Sowing (Sewing) Seeds

 Last week was spent sowing seeds. After a long, very long (5 year) hiatus my daughter and I were back at our church camp as C3ARE leaders once again. C3ARE is an acronym standing for the 3C's~ Christian, Camp, Community and then the A,R, and E:
Area Resource Enabler. What that means is that we do age-appropriate Bible study with the campers during a pre-arranged  block of time in their daily schedule. This year we chose First Campers (1st and 2nd graders) who opted for a short half week on camp. Sunday through Wednesday sounded like a good plan to our daughter as far as introducing Mason and Lucy Ann to a camp experience that only encompassed three and a half days. It was the perfect amount of time; for them and for us.  While sowing camp seeds among the youngest of participants during the day I found myself "sEwing" seeds after hours... strawberry seeds; on wool! The handwork on this project has become my latest obsession; it's coming along nicely and will be done before long! It's the perfect portable.
And one final, funny, Masonism. While sharing living space at camp with my grandchildren I found myself closely observed in the mornings when I was getting ready and putting on my "face" for the day. I use an eyelash curler which likely appers to be some sort of archaic torture device to my almost 5 y.o. grandson!

Mason: "Nana, what's that?"

me: "It's an eyelash curler, it curls my lashes before I apply mascara. I place my lashes inside and squeeze it."

Mason: "Oh. Does it hurt?"

me: "No, not at all."

The next day he reached into my makeup pouch and presented the eyelash curler to me with a smile.

"Here, Nana, don't forget to use this" Mason happily prompted.

 "Thank you, Mason", I responded, "do you remember what it's for?' I asked.

"Yes," he chirped, "it's the tool for rolling your eye out"!

Life is Good!

About That Rocker

You saw this rocker in yesterday's post. It's not just any chair; no, it's a Troutman Rocker! Made for 80+ years in Troutman, NC (formerly by the family of the same name) these chairs are touted as the "world's best rocker" in their ads. They also bill themselves as "purveyors of rocking chair therapy", if you've never sat in one I can assure you that you're missing out on something special. They are wonderfully comfortable and completely relaxing. They are fixtures on front porches everywhere around here and especially at our Lutheran church camps; the Troutman family has deep-rooted Lutheran history. Our daughter first became acquainted with Troutman Rockers at camp when she was a eight years old and spent her first week away from home in the mountains of North Carolina. Even today the young campers still love to scramble for a chair on the dining hall porch before meals! Over the years, as our daughter grew, these chairs came to literally symbolize camp; for her, a happy, peaceful refuge. Throughout her college years she was a counselor and, ultimately, on Senior Staff at the same camp. She's spent many an hour rocking on a Troutman Chair. A couple of years ago she made a grade level change in her teaching career. After six years of teaching fourth grade she moved to second grade and asked for a chair from her Dad and me for her birthday, a rocking chair, specifically a Troutman Rocker. She wanted a red one for her classroom! We quickly learned that they don't come in red, but they are available unfinished. Her Dad painted one up for her, just as she'd requested. It served her and her students well during story time at school every day. And now, it's made it's way to the nursery. She looked at upholstered gliders and decided against them. She knew what she wanted, what she needed, a red rocker for her first baby's room. She didn't want just any rocking chair, either; but one that represents a lifetime of happy memories, peaceful solitude, and the love of learning. She wants to rock her baby in her Troutman Rocker.

Life is Good!

Humble Thyself...

There's a camp song that we sing, it's begins like this: "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord, Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord; and He shall lift you up, higher and higher..." I was humming that all the way home from our annual Guild Holiday Potluck dinner in the car last night.

The evening started out just fine. We found our places at decorated tables with snowman inspired centerpieces, and queued up for dinner. As the meal was concluding a few ladies were milling around looking at the various activities that were on display for the evening, there was conversation at our table regarding a certain lady's name. No one could remember, she stood quietly viewing the fabric postcards that were about to be raffled off. I decided to go up and ask her name by introducing myself; most certainly it would be reintroducing myself as I'm sure she's been a member for a while, but what's the harm in that? At least we'd all know.

I jumped up from the table. Here's where the humbling part comes in... I'll pass it along as advice:

If you're ever going to jump up from a table make sure your purse is neatly stowed beneath your chair. If it's not, make sure the strap is folded flat and tucked inside. If it's not, make sure that you don't inadvertently get your foot caught in said strap (with purse attached) because chances are you'll trip and fall flat on the floor! If you do, make sure you're not sitting at the front of the room nearest the speaker's podium and the stage where everyone can see this occur. Most certainly, if that were to happen it could prove to be very embarrassing!

Thank goodness I wasn't wearing a skirt!
Life is Good!

..."and He shall lift you up!"...

The drawing connected to yesterday's 300th post will happen
later this week, feel free to enter by leaving a comment .

Happy Camper, Sick Camper

I'm back from camp, a little under the weather. The climate there was soggy and damp at times but I blame my throat and sinus malady on something else: mold. The adult volunteers at camp are privileged to stay in some pretty nice "digs", by camp standards. These rooms are air-conditioned. I've always believed this to be more psychological than physical air "conditioning", the fan runs in these rooms, but they're not all that effective. Personally, I don't like to run it, I'd be more than content to throw open the windows; but my daughter-roommate wanted the A/C, and I acquiesced... hey, it WAS her birthday! (My hesitancy to use the unit is based on my supposed lack of proper filter maintenance on camp... I feel the same way about airplanes and recycled air there, too.) It was rainy and it did make sense to at least attempt to dry out our room air where we slept. On Saturday morning I awakened to burning eyes and a raging sore throat. Coincidence? Maybe. Today it has seemingly settled into my sinuses and I am running on half-motor (or less). And yet, it was all worth it. Our time spent at camp, as witnesses to the very youngest campers, was worth every sneeze and sniffle that I've brought back as a souvenir; precious time spent with my adult daughter, too. I'd go back in a heartbeat; but next time I'm going to push a little harder for God's conditioned mountain air, albeit damp, coming through open windows... after all, I have a theory to prove.

Life is Good!

A Place Apart

We've been here for a week, in this place apart. We've been at camp, my daughter and I, at our church camp. We've led Bible study through stories, songs and crafts for the youngest campers, 1st and 2nd grade. We've had 75 minutes of activity time each day with eighteen campers and their counselors. It's Christmas week this week, Christmas in July. Each day this week we've journeyed through Advent; we've prepared for Friday, Christmas Day, the birthday of our Lord.

In this setting, away from commercial trappings, we can focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Today is another birthday, too. My daughter's birthday!
Happy birthday! Merry Christmas! I am so very proud of you...
and equally happy to be here with you, in this place apart,
on this very special day!
Life is Good!