One More Thing

 I'm just about finished with one of my winter projects that has lingered into spring. Getting two closets cleaned out as well as bookcases upstairs. The delay in progress comes about when something is found that makes one stop and peruse. In the midst of books, I came across the 1989 choir and orchestra directory  I thumbed through the pages and remembered as well as wondered at the youth of friends and the fashion styles of the late 1980s. It was great fun! So you know, post haste, some of those pics went right to FB so we could all remember those times and people. Very rarely will you hear me say, I miss those days or I wish I could go back...cause even with the good stuff, I don't want to return to the days of yester-year. Am I sentimental? Oh yes but in this addled ADD mind, there is a difference. In the hurry to post, it wasn't until the second set of pics that I realized I had forgotten to honor the man who was in charge of it all, Gerald Ray. Better late than never but not, last but not least. What a privilege to sing in his choir as well as have great fun in choir. For this non-gifted musical person, choir has to be fun for me to learn and appreciate. What am I saying? Almost everything has to have some element of fun for me to love and appreciate the experience. 

Yesterday, we made the trip to Hendersonville for bloodwork and the reward, breakfast at Another Broken Egg. Delicious for sure. A quick visit to Lens Crafters for glasses adjustments and then, Barnes and Noble. Yes, I made it almost to April with a Christmas gift card from The Joy Class. Bought three books in three different genres and only had to add $2.03 to the purchase price. I realized I hadn't been in a bookstore until yesterday for the year 2023. Hope to change that up a bit.

We didn't make it through all of the lesson on Sunday, so we will finish it up and go into John 15 and then we will be up to date with the quarterly. In the commentary provided by Lifeway, the introduction to the spring study mentions that this is the time when Jesus is wrapping up earthly ministry and time is clicking down to His sacrifice, so He is making sure that the disciples are getting the "one more thing" from him. It just so happens that a book I'm reading fit right into the one more thing thought. Parents are dropping off their daughter for college to begin her freshman year. They graduated from Ole Miss as well as their older two sons, so this is the last child to deposit at Ole Miss. A daughter born to them in later life, so this time it is fraught with emotion. The mother is frantic with thoughts of, did I tell her everything she needs to know in her first eighteen years of life. So she is ranting off common sense know how, separate colors from light colors in the washing machine, you can always call home, don't forget to lock your dorm door...stuff like that. The daughter is mortified and embarrassed. Jesus isn't frantic in His one more thing but is making sure the disciples hear this so they will remember in the coming days. I also like that He used simple words that would draw them in, love, home, My Father, Life and a comforter. Words they can identify and understand. That is the emphasis of the lesson from Sunday and the one coming up, the simple words that draw us closer to the Lord. Teaching the big theological themes...well, I will leave that to those so gifted in understanding them and better yet communicating them. We began last week in John 13:34-35 and we will conclude this week's lesson with, friendship, joy and love. 

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While driving about in the country yesterday, we were able to find SC strawberries, not from Strawberry Hill but from another farm. They are so good and sweet, we didn't add sugar. Trees are blooming out again or maybe for the first time this season. Our dogwoods are just now sporting little blooms. The red bud trees kind of got hit by the cold temps here but the peach trees made it just fine. Strange and odd for sure. Sunday afternoon Roy put in the fertilizer spikes for our fruit trees and while out in the front yard, I heard a couple of quick honks. Theresa honked every time she drove by and as I turned toward the road to wave, I realized it wasn't going to be her. 

In the recent years, the end of March and the first of April have been eventful. March 27th came and went before realizing the anniversary date when my father's cardiologist nurse thought he hadn't made it in for his appointment. After retracing routes he could have taken, I went back to his home and looked through his rolodex for phone numbers of his friends. He came in the house, saw me at his desk and as it is said, the rest is history. Even after explaining why I was there and what I was doing...this wasn't going to end well and it didn't. That date is the last time I saw my father, alive cause the bottom dropped out of his demented and evil mind. The end of March 2015 we were here waiting for the moving van to arrive on April 1st. A momentous and wonderful memory. Also on April 1, 2017 my father passed away. Quite fitting to die on April Fools Day. In 2018 I had my ablation for afib and a-flutter. Five years...wow! What a difference in life and sadly at Mission Hospital. 

Surely there is one more thing...but even now as I finish this up, Roy is making breakfast and I do not want to miss that. 

My Friend, Here's to the Closing and To The New

 A new week yet a closing week. This morning I am thrilled that the rain, if any, passed through in the middle of the night. The sun is shinning and robins are scattered across the front yard, gathering up worms for the meals for today. In a bit the other birds that hang around will get the taste of a new blend of seeds that we haven't used before. Oh happy day for the birds. The Feral Fam is happy for a full breakfast and are content in the backyard before moving up to the edge of the gravel road. Over the weekend we were able to complete a few projects and contemplate the timing of our next projects before the temps are way too warm. The main project involves painting, so cool of the morning and evenings sound about right. We attempt our projects now at a slower speed than we previously tackled them. Lot more rest breaks. 

