Discipline, A Perspective….” by Diane Krentel Hodge

Ok, I get it.  I know that there is a whole new way of discipline nowadays and I must adjust.  But sometimes, when I go out in public and watch the behaviors of some over-indulged children, I nearly bite my tongue, clear through! 

I’m sixty-six now and I bet younger people think I don’t have any real experiences quite like theirs to even share on the subject. You know,  I wonder if they feel that I can’t empathize because I am too far removed by age or that I’m retired and “out to pasture” so to speak.  It’s kind of funny to me because I joke, that there are not too many people lining up at my door to ask me about how to discipline effectively. What worked ALL those many years ago may not be relevant anymore!

When I was “in the trenches”of child-rearing, I remember asking my Grandmother how I was doing. I didn’t expect she would answer, but after a poignant pause, she said sweetly, “ Don’t forget to be firm and consistent in what you say! Do what you say!”  She went on to explain when you set clear standards of behavior with understood consequences, both positive and negative, make sure you follow through with what you set up.  If I hadn’t asked, I would have continued to muddle through trying this and that hoping to land on something that brought peace in our house. 

While teaching, I remember the time when I had 34 children in my second grade classroom; each child with different abilities and challenging behavioral problems. Recipe for disaster and burnout. But for the most part, we got along just fine all day and even had lots of fun in the process of learning.  Not to say, that everyday was golden, it wasn’t, but for the most part it was a pleasant and a rewarding experience. 

A key factor of success in the classroom was having a discipline plan. Good classroom management correlates with good discipline.  Having no goal in this area means reaching just that…nothing..…and this fails to meet! Each child in your care whether parenting and teaching, is a gift you are responsible for! There is so much at stake with each precious one. They learn so much from you. Long-lastingTraits they  bring with them into adulthood.  

At home and in school, how can we set clear standards of behavior with consequences, both positive and negative to help discipline? 

I have been dying to put it “out there”, so to speak. So here is a list of suggested “old fashioned” ideas that worked for me both as a parent of three boys and an elementary school teacher. 

We can set clear standards of discipline by…….

• Modeling positive behaviors for child to imitate e.g. “Watch Joey say ‘please’ when he wants another cookie. Isn’t that polite and good? I know you can do that too!” If children see you modeling  and praising the behavior you are trying to teach them, the impression it makes is imprinted in their minds as children always look up to you to firmly lead the way.

•Using positive peer modeling.  Children learn quickly from their peers, so exposing them to other well behaved children who have a certain skills that can be shared often in friendship….. teaching the observers much.

• Exercising praise for positive behaviors ….e.g. “I just love the way you help Mommy pick up the toys. You are such a responsible boy!” A few positive words or pats on the back go a long way in making someone feel proud of themselves and able to “reach the sky”.  Praise, praise, praise…….There can’t ever be “too much”! But it has to be commensurate to a real positive behavior!!! No counterfeits!  Kids know!

• Following through consistently when boundaries are over-stepped.  e.g.  Mommy told you that if you continued to hit Billy, you would have to sit in the No-No chair.  Then make sure on the first reminder, that the consequence is carried out! Not after the second or third infraction. Kids learn really fast who means what they say and who doesn’t.  Firmly, yet controlled. Letting a situation escalate to the anger level means that boundaries and follow-through haven’t been clearly delineated in the past and the child knows that. 

•Rewarding targeted behaviors with positive rewards. Let’s say you have had some difficulty with “Johnny” being polite in public….You set up a token system which is not only fun but practically makes the child focus in on the desired result.   e.g. Every time I see you say please and thank you, a token goes in the Happy Jar…..(building up to some desired end…e.g. Ice cream, or token toy). I have used this successful from everything from potty-training to limiting “hissy-fits” for attention when things go wrong.

•Sharing honestly and calmly with a child when you are displeased e.g. an infraction occurs ….at the same time letting them know they are loved or valued in spite of what happened. BALANCE is important here. Also speak to this, as close in time to the infraction as possible.  If you wait too long, the child has already moved on to new things that demand his/her attention.

•Responding appropriately to upsetting situations.  The more you coddle a child with too much sympathy, when something little happens to upset him/her, the more you loose an opportunity to teach the child resiliency. Resiliency will be needed all through their life.  A way to develop this key trait is too model problem-solving or working through a problem calmly with clear steps and words to express their feelings versus outbursts. During times like these we need to lighten up on the sympathy. 

