I've been in Oklahoma City this week to visit my mom and to go hear my future daughter-in-law sing at Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse in OKC. I knew she was a good singer, but I was truly amazed at the talent that girl possesses. Possibly because I would love to sing, but sound most times like a cross between a frog and a sick cow. I loooove to sing, but am resigned to singing alone in the shower or the car, *sigh*.
Future DIL is just incredible. She arranges a lot of her own music and covers a wide range of genres. I heard some rap, pop and old standards the other night. Of course, someone had to tell me when it was rap music because I am too old for that stuff! She's backed up by a guitarist, bass and drums. They are all wonderful musicians.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Provision
You know, sometimes it is just flat hard to be a mom.
Our youngest son and his wife are expecting their first child in August. We are ecstatic! DIL is one of three girls, our son is one of three boys. As our son put it last night, they win whatever! As we have only one granddaughter out of our other six grandchildren, you can imagine what I would like, but truly, healthy is great. Although there is a bounty out for the first red haired granddaughter-she will write her own ticket!
Anyway, about three weeks ago, DIL was laid off due to the economy. She took it well, and our son was only a little worried. Then, last week, he was laid off. Dag nab it! I am really trying not to get too upset and worry. TBO asked me why I was so gloomy when we heard the news and I said, well, what about the kids and the baby? I am just concerned about them. He said, "Well, we did it, didn't we?" I answered that with, "That was us, these are my babies!" Such logic.
It all comes down to trusting in the One Who has always taken care of us. Shortly before TBO and I were married I read Psalm 37 and I felt the words "I have been young, and now I am old, and I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging bread" were written to me personally. I, for the most part, don't feel very righteous most of the time, but I do have close to 35 years of walking with TBO and seeing the Lord provide. I just need to look back, remember, and be thankful. I know that God knows where my son and DIL are, and they will be all right.
Our youngest son and his wife are expecting their first child in August. We are ecstatic! DIL is one of three girls, our son is one of three boys. As our son put it last night, they win whatever! As we have only one granddaughter out of our other six grandchildren, you can imagine what I would like, but truly, healthy is great. Although there is a bounty out for the first red haired granddaughter-she will write her own ticket!
Anyway, about three weeks ago, DIL was laid off due to the economy. She took it well, and our son was only a little worried. Then, last week, he was laid off. Dag nab it! I am really trying not to get too upset and worry. TBO asked me why I was so gloomy when we heard the news and I said, well, what about the kids and the baby? I am just concerned about them. He said, "Well, we did it, didn't we?" I answered that with, "That was us, these are my babies!" Such logic.
It all comes down to trusting in the One Who has always taken care of us. Shortly before TBO and I were married I read Psalm 37 and I felt the words "I have been young, and now I am old, and I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging bread" were written to me personally. I, for the most part, don't feel very righteous most of the time, but I do have close to 35 years of walking with TBO and seeing the Lord provide. I just need to look back, remember, and be thankful. I know that God knows where my son and DIL are, and they will be all right.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The Queen and the Vet
Well, the Queen has been hacking around for a couple of days, once yesterday she coughed/gagged so hard that she knocked herself over. Called the vet and couldn't get in until this morning. (For any new readers, the Queen is our soon to be 17 year old Yorkshire Terrier.)
We get to the Vet's office this morning and weigh in...4.4 pounds. She is amazing, keeps her weight so carefully. After the indignity of a temperature check, the Vet arrives and listens to her heart and lungs. THEN he scares me a little by ordering an X-Ray. As usual, I am concerned that this might be THE DAY every pet owner dreads...the day when you must make the decision to put your beloved furry friend down.
The X-Ray shows a slightly enlarged heart and liver, but no masses or anything that the Vet is very worried about at her age. Then, we have the TALK about when he really encourages pet owners to put down their animal. He encourages owners to be aware of their pets getting "lost" in the house, getting in a corner and whining, pottying in their beds or in the house.
The Queen has some pretty serious cataracts, so I have been noticing her using the walls and furniture to navigate lately. But, other than the annoying cough/gag she is still the ruler of all she surveys. She is demanding of her carrots, dog biscuits and outside time. She still doesn't really like being held and petted (except at the Vet's office). The Vet said to keep an eye on her, and to think about his guidelines, but he did not recommend any drastic measures at this time. He gave her a B-12 shot and an antibiotic to help her drainage and sent us home.
The Queen will begin taking an oral antibiotic 5 days every 3 weeks to keep the oogie boogies in check in her mouth. The Vet is not sure she is a good candidate for anesthetic and a thorough cleaning. So, we continue our walk with our geriatric pet, dreading that day which shall surely come, when the Queen will need to go to her new realm. Until then, Long Live the Queen!
