The Gift of Community.

 The Gift of Community.

 

One of the things we often need, whether or not we ever consider it, would be community. The comfort of recognizing the person next to you or having to meet strangers from one week to the next is the difference between a small church and a larger one. Over the years since leaving my parental home, my own family got to observe the difference between a large gathering and one where almost everyone not only recognized you, but they knew the names of your children. After we stopped traveling any distance to attend church, it seemed too strange to start attending any other church. We realized that not many people would understand how we believed or what we considered important in a service. We had sung songs derived from the scriptures for long enough that anything that did not really include recognizable Bible verses or even the old familiar standards from a Baptist hymnal were not only foreign, but almost wrong-headed. Such differences have become, over the years, one of the major reasons that this old woman has not attended a local church and become familiar with members. Today, that was pointed out to me as a character flaw.

 

Now not many people have the chutzpah to challenge the old woman on her beliefs. Maybe it is simply the personality traits that come across as embedded in stubbornness. And maybe some folks are too timid to ask me to explain my beliefs. But when it is obvious that someone wants direction or encouragement, it’s time to reach out of one’s comfort zone to adapt to the needs of others. So, here we go to challenge my own character and beliefs. Guess who will be looking for a good Baptist church that is small enough to notice when a stranger attends a service.

 

The mopping of some (certainly not all) of the floors yesterday left me with sore hips and a sore rotator cuff. This morning, walking down to Patty’s to put out her trash, the sore hips were very noticeable. But it still felt good to walk. Every morning, when my feet hit the floor, it is easy to give thanks that walking is even possible! Still, it would be nice to be able to clean more of the house at one time than just a few floors. Sigh. Soon maybe the old body will recover more of the resilience that has always been there in the past.

 

Some pork loins have just been placed in the Ninja cooker, some of Brenda Jones’ eggs taken off the stove to cool after boiling, and some frozen leftovers heated up to make lunch for today. Love this kind of cooking! Jennifer has taught me so much about making my meals work out to be easier for a week at a time. But then, she works five days a week and then takes care of meals on weekends! Never knew how blessed this old woman was when she was that age and able to keep up with everyone in the family. Just keeping up with all the laundry and mending used to make me feel fairly proud of myself! Silly ol’ woman.

 

As soon as the surgery can be scheduled, my friend Michelle Malay is having a rotator in her shoulder replaced. She says it is an out-patient surgery and that Medicare pays for it now. She also said that there is a new out-patient facility behind the Ford House on Kell West also. Some doctors here in WF simply do not want to deal with United Regional. So far, since Dr. Kern has his own nursing team, this ol’ girl has had no problem with going to United. Back when Lewis had surgery there or when Hanan went there after being burned in an explosion, no way would that place have deserved any recommendation. The nurses were a lot of things, but kind was not one of them. Here’s hoping that Michelle will have a quick surgery and a good recovery.

 

The hints of the possibility of rain this week have disappeared and some suggestion has been made for Saturday, but no one around here is holding their breath. But at least the winds have slowed down to 19 with gusts only at 26 mph. Have a feeling that this is going to be a long dry summer. And Sylvia takes time to got wade in the water trough at least once a day. Guess that is one way to be sure that her “mom” will mop the floors!

 

Today is the last of March. Wonder if that will make any difference in anything. Think we are supposed to have some kind of alert on our phones on Thursday—not the sirens for storms at least. Just got an alert about a wandering man here in WF who needs to be found and taken home. SO glad that Mom never got totally lost. Realized my friend Janis was in trouble when she got lost on her way to church one day. She died soon after that. Hope my kids never have to deal with that situation.

 

Let us attempt to be an encouragement for others with a giving heart and kindnesses. May we show others God’s love.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Calendars and Cycles.

 Calendars and Cycles.

 

Not often, but often enough that some of us might have noticed, the timing of Easter and Passover occur at the same time. Of course, Passover actually means the Days of Unleavened Bread, but that includes the Passover service. This year, from April 2-9, we will see the first of the seven holy days. Quite often some folks have signs in their yards—He is RISEN! Yes, and the Passover was the first sign that His sacrifice would ensure that those who believed in Him would be passed over from eternal death. John 3:16 tells us that whosoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life. At my age, it is easy to see that many have died, but this is just the first death—not the end of life in God’s kingdom. Death is not frightening now for some of us. It is to be expected. But there is eternal life in God. Christ risen is a beautiful reality! May our world soon see that they are living in His grace.

