A change of heart?

I just read in the news that Mr. Cheney got a new heart. Reading this reminded me of a little evangelical record I listened to over and over as a child. I'm not sure why, but I can still recite it:

"Mary had a little pig and he was white as snow.
That is, when he had had a bath, as you of course might know.
But Mary had an awful time to keep that piggy clean,
for he was just the dirtiest pig that one has ever seen.
She'd wash him and scrub him until he would squirm and squeal,
as if he wanted her to know he'd had an unfair deal.
And then in the green back yard he'd play from morning until night,
unless he'd happen to sneak out and lose himself from sight.
And when Mary would find him, he'd be blacker than e'er before,
So Mary'd get the soap again and scrub that pig some more.
Poor Mary thought and wondered much what she could ever do,
But then she figured out a plan and this she carried through.
She took him to a doctor, who put the pig to sleep.
And then he took his heart right out! But not of course to keep.
And then he took a little lamb and took his heart out, too,
And put it in the little pig before the piggy knew.
When little piggy did awake, he had no more desire
To wallow in the mud again or ever in the mire.
And try as hard as e'er he could he never understood
How such a pig as once he was could ever be so good!
So you see, boys and girls, you need a new heart too,
Just like the little piggy did, the old will never do.
Would you receive a brand new heart? Well here is how you may...
Accept God's son as savior now and let him in today!"


-- Post From My iPhone

Back to my Roots . . . Sorta

When I was a little girl I was labelled a tomboy. I loved being outside, playing ball with my brother ("you don't throw like a girl"), driving the little Ford-Ferguson tractor my dad had, helping stack hay bales ... anything but house work and girl things. I wanted to grow up and marry a farmer. (Back then I couldn't imagine determining my own course and I suppose this was the best my little sheltered self could hope for).

Fast forward about 60 years, through a lot of experience and growth, and it now appears I've married a farmer. I spent about six hours in the vineyard side by side with Larry yesterday. We are experiencing the earliest bud break in history here in the east according to other vineyard owners, and we are way behind in getting canes tied down. After bud break we risk knocking the little buggers off. The kids, who normally

help with this, are off with other commitments, so I volunteered to help. I never thought I would be so actively involved in the labor intensive parts of this vineyard operation! But it's actually quite pleasant, working steadily in the sun, the slow, quiet pace allows reflection and connection to a different reality.

So, the old adage rings true again, "be careful what you wish for!"