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.