Monthly Archives: September 2007

I’ve already had a couple of folks send this to me via email, but it was so funny I had to post it! Kinda makes me want to visit Aberdeen!

Here and there, the leaves are beginning to turn, signaling Autumn. A couple of days ago I woke to find our world shrouded in fog, and I got a really neat picture of some of the leaves in our back yard. Thought I’d share.

We made it through the first performance of Peter Pan this afternoon!  The play went exceptionally well, too.  I admit to having some doubts after last night’s Dress Rehearsal, but today’s performance was wonderful!  Alex did a terrific job as Captain Jas. Hook, and Faith, who also played a pirate, delivered her lines perfectly.  I am so proud of both of them!  The other actors did fantastic jobs, as well.  I think they all had a lot of fun, and from what I could tell, the audience enjoyed it thoroughly.

The version of Peter Pan they chose was the original screenplay by J.M. Barrie.  I don’t guess I’d ever actually seen the original before.  It was delightful, to put it mildly.  One of the things that impresses me most is the idea woven throughout the play of how important mothers are.  The Lost Boys and Pirates all wanted Wendy to be their mother.  In one scene, the Lost Boys are discussing their own mothers, and all of them are sure that their mother was prettier and better than any other.  Even Peter, who is sure that all mothers forget their children, comments in Act V that Wendy’s mother is a pretty lady, but not as pretty as his own mother.

The character of Wendy embodies so perfectly that delicate time of life when a young girl takes her first steps into womanhood.  Her mothering of the Lost Boys is a mirror image of how her own mother cared for her.  And although she is still just a little girl, her heart is beginning to explore more grown-up emotions.  She repeatedly asks Peter questions about what she is to him and what his feelings for her are.  He is ever the little boy, consistently answering that she is his "mother", and he, her "devoted son".  Obviously hoping for something more, she is visibly disappointed. Peter calls her "puzzling". (Go figure!)

J.M. Barrie was a genius.  He captured perfectly the tumultuous, mystical journey from childhood to adulthood. Don’t we all have difficulty letting go of our childhood fantasies of Pirates, Indians, Fairies, Mermaids and Flying?  Don’t we all wish, at least from time to time, that we could fly out of our windows to Neverland, and as Peter so poetically puts it, "ride the wind’s back" and say "funny things to the stars"? And yet, no amount of adventure can ever really take the place of our mother.  Deep inside, we all need to come home.

This is our 14th year of Homeschooling.  It started out very simply, and has always been, for the most part, a lot of fun.  Homeschooling is so much a part of our lives that none of us can imagine doing it any other way.  And I am so grateful for the freedom we have to teach our kids at home and spend the time we get to spend with them. In the beginning, a lot of people had their doubts about our choice.  We were suspected of trying to shelter our kids from the ‘real world’.  Maybe so.  But there were a lot of other really good reasons, as well.

I have two teenage boys.  Kendall is 18 and in college.  Alex is 15, and is a High School Sophomore this year.  Our sons are our friends.  Both of them love to spend time with us.  We have never had the teenage ‘rebellion’ issues that so many people talk about.  Our boys come to us for advice, and they listen.  I heard Kendall tell someone the other day that I am still one of his best friends!  And Alex informed me that I am one of the sweetest most generous people he knows. Wow.  We are blessed to have exceptional children.  We are doubly blessed to have such close relationships with them.

When our kids were little, we had people tell us "Just wait.  Your kids will hate you, too. You’ll see.  Homeschooling won’t prevent it."  Honestly, I don’t know if homeschooling prevented it or not.  I’m pretty sure God had something to do with it. All I know for sure is that it’s been prevented.  And Gaylon and I are really grateful.  I know we haven’t done everything ‘right’.  I’ve often joked and said Kendall was our science project, and that instead of saving for our kids’ college funds, we were setting money aside for their therapy!  But all joking aside, I’m proud of both of them more than I can express.  They are amazing young men, with hearts for God.  And Faith is such a delightful young lady.  I learn so much from all of my children; they are my heroes.

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows.  It is a day, for me, to be reminded and comforted by the fact that my God, and His Mother, understand suffering.  We ALL understand suffering, in one form or another.  Financial hardships, sickness, depression, job stress, school stress, worry over a child, spouse or parent, future fears and past regrets.  None of us is immune.

