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.