Our Little Gem magnolia tree replaced another tree knocked down by a storm in our front yard last year. Now she's finally blooming, just one gorgeous white flower with a sweet fragrance! A large old magnolia tree, Magnificent Maggie, graces our backyard, with spreading branches fit for climbing and dozens of large white blooms. In contrast, Little Gem was bred to be compact, growing up rather than out. She has no chance of producing as many blossoms as Magnificent Maggie, no one is going to sit under her for shade, and the only thing climbing her is a squirrel.
Little Gem newly planted in July 2012
Lots of blooms on Magnificent Maggie in the backyard
What does my Little Gem teach me? I might not be as magnificent as others. I might just be starting out. I may feel inadequate. But there is beauty and promise. I will grow, not like all the others, but just like I am meant to be.
"Do not despise
the day of small things."
Zechariah 10:14
You can see more pictures of Magnificent Maggie's blooms here:
My third daughter, Rachel, graduated from the UCF College of Nursing yesterday.
The festivities started on Tuesday with her pinning ceremony.
My ten children, one son-in-law and I after the pinning
One of my married daughters prepared a reception at her apartment for us after the pinning ceremony.
Grandchildren....
Wednesday night was the Honor's convocation. Rachel took the challenge of doing Honors in the Major, which required a thesis. Here is her bound copy of "Factors Contributing to the Commission of Errors and the Omission of Standard Nursing Practice Among New Nurses."
Rachel with her thesis chairperson, Dr. Linda Gibson-Young
Rachel also graduated Summa Cum Laude ("with highest honors") for having a GPA in the top 2.5% of her class. She is one of only two students in her nursing program to get Summa and do Honors in the Major. We are so proud of her!
Graduation day...
Time for the traditional graduation pictures around campus, including the one at the top of this post...
In the reflecting pool
Let's note here that I am also a UCF alumni, 1985 B.S. Management (see left). So is my oldest daughter, a 2008 Journalism graduate. See Graduation days! (Mary's and mine), The campus has changed so much, but this is one familiar building! I should also note that UCF is now the second largest university in the United States. Go Knights!
Dome in the UCF Student Union building directly above the UCF insignia in the top photo
Dear children,
let us not love with words or speech
but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
Have you been to a ReStore yet? Habitat for Humanity's thrift stores can be found in 825 communities. They don't carry clothes, but they do carry household goods, furniture, appliances, building supplies (sinks, doors, etc.), and books! Our ReStore recently moved from one location to another within the same shopping plaza. The new place looks really small from the outside, but it's huge on the inside, much bigger than the previous spot. I bought this wreath for $6 yesterday for my front door. They were giving out cards for $5 off of a $20 purchase, so I also bought a desk lamp for $4, a hamper for $4, and several nutrition books and a video for $6. I also donated a comforter set that a neighbor had passed along to us.
This cheerful mural adorns one of the walls, and reminds everyone why Habitat for Humanity exists: "Seeking to put God's love into action" by providing affordable housing through community service.
You can help by donating household items to ReStore, donating money to Habitat for Humanity, or volunteering your time either in a ReStore shop or on a house building / restoration project. If you are a high school student living in Florida, you can earn your Bright Futures scholarship volunteer hours, too! Grace, Virginia Knowles www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com
Dear friends, Mindful in the moment? Jim Elliot, a missionary martyred in the 1950's, once wrote,
"Wherever you are, be all there!
Live to the hilt every situation
you believe to be the will of God."
I try to practice mindfulness. It's calming to be able to savor the little beauties and epiphanies that come my way. I recently walked out of my doctor's office and glanced across the street at the hospital parking lot. And a retention pond. Big deal, right? Wait. What? Little beauty waiting for me. I take it where I can find it.
My eyes are attentive. I tune out the cars and asphalt and focus on the reflections of trees in the water. My feet are drawn across the street, down the bank for a closer look.
Two ducks glide around the pond, weaving in and out among the water plants. Do you see them there? They are attentive to me, too, and swim away in caution. I see upside down trees, rippling reflections on the glassy surface.
I walk quietly, not wanting to disturb the rhythms of nature. On the other end of the pond, I bend down to see clusters of orange and yellow composite flowers. I hear rustling around me. Squirrels in the tree are dropping something into the water. A frog plops in with a splash.
My ears are attentive, too. I can hear the whir and chirp of life there. I tune in to their music and switch my iPod camera to record mode. My camera is an extension of me, capturing my memories so I can continue to attend to the beauty.
This is what you would see driving by. Only a road with a yellow traffic line, a parking lot with cars, buildings. Unless, you are paying attention, that is.
That afternoon, in a Christian women's discussion group, our facilitator talks about being mindful as a way of building our spiritual strength and learning to rest in God's providence. I smile. I know this by heart. She hands us hard peppermints, with instructions to suck them slowly, not chewing. Too late. I've already crunched. It's a stress response, I know. But I press the remains tightly between tongue and palate, allowing them to dissolve. The next one I faithfully suck down to the slivers, mindful of the texture and flavor. There is always more to learn, even if we know. So...
Stop.
Look. Listen. Taste. Feel. Smell. You were given five basic senses for a reason: to use them -- and to fully experience all that God has given us!
Think. Savor. Ponder. Wonder. Meditate. Enjoy. Appreciate. You were given a brain, a heart, a spiritual life for a reason: to use them -- and to thank God for all he has given us!
Want more on being mindful of Creation? Look at these photo essays:
Friends, My daughter heard "Soldier" by Gavin DeGraw on the radio recently and played it for me on YouTube. I love the positive message of the song, and I'm delighted that my son found this version of the video, dedicated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which highlights folks who are doing good in their communities in various ways. Enjoy! (If you are reading this through e-mail or feed reader, click on my original post here to watch the video.) Gavin DeGraw "Soldier"
Here is the chorus: I'll get it if you need it, I'll search if you don't see it, You're thirsty, I'll be rain, You get hurt, I'll take your pain. I know you don't believe it, But I said it and I still mean it, When you heard what I told you, When you get worried, I'll be your soldier.
I'm playing this music video in my English class today since it goes along with our literature and history theme for the week. (We're learning about King Robert Bruce and the fight for Scottish independence with a story and a poem about Bruce and the spider, as well as the poem "Bannockburn" by Robert Burns.)
I think this "Soldier" song embodies the spirit of chivalry as it applies in our millennium.
P.S. I haven't done any "A Worthy Cause"posts recently, but I think this one qualifies: The Wounded Warrior Project's mission is "to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history." Find out more here: http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org
