PostSecrets, Facebook, and God

All the things I forgot to post this summer, things I've done, seen, and have been inspired by, come to me when I put my head on the pillow at night, while driving the car, pushing little girls on swings, languishing in a Calgon-take-me-away moment, pulling weeds, or running the sweeper. Then in the busy-ness of life those thoughts are slept away, swept away and in other ways slip away, never making it to paper, screen, or cyber space. They just loll around in my head for awhile and then roll out...spinning, floating, falling to nowhere land.

I click the link to my blog and check. Didn't I write about (any number of things)? No, I guess I didn't. So when are the techies going to come up with a mind reading program? They've already got voice recognition keyboarding apps. And who would have believed there'd be devices taking commands, answering questions, typing and texting our words? It really can't be too big a leap to creating technology that reads our minds and types up our thoughts. How awesome that would be! Or wait, how awful that would be. If my thoughts magically appeared on a computer screen I would be by turns delighted and devastated -- most often the latter. It's in the writing down, the organizing of thoughts that I understand what I think I'm thinking. And that's when I catch myself saying, "Oh dear, that's not what I mean, or meant." I can rewrite or rephrase it after I've rethought it.

So do I want technology that records my thoughts? I don't think so; unless it would just go out to PostSecret. And even then? Scripture says that only God knows our hearts. He knows our secret thoughts and deeds done in secret too. I believe I'd like to keep it that way. Please techy people, don't invent a device to read my thoughts. Some of them are bad and I'd just as soon those not be made public, not even as a PostSecret. Some of them are experimental. They are me, growing, learning, perfecting -- not ready for sharing. But God, you go right ahead and search me, point out my wicked or foolish ways, create in me a good, pure heart, and help me have only good pure thoughts. (In this lifetime? What are the chances?)

I read something on facebook that tickled my funny bone. Facebook. You know. The social network forum where lots of thoughts are shared that never ever should have been written down. Trust me, there are some things only God should know you are thinking. But for everything else...go ahead...put it on facebook. Like this post: A writer is someone for whom writing is much more difficult than it is for other people.

And there's my out. That's why I don't write as often or as well as I wish. It's difficult for me. I'm a writer.

To Blog or Not to Blog

Summer is wonderfully...lots of things come to mind, but mostly... exhausting. There's visiting, traveling, swimming, entertaining (preparing for company and recouping after), playing, working, landscaping, planning, dreaming, reading, not writing. Three blogs in the month of July. Seriously? Although I did whip off those devotions for Camp Venango in July. Nevermind that my goal was to have those finished by mid-June. Nevermind that I put so much into them I had to redo and make them more kid friendly and age appropriate and all that. The redo took 1 and 1/2 hours -- the originals took 3 months. But wait, in my defense, they were 3 really bad months in my life. The badness isn't over yet, but I have put it aside. You know the cliche; give it to God. Yeah. I know it too. Easier said than done. But dad-gum-it, I done it.

Tom and I have totally ignored our Christmas tree fields since April -- we must have done a little work out in the fields in April because I blogged about it -- but since then, nada. Now we pay. I only worked two 2-hour shifts yesterday and then moaned all evening long. Tom worked the same (well actually more) but he didn't moan as much, and not until this morning. Our hands hurt! His from wrestling with a rented monster mowing machine, trying to keep the dang thing on track, out of holes, away from trees that we're trying to rescue from weeds, not hack off with a mower. Mine hurt from pulling well-rooted weeds away from little tree trunks to find and snip lower branches. This job is done on one's hands and knees. My knees hurt too.

There will be no pulling of weeds today -- too ouchie. There will be no muscling a mowing machine -- it was returned to the rental place, Lloyds Rental in Meadville. Instead I'll spray the rows with a generic form of Round-Up. Tom will start the shearing. Hey...we'll have the small tree field done in no time -- if our nearly 60 year old bodies can handle it. And did I mention the thermometer is supposed to hit 92 today? Yep. We'll have to work, swim, swim, work and drink lots of water.

Yesterday, before starting my day, I prayed Psalm 90:17  "Lord pour your favor on us, and establish the work of our hands for us, yes, establish the work of our hands." He did. Yesterday is done. I didn't pray that today.

Beating the Heat...

with little friends in their new swimsuits (or swimming soup as the little one says).

and a few bigger friends

I'd like to stay and type some little profound ditty, but the girls aren't having it.

