Author: Mack Ames

Bill MacDonald

February 27 ·

Laurel’s eyes are open more and more. She can communicate with a deliberate blink, but not repeatedly; she hasn’t the strength for that yet. When I took her hand in mine yesterday and spoke to her, she gripped my fingers noticeably, but it drained her strength and she couldn’t do it again. She raised her eyebrows a lot while I talked with her.

She can clearly hear, and she has a million questions–i could see those in her eyes and face. I answered the important ones: the boys are doing well. Her Dad is fine. The Lord is providing for us. Our families are fine. The church, our relatives, the town, the school, her online group friends, my colleagues, and everyone else we know are lovingly taking care of us and praying for her and us. God loves us and will not let us go.

I read a Psalm to her and prayed with her. I lost track of how many times I told her that I’m so happy to see her looking at me again! ❤️ I told her that I miss her. I miss her laugh, her wit, her wisdom, and her spirit. I discovered the conflicting emotions of joy that she’s improving, but sadness of leaving when she’s awake.

We will benefit from your prayerful support for a long time. At the same time, I am aware that many of you also have prayer needs. The boys and I are praying that God will bless you.

Though we miss Momma, we trust God. He has her, and he has us. We are weak, but he is not. He is faithful and true.

To God be the glory!159Mary Macdonald-Murray, Julia Eiten and 157 others

Bill MacDonald

February 28 ·

Laurel is scheduled to have a tracheostomy tomorrow morning around 10:30 or so. If successful, this will allow her to breathe more efficiently and eventually, allow her to begin eating again while she continues with her recovery. It is a delicate procedure. Please pray that it will take place and that it will go as it should. Please pray for me, as I have to be at work and need to keep my mind off waiting to hear from the doctor performing the procedure. Thank you.

Bill MacDonald

February 28 ·

Linda M Shockley and her husband Keith Shockley are friends that live in North Carolina. Linda grew up in the same church as I did, and she and Keith used to belong to a Bible study group with Laurel and me, among others. This morning, I saw that she was praying for me to know more of God’s peace in the midst of Laurel’s illness, and I commented in return that I need that; I’ve been very impatient (there’s a pun to be had there somewhere) and restless this week.

Then I saw a post from a college friend who was marking the second anniversary of the loss of her mom. Having lost my Mum when I was in high school, I paused to read Carrie Baker‘s very moving, tender, and sweet post. In it, she referenced a hymn that IMMEDIATELY spoke peace to me in two ways.

First, when I was a little boy and was getting annoying (hard to imagine, huh?) or fussy, Dad would tell me to “Be still”. That was the end of it. If not, things go more serious, and sitting down would be less pleasant for a little while. Believe me, I caught on pretty quickly to what “Be still” meant when Dad spoke!

Second, although Dad’s “Be still!” was a warning that firmer discipline was on its way if I didn’t settle down, it did actually teach me that “Be still and know that I am God,” means that if I settle down in my thinking and in my heart, I’ll realize that God IS sovereign. He IS in control. And this week, I’ve been impatient in my thinking, in my heart, and I’ve been trying to take the reins from God, forgetting that I’m NOT in control, but trying to be in control, anyway.

The following hymn is Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side — Unde et Memores. Long introduction, but I’m not known (typically) for short posts.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be for ever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Comments

• Cal Edie Cummings That is always been one of my favorite hymns and favorite song from Psalm 46. Praying you can be still are you wait on the Lord’s timing and healing for an Laurel. Love you guys
• Laurel Dorman Trundy I understand your impatience. It is hard to be apart from Laurel. I am praying. This song is a big comfort to me.
• Carrie Johnson Bill, thank you for this story. My Dad also said, “Be still.” I too, wondered later in life if he also was encouraging us to “Be still and know that I am God.” Warmed my heart to read your thoughts.

One day this summer on my drive to work, I was stuck in construction. I glanced around for anything interesting to photograph, and this mailbox was just outside my passenger window. I drive past this house five days a week, about 48 weeks a year, but I had never noticed it before. I’d seen the bottle recycling business they’d tried to set up six years ago, and noticed that it had burned down shortly thereafter, but I’d never observed this clever little mailbox.

Do you see any clever mailboxes on your commute? Photograph them and share them. Enrich my day doing that.

My field of dreams. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Relax, and revel in the lazy clouds that drift through the blue sky. It’s a hot summer day, but there’s no reason for pressure or discomfort. It’s a field of dreams and respite from chaos. #Maine. #MEMoosePatrol

What’s your field of dreams?

For many years, I counted autumn as my most favored season of the year. I believe that 1992 was the reason for that.

