Celebrating

We are in Tulsa tonight with our daughter Martha Elizabeth who is now 24 years old. I told her again the story of her birth and how that day changed our lives. Our son's coming to us did the same two years before. We are richly blessed.

As we sat at dinner we thought too of the people in the line of the storm, katrina, the hurricane that comes toward the coast of the US and we pray for all to be healthy and well and for the energy of the storm to weaken. But we know that surely the winds have already begun to blow. We were driving through that very area about two weeks ago. We pray for all.

And all the people in the path of chaos we pray they will be well too blanked with peace. Shalom. That peace wish includes you and your life as well.
God abide
Home Monday
Bobbie Giltz McGarey

Heading out

We are about ready to leave. That means cleaning up and closing up the apt and doing all that kind of fun stuff. We hope to be able to go see the sunset again tonight it is so beautiful and -shalom giving -to the heart, -that and standing in the sugar soft sand of Clearwater Beach. Ah Last night there was a storm cloud coming from the east as the sun was setting in the west...The race was on but the sun set beautifully just before the rain made it to the horizon... And us
Deep sigh.
We have painted the apt, prayed a good deal, laughed a lot, cooked and eaten fresh fish, and rested. I even bought a guitar! More on that later. Refreshment and renewal are important for well being of every sort.
We have a daily prayer reading we've done for most of the 33 years we've been married, and it harkens us through those years. This travel copy doesn't have dates etched in the side like our one at home but we recall some of these readings from before. Beside the scriptures these words have traveled with us all long this life's journey.
And we are thankful for the journey.
We'll celebrate with Betsy on Sunday in Tulsa her 24th Birthday. Molly's birthday follows a couple of days later. It is great. We will get to see another uncle and two aunts and perhaps some cousins between here and there. Family strength is important and we certainly feel it.
So, pray for safe uneventful journey and I'll be back to more regular postings in a few days.
God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005
Clearwater

Thirty-three

John and I celebrated our 33 anniversary today, the 19th. Whee. We had a regular kind of day, painted the living room, went to the beach, (oh we are in FL not OK on vacation) and then had fresh fish and veges for our celebration meal. I bought A piece of cake at the grocery store and it was just right.
Tomorrow we get to go and see my uncle Frank. We haven't seen him for a couple of years. Althought it was our plan to visit him last year we had a hurricane's damage between us.
We are pleased to spend this time together. We will have a few more days till we are home. I am glad ot be on the internet as it has answered a few questions, addresses, maps, etc.
Well, sweet dreams all. Will be in touch. May you have a great day, every day.
God abiides
Bobbie G. McGarey
@2005

Little Smiles

Saturday it rained. It was stormy and then it was just rainy. I conducted a funeral. We went into the church in the rain. The family and extended family were all there and they appreciated the service. A chaplain that had been involved with this woman brought the message. We worked together well. She and the family were mostly in TX.
The congregation provided a brunch before as the family came in. The church family made them feel most welcomed I believe. It was a good time for them and you could see that many of them hadn't met for some time. It was, as often happens, a reunion.
I have to say one of the places I miss that kind of reunion and smiles is at the airport at the gate when people get off the planes. Oh I know that happens outside security, but there is no time to linger as you flow with the river of people pouring out swiftly. I would find going to the airport early so much more fun if there were those meetings of families, or the good-byes you don't see anymore at the gate. There were often wonderful meetings.

Saturday when we walked out of the church on the way to the graveside we opened the doors to a bright shining sunny day without rain. What a change. It made me smile. I watched others as they came to the door, looked out at the sun and smiled. The woman's husband spoke with me saying that in the morning when it was rainy he said "it felt like heaven was weeping too" . Then he said "Look now...God smiles."
Finding little smiles can be a challenge. Perhaps that is what we should seek out during the day. Little smiles. Finding them in the world we are in---leaving some in the world we are in---

Let's sing " Love is something if yoa give it away, give it away, give it away, love is something if you give it away, you'll end up having more"

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

I'll be away for a few weeks and may not have internet access so don't dismay, I'll be back. God be with you.

