My Grandbaby is coming!

I'm leaving for Arizona on Monday. It looks like our little Madison is breech...so I may have a baby by Friday, June 1st. My daughter is okay with this. C-section has its advantages. We will have the baby ten days early...and no labor pains. Woohoo! I will keep posting and add pictures when the great day arrives.

I just can't believe that I'm finally going to be a grandma. What are your thoughts on what she should call me? I'm leaning toward Gamma. It would be fun to hear what your grandchildren call you.

Afternoon Tea

I had a wonderful afternoon with a little friend of mine. Her name is Hannah and we had tea at my house, just Hannah, her mama and me. It was wonderful! We enjoyed being together because she used to come to my church. Now her family have started a new church in Livermore and it is doing great...only I really miss her sometimes. So we spent the afternoon together and it was wonderful. Thanks Hannah for coming to tea, and bringing your mom along!

Creative Writing

I am the instructor of a very interesting class. Creative Writing. Yup, you guessed it! I'm teaching a creative writing class. You may ask, "how do you teach students to be creative?" I've asked myself that question probably a million times. I don't think I can. But I'm hoping that I can simply inspire my students and the "Creator" will flow through their brains and sudden inspiration will explode throughout the writing abyss of the soul. Sound scary? It really isn't once you've experienced the phenomonom of inspiration. I keep telling my students that the lives you touch with the written word far surpasses the glimpses of pulpit opportunity. Writing can cross the miles, it spans cultures and traditions. Writing opens oceans of thought to those you would never hope to come in contact with. Writing is the expression of the soul, the wonder in the imagination, the dream come alive on paper. Now that you're here, share some inspiration by leaving a comment. I'd love to read what you have to say.

Our Baby Girl

This may seem strange to you...if so, you are not a grandma! Ha! I always knew I would whip out my pictures of my grandchildren, when I finally had some. Well, now I am going to have one and I want you to see her picture. We call her Baby Love. She looks like she is going to have her Mama's nose...which in loving retrospect is just like her great great grandma on her mama's side. The legacy lives on! I'm amazed how God does this! Isn't it a miracle...the miracle of life. Thank you God for your magnificence!

As Time Goes By

Look beyond the window and watch the season pass
What once snow made a blanket white, spring brings a verdant grass.
Wish away the present rushing through this life,
And miss the joy of today,
As time goes by
As time goes by.

Look beyond the window and see how time has passed
Fondest memories recollect that life goes on so fast.
Don’t wish away the present and rush through precious life.
Don’t miss the joy of just today,
As time goes by
As time goes by.

For time will not be measured in success or eloquent tongue.
Time is measured in memories from sun to setting sun.
Make a point to measure time by happiness in your life,
And pour in every moment,
As time goes by
As time goes by.

Your time can now be measured.
Your legacy will live on.
Your laughter will ring through ages
The birds will sing your song.
Yes, you will make your mark on time’s relentless cry.
And prove what things are eternal.
As time goes by
As time goes by.

As Time Goes By
By:Gayla M. Baughman
2-21-03

Proud Grandparents to be!

Proud Parents to be

It's a Girl!

Not too long ago I found out the wonderful news that my daughter is having a baby. Yes, I'm so excited I could run through a troop and leap over a wall! Now, just this week, we found out that she is having a little girl!! Whooppee!! Chantilly lace, here we come! Oh. I guess I better settle down. I do have to consider that she has a mother and she may not want to dress her little girl in frills and lace. Well, at this point, I don't care. I can deal with that. Just let me make some bows and lacey things, and when I'm gone, burn them for all I care. Just let me expend my grandmotherly energy on this precious little bundle of miracles! Yahoo! I just had to tell someone and you're it!

