January 2007

Joe began teaching in Shallowater this fall and also working as an assistant football coach, which he dearly loves!  He is teaching his two favorite classes -- Pre Calc and Algebra 2.  Now track season is beginning and Joe is again excited about coaching.  God has truly blessed us with this job for Joe. 

The first part of October I sent out the first of many shipments of JOY IN THE MORNING.  I have heard many positive comments about the book and am receiving frequent repeat orders.  Articles appeared in both the Ulysses, KS and the Eudora, KS newspapers.  Several bookstores are carrying it, but I was not able to advertise JOY in the 21st Century Christian Catalog, because those ads must go in to the company in April, with a promise that all books advertised will be published and ready to sell by September 1 of the same year.  So this spring I will place an ad for the 2008 catalog, along with the other books and CDs I will continue to sell.  If there is a religious bookstore in your community, feel free to ask the owner to carry my book so it will be available to others.  You can tell them about my new web site:  www.joyinthemorn.com

Mom (Ada Bender) turned 81 in September.  Her congestive heart failure has gotten worse, but they have put her on Coreg and she seems to be improving.  She is still able to care for herself, and I just clean her house, take her shopping, etc.

For Eric's birthday in October, Sophie helped me decorate a german chocolate cake, and we took it over to their house before a Texas Tech game, along with pizza for everyone.  It was a lot of fun! 

For Sophie's birthday each Grandma was given a special "job" to do.  The theme was "The Magic School Bus," and the children watched the MSB movie about butterflies.  Judi (Eric's Mom) helped the children paint butterflies, by putting paint on their hands.  Jewel (Connie's Mom) was the storyteller, with her special effects (such as a hat, whistle, ball, etc.).  I helped the children make a picture of the Magic School Bus and also hats with butterflies.  What a special day for all of us!

Then for my birthday Eric, Connie, Sophie and Barrett all came to Shallowater to worship with us and eat the potluck dinner together.  Connie had helped Sophie carve a pumpkin for me.

For Thanksgiving, Eric's parents invited us to join their family at Olton.  They invited my mom, too, but she was not up to traveling and spending a whole day away from home.  We took Grandmother Mable (Sophie's great-grandma) with us, and when we got back she showed us her assisted living apartment.  We are so thankful to be involved in family get-togethers like this!

Eric, Connie, Sophie and Barrett came over to share Joe's birthday dinner on December 12 (and another german chocolate cake, which Sophie helped decorate, of course!).  We got to keep Sophie all night, which was a treat for us!

I had sent out "News Flash" letters (along with our Christmas letters) to those who know Joe, asking that they send a card and/or letter for his 60th birthday, telling memories they have of Joe as their teacher, coworker and friend. I have made a huge scrapbook for him.  There are many funny memories, as well as heartwarming comments.  I added the Christmas family photos when they were sent, so we could look at the pictures of those who wrote.  (If any of you didn't know about it and would like to write, I can still add your message to the scrapbook.)  I told Joe this would be something fun to look at when he is 90 )

Our son Mike came home for Christmas, and brought Maria with him.  They got here Sunday, and we played games with Grandma Ada that afternoon and Christmas Day.  Then Tuesday Eric, Connie, Sophie and Barrett came over to eat the noon meal with us and open gifts.  We played a couple of games and then Sophie stayed here to spend the night with us, while the other three went to Connie's parents' home to be with Connie's sister, who was staying there for the Christmas holiday along with her husband and two boys. 

Let me share a special "connection" I have been able to make for Sophie with her Mommie Angie.  When we were looking for birthday gifts, I found a Holly Hobby dollhouse with the soft rubbery characters to go with it -- Holly Hobby and her two girlfriends.  We gave it to her as a gift to keep at our house.  I showed Sophie the Holly Hobby dolls that Mommie Angie had saved for her daughter.  They are now up on a high shelf close to the ceiling in Sophie's playroom.  The CD we gave her says that this Holly Hobby is the great-granddaughter of the original Holly Hobby (like the ones Angie saved).  When Sophie and I watched the CD, Holly Hobby was looking through a chest in the attic at her aunt's house.  She found some clothing and photos of her great-grandmother, whose name she shares.  Then she sings a song saying that though she never knew her, "I know I'm just like you."  Then for Christmas we found a larger Holly Hobby doll, about the size of the ones Angie had saved, but in modern clothing. Sophie took that gift home with her.  After she watched the CD again when she was spending a couple of nights with us the week after Christmas, I heard Sophie singing part of the song which includes, "I know I'm just like you."  I believe these special connections with Mommie Angie will help Sophie adjust when she grows older and has a better understanding of what happened when she was a baby and her mother died in a car accident.

I just finished teaching LET IT SHINE to my preschool class.  Now I am beginning GOD'S PLAN by Lisa Smith.  I will probably publish both of them at the same time after I finish teaching and editing Lisa's book. 

In closing, let me admonish you to also let your light shine: "Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick: and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:14-16).