Calm Before the Storm

 It is the calm before the storm. Preparation time. Go out and take care of things before the ice storm Fern makes her appearance. I will add this Fern to the Ferns I have known in life. At our condos there was a group of older women that spent every waking sunlight hour sitting by the pool. I was much younger back then and went out a couple of times but Fern kind of camped out at the pool to corner you in conversation. Not random either, she had picked her topic and most of the times her topics weren't that interesting to me. What was funny is the ladies reading their spicy books while they tanned and I could always tell when there were reading a "hot" page cause their feet were moving ninety to nothing. The other Fern I can remember is Miss Fern from the movie The Bad Seed. We put an offer in on a house near Balsam Mountain, thank you Lord someone outbid us, and the road the house is on, Fern Trail. Now Fern the ice storm is traveling across the country. 

This morning we went to Publix not to panic buy but to do our regular pickups for the weekend. Fruit, chicken salad, bakery bread as per usual and cat food. The only thing we bought that is different, a couple of gallons of spring water. We got there a little after 9:00 and shelves were restocked and checkout lines regular like. After we checked out and started putting things in the car, the parking lot was going a bit crazy as it was near 10:00 am. 

For lunch today I had Southern Baked Pie's tomato pie, mini version and it was very good. Delicious! I will order again. We got the petite apple pie with salted caramel as well. I took a couple of bites...oh my goodness, so good. 

It is now Saturday and I just finished up the leftover tomato pie, think little chicken pot pie size, and a couple of bites of the apple pie. The choices when I bake the rest, taco, roast beef and chicken. Have a pot roast in the slow cooker and snacks for ice storms. Nah, it's just the regular snacks we keep around the house.

So now, we sit and wait. Prepare and then hope. I love that the Lord has experience in storms of various kinds. So, it's good to trust Him with this. 

Pressing On

 It seems we don't have too many all day rain events here. Houston, oh yes and that could include several days of end on end raining ranging from misty to torrential. Most of the heavier rain went south of us so gentle showers are doing the job. We both have taken it easy today. Well, Roy is doing our taxes so I guess that doesn't count as easy, but a relaxed schedule. We are thankful it isn't me doing the taxes. World without end, amen. 

We've been Presbyterians for a little over a month and we are enjoying this journey. I know old school isn't for everyone but we have settled into it nicely. Roy started last week attending the men's Bible study and I've been attending the women's Bible study since the fall, the season not Adam and Eve time. Along with choir there are more opportunities for social interaction. Last week I read an article about slowing down verses shutting down. Interesting and I think this change is just what we needed. I was talking with a friend from Houston about this article and after having some trouble articulating my interpretation I gave her an example from this summer. It fit and said it all. 

Now it is Monday morning. A very cold one at that. We opened the Inn on the Catmore Estate last night and several took advantage but the innkeeper, Roy, is pushing everyone out at 11:00 or there abouts. It should be above freezing and besides the sun is out and there is play time to be had. 

We were on our way to church yesterday and the Mustang gave us a bit of an issue. We decided to turn around and get the truck but when we arrived home, the snow was so heavy that Roy was a bit iffy about going. I really wanted to be at church for many reasons but one is the choir anthem we were singing. It is one of my favorites. I texted two choir members to let them know of the situation. It's ironic because since 2010 or so I have not gone to big church in January on the advice of a Houston cardiologist. He knew because he said Baptists go to church sick most of the time. I would tend to agree with that. Now in January this year, I want to be in big church.  

*****

Thursday morning, below freezing and some snow on the ground. It doesn't look like our road has been salted or sanded. That means that even work trucks are driving slow this morning. The sun is out but we don't get above freezing today. Just got the text and email that Bible study is cancelled this morning. In part I'm glad cause of the roads but sad because the discussion is lively and we gain so many insights from one another. It is one of the best groups I've been apart of. We enjoy our friendship with the Word of God leading the way. 

Things I'm liking these days

My clearance jammies I bought at Sam's. Only had gray left so I ordered two pairs and I am so glad I did. Comfy and all that comfort for only $7.98 a pair. Here is something unusual, they are Lord and Taylor brand. Someone must have bought the name cause there hasn't been a Lord and Taylor for quite sometime. Loved shopping at the one in The Galleria. 

Rowe Casa Tart Cherry. Really helping me sleep through the night. Truthfully, I like all things Rowe Casa. 

