IT'S A PARADE - CALLED LIFE

Who doesn't love a parade??   If you do not love a parade there is something deeply wrong with your soul.  (My opinion, of course!)  Parades are the happiest places and an American tradition all across this great land. In my lifetime I've enjoyed hundreds and even participated in a couple!

This month we've seen parades honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and re-elected President Barack O'bama. In past years I've been delighted by the St. Patricks Day Parade in Savannah, the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC and small town parades named for every kind of festival imaginable.  My favorite is the Rose Parade from Pasadena, CA.  That one is the grand-daddy of them all.

Every year we don't have plans, company, tummy aches or a power-outage, we are parked in front of the TV to watch millions of flowers literally float down the streets of that lovely  California town.

People line up 20-30 deep all along the route to watch those incredible mechanical wonders bearing the most beautiful of all flowers, placed in unbelievable arrangements ride by. The floats are tall, self-propelled, creative, short, musical, whimsical, serious and themed!

The Rose Parade is long and has every type of horse, marching band and celebrity imaginable.  Sometimes a fly-over by the Blue Angels is included.  It's a WOW kind of day! Going to witness that parade is on my bucket list!

Most of the time most of US are not participants in a parade of that scale, but a grateful, appreciative audience.

There is another parade that demands our inclusion.  We have no choice. The act of birth is our entry.

It is a parade of LIFE, from birth to death,  and it too is INCREDIBLE.  Boy, howdy, talk about beauty, diversity and entertainment!!!

WE ARE ALL MARCHING IN THIS ONE!

This past week some friends arrived at the end of the parade of life.  They had been marching for many years and were tired. Their bodies were ravaged with disease and the effects of old age.

They arrived before the rest of us.  Both crossed the finish line and entered into another era, another parade called ETERNITY.  I'm sure glorious reunions awaited them that very second they took their last breath on this earth.  Mothers, fathers, grandparents,  siblings, friends, and great-great-great ancestors were no doubt cheering them over line, welcoming with open arms and huge broad smiles. As the song goes, we can only IMAGINE!

Family members remaining are still marching. They are now dealing with sadness, loss and grief.  Grief is a terrible, awful, no-good, necessary part of living.  It is acute and it is chronic.  It is sudden and it is sneaky. There is no end to it's cloud for those left behind until they too arrive at the end of the route.

Death comes suddenly to some, often way too early in our estimation.  Sometimes it is a slow process. And sometimes it arrives as a HORRIBLE SURPRISE.

The SURPRISE of death is a little confusing.  Life AND death is the theme of our parade. We're ALL headed toward the finish line. I'm sad for friends that try to deny it's reality, they seem so unprepared.

Perhaps HOW we march in LIFE'S parade deserves more careful attention than how or when we cross the finish line.  Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at death, but embrace it as a NEW BEGINNING, a NEW PARADE. Maybe if we thought MORE about it, we'd be prepared.

Reminds me of the old hymn, "We're Marching to Zion, Beautiful, Beautiful Zion"

Meanwhile, I'm stepping high in THIS march, tooting my own horn, enjoying those marching along beside me, smelling the roses along the way!  BUT, the next PARADE is going to be a doozy and I'm looking forward to that one, too!

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

I'm celebrating the Presidency today! 

The Presidency of George Washington! On Thursday, April 30, 1789 the General gave his first inaugural address in the city of New York.

The speech is lengthy, personal and lofty! 

He closes his address with these words:

"I shall take my present leave, but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since HE has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so HIS divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations and the wise measure on which the success of this Government must depend."

Yes, George prayed!  Amazing, isn't it?  He acknowledged that it was GOD  who fathered the entire human race and it was GOD that favored the American people with their new form of Government. One which would help the people be secure and create a climate for happiness.  He prayed that God's blessings would be obvious, for the success of the new Government would depend upon HIM!

Yes, we've come a long way baby!

Now we're arguing whether the Bible should even be present at the modern day ceremony! 

And today, January 20, 2013, former AR Governor Mike Huckabee has called for this day to be one of prayer. He's receiving lots of flak for that one!

We've just about removed God from every public square, discussion and debate in the name of political correctness.  And then we wonder why our culture is going to "hell in a hand-basket."

George's prayers did not prevent the problems that the US experienced after that day in New York, but overall we've had a pretty long run.  The US has survived wars and rumors of wars, assassinations, natural disasters and plagues. Now, I don't know if the Republic will survive for my grandchildren, some smart folks predict it won't. History tells us that such a government normally lasts aout 200 years before it destroys itself from within.  We're at 237 now!