We get to the Vet's office this morning and weigh in...4.4 pounds. She is amazing, keeps her weight so carefully. After the indignity of a temperature check, the Vet arrives and listens to her heart and lungs. THEN he scares me a little by ordering an X-Ray. As usual, I am concerned that this might be THE DAY every pet owner dreads...the day when you must make the decision to put your beloved furry friend down.
The X-Ray shows a slightly enlarged heart and liver, but no masses or anything that the Vet is very worried about at her age. Then, we have the TALK about when he really encourages pet owners to put down their animal. He encourages owners to be aware of their pets getting "lost" in the house, getting in a corner and whining, pottying in their beds or in the house.
The Queen has some pretty serious cataracts, so I have been noticing her using the walls and furniture to navigate lately. But, other than the annoying cough/gag she is still the ruler of all she surveys. She is demanding of her carrots, dog biscuits and outside time. She still doesn't really like being held and petted (except at the Vet's office). The Vet said to keep an eye on her, and to think about his guidelines, but he did not recommend any drastic measures at this time. He gave her a B-12 shot and an antibiotic to help her drainage and sent us home.
The Queen will begin taking an oral antibiotic 5 days every 3 weeks to keep the oogie boogies in check in her mouth. The Vet is not sure she is a good candidate for anesthetic and a thorough cleaning. So, we continue our walk with our geriatric pet, dreading that day which shall surely come, when the Queen will need to go to her new realm. Until then, Long Live the Queen!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Dorothy L. Sayers
Ahh, Dorothy L. Sayers...what a writer. She was a contemporary of Agatha Christie and wrote some of the most wonderful books about her detective, Lord Peter Wimsey. Spooky Rach is reading some of her books now and I am thinking of digging mine out and reading them all again!
My mother-in-law, who started me reading English mysteries, was a true Lord Peter fan. She even taped the PBS series that was telecast in the 80s and then we would discuss how well or poorly the screenplay followed the books. As an English teacher, she was quick to point out that in England the use of the word "ain't" wasn't a sign of being unlearned as it is here in the USA, which was a total surprise to me.
Anyway, for those of you needing a good read for the new year, check her out! Great stories, tight plots and wonderful characters. The saddest part is that there are only about 10-12 Lord Peter novels. The rest of her work was in Christian apologetics, and I've never ventured out into that world! There is a writer who has taken at least one unpublished manuscript and finished it. It is pretty good, but I can't remember her name at this time...perhaps it will come to me soon! Get comfy with your favorite beverage, blankie and read up a storm.
My mother-in-law, who started me reading English mysteries, was a true Lord Peter fan. She even taped the PBS series that was telecast in the 80s and then we would discuss how well or poorly the screenplay followed the books. As an English teacher, she was quick to point out that in England the use of the word "ain't" wasn't a sign of being unlearned as it is here in the USA, which was a total surprise to me.
Anyway, for those of you needing a good read for the new year, check her out! Great stories, tight plots and wonderful characters. The saddest part is that there are only about 10-12 Lord Peter novels. The rest of her work was in Christian apologetics, and I've never ventured out into that world! There is a writer who has taken at least one unpublished manuscript and finished it. It is pretty good, but I can't remember her name at this time...perhaps it will come to me soon! Get comfy with your favorite beverage, blankie and read up a storm.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
December Ramblings
I have been fighting with my computer since I last posted almost a month ago. The computer, unfortunately, has been winning. I have been able to view other people's posts, and sometimes make comments (I know you have been blessed), but haven't been able to open my blogspot to make my scintillating observations.
Yesterday, the bearded one fixed my "side" of the home computer. I am now back in the 21st century, so to speak. I can now e-mail, blog, bank online, etc. with impunity. I am soooo excited.
This has been a strange December for me. I didn't have anyone under the age of 60 around to help get the Christmas boxes out of the attic. I have been banned from attics since I stepped through an unfloored section in our old house about ten years ago and ended up on the washing machine! Anyway, I, who love to put up a tree and decorate with my limited abilities have been stymied this year. I am sure that in January, I will be glad that I don't have to face taking it all down and getting it up to the attic, but I do miss my "Christmas things".
We went to Oklahoma City last week to attend the annual Lifechange Ballroom competition. It was an awesome show. Eight groups of fifth graders competed for the traveling trophy. These were the best of the best...the program is now in about 24 elementary schools and these students won the preliminary round to come to the "big show". Kudos to my sister for her vision and perseverance to make this happen for these children. In many of these schools, there has been a marked increase in test scores and a marked decrease in discipline referrals. As Cindy says, this is a mentoring program disguised as a dance class!
Last Friday I went to pick up my check for subbing in the last pay period. I was so blown away to discover that one of my former ESL students is now an assistant to the business manager for the school district. She has her BBA and is being groomed to take this woman's position. Who knew when she came and could speak no English that she would accomplish this? I am excited that I had even a tiny part to play in her success, because I know that each of my former students worked so very hard to achieve all their goals.
