Links to My Home.

 Links to My Home.

 

Today at church services, the old woman had a strange experience. A woman introduced herself to me, and we found that my dad had come from the same small community as she and her husband. The Moser family seemed to be kinfolks with just about everyone in Clay County and especially the folks from the Hurnville Community. Now Dad never told me what year he stopped riding to school in Hurnville, but he told us stories about the different families that had also attended school there. He knew Marvin Graf and his brothers for sure. Our family doctor was Dr. Hurn when Sterling and the old woman were little. Then our doctor was Dr. Leroy Schaffner from Hurnville. He had a whole houseful of brothers and maybe sisters. Think one of those brothers was a principal at Burkburnett maybe. Anyway, she knew the Fuhrman family and Mr. and Mrs. Dan Oster. It almost felt as if the old woman had walked home to Clay County. Just another reason that this may be my new church family.

 

The house across the road—Still think of it as Jerry’s house—had an “Open House” showing event today. Lots of trucks and cars were over there off and on through the day, but not one of them looked like anyone interested in the place. Shona’s husband Albert had used a weed eater on the front along the road, so it really looked pretty good. Shona had mown their grass as well, so that looked nice. Not sure my place looked all that great as one of the water hoses needs to be rolled up and given away or thrown away. Can’t get the silly thing to fasten to the water spigot or stop bending with each curve. Oh well. If Gregg and Vickie come one day this week, maybe he will get rid of it for me along with the other things that need to be tossed.

 

Have truly been trying not to do anything that will cause my back to hurt lately, but it just feels as if it tires out so quickly. Despite not taking the pain pills, the aches are there all the time anyway! Dadgumit!

 

Thompson just came into the office to let me know that it was supper time for the dogs in this family. They are now fed and seem to be happy to decorate the entire floor with their long legs and tails. If Vickie helps me get the living room floor cleaned up this week, one of the big dog beds will go in there instead of the rug in front of my desk. Thompson needs something soft to lie on most of the time. It’s easy to understand that his old bones need just as much help as the old woman’s bone. This arthritis shtuff is just the frizzling crud!

 

Had ordered some pants from Amazon and apparently so many other folks had the same idea that the pants were not available. Tried to cancel the order but am not sure that happened. It was such a cheap price that it figures that everyone had the same idea to get something less expensively.

 

This church has a piano player who only plays there every other week so that she can attend with her husband at a different church. Wishing that AnnaBeth Graf could play for us, but she would probably not be able to sit that long. She used to play the piano and the organ, but those days may be long gone. When the song leader asked if the old woman could play, she was assured that this person can’t even play the radio!!

 

We have been getting little showers of rain that may eventually add up to a decent amount of water in the lakes and ponds around here. The grass has certainly been growing and showing us how healthy the weeds can grow!! Now if we can just avoid those high winds and all that tremendous thunder that makes the dogs (and the old woman) so nervous!!

 

Someone wondered when the new development at the State Hospital would be finished. Not sure it will happen in my lifetime if the number of cement trucks doesn’t fall off drastically. At least it does not seem that we are seeing—and hearing—the excessive numbers of dirt and gravel trucks! Whew!

 

Have some things to look up for the lesson for next Sunday in Matthew 10. Even though one can read the scriptures, it does not mean that each point is clear to an old brain like mine. May just look it up in an online commentary to see if it helps for clarity and for remembrance. Meanwhile, it feels like a good night to rest.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Things to See Outside.

 Things to See Outside.

 

Looking out the kitchen window this morning, the old woman enjoyed watching a pair of mockingbirds dipping their bodies in the horse trough that sits under the drips from the deck cover. It took me awhile to manage to keep the little fountain floating on a piece of Styrofoam, but the two birds took turns getting wet and swishing their wings through the base of the fountain. Guess it must have been pleasing enough to them.

 

Shona called yesterday to report the presence of a sick raccoon in her trash bin. Sterling says that they get a type of distemper that is 100% fatal but not contagious. Not sure if that was what was wrong with the raccoon, but the city animal control came and removed it. My dogs wanted absolutely nothing to do with it even though they got to go over and take a close smell of the situation. Thompson took off to visit the neighborhood before he would even take a look where the raccoon was lying and hissing. Sylvia took a good snort and backed off completely. Maybe they are smarter than the old woman! Wouldn’t take much.

 

Roxy got to go to the vets’ office this morning. They were pretty busy, it seemed. Anyway, she got her shots and was back home before the day got away from us. She is a sweet little critter.

 

Finally finished eating my portion of the Chinese noodles with chicken and veggies for lunch today. The dogs finished the rest of it for me. That was one BIG bowl of noodles and stuff! Can’t imagine that stuff would freeze well either.

 

Managed to drop my phone the other day and made a line across the bottom. Have been watching to see if it gets bigger or whatever but really don’t want to have to deal with getting a different phone right now. It seems an extra one is here, but Lance said it would have to go to the store to get a new sim card or something. Can’t even remember the name of the company where it gets a new card! Guess he will tell me when he is asked. But meanwhile, will be much more careful with this one.

