LIFE CHANGES ON A DIME

I titled yesterday's post as Life is Changing. Boy is it ever!

Please pray for New York Avenue Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas. My brother-in-law is the minister there and my sister is the church secretary. Yesterday, three couples of their senior "Road Runners" group were traveling on a fun trip and had an accident in Crockett. One couple, Don and Bettie Davies died, Pat Parker died and her husband, Bill is in critical condition as he was airlifted to Tyler, Jack Chance died and his wife Dianne Chance was in the hospital but may have been released with minor injuries!

My sister said that Tommy had his sermon all planned out for Sunday. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Here are two crises, the hurricane and now the accident, As a church we need to stop worrying if we are clapping or raising hands. We just need to worship and worry about the world about us.

My heart bleeds for this family of God and for the families in crisis in New Orleans and all over the Gulf Coast. Many who are here in Beaumont are saying they are not going back to New Orleans. They have nothing to go back to and will start their lives over here or in a new place. Sometimes, I think it might be nice to start over without any baggage! Thank you God for the chances you give us to always start fresh with you and our lives.

LIFE IS CHANGING!

Life, as we know it, is changing all around. I see the devastation in the coastal region and I can’t fathom what is happening there. There seems to be no order. There seems to be no one in charge! No one that really knows what is going on! That is rare in our United States. But people are hurting and needing and when those hurts and needs are not met, people do strange and sometimes unthinkable things.

I can’t imagine shooting at a helicopter trying to rescue someone! That is unthinkable. But it happened. I can’t imagine taking things that don’t belong to me! But it is happening. I can’t imagine being so selfish as to walk past another’s need! But it is happening. I can’t imagine being so needful that I resort to these things. But it happens. Just because I have not ever had it happen to me, does not mean it does not happen nor that it could not happen to me at some time.

I remember the movie Trading Places and the bet the brothers made that if someone was rejected by friends and family and lost everything, they would turn to violence. It happened! We are base people and without Christ, we are hopeless. We lose everything and have no hope and we see these vile happenings.

I can sit in my clean, cool and comfortable home and watch on TV or type in my computer and sit in judgment on the people I am watching do these unthinkable things and say I would not do them. But in reality, I am not so sure that if I were in the same situation I would resort to whatever to meet my immediate needs! Especially, if I did not have the hope of Christ.

So I am trying real hard not to judge these people and realize that Christ is the missing link in their lives. Christ is the healer and need meter of all. Until I take Christ to these people, there will be these vile happenings.

UPDATE on CHARITY
I have not had anyone come into my home to date, to house during this crisis. I went to get my gift cards yesterday and took them to the church office. In talking with one of the ministers there, she had gone to the Ford Arena and they are not needing anything at this time. I told her and the others that I had thought about going out there and asking if there was a need for a young family to be housed and all I could think of was 1500 people all rushing to me to volunteer to come to my house!

The headlines would read: Another victim of Katrina ~ Woman crushed by mass!

She is going to a shelter in Lumberton and if she sees a need she will recommend them to come to my home. I told her I can remember when my youngest daughter was a baby and she was sensitive to loud noises and did not do well in crowds. I can imagine a young family with small children in similar circumstances and I would be happy to help them.

Also, the preacher’s wife has family-in-law that are currently housing 14 people from New Orleans and they know of other families coming in the next week to the area. They may take up our offer. So as of right now, I have no guests in my home. But the offer still stands and I am opening up myself to God’s leading as to who comes to my home.

___________________

On another note, I am asking prayers for my sister and brother-in-law. They are making life changing decisions in the next few weeks and it will alter their lifestyle and livelihood. Please pray for them.

GOD, I NEED YOUR HELP!

As we watch the coverage of the aftermath, we feel helpless. Yet, Tollie and I both had the same feeling last night. We want to do something. Of course, our first thoughts were we have this large house with extra beds and room for people. So, we both, almost at the same time, said we want to go get someone to stay with us, that needs housing.

But I need help in doing this. This will certainly be out of my comfort zone. Yet, if I want a B & B, someday, this would be like that! So.....how can I not try. Yet, a B & B could be a one night thing, where this may be a month-long thing! That is a huge difference! But I do feel compelled to do something.

