Texas, Oklahoma and Mosourri

Second day of travel..........today we drove seven hundred miles. We have finally stopped in Springfield, Mo. We had a nice meal at Ihop....well, meal is perhaps not the right term for four harvest nut pancakes but they were certainly good. We had brunch at Denny's around eleven this morning. Ken's mouth continues to hurt some so breakfast food is very friendly for him to eat right now.

We began our day early and because we were headed east, we saw the sky lighten and then a magnificent sun rise. We watched for it for nearly an hour and finally that huge heavenly body slipped from beneath the horizon to give us a thrill. We viewed again the largest cross in the western hemishere in Groom, Ok. It obviously was built in that small town right along I 40 for the reason of drawing folks attention to the sacrifice of our Lord. I left wondering who it was that thought of the idea and then gathered the funds to accomplish the goal. I noticed a visitor's center is being built at its base. Sure to be another tourist attraction.

A winter storm warning is in effect for tomorrow here so we are set for three thirty in hopes of beating the bad weather. It's time to get some rest. We rest in His love and care over us.

First Day on the Road

Safely in a Microtel in Tucumcari New Mexico......almost to Texas. We went through about seventy five miles of ice and snow and temperatures today ranged from fifty to zero. Quite a day. We did view beautiful snow capped mountains that made us try to capture the sight for all eternity. Pictures don't hold a candle to the real thing.

We didn't start out yesterday because of the bad weather in northern Arizona and New Mexico. The residue we saw today confirmed our decision. I think that storm is now in the midwest. Our daughter Scarlen called to say it had dropped twenty degrees in ten miles and was snowing and blowing. Just a few minutes ago she called to say the electricity went out at home. Because the temperature is supposed to drop to zero tonight, we were concerned about the pipes in our house. Fortunately, we have a gas wall heater in the family room down stairs. We haven't used it this year. Generally, getting that stove started is the job of the man of the house and he happens to be next to me in New Mexico. Soooo, we gave the girls blow by blow steps on lighting the stove. First of all, I had to teach her to light an oil lamp. How funny.... I think while we have been gone for three out of the last four weeks she is learning a lot about what it takes to keep a home going. One thing we know....she and Lynette and Isaiah will stay warm tonight even if he electricity doesn't come back on. This will add a bit of excitement to their lives.....they will always remember that they slept in the family room on this night.

Looking at the map, we can't believe we have about 1200 miles to go yet before we get home. One thing we have learned again is that it is a very long trip from our home to our daughter and family in Phoenix. We haven't driven this route for years and have gotten very used to a four hour flight. Quite a difference driving 30 hours or more. Still, God is good and his safety and care are so appreciated.

Lead on O King Eternal

Emerson has been released from the hospital and is home with her mommy and daddy. Her first night, Saturday night, she let them know that she is a newborn and kept them up most of the night. When I called Kendra about nine on Sunday morning she whispered, "I finally have a sleeping baby". She had a good day yesterday and just slept and ate like a newborn should do. It will be interesting to see how she fared this past night.


The retreat is a wonderful memory and one that has hopefully changed my understanding for the long run. So often I have thought of myself as a total failure in the area of my relationship with Jesus. Not enough time in prayer.....not enough sharing of the good news, etc. How could I possibly be pleasing Him? The speaker for the retreat hammered home the truth that our salvation is not contingent upon our doing anything. Salvation is a gift. Christ woos us and sends His Holy Spirit to enlighten our mind and awareness that " I am a sinner and need a savior." When we respond to his wooing, we are set free to rest in Him. I am more determined to rest in Him knowing that what He says is true....He is in control.....He works all things together for my good.

Having said that...........................our plans were to leave early this morning and get many, many hours of travel in today. So far those plans are null and void. Some parts for Peggy Sue were getting powder coated and were supposed to be finished on Friday. That didn't happen. So we are waiting to see if they are finished this morning.....if not...I don't know what we will decide to do. In addition to that small issue, it has rained here for the last full day. Peggy Sue is in the back forty and though the ground there is generally desert gravel, it is now soup. Don and Ken are at this moment discussing how to proceed with getting it out. To add to the complexity, we have to drive through a neighbor's yard to get the trailer out. We are concerned about putting deep ruts in their landscape. Don is talking about getting some of the guys that work for him to come here, turn Peggy Sue around and push her out by hand. What a guy. In addition, the weather forcast is for more rain. Sooooooo, Lord,,,,,,,I trust in you to work all things out for our good. Who knows what bad roads He is protecting us from? Kendra is expecting me on Thursday morning. There are still enough hours to get us home by then. If it isn't in His plan that we make it to get me to Algonquin on Thursday, I will trust that there is a better plan. Lead on King Eternal.

