COOKBOOK

There it is!  The newest cookbook from the women of Liter Baptist Church, Literberry, Illinois!  And it's a DANDY!

These gourmet ladies gather recipes together every so often and have them compiled into a spiral bound book to tickle the taste buds of all their friends and raise a little money in the process.  Right now the church is putting up a new Fellowship Hall so these books will bring in some funds for that. ($10.00 ea)

However, the people that buy these books are the real winners.  No where on earth will you find directions for such delectable delights as Texas Cake, White Chicken Chili, Homemade Noodles, Rhubarb Crunch, Brown Sugar Dumplings, Cracker Jacks, Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops and Little Cheddar Meat Loaves!

I know, I know, you can go online and get a ka-zillion recipes for Eggplant or Vegetable Soup BUT, I KNOW these ladies and let me tell you this, "they know how to cook!"  I can see their faces in my mind and hear their voices in my ears when I open the pages.  No one stirs, beats or bakes better than a bunch of Baptist women that have served thousands of folks at pot-lucks, class socials, and funeral dinners.  These recipes have been tested and perfected for YEARS!

Forget those fancy cookbooks at Barnes & Noble, the recipes from the church win the blue ribbons, hands down!

I'm SO excited to get this latest copy.  I have a new goal of making and eating as many of these dishes as possible within a years time.  I started last night with "Cabbage Surprise," today Julie Besson's  Italian Beef is in the crock pot.  I'm making a note beside each recipe as to when I fixed it, how Honeybuns liked it, and IF I would change it in anyway. (big IF)  It'll be filled with personal notes by July, 2013.  (Think: Julie and Julia, the movie!) The Cabbage Surprise was WONDERFUL!

Honeybuns thinks I am WONDERFUL!  You know what they say, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."  Yep! It is true!

Wise folks are predicting that books, even cookbooks, will soon be obsolete.  Not at this house! I'll add this one to my collection of "church cookbooks" purchased and enjoyed from every state we've lived in, from every church we've known.  Those women are truly the unsung heroes of kitchens across America. Their wisdom might NEVER make it to the Internet, I'm not taking any chances.

JAIL

My first visit! 

And words like incredible, wonderful, joyful, outstanding, sweet, painful, devastating, and sad come to my mind today. The Stonecroft ladies of Bartlesville have climbed over some unbelievable barriers and entered into a world that is wildly different than their own.

The sheriff and law enforcement people are grateful.

These very wonderful, honest to the core, loving friends visit the gals living in lockdown once a week.  They lead Bible Studies, listen, hug, cry with the inmates, pray with and for them...and did I say LISTEN? Once a month they have a special "lifeskills" program.

Being a small part of a Mom's Panel here in Tulsa, I was included in the invitation for yesterday's lifeskill event.  The Mom's Panel is made up of 6 moms of various stages of parenting.  We've brainstormed and come up with lists titled, "The Top 10 Things I Have Learned or Am Learning about Parenting."  We've spoken at various events in the area and have had a great time. We love each other and have learned much.  We have a mom of a pre-schooler, elementary age, high school, college, married with children, and one that talks about life that "doesn't work out as you dreamed it would."

Yesterday was our first gig at a prison.

Sitting before us were  25-30 women, dressed alike in orange jumpsuirs and flip flops.  They were all ages and stages of life,  now living confined to that small place.  Their best days include hearings that give them hope that one day they would be free again, free to wrap their arms around their children, free for a fresh start. They are very aware that they have made some really bad choices and the painful consequences are wrapped around them like a straight jacket. They can't escape them.

I looked each one in the eye.  I had no idea what circumstances brought them there, what horror they had experienced or performed, how long they have left to serve or where their deepest pain might lie.

We all shared our lists.  There was laughter and tears, hugs and stories. After it was all over, there were more stories, stories that nearly set my hair afire, more hugs, more pleas for prayer and help. They are very grateful for these meetings, if only to get out of their cells for a while if nothing else.

Some will be released with a challenge to do life WITHOUT their children because their parental rights have been taken away to protect little ones.  Some are looking at a very long stay!

Eight of those women indicated that they're ready to wave the white flag and admit that controlling their own lives, doing what they wanted to do at any given moment was what landed them in the slammer in the first place.  They have decided to re-think this business of life and now want to try to do it God's way. They are learning that they need HIM to make life sane.

Good for them. I hope that desire is strengthened by the support of those regular visits from their new "on the outside" friends. I heard plans of arranging help for them once they are released.

I'm thinking that sometimes JAIL might be the very best place for a person.  These women are removed from bad influences, distractions, abuse, confusion, horrible family situations, and the many opportunities to break the law. They are relatively safe physically.

They have lots of time to think. And some ARE thinking, regretting the past, trying to live peaceably in the present, fearing the future.

Hard work is being done in that jail.  Most accomplishments are invisible, progress is taking place in hearts and minds.

Pain is hard but it certainly teaches people reality.

COW PASTURE NEWS

Honeybuns has a friend that lives in another state on a very LARGE FARM.   During a visit recently they began discussing the guys business.  On part of his land he raises free range cattle.  You know, the "organic" kind!  The cows feed off the grass, roam the pastures and are very happy! 