It's so hard for them to wait, and how can I resist these smiles? (And you're not hearing the, "Please, Betsy, come swim with us, pleeeeeeeze.

 How many more minutes?"

No more minutes. I'm coming right now...promise.

Celebrating Birthdays

My sister and her husband share their birthday with the United States of America...July 4th. It was my privilege to have them here for an Independence Day picnic and birthday celebration.

A few days later my side of the family had a reunion...the annual Bruce reunion in Johnstown, PA. I've been attending that reunion for most of my 59 years. I may have missed a few of those family gatherings throughout all those years, but truly, not many...two maybe three. Family gatherings were so important to my Grandma Bruce, so her kids made family reunions happen. The venue, always the same. Dad's brother, Uncle Jim had a cottage with a picnic pavillion and pool. Perfect.

Years later, the cottage is now a big house where my cousin, Jimmy lives and where he raised his family. The pool has been rebuilt over the years. Long ago it was converted from cement to a more climate tolerant vinyl-lined pool. The pavillion still serves us well and has picnic tables to seat 70 people or so. Grandma has been gone since 1972, Pap passed in 1975. Aunt Carol and my dad are the only ones remaining of Gram and Pap's six children. We still say we're to going to Uncle Jim's when we talk about and head for the reunion. In reality, it's Aunt Marion's or cousin Jim's place, but no, it was and always will be (at least until our generation passes) Uncle Jim's.

The reunion is a great time to catch up with aunts and uncles and cousins and cousin's kids. My cousins and I -- we used to be the kids. Then we were the parents. Now, we're the one's answering to "Grandma, Pappy, watch this!" And time marches on.

The following day the Dick Bruce family met in Bedford at the "Nancy House". I don't know if Nancy is a sur name or a first name...but...it's the house where my Grandma (Ruth Allison) Bruce was born back in...let's see, real close to 1900 (it may have been 1898 or 1899). The log cabin home is still used as a hunting camp. It's rustic. It's off the beaten path.

The afternoon was spent reminiscing about family roots and trying to figure out the extended family tree, a delightful day long history session.

Oh, and my dear family tried to make me turn 60! Three full months before my 60th birthday is here. I'm smiling, but I'm not having it. Still, thank you Mom and Dad and all my sibs and their families, for making my 59 and 3/4 birthday celebration so very special. I love you all!!!

Just the girls. (back)Anne, Joan, Ali, Kathy, Chloe, (front) Rebecca, Luann, Mom/Oma/Glor, and me, with the birthday tiara. Four sisters, one sis-in-law, 3 granddaughters and the matriarch. (I hope you laughed, Mom!)

And Dad/Pop/Dick -- Thanks for a great pre-birthday event chock full of family past and present!

My funniest birthday gift was a check for $59.75. My brother the comedian says he'll mail me a quarter on October 4th. Gotta love this family.

Family Fun on French Creek

A couple of days with family from as far away as Paris, France: Kathy, Bernard, and Pierre, and as close by as Cleveland, Ohio: Luann, Jerry, and Rebecca and our own Adam and Alica from Butler, Pennsylvania. Yesterday... tractor riding, canoeing, skipping stones off the creek bank.

It seemed appropriate for the visiting French boy to have a canoe ride on French Creek. And as it turns out, he's quite good at skipping stones.

Not everyone made the trip to the creek and back.

But to clarify... everyone who went to the creek, did come back.

Home again, home again jiggety jog. And then they were off to Cleveland. All but Adam and Alica who were off to Butler. And we had our home to ourselves again. Peaceful and serene...our sanctuary.

And that calls for a swim by the light of the moon.

Good night friends. Good night moon.

Tres Chaud

The weather is warm. The pool is cool. My sister from France is here with her husband. Let the lazy, hazy dayz of summer begin! Oh, and you? Come on over!

Look at all these kids! And not one of 'em's a grand...just pretty near.

Let Freedom Ring

This morning Tom and I enjoyed a church service with our friends, Gary and Nadine, and later in the afternoon a concert -- all at Chautauqua Institute in New York. It was an absolutely delightful, inspiring, uplifting and refreshing day. The speaker for church was the Reverend Dr. Alan Jones, who is not only a wonderful preacher, but apparently a prolific writer. The music was led by a phenomenal choir director, organist, pianist, and a special number was performed by Todd Thomas, who along with his wife wrote words to the familiar tune "Bless this House O Lord We Pray" specifically for the Chautauqua Institute's worship service:

From each corner of these grounds, echoe your creative sounds.

