mom is a verb

before the party

2012-01-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

Because my Mother thinks facebook is evil and of the devil, I am posting pics of the party here

2012-01-24T04:45:00.000-08:00

pictures from Baby James' party

2012-01-24T04:39:00.001-08:00

more pics from the whirlwind weekend...

2012-01-24T04:31:00.001-08:00

Downloading pictures for my Mother

2012-01-24T04:14:00.000-08:00

Downloading pics from digital

2012-01-24T03:54:00.001-08:00

Thirty years ago today

2012-01-20T09:22:00.000-08:00

Thirty years ago today, President Reagan took office. Our 40th.

I found out I was pregnant with my firstborn. The inaugural made it memorable. I was so thankful my sons started their life under President Reagan.

And now, that firstborn is a captain in the Air Force, and back in the arms of his wife and children. Thirty years later. Touched down yesterday from his six month deployment to Afghanistan.

Thirty years ago today, I found out I was going to be a MOM !!!

Before and After

2012-01-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

So cool to see how much the children have changed. Abby is taller, and David is more little boy or toddler than a baby.

Bob was naughty

2012-01-19T02:44:00.000-08:00

http://lostfart.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-in-bible.html

On Monday, I asked Bob if he wanted to be knotty. He thought he heard the other kind, and I hauled in the windchime project pieces. And he tied knots to the weed wacker line and restrung my funky windchime made of things that clang in Bob's old tool box. This one is mower man friendly. No sharp pointy parts. I had seen one at a craft fair years ago and decided we could to this from stuff in our garage.

On Wednesday night, our Pastor has been doing a chapter of first and second Samuel. Comedy comes in spontaneous moments...so I encouraged Bob to share on his blog. It was amazing. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Train

2012-01-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

We lent our old car to our son while he was waiting for the insurance company and buying a new car this week. I have been taking Bob to the train in the morning and this disel pushes the three huge cars east to Dallas from Hurst-Bell (Helicopter) just six or so miles north of us. It is a back-roads drive down "Greenbelt" to the station through some bottom land and the Trinity River. Most mornings are foggy, and the land there is swampy. I can't imagine anyone ever having a farm down there, but we pass an old hay field, and have lost count of the critters. Coyote, raccoon, possom... on an old two lane road.

At 6:10am it is still dark, and with headlights we creep down the road way too fast for my comfort...and once I drop Bob off, I get back on the Trinity Boulevard road that parallels the tracks for a space. With no leaves on the trees, the train speeds east next to bare trees that shadow it with flashes and once the train disappears under the overpass, it is like the train has entered a portal into another diminsion. My husband is gone from me...disappearing into another time and space of concrete and tall buildings and traffic, meetings and co-workers and computer challenges, for the next ten to twelve hours.

The sun is bright when I go to pick him up. So bright and low that I have to use the sun visor. I get to see the bottomland in the light, and notice they are actually going to build something? stakes and flags and trenches with a guard hut and heavy machinery seen in the light of day. What can they be thinking? When it rains and floods, all these roads are not passable. We have to take other routes. This is a flood plain. Who in their right mind??

But, I want to remember these mornings of warm lips and smeared glasses and the ghostly train that winks out into another diminsion...as my husband enters another world where he works so hard and spends his energy and life, spilt out for us. Yes, he enjoys his job, thankfully. But, his mind is such that he would prefer no interuptions, no distractions. Walls and a door would be nice, but no, the company puts them in cubicle farms like chickens to lay more eggs. While I get to lay about the house and play on this computer, and write of warm kisses and smeared glasses and the lights of a train speeding east to the mean old streets of Dallas.

Waiting

2012-01-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

Waiting for word. Checking facebook for posts and pictures. Captain Andy saw the sun come up in Germany! YAY

Halelujah

Thank You, Lord!

No sign or word that he is headed to Baltimore yet...but maybe in the morning, our time, he will be in his wife's arms at last. I'd love to see it. I'd love to be there but do not want to intrude. I ask too many questions as is.

Months ago, it seems, our middle son, Captain James and his wife asked to use our church's Fellowship Hall for first birthday party for Baby James. One year old already. We knew Captain Andy was due back, but had no clue we'd still be waiting. We asked if we could invite folks from our church, but felt like we were hyjacking Baby James' party. They said they did not mind, but even today, there are no guarantees Captain Andy will make it. And how do you word an email or post an invitation with so many unknowns?

So we wait. And I am so thankful Captain Andy is out of harms way. When I was down yesterday, and needing an attitude check, and a Divine infusion of Thankfulness, I sat in the back yard and prayed. Even before I was done praying, and elderly lady from church called and asked to come by. How do I tell her she was God sent? Then today, before I was done getting dressed, God sent another friend. Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to be sensitive to your leading tomorrow...who can I visit and help? You have been so gracious to me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Last Wednesday night, at Bible Study, the Pastor did the next chapter in Second Samuel. It has been a while since I read through those chapters...and read together, it was one of those times when I wonder, "Has this chapter always been here??" Abner is being pursued by a warrior in a civil war, and this sprinter runs so fast that somehow Abner's spear goes through the sprinter butt end first.

It caused everyone to pause. The force. Abner tries to get the guy to go away a couple of times, but the sprinter keeps coming, and instead of hand to hand combat, there seems to be the issue of it would be unfair. Did the sprinter not have sufficient armor? Because Abner advises him to take the armor of another. Abner is no spring chicken. What is God teaching us here? Why was this an the whole "insane" Saul versus David conflict put in the Bible? God anoints David king, but King Saul is still around and living out his miserable life of disobedience.

We look to God for direction. Daily. Hourly. We look to God for how to love the hard to love among us. We look to God to dispense justice. We look to God to work it all out in His perfect timing. And sometimes, it won't be until heaven home that everything will make sense. I might ask God, why ten days in Kuwait? What all were you teaching our son? us? Why couldn't Captain Andy make it home just a few days earlier and be there for Abby's fifth birthday? God has His reasons, and He says to trust. Just trust Him. Lean on Him.

And He sends friends to visit. Thank You, Lord.

Getting my hopes up

2012-01-04T05:13:00.000-08:00

Will we see the two captains together at last??

Last year, as our firstborn was headed to A-stan, and our middle son was headed home from there, they had this one week overlap which was stolen when orders were changed, and firstborn had to head out quicker than planned.

Middle son, captain in the Army came home and was reunited with his wife and baby son in a 3am ceremony. Firstborn, captain in the Air Force, his family moved to Texas to be closer to family during his deployment.

Any day now, firstborn will be headed home, and middle son and his wife are planning a party for their son's first birthday. Will the two captains be together? Will we rejoice that both are home safe and sound? Even while two nephews, one with six months to go, and one just starting his year long tour, stay in our daily prayers?

Two years ago, my birthday was the departure date. Last year, it was coming home for one, and departure date for the other. This year, my birthday should see all but one home.

It would be fun to point out the two captains to their high school. How often does that happen? They both graduated from Lamar, one in 2000, and one a year early. One went to A&M, one to UTA.

Those two blue stars in my service flag represent two captains. Captains that are also husbands and dads. They have not been in the same room since middle son's wedding. To share a home...to share a bedroom...to go to the same schools, and share the same teachers...for eighteen years. And then be scattered to opposite sides of the globe. I know it is not unusual, as how often do I get together with my brothers? How do you tell brothers that you will be best buddies for 18 years, and then, flown the nest, it will be a rare day to visit the old homestead at the same time?

Captains, our captains...

Captain Andy...Captain Andy... (Showboat song)

They won't both be captains long. Soon, one will pull away into the rank of major. Then it will be major and captain for a while. And our nephew will be a captain. And both Jameses will be captains for a time. Then Major James M., and Captain James G. Then the Major Jameses? The Major James cousins? fun. fun.

And we will put the miles on the van travelling to see those grandbabies!

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

I Chronicles 12:32 ...they understood the times...

12:32 From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command – they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Imagine being fit, capable of marching for miles over hill and dale, equipped, knowledgeable of weapons, generously supplied, and understanding the times.

Being able to cut through the liberal, biased media. Being able to discern and be strong. Imagine. Imagine a family of relatives all of one mind.

And then that being what is remembered about you for all time in the Bible!

We have been enjoying perfect weather. Able to open the windows during the day. Clear skies. And the rye seed Bob planted has spouted into the best green grass. He mowed it for the first time, and picked up the last of the leaves.

I heard fireworks last night at intervals. But, went to bed early. We started celebrating with each section of the planet. Our thoughts turned to where our son is deployed at 1:30pm our time. Midnight there. So interesting to read of the folks in Samoa skipping Dec. 30th. No one can claim it as their birthday. They wanted to be the first to celebrate the New Year. Too funny.

In a few weeks firstborn will be home. Reunited with his family. Then we can truly celebrate. And the January birthdays begin: first grandchild turns five January 10th. Then Baby James turns one January 22nd. Then Bob's big six-oh on January 26th. YAY.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

My memory is such that I do not remember what we did for Christmas last year. So, I journal blog here that this year was a very quiet day. We went to the 10am service which smelled of cinnamon rolls Donna baked in the church kitchen. The service was on the history of the Christmas songs interrupted by singing some of them led by the teen. Our "lead" guitar soloist/leader was not raised on hymns. And had not bothered to practice. His crew tried to help carry him. He even apologized after the first flub, but flubbed again. And by the third song, the tired drummer and tired guitar leader played musical chairs with one of the gals leaving her standing. This distracting drama raged right behind the pastor...and I was tempted to take said chairless a chair, but my dragging it 10 feet across the stage would have been more distracting than the bad manners exhibited.

We came home and ate leftovers. Done cleaning the kitchen by noon. Spent a quiet afternoon. Skyped with James and Amber and found out they were coming the next day instead of the day after. yay. Had fun contemplating playing with the baby grandson. Bob vacuumed and babyproofed on Monday while I headed to the chiropractor and Walmart for more victuals.

Excitement reined when said grandson arrived with his big smile of cuteness. Seems he likes forward facing carseatedness.

It is strange how most places close for Christmas. We knew of 2 McDonalds open in the area. Which is somehow comforting. But, I found a cute 4 episode series to show to Bob, Lost in Austen, as in Jane Austen. You tube to the rescue to finish the final two shows.

This year I had this desire to concentrate more on Christ's birth. And contrast how Egypt was a place of refuge in Jesus day. Now, Egypt is in full revolt, and anti-Israel and Christian. Egypt will turn back to God when Jesus comes back. So there must be a remnant there. Israel will be surrounded, outnumbered, devistated and looking bleak when Jesus rescues them in a very obvious regathering and renewal. ALL eyes will see, ALL knees will bow.

The sad part of the story jumped out at me, too. Parents of two year olds and younger in the Bethlehem and surroundind districts lost their babies. Evil king herod murdered them. To hold a precious baby grandson, and know hundreds were slaughtered is too sad to take in. A whole generation wiped out. Rachel weeping for her children.

And I never really noticed before (even though the Bible is plainly marked) that the story starts in Nazareth and ends in Nazareth. Joseph considered relocating...but when he heard which evil son of herod's ruled, reconsidered, and then received another dream.

Angel Gabriel appears face to face with Zacharias, in a voice/quiet presence with Mary, and in dreams to Joseph. Another set of threes. And emphasis on the individual needs? How many of us trust our dreams? And yet others were so living their lives on the faith in God keeping His promises to them---Simeon, and the old widow at the temple.

And what of the wise men? Bringing all creation into the story? The stars, and the angels say HE shall be for all people. The Jews are the keepers, the spotlighted ones trusted to keep God's specific instructions down through the ages. And Jesus sneaks into the enemy's camp, and starts taking victories. From fulfilment of the prophecies, to the flight to Egypt, to His earthly ministry, Jesus takes ground. Victory on the Cross and Resurrection with a promise to come back in God's Perfect Time to set everything right, and rule from Israel...oh happy day. There will be no more tears, sin, traffic, violence, injustice...there will be the earth ruled as God designed originally. The Garden revisited. A new heaven and new earth.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

2011-12-03T13:22:00.000-08:00

Oh, for courage.

But, what is my motivation? Is this anger? Am I taking it out in the right place, as if I have a right to take it out at all??

We "like" our church.

We especially love the Bible Study on Wednesday night, because God's Word is opened, and read, and pondered, and studied. We encourage each other. We go away amazed. Amazed at the God we serve.

Most Sunday sermons are good, for example, our pastor has been plowing through Judges...and while I noticed he artfully skipped that plow to other furrows in dicey passages, who am I to question what God the Holy Spirit instructed him to serve?

But, CHRISTMAS FALLS ON THE 25TH THIS YEAR. A SUNDAY.

And our church holds all their little cutsey Christmas parties on other nights to acommodate people. convenience. The big "play/musical" is scheduled for the 18th, a week before Christmas, which makes me suspicious that they are going to cancel church Sunday, the 25th. (they did this last time the calendars were thusly aligned, much to my shock).

I don't like nor appreciate the plays, musicals, and/or dog and pony shows. I ususally do not attend those. That is polite. I do not make a fuss. I just don't "play". I don't see them as worship, let alone sturdy teaching tools.

They will probably just slip it in the bulletin. But, if they make an announcement-----which they would do on the 18th when I was not there anyway, to the effect that there would be no church services on Sunday, December 25th, "so that memembers could spend time with their families..." if they said it out loud, in front of me, I would like to make a fuss.

1. What does it look like to the community (as we are called Arlington Community Church) that we are dark and silent on Christmas morning??

2. If one of my children got sick, and our DIL is having health issues, I'd be gone in a heartbeat. (and we have stayed home from church all week, with coughs)

3. If we are putting families above Jesus, then what, praytell does that teach our children??

4. If we are cancelling Jesus' birthday, will we celebrate it in April?? He was probably born in the spring, although Scripture is not specific.

5. Think about the Christians in China---they risk their lives to attend church, what would they think of us shuttering our doors for "convenience"??

6. Why not celebrate Jesus' birthday because that is what it is all about? Not a bunch of loud music, not a bunch of "actors".

7. Why not a simple service where we talk about Jesus??

8. or at least allow our church to be rented out to Mars Hill and show their service on the big screen??

There. I feel better. Do I send a nasty email to the pastor? copy and paste this list?

No. As Christians, especially women, we are to keep silent IN CHURCH. It says to ask your husband at home. Oh, goody. repectfully. peacefully. gently.

And pray. What would God have us do? We celebrate Jesus' birth, life, death, and Resurrection every day. On Easter---the much bigger holiday for Christians, we are especially excited, and thankful.

Mostly, this drives me to study the story again alone. And marvel afresh at the magic, the wise men, the star, the elements in primitive conditions...where God promised, and fulfilled His Promise to come and live with us. Immanuel. He came stealthily. Angels sang to shepherds...not in a church building.

Gold.

Frankinscense.

Myrrh.

A baby was born with doctors, without technology that saved mine.

A baby was born into a poor family, without conveniences like refrigeration and plumbing, and in comparison, we live like kings and queens.

The kings and queens of the story were bad. Babies died because the king perceived a threat from a promise.

Lord, guard my lips from sarcasm. We get so caught up in the gift giving...giving things other people do not want, in fact, stuff that will end up in a garage sale unless it is edible.

Lord, point us to how to celebrate Your Birthday. Not for our convenience, not for our benefit, but to stop and pause and remember the miracle of Your coming into this world, marveling at Your Plan to save us all. We do not earn nor deserve the Gift that is You. The commercialism bombards us on TV, movies, even at the stores. We are so blessed. We are so rich. Toys for each child?? Those toys break, and are quickly disgarded. Please help us give our children and grandchildren Your Truth that lasts and lasts. Please help us to honor and encourage each other. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Bribing God with what He has given us

2011-12-01T14:11:00.000-08:00

It struck me that Benito's giving me one of the flowers from our yard is like our pitiful tithe to God.

I think I have blogged about Benito before. He is eight or nine years old. He has lived next door since he was born. I remember him bundled up in blankets sitting out in the stroller. He was that toddler that chased our kitty in our yard, and peeked into our garage.

We could not even talk to him until he started school and learned English. But, as a little kid, being bored, he would throw rocks into the street, and lob them onto our cars parked in our drive. I used to provide him balls, nerf balls, and bribed him not to throw rocks at our cars.

He became friends, but more like a surrogate grandson. He would show up to visit, and asked only for drawing materials.

For a while, he would "trade" me a flower---roses he got from his aunt or someone in his house, and we would give him a box of juice, a piece of candy, some chips. Then, lately, the flower was a weed culled from our side yard, and now our Wandering Jew plant that is flourishing by the sidewalk. When we were out of town last week, we came home to picked flowers on the brick ledge by the front door.

But, it struck me, that anything we give back to God is something that came from Him in the first place. We are merely facilitators. We can give of our time, money, energy, but these are small, pitiful things compared to what we are given. So, maybe Benito is to keep me humble.

Blasphemy with TSSB (our national anthem)

2011-12-01T06:13:00.000-08:00

Or, having fun with the subject line in emails to my sweetie

One morning last month, October 15th, to be exact, we had slept with the windows open. Bob had left for work and James and Amber had gone home after a four day weekend. For some odd reason, James had set the possom trap before he left. He did not bait the thing. He just set it. I noticed that he also likes to close doors and adjust things. For example, to keep the computer cool, I let the door behind the computer stay open. James probably had not guessed why the door was left ajar, and closed it. So, why he opened the door to the trap and set it, is still a mystery to me.

I was waiting for the dawns early light so that I could see into the back yard, as it sounded like something was in the trap. And as it reminded me of The Star Spangled Banner line, "by the dawn's early light..." I put that into he subject line to Bob in an email. Thus began an exchange of emails where I used lines from our national anthem in the subject line to describe the situation of a possom caught in the trap that had not even been baited. (we have since tried to leave it thataway again, but no possom had wandered into the trap again, so we closed it before heading out to see grandkids before Thanksgiving. we did not want to come home to a very stinky "caught" possom.)

Here, copied and pasted, for your enjoyment, is that exchange of emails. As you know, you have to read from the bottom up to get the full effect. At one point, Bob was stumped by my subject line renderings, so his wit is hitherto exposed:

Tue, November 15, 2011 3:55:19 PMRE: (James' possom) catches the gleam...on the stream
From: "Williamson, Bob"
To: Joyce Williamson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahhh! I should have recognized it. I know the first and last stanzas, but you had me stumped with that those two lines about the hireling and slave.

From: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 3:11 PM
To: Williamson, Bob
Subject: (James' possom) catches the gleam...on the stream

it is more of the Star Spangled Banner... and have you noticed that if obama knew the last verse, he would not have been stumped about what our national motto is??

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

anyway, the city came and picked out James' patriotic possom, so:

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:

(James' possom will catch the gleam of the morning's first beam from a park, hopefully that has a stream...)

I know it is probably blasphemous to compare James' possom to our flag...but, I just started the first email to you by the dawns early light, and could not let go. Love, Joyceeeeee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Williamson, Bob"
To: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tue, November 15, 2011 1:07:19 PM
Subject: RE: No refuge could save the hireling and slave

My thoughts exactly. (Sorry, you have me stumped.)

From: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:59 AM
To: Williamson, Bob
Subject: No refuge could save the hireling and slave

No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Williamson, Bob"
To: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tue, November 15, 2011 11:28:24 AM
Subject: RE: at the twilight's last gleeming??

I’ve used a shovel to club a possum before, but that would just deprive some fox or cougar of a good meal. If the city dawdles, I’ll just take him up to the Trinity River when I get home.

From: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 11:21 AM
To: Williamson, Bob
Subject: at the twilight's last gleeming??

well, the city ain't picked it up yet. poor thang is gettin' frantic. how do we propose we do the deed??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Williamson, Bob"
To: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tue, November 15, 2011 7:52:54 AM
Subject: RE: by the dawns early light...

Them possums ain’t the brightest of critters, is they? Maybe if we baited the trap, we’d have caught three of them. (Such a shame you called the city already; this could have solved our dilemma of what to add to the Thanksgiving dinner at James and Amber’s.)

From: Joyce Williamson
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 7:35 AM
To: Williamson, Bob
Subject: by the dawns early light...

I heard noises in the backyard but I had to wait for the sky to get light...

and lo, James' possom. James set the trap for some strange reason when he was here. I noticed that James likes things closed. set. He kept closing the door between this room and the spare room. I keep it open so I can see the pictures, and to give us a few more inches with the rocker in the doorway. But, James kept closing doors. we keep the door behind the computer open to keep it cool, but James did not know that. funny.

I called the city animal control and left a message. and unlocked the gate.

it is a pretty big possom. big head. talk about stupid...there was no food in the trap. why wander into an empty trap when there is a whole yard of seeds upon which to dine??

Ah, James' possom just yawned. too funny.

Love, Joyce
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you start here??

Did it make sense?

I did a google search on our national anthem, and pondered the verses we have not sung in ages. Yikes. Deep stuff there. When was the last time you read all four verses? When was the last time you either sang or heard them all ???

Disguised

2011-11-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

What if Someone came and lived with us, but we brushed Him off because He was not handsome. In fact, He came cloaked in the disguise of the lowly.

He worked hard. Helped his Mother. But, He did not call attention to Himself. There was this time during his teen years and twenties that He was silent. Observing.

His Mother knew He was special. She had lots of other children to compare Him to, and she knew He never did anything wrong, never complained, never gossiped, never snubbed another. When they attended this wedding, and a crisis occured---they ran out of wine, His Mother sorta pushed Him forward, as Mothers sometimes have a tendency to do. She told the waiters to do whatever He said.

I wonder when His time came, did he tell his Mother that He needed to go preach now? His preaching was not popular with the elites, yet He drew large crowds. The rumors of how He healed sick people, the miracles of the blind to see and the lame to walk...why, He even threw out demons, and called Himself the Son of God. At one point, Mary listened to her other children, and tried to drag Jesus back home because of what He was saying.

Mary stood near the foot of the cross, and watched her firstborn die. She heard Him hand over her care to John. And she was there on Resurrection Morning. So much had been hidden from her, but for so many years she had pondered all the wonders, all the strange things people had said to her, all the strange happenings...

He came disguised, as the lowest of the low. Yet, in His prime, physically able to make it to the cross and fulfill all the Promises. He took our place, He paid the cost.

And I think He wants us to be compassionate to the old, the ordinary, the plain, the fat, the ugly, the hard-to-love. Sometimes He wants us to experience what it feels like.

