Did I tell you about my early birthday present? It is this turntable-thing-machine that will digiitize my old vinyls and cassette tapes! Oh yes! That will be my project for the next 17 years or so…
Even though I know, in my brain at least, I can’t earn God’s favor or the salvation He freely gives me, I constantly fall back in to trying to compensate Him for it: to pay Him back. I try to do more and work harder to show Him my sincerity. I try to pay my own way.
In the little book I wrote in anticipation of Sawyer’s birth a few weeks ago, this little rhyme-variation came to me as I pondered what Sawyer should always know about the Father’s love in her life:
He loves me, He loves me lots! He loves me, He loves me lots!
Those are the only choices, actually, yet I struggle to comprehend them for myself.
My conclusion, of course, is that not only am I unable to earn God’s love and favor (and believe me, I have tried), but I have nothing to pay Him with either. Remember when Micah asked how he could come before Him, what he could bring?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (6.7b NKJV)
I default to making payment too quickly. And now I am actually doing it in my dreams. Recently, I awake exhausted from working so hard, running so far, climbing steep ladder or hills and working, working, working – hoping God is noticing. In my dreams! This is no bueno.
Today I am praying for God to help me understand mercy: NOT getting what I deserve, that is mercy. I am praying to be delivered from being receiver-challenged (unable to receive His love and forgiveness, His grace and His sacrifice on my behalf). I am praying to understand, at least a little, how He gives so freely without it being about what I can do for Him or give to Him. These are big prayers. Such a long way to go…
My daughters are industrious, creative, gifted and talented Proverbs 31 women. They all see to their households, as well as to the Household of Faith. They give to the poor and assist anyone in need; they shop for the best yarns and cottons and enjoy knitting and sewing. They organize their days and plant gardens with the money they have put aside. They dress for work, roll up their sleeves and are always eager to get started because they understand the worth of their work. They take good care of their families and dress in colorful linens and silks. They design gowns and sell them and bring the sweaters they knit to the dress shops. Facing the future with smiles, they always have something worthwhile and kind to say. They outclass anyone in Hollywood or the magazines. Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades, but my little women – these who are serving God with reverent respect? They are to be admired and praised! (The Message, personalized)
My girlies, Stephie and Storms, are such creative women. Each on their own, but when they get together, zowie! Stormie works in the billboard-graphics field during her “day job,” and Stephanie mommies 3 of the most amazing little red-heads! They have proven to have a “good eye” on finding vintage wares that people will love. I love them bunches!
The night Dessy let us make her into an 80’s glam girl. Aaahhh….good times!
Tre directs a leadership team of 100 people, who utilized 2000 amazing volunteers this year! Daniel Miles said, at the appreciation event at Elitch Gardens that Tredessa was the “captain,” of Heaven Fest and people cried as he said (and others chimed in, in agreemen)t, “We’ll follow you anywhere.” She needed to know that – because it is true.
This is granddaughter, Amelie Belle, modeling one of her mama’s creations. Sweet baby girl!
Jovan makes the prettiest things for baby girls (her passion, imagine that) and for gifting. Jovan is my sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice daughter who is woman enough to not be afraid of pink. And a good wife to my baby boy!
Yes. That IS Hunter’s KINDEGARTEN textbook. I shudder to think what he’ll be doing by junior high?!
I wonder if Hunter can yet comprehend what an amazing and patient momma he has? She is fully devoted to helping Hunter fulfill God’s call in his life in his generation. Plus? The woman writes songs and sings and lights up a room! My firstborn, who walks in favor.
Marmee: I am going to write that man a letter.
Jo: A letter! That’ll show him.
Jo: Now we are all family, as we always should have been.
Marmee: Feminine weaknesses and fainting spells are the direct result of our confining young girls to the house, bent over their needlework in restrictive corsets.
Marmee: Oh, Jo. Jo, you have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to lead an ordinary life? You’re ready to go out and – and find a good use for your talent. Tho’ I don’t know what I shall do without my Jo. Go, and embrace your liberty. And see what wonderful things come of it.
She needs a change from the under-the-tuscan-sun-starbucks-shops inspired decor/colors of the past decade.
A QUICK VISIT TO WWW.CRAIGSLIST.COM HAS (HOPEFULLY) PRODUCED THE NEEDED REPLACEMENT GLASS FOR THIS AMAZING TABLE AT A VERY GOOD PRICE, INDEED!
