hot summertime

It's another great sunny day in south Texas, with partial cloud cover and possibility of late afternoon thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Herbie is politely anxious to play and we both need a workout. Kermit flies this afternoon, after a leisurely morning of running and sunning himself at the pool. Finally, dinner must be made and Herbie walked into the sunset, with his parents enjoying adult beverages before bed.

Whoever Thought...

...It could ever feel cool in South Texas? Well, it sure does. Especially when compared with upper end triple digits in the desert!
And while the atmosphere outide felt relatively cool, the reception inside the house was anything but. Herbie the Dog actually remembered who I was. Electra, not to be outdone, lavished gifts upon me, and our garden even sprouted into a mini tropical forest!
I am quite proud of Electra's sergeant like capabilities of keeping order, not only here at home, but also at school...She is a good Marine!

It was morning and evening...

the First Week. I survived the first 6 days of summer ESL school. I went beyond survival to super girl. I found out I could mop a floor at 5:30 am, bathe the dog at 6 and be ready to leave the house by 7:15. I can go all day teaching 4 hours of reading to highschoolers with shaky language skills, staff meetings, wash a load of clothes upon arriving home while fixing an early dinner for 5 couples, host a Bible study, finish with a clean kitchen while spending quality time with friend and walk the dog 2 miles before bed. All in one day.

The skill of multipacking a day's agenda is old hat to old moms and the genius skill of young professionals. But I am neither professional nor a mom. I've learned some new ways of living and wonder about it.

If you've read Falling (Colin Thubron), do you find yourself thinking like Clara--"as if thought, like everything else, must be applied with a serene and exclusive concentration....I imagined...,Clara the Swallow could not perform her act this week, due to thought. It is hoped, however, by next week..."

swimming lessons

Herbie swam the Frio River last weekend. He found that jumping off inner tubes causes one to fall underwater, like Sam Gamgee on the movie, when you see his face go under, eyes open, unable to stop his descent into the miry deeps. Meanwhile, Kermit and I threw the frisbee until our toes turned to white prunes and long enough for giggly, screamy high-school girls to join in and leave again. And in the morning, humming birds attacked each other at the red feeder as I watched from the porch swing. We basked in the dry air of the hill country for two days before leaving for the steamy bayside of Rockport where we completed our 4th of July tour with a brisket dinner at Uncle Elmer and Aunt Janine's ranch house. Sadly, I saw no fireworks that night.

All in Pink

Pink nail polish. It makes one feel like street-kid Eliza Doolittle become Flower shop girl. Everything one touches becomes a matter of vast importance and yet hilarity-bound at the same time. They say that pink rooms calm even the worst crazy criminals.

Did you know there is a witches' school in Illinois, inspired by Hogwarts? It's one of not a few. http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2136578&page=1

Supposedly scary

A dentist is reputed to be the last doctor you want to visit, because he always finds something wrong with you. Who really wants a deceptively smiley guy revealing the rotting bed of a life-threatening cavity that will cost half a car loan to pay off? It's like finding yourself the foolish son in Proverbs meeting the adulterous woman in your own back yard, and you don't remember inviting her in--but there she is and something must be done about her or you or you'll both go down together in the rotten cavitated heap of a former tooth.

Well, my new dentist today was an excellent sort of man. Born and raised in a family of Marines, he runs a tight ship of friendly hygenists with great tooth-veneer jobs that brighten his office with their smile. It's an humble office, with tiny operating rooms. The Dr. himself is on par with an elderly war vet, as he dons night-vision looking goggles and a lazer beam to detect cavities. My teeth are by inheiritance immaculate, yet weak in the rear joints; for I left with the need to return for a refill of an old childhood cavity. Would that the sins of our youth were as gone as forgotten in the old past!

translucence

We talk about the word, like being a translucent friend or Christian, as being a good thing.

Have you seen the sun light up a thing recently, rendering it see-through? Consider yellow daisies on the roadside. Waves of green grain, their skinny heads spiky with a kind of antennae glowing in evening rays. Mesquite tree leaves in late morning sun, seen from beneath the low branches, as from a hammock. The water of the sea on a clear day, your toes yet visible as you walk in deeper.

"Where There is No Vision, Evil Flourishes" Winston Churchill

The PCA General Assembly was this past week, and though I have not had a chance to talk to our pastor in length about the details, I understand that some good things were discussed. I am thankful that the PCA as a denomination strives to be accountable to God and God alone. With the latest media hubbub surrounding the Episcopal and PCUSA denominations it is a small comfort to know that our Presbyteries are still seeking to "Soli Deo Gloria" vice "Soli Homo Gloria." This is no small feat, and is certainly only by the Grace of God.

This morning in during Sunday School we had the opportunity to pray in small groups. One of the ladies in the small groups I was in was expressing how thankful to the Lord she was that the PCA, our local Presbytery, and our Church community had remained faithful to Scripture and did not bend to the trends of the world. I was struck by this supplication because it reminded me that we do need to pray for the Church. Not just as I do, that the Church fulfill her commission, but that the leaders in our Church communities remain true.

In our fallen condition it is so easy to fall away from True teaching and focus on the wrong things. When coherent vision is lost, opportunities are squandered and ground is lost. This fact has been proven time and time again in government, warfare, families, and even the Church. I am thankful that for the time being Electra and I are able to worship with a community that strives to teach Truth, and I pray that our Church leaders will remain true to their vision. For I have seen what a lack of vision and leadership can do to a Church and her flock...it is not pretty.

workaday weekend

O-Navs are not nice. The guys have been plugging away at these flight plan books that cause illimitably more pain than pleasure. And the pain will not end with the work week. Maybe we are spoiled most of the time, with a whole Saturday off, to run around hands-in-the-air and play, followed by Sunday with it's worshipful responsibilities; but then we take our recreation seriously. Work, worship, play, all equally important, all carefully accounted for and alloted time space, with little room for infringement of one upon the other each week. What's to account for such an attitude of seriosity?

Herbie has a dream

As he lies passed out in deep, still, sleep beneath my chair, Herbie begins high pitched whuffing. I watch the story unfold as his eyebrows quake, his nose twitches uncontrollably, and his body faintly trembles with the inner storm blowing through his mind. When the tumult of squeaky barks ceases, I see the head clouds clearing and he is free to sleep peacefully as under sunny skies.

drive by P&P

We watched it. The new and fast Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Darcy is a sallow old bean, but he warms up in the end--as expected. Elizabeth is all twinkling eyes and smart laughter.

The more interesting character brought to attention in this movie is that of Mr. Bennet. He is spotted showing 3 moments of understanding and kindness never before portrayed. He comforts the shamed Mary at the Bingley ball; through their bedroom window we catch a glimpse of Mr and Mrs Bennet enagaged in genial bedtime talk about Jane's impending marriage; finally, when interviewing Elizabeth about Mr Darcy's bid for her hand, he giggles in a childlike, mirror image of his own daughter showing us his real delight in her happiness.

I'll Bet You Can't Guess Who Is Who...