I am still at my sister’s home staying with my mother (and taking care of her chickens). I solved the problem of “Escaping Eleazara”! Ummm, Ummm, GOOD!
MY MOM
June 25, 2008 at 8:11 am (Family)
Yesterday was a day that I will remember forever. Not because of Eleazara (who escaped once again), but because of my mother. When I went into her room to help her get up yesterday morning, she was sitting on the side of the bed with her eyes closed, quietly singing to herself (or so she thought). She went from one hymn to another. They were songs of devotion and commitment to God and His ways. She is 88 and past her “prime”. But for just a few minutes, her voice took me back to when I was small and sitting on her lap. I would place my ear on her chest and listen to her voice “from the inside out”. It’s one of those things that always made me feel secure when I was a child. And yesterday morning, as I prepared to care for her, my Mother took care of me for just a little while.
ELEAZARA
June 24, 2008 at 8:22 am (Uncategorized)
My sister, Kathie, and her husband, Jim, are on their way to Cambodia to dedicate property for a new Teen Challenge Center. I am excited for them and proud of what God is doing in their lives.
Because my Mother, Lois (who is 88) and my Aunt, Tibby (who is 91) live with Kathie and Jim, I am staying at Kathie’s house for almost a week. My sister, Judi, will be staying for a week also. I have been looking forward to this time with Mom and Tibby. They live 6 hour from me, so I don’t get to see them as often as I would like.
Kathie and Jim live in a big old farm house in the middle of no where. It is only about 10-15 minutes from downtown Scranton, but it is on a dirt road with woods and lots of animals surrounding the house. Kathie raises tomatoes and chickens. (???) We grew up across from a farm and always had a garden. I guess she thinks that qualifies her to be able to do these “farm” things.
It is very peaceful and refreshing to be here. I got up at 6:15 this morning and had my coffee and devotions on the back porch. As I was relaxing, I watched three deer getting their breakfast. The birds were chirping and the farm machinery was starting to “whirl” in the background. And then I looked down at Kathie’s chicken poop, oops, I meant chicken coupe.
Yesterday, I went to “gather the eggs”. I thought that Kathie wanted the chickens and ducks (19 total) to be able to roam free all day. So I let them out! I later found out that they are better off (and so is the yard) if they stay in their pen. It didn’t take too long to corral them and get them back in, except for one, Eleazara. She refused to cooperate. It was evident she wanted back in the pen with her friends. But she did not want me to put her in there. I tried all day and evening. I offered her bread from my hand. She grabbed it and ran. (Chickens run fast!) I talked Spanish to her. (Kathie said she was some type of Spanish chicken.) She ignored me. I tried to trap her. It didn’t work. Finally, out of desperation, I left the door to the pen ajar just a bit. Eleazara walked right in! What’s with that????
This is a picture of her this morning, happy with her friends! She won’t be left out anymore by me!
GOOD FRIENDS
June 21, 2008 at 6:22 am (Friends)
Friends are something that I cannot live without. To me, friends are important for a number of reasons.
Not only are friends my encouragement during difficult times, but they are also my gauge as to where I am in my life. They help to “keep me on the right track”.
But there is another aspect of friends…THEY ARE FUN! Last night, at a wedding rehearsal, we were able to connect again with some very good friends, Brandon and Ashley Watkiss. We spent 6 years working together here in Beaver Falls. They were wonderful years of ministry and, definitely, friendship. We love to re-live stories from those 6 incredible years. Ask Brandon sometime about “Where’s baby Jesus?” Also, one of my favorite stories has to do with Brandon, KDKA radio, and Tracy Smith. Ask him about it! Hopefully, he will tell the whole truth!
While Brandon and Ashley are still living locally, we do not get together with them very often. It seems we all get really busy with too much “stuff”.
Anyway, last night we spent a couple of hours together, just eating, laughing, talking, and sharing ministry stories and thoughts. It was good. Boy, do I miss them!
JON & KATE PLUS 8
June 15, 2008 at 5:30 pm (Uncategorized)
Last Saturday, June 7, I had the privilege of hosting a session at a Girls Ministries Retreat that included Jon and Kate Gosselin of TLC’s Jon and Kate Plus 8. I watch the show on a regular basis. I love seeing the twins and sextuplets. But even more, I enjoy the banter between Jon and Kate. I wasn’t sure how our session was going to go. People aren’t always as they appear. To my delight, they were exactly as they are portrayed. They were so funny! And so very REAL. One thing that impressed me is the individuality that they portray with each child. Mady and Cara (the twins) are very different from the other. And each of the sextuplets have distinct personalities. I love the creativity of God!
FAIR WEATHERED FAN
June 3, 2008 at 8:57 am (Uncategorized)
Fair weather fan. That’s what I am! I do not enjoy watching hockey. It requires too much that I don’t have. It requires me to stay up too late. It requires me to understand icing, and the blue line, and all those foreign names. And the 20 minute breaks between periods! What’s with that???
Having said that, I also want to say, “GO PENS!” I hope you win! I am going to be watching at least part of the game tomorrow night! Why? Because it’s Pittsburgh, and I love to watch a winner! I love to be on the cheering team for a winner! Maybe I will actually get excited about the Pens for next year. I might get addicted to this game! I might become more than a fair weather fan!
(Okay, here comes the sermon…) Kind of reminds me of church. We get upset with people who only show up at church when something exciting is happening. They don’t want to “put into it” what is required the rest of the time. But let’s not get frustrated with others. I hope I can encourage them. Because maybe, just maybe, they will become more than a “fair weather church goer!”
TO DELEGATE OR NOT TO DELEGATE?
June 2, 2008 at 8:38 am (Leadership)
Great leaders delegate. Okay, so I’m not a great leader! I admit it! Often when planning an event, I know what I want, and I know how I want it done. Sometimes when I delegate, it doesn’t get done the way I want it. I want excellence, not mediocre! I know that sounds awfully arrogant of me, but I believe we should do our best for God. I know how I want it done. God gives us visions, goals, plans. What is wrong with trying to get it right? God’s Word tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”
If you have a differing opinion (or if you want to back me up on this), let me know your thoughts.
