Incredible Students, Friends and Colleagues: The Best Things About Ohio University!

I feel so privileged to have met so many amazing people during my life at OU. Let me tell you some of my favorites from my early years there. They soon began to give PhD students to me--many of them internationals! How cool is that. I was thrilled. They were such hard workers.....and they knew I wasn't an easy prof. Working through the D word  (dissertation) was challenging. But I loved my students' perseverance and patience. We had them into our home as often as we could. My first doc student was Daniela, here with her husband and baby. Daniela was from Hungary, had married a Canadian, and was brilliant. She writes beautiful poetry today.

Khaloun was next and he was from Jordan. Then came Chin-Cheng from Taiwan, then Zubaidah from Malaysia, Pei-lin from Taiwan and Chanpen from Thailand. In between I also had amazing US PhD students like Lettie, Julie and Nadia. We not only worked together, we attended and presented at conferences together. Lettie and Julie became inseparable. I called them the marshmallow twins as they purchased matching puffy white jackets at one conference we went to. One of my joys today is to see how they continue too pursue the impartation and love of learning. My greatest joy is to see those who came alongside to follow Jesus. Lettie is now with Jesus, with a greater joy.

OK, so those were a few of my PhD students. I also had masters students and hundreds of undergrads. Even before I got involved in school partnership work, I found it so much fun to work together with students to research areas of great importance, and to publish together. Here's a group of students who helped me research the character qualities demonstrated in ALL of the Newbery award winning medal books. It was a long and hard job, but our findings were very important. We, too, went to conferences and presented these findings. Here you see Nadia, Deeder, me, Darlene, Betsy. and Julia.

Many became close, life-long friends.The top photo below are Keith and Darlene Wasserman, and their son Timothy, people we've admired over the years, as they lead the only work among the homeless of southeast Ohio. If you ever want a worthy place to make a donation, Good Works is one. Others were soon included as life-long friends.

In the middle photo below is Alice-Blake-Stalker, who welcomed us into her home when we arrived in Athens. Here in the photo we were presenting at a conference in Hawaii. They welcomed us with leis!

In the bottom photo below is Sharon Parsons; she and I began a friendship work together at East Elementary in Logan, and then moved south to Chauncey Elementary after a couple years, where she was principal for many years. She and Tom are still good friends. I had so many great friends and colleagues.

Of course, I've already talked about our life-long next-door neighbors Steve and Joan Safran. Joan was one of my first suite-mates on the second floor of McCracken, so I lived next-door to her in town, and at home. We became fast friends.

Some unique friends that became interwoven in my research studies were children's book authors. Bruce Degan and Joanna Cole, authors of the Magic School Bus series, answered my questions about their mystery genre works that made kids interested in science. I published several major studies to validate that. And I took my students to hear and meet them. Sometimes I enjoyed a meal with them. I attended a Children's Highlights conference with Sharon Creech, author of Walk Two Moons and other award winning books, too. My students especially loved meeting and talking with Gary Paulsen, author of the Hatchet series, and so many other books.

Then there were more visits with my famous young friends Michael and Maeghan Kearney, the genius kids. Their parents, Kevin and Cassidy, came too. Their parents wrote a book about them called The Accidental Genius.

A recent photo connects this distant past to the present. Last month I had the joy of being shown around the new and remodeled McCracken building where I used to teach. It's beautiful! But the most beautiful part was being shown around by two of my former doctoral students, Susan Nolan and Julie Francis, both who now teach and work for OU. Susan is an Associate Lecturer, and Julie just recently moved back from Rhode Island to accept the position of Director for the new Ed Stevens Literacy Center in McCracken Hall. I will be donating my collection of award winning children's books to this Center to see that these great books find their way into more children's lives and hearts.

I Never Imagined--So Many Friends, Vacations, and Overseas Adventures!

OK, backing up a bit. In my last posting I described those magical terms, “tenure” and "promotion" to Associate Professor. It all happened in my first four years at OU. So, to show you the other side of life during these years, in this posting you'll see lots of photos of trips, friends, and vacations that we took. I continue to marvel at the strength God gave me during those years. With my strength now waning, and pain levels nagging, it all seems a dream. How thankful I am for the privilege of walking with Him in all these places, finding His grace sufficient for every challenge--then and now.