I am going this morning to get some gift cards. We are collecting those at church to hand out and help the victims in some way. I will go to Ford Arena or call and find out what is the best way to help! I know they need money right now and that is certainly a possibility. But I will see what else I can do and I am praying this morning that God sends someone to us to bring home to our house!

This could be a turning point in our lives to go from wanting to be a different church, to being a different church!

PEACE!

In reading my list of blogs this morning, I read where Kip McKean is bringing back the "lost" from the ICOC and wanting to determine who is in or out! This brings back so many memories and not good ones at that.

Why do people feel compelled to judge the hearts of men? I know we all do at times but this is a constant in this man's life. Satan has a strong hold on this man and I pray for his freedom in Christ.

I am still praying for those in the Gulf Coast states who are hurting and not home and don't even know if they have a home to go to. It must be devastating! I am so thankful we were spared. We got a strong, short lived wind and rain storm through here yesterday in late afternoon that was nothing compared to what these people went through. This was just an outer band of storms that came through, but it was enough for me. Knocked over some plants and my front yard looks like beavers have been in my tree cutting the tips off!

So I am very thankful we didn't have a visit from Katrina and hopefully we will not see any of her family of hurricanes this season!

KATRINA!

We are breathing a sigh of relief as we watch Katrina going into Louisiana. She could have made her way further west but went north instead. We are happy. Not happy that others are suffering but happy she did not come our way.

I thought it strange this morning when I heard a senator from Louisiana say they were praying for the storm to go east of New Orleans! I am sure there were others praying as well, those east praying it would go west or east! Poor God! I know he must hear all these prayers coming from all directions and then has to decide to disappoint someone! Is this really how it works? I have so many questions concerning prayer and how it works and I can't wait to get to heaven and ask them! (Although probably by then, it won't matter to me)

What do you think about prayer? I know prayer works, I'm just not sure how it works nor am I sure I always ask the right questions in my prayers. I know God has a plan and does he really change those plans by hearing prayers? If that be the case, what causes him to change his mind and does he then become a respector of persons and then does it depend on our "goodness" or "badness" as to who he listens to? Or is it that it is so out of our realm of thinking that none of this is what happens at all and that what really does happen can't be explained in human terms? See, I have many questions.

Don't get me wrong, I do pray. I pray every night before I go to sleep and I try to pray often. I am sure I pray when things are tough and I need to have comfort. I try to remember to always pray for thanksgiving. But I am not sure I pray often and at the right times and especially I believe that I don't pray the right kind of prayer! I am working and studying on my praying to see if I can understand it more and more.

If you have ideas of how prayer works and how it affects us, please share them with me.

PERSPECTIVES!

It is interesting to me that no matter what you say, it depends on the other person's perspective as to how it can be taken. I know not everything matters in this regard, but in important things it does.

I have been dialoguing with my youngest concerning the relationship of her and her boyfriend. I will say something and depending on her perspective, she has to ask questions to make sure what I am saying. I know I assume too much sometimes and that causes a different perspective.

My point in saying this is how many times have I read the Word with a certain viewpoint or perspective in mind and taken it entirely out of context? It scares me to think that I can read the Word and not fully understand what is being said or how it is said because of the blinders I have on my eyes, in my heart and in my head.

I realize when we don't listen well and already have answers blocking the listening, then damage can occur. We become faulty in our decisions and can even be faulty in our convictions because of assumptions and differing perceptions.

We were asked in class once if the Word was truth? Of course! Also, if there was only one interpretation? I said a definite no and nearly every one else said yes. But we all interpret according to our own assumptions and perspectives. So how can we say there is one interpretation. There may well be one supposed interpretation but I find it hard to believe that there is only one and that when a certain passage is read it is interpreted the same by every reader. If that is the case, then why are there so many issues on the table and so many churches?

GOTTA RUN! LIFE IS GOOD!

I talked with my youngest last night after her visit to her boyfriend's. She was in Missouri for about 9 days! Wow! She sounded good. They had a good week with a few hitches, like a funeral! But that is everyday life and I am sorry they had that but fortunately for her it was not someone she knew. I know she is anxious to get her last semester of school over with. That is what is motivating her right now. I pray for her consistency and stamina as she completes this and makes enough money to sustain her while in her internship. She can do this. I am praying for God's hand to get her through to next May!

