Her little voice calls my name, in tears, as I leave to go to work at the Center.
“Mommy has to go to work,” I tell her. “Nooooo”, she replies, her legs clinging to me so I can’t put her down.
Oh, she receives excellent care. Her dad, my husband of 11 years and friend for many more, watches her while I work. As soon as I leave, she bounces back and is ready to take on the day. They enjoy their time together. I, on the other hand, don’t recover so easily.

Alan and I waited many years to start our family. I thought working part-time-outside-the-home would enable me to achieve a good work-life balance, and eagerly started my work here. But, as I am learning with so many other things related to parenthood, even the best planning can’t prepare you for everything. Envisioning situations may be helpful, but it’s impossible to know what decisions you will make until you stare them directly in the face. It’s a battle many, many mothers encounter – the internal conundrum of whether or not to return to work after having a child. Add to the mix the knowledge (or, at least, the sincere hope!) that the work you do makes a difference in people’s lives, and the weight of the decision is heavy. Children grow up oh so quickly...

I have decided to leave my position as Director of The Craddock Center to focus more of my time and energy on being “mama”.

The work we do here is very important to me, which is part of why my departure is appropriate. The Center needs someone who can invest a great deal more life in it than I can at this point in time. I am not going to drop everything and run - I want to ensure solid continuity. So, I will remain until a new Director is hired and brought on board, provided such transition can be completed within the year. If our new leader materializes sooner, I will step out of the way.

We will be posting the job by advertising in the local papers. After we receive resumes, we will begin arranging interviews. If you are interested in the position, you may mail, e-mail, or fax your resume to the Center.

While it’s difficult to say good-bye, I am confident the Center will continue to move forward and enrich many, many people’s lives. In fact, an important part of little Emilyn’s education will be gleaned from the Center: learning the value of serving others through the good works accomplished here.—TRS
 

WHY ME AND NOT STEVE?

We had a great time at the Songs and Stories program on Saturday evening, January 27. At least I did, and Steve said he did, and many of you said you did.

But soon came the questions: Did a woman in whose home you were a guest really put corn flakes in your bed? Were you really served a meal of nothing but corn on the cob? Did you really know a man who could blow smoke rings through a hole in his side? Can you really tell if a watermelon is ripe by placing a broom straw across it? On and on the questions come; there seems to be no end to it.

And they were all addressed to me. Why not quiz Steve? He sang about a conversation between a possum and a raccoon. Did anyone ask Steve if it really happened? Did anyone ask Steve if a mule really put its hind feet in its mouth and kicked itself to death? Did anyone ask Steve if he really went up Cripple Creek to see his girl? Did anyone question Steve about Biling Cabbage Down? No; I asked Steve if there were any questions about his songs and he said, “not a single one”.

“And you, Fred; did anyone question whether your stories really happened?” A regular barrage of questions it was.

Oh, my friends, there is much doubt in our world. Unbelief is everywhere. It is painful to try to make your witness in the face of disbelief. I’m already questioning whether next year I should tell about riding a pig in a Fourth of July parade. Somebody might even doubt that. What’s a fellow to do?

I know this; from now on I’ll bring my Bible and place my hand on it before I ever open my mouth. That will surely silence the doubters and restore good old fashioned faith that believes everything. Amen? Amen. –FBC

BACK TO BLUE RIDGE

We hope to see you Friday, March 2, at 7pm for the Helen Lewis Lecture, delivered by Dr. Bill Leonard. As a reminder, the topic will be Revisiting the “Woman’s Sphere”: Implicit and Explicit “Feminism” in Appalachian Churches; the location will be the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Center located at 420 West Main Street in Blue Ridge, and the musical guest will be Blue Ridge Grass.—TRS
 

SPRING PREACHING WORKSHOP

The Spring Preaching Workshop 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 12 at Cherry Log Christian Church. The topic will be “Preaching on Money”. A continental breakfast and deli lunch will be served. The workshop is free to all participants.





OVER 100,000 ORPHANS

...live in the Ukraine, and only about 10% of these children are orphans due to parental deaths.
The Ukraine is going through a period of great change, economically positioned somewhere between capitalism and socialism. Many parents can’t afford to raise their children due to the economic conditions; abuse and abandonment occur regularly. Unfortunately, these children face the same economy when they leave the orphanages around the age of 16. Rates of suicide, prostitution, and crime are high among these teenagers trying to find their way.

The good news is you have the opportunity to help brighten these children’s lives. How? By sponsoring part of Pam Lindsey’s mission trip through HopeHouse International this June. As you know, Pam is the Coordinator of our Children’s Enrichment Program. Pam and her sister, Sheila, will journey to Ukraine, visiting orphanages and bringing the children gifts of Bibles, clothing, toys, and toiletries. But they aren’t just providing material gifts. Pam and Sheila grew up singing and playing instruments together. They were invited to participate in this mission trip as the musical team, uplifting the children’s spirits through song. Pam and Sheila will teach the children how to make music with homemade instruments, showing them that anyone can make music, anywhere, anytime.

The Center will underwrite a portion of Pam’s trip. It is very appropriate for us to do so, as what she will be doing is almost like an international extension of Children’s Enrichment Program, serving children who need a little extra love, providing them happiness through music.

If you would like to share in Pam’s joy, you may make a donation to HopeHouse International, with Pam Lindsey’s name written on the memo line of your check, and mail it to the Center. The deadline for Pam to raise her funds is March 30, so please don’t delay! Thank you.— TRS



THE ENGINE IS WARMING UP

An exciting new opportunity for the Story Express is in the works, and we know you’ll want to be a part of it. Meetings have occurred and will continue to take place to work out the fine points.

What is it, you wonder? Well, I shouldn’t spill the beans just yet, as we’re awaiting approval from some local officials.

• It involves new friends of the Center, some very talented young people.
• It involves distribution of books to local children, and along with that, it involves inspiration, coaching, and intellectual advancement.
• It involves Tammy Blair, our Office Manager and our new Volunteer Coordinator for the Story Express.
  And it may involve you.
• This is the first of what we hope will be several new adventures for the Story Express.
• Await your March Milk & Honey with bated breath…It will be brimming with details. -TRS
   

BUT WHEN YOU’RE ONLY HALFWAY UP

You’re neither up nor down. So the children sing of the Grand Old Duke of York and his ten thousand men.
And so are we, neither up nor down. For months we worked in hope of getting surplus trailer homes from FEMA to provide better living conditions for some families in southern Appalachia. We called it the Step Up Program. Then came Katrina and FEMA said all units were needed on the Gulf Coast. The Step Up Program had to step down. The news reports and photos revealed thousands of units sitting unused, apparently unwanted. We stepped up again, only to be told that the trailer homes were for emergencies and we were dealing with long term pre-existing conditions here in the mountains. In other words, if you have been living for years in substandard housing, you don’t qualify. Again, Step Up stepped down.

Now through contacts with several government agencies, thanks to the interest and initiative of Bob Short of Blairsville, the Step Up Program may step up again.

I will keep you posted.—FBC