"Fortunately, Unfortunately" Or, Year 2, the Year of the House and the Dog

So we made it through our first year in Athens, enjoying the beautiful snow and the cold weather. After the Alabama heat, it was refreshing. However, we were in a rental house and really wanted a place of our own. The owners were OU faculty on sabbatical and we knew we couldn't stay there forever. So we set out to find a home of our own. I loved the fresh air and being so near the mountains brought peace and contentment, and thanksgiving to my Father for all of His creation for us to enjoy.

Fortunately we searched and did find a “little house in the big woods,” an old farm house that happened to be about 125 years old: 7901 North Coolville Ridge Road. It's a pretty cool name for a street, don't you think? An extra bonus was it was next door, right down the road from our friends Steve and Joan Safran. Plus it was also only five to ten minutes from McCracken Hall, down a beautiful windy roady, to my campus office.

Unfortunately it was only 800 square feet and had only one bedroom, one bath and one very small kitchen. Fortunately.....wait.....Pretty soon you'll surmise through this posting that I love Remy Charlip’s children's story, Fortunately, Unfortunately. I've shared this story with many, many children over the years. Why? It's perspective—the best is yet to come!

Fortunately the house came on an acre of our own land (with lots of grass to mow). And it was perfect—with lovely views from the windows, and green apples for Jenny to pick. It also had a downstairs that was not finished. Another challenge for later.

Unfortunately we wanted to have it ready by August. This would mean we would have to hustle to add a bedroom, bath, garage, back deck, front porch, and utility room, just the first orders of priority.

Fortunately we found a solid, reliable Appalachian carpenter named Ernie Weese who agreed to be our construction site manager and help Bill with the construction process. Bill was his go-fer a lot of the time and we couldn't have done it without Ernie. He's in the middle in the red shirt below.

Unfortunately we didn’t know what we were getting into—reconstruction like this is very different than the new construction we did in Oklahoma. We had to first tear this house down—to its mahogany(!) wall studs—to build it back into a good living situation that would meet our needs. We even found old newspapers in the walls dating back to the 1860’s. 

Fortunately there were breath-taking views. I did mention the views didn't I? The deer thought so too and they roamed our back yard freely. We were on the ridge of the mountains. We could see for miles across acres of forest and green trees. The seasons were spectacular.

Fortunately, to help with this little project we had two special blessings. Jenny had moved home for the summer before traveling on to make Brussels her next home. And Jonathan, after having won three state-wide AP press awards, decided to move back in with us and return to school to finish his degree. We put them both to work, Jonathan with the plumbing while Jenny hauled out tons of dry wall down from the attic! Take a look at the view below at what was going to become our bedroom window wall.

Fortunately, during this time, Steve and Joan happened to have an "extra dog" looking for a new home, a 9 month old Malamute, Husky, and Golden Retriever mix—50% each, Bill would like to say! He was a dog-and-a-half and was full of personality from the start. He had already been named Bear by Steve and Joan's daughter Elisa, and Bear and Jonathan became good friends—except when Bear pushed him out of his bed at night. However, he was the most human dog we ever had. 

Bear soon took ownership of the property and our hearts. He roamed freely and everyone who lived on “the ridge” knew and respected Bear. He lived there with us for 12 years. He loved the snow and built himself houses out of the powdery stuff. The top photo is our backyard in winter. And the bottom one is the great lover of snow, cold and ice.

Fortunately, Southeast Ohio is also full of beautiful lakes and streams, so one day we took off from work to get away from the "the house." We rented a pontoon boat and spent the day enjoying the water, scenery, and each other. We were relaxed and glad to be away from construction for a day.

Fortunately, as it turned out, we did get the renovation complete enough to move in, though the interior still needed work and Ernie would sometimes be inside the house working before we woke up. It reminded me of living in the village again when our landlady walked into our bedroom gazing benevolently on us and remarking on how that we were still sleeping at 7 a.m.

The completion of this house took many, many more months, but more on that next time, with pictures. As we began construction, Bill also began his PhD program in Computer Science at OSU, driving a four hour round trip between Athens and Columbus three times a week (there were no bypasses in those days for the cities of Lancaster and Nelsonville), and I began teaching my second year at OU. You can see below the joy we had with Bear, a very affectionate dog. You can also see the strength the project drained from us, especially Bill. We loved this home that we stayed in as a gift from our heavenly Father!

Romans 8:26-28: "In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose."

Sufficient Courage: Called to Ohio University, Year 1

And so we were HOME in a new state, new rental house, new job, with old friends left behind and new friends to be made. Athens, Ohio, and Ohio University, were places of calling and deep fulfillment. Though my health continued to be a challenge, I especially loved the scenery driving from OU to our rental place on the mountain.

Plus, it was a great place for our kids to visit as you can see in some candid shots below. During this year, Jonathan continued his work in Oklahoma and Jenny got a job in Chattanooga at a group home with "clients" of varying disabilities and mental health issues. She could tell you lots of stories about physical and even sexual assault by the clients and the equally "interesting" staff. And yet she says it was one of her favorite jobs. Due to some personal challenges, however, she ended up moving home, which we loved, where she prepared for the next adventure--living in Brussels, Belgium.

It turned out that friend Paul Petrie had helped start a church in Brussels and they needed help in their office. So Jenny, the highly gifted nomad and daughter of a nomad, volunteered for a move to test out her French and wanderlust. It also meant we would have some chances to visit her there as well as seeing good friends Paul and Rebecca.

Back to my first year at OU. Before I tell you all I did during these years, all the publications, presentations, travels, etc., I want to make it clear that this job was an assignment I had been given from my Heavenly Father. Working in academia, in any university, has its own set of challenges, but both Bill and I felt that God had called us there to plant seeds of His kingdom, to demonstrate His love in each relationship. And, like the apostle Paul said, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:20-21)

In this new and great assignment, I had opportunities to make and love many new and wonderful colleagues. Dr. Alice Blake-Stalker welcomed us, even putting us up while we waited for the moving truck. Dr. Joan Safran was one my first friends and also a suite mate. She's also the first one to encourage me to begin swimming regularly, something I still do today. We became good friends with her and her husband Dr. Steve Safran, and were soon to be next door neighbors on "the ridge" for the next 12 years!

