I Am Resolved, Approaching With Joy

 Good Tuesday morning! A very cold Tuesday morning. We opened up The Inn on the Catmore Estate for our Feral Fam. They have taken advantage of warm beds and breakfast served up early. Even the orange cat I call Deadbeat Dad is behaving. We preset the dishwasher for a 2:00 am run to keep the water moving besides dripping faucets. Then came the 5:15 am washer machine usage. 

I participated and plan to do this again for 2026, The Bible in One Year with Chad Bird. After six and a half years with an unhappy pastor and family, unhappy leadership and a general malaise or would that be mayonnaise...of course it would be Duke's but I digress. Anyway, several times over those years I would often be taken by surprise when he'd say, you cannot approach the scriptures in wonder. Many times you'll come away disappointed. He also never encouraged although I think he thought he was, but his approach to a daily Bible reading plan was so pedestrian. Yes, one can get bogged down in Leviticus so maybe find a plan that doesn't go chronologically. Today in CB's plan, Luke 24...The Road to Emmaus. 

In other words, we have sought to ask and to answer the very question Jesus answered as he walked with those two disciples on the day of his resurrection.

In just a few days, as we begin 2026, we will do it all over again, not as drudgery, but with joy, energy, and a holy curiosity.

Approach with joy, I think I like that thought and want to put this in practice in 2026. It is a joy to approach and then wander and wonder those pages of scriptures.

I got Roy an electric tea kettle and he LOVES it. I have also been making hot tea as well. I always liked the Harney Tea, the hot cinnamon flavor. I also got a holiday flavor. He thinks the cinnamon is too spicy so oh de joy, more for me.

Wednesday morning, the last day of 2025. This year has gone by so quickly. The sunrise is beautiful and our coffee is really good this morning. I slept in a bit, by twenty minutes but hey, sleeping in is something I rarely do these days. We have a couple of errands to run when it warms up a little more.

Feels like the song, I Am Resolved should be one of those hymns sung on the first Sunday of the year. Growing up it seems like we sang, The Church is One Foundation for the first Sunday of the year. Have no idea except maybe it was just a good reminder for us. I usually do the One Word thing but I haven't given it too much thought. Stopped doing resolutions years ago. Maybe resolved should be the word...I think I am going with it because it means firm in purpose or intent, determined.

1. I am resolved no longer to linger,
   Charmed by the world’s delight,
   Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
   These have allured my sight.
   • Refrain:
     I will hasten to Him,
     Hasten so glad and free;
     Jesus, greatest, highest,
     I will come to Thee.
2. I am resolved to go to the Savior,
   Leaving my sin and strife;
   He is the true One, He is the just One,
   He hath the words of life.
3. I am resolved to follow the Savior,
   Faithful and true each day;
   Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
   He is the living Way.
4. I am resolved to enter the kingdom,
   Leaving the paths of sin;
   Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
   Still will I enter in.
5. I am resolved, and who will go with me?
   Come, friends, without delay;
   Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
   We’ll walk the heav’nly way.

Much More To Remember

 2025 is wrapping up and all in all, it wasn't too bad of a year. I am of the opinion that our best year in the recent past was 2019 and I came to that conclusion looking at pictures and remembering all that we did and experienced. It was that last year before Covid. My memories have nothing to do with that although while in Houston that year I got some kind of a cold or crud before leaving to come back home. 

This morning we are having our first strawberries of the season from Florida and they are quite tasty. The familiar life cycle ends and begins this week. Barbers Orchard closed for the season on Christmas Eve afternoon but then a day after Christmas the Florida strawberry season  begins at Publix. 

I officially stopped seeing ads from Jen Hatmaker on skincare. My goodness always in my FB feed. Years ago I had a bad experience with that particular brand so on top of kind being aggravated by her book because of her self absorption and self centeredness, now I no longer have to see bits and pieces of her skincare regimen with a product that didn't like my skin. I don't know if it takes care of the other merch she is selling and yes, I am totally aware of how many times I referred to me in this paragraph. Ha!

2025 is the year I rediscovered reading, like all the way through, books. Several years of a devastating short attention span has taken toll. I have always had a selective attention span but even that is shorter than usual. Although, the shortened attention span never seemed to affect the love of buying books. Guess I'm practicing from yesterday's post, the intentional clutter, no matter, always a trend setter. Ending this particular thought with a HA! 

The best $4.00 I spent this Christmas for myself, earrings with four different color of Christmas bows, red, green, gold and silver. Got them from Penland's in Marshall. I'll put them away just and have them for next year. We just finished getting our Christmas decorations put up. We didn't do much outside and only decorated the dinning room. These rambunctious kitties would have demolished the tree if we had put one up. We did get a few things this year and while putting it all in containers I came across Christmas decor from our first year living in Cinco Ranch. Bought it on NYE day when they were pricing everything to go. Now, I just need to remember these things next year. I also found a jacket that I totally had forgotten about. Now, to keep or not to keep, that is the question. 

Sometimes we get a little help putting thoughts together when we read a story told by another, even another we haven't ever met. Our circumstances are nothing like the story but the emotions and feelings are. These past couple of years we have noticed that familiar places and people have expressed their wishes not verbally but with silent heart wrenching actions. You know where one can feel like there isn't room to fit in or even not desirable enough to let one down easy. Gee, I am guilty of doing this in the past, especially my tennis days and because of that I try not to behave that way. It used to be that I would pursue an answer, push for it. Of course the answer would hurt me but at the same time the feelings not to be expressed are and so there is that uneasiness. In those Covid years a friendship was lost that I would have bet money on never losing. Basically, on the political scene meshed with the harsh symptoms I was experiencing from the Co Vac caused a misunderstanding. We talked some but there was no rescuing anything. I stopped. It hurt too much to try. That comfortable ease in conversation was long gone. Then last year some family news came to me and dang it hit me hard and then it didn't. We made adjustments and moved on. The last paragraph of the story I read, "Don't wait for someone to make room for you in a life where you don't fit. The highway is long, the map is wide and the best seat in the house is wherever you decide to park."

Today, is the last Monday of 2025. I'm looking forward to the holding some wrap up on projects and taking some time to read for book club. I am also reading Theo of Golden. It got rave reviews and so far I like it but don't love it. Of course I am just a couple of chapters in it. 

There is a woman at church who looks just like my Grandma B. Same hair, profile and glasses. I wanted to take a pic to send to my brother but thought of her privacy and I am not one who usually takes pics in church. My goodness it felt so good to see someone who reminds me of some of the best childhood memories because of her. We didn't do anything special like trips cause my goodness she couldn't drive. But spending summers there at her home, exploring the apple orchard out back and reading her Reader's Digest Condensed books in that little nook off the dining room. That nook was just some white shelves underneath the windows filled with books and magazines. Plants were thriving on the top shelf and her outdoor metal and wood rocking chair was just right even though it was rather spartan in comfort. I have a picture I found in a magazine of a warm, inviting space with comfortable oversized chair and a small table nearby. That isn't how it was at grandmas in real life, but in my imagination it was that picture and so much more. 

2026 Trend, Intentional Clutter

 This is just such great news, anytime or Christmas time. The two trends for 2026 is antiques...okay that's good but the best is the new trend of intentional clutter. Behold, this shall be good news unto thee, stacks of books and such is back in style. Could this mean multiple TBR piles to enhance our cozy home? Well, I am ahead of my time cause I already gots all this going on. Good decorating tips rejoice! There is another term for this new trend as well, but I forgot it but it means to have things in your home that you love. When we were working with a designer for our home in Cinco Ranch, I had a difficult time with some of the suggestions that were made. What was what we liked verses what the designer thought it should be. After a bit, I just went with what I liked and incorporated some of the other suggestions. I read this morning if you lived through shiplap, millennial gray, modern farmhouse, customizing Ikea stuff and the like, if you love what is warm, storied and filled with what makes the home your home, go with it. Until I started downsizing a lot of our stuff, our home was filled with quirky treasures that translated into rustic chic...or something. Clutter is in! Well intentional and most of ours is. 

Our home is split, on the first floor Christmas Carols and on the second floor, WWII documentaries. Roy is in his WWII history world this winter season. It used to be me that watched all that because I love history but Roy enthralled with this new knowledge of Patton and Monty intersperses WWII with his comments on what his quiet time gave him. I love it! 

We just had a lovely surprise, Jon and Audrey stopped by to wish us a Merry Christmas and they brought chocolate. 

December 25, 2025

Merry Christmas!

This morning we are taking it easy. A delicious breakfast started us off and I slept till nearly 6:30am. Wow, these days that's some late sleeping in. We have been invited to some friends this late afternoon for Christmas supper. We will be bringing the green beans portion. 

