Stephanie from The Red Clay Diaries recently found out about my Oz book collection. She had some on her shelf and wanted to give them to me. As a matter of fact she had 17 that she wanted to give me. Wow! A group of people were coming from Missouri. So she shipped the books from where she lives in the Atlanta area to them. They packed them in their luggage and delivered them into my hands last week. For books that talk of great journeys and adventure I think it is only suitable that they should arrive to me in such a round about way.
I began collecting Oz books when my first daughter was a baby. I read them aloud to her as we cuddled. More than once she fell asleep to tales of talking lions and romps down the yellow brick road. Now she adores the books in a new way since she can read them on her own.
Thank you so much SSBBBFF! (That is my nickname for Steph.)
The story behind the Royal Oz Historian, as Frank L. Baum referred to himself, is one of eccentricity. I own one biography and would like to get my hands on the film made about his life starring John Ritter.
An interesting bit of trivia is that Baum is not the only one recognized as a valid author of Oz books. He was where the idea originated. After him a few other authors took the liberty to write about this wonderful land. There are forty authentic titles. Below is the list. The titles in green are the ones I own. Someday I would love to own a full first editions set. Until then I will be perfectly contented in a state of rapture with my dear Oz books.
Here is the complete list of the Famous Forty Oz books (often shortened to the FF) — the ones that most Oz fans agree are true Oz — along with their authors and dates of publication.
1. The Wizard of Oz, originally published as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1900) and also published as The New Wizard of Oz (1903)
2. The Land of Oz, originally published as The Marvelous Land of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1904)
3. Ozma of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1907)
4. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1908)
5. The Road to Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1909)
6. The Emerald City of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1910)
7. The Patchwork Girl of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1913)
8. Tik-Tok of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1914)
9. The Scarecrow of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1915)
10. Rinkitink in Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1916)
11. The Lost Princess of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1917)
12. The Tin Woodman of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1918)
13. The Magic of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1919)
14. Glinda of Oz (L. Frank Baum, 1920)
15. The Royal Book of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson [but originally attributed to L. Frank Baum], 1921)
16. Kabumpo in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1922)
17. The Cowardly Lion of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1923)
18. Grampa in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1924)
19. The Lost King of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1925)
20. The Hungry Tiger of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1926)
21. The Gnome King of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1927)
22. The Giant Horse of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1928)
23. Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1929)
24. The Yellow Knight of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1930)
25. Pirates in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1931)
26. The Purple Prince of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1932)
27. Ojo in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1933)
28. Speedy in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1934)
29. The Wishing Horse of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1935)
30. Captain Salt in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1936)
31. Handy Mandy in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1937)
32. The Silver Princess in Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1938)
33. Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (Ruth Plumly Thompson, 1939)
34. The Wonder City of Oz (John R. Neill, 1940)
35. The Scalawagons of Oz (John R. Neill, 1941)
36. Lucky Bucky in Oz (John R. Neill, 1942)
37. The Magical Mimics in Oz (Jack Snow, 1946)
38. The Shaggy Man of Oz (Jack Snow, 1949)
39. The Hidden Valley of Oz (Rachel R. Cosgrove, 1951)
40. Merry Go Round in Oz (Eloise Jarvis McGraw and Lauren McGraw Wagner, 1963)
I have a few more titles that are not on the official list. Also, L. Frank Baum wrote some non-Oz books. I have decided that I am collecting Oz books and books by L. Frank Baum.
Do you have a memory about Oz that you would like to share?
Last night I had a stimulating conversation with a dear freind about life in community. It was a precious exchange of ideas. I retold a story I heard once. Do you want to hear it?
A social aid team began investigations in a Native American tribe to evaluate the help these people needed. One of the points of study was an I.Q. test. The professionals gathered a group of men in a school room and had them each sit down at desks. The papers were handed out and the instructions regarding how to fill in the answers and the time limit were given. The instructor observed something that shocked him when he told them they could begin. The men immediately gathered together and began discussing the answers to the questions on the test. The instructor told them this was not the way the test is to be taken. The men in the tribe went on to explain that this is the way that they do things in the tribe.
Community is vital. I believe in it. Wonderful things can happen when we come together.
This post could easily go into a heartfelt biblical teaching. Rather I am going to move it to a more superficial level.
Currently I am looking at giving my blog a face lift. I am making the move to a self hosted site. There are a few things I want to spruce up around here. I am also aware that there are things of which I might not be aware. That is where you come in. I want to hear from you, dear reader, what you thing would make this a better dot-com. Additions, editions, reductions, improvements… please tell me your thoughts. Every idea will be considered, weighed and evaluated. If I end up using your idea I will give you credit for it in some special way. It might be time for some gold stars again. Even if I don’t use your ideas it might trigger another idea from someone else and we will all benefit.
In the end, I am very grateful for your participation here. I am honored that you take time out of your precious day to hang out at the ‘@’. You make this blog beautiful.
So, get to it now. What are your suggestions? Fill the comment box with your insights about design, content, features, issues, referrals, color schemes, things you think should go, things you think should stay, etc. Did I mention that this upgrade is my birthday present? Hurray!
Much love,
Asphalt. Oak. Marble. These three things have something in common. They are hard but good. They afford endurance and reliable durability. You can trust these materials with unwavering certainty.
This past month I have had to make a hard but good decision. It is hard because it means change. Effort is always involved in change. Scrutiny and questions are parts of change. Those are the things that make it hard. There are good things too, they will just not be seen right away.
By nature I am made of sturdy and reliable stuff. I am totally into long-term commitmment and endurance. I am not so interested in doing just to do. What I commit to must be tied directly to a worthwhile purpose. I am flexible in strategy and immovable in principal.
