And Now For a Safety Minute or Two

It is an easing into the day kind of morning. Yesterday morning I was up early because it was the first day of spring. Well, that is not really the reason I was up early, it was due to the fact a rather large storm system was on the move and nearing the Rancho de Five area. I'd like to think by rising early and getting cleaned up I thwarted the potential severity of the storm by being ready for it. We received a good amount of rain but not nearly as much lighting and thunder as had been predicted.

Roy sent me a safety moment email from the office. It was all about not participating in horseplay with snakes or any other reptiles in your work environment. Uh, yea, don't think I'd be doing that. You're preaching to the choir. I would not participate in horseplay at home either with any reptilian like creatures.

Would you horseplay with a snake in the house? No sir no sir, not even with a mouse!

Would you, could you horseplay in a tree? There's no way, not with my bad knee(s).

How about snake horseplay in the yard? No, I tell you, that's too hard!

Not in the house, not in a tree, not in a yard. Please Sam I Am, I would be emotionally scarred.

I do not like horseplay with snakes. That is a vow that I can make.

I have also made a vow not to horseplay with rodents, small or large, scorpions, cockroaches and other slimy disgusting things..lizards, snails, worms.... No, Roy doesn't work at the zoo and to the best of his knowledge there aren't any reptiles in his office but there are lots of pipeline and crude oil tank storage areas that his company owns all across the country.

My friend Dena just sent me the safety moment from her job which just happens to be in the same genre as Roy's only hers is much more helpful... This is so helpful wasp spray is better than pepper spray if someone is attacking you and wasp spray KILLS SNAKES! I'm going to look for the purse size, clip onto the waist of your shorts size wasp spray. Now see that is good safety moment info!

For the most part I have been taking it easy the past few days. I had a little bit of a scare Sunday morning. I had a heart episode and I haven't had one of those in several months. Usually, I have a little warning before one comes on, but Sunday I had no warning at all. It kind of rattled me, not unlike horseplay with a rattle snake, which of course I would never do. It took about ten minutes for me to recover but felt the effects of it into Monday.

I'm getting a much needed pedicure tomorrow. There are just so many lovely spring shades of color to choose from.

Well, I would like to work with my plants later today so guess I should be off to get some wasp spray. It will be just like the storm, if I prepare for seeing a snake, I won't see a snake. Well, at least that is what I would like to believe today.

Late Night Ramblings

Nothing like waiting for the rain.  It has sprinkled rain a few times today, but nothing note worthy.  The wind was unbelieveable today.  It was blowing so hard that it uprooted several small plants in the backyard.  So, after our delicious dinner of stuffed pasta with butternut squash sauce and salad, we worked at bit in the yard.  We moved some of the plants out of the wind and replanted the ones that had been uprooted.  Of course my every move was a bit calculated in being aware that another sneaky snake might be lurking and looking for vengance for the death of you know, the other snake. 

The first night of Dancing with the Stars was really good.  Urkel, can really dance.  Martina looked a little stiff but beautiful and that Cuban guy...muy caliente!  I had really never watched the show until last season.  I was a late comer to all the fun. 

I went with Roy to his Life Bible Class yesterday.  His teacher, David Taylor is going through the book of Isaiah.  He cover five chapters in 45 minutes and it was really good and very thought provoking.  The lesson was especially interesting since we've been studying Revelation in Community Bible Study and the prophecy came alive to me in light of what we've learned since September. 

Last year I had lunch with a tennis friend who loves reading just about as much or maybe even more than me.  She told me about a fiction book, Turn of the Mind.  It is written from the prospective of a woman doctor who is slowly but surely drifting deeper and deeper into Alzheimer's.  The story is actually a mystery concerning the death, rather the murder of the doctor's best friend.  Pat told me by reading the book it would help me understand a little better the thought process and the disease that was destroying my mother.  She was right.  Only, I had just started reading the book when my mother passed away.  Since the book is on my Nook, it has been a haphazard reading as I use my Nook for appointments and such where there is some down time.  I just finished the book over the weekend.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the perspective.  I have started a non fiction book of one man's search back through his family tree trying to understand why his distant relative would leave Vermont and come to the South to make his fortune during the time of reconstruction.  His story has pulled me in and I am just starting the third chapter. 

Just maybe I might have an addiction to One Kings Lane, Joss & Main, Haute Look, Rue La La, Fab and whatever other Internet shopping sites that have deeply discounted on many of a kind and one of kind items.  Actually, it is fun to get some really great deals.  Like CJ Cookie Johnson capris which are normally $150 priced for $49.50.  Now, I wouldn't ever pay a $150 for a pair of capris and many times when they go on sale on her website or on Nordstrom, they've been picked over.  We have furnished and finished a lot of rooms and outside with items from these websites.  About 10:00 am the deals hit the email.  I cannot believe how fast some people are able to get on site and get things.  Rue La La gives you free shipping for 30 days after paying 9.95 for your first shipment.  Thank you Emily for telling me about RLL.  On the other websites, the shipping can be a sizable sum, so you have to watch that. 

They must be getting desperate for street names out here in the Rancho de Five.  One new street is Oak Rambling, not Rambling Oak.  So many of the streets out here include the name Gaston or Flewellyn in them...   The ground has been broken for the new Kroger and Academy.  Walls are being put up for a strip center near the new McDonalds.  It's kind of happening all at once out here.

Happy Monday!

Being the thoughtful wife, I went to Home Goods today to find a tea kettle for Roy.  Before we moved into our house I had bought Roy this fancy smancy electric water warmer but it started to leak.  So, we are opting for the good old fashioned kettle on the stove.  Found a beautiful red kettle and can I help it that along the way to find a kettle there were some very interesting aisles.  And somethings from these interesting aisles found themselves in a shopping basket and then loaded into Sequisha.  Oh, the things I do for love.  :)  Actually, Roy will be quite thrilled because I bought some food type items at Home Goods and tonight we are having fresh pasta and butternut squash sauce and salad.  In November we had this butternut squash sauce and loved it, so all three remaining jars made their way to our house today.  Peggy and I discovered this chocolate covered popcorn, pretzels and the like at Brookwood.  It is addicting.  Home Goods had it today and it was $7.00 cheaper.  Ah, I'm such a penurious shopper. 

Yesterday, we went to church and then after lunch headed over to see my dad.  He gets his days kind of confused and he called on Saturday asking us when we were showing up.  That would be Sunday, Dad.  His conversation seemed more like a fishing expedition and that thought was confirmed when we got back home and listened to the message he had left on the home phone.  So Sunday seemed like a good visit, well that is, until the end.  Once again, he sprang a request upon us that we were not prepared to fulfill and this time instead of getting outwardly angry, he simmered and made a few hurtful and sarcastic remarks.  I responded, I don't think you want to go down that road.  We left but once again we came home exhausted and drained.  It takes a whole lot of energy to talk and try to reason with my father.  He is due to go home on Friday, but I think he really isn't prepared to go home and live alone.  He has some people that he is going to call to see if he can get some part time help with the house and help him.  He will probably never make the calls to get someone over there.  He is really good about talking a good game, but his procrastination overtakes his good intentions.  We spend a lot of time going in circles because he wants to hear what we think but it is a waste of time, since he has already made up his mind.  When I was a child and got in trouble, we always had to have these long, drawn out conversations.  It was a chance for me to plead my case.  I was a poor lawyer for myself, I never, never , ever won one plea.  Even then, I got to the point where I just asked for my punishment because the stating my case thing was a HUGE waste of time and only delayed the inevitable spanking.  It also makes it difficult because there are several different versions of the things that may have happened or maybe really did happen with his health.  Just this past week he was telling me he didn't agree with a choice someone was making and his pronouncement of this decision is, well, they are making this decision and they are going to have to live with it and suffer any consequences that come from it.  I'm filing that in my back pocket, because he is doing the very same thing.  Only when he makes a bad decision he expects everyone to drop everything and rescue him.  He and I have had difficulties with one another for most of my life.  His attitude toward me and this mini stroke he has had takes a huge toll on Roy and me.  We were like zombies for the rest of the evening.

I thought I would post a few of the pictures Roy took on Saturday.

