Ministering

Tanner needed individual and group service project hours

as part of a requirement of National Honor Society.

He's had a few conflicts with going to approved group projects

and was finally able to go on one

requested by the First Baptist Church

of Proctorville, Ohio.

They minister to the homeless in Huntington, WV

once a month

in their Patridge Family style bus

bringing them food

and blankets.

This month they brought tee shirts

and hygiene kits.

Some men were asking for socks.

And backpacks.

So the pastor issued Tanner a challenge.

To hold a used backpack drive at his school

since it's almost over.

He asked us what church we attended.

And then issued my challenge.

"Can your church collect socks

for next month's trip?"

The challenge has been issued.

I'm looking for mens socks.

I have about three weeks.

Contact me if you can help!

Being Spiritually Prepared

When I think of self-reliance, and being prepared I remember when our in-the-ground food cellar was flooded with spring rains. Mother was determined to save her food storage, and called upon her young children to help her. When we saw that the water level had reached the stairs, with only the top shelf of food showing above the water, and the water swarming with swimming frogs, we were less than enthusiastic. But we were convinced, for a mere popsicle, that the food needed saving and it became a memorable experience carrying out canning jars, buckets and frogs. Having food storage made me feel safe and prepared. I also think of being woken at 5:00 a.m., unwillingly, to go to weed and irrigate our garden on a piece of land donated by a farmer. Knowing we knew how to grow our own food, not just store it, made me feel safe and prepared. When I began an early morning scripture class and started studying the scriptures for myself, I realized I needed to not only take care of my physical body but my spirit as well. "How do I store food for my spiritual needs?" was a question I pondered as I thought about becoming spiritually self-reliant. While in college, reading scriptures and praying made me feel safe. Now I have children and know that also holding family home evening, paying tithing, attending the temple, honoring the Sabbath day, and serving others can also make me feel safe and prepared. But is that all we can do to be safe and prepared during stormy and turbulent times? When Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel he announced, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Can you imagine feeling everything Mary felt? The scriptures say Mary was "troubled at his saying," and that she "cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be." She also questioned, "How shall this be?" My point is that Mary obviously had done everything she needed to do to be spiritually prepared for stormy and turbulent times in her life, such as being the mother of the Savior. This is indicative merely by Heavenly Father's selection of her. So after absorbing the Angel's message, she said, "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." She could only trust in Heavenly Father, to allow this complex situation to be a blessing in her life.

Boys Will Be Boys

Outside

in beautiful sunshine and breeze

the boys played

on the logs

with their sticks

and the dog,

talking,

imagining,

at ease.

FOR TWO HOURS!

Boys!

What Am I?

This is a fun game -

GUESS What I Am
Only other people can see what you are.

Miller with his game face on.

He makes a really cute pig!

Play Ball!

It was opening day of baseball

in Proctorville, Ohio!

Porter throwing his family a bit of candy.

Cooper throwing his family handfuls of candy.

Sawyer throwing his family lots of one-liners
as his sponsor is Hall Funeral Home.
"Slide on in!"

Morning was a bit chilly, but we warmed up slowly.

"Do You Dare to Fly Where Few Have Flown?"

We celebrated Hunter's

EAGLE Court of Honor!

We included the ENTIRE family.

Tanner's reading a poem written by my brother,

about being an eagle.

We had friends go the distance

to help Hunter in his celebration.

Dave Bach presented Hunter his award.

Porter was our

MASTER of Ceremonies.

He went with the flow, even when the flow was choppy,

and made everyone smile and feel at ease.

Cooper was the leader of the Color Guard.

He spoke loudly, clearly,

and was the man in charge.

Porter received his
Tender Foot rank advancement.
FINALLY!

The two little sidekicks
wearing their own badges of honor.

Ann Bach received a mentor pin from Hunter.

Surprise!

She's our secret weapon: Master Decorator

and Hostess of perfect courts of honor.
Thank you!

Hunter happy the real party can begin.

Where the two sidekicks hide out.

It's all about the food.

One of ShirlGirl's silver platters

bequeathed to yours truly.

Thank you Aunt Shirley!

They were perfect,

and as usual,

your timing was impeccable.

S.C.O.R.E.!

Tanner was asked by some high school teachers to enter work in poetry, creative writing and physics in an academic festival,

SCORES: Search Committee on Recognizing Excellent Students

sponsored by Marshall University,

including high school students from four states (WV, OH, KY, VA).

He won first place in poetry.
We joked about his poem,
only because he thought of who might be judging it
and wrote one to please their style.
Not his usual style,
but we're proud of him.

I Am the Bridge
I am, but the grass between two oaks; a carpet joining the mighty tread of two colossi.
Joining the roots of one to another and proving a canvas to spread their mixed shade.
I am, the moss raised between two solid slabs of concrete, each laid to connect the path of children and their thoughts.
Rounding what were once sharp boundaries and joining them with a bridge; soft underfoot for ants and men alike.
I am that poet desired by Mnemosyne to sing melodies into the world's ear.
A being whose only pain arises from miseries viewed hostage from Privilege's window.
A light, lost among the lost; Hope's own link in the fragile chain forged from generations.
Man to boy; boy yet man.
And when a man, pray I am still a boy.
Even one who gazes still at unreached celestial glories
With newly awakened eyes.
And stops while
To rest among beds of grass.

Moms Are the Best!

Mom tackled my mending pile: Done!

She made a long sleeve shirt into short sleeves, and made Miller a bag out of the cut off sleeve.

She found safe places to plant a garden,

and enlisted a junior gardener to tend her gardens.

She taught Cooper, who asked, how to knit.

She played many scrabble games with the older boys.

She took me shopping.

Bought me some spring-y shoes and purse.

She bought me food.

She sat with me at baseball games.

She sewed scout shirts.

She did my wash.

She did my ironing.

She left.

Too quickly!

But her presence still lingers all over my house.

Thanks for the visit, Mom!

Go Dog Go!

Ranger has no fenced yard.

So we hook him to a large, heavy sled.

He's free to roam the yard,

but he can't get too far, too fast.

Miller found a ball, and got a ride.

Play Ball!

Truth be told,

this is the real reason Mom came to visit.

She wanted to see Tanner play baseball.

No pressure at all.

Today was the day!

Beautiful weather,

and great company.

Take me out to that ball game!