Jimmy Carter

 Last week we honored the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter.  Jimmy Carter was the first president I voted for back in November 1976.  I remember making sure that I would have my mail in ballot to send from college.  I sat on my bed in 346 Collins Hall at Baylor University and cast my vote.  I felt like I had made a difference.

But let's go back to my senior year at Spring Woods Senior High School.....the senior government teachers, Mr. Wells, Ms. Micheska, and Ms. Loving (Martin), planned a very special way for our class to experience the presidential election in 1976.  We held a mock Democratic Convention.  I can't remember when we started, or exactly how it worked,,,, but we were all put in different states and then expected to write the congress men and senators to find out how the state was leaning in the presidential election.  We wrote letters as e-mail and the internet did not exist.  It was sometimes a long wait for responses, but as I remember, we learned and received information back from all of the states.  We learned about the different candidates, the policies and what the different states needed.  The teachers did an amazing job of creating the reality of the convention.  As we moved through the process, names would come up and then fall down, and much to everyone's surprise, Jimmy Carter was the winner.  The funny thing was, no one really knew much about him.  We did lots of research and I remember thinking what a hard working man he was.  Our mock election was held in April or May, way ahead of the actual Democratic convention.  But what that meant is we all watched the Democratic convention on TV.  The truly amazing thing was that much of what we experienced, we watched on TV...and then the outcome was the same....Jimmy Carter came out on top.

I think what I will most remember about Jimmy Carter was his smile and his dedication to his faith.  There was never a question as to his values and his faith in Jesus Christ.  He lived his values and shared the gospel through out his life.  Although his presidency was only one term, he did not leave the presidency and sit on his laurels.  His after presidency life took off as a life of service to mankind and for the citizens of the United States.  Working with Habitat for Humanity he built homes for those most in need.  Jimmy left a legacy of faith and good works.  I will always admire what he did and HOW he did things.  He always thought of others - it was not if it was politically correct, but if it would please his Savior.  

The United States and the world has lost a man who spoke his word, lived what he believed and always thought of others.  He lived 100 years and made a difference.  What a role model he was.

SBISD Libraries

Sad day for SBISD Libraries, due to budget - they are now without Librarians. I have a long history with Libraries/Librarians in SBISD....let me share

 In Kindergarten at Shadow Oaks Elementary, I can remember going to the library, a small room with a wall of windows, a carpeted corner with a rocking chair and shelves floor to ceiling behind the chair. Under the windows were little cubbies with picture books. It was small, but it was a magical place. This was before technology, before TV's or videos were in the schools. The Librarian would share a story and we would sit quietly listening. The collection was small so once a month the Book Mobile from Harris County Libraries would make a visit to the bus drive. If the school didn't have a book, you could request it from the Book Mobile. Somewhere in second or third grade I found the biography section. I read the shelves in alphabetical order learning about famous people, presidents, and more.

 In Fourth grade the library at Shadow Oaks expanded to take over 3 classrooms at the end of the fourth grade wing. I was so excited to be selected to help take the books from the old library to the new library. (I realize now - it was child labor!) But as I carried books from one space to the next I felt so important and we got the first look at the new space. Study carrels with filmstrip machines. Tape players with large headphones and even a space to see 16mm movies. It was heaven. Since the library was at the end of the fourth grade wing, fourth grade students were able to go to library often. I think I spent part of every day in that library. The librarian always had a new book for me to read. I was a voracious reader, the library was my special place.

 In Junior High I moved to Spring Woods Middle School. The library was at the end of the first hall. If your teacher gave you a pass, you could get into the library before school or at lunch. Again I spent many hours perusing those shelves. By junior high I had moved into reading series, mostly fiction.   I loved historical fiction...so I'd read a historical fiction book then go to the Non-Fiction section to read about the time period of the book. I was a regular in the library and was often greeted at the door with a new book to read. 

For High School - I was off to Spring Wood High, the library was in the center of the school. We did a lot class reading and research. I spent a lot of time in the library reading required books, but I did find time to get some leisure reading. Again, the librarian was so kind to open during lunch. Once I became a frequent flyer, she gave me books to read. The librarian was also very knowledgeable and taught me how to dig to find information. I think my love of research started in the Spring Woods Library. You could always go one step deeper if you tried.