I gotta dance

So, hello again,
I was feeling a little edgy and turned on Sesame Street. The Plot: Telly is afraid to play with baby bear because he doesn't want to hurt him. That made me smile.
But what made me laugh outloud was when Zoe, (that's elmo like girl puppet-bright orange) goes twirlling by saying,
"I've GOT to dance!"
Seriously, no actually the opposite of seriously, here is the world's prescription.

Meteor shower I and II

Good morning
I just came inside after going out to see the meteor shower. I may try again tomorrow but we had a clear morning today. I can't say I saw a shower...More like a sprinkling. Three maybe four (one was in the corner of my eye) clear bright flaming 'star' shooting across the sky. (OK I know it is not a true star!)
The outside the temperature was soft. Mild. Quiet
Does your life light up the sky? Does it light up the world around you and bring joy to others? Or have you chosen another way of being? Consider it, this life you have and make it the best you can in response to the love you are truly offered by the world.
The news says there will be more meteors... I'll be right back ...
God abides


I'm back! (Did you miss me?)
About 20 minutes and 10 meteors later. They are a wonderful phenomena! R-eally amazing I think. Imagine the ancients observing such things!

..look to the skies and see the wonders
the stars above -me on earth below
and see the awesome display of light
in the warm soft dark -pre dawn

and we count on the sun/son
to come again
to warm the earth and take away shadows
all secrets revealed in the light
for truth does not the shadow seek
but stands in light of day

do all humans look to the sky
and see the blessings of presence
we stand alone
we stand among
we stand beneath the stars

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

In a blink

What a day what a day!
I hear there is a metor shower in the next am....that is on the 12th. I may just have to set my clock and get up-- to see what i can see.... in a blink in a blink, things change and life different than it was the minute before.

What do we know that stays the same? Even the rocks were often once part of liquid. Even the bolders shift on the ground. Even the iceburgs move forward and back.


What do we know that stays the same? Even the value of a $ US changes from day to day against another currency. What will you do with your dollars? Will they be the same? or wiill they be like everything else and change into something else.

I need some rest so I'll say Good night
Sweet dreams ----if dreams there be.

God abides- i pray so
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

Summer here and gone.

The signs of summer are still around. Our grass is dry. It is hot. Not much rain around. Cotton blooming. Those kinds of things that mark summer. The veges are all around. mmm
Oh I agree with Marian McClure, summer tomatoes are wonderful. We have some friends who have brought us some and there is a man north of town who sells beauties. Big slices like tomato steaks are something wonderful as far as I am concerned. My daddy was quite the tomato grower. We would have some big boy's and other hearty big ones, yellow, red, pink, mmmm. There is something about the tomato that makes you know it's summer.
And school starts in a lot of places so for them summer is over. When I grew up school started right after Labor Day. Teachers I know are preparing and warning lights around schools are flashing and all in all school is getting ready.
And then there is the Space shuttle return yesterday. Greeted with such love by so many. Would that we would greet one another all the time with that kind of joy. As if we had just returned from a 'mission' and hug them and say 'welcome home'.
God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

Who Knew?

How do people make choices in their lives to be forces for peace an unity and to be forces for chaos and ._ _ _ _?
Do people choose that or do they just see the world from their lenses. Oh to be sure there are times when people have misunderstandings and disagreements and egos are injured and others are regretful. Oh to be sure there are times when change needs to be recognized.
And perhaps one of our learning is that 'change is the very most natural thing and life is mostly attitude and timing.'
What do you think? What do you think about change? Is it progress?
We are globalized people linked by sound and sight. Are we then doing what God wants us to do...What Jesus said for us to do... Share the good news to all the world.
How we love one another and bring unity out of chaos, or the other way... Then we can determine how close we have come to the kin-dom.
We are to be sure people who make choices.
So god-luck blessing today in doing that peace thing

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

Growing UP

What a weekend...
I got to be with cousins this weekend and it is always good. There were remember when and oh look at you in that picture all over the place. We compared pictures of then and now... It's called history.
History is what we create when we live our lives.
History is what was then...not now, though it influences now.

How then do we create "Now" that has meaning and joy at the same time? I have new history my cousins and family and yet sometimes we fail to engage in the now.
To talk about what is of importance to us at this point. How's your life? Are you happy? Satisfied? Peaceful? Sad? Worried?