 

Caught my brother doing dishes this evening and told him to just call back when he was finished. Doing dishes is not one of those jobs that we want to put off after starting them. In the first place, the water loses its heat. And who wants to put their hands in lukewarm dishwater? When asked how things were going, he replied, “Just another day in Paradise!” Asked him where he got that expression, but he could not even tell me. Just something he has been saying for years. He and his one-eyed friend George have just about made themselves a type of paradise by building up a workshop to make their rockers, benches, and assorted woodshop goodies. Men need other men just as women need other women. Lewis used to have a friend he called Okie (George was his real name) and they got together and gossiped just like men always do. But the guy didn’t wake up one day and Lewis lost his special gossip buddy. That was really hard on him. His friend David was still around back then, but their relationship was not as close. It just was not the same. Some of us can easily relate no matter if we are men or women.

 

Recently my friend Roger told me that our class was having its 60^th reunion at the same week that Petrolia School was having the 25^th reunion for the new school. At first, it seemed like a good idea to go, and then thinking about it made me change my mind. You see, getting together with the Route 66 Group pretty much fills the gaps that resulted when this old woman went to another school to finish the last three years of high school. The only people that really matter to me from Petrolia who are still alive are the ones that come to those get-togethers every four months. Most of the group still look pretty much like they did when we were in school. And, to tell the truth, personalities don’t seem to change that much over the years. And the buildings where this old woman went to school are no longer in existence. Only know of one classmate in this area from those years. Life is strange.

 

Thompson has been hurting some and has needed a little bit of extra medication and some petting. His arthritis hurts in his back legs. Some of us know just how he feels. This weather has been a bit rough on the joints when we try to get up—for him especially on a slick floor. Getting old is not for sissies.

 

Noticed that the Dierer Ranch in Oklahoma was pointed out in Washington DC as being a family-owned ranch that shows just what American beef means to this nation. It feels good to know that we can buy meat that has been grown here and processed here in America. Think that the new labeling is something like Made in the US or Grown in America. Will have to pay attention if the old woman can ever afford to buy beef again.

 

Have been praying that things work out for Max and Laisha and that they know something by this Monday. They are hoping for base housing so that if he is deployed to the Middle East, she will be safe on base. The mess with the house they were going to buy is not a good situation, but it seems these things happen. Guess that is why they have all the strings attached to selling and buying houses. SO glad not to ever have had to deal with this. Have lived here nearly 58 years now. Just paying the taxes and the house insurance is enough of a stressor. And no, it is not likely that Texas will ever do away with property taxes no matter what is in the political wind. Meanwhile, my friend Carol in Odessa needs someone to mow her weeds and cannot find anyone who will actually show up. Sad, just sad. If we did not have Blake to keep the grass and weeds down, we would be part of the burn ban problems!

 

Well, time to remind myself and others that gratitude is the best attitude. We can praise God for all that He has given us each day. We are so very blessed.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Added note: Thinking before coffee and shower this morning about what got posted late last night. So, to clarify before someone gets hurt feelings: The ones from Petrolia that still matter to me include the ones seen on FB. Maggie Sewell, Olga Weruk Rosinbaum and her goat herding daughter Kim Rosinbaum Goolsby, matter, as do several others like Beverly Fuhrman, Gilda Bird, and others who were close to me in age. No way can this old woman say that these don't matter, because they do. But keeping up with folks on FB makes me feel as if they are seen here regularly. They are all loved and appreciated.

lose to me in age. No way can this old woman say that these don't matter, because they do. But keeping up with folks on FB makes me feel as if they are seen here regularly. They are all loved and appreciated.

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Early Start Day.

 Early Start Day.

 

Got my shower taken and hair almost dry before taking off to go pick up the prescriptions from United pharmacy this morning. Got back and made a “Sterling special” of two eggs, cheese, milk, and a little wrap thing in a bowl to put in the microwave for breakfast. That makes a decent meal and is only one bowl to clean up with a couple of forks. And it is so much cheaper than buying an egg wrap at Taco Bell or someplace. As it was, the visit to the pharmacy was too expensive! But that was the last time to have to get those drops for my eyes and for the pain meds to be refilled. Have not had to take much for pain lately except for the dadgummed shoulder (rotator cuff) where the old woman landed when the dogs pulled/pushed me down on the porch. Now one dog is confined to the kitchen while the other dog is loaded in the truck. No way they can get me between them again that way.

 

Patty watches TV quite a bit—well, nearly all the time—and someone named Gregg Gutfeld said that Hillary’s staff asked for a blue background and “beauty lighting” for her deposition before Congress the other day. They had to refuse since they said she could not give a deposition in the dark. Ahem. Yes, that is semi-political. So, sue me?

 

Sterling was bragging about the rain that they got up there in Arkansas this morning. Well, we have some clouds now with a sweet breeze at least. Saw a drop of dew on one of my bluebonnet rhizomes out in the walkway earlier, so maybe our ground is getting some good from the humidity at least. May God give our land the moisture it needs and fill up the stock tanks and lakes again.

