An Overlooked Gift

Yellow flowers are said to represent friendship

What did the television shows I Love Lucy, Seinfeld, Cheers, and Friends all have in common? Easy, each was a show about friends and their adventures together. Who can forget Lucy and Ethel and their escapades or Seinfeld, the show about nothing, which still delights us today? We all have friends, some more than others, in many different areas of our life. Friends from work, friends in the neighborhood, friends near and far, friends from different social groups. Even in our families we have siblings, cousins, or a dear family member who is both a relative and a friend.

Friends are a basic need that we often overlook when we thank God for our blessings. Like food and water we need interaction with other people. No matter how much we may treasure our solitude we still need friendship and fellowship with others. All too often we don’t realize this need and don’t recognize it as a blessing.

Friends are a gift from God. I’m thankful for those people I can count on to be there for me when I need support or just need to blurt out what’s on my mind. Thankful for friends to laugh with, too. Don’t take your friends for granted, but thank God for them as they are a blessing not to be overlooked!

Heavenly Father, I cannot imagine how storms can be navigated, burdens borne, and hardships handled without the company of a few good friends. I praise you today for the gift of friendship—for the joy, encouragement, and refreshment you give me through my friends. (Scotty Smith)

Independence

Upon the approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 the document was rushed to the Philadephia print shop of John Dunlap. He quickly set the type and printed about 200″broadsides” (a page about the size of a full sheet of newsprint).

In December 2002 I was fortunate to get to see one of these broadsides which is considered an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. Only a handful survive and this one was touring the United States. Visitors were given a copy of the document printed on very nice card stock (pictured above).

As I looked at the heavily guarded page I had to think of the hands that held that paper that day, the eyes that read the words, and wondered what did it mean to that person to be declaring independence.

As we celebrate as only Americans do, let’s remember how this nation was founded and the men and women who were determined to have freedom and a new nation. Little did they realize where they were headed…

Happy Independence Day – Let Freedom Ring!

Happy Summer 2017

Happy First Day of Summer! Where I live the temperatures have already soared into the upper 90’s and there is lots of sunshine and those big fluffy Texas only clouds. All eyes are on the Gulf of Mexico from now until early October, and, yes there’s development out there already. Time for watermelon, iced tea and summer evenings swatting mosquitos. The long days of summer stretch before us – get out and do something fun!

The Little Elephant

This cast stone elephant is charming, isn’t it? It is one of two that are part of the Hertzberg Circus Collection. For many years it and its companion stood in front of the former San Antonio Public Library at 210 W. Market Street. Everytime I walked by the building it never failed to make me smile!

The little elephants have a long story that, thankfully, has a happy ending for them. Harry Hertzberg was a local attorney and avid circusana collector who left his extensive collection to the City of San Antonio when he passed away in 1940. The collection was then housed in the former San Antonio Public Library building and the first elephant was installed at the front; the city continued to add to the collection doubling its original size.

Five elephants were cast by local artist Julian Sandoval. A fellow circus collector commissioned one for Mr. Hertzberg as a gift; it was displayed on Mr. Hertzberg’s lawn until his death. The second elephant was donated to the collection when its owner passed away in 1989. It was installed opposite the original elephant in front of the old library.

By 2001 the circus collection contained 40,000 items and the cost of maintaining the museum was prohibitive. Per the terms of Mr. Hertzberg’s will the collection then passed to the Witte Museum. One elephant was installed in front of the museum and named “Cinnamon Candy”. Countless children (including my oldest grandchild) posed for pictures with this little elephant.

Cinnamon Candy in her new location, 2017

A re-painting of the elephant was sponsored by the Bolner family, owners of Bolner’s Fiesta Spices in 2006; conservation work has also been done to preserve the elephant. When the Witte underwent a major renovation the elephant was moved to the side of the museum, close to the temporary entrance. When the renovations were finished the little stone elephant was moved to its new location in front of the B. Naylor Morton Research Center. I’m not sure where the other elephant is – time for a trip to the museum!

Flag Day

June 14th is celebrated as Flag Day; however, it is one of the lesser known American observances. The flag had been created by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Various celebrations had been taking place for many years to honor the American flag, but it wasn’t until 1916 that President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation making June 14th a day of honoring the American flag.

“I therefore suggest and request that throughout the nation and if possible in every community the fourteenth day of June be observed as Flag Day with special patriotic exercises,”

June 14th was officially designated as Flag Day in 1949. So fly those flags today and show your spirit!

Where is this?

Where is this doorway and what does it lead to? I will tell you that from 1950 until 1989 it was covered over in the name of “modernization”. Curious? Of course, so hop on over to Doorway Into the Past and find out the answers to these questions and much more!

Adventure day

One day last week I had a long-promised adventure day which didn’t turn out quite like I had planned. But it’s always okay because that’s what adventure is all about, right?

For $2.75 you can buy a one-day bus pass in the city where I live and ride any bus anywhere all day. Not a bad deal! I had planned to ride much more, but ended up walking just as much as riding. Truthfully, the walking came about because I just wan’t patient enough to wait for the next bus that I wanted to catch! Still, not a bad thing as I saw many things that way, too.

My travels took me to familiar places and some new places, too. And, yes there will be some blog posts coming up real soon. Probably another adventure day, too! Enjoy the slide show!

It’s made out of…what?

We all need things to look forward to, even if they’re just something small and important only to us. But we also need those little surprise moments that stun a little and then lead to a smile or maybe even a good laugh.

This work gave me one of those little surprises. At first I glanced at it and started to walk on by, but the texture pulled me back. What is that? Instantly I realized what I was seeing and had one of those little surprise moments of delight.

This work is made out of puzzle pieces – does that make you smile? Bet it does!

The Overflowing Fountain

God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:5 NRSV

Love so amazing, so divine. God’s love is poured down upon us just as water in a fountain cascades down filling one level after another. He doesn’t use a funnel that’s wide at the top and narrows down at the bottom; he pours his love full strength over us and through us so it fills us from one layer to the next. It’s not a flooding torrent either like some of the storms we experience here in South Texas that end as quickly as they begin. God’s love is soft and gentle, yet strong, covering us securely without drowning us.

But, unlike the fountain that has a recirculating pump to carry the water back to the top, once his love fills our heart it flows out from us to reach others. As we receive God’s love, mercy, and grace it overflows from us naturally. Yes, sometimes things don’t go right and we feel separated from God or we separate ourselves, but the love is there always. Just remember to turn the fountain back on!

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight Philippians 1:9 NRSV

Mimosa Time (not the drink!)

My poor, very crowded mimosa tree is loading up with blooms. Early morning, through the day, and in the evening they fill the air with a gentle scent that is fragrant and very soothing without being over powering like honeysuckle. I enjoy the delicate blossoms way up on the tree, but they do make a mess when they fall. I just wish I had a way to capture the scent and bring it inside so it would last until next year.