It is a holiday weekend and her husband can help. ;}
I know these are dreadfully shadowy, but they are on my table this morning…making me happy as I ponder the possibilities. Notice also a piece of Hunter’s artwork from the wall, my old green computer, a notebook, a planner…oh this coffee table project could ruin e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.!
Something is definitely brewing and it could be dangerous. Original thoughts of a painted piece of furniture and a few new throw pillows is threatening to cause an all-over-every-wall-in-the-whole-stinking-house paint job to be necessary. There is a mile-long list on the kichen counter of things that could be done…that could also cause this house to be declared to be in a state of utter disaster if she doesn’t just calm the heck down. The intensity of the storm will blow itself out and perhaps there will be a few nice changes over the course of the next few months. But right at this moment?
Heather Cramer is one of my great friends and a Heaven Fest photographer! She is a creative woman of God and I happen to own an original watercolor Heather created just for me a few years ago. So, I am very fond of her!
Love her work, her heart and her take on life. And on HF 3.0!
We attended HeavenFest 2009 as a family (to scope it out) and returned [this year] with our youth group. We had bought 10 tickets and at the last minute a youth pulled out due to a death in the family…we were adamant that God had a plan for that last ticket and prayed about it. When we went to the little grocery in town on Friday night, to pack the cooler with food for the trip, we ran across a young man whose parents divorced and divides his time between here and Pueblo (he was on a visit with his mom) anyhow my husband and I just looked at each other…and chased down his moms car in the parking lot. He got to go and with the other 7 kids had a blast (so did we) and during the Sacred Assembly God just touched him and he broke down – the Holy Spirit was dealing with all of us – He accepted Christ in the hotel room later that night. What a BLESSING you are and again we are just amazed at the way the Lord works – He knew who that ticket needed to go to. Thank you for your hard work and ministry it truly was a Great day!
R and K M.
Las Animas, Colorado
I gave my boss and his family free tickets to Heaven Fest and I was actually surprised at how excited he was to have the tickets because he is not a Christian and had previously made comments about that he might come but he didn’t want anyone to try and convert him because he would only be there to have a fun day out in the sun. He is extremely opinionated and does NOT hand out compliments very often so when he came to me yesterday and said that upon arriving at the festival [he and his family were treated very well by all the volunteers and had several special requests fulfilled right off the bat.] He said, “I have a feeling I could have asked for anything and I would have been accommodated.”
He went on to talk for the next 20 minutes about how wonderful the festival was and how nice everyone was and that it was great he didn’t need to worry about anything happening to his kids like he would have to worry if he were somewhere else. He had a GREAT time and had nothing but good things to say!
I cannot express to you guys how grateful I am for the experience he and his family were able to have at HF because of you and when you try to set a Godly example and minister to a non-believer for 6 years, it is definitely a slightly frightening experience to bring them into a Christian event, hoping and praying that everyone represents Christ well. I just wanted to tell you that your teams were AWESOME and such a great example not only to the body of Christ but to a non-believer and I am so thankful that he came and was treated so well!
THANK-YOU for your work and your service and for your teams! I seriously am in awe and feel so grateful for you guys and all your volunteers, you and they have truly shown the love of Christ to my boss and to so many others and I can say with complete confidence that my boss would come back next year so thank-you!! -S
I loved everything about Heaven Fest 3.0, look forward to next year and wish there was no gap between the two. I am a little over one year old in the “Christian” faith…There are two main reason that HF3 was one of the greatest experiences of my life:
1. This was the first concert, or set of them, that I have been to where there was no alcohol involved. It delighted me in ways unimaginable to be around such happy, loving, caring, and sober people. I love everyone who helped to make the event possible and all who attended.
2. I loved the chance to go out and volunteer for a cause I truly believed in. The time I spent volunteering was almost more rewarding than the AMAZING music and overall experience of HF3… I just want to say THANK YOU so much for making all of this possible. Thank you all and God BLESS! -S.M.B.
On behalf of Petra, I’d like to thank you for bringing the guys to your wonderful festival! I’ve heard nothing but GOOD things about your fest, the setup and the treatment they received from your people.
I know it was pretty hot, but I’ve heard many comments by fans who were there – and they didn’t seem to mind too much, because they got to see “their band” once again.
