Papaw Keeps His Promise

Several years ago, when the grandkids were toddlers, Howard told them he would take them anyplace they wanted to go in the U.S. when they became teenagers. Time flew by, as it always does, and Papaw had to keep him promise.

Taylor jumped over the border three years ago by requesting Toronto. Craig went with them, and all three had a great time.

Crosley picked New York City just one year later. I was delighted since I had never been. It was a delightful trip; however, the temperature soared higher than it had in recorded history. The weatherman suggested that everyone take a wet washclothe with them when they leave for the day and drape it around our neck. Crosley was not going to be found dead with a washcloth hanging around her neck in NYC. After all, she was thirteen, and thirteen-year olds don't look stupid in public. Fortunately, I was 63 and had nothing to prove. I left with the wet washcloth! Before the day was over as we were walking the streets of Soho, she asked if she could "borrow" the washcloth. The heat had over taken her, and she decided it was better to live than die proud.

That brings me to #3 grandchild, Madeline. She turned into a teenager in December, but Papaw asked her to wait until February to make her voyage. She is homeschooled which makes it possible for her to be gone during the school year. She chose San Francisco. Good choice. We are out here now having a ball.

We arrived yesterday to perfect weather. No rain or earthquakes. The sun is warm and the air is cool. We took in the tourist things today which included the "Hop on & off" double decker. We hopped off at pier 39 and after having lunch in the sun, walked to the famous chocolate factory...Ghirardelli. Who could come to San Francisco and NOT have some hometown chocolate?

We are here until Friday. I think we will have a hard time returning to ice and snow. Howard only has one more grandkid to go, and he recently announced he wants to go to Australia. I hope he is saving up his quarters because that's going to be one expensive trip.

Beaver Creek Christian Church

Beaver Creek Christian Church is where Howard
is serving as interim minister. It is a few miles east of Dayton, Ohio. It takes a little less than an hour's drive to get there from Cincinnati.

We have found the congregation to be warm and friendly and appreciative of Howard's coming.

Since it is located near the Air Force base, there are several military families in the congregation. One woman was beaming this morning because her husband was coming home from Iraq. He will only be here two weeks before going back.

The woman who is in charge of Jericho Junction (next post) will be saying good-bye to her husband as he leaves for Iraq in a matter of days. He played keyboard with the worship team this morning. My heart goes out to these families who sacrafice so much for all of us.

Jericho Junction Is The Place To Be

The kids at Beaver Creek Christian meet at Jericho Junction each Sunday morning for a lively song fest as well as a quiet worship time.

The room has been transformed into an old railroad station with all the trimmings. A large train chugs down the tracks in a handpainted mural.

Windows opening into the cafe provide the perfect view for the youngsters to watch puppets discuss the lesson and how it applies to them.

Adult and teenage actors come dressed for the occasion with skits that involve the young audiance. It is definitely the place to be on a Sunday morning! I'm not a kid, but I am hoping to be invited back to Jericho Junction.

Sawyer's Real Dog

If you read my previous article about Sawyer's Webkin, you might have wondered how his real dog was getting along. Here is Jack lounging near the front door waiting for someone to give him some attention. I'm not sure a flash from my camera was what he had in mind.

From Trash To Treasure

Carol, our daughter-in-law, has always loved the furniture from the 50's. She likes the sleek Danish look which was introduced during that period. It has become popular again and quite pricy.

Since she is the world's best shopper, she kept an eye out at all the discount places hoping that one day she would run across someone's "trash" with the hopes of making it her "treasure".

She recently stopped at Goodwill to check out their latest inventory. Sure enough...there was the dining room suite she had been waiting for. The collection consisted of a buffet, china cabinet, table and six chairs.

When she asked the manager to give her a price, he said it would normally be $40.00 but since it was half-price day, he would let it go for $20.00. Needless to say, Carol was on cloud #9.

The top layer of grim and dirt hide their true beauty. She scrubbed and polished until the wood grain shone through.

I think you will agree that she is the "World's Best Shopper".

13 X 2

Last night I attended a meeting for the new Clifton Cultural Arts Center. It was fun meeting new people who share the same interest.

One of the members seemed to know everyone who ever lived in Clifton. I was amazed at her ability to pull names out of the past. She said she knew lots of people because of her and her sibling's many friends. That took in a lot of Cliftonites since she was one of thirteen children. My ears perked up because I, too, am one of thirteen.