Many more colleagues were to become good friends too. Plus I loved teaching classes in reading, children's literature and gifted education. Being engaged with the students was a privilege--in spite of all the "other" work, like advising grad and undergrad students, serving on committees, going to meetings, and learning the Language of Academia. All that plus continuing an active research agenda was a challenge I enjoyed.

Based on my dissertation research, and the continuing study of children's literature, I had become increasingly fascinated with the "gray genre" that I renamed the informational storybook. It's really just a parable story where informational truth is embedded in a text. It's how Jesus did it. By now I had published several articles on the topic and had met with Joanna Cole and Bruce Degan, creators of The Magic School Bus books, several times as I wanted their thoughts as well. Here are a couple pics of us together after having breakfast together at one conference. If you're really interested in more details, I can send you links for lots of papers written on this!

Michael Kearney (see my previous post) was also intrigued with this crazy genre and we decided to together explore its benefits to kids. We ended up publishing a paper called, "What’s So Magical About Those Magic School Bus Books?" We, including younger sister Maeghan and their parents, and also presented at conferences together. Plus I co-authored a paper on giftedness with his parents, "The World's Youngest University Graduate: Examining the unusual characteristics of profoundly gifted children." Below you can see Michael and Maeghan helping me get ready for a presentation on giftedness. You can tell they were having fun, and maybe a little bit apprehensive about talking in front of a large audience!

We also had fun while waiting!

It was also a year of finding a home at Central Avenue Methodist church where we began some friendships that have spanned more than two decades. Bill and I began teaching Sunday School for kids 2-10 and loved that. Then I was invited to teach a Bible Study for women. 40-50 women met each week to study together what God said about women following Him in today's crazy world.

We also began a lifelong friendship with Keith and Darlene Wasserman. We much admired their work with Good Works to help the homeless in southeast Ohio. Bill later became an active part of their board, including serving as chair for a time. Early on we met Nadia Mitchell who later became one of my OU doctoral students and now works with Jonathan at Milo's! The list goes on and on, as you will see in postings to come.

Bill spent this first year applying to OSU and taking some math stat courses at OU so he could help me with my research data. He also spent the year taking good care of me in this life transition. How deeply grateful I am for my loving, supportive husband. Father knew exactly what I needed in life to follow Him all my days. Here he is, thinking deep thoughts no doubt, in my new office.

Philippians 3:7-11: "...whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."

A Swiftly Tilting Summer (with apologies to Madeline L'Engle): From Alabama to New Hampshire to Athens, Ohio

I, the nomad, had never lived anywhere in my life for more than 6 years at a stretch: 6 years in Chicago, 6 years in Glendale, 6 years in La Crescenta, 6 years in La Mirada, 6 years in Nepal, 6 years in Oklahoma, 6 years in Kentucky, 6 years in Alabama (two stays of three years each). Yet this place called Athens was going to take the prize.

But what happened before Athens and after the time with the smartest kid in the world? And where was the million dollars? Well, royalty money doesn't happen until after the book is published ... and sold. That took a couple years of writing, editing, and then getting into production. By then it was time for the second edition work. But the book took off and was a huge success, becoming a national leader in special education.

But before the nomad moved on, I must tell you about one special gift during the years in Mobile. I had the joy of teaching a group of junior high school girls what the Bible says about being a woman of God. We got together for Sunday School as well as doing other fun things. Once we had a "come as you are" breakfast. We went around early one Saturday morning and collected the girls in their PJs (parents had been warned beforehand!) and brought them to our home for breakfast and fun. We did service activities to help older people we loved as well. Often we just got together to hang out and talk about life. These gals are still close to my heart and many of you are now Facebook friends.....and more.

We also made trips back to see family and friends in Lexington. When there, I often tried to get my former students together, these the Lord has written on my heart for all eternity. They were growing up so fast. And now they have kids of their own. The Lord is so good!

But what was next? After three years in Mobile we knew another move was coming. Bill and I had been praying and asking God what He had next for us. Bill wanted to pursue a PhD program in computer science and we agreed that I needed a good university setting where I could put down roots while he went to school (we always seemed to take turns putting each other through school!).

Our hearts felt drawn for job and school options to the northeast part of the US and to places that had well respected PhD programs in computer science as well as excellent colleges of education. So I applied to three universities that had both (one in North Carolina, one in West Virginia and one in Ohio), interviewed in the three, and was eventually offered positions at all three.

Even before offers came in, the Lord put a peace in my heart for OU. I wrote on April 2, 1994: "Ohio University called to offer me the job. It wasn't a surprise when they called, for there is a joy and sense of purpose in this job, His provision." So, yes, the only one I accepted was Ohio University where Bill could then attend Ohio State University in computer science.This was the beginning of another whole HUGE adventure. It also meant our kids could continue their education -- with free tuition for kids of faculty. How cool is that? And here we wouldn't be too far from friends and family in Lexington, KY. Both our kids seemed settled for now, with Jonathan accepting a new job for the Edmund Evening Sun and Jenny negotiating a job in Chattanooga while living with her college friend Laura.

So, we said good by to our Mobile friends, including Lawlers, Rannells, Thomsons, Robinsons, Kearneys, and so many other heart friends. We had finished packing and were waiting for the Bekins moving van to do their part and arrive in the morning. We waited ... and waited ... and waited. By noon the van had still not shown up. Eventually they called and said they wouldn't make it that day. They wouldn't guarantee when or anything. We said we had to get out of the house as the new owners were moving in. They then said they would pick up and store the things there in Mobile until August and then move it. That was about when the house rental in Athens would be available, so we did what we could only do ... agreed to wait. Sound familiar?

