Our children are watching us live, and what we ARE shouts louder than anything we say. Wilferd A Peterson
"Ms. Mann, I'm scared of the thunder." "Ms. Mann, I don't like that word die." "Ms. Mann, I said I was sorry."
When all this war began and I would go in to pray with Sam at night we would talk about the children of Iraq. We live near the airport and sometimes Dyess Air Force base uses the runway to practice landing and taking off. We sometimes hear fighter planes or B-52s flying over. Sam and I talked about what it must be like for the children in Iraq and the other children of the world to fall asleep afraid. They fall asleep to the sound of explosions or gunfire. I worry about them and my heart breaks for them. How I would love to be their teacher and hold them and read to them and provide a safe heart for them. Maybe one day when my babies are all set I will travel to another country and do this. I am not so naive to not know that we have children here in our own country who fall asleep to gunfire and hate and gangs and absence of a government helping them have a school room where the roof does not leak. When we went to Mexico on several mission trips we would sit in the building on the border filling out our paper work. It was always an emotional time for me as the children would come by with gum to sell and they would look so lost but when you would smile at them they always seemed to find a smile. I would sit there with the flies buzzing around me wiping my tears. My heart simply breaks for the children...all children who fall asleep at night to war be it a real war or an emotional war. God bless the children...
*From "Bless the Beasts and the Children" by The Carpenters
Starry, starry night, Paint your palette blue and gray, look out on a summer's day, with eyes that know the darkness in my soul*
Van Gogh on Facing a Blank Canvas: "Just slap anything on when you see a blank canvas staring you in the face like some imbecile. You don't know how paralyzing that is, that stare of a blank canvas is, which says to the painter, ‘You can't do a thing’. The canvas has an idiotic stare and mesmerizes some painters so much that they turn into idiots themselves. Many painters are afraid in front of the blank canvas, but the blank canvas is afraid of the real, passionate painter who dares and who has broken the spell of `you can't' once and for all.” (Letter to Theo van Gogh, October 1884)
I took an Art class at ACU. We were to paint a landscape copying a picture we would find. We were to mix our own colors. I remember that I knew exactly what I was going to paint and had my brush loaded but just couldn't put my brush to the clean white art paper. My teacher strolled by and said, "Beverly, just start painting." I was afraid, but once I started painting it was like I was all alone in my experience. I loved it. My mamma framed my first painting and my teacher really liked it. I also did a sculpture of a fish. I loved that class which surprised me because of my fear of my lack of talent as an artist. I would like to paint again one day...maybe this summer.
Its scarey sometimes faced with a blank canvas..a new painting.. a new begining...I have had friends saying lately, "Beverly, just start painting." So...I think I will...
There is something I admire about my son. Sam has had back problems as many of you know and could not start out the year playing football in high school. This was a great disappointment to Sam but because of his back he was not able to play sports. These last two months have been healing for Sam's back so the Doctor said he could increase his activity. He tried out for Freshman baseball team and didn't make it. I was so worried that this would knock him down but Sam told me, "Its okay Mom, I am going to work on getting in shape." He's been running the 2 mile track around ACU in 14 minutes. What I really admire about all this is that he went to the Freshman baseball team scrimmage to support his buddies who did make the team. Man, I loved that. I was so proud of him. These last few months have been light and dark for Sam and I am amazed at how he has come through it. I appreciate the college guys and Sam's good friends who have been there for him. There are some older high school boys and college guys that have been playing ultimate frizbee on Sundays and Sam eats it up. So...I just wanted to say that I love my boy and if you see him give him a hug because he has faced darkness and chose light.
I am loved....I get marriage proposals and lots of hugs and kisses everyday from my little class...I have two amazing and beautiful kids who love me and snuggled with me last night. I am loved by my God who walks with me everyday through darkness and light.
My prayer for all of you today is that you feel loved today....cause well...that's all you need right?!!!
I like the fact that you have to go inside to pay for your gas...I like to talk to those people who work at Skinny's. I usually put in $5.00 at a time and this one lady who works there thinks its funny. Anyways, just wanted to say that I like her. I'm glad I don't own a credit card then I would miss meeting her and getting that sarcastic smile that says, "Um..you realize that you will be back here tomorrow to put 5 more dollars in and maybe you should go ahead and put $10 in?" Went with a friend down to 6th street to hear some good music in Austin and a homeless guy gave me and my friend roses so my friend gives him money and then gives him her rose back so he can sell it again..so I hand mine back and I think that's pretty cool of my friend.
I've been reading e.e. cummings as of late and I like it...
To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting....e.e. cummings
Everybody was kung-fu fighting. Those kicks were fast as lightning*
Okay...I remember a few years back when every saturday night Sam and I would lay down on the floor and watch Texas Walker Ranger or whatever it's called. Sam loved Chuck Norris and being a bit non-violent I felt pangs of guilt for letting Sam watch it much less watch it with him. It was a fun bonding time so I felt okay about it. (I also thought, Cole, that he made need those moves riding the bus.)
Someone in my high school group at church on Sunday made some funny joke about the 4th person in the fire with Shadrach, Mechach and Abendigo (spelled phonetically) was Chuck Norris. There are all these Chuck Norris jokes out there. I thought I would share a few.
Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.
Chuck Norris’ hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was....Job 2
I know Job's friends turned out to be real jerks but those first seven days and seven nights they sat with him in his troubles.
Do you find that we are sometimes uncomfortable with those in pain and even more uncomfortable to sit with them in their crud? Sometimes we want to pray it over so we can hear the victory story..but oh such holy moments when we just sit there with them in their crud...
hmm... I'm Beverly, I love my kids and my dog...I love the ocean because it screams to me the awesome power of God....I am really afraid of heights, but I did go climbing and rappelling once...I love for people to make me laugh and I love to make others laugh...I love really scary movies but when the lights go out and I go to bed I find myself checking under the bed, and kicking myself for watching them..I love rain hitting the windows of the car..I absolutely love thunderstorms..I love children and how Jesus took snotty, loud, little kids on His lap, even at the protest of His followers...I sometimes jump in too quickly and that gets me in trouble...In my life, I had to actually touch the stove to believe it was hot..
Don't miss an opportunity to be His light to others...
Our children are watching us live, and what we ARE shouts louder than anything we say. Wilferd A Peterson 
