Soles for souls

Just packed up my shoes and took them to the Baptist Student Center for a shoe drive!  I had two pair I had never had on!  Pitched them in also!  People need shoes and my closets are packed!

I need to shake loose and give!

Crossword puzzle addict

I am a crossword puzzle addict!  Just want to get to it each morning and want to know how fast I can do it!  If I am stumped now, I am mad at myself!

What does it matter if I don't know what most bryophtic is at first glance!  The puzzle is like life:  find a clue that works for you!   All that counts is that you exhaust all your clues!   If you can't fill all the spaces, trash the puzzle and wait for a new opportunity in the morning!  Life awaits anew!

Bailey Jordan here

Great visit! We had dinner last night and breakfast this morning, then went to Sikeston to tour Mama Cooper's Wall and back to Se hospital with Sam Duncan to see the art I gave in memory of Jim Cooper!   Then Bailey went to see Jennie and Allen!  And he headed to Charleston !  I think he enjoyed his weekend!  I know I did!

Bailey Jordan is coming today!

If Mama cooper were alive, she would be clapping her hands in joy!

Malaysian plane, where art thou?

Like most other American news-watchers, I have been mesmerized by the newscast of searching for 200 people plus who have been lost somewhere in the world for days on end.  I know more about planes and pilots and logs and oceans than I ever cared to know.   But, like others, I watch, and I hope that something is discovered and that one of the 122 pieces of debris that was sighted this morning will definitely confirm that this is the plane.

And the victims---their families need to know.   Human life has dignity and purpose--even for the scum of society.  Last night Missouri put a person to death for killing a young girl twenty years ago.  His family will know what happened to him and why.  And they will likely know that every attempt was made to spare his life.   These families want to know if the plane had mechanical failures or if the captain helped it along or if someone highjacked the plane.  And the newscasters keep their focus on the telling of the story.

Bobby Brune and Printing

I don't know how I ever worked.  I was at the University this morning for a meeting, met on the phone with Circuit Clerk of Mississippi County about Jim's estate to get distribution listing for my tax people, met with Bob Brune about printing supplement to my book and now lunch.  What will the afternoon hold?   O yes, Kathleen Reynolds was here to work and organize my clothes.

I am exhausted by the progress.  Thanks, Bob, for coming by and answering my computer problems!  here's the old gang!

It is in your brain, sister!

My niece, Annie Finnegan, came by to see her mother, Jennie Cooper, who is ill yesterday and she was reading one of Mama Cooper's old Christmas cards  --one that she wrote I think which dealt with all the nicknames Daddy had for us.   It made me happy that she was remembering family with joy.

I wondered if she missed us.....and missed family.  Sometimes we make decisions that we will not change no matter how much we wish we could change.

What a day already!

Started my day with pre-planning and woke up with a phone call that changed all the plans!   Another step to receiving a big university gift but the donor's representative wants to deal with me there!  And I am happy to be there if that is the deal!   People want comfort ability of people they know!

So change your plans.  Step up to the plate and pick up a bat which is yours to claim!   Schedules are made to be changed!  Now I have to tell that to Terry Begley, my accountant, who is waiting for more tax papers from me!   

Barnabas the Encourager

I have always loved the story in the Bible of Barnabas, the Encourager.  That wasn't his real name.  He got a new name by his actions and he is stuck with that.   He encouraged the small motley group of Jesus' followers to take chances --and he took chances on people and the movement.  He sold land and brought the money to the followers so that they could have some "working capital".  He encouraged the disciples to accept Paul even though he had been out to get them a few years before.  He and Paul later separated because he put his money on John Mark and he encouraged him to go for the gusto.

Barnabas was there.  He took chances.  He put his money where his mouth was.   He earned a book in the Bible which Paul must have been reluctant to title. But he earned it anyway.   He had a ministry which gave birth to others, someone has said.   Wouldn't that be something I would love for someone to say about me?

I want to be Barnabas.  I want people to say that I encouraged them.  I don't want them to remember me as someone who was not a positive role-model.  Help me, Father, each day to walk worthily of being a Barnabas in a cut-throat society of uncaring people.

Remembering your own..

One of the hardest jobs in the world is learning to treat your kin as well or much better than you do your friends, or, for that matter, someone we hardly know!  In my extended family, if someone slights you in any way, they are dispensable!  There are plenty of other family who need your kindness and concern and who echo these same feelings back!

But that is not the posture of family nor is it what my Father would spout!  He believed in family!  When his two brothers had a disagreement over business, he hauled us in the car and he went down to settle it!  I don't know that it was settled but it was placated until enough time had gone by so that it could be settled!

