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Is this a mixture of styles, or what??
I think of “Sweet Caroline” as our song (Keith & mine), since my middle name is Caroline:)
Not sure about the sweet part (standing on shaky ground with that word), but the rest of the lyrics fit our story:)

I included the top 50 to get in a Beach Boys’ song, Keith favorite group:)
I loved The Beatles & CCR:)
Number 41 became one of our favorites, & we finally saw Arlo a few summers ago at Regency here in Cary:)

Evidently “In The Summer Of ’69” was not even thought of til 1984, when written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.

1. Build Me Up Buttercup – Foundations
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
2. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
(Billboard High Chart: #4)
3. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
4. More Today Than Yesterday – Spiral Staircase
(Billboard High Chart: #12)
5. Mah-Na-Mah-Na (Mahna Mahna) – Piero Umiliani
(Billboard High Chart: #55)
6. Son Of A Preacher Man – Dusty Springfield
(Billboard High Chart: #10)
7. My Way – Frank Sinatra
(Billboard High Chart: #27)
8. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
9. Something – the Beatles
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
10. Sugar Sugar – Archies
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
11. Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette
(Billboard High Chart: #19)
12. Touch Me – Doors
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
13. Honky Tonk Women – Rolling Stones
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
14. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
15. Hooked On A Feeling – B.J. Thomas
(Billboard High Chart: #5)
16. I Can’t Get Next To You – Temptations
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
17. Come Together – the Beatles
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
18. Grazing In The Grass – Friends of Distinction
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
19. Traces – Classics IV & Dennis Yost
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
20. Hawaii 5-0 – Ventures
(Billboard High Chart: #4)
21. It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
22. My Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder
(Billboard High Chart: #4)
23. Hot Fun In The Summertime – Sly and the Family Stone
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
24. Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross and the Supremes
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
25. Everybody’s Talkin’ – Nilsson
(Billboard High Chart: #6)
26. Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
27. Everyday People – Sly & Family Stone
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
28. Crimson and Clover – Tommy James and the Shondells
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
29. Time of the Season – Zombies
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
30. Down On The Corner – CCR
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
31. Twenty Five Miles – Edwin Starr
(Billboard High Chart: #6)
32. Worst That Could Happen – Brooklyn Bridge
(Billboard High Chart: #3)
33. Love’s Been Good To Me – Frank Sinatra
(Billboard High Chart: #75)
34. Ruben James – Kenny Rogers & the First Edition
(Billboard High Chart: #26)
35. A Boy Named Sue – Johnny Cash
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
36. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin – Crazy Elephant
(Billboard High Chart: # 12)
37. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy – Blood, Sweat and Tears
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
38. Give Peace A Chance – John Lennon
(Billboard High Chart: #14)
39. Get Back – Beatles
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
40. Wedding Bell Blues – The 5th Dimension
(Billboard High Chart: #1)
41. Alice’s Rock and Roll Restuaraunt – Arlo Guthrie
(Billboard High Chart: #97)
42. Stand! – Sly and the Family Stone
(Billboard High Chart: #22)
43. Isrealites – Desmond Dekker and the Aces
(Billboard High Chart: #9)
44. Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)
(Billboard High Chart: #2)
45. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday – Stevie Wonder
(Billboard High Chart: #7)
46. Put A Little Love In Your Heart – Jackie DeShannon
(Billboard High Chart: #4)
47. These Eyes – Guess Who
(Billboard High Chart: #6)
48. Jingo – Santana
(Billboard High Chart: #56)
49. I Can Hear Music – Beach Boys
(Billboard High Chart: #24)
50. Memphis Underground – Herbie Mann
(Billboard High Chart: #44)

The summer of 2009 is turning into a summer of weddings for Keith & me:) It’s probably not an unusual number, but for some reason this summer each wedding seems to be a welcome, uplifting, break in routine for me. It’s a time to think of hope & great joy; of a family being created, of the eagerness of two people embarking on a lifetime of dreams to be dreamed, and God willing, fulfilled together, even disappointments & sorrows to be weathered together:)

This photo was taken June 13th at the reception after Amanda Corbin’s marriage to Justin, a handsome young Charlotte policeman. The previous weekend Caroline Hanson wed Nathan from Nashville, and July 11th Stephen Haynes will marry his sweetheart. All three are from our church family.
We’ve also been invited to Peter Lanier’s wedding (son of longtime friends) which will be held in Boone the 18th of July, the same day that friends & I are giving a wedding shower for my dear friend Kathy who will walk down the aisle August 22nd:)

