MOLLIE APPRECIATION DAY

Four years ago today this little cutie made her entrance into this world!  I remember holding her tiny body and weeping at the wonder and miracle of Mollie Caroline!

This is my favorite picture of her because it captures her spirit!  She is happy, quick,
funny, and simply delightful. She talks all the time, plays hard, and befriends everyone she meets.  She mesmerizes everyone in her family.   It was HER idea to ride her Shamu in her little blow-up backyard swimming pool.  She was certain she was in the wildest part of the Pacific Ocean as she and her buddy did "whale tricks" just like they do at Sea World.
There is no doubt in my mind that she will grab life and happily hang on for the ride.
It's going to be so fun to watch her tackle her dreams.

We're celebrating Mollie today....declaring this the first annual " Mollie Appreciation Day!"  I'm sending her 1000 hugs and this message, "I love you to the moon and back."

MOVIN' ON UP

You can't ALWAYS find what you want on the Internet OR at the local shops.   Last week I went hunting for a birdhouse, three actually.  It was time to update the "neighborhood" at our back fence.

After driving for miles, checking every conceivable bird-lovers haunt in Tulsa and the surrounding area I turned to the Internet.  There are plenty to choose from there!  But who in their right mind pays $50 - $750  (plus shipping) for such a dwelling?  No one in this household!

Saturday I showed Honeybuns my ideas for new construction for our feathered friends and he promptly announced he could MAKE THEM!  Yippee!  We were off to Lowe's, our favorite weekend  hang-out!

After two  sunny afternoons of measuring, sawing, painting and fitting the pieces together we have finished the project!  What fun! 

It was a happening!  Neighbors heard the saw buzz and stopped by to see what was going on.  A couple of teen-gers selling something to get themselves on a trip this summer came by and took a look.  They were very impressed!   Joggers and walkers of all shapes and sizes were also curious.  Who knew that a silly little project could create such a stir?

And I'm please to announce that unit #2 and  unit #3 are already occupied!  The bright colors didn't frighten the birds at all.  Are birds color-blind?  One visitor asked if we were trying to attract the  Latino variety?  Or maybe those from South Miami?  Bermuda  builders favor those colors too, I'm told!  I've seen people-houses painted like these in Charleston, S.C. so maybe we'll soon have visitors flying in from that lovely place.

We pride ourselves in being a very interracial, interdenominational, inter-cultural, and inter-chromosomal neighborhood.  Diversity is the spice of life! 

And it's ALWAYS  rewarding to create something (even if it's a bird-house) from an idea!  It's a brief but healthy escape from earthquakes, tsunamis', budgets and wars! 

Perhaps when Honeybuns gets tired of keeping airplanes in the air, he'll turn his talent to CONSTRUCTION and make some birdhouses that will not require applications to Fanny Mae and Fredie Mac!  He'll take orders! 

CHESS ANYONE????

Let's call this BEFORE and AFTER!  Hays loves snowboarding and has been on a team now for several months.  After moving from Branson, MO to Durango, CO and living there just two winters, he's done remarkably well.  He's spent a month of Saturdays and Sundays on the mountain practicing this sport!   He has dreams of following in Shawn White's tracks!

I love it that he's brave and energetic.  I love it that his parents give him the world and all that's in it. I love it that he craves fresh powder and speed!  I love it that he's ALL BOY!

I dont' love the fact that this past Saturday he received the "crash of the year" award.  His jump started off beautifully.  He'd been over those slopes many, many times.  But during this first competition something horrible went wrong.  The nose of his board dipped at the wrong time and he became the new poster boy for the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."  The video is too painful for this BeBe to watch. 

He jumped into the air, twisted end over end and landed on his right side, HARD! Seeing him laying still in the snow was a heart-stopping experience.  Hearing the by-standers shout, "Hays is down, Hays is down!" nearly did me in.

After hours in the ER it was discovered that he now has 6 broken ribs, a broken collar bone and a vertebrae in his back. 

He's smiling in this picture because  he'd  just been given  several potent modern pain killing drugs. 

(I wish those broken bones were mine INSTEAD of his!! Don't we always wish our children's pain could be transferred to us. )

The Dr. said that his helmet saved his life!

He's healing slowly and he's learning to deal with the pain.  He's ready to go back to school, but his body isn't. His snowboarding season is over for now, but there is no doubt that he'll be back at it next fall. He hears that call to the slopes deep in his soul and he'll answer.

I'm going to try to talk him into CHESS!

JAPANESE PEOPLE

I am continually stunned but not surprised by the amount of order, patience and civility exhibited by the Japanese people right now.  Some have lost their homes, jobs, friends and  often family members and yet they weep silently.  Hundreds quietly stand in line waiting for water and food. There is no pushing, wailing, name-calling, or blame placing witnessed. There are no riots in the streets and looting has yet to be seen. Isn't it just amazing?

Before this horrific tragedy occurred their culture was remarkable in this way as well.  Riding their trains, elevators, or airplanes was always a  pleasant experience for us.  Everything they do is orderly. No Japanese would even consider allowing a cell phone to ring, let alone answer it in a crowd.  They never raise their voices in anger, swear or offer obscene gestures while navigating life publicly.  Politeness and patience seem to be in their genes. Their manners are impeccable. Now, their commitment to respect seems to rise to the surface even in their confusion and grief.

I'm so sad for that beautiful land and it's people.  It will take years to recover if they ever do!

We've heard from our friends there and they are fine.  They live in Tokyo and were not in the path of destruction last week.  We are so glad for that news. 

When we asked what they needed the most, their reply was "patience."  If anyone on the planet knows the beauty of that characteristic it is the Japanese people.

I'm wondering if I would react with such poise and strength.  All that devastation puts the petty annoyances of my life into perspective.  Maybe I'll think twice before throwing a hissy fit today!

BOB BARKER - COWBOY UP!

