CafeSharon

I am a moderately nostalgic person. Well, maybe it is more seriously nostalgic. I just know that I love re-living and re-visiting my childhood. It always brings smiles and laughter.

My husband and I are spending a few days in Daytona Beach, Florida. As a child, my family vacationed here at my great-aunt Kate’s home. She was one special lady!

As we drove into Daytona from Orlando, we took a slight detour and went off the beaten path. It surprised me how much I remember from those “earlier years”. However, the good memories are not just thoughts that make me smile. Those memories have actually helped to form who I am today – the good, the bad, and the ugly!

As I walked the beach this morning, I recalled the time I was told not to go into the ocean because of a large swarm of jelly fish. Being the headstrong young child, I assumed I could get in the water and “dodge” the little “stinging” monsters. I was wrong. Uncle Jim was right. I got stung. OUCH!

For dinner last night we had fresh fried shrimp at my cousin Jimbo’s home. I’m not sure what others ate, but I had at least 20 HUGE shrimp! I remember one time when I ate 72 and my sister Kathie had 99. And we didn’t worry about any weight we might gain!

All of these memories have made me appreciate the importance of family. We are never perfect. We have many flaws. But we are family – and we love each other!

I had the privilege of touring the Gettysburg Battlefield and Visitors Center the past two days.  What an emotional and inspiring place to visit.  Emotions and feelings swung to both ends of the spectrum.  It is one of the most beautiful places in Pennsylvania.  The view from Little Round Top was breathtaking.  And yet the mental images of young men losing their lives in brutal fighting until the land was described as fields of blood was ever present. 

 

The newly opened Visitors Center is a “must-see”.  Throughout the many rooms, quotes from Presidents, Generals, Privates, and Civilians are highlighted.  Some of my favorites are listed below.

 

“There never were such men in an army before.  They will go anywhere and do anything if properly led.”

Confederate General Robert E. Lee

May 21, 1863 (6 weeks before the Gettysburg Battle)

 

“There is no better way of defending a long line than by moving into the enemy’s territory.”

Confederate General Robert E. Lee

March 1863

 

“We must extinguish our resentments if we expect harmony and union.”

President Abraham Lincoln

April 14, 1865 (the day he was assassinated)

 

“I felt … sad and depressed at the downfall of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly and had suffered so much for a cause, though the cause was, I believe, one of the worst for which a people ever fought.”

Union General U.S. Grant

1885

 

“Who can write the history of a battle whose eyes are immovably fastened upon a central figure of transcendingly important interest – the dead body of an oldest born?”

Samuel Wilkerson

New York Times Correspondent reporting on the death of his son, 1863

A few days ago our local Humane Society had a Rabies Clinic. I took our 12 pound Shih Tzu to get his shot. I arrived about 3 minutes before the clinic opened. I was already about 50th in line! There were ALL kinds of dogs; big, little, mangy, yappy, ugly, cute. You get the picture. As I waited in line, I began to compare the dogs to the owners. It really is funny how much they resembled each other! The lady behind me had a beautiful, fluffy, gentle Great Pyrenees. While she wasn’t fluffy, she was beautiful and had a very gentle way. The two young men in front of me each had a German shepherd. The one dog had a large leash that was held together by just a few threads. The other’s leash was a thick chain. Both of the young men looked shifty and a bit shady. I was concerned for my little Bosley! Further up in the line was a disheveled man with a dirty looking dog. The dog had a rash on his face. (How can you a dog have a rash????) On his back, there were large patches without any fur. I held sweet little Bosley closer to me, hoping that whatever disease was afflicting this dog would not become airborne. I continued in the line, watching each step, making sure I did not step into any “piles” left behind by those big, bad dogs! I listened in on the conversations. Not only did the dogs look like their owners, the conversations matched the look! Do you look like your dog????

THE STEELER NATION! Whew-who! WE WON! I live in the greatest place on earth – the Steeler Nation! We WON!