• Building  behaviors to produce intrinsic motivation for future patterns of behavior.  Eg. Don’t you feel good inside when you  help others with a happy spirit.  If a child learns that he/she will receive a certain positive feeling  inside from doing something                          

right, the behavior will be much better reinforced.  Not all disciplines and directives should be extrinsic. The child can learn better if he/she sees the benefits of positive behaviors in making himself/herself more happy. All on their own!

Thanks to all for letting this “old gal” share some really old ideas that worked like a charm in my day.

What works for you?

I'll never  be too old to learn a thing or two,  so feel free to share how you feel about this subject.

Old Age is Not for Sissies (continued)

Finally, I have to keep reminding myself that I am not alone.  Neither are you! This is something I say to myself, out loud, and then I say it again.  I am not alone.  God is in this with me!  He is in this for you. We can cry out to Him and He will listen.  I try not to sputter or fume about the happenings  of the day.  After all He is God.  He is in control.

“Shh, my child, now really, is this what you were crying out to me about? Quiet now for I am here with you.  Can you stand up?  There!  Now, take my hand and let’s climb out of here.”  So He pulls and I hang on for dear life. Then we talk.  Oh true, I mumble and grumble, but I have concluded that God will never let me go.  He hushes my whining and listens to what I have to say.

Goodness…..this has all the earmarks of the sermon of the century, does it not?  But honestly, God is in the driver’s seat.  God has thought this age-thing through.  Remember that old man called Caleb?  He was that spy way back in the Old Testament?  You remember…..Joshua and Caleb….did Caleb run out of gas?  Not once.  Listen to Caleb talking—-

Now then, just as the Lord promised,

He has kept me alive for forty-five years

 since the time he said this to Moses,

 while Israel moved about in the desert.  

So here I am today, eighty-five years old!  

I am still as strong today

 as the day Moses sent me out’ 

I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle as I was then.”

Joshua 14: 10,11  NIV

Lord, this day give us Caleb-confidence!  Grant us patience, dear Lord for today and all the todays that might follow.     Miggy Krentel

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 

Psalm 90:12 NIV

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” 

Psalm 90:12 NIV

Old Age Is Not For Sissies by Diane Krentel Hodge

Someone has said that in life, we only stay young long enough, to strengthen our backs for the burden of old age. Have you noticed that for each new phase of life, there seems to be great preparation and celebration preceding it?  The wonder of young love and marriage…..planning the “perfect marriage”ceremony…..attending marriage seminars…celebrating anniversaries, etc.  Then, another phase evolves…..the excitement of getting ready for a new baby:……”learning how to” classes on breathing and labor,  painting the nursery,  studying manuals on discipline and care….buying scrapbooks and cameras…. just to mention a few things.  Even for our mid-life there are more preparations: celebrating the joys of raising a family….. attending graduations, weddings, baby shower while entering the height of a promising career… Experiences that build on one another to prepare us for each stage of life we were in.

And then, the “harvest” age comes and we find ourselves in an unfamiliar journey….old age.  It sneaks up on us when we are in the “prime of life”.  Suddenly, we are in a new world where there is little, to no preparation for.  No map, instruction manual, or encouraging seminar to navigate through its deep challenges. “Physically, our bodies are telling us, mentally,  that the two are no longer in sync.  Our children look at us with unbelief as if we can snap out of it.” (MEK)  Our extended family watch us as if we have always been old and discount what we try to say and do.  Yet, inside, we feel as if we still are young and wonder why they can’t quite see it. 

As we look around for the “normal” button for this period of life, you might enjoy some of Miggy’s (my Mom’s) journal entries about old age. Her writings should bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eyes. These views are very honest about this complicated time of life. I must say, she never felt she belonged in this age category called “old age” at all! She lived almost 92 years and was mentally alert right to the end! 

For the next few weeks, I will feature other entries she made about surviving in this world of the elderly. 

Here is one short entry:

“Why is it each and every year, on one special day, we locate those short stubby sticks of paraffin hiding in a kitchen drawer and place them, one  by one in the middle of a mound of sweet stuff on top of a cake we call our “birthday cake”?  Each year we sing “Happy Birthday to you.”  But along with each successive birthday, Life seems to lose a little of that giddy happiness we felt when we blew out sweet sixteen.

