BIRD WATCHING

He's looking at me!  And I am looking back!
Hey birdie!  Look at the birdie and smile!  I'm taking your picture!

Yes! This is what old people do on slow Sunday afternoons. Honeybuns and I sat in ROCKING CHAIRS on the back patio and waited for this guy and his cousins to come for a snack!  Free entertainment for about 20 minutes.

When the yellow finches arrive, it is CERTAINLY spring!  They are beautiful! I have counted as many as 15 hanging onto this bird feeder at one time.

But, just one turn of the head, sneeze, or slight movement sends them off lickity split!  They're pretty skittish!

So, what's up with that?  We were not about to harm them or try to catch them.

I guess it's the old "fight or flight" syndrome, and since they are designed beautifully with those tiny feathered wings, they can and they DO choose FLIGHT!

What talent!  I'm sure mankind has envied birds since the garden of Eden.

Wouldn't it be fab to be able to lift my arms and SOAR?  I  doubt I would be so easily frightened, BUT, it would be nice to "lift off" when the laundry is piled up, relationships flare up, or expectations rise up.

 Escape!  Yep!  That's what this finch is doing!

Evidently I/we are not supposed to escape every time something goes awry, or we'd have feathers, too.

Perhaps we're supposed to live and learn right here at ground level.

(I have a crazy FEAR of heights anyway, it would never work!)

So, the bird fears me and I fear heights.  Evidently this whole thing is working out the way it's supposed to. While he's flitting around today, I guess I'll go do laundry!

CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM

The Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, AR is FABULOUS!

Honeybuns and I drove over Saturday for the day. 

We've heard many positive comments about this museum so we needed to see it for ourselves.  It's amazing how many Masterpieces are housed there in the hills of northern Arkansas, home of Sam Walton and the Walton dynasty.

The building itself is worth the drive!  It is a maze of curves, water features, and soaring windows. Views of blooming dogwoods and native plants along the many walking trails makes it an indoor/outdoor experience. Entrance is free, thanks to the Walton foundation and Saturday it was FULL!  Families, couples, baby strollers and prom dates wandered through the corridors. (The gowns and tuxedos added to the festive atmosphere.) Museum volunteers were everywhere making sure everyone was having a good time and the pieces were protected.

Walking Boy!

The upscale restaurant is fun and very popular. Special "reading rooms" furnished with comfy sofas and books related to art gives weary feet a rest while curious eyes can flip through art history pages.

The permanent collection is something I would expect to see in NYC or perhaps France. Both traditional and modern art was breathtaking! Even the sculptures were entertaining.

The traveling exhibit of the work of Norman Rockwell brought smiles to EVERY FACE!  As a fan of Norman, Honeybuns was mesmerized as he read about the artists career and work all made famous with those Saturday Evening Post covers that documented decades of American history. Mr. Rockwell would have been very proud to think that his interpretation of middle America was actually being ENJOYED by middle America. We chose favorites and wanted to bring them home with us.

Look at those hair-dos!

Ceiling of the restaurant!

 

Man by light switch!

We love museums and we love Arkansas!  It was a great day for both!

REALITIES OF TODAY

Warning:  This blog post is depressing!  Proceed at the risk of YOUR mental health or at least your MOOD!

I am bewildered! Not stressed, not anxious, not angry, and not ready for the rubber room just yet.

 And  I am a list maker. 

Lists are therapy for me.  If I can see it in a concise form, somehow it becomes manageable!

I'll title this one: The Top 15 BAFFLING REALITIES OF TODAY.

1. A bomb in a pressure cooker kills and maims, and poisionous letters are sent to Congress.
2. The trial of abortionist Gosnell is totally ignored by the American media.
3. California citizens readily sign a petition to "rid" America of the first and second amendments after being told that they would be supporting their President.
4. The new health care law is contained in 17,000 pages and Dr's. shake their head in disbelief at the size and directives.  (One local Dr. recently predicted that America will skip socialized medicine and willingly accept communism, called by another more positive name of course.)
5. Marriage is being re-defined and if you support the differences and roles of men and women you are a dangerous bigot.
6. A black brilliant neuro-surgeon is labeled and threatened because he happens to be conservative.
7. Proven adulterers and sex addicted politicians are returning to office with the support of voters.
8. Guns laws are being debated and presented for a vote in congress that would not have stopped ANY of the past mass shootings, ignoring the fact that criminals do not OBEY LAWS.
9. Over half of the population believes that the way to get out of debt is to BORROW AND SPEND trillions of dollars MORE. (Rain tax is supported: taxing people for the amount of rain that falls on their property, monitored by satellites.)
10. Modern day slavery is rampant and the porn industry that feeds Human Trafficking is considered recreation. (Customers are white men with discretionary income.)
11. Infanticide is considered a "decision between a mother and her Dr."
12. Jay Leno has proven that most folks on the street do not know the name of the Vice President.
13. 1 Ambassador and 3 others are murdered in Benghazi and no one knows why.
14. Illegal is now defined as undocumented.
15. (Honeybuns favorite)  Corporate jet owners that worked and paid for their planes are vilified while the one criticizing flies around the world at the expense of the tax payer.