Off to Sedona

We are preparing to go on this weekend retreat with the ladies of Sherri's church. The suitcases are packed and all is ready. Well, almost all. Aidan Jay needs to go to the dentist first. He has had this appointment for awhile but just today the tooth started to hurt. He is in pain, the poor little guy. The boy that never stops smiling is not smiling at he moment. Mama and son have just left the driveway for the trip to the dentist. When they return, the ladies of this house are off and runnin.

Ken and Don are golfing this afternoon. Ken has grown to love the game and is delighted to have the opportunity to spend some time in the sun swinging at that white ball. The weather is beautiful today and is supposed to be around seventy tomorrow. I hate leaving the valley. We know the temperatures will be cold up north in Sedona.

Emerson has passed all her required tests in order to be released to go home with her new mommy and daddy. The plan is for Craig and Kendra to get her tomorrow morning. I wouldn't be surprised if they are a bit anxious as well as excited to get her home. I have a feeling they will be sleeping with one eye open a piece tomorrow night.

This is my last day in the sun. We will come back here on Sunday but we will leave early on Monday morning so I sat for awhile in a lawn chair just soaking in those rays. They were very warm and comforting. Now if I have canned enough of it to last until spring returns in the north.

Don's Auntie Carol just came. I just love her. She is so full of love and joy. We should have a good couple of days together. She has some roots in my home town so it seems we can share on a deeper level than is possible with most folks one rarely sees. She came in bearing gifts of the baked nature. She said the bags of goodies were for the guys we are leaving behind but that she had ours in her car. What a sweetie. Makes me wonder what I've been doing all day.

Rainy Thursday

It is a rather uneventful day so far. I worked awhile in Peggy Sue and tried to put some finishing touches on what I hoped to accomplish while we are here in the mild weather. The rest will have to wait until spring at home. One step at a time. This project may go on for some time.

Kendra called to say that Emerson was moved to a "big girl's" bed. She means that Emerson is now in an open crib rather than an isolet. This was one step that needed to happen before she could be released to go home. She is proving that she can maintain her temperature. Obviously we are all very happy with Emerson's continued progress. Her weight is within an ounce of birth weight which is also a big step. "Big Girl" is hardly a good discription for our mite. She now weighs four pounds and fourteen ounces. Five pounds of humanity is a miracle in my book. Kendra is counting the days until Sat or Sun when Emerson comes home. Craig is going to take a couple days off until I get home to take over some of the support system.

It is raining in Phoenix today! I know that is a rarity but it happened. Both Ken and I have enjoyed fluid movement in our joints since here but today I feel that familiar achy joint syndrome. It must be humdity that does that to us. Ole Sun please come out and warm us again. We know when w e head north next week, we will ride into some very cold weather.

The mountains are hanging in clouds today. It changes the looks of the landscape drastically. Ken and I rode aournd a bit today and as we came to a point in the road where the mountains were readily visible, Fernando Ortega was singing off the CD, "He touches the mountains and they smoke". I looked at the mountain and it looked like it was smoking....it was a moving moment. Only God can change the landscape with such grandeur.

Wednesday Winesome Ways

Well, my husband looked like a chipmunk this morning. He was pretty swollen. Don's step mother called and asked about him. She was the person that sent us to the one out of 300 dentists in Algodonis. Ora worked for a dental office for several years in Seattle. It was a helpful conversation. She told Ken he is doing well and encouraged him to use both ice and heat alternately. He has done that this morning and looks better and says he feels better. This afternoon we are meeting Whitney at the place where she hopes to have her wedding. It is an outdoor place and she has her heart set on that place for both wedding and reception. We are eager to see it and anticipate the joy we will expeience when the time comes. The time table at this moment is March of 09. This is contingent upon her boyfriend's job. He is in law enforcement and is attempting to get a job with the sheriffs office. At the same time he will go to school. \Whitney is also in school and in somewhat of the same field. Her goal is to be a victim's advocate. I'm thinking she would be really good at that.

