Life and times.....and all that.

My thanks to those of you who read this blog and comment on it. When that happens, I know I have reached a human being, and am not just blathering off into space.

Life has been extraordinarily peaceful lately - don't know why and I'm not about to rock the boat trying to find out. I now have two Bible studies to teach, and I gotta say I love it. I do the one for the Daughters meetings (try talking for just 20 minutes and then shutting up - me? ha!) Then, our minister has set up two weekly meetings - one at night and ours in the afternoon. We are to hear his sermon, take his list of comments home, read, muse, wonder, etc. and then meet at our house to discuss. Do you have any idea what it is like to be able to say I am having a meeting at this house? All the debris has not quite gone to the back, but it's on the way. I have dust in places I haven't seen in months. But it is doable and getting done! But I look forward to it. We hope to build a small community this way.

Also, also - George and I feel strongly called to start a mission in Mertzon. We even have found a building. Daughter Nancy and family live there and aren't going to any church right now. The pickings are slim out there. But G. is so frustrated by the rules of the whole thing. He somehow thought he and I could just waltz out and open this storefront up and all would be well. He thought I was being funny when I told him there were guidelines for this sort of thing, and we would have to be approved. We also need much support. He was stunned. I reminded him that I am 78 and living in a body that is not so well off, and he is 84 and has had quad bypass surgery as well as being diabetic. We will get the help we need, and I am as positive of that as I am that the call is real. He just is wrestling with the patience part of it. I will keep you posted. I think this will be fun, too (and I get to preach some more!)

Right now I am trying to count all the 'ask' words in the Bible. My mind is blown by how often we are told to ask and then we are told we have not because we ask not. I wish I could see the concordance better. Maybe there is a large print one somewhere.

I have new hope on the pain front. I interview someone from church each month and write a page about them. This last one was our outgoing senior warden, and his wife has always been sort of 'sick'. I didn't know much about it, but turns out she has chronic pain issues. So, while I use this TENS unit regularly, she has the same sort of thing implanted in her body. She can control it and recharge the batteries from the outside of her skin. Aaaamazing, yes? So, if things get worse, I can go that route.

Just talked to my sister who called to say Aunt Eloise has just died at 97. Also she said that now it is our turn to die and that they have decided that Grace has to die first, then me, and on down in age. I told her not to count on it. None of them can keep up with Grace (cousin) and me. So there.

Blessings.......

Help is greatly underrated by some

but not by me. Last weekend, Sarah came out, complete with food to cook for us for the weekend, and Nancy came. Nancy took away great grammas 3 piece antique love seat - chair set and took it to her climate controlled storeroom. At first it was scary, things were so bare. Then Nancy picked up the sofa (folks, this has a bed in it!) and moved it under the window. She had to leave pretty soon, so Sarah and I began going through all the piles of papers and other stuff. It is scary how much there is, but it has to be sorted. Because.....we found my passport, two insurance policies and a check. You just never know. At Nancy's suggestion, we now have accordion folders to sort mail as it comes in. Works like a dream. Of course, I have not had to transfer these things to the permanent files, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there. It is really great to have the room look large and open, rather than cut in half. Thanks and kudos to these two girls. Next month Mary Beth will come and we will tackle some more. She keeps my nose to the grindstone too. Left to myself, I take on Scarlett's attitude - I'll worry about that tomorrow. I have heart, now, because I can finally see a difference. Thank you girls, all three. Don't know what I'd do without you. Find myself at the bottom of a pile of papers, probably.

My 3-5 kid choir is singing Sunday - doing Jesu, Jesu, which is a Ghanian song. We're using all sorts of wild instruments. We have wood blocks with sandpaper glued to them and handles on the top. They make a nice noise. Then we have hollow sticks, and yesterday I bought a block with a tapper for it. I have one little boy who has never yet missed a beat, so he and one other do the percussion. Not being a technical person, I have enlisted help and we wil be amplified this week. Somehow, when the kids can hear themselves the cut loose and really belt it out. Our next song will require bells and we have lots and lots of them. I'll have to write some percussion for Drew - that's why he is there.

Dad and I took the test for census workers. He worked the last one, ten years ago in Glen Rose, and likes going house to house. I am opting for a sit down computer job. Hoping that what I know will be enough. The test was not hard, but we only had 30 minutes to do 29 questions and a lot of them are convoluted in language. Being a fast reader helps, but only so much. These people can twist language around so you aren't even sure what the question is. I'll let you know what happens.

Blessings, all.

Too many 'fings'

One of my favorite books from my childhood on (I haven't left it yet) is "Helen's Babies." In this ,Toddie,
a wonderful little boy, comments something like: 'I don't want no more fings. I gots too much fings"
Like Toddie, I gots too much fings. The house abounds with fings. I have plans to get rid of these fings,
though. Sneaky, secret plans. Just you wait and see.

Today,

I saw my lovely neurologist. He is appalled at the state of my spine, but reluctant to consider surgery on an old lady with heart problems. He has decided I am not limited to three spinal shots a year, but can have as many as I need. He also RXed a newer and more versatile TENS unit for me. That's what a bunch of lumpy, useless discs can do for you. And I always took my calcium, too. It could be worse, tho. So, I don't have to stop my life and go off to a hospital, and that's always good news.

I am teaching a course for our women's group from an Andrew Murray on the Lord's prayer. I had forgotten what fun it is to teach. I don't know about the others, but I'm having a great time.

Sarah will be here very soon - weekend after next, I think. She has many plans and so do I. Chances are that won't get all of them done. We never do when I host a work weekend. But things are getting better and better. Nancy is going to help me rearrange this living room. It doesn't feel hospitable except for our recliners. I'm sure she can make it better - she has the 'gift'.

Blessings on all.

Now,

the rackafracking printer has decided to take a long nap. Gotta crawl behind this thing (and pray I can get back out) and check all the plugs. Fun? No. But it has to be done.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

If it weren't for expensive dentures, I could chew nails. My email is simply gone. Away. And I can't get it back. Happily my nice man who knows how to make 'puters behave is coming tomorow. Meantime I am trying to send an important email via my gmail account. It isn't going either, as it says the addresses are not correct. This is mail for dh, so have to wait till he gets home to check his references. He has never understood that 'puters only talk to people who get things exactly right. Hurry, tomorrow.