Goodthoughts

Catching a Dream!

I've had a dream for almost 8 years of starting a ukulele band at our church.  I know it's a little crazy.  I get amused looks from friends when I talk about it.  They weren't exactly knocking at our door to sign up...until NOW!  You see there's always been one problem, I actually have no talent for singing or playing the ukulele.  Yeah, that's kind of important you might say.  

I love my friend Ruth.  She always has a smile on her face.  Ruth understood my dream.  She bought a ukulele of her own two years ago. Ruth was ready to join the band!  She even learned to play Swing Low Sweet Chariot.  But what we really needed was a leader.  Somebody who could play the ukulele like a pro...but most importantly...somebody who knew how to have a good time.

That person turned out to be under our nose all along.  She was Ruth's sister, Judy.  Judy is a guitar teacher in Roanoke.  I never dreamed she would consider coming all the way to Chatham to lead our band.  But one day I asked her... and low and behold...she said YES!!  She's perfect!  She's a talented teacher. She loves God.  And she has a huge notebook of old hymns and silly songs!

So, a couple of Sundays ago we had the very first practice of the Chatham Baptist Church Ukulele Band in our den.  We had 8 people come(Chuck's taking the picture)!  Judy taught us Rock-a-My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham and we laughed a lot as we tried to make our fingers land on the right spot!  Judy wants us to not just strum down like we're chopping wood. She she says we also need to strum up... so we'll sound more melodious.  

I'm having a problem on my upstroke.  I keep accidentally sticking my finger in the hole of my ukulele. Judy says I'm going to be trouble!!  You know, I think I'm really going to enjoy this ukulele band!!

 

The yellow moth takes a ride

  One day last month when granddaughters Vivian and Maggie were visiting,  we walked uptown to our new restaurant/ice cream shop called Chathamoocha.

It was a hot July day and Maggie, 5,  walked proudly in the shade of her new pink Princess umbrella she had just chosen at the dollar store.  Vivian, almost 9, being older and wiser decided to leave her giant bubble wand on our front porch.

Right before we got there...Vivian who loves all creatures great and small...saw a giant yellow moth lying on the pavement behind a parked car.  She bent down and gently picked it up...the moth was really beautiful but obviously in some physical distress.  We decided maybe he ran into the car as it was parking.

Vivian and Maggie naturally wanted to take him with us and nurse him back to health!  But since the taste of ice cream was dancing in their future...we put him back down where no one would be likely to hurt him while we ate.  They loved the strawberry and birthday cake ice cream as much as their cousin, Wesley, had the week before! 

Our yellow moth friend was still waiting for us when we started back home.  To our surprise,  he crawled from Vivian's hands to her t-shirt and hung on for the ride to Nana's front yard!  About  that time...Maggie realized there was only one moth and her pink princess  umbrella seemed to lose its charm!  So, with some compromises and a few shed tears we finally all arrive back home...safe...and smiling! 

  The moth seemed very happy to sit on their hands and shirts...I guess he knew he was among friends!  After a few minutes of picture taking,  we knew it was time to let him rest in the shady flower garden under the dogwood tree.

Vivian was gracious enough to give Maggie the privilege of setting the yellow moth in his new home!  We watched as Maggie gingerly placed him on a short pink zinnia...he seemed content.

We checked on him everynow and then until we had to leave the next day to take the girls back home.  He may have recovered from his injuries...I hope so. 

But, I'm wondering if he's the one who ate all the petals off

the yellow heliopsis in my front fence garden a few days later! 

But no matter...even if he did.  I'll happily trade the heliopsis petals for a chance to see... two tender-hearted  girls come to the rescue...of a big, yellow moth...who needed a little help from his friends!

Simple rhythm of life

You know what I like about living in a small town?  It's the little things...like this morning.  I helped Liz begin decorating the church for Advent.  Liz brought some Leyland cypress branches that she cut from Betty's yard. 

We went upstairs to the storage room and unwrapped the beautiful tall brass candlesticks with electric candles that Mary Helen, Liz's predecessor had given to the church years ago.  We carried the candles to the sanctuary and placed one on each stained glass window ledge.  Then we carefully arranged the freshly cut greenery around the candlesticks.

Sterling, who is retired and keeps an eye on anything that needs fixing at our church, walked in with his gigantic and gentle black lab, Stout.   Sterling sat down on a pew and talked with us as we decorated the windows.  Stout sat on the floor and  watched us so closely you would have thought he was planning on heading up the flower committee next year!  What a great dog!

Liz placed the little Advent wreath table next to the 9-foot Chrismon tree.  A couple of days before about a dozen of us had decorated it with beautiful handmade ornaments that ladies (many of whom have passed away) lovingly made for our church years ago. 

Liz and I sat and talked a while about the pros and cons of swags or wreaths for the wall behind the pulpit.  We decided on whatever looked prettiest at the garden center. 

That was it.  Our job was done.  Advent will be welcomed in this Sunday morning at Chatham Baptist Church...welcomed by the light of our candles and real cypress branches.   Welcomed by our Chrismon tree with its shining white and gold ornaments.  Welcomed by our love and anticipation.  Welcomed by the simple rhythm of our lives that joins us all together this Christmas season.

Zappos.com and the Golden Rule

Here's a story I learned about from my husband's blog, Chuck Warnock: Sermons, etc.  It's about how some folks at Zappos.com used their hearts instead of the company policy manual to make a difference in the life of one customer.  She wrote about her experience on her blog, Writing- Cooking- Life.  This story made me realize the power of genuine human kindness and compassion.  Read it...you'll be glad you did.