tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23327176385747655542012-01-11T08:24:42.281-06:00SUNFLOWERS--Every part is useful, nothing is wasted. It only takes one seed to bear a towering flower; in turn, a single flower head produces dozens of seeds that multiply its beauty. GOSPEL--A proclamation of good news. May these little stories brighten your day and bring glad tidings that will spread beauty, wisdom and peace to friends all over the world!Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.comBlogger651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-36381316955341269782012-01-04T20:47:00.006-06:002012-01-06T22:08:45.444-06:00

I am already aware that I am standing on shaky ground by telling a story that involves my husband's family, but I must record an experience that surely qualifies as a Griswold Christmas disaster! My husband and his sisters cheerfully agreed to gather in Columbus, GA a few days before Christmas. In prime firstborn form, the eldest prepared fabulous food and planned family activities to stir up

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-5044649808360740722011-05-05T21:18:00.117-05:002011-05-06T19:11:53.248-05:00

 I had a strange thought recently, that my parents' house and the neighborhood surrounding it are my peers—we’re all in our fifties, so it’s harder to hide the wear and tear; on the other hand, we’ve also matured and become more multicultural.  It seems ironic that the elementary school at the end of the street now holds more English Language Learners than native speakers, including most of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-57305118195457934612011-05-03T22:45:00.006-05:002011-05-03T23:20:07.749-05:00

SOLD The day I've been anticipating and dreading--finally came two days ago on "May Day," but before my last round of reflections and the final goodbyes, I'll review some of last week's logistics--and our last few sweaty days of straining our lungs and our muscles to empty the house for its new owners! Goodbye Attic Last visit, my older sister and I completed the sorting process she and my

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-91355774431174785562011-04-21T19:38:00.005-05:002011-04-22T10:18:25.362-05:00

[Intro to last post ] In November, my parents moved away from 9203 Bintliff Drive, the geographical epicenter of our family for fifty-two years. They are starting to construct a more “manageable” life in a retirement community that offers a continuum of care. After only four weeks on the market, we happily accepted a full price offer, so another four weeks from now--after one last purge of the

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-73941323061783473592011-04-16T16:18:00.010-05:002011-05-06T19:10:42.107-05:00

In November, my parents moved away from 9203 Bintliff Drive, the geographical epicenter of our family for fifty-two years. They are starting to construct a more “manageable” life in a retirement community that offers a continuum of care. “In other words,” my 84 year old dad pronounced, “I probably won’t leave here alive.” Over the last six months, my sisters and I have been helping them sort

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-67115945589652832022011-03-23T12:51:00.005-05:002011-03-23T15:54:48.509-05:00

Sleepovers with my 3 1/2 year old grandson are one of the finest things in life, especially because his disposition is serendipitously better than his predecessors on our side of the genes. A different characteristic unique to my early intervention background is that "Rain," even as a toddler, rarely picked up tiny things and put them in his mouth. Rather, he would gingerly pick through tiny

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-79686253420270446442011-03-17T22:38:00.003-05:002011-03-18T13:40:31.793-05:00

Frasier was an NBC sitcom  for eleven seasons from 1993 to 2004 . . . even though I knew it was a spin-off from Cheers, I never remember watching one episode live. I must have been too busy with three elementary-aged kids. Anyway, I wouldn’t have appreciated the dry, slapstick humor until recently, when my husband and I “netflixed” all eleven seasons—264 stories in all. The five main characters

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-6188344415235127562011-03-14T18:13:00.001-05:002011-03-14T22:11:22.190-05:00

 Caterpillar: Who are YOU? Alice: This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. I -- I hardly know, sir, just at present -- at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? The Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to Alice: I don't

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-80983304709175447062010-04-30T16:27:00.001-05:002011-03-15T00:15:41.150-05:00

When I was in school, " . . . one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all" was still pledged every morning at my middle class, all white school in Houston, Texas (current population 5.7 million).  Almost fifty years later, few of the kids that enter that building each day live in the neighborhood, and caucasian students are by far the minority . . . I wonder how many parents,