I'm going to celebrate George's address anyway!  Perhaps there's another young George out there that one day can rise above selfish gain, power and revenge and inspire the people to turn to their creator. Perhaps there will come a day when lofty speech will once again be understood and embraced. Perhaps an observation that is longer than 144 characters will be received.

Perhaps a crisis will come and THAT will turn us back to the Father of the Human Race.

Everyone agrees that the next few years are going to be difficult in many aspects.

Yes, we need GOD!

I agree with George Washington, without HIM, we don't have a prayer!

INVISIBLE WOMEN? NEVER

This past week was BOOK CLUB week again!  No doubt I've written about this group before but I've got to say it one more time, the members are the most fabulous women I know. There are a dozen of us now and we are known as the Ridge Readers. We have been together 6 years and we all live in this neighborhood. We have a reputation around town as being the most fun group alive. Word gets out at the local hair salon and various community gatherings!

 (When you're past 60 and we all are.....ANYTHING GOES! And no one remembers, so every day, every meeting is a BRAND NEW experience.)

Each member takes a turn at choosing a book, hosting the meeting and leading the discussion.  12 ladies, 12 months = works out perfectly!  We spend a couple of hours discussing and laughing and end up at a local restaurant for lunch together.  Second Friday is a sacred day on the calendar!

This could be the most diverse group I've ever joined and loved.  The women are from various states, political persuasions, a couple have lived overseas for a time, some have children and grandchildren, one is a PhD, golfers, chefs, a public speaker, a professional counselor, a realtor and each one a community volunteer! The dynamics should NOT work, and yet they do, beautifully! There is much respect for one another and a zest for life unmatched! I adore them all!

The book this month was "The Pull of the Moon" and it pulled everybody over to Dianne's lovely home for the gathering.  The story is about a woman "feeling old" and her daring "run away" trip to
"find herself."

Well, you can only imagine the personal stories that one prompted!  We commiserated about ageing, sagging skin, loss of memory, face lifts, life's purpose and declining mental abilities that the heroine bemoaned. Each story topped the previous one!  Most threatened to run away at one time or another to escape pressures of marriage, parenting and life in general, but never did! We asked each other, "Why not?"

It was great!  The one-liners flew and the laughter became hilarious, approaching riotous.  The fear of "crying down the leg" entered more than one mind, I'm sure!

One comment stuck in my brain.  One brilliant member made the observation, "When women get old, they become invisible, you know."  I've been thinking about that.  It's probably true, because in America youth is idolized,  fantasized and nearly canonized.  The business and entertainment industries certainly put the elderly "out to pasture" after a certain age. And our fast-paced culture doesn't have much time to slow down and listen to the voice of experience that comes only with age. Part of being young means thinking you have all the answers, you know!  (Been there, done that!)

What a shame!

I doubt that I'll even realize it when I become "invisible" to people around me.  I plan to be very busy squeezing every ounce of life out of every minute that I probably won't even notice.

BUT.....my BOOK CLUB BUDDIES?  No way!

These gals are FULL of life, fun, wisdom,  practicality, generosity, love and grace. AND STORIES!  I can't imagine any one of them being neglected, ignored or dismissed...EVER! How foolish!

 They will never become invisible to ME. I will NOT miss the opportunity of knowing and being known by them  - for a long time to come. The experience is rare ......AND priceless!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

This is pretty scary!

Nothing magical or supernatural happens at the stroke of midnight on Dec. 31st.  It never has, never will!   As a child I was sure SOMETHING mysterious occurred on that special night of the year.
That self-imposed lie was exposed the year I was actually allowed to stay up and see for myself.  I think I was 10. I yawned through the whole boring experience.

Growing up in a small quiet Midwest town, far away from Times Square meant New Years Eve was very uneventful. Perhaps someone rang a church bell, or beat on an upside down washtub with a metal spoon, but that was it as far as excitement was concerned.

After our whirlwind Christmas tour, 6 parties in 5 cities crossing 6 states, we purposefully planned some  "down time" this New Year's Eve as well.  I truly hadn't given 2013 much thought at all.  My focus had been directed toward Christmas for many weeks.

I suppose I expected 2013 to be just an extension of  2012.  Because we at this house are very interested in national and international events, there just isn't much good to anticipate just because a page is ripped from the calendar.  Our nation is in moral, spiritual and financial decline.  The savage murder of CT children, cultural depravity, Human Trafficking, child abuse, wars and rumors of wars, etc. the list of man's inhumanity to man is long. It seems that many folks are simply hanging on by a thread, trying to smile, trying to get past this national malaise.

