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January 8, 2006

I read Elisabeth Elliot’s devotional today, “Some of My Best Friends are Books.” It is so wonderful — she stirs my soul! I don’t want to cut and paste the whole devotional since it’s under her copyright, but I’ll link to it and hope you can visit.

Here a few wonderful excerpts:

I have almost always been surrounded by books. I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother put some in the crib along with my toys, just to get me used to them early. The first house I remember living in was one of those double ones of which there are hundreds in the suburbs of Philadelphia. We lived in Germantown, in what was probably a cramped house (although to me as a child it seemed large) and there were books in the living room, books in the dining room, books in all of the bedrooms and tall bookcases lining the halls. My father came home at night with a briefcase full of papers and books.

No wonder she grew up to be a writer who changed the hearts of thousands of people with her words!

Evenings at home were often spent with the whole family sitting together, each with his head in a book. Or at times my father would read aloud…A big dictionary was always within reach of the dining room table because it was there that arguments most frequently arose over words. He wanted them quickly settled, and made us look up the words in question…

But of course there was the Bible, in a class all by itself. This was The Book in our home, and we heard it read every day, usually twice a day. The King James English was as simple and familiar to me, with all its “beholds” and “it came to passes,” as Philadelphia talk (pronounced twawk). The resonance of the Books of Moses, the cadences of the Psalms, the lucidity of the Gospel of John, the soaring rhapsodies of Paul on the love of God, the strange figures of the Book of the Revelation, all sank deeply into my heart and mind. Everything in life, I believed, had meaning as it related to what I knew of The Book.

She ends her essay by writing, “Kafka said that books should serve as ‘the axe for the frozen sea within us.’ As a Christian reader I bring to bear on the book I am reading the light of my faith.”

P.S. You’ll notice I’ve added Elisabeth Elliot to my Blogroll of Favorites — so I can remember to read her every day.

By: Heather Ivester in: Books | Permalink | Comments & Trackbacks (1)



January 7, 2006

One of my favorite verses of poetry is from British poet William Blake. His awe of nature is revealed in these oft-quoted lines:

To see a world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
(from ‘Auguries of Innocence’)

There are many ways that parents can teach children about our God the Creator, but one of the best ways is through studying the natural world together. It’s not hard for me to have a child-like curiosity of the outdoors because I’m discovering everything fresh and new as an adult.

I was happy to receive Samuel Alibrando’s book, Nature Never Stops Talking, from Mind & Media. I love the colorful artwork on the cover, and I appreciate Mr. Alibrando’s fresh approach at discovering the natural world. He began his writing career as a father, while teaching his children. “I enjoyed pointing out certain things to my children (now fully grown),” he says in the introduction. “Most often I would pull a leaf off a tree and say, ‘This was an idea before it was created. We can physically touch what was once an idea.'”

Although Alibrando admits that he hasn’t finished college (remaining only a few credits shy of an AA degree), his hunger for understanding details about nature set him off on a quest of self-discovery in his 30s. He later became a columnist in a local newspaper, Mountain Press, where he has been writing for at least a decade. His book, Nature Never Stops Talking, is a compilation of 100 of his best short essays, celebrating Intelligent Design.

The book is divided into easy-to-browse topics: earth and space, scientific properties, the small stuff, beginnings, plants and trees, insects, specific creatures, DNA, the human body, and another section of miscellaneous essays. The author says, “The articles are like friendly talks ‘on the porch’ with company visiting.” Interspersed throughout the book are also rules and laws that he calls “Alibrando’s Laws.” The book concludes with an appendix that summarizes these laws.

There are several articles in the book that I really enjoyed, taken in a stand-alone way. His essay on snowflakes is full of poetic wonder: “The acoustics of a sky filled with feathery flakes creates a sacred quiet.” Then he launches into a brief discussion of how snow is really composed of ice crystals, which are tiny, light-reactive prisms.

His column on pinecones was also interesting; I’ll never look at a pinecone the same way. Children will also enjoy hearing his descriptions of animals, such as his article on bats: “The smallest bat in the world is the bumblebee bat. It weighs less than a penny.”

I encourage you to visit the author’s website and blog for further discussion. He seems to be a very approachable person, interested in receiving feedback from his readers. And that’s the point of writing for many of us — we want to build a community of fellow readers.