Archer and Oliver for journals and paper products. Great presentation.

Earl Gray tea. It seems to be helping my heart stay out of flutter. 

The free time for reading. Almost finished with Family of Spies, nonfiction. In 1994 or so young woman finds out her family spied for the Japanese in Hawaii years before Pearl Harbor. Her family, from Germany. Her painstaking research and from all that questioning within what her father knew and if her elderly aunt who was the main cog of it all would ever share with her niece the adventures and crimes she was a part of. I'm about halfway through. 

Here is the last thing for this post, I read this the other day and of course cannot remember the author's name, but her or his sentiment is worth thinking about. Research shows that most Christians or church attendees cannot answer some of the simple questions to determine what they understood about the scriptures. The cynic in me says, many can answer but don't know how to live it but the face is we are illiterate in many ways. That info is interesting but their thoughts on quiet times and devotional thoughts is spot on. We romanticize quiet times all warm and special with hot or iced tea, depending on the season. Of course in the south we drink iced tea all year long. We have our specially bought journal or journals...I always think it is the journal that will inspire my thoughtful devotional writings. I just like journals with narrow lined paper. Now, I am not against devotions in the morning or vespers in the early evening, but we need to dig a little further in God's Word more than what we normally do. Yes, I am guilty. So far this month I have been hit or miss on this but pressing forward to the prize I will still make that effort. It will only do me good. 

Meanwhile, we have fallen prey to the malformation of “quiet-time culture.” Having a quiet time can be beneficial, but it often disciples people into a devotional style of reading the Bible. Devotionals are big sellers, and for good reason. They pair a snippet of Scripture with a bite-sized insight, leaving readers with a positive emotion to start their day: comfort, assurance, hope, inspiration. Christian living and devotional books comprise 41% of Christian book sales, while Bible studies a mere 8.5%. One of the best-selling Christian books of all time is a devotional that has sold over 45 million copies. 

Devotional reading limits which portions of the Bible we spend time in. There is a reason no one has written a devotional on the Book of Leviticus. But all Scripture is profitable. 

Quiet-time culture also delivers a short-term, instant-gratification reward. It elevates individual interaction with Scripture so that we view the most precious time in the Bible as personal, not communal. If you have been caught in a “what this verse means to me” spiral in a small group discussion, you have seen this dynamic at play.

Just A Few Remaining Thoughts of My Childhood Friend

 I haven't been able to quit thinking about my childhood friend who passed away this past summer in July. All these years and we were not close. We didn't speak ever again after I stayed a night at University of Texas with her. I have no idea why I was at UT nor how I got there because I didn't have a car. I was just down the freeway in San Marcos at Southwest Texas State but now called Texas State. It is just one of those blip memories and I guess I remembered the most important part, Leah. Our paths had gone separate ways. I became a Christian my junior year in high school but we did have a drama class together our senior years. She was meant for the stage and got parts in the musicals and such. My comedic side didn't really come about until long after high school being too afraid to be different than everybody else. For our senior drama exam we had to participate in a one act play. Leah got a dramatic role and I played the lion from the Wizard of Oz. Not the same play. Hmmm....I think maybe I did get the better end of the deal. Back in the day schools had drum and bugle corps not dancing corps but there still was a marching band. Leah made it into the Rebelettes, maybe playing fife or drum...I interviewed with the committee when they came to the junior high school and the first question I was asked, if I didn't make it into Rebelettes would I play volleyball. Being 6' in the 9th grade and athletic of course that is where they steered me. Leah came into her own and she took the path of the day, being a hippie. My path was determined for me, a dork. By our senior year we were nostalgic friends. Maybe we rode together to school sometimes but most probably my senior year cause I had use of a car.  