Pastor Mark Driscoll gave the definiton of repentance: conviction by the Holy Spirit to compel you to Jesus. confession to God, contrition==broken, humble, grieved. change by the help of the Holy Spirit and putting to death the old man, the old sin nature...for arrogance is "natural" in me. and how forgiveness means you can't keep bringing "it" up.

What if you attended a fabulous banquet, but because you were fat or ugly or not wanted, you were relegated to the corner, not included in the pictures, and when you read about it in the newspaper the next day, there was no proof you were even there. You'd never treat Jesus like that...not if you knew Who He Was and Is.

But, Jesus did not come and hide among us as a fat, ugly Jabba the Hut. And even our preacher admonishes the fat for being not disciplined, not _______________. (spiritual?) He does not go that far, but his job is to admonish the lazy, stupid sinners. there is that sin of gluttony. sloth.

Because I am obese, I do not fit on airplane seats, and I saw on the news that the airlines have the right to refuse me service. Because I am fat, I sweat easily, and therefore, try to take lots of baths and showers so that I am not offensive to others. Sometimes little kids cannot help it, or have not been taught, and the looks I get, or the comments. I can't very well explain that God made me this way. Surely not. I must be honest with little kids. God makes some tall, some short...some thin, some fat? No, fat is usually a curse, as sign of failure.

And being obese has hurt my testimony...why believe my testimony, when it did not solve my physical eyesore. Why believe the gospel from my lips when my hips scream out failure? I need a tee shirt or signage to wear: saved by grace, spending eternity in heaven, and eating to get there as fast as I can!

Our pastor pushes us to be friendly, greet people...but, I don't want to scare them away.

Now add incontinence. Going to the grocery store is a challenge. There is the risk of a coughing fit...and filling up a pad. Having an accident. Now add excessive bleeding. Like an old model T leaking oil all the time. I gotta laugh.

Is there someone I am shunning? Is there someone I am avoiding?

Would I care if someone like me came over and leaked on my chair, or broke it?

Am I kind to the fatties?

What about that ten year old taken from their parents for being too fat?

God has blessed me with a kind and gentle husband. He helps me reach places and clean up messes. He knows I am a clutz.

Juanita Martin

2011-11-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

I am still too sick to go to a funeral. I was hoping to get to go. Still coughing and dealing with issues at both ends. My ribs do not hurt as much when I cough.

I am thankful to be home, to have access to clean clothing, wet wipes, a washer and dryer, and clean, fresh water. I don't know how Bob slept last night with my coughing. He said he had trouble breathing. I think, running the furnace means dry air, which dries out noses and throats. I bet I got up a dozen times. Tongue all swollen.

When we came home after Thanksgiving, one of the emails gave us the sad news of Juanita Martin's passing. She died early Thanksgiving morning. So, in essence, she got to celebrate Thanksgiving with her Savior. She was such a sweet, kind lady. She and her sister mastered facebook and email to keep up with their kids and grandkids. And I so feel for Janey, her sister, as Janey said that Juanita was her best friend. They came to church and Sunday School together. Juanita would ask about our grandkids. She knew, that grandkids are the best gift.

I never met her grandkids. I am sure many speak today. And I will miss that. You learn so much about people at funerals. Things they might have told you in life, but sweet stories.

Years ago, I would have gutted it out, armed myself with cough drops, and sat in the back. But, no.

I did make it to Walmart yesterday. Got the birdseed, but have not yet loaded it. Bob volunteered last night, but I can do it today.

We are low on bread, so I need to venture out. But, I am feeling sorry for myself. I cannot show respect to a kind lady, and am no help to my daughter-in-law, Lauren until I get over this cough.

And talking on the phone makes me cough. Time to throw another load into the washer. We live like kings and queens. Warm house, chairs, bright sunshine. We are so blessed.

My Dad and Mother sent me an email talking about how forty years ago, they moved to Houston, and now the last of their children have moved away. (my brother Bill and his wife are off to Florida on some venture---that is all I know, as email questions go unanswered)

Forty years ago, I was a sophomore in high school, and moved from Illinois where I was born, to Houston, Texas. Houston is where I would graduate from high school, learn to drive, work for an orthodontist, attend church---where I met my husband.

Thirty years ago, we moved into this house because our newborn needed a yard! We are still in this house where we raised three boys, and the last has flown the nest.

Twenty years ago, my sister's first husband died on Thanksgiving Day. Their son, almost five, is now serving in Afghanistan trying to keep morale up as they go about daily patrols.

Ten years ago would have been just months after 9/11. We would have been deep into all things college and high school band.

What do you Want for Christmas?

2011-11-27T00:23:00.000-08:00

it is a trick question.

your answer may reveal your love language.

Would you like to go back to that First Christmas? Watch events unfold? Hear the angels sing? Marvel at the fact that there were no Christmas lights? no trees. no shopping.

So, what do you want for Christmas? Peace on earth? Good will towards men?

What to DO for Christmas

2011-11-26T23:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas is about Jesus' birth. Christmas actually falls on Sunday this year. And even though I believe Jesus was probably born in April, December 25 is the time we set aside to remember and celebrate and wonder.

If I got to choose, I'd like a quiet Sunday morning service of hymns, a sermon containing all the elements of the promised Savior, long anticipated. Greeting friends at church. A turkey in the oven. dressing. mashed potatoes.

Then, relaxing at home.

Our daughter-in-law in Houston will probably want to spend this Christmas with her folks, and any gifts we burden them with will need to be shipped/hauled to Alaska for their remaining six months tour there. So, we need to shop carefully. Our almost five year old granddaughter can always use more tape, paper, and drawing materials. The practical side of this old grannie is talking. Clothes. Some clothes for her doll. books. games. I found her a new Veggie Tale dvd.

Our daughter-in-law in Oklahoma may want to keep Christmas just them or with her side of the family. So, maybe it is best to bring presents when we babysit Dec. 10th. We imposed of them for Thanksgiving. Baby James is at the cute age where he will enjoy the boxes and wrapping paper more than the presents. I hope they take lots of pictures.

Our youngest in Austin will probably be working...as he has not acrued vacation time. We will have to visit when it is best for him.

Our thoughts will be with our deployed son...and our deployed nephews. Praying for their protection, and wisdom, and insight, as they do their jobs, lead their troops, and probably not even see each other even though in the same country. I can't wait until they are all home safe and sound. How can I tell one nephew, the Army nurse, that if you run across the other nephew...with a different last name than his momma, will you introduce yourself? talk about how you share the same Uncle Bob and Aunt Joyce?? and under what circumstances? I hope it is a cold and cough and not an injury.

Every Christmas is different. And with all our sons flown the nest, our new normal means travelling to where they are, or hosting them here for visits...but, our house is small. We should knock out the back wall, and add a hotel. That way, our sons and their families might want to come visit. Most days, our house is a refuge, a place to rest and recoup, and eat--a peaceful haven for Bob to come home to after a long day at work. We keep the back yard green...but it will be a few years before the grandkids enjoy playing back there. The bushes need trimming. The windows need washed. And I am thankful everything is on one level. But, man oh man, I gotta learn to pack. I took too much clothing one direction, and not enought the other. I need to make a purse for stops, and a purse for knitting...and a separate bag for the odds and ends. And why don't these cars come with trash bag recepticles? Good grief.

I just remembered my shampoo stash in the car. Left it in the glove compartment. Holiday Inn Express has the best shampoo. Smells great. vanilla peppermint?

Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T23:14:00.000-08:00

I cannot sleep. I have a cold/cough/congestion...

It has been so long since I have had a cold that we are completely out of cough meds. The sutafed I did take a few days ago gave me such horrid dreams. So, I need to be careful of over the counter stuff.

We drove down to Austin to see our youngest son. Enjoying his job, but wanting more cash, he had applied to a pizza delivery job. So, electrical all day, and pizza at night. He posted on facebook that he had worked 52 hours last week including a day off for Thanksgiving. He was planning on going to Mississippi to be with cousins for Thanksgiving, but with the new job, stayed in Texas. Visited friends in Waco, and got fed good. Thank you, Cori for feeding my baby.

When we visited Ben in Austin on the 19th, he showed us around town. Showed us where he worked, and we bought him some new work boots for his birthday. It was hard to leave him, as he seemed lonely. So, I was glad to hear today that Cori fed him Thanksgiving. I owe her!

Then we drove to north Houston, Cypress, to see our daughter-in-law and her two kids, our grandchildren: Abby will turn five in January, and Baby David, who turned one in October. They are waiting on our firstborn to finish his deployment to A-stan. Living near her folks, and aunt and uncle, and grandfather. Our daughter-in-law is having stomach issues. gastritis, h. hernia, and gallbladder acting up. She has had lots of horrid scope and scan procedures...should get test results back Monday. hopefully. We baby sat for her for one appointment. She has lost 14 pounds in a month. Unable, and afraid to eat. Wish she lived closer so that we could help out more, but she and the kids do not need our coughs. Baby David bonded to Bob. It was so cute to see them play. Abby was busy drawing or cuting out things or taping...she has quite an imagination. And she let me read to her day 2.

We drove home and slept in our own bed for two nights, repacked and headed northwest after Bob's dental appointment on Wednesday and spent a few days at our middle son's home. The cold/coughs/drainage had just started...and part of me was tempted to stay home. But, our daughter-in-law assured us she had been sick, too. And Baby James, 10 months, was on antibiotics for his first ear infection. It was fun to see him crawling everywhere. And fun to help wrestle the turkey into the oven. Amazed I remembered to cook it upside down to keep the breast meat moist.

I was ready to go home as my cough was getting worse, but I think Bob would have stayed through Sunday! And I did not want to wear out our welcome. We watched our son and his wife decorate for Christmas. So good to see them having fun together. And we babysat so that they could get some shopping done, too. It was our third year in a row at Fort Sill. No telling where they will be next Thanksgiving. The end of an era. And next Thanksgiving, they will have two babies! What fun.

Maybe this will help jog our memories...and though scattered, our new normal: travelling to where the grandkids are. And trying to be a help. But, knowing our daughters-in-law extend us longsuffering. They'd rather be with their own folks. I was guilty of that when we were young marrieds. My folks lived closer, and dropped in all the time to see their grandsons. Bob's Dad lived way out in El Paso.

the dishrag pattern

2011-11-01T10:27:00.001-07:00

cast on four stitches.
knit across
knit two, yarn over, knit to the end of the row.
continue this knitting two stitches, then yarning over and knitting to the end of the row until you have the width you like. 40 or 42 stitches, for example. the yarning over increases your dishrag one stitch per row and gives the nice loop edging.
to decrease: knit one, knit two and three together, YO, (yarn over) knit stitch 4 and 5 together and knit to the end of the row.
continue until you have six stitches left on your needle.
knit one and two together, three and four, five and six until just three stitches are left. cast off. cut, & pull extra yarn through with a crochet hook.
.............................................

surely, I have written it up before, but someone asked for it, and I thought I could store it here to copy. ha

Today, my "baby" turns twenty-four

2011-10-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

Empty nesters are we. Today, my youngest son, my "baby" turns twenty-four years old. 10-27-87. I got to choose his birthday. His was a planned C-section. I enjoyed walking to the hospital that morning, as I knew the drill. I needed the exercise, and it was a deliciously foggy morning. Fog this time of year always reminds me of that morning. My Mom was watching my 14 month old and six year old.

Now he is grown. Flown the nest. Moved to Austin. Enjoying his new career. Working for an electrical contractor firm.

He called me yesterday. His background check came up clean. He was suprised. Ha. The Incident back in Alpine when he was twenty was mysteriously gone. I think he was suprised at that.

Ben recently built a friend a bunk bed set. He showed us the picture on his phone. Impressive. Ben is able to see something and then build it. He is gifted. We are so proud of him for going back to college and working toward an electrical degree. It was over a year of boring classes and challenges, but he stuck it out. He enjoyed the hands on parts. Told us stories and we are so glad his prof recommended him for his new job. The solar industry was dying, and while he enjoyed the challenges of climbing on roofs, and putting systems together, there was no money for it anymore. Government "stimulous" money never materialized. Companies went under waiting for promised money.

If Ben were in town, if Ben were home, I'd bake him a cake. Pineapple upside down cake. My presents run to the practical. Tee shirts, towels...something red or orange, his favorite colors.

Happy Birthday, Benjamin! Love, mom

Fun numbered date coming up

2011-10-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

a week from Tuesday, a fun numbered date is coming up:

10-11-11. And in November, 11-11-11. Next year, Bob pointed out, there will be a 12-12-12. But that is it for this century. fun, huh?

Midnight Call

2011-10-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

It had been a few days since I had seen a post or remark by firstborn deployed. When I caught myself worrying, I would pray. And it was so wonderful, when I asked firstborn's wife if she had heard from him...he posted a reply. whew. AND a picture. added blessings. Now we can visualize the mustache. And beautiful scarf his wife knitted him. And he got the packages. yeah.

Saturday night, nay Sunday morning---at 12:43am, the phone rang. There was no way i could make it to the phone by three rings. So, I took my time. Got up without tripping or falling, and went to the bathroom, and then wandered out to the living room to check the caller ID thingy. It was middle son's phone. His wife is 16 weeks along, and they have an 8 month old baby...so I called him back. He was walking around outside holding wide awake 8 month old. I could not hear the baby, so he was content in Daddy's arms. Enjoying being held, enjoying being outside, and our son said this was his second night doing this. What to do?

I later googled "baby waking up in the middle of the night" and found out that this is normal for this age. And that sometimes night terrors start at this age. So between teething, hunger, thirst, needing a diaper change, practicing new skills, and night terrors...take your pick. Growth splurt?

I felt blessed that our son was not afraid to call us in the middle of the night. Middle of the night calls are mostly never good. This same son was not afraid to call when he was deployed and ask me to go help his wife. These are treasured calls. He reminded me of when he was little, he used the speed dial on our phone at the time to call his Aunt Sally. When asked why he was calling at such an hour, he told Aunt Sally, I can't sleep. When asked why he was not telling his own parents about this, he said, well, their door is shut, and we are not suppose to bother them when their door is shut. Needless to say, we took them off speed dial.

He said he was tempted to call Aunt Sally again, and explain that the baby that shares his name cannot sleep...

I am not guaranteeing that I will even hear the phone ring after midnight. But, I am glad I got that one. I came back to bed and bragged to my deeply slumbering husband, but he did not hear me. But, he was wide awake when I told him the next morning...

Fun times.

Baby David turns ONE on Thursday. wow. They are coming to visit next weekend. YAY

And Baby James turns 9 months on the 22nd. And might learn whether he is getting a baby brother or baby sister this weekend. Hang on!

Courage and Thankfulness

2011-10-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&Keyword=Voddie%5eBaucham

wow. a preacher not afraid to teach what the separation of church and state truly means! and not just on Oct. 2nd, but for two Sundays, and maybe more promised!

we need to learn history. Lutherans in nazi Germany were told to shut up with Romans 13.

we need to go back to the old, 1800 definition of "politics" for the furtherance of morality.

Abigail in the Bible

2011-09-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

I Samuel 25:3 The man’s name was Nabal, 3 and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.

We studied the story of when future king David meets Abigail last Wednesday night at Bible Study. It is a small group lead by the pastor. I am amazed how the Bible comes alive when studied with other believers under the direction of the pastor as apposed to when I just read it for myself.

What jumped out at me on Wednesday was the phrase about Abigail's intelligence. Is this the only time a woman has been labeled intelligent in the Bible? I wish I had my old search phrase program on the computer as it would tell you how many times the word "wise" or "intelligent" occured, and you could scroll through them and see.

Or, was she wise in contrast to her husband whose name means, "fool". On the one hand, what idiot parents name their kid, fool? But, sadly, though the guy was very wealthy, he lived up to his name. It does not look like they had any children, but Abigail stuck with him. She even went behind his back and saved his life and stood up to David, who was coming for revenge. David's 300 men armed to the teeth were a clue. Abigail fed them with provisions after her servant wisely warned her about how her husband had blown David's servants off.

Ah, to be wise and beautiful, eh? For all eternity she shall be known.

In the story of David and Samuel and Saul, (king Saul) there is this underlying story of insanity---king Saul tried to kill David on numerous occasions. And David though he was annointed, never felt led nor directed to take revenge. Even after Saul slaughtered the innocent priests and their families.

Maybe God is trying to teach us that to take up arms against another is something so monumental that it must be done prayerfully, under authority, and under God's specific instructions. There are a few times in the Bible when they were instructed to take out whole peoples, and ciminals, and fornicators. Even today, the Jews in Israel bend over backward to preserve life.

And I was wondering about the Jacob wrestling with God story. Was that not the most bizarre?? So many stories in the Bible are a picture of the unseen conflict going on above us. I wonder if the Jacob and wrestling story is a picture of God and Satan? Jacob's name means deceiver. tricker. or is it a picture of the Jewish people wrestling with who will be their God?

I cannot imagine wrestling all night with a stranger. A stranger who lets you. A stranger who seems to toy with you. God could have taken Jacob out at any time. Instead, God touches Jacob's hip---an injury to remind Jacob of that night for the rest of his life, and even to this day, the Jews do not eat the hip joint on Passover. God appears and speaks to Abraham. God repeats His Promise to Isaac. And God wrestles with Jacob. It was not to make him worthy. It was physical, and hands on, and with a man probably close to 80 years old...yet only half way through Jacob's life on earth.

Was it a what if? or, a picture of the struggle with God and satan? God is allowing satan to wrestle for a while, but his end is decreed. done. Jacob's end is also decreed, and yet much suffering and travel, and wonders will occur in that play--as Jacob's life plays out. God wrestles with Jacob before the scary meeting with his brother. Is God showing us a part of His character? No where in that physical only match meet does God warn Jacob that he will lose a son, and think him dead, then gain him back. God reassures Jacob closer to the part where they troop back to Egypt because of the drought.

Droughts are a part of the weather pattern here on earth. God can deliver us through them, or make us wise to prepare for them. And last night we were given a half inch breather. Thank You, Lord. We sure need rain to refill the lakes, but You know what we need. Your Will be done.

Please guide and direct us, Lord to know how to prepare for the coming economic disaster, and to know how to stand with Israel. When to fight, and when to help. Only You, Lord, can turn our country back to You. Seems like half the folks have bought into the lie that is progressivism, liberalism, idolatry. Our ancestors would shudder to see this day where the Bible and even copies of the Constitution are not allowed in some schools and colleges having been labeled hate speech.

Please help us spend our money and our time wisely. Your Will be done.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

I am slipping

2011-09-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

For thirty years, we used one electric company. Bob decided it would be cheaper to change, so he did. For about three months, we got the electric bills, and I wrote out checks and paid them.

We have a system. We put the bills in the basket on top of the microwave which is stacked on top of the oven, and twice a month, I get the basket down and pay the bills. It is a very fancy basket which holds stamps, and receipts to match up to our credit card statement.

Early last summer, one son was going to Afghanistan, and one was coming home from a deployment. Then our daughter-in-law of the currently deployed moved to Houston, and her mail came here while she was intransition.

When our youngest had trouble with his mail at his dorm during the summer, his mail started coming here, too. I set out sacks and boxes with their names, and would either give or mail everyone their stuff.

Then the mail stopped, and I found a tag in our mailbox saying not to deliver any mail here. Everything was being forwarded to our daughter-in-law who had found an apartment near Houston. It was not her fault. The post office decided that her new address was for the whole "family". (the clerk at our post office guessed)

I did not receive the natural gas bill---water heater and furnace---but since we don't use the furnace during the summer, and water in Texas comes out of the faucet already hot, our ATMOS bill was puny. I looked up the address online (it is NOT on the statements, amazingly) and paid ahead guessing what our monthly bill was. We got one last week, and sure enough, my balance was zero.

But, the electric bill fell between the cracks somewhere. I got a card from my aunt in Colorado that someone had used as a coaster to a leaking drink.

So, is the post office not delivering mail? are they throwing it away somewhere? or forwarding it, and because it is an electric bill---not being forwarded? It is a mystery.

The "new" electric company cuts you off if you miss ONE payment. Isn't that lovely? Needless to say, Bob was none to pleased to come home last night, open the mail and see a disconnect notice. Thankfully, we got that! What if they had just cut us off without warning? or what if the warning notice was not delivered?

Bob wanted to know why I had not paid the electric bill. I replied that I had not received it.

Now I have to watch the mail, and make sure we get our bills. I have been reluctant to pay bills online, because sometimes it costs extra, and I don't like funds removed from our bank account. Somehow you have to okay the transactions. But, I bet they involve passwords, and I have a list of passwords longer than I can remember as it is. I don't even try to access the bank account online because of the password.

We did not get an insurance bill, either. So, I need to call them today and spend time in robot phone hell.

When the post office fails, I figure I will be forced to pay bills online. Our bank seems TOO eager to help set us up with online paying. They nag me about it every time I go in. Why are they so eager?

I have had computers crash. I have lost pictures, journals, stories. Can you imagine the nightmare of losing all bills and accounts online when the next computer crashes?? when. not. if.

And what do other "old" folks do that are computer and password challenged like me??

Or, let's say, for example, that we have a power outage for weeks while the power company works to restore power after a storm like last year? Bills would come due on the computer, but we could not access them. Do we need to pay our bills a month ahead so that we have a hedge against computer crashes, storms, power outages, and post office failures?

Just sayin'

I am slipping.

There is an attitude among the American people that electricity is a right. a need. a necessity. Everything we do, all commerce, even buying milk and groceries is tied to electricity. According to Reza Kahlili, all the irians would have to do is detonate a bomb over Kansas to knock out the power of the three major grids. Then we would be knocked back to the century of horse drawn carriages. Cars made after 1980 would not start because computer chips would be fried. We would leave hour homes within weeks and months looking for fresh water and food.

Maybe the small, silly tests of not getting your electric bill is a test to give us a warning. Wake up.

Happy Birthday, 25 year old JAMES !!! and Happy Birthday, Mother!

2011-09-03T10:03:00.001-07:00

Today, our son, James is 25 years old. I is so fun to see him with his own baby boy these days. That little guy lights up like a Christmas tree whenever he sees both of his parents. It is a delight to watch. Baby James is keeping his folks up at night teething, but he is healthy, happy, and quick to grin and sing...so fun.