They grow big and their destiny is fulfilled at the State Fair, the Long Horn Steakhouse, OR Billy Sims Barbecue!  Who doesn't love a big juicy hormone free, steak!  You know the kind! Those that are grown the old fashioned way, not in cattle pens where they are fed chemical filled scientific feed, but sweet green grass.

It's the expensive meat in the grocery store! It's all the rage now.

BUT, Houston, we have a problem.

The latest governmental mandate has come down.  Normally "organic" farmers build ponds on their property for their herds. The cows lazily eat the grass of the pasture, share moos with their friends, have their babies, and often stroll over to the pond for a drink of water or perhaps a few laps on a hot summer day.  This plan has worked for as long as cows have been growing in these United States.

Until now!  We have a new environmentally correct law and it goes like this.  Every farmers pond must be fenced so that the cows cannot get to the water.  A pump must be installed to carry the water out of the pond to a watering tank on the banks of the pond so cow-thirst can be quenched there.  The purpose of this "improvement" is to keep dirty cow feet and possibly bodily waste from cows out of the water.  The theory is that such nasty things contaminate the water which would then soak into the ground, mingle with the underground water table and thus make the H2O unfit for human consumption.

 Someone that has never seen a farm spent a lot of time on this one!

Now, let's think about this.

First thought: I know no one that drinks pond water!

Second: IF a cow is standing on the banks of a river or pond and nature calls, that waste sits there until the first rain. It then is washed down through the soil and layer of rock WITH the rain water to the under ground water table, just as it does if the cow is knee deep in pond mud.
 (Someone PLEASE TELL our Washington employees that NO one carries little plastic bags or pooper scoopers around the pastures of America.) That's the way farms and cows have operated for hundreds of years.

And now you know!  When you see a farmer standing in his pasture just shaking his head, contemplating a revolt or a tea party, give him a wave. He's wondering how long it will be before the powers that be demand that we all become vegetarians!

He's having a hard time and grieving over the lack of common sense in our country.  Gotta feel sorry for him.

I'm having a hard time with it myself!

RHODA IS FROM UGANDA

Yesterday I was speaking to a group of women in Fayetteville, AR when I noticed the sweetest little girl looking up at me with huge brown eyes.  She stood out in the crowd because she was obviously not from the area, not even from this country. Her pitch black skin and many pig tails wrapped with ribbons in her hair drew every one's attention. I watched her from the podium as she grinned, interacted with the people sitting at her table, and played with her food.

She was introduced as one of the members granddaughter, who had come to live with her new American family from UGANDA, just one year ago.  Rhoda looked to be 8 years old.  She was beautiful.

As part of my talk I ask the ladies to identify their attitudes by choosing a song title to describe them.  That is usually accompanied by lots of laughter, soul searching and hesitancy.  They choose a country western song title, a tune from their past, or make one up and then write it on a card, and we review them. If I know the song we sometimes sing a duet,  right there in front of God and His people!!  The titles they choose are VERY revealing about their joy, sadness, frustrations or grief. I pay very close attention to what they write.

After the meeting I made a special effort to talk to Rhoda, to thank her for her sweet expression as I spoke to the group and to tell her that I thought she was the cutest thing I'd seen that day.  She smiled shyly and I wondered if she understood English.

She understood alright!  Maybe she understood better than all the older ladies in that room.

She handed me her card on her way out.  She'd given some thought to her life, her attitude and decided upon a song title that described her.  She'd printed in bold letters, "I AM A SURVIVOR."

She trotted out the door holding onto her very American, white-protestant, grandmother's hand.

WOW!  What a smart little girl!  She happily went on her way as I wondered what all she had seen and where she had lived for the first seven years of her life.

She has SURVIVED, something!! Her stories would probably set my hair on fire.

She WILL survive whatever comes along now!  At eight years old, she has already made that determination.

I hear the news of thousands of Rhoda's in third world countries, children that have seen and experienced adult atrocities. Most of them will NOT survive.

BUT, for now, Rhoda is safe, and fed, and clothed, and loved. Her American family is very blessed to have her in their lives.  She will teach them much! She will teach them to order their priorities, to ditch their complaints for thankfulness, and to see beyond color and cultural barriers.

I'm so glad Rhoda attended yesterday. Her presence was certainly more important than my talk.
Rhoda has much to teach us if we'll listen.

JERSEY BOYS

We have known for years that a night at the theater is a GOOD TIME, ALWAYS!   And last night was no exception.

JERSEY BOYS is in Tulsa! Yippee, Skippee! 

It's the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Remember them?

For those too young to nod, the group was one of the hottest pop groups of the 1960's and 70's! Only now are we privy to the stories of their lives behind the scene!

This musical uncovers all the dark history of four blue-collar boys living on the wrong side of the river way back then. Growing up, before stardom hit, the guys were in jail, in love, in trouble, interacting with the mob and basically swearing their way through life. (Their vocabulary was difficult to bear at times!) They came from tough part of town and Jersey was portrayed convincingly onstage. They scraped and scrapped their way out of all that mess to the big time! I'm sure it was much like that for many of the groups at that time. There were many!! Most didn't make it big!

A few years ago the remaining members of the group gave their permission to "tell all" as they were interviewed. Their wild, improbable, TRUE, flat out falsehoods and foggy remembrances were the foundation for this story.

