Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Summer

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, 

the birds are singing, and lawn mower is broken." 

James Dent

God and the Math Professor

My memories from my college are a bit faded.  Large lecture halls, small discussion rooms, dreaded tests, blue exam books, …blurry… I vaguely remember my math professor. Why did I enroll in this course?  Simple, I had to take this course in order to graduate.  

My memories from high school geometry are more vivid.  Of course, Mr. Chastain, my geometry teacher was unforgettable.  Mr. Chastain’s dry sense of humor was often directed at his students. I have a few  memories that are lodged in my brain.  Other concepts from those classes are more difficult to retrieve; I simply don’t use many of the concepts.   Once I met the requirements for high school or college gradation requirements, I sighed with relief.  No more math tests!  

Now, years later, I have a dear prayer partner who is an assistant math professor at the University of Kentucky.  Our friendship began as a result of a small group Bible study from our church.  Young, attractive, and articulate, Christa is gifted professor.   Christa shared the topic of her doctorial dissertation, “A Study of Elementary Mathematics Teachers’ Knowledge of Equity” During the course of her career, Christa will have the opportunity to teach, train, mold, and encourage the next generation of elementary and secondary math teachers. Why teach math?  She said, "  While others encouraged her to go into medicine or other careers, she said, "I have always wanted to teach math." This is Dr. Jackson's calling...teaching. 

Who likes math? Last night, I enjoyed dinner with a group of young men and women, that love math.  Growing up they enjoyed and excelled in their math and science.  As engineers, they love numbers and the real life application they have in their daily professions.   As members of NSBE, * ( National Society of Black Engineers) the group works with middle school and high school student to introduce them to the possibilities of engineering as a career.  I discovered more about Chemical Engineers that I wanted to know… They probably enjoyed their math classes in college. 

So why did I title this post, God and the math professor?   I was thinking about the hundreds of students that Dr. Stephens touched as the Head of the Math Department at Anderson University. I know the students of Dr. Stephens will have found memories of their professor.    As Stan and Christie begin the next chapter of their lives,  I hope the Math Professor and the Poet will have time to visit Lexington.  

Last night's after dinner picture with some of the NSBE group

.    

Made for Each Other

Young love So sweet So pure

It marvels at its discovery

Its luck Its fortune

Stands in awe of

Its atomic power

Amazed ---

It searches for adequate words

Finds none to please but

Compelled by such force

It writes/composes bard's lyrics

A song to the beloved

That would make Rumi dance

Then sings it with the band

Into the warm Spring night

It is as we say

A beautiful thing

The not so young

Remember for a moment

What it was like

Once upon a time

And though we would not

For the very life of us

Change places

Even if we could

A melancholy sweeps

Over our weary hearts

As we look at the

Old stars still shining

While the words/the music of

This holy night

Wrap a time warp around

Our ever dreaming souls

Here we are

Made for each other

After all these years

Blinking our wide open eyes

Swaying with the children

In the southern breeze of

Happily Ever After

It's a beautiful thing . . .

Aunt Christie

May 23, 2011

For my nephew Will and new niece Fawn.

Will wrote a song for Fawn that was sung at the wedding rehearsal dinner entitled "Made for Me." This poem is my response to his lovely song.

I love "Made for Me" and the poet who wrote it! God bless the troubadour and his beloved! And their parents! Always! Such a lovely wedding!

Cheap Movie Tickets

My pastor just posted this on Facebook. Great deal on LivingSocial.com, so I thought I'd pass it along. Two movie tickets from Fandango for $9.00! I just bought mine to enjoy sometime soon.

http://livingsocial.com/deals/57725-two-movie-tickets/social_share?ref=addthis-share5

June 9

Today is a bittersweet day for me. It is my birthday and I have always looked at my birthday as a celebration of life. I thank God for all of my opportunities and feel blessed to be in this world. It is also my son, Chris' birthday. Chris passed away two and a half years ago. I miss him greatly, but know that he would want me to celebrate this day, rather than mourn his loss. So, for Chris, here is to today, our birthday! Sending you so much love and remembering many wonderful years with you!

My daughter-in-law sent a video to me from my grandson, Matthew singing Happy Birthday. Chris would be so proud! I know it sure made my day! I viewed it in QuickTime. I hope you are able to view this as well.

Daily Rituals

I enjoy my  daily ritual of walking Jackson at the park.   Arriving at the park around 7:00 a.m. allows me to beat the heat of the day.  A fresh new day... a new beginning.  

sunday morning

If people want to visit

Catch up on all the news

Find out how life's been going

Talk and talk like there's

No tomorrow

They should go to Starbucks

Order a latte or two

Sit in the easy chairs or under the

Mermaid's umbrella

Spend the day

Shooting the breeze

Such activity is important

It's what friends do from

Time to time

And it brings great joy

Friendship and sharing are

Treasures of life

But if people want to visit

Catch up on all the news

Find out how life's been going

Talk and talk like there's

No tomorrow

They shouldn't go to church

Sit in the pew in front of me

Speak loudly to one another

Through the beautiful music

Of the handbell choir

Musicians who have studied

Practiced long hours to play

Classical compositions

Intended to bring us closer to

The heart of God

And they shouldn’t continue their

Animated conversation

Through the choir's anthem

As though nothing but their

Chatter mattered

No they should not do this

On Sunday morning

In sanctuaries where others

Have come to have their souls

Lifted by angelic voices

Tuned instruments

Harmony of heaven

Music of the spheres

They should not do this in

The House of God

Not when there is a Starbucks

On almost every corner and

Though the coffee is expensive

The talk is cheap

Christie

June 5, 2011

A Dog's Purpose

Forgive me, I have posted once today, out of turn, and am posting a second time. But I wanted to share this with you all, as I know there are many pet lovers in the group. I feel pets enrich our lives and make us happier, healthier people. I think you will enjoy this.

Sometimes, A Dog's Purpose is just to remind us that pure joy is free and ours for the choosing. Here's a minute and a half of a dog who was given a room full of balloons to pop on his birthday, take his example and allow yourself to feel joy today.

A Dog's Purpose

Bunk's Second Birthday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwdlXZzZpRM

In praise of teachers

The headlines of my county paper this morning read Pink Slips given to 36 teachers in Avon. I feel this is so sad for our children and the future in our schools. The article went on to say they were cutting $3.7 million from their budget next year. I feel that teachers hold one of the most important jobs in the world. They are educating our future populations. It is a difficult job, at best, low paying, lots of hours, blood, sweat and tears. A big thank you to all of those involved in the education of our children.

It is with great pride that I share with you my two grandchildren, Matthew and Taylor, will be completing kindergarten on Monday, June 6th. Thank you to their teachers and all involved with the education of these two and to all school children! My grandchildren have grown personally and have learned so much. When I was in kindergarten, I attended in a lady's home. We colored, ate snacks and napped. My grandchildren can read, have learned simple math and so much more....without even taking one nap! :)

I know the nex 12 years will go by too quickly and these two will be graduating from high school. I will enjoy watching them learn and grow through the years. Congratulations Matthew and Taylor!

Wordless Wednesday

June Sunset