Our Christmas Eve service had the angel songs, a new Christmas hymn by the Gettys sung to the tune of Holy, Holy, Holy. We heard the Christmas story from Luke and we closed out the service by singing Silent Night. I only knew three verses for almost all of my Baptist life but there area a total of four. Wow, who knew? We exchanged Merry Christmases with our new friends, then headed home. The moon was in a perfect place to take a pic with the sliver of the moon close to the steeple. With the lights on from inside it made a beautiful pic from my phone. Two years ago we came to the Christmas Eve service at First Presbyterian and found it to be so beautiful in word and presentation of the awe and wonder of Christmas. That being part of the December sermons, awe and wonder. 

We ate Christmas dinner with friends from church. There were eight of us invited around the table and what a table and spread of Christmas goodies. Ham, yams, lima beans (love em), corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, homemade bread, deviled eggs and three desserts to choose from. We all were members of the clean plate club. We laughed and shared stories. And the icing on the cake, I got more info on the church book club. As we were leaving their home I looked up and in a moment's time, my Houston brain kicked in with when did a high rise happen? But closer inspection and remembrance of where we live, it was the mountain and all the homes lit up the sky...

Oh happy day of Friday after Christmas. Cooler than yesterday but the bottom should drop out on Monday...I think. We made a trip to Publix this morning. I was happy to find some ceramic Christmas trees half price. All kind of decorative items, more than usual it seemed filled tables and buggies. Kind of like not as many homes had Christmas lights this year. The marketing of clothes for JJill looks as if they misplayed the willingness of customers to pay full price. They held on for as long as they could and the past week or so, prices are cut in half. I took part of those sale items this morning. Nothing special just key pieces like blouses to take the place of items in the closet that are worn out. I have almost all my Christmas clothes packed away. I wore almost every item but December was more of a social month than the past few years. Social was always a big part of life for me and then the quiet came and I loved that season and continuing season of life, but now it feels like a perfect blend. You know not too isolated and not too peopled out. 

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing, is the Christmas carol line I have thought about so often during the holidays. It holds so much meaning and now finally at this ripe old age it means so much to me. So thankful that the Word came into our world, He is with us always. O Come Let Us Adore Him. Not just in this season but also in the coming one as well. 

Christmas Thoughts Not in Order

I lost the Christmas contest with CourtneyS this year. Two years in a row, she has heard Merry Christmas Darling first. Drat!

This morning while getting ready for church, I was streaming KHCB and the start of the five days of Christmas. One of the first songs I heard this morning was the overture the orchestra at Houston's First Baptist played before each Pageant performance. The memories of finding my spot for the first act flooded in, remembering different parts over the years. Now, the music KHCB played is from different church orchestras and different singers from various churches all over the country but oh those long ago times complete with orchestration and voices, if I didn't have joy already, I had a little bit of a scoop more. 

Our friend Katrin came to our church this morning. So fun to see, visit and laugh with her. We had a brunch before the morning service. It was wonderfully done and so tasty. Roy made his biscuits. He hasn't made them in quite a while but the biscuit making doesn't leave, it's like riding a bike if you've done the proper learning and training. The church service itself held beautiful music, prayer, Lord Supper, ordination and a wonderful sermon. This month I have been thinking that changing churches and joining a new one is more of a full circle thing. The reverence, the purpose of praying, singing and hearing The Word in a setting that reflects more of the pilgrimage I began a long time ago is truly predictable but totally joyous. I read an article the other day by a, please brace yourself for an old person description, young person, embracing hymns whether they be the original version or ones that has been updated. He remembered his grandmother who didn't know who she was or anyone else, but she could sing hymns and know their meaning. He thought of some of the more modern praise and worship songs and couldn't imagine himself singing those when loss of memory sets in. I wanted to respond to just keep the song, You're A Good, Good Father at hand cause you can sing that song ad nauseum and nobody knows what verse you are on.    

We welcome this bright, sunshine overflow on this Monday morning of Christmas week. Think the low was 24. The Feral Fam was hungry this morning and are members of the clean plate club. I love having days where I don't have anything I HAVE to do or HAVE to be at. Christmas gifts have been ordered and delivered mainly supporting local or small businesses. I even got some cards in the mail. My friends, that is a huge accomplishment for me...mostly because, if it isn't late, it's not from me is the usual mantra. 

This is one of those Christmas seasons I am treasuring. Because of family issues while growing up and the years beyond were just so stressful. The energy it took to navigate the usual traps drained me. The narcissist in our family was at least consistent in using sabotage, anger, gaslighting, and then their being the victim when they didn't get the results they wanted from their behavior. It became so predictable if one paid attention in the weeks before Christmas or remembering anything from Thanksgiving, their behavior kind of gave a hint at their first offensive Christmas campaign. Of course they passed away a while ago, but changing our mindset is a continual victory of trusting in the Lord and experiencing or observing the Lord in the ordinary details of a celebratory season. I heard the term the other day, emotional incest, when a narcissist dumps their emotional baggage on their children to keep them small and the attention diverted. Believe me, I knew more about that kind of thing growing up than I should have.  

My friend from Houston sent Three Brothers Bakery gingerbread men for Christmas. Oh happy day! They are delicious and again I will have to say brings back great memories. I was looking at Christmas memories on FB of going to see holiday lights in the Galleria area and River Oaks. The huge Starbucks on Post Oak and Westheimer open on Christmas Eve. We'd get hot chockies and head out to look at lights. When First Baptist stopped their 11:00 pm Christmas Eve services or maybe it was about the time we couldn't stay awake for the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve services, we began attending the Christmas Eve services at St Martins. Wonderful music and taking communion in the service was a pink slipped offense while working at First Baptist since the Episcopalians use wine. 

I saw a picture the other day on FB and I knew even before reading the caption what I was looking at. It was the Santa house at the downtown park in the city where my parents were born and well I guess me too. Only we moved when I was a toddler but those few times we came back for Christmas while we were younger included a visit to Santa. The house had a choir singing as decoration. 

We have been invited for Christmas supper by some friends at our new church. I didn't even know how to answer because no one has ever invited us for a Christmas meal around here. 

Warmer than usual temps for Christmas but I just read that we will have two winter blasts in the beginning of the new year. This past one has gone by so fast.

Merry Christmas!

Quiet Zones

 I watched one You Tube video on singing alto 2 notes for Shepherds Pipe Carol. Just a fun memory of singing the most ahhhhssss in a Christmas song. John Rutter must not think too much of altos. Anyway, I try to keep that alto knowledge because one never knows when a Shepherds Pipe Carol emergency will happen. You know listening to an in person concert when one of the altos falls sick. From the stage, does anyone know the alto part? I would be able to run to the stage...well, walk briskly and save the song. 

Because I watched this video now my Reels feed is filled with how to develop the voice, most tonality and what to do in Christmas concerts etc...  Too much for me. Fortunately, in my non-musical life set in choir music I have sat in choirs with fabulous directors. So, I know how to look, how to form my mouth for notes, lifting the eyebrows and making eye contact with the congregation. I can do all of that, but the voice never changes. It's the same from year to year. 

While going through books and getting them ready to leave our house I stumbled upon a Christmas book, A Gentle and Lowly Christmas by Daphne Simpkins. It's a Mildred Budge book I think I have read just about all of them and at first, well, wasn't a fan but I loved how she would bring such deep spiritual thoughts in some of the simplest and creative ways in the ordinary of life. This book is one that I have enjoyed the most. Some of the petty issues that face so many churches, changing the time of Christmas Eve service or using battery candles for the singing of Silent Night. What? We're changing to the carol, Joy to the World are covered in such a kind but funny way. Even if you have been or are guilty of these kinds of things she presents them in a way to bring attention not trigger anyone to bitterness. Mildred is not the main emphasis since we have journeyed with her story in the past books but she has come to a place where she doesn't need to be in the center of the church prep for the Christmas Eve service or the reception afterwards. Level headed Mildred is in a quiet zone leaving details to those who are more than capable to take care of things and at a place where she can enjoy dare I say ponder these things in her heart. A couple of days ago I read a devo/article about Zechariah and the after effect of his questioning Gabriel while serving in the Temple. Almost every time I read it or read about it, the emphasis is on the questioning when he should have known better. This time the article is about what God did in Zechariah when he was in the forced quiet, in the quiet zone until naming their baby, John. Think about it, the neighbors and relatives were meddling in family business, Elizabeth says John, but they go running over to Zechariah and in my mind, my comedic mind I see this in a modern day way. The relatives and people probably would say, well, Elizabeth has that Jezebel spirit, she's trying to run the family. The rejoicing for Elizabeth stops so that the fringe can run over to Zechariah asking him about this news. The case is made that John has never been a name used in their family which could be written today as, we've never done it this way before! I don't know if there were family by-laws that said you can use any name you want except John. But Zechariah praised God when he could finally speak and then the family and friends were amazed and they rejoiced. They wondered what plans the Lord had for John, "what then is the plans for this child?' Insert background music of Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be will be. The future's not ours to see. Que Sera Sera. Naming a child should always be left to the man or is it. Case in point, my father. I am named after his 5th grade girlfriend and my brother is named after a news anchor because my father thought his name sounded so distinguished. We don't want women taking over that...well, guess what, Elizabeth didn't name him, the Lord did. 