Recently I  began to hear a fresh theme on the radio, TV and at several church services.  Men and women of depth and thought are trying very hard to lift the spirits of the American people. Perhaps a  new calendar would help us all think that a "do over" is possible, that we can begin again and do it right this time.

The NEW YEAR began for me last Sunday morning. Our pastor Tom Gray gave a magnificent message on CONTENTMENT, re-telling the story of the very difficult life of Joseph.  Time and time again Joseph's dreams were dashed as he was mis-treated by relatives, his boss, his cell mates, the wife of his new boss, etc.   His NEW YEARS EVE magical moment took forever to arrive.

 I've heard and taught that story hundreds of times.

BUT, this time was different.  He stated, "Joseph was never in control of his own life."  Yet, he, "trusted in God's sovereignty."

For many years Joseph had nothing but HOPE.  And that was enough! God didn't promise him (or us) things...... but HOPE.  Peace does not come from things or circumstances. They bring pleasure, absolutely, and gratitude for God's grace.

But, true peace comes from allowing God to shape our/my spirit IN our condition. Because Joseph relied on God's control, he had purpose for his life right where he was, he was content believing God would provide, he was confidant that God would work it out, someway, somehow, sometime.

Joseph could obey by doing what pleases God AND at the same time, be pleased by what God was doing!

Whew, it was a lot to ponder!

Trusting in the Sovereignty of God, being content, focusing on His leading, remaining confidant that God's goodness will ultimately win, that He will work with what we have and remembering not to be concerned with what we do not have.

And in the midst of all that thinking and pondering, God gave me HOPE!  So much hope, I thought my heart would burst from it. It was a total transformation of thinking and feeling!

My Hope is built on nothing less.......

It was a revelation, a new beginning, a supernatural encounter, just as tangible as hanging up a new calendar.

I will face 2013 with HOPE, because even when evil reigns, it is temporary. GOD has the final word.  HE will win! 

THAT IS VERY EXCITING!

FAMILY CHRISTMAS #5 - CHRISTMAS DAY

I love this picture!  This explains it all! NOW, every serious element of all previous celebrations were thrown out the window.  It was time for GAG gifts and more fun than the law allows.
Bill (the funniest man on earth) Donna (the OLDER sister) Me (in a borrowed robe) and Honeybuns (sporting a cap with lights under the bill)

It was just the four of us Christmas morning, unwrapping underwear, hankies, FRUITCAKE, Duck Dynasty videos, books, and tote bags!  HEADLAMPS FOR EVERYONE - Priceless!
Honeybuns took this picture with his left arm/hand while we huddled together, shining our lights for all the world to see.  This moment will go down in family history!

 Mid-morning we packed up ourselves, cookies and gifts for the drive over to Quincy, Illinois to the Illinois Veterans Home. Uncle Bub has lived there since last March. This would be his first Christmas away from his house in Concord.  As a surprise I organized a "card shower" and he received over 100 Christmas cards.  We/he read each one as we explained to him who had actually sent him greetings.  So many folks from all over the US took a minute to brighten this WWII veterans day. He was thrilled. He's doing so well, content, happy and physically stronger.  (He continues to insist that at one time he played third base for the St. Louis Cardinals for many years. (!) I suppose if you're 88 you can be anything you want to be! Who's going to argue??) 


This man has known us since birth!  We have lots of history together!  And we are very grateful to him.  What a cutie-patootie!

I took him this singing, dancing Christmas tree!  He shook his head and rolled his eyes at me.  AND SMILED!  I'm sure he expected it!

It was a great CHRISTMAS DAY!

 

 

FAMILY CHRISTMAS #4

Arcadia, Illinois was the destination for Christmas Eve.  Linda and Eddie hosted the annual Braner Family gathering. Their children/spouses/grandchildren started arriving in early evening.

What a wonderful, loud, hysterically funny good time! It's always a contest of one-liners with each one outdoing the last! So much good food, gifts and a game of "dirty Santa" involving gift cards from fabulous restaurants that will go down in history.

 
Three Braner brothers and wives!  This group has been through some life challenges for lots of years now and we love them!
Linda and Eddie, Jewel and Jim, Me and Honeybuns! (We'll ALWAYS be younger than the rest of them!)  Counting all the kids  grandkids, and girlfriends, 23 total! They always want to take pictures of the "old folks."  Evidently they're worried that someone won't be around next year!  Perhaps!  But no time soon for these old boys, they come from "good stock!"