Mountains and Rivers

We loved hiking, rafting and exploring the mountains of the northeastern USA. 

Mazatlan, Mexico

We also loved going to Mazatlan, Mexico with Dow and Lois. Twice we celebrated Bill's birthday there in Mexican fashion.

Once Bill went para-sailing above the Pacific. I LOVE the ocean, but didn't try that one out. Seven-year-old Joshua liked Grandpa in the air, and drew his version of him landing.

England and Scotland

In 1997, I had proposals accepted to speak at two overseas university literacy conferences--one in Manchester, England and one in Brussels, Belgium, where Jenny was now living and working. A highlight in England was visiting the home of Beatrix Potter, where many of the Peter Rabbit stories were first imagined.as well as walking through the reading center that now houses much of her work. 

We rented a car and drove up around the British Isles, staying in various memorable Bed and Breakfasts. We especially loved Scotland's countrysides. Jonathan had told us how beautiful they were, but now seeing is believing. Bill also loved the British pubs. I have way too many photos of this trip, and believe it or not, am only including a few!

For us, no trip to England would be complete without a visit with David and Rosie Freeman and their kids in Oxford England, much treasured friends, then and now.

Brussels

From England we traveled by overnight ship to Brussels where Jenny met us at the port and helped us navigate to Brussels itself. Here's a picture of her and one with her best friend there, Shan.

One of Jenny's and Shan's good friends, Julian Dee, worked at the European Union Parliament in Burssels. He gave us a mini-tour, though it was not in session as you can see. Among the many country flags, Jenny picked out the Nepali flag, of course!

A very special highlight on this trip was visiting our good friends Paul and Rebecca Petrie, who had moved from Lexington, Kentucky, to Belgium in 1986. They now lived in Genval, just a short train ride south of Brussels, where Paul was and is involved in planting prayer breakfasts for many European countries. They also helped us find "Chimay country," which quickly became Bill's favorite beer. And Rebecca took me shopping in the local shops for Belgian lace. We still have curtains in our house today from the lace we picked out on this trip.

Genval was close to Waterloo, so Bill climbed up to the top while I took the photo at the bottom. Shan also taught us how to make crepes, which we still cook today! Julian and Shan are with Jenny waving the Belgian flag.

Napoleon's Waterloo

Last, for this posting, is Joshua's rendition of what we looked like in our "younger" years. Hope it makes you laugh!

Washing Other Peoples' Feet

After washing his disciples' dirty feet, Jesus said in John 13:15-17 that "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

So what are you busy doing today? Whose feet are you washing? I've been MIA for over two months, writing no more postings, because I've been washing others' feet (and sometimes getting mine washed by them). That is the pull from Father: to offer my heart and life in service to many He brings my way. I may not literally wash their feet but my heart gets to lay down its life and preferences in order to do the will of the One who first loved me and gave His life for me and for you.

So that brings me to the next year at OU and the rest of my service at Ohio University from 1994-1996. Remember, we had just finished renovating a 150 year old house on the top of a ridge in Athens. Isaac just drew this picture of his mom, our daughter Jenny, working in the attic with electric cords and lights. There was no rug in the attic but there were mice! The final outcome was a beautiful home in which we spent 12 more great years living!

After the year of the house, and settling in to my new job at OU, so many great things happened. All were people God brought into our lives, including family. So first, an update on Bill, Jonathan, and Jenny, and me, and US really. Without Bill, none of this would have happened.

Bill continued his graduate studies at OSU, beginning work on a research project, commuting to Columbus, 160 miles round trip, three times a week, and being the best husband a woman could ask for. I am blessed beyond measure.

Jonathan completed his BA in education, then moved into to a masters program in French including a minor in German with three months in Salzburg, Austria, taking immersion courses in German AND maintaining a 4.0 GPA. AND managing to surprise me for my birthday by coming dressed as a very sick lady. I never recognized him until the end!

Jenny had finished the summer and returned for work in Brussels Belgium, and found she really loved European life. She has the international gene. Shan became a trusted friend. Of course we had to visit her in Belgium, along with seeing friends Paul and Rebecca.