 

The silly Bradford pear is beginning to bloom. Useless piece of garbage that the dumb ol’ woman planted umpteen years ago. Sterling said that they are trying to get rid of them in Arkansas because they are considered invasive. Sigh. Now the good things are beginning to bloom, too. The neighbor behind me may not have anything else going for her yard, but her peach tree is blooming such pretty pink blooms. Here’s hoping she gets a bumper crop!

 

Love this ninja cooker that Jennifer had sent here. That thing is so easy to clean up, and it cooks slowly—or quickly—just the way things need to cook. Then there is the ninja coffee maker! Talk about smooth coffee! My decaf French Market with chicory is delicious! Some of the latest cooking instruments are really an improvement on what we have had in the past.

 

Patty just called me to say that a delivery guy had brought her Thompson’s Rx, so in the morning, the old woman will go down and put her trash in the bin and pick up Thompson’s meds. Meanwhile, another delivery guy just brought half of an Amazon order to my dogs. Turkey Tendon Strips! Oh boy!

 

My “supper” is ready now. The dogs have already been fed even though it is pretty early, but the old woman may have some veggies with her cooked chicken here in a few minutes. The scales at Dr. Kern’s office showed a seven-pound gain since the last visit. DANG it! Carbs and sweets. Sigh. Need to stick to more veggies and just have cheese instead of sweets. Nothing like trying to keep one’s calorie intake at a minimum or at least to reduce the amount gained. You’d think by this age one would have figured out how to do a better job of handling weight gains.

 

Patty was just now telling me about the humongous distortion of costs for an advertisement put out by a Christie Noem. Sounds as if someone is getting a bundle of money on taxpayer expense. Nothing unusual, but still just as wrong as ever! Can’t imagine how much could be saved if honesty were a prerequisite to being in public office. May God help us to find honest men and women to serve this nation.

 

Well, we still have reason to be grateful for the beauty around us. We don’t need AI to present the awesomeness of spring and the sweet creatures that fill our lives. Let us look for truth and beauty in our lives with joy.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Busier Day.

 A Busier Day.

 

Sitting here in the office, the old woman has the heater going, and Dear Hearts, it really does feel good. We got zero rain, but the air feels flush with moisture. Not sure that will do the ground any real good, but it is not as bad a 115 degrees and total sunshine. Guess it doesn’t do to complain one way or the other, but that won’t really stop the complaining if it has already become a habit.

 

Made two doctor’s offices today. First was the neurosurgeon’s office and last the ophthalmologist office to get my eyeball measured for the new lens. Kara, Dr. Kern’s PA, said they would only need to see me on a as needed basis now. And the wobbles and the weird feelings will get better as the muscles readjust down my back. At least the incision looked really good. And Dr. Compton’s office said that they would wait until the morning of the eye surgery to collect my part of the surgical fee from me. The instructions say not to bring anything of value with the patient, so Roger may get to hold on to the old woman’s phone/credit card packet. Just know he will find a pocket or some place to put it. Too bad men do not carry purses. Ahem.

 

My daughter posted a picture of a gorilla holding glue on FB today. The caption said that it was not glitter glue but gorilla glue that she used to hold everything together. KNOW that is exactly how she must feel right now. She does a rather large job in her family as well as in her business work, so maybe now it won’t be hard to decide what to give her for her birthday! Always looking for something with sass about it for her, but it’s not easy to find something just perfect for the best girl around!

 

Gave Thompson his night medicine a little early this afternoon. He was groaning, so my guess is that he is hurting just a bit. It could be the weather is making him ache like my back and knee are aching today. Let’s face it: when we get older, things fall apart or at least FEEL as if they are falling apart!

 

Watching the news and shaking my head, but noticed that the Kurds—who are both armed and trained—are attacking Iran on the ground from Iraq. Meanwhile, some in Iran are still determined to use one of the clerics’ sons to head up their government. It makes me wonder how long he will be alive if they declare him to be their leader since each one in the line of command has been killed so far. Each one of them has been a brutal beast by all accounts. Sad that the people of Iran have had to deal with these horrible men for nearly 50 years!

 

When we really look at other countries and what their people deal with, we have to feel so blessed. Oh, Patty and the old woman growl about how America has allowed our food to be loaded with chemicals, but at least we HAVE food readily available. If Americans were not subjected to so many chemicals in our food and other products, we might be considerably healthier. But eventually the cancers and other diseases caused by chemicals will be seen for what they are and alleviated. Or at least, that is my sincere hope. Meanwhile, we all need to be more careful about what we eat, how much, and how often we partake of things that are not good for us. It is too bad that so many businesses are more concerned with money than they are with the health and welfare of the public. Someday these things will change. Meanwhile, we have to take on the individual responsibility of choosing a healthy lifestyle.

 

Health includes our mental outlook as much as the physical, so let us work on including joy and as much love as we can give to others as possible. Giving love also builds up those that give it away. Like a smile, we need to be infectious.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.