But while waiting we took a wonderful, much needed rest in New Hampshire at what we now call our "home away from home" named Ledgedge. (I look back and marvel at all the car travel we did and how much energy that now takes!) Our good friends Brian and Kathy Emmet were co-owners and have offered this place of rest to us year after year. We are SO grateful for this place where we really do rest and are refreshed year after year. We found it restful even without indoor plumbing. The "john" was on a hill that we climbed to as needed. Later indoor plumbing was added.

This place of refuge became our annual pilgrimage and our true "home away from home." It's a place of peace where the Lord has restored our souls year after year, much like Psalm 23:1-2 where He leads us by still waters. Here are just a few photos of this resting place, our "green pastures."

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.

Scenes of Ledge Edge

OK, so the moving truck really DID come and move-in day finally arrived, as it almost certainly does. Bekins finally arrived with all our "stuff" that had been moved in and out of storage. In Athens, first they moved our things into our home and then the remaining boxes into my office in McCracken Hall at OU. I remember climbing three flights of stairs up to the third floor as the elevator wasn't working and they had to carry my boxes of books! They delivered all as promised, but with many things missing and pieces of furniture broken. Another chance to forgive and let go of earthly belongings.

I wrote of our rental home on Clarks Chapel Road, "It is so beautiful here. We're surrounded by trees, grass, wildflowers, mountains--all green and spacious. I'm so very grateful for this provision." So our next season of life, in Athens, Ohio, and my new placement at OU had begun, with deep joy and gratefulness that the Lord of our Journey had gone before and prepared the way.

Ohio University

Friending the Smartest Kid in the World

The last year in Mobile, 1993-1994, was full of more work than I could have anticipated. Besides working with Moss Point School district developing curriculum, writing pages for kids in Christian Conquest magazine, working with kids in our church school, and doing workshops for teachers in Boston, MA, Winnipeg, Canada, and Oxford, England, there was one surprising friendship that God plopped in my lap.

One of the chapters I was asked to author for the special education textbook was on students who were gifted. Each chapter in the text had one student in focus who exemplified that characteristic. I was told about a gifted student, 9 years old, who was doing an anthropology major at the university and scheduled to graduate with his BA in the spring. Well, that seemed hard to believe, but I got the contact information and arranged with his mom to come out and meet him and discuss how we could tell their story in the book.

I expected to see a boy looking bespectacled, kind of like Harry Potter, with his head buried in a book. When I was invited in by mama, Cassidy Kearney, I saw two kids running and jumping all over. I asked her where Michael was, thinking these must be siblings. She pointed at the boy and said, "That's Michael." As it turned out, he and younger sister Maeghan had been home-schooled to keep them focused and not pushed. Michael's story is pretty impressive. His sister Maeghan is pretty amazing herself. I did a lot of work with both of them.

It turned out to be a great chapter and I learned more about kids who are gifted than anyone. Michael and I became good friends and in the years ahead he and I, along with Maeghan, worked together on some research and writing and publishing. His parents and I, Kevin and Cassidy, later authored an article on Michael. They also wrote a book about him called Accidental Genius.

One joy was also getting to know them as a family, and as kids who were real kids. One evening in our home (photo below) I told Michael that I was praying that God would provide him a good mentor. I wanted someone who could take Michael and shepherd him through the academic loopholes. Michael looked at me and said he already had one! I was surprised and asked who it was. He said that I was the mentor. I asked how that was possible as I was not an anthropology major. He said that I was his mentor in kindness and friendship and that was more important. That was one of the greatest compliments I've ever received.

Graduation came. We were all proud of Michael. He had conquered many challenges to get to this point. The university was proud of Michael too, as you can see here in the photo of Michael with the University president. So what did Michael want to do next? He wanted to be a game show host. He made the circuits on national TV. My favorite one was of him with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. Michael did go on to get two masters degrees, first in chemistry at age 14 and the second in computer science at age 18.

JENNY GRADUATED TOO!
But another graduation also took place during this time! Jenny completed her BA and this was a big occasion for our family. To celebrate, Bill and Jonathan shaved their heads (with my help) to surprise her! Bill's dad came from California too, but he didn't have to shave his head! But we all celebrated!

Invitation to Earn a Million Dollars: The Surprisingly Funny Miracle

Well, aren't all miracles surprising? Yes, but this one has a funny side too!

It seemed like there was no work for me at USA, except for one course they wanted me to teach. I felt so out of place there, we knew God had something better for me, and for us, but couldn't imagine what.

Then one night I had a dream. I dreamed Bill and I were in a home talking with an old man who was very interested in my research. He asked many questions, then told me I needed to write a book and that I should take the next year to do so, and that he’d put up $1 million to see it published. Artist Joshua knows that's a lot of money.

Later in the dream, Dow and Lois came over and we rejoiced together. Then I awoke and opened God’s Word and glanced down at the book of Joshua chapter 3 verse 5: "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you ....” So I began the day with anticipation and hope in Him, knowing that in the tomorrows to come, there was something special.

OK, so here's the miracle. In a nutshell, a few weeks later, my friend and colleague Marilyn Shank and I received an invitation to co-author a special education textbook with Rud and Ann Turnbull from Kansas State. Apparently I was the missing piece that could provide literacy insight into children with special needs. So Marilyn and I would go to Columbus, Ohio, in June, where Prentice Hall had their headquarters, to meet and discuss the plan of action.

During this time I was also sick a lot and got to know too many doctors.  But in my Journal I wrote that many loved ones were praying for me: Robert and Sue, Leroy and Judy, Charles and Carolyn, Dow and Lois. All this right before the trip to Ohio and the Amazing Miracle of God. When Charles prayed for me, he included an encouragement to be an “educational consultant” and Dow prayed that I would be “ruthlessly professional.”

The meeting went well and they gave me a $5000 advance to begin writing. That was a LOT of money and enough to help us get by. Two decades later, the royalties from the sale of three editions of this textbook have amounted to about a million dollars. Does that amount sound familiar?

Now I understood the dreams. The books in the dream also included many chapters in books, journal articles, and writings of many kinds. Here's an Amazon link with picture of that first (of three) editions written and published by Prentice Hall. : Exceptional Lives: Special Education in Today's Schools: Invitation to Earn a Million Dollars.