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-64622641781693675342010-04-24T17:23:00.005-05:002011-03-15T00:16:32.220-05:00

After we returned to Kolkata from the children's retreat, I emailed those who had been praying that our hearts would be knit to the children to STOP! Each time we had to say goodbye to another one, I cried (surprise).  Today I'm being reminded of my promise to stay in touch with the two oldest girls from Kolkata and Kathmandu--I must work harder to keep my word to them! The children's retreat was

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-62982812589436104962010-04-18T22:21:00.004-05:002011-03-15T00:16:55.322-05:00

It was hard to go to sleep that second night . . .  knowing we had to wake up at 4:00 a.m. and board Air India for Chennai, the 4th largest city in India--amazingly, we had quickly recovered from our jet lag and felt ready to travel again. Once again we had to work hard to distribute all of our clothes and the children's retreat supplies between six bags (one each).  We were excited but a little

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-32865360524001455452010-04-05T23:48:00.004-05:002011-03-15T00:17:26.460-05:00

We were so grateful for a great trip with no problems at all: schedules, visas, customs or anything--we even found western toilets in Dubai.  Our only "question mark" moment, was wondering why their exit signs showed a person running?!  Once Brent haggled with the taxi drivers who fought to get our business, the long, slow drive from the airport was everything we expected, yet we didn't scream

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-88919587159724704822010-03-25T21:36:00.037-05:002011-03-15T00:17:45.983-05:00

April 1st is right around the corner, and eight weeks after my two-week trip to Kolkata and Chenna, India, I'm finally posting some notes I journaled along the way. People continue to ask when I'm going to have a share time . . . realistically, this is  it (Those who'd rather watch a captioned slideshow can click here. Those who wonder why we took this trip, click here ). Those who feel like my

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-77744444707247862122010-02-24T23:10:00.001-06:002011-03-15T00:18:19.454-05:00

I've been back from my two-week journey to Kolkata and Chennai, India, since February 1st, but it has taken me a while to "unpack" and restart the new year here.  Christmas and New Year's were extra busy since we only had 9 or 10 weeks to get ready. I faithfully journaled and emailed a few snippets, but thought I better begin these chronicles with a captioned slideshow summary (click here) and

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-42384425292043638332009-12-18T18:19:00.011-06:002010-01-09T23:50:12.115-06:00

Christmas is one week from today. New Year's Eve is two weeks from today. Our prayer gathering for India is three weeks from today. Our departure for India is four weeks from Sunday . . . (holy moley!) calling all prayer partners!  Want to know more about our trip?  Click here. UPDATE: One week before take-off . . . so many details floating around in my head and jotted on sticky notes, who

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-90444620223442101152009-12-17T22:06:00.007-06:002009-12-17T22:38:47.079-06:00

Today I had lunch with two young women who are both expecting twins.  They wanted to meet with me to learn about my experiences as a mom of adult twin boys, and to glean any advice unique to multiples. One friend is already an experienced parent of three young children who are awaiting siblings #4 and #5 (twin girls) to arrive about three months from now. The other one is already an 

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-1003151003373976762009-12-05T13:13:00.002-06:002009-12-05T13:19:31.029-06:00

Around noon yesterday, I got an unusual call from my mom in Houston. "It's snowing and sticking to the ground!" she reported with delight. This was big news since it only snowed two times in the thirty years I lived in Houston (and supposedly only three times in the past fifteen years). She went on to say, "I'm looking out the window at the exact spot where you experienced snow for the first

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-46631617799645479852009-11-28T11:04:00.013-06:002009-11-28T12:43:04.850-06:00

It was the night after Thanksgiving, and we were flopped out on the couch asking, "Why are we so exhausted?"  I hadn't even put away all the serving dishes from Thanksgiving dinner, but we had already bought pine garland and replacement bulbs at Home Depot. That's when I had an fleeting thought, maybe an epiphany . . . we could boycott Christmas. Not the good, parts, the REAL parts, just the

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-37534715085197556582009-11-24T21:25:00.009-06:002010-03-06T22:39:53.746-06:00