I get great joy from watching Aidan's devotion to his big sister. On Sunday, all the guest left and Whitney and Josh were preparing to leave as well. Aidan was lying under the pool table crying. I could not understand why he was so sad since he had just had a great time with his cousins. Whitney climbed under the pool table and laid next to him. When she submerged, she said, "He doesn't want us to leave." She asked if they could take him with them and Mom and Dad said that wasn't a good idea since he had to get up early the next morning. They played a game of pool with him and he was comforted. Whitney said that later that night he called her on her cell and asked if he could sleep in her bed. She told him he could and that she would move him to the floor when she got home. Those two kids are nine years apart but there is no seperation in their sibling love and bond.

I answered the phone a few minutes ago and it was Anna, my friend from my work place from which I retired. After I told her all my good news, she told me her bad news. She and her husband and son were in an auto accident three days before Christmas. She broke two hands and one wrist. She had surgery and then ended up with flu like symptoms that lasted longer than a week. She spent that week in the hospital. Poor Anna. My heart aches for my good friend. It was anything but a wonderful Christmas for her. She is healing but it will be two weeks before she can go to work again. I will be praying for her......

Pearly Whites

It has been a wild weekend. We had a busy day on Saturday getting Aidan to all of his activities. In the early morning we had him to the golf course for his weekly lesson. While he and his cousin learned how to be professional golfers, the rest of us went to Village Inn for breakfast. After breakfast, we brought Ken and Don to the golf course and they joined the y ounger boys in nine holes. While the boys golfed, Sherri and Whitney and I cruised the streets for garage or yard sales. We had a great time picking up a bit of this and that. I am much more cognizant of the lack of storage space at my house recently. Each time I look at a new piece of glassware or dishes, I remind myself that there is no more storage space at our house. After the golf game, we brought the boys to a football clinic sponsered by Quest, the company for which Sherri works. There were some big name kickers there that gave the boys some thrills and taught them some kicking secrets. They had a wonderful time showing everyone their moves.

Sunday morning was church and then Don's greater family began to arrive for dinner to celebrate his aunt's 78th birthday. She is a dear woman who though never had children now acts as mother to Don and his siblings. They love her and she them. I always enjoy visiting with Auntie Carol. She has a great sense of humor and used to live in De Motte so we can talk over the happenings in lives of people we both know. There were 23 people here for dinner so the place was hopping. It was a great day.

Yesterday was Martin Luther King day and so the kids had a holiday from school. Don and Sherri took off work and the four of them accompanied Ken and me to Mexico. The trip's purpose was to get Ken a new set of top teeth. That meant he had to have ten teeth removed before he could boast a new smile. I was a wreck for him but he seemed to take it all in stride. He said he sat in the chair and eventually took a nap. There is just no way that would happen to me. He was in the chair about two hours. I have to say that if I ever had pride in my husband it was yesterday for the courage he displayed to all of us as he let them yank all of his top teeth at one time. In his style he came out joking. I wondered if he would be able to walk back to the border but he did just fine. A little bit of bleeding needed some mopping but other than that he was good to go. He took a good nap in the car on the three hour trip home and woke up with new vigor and humor. This morning he is up and seemingly none the worse for the experience. His smile is pearly white and he seems to be relieved that the problem he had with his teeth is now a memory.

The weather was beautiful while we were in Mexico. I think the temperature was right around seventy and the sun was so bright and intense. That warmth on my bones is so welcomed.

Today, Don and Sherri have returned to work and Aidan to school. Whitney is still in bed and we have talked of going for haircuts together today so we will see what happens. I think Ken will take it easy today and just recover from the trauma of yesterday.

Update on Emerson

I talked with Kendra this afternoon. She commented that Emerson had a couple of breathing spells today. A more accurate term would be non breathing spells. The doctors and nurses assure Craig and Kendra that all the things Emerson is experiencing is common to preemies. The doctors still think she will be in the hospital two to three weeks, one even mentioned three to four today. I think it would be appropriate to say we just don't know at this point. I know Kendra longs to have her mother by her side. Today she asked how long/I told her a week from Wednesday but I assured her that her dad will drop me off on our way through. That seemed to comfort her a bit....you retreat team may have to function without me for awhile. It is all a bit overwhelming for me too.

The nurses told Kendra today that Emerson will have to be spell free for eight days before she comes home. I expect she will be there awhile.

Lauri and Elton are going there for a couple of days. They will attempt to get the kids organized. I think Craig and Kendra are overwhelmed with the preparations they still need to make for the baby's room. Hopefully, much will be accomplished tomorrow. Elton is a good help and will get the ball rolling there. Lauri will play maid and get the house clean. I know she was cooking up a storm today so that she has food prepared for everyone to eat while they are there. What a good sister she is.