One of the very special outcomes was the privilege of working with editor Linda Montgomery. She is a joy to work with and has become a good friend. She has a gentle way of helping you see a new perspective and want to share it in your writing.

So this is what I did the third year in Mobile, along with working with Moss Point School District to write curriculum and train teachers, and work with the worlds smartest kid (read about him in the next blog posting). God was faithful, still is faithful, even when all around us seems to be crashing down. His kingdom will come, His will, will be done. To God be the glory.

Then one day, one of my students stopped me to ask about the trip to England. As I began to tell her, she interrupted me and said she needed to tell me something right away--in the middle of the department office with at least a dozen people around. I didn’t have time to bring her to my office. She looked directly at me and said with authority, “The steps of a righteous woman are ordered by the Lord.” Oh, how I needed that word. It went right to my heart, and I went to my office, closed the door and wept. In the weeks following, students began to come and tell me how God had touched them and healed them in their classes with me.” What was Father doing???

Meanwhile, with all the changes, I often found myself in tears. Sometimes I felt like a failure as a teacher and colleague. I wrote, “My spirit knows that God is faithful and will not forsake us. Even my reason can affirm this, but my emotions will not catch up. What is good is my family, friends and home.” What I lacked, and was in the process of acquiring, was a new word for me: homeostasis, another word for peace and the Hebrew word Shalom.

But the tears continued. So my doctor put me on a depression medicine that gave me a scary reaction and I ended up in the ER. There another doctor did blood work and found out the reasons for my fluctuating emotions--my thyroid was way out of balance. This is a long story, but when the doctor got the thyroid working again, the depression lifted, though the side effects of the meds continued for weeks.

Meanwhile, my loving husband took good care of me. In the top photo below you can see through our bedroom window a glimpse of Keith Currie, Anna Currie, and some friends, with guitar, singing love songs at 7 a.m.! For my birthday, Bill had arranged to have them come and serenade me. Bill also loves to cook, as you can see in the bottom photo. If you know him, you know he's famous for gravy at Thanksgiving, and sour dough waffles anytime of year. Yum.

As a family, we loved surprises. For Jenny's birthday that year, Bill and I drove up from Mobile to Covenant College in Georgia, about a seven hour drive. We arranged with her roommate to meet at the Olive Garden (her favorite restaurant) so we could surprise her. I enjoy the look of surprise on her face in the left photo. In the right photo, Bill and I had gone away for a few nights and Jonathan drove where we were to be with us. We love our family!

So this is the story of the funny surprising miracle and how my Father has worked everything together for good. I think my whole life has been one miracle after another. Following Jesus is an adventure worth more than all the treasures of earth.

England—One More Place I Left My Heart

Yes, England gets its own full blog report. Such is its place in my heart. I had previously received the university approval for two weeks in England to do workshops with the teachers there at the invitation of David Freeman. I wrote, “I leave for two weeks in England, without my wonderful husband, but with the LORD of the journey.”

These were “the most remarkable 2 weeks of my life. I experienced the continuous presence and anointing of God most miraculously and felt like a tool in the Master’s Hand. They called me the “mid-wife” as God birthed a new baby, a school for the nations. Never have I seen an entire staff joined together in such singleness of purpose and with such a call and gifting to teach and write curriculum built around Biblical bridges to academic content. It was awesome and humbling as I watched God join our hearts. I had never felt so bound to a group of people, profoundly.

While there with these dear people, one lady had a word for me that “I had been a snowdrop that forged its way up through the snow and much resistance, that I have hung my head in humility, as the snowdrop, but that God was making me a daffodil, a trumpet of the Lord, proclaiming His voice.”

In addition to this most amazing time with teachers so in love with Jesus, the Freemans made sure I saw the country and took me all around. I even got to spend a morning in a local public school, which was so different than the US ones I had spent time in--much more like a family home enviornment.The classrooms all had couches, or comfortable places for kids to sit and read. I loved it!
I also picked up some new figures of speech and a wonderful new accent. Jolly good show, lad! Oh, that cost a bomb! I fell so much in love with these people and this place, that we began to probe how we might move to England and work there.

So many visual memories: church bells ringing, beautiful gardens, sheep, white brick with red, gabled homes, much lattice work, milk bottles, horses riding down the street.

The Freemans took me to many amazing places too, including Lord Farrigdon’s gardens, to Oxford, Christ church, to Alice’s Shop, Blackwell’s Bookshop, Stratford upon Avon and best of all, drum roll please………C. S. Lewis own home.

David and his family, in whose home I was staying, only lived a few blocks from the C.S. Lewis home in Oxford. So one morning we walked over there. As of this date, no one was living in the house. However, we saw a car parked near by so went around to the back door and knocked. A lady came to the door who was getting things ready for his home to be a major center. I told her I taught children’s literature and was studying character messages sent to kids in children’s award winning books, including the Narnia ones. She invited us in to see the house and showed us the original wardrobe (it didn't look like the one in the movie!). She also let us explore the grounds on our own. Later we kept in touch and I shared my research findings with them.

Anyway, my journal says that “the nature reserve was where he wrote his Narnia stories and talked with Tolkien even!" Here are the photos, first of his grave, where I am sitting. Then the Nature Preserve on his land.

The top photo below is the pond behind his house. Helen and I are acting super careful because of the warning sign about "deep mud." The bottom photo below is CS Lewis' home, with me in front of the back door where I knocked and we got to tour the home.

When I tried to find similar photos of this house online, it was hard as it has changed so much. Apparently they've fixed up the place and now it's become more of a museum. The CS Lewis Institute stewards his legacy. Here are a couple other photos similar to mine.

Lewis' home photo -  Lewis' updated home

So, yes, I left a part of my heart there. Yet I was very grateful to be back with Bill again. We vowed never to be apart for two weeks again. Ever. And we've kept that vow.

