I love flowers and music and God’s Word and… What do you LOVE? Years ago, with our young children, Bill and I took my parents to New Orleans to board the “Sunset Limited” in New Orleans. They rode the train to Los Angeles for a visit with my Mother’s sister in LaJolla and to attend the Pasadena Rose Parade. I’ve watched the Rose Parade on television since I was a child but never dreamed I’d get to see it in person.
Bill and I traveled with an excited group of twelve Mississippians. I’d like to vicariously take you mentally from your computer to California, Mississippi Moms, with the purpose of encouragement!
FLOWERS and FLOATS
As many of you know, Los Angeles is a sprawling megalopolis with beautiful tall palm trees gracing the city. The slender extremely tall palms are a symbol of the city. Flower beds teem with the lovely purple and orange “Birds-of-Paradise!” Throughout the city are hibiscus, roses, and pansies. Los Angeles originally meant “The city of our Lady, Queen of the Angels!”
How splendid to see preparations and float decorating with many volunteers buzzing around like bees, completing the floats and covering every surface with fresh flowers, seeds, grass or other natural materials. Quite a phenomenon to observe! We had tickets and viewed the work from a walkway above the floats. We saw some completed floats as they were driven out into the streets.
MUSIC and JOY
A random sign outside a business in Los Angeles caught my eye and was entered in the “Quotes section” of my journal. Do you keep a journal? You can note memorable words and events of your children and your family. A good quote for the New Year:
“Let MUSIC fill the air and JOY be everywhere.”
Did you see the televised event? Just Imagine: Ninety magnificent entries of flowers, floats, bands, music, antique cars, and equestrian units. What joy! We heard lots of music from excellent bands. The colorful marching units and large band sounds added to the exciting atmosphere of “The Pasadena 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade. The 2012 Theme: Just Imagine!”
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!
In my childhood, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were childhood heroes. One float marked the 100th anniversary of Roy’s birth with detailed floragraphs or flower pictures. Dusty and Dustin, Rogers’ son and grandson sang the theme song, “Happy Trails” as the float glided down Colorado Boulevard. One hundred grand Palomino horses and riders preceded the float (# 89 and 90). Music and joy was indeed everywhere.
On Saturday we had toured Hollywood and viewed many footprints outside Grauman’s Chinese Theater including that of Roy Rogers plus Trigger’s hoof prints and Roy Roger’s pistol!
BIBLES IN CALIFORNIA
Beside the Rose Parade, two trip highlights were the Getty Center and the Ronald Reagan Library. At the J. Paul Getty Museum, on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains were spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, in a complex of beautiful buildings, all free to the public. Research centers, and magnificent art, architecture, paintings, sculpture, and gardens. We saw a special exhibition of Illuminated early Bible Manuscripts with richly decorated paintings from the thirteenth century! (Words are wonderful: From Latin: Manus-by hand; Scriptus: to write; Illuminate: to light up). Exquisite!
A winding ride up a mountain side terminates with the lovely ranch mission style structure of the Presidential Library and Museum of Ronald Reagan. His mother’s Bible was in one small display. My eye was drawn to the Lucite box holding Nelle Reagan’s Bible.
Young MOTHERS, I’d like to encourage you to persevere with a true story.
Ronald Reagan was sworn in as 40th President of the United States using the KJV Bible of his Mother, Nelle Wilson Reagan. I saw a margin notation in Nelle’s handwriting. By 2 Chronicles 7:14 she wrote:
“The most wonderful verse in the healing of the nation. Nelle”
The Scripture: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Nelle had underlined: “will heal their land.”
Nelle Reagan was a godly woman of prayer with a well worn Bible. As Mothers and Grandmothers, we could do well to have the same legacy. Women of the Word!
These influential words from Reagan’s Mother were on his Presidential Desk:
“The quote on the Resolute or Hayes desk in the Oval Office was one his mother used to say to him:
“There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”
“On the desk, on a Lucite plaque which bears the signature of his mother, Nelle:
‘Thought for today: YOU CAN BE TOO BIG FOR GOD TO USE BUT YOU CANNOT BE TOO SMALL. ~~ Nelle’ ”
MORE BIBLES!
In the Rose Parade was a giant open Bible by the Lutheran Hour with the Scripture promise from John 3:36 and a “floragraph” of Jesus. The famous head of Christ by Warner E. Sallman (Float#56, was used by special permission).
Returning home, teaching my Sr. ladies Bible study class, there on the wall was the familiar Sallman photo.
So…dear Mississippi Moms, blessings to you of hope, love, courage, joy, music and flowers in 2012. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