Peggy Sue is Getting Newer Every Day

Don and Ken are out in Peggy Sue getting some things accomplished. I'm tucked away in the house with the parakeet and Lucy their boxer. I think there are a few fish around, too. It is very quiet at the moment. Feels rather good.

It's pretty obvious to me that we won't get everything completed on Peggy Sue before we head back to the north. I don't suppose we really expected to. She needs more TLS than two weeks can accomplish. Well, that is two weeks from people who want to do more than restore an old trailer on their vacation. We enjoy it but when enough is enough, we quit and do something else. We have a good start and today, after I do some cleaning for Sherri, I want to finish the cleaning on Peggy Sue so we can move some of our junk into the her. Our room is beginning to look like a cluttered mess. It's amazing how one accumulates STUFF when on is on vacation. Sherri and Whitney and I went to an estate sale a couple of days ago. I added a new church plate to my collection and picked up a couple of things for our retreat teams decorating team. In addition there is a big of cute little preemie clothes for a new little girl.

I just got really bad news.....my aunt, my precious Aunt Selma, has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.....seems like it can't be true. Ugh. The Sunday night before we left I went to the church where my aunt plays the organ. She is 85 and still going strong. She played that night and I was amazed at the energy level at which she played. It is just sad to me that she has to go through what one has to go through with such a diagnosis.

Kendra went home without her baby last night. She was a pretty sad girl. I haven't talked with her yet this morning. I thought I'd let her sleep in this morning.....if she can.

Thursday......

COLD TODAY.....supposed to warm up tomorrow and over the weekend. I guess it is super cold in thnighe north too so we should be happy with fifties and sixties. The sun is shining brightly so that helps. It is fairly windy and that only makes things feel colder. I think I'll stay tucked in the house today.

Kendra......called in the middle of the night feeling anxiety. Craig had left her for the first time to get some sleep at home and she was up against a night where she was worried about Emerson. We decided she should go down to the nursery and just take a peak at the baby, talk to the nurses and then try to rest. That was a moment I truly felt I should be there instead of here but again...God has His reasons. This morning she felt much better yet. Baby had a good night and she is so eager to drinks her bottles now. Kendra said she gets so excited she flings her little head in every direction looking for that nipple. That is very good news. She has her little eyes fixed on her mommy and daddy now and I remember that to be such warm moments. The nurses in special needs nursery told the pediatrian that the
baby acts as if she was 33 weeks instead 34 weeks. That didn't make any of us feel very good but we are comforted that Emerson is in a special place where nurses are professionals at taking care of her needs. We are more comforted that Emerson's Creator has her in the palm of His hand.

Today's Happenings

Emerson is a day and a half old now. This morning, Kendra was upset because the baby stopped breathing a couple of times during the night. That would make any new mama a wreck and also a grandma. I talked to her this afternoon and Emerson has had a fairly good day. Kendra will be released from the hospital tomorrow morning. Then she will spend her time going to and from the hospital. Not a nice way to go home from having a baby. My heart bleeds for both Kendra and Craig. Sometimes even the things we consider normal in life,,,,,aren't always normal.

Craig has been faithful in sending pictures so I posted a couple. The header somewhat elongated the actual picture but you get the picture. (no pun intended:)

Ken and I went to Mexico today to go to the dentist. What an experience. I was totally overwhelmed with the scene there. Every building is either a dentist's or optician's. The line of people waiting to reenter the states spoke of the amount of business they do. We stood with a couple and visited while we waited the 45 minutes to get through customs. She had had her top teeth done last year and had her bottom teeth done today. They do mostly crowns and bridges. Her mouth looked beautiful. They can make Ken's mouth virtually new but there is a price to pay. We need to think this over thoroughly first. The price is nothing like what it would cost stateside but then we would never consider doing something to every tooth in his mouth here.

I have no reason to be tired, but I am worn out thinking about baby Emerson and her parents, Ken's mouth and Isaiah's science project which is failing at home because his grandmother isn't there to help him grow his pansies. He didn't read the instructions on the bottle of plant food and gave them straight fertilizer instead of diluting it with water. Ugh. My first response is to say you guys are on your own. That response was out of frustration. I thought I had been successful in giving instruction but I guess not. Sooooo.....they will call the man that donated the plants and ask if they can buy a new batch....
l
Soooooo my insides are a bit unraffled. Lord, call me down and resolve all the issues I'm concerned about.