FAMILY CHRISTMAS #3

After unpacking from Colorado, doing a little laundry, packing up again and sleeping for a few hours we were off to Illinois.  We flew to St. Louis, drove two hours and settled in at the Leischner Family Farm/Barn near Arenzville, Illinois.  My sister, her husband and their children/spouses/grandchildren filled their beautiful home.

These are the grandchildren: Kelsey,  Lauren, Luke, Chloe, Alex and Oliver!  What a fun time to see them all together!

We were thrilled to see Mark, Sherrie, Julia and Matt!
And so proud of them!  (Shouldn't those boys still be 10 and 9?)

 What would Christmas be WITHOUT UGLY SWEATERS!

 
 The "hit" gift was GOATS! Alex and Chloe "received" goats sent to Africa to feed a family there!  After lots of food and fun, we were off to Christmas #4! 

FAMILY CHRISTMAS #2

 

We hit the ground celebrating!  Our first minutes in Durango, CO were spent at Maggie's school concert.  Singing and band music filled the auditorium. The Braners took up an entire row to support Maggie.  It was SO GOOD to see the Fab5 and their parents!!

 

 The next day Maggie and her classmates sent their hot air balloons up into the clear Colorado sky!  What fun!  Christmas parties at the elementary school topped off the day!

Their beautiful Colorado home was filled with Christmas cheer!

Sat. morning was designated as CHRISTMAS MORNING which involved lots of gifts, of course! It was a year of headphones, jewelry, clothes, toys and a special "daddy only" Wii! THEN, we piled into two cars for an ART CLASS in downtown DURANGO!
Everyone painted a TREE!  Hidden talent revealed!! What a great memory! We love these people to the MOON AND BACK!

  

 



FAMILY CHRISTMAS #1

When family is scattered all over the US, we go to THEM!  The upside of that plan is that we get to celebrate several times. Whoo Hoo! We just might hold the record for the distance Grandparents travel!

Christmas #1 was with the Dallas Braners.  We loaded up my red truck with gifts and drove 4 hours to Dallas to meet Philip, Nancy and family for lunch at Northwood Country Club.  It was a beautiful setting with Santa, Madrigal Singers, A wooden soldier making animal balloons, great food and that busy  little (?)  family.  Philip says his family isn't little, just SHORT! Hereafter they shall be known as the FAB4.

Then it was off to their house for gifts, singing and playtime! 
Mollie does a great "Twelve Days."

This was the year of "fingerprint" gifts, the kind made by hand.  Honeybuns made Thompson a tool bench that he LOVES.  (He is busy making a house now, so no need for alarm clocks anymore.  He wakes everybody up with hammering!)
Also, Gracie is going to be Mary at their church Christmas Eve, so "who you gonna call" when you need a costume?  She knows who!

 

Betsy loves her pram, it carries her SNACKS!
(No, we did not make that buggy.)





Christmas!  Isn't it great!  Distance isn't going to stop us from this kind of fun!
Kid-fun last for such a short period of time, we're going to hug it at every opportunity. (Watching their parents parent, PRICELESS!)

Today I'm packing my snow boots for COLORADO, the FAB5 and Christmas #2! 

CHRISTMAS DRESSES - THEN & NOW

 

 

 

Three of my favorite 7 Braner females!  WOW! Maggie and Gabby are growing WAY too fast!

Jamie is as beautiful as ever!

These girlies make my heart sing! In ONE week I'll be squeezing them until their eyes pop out!



 

3D TV....WHAT????

We've moved into a new era!  Smart TV has arrived in our den. We've postponed this agony long enough, yesterday we pulled the trigger and shelled out the cash. (This news will delight our children and grandchildren, they think we been living in a cave with Fred and Wilma.)

So, we unpacked the thing and Honeybuns spent all yesterday afternoon and evening plugging things in and out of the back of it. 

It looks sharp, I must admit.  But, it is VERY smart AND intimidating!  We're going to need a 4 year old to come stay a few days to help us figure it out.

Late in the day a picture finally appeared on the screen, hurray!  Success!?!?!
Well, NO!

Evidently we are able to receive a few local TV channels, purely by the grace of God.  Our Direct TV receiver is so old that NO plugs, wires, USB's or bent paper clips will fit and thus a call was made to them. (YES, they answer on Saturday evening.)  The ever-so-patient man explained that we truly HAVE BEEN living in the cave with Fred and Wilma and technology has raced right by the cave door.  We were light years BEHIND the latest and greatest equipment.