Why?  I think I know.  As I have now amassed almost ninety of these occasions I know for sure that “old age is not for sissies.”  There are many of you that know that these are the years your feet hurt before they even hit the floor, your head aches and your joints protest.  You grab your raincoat only to discover your eyes have tricked you again and produced the foggy world you think you see out the window Your eyeglasses are all smeared again…..the sun is shining gloriously.  Things are not a they seem.

It occurs to me that it is high time indeed to prepare ourselves for the end of the race.  We want to finish the race gloriously even though some of us belong to a motley group of gray haired puff-a-billies limping for the goal posts.  If it were left up to me, I’d like nothing better than to pull off my sneakers for good and hang my feet up, but it looks like I’ll be here on earth for the full count.

(More next week) Miggy Krentel

Can you relate to any of this yet?  Maybe you are not there yet…but many of us are fast approaching it.

What's in a Reflection? by Diane Krentel Hodge

There’s a joke around our house about how long it takes me to get ready each morning.  It seems like there is a regiment of 54 steps,I must go through to look and feel ready for the day. My husband many times walks by me, as I am busily applying each layer of readiness.  He often says, “What step are you on, Honey?”  I always laugh and tell him some random number in response. 

I’ve never really counted each step, it’s just a routine we laugh about. Some mornings  I glance at my reflection and I see the task ahead is bound to be monumental.  I need a shower to start the ball rolling….then comes the hair washing and drying, putting in all those curlers and applying gel products…..then the 20 or more steps to applying the make-up, eyeliner, shadow, concealer, wrinkle cream, bronzer and so the steps add up to that magic number. 

 It just so happens, if I’m having a very good day, these steps actually work and I look “pretty good, “ (Now, you must know I never compare myself to those 25 years olds as that would be pure folly!)  Those positive days, my inner self remembers what it saw in the mirror and my footsteps are lighter and more carefree.   All day long, I don’t even mind surveying my image in a mirror or store window reflection.

 In contrast, the days when the reflection doesn’t tell lies, the opposite outcome can be true. I see very plainly that my hair doesn’t cooperate and there are bags under my eyes with deep shadows that the concealer can't cover; not to mention a new gray hair with accompanied wrinkles. But this time, this“glimpse” has a different resulting behavior. My steps seem much slower. The day seems extra hard to get through, and I reflect on my age more. 

Can you relate to this reflection problem?

Similarly,  our walk with the Lord correlates to a different kind of reflection. Beth Moore once said “We will reflect the God who we believe Him to be.”  We are directly affected by our concept of Him. 

Our belief system is key. Is our God BIG enough to give us that “bounce” we need each day to make it a spiritually victorious day?  Or is our God too SMALL and not even a reference point, as we face each day’s challenges? 

Is our belief system well developed?  

Do we often reflect on who God is and how much He wants us to graft ourselves deeply into Him, so that we can draw upon the power that He has to offer.   

Do our minds remember even a few of the characteristics of God? For example:

When we get discouraged, do we think God is my only real hope? 

When the task is unsurmountable, do we think God is mighty? 

When our mind is troubled, do we think God is good?

When we think you don’t measure up to God’s standard, do we think God is our salvation?  

One good way spiritually to “reflect” on the God of the Bible is to keep a journal.  I recommend making a spot in a journal to write down all the attributes of God we discover in our daily Bible readings . If we meditate and memorize them, our behavior will mirror that “true God” and His characteristics throughout each day . 

Here are a few characteristics that I would enter in the “God-page” in my journal:

God is a warrior Exodus 15:30

God is trustworthy Deuteronomy 7:9

God is too great to be described I Kings 8 ;27

God is gracious and merciful Nehemiah 9:31

God is good Psalm 34:8

God helps people when they are in trouble Psalms 46:1

God is mighty Psalm 50:1

God is our hope Psalm 71:5

God is near everyone Psalm 75:1

God is our salvation Isaiah 12:2

God is our Father  Matthew 6:9

God is all knowing Romans 11:33

God is approachable James 4:12  

This  beginning list should get us started.  There are many more characteristics,  I am sure we will discover as we dig into this study.

