"Fly me to the Moon..."

My son is a playwright and a musician.His latest play is being presented at the Kansas City Fringe Festival this week. Last night was the opening night and I was in attendance.
The play venue was packed and the play,"Not Just for the Birds" which is geared to children of all ages, was terrific. People laughed. People clapped. It was great. And, I was so proud.
The play, the cast (all local high school students)and my son and daughter-in-law are taking the play to the Scottish Fringe Festival next week.
I am so happy for them.

Hey God, you are terrific. I am so blessed to be the mother of this successful young man. It's so easy for us to dwell on the junk that goes on in our lives and complain to anyone and everyone who will listen.
But, your gifts are many. Our troubles are insignificant and petty, when compared to your blessings. My greatest blessings are my four grown children and their families. God you are so good.

Ch-Ch-Ch-changes

I'm blogging a day early this week. We've veered off track on our regular routine at the Kincaid Household. My normal day for blogging is Tuesday. Tuesday is also trash day, but I fail to see a correlation between garbage and my writing.
My mother-in-law was the queen of routine. Rosann did everything according to schedule. She had a set routine for what she and Bill ate every day. Saturday was hamburgers, Friday was Pizza, etc. Monday was wash day, Tuesday she ironed. (OMGOODNESS, I don't even know where my iron is...or if I still have one?)
I would like to think that I don't have a schedule. If asked, I would tell you that I'm a non-routine kind of woman. A free spirit! But in reality, I am a schedule follower. My red appointment book has become my second brain. Ask me, and I can tell you what I'm scheduled to do on Thursday October 28th of 2011.
But, this week things are different. I am helping out my daughter-in-law, Jennifer, with the care and keeping of baby Linnea. So, I am staying at their Brookside home for the next couple of days.
This change in routine is indeed a blessing.

Wow, Lord. Babies move really fast these days. And, I want to tell you that being a grandma is the greatest title in the world. Thank you for allowing me to be a grandma. Help me to always be able to "change" my routine enough to allow new experiences and blessings to happen. Change is helping me grow in my theology. Change helps me to let go and let YOU lead.

"Eeee,Iiiii,EEE,Iiiii, Oooo"

Have you visited a Farmers' Market yet this summer? Well, why not? You'll have a great time and you'll get to stock your refrigerator in the process.
The largest Farmers' Market in the Kansas City area is down near the Missouri River, in the River Market Area. The fun time to go is on a Saturday morning, because hundreds of vendors have their vegetables, fruits, handcrafted art objects, home cured meats, and plants for sale. There are even a couple of pasta dealers and a train for the kiddies to ride.
It's great fun and a super place to watch the wildest life of all.....people.
My friend Sue and I had a great time last Saturday. We bought ears of corn, tomatoes, and some freshly ground cheese.

Dear Lord: We live an abundant life. You have blessed us with the best that you have to give. Yet,sometimes we aren't as thankful as we should be. We concentrate on what we don't have, instead of rejoicing in what we do have. Bountiful God, I thank you.

"What's Your Name? Is it Mary or Sue?"

Because I felt the need to put my rear-end where my mouth is, I spent the morning volunteering in the Adult English Language Learner Program at Della Lamb. Coming off of a big celebratory weekend, "Happy Birthday U.S.A.", this morning was a big smack in my patriotic face!
The 30 women I met this morning,in the beginner class,were thrilled and thankful to be given the opportunity to learn to speak, read, and write English. For two hours, I helped them fill out their enrollment forms. They were struggling to learn what all of us natives have been doing since infancy. Most of the adult students in the classes at the Lamb have not had the opportunity to attend school in their home land. These are adults who cannot, for the most part, read or write in any language.
The adult immigrants and refugees, at the Lamb, speak 40 different languages. I speak English and a teeny weeny bit of French. But, we communicated.
Every woman understands the word BABY. One woman could tell me that she was the mother of twins by holding up two fingers and making a double downward sweeping motion with her hands.
And peanut butter? Who knew Africans eat peanut butter?
I know that I have struggled to understand a smidgen of Spanish, French and German. I cannot conceive what it must be like to be dropped in a country where only my family speaks words that I can understand.