Thank you for a great fest and the chance for Petra to reunite one more time. ~Sue (management company)
Would like to send you a story that will stay with me for a long time. At the 9 p.m. interactive service, the leader was asking everyone who was feeling burdened or weak to raise their hands. Then said if there were some who felt led to go pray over those people to do so, I was in prayer at the time, but looked up and saw these 3 teenage girls go over and pray for those with their hands up. I knew that was the spirit of God moving in a mighty way. Praise God for each person who gave of themselves to set up this wonderful event and to pray for their brothers and sisters. I thank God that we have the freedom in this country to praise God!! Thanks for letting me share that Luke and God bless you and your efforts. Donna
At Heavenfest backstage of the Techno Dome, a few teenagers came to the back of the stage and wanted to talk a bit. In the course of the conversation DJ Josiah and another DJ were able to share Christ with them and they trusted Christ as their Savior. One rededicated and 2 trusted Christ as their Savior for the first time. We let them know it was important to tell someone what had happened. 2 of them ended up professing publically from the microphone in the Techno dome. = Jon Burgess
I was brought to tears and able to give a testimony to many about the FULL rainbow that “camped out” with us for like an hour on Friday eve!! I am sure you saw it too but I was so amazed by it and felt like God was sayin…”here I am, hangin out with ya’ll…this is my remembrance of my promise to you…I am here waiting for you.” I think the significance was how the entire rainbow was there for sooo long! It gives me chills just thinkin about it. I was curious if you had lots of others comment on it too?
Thanks for such an awesome production! Your staff and volunteers are pretty special to put in that much work to bring sooo many people to God. I will for sure help out again next year…count me in! God Bless you all! B. N.
From one of our HF Camping Leadership Team members:
I just wanted to share the story of one of our gracious campers that attended our blessed HF event . . .
As he was leaving on Sunday morning he jumped out of his truck and came over to me full of joy and
happiness and just beaming about what WE put together. He grabbed my hands and just started praying
for me – and for US that “put” this event together and volunteered to make it happen.Upon the completion of his prayer, he began telling me that his nephew (only 21 years old) had passed
away and they were not yet sure of all the details. I was just speechless he was praying for ME and US when
he had just suffered a tragic family loss just hours before . . . But how blessed was I by his personal FAITH
and TRUST in our precious Lord even during his time of grief and his belief as he drove off was that ALL
things work for good through our precious Lord. My total WOW moment as I watched him drive out the exit.How grateful I am that our event touched this man’s life and he was still able to leave that day filled with joy and happiness . . . OUR GOD IS GREAT!! Many blessings to you always!! ~Leann
Hey Luke, I am from kansas and came to the heavenfest and I am very appreciative of this production that you put on. I felt the spirit of God all over the whole place and it makes me tear up right now as I am typing this to you. I will try and make it appointment next year to stay over so I can walk right along side of you and [clean up afterwards]. Thank you so much for the awsome time that my family and I had. I want to be honest and let you know that I only paid one dollar per ticket for this show next year I hope to have a better work situation so I can give back to you. God bless you so much for allowing us to come and worship in colorado with you. Very well thought out good job to you and your staff. J. E.
I don’t know anything about photography, except that I love good photographs and especially when you are allowed to SEE something in a way you’d have neglected to look. I love the photos that arrest me, cause my heart to beat faster, make me shake my head in wonder. Uh-huh. I do. And Ellie does those. I have some of the BEST photos of my family members from her work.
So, she roamed around and took pictures at HF this summer. I wanted to share them and I have also included a few of the stories of Heaven Fest. People have emailed us and Facebooked us and shared a little of their hearts. There are hundreds of stories, these are exceprts from a few…
Hello to the HF Team,
I’m sorry I had to work & was unable to hel and volunteerp. However, want to thank you for the whatever you can afford tickets. My wife got hurt on her job and has been out of work for about 7 months now. I have a 15 year old son who wouldn’t have been able to go if it were not for this. My gratitude and thanks go out to ALL of you for what you do. Hopefully, next year, we will be doing better and I will be able to give more. I truly appreciate it! Thanks Again!
B. E. (& son)
JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! The might name of Jesus was all my family heard all day!!!!
I got the Whatever You Can Afford tickets because I have been jobless for 1yr and 8mo and I am going through a bankruptcy.
My 5-year old son made a friend in the ticket line and they shared a bag of chips, as they talked about how they were both (black and white) formed from the dirt that they were walking in. Jesus!