 

Not sure this happens to others, but this song from ages ago has been winding through my feeble mind for the longest now. It comes from the Baptist church where we grew up. Now it is one thing to have Sinatra’s “My Way” floating around in the old cranium, but this one is “Standing on the Promises.” Don’t know all the words to either song, but the music is definitely there!

 

Sterling now has whatever Jacqui had that made her so very sick last week. Guess they will be staying at home and trying to get to feeling better. He told George not to come over lest he pick up the hup-chucks too! Maybe they will both get over this soon. Sicknesses are miserable!

 

The pollen count has been in the high tens or even elevens for the past few days. This is on a scale of twelve. Noticed the mesquites have blooms on them, so that might be one reason. Such fun—NOT! At least it is not dust from Odessa.

 

Still have not come up with an idea for my number one son’s birthday. He has a gallon of tabasco sauce, pistachios, and a case for his knives. Maybe beef jerky. Sigh. Decisions.

 

Have all kinds of things that need to be done around here and so little desire to actually do those things. May have some help sometime either this weekend or next week. Getting lazier by the day. Actually, getting sorer by the day is more like it. Can only do so much before either the knees or my back gives me fits. Getting older certainly can be entertaining!

 

Whatever the future may bring, we can still have a positive attitude and feel grateful for each day and each blessing. Right now, my silly dogs make me smile and appreciate their love. Each of us has something that makes our lives brighter and more enjoyable. Let us thank God and ask for his continued guidance in our lives.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Ignorance in Fact.

 Ignorance in Fact.

 

The old woman will have to admit that she is quite ignorant of some of the common entertainment names in each area—music, TV and movies, art, and other social forms of exchange including most of the apps and features on either one’s phone or some other internet appliance. Some things have simply stopped being all that necessary to my wellbeing or interests. That being said, one thing that has been part of my life since childhood has been the basic stories from the Bible. These are not fantasy or something found on TV or at the movies—for the most part. Yes, The Ten Commandments came out at the movies umpteen years ago. Because of our upbringing, many of us attended church services and vacation Bible schools back in the day. We memorized scriptures and knew where to find the various books in the Bible with some speed. We knew much about the characters in the Bible—from Samson to Daniel in the lions’ den. Yet, today, it seems that educators cannot discuss or use materials from these same stories. No, we can have drag queens entertain children but not read about the history of the nation of Israel or about the man who set the world on fire with his preaching of the Kingdom of God. Some of us are not ashamed to be called ignorant for not reading all of the books in the Hobbit series or the books about wizards. But please be aware that no child today will suffer irreparable damage if he or she gets to read about any of the people in the Bible. May God forgive our nation for its incredible ignorance in leaving the Bible out of our education.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Some Things That Need Clarification.

Some Things That Need Clarification.

Title IX is a 1972 federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs or activities receiving federal funding.

Prior administrations expanded Title IX beyond its statutory basis by applying it to gender identity rather than biological sex.

Officials said those interpretations led to enforcement actions against school districts for conduct such as the use of pronouns or inquiries about a student’s gender identity.

“The Trump Administration is removing the unnecessary and unlawful burdens that prior Administrations imposed on schools in its relentless pursuit of a radical transgender agenda,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said.

Honestly, we need to be careful how we state things—for which purpose and for the outcomes we seek. Today the neighbors’ son asked me why my body was hurting. Told that the dogs had knocked me down on the porch recently, his solution was the idea of putting pillows on the dogs’ backs. Makes as much sense as losing pronouns of gender, but his idea is at least funny.

Have been re-reading Lehman Strauss’ book Revelation. He gives scriptural references from Genesis all the way through the New Testament that are also in The Revelation of Jesus Christ to St. John. Someday we are going to shout and marvel at the works that God has done and will be doing yet.

Finally, read an obituary written by a son for his 97-year-old father. The man worked the same land as eight generations of his family, and the son said that none of his ills were anything that a good resurrection couldn’t fix. Simply made me want to shout: Praise God!

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Praise God!

 Praise God!

 

Flipped on the monitor on my computer earlier just to check on the status of the other crew member that had been lost in Iran. Was SO happy and relieved to read that the person was rescued! Pretty sure that many were praying for this rescue that matters not only to the team, but to that person picked up by our rescuers. This situation reminds me that during WWII, women were asked to pray in teams to cover the 24 hours of each day. Those prayers made a big difference in the war and not only in the outcome but in the attitude of those in our country who knew just how important it was for the U.S. to help the European nations. Do we really believe that those countries would have been able to recover as well without our intervention? For that matter, do we believe that Germany would have been stopped at all? Only God could have created an answer to the horrors of that war. Someday we will be able to understand why God has allowed such pain and suffering to be in this world. Meanwhile, let us pray diligently for our troops and for those who must make the decisions for this war.

 

Today is Easter during the holy days of Unleavened Bread—the Passover and first of the seven holy days declared by our Father in heaven. Let us be reminded that God has a plan and will carry it out in His time.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Remembering.

