Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Monday, April 6, 2020
From Ear to Ear
I never post two blogs in one day, but this is an exception. Getting the mail out of the box earlier today, I puzzled over a very large, manila envelope with a Texas postmark. Probably just something for teenage granddaughter Mackenzie, who is always sending off for things, I reasoned.
Then I saw the sender's name, addressed to us! My son's wife, Tammy's, mom! I couldn't imagine what was in the light-weight envelope and wasted no time to get it open. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw two professionally made, cloth face masks! One reversible brown and tan, the other forest green and tan, with of course elastic ear fasteners!
I didn't know if she had seen some of my posts about our wearing bandannas, or if she was just being her always generous, thoughtful self! I thought back to the time of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when this lady sent bags of supplies, including first-aid items, medicines and other necessities to us and our daughter's family in Mississippi.
In no time at all, they sent a truck with a barrel of fuel for the vehicles, tools, flashlights and, if I remember right, a generator! Tammy and Jamie had driven through the night from Houston, Texas to deliver the load to our devastated area and our daughter Amy's damaged property. We will never forget this.
Now it seems that we are undergoing something more devastating in a different way than Hurricane Katrina. Many are volunteering help in our medical community, and professionals are working madly to find a way to stop this plague.
Thank you, Deloris Shaw, for your thoughtful, helpful gesture. We will wear them!
Then I saw the sender's name, addressed to us! My son's wife, Tammy's, mom! I couldn't imagine what was in the light-weight envelope and wasted no time to get it open. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw two professionally made, cloth face masks! One reversible brown and tan, the other forest green and tan, with of course elastic ear fasteners!
I didn't know if she had seen some of my posts about our wearing bandannas, or if she was just being her always generous, thoughtful self! I thought back to the time of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when this lady sent bags of supplies, including first-aid items, medicines and other necessities to us and our daughter's family in Mississippi.
In no time at all, they sent a truck with a barrel of fuel for the vehicles, tools, flashlights and, if I remember right, a generator! Tammy and Jamie had driven through the night from Houston, Texas to deliver the load to our devastated area and our daughter Amy's damaged property. We will never forget this.
Now it seems that we are undergoing something more devastating in a different way than Hurricane Katrina. Many are volunteering help in our medical community, and professionals are working madly to find a way to stop this plague.
Thank you, Deloris Shaw, for your thoughtful, helpful gesture. We will wear them!
Praises!
From one of the songs we sang at our Drive-in Church service yesterday:
Eye Of The Storm
In the eye of the storm, You remain in control,
In the middle of the war, you guard my soul,
You alone are my anchor, when my sails are torn,
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm.
What a great outdoor service that was! More cars than ever were parked and filled with people eager to hear God's word. Our pastor's sermon was so uplifting and moving; it seemed he gained more anointed strength as he brought forth his message.
Another moving song that brought unexpected joy and comfort to hearts, including to my brimming eyes, was as follows:
Lord I Need You
Lord, I need You, Oh, I need You, Every hour I need You,
My one Defense, My Righteousness, Oh God, how I need You.
We were granted a beautiful, no rain sky for the outdoor gathering! Puffy clouds floated serenely above us as we enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. There is just something about being out in God's marvelous creation that is refreshing and spirit lifting! The words to the next song says it all:
Great Are You Lord
It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise,
It's Your breath in our lungs, So we pour out our praise to You only.
Amen! See you next Sunday!
Eye Of The Storm
In the eye of the storm, You remain in control,
In the middle of the war, you guard my soul,
You alone are my anchor, when my sails are torn,
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm.
What a great outdoor service that was! More cars than ever were parked and filled with people eager to hear God's word. Our pastor's sermon was so uplifting and moving; it seemed he gained more anointed strength as he brought forth his message.
Another moving song that brought unexpected joy and comfort to hearts, including to my brimming eyes, was as follows:
Lord I Need You
Lord, I need You, Oh, I need You, Every hour I need You,
My one Defense, My Righteousness, Oh God, how I need You.