From the Sandpile Tribe to the Eat-You-Alive Tribe

I knew that Father was sending me from work with children (the Sandpile Tribe) into the university world (the Eat-You-Alive Tribe). He had called me to plant seeds of His kingdom in both students and my research. What I didn't know was how much it would cost and what kind of opposition would be coming from the Eat-You-Alive Tribe. In September, still full of joy and hope, I wrote that, “Tomorrow I will meet students for the first time. But so far, I am pleased and thankful. In fact, I’ve had more joy in the last few weeks than I can remember, in spite of exhaustion and two sick cars.”

As the school year got started, I continued to enjoy the University of South Alabama (USA) setting. I also met a new friend, another newly appointed teacher, but in special education. Her name was Marilyn Shank, and you’ll read more about our work together in future postings.

Then I began to receive acceptances for articles I had written about my dissertation research (ask and I'll send you some of the articles!). I was feeling somewhat confident in this new job, but wanted to improve where I could. So one day I asked my university students to do a mid-term evaluation of the classes and tell me what they thought could be improved. Afterwards I wrote, “I don’t believe I’ll ever do that with a class again.” In tears, I gave it all back to the Lord. Then, one by one, and sometimes in groups, these students began “coming daily to repent of their words in class.” Later I wrote there were “many opportunities to talk to students about the Lord and pray with them. Step by step.”

In addition to teaching at the university, I was also volunteering my time in the church's Covenant School, teaching Spanish and working with the teachers there. I also had the privilege of spending time in each classroom, helping teachers identify classroom and student goals. That was a joy.

Meanwhile Dow was teaching classes which helped provide perspective and hope for both Bill and I. We, along with Dow and Lois, became part of a home group led by Robert and Sue Grant, along with many other good people we came to dearly love.

During this time I began doing in-services in local public schools, looking more deeply at how children understood information in stories. I honestly don’t know how I kept up the pace of doing all these things apart from God’s grace and calling. Yet I wrote, “All my heart wants to do is put down roots, write, and be with kids." That's still true today.

Then “I had a dream in which something happened to me and I was at a point between life and death. And the Lord asked me, ‘But what would happen to all the books you are supposed to write?’ There was a tall stack of books, what looked like books for adults, sitting on the table and I knew I needed to write and not just research.” What this meant would soon be more fully understood.

At Christmas, the kids came home (they still do!) and that was so much fun, just being together, eating, watching movies like Princess Bride and Galaxy Quest, two of our all-time favorites, and just relaxing. We also spent one night at the State Lodge Beach. Then Bill’s Dad flew in to spend some time with us too. I love my family and treasure to this day every moment we spend together.

But as the spring semester began, and the pace picked up, I wondered if I really fit here. The faculty didn’t talk about kids or issues in children’s learning. Somehow I thought that was what faculty got to do. I thought that's why we were here and knew then that this would not be a permanent setting. Soon one of the other faculty began to show her hate for me in several different ways, including demeaning comments, and then one time taking it out on one of my student teachers. I wrote that, “Yesterday in church, Billy, Keith and Charles prayed for me with the word to ‘Be ruthlessly professional’ for the kingdom of God is within you." So in faith I continued the calling He had given.

During this time one of Father's special serendipities happened. Good friends from England, David and Rosie Freeman, came and we shared our hearts for kids and writing curriculum. It was so good to find a kindred people with common vision. I thought, "What a privilege it would be to work with people like that. Maybe I’ll go meet his people one day.” which I did and you'll read about soon. Below is a photo of David and Rosie in our dining room in Mobile, with kids Andrew and Helen, who now have kids of their own!.

My job at USA was a one-year appointment. Then I started getting job opportunities for the next year, one in Pensacola and another at Mobile University, asking for interviews. Then one made a job offer several thousand over what I was currently being paid. That was a hard decision. I shared it with my chair at USA and they matched the offer so I stayed a second year. With Bill's job pretty secure, and mine for another year, we decided it was time to buy a house of our own in Mobile. We found a lovely home on Shay Court.

The summer was great, because the kids came home for some of it, though busy with packing and moving houses ... again. The new house needed painting, new carpet and so much more. The summer was also great because we had an education conference for Christian educators from around the country. “Emmets from Boston stayed with us and that was joy and knitting of hearts. So many dear ones were here—Tim, Dwight, Mary, Li Pi. Some of my university students even came to listen and learn.”

Our next experience is just too funny. I completely forgot about this. I journaled during the summer of 1992 that we got a new car, “We now own a beautiful Bordeaux pearl red Honda Accord EXL. It’s the nicest car we’ve ever had and such a delight to drive.” It’s funny because 24 years later, just this month (October 2016), we bought a new Bordeaux pearl red Honda Accord, this time an EXLS-N. We had no memory of the earlier one until I started writing this blog post and found the details in my journal for 1992! I guess this must be our kind of car.

1992 New Honda Accord - 2017 New Honda Accord

Because of my broken neck last year, the 2017 Honda has the features needed for me to drive more comfortably and safely, with backup camera, side-view mirrors with camera for the right and a powered passenger seat, among other things. Without the ability to turn my neck, it's hard to see what's behind or on the sides. With the spinal fusion, I will never again be able to turn my neck more than a total of 45 degrees ... on a good day. We are so grateful for this Honda provision from our Father.

Switching back to 1992 ... We bought the car and THEN, Then, then.....the new school year began with a BANG. First I was told my office was to be moved far away from the rest of the faculty. Then, without telling me, they moved my office, and everything in it.....I couldn't believe they would do this--very disconcerting and another opportunity to "give thanks in everything." Plus they gave me an office half the size as I’d had. I'd not expected to be treated this way. Clearly the wind had changed directions and was blowing against me.

So year two in Mobile was full of blessings and challenges for both Bill and me. First, Bill’s job, though secure, was not fulfilling or challenging. Yes, it was boring. So he began to look for how to get ready for what would be next. In addition to doing his masters program with Dow, he added graduate studies in computer science at the university. He wanted to see what Father would touch and make alive in His heart and mind. He took the GRE and “I asked the Lord to let Bill do exceptionally well—better than almost all others.” And he did! Of course, he won't tell you that. This eventually led to completing his first masters in computer science at USA.