There are more but if I go on, I'll have to eat a bag of Oreos, just to get through the day.

So, what do I/we do with "the new normal?"

CHOICES:
A. Ignore it all, tend to my own knitting and pretend none of this affects me or my family.
B. Try to be a voice of reason when given the opportunity.  "Evil reigns when good men do nothing."
C. Rest in the Sovereignty of God, knowing that "nothing can separate me from His love."
D. all of the above.

I choose B and C. 

Whew! That was hard but I have a plan!

BLUE GRASS AND STEPHEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

Blue Grass is BACK!  Maybe it never left.  But it's not been playing around our house for several years.  I don't know why I've neglected it. I've ALWAYS loved it, amazed at the talent it takes to bring fabulous music from a banjo.

In the style of Mumford & Sons, Stephen Curtis Chapman and his flying fingers have just released a new CD titled Deep Roots! We found it at Cracker Barrel at Sunday lunch. The music is really good!  He has made some new arrangements of old hymns, sometimes including his father and other family members singing along. 

As he sings those old fashioned words  I am immediately transported back to memories of country days.  I can feel the sun on my face and see clouds of dust billowing up from dirt roads, usually by an old pick up truck!

As wonderful and up lifting as contemporary worship songs might be, there are NONE that relay the simplicity of  Blue Grass.  I'm thrilled that it's gaining in popularity!

The Chapmans have "deep rooted faith." It has been tested by tragedy in recent years and found to be the real deal. I suppose knowing their story adds to the authenticity of the words as well.  He sings of what he knows and he knows the ONE of whom he sings.

I like that title "Deep Roots."  There has to be a "drawing" upon the strength of deep rooted faith when trouble comes.  Jesus promises us a troubled life as long as we're on this earth, but also promises HIS presence in and through it as well. And THAT is more than enough. These old hymns teach that.

False prophets teach just the opposite and millions of people have swallowed that lie from the pit of hell: hook, line and sinker.  I hear personal testimonies of such grandiose statements almost every day.

 It goes like this,"God would NEVER allow a tragedy to come to my life!"   I shake my head sadly.  We live in a time when it's acceptable to  "make up" a definition of the Sovereign God just to fit our needs and foolish ideas. "Feeling good" is readily embraced at the expense of the TRUTH.

Music is powerful and the WORDS are important.

Remember this one,  "Be careful little ears what you hear!"

Call me old-fashioned, but my ears are enjoying TRUTH today, set to the music of a banjo playing Blue Grass.

THE VICE SQUAD AND THE CHURCH

It's not just every day that I get to visit with  members of the vice squad!  Wow! What an education I received.  Four members of the Christians Against Trafficking coalition had the privileged of talking with some very experienced Tulsa undercover police officers this week.

They had much to say and we had much to learn.

Their stories set our hair ablaze as they shared statistics and frustrations.  They work hard, mostly while the rest of us are sleeping.  They find themselves in situations we will never encounter. Some of their tales sounded like something fresh out of a movie. They are trained, motivated, and committed to delving into the sub-cultures of our city.

Tulsa is a wonderful place.  It is filled with good, honest, God-fearing people and has a matchless reputation of volunteerism and philanthropy.  700 churches meet weekly.  Many positive elements in the city and surrounding areas make this a fine place to live and breathe and raise healthy children.

BUT...as we learned this week, the criminal element is thriving as well.  As in most cities across the US, the people in power in Tulsa have a huge task when they start prioritizing crimes to prosecute. There are just too many! There is only so much time on the court room docket, only so much room in the jails. The problem is humongous and the judicial system is broken, most often by sheer volume.

Our new friends have the distinct job of routing out prostitution, among other vices, and tell us that sex crimes are rampant in our town. Drugs and violence are interwoven. And those crimes are destroying families, businesses, and children.

Since the "world's oldest profession" has been around pretty much since the beginning of time, we were not surprised.  Evidently local massage parlors and upscale hotels are the popular meeting places. "Stings" similiar to those we've seen on "Dateline" are common.

We were stunned at the number of very young girls that are found by these officers. (Thirty a night is not uncommon.)  The Internet is their method of advertising and huge amounts of money are their reward. (Customers are typically white men with discretionary income, their names are published in the newspaper.)  There are many websites that exist for this business plan.

