"How would you like potato soup for supper?" I asked my husband. We'd had a hearty lunch eating out, so I wasn't in the mood for a big meal.
"Sure! Sounds good!" Howard replied. I'm thankful he is so easy to please.
I set to work peeling and dicing potatoes and chopping an onion and a rib of celery. I soon had the pot on the stove with a low setting. Clearing up the counter, I impulsively decided to throw the vegetable leavings to the chickens. Howard was already out tossing corn to them, but how they loved kitchen scraps!
Though it was chilly out, I dashed out without a wrap and hurried down the slope to the chicken pen, enjoying watching the motley brood of hens and guineas scrambling for the tidbits.
Just then my farmer wanna-be called out with something he wanted me to do.
"No, I have to get back to the soup on the stove!" I protested, shivering as I hurried, half running, back to the house.
Imagine my surprise and shock when I couldn't get the back door open! I ran to the front door, hoping it wouldn't be locked. It was!
"Howard!" I yelled, but the wind was catching my voice carrying it away from him! He went on with his chores, oblivious to my shouting that the door was locked and the kitchen was probably in smoke!
Frantic, I tried the back door again. No use! I knew our grandson was upstairs in his room, but he usually couldn't hear with his door closed, which is why I use the phone to call him. I had no phone with me! I had already tried the front door bell, but no response!
I was desperate! I leaned on the doorbell over and over, even rapping as hard as I dared on the window glass! Then noticing our car was parked nearby, I threw open the driver's door and held down the horn! Just then the front door opened and there was Adam, looking puzzled.
"Oh, at last!" I breathed. "How did you hear me? The car horn?" He said no, it was the rapping on the window!
I rushed into the kitchen, and to my relief, the soup was barely simmering. Thank you, Lord! No smoke was in the air, nor any burning stench!
It's not fun to be locked out! Many references in the Bible speak of being "locked out" of heaven. Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Verse 27 says, "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."
Matthew 25 records Jesus' story of the ten virgins, five of whom could not enter heaven because they had neglected sufficient oil for their lamps. "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Make sure you're not shut out!
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Georgia on my Mind (Again)
What a blessing to spend the holidays with our two daughters' families! Christmas with Julie, and Amy's for the New Year! As soon as they picked us up for Georgia, we couldn't wait to stop at granddaughter Corrin's college quarters. She lives in a house with three other girls, but she is the homemaker! Little Miss Pinterest had tastefully decorated the living room with several creative appointments. For instance, our resourceful co-ed had turned an old window frame into a lovely, rustic piece covered with chicken wire meshwork where mementos were displayed, with a touch of ecru lace embellishing the corners. Her calligraphy and graphic lettering talent was obvious on thoughtful plaques of inspiring memes scattered here and there.
"What smells so good?" we exclaimed when we came in the door. Corrin had a pot of chili bubbling on the stove awaiting our arrival, and a platter of perfect homemade cookies on the table. How we enjoyed our visit and a peek into her life! We would see her in a couple of days when she came home for New Year's.
But first, we had church to go to on Sunday morning. With several people in the house, the "adults" managed to get ready and leave for the services first, while the young people were to follow. We found our seats in the balcony of the beautiful church and were well into the song service when our lovely granddaughters squeezed past us for seats beside me and their mother. I could have sworn they were angels as they wafted in on clouds of fragrance amid visions of floating long blonde hair (Rachel) and shining black tresses falling to the waist (Corrin)! How precious to be in worship with family!
Football, feasting and visiting filled the holiday, and when football was too much, a spirited game of Scrabble sufficed for the female members of the family. A week of relaxing in Amy's and Shannon's beautiful home and enjoying excursions now and then followed. One night we saw the excellent movie, Wonder, with the family.
"Do they have a Steak and Shake here?" I suggested when "us girls" were pondering lunch one day. They did, in this neighboring town where we were. I loved their big milk shakes. "Do you have them in the big fluted glasses?" I questioned, because once we'd had to use Styrofoam cups, which just wasn't the same. The friendly waitress assured me that they did. Needless to say, the food and the conversation were excellent.
Before we knew it, it was time to end our visit and head for the Atlanta airport. Son-in-law Shannon and granddaughter Rachel helped us maneuver check-in, saw that we were secure in our wheelchairs, and hugged us goodbye. It was a bittersweet moment, but we left full of memories that would warm us all the way home.
"What smells so good?" we exclaimed when we came in the door. Corrin had a pot of chili bubbling on the stove awaiting our arrival, and a platter of perfect homemade cookies on the table. How we enjoyed our visit and a peek into her life! We would see her in a couple of days when she came home for New Year's.
