The Other Fellow's Shoes

This week as the boys have been on Spring Break I have immensely enjoyed a Staycation! I have sorted through things--though not nearly enough. Today when working in the Utility Room pile, I came across this poem. I have made copies for our boys, but thought it went along with a recent blog on Perspective.

The Other Fellow's Shoes

Pray, find no fault with the man who limps
Or stumbles along the road,
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears,
Or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,
Though hidden away from view.
Or the burden he bears, placed on your back,
Might cause you to sumble, too.
Don't sneer at the man who is down today,
Unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall, or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, if dealt to you
In the selfsame way at the selfsame time,
Might cause you to stagger, too.
Don't be too harsh with the man who sins,
Or pelt him with words or stones,
Unless you are sure, yes, doubly sure
That you have not sins of your own.
For you know, perhaps, if the tempter's voice
Should whisper as soft to you
As it did to him when he went astry,
"Twould cause you to falter, too.
--Selected

OUR YOUNGEST TURNS 17!!

Seventeen years ago today we were blessed with our 3rd son--Thomas Christopher Wiesner. His older brothers Tim 3 1/2 and Tad age 2 welcomed him into our family! They visited him the night of his birth and almost tipped the bassinette over trying to get a look at him. Tom is a wonderful son. He is almost always happy, so willing to help around the house, and keeps his room and his truck so very neat. He wants to live for the Lord and his very honoring to his parents. He loves basketball and KU is his favorite team. Maybe they will win this week-end just for him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM! We love you so very much.

PERSPECTIVE!

This time of year I love all the basketball games! Yes, I have filled out my brackets, and yes, there are many "red marks" of correction in my incorrect guesses of who would win. (But, I am also following the Wall Street Journals sophisticated approach to bracketology and their "guesses" almost have as many red marks as mine do.) But there is something more important that I would like to blog about and that is the perspective on the refs' calls in a game. The same game event occurs and yet half the crowd is cheering the ref and the other side is angry and yes, booing. What's the difference? It is the perspective or the "frame of reference" that each side has. The same game event has elicited "polar opposite" reactions.
Possibly, there is something further that could be gained from this sport's observation. This is played out frequently in "real life" situations that happen in the work force, at churches, schools, competitions, politics, and families. The same situation can elicit "polar opposite" responses--some are happy and some are "otherwise". Possibly, if we (I) could learn to reasonably try to understand the perspective of the other side/person there could be communication and reasonable exchange that has potential to accomplish more than we see demonstrated at some athletic events.
Hopefully, I can learn to model this for our 3 sons and possibly convey this to them. For now, GO WSU in the NIT and KU in the SWEET 16!

A Song That Lifted My Heart!

Yesterday morning as I was driving to the hospital my heart was heavy. I had the Christian radio station (BBN) on and was "partially" listening to the music. All at once I thought these are just the words that I need to hear. I was able to pull the car over to the curb and quickly wrote down what I could remember of it. Last evening I was telling Tim how much this song meant to me. He quickly did an internet search and found the words. I also found someone singing this on You Tube. I thought since it had been a long time since I blogged this might be appropriate--with the thought that it might bless someone else as it did me.

New Grace
by Tom Hayes

All of grace is my story
All the way from Earth to Glory
Since by grace He lifted me from sin and woe
Living grace He has extended
As on Him my heart depended
He'll give me new grace when it's my time to go.

Grace not yet discovered
Grace not yet uncovered
Grace from His bountiful store
Grace to cross the river
And grace to face forever
But there'll be new grace I've not needed before.

There's been grace for every mile
There's been grace for every trial
There's been grace sufficient from His vast supply
Grace to make my heart more tender
Grace to love and pray for sinners
But there'll be new grace when it's my time to die.

Grace not yet discovered
Grace not yet uncovered
Grace from His bountiful store
Grace to cross the river
And grace to face forever
But there'll be new grace I've not needed before.

Another Year--2010

Today as I had some extra time I was sorting through some of the piles that get laid aside during the holidays. On my desk I came across this poem by Frances R. Havergal that I had cut out of a magazine. It was such a good and needed reminder for me. Even though the new year is always so exciting and I have such "good intentions", too often I resort to old, suboptimal habits and mindsets.

Another year is dawning,
Dear Father let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with thee.

Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness,
The glory of thy face.

Another year of leaning
Upon thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service,
Of witness for thy love,
Another year of training
For holier work above.

Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for thee.

By Frances R. Havergal

Good-Bye Summer--A Bittersweet Day

I have always loved summer vacation time for our boys. Today seemed bittersweet as school begins tomorrow. Tom, our youngest, starts his freshman year in high school. Tad, our junior in high school, starts the following day. (Tad parted with his beard tonight after football practice.) Tim begins college at WSU on Thurs. but has been on campus a lot for activities already.
The boys have had productive summers working and doing sports and conditioning. We've had great family times together. A few weeks ago we took a family trip to Estes Park/Rocky Mtn. National Park. I was thankful that we could all still go together. The photos are taken during our trip. So "thank you, Lord for such a wonderful summer". Good-bye summer but the memories are for keeps!

