Tag: memories

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Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Christmas Joys

Christmas at Gramdma's

What brings joy at Christmas?   It’s not just one thing.  It’s a combination of many.

Family get-togethers

We started the season early, heading out to Keely’s and Mark’s  in mid December as they go West for Christmas.    Their large townhouse was elegantly decorated and it was so good to spend time with them; exchanging gifts, playing games and going to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Then there is my annual birthday dinner; always a joyous time with friends from church who come to help me celebrate another year with a big dinner.   We also try to drive down to Bath and Haskinville, NY too.  That way we can touch base with JoAnne’s side of the family and also attend the big extended family Christmas celebration at my Mom’s house.  I think there were just shy of 30 people in Mom’s house this year.    There is always a program at that Christmas celebration, which JoAnne discovered is very Victorian.

Special movies with just the right touch

Continue reading “Christmas Joys”

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Journal Joy Notes

Corn Maze Fun

Fall is a great time for family fun.  On our recent two day trip to Keely’s and Mark’s house, we took time for a couple typical fall activities.   The most fun one was a big surprise to me.  I thought I was just going along but ended up really enjoying it.   Life often works that way doesn’t it.  It’s one of the reasons God gives us friends and family to push us a little out of our ruts. 

Back to the story—we went through a huge corn maze.  And we had the pick of days for it too – a sunny fall beauty in the Connecticut countryside with autumn colored roadside hedges, pumpkin fields and grazing cattle.  Looking at the map of the field, however, I just knew they used modern technology to cut it.   Inquiring, I found out I was correct; a GPS was used to mark the cuts.  I never did find out exactly what the paths were originally cut with, though I confirmed my observations that they were cut some time before so that they could be made smoother.  In this maze were hidden posts that we needed to find.   Doing a crayon rubbing of the emblem on the top of the post proved that you found it.  This made it more of a puzzle as you found yourself guessing where they would have hidden the thematic posts; traversing unlikely parts of the maze; and generally getting about twice as much exercise as you had planned–which is probably a good thing.

We also went apple picking. The trees were the new size – only about twice as tall as I am so most of the branches I could reach.  I knew I would love that and the rest of the crew had to drag me away before I filled the car and spent too much money.  Orchard-ripe Mac’s are just too good.  Keely, Mark and JoAnne were happy to pick a half a bag apiece.  But I filled three and…well, I might still be there if JoAnne hadn’t warned me that I didn’t have that much money. 

I’m always encouraging couples and families to find activities to do together besides watching movies or TV; activities that prompt conversations and laughter, that create memories to cherish and talk about later.   Such times help to bond us together in loving families.   Apple picking and solving corn mazes together are two are great examples I can personally recommend.

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Church Leadership Journal

The importance of recording

Keeping family memories

Journaling, picture taking, blogging, and sketching, those are the four ways we have chosen to record our 40th anniversary trip.  When we were younger, we were content to simply experience events, and maybe just take a few pictures.   We remember years ago when I was in the military and we traveled in Europe; to document things, we took some pictures on the old film rolls and JoAnne kept a notebook; but neither method was used too much.   

These days it seems we just enjoy writing and preserving the memory.  It seems almost as important as experiencing the event.     Maybe it’s because we realize our physical memories are getting weaker and we need pre-planned prepared methods to prod our neurons to trigger the precious reminiscences.  Anyway, these days we have doubled the number of ways we write and record.   JoAnne sketches with colored pencil and watercolor pencil and pen and she keeps her journal, some hand-written, some on computer.    Both of us take pictures, many more than ever with digital cameras; and, of course, I blog.    

Keeping organizational memories

As a leader, this got me thinking about the importance of organizational memory and how recording of events is so essential to create that.   How many meetings have I led where I didn’t have anyone keeping good minutes?    How many times have I asked a secretary to look something up in the minutes from a few months ago, only to find that the record was not adequate?   And how many times have we searched for a good picture of a past church event?   At Community Wesleyan Church we are coming to our 50th anniversary.   I am acutely aware that the history of the organization is very important in understanding its present; creating a sense of cohesiveness and for envisioning its path into the future.   Suddenly the role of historian– which seems so mundane, even trite, during most years– becomes very crucial.  Just by the choice of what is included in displays and the way it is labeled, the historian will play a critical role in interpreting the narrative of the church.    When you think about it, those who keep the organizational memory—increasingly this will involve website keepers too—are critical to the long term health of the organization.  For an organization has to deal, not just with fading memories, but with longer time spans and changing personnel.   The organization’s memory is crucial to keeping the spirit of the organization alive.