We were granted a beautiful, no rain sky for the outdoor gathering! Puffy clouds floated serenely above us as we enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. There is just something about being out in God's marvelous creation that is refreshing and spirit lifting! The words to the next song says it all:
Great Are You Lord
It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise,
It's Your breath in our lungs, So we pour out our praise to You only.
Amen! See you next Sunday!
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Today's Thoughts
Running an errand to the nearby convenience store this morning, we donned our bandanna masks. No other shoppers seemed to be wearing any. When we wore the scarves a few days ago, the manager joked that he was afraid he was being robbed! Today, though, I was surprised to see he was wearing a bandanna mask himself!
The store aisles had undergone changes, too, with a taped-on X every six feet, complying with the social-distancing rules.
A little later, we were relaxing on the porch in the beautiful, warm sunshine, Howard even bringing part of his lunch to eat outside. Meanwhile, I had been eyeing some kind of animal that was dashing furtively across the drive, then under a car, and waiting before it shot out again. I couldn't figure out what it was: bushy hair all over the low-slung torso, orange-brown coat, long tail, and quite large! I knew it wasn't a raccoon, easily identified by it's coloring and mask of it's own!
Turns out it was a ground-hog! I had never seen one, except in pictures where the ground-hog sees its shadow, or not, guaranteeing whether or not we would have six-more weeks of winter weather. It had come from a ditch beside a space that is used for a garden every year. Must have been looking for goodies that spring up in tilled soil!
Time goes slowly, staying home so much, and Howard was craving coffee and do-nuts from Dunkin' Do-nuts. To be safe, he inquired at the corner restaurant/filling station for curfew info. Turns out the curfew begins at 12:00 A.M. , so we indulged and enjoyed the ride to town and back, seeing couples walking and enjoying the balmy weather.
Tomorrow is church, which will be held outside with cars spaced as required. We are so looking forward to the service and seeing friends, even from a distance, and worshiping on the Lord's day!
The store aisles had undergone changes, too, with a taped-on X every six feet, complying with the social-distancing rules.
A little later, we were relaxing on the porch in the beautiful, warm sunshine, Howard even bringing part of his lunch to eat outside. Meanwhile, I had been eyeing some kind of animal that was dashing furtively across the drive, then under a car, and waiting before it shot out again. I couldn't figure out what it was: bushy hair all over the low-slung torso, orange-brown coat, long tail, and quite large! I knew it wasn't a raccoon, easily identified by it's coloring and mask of it's own!
Turns out it was a ground-hog! I had never seen one, except in pictures where the ground-hog sees its shadow, or not, guaranteeing whether or not we would have six-more weeks of winter weather. It had come from a ditch beside a space that is used for a garden every year. Must have been looking for goodies that spring up in tilled soil!
Time goes slowly, staying home so much, and Howard was craving coffee and do-nuts from Dunkin' Do-nuts. To be safe, he inquired at the corner restaurant/filling station for curfew info. Turns out the curfew begins at 12:00 A.M. , so we indulged and enjoyed the ride to town and back, seeing couples walking and enjoying the balmy weather.
Tomorrow is church, which will be held outside with cars spaced as required. We are so looking forward to the service and seeing friends, even from a distance, and worshiping on the Lord's day!
Friday, April 3, 2020
God's World
Sitting outside on the porch in the late afternoon tranquility yesterday, Howard and I were entertained and amazed at the little creatures enjoying the sparkling grass and pleasant temperatures. Young goats were grazing lazily, pulling up mouthfuls of purple flowers on green stems, wandering as far as their tether allowed.
Our attention was caught by two brown rabbits merrily chasing each other back and forth across the yard and driveway. One might disappear for a while, soon to be discovered by the determined, flop-eared playmate. Over and over, they dashed in their play as if for our amusement.
Next, our eyes were captured and entertained by two robin redbreasts hopping along, the harbingers of spring obviously enjoying the cool evening and an occasional worm pulled from the earth.
"Oh, look!" I pointed out to my husband as the glowing sky was suddenly filled with scads of birds! Not just any birds, and not eagles, which I first took them to be. They gracefully sailed and swooped, wings outspread and feathers caught in the evening sun, looking exactly like the white undercoat of eagles!