The story can stand on it own and be interesting, but when they added the music the producers created something audiences of several generations clamor to see again and again.  It's been running on Broadway since 2005 and won a Tony in 2006 for Best Musical.

Honeybuns and I loved it!

How could we not, when we knew all the lyrics and were singing with them, "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man," "My Boyfriend's Back," "My Eyes Adore You," "Let's Hang On," "Working My Way Back to You, Babe," "Rag Doll," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You."  The adult crowd attending last night went wild. No one was dancing in the aisles but ALMOST and probably would have been if it had not been a full house!

It was very interesting to learn how these songs came into being, telling a story of what was going on with the boys at any given time in their lives.  Each song revealed a tale of love gained, loved lost, heartache, joy, or pain. Knowing the situations behind the songs made us love them that much more.

"Oh, What a Night." Remember that one?  You're tapping your foot right now,  I'm sure of it!

We are amazed that a city the size of Tulsa can support such a fabulous Performing Art Center that is capable of bringing Broadway to T-Town!

What's next, you ask?  Mary Poppins, Jekyll& Hyde, Peter Pan, West Side Story and LION KING!

Coming SOON, to a theater near US!



LIBRARY

Our house has a library!  Yep, when 5 bookcases of 6 shelves each are stacked to the max, its a bonafide LIBRARY! 

The grandkids love it!They have 2 shelves designated for people under 10 years old.  We play library sometimes,  complete with library cards, date stamps and fines! I never get to be the librarian and I am always told to "shush."  Kindly, of course!

I sneak into the "children's area" often and thoroughly enjoy Dr. Seuss,  Patricia Polacco, or Skippy John Jones!

Once in a while it's time to PURGE! Those 30 shelves can hold only so much abuse.  I've long abandoned the practice of "bring one book in, take one book out" plan!

Yesterday was the day.  And getting rid of ANY book is almost physically painful for me.  (I know, it's a disease, but as yet, there is no known cure! Science is working on it as we speak!)

How could I possible say goodbye to Jodi Picould, Ernest Hemingway, Barbara Kingsolver, Jim Fergus, Alexander McCall Smith, Harry Potter, David Baldacci, John Grisham, Andy Braner, Carl Mederis, Francinne Rivers, John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, Max Lucaddo, John Piper, Ravi Zacherias, Lee Strobel, Ray Stedman, Warren Wiersebe, John Steinbeck, Erma Bombeck, Tom Clancy, David Platt, Timothy Keller, Steve Saint, Gracie Burnam and so many others? We have lived together a long time, We KNOW each other.  I would miss them terribly, I'm not sure how they'd feel about being evicted! 

  So I didn't!

BUT, THIS stack on the chair IS going to charity and the 1981 entire World Book Encyclopedia is headed to the garage!  (WHO wants THAT complete set? I checked online at eBay and Craig's List and there are lots of  folks out there trying to sell their once valuable reference books!  No buyers! Shall I save them for future generations in case someone wants to know what a "book" actually looks like?)

Today I am proud to say, I  have room for a few pictures on those shelves, and extra space just in case I find a few "new friends" that are calling my name!

I've promised Honeybuns I'll finish the 11 books I've checked out of the Broken Arrow Library BEFORE heading to Barnes & Noble!  My addiction is a budget buster, can't get out of B&N under $50.00. 

Thank God for the public library!  It's saved this marriage!



HELLO? IDENTIFY YOURSELF!

The telephone rang yesterday afternoon and after my "hello" the caller identified herself by her first name.  No problem there, right? That is proper telephone etiquette for sure.

 My problem is, I know MANY women by that same first name.  Which one was it, my long ago friend, a volunteer in one of the many organizations where I spend time,  a relative, or the woman at the grocery store that told me of her recent husbands death?  (I held her as she cried!)

 I have a few distant relatives that don't give me a name at all, just a "hey, there," assuming that I recognize their voice and know exactly who I am talking to!!

When that happens I'm at a loss as what to say next, waiting, waiting, waiting for some clue as to who is reaching out to touch me.   It's an awkward moment! There have been times that I've listened for several MINUTES before figuring it out!

Explanation:  Several years ago I attended a book club for the first time with my neighbor at a nearby library.  We sat at the oval table along with several other strangers and proceeded to write our names on those sticky name tags.  That's always a good thing to do in a new group!  I scribbled my name as I talked with my friend, looked around the room, excitedly waiting for the leader to begin the discussion.

After a few minutes, my neighbor leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Why does your name tag say Joyce?"  I looked down. Sure enough!  I had written JOYCE as my own name!  At that time I didn't even KNOW a Joyce, was certainly NOT a Joyce, and had no intention of becoming a JOYCE! The author of the book was not named JOYCE and neither was the librarian. There was not a JOYCE in the room.  I ripped it off my shirt and confessed,  "I have NO idea why I wrote the name JOYCE."

Why do I bring up that silly TRUE story?  Well, because there are days  I evidently don't even know who I am, let alone able to recognize the women that call me up and identify themselves by their first names only!

It's a dilemma, probably a bon-a-fide disability!  But, that's the way it is! 

Please don't think me rude if I insist, "Gotta tell me who you are before we go any further here."

Maybe we should just text!  How r u? C U tmarrow! LOL! Pick U up in 60!

Geez!  That presents a whole new set of etiquette problems.  I think I'll just keep guessing!