This is Bob Barker!  I know, he looks nothing like the guy we watched on The Price is Right all those years!  BUT...there IS a connection between the two.

Andy received this spring horse for Christmas in 1977 from his Grandma Braner.  We were visiting the Illinois relatives for the holidays and he promptly named his new pal, Bob Barker.  (Could it be we were watching way too much television at the time?) 

We were living in Augusta, Georgia then so we loaded up this humongous/space hogging toy and carried him home to live with us temporarily.  We were sure that like any toy,  the interest would wane and he'd be living with some other deserving child in a year or so.

NOT SO!  If you can imagine, THIS has become a family heirloom of sorts.  Andy rode off into many sunsets on Bob Barker, dressed in cowboy boots,  a 10 gallon hat and  a diaper.  When he out grew his trusty steed, Philip saddled up.  Bob Barker trotted right along when we moved back to Illinois.

The boys grew and we moved to Arkansas a few years later.  We boarded Bob at Grandma Braners attic and there he collected a little dust for a few years.  As her Illinois great grandchildren came along he was pulled out of the attic, washed down and a new generation rode for miles.

We moved again and Barker continued to enjoy his life in his Illinois "pasture."  Our boys were grown and in college and had no need of a spring horse.

After we moved to Dallas and  our own grandchildren started arriving we decided that he should once again be welcomed back into our barn. We coaxed him away from the Illinois cousins and once again fashioned a stable for him in a room designed for the grand children's visits.

We have pictures!   Hays, Maggie, Dax, Tiki, Gabby, Gracie, Mollie, and now Thompson have all heard the words "cowboy up." Each one learned to ride at about 18 months. Sometime next year a new baby girl will also feel the thrill of bouncing along the imaginary prairie. Counting the two little Illinois girl cousins, this horse has been ridden by 12 toddlers in his lifetime.  How many horses have such history??

Today he even has a stable mate, Belle, a much larger stuffed filly that loves to race him around the track.  They get along great! The two of them have  even competed at the "Kentucky Derby" ridden by tiny Braner jockeys.  It's a photo finish every time.  Little eyes dance as they circle around the imaginary track in my kitchen.

I'm thinking that the real "Price is Right" Bob Barker should hear this story.  It would surely give him a smile!   These two "Barkers" may not resemble each other, but both instigated much joy in the past 34 years!

WHAT A GOOD TIME!

THIS is Cousin Gertie! She was just one of many delightful characters that attended a women's retreat at Camp Paron, AR this past weekend. I believe Gertie lives in Hot Springs Village, AR but she may have been just  visiting from parts unknown.  Yes, I did get her permission to post this picture.

Gertie delighted the audience with stories of life with Carmichael, her husband, and words of wisdom that come  from astute discernment and observations.  I'd like to share a few stories here but as they say,  "what happens at Paron, STAYS at Paron."  I'll just sum it up by saying, she has the therapeutic value of Dr. Phil!  I doubt she realizes the future she could have in, say, ...Hollywood!

Gertie and her pals, Trixie and Dixie, Grace, Rosa and Dr. Essie Belle filled the meetings with laughter and realism.  (Church women take themselves waaaaayyy too seriously most of the time.)

There were plenty of serious moments, for sure, but as Julie Andrews has sung,  "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."

I had the best time, ever.  Those women know how to put it together.  Their organizational skills, creativity, joy, and friendliness were  contagious.  I was there to "inspire" them!  What a joke!  Watching them work and interact together was the inspiration.

Most everyone in the group was over 50,  a few young daughters were fortunate enough to have been invited by their mothers! 

I came home wondering how I could help connect the love, WISDOM, patience, joy, WISDOM, tolerance, experience,  & WISDOM these retired professional women possess with the "youngsters" of our world that are struggling to find their way.

Maybe a high school right smack dab in the middle of a retirement community, a kindergarten in a nursing home, or a middle school within a Veterans Home would force generations together.  It would be a win-win for the kids, for sure! Honeybuns thinks a technical school to teach young boys could be staffed by retired men, volunteering 3 mornings a week would work.  (I see him donating time training future airplane mechanics one day.)  He's confidant that older, experienced, educated folks NEED to be needed, and that need is greater than the call of the golf course or bridge table.  Being useful and appreciated cannot compete with a game score.

Perhaps there are programs like that already up and running!  If so, they don't get much press.

I DO know that Cousin Gertie, and her buddies, have a lot to offer.   I am thankful I was on the receiving end for a couple of days!




 

NEW CRIME SCENE

A couple of days ago I got the strangest e-mail.   It was from a sweet friend and the tone of urgency sent my heart into a flutter. 

The message stated that she had taken a trip to London (she's been known to do that!) and while there her purse was stolen along with all her money, credit cards, identification, etc.  She was receiving some help from the American Embassy but in order to come home she needed cash immediately.  There were phone numbers included where she could be reached and the name of the hotel where she was staying.

My mind began whirling as I set plans in motion to get help to her ASAP!     I would go to the bank, withdraw funds and wire the money to her.  I had visions of myself being in a foreign county in such a predicament and the panic I would feel.  My "kick-it-in-gear and do-something-quick" personality trait surfaced.

Instead of calling her London hotel, I decided to try her cell phone.  I had no hope that it would be answered, it was probably in the stolen purse, right?

On the third ring she calmly answered.  She was NOT in London at all but in her apartment in Dallas, right where she was supposed to be!!    It was all a scam!

Evidently a virus on her computer caused the ruckus and everybody in her address book got that same e-mail requesting money QUICK!

What a mess!  Her phone was ringing non-stop and she had to explain over and over again the truth of the situation.  Hopefully NO ONE called the London hotel, received directions and sent the money.

I'm sure the hackers had a plan to trick whoever might make that call!  I wondered how often they'd succeeded in their plot and how much money they'd received.   The plan must work or they wouldn't bother with it at all!

