Somewhere Out There but exactly Where Is That?

During this pandemic I have been making video recordings and posting them on Facebook.  This all began rather as an accident.  I had made an initial video for my church that I couldn't get to travel for its website, so I went ahead and posted it myself on Facebook "just for fun"!  The response was incredible.  So, since I was also looking for something beneficial to do during this time at home, and since I was seeing from comments how meaningful my playing was to others who were at home, I continued recording.

I recorded almost daily, at first, but after awhile decided to slow down a bit.  Now I am posting once a week, usually on Sunday mornings.  It is amazing how my posts have sometimes had over 1,000 views.  The comments have been so touching as to how my music has made them feel either through triggering a memory, or helping them through a difficult moment where they needed a little musical boost.

As you can imagine, people started making requests.  Sometimes I knew the music and occasionally there was a song that I did not know.  I decided to try not to get into too many "personal dedications" because I certainly didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by leaving them out.  However, there were certain songs that I played that just had to be personally shared because of the memory or the situation that it had for me and that person. Recently I lost three very special people in my life.  I played a song for each that connected my soul to theirs in tribute. 
This past week I played a special request for my friend, Debbie.  She asked me to play Somewhere, Out There.  It brought back memories of when our kids were in fifth grade.  We learned to sign that song when we went to Camp Classen and continued to sign it throughout the rest of the year. I had a lot of students, who are now adults, to post on Face Book that they still remember how to sign it.

The title of that song has really given me cause to reflect this week on the three whom I have lost.  Believers rest in their faith that they are in heaven with God.  I follow that belief but at the same time my humanity and small little brain still wonders just where is "Out There"? Where in the world is it?

These are just thoughts I am pondering.....

R.

Father's Day 2020

Today is Father's Day 2020.  I decided to do some reflecting on my own father because I really have not done that enough and he deserves this time.  First of all, I never called or referenced him as my father, he was always my daddy.  I was a daddy's little girl and remained so until he died.  There was never a moment that I did not have his love, his support, his patience, his kindness and his wisdom.

My daddy grew up in the small town of Beebe, Arkansas, eventually raised his own family there and was living there when he died.  His father owned a grocery store and daddy probably worked there all during his teenage years.  After a couple of years of college, he came back home and eventually become a co-owner of the store with my uncle. He worked there six days a week, from 6 to 6, standing on his feet in the meat department.  We went on one vacation a year to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he fished the whole week.  I spent many hours sitting in a boat with him quiet as a mouse so I wouldn't disturb the fish! Daddy never complained about his work.  I know that it brought him a lot of joy because of the relationships he built with his customers.  It was through this that daddy taught me the importance of a work ethic.  He showed me that work was something to be honored and that how you did your work often showed you the kind of person you were.

Daddy taught me the importance of honesty and that mistakes were nothing to be ashamed of.  He modeled how you stand by someone when they make those mistakes and let them know you are always there for them, something I definitely passed on to my own sons. I used to think of this as an emotional safety net. This safety net was there to catch me when I was to fall, but also, there to celebrate my successes, my good decisions, and seeing some of my dreams come true.

My final time to talk to my daddy was a few months before he died.  He had taken John, who was then 7, and me to the airport in Little Rock.  After he gave John his good-bye dollar bill, we hugged our farewell.  I said, "I love you, Daddy, " and he said, "I love you, too!"  I never dreamed that would be the last words I would hear him say.  This experience taught me that goodbyes and kind words are always important when we leave someone. I try to keep this in mind every day.

I miss my daddy.  Oh, what I would give to feel one of those incredible hugs right now!  Instead, I will hold thoughts of him close to my heart on this Father's Day and those that I have to come.

UNT PUPS SHARING BOOKS WITH THE NEXT GENERATION

Rhys, son of Carolyn Parker, has found a great reading spot to enjoy his book!

 

Here is another picture of Rhys!  Just look how much he has grown! If I am lucky, maybe I can read to him someday!

I began teaching at the University of North Texas in 2009. I for years taught a Language Arts Methods course to students right before they entered their student teaching and later an assessment course.  Words cannot express how much I learned to love these students and have continued to keep in touch with many of them since they left UNT.  I referred to my former students as my "Pups" and continued to post their successes with jobs, marriages, other accomplishments, and, for many now, the births of their children.

                                                                                 

A couple of weeks ago as I was searching for a quarantine project, I realized how much I was enjoying seeing some of my students posting pictures of their own babies/toddlers/kids and many posted while reading to them or surrounding them with books of their own.  I decided to ask them to share these pictures with me so I could create this special blog.  It has been an incredible experience and what is so cool about it is that I can keep adding and adding!

