GivingMoreThanks

I am trying to keep my SpotOnTheLake post all business, but GettingDeeper gives me a chance to get a little more personal.  I feel so blessed to have both of my brothers, John and Craig, in the metro area and much of Craig’s family still close by.   John’s children are in Chicago, so we see them less often.   Both of my children, Michael and Lizzy, and their spouses, Emily and Trey,  and my two grandchildren, Evan and Levi, are all within an hour’s drive.   My mom lives right next door to us.  I also love my church, The Vine, and the new friends that I have made there.  Most of all, I feel so thankful to be celebrating my 30^th Anniversary with Caroline this year.  I love her very much.  I hope that all of you have much to be thankful for this year.

Good Sense

I am no history buff, but I do find it interesting.  I just don’t make enough time to read and learn.  I would like to do that more.  You don’t need to be a history buff to know that today is the 50^th anniversary of the death of JFK.    I know that wasn’t that long ago, but I was two years old, so that qualifies as history for me, since it is something I don’t remember experiencing at the time.  I regret to say that due to recent press and the media, I think I know more about JFK’s philandering than I do his presidential policies, but there are a couple of things that I do remember that deserve great admiration.  In his inaugural speech, he spoke the famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”  If we could all adopt this mind set, I believe politics would work a lot better.   I also know that JFK was a leader in civil rights and that he took an active role in getting people to treat each other fairly.  When Coretta Scott King was put in jail for trying to integrate a department store lunch counter, he phoned Georgia Governor Earnest Vandiver to request her release.  Governor Vandiver was born in Franklin County, has a section of I85 named for him and was married to Betty Russell.  The lake just below Lake Hartwell, Lake Russell, is named for Betty’s family.  (Wow, that was a long way to go to get a lake plug in.)  Anyway, today I choose to remember the good that came from the life of JFK.  I hope you do, too.

Patience Pays

Several months ago, I told you about the terrible time that my daughter and son-in-law had trying to purchase a Bank of America short sale.  They were under contract for over a year when Bank of America “accidentally” sent the property to foreclosure.  After that, we urgently started looking for another property.  I am happy to report that they located and have now closed on a new home in Smyrna, and have happily terminated the agreement with Bank of America.   While the wait for a new home was painful at times, their patience has paid off, and they are delighted with their new home.  I am so proud of them.  Thank you all for your prayers and well-wishes.

Jesus and Britney

I am a fan of live theatre.  I actually had some experience (when I was young and cute) on the stage of the Springer Opera House in Columbus.  My largest role was as Winthrop in The Music Man.  My dad was in the show as well, and this is one of my fondest memories of being with him.  Now that I am old and not so cute, Caroline and I and sometimes our kids, enjoy the theater from the audience.  We had a fun trip to New York several years ago where we took in several Broadway shows.  I have very fond memories of that trip.  I was surprised to see this news story today at BroadwayWorld.com.   An investor group is previewing a new show telling the life of Jesus through Britney Spears songs.  There is no spoken dialogue and the lyrics of the songs have not been changed, classifying the show as an opera.   I have to say, this raised my eyebrows a little, as I don’t typically think of Broadway, Britney, Opera and Jesus all in the same sentence.  But after some thought, I realized that if someone is passionate about telling the story of Jesus, I am open to hearing it however it can be told (as long as they stick to the script).