Happy St Paddy's Day or Whack a Snake Day

Well saints and begorra, Happy St Paddy's Day with a wee little wish from us.  We know how to celebrate the day.  Some people have live nativities at their homes during Christmas depicting the story of Jesus' birth.  We had a St Patrick Day live demonstration in our courtyard.   We came home to a snake on our front porch and Roy played the role of St Patrick, but he actually depicted the story of the snakes leaving Ireland more like the Terminator, "hasta la vista baby."  I stood by the window and screamed every time Roy took a whack at the snake.  I do have the gift of encouragement.  Once the snake was dead, I mean led away from the green isle, Roy wanted to symbolize the leaving of the snake by throwing it in our trash can. Nah I said, throw it over the fence and let one of these hawks swoop down and have take out dinner for the bird fam tonight.  Roy would like me to add that he was biblically correct in how he killed the snake, he crushed its head.  To tell you the truth, I was keeping my heels covered lest Satan Snake tried to depict the scene from the Garden of Eden.  I texted Peggy and said the for sale sign is in the yard, Joseph is buried upside down in the back yard and I'm pulling out boxes.  She called and said welcome to the burbs.  She asked me to describe the snake and she thinks it was a water moccasin that came out from the pond, lake or body of water our home is next to. 

Once the snake situation was in hand or foot...Roy left to pick up a gardening wagon that we bought last night from the Tractor Supply store.  We outsourced the assembly of the wagon because one DIY project a week is enough for us.  I asked that he inquire at those most learned people of the earth how to repel snakes.  Moth balls.  So, if you come to our home and stand at our front door and think, why their front door smells like Aunt Bertha's cedar chest, you'll know that we have your total and complete safety in mind. 

Why does the theme from Green Acres keep playing through my mind tonight?  On a totally different note, the man who wrote It's a Small World After All died this week.  Now you have two ear worm songs going through your brain and when you wake up around 3:00 am, it will still be playing in your mind. 

Until the snake incident, today was really such a lovely day.  Roy and I went out for breakfast and then we headed out to see some bluebonnets.  We didn't do the usual Navasota/Chapel Hill route but we did the Sealy to Industry to Round Top route back home through New Ulm, past the huge facility that Roy's company is building off 36 in Sealy, stop at Brookwood for a citrus tree and a late lunch at Dekker's.  Roy got some awesome pictures in the Industry area.  We stopped and looked around in Fayettville and did some shopping in Round Top.  Of course we brought home some pie from Royer's too.  Roy hasn't downloaded his pictures yet, but when he does I will post some on the blog.  We even filled Sequisha with some $3.65 gas.  I really, really want to love Dekker's but each time we leave there, it has been a disappointing experience.  The weather was perfect for dining on the deck though.  We'll go back and each time I hold hope in my heart that we will leave one day totally loving the place. 

Wonder why no one has The Quiet Man on tonight celebrating the day of the green and the water moccasin snake.  There are only two John Wayne movies that I really love, The Quiet Man and The Horse Soldiers. 

Sadly, I did not take a picture of the dead snake before it flew over the fence and became dinner for the hawk family.  It was close to as an American moment I have ever felt, don't tread on me...

Hopefully, on the first day of spring, which is on Tuesday I think, we won't have any wild spring like happenings as traumatic as our St Paddy Day Snake Whacking Day.  If you have read previously about the problem our doves, well they aren't ours but they eat out of our bird feeder, were having.  Well, I think the location determination problem he was having has been remedied.  Whew!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone!

Continued Gardening and Other Sundry Things

It's an overcast morning on the prairie.  The sun keeps battling the clouds and it should eventually win the struggle.  I am out early repotting plants and working on the yard.  Abel should be here today to cut the grass, hope so anyway.  Of course now I am in getting a broom from inside the house and taking a little break to give the ol' back a rest. 

Yesterday, was a full but tiring day.  I overslept and that put me behind on getting to the Nord.  It is the triple point days.  Even arriving later than I planned, my favorite parking place was open and waiting for Sequisha.  Tackled the make up area first and then meandered into the shoe department, which I hadn't planned on.  It was a good day in the shoe department.  Found some black casual sandals, Naots, with great arch support.  Yes, I long ago crossed over the line to comfort at the expense of style but these shoes are rather stylish.  Also found a cute pair of fit flops, very blingy blue sparkles.  In making up some time from the late start, I really didn't eat breakfast, so I did the early lunch at the Bistro.  The chef special looked so good, crab cakes, green salad, roasted tomatoes and their specialty of a few tempura asparagus, so I ordered it and not the usual crab stack.  Didn't linger too long at lunch to go back out into the store and hit a few depts.  Then I dodged all the cart merchants that litter the center of the mall on each floor to Macy's.  The second floor merchants are not as aggressive or bothersome as the first floor.  Found a few things at Macy's, and score, had a 20% extra coupon.  That's always welcomed. 

Since my comfortable shoes I wore yesterday were killing my feet, I ended my time at The Galleria and headed over to see my dad.  Only, he wasn't anywhere to be found.  I had a hunch that maybe someone had either taken him out to lunch or had taken him home to do a few things.  Left a note on his pillow after traversing the assisted living place.  Once again 610 enticed me with little traffic, well that is until I went over 59 and hit the west loop near the Galleria all the way up to 1-10.  What a mess!  Made a quick stop at the Bunker Hill Lowe's and then headed toward home.  Only I couldn't go home because the maid was at the house.  She doesn't mind me being there, but I'd rather not be around.  So, I stopped at the grocery store and bought stuff that would be OK in the car.  Now at the grocery store I have found my second arch nemesis, the motorized grocery cart.    Paige, this does not include you or your use of one at Target because you're pregnant.  Believe me, I would rather deal with hormones than cranky old people any day of the week.  Just because you can drive a cart does not give the right to running into carts or people or reeving the scooter motor just a bit because others aren't moving fast enough.  These men in the store were horrible in their mad driving skills and attitude. 

After the store I headed over to Fulshear to go to Gaby's.  It is such a cute little shop and has really neat items, including clothing.  They carry Wax Poetic, which is a jewelry line.  Bought a couple of items and then drove by the house to see if there was an all clear.  Nope.  Went to the Spring Green Lake area, found a comfortable bench and read until a little after 5:00 because surely she should be finished.  She wasn't and I am not complaining because she does such a wonderful job.  It's just sometimes, well a lot of time, small talk wears me out.  It's my favorite time right after she's done.  Everything is put up, organized and spotless.  Then Roy and I do our daily living and mess everything up.

In between paragraphs I've outside and back in several times.  Almost everything is watered and repotted.  We need to go back to Lowe's or Home Depot and get a few more pots and plants for the courtyard.  The birds and the wind chimes have serenaded me while working.  They don't quite drown out the mechanical noise that's started back up.  The work in the green space is just about completed by us and the last lot behind us has construction starting.  When it is finished all the lots around us will be completed and work will head northward.  It's time to get cleaned up and maybe run a few errands before returning home and relax by reading a book. 

1001 Bullet Points...Maybe Not That Many but it Will Feel LIke it When You're Done

***Don't forget to leave a comment on 1000 Post to win a gift card to the Nord***


Just call me Mrs. Paul Revere.  I just set the alarm off here at the house.  Roy called and asked me if everything was ok, because the security people were on the phone.  Oh yeah, I forgot that I went through the side garage door without deactivating the alarm.  It has been one of those mornings doing a bunch of errands in the midst of some huge wreck on the freeway and then I am distracted with other stuff.  In no order since my brain is not in order and while studying the book of Revelation we are constantly reminded that it is not in chronological order, are some bullet points of things going on.  Oh and by making the reference to the book of Revelation in no way do I think I am putting myself in the same category as John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. 