An appointment has been made and an expert is coming to the house NEXT Saturday to, no doubt, spend a day or two.  I hope he brings his jammies, I'm sure he will be an overnight guest! He'll update all our equipment on the roof, in the attic and hook it all up new and fresh.  The Direct TV guy laughed and promised that when this transition was complete our new TV would all but cook dinner and clean the potties.

Well!  I'm looking forward to THAT!

While waiting for next Saturday, we've been playing around with the new remote, hoping to access all the bells and whistles, not having much luck.  BUT, it is a time-consuming activity.

TOO MUCH TIME SPENT FOR NOTHING PRODUCTIVE!

This morning I woke up with a new plan.  There would be NO more new technology in our house.

After registering on Instagram this week, Face Timing the CO kids,  plugging in my phone and IPad, continually monitoring my text messages and Facebook account, I proclaimed the END.  This Smart TV has pushed me over the edge.  I simply have NO MORE time to spend with this technological addition!

We must go "cold turkey."  We must "shut it down," "turn it off," "unplug," and  return to a normal life!  The end!

Honeybuns agreed! 

A few hours after that proclamation and the freedom it gave, we stopped by Best Buy for an additional cable, one that would connect the Wii to the new Smart TV! (So much for the disciplined life!)

AND right there in front of the TV section of the store was the BIGGEST SCREEN I have ever seen. The picture was an underwater scene of blurry but colorful tropical fish.  The price was more than our first house!

SO much money for a really bad picture of fish!

THEN, Wah-La!  The salesman gave me a pair of magic glasses.  3D TV!!!!!  WOW!!!

Those fish literally JUMPED out of that skinny black box and headed right for my face! Incredible! I could feel the water on my face and smell the salt!   I was IN the ocean with those fabulous  fish swimming all around me. I reached out to catch the mantra ray bare-handed as he calmly swam out of my reach. It was an out-of-the body experience!

YEP!  3D TV is  reality! 

I'll be moving furniture to make room for that hulk of innumerable pixels!

I'm a sick woman, looking for a 12 step program to join!

SALVATION ARMY

Tis the season, for......... fundraisers!

What a great time!  Today a friend and I attended the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary Christmas Luncheon & Fashion Show, downtown Tulsa.

This has been going on for years, this was my first experience.  It was fabulous!

The silent auction was fun, the convention center beautifully decorated, the tables festive, my table mates delightful, the style show "interesting," and the CAUSE: PRICELESS.

I learned so much about this incredible organization. They do marvelous things here and abroad.

Local efforts include emergency shelters, Angel Tree, meals, financial assistance to needy families, a Boys & Girls Club, an adult rehabilitation center, etc.  The list goes on and on!

I spoke with one young couple that shared their knowledge of the work being done in the brothels of India.  The "Army" goes into a brothel there and actually buys young girls and women for the sole purpose of freeing them from that awful slavery.  The young women are taken to a safe house where they are counseled, cared for and taught a meaningful trade. Their products are sold and they become self-sufficient! (No war on women here!) GREAT STORY!  And that is just a "drop in the bucket" as far as good deeds.

Story after story of salvation, redemption and restoration were shared.  A moving testimony given by one brilliant young man brought a hush over that huge crowd of women.  He was successful, highly educated, talented, employed, a father....AND a heroin addict. He credited the Salvation Army with his recovery and his very life!  He proudly announced that he, as of today, is 11 months "clean."

Today was their annual fund-raiser and the Tulsa ladies came to give, BIG. During the year the organization is mainly funded by donations of furniture, clothing and household times that are repaired (giving many people jobs) and then sold in the thrift stores. The money (93%) of it goes back to help needy people.

There are SO many wonderful organizations that truly lend a hand-UP , this just happens to be one of the best!

The "church" knows how to do it folks!  And Americans  are extremely generous and giving.
They simply need to be educated as to what goes on behind the scenes, the stuff that never makes the national news cycle.

IF/WHEN the "church" rises up and returns to it's calling, people are rescued from all sorts of evil from without and from within.

 The "church" is not the enemy of democracy, the state, or the people.  It is the tool that is SUCCESSFUL in SO many places. Who loves ALL of humanity like the church?

The Salvation Army is a very good thing!  I'm thinking I'm going to clean a closet or two or three!

What a great opportunity to support an ARMY that is committed to the welfare of all sorts of folks. They're doing it RIGHT!