She is Here

Last evening was such a roller coaster.....first they told Kendra to go to the hospital and expect a baby to come. She went...her blood pressure came down a bit and they decided to keep her until morning. Then she would be allowed to go home but stay on bed rest....not fun when one is all alone all day.......then about nine o'clock she called and said she was in labor and 100 percent effaced and dilated 3-4. She started having contractions on her own and so they broke her water and things began to happen quickly. I went to bed with my cell phone in my hand. At two oclock the phone rang....a healthy baby girl had arrived. She weighted 4'15 and was 18 and 3/4 inches long. Not two bad for five weeks early. Kendra seemed well...hadn't had much pain especially after the epidural. Those must be wonderful...she said it was horrible while they were putting it in because she was contracting but after that they tried to get some rest. Three pushes and she was out. I didn't ask what time she was born but I expect it was sometime slightly earlier. When Kendra called, Craig was in the special needs nursery taking care of the baby and would spend the night in their on a cot right near her. Isn't it a stitch these days. Can't you just see that new daddy caring for that baby daughter....I don't he has ever seen the bottom of a baby girl. I just tried to call Kendra and she doesn't answer so perhaps she is still sleeping. I can think of lots of questions this morning but during the middle of the night I was just happy she had arrived and all was well.

I talked to Lauri a few minutes ago and it sounds like the troups there are getting a plan together. If Mom isn't home, the others will pinch it. Scarlen is talking about going to Kendra today and staying for a night or two. Scarlen's friend will bring Lauri on Thursday and take Scarlen home. Lauri would stay to the weekend when her husband and children would come to see the baby and get Lauri home. Lauri is planning to make a visit to the children's clothing section of a local store to see about getting a couple preemie outfits. At the baby's small size, nothing that has been prepared for her will fit for awhile.

The name? There is none yet. Ooops Kendra just called. The name is Emerson Mary Chatham. I can live with that one. I knew Kendra likes last names as first names so she has tried many of them. I expected it would be Addison. Craig requested a middle name after his deceased mother. Emerson goes better with Mary than Addison does. I'll bet we will have an Em or Emmy but we will wait to see what the parents call her.

The not so good news is that the pediatrician wants to keep Emerson in the hospital for two to three weeks. That's tough on a new mom. Pray for health for that baby. So far so good, Kendra said they had not had to use anything to assist her so far.

PTL

Prayer is Needed

Kendra just called from the doctor's office that she is being hospitalized and the doctor said to expect to have the baby tonight. Screammmmmmmmmm. I want so badly to be there for my daughter but here I am two thousand miles away and commited for two weeks at least. What is God trying to teach me or her??? I'm sick to my stomach. Lauri is up to her eyeballs with two children who have 24 hour flu and there are two more that are vulnerable. Actually, she has Isaiah too so he is vulnerable also. Poor Lauri. I can't believe neither she or I can be at Kendra's side. Ugh.

Please pray with us for the health and wellbeing of both mother and child. A little comfort for a absent mother would be welcomed also.

Safely in Phoenix

We are here. I think I said that just a week or so ago about our first winter trip this year. We are soooo blessed. I was just thinking this afternoon that in less than a year, we have traveled to D.C., Delaware, and all the states in between. That was in March....then in June we went to the west coast and saw everything in between. Then to Florida with our family two weeks ago and now here to Phoenix. For years we were home bound for various reasons and now God has given us the opportunity to make up for all those times when we longed to travel.



We left on Thursday morning and traveled to Memphis to pick up Peggy Sue. We chose that name for no real reason other than the fact that that name was probably in vogue in l970. We were pleased with what we found. Peggy Sue has great possibilities. She needs a good cleaning and some repairs but we were encouraged. The trailer pulled like a dream and no tire problem which was my biggest concern. Ken is taking it for new tires this morning. Though the tread looks good, it is obvious the weather has made an impact on them so lest we worry.....we will get new. Ken is busy at this moment checking into sites on the net that explain restoration of these little babies. He said the sky is the limit.....the only deterent is money. Some places line the things with veneer wood. Mercy. I don't expect we will go that crazy.

An hour or so out of Memphis, we pulled into a rest area so that I could look inside the thing privately and determine if I could lay my head in there for the night. Once we stopped and climbed out of our Durango, we noticed a big pickup with a 30 ft brandnew Airstream trailer. They stopped to check our little 38 year old trailer out. The woman said she has always loved vintage Airstreams and Avions so she had her husband stop. We gave them a tour of our humble little tin can and they gave us a tour of their palace. It was great fun.