This is also my Mother's 75th birthday. Let's see if I can download the picture of her and my niece, Hannah having fun in Colorado (facebook picture I found today). Happy Birthday to my MOM! I am so glad she is getting to see her youngest sister, and enjoy some much cooler weather.

Diving into Deuteronomy

2011-09-03T10:00:00.001-07:00

Driven back into Deuteronomy

I listen with guarded interest to a certain talker on the radio, but his recent non-violence pact bothered me and drove me back to Deuteronomy. Surely, our forefathers used it as a template for what a Godly nation looks like. Without God, we fail. We self-destruct without God’s laws, God’s way, God’s design.
Deuteronomy 1:8
God, occupy the territory that I, the Lord, promised to give to your ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to their descendants.
1:10 The Lord your God has increased your population to the point that you are now as numerous as the stars in the sky…may the Lord make you one thousand times more..
1:15 (Our God is one of order, authority, leaders, judges: no discrimination, no fear, no intimidation by human beings, for “JUDGEMENT BELONGS TO GOD” (emphasis mine)
1:32 (Even while God was constantly going before them as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night—they rebelled, only saw giants) God will fight for you just as you saw Him do in Egypt…
1:30 (they did not have confidence/TRUST/Faith in the Lord your God)
1:31 …you saw Him carrying you along like a man carries his son… (brought to mind our son, James, age 25, carrying his baby boy)
God pronounced that none of this generation…so they strapped on their military gear, wept, and god said: DO NOT GO
1:43 God spoke, but you did not listen...you rebelled against the Lord
2:5 (respect Esau’s and Lot’s –the Moabites, purchase food and water)
2:14 thirty-eight years for the MILITARY men of that generation to die.
2:16 the Lord eliminated the military men (He could have done it quicker, as when the earth swallowed up the rebellious ones at the golden calf incident, but it is like God allowed this generation, though they had done wrong, to teach their sons the necessary military skills?)
2:24 Get up..Look! I have already delivered over to you Sihon the Amorites and his land. Go ahead. Take it! Engage him in war!
2:25 This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach.
2:33 The Lord our god delivered him over to us and we struck him down.
2:34 and we seized all his cities and put every one of them under divine judgment; including even the women and children. We left no survivors. (sixty cities)
(order, authority, God’s direct instructions, specific instructions, and the complete slaughter of all: Divine Judgment: there is a time and place for it, only when God so instructs)
(God gave this land to the half tribe of Manasseh, but: “you warriors are to cross over before your fellow Israelites equipped for battle” Deut. 3:18
3:20 fight until the Lord gives your countrymen victory, then return (to your wives, families, land allotted)
3:22 Do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God will personally fight for you.
4:4 remain faithful to the Lord your God. Learn God’s statutes and ordinances
4:9 teach them to your children (responsibility)
4:10 revere the Lord and teach your children to revere the Lord.
4:15 (Be very careful: no form. No image making. No likeness of humans, animals, no worship of nature nor stars, the whole heavenly creation, no idols, no idolatry.)
(and Bob has been relating what his brother, Joel told him about the danger of us creating our own image of God in our heads)
4:20 to be His special people…do not make an image of any kind—for the Lord your god is a jealous God.
(if/when with children and grandchildren you become corrupt, God will scatter you to the nations)
4:29 But if you seek the Lord your God from there, you will find Him, if indeed you seek Him with all your heart and soul.
4:30 in your distress, when all these things happen to you, in the latter days, if you return to the Lord you God and obey Him…
4:38 The Lord is God in heaven above an on earth below! There is no other!
5:4 The Lord spoke face to face with you from the middle of the fire. He said:
5:6 I am the Lord Your God. He who brought you from the land of Egypt from the place of slavery…you must not have any other gods besides me. No making of images. No worshipping images.
5:9 punishment 3 generations for the sin of the fathers who reject Me.
5:10 God says: I show covenant fuathfulness to the thousands who choose Me and keep My commandments.
Love the Lord your God with your whole mind, being, all your strength
(I love the constant reminder that God bought us out of slavery—them in Egypt, and us from the slave market of sin)
7:1 When the Lord your God delivers over to you…attack, utterly annihilate, make no treaty, show no mercy, do not intermarry with them (because)
7:4 for they will turn your sons away from me to worship other gods…tear down their altars, shatter their sacred pillars, cut down the poles, burn up their idols (where they sacrificed babies---the abortion of their day)
7:16-26
8:14 do not feel self-important
9:6… understand, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is about to give you this good land as a possession, for you are a stubborn people! (we are all wicked, and sinners in need of a Savior)
Moses reminds them of the golden calf incident in 9:15
(know history, be humble, teach your children)
10:12 Revere God. Obey His commandments. Love God. Serve Him with all your mind, being…the heavens and earth belong to God. Cleanse your heart. Stop being so stubborn…
11:24 even to the Euphrates and Med. Sea!
17:18 (God tells Moses that your future king was to make a copy of this scroll—be responsible for what is written here.) (I think every president, every member of Congress, every judge needs to write it out, too)
17:20 before battle say: Do not be fainthearted…the Lord your God goes with you…to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you the victory.
(God judged the idolatress nations that were killing their newborns---and eventually, God judged the people of Esau and Lot---we need to take note as a nation, their sin and get back to the morals and principles.)

Twenty-four years ago

2011-08-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Twenty-four years ago, we began our adventure and support of the Texas educational system. Twenty-four years ago, pregnant with our youngest son, and holding our year old middle son, I watched as our firstborn climbed the steps and lined up for kindergarten. He did not even look back, as he was an old five year old...about to turn six on September 12th. He was so ready. And he thought his tall, blonde kindergarten teacher was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Back then, it was half-day kindergarten. And if I walked him to school, I barely had time to get a few household chores done before packing his brother back in the stroller and meeting him when he came bursting out the door.

Now I am sitting here waiting for the youngest to call. This morning he takes his last final at college. He has already accepted a job in Austin at an electrical engineering firm, and been to interviews and orientation.

I took a picture of our boys the first day of school every year...and it seems fitting that Ben, our electrician-to-be installed a new light switch for me over his last picture in the hallway: A light switch for the front porch light.

When I think about all they carried in their backpacks: from crayons to pencils, folders, homework...to calculators, and now cell phones...I remember all the permission slips I had to sign. The first week was the worst---sometimes eight forms per son, and them standing over me barking: "just sign it, mom" as they were sick and tired of the rules sheets collected over eight classes.

Weighed down with an extra sack of supplies on the first day, we were required to bring two boxes of kleenex, dish soap, and glue. I never had a teacher ask for glitter, but the kindergarten teacher did boobytrap a thank you note with some. I read somewhere that this year kids are having to bring toilet paper, paper towels, and other essentials to shore up budgets.

I only remember one visit to the principal with firstborn. I think it was first grade: biting. By the time the middle son and youngest started school five years later, biting was no longer a sent-to-the principal offense, sadly. I think it cured him. I know I cried.

I used to make homemade bread when our firstborn was in elementary school. One day he requested store-bought bread so that he could be like everybody else.

School plays, school lunches, PTA meetings, band, music lessons, schedules, tee shirts for sports, band, and spirit days....working concessions, volunteering in the copy room, volunteering in the lunchroom, selling school supplies...I gradually ended up spending whole days at the school once the youngest was in kindergarten.

I'll never forget the call to the loud speaker in the copy room telling me that Mrs. Farnsworth needed to speak to me about my first grade middle son. Every year she had this lesson on "fortunately and unfortunately" where she had the students fold a big manilla paper in half and illustrate fortunately on the front, and unfortunately on the inside. James had proudly drawn: "Fortunately I have a bodm." Inside, he illustrated complete with gas bubbles: "Unfortunately, I frtiid..."

That is why my license plate reads: FRTID... in honor of James. (now a captain in the Army with a baby of his own)

Try keeping a straight face as your son's first grade teacher explains how this in somehow inappropriate. It was all I could do to bite my tongue and wish Bob was at my side to enjoy it with me.

I got the impression, 24 years ago, that the teachers were professionals, and they seemed to say, as we dropped off our children: we will take it from here, and try and undo all the poor parenting you have done thus far. Back then, I was insulted, but tried to instill in my sons a respect for authority, and love for learning. Once I started volunteering at the school, I saw an even greater need to be on site, and help out and keep an eye on whatall they were teaching. Saving the whales and the turtles was about the only thing our sons came home from kindergarten learning. James could spell TURTLE before he could spell his own name. Nowadays, you'd better have them reading BEFORE they go to school, or they end up in the lowest reading group in FIRST grade...setting in motion the struggle throughout junior high and high school for the "upper" math and reading classes who somehow got the better teachers and experienced better class order.

Don't get me started on the push for ritilin when our youngest was in kindergarten. We had to take him to the pediatrician and get written proof that he was not ADHD. And in first grade, his "testing" began. Tested for a learning disability, a label we fought for twelve more years. We had independent testing done, and even in high school aptitude testing in Dallas emphasized his gifts---spacial abilities that serve him well to this day. But, we learned, along with Ben, that not all children learn alike. Some learn better hearing it. Some are more hands on. Classroom modifications in high school helped, but the minute he turned 18, an federal funds were no longer flowing, they had him sign off that he was somehow miraculously "cured" and not eligible to take that two inch folder to college as had been promised. We learned the hard way not to trust the education "professionals" of Lamar High School.

We learned teacherspeak words like: sequencing, graphia and while a UTA aptitutde test showed James that he ought to persue accounting, independent testing in Dallas showed he had poor graphia (ability to scan a page of numbers) and would be a better engineer. (now a captain in the Army)

I always thought that a "bursar" was a funny name. Before the advent of computers, I got to troop down to the bursar's office each semester to help James pay at UTA. And getting Andy's payment in after "registration" was a hoot---checks had to be postmarked early August and first week of January. (when our son was home---not at the actual college---which would have physically made payment a little easier.) By James' final semesters, it was all done online. I no longer had to stand in line at the bursars nor the parking lot line for the sticker so James could park his truck. Paying for parking at college is a way to gouge parents...and give parking lot security folks something to do. We learned the hard way not to pull forward in a parking spot at UTA.

Our sons somehow survived our parenting, learned to drive, and have flown the nest. I find it somehow poignant that the very month our youngest is done, graduated, finished---our first grandchild starts preschool. There will be no break from the prison I call the school year calendar.

We look back and marvel at how every Friday night used to be marching band---then Saturdays saw us traveling down to College Station to see him march in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. Good memories.

Ben just got home. 11am. Thursday, August 18th. The end of an era.

Last Birdie Flees the Nest

2011-08-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

Our youngest completes his electrical training at Texas State Technical College this week. He has job orientation already tomorrow, so today I helped him haul stuff home. All I had to do was drive the minivan to college. He loaded everything up. And his spacial skills kick right in, and it was packed nice and tight: dresser, shelves, boxes, weights, etc. guy stuff. Even his bowling ball and shoes. (a new hobby he picked up at college)

We hauled it all back, and he unloaded everything, rewired a front porch light, and took off after supper. Gotta get used to seeing those tail lights. The new job is in Austin. I said something about maybe God has a bride down there for him, but he snorted at such an idea. Cynical from too many snooty girls at college towns. But, surely, there is a gal out there who appreciates a handy man electrician...and in God's perfect timing...

I am happy for him, proud, and yet sad. Sad to see him go. But, Austin will mean a clean break, a new start. A new place to explore. And they have a train. Can't wait to hear his opinion of Austin. Most of the state looks down their nose at the most liberal city in the state. The legislature is not in session, so he may change his opinion next year.

Born in 1987. He turns 24 the end of October. He is not much for ceremony. Did not want the gown/robe thing. Relieved to have a job, as he watched the linemen buddies get snapped up first. Probably not safe for electricians to wear class rings, anyway.

So we will be a place with a couple of guest rooms. Ready for visitor, toddler, babies and grown ups. With grown children scattered to the four winds. Our PTA days are over. Now even our college days of tuition, registration, dorm rent, and bursar are done. And the granddaughter starts pre-school in a few weeks.

Our journey with the education system here in Texas---with Bob finishing his degrees at UTEP in El Paso, to Wimbish Elementary, Shackelford Junior High, and Lamar High School for our three boys...I remember walking home from a PTA meeting, and Bob doing the math telling me how many PTA meeting we had to go. Well, we are done.

Testing

2011-08-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Exodus 20

Then God spoke all these words, saying:

"I AM the LORD your GOD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your GOD, am a jealous GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate ME, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love ME and keep MY commandments.

You shall not take the name of the LORD your GOD in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes HIS name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your GOD; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LROD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your GOD gives you.

You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Repeated again for the next generation in Deuteronomy 5

Moses repeated the Ten Commandments exactly, word for word.

verse 8: "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth."

"...or any likeness..."

I was wrong to steal the picture and use it on my facebook profile. I was wrong to justify it in my own mind that we are to reflect Christ. Yes, I need to remember that Christ sees everything and knows everything...and to watch my words. But, it is wrong to pretend to be Christ in any form. The "Heaven is for Real" book is wonderful, and powerful, and God is using their test and trials in amazing ways.

Yes, I am tired of the sweet, syrupy hymns about Jesus. Jesus is not pale and enemic. And if He wanted us to know what He looks like, He would have made it known. The way He appears in the future in the Book of Revelation is of a Perfect Man with snow white hair. And we will recognize Him. (see Revelation 1:12-20)

I want to remember what our Pastor pointed out in the Abraham story in Genesis 22:1

"Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham..."

Abraham was not told he was being tested. We are. And we will be tested, too.

Throughout the story of Moses, in the book of Exodus, God gives Moses many signs, words of encouragement, warnings that things will not go smoothly with Pharoah, but God tells Moses that He will turn the cursings to blessings when "...under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land." (Exodus 6:1)

This is so encouraging to me today as our country is facing such tests. I hope and pray that God use them to turn us back to Him. And that our Christian leaders, lean on God, stand up for what is right, and when they are attacked by the press or by the nutjobs, or by the far right or far left, that they remember WHO is in control.

I confess that I have been confused by some of the candidates. One old man seems so bitter, strange, isolationistic and yet has this almost messiahistic following---yet he is evil in that he is against Israel, and anti-Christian, and anti-anything having to do with God and God's standards. I pray God reveal this man's evil in the light of day so that Christians are not confused. And I pray God keep me from apathy, and indifference. And help me focus on what is important.

Who entered the eternal state first??

2011-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Adam and Eve lived for almost 1,000 years. Cain murdered his brother, Abel. Where did Abel go? Heaven?

Our pastor is doing a study on Hebrews 11 and 12. The faith heros chapters. But, it got me to thinking about who entered the eternal state, and when.

In Genesis, we are given very specific math about how old Adam was when he begat Seth, and then how many years he lived after and how he had other sons and daughters, and even a total. And if you graph them out, it looks like Abel then Enoch, then Adam. And Bob pointed out that Abel was a type of Christ, murdered on the cross for us. And Enoch walked home with God when He was 365. No record of his death, no body, no funeral. A picture of the rapture? or, another type of Christ in that he is a picture of the Ressurection??

a murder.
a walk.
a death.

They did not see death too much before the Flood. Their bodies were so fantastic that they could live and work and build and have big families. Some did not even father children until they were over 100 years old. It will be like that again in the millenium.

So who entered the eternal state first? Abel, Enoch, then Adam and Eve. And then every hundred years or so, the next generation started dying. Someday, in heaven, I'd like to ask whatall they did for a thousand years. We seem to pack in a full life in under a hundred years or so here. Sadly, the generations do evil and need wiped from the earth by the 10th generation, so God puts the task of ark building on Noah. It takes Noah and his sons a hundred years to build the ark, and sadly, only Noah, his wife, and sons and their wives, a total of 8 people, are preserved alive.

We are not told how many believed God's Promise of a Savior before the Flood. We could guess anywhere from twenty to a million or more. But, the first three:

Abel, Enoch, Adam...

It would be like your son being murdered by his brother, then your great-great-great-great-great-great grandson going missing, presumed dead, and then you die. In heaven reunited with the first one you lost and the last one you lost.

My grandpa lived to be almost 100 years old. He buried his parents, but, at the time of his death, all his four children were and are still alive, and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and great-greats are being born now. One great-great attended his funeral as a six month old. And another great granddaughter was born just after he died. She lives in the same house and on the same farm where my grandpa was born and lived, and has a baby brother.

Cardinals at the Feeder

2011-08-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

Cardinals, the birds, are quite the parents! I think the same pair are on their second set of teenagers! And the teenagers are noisy. The birds look like punk rock stars with their feathers not quite all in and in funky colors: not quite all red or muted. They prefer that their parents continue beak to beak feeding. So, they sit in the seed of the feeder and cheap. Too funny. And not just early morning and late evening, but like typical teenagers, they want fed throughout the day. Sometimes they peek in the window at me. It is hard to guess if this is a future male or female.

Free At Last...free to clean

2011-08-06T13:26:00.000-07:00

On Friday morning, I could not sleep, so I got out of bed at 3am, and poked around on the computer. I took the dog outside about 4am, and hooked her up to the cable. When I reached down to pick up the water dish and fill it, my back went out. I was barely able to put water in the dish, and unwrap the dog, as she had already wrapped herself around the pull up bars. Then, I staggered back inside and crawled into bed. Bob got up and let the dog back inside, made coffee, and drove into work. He had a big presentation Friday, and needed the car with the toll tags. I did not tell him about my back. I did not want him to worry.
I was able to sit up, and poke about on the computer. It hurt to get up and down. Taking the dog outside for a potty break took a while, but I knew Ben would be coming home after lunch. Ben did come home, and helped put the dog on the cable for a while when he was putting his laundry basket in the garage. He asked if I had any projects, but I suggested we wait and vacuum once the animals were gone.
I did not say anything to Bob. His presentation went well. I survived. Going to the bathroom was a challenge, and the pain was so severe at times that I was incontinental. When Bob called, to say he was coming home, I asked him to buy milk and pick up some fish sandwiches at McDonalds. Bob came home, we ate supper, and we watched some TV. Bob asked when did I hurt my back? I told him that I was afraid to tell him because he had the presentation, and was planning on taking the animals down to Lauren on Saturday. I did not want anything to interfere with that. The ice pack helped some, but I dreaded going to bed and having to get up numerous times in the night to go to the bathroom.
When I got up at 3am, (Saturday) it is like whatever had slipped out, had slipped back into place. I could get up and down without stabbing pain. I could go to the bathroom. I was afraid to bend over. But, the day was looking better than I had hoped. I asked Bob if he had prayed.
Bob got up at 4:30am, and made coffee, packed the car, and drove off at 7am with the animals. The boxes, the bags of mail, the bags of food for the animals, treats, leashes, cable, books, sheets and crates, Bob packed it all himself. And got down there before noon, off loaded everything, fetched them some lunch, called me, and headed back. What a day.
For 85 days we cared for Andy and Lauren’s big dog, Tifa, and Emma cat. Bob said they travelled well. Bob is so patient with them. He let Emma cat roam inside the car. He does not like to hear her yowl in her crate. Tifa rides in her crate just fine. Bob said he stopped in College Station for gas, and to give the dog a potty break and water. So, Tifa and Emma have now been to A&M where Andy and Lauren went to college.
For 85 days, our time and schedules have been centered around meeting the needs of the animals. Now we are free. No more watching the dog like a hawk. No more fear of the dog jumping the fence. No more food and water bowls. No more fear of being knocked over. No more making sure the cat was not trapped in a bedroom. No more dog poop. No more cat poop to clean, no more cat puke to clean up.
My friend, Mary could not get over how sweet Tifa was. Sweet personality. She leans on you to be petted. She would crawl up into your lap if you let her. But, she could not be trusted in the back yard alone. She was a fence jumper. Not only would she jump and take off, but she did not know nor care how to get home. She did enjoy playing with our 8 year old neighbor boy. She filled an empty hole in his heart because his dog had had to leave the week before we got Tifa. They would play, then come inside to cool off. I kept the frig stocked up apple juice, and drawing materials set out for Pedro, too.
The irony---now that we have delivered Lauren her dog and cat, she is now trapped in Houston. To come up and visit us, she’d have to bring the dog or put it in a kennel. So, I doubt we see them until January when they head back to Alaska after Andy’s deployment is over. We are back to the long distance relationship with Abby and David. We are thankful for their time here, but it was hard on Lauren having to live out of a suitcase, and be so far from her folks and friends. I hope the deployment passes quickly for her, and that she gets lots of help down there.
We hoped and prayed for our other daughter-in-law, that their deployment time pass quickly and peacefully. I hate time to drag…but, time is passing tooo quickly now as grandparents. Our moments getting to hold the babies are short. I hope and pray that Abby and Baby David are not injured by the big, big dog, or cat with claws.
News via email that a childhood friend has died, and the sad news that Gary Horton’s only grandson was killed in a car accident---my heart goes out to both families. Your Will be done, Lord. Please drive away any demonic influence from our families. In Jesus Name. Amen.

How to Be a Good Mother-in-Law

2011-07-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

Repeat after me:

1. Thank God for this acquired son or daughter.

2. Treat this man and woman as adults with adult responsibilities.

3. Remember your daughter or son now belongs to her or his spouse.

4. Allow them to form a new family---it's theirs, not yours now.

5. Expect this new entity to be different from you and your family.

6. Let the newly formed family do things in their own way.

7. Do not dish out gratuitous advice (which is what I'm doing now)

8. Pray for them daily.

9. Never criticize the "in-law" to his or her spouse.

10. Encourage them in every way you can think of.

My husband's Mother died just after he was commissioned. I never met her, nor had a hands on "mother-in-law". So, with much trepidation, I became one when sons married. I have heard the horror stories. And I desire to be a good mother-in-law.

I think my friend, Nance gave me the 10 point lamenated keeper which I have copied above. Can anyone think of more points to add?? How about:

11. Try to do a good job when asked to keep your children's animals so that maybe they will trust you with keeping the grandchildren.

12.