CONGRATULATINS GRADUATES!

I am always so slow with my blogs so this one is 2 months late! May was a special month for our family with graduations. Niece, Marci, graduated from seminary and a week later son, Tim, graduated from high school. Two weeks later son, Tom, graduated from the 8th grade. This photo shows Tim and Marci. Will follow in another blog with Tom. Since graduation Tim celebrated birthday #19 so (sometime) will get these pictures posted as well. The years go so fast!

A TRIP TO TREASURE AND REMEMBER!

Last fall, my dear friend, Gayle, invited me to join her and 3 others (plus a guide) in a hike of the Grand Canyon. Her husband was paying for all of us as a birthday present to Gayle. We began this adventure on Friday April 3 and completed it on Sunday April 5! This was a life changing event for me--spiritually, physically, and emotionally. We hiked down one trail to the bottom that was 7.5 miles down--camping there the first night. The descent was the hardest--with the back pack and 50 m.p.h. gusts of wind, I don't know how many times I fell over! We hiked out a different trail in 2 stints doing about 4.5 miles each day and camping night 2 about half way up. I was definitely (by far) the slow one in the group. (I thought that my jogging and climbing the WSU stadium steps had me ready for this, but surprise!) Others were so gracious to carry part of my load to help me. I thought of the Bible verse, "Bear one another's burdens." They certainly did this for me. Hiking out of the canyon, Mindy, said it reminded her of the hymn "Higher Ground"! I may share some of the words of this hymn with some more pictures for a later blog, but today wanted to remember the great accomplishment and the Lord's help in completing this hike 6 weeks ago today. Thank you Gayle and David for this wonderful trip and fellow hikers, Diane, Mindy, Kathy, and guide, Jill, for your kindess and help to me. This pictues show the 4 other team members and our guide. You really have to see this canyon to grasp the magnitude and beauty!

OUR YOUNGEST TURNS 15!

I am way behind on blogging, but am working toward catching up. Tom, our youngest son, turned 15 on March 24. How fast the years have gone. He has had a great middle school experience at Stucky Middle School. This past year he made their basketball team! His dad and I had so much fun going to the games and watching him play. He is looking forward to the end of school, starting to drive, working some this summer mowing yards, and getting ready for high school. He is always so great to help us with whatever needs to be done. He is very organized and always keeps his room neat. We love you, Tom!

Who Says That Pigs Can't Fly?!

When scrolling through some of our spring break San Francisco photos, I came across these of our boys at the San Francisco airport. We were waiting to board to head home. Tim and I gave them some money to get food as they were all hungry--what else is new! You see our "three little porkers" as happy and content as can be, chowing down. As Tim and I watched them inhaling the food, Tim made the comment, "Who says that pigs can't fly?"

THE WIESNER'S ESCAPE!

Escapes from Alcatraz were not supposed to happen. But this photo shows our family with Alcatraz in the background--we escaped! Last March, when the boys were on spring break, we spent a few days in San Francisco. The boys like Alcatraz, so we visited it again this year. We had a special trip. Tim and I especially love the cable cars and he and I were up early every morning to ride them before meeting the boys. These are happy memories.

Good-bye to Our Tree House

About 9 years ago when we still had "Little Boys" we got a Tree House for them to play in and enjoy. It was such an exciting day when the company we purchased it from came to set it up! The boys did a lot of "detective work" and this served as their headquarters! Tim, Tad, and Tom and their friend, Gabe, called themselves "The Four Cops". But the "Four Cops" have grown and now have other interests--plus they are too big to get in the tree house. Last week we said good-bye to this "treasured fixture". We are having some excavating done in our back yard and it was in the way of the needed work. I will always remember the "Little Boys" and the way they inhabitated this wooden structure.

TAD--Our February Birthday!

Tad turned 17 several weeks ago! His slow mother is quite behind on blogging--but possibly "better late than never"! These photos show Tad with his ice cream birthday cake which he and his brothers like. Tad is happy to be back to be back at Trinity Academy this semester. He is in a sophomore Bible Study which he helps to lead. He enjoys working out with weights and is anticipating getting ready for football season. He is starting to line up mowing jobs for this summer. He has a quiet manner (usually) and a very kind, sensitive heart. Our family has been blessed by him. We love you so much, Tad! Have a great year!

