J's Cafe Nette

Archive for the ‘Children’ Category

I haven’t given you an update on Belle, our Youth Minister’s and his wife’s two year old daughter, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer some many months ago.

Belle and her mother have been at St. Jude Children’s Hospital (which is thinking of using Belle in a commercial) for nearly four months now.

It’s easy for us to pray for them all the time, but we aren’t the ones going through the fire. Although I have confidence that God will heal this baby, there are always those human doubts.

On Tuesday, Kelley (Belle’s mother) seemed to be a bit down and exhausted. Some of the women they know well from the church (our veterinarian’s wife in particular) have taken at least monthly trips to be with Kelley and Belle and to help with anything they can to make their lives a little more “normal” and “easy” if normal and easy are possible when your entire world has been turned upside down.

I want to give you Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s posts from Belle’s CaringBridge Journal:

First is Tuesday’s, which I found to be terribly difficult to read and yet inspiring at the same time. It’s been a long time away from the Dad and the other three children, although they do get to Memphis every few weeks.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 1:04 PM, EST
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb. 12:1-3

In 2 days, we will have been gone from home for 4 months; I am tired. Although this is a remarkable place, I am tired of the day to day life of St. Jude. The labs, the waiting, the clinic visits, the waiting, the medicine room, and more waiting. Vital signs, blood and platelet transfusions, bags of fluid, IV poles, dropping counts, low magnesium, flushing lines, toxins being put into my little girl’s body in an effort to rid her of the horrific cancer that still remains, and the list goes on.

Why was this the race marked out for me, for Belle, for David, Taylor, Emily and Jack? I do not know, and it is not my place to question a Supreme, Almighty, Powerful God that has everything under His control. So, I will run the race with perseverance, fixing my eyes on Jesus, knowing that He endured far more than I have had to. I will not grow weary, and I will not lose heart.

I am not the same person I was 4 months, and I can’t say that I want to go back to being the person that I was. I am a more insightful, caring, compassionate, appreciative and patient person than I was a few months ago. I was snapped out of my “comfy” little world with just 2 words, “brain tumor.” I would not wish this on anyone, but this is now my race and I will run it the very best that I can knowing that my strength comes from the Lord.

Please continue to pray that Belle’s counts would rise; that David and the kids would remain healthy for their upcoming visit, and that we would see miraculous results on Feb. 26th. Thanks for your prayers, it is where our strength comes from.

Love,

Kelley

Where does she find the strength to go on in this mission to save their daughter’s life? She finds it from God and from the members of the church, who are constantly praying for them. Friends of people of the church, all over the country, are also lifting them up in prayer.

We pray for them, which is the best thing we can do even if we could be there, and we ask others to pray for them and we all wait, with the faith she will be healed. But, what if God sees fit to take this child Home with him? This little girl I have come to know only from the journal entries since I have no youth of ours in the church.

As a human I feel so helpless in my own powers to do anything to help these people, except make a meal for the family still here in town, volunteer to watch the children if David goes alone to visit his wife and daughter, but I haven’t done that yet as I do not know David, but telling him I’m a member of First Baptist Church would certainly mean he would be welcoming of at least a meal and help in doing the mundane chores of cleaning the house and doing the laundry, grocery shopping etc.

I can’t help with the children because they don’t know me and it would be tough for them to be around someone they don’t know, but God has been good and has touched the hearts of everyone in our church congregation so that people who do know them–teenagers and their parents especially, plus the other ministers and their families have been able to fill that gap.

If I were a betting person I would bet they even buy the family groceries without charge to David, although my husband did run into David at the grocery store recently.

When Belle was first diagnosed David had a high deductible insurance plan he chose because he thought with a young family he wouldn’t need something more. I’m sure he changed it since then since the church benefits offer a variety of insurance plans. Back then there was an extremely high deductible and co-pay for the Mitchells and it would have made a huge dent in their finances.

The congregation was notified, the church gave some to help with the expenses, and a lot of us pitched in with gifts so that in the end they had their deductible met, relieving them of one more worry. Maybe it’s time for us to donate more money, as these trips to Memphis, even if David takes the kids by car, are expensive.

Let me tell you an anecdote: Last week Jack, their son, and then David came down with strep throat. David and the other children were to have gone to Memphis to visit Kelley and Belle that weekend. Because they were sick and because Belle can’t afford to be around anyone sick David asked the airline if he could change the tickets for the trip. The airline said they could change the tickets but it would cost $150 per ticket to change. That’s $600, probably the same price as the ticket, if not more.