When to bite my tongue, and when to say something

2011-07-28T01:54:00.000-07:00

3:30am Thursday, July 28, 2011
Dear Andy and Lauren,
I don’t know if I will have the courage to mail this to you. I don’t care if you throw it in the trash. In fact, it would be best if you did throw it in the trash so that when some CPS officer or policeman suggests you get rid of your big dog you can honestly say no one else in your life cared enough to warn you.
Bob says I should not say anything. Let the Holy Spirit. Lean on God. But, God gave me eyes to see, and I just want you to consider –think about---the danger a big dog is to you and your children.
Tifa is a sweet dog. She has some wonderful qualities. God has kept her alive and in your possession for a reason. And maybe her big size will thwart any burglar and hence justify her place in your family. But, over the last 75 days, every time she jumped on me, every time her heavy clawed feet walked on me or scratched me, I wondered, what if it had been Baby David? Or Abby? Is it really worth Abby or David losing an eye or finger? Would it truly be “an accident”?
Yes, the danger of something happening to your children exists tripping over a sidewalk, but Tifa is a big dog, and she goes crazy when someone comes to the door. What if Baby David is caught underneath her exuberance?
It is amazing, and I am so glad you, Lauren, found Tifa on Saturday morning when she ran off. (and may I say, I was relieved it was not on my watch, but GrandDad’s) But, I hope you will consider a better home for her where she can run and get exercise, and not be a danger to you or your precious children.
I would not recommend a small yappy dog like Brody, either---the reason I am up at 3:3am is because James and Amber’s Yorkie would not be quiet. Small dogs bite, too. (I actually have scars on my face from small dogs biting me when I was Baby David’s age)
So, consider the source: I got rid of a big dog when Andy was Abby’s age. And I have had cats put down for bad habits. I love you, and hope and pray the best for you all. I just felt that I had to voice my concerns.
Thank you for allowing us to “help” you by keeping your animals while you transitioned from Alaska to Houston. It has been interesting studying Tifa, and figuring out how to keep her in the yard and exercised. I am thankful she never knocked me down. But, again, let me say that your children are so precious. Please put their well being first. And please forgive me for being meddlesome, but when your children engage in risky behavior, I am sure you will speak up, too.
Love, Grannie Joyce/mom

My Grandparents and Great Grandparents

2011-07-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

The images in my mind of my great grandparents are like video visits to their homes. And to my great grandfather's office. I was a little girl, but I remember it was neat and clean, and my great grandmother's two story house in Farmer City, Illinois had this wrap around porch. In my mind, the kitchen and dining rooms were huge...full of glass and china, and she had a coo-coo clock. These images are mixed with photos of us spending Christmas there. Huge Christmas feasts.

My Mother's Mom's folks were also in Farmer City at a house across town. They had to all know each other.

Most of my memories are of the grandparents and their houses. My Mother's folks lived on the same farm all their lives. My Dad's folks lived near Rochester for a time when we also lived there. And then my Dad's father built their dream home in Farmer City. Wooden floors, a staircase with spare rooms upstairs where we got to stay...a house built with us in mind.

So, my siblings and I got to experience farm life and city life. With one grandmother, we went with her to the grocery store to buy chicken and vegetables. With the other grandma, we watched her raise her own chickens and vegetables. She only went to town to purchase what they could not make or grown, and she would cluck over the price of chicken in the store.

My grandpa even set aside an acre to grow popcorn. Every year. I did not dare tell the UPS man that the heavy box contained a twenty pound sack of popcorn kernels. We enjoyed popcorn from grandpa's farm

Juggling Animals and Irritating the 30 year old

2011-07-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

As our middle son confirmed this weekend--between the babies, dog and cat, it is a three ring circus here these days. I love it. It is a challenge. I have the luxury of time to figure out the big dog, Tifa.

Tifa is not two years old, so she still has puppy qualities. She jumps the fence like a deer to go visit and play with the neighbors dogs if you do not watch her. But, I discovered that if the sprinkler is put in the corner of the yard where she usually jumps, then the sprinkler of water acts as a wall and keeps her in the yard.

Our oldest son brought her to us in June during some pre-deployment training. This gave his wife and kids the freedom to drive down from Seattle without the dog and cat. And it looks like our days with Tifa are numbered, as our daughter-in-law has found a house to rent in Houston, closer to her folks. And the house has a six foot fence which should contain Tifa just fine. I hope the yard has some trees with squirrels, as Tifa loves to tree squirrels.

Tifa is a good dog. She leans into you to be petted, and loves to stick her wet nose between your elbow and side when typing here on the computer for some affection. She is lean like a greyhound, but long hair like a border collie. Her tail can clear a coffee table, and beat on walls in the hallway. It is amazing to see her run. And thankfully, God provided us with an eight year old boy next door who comes over of an evening to help wear Tifa out. Pedro loves to throw tennis and raquet balls onto our roof so that they roll back into his hands. And Tifa and Pedro run and play and fetch the balls. They come inside for numerous breaks because it is so hot. So, I keep the frig stocked with boxes of apple juice. I figure it is a good trade: apple juice for dog exercising. Pedro likes to draw, too. And I found a ream of copy paper at Walmart for $3. Cheap.

(this is the time of year to stock up on drawing paper, spiral notebooks, and school supplies)

Now we were blessed with three boys. Three sons. I gave in pretty early, and caved to the bathroom humor, and let our boys be boys. They made guns from legos. They hated all things pink. I could not even get them to walk down the pink aisle at ToysRus! I would say, "look, paleontologist Barbie" but, there was no way they were gonna look.

Firstborn and his wife had a daughter. Amazing. We had no clue how to do girls. But, I finally had an excuse to buy dolls, pink outfits, and learn. They lived far away, so we enjoyed her when we could and from afar. We are so thankful for skype. Now she is four and a half. And I was told that there are certain words they would prefer I not use. Being a stubborn mom of boys, this is hard.

(had to pause there and put the dog outside, as she was licking the 4 and a half year old, trying to wake her up)

When firstborn calls from A-stan, I ask if he is drinking plenty of water. This is somehow irritating to firstborn. Firstborn has gone from Alaska to A-stan---a hundred degrees difference in temperature. He does not want to be asked how often he is urinating. Guess I could have asked how often he is crying---as tears are another indicator. Oh, well. Getting re-hydrated via an IV will be an unpleasant way to learn, but better than having your mom nag you.

Our middle son had problems with the native food over there. So, I asked firstborn about that, and was again rebuffed. I guess when you hit thirty, you know everything and no longer need a mother. Oh, well. He won't understand until his babies are thirty. Maybe he will parent them better. Different.

For a long time---especially during firstborn's high school and college years, I was a pro at irritating him. So, I strove to take it to new levels. Why not excell at what I am good at??

So, I have asked firstborn for a list of the no-no words: poop, _______, ______

Parenting adults is a challenge. Mostly, we are cheerleaders. Most times I remember to bite my tongue. off. But, sometimes, I like to use humor. And I am thankful that at least firstborn trusts me with his dog. and cat.

And I wish I could talk to my four grandparents. I have such fond memories of them. My Mother's folks were farmers. God-fearing, church going, self-sufficient, generous, sterling examples. I look back on the hundreds of meals, clean sheets, care, love, entertainment they provide me. wow. I was so blessed. They had gardens and canned the bounty. They worked hard from sun up to sun down. They loved me and my siblings and cousins wholeheartedly. Lived to attend my wedding, and the shower of pictures of my babies growing up. My grandma would call and she would be so encouraging.

My Dad's parents were fantastic people, too. But, they liked living large, and in the big town, and they liked to party. My Dad's Dad built his dream house, and worked hard, and insisted I be kind to my sister. But, when he was my age, he fell off that dream house, and died a few days later. My Dad's mom lived until my firstborn was my granddaughter's age. She was a great cook. Loved roses, rubarb, and she bought us new dresses. She encouraged us to dress like ladies. She, too was a great example to me. I watched her care for her own Mother as she lived into her nineties. And my Mother's Mom's mom---I had two great grandmothers until I was in junior high. Care and love and how-to was demonstrated to me daily.

I wonder what they would tell me about parenting a thirty year old....that great grandson they got to know and love. Oh, how fun it will be in heaven, to be reunited and catch up on the stories.

Blogging

2011-07-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

I keep thinking of good blog posts, but then I get scared. I don't want to reveal too much or endanger my soldier sons and nephew.

We have been in grandparent heaven though, this past month. One son came home from his one year deployment as the other cycled over. We were so hoping they'd at least get to shake hands, but no.

Our daughter-in-law in Alaska decided to come back to Texas while her husband is deployed for six months. yay. So, we get to see the four and a half year old granddaughter. And play with the nine month old grandson. They motored on down to Houston to see her folks, the other set of grandparents last weekend, and then our recently returned son and his wife and sweet baby boy decided to make our weekend fun. They are stationed just three hours away. And the baby did good on the trip. He is getting so big. We are so thankful our son is home to be a Daddy and help out with all the diaper changes.

I awoke Sunday morning to running water...our son was giving his five month old baby a bath in the kitchen sink, but no towel...and the water felt kinda cold to grannie. I just love bathing babies. So, I elbowed in and gave him a shampoo. And fetched the towel. And we entertained him for an hour to let his momma sleep.

They scheduled our son's mid-deployment leave for this baby's birth, and while he saw the baby on skype, holding a squirming little guy is much different in person. We are amazed how much this baby is changing before our eyes. Tracking more. Grabbing. And so intense about everything, especially teething.

And the nine month old is crawling everywhere---so we get a sneak peak of what the youngest grandson will be doing in four months.

And what with the huge doggie and cat...it is a three ring circus here these days. We are loving it. Bittersweet in that our son is deployed, but cursing turned to blessing in that we get to enjoy the grandkids and the daughters-in-law.

Ring Fling

2011-06-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

As an old grannie lady, my fingers swell and shrink throughout the day and night. So I have a larger size ring from Walmart to wear when my wedding ring is too tight. Last night, I was grabbing the pillow I prop up my arm with as it was slipping to the floor and heard the bigger ring ping against the wall. Thankfully, it did not bounce far, and I was able to find it when I turned on the bathroom light.

This bigger ring reminds me of a James story. Maybe Bob has blogged about it better, but it still amazes me whenever I think about it. I would not put this past Ben---in fact I won't be suprised to hear Ben do this. But James? no. never. he wouldn't. How could he? Not James.

When Amber was very pregnant with Baby James, her fingers were swollen to the point that she could not wear her wedding rings. I offered to buy her a ring like mine at Walmart, but she wanted to wait for James. She felt funny being so pregnant and unable to wear a wedding band, so when James got home for the birth, they were in Walmart stocking up, and James talked her into getting one. The clerk was not convinced they were truly married. Which in this day and age is too common. But, after purchasing the ring, James GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND ASKED MY SWEET DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TO MARRY HIM. This just confirmed the clerk's suspicions, and was laughably embarrassing to Amber. I can't believe James would do this to her. She laughed. I told Bob that if he had pulled a stunt like that ---he'd be eating yogurt and rice crispy treats for a year. (Bob hates yogurt and rice crispy treats---the only two foods he hates, well, that and sweet and sour stuff at Pei Wei).

It is a funny story. But, Amber lost that ring and looked high and low for it. It rolled under their bed and I am convinced that Brody found it and carried it away. But, she found it last week and was SO thrilled. This ring has a story behind it. Yes, the wedding rings are important, for they represent covenant...and have the dates inscribed.

I was "married" with my Dad's huge bevealed wedding ring. I had forgotten to give the ring to the best man, as it was part of the set, and we laughed and laughed at Bob's face at the "with-this-ring?" part. My Dad had handed his up to be a substitute for the ceremony. Even the pastor, Bob's oldest brother, asked if we had taken our vows seriously because we were all laughing so hard. Being his first officiating, Bob's brother had carefully typed out the ceremony and was sticking to the script.

I'd like to get another ring. One inbetween the sizes of the two I wear. Call me silly. I switch them around all day. One day, the wedding band slipped off and I could not find it. We went through the garbage, as it was garbage day, and I was afraid it had slipped into the huge bag at the street in the cold. But, thankfully, I found it sitting in the rim of the washer by the drain holes. Whew.

Oh, James. I still cannot believe you did that to your dear, precious wife. I am glad she has a sense of humor. And I am glad that is not the regular Walmart she uses. Thank you, Amber for putting up with James. He is Ben's brother, after all.

Last Sunday in May

2011-05-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday
Today I want to worship You.
And just marvel at what You created.
And just be amazed at the miracle of babies.
And just thankful for the gift You gave of children and daughters-in-law.
And I want to think about how You know all about the over 500 souls who died by tornadoes this year.
I have to believe You know and You care about each tiny detail.
You are The God who comforts.
You are The God who judges, and who will set all things right someday.
In heaven there will be no tornadoes. No fear. No lurking in closets and listening to warnings on the radio.
In heaven there will be no mosquitoes.
And we will all be good spellers.
We know a lot about Your character. And everything You wanted us to know is in Your Word.
Creation reveals such exquisite detail, and points to You: Our Intelligent Designer.
But, I have read the end of the Book, and things look so bleak before things get better.
You made the cricket. And the doggy’s mournful howl. You put in nature lessons for us all.
Please put Your song on our lips. Clean out my soul, form in me a new heart.
Please be with all those who lost loved ones in tornadoes so that they are not bitter, but turn to You.
Please help us be accurate and true in teaching Your Word. Please put in our voice the soft love and gentle whisper---attractiveness instead of distain. Let others see we care, and in that care is help, not indifference. I need Your patience, long-suffering, gentleness. On my own, I am critical, judgmental, and impatient. Please mold me and make me like Your Son: our example and Savior. Redeemer and King. For we ask this in His Name: In Jesus Name. Amen.

Marinade

2011-05-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

Email exchange...you might want to read it from the bottom up...

(Bob just called to tell me he was on the way to the train station --5pm--and how my email came just as everyone was headed to lunch, but his loud belly laughs caught everyones attention...and then my second one came in, the one about the one leg, and they all died laughing. again. Bob was laughing so hard walking to the train hours later, that I am sure he is a sight to behold. There. I hope I have not ruined it for you nor gotten your hopes up.)

RE: lunch, selfishness, God's sense of humor
From: Robert
To: joyce

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My, my, you have had an interesting day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Joyce
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 12:48 PM
To: Williamson, Bob
Subject: Re: lunch, selfishness, God's sense of humor

I am glad I made you laugh.

But, I would want to know if I had given someone something I was proud of and it had a dead insect in it. I just keep telling myself that it was a dead cricket. (saw blade back leg) (singular) I just hope it was not a dead roach. And was it drowning by hotsauce or cooked in hot sauce? did the cricket come from her pots and pans or was it hidden in the chillies? And I know she uses the blender for some portion of the sauce...so how did Mr. Jimminey come out so whole? (just missing one leg?) I need to quit thinking about it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Robert
To: joyce
Sent: Tue, May 24, 2011 12:01:45 PM
Subject: RE: lunch, selfishness, God's sense of humor

Yeah, you made me laugh. (I’m so ashamed.) But there was no need to feel guilty about hoarding the hot sauce. I’m not much of a Picante fan. (But I’d also say there’s no need to tell Amber about the cricket. That would just make her feel bad.) Just look on the bright side – it wasn’t a dead mouse.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Joyce
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 11:51 AM
To: Williamson, Bob
Subject: lunch, selfishness, God's sense of humor

Amber made and brought us a jar of hot sauce. She said it was her best batch, as she had finally found just the right chilies. or is it chillies. Anyway. I keep forgetting to offer you some, and since there are fresh avacadoes in it, I have been eating it for my lunch. I insisted she leave it with us, as I did not want her to have to juggle it on her way to her sister's. I was selfish.

I dumped the last of it in my bowl, and took a call from Rachel, your niece (in town next Tuesday, wants to just do supper somewhere) and I was thinking about how selfish I had been. But, I decided to justify it as the avacadoes were fresh, and I did not want to let them go to waste...and in that last bowl was a dead cricket.

Suddenly, I was not hungry anymore. My hot sauce craving was gone. (as was my guilt)

I wondered if Amber was having a cricket infestation at her house.

I wondered if I should tell her.

I wondered if I was being punished, and if only I'd sent the jar with her to her sisters--who would have eaten the cricket?? And would she have told me??

too funny, huh? Are you snorting with laughter at your computer?

Hope so. I hope I made your day. Love, John the Baptist

I want to remember:

2011-05-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

I spent forty minutes a week ago composing a Mother’s Day post, and blogspot ate it.
So, I am composing this in Word, and will copy and paste like a good girl.
Mother’s Day was wonderful in that I heard from all three of my sons. James called from A-stan, and sent two dozen roses!!! Rose report---the red ones lasted eleven days! The orange and white pooped out much sooner. So, red roses are best!
On the 14th, the firstborn brought us his animals as he was on the way to the east coast for pre-deployment training. I am so glad they are conferencing with who they replace over there. Whew. He is deploying to one of the most dangerous places in A-stan on my birthday. What is it about my birthday that attracts deployments?? (middle son deployed last year on my birthday)
Our youngest, and college student studying to be an electrician (graduating Aug. 19th) built a kitty door and kitty climbing tower in the hall closet for Emma cat. This gives her a place of retreat and reflection from big Tifa dog. I was told and observed during skype calls that Emma cat was rather standoffish. But, she has warmed up to us and our house so smoothly. She loves the birdfeeder action, and jumping from table to counter. Her favorite place to sit is here on the computer table, which makes reading the screen a bit of a challenge. And she rolls around. Flops—as if almost into my lap, laying her head back on this keyboard. Where to scratch?? Not the ears nor tummy. And the poor thing is shedding as she walks. She is used to Alaska. We keep the AC at 76 degrees---which is comfortable for us, but has the cat stretched out like a kitty thermometer.
Tifa’s favorite game is chase/herd the kitty. So, when I hear Emma’s warning voice, I have to turn and say, unto Tifa: leave the cat alone. Shortened to: cat-lone. (which is what we used to tell middle son when visiting friends with a not toddler safe cat) And he would repeat in his cute little voice: cat-lone.
Tifa is amazing. We had observed her licking and needing petted on skype, so we were not sure how she would do here with boring old folks. She does not bark. I have only heard one deep-from-the-chest wolf for some reason while out driving. Yes. She loves to ride in the car! Fun! We just got back from mailing some bills at the post office and driving through McDonalds for a sausage biscuit for my snack.
Tifa is a big black dog with white feet---border collie markings and the type of hair. With an undercoat which speaks of her huskie mix, and a Rhodesian Ridgeback ridge of hair which makes her look like she is having a bad hair day. But, she is beautiful, friendly, energetic, loving, sweet, with the fastest legs, and body of a greyhound. She can run like the wind. And thankfully, God provided a seven year old neighbor boy to come play ball in the back yard with Tifa. It helps wear her out. Tifa loves to fetch and play keep-away with tennis balls. And I think she was so relieved to see the smaller version of people when she met Pedro.
Tifa does have the attention span of a toddler, however, and has sailed over the fence. Twice. So, she must be constantly watched when in our back yard. It is scary. Because we don’t want to lose her on our watch. She loves to run up and down the fence and “play” with the neighbor’s big dog and little wiener dog, but dogs one more yard over barked one day, and before we could stop her, she had sailed over the fence to investigate. And play. We hollered, and she came back---after a few minutes.
Then, when the new neighbors of the dogs was outside with her one year old baby, and doing a little sandbox play in the green turtle with a lid sandbox, something spooked Tifa, and she sailed over the fence again, and headed STRAIGHT for the baby, as I yelled, and shouted---“she is good with children”. And thankfully, the lady did not freak out. I would have freaked out if a strange dog sailed over my fence and licked my baby on the face. Yikes. The lady even helped push her back over the fence! And Tifa is big. We should have met the neighbors before this---I should have baked cookies. It is not too late, but, oh, my. Those were some scary moments.
So, I take her in the back yard, and try to look for the clues she is thinking about fence jumping. I wish I could trust her out there. I wish I could let her enjoy the yard. She loves to flush birds from the bushes, and examine every bug. She is very co-ordinated. She can use her front claws and paws as hands and investigate a huge black ant crawling up the wall. When we keep Brody, our other daughter-in-law’s little Yorkie, we can let him roam in the back yard, and he will come scratch at the back door, as he loves to be with us.
We will either have to put up an electric fence, or use the shock collar for a while. I don’t know. If we had the super tall privacy fence, that would be the best. Ours is just a chain link. Might as well be a ladder. Ha
We are so thankful that the animals traveled so well, and the airlines were so nice to haul the crates to our car, and since our son was here for the handoff---we got to enjoy seeing him face to face for 18 hours, and his animals then knew we were safe people.
We can’t wait for the next stage: once our son travels to his next pre-deployment training, his dear wife, brave woman, will fly to Seattle and start driving to Texas with her brother and our four year old granddaughter and 8 month old grandson. We are so blessed to get to see them on skype, but what fun to have them here! Here where it is warmer, and where we have more shopping and eating choices. Here, where we can watch them grow up before our eyes for a while. The brave daughter-in-law will probably find a place closer to her folks and grandparents and friends in Houston, but we will enjoy them as long as we can.
Yesterday was like a three ring circus---I had just gotten back from lunch with my friend who lives one street over. She is an animal person, so she had come inside to see Tifa and Emma. I saw the mail lady start up the drive with a box from our daughter-in-law which she had told us contained the treats, brush, etc., but I was not sure how the mail lady would enjoy being licked and jumped up on, so as Tifa charged the door to say hello, I motioned for her to put the box on the step, and the skype call sounded---doodeedoo. Doo. Doo. Dooodeedo, doo. Do. So, we got to see the granddaughter wearing her gossamer wings from her Halloween outfit when she was 2 years old. She was wanting to check on her dog. Tifa so enjoyed hearing their voices, that she felt comfortable enough to go finish off her food. She lets her food sit all day, and then about 10 pm, when we are headed to bed, gives up on getting people food, and eats. I turned the camera so that the granddaughter could see her dog chowing down, but a black dog against a black frig…
What a hoot. Never a dull moment. When you pet the kitty, here comes the dog for her turn. And we bought this huge rope thingy toy for Tifa to chew on instead of the carpet edges by the front door. Ha. It is an old, old carpet. And these kong toys are great, too, to help her with the boredom.
We could not figure out whatall the items in the box were for. The Christmas Vacation ornament is so wonderful ! Cute!!! Halelujah Chorus with lights! But, there were these two rubber and wire thingies, which we thought maybe went with the doggie backpack. Bob tried them on his head, kinda like a hat frame, however. Ben, our youngest, and gifted son---he figured it out quickly when he came home last night. Then we remembered back to how we had remarked to the Alaska folks how treacherous our driveway was when iced over, and working for the power company, my husband can’t call in unless he is dying. After slip-sliding down the drive in his cowboy boots last January, February, March and April---the Alaska folks took pity upon him, and sent him these contraptions that strap over your shoes!!! YAY! Now we are ready for winter…and where shall we stash these things for seven months?? I am all for tacking them to the wall because I am afraid they might get lost in a closet. I guess I could nail them to the inside of the closet where we’d still see them. In our old age we are forgetting where we stash stuff.
More later. But, I shall end today with a prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please protect Israel. Please send bad weather and plague upon the muslims who rush their borders, hate, and insanely think all their problems would be solved if Israel was destroyed. Please give Israel the spine and strength to push the arabs and muslims into the sea. I say, restore the borders YOU promised King David, Moses, and Abraham. Your will be done. Please open obama’s eyes or remove the asshole from office. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Way to Go Navy Seals !!!