SO....I started thinking about recent cyber crimes in my world. 

A few months ago we got a call from a credit card company asking if we'd been to New Orleans recently.  Someone there had used my bank card, complete with secret pin number, to send a donation to a well-known news agency in IRAQ!  Nope, didn't know a thing about it.

Not long after that we started getting unexplained "gifts" delivered to the front door via UPS.  One beautiful coffee maker arrived, but since we don't even drink coffee it was suspicious!   Following up with that and a recent credit card statement we learned that someone in San Francisco was using my Visa card to purchase all sorts of things.  How those things got sent to OK is still a mystery!

Then there is the horror of identity theft!  We have not experienced that yet...may just be a matter of time.  But I have a friend that spent years trying to regain her reputation, credit standing and personal peace.

Also, a while back Honeybuns got a call from his company's bank asking why his signature was on a sizable withdrawal from the company account. Sure enough his "John Hancock" and that of the company's bookkeeper had authorized the transaction. Only problem there was that they had NO knowledge of this deal. There is no explanation as to how the crooks obtained those signatures.  The bank was very gracious and replied, "it happens all the time."

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!  WOW....rather than a abnormality, we have entered into a new era where cyber crime is really very common.   How the authorities police that action is beyond my pay scale!

So what's our options?  I don't see our society entering some sort of time machine and erasing all this super duper technology....and frankly I wouldn't want that to happen anyway.  I LOVE my iphone, my computer and all the "instant" freedom those things bring to my life.  My sons will text me back in a micro-second but never answer their land line.  Go figure!  (That is SO foreign to baby boomers!) I can send pictures, check the temperature in 10 different cities, verify my location, actually SEE the houses and streets of people I know, play games, listen to music, send out invites to a party, watch world news instantly as it unfolds,  tune into movies or old TV shows,  on and on...the options are never ending.

I love my credit cards too! And the fun and ease of shopping online! Every store, every designer, every quirky item ever invented can be viewed.  I can buy gifts, necessities and lots of non-essentials in the middle of the night in my jammies.  How cool is that?  Amazon.com has my number!  I can research anything known to man with just two clicks and have answers to my medical questions in  the time it takes to say MD!  And don't get me started about Facebook....I love that, too!  I've reconnected with friends of long ago and  am able to communicate all sorts of happenings and news with new buddies as well. And I can see their faces, their cute kids and enter into their world if they allow it.

Nope, I'm not fighting this new life we've been awarded by Bill Gates and all his geeks.  I embrace it.

I think there is going to be crime as long as there are people on the planet.  There are folks that are driven to spend all their time and energy devising illegal plots for illegal gain.  Nothing new under the sun!  Just a new venue, CYBERSPACE!  WOW, those hackers must be really smart to figure it out! (Really! How many people  KNOW where Cyberspace is?!) You 've got to admire the intellect!

OSCAR PARTY

Our Academy Award Oscar party consisted of just one attendee, ME!  ( Honeybuns could have cared less about it and Thompson was snoozing in his crib.)

We never watch that thing.  It always centers around people we've never heard of and movies we've never seen.  BUT..this year we did get out to the big screen to see "The King's Speech" and I was hoping it would win.  Therefore I held my own little party!  I sat through it from the beginning, pretty much in awe of the dresses and the perfect bodies that were wearing them.   (Some of those gals are so very beautiful until they open their mouths and try to utter a comprehensive sentence!) The designers were acknowledged and should have won some awards for all those beads, trains, sequins and silk.  I too wore my favorite gown as I partied....nightgown that is!

I enjoyed the men, too.  Jeff Bridges should have won something for "True Grit."  Second-place maybe?
My choice of the favorite 10 movies nominated WON!   It actually won best director, best actor and best picture.  What a night for a movie that had no car chase scene, no building's blown up, no aliens appearing, and no "ripping the bodice" sex scene.  For all of those reasons, it should not have even been nominated.

For all of those reasons I know folks that won't even go see it, too boring you know!

I loved the history behind the story, the devotion of the queen, the tenacity of the King who persevered and conquered his speech impediment.  It was an inspiring story.

THEN, tonight when the director was giving his "thank you, everyone" speech he acknowledged his mother.  It seems it was his mother that gave him the idea to make a movie of this true story.  She sat in the audience so proud and so beautiful.  That was almost as rewarding as picking the winner!

Closing the ceremony was a children's choir from Brooklyn, NY, singing "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow."  That was the icing on the cake.  Those fresh, young beautiful children were the stars of the whole event for me.

The night was full of inspiration, beauty, lovely children and a proud mother!

It was a great party.  I'm glad I came!

STOP, LOOK & LIVE

Nothing screams STOP louder than the news of the death of a friend. Normal life just stops immediately, the world ceases to spin for a brief moment.

We came to a screeching halt this past week for a few days.
Hundreds of other folks did as well.  Schedules were trashed, cars and airplanes were gassed up, and black clothing was pulled out of closets as preparations were made.   Quick phone calls to florists and hotels finalized the details.  Friends and family members from all over America and a few co-workers from Japan descended upon San Angelo, Texas. We drove 8 hours across that vast emptiness of west Texas to get there.

Our friend and business associate, Tom, lost his fierce but short battle with cancer.  His diagnosis came just last July while he was in Europe getting ready for a river cruise with his siblings, nieces and nephews.  He became ill and flew home as the rest of his family boarded the boat for another one of those famous  vacations he'd orchestrated and so enjoyed.  He'd never married so all of his attention was focused on his family of origin and his family of friends.  He lived to spoil the people he loved.  The joy of his life was so see another person smile.

The church was filled with faces and flowers. 

Last Wednesday night after the rosary was read the family allotted time for folks to tell stories and share memories.   There were many! 