Word got out and people began to pray that God would work this out. There are some in our congregation who could have, and probably would have, given them the $600 as a love gift, but people began to pray about the situation.

You may think we are crazy, but the Lord sent about 3 or 4 inches of snow on that Friday night, and it was enough for the airline to change the tickets at no additional charge! They will be flying to Memphis this weekend, with everyone so far still healthy! God works in mysterious ways, and now we are calling it our answered prayer for the Mitchell family. The snow melted quickly the next day. Three inches of snow in this area of the country is enough to shut everything down for days.

Now for Wednesday’s entry in the Journal:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:35 PM, EST
Belle’s counts are up today! Her hemoglobin, platelets and magnesium were all good; and her ANC was 6,000! She is napping right now and looking forward to playing with Haley when she wakes up! Continue to pray that her counts would remain high and that David and the kids would stay healthy. We are looking forward to a great weekend with them! Thanks for your prayers and the encouraging messages.

Love,

Kelley

What a difference some numbers make in the weariness of the mother, who misses her husband other children, and is worried to death about her youngest child.

For daily updates and to offer your encouragement I urge you to go to Belle’s CaringBridge Journal

For those of you who do pray and believe in our God I ask you to pray that when Feb. 25 gets here and Belle has tests to see if there are any tumors in her back or anywhere else, there will be none and Belle will be able to go home with her family and get her medication in pill form.

It’s been a long 5 or 6 months for this family. Please lift them up in prayer and ask God to perform the miracle that is necessary to keep this child alive and cancer-free.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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A sensational performance by The African Children’s Choir.

Allow a few moments for the commentary to finish and sit back and enjoy (as the crowd did) this delightful group of youngsters entertain with their rendition of “Walking In The Light”:

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Not even the children can escape the clumsiness of the current administration:

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Last Tuesday we attended our granddaughter’s school Christmas Concert. I’m going to give you three selections from the concert.

The first is “White Christmas” featuring my granddaughter as the first soloist. There’s a story behind this. When she started singing her microphone wasn’t working so the teacher/conductor stopped the show and told her to cross the stage to get the other microphone and told the other two girls to improvise, and that’s why you will hear applause as she finished her part of the solo and the next girl picked up her part.

White Christmas

The second is the group of boys singing an upbeat old black spiritual, “Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet”. Remember, these are just middle school kids and they sound pretty good even though most of them haven’t gone through a voice change yet.

Hand Me Down My Silver Trumpet

I particularly wanted you to hear the brief solo in the following song because it is sung by a seventh-grade boy. He has a beautiful voice and could have done the entire song himself.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I hope this brings you some Christmas cheer as you listen to these middle-schoolers performing in front of 600 people for two consecutive shows.

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Even when times are tough in America, the generosity and compassion of her citizens never darkens.

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Our youngest grandchild turned 8 years old today, but that’s not what I want to tell you about him.

He’s a very smart little boy and as he told me last night when I asked if he would help my husband install some new gates, “I’m not just a kid. I’m a kid with a mind and I use it for reading, doing math, playing my games, but I’m not good at putting things together. I even have trouble putting legos together.”

I noticed a little later on that he had a sticker on his shirt that he had received in school. It said, I’m thankful for and the children had to write in the things they were thankful for.

Unlike some of his classmates who said they were thankful for the parents, dogs, ice cream etc., my grandson wrote on his that he is thankful for “God, Heaven and Jesus”. Seems he has his eye on the prize and not the little things of the world.

He often talks to me about spiritual things and last week I told him he was almost 8 years old and in ten years he’d be 18 years old and a man. I said I hoped he still came to visit us and help us to go places we might not be able to navigate then. His response was that he thought by the time he was 18 we’d be dead! I told him I hoped not, but it shows the depth of his thoughts.

He’s definitely his grandfather’s boy and worships my husband. The feeling is reciprocated. My husband calls him “my boy” and he has me wrapped around his finger so tightly I find it hard to tell him no to things such as spending an extra night here.

I’m as close to his sister and she to me as my husband and grandson are with each other.

Lest you think we are playing favorites we stay in touch with our son’s children in Texas and give them advice when they ask or just praise them for their accomplishments with a little bribe for getting good grades.