From the Mystic Heart at dawn to Music on the starlit lawn

From our porches night and day, bless our discourse, bless our play.

Sun drenched pathways, moonlit lake-- your wonder giv'n for us to take.

Bless all those assembled here; open hearts and minds and ears.

All our creeds, we here unite -- diversity will flame our light.

Black or white, or gay or straight, all are welcome in this gate.

From bell tow'r we hear ring, with one voice now let us sing:

Bless Chautauqua, Lord, as we... strive to live and love like Thee.

After church, a delicious chicken barbeque dinner down by the lake and a stroll around the grounds, we returned to the amphitheater for a concert by the U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus. Stirring marches, a selection from Les Mis, patriotic medleys, choral numbers, and both vocal and instrumental soloists entertained and moved the crowd...including us!







Peace Like a River

The weather has been absolutely perfect for canoeing and fishing...even if very few fish are biting, and the ones that do bite are too small. Still -- good times playing catch and release.



Reeling one in.

A pike. But...

He's not a keeper.

Other than the kerplunk of a fishing lure hitting the water and an occasional quiet comment from one of us humans, we're surrounded by nothing but the sounds of nature. Pleasant sounds, tweets, chirps, croaks, and the ga-lump of bull frogs... rustling of leaves and skittering noises of small critters in the brush along the creekbank -- calming, soothing, peaceful.

Peace like a river. I've got peace like a river...in my soul.

One of my favorite old preachers, long since gone to glory, had a favorite hymn, which I took on as my own favorite. I don't know if it's the words of the song or the tune that make it special to me. Or is it because of the dear gentleman who claimed it as his favorite -- and I want to love what he loved? I can still recall him pacing back and forth on the platform preaching his heart out. Those were the days before wireless mics. No matter, his voice boomed throughout the sanctuary. But his booming voice spoke words of knowledge, kind encouragement, gentle rebuke. And -- he called us beloved.

It warmed my heart then, it warms my heart now...as do the words of the hymn Like a River Glorious...

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace.
Over all victorious in its bright increase.
Perfect yet it floweth, fuller every day;
Perfect yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah hearts are fully blest,
Finding as he promised,
Perfect peace and rest.

Perfect peace and rest.

Happiness is to be shared.
   

Pleased to Meet You

I was sitting on the porch swing contemplating the worries of the world, which is code for trying to pray, when a frisky little fawn ran from the safety of the thicket into the clearing of our yard. She darted around making circles and then looked up at me. I asked her where her mama was. She didn't answer. I told her she needed to stick close to mama...the world isn't safe, it is a dangerous place for little ones. She tilted her head, then kicked up her heels, and did another little happy dance. But I said, "No really, sweetie, where is your mother?" And to answer my question, Mama Doe gracefully hopped from the overgrown edge into the clear space. I suppose she was right there watching all the time. I greeted her, said hello and thanked her for stopping by. She looked at me and flicked her ears. She was introducing me to her baby. What an honor. I'm a mom too, I get that. We love to show off our little ones. I thanked her for the bit of joy their presence, she and her offspring, brought to my day. I enjoyed their company for only a few more minutes before Mama Doe slipped back into the wooded area and baby scampered after.

It was such a pleasure. A beautiful surprise.

And I thought of David's song, The Beginning of You -- the title song of his CD.

It was not by chance when you first opened your eyes.

And it was no mistake your face shined like the sun.

To this world you may have been a beautiful surprise

But it was known even before then, the treasure you'd become...

And some day I hope you see

That day was meant to be.

It was more than just the start of something beautiful

It was more than just a gift to the world

It was more than just a masterpiece or dream coming true

It was... the beginning of you.

Surely the Lord knit us together in our mother's womb. He makes no mistakes, he is never surprised. By His design we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and all of the days of our lives are ordained by Him. Not by chance, but often, a beautiful surprise...to the world.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Ps. 139:23-24

Friends Indeed!

A couple of my little friends...

Playing together, eating together, sharing a tray...

Trouble...a tree came down, blocked the driveway, took out the electric line, and trapped friends at our house. Penelec arrived in less than an hour. More friends arrived in less time than that.

Friends helping

These guys are all second generation friends (i.e. our friends' kids -- friends our kids' ages)

And bonus helpers...their kids!