 My first job was working at the district media center with Katherine Thompson. At 15 I spent hours laminating and creating learning centers for teachers. (Oh how far we have come today!) College brought more time in libraries, but not much time for leisure reading. I finished in Elementary Education, however I found myself drawn to the libraries at the schools I taught in or did student teaching. 

 Once I moved back to Houston, some of the SBISD Librarians who had guided me over the years encouraged me to go back and get my Master's in Library Science. They helped me with acceptance and as I needed help with coursework, they were right there beside me. My first library job was not in SBISD, however I still had support from the SBISD Librarians. I came over for trainings, visiting authors, and the annual Book Exhibit. Oh how fun it was to spend days in the Book Exhibit with all of the newly published books. I was able to visit the different schools and learn from these very special librarians.

Library #2 at RCE - teaching around the computers

Working on projects in Library #2 @ RCE

Large Kiva in Library #2 - could easily hold 2 grade levels

 Back in those days, library jobs didn't open up very often - the librarians stayed for long stints in their jobs - finally a position opened and I was able to accept a job in Spring Branch - I was coming home. There's a story to the library job - but that's for another time. I moved into Rummel Creek in the fall of 1990 and remained there until 2022 when I retired. During my tenure at Rummel Creek, I was able to design two libraries, bring in computers and servers (RCE won the Nabisco 21st Century Grant to bring in all kinds of technology in 1992) Over the years in SBISD I worked under Mary Ann Herndon, Dr. Barry Bishop, Jo Conlon, Jessica Lilly and Lisa Stultz as library directors. Dr. Bishop took us from book folks to integrated technology and book folks. He never wanted us to forget about the importance of placing the right book in the hands of a child, but he encouraged us to take interest in the emerging technology.

 As I watch the librarians being removed from the schools ( know there is a plan) I feel for the students who won't have a librarian ready to hand them the next new book, to teach about the technology. I know the district is in a budget situation, but my heart breaks for the students.

Library #3 @ RCE

Library #3 at RCE

Library #2 - Using the MAC computers for research

Library #3 TV studio - "real equipment" 

Changes....

 I was born and grew up in Spring Branch, Houston, TX.  I've about decided I grown up in an  ideal time.  

Currently I read facebook posts from a group called "I grew up in Spring Branch,"  most of them are happy memories from the time period I grew up in and experienced Spring Branch.   I also read from a group called "The Branch 2.0."  This group is more of current life, and is very different and reflects the many changes that have taken place in the area - both good and bad.

I grew up attending First Baptist Church Spring Branch.  I think my parents joined in 1957 when they moved out to the west side of Houston.  (My father thought he had moved to San Antonio we were so far west.)  FBCSB was an active church, and relatively large congregation.  As a baby, I was on the "cradle roll" and moved through the nursery and the children's building.  How could you forget the sturdy wooden chairs and tables and the short little spinet pianos.  The bathrooms were just large enough to turn around in, and an old water fountain with steps to reach was out in the hallway.  The lights in the classrooms were circles with lightbulbs in the center. The rooms had windows that you could wind out to get a breeze.  From my early memories, I remember the cooling chamber for the air conditioning.  The water would pour over the cooling chamber and you'd get a little wet.  In the early 60's, after you finished 4th grade, you left the children's building and went out to the white wooden buildings in the lawn on the back side of the church.  The year I was to move in to those old wooden buildings, the church completed the building program of a new educational building - In October of 1967, I went into the new shiny classrooms (with air conditioning).  The old white wooden buildings were moved out to Sister Gay's Mission Yahweh out in Carverdale.   The church also had a metal gym building where we held dinners, played volleyball (every Monday night!) and had a youth space (the coffee house) on the second floor.  Many good memories happened in that old metal gym.  Mrs. Catherine Woodruff designed and built a large commercial kitchen so that large group meals could be prepared.  Wednesday night dinners were held in the gym and on Sunday afternoons, the youth had dinner snacks between choir and training union followed by Sunday evening services.