If I had known how wonderful grandchildren are I would have had them first. I know that’s impossible, but the joys of being a grandparent surpass anything I have known other than falling in love, getting married, seeing my own children for the first time, and being proud of their accomplishments.

It seems we have more time, patience and a softer heart with these four children and they will always be my little babies as long as I live.

Happy birthday, Ry-Ry! You said it feels really, really good to be 8. I know whatever you do in life you will never disappoint us.

We love you all, Patrick, Kelsey, Ashley and Ryan.

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Here’s the latest from Belle’s father:

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 1:24 PM, EDT

Guess who may be going home in the next couple of days? Yes, Belle Belle. The doctor said that she was doing awesome and made an amazing turnaround.She has been doing some physical therapy in the playroom and getting stronger by the day.

This little girl is making up for all of the missed meals. She is eating everything that isn’t nailed down. She is also turning into her normal self with her two-year old attitude. It is awesome to behold.

We are waiting on the oncologist who is coming by this afternoon. I will let you all know what he says about the next steps.

We are excited about progress and fearful about the future. I know God is with us and will work all things for His good, but somehow I still have a giant butterfly in my stomach.

We love you all and thank you for your continued prayers.

Mommy, Daddy and Belle Belle

This is wonderful news and we need to continue to pray that any other tumors will be dissolved and she will be cured of the one taken from her brain.

Praise God for answering prayer! Keep praying!

Journal updated at 2:12 PM:

Just spoke with the Oncologist and are trying to digest what he has told us. Looks like we will start Chemo right away. They are going to try to use chemo to keep the cancer under control until she turns three. They will not give radiation to children under 3 due to the damaging effect.

Belle’s cancer is rare and tough to beat, so the docs arent giving us much to hope on. They are painting a fairly dismal picture of her chances, but they are not impossible. I keep thinking that with God, all things are possible.

I just want Him to step in and show these doctors what He can do to heal a baby from cancer when they can’t find a way. Please pray for the next steps. I hurt every time I hear about the process she is getting ready to go through, the surgeries and the treatments.

As Jeanette asked above, please keep praying. Sue

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Thanks to the many who have visited and graciously offered their prayers and thoughts for Belle and her family.

Here is the latest update on this precious little one via CaringBridge:

Monday, October 5, 2009 2:04 PM, EDT
I wish I had great news update for you all, but we are still in the deja vu loop of waiting. We are waiting for the doctors to give us the updates to pass them on to you.

Belle Belle has been sitting up and talking to her mommy and daddy, but after about an hour she crashes and has to sleep a while. She is so cute. It is hard to see her little body hooked up to all of those needles pumping meds into her body.

I know this has been a long process, but please dont grow weary and continue to pray for my baby girl.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Galatians 6:9

*Update

Monday, October 5, 2009 7:59 PM, EDT
Prayer update. They have shut off the drain in Belle’s head and are planning on removing it totally tomorrow. Tonight is the test to see if her little body can handle the fluid. God has led us to this point, and we expect great things in the morning.

Thanks for your prayers.

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I’ve been telling you the story of Belle, the two year old daughter of our church’s youth minister.

Belle was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and was operated on last Monday to remove the orange-sized tumor.

Here are the latest posts from CaringBridge on Belle. I am deleting all names except Belle’s to protect the family’s privacy.

Saturday, October 3, 2009 12:12 PM, EDT

I wish to write a huge entry about how she is doing better than anyone ever dreamed, but that just hasn’t happened yet. It seems that for every step forward she makes, she slips back a little here and there. We are still waiting on the drains to be removed and for her body to get rid of the fluid on its own. We made the move from ICU to Progressive care which has been a blessing because that tells us she is progressing. Belle is starting to experience a little more pain as she comes around and that is concerning.

They are going to try to stand her up today, but we can’t get her to sit up because it hurts her little head. So Daddy will not hang around for that or I might hurt some physical therapist. She did tell me that she loves me, which started another round of tears.

I have tried to sit and read the posts that you all have written, but every time I try to read them I breakdown in tears. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to (my wife) and I to hear from some of you and to read your prayers for our baby girl. We love you all so much and thank you for your continued prayers as we go through this storm.

Love you all,

Daddy, Mommy and Belle Belle

PS – While I was typing this update Belle began to throw up and was rushed down for a CT scan to see what is going on in her brain. This is like a roller coaster. Please pray hard.