But first, we had church to go to on Sunday morning. With several people in the house, the "adults" managed to get ready and leave for the services first, while the young people were to follow. We found our seats in the balcony of the beautiful church and were well into the song service when our lovely granddaughters squeezed past us for seats beside me and their mother. I could have sworn they were angels as they wafted in on clouds of fragrance amid visions of floating long blonde hair (Rachel) and shining black tresses falling to the waist (Corrin)! How precious to be in worship with family!
Football, feasting and visiting filled the holiday, and when football was too much, a spirited game of Scrabble sufficed for the female members of the family. A week of relaxing in Amy's and Shannon's beautiful home and enjoying excursions now and then followed. One night we saw the excellent movie, Wonder, with the family.
"Do they have a Steak and Shake here?" I suggested when "us girls" were pondering lunch one day. They did, in this neighboring town where we were. I loved their big milk shakes. "Do you have them in the big fluted glasses?" I questioned, because once we'd had to use Styrofoam cups, which just wasn't the same. The friendly waitress assured me that they did. Needless to say, the food and the conversation were excellent.
Before we knew it, it was time to end our visit and head for the Atlanta airport. Son-in-law Shannon and granddaughter Rachel helped us maneuver check-in, saw that we were secure in our wheelchairs, and hugged us goodbye. It was a bittersweet moment, but we left full of memories that would warm us all the way home.
Heartthoughts: Tender Tennessee Christmas
"I've got to go by the house to pick up some meds for Jaxon," our granddaughter Bethany announced as she was taking us home. After a wonderful lunch date with her, her three sisters and their littles, Bethany invited us to see a movie. Poor little Jaxon, her five-year old, threw up, and we had to leave the show prematurely.
"I'll be right back," she promised as she flung open the car door and headed into her house. After several minutes she returned not only with the medicine, but with a bag of Mary Kay cosmetics for me! That's what was taking her so long! What a wonderful, sweet granddaughter, I reflected as I examined the bag's content when we got "home" to our daughter Julie's place.
All our Tennessee grands were intent on showing us a wonderful time, it seemed. They had scheduled dinners for us at their respective homes: Michaela was a gracious hostess for a lovely meal one night; Bethany hosted a Christmas Eve spread at her house following her performance in a church cantata that morning. We were to eat at Caleb's house one evening, but we were too exhausted from shopping and sight-seeing excursions in the beautiful countryside to accept the invitation.
Granddaughter Sarah spent a day with us in beautiful Jonesborough, exploring the quaint shops and taking us to Bojangles, famous for their chicken and biscuits, and a favorite of ours. On an earlier jaunt, we were delighted when Julie and Steve took us to Popeye's, where we enjoyed their signature fried chicken and beans 'n' rice. Then the whole clan of families gathered at Julie and Steve's for a Christmas day feast!
On a Wednesday night, the entire family gathered for a mini-church service when Howard gave a touching sermon/devotional. Sharing and testimonies were the order of the evening in this warm, intimate setting in the Lord's presence. Even the great-grand children added their joyful contribution as they sang their favorite songs of praise, finally ending with an enthusiastic "Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer!"
Our fun week ended with us meeting our daughter, Amy, her husband Shannon, and daughter Rachel for our week with them in Georgia, another adventure for a later post!
"I'll be right back," she promised as she flung open the car door and headed into her house. After several minutes she returned not only with the medicine, but with a bag of Mary Kay cosmetics for me! That's what was taking her so long! What a wonderful, sweet granddaughter, I reflected as I examined the bag's content when we got "home" to our daughter Julie's place.
All our Tennessee grands were intent on showing us a wonderful time, it seemed. They had scheduled dinners for us at their respective homes: Michaela was a gracious hostess for a lovely meal one night; Bethany hosted a Christmas Eve spread at her house following her performance in a church cantata that morning. We were to eat at Caleb's house one evening, but we were too exhausted from shopping and sight-seeing excursions in the beautiful countryside to accept the invitation.
Granddaughter Sarah spent a day with us in beautiful Jonesborough, exploring the quaint shops and taking us to Bojangles, famous for their chicken and biscuits, and a favorite of ours. On an earlier jaunt, we were delighted when Julie and Steve took us to Popeye's, where we enjoyed their signature fried chicken and beans 'n' rice. Then the whole clan of families gathered at Julie and Steve's for a Christmas day feast!
On a Wednesday night, the entire family gathered for a mini-church service when Howard gave a touching sermon/devotional. Sharing and testimonies were the order of the evening in this warm, intimate setting in the Lord's presence. Even the great-grand children added their joyful contribution as they sang their favorite songs of praise, finally ending with an enthusiastic "Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer!"
Our fun week ended with us meeting our daughter, Amy, her husband Shannon, and daughter Rachel for our week with them in Georgia, another adventure for a later post!
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Sky People
"Adam, does this say Tylenol PM?" I asked my grandson as I was peering at a bottle of medicine without my glasses. We were on our way to the airport for our much anticipated trip to Tennessee, and I was sensing a headache coming on.