2011-05-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

It is an answer to prayers. No one can hide from God. God knows, and God can direct and protect. I am so thankful none of our soldiers were killed or injured getting evil.

I must admit, that last night, as we watched TV, they announced that the president was going to make an announcement at 9:30pm our time, and no subject. We thought that was kind of presumptious. I never guessed news of Libya nor pakistan.

The president is so hard to listen to. Halting speech. The way he pronounces pakistan. And where was he on 9-11?? Didn't he speak out against 9-11??

Such relief. Brought to justice. I am thankful there will be no trial.

But, let us look at pakistan. Why are we sending them any money?? They allowed evil to hide amongst them in plain sight. In fact---within a block of their West Point and police stations. And let us beware hamas---listen and keep them at bay. Do not support nor help anyone critical of getting rid of an evil terrorist.

Remember the 1998 US embassies in Africa where 231 Americans died.

Remember the 2000 USS Cole where 17 American sailors died.

Remember September 11th where at the WTC, the Pentagon and Flight 93 where over 3,000 Americans were murdered.

This story was interesting: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpps/news/who-is-sohaib-athar-%40reallyvirtual-dpgo-20110502-fc_13017753 A guy moves to a "quieter" town where his wife and child are injured when a police van hits their car, and then the biggest story ever happens over his head. Too funny. irony.

Can't wait to hear the Navy Seals give us the details. God bless our troops.

What BO should have said:

2011-04-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Instead of the irritating press announcement which was hard to listen to, let alone believe, BO should have said:

I want to take this opportunity to say I was trying to protect my mother's reputation. My mother got knocked up before she was 18 years old. When she was three months pregnant with me, she supposidly got "married" to my dad, but dad was still married to a woman back in Kenya. So, technically, my dad was a bigomist from Kenya. This is common in Kenya. And he went on to marry twice more.

But, my mom was a "free spirit", studying Russian when she met my dad in her Russian class. Imagine studying Russian in 1960. Unless you were a commie or working for the CIA...

So, in order to spare my mother's reputation, I hoped the short form would be sufficient. Now, for all eyes to see, people can see that I am technically a bastard. And while being a bastard is not my fault, sadly, it is a very common condition today. And I would like to use this release of my birth certificate to bring to light the stigma of being a bastard. And like so many Mexican women who struggle across the border and give birth to their babies in El Paso, my mother gave birth to me in Hawaii. Was I an American because I was born in Hawaii (a new state) or because my mother was born in Kansas? My father was not an American. He was a 25 year old student who could be charged with rape because he knocked up my mother before she turned 18.

My mother stuggled to get a college degree with the help of her parents and food stamps. She later married an Indonesian. You can read the Time article for the glossy story of that part of her hard life.

That is what he should have said. Instead, he tried to gloat. wow. Another missed opportunity to encourage people to wait and have children when they are finished with college, and married.

Springtime in Texas and the United States

2011-04-20T02:25:00.000-07:00

(as heard on the radio: WBAP)

Death by:

tornadoes 45

wildfires 2

bees 2

traffic wrecks 4

hail, lightning 0

taliban 11

Another Fantastic Mars Hill Message

2011-04-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

The message dated April 3, 2011 must be something I need.

First time through, all I could think of was who else needed this message. That is a red flag for needing to hear it again. ha

Temptations are sure to come. (not if)

Sin and being sinned against: happens constantly in human relationships.

sin is word, deed, motive, comission and omission: doing things we are not suppose to do, and not doing what we are suppose to do.

Sin is not quirks. My husband's excess phyem is not a sin. My incontinence is not a sin. You don't repent of incontinence.

Being clutzy is not a sin. It is annoying. It has consequences--spills, bruises, accidents. But, it is not a sin. Mistakes are not sins. Kids make mistakes. We don't discipline them for spilling their milk. You are the idiot who did not put the sippy cup lid on correctly.

Temptation will come. Do not give into the temptation to sin. You will always have to fight temptation. Don't get discouraged. Jesus was tempted in every way we are but He never sinned. When you do not give in to temptation, that is a victory.

Luke 17

Woe to the one who tempts others to sin. It is an horrendous evil. Our example is important, especially to children, and younger Christians.

You will annoy and frustrate one another. You will frustrate one another. When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we need to repent. and forgive.

Repentence is not getting caught, but coming clean.

Repentence is not denying our sin. Repentence is not downplaying or diminishing it.

Repentence is not managing our sin, nor trying to keep it under control. We don't manage our sin. We put is to death. Jesus died for our sin.

Repentence is not blaming or excusing our sin. Be aware of your sin. Pay attention to yourselves. Don't overlook your own guilt and hypocricy.

Do something because it is right. Not to get something.

Repentence is hating the evil of the sin.

The centerpiece of the Gospel: Jesus Christ died for our sin. Jesus Christ rose from death and sent the Holy Spirit, so that we can put our sin to death.

WHEN we sin (not if) ---we repent.

When we are sinned against: forgive.

The sinner is to repent, the victim is to forgive.

Let the Holy Spirit convict. Let the Holy Spirit bring to mind sin you need to talk to God about. And faces of people who have sinned against you...and God asks you to forgive them.

If your brother sins, rebuke them. Don't gossip. confront. Rebuke them in a way that is holy and helpful. Don't be a coward and send an email. Get over your fear of man, and look them in the eye. If it was a criminal activity, bring a witness.

Say: This is your sin. I love you. If you don't deal with it, it will kill our relationship. Jesus is part of all our relationships. You can't be a coward. You can't avoid conflict. If you really love someone, you need to rebuke them. God rebukes us. This starts when the kids are young.

Otherwise, we withdraw. avoid. live parallel lives.

Couples who swear we never fight means passive aggressive. cold, parallel lives.

Repent of wanting peace rather than conflict and resolution. Don't be pushed around.

Forgive means you let go your right to judgment and you leave it in God's Hands.

Either you forgive or you become bitter, and they own you. they control you.

Who do you need to forgive?

Keep rebuking and working toward forgiveness. Illustration: a doctor does not give up on you. When you are sick, the doctor helps you toward healing. We want people to lovingly pursue us, and extend the same grace to others that we would desire toward us.

Forgiveness is not denying or diminishing the sin.

Forgiveness in not ignoring it. Choose to forgive.

Forgiveness is not pretending. Forgiveness is not enabling sin. A wife is suppose to be helpful. If she never points out the folly, and just forgives and forgives, then she is mothering him and enabling. Rebuke, then forgive.

Forgiveness is not waiting for someone to acknowledge or admit their sin.

Forgiveness is sometimes the first part. You do your part. Seek to live at peace with all men.

Forgive and forget is foolishness. When you have had horrendous evil committed against you, you will remember, but you choose to act for their best.

Adultery---you can choose to forgive, and not obcess about it 24/7.

You will still grieve, and need to forgive again. Don't die emotionally.

Jesus will wipe away the tears. It is okay to feel the grief. Forgiveness is not a one time event.

Forgiveness is not full reconsiliation to the original relationship. In the case of child abuse, or adultery, we don't move on picking up where we left off. We don't let a pedafile babysit. That is dangerous for the kids. Forgive and be wise.

When couples that are good friends commit a wife swap or there is an affair, then it would be stupid to continue double dates and Christmas together. The relationship is forever altered. It will never be the same again. It is risky. They can forgive and repent, but the relationship is forever altered.

Forgiveness is not neglecting justice. Did they commit a crime? You can still pursue justice. If/when a Christian rips off another Christian---they still need to pay back the debt. Work toward mediation, but if your credit is being destroyed, pursue justice.

Sinners repent.

Victim forgive.

And remember that Jesus Christ is the King of kings, Lord of lords. obey.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority.

Jesus Christ asks us to act in faith, even when it seems like it will not work.

Do your part, and trust God to work on their heart. There is hope. It is not how big our faith is, it is our big our God is. No guarantee that all our relationships are tidy in this life. Do your part. Then get out of the way.

Chain of command. Authority. Master. Submit. We are under authority.

He is our King and Savior. He is our Master. There is a throne, and you are not on it.

Jesus came as a Servant. He knows what it is like to be abused, and sinned against.

He took our place on the cross. He is in all our relationships, and is the center of our lives.

It is amazing what an almost 3 month old can do

2011-04-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

smile

worried look with worried eyebrows

sit with someone holding his hands

stand with someone still holding his hands

snuggle on your neck

fall asleep on your chest

pee like a fountain

blast his pants

cry with gusto

stop crying

sneeze, cough

feel with his head

tense up like The Hulk

suck noisily

find his fingers and thumb

coo

snore

love to be bounced

knock a pacifier out of his mouth

sleep, dream, laugh and cry in his sleep

melt your heart.

and grin after urping.

Our Thirty-Third Anniversary

2011-04-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

It was different.

For the last few years, I have been buying us matching tee shirts and then we take a picture in our shirts doing something silly. For example, on our thirtieth, we looked for signs with 30 on them.

This year, I had found some gray tees on sale online at Walmart. And an extra Old Spice gray tee shirt for Bob, which I had wrapped using real wrapping paper (as opposed to my usual use of old maps).

Thursday night, March 31, 2011, I had gone all out and cooked Bob steak, and brussel sprouts. Smoked up the house so bad our eyes were smarting. I had to put the fan in the window to clear the house of smoke before Bob's cute favorite show, The Big Bang Theory.

Bob took off Friday, and greeted me with coffee and cinnamon toast for our first breakfast. For second breakfast, we headed to Cracker Barrel for pecan pancakes and bacon. The opening day of baseball meant that the freeways around the ballpark were already gridlocked...and the bluebonnets were stunning even with the fourth driest March ever.

Bob was napping when Ben and his friend, Albert Nelson arrived about 3:30pm all dusty and sweaty and ready for showers, as they had been working on a Habitat house in Everman. Bob was startled to hear me talking to a stranger, and letting him use my shower, as he did not hear Ben nor had he yet met Albert.

We drove up to Frisco as we had been invited to Bob's brother's for a fabulous meal because Bob's eldest brother was in town with his wife for a wedding--his wife's niece was getting married the next day in Stephenville.

I do not recognize the freeways in north Dallas, and I get the toll roads confused. The traffic was heavy around the Ikea, so Bob went on to the Preston Road exit. Bob's brother, Roy honked and waved when he pulled up behind us. Too funny. We don't turn our cell phones on unless we need to use them. I had been pondering aloud that a phone app with where the clean restrooms were would sure be a help at this point as in Frisco, tall signage is a no-no and we could not spot the McDonalds.

Good visit...but when we started talking about sex, Ben and Albert skedaddled. Aunt Sally had been on a panel for questions about sex with their women's group at church, and I was curious whatall they had asked, and what advice she had given.

Signs you are in Grannie Heaven

2011-03-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

There is a portable baby carseat on your coffee table.

There are folded burp rags within reach from every chair.

There are five versions of the sound of running water on your favorites list.

There is a baby changing site with diapers, wet wipes, and extra outfits on your counter, fully stocked, and padded with a nice, thick bath towel.

Nuk pacifiers are at the ready from every chair.

Baby body wash (no tears) sits at the ready beside the kitchen sink.

Your tee shirt sports stains that you are proud of---because you got a good burp out of him.

Your nails are cut and filed super short so that you don't nick tender, soft skin.

Your love watching your husband kiss Baby James on the head, and Baby James marvel at his GrandDad's deep voice, and awesome bouncing skills.

Watching your two month old grandbaby stuggle to find his thumb is the most entertaining thing. He reaches up and pinches his own cheek, chin, and nose. One day soon, he will find it, and suck his little thumb just like his Daddy did 25 years ago...hooking a finger on his nose.

You discover that the floors at Walmart look smooth, but a baby in a portable car seat finds the bouncing of the shopping cart on the floor bouncy enough to be sleep inducing.

You giggle and jiggle and dance even when your arms are empty.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds...

2011-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

I don't think they are grackles. They are a huge flock of black birds with irredescent feathers on their head. They filled the yard finding and eating grubs, squawking away. Then they were gone.

I would love to rant and rave about Sunday's sermon, but that would be gossip, and not productive. Salesmen preachers set our teeth on edge. I thought Bob was going to explode. He kept passing me notes about how we should never "sell" the gospel, nor use the terms of salesmen when talking about the Bible, either. Yikes. And when Bob writes notes in ALL CAPS. Look out.

What to do when a guy in the pulpet is teaching heresy. Walk out? Cause a scene? That seems so rude, so we sit politely, and get ulcers. And vow we will never sit through another of his sermons whenever he subs---which seems to only be twice a year or so, thankfully.

I am sure the salesmen in the audience loved the message. It related to them. It was right up their alley. We did not even stay for the business meeting after. The once a year joke of a meeting where no account is made of a quorum, so why bother.

Bob taught Sunday School for the senior class---I am glad he practiced on me at home first, as it was a tear jerker. And Bob says he feels like he delivers it smoother when he runs through it out loud at home first.

Wow---the black birds are back. Noisy group. At first I thought this was the day the robins migrate through, but no.

We are doggie sitting. Our daughter-in-law left her Yorkie with us for a few weeks. She plans on staying with us a few days before and after her trip to Missouri, but it is easier to visit her relatives and friends in town with Brody here. Brody thinks he is a big dog. He loves to boss the neighbor's dogs, and keep our yard cat free.

I am still puffed up about getting the portable crib/bassinett all put together. We had used the playpen part before but I usually let the guys assemble it. the bassinett part was still in plastic shrink wrap. And the mobile needed unwrapped, too. The directions were more pictures than words, and five different size poles that snap together after been fed through sleeves of differing sizes. Took me about an hour. I think I will just throw a sheet over everything to keep off the dust. I don't know that I can dissassemble and fit it all back in the box. ha

And the bassinett part is only for a baby under 25 pounds, and a baby that is not flipping over yet...that won't be long. Baby James has doubled his birth weight---2 months old today ! At this rate...

I love questions that make me dig

2011-03-12T05:03:00.001-08:00

During a Wednesday night Bible Study, one of our college students asked the question: what OT verse speaks of salvation?
Did God make the way of salvation clear to Adam and Eve but forget to include John 3:16??
God created the heavens and the earth. God provided Adam everything he needed to live, learn, obey. God created a living being. God gave him everything except one warning: “in the day you eat from it you shall surely die.”
Die? God introduces the idea that not only are there consequences, but what exactly had Adam seen die? Maybe the daylight “died” each day, but so far, none of the plants or animals died.
Genesis 2:16,17 God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man saying—from any tree of the garden you may eat freely, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it: dying you shall die.
Before the woman was taken from the man and formed from his rib. It was just Adam. Why put a tree in the garden that caused death? Why tempt? Why give EVERYTHING but one thing? Why not Ten Commandments?
In Genesis 3, the crafty serpent says: “you shall surely not die.” So, whom do you trust? God or Satan?
Remember Genesis 3:22? I’m not sure Adam and Eve heard this, but surely God explained when/if they saw the cherubim and were driven out of the garden.
Cherubim: (plural) a huge, winged angel armed with a fiery sword. The fact that the cherubim existed, and were visible was visible proof that Adam and Eve were not alone. They were not the only creatures. Adam and Eve just saw an animal die and its skins made into fabulous clothing. Here is an angel stronger, capable of killing them if they tried to re-enter the garden. Whoops. What happens when they die? Would they cease to be? Would their soul go somewhere?
Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become LIKE one of us knowing good and evil and now lest he stretch out his hand and take from the tree of life and eat and live forever… God sent him out from the garden to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. God drove the man out and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the tree of life.
The tree of life. Whoa. Wait. Okay to eat of it before the fall . The tree of life was different from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why not just remove the trees? Why post a guard? Will the next generation ask about the 24/7 cherubim? Why is living forever a BAD thing? Why is eating from the tree of life now, after the fall, a bad thing?
Genesis 4:10 first hint of an afterlife?
In Genesis 4:1 Eve named her firstborn, Cain, and she said: I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.
Did she think he was the promised one? The one who would strike the serpent on the head? The one who would punish the serpent that deceived her in the garden? The serpent God cursed?
Genesis 4:2 Abel (means breath) was a keeper of flocks while Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Why the offerings? In verse 3: So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground.
Verse 4: And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. Why? When has your child ever desired to bring an offering to God? (I raised three sons, and they imitated driving cars and trucks, but I never recall them playing offering). Were they taught to worship this way back when the Lord made them garments of skin? Genesis 3:21
God appeared to Adam and Eve and and talked to Cain. Salvation is not believing God existed. They knew that. God had given them a promise of a future “seed”.
Genesis 3:14 The Lord God spoke to the serpent (Satan) but in front of Adam and Eve: Because you have done this—cursed are you more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly shall you go and dust shall you eat and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed—He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise HIM on the heel.
Back to Genesis 4:25 And Adam had relations with his wife again and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth for she said: God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel: for Cain killed him.
She knew. She acknowledged Seth as FROM GOD. A gift. Grace.
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also a son was born—and he called his name Enosh. THEN MEN BEGAN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. (curious phrase, eh?)
Genesis 5:1- This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
(We were made in the likeness of God. What does that mean? We were made with an eternal spirit? Soul? Mind? Body?)
He created them male and female and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. When Adam lived 130 years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image and named him Seth. Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth—800 years. Other sons and daughters. Verse 5: Adam lived 930 years and he DIED.
Remember in Genesis 3, the crafty serpent says: “you shall surely not die.” So, whom do you trust? God or Satan?
Throughout chapter 5, the line, the lineage, other sons and daughters, but a record of the father and son--- was very specific. What did the fathers teach the sons and daughters? To live 930 years, Adam saw six or seven or maybe eight generations. It is not recorded, but surely Adam told the story of the fall, and repeated the promise, and we don’t know how long the cherubim stood at the garden. Until the flood?
What did they do for almost 900 years? What did Adam do for 930 years?
Trick question: What did Adam and Eve DO for salvation? What did they do for eternal life?
The first ten generations lived long, long lives. One guy, Enoch, lived 365 years and walked with God and God took him home to heaven one day. Enoch did not die like the others. 365 years must have been enough to mentor the next generation.
Who was the first to die? Abel was murdered by his brother. In Genesis 4:10 God told Cain that your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. Was this the first hint of an afterlife? Even if you were murdered, and even if your brother denies doing it, God sees and knows.
Once Adam died, it was not long before Enoch joined Abel and Adam. What a trio—the first man who lived and died, the first murdered, and the first to go to heaven without dying.
In Genesis 3, the crafty serpent says: “you shall surely not die.” So, whom do you trust? God or Satan?

1717 week-a-versary

2011-02-26T13:14:00.001-08:00

Jomona, the first Williamson Grandchild to Bob's parents---alerted us to a cool math site, WolframAlpha.

It is fun to play with the numbers. When I entered April 1, 1978 to today, it told me that we are on our 1717th week-a-versary.

When Bob and I were newlyweds, we used to celebrate every Saturday and calculate which week-a-versary we were on.

1717 is a fun number.

In 2015, August, we will celebrate our birth year number week-a-versaries.

Fun. Fun.

Something to look forward to...like watching the odometer roll over 100,000 on the car. eh?

and over 12,0053 days means that surely, there have been over 12,000 kisses if we only kissed once a day, even counting times Bob was out of town. I like the sound of it: the year of 12,000 kisses. Sounds like a movie title.

But, that also means 12,000 suppers, 12,000 "I Love you mores..." 12,000 back scratches...

I think I will go calculate something with 100,000 in it...

http://www.wolframalpha.com/examples/Math.html

on June 21, 2012, Amber's birthday next year, we will celebrate 300,000 hours married---so if we were a car, Bob said we'd be headed back from the moon. (traveling one mile per hour)

Live Webcam: Eyjafjallajokull

2011-02-25T07:22:00.000-08:00

http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

I just love clicking on live webcams from around the world. I used to have a wonderful one of Mount Saint Helens. Then my computer decided it did not like pop up windows or something. boo.

In reconstructing favorites, I found the cool live webcam of the volcano in Iceland. Sometimes it is just snow. Sometimes at night, though, you can see the northern lights reflect off the snow. It looks like such a wild and desolate place.

Now they have webcams so that you can check the driving conditions in Wichita Falls before venturing out. Halelujah. Wichita Falls is mostly high over passes which ice over in winter. Yuck.

Someday they will invent live webcams for grannies. Won't that be fun! One time we were skyping with our son who was tired and lay down on their couch, and his two or three year old kept piling toys on top of him. It was a hoot. We could see her the whole time, so we were watching her. If she wandered out of frame, we were going to call our son and wake him up. We have read books with her on skype. But, most days, we just enjoy her exuberant energy.

I watched a video the other day where these experts say babies only learn language from face to face encounters. not from TV nor video nor webcams. But, as a grannie, we are thankful for skype. And hey, if it cuts down on flu and colds, all the better!

Favorites

2011-02-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

I like to brouse blogs and some news sites, and the weather sites.

I like to arrange my favorites on the left column, in alphabetical order.

When the old computer crashed, I used a saved favorites list Bob had made for me back in December. It was outdated, but better than nothing.

In assembling a new favorites list, I have been hunting and pecking, stealing and cruising sites looking for old friends. Even this blog has some old favorites listed. Some are not there, but like Katherine Ham, I like to keep her in the list to remind me to hunt for her articles.

How do I save this new list? It represents a morning of work. And learning. I hit the wrong button on one place and there was no undo...yikes. The ads are horrid.