Thankfully, much good was going on too. Our Covenant churches had their annual international Global Round table in Mobile and we had in our home “the privilege of hosting Eric Schenkel as well as Dow and Lois. I took Erick to the train station this morning. It’s a privilege to be with such people.” As it turned out, Dow’s job closed down at Liberty in Pensacola, and he and Lois moved over to Mobile. That was a huge blessing for us. So many good things were happening it was hard to put all the pieces together.

Then “I had a dream of impending war and physical disaster by the elements. Chaos was there.” It became clear my job would not be renewed because, they told me if they gave me a third year “it would have to become tenure track” and they weren’t ready to open a search for that kind of position. We had no idea how much Father was protecting us. Someone once coined this kind of experience as "God's disruptive goodness" and it's something that, over the years, we have come to treasure.

I survived the term and the kids came home for Christmas. Bill's Dad came too. After Christmas Bill and I took a memorable trip to DC with Jonathan, exploring the Smithsonian, sitting at the feet of Great Uncle Abe, and so much more. Photos of our favorite kids here.

We did a lot of travel. As it turned out, I had been invited to speak and share my research at several national literacy conferences during. All were well received, which led to more articles being accepted for publication in nationally recognized journals, and then more work in the local schools and time with kids which I always loved.

When summer of 1993 came, my sister and I made a trip to California to visit my mother sister, aging Aunt Hazel (84), who had given us much love and care over the years. We found her very frail with COPD and breast cancer. We were so glad to get to see her, and pray with her.  A special event was a trip to my mom's gravesite, where I am sitting in the photo below.We visited many friends in Santa Barbara, including the Bobgans, and then we went south and explored our roots growing up in La Crescenta.

OK, here's another perk for our time in Mobile. We were near enough to the beach to visit Gulf Shores often, stick my feet in the sand and water and swim when it was warm enough. I’ll always be a beach girl, though I love the mountains too.

One of the biggest blessings of our time in Mobile was the growing circle of friendships that He gave. As in Lexington, God gave me a group of women who gathered to pray for one another regularly: Sherry Rannells, Dianne Lawler, Sharrol Henley, Sue Grant, a few others, and me. These ladies are still dear to my heart today. It was so good to know He was meeting and sustaining each of us in many life changing situations through prayer for one another. What a privilege we had to encourage one another and to Seek First the Kingdom of God.

Sliding Down the Razor Blade of Life...Yet Another Move

Not sure where I heard that, but it somehow seems to fit. Our life was all about waiting, moving, sliding (being pushed), and then ... stepping out in faith. Faith involves risk if it is real, and is expressed in action. Dow used to say, "Risk is the basis for increase," and we continued to live it.

Our time in Lexington was coming to an end—we were being sliced and diced into another part of God’s family down south. Y'all come! After my graduation from UK, Bill and I probed for jobs in the Pensacola-Mobile Bay area, where we knew God wanted us next. Bill wanted to continue his masters work with Dow and have more contact with Sebastian and Lupe. While Dow and Lois now lived in Pensacola, and Dow had been having heart problems, there was a great church we liked in Mobile, 1 and 1/2 hours away. So we knew we were going -- just not sure which place yet. So we went ahead and sold our house.

Wait, no jobs or house, here or there? Right ...

And we waited. I wrote, “It feels like we’re floating and don’t know where we’ll land. We’re both jobless, with house sold, and nowhere exactly to go.”  My prayer was, “We are not moving for our careers, but because you, Lord, have put this into our hearts as part of Your plan. Thank You for all your ways.”

And so we waited. We packed up and I spent time with some of the kids I’d taught—Christy Meadows had a piano recital, Anna was in a choir performance. In between I was writing some articles for publication—things I’d learned in my dissertation. Plus we spent time with those we had journeyed with for over a decade, Mary Fleming and Li Pi Su. And my weekly prayer partners Catherine and Judy were going to be much missed, though they have continued to be prayer partners for all the decades until now. I can still count on them, and Him, for prayer support. Meanwhile Father was doing some deep surgery, cutting and slicing out how I harbor expectations that only disappoint.

And so we waited. Following this very low place, yielding to Father all the unknowns, I received a call from the University of Alabama, with a position just opening that I could apply for. This was promising. Then before closing on our Lexignton house, the house inspection found termites! And so we waited. Two sets of friends prayed separately for us and said the same thing—that the setting had not yet been fully prepared for us and we may yet be surprised.

And so we waited. But what happened next was surprising—three universities wanted to interview me! So I drove down with my niece Anna and spent a week interviewing, one time in Pensacola and two times in Mobile. Even though Dow and Lois were in Pensacola, I sensed that Mobile was our next destination.

And so we waited.  On our return, I wrote that, “Bill and I had lunch with Paul and Rebecca (Petrie) at Dudley’s restaurant. It was a good time and faith building.“  They shared their journey with life's unpredictabilities and God's serendipities, and always God’s faithfulness.

And so we waited. On August 1 we set our moving date for August 12, regardless of jobs and houses, still unsure where. Then Bill got a potential job offer with the consulting firm CDSI in Pascagoula, Mississippi, 45 minutes from Mobile. That's the same CDSI he worked for in Lexington.

And so we waited. “I wrote, "If no jobs open, we will have to use the seed money from the house sale, our savings, to live on. It’s a scary thought ... but we know that God has given us the initiative to take this direction.” So we began a fast to ask God to release the help needed.

And so we waited until things started bursting open. Bill was offered the position with CDSI. It was at half his present salary..... and he gladly accepted it.  This meant we would have at least one job, with one small income.  Four days later, the University of South Alabama called and asked "if I’d like to be part of the team there.” I said yes! The pic below is of my office door waiting, and my true love too, and me acting as the crazy professor.

And so the waiting for this part of the journey was over, or so we thought. We rented a moving truck and packed up all our earthly belongings and said good by to those who were life long friends. You know who you are. We arrived with a bang or rather a bump. We were planning to stay with friends Steve and Sherry Rannells in Mobile while we looked for housing. Bill, exhausted from the trip, drove the giant moving truck into their driveway, through the gate to their yard, and promptly ripped the gate and fence off its moorings.  We felt horrible, and of course planned to pay for it to be fixed. Glad we don't have a picture of that one! What a grand entrance! And what a good reason to buy the extra insurance from the van company: they paid for everything.