Each person that spoke revealed a personal tale of adventure, laughter, generosity and fun.  Soon it became apparent that each one felt that they alone had been treated extra special, that they alone were Tom's best friend.  The room was filled with best friends.  Everyone there had felt that designation by Tom's individual  sensitivity and care.  His influence was wide as folks from all ages shared laughter and tears.

My favorite story was of the time Tom's brother came to visit him at his lakeside home in San Angelo.  Morning came and the mailman pulled up to the house.  The brother watched as this government worker silently walked right through the front door into the kitchen promptly opened Tom's fridge, took out lunch and sat down at the kitchen table to eat.  The brother was a little stunned but then realized that this man too, was another "best friend."  He was welcome anytime to come in, eat whatever Tom had available and rest a spell.

Other residents of San Angelo turned out for this funeral as well. A young priest shared how he'd sought Tom's advice many times as he struggled with  parish decisions.  Others told stories of how  they'd faced a major challenge in their life or sometimes simply the frustrations of daily life and Tom had come to their rescue.  Many times he'd arranged to fly sick folks or heart-sick relatives to nearby towns for medical care,  planned surprise parties for local friends,  or hauled a group of teen-agers into the woods for a night of "roughing it" complete with two inch steaks for their grill. (They'd expected cold hot dogs and beans.)  His motto was, "don't suffer unless you have to." The kids of that church loved him.

Because he knew his time on this earth was coming to an end, he truly got his house in order.  He planned every necessary detail of his funeral, including a huge party at his home following his burial.  He'd ordered a caterer to supply only the finest food, told the funeral home to distribute flowers to local nursing homes,  and listed instructions to cover all his material possessions.  He left his Dallas business to his employees with directions as to how to run it. 

Yes, death screams STOP and remember.  I'm thinking Tom's legacy screams  STOP, TAKE A LOOK AROUND and LIVE LIFE to the max, giving generously to all along the way.

VALENTINES DAY THOUGHTS

Valentines Day is upon us and we're ready.  Got the cards (yes, two each, one funny and one serious) flowers are screaming beauty on the coffee table and I'll make a red velvet cake tomorrow!  We've observed so many of these days, we've got it down to a comfortable science.

These are the days when couples line up to be interviewed on the talk show with advice as to "how they kept love alive," or "tips for newlyweds, " or "whats' the secret for a lasting marraige."  Stuff like that!

Those panels are fun to watch and the magazine articles are fun to read if you haven't got anything else to do.  But, I propose that nobody knows the answers to those questions anyway.

Each couple is so unique, what works for one pair most certainly won't work for another.

SO, how would I answer? What advice would I give?  I have NO idea.

Honeybuns and I have repeated our vows of love for one another for over 40 years.  We'll celebrate our 40th wedding anniversay this next October.  (Odd, since I don't even feel forty years old, mentally that is.)

What has kept the flame alive?  Who knows? 

We've been to all the marriage seminars, conferences and magic weekends and have since vowed to NEVER attend any of those again.  We always ended up fighting over the principles that the expert told us we should be discussing.  We never made any changes they suggested, never followed their lists of do's and don'ts, never took away any nuggets of truth that changed our lives.   Sounds like a stubborn pair, doesn' t it?

For us, enduring love grew and matured over time. It appeared shortly after lust wore thin and has developed into something of substance.  It seems it was birthed during difficult days, child rearing,  problems, job changes, moves,  financial pressures, grief and worry.  It showed it's face as we held tightly to one another and refused to let go when letting go would have been easier and more pleasant.  Throwing up our hands in frustration and giving up was the advice we often heard but never let it penetrate our thinking.
 D-I-V-O-R-C-E was just not an option.   (I'm sure we both allowed the word to flit briefly through our brains at one time or another, right after the word murder! )  Often laughter put everything in it's proper perspective and avoided police calls and bail bondsmen.

Our world says that personal happiness is the goal to be pursued at all costs.  That's too bad, because sometimes personal euphoria must be put aside for the benefit of the other half.  BUT...the result of temporary sacrifice is blessed unity.  It truly is more blessed to give than receive.

I am always sad to hear of young couples that divorce after a year or two of marriage.  They never really got to know one another.  Knowing takes a long time. Enduring love grows with time.

Time is absolutely critical to have shared experiences, secret jokes, and sweet memories. It takes time to learn that the one wronged is the only one that can forgive and repair a rift.  It takes time to be able to read the other's face, to know the meaning of a "look" across a room. It takes time to truly understand the other's goals and desires.

The love of a long time sweetie is far sweeter, and deeper and amazing than young lust.

Don't ever feel sad for the old couple walking slowly down the street holding hands!  They've arrived and you can be sure it wasn't easy.  They're full of innumerable stories of love and laughter, comedy and tragedy, feast and famine, anger and forgiveness, gain and loss.  It's a picture of two people promising to do life together and then enjoying the beautiful results. 

What could be more rewarding than that?   We're there!  Happy Valentines Day, Honeybuns!

EPIC SNOWSTORM

It's over!  Finally!  The 100 yr blizzard of 2011 for the state of OK has come and by next week will be gone.

The whole ordeal started out with days of warnings.  It's coming....IT's Coming!.....IT'S COMING!  Get ready...IT'S COMING!!!    I don't know of 5 people that believed it.  Wow, we were ALL wrong.  Life went on as normal,  most of us with our heads in the sand.  While the meteorologists were shouting we took a road trip toward Texas and picked up Mollie and Gracie for a weekend visit with BeBe and Papa.  We'd return them to their mommy in a few days. 

 WELL,  IT sure enough got here.

The first blow was 14 inches of snow in one day.....the town shut down!  Schools closed, highways closed, and the cars and trucks that did attempt to  navigate  the roads  ended up in the ditches.   Fire trucks,  police cars and ambulances were themselves among the dented and upturned.  We sighed with relief because at least the power stayed on and we were warm and well lit!  Neighbors checked on neighbors, shared food, shovels and strong backs.