Jenny was not about to be outdone by Jonathan so she dressed up as a man to surprise him. Jonathan didn't recognize her dressed with a beard and long hair. Finally after about an hour he heard Jenny's voice under the beard and was so surprised! The photos are before, during, and after the recognition. The last photo includes college friend Amy Huber Smith.

OK, I wish I knew how to condense all this, but these years were full of so many amazing times and peoples. I want to remember how peopled my life with the incredible and perfect comrades one could ask for. So here go my memories, not in any particular order.

Tim and Jenny Adie became real friends in life and worship times together. Tim is a gifted musician who plays for the Lord. We watched them both give their whole heart to the Lord. They almost immediately got married and were baptized out at Dow Lake on the same day! The following year Abigail Adie was born. We became honorary grandparents, though parents Doug and Dolores Adie were close friends too.

During these years, Bill's dad came for visits and we went to Santa Ana to visit him. By now he was in his 90's and slowing down a bit! In California we also got to visit friends Martin and Deidre Bobgan, staunch comrades for our journey in the Lord.

Here's a photo of my friend Linda Montgomery Bishop along with Bear and me on our front porch. Linda also happened to also be my book editor at Pearson when we were working on the textbook Exceptional Lives. No one could ask for a better editor. We shared much on that journey, and still get to see each other now that we're back in Ohio. Marilyn Shank, another co-author, continued to be a good friend as well. We've shared much on the book writing journey that we never anticipated. How faithful God was, and is.

We also loved visiting my sister and family in Lexington, Kentucky, and our dog Shalom who took a liking to Orv when we left Mobile and moved in with them!

 A huge highlight during this time was being asked to be the plenary speaker at England's Christian school conference. What a joy it was to meet up there with dear friend from Nepal, Ann Lycett. I felt humbled to speak of His heart for children among so many hundred teachers. I also spent time with David and Rosie Freeman and family, other teacher friends, and again explored C.S. Lewis' home around the corner from them.

Old friends were not forgotten. In my travels for presentations around the country, I got to spend time with Dianne Lawler and Sherry Rannells, and others from the Covenant Church gang, including Stephen and Susanne Simpson and daughter Gracie, as well as David Freeman again who was  visiting from England to spend time with Dow.

Ledge Edge has been part of our history for over 20 years now. Here are some early pictures of our time there. It is our true home away from home. How thankful we are to Kathy and Brian Emmet for making this possible. Its refreshment keeps us going year after year.

OK, I can't leave out what we came to call the "Norman gang," those who were originally part of Dow's home group and church, all scattered now around different states. But we still got together often as we could and have fun as well as listening to Dow teach us from the Word. Here are a few of the photos I could find of Mary Fleming, Claire Sawyer, Nancy Kennedy, and LiPi Su and husband Rong Yang.

Wow, what an amazing few years. Meanwhile I continued to love my students and classes. I also became more deeply involved in the schools, helping Lancaster schools to develop literacy assessment tools that the kids could use too. I traveled around the country to give presentations, including another one with my young friend Michael (the prodigy who graduated High School at age 11). In between all that I continued writing more books, chapters in books, and articles on reading and children's literature and special education.

One of my favorite grant-funded research projects was to examine how eight character qualities I found in Exodus 34:5-6--compassion, respect, discipline, courage, loyalty, responsibility, forgiveness, and justice--are modeled in all the award-winning Newbery children's books. Several classes of children around the country also participated in the study. AND it provided funds for Dr. Dow Robinson to come to Athens to teach my team and me how to recognize these qualities. Several publications came out of this study too. Anytime you want to read some of the articles I mention from time to time in this blog, let me know and I'll email them to you.

And, with two years' credit that OU gave me for teaching and research in Alabama, I took on the project of going up early for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. That is one huge project where you have to gather all the evidence you can in research, teaching and service. With the help of husband (see "amazing husband", above), we turned it all in and waited, and then gratefully received the news that it flew through. Tenure means your job is secure and you are encouraged to branch out and do even more. So the years ahead were busy ones, and good. I found many more good friends at OU, as you will read in future postings.

"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