Skating On The USA

Who paints a map of the United States on their living room floor? Kay Newton! When I was growing up there was a wonderful lady down the street who taught piano lessons. She lived in a house that had been a sort of town hall before it became her home. So her living room was enormous. She had 4 pianos in this room and the floor was cement. Long before it became in vogue to stain concrete, that was just what she did. She drew out the 50 states and stained the states different earth tone shades.

All the kids in the neighborhood hung out at her house. We were either washing dishes, plunking on the pianos, or gliding around the floor with rags on our feet. Kay would wrap our feet in rags then load them up with wax and set us loose to skate around the US. It was fun for us and kept her floors shiny at the same time.

Kay was one of those rare people who always seemed to have time to listen to kids. Her house was always open to all. I know she was married but I really have no memories of Mr. Newton. He must have been amazing himself putting up with kids running all over the house all the time.

I am blessed to have middle school girls at my house for breakfasts on Saturday mornings for Young Life complete with jammies and bedheads. Just crawl out of bed and come. No primping required. We also have Yuk Club in our backyard when the weather is nice. It can get pretty messy as you can tell by the name. My favorite game is when we give each kid a powdered donut and then pour chocolate syrup over it and have them tilt their head back and stick it on their nose for a relay race. Ron has his scouts over at different times. When our kids were growing up we had a bolt in our ceiling to teach belaying in the living room. you never knew who you would see swinging on a rope in a harness. As Natalie remembers, sometimes it was just fun to relax dangling up there.

It would make me happy to be remembered as someone whose house was welcoming and full of life rather than someone whose house was tidy and well kept. Our house is not the biggest or the cleanest. Our stuff is older than newer. Heck, we just got a new fridge last summer and the old one was purchased in 1967. The delivery guys said we won for having the most antique fridge they had ever picked up.

I have a magnet on my new fridge that says 'I prefer my house full of life and love.' Kay's house was like that and I pray mine is always as welcoming as hers.

In Him,

Joyful
2-26-2010