That Jezebel spirit stuff gets thrown about a lot today. If you really think about what you're saying, it can be hyperbole for just being a bossy woman. Jezzy was evil, really evil and you equate that evilness to a woman who buys the Christmas tree without her husband's help? Please! No one is singing, "I want to be a Jezzy girl" Ah, the Rick Springfield song. I read he is 80 years old now. Wow! It could be said that these manly retreats held during hunting season are really not to get men in a closer walk with God but to align themselves with Jacob's brother, Esau. You know he was a hunter and didn't make wise choices in wives and spent time trying to get a blessing that had already been given. He relied on, well he relied on Esau. Said in my best old timey voice, "he just has that spirit of Esau on him." You can add Cain, Nimrod, King Saul, Solomon and his son, I think Jeroboam Rehoboam to the OT spirit on them. Also as a reminder, Esau could have never been a deacon cause of the one wife clause but he could be a pastor. Hmmm....

What a stream of ADHD thoughts. My brain is rolling on the river this morning. Oh to take these ADHD thoughts and guide them to some more useful endeavor...vacuuming or dusting or starting a new book, even finish up the old one, The View From Lake Como. Must be the quiet zone of this morning that lit the flame. 

In conclusion, The Gospel of Luke shows in the beginning and in the ending, women seemed to be a little more spiritual than the men. Like I said, I am thinking of this in a humorous way but sometimes the humor shows the truth. Of course, if one gets really upset over this, well, you just got that spirit of the 10 brothers of Joseph on you. 

When It is Cold, Very Cold, Very, Very Cold

 I'd sing In the Bleak Mid-Winter only that officially, we haven't even reached mid-winter much less winter. December has been a cold one. All the weather reports state that once it is close to Christmas our area will have a warm up. Well, ding dong merrily on high... This next system arriving this weekend is bringing really, really cold temps. Some are saying the feel like temp will be -2. 

Just my observation from new catalogues coming to the house, if one wants to look officially Scottish, it is a very expensive look. Guess it is all that wool and plaid. Last Sunday I had a gray plaid dress I wanted to wear but I felt it was too hot to wear in the choir loft cause the choir loft can be rather warm. This Sunday is supposed to be so very, very cold I just might wear it. 

I've been looking for a particular picture of mine on FB but as I have searched I have found some pics of wonderful memories. I still have a lot of fun but those memories of fun times in Houston remain close to my heart. 

Yesterday, Roy and I ventured out to Pensacola, NC and Burnsville (it's excellent, said in my best Mr. Burns voice.) The past few weeks we have gone places that were devastated by hurricane Helene. Marshall, a couple of weeks ago and Pensacola yesterday. The river along 197 took away lots of earth making the drive a bit scary. One wrong move...you are on the rocks. Much less water than there used to be. Landmarks that I have used over the years are no where to be found. A little old grocery store that attracts men to a wooden stove surrounded by the retired, semi retired and maybe should be working and not goofing off men, made it. Don't know if many groceries are bought but I am sure there are always good stories. Both new but it would seem be mostly old stories that are still entertaining. I was shocked but the old wooden house right behind it looked to be a bit rearranged. There is still a house that slid with a landslide facing face down near the river. Private bridges are still out but a little bitty road has been hewn to reach those far reaching places. We went to Pensacola to see my friend Christy at her father's gallery and workshop. He makes woodcarvings and they are fabulous. We were able to bring a small piece back for our Christmas decor in the dinning room. No trees except quilt ones and we got another one to add to the collection. We have several of Christy's trees. Afterwards as we made our way into Burnsville, we punted our lunch idea and just did a little bit of shopping. Went to The Find and we did "find" a few things that needed to come home with us. We were welcomed home by Chubola and The Boys, not that they missed us but they must have been worried about their next meal. 

This afternoon we put on KHCB radio from Houston. Saturday afternoon is by request and so it has been a joy to have Christmas Carols on for background music. First song was from long ago Christmas Pageant days. Just trying to duck out of Happy Birthday Jesus. SOS-song over sung. Roy had Christmas music on this morning and I promise you in forty five minutes time we heard Away in the Manger and Mary Did You Know about four times a piece by different artists, but still...

I found by accident my childhood best friend who recently died, well her mom passed away with her service in Houston being last Monday. I read her obituary and her father's as well but not one for my long ago friend. She had it all, academically brilliant, beautiful and personable but something tells me it didn't end well for her. I also forgot her birthday is the day after mine. 

This morning, Sunday, with really cold temps and a little bit of snow falling, we are erring on the side of caution and not going over to church today. It's like Roy and I have traded places, he is really leaning toward not going and I thought maybe it might be worth the risk, but alas, he won me over with his reasons. We probably could have gone but he has listened to me when I've expressed concerns and won him over against the odds. 

We opened The Inn on the Catmore Estate last night mainly to get those who are reluctant a bit of a chance to go into the garage without fear. Tonight is the tester of temperaments with the temps going way down and a feels like temp of -2. We put out another large bed filled with blankets and soft fabrics to let them burrow into for comfort and warmth. 

Dave Ward, longtime Houston anchor and newsman has passed away. He was with ABC Houston for fifty years. He was on at our house during growing up years as well as high school, college and young married years. Many times I saw him at Rice Epicurean grocery store, which I called The Play Grocery Store. I just kind of played when I went there, it was too expensive to buy weekly groceries. Took a lot of chicken pot pie from there to pot lucks and tennis luncheons. But I digress. It's another footnote of passing and he was/is still held in beloved memories.  

Oh, the temps are dropping. We will set the dishwasher to run around 2:00 am as well as drip a few faucets. At least it gets above freezing tomorrow but we will stick close by. 

Season-ing

 Our wintery overcast day is flirting with the sun. Kind of late in the afternoon but hey...the gray has never bothered me nor the clouds. Sunday the early sky was covered by freezing fog and our drive to church came with frosted fields and icy boughs on trees. This morning rain accompanies the morning skies. The rich color of golden grasses and some trees still diffuses that soothing sense of the vastitudes of fall exiting the stage it has held since September now to winter's not so subtle entrance this year. Even after ten years I am in awe of experiencing the seasons in seasons timing, not like Houston many a year, three seasons could be experienced in one day. 

Saturday, we met with our pastor and an elder in our church...cause officially we are members of First Presbyterian Church. We gave our testimonies, talked about spiritual growth and all those important tangibles. Roy said to me that Saturday afternoon, "I'm thrilled to see you so happy and joyful." I think he said that because it has been a season or two or maybe six since I've (we've) been excited about attending big church services and being involved. Sunday morning we were presented to the church. 

The Mustang is in the shop and what we thought was noise from the convertible top in reality is a broken shock. Bummer. The mechanics are waiting for the part from Ford and soon enough Mustang Sam will be back in business. I had stopped driving  it and glad I followed that instinct cause we were told it is a safety factor and hazard. 

We are getting used to our low tech washing machine and dryer. And after a less than ideal installation of the dryer and the need for a quicker response than what we got, we took matters in our own hands and got the dryer hooked up with all the correct fittings and such. Really, it was more than an immediate need but the delivery guys kind of scared us. This is the first time I can recall being very cautious and a bit fearful of these guys. Even Roy felt it and we thought what if.... what if they send these guys back out to finish the job? I am so proud of Roy being nimble enough and I summoned muscle memory to be strong enough to help. 

During this Christmas season I have been thinking about our lives and the changes that have come about all because eleven years ago we stepped out in faith, bought a home with plans to retire here and all through the unknowns and knowns God is with us, Emmanuel. It might have been in 2023 that Roy came out on the back porch and we just visited and in that conversation he said to me, I really didn't realize how much I worked, how much I got wrapped up in projects, how much I traveled and how much I left on you to take care of, mostly by yourself. I was shocked, I hadn't really thought about it. It was life and you just do those things that need to be done with a little bit of fun in-between. Then he apologized. What a wonderful man and hubby. He didn't have to do that but it meant so much for me. We always joke that I know how to amuse and entertain myself. I am never bored. That gift helped me as I played softball, volleyball, took calligraphy lessons, tennis, book clubs, collecting first edition southern fiction, lunch and dinner with friends, and all things church including choir and Bible study. Oh, and sometimes those periods included a job or two. I think that now, after Roy has retired I enjoy our mornings. He is a consistent quiet time, early riser. I wish I was but I am not...evening quiet time for me. So as we drink coffee he will often say, I read something interesting this morning in....John or Matthew or wherever his reading plan takes him. And he will include football observations some mornings. It is one of my favorite things in this particular season of life, drinking coffee and talking about the meaningful and the absurd with Roy. 