Take a moment and reexamine what and where our belief systems have come from. God can’t be manufactured in our minds as then He would be a false god. Who He is must be derived carefully from what the scripture teaches.

It kind of reminds me of going through 54 steps to be prepared for the day.  Spiritually, when I see a clear picture of who God is, my foundation is secure and my whole day is positive. When I take my eyes off of Him and look to something else for joy and security, the opposite is true.

Others will want what we have, if we prepare ourselves by knowing who God is and deepen our belief system. 

The more time spent with God, the greater the radiance!

DREAM CATCHER? By Diane Krentel Hodge

Mother…..the eternal dreamer…..the miracle-maker with words!   I can still see her holding her files of written stories, close to her chest like a priceless treasure. Her own words written, so creatively, with a clear purpose in mind.  At 90 +,  she was the only one at the nursing home that had a laptop computer and iPad to boot to make these dreams come alive!  But sadly, in the end, the computer kept getting things “all wrong” as she would press “SAVE” and off went her favorite words to cyber-space somewhere and she could never find them again.   She had always been computer-savy and had so much she wanted to share.  We, as her children, would run to her rescue and restart the computer,  trying, in earnest, to find her last edited piece, all to no avail.  But she always had her dull green folders of printed text with pencil corrections and additions to fumble through and contemplate. 

Later, after her passing, we found one of Mom’s proposal letters in one of those dull green folders:

“I propose a series of picture books for children, based on the Bible using numbers from 1 through 10, written in rhyme to capture a child’s attention, to enrich his love of literature, and to reclaim the “one-two, buckle your shoe” crowd.

The  picture books are Biblically accurate, sometimes humorous, but all are informative. The purpose is to present; not preach. Each tries to instill respect for the Word of God in a disrespectful world. Each uses repetition and a strong rhythmic pulse to persuade the child to memorize by the irresistible cadence found in each story.

An artist who is adept at comic-book-style illustrations and has a sense of humor will put these books on the cutting edge of what is presently being offered in the juvenile publishing world.” Miggy Krentel

Along with the letter was the name of her Agent and a detailed wish list of Bible stories. 

Two of the number books, Two by Two and I See Four  were already published books in the late 50's and early 60's but are OUT of print.  These stories make up part of the 10 books needed.  

They seem to follow this plan.

 
1. *One House Stood Still ( the story of the  wise man who built his  house on the rock)

2. *Two by Two  (republish  the book by MEK of Noah and his Ark)

3.  Three Along the Road  (The Story of the Good Samaritan )

4. *I See Four ( republish  the book by MEK about Shadrach,  Meshach and Abednego)

5.   The Five Loaves and Two Fish ( Feeding the Five Thousand)

6.   ?

7.   Seven Dunks in the River (Naaman the leper)

  8.* Samson, Strong as Eight Men (story of Samson)

9.   The Nine Foot Giant (David and Goliath)

10 *Ten Pennies and the Lady who Lost One 

 
(* completed works by MEK)

There it was, five stories in rhyme right in front of me. I could complete this dream or at least, give it a “college-try”.   Mom’s dream was clear enough, so I decided to get to work and “fill in the blanks”, so to speak………writing the other number stories to complete the set.  What fun it was for me!  (That is, all except 6, as I can’t really find something with 6 in the scripture (just the first miracle or the six days of creation. Open for suggestions.....)

Here is a sample text from I See Four to tease you:

Way........ high, UP in the sky! TALLER than either YOU or I! A big statue stood, its head in a cloud.  King Nebuchadnezzar was really quite proud!

He sat on his throne, checking over his list to see that no deal he wanted was missed! “Six cubits wide, let me see that’s........ nine feet. Ten fingers, ten toes, well, I guess it’s compete!”

“Now, call out the ‘Measure-Man’-tell him to try to see if this image is ninety feet high.”

“10 feet......move over, you’re sitting on 20! 30....here’s 40,” and on and on went he counting and climbing high in the heavenly. “50 and 60, it’s scary at 70! 80, then 90......” He’s reached the big crown!

Then he grabbed hold the tape....and SLID all the way down!

And so, it was finished! The statue complete from the shine of its head to the gleam of it’s feet! The crowd was delighted; it gathered around on the plains known as Dura from country and town! As they stood gazing, a sound pierced the air-”King Nebuchadnezzar- has this to declare!

