Category Archives: Blog

Why My Grandma Liked Dolls

A neighbor interviewed my grandma and recorded it. The recording is super valuable to my family. You can hear little kids in the background, but the focus was on Grandma. She died before Toy Story, but she had her own storyline.

In the interview, Grandma explains how she and her family managed to get by through hard work, sacrifice, and faith. The family wasn’t able to go on a toy shopping spree. There were, however, miracles that provided treasure for her and her siblings.

Here’s a transcript of an insightful clip:

“My father used to move furniture, and a lot of times, the people say, ‘Oh, take this. I don’t want it. It just makes more stuff here.’ And he used to bring home toys. [“Aw” from interviewer.] And I always remember that big doll I had. You know, those big…the Germans used to make those nice, nice dolls. That’s why to this day, I like dolls.”

And boy, did we all know that! She had a glass cupboard with a collection of dolls. She mentioned it in the video, and how the “girls” (me and my sister) liked to open it. She planned to give us the collection after she passed away. There were moves and remodeling, but I managed to find one of the dolls. It’s the most adorable out of the “pretty dolls” (aka porcelain dolls). A little one that wears a yellow dress and cap. I’m looking at it right now. Some might look at it and feel nothing, but I feel really blessed. It has a story behind it. It’s a reminder of Grandma’s love. 

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Images:

Featured image: Girl With Doll by an unknown German artist. Found on Wikipedia commons.

Other painting found on pixabay.com

An Angel and Barbie Friends

Watching the end of Toy Story 4 made me cry in the theater. The ending stuck with me as I drove home. Then I thought of my past toy experience, and the tears kept coming.

I was a lucky girl in fourth grade. I had good friends and a loving home. But as soon as I think of fourth grade, I think of Mrs. G. She embarrassed me a lot in front of the whole class. I also think of the bullies at my table—Mac, Ash, and Drew. They were real devils. Okay, I’m being dramatic, but school can be quite scary. Fortunately, an angel called Ms. Ward intervened.

I’m sure she was heaven sent. I saw her at church. She gave my family games one Christmas. Once, my sister and I lent her our Barbie dolls so she could make clothes for her nieces’ Barbies. But we were in for a real shock when she returned the dolls—they had a dazzling new wardrobe! The clothes were funky, beautiful, and classic with rich fabric. I don’t totally remember what the clothes looked liked, but I was motivated to play with my Barbies probably because they were better-dressed. I was happy—and nervous. From time to time, I’d stand up and walk to the window. I had to make sure no one from my class was nearby. Who knows? Maybe they could have jumped the fence. Luckily, they were never there, and I could play Barbies to my heart’s content.

This respite was some of the greatest therapy I ever received. I sorted through my problems and got out my frustrations. God bless Ms. Ward wherever she is. I know she was divinely inspired.

And if you’re reading this, Ms. Ward, please know you saved me. I don’t know if I ever said thank you. Thank you to infinity and…well, you know. Thank you for being the Lord’s instrument in helping a nine-year-old girl conquer the fourth grade villains.

Lots of love,
Sarah, now age 33

Some names have been modified.
Picture from pixabay.com

To a Once Admired Author

Guess which writer I was thinking of when writing this poem!

To a Once Admired Author From a Reader

I like the story
The way it was.
Don’t try to add glory
To the tale because
The magic fades away.
I mean…seriously-
Don’t I get any say
In events I imagine
In pre and post series?
Nope!
You just added again! 

©Sarah Patten, 2019

 

Arranged: Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI

If their lives had crossed paths, would there have been any chance that they’d get together? Yes, yes, YES!

First of all they were the same religion. I’ve concluded that in all marriages—you better have the same standards.

Marie-Antoinette and Louis remind me of the couples that knew each other in high school and went to some of the same church functions, but hooked up after graduation. They became adults, noticed, and took a strong interest in each other.

 

Click here to read a more detailed analysis of this couple.

 

Featured image:Marie Antoinette, Emperor Maximilian and Louis XVI by Josef Hauzinger  Josef Hauzinger public domain.