Yet, I must be honest and say that there was an overall tone to the book which bothered me. In general, I feel that Alibrando has an “us against them” view of scientists, which I don’t understand. There are thousands of very intelligent people who further their educations into specialized fields of science, while remaining strong in their Christian faith. In fact, for many of these scientists, they develop an even more intense appreciation of God as they realize how magnificent and complex His designs are.

So it bothered me that Alibrando seemed to assume throughout the book that scientists and their so-called laws and theories are wrong; and those of us who believe in a Creator are right. On p. 51 of the book, he writes, “We start believing that scientists can do anything. But guess what? They can’t make a tree. They can’t make a flower. They can’t even make a single seed…and they can’t make stuff grow…And you thought they could do anything. Ha.”

And on p. 139, I was quite surprised this made it through editing: “If all the greatest scientific minds can’t answer these questions now, who or what put it together when it was invented, something without brains, a roll of the dice or somebody smart? You have a brain pick your favorite from those three.” (That last sentence cannot possibly have been seen by an editor.)

After a while, I found the tone of the book to be haughty — instead of inspiring me to a deeper love and appreciation for God, I felt like the author kept reminding me how smart he is — and how dumb the rest of the scientific community is. Yet children who excel in mathematics and science will someday become our future engineers, biologists, astronomers, zoologists, and physicians. To me, having a book like this discourages children from pursuing advanced degrees that would someday label them as “scientists.”

I have agonized for weeks over this review because I know the author worked hard writing his columns and compiling them into a book. He sent Mind & Media reviewers a nice letter along with his book, and I always want to encourage people who are writers to keep it up! I thought about focusing only on the positives in my review — but then I felt like I needed to be honest.

Our world is in desperate need of men and women who are well educated, passionate about their subject fields, and also strong in their Christian faith. They’ll be leading the way for the next century of discoveries. I thank God for the many scientists who labored years and years through school to acquire the credentials required to be “experts.”

(This book was given to me for review from Mind & Media as a gift from the publisher.)

By: Heather Ivester in: Book Reviews | Permalink | Comments & Trackbacks (1)



Do you read Dear Abby in the newspaper? I do. I’ve been reading her every day for years. I always find the editorial and advice columns the most interesting items in the newspaper — can you tell?

Although I like Dear Abby, I don’t agree with her much of the time, unfortunately. I wish a columnist with a Christian worldview could be the most-read syndicated columnist on earth. Much of Abby’s advice carries a hidden agenda that is NOT from the Bible — and her solution for most people with severe problems is to go see a counselor.

While that’s very important, many people need help quicker than that. They’re on the verge of complete despair. People should be taught to pour out their hearts to God, to pray for His strength and mercy to get through the day. That should come first. THEN they may need to seek help from professional Christian counselors — not psychobabblers who don’t understand the condition of the human heart from a Biblical standpoint — and are too quick to dole out prescriptions that may lead to addictions.

Well! I could go on…of course! But I did clip something from the newspaper that I wanted to keep — and I’ll lose it if I don’t let Google cache it for me in my blog — so you can read it too.

Dear Abby’s List of New Year’s Resolutions:

“JUST FOR TODAY, I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once. I know that I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I’ll not speak ill of others. I’ll improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking. Just for today, I’ll refrain from improving anybody but myself.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will do something positive to improve my health. If I’m a smoker, I’ll quit. If I’m overweight, I’ll eat healthily — if only just for today. And not only that, I’ll get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it’s only around the block.

JUST FOR TODAY, I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions.”

What a beautiful list. We can all hang in there for just one day. I know January can be an overwhelming time for many people. We just found out about a suicide from someone in our town who was very well liked and successful. It’s a complete shock. I don’t understand what kind of problems this person had — but I say a lot of it is the post-holiday crash — the expectations that weren’t met, perhaps overwhelming bills are coming in, and physically — we’ve eaten too many rich foods and need a break.

About this list, notice that all the strength and courage come from within — but Paul in the Bible says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through Him [Christ] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). And I’ve already mentioned before how powerful Psalm 143 is for me — here’s the advice someone needs: “Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails…Show me the way to go, for to you I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:7a,8b).

If you haven’t gotten going with a Bible reading plan this year, here’s my post from New Year’s Eve where I listed several links that have reading plans you can download. No offense to those who only read the King James Version (I love it too), but I think reading a modern language version can bring the Bible to life, especially if you haven’t read it in years. The words will jump off the page at you!!

P.S. If you’re feeling desperate and need to talk to someone right away, the best place to start is Focus on the Family. You can talk to someone on the phone who can lead you in the right direction.