Lord, send us a placater or a settler!  We are in desperate straits of being sheep without an earthly appeaser shepherd!   The longer the rift, the less chances it will find healing!

More on forgiveness

I believe in forgiveness.  I have seen what it releases in my life to let it go.  Here are some other thoughts I have read:

Forgiveness is not for anybody else.  There's a story of two ex-prisoners of war.  One says to the other, "Have you forgiven your captors yet?" And the second says, "No. Never".  And the first one says, "Then they still have you in prison, don't they?"

We find forgiveness in all different religious traditions.  Christians have "Turn the other cheek" and Christ's teachings of forgiveness.   Hatred never ceases by hatred; but by love alone is healed.

Some day, the pieces fit!

One night this week, Matt porter of Baptist Student Center and I had dinner and were talking about expanding valid experiences for international students on campus!  We were talking about taking them to sporting event on campus and having hot dog feast in park!  Just then Lana Richmond came in ,softball coach, and she was all for it!

Then today I was out, talking w Cindy Gannon, athletic director, when Jim and Lynn Hillin came In who is a board member of BSC followed by Julie and Steve Southard, who does a lot of the food!  It was a done deal without even having a meeting!  Discussion closed!  Outré!

Expanding the Donor Base

My life continues to be raising money and raising friends, but not, for a second, in that order.  Last night I went out to eat with Matt Porter, Baptist Student Center, and we talked about the A B. Cooper Meals program which feeds international students each week.   Tomorrow I go out with Cindy Gannon and we are talking about raising money for Hall of Fame exhibit and today I am arranging a meeting at Sikeston Hospital about Mama Cooper's Wall.  I'm in the raising friends/funds game and it is not a game to me!  It allows people to put their money where their heart is!

Matt and I talked about the fact that no organization can survive with a stable, unchanging donor base.  People die, they age and watch every penny out of necessity and the donor base shrinks and the board thinks that someone, now, is failing since the money does not come in like "it used to!".   Fat chance!   So I'm back teaching how to expand that base.  Strange, it's so practical but so expedient to schedule a plan, work the plan and scrap it when it does not work.

Sounds simple?  Laugh out loud.   It takes work and planning and caring about that donor and you can't fake it!

Tina in the hospital!

 My day started out with Mark texting that Tina was in the hospital with appendicitis.   Later today we found out that the appendix perforated and she kept going.  Now she is out of surgery and will be dismissed with antibiotics tomorrow.   I have been a basketcase and now I can feel my hands begin to slow down.

Thank you God for your blessings!

Brunch for retired faculty

What a fun, fun morning at the alumni center when I hosted a brunch for retired faculty and we had a roomful of people who enjoyed the food!   I heard lots of laughing and people had a blast!

It was worth the doing!  Dan cotner came and played!   I even liked the corned beef hash!

And new pedestal sink..

I love a new bathroom... Everything about it!  Now when my back goes out, and I can't maneuver the stairs I can know I can sit in my new shower seat and in leaking shower and be content!  I love it all!

It has been a good week!  I have had joys and highs with Julia's birthday party and all the other experiences!  Weather is yucky today but I don't even have to get out in it!

Talked to Jim Stacy last night!  We don't have a clue about snow down here!  So I will be content with whatever comes down from the sky!

Paducah and party

I believe in making friends and keeping them forever!  They are valuable assets and a wealth of riches!  Yesterday we celebrated the birthdays of Bev Hickam and Debbie Bickings at Paducah!  I went and so did Barb Kinsey and Jayne Schrader!  I'm the mother of all five of them in so many ways!  They all do me proud!

How lucky I am to have such a wealth of kindness and love!  Bev said yesterday, why is it you are 75 and still have not matured in any way?  My answer:  I choose not to take that route!  Why do I have to!  I know that there are four people out there who love me unconditionally!  So get with it Bev!  You are stuck with me!

Julia Warrens birthday

What a great fun day!  The weather was great, the food at Glenda's in Charleston was great and the company was great!  And Julia was thrilled beyond measure!  So was I. My plan for a party was successful because we needed a party and we need to remember who we are!

It was Betty, Julia and Janie, Jamee, Pam, Suzanne, Brianna, Harriett, Bobby and Becky Hearnes, Sue Shepard, Karen and Dede, Martha Ann keener and Dorothy on and  27 people joined us for a party!  It was a day Julia needed!  Life goes on a day at a time!

No sin in feeling pretty proud!