The Mustang was ready to come home Monday and happy to have Mustang Sam home and road worthy.

Giving Thanks, Being Grateful

 Over the course of the last few years on X I have discovered several pastors that are not only enjoyable to follow, not just interesting, but their words and observations have been seeds planted in good soil. One particular pastor is Steve Bezner. Insightful with a good sense of humor. The physical church he pastored was almost destroyed or maybe that is was destroyed in Hurricane Harvey. Last year he announced that he was resigning from the church to be a professor at Truett Seminary, a part of the Baylor family. He wrote some on that journey of the old and the new, but he seemed to fall off the radar or maybe that should be algorithm on my feed. That is until yesterday. He had written on his substack and I just happened to catch it. Or was it a just happened occasion? https://bezner.substack.com/p/gratitude-is-transformative

As most of my fourteen readers know, I resigned teaching Sunday School at the end of summer. First, it was a leave of absence and after a few crucial heart related appointments by summers end, I knew it was a reality. I had a choice to make. Like Steve B, cause you know we are now internet pals, wrote of his heart being attacked by a virus when he was 24. Me too! Except I was 54 and got strep two times one winter and the virus went to the weakest muscle, my heart. He writes about cardiologist appointments through the years until the one in 2024. He had to make a choice of his family or his job. Doing what he loved ended abruptly. There is the process and each one of us process life differently but it comes to this point he makes, gratitude is transformative. No matter the individual processing.  "But I am not sad because I am thankful."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      So, here is where I find myself but only my experience is a little different from his. Once I quit I have never looked back. I was shocked not to miss teaching but began to experience such a sense of well being and freedom. Roy and I did very few daytrips because of various factors, but mainly because of the precautions I had to take until the flutter was corrected as well as BP. But the time...it has been full of wonder as well as hard work. 

I loved teaching Sunday School and I love my friends in The Joy Class. I am so thankful for that experience and to follow such a beloved teacher like Gale Murray. Over those years my study style evolved and in turn I gained more love for the scripture. Almost like back to those early days in college and early marriage when you gots to love the Word to make it through difficult times. This summer and fall gave me time and less stress to take advantage of that window of opportunity. The wisdom of Dr. Seger is not forgotten, you do well when you stay in the parameters. Oh, the other thing he said was, after asking what stressed me out and I said my hair. He patted my back and said hair isn't worth dying for. He's right and I've made the necessary adjustments. Through these years several have said, well now that you are doing better you can do______. Nope, I'll just have to re-work everything if I go back living, eating, well, just stuff that needs to be reworked and redesigned. I'll continue the straight and narrow. 

The years at Newfound for the most part were good and it was just the landing spot I needed when I first got to WNC. Making friends and participating in things was a balm to my soul. It was a good place to learn small, rural church life after coming from a large city church. Our former pastor gave the church a lot to overcome with yet more work to be done. I think everyone involved in those years from both sides might agree, it wasn't a good fit. Then Covid gave the opening for some to leave. Then a trickle process of losing members here and there. A big heart of kindness and joy at the church either moved or died. Those six and a half years were tiresome and made one weary. We stopped attending Christmas Eve services cause frankly, he was just too depressing. The music he picked was the slow paced, not that I don't love a slow Christmas song, but none of those happy and joyous Christmas songs for us. If we sang The Bleak Mid-Winter, I would have had to call CourtneyS. Not a Christmas sermon but just a regular one, he said don't approach the Bible with wonder because you might get disappointed if nothing doesn't jump out for you. What??? The wonder of God's Word, the wonder that God would send His Son for our sins, the wonder of living life to all it can be, the wonder of happy marriages and treasured friendships. I will takes my chances with the wonder approach and the reverence for God's Word verses any of the other approaches. But it looks like their new church they went to is a good fit for them and that makes me happy. It also looks like Newfound has called a pastor is a good fit for them. As for us, we have found a church that is a good fit for us as well.  

A life of gratitude makes us WHOLE, overwhelms us with LOVE, and moves us to LIVE generous lives. Erwin McManus, Stand Against the Wind.

                                                

Low Tech and Nerdy

 It is a rejoicing type of weekend. Friday, the cardiologist appointment. Finally, had my first official blood pressure reading back into normal range. This has been one crazy ride because my blood pressure has mostly been low for at least the last fifteen or so years. Like they were worried about that in the rehab hospital after bilateral knee replacements. Then the atrial flutter returned, got that taken care of, had a cyst removed and now I can rejoice being in sync and the low BP. Next year there is a possibility of another ablation. The technology has advanced in heart ablation world that you don't even need to spend the night at the hospital after having it done. The other good news, so much advancement you'll not need another one cause this version is the be all end all of ablations.  

Once again, I am thankful that I made the decision to use that window of opportunity to correct and right the path. I read something today written by a former Houston pastor that has helped me get my thoughts together over major changes this summer. I'll save that for a latter post.

Thanksgiving weekend holds the second blast of winter temps this month. In Houston it was so disappointing to have 80 degree plus temps at Thanksgiving time. Think we have purchased all we need for the Thursday meal. The change of weather begins today with rain. The rain helps me get projects done that I tend to procrastinate. I know I'll be working on my three foot Christmas tree for the fellowship center. Part of the tree I am decorating will have a DIY aspect to it. Let us pray...this is not my strong suite but I am excited about doing it and taking it next week to church. I haven't been this excited for Christmas since maybe 2001 or so. Some years I put up a tree but most years I don't. Hits and misses with outdoors decorations over the years, but I'm thinking we might put out a few lights and our manger scene. I can hear the objections from Roy cause we will have to move quite a few things to get Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus out. I'll make him feel guilty by saying, we don't want to hide Baby Jesus do we? Roy was raised Catholic and I was raised Baptist...both have guilt responses from our religious backgrounds, but different paths and ways used. He'd probably say to me, think of all the children around the world that would love to have a nativity in their garage. Yea, I don't get it either. We are both such nerds. 

This afternoon I have been working on my paperchains for the little Christmas tree I am decorating for the church fellowship hall. I found a little hymnal that I could spare and I have been cutting and putting together the cut paper into a chain of hymns. Going the staple method but still festive with green staples. I'll take a picture of the final result. 

I have spent a lot of time looking at Google Maps of Harvey Illinois. We lived there a brief time when I was a toddler and I believe it was the first house my parents bought. They had always rented. It was a cross the street from an elementary school and down the street from a hospital. The hospital is easy to locate but after all the years of progress and then downfall of Harvey probably the little house has been torn down. Somewhere I think I have a baby book with the address in it but who knows where I have stored that book. The interest in the this came about because I met a woman who is about the same age as me that grew up in the Chicago area. We have laughed about Garfield Goose and Kukla, Fran and Ollie. One memory has me puzzled because, I never asked about it and only remember bits and pieces. My mom and I took the train from Chicago to Decatur where her mama lived and my father's parents. My mother wasn't the "let's take a train" type. I believe my grandparents drove us back. We returned to a surprise party for my mom and my father had made me a wooden scooter using roller skates. The wood was not sanded so I got splinters every time I rode it. Thinking just now all the people invited to the party were all probably relatives on my father's side, who my mom loved. So, I have often wondered if my mom left him for that brief time. That might be the only surprise party he ever threw for her. I haven't a clue cause I don't remember the train ride or how we got there or while we were in Decatur, nothing. Just what I just wrote. It is an intriguing thought that will go no where. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving Eve Morning by going to Lowe's and buying a new washer and dryer. Roy did his research and had his spread sheet with him. We went low tech. Most washing machines and dryers have WIFI and get this, if the WIFI is out, they don't work and you cannot override WIFI. That would have been horrible in the aftermath of Helene where we were without internet for two weeks. Our WIFI can be spotty so yep, low tech that was on sale. They are installing on Friday. Good cause Roy is running out of socks. 

Mugs, Books, Lost MCD and Childhood Friend

 Oh there are stories to tell and just a whole lot of things to write about but if I did, I wouldn't be walking in peace and God's wisdom. Nothing earth shattering but just those observations that somehow get me in trouble from time to time. 

This morning Roy and I both drank our coffee out of the new Christmas teddy bear mugs from Marshall's. They both hold a lot of coffee but the cuteness kind of inhibits easy sipping. I am willing to forgo the ease of sip for more ounces and less trips to the coffee maker. As for Roy he likes the extra ounces but isn't too excited about the cuteness of those mugs. He did it this morning cause he loves me but in the future he will probably only drink out of them if nothing else is available. If Roy is too cranky about the teddy bear mug, I think I will order this one.