We could hardly believe there were two of us in the same room who had this in common.

I told the group that my mother's maiden name was Baker. She said she always wanted a "Baker's Dozen". My new friend let out a squeal because that's her father's name! Since she is yet to marry, it continues to be her's as well.

As the old saying goes...."Life is stranger than fiction".

Winter Wonderland

If I could locate my camera's battery charger, I would post the picture I saw when looking out my window this morning. It was a winter wonderland . Everything was covered with a blanket of fresh snow. What a beautiful sight!

Since winter is a rather dormant month, I find myself wondering what I can do that I wouldn't do the rest of the year.

Spring takes care of itself. As the earth comes alive, so do I.

Summer is filled with lots of activites. Watching our grandkids reach the finish line in swim meets is always a fun part of the season. Families and schools gather for reunions during these hot months, and block parties form in neighborhoods. (Our West Virginia family reunion has been on the calendar for months. It's an event we look forward to each July. The neighborhood block party is a new highlight for us.



Our neighbor, Troy Jackson, brings out his "Green Egg" and shows off his cooking skills while the rest of us fill in with side dishes. We always hope his wife, Amanda, remembers to bake her famous homemade rolls!)

Of course Fall is beautiful and meloncholy. The woods invite us to come and meander through fallen leaves. The temperature is perfect as the air turns cool and dry.

Now we are back to winter. Our neighbors are inside their homes just like we are ours. We seldom see them except on garbage day. We wave and dash back into our warm cacoons.

Do you find yourself wondering how best to spend these days? I have been thinking about this and have come up with the following suggestions for myself:

* Read a good book
* Finish the scrapbook I've started
* Sort photos
* Send a note to a friend especially an elderly one
* Visit a shut-in (or call and chat)
* Host a neighborhood gathering (maybe a "pot luck" supper or a girl's tea)
* Clean closets and pass along unused items (who wants to be in a closet in July?)
* Make a pot of homemade soup with freshly baked bread

The list can go on and on. I'm sure you could add your favorite winter activity. If you have a tradition, please send it to my email address (marthabrammer@hotmail.com). I would love to hear from you.

I hosted a tea party this afternoon for two of our grandkids and daughter-in-law Carol. They got to sort through my cup & saucer collection and pick the ones they wanted. A friend brought us a bag of scone mix and tea from England, so we had a English tea. It was a fun way to spend a cold winter afternoon.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven". Let's take advantage of these winter days. It won't be long 'til Spring!

Traveling Down Memory Lane

The only way to travel without leaving home is to go down memory lane. Howard took a trip recently and never left his closet. These boxes have not been opened since....who knows when. The trip was a fresh reminder of how much he savors the heart-felt messages of the past. He had letters from childhood friends and relatives. The faded letters from his mother were special since she passed away at an early age. He was seventeen. One note ended with: "I hope you are still going to church". Little did she know that he has never stopped!

When Was A Stamp Ever 3 Cents?

The postmark bears witness to the fact that in 1961 you could buy a stamp for 3 cents. This does not seem like a long time ago for those of us who graduated from high school that year; however, to our grandkids, it's ancient history.

Nothing Like A Visit From Friends

It was a treat yesterday when Marcia Jones & JoAnn Wilhoite knocked on my door. We had a delightful time eating.... laughing... catching up on our lives.....and celebrating our belated January birthdays. Howard got home in time to see the wedding photos Marcia brought of her daughter's wedding.

Joy Came Out Of Sorrow

It was a sad day when a raging fire gutted the University Christian Church here in Cincinnati a few years ago. It is the church where our son Craig and his family attend. The congregation is made up largely of college students since it is located across the street from the University of Cincinnati campus.

Most everything was consumed by the fire; however, this Bible was only scorched. It is now on display in the entry hallway. It served as a reminder that all is not lost. Take heart; God is STILL in control.

What the worshippers did not know was the surprise hidden under the surface. When the old carpet was burned off, they found a beautiful hardwood floor layed on the diagonal. All it needed was a good sanding.

Pastor Troy Jackson challenged each person to buy a chair for themselves and one for a friend. Everyone pitched in until the floor was covered with contemporary seating. This arrangement is movable which provides creative seating for various occasions.

Another Surprise!