By: Heather Ivester in: Wellness | Permalink | Comments Off on A Word from Dear Abby



January 6, 2006

A little while ago, Mind & Media sent out a note to the reviewers to pray for John Piper, author of many Christian books, including one of my favorites, Desiring God. Piper recently found out that he has prostate cancer and will be undergoing surgery and treatments starting next month.

I wanted to share this with you so you can go to his website and read the letter to his congregation, which is posted there. Already, he’s demonstating a great faith and peace.

This news has, of course, been good for me. The most dangerous thing in the world is the sin of self-reliance and the stupor of worldliness. The news of cancer has a wonderfully blasting effect on both. I thank God for that. The times with Christ in these days have been unusually sweet.

For example, is there anything greater to hear and believe in the bottom of your heart than this: “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)?

God has designed this trial for my good and for your good. You can see this in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” And in 2 Corinthians 1:4-6, “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God … If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation.”

I hope you can go read the rest of his powerful words, and I thank God for his leadership as he enters a new chapter in his life. Piper recently had dinner with two good friends of ours in Alabama. He spoke at a gathering of over 1200 college students, and they said his inspirational message was one of great power.

If you would like to email him a note of encouragement, his address is encouragement@desiringgod.org.

On a personal note, I’m also anxiously waiting for a phone call to find out about my uncle who underwent surgery this morning to remove cancer. We’ve covered him and his family in prayer, but this letter from John Piper also bolstered my faith.

By: Heather Ivester in: Faith | Permalink | Comments & Trackbacks (3)



Today is officially the 12th Day of Christmas. It’s Epiphany, also known as “The Adoration of the Magi” or “The Manifestation of God.” According to CRI/Voice, “The Season of Christmas begins with the First Sunday of Advent, marked by expectation and anticipation, and concludes with Epiphany, which looks ahead to the mission of the church to the world in light of the Nativity.”

So Happy Epiphany to you! We’ve made it through the whole Christmas season! Now, if you’re like me, you’re ready to get back to regular routine and move along.

I wrote about how much we enjoy our Quiet Week after Christmas, and…well…it stretched into two quiet weeks. So we still haven’t taken our sparkly, artificial tree down. We relished the grace of those 12 full days of Christmas. But today — away it goes.

Now, I’m really getting into this FlyLady routine stuff — my days are starting to be anchored by solid, unwavering morning and evening routines. For some reason, it doesn’t seem so boring — when I know that 250,000 other “Fly Babies” are also shining their sinks, scanning for stray clutter, and checking our calendars. The EXCITING part of it all is I’ve discovered I can really be faster doing things I hate, which makes it more like a game than drudgery.

So, here’s the new motto for this year — are you ready? From FlyLady:

Simple Routines are the trick in 2006.

I chose this motto because I do not want you to make your routines so big that they are not doable and you allow your pefectionism to cause you to do nothing. Keep them simple and they will be easy for you.

The word trick can be fun! In the dictionary I found a meaning that seems to fit my idea. #5 A special skill; a knack: Is there a trick to getting this window to stay up? I want you to find that loving yourself by using simple routines is a special skill that can change your world. It is just this easy! By doing simple routines to relieve the pressure we put on ourselves; we are FLYing!

So, while you’re FLYing through your Friday errand running and cleaning as you get ready for the first POST-HOLIDAY weekend of the year, here’s a little quiz to remind you of your hidden talents. (This one pegged me exactly…somehow!)


Your Hidden Talent


You are a great communicator. You have a real way with words.
You’re never at a loss to explain what you mean or how you feel.
People find it easy to empathize with you, no matter what your situation.
When you’re up, you make everyone happy. But when you’re down, everyone suffers.



January 5, 2006

I found a schedule of Franklin Graham crusades and festivals and wanted to pass this along to you. If you live anywhere near one of these events, I encourage you to go. I attended a Billy Graham Crusade at Central Park in New York City about 15 years ago. It changed my life.

There were thousands and thousands of people there, inspiring music, and awesome fellowship. It was powerful to be a part of something so huge. The family I was with helped coordinate the marketing for this event, so I got a good seat up front, and I actually got to meet Mrs. Elisabeth Elliot and tell her how much her books impacted me.