 

Arranged: Michal and David

Michal and David were both at the royal court, and David was working his way to have power—for which Michal was used. But what if Israel hadn’t wanted kings—would they have gotten married? It’s hard to say since they were from different tribes, and usually tribes of Israel stuck with their own. However, marrying into other tribes still occurred.
When it came to martial rules, though, Israel’s number one was “marry in the covenant.” They had the same religion, and that’s huge. Say that somehow they got “arranged.” Would the marriage have worked?

If they weren’t royal there would have been more privacy. Michal and David would have spent more time together. There wouldn’t have been much competition—if any—with other wives. The two would have had a better chance of having a family together.

Let’s fast-forward to today. There’s still much controversy around royal marriages. I will tie in Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew. The couple divorced, but Sarah still gives flowing reviews of her ex in public. In one interview, she said their marriage would have worked out if they had been “in normal life.”

Let’s say Michal and David had lived in a “normal life”—would their marriage have worked? I strongly believe it would have.

 

Featured image: David and Michal by Virginio Grana, 1865

Arranged: Do You Have an Arranged Marriage?

If you’re married, you probably do have an arranged marriage. Single or not, I bet you know couples who do.

Arranged means something that is already set up. School, church, church activities, blind dates, online dating, etc….lots of people have met their spouses that way. These types of situations are arrangements that put you in a position where you can develop relationships. The way I see it, is that arranged marriages require time and agency.

Further Thoughts on Peter and His Wife

I mentioned in the previous post why I think Peter’s wife went with him on his missions. A lot of my opinion is based on the following scripture:

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 Corinthians 9:5)

The context: In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul refers to Cephas—also known as Peter—of having a wife. Paul is on one of his missions this time while Peter is serving elsewhere.

I further wonder if she got martyred—was she near Peter during his crucifixion? Was she also a victim of Nero’s wrath against the Christians? For sure, she felt the power of Christ with her husband in their house, and they’re home together now.

Peters, Pattens, and Preparing by Caring for Family

In my last post, I compared my parents to Aquila and Priscilla, and now I wish to compare my parents to Simon Peter and his wife. I believe that Mrs. Peter went with her husband on his missions—just like my mom and dad have gone together. Long before their missions, though, both couples took care of the wives’ mothers. This act is brave and selfless as well as good preparation to share the loving teachings of Jesus Christ. Perhaps it’s one of the best preparations. One memory that left a lasting impression on me was my dad driving Grandma to early morning appointments.

Because of such memories, I feel a connection to the story of Jesus healing Simon Peter’s mother-in-law.

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them” (Matthew 8:14-15).

I’m in awe when I read this passage. I feel a warmth and inspiration that I can’t really explain.

Further reading:
Alice
Matthew 8; Mark 1; Luke 4

Featured Image from painting Christ Healing the Mother of Simon Peter’s Wife by John Bridges.

 

My Aquila and Priscilla

Lately, I’ve been thinking of the missionary couples, Priscilla and Aquila, found in the New Testament. Like my parents, they used their personal home for missionary opportunities as well as made journeys to other places.

Before my parents took off, I went along with them to visit a couple (the wife is my mom’s cousin) who had served two missions and are presently involved in helping people near their home to come unto Christ. This couple welcomed me and my parents into their home, offered words of encouragement, and gave us chocolate pudding cake with ice cream. Their hospitality is reminiscent of my parents. Priscilla and Aquila too would be proud!

 

Women Who Literally Followed Jesus

When Jesus called his original twelve apostles to follow Him, they didn’t say, “See ya,” to their families and left them for good. The Gospels reveal women were included in Christ’s traveling group and used their own means to support the entourage as well as minister to others. I believe some of those women were the mothers and wives to the apostles. At Christ’s death, it’s revealed that some of the apostles’ mothers brought spices and ointments to His tomb.

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Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also acknowledged by Him during the ministry and at the time of His death.

One time when Jesus was preaching, the crowd pointed out his mother. Jesus then taught:

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”
(Matthew 12:50)

Jesus cares about families and their unity. Even if one’s family might be dysfunctional, He still wants us to be included as a member of His family.

Painting: Women at the Tomb by Benozzo Gozzoli