Shortly there filled a dome of the dashing fliers, some rising higher and higher, only to dive gracefully back until, by some unknown signal, they all disappeared, leaving us awestruck at nature's unexpected performance.
Soon dusk and evening chill drove us back into the house, the kitchen warm and inviting, and the promise of supper a comforting thought. The worries and concerns of the day were erased for awhile at the joy of God's creation. He is still in control, despite what men may think, and at our best, we trust in Him!
Our attention was caught by two brown rabbits merrily chasing each other back and forth across the yard and driveway. One might disappear for a while, soon to be discovered by the determined, flop-eared playmate. Over and over, they dashed in their play as if for our amusement.
Next, our eyes were captured and entertained by two robin redbreasts hopping along, the harbingers of spring obviously enjoying the cool evening and an occasional worm pulled from the earth.
"Oh, look!" I pointed out to my husband as the glowing sky was suddenly filled with scads of birds! Not just any birds, and not eagles, which I first took them to be. They gracefully sailed and swooped, wings outspread and feathers caught in the evening sun, looking exactly like the white undercoat of eagles!
Shortly there filled a dome of the dashing fliers, some rising higher and higher, only to dive gracefully back until, by some unknown signal, they all disappeared, leaving us awestruck at nature's unexpected performance.
Soon dusk and evening chill drove us back into the house, the kitchen warm and inviting, and the promise of supper a comforting thought. The worries and concerns of the day were erased for awhile at the joy of God's creation. He is still in control, despite what men may think, and at our best, we trust in Him!
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Masked!
Well, we did it. Howard and I wore masks to the store. But not your everyday, usual mask, we wore bandannas! Since no other protective masks were available, I remembered some new, never used, red and blue bandannas purchased at some time for some reason, I don't remember why, now, but they had lain new and folded in a drawer for a year or two, at least.
"I feel like a cowboy or a robber," my husband remarked as we rode along in the car, the pointed end of the scarf tucked in the neck of his shirt. I followed suit and did the same with mine.
"Here we are," I announced, as we drove up to the convenience store. I got out wearing my bandanna, but he promptly lowered his "handkerchief". We got some grinning looks and friendly remarks, but no one said anything, only ducking into another aisle as we passed. Social-distancing, you know.
I had seen a news announcer hold up a colored bandanna and demonstrate it's ease and convenience as a mask. That's when I thought about the bandannas and searched them out.
The cashier at the register looked at us with an inscrutable expression, but I could see he was "masking" a smile. As I reached for a pack of paper towels I hadn't seen, I heard my genial husband telling the manager of one of the two store robberies he survived when he worked in New Orleans many years ago. I don't know if the intruders wore masks, but they left indelible memories, non the less.
Sailing down the road toward home in the fresh air and sunshine renewed my spirit from being closed in all week, as prescribed for health and safety by authorities, considering the COV-19 virus. I will be glad when all this is over, with nothing left but indelible memories, which will doubtless never go away.
"I feel like a cowboy or a robber," my husband remarked as we rode along in the car, the pointed end of the scarf tucked in the neck of his shirt. I followed suit and did the same with mine.
"Here we are," I announced, as we drove up to the convenience store. I got out wearing my bandanna, but he promptly lowered his "handkerchief". We got some grinning looks and friendly remarks, but no one said anything, only ducking into another aisle as we passed. Social-distancing, you know.
I had seen a news announcer hold up a colored bandanna and demonstrate it's ease and convenience as a mask. That's when I thought about the bandannas and searched them out.
The cashier at the register looked at us with an inscrutable expression, but I could see he was "masking" a smile. As I reached for a pack of paper towels I hadn't seen, I heard my genial husband telling the manager of one of the two store robberies he survived when he worked in New Orleans many years ago. I don't know if the intruders wore masks, but they left indelible memories, non the less.
Sailing down the road toward home in the fresh air and sunshine renewed my spirit from being closed in all week, as prescribed for health and safety by authorities, considering the COV-19 virus. I will be glad when all this is over, with nothing left but indelible memories, which will doubtless never go away.
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