After the rain ended on Saturday morning we headed toward TN, not so much with a goal in mind or a purpose but more so to enjoy the scenery and check on the progress of the mountains greening up. The splashes of purple, red and white blooms of the trees encountered along the way, well just icing on the cake. We stopped at a grocery store on our way home and had the most delightful surprise, a manager's special on tulips. We thought the tray of tulips held 12 ready to bloom plants but in fact much to our wonder as we began planting them we found that there were 24 or more plants. We had picked up two trays, so 48 tulips to plant in and around the others we have planted in previous seasons. No guessing what or where, we could fill in and know. That sounds like a Bible verse, Fill in and Know...

The closing week is a friend's last week of working full time in the business world of marketing and communications. On Friday afternoon, she will have officially retired. Though, she will probably do some contract work for other companies because she is that good. With the news of retirement, several have contacted her about that very subject. We have talked and texted especially since she is on the clock to see what the Lord has planned after corporate America. Never heard that phrase much in Houston, but it is used here a lot.  For sure travel will be on the list as well as reading and resting. Many times I am mesmerized with the concept of predictable verses consistency. We all carry those traits but consistent is on the higher end of the scale with my friend. She is consistent. I don't think she has ever taught a bad Sunday School lesson, she makes the points and lands the plane.  Creative, mindful, studious, quick to laugh, prayerful, passionate about the things of God, a good and caring friend, and in the words of Toddlers and Tiaras, she is the total package when it comes to II Peter 1:1-4. You can bet the farm that on predictability, with her, there well be a process...she'll choose Molina's for the pickled veggies they serve, Lupe's for beef fajitas, and Fu's Garden for orange chicken. No wonder we get along so well, those would be my choices too. Her influence is a major reason that we moved here as she introduced me to some of the most wonderful sights in these mountains. Our adventures at the Biltmore over the years holds a lot of funny stories as well as meeting the nicest valet parker, who she simply named Scrumptious. Yes, a very fitting name for that young man. Our Inn on the Biltmore stays, gave us the way to express our feelings toward camping, "my idea of roughing it is a slow bellboy." Sitting on the Veranda for a late lunch simply delightful in the simplicity of the menu. Split a salad, split truffle fries, and split a pizza. I think on our first road trip when Roy had deadlines and projects and he could not go on our planned trip to visit my brother and family, Dena filled in on the road trip to Nashville and we added Asheville just for fun. While stopping to gas up the car and for snacks, we happened upon a bathroom...quite memorable in Corinth Mississippi.  Since most of these are one seaters, we went separately to the facilities. Once we were back on the road having gone several miles, Dena said are you going to say anything about that bathroom? The one seater was actually a two seater but no metal stalls around either toilet. Cracked us up!  Whether we stayed at the Inn or at Grove Park on trips even down to Hampton Inn in Alexandria, LA, there are just too many stories and memories to tell, yep after staying in Five Star Hotels to the lowly hotels of Mississippi and Louisiana, we agreed with Paul;

4:11  Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. (even Mississippi) Monarch translation

Here's to new adventures post career and I am hoping to be a part of a few of those adventures. 

Fair to Clear

 My high school class didn't have a 50th reunion. Many wanted to gather and wrote about it on FB, we just didn't have the class presence or leadership to do it. I remember who we should have elected as class President back then, but didn't. He had school spirit, whatever the definition of that is, involved, cute and popular but in our turbulent times of teenagerhood, we rebelled. Of course we did, we were the Rebels! The class of 73 has invited our class to attend their reunion. I have read through names of people in the group, most I am drawing a blank on but several names of those I remember have jumped out. Boy, we all look older that is for sure. Recognized the name of a boy, now man of course, and we were in drama together. He played the Tin Man and I was the Cowardly Lion. We talked a lot during rehearsals and he bought carnations at the Valentine fund raiser at school and were delivered in homeroom I think. We never dated or anything, I just thought he was an outstanding person. Just thinking about all the different directions that life went for each of us. Several surfer types were killed in a car wreck, I think it was right after high school. Don't remember. It looks like there has been several successful types and lives. There are people we meet in life where high school was as good as it got for them. Some still try to live in that world of make believe and such. Speaking for myself, lots of lessons learned from those years after high school...yep, lots of lessons but they have made life that much for the better I do believe. 

