Simplify Life

Innocence Lost?

I was sorting through some boxes in the attic when I found this old card my best friend sent me for Christmas 1984. I paused for a few moments, gazing at the cover before I opened it. Ahh the memories that flooded my soul!! I was madly in love with the cover model and made sure he was pasted on my bedroom wall, so I could look at him when I went to sleep at night and when I awoke in the morning! Finally, in anticipation, I opened the card. I laughed hysterically when I read it! We had no clue back in '84 the real meaning of this card! Shave just knew I loved blond -haired, blue -eyed guys and horses! She saw this card at the "It Store" and knew it would be the perfect Christmas gift for me . Finding it at the "It Store" should have given Shave a clue as to the implications of the card! I appreciated her thoughtfulness though! We were innocent teenagers back in '84. Thank God.
Teenagers today have lost the innocence we experienced. It makes me sad.

"Nose"y Relatives

One advantage of Facebook, for me, is being able to connect with my many fraternal cousins and their families who live all across Canada. Some cousins I haven't seen in years while other second and third cousins I have never met. Yet, I have observed we have one thing in common - The Drodge Nose! My Grandma Whalen was a Drodge and we have all inherited her nose! I like our Drodge nose! It is strong and solid, just like the heart of many in the Drodge/Whalen clan! We are survivors, by God's AMAZING Grace.

Another Happy Moment! Handel would be proud!

My sweet "D" ( my 7 year old autistic student) and I were singing together yesterday near the end of school. I was taking requests from her when she suddenly blurted out, "Hallelujah?" I wasn't sure if "D" meant it as an exclamation of praise or a song to be sung. I opted for the latter, so I asked her to sing it to me. She proceeded to sing the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah. I couldn't believe it! We have no idea what is in that little mind of hers but I'm so glad she has decided to let us in this year!!

Am I in Jr. High?

So, I was sitting in the church hall the other day waiting for a missions presentation to begin. I quickly said hello to the girl sitting beside me when suddenly I felt this hand hitting my knee. As I turned to the source of the hit, I was greeted by a scowl and a "shhhhoush." This source was a stranger to me - a much younger stranger I might add. I could not believe this guy hit my knee and told me to be quiet. The girl sitting beside me was in shock too. I felt like I was back in Jr. High. The nerve of this guy to not only touch me, a stranger, but to tell me to be quiet when the presentation hadn't even started. But, I said nothing. Maybe I should have.

Facing my fears of failure and rejection

Inspired this week by a book I am reading, "No Opportunity Wasted" (by Phil Keoghan host of The Amazing Race) , I dived face first into my ocean of fear in order to rise high above the waves of failure and rejection. I am caught in the strong undertow. But, I am a fighter. I am tired. I am hurt. I want to give up. But, I am a fighter. By God's Grace. I see a glimmer of light at the surface. I can make it. By God's Strength. How will I respond once I reach the surface? That is the question. To be or not to be. Trying out for a minuscule solo part for a church musical may seem like a trivial way to conquer my fear of failure and rejection, but not for me. It's more complicated than it sounds and it's not the only time I have been turned down for a part in a church musical. I knew what the outcome would be before I dived in. However, I decided to tackle this opportunity as a "NOW" moment. I worked hard. So here I am . Caught in the undertow. But, I am a fighter. By God's Wisdom, Love and Peace. I will rise above those waves. I will be okay. Lessons learned. Conqueror. Ready to fight the battle all over again.

Case of the Missing Sock

How can one lose socks in the wash? It's a mystery. Two go in. One comes out. Any clues?

Happiest Moment of the Day

Summer Reading. Early morning snuggle into the lazyboy with a hot cup of coffee. Early afternoon recline in the deck chair at the beach. Cherishing the solitude. Reading. "Eat, Pray, Love, " one book from my summer reading list. One lesson learned. Look for the " happiest moment " of each day and write it down. Haven't mastered the writing down part yet but am intentional in my search to daily find the "happiest moment. " The same students that usually bring out my impatience seem to be part of my happy moments! Here are a few of the "Happiest Moments "of my week:


....watching sweet D. ( an autistic girl) fly through the air on the swing, head tilted back with a big smile on her face and not a care in the world
....having sweet D. ask me to sing the old classic Sunday School song, " I may never march in infantry...." but stopping me mid song to take my gloves off so she can hear me clap
....watching C.'s ( an autistic boy) grade 8 male classmates play, "Round and round the garden" on C's hand because they know he loves that
.....watching C. at the grade 6-8 dance...he was sooo happy
.....watching my dear S., (who I rarely get to see anymore) at the same dance interacting with her peers...wow can she ever dance and wow has she ever developed into a beautiful young lady
....answering question after question with C.'s grade 8 classmates about autism and why C. does certain things
....having C. snuggle into my chest unexpectedly, wanting me to hug him
....being out in the cool fresh air enjoying the sunshine

A "not so good" Blast from the Past

One of my favourite summer memories was going up to my trailer at MBC , located just outside Huntsville. I couldn't wait for the day when I was old enough to work on staff. That day came the summer of 1984. I was so excited to be waitressing (and secretly excited to be able to finally get to wear the different coloured aprons the waitresses wore each day!!! ) The summer of '84 turned out to be a crazy summer....... A little boy from the camp got lost for a couple of days in the woods... I almost got fired for playing a silly, innocent prank in the room of 3 guys from my church who came up to MBC to help find the missing boy!!!:)...a cottage family was involved in a fatal car accident that left the mother dead ..BUT, the most vivid memory for me was hearing my friend's mother was murdered. They had a cottage at MBC. I will never forget seeing my friend's father in the HUB ( cafe) about a week after his wife was murdered. I remember feeling so sad and so sorry for this man and his family. I was also surprised to see him at MBC so soon after the murder. There was good reason for my gut instinct...Two weeks after my "sighting" , this man was charged and eventually convicted of hiring a hit man to kill his wife. We were all in shock. How could this outwardly respectable churchgoer - a supposed Christian - do something so tragic? A myriad of thoughts and questions filled my mind that summer -with not many answers. I followed the story over the years. This man was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife after a 68-day trial filled with lurid testimony that exposed a life no one would have expected from this MBC cottager. Why do I share this story with you? This man died yesterday in prison. I was surprised when I read it in the paper today. I have often wondered how his children have coped over the years - basically left as orphans. I hope they have been able to make it through the other side with grace, strength, love, forgiveness and faith. Rest in peace.