…I prayed with a father that was reaffirming his belief in Christ and prepared to baptize his son. My children joined me at the table (under the shade) and asked what they were doing and I explained what was being done, why it was being done and how it was done. My youngest said, “Alright Mom… lets go… I know Jesus… He died on the cross for me and you and brother.” I look at my oldest son, and he looked back at me. I was a little hesitant because we didn’t have extra clothes or towels… we didn’t have anything. The hesitation subsided and I signed all three of us up. I told the volunteer that we had been through a lot in the last two years: homelessness, no employment, no money…And to the water we went… !!!! I REAFFIRMED MY BELIEF IN CHRIST THROUGH BAPTISM, I BAPTIZED MY OLDEST SON AND MY YOUNGEST SON!!!
After the plunge in the lake my children and I were truly grateful and call it an added benefit because we were soaked from head to toe and no longer hot. We were definitely comforted by the water and the wet clothes!Thank you Heaven Fest!!!! Thank you Jesus!!!
This was my first year volunteering and I can truly say it was a blessing. Lifebridge Christian Church, leading up to Heavenfes,t had been preaching about 1 body 1 Christ and that is all I was thinking about on Saturday. It doesn’t matter what church you attend but to come together for one day as brothers and sisters of Christ and serve together and make Heavenfest a success was an unbelieveable experience I will never forget. God willing I will be there next year to help again. ~Ana
Thank God for your ministry and all the many people that worked so hard to make it happen. My wife and I were blessed beyond words to be able to volenteer to help with the prayer team. We live 150 miles away and had 23 from the church here in Yuma Colorado so we had limited ability to help. We were assigned to a team to pray in stations all around the campus for 4 hours. We took a couple of breaks to worship in the 24/7 worhsip and prayer tent. We finished with a half hour prayer in the tower. My wife is deathly afraid of heights and I was shocked that she would go up. It was the most wonderful day of prayer my wife and I ever experienced. I can not wait to come back and serve again. I was so amazed at the mulitiudes of servants that were willing to give their all so that God could minister to so many. A God work this awsome can not happen without prayer, great leadership and humble servents. Our part was so small compared to so many but It meant so much to our lives. D and L Smith
I decided to get my church, my youth group, and friends excited to go Heavenfest 2010. We all came out including two of my friends that really didn’t know about God one way or the other, but were excited to go to a massive concert with friends. We all had a great time… I convinced them to stay for the Sacred Assembly, and so we all settled down on the grass and waited for the sevice to begin. Not long into the service, both girls who didn’t know Jesus started crying and both looked and me and said “I didn’t know… I didn’t know that there was Someone out there that cared so much.” I smiled held them and said, well now you know. Both said afterward that for the first time they wanted to go to church, and they now understood why people got so ‘into’ worship services. They felt the power of Jesus. Thank you, thank you so much for this. I have tried for some time to get these girls to even want to talk about God, and in one night, they not only wanted to talk about God, they were believing in Him!” S.V.
heaven fest was awesome. at the hardcore stage…Chad Johnson of Come and Live (great guy get him for next year) asked us to raise our hands if we were dealing with depression so that we could be prayed over. i did this and found everyone around me had laid there hands on me and was praying for me. i had never felt this touched in my life i found myself weeping for joy. It ranks as one of the most life changing experiences of my life.
Hi everyone!
Just wanted to say what a blessing it was to serve at heavenfest!
I personally was the recipient of a miracle during heavenfest: I hadn’t felt well since the birth of my 6th child almost 2 years ago. I think that I have a calcium deficiency as a result of having a baby so late in life and I have a hernia, were my abdominal wall is weakened and tearing due to heavy lifting and childbirth . I had extreme weakness and pain in my joints and I was unable to lift or bend without experiencing a painfull tearing sensation in my stomach.I felt exhausted and weak and had barely been able to function from day to day which had made me very irritable and hard to live with. When heavenfest contacted me and asked me to be a retail manager this year, I started praying for the strength to serve.
At the leadership meetings, which -by the way -were unlike any meeting I had ever attended, I felt the Lord strengthening my spirit and preparing me to be his hands and feet! I felt an energy welling up inside of me and a calming peace and confidence overwhelming me. During heavenfest I was completely pain free!!!! I carried heavy boxes, cases of water, and equipment up hills and painted and drilled signs in the hot sun and was on my feet for 19 hours and never felt stronger or more energetic!! I prayed for strangers and co-workers boldly and felt the presence of God all around us! I felt love toward all those I came into contact with and found myself praising and thanking God continually throughout the day. At about midnight I realized that I had been using my left arm all day without any pain!! God is so awesome and I know that he equipped me to serve him in a way and with a strength that was supernatural!!
“Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty” Zechariah 4:6
Annie Baker
I got healed at Heaven Fest last year in much the same way, Annie! Praising God with you! What an honor to serve alongside you.
How perfect is this for today?! God rocks!! Encouraging Word …For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. ~ Habakkuk 1:5, NLT
Here’s some thoughts for you! Thank you and God bless you! Another amazing year….
Three years of Heavenfest, and three years of being in the presence of God surrounded by thousands. This year was no different. I think our Lord marks this day on his calendar just as we do now. We bring them together for his glory, and it makes him glad. [boldened by Jeanie…love this!] I saw God baptizing people in the lake, I saw God dancing to techno music, I saw God pumping his fist to hard rock, I saw God beating on drums, strumming on guitars, and walking through the front gates holding peoples hands. I saw God smudging chalk with his fingertips, telling jokes and reading psalms. He sat beside me and whispered words into my ear as I prayed at the front gates for all those who passed through. God was everywhere.
The best moment for me was as we knelt with thousands listening to his word during the Sacred Assembly. As we stood at one point with our hands raised and eyes closed hand were placed upon one another in ~ The body of Christ was united. That feeling of having the hands of others on your shoulders was only surpassed when after, bowed down in the dust I felt God’s arms around me in the most gentle and purest of love. It was at that moment that we were asked to raise our eyes to heaven and smile. I did so with tears streaming down. When you seek him – he is there. When you are with him- you know his love. I have been so blessed over the years to only begin a relationship with my father I knew never was possible. Each year at Heavenfest I pray for that for others, and I have seen the seeds be planted in the fields each year. Yes the music makes us rock out, and sometimes cry, the people you meet are amazing, but the time with God surrounded by the body of Christ is like no other.
This event has changed our lives and continues to help us grow in faith each year. Both of my sons made their decision to be baptized after the time they spent with God at Heavenfest. (’08 and ‘09) We have all grown in our convictions and calling to bring others to know Christ. Prayers and promises made in these fields each year have brought our family closer, helped us to forgive each other, ourselves and others we know, reach out to others, and to be better children of God. We were on Holy Ground in Longmont this year. We will never know the extend of all the miracles that happened there that day- but there is no doubt that they happened. One happened to me. I felt God touch me- something that has only happened several times in my life- and because of it, I am humbly and joyfully one step closer to him.
In his Grace, Let’s share our miracles!!!!! Smiles and blessings~ Alison
*Thanks for letting my boys help with clean-up!…. Can’t wait to help next year!!!!!!!!
Earlier this summer I decided to assemble a “sand-bucket” list (wrote about it here and here) of things I needed to do to feel I’d enjoyed summer by its’ end. Well, these cooler evenings and bright, breezy mornings, and the calendar flipping to September (not to mention my grandbebes back-packing it to school) tell me I had better assess. Autumn actually begins September 22nd at about 9 pm here in Colorado, so I have some days yet to correct oversights…how about your Sand-Bucket list? How is it going?
I tried to “prepare” myself for fall by getting grateful about Pumpkin Spice Lattes being back at Starbucks and assembling an “autumn” playlist of songs at www.playlist.com. I become very melancholy each fall with my approaching birthday. I found 110 songs and they are almost all about September or November. October does not get the music it deserves. Hmph. So that depressed me. {j/k} Sometime this month I’ll go through and keep only the songs I really love and perhaps share it here – because I am nice like that. ;p
What an honor for me to get to be there, to get to pray for them and witness their love made flesh. I am so proud of Stef and Wrex and how they worked so hard, together, committed to make the baby’s birth a wonderous and glorious event. And I am humbled. The favor of God shines on this family. He must surely be smiling at what they did. I know I am.
Isn’t she lovely
Isn’t she wonderful
Isn’t she precious
Less than one minute old
Sawyer at less than 10 minutes old. Daddy wore pink to welcome her. He’s man enough!