Two Cemeteries in One Day!

The lake? the park? the picnic? the backyard bar-b-que? the pool?Nope! Honeybuns and I spent this Memorial Day morning at TWO cemeteries! Oh,  my, what an experience!

Memorial Park Cemetery  of Tulsa and American Legion Post One  raised a red, white and blue tent on the cemetery grounds, invited the Tulsa Community Band,  Washington DC dignitaries, and the 138th  Fighter Wing ANG Flyover pilots to their celebration honoring military heroes. The Young Marines presented and retired the Colors, Sue Wilson sang the National Anthem beautifully, and Bill Goswick played Taps!  The Tulsa Band was excellent! 

 Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Director of the Air National Guard at the Pentagon was the keynote speaker. And he was FINE!  He honored the heroes of all branches of the military with dignity and respect. He drew our attention to the fact that it is ONLY the AMERICAN  soldier that is willing to die for the cause of freedom for all Americans AND foreigners who desire and deserve it as well. He reminded us that all the equipment, technology and resources available to the American military is useless without the volunteer SOLDIER that secures peace and freedom.  Lt. Wyatt exuded strength and kindness, it was a privilege to hear him. 

Veterans and their families filled the tent and received several standing ovations.  A 21 gun salute was sounded and prayers were offered. It was stirring!

Next stop, Floral Haven Cemetery of Broken Arrow.

Floral Haven must be the finest flag-place to be on Memorial Day!  Thousands of flags are placed on those grounds, each one a casket flag of a deceased military person.   Dog tags hang from the flagpoles to identify loved ones, and thousands of flowers and people filled that place today. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded with military precision and names of deceased soldiers are read aloud as family and friends stand in silence. On this sunny, windy day, it was a sight to behold!

Perhaps Arlington National Cemetery is just as impressive today, I doubt it!

So why all the ceremony and ritual?  To make absolutely sure that present and future Americans can still to go to the lakes, the parks, the picnics, the backyard bar-be-ques and the pools! 

The men and women now resting in those places deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.

(I doubt that freedom is ever really appreciated until it's taken away. I pray that we, our children and grandchildren don't have to experience that life lesson to learn it!)

Now, I'm going to go fire up the grill!

MEMORIAL DAY

Eugene Gaines

Venner Thompson

John Gaines

William "Bub" Gaines

It's not hard to remember these four men.  Their pictures hung on the walls of my childhood home and they were discussed often.  The three Gaines brothers were my uncles, the handsome Thompson man, my Dad.  Three sons and one son-in-law, all served in the Army, in the European theatre of WWII. Several years of their young lives were spent in uniform.  My grandparents often spoke of the worry, fear and critical radio reports that updated those back home of the Allies advances against the Nazis. It was a frightening period of history. Everyone at that time knew the horror of war was critical to defeat the epitome of evil.

The little town of Concord, Illinois witnessed the return of these four, and mourned her young men that gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Uncle Gene was an ambulance driver, Dad saw the horror of D-Day on Omaha Beach and the concentration camps in Germany, Uncle Johnny's stories went with him to his grave a few years ago, and Uncle Bub drove a tank in the Battle of the Bulge and got frostbite on his toes.

Only Bub survives now and he's thriving at the Veterans Home at Quincy, Illinois, age 86. Last Friday they held a Memorial Day Service there and he "waved" as they played the Army's song, no longer able to stand for applause and appreciation.

Today we remember and honor millions of men and women, just like these.  All had family and friends that loved, worried, prayed and mourned.  All saw things that innocent fresh faces ought not to see. That is the nature of war, and that is the nature of those that volunteer to keep the rest of us safe and free.

 Most of the time we take them for granted shamelessly. But this weekend flags are flying everywhere, taps are playing and flowers adorn white markers at cemeteries across the country.

The price of freedom is very high!  That's a good thing to REMEMBER!

Happy Birthday Philip

This daddy/horse is THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OLD TODAY, and is the youngest one of the three most important men in my world. And he is FINE!

He is strong and kind, brilliant and humble, fun and thoughtful.

He is a super daddy and devoted husband. He loves God and has his priorities perfectly placed. He takes care of his little family beautifully.  (He says his family isn't little, just short.)

He is my hero and my little boy.  He knows me better than I know myself sometime and I trust his counsel completely.

I think that's just the way it's supposed to be when boys become men.

He's making some fabulous memories with his own children now and it's delightful to watch it happen! He laughs at their antics and enjoys them thoroughly.

We "cheer him on from the stands" and celebrate his accomplishments! His international career takes him all over the world and he embraces the adventure. It's his turn to make the world spin now!

 He's in my thoughts and prayers every single day. Hanging out with him is a fabulous time!

 We have that sweet mother/son" relationship that only other mothers-of-sons can grasp. He can read my mind across a room and I know what he's feeling by the look on his face.  That's just the way it works!  I love it! And I love him....and as they say in this family....TO THE MOON AND BACK! 

I hope his birthday is the best one ever!

   






 








AFRICA

Twelve years ago TODAY, I was in this place!  It was a women's conference in Kitale, Kenya and I was one of four speakers invited to participate. 

While looking for something else today,  I found the scrapbook of that trip. Oh, my!  It was a few hours later before I emerged "Out of Africa!"

