President Bush

I am saddened to hear that President George H.W. Bush is not doing well in a Texas hospital.  We have our own special memory of him.  On our Maine trip in June 2010, we saw his home in Kennebunkport, ME.  We knew it was in the area, but there were many large homes along the beachfront road we were on.  So we asked a woman walking along which one was the Bushes'; her response was "Oh, keep going along this road, and you'll know it when you see it."  She was so right.  We went about another mile, then rounded a curve and this was the sight across the cove!

We stopped and looked for a few minutes from across the cove (many people do; there is even a resting bench along with a plaque there), when two boats - a large speedboat and a smaller grey one following - came roaring into the cove.  Someone near us could tell that the president was driving the speedboat (which in this picture has already sped into the cover and turned around).  The second one was the Secret Service detail.

It was very slow going for the former president to get out of the boat and up to his house.  This is blurry because of the focusing limitations of my point-and-shoot.  But he is the one in the rust-colored pants.

George Bush Sr. may not be able to walk well, but he sure can drive a boat!!!  We wish him well there in that Texas hospital, and pray for his recovery and for his spiritual condition at this time.

Christmas Letter 2012

Christmas 2012

2012 has proven to be a multi-faceted time for the Mike Bailes family.

Mike and I have had an eventful year.  We went to the College World Series in Nebraska in June to watch the Gamecocks in action – an unplanned but great trip.  Mike is in his 24^th year at the nuclear station; I am in my 33^rd year of teaching in Christian schools, though now in a slightly different role as an all-English teacher.  I’m brushing up on my grammar skills and it’s a new challenge.  Mike just returned from Canada.  He says this year was the crown jewel of 42 years of deer hunting – it was a trip that will probably never be topped.

Andrew has been traveling all year, first singing with the Promise Trio, and the second half with the Blackwood Quartet.  He has learned much and had many wonderful experiences.  He is now determining if he wants to continue in this long-term, or, if not, what he’d like to do as far as a direction in life.

Mary Lee continues at North Greenville University, doing well in her education classes, and last spring being inducted into the national reading honor society. She could possibly graduate with honors if she stays on course.  She works as an assistant in the administration offices, and they love her there.  She just took a weeklong education and missions trip to Guatemala and had a wonderful time.  Now she’s ready for Christmas break before tackling another semester.

The year has been colored by the loss of Mike’s youngest sister Jane in May.  The verses in Lamentations 3:21-24 have spoken to us many times since then:  “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.  The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”

God bless you in this Christmas season and as we move into 2013.

Friday's Fave Five - December 21, 2012

Link to the homepage for Friday's Fave Five

The end of first semester means that a lot of things do not get done, such as updating blogs or contributing to Friday's Fave Five (last week). . .

Anyway. . .

1. All exams are written, given, graded, recorded, and grades averaged for first semester.  (Well, the computer does the averaging now, but it sounds good.) :-)  I counted them up yesterday, and this week, with some help, I've graded 16,000 exam questions this week!

2. Most Christmas shopping is done.

3. Mike comes off night shift this morning, for the weekend.

4. Family will be in this weekend.

5. Christmas break starts today at 11:30!!!

Birthday

I had a birthday today, a half-decade birthday.  Saturdays are quiet but nice days to have a birthday.  It's nicer with FB.  I got a lot of birthday wishes from old friends, ones I don't see much of any more but are fun to keep in contact with on FB.

I haven't had to cook since Wednesday night.  Mom made a birthday supper Thursday night, Mike made spaghetti Friday night (as well as breakfast both yesterday and this morning), and we went out with our good friends Jack and Patty tonight.  It's going to be a weird feeling to have to break down and cook a meal tomorrow.

Yesterday a student and her mom gave me balloons attached to a 2-liter of Diet Sunkist (my favorite), as well as a gift card to Texas Roadhouse, including a coupon for a free appetizer and a $5 bill for the tip.  It was a very nice example of thinking of all the details.  It's nice to be remembered like that.  The mother said (in essence) "I just enjoy being a blessing to people."  She was!!

Turkeys

I posted a photo of the turkeys in our back yard on Saturday night.  Today our neighbor sent me this one, which he took on Sunday morning on his way to church.  This is the side of our yard, a much better photo, and he counted 17 turkeys in all!

E.B. White writing CHARLOTTE'S WEB - We Were There (Location, not Time)

A former student, interested in the concepts of living and working in small spaces, posted on FB a pic. of E.B. White writing CHARLOTTE'S WEB in the little boathouse, overlooking the cove on the coast of Maine.  This is where he wrote the entire book - just him and his typewriter in the little building.  There's not much more to it than is shown in this picture.

