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Faith and Carver

George Washington Carver put into words what I try to live by.

During this time in our nation’s history, I have done much reflecting on our past and what could become of the United States in the future–what will become of our planet that we hold in trust for our grandchildren. It seems to me that many of my fellow Christians have lost their way. We must remember that we must emulate Christ. He was humble, gentle, giving and loving. He healed those who were not grateful, who gave him no thanks. He forgave his enemies and did not boast or become a tyrant, which would have been easy for him.

I was researching George Washington Carver tonight and I was struck by the humility of this genius, by how hard his life must have been with all his health problems and the fact that he was a person of color in a highly prejudiced nation. He received Christ alone in the loft of a barn without any church being involved–just a testimony from a young white boy.

George Washington Carver put into words what I try to live by. See what I found below and I urge you to read the whole Wikipedia article–and more if you can.

From Wikipedia

Carver viewed faith in Jesus Christ as a means of destroying both barriers of racial disharmony and social stratification.  He was as concerned with his students’ character development as he was with their intellectual development. He compiled a list of eight cardinal virtues for his students to strive toward:

  • Be clean both inside and out.
  • Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor.
  • Lose, if need be, without squealing.
  • Win without bragging.
  • Always be considerate of women, children, and older people.
  • Be too brave to lie.
  • Be too generous to cheat.
  • Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.

Web Store is up for AACC

The eShop I’ve been working on for a week is up and (as far as I can tell) working! It’s great to have it all done, and I think I did all right for my first effort at setting up the shopping cart. (Knock on wood) You can find it here.

You can tell the birds are nesting by the disarray of my basketry ball full of scrap llama fur. One little titmouse has been pulling it out by the beakful almost continuously.

Our bluebird house has a family nesting in it. I like to think that they enjoy the peonies and clematis growing underneath.

 

Tomorrow is grandbaby-sitting again. My ribs are acting up again from when I fell and cracked them. I think I messed them up again while cleaning out my pond filter, but the fish and frogs and dragonflies are well worth it. Just wish I could breathe. Hope I can dance tomorrow.

One happy dendrobium

It’s been raining here like crazy and I set my dendrobium 
aggregatum out on the deck rail. It’s in heaven! It’s sneaking out some tiny little spikes. I hope they’re flower spikes! My phalaenopsis, which I almost killed last year, is doing much better in its little candy jar greenhouse. It has grown a lot and has healthy new roots.

My miniature phal is blooming like mad on two flower stalks. It likes its sun tea jar and west window.

 

 

 

 

Whew!

I worked most of the week on trying to set up an auction and a store on a website I manage. Murphy’s Law was working overtime. I’m not going to say much more about it because I don’t want to think about it right now. I have had a wonderful Friday.

I’ve spent most Fridays this school year keeping my son’s two little boys. T, the eldest, goes to speech therapy class two days a week and both grandmas take turns, me on Friday. T is almost 5 and E is about 19 months. They have really entertained me today and vice-versa. We danced and danced to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” We watched a video of performers on stage in Manhattan Concert Productions’ Crazy for You which totally enthralled E. He studied each move from about 6″ from the screen.

Then we danced. He tried to copy all my moves and big brother’s break dancing moves all at once. He really seemed to be trying to do the coordinated moves like the professionals. This one will be our musician. He already has a great ear for tunes and good rhythm.

When we left the school after speech class I stopped by the Dollar General and, of course, as a Nana has to do, I had to get them some cheap toys. T got a dinosaur “egg.” If you don’t know what that is, it’s a T-rex that turns into an oval ball by folding it up. E kept saying, “Me” and pointing at different toys. I would hand him one, he would consider it and usually put it back. After four toys he decided, excitedly, to go with a huge (for a toddler) plastic sword with lots of scrollwork and bumpy things made into it. It’s thicker and longer than his brother’s lightsaber. I had to chuckle at the littlest one wanting the biggest weapon. He would NOT let big brother play with it either! I think T was a little intimidated.

We played “sword fight” for a while, watched some cartoons, looked up wild animal sounds on YouTube and then we DANCED some more. Then they raced. I hope they were worn out so Mom and Dad can get a good night’s sleep. T likes sleeping in the parents’ bed, but he starts out in his own bed. He just wakes up lonely I guess.

Paw, my husband, came by later and Mom, my DDIL, made a great supper when she got home.

THEN, I got a rare treat. My friend, Melanie, and I went to see Oliver! at Roane State Community College and Melanie treated. It was wonderful! I saw one actor I knew from the TN Medieval Faire. She did a fantastic job in a prominent role. The youngster playing Oliver, Joey Neiman, was phenomenal. There were so many other stellar performances that I hesitate to name them for fear of omitting some. Trust me, they were great. If you can see this, do.