Maybe the reason I’m feeling nostalgic about these weddings in 2009:
Forty years ago Sunday, August 3rd, 1969, on the hottest day you can imagine (and the most sultry), Keith & I were married in a tiny country church in the Sandhills of NC. We were so young, 22 & 19. A simple ceremony & frugal; cotton dresses–white for me, yellow & orange for the bridesmaids, we carried daisies, had no photographer. Rev. Green officiated, a pastor from a nearby town standing in for my vacationing preacher. No reception. And then off we went to live in upstate NY, a place my mama thought was on the other side of the world!

What an adventure!
(Little did we know Woodstock would be such an historical event, as we moved into a mountain cottage less than 50 miles of Max Yasgur’s 600 acre Farm 2 weeks before it all began!)

Forty years later (could it be that long!)I’m thankful to celebrate a milestone anniversary:) And to celebrate with 3 great children, a wonderful DIL, & Cameron’s girlfriend Holly:) We are blessed.
Besides trying to find a B&B in the mountains for a weekend get-away in the fall, we’re thinking of going to The Melting Pot in Raleigh with Cameron & Holly, Seth & Kelley & Skye–don’t you think that’s appropriate for a hot & humid August anniversary?:)

 
I just finished watching Jon And Kate Plus Eight.
Rumors were rampant Jon and Kate were separating. I secretly hoped it wasn’t true. Skye and Alexis suggested wouldn’t it be great if they announced they were having another baby–imagine how uplifting that would have been, or kooky in a joyful kind of way! What a story that would have been:)

As the show unfolded it became evident they were splitting up, calling it quits. A beautiful family countless folks have watched and adored, broken.
I was hoping to hear “We’re seeing a counselor, talking to our pastor, praying, working through it”—but, none of that was mentioned:(

Is there hope?
I didn’t sense any….
Jon separate, Kate separate, both trying to be brave in the midst of deep hurt and sorrow.
Is it just “another family bites the dust”?
It’s discouraging…..
I am sad for all ten of them, especially the dear Eight.

 
Saturday afternoon, May 30th, Seth, Keith, & I met off Poole Road in Raleigh to bike the Neuse River trail. It seemed a good idea. A trail along a river is usually pretty level terrain, maybe even shady, or so we thought. After leaving the parking lot at the trail head we realized right away we’d be traveling a rough gravel road. Much of the time it followed the river, but often it snaked away & wound back towards more hilly terrain. For a brief time the trail merged with a paved road which surprised us with a very steep hill! After pushing my bike up the “mountain” we headed downhill again to a beautiful area of swamp, or wetlands, spread out in every direction. Wooden bridges had been built to cross the swampy area.

All in all, the trail was about 3 miles long, so we covered 6 miles in close to 2 hours. (Seth could have done it in less time; Keith & I haven’t ridden much this summer:)) We stopped often, walked our bikes often, & few spots were easy-going.
Thank goodness we didn’t have many bugs:)

The photo here shows some shade next to the river, but we didn’t find many places like this.
I must admit I would rate this trail near the bottom of my favorite area trails for amateurs’ list.

Today I went to a funeral at Westover UMC in Raleigh.
The service was for Carol Hines Watson.
Carol was a strong, talented, Southern lady who possessed faith, foresight, & leadership. She was a charming lady:)
She was also the mother of my good friend Anne.

Twenty years ago my family left Westover UMC. It was heartbreaking to leave that church but circumstances pressed us, ushered us (and over 100 other friends), to pack up & move on.
Suffice it to say that our basic beliefs were being tested (Carol & husband Roy left with us, then returned to Westover friends after a time)

I had not been back, til today.
I must say it was humbling.
Time heals much.
Regrets & unforgiveness have been erased long ago.
A sense of melancholy overcame me (besides grieving for Carol’s husband Roy & Anne).
Why?
Maybe it was how things should have been or could have been at Westover.
Maybe it was because Keith & I grew spiritually while there (with Kenneth Sexton as pastor & precious Rosamond his wife).
Maybe it was that twenty years had passed so quickly.
Maybe it was because my children were born while we attended Westover & spent part of their childhood there.
Maybe that our New Life Class was such a precious tight knit group for many years, & we were sent out to worship separately.
Maybe it was all the above?