At 9:27 pm, 22 1/2 hours after the very first labor contraction, Sawyer arrived to cheers and tears and joy and family. 7 pounds, 14 ounces, 21 inches long. She has her mommy’s fabulous long legs and slender feet and pouty lips. And she has her daddy’s heart…already! Sawyer, blessed more than she realizes, is already loved and adored.
I never thought through love we’d be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn’t she lovely made from love.*
*LYRICS: “Isn’t She Lovely?” by Stevie Wonder
Tools of the trade.
Uncle Rocky pitching to Gav-at-bat. The cheering crowds. DP up to bat.
When I feel the morning grass I let down my guard Because love comes from the dirt in my own backyard Everytime I think I’ve finished being young I catch myself having fun
My husband, Dave, up to bat.
Pepler. Guini and Nonna (me). Gavin hits it!
But the moment passes as the sun moves on So I turn myself back to you… And it’s depressing that I can’t forget the tune the organist played La – da da da da da da, la – da da da da da da…
Dave at bat. The boys taking a breather.
Everytime I think I’ve finished being young I catch myself having fun But the moment passes as the sun moves on So I turn myself back to you Is our season over? No four leaf clover?
Hunter and Gavin will climb anything. Tristan swinging the pipe…as a lefty!
I feel it’s getting colder… But can you still remember? April to November You and I were members Of the best team in baseball So we play our games…
Rocky…Serious about pitching.
Lyrics: Baseball
All of these pictures: by Stormie!
“Teaching is the sowing of life-giving, mind-expanding seed. May you reap fully from what you have sown.” -a note to to Mary Bolton Passwater, a young woman who used to be in the JoyBelles club I led in Kokomo and has turned into a wonderful, beautiful, godly young woman (wife and mommy) who teaches – a most noble life and profession!
Teachers teach us so much. Maybe not always what the lesson plan was about. But they do impart things. Back-to-school time always makes me think of the teachers I had while I was growing up.
Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone, But in my mind, I know they will still live on and on,
***Kindergarten ~ Mrs Fuchs (pronounced f-o-x, thank-you very much): She was a very fashionable, perfectly-coiffed 1960s woman with unnaturally blazing-fire red hair – which I spent a good 12 years constantly trying to replicate and still have great zeal for (especially when I see it on my beautiful Stephanie!).
But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume? It isn’t easy, but I’ll try,
Me…1st day of Kindergarten; then second grade
*****2nd grade, Mrs. Weiland: I adored Mrs. Weiland. She was so sweet and spoke words of encouragement to me – the first time I remember any adult ever doing that. When I drew pictures, she’d say, “Wow-you could be an artist someday.” When I wrote stories, she’d say, “I bet you’ll write books someday.” I remember her husband stopping by in his Marine haircut during recess one spring afternoon. They spoke briefly and kissed and we all giggled, peeking through the chain link fence, romantic fancies taking flight. I can still remember her cute, short haircut and multi-colored frosted tresses. I admired her so much I once colored a picture of her using at least 6 different colors to create that hair and a classmate paid me a quarter for it, which I promptly spent on penny candy at the corner market. I wish I still had the picture. I wish I could tell Mrs. Weiland that I love still art and writing and that her words, her cheering-me-on, made a difference.
If you wanted the sky I would write across the sky in letters, That would soar a thousand feet high, To Sir, with Love
***3rd grade, Miss Petrie: She taught me to eschew prejudice based on skin color. We really celebrated Black History Month in her class and learned so much. George Washington Carver and Martin Luther King Jr (who had been slain less than a year earlier) became heroes to me. She also introduced me to the music of Motown, and o baby – yes! Still LOVE those Motown sounds!
Each student got to have dinner at Miss Petrie’s apartment during the school year and she led us in a loud, raucous rendition of “Found a Peanut” in the car on the way. We also stopped at J. C. Penney’s to pick up her cinnamon-colored pantyhose. And I couldn’t wait to wear pantyhose when I grew up. I literally spent years in suntan-colored L’eggs Sheer Energy, YEARS! I miss them sometimes…but not that often.
***4th grade, Ms. Lynch: She read to us after lunch. We’d put out heads on our desks and listen to stories like Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Charlotte’s Web and Old Yeller. It seemed we were too old to be read to and hadn’t been since Kindergarten, but I remember it being a lovely, restful, soothing time of the day – to have some one read to me. I also learned to knit during lunchtime in her classroom. Knit one, pearl two. I recently bought some classics I want to read to my grandbebes even though they are learning for themselves. For, being read to is sweet! They will always remember that I first shared that story with them…like I do about Miss Lynch.