We are ready to get the project going. The bigger and much more important goal here is to spend quality time with our kids and grandkids. Don has already left for work and Sherri and Aidan are ready to leave for work and school. Whitney has her first day of her second semester of her second year of college. Ken and I will be alone today and will dry to get organized.

We are planning a trip to Los Algodones in Mexico to get some dental work done. That ought to be a trip. There are 300 dentists in a small town right over the border. Half the seniors in the the southwest go their for low cost and assuredly good quality work. Ken is in dire need and we hope to get him fixed up while we are here. Ken is more concerned with taking care of the trailer so I will have to gently move him in that direction...

Tying up Loose Ends

I am having a dickens of a time finding the Florida pictures I downloaded onto this computer. I can find them, just can't find them when I browse to add them to the blog. Where is my computer whiz son when I need him. Oh yea, we left him in Florida. Shucks. I thought the blog looked so drab with the fallen tree pictures on the top so decided to add some color. Yes, let's think spring. Once January is behind us it isn't long before we will see signs of my favorite time of year.

BTW, when we returned home the ground was covered with snow and all the fallen limbs were gone. But when we woke one morning and found all the snow had melted we could see that our neighbor and his family did a fantastic job of cleaning up our fallen tree mess. Aside from the holes in the grass from the gouges the big limbs made, one would never know. Bless them.

Today is catch up day. Tie up all the loose ends and believe me there are many. I have to regroup each time I think of another catagory. There are many things about the retreat I need to bring up to speed today. One new word I've learned is "delegate" so that is what I will spend my day doing.

Last night Ken suggested leaving this afternoon. That tells me he is very eager. I reminded him that leaving Friday morning would be wiser since we would be fresh and have a full ten hours of daylight. He agreed so we will sleep in our home bed one more night. That is really pretty funny. I'm usually the one that wants to jump the gun and get out of Dodge as soon as possible and he is the one holding back my reigns. Feels a little weird when the role is reversed.

Isaiah has a science project that needs to get started before we leave. I've made several phone calls and think I have the plan in place. He knew what he wanted but it was my job to get all the materials in place and get him organized. He is going to determine how various factors relate to root growth. Our forty pansey starts will come tonight. The whole thing makes me nervous because I know a sixth grade kid needs someone to guide him through a two month process. His mother is too busy with work and school and doesn't know beans about growing plants. God help the little guy while I'm gone. Perhaps (and I hope) they will surprise me. (Lauri, will you inquire now and then, please????) She only has two kids doing science projects so she should have time, right? I feel like I'm abandoning Isaiah and Kendra as they are both needy in different ways within the next couple of weeks. I'm sure they will survive and will not even notice I'm gone but I suppose it is human to feel a bit of responsibility for their encouragement.

Kendra's urnine protein has quadrupled since the problem started. They say that isn't a good thing. She has no other signs of trouble but they are watching her closely and say they will induce her at least a week early. Ugh. I don't like that kind of thing and hear of it so much lately. She mentioned to me this morning that she doesn't want her little baby to have to stay in the hospital in the event they induce her earlier. The doctor mentioned three weeks earlier if her count continues to climb. I hear her heart and can only remind her that God is in control.

Sometimes having eight children feels like having eight children if you know what I mean. My primary purpose as parent is over yet I feel such a responsibility to them. Each one is so precious to me. You all know what I mean if you are a parent. A parent wants to make clear a child's path ....kind of like God. He says He will make our path plane. Praise Him for that comfort. Here they are, Lord, all eight of them and their spouses and children. Love on them for me, Lord.

Antique Seekers That We Are

Wednesday......Women in the Word Bible Study.......today the lesson was, "God's Word is Alive and Active in Me". The teaching was profound and moving. I could say amen to every word Beth Moore spoke. It is so easy to agree with and so difficult to put into practice. God grant that I may soak in the word of truth from your Word and to exhale it to those around me. After BS, two friends came for lunch. One is a lifetime friend, Norma, and the other is a friend that I have gotten to know by her visits to our church when she comes to spend time with three daughters that live in our area. Frankie is a true disciple of Jesus and resides in California. She inspires me and I feel a true bond with her. We had a delightful time visiting, sharing the good and the challenging and enjoying good food together. Norma brought some killer cream of broccoli soup and I got a delightful spinach salad at Cosco so presto, it was lunch. The chocolate covered strawberries were a special treat. I couldn't believe our local grocery store had such beautiful berries in January but I wasted no time in covering them in chocolate for a lovely end of meal morsel.