“Preparing our mind for action means coming to grips with the true nature of the world into which Christ has cast us, His disciples. It means coming to grips with how the Fall is playing itself out around the world in the present day.” Gary Haugen, Good News About Injustice (Lord willing) seven weeks from Sunday, I hope to be on my way to Kolkata, India, to work for two weeks alongside some of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-88486046072395428832009-11-13T09:35:00.006-06:002009-11-14T21:01:08.226-06:00

I appreciate the policeman who ran off the road chasing drug dealers just before we drove up Wednesday night . . . and the ones who responded when there was a shooting outside my ESL classroom a few weeks ago. So why am I still mad about the ticket on my house guest's car for parking next to our curb in the WRONG DIRECTION?! It's not like the police haven't been to my house in the eleven years

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-75188136430211069982009-10-28T22:09:00.011-05:002009-10-31T23:45:13.065-05:00

One of the benefits of cleaning out your attic is coming across long forgotten treasures. It's one of the risks, too . . . since I'm quite likely to prolong my cleaning job by stopping to chronicle stuff that might distintegrate. I thought I started to cook when I earned the Cooking Badge in Girl Scouts, but I guess I had already started experimenting with this little cookbook from the Imperial

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-40525669038887901502009-10-21T19:04:00.008-05:002009-10-21T19:56:56.200-05:00

Dear Daddy,I never dreamed what a big response I'd get when I told my Facebook friends what was on my mind this afternoon . . EEA: Remember "Windex" from My Big Fat Greek wedding? My dad's miracle remedy is Campho-Phenique."In just a few hours, here were some of the comments I received . . .Katie T. likes this.(Cousin) Susan: "Do they even sell that anymore? I'm amazed. It was my

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-2800230101242764422009-10-02T11:34:00.008-05:002009-10-02T14:26:41.856-05:00

Could anyone miss that Anna and Asha are in country again, spreading their joyful curiosity and creativity everywhere they go? Within five minutes of arrival, their big iron bed had a good jumping-on (it's living at our house while they're in India). However, it was a couple of days before I discovered the paper-twine-n-sticks signs they and Grandma Baas posted around my backyard . . . "Go this

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-40815702219731578802009-09-26T11:08:00.010-05:002009-09-26T11:29:53.586-05:00

Above ground there were beautiful green carrot tops . . . . . . . but underneath only scawny, spindly six-inch carrots!All in all, it's been a good summer growing season for my deep-bed organic garden. For the first time, I planted good organic seeds--not just store-bought plants--and I worked really hard to keep it cultivated, pest-free and fertilized with mushroom compost and fish poop. The

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-70873806637908402712009-09-11T20:45:00.014-05:002009-09-23T21:23:53.937-05:00

I glanced up in the heat of the daylike I did every dayand worked even more earnestlyso that certainly the time wouldpass by faster.Later my awaited moment came . . .I was FREE and I randown the dirt slope to the rivernever bothering to take off my dusty sandalsas I stepped carefully into the same freezing waterwhere my great-grandfather once drove cattle . . .. . . and then we danced--the water

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-87938443909675409052009-08-12T21:11:00.025-05:002009-08-18T09:24:21.535-05:00

I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast, enjoying Galveston's "Stewart Beach" and Freeport's "Surfside" . . . David grew up in south Texas, admiring Padre Island, just a few miles from Mexico. Fortunately, neither of us saw the "Emerald Coast" end of the Gulf until we moved to Tennessee 23 years ago. Our first family vacation was to Sandestin with three preschoolers in tow . . . at once they were

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-73940952305937592692009-07-20T22:44:00.000-05:002009-07-20T23:58:19.883-05:00

It sounds pretty lame today, but it was a big deal 40 years ago. I was at Camp Cho Yeh in Livingston, Texas when it was time for the first Moonwalk (not by Michael Jackson, children!) There were no video recorders or TEVO back then . . . if you missed it, you really missed it (except now we can click on the You Tube link above and watch it like it was the first time)! So the camp director plugged

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-284734047551725202009-07-15T18:43:00.003-05:002009-07-15T19:06:54.394-05:00