I am glad my email is on a site not connected to my computer. I never lost my ability to email since it was "out there" but the ads on it are pesky.

I need a tutorial on this new computer. something in book form so that I don't have to go back and forth between screens. So much of it is just hunting and pecking. One day I will figure out how to remove all the scroll bars. And someday I will figure out how to set the fonts and screen sizes. Someday.

Now to figure out how to get that cursor bigger, and the silly little upside down triangle. I will be glad when the folks who make computers have old eyes like mine. Then maybe, we will have decent sized things to click on.

I have 105 "favorites" which include the Drudge Report, and WBAP, The Onion, and some Army wives, a mom taking care of her disabled soldier, and a couple of people in Israel. Windows to the world. Recipes from Pioneer Woman, news from The Blaze and The B-cast. And a funny or two on strange listings or things children have gotten into. Fun. Fun

New Stack Thingy

2011-02-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

The gateway stack computer thingy quit. So, Bob ordered a new HP (Hewlet Packard) stack thingy. It came yesterday in a box weighing 22 pounds. A fed-ex lady brought it to the door. She came about 1pm. For the past 12 or so days, Bob has graciously let me use his laptop. I was glad for the access, but his font is so tiny. Even the little arrow things you click on were hard on my eyes.

So, I have been trying to figure out how to configure this new computer with a larger font. It is different for every page. Lovely.

And we spent four hours last night trying to get the webcam on the monitor wake up. You'd think the HP computer could access the HP monitor webcam. Four hours of talking to support via chat, it looks like it needs another cord. So, Bob took the cord off the printer and tried that, but it was getting close to midnight, so we gave up. Now the printer is lit as in powered, but I doubt I could print any cute pictures of the grandkids.

We need the webcam or we need to download the old one so that we can skype with the next generation.

I have lost count on how many computers we have had, and how many favorites lists I have lost. Now to reconstruct a favorites list. And reload pictures. Facebook makes it easy to reset your background with one of the baby pictures, but somehow, when I tried it this morning, all I get is Baby James' midsection. Oh, dear.

I pondered aloud what it would be like to buy a car like we buy computers: we'd still be sitting at the dealership wondering why the windshield wipers were not talking to the controls.

Walmart

2011-02-15T02:01:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, an old K-mart closed. The lot and building were purchased by Walmart, and when the new Ballpark Stadium in Arlington was built, the Walmart started over with a spanking brand new building. And cute baseball lights on the corners. It was the newest, fanciest Walmart I had ever been to. Fancy.

Then this man decided to build a football stadium across the street. Rumors flew. Would the brand new Walmart be closed? Seemed a waste, as the area needed the store. And I am sure the workers appreciated the low cost of things they needed so close at hand.

But, Walmart is under attack by the snooty. I wish the snooty would actually visit a Walmart and see the number of ethnic groups holding down jobs there, as well as saving money there. Arlington only has another Walmart, way south, 30 minutes away from the Ballpark one if you are lucky in traffic. The closest one to the Ballpark Walmart is actually in Fort Worth---as far east Fort Worth as one can get. the Eastchase Walmart. There used to be one on 820, but it closed, and the Eastchase one is where all those customers have to travel.

The new Ballpark Walmart tried to be a good neighbor. They changed out half of the baseball lights and changed them to footballs.

Then the Super Bowl came to town. Snooty reporters looked down their nose at the Walmart. What kind of store would be "worthy" to be across the street from the Cowboy Stadium? A mall with a Neiman's? We have plenty of malls south.

The Walmart closed the day of the Super Bowl and allowed their parking lot to be media and security central. There is an old Jewish cemetery behind the Walmart, and an old Jewish synagog that has been bought out and changed into a tatoo parlor, then clubs. How come a Walmart is bad, but not a club?

Walmart makes a big effort to be clean. A cleaning crew has been at the Eastchase store for days now, changing out shelves, removing sticky labels, deep cleaning under shelves, checking stock and expiration dates. I have been impressed. Rumors are that a big wig is coming.

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T07:20:00.000-08:00

We celebrated yesterday by going out to eat at a favorite Mexican restaurant.

Bob had taken off the last Monday to see James off, and help Amber get outa Dodge.

We so enjoyed getting to hold and play with two week old Baby James. At the two week visit, he was back over his birth weight: seven pounds eleven ounces.

At three weeks, he is so cute, and strong, and loves to eat. If his Momma could just strap him to her chest, he'd feed all day. Sleep a little, eat a little.

He has such a strong little neck and if his feet can push on something, he flips already. We are dog sitting their yorkie, Brody until tomorrow, when Amber drives back to Lawton. He is a cute little doggie. Seems everyone loves yorkies--when we walk him around the block, he is very popular. (especially with the ladies)

I enjoy going to Walmart or Target the day after Valentine's Day and buying those chocolate hearts at half price. Bob does not seem to care if we wait a day.

A Note about the blackouts

2011-02-14T07:17:00.001-08:00

Come to find out, some power plants did not winterize their water pipes. two went down. (Luminent) and during the rolling blackouts, the pressure to the natural gas which feeds other power plants made matters worse.

I learned that it is best to live near the Barnett Shale, because they need the gas for the power plants, so we should not suffer blackouts next time. yay

And maybe the hospitals should test their generators periodically.

The Stack Is Dead. Again.

2011-02-14T07:02:00.000-08:00

My gateway computer stack thingy has been a problem. Early on it shut itself off, so we positioned a fan to keep it cool. okay in summer, but a pain in winter.

It crashed, and Bob was able to resurrect from an original something, which meant loss of favorites, but saving the pictures. Was I smart? Did I move the pictures to a disk or necklace drive? nope.

This time, it boots to a beginning part of the intro, then a blinking cursor.

So strange. What to do? Spend money getting diagnosed?

or just get a new stack and start over. The monitor is fine, the mouse and keyboard are fine.

So, Bob has graciously let me use his little lap top. Tee-tiny font. With a tee-tiny little box to center the arrow on before clicking, but, I am slowly learning. The laptop keyboard is very touchy. If I get sloppy and toggle one of the mystery buttons near the right shift key, all of a sudden, my screen is at 10 percent. or the cursor has left the premises.

Back in December, Bob had saved my favorites in a list I can access from email, but i miss the ones I had found since December. And if we were to need a computer to access the printer and scanner to do banking, we would be in trouble. And if we paid bills online, we'd be in trouble.

I have learned that computers are temporary. Computers crash. Computers are balky.

I don't play farmville or cityville. I use the computer as a newspaper---hunting and pecking for what is going on around the world, and thanks to facebook, keeping up with the news of family and friends.

SNOW

2011-02-04T02:21:00.000-08:00

Heavy Snow. We have not even seen it fall, as it started after midnight. It is like the snow has just appeared on the ground. I can see it falling if I look toward a streetlight.

We were suppose to get a dusting. No worries.

Then at 5:30pm they started making noises about inches. plural.

Then, while Bob is in the middle of a Colon Clean Out for a colonoscopy this morning scheduled for 7:15am...the weathermen admitted that a new, big, strange cloud had appeared out of nowhere to the south and that we'd be getting three and more inches.

Supposidly, this snow is just snow as it is still so cold. We are approaching 100 hours below freezing. They have revised the Superbowl forecast, too. For days, they have been saying that it would reach 55 degrees on Sunday afternoon. But, now, they are saying barely 48 degrees. wow

A huge storm...stretches down to Corpus Christie, and it is headed east. Kids have been home for four days...no school again today.

The storm of the century.

Amazing. Friday morning.

two hours later: Bob has shoveled and swept the drive, and is taking a shower. Then we are off to the hospital for his procedure.

The TV coverage has been painful to watch. They all drove into work at the TV stations and their horror stories of spinning out, and having to creep along at 20mph but, warning the rest of us to stay home. okay.

Six inches of snow fell in Dallas, and some of the freeways are closed.

The weather angels are having fun with the silly super bowl worshippers.

And the PUC apologized...come to find out, there was no emergency, no need for rolling blackouts. yikes. Talk about calling lawsuits down upon their heads.

The TV folks must be catoring to the bedridden. They were showing how deep snow was piled on top of cars...something any one can see if they just peek out their windows this morning.

10:30am home again. And it is still SNOWING. wow. I usually don't drive on snow. I don't get out much. But, I had to drive Bob home from the procedure. Bob says the worst part it the cleanout the night before. They put him to sleep.

One little pollup and a few diverticulitus. Doc said he was good for three more years.

And yet another visit to the hospital where you never see anyone wash their hands. Maybe they do that in the back somewhere. Not before the IV nor before taking out the IV. There is not even a sink in recovery nor prep. lovely.

Bob has had some cereal, and says pizza is sounding good.

Power, thus heat, but rolling blackouts

2011-02-02T11:27:00.000-08:00

We experienced our first of the rolling blackouts this morning. The temps are having trouble climbing out of the teens today. It is suppose to get to 22 degrees, but I don't think it is gonna.

The blackouts only last fifteen minutes or so, so no biggie. During the last one, I turned off the furnace as per radio instructions, and took a nap. It got down to 62 degrees in here. (usually set at 68 degrees)

I sit here at the computer in a coat anyway, as the fan necessary to make the computer happy is a bit chilly in winter. Nice during a hot flash...but...

The sun is trying to peek out. Streets look dry, but Bob warned of lots of black ice in shady spots. Bob had a lot of trouble with the door locks on the plymouth. froze shut. I wondered if he was going to have to tie to door shut to drive to the train station.

WBAP reporting two gas powered plants had water main breaks. That is why the rolling blackouts. Mystery solved.

Here I am snowed in, and the little guy next door (second grade) brought over the Worlds Finest Chocolate for me to purchase to help his school. Too funny. I don't need the chocolate, but I was out. ha

So strange to see a sheet of ice on the inside of the window on the south side. The indirect sun (through the clouds) has burned almost all of it off now. But, according to records, our coldest Ground Hog Day was back in 1985. I think that is the year we lost some front bushes.

Thank you, Bob for chopping all the ice off the drive and walk and cleaning off the toyota. Temps may not get above freezing until Friday...but things will clean up better without the re-freezing of the walks and drive.

Better post this before we lose power.

May be the last post until our weather event is over

2011-02-01T04:45:00.000-08:00

They are calling it a weather emergency.

Rain started last night, but ice started pelting the window at 3am, and Bob spent a lot of time scraping ice off the windshield before he left this morning. I wonder if the train is running.

The temperature is at 20 degrees, but it is dropping every minute. Once the ice moves east, there is snow. This storm just barreled down from Montana. I think all the schools closed just to be safe, which is smart. Wind chill below zero, as the wind is brisk.

The Super Bowl parties at the hotels in Fort Worth and Dallas will be fine, but getting to them treacherous. And this yucky storm is typical for the Stock Show in Fort Worth, but they have enjoyed some spring like days, and record attendance.

Good news---the Army wife I follow on facebook made it out of Cairo! yay. Her husband works at the embassy there, and is trying to help other families get their pets out. wow She posted that the police station was overrun, guns stolen, and the Walmart-type store, looted and burned.

DFW airport is closed.

In case we lose power because of the ice---

Monday before the storm

2011-01-31T07:02:00.000-08:00

We have been enjoying balmy days of spring like weather. Tomorrow, winter returns, and it may not get above freezing on Wednesday. The weatherman is using words like sleet and snow and bitter cold. Things should warm up by the weekend (Super Bowl in town).

Yesterday, after church, and lunch, Bob and Ben finished the two lights that fit up in the ceiling. Bob had to spackle and patch one of the holes, but light bulbs illuminate my kitchen! The blue masking tape even gives the ceiling a blue light special. fun!

I have been glued to the internet news on Egypt this weekend, trying to wrap my brain around what is happening. Mark Davis interviewed a Coptic Christian from Egypt on the radio which was very informative. When you are born in Egypt, they label your birth certificate/ID card as Coptic Christian or Muslim. And the Copts have no rights. This guy said they are descendants of the apostles who evangelized Egypt in 38 AD...way before the Muslims were even invented. Lately, after a rousing Friday sermon at the mosques, the Coptic Christians have been targeted, many murdered.

But, the radical Islamic groups would love to take advantage of the uprising. So there is real danger there. We also have 50,000 Americans in Egypt. I follow an Army wife who blogs and facebooks from there. Her husband works at the embassy. I have not heard from her in almost a week now, as the internet was cut.

Off to the store. I am out of bread and veggies.

It sure was fun to watch Ben at work all weekend. He gets so focused, it is hard to get him to stop to eat and drink something cold like a glass of water. It was super hot up in the attic. And full of itchy insulation that Ben blew into last year for us. So, after each trip, Ben came down with insulation clinging to his clothes and hair.

There is lots of patching and painting to do, but Bob wants to tackle that. Ben says he will come back next weekend to install the old light from the kitchen in the garage over the washer and dryer for me. Sometimes, I have to open the back door to shine enough light on the washer and dryer. We used to have one up there, but Bob took it down. Ben loves all things electrical, so he wants to install it up there for me. yay.

I finally got Bob's hair cut in the back yard yesterday afternoon. There was a north wind, so we sat on the south side of the house to get 'er done. It had been three weeks, so Bob was looking shaggy.

I am so thankful for more pictures of the newest Williamson on facebook! yay!

And a picture of the newest Anchorage Williamson under his new blanket---I printed out that picture to send to my friend who made the warm quilt for the little guy.

This is the last day of Jan-Jew-Airy. We love the way our granddaughter pronounces it. Next year, she will have forgotten, maybe. I don't want to forget. We now have three Williamsons with Jan-Jew-Airy birthdays: Abby, and Baby James and GrandDAD!

More later.

Male Bonding: Electrical

2011-01-29T08:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Ben called. He seemed unsure as to whether he'd be coming home this weekend. I told him that the electrical stuff could wait. I don't mind a bright orange extension cord snaking through the living room into the spare room.

But, unbeknownst to me, Ben called his dad, and they discussed the solution to the electrical issues in the kitchen. Best to get 'er done while climbing in the attic while the climate is condusive to climbing in the attic.

So, this morning, there has been much drilling, measuring, unscrewing of electrical boxes, use of gadgets that light up, and they are now off to the hardware store. I think this is how men bond. Father and son. And since Bob is an electrical engineer, and Ben is studying to be an electrician, they use a whole new vocabulary. I am so thankful God has given them this to bond.

Bob was also trying to separate the receipts for taxes, so whenever Bob made some comment about my filing skills or lack there of, there was a snort from the kitchen. Maybe he needs to see us not being the perfect couple. But, at this rate, Bob is getting yogurt for supper this week if he keeps it up. And rice crispie treats.

Overlapping receipts are confusing. I just paid the taxes, property taxes, on the house, but they are last years' taxes. They don't count on this year's because I paid it mid-January. Where to file it so Bob will have some hope of finding it??!!

We do not itemize, but save receipts none the less just in case we are ever audited, and need to prove where it all went.

The windows are open. It is a beautiful day. The pollen is making us sneeze. I need to give Bob a haircut.

We are enjoying a few days of spring like weather. Winter returns on Tuesday.

Poor Ben is having to part the seas of blown in pink insulation he put up there in the attic last year. Itchy city.

Our frig is the culprit. It needs its own circuit. Our frig trips the fancy GFIC or is it GFCI outlets. And Ben found the leak on the frig. A once-every-thirty-seconds drip where the copper meets the plastic hose. (a hose that I thought was capped off--to the old, broken icemaker)

ah-sink-run-us motor. squirrel cage.

The guys are back. The blinking appliances give away where they have been working.

Spring Time in Texas not Germany...

2011-01-28T09:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today and tomorrow are the kind of days that we all exult living in Texas. Temps in the seventies, windows open, dandelions blooming. And the purple hen bit it blooming. Heavenly. Cool mornings. Full sunshine. ah. I just want to sit in the sun like a mud turtle.

Yesterday I also felt the need to shoot my self in the foot metaphorically speaking. While I was flattered that my dear middle son would call me about the newborn crying and keeping his Momma up all night, I did not think it was the right thing to do as his in-laws are there. I want him to be sensitive to their feelings. And they have so many more children and grandchildren and experience. While I'd love to hear from him, tapping into the wisdom of the newer moms is better.

I emailed my firstborn's dear wife, and found out that the arching back thing is often a sign of acid reflux. I think we called it collic. Or, maybe collic is different. There is medication for that. But, keeping the newborn propped up in his car seat or swing for thirty minutes might also do the trick. Just make sure they do not flop forward. And Lauren remembers her babies keeping her up all night when newborns. Going from the womb to breathing on their own and being outside, they somehow have their days and nights mixed up. And she told me how David fought the wrapping for a few nights, but enjoys it ever since, and she still papoose wraps him at night. otherwise he flips to his tummy already. wow.

Lauren also told me about something I had never heard of: tracheal manascia or the softening of the vocal chords where they sound like they are whoop-wheezing. She said it took a few visits to the doctor to get it diagnosed. It is not hiccups. Her little David is the best baby, and when we skype, you'd never know he has had any problems. And four year old Abby was literally jumping up and down last night. So much energy! And it was infectious--our son started jumping, too, and we noticed a thinning on top of his head. He blames parenthood, but I think you get baldness from your momma's genes. Sorry babe.

I just want to remember these fun times. The good and the bad. While I ach to hold Baby David, and Baby James...there are times when the mommas are sick and tired of all the advise and interference and just want people to go away. I'd love to hold Abby, too, but first I'd have to chase her down. And she has more energy than all of us put together. Her being held time is quickly dissappearing. wow.

I hope Abby likes the something pink we snuck into the blanket my friend Suzanne quilted for Baby David. And the pictures. I love sending Abby mail. Little kids ususally do not get much mail.

I wonder if James and Amber got the pictures I snail mailed them?? I am not gonna call and interupt someones nap. New parents need their rest.

We are out of bread. So, to the store I go.

I love having the windows open, because I can hear the doves, and the other song birds. Is it the amorous time of year for cats? I noticed that the pride at the end of the street seem to be in those strange mating lurking--and ever once in a while you hear them snarling.

Cold weather is due to revisit next Tuesday.

Baby James on Wednesday

2011-01-26T07:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Bob !!!

2011-01-26T04:47:00.000-08:00

Bob is 59 today. Fifty-nine.

The third son of eight brothers and sisters.

Born in January. He complained he never got a snorkle, since snorkles are given to summer babies.

Bob says he is in his PRIME. It is a math thing. 59 is a prime number.

Next year, he says, he will be 60, which is divisible by almost everything.

He has requested apple pie for his birthday. Maybe we can guilt the grandchildren to skype with us, being his birthday and all...

He only got one lonely birthday card from his ever faithful sister, Barbara who sends cards every year. Now, Bob will sign a card if I address it for him, and hand him a pen...so don't cry for him, Argentina.

In fact, if I am writing cards, Bob will agonize about just the correct sentiment for hours while I pump out ten cards to his one. I accept that about him. Bob is an engineer, and correctly worded things are his love language. Whereas, I think Ben's love language is acts of service, and Andy likes gifts. What is James' love language?? Jesus Christ had them all, being the perfect man. And some people have a combination.

To remember the five types, I put them in an acrostic:

H is for Hugs (touch, embrace, physical affection)
E is for Extra special gifts
A is for acts of service
R is for woRds wRitten
T is for Time, quality time spent

Hey, I made it up myself to help me remember.

When we were first married, I did not know about love languages nor what his love language was---even though he had written the wittiest letters all during our courtship and engagement. One day, I came back to our newlywed apartment and found one lone rose and a note telling me he was sick in bed. I couldn't believe he was very sick, as he seemed to have gone to so much trouble with the rose, and note. That was my second clue, and it still took me years to understand. I almost killed it in him, as he continued to write funny cards and notes. I did not appreciate the cards and told him to stop. So, he did. I killed his gift giving, too. He bought me a sweater one year for Christmas and it either did not fit or was not to my liking, so I took it back. So, he gave up trying to buy me presents.

He said he got a birthday greeting on facebook from Leah and since she forgot a comma, he wrote back that his hair was too short for a birthday bob. Took me a few minutes to get that one. (bob as in haircut. is it spelled bob or bobb? should be spelled boob to snark at people who take the time to wish you a happy birthday).

I am trying to be a better listener. Understanding my very complicated husband has been a thirty-three year quest, and he keeps suprising me. I don't think I tell him enough how much I appreciate him. He goes to work faithfully every day. He does all the yardwork, and repairs stuff, and soon he will figure out how to plug the frig into a different outlet so that the extension cord can be put back into the garage. I don't mind the bright orange cord snaking across the room, but I sure hope Ben comes home this weekend...ha. I have an electrical engineer husband and an electrician son. I am blessed!

Happy Birthday comma Bob. I hope you can go to the Bahamas someday on your birthday and snorkle. (but, Bob does not like summer, so going to the Bahamas may not be the place...do they snorkle in Alaska in wet suits?) To have been given a newborn grandson just four days before your birthday means we may celebrate y'alls birthday together in the future...especially if I am lazy.

I Can't Believe My Son Actually Did This:

2011-01-26T04:35:00.001-08:00

During the last weeks of my daughter-in-law's pregnancy, she suffered swelling in her hands and feet and was embarrassed that she could not wear her wedding rings. She was afraid she'd lose them if she worn them on a necklace, and when I stayed with her, I suggested we buy one from Walmart. My hands change size with the temperature, and I had bought a spare at Walmart to wear when my wedding band was too tight.

When James came home, I told him how it would really mean a lot to Amber if he bought her a ring. So, one day at Walmart, they picked out a silver wedding band. The clerk was skeptical and assumed they were not married, which embarrassed Amber. And then James got down on one knee right in the middle of Walmart and asked her to marry him feeding the incredulous clerk's suspicions. Amber laughed. I think I would have punched Bob if he had pulled that on me. Yikes. Poor Amber. How will he ever make it up to her? Better yet, how can she get him back?

King David's Prayer: I Chronicles 29

2011-01-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

verse 10 - 20: David praised the Lord before the entire assembly:

O Lord God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore!

O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. You are the source of wealth and honor, you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. Now our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!

But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security.

O Lord our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you. I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you. O Lord God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you. Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.

David told the entire assembly: Praise the Lord your God ! So the entire assembly praised the Lord God of their ancestors, they bowed down and stretched out flat on the ground before the Lord and the king.

I Chronicles 28:19-20 David said: All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints. David said to his son Solomon: Be strong and brave! Do it! Don't be afraid and don't panic. For the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the Lord's temple is finished.

