God Goes Ballooning

I must have been around 11 when a special event was held at Legion Field. It was called "God Goes Ballooning". It was sponsored by the then gospel radio station WDJC and area churches. At this event they were releasing hundreds (maybe thousands) of balloons with scripture messages inside each one. I wanted to go so badly. I just wanted to be there and see all those balloons flying away.

At that time I didn't feel great about life. We had moved from Mississippi and I had to leave the school I loved so much and all my friends. Daddy had gone thru a terrible accident and had the after effects of a head injury. Coming to Alabama, I felt alone and pretty much hated it all.

When I heard what was happening at Legion Field, I remember praying that God would send one of those balloons to me. Now mind you, I had no idea that Legion Field was a long ways from my house, or that cheap, helium balloons didn't go very far.

It was on a fall day a few weeks after the event (it had probably left my mind already) when I was walking through the woods in front of our house. I think Daddy, Buddy and I were sawing trees for firewood or something like that. I noticed at the very bottom of our property there was something red hanging from a limb. I walked down to get a closer look. Reaching up in the tree, I pulled down a deflated balloon with the words across it, "God Goes Ballooning". I can not describe what I felt. I, in simple childlike faith, had prayed to God to send a balloon my way....and He did. It traveled all those miles thru Birmingham. Past city buildings; telephone wires; television antennas; and no doubt thousands of trees. Not only had it made it thru B'ham, but all the cities that came after it until it came to Alabaster. This still amazes me. After the balloon made it to my city, it did not float down until it reached my yard! There was a card inside the balloon with a scripture on it. Nearly 30 years later, I still have that card.

It was that day that I realized that there was a God in heaven and He knew who I was. He knew all about my feelings of sadness and loneliness. And with all the things happening in the world, he cared enough to send this kid a red balloon. It's just proof that God really cares and He loves us. He cares about the little things...the every day things. When we think we are completely alone and everyone has forgotten us, God is there. When we get older we tend to complicate every thing and so many times we make life harder than it has to be. Sometimes it would be so much better to look up to God like a little child and say, "God, could you please send a balloon my way?". You gotta remember, it may not fall in your lap. Sometimes it's hanging by a tree limb......you have to keep looking up. The signs are there.....you just have to look!

Aunt Laverne

My Aunt Laverne died earlier this year. I think some people thought they really knew her, but didn't know much at all. She was tough.....tough as nails. If you spent much time with her, she could let you know how tough she was.

When I was a kid and got to go for a visit was a true adventure. You drove out in the country, and then had to drive back in the piney woods. As my Grandpa would have said, "She lives in the country...shore 'nuff". Her house was a simple, country house. The front porch was home to dozens of pots and old coffee cans overflowing with plants and flowers. This is where you'd probably find Aunt Laverne. Along with her would be my Uncle Clark, and Debbie would be close by. The house was furnished by Uncle Clark's finds from the dump or wherever else he might have gotten stuff. But, every thing was spic and span. They had added a bathroom years later on the back porch, but Debbie was still inclined to use the outhouse. Their outhouse is the only one I ever visited. I stuck my head in it, and got out straight away. She also had a corn crib and an old fashioned well that you had to draw the water up in a bucket. When I tried to do just that, Aunt Laverne heard the squeeking of the well tickle and came running around the house. She was scared we children would fall in. On more than one occasion she would come out of the house only to be greeted by a big fat rattlesnake. She just went back inside, grabbed the shotgun, and took care of the situation. She was fearless.

Aunt Laverne never had a modern convenience other than electricity and running water. She never had air conditioning or central heat. Didn't drive a car or have anything with a remote control. She never had cable t.v. or a push button phone. I still remember when she finally got a telephone. When she answered it she didn't know to say hello. She would answer by their last name, "GRINER!". She never had a vacation or a day off. Never went to a restaurant for a fancy meal. She raised her special daughter Debbie for over 50 years. Every day bathing and dressing Debbie, and cooking 3 times a day for her. After Uncle Clark passed away from cancer, there was Aunt Laverne still going strong. Mama and I surprised her on her 85th birthday with her first ever decorated cake. On this visit I offered to cut her grass. She let me know she liked to cut her own grass. When she told you things like that, you knew to drop the subject.

It's so easy to say "I need a vacation", or "I need some time to myself". We never heard her say anything like that. I know it had to be so hard and lonesome some days, but she never gave up the fight. She was a servant in every sense of the word, giving her all for Debbie. She lived for Debbie and did every thing she could for her. I hope I never forget her example. In the face of hard times, lonely times; When friends are few and family hard to find; When you feel so tired and worn out: That's when you have to put your head down and plow on through. It's alright to feel tired, but it's not alright to give up. She never gave up.

I know my Aunt Laverne loved me, and I always loved her. I can still see her sitting by my Grandma's dining table. It was in better times when all the family came together and spent the whole day together. Aunt Laverne had picked up a toy that one of us kids had, and she sat back in a chair roaring with laughter playing with that toy. That's how I will always remember her: Addie Laverne Griner.

Thankyou Aunt Laverne for all the laughs and for life lessons I'll never forget.

Granny

Every year I can't wait until spring comes again and my flowers begin to break thru the cold ground. After the cold winter, long nights and bear limbs every where, it's just like old friends returning when my flowers come back. The first is always the daffodils and I'm always excited to see all the new bulbs I've planted the past fall (usually 300+). Before I know it, summer is here and with it all the daylilies. As much as I love all my plants, I especially look forward to one. The gardenias. When I smell them I am taken back to my childhood. Taken back to my Granny's kitchen table. I remember sitting there and always smelling this sweet smell coming from the yard and never knowing what it was. Granny's yard was nothing but flowers. Nothing fancy, just a country yard with a tiny country woman tending it. I can still see her going out the door with her bonnet on her head. Her little shift dress and second hand shoes she probably got from Mama. I remember the tiger lilies that grew by the chicken yard. Those are the ones she let me cut and take to my Big Mama when she was in the hospital. The porch was loaded with pots and old coffee cans brimming over with growth. Christmas cactus; Sawtooth cactus; coleus and ferns. By one tree was an old iron headboard overgrown with ivy. Another spot was iris that she wouldn't let me dig if they were blooming, but let me dig to my heart's content afterwards.

It was years later after Granny was gone that I was in my own yard: I smelled a gardenia blossom. I was back at Granny's table. That was the smell that always came thru the window. I smell it and it fills my heart. Fills my heart with memories of a precious woman who taught me the love of nature. It makes my heart glad and at the same time brings on a little sadness. I wish I could be with her one more day. Walk thru her yard and make myself memorize every part of it. I wish she could see my yard. I know she would "poor mouth" me and tell me she couldn't afford plants like these. I know she would talk me into dividing most every thing I have, and I would do it gladly.

On the foot of my bed is one of Granny's bonnets. I look at it and think about how many times she wore it doing what she loved most (besides sneaking tobacco). And when I smell the first gardenias of the season, I know Granny has come back to me again and I feel better about life.