I was really "to my point" today when I received the glad tidings that we WILL be taking a one-week vacation after all. Oh joy and gladness! The good news jogged my memory of a little book that has brought Melinda and me many smiles and fun: How to Draw a Clam: A Wonderful Vacation Planner, by Joy Sikorski. This clever "retro" artist/author announces: "If you believe that one should always be on

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-58567318824089394812009-07-04T11:01:00.005-05:002009-07-05T19:04:19.559-05:00

My deep bed garden is just starting to produce its first viable vegetables . . . today I'll be making a salad with homegrown lettuce, cucumber, bell pepper and my first big tomato! All my patio veggies seem to be doing okay, but I have to get up every morning and make sure they have enough moisture to make it through another day in the 90's. Most mornings you can find me barefoot, pajama-clad,

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-41093935820151156322009-06-27T10:52:00.015-05:002009-06-27T18:04:14.738-05:00

Pretending to sleep in his playhouseUnloading the animals from the toy zoo Discovering "Lainee's" bubble machine(click arrow to play video--there's a volume "slider" next to the orange square if the bubble machine is too "woud" for your ears)I could follow Rainor around with a camera everytime we're together (well I guess I do), just to capture the fun little discoveries he makes week by week

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-21310159666100553562009-06-16T21:15:00.008-05:002009-06-16T22:23:33.679-05:00

Anna and I went to visit some of our ESL students today, with flyers announcing our upcoming June Activity Day--five hours of practicing conversation while sewing carry-all bags, exercising, and making healthy snacks, and painting on aprons. Albay came out to meet us--she had kindly agreed to join us for those inevitable "lost in translation" moments!Immediately we ran into Fatuma, on her way to

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-63732449408180115722009-06-09T10:47:00.016-05:002009-06-10T15:37:53.268-05:00

I wish I could capture just how shocking it was to open my garage door and wonder if Jurassic Park had come to Fieldstone Farms (click each picture for some scale)! I ran back inside to get my camera, not knowing what might happen next. Never mind, it was only a SWIMMING POOL being delivered to neighbors I don't know . . . yet :)

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-72308518689648197312009-05-26T11:31:00.009-05:002009-05-26T11:54:23.432-05:00

How is it possible that my sons have turned 26 . . . the age I was when they were born!! They celebrated together by going camping, then driving back to have dinner with us. The funnest part was making their birthday cake with Rainor! I could never have imagined all that would transpire over the years . . . or where each would be in their own life journey. For identical twins with the same genes,

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-44675531330561215552009-05-09T08:43:00.009-05:002009-05-10T21:48:07.967-05:00

Rainor has been spending time with Lainee and Pops the last two weekends, while Blake has been promoting a show that's scheduled for tonight . . . several bands, two sound stages, one inside, one OUTSIDE . . . after a full week of rain, we need a break!! Not ME--I'm having a ball INSIDE with the sweet music of our little "Rain man"! Rain still loves his "pa pa", but now only for night night time

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-56670755092715865712009-04-30T23:10:00.048-05:002009-05-08T11:54:40.295-05:00

Today was our last English class for the semester, completing a full year since we opened the doors of the Sudekum Homes ESL classroom. To mark it, we created a fun art project focusing on the beauty of our different heritages (click on images to enlarge) My inspiration was Revelation 22:2:"On each side of the river stood the tree of life . . . And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-78194390449414642332009-04-16T21:41:00.010-05:002009-08-13T10:34:29.937-05:00

I live in a 10-year-old house, but after five years we had already replaced the microwave oven, the refrigerator, the downstairs and upstairs AC and the hot water heater. How is it possible that my parents' home is 51 years old and they are still using the original 1958 oven made by General Electric? Maybe we should have replaced our brand spanking new appliances with vintage ones!! Better yet, I

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-44886862307068940282009-04-13T13:21:00.005-05:002009-04-13T13:51:44.773-05:00

After Easter Sunday worship and a yummy backyard picnic with family and friends, we ended our 10-hour gathering with a rousing game of Speed Scrabble. [Speed Scrabble scraps the board and allows each player to create their own crossword puzzle that can change as the game evolves . . . when a player uses their seven tiles they shout "Take 2" (tiles) until the last tile is used]. The later it got,