After a couple of days of peering out the window and watching the wind whip the beautiful white powder into all sorts of flowing drifts,  we ventured out the front door.   It was SO cold.  Mollie and Gracie bundled up and attempted to walk through the waist high magic.  It was impossible for their little legs to self-plow.

The recipe was all wrong for a snowman.  It was too dry, couldn't even form a snowball to get started. Our outdoor adventure lasted all of 3 1/2 minutes.

The next warning came.  There would be a "dusting" of snow,  nothing to be concerned about.  The weathermen pulled their heads out of the drifts when 4 more inches were added to the pile.  More closings,  more scooping, more layers, more wet boots, more games and little girl tea parties in the living room.

Having two little girls in the house was the saving element of this whole ordeal.  We pulled out all the stops, all the old games and all the new ones. I didn't realize how big this house actually was until we spent time playing hide and seek.  It was a small riot with squeals of delight each time Papa was found.  Gracie won the Wii bowling tournament,  but Mollie was the "chickenfoot" champ.  We made cookies and ate them, poured bubbles in the tub and covered little bodies with them. We relived the Kentucky derby again and again on two toy horses "racing" around the kitchen.  The magic tent was put up and served as a stable.  We played the piano  and the music boxes.  We learned the words to "Deep in the Heart of Texas."  We read umpteen "Berenstein Bear" books and followed those with the cartoon version on the TV.

A "roads are now passable" window of opportunity arrived on Sat. and Papa drove the girls back to their parents. They'd been with us a week and their mommy and daddy wanted them back.  We'd been given a very unexpected but very fun "BeBe Camp in Winter."  The house became way too quiet, way too fast, and I returned to my actual age, no longer pretending to be 4.

Next warning came.  Sunday night another front was going to move through. 

This time we would be ready.  Honeybums went to the nearby Walmart and there was not 1 loaf of bread, carton of milk, or an egg to be found.  EVERYONE was getting ready for FRENCH TOAST.  That seems to be the menu for snowbound folks. 

IT CAME AGAIN.  6 more inches  of snow at our house (25 inches at the town of Jay, northeast of us.)

The driveway, sidewalks and my dryer vent are snow packed again. The area schools have been closed for two weeks.  Our neighborhood still has not seen a snowplow.

(As of today, I've been in the house for 12 days,  minus one morning when I crawled to the dr. for a shot in the behinny, a breathing treatment and $300.00 for  medication.  Honeybuns brought a bug into the house he'd picked up on a business trip a couple of days before the blizzard hit.That's another story!)

A heat wave is coming, should be here by tomorrow.  70 degrees is forecasted for Monday.   We will have jumped from -12 to 70 in a week's time.  It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for this horrendous amount of white to melt.  I'm expecting a flood!

Once in every 100 years, so we'll probably not be around to witness this again.

BUT.....IF/WHEN  the weatherman starts shouting "IT'S COMING,"  I'll make sure there are some grandchildren in the house.  They are much more valuable in combating Cabin Fever than bread, milk, and eggs.  Who needs French Toast when you've got giggles?

TIKI'S BIRTHDAY

Tiki is SEVEN today, we think!   We're not sure birthdays are celebrated in Rwanda and there is no record so it's just a guesstimate. In fact, his  adoptive parents chose this day as the day to celebrate his arrival into the world because there is no record of his actual "birth" day.  02/03/04 will be his special day now the rest of his life.

We're all  VERY THANKFUL that THIS birthday is being celebrated in the US with his "new " family.

What did we do before BT?  (before Tiki)  He has added light and joy to the whole family.  His smile is genuine and huge. He is the happiest little boy I know.  He makes us stop and look at things with new eyes, things he's never seen or experienced before.
(At Thanksgiving I put "dressing" on his plate and he asked me, "What is dressing?"  "This! it's good, you'll like it."  Tiki, "Do you put it in a bear?"  How can you not love that?)

He amazes us with his ability to learn so quickly.  In just a little over a year he has mastered the English language complete with slang and difficult American nuances.  He knows that we have many words that have two meanings.

He is secure and brave. He is kind one minute and mischievous the next, we wouldn't have it any other way!

 He enjoys life to the MAX!  Whether it's his first time fishing or snowboarding, he dives in with both feet, fearless.

Adopted grandchildren are just as amazing as the kind that arrive the old fashioned way.  That tremendous feeling of drowning in love when you see a grandchild for the fist time is repeated when that grandchild is introduced from another country.   A grandparents love knows no boundaries when it comes to size, age, race, or origin of birth. 

I encourage folks my age to NEVER discourage their own children from adopting.  Sure, I've heard it said, "but, you never know what you're going to get."  And my answer is, "So?"    Every child that enters your life is a blessing beyond comprehension.  EVERY child is unique and wonderfully made.

And you may just get a TIKI!  What a prize!

I look forward to watching Tiki celebrate many more birthdays.  I can hardly wait to see what his interests will be as he grows and matures.   One thing I know, there will be no stopping him.   He will  run headlong into life and make us all smile, laugh, and recall how much we love him.

SAFE ON THURSDAY NIGHT

Tonight I had the rare experience of sitting with a group of teens and early 20 year olds  and witnessing  facts that up until now  I'd only read about. 

There were about 30 in the room, all strangers to me, but they knew each other.  There was pleasant bantering in the room and an underlying sense of respect for one another.  They were part of a group that meets every Thursday night at a local "club" for food and fun.

 A safe place for them to gather is provided through a local ministry.  It's located in a part of Tulsa that I rarely drive through. Most lived nearby.

The meeting room was clean, painted in bright colors and welcoming. Smells of good food cooking filled the air. The groups motto painted on the concrete wall assured everyone that entered that they were welcome and safe, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Safe is probably the most important word to describe the place and the atmosphere. Safety is what these particular young people long for and need.