Christmas 2008

Now that we are 4 days into 2009, I am finally getting a couple of December photos and Christmas memories recorded. As always, the weeks before Christmas seemed to go so very fast--especially this year with Thanksgiving being late. The first part of December, I hosted a Christmas luncheon for my niece, Marci. It was so fun and inspiring to be with her. The following week each of our boys had a special event--Tom was happy to make his middle school basketball team; Tad made the decision to transfer back to Trinity for the upcoming semester; and Tim learned he had been awarded a college scholarship. The following week they were busy with finals and finishing the semester and then the anticipated Christmas break began! Now school resumes tomorrow but we've had such a nice time. I always feel sad when a special time ends, but my sister, Donneta, says, "Don't be sad that something is over, be thankful that it happened!" We had Christmas Day here in Wichita and after opening our gifts went to each of our mother's assisted living homes and celebrated with them. The Sunday after Christmas we had the McBoyle celebration at Donneta and Monte's. The cousins have their traditional football game and I enjoy sitting in the van, clapping, and honking the horn when a touchdown is made. Now the decorations are down and more of a regular schedule begins tomorrow a.m. but the memories are carried in my heart.

THANKSGIVING

Yesterday in a phone visit with my sister, Laurel, she reminded me of special "Thanksgiving memories" during our growing up years. She recalled how our mother would teach school all day on Wednesday and then head to the grocery store when school was over so she could purchase the food necessary to begin the meal preparation for the next day. She did so much--including making all the pies--getting up in the wee hours to put the turkey in the oven--and now we think, "How did she do it all?" Thanksgiving is such a treasured time and our families have purposed to keep it that way.
Lest we forget, I believe it is imperative to reflect on those who went before us and were an integral part in our history and therefore our lives. The initial giving of thanks in l621 for God's gracious provision was followed by a time of such scarcity that history reveals everyone was forced to a daily ration of only five kernels of corn.
The first national day of Thanksgiving was declared in 1777--just one year after our Declaration of Independence from Britain. Earlier in the year the colonists had suffered many defeats, but then there was the victory at Saratoga. President Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation during the Civil War is monumental. President Lincoln set aside the last Thursday of November as a day of national "Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens". The date varied some through the years and finally President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill on Novemeber 26, l941 that stated the fourth Thursday of November would be our national holiday.
For me, it is so easy to get got up in "daily events and responsibilities" that I forget what I should remember. May it not be this way today--Psalms 105:1"Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon HIs name; Make known His deeds among the peoples."

MY FAVORITE VETERAN--MY DAD

Veteran's Day has been especially meaningful to me today as I reflected on my gratitude for all the veteran's past and present who have served our country--many serving with the ultimate sacrifice of their lives and others with horrible injuries both physical and psychological. As I was preparing to do this blog, I saw on the internet the heart-rendering account of a WWII veteran who finally, at the age of 84,
broke 60 years of silence on the atrocities that he and others had endured in a Nazi slave camp. It was all that I could do not to cry.
Today, I think especially of my dad who was a WWII veteran in the Army Air Corps--this branch of the service eventually became the Air Force. My dad wouldn't have needed to enlist as he and his father were farming enough acres that he could have received a farm deferment. Yet, he was so compelled to serve and do his part, that he voluntarily enlisted. When he did this, he and my mother were engaged. She was working at the draft board in Abilene and filled out the papers for his entrance into military service. Neither of them had any assurance that he would return--many did not. My sisters and I each have notebooks that chronicle the different segments of his military service. We also have a copy of a note that he wrote during this time that says, "I am happy today because in my pocket I have my New Testament and in my heart I have the love of the sweetest girl on earth."
The photo included is in the Dole building on the KU campus where they honor the WWII veterans. Donneta was so diligent to send this in and then Jason and Marci toured the building and took a picture of their grandfather.
So today I can't appreciate enough or adequately thank the veterans of our country. You are HEROES and my dad will always be MY FAVORITE VETERAN.

The Donut Lady!

A fun thing that I enjoy doing on Saturday mornings is making a "run"--in the car that is-- to Krispy Kreme for donuts. I get a dozen for Tim, Tad, and Tom and a dozen for my mom's assisted living house. This has become somewhat of a tradition and it is a fun way to make so many people happy! Now, when I walk into my mom's house on Saturday mornings, one lady calls out, "The donut lady is here!" They are all so appreciative. Last Saturday morning was especially delightful. One lady who is new at my mom's house said that it had been a long time since she'd had a Krispy Kreme; another told me how she looks forward to Saturday a.m.'s for the donut lady! My mom gets so happy and it is another chance for me to tell her how much I love her. (One Saturday when I had a schedule conflict and didn't get by, the caregiver told me that one of the ladies sat at the breakfast table for the longest time waiting for me to come.) I always say to them, "Happy Saturday"! and then explain that "The Donut Lady" needs to get back in her van and head north as her 3 sons are waiting, too! As I walked out of my mom's assisted living home last Saturday, I thanked the Lord for such a happy event. It has been so sad seeing the effects of Alzheimer's Disease in my mom's life, but my sisters and I have purposed that we will maximize this chapter in our mother's life with happiness and a "museum of memories". I'm thankful that I've had the delight and the privilege of being "The Donut Lady".

