I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last month about "today's" Christian. Has the new "deeper" preaching made me a better Christian than my parents and their parents. Has women's bible studies increased my ability to be a better wife, mother and christian worker. Has my dedication to "Through the Bible in a Year" really taught me more about the Lord. Have Care Groups, Life Groups, Bible Conferences and internet studies brought me closer to the Lord than my forefathers were.
I don't know!!! Right now I am missing "old fashioned" simple preaching 2 times a week. Wednesday night prayer meeting where we just pray and a song service where we sing hymns, choruses, bible verse songs and "new" music and never care what it is. Just enjoy it all.
Let me use my mother and father-in-law as examples. Before marrying my wonderful husband, we had been kids and teens together in the same church. Roy's mother had been saved as a young person and never missed a service. Roy's dad was the neighborhood drunk that we prayed for during each revival. In about 1956 Roy's dad was saved while watching Billy Graham on TV. I look at these 2 precious people as Godly examples of a christian life til each of their deaths.
1. they were always there. If the doors were open they just went. No questions, no debate just go
2. they tithed. no bible studies and conferences on giving. the word of God said do it so they did it.
3. they prayed before meals...simple again...Thank you Lord for the food......
4. they prayed and attended every night (usually 1-2 weeks) of revival. If anything else was planned during that week or 2 weeks it was canceled. They didn't miss revival meeting for baseball, football, school activities etc.
5. they prayed at bed time....Thank you Lord for the day... so simple and to us so very uneducated in how to pray
6. they read their bible every day...whatever the Daily Bread said to read
7. they studied their sunday school and training union lesson each day so that they were ready for their classes on sunday morning and sunday night.
The list goes on but the idea is consistent. They just lived the simple, faithful Christian life.
As I was discussing this with a friend a few days ago, my friend said; "but church wasn't their lives like it is ours. Our parents weren't involved in the church like we are" I've thought about that too and my response is.....maybe that's part of my problem. Church should NOT be my life. The Lord should be God's word tells me that "God is not the author of confusion". That seems to me to mean He is the author of order and peace.
There's an "Old" song that says "we need to get back to the basics of life". That's what I want. I want the basics again. I want to make a joyful noise again. I want to hear about Jesus..simple and basic.
Time with Mom
kissin' cam at the Ranger Game
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
NICOLE COMING HOME TODAY
I've had mother for 2 weeks now and I'm exhausted!!!!! When Mom left rehab we were told she needed to either be in an assisted liveing facility or have full time help at home. She really wanted to stay in her home so we hired Nicole to move in with her.
Nicole is really great with Mom and it's working out real well. One problem, 3 wks after she started she left on a 2 wk vacation to New York to visit her mother and sister. This left me and my family to take care of mom 24/7. WHAT A JOB.
Mom can't remember much of anything now. bathing, medicine, dressing, and eating are just a few of the simple things she can no longer do for herself. We have a nurse that comes in once a week and she sees both her family doctor and her heart doctor at least once a month.
Don't get me wrong. Having Mother here is worth any extra that I have to do, but being 66 myself means i move slower too.
Mom's short term memory is gone and she may ask me the day of the week or who someone is 20 times a day. At least it's usually different questions each day so I get to do new answers every 24 hours.
Today is the last day of Nicole's vacation so she's on her way home. I should be at the lakehouse within 3 hrs of her arrival! I can set and do nothing for a couple of days then it's back here. Nicole has tues and fridays off. Believe me. Those days are fun with Mom and I look forward to them.
Well, I must get back to doing the laundry and cleaning house before she gets here. Talk to you later.
Nicole is really great with Mom and it's working out real well. One problem, 3 wks after she started she left on a 2 wk vacation to New York to visit her mother and sister. This left me and my family to take care of mom 24/7. WHAT A JOB.
Mom can't remember much of anything now. bathing, medicine, dressing, and eating are just a few of the simple things she can no longer do for herself. We have a nurse that comes in once a week and she sees both her family doctor and her heart doctor at least once a month.
Don't get me wrong. Having Mother here is worth any extra that I have to do, but being 66 myself means i move slower too.
Mom's short term memory is gone and she may ask me the day of the week or who someone is 20 times a day. At least it's usually different questions each day so I get to do new answers every 24 hours.
Today is the last day of Nicole's vacation so she's on her way home. I should be at the lakehouse within 3 hrs of her arrival! I can set and do nothing for a couple of days then it's back here. Nicole has tues and fridays off. Believe me. Those days are fun with Mom and I look forward to them.