Ken has been getting everything ready on the Durango to accomodate the pulling of a silver bullet. We have pretty much purchased one unseen in Memphis. We will stop there on our way to Phoenix on Friday and see what we hope will be ours. I will pack all we need to live in that little 19 foot trailer for a couple of weeks. I'm sure there will be things we need to pick up along the way but I'm taking the obvious. Tomorrow I will gather as many of those th ings that I can think of, small microwave out of the garage that I 've been saving for just such an occasion....little coffee maker, spare toaster, etc. I guess there was method to saving all those things. Tin can touristing, here we come.

It is so interesting that both my husband and I are excited about this project. Usually when we go into some sort of project, one of us is dragging our feet but this time, we are like two kids with a Christmas gift. We are looking forward to openin g the box to see what's inside. Norma said today, it's like buying an antique. It's not like buying an antique, it IS buying an antique.

Changing the subject completely.........what about the NH primaries? I really call on God to bring his will into this campaign and election. I'm convinced we will see a party change in power but I'm scared to death of both of the major candidates on that side of the fence. This is another of those times when I can hardly stand the thought of either of them being the leader of our nation. I've been there before but unfortunately, the other times I was disappointed and for good reason. Oh God, save our nation. Wake up our citizenry to truth and reality.

Blast From the Past

Balmy temps. Sixty two degrees is the forecast for today. Gotta love it. I just viewed the seven day forcast and it will be winter again by the end of the week. It is so overcast, I feel like we have been wrapped in a cocoon. I suppose we have in a strange way.


Last night, I went to the Christmas Sunday School program of our some of our in-town grandchildren. Snow and ice had cancelled it prior to Christmas. It was rather nice to have the hustle and bustle over and reflect again on the birth of our Savior. Singing the songs of Christmas after the fact gave an interesting and welcomed twist to life. I enjoyed it immensely. After the program I pulled out Hershey bars for the kids and of course, I was the best grandma ever. Amazing how little it takes to thrill a kid.

After church yesterday morning some friends and we went to a restaurant along the interstate. As we drove into the complex, I noticed across the street that the Oscar Meyer Wiener Mobile was filling up with gas. I got so tickled. We turned our car around and hurried over there. They were just finished filling so were getting back into the unique vehicle. Isaiah hurried out of the car and I took his picture standing next to the wienermobile. About thirty five years ago, our oldest three children were with us in Hebron at a restuarant and the mobile pulled up. I remember the thrill they got from that sight. A little blast from the past brought a smile to my face.

I believe all my chicks and theirs have arrived back at their homes after they had left their nests over the holidays. It feels good that the successful and enjoyable trip is forever in our memories as some of our fondest.

Home Again

We are home.....

We traveled straight through with a couple of minor pauses. We slept about an hour in a Mac Donalds parking lot. That was lovely. Actually, I felt quite safe as the restaurant was open twenty fours. The other stop was in Plains Georgia where we visited Jimmie Carter's home town. We found the stop most enjoyable and were warmed by the story of a humble small town boy who rose to prominence as the President of the USA. While I don't share his political affiliation, I am impressed by the warmth of his character. His unassuming ways, his integrity, his love and compassion for his fellowman and his ever claimed faith in Christ are things anyone can look up to. I like that about him. It makes the presidency reach down to my level. We visited the museum which is his high school transformed. We didn't have much time there and wish we had had more. We walked the grounds of his father's farm and toured the home in which he grew up. That was so interesting and delightful. As we walked around the house, we picked up pecans and put them in our pockets. I told Isaiah that not everyone could say they have a bottle of pecans picked up off the ground within fifteen feet of Jimmie Carter's boyhood house. We viewed the compound in which he and Roselynn live and saw the fencing which secures the safety of those inside facilitated by the Secret Service. Jimmie teaches Sunday School at the Maranatha Baptist Church. We visited the small crisp colonial styled church building and took some pictures. Hard to believe a former president still teaches Sunday School. The movie we viewed in the museum said the president always invites visitors to have their picture taken with him after the service.