I Chronicles 17: 10- Moreover, I tell you that the Lord will build a house for you. ....I will set up one of your descendants after you, who shall be of our sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

(I love the word play on the word house. David desires to build God a House and God turns it around and promised David that He would establish David's house/dynasty or lineage forever. Jesus Christ became that Son of David. Jesus Christ will rule forever. And now as our sons have sons and daughters, they depend on God's Word and principles found in the Word to raise their children with integrity, courage, and honor...establishing a house. Our houses of brick and mortar and sheetrock and paint and tile house the real house--the family that is our home. And we look to God for direction, purpose, with thankfulness in the blessing of healthy babies.)

2011-01-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

Newly Born

2011-01-24T06:38:00.000-08:00

2011-01-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

Baby James

2011-01-24T05:57:00.001-08:00

His little hands are covered to keep him from scratching his face. But, it looks like a little salute. Or, maybe an, "oy, vey...what a day !"

The video is the first time I got to see him. After 22 hours of labor, and being induced, they decided to do a c-section. So, Amber was put under, and did not get to see him at first like we did. Surrounded by family and friends, they brought her back to the room, and she finally got to see her baby. And hold him. It was love at first sight. She could not take her eyes off of him.

There are no such thing as visiting hours anymore, and everyone was allowed in their room. She had a huge double room with windows on two sides. Amber's folks, and sister, and nieces and friends were all there and we were all taking pictures.

I love how James calls him his little buddy and comforts Baby James with his voice. James got to cut the cord, and be the first to hold him, and dress him and take care of him under the warming lights until they brought Amber back into the room. It was so special to watch.

Cooling Off

2011-01-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

I worked on the kitchen floor again. Found this cement cleaner at Walmart that helps get up the goop, but is not as toxic...still, I opened the windows just in case. I wanted to get under the sink clean. To the guys, why bother, as no one sees under there...until there is a problem, and then you have extra dangerous mess. The wood under the sink rotted away years ago, and so it is bare cement, just like my kitchen floor. I removed the wooden board I always stub my toe on as it was nasty dirty and hard to clean around. I will ask Bob tonight if it is necessary for structure for the cupboard doors and walls of the cupboards. There is this nice space between the kickplates and the cupboards that feels like it goes back all the way to the front wall of the house. I never knew it was there. A dozen mice could hide in there and I'd never know it.

Getting down on all fours is sure hard on the knees. And I used an old chizzle to chip away at some hidden black tar. And the hammer to loosen the board---once yellow, now stained with the chemicals Ben used on the floor.

I want the floor clean enough for toddlers to eat off of---for soon we will have them visiting, and it has to be safe. If a ball or banana rolls back under the cuboard, it must be clean enough for little guys.

Super cold air is moving into our portion of the country today. At 3am, I heard the radio weathermen say it was 55 degrees. I think it is below freezing here now because ice shards are forming on the outside trash can. I won't drive anywhere unless the streets dry. Why risk it. There is a trip to Fort Sill in our future tomorrow, as baby James has a date with the doctor. Fun. Fun. The weather is suppose to warm up tomorrow, so we should be good driving.

Baby James must like it where he is. Nice and warm and hugged. What a miracle to go from a water world to breathing on his own. Tomorrow he will breathe air and feel cold. Poor baby to be born when it is so cold. All my babies were born when it was hot. Bob's birthday is the 26th. And Hannah's on the 28th.

Baby James: you are so loved already. The fourteenth grandchild on your Momma's side. The third on your Daddy's side. Cousins and aunties and uncles...oh, my !

Your story will begin: Your Daddy was on his first deployment to Afghanistan and came home on R&R just to see your Momma and be there when you were born....

Jesus wants me

2011-01-20T04:49:00.000-08:00

Grannie on Dogwood: Did I tell you about Jacob singing, "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam?"

Jacob: "A zombie, a zombie, Jesus wants me for a zombie..."

Jacob: Mom, why does Jesus want me for a zombie??

Taste testing

2011-01-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

I just went to Walmart and bought the Wholly guacamole 100 calorie packets and the Walmart cheaper-by-a dollar store market brand. no taste difference. The store brand packets seemed a little bigger, but then they do not brag about being 100 callories. I just love this size, as the huge ones were a whole meal for me. And guac does not keep.

Ben brought some home from Chipotle and it turned brown and was gonna be a science project soon. So I threw it out. These little snack size packets are the best! no waste. no mess. no waiting around for our avacadoes to actually ripen. wow

What will they think of next?

And for cute, try out the website that makes fun of parents who text:

http://whenparentstext.com/

Let's hear it for leftovers!

2011-01-18T11:35:00.001-08:00

My eyes were bigger than my stomach this weekend. I brought home sample size pieces and froze them. Today at lunch, just me (Bob gone to work) I popped those frozen leftovers into the glass covered cassarole dish and into the microwave, and voila---wonderful lunch of comfort food. yum.

this has been your boring blog of the day.

We had such fun eating with Ben this weekend. As I consumed the piece of the two meals, I remembered Ben and talking with him. He is all grown up. An honored guest, and yet more...we desire the best for him: a loving, godly wife, and cute babies, and a job he enjoys to do as unto the Lord, a long life dying at a ripe old age surrounded by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Even as we desire this for each of our sons. Last night we got to skype with Andy in Anchorage, his dear wife and four year old and 3 month old. The four year old has so much energy. And the three month old is so alert and entertained by the constant parade of sister, dog, loving parents, voices, and he has found his hands--his thumb and his fingers. Growing like a weed, that one! A dream baby--so good, then falls asleep, and then wakes up for more. Amazing. I think they'd have more if they were all guaranteed like this baby.

But, some babies cry. Some have collic. Some have allergies, and issues, and some are not as easy. I have read two blogs of two different families raising feral children---wild, wild little girls that do the most astonishing things, who are nothing like their own sisters. One mom put it thusly: "they march to a different drummer who we suspect is high on crack" (the drummer, not the child, of course.)

Hair

2011-01-18T07:42:00.000-08:00

Why does my youngest son want to color his hair??

Ben went to work right out of high school. I don't think they worried about hair color at the movie theater, but Pizza Hut had some standards. And then working on roofs installing solar panels and photovotaic was still kinda edgy, artsy---so his long, long locks of sun bleached golden brown got him so many compliments from the ladies that he let it grow and grow.

Now back in college, he has decided to play with the color. He has been black, maroon, red, and now pink-orange.

Thank heavens for facebook, because he had posted the newest "do" Saturday night, and since he gets himself up for church, when he came in and sat down, I was ready having seen the newest hue on facebook. Whew. It was funny watching people's reaction as he walked in---and then as different ones who know Ben noticed. The music director piano player was visibly shaken. I thought she was going to faint.

I have seen this color on punk rockers with drug problems. But, Ben is a good kid. He studies hard. He works hard. He loves to fix and remodel and install stuff. Bob and Ben have been installing tiny glass tiles in our kitchen. What started as a need to cover some ugliness behind the stovetop wrapped around the walls under the cupboards, and over the sink, and along the wall by the trash can. It looks great.

And Ben worked so hard to suprise us when we were staying with Amber after Christmas to build me stands for my front loaders, and remove the old linoleum asbestos tiles from the kitchen floor. When we were gone for a few days to Austin to see the granddaughter a few months ago, Ben completely painted the kitchen and living room.

I have never seen such a hard worker.

Do we not give him enough attention?

Why mutilate himself with wild hair colors?? I would not think it safe for him to be out and about as some may hit on him. When I voiced these concerns, Ben said he has no worries in that department.

Someday, he won't have much hair---like his Dad, and uncles, and grandpa. So, maybe he is enjoying it while it lasts. He was always drawn to the misfit pink haired girls in high school in the drama department.

If I had a daughter, I'd chalk it up to oh, well, I did it, too.

What did I do when Ben sat down next to us in church?? Kissed him on the head, like I always do, and asked why it was not purple, as he had talked about trying purple. He said they were out. TCU fans had scarfed it all up, I guess.

Taking a Break

2011-01-18T06:04:00.000-08:00

Cooling down.

Windows open.

I just mopped the new cement kitchen floor. Ben had removed the old linoleum tiles and asbestos and then used keroscene to pull up the black tar. Now I have this smooth cement floor. It is soft, smooth, and feels good to my bare feet.

Why do I like these simple floors?? I noticed that every grocery store I shop at has a simple cement floor. Yes, theirs are sealed and buffed. I like their character. And a dose of vinegar whitens it up. And hopefully cleans it of some toxic chemicals...but I may be making more.

When wet, it looks like a mirror...or a street in the rain...as if there is another alternate world below my feet.

I think the frig is leaking. Bob and Ben insist it is the pan under the frig. But, every time I move it, there is a puddle.

Poor Ben tore up his knuckles using the heavy duty chemicals guys at Home Depot talked him into removing the tar with. Yikes. He worked so hard. And even grouting and sealing the grout---the guys got so sweaty. My comments of wanting caulk here and there instead of quarter round was not appreciated.

But, the tiles look great. So fancy!!! We are still having electrical issues with the plug, so that is a mystery that only re-wiring will solve. Should have re-wired before tiling, but, oh, well. My guys are imaginative. I would suggest re-wiring and hiding the outlets on the bottom of the cupboards, but I will problably be laughed at, or told I won't like it. Thataway the wires can be hidden in the cupboards. Just an idea. Just a thought. Sounds easier to me.

Time to mop up the vinegar. I want the floor safe for little bitties.

The back of my stove top used to be ugly, and now it is fancy. I will try to post pictures.

whew---only one uploaded upside down. maybe Bob can fix it for me later.

R&R

2011-01-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

It means rest and recouperation in military terms.

What does R&R look like to the parents?

We get a break from the tense waiting: waiting for emails, phone calls, word. We go from daily updates and contacts to "yay" and then to silence. As it should be.

We are so thankful they are home safe. We are so thankful we can take a break from the news about Afghanistan and Iraq. We no longer have to comb the web for stories.

I am so thankful my son made it home in time to feel his baby son move, and experience this stage of his dear wife's pregnancy. That is an answer to prayer by so many. We are so thankful.

But, now the quiet. I am glad we have some home remodelling projects--something to do while we wait for grandchild number three to make his appearance.

Bob said that delivering three soldiers to their wives on Friday was THE BEST DAY EVER. Christmas times three. When James got off the flight from Ireland Friday morning, it was not "Hi, mom" but "can you take me and two buddies to Fort _____ today?? So, we packed them in the car, handed them bottles of water, I shook their hand, and Bob took off. He had them in their wife's arms by noon. I drove Bob's other car home. (as he was planning to just go into work, as we thought James was wanting to fly on to the Army post) But, we could get him there quicker, and were glad to help. Parents of adults gotta be flexible---ready for any contingency. Keep that van full of gas, and the tires aired up. The only thing I forgot to send with is a camera. And extra phone.

As they neared the Army Post, the men called their wives, as one needed an address. His family had finally gotten on post housing, so he needed to call and find out exactly where they were. The phone cut out just down the street. If only I'd sent the other phone, they could have finished the call. But, they did find the house...and with little kids peeking out, Bob said it was so neat to see the wife fly out and hug her soldier.

Then to James' house. And his waiting, very pregnant wife. Her sister took video--and even their little dog was so glad to see James. It might not have been the homecoming Amber imagined, but at least she did not have to stand around an airport waiting.

Bob tried to load more minutes onto his phone (unsuccessfully---) and I was given a glimpse of this scene when they skype-ed in, and I could see James and Amber hugging, and Bob working on his laptop. I kept telling Bob to come home. Forget about the phone. Get outa there. You are no longer needed nor wanted.

Bob came home, and Ben drove up from college, and they glued the tiny tiles onto the backstop behind the stove. We found these tiles on sale (being discontinued?) and scarfed up all they had. They attached tiles behind the sink...and on around to behind the trash for my basketball trash throwers. Covered that stain behind the trashcan that works as a backboard for those shots that bounce off the back wall before scoring into the trashcan.

The tile looks great! It is a dark tile with copper streaks. It is called "nocturnal tiger's eye" and it makes the bright cupboards look dingy yellow. So, now what color to paint the cupboards?? Ben suggested I enlist the experts: Aunt Sally and Aunt Wendy. Many of my appliances are black, and since Ben removed the old linoleum asbestos tiles on the kitchen floor for me---I have a smooth, soft-as-butter cement floor in the kitchen.

Yesterday, Saturday, they grouted. Wow. That is hard work. Much sweating. Pushing grout between the teeny tiny tiles. Bob says he is Bob from Texas, not Sore from Grouting. ha

Three soldiers died in Afghanistan on the 12th. We grieve for their families as we sigh in relief for ours.

We called our firstborn in Alaska. So good to hear a little baby cooing. Baby David was born in October, and has the best disposition. I wonder if they are tempted to have more if they could be guaranteed another David?? "He is awesome" Andy says. And there is a picture this morning of our granddaughter petting her dog on facebook. Facebook is so kind to grannies who like pictures. We are so thankful. Our cup is full. Overflowing.

Facebook also gave us a heads up that our youngest dyed his hair pink last night. He has tried black and red. I thought he was gonna try purple. He needs maroon for when he visits Alaska during his spring break.

When we talked to Andy on the phone, we were all watching the same football game. I was remarking on the long hair on some of the players now. One player's hair looked so dirty and stringy. Andy said that our granddaugher wisely noted that they are girls playing football. From the mouth of babes: yes, Abby, they have women's souls. Real men don't bother about their hair.

James is home for his mid-deployment R&R. YAY

2011-01-14T11:30:00.001-08:00

The Coldest Day of the Year

2011-01-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

It barely made it above freezing yesterday, which is unusual for our part of the country. They count it by hours. Some fifty odd hours of below freezing temps. Folks just east, where the snow still sits upon the ground have seen seventy some hours of below freezing.

I am thankful it is dry. The streets are dry. So, I was able to venture out and drop off bills needing to be mailed yesterday. And purchase some birdseed.

My cough is almost gone. But, when a friend called yesterday, she asked to speak to Joyce Williamson, because my croaky voice was not one she recognized.

Gotta be careful how I word things around here. When I asked from the deep recess of the covers this morning, "how about some coffee"? Bob assumed I'd be getting up and making some. ha. How I should have worded it: "Will you be making some super strong coffee for your old woman this morning??"

or: "Would you be so kind as to start the coffee??"
or: "Hebrews! Hebrews!"

Quilts are effective lap robes in front of a fan! Our computer gets hot, and shuts down, so we set a fan going on it. Feels good most months of the year. Not so much now. I have tried wearing a couple of layers. But, this lap quilt my sister found in china somewhere actually works almost tooo good. Amazing how quilts hold that pocket of warmth. Gotta get me some more quilts.

Our middle son is winging his way home for R&R. A helo ride to an airport somewhere in A-stan, to a flight to Germany or Kuwait...then DFW. Can't wait. He may catch a flight directly to his waiting wife and home. Or, if we can get him there quicker, we will. We are ready, willing, and able.

Bob has Monday off for MLK. For years, it was a floating holiday, and even some colleges celebrate it, some don't. If James is "home" then we could drive up for a quick lunch and hug or something. We will see. Or Bob may be busy on the kitchen tile project. All set to go there. Found these tiny glass tiles with copper swirls in them. At first, just tiling the back of the stovetop was the goal. But, why not the whole space under the cupboards? And above the trashcan as a backboard for the ones who see a trashcan as a basketball goal?? Or, I could just repaint the stain, and put a poster up there. I suggested putting the glass tiles on the wooden window sill as that is where I place my candle holder collection, but I was laughed at. And I was told that I would not like it. It is no fun being told what one will and will not like.

I have set the packages of tile (still in their plastic wrap) around the edges to get a feel for what it will look like. It is gonna be one dark dungeon kitchen. With bright canary yellow cupboards. We painted the cupboards thirty years ago when we moved in. I kid you not. I love yellow, and it was a reaction to the parade of neutral apartments we had lived in until that point in time when that firstborn needed a yard. It is time to paint them again, as some cracks have appeared above the stove. (needs a vent hood to the roof and outside) Ben suggested taking the doors off, which I would love, but things would get dusty. Maybe we could just be slow to put the doors back...

Home remodelling consists of jobs regetting jobs. Paint this room, and that room now looks dingy. Paint the kitchen, now the cupboards look wanting.

And to find that balance of upkeep and safety versus insular rearranging chairs on the Titanic. $200 on tiles better spent sent to missionaries?

Menopause alert: read at your own risk

2011-01-10T10:54:00.000-08:00

Blogging has become a very convenient online journaling venue for me. I blog for me. If it helps someone else, then, good. But, I gotta dump somewhere. And I know how to type.

What did women do one hundred years ago?? one thousand?? Especially where water is scarce? I am experiencing a flood of major proportions. It is gross. I am on my third pair of pants and sitting on a towel. I am constantly doing laundry. The washer has a cold water soak cycle which is so handy to just throw bloody, stained clothes in and when a I get a full load---wash it. I am blessed to have a working washer and dryer.

What in the world did women do down the centuries?? I thought my period was ending. I went all of November and December. I had been skipping every other month for a year. I thought things were just slowing down in hop and skip, jerky method. But, this is ridiculous.

Thankfully, the pad people made a new extra long pad that comes in a purple pouch. So convenient, but getting over allergies or a cold, I have a cough, so when I cough, I pee. Incontinent. Hence the towel. Hence the fear anywhere I sit.

I think I am so ready for menopause. I think I am so ready for the end. Ceasation of the monthly curse. the monthly cycle. There are times (few day before, usually) when I cannot get warm. Most of the time I am hot. sweating. warm.

And I realize that hormonally, I cannot trust my thoughts, so I am in constant prayer---please, Lord, Your will. Your thoughts. I don't trust my own. Am I being picky, moody, unreasonable because of you know what? or am I just a bitch? a sinner in need of a minute by minute repentance and close walk.

Maybe if men did this, they would invent walk through showers with pressure sprayers crotch level. Maybe if men menstrated toilets/toliets would come with bidets.

Maybe ladies who live near the ocean go for a daily swim...but how do they keep the sharks at bay? We all need a private river. A private planet with special plumbing.

Mystic Nail. Just one.

2011-01-09T17:42:00.000-08:00

My daughter-in-law introduced us to the comedienne (Anjelah Johnson) that pokes fun at the nail salon service workers.

Well, I will have you know, that those places actually exist! Much to my amazement (being an old lady of 54, and having raised three boys) the whole fingernail and toenail salon experience has passed me by. Yes, I knew those places existed. But, to actually sit and knit while waiting for my daughter-in-law to get a much deserved pedicure, I watched the parade of ladies come in the door and ask for a certain service---say, for example, eye brow waxing. They were then directed to the back after signing in. And in just five minutes or so they would emerge all red around the eyebrows. And they would pay for this service.

Some came in for toe nails or finger nails---and the drill included signing in, then picking out "color" from a macabre display of single plastic fingers lined up on top of the desk like a freak show. Rows of desks with workers in facemasks, and dental drills awaited some customers. Rows of easy chairs on pedestals behind the full sized fountain held victims of all ages---even men!

And the name of the place? "Mystic Nail" Just one. Singular.

If all the workers were with a customer, the closest one to the door would yell out: "Sign in, ten minute." And no matter how long it took...or how busy...everyone was told the same, "ten minute." I guess most customers can wait ten minutes. Only one little gaggle of young girls walked out when their "ten minute" stretched beyond a literal ten minutes.

Christmas Day

2010-12-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

Wow--we got to skype with James last night from A-stan, and Andy and Lauren and Abby and baby David in Anchorage after noon our time. (their morning of unwrapping presents) And we got to see Abby unwrap presents we had mailed them. wow This new technology is fantastic. And it helps to have such thoughtful, kind, loving sons who are willing!

I am afraid lunch was a little too rare, and too bloody for Ben. I even called my mom because it has been years and years since I have cooked a prime rib roast. We found one on sale at Tom Thumb. A little bit big for three, but hopefully, we can heat up the leftovers...

Cooking a prime rib roast at 500 degrees for one hour, then turn down the oven for half an hour or more as you finish with the smashed potatoes, dressing, and rolls.

The microwave quietly quit. Just like that. Last night, we noticed the light was not on and Bob and Ben tested it. dead. Lovely. How to heat up the dressing? and how will we heat up leftovers?? oh. well.

I like what Steve H. said on his facebook page to put the day in God's Hands.

My problem is getting everything to the table hot at the same time. We were finished and the kitchen cleaning underway by noon. And good thing, as that is when Andy and Lauren called. Way too much food left over is my other problem. ha

Since I had been without a stove for almost a year, I had not made mashed potatoes in a while, so I hid the beaters from myself. Looked high and low. And here I have to touch them every time I get out the pyrex measuring cups Andy and Lauren gave us. I had placed the beaters in the cups... (the mind is going)

I use those pyrex cups a lot for heating up hot water in the microwave...

And using the shiny electric mixer James and Amber gave us...made me tear up for James. James should be home. Home with Amber.

But, God brought it to my mind---pyrex bowls set in boiling water on the stove heated up the dressing nicely. Not that Bob nor Ben are big dressing eaters. The veggies were hidden in the dressing, so they did not get their daily requirement of celery, apples, cranberries, nor onions. And a little dressing goes a long way. Smelled good anyway.

So, I am thankful for sons that skype.
And good rain. And some sun today.
And a smooth lunch. And Ben wrapped his straight A grades. 4.0 None of us had every seen such numbers on a report card. We even showed Andy and Lauren.

Part of me wants to just drive around today. See whatall is open, and what is closed. Today is Christmas Day. It is a Saturday. Tomorrow lots of places will still be closed because it is Sunday. (and the candles at C. Barrel will be half price!)

The house still smells of prime rib smoke. Best to cook the next one someday on a day when we can open windows. (spring and fall)

I wonder if the puppies next door have found those prime rib bones?