Roy had a great time target shooting, a tour of Madison County and lunch with Cuman. When he dropped off Roy here at the house, I was out in the front yard, raking up branches and limbs from the weeping willow tree as well as those limbs from all the tree trimming we had done recently. Our raised beds were delivered last week and hopefully, we can get those put together and at least get into the ready position when planting time arrives. We got a great deal on soil for raised beds, so we are ready. Mike the Mower Man came late this afternoon, fertilized and mowed the front lawn, also weed eating done in several hard to get to spots. The forsythia looks great and so do the new trees. Four plum trees, two peach trees and four apple trees in the midst of dogwoods, red buds and hopefully the service tree made it through. The two Japanese maples are beginning to bloom and the regular maple tree has a lot of leaves. A couple of weeks ago we bought some metal trellises for our blackberry bushes which by the way, are growing so well. Looking forward to those blackberries later this summer. 

We have decided that it is time to buy a new mattress. We had gotten so used to Tempur-Pedic but when we bought the house here, we realized we would need a king mattress that would fit going up the stairs. Well, now, we can get the separate twin mattresses that you put together with personal firmness and such. Don't know if we are going to splurge for the adjustable thingy, probably not. 

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We punted plans for the day and since it is so beautiful and warm today, we will probably get things done out in the yard. Roy has gone to workout and as soon as I finish up this post or almost finish the post, will work on the last section for the lesson on Sunday. I am rather enthused over the lesson which sometimes is not good because I am unable to articulate what I would love to share. 

Told Roy to be careful cause at the end of the road toward the old school, someone's cows have gotten out. He got up extra early this morning and then his CBS group were unable to get the link to work for their Zoom meeting. So, he is out and about earlier than usual. 

We also had our first top down in the convertible this afternoon. Such a beautiful day we took off toward Madison and stopped at TJs for heirloom tomatoes and a quick trip into Ingles for a few things. People on the river and just the feel of spring all along the way home via the scenic route. 

LSU women's basketball made it to the elite 8. We should have got tickets and gone to Greenville but alas it never occurred to us to do that. It was a really good game. 

Mike came back and fertilized the lawn and timing is great with incoming rain expected. 

Welcome Back, Hello and See Ya Later

 We are beginning to wonder and maybe say, welcome back spring. We have had a dash of winter temps over the weekend, bringing in The Feral Fam for garage hotel lodging. Looks like their checkout date will be sometime tomorrow. From our observations of the front yard, the forsythia and new trees have done well and maybe plants were not that affected by the cold nights. We shall know more as the season progresses. By the end of the week spring like temps will have returned. A happy hello for sure.

Mr. Mo is on my lap and GMoey was on my lap earlier, well several times earlier. Willie, brushes and rushes by with a quick hello, then off to the races of his own imagining. Feisty and young, GMoey and Mr Mo take turns running the ya yas out of him. Willie has gone upstairs with Roy in hopes of snagging a treat or two from him. 

We gathered together yesterday afternoon to say, see ya later, to Theresa. It was just about a full house. What was so touching is, and here is where I am going to sound old, really old, the young people led the music. Yes, said with the best creaky voice, the children led a song that we will sing on Easter, then high school and college age, led the worship music. What a wonderful sight, the legacy of Mama T. The pastor asked people to stand and then sit as he called out different areas of ministry Theresa was involved with. I got to stand twice, choir and VBS. Jonathan, former youth pastor at our church, also spoke and relayed several stories of ministry and laughs throughout the years. He noted every church needs a Mama T in the congregation. Jonathan, is at a church in the Upstate, so as per usual on I 26 on the weekends, he got stuck in really bad traffic due to a crash, but he made it. Kind of like how Theresa would just make it for sound check or the like. We all laughed or smiled, with a few slight nods of heads. Gosh, we are going to miss her something like crazy. One of her long time friends spoke for the family, shared a brief memory and read a poem. We, of course realize that she is with the Lord and just like it was said in the service, she just beat us there. 

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Last night I noticed a red and white light reflecting on the front window. I went to look and there had been an accident with a car on its side. Looked like an ambulance and several firetrucks. Several with flashlights checked for something in the pasture soon to be homes in front of us. We never even heard the screeching of tires or sirens. As fast as everyone goes up and down the road, we've not had hardly any accidents nearby. 

We said hello to spring at 5:24 pm yesterday and by the end of the week we might be saying hello summer with temps to be in the 80s. Think we would love to say goodbye to winter but there can be a few surprises in late March and early April. 

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The news of Duckett's Produce opening for the most wonderful time of the year, produce stand season, was the most welcomed hello of news. Soon others will be opening. Ducketts announced yesterday that the first delivery of strawberries from SC will arrive today.🎵 Jelly Jars cling, are you listening? It's a beautiful sight, strawberry buckets left and right, walking into a rural produce stand. 🎵

Another sign it shall be unto us, Roy and I have scheduled our haircut appointments back to back with Tammy. It's really fun but seems to be a part of the progression of aging. All the together trips. Actually, this is really the first time in our lives that we have consistently spent a ton of time together and it's going really well. Roy the workaholic and me being the play, meet friends for coffee or meals type. Then as part of that process we headed over to Publix to shop senior day with the 5% discount. While Roy brought in all the groceries, I defrosted some taco soup. Seemed like just the thing for a tad coolish day. It did hit the spot. I totally crashed after lunch. Always so sleepy in the afternoons after a morning haircut as well as a couple of nights of not so good sleep. I worked a bit on the lesson for Sunday. We are going through such familiar passages of scripture and love how God's spotlight to see the familiar in a whole new way. 