And so we waited—oh, wait, you thought the waiting was over? Well, finding a house on the spur of the moment, with a large moving truck waiting, is not easily done wherever you live. This was in Mobile where, at the time, there was very little rental property. We considered an available house even though it was on a main street. Then, when we saw the bullet hole in the front window, we decided to keep looking. At just the right moment we went into a rental agency and a perfect house had just that moment become available. It was off the beaten path and the landlady lived next door. We took it. But, it wouldn’t be available for a week.

And so we waited. But when we found out it would cost $600 to keep the packed truck til the house was available, we moved everything into our landlady’s barn and lived out of suitcases. Fun. Not.

Meanwhile, we both began working. The next week we got moved into our rental place on Walter Smith Road in Mobile. We had much help from our new friends there. Plus as I wrote in my journal,  "To have Jenny here during  the transition was a gift. I don't know what I'd have done without her. She is a joy to my heart." As it turned out, Jenny had banked enough credit hours at college and needed money so she took off the fall semester of her senior year and worked for Integrity Music as a receptionist and a fill-in "gopher." She returned to Covenant College for the spring semester with extra scholarship money as well, to complete her senior year.

Jonathan was with us for some of this moving time, and then returned to Oklahoma. And my true love kept my heart focused. Many more adventures were to come, but this sums up the moving events and how good God was to provide all we needed in Christ Jesus.

"Wrinkles in Time:" Releasing our Children to the Journey Father Knew They Would Take

John 20:31

But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name

When your hopes and dreams change colors and directions, even disappear, it’s like a wrinkle in time (Madeline L'Engle) when you are transported to a place you never thought you'd be.

Pieces of life disappear and there are new joinings. Can you get back what was lost? This posting will be an honest confession, one some of you may not want to read. For me what happened touched the very heart of who I was (see blog posting from 12-23-2014 below). I knew something deep was breaking to pry me loose from my expectations, and that it would take time and endurance for me to see and cooperate with what Father was doing in my son, and in me—and to learn to breathe in His Spirit in a new way.

Here’s what happened: As Jenny entered her first year at Covenant College, Jonathan was in his senior year. He was the Bagpipe editor, the school newspaper, and a well respected friend and leader. However, in the fall, he was expelled for a violation of their conduct code. But, that part of the story is his to tell, not mine. When he called to tell us, our hearts broke with his and we wept together. Jonathan wrote me an email recently recounting that "this was likely the most traumatic event in my life, by far.” We were heartbroken for him and disturbed by the lack of clarity and consistency in how the college handled both the situation and him. But we welcomed him home, wanting to love him and walk with him as he sorted through what to do next.

This event was not expected, but rather a “wrinkle in time” that moved us onto the heart transplant list for all of us with hurting hearts. We needed a “bridge” to the other side, for him and for ourselves.

We still had many good friends in Oklahoma, especially one man named Richard McAfee, who was a good listener and gifted counselor. We all thought Jonathan could be helped by a new environment and new people to love him, listen to him and help. A family there opened their home and gave him a bedroom. He soon got jobs ... he went through several different ones over the next few years, and settled into life in Oklahoma City. After delivering pizza one night he was robbed and mugged. Then there was a incident with a bike accident involving one of his host's children that could have been handled better. This was the second time in a year that Jonathan felt betrayed by those he trusted.

Finally, there was the Timothy McVeigh bombing in Oklahoma City that killed 168 and injured 600. Jonathan was working at one of the newspapers when the Oklahoma City bombing took place. He had the job of interviewing some of the survivors with children. All these things left him ready to move back home. With us at Ohio University then, it seemed like the best place for him to be next, a place where he could finish his BA, live at home with room and board provided, be surrounded by a loving family, and a wonderful dog named Bear. But that’s ahead of this story.

Meanwhile ... my heart was churning and crying out. I didn’t understand what Father was doing. It was easy at times to feel guilty, that perhaps this was our fault as imperfect parents (indeed we were). Yet perhaps this was what I needed to become less of a “son (daughter) of thunder” (Mark 3:14-17) and more a representative of His love. So I started, deeply, to let go of my expectations for my kids (and others too). They are not mine to manage just to love.

I began to lean back into the journey He knew they would take. I’m still leaning and learning this today. And I know that He is still faithful, always good, that He began a good work in each of them and will complete it. His Father’s heart and love never stops ... for any reason. I may not live to see it, but I am living to see them loved as much as I can, with all my heart. It is all I can do. Daily I offer them back to Him who first thought of them, made them, and called them into this life. They are His, always deeply loved by our Heavenly Father through Christ Jesus. And I am so thankful for both of them.

Songs for this season: Change My Heart, Oh God and There is None Like You. Here are the words to the second one. Our grandsons just learned it and we now sing it around the dinner table.

There is none like You. No one else can touch my heart like you do.
I could search for all eternity long, and find there is none like You.

Statement of truth and prayer for this season: Philippians 1:8-10:

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus (yes, I seek to long for my children with the affection of Christ Jesus). And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Many Memories--Just Discovered Pics of Students I Have Taught from Oklahoma to Kentucky

Going through my 50-year-old suitcase full of memories, I found an envelope marked "Kids." When I opened it I found dozens and dozens of photos of students I have taught over they years--kids I have loved and still do. Some of them are even reading this blog post and now have their own kids!

First Photos--Oklahoma

Starting out in Oklahoma, the top left is the K-1 class I taught for Covenant Life School in Oklahoma City. The rest were all taken with kids I have taught at New Covenant Academy in Norman, Oklahoma. I love them all and smile to realize how many I still know and love. Grace and Joseph Wu, Daniel and David Hazelton--you were really buddies then and now friends for life.

