it's just an idea-not real yet-just a maybe. Yet it can inspire you or stymie you, just the same. But the truth is that potential can never be taken away from you. There is always a possibility, always a maybe.
You don't know what the future holds, but instead of letting worry you, get stirred up by what is possible. When I'm struggling, it's great comfort to read through the trials that someone before me has overcome. And when I'm floating, the stories of others' achievements are an exciting inspiration. "-excerpt from Half Full by Mina Parker

I had a day today that had changes in routine, ups and downs, and some difficult sessions with students. I am glad I focused on this page when I returned home. I think this will be a quote I will post on the white board tomorrow in my classroom.

Garden Valley Church: A Blessing In Our Lives

I have posted before about our country church close to home. The Garden Valley Community Church is a blessing in our lives each and every day. It was a special treat Sunday when JEJ and his friend DH sang one of their popular duets during the worship service. Their rendition of the gospel version of "Consider the Lilies", accompanied by DH on the guitar, is a favorite of mine. Even after they performed it I went back and revisited the lyrics to enjoy the song even more. I am the most fond of Verse Two.

Consider The Lilies
Verse I
Consider the lilies they don’t toil nor spin
And there’s not a king with more splendor than them
Consider the sparrow they don’t plant or sow
But they’re fed by the Master who watches them grow

Chorus:
We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes filled with mercy
And a heart filled with love
He really cares when
Your head is bowed low
Consider the lilies and then you will know

Verse II
May I introduce you to this friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars and tells the sun when to shine
And kisses the flowers each morning with dew
But He’s not too busy to care about you.
Chorus...
Author: Joel Hemphill
It was also communion Sunday so Pastor Shane led us in another gospel favorite " Let us Break Bread Together on Our Knees" as we prepared for communion. Our little church in the wildwood is growing and growing. In fact, when I arrived Sunday there was only one parking place left! I don't mind having to walk a bit if the parking lot is full!

"Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord."
Psalm 89:15 NLT

To learn more about The Garden Valley Church, go here.

Tuesdays With Mary: Sibling Assignment #89

"Think about a television show you watched growing up while you lived at home. Write about what you enjoyed about that television show, and how that show may have influenced you in your adult life."

Silver Valley Girl gave the sibling assignment this week. Raymond Pert's recap of television history in our childhood house and a reflection on soaps is here and Silver Valley Girl's post and videos of another show I almost chose, "The Carol Burnett Show"is here.

From 1969 until I left home in August 1973 to attend college I spent every Tuesday night at 10:00 in the living room with my mom watching "Marcus Welby, M. D. " I grew up with a love for medical shows beginning with the likes of Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey, then branching out to Dr. Gannon, Dr. Welby, Dr. Kiley and those doctors on the soaps, but "Marcus Welby, M.D." was an institution in our house. First of all it is amazing that a show ever stayed on the same time for it's whole run ( until 1976).

Everyone wanted a compassionate doctor like Dr. Welby that had time in his busy day to listen to you describe your symptoms, share your personal problems, and show photos of your children. He was familiar to us from "Father Knows Best" so we trusted him plus he had that handsome sidekick named Dr. Kiley ( James Brolin) that drove a motorcycle. Or course then there was warm, caring Consuelo that provided that female touch to the otherwise male practice. Mom would be on the couch correcting the last of her papers for the evening. I would be in the chair after finishing homework , learning lines for a play, or curling my hair as we would wait eagerly for the opening credits every week. Dad had bowling that night so we didn't have to compete with him over another show on our one television set. Silver Valley Girl must have already been in bed and Raymond Pert was probably more interested in listening to the stereo upstairs than watching Marcus Welby.

Mom has always loved anything medical. She still enjoys poring over medical books when she hears the symptoms someone may have and loves to engage in any conversation that revolves around hospitals, illness, and/or medication. This show was right up her alley. I think Mom would have also been a good nurse.

Marcus Welby dealt with serious illnesses and every week we were exposed to the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses that included autism, MS, brain cancer, blindness, diabetes, and leukemia. We made our own guesses of the disease during the first commercial and perhaps what might happen by the end of the show. Happy endings didn't always happen with Marcus Welby. There was a natural tension between old and young with Welby and Kiley and Dr. Kiley always seemed to be falling in love with a patient with sometimes sad consequences. I remember when an old girlfriend played by Stephanie Power has an illness and Dr. Kiley wanted to keep it a secret. I remember Dr. Welby dealing with illness with his own daughter and a love interest also. Whatever the illness or episode, it was always memorable.

The show was dramatic, warm, educational, and entertaining. I am surprised I didn't go into the medical field myself after working with Mom and these two doctors all those years on Tuesday nights. It influenced me as I watched my teacher mom diligently do her schoolwork earlier in the evening so she could take a break to watch the show. I must of felt later in life it was okay to quit working on school work in the evening and give myself a treat by watching "LA Law", "Cheers", "Dallas", " Cagney and Lacey", or " The Mary Tyler Moore Show".