The back wall of the church had been covered with plaster many years ago. Layers and layers of paint covered the surface, but nothing could hide the cracks. The fire burned it all off leaving a lovely brick wall as a backdrop to this newly decorated space. (Craig is patiently waiting while I snap these photos.)

Last But Not Least

A fresh coat of paint on the walls made these old stained-glass windows pop! It is a lovely setting on Sunday mornings to be inside with the morning sun shining through cream and yellow glass with the aqua accents.

This church is blessed with wonderful muscians. Many of them are enrolled in the U.C.'s School of Music. We have enjoyed communion and offertory meditations from students using guitars, flutes, violins, piano, drums and other instruments I could not identify. Some of the regular members also play on a rotation basis. Craig often plays his guitar which is always a treat for mom and dad.

A Place To Relax

The University Christian Church has an interesting coffee shop attached called Rohs Street Cafe. Craig met us here one Saturday morning. As you can see, it is a great place to get a latte and kick back.

The Perfect Pets

If you want pets without the trouble of feeding, walking or training them, then go to Lego Land in downtown Disney. Here are five up for adoption.

The Episcopal Church In Bluffton, S.C.

This is the church I wrote about earlier. The exterior is unfinished pine. It was built back in the eighteen hundreds. It is a thriving congregation with multiple services. Our guide was from Indianapolis.

Kissin' Cousins

Howard is always happy to see another "West Virginian" especially when it's his first cousin. We drove to Wilmington, N.C. from Hilton Head to visit his cousin Norma and her husband Jim. Howard and Norma grew up together in Beckley, W.Va. Their mothers were sisters.

Refreshing Beauty

After ice and snow at home, it was refreshing to see flowers in bloom. These two beauties were staging a show in Bluffton, S.C.

Morning Walk On The Beach

Glad I had my camera!

Jason's Recent Art Work

Here's a note from Jason explaining one of his recent works of art...

Here's the painting that got accepted into the Salon show in May. I'll be doing a demo for that show, so it should be interesting. This piece is called "Listening to Musical History" and it's 72" x 32"! I love painting this big, it's so freeing. If you look closely at the bottom, you can see an upside down cassette that is unraveling. My concept was to paint all of the older musical elements out of focus and distant with the headphones "plugging into" the past and listening.

The Pursuit Christian Church

Howard designed our vacation so we would be in Florida on opening day for the Pursuit Christian Church. It was a great beginning for this baby church which the Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis helped launch. Matt Mehaffey was the youth minister at TPCC before moving to Florida and becoming the lead minister. His wife Janie also worked on the TPCC staff. It is our prayer that this new church will grow and have a great harvest for the Lord. (The waves in the photo are from the people who went down to help with opening day from Indianapolis).

The Latest Fad

Living around the corner from the grandkids is becoming more educational than I expected. Are you aware of the latest fad among the young? Sawyer is 9 years old. He is bringing more information than the other three put together when it comes to current trends.

Today he informed me that he was learning to be a "responsible parent". I admire any young man who would lift themselve to such a high calling, but starting at nine years old seemed a bit premature to me.

I noticed he was heading toward the computer as he spoke. He explained that he had to use the computer and check up on his WEBKIN. When he purchased this small stuffed animal, it came with a code. The "new parent" types in the code and up comes their newly adopted Webkin on the screen (as I understand it).

Sawyer says it is his job to care for this little guy. I have yet to figure out how this works, but it is a serious matter to him. He says it teaches him responsibility. He is never to forget about the Webkin who is totally dependant upon him.

When he finished his task of doing the necessary things the Webkin needed, he returned with a look of contentment on his face. He said he liked caring for this little fellow.

I would like to meet the person who dreamed up this whole thing. He must be laughing all the way to the bank since the Webkins are not free! Also, Sawyer tells me he only has two, but some of his friends have as many as eight and ten each.

What happened to the old way of learning responsibility like taking out the garbage, walking a real dog and even feeding the poor thing. I have a hunch that Jack (his dog) does not get the attention this Webkin gets. Today was garbage day, and I didn't see Sawyer dragging any trash cans to the curb. I do hope he remembered to check on little buddy before going to bed tonight. Jack can take care of himself.

Happy Valentine's Day

Howard begins working with the college (Cincinnati Christian University) tomorrow. He returned from vacation with a rather full schedule. Sunday was his first day at the church near Dayton (Beaver Creek Christian). He has driven up two days this week. His schedule is flexible with both places which provides the breaks he needs.