LESSONS & CAROLS

It has to be one of the best church services of the year!  The traditional "Lessons & Carols" performed by the choir of Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church of Tulsa.

They did it again.....hit it out of the park, that is.

Today the sanctuary was filled with a full orchestra, an extremely talented choir, soloists, speakers, Pastor Tom Gray, music director Ed Tackett and a very appreciative congregation.

There were nine Lessons from scripture, beginning with the Genesis account of God's promise of the Messiah. Next came the promise to Abraham, the prophets prediction of the birth of a king, the prophecy concerning Bethlehem, Gabriel's visit to Mary, the birth of Jesus, the shepherds reaction, the arrival of the wise men, and the explanation of the incarnation.  (Three men sang "Mary, Did you Know" and nearly brought down the house!)

WOW! 

Handel's  Hallelujah Chorus was the grand finale!

Mixed between all the scripture readings were the appropriate carols expanding on the story.

Love was in the air!  Hope revisited the congregation! Tears of pure worship rolled down cheeks!

It was a fabulous morning!

No war on Christmas at church today!  Nothing but pure joy and humble thankfulness!

MORNING CHORES

Every woman does it!  Morning chores!  SOMEBODY has to take care of those nasty DALEY details of life so the family doesn't come down with the heebie jeebies or some other deadly disease.

AND I'm confidant every woman does it in her NIGHTWEAR!

The schedule goes like this at our house:  wake up, breakfast, CHORES BEGIN!

The stuff that must get done:  clean up the kitchen, make the beds, throw SOMETHING in the washing machine, pick up mess from night before, hang up the laundry that should have been hung the day before, throw out a few items that have grown legs in the fridge, fold a few towels that were left in the dryer from yesterday, spray a disinfectant on faucets and bathroom fixtures, and give the air a couple of squirts of Lysol! DONE!

The time it takes to do all this is directly related to what fun thing is NEXT on the schedule. If I'm headed out to go shopping, meet a friend, attend an important meeting, or head to the airport  I can "fly" right through this schedule with a "lick and a promise."

The attire for this activity is simple:  whatever I woke up in, plus my bright yellow crocs!  (You know, the shoe that NO ONE has EVER complimented as "cute.")

Yes, I join all women across America who think its foolish to shower, wash hair and dress BEFORE DOING morning chores.  How silly!

This habit is DANGEROUS! 

I was reminded of this yesterday as the doorbell rang RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of cleaning the bathroom. My neighbor was coming up the side walk!

What to do?  Hide?  Fake deafness? Run out the back door?  Make her wait by the door while I quickly showered, washed my hair, dried it, chose an outfit and put on my shoes?

I swallowed my pride, slapped on a robe and answered the door.  I was sure I looked like something a truck had run over, backed up and run over again.  MUCH to my surprise she was NOT instantly blinded!  She had something important to say!

Reminds me of the story of the gal that was doing her laundry in her basement.  A leaky pipe above her washing machine caused her to slip on her son's football helmet to keep her head dry while loading the wash.  As an afterthought she slipped off her jammies and threw them in the water as well.  There she stood, butt naked, but SAFE in the shadows of her basement.

About that time the plumber arrived to fix the leak. Her husband had let him in the house and directed him to the basement.

He took one look at her and said, "Lady, I don't know who you're playing for, but I want to be on YOUR team."

ONE of these days we'll ALL learn. 

THANKFUL FOR SUNDAYS

Today our pastor, Dr. Dan Bair gave a fabulous sermon on Thanksgiving! It was very appropriate for this weekend, but it went beyond the usual, "let us give thanks for the harvest" November talk. I've been thinking about it all afternoon.

He took two Bible verses and created much thought. I could hear the wheels turning inside the heads of folks seated all around me. People were taking notes, faces were deep in thought.

I Thessolonians 1:2-3 is the spot.  Dan flashed his incredible smile and outlined Paul's writing with WHOM? WHAT? WHEN?

Who do we gives thanks for, what do we give thanks for and when.

It was incredible!

I was stuck on the WHOM part for several minutes and quickly jotted down names of people in my life that have invested in me. I listed several patient souls that gave of themselves and their time to help me understand the scriptures and it's Author. Some will never know of their impact! A few have graduated on heavenward!

Here's my short list:
Rosemary J, Alyse R, Jeanne N, Jane R,  Mary K, Eleanor C, Donna S, Cindy F, Linda B, Rita B,  Melissa T, Robert L, Walter K, Jerry K, Ruth F, Andy B, Philip B, Dennis B.  I'm sure there are many more. (Several are from my Bible Study Fellowship history, a couple of Sunday School Teachers, a couple of pastors.) These are the folks that looked me straight in the eye and told the truth.  And that truth penetrated this thick skull and changed me forever.