Not planning to saying goodbye anytime soon to breakfast fixed by Roy. He had to go to larger breakfasts in his health journey and just until recently, I had not partook but the last week and a half has changed my mind. Delicious, strawberries and oranges cut up, scrambled eggs and crisp bacon. Yum! He adds yogurt and oatmeal to his breakfast for him. One morning he even made some of his homemade biscuits. These breakfasts have certainly helped with that morning low, dip in energy I experience on a consistent basis. 

With the warm temps today, Roy is going target shooting. Cuman is taking him to Madison County and I gave Roy some yard art to use for targets...fall and old Easter decorations. Well, I am going to take advantage of this time so signing off for now. 

A Week's Worth of Thoughts...

 The past few days have held lots of energy toward fighting the good fight against a cold or allergies. Hopefully, I have nipped it in the bud as good ol Barney Fife would say. Really, giving the past two days with rest, while not easy to do, have been worth it. A couple of years ago I found these pills with elderberry, zinc and lots of other good stuff that you take at the first sight of symptoms. Feels healthier than Dayquil and the like.  Now I am behind in preparation for Sunday's lesson. Thankfully, the lesson for last week is ready to go with a brief interlude into John 13. 

I finished Beth Moore's memoir and it was really a good read. Laughter, tears, a dash of enjoyment with a strong message. Along with the video that someone posted on FB of a snippet of a church service and reading recollections of those back in the days with Beth being at First Baptist caused a bit of nostalgia. She mentions as well the beginning of the conservative movement in the SBC and one of the chief architects belonged to First. I never knew him but it was funny friends outside of the SBC kept asking me where would I go to church if the SBC split. That was an easy answer, the church with a gym. At that time it was the most honest answer I could give because workouts and such were more important then than spiritual growth. That soon changed though...whew! While Roy was still in law school, the last year and a half his study group was on Sunday mornings. I began to go to Beth's Sunday School class with the intention of going back to a couples class when Roy finished up. When that time came I kind of sheepishly asked him, " you don't want me to stop going to my SS class do you?" He was so kind to say, no, keep on, I'll find a mens class.  That was good because although at that time I didn't really feel a part of the class, nor was that important to me, but Beth's lessons challenged me and drove me to God's Word. I can't ever say enough thanks for that. 

Thomas Nelson Publishing and I must be friends again. Years ago, I subscribed to one of their newsletters and after awhile, I grew tired of them and wanted to unsubscribe. Well...they were none to happy with that news and sent a terse reply that I could never, ever, again subscribe. Thought it was overkill but then who knows. Now, all the sudden T Nelson is sending emails to me. Think they mainly have NIV which I used to use exclusively but when I retired I found NLT and I haven't looked back. 

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This week allergies or something have come to visit and I am trying my best to kick them out of the house. No cough due to cold, just runny nose and eyes. It is trying to slow me down and guess what, it has. Monday and Tuesday washouts, Wednesday went to the grocery store, and thankfully today my haircut was cancelled. Don't have to go anywhere until Sunday if I don't want to. In response to last week of getting meds timing down, Roy has volunteered to make breakfast for me when he makes his. I've been experiencing scrambled eggs, strawberries and oranges and two slices of bacon. We replenished eggs and bacon yesterday and oatmeal was on sale, so of course Roy got plenty of that. I am not an oatmeal eater unless it is in the form of oatmeal raisin cookies and he also eats yogurt along with all the above. Breakfast for Roy is a big meal and I am happy for that part he fixes that I eat. Yum!

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This morning Roy made biscuits and as always, so delicious. Catherine's Jellies and Jams have a small booth at Lamp Post Vintage Market and she had strawberry jam, since Florida strawberries are in the markets now. Yum! A most delicious breakfast to start this sunny and cool Saturday morning. On this fine morning The Boys are in a playful mood, even GMoey. Nothing like the sound of thundering paws up and down the stairs. 

One of my good friends from high school and church let me know since our class did not have a 50th reunion, the next class had invited us to theirs. Maybe if we were still in Houston, I might be interested but mostly not. The people and friends I knew back then, I still keep up with in some shape form or fashion. It is kind of like some of the FB pages that are groups about the town I was born in. We left when I was very young but I spent a lot of summers there. Funny, it has dawned on me that all these favorite places people remember or wish were still around, I didn't have a clue where or what. With the exception of Joyland and a pool my boy cousins belonged to, bus riding with Grandpa and being at work with Grandma...not much else. 