I will get Tollie to blog yet. John Alan Turner has a blog that has been addressing some issues we are dealing with right now. He has talked about not tinkering with what God has put in place and to stop praying for vision! Wow, that really hit me. But his point is that God already has a vision for the church. We need to be praying for strategy and working that strategy. It is indeed what our sheperds are doing this weekend. They had planned to get a vision for Christ Covenant, but now I think it will be a planning session to put into place a strategy for Christ Covenant. They need our prayers this weekend and I hope things go well for them.

I love my friends! Friends are the basis for my everyday walk while filling needs. Thank you God for friends. And speaking of friends, I have talked to my bestest friend this morning and then later I am going to have lunch with another best friend. So could life get much better? Don't think so. I will see my grandchildren and kids tonight and talked with my other kid last night. Life is good.

Gotta run!

Crafty Satan

I am currently reading a book to help me discover where my down spots are that hinder me from losing weight. According to the book, there is a line where we are above the line and happy. Coming down below the line causes us pain and unhappiness and that is when we go to external solutions, such as binging, drinking, really excess habit.

My biggest problem is finding when I am below the line. I think sometimes I am so caught up in my daily that I don't realize that I am below the line and it is really a long later that I see I was below the line.

Satan is crafty and fills my day with ho hum duties and discolors the truth so that I don't even realize what is happening.

Last night was an epiphany. I was laying there and realized that earlier in the day I had made a discovery quite by accident and it distressed me. I knew it distressed me but it was not until I was in bed, reading the book that I realized I had succumbed again to eating to mask over the distress I was feeling. Quite by quiet action I was hooked into an external solution without even consciously doing it. That is a scary thought. Doing something you don't intend to do.

Wow! I know how much I need to be conscious about what I do and why I do it.

At least I was eating Snack Well cookies so maybe they don't count as much as donuts?

I am praying for success in the actions that I hope to come about by acknowledging when I am below the line of happiness and using these external solutions to pacify my needs.

Blogging Gives Information

I have been reading the last few days the blogs that I read consistently. The buzz right now is the fact that Ann Coulter has been invited to speak at Harding in the spring.

At first, I didn't even know who Ann Coulter was, then I realized I had seen her and just heard the other day she was the one who wants to run against Hillary Clinton. To say that I am not political, would be apparent. To say that I don't read the paper is apparent also.

I realize today how "in my own little world" I am. I don't seem to have enough time in the day for my own little world much less what is going on around me.

Blogs have opened up that world to me. By reading blogs I can get a glimpse of what is going on around me and learn about the world around me. I have never been much of a political person. I do vote, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I wonder if my vote makes a difference when I don't even know who or what I am voting for! This can be a danger. I try to become informed but I realize so much of what I read and hear is tainted by that person/news political stance! So am I really getting the whole story by not researching out what I need to know.

But then I have never been very good at researching out anything. I like to take the easy road and get what is already researched! This is something in me I am finding that I don't like a lot. But I know I can change this, if I really desire to. So.....I may start watching more news TV instead of the old movies. I probably need to do more reading on the internet for the news articles and become an informed citizen. I'm just not sure I have enough time in the day, but if others can then I should be able to do this.

I know from own little world, there are enough problems without taking on more! So.....we will see how this comes about and whether I still like living in my own little world and I may close the blinds and watch Humphrey Bogart!

THUNDER!

There is thunder and lightening in his lips, Our God is an awesome God.

I just heard thunder outside and it reminded of this song.

I know I had asked my readers where and what they were doing five years ago. I will answer my own question, especially since it seems no one else reads my blog. But that is okay. I blog for me!

Five years ago, I was still reeling from a hard break in our church family! That seems such a long time ago and yet when I let myself think back, it still hurts. So, I try to look forward and not think back to those times.

I do have to say that though that is a hurtful time, it was also a very growing and maturing time! To say that I have changed is an understatement. Tollie and I were talking the other day and realized how much we have changed, especially spiritually. We are free in Christ! We don't worry so much any more. We don't feel like we have to walk on egg shells any more. We just enjoy worshipping God in everything we do and not just on Sundays!