We heard stories of very young girls, some by their own volition, that make very bad decisions that determine their future. If under 16, the victim/perpetrator is sent to juvenile detention, for a short time! Rarely does that plan have a long-range positive effect.

 Sometimes pimps are involved, sometimes girls  are held by force, fraud, or corecion and then it becomes a case of Human Trafficking.

We discussed solutions, after-care, methods of operation and then the big question: "Where are the parents of these CHILDREN?"

The vice squad sees it all.  And they have a perspective developed through experience.

The consensus seems to be that parents have abdicated their role. Evidently today's parents don't want to parent but rather be FRIENDS with their children.  That rlationship involves no boundaries, no rules, no serious conversations, and no time! There is little help with education, spiritual training, or guidance as to how to get out and stay out of poverty.  Often the parents of the "children of the night" have no idea HOW to parent. They themselves had no role models or support systems.  Some are trapped in generational poverty and don't even know it. Drugs are commonplace, jail is a place to rest and get fed for a few days, and an arrest is nothing to fear. (They KNOW the judicial system is overloaded so an arrest is a minor inconvenience.)

Other absent parents are found on the golf course, in the office, or jetting around the country. Buying gifts or trips can be mistaken for parenting. Also, today young boys have an option, they don't have to grow up and become men/husbands/fathers if they choose not to.  They can choose the life of extended adolescence and forego adult behavior and responsibility. Children of fatherless homes are so vulnerable.

We offered help and prayers.  They appreciated both, and sincerely believe their efforts are doing "some" good and "if one young girl is rescued" their efforts are worth it all.  Their workplace is dangerous and often very sad, but they are determined to persevere.

It takes some very brave and wise folks to do what these people are doing.  Strength, wisdom and compassion were on display at our meeting.

A few months ago a Federal Attorney we met summed it up, "We in America do not take care of our children."  The people on the vice squad are certainly trying!

COUNTERFEIT GODS?

Timothy Keller has hit the nail on the head!  Actually he does that every time he writes, ANYTHING!  This Manhatten pastor is a critical thinker and gifted communicator.  His words ring true.

In his book, Counterfeit Gods, Keller explains the how and why all those wonderful pursuits of success, money, true love and the life we've  always wanted OFTEN leaves us restless,  lonely and dissatisfied. He quotes several Biblical characters and tells their stories so WE might learn a lesson or two.

In our era of economic meltdown, ALL that disappointment is magnified in divorce, bankruptcy, suicides, bitterness and hopelessness.  If ANY good has come from America's recent downturn financially/culturally/spiritually it is the revelation of how foolish it is to place our hope and hearts in fortunes, marriages, relationships, careers and a secure retirement.  They ARE Counterfeit Gods! Americans have worshipped them for years and they have crashed around us.

He describes a  strange melancholy that is a result of a culture FILLED idols. We can (and do)  make gods out of children and family, career and making money, achievement and critical acclaim, a romantic relationship, a political or social cause, morality and virtue,  peer approval, military power, health, fitness, beauty, emotional dependence of others on you,  ideologies, saving face or social standing. We develop relationships with people and things that can only be described as worship.

Sometimes the god of  religion goes askew with the thought, "if you live a good life, then the gods or God will HAVE to bless you and give you prosperity."  The ones that follow THAT god assume that the most successful people in a society are those closest to God. The daily headlines prove THAT line of thought false! (Jesus Himself tells us that we WILL have troubles as long as we are in this world.)

 Whew!  What a description of America!  These "gods" are "in our face" 24/7!

Years ago, Bill Gothard defined idolatry as: "Expecting anyone or anything to do for you THAT which only God can do."

Archbishop William Temple said, "Your religion is what you do with your solitude." In other words, the true god of your heart is where your thoughts effortlessly go to when there is nothing else demanding your attention."

Also, another way to discern your true love is to look at how you spend your money.  The mark of an idol is that you spend too much money on IT.

Another question, "What are you really living for?"  If you pray and ask for something and don't get it and respond with explosive anger or deep despair, then maybe you've found your true god.

Final test. Look at your uncontrollable emotions.  Fear, frantic activity, overworking, despair, guilt?
Pull those emotions up by the roots and see which god is clinging to them.

Idolatry is not just disobeying God, it is setting the whole heart on something/someone beside HIM.

The solution? It is NOT pulling yourself up by the boot straps or obeying rules of outward conduct, but setting your heart on Christ as your peace and your life.  THAT is the road to freedom from counterfeit gods that control us.

Thank you Timothy Keller!  You've challenged us to THINK!

INTRODUCTION TO FISHING

First fish of the season! It's there, you just have to squit one eye and look very closely. It was the ONLY one hungry enough to take a chance on that worm.

Papa is holding the line and that "monster" fish is hanging on the hook.  (Not to fret, we released him back into the lake immediately after this picture, no permanent harm done to him.)