I have fond memories of activities and people attached to the church.  Several people had great influence on my life.  Mrs. Dickson, Mrs. House, and Mrs. Harris were all school librarians.  All three of these ladies were models for my career as a school librarian.  I remember Mrs. Dickson always having a children's book (or two, or three) in her purse.  When we played volleyball on Monday nights, Mrs. Dickson would pick up a book and read during the "off times", when she was our transpiration - she always had a book to read.  When I became a librarian - I followed her lead and tried to read most of the books in my library.  I can remember talking books with Mrs. Dickson and knew that is something I wanted to do with my students.  Mrs. House was the librarian who knew where or who to go to for an answer.  If she didn't know it, she would get back with you sooner rather than later, I took her skills to heart as well - as I always tried to find an answer for a students, staff or community member.  Mrs. Harris was a consistent constant.  She was diligent in her work - again, I added her skill set to my tool box.  I was so fortunate to have 3 school librarians to follow in their footsteps.  (I had others - but these three I knew from my early childhood through my years in the library.)

Front of the Main Sanctuary

Arial view of the campus.  On the South side of the Sanctuary is the

children's building.  The big building at the top of the photo is the gym.  The remainder of the space

is the educational facitilites.

This building had the chapel on the first floor, and classrooms
on the second floor.  On Sunday mornings, students would hang out
on the balcony and visit until time for Sunday School.

The loss of a friend.

I've been praying for Lois for years.  Today she got her wings to heaven.  I'm not exactly sure when Lois and I first crossed paths...from all of our connections it could have been as a child, but I know we connected through our children (Mallory and Holly) at Tallowood Baptist Church.  Our girls were in the same group at church and sometimes ended up at the same locations.  Lois was also in my Sunday School class.  I don't remember when she started coming, but I know she was one of the intial members in the newly established Covenant Class.

Our children are now in their 30's so it's been over 25 years that we have been friends, acquaintances, prayer partners, partners in projects, and involved in activities at Tallowood.  I learned that she knew many of the same folks I did in Alexandria, Louisiana and Shreveport, Louisiana.  She spent most of her childhood in Louisiana....

One of the fun things she did for our ladies group is to tour us through Memorial City Mall.  She worked for the team designing the mall and she knew so much.  It was fun to learn the back story on so many stores in the mall.

Lois was also a hostess.  She was always going over the top hosting dinner gatherings at her home.  She never did paper plates, no...Lois went all out with table scapes, special dishes, special food and the lively conversation around the table.  

Throughout the years we met at her house to begin the Mission Projects at Christmas.  I have years of photos of us in her front yard praying before we took off to deliver gifts to needy families.

In the past few years, Lois rarely missed a day to post a greeting on Facebook.  She would find a cute photo to send daily blessings to her followers.  Sometimes I wonder if she was sending those for us, or as a way to lift herself from the pain of her cancer.  No matter what, she brought a smile to faces everyday.  

She married Scott 13 years ago.  I never knew her first husband.  Scott has been amazing through all of Lois' health issues.  He's taken such good care of her, fixed others homes, and still had a hot meal on the table at night.  My prayers tonight reach out to Scott - I can not imagine what he's going through right now.  13 years ago they were married, shortly after that was the first indication of a health issues - cancer.  It's been 13 years of treatments, remission, doctors and more.  Thankful for their 13 years.

Lois has been a constant in my life for over 25 years.  Not a daily call, but frequently a battery of messages.  I'll miss those conversations.  I'll miss her hospitality.  I've admired her courage, perseverance and strength over the years.  She never doubted that God was on her side.  He provided for her needs.  He knew it was time to call her home.  Heal her.  Make her whole.  Thank you, Lord for the life of Lois.  May we all be so strong when we face difficulties.  May we all have the faith of Lois.  Rest in peace my friend.  I know you are rejoicing in Heaven at the feet of your Savior.  You have run the good race, you have completed your task.  We will miss you.

January 2024

 Well, it's been a long while since I've written.  I'm going to try really hard to write at least once a month.  I really want to try to be more regular.

We're just back from a long 4 day weekend in Galveston.  We had no plans, just a place to stay.  Ended up riding a tandem bike all over the island.  It was a good way to spend time together ....we stopped when we wanted, we found places to eat, to experience and rest.  One of our favorite shows on HGTV is Restoring Galveston.  We love the old houses found on the island, so we kind of took our time to find the houses from the show.  We were pretty successful.  It was a good trip and we came back rested.

Another goal for the year is to spend time visiting with folks.  By the second day in January I had already contacted two friends who had moved from Houston last year.  My goal is to keep up with these folks more than just a text once a month.  Let's see if I can make it happen.

