HINDS Family Ties

I've been doing genealogy and family history for the past 30 years, albeit intermittently. Over the years I've enjoyed some satisfying moments in finding names, dates, and places here and there. But this month marks a tremendous payoff for me: hearing from a cousin I met only once when she was just a newborn. She's now a mother with a teenage daughter, and the photos she has sent are remarkable reminder of my roots. Cecellia -- "CeeCee" as her grandma called her -- and I will be exchanging photos, genealogy, and family history stories. If she agrees, I'll post these photos here on my site, as a point of reference for other HINDS family members. The relatives in this photo are Bobby Bell, left, who is the son of Patricia Bell, my mother's cousin. Center is Patricia's younger sister, Margie, with her husband Randy Broadwater and their daughter Cecellia. I'm going to post some slide shows of family photos in the near future, so be sure to CHECK BACK. . . .

The Hinds and Baker families are my mother's relatives: her uncle Clark, her cousins Patricia and Margie, and their children and grandchildren. The Hinds/Baker Family consists of Quakers, Mormons, Muslims, smokers, tea-totallers, drinkers, hippies, convicts, military personnel, civil servants, and more. We have quite an array of individuals, but aren't they wonderful to behold?

Music all the days of my life...

Eva Cassidy is singing Sting's "Fields of Gold" as I write this. What s voice! What a song! Some mornings I awaken in the middle of a song, because I've been dreaming music. It happens a lot, actually. When I was growing up, music provided an escape from a contentious household. Even now I can't imagine life without music -- and I can't remember a day that didn't include song. Music is part of every mood, every event, every memory throughout my life. I'll be singing at a funeral later this week -- happy and sad at the same time.

How's this for a hymn title: Lean on My Amp Alarm? Thanks to my friend Dale Bowman for bringing a smile to a serious subject. Kidding aside, there's a wonderful hymn that I'd love to hear sung at my funeral. I picture myself on the other side blissfully living these words, but enjoying listening to loved ones' voices singing them--
There is sunshine in my soul today more glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky, for Jesus is my light.
There is music in my soul today, a carol to my King.
And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.
There is gladness in my soul today, a hope and praise and love
For blessings which He gives me now, for joys laid up above.
Chorus: Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine where the peaceful, happy moments role.
When Jesus shows his smiling face, there is sunshine in the soul.

This piece of advice is from a woman who has been happily married for 52 years:

“A woman holds all the control in the family. She is the center of the home. When she is happy, everyone is lifted, and when she is not, she can drag everyone down with her. Be generous with your affection, and let the little things go. And most importantly, if you don’t give your husband what he needs, he will look for it somewhere else.”

How true, and how vitally important. We often keep this a secret in our own homes, but most husbands will admit that these are the rules of the game. Our attitudes can change, but the rules never will. In other words, if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Autism & Aspergers...Agony & Ecstasy

People are always asking me about the guys I teach. Watch this video for a sample of the kind of potential these guys have. Each of my students has special gifts that often go unnoticed for decades. It is so exciting to help them to realize their strengths and build upon them little by little, and to encourage them and teach them to celebrate their successes. I love my job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKbsSj_TB_E

There's an adage, When the student is ready, the teacher appears. That happens all the time when working with learning disabled (LD) adults. For example, I'll work with a guy for months, looking for any signs of growth while he remains discouraged and/or apathetic. Then something will click, a light goes on -- almost a recognition of something he has known in another time and place -- and the work begins. He applies himself and makes the needed changes to become more involved in the world around him. Therein lies the celebration, the breakthrough to the locked up personality.

The ebb and flow of the growth cycle continues, leaving in its wake a sense of satisfaction and a smile for the dedicated educator. Don't ever let anyone tell you teachers don't care. We often care more than we should. The circle of influence seems always smaller than our circle of concern. Nevertheless, we don't' give up on our students. Sometimes we're the only ones who hold onto hope for these guys.

"The Big Read" - what's the big deal?

"A man who can read good books and doesn't is no better off than a man who can't." - Mark Twain

Current research findings (2004 and 2007) on reading trends among Americans of all ages shows the following results regarding the reading that people do in their leisure time:

• Americans are reading less today than they did 20 yrs ago (and even 10 years ago)
• Americans are reading less well than they did 10 / 20 years ago(Practice makes perfect!)
• People who read tend to participate in community activities at a higher rate than non-readers, especially attending sports, the arts, and volunteer opportunities
• The only age group whose reading scores improved were among 9 year olds. (Can you say Harry Potter?)

So, join me in reading more this year. Click on my link to Shelfari and see some of the books I have listed there. I'd love to know what you're reading, too!

...one is silver and the other's gold.

I bought a new sewing machine that has more than 30 various stitches, including decorative and edging. I recently used it to make most of my Christmas presents in 2007. It replaced the one my mother bought me in 1975, as an early wedding present. That machine stitched clothing, quilts, and mending for over 30 years, and it still runs (a Singer "Swinger" model ). I used it to sew shirts, pants, pajamas and Halloween costumes for my four children. It produced a wild array of theater costumes over the years, as well. I dragged it from location to location - even to Japan, where I used it to make my first three quilts. The new sewing machine is a real treat, but it will never replace the old one in my heart of hearts, where the memories are stored. Gotta go -- I'm sewing purses this afternoon, this snowy February afternoon.