Having grown up in eastern Maine, I had always enjoyed vivid color changes in the fall, to the point that sugar maples, in particular, often projected sunshine, that was not there, by the brilliance of the orange, yellow, and red hues of their leaves in mid-October. My heart was frequently stirred by the gorgeous views that presented themselves as I drove to and fro.

When I moved to Georgia for college in 1988, I was disappointed by the utter lack of color in autumn there. It’s not that the leaves didn’t change; it’s that there was no brilliance to the colors. The hues were heavy and dull. Had I been one of those leaves, I would’ve been in a hurry to fall off the branch, too. And so it was, in October 1992, when I happened to be home for my sister’s wedding, that I got to see Maine’s autumnal brilliance once again for the first time in five years, and my preference for fall was cemented in my heart for many years afterward.

However, with age comes wisdom, as ‘they’ say. For I live in Maine once again, and while the beauty of autumn returns year after year, it is most assuredly followed by winter, which I do not enjoy nearly as much as I do fall. In fact, the shortening days experienced in fall and winter have led me to a new preference for spring as my favored season. Most specifically, May and June, until the summer solstice.

The days are lengthening and warming. Trees are finally greening, flowers innumerable are blooming. Sunsets are glowing with brilliant colors later into the evenings. Hope is revived. Strength is regained. Love is refreshed. Life is renewed.

He sits in his room. One of his students is taking a test, so the others are reading quietly, respecting the need of the one to concentrate. The air handlers hum in the ceiling above him. Seconds tick off the clock to his right, and the building trades engraving machine grinds on and off across the hall. He sniffles to clear his nose for better breathing, and then scratch it; allergy season has arrived. Others in the room are experiencing similar symptoms, but the noises are few.

The most common noise in the room is the sound of his typing. Why not stop and enjoy the silence? It’s something he learned from his father; silence, that is, not typing. The ability not to fill every gap with talk. Go ahead and exist. Be.

A door slams shut in the hall, breaking his reverie. Being was pleasant there for a few minutes. Some people don’t like just being, and sometimes it’s not enough for him, either. He needs to be something. Be what? Be thankful. Be content. Be considerate. Be forgiving. Be slow to anger. Be repentant. Be loving. Be aware. Be thoughtful. Be helpful. Be careful. Be kind. Be wise. This could go on forever. His father taught him all of these things, too. When he was a child he thought like a child, he reasoned like a child, he acted like a child, but when he grew up, he put aside childish things, isn’t that what his father taught him? And then he thinks, “Adulting is hard, but it is also rewarding. Time to be at peace.”

For just a moment, I am going to give a little shout-out to Joe Bunting at https://thewritepractice.com/.

I have enjoyed visiting this website for material for some of my classes, as well as for ideas for my own writing.

Yesterday was our 21st wedding anniversary. Four months ago, I wasn’t sure we were going to have our 21st anniversary, but God pulled Laurel through, and we made it. That’s what he does; he pulls us through, and we make it.

Because Laurel had a medical appointment in the middle of the day, I used some of my Family Medical Leave time to stay home for the day and drive her to it. The respite from my normal responsibilities was greatly needed and appreciated.

We went to Umami Noodle Bar in downtown Bangor for lunch before her doctor’s appointment. What a delicious meal that was! We want to go back soon. We had to park on Franklin Street and walk a little ways to get there, but the sun was shining and the air was warm, so it was a treat to be together like that.

At the doctor’s office, Laurel learned that when OT and PT sign off that she is “good to go,” she’ll be cleared to resume driving; she’s eager for that. My car is in the shop, hopefully getting repaired so that when she can resume driving I’ll have a car to use and she’ll have her van back.

We had a couple of propane companies send representatives to the house at different times yesterday to assess our home for possible switchover from oil heat/water to propane heat/water system. We’re facing the needs for updating of our heating system and a new roof this spring/summer, as well as getting my Honda Civic back on the road, so we’re looking for the best deal that we can find.

A church friend provided a midweek meal of grilled chicken strips, potatoes, green beans, and peach cobbler, so that was our anniversary supper. It was fabulous! Following that, we enjoyed our son’s Little League game in the damp and chill, before heading home to our warm house.

I was amazed to end the day more refreshed in spirit than I’ve felt in a very long time. That feeling has continued well into today, and I’m eager for the long holiday weekend to have time away from work again. My work remains rewarding–don’t get me wrong! But the strain of the last four months wore me down, and it took my wife’s doctor’s appointment to give me a day off to get some respite. However it had to happen, I got it, and I’m thankful to God for it.

Thank you, Lord, for 21 years with Laurel as my wife. Here’s to 21 more (or more)!

I have dealt with depression in my life for many years. I am generally an upbeat person, with an outgoing nature, but about every 12-16 weeks or so, I find myself struggling emotionally and mentally, which leads to physical struggles. I’m struggling right now to get out of bed in the morning. This has been going on for about three weeks, I think. Two weeks, anyway. I described it to a friend today who has experienced depression, too.