Saturday, October 3, 2009 5:40 PM, EDT

Today has been a day of ups and down. Belle is doing much better after her spell this morning. She has stopped throwing up and has even been more responsive to some of the medicines. She has had a rough day! Lots of test and checking things to see why this drain is not working.

She has taken to her new favorite game, kicking daddy in the head. She thinks its funny!

Doctor said that unless she responds better to the drains and the fluid quits building, she will have to have another surgery. We do not want her to have to go through another surgery. Please keep praying.

Love You All,
Daddy, Mommy and Belle Belle

PS – I am not sure what it is about writing these things, but as I was writing the above she started throwing up. Just a little, but it still scares her daddy.

Please continue to pray for Belle and her entire family. She has two sisters and one brother who are having to have grandparents care for them while her parents are at the hospital for Belle, and they are all young too.

We are taking this day by day with faith that God will remove whatever obstacle is in the way that day and eventually that she will be healed of this terrible disease.

While I’m talking about sick children let me mention that both Sue and I have had and are still having sick grandchildren.

Sue’s granddaughter has been sick for a couple of weeks with whatever crud is going around now. She’s on antibiotics and seems to be improving, but has still had to stay home from school sick again. Sue says she’s getting better.

My husband’s and my granddaughter in Texas has just gotten over a mild case of H1N1 (swine flu) and our little guy (the youngest grandchild and he lives in town with us) was sent home from second grade last Thursday with a sore throat and fever.

The doctor said he tested negative for both kinds of flu and we kept him with us Thursday night to prevent my husband going over to his house early and our granddaughter from having to get up earlier than necessary on Friday. (We also kept our granddaughter here that night so she could sleep an extra hour).

Thursday was a rough night with the little guy spiking a fever of over 105 degrees at one time. He still had fever on Saturday and visited the doctor again. This time the doctor said the flu tests are not completely accurate and in addition to bronchitis (not diagnosed till Saturday) he thinks he has the flu. He had to have a chest X-ray to see if he had pneumonia, but thankfully, that turned out negative.

He is now finally on the same antibiotic Sue’s little one is on and hopefully he is on the road to recovery.

Please keep these children in your prayers and all children during this sick season of the year. And don’t forget the unfortunate ones in third world countries who don’t have the same medical care available to our grandchildren here.

Send a little something to those third world and poor children in our own country through a charity of your choice. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but a million people giving one dollar each is a million dollars to help feed, clothe, house and give medical care for these children. There have been many earthquakes in Asia and the need is great for all those people.

Thank you for your prayers and acts of kindness in these hard times.

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Here are the updates on two-year old Belle. Please pray earnestly for this little girl. Thank you.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:26 AM, EDT

Belle Belle is trying to wake up today. The doctor had told us that she would be paralyzed in her right side, but she has already shown movement in her hand. She was sucking her thumb this morning when (her Mom) checked on her. The doctor couldn’t be happier with her response to the surgery.

We just spoke with the doctors this morning and they are telling us that this tumor is a very rare tumor especially in a child. They are going to have to be very aggressive with her treatments and are still trying to figure out what path that will take. The spots on the spine are what has us most concerned. From what we know it is an aggressive form of cancer and we have to pray for the next step.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. It sure has been special for (my wife) and me to know that you all are praying. We are in a marathon, so pray that we make it to every check point.
The docs haven’t given us much to hope for in the area of medicine, but we know that God is not bound by their medical knowledge.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:11 PM, EDT

Today Belle has had a few setbacks. They tried to remove the stints from her head, but the fluid built up too fast for her body to absorb. She will remain in ICU until they get this under control. She still doesn’t recognize mommy or daddy.

All names except Belle’s have been deleted to protect the family’s privacy. ~Jeanette~
* Thank you Anchoress and your readers for any and all prayers offered for Belle and her family.

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Belle

The little girl in the above photo is Belle M., whose Daddy is the Youth Minister at our church. Little Belle is two years old and has one brother and two sisters.

Last week Belle was diagnosed with a brain tumor and on Monday surgery was performed for about 8 hours to remove the tumor. The doctor thinks he got all the tumor, but it was malignant.

In addition, a couple of spots were found on her spine. She has had an MRI done to determine what the spots are but I am not yet aware of the outcome of the MRI.

Our entire church is praying Belle will recover fully, her parents and loved ones will have peace and comfort, and that Belle will be able to live a normal, happy life after this horrible diagnosis.