All these album memories of Carol King, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and now Three Dog Night memory posts on FB brings back a lot of memories. Had all the albums back in the day and still listen to Tapestry often. Even some of the looks from the 70s, not avocado green or anything but all the small print in shirts, jeans, sheets and décor. 

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Good grief, my lesson yesterday was all over the place but I think we finally landed. Didn't get to study like usual, so it was not a smooth lesson. Think I need to get my glasses adjusted cause they would slip just a bit, making it difficult to read the scripture. Thankfully, we got through it and we ended with Judas going out the door into darkness...what that meant, but reminded us that with him out the door Jesus began to speak to his disciples about everything He could leave with them, what they needed to know and practice. 

We went back to church at 2:00 for Theresa's Memorial Service. That deserves a separate post. But, it was so good to see very familiar faces again in the sanctuary. 

Dearly Loved, Theresa Baker

 I only knew her for eight years and the news of her passing devastated me. I cannot imagine the grief and sadness of those who have known her almost all their lives. No warning, no whispers of , "well, she has been sickly the past few weeks." No, it was texts of prayer requests for her on Friday evening and by Saturday morning the news began to trickle out a bit, Theresa had died, never being able to be resuscitated. Each one of us that texted or talked with one another said the same thing, shocked, stunned with time standing still. This was just a bad dream, come on wake up...We'll see Theresa up there on the stage, without a microphone because her beautiful voice carried through the church, all the way to the back row on Sundays. Now, we will celebrate her life with many others not just from church but throughout the county because she had that kind of effect on people, on Sunday afternoon. She leaves behind, two sons, a daughter in law, a grandchild and her husband. Brothers and sisters. Although, I would think that many would claim her as a family member because she was best known at Mama T. 

The summer of 2014 Roy gave me a month here in the mountains for my 60th birthday. The trip served many functions, to get out of that dagged gum Texas heat, to get me into the cooler temps of the mountains and away from the insanity with my father. A month to begin the search for a home here, never thinking we would return to Texas with a contract and a mortgage broker at the end of that August. Our previous trips were mainly staying at The Inn on the Biltmore Estate and staying close by, on the Estate. I would be rather miffed if we had to give any time to other areas nearby. Boy I didn't know what I was missing out on. Several years before, we had intended to get a condo around here for me to be out of the heat and stress of Houston/Katy. Beginning in spring and staying through the most beautiful parts of fall, then return back to Texas. Roy began to study this seriously and said, do you really want a condo or do you like the Biltmore experience. Uh, Biltmore and he said great cause that is cheaper than buying, furnishing and living here off and on. After my 2008 heart experiences that severely limited any coming and goings, Roy approached me again to think about buying something this way. We prayed about it for weeks and after those weeks he asked me how would I like to have a home here and when he retired, we would retire in NC.  In those last few days of that fabulous month of August, Roy flew in and Brian, our realtor, took us back to a home I was in love with but didn't want to get emotionally attached until Roy saw it. He loved it just like I did but for different reasons...being the practical man that he is. So the morning that we planned to return to Houston, we got the latter start due to the paperwork and such we filled out before making the journey back to Texas with the intentions of being back for Thanksgiving and Christmas, then the moving van arriving here on April 1st. Why am I telling you this in Theresa's story, well, it can be difficult moving to a new state, a new city, a new church and making friends. In the Appalachians, people can be wary of newcomers, especially those who come and then want to make everything like the place they left. That was not me, but this move was by faith. Roy told me I had to stick it out five years. Well, it didn't even take a year to know this is where we belonged because of friends like Theresa. 

Our church is the only one I visited during that month and we knew once I got up here we would move our letter to be a part of the oldest Baptist Church in Buncombe County. The first Sunday I visited, I remember hearing Theresa and her melodious voice. At that time the songs were contemporary, hymns and southern gospel. I also knew it wouldn't take me too long to join in with the choir. 

People here have loved and known Theresa so many years and I don't know nearly all or even half of the stories of mission trips, retreats, camp, choir, bus driving the senior adults...but she never met a stranger and she always greeted with abundant smiles. She could also look down, shake her head when one might say something one shouldn't but it wasn't too much too much longer she'd bust out smiling and laughing. Theresa once said to me, it's a good thing we aren't both sopranos, cause we would get in a world of trouble. Me not being a soprano has a lot more good things than that. That would be no range to even sing the lowest soprano note. Nope, it is the alto life for me. Many times after choir practice is when we got to visit. She told great stories and she had me all in when she'd begin, "well, one time....." We found out we had both been born in the Midwest and our conversation turned to shucking corn. I'd go with my cousins to farms in the area and earn 50 cents a bag picking and shucking corn. She had similar stories. One evening after choir Theresa and I were in the church lobby talking about this very thing when Debbie, choir director, walked past us. She turned and looked at us because she had mistaken shucking for another word that rhymes with it...we hurriedly let her know we were talking about working with corn.  A couple of years ago Roy saw some tambourine slip ons to wear over shoes and told me I needed to order two pairs. Why? Surely there is someone there with the same type sense of humor that would wear the other pair when y'all went to choir. Of course I first thought of Theresa, then Covid, so the tambourine shoes got put up for another time. 

