I’ve had great fun poking around YouTube and watching dozens of videos. I happened to notice that there is a contest underway for kids who want to promote a worthy cause by filming a video about their favorite issue(s). This is only for kids to enter, but there are some very talented kids out there. I can’t wait to see what they come up with, and see which ones win.

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes… I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.  I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.  Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

‘Hello Barry , how are you today?’

‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.’

‘They are good, Barry.  How’s your Ma?’

‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’

‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’

‘Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller.

‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.’

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’

‘All I gots my prize marble here.’

‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller.

‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy..’

‘I can see that.  Hmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked.

‘Not zackley but almost.’

‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy..

‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller .’

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.  When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller , standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.  Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.  I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size….they came to pay their debt.’

‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.’  With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:

We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath…

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles, an unexpected phone call from an old friend, green stoplights on your way to work, the fastest line at the grocery store, a good sing-along song on the radio, and your keys found right where you left them.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

With a little one soon to be here, there is so very much to consider.  Safety is the first priority!  In my day, no one thought about the things they do today about child safety.  With the stairs that come from upstairs, child safety gates are a must.  Not to mention having baby gates installed at all of the places the baby does not need to be when it starts scooting around.  KidSafeInc.com has been one of the best resources for me as far as safety goes.

They not only will tell you all about safety, but also carry the products you are looking for like extra wide baby gates for wide openings, pressure gates for adjustable openings, pet gates and especially stairway gates. You just can’t be too careful, now can you?  Actually, I should have said, you have to be too careful when there’s a little one or even a pet around, don’t you think?

Don’t you just love these types of photos?  This one is priceless..

When you are faking a pose for a camera photo opportunity with the American flag, —-

At least get the phone turned in the right direction!!!  And you might want to get a flag that isn’t so wrinkled too. Don’t you think? I sure do.

A lot of kids have trouble with math.  One of my waitresses sons is one of those kids.  What he really needs is math help, you know, like a tutor. Tutors can be expensive though and this little lady is doing good to get by now.  As luck would have it, I found free math help online for the little fella.  No she does not have a computer but I sure do and would be glad to let him use it to better his math grades.  I had no idea that you could find online math tutoring but you can.

One of the great things about this online math tutor is they can help children from grades K-12.  Even college students can get online math help if they need it.   I once knew a lady that did reading tutoring and she charged $25 an hour.  That’s a lot of money for a tutor but that was also a long time ago.  It’s probably more like $50 an hour now I bet.  This is a great service for students and parents to have free online math tutoring if you ask me.  Our children need all the help they can get to have a good education after all.

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