The agenda for this meeting was to educate these young people about Human Trafficking.  As we went around the room and made introductions they confessed that they knew very little about the subject.  They listened respectfully as the presentation was made, the awful facts were flashed before them on the big screen. 

I watched their faces as they watched the screen.  And we ALL learned much.

I learned that the cold hard facts that lead to Human Trafficking were sitting right before me in bodily form.  The young people were brutally honest when asked very personal questions.

Yes, most had been sexually abused as young children, many had already dropped out of school, several had been raped repeatedly, they had come from violent homes, a handful had been homeless already in their young life.  They knew prostitutes personally and were pretty sure they'd seen Human Trafficking going on right in their own back yards. Alcohol, cigarettes,  and drugs are essential elements of their daily existence.  They didn't wince at the idea of having ever been shot at, but quietly just raised their hands as they remembered that horror. Not many lived with both biological parents.

I listened, respected,  and tried to look into their eyes.  Some looked down, all but 2-3 avoided contact. A few exuded the bravado of phony confidence, attempting but failing to mask their fears.  Some faces held that blank stare of emptiness. They seemed so young....and so old.  They are babies and they are broken.

They've experienced way too much for their years.  Life has already taught them more than I ever want to know.

They are prime targets for predators that promise love, money, and security only to deliver pain and loneliness. There is no doubt that several I met tonight will never live to see adulthood.  I wonder how many will be mourned by any family at all, and how long it will be before they are totally forgotten.

There's a name for these  kids: throwaways.   They are rejected, rebellious and alone, in dire need of tender care and professional counseling.

Thursday night is the highlight of their week.  For a few short hours they are accepted, warm,  and safe.

The depravity of man was on display,  personified in the eyes of young victims.

MY FRIEND LORETTA

My dear, sweet friend and almost constant companion  these days is named Loretta.  She's a relatively new addition to my list of loved ones having only  been with me now about 4 years, ever since we moved to Oklahoma.  She is faithful, strong, and could be classified as a "low maintenance" type of friend.   She's willing to go anywhere I want to go and is a great front-seat type of passenger. Her loyalty is astounding, her steady personality is a calming influence.

She reads maps fluently and guides me around Tulsa and every other road I choose to travel. We have traveled  together to Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, all over Oklahoma, and  Illinois.   Her voice is kind, dripping with patience, even when I get exasperated and testy. We enjoy the same music and often listen to sermons in the car just to pass the time.   I can always count on her for an interesting and informative conversation. Lively bantering is part of our appreciation for one another.

That's what friends are all about, right?  Faithful, true, keeps confidences, always encouraging, ready for an outing  with happy spontaneity. I respect the fact that she knows how to hold her tongue in times of crisis when I've made a bad decision. Yet, she doesn't hesitate speaking her mind  when she's got something important to say.

She has kept me from danger with her wisdom,  and entertained me on long drives.  She comes along only when invited and never feels slighted. She knows no revenge and never complains of hurt feelings even when I tell her I've had enough of her for one day.

Loretta arrived WITH my big red Ford Expedition.  She lives right there in the dash and comes to life with a push of a button.  Her last name is GPS.   Whatever would I do without Loretta?  I'd be lost!

Egads!  I've befriended a computer!!!

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE AREN'T THINGS

Everybody knows THAT'S true.  Family, friends, the Word of God, a child's laughter,  people,  love, generosity, kindness, patience and encouragement all head the list of THE most important aspects of life.  NO THING can compare with the pride and friendship grown children bring, the devotion of a husband or the joy of grandchildren. NO THING can compare with an intimate relationship with the Creator or the bond of sister-love.

BUT...there are some THINGS  that make me smile,  too.  I could make a list or write a song (oh, Julie Andrews already did that!) or even take pictures of my favorite things.

Sometimes if a grandchild is having difficulty going to sleep I tell him/her to close their eyes and think about their favorite things. They always get that dreamy faraway look that tells me that they're thinking really hard and I can leave the room knowing that sweet peaceful sleep is imminent.

It's fun to dream about favorite things once in a while.

My  short list includes, in no particular order of importance:  puppy dog tummies, hybrid bearded Iris's, French soap, dusty old bookstores, antique shops, fabric stores, yarn shops, the mountains of Alaska, the beaches of Hawaii, sheets that have dried on a clothesline outside, letters from friends, fuzzy robes, new shoes, BOOKS, a red ripe Illinois tomato, a ride in a convertible, morel mushrooms freshly picked from an Illinois riverbank,  the Smithsonian, old pick-up trucks,  a plane ticket, an e-mail from a family member or friend, an evening free of anything electrical,  Gardenias,  MUSIC, and a picture crayola-colored by a grandchild.

My list COULD get long.  It might take days to complete it!!!

The moral of this story is.......my life is full!  Full of the important things of life and blessed with a whole lot of extras.   I think it's really healthy to stop and count 'em up every now and then.

Kris Kristopherson used to sing about it, "what have I ever done...to deserve even one...of the blessings I've known?'

The answer...NOTHING!...NOT ONE THING...... have I done....it's all GRACE!

LOVE THAT SKYPE

I am extremely thankful that my land line and my cell phone do not have the capability of  "video call."  Who needs to see my hair standing straight up early in the morning?  Who needs to know that I'm still in my nightgown while washing the breakfast dishes as I take a call? Who needs to see my pre-make-up face on a lazy day or the vision of me trying on a swim suit anticipating summer? That would cause instant blindness or perhaps a stampede for the telemarketer or family member. Yep, when that phone rings I am still invisible. It's the last bastion of privacy!

Until now.

I believe it was George Jetson that predicted such a device as "phone-a-vision."  And folks,  it is HERE!  

We installed SKYPE on my computer a year or so ago and don't use it as much as I'd like.  BUT...when we DO click on that "place a call with video" button and one of the kids clicks on the other end,  magic happens! Right there just inches from my nose is one of the cutest faces in the universe.