We are looking forward to a visit from our youngest son and his wife tonight before they go on to her parents' home for Christmas. We will see them again at her parents' on Christmas day for food, fun and fellowship. We will be picking up our grandson in Fort Worth on the 26th and taking him back to Lawton to have Christmas with his dad and family as well as our middle son and his fiance and JM's great aunt.
Following the Christmas festivities in Lawton, we will be heading to Frederick for the weekend. We missed our annual Christmas/NewYears visit last year due to TBO's sister's surgery, but will take up where we left off. Looking forward to food, wine and games galore when we get there.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving
I am home from my mom's and our annual Thanksgiving feast and overeating contest. I think I won this year! If being officially miserable and unable to even consider eating anything is a sign of the gluttony award...I get it.
We were down a few participants this year...only had 14 at the table, but I'm sure we could have fed several more, as is the usual occurance.
Just before hubby and I left, my sister was relating a story about how when things were much leaner for her and her man, he would get her to count her blessings and to articulate the things she was thankful for...I thought I would steal that and make my list this year.
I am thankful for:
*living in a country where I can voice my opinions about things without fear of retribution
*my mom still being alive and well and able to live on her own
*my loving husband who puts up with all my crap, and still thinks I'm a "good woman"
*my three wonderful sons, two precious daughter-in-laws, a daughter-in-law to be, and six, count 'em, six grandchildren (yours, mine, ours-but ALL mine!)
*my amazing sister and her husband (too many things to list on this list, but I shall post about her another time)
*my brother and his wife and family
*my sister-in-law who thinks my childdren and grandchildren are wonderful
*my brother-in-law and his wife and daughter
*a host of friends who just love me and put up with all my stuff
*having a relationship with the Lord Jesus that just amazes me daily...oh how He loves me and forgives me!
Not a comprehensive list, but one that makes me realize that I, too, have so much, and that when it is all said and done at the end of the day, my needs are few, my blessings are bountiful, and my wants are all just that...wants. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.
We were down a few participants this year...only had 14 at the table, but I'm sure we could have fed several more, as is the usual occurance.
Just before hubby and I left, my sister was relating a story about how when things were much leaner for her and her man, he would get her to count her blessings and to articulate the things she was thankful for...I thought I would steal that and make my list this year.
I am thankful for:
*living in a country where I can voice my opinions about things without fear of retribution
*my mom still being alive and well and able to live on her own
*my loving husband who puts up with all my crap, and still thinks I'm a "good woman"
*my three wonderful sons, two precious daughter-in-laws, a daughter-in-law to be, and six, count 'em, six grandchildren (yours, mine, ours-but ALL mine!)
*my amazing sister and her husband (too many things to list on this list, but I shall post about her another time)
*my brother and his wife and family
*my sister-in-law who thinks my childdren and grandchildren are wonderful
*my brother-in-law and his wife and daughter
*a host of friends who just love me and put up with all my stuff
*having a relationship with the Lord Jesus that just amazes me daily...oh how He loves me and forgives me!
Not a comprehensive list, but one that makes me realize that I, too, have so much, and that when it is all said and done at the end of the day, my needs are few, my blessings are bountiful, and my wants are all just that...wants. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Back in the USA!
After a perfectly marvelous trip, with the small glitch of a cancelled flight we had no notice of, I made it home last night from our cruise of the Western Med, tour of Barcelona, and ministry trip to the Canary Islands. Whew! I may need a couple of "robe days" to recover!
If anyone is considering a cruise, I highly recommend the Norwegian Gem...we were treated like royalty and I don't think a came across one surly crew member while we were onboard. The food was great, a creme brulee with chocolate ganache that I would kill for...and I don't even really like creme brulee! We took tours of Malta, Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Monaco and all were extremely interesting and well organized. I need to go back to Rome and Florence, though...just not enough time to see everything in a 3-4 hour tour, of course.
Barcelona was amazing. I was all geared up to use my Spanish when I realized we were in Cataluna-where they speak Catalan, a mixture of Spanish and French, which is totally out of my range! I could read some menus, but even the street signs stumped me! But the city was fantastic. We bought 2 day passes on a tour bus line and spent the first day riding all over the city looking at amazing architecture and hearing little snippets about museums, etc. The second day we used our pass to get to the Museum of the History of the City in the Bare Gotica. It was a museum unlike anything I have ever been in. It is built on the site of some of the Roman ruins of the original city. You go down an elevator which shows you "2008" as your beginning floor and "5 BC" as your destination! Our trip to Pompeii was helpful in understanding some of the architectural elements found there. We got to spend a few evenings with our friend, Felix, from Texas A&M, who is studying there for this semester. He had lots of great ideas for places to visit and wonderful restaurant recommendations.