We as Christians have a message of hope that people desperately need to hear. As you look at your schedule for 2006, now’s the time to start planning big things like this — opportunities that will be lost if they’re not inked in now. I hope someone will be able to hear Franklin Graham speak in person. The legacy of his father continues. If you’ve never read Franklin’s autobiography, I highly recommend it — Rebel With a Cause. It’s a very good book to pass along to someone you know who may be straying from truth. Look what God can do through prayer!

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website

February 2-5, 2006
Metro Manila Franklin Graham Festival
Manila, Philippines

March 11-12, 2006
Celebration of Hope
New Orleans, Louisiana

April 1, 2006
Angola Franklin Graham Festival
Angola, Louisiana

April 21-23, 2006
Gulf Coast Franklin Graham Festival
Mobile, Alabama

July 7-9, 2006
Metro Maryland Franklin Graham Festival
Baltimore, Maryland

September 21-23, 2006
Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham
Quito, Ecuador

October 20-22, 2006
Central Canada Franklin Graham Festival
Winnipeg, Manitoba

November 3-5, 2006
Okinawa Franklin Graham Festival
Okinawa, Japan

Franklin Graham wrote this about how the Graham organization is helping to bring hope to the world:

God also has given us a key role in meeting the spiritual needs of hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast region. The Rapid Response chaplain teams that we developed since the 9/11 attacks have ministered to thousands of survivors and emergency workers, leading many to salvation in Jesus Christ.

We’re also excited about the directions in which God is leading our Crusade ministry. In the coming months, I’m looking forward to events in New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., to share the hope of Jesus with people in these areas, many of whom were displaced from their homes by recent hurricanes. I’ve preached on five continents this year, and in 2006 God has given us invitations to go to the Philippines, Ecuador, Canada, Japan and Baltimore, Md. These events not only reach individuals but also strengthen churches and train Christians to be soul-winners.

The Billy Graham Library, now under construction in Charlotte, N.C., will give hundreds of thousands of visitors for generations to come the opportunity to hear the Gospel and respond to the unchanging truth my father has preached: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).

Thank you for standing with us and praying for us as we take the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to a world where more people than ever before need to know Him.

If anybody reading this ends up going to a Graham Crusade, please let me know!

By: Heather Ivester in: Faith | Permalink | Comments Off on The Graham Legacy Continues



Here’s something I’d rather not reveal — but it’s the truth. I’m not a funny person. I’m rather boring, actually. If I ever say anything interesting or witty, it’s because I’m repeating something I read or heard from some person who really is witty or funny.

I can’t even tell a good joke without shortening it, forgetting the good parts and even…yes…forgetting the punch line! I end up saying, “Well, it was something like that” when the line falls flat and nobody laughs.

But I still like being around people who make me laugh. Through my insatiable reading habit, I can meet up with some pretty funny people. One is Sue Buchanan, who wrote one of my all-time favorite books, Duh-Votions. If you haven’t seen this book, it’s really a joy to read.

I had Sue’s book sitting on my desk a few months ago, and I was reading through it again. I thought to myself — I wish I could write funny like her! So, I starting typing out a couple of things that happened to me that could be told in a humorous way, and I sent them off to a couple of publishers.

The big shock for me came when I found out both stories were accepted! Somebody actually thought I was funny. One story will be in a book called Soul Matters For Mothers, which comes out in March from J. Countryman. Another of my attempts at humor writing will appear in the book, A Cup of Comfort for Expectant Mothers to be published by Adams Media this October.

So, maybe I’m onto something. What is it about Sue Buchanan that makes her so fun to read? For one thing, she LIVES a lot — meaning, she gets out and does things, goes places, talks to people — and maybe she takes a notebook with her because she fills up her stories with feel-like-you’re-there dialogue.

I’ve been getting a few tips from Tim Bete, who, according to his website, “is married with four children and has 19 combined years as a dad — 133 in dog years — which makes him an expert at answering the questions, ‘Are we there yet?’ ‘Why?’ and ‘What’s that smell?'”

As the current director of the University of Dayton’s Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, Tim is really great at writing funny. I reviewed his book, In the Beginning There Were No Diapers, a few weeks ago. Recently, I gleaned some good tips in his article, Word Play, in Writer’s Digest Magazine.

He introduces his six tips for writing humor with this lead-in:

But often writers spend more time on the order and structure of sentences than the individual words within sentences. When you’re writing a humor piece, don’t settle for an overall funny concept. By going back through the piece with a fine-tooth comb, and using these six tips to find the funniest words, you can turn a funny piece into a hilarious one.

Go read his article if you want to make your readers laugh!