Today was spent with two of the grandkids and my daughter-in-law Carol. She is homeschooling them, so they did it at our dining room table rather than theirs. They were happy to be here when the ginger snaps came out of the oven.

I baked cookies for the garbage collectors and the mail carrier on Valentine's Day while living in Indy, so decided to carry on the tradition here in the Queen City. Our garbage collectors deserve more than cookies with all the boxes we have left out for them while unpacking. They have been good sports about it and still wave as they pull away each week.

There are cookies left over. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by for a cup of tea and a couple of ginger snaps.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Home At Last!

Our trip to the South came to an end this evening when our plane touched down at the Cincinnati International Airport. Craig was there to meet us. We were welcomed by mild temperatures rather than the cold blast we had expected. I think we can adapt to this kind of weather.

It is great to be home. We are looking forward to meeting the Brammer clan at their coffee shop in the morning. I have been promised a "Brutopia" mocha. (No one makes a mocha or chai like Brutopia.) Taylor is their newest employee. We are eager to have him wait on us. We want to see him in action. He says he has the mocha routine down pat. We'll see!

What Does Our Name Say About Us?

While names are personal, we do not have the opportunity to choose them for ourselves. I have wondered what my name would be if I could have made chosen it myself. Some names seem like oxymorons to the persons they describe.

E.g., I knew a fellow in college whose last name was Richmond. He was anything but rich. He was a great guy, but wealth had not been handed down to him. He was a struggling college student like the rest of us.

Years ago we had friends whose surname was Small, but they weren't. They were tall and lanky.

We have friends whose names are Rush. I'm sure they have been known to hurry, but we have found them more inclined to kick back and relax.

Today I stopped by the ART CENTER here on the Island to see the "Gullah Celebration". Near the entrance was a bronze bust of a gentleman whose name was SELF. The plaque described him as being more about others than himself. He had donated the land the center was built as well as a generous contribution to get the center built.

He wanted those who lived on the island to have access to all forms of art. Today there are classes for various ages. It is also a theater which provides the locals an opportunity to hear music, drama and enjoy art from all over the country. My hat is off to Mr. Jim Self who has proven once again that, while we carry the name given to us, it can end up being an oxymoron.

Eating at Pepper's Porch In Bluffton, NC

This is the restaurant I wrote about earlier. The exterior is covered with corrigated tin. The inside is in shambles. The legs on the tables & chairs are not the same length. The ceiling is low and dark. However, the food is excellent. Howard's gumbo was his best ever. My oyster sandwich, coleslaw and fried okra (yes...I said fried!) was incredible. It's not a meal we will repeat, but, hey, we're vacationing in the South. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!

The Deep South

The Deep South got deeper yesterday as we drove through the streets of Savannah. Silver-gray moss waved us on as we drove down tree-lined streets and cobblestone alley ways.

Savannah holds tightly to its charm and tradition which provides a refreshing reminder of days gone by. It is a joy to drive by the old sun-bleached houses as they rest behind picket fences and swinging gates.

Horse-drawn carriages rattle their way through town giving visitors a personal tour of the old city. Savannah's rich history is one reason folks are drawn back to this Low Country. Another reason is to get one more taste of their "sweet tea". There's nothing like it!

Our visit also included a wonderful morning of worship at Savannah Christian Church. Cam Huxford is the pastor; however, he turned the pulpit over to a guest pastor yesterday. Gene Apple from the Willow Creek Church in Chicago gave a challenge for all of us to love people unlike ourselves. The church was warm and friendly. It was a great place to spend the morning. Cam & Sarah invited us to their home for lunch. Sarah had prepared a delightful meal which included....of course.... "sweet tea"!

We experienced SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY at it's best!

Love,
Martha (and Howard)

Everyone Has A Story

Howard claims I have an invisible message on my forehead which reads, "If you have a story, I want to hear it". Well, if it's true, I am delighted because of the interesting people who cross my path. I met one this morning. Our paths did not actually cross because neither of us were going anywhere. We were on treadmills in the exercise room! I was amazed that she could talk and tread at the same time. I was on the easy side of the conversation....just listening.

Her story began as a graduate from nursing school. She was immediately hired at a local hospital in the maternity ward. Her assignment included assisting a Jewish doctor in performing abortions. Since she didn't have an opinion regarding the matter, there was no reason not to give it her all.