Last Sunday in Sunday School, we didn't have a taught lesson, rather a sharathon of our friend Theresa. It could be 20 below and she would have on sandals or flip flops. I was told she didn't own a coat, said she didn't need one. Loved bling, lots of bling and her favorite color, orange. She is like no one else I have ever met and I am thankful to have met her on this side and look forward to seeing her. She'll probably say, girl, what took you so long! 

There has to be a thousand or more kiddos, teenagers and young adults touched by Theresa, her love of the Lord, her compassionate heart. I tear up while reading what others have written. So powerful, greater love, a new commandment love one another...she was all over that. There are a lot of tear stained eyes this week while we all prepare to honor a one of a kind friend. She was the heart and soul of our church. There weren't too many ministries she wasn't involved with. She loved Jesus and she loved his people. 

Our last conversation we had was a week before she passed away. We talked about clapping and she did her best to get everyone on the right beat that morning in church. She being a 2 and 4 girl, while I prefer the 1 and 3. A couple of Sundays ago when I once again joined in at big church, after my hibernation of January and half of February, she came out to find me after church. She said, it sure is good to see you back. Made me feel so welcomed and loved. 

I posted this picture yesterday of Theresa laughing so hard at the SPAM turkey Gertie and I made to have holidays on a budget. I told her she had won the door prize of this creation but she couldn't have the platter, we needed it.  Mash that SPAM together, put in a couple of chicken legs, complete with those little chicken leg hats. Stuff an apple and celery stalks in, you've got a meal. Theresa told me later she HATES SPAM, especially its lovely fragrance but she couldn't keep from laughing, as you can see here. 

Sunday morning while praying for our class prayer requests, I asked the Lord if he would tell Theresa hi for us and that we all miss her. 

I join the chorus of so many others expressing this, love you and miss you Theresa. We know you're singing in heaven and maybe if we get quiet one Sunday morning, we will hear your voice leading us in worship. 

Books, Nostalgia, Fake Naps and Meds

 Sunday, our pastor said, life is but a vapor. Vapor, box of chocolates...thank you Forest Gump. Anyway, in this season of life I would say life is but a vapo...Vicks Vapo Rub. It is fragrance du jour many days but never on Sunday morning. Just a few weeks ago Roy discovered Vicks Vapo Cream and I like it. Not as greasy as the good ol Vicks that mom rubbed on our chests and then pinned a towel around our neck but as effective. My Grandma B must have rubbed off on me here in the older portion of life cause she be lovin' some Vicks. It was a fix all for just about everything. 

I am almost finished with the book, Afternoons With Harper Lee. She certainly had a gift of wit and words and dare I say attitude. I wonder if she liked Vicks? Her friend that wrote the book and has traveled around the world giving talks on her work as well as other well known Alabamian writers. He was a professor for many years at Samford, then went on to great success at that other Tiger school, Auburn. The few times we have driven past Monroeville, AL, I have never been tempted to stop and do the tourist thing. For one, it is not the same with the exception of the courthouse. Still, not enough interest to drag me off the interstate path. Roy and I talked about, briefly, taking another trip to Israel. He has never been but it just doesn't have the pull for him that it has for others. I think it is the same thing as Monroeville. , it is not the same when Jesus was in and out of Jerusalem and Bethany and to the uttermost parts of the country. When it feels so rushed I have a hard time really taking anything in. Really, no time to ponder and pray with hundreds of new best friends. Early morning onto a bus until the evening...I'll be there when it is the New Jerusalem.

These Greeks that came to see Jesus in John 12 have held my attention all week. Lifeway once again, throws us in the middle of a story to fit their narrative, when it seems like we should at least spend a little time on triumphal entry. So, that is where we will begin on Sunday. Once again slinking in the shadows we will find the leaders intent on getting rid of Jesus and evidence of who He is. But in their midst truth is spoken and hopefully the disciples are picking up on what is to come...they didn't. 

I just finished reading Afternoons With Harper Lee. I liked the book a lot and now wishing to be a little more elegant in speech and witticisms that would rival many. Alas, I enjoy that kind of writing and the little stories told impacting the big picture of just about everything. Now onto Beth Moore's memoir. 

The Boys have been especially entertaining this week. We got a collar for Willie and he is accepting it. Mr Mo is the only one we cannot get a collar on. Maybe not so much the collar but the little bell is what bugs him the most. Willie is so fast we needed to be able to hear him.  

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This morning I am still stunned at the news of a passing of a friend from church. No warning, no sickness, nothing...Saturday, when I usually fine tune the lesson, I couldn't keep myself interested because I knew we would need to talk and share about our friend's life in Sunday School. I will do a separate post but nothing was the same Sunday morning, a cold wind kept a lot of us from honoring her by wearing open toed shoes cause she wore them year round, snow, sleet, sun, cloudy, sandals of flip flops. 