And here we are in the same little building some 60 years later, on our trip to Maine two summers ago.  It was a big treat to get to sit in the same place - and now is special to compare it to the picture above, which I hadn't seen until Sunday.

Birds in Our Yard

You can see a cute little Carolina Chickadee at the tall feeder if you look carefully.  So far the finch irruption, other than the red-breasted nuthatches (which I have not yet been able to get a picture of), has not yet materialized.  But I've been doing some reading and many who are experts on birds in the south seem convinced that this may be a big year.

The red-breasted nuthatches are there every day.  I saw them often this weekend, and have seen them in the afternoons during the week also.  There are at least two coming regularly; this is new for our feeder this year.  Apparently it has been several years since they were in our area.  They are very tame and do not spook easily.

We also had a red-bellied woodpecker, Carolina wren, and goldfinches. as well as the usual tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees, who think they own the place.  They chatter noisily at me when I try to fill the feeders - they are unhappy that they have to wait.

I talked Mike into moving the bird bath out from the pool enclosure, which he has done.  There are a couple of suet feeders and I'm thinking about adding some other things.  I want to make this a buffet for any unusual birds that may pass this way!

Last night Mike went out to the grill to put some hamburgers on - and came back quickly with the news that "There are 22 turkeys in our back yard."  I grabbed the camera and this is what I got.  It's close to dusk, so the pictures aren't great, but you can see them.  The blurry places are birds that were spooked by the flash.

Quite an experience to see on a December evening.

Thoughts of Christmas

Written by Mike on his birthday (today):

--------------------------------------------------------------          

    Ahh Christmas – the day/season of the year that evokes so many responses from us.

    We get fretful and anxious, stressed out and tired, disappointed and depressed. We look forward to it and are glad when it is over.

   Yet, we enjoy it as we see friends and family that we miss all through the year. Our spirits are lifted by the lights, the decorations, and the smell of evergreen trees. Childhood memories of the excitement brought on by Christmas meals and opening gifts swirl through our minds when we witness a scene that prompts such thoughts. We watch George C. Scott on TV and are reminded of the deeper meanings of life that are neglected through the rest of the year. 

    But why Christmas? Why does all of this not happen on Memorial Day or July 4^th?

   I believe it is because deep down inside us, we know there is more meaning to it than what our physical senses perceive. We know that what Christmas has become is a colorful façade, strategically hiding its true significance. Because of how we were raised we know the Christmas story. We heard it many times.

   And yes, we can enjoy certain moments during the season of Christmas. But we can also know the richness of its meaning if we will take time to look beyond the bows and tinsel. If we contemplate a manger scene in someone’s yard and realize the wonder of its purpose; if we seek out someone who is hurting and provide them with love and hope. If we think outside the box of self and live out our intended purpose in the lives of others; if we share the load of difficulties carried by ones who bear a greater burden than we ………………. I believe that we will be able to look back on this Christmas when it’s over and realize we have grown because of it, and anticipate the next one with a new hope and a new vision.

Friday's Fave Five - December 7, 2012

Link to Friday's Fave Five blog:

1. Today is my husband's birthday.  And HE cooked breakfast for ME.  What is wrong with this picture?!!  (or right, depending on one's perspective. . .)

2. ML is, as far as we know, safely in Guatemala and I hope having a wonderful trip that will mean much to her in years to come.

3. My folks kindly took her to the airport on Tuesday morning, very early, which helped me a lot since I had to work that morning.

4. An extension of ML's and my favorite thrift store has opened just two blocks from school.  It's run by  a Mennonite group and is always nice to browse in because everything is so clean and neat.  I hope the new one is as good as the one several miles from here.

5. Andrew was home until Wednesday again this week, and again was a big help, both at home and in volunteering here at school.

A Minister as a Servant

John Macarthur, EPHESIANS commentary, p. 94:

"Then or now, the man who is genuinely called by God is in constant danger of losing his effectiveness by coming to think of himself as more than a servant.  When he loses his sense of servanthood, at that same time he loses his spiritual power and usefulness.  When he exalts himself and begins to work in his own human power and according to his own plans, he competes with God and forfeits his spiritual power.  To lose dependence is to lose everything, because everything that is of any value in our lives, including power for effective service, comes only from the Lord.  Among the greatest dangers to the ministry, and to all faithful Christian living, are the things that in the world's eyes are of supreme value - personal ambition, prestige, recognition, honor, reputation, and success.  God not only chooses weak and foolish people to save (I Cor. 1:26-29), but weak and foolish preachers through whom to save them (2 Cor. 11:30; 12:7-10).  For those not willing to pay that price, their seeking the position is illegitimate."