In choir last night we worked on Christmas music. Ah, the memories of Pageants and Celebrations and whatever they were called in between. As we sang the familiar carols some traditional and some in new arrangements I remembered those long ago memories. I was talking with CourtneyS, after she won the second year in a row the MCD contest, I'm not bitter, in my ordinary life I have gotten to do some very fun things and many of those from Pageant days. Or maybe even choir days. I wish I had been in choir more for the music but I was in it to spend time with friends and laugh...oh yes and worship the Lord, but that didn't come too much in practice. Now, I am in choir and I am the only one that can't read music, so when Debbie says make note of the, then uses a music term, she'll say for my benefit, make an upside down smiley face. 

My confession is, I have never been an avid fan of Jen Hatmaker. Her books didn't really have too much to do with my life back in the day. Maybe I started one and never finished. I do not know what compelled me to buy her memoir, AWAKE. Read some reviews and thought this will be good cause her short chapters and subject matter will keep my distractions at bay. Well, I was wrong. I didn't like the book but it is one book I didn't like that I finished reading. Well, the last half of the book was skimming. While she is dealt a blow by a cheating spouse from then on it is all about her, her wonderful supportive friends and all that affected her and her family. Guess she deconstructed her faith but she hasn't started repairing and rebuilding. Me thinks there might be a sequel in the works. Her stories reminded me of friends who are walking down that same path of deconstruction of their faith. Not being the same but being the same is a blogger turned author, turned speaker...turned whatever, granted she is funny but my goodness the entitlement and availability of options that more likely than not, most cannot afford. AWAKE seemed to be on that same pattern of luxury whether it be time, places, or people. One reviewer said, no bridge or encouragement is offered, we just learn of their story whose conclusion is more personal than anything. Gee, that's a lot of words for a book I didn't particularly enjoy but read with no prejudice. 

I didn't win the MCD contest this year. CourtneyS heard Merry Christmas Darling before I did, although it came up on a playlist this past summer but I couldn't really count that. 

Our front yard and half of the back received a nice trim and shape. Mike came and cut down two dead trees, shaped up the shrubs and cut back the hybrid hydrangeas. He will be back after the holiday to conclude trimming the rest of the backyard. He also took the decorative pumpkins so that we can begin the minimal Christmas decorations. 

I learned this morning that my first childhood best friend Leah Rae Montgomery passed away several weeks ago. She lived around the corner and down the street. We met in kindergarten and got in trouble usually every week while playing. The time I remember the most is playing in the bayou better known as the ditch and her brother Brian falling in, getting his socks all muddy and we tried to clean them with the insides of a buttercup weed. Leah told me she had heard that this would take the mud out. I was in trouble before I got home cause Mrs. Montgomery called my mom to let her know we had been playing in the forbidden ditch. Then they moved to Ft Worth and came back around junior high time. Leah and I would walk the neighborhood and talk. Her plans were to go to the University of Texas and my plans were as soon as I got my drivers license, I was going to run a car into a big tree on a curve and end it all. I had no plans for the future, not much hope and few options. I knew this in the 9th grade. Thankfully, the Lord stopped all my morbid plans when I truly came to know Him. Still had no clue on my future but I had hope and faith it was all in His hands. Leah got to go out of the zoned school district because she was half Hispanic. She came back to Westbury later and our paths took different paths. She was a cool, smart, popular drug using...I think, person and I was just athletic and goofy. The last time I saw her was in college my freshman year. I stayed a night with her at UT. I don't remember why I was at Texas and I don't remember too much of the short visit. She kept her dorm room dark with only a small lamp shedding any light while we talked. 

Snow, Ice and Sunshine

 The lesson isn't just that starting over doesn't have an age limit.

The lesson is that purpose doesn't have an expiration date.

In a world that is so quick to tell us to "rest," to move aside, to become invisible... remember this:

We are not disposable just because our hair turns gray.

We are not liabilities.

We are libraries. Every wrinkle, every memory, every book we've ever read, is a story.

You don't stop growing when you grow old. You just grow wiser.

Don't let anyone close your book before you're finished.

Go out and start the next chapter.

I copied this from one of those FB stories that of course now, cannot find. But the story being told by a 73 year old woman and after her husband died, and the protest of her son, she sold the house and cashed out insurance policies and the like. She didn't like being in a home filled with memories and conversations she wasn't going to have anymore. Long story short, she finds a situation needing help and it was the help she could give. Not easy but after a bit of time the story resolves into being the best thing she could have done. Even her son came around and knew she had done the right thing. She wasn't quite ready yet to give up her talents, abilities and enjoyment of life. She found purpose.

This past summer when reminded of that window of opportunity afforded to me, that I shouldn't waste the time and do what needed to be done became the theme of living. That summer theme has come into fall and should be a winter type theme as well. I'm walking a lot more, my gait is becoming steady and the excruciating sciatic nerve pain is in remission. My heart is staying in rhythm. My diet is more to deal with inflammation. I'm researching the avenues open to dealing with high blood pressure in a more nature or holistic way. Last week was the most social week in a long time, maybe before Covid. All that social interaction just about wore me out, but it was so good. Saturday afternoon, we dead headed more plants for a short time and boom, it was nap time. I've enjoyed spending time by myself in projects and such but a quick return to how life used to be was something I needed. Of course today I am thrilled to be wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, hanging out with Roy and our cats.

Our soon to be former church did pick the interim guy as pastor. He has a good heart as a pastor from what I've seen. We have been praying for the church and the influence it can have in Leicester but our time there is over. I miss friends but we know this is the right decision for us. Since I have quit teaching I cannot say I miss it. Not because of the amount of studying or anything, just the pressure I put on myself. I am on the go more even around the house. I am reminded that I need to do some strengthening exercise and some balance work. We have been half-heartedly looking at or really just thinking about moving to a one story home but several experts and doctors say the stairs help you maintain. They have a point. Although, I will skim Zillow and Realtor to see if anything opens up.

It is a snowy November day. Snow, then sun, snow, then sun and now heavy snow falling that almost looks like fog. This is unusual for this time of year. January and February holds these kinds of days. We officially opened The Garage on the Catmore Estate last night. It was to help those cautious cat members to get over their jitters of coming inside. We got the beds out, the food stocked and water bowl insulated to help their stay be warm or at least warmer and protected from the elements outside.

So last week I went to my first Circle meeting, the joy circle. They meet once a month, work on a Bible study, have a missions emphasis with support and have a lot of fun. It is a little different than Bible study on Thursdays. We are in the book of Mark and it has been such a rich study. Of course I went to choir and then Saturday morning we attended the new member class. Now we have some paperwork to fill out and submit.

I read an article about the song Amazing Grace, especially when bag pipes are utilized. We sang Amazing Grace a couple of weeks ago in the service and it just had a different sound...being sung with assurance of what we sing is true, not just pulling out that tired old hymn once again. There are times that is how I feel about that particular hymn. I have learned several hymns that we don't sing as a Baptist. Who knows?

Roy has been busy outside knowing the weather would be cooler. He painted chairs and got the deck looking pretty spiffy except for a few places that need a bit of attention. He picked the last of the tomatoes Sunday afternoon.

Friday, we went to Marshall to shop at Penland. Helene totally destroyed the bottom floor but with lots of hard work by professionals, church groups and family it is back. It was so good to see Georgette and visit a bit with her. The selection of merchandise is awesome! Roy got a coat and we also bought a handmade basket, wooden basket. The store still has that familiar feel with the old mixed in with the new. And they take credit and debit cards now. Love it! Then several other items. Other shops in Marshall are opening and even the tag office is back in business.

Looks like the sand and salt trucks were out last night. Still not a lot of traffic on our busy road. The sun is out and it is melting snow and ice in our front yard. Most of the back is in shade so it might take till tonight or in the morning for everything to melt. The Feral Fam is getting along in The Garage at the Catmore Estate but Roy wants to terminate reservations beginning tonight. We shall see.

Matically and Nario Along With a Statement Sweater

 I will have to say that cyst-o-matically, the report from the doctor's office...benign. Seems like this cyst-nario has played before. Hysterectomy for quality of life soon turns to we found a tumor and we won't know until surgery if it is benign or malignant. Date of surgery changed due to the oncologist the doctor liked to work with was unavailable. My doctor told me afterwards all the signs were there and he didn't expect it to be benign, but it was. Same thing happened when I fell and broke my hip, it opened the doors for bilateral knee replacement but my knees were almost too far gone but then the last x-ray before surgery showed a whole different scenario. So this cyst who had made its home for about fifteen years on my neck changed, became hard and inflamed, weird shape with irregular margins. There was some concern about it being a sign of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma because of the location and the recent changes. BUT, it wasn't and PTL! 