With the grief of losing a friend, but we know where she is with the Lord, my niece Erin sent pictures from her special engagement trip with then boyfriend, now fiancée, Travis. Pictures taken on the beach and oh I don't know, something told me it wasn't Galveston...no, Oregon. Haven't set a date yet, but my brother says it is a destination wedding. 

Besides the much needed kitchen mopping, thank you Roy for keeping The Boys in the bonus room so I could do this unassisted with little cat paws, I didn't do too much on Saturday. Finished the Harper Lee book and began Beth's memoir. What a gift of telling her life story in such a concise and understandable way instead of bogging down in details that maybe we'd want her to tell. I am almost finished with the book. Loved reading about her early days at HFBC and with seeing a video on FB from the long ago service at FBC as it was known then, brought up a lot of memories from those days. The choir, Gerald Ray, Brother John, and Felix Wagner. Roll the eight year of church memories here with my friend and those years from long ago, Beth's memoir, I was quite nostalgic Saturday night. The chaos from her childhood years with her father, brought to mind the same kind of chaos with mine. One of the best things my therapist told me early on was, you're still seeing yourself as a little girl when it come to your father, with little girl thinking...but you're an adult, and you can think like an adult, make decisions like an adult...The darkness turned to the dawning and the dawning to noonday bright. I was also reminded of several camps I went to at the Peach Creek Baptist Assembly Camp. Beth told us of her week being a sponsor with 6th grade girls. When she described the bunk houses and especially the bathroom, I pictured it completely as described cause lo, I had been there many times during my incarceration, I mean week long GA Camp or Junior Camp and some weekend retreats with our church in youth group. Ah, evening vespers at Peach Creek. 

Last week held a little bit of a heart issue and I felt pretty sure it was medicine related. Low blood pressure, a little lightheaded. It seems that one of my heart meds, now that I have gone the twice a day pills rather than one extended release pill due to drug costs, caused my problem. So, not eating a hearty breakfast, not even eating a non healthy breakfast, the fact was, I didn't eat enough to counteract the absorption rate and that knocked me to the bed a couple of mornings. I just happened to read an article on beta blockers and got the information of the importance of eating beforehand being especially important with the twice a day pills. No wonder it doesn't bother me at night. Anyway, think that is corrected now and Roy has included me in his hearty breakfasts for a few days. Scrambled eggs, bacon, orange and strawberries cut up.  

Hoping that The Boys having brunch just a few minutes ago will calm them down enough for a nap. Lots of hard playing going on. Fake naps, they're back to wrestling. 

A Happy Week

 This hasn't happened in a long time but a big hunting dog is roaming around, between houses and such. Roy went out to feed the Feral Fam and no one, not one of the family came to eat. The dog was just caught by his owner in our driveway. Hope we see some familiar Feral Fam faces today. I am so thankful we put up the fence, although I think that dog could jump it easily. One of the bigger black cats was found by our neighbor yesterday close to the road. Why they are drawn to that busy road, I don't know. So there is a stillness in the air this morning. I just saw one of the black and white cats out back on one of the cameras. Hope is rising. So thankful for the fence, that helps so much in keeping the dog strays at bay. 

My new definition of hope comes from our Three Boys. It matters not the time or the reason why, but if just but one person enters the space of the kitchen, one or more have hope that there might be some kind of food involved, meals or treats. It doesn't matter. A pretzel bag or a Friskies Treat bag, it all sounds alike to these boys. 

When Roy and I got home yesterday afternoon, a white truck was parked in the surveyed part of the pasture across the road. Didn't see any action but that day is coming soon enough. Saw on the first piece of property sold where a big beautiful home is being built, evidence of perking on the lower part of the property. Don't know if they were successful or not. 

We are seeing a few of the Feral Fam return. I sure hope Twiner and Dot made it. I've been working on getting them to get over being frightened of an interaction with me. For sure we've seen Toupee, her two kittens, Barney and Cutie. Cutie doesn't really hang out here anymore but maybe all the excitement drew her in for a bit. Both Twins and Beanie have been back as well as Radley stop in for food yesterday afternoon. 

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Back to normal with The Feral Fam this morning. The brief distress of the dog is now in the past. All were in attendance for breakfast. 

The big news around here is the paper mill in Canton shutting down in June. Over a 1000 jobs will be lost. This plant made mostly products like paper plates, cups and the like. Guess people are using paper goods like they used to. It is really so sad because the downtown area of Canton was making a comeback with great places to eat and interesting shops. I have several friends who have family working at the mill. This mill has been around since 1908. I read an interesting article this morning on the history of it. 