Well, I must get back to doing the laundry and cleaning house before she gets here. Talk to you later.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
today is day 6 of mom's hospital stay. this is my day 6 of mom's hospital stay.
up at 6am (do you realize that i'm retired and 6am is long before my usual wake up time)
at the hospital at 7am. why? because the dr can be in anytime between 7am and 7pm
mother asks "how was church?" thus starts the days conversations about what day it is.
meet with the nurse (love her) and explain what dr hale had said the night before
leave at 9:30am to go to the dr myself. - annual physical - I'm great!!!!!
back to hospital at 11:30am. meet with the nurse again (love her) and explain again what dr hale had said the night before - are you getting the picture?
noon i made my escape to the hospital dinning room for lunch. when you consider that as an escape it should indicate my frame of mind.
12:20pm i'm called to come back upstairs to meet with the "hospital" doctor. he says to mom "are you ready to go home" i say "but, we were told that when she leaves here she has to go to rehab for 1 or 2 wks" he says "oh, i guess i didn't read that" and here we go again.
today she has set off the bed alarm 2xs. ask why her plant has 1 flower in it 4xs. told me that she doesn't like her coffee several times. (she doesn't have any coffee, but, i being the good daughter ask the nurse to please be sure that her coffee is fresh when they bring it) she just told me that Vicki, my sister, from new york, was coming today. she thinks that she may to at my house now and told me to call her.
i'm thankful that she doesn't remember any of this as soon as she's said or done it and the stories of her childhood are becoming a real important part of her day.
up at 6am (do you realize that i'm retired and 6am is long before my usual wake up time)
at the hospital at 7am. why? because the dr can be in anytime between 7am and 7pm
mother asks "how was church?" thus starts the days conversations about what day it is.
meet with the nurse (love her) and explain what dr hale had said the night before
leave at 9:30am to go to the dr myself. - annual physical - I'm great!!!!!
back to hospital at 11:30am. meet with the nurse again (love her) and explain again what dr hale had said the night before - are you getting the picture?
noon i made my escape to the hospital dinning room for lunch. when you consider that as an escape it should indicate my frame of mind.
12:20pm i'm called to come back upstairs to meet with the "hospital" doctor. he says to mom "are you ready to go home" i say "but, we were told that when she leaves here she has to go to rehab for 1 or 2 wks" he says "oh, i guess i didn't read that" and here we go again.
today she has set off the bed alarm 2xs. ask why her plant has 1 flower in it 4xs. told me that she doesn't like her coffee several times. (she doesn't have any coffee, but, i being the good daughter ask the nurse to please be sure that her coffee is fresh when they bring it) she just told me that Vicki, my sister, from new york, was coming today. she thinks that she may to at my house now and told me to call her.
i'm thankful that she doesn't remember any of this as soon as she's said or done it and the stories of her childhood are becoming a real important part of her day.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I can't believe how hot it is!!! I know that 100 wasn't this hot last year and when I was a kid it was much cooler. What happened?
How did we ever live without air-conditioned houses, cars, churches, theaters, offices, etc?
I remember that in July 1963 for our first anniversary, Roy and I drove our Ford from OSU in Stillwater to Dallas to visit Tom and Jenny. We thought that it would be "fun" to play like we had airconditioning in our car sooooooooooooooooooooo up with the windows. Oh to be young again. I'm sure that our play like didn't last long, but to even consider such a thing now sounds rediculous.
Must leave my air-conditioned house now. Get into my air-conditioned car and go to my air-conditioned church.
Here's hoping for a cool down to at least 95 and some rain!
How did we ever live without air-conditioned houses, cars, churches, theaters, offices, etc?
I remember that in July 1963 for our first anniversary, Roy and I drove our Ford from OSU in Stillwater to Dallas to visit Tom and Jenny. We thought that it would be "fun" to play like we had airconditioning in our car sooooooooooooooooooooo up with the windows. Oh to be young again. I'm sure that our play like didn't last long, but to even consider such a thing now sounds rediculous.
Must leave my air-conditioned house now. Get into my air-conditioned car and go to my air-conditioned church.
Here's hoping for a cool down to at least 95 and some rain!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Okay, let's catch up. I thought that retirement was suppose to be a kinder, gentler world. Guess I thought wrong. This has been a sometimes busy, sometimes fun 2009.
When you last heard from me I was in Denver. The trip was great and the weather was awesome. Since it is over 100 today in Arlington, anything under 80 would be awesome.
Roy and I drove, yes you heard right, to Vegas for the convention this year. We had to take a van because EC needed "stuff" there this year; so we volunteered. If I were just writing about this trip; it would fill a book, but, since I'm writing about 5 months I'll just say that it was a fun and tiring 2 wks.