It's usually Mollie or Gracie on the screen  and we have a great time, making faces at each other, blowing cyber kisses, telling stories,  welcoming new dollies into the family, and basically just giggling.  Our most recent cyber visit included a look at the bottom of four little feet,  new teeth growing in filling the empty spot of a 6 yr olds mouth, and watching and hearing a recitation of  "The Cow." It is a dose of medicine for far away grandparents. EVERY home should be so equipped.

We used SKYP to meet TIKI for the first time a year ago in November.  He'd arrived from Africa to his new home and family and as grandparents got our first glimpse of him over the Internet.

This past year we  connected with both sons while they were working in foreign countries half a world away.  Yes, I love SKYPE and the folks that invented it and keep it up and running! I have no idea how it works but have heard something about satellites and free!

It's a great connection tool that requires only a little preparation.  A quick fluffing of the hair-do or throwing on a robe doesn't take long at all.  However, I will NEVER click the "answer video call" box while trying on a swim suit.  It is my sense of responsibility for keeping the nation safe that prevents such reckless behavior.

NIGHTTIME ACTIVITIES

MUCH can be accomplished in the middle of the night! What's that about? Is this part of the aging process?

I'm pretty sure it's not just me because I have friends that tell me of their "middle of the night" epiphanies, work habits and hobbies.  But then again, all those friends are my age, too.  One gal even remodeled her house so she would have a pleasant sitting area near the bedroom complete with desk, books, and comfy chair.  The little nook was designed so her husband wouldn't even miss her as she slipped away and no light would disturb his snoring. She only had to go to the kitchen  briefly for the hot tea. (Perhaps she'll add a microwave and sink!)

There was a time when the idea of  me getting out of bed at 3 a.m. was considered insane, now it's ALMOST a daily occurrence. It's not a sad or frightening experience, but almost enjoyable.

I have my  best thoughts, and prayers at this hour.  There's a clarity of thought-stream that just isn't present during the hustle bustle of daylight hours.  Problems are solved, projects are completed and dreams for future fun with family and friends are planned. Memories can be relived with surprising focus and fond smiles.  My best stories, fiction and non, are put down on paper near a small nightlight. I can write a poem that no one will ever read or remember the words of a song that meant something  to me in high school!

Surely  everyone, regardless of age, has had the thrill of finishing a page-turner of a mystery at 4 a.m. That happens often, too.
There are a few books that I've read without taking a break or sometimes even a breath, from start to finish, cover to cover, and finally laid down in the wee hours.  Then there are those thrillers that would keep Rip van Winkle from any shut-eye.  I try to stay away from those.

Midnight (or later)  shopping can be done via the Internet. That store is ALWAYS open for business.

Of all my nocturnal activities, I draw the line at folding laundry or mopping the floor. Those are STRICTLY daytime chores! That law can be found in the Library of Congress.
Some of my neighbors are awake at this hour too. It's amazing what all goes on under the cover of darkness.  Looking out my window becomes somewhat of a theatrical site.

Entertainment is often provided by the wild creature category.  I've seen an opossum exploring my back patio, a mouse run across the concrete and leaves scattered  by the Oklahoma wind.  There's a fat old owl that sometimes sits on the fence.  A family of raccoons might pay a visit.  I've heard tales of coyotes but have yet to see them.

Once in a while a group of teenagers will stroll by.  Go figure that one!  That's another category!

Last summer a very odd old truck parked across the street. The security guard checked that out and told me a couple of folks were night fishing in the lake across the way. (Security guards are up and ready to answer their phone in the middle of the night, too)  Why would anyone want to go fishing at night? Why would anyone choose to be a night time security guard for a bunch of old ladies that don't sleep?

Then there is the newspaper delivery truck.  That's a dance worth watching!  There is a rhythm to sliding around the corners, pitching rolled up papers onto driveways.  The movements are as smooth as a ballet or the Texas two-step but not quite as sexy. I wonder when that driver sleeps.

Some neighbors are arriving home from working the late shift, some are just leaving for their long commute to their jobs.

There has also been a couple of times when I've witnessed young single male neighbors quietly sneaking home, parking their cars in their parents driveways.  They're always carrying their belts and shoes as they stumble to their doorways.  I silently wish them well.

Occasionally a fire engine siren will whiz down the back road and I find myself silently praying for the person that is in need of help.  Sometimes it's a police car and I'm sad for that officer who is heading to an unpleasant scene.

Yep, there's a lot of action during the night.  Sometimes it requires an afternoon nap just to keep up with it all!

ANDY IS COMING TO TULSA!

The Refinery of Tulsa  is hosting ANDY when he comes to town mid-January for a talk to teens and book signing.  He's actually coming to spend the week to serve as the Spiritual Emphasis Week pastor for Metro Christian of Tulsa.  He has scheduled other events outside the school for weekends and evenings.  His heart is for teens and he loves to get in front of them.

Tomorrow I'll be helping hand out some of these fliers to schools, churches, and places teens gather. IF you know of someone in that age group or a youth pastor, etc...that might be interested, pass this news along.

This flier was designed by Brittany, the store manager. It took her all of about 10 minutes. What talent!  And what a beautiful young lady. The Refinery is a "hip" clothing and book store for young people that often opens their doors for events such as this. 

It's going to be an exciting week having Andy (AND GABBY) here with us for a few days. I hope they'll let this old lady grandma stand in the back of the room so I can listen in!

NEW YEAR'S DEBATE

Everybody is talking about New Year's Resolutions this week.  The big debate is whether they are valuable or a waste of thought time.

I keep a few favorites stored away for each new January.  I pull them out, write them down, make an effort and then tuck them back into my memory  bank about February 12th.  They become "resolution reruns."  With this plan no time is wasted on making up new ones each New Years Eve  after the song Auld Lang Syne has been sung by the fat lady.

