Last night, we had our first bonfire and hayride on the farm. We invited the Bruce's (with their 3 children), the Witherspoon's (with their 2 children), and the Hoisington's (with their 2 children). It warmed my heart to watch the kids play and make memories. At the beginning of the evening, Grace's little buddy (Henry) needed a chair to sit in. Grace had put her babydoll (in its carrier) in the chair beside her. Henry picked it up and sat down, then offered (in this really sweet voice) to hold her baby. The two of them go to prek together and met when they were about 6 mos old. They are SO CUTE together and play SO WELL. I watched as Noah John and his little buddy Jake played tractors and monster trucks in the dirt (in the dark, lit barely by the bonfire). They played for a long time and were precious. Their conversations were ADORABLE...at 2 they are close buddies from church and I hope with all my heart they grow up to be Christian buddies forever and ever. Grace played quite a bit with Anna, who is 7. They danced, twirled, played house (Anna was the mom), and goofed off and laughed a lot especially on the hayride. Grace seemed like a big girl and I can't imagine a better, sweeter role model than little Anna. Needless to say the s'mores were delicious and there was not a single marshmallow left at the end of the evening. I think both hearts and bellies were full...friendship is a wonderful thing.
When we got home, it was almost 10 but we all sat down on the porch and talked and petted the dog who has just gotten tame enough to pet this weekend which makes us really happy. The fact that he is part-mastiff and will probably weigh at least 100lbs has made me hesitant to get attached because he has been a very annoying, pushy puppy. While we were on the porch, Noah John pointed out a small tree frog on and we studied it for awhile. It was a vivid, light green color and looked more like a toy than a slimy frog. I think he was especially thrilled because the three bigger boys were searching for frogs in the weeds near the bonfire.
I had hoped to be at church this morning. I truly miss being with my church family on Sunday mornings now. I think one of the things I miss most is fellowshipping with the women in my Sunday School class. We are from different places and walks of life-some married, some single, some with children, some without, some with grown children, some with babies, some widowed, some in college...it gives new meaning to the body of Christ being made up of different parts! Anyway, I missed today because Grace woke up feeling bad and Noah John slept until 10:30! Shawn went on without us because he has security duty this morning. I think Shawn and I are going to attempt an apple cheesecake today (from Southern Living). Other than that, not much else is going on here today. Just the best of all days...a day with my family! The only thing on my agenda besides that cheesecake is to wrap up in blankets and swing on the front porch all while enjoying peace that only comes from God. The blanket in the picture was my mom's mom's (Flossie Bell). That's where Grace Elizabeth-Bell got the long name. I couldn't see naming her Flossie (my memaw didn't like her own name) Alas, I'm off topic. Here is the pic I promised.
Reigning it back in, I want to close on a serious note. I would like to say a few things about September 11, 2001. I recall the day of the attacks vividly, yet my recollections must not even touch those who lost their loved ones on that dreaded day. I would like to take just a minute to recount the day. I was a first year teacher at John Sevier Middle School in beautiful East Tennessee. The school is located very close to Eastman Kodak Chemical Plant. I think because of that, the school was put on lockdown. I was in a room without wondows. I remember telling the students to stay away from the door and get down on the floor. I remember thinking something like...here I am my first year teaching and I must act like I have it together and stay calm. I did remain calm on the outside but on the inside so many thoughts were swirling around. I was confused and I didn't clearly understand what happened. A colleague told me there had been a terror attack on the twin towers. She said an airplane crashed into one of the buildings. She had tears in her eyes as she said it. I was so young and clueless I couldn't even remember what the twin towers were or where they were, despite the fact that I had been there my senior year in high school. Now I'll never forget what they were or what they stood for. Lives were lost. Security was questioned, both homeland and privately. Knees fell to the floor as prayers went up. Tears streamed down faces. Screams echoed. Children asked, "When is daddy coming home?" Phones rang. Mothers legs buckled in grief. Fathers cried out WHY but answers were never good enough. Anger resonated. Grief crippled. Service men and women were heroes. As the next few days transpired, I gave the students an assignment to draw a picture capturing that horrid day. If I can find them, I will scan a few. They are sobering and scary. They are red and angry. They epitomize the 'get back up on your feet' stance that Americans took in the days that followed. I hope I can find them! I have come across them from time to time over the last 10 years and I always stop and stare at them and think back to that day. I believe our country is safer today, which I find comforting. I regret that extremists believe such lies and harbor such hatred that they would kill innocent people and even themselves. In the end, for what? For what eternally? We must pray for their eyes to be opened to truth.
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