Happy Birthday Norman

On Wednesday, February 9, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain-colder. Norman is one year old today. Wrote Papa a letter. Sent stamps, newspapers, & tobacco. Miss Elizabeth Farley sent a birthday card to Norman. We ate lunch at Mrs Raines. Bought shoe polish and candy. Blacked shoes. Shaved, washed my hair. Carter Thompson came to office at 5:15 p.m. Went to post office. Happy Birthday Norman! Today is Uncle Norman's birthday. In the diary he has turned 1. If he were alive today he would be 95. Uncle Norman was a neat guy. A Colonel in the Army and participated in the D-day landing in Normandy. He was also instrumental in the founding of the National D-day Memorial located in Bedford, VA. As I understood it from my grandmother, Annah Lee, Norman was kind of the Golden Boy of the family which is not uncommon for the first born. I used to mow his grass as a teen-ager. I wish I could remember some more stories. Bonnie sent his father a care package of sorts and Norman got a card in the mail. What a combination of shoe polish and candy! I suppose Carter just walked home with Bonnie, I am guessing they didn't go to a movie as there may have been a birthday celebration for Norman though that is not mentioned in the diary, even though shoe polish and candy is! Then again, maybe it was a dress up party where shoes needed to be polished and I am sure that candy was a treat! Heck, Bonnie even shaved and washed his hair! Read in Matthew 26 today about the betrayal of Christ and his move to the cross. Still hard to read at times and a reminder of how often we deny Christ or even betray Him when we are sure that we would not do that, just like Peter.

Refuse wood

On Tuesday, February 8, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Cool-Pleasant. Got to work at 8:45 a.m. Mary came to office for me. We went up home on car. Everett was there. We ate there. We came home on car. Completed writing up G & T.R.R.R. Index cards. Got a letter from Papa. Everett gave Momma 2 cards for refuse wood. I am going to have to admit that I don't know much of what is going on here. It's cool that Mary came to the office and got Bonnie and then they went home and had lunch, but then they went home on car? I thought they were home. I'm confused. Maybe they went to Bonnie's parent's house and then went to their house. Bonnie got those index cards done. I really don't understand the 2 cards that Everett gave to Momma for refuse wood. What? I think Norman's birthday is tomorrow so maybe that entry will be a little more clear. In Matthew 25 and 26 Jesus talks about doing unto the least of these and when you do you have done for the Lord. This passage often seems to convict me. Should I being do more for the least of these? Then there is the juxtaposition of the woman with the expensive perfume who anoints Jesus and the disciples say "Hey, we could have used that money for the least of these" (Clingenpeel translation) and Jesus tells them to leave her alone because you will always have the poor with you. Seems to me that Jesus is telling us that He is to be the central part of our lives!

Intentions to move

On Monday, February 7, 1916 Bonni Elmore wrote: Cool-Sunshine. R.F. Boxley in. I am writing index cards today for maps G&T.R.R.R.! Howard Fisher came by home for me and walked to the office door. Sent coal and wood home. Carter Thompson came by the office at night. I got hair-cut, and came home and shaved. Norman sick at midnight and vomited. Mary advised Mrs. Brown about our moving out. I am not sure of the initials that Bonnie uses but guessing they represent another railroad, or utility company of some sort. I don't know if Bonnie and Mary have now found a house to purchase or if they are just letting the landlord know of their intentions. I did hear from a comment on yesterday's blog post that the house I am remembering was on 8th Street and that my grandmother had mentioned that they lived somewhere else before that. We will see what happens. No church today due to heavy snowfall over the weekend, but I have been invited to preach at a get together of folks at Orchard Villas today. That should be fun. Roads appear to be in good shape around here, but I have already heard on the fire radio of people falling and one of those was at a church with a possible broken leg! Please Be Careful out there! Today is also Super Bowl Sunday. We are planning on watching the game with Mom.

Stroll in the Park

On Sunday February 6, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Mild-Sunny. Arose at 7:45. Rolled Norman up town and all over Elmwood park from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Mary and I went to First Christian Church to hear Dr. McQuaig. Ate lunch at Mrs. Raines. Carter Thompson and I walked to Mt. Park. Stopped at Steffey's and ate chocolate cake. Mary and I went to look at cottage on Jamison Ave. Sounds like a great winter Sunday afternoon for the Elmores. Bonnie and Norman got to spend some quality time together. Bonnie and Mary went to church, ate lunch with her family and looked at another house. And, Bonnie also got to spend some time with his good friend Carter where they went back to Steffey's and ate chocolate cake. Ok, maybe Steffey's is a diner? Still snowing here this morning. There is some house cleaning going on, a decision on church will need to be made and with this much snow I am sure we will not be having church. The driveway will need to be shoveled. The kids spent the night at Grandma's last night. I actually might be preaching tomorrow at Mom's neighborhood. I can walk there and none of their churches will be meeting tomorrow either, so they may have a neighborhood service. That should be neat. Read today about Moses meeting with God and what that was like. How awesome to meet with God in person. Then God gives Moses lots of specifics about worship implements, which tells me that God cares greatly about our worship and that God cares about the specifics of our lives. In Matthew 24 it says that earth and sky will wear out but His words never will. That's interesting with all of the environmental talk that goes on. Back to Exodus, it is interesting that God works little by little instead of just giving us things with a snap. That's exactly what he did with the Israelites. But we want thing right now. Instead, life is more of a process of growth and spiritual maturity that requires faith, trust, and patience. We should rest in God and his Divine order and that takes discipline. Do well in the assignment He has given you currently!