Many years ago I decided that rather than concentrate on resolutions that would make my life absolutely 100 % better and then get discouraged and fail I would instead choose to LEARN something new each winter. Scientists tell us now that continuous learning keeps the brain cells busy and active and supposedly wards off early dementia.  I'm all for that!  And the dreary winter months are a great time for such adventures. 

The list of past learning projects reads like a comedians joke book, the list of new skills I long to master mimics a  "bucket list." 

There was the year I learned to roller skate. I think I was 35 at the time and can happily recall that no bones were broken before ditching that sport.  I spent hours toning those inner thigh muscles before the realization hit that I would NEVER get past the first draft of roller derby wannabes.

A couple of years ago knitting was the obsession.  That hobby is still evident by three or four half-done projects laying around the house.  I pick it up from time to time  and very proudly declare "I can knit."  The big lesson learned there is that knitting is not as easy as knitting teachers say it is.  There are complicated stitches to master, a foreign language to decipher and patterns that would make NASA scientists shake their heads in dismay trying to figure them out.  After hundreds of dollars of classes and all the paraphernalia that goes with knitting I've "been there and done that." However,  I still consider learning to knit as one of my greatest accomplishments. 

Then there was the year of learning to ice skate. If I remember correctly that was the year the whole family was interested in the Winter Olympics! There were a few splats that would have won the prize on  America's Funniest Home Videos had we recorded and submitted them.

The year I tried to learn to snow ski left my teacher, who also happened to be our daughter-in-law Jamie, with unrepairable damage to her right hip. We have some family stories about that fiasco that still brings tears to our eyes and pain to the tummies with laughter.

Belly dancing, line dancing, and numerous exercise routines have also come and gone.

This year I've toyed with the idea of learning to play the violin.  Good violin music makes me weep. The purity of that sound brings tears to my eyes without any explainable emotion.  I would LOVE to master the violin.  That might take years, but I'm looking into lessons and the cost. Yes, the cost might inhibit some of my grandiose plans!

Speaking of cost, Honeybuns has suggested that my Jan. project be the art of budgeting! He loves numbers, always has and always will.  I can't even remember the pin number to my bank account so we had to make a rhyme out of it so I could function there.  I doubt learning to understand the family budget will rise to the top of the list.  Surely brain cells aren't stimulated by such a mundane boring  time consuming effort.

My debate now seems to focus on 1. learning to scuba dive or 2. learning to recognize and understand the great works of art. 
Since I have yet to learn to swim and have a terrible fear of being submerged in water, I'm leaning toward the art project. Surely there are computer programs or online classes that will be a great tool for this endeavor.  There must be great joy in being able to identify a  Rembrant from a Ruebens from a Reynolds from a Renoir at just a glance. Yes, that's it, this year I'll  aspire to become an expert in the great works of art. I'll begin today.  I have visions of new coffee table books, road trips to great museums and perhaps even a trip to the Hermitage. Wow, that would be fun! 

When Honeybuns gets his budget perfected I'll spring this news on him!

Now that that is settled, I'll get back to folding the laundry.  No need to waste any more time debating with myself!

CHRISTMAS WITH "OLD SPARKY"

This is creepy!

A few weeks ago I was visiting the Christian Women's Club of Huntsville, Texas.  I was the guest speaker for their December meeting and because their usual venue of the local country club was being renovated they decided to rent the conference room of the Texas Prison Museum.  The meeting room was lovely and the ladies were very gracious and kind. There were smiles all around, good food, good music, holiday greetings, gifts and kind words.

Just a few feet away from that lovely setting was quite a different scene.

Attached to the conference room are several much larger spaces that are designed to hold artifacts, pictures, testimonies, and a replica of the "Wall".  (I learned that the "Wall " is the actual prison that is located in downtown Huntsville.  It houses 1700 inmates and is the only place in Texas where death row prisoners breathe their last. )  The Texas electric chair is stored in one of these adjoining rooms.  It is on display for anyone to see and evidently thousands of folks stop by and visit it each year. I wondered why anyone would put the prison museum on their vacation itinerary.

Old Sparky  is in semi-retirement now.  The popular choice of execution these days is lethal injection. But this chair is serviced, checked, polished and kept in working order JUST IN CASE an inmate might choose this tool of justice.

Reading about capital punishment and hearing stories of horrific murders by psychopaths and evil men is one thing. I remembered John Wayne Gacey and Ted Bundy and others! To actually stand in front of this chair is spine-tingling! 

Justice must be satisfied, there is no doubt about that.  There is something deep within the heart of all mankind that cries out for fairness, for payment to be made, and for deserved punishment to be carried out. God Himself is the author of righteous judgement.

Visions of  living, breathing human beings strapped to that wooden chair flashed through my mind.   I didn't even want to think about what else flashed through those straps that held feet and hands. This hard piece of furniture shining in the spotlight had witnessed and was the cause of many deaths. Standing there and staring at it was a very sobering experience.

What a contrast  of emotions!  There I was happily celebrating Christmas and the life giving birth of Immanuel with those lovely ladies while just a few feet away this icon of  death was given a place of honor. I was questioning their choice of venues.

Oh, my! Perhaps the true meaning of Christmas was staring back at me and I was about to miss it.

The Christ child came, lived, died and rose again so instruments such as Old Sparky might never be needed!   HE came to remove the power and punishment of sin so that I and all those who believe will never have to face capital punishment in this lifetime  OR the eternal death sentence delivered by the just and holy God in the hereafter. 

How grateful I am that Jesus willingly came to experience the "Old Sparky" of His day.  The first  Christmas was the pre-requisite for the first Easter!  He came to die so that I might live!

I'm thinking that the Texas Prison Museum is the perfect place to celebrate Christmas!

Maybe I'll make a trip to Hunstville for Easter, too.