Even though the Murdaugh trial is over, the after affects as well as more indictments linger. For me it is an interesting look into generational issues, for a lack of a better word, that come crumbling down at some point. A video brought down this dynasty. Roy and I were talking about this just a bit this morning and if you are committing crimes and running several counties, it would be wise to keep up with technology. Also a narcissist in the mix throws a few curve balls. Unless one has had close up and usually long time dealings with one, it can be unnerving to find out that everyone and everything is just a possession. A possession that needs to be at their beck and call, one they can control, and when you are no longer needed...although there is always some usefulness of a person to a narcissist, they'll tuck you away. It is a hard, difficult fight to get away from someone like that but is worth the fight. 

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We finally made our trip to Burnsville. We planned to shop at Lamp Post Vintage Market and then go to Cast Iron Kitchen for lunch...only, there is no more Cast Iron Kitchen. They're gone and out of the restaurant business. The food there was farm to table, delicious and always good specials. This made us expand our horizons and so after saying we would try Rio's, we tried Rio's yesterday. Roy had the Texas fajitas...beef, chicken and shrimp and I had the spinach mushroom quesadilla. Those must not be ordered often because our server wanted to see where that was on the menu as well as when we paid, the cashier had to refer to the menu to find the price. There is one in Mars Hill that is fairly new and another Mexican restaurant is opening near TJ's in Mars Hill. Still no chili gravy on enchiladas but hope springs eternal. 

So many beautiful blooms now, kind of early for them and next week forecasts much cooler temps than what we have been experiencing. Enjoying them while they last. 

Scoops, LazMarMar and Power

 After some weekend temps that felt a bit winterish, we will now have spring for the week and then for the weekend, the dip in temps. Kind of feels like living in Texas. 

Roy got all the scoop yesterday while taking the garbage cans to the road. Our neighbor above us told us about the activities of the messy house below and to the right on the road. Don't think there is too much good happening and two pit bull dogs. Our neighbor below us on the road caught him up on the pasture across the way. The man who owns the property could not sell the large parcel so he is dividing it up for houses. Right now two are planned but our neighbor thinks they'll be nice sized homes and not like some that are thrown together. Anyone want to be our neighbor?

The JOY class is just so special to me. They put up with a bunny trail teacher and one that is not very organized in administrative details. So generous and truly a prayerful class. Lots of laughing together but we weep when one is weeping. We were able to get through half of the lesson yesterday so we will pick up with Jesus at Lazarus' tomb. The customs and practices of funerals and culture in the Bible is so interesting. The context and background makes the already alive Word, alive. I marvel at seeing the book of John so differently this time around. Some of the commentaries emphasize the deep friendship that Jesus had with this family, more so than how I usually studied in the past. The class was fortunate not to have me sing along with Karen Peck and The New River Band, Four Days Late. Roy got that thrill in the car as we went to church. But God...right in the middle of my most dramatic interpretation of the song, a flock of wild turkeys over to our right side, had their attention diverted from looking for food and deciding to fly in front and barely over our car. Of course to maneuver the car from a direct hit, the singing stopped. I must ask Roy is God answered his prayer to silence the SS teacher rendition of this song. I wonder if he fondly remembered when I first discovered this song, along with Get Away Jordon back in the day.   

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It has been a week since last attending to the blog. The mornings got away from me. But, this Monday morning, there is a respite. Because of Roy's allergies this morning our original plans of going out for breakfast, getting his glasses adjusted and a trip to the Barnes and Noble have been punted till later in the week. It's just as well, love a Monday morning...easing into the day. 

The John 11/12 combo lesson got done with just a few minutes over release time. I have certainly enjoyed studying about Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The question always asked, are you a Mary or a Martha? I think I am a LazMarMar, a little bit of each of them. Lazarus was at the table with Jesus in Luke 10 and John 12 and got that four day break from everyday life. He doesn't say a recorded word in the gospels but what an influence. 

Last year we waited too late to buy more forsythia to put along the side fence with the ones we planted in 2021. On Saturday we found several, not much to choose from, already. After church and lunch we planted three of the plants and then planted two trees. When spring actually arrives, we have several projects to redo the pandemic garden work that kept me occupied during those days of less travel and more prevention. 

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Lost power, generator came on, power returned, generator off, we are both wide awake and up early. The Boys started slowly with a rambunctious morning but they are in full play mode. All three of them are engaged in stalking and chasing. Think GMoey just left the group for a nap.  

Roy got the last forsythia planted yesterday afternoon in the warmth of 71 degrees. It is going to be a hard year for peaches after seeing a local orchard has lost all the peach blooms due to the high impact of the wind. Our peach tree still has blooms but the cold temps next week might zap it. 

I kept up with the Murdaugh trial over the past few weeks. Mostly I watched recaps but I did watch Alex's two days of testimony. I've read a lot of articles and interviews from the beginning of this family's influence in the lowcountry till now. I will probably write something on this later but for now I am thinking on these things.