"The American Spirit"

This last week we attended our Chinese daughter-in-law's US citizenship ceremony. I wanted to give her something to honor this auspicious (really big deal) occasion and I thought I would give her a little pocket-size copy of the Declaration and Constitution. When I went looking for that (which I got for her), I discovered David McCullough's "The American Spirit: Who We Are and What We Stand For".

I love McCullough's writing and have read a number of his books including 1776 and John Adams. This book is a compilation of his speeches from 1994 through the present at college graduations, anniversaries of important American institutions, and times when history was important to relate. His words speak to us today as surely as they did when he spoke. He is pithy, humorous and eloquent. He doesn't use long words. He simply puts words together in articulate and impressive ways that bring alive the players from the past so that we can understand ourselves better today.

He writes so well that once I started reading, I decided my 11-year-old granddaughter could read it too. Her mother had expressed and interest and so they received a copy. My best friend teaches government so I sent her a copy. I think a number of other people will receive copies because today we all need the hope for the future that the past can offer.

It is available on Kindle, in hard copy, and probably at your local library. I strongly suggest your reading it. Speeches are short and easy to read and they come with wonderful old pictures. David McCullough is the premiere historian of our times and his words are a blessing today.

Holy Week Humor

I'm not at all sure where I am going with these thoughts, and they make me smile so here they are.

Many of my pastor friends, from several denominations, have posted really wonderful deep reflections on the meaning of Holy Week and especially Good Friday on FaceBook. There have been pictures of lovely poignant altar settings and even videos allowing people who can't get to church a way to attend a Good Friday service. I have participated with my church in VA in a prayer vigil over the course of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. For Christians, it is a time of personal and communal grounding in our faith.

On the other hand, some of these same pastors and active church people have posted delightful, down right funny cartoons and memes focused around the events of this week giving the seriousness of the occasion an ironic, humorous, sometimes even modern political twist.

I find both of these perspectives refreshing and helpful. I guess I believe that if we cannot laugh at that which moves us the most, then we have lost our sense of the spiritual. Jesus certainly had a sense of humor and I think it is important that we keep ours even in the face of our most profound beliefs. If you can laugh at what you hold dearest, then I am more likely to take your declaration of faith more seriously. Blessings to all of you ~ whatever your belief and whatever makes you smile.

Fun Addition to AirBnB Rooms

When we decided to post our two guest rooms on AirBnB, daughter Meredith asked if there were any signs we wanted to put in the rooms. Actually there were. I wanted to remind people to take their chargers because over the years friends and family had left us with chargers to return to them. And I had decided to put books in the rooms that I was willing to donate if someone was reading them and wanted to continue. I needed a sign to say that. Meredith said that anything looked better in cross stitch than handwritten or printed on a computer. Ergo - Here are the signs Meredith created for us. People like them and have commented on them - a couple even glad to be reminded as they walked out the door.

Book shelf in the blue room.

Next to the door as guests exit the blue room.

Book shelf in the purple room. 

Next to the door as guests exit the purple room.

Are you able to tell that the blue room signs are in blue,

the purple in purple. 

Meredith said her name was not to appear on the sign so I placed it on the back just so

we would all know whose lovely work this is.

Finally ~ the one in the library so these books will stay with the house.

Red because I like red!

Thank you So Much, Meredith.