I don't ever want to degrade or downplay our years at Westgate. They are precious years and precious memories and precious people! I love so many of them and miss them very much. Fortunately, we still have some of those people still in our lives! I would not want to go back though. I would feel stiffled and pushed down, like someone had their thumb on my head, pressing ever so hard to get me down! Does that make sense?

I can remember most that the last few years at Westgate were a struggle to keep my sanity. People were saying things about my mate that were unfounded, untrue and totally out of character for him. If they knew and loved him, they would know that. And in all that time, I kept thinking, can I make a mistake? Can we at least try other things to see if it works? Do we have to keep doing the same ole things and not growing? Why do we keep banging our heads against the perverbial wall?

At least now I know that if I have an idea, it will be listened to. Not that all my ideas will be done or tried and that is okay, but that I will be heard. That makes so much of a difference. And I know that people will take the truth and hold it high!

There are some things I want to change. I want to be more community minded. Yet, I am the one who did not sign up to do the Some Other Place Tasting. Why, I am not sure. But I find it hard to make those changes. Yet in five years, I have made milestone changes. When Tollie and I went to church with Mindy, it was a new experience for us. Something that five years ago would have been so hard for me to do. But I actually enjoyed the experience and want to learn from that experience.

Five years ago, I was in Beaumont, longing to know my grandbaby who was to be born in the next month! They were in Lubbock and we were 12 hours south in Southeast Texas! How in the world was I to be a grandmother 12 hours away? I prayed for three years for God to put us closer to my children! Never in a million years would I have guessed that my children would move to Beaumont! Thank you God for the experience to see my grandchildren anytime, and have them with me. To allow them to spend the night, see new and exciting things together, like movies, circuses and carosels.

Five years can bring a lot of changes and it has been that in my life. My children now live close, I have changed careers, going from doing medical transcription to managing a parts department to semi retirement. Now I work two days a week, doing fun jobs for an executive. I do genealogy work, publishing and printing calendars for the family and making menus for the family. I never know what project will come up next, but I find most of them fun.

I pray that your five years have found new growth and excitement in your life.

Blogging!

I am now blogging addicted! How did it happen? Well, I started doing my own blogging and looking at several other blogs. Now, I find that I can spend an hour reading other's blogs. I hardly have time to do my own blog.

I have found a connection in reading the other blogs and miss it when someone doesn't blog every day. I have my list and I go down the list and it seems that Monday's are always the day people decide to do other things besides blog. I find I click on a blog and go right to the next blog because there is nothing new to read. I especially find it disappointing when I continue to go to a blog and it hasn't changed in a week or even two! I want to ask where are they? Why haven't they blogged? It's like losing an old friend.

So.....in case there is anyone out there who is reading my blog, I don't want you to be disappointed and not find something new.

I have a new question and would like some feedback!

Where and what were you doing five years ago and how have you changed in these five years?

Start of a New Week!

Sunday has come and gone. The start of a new week! For many in our area, it is the start of a new school year. For some it is the end of summer and the beginning of school, a new job, a new relationship, many new things.

Do I have something new? Not really. I am still plodding on the same territory as I have plodded for many years. I have a two day a week job. I have three days during the week to do "my own thing", as long as that includes cleaning the house, washing clothes and mowing the lawn once a week! But I do have a lot of extra time, time to do what I want and usually that means cross stitching, especially since I am working on a special project at this time. I think I have plenty of time to get it done, but I want to make sure, so I work on it often.

I wonder sometimes if I have too much time on my hands. I seem to get down and depressed easily and I don't want to take medication all the time. I may start back on my depression meds to see if it will lift my spirit. But I hesitate to do that because it affects other things in my life, important things! So.....I will just continue plodding and praying for some relief.

RAMBLINGS!

Where have I been, you ask? I have not been at the computer long each day, just long enough to read my list of blogs and then rush off to work or wherever.

The kids are back in town and I got to see Ashton and Emma yesterday. They are growing as I type! I missed them and they had a good time on their trip.

I am reading a book now, "Blue Like Jazz". The reason I got the book and started reading it was because so many of the blogs I read listed it as a good read and one of their favorites. It is a good book with a totally different perspective on Christianity. I believe it to be a post modern definition for me.