During the summers of 8th-10th grade we hung out in the evenings at her house. Cute boys lived next door to her and we never knew when one might just speak to us. We spent a lot of time walking around the neighborhood. It was in 1969 and 1970 cause we talked a lot about UT winning national championships. Leah knew she was going to the University of Texas. She had her life planned out. She was going to go to law school and become a lawyer just like her dad. In 1969 and 1970 on those walks my plans were how I was going to, now as the young people say...unalive myself, once I got a drivers license. I was miserable without hope and saw no other way out...but then God. I became a Christian in January 1971 and got my license a year or so after that.  So, yep God's timing. And I think that is what has me so pensive about Leah and her life. Somewhere in those years between she, graduated from UT but she didn't go to law school there. I think she went in Houston. She got married and I think she had a daughter. She practiced law as a defense attorney with a couple of other specialties thrown in. But I don't think her career is the career she had planned upon. Doing some Google research tells me some of that info. She passed away in July, buried near her father and now also her mom who passed away in December. No obituary for Leah, at least none I can find. Surely her life meant something. I did reach out to someone who I thought might have known her and I did get some limited knowledge about her and that helped me with looking into other avenues. I found a picture, two pictures really of her in 2024. She did not look like the same Leah, in fact I would have never recognized her. Interestingly, we lived in the same area or at least her office was nearby. Of course I know I don't look the same as I did back in the day either, but people like her usually hold onto their physical appearance.  I think what haunts me are those walks with everything she planned in such detail and direction. She was meticulous about her appearance. Me not so much cause there wasn't a direction I could go on without some money. I did the best I could with what I had and it was a battle to have that. 

Last night I saw something that got my attention as I searched for anything else to know about my childhood friend. Surprisingly, I found something and then I knew exactly why there wasn't more information out there. A post from her daughter on FB,

 For me, silence is abandonment.

#adultdaughtersofnarcissisticmothers

#repeatingpatterns #RelationshipDynamics #whyaretheresomanyactualfrogsinthispond

She had a narcissistic mother. I had a narcissistic father and while narcissists share common traits it's different, but I understand. I just read an article on the six faces of narcissistic mothers. The end result of either parent is, their destruction of any self esteem of their child, holding onto to control of the child and lack of boundaries.

There will be no obituary to find.

New!

 A favorite show of mine is, King of the Hill, but like a lot of shows we love there are episodes we will skip. Although, if there is a good Peggy Hill quip I will watch just to once again here her misguided "in my opinion," about the obvious. I am feeling very Peggy Hill-ish this morning while writing about "new." Obviously since it is the new year, it is a hot word being tossed about. For me, this year it is different and not because I am noticing "new" in so many areas but the reality of so much new and so much God. These past few weeks have had such a delightful tune seeing God in the small, the ordinary and the mundane. As our pastor finished up chapter 65:17-25 in Isaiah, Looking Forward With Joy and I kept that joy and excitement all Sunday afternoon into Monday. In that joy we are new creations, the old has passed away and yay, all things become new. One of the things he said was, creation will be at peace and rest when all things become new. Yesterday, in our first Circle meeting of the new year, our first chapter being a new creation. Great timing on that for sure. One of the ending paragraphs talked about trinkets and souvenirs from our trips. I thought about all the Wendy Whitson prints I bought and had framed for our Rancho de Five home. I could look at those prints and remember where we had been and experienced. We just happened to be at The Biltmore the weekend that Antler Hill Village opened and Traditions, shop, had not only Wendy Whitson prints, they had Wendy Whitson there. In Texas I could look at those prints, most of them landscape scenes from the Estate. It reminded me of where we wanted to be when the time came. Now, those pictures are here hanging in various rooms, here. I am fortunate to have a mountain view from upstairs, but I still look at those prints and remember, then give thanks because we are here. 

Speaking of being here the tenth anniversary of tripping and falling at the Cracker Barrel in Lafayette Louisiana is coming up. Roy flew up before Christmas and we went back to Ranch de Five for Christmas and then for some doctor appointments I had in Houston. Critical cardiology appointment and a dentist appointment. I left for the mountains on January 18th. The story of the shattering of my hip is here

https://nancysmonablog.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-peace-that-passes-all-january-18.html

https://nancysmonablog.blogspot.com/2016/01/prepare-to-pick-up-mat.html

https://nancysmonablog.blogspot.com/2016/01/atumblenal.html

https://nancysmonablog.blogspot.com/2016/01/has-it-really-come-to-this.html 

I had forgotten some of the stories involved with the whole ordeal and I laughed so hard at some of those memories. But God was in and with the whole thing. In fact, I was back in Rancho de Five by October 2016 to prepare for bilateral knee replacements. And since I had met the deductible almost everything was paid for until the new year. There is that thought again, new. 

Roy left this morning for the men's Bible study at church. The kittos and I have been running into each other all morning. I think they were wondering if they would be fed but I assured them I have it all under control. They were fed on time-ish and they all are members of the clean plate club. They have wandered off to their various napping spots. I would like to run the vacuum cleaner but that would be counterintuitive to do so. 