Mama Eagle and the Empty Nest

I watched the red glow of tail lights turn the corner and disappear. The bright moon silhouetted my husband’s solitary form against the neighbor’s garage door. He looked lonely standing in the middle of the road watching our children move out of state. A part of life was changing for us. A part of life I had always dreaded. Now goodbye was a reality and I was waving to a truck that would take my daughter and her husband many miles away. Tears streaming down my cheeks I knew life was taking its natural course, but I was kicking all the way! I did not want them to go. Why couldn’t they stay here? Others have their children living in the same town, they have their grandchildren close and they all live happily ever after…or so it seems.

It has now been five years since that fateful day. I can’t say the pain in my heart is less, but I have resolved to survive with some dignity. The tears are gone and I’m strong because my children need me to be. They want to be with me as much as I want to be with them. I understand that now as the daughter of parents far away.

I can see now that God had a hand in the move. My children have grown in maturity and ministry. The church they work in is their heartbeat. They talk about the wonderful ministries they are involved in, the hours of work they spend for others…for ministry.
I wonder, would they have grown and been so happy in the kingdom of God here? I will never know the answer to that question, but I do have some answers to my own. They couldn’t stay here because they needed to be their own family. They needed to be independent to spread their wings. They needed to fly away from my nest so that they could prepare a nest of their own.

Now I have a grandbaby on the way. Yes, I’m so excited I could scream at the top of my lungs, run around in circles and bump into walls, but I am maturely abstaining from such a response. I just quietly move from day to day, counting each week and looking forward with wide-eyed excitement for the day I will be with my first-born as she delivers her first-born. This is a wonderful Season of my life, and I’m enjoying the trip.

Tribute to Daddy

Daddy

You are such a dear to me
I’ve never been without you.
You were there at my first step
Cheering me on with laughter.

You are the one who taught me
To hold my first guitar.
You placed my fingers on the strings,
Oh how the music came alive!
You’re the one who answered me
When I asked about the birds and bees
And smiled rather coyly
When Mama said,
“She asked you.”

You showed me how to climb that mountain
Called the Ross Park slide
And took me to the theme park there
To let me ride the rides.
I never felt deprived
Or poorer than other folks,
When pastoring a small church
In southern Idaho.
A pastor’s kid I cherished
Because of your great attitude,
Your love and devotion to the ministry
Made me want to live like you.

Now years have passed and time has stolen
Your beautiful dark brown hair,
But white sure does become you
Your as handsome to me as ever.

My thoughts are fond as I now ponder
Growing older I can see
The blessing of a Godly father
Lasts through eternity.


Lovingly written by
Gayla M. Baughman
on her celebration of her father’s 50th Father’s Day.
June 13, 2005

Tribute to Mom

Disconnected!

I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my internet server at home. I can’t use my wireless on my computer…..I have to go over and unplug the router from the wall before my cable will detect a signal and let me connect through the land line……I’m just not connecting! It is very frustrating.

Have you ever felt disconnected?

Have you walked into a room full of people and felt alone? You didn’t know anyone. You scan the crowd for one friend but alas….not one face looks familiar? It is a miserable feeling to feel like an outsider.

Sometimes we just need one contact or one connection to make us feel a part. Don’t you hate these parties where you are forced to sit at a table with strangers? I’m very outgoing, but I hate them too….I make friends with strangers on my turf…know what I mean?
If one person reaches out to you it makes all the difference in the world! Suddenly you see one familiar face! That familiar face immediately becomes your valued friend….why? Because compared to all the other people in the room, this is the only person you know (even a little). But that little is a lot when compared to the others.

The friendship connection begins with just a small common denominator. Perhaps it was a common home town, or you both were the oldest child. Perhaps it was someone you both knew back when…..perhaps you both have teen-age children. Whatever the denominator, you are now connected!

Don’t wait for someone else to be the initiator. Look for that common denominator at the next party you go to. Be the connection that someone else needs to feel a part of the excitement of the evening. You never know when you have made a life long friend just by taking one moment and making a connection.