BTW, I am going back tomorrow. I am blessed to be able to volunteer at Della Lamb.

Universal God. I saw You this morning in the eyes of Somali and Sudanese women. You were speaking to me through the Creole words of Flore. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn from these eager students. Thank you for the teachers and faithful volunteers who do Your work. You are an awesome God.

What is it?

Every month, on the back cover of the "Missouri Conservationist Magazine", there is a mystery photo. The caption reads, "What is it?" And,it's usually a creature part...blown up so you can't easily recognize it. Last issue it was a spot on a butterfly. This issue it was the tip of a box turtle's foot.
My question to you this week is, "What is it....that makes you a Christian?"
Is it going to church every Sunday and sitting(God forbid we would change) in the same pew each week? Is it reading Scripture? Is it teaching Sunday School or working in the nursery? Is it showing up to clean the kitchen...after the youth mess it up?
Is it making Jello Salad and yet another green bean casserole for the latest funeral dinner?
Read my list and think about it for a few minutes.
And, now let's make the question a little more difficult. I suggest you avoid the outward signs, like those activities listed above, and turn inward. What is it, inside your being, that makes you a Christian?
I am reminded of a statement that I heard once....."If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

Good God. We say that we are your followers, but who are we really following? Open our eyes that we may truly see who and what it is that leads us. Let us see the Glory in your kingdom. Only then will we be convicted.

(Every Missourian really should subscribe to the "Missouri Conservationist Magazine". It's available by signing up on line...and it's free. Go to www.missouriconservation.org and fill in the blanks.)

Blow your Horn

By now, we've all heard that strange humming sound coming out of our televisions, during the coverage of the World Cup. I'm beginning to like those VUVUZELAS. The droning noise of those horns is constant and not nearly as rude as what I used to yell at various Northtown games. You all should know that the North Kansas City High School Athletic Director awarded me a School Letter when our last kid finished his athletic career. 4 Kids, nearly 20 years, numerous contests, and one enthusiastic mom. His sly smile betrayed his mood when he said, "Here's your letter, Mrs. Kincaid. We've never given one to a mom before!" What he really meant was,"Now don't darken our fields again!"

But, what's wrong with tooting your horn? Why aren't you telling the world what you can do? To quote one of my video heroes, Little Neddy Nederlander, "What is it that you are really good at?" (Well, obviously his skill wasn't grammar.)

By golly, if you haven't had to write a personal resume or a biography lately, you ought to sit down and do it right away. After you state who you are and where you currently reside, you are faced with writing about your work history and talents.
Everyone is good at something. Go on, brag a little.

You may be the best John Deere jockey in your neighborhood. Did your kids all graduate from college and haven't spent time in correctional facilities? Good for you! Can you can fry an egg without breaking the yolk? Do you get up every morning with a smile? Wow. You're a success. We've all done something worth tooting our own VUVUZELA about.

WOO HOO God. You don't make junk. You rejoice in our successes and love us when we fail. Keep us on the right path that leads to life everlasting. You are our rock and our shield.

Can you speak English??????

If you went to,or followed the news from Assembly 2010, you know of the involvement of United Methodist Women in Immigration Issues. Now, I don't want to go into the problems of illegal immigration.Personally, I feel that illegal is illegal.
What I want to write about today is ELL. Teaching English to immigrants who want to learn English in order to become productive CITIZENS of this country.
My grandparents came to this country speaking NO ENGLISH, only German. My grandfather worked hard as a factory laborer, learned English, became a citizen and raised a family with my grandmother. My grandmother never learned to read or write in any language, even though she lived to be over 100.
If she had settled in Kansas City, Missouri, she could have attended English classes at Della Lamb and learned to read and write. Even in 1917!!!!My Gram's long life would have been enhanced by education!
Why am I writing this? Well, state funding for Della Lamb's ELL has been axed. Zap. Gone. Kaput. Nada.
But, we are not crying over what we don't have. We want volunteers, with teaching experience to come forward and keep this great program going.
Contact Judy Akers at Della Lamb.org and offer your services.

O God. We live in a very special country. We love and celebrate our heritage here and we appreciate our diversity. We know that you love us and want us to work for the benefit all of your children.
Give us the strenght to accept the challenges that we face.