There is little commercialism in Plains. A few quaint shops, a large antique store above which is an inn with seven rooms. For the price of $74.00, we could have spent the night there. We just hankered to get home so didn't bite at the opportunity. We ate in the Old Bank Cafe. We were told the short elderly African American woman sitting in the corner was the "proprietor". That was the word used. We were impressed in the manner in which the races interacted in that little restaurant. It was different than here. One difference was that white women were working for a black woman. It was obvious she had the respect of everyone in the community. I really liked Plains and would like to visit again sometime. The south is different than the north.

We chuckled at the restaurant menu. Hamburgers were $2.50....bowl of soup $2.00. Hot dog with chili and cole slaw was $2.00. The three of us ate our fill of homemade fare for $15.00 and that included drinks and a tip. It was fun.

As we drove over the road a mile from our house, Isaiah lifted his head and said, "Thank the Lord for safety!" Amen, brother

SNAP! It's Cold

It's approximately 6:20 a.m. on Thursday morning, January 3, 2008. Because I misread the time on my phone thinking it was an hour later than what it read (forgot that phones automatically change time when they are in a new time zone...amazing), I took a shower an hour early and now here I sit in the lobby of our SleepInn hotel in Orlando. We had six days of 85 degrees and then it took a crucial dive. Yestereday we wore our winter coats, those of us that had them and that was just Ken and me, the younger are so optimistic. We moved around Disney World's Magic Kingdom and there wasn't much magic in it for me. Our plan was to do Sea World but with the thought of getting wet we decided a'gin it. Ken and I opted to leave the park about six but Lauri, Elton and family with the addition of Isaiah stuck it out til ten. Of course, as we left they had us strip and give them the sweat shirt and sweater under our coats. Elton even suggested us giving up our coats. We laughed. Good thing, too, because it took us an hour to get to our car by the time we took the ferry boat and then the tram to the parking lot. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. When we reached the inside of our vehicle we turned the heater up as high as it would go. At one point I asked Ken if he had thawed yet and he said he hadn't so we continued to bake for awhile.

I actually went to the car this morning to get this computer so I could sit in the lobby and do my thing. Everyone else is still sleeping but I've had my shower, done my hair AND makeup :) and now just sit here lookin' purty. I noticed that the hotel has many of their bushes covered with sheets. It is darn cold here.

We will leave for the north today. The change in the temperature makes it easy to do so. When it was still warm here, Isaiah said he didn't want to go back home. Now he sings a different tune. He does think he needs a new haircut to match his new tan. What a scream these kids are.

We found a possible silver bullet in Memphis. It's not what we want eventually but it looks like a good starter. We haven't made voice to voice contact yet but we did send a message and got a return call but missed it. Now we haven't been able to reach anyone at that number so we will continue to try today. It would be really neat to be able to see the thing on our way home. One of my main motivatiors to walk out in the cold for this machine was that just perhaps there was a message waiting for us.......nope. We keep trying.

A New Year Has Dawned

Happy New Year. Another year has dawned, one we have not seen or experienced before. Not unlike any other day...but yet a new yeear. I don't think time means much to God. Oh yea, He created it to maintain the order of things but to Him a day is like a thousand. I wonder what His schedule looks like in relationship to His second coming. I know we aren't supposed to be privy to that information but we sure can wonder. I'll bet God is honored when we wonder about Him. God has told us to be vigilant about watching for His return and to long for it. I don't think I'm doing that real good. Oh yes, when life is nasty it is easy to long for Him to get us out of this mess. Not so much when we are on a ten day trip to tropical Florida. Intellectually, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heaven is going to make Florida look like hell. Heaven will be free from sin and the effects thereof. Here in sunny Florida I see effects of sin all around me just like in any other place on earth. The Christmas cactus setting on the table next to me is wilting from the effects of the hot sun. A cigarette butt lay in the ash tray. My sister is caring for her disabled husband as we speak. No, it's not a pretty place down here on the twisted earth. Yet we cling to it. At least I do and I don't think you are much different. The reason for that is that God created us to LIVE. We love life and we suffer through the muck clinging to the good things that are in place because of His grace. I couldn't count my blessings if I tried....it would be a futile effort. The very breath I breathe is my greatest earthly gift....I've had a time or two that I couldn't breath..... I learned that even the air we breath is evidence of God's grace and gifts to us. I begin this day and this year with a heart full of gratitude to my heavenly Father who so cares for me that not a hair falls from my head without His awareness of it. Thank you Lord for life.......for a new year......for health........famjily.....friends.....and all the beauty of your creation. I'll trust you for 2008.