I think it is funny how until I started blogging, I had not head the term post modern Christianity. I realized after starting to blog and read other blogs how unread and uneducated I have become. I am a smart person but I have tended to hide out in my own little world and be lost to the masses. That is not always a bad thing but in this case it caused me to feel left behind. I am enjoying catching up on reading the right now thoughts of those who I call brother and sister in Christ.

I will be away from my blog for several days as I travel with Tollie on his monthly trek to Tyler. I will enjoy being in the hotel and cross stitching, working feverishily to finish my project, watching old movies and letting someone else make the bed and cook the meal, not that I've done that too much lately. But it will be enjoyable anyway. But the best part will be being with Tollie. I don't like to be apart from him much and I don't like being home by myself away from him. So....it will be a good time with him.

Take care and hope you enjoy the rest of this hot month. School is about to start!

SATAN SPAM

It has occurred to me recently that I have been spammed twice! I received an e-mail from paypal concerning my account. I have received an e-mail once that stated I was trying to access my password. I didn't think too much of it. Then I get this e-mail that says I had added a new e-mail address. This I know I didn't do, so I was concerned and linked onto the link in the e-mail, thinking it was from paypal. After answering the questions it asked, I went on my merry way, but had a nagging feeling about it. Sure enough I researched it out again and realized it may have been a fradulent e-mail. I contacted paypal and sure enough it was a fraud e-mail. I had to go to my bank and get a new debit card and change everything in paypal. The link said it was going to paypal, but in reality when I clicked on the link, it went to a different source. So tricky and so underhanded.

Then the other day a cousin sent an e-mail concerning the ICE entry you put in your cell phone so that if you are in an accident the paramedics look there for In Case of Emergency number. Innocent enough and a good idea. Wrong! It is a phase one step of a several phase process to screw up your phone. Needless to say I repented and erased by entry quickly and notified those I had given this information to before. I don't like the idea that I have been duped so easily. But I have and now I realize how cunning and crafty these spammers can be.

Yet, I know Satan can be just as crafty and cunning and how often do I feel "spammed" by him? Not really that often. I know he is alive and well, but how often do I feel his presence in my life, trying to trip me up? Even though it is not often, I don't think it is because I am living such a Christian perfect life! I wonder if it is because I get so caught up in my living that I don't notice either Christ or Satan, just me! Of course, I guess that is one way Satan can spam us, cause us to get so caught up with ourselves.

So.....my goal today is to watch for spamming by the devil and make certain my eyes and thoughts are on Christ so I don't presume I am okay.

Interesting Weekend!

We went to Austin this weekend to be with our youngest daughter. Her boyfriend was there for a visit for one day, from Missouri! We had ice cream with them on Friday night for about an hour's visit. It was good. Unfortunately, he had to leave on Saturday to get back to his job and preach on Sunday morning. But the hour we had with him and Mindy was quality time! It was enjoyable and we want to spend as much time with them as we can.

Life has interesting twists all the time. I had blogged earlier concerning my decisions to make of whether to go to Austin this weekend or skip out and go to Lubbock for my aunt's funeral. I chose to go to Austin to spend time with Trent and Mindy and especially Mindy. I think it was the right decision! Sometimes, I wonder, but this time I believe it was the right decision.

We went to church with Mindy on Sunday morning. It was interesting to say the least. We know this is where Mindy is suppose to be at this time in her life. Is it where we would go if we lived there? Probably not, but for her, it is a good place. Gateway Community Church is full of life for the unchurched. Tollie and I were able to see the distinct differences in the way they think and what we are use to thinking in a church. What I mean by this is, it was obvious they have a heart for the unchurched and conduct their services geared to that. The music is loud and active. Although we were surprised it was paticipatory and not just entertaining. That was refreshing! They do not have communion. I can see their choice in not having it. I am sure their thinking is that they do not want any sign of "religion" so they stay clear of the rituals that might give that appearance. Mindy says they do have communion on a Sunday night service once a month. This would bother me, as I feel bonded to those I worship with during communion. I would miss this. I think it is an important part of my worship. Do I think they are going to hell for not having punched their ticket? No......anymore than I think someone is going to hell for having communion at other times than Sunday service! But I do think I would miss out on an important time of bonding for me. Bonding with sisters and brothers in Christ and with God!