“When the sackbut, the cornet, the trumpet, and flute- the psaltery, and dulcimer, start in to ‘toot’-

Bow down and worship this beautiful statue and don’t run away-or someone will catch you!

“This is real serious, this is no play! This is a law that you HAVE to obey! Just look at that furnace roaring with heat waiting for those who think they can cheat!”

There were THREE Hebrew boys, I’m sure you all know.......Shadrach....and Meshach....and Abednego! They remembered God’s Words to  Moses of old; “Ye shall not make gods of silver or gold, nor worship nor serve them, nor bow down the knee, for thou shalt have no other gods before me!……………………….

Anyway, during this time, I also called Mother’s Agent and she told to start a blog just in case this dream came to some happy ending. Blogging……I didn’t even know what it was.  My son was kind enough to show me how it works and off I went into the world of internet messaging.  I dutifully complied with writing one post a week for almost a year, using Melissa Comes Home chapters, at first.  

Then, I took the plunge and I began writing my own pieces.  Writing is so very new to me, but I enjoyed it.  It’s like sending out a special message in words to someone and you don’t know who it is. You  wonder about the quality of what you put out ‘there’ in the first place and question why you are doing it. Sometimes, it seems like a regiment with no purpose. 

 But then, I remind myself again of the reason I am doing the blogging….a twofold reason:  to keep Mom’s picture book dream alive in the event the books ever were to be publish, and to share a testimony to the faithfulness of God in my life!

But no blogging magic has happened in all this time. No dreams fulfilled. Little feedback.  And the publisher, that was looking at possibly republishing I See Four and Two by Two, seems  no longer very interested for taking on the project any time real soon. Plus, there has been no positive developments from my Agent that would encourage this dream to continue. Purpose Number One seems to have all closed doors. 

Should I be a “Dream Catcher “ or not?  

That leaves Purpose Number Two….”giving testimony to God’s faithfulness.” Surely, I could do that!

But is this blogging effort really “God’s” will, or simply “my” will?

Perhaps, you would take the time to tell me what you think. 

Is blogging a worthwhile pastime? Should I continue to make an effort to keep Mom’s dream going? 

At this crossroads, your opinion will be valued.  Leave me a comment so I know how to proceed.  Thanks so much for visiting this site as much as you have in the past.

The Calico Heart

• Here is a short story ,Mom and I wrote during vacation, one hot day on Lake Winnipesaukee a few years ago.  The proposed picture book was based on Diane’s son’s experience with the fears of his first day of school.  Diane also used this idea many times in her first grade classes when she had a little one upset about leaving his/her  mom.  Magical! It works!

The Calico Heart

By Diane Krentel Hodge and Mildred Krentel

                         

Benji stared at his alarm clock waiting for the buzzer to go off. The first day of school!  His new clothes lay ready on the chair next to his spiffy light-up sneakers.  He made a mental checklist …..pencils, scissors, crayons, rulers and his new shining lunchbox!  All ready!  But slowly a great big frown crept across his face.

Benji inched out of bed, one leg at a time, and slowly dressed for school.  He lumbered down each stair towards the warm kitchen where Mother, in her soft fuzzy bathrobe, bustled around in preparation for the big day! 

Mother leaned over to give him his regular "good morning" hug.  Benji held on a little longer than usual.

He climbed up at the kitchen table, and began poking at the chunks of banana floating in a milky pool around his cereal.  Mother busily spread huge globs of mayo on his baloney sandwich and carefully wrapped it in foil. 

Resting his head on his hand, Benji thought about the school bus ride and meeting his new classmates and teacher.  The more he thought, the more he wanted to stay right where he was. At home, with Mom!

"Benji, the school bus will be here soon." Mother's voice was cheery and upbeat.

"Finish your cereal. Lunch time will be a long time from now."  

"I'm not hungry, Mom “  Benji looked as scared as a forlorn puppy. " I - - I have a stomachache. I don't want to go to school."  

Mother moved closer to Benji and said. "Honey, you know what?  I remember my first day of school and I felt the same way you do. “Oh....as a matter of fact, I almost forgot about something that you really could use today! .You wait right here!" 

Benji didn’t move an inch.