 Remembering.

 

From Michelle

“Time has been ingrained in us since we were a child. Time to get up, time for school, time for dinner and what time until our parents get home from work. Time changes as we age.”

“Time changes the older we get. Now we no longer need to look at a clock. We rise when we are ready and eat when we are hungry. That simple four-letter word becomes a simple fact that time is not on our side. For our date of birth and death is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Time does not give closure. Time does not heal a broken heart. Time does not prepare for the feeling of loss for the loved ones who have gone before us. The older we get the more time we wish we had. Time with family, friends, loved ones. Let us not prioritize time in such a way that we lose what is so precious. That four-letter word: time. The other four-letter word--love. It's all a matter of time.”

 

Tonight Sterling called, and it reminded me of a conversation with Michelle Malay from the night before. Joe, the man she married and loved more than life, died on Easter a few years ago. Like Sterling, she wished she could hold again what we have had in our hearts all along. Our parents, the children, the friends we have lost—all of them have a time in our lives and our love. We simply cannot go back to reclaim the time or the love. Only God can change time and what it means to us.

 

Tonight our prayers need to be with those who need God’s intervention right now. The second crew member has yet to be found. May that person be rescued as soon as possible by our forces.

 

Finally, for all of those who will be attending services tomorrow, let us remember that the commandments are simple: love God and your neighbor as yourself.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Prayers for Our Troops.

 Prayers for Our Troops.

 

“The search-and-rescue effort for the missing F-15 crew member marked the most perilous moment yet for U.S. troops in the war, putting the missing airman and the rescuers more directly in the line of Iranian fire. It is the first known instance of a crewed American aircraft being brought down inside hostile territory since the conflict began.”

We need to be praying for a successful rescue for this crew member. But we also have troops who have been wounded and need our prayers as well. Any military personnel over in the surrounding countries will be part of the target practice that the Iranians will continue as long as they can. Let us pray that we can either remove or otherwise dispose of the enriched uranium and then leave that sink hole of Satan.

 

Meanwhile, back on Fenoglio Hill, Patty reminded me today that it has not even been three months since the last back surgery. The knee replacement is still ticking along well enough as long as the old woman swinging from the curtains does not take awkward moves along the hills around here. Trying to get Roxie back from the lower part of Patty’s place, it was pretty dumb to take the sidewalk which has a two-foot drop near the generator. Oh well. No hopping on the new knee!

 

Then today, after walking the fence line and finding a hole big enough for a hog to walk through, it was back to trying to pull a big branch out of the yard near the tree. Dumb move. Just leave the thing! Oh, and not enough walking? So, drive over to the new Winco and check out the prices and what is available. It reminds me of a cross between Sam’s and something like the Food Emporium. They have these big canisters to dig into and drop into containers of foods such as popcorn, quinoa, coconut and coffees. The old woman managed to get some discounted meat, some celery, some Chinese rice noodles, a can of stir fry veggies, and a good walk about! Got pretty doggone tired before getting out of there. Then came home and cooked the chicken and some hamburger meat to freeze. Yep, the old woman did a bit too much for one day.

 

Have to confess one of my more ditzy moments—or hours. Looked for my purse all over this house—in all the special spots and hanging from closet things. No where to be found. Took a bunch of ammunition out of my big purse to make it lighter and thought about where the little purse was last taken. Ding, ding, ding! Had left it in the truck between the seat and console because it didn’t feel that necessary to take with me inside a store. Oh boy! Losing my fuzzy bunny mind! Age? Nah, just getting more ADHD every day.

 

Here’s hoping we don’t get any hail tonight. Left the truck out to get a rinse off. It really needs a good washing, but that probably is not going to happen. Lewis would probably be pretty disgusted at my lack of pride in the spick and span department. Right now, it is all the old woman can do to keep the floors passable.

 

No matter whether or not someone appreciates the comments, the mannerisms, or whatever our president has, this person right here appreciates the fact that the homicidal fanatics in the Middle East have not thrown any nuclear bombs at our nation nor have shot any missiles into Europe so far. And it looks as if the NATO nations may be taking their situation a bit more seriously than before since they now want to see the straits of Hormuz opened for shipping.

 

My sweet friend Maggie Sewell just called to tell me that the plant name needed for sending to my daughter is purple oxalis. Seems there is even an oxalis club on FB! AND, she said hers is planted outside on the east where it doesn’t get too much sun and is going great guns! Now she wants to dig some up and try bringing some inside like mine. Nothing like having someone help out when one is stumped!

 

Did you know that we have “angels” around us all the time. Someone like Maggie is one of my angels. The neighbor across the street, my friend Judie who is still dealing with her husband’s dental issues to go with the renovation of his bathroom, my friend Mary who never seems to mind helping me with whatever comes along, and then the sweet lady who helps keep my house livable—Maria, who also helps Patty and AnnaBeth. Yep, all angels and helpers for whom we need to pray. Be grateful to God in all things, but especially for dear friends and family.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.