So today, work on the newness of who you are and who you are with and what you accomplish or do! Work on the newness of your choices that you make.

I think this is important in our lives. And Ok ok I am not saying don't plan ahead. I'm saying you have this day. Make tomorrow better by your action as well but enjoy the day. Thus the premise of the movie Groundhog Day amid the gags.
Bless you in your Present-ness.
And it was fun with my cousins!

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

Family

What constitutes family? I mean how do we determine to whom we are related? Is it by blood alone? Are In-laws really in? We are related by our love for one another but even more I think we become related by our love for something beyond ourselves.
As an only child I longed for siblings. (My husband John is the second of six). I was/am blessed with cousins for whom I feel that same kind of relationship. I have several friends who are as dearest sisters to me. Separated at birth is the way we jokingly talk of our relationship. They are people I know I can call when I need them and they will be there for me. They are family.
We are all related you know. Somewhere way back in all our genealogy we come to the place where we are related. So, there is no 'they' there is only we.

In some literature class in high school I read a book called Member of the Wedding, Carson Mccullers, it talks of a young woman's understanding of the "We of Me" as she phrased it in the book. Yes! It has been a long time since I read that book, and may deserve another look by me, but I found that the insights about understanding who we are were important. We are related all of us on different levels and for different reasons. My life is often I blessed with new people with whom I am involved on different levels. What a blessing. Thank you all for coming into my life. Let's grow together.

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

The Earth from Above

I'm watching this morning the space walk. Look there! The blue of the earth's sky. The other side of the clouds. The beautiful big blue marble so aptly described some years ago. Wow what a perspective! They are naming what they see as it goes by.
How can we as humankind see this and not think that we need to work together? I mean seriously we are all in this together. We are all together in this together! Do you want me to say that again? We are all in this together. Why would we argue? Oh I know because you think this and I think that. But friend, here on earth, earth-friend, if we look at this together can't we see that we are really all One?
Look there, see again that blue sky, those clouds here and there! That 's where we are. And as along as we are here let's love each other with that kind of Gut jolting love that makes us happy.
And love not just our species, but this whole planet we've been given and everything about it.
Ok enough..
wait wait, look there... more blue world sky!

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005

Behind the Pencil

I have the last letter that my Uncle Clyde wrote home. (Clyde was the youngest child in my father's family he was born in 1916) This letter was written 10 days before he died in the "northern africa' campaign in WWII . He ends it thanking his Aunt and Uncle for the pencil saying, there are a lot of stories behind it now waiting to be told.
Those stories were never told by him. And as sadness compounds the government lost the belongings he had when he died, an ink pen, a mechanical pencil, several photo wallets and $21.00 and change. They got a check for the money but none of the other effects.
There are several letters between my grandparents and the gov about finding those 'effects' and finally letters saying that they were not found. Not many effects of value but they would have liked that pencil.
One of his friends wrote about his death. He was killed by the concussion of a bomb that landed near them. He made a point of saying that Clyde's body wasn't cut up or anything. He was buried in Sicily. I found the site of his grave on the internet though no family member I know of has ever visited.
There are other letters, one signed by General Marshall and others expressing their sadness and the hope that he died in honor while fighting for freedom.
Then the letters about the fact that the government had made a mistake and that he hadn't been injured the end of July and althought his pay for August had been forwarded to my Grandmother since he had died in July, not just injured, she needed to immediately return the 'extra' pay. I don't know how much it was---but it wasn't much---but it was more than they had to immediately cover their loss. They couldn't afford to pay for his body to be brought home and I think during such a war that was often never an option.
My Grandmother's heart was never the same. She died when I was four --my Daddy said of a broken heart. Deep sigh.

On the Evening news on PBS they show the pictures and information about soldiers who have died in the past week with their picture and information. There is no music in the background. Today there were four more.
I imagine my Grandmother's heart, and know that Alabama and Georgia and two other states there are Grandmother's hearts that are breaking.
--many stories behind the pencil-- has any returning soldier written of their time in afghanistan or iraq? I'd be intested to know.

God abide and bring peace
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2005