It was apparent Mindy has made her mark there as she introduced us to others. The first was a young lady in her small group. (She is the leader of the small group.) Another was some young gentlemen she just said hi to. Then she introduced us to a man that had rave reviews for Mindy and her babysitting abilities. You knew she had impacted that family with her smile and grace! Then there was a young man in one of the children's classes. Later she told us he had asked her out and confessed his liking for her. She told him she had a boyfriend!

I am so proud of Mindy. It would be hard as a single young lady to go to a large church (they have three services on Sunday morning and adding another one soon) and participate and find your nitch. But she has and it is apparent she is enjoying herself. She told me later that at times during the service she thought she would check on us to see if we were okay but decided to just worship and let us worship in our own way.

We were fine. I did find myself crying, like I do often at Christ Covenant at the beginning of the service. I am not sure what brings the tears. Sometimes I think it is a longing for old ways but then I think it is just emotion for new ways! Does that make sense? Probably not because I don't know why in reality. But I thank God for the ways I have grown and am growing and I ask for continued understanding. I do think I have become more open minded and for that I am thankful. Mindy has parents who are not condemning of her ways and I am proud that I can say that. I did find myself wondering about some of the people at Gateway, but I also found that it is okay if they don't have it all together, because neither do I! That is refreshing and I am thankful for that revelation in my new life.

Have a great week and I give God the praise for children, friends, family and travel!

Gone Home!

I talked with my dad today. Daddy is speaking at the funeral for my 96 year old Aunt Virgie. Virgie raised daddy from the time he was eight when his mother died. There are only two siblings of the 12 children left living at this time. There are numerous neices and nephews.

I am praying for my dad today as he is wanting this day to be a rejoicing that Virgie is home. She lived a long, useful life of service to others. He wants others to know what Virgie did for others and how she impacted all those she came in contact with.

Daddy was telling me about the dress they bought for Virgie to be buried in. Virgie had asked that she have a long sleeved blue dress. Of course, today the designs are not like what Virgie wore. They don't even make those kind of dresses any more. So Mother and Daddy had a hard time finding what they could afford and what would be appropriate for Virgie. They finally ended up at Dillards and a little sales girl (as my dad called her) helped them find what they needed. As they were looking she would go get something for them to see. They finally found a dress for about $70.00 and were about to decide on that one when she came back with a beautiful little dress. I say little because my aunt was always small but she was down to about 55 lbs. when she died. The size had to be really small. She came back with a dress small enough and it was marked at $10.99. Daddy was confused when he saw the tag say $80.00 but then saw the 10.99. She assured Daddy it was only 10.99. They were very pleased and Daddy made sure he got her name and will contact Dillards on way she helped them at this time.

Thank you, Lord for taking this burden from my parents. You have been faithful them for such a long time in helping with so many of their burdens. Mary was a blessing, Sanders Funeral home is a blessing and now this young girl at Dillard's is a blessing. I only ask that you give my dad composure appropriately at the funeral today. Help him do the job he wants to do for Virgie. I am thinking of him and wanting to be there so badly. So give us all peace!

Torn Between Two Choices!

Torn Between Two Choices! That's a song? Well, anyway, it is like being torn between two lovers! I have been torn the last few days, do I go to Lubbock for my aunt's funeral or stay here and go to Austin to have breakfast with my daughter and her boyfriend? This may not sound like a great choice but for me it turned out to be a huge decision. At one point, I was going to Lubbock, then on Monday night, decided not to go. I awoke Tuesday morning with the determination that I was going and called my sister to say I was and would let her know how and when. I worked all morning Tuesday trying to coordinate my flights for going and coming home before too late on Friday. The flights to come home were early Thursday or Saturday. The funeral is at 2:00 pm Thursday and I have to be in Austin Saturday. I could drive it, but why drive 12 hours and be beat when I arrive and beat when I return and then head to Austin?

Have you gotten the picture that Austin is a sure thing? It is. It is very important to me to spend whatever time we can with Trent and Mindy. Afterall, it is a future we are talking about here! By going to Lubbock, I am going not for Virgie, she is gone. I would be going for myself and for my parents. If going for my parents then I can go later, next month and spend more than one day with them. By doing that, it serves both. So....that is how I made my decision.