Mother walked over to her sewing box and rummaged around until she found some red calico cloth and her funny scissors with the zigzag teeth. Then she carefully cut around the material, making the shape of a little heart. Grabbing a shiny safety pin, she hurried over to Benji who was watching her with a quizzical look.  

Stooping down beside him, she said, "Now, Benji, this is a very special calico heart. It's works like magic. You can wear it right on top of your new shirt, near your own heart. Whenever you feel afraid, put your hand over it, and as quick as a wink, it will help you feel brave! You know something? My mother made me a calico heart for my first day of school and whenever I touched it, I thought of her and didn’t feel so afraid.”

Benji's eyes were round as full moons. 

Talking really fast now, Mother took the little calico heart and the tiny gold safety pin and fastened it to his shirt, right on the front pocket. Benji smiled for the first time all morning. 

Then Mom helped Benji slip on his heavy backpack.

Out the front door and down the steps, Benji made his way to the street corner where he joined the kids waiting for the big yellow school bus. A huge lump caught in his throat as the bus snorted loudly to a stop. 

As the big doors squeaked open, Benji felt his right hand creep up his shirt, landing right on top of the calico heart. The giant steps loomed in front of him but Benji kept his hand firmly over the little calico heart.  One stair, two stairs, three stairs…his little legs stretched and climbed up each one.  All the way to the top! 

Benji smiled and looked for a seat near the front by the bus driver. 

 "Why! It’s magic!" Benji thought, "My calico heart makes me feel I can do it!" 

Straining to see Mother who stood waving on the front porch of his house, Benji hoped she would know the calico heart was beginning to work. He felt happy all the way down to his new sneakers.

The  bumpy bus ride was soon over and Benji arrived at his new school.  All the teachers were waiting outside waving big bright balloons, marking the place each class was to meet.. “ I can do this”, he reminded himself bravely.

And do you know? All day long, as easy as one, two, three…. whenever he missed Mom or thought he couldn’t do something, his hand would race up and cover the little calico heart.  Quick as a wink, he felt that magical “can do” feeling. And, all by himself, Benji was able to find his shiny new desk and cubby, sit with a brand new friend at morning Story Time, share his vacation picture at Show and Tell Time, and even open up his shiny new thermos! His brave little calico heart worked all day, just like magic!

Before Benji knew it, the after school bell rang loudly.  Time to go home. As he carefully gathered his papers and put on his backpack for the ride home, he had a surprising idea.

“I’m beginning to think that I don’t need the little calico heart quite as much anymore!  How magical is that?”  he thought.

Benji quickly grabbed his coat in the cubby and practically skipped down the hall to line up for his bus ride home.

Soon the big yellow bus screeched to a long stop.  Benji jumped down each big step.  He skipped along the walk in front of his home and leaped over the porch stairs and ran right into the kitchen!  

Mom was sitting at the table looking ever so happy to see him. 

 "Guess what, Mom? You were right! I had such a brave day!  Every time I missed you or was afraid, the calico heart worked. Like magic!” Benji blurted out. 

Mother listened closely as he chatted on and on about each detail of the day. The words just tumbled out of his mouth!  But Benji stopped talking when he noticed a small tear rolling down Mother’s rosy cheek.

He climbed up on her lap and slowly wiped the tear away with his chubby hand. "Why Mom, what ever is the matter?"  

"Well you see Benji, after you left, I walked all around the empty house. It was oh-so quiet.  All day there were no sounds of you playing, no endless chatter at lunchtime, no trips to the park.  I really missed you." 

Benji scratched his tousled hair and hesitated.  Then he reached down and slowly unfastened the little calico heart from his shirt. Carefully, he pinned it right on to Mother's apron. 

"Here, Mom I don't need this anymore. I think this might help you now," he said, throwing his arms around her. 

The wrinkled calico heart had a new home.  Mother's face lit up with a warm smile. 

"Calico hearts work even for big people!" Benji said as he touched the little calico heart. 

The End

"Angels 'Watchin' Over Me!" by Diane Krentel Hodge

Crime always happens to somebody else, not you. That's usually what everyone thinks way down deep. But of course, this is not always the case. It was July 7th, outside of Phillie, in a little town called Jeffersonville. The Hodge household was getting ready for a good night's sleep.  Brian, Steve and Benji were already fast asleep and Ron and I were closing up things for the night.  Afterwards, we jumped in bed and marveled how we didn't even need the window unit air conditioner this night. It was the only one in the house and we usually closed our door to keep at least one bedroom cool.  The kids could bring in their sleeping bags, if they couldn't sleep with only a fan in their rooms.  Not using this AC was highly unusual for the normal uncomfortable-humid July night.