Also, Dan encouraged us to list names of people that God has given us so that we might invest in them. Sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, I am thankful for each one!

WHAT do I give thanks for? The good news that God Himself came to this earth to help us/me understand HIS character.  The gospel is more than WORDS, it is LIFE. We give thanks for the Indwelling Holy Spirit that teaches, guides and comforts. We give thanks for the written WORD that explains all we need explained.

WHEN do I give thanks?  Well, not nearly often enough!!  BUT, if I cultivate a thankful heart, I will become a thankful person.

When I thank God for someone, my thoughts and actions toward them change.  I am kinder, empathetic, helpful, giving, patient, long-suffering, filled with joy and love.

When I am thankful for the gospel, it puts LIFE into it's proper perspective.
When I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, I find peace in difficult situations.
When I am thankful for the Bible, I find I'm immersed in it more frequently.

WOW, what a great day at church!

This truly must be the purpose for SUNDAYS!

THE BEAUTY OF THE HANDWRITTEN NOTE

Who needs paper and a pencil? We've got keyboards and smart boards and EVERYONE is texting these days!  I've heard that soon schools will no longer be teaching "cursive." Who needs to take the time for beautiful penmanship in this era of fast and faster?

What a shame!

Because there is an incredible beauty in a handwritten note.  It represents THOUGHT, TIME and EFFORT by the author. It conveys the idea that the recipient is "worth" the all the trouble it takes to find the right paper, writing tool and words. Notes are grammatically correct with full sentences and proper punctuation.

This one arrived in the mail a couple of weeks ago, sent to Honeybuns, a.k.a. PAPA!

Gabby Braner is the author and this one is a keeper. I'm thinking it took her quite a while to complete this work.  It's hung on the fridge now for a while, but when it's taken down it'll be stored in a very special file to be reviewed much later when Gabby is older.

I have several like this in that file. 

The words saved on simple notebook paper come from the heart of children and are PRICELESS.

You can see by Gabby's newly found skill that she thinks Papa is nos (nice), swet (sweet) and coot (cute).   AND she loves HIM.

Can it get much better than that?  

Maybe in a few years Gabby will truly understand how very important her handwritten notes really are.  They are a great encouragement to her Papa that lives very far away from her! It lets him know that she's not forgotten him in the busyness of her little life.

That's what handwritten notes truly are, ENCOURAGEMENT! 

Thanks Gabby! You've set a wonderful example.

u r lovd, c u soon!

THANKSGIVING SNAPSHOTS 2012

 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2012.  Gracie, Mollie, Thompson and Betsy came to Broken Arrow on Saturday, Nov. 17th, their parents arrived Wednesday, Nov. 21st.  It was Betsy's first trip to BeBe and Papa's without Mommy. What a fun and  busy week.  Healthy happy family, good food, children laughing!  We have much to be thankful for! 

STRANGERS IN CHURCH ?

You just never know who you're going to meet in church!

Today we sat behind some "strangers" and took a minute to introduce ourselves and welcome them to our side of the pew.  Our church has several services every week so it's VERY difficult to know who's a member and who's just visiting. We just take the risk and welcome whoever comes our way!

The middle-age couple announced that they were VISITING! 
From:  Afghanistan!

They told their story.  They are back in the US to rest and recuperate, after spending 5 years in Kabul.  They are in charge of the "guest house" there and their job is to entertain missionaries and church groups, making sure they get fed, housed and are PROTECTED while visiting that war-torn, very dangerous place. They were in Tulsa visiting some folks that had experienced their hospitality in that far away city. They explained that their "company" very quickly turns into close friends in that setting.  

They were at our church because they receive financial support from it and they wanted to thank the church mission pastor personally.

The wife admitted she was in the US several months before she could actually sleep at night. When I asked her to describe her life in Afghanistan, she hesitated and then pronounced, "Intense!" That one word spoke volumes. They will be returning in January.

Their son, daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren live there also.  All of them were "deployed" at the same time by two different mission agencies. They felt it was a miracle and were so grateful that the whole family was sent to the same city! (Grandchildren in Afghanistan, I cannot comprehend it!)

They live in a walled compound, razor wire on top, and a guard with a gun stands at their gate. 

Our brief visit was over as the choir began to sing.