Now, my question is after praying about this and making this decision, did God give me the answer or did I just figure it out? This is where I would really like for God to have a direct line for answers like this one. Which is best, God? What advantages do you see, because you can see so much better than I can, for doing one over the other? Both decisions were right in their own way but finances did not allow me to do both. Not this time! At least not in my mind!

I have to say I appreciate my son-in-law so much. As I was explaining all this to him after class tonight, he said we could leave tonight and he would take me all the way to Lubbock and then Cheryl could bring me back to Abilene and he would take me to Austin. He was serious! I appreciated his offer, but I will stay home and let them leave for Abilene tomorrow when they had planned. He was willing to give up his plans for me. (Now, how can you get mad at someone for something like that?)

So.....here I sit wondering if Cheryl and Terrie made it to Lubbock, wondering how my parents are doing, wondering what relatives have come and who decided not to come and what cousins will I miss seeing? I will call my parents in the morning and wish them well for the day and give them my love. I will work tomorrow and then leave Friday to spend an hour with Mindy and Trent and then have Saturday night and Sunday with Mindy and come home. In a few weeks, I will go to Lubbock and spend more than one day with my parents and you know what? Life will go on and we will all be okay.

Tribute to my Aunt Virgie

Virgie Novice Christian died yesterday at 96 years of age in Lubbock, Texas. She was the 6th child of 12 born to John and Alice Christian in 1909. Alice Christian died when Virgie was only 22 and Virgie's quest in life became that of her mother's, to keep the family intact. Virgie became "mother" to her five younger siblings, including my father, George. George was the baby of the family and Virgie virtually raised him after his mother's death. George was eight years old.

Virgie took on this new responsibility to care for the family, giving up her own personal dreams and ambitions in life.

I remember my aunt Virgie as a loving, caring, small woman. She was allergic to tomatoes! My dad would sometimes pick up Virgie on Saturday and she would spend the evening with us, eating supper and spending the night and then going to church with us the next morning. This was significant to me because Virgie was the only person in my daddy's family, "like us." In other words, she was the one I saw as a Christian and everyone else just went to church somewhere. It must have been through her and her raising of my dad that he was a Christian. I found out later in life that many in Dad's family came to know Christ through a friend of the family.

My aunt Virgie worked at a dry cleaners for many years. She walked every where she went in Lubbock. She never learned to drive a car. She either walked, rode the bus or someone in the family picked her up. One year, I was driving a church van and saw Virgie walking home from work. I stopped to pick her up and she scolded me for driving such a large vehicle. I was too small to drive something that big!

The only other time I remember Virgie scolding me was when I named my daughter Jamie. She didn't like the name Jamie. It reminded her of a little boy in school who teased her and was mean. She was afraid Jamie would be that way because of her name!

As Virgie aged and "retired" she spent a lot of time alone. She lived in an apartment complex with her apartment an efficiency. She never seemed to have much. She quilted some and had a sewing machine. The family she lived with when she retired gave her a TV for her many years of service. I think back now and realize how many years she was alone. All of her life was service to other people.

When Virgie was unable to live alone anymore, there was only three brothers left to care for Virgie and make the decisions of where she would be placed. Shortly, there were only two brothers to make this decision. Virgie had begun to have dementia and it was dangerous for her to live alone. Virgie went to live with my mom and dad for a time. But my mother's health made this difficult and it would not be long before Virgie needed more care.

My dad was able to locate a woman named Mary who was starting a home for caring for elderly and affirmed. She would only take ambulatory residents and would be happy to have Virgie. Virgie was the first to move into the home. It was a great place and there would be room for three others. Mary reminded my dad sometimes that she could only care for ambulatory patients and as Virgie aged he might need to think of other arrangements. But that day never came.

Virgie was taken to the hospital on numerous occasions and my dad would be told that this was probably the end. I remember one time when dad called to say that the doctors thought she would be gone in a day or two. Virgie was just sleeping and would not eat. About two days later, my dad went to the hospital to find Virgie sitting up in bed, eating and when he walked he, she stated, "hi, George." We all marveled, even the doctors, as Virgie returned to Mary. Our thoughts were all collective as we said, "she will outlive us all."

