UNLIKELY FRIENDS

A few days ago I was taking the shortcut through the country to a major highway on my way to Springdale, AR to visit my friend there.

It's a lovely drive, no traffic at all!  There are pastures and cows and horses and country homes along the way.

Nothing out of the ordinary!

UNTIL... I noticed an unlikely friendship as I watched two buddies taking a morning stroll down a dusty lane.

It was unbelievable.

Trotting together was a huge black lab AND a huge very pink PIG! (They looked just like these pictures.)  I could tell by their easy gate that this was not the first time they'd been thrown together. They obviously have accepted each other and their differences. There was no fear, no aggravation, no judgments. I'm sure they have spent much time together since being a puppy and a piglet. Maybe they were headed to breakfast, maybe a shade tree to take a nap.

 I could not stop watching and SMILING!  What a delightful sight!

A dog and a pig! 

Who says it can't be done?  Two totally unlikely personalities walking through life together.

Two titles used in very negatives ways by some humans on this planet.

A dog??  A pig?? Have you heard people referred to by such names?  And others just as cruel and hateful.  Sure you have!

Because we recently returned from a Middle Eastern trip, and because we live in a country that is very racially, politically and economically divided, we are very aware of the titles, the anger and the hatred of people when referring to others that are not like them.  Perhaps there is a religious difference, a cultural difference, a skin color difference, an educational divide, or a economic span that breeds distrust.  Those things are real and deep and I'm not minimizing any of it. Sometimes the divide has been years in the making. (Remember the Hatfields and the McCoys!)

BUT....it's refreshing to watch those in the animal kingdom get it right.  That black lab and that pink pig KNEW each other.  They grew up together, they are used to doing life together. They are comfortable with each other and even enjoy one another's company. The relationship is just....well, easy!

Isn't it amazing that once we get to really KNOW each other, all those differences are changed into delightful characteristics to celebrate.

The dog and the pig have proven it can be done!

SING-A-LONG WITH ME

A couple of weeks ago Honeybuns and I made the drive to Dallas to witness Fine Arts Day at Providence Christian School.  It was another breath-taking event, watching children dressed up as historical characters re-teach us old folks American history.  Everyone in the audience was stunned at the details we long since forgotten.  (Do YOU know the history behind "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain When She Comes?")

Our job at the event was to clap and be VERY PROUD.

Each class presented the material they'd learned all year in a most delightful way.

Of all the wonderful impressive songs, speeches and re-enactments one of the most poignant moments for me came when the music director prefaced "Hymn Sing" time, involving ALL the children.

I paraphrase here. She said:

The hymns we have chosen to teach the children this year are not selected casually. When we sing hymns we sing our theology. You see, when we teach children what WE love, they grow up to love it, too.  (Very important statement!) The children have memorized the words and will remember them forever.  Everyone should have a canon of hymns in their memory for that is what will get them through the hard times of life when they come. And they will come.  It has been proven that even the folks that suffer from Alzheimer's, in their latter days, remember and sing the hymns they learned as a child.

She then led the children in their theme of "Hosanna" and they sang from memory 12 of the great hymns of the church, some familiar, some I'd never heard before.  Theology rang throughout the auditorium.  Beautiful, innocent, smiling, serious faces enthusiastically sang their little hearts out!  I could barely breathe and tried to keep tears from streaming down my face.  (As I glanced around, others were doing the same.)

Perhaps some of the younger kiddos sang the words without completely understanding the depth of their meaning. But they will....one day!  They will review in their minds and hearts the grandeur, magnificent, beauty and wonder of God.  They will remember that HE is with them, protecting, guiding, forgiving and loving.  And THAT will see them through!

What a fabulous reminder for all.  What a very wise music teacher!

We learned much that day!

I've decided to go back and memorize the 3rd and 4th verses of some of the great hymns I love,

Just As I Am
Great is Thy Faithfulness
When We All Get to Heaven
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
I Need Thee Every Hour
Holy, Holy, Holy
A Little Sanctuary
It Is Well
Etc.......

Oh, boy! This is going to be fun!

GENIUS

OK!  NOW, I've seen it all!

After lunch with the grands in Dallas today,  the suggestion was made to show BeBe and Papa the new ATM CUPCAKE machine! We took a leisurely stroll down the sidewalk and stopped at a brick wall with the proclamation, "there it is."

Boy, howdy! Any hungry person can now satisfy their sugar craving and receive a DE-LISH miniature cake anytime day or night (24/7) at one of these automatic, self service, brilliant inventions. A cupcake via the ATM!

Yes, we tried it out.  The process is simple.  You touch the screen, choose the flavor of your choice from a list only grandma could make, the number you desire and add it to your "cart."

After sliding the necessary credit card  through the slot, a beautifully designed brown box is delivered to the opening below, the door raises and BINGO! There it is!  Inside the box is the most beautifully decorated cupcake ever created by man, or machine, or robot, or whatever/whoever is behind that pink screen.

It's magic!

How very creative!  How very GOOD! (We shared a couple of red velvet and milk chocolate!)

It ain't cheap! ($4.25 ea.)  But the novelty, the taste, and the sheer convenience has made this little stop at the brick wall worth it! We heard that often there is a long LINE waiting to touch that pink screen.

Capitalism at it's finest.

I don't know who thought this up, but I'm pretty sure they aren't working at a minimum wage job today.  Evidently this culinary delight is found only in a few select cities in America.  I'm putting money on the fact that it won't be long until this logo is as familiar as the golden arches.

It's one of those days when I ponder, "why didn't I think of that?"

Evidently it takes a genius!