Merry Christmas to all. And may I recommend this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbV_HTpyx0&feature=player_embedded

A Knitting Poem someone sent me for Christmas

2010-12-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
'Cause the heels and toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both Dad and the boys.
And though I was tired, my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplex-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I expected,
"Move, Ashford! Move, Lopi! Move, Addi and Clover!
Move, Reynolds! Move Starmore! Move Froelich --move over
Paton, don't circle 'round; stand in the line.
Come now, you sheep will work out just fine!
I know this is hard; it's just your first year,
I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing.
And then, in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned 'round St Nick I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe,
And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf 'round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I espied a small label,
"S.C." was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
And I asked, "Hey, Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"
He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I'd thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair,
He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.
He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two,
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks.
While I sat back drinking scotch on the rocks.
So quickly like magic his needles they flew
That he was all finished by quarter to two.
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me,
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year start your knitting sometime around June!"

The Slippery Slope

2010-12-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

When we, as a local church, allowed the "music ministry" to take over the Sunday before Christmas service...and next year, ON Christmas day...when we alllow just music instead of Bible teaching, it is a slippery slope to just a play on Sunday morning before Christmas. yikes.

To some, the music and the plays and the dog and pony shows--speak to their hearts. I am happy for them. But, I find it appaulling that on a Sunday which happens to be Christmas Day...our pastors and elders/planners wimp out.

I'd attend a regular service---with just a FEW hymns (even Christmas carols from the hymnal) and a regular sermon where the pastor opens the Bible and reads from it and teaches what the Hebrew and Greek words say. I don't believe in catoring to this being one of two days some people are able to rope their friends and relatives into the pews. (Easter and Christmas). I don't believe in using these days to attract the unchurched. Why lie to them? Why put on a show and then next Sunday revert back to the regular?? That is deceit. And what are we teaching the children? What are we modelling?

How about we as Christians take back Jesus's birthday? How about some Sunday in April closer to when Jesus was probably actually born, we acknowledge the clues from the Christmas story?? Where is the church that talks about Jesus?

Where is the line to see Jesus? I don't want to watch a stupid play about a family having hardships in Kentucky with costumes and parading on a stage. If I want entertained, I go to the movie theatre---the new Narnia movie is wonderfully done.

So, we vote with our feet, and stay home, and listen to good messages online this Christmas season: http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Voddie%5EBaucham

Start at the beginning of the six part series. dated 12-10-2010. Learn about Biblical, God-honoring marriage, parenting, and be encouraged.

Saturday

2010-12-18T07:27:00.000-08:00

Drinking coffee. Reading blogs.

One blog I found a few days ago refers to a wild child as a feral daughter. And it reminded me of a blog of an Army wife who had a challenging daughter. And I found her in my list on my blog page. Kinda wish these two women could meet and compare notes.

Thank you, Bob for the coffee. And toast with cinnamon sugar.

I went without a stovetop for almost a year. Don't cry for me Argentina. I wanted to see if I could do without one. Most cooking is done in the oven or microwave, and we have a toaster oven, and crock pot. The only challenge came when cooking eggs. Eggs come out super fluffy in the microwave, which is okay with Bob. But, I missed hard boiled eggs.

When Ben came home from his first semester studying to be an electrician, I wondered if he'd like to install the stovetop. Sure enough! He could not wait! I think he tackled it before breakfast. And had it installed by noon!

Yesterday, he decided that the bathroom needed another outlet beside the mirror/medicine cabinet. So he installed one. It is neatly done, and pretty and white. Bob was here to oversee, and being an electrical engineer, I was not worried. My "important" job was to hollar when the correct circuit was flipped so Ben could work without electrocuting himself. Bob flipped the breakers---first the computer blinked, then the light in the kitchen, then the light in the hall...and finally, the frig and light Bob was wanting that was also the bathroom circuit.

What would an electrician's dream house look like?? Outlets placed like art on the walls?? Outlets spaced every few feet for convenience? And an electrician's wife? Would she be understanding? Would she want outlet covers?

But--back to frying. I was hungry for some dressing. I could only find one box of cornbread dressing at Walmart, so I mixed it with a box of regular. Too lazy to make a pan of cornbread...I fried up, "stir-fried" celery and onion and used canned chicken broth---low sodium, and orange juice for the liquid. I made a ton, but it freezes well. Canned oysters would have been a good addition. or chicken. or turkey. But, without meat, I don't have to worry about spoilage and put some in the freezer for another day. And I will cut up what we don't use today and freeze in freezer baggies, too. I did not use much butter except to butter the pans. It was still not cornbready enough, but I am getting there. Cracker Barrel only serves cornbread dressing on one day a week special. And not on Friday, when we usually go for Ben's catfish.

Time to badmouth our post office again. Yesterday, I was all ready to send one more package to the grandbabies in Anchorage, and was excited to just dash in, use the machine, and be in an out in minutes. Wouldn't you know, the machine was out of order. The line was out the door. And only two clerks, and then, half-way to the counter, the one clerk took her break. Fifteen minutes. We could see her sitting back there. Unbelievable. Why wouldn't the post office hire more folks for the crush? Packages were stacked everywhere. Sadly, I recognized no one in line, and no one wanted to visit. Most were busy on their phones. Bob left to get the car washed, and I finally made it to the counter after the lady came back from her break. union? The other clerk is too chatty. If he did not have to visit with everyone, we could have been in and out of there quicker.

Update on Ben

2010-12-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

Our youngest son, now 23 years old, had surgery on Monday and is doing super. He tried taking the heavy-duty pain meds, but they made him throw up. So, Wednesday morning, he gave them up, and sweated throughout the day, but says it is just a little numb back there at the surgical site. He has to be careful getting up and down, and stands rather than sit. But, since he is glued back together, there is no open wound. no drainage. no packing or changing the dressing, like we did with James when he had this done at age 18.

Ben is determined to get up and be independent again. He is pretty bored with us. And while he appreciates our help, he is driven to do stuff for himself. My mothering is smothering to him. Someday, when he has a child of his own, he will understand. And that is as it should be. Even then, being a Dad is different. Dads are more into pushing the child to be independent, whereas the Mom is for nurturing, meeting needs, and preventative stuff.

It was so warm here yesterday, over 76 degrees, that we turned on the AC as Ben was sweating. The wind turned around after midnight, and we closed up the windows and have the furnace ready to come on if it drops below 68 degrees in here. But, it was so nice to sit outside and enjoy a non-winter day. We sure need rain, however.

Cute Ben story---when Ben came home from the pre-assessment appointment, he said that the nurse asked him if he was bulemic. Ben thought that was the most ridiculous thing because he thinks he has gained a little weight since Thanksgiving and his jeans are fitting tighter in the waist band. Why on earth would the nurse aks him that? I suggested maybe she asked if he was anemic, as she was taking a blood sample. And Ben said, "bulemic/anemic, same thing, right?" And I laughed. No, anemic means low iron, dear one.

I did not get the memo...

2010-12-14T05:44:00.001-08:00

So, when did hospitals start allowing cell phones??

And when did hospitals do away with hand washing?

And who is the cute interior bulemic anorexic decorator that decided dining chairs with arms will fit any fat momma in the waiting room and recovery room?

Our son had a "procedure" on Monday at the same hospital in which he was born. Twenty-three years ago. He has been a pretty healthy kid. Sure, we have had our share of broken arms, stitches, and the downing of a triaminic liquid bottle when he got mad at the age of 3 when I gave some pretty orange medicine to his brother, but not to him. But, when they asked when was the last time Ben was there, I had to stop and think. Was it the time he was jumping off the table at church in the youth room to try and impress a girl and needed a few staples in his head? Or the time he flew out of the swing at church camp? No, that would have been at a different hospital.

I was so tempted to leave Dr. Bergstrom a note when I saw she was still doing surgery. The very doctor that delivered Ben...and the doctor (Mycoskie) that set a broken arm when he fell off the jungle gym on the playground...listed up on the white board in recovery.

Ben's procedure required deep cleansing of an area. And oh, the phone gals will lie to you. One told me a fleet enema was something you drink the night before. The pharmacist laughed at that one. And one tole me all Ben needed to do was sign forms at the "pre-assessment" appointment. Nah. They wanted money. upfront. I am thankful our insurance covers this, but proving that to the hospital and plugging in all the correct numbers on the pre-registration form took an hour. And Ben called from the pre-assessment appointment with the glad news that they wanted money!

What if we shopped for other services this way?? Let's say our plumber required two grand up front just to come out and look at your plumbing needs. And you had to give reams of information about your employment and insurance and social security numbers to that plumber's secretary before any work was done? You'd have to plan those stopages in advance! And forget emergencies unless you were an illegal alien, and then you'd have to call the plumber at that establishment (JPS) who specialize in trama...I mean, illegals.

The waiting room was pretty empty at 5:55am. I wondered where everyone was. Ben was prepped, and bored by 6:15am, and got to wait a whole hour before being taken to surgery. Thankfully, his doctor prayed over him before the surgery. Ben was glad, and comforted, but alarmed because his doctor looked tired and sick. After the hour long surgery, the doctor found us in the waiting room and gave us all the instructions. We should have taken notes, as the nurse later informed us that our going home instructions were given orally by the doctor. Good thing both Bob and I were listening. Oh joy...now to convince Ben, that yes, the doctor said no sex until you are married...

The pilonidal sinus/cyst was deep and old and even had a hair mass ball. (we joked about the tumor twin from the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. the recovery nurse was not amused as she had not seen the movie being neither Greek nor fat) A pilonidal sinus/cyst is a guy thing. When a guy hits puberty, some hairs on the base of the spine area turn inward, get infected, and plague the victim until removed by surgery. Our son James had one excised at the Children's Hospital when when he was 18 years old. Being the oldest "child" on the surgery list, he got to wait all day without food or water for his turn. Ben says his did not act up until he left home almost four years ago. And having left home and being independent, he was not longer on our insurance. Ben is a hard worker, and enjoyed figuring out how to install solar panels on roofs. We enjoyed hearing his stories, and shuddered at the perils, and need for insurance. He had to resort to going to JPS a few times for antibiotics and he usually waited until a rainy day, as it ate a whole day of work, and rainy days they could not get on roofs.

When Ben returned to college to get his electrical license, and became a full time student, we saw this one-year window left to put him back on insurance, and get his pilonidal sinus cleaned out. We found a doctor on our insurance policy through no help at all of our primary "caregiver" and set this date between semesters to give Ben a chance to recover. Ben is grateful. And said some whacky things coming out of anesthesia...and one of his concerns was, "how much was this going to cost?" We are trying to plant the idea that he needs to be ready, willing and able to do this for his son someday, if necessary. And sadly, in our day, your insurance coverage is almost if not more important than your job. Having that insurance card, and pink check in sheet from the pre-assessment appointment was Ben's ticket past the security guard in the hospital lobby. It told them we had paid. It said we had money. It revealed we had jumped through the hoops. It meant we did not have to share a waiting room with anyone else for a few hours.

But, cell phones are okay now? And the waiting room has wifi. I guess the employed with good insurance need access to their laptops so they can continue to be employed and insured.

The hand washing bothered me. I was the only one I saw wash hands all day, and the sink in the public bathroom was so shallow that it was hard to wash and not recontaminate myself. The bathroom was as big as any you'd see at Subway or McDonalds. I hate the touchless towel dispensers...took me a while to figure that one out. I don't get out much. And they don't have them at Walmart.

There are these pumps at the door, and a nurse or aide supposidly took a squirt or foam germ killing hand spit when she came into your room. The nurse spends 90 percent of her time plugging things into her rolling computer. Don't you know that keyboard is sanitary??! ha. And any time she touches you or your IV or helps haul you to the bathroom, she puts on a glove. Yes, the very unsterile hand that grabs a glove is suddenly ready, able and touching everything---from the hand crank on your bed to the doorway as you totter, to the light switch. Fear not. No need to wash your hands in this modern age. Who knew?

Our son was drugged up and sent home by noon. No appetite, and one bout of the throw ups from the pills on an empty stomach, so we are encouraging crackers and "with food" with the pills. But, he is able to get himself up and down, and to the bathroom. And I felt bad waking him up to take a pill at 1am, but I did not want him to wake up having gone too long the first night. He is suppose to be able to shower tomorrow, and in six weeks, but one hundred percent.

If someone had told me, when I gave birth to Ben there at Arlington Memorial, hey, you'll be back in 23 years for a small, hour long surigical "procedure"...how the years have flown. And the window of our helping is quickly closing.. As it should be, but what kind of world will our grandchildren see? Right now, our grandchildren are all treated at military hospitals. Our prayer for Ben is that God bring along a good Christian girl in His perfect timing.

Ben knows way more about drugs than we do. He dated a pharmacy tech for over a year, and also watches these shows on tv that we have never seen. He called them up online on hulu dot com. Oh, my. Bob and I are getting an education. Please pray that Ben see through the agendas and propaganda. Sodom and Gomorrah were worse than what Hollywood puts out?

Stove top, Cook top. Burners. Electric

2010-12-10T19:04:00.001-08:00

Back in January...January 5th to be exact (thanks to Bob showing me how to do a search---sorry, I never noticed that box there)...back in January, the burner blew, and Bob removed the old stove top. I was in no hurry to replace it. So, I set some boards over the hole, and enjoyed more counter space.

Today, Ben installed the new one. YAY.

Now I can cook hardboiled eggs. and pancakes...

Now I can fry in my iron skillet.

A black shiny whirlpool with four burners. $300.00

And Ben fixed my coat rack, and my towel door knob rack, and touched up paint...

Ben is very HANDY !!! Please, Lord, bring him a good Christian girl to marry in Your Perfect Time. In Jesus name. Amen.

Pondering Lessons from Sunday

2010-12-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Bob gave a good lesson in his series on fear.

He took his material from the story of David and King Saul in First Samuel 27 and 28.

King Saul was the first anointed king of Israel. But, he disobeyed God's specific instructions (see First Samuel chapter 15) and God directed Samuel to anoint David.

This story is intriguing to me because here is a man who is anointed king, but goes astray. And multiplies his sin by killing innocent priests who help David. King Saul goes berserk, and tries to kill David on numerous occasions.

I have wondered why God allows this. Why did God allow King Saul to live? Why not zap him at that first disobedience? God may be extending grace to King Saul, allowing him time to repent. And maybe God is allowing us to see the consequences of a self-centered life that maybe started well, but went astray. Maybe it is a warning to us to beware. Be alert.

At some point in King Saul's life, he probably passed a point of no return. A hardened heart, like Pharoah, some might say. And I wonder if there were times in David's life when he shook his head in prayer and wondered what God was doing. Those contemplations are found in the Psalms. And David was very clear about not executing the Lord's anointed, even given opportunity after opportunity. That, also, should be a lesson for us. As Christians, we believe in capital punishment done in full compliance with the rule of law.

Even though David got so close to King Saul that he was able to prove his ability and opportunity, and even though King Saul would have killed David given the chance, David did not lower himself to assassination. And David moved himself and his 600 men and their camp followers into enemy territory to protect them, and because he wisely did not trust King Saul's empty promises.

In First Samuel chapter 28, Saul is so desperate and terrified that he goes to great lengths to find and use a medium. a witch. a soothsayer. He disguises himself, and visited the Witch at Endor who thinks it is a trap because she knows that mediums and spiritists were a big no-no and had been banished. (see the Mosaic Law, Deuteronomy 18:10-11) She knew practicing divination and sorcery was outlawed and carried the death penalty. Saul demonstrates his attitude of no reverence at all for the Law by lying to the witch, and asks her to conjure up the recently deceased prophet, Samuel.

Even the witch is surprised at her "success" and realizes she has been tricked. Bob pointed out that she had never had a dead person materialize at one of her seances before. But, God uses Samuel to give King Saul a message: I Samuel 28:16-19

We learn: The Lord has departed from King Saul and has become King Saul's adversary. And the Lord has torn the kingdom out of King Saul's hand and given it to David. (calls him King Saul's "neighbor") And Samuel repeats King Saul's sin where he went astray. And promises that tomorrow, you and your sons will be with me.

King Saul does not take the news very well. Would you? Would I?

I don't see this as a loss of salvation. I think we will me King Saul in heaven, and hear him talk about what a stubborn idiot he was not to obey the Lord precisely. I think we will see a clean King Saul. Forgiven and Cleansed.

Maybe King Saul did not learn or listen in this life. But, I want to remember what God told him way back in I Samuel 15--

Obey the Voice of the Lord

To not obey precisely is evil the the sight of the Lord.

Trying to justify your disobedience by using it to sacrifice to the Lord is wrong.(like stealing money and putting it in the offering plate is wrong) or (like trying to justify the sin of gluttony and wondering why I am so fat)

Obey the Voice of the Lord: Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF DIVINATION, AND INSUBORDINATION IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY. (emphasis mine) Because you (Saul) have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.

Bob went on to point out that: "Faith in the Lord is not mere passively accepting what the Lord says is true; it is actively trusting that what the Lord says is important. To take God's Word lightly is to mock God. And to mock God is the first step on the road to our self-destruction."

What if---what if Saul had truly repented? He should have stepped down as king. He should have given the throne to David with the warning to always obey precisely.

These words married up very nicely with what we then heard from Dr. David Noebel during the church service. Dr. Noebel took his message from Hebrews 11:32. The most amazing list---a mixture of success, and martyrdom. I want to review and ponder this passage.

Hebrews 11

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

(Let us pause here. Abel. The first murdered human. Murdered at his own brother's hand. forgotten? no. We will meet him in heaven. He never had a wife or kids, but he is not forgotten. By faith Abel acted. He did not just sit around believing. He obeyed God. It cost him his life. I love how God brings Abel into the New Testament.)

v.5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to god. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

(from Abel to Enoch. I just love the Enoch story. He walked with God! And he did not die. He was transported. Transferred. Beam me up, Scotty. Too cool. And after he'd done his job of being a dad. Most lived a thousand years in his time, but he pleased God. Oh, to please God! He did not just sit around believing. He walked with God. And God invited Enoch to walk on home one day with Him. Seek God.)

v.7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became a heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

(Noah. Build an ark. It is going to rain. The only converts where his family. God started over with eight humans and pairs of animals. It should serve as a warning to us that God cannot tolerate sin. God has promised not to destroy the earth by flood, but fire will consume it and a new heaven and earth when God in His perfect timing is done here. I want to remember the "heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." Being an heir means sometimes you build something others make fun of, sometimes you prepare for something others mock you for, and sometimes God saves through a disater of Biblical proportions.)

v. 8-19 Abraham

v. 20 Isaac

v. 21 Jacob

v. 22 Joseph

v. 23-29 Moses

v. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.

v. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

(Rahab hid spies. Rahab risked her life. Rahab believed the stories of the Exodus and that God was at work. But, I just noticed the line---"did not perish along with those who were disobedient"---the people of Jericho. Who exactly did they disobey? GOD ! Amazing---here it is: even Gentile nations were responsible to God. were and are. What an amazing phrase. We all know the story of Jericho. Thanks to Veggie Tales, we can all see the story played out. But, we forget that the people of Jericho were responsible to God. And God took them out. After seven days of grace. Best not to mock the ones God sends to warn you and encircle you.)

Dr. David Noebel picked up at verse 32-40 and 12:1-3

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.

Who by faith
conquered kingdoms,
performed acts of righteousness,
obtained promises,
shut the mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword,
from weakness were made strong,
became mighty in war,
put foreign armies to flight.
Women received back their dead by resurrection;
and others were tortured, not accepting their release,
in order that they might obtain a better resurrection
and others experienced mockings,
and scourgings,
yes also chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned,
they were sawn in two,
they were tempted,
they were put to death with the sword,
they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted,
illtreated
MEN OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY
wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

Dr. Noebel said: ah, to be men of whom the world was not worthy. indeed.

Awesome Song: Where is the Line to see Jesus?

2010-12-02T06:10:00.000-08:00

http://wheresthelinetoseejesus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=160

I don't know how to download it on I Tunes. I don't know how to promote it. But, what an awesome song.

I want to apply it all year----when those long lines form for the tickets to some concert or game...

And there is the wonderful line in the song about how we will all stand in line someday at the Judgment Seat of Christ ! Whoop!

Saw it on Viral Footage, then googled it. Becky Kelley. What else has she sung?

hormonal blog alert

2010-11-28T00:35:00.000-08:00

I am thankful my "time of life" approaches. It has been a few years of skips, misses, floods, and wondering what is next.

But, what is with this bone-chilling cold? I get the sweating. I can take another shower for the sweating. But, to feel so cold and so frozen that it hurts to even get up and put on a few more layers...what is with that? I am so thankful my husband so kindly covers me with a huge, warm bedspread. I am so thankful that my husband is a warm, even hot bodied furnace between the sheets.

It used to be once a month. the chill. This bone-piercing chill would come upon me in the night where I just could not get warm. And I am a big, fat woman. I got layers of insulation. What do the ladies not so endowed do?? It is like my body is saying, so sorry. We must shut down the temperature regulating thermostat for some hormone fluxuations. Be right back. Yikes! Reboot. And put socks on and pile on the covers. A hot bath will not touch it. ha.

Only God can someday in heaven separate the wheat from the chaff...the hormones from the sin...the tides from the falls.

This has been your hormonal blog alert. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program. The opinions expressed here stem from a well labelled: way too much information for most. But, so sorry, I gotta dump it somewhere as I ponder just What Was That All About.

sweating will commence in three, two, one...

Eyjafjallajokull and Northern Lights

2010-11-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

copy and paste. even after noon our time, it is dark in Iceland and on clear nights, you can watch the northern lights !!! The greens and reds light up the mountain. maybe the moon is helping, but there are definite greens, blues and red.

Do Some Get a Sense the End is Near?

2010-11-18T08:45:00.000-08:00

Janet, our music director at church, told the story at Wednesday night Bible Study about how she asked for volunteers to help with props for the children's Christmas play. Carol, a 70 year old retired nurse, called her the same day she made the announcement and volunteered to sew night caps for the play. The very next Sunday, Carol gave Janet the caps, and while Janet thanked Carol, Janet also said she did not need them until December, Carol said she had this sense she needed to get them done.

Carol was walking her dog the very next day, and was struck and killed by a pickup truck. Both her and her dog died. Was the pickup truck driver talking on a cell phone or texting?

Killed on a Monday, I attended her graveside on the next Friday. I bet there were over a hundred nurses in scrubs in attendance. Many spoke about how Carol had taight them and encouraged them. And it looked like some of the people she helped were also there. I think she did home health care, too. One of those quiet behind-the-scenes workers who touched so many lives. Our pastor talked about how he received so many notes and cards and presents of encouragement from Carol over the years. And then he found out he was not the only one.