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-86492887725843023292009-04-08T19:48:00.042-05:002009-04-10T16:35:14.354-05:00

Uncanny. Enlightening. Endearing. Three words for my latest experience among the Somali Bantu. Several of my newer English students have migrated to Nashville from Houston, where they were originally resettled in 2004. As a fellow escapee from the 4th most populated city in America, I couldn’t imagine how—or where—a refugee group with such needs could survive in that metropolis! From 1956-1986,

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-67043944761148714712009-04-02T17:28:00.013-05:002009-04-09T09:35:19.197-05:00

Here's a Nashville band really worth checking out . . . click to hear a great sampler of their tracks. One of my favorites is Sweet Sunset Swing . . . this music always lifts my spirits and sparks my imagination! It's Django gypsy jazz with a new twist (as in Django Reignhardt 1910-1953). Both of these links will let you hear why Django was such an influential contributor to jazz and why he so

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-70085302263886899342009-04-01T08:14:00.016-05:002009-04-01T09:34:25.253-05:00

I've never been very good at April Fool's jokes. As a child, (before caller i.d.), I made a few lame prank phone calls . . . to a funeral home to ask for "Mr. Box" . . . to the zoo to ask for "Mr. Lyon" . . . to the Diamond F Ranch asking for my "NEIGH-bor." Other than that, I've been the victim more than the perpetrator! Yesterday I taught two English classes and highlighted the last day of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-35955765493181764282009-03-28T22:44:00.010-05:002009-03-31T17:19:06.948-05:00

In middle Tennessee, it's not quite time to do alot of planting, but I'm happy to say that most of my indoor starter seeds are showing signs of germinating . . . but oh--so--delicate is my "certified organic" investment at this point! However, today was a great morning to pull weeds, since it has rained alot the last couple of days. We had a few hours before Ali was to dump three yards of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-51532742006323796422009-03-17T21:44:00.016-05:002009-04-02T18:17:25.034-05:00

For some reason, I've always wanted to be Irish, especially on St. Patrick's Day. (Then again, I always dreamed of having children with brown skin). The reality is, I'm a mix of the genes and chromosomes of generations of Everetts, McKenzies, Stallworths, Currys, Hendersons and Fannins . . . not that exciting in today's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural economy. My heritage, according to surname, is 3

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-55456878241538468002009-03-05T09:45:00.023-06:002009-03-31T17:19:48.149-05:00

Before I went to bed last night, I encountered the familiar spasms which signal that my late-winter (better-not-be-asthma) coughing fits have arrived for their annual visit. I had two English classes to teach today, so I swallowed my big gun cough medicine and fixed my pillows so I could sleep-sit. Unfortunately, I awakened with the same choking drip-drip-drip so I canceled my classes. It was 7:

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-18262176952896800352009-03-02T10:23:00.008-06:002009-03-31T17:51:15.040-05:00

I grew up in a somewhat liturgical tradition, yet never paid much attention to all the changing colors and candles and fabrics or what they symbolized. The last few years I’ve become more intentional about marking the church year, which enriches my personal and shared celebration of the living Christ. However, just before Easter last year, I commented to my small group that “it doesn’t feel like

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-81042454776420517592009-02-14T18:41:00.021-06:002009-03-31T16:29:10.890-05:00

I’ve been teaching English for almost five years, but I still frequently find myself lost in translation or untangling a cultural collision. This week, I tried to navigate my way through the meaning of Valentine’s Day with my (mostly Somali Bantu) students. We talked about “holiday”, “heart”, “like”, “love”, and the custom of making and sending valentines to friends and family members. The women

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-29527807021744386652009-01-15T17:35:00.016-06:002009-03-31T17:18:18.996-05:00

I've seen alot of pictures of myself over the last fifty-two years, but this one kind of freaks me out. The original is really small--a little 2 X 3 BW glossy taken with a Kodak Brownie--so teeny and faded that you need a magnifying glass to definitively identify which sister it is (individual pics of middle kids are rare). I never looked at it that closely until my hunt for a baby shower picture

