Today’s post is a little out of the ordinary.  It was on this date in 1991 that Stoney Burke, the father of my two children, passed away.  The photo is one that was taken back in 1966 at a business meeting for work – ironically at Bud Smail Lincoln Mercury! Stoney is in the back row, far left.  Bud Smail is in the front row, second from the right.

Although our paths took different directions in 1981, he did give me two of the best gifts I could ever imagine.  So on this day I will honor the memory of the man that I married, and thank him that Kelly and Nathan have been the best thing that ever happened to me.  Now there are grandchildren to fill the quiver with arrows and bring joy and delight!

I might add that the journey of single-parenting helped immeasurably in telling Mary’s story, as I knew the struggles and the joys of raising two young children to adulthood.  This is a tribute to all single parents out there – keep going!  God will lift you up and sit your feet on a solid rock, and your children will rise up and call you blessed! 

Strange things have been known to happen at Dan Rice Days.  One year, as I recall, my cousin Susan, my mom and I walked seven miles one afternoon, wanting to walk past Dan Rice’s daughter’s home (that he built for her!) and past the gravestone for his baby daughter Lottie, who had died as an infant.  The thing that struck us so strange was that when we walked through the cemetery gates, there was a HUGE tombstone that said DODGE.  I think maybe it was our clue to get out of DODGE!  Or maybe, we already HAD!

Last weekend, we walked about 3 or 4 blocks from where we parked the car to check out the church’s giant all-day flea market.  We found a few pretty cool treasures:  A cast-iron mountain pie maker (already cured!), an 18 in wooden cutout of Dan ‘Uncle Sam’ Rice, A tiny wooden block house for my collection, and ….. a deer head in a rubber-made tub.  Ron was tempted, but we did not purchase this particular item.  It was rather disconcerting to walk around the corner of the table and have a deer staring up at you like that.  Hmmmm.

Stay tuned for more pictures and stories from Dan Rice Days — We had a great time!  Thanks to Caroline, Betsy, and Geoffrey for making it happen!

DAN RICE DAYS!  What an amazing weekend!  First, a huge thanks to MOM AND JOHN for their gracious and patient hospitality, and to Ron for being at my side the entire time – support, errands, anchor – great job!

Sold more books than I thought I would, and we were rained out on Saturday.  Met many interesting people, some who were drawn to Mary’s story like a magnet.  I heard many of their stories, as well, and realize that people just love to connect.  I think it makes their own stories feel more real.

Dan Rice was an amazing person – a jockey at the age of five, friends with President Lincoln at age twelve – circus owner/performer, local citizen widely traveled, promoter of peace and recognizing the need to honor those men and women who served in the Civil War.  There is a statue in the center of Girard (PA) that does just that, and it was the very first monument erected to honor our Civil War Soldiers.  Maybe take some time and check out Dan Rice, and in the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, read LETTERS TO MARY to see her encounter with the great ladies man!  Happy Sunday!!  God Bless….

THE BOOKS ARE ON THEIR WAY!  After days of fretting and fussing over their impending arrival, I received an email this evening with tracking numbers.  30 books will be here tomorrow, and 40 more next week.  Now, most of the people I know have already purchased books (thank you all!), so these last ones may actually be around a while.  At least they don’t expire!

Even though I get a little crazy waiting on the books, I really appreciate everyone at Wings and Paw Prints for helping to make this dream a reality. 

Oh, and one more thing.  In an email from Mom tonight, she said, ‘don’t forget to ask me about the letters to Charlie.’  Hmmmmm.  Now THAT’s something I hadn’t known about! Stay tuned!

Yesterday I had the privilege of taking Autmn to Camp Christian in Mill Run, PA.  It was fun to help her get settled into her bunk in the dorms, watch her pass her swim test for the deep end, and see her chasing around the grounds with her cousins.