It was Thompson's very first fishing trip. (age 3)  Nevermind that it lasted only about an hour and the "trip" consisted of a short walk from our house.  It was a VERY big deal for him. 

He loved the tackle box and all the equipment, the lake, the geese, the turtles and the setting. He did NOT love the fishing worms.  And he did not kiss the worm before it went on the hook, "just for luck."

Every little boy needs to know about fishing. Hopefully next time we'll go somewhere and catch one big enough to FRY!  I'm sure he'll love that!

A fishing trip with Papa!  Priceless!

GOOD FRIDAY

I cannot imagine walking down a familiar road in my town and seeing human beings hanging on rough hand-cut crosses.  The pain, cries, sweat, blood, flies, heat, and smell must have been horrific.  The religious and political leaders sneering, laughing and mocking added to the surreal scene. Relatives, friends, and people passing by must have been in some type of shock at the sight. The Roman method of capital punishment was unbelievably cruel.

Watching someone you love hang there must have been unbearable!

How Mary, His friends and His disciples even lived through that day is remarkable! I wonder if his mother cried out, "let it be over soon."

The Bible says the sky went dark from about noon until three o'clock.

Maybe that was some type of comfort, a type of sheltering from the intense heat, the sneers, the gawkers.

It WAS over about three that day!  All the hope His disciples had placed in Him to make things right, to overthrow Roman rule, and to vindicate their loyalty to Him, all gone. He was dead! 

All their misplaced theories and desires were crushed.  They gathered at a hiding place as well.  Their lives were on the line now too.  To those alive then, that Friday was NOT good!

What sorrow! What indescribable grief!

 Where is the grief today, where is the sorrow for all the sin of the world that put Him there?

I don't see a lot of grieving over sin these days.  In fact, that word is not politically correct.  Just try to bring it into casual conversation! Sin these days is defined as just an alternate life-style that must be embraced. Every man does what is right in HIS own eyes!  Our culture is dark and evil seems to be gaining ground.

The cross proved that sin is horrific and demands a price. The price offered and received that day was the body of the Son of God.

God have mercy on us all!

CASTE SYSTEM ? IN AMERICA?

WOW!  What an eye-opener!

For a while now I've been extremely frustrated at the national dialogue over just about every subject imaginable: Freedom, right to life, same sex marriage, taxes, politics, morality, movies, value of children, etc.  I've bemoaned the fact that it seems that when we talk to one another we are speaking foreign languages.  There seems to be no clear speaking OR understanding!

Well, Ruby Payne, PhD. has helped explain to me this phenomena.   According to her extensive research we ARE talking different languages because of the vast differences of MIND-SET found in different socio-economic groups.  We might all be Americans but we live in different WORLDS.  The world of poverty is starkly different than the middle-class and the middle-class thinks and behaves totally different than the wealthy. (No news flash there!) The values placed on family, food, education, relationships, clothing, language, money, time, destiny, world view, love, humor varies GREATLY DEPENDING upon the "caste" you were born into!  (OH, my, I thought this only happened in India!)

The family patterns in generational poverty explains why poor children find education in our public schools so difficult and higher education an impossible abstract dream.  Role models and support systems are critical for poor children to succeed and are often missing from their life. This book is a must read for educators, employers, policymakers, and service providers. New creative ideas are possible and critical. Unspoken rules/skills/tools of the middle and wealthy class must be taught and LEARNED.  Until they are the poor don't even know they HAVE a choice to succeed.

Dr. Paynes research and countless books and seminars have earned her the title of expert. Without judgment or condemnation Dr. Payne suggests many ideas to turn things around. Throwing money at a failed educational system is NOT the answer. I find this fascinating.

Anybody in power listening to Dr. Payne?

(How does this affect our national scene?  Speaking the language of the poor and keeping them poor translates into votes, manipulation and dependence. )

MUSHROOMS, HERE I COME!

Tis the season! The Morel  Mushroom is "edible gold" from the woods of America, and it's almost "open season." (These were found by my nephew last spring at one of his favorite "hot spots.")

I did a little research, actually about 5 minutes of research, and have learned that there is a wealth of information about these little tidbits of nature.  There are online sights that answer questions, predict the best time to harvest in various states, recipes, equipment needed, rotten tree logs identified and even one called a "sightings map."  Pictures of poisonous and non-poisonous  'rooms are critical information for the novice. Who knew?

All I know is that hunting mushrooms in the spring in central Illinois is one of the most fun times a family can experience. This pictures brings a SMILE to my face as I reminisce. (Tromping through the timber, head bowed down, eyes pealed for snakes, shrieking with joy at a find, relatives racing to the sweet spot near an old rotten elm log, picking them as fast as possible as if they were going to be going anywhere.)  The added reward is EATING them! (Wash/soak in refrigerator in salt water to get rid of bugs, rinse, pat dry, dip in egg, drag through flour, fry in hot oil in Granny's old iron skillet.)

