Changes

Well. It's been a week, hasn't it? A couple of them. 

My tree, the cottonwood that stood up to lightning strikes, a committee of turkey buzzards I was afraid were going to take up residence in its branches, being a squirrel amusement park, and decorating the side yard with leaf clusters and sticks, went down in the last storm. It was there the entire 46 years we've lived here, and I miss it.

It seems like summer just started, but both the fair and the circus have passed. There are cars at school every day, where teachers are back in their classrooms already. The coolest thing about teachers--and there are many cool things about teachers--is that they don't have to make dramatic announcements or jump on a platform or make up swag or hire a PR firm to show that they're going to change the world. All they have to do is go to work, and they change it every single day. 

I remember saying--more than once, using different words--that my goal in writing books wasn't to give anyone a better life, but that I hoped to give them a good afternoon. I still hope that, but it makes me realize anew the enormity of what educators do.

Today, I'm starting what I hope becomes a series here at the Window. A friend shared a wonderful love story on social media yesterday and I asked her if I could use it on the blog. Thanks to Janie Haynes for the message of love everlasting. 

Janie & David Haynes

From Janie Haynes on July26, 2024. 

It’s been almost 51 years ago. I was coming home from another wedding of many I sang at. By that time a lot of my friends and cousins were married and I also sang in their weddings or was in their wedding parties or both. Windows down in my '66 Chevy and singing to the Carpenters eight-track tape, I was wondering when I would ever find my true love.

I remembered a sermon from a Billy Graham Crusade saying if you want something specific in life you need to pray what God wants for you. It was late, no traffic in sight, and I stopped on our road leading home. Under that beautiful, full moon, I kneeled on the roadside and asked God to bring who he wanted in my life.

It was just about two weeks later that I met David. Saturday we will celebrate 50 years being married.

I thank God for David and our family…and those 50 years.

Thanks for being here this week. If you have a story to share, one that changed your life or someone else's, we'd love to hear it. PM me. I hope Janie and David's story made you as happy as it did them...and me. Have a good week. Be nice to somebody.