As we settled down, Ron jumped up to put the floor fan on instead, as Hodges are used to sleeping with a gentle “purrrr" going on somewhere in the room.  And a few minutes later, for some reason, the fan started making this rattling-noise,  so Ron got up once more and turned it off!  No air conditioner or fan to lull him to sleep!  Finally, we settled ourselves with just the windows open and the gentle breeze flowing in.  Everything was still.

Sleep finally came and was much needed after a busy day raising three active boys and a full day of work for Ron. Even so, around three AM I awoke with a start! My heart was racing. I had had a horrible dream! So horrific, it made me sit right up, wide-eyed, in bed.  I dreamt that Ron had some sort of disease that was terminal. My adrenaline was running in full-gear and my heart beat double-quick.  After a minute or so, slowly coming to my senses, I calmed down, laid down and reached over to kiss a sleeping Ron.  I quickly thanked the Lord that this was only a bad nightmare, nothing more. I pulled at our comforter, arranging it carefully over us,  as it was a little cool by time. For some reason, I did not go into each of the boys’ room to make sure they were covered well as this was a nightly routine for me, but not tonight. 

I laid there waiting for my heart to calm itself, when I heard the slightest creak in the floor down the hallway near the boys rooms.  Now usually,  there is one of the kids waking up trying to find the bathroom in the middle of each night. My routine was to ask who was up to make sure they were awake enough to find the bathroom. So I yawned and called out, “Okay, who's

up? “ Usually the boys would say, ‘It’s just me, Mom.  I’m awake.’  But this time there was no response. Normally,  I would have jumped up and help them find the bathroom if there was no response. But not tonight. 

Then I heard the creak again.  I was beginning to get a little irritated now and called out with a teacher’s voice this time, “Who's up?” Still no response. Still I did not get up.

 I thought to myself that this bad dream must have rattled me so that I was imagining things. Then I heard a “thump, thump, thump” of something moving down our long set of stairs in a rather big hurry.  They were heavy steps with the sound of change rattling in a pocket.  Immediately, I thought to myself....what is Brian doing with change in his jammie's? Then it slowly dawned on me that the thumps were made by someone a lot heavier than Brian.  It takes a couple of seconds to realize that someone of that size was upstairs walking around in your bedrooms!  At this point of realization, I went into “command-mode” and jumped over Ron's sleeping body and ran to the front window wondering if in my fear,  my scream would come out. Briefly,  I considered what happens if this is nothing more than my imagination. I will be so embarrassed tomorrow.  Regardless, out came the largest cry of help you have ever heard.  

And to this day I can’t believe what was sitting at the bottom of our short driveway! A police car with the interior lights on so I could see the policeman! Amazing! How could that be?  The Lord knew I probably wouldn't have been able to dial 911 anyway, as I was so shook up.  

The next minute was played out in slow motion in my mind, but really happened quite quickly.  Ron was fully awake by now,  but I was literally holding him back from going downstairs.  I begged him to stay upstairs until the police officer was at the door as I surmised whoever was downstairs was quite heavy, so must be very big. Ron would be in danger then.  I also began to check on the boys and everyone was still sleeping, except Benji, as he heard me scream. I gathered him in my arms.

Within seconds there were loud knocks on the front door.  At this time, Ron made his way downstairs to let the police in! I stayed upstairs with the boys walking around in a weird stunned- daze.  I couldn’t comprehend that the inner sanctity of our home was intruded upon! You hear of people breaking in to steal, but not so much about robbers coming upstairs. All this was running through my head with unbelief, as I was listening to Ron and the policeman thoroughly  searching downstairs and through the  garage. 

After about ten minutes, I heard them talking more calmly and I realized the “coast must be clear,” so I came down the stairs gingerly.  Presently, more policeman came in and started to look again just in case they missed something. All to no avail. I just stood there with Benji in my arms watching, stunned.  Brian and Steve still slept through all the commotion. 