This trip opened my heart to the people of Africa.  These gals know how to SING, in Swahili!  And pray!  And celebrate!  And serve!

Many walked for hours to attend those meetings, sleeping on the concrete floors of that church with their babies at night. They sat on hard wooden benches for hours, thrilled to be there!

They graciously and lovingly served me and two other women from our church in Dallas, and a young married couple from Austin for a week.  That was the team. None of us knew what we were doing, traipsing all over that dark continent. We ate unidentifiable food, trusted a guard for our safety and travelled in an old van that we had to push to get it to start every time we wanted to travel over the deeply rutted dirt roads. That's the nature of mission trips!

We waited on single engine airplanes on dusty benches and took pictures of zebras, lions, water buffalo and giraffe from a jeep. We shooed gigantic geckos out of our rooms before crawling under mosquito netting at night. We prayed that all those shots we took before we left the US were doing their best work of protection in our bodies.

We left much wiser than we were when we arrived. That little team was truly blessed beyond our wildest imaginations.

Africa is no doubt a third world country with rampant poverty and destitution.  Corrupt governments have kept their citizens enslaved.  Superstition, ignorance, AIDS, tribalism and war have wrecked havoc. Women have suffered greatly, as they try to raise their children and eek out a living in order to feed them.

 But when God's Word is opened to these people, as it was that week, they embrace it, are eager to understand it and obey it.  They throw themselves on the mercy of God and pray for His provision and deliverance.

Perhaps twelve years and much prayer has changed things. I would go back in a "Mississippi minute."

 I wonder how my African friends are doing, what has transpired in that place, and what progress has been made.

I wonder what truth they could teach me now.

JACKSON AND DAISY

What a great day!!!

This is my friend Jackson, he's five years old.  He's riding Daisy, age unknown!

Today I picked up Jackson from his home and gave his mom a day off!

This was OUR day to play and that's just what we did. His weary mother got to take a walk, ALONE, take a leisurely shower, run some errands and do a little shopping! 

First stop for us was Intercontinental Jet Services where he got to climb in the cockpit of several business jets and pretend he was flying at 30,000 feet. Honeybuns gave him "flight" lessons and he was qualified for the imaginary trip in a matter of minutes.  He looked the airplanes over inside and out, his eyes jumping at each new button and switch he could flip. Twirling the propellers was his favorite thing to do.  Finding snacks the pilots squirrel away was also VERY exciting!

After lunch, we hit the ZOO!  Oh, yes, there were lions and tigers and bears! But there was also this CAMEL!  Daisy and her sister were parked just inside the gate, eager for small  bodies to climb up into the saddle. I couldn't believe Jackson wanted to ride this beast.  He didn't hesitate as I told the zookeeper that NO amount of money would get ME up there. 

Daisy rounded the corner and turned her head at just the right moment, flashing her winning smile.

I think she knows the drill!  I'm not sure which one was happier at that moment, Jackson or Daisy!

We rode the ZOO TRAIN, another hit!  The engineer had to stop once to let an 8 foot black snake slither across the track. Why, oh why, he just didn't cut that thing into two pieces is beyond me! Popular opinion was that the thing had escaped his cage, but no, it was of the native species.  (A reason to MOVE out of OKLAHOMA!)

We watched the penguins and sea lions swim, chased the geese, and tried extremely hard NOT to yell at the elephants.  We were told that they would charge if angered!

The last treat was the gift shop of course. And Jackson selected several tiny wild animals of the plastic variety to carry home.  He'll be dreaming of cheetahs, monkeys and Komo Dragons all night long.

Moral of the story:  When your own children or grandchildren are not available for an outing, go find a child with a weary momma.  Jackson is my new best friend. We have many more good ideas for beautiful days together.



MOTHERS DAY GIFT

This is a chiminea.  It was formed painted, glazed and fired in a kiln somewhere in Mexico.   Honeybuns bought it Sat. for me for Mothers Day from a handsome young man named Julio!

I love it! 

I've been wanting one of these for a long time and I have great plans.

It's primary purpose is to smell up the back yard with smoke from pinion wood.  It instantly transports everyone within smelling distance back in time to campfires, prehistoric mealtimes, and communes out in the forests. It probably scares away mosquitoes, too! 

Other than that it's totally useless. Yard art of questionable taste!

We've decided that the folks in Mexico probably don't use one for ANYTHING.  They just make them for fools and tourists, with outlandish stories of cooking flatbread  filled with refried beans on a rock in it or something!

Julio assured us that he and his family own several, and of course they are indestructible.  (?)  When his family has a party they surround their guests with these things and no bugs come near. They choke to death! (The bugs, not the people!)

I'm thinking this is going to make a great fire for a suburban weenie roast.  I can see the grand kids huddled around sticking their little hot dog sticks right in that hole. Marshmellows will surely light up the nighttime sky.

We'll also learn to send smoke signals.  There must be a book or class or course on "language arts" for that as well. I'm going to talk my neighbor into getting one to see if we can communicate without the use of electricity, cell phones, ipads OR simply yelling across the street!

I wonder how many puffs of smoke means, "do you have an extra cup of sugar?"

Yes, this is going to be fun.  Adios Amigo!



HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, JAMIE & NANCY!