I've learned today that they grow in most states with the weather, ground temperature, amount of sunshine and perfect soil all factoring into the sport. All but the deep south and the desserts of the southwest can claim them, with southern Wisconsin being the very BEST area to plan a hunt.

The season is short, beginning mid-April through mid-June. The relatives in Illinois usually head for the woods mid-May.  Checking out all the .coms makes the whole process a science that guarantees rewards!

And folks are still bad mouthin' that evil Internet!   If it helps me find a "mess" of these in OK, I'll be singing it's praises!

A NEW POPE

Wow!  It's been an interesting week, Pope-wise! 
The world has been watching a simple little pipe propped up through the Sistine Chapel to see if/when the Catholic Church would elect it's new leader. And there he is: Pope Francis.

And folks around the world are abuzz!  I have checked the history and belief system of this very loving simple man and LIKE HIM!

But, he's already a problem for many folks!

Evidently the fear is that THIS guy is going to stand on principles that have been in place for thousands of years and until recently thought to be good and right and holy!  There has been talk and now dismay that the Cardinals did not choose someone YOUNGER, MORE LIBERAL, MODERN, SOMEONE WILLING AND ABLE TO CHANGE THE TENETS OF THE CHURCH to align with pop culture.

It's incredible and very interesting!

Because we live in an age titled, post-modern, truth is relevant, you see!  It goes like this:  believe whatever you want and if you're sincere, it's OK!  If you want to believe  God is Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy, GO AHEAD!  Your truth may not be MY truth, but who cares, as long as you sincerely believe it. It's your business, right?  How foolish! And how very common!  Relevant truth has left in it's path a confused generation with no foundation to base life's decisions.

Enter Pope Francis!  He has the audacity to believe that marriage is ordained by God and involves one man and one woman.  He believes life is a gift from God and not from a murky cesspool of tadpoles. He believes EVERY child began as a "thought" from God and thus sacred.  He refuses euthanasia for the elderly but leaves the end of life also in the hands of God. He depends upon the Sovereignty, Grace, Power and Love of an entity beyond human comprehension.

He embraces all the old time traditional beliefs that were once held in high esteem in this country.

Not so anymore.

Today, to uphold the Biblical standards of life and love is to somehow "judge" those that make other choices.  To stand firm on scriptural principles is to somehow "hate" those that disagree.  How foolish and irrational.  NO ONE is forcing anyone to be a Catholic or a Christian. Free will is well....free! And in the midst of all the crazy criticism true believers LOVE their neighbors regardless of their lifestyle, because they embrace the dignity, value and worth of EVERY human being.

 I find it amazing that those that have no understanding of the meaning and mission of the church or have read the Book,  malign it for NOT modernizing the tenets of the Christian Faith. 

Would our culture dare insist that Islam change it's practice of stoning women, beheading thieves and homosexuals, or even bigamy? (The silence is deafening.)

Should pop culture be the standard we hold high for our children as we try to teach them right and wrong to PROTECT THEM, TO GIVE THEM THE BEST LIFE, TO ASSURE THEIR SUCCESS IN LIFE AND LOVE? 

Should Hollywood, People Magazine, Rock Stars, the Homosexual Community, the Pro-Choice Movement, Skin-Heads or Al-Queada be given the position of determine moral and ethical behavior? Who died and appointed ANY of those folks GOD? Why are we following or listening to people anyway?  No matter how strong, successful, sincere, wise or persuasive, all people are capable of the worse atrocities imaginable given the "right" set of circumstances at any given moment.  It's in our nature.

Why NOT the applaud the church for being the church?  Why NOT embrace the principles put forth in the Bible?  My guess? Perhaps because there IS such thing as TRUTH  and it is found there and it is NOT found comfortable by those that want to make their own rules.

Faith requires the faithful to adjust life TO the scripture, not the other way around!  HE is God and we are not. ALL trouble begins when we get that basic TRUTH backwards.

(I've spent years trying to get the first commandment right,  "Thou shalt have NO other gods before Me."   That includes my own pitiful ideas, plans and desires.  If I ever get it down, I'll let you know.)

I LIKE this new POPE! (And I'm not Catholic.) He's got the platform, looks like he's got the strength and determination.
He's also got a bull-eyes target on his chest and is no doubt depending on his GOD for protection, mind, body and spirit!

He's got quite a task ahead of him.  Maybe God will use this man to call our culture back to it's senses.

God help him, He's going to need it!

RIDGE READERS BOOK CLUB

 Here we are in ALL our glory. The Ridge Readers Book Club met this past Friday (2nd Friday of EVERY month) to discuss this month's book AND to celebrate Shirley's 75th Birthday.
(Tall red head behind the flowers!)