• I am dressed today as if I still played tennis.  Have on a sport skirt and capris.  My hair is in a tiny little ponytail.  Seems these days I wear workout clothes for everything but working out.  Nord had a great deal on the skirts this fall.  So I am bopping around the prairie as a faux tennis player.
• At Lowe's the cashier rang up my stuff wrong.  I told him two potting soils and two garden planting soils.  He charged me for 4 potting soils which is significantly more expensive than garden soil.  Who knew?  Anyway, I had a feeling and I did something I never, well hardly ever do, I actually checked the receipt.  Since I had only taken two steps away from the counter, it was a quick, tennis step back.  You should have seen the looks on the faces of the people in line.  They hated me.  Well guess what, I was in the same boat  with the customers in line in front of me.  Since my arch nemisis are mini vans, I have a feeling all these people who delayed my purchase are mini van drivers.    Why do people share carts and then can't decide who wanted what?  And get into a huge, rather vocal discussion over it.  Gee, I would hate to see them discuss anything meaningful. Then an older lady tied up the line with all kinds of things and when it came time to pay, she wasn't even in the ready position.  She starts digging through her purse and since she is paying in cash, she is scrounging around for 7 cents or something.  Back in the day, I usually would say something to a person like, did you think you didn't have to pay?  You could speed things up a little by being prepared.  If I had done this she might have thought, hey girl, get back on the tennis courts where you belong and then I would have to tell her, I am playing dress up and instead of dressing up like a princess, which as a monarch I have every right to do, I am playing pretend tennis player.  So there.
• Since I had such a bad attitude at Lowe's, a trip to Mardel's was in store to restore balance in my heart.  Went in, looked at a bunch of stuff and came out with nothing.  Pretty happy about that because there were several things that caught my eye.  When I did play tennis and ran errands in tennis togs, I did get asked out at a Christian bookstore.  The guy started talking to me about the Amplified Bible I was about to purchase and then said, "I see you are a tennis player, maybe you would like to teach me how to play and then maybe we could go out for something to eat."  I told him, I couldn't.  My husband doesn't let me date. 
• So this huge wreck had I 10 backed up.  So I was adventurous and took a back way I thought might work and surprise, it did. 
• Made a quick stop at McDonald's for a snack.  I thought the correct thing and ordered something totally different.  Then at the pick up window, I protested my order, nicely.  It dawned on me, it was my fault.  Not unlike a double fault in tennis.  My punishment to myself, which I am saying in my best Peggy Hill voice, was to take what I had mistakenly ordered.  Then I proceeded to accidentally have stuff drip on my shirt...which was maybe additional punishment. Ah, there is the double fault.  I pulled in our garage and began unloading all the stuff from Lowe's.  The garbage men picked up the recyclables and then sat there watching me unload things.  I got a little uncomfortable with that and thus went through the side garage door which in turn set off the alarm. 
• On Sunday, we did the whole spring forward thing.  We changed out all the air filters and the batteries in the smoke detectors.  They always say push the button to make sure it is working.  Roy did and it set off the fire alarm.  The thing is screeching and yelling fire, fire, there is a fire.  Of course I started saying, the roof, the roof the roof is on fi-ar.  We don't need no water....by then Roy had scampered down the ladder to call the security company cause we didn't need a firetruck pulling up to the house.  That's when we found out our fire alarms are not hooked up to the security system.  So, that will be taken care of in short order. 
• Last night Peggy invited us for leftovers.  They were delicious.  Bill had all the people who have booths in his store over for dinner and to reveal who had won best booth by those of us who voted in February on Sunday night.  We had fajitas, wraps, chips, tacitos and a plethora of desserts.  It was a delicious dinner.  Roy and I were going to have left over pizza but now that is on the menu for tonight's dinner. 
• The challenge is to woo the two doves into making their nest on this side of the fence where they will be safe and not on the other side where predators prowl.  They have been enjoying the bird seed and with all the digging we've been doing, fresh worms and bugs are ripe for the picking.  I'm a little concerned for them though, they seem to have their more intimate moments on the fence and well, he just isn't hitting the target.  He keeps attempting to mate with the back of the neck of the female.  Guess this is what it sounds like when doves cry. 
• Roy put together the rocking/glider chair Sunday afternoon.  It was a difficult project and the instructions were sketchy at best.  I had heard this about other Martha Stewart projects.  We lauded her queen of DIY projects, but it didn't help.  After several attempts to get the base and the chair connected properly, it was done.  Lucky Roy, I went back and got the accent table that goes with the chair...and you guessed it...it has to be put together. 
• Today our Amazon order should be delivered and one of the books I am really looking forward to reading is The Resignation of Eve by Jim Henderson with lots of Barna research.  The reviews have been good.  Believe me, I am not a women's libber but after being on staff at a church and seeing how a lot of things work, there are always issues and things that could be improved.   Although the complicated inner workings of being biblical and getting things done at church is a tricky dance, Oops, no dancing in the Baptist church but the reality is...there are more women volunteers in most churches. Another truth?   It is the admins that are the backbone and that is true whether it be church work or secular work.  In fact one reviewer asked, what if the women stayed home one Sunday.  What would happen?  It is kind of a funny thing to think about and I'm not advocating that at all.  In reality other women are the ones that hold the "keys to the kingdom."  Just how much you can actually use your spiritual gifts is sometimes hampered by a fear factor or politics of those in charge or those who might have some say.  Believe me, if I didn't have the outlet of my blog and other things like that, I would be one very frustrated person and I have other outlets to actually use the gifts given from God.   From reading excerpts the author concludes there are many women attending church who are present but not really present...they're not that involved anymore.  Guess the same thing could be said of men.  Guess it is kind of like me wearing tennis clothes today.  At one point in my life, tennis clothes were my outfit of choice, I was involved.  Then tennis lost its joy and not even the fun of winning and being united in purpose with my teammates could hold my interest anymore.  Tennis lost its passion and purpose with the ever growing reality of politics.  So many times it wasn't the abilities of a tennis player that got her on Open Championship teams it was how well one played the"game" and courted the favor of those who had the power.  Believe me, I used both ways to play open championship and it was the continuing game of politics and the toll politics inflicted that started the process of me leaving a game I really loved to play.  And now, I just dress like the game I used to love to play. 
• Well, the flowers are calling to me.  They need to be planted in the ground and in containers.  I nearly had the same mishap occur that happened to Roy at Lowe's.  He was pulling some containers down for me and little did we know they were filled with rain water.  Roy was totally soaked.  I almost did the same thing but changed my mind and went with round containers.  Whew...crisis averted. 
• Tomorrow is the beginning of Nord's five days of triple points.  So while the maid is here tomorrow, you know where I'll be.  I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Nord. 

1000 Post on Monablog...A Milestone or Should That be Milstone?

Ta da!  This is officially my 1000 post on Monablog.  How exciting is this?  Well, really it is no surprise that I could actually be this wordy and write about the trivial of everyday life with a few interesting thoughts thrown in from time to time. 

Of course this calls for a celebration.  And if you've read Monablog for any amount of time, you know how I like to celebrate...at the Nord.  So, I am going to do a Nordstrom gift card give away.  Please comment on the blog, please be nice...and on April 1, we will do a drawing for a $100.00 gift card.  Whoo Hooo! 

*** This is not an April Fools joke.  :)****

Spring Forward Sabbatical Day

Another storm just passed through.  No close lightning and only the distant sound of thunder.  I stayed home this morning from church, not because we didn't spring forward because we did.   Roy went in for his last Sunday of pre-services prayer and his Sunday has been the second one of the month.  The distance, with the rising cost of gas and in April the 9:30 service is moving to 9:15 plays into an earlier morning for him.  I am not math or statistically gifted but I'm not too sure how moving the service up 15 minutes really is going to help the parking situation.  I don't now if it is still the case but when I worked there, most of the Sunday School classes (that's what it was called back then) at the 9:30 time didn't really begin until 10:00.  The move of the 8:20 classes to 8:00 seems to impact mostly senior adults who park in the north lot or in handicap parking.  I just don't see where it is going to clear out that much room.  I know the powers that be have this figured out but it seems moving the 11:00 service to 11:15 along with the 9:30 change would make a bigger difference for parking all the way around.  Yep, that is what I am thinking about on a sabbatical Sunday morning for me. 

With the exception of the ringing in my ears, I love the silence on Sunday mornings.  My spirit is requiring a lot of down time right now.  I think it is a gift from God because daunting, hectic, controlled panic is most probably on down the road.  We will come to a crossroads in a week or so, seeing what my Dad decides to do.  Roy just stopped to check up on him and he said Dad is in hog heaven, getting attention from the nurses, people and his friends.  I think he is really enjoying that aspect of this whole thing and I'm glad that this is making him so happy.  The conversations that we really need to be having with him are deflected each time we try to walk him through situations.  This is the last piece of his life that he really has control over now, but if he procrastinates too much, he might find himself in a position that wouldn't have been any one's choice for him. 

The sun is trying to peek through.  It's going to raise humidity levels but it is so delightful to look upon actual green spaces and not dusty, dead grass.  Looks like the drainage system in our backyard is working really well.  We had a few issues and DW fixed those quickly several months ago.  Really, who would have known because our home was built smack dab in the middle of the drought last year. 