As Virgie became less able to care for herself, Mary took care of her more and more. She bathed, diapered and fed Virgie. In the last few years, Virgie had become totally bedridden. Mary never talked again of Virgie leaving as she loved Virgie.

Mary was a God send for my parents. Mary took care of Virgie like her own child. When I was in Lubbock in March, I went to see Virgie. As we entered her room, it was a bedroom with a hosptial bed. Unlike the smells and dingy-ness of a nursing home, it was very pleasant. My dad had not been able to get any response from Virgie in several months. Virgie would just lay, sleep and occasionally eat what Mary could coax her to eat. When I arrived, my dad went to her bedside and spoke loving words to her and told her I was there. I went to her other side and talked with Virgie and shortly, she turned her head, looked at me and smiled. She turned to my dad and said, "she is so pretty." As we were leaving, we both told Virgie we loved her and she mouthed the words, "I love you" back to us. With tears in my eyes, I suspected then that would be the last words I would hear from my aunt Virgie. I believe they were probably the last words my dad heard as well.

This sums up my Aunt Virgie. As she lay withered and dying, she was thinking of others. Virgie always knew my dad when he would visit. She would sometimes get confused who my mother was, but she always knew George.

Yesterday, my dad lost his sister, but he also lost his "mother". Virgie was a selfless, wonderful, Christian who is now at home.

Thank you Lord for the quiet spirit of my aunt Virgie. She touched lives as she lived quietly for you. She may not be known far and wide but she was known and loved by those around her.

Goodbye Virgie and I will see you when I come home!

CASA

I am posting the pics from the CASA Carnival and hope you enjoy seeing my grandchildren. These pics are my grandkids who came to the carnival towards the end of it. They had a short but good time there. The right pic is Emma and her dad and the left one is Ashton and her mom. It was a fun time.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. It is a volunteer based organization where a judge appoints a person to the voice for the child. These are children who have been taken from their home for various reasons. Sometimes the children are returned home and often they are placed in permanent care of CPS or adopted. The volunteer spends time researching what is the best course of action for the child. It is not always easy to find the best course but it is desired.

Didn't my son-in-law do a good job on the backdrop? He drew the mermaid and sea monster free handed and painted most of it. I did some touch up painting. I did the sea shells, the scales on the mermaid and brightened up the monsters face. It was fun to do and I think we make a good team. Thanks again, Paul. You really came through for me!

Great Friends, Good Food

We went last night to eat with some dear friends. We went to Esther's and had a great time. We enjoyed the company of "catching" up on the summer happenings and then we watched the alligater and catfish eat bread pieces. We drove down a dusty road and took pictures of the old "Rainbow Bridge". We checked out crayfish crates but decided not to take any home with us. Then an executive decision was made and we went to Marble Slab. By the way, Dixie, the resturant in Groves was Ellee's! I tried to call you last night but you must have been on the phone. I figure you were talking with Mary!

What a night. After all that eating and talking, we came home and had a nice quiet time home together. Seems our nights of outings and then quiet times have not been as often lately. We have been so busy and so entrenched in the summer, we just go, go, go and then go to bed exhausted. So even though yesterday was a full day, we really enjoyed the evening!

Yes, the CASA carnival was great. The kids really seemed to want their pictures. We had a couple glitches that caused us to lose our rhythm in taking and printing the pictures and then we got so far behind printing that a lot of the kids didn't get their pitcures. We hope to mail them or have some one come by the office to get them. Toward the end, we figured out the best way to take the pictures, download them to the computer and then work to get them printed. By then it was so late but now we know the best way for next year!

I am so thankful Tollie was with me and didn't go to the unity conference in Dallas! I would have never made it without him. I am also thankful to Paul for painting the back drop and glad the girls and their mom, Jamie came to the carnival. Even though they were at the last of it and didn't get to do much, including eat hot dogs!, they had a great time. CASA is such a great orgnization. It is there to help kids and helping kids, they do best! I will have pictures and more about CASA tomorrow.

Today, the Lord's day. The day we set aside for worshiping in a group to the Father of all. As I have said in the past, I refuse to call our gathering "church" and I hesitate to say we are going to worship. I am the church and I worship in every thing I do. So I am going to meet with my family of God and there we will all worship together.

Have a great week!