As more proceedures were performed, she found it more and more difficult to sleep. She tried to talk herself into believing it was the long day's work with few breaks. Also, she knew she was not eating well. So she continued on.

God had been a part of her life since early childhood, but not seriously. He was someone distant to call upon in times of trouble. She decided perhaps she needed to call upon Him now. She needed guidance in this matter since it was haunting her day and night.

She went to a local Baptist church. The people she met seemed excited about their Christian walk. She wanted what they had and joined them. She asked a prayer group if they would pray for her because she did not want to quit her job and receive a bad mark on her record. Abortion was a very hot topic in the media at the time. This was before Roe vs. Wade. The group not only prayed but enlisted everyone they knew to join them. They asked God to remove her from the maternity ward so she would never have to deal with an abortion again.

Sometime later, much to her surprise, her boss, the Jewish doctor, came and explained that he had become a Christian. He could no longer perform abortions. He wanted God to forgive him for all those he had done including the one he performed on his wife. (Knowing how dangerous they were, he did not trust his wife to the care of anyone but himself) He told her it was from the viewpoint of Science that caused him to change his mind. He saw how one small dot carried all the DNA a person would ever need. He could no longer destroy it. (By the time one knows they are pregnant, the "dot" has grown much larger with a beating heart and brain waves). This gives a whole new meaning to the following Scripture.

Psalms 139

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

He quit his practice. Now he was going to devote his life to making people aware of what abortion REALLY was. Most people were not aware that one in fifty women died from the proceedure. My new friend had seen it happen. She gave me enough graphic details to convince me it was horrible. Tears puddled in my eyes. (Believe it or not.... I was STILL treading!)

The Messenic Jewish doctor contacted James Dobson and produced the film "The Silent Scream". That film has been shown around the world. It has received much criticism accusing this doctor of scaring women who are in need of help. I'm sure he has saved many lives....women as well as children.

My treadmill buddy is now the head of a Crisis Pregnancy Center which she started. She goes around the country speaking on behalf of those who don't have a voice. I was so inspired after hearing her. I was delighted that our paths crossed or at least we traveled 2.43 miles together on our treadmills!

Hello From South Carolina

Hello everyone. I hope this finds you enjoying these winter months. We have meandered from Florida to South Carolina. The weather has been cool and even down right cold yesterday, but the sun came out this afternoon providing the warmth we came after.

We visited Howard's cousin Norma Luther and her husband Jim Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a delightful drive up to their home in Wilmington, NC. What an interesting town. The old downtown is quaint and picturesque. It gave you a "Gone With The Wind" kind of feeling.

We are staying on Hilton Head Island in a condo. It is lovely with the ocean licking along the sandy beach nearby. I was surprised to find such dense vegetation. We are nestled among a variety of Palm Trees and Live Oaks with moss draping from their branches.

Howard drove to Savannah yesterday to attend a leadership conference. Our friend Cam Huxford is the senior minister. We will be worshipping with them Sunday and are going to have lunch with Cam and his wife Sarah. He is president of the North American Christian Convention this year.

Howard rented a Ford Mustang convertable (black!), so we roll back the rag top on warm days. It has been fun to roam around and find small hamlets tucked away from the interstates. Today we visited Bluffton. (I wish I could get my photos to jump from my camera to the blog. No such luck.) I have several shots of this little burg which includes an interesting restaurant we discovered. It looks like a shanny all covered in corregated tin. The tables and chairs were in shambles. The fried oysters were incredible!!! You can't always tell a book by it's cover.

While in Bluffton, we drove past an old weathered Episcipal church. It was built in 1847. The exterior was covered with the original pine planks. (I have several photos which I will put on the blog when I get home). A sweet little lady was there to greet us. She started by asking us where we were from. We told her Cincinnati. She said she had spend most of her life in Indianapolis. We immediately told her we had moved from there. As her life story unfolded, she had been a dance professor at IUPUI for thirty years. She and her husband moved down here three years ago. She knew about Traders Point and College Park (where we lived). Small world!

Watercoloring has been my favorite form of entertainment on cold or rainy days. Today was an exception. I painted at an umbrella table in the sun by the pool. I thought about how nice it was to be in this beautiful part of the country....doing what I like to do best (painting).....being with the best travel guide in the world (HRB)....and looking forward to going home in a week. We are blessed, and God is good!

Much love to all,
Martha (& HRB)