I've had a lot of divine appointments this year - some are people I hadn't seen in a long time.  Today in the grocery store as I reached for a rack of ribs, another person reached in - she was a former parent of a GT student.  They spoke Chinese when they first enrolled in Rummel Creek. The kids were brilliant, but weren't making it into the GT program.  I wrote a petition explaining how they had to translate to Chinese and then back into English - and then they were in.  You wonder, are they really gifted - Joanna is now at Johns Hopkins working on a PHD in neurological surgery.  She had just left to go back to school to complete a few trials for surgery.  Frank, a little younger is now at CalTech working on his PHD in Physics.  Yeah - I think they are a little GT.  Mom had not changed, once I realized who she was, she was just as she had been when a volunteer at RCE - It's been at least 15 years since they were at Rummel Creek.  Caught up on a few more of the kiddos they were grouped with - Davis Palmie - he too is still in school.  That group of boys was a challenge - anything I shared, they already knew it and usually had mastered.  They pushed my buttons and my knowledge - but my did they have fun learning.  I can only wish for other students to love learning as much as those boys did.  About the time they were graduating from undergraduate programs - they dropped by the library - it was so good to see that they had all excelled, all gone to different colleges, but had remained good friends.  Everyone should have good friends like that to help push you along.  I hope those boys know how much I enjoyed working with them.  For years I kept up with some of them on a regular basis...even attending their Eagle Scout Ceremony.  As I move through year 2 of retirement - it's good to know that some of the students going through RCE have excelled and gone the extra mile.

Well, I've rambled enough for today.  Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll pick up a new post....Just a way to keep my thoughts all in one place.

2020 - A Clear Vision

My last start of writing on my personal blog didn't get too far.  After reading the book, "Something Needs to Change" by David Platt, I know I need to change - so reflecting on this blog will be my goal.

Over the break from school, Perry and I decided to join our friends on their sailboat off the coast of Bonaire.  Three weeks ago I didn't know where Bonaire was or anything about the island community.  Let me back up....it's been a whirlwind fall semester.....

In September my father's house was flooded yet again - he had not flooded in Harvey when our house went under, but Imelda the tropical storm brought him several inches.  Once again we moved furniture, pulled carpet and began renovations.  This was number 4 in less than 10 years.  Dad is now 89 years old and tired of going through this, however, we started the process and Dad moved in with my sister.  Move forward to November just as we are finishing the renovations and Dad begins to mention moving to independent living.  At Thanksgiving, my sisters and I begin looking at a place close to us all.  Not much discussion.  Thanksgiving happens and we invite a few realtors over to help us think about what to do with the house.  The "flood discount" is high.  Most of the realtors had sold a house with one flood - but 4 in 10 years and a fire - not so much.  Just for grins, we contacted some "We buy ugly houses" companies....several responded.  By mid-December we had a possibility, we had to clean out the house and take what we wanted, move the items the children wanted, hold an estate sale and move Dad to his new place before closing on the house.  It was a true miracle that all was accomplished by December 22nd.  Add to that the normal holiday activities and of course my job.  All was accomplished.  When we realized that it was all going to happen before Christmas, Perry contacted our friends and made plans for a trip to Bonaire the second part of my Christmas break.  Everything fell into place - another miracle....

So...we arrive in Bonaire, Marilyn shares with me the book "Something needs to Change." by David Platt.  I spend the first few days reading the book.  I really couldn't put it down.  I didn't want to be rude and not visit with our friends, but the book was all I wanted to read.  As I read it.  I began to change...I began to think about what I needed to change.  I know that I won't be climbing the Himalayas and experiencing what David did...but I have my own mountains, my own pain, and my own shortcomings.  I have begun the change by writing today.  I want to somehow write what I realize I need to do.  It's almost as if writing will help me put my thoughts in action.

It took going away.  Getting away from routine.  Letting my mind wander and listen to what God had to say.  I realize that sometimes I take what God does in my life for granted.  I know I have faith that God is there.  That God will take care of me....as I read the book, I thought about how God took care of every obstacle that was in place with my Dad's house.  He provided just enough time and extension of time.  Until I stopped to reflect...I really hadn't noticed all of the things that fell into place.  Only they didn't fall into place, God planned the way.