Pennington's Choice

Got some catchin' up to do. On Thursday, February 3, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Snow-Cold. Partial Eclipse of the Sun. Got to work at 8:50 a.m. Looked at sun thru eyeglass. Mary and I looked at house on Jamison Ave. in afternoon. I went to see Pace Bros. in eve. Mr. & Mrs. Raines came up at night and brought apples. Very cold. Carter Thompson came by the office at 5 p.m. On Friday, February 4, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Clear. Work at 8:45 ahead of all. Mary and I went to inspect a house on 6th Ave. Got to work at 3:30 p.m. Mike Sexton in the office. Carter Thompson and I went to American Theater at night. Talked to Jake. Came home at 11:00 p.m. on car. Phoned Ms. Fielding. On Saturday, February 5, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Cold-Frost. Mr. Schick got to office first. Correspondence very light. Rolled Norman out for first time in push-cart. Shaved in p.m. Mary and I went up to the "American" at night to see "Pennington's Choice" my second time. came home at 10:30 p.m. Wow, ok I missed some things the past couple of days. Snow in Roanoke February 1916 and lots of snow in Roanoke in 2010. At home from work today because of expected foot plus snowfall in Roanoke. Pretty cool about the eclipse too. I will be very interested to keep up with the progress of the Elmore's house search. I don't know who the Pace Bros. are. There is a Pace Bros. in Roanoke and they are an excavating company I think. Apparently Grand-daddy is having a race to see who can get in the office first each day. I am usually about the second one in for the Fire Marshal's office, Maybe fourth or fifth for all of Fire Administration. The house on 6th Ave. maybe sounds familiar. Any of my relative readers out there can comment about the house I would be thinking of. I think it was the last house they lived in before going to the nursing home. Grand-daddy still loves to go see movies. A reminder for new readers that Jake is Bonnie's brother. I don't know who Ms. Fielding is. Real Estate agent? Bonnie mentioned the new push cart for Norman the other day. I think today we would call it a stroller. I am tickled to see that Bonnie actually went to see a movie with his wife Mary!! She usually has to stay at home with the kids. Sounds like he even sucked it up and went to see a movie he had already seen because that is what she wanted to see. "Pennington's Choice" was released in November 1915 and starred Francis Bushman and Beverly Bayne who we talked about in an earlier blog post. There is a good synopsis of the plot of that movie at this website: http://www.allmovie.com/work/penningtons-choice-105851 Lots of good Bible reading here recently from Exodus and Matthew. I heard a prayer request today on Daily Audio Bible about Christians being persecuted in Egypt. These Christians were shot and killed as they came out of church. Please pray for God's protection for these brothers and sisters in Christ!

House Purchase?

On Wednesday, February 2, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Rain & colder. Talked to Johnny Gray. Carter was up to see me. Indexed and filed mail. Talked with Mr. Schick regarding the purchase of a house. Harry Raines and his mother ate dinner with us. Sent things home. Shaved at night. Tonight's post may be rather brief. I had some church matters to tend to tonight and getting ready to have some family time. So those things do have to do with the blog: Family and Faith! Looks like the Elmores might be getting ready to purchase a house. I got the impression the other day that they were renting, when Bonnie stated that he was notified by Mrs. Brown that the electric bill was increasing. She sounded like the land lord. Also, this would explain why the address in Bonnie's diary is not where I remember them living. I wonder what things Bonnie sent home? Bonnie says he shaved at night. Based on yesterday's post and comments, maybe he did shave ALL night. HA!

Piano Pay-er

On Monday, January 31, 1916 Bonnie Elmore wrote: Capt. Rowan returned to the office. Annah Lee is 3 weeks old today. Mrs. Brown notified us of increase in electric light bill. I cut Norman's hair at noon. Got our paychecks. Went to "American" at night to see "The Rack" came home on car and shaved from 10 p.m. - 11 p.m. On Tuesday, February 1, 1916 Bonnie wrote: Rain-cooler. Paid bills. Went to bank for Capt. Rowan. Made final payment on piano. Interest remaining is $40.60. Harry Raines bought Norman a push cart $4.50. Carter Thompson went out to Steffey's to see Marie Randelesman. Mrs. Raines came up at night. Bonnie got informed that his electric bill was going up. I would be interested in knowing how much it was as electric rates have also been rising here in 2010. It has been quite the topic in the news and among conversation between people. I have heard of some electric bills well in excess of $300. I bet Bonnie's was no where near that much. I also looked up the movie "The Rack". It was released on December 27, 1915 and was apparently about marriage and starred a bunch of people I have never heard of. There was no plot summary given. Do you really think that Bonnie shaved for a full hour? I know when he was alive that he was known for being very slow and very meticulous, but really shaving for an hour? Maybe so. It also appears that the Elmores bought a piano at some point and finished paying off the principle today. Ok, I may be on to something here. Granny (Annah Lee) was a great piano player. She played like nobody I have heard before and now I read that her parents bought a piano when she was 3 weeks old. There was music in the house. I wonder if Nanny (Mary, Bonnie's wife) played? I am still curious about Steffey's. A boarding house, a store, a restaurant,? I don't know. Yesterday's Bible reading was from Exodus and was about the Passover. There were several times when it said that the Israelites were to observe this so as to be able to pass it on to their children and tell their children what God had done. Made me wonder, what do we do in 2010 to pass on our faith to our children? Do we tell them stories of what God has done in our lives? This is a blog about Family and Faith and the work that we do. If we can't pass our faith on to our children and their children, and their children, then who can we pass our faith on to? Made me think that I could do better in this area. Also, today in Exodus as the Israelites leave Egypt they see the Egyptians coming after them and they start to grumble (again, but won't be the last time either) and The Message translation says that Moses says to them: "God will fight the battle for you. And you? Keep your mouths shut." Wow. You tell 'em Moses. Maybe we need some people to tell us some things like that every now and then. I know I do.