proof is in the pudding

What a book!  I enjoyed Steinbeck’s classic from start to finish.  I don’t know how I made it to 30 without reading this book.  I am fortunate that I could appreciate it more since I have seen that level of poverty firsthand.  I read it  while in Thailand with Habitat. 

I am inspired by Steinbeck’s sympathy and conviction for the poor.  He gets participatory developement practices when he writes  things like “[only the poor look our for one another.]“   The book describes time and again the humane and compassionate treatment that the immigrants have for each other.  The final chapter speaks volumes about giving of oneself. 

The book has me scared about injustice that I am unwittingly propping up.  It makes me want to understand how/what the poor identify as their own needs.  As a history lesson the book captures our flaws and protectionism.    We can not allow protectionism to blind us from our brothers needs.    Jesus says it best

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

I just finished this book in record time for me, about a week and a half.  Kudos for our library for getting a copy upon my request.  I was interested because it is set in Black Mountain and I heard of the book while visiting friends there.  I like the emphasis on how a community can be resilient. 

Kind of makes me want to learn to hunt.  If you like war books this would be a good one for you.  It shows the evil side of humanity and how communities’ have to keep their neighbors in check.  I don’t however like the scare tactics that Newt and the author are  trying to use.

did the brr with a team of strangers by the end of 30 hours I called them friends.  here is the course.  man I love NC.  notice there are 3 pages to see the whole course. to see the other pages click on the map.

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saw this video and it has some great photo of wilkes county.  Melissa will go to the cattle sale tomorrow.  And yes folks still tot thier riffles around.

Clay cannot sit up by himself yet, but the fact that he resembles a bobble head figurine less and less each day is pretty neat. I can prop him up here in the corner of the couch and he magically stays upright.  Oh, how silly we mothers are about milestones!  He will not smile for camera, but he is a very smiley baby these days and each take of this video was punctuated with a big grin.  As soon as the camera got ready to capture it, he would put on his thinking face and the smile would fade (much like his father and grandpa Summers!)   

And he is starting to stand  on his legs when we hold him up by his little hands.

Practicing his standin' up while Aunt Caroline and cousin Lizzy Jane visit!Clay is dashing in tie dye!

Phillip finally has the playmate in Clay that he has been waiting for; well, at least he can get in his baby backpack now! He truly is growing up so fast (Clay I mean, not Phillip =)!  

well, it will not let me embed but to check out

thanks to Charity at in photos for her visit.