I’ve been on Cloud 9 and 1/2 since a couple of weeks ago when I talked to two LOCAL friends who are also writers! They’re both moms who submit articles and essays to magazines — and they’re both interested in writing a book. So, of course I told them about Terry Whalin’s must-read, Book Proposals That Sell. Hey, and I found out that Stacy interviewed him recently in her Mind & Media blog.

Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll learn how to write a book that will make people laugh. And in the process, I might even get better at remembering those pesky punch lines.

By: Heather Ivester in: Writing | Permalink | Comments & Trackbacks (1)



January 4, 2006

It’s not too late to start a new devotional this year. Here’s a link to Elisabeth Elliot’s daily devotional, if you love her writing as much as I do.

I just got back from taking a sneak peak at Two Talent Living’s Carnival of Beauty today, and you’re in for a refreshing variety of ideas (including mine — of course!). The topic is “The Beauty of Limits.” As I go about my day, whenever I need a five-minute break, I’ll read one of these 12 essays sent in by women bloggers. (And I’ll probably have my timer ticking beside me — because here’s where I have trouble losing track of time!)

So far, nobody has taken me up on my offer to let me post your essay in my blog. If you’re not a blogger, don’t you want to share your views with others? Next week’s topic is “The Beauty of Winter.” Sallie’s deadline is Jan. 10th at 3 p.m. So, you’ve got a few days to think about this topic. What do you love about the season of winter? Is it what takes place outdoors? Describe what it’s like in your part of the world. Or do you enjoy what goes on inside your home? Tell us! I’d love to publish a collection of ideas here.

This is your English teacher assigning you an essay to write — due by midnight next Monday, Jan. 9. I think it would be so fun to see what winter is like in different parts of the world.

By: Heather Ivester in: Writing | Permalink | Comments & Trackbacks (4)



January 3, 2006


If you or someone you know has ever gone through a rough time, sometimes nothing seems to help except words from someone who has also been through it. Often, the only way to access a person who has encountered a similar situation is through reading a book. In Jan Eckle’s book, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow, she shares with you her personal pain and triumph in order to help you learn how to overcome your own adversities.

Jan’s story begins at the age of twelve, as she moves from La Paz, Bolivia to the U.S. We enjoy reading the background of her life as we approach the defining moments that led her to write this book. She takes you briefly through her college years, shares how she met her husband, and how she at last fulfilled her dream of becoming a mother.

While Jan was still young in her early 30s, something tragic happened that would change her life forever. She began to lose her eyesight. In the chapter, “Living in Darkness,” she describes the shock she felt when her doctor first told her that she was going to gradually lose all ability to see. At the time, she was the mother of three active boys, and it was terrifying to not be able to see them anymore.

The day came when she realized it was too dangerous for her to drive her own car, and she mourned the loss of independence of being able to drive her sons to their sporting events and activities.

Yet because of her suffering, Jan realized that her physical lack of sight was nothing compared to her spiritual darkness. She shares her amazing testimony in the chapter, “Salvation.” Jan’s vision may have diminished, but her heart began to “see” things she’d never understood before. She writes, “Climbing slowly out of this dark and cold place, I began to walk with Him, warmed by the light of His Word. My heart began to fill with peace, a peace beyond what I could understand.” Her changed heart led her to a lifelong thirst for scripture — and instead of being able to read it, she listened to hours and hours of sermons on the radio.

As a blind person, Jan had to learn how to run her household — she learned to find things and even cook in complete darkness! And she discovered a talent she didn’t know she had: the ability to interpret very quickly between the Spanish and English languages. She’s won many high awards in her career as an interpreter.

Her book gave me details into how a blind person uses a computer. If you have children who are studying blindness in school, Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow will give them an in-depth glimpse into the tools of modern technology that enable a handicapped person to live and thrive like anyone else. They may even become interested in reading books out loud to record for the blind.

Beyond the tragedy of losing her sight, Jan continues her story, describing experiences that many of us go through. She and her husband underwent a financial crisis, where it looked like despair was around every corner. Yet her faith led her through, and she gives God the glory for the way things turned out. Another difficult experience was having to move from a place she was comfortable with to a new state, a new neighborhood, a new house. This is difficult for anyone, but especially for Jan, who wasn’t even able to see the house they bought. But she braved this trial once again with peace.