Yet our culture propagates the myth that if we just believe enough, or pray enough, or do enough good things, our lives will be ‘blessed’.  And we really do want to believe that. I’m often reminded of the animated movie “An American Tale”, when the mice are preparing to leave the Old Country to come to America, and they are so sure that when they get here, it will be Utopia.  They are singing a song that promises “There are no cats in America, and the streets are paved with cheese!” One would think a reasonable, thinking mouse would have known that was ridiculous. Even when the truth is obvious, we tend to prefer to believe in the fantasy.  Yet reality always sets in, and pain is an unavoidable part of our lives.

Over the past almost three years, our family has experienced an amazing amount of suffering. But we were able to find meaning in that suffering, because we understand what the Church teaches about the suffering of Christ.  We understand that suffering, when offered up to God as a sacrifice, can be purifying, and can fill us with love and understanding for others.  Instead of cultivating the poisons of bitterness, resentment or self-pity, we can accept whatever suffering comes our way, knowing that Jesus suffered more, and He understands.  We are able, in a small and feeble way, to unite ourselves with Him.

So what does all of this have to do with Our Lady of Sorrows?  Well, a lot.  Mary is the perfect example of someone who suffered, yet never lost faith.

Traditionally, Mary is said to have Seven Sorrows:
1. The prophecy of Simeon
2. The flight to Egypt
3. The loss of the child Jesus at Jerusalem
4.  Meeting Jesus on His way to Calvary
5.  Standing at the foot of the Cross
6.  Taking Jesus down from the Cross
7.  Jesus’ Burial

As a mother, I particularly appreciate what Mary must have
endured.  What mother wouldn’t gladly trade places with her child when
he is in pain?  Yet the best she could do, as Jesus died an agonizing
death on the Cross, was to stay with Him.  Unlike all the apostles save
John, Mary did not flee in fear of her own life.  She kept the faith.
She did not abandon her Son, even in the face of obvious defeat.  In
her crushing grief, she kept her eyes on God, and did not waver.  Three
days later, she was more than rewarded!  That’s the kind of faith I
want to have.

So we took the kids to the Fair last night.  I think the best part was watching Alex and Faith run around figuring out what ride they wanted to go on next, and which games they wanted to play.  We all shared Funnel Cakes and just had a really good family time together.

But I fear I am getting old.  There was a time when there was nothing in the world I’d rather do than hang out at the carnival.  I would look forward to it all week, and spend every spare moment and penny there.  I rode all the rides, multiple times, and could walk around for hours in 5" heels.  (My feet were killing me when I got home last night, and I was wearing tennis shoes!)  Back then, I had no fear. Now, all I could think of was making sure Faith didn’t get too far away from me, so I could protect her from any potential danger.  Alex was a perfect gentleman, escorting her on and off of the rides and making sure she was safely returned to us after each ride.  Maybe I’ve watched too many episodes of CSI, but the world doesn’t seem as safe a place to me as it did 25 years ago.  Yeah, it’s a bad combination of CSI and old age.

Fortunately, my fears don’t seem to phase my daughter.  She had a blast, and wanted to go back this morning to see the animals, but it was raining, so we had to ditch that plan.  But, not to worry: she’s already planning our Fair Itinerary for next year!

One thing I still enjoy about carnivals, though, is watching all the people.  There is always such an interesting variety, from every class and culture. I guess that’s one aspect that will never change!  That and the fact that Gaylon hates carnivals.  Ah, well, nothing is perfect!

  Brothers 
  Originally uploaded by Morningtower

Alex just turned 15.  Wow.  And, as I promised him, he really is getting taller.  A lot taller.  So I took a picture of him and Kendall this past weekend to prove it to him.  Just less than a year ago, Alex didn’t even come up to Kendall’s shoulders, now he’s up to his ears!! And Kendall is 6′2", so that’s saying a lot. 

It was a good birthday party.  Nothing fancy, just a couple of friends to share it with, and plenty of video games and Dr. Pepper.  Really, who could ask for more?

And it was really good to see Kendall again.  He enjoys college, but keeps wondering why many of his fellow students are there at all.  Kendall likes to have fun, but he also has goals and values.  Best he can tell, most of the kids are there to party.  Of course, "It’s College".  We all know that.  But it would be nice if he could find some friends who had a little more, ah, depth, to them. 

Anyway, couldn’t help but show off my boys.  They are growing up at an electrifying rate, and are almost polar opposites on most issues.  But they are friends.  And that is worth so much!