"No," he answered. "It just says acetaminophen."
So I took the bottle and shook out a pill, then on impulse I took two. I wanted to feel good on our flight. Fishing my glasses out of my purse, I looked at the bottle and exclaimed in alarm, "This says Tylenol PM! Now I will be groggy on the plane!" I was remembering the time I took the "PM" and felt drugged all the next day. Thankfully, this didn't bother me at all!
Preparing to go through airport security, the attendant pushing my chair (we had requested wheelchairs) began removing my shoes! "But our son said if you are 75, you don't have to remove your shoes!" I protested, to which she said, "Well, you ain't no 75!" Huh? "No, I am 78!" I replied. That caused a furor, as she annonunced my age loudly to everyone! How embarrassing, but kind of fun, too, as it happened on a return flight as well!
We were amazed at the friendliness from helpful staff who wheeled us across acres of terminals leading to our concourses. (Of course, Howard had made sure he had tip money in his pocket.) During lulls, we were pushed to restaurants, and after long flights were delivered to rest room facilities or snack areas.
On our return, a very attentive, thoughtful attendant surprised me by saying, after guarding our luggage in our absence, "I see your husband has a Bible sticking out of his carry-on!" When I told her he was a retired pastor, she exclaimed, "Oh, I love the Lord so much!"
She talked about her church, and talk led to our history in Mississippi and Hurricane Katrina. She remembered it well, having left Louisiana after Hurricane Rita, as our son Greg's family had done. The kind, talkative attendant waited with us until Greg picked us up at the airport in Tulsa. "Hi, Greg," she called out. "I used to live in Lake Charles, too!"
We were glad to be going home, but we wouldn't forget this wonderful trip of seeing family and all the people we had met along the way, including one seat mate Howard had that made him wonder if the man was an angel! The crowded plane had Howard and I sitting across the aisle from each other, but when this man sat down by him, they immediately delved into spiritual matters and discussion of the Bible. He could quote any scripture and was knowledgeable of any Godly topic or place my husband could bring up. Their 3 1/2 hour conversation was another blessing of our amazing journey!
S
"No," he answered. "It just says acetaminophen."
So I took the bottle and shook out a pill, then on impulse I took two. I wanted to feel good on our flight. Fishing my glasses out of my purse, I looked at the bottle and exclaimed in alarm, "This says Tylenol PM! Now I will be groggy on the plane!" I was remembering the time I took the "PM" and felt drugged all the next day. Thankfully, this didn't bother me at all!
Preparing to go through airport security, the attendant pushing my chair (we had requested wheelchairs) began removing my shoes! "But our son said if you are 75, you don't have to remove your shoes!" I protested, to which she said, "Well, you ain't no 75!" Huh? "No, I am 78!" I replied. That caused a furor, as she annonunced my age loudly to everyone! How embarrassing, but kind of fun, too, as it happened on a return flight as well!
We were amazed at the friendliness from helpful staff who wheeled us across acres of terminals leading to our concourses. (Of course, Howard had made sure he had tip money in his pocket.) During lulls, we were pushed to restaurants, and after long flights were delivered to rest room facilities or snack areas.
On our return, a very attentive, thoughtful attendant surprised me by saying, after guarding our luggage in our absence, "I see your husband has a Bible sticking out of his carry-on!" When I told her he was a retired pastor, she exclaimed, "Oh, I love the Lord so much!"
She talked about her church, and talk led to our history in Mississippi and Hurricane Katrina. She remembered it well, having left Louisiana after Hurricane Rita, as our son Greg's family had done. The kind, talkative attendant waited with us until Greg picked us up at the airport in Tulsa. "Hi, Greg," she called out. "I used to live in Lake Charles, too!"
We were glad to be going home, but we wouldn't forget this wonderful trip of seeing family and all the people we had met along the way, including one seat mate Howard had that made him wonder if the man was an angel! The crowded plane had Howard and I sitting across the aisle from each other, but when this man sat down by him, they immediately delved into spiritual matters and discussion of the Bible. He could quote any scripture and was knowledgeable of any Godly topic or place my husband could bring up. Their 3 1/2 hour conversation was another blessing of our amazing journey!
S
Monday, January 15, 2018
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Reality Show!
Two beautiful surprises in one day! Our son Benjamin sent us links to memories we hadn't seen in ten years! One was a family Thanksgiving in 2007, and the other our 50th wedding anniversareunion in 2008. Though he advised watching them on the computer instead of the phone, our ingenious grandson displayed them for our awed enjoyment on the television screen!
Five of our kids' families were with us that Thanksgiving, our having moved back to Oklahoma a few months prior. From Texas, Kansas and far-away Tennessee they came. Old stories and memories poured out as talk flowed freely, reducing us to hilarious laughter, then and now as we watched.