A Sunday School Teacher's Influence

The summer after I completed the 5th grade, my family began attending a Bible Church in Salina, Kansas. The number of miles that my parents drove to do this doubled--compared to our previous drives to church-- but they considered it an investment in their daughters. My sisters and I just loved the Sunday School in this new church. We would try to learn our Bible verses, study our lesson, and never miss--so that we could get a "perfect attendance pin". Each Sunday School teacher is remembered and deeply appreciated by us. Today the teacher I had (and then my sister's after me) in the 6th grade is celebrating her 88th birthday--Caryl Tucker! Sunday after Sunday she prepared and taught us. From that small basement classroom she influenced many young girls for the Lord. What she and her family need to celebrate on this special day is the exciting reality that her influence and that of other faithful teachers "keeps on going". Now her 6th grade students have children of their own and indirectly she has influenced them as well. Her influence is not only stateside but has been taken to other countries--Mexico, Turkey, and East Asia. As I think of Caryl, I'm taken by how she has always treasured God's Word. Qualities such as Faithful, Steadfast, Consistent come to my mind. This treasured teacher not only influenced 6th grade girls but she has her own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who are living examples of her influence as well. So on this special day I simply wanted to say thanks to Caryl and the many other Sunday School teachers who week by week invest in teaching God's Word to students and remind you that your efforts are not in vain. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARYL!! My sisters and I love YOU!

Sisters and Nieces Fun Friday!

For several years my sisters and I have been wanting to schedule a fun outting that would work for everyone's schedule! Recently we were able to enjoy this. Donneta, Laurel, and I met in Abilene--our home town early one morning. We were so happy that niece, Anna, and a little later in the morning, niece, Marci, could join us. (We missed niece, Shawnee, but Arkansas is a little far to travel for a day.) We began in a store called the Cypress Bridge that had beautiful fall decorations! We must have spent a couple of hours there before venturing on to other special stores. It was so special to walk down the streets of my hometown and try to "remember" what stores had been there in "years gone by". I pointed out to everyone the steps that used to lead to a basement barber shop where our dad would get his hair cut. The window was still there that Donneta and I would knock on to wave to him as he was in the barber's chair! We went to the drug store and Laurel treated us to the soda fountain that was really unchanged from years gone by. Donneta treated us to lunch at a wonderful deli called, "The Dish" and the sandwiches were delicious! Walking up and down these streets brought back so many treasured memories. We wished that our mom could join us for these events but she is always with us in our hearts. After more shopping, laughing, and getting tired legs and feet the day came to a close. Before leaving Abilene, we stopped at Sonic and then went to the cemetery and put fall flowers on our dad's grave. Enroute back to Wichita I drove by the farmhouse where I grew up and where in the depths of my heart will always resonate as "home". We saw a sign in Abilene that said, "Home is where your story begins." I am so thankful for this beginning.

Encouraged by Others!

Over the last couple of years, I have been inspired by the Neir--extended family as they have engaged in competition--jogging, biking, and swimming. I have also had a wonderful example in the discipline my husband has demonstrated over the last couple of years as he has lost a lot of weight and is so methodical in going the the YMCA to exercise. I also thought of my mother (now in a wheelchair) who when she was my present age could run a mile in 10 minutes and outrun me--even though she was almost twice my age.

SO--with these examples, a sign at the YMCA posted late last July caught my attention. The sign said that the Y would help prepare members for Wichita's Half-Marathon coming up in late September. I thought about it for about a week and then decided to give it a try. The 7 weeks of training with Stephanie and Matt (Y employess) went very fast. They were so kind to me and encouraged me as did Tim. No one made fun of my slow ways!

Two weeks ago I completed the half marathon! Stephanie, the wonderful trainer from the Y, stayed about 6 to 10 feet ahead of me the whole way so that I would keep going. She was wonderful as she could have gone so much faster, but instead focused on helping me. When we were just about finished, one of the men on bikes said, "Your family is waiting for you at the finish line and they are proud of you!" What a wonderful site to see Tim and the 3 boys as I crossed the finish line! I was so happy and then I started to cry. The photo is one that Tim took of Stephanie and me.

I want to keep working on getting better (faster) as I have a long way to go to be able to do what my mom could do when she was my age. Yesterday, I ran in a 5K and had fun with that. Tim got a special watch for me that helped me "keep pushing" myself and I finished 26 sec. sooner than my goal--though my times are still very slow. Tim surprised me by cheering for me along the way. That helped as when I would see him I would speed up so he wouldn't realize how "normally slow" I am.

Anyway, this has been a lot of fun. I am thankful for friends and family who have been both an example and an encouragement to me.