Yesterday I went up on campus to the Women of Power luncheon .  Cynthia Fleck, one of my St. Louis alums, was the speaker and she had sent down the word that she hoped to see me.  So I went.  My cup runneth over!  First, Kathy Mangels got up and told about all the women who had given major gifts to the University.  She did not say, nor did I expect her to say, that I had a major part in every one of those gifts.   She introduced all kinds of people but she did not introduce any other who could have had this said about them.   It was a time for me to sit back and sigh and remember how much I loved each one of them as individuals and how wonderful they were to me.  And how they gave me an abundance of credit for the reason they were making that gift!  And that is all the thanks I will ever need!  It was good to sit there and reflect upon the fact that I had a major hand in Every one of those gifts!   Susan Burton always tells me that, too!

Then my cup runneth over because Cynthia Fleck was the main speaker and my picture was in her display and she kissed and hugged me.  Then the St. Louis group came over and demanded that we pose together and the Tri-Deltas were everywhere.  I had such a good time.  Cynthia told me that she was working on a seven figure gift to the University and I should claim that gift!  We all hollered laughing.

The truth is that I am proud of my work at Southeast.   I think it has and continues to stand the test of time!  I am proud of friendships I have made--it's the stuff of legacy building.  It just happens along the way!

Spring is still springing!

Yesterday was a delight to even the greatest skeptic who thought that spring would never come again!  So the news kept saying that the last snow would come today and we did not need to be deceived!  Bah humbug!  I am preparing for spring mentally!

To show that preparation, I had my gardener from the greenhouse come and start the mulching and cleaning up and she is coming back on Thursday!  So get ready yard, we are starting a growing season, ready or not!

Doing interviews

I did two interviews today with Roderick Johnson in Madison wisc( he's a policeman there) from basketball team of 2000 and I'm interviewing Matt Morris today!  Then Matt porter from BSC interviewed me about learning to forgive! The interviews had different subjects but the same goal:  beating the odds and coming out on the winning side!

Strange when you see it in that light!  The sign that Daddy loved says it all:  for when that great scorer comes....he writes not whether you won or lost, but how you played the game.  Grantland Rice, the great sportswriter, penned that piece of advice.

A visit with Roger Sherman

I live in a world of Semo athletes and have since I watched practice at Houck nearly every day! Today Roger Sherman from Sikeston stopped by and we told Jim Hamby stories! What a character! I love to visit the past; just don't want to take up residence there! — at Southeast Missouri State University.

Forgiveness, is that a possibility?

Yesterday I was interviewed by an assistant minister here for a seminary paper he was doing.  It had to do with getting on with one's life after a tragedy brought on by others.   He asked me some questions --all of which I answered--though I sensed my own reticence in reliving the pain.   Then he asked me this --how do you get to a point where you can start forgiving?   The truth is, for me, is that you have two choices:  you can turn into a bitter shrew or you can laugh about some of the stupid things that you have done along this road and forgive yourself, first, and frankly admit your own mistakes of judgement.

And then you can start on the road to forgiving others  who have hurt you!   This forgiveness road can take many paths.   And that choice is yours.   I chose to forgive major players a little at a time until it got easier.  I chose to let the anger go to some people  immediately and felt sorry for them until my sorrow at watching them live their lives in anger replaced my own anger at them.

I continue to applaud groups who do the right thing for the right reason. I saw a clipping this morning about church  people in Blytheville bringing coffee and sandwiches to truckers who were sitting in their vehicles because of the snow.  I'm sure plenty of people have hurt each one of them as individuals but, at this moment, they thought of something other than getting back at someone.  These people from churches in Blytheville trudged the road to bring hope and food to truckers and travelers who were stranded.  They were all so cold  that they didn't have the strength to dig up old wounds!  Example for all of us.

Forgiveness helps the person, most, who does it!   I know that for a fact!

Everything is lovely and the goose is hanging high!

I love old sayings.  I was raised on a steady diet of them.   My parents were hill people in Izard County Arkansas until they moved to Missouri.   That's what I thought of today while I have people working on my computer and doing errands and I am doing a birthday party and talking to Julia, the honoree:  Everything is lovely and the goose is hanging high!   (We used to raise chickens --I sort of know about hanging the dead chicken out of the reach of foxes)  never did it, don't want to but know what the expression means --everything is on dead ready and the obstacles have been jumped.l)

That's where I am today.   Getting the flaps tied down for the week and knowing that this will be a good think for Julia to think about this week.   She deserves this  --no one is guaranteed another day!  

The bathroom project is over!

Hallelujah!  Bathroom project is over!  And I do not have to trudge those steps every time I feel the urge!  Heaven is found on a raised seat, a widened shower stall and a picture of Mama's I have not displayed in years!