We watched a lot of television in our house, but this show engaged us in more conversations. We cared about the stars of the show and the patients they encountered. As you will see from this clip, there were many other shows that were popular during this time., but this one sticks out for me. When I saw James Brolin sitting behind his wife Barbra Streisand at the Kennedy Center Awards I didn't think of him as anything else by Dr. Kiley. I would love to see him as the older doctor today with that striking white hair riding in on a Harley.

I had a few stays in the hospital in my adult life. I think I was comforted by the busyness of Mom asking questions, getting the scoop on other patients, and replaying the drama that was happening outside of my own room. She played this role with other family members when they were hospitalized also, plus when she had surgery and hip replacement surgery I could cheer her up by telling her the daily news from the ward of the hospital.

Now Mom and I don't have a Tuesday night ritual, but when I am there staying I know the soaps are the afternoon ritual, Jeopardy is at 7:00, and Meet the Press is Sunday mornings. When you watch this clip it will remind you of even more great shows during that time. No wonder I watched television so much back then.

Here Comes the Sun: Part 2

the sky west of Sherman Creek Orchard

"Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right "

I did a post on December 28th entitled Here Comes the Sun. That may have been the last time I captured such needed images of sun and blue sky until today. Sunshine can bring out laughter, smiles, cars to the car wash, neighbors waving hello, and dogs running with pleasure. As I loaded up for a trip to town this morning I packed my camera thinking I may get a few good shots. Here is my Saturday Sunshine collection:looking back at our sunroom as the rays pierce through a pine treea horse fence poised in front of a brilliant sky with a single jet stream heading down to Haag Cove campground the icy field stood empty and still looking north the mountains are still covered with snow Through the trees Lake Roosevelt shimmered from the reflection of the sun at the campground.

When I used to hear "Here Comes the Sun" I always thought of the Beatles, Abbey Road, the Humdinger, and the summer of 1970. Today I think of James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma and their duet released in October on Yo Yo Ma's CD "Songs of Joy and Peace". This CD has such an amazing collection of duets, but of course my favorite is Yo Yo and James Taylor. If you haven't checked out the CD, I recommend it. Enjoy some time here with Yo Yo and JT.

Writer's Meme

painting by Georgia O'Keefe

I found this meme on Rondi's blog May's Day. I thought it would be fun to try.

What’s your favorite genre of writing?

I really like to write memoir

How often do you get writer’s block?

Not very often because I have many books with inspiring prompts to use.

How do you fix it?

return to those books, walk in the garden, or go on a photo hunt

Do you type or write by hand?

I used to always write by hand. I still do in my journal, but other writing is word processed.

Do you save everything you write?

Yes, I do. I try to set a good example for my students because I have them collect writing. I still have pieces I wrote in classes twenty years ago!

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
All the time. I found a poem I had written about a box in the closet many years ago. I tried it again and used it in class.

Do you have a constructive critic?
Many... a friend Bev, my brother who was our visiting writer at the retreat last summer, a poet that willingly reads my stuff when I ask, and my students.

Did you ever write a novel?

No, I have never been interested in big projects like a novel.

What genre would you love to write but haven’t?

I would love to write travel pieces about the Pacific Northwest and places I have visited and informational essays on gardening.

What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Horror /scary stuff

How many writing projects are you working on right now?

I am always writing for my blogs, working on a cookbook project, poetry, and some professional writing.

Do you write for a living? Do you want to?
No and I don't want to because I am afraid I wouldn't enjoy it as much if my livelihood depended on it.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?

I have written articles for both magazines and newspapers.

Have you ever won an award for your writing? No

What are your five favorite words?

glistening, hope, wondrous, serene, memories

Do you ever write based on your dreams?no

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?Happy endings

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen? Yes, I did a series of exercises with poetry based on famous works of art like the one above.

Now ... this is enough writing for today. Try the meme. It will help you examine your own writing life.

Cold!

How many ways can you say it?
How many ways can you explain it?
How many ways can you illustrate it?

It has been really, really cold. Last Friday the heat stopped working in my classroom. When I arrived it was 46 degrees and it finally reached 56 by the end of the day. That is pretty darn cold to think and work.
The ice has never melted on top of our snow and the parking lot at school has a path of ice I get to navigate each morning heading inside.
When I watch my car thermometer as I drive to school, it drops all the way south down the lake until I reach school and it has read 2 degrees, 5 degrees, and 11 degrees this week.
Wearing my scarf and gloves all day has helped, but they don't always match my outfit!
Wearing wool socks and lined boots keeps my feet warm, but make it tough to stand on my feet.

I need to be like these cats and find a warm place inside at home...or sit in the sunroom and feel the warmth on my back....or be Kit and go anywhere that is warm!! I heard a rumor the weather is going to warm up above freezing next week!