Our neighbors gave us some of their sourwood honey and oh my, it is delicious! I've been using it in my hot tea and if we have biscuits, it will be used then too. 

I have learned from lots of reading these past few months that the traits or foibles or habits of mine are not exclusively my personality but my ADHD brain and how it works. I mean using without warning an above light or giving me a big spoon for soup....ahhhhh! Well, another trait has kicked in, a new journal for a new year...yep there is that new again but my brain always thinks purchasing notebooks and journals are going to make me begin and continue. Nope, but there is always hope.

Hit The Ground Running or Walking Fast

 Several blog posts ago I gave some quick observations when believers start throwing down and around all types of aspersions just because you won't let them boss you around anymore. The most popular of those legalistic Bible Bros terms is, the spirit of Jezebel. I mean really, in biblical content I would think that is much too much of a throw down for the description of most women because Ahab's girl Jezzy was really quite evil...more so than a woman who wants to change meatloaf night to Friday instead of Monday. We have had fun throwing around the term, spirit of the ten brothers around this Christmas season. Joseph's brothers who were jealous of him and that coat but we use it in relation to our cats. We have two that are especially jealous of any attention another cat is getting. 

Happy New Year! Happy 2026. This year's NYE was rather quiet as they go around here. When we first moved here, hardly heard any firecrackers but the last few years have experienced quite a few. Maybe it was too cold last night but our kittos were affected by the few boom booms we heard. We were concerned about Willie but it was Mr Mo. Roy finally found him and put him to bed. Then there was quiet. All in all that is pretty much a contentment evening. 

While Roy has been working in the garage this afternoon, I have been working here in the house of a few small projects. Gathered up t-shirts for Goodwill and getting some books together. Each time I clean out books I give away books that I thought I would never let go. Oh well. Once in an antique store in Burnsville, I saw a grouping of books and I owned almost all the same books. Thought, somebody cleaned out or it was a relative cleaning out books. For a moment I wanted to rescue them but where would I put them? Right now I am torn on reading because I have a book that I need to read but have two other books that tug at my heart because they are books that normally draw me in. So nice to have this problem again, though. It has been a long while to do what I always had done until I didn't...have multiple books going at one time. 

The following paragraph is for comedic thoughts only. It is not a spiritual statement by me or espousing beliefs. Just sometimes when I read the Bible, the silly side of me comes out. 

This morning reading the Bible in one year with Chad Bird got my comedic side going. So today in the OT we read about Noah and the flood. He talks about it is a pattern that we can see Jesus in. His point that Noah coming out of the ark, the place of refuge, is similar to the creation story. All things began anew. This is where my mind went off track...Noah came out of the ark, first. No pesky woman to mess this thing up, rethinking Eve and the serpent. We really don't hear that much about Mrs. Noah at all. In my mind she might have stayed behind to clean up that mess the animals left behind to get that security deposit money back. Friends who have been to the Ark thing in Kentucky said the experts think that God caused them not to poop and wee wee. So, people who do not believe that God can do miracles today accept the no poop deal. Well, I haven't a clue but there are days we would believe God for a miracle for our kitty kitties. Well, once again I digress and we were talking about messes here and there in churches. The miracle? Messes get cleared by someone. Which is not unlike a lot of women in ministry today, they are cleaning up the messes they didn't make. Although, the scripture said Noah and all his family came out of the ark. Do these ultra conservative dudes that will argue (their concept of ) submission to the death, yet hardly ever walk in God's love, except their hearts rejoice in declaring the judgement of God, to and for everyone but themselves ever use this example to make their point? Sadly, now they can't cause a woman thought of it. I thought about how Mildred and Gertrude could have used this in a skit with the nativity cookies... it would have been very funny. 

Monday morning fog, January 5th. It was rather thick at 6:30am and it is hanging around for the first day back to school after the Christmas holidays...I mean winter break. Whatever. It covers the preliminary work being done across the road to build more houses. Looks like one of the houses will be out of the sight line from our front windows. 

These have been some contemplative holidays as we rally ourselves to be ready for 2026. This week we hit the ground running. Circle, Choir and Bible study for me and Roy will begin going to the men's Bible study. Books to read, things to study and looking forward to lots of fun. 

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.