"Let's count the pies," the videographer voiced, and pointed out our desserts filling shelves. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15!" he intoned, to my gasp as I remembered. The "Vegetarian Turkey" I had made as a centerpiece was there in all its glory of melon body, skewered olive tail feathers, and sweet potato wattles. Post feast, the heartless young'uns had a great time smashing it!
Besides touring sights in town, Marland Mansion, Standing Bear, Conoco Museum and freezing ourselves in Cann Gardens, we had to show the kids sites in Blackwell where their parents had grown up.
"Why are we eating at Taco Bell?" our guide, Greg, implored, "Because this is the spot where Grandpa Summers had his store!" Then I heard my 10-year-younger self say, "That's where our carload of teenagers waited until Howard got off work so we could run around!"
Awe and wonder was obvious on the faces of the younger generations when we visited the homeplace where Howard grew up. The door of the vacant house was unlocked, and he got their rapt attention when he said, "That was my brothers' and my bedroom!" Pointing to a space, he said, "Delmar and I slept there and Marvin's bed was over there!" Nostalgia reigned both in the past and present.
Our kids treated us to a stay in Gaylord-Opryland Resort for our 50th wedding anniversary, and all the families came with our 18 grandchildren! Exploring, sightseeing, visiting and shopping provided entertainment. But the video captured the best memories of all: the huge family dinner at a restaurant reserved for us. Benjamin, (aka Jamie), was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, getting everyone to tell stories of their growing up and of their parents!
Hilarity was the order of the evening, when one memory after another was related about us. Then it was the children's turn to talk about their own parents. Shy at first, as they gained confidence the kids pantomimed scenes and scenarios that reduced us to tears. And as we viewed the video, we were again laughing and crying at the same time. Thank you, Jamie!
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Christmas Memories
It seems every where I look in stores at their Christmas offerings, I see an eye-catching motif repeated on a variety of goods: kitchen towels, framed art, wall hangings, ceramics and dishes or pillows! The attraction? A red pick-up truck hauling a green Christmas tree! I am always reminded of an incident and favorite memory of the past.
Our teen-age son and his best friend had come from our community in south Mississippi to Austin, Texas where our oldest son, Mark, lived. He and his wife were youth pastors at their church, and the youth fund-raising project was a Christmas tree lot. The Mississippi lads had driven down to help out in a red pick-up truck, Trevor's hard-earned and proud possession.
Trevor's friend, Richard, had been in missionary training school, but was on winter break. The guys had enjoyed their stay, having sold many trees for a successful holiday venture. Needing to get back to Mississippi, the boys took off immediately after the lot closed down late Christmas eve.
They were tired and rumpled, their long-hair (the style then) falling to shoulders, and Richard had grown an unruly beard. Coming over a bridge at one point, they noticed they were being followed by a state trooper. Then they got stopped.
"What are you fellows doing out so late?" the officer questioned suspiciously. They explained they were headed home, showed their ID and answered more questions.
"I'm a missionary," Trevor's scruffy-looking pal offered, which was rewarded with a skeptical look.
"Where did you get that Christmas tree?" the officer demanded.
"We worked at my brother's tree lot for the youth of his church. There was one left, so we're taking it home for Christmas!" Trevor explained.
With that, he let the guys go, but it must have been a sight to see, the little red truck with a Christmas tree aboard, bobbing in the wind on a cold December night with two young adventurers eager to get home for Christmas. No wonder it's a Christmas theme!
Our teen-age son and his best friend had come from our community in south Mississippi to Austin, Texas where our oldest son, Mark, lived. He and his wife were youth pastors at their church, and the youth fund-raising project was a Christmas tree lot. The Mississippi lads had driven down to help out in a red pick-up truck, Trevor's hard-earned and proud possession.
Trevor's friend, Richard, had been in missionary training school, but was on winter break. The guys had enjoyed their stay, having sold many trees for a successful holiday venture. Needing to get back to Mississippi, the boys took off immediately after the lot closed down late Christmas eve.
They were tired and rumpled, their long-hair (the style then) falling to shoulders, and Richard had grown an unruly beard. Coming over a bridge at one point, they noticed they were being followed by a state trooper. Then they got stopped.
"What are you fellows doing out so late?" the officer questioned suspiciously. They explained they were headed home, showed their ID and answered more questions.
"I'm a missionary," Trevor's scruffy-looking pal offered, which was rewarded with a skeptical look.
"Where did you get that Christmas tree?" the officer demanded.
"We worked at my brother's tree lot for the youth of his church. There was one left, so we're taking it home for Christmas!" Trevor explained.
With that, he let the guys go, but it must have been a sight to see, the little red truck with a Christmas tree aboard, bobbing in the wind on a cold December night with two young adventurers eager to get home for Christmas. No wonder it's a Christmas theme!
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