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-31631524676815971642009-01-03T13:37:00.014-06:002009-03-31T17:22:39.765-05:00

As far back as I can remember, my family decorated a gumdrop tree every Christmas. My mom can't remember exactly how our tradition started, except that candy trees became novel back in the 50's when plastics like Tupperware became widely available. Somehow I inherited the gumdrop tree and have used it every year since . . . until this year when the limbs started suffering from old age and

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-14233127282761438082008-12-14T18:26:00.009-06:002009-03-31T17:12:00.197-05:00

The first time I ever remember eating a "dipped top" cone was in Marlin, Texas at the Dairy Queen . . . but my cousins called it a "Brown Derby." However, they didn't show me this great trick! Get lots of napkins ready. Slowly eat the hard chocolate shell, hand-picking each piece off the ice cream. When finished eating the "derby," knock the vanilla ice cream off the top (use one of the napkins

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-36974952588572089882008-11-26T22:50:00.009-06:002009-03-31T17:23:57.097-05:00

[first get the tune to “Oh Happy Day / When Jesus Washed My Sins Away” going in your mind] “Oh happy day, Oh happy day, my blower sucked, my blower mulched, my blower bagged all my leaves away . . . Oh happy day . . . !”For the last few weeks, I’ve been looking out the window at my withered up garden waiting to be put to bed for the winter, at a flat of blue and yellow pansies waiting to be

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-17313486905426516162008-11-23T19:43:00.014-06:002009-03-31T17:25:32.690-05:00

Top 12 Recommendations (still life-impacting since 1972) The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)Something More (Catherine Marshall)From Fear to Freedom: Living as Sons and Daughters of God (Rose Marie Miller)Abandoned to God: The Biography of Oswald Chambers (David McCasland) Turn my Mourning into Dancing: Help for Hard Times (Henri Nouwen)Celebration of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-68378264134590222062008-11-15T21:21:00.015-06:002009-03-31T17:26:46.192-05:00

I'm warming my toes next to the fireplace, enjoying the first cheery fire of the season, sipping Ginger tea, and thinking how yummy it feels to be home. I might just close my eyes for a little cat nap . . . but then I remembered a picture I snapped in September when I visited Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. I rememeber thinking how lovely it was to be sitting on a covered patio sipping coffee and

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-81056938471824280532008-11-06T23:34:00.017-06:002009-03-31T17:16:07.908-05:00

At first I thought this was a picture of Rainor's recent incident with Vicks Vapor Rub, but on closer examination he was just stomping around in a few rain puddles--at 15 months, life is full of new discoveries every day! This fall, we've been hanging out every Monday while Anna is in school, but tonight we're having a sleepover . . . hopefully heavy on the sleep since he's been sick all week!

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-71870233987123249482008-10-23T22:21:00.016-05:002009-05-08T11:57:18.534-05:00

Some of you know that I have a history of pretty strange dreams that I sometimes remember in great detail . . . I recently came across this 2006 account that I had totally blocked out: "Another one of my bizarre dreams came last night. I was living in a house of terrorists/aliens, but I was considered "family." I kept moving from room to room because there were "dangerous" people coming. At one

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-21113711243357615302008-10-15T15:00:00.005-05:002009-03-29T16:27:35.387-05:00

If you want to enjoy the outcome of deep faith, God-centered music, lasting friendships and ample art supplies, click here to see what five friends created for our dear ones' home worship in India .

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-84651357476941933912008-10-11T21:13:00.012-05:002009-03-31T17:34:59.745-05:00

Oh, to be three and a half again, and on your first convertible ride . . . at night, no less! The fall air was a little chilly as we sped away from the suburban lights, but we forgot about it when we began to see some stars. Asha began counting: “I see one star, I see four . . . five stars . . . I see one hundred stars! I mentioned that God has put each star in its place and knows the name of

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-76425915245293441512008-10-07T18:53:00.003-05:002008-11-07T20:24:54.052-06:00

I can't believe I was doing it wrong all these years.WE MUST SPREAD THE WORD.