“Here we go, Here we go, Steelers are going to the Super Bowl! Here we go!”

Growing up in this region, I have never known anything but the Steelers. So today, I am proudly proclaiming that I AM A STEELER FAN! The next two weeks will be really exciting around this region. But the Steeler Nation goes beyond the Pittsburgh area. We have the largest fan base anywhere. (I don’t know that for sure; I am just “evangelizing”.)

Anyway, if you are as excited as I am, let me know! By the way, who is your favorite all-time Steeler? Mine is Lynn Swann. My favorite current Steeler is Hines Ward.

I have been accused of always expecting something to go wrong! When my kids were in college and they would call home, I would often ask, “What’s wrong?” Nick would get irritated and say, “Nothings wrong!”

I’m not quite sure how it began, but I guess I do have that “tendency”! It’s not that I am a pessimist. I don’t think I am. I think I am an optimist. I love to see good in people. I love to anticipate the fun I am going to have when I am with my family and friends. I don’t like to talk negatively.

But there are times when I find it to my benefit to anticipate the worst. Like today, for instance. I had my first mammogram since I had surgery. I had myself convinced that the cancer had re-occurred. I knew that when I had this test, they would have to “break it to me easy”. But I had pre-planned how I would react. I knew who I would call first and what I would do.

So after having the mammogram, I was told I could sit and wait for the results. As I sat down, I picked up a book about how to deal with a re-occurrence of breast cancer. I started to read…or at least I tried to read. But my mind kept racing…

And then the Tech came out and asked me to go to a private area…I knew what was coming. I braced myself for it. I took some deep breaths. And then I looked at her.

“You have an early Christmas present! There are no signs of cancer! Enjoy your family!”

I was so overwhelmed, I started to cry! God is good! I love His surprises!

To encourage Americans to vote on Tuesday, a number of businesses were giving items free of charge to those who received a sticker at their polling place that stated, “I VOTED!”.  I think that was an honorable and fun way to show patriotism.  However, the Election Board of Beaver County (where I reside) decided to not “waste money” on those stickers!  Boy, do I feel slighted!  My plan was to go from business to business and get as much free coffee and donuts as I could!  What a way to ruin my election day!

 

Did you get your free coffee?

In my devotions the other day, I read this paragraph written by Arthur T. Pierson.  I felt it was worth sharing.  It was published in Steams In the Desert, copyright 1950.  (Get beyond the King James English.)

 

“Our Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of refiner’s fire.  It is with the most precious metals that the assayer takes the most pains, and subjects them to the hot fire, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mould.  The old refiner never leaves his crucible, but sits down by it, lest there should be one excessive degree of heat to mar the metal.  But as soon as he skims from the surface the last of the dross, and sees his own face reflected, he puts out the fire.”

 

“He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  Malachi 3:3

Today was the day I have been waiting for…We (12 of us) painted and sewed all day in the Children’s Home.  The electricity kept going in and out, so the fans were intermittent.  It didn’t matter about the sewing machine because it is a treadle!  What an experience that has been.  I am learning a whole new thing with this treadle!

Tonight we prepared for tomorrow.  We will finish the Children’s Home and then allow the children to see their rooms!  Just like on Extreme Makeover Home Edition!  Can’t wait! 

I have been in India for 26 hours.  It is better than I remember!  It is hot, but it is an incredible mission field.  Last year when we were here, it was one great big adventure.  Since then, so much has transpired in my life, and in the world situation – especially in India.

Today in a conversation that we had with a pastor, he shared with us that many Christians are being persecuted.  Their homes are being destroyed and pastors have been murdered.  We are not able to go to all the places that we had planned to minister.  Just one year ago we walked freely through the slums.  Now it is very dangerous. 

Please pray for us.  We are not frightened.  We are cautious.  I will be posting more later.

I am still at my sister’s home staying with my mother (and taking care of her chickens).  I solved the problem of “Escaping Eleazara”!  Ummm, Ummm, GOOD!