I sense normalcy setting in even without the pedestal sink or the shower stall door being there.

I hate early, early mornings!

They said they would pick me up at 6:30 a.m. to go to Jeff City.  So I go to bed early which was a mistake because I don't go to sleep early.  I just toss and turn and worry about whether I will oversleep on the chance that I ever go to sleep.  I set the alarm for 5:00 for some reason like it would take me over an hour to get ready and then I wake up at 4:30 and am downstairs, all dressed, on the computer at 5:07.

This is going to be a long day.  I hope it will be worth it!  It will be.  I will make it so!  Godspeed!

Ash Wednesday

Baptists, even lapsed ones like me, know very little about Ash Wednesday and the Lenten season.  It is not symbolized in our church but we could learn a great deal from the symbolism of the season.   Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent.  Christ had spent 40 days in the desert with Matthew, Mark and Luke and they had been severely tempted by the devil....and they had won the battle.

The ashes which are placed on one's forehead remind us of our human mortality and they are a sign of our mourning and repentence.  The person who administers the ashes says:  "Remember that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return."   And all of us should remember that our days are numbered on this earth and we should undo our mistake

s and unkindnesses and seek peace in our lives and in the lives of those we have failed to minister to or we have hurt.   In the end, it doesn't matter who did the hurting or why; it matters that we sought, in the end, forgiveness and healing.

Help me, this Lenten season, Lord, to forgive and help in the healing of a family broken!

D day for me!

O the weather outside is frightful..so goes the old song.. But try the inside because it's d-day for me!  I pledge to begin to wrap up 2013 copy!   I am eager to get it out of my hair!  I am tired of tracing volleyball players!

So here I go with Mark Hoffmeister coming to work and Mark and Gayla coming to work on bathroom!  Cindy Gannon, I am coming after you to get your brain!

Sound of a Grandson's Voice

I got up this morning,  looked out at my skating rink of a driveway, and realized I was Snow-bound, indeed!  I pictured my Dad, with his socked feet on the radiator in his bedroom, reading the poem by John Greenleaf Whittier to me, "The sun, that brief December day, rose cheerless over hills of gray."  That is all I remember of the poem without looking it up.  But Daddy loved poetry and took pride in memorization.  I liked the remembering of the past and "olden days" when ice storms were a reality and the world closed down without the help of Bob Reeves or even KFVS-television.  You just read poetry and guessed what was happening out there and stoked the furnace with more coal.  The larder was filled.

And presto, there was a ring of reality.  My grandson, Bryan William Stacy, called me:  "Mamaw, I am in the car driving to Wilmington and just wanted to leave a message that I miss you, hope you are okay and I love you."  How blessed am I!  He has learned the lesson of family ties and communication and he has made this grandmother proud!  Remember the joys of the past, throw out the bad memories and keep the good but live in the present and face those problems up front because you have people who love you and know how to show it!  I love you, Bryan Stacy!

The weather rules!

Come on in and do your worst!   Anything is better than the anticipation and the waiting!  We have discussed nothing  but the weather for days and how much ice we can expect and how much snow will come on top of that!  It is March 2 people?  Will Spring ever come this year?

So what can be learned?  Weather rules! Just learn that we are at its mercy and there is no recourse for us except to stay inside, eat the stocked up groceriesc and watch old movies !   And quit bitching!  It's a useless exercise'

Peter Pan, the boy who would never grow up

I went up on campus last night to see a production of Peter Pan and it was super!  Besides seeing friend after friend, I saw a wonderful set, scenery, acting and musical.  And I saw Peter Pan come flying out over me spreading his magic dust.  It was, in a word, enchanting.   Later that night, I tossed and turned, and relistened to the music and message.   It would be something to live in a world where you never had to grow up and make decisions or to be able to imagine things into existence.  But they commit you for that, if you are really good at it!

There has to be something tangible in this play which has been seen round the world since J. M. Barrie wrote it in 1904.  There are statues to Peter Pan all over the world.  So what do people come home and think about after seeing this somewhat daffy, off the wall, production?  I think there is something in all of us which makes us yearn for a less complicated world where good thoughts and deeds prevail, where a person has a real role in deciding more of his fate, and where the good guy wins in the end!  In other words, Captain Hook is destroyed by his own walk on the plank and Father does not turn into Captain Hook.  We want the good to stay good and the bad to pass us by in the distance, the far distance!

It's okay to dream about that world!  Maybe in conjuring up the dream mentally, we can be wise enough to insist that part of it become a guiding reality to us!  Maybe that is growing up, really!