Jamie and Nancy

Of all the mothers in the world, THESE two are the most important to Honeybuns and me.

 Jamie has been Andy's best friend and sweetheart for about 17 years, wife for 15.  Nancy has been Philip's heart-throb and confidant for 12 years, wife for 10. We've known them both for that long as well and what we know, we like!

GOD Himself chose these beautiful young women to be part of our family before the foundations of the earth.  And HE did good! Each one is ideally suited for our boys. And they are ideally suited for us!

There has never been two more different girls, but there has never two more different young men either.  Jamie is adventurous and brave, Nancy is  traditional and loves detail. Jamie might be swimming with sharks one moment and wisely counseling a pregnant teenager the next.  Nancy has impeccable taste and enjoys surrounding her family with beauty. Jamie designs fabulous t-shirts for a non-profit that supports African orphans. Nancy teaches her children traditional hymns and Jamie's kids rock out to Justin Beiber. The variety is simply delightful!

They both love God and seek to be obedient to His plan for their lives.

It is sheer joy to watch them do life. 

Also, their households are full!

Jamie is mother to Hays 13, Maggie 10, Tiki 8, Dax 7, and Gabby 5!  There is NEVER a dull moment in that CO mountain home and if one SHOULD arrive, Jamie makes sure some fun happens to fill in the lull. 

Nancy is mom to Gracie 7, Mollie 5, Thompson 2 and Betsy 1.  The action never ceases there either.
She laughs at each new antic and also enjoys her children thoroughly.

Both know how to PLAY!  And when these kiddos are grown they will have the best memories to laugh about around their own kitchen tables.

Our sons believe in these girls. Their wives light up the world and they are appreicated immensely.

 Jamie and Nancy bring their husbands comfort and encouragement, strength and dignity. Their homes and their children are top priorities. They love fiercely and unconditionally. They have more wisdom than I ever thought about having at their age.  I greatly respect them and their ideas.

I pray for them without ceasing.  Today I pray that they will have the best Mother's Day Ever!

We love them both to the moon and back!

NEW MENTORING GROUP

Older gal to younger,  "I can't wait to see you for lunch, I'll bring brownies from scratch."
Younger one,  "GREAT! Can I order scratch online?"

There is NO doubt  a generation gap exists. The chasm has been created by distance, time, family pressures, a ka-billion practices and games to attend, and the idea that only your peers can truly understand what you're going through.  Our culture has divided the ages. Two worlds have evolved and they rarely collide, but when they do it's FABULOUS.

A friendship that bridges the gap is delightful.  The older woman  offers years of experience, free babysitting, wisdom and a listening ear.  The younger gal can teach her older friend to tweet, order fabulous shoes online and help her feel needed in the second half of her life.

Having been the guest speaker in 25 different venues/women's clubs/retreats/luncheons/parties over the past year and a half, I BELIEVE its time to build a bridge. There has been an outcry EVERYWHERE I've travelled throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.  It's always the same.

The younger women moan, "Where are the older women?"  The older women shake their heads and wonder, "Where are the younger women?"

I'm writing to answer that question! They're out there, doing life, consumed with daily challenges, sometimes floundering alone.

SO....a brand new shiny mentoring program has been birthed! (Name is still pending, but this plan has been sanctioned and encouraged by Stonecroft Ministries, the experts in connecting women with each other for many years.)

 Last Thursday a few of my young friends put out the word and the e-mails are pouring in.  The UNDER 50 gal desperately wants an older woman friend in her life that can help with babysitting, time management, recipes, old-wives tales, and most of all a listening ear.  Some of these delightful women live away from mom, aunts and cousins and have no one to help them.

Today I announced this idea to a group of ABOVE 50 young-at-heart women and was AMAZED at the response.  They couldn't get those applications to be a MENTOR in their hands fast enough.  They are excited about befriending a younger wife/mom/business woman for this pilot program that will begin in a few weeks.

I have applications for "Mentors" and "Mentees."   After they are filled out and returned to me they will be paired up according to interests, backgrounds, locations and asked to be in touch with each other at least THREE times for a six week period starting June 1st.  They can call, go to lunch, visit in a home, email, talk on Facebook, Facetime or Skype.  Any contact will do that will give the new friendship a chance!

At the end of six weeks we'll evaluate what's happened.  If a "friendship" just isn't working, no big deal. That pair will part ways, no guilt, no obligation whatsoever.  For those that are having a good time, great! They will probably continue the mentoring relationship for as long as they both shall live. That's usually how that works! We might plan a tea party or an event to just share stories!

I have several elderly women in my life and they have no idea how much I appreciate them. They are SO funny.  The one-liners that come from them are stunning. And every once in a while they drop a pearl of wisdom that changes my life, attitude and countenance. (How many times have my older friends actually saved Honeybuns life when I was contemplating murder?)  Sometimes if I'm in a complaining mood,  low on estrogen or high on blood sugar, one will just smile and say "oh, honey...."  and proceed with words that calm my soul!  I'm amazed at how much we need each other.

I treasure elderly friends.  And I learn SO much by hanging out with the younger ones.

It's happened!  I've graduated from Mentee to Mentor!   Well, Yippee, Skippee!  This is going to be fun!  I'm going to dig out my brownie-from-scratch recipe!

MY TRUCK NEEDS A PRIEST!