I am earnestly asking you to pray along with us for Belle. The first 48 hours after surgery are the most dangerous, and that will end at approximately 8:00 pm Wednesday.

As I write this we have people at the church taking turns praying all night, round the clock for Belle and her family.

Thank you for your prayers for this sweet little girl.

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Have you ever seen a baby with more dance rhythm? This is so cute.

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Hearing the story of little Kelsey Briggs is one thing. Watching a video of her playing and then bruised and with broken legs is quite another.

It will bring tears of regret and sadness to anyone with a heart.

Child abuse must be stopped. If you know of a child or children who are abused go to the authorities and make a pest of yourself if you must. Being ridiculed as a nut by a social worker with too much work is a small price to pay to save the lives of abused children.

Kelsey, I have a granddaughter with your same first name. I will always remember you. You went from the arms of the angel into the arms of Jesus and your beloved Daddy and Grandma will hold you in their arms once again.

I promise you, Kelsey, if I ever see a child abused or even suspect it is I will help them in your memory.

Sleep well, Little Princess.

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Talk about tied up in knots. Washington has so many talking points recently on the topic of health care it’s hard for even the politicians to keep their stories straight, or at least believable.

Mob Boss, Union Boss. You Decide.

She is just to precious for words! HT:Lucianne

“I dropped the ball,” Emily Monforto confessed to a reporter. Yes she did.

The 3-year-old Laurel Springs, N.J., girl became famous overnight for throwing a foul ball back on to the field at Tuesday night’s Phillies-Nationals game — a ball her father had just caught and given to her. Video of the hilarious toss spread across the internet and cable news networks on Wednesday.

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Enjoy this brief moment between and Dad and Daughter captured at a recent Phillies game.

It is priceless.

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Here’s a thought.

Maybe he could lead them in the Pledge Of Allegiance.

Nah, what am I thinking?

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Jaycee Dugard, an eleven year old girl waiting for her school bus with her step-father watching from the house, was kidnapped by two people. Her step-father jumped on a bicycle and tried to catch the car, which was going uphill. The step-father yelled at neighbors to call police, and was a suspect in the case for a long time.

A few days ago a man with two young girls was caught trying to get onto the UC Berkeley campus. A campus police officer thought the man looked suspicious and reported him, finding out he was on lifetime parole for sex crimes.

As a result of the campus police’s investigation Phillip Garrido was summoned to meet with his parole officer. When he went to the parole officer’s office he was accompanied by his wife Nancy, the two young girls and another woman called “Allissa”.

After questioning it came out that “Allissa” was actually the missing Jaycee Dugard and the two young girls were her 15 and 11 year old daughters with her kidnapper as the father.

This young woman was the sex slave of this monster and his equally monstrous wife.

They hid Jaycee and her children in a back yard within a back yard in tents and out buildings for the past 18 years. None of the children ever attended school and none ever received medical care.

All I could think of was the Austrian girl who had been locked in the basement of her father’s home for so many years and had borne 7 children by that monster.

Jaycee has been reunited with her mother after 18 long years and unspeakable horror.

Here’s the police briefing:

To read the story go to this link.

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You gotta love it!

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One of the cutest commercials I’ve ever seen.

Uh, what was the product again?

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After thinking through my usual Friday-Fly-By, I happened upon a post (and the video below) at Blackfive which made anything political, humorous, or informational seem a bit insignificant.

Evan and his family serve as a reminder that no matter how bad things might seem in your life, you should always take the time to count your blessings.

If you would like to leave a message of encouragement for Evan you may do so by following the link provided by Matt Burden in the post acknowledged above.

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You can’t define a government run health care system in any simpler terms than this:

Banana peels to heal warts? Who knew?

Bananas to banish veruccas, ginger to ease muscle pain and tea for mouth ulcers – before you visit the chemist, check out the many proven remedies in your own larder.

Contemplating a move? Do you live in Virginia? Give these guys a call:

One of those feel good stories worthy of sharing:

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If not for the efforts of the coalition forces in Iraq, does anyone feel the following would have ever come to fruition?

Most probably never were aware of the extensive humanitarian endeavors carried out by those with boots on the ground in Iraq. Why? Well I suppose it would not have sold newspapers or made for good commentary on the evening news.

Have you read about this?

In April 2009, American Airlines and Operation Iraqi Children partnered to transport 20 tons of supplies into Iraq. Two schools were visited in the Golden Hills area; over 700 school kits, Croc shoes, and clothing were distributed. Read more about this airlift.