Love the study we are doing on Thursday mornings. We are in the book of Mark which is just about one of my favorites. Such great discussion and such wonderful fellowship with a few laughs mixed in for good measure. 

Today after Bible study I went to the nearby Urgent Care to get the stitches removed. Not a long wait but the whole situation was a bit concerning. Chaotic in the waiting room but soon enough my name was called. I did not anticipate taking vitals, just want the stitches removed. Dang, BP higher than I want it to be but the conditions were not optimal and my arm wasn't arranged correctly. Did a great job getting everything taken care and said the incision looked good. I am so relieved to have that taken care of and not needing to drive back out to the dermatologist office. 

I learned yesterday that I need a statement sweater. What??? Yes, I was told in an advertisement this is something I definitely need to have. I have sweaters but nothing that is statement making. I don't even know what statement to make. JJill is saying that my life will be so wonderful if I have a pair of coffee brown pants. Good news, I already have some both dressy and then a pair of coffee bean jeans. I don't know if this is a statement or not but we ordered some new shirts for Roy. Guess the statement would be he owns more than the same two shirts or something like that. Roy took several boxes of clothes to Goodwill today. Guess he gave up on gray jeans, not wanting making a statement about that either. 

In the spirt of fall festival day I only have to make it through today and this is the first year that I can recall, eating no candy corn. None! That's unusual because I love candy corn especially with French burnt peanuts. Around here at the house we call that snackage. 

I am happy for our soon to be former church as they will probably vote on Sunday for their new pastor. Only, he is not new to them because he has been the interim guy. He and his wife seem genuinely concerned for the congregation. Believe me, that church needs that assurance of love and pastoring after six years or so of a less than desirable match between the church and the former pastor.  Oh and the wife. The good news for them is, they seem to have found the church to serve with. Both their family and their congregation seem to be a good fit. The families that left in June from our former church have all, pretty much, found a good landing and are serving in those landing churches. New beginnings all the way around. New mercies every morning. 

In 2014, we had closed on our house here and my friend Dena came with me to pick up the keys to the home Roy and I bought. Kate, was still in the house and she needed the extra time due to her daughter getting married and a huge work project. She had been so generous to us with some of the furnishings and such, we extended back to her. We agreed she would be out before the week of Thanksgiving. What I remember from that trip is, it snowed in the mountains. We had to take the freeway from Chattanooga instead of the back scenic way. Fall colors set to brilliant with the backdrop of snow. Of course, we had made our reservations at The Inn on The Biltmore Estate and low and behold to our surprise, we were there for the bringing in of the Christmas tree. Horse drawn with Santa directing the horses. Mrs. Claus at the front door. We were there early cause we took the shuttle from the Inn and got a front row seat which included discounts on shopping and the like. Yes, all in all a wonderful memory. 

Yesterday, while leaving the urgent care place which now seems to be more like appointment and drop in medical services, there was a penny right outside the front door. I thought of Carole Lewis and the why she picks up the penny. Just a great reminder that it is in God we trust and He sees us. I was so very, very happy to get out that door and that great reminder. 

Reading, Window, Stamina, and The Week

 Another golden sunrise with a hint of frost, but it doesn't look like it got cold enough for that to happen this morning. 

I started the just published Harper Lee book, The Land of Sweet Forever. My goodness the introduction hooked me in and I read the first short story in the book yesterday. Very few books anymore grab my attention. I read them but if I put a book down for a couple of weeks I'm very, meh.... My attention span, though never that good, is even more distracted here in the recent past.  

The past week or so I have been thinking about one of the medical admonitions from this summer, you have a window of opportunity and take advantage of it. Now all these sit and be fit videos are popping up in my FB feed as well as pay for info that will change your life. Most say it is nothing new after subscribing. Something got my attention though that has nothing to do with this subject on the surface but yet it does. A young woman who didn't get into the school of her choice is told, don't worry, you have the rest of your life. Hmm...now the term rest of your life seems different seeing this through my eyes. Because, rest of my life is shorter than the start of my life. Yep, the ol' window of opportunity again. I also am thinking, yes, that would be nice...the rest of my life, taking it easy resting along the way. I do that now anyway. In that rest needs to be some structure. Roy told me the other day he had been concerned when I was teaching that my activity level was really low. It was. With an upcoming cardiologist appointment I hope that my numbers tell the story of recovery and making strides. 

Yep, got to get that stamina up a bit. Worked out in the yard more specifically the flowerbed that Roy cleaned out. It is a larger raised bed but got one half of it planted with tulips. We have another flowerbed that I have tulip bulbs for and will wait for the opportunity to get those put in the bed. We are supposed to have a lot of rain this week. I think Roy did a little too much outside. He finished up his deck staining and getting the chairs out in the yard painted. We should have done that much earlier this year but the thought is to help them through cold months and do more touch ups when spring hits. 

The main road has opened after several months of road repair. The road kind of broke down as the retaining pieces had been compromised when a double wide had been placed there below the road. Thursday morning it was so wonderful to make that straightish shot down the road, especially because I was running late. The detour roads are beautiful but I am sure the people that live along them are glad for the reduction of traffic. This weekend the road noise is louder here because all the big trucks have returned. 

This Monday morning feels just a bit lighter, BK no longer coaches at LSU. We read the headlines last night. Last season and so far this season Roy really hasn't watched the games. I haven't because it worked out better with the team winning if I didn't watch. Ha! We talk about the BK news and rumors. It is kind of fun. Roy is waiting for LSU Women's Basketball. One of the nurses at our dermatologist office is from Louisiana, big fan of LSU. Get this, her niece is Kim Mulkey's security and I couldn't wait to tell Roy. He found her the other night on a You Tube wrap up of the game and saw her. He said she looks shorter than Kim.  Wow! 

We had planned on going to the concert at church yesterday afternoon but Sunday morning Roy felt more tired than he usually does. He decided to go to church Sunday morning but felt it would be best if he stayed home instead of attending the concert. I decided to stay home as well because Roy is hardly ever sick or very tired. He has worked so hard this past week getting the deck painted and painting the chairs and table we have out in the yard. I had started that project then we had a bit of a heatwave and didn't get back to it. The deck turned out so well that I don't think we will have to hire a professional in the spring. 

The Be and The Wanna-Be

 This morning GMoey and Baxter are sitting together on the back of the couch viewing the sights of the front yard and road. It is a peaceful existence, for now. The quiet and stately GMoey confident in his authority and subdued personality and Baxter hyper, messing with stuff and coming back to his perch next to the one in charge, GMoey. Baxter has been challenging him the past few weeks but GMoey takes care of him quickly and quietly. Baxter retreats for another day but in the meantime he takes his frustrations out on his brother Buster. It wasn't that long ago that GMoey asserted his dominance over Mr Mo, I wonder if Mr Mo regrets all his aggressive playing when they were kittens, and Willie. Willie just like playing and getting on Mr Mo and GMoey's nerves. Not to worry, GMoey let him get the sillies out and then smacked Willie. GMoey is the alpha cat...the rest are wanna-bes. 

We had the most beautiful sunrise yesterday. Oh my, everything outside bathed in a pinkish/golden tone. Everything from the trees, the skies and the fields were touched and for these brief moments immersed in the magical shimmer. God must have made that sunrise beautiful everywhere. Local and across the country people share those golden tones. The trees in our backyard shimmered but I wasn't fast enough to catch a picture. After the sunrise it clouded up and we got some rain. We needed the rain. 

All of the sudden just like back in the day clothes washing instructions are complicated. When manufactures of dresses and such weren't too sure about their clothes and the wear and tear of daily wearing they put dry clean only tags on everything. I returned a flannel shirt to Nordstrom because it said to dry clean it. What??? Now all the instructions are handwash and lay flat to dry. There are not enough flat spaces in this house to do that. That's the reason there are handwash cycles on washing machines now. Use that and hang to dry. So far so good. Even if there were enough flat places in the house, our six kitties would think the items were their new bed.

It is 35 degrees this fine Tuesday morning. Roy turned on the heater downstairs this morning, our first of this season. I am also wearing the flannel jammies for the first time this season. That Roy, he is a lucky man. It keeps me from stealing the covers and that is what it is all about now. 