It thrills my heart to see the love and importance of reading that I shared in class, ripple through the generations.  

Please enjoy!

Mrs. A

                                                                

This precious angel, Samirah, is the daughter of Cami Smith. I know her mom will always surround her with books!

Haley Dooley's husband, Tyler, is reading so sweetly to their beautiful daughters, Rayleigh and Nolie.  What a guy!

Just look at this little treasure and his book!  This is Max, son of Dallas Ramey.

Mathis, son of Megan Reel, thinks it is pretty cool to read a good book as you are riding down the highway with mom.

Sweet Cecelia, daughter of Sara Busby Blume, is reading the book, Dog Heaven, that I gave to her mother when her dog, Koda, died.  This was years before Cecelia was born. :)

This little beauty is the goddaughter of Heather Tisby. "Oh, the Places She Will Go" as she heads for kindergarten!

What a lapful of joy Marissa Trujillo has holding her children, MacKenzie and Marshall! They both seem to be enjoying hearing their mom read.

I can almost hear Akayla Taylor as she reads to her son, Zeke! He looks as if he is hanging on her every word!

Taylor Rollins is all comfy and snuggly with her baby girl, Reese!  I wonder if she is using her teaching skills as she goes along? :)

Andi Pedersen started her DEAR time at an early age!

Love how Carolyn Parker's son, Rhys, just has a seat while his mom reads to him!

"Pop" has a captive audience as he reads to Andi and her dad!

From a very early age, Evelyn, daughter of Laura Holloway, just couldn't decide which book to read first!

Zander, son of Bethany Worthington, definitely loves his book time!

Eastyn and Finley, daughters of Leyah Miles, are having a good sister time with a book!

Goddaughter of Heather Tisby has certainly found herself a comfortable reading corner!

Cecelia, daughter of Sara Busby Blume, started early with her independent streak!  Wonder where she got that? :)

Landry, son of Jessi Decena, likes to add illustrations to go along with his books!

Shelby Kerner reading with her nephew, Jameson, as a baby and four years later he reads on his own!

Titus, son of Stacy Ridinger Archer, likes his books and likes to talk about them, too!

Andi, daughter of Megan Pedersen, is concentrating on the cat on that page!

Quentin, son of Kelsey Newman, at a very young age.  He now loves garbage trucks and greets them when they come by his house.  He also has a new baby brother named Mathis!

Bennett, son of Mattie Colbert, is loving the big colorful pictures his mom is showing him.  I just love the look on her face!  Pure love.

Chandler, son of Jessica Marshall Brown, has himself the perfect comfy spot to look at his book with the beautiful pictures.  I bet he can name every one of them!

Micah, son of Leah Garcia, is loving one of my favorite books!  Just look at those eyes as she reads to him.

 Alecia Marie with son, Luka, is sharing a wonderful, snuggle time with him as she reads and lets him see the colorful pictures.

Cooper and Kelsey, children of my Alpha Phi sister, Jenna Cash! Are they just not one of the cutest sets of twins you have ever seen?  I am sure their mom and dad do lots of reading!

Kaysen and Kayleigh, children of Lori Roberts, are really showing us how a brother and sister can enjoy reading together!

Kendall Vogt reading to her son, Chandler, who is all stretched out and loving every moment here with his mom as she reads to him!

Max, son of Dallas Ramey, was just a little guy when this was taken!  Looks like he started loving his books at an early age.  I am sure he will be reading someday soon to his new little baby brother, Colton!

Mathis, son of Megan Reel, helps his mom hold the book as she reads to him.  Isn't there just something wonderful about stretching out on the floor with a good book to read?

Shakiyla Josey is all warm and cozy with her sweet baby girl, Haidyn.  They live in Alaska and I am envious of their cooler temperatures as I sit here with 97 degrees Texas weather!

This is a recent picture of Kelsey Newman reading to Quentin and his new baby brother, Mathis!  I would say she has their full attention!

Here we have big brother, Landry, reading a book to his little brother, Pierce!  Their mother, Jessi Decena, always kept me organized when I had her in class! Being a mother of two sons myself, I know the many joys she has ahead of her with these two little guys.

Since Dr. K is my good friend and office mate at UNT, I had to include her here reading to her grandsons, Alex and Luca. We lovingly refer to them as "the dudes"!  

This little angel is Harper, daughter of Kamille Mayes, and she seems to really be tuned in to her beautiful book. Harper's grandmother is also a teacher so I am sure that Harper has had many books read to her already!

Just look at this sweet girl reading her book!  Cecelia is the daughter of Sara Busby Blume.