I glanced over their way a couple of times over the next hour or so.  They were soaking in the music, the atmosphere, the prayers, the sermon, and the PEACE that prevails in that place. They were drinking it in as if their life depended upon it.

I suppose it does!  They MUST be filled to overflowing before January!  Every ounce of their being will be tested when they return, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

As they are squeezed by a foreign culture, a false religion, danger, toils and snares,  I have no doubt that the love of God will pour out of these two brave saints.

I pray it reaches into a heart or two. 

When church was over, we held their hands, looked into their smiling eyes, and wished them well.  They were very thankful for friendly faces and our concern for them.

I'm SO glad we met them.   Reaching out to strangers is ALWAYS a blessing!

ISAIAH'S SANCTUARY AND MINE

When things get way too complicated, believers turn to the Good Book for answers!  Always a good source!

Today I'm reminded of the prophet Isaiah and the "encouraging" direction he received in his day.

God appeared to the old prophet and gave him his very specific marching orders. Isaiah was to go to his peers and "tell them."  Tell them what?

Isaiah chapter 6 gives the full account, but here's the Readers Digest Condensed Version:

Isaiah was to tell his people that some very bad things were going to happen, that God was going to humble them, BUT at the appropriate time GOD HIMSELF would actually come to them, dwell with them, free the captives, judge with righteousness, a whole lot more AND eventually the whole earth would be filled with the knowledge of God.

Well!  Quite a task! With the Promise Keeping God of the Universe covering his back, Isaiah was comfortable responding with a hearty..."OK!"

THEN, he asked, "For how long God? How long should I deliver this message of DOOM and HOPE?"

And here's the rub.

6:11  "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitants, until houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken....on and on." (At this point I strongly URGE readers to read the book of Isaiah, all the way through at one sitting.)

In other words, Isaiah, don't expect SUCCESS!  Very few will listen, but NEVER MIND THAT, you just keep sayin' it. (Folks will be eating, drinking, marrying, celebrating....just as in the days of Noah.)

Talk about a plan!  There would be no "stats and graphs" proving success for Isaiah.  BUT, God Himself would be a SANCTUARY for the old prophet even as his world crumbled around him.
(Notice HE didn't say HE would build a sanctuary for him but BE his SANCTUARY.)

I don't for a second compare myself with this prophet, SO.....What's the point here? What's the comfort? What can I learn about people? What can I learn about God?

1. God measures success by OBEDIENCE TO HIM.  (Obedience? Not a popular word in today's culture, where "every man does what is right in his OWN eyes.")

2. AND God keeps HIS promises.

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a Child is born, unto to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Check.

(I'm hearing the music that goes with this verse. Think "flash mob" at the malls last Christmas.)

One day the WHOLE EARTH WILL be filled with the knowledge of God. That one we're still waiting for!

Still waiting.

When, I ask?   Silence.

It simply can't come soon enough for me! Until then, I'm trusting in MY SANCTUARY.

And pondering.......

What WILL our world look like when it is FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?

(Note:  Isaiah was married, had two sons, and Jewish tradition tells us he died by being sawed in half.)

COUGAR???

I CANNOT quit staring at this picture!  It was taken very near my sister's house in Illinois. (last week!)

This creature is HUGE!  And it's roaming around freely!  Usually I see this kind of animal in a ZOO! It's reddish in color with a black tipped tail and  black feet.

The image was captured by a night vision camera installed by some deer hunters. I'm sure they were hoping to see some big buck pass by. They NEVER expected this. 

Now I'm hearing that hunters in the area search out these big guys frequently! WHAT? There are more???  Yes, there are other pictures of this fellows aunts, cousins, siblings, and friends popping up in local newspapers there.

The phrase "things that go bump in the night" comes to mind. Perhaps "things that go grrrr in the night" would be more appropriate. Because I am an avid fan of National Geographic I KNOW he likes to eat...REGULARLY!  Scenes of flying legs, teeth bared,  and rabbits fleeing for their life are popping into my brain.

Having lived in that area long ago and having visited many times in the past few years, I simply cannot imagine coming out her front door to face this! Time to start "packin some heat" don't you think?

Just what IS the plan? What do you do if you round the corner of your car late one evening heading to the house and this hungry face greets you? I don't mean to be an alarmist, BUT being prepared might be a good idea.

Is there a website titled, "How to scare away a cougar!"

It's the wild, wild west all over again. 

This helps me be content living in a city.  The beasts we deal with here have only TWO legs and usually are NOT carnivorous!

Be safe my country family and friends!