Weird!  That's all I can say.

A couple of weeks ago I was all dressed up in my Sunday best, heading out of Tulsa to a Kansas speaking event when Honeybuns declared, "you can't drive that, you've got to go by the service dept. of the local Ford dealership. You can't park that in a hotel parking lot overnight the way it's behaving!"

My red truck was demon possessed.  For two weeks prior to this day the "spirits" had had their way.

Randomly the back door would lift up, ALL BY ITSELF, at very unexpected times, sometimes in the parking lot of the grocery store, church or  often our driveway.  In the mornings I would
enter the garage and there it was, tail in the air!   If I slammed the drivers door, up it went.  If a loud noise occurred in the garage, up it went!   If I slammed the door into the house, yep....it was up again. Noises seemed to trigger the action, sometimes!

SO...on my way to Kansas, I stopped by the super duper repair shop.  The service department manager looked at me rather pitifully and gently explained (as he would to his ancient grandmother) that the problem was surely ME, that I was inadvertently pressing the UP button on my key fob.  Perhaps it was receiving a push while lying in my purse, maybe feeling a nudge from my wallet or phone.  I let him talk. 

Sometimes that's  all an old lady can do!

After he said his spiel, I drew myself up as tall as I could and looked him square in the eye. 
"NOPE, you got this one wrong, sir.  It is not ME! The back door lifts up BY ITSELF, RANDOMLY!"

To make my point I walked around to the passenger door, opened it and slammed it. 

I was vindicated.  The back door lifted up right on cue.  The guy was dumbfounded.

He summoned his mechanic friends and they all stood there in awe.  They slammed a couple of other doors and that back door repeated it's antics.  IMPOSSIBLE, they declared!  Their eyes were seeing what could NOT be happening. The experts were baffled.

One brave young mechanic opened up a mysterious panel in the back of my truck and disconnected some wires.  That did it.  No more juice, no more automatic lifting!  Period!  End of discussion!

The men scattered and I climbed in the drivers seat and was about to get on my way.

That brave young technician leaned in to my window and whispered, "lady, if that back door lifts now, don't call me, call a priest!" 

This is hilarious!

At first glance you might think this is just a dog with his head stuck in a cookie box!  Nope!  This is NOT just any ordinary dog. Meet Baylor, yellow lab, newest member of the Braner Party of 7 family of Durango, CO.  Baylor belongs to the Fab5 grandkids and I cannot wait to meet him. 

He's growing fast, every picture shows him getting bigger and stronger.  And CHECK OUT those feet! He's going to be huge! But right now he's still at that clumsy, super cute stage. He's bringing lots of smiles and laughs to that household. That's what puppies do!!  (I did NOT ask his permission to  publish this shot, hopefully he'll forgive me for posting his backside on cyberspace!)

Back to the picture! 

I'm thinking Baylor is simply doing what we all NEED to do occasionally!  When things get way too confusing, painful or stressful I too must quickly assume this position.  Sticking my head in a cookie box is often the only place comfort can be found instantly! (That explains the constant need to diet, also!)

Baylor has it right.  Getting in a dark, tight place is a good thing.   It calms the nerves and soothes the soul.

Men do it when they enter into their caves, whether that be a quiet office, tool filled garage, or a private room complete with a 90 inch flat screen TV, pool table and refrigerator filled with fizzy drinks. Women take buble baths, go window shopping, flip through magazines or hide their heads under a blanket. I sometimes retreat to a library, a museum or my sewing room at the back of the house. A good book can also "take me away."

EVERYBODY needs to close out the world once in a while. Our culture has evolved backward in time and now we're living in the "Wild, Wild, West" once again.   AND no human can stay on the "George Jetson treadmill" of life 24/7. Some days it seems as if all news is bad news and we still have another 6 months to endure this year's presidential campaign!  UGH!

I LOVE being around people and my calendar is full of challenging, positive, productive endeavors, but once in a while aloneness is a necessity for mental health.

AND a box of cookies can't hurt!  I thank Baylor for that reminder!




CHRISTMAS IN APRIL???



Well, Merry Christmas (in April) to ME!!

Last December 23rd all the shopping, decorating, wrapping and baking was done so, on a whim, I decided to "start" a Christmas quilt. It took 3 days to cut, piece, place and sew all these colors into place.  A month or so later I contacted the famous area quilter so she could do her magic!  Needless to say, it was NOT done by the 25th.  BUT, today it is!

Mary Covey of Jenks, OK returned it to me with all the stitched feathers, circles, and curl-i-ques in their appropriate places.  She is great, no wonder she is in such high demand.

The picture doesn't do it justice, as they say!  It is a scrappy quilt made of  beautiful new fabrics and some old ones I found in the stash closet.  There are poinsettias, gingerbread men, pine cones, holly berries, red roses, stars, squares, rectangles, borders and mitered corners.  The back is a cream and black print with a border of that same cream and black checked.  So fun!

This one will become an heirloom and will stay in my house.  I've made and given away so many of these "works of art" that my bed was "quilt poor."  (Also, I'm counting on one or two granddaughters loving this!)  Our bed will look super festive next November-December, and maybe even this week!