(-*****) 5th grade, Mrs. S_____: That is a negative 5 stars and the reason I am not saying her name. I can’t remember her ever saying anything at all to me except to make fun of me once because I loved Danny Bonaduce. Tsk. My grandma died in the spring, rocking my young world. My tummy hurt all the time and it was very important for the desks to remain perfectly straight at. all. times…or she’d straighten them! I missed 31 days of school that year. No wonder. A teacher is a powerful person in a child’s life. But they’re human and may forget that sometimes. Just hope my grandbebes always have teachers who know their impact, who know their own strength to influence the generations through what they impart, for good or bad.
Me…my birthday party during the 4th grade; Mr McGarry and the whole 6th grade class.
********** 6th Grade, Mr. McGarry (yes-that is more than 5 stars!). I was just an odd kid, a preacher’s daughter and I was hitting that awkward age. I felt unsure of myself and the neat little-girl life I’d had growing up with family around for the first 10 years of my life was over. We’d moved and I’d started started 5th grade late in a brand new city. Then we moved again, across town, during my 6th grade year. I’d have attended 9 schools by the time I graduated when I’d begun so nicely, having been in one neighborhood school for grades K-4th.
By the time I entered Mr. McGarry’s class, I was sullen and lonely. I didn’t want to start all over again. It was mid-year and cliques and friendships had been formed. I’d decided I would just endure it. He was very gentle and kind. Somehow, very quietly he got me involved. He engaged me in conversation, as if anything I could have to talk about even mattered! Then he acted as a bridge to friendships with other kids. He helped me become a “patrol” and signed me up to monitor classrooms of the younger kids during teacher’s breaks and lunch recesses.
Somehow in a short time, this wise and all-knowig teacher teacher, who had to be very young himself at the time, made what was sure to be a distasterous half-year then on-to-junior-high way better than just bearable. I made great friends that year. I actually had fun. Academically? Nothing stands out to me, really (which may not be what a teacher hopes for), but I remember his kindness and respect towards me and all of the other students. And I know he taught us to respect one another, too. The classroom was laid-back and Mr McGarry allowed us to arrange our desks as we wished (that seemed crazy wild at the time) and I LOVED game and music days in his classroom, spinning 45s on one of those big, clunky school turn-tables (“Rockin’ Robin” by the J5…”The Lion Sleeps Tonight”) or while we played Password or some such “educational” game. There was a dog-eared paperback copy of Hal Lindsey’s The Late, Great Planet Earth on Mr McGarry’s desk. And I remember knowing he really cared if it went well for me. And he saw to it that it did.
The time has come, For closing books and long last looks must end, And as I leave, I know that I am leaving my best friend, A friend who taught me right from wrong, And weak from strong, That’s a lot to learn, What, what can I give you in return?
I went back to visit Mr. McGarry after I’d gone on to junior high, just before we moved to yet another city. And he told me that when I had first come to his classroom, I never smiled – that is what he remembered about me. But he told me he was happy when I started smiling – that that is what he’d wanted to see. That surprised me. I’d never known anyone before who was concerned with whether or not I smiled. It absolutely made a huge difference in my life, especially so near the teen years.
Mr. McGarry (Robert McGarry, Buchanan Elementary in Davenport, Iowa 1972) – if you’re out there ~ YOU WERE THE BEST! Thank-you so much! I still think of you with fondness, I still thank God for you. I am sure you didn’t even really know how much your kindness meant to me. But thank-you for the smile, for determining to help me get it back. And just so you know – I am still smiling like crazy!
I had a lot of teachers over the years. I wasn’t able to get to know most of them very well. My 9th Grade Algebra teacher, Mr. Harper, actually gave me his teacher’s copy of the book because he said I needed it worse than he did! ;p I cherish it still! In it he wrote, “I wish I could’ve gotten better acquainted with you and I probably could have if I’d been sitting in Laurie’s seat,” in reference to the fact that I spent a lot of time chatting with a friend. Hahhahahha!
But I know that nothing is wasted and for better or for worse, I learned the things I’d need for life from the men and women who chose to teach. I was taught and I am grateful.
If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start, But I, would rather you let me give my heart, To Sir, with Love*
The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called “truth.” ~Dan Rather
*LYRICS: To Sir with Love by Lulu