The book was "Very Valentine" and was fine.  The party was VERY FINE!  We shared brunch, mimosas, old-age quotes, Julie Andrews "Favorite Things" song AND a whole lot of laughter.

These are the finest women in all of Wagoner County.  (We missed you, Charlene!)

We've been together 6+ years, once a month, every month! 

Having lived in many places and belonged to even more organizations, I have to say this bunch is unique!  We come from all sorts of backgrounds, experiences, states, religions, educational and professional experiences. Somehow it gels!

Never have I experienced such FUN, respect, stories, grandchildren pictures, wisdom, silliness and did I say FUN!

None of us miss this meeting unless by providential hindrance! To miss our monthly meeting would be to miss out on the laughter,news,  jokes, one-liners, self-deprecating humor and of course the BOOK!

We've read, cussed and discussed an unbelievable variety of literature. (God bless TRUMAN!) Our leader Marion keeps the list and tries to keep us organized.

We're planning a road trip next. Plans to rent a bus are in the works. We're headed to a museum in another state and we may evolve into a book/museum/travel club, who knows.  (Italy has been mentioned!)

With this bunch every day is a new day, every book a new book, every joke a new laugh, every meeting a new delight.

I'm so blessed to know these neighbors.

Front row: Donna, Karen, Shirley, Maureen, Dianna
Back row: Marian, Linda, Janice, Mary Lynn, Kathy, me. (Charlene missing!)

A BOOK could be written about THIS BOOK CLUB!  It would have to be classified as fiction, no one would believe the words on the page!

BABY CRIB BLUES

A  couple of years ago I finally sold our baby crib at a garage sale. Great bargain, $10.00. Even though it once held Hays, Maggie, Dax, Gabby, Gracie, Mollie and Thompson, it was taking up too much room in the guest bedroom. We decided that WHEN a baby came to the house we could borrow one for a few days, return it....and meanwhile enjoy the space.

What a plan!  It's been working just as we thought it would.  Our good friend Laura loans us her very beautiful baby crib every time baby Betsy Braner comes to OK.  We hurriedly put it together in the LAUNDRY ROOM and Betsy has her own private sanctuary! She sleeps like a ....well, baby!

Today I returned the crib once again, after a recent babyhood visit.  Laura and I met in the parking lot of a local restaurant (after which we would enjoy lunch!) and proceeded to unload the heavy pieces from the back of my red wagon to her red wagon.  After hauling, padding, positioning just so, I realized that the NUTS AND BOLTS of the thing were missing. Those pieces are CRITICAL when putting the thing together!

Extremely frustrated that Honeybuns had packed up all the pieces the night before for me but left out THE most important screws and hooks I decided right then to "call him out" on his neglect/forgetfulness/dementia, whatever!

Right there in that public parking lot, in front of my friend, I dialed him up on my cell phone.  With no polite hello or are you busy preliminaries, I quickly accused him of leaving the necessary pieces behind in the laundry room.  "How was I to know that they were not included in this shipment? Did I have to tell him everything??  Couldn't he remember this one thing so I wouldn't have to make another trip??"

He listened  kindly, politely and patiently remarked, "They're in your car,  I put them in the drivers seat, so you wouldn't miss them."

I ran around to my drivers seat.  There was a ziplock bag of baby crib hardware!  I had driven 7 miles, SITTING on the bag!  Never felt a thing!

If you had been outside today about 11:30 you could have heard him cackling!  He was a hootin' and hollering.'   Laura joined in!  .

How could it be?  How could I have possibly jumped in the car, put it in gear, backed out of the garage, and driven 7 miles sitting on a bag of hardware?

I'm blaming this incident on this flu bug I've been battling for a couple of weeks.  However, I now have a new nickname:  "Numbutt!"

It'll be a while before I hear the END of this one!  (You can't make this stuff up!)

VALENTINE DONKEY RETURNS

Unbelievable! And hiliarious!

As is our custom, Honeybuns and I exchange Valentine Cards on THE day every year.  It usually goes like this:  I place a funny card on his bathroom mirror the night before so he will find it as he gets ready for work early on Feb. 14th.  Later he will find a very serious, mushy, full of "vows of continued love card" in his briefcase as he opens it at work.

He does the same!  I'll find a funny card in the bathroom, another by a huge bouquet of flowers in the kitchen as I get ready for my day.  It's great!  We've settled into a predictable tradition!

I wasn't aware that we were SO VERY PREDICTABLE!  I think we're in a RUT!!

You see, the DONKEY CARD appeared AGAIN!  I vaguely remembered seeing this fellow in years gone by.  As I dug through my "special cards" box, found deep in the bottom of a dresser drawer, there HE WAS!  As I investigated I realized this donkey has made an appearance on Valentines Day for the past FOUR YEARS!