I firmly believe God has a purpose for all things, so when doors are closed & other open, when our lives take a turn in mid-stream where we’re so comfortable & we’re driven to another part of the river, there’s a reason.

I admit it was a sweet feeling to see Rev. Kenneth Sexton in that pulpit again:) Did twenty years melt away?
For a few minutes:)

I’m a better person for Kenneth, for those years at Westover, and for being nudged to another place where people of faith love & care for one another–I’m at Peace:)

Last Sunday Reverend Issac Shaw spoke to our Peace Church congregation.
Whoa!

He is a Christian pastor and from New Delhi, India, a native of India, who is dedicated to spreading the hope of the Gospel of Jesus to Northern India. This region is full of the poor and homeless, and populated by people of Hindu & Muslim faiths. This area makes the Western culture look extravagant to excess. Christians in this region of the world are in the minority and are persecuted and martyred daily.

This is a hard fact to wrap around my Westernized mindset, where I’m surrounded by people who have much, who strive to get more, and, honestly, I’m right in foray with them; I do love to buy and want so many things:(!

I’m addicted to HGTV and all their make-over home shows. But lately it seems that people blessed with lovely homes are willing to spend thousands of dollars to have a ‘more lovely’ home:(
Success breeds excess, doesn’t it?

Issac challenged us, tried to shake up our comfort zone, to realize the North American church lives in the midst of unbelievable blessings that few others in the world have and can only dream of. We, the Western church, are ‘called’ to be generous with our wealth and/or time and to pray for/ or go to those that are living in poverty and hopelessness in order to love them in Jesus’ name and care for them.

Jesus chose to live among the common people, ministering to the poor & downtrodden, those forgotten by the world.

Saying all that, Cary/Apex/Morrisville, for the most part quite affluent, is filled with needy, desperate, people as well. Many of us live in luxury compared to Northern India and other countries of the Third World, but we struggle with hopelessness & despair in our midst; broken relationships, broken dreams, health issues, loneliness, struggles of old age & living on an income that will not stretch, abuse, neglect, mental health problems galore—should I go on??

Yet God is able to use us wherever He desires. The only thing Christians are called to do is to be available to be used by Him & to love those around us.

Am I listening?
Am I loving others?
What are my priorities?

Rev. Shaw, you did rock me.

 
Where has 2009 gone??

Here it is the 15th of May, the pool is opening this weekend, Skye has finished her Junior year at Appalachian, ball season is in full swing, & the honeysuckle is blooming!

Last weekend my family helped me paint my bedroom, & I love it; it a tan color, like coffee with cream:) I’m thinking maybe I’ll hire Kelley to paint my stairwell & my landing, strip off my kitchen wallpaper & paint that too:) She is so good at it:)

Father’s Day cards are out at Hallmark; I’ve been working on them all week:)

I had my annual physical Tuesday & survived–I whined for days beforehand:(

My good friend Kathy & her fiance Alex have set their wedding date, August 22nd, so I’ve been pondering some sort of wedding shower:) Kathy & I’ll have to talk:) Should we have a Tea Room affair or a larger gathering? I’m so tickled for them both!!
Such a sweet romance:)

Three Three, my grand puppy, was critically ill for almost 3 weeks, has been diagnosed with Addison’s disease, & is recovering, thank God:)

Summer is on the horizon. What is in store?
A bike trip along the New River?
A wedding shower in July?
Keith & I will have our 40th wedding anniversary August 3rd.
Skye will be moving into an apartment in Boone mid August.
The Fuller/Worrell wedding will be a highpoint the third week of August:)

Each day brings forth something new….
Stay tuned:)

(The pic is rain on the car window as we drove home from Pa. May 2nd; I thought it was cool:))

 
Beginning Tuesday, Skye will start her summer job, and the interesting thing is, it’s where I work, Lynn’s Hallmark!
I don’t think of us as being alike at all, but, she wanted to try working in retail for a change. Previously she’s been employed at the Cary Y, and last summer volunteered as a counselor at Camp Ridge Haven. She enjoyed the kids, was very good with them, but is ready to try something new.