The next photos involved things we studied in all the classes I have taught. You may remember Father Alphabet and all his 26 kids. Studing the character qualities that were those of Jesus was a daily part of our classes, in stories, verses and song. I can still sing them, can you?

Second Photos--Lexington, Kentucky

These next photos below are wonderful memories of much loved students and things we did together. The top left is me teaching kids the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds so they could learn how the sounds of plurals differ in cats and dogs (s and z sounds). The second photo is just the class being silly!

The middle photos were reenactments of books the classes were reading for our year long curriculum. My 2nd graders were reading the Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and here the boys were acting out Farmer Boy. The other crew, 3rd graders, were reading the Narnia Series, by C.S Lewis, and it looks like they were acting out Prince Caspian or was it The Silver Chair? We had some amazing discussions! We used these books to learn all subject areas, including reading, writing, spelling, math, science, social studies, art, even PE and music and cooking!

The bottom left picture is very special. A doctor's wife had given birth to quadruplets. However, two of them were greatly at risk of not living. They had asked people to pray. Our classesat NCA decided to pray and ask Jesus to spare the life of all four kids. They prayed daily and rigorously before the Lord, and all four survived. When the doctor and his family heard about this class, they brought the quads in for the class to see the kids they prayed for. Later, this doctor, Dr. Blevins, was the doctor who did reconstructive surgery on Jenny's nose. It was a gift he gave back. Isn't God good?

The bottom right photos is of our Christmas celebration, also very special. Every year we made a birthday cake for Jesus and sang Happy Birthday to him with great joy.  Then we shared a piece of the cake. We saved one piece of cake for Jesus and we all took one small bite of His, since we were His body. We also brought gifts of food to give to those poorer than us.

Books were very important in my class. We read aloud every day from many different genres. And then I supervised all the students up through grade 8 authoring their own books. The last year we entered them in several contests, both local and national. Amazingly, they won numerous awards. Locally they took almost all the awards in the city, and several in the state. Two of them won top ten award books in Landmark's annual "Written and Illustrated by" book awards for students--Jonathan DeHaan in fourth grade and Daniel Hazelton in third grade. They did so well. I hope they are still writing today! I know one is, because she has written me lengthy letters every year. Emily Sallee (Owen) now has 9 kids of her own and is raising her own group of readers and writers.

Then there was the amazing Vicki Mitchell who helped out in my classroom and was a huge support in any way I needed.She is the one who organized the surprise party for me after my last year of teaching these kids. She is also in the photo with Sarah, and husband David, doing her research presentation on cats.....and little brothers who came along to help! I still miss her.

The last class I taught, a second-third combination of 25 students, became very special. We did so many fun things together, in class and out. At the end of the year I presented each child with a framed award recognizing the different character traits I saw growing in their lives (I included that photo twice--must be important!). Connie Jirak, Jack's mom and one of my amazing teaching assistants was there to see that help.  I see Bettie Ann Monroe, Benjamin's mom, in the photo next to Connie too. 

Then, remarkably before Facebook, we had some class reunions where we got together just to be together and catch up. You can see how they have grown. And now they each have their own destinies and families and loved ones. I love hearing from them and hope many of them get to see these memories.

I have been so blessed with amazing students over the years, from kindergarten through university. God's goodness is evident in each one and in my heart and life.

Miracles and Honors: Significant People and Events that Shaped Our World

How do you start to tell of significant people and events that shaped your world? I will tell you about the years of 1988-1991 and those events that shook our world and helped clarify our lives for the future. Besides the Berlin wall being taken down, more than a million people demonstrated in Tiannamen Square and the the Hubble telescope was launched. For a nice summary of world events going back to 1970--the year Jonathan was born, check out World Events.

You've heard about the dissertation friends and the loyal, courageous daughter, but first, I just uncovered some letters written to dear friends Martin and Diedre Bobgan (they saved ALL our letters and newsletters and just gave them to us last year!) about the dissertation event. I told you about when I was asked who wrote my latest submission? In a letter written in April, 1991, this is what I wrote after they asked me to explain who had written this:

When they asked me to explain, I told them that people had been praying for me. One of the committee members said, "I'm not a religious person and I don't believe in divine intervention in a dissertation program, but if there was, this would be a miracle." This hurt deeply because I felt like I had failed the Lord, that these people would judge my character to be so deceitful. Needless to say, much more prayer was offered up and they apparently decided to stop the accusations and never brought it up again.

In conversations afterwards, one co-chair said several times that,

....she had never seen a defense go so well. She said I was poised in my presentation (I was so nervous I had diarrhea all morning, and it was really the grace of God she saw but did not recognize), and that never had she seen in a defense with no major revisions. Within a week the final copies were turned into the graduate school office. And now they want to turn it in for a national student research award. None of this makes human sense to me, but the Lord is King and Ruler of the Universe.

Another major event that shook our world was when Bill's mom had a brain anuerism and within 15 minutes had gone into the Presence of the Lord. This was a big loss for all of us, especially Bill's dad. After 54 years of marriage it was a shock, covered by grace and daily adjustments. It happened just a couple of weeks after they had come to visit us. It also happened when I was being given my comps (oral exams). As Jonathan wrote, we both passed with flying colors. However, her colors are much, much more brilliant! Here are reflections written by Jonathan and myself about this amazing woman, Mary Carter Leal (Grandson Joshua Carter Lin is named after her). It was printed in the Covenant College student newspaper.

Another major event and memory involved our two children, who worked over one summer delivering newspapers in the early morning. When our anniversary arrived, they honored us by presenting us with a 3 night, 4 day trip to Cancun, Mexico, hotel and flight included. It was a lovely trip. The beaches were gorgeous, the hotel was classical Mexican with beautiful tile work, and close by was one of the best taquerias Bill had ever been to.

What an amazing surprise. When we told them they should keep the money for college, they refused. A friend encouraged us to allow them to create this memory, so we did. You can see us below in one professional shot and then another enjoying time together.

For those of you who enjoy details, below you'll find our annual newsletters for three years. There's even a quiz in the second one and recipes for life in the last one!

1988-1989

1989-1990

1990-1991