I spent some time in the casita bedroom yesterday vacuuming broken glass and rehanging the shelf that fell earlier this week.  We went to Home Goods and got a little white display piece to put some of the bigger collection of my lambs on.  Maybe that will help a bit.  While we were there we found the perfect full length mirror at a really good price.  Today we will do all the spring forward type things, change the batteries in the smoke detectors, change the air filters and a couple of other things like that.

After nearly 37 years, we finally bought new stainless every day silverware.  We used what I had bought right after college.  We didn't register for any everyday stuff when we were getting married.  Over the years, from time to time, I would think, we really need some new silverware.  I came close to buying some last year at Sur La Table but it was being discontinued and there wasn't enough for very many place settings.  Enter Joss & Main.  They were having a Reed and Barton sale and a particular pattern that I have looked at through the years was being offered and at a really good price.  It came last week.  It is so pretty.  We used it for the first time last night.

Yesterday Roy went wild at HEB.  I love that he loves to grocery shop.  He comes home with some really good things.  In fact, he should do the menu planning because I only think about a few standards and don't deviate too much from that.  I could eat yogurt and cereal for dinner many nights.  He wants something a little more substantial.  So we have the fixings for gumbo and for chili.  He did good.

In fact, Roy just got home.  He's worn out from the dad visit and the weather he had to drive through.  It is feeling like a grill cheese sandwich for lunch kind of day.  Guess I better go look for that pan.   

Just a Few Passing Thoughts

So what does one do for fun on a cold, overcast, slightly wet day out on the prairie?  Most would be indoors with a cup of tea or coffee but not me.  No, I planted more flowers in the backyard while the soil is wet and easier to deal with. An added bonus, I got to wear my waterproof boots to work in the yard.  I always forget I have them.  Thanks to the Tractor Supply store, I bought garden utensils that are kid and adult friendly for gardening use.  Actually,  I didn't really plant things for fun today.  I used the opportunity for a therapeutic release of static tension that I am trying not to store up and the actual digging and weeding is providing an answer and relief on so many levels.  So at least the different varieties of yellow, orange and red marigolds are in the ground and two lantanas need to be put into the containers that we bought the other night.  The Mexican heather and some other kind of blueish, purplish plants for the front beds are still waiting to be planted but I will need Roy's help with those.  I can see why my mom enjoyed gardening so much.  I wish I had better knees to really get down close to the beds and work the soil.  Digging up that gumbo soil mix is hard work and today it felt very rewarding.

The other night when we made a quick run to Home Depot, we found the glider/rocking chair for the back porch.  It is significantly less expensive than the teak glider we have been contemplating.  So now maybe sometime over the weekend Roy with help from his lovely assistant, will get this thing put together and be useful for the warmer weather next week.  We also bought a new bird feeder for the tree.  We have a couple of doves who are making their home nearby our backyard.  I have spent some time bird watching.  With most of the construction on down the way, the birds seem to have returned to our area and their beautiful songs blend so well with the wind chimes. 

Last week while Roy was helping my father, I decided to help Roy.  He had bought some turf builder and while he worked with my dad's "fertilizer" I worked with the yard fertilizer.  The grass is looking rather nice but there is still a lot of weeding to do.  Once we get all the flowers in we'll go get some mulch. 

This has been a tough week.  I cannot tell you how many times I have said, I chose joy because there is a part of me that wants to retreat.  Emotionally I am laying low this week.  I wish I could tell you that I am being all spiritual and spending a whole bunch of time in the Word as I navigate this latest path.  Don't get me wrong I have been reading and meditating on some verses but I felt I needed to be really honest so that my 5 readers won't get the impression that I am being Suzie Spiritual this week.  No, I've been more like Valerie Valet.  I don't think it is one thing that has quieted me down this week and living out the week as a hermit.  It's like this, once I was messing with a bungee cord.  I thought I had it secured but it popped up and the hook hit me square on the eye.  It hurt so bad and I began to cry.  Hard cry and since I am not a big crier and rarely a big ol' ugly cry type, I decided not to let the pain go to waste.  I thought of so many things that I needed to cry over and did so, well that is until I got a phone call and it just happened to be Peggy.  I think everything that happened last Sunday has so thrown me for a loop and since it has been a while since I stopped and taken in so many feelings and actually thought and contemplated through them, I'm taking the opportunity from the pain of Sunday and put it to good use.  For one thing, I miss my mom and with the added responsibility of hosting my family after the service and having something to give them for lunch, I just haven't stopped and really and if you know me you'll know how much it is going to pain me to use this word because it gets overused a lot in the church world, grieve the loss of my mom.  I came home and got to the business of serving.  It is the many funerals I've attended these past few months.  There was something about Mrs. Mary Helen's service and the emotions involved, that kind of started me on this emotional roller coaster.  Wait, no I think her service was the transition from being on the little roller coaster and being transitioned onto the big, scary, dips and sharp turns roller coaster.   I think too,  when we were at my parent's on Sunday morning cleaning and clearing out the refrigerators, without the added stress of keeping conversation on track and in the present, I took in the touches of my mother slowly being lost.  Her gardens in the backyard were garden show/garden trail worthy.  Now, the yard and gardens are overgrown with weeds.   Some of the things she loved displaying in their home just look worn out and tired.  It is reminding me so much of my grandparent's things after they died.  Most of their "treasures" were broken or worn out.  In some ways I am still taking in all the happenings with my health these past few years.  Oh believe it when I say, everything is so praise worthy and glorifying to God because it has all been the Lord's doing.  Really, this is how stupid it has been this week.  I picked up the mail and on our boxes were several "lost cat" fliers.  This beautiful cat had accidentally gotten out of the house and with the new of outdoors, ran.  Its owners are desperately searching for this 10 year old cat.  I sat in my car and cried...over a missing cat...who probably got snatched up by one of the hawks out here and just that thought made me cry even more.  My life has felt so out of quilter the past few weeks.  The stable has become a bit unstable and the known is becoming a little bit unknown.  So for this week, I've sat here taking in the silence, enjoying the rest, even getting up early and slowing it down.  There are several fun things happening this weekend, but I just don't feel like I can do them and I don't think I have the energy for them. 

We know there are still tough days ahead and with tough days comes tough decisions.  Roy and I sat and talked them through last night.  We are united and woven together as we take the next probably fateful steps.  A lot of the decisions are really out of our hands and we have If I didn't have Roy's love and support right now, I think I would be a total mess.  I am so encouraged when I hear Roy praying specifically for me and as we pray together asking for wisdom and to be led in joy and to go out in peace.

Wednesday Wanderings

All I can say is, thanking God for His favor yesterday.  I really can't go into much more than that, but it was a Psalms 5:12 kind of day.  His mercies are new every morning!

I am finally home.  There were so many things that needed to be taken care of today.  So, I confess, I have become THAT woman.  You know the type that drives a SUV and parks it cattywampos, meaning sometimes all or part of Sequisha is on the diagonal.  Well for once it wasn't me being the guilty party, it was the Tahoe parked next to me.  I came out of the store and it was tight squeezing to get things in the backseat.  I had done really well keeping my door away from the Tahoe.  When I climbed into the car, the wind gusted and blew my door right into the Tahoe and the driver was sitting there.  She slammed her fist on the horn and barely looked away from her texting to see my apologetic hand wave and really sad face.  I checked to see if I had done any damage and there wasn't any.  No checking the phone for me, I got the heck out of Dodge and onto the next stop.  I went to pick up some dessert from Kay's Tea Room but they were closed.  Tomorrow is brunch day at Bible study.  Guess I will pick something up later. 

We still feel like we are in shell shock from the weekend.  There is this gaping emotional hole and even Roy is feeling it, maybe even more.  It dawned on him in the midst of helping and after nearly 35 years of marriage, he is not considered a part of the family by my father.  It hurt his feelings and of course in my great comforting manner I said, really?  Your feelings are hurt?  You want to take my place in this shebang?  Some have suggested that maybe this is the beginning of dementia.  Oh my...But,we know this to be true, we are not walking this path alone.

Now this is really freaky.  In the past two weeks, 2 pictures have fallen off walls and a nic knack shelf in the casita bedroom fell.  Now if I was all into paranormal stuff, I'd be on TV.  Laughing I said to Roy, what if my mom is upset and she's knocking stuff off the walls.   He said, well she wouldn't be here throwing things off the wall.  She's not mad at us.  Really, I think with all the underground work going on, it has caused things to fall.  Now I have to tackle that shelf again.  It was a dickens to hang in the first place.  Not too many things were broken, one Nord lamb ornament, one Nord Christmas ornament is slightly broken and a Nord vase.  Hmmm...could this be Nordstrom related?