In Houston you could hear some of the best conversations at Buffalo Grill. The business deals, social gossip and everything in-between. While reading a book while eating breakfast, I heard about the soon to be fired from companies and a minister, why he chose such a vocal place, telling staff members his struggles staying faithful to his wife. If you are thinking about the Buffalo Grill on Woodway, the pastor was not from the huge sister church in the area. I only knew this guy was a minister cause he spoke at one of our church staff retreats...some of this came through in his aside comments then. Now, if I am going to hear anything it is at the Publix. People standing around visiting in the produce section or over by the bread and yogurt. Two of the busiest parts of the store. So while there aren't business news flashes there, there is a lot of family business discussed. So, these two ladies talked about the upcoming holidays with the extended family. The story and worries of Thanksgiving was a cliff-hanger. Granted these women were older but maybe younger than me. So, her older brother and younger sister and their families are coming in for the holidays and the political spectrum of these two siblings is at opposite ends. The younger sister fights against invisible foes and causes. They're not hers in reality but she joins in with the rhetoric of the cause. Loved that the friend, now named lady #2 for this post, reminded her friend, lady #1, when the younger sister took up a cause, wanted family and friends to donate to it but the younger sister never gave to these causes personally, Hey, aren't Instagram and FB posts enough? Uh that is my commentary. I looked at disgusting brussel sprouts to hear the rest of the convo. The brother is described as a chunky bantam rooster type. Knows everything, doesn't give any time to discussion, and a hot head. He sounded like a real likeable guy, a scared mousy wife comes along with children with bad posture. Hopefully, there will be a peaceful Thanksgiving, but somehow I doubt it for them. I headed over to the coffee aisle thinking about those two ladies visiting together in the store. There are probably hundreds more. A conversation that lasted a minute or two can say a lot. 

I have given up wearing a bandage over the incision made on my neck Tuesday. Sometime along the way, I have developed a reaction to bandage adhesive. Now to find someone who will help with removing the stiches next week. She gave me a kit and Roy refuses to do it. Ugh! 

The good news this week is this, our road is opened to traffic. I know the detour route people are happy not to have so much traffic. The volume both in numbers and noise has increased for us. Big trucks keep on turning...but it is okay, it is a shorter drive without so many twists and turns. 

Chores Abound In and Around Home

 The day is winding down. Bible study at church and a quick trip to Ingles. Leftover BBQ for lunch and a few household chores to knock off the list. Then a quick nap, well mine was quick because Baxter jumped on top of me and woke me up. Now, Roy is doing online Bible study with Community Bible Study. They are in the Psalms this year. This summer Roy fell in love with the Psalms and I couldn't be more happy about that. He is listening to scripture songs from the Psalms and that is new. Music has never interested him too much. 

Speaking of music, we changed choir from 7:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. Tell me that most in the choir are retired without telling me. Delighted though with a change in time. At least even with the time change it won't be late night darkness. The river road is one dark spot on the route home. Nothing lights it up since any homes that were close by were probably destroyed by Helene. As I was backing into the driveway and Roy was out there helping me because the bright lights, especially brake lights distort my vision. While backing in our neighbors above us came up the road. Nancy texted us immediately, asking if everything was okay. We weren't usually out late...in the world view it was not late. Anyway, I texted back that we are good I was coming home from choir rehearsal. 

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Since we rearranged our summer we have also created new pathways in our brains. We are learning new things and new names. New ministries and such. Saying Ah-men instead of AAAAAmen at the end of corporate prayer or at the end of certain songs. Forgive us our trespasses is now forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  This is the kind of stuff that keeps your brain semi young, learning things. Like I have written before Roy's Sunday dress is totally different now. In some ways mine is too, no longer wearing jeans on Sunday morning with long jackets and such. No one has said anything to us, just our observations and a heart tuned more to reverence of God in church. I picked up an article in the church office on the history of the church and the theme over and over is giving and being generous. You've got to love the DNA of this church. 

With all these new paths in the brain, a few memories of the long, long ago surfaced. So, this was a strange one. My mom had a twin brother. We were back visiting relatives and my mom's twin and his wife were coming out to Grandma's to visit us. Only thing, my aunt had just had a miscarriage and my parents told my brother and me to stay outside and play. Our aunt would be too disturbed by seeing us, that we were born and lived. Outside, there was all kinds of stuff to get involved with only we had been restricted from going in the garage where all kinds of treasures, at least to us, were stored. We couldn't play in the side yard because we could be viewed from the living room windows. We stayed in the back part of the large continuous yard that led straight to the abandoned apple orchard of my grandparents. Other than the fact that we told our aunt and uncle goodbye when they left, I don't remember anything else about the evening. Was that the truth or was it so the adults could discuss things, probably about my grandmother living alone. Who knows, but kind of an odd remembrance. After thinking about it, I doubt the conversation was about my grandmother staying in her home. 

We dead-headed zinnias and pulled out the rest of the plants out of the raised flowerbed. Roy took care of the raised bed where the plum trees are. We both worked on the bed where the greasy beans and purple peas grew. I have tulip and daffodil bulbs to put in that bed. Roy stained the deck on Monday and a little touch up work on Tuesday. The center of the decks needs another coat but we are going to do the railings first. We found this spray deck stain and the paint guy at Lowe's said it was really good. He wasn't kidding. Our plans just to get it covered before winter and then let the professionals take over in the spring, but we might not need to do that. We also began painting our gate. Got a fourth of it taken care of and should finish up this afternoon. 

In our chore induced stupor I cleaned the baseboards and the wood trim on the stairway. Roy put a bunch of stuff away that has been holding meetings on the dining room table. Almost cleared. We are now looking at closets, uh Roy, to see what can be given away or thrown away or kept. I admit I buy too many clothes, long story, not interesting, but I also part ways quickly. 

Habit and Hope

 By all standards I have lived a very ordinary life but the opportunities came to participate in some extraordinary things. Many times the extraordinary came from friend's invites or the favor of friends falling on me unexpectedly. Nothing came to me because I was beautiful or even cute, but my sense of humor sometimes made an entrance for me. guess very John the Baptist, prepare ye the way. I only say that cause we studied him in Bible study this week. Thankful for a good sense of humor but always aware of those off the cuff remarks. 

I'm still working on formulating a fragrance that is acceptable of Vick's and menthol complete with all the healing properties contained therein. Using the new pain reliever early in getting dressed hopefully for that familiar scent to dissipate and pain relieving action to sink in. Another project I am considering is Christmas decorations. Clearly a tree is out of the picture this year because the trio would not be able to stay out of or on it. We have enough of that kind of stuff to deal with on the regular furnishings. We conceded the top of the book cases to them and the ottoman. I am also trying to think through what a yard nativity would look like if all the references used in Christmas songs would look like. Not Rudolph or Santa, but Jenette Isabella, she's bringing the torch. The three ships sailing. Stuff like that. Seriously, I am loosing interest in that but still something to solve if I find myself wide awake in the middle of the night.

Dena texted me last night asking if I had seen Oscar Wyatt had passed away. He was 101. Now normally, I wouldn't be interested but dang, I spent a lot of time last week reading Texas Monthly back articles and stories from other magazines and journals about his life, including wife Lynn Wyatt. Don't know them, never met them, wouldn't want to be them, but their lives are just so interesting. 

Mr Penurious found Diet Coke with Lime at Publix and bought some for me. Shocked! But thankfully, I have plenty....for now. I actually had my first one this morning and it is just as good as I remember. Always have liked it better than Diet Coke. Which is funny, I don't drink Diet Coke as much, lots of iced tea. Oh, the taste of lime, yes brings back some great Diet Coke memories. 

Thursday morning I attended ladies Bible study and we are in the book of Mark. Great discussion and these ladies who have been friends for quite some time were so welcoming. The pastor's wife made us some pumpkin muffins and they were delicious. After two weeks off due to vacations, we will be back in choir rehearsal this week. 

Once again I am using skills that aren't as necessary as in other times of life. No more jeans, flannel shirts and hiking boots for Roy's Sunday morning attire. Back to dressy type pants and button down shirts. After he was robbed in Mobile and all his dress clothes went with the robber, we added a few pants and shirts for the just in case a month or so after getting here. Now, he needs a few more shirts but dang no one is making it easy. I have noticed in perusing clothing websites, the normal fall/winter choices are limited with many still hawking their spring clothes at deep discounts. I finally found shirts for Roy at Lands End and we are debating shirts from American Tall. Funny, he is considered semi tall there. It was kind of late when I was on the American Tall website, so after putting like 76 pairs of socks in the cart accidently, I decided a fresh start should be advised. Now, I will tell you that the late night hour was probably at 8:00 pm. Hey, we are tackling the retired life with full gusto! 

I have not written too much about The Feral Fam. It is too difficult. Our neighbors thought they saw Fido but I think they saw Beanie. It has been a little over two weeks...we thought Coco might have disappeared as well but this morning she showed up to wolf down food and now she is sound asleep in the garage. She will probably do that till this evening. Other cats here and there are not around much. Rumor has it better food over the hill, who knows. Our tribe is certainly on the small side. We don't know whether it is natural causes or a natural predator or a human one. I cannot even... Roy and I don't talk it about it much because our emotions are right there under the surface but we both look wistfully out that back windows to watch for Fido to run down to the yard. Out of habit and out of prevailing hope. 

