Why I love working in a Middle School:

I am weaving through the
mass of kids in the 7th grade hall. They are
loud and rowdy and mostly
oblivious to everything around them. I have
one hand on the stair rail when I hear a
lone male voice behind me begin to sing
off key.

Six steps up the stairs and two more voices have
softly joined in. Before I reach the landing there is a
chorus below me singing out the
Taylor Swift song. Only in a small town
middle school will one witness, in the midst of
hormones and chaos, breakouts of joyous
spontaneous singing.

The sky is deep azure with a
few brushed cotton clouds. The contrast of
orange-peel leaves glowing against the
blue is striking. The air is warm with a crisp
breeze, smells faintly of smoke. There are people
out walking, walking their dog, pushing a carriage,
power walking.

Breathing the fresh air as if
it were the last of it. Like a dying man
enjoying his last meal, they
breathe life in as they crunch through the
dancing leaves.

Golden, coral and chartreuse leaves rain
down onto the grass sprinkling a perfect
circle under the Maple tree. I hear a faint sound of
teens laughing in the park nearby as they shoot baskets
in the sunshine.

Children scooping up mounds of leaves
into a pile. There is no rake in sight. Their intent is
not to clean up the clutter. Their
leave pile is small but so are they. Each
runs and jumps, laughing and falling, the leaves
flying and spreading. They scrape them together
and jump again.

Kevin and Andrew take to the woods
to explore. They return rosy cheeked and
smiling. Andrew proudly hands me an
amber sycamore leaf bigger than a
dinner plate. I leave it on the coffee table as a
centerpiece and a reminder to enjoy life now
before winter sets in and
steals life away.

He came to me with a sheepish smile. Only three weeks earlier his father had been killed in a car accident. I don't know if he had been a good Dad but I know that Austin had lived with him and his older step-sister and step-brother and also a little brother. Now he was back with mom, rumored to have a drinking problem.

I had met both Mom and Dad several times when Austin was in elementary school and the family was still all together. I had never seen his Dad smile although he did not seem harsh but like a man with heavy responsibilities. Mom was likable enough, came in with a new hair color and style every time I saw her. Sometimes she came in bouncy and well-groomed and other times... not so much.

All of this flashed through my mind as Austin shuffled into the library and looked at me across the circulation desk. Our eyes were level. When had he grown so tall? Though he smiled, there was pain behind his eyes. He hemmed and hawed a bit, "Ummm. Uh."

"What's up, Austin?"
"Well, uh, my library book was in my Dad's car when he had the wreck."
Crack! Was that my heart breaking or his?

We talked another minute as I looked him up in the computer. He was trying not to cry. I was trying not to cry. And then I told him "Sometimes I just have to let it go." and I deleted the missing book out of the system. I wish I could have wiped away his hurt as easily. I said a silent prayer for 11 year old Austin as he smiled his sad smile and left.

I hope you'll do the same.

My glasses were covered with white speckles which was messing with my vision almost as much as the fact that there was no light except what came through the shaded windows on the other side of the room. After finishing the priming of the sheetrock I was doing the ceiling. There was no electricity in the room yet so no light, no air conditioning. My arms ached, my neck hurt and the sweat was dripping down me from my forehead to my feet... I was having a great time. Really!

My brother has been remodeling their first home, which they'd been renting out. They plan to sell their newer house and move back in to house #1. He is doing almost all of the work himself and with the help of friends and family. Angus and a couple of the boys had helped a couple of times over the summer but this was my first effort.

We'd been driving home from church and Angus announced that he thought we should all go in to help Gino today. I am the only one who heard this announcement since one boy was home in bed still, one was at his home with the family, and the two others were off after church to grab donuts with friends. Good luck with that, I thought.

But little do I understand the power of a father who sees that his sons have nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon but loaf it away. That and the prospect of a little man-bonding time. All four sons showed up!

Gino was in heaven with the thought of an actual crew to help. Jenn and I painted... and painted and painted. Zeke and Kev and Bo installed lights and ceiling fans after some instruction from their grandpa. Angus and Zeke finished hanging the dry wall down the hall and the entire bathroom. Gino and CJ got to work on the new hard wood floors in the new garage-turned-bedroom. He had helped his friend lay them a week earlier and stopped by Judd's house to borrow some equipment that would make the job so much easier. Kev took over when CJ had to leave.

The day ended with pizza about 7 pm. We were worn out but had accomplished much. The boys had all learned some new skills and some life lessons about work and family and giving.

It was such a good day.

A big truck rumbles around the corner, a dog barks in the distance as I pick tomatoes in the garden. A hummingbird buzzes by on his way to the feeder, the chimes tinkle gently in the breeze. I notice none of this, I'm thinking about what to make for dinner.