“Just the idea of making my lunch and taking out the trash on Tuesday were major obstacles to getting out of bed yesterday,” I told him.

“Yup,” he said. “That’s depression!”

He affirmed what I knew to be true. As we talked further, he added this: “Depression comes from within, but so does success. Whatever you choose to motivate yourself, you’re going to have to find something that you can use to create success for yourself each day. Then success will build on success. Maybe making your lunch the night before will do that for you!”

He and another supportive colleague said similar things they’ve learned from experience. Set a small goal or schedule something for each day. When you’ve accomplished it, you know you’ve achieved something, however small it may be, and success feeds (or builds) on success. That is how you will work your way through this bout of depression that is holding you down.

Friends, there are many more steps than this, of course, but to a man (or woman) that is depressed and overwhelmed, multiple steps are not what I need! For the moment, I need simplicity, and my friends offered simplicity. They did not unhelpfully suggest that I get better med dosages–that’s an ignorant suggestion, at best. Instead, they listened compassionately, and offered help from experience.

It’s been three months since my wife almost died of complications from flu pneumonia. February 3 we watched our beloved New England Patriots win a defensive showdown in Super Bowl 53 for their sixth championship, and less than a week later, she was on life support.

The tale of her illness and remarkable recovery has been told and retold multiple times. There’s a hymn with the phrases, “Here I raise my Ebenezer (which means roughly, ‘stone of remembrance’), hither by Thy help I’m come. And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.” Retelling of my wife’s recovery is our Ebenezer, because it is solely by the grace and mercy of Almighty God that Laurel is with us. He healed her lungs and kidneys; He brought her home to us, and we rejoice in His provision for our family.

Her recovery continues apace, with physical and occupational therapy at our home. When she was still hospitalized, though, I went to see her one day and shared with her a matter that had been on my heart for quite some time: “I think it’s time for us to get a dog.”

She was pleased to hear me say that, because she was going to tell me the same thing, and I was the one member of the family that hadn’t agreed with the idea up to that point in time. Laurel was the only member of the family that had had dogs before. Michael, our 11-year old, loves all animals (and kids), but he’s allergic to cats. Christian, our 13-year old, loves the idea of having a dog, but has been leery of jumpy dogs in the past, and we needed just the right kind of animal for our small house and busy road to make our plan work.

Meet Thumper. He’s a mixture of American Eskimo, Pomeranian, and Pekingese. He’s about a year old, and he weighs about 15 pounds. He’s calm, but likes to run a little. He likes cuddling with each family member. And as of May 8, 2019, he’s ours. Welcome to the family, Thumper. I think our time with you will benefit all of us.

The following quotation-marked paragraphs are cut and pasted from http://www.mathinenglish.com. This was written primarily with ESL students in mind, but I believe that Adult Ed learners (the setting in which I teach) can profit tremendously from this kind of understanding from their teachers, whether those learners are ESL or not. I have removed some of the ESL-specific language from the paragraphs below in order to clarify the message as being pertinent to all learners that struggle with math and the vocabulary required to learn it, so while there are deletions, there are no other alterations to this article.

“Math word problems are what math is all about: the ability to solve problems. Word problems describe real-life math applications and make math meaningful. It seems, unfortunately, that many students struggle with these word problems. Why is this? Is it because of the underlying math concepts or are reading skills the obstacle?”

“Math word problems require both math skills and academic reading skills. Many students have difficulties in ‘reading for understanding’ and will, consequently, struggle in solving math word problems.”

“Without word problems, math will only be numbers and operations and most students will never understand why they are studying it. Math needs to be meaningful and students need to know how they can use it in their daily life’s environment.”

“What can teachers do in this catch 22 situation in which both math and English skills are required? First of all we need to look very critically at our math content and especially our math books. Most word problems can be simplified in terms of vocabulary. Teachers can easily re-write problems and use situations and words that the students are familiar with.”

“Furthermore, teachers can (need to):

-use cooperative learning strategies

-have students write their own word problems (as a check for understanding)

-use video material, presentations, theatre play

-create material in which students have to fill in the gaps.”

“Especially this last point is very effective. Teachers can make work sheets with word problems and have students fill in the names, nouns or numbers. Many students (try to) solve word problems by guessing the operations. By leaving information out of a word problems students will be tuned in and actively trying to solve the problem.“

“On MathinEnglish we offer many worksheets based on these principles. We keep the language and grammar simple, use simple situations, use words that (ESL) students know and use the fill-in-the-gap structure. We also promote that after studying a set of word problems, students create their own problems. By doing this teachers can check for understanding.”