The efforts by individuals and businesses to provide these children has been overwhelming. Civilians and troops alike have joined hands to provide a better life for those unable to help themselves.

Iraq celebrated this past Tuesday what is a form of independence.

Our troops vacating major cities and relinquishing control to the homeland forces is a good thing.

We were never meant to be invaders or occupiers (as some believed), only to set an entire population free from the oppressive dictatorship they had endured for centuries.

Through it all, the political decisions which may have been well placed but at times failed, the blinding heat and sandstorms, and the many negative accounts of their struggles to free a nation and turn it towards democracy, our troops and those of the coalition worked tirelessly to complete their mission.

When I see a an image such as the one below it speaks a thousand words.

It should be the hope of all in America that these children will one day remember the sacrifices of those who freed them from tyranny and allowed them their first taste of freedom.

For all the horrors which any war produces, if we just look a little deeper we can find the good.

As our own Independence Day approaches we should be thankful we continue to have men and women both here at home and across the globe who are willing to sacrifice so others might experience that which we have come to cherish.

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Love America? Love the Red White and Blue?

So do these little ones, if this performance is any indication:
(Time shown is approximately 3 minutes longer than the actual presentation)

There is something uplifting in hearing (and somehow even more so when performed by children) this music, don’t you think?

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Books, to the reading child, are so much more than books — they are dreams and knowledge, they are a future, and a past.
~ Esther Meynell ~

In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader C. S. Lewis describes Eustace Scrubb, the insufferable cousin of the Pevensies, as a child who hadn’t read “the right sort of books”.

As a child I was fortunate enough to read those sort of books!  These are the books that capture the imagination and build a world in which a child can delight and roam.  As they do so, the very best of the right sort of books touch a child’s heart–-they touched my heart–-because integral to the story were the deep truths of goodness, love, friends, home, reunion, courage and perseverance in failure and the overcoming of evil.

Tolkien in his essay, “On Fairy-Stories”, wrote (The Tolkien Reader; 85-86, 87, 88):

The consolation of fairy-stories, the joy of the happy ending: or more correctly of the good catastrophe, the sudden joyous “turn”…does not deny the existence of dyscatastrophe , of sorrow and failure:  the possibility of those is necessary to the joy of deliverance; it denies (in the face of much evidence, if you will) universal final defeat and in so far is evangelium, giving a fleeting glimpse of Joy.  Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief.

…In such stories, when the sudden “turn” comes, we get a piercing glimpse of joy, and heart’s desire, that for a moment passes outside the frame, rends indeed the very web of story, and lets a gleam come through.

…in the “eucatastrophe” we see in a brief vision that the answer may be greater–it may be a far-off gleam or echo of evangelium in the real world.

In a letter to his son Tolkien explains his term eucatastrophe (Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien,  100):

I coined the word ‘eucatastrophe’: the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears (which I argued it is the highest function of fairy-stories to produce). And I was there led to the view that it produces its peculiar effect because it is a sudden glimpse of Truth, your whole nature chained in material cause and effect, the chain of death, feels a sudden relief as if a major limb out of joint had suddenly snapped back. It perceives – if the story has literary ‘truth’ on the second plane (for which see the essay) – that this is indeed how things really do work in the Great World for which our nature is made.

C. S. Lewis and Tolkien are the masters at this. I read Lewis as a child although I discovered Tolkien as an adult. However, there were numerous other authors I read growing up that also interwove their stories with pictures of truth, ranging from P. L. Travers and her Mary Poppins books to Laura Ingalls Wilder and The Little House books and Louisa May Alcott.

Why were these books important and profound? I knew enough sorrow and evil as a child and these books placed that pain within a larger context of joy and truth. They saved my mind and heart and strengthened the kindness and goodness that I did see and know.

I became a Christian the summer after my freshman year in college. I found I knew God in a relationship that was a reality grounded in reason.

I met the One who is Truth. I met the One who is Joy.

The evangelium gleam I had only glimpsed before, I met in the person of Jesus Christ.

It was then that I realized, as Tolkien had written (The Tolkien Reader, 88-89):

The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man’s history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation.  This story begins and ends in joy.

There is only one book that I have ever seen simply referred to The Book.   The Bible is the center of my world view. Other books have brought insight and discernment and refreshment to me–but none like God’s Word because it is the Living Word of the Living God.  It is the one book in which every time you read it, you can meet the Author heart to heart and discuss the pages with Him.