We won’t be on the same schedule at Beaver Creek, and that’s a good thing. No one needs their mom around too much when you’re 22 years old.
Our Hallmark girls will be helpful and will guide and direct her through every situation:) They’ll be a blessing to her, as will our wonderful manager, Yvonne:)

Skye will find this is a job where you concentrate on the customer, listen to their needs, try your best to help, and, overall, leave a genuine friendly impression with everyone:)
She will need patience and grace in all situations, and that’s what I pray for her:)

Have a grand summer, Skye!
I’ll try not to fuss over you too much, and, it’ll be a treat to see what you learn:)

 
Today Cousin Ruby was called HOME.
She finished her Earthly journey.
I will miss her greatly!
And she had missed my mama, her closest friend, her cousin Catherene, greatly…

I am sure she and my mama are now re-united and giggling together:)
When my mama forgot my name, she still remembered her best friend & cousin, Ruby….
When Mama died it was harder to break the new to Ruby than anyone else, even my brother:(
They had been playmates and soul mates from their earliest memories.

I was told my grandma “Chrish”, tongue in cheek, asked her sister Sally if she would be willing to let her have her daughter Ruby, since she (Chrish) only had one girl (Catherene)and Aunt Sally had 4 (one being Ruby)! And Ruby spent so much time at her and Catherene’s anyway:)

As a child and as an adult I knew Ruby as a short, stout, lady of great wit, always laughing and joking, loving to tell tales of mischief she and my mama had concocted. They had another cousin, Sarah Black, (I wrote about her here two years ago) that fell right in with Catherene and Ruby in whatever scheme was being ‘cooked up’!! What a threesome:)
I loved being with Ruby. She always talked to me as a child, and I enjoyed hearing her stories. She spoke what was on her mind, don’t get me wrong, yet never hurt feelings.
In the last few years she shared often with Christy (my sister) and me how dear Mama was to her, that no one else could understand her like “Catherene”.

Ruby has a son, Ronny (a retired teacher & coach), who cared for her faithfully and lovingly. She had been a widow for many years and Ronny was devoted to her, checking in on her daily and caring for her every need.
I grieve with him and his 2 daughters, Dawn and Chrissie (both teachers) and son Matt, who could not have had a more caring, loving, and proud grandmother:)

Ruby was unique; a lady that carried laughter and joy wherever she went, with a love for my mama like no other:)
She was dear to me for that.
I will weep for her…..

Hallmark’s movie, The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler, shown last Sunday evening, is the story of Irena, a German woman of faith, humility, and courage, who believed one person should act to save others, and did.

“The Holocaust – the systematic annihilation of six million Jews – is a history of enduring horror and sorrow. The charred skeletons, the diabolic experiments, the death camps, the mass graves, the smoke from the chimneys … In 1933 nine million Jews lived in the 21 countries of Europe that would be occupied by Germany during the war. By 1945 two out of every three European Jews had been killed by the Nazis. 1.5 million children were murdered. This figure includes more than 1.2 million Jewish children, tens of thousands of Gypsy children and thousands of handicapped children.

Yet there were acts of courage and human decency during the Holocaust – stories to bear witness to goodness, love and compassion. This is the story of an incredible woman and her amazing gift to mankind. Irena Sendler. An unfamiliar name to most people, but this remarkable woman defied the Nazis and saved 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto. As a health worker, she sneaked the children out between 1942 and 1943 to safe hiding places and found non-Jewish families to adopt them.

For many years Irena Sendler – white-haired, gentle and courageous – was living a modest existence in her Warsaw apartment. This unsung heroine passed away on Monday May 12th, 2008.

Her achievement went largely unnoticed for many years. Then the story was uncovered by four young students at Uniontown High School, in Kansas, who were the winners of the 2000 Kansas state National History Day competition by writing a play Life in a Jar about the heroic actions of Irena Sendler. The girls – Elizabeth Cambers, Megan Stewart, Sabrina Coons and Janice Underwood – have since gained international recognition, along with their teacher, Norman Conard. The presentation, seen in many venues in the United States and popularized by National Public Radio, C-SPAN and CBS, has brought Irena Sendler’s story to a wider public. The students continue their prize-winning dramatic presentation Life in a Jar.”

Louis Bülow ©2007-09.

Could we have such courage, such faith?
Irena was God’s instrument of mercy in the darkest night.