I was barely a year older than Autmn the first time I spent a week at Camp, and this is Autmn’s second year as a full-week camper.  There are so many wonderful people there – all Godly men and women who love the Lord and share their faith with the campers.

I am praying this week that the blessings of heaven will fall freely (hopefully not accompanied by rain!) and touch the lives of campers and leaders alike.  Camp Christian – a place set apart. 

Since it’s throw-back Thursday I thought I’d go back a bit myself – not to Mary’s and Daniel’s lives but to my own.

The photo is of me when I was maybe two years old, standing in front of our family car.  I don’t remember where the photo was taken and should really ask my mom!

Who would have thought by looking at that little girl back then that she would grow up and write books!  The only thing I can remember wanting to be when I ‘grew up’ was a librarian.  Well, that didn’t happen, but the next best thing DID happen:  I grew up to write books that may actually be IN libraries!

How fun is THAT?  Have a great day.

You can imagine my surprise and delight last night when I went to the wingsepress.com site to order more books.  I looked at the featured new releases for July (mine had been June), and scrolled casually down the page.  I saw the word ‘Best Seller’ appear, and there it was!

LETTERS TO MARY!

I’m not sure exactly how it got to be a best seller, but I want to thank all of you for your support, for buying and reading and sharing and encouraging.  So many wonderful things have happened this year, and I am amazed and in awe of where my life is going.

PLEASE KEEP READING AND SHARING AND ENCOURAGING – IT IS MUSIC TO MY SOUL!  AGAIN, A MILLION THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!  AND ENJOY LTM!!!

Happy, happy birthday to my Mom, Dorothy Graves – the motivation and encourager behind LETTERS TO MARY!  Mom and my aunt Joan (Mom’s on the left) are officially part of the SKUNK HOLLOW GIRLS, in fact the ORIGINAL Skunk Hollow Girls, having grown up in Home, PA, in a little vale referred to as Skunk Hollow because of – all things! – the skunk cabbage! 

But I just wanted to wish the very best of days to the woman who gave birth to me (three weeks past the due date!) and raised me.  It was not always easy (SELDOM easy???) but she never faltered and has been my champion every step of the way.

So here is a hug and a prayer for blessings to be poured from the Heavens, grander and more glorious than you could imagine, Mom.  Thanks for every little (and big!) thought and effort you have selflessly given to me, and may your days be long on this earth – as well as happy and healthy!  Love you bunches!  

After a day of working 2 (really 3!) jobs, I came home to take my walk a little later than I normally would.  As I finished up, coming down Wren Drive, I was captivated by the drama of the sky. 

The clouds were dark blue and deep purple, sort of swirled like melted marshmallows.  The sun had already slid behind the distant trees, but a little light was still peeking through in places.

When I looked at that, I was struck by the majesty of the heavens, and could imagine the voice of God booming through eternity.  I like to remember that God is fair, and loving, but also fearsome and all-powerful. He sees everyone equally – the just and the unjust alike – but knows our thoughts and intentions intimately.  I also like to remember what Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables!) says on an evening after a full, blessed day.  I would agree with her:  God’s on His throne, and all’s right with the world.  Amen.

It seems like forever since I’ve posted here!  We spent the weekend in Albion with my mom and John.  Ron and I took Autmn and Chrissy north with us, and we all went to Raccoon park on Lake Erie.  The girls had a WONDERFUL time, as we all did!

Other than the expected – which was swimming and snacking! – the most amazing event was watching a bald eagle fly directly over our head.  He (she??) dropped a 12 inch fish in the parking lot, then landed on a tree branch down the beach.  Everyone was taking pictures but it was pretty well concealed and up high enough to not be obvious.  But we all watched until it flew out over the lake and disappeared into the puffy white clouds of the blue sky.  Amazing.

It was fun to be on Crouch Road, sleeping in the room Mary probably slept in – walking through the gardens and eating in the kitchen Charlie designed and built.  Great weekend with my wonderful family – and so glad Ron could share with us!