The above picture is the proof!

Honeybuns couldn't believe it!  If I had not saved these cards, he would NEVER have believed it.

Yep, I've received the same funny card FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!  Unintentionally!!!
I've often remarked that "every day is a new day."  Evidently "every card is a new card!"

Now, I'm sure some psychiatrist somewhere could have a hey-day with this. 

I'm chalking it up to old-age, dementia, and HALLMARKS very talented artists.

OR.....maybe we're just in a rut!   Changes are coming for February 2014!!

FEBRUARY FAMILY TIMES

What a great Saturday in February!  The Dallas kiddos were here for the weekend and the CO kiddos were in their car on the way to Branson for a family visit there. Wha-Lah!  Jamie made a little detour to Broken Arrow so the cousins could see each other for a short time.

It was great! After a few minutes of realizing family connections, they ran outside to play.  Chasing the dog,  each other and laughing made it a delightful time.

We slowed the fun for a few minutes to take an historic picture.  There they are, all nine!  Lined up like a who's who family reunion.  They are all sizes, colors, & personalities.

Left to right, back row:   Mollie, Dax, Hays, Maggie, Gracie.  Tiki and Betsy on Papa's lap, Thomspon and Gabby with Bebe! 

 They have no idea how they are equally and unconditionally loved. 

The time was short but absolutely memorable!! 

This picture says it all.  It's SO fun to watch them grow into very unique individuals.

One friend describes this picture as a foretaste of heaven.  It certainly was for us that day!

Love them to the moon and back!

HYMNS FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN

I have a great collection of church hymnals.  I find them at flea markets, buy them from churches, bookstores and have received a few as gifts. They are new, old, various denominations, country, high church, contemporary and chants. 

This week I've been challenged to use them for a new purpose.
It's a perfect match, my favorite hymns and my favorite little people.

Every once in a while we get an encouraging letter from a committee of grandparents who like us have family members attending Providence Christian School in Dallas.  This is one committed group of people. But, then again, aren't ALL grandparents!  We who have been in the "silly goose club" for a while now realize that there is NO recovery from the idolatry, the patience and the longing-for-the-best we have for our grands!

Back to the letter!  The writer encouraged us to PRAY the church's great hymns for our little people.  And this month I'm doing it. WOW!  What depth!  What a great idea!  (When I feel really confidant I  SING them, alone in the shower, of course!)  I love the words and phrases of these ancient artists!

Here's how it works.  I choose a hymn, match it up with a grandchild and put his or her name in the stanzas. The WORDS of these great hymns are theologically sound prayers! I'm SO thankful for these great songs of the church that have survived the ages. These hymns teach us of the character of God!  And what greater gift could we ask for our grandchildren, that that they come to KNOW Him. (I'm writing just the first verses here, there's SO much more found in the words of these songs.)

Hays - "This is My Father's World"   Father, Creator, show to HAYS that this is his Father's world. Give him listening ears to hear that all nature sings and round him rings the music of the spheres. Guide Hays thoughts to Your world of rocks and trees of skies and seas, Let him experience that it is Your hands that wrought the wonders.  (Creator, owner)

Maggie - "Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens Adore Him"   Oh, Lord, who spoke the worlds into being, who made laws for their guidance, please guide MAGGIE every moment of every day. Help her recognize Your hand in her life that she may adore You in the heavens, praise You with the angels in the height, rejoice before You with the sun and moon, and praise You with the stars of light. (Personal involvement)

Gracie - "All Creatures of Our God and King."   My God and King, I ask You to place in the heart of GRACIE a strong desire to lift up her voice in praise and worship to glorify You. May she find a voice to rejoice with the rushing wind, the clouds, the rising moon and the lights of evening.  (Praise Worthy)

Dax - "How Great Thou Art"  O Lord my God, please place within DAX an awesome wonder as he considers all the worlds thy hands have made.  When he sees the stars and hears the rolling thunder, and sees Thy power throughout the universe displayed, when he wanders through woods and forest glades, when he hears the birds sing sweetly in the trees, when he looks down from lofty mountain grandeur and hears the brook and feels the gentle breeze, fill Dax's soul with wonder.
(Power and Wonder)

Mollie - "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"  Immortal, Glorious God of wisdom, please teach MOLLIE that although You are hid from her eyes, You dwell in light and are almighty and victorious over all.  Teach her to think magnificently of Your great name. May she always bear You in her mind, acknowledging Your justice like mountains, high soaring above and Your clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.  (Invisible and Victorious)

Tiki - "Love Divine All Loves Excelling"  Gracious Loving Father, I humble ask that You would help TIKI understand in his soul Your divine love that excels all other loves.  Fix in him Your humble dwelling and let him trust in the compassion and pure, unbounded love of Jesus.  (Sovereign and Tender.)