There's a golf ball in the grass and a piece of fur caught in a crack of the deck. A tiny puddle on the deck grows beneath a leak in the gutters above. I am lost in thought about the meeting tonight as I pull weeds among the flowers.

Sometimes I don't even notice when someone walks into the room! My grandson, Blue, notices all of the above. He catches everything. He is enamored by it all.

The very first time we blew up the kiddie pool and filled it, he was curious. What was this giant puddle? He stuck his hand in to test the water then lifted it and watched the water drip down his hand off the tip of his fingers and into the grass. He watched every detail of the traveling drop until it finally disappeared then dipped his hand again. He did it over and over again.

He is especially fascinated by the wind. He can be deep in play when the wind blows the leaves in the trees high above. They rustle; he stops and looks up to see. Blue can be riding his spring horse on the back deck when the breeze blows and he stops and points to his pinwheel laying on the table. I pick it up, turn it to find the wind 'til it is spinning furiously. He watches until it slows to a stop then continues his ride until the next gust of wind catches his attention.

Because Blue loves them so, I have hung wind chimes all around. He never fails to hear the chimes and points to make sure I am paying attention as well.

Having Blue around this summer has brought a new perspective to my life. I am beginning to pay attention. I am starting to notice the little things in life that add sugar and spice to the normal. I am observing the little details that bring a sense of wonder and give me balance. It slows me down and somehow makes me feel lighter and more grateful. Life is good. God is good.

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff

Angus called on his way home from work at 9 a.m. "I think I'm going to golf this morning."
"Oh, yeah? You goin' alone?" says me, knowing his golfing buddy is still out of town.
"Probably... unless you want to come. (pause) ....I'll get a golf cart. You can drive."

You need to understand, when Angus golfs he speed walks. For him it is not only about golf but about exercise, too. I went out with him a couple of times last year, just keeping him company, tagging along. I could not keep up, he walks so fast. I really tried to be tough and not show that my calves were on fire and I was panting as quietly as I could but finally I told him "Hey, you're killin' me." and he slowed down to a normal fast pace which was till a lot of exercise.

Today, when he offered the golf cart I knew he really did want me to come, so I went. Why not? I said I wanted to walk it, I'd been walking with the dog lately so felt up to the challenge When he saw me slip on my flip-flops he said "Are you going to wear those?" Man-speak for "Are you nuts?" "Yeah, I walk in these all the time." Woman-speak for "You can't tell me what to do."

It had rained earlier in the morning and the air was still heavy with humidity but the sky was overcast and there was a slight breeze. We begin the trek to the first hole. Before we had gone past the 2nd hole I had a blister on my left foot. Instead of being miserable for the next 6 holes I just slipped off my flips and Angus slid them wordlessly into a pocket on his cart.

Suddenly walking on a lush, thick green carpet. It was cool and slightly moist under my feet as I walked beside my husband in the peace of the late morning. I wondered if anyone else had ever walked this place barefoot and experienced the soft joy I was feeling. It occurred to me that here I was standing in a little piece of grassy heaven and no one was appreciating it in quite the way I was. By standing barefoot on it I was somehow a part of the environment I was in and I saw things differently than I'd have otherwise. I spotted a deer track near a marsh. I noticed the places where clover was trying to intrude. I felt the sun slip in and out between the clouds and I caught the breeze gently lift my hair ever so slightly. It occurred to me that a golf course is a part of nature, however manicured it may be, beauty is everywhere!

I am so glad I did not miss out on that opportunity so feel closer to Angus, nature and God.

We'd pitched our tent close to the creek and the rushing of the water over the little rapids just downstream was a soothing sound that made for peace-filled sleep. Just the night before we'd been sleeping in a dorm with a couple of dozen bunk beds occupied by others who'd come to the Appalachian Mountains to work. A week repairing houses and painting barns in the deep humidity of Kentucky, living in a community of friendly strangers had been great but we were eager to get on with our vacation and had headed to the nearby Smoky Mountains.

The contrast was surreal. The calm, quiet and solitude were more needed than we had realized. The first morning we woke to rain. Well, every morning we woke to rain. We'd planned to do a lot of hiking but with the threat of rain looming

and the incredible humidity, only managed two good hikes. Vince was so sweaty after he looked as if he'd been through a rain shower! One cloudy morning we were driving around when we came across a path to Lookout Tower. We walked up the path and up the tower to see the view and all we could see were clouds below us... but above was blue sky!

The next day, cloudy again! We took the same path up to the tower and discovered a much clearer view of our surroundings and it was beautiful! We decided it wasn't going to rain any more and trotted back down to do some hiking.