Winding Down to Fully Experience Fall

 Since I rejoined the online shopping of Nordstrom my boot collection has grown by a few pairs. The salutation from The Nord when communicating with me is, welcome back. I have ordered over the past ten years a few times but not very much. Nothing like those days in Houston.  A few occasions and my lack of accessories drew me back. I needed to see the offerings. The Nord has changed a lot in the past ten years, maybe even fifteen years. I aged out of the customer focus. The friendly confines of their stores went to a minimalist structure, even more so. I loved not having crowded aisles and loved the selection that didn't look like other places. I missed the piano. The love of boots is reignited in me and this season has not put out the fire and the love of unique boots. Or maybe that should be the love of boots that fit. Also, after a spring and summer of wearing tennis shoes, albeit fashion tennis shoes, I am ready for that boot fun. 

In life if you want, you can hear all kinds of preachers. Over the long haul of Sunday mornings, evenings and Wednesday nights a boatload of preachers have shared their hearts, thoughts, ideas and fear in all kinds of styles. Over the years I have heard a whole lot of Baptist preaching but alas, there in the midst of searching for the deeper Christian life I have listened to liturgical sermons, faith full Gospel sermons and downright Pentecostal. My least favorite to experience is Pentecostal and here in the mountains I would say that mountain style preaching parallels the Pentecostal style. But maybe not any speaking in tongues. As side note, I heard someone say yesterday in response to the idea that all those signs and wonders died out with the last apostle is, God is still Jehovah Rahpa and He didn't die out with the last apostle. He still heals. Like how that was put.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy exuberant worship but sometimes it becomes rote and relying on it being emotionally based styles. The emotions go deeper but not in a good way. Emotionally based music and sermons are never enough. People shedding tears at the altar becomes a standard. I know we are to pray about everything and I try to but every time I'm praying doesn't have to be so demonstrative, at home or at church. Most of the full gospel preachers in Houston and this is my opinion, used a lot of time to see which way the wind was blowing beginning their sermon. You see people getting all worked up, all danced out and the gasps in between each word preached. A friend and I went to a New Year's Eve service many moons ago at Evangelistic Temple. We kind of felt out of our element, but on our row was an frail looking older black woman. As the preaching started and all through the sermon she would yell and bend over from the waist sitting down, "I feel it, I feel it! Somebody help me!" We were a little dumbfounded because at the invitation that this woman went forward to be saved. I thought she was affirming the preacher's words.  

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No fog, but a bright sunrise. Delicious coffee, a new flavor to us from Dunkin Donuts Coffee...caramel. Yesterday, our pastor returned from his sabbatical month. He was happy to be back in the pulpit and we were happy he was. His love of learning is such a blessing. Joy filled stories of  spending time with family as well as being away from his phone. He loves to share the love of Jesus in conversations along the way and his story of the man next to him on the plane arriving to his seat with headphones on and never took them off. With Debbie on vacation our flutist played the organ. She is gifted on both instruments. We met some lovely people visiting from TN and Missouri. 

I just used my first application on my hip of Mountain Ice, like Biofreeze only made with natural ingredients. I was hoping for the non menthol fragrance but it has that but the way it took the pain away, my new fragrance might just be this. Now here is something disturbing, White Linen is now considered old lady perfume. What???!!!!  White Linen was my signature fragrance until I found Opium, then Angel Innocent and now Origins Ginger. No, it can't be! Old lady perfume was Youth Dew. I am sure someone has thought of this before but I think we should mix together that lovely menthol with Vicks Vapo Rub. Menthol and camphor, in a distribution that says my muscles and joints are feeling pretty good. During my ten minutes of research the experts advise women over 50 to stay away from heavy floral perfumes especially those with lilac or violets and jasmine. Lilac makes sense cause that shrub was put around outhouses back in the day. Nothing was said about staying away from Vicks and Mountain Ice pain relief. 

We are getting the tomato plants and all the weeds in the flowerbeds pulled out. Had a good tomato season but not as productive as last years. Over the weekend the bean and pea vines were pulled out but the bell peppers are still producing. 

One last thing for today; Chubola is still going to the bonus room with The Boys at night. She goes willingly except for the other night she was kind of slow about joining. Her brothers, Baxter and Buster are just a little too wild for her anymore. She likes hanging out with Mr Mo and GMoey or a quiet corner away from all the chaos of cat life. 

The Cusp of Autumn

 Here we are on the last day of September and the promise of cooler temps on Thursday makes me giddy. I am in the process of changing out seasonal clothes. As one always looking for the deeply discounted end of season offerings last year, I put stuff away unopened. Now, it feels like summer, no it feels like Christmas opening up these delights after a long spring and summer respite. And joy of joy, I finally found the red sweater jacket I held out for, cheapest price offering. I had left a closet door open and while searching to see if one of the cats had entered and decided on napping, I found the sweater in a bag. Yay! 

Also, Amazon should be delivering a book I have been waiting for since preordering it in the summer, Untamed Prayers 365 devotions in the Psalms written by Chad Bird. I have loved all the books of his I have read. I used his book on Jacob when we studied Genesis and my goodness, his insights helped me so much. 

I hadn't seen anything about Second Baptist in Houston for a while and wondered if everything had been settled or were they looking at a court date. Looked it up and the past few days held some articles or notation of what would be happening. The court date is set for February. Second wanted it to be in business court, so that will be interesting. So many volunteers removed from their positions, some in those positions for years because they questioned what had happened. Many have let their feet and offerings do the talking. I've heard that our former church, First Baptist, has picked up quite a new few members. Some disgruntled ones have stayed at Second but they are not giving to the church. It seems to me that a strategy I had never thought of when I was younger would be to do nothing and hope for the best. Answer no one, have a script that is stuck too so that even with enough time you begin to believe the script. For most in the congregation, they are fine until it becomes personal to them that the decision to take away church voting rights and choices for budget, ministries and the like hit them hard. The six people making decisions for the main church and all the campuses are related to or have financial dealings with the Youngs.  Technically, they could sell the church properties and pocket the proceeds now that is the law of the church. Seems strange that a church with so many wealthy business people or those who inherited their wealth and their name carries a lot of clout could have been taken by surprise. I don't have a dog in the show but it is always an interesting study of people and interactions. 

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For some unknown reason I woke up really, really early and couldn't go back to sleep. Have a morning like this about once a week. Last night I was reading The View From Lake Como and made myself stop so that I don't rush through because it is so good. It was tempting to get up and start back in but I know me and I won't get stuff done today. 

It is usually me that acts up at Publix, somewhat. Today, it was Roy's turn. We were checking out and one of the assistant managers or customer service was bagging the groceries. Roy asked him not to put the salad in with the boxed bacon. The guy said, do you want to bag these cause I have other lanes I can help. Roy said no but I said to the young man, we have an ice chest in the truck and things have to be arranged for everything to fit. The guy brushed me off. I said, he isn't trying to be rude and Roy chimed in affirming that...the young man said, yeah, yeah yeah you don't have to say anything else. Oh my, you would think on Wednesdays the guy would remember, yep, there are old people afoot but even more Roy could have been recovering from a stroke or have some ailment where those who have it get so focused on something. Even maybe dementia. We were loading groceries and Roy said I made him mad and that wasn't my intent but the more I thought about it, the guy was just a tad short with us. Oh to be young, in your twenties and think you know everything about everything. His attitude seems contrary to all the Publix culture. Maybe he was just having a bad day. 

We are so addicted to 6 Pigs BBQ and it was looking like we were heading into week 2 without the tasty brisket and pulled chicken. We came home after shopping and had a pitiful lunch. I checked FB and there was the announcement that they were on the River Road selling BBQ. We headed out in a flash to pick up our tasty supper and leftovers for lunch today and maybe even tomorrow. Oh my, it is good to lead such a simple life. 

The house we would love to look at is on the market again. It is too tempting to go look because it seems that we would be totally swayed. It is not the time in life but just knowing it is there and we are resisting is good. The offer deal fell through but now we are happier in our circumstances and Burnsville seems to be too far away, now. 

Today, Thursday, we made our trek to Canton. Lou Lou didn't disappoint with her canned greasy beans, veggie soup and tomato sauce ready to roll for taco soup this fall and winter. We picked up a few different type of apples. Roy really wanted to get out to Barber's Orchard so we went there and got some candy crisp apples. So good. Came back through Canton and went to the Country Vintage Market that opened a little over a month ago. Lots of cute stuff but that visit was cut short due to the traffic back up on I 40 which meant the back roads were backed up as well. Lots of tractor trailer trucks and there were several warning signs about not being able to make a turn in downtown. We were welcomed home by our indoor crew and they were hungry. We missed serving lunch by two hours. Oh my...

The low in the morning will be in the 40s. Our days are warm up morning and evening cool. In fact we had to put the top up on the car cause we were getting too cold. Weather wimps, that's us.