The policemen then went outside for a detailed hunt through the neighborhood.  They observed how the intruder had stolen two benches from our neighbors lawn furniture, and stacked them haphazardly on top of each other and crawled into our dining room window, which we had inadvertently left open. My purse sat there on the dining room table like a proud hen….. untouched.

Soon the police said they had looked everywhere possible and that they were leaving the neighborhood and would send someone over for fingerprinting soon. We were advised to just go back to sleep for it was still dark.  RIGHT!  My eyes were as wide as an owl’s by now and I was “on-duty!”, full alert. Ron put his arms around me and promptly went right back to sleep! Men!

An hour or so later, the sun started to come up and I heard the police cars coming back. I went downstairs to let them in and Ron followed me, sleepily.  They announced proudly that they had captured the intruder!!  My heart lightened, I was so relieved to put it plainly.  Come to find out, they had left one policeman hiding in the bushes after appearing to leave the neighborhood. He was watching for the intruder to come out of the woods near our house.  And that is just what happened! The intruder, it seemed had drugs on him and was high when he was caught.  As I listened to all the details, I busied myself scrambling up some eggs and bacon for the policemen, as we all stood around talking.  I asked innocently, “ But, Officer, why didn’t this man take my purse sitting right there on the table?”  

They paused and said, “ Mrs. Hodge, we didn’t want to alarm you but this intruder is not that kind of burglar.  His intent was to hurt someone sexually.” I froze.  They continued, “We have staked out  this man’s apartment over and over again, for years now, trying to catch him after one of his trysts. He does his dastardly deed right after he turns on all the lights on the first floor of wherever he goes. All your lights were on too. It is kind of his identifying mark.  He probably was looking for a girl’s bedroom when you heard him. “ 

Then, it slowly dawned on me….our guardian angel, the Lord was with us in a very real way this July evening.  The Lord must of allowed me to have a bad dream, so I would wake up…  No air-conditioner or fan rattling…..so I could hear…….….Not getting up to cover up the boys….. all so I wouldn’t run into the intruder in the hallway alone.  And a police car sitting right there at the end of our driveway!  These were not mere consciences, these were the hand of the Lord protecting our family.  

Do we ever think that we have the promise of Him watching over us?  Or do we rest on the fact that we live in a good neighborhood, or have good locks and double bolts, or a guard dog, or better yet, a home security system. We may not be spared going through some of the worse that life can send our way, but God can give us the power to face it. Since this day, I marvel on God’s protection and how God can keep us from terrible situations such as this. 

Later in the day, I took a walk around the block with the kids to the cul-de-sac right behind our house.  A neighbor, who I never had formerly met,  came out of his house to meet me as the whole neighborhood had heard about it by noon.  He said, “Mrs. Hodge, I have to tell you this.  Once a night, I usually have to get up to use the facilities and I usually do my business and hurry back to bed.  But last night, for some reason, I looked out the window and there was a van parked in the street.  I watched as a man in a full dressed suit got out of the van and walked behind the house, across the street, straight towards your house.  I thought to myself, he has a hot date or he is up to no good; so I decided to call the police. I didn’t have a good feeling. I never have called the police before, but something prompted me to pick up the phone.” Another evidence of our guardian angel, protecting us! Thank you, Lord.

From that moment on, anyone who stopped and talked with us heard the story from me how God was guarding us this night. Just think of all the factors that the Lord engineered to keep us from this evil.  

Yes, in this imperfect, sinful world, men like these sow their terrible criminal deeds, ruining their victims for a lifetime. As a result of this man being caught that evening, a new mug shot was taken and the young victims,  were able to identify him clearly now.   Fingerprints were collected and matched and he was sent to prison for 13 years.  But alas sadly,  this man has already finished serving his 13 years for harming over 15+ young girls and young adults. He is once again living  back in society.  

But I am here to testify, no matter what the danger….If you make the LORD your refuge, If you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home, For He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.  They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. ……….Psalm 91 

For the angel of the LORD is a guard. He surrounds and defends all who fear Him.  Psalm 34

I didn’t run out and buy a huge dog or even have a security system put in…… like I honestly was considering when it first happened.  I just focused on the facts of the night. There are no consciences with Him.  Each occurrence that happened this night was a “God-thing!” I am convinced! 

 Praise be to God!