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-17156650720117750262008-10-02T17:09:00.009-05:002009-03-31T17:48:19.253-05:00

A two story Target in New Orleans complete with an escalator for shopping carts (glad I had my camera)!

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-9598465590094098602008-09-30T09:42:00.013-05:002009-03-31T17:36:08.232-05:00

Oh, how I needed last weekend . . . I was feeling over-scheduled, wound up and wrung out . . . but it only took five friends and a one-hour drive with the top down for my soul to begin s-l-o-w-l-y unwinding. Thought we were going to a rustic cabin, not The Potter's House, a beautiful farmhouse overlooking a small, quiet lake. Thank God for wild mushroom soup, enormous omelets, chipotle patty

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-72041634704800756922008-09-16T20:01:00.012-05:002009-03-31T17:37:23.601-05:00

Oh my cute, little heroic parents! Tonight starts day SIX that Chuck and Patsy have been without power after Hurricane Ike hit Galveston and knocked out the lights and phones in Houston. While I watched all four Houston networks streaming news on my laptop, my parents unfolded their "fruitful" day via cell phone. "We got up about 7 and did our morning routine . . ." that includes putting three

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-8007505305964992122008-09-12T23:01:00.018-05:002009-03-31T17:38:32.115-05:00

I'm dizzy from watching Ike spin, counterclockwise, about to inundate the crummy brown-sanded beaches I haunted as a kid. . . and then it will plow fifty miles inland through my pancake-flat hometown. My parents have waited out 50 hurricane seasons in the house where I grew up, and have only briefly lost power and have never had the house flood. We have had to canoe our way around the

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-82147412483437787312008-09-06T22:40:00.012-05:002009-03-31T17:42:16.283-05:00

How many Aggies does it take to re-program a garage door opener? None, because at the risk of sounding overly-suburban, I'd like to announce that we finally figured out how to program it ourselves! If you're thinking "What does S-O spell?" please humor me. Three years ago, we donated my old van to Goodwill, and OOPS . . . my transmitter was left in it. After that, we shared the other transmitter

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-25334673674494183792008-09-02T21:04:00.013-05:002009-03-31T16:39:21.492-05:00

Ever since I carried my first Big Chief tablet and Crayola Crayons to kindergarten back in 1961, I have been in love with school supplies! New watercolors, Lefty scissors, and a set of map pencils have been replaced by multi-colored Sharpies, a full-sized paper cutter and scented dry erase markers., but my feelings of simple pleasure are the same. The first day of school was always the day after

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-48390147189253067612008-08-30T09:27:00.020-05:002009-09-04T12:34:20.531-05:00

Fifty two years ago today, I was born in Houston, Texas, just twenty months after my sister, Suzanne. I’m told that we got along very well though we are very distinct individuals. She loved dresses, I preferred cowboy boots. She played with dolls, I loved my brown Tonka truck. She colored inside the lines, I caught frogs in jars. On my fifth birthday, something radical happened . . . a third

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-55320569256877497092008-08-29T09:26:00.016-05:002009-05-08T12:02:48.779-05:00

If I really prefer to go barefoot, why do I own FORTY pairs of shoes? One may avoid that question by meditating upon more than 2,700 pairs of shoes that Imelda Marcos left behind when she and her dictator husband fled the Philippines in 1986. Some claim that her shoe collection once numbered 5,400! She later corrected this gross exaggeration. “I did not have 3,000 pairs of shoes,” she clarified,

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332717638574765554.post-28312782917928517472007-12-14T18:55:00.023-06:002009-03-31T17:13:56.251-05:00

An EssayI have to say that my earliest worldview was greatly shaped by the dogs that lived on Bintliff Drive. This is ironic, in a way, because I've always been a "cat person" by nature. In our neighborhood, pets were called by their full names: Chippy Perkins, Skipper Helm, Sam Ballard, Rebel Asher, Brownie Kuehm, Arthur Bradley, Henry Henderson, Von Broom Baker. Looking back, each one of those

Its Laineehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303795338847114930noreply@blogger.com2