The Canary Islands are a group of 7 islands, I think. I never really got it straight in my mind...we landed on Gran Canaria and spent one day at the airport waiting to fly on to Las Palmas...that is another story altogether. Our time in Las Palmas was so special. Michael and our friends Doug and Rita and Lanny ministered to a conference of pastors from all of the Canary Islands. I was the designated prayer!
We were scheduled to fly out of Gran Canaria at 11:30 pm on Sunday night. One of the participants in the conference arranged for us to be picked up at the airport Sunday morning about 10:00 am when we arrived from Las Palmas and we were entertained royally! We had a great tour of the island, some of which we were sorry to say, we did while sleeping! We ate at a restaurant that is carved out of the side of a mountain...it is a CAVE. Great food and fellowship. Then the guys spoke at 2 church meetings before we left...Our hosts took us to the airport about 10:15 and left us. We walked into the airport and discovered, to our amazement, that there was NO flight to Barcelona that night. After discussions with airport information, crew chiefs, etc. we got hotel rooms, then returned to fly to Madrid, then Barcelona, missing our connections to New York and home.
I have always wanted to go to Madrid, but I really would have liked to have seen more than the airport! Following the extremely hard work of an American Airlines agent in Barcelona, we were booked on the flight home for Tuesday. Doug, Rita and I were disappointed that we would not be home in time to vote, but were glad to get home. Michael had voted absentee before he left the states, and he was going on to Munich and Florence before returning...he's going to be tired, I think.
So, after all of this, I got home last night around 11:00, tired, facing a mountain of laundry and several little things that must be done before I get back on the road to retrieve the Queen from her vacation with my Mom. I think it is time for a rest!
If anyone is considering a cruise, I highly recommend the Norwegian Gem...we were treated like royalty and I don't think a came across one surly crew member while we were onboard. The food was great, a creme brulee with chocolate ganache that I would kill for...and I don't even really like creme brulee! We took tours of Malta, Pompeii, Rome, Florence and Monaco and all were extremely interesting and well organized. I need to go back to Rome and Florence, though...just not enough time to see everything in a 3-4 hour tour, of course.
Barcelona was amazing. I was all geared up to use my Spanish when I realized we were in Cataluna-where they speak Catalan, a mixture of Spanish and French, which is totally out of my range! I could read some menus, but even the street signs stumped me! But the city was fantastic. We bought 2 day passes on a tour bus line and spent the first day riding all over the city looking at amazing architecture and hearing little snippets about museums, etc. The second day we used our pass to get to the Museum of the History of the City in the Bare Gotica. It was a museum unlike anything I have ever been in. It is built on the site of some of the Roman ruins of the original city. You go down an elevator which shows you "2008" as your beginning floor and "5 BC" as your destination! Our trip to Pompeii was helpful in understanding some of the architectural elements found there. We got to spend a few evenings with our friend, Felix, from Texas A&M, who is studying there for this semester. He had lots of great ideas for places to visit and wonderful restaurant recommendations.
The Canary Islands are a group of 7 islands, I think. I never really got it straight in my mind...we landed on Gran Canaria and spent one day at the airport waiting to fly on to Las Palmas...that is another story altogether. Our time in Las Palmas was so special. Michael and our friends Doug and Rita and Lanny ministered to a conference of pastors from all of the Canary Islands. I was the designated prayer!
We were scheduled to fly out of Gran Canaria at 11:30 pm on Sunday night. One of the participants in the conference arranged for us to be picked up at the airport Sunday morning about 10:00 am when we arrived from Las Palmas and we were entertained royally! We had a great tour of the island, some of which we were sorry to say, we did while sleeping! We ate at a restaurant that is carved out of the side of a mountain...it is a CAVE. Great food and fellowship. Then the guys spoke at 2 church meetings before we left...Our hosts took us to the airport about 10:15 and left us. We walked into the airport and discovered, to our amazement, that there was NO flight to Barcelona that night. After discussions with airport information, crew chiefs, etc. we got hotel rooms, then returned to fly to Madrid, then Barcelona, missing our connections to New York and home.
I have always wanted to go to Madrid, but I really would have liked to have seen more than the airport! Following the extremely hard work of an American Airlines agent in Barcelona, we were booked on the flight home for Tuesday. Doug, Rita and I were disappointed that we would not be home in time to vote, but were glad to get home. Michael had voted absentee before he left the states, and he was going on to Munich and Florence before returning...he's going to be tired, I think.
So, after all of this, I got home last night around 11:00, tired, facing a mountain of laundry and several little things that must be done before I get back on the road to retrieve the Queen from her vacation with my Mom. I think it is time for a rest!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)