Hobbies!  I have so many and enjoy each one fully.  I have enough ideas/supplies stored away in closets to last a lifetime. It will be impossible to live long enough to get them all done!  It seems that during stressful times I simply HAVE TO CREATE something.  Perhaps it's a way to control SOMETHING when EVERYTHING else seems to be so out of control.

Maybe I analyze too much.

It's healthy for me to do something with my hands!

NOW...on to the flower garden.  Today is the day to PLANT GOURDS!



SALUTE A VET

He's been in his new "home" now for 10 days.  And not one day as passed without me thinking of him, wondering how's he's doing. 

This is my Uncle, William Gaines, he turned 88 just 9 days ago! 

It was the day before his birthday that we moved him into the Veterans Home for Soldiers and Sailors at Quincy, Illinois.  What an experience! 

He's lived in his hometown of Concord, Illinois nearly all his life.  We're guessing that's he's been in that house, minus a couple of years in Europe fighting evil, driving a tank in the Battle of the Bulge, for the past 70 years at least.  (I can't imagine being in one place that long. I can't imagine fighting in a war for 2 years either!)

That house was also my home for my first 20 years of life and he was an important person in the family unit. He was the breadwinner, our chauffer at times, & our companion to the movies and ballgames. He was (and is) a sweet gentle soul. He never married and worked very hard all his life.
He cared for my sister and I when we were small and for his parents when they were elderly.

We are his family.

He'd been doing pretty well in his little block house in that small town for a long time.  The past 10 years have been shared with caretakers, nearly around the clock.  They came in shifts, helped him dress, eat, shuffle around on his walker, do light cleaning and most importantly, watch the Cardinals Baseball games with him.  That all changed Jan 8, 2012 when he fell out of bed and broke his right femur. 

Surgery followed and two or three near death experiences before he was admitted to transitional care at the hospital and then the nursing home across the street. Then the big moving day arrived.

I'm not sure he knew exactly what was happening, as he repeatedly asked me, "Where am I going?" He was a little confused but excited and enjoyed the 2 hour road trip.  He'd not been out and about to enjoy the scenery for a long time.

Once we cleared admissions and rolled him into the Fifer Unit there on that beautiful campus, all hint of anxiety disappeared.  We were met by a welcoming committee of 5-6 nurses, a social worker, an activity director and several of his "new WWII combat neighbors" wheeling by to take a look at the incoming ex-Army WWII private.  The Dr. arrived  5 minutes later and completely won our hearts with his compassion and efficiency.  Dr. Dave is a geriatric specialist and had things movin' and shakin' immediately.  The beehive of activity was extremely impressive.

My sister and I stayed in the guest house for two days, visiting him in his new state-of-the-art home checking on things like cleanliness, friendliness and quality of food.  It was all GOOD!

(We had a back-up plan formulated in case it did NOT meet our approval!)

We met a few of  the residents, watched them motivate down the halls, listened to them tease each other and started calling them by name. The nurses and technicians got to know us and realized that they would be seeing us often.

(We decided that we were going to try to ENLIST in the Army so that our golden days might be lived out there, too!!)

We are SO thankful for the very caring, extremely trained and patient staff.  They treat those elderly soldiers with such respect that they almost salute when one comes rolling by. 

Salute!  That's a great word.  I salute my uncle, and thank him, and love him.  I salute those 493 other vets that now live in that small world of the Veterans Home.  They are precious adult babies now but at one time were the strong courageous warriors that saved the world from  horrific evil.

They are NOT forgotten and they ARE great appreciated.  At least this one is!!

 I got a report this morning that he's doing just fine.  His new meds are kickin' in, his new place is starting to feel like home and his new friends are his entertainment! We're hoping that the therapy  he is receiving will strengthen his leg so he can walk again. Until it does he's happy watching the Cardinals Baseball games, sporting his new Cardinal-signed ball cap! (Theres an ongoing  rivalry amongst the vets between the fans of the Cards vs the fans of the Cubs.)

He's content and we are thrilled. This whole transition could not have gone better. His new home is fine.

If you're ever in Quincy, Illinois, do YOURSELF a favor and stop by and salute a vet.  You'll come away amazed at the gratitude that fills your heart!

HOLY WEEK

10 days ago I threw some grass seed into this planter, watered it and set it in the sun...and left town! Honeybuns had instructions to very gently water those little seeds every evening...then HE left town!  We were both surprised to find this thick stand of grass growing when we got home last night.  I had to actually "mow" it with my scissors. 

It's supposed to represent the Garden Tomb (see the little flower pot in the center next to the stone, the rock path leading to it?)   There is a hill with three crosses, one very special!

The actual Garden Tomb looks nothing like this little makeshift crafty centerpiece.  It's much more eloquent in it's simplicity, much more profound.  This is a poor depiction but perhaps a conversation starter, or a visual to stimulate the thought processes.

The miracle that happened there 2000 years ago changed history forever.   LIFE from DEATH is a big deal!  Was then, is now. 

LIFE from tiny dried up grass seeds, LIFE when I die to my selfish desires and LOVE my neighbor instead.  LIFE when I put to death my past, present and future worries to the ONE that walked out of the tomb ALIVE.   LIFE when I lay down my ideas of how things "should" be and let HIM take charge. LIFE when I bury it all, and choose to trust in HIS sovereignty, power and grace.

It's HOLY WEEK!   Hallelujah! We're celebrating LIFE!