Thompson - "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus"  Loving Jesus, please cause THOMPSON to know Your deep, deep love, vast, unmeasured, boundless and free.  I pray that he would feel it rolling over him like a might ocean in its fullness. Cause Thompson to know that of all loves, Your love is the best - an ocean vast of blessings, a haven sweet of rest.   (Greatest love.)

Gabby - "Love Lifted Me"  Savior and Master of the Sea, if GABBY is ever sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, when she calls to You, hear her despairing cry; from deep waters lift her up, so safe she will be. Cause her to give You all of her heart and ever to You cling. Help her to always in Your blessed presence live and ever Your praises sing. (Protection and Safety.)

Betsy - "Jesus Loves Me"  Holy Lord and Mighty Savior, dear Jesus, cause BETSY to know every moment of her life that You love her and she can know it because the Bible tells her so.  Betsy can depend on the fact that little ones to You belong, even though she is weak, You are strong.  (Security and Truth)

Now, I think I'm moving on to their parents and choosing hymns for them, too!

The music of the church and my loved ones, it's a match made in heaven!

THIS TOO SHALL PASS

These beauties are confused!  It's still winter!!!

In fact, the Northeast portion of the US is COVERED with a ton of snow this morning!

So, what's this guy thinking????

Our warm OK days have tricked this daffodil into thinking it's HIS/HER time to shine!

Every yellow bloom a sign of hope!  It happens every spring.  Just when you think summer will never come one of these babies pops it head out of the dirt.  Maybe sunny days are NOT immediate, BUT they WILL arrive eventually.

Maybe our friends buried by snow today will remember and be encouraged, "the sun WILL come up, tomorrow."
That snow will melt and flowers will bloom for them again as well.  (Meanwhile I'm praying their power is restored, they are safe and warm and sipping hot chocolate.)

One of my favorite phrases (and I have many!) is "this too shall pass."

How many times have I whined and moaned about a situation only to finally realize that one day the "crisis" will be just a dim memory! Now, if I could remember that BEFORE the whining starts, everybody would be happier!

It's the daffodil theory!  Maybe I'll try to practice it for a few hours.  After all, WE'RE not scooping ANYTHING today, our house has not been washed away by a hurricane, everybody is healthy at the moment, jobs are intact, we have family and friends to love and be loved by, and the pantry is stocked.

Yes, daffodils remind me to be grateful.

Honeybuns will be delighted!

ANDY AND GABBY'S VISIT TO TULSA

  

We've had a great 4 days!   Andy and Gabby arrived last Wednesday afternoon and left today.  We knew Andy was coming to Tulsa to speak to various groups but Gabby was the big surprise!

What a great surprise!  (Thanks for letting her come, Jamie.) She insisted she skip school and come along because she needed a "day off!!!"  from kindergarten!  I think she was sufficiently spoiled and loved on.  She can go back to school tomorrow re- energized and refreshed!

I'm not sure Andy is refreshed, it was a "working" trip for him. He spent most of his time in front of groups talking about the main issue teens face today and inviting them to PARADISE.  Parents and teens alike are now longing  to spend a couple of weeks at Camp KIVU this summer, located outside of Durango, Colorado. (Get online and sign up NOW people! Spaces are being reserved as I write this!)

As parents of the speaker and grandparents of one of the cutest little girls in the world, we got to tag along as he rushed from one event to another. (In a couple of places I  tried to be cashier as people clamored for his books, most recent one ALONE.)

As a "totally unbiased" bystander in the audience, I can truly report:  This young man is brilliant! In fact, I heard that from some other folks in one audience as well!

He has done extensive research on the State of the Teen-age Union, the struggles teens and parents face today, interfaith issues around the globe, and the condition of the human heart that resides within us all. I watched as folks of all ages responded to his heartfelt, passionate, fun, entertaining and loving explanations. People were "tweeting" after the meetings, quoting him.

 There is no doubt that lives were changed as several hundred pondered their loneliness, confusion and faith issues. Next week he will lead the Youth Initiative at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C.

I am so proud of the work he is doing, and thanking GOD for HIS hand on his life.

He's fighting a virus and a longing to be home with Jamie and the other 4 kiddos. He misses them so much when he is traveling. Tonight he and Gabby are  flying to that spot where they belong. HOME!

I tried to convince Gabby to stay with us until she was 14 or so, but even though she had a super duper time here, she didn't want to be away from her family. She told me that when she is "grown up and a mommy," I could live with her!  Well, I'm looking forward to that!  That day will be here before I turn around twice!

That's what happened with ANDY!  I turned around twice and he grew up, and became a terrific, godly young man.

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!