I wrote this post as a labour of love and gratitude to C. S. Lewis and to the other authors of my childhood who gave me many hours of happiness and hope as their words unknowingly prepared my heart for the lasting Hope of the Gospel.

I thank the Author who gave them talents and inspiration through which they gave a glimpse of joy to a little girl.
__________
Meynell quote from the Richmond Public Schools’ Reading Quotes webpage.

Crossposted to RedState Members Diaries.

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The Boston and Chicago Children’s Choirs perform together and produce a beautiful sound.

Enjoy!

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Monday’s sometimes require a little pick-me-up and this bit of child-think in relation to Mom might be just the right medicine:
(received in an email)

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born..

How did God make mothers?
1.. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from mens bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We’re related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don’t do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.
2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Boy, can I relate to some of those answers.

As I was reading I thought back to Art Linkletter and his wonderful talent in dealing with children. Now there was a man who opened himself up to anything and everything which a child might say. We were so fortunate to have him share those moments with us…..

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The expression on this child’s face is priceless!! The sonnet below it is so true……enjoy!

This is so beautiful…

Hat Tip: Phyllis

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There are many versions of God Bless America available, and while I was not searching for that particular song, I happened to run across this rendition and had to share.

Don’t know a one of these children but it sure warmed my heart.

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No politics, no news..just bits of this and that to help kick start the weekend in a relaxing fashion.

An evil eye guaranteed to garner a smile:

These little ones born at the National Zoo would warm any animal lovers heart:

The beauty of Spring is upon us. Even if for a few moments, leave your cares behind and enjoy!

Have a terrific weekend!

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From my email:

Grandparents:

1. She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under the watchful
eyes of her young granddaughter, as she’d done many times before. After
she applied her lipstick and started to leave, the little one said, “But
Gramma, you forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!” I will probably
never put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet
paper good-bye…

2. My young grandson called the other day to wish me Happy Birthday. He
asked me how old I was, and I told him, 62. My grandson was quiet for a
moment, and then he asked, “Did you start at 1?”

3. After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old
slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard
the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.
Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room,
putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she
heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?”

4. A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own
childhood was like: “We used to skate outside on a pond I had a swing
made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our
pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods.” The little girl was
wide-eyed, taking this all in. At last she said, “I sure wish I’d gotten
to know you sooner!”

5. My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know
how you and God are alike?” I mentally polished my halo and I said, “No,
how are we alike?” “You’re both old,” he replied.

6. A little girl was diligently pounding away on her grandfather’s word
processor. She told him she was writing a story. “What’s it about?” he
asked. “I don’t know,” she replied. “I can’t read.”

7. I didn’t know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I
decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it
was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I
continued. At last, she headed for the door, saying, “Grandma, I think
you should try to figure out some of these, yourself!”

8. When my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the
lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects.
Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy
whispered, “It’s no use Grandpa. Now the mosquitoes are coming after us
with flashlights.”

9. When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, “I’m not
sure.” “Look in your underwear, Grandpa,” he advised, “mine says I’m 4 to
6.”

10. A second grader came home from school and said to her grandmother,
“Grandma, guess what? We learned how to make babies today.” The
grandmother, more than a little surprised, tried to keep her cool.
“That’s interesting,” she said, “how do you make babies?” “It’s simple,”
replied the girl. “You just change ‘y’ to ‘i’ and add ‘es’.”

11. Children’s Logic: “Give me a sentence about a public servant,” said a
teacher. The small boy wrote: “The fireman came down the ladder
pregnant.” The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. “Don’t you know
what pregnant means?” she asked. “Sure,” said the young boy confidently.
‘It means carrying a child.”

12. A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day
when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire
truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s
duties. “They use him to keep crowds back,” said one child. “No,” said
another. “He’s just for good luck.” ;A third child brought the argument
to a close.”They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire
hydrants.”

13. A 6-year-old was asked where his grandma lived. “Oh,” he said, “she
lives at the airport, and when we want her, we just go get her. Then,
when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.”

14. Grandpa is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things, but
I don’t get to see him enough to get as smart as him!

15. My Grandparents are funny, when they bend over; you hear gas leaks,
and they blame their dog.

I can attest to the age thing. Our youngest grandchild is obsessed with our ages and thinks we are OLD. I can remember asking my great-aunt what it was like in the “olden days” when I was about his age.

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