Looks like we are in for some rain.  I kind of like that. 

We've Become the Parents of a Rebellious 81 Year Old

When I was in college and the days and evenings were just too inviting and beautiful to be in the library or my room studying, my friend Bob and I would take off in his car for sights seen and unseen around  San Marcos.  He usually had an eight track (I'm old) of music blended in with nature sounds as background music.  One of us brought a NT with Psalms and maybe once in a while we would pick up goodies to have a sunset and dusk picnic.  Those times of taking in the wonders of nature calmed my soul and eased my spirit.  I found myself doing the same thing today.  Not in the beauty of the hill country but on the Farm to Market roads of Texas.  The plants and flowers of Brookwood called out to me and I responded.  The radio turned down and in deep thoughts and prayer, I rode out to Brookwood.  With our recent rains, the grass and tress are greening up.  Here and there along the road, fields of yellow flowers bent in the wind.  The tension of my soul released and peace entered in.  The quiet drive in the country is just what I needed. 

This past week has been a very long one.  It was just about this time last Monday that my dad called to let us know he was going to go to the ER at M D Anderson.  His INR was elevated.  Numerous tests were ordered and everything came back normal.  Even though he just had his last cancer check up a month or so ago and got clean bill of health, he felt like, once again, the recurring theme of his life, his cancer was back.  His lymph nodes had increased a bit but nothing significant and nothing that the Doctors are very worried about.  We visited him Tuesday night in the hospital and everything seemed ok.  My dad called us in a panic on Wednesday, he could not move his legs.  Roy and I got to the hospital in the afternoon, well, it seems that his legs did move, he just wasn't very steady on them.  After days of observation and tests it was determined that my dad had a mini stroke and it had affected his balance.  We wonder if he is traveling the same road that my grandmother traveled with mini strokes.  She began to have so many, everything soon became forgotten and dementia set in.  Some of the medication they gave him was really wild.  He called Roy, he had been kidnapped, MD Anderson was trying to kill him, my brother was standing outside his room talking.  My brother doesn't live here.   Also, people were trying to bilk him out of his money.  It was one panicked call after another and we tried to help him understand that none of those things were occurring.  The hospital discharged him on Saturday.  Since Wednesday, we had begun to look for a rehab stay for my dad in assisted living.  He had looked at one place in particular that was nearby.  Actually, he had looked at it for my mom's care.  So we went there, did the tour and liked the facility.  Roy began working in earnest with the director of the facility and the case workers coordinated with Anderson's case workers and everything came together just so beautifully.  We were so grateful and thankful to the Lord because an easy transition had been our prayer.  I wish I could report that things are going well with my dad's transition into a new chapter where he has less say so and choices concerning his well being. 

Sunday morning, we went out for breakfast and made a quick stop at Target before heading over to my father's house.  Roy had taken him there on Saturday so he could pack things and wrap up any loose ends.  One thing he wanted to do was go through the refrigerator and clear it of anything that could spoil.  Roy assured him that he and I would do that for him.  He has two refrigerators and let's just say we found some archaeological treasures dating back from 2001.  It is a wonder that my parents didn't have food poisoning.  To save us from having to make a trip back to the house today and tomorrow for trash pick up, we triple bagged the stuff and put it in our backseat to be disposed of on our trash day.  Once we got everything finished up, I called Dad to let him know we were on the way over.  That's where it all started going downhill quickly, he wanted us to come get him, bring him back home to pick up some stuff and then return him back to rehab.  We told him no, but we would be glad to go back into the house and find what he wanted.  He responded with, I can't remember, just come here and take me back, then I will know.  He was waiting for us near the front desk.  He was agitated and angry.  He demanded we take him to get his stuff, whatever it was because he couldn't remember until he saw it.  Roy began to reason with him.  I explained to him that Roy hadn't had much of a weekend being at the hospital and rehab place Friday and Saturday and it would be nice for Roy to at least have an afternoon at home.  My dad didn't care, in anger, with spittle nearly hitting us face on, he again began that angry growling of words so filled with hurtful and venomous poison.  Again, Roy tried explaining things to my dad and my dad reacted with yelling and sarcasm...  Roy dropped the newspaper we had brought him and walked out the door.  With everything within me, I had determined I wasn't going to react or raise my voice.  In a calm voice, I again asked my dad what he needed so badly.  My dad tried another maneuver, he wanted me to take him to the drugstore.  I asked him what he needed, he couldn't remember, he would just know what it was when we got there.  I explained that we didn't have any room in the car for him but we would be happy to go pick up what he needed.  My dad yelled, well put your stuff on the curb.  Leave it on the street and take me.  In all honesty, standing there before my angry and yelling father, I felt like I was 11 years old.  This scene had been played out many times before with expectations that one had to drop everything or rearrange life just to do what he wanted.  The whole honesty thing, the manipulation and demanding rants of a narrcistic man.  I might have felt I was reliving the past yet once again, but in my mind I knew something was much different than that long ago time, I am 57 and I have choice.  When my father saw I wasn't going to give in to his unrealistic demands, he finally told me what he wanted and the detail and specifics were so concise and clear.  He had known all along, but he was trying to manipulate the circumstances to justify his wants.  Believe me, the punishment was buying all these products he wanted.  The clerk kind of looked at us strange when I told her how many and what I needed to purchase.  Believe me, I told her right away that none of this was for me but for my father. 

We brought the products back to him and he acted as if nothing had occurred.  That he had never raised his voice, that he never had been angry.  We too had decided to return with his stuff, be pleasant and then make our exit.  We went to see his room.  He is in the skilled nursing section, his choice, because Medicare pays for it.  In exchange he gets a roommate and a bed, no chairs...no privacy.  It was time for his lunch and they were holding it for him.  He introduced us to his roommate and some other man and we walked away unnoticed while my father began "teasing" them about something...and like so many other times before he begins a journey that probably won't end well relationship wise for him. 

Our drive back home had quiet but there were conversations recounting everything that had just taken place.  My father doesn't like to be told no and it has been quite sometime since we've been in a position to have to tell him no on something that seemed so important to him.  Amplified is the lack of gratefulness and the importance of self and the total disregard of others.  Well, make that total disregard of family members.  It has been a tough 24 hours, recovering.  Having felt well lately, it totally drained and exhausted me. 

The drive today was welcome.  It was restorative.  It was healing.  Roy and I know that this is probably just the first of many episodes to come.  We are asking God for wisdom.  We are asking God for His presence and peace for my father.   Galatians tells us not to grow weary in doing good.  It is a challenge for sure.

We have become the parents of a rebellious 81 year old.  Maybe I should take parenting classes or read the strong willed 81 year old.  Rebellion, smart alec, whining and scheming.  I think this is the really bad geriatric junior high years.

How I Spent Leap Year Day Part 2

When we last left Roy and Nancy, they were trying to leave MDA and get to the assisted independent living place before 5:00.  Roy and the dreadful mini van had finally found release and freedom and he dropped me off at valet parking.  The whole valet process is pretty efficient and it wasn't too long of a wait for Sequisha. Hit the road and I found Roy inside the assisted living home with the director beginning the tour.  What struck me about this particular residence was the genuine warmth between the director and the residents.  The hallways and gathering rooms weren't littered with people immobilize in wheelchairs.  A Leap Day party had just broken up when I arrived.  There was this one lady, with long silver hair and everything about her mannerisms and dress suggested she was 60's flower child.  Her t-shirt had a peace symbol and she had on flip flops.  The rehab looked well equipped and over all the place was very clean.  Roy and the director talked specifics while I took a sit down.  I have a blister on the side of my foot from those blasted sandals.  Once we had finished up there, we mozied in rush hour traffic to my father's house to return his car and check on the house.  Then we headed toward home with a stop for dinner and then taking Roy to pick up his car at the Park and Ride lot.  I came on home and crashed.  Roy wanted to stop at the grocery store for a few things.  So glad Leap Year comes only every four years.  I don't think I could take too many more of these kind of extra days.

My dad is still in the hospital.  He was supposed to have had a MRI at 3:00 am but there is a back up.  The Doctor told him he has probably had a mini stroke and that has caused his difficulty with his legs and walking.  They took him off the medicine that caused the hallucinations.  I just got off the phone with him.  He seemed to be in good spirits but he is tired of the waiting.  I would be too.  Hospital and Doctor time is kind of like the Lord.  Their ways and timing is above our understanding. 

