Radical new approach

Heavyweight title makes up for lightweight content (see above).

As many of my students know, I like to edit papers. Just this week, I helped a former student improve an essay for her freshman composition class. So when it comes to writing my own blog, I often stare at the blank white page, my brain, a bubble. Wouldn't it be great if somebody would write my blog for me and so I could just edit it?

That's today's brilliant idea.

Indiana snow

Here's what it looks like on our street today. Snow sits in just the right places - on the lawns - not on the street or sidewalks.

How considerate.














(For my little friend, Charity.)

While looking out my window

It's sunny outside - brisk and clear. Ah, winter's brilliant sunlight! The tree branches allow you to peek through.

Perspective. That's what you get on a day like this.

Now I admit, I'd rather not walk out there today. 'Me' and 'cold' don't get along. But to just sit here and gaze at the snow-harboring rooftops
- well, I could do that all day.

This week I caught up with some local friends. Being a jar of clay, my Master molds me. Why is it that adversity produces deeper love? These days I look a little deeper into eyes and love a little deeper. Only God could translate pain into love.

With this morning's homeschool grad meeting behind and this afternoon's homeschool orchestra performance ahead, I'll leave you for now

Bring back my bonnie to me

I love my clothes.

I love my cast iron pots.

Where are you on the wide, blue sea?

Reflections of Scotland

I may not live in Scotland anymore, but I will always carry some of it with me.
These are some of the images/people I don't ever want to forget:

1. Round-a-bouts.
2. Expert drivers who maneuver around you with just inches to spare.
3. Conversing with "the two Margarets" (two dear ladies I got to know at church).
4. Pedestrians.
5. Bright yellow reflector jackets.
6. The twinkle in Charles Muir's eyes when he told a joke.
7. The city lights of the central belt.
8. David McCulloch saying "watch this" and then poking the notoriously ticklish Candace.
9. Hanging with his mom, my dear friend, Kim.
10. Walking in the rain.
11. The unbelievable stories I heard of Beth receiving messages from the "mother ship."
    
12. People's patience as I asked them to repeat themselves ... again.
13. The powerful preaching of Andrew Quigley.
14. Jimmy's flowers.
15. Tesco shopping.
16. Straining hard to count British money.
    
17. The free flow of insightful exchanges during a MET.
18. Winston, the wood pigeon.
19. Holding David and Angie's new baby for whom we prayed so much.
    
20. The castles and lochs.
21. My son, Ben, breaking into dance during lunch breaks at home.
22. Listening to Karen Reyburn sing the alto line of a Psalm.
23. Getting to know Harry and Anne.
    
24. Learning to appreciate people's passion for football (soccer).
25. Glasgow.
26. The friendly honks and waves on the street.
27. Sam Bell's local stories.
28. The charity shops.
29. Christy's Pastry Shop.
30. Ian Shaw's singing.
31. The Royal Mile.
32. Watching Amy act in Macbeth.
33. Beautiful wee red-headed Bobbi.
34. Heart-to-heart talks with Susan (Bobbi's mom).
35. The long days of summer.
36. The dark days of winter.
37. Listening to George and Robert talk about theology.
    
38. Getting directions by way of pubs.
39. Visiting with Dorothy.
40. Celebrating Thanksgiving in our house with fellow Americans.
41. Ben Gordan playing the guitar and singing only the first half of songs.
42. Playing a very loud game at the church family weekend and laughing so hard it hurt.
43. Listening to Rob yell "Cheater!" at the top of his lungs.
44. Praying for people in our neighborhood.
45. Hearing Gordan Smith's laugh.
46. Helping his wife, Carol, work in the kitchen.
    
47. The mist hanging on the mountains.
48. Hearing John describe himself as a man who loved the monarchy.
49. Talking to Helen about homeschooling their precious daughter.
50. Tea and busquits.
51. Writing a Covenanter song as a memory aid for the children.
52. Hearing the cd of my voice singing my song as it was played before the whole church. (ugg!)
53. Browsing at a huge flea market in Glasgow with the McCullochs.
54. Learning new terms for familiar things (cell/mobile, pants/trousers, soccer/football).
55. Getting to see our old friends Walter and Betty again.
56. Spending the night with David and Sybil.
57. Robert fishing with Tim.
58. Riding the train to Edinburgh.
59. Spending lots of time in an art gallery.
60. Robert and Bob clearing brush from an old Covenanter memorial site.
61. Chauffeuring on a Covenanter tour.
62. Becoming friends with Dick and Susan Knodel.
63. Getting to know Christine and her baby boy, the very ones my family had prayed for before we moved to Scotland.
64. Fish and chips.
65. Spending time with my wonderful mother-in-law, Joy (her name fits).
66. Working on needle point.
67. Hosting several families in our house almost every week.
68. Singing Psalms with Scottish voices all around.
69. Designing gospel tracts to hand out.
70. Hanging clothes on the line.
71. Running out to fetch the damp clothes when it started to rain (and it always did).
72. Draping clothes all over the house.
73. Spending quality time with Fintan and Brogan (two Irish setters).
74. Celebrating my first Guy Fox Day.
75. Seeing more rainbows than I thought possible.
76. Getting to know everyone at Airdrie RP Church.
    
77. Saying goodbye.

Thanks for letting me share all that with you. Most of you don't know these people and places, but just telling you about them helps me to remember and appreciate them. These faces and places are forever woven into the fabric of who I am.

I love you, Scotland.

Good memories

Don't let 'em kid you.
Putting pics on a blog is a way to hide a brain with no thoughts.
Well, that's what is happening here anyway.

So here we go



First we have me doing camera exposure experiments while waiting for Candace's Glasgow train to arrive at the Coatdyke station.
















Next we have a fine example of confusing Scottish signs.






















And finally we have two happy guys on moving day.
















That's about all for now.

Happy New Year!
Let me hear a whoop!