As the asphalt is a path so the Lord can make me a solid surface for His gospel to advance. As the oak is cut into pieces so the Lord can construct my life to be useful. As the artist chisels the mass of marble to create a masterpiece so the Lord can shave off what is not pleasing to Him in my character to create a life that causes others to stand in awe of the greatness and glory of God.
When I felt that there needed to be a change in the way we do womens ministry at our church it was the idea of endurance that allowed me to make the hard but good decision. I went back to the main idea. The goals were not being met. So we are changing our strategy, remembering our purpose and adjusting.
It was hard but it is good.
What is a hard but good decision you have had to make in your life?
All morning I did every relaxation technique I could think of. Meanwhile my husband was as cool as a cucumber. We arrived 5 minutes early to the social service offices and they saw us right away. The temperature of the room was frigid, thank God that the ladies doing the interview were warm and caring. For about 45 minutes the psychologist and the social worker asked us questions. DaRonn said it was the easiest interview because all we had to do was talk about ourselves. I don’t know why I was so nervous. Now that this first interview is under our belt I can say that I think it went very well. Next Tuesday at 10 AM we go back for another interview. Then we will schedule the home visit and the individual interviews. I will bring a jacket next week so I am not shivering the whole time. Though, it was nice to have an excuse to hold DaRonn’s hand.
Being married to a marketer affords me new vocabulary opportunities, such as the word: niche.
1 a: a recess in a wall especially for a statue b: something that resembles a niche 2 a: a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted <finally found her niche> b: a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species c: the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption d: a specialized market *
As a business, knowing your niche allows you to focus, thereby increasing effectiveness. All energies, finances, advertising, talents and planning are directed by the defined niche.
Thinking about the strategy of the niche brings to mind the ‘one thing’ idea.
1. One Thing desired by David, Psalm 27 . 4
1. One Thing needed by Mary, Luke 10 . 42
1. One Thing lacked by the Rich Ruler, Luke 18 . 22
1. One Thing known by the Seer, John 9 . 25
1. One Thing done by Paul, Philippians 3 . 13
Niche
I am a niche,
a caved out recess in a wall.
I am a shadowy cavity waiting
to be filled by Definition,
to hold in His entirety
the One who shaped me.
Carved for purpose,
life’s a discovery.
Filled by Him,
eternity’s the trajectory.
The tomb His corpse filled,
then vacated it alive.
My being His life filled,
no longer am I a tomb.
Why look I
in places dry
for things and doings
temporal and wasting?
The fit that fits best
in this holey habitat
is the One who designed it
with a Holy chisel.
Fill this niche.
I am empty.
Brazen me with worth.
I am your hole to fill.
At times it might seem,
I am pushing you away.
Just stay.
Crowded in by glory,
snuffing out what’s sorry,
your form is not unwelcome,
just takes me some adjusting.
With every turn
I am introduced
to something
I didn’t know before.
I am Your niche.
You fill me.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw the caller i.d. on my cell. My hola was a bit too eager sounding and the lawyer on the other end chuckled slightly. She couldn’t contain herself either. I could tell she was smiling as she told me, “Your approval to begin the adoption arrived today from the judge’s office.” What a relief!
So this morning I take this official order from the judge down to social services. Evidently the woman I am looking for is named Cecilia. They will read it and in that very moment assign a team of social workers to investigate us. The order from the judge clearly states that they have thirty days to realize a medical study, a psychological study and a social report of DaRonn and me.
Their office is overloaded. We know this from having to work closely with them for the House of Dreams. We are just going to have to stay on top of them to make the appointments that they will schedule. Especially since DaRonn will be gone traveling a couple times during the month of June.
So now I would ask that you pray regarding the proceedings this month.
- Pray for our social workers, that they would be handpicked by God
- Pray that we would have favor with every person we meet in the social services department
- Pray that our medical exam is clean
- Pray that our psychological study is positive
- Pray that the social investigation is favorable
- Pray that everything is done in a timely manner
- Pray that our social workers would be punctual
- Pray that our social workers would follow through on what they say they are going to do
- Pray that we would be wise as serpents and gentle as doves
- Pray that the studies would be turned in on time
- Pray that none of our paperwork gets lost
- Pray that this month I wouldn’t stress out
- Pray that when the findings are presented to the judge that favor shines on our faces
- Pray for expediency for them
- Pray for patience for me
- Thank God that this approval arrived
- Thank God for a good lawyer
- Thank God for this opportunity we have to adopt
- Thank God for the judge that is presiding over our case
- Thank God for the social workers that are doing the best they can
- Thank God that our children are so excited to get a new sister
- Thank God for His love for us that while we were yet sinners Christ showed His love for us giving us an example of love before first sight
- Thank God that we have been adopted into His family, accepted and loved
- Thank God that this is really happening!
Just to give you an idea of where we are at in the process when social services presents their reports to the judge we are at another crucial point. The judge then assigns us a child. After the child is designated we can get a court order to start visiting her for the two months before we take her home. There are three court appearances in those two months. The third one is to finalize the adoption. That is when we will be able to take her home.
Thank you for all your encouragement and prayers. You are a vital part of this whole process.
Over here today talking about bears and parsley:
(Click the image to link to the article)
In that precise moment I had a choice of how to respond. I could become repulsed by the tradition and offended by the unsolicited advice. I could obey this command to the letter of the law in hopes to gain a convert. Or I could thank the woman for the advice, be amused and go about my merry way.
Some random images from the last few days. Richness in the obscure is soothing.
My music tastes good.
On iTunes there is a feature called Playlists. They are groupings of songs that you make and save. Then when you want to listen to that grouping of songs you simply tap it and let it run. Here are my playlists:
Any guesses to the logic behind the groupings?