After this week and all it held, I was so happy for yesterday.  I've been looking forward to it for a while.  We had our core group time at Bible study.  It was so good and so fun.  Our excitement level was rather high because of a field trip to Peggy's house for lunch.  It was if we were kids again, knowing a field trip was involved in our day because the energy level and reigning in all of our bunny trails by Gena.  Lunch was fun and everyone enjoyed looking around and playing in Peggy's home.  We even went out to the dock and fed the fish.  I came home and took a nap, still exhausted from the day before and all the lunch fun.  It was good to get the rest because Peggy, Dena and I were going to see Late Night Catechism.  Picked up Peggy and we met Dena at church.  We had a delicious dinner at Vincent's and great seats for the play.  It is an interactive play, so we all had fun with that.  In fact I won a glow in the dark rosary.  After the play we talked with the actress who played the nun and she told Peggy that her questions at the end had challenged her and had her on her toes. They might bring in a new production about Sister and Vegas.  We'll be there!  Dena is thinking about conducting Sunday School, oops I mean Life Bible Study class like the nun.  Think that would be a very fun experience and I have a feeling Peggy and I would be feeling the wrath of a ruler across our knuckles just like in back in the day parochial school. 

That's a wrap.  I am meeting Roy in a bit at the eye doctor and then we will make a trek out to MDA.  I am wearing tennis shoes and looking like a little old lady.  So thankful we don't have to be involved with a mini van today. 

How I Spent My Leap Year Day

I spent my leap year day mainly attending to all things dad related.  Monday evening he drove himself to the ER due to a high INR from his blood thinners.  We found out yesterday he had also fallen in the yard, but depending on his mood or how he would like to be viewed, he will confirm the fall and then deny it.  We went to see him Tuesday evening and he seemed to be doing well and in good spirits.  Wednesday morning he called Roy in a panic.  MD Anderson was trying to kill him, he had also been kidnapped by people who acted like they were nurses and he was on a really nice floor with a beautiful room.  That meant to him they were trying to bilk him of his money.  No dad, that would be the health care system in general.  When we saw him yesterday, he realized he had not been kidnapped and MDA was trying to help him, not kill him.  While we were there the physician's assistant came in and we got clear, non convoluted information.  We over ruled my dad and he is not going home because he cannot care for himself alone and he is still dizzy.  He had told us his legs wouldn't move but it's not the case.  He cannot stand, steady himself or walk alone without assistance.  I thought I might need assistance because I wore sandals that I didn't remember were so painful if you had to do a lot of walking in them.  Note to self...don't wear those to MDA.  Of course when it come to the Med Center, Valerie Valet is my name.  So, I found out which entrance was valet friendly.  Now this is where I am so different in my thinking when it comes to parking at the Med Center than my dad, it costs $12.00 to park in a garage, that you have to drive around forever to find a spot, and then hike a million miles to get where you want to be.  For $3.00 more, you can valet park.  Sure you have to stand in line to pay and it may take a while to get your car but the stress factor is lowered considerably.  To complicate matters while we were trying to find my dad's car in the garage so we could take it to his home, he had lost his little yellow smart parking chip.  You would not believe the hassle to get out of the garage with limited human help.  Of course this all has to take place at the exit and cars are stacking up with people blowing the horns.  And to add insult to injury, my dad drives a mini van.  You all know how I feel about them.  I made Roy drive it because it was so hard to be in it, I could not drive it.  Really for more reasons than one.  Once we got out of the garage with our lives pretty much intact, Roy dropped me off at the valet area so I could get my car.  Then I met him at an assisted living place suggested by my dad. 

I know this story is riveting and you are so mad that I have to quit and do a part 2 installment of how I spent my leap year day.  Stayed tuned, it only gets better.  It will be so worth the wait. 

Incomplete and Complete

Thursday, after Bible study, Peggy, Kathleen and I went out to Brookwood for lunch and a little shopping.  Lunch was delicious!  I had butternut squash soup and shrimp and grits.  After lunch, we spent quite a bit of time out in the greenhouse.  I came home with some Impatients and more geraniums.  Impatients like shade so hopefully they will like living in the shady part of the courtyard.  Of course I intended to get those planted on Friday, but the day got away.  Saturday, it was too cold.  Meanwhile the Impatients were beginning to droop and not look so lively and beautiful.  So I knew I needed to get them planted yesterday and did so after taking a Sunday nap.  Believe me, I needed the strength to lug those heavy bags of potting soil around.  Took a peek at them this morning and the plants are looking much better, almost as bright and lively as the day they were brought home.  All that remains to complete the task is to sweep up the stray clumps of potting soil that didn't quite hit the target.  And it is because of a trip to Target with Roy, progress halted and now a little clean up is left for today. 

So, how's the Lenten thing going for y'all that are observing?  I have to say the Lord has certainly taken me a direction I hadn't anticipated.  Once in a sermon, our pastor asked, "who drives through Memorial or River Oaks and feels sorry for the people who live there in those big and beautiful homes?" Well, if he was asking for audience response, I would have raised my hand.  There is just as much despair, loneliness, heartache, and disappointment in those homes as is in any other social strata. Maybe more.   I was reminded of a tennis friend yesterday who lived in one of those big homes.  I haven't thought about her in forever.  They are quite wealthy and own beautifully furnished homes all around the country. Her godfather is a well known man in business and society. From time to time they would be called on to "fill in" at galas and dinner parties. She's been hit on by many famous leading men from Hollywood.   They look like Barbie and Ken and people stop and take notice when they enter a room. He is a tall, dark, handsome Irish man and she is a classic beauty with blond hair. How fortunate that he liked to monopolize conversations. That way I didn't have to sneak a peek to look at him but could hold a constant gaze in rapt attention to take in all the handsomeness of this one man. I cannot tell you how many times a restaurant's buzz was silenced when these two arrived.  Like I mentioned, I met her playing tennis. She had this incredible forehand and her style quirky and unconventional. The first few times you played her in tennis, she usually won. It was difficult to figure out how to respond to her shots.  There was a lot of turmoil, sadness, insecurity, anger and undoing going on behind those beautiful doors and windows in that home, perfectly designed, perfectly decorated.   There was one room in their house dedicated to hobbies and projects, in progress and unfinished.  This room had shelves and bookcases that had been built to house and show finished pieces and any awards or recognition.  The lighting in the room had been purposed to bathe these shelves and book cases in light for the perfect presentation.  My friend in particular had many contributions to this room, but sadly there wasn't one completed project.  In one corner, a gigantic loom, with a piece about one fourth completed.  Canvases all about with just the beginnings of an oil painting or a bit done with water colors.  Stacked to one side were all the accoutrement's that would be needed to show dogs, only she never showed or trained one dog.  Her expensive mountain bike got more use out of the stack because it leaned against everything and maybe had seen only one or two miles out on the roads.  I remember being in that room one time and she showed me photo albums of their children, friends, and family.  Each album contained only a few pictures from each group.  She told me that her personal relationships were not unlike her projects, she lost interest.   Funny, she looked at me and said you know one day you and Roy will be in this pile.  You all interest me now, but that won't be true forever.   A room that had been designed for accomplishment had sadly become the room of incompleteness. 


Now you might be thinking, what does this have to do with the price of tea in China?  How does this compare to Lent?  Why are you writing out this long boring story?  Well, you see, the timeliness of potting plants and the delayed clean up got me thinking about that long ago time in life.  Because of the incompleteness of my purpose and tasks assigned and given to me by the Lord.  Now I know I have been made complete in him...Ephesians 3:19
"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God" and thank God for this truth.  No, I'm writing about the urgency I feel in my spirit to complete and be obedient. 

In my heart I have a room just like my friend with things I have started and not finished.  Study, meditation, prayer, reading, Bible reading plans (I get reminders all the time from the Bible app that I am way behind in my devotion reading) and all manner of spiritual disciplines and things.  In my spirit yesterday, when I stopped mid project to go to Target, I heard, don't let your Lenten vow end up like the project room at _________ house.   To someone with a low attention span, 40 days and nights is a long, long time.  As I look around our home there are several projects we've begun but not completed.  They are fun, good projects, not drudgery at all. Most things to complete really aren't difficult but only need attention.  Same thing in those unseen projects of the heart.   It's having the mind and heart set to see them complete, not for checking off a to do list, but to draw closer to the Lord during this season.  A life designed to bring glory to Him can sadly become the life of incompleteness. 