Then another tragedy struck her family on Sept. 7, 2002. Her precious college-age son, Joe, was killed in an accident. Jan’s sorrow over the death of her son and how she overcame this suffering are what led her to write this book. She was completely overwhelmed and had nowhere to turn but to God, the Giver of all Comfort. From the love and healing she received from her Savior, Jan now lives to offer a message of hope to other people who grieve.

I couldn’t put this book down. Jan’s faith inspired mine in so many ways. Her storytelling techniques drew me in completely, and she has the gift of telling truth in love that so many people need to hear. I would give this book to anyone who is going through a difficult transition or loss in life. The author shares how the truths in scripture set her free from a life of feeling sorry for herself. She relies on hope in God to give her an inward joy that is contagious.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know Jan a bit through email, and I somehow felt like God was leading me to connect her with another mom who is an editor of a newspaper and recently lost her 20-year-old son. She and Jan corresponded, and she asked Jan to write an article for her newspaper about the difficulty of getting through the holidays when you’re missing a loved one. I was blessed beyond words when Jan sent the article to me and asked me to “be her eyes” helping her with formatting.

I think of her often and hope many more people will be able to read her life story, full of hope and a deep abiding trust in God. She shares this verse:

Those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~ Isaiah 40:31 NIV ~

You can learn more about Jan Eckles at her website, which was recently recognized as a top 10 Author’s website by Writer’s Digest Magazine. She also has an author interview in FaithWriters Magazine.

— Reviewed by Heather Lynn Ivester

By: Heather Ivester in: Book Reviews | Permalink | Comments Off on Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow



We went to a Christmas party a few weeks ago, and everyone exchanged white elephant gifts. We wrapped up an old straw hat to give and ended up bringing home two DVDs — one of “I Love Lucy” and another of “The Andy Griffith Show.” I say we got the better end of the deal — though the straw hat made for some funny photos.

We watched Andy Griffith last night — a rare occasion when all of us gathered around the TV. I normally can’t sit through any kind of sitcom, but we loved this show and all laughed so hard. This is the episode where Opie doesn’t want to go to school because his new history teacher is too mean. Andy tells him that history was hard for him too, and he doesn’t see why memorizing all those dates is such a big deal.

Well, the new teacher wasn’t happy at all when Opie caused an uproar in the class as he announced his dad’s lack of interest in history. And she goes to see Andy to give him a piece of her mind! It’s funny because she’s quite attractive, and after she leaves, Andy holds up his foot and says, “Now how did I ever get a foot this big to fit into my mouth?” (Try to explain that idiom to kids.)

So Andy gets Opie and all his friends interested in history by telling them the spellbinding tale of Paul Revere, and they start a Minute Men of Mayberry Club. Of course, Barney Fife is bug-eyed with excitement and asks if he can join in too (before he remembers he’s an adult and has to act cool and disinterested.)

What struck me about this show — which I haven’t seen in years — is how simple life was in Mayberry. Aunt Bee sent Opie out the door to walk alone to school after breakfast. Imagine that! No, we moms today can’t imagine that.

We wouldn’t dare send our kids out the door to let them walk alone to school. We either homeschool our children, drive them to school, or at least make sure they get on the school bus safely. I don’t know any parent who would send their kids out the door and say, “Got your lunch? Have a nice day!” Do people still do that?

Then, after school Aunt Bee didn’t have to haul Opie around to soccer practice, art lessons, karate, and 4-H Club because the town was safe enough for him and his friends to hang out together — with no adults around. They wandered over to the sheriff’s office and told Opie’s dad all the details of their school day. Aunt Bee was also busy doing her own thing.

The key word here: safety. Mayberry was a safe place where people could be trusted. But it doesn’t exist today. Which is one reason why most moms with young children I know say they feel “exhausted” at least some of the time. What if we could all send our kids to school in the morning (to a good school that we trusted to teach them God’s Word), then let them wander around with their friends playing in the streets after school? And we didn’t have to work to help provide income? We’d all be together laughing and gabbing — sharing recipes, telling stories, asking each other questions.

I guess that’s why we keep a blog and visit each other online. I wonder if Aunt Bee would be a blogger today.

It was fun watching Ron Howard act as a child. If you’ve seen the Narnia movie and got there in time for the previews, you probably remember seeing Howard all grown up discussing the latest project he produced, Curious George. I think it’s due to be released next month.

I’ve been whistling the Andy Griffith song around the house ever since.

By: Heather Ivester in: Parenting | Permalink | Comments & Trackbacks (1)