That was the day we took our long hike. The trail to Abrams Falls was closed due to "bear activity" so we missed out on that but we found another that led us up to the heights and down in the valleys. We were so deep in the woods that at one point it was almost spooky. We never saw a sign of another person all day! If felt good to be so free and wild. There were interesting things of nature all around us.

We love camp cooking and we and some wonderful meals, some of which we ate under a lean-to as we watched the rain speckle the creek. We tried out a couple of new recipe ideas I'd found on the internet and they definitely earned their way onto our camp menu in the future. On the way down the highway we had stopped at a flea market where we ended up purchasing quite a bit of local produce.

We did end up leaving a couple of days early. We saw some great views, met many nice and friendly people and discovered much to love about the region. The rain, oppressive heat and humidity finally got to us though and we were ready to head home (to much of the same, more rain, heat and humidity).

Life is good.

They stood  there on the porch leaning into each other.  Ricky and Clarice.  They were definitely pleased that we had come to help them with repairs to their home.  They had expected the new dry wall but had gotten a solid floor, new sink cabinet and counter and a patched ceiling as well.  We had little gifts of pretty kitchen towels, oven mitt, dish cloths, slice rug, hanging flowers and a welcome mat for their front door which we had just presented to them.  They stood there together as people took  their picture, truly grateful but somewhat unsettled.  I doubt they much liked having their photos taken, obviously uncomfortable as flash after flash of our paparazzi popped in their faces.

I've been thinking lots about them and the whole mission trip and what I have learned and am taking away from it all. I've been on a few of these work-type trips and always come away feeling as if we could have done so much more, that there is so much need and we aren't doing enough.  But this trip has really thrown me a curve.  

Appalachia.  We've all heard stories about how some of the poorest people in the U.S. live there and until recent history, because of their isolation, greatly fell through the cracks in our system for helping them.  

We did see much poverty, horrible living conditions and bad health.  What I did not see was need.  When I say that I mean that they are satisfied with their lives, accepting of their condition and happy.  They help each other.  Their homes weren't much but I have never seen such fine gardens!  That is why I am feeling ambivalent.  

It made me uneasy to see our group taking photos of this sweet, loving couple whom we obviously pitied.  They knew it, too.  I could see it in Ricky's eyes.  I think we were self-righteous and judgmental of thei

r lifestyle.  Yes, we definitely improved their living conditions but I wonder if we really improved their lives.  Did we make them feel small? Were we condescending?    I pray that we were not.

Ricky had no teeth at all and his clothes were filthy. He had moved all the kitchen cabinets and appliances into the middle of the room out of the way, in anticipation of our arrival.  He was there almost always as we worked, not underfoot but ready to answer questions, eager to help in any way he could.  He got us a broom to sweep up, he found us a hammer when we needed an extra for pulling out all those nails.  "Grampa's crow bar" was indispensible.  He found us the phone number for the lumber yard when we unexpectedly needed plywood to repair the rotten floor beneath the sink and freezer areas.  

On our second work day we arrived at the house to find a hole in the corner of the  kitchen floor.  Ricky was moving the refrigerator more out of the way the night before and had actually gone through the floor!  Worried, I asked him how far he had gone through.  He replied "About half way.  But it was my bad leg."  Oh no!  But he said that was a good thing.  He was totally sincere.  He'd been hurt but it was on his already damaged leg and not his good leg, so no biggie.  The man has an attitude of gratitude that I can only dream of.  He looks for the good in life and he finds it.  Oh, how I need to learn from that man!

On day 3, an old woman called because her electricity and gone out the night before and she called Ricky.  He went over and figured out the problem for her.  He is also the church caretaker. The Settlement would have come and gotten the huge pile of old sheet rock, paneling and debris we'd hauled out of his house but Ricky's brother showed up with his pickup to haul it off.

Clarice was overweight with the dirtiest feet I have ever seen.  She has a gaping hole in her quick smile and gorgeous blue eyes surrounded by long dark lashes.  You notice their beauty in spite of her teeth. Her health is poor and there were several oxygen tanks in their living room for her.  She teaches a Bible Study for the teenagers that go to her church.  The day she went to the doctor she wore a pretty dress that I commented on.  I wish I'd taken of picture of her that day.  I wish I'd taken a picture of those eyes.  She has quick smile and a joie de vivre

 about her that can't be missed.  Do I value life that much?  

On the final day, we wouldn't let Clarice in the kitchen while we worked.  We wanted to surprise her.  We made Ricky promise to keep her out while we went back for lunch.  We painted all day and put in the new cabinet and counter.  I painted a quick border of vines and flowers.  Someone found an old wooden heart laying in their yard, cleaned it up and painted it white.  They brought it to me to "do something with" so I painted the same viney flowers and the words "God bless this happy home".  We hung it above the sink.