My friend was true to her words.  Roy and I were added to the pile of photos.  She had lost interest in us soon after and the funny thing is, once she lost interest, you were totally ignored.  The last time I saw them was about ten years ago at a funeral.  I came up to the group she was standing with and she acted as if I wasn't even there.  No eye contact, no acknowledging any conversation I had with the others.   Denying one's existence is a hard thing to experience.  I think it is one of the cruelest acts that people practice and unfortunately I have to say I have done this too many times to too many people.  Maybe ignoring was the one project she had really completed.  

Oh and that forehand and quirky tennis game?  It wasn't too hard to figure out after several matches.  She handcuffed herself to that grip and shot, so you never hit the ball to her in her sweet zone.  It disarmed the powerful forehand and if she wasn't hitting her forehand, you guessed it, she lost interest in the game. 

So how is that Lenten thing going for me?  Today and the days ahead the leading and the journey will be about completeness...all in Him.  Oh and I plan to finish up a couple of projects around the house. 

A Life Well Lived and Celebrated

There is another name to be added to my list of people whose funerals/memorial services honestly told the story of a life well lived without having to revert to euphemisms, you know nicer words that cover up the less than lovely truth of control freak, angry, bitter, and the like to really tell the story of their life.  You know what I mean, "he was a man who loved to get up early and see that the house was in order.  He liked the beds made before the children left for school and he was the first to greet the children upon their return if the beds had not been made to his satisfaction..."  You see control freak with anger management problems and most probably include a life lived with unrealistic expectation being placed upon his entire family.  Not today.  The life of Mrs. Mary Helen etched within her, servant, kind, gentle, helper, lover of people, consoler and encourager to many.  A service that honored the memory and life of God's gifts to those blessed to know and love her.  The tears today were mixed with sorrow of losing her presence here with us and joy, knowing she is beholding the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I feel certain that my mom greeted her along with Miss Fanny, Mr. Alexander, Mrs. Thompson and the rest of heaven. 

One of my favorite things to do in Dayspring, Water's Edge and Tuesday night Bible study was to approach her as she was helping others with Beth's tapes, then CD's, and eventually DVD's.  When I was certain she hadn't noticed me, I would ask, "is there anything here that doesn't involve prayer?"  At first, she would look in the direction of that question, with an expression that was so sweet and concerned but yet held an element of shock.  After a while, when she heard that question, she'd know it was me just saying hi.  When I had surgery in 2005, she came by to see me with big boxes of pastries and cookies from Three Brothers Bakery.  She made three trips to get everything in.  Yahoo!  She told me, I remembered you grew up with Three Brothers Bakery and thought you would like to have a few treats from them.  Then she told me how to package them for freezing and we'd have treats for the six weeks I had to stay home.  I loved her chocolate chip cookies.  One time Roy and I went over to her house to help her with something...I can't remember what, but probably since Roy went it had to do something with taxes or math skills.  My skills usually involve heavy lifting or keeping others entertained.  When I was on staff at HFBC, for a time I was staff liaison for LPM Tuesday night Bible study.  All that meant is, if something needed to be fixed or copies made or tasks like that, they knew who to call.  Every Tuesday, I'd mosey down to the main lobby where LPM had set up book tables.  After checking with them, I'd always seek out Mrs. Mary Helen and visit with her for a few minutes.  It was the high light of day. 

It is still difficult to attend funerals even though it has been three months since my own mother found her joy.  Mrs. Mary Helen and my mom were the same age.  Last night, as I was cleaning and rearranging things in our closet, I came across a bag of things that were my moms.  Along with my dad, we went through costume jewelry and just all the stuff she had collected throughout the years.  I brought everything home in a bag and placed it in the back of the closet.  That was a couple of months ago.  In the bag were some pictures from my parent's 50th anniversary and then a picture of my parents at a reception in August 2011.  My mom has that distant Alzheimer's look and she isn't even looking at the camera.  I hadn't looked earlier but my baby book was in that bag.  It almost has the look as if it belonged to a second or third child.  The entries are hit and miss but my mom had lovingly recorded gifts, cards, birthday celebrations, holidays and vital statistics.  My first word was bye.  That seems appropriate.  I also have my parent's Bibles from the 1940's.  There are no markings at all in my moms.  I was hoping for something but back in the day, I don't think it was a standard to mark in one's Bible.  There were however a few pencil drawings lovingly crafted by my brother on pages without too much print.  There was a church covenant card in her Bible along with book marks made in Sunday School by either Doug or me.  I read the card, full of truth and how we should be the church to the world and to one another.  It saddened me to read it and to know how "well" her home church had treated her in the final two years of life.  It is a story not to be told on a blog.  In the whole saga, my mom was the true innocent in the story. 

Thus, emotional tenderness increased today.  It makes me tender hearted in other ways too.  I am so thankful that Roy rearranged his schedule to go with me this morning.  It was something I felt that I couldn't do on my own. I love hearing him pray for me, for us and all the things we encounter in life.  I love that Roy is a generous man and he is a man with a plan, but sometimes I don't appreciate his plan as much as I should.  Hearing Mrs. Mary Helen's story reminded me of dear friends who God has seen fit to grace my life with.  I thought of their kindness, of their laughter, instructional words and the pur-dee fact, that we love getting together.  There were those reminders of sacrifice, care and love.  Friends who rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weep with those who are weeping.  Friends who make space in their busy and active lives.  Friends who save me a place in choir on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.  Friends who live near and those who live far away.  I also reflected on how I can be kinder, gentler, and patient-er. 

I always told Mrs. Mary Helen I wanted to be like her when I grew up, well except for that cooking and baking part.  To have her heart and effect on others for the kingdom of God, would be mighty nice.  You can't go wrong glorifying God and serving Him. 

Fat Tuesday and Prairie Ash Wednesday

I came this close to speaking to the HOA spy, I mean inspector this afternoon.  He was noting violations and then taking pictures of a house one block away.  Since I saw him as I was going to the mail boxes, I decided to come around the block and see if he was on our cul de sac next.  No, the guy had moved on.  Funny, I kind of thought the inspector would be a woman and not a fastidious man. 

Today is Fat Tuesday and tomorrow Ash Wednesday.  Some years the Lenten season comes and goes without nary a thought on my part.  Sometimes I have been amused by the choices people make for Lent.  More times than not, I am more amused by the announcement of their Lenten sacrifices.  Others are more subdued and don't make a big drama thing about it.  This morning I read several online articles on lent, what it is and isn't.  There is more to lent than giving up chocolate, sweets or Facebook or Twitter.   So, I began to run through the likes and loves of my life and what precious thing should I give up?  Of course you can be less than honest and give up Downton Abby, (season finale was Sunday night), smoking (I don't smoke but giving up the desire to smoke, which  I don't have), or chocolate (really not a huge fan and it wouldn't be any kind of a sacrifice to give it up.)  Nothing came to me, I wasn't impressed in any big, dramatic or drastic give up.  So, I went on about my day, laundry and picking up some clutter.  I watched a few minutes of Hoarding last night and it is always good for a better than average pick up.  I ran a few errands and while sitting in the car wash I heard what my Lenten theme should be, "get closer."  It isn't so much a thing, but like Pastor Gregg spoke on Sunday, the what.  Lent is about prayer, fasting and alms giving.  Lent is about examining my life and what keeps me from following Christ completely.  I found this quote on a Catholic website and the quote is quite good and sums it up completely,

 "Lent is about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life. That always involves giving up sin in some form. The goal is not just to abstain from sin for the duration of Lent but to root sin out of our lives forever. Conversion means leaving behind an old way of living and acting in order to embrace new life in Christ. For catechumens, Lent is a period intended to bring their initial conversion to completion."  I don't know if I am or what a catechumens is. 

Totally, this not a cop out on my part, but Lent will be a time to embrace what pleases God.  It will be a time of prayer.  Fasting will be not just food but a multiple of things.  Alms giving or just plain giving will be a huge part of the celebration of 40 days growing closer to the Lord and not letting those sins that beset and keep me from running the race, walking the path, taking the journey, and watching and listening for the ways of the Lord.  Gratitude and thankfulness will have a huge part as well. 