Just Wanted You To Know

Just wanted you to know
Whenever you’re in need
That wherever you may go
You have a friend in me
Beyond a shadow of a doubt
Thought I needed to tell you so
After thinking it all out
Just wanted you to know
by: Gayla M. Baughman

Life Goes On

Don't you wonder why The birds still fly so high. When things aren't going well And you wish that you could die? The morning comes, the sun still shines And the moon shows up right on time They don't seem to know That tears are in your soul And life just goes on.

Vacation

We are going to spend a few days in San Diego for our Anniversary. Every year I think, well, we'll probably just stay home and hang out around the house this year. The children are gone, we are alone all the time anyway....what's the big deal?

Well, I will tell you the big deal. After 26 years of marriage, my husband has somehow found the key to make me know I am valuable to him. Yes, we spend hours in our living room alone together, but when it comes to a special day like our anniversary, he goes on-line, finds a great hotel room in a wonderful location and we whisk off together like newly weds! Now you wonder why I love him so much to stay with him for 26 years? I will be honest with you....when we are 95 years old, we will still find fresh wonderful things to share with each other; not because we have to, but because we enjoy sharing everything with each other. We value each other's time, we value each other's opinion, and we value each other's friendship. Wow....I just love being married to my best friend. Check out the pictures of us below! See you in San Diego!

Still in love after 26 years! 

Gayla & Terry 

Graduation

Today was graduation.

This is a time of mixed emotion for me. I have now been at Christian Life College long enough to see seven Freshman classes evolve to Seniors. This year was the most difficult. I felt like I was hugging and telling my children goodby.

In the past four years the students that proudly walked across the front of the auditorium to receive their diplomas, have managed to wrapped themselves thightly around my heart. My heart breaks thinking many of them will go their way and forget this old teacher that has ripped a part of my heart out and given it to them.

I remember one young lady sitting in my office pouring her heart out over a disappointed relationship. I ponder the emotional conversation with a young man about some struggles in his personal goals. I looked a student in the eye today that struggled with academics, but persevered and made it; I just had to hug him! I really love these kids......and I'm as proud as a mother hen.....

If you are reading this and you graduated today, or will next week, or did last week please remember something. As you pursue your exciting career, rush off to see the world, or just settle back into a comfortable routine, take a moment to thank those who have invested themselves in you.

Later in the evening I sit in my easy chair reminiscing the gifts of words I received today from some very special graduates. Their words are like neatly wrapped packages with ribbon tucked in my heart. Every "Thank-you," "I appreciate all you've done," and "I love you," is a boxed treasure in the deepest corner. Thank you class of 2005 for letting me be a part of your life....now and in the future.
I love you!
Sister B

Hooked on Spanish

I was asked to speak at a Spanish ladies conference in Pittsburg California. I was honored to have been asked although I was a little nervous because I don’t know any Spanish. Just as the meeting was starting, my translator, a young Puerto Rican woman wanted to go over my notes with me to make sure there were no words that would catch her off guard. This made me a little late arriving on stage.
When I got up to speak I felt it necessary to let the ladies know that I had not been late on purpose, but had a very legitimate excuse, so I apologetically said that I was not playing hooky. You could hear a pin drop. Silence swept over the crowd. I looked at my translator and she was staring wide-eyed at me. I knew she could not think of a word for hooky and I couldn’t think of another one either, so I just repeated myself to her a little louder. Motioning to her and me, I said, “we, you and I were not playing hooky.” The pastor’s wife came to our rescue and provided my translator with an appropriate Spanish word so we could go on with the evening.
Afterward, my translator said, “Oh Sister Baughman, you gave me such a fright tonight! I thought you said you were not a hooker! And I was not sure where you were going with that. Then you looked at me and said I was not a hooker either. I knew I was not one! I didn’t know what to say until the pastor’s wife came to my rescue and said we were not trying to be late!

What I learned at Weight Watchers

“I don’t want to go through life a comma or a period. I want to be an exclamation mark!”