When we had finished it all, we led Vicki in for her surprise.  She was delighted with the border and gave me a big ol' hug.  She was thrilled with her "new" kitchen.  We gave them the gifts and a new broom which she handed right off to Ricky "I cook, you clean."  We got a good laugh out of that.  We blessed their home, gave hugs (Ricky got a little teary) and headed back to the Settlement.

We'd had a good week of hard work and tons of sweat.  There was lots of kidding and fun.  Lots of jokes about no teeth and Mountain  Dew and how the mountain folks just "make due".  There had been lots of comments about the incredulity of the living conditions.  Smug?  

I came away thinking I had learned SO much.  If we had never come along I don't think they'd be much worse off.  They seemed satisfied with the life they live.  Yes, they accepted the things we gave them gratefully.  They were glad to have it all but did they need it?  Not really.  They were happy.  They were in love.  They appreciate the smallest things and look for the good in life, in people.  And they find it.

We were there to work, to get as much done in our 4 days as possible.  There were 17 of us and they started us off with two projects.  If we finished those they'd find something more.  There's always more to be repaired, replaced, renewed in these Appalachian communities in southeastern Kentucky and Northeastern Tennessee.

Our jobs were to sheetrock and a kitchen and put skirting and a porch roof on the house next door.  We all kind of gravitated to a job and set to work.  Ted was a retired sheet rock man who had owned his own business for many years.  We could not have done it without his expertise.  He was flat out amazing.  Seriously we hardly had to sand at all due to his incredible mudding skills!

But I've gotten ahead of myself.  We went on in to tear out the old paneling (a kind of cardboard) and sheet rock, discovering a horrible mess of mold and rot in one corner.  Ricky, the homeowner told us the creek had flooded the house in '93. 

The floor was squishy in several places so we had to be careful where we placed our feet.  There was already a patched area near the door, a piece of vinyl nailed over the hole.  We were able to tear out all the sheet rock and pull out the dozens of nails as well as vacuum up a lot of the debris.  Everything was crumbly.

 The skirting crew was making slow but steady progress.  Who knew it was such a tedious job?  The porch crew did more discussin' than workin' but that's what happens when you have too many chiefs.   They were working well together and enjoying themselves!  

                                                                                             The heat and humidity were barely tolerable for us but no one was complaining.

 
When we arrived at the house the next day to work on the house we found a big hole in the floor.  Ricky had gone right through the floor while trying to move the refrigerator!  

Fortunately, he was not badly injured but now we had floor boards to replace.  As they tore out the rotted floor boards they found more and more rot.  

A 2 foot (ish... nothing is square or level or uniform) piece of floor along the wall and the old hole by the door, as well.

The day ended with most of the insulation installed (There'd been none before!) most of the sheet rock was hung and most of the flooring in place.  

The following day was to be our day off, our site-seeing day, but we spent all morning working on getting needed items for our projects.  We traveling to a Lowe's where we could purchase a replacement sink cabinet, a counter top, some more quick-dry sheet rock mud and some odds and ends.  

Next door was a WalMart and we decided to stop in there to pick up a new broom for Ricky and Clarice. Their's was shot!


We all separated and wandered to the check out with little items to dress up their kitchen.  Towels and towel hangers, a kitchen rug, hanging flower baskets for the porches and a welcome mat for the front door.  

I picked up some paints and brushes thinking, that if there was time, I'd throw up a quick little vining   border to add a little cheer to the plain white walls.

Thursday was crunch day.  Everything had to be finished enough to get the painting done. The carpenters and mudders and skirters went back to the work site and several others of us stayed behind to work at the Settlement.

We were given the job to paint the inside of the big barn "nude Tan" (a pinky white").  The barn will soon be used for a Farmer's Market and the ladies who'll run it were thrilled to get rid of the drab gray cinderblock walls.

We worked and sweated and joked and laughed all day.  Some teens worked outside the barn hauling a huge pile of gravel to the playground area so we had their music and laughter as background in our efforts.

Friday, our final day! All work needed to be completed or left for another group to finish.  We were determined to get it all done.  Several of the most dedicated and talented had skipped lunch on Thursday to finish the mudding.  

We did some light sanding, cleaned up the dust and began a coat of primer before lunch.  The "Nude Tan" paint (again) went on easily with the many hands working while the new cabinet, sink and plumbing were installed.   The skirting was finished, complete with a "gate" so Michael (the coal miner whose family lives in the trailer) could continue to use the space underneath for storage.  The railing was completed for the porch and the flower baskets hung.

We ended with prayers and blessings for the families we had come to know.