Add in one more little issue.....in late November and early December I had been working with the insurance company to acquire a drug I use for osteoporosis.  This drug is not to be used when dental work is to happen.  I had not been able to get the drug.  Nothing was working.  Then...the last day of school I broke a tooth.  The root canal did not work; the tooth had to be extracted.  It would not have been possible without risk (actually the doctor would not have done the procedure if I had taken the drug).  One day before we left for Bonaire I had the tooth extracted and left the country without pain.  God knew the plan.  God made things work.  I need to be aware of all God has done in my life and how he has taken care of me.  Something has to change.

So, as 2020 begins, my clear vision is that I must proclaim Jesus as Lord.  I must make Him the master of my life and realize what He has planned for my life.  Something has to change.  I challenge you to read the book.  What are you missing out on that God has planned for you?  I can't wait to see where 2020 will go.

And then...the sermon on Sunday and the lesson in Bible Study - it was all about sharing your testimony....It was like God was making a strong statement - Something has to Change and it begins with listening and allowing God to use my life.  So...Something has to Change...it starts with a life-altering journey of obedience to Christ.  I can't wait to see where 2020 takes me! 

2018

It's been many years since I have taken the time to write on this blog.  It's time I return to reflect on life.   2018....wow!  January 1st of a new year - so much to think about, so much to do.

As I think about returning to writing a blog, I think about what I want to share.  What do I want to spend time writing about each week?  Last year I began a school blog that I write each Friday to share with the outside world all the cool things happening inside the walls of RCE.  I have successfully kept up writing each and every Friday that school is in session - so - I am going to try to write each Monday a little something that is hopefully uplifting - or something I want to remember.

Right now...all of my thoughts are still with Harvey and our flood of 2017.  So my first postings will most likely be something about what we've learned through Harvey.

School had just started - students had been at school for 4 days with the first day of school being the day of the eclipse, which started the year off in a most unusual way!  We should have guessed with the eclipse happening on the very first day that the entire year would be different than any other year.

Thursday night of the first week of school, I was watching the news.  A Hurricane (Harvey), was in the gulf.  At that point it wasn't even a hurricane, but rather a tropical storm.  It was headed towards the Texas Gulf Coast.  The news was guessing on the amount of rain to be expected and all of the normal expectations of a hurricane...but it didn't seem like it was to be too bad...just lots of rain.  Sometime around 8 in the evening, the school district sent out a robocall to cancel school for Friday in anticipation of the storm.  It was unusual for the school district to call it so early.  That should have been a hint.

I had left my computer at school, knowing that Thursday night I hadn't planned to do any work....but with the school closing for Friday, I thought it would be a good idea to have it so I could finish off the training videos I had put off watching.   So off to school I went.

The weather was calm.  No hint of what was to come.  Skies were clear.  I walked into the building, picked up a few things to put them up, and picked up my laptop.  That was the last time I would be in the building for two weeks.

Once home, I picked up some stacks of paper and washed a few dishes.  But over all - I thought why - I'll be home all day on Friday with nothing to do.  I dropped off to sleep with little worries of the next day...

I woke up on Friday with one thing that had to be done.  I had to go to the doctor to get a shot.  It was scheduled at 10...so I picked up a few things and ran off to the doctor.

I got to the doctor only to find out I could not receive the shot, I was running 102 degrees of fever.  The moment they said I had a high fever - I felt bad.  I drove home and went straight to bed  - grateful for a day off from school to be able to sleep off the fever.

I had the TV on as I slept.  The breaking news kept repeating that Harvey was gaining strength and would possible hit the coast near Corpus Christie at a category 3.  I just decided to sleep, hoping that I would feel better in the morning.

Saturday morning the weather was beginning to turn gray.  The news now had the storm coming in closer to Houston and possibly more than a Category 4.  Perry began to put things away.  We had planned to pull honey from our hives, but I was too sick to work with honey.   I went to bed early knowing that the rain was coming.  The news had told us that we were on the dirty side of the storm and there would be a lot of rain.  No worries - we had water, we had food...we were ready for the rains.  We knew the street would  flood...but we were ready to stay put for  a few days.  I went to bed early as I was still suffering from a fever.  The rains had started, but nothing amazing yet.

Evidently, it had rained hard most of Saturday night.  The  storm was coming in near Rockport (closer to Houston) and with more rain and wind than expected.  Sometime around 2:00 Perry woke me up to ask for help to move the bee hives...they were under water.  We suited up and moved the bees.
(To be continued...)