I know this is nothing new and many, many, many...have celebrated Lent this way in the years gone by but it is a new message to me.  Baptists don't really give much credence to Lent, we don't officially practice it.  Guess I am trying to say, it isn't in the Baptist Faith and Message.  Maybe it should be.    So it will be interesting the next forty days and I assume that includes 40 nights.  I may share on the blog.  I may just keep these things to myself and the trusty journal.  Isaiah 58 is looking really different to me.  It's not just about the giving up and going through liturgical motions, it's about the Lord being our great delight.  This is the kind of fasting God wants,

 ⁶ “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
⁷ Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

The result that comes from this kind of fasting?

⁸ “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.
⁹ Then when you call, the LORD will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
¹⁰ Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
¹² Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

Those of you who know me well, know the portion of fasting that is going to be the most difficult for me.  Believe me, I'll be quoting, claiming and believing verses 8-12. 

So for now on Fat Tuesday.... I wait for Wednesday.  Think I will go out to our fire pit to find some ash, because I won't find it at the million of Baptist churches out here on the prairie.  It's pecan ash, not palm.  Seems to fit me, being that I am kind of nutty and all. 

A Busy Week Recap

So we officially worked in the yard today.  Not that we haven't before but today we actually put together some plants in the planters for the front entrance of the house.  Then we replanted some geraniums and trimmed back the illegal bougainvillea.  We ordered some planters with a trellis for the jasmine we bought a couple of weeks ago.  While Roy went off to take some pictures, I swept and cleaned up our mess.  Just messing around with plants made me feel like an official rancho de five resident.  Flags are up on the medians for President's Day.  They are the official flag approved by the Rancho's HOA.  You pay this guy $50.00 a year and he will place and remove an American flag on your property six times a year.  All other flags are illegal and will be reported.  A new neighbor has moved in on the street behind us.  They have placed Fleur De Lise in several flower beds and they also fly a spring/Easter flag.  Wonder if they soon will be getting a letter? 

Last week was a rather social week for me.  Monday I met Dena for dinner.  Tuesday, Roy and I went with Bill and Peggy to Salt and Pepper for Valentines.  The food was awesome, but we had a waiter that doesn't have too much of a future in waiting tables.  We ended up having a dining experience but we were able to amuse ourselves.  Wednesday night choir, Thursday took the night off while Roy went to his photography class and Friday night we had dinner with David and Emily.  She cooked the most delicious dinner and then we all headed over to Stages to see Late Night Catechism.  Two Friday nights in a row of pure fun and laughter.  Roy has a personal record going...he won his 5th prize at a nun themed show.  He was raised Catholic and went to parochial school till high school.  He has won holy cards, glow in the dark rosary, St Francis statue and Friday, he answered correctly what a stigmata is and won a "I'm Catholic, call a priest in an emergency" card, complete with rosary beads on the front.  The actress that plays the nun makes you believe she is really a nun.  Saturday, I was going to go to Waco with Peggy for a Baylor basketball game, but after such a busy week, which included a full afternoon at my father's house, Bible study, celebrating Peggy and Lisa P's birthdays, I was beat.  So very tired.  Roy took his car in for required maintenance on Saturday morning, so I went and had breakfast and then made a quick trip to Home Goods and rested for the remainder of the day. 

I don't know about anyone else who lives in the general vicinity, but the rain Friday/Saturday morning was so hard, I thought it was going to break a window.  The wind was strong. 

The workmen laying water pipe finally got the big machine unstuck from the mud.  Only the chain link fence remains.  The gas leak they were looking for wasn't anywhere near our area, so they have moved on down the street to find it.  Haven't seen any white trucks around, so they must have been successful in locating the leak. 

Tomorrow I make a much needed trip to the land of sugar for highlights and a haircut.  And if I'm lucky I might be having lunch with Emily when I'm blonder. 

Tonight is the season finale of Downton Abby.  Think I will watch last week's episode again at 6.  Have a lovely week. 

In That Day

It's a relatively quiet morning out here on the prairie.  Doesn't sound like a whole lot of construction is going on behind us and the grinding and machinery sound from the pipe layers has come to a resounding stop. Silence...   For one thing, one of the workmen got one of their big digging machines, of course there is a term for it but I haven't a clue right now what it would be called, stuck in the mud.  It is so deep into the hole it dug and with all the rain this week, they had to put a chain link fence around it to keep Rancho de Five children and probably their dads from getting too close.  A new twist to the wait and let the ground dry out is, all the white Center Point trucks lining Rancho de Five Blvd.  Of course when I drove by them all, I didn't give anything a thought but Roy stopped and talked with the men as he came home from photography class.  There is a small gas leak and they are trying to pin point its location.  I looked out the window this morning and trucks are back, so I guess they haven't fixed it yet.  Roy was telling me this morning to get up early, get showered and dressed in case they turned off the electricity or evacuated the neighborhood.  He takes his pipeline safety rather seriously and well we should.  But, I was so tired this morning I had to make the quality decision to sleep in, eat breakfast and then shower.  It's called living on the edge people...besides the odds of being interviewed on TV go up when you're dressed weird and your over all appearance is strange.  My mother would have been worked up and rather worried if there was a small gas leak in the neighborhood.  By nature my mom was a worrier.  She kind of had it backwards, worry without ceasing, worry always,  worry in the Lord always and again I say worry.  Don't get me wrong, my mom was a great prayer but she wrestled constantly with the Lord over trusting Him with the situation.  She would be so glad to help Him though, by taking the worry part for Him.   I know if I was my mom, there would be suitcases packed and in the ready position.  So this is the scene from out front door, flashing lights, white trucks, men wearing orange safety vests and a big digger stuck in the mud.

Contrast that with the happenings in the backyard.  In the serene setting of tree, shrubs and grass that is finally growing, sat a little bunny rabbit.  I stood for the longest time watching it eat, wash and stretch.  The bunny kind of reminded me of Buddy the cat.  I was so mesmerised, I finally remembered I could pull out a dining room chair and watch a little more comfortably.  In the midst of this nature show happening in the confines of our backyard, Roy came home from the office.  I greeted him, but didn't move from the chair.  Now I know that goes against all we are taught about "the greeting" the husband should receive when he comes in the door, but I figured he wouldn't mind the turned back greeting for one evening.  What the heck, the only difference from a normal night when he comes home is, I greet him from behind the computer or sitting on the couch.  Bad Christian wife, Nancy!  Anyway, he joined in with me watching the bunny for a bit and then he microwaved the delicious and loving dinner prepared for him by the good people at T. Jin's.  That little rabbit held my attention till the evening took over the light of day.  After a long, fun and busy day, I settled down and experienced such a quieting peace.  God's hand, His little creation, right there in our little backyard. 

This morning in retrospect a work was happening in the midst of ordinary, everyday life.  I didn't see it at the time but there were two choices, focus on the the thing I cannot control, that causes anxiety and worry or focus on the thing I cannot control, that brings peace and presence.  We have those choices everyday, all day long.  You know, it might even be biblical, that thing of choosing, blessing or cursing and that is not to be confused with cussing. Some people say they cuss others say they curse.  How timely with all this talk of bunnies, I just went on a rabbit trail.  Sunday morning I went with Roy to his Life Bible Study class, LBS class is just relevant church talk for Sunday School.  Anyway, David Taylor, the teacher, is teaching out of Isaiah.  He covered Isaiah 11 and 12.  His emphasis on verses 6-9 in chapter 11 about peace was so good.  This week as I have read and re-read these chapters, something jumped out, this phrase, "in that day."  It is used several time in chapters 11 and 12 and it seems that after the phrase, in that day, it says, the wolf and the lamb will live together.  In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world.  In that day the Lord will reach out His hand a second time to bring back the remnant of His people.  Then in chapter 12 verse 1, in that day you will sing and then in verse 4,"in that wonderful day you will sing; Thank the Lord, praise His name!"  In that day the Lord and in that same day, in that day, we respond.

Today I want to be "in that day."  To see and experience, to know and be grateful for God's presence in my everyday....in that day.  I want to be "in"with Him.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! 
Roy is the best at these kind of things.  I always have good intentions but I am happy he got his card today.  Usually, I buy a card for him and then I can't find it.  I have a present for him but I forgot to get it out of our closet before he fell asleep last night and he was so tired from the full day of traveling that I didn't have the heart to get it.  I'll have it here for him when he gets home.

We are going out for Valentine's with Bill and Peggy.  Looking forward to a fun evening with friends. 

I've spent most of the day with my dad.  We went to Los Tios for lunch and then came back to his house and went through a few more things.  There are a lot of drawers he hasn't even touched.  I brought home a few things today, a couple of bowls and a doll that had been my mothers when she was a child.  We laughed when he asked if I needed any pots or pans...