I will tell you that we took an extra day to go to the west rim of the Grand Canyon. That's where the sky walk out over the canyon is located. WOW!!! Talk about wonderful. I could almost see the hand of God at work. How can anyone look at nature and doubt God.
In April Roy bought my mother a house in Arlington and we moved her here from Tulsa, Ok. This was a real answer to prayer. Since I retired I had been going to Tulsa one wk a month to help with all her medical, shopping, house and etc. It really had become alot and I never felt I took care of all her needs.
She loves her house! My wonderful husband gave my mom the opportunity to live in a lovely three bedroom, two bath house in a great neighborhood here. My mom lived in a really bad part of Tulsa in a very small house.
In May mother and I went to Conn for my neice, Ashley's college graduation. We are so proud of her. She really worked hard for her degree. We enjoyed 4 days with Vicki, Rick and Ashley then flew back to Texas.
Vicki (my sister) came back with us and stayed for almost 2 weeks. We had the best time and really wish that they could be closer to us.
Emma Grace, Scott and Lauren's new addition is beautiful. This is Vicki's 2nd grandchild. We went to Tulsa to see them the end of May. Emma's big brother Ethan (3) was soooooooooooo much fun and Emma did her part. Sleep, eat, diaper change.
My nephew Jason is buying mom's old house. Guess it will stay in the family for a while longer. He single so it's perfect for him.
I think we're caught up so I'll sign off for now. Let's talk soon
When you last heard from me I was in Denver. The trip was great and the weather was awesome. Since it is over 100 today in Arlington, anything under 80 would be awesome.
Roy and I drove, yes you heard right, to Vegas for the convention this year. We had to take a van because EC needed "stuff" there this year; so we volunteered. If I were just writing about this trip; it would fill a book, but, since I'm writing about 5 months I'll just say that it was a fun and tiring 2 wks.
I will tell you that we took an extra day to go to the west rim of the Grand Canyon. That's where the sky walk out over the canyon is located. WOW!!! Talk about wonderful. I could almost see the hand of God at work. How can anyone look at nature and doubt God.
In April Roy bought my mother a house in Arlington and we moved her here from Tulsa, Ok. This was a real answer to prayer. Since I retired I had been going to Tulsa one wk a month to help with all her medical, shopping, house and etc. It really had become alot and I never felt I took care of all her needs.
She loves her house! My wonderful husband gave my mom the opportunity to live in a lovely three bedroom, two bath house in a great neighborhood here. My mom lived in a really bad part of Tulsa in a very small house.
In May mother and I went to Conn for my neice, Ashley's college graduation. We are so proud of her. She really worked hard for her degree. We enjoyed 4 days with Vicki, Rick and Ashley then flew back to Texas.
Vicki (my sister) came back with us and stayed for almost 2 weeks. We had the best time and really wish that they could be closer to us.
Emma Grace, Scott and Lauren's new addition is beautiful. This is Vicki's 2nd grandchild. We went to Tulsa to see them the end of May. Emma's big brother Ethan (3) was soooooooooooo much fun and Emma did her part. Sleep, eat, diaper change.
My nephew Jason is buying mom's old house. Guess it will stay in the family for a while longer. He single so it's perfect for him.
I think we're caught up so I'll sign off for now. Let's talk soon
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
McDONALD'S TIME
Good day mates. We are in beautiful downtown Denver today. Roy is installing an engraving machine for the Marines (love those marines!) and I'm now setting outside McDonalds (because if I go inside I will eat) using their free internet.
It's 3:30 in the afternoon here and it's a wonderful 52. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. I just made up the part about the birds; sorry. We checked out of the fabulous S8 before 8:00 this morning. Good thing I'm still on Texas time or he would have had to go without me. Ended up getting to Roy's first appointment over 1 hr early and so we went looking for a place to buy me a good morning diet coke. We were in Erie Co and Erie doesn't have anything. Drove for 20 minutes to find me a drink. By that time I was in the midst of a coke fit!!
Left Erie and came back to Denver for his install. Since 1pm I have been seeing the sights of downtown Denver. Saw and took pictures of the capitol of Co. Went by the US Mint. they wouldn't let me in!! Guess they're really busy making money. They probably will have those printing presses going 24/7 for the next 4 years.
I also went to Mile High Stadium now known as something else. Took picture and planned on going in but, again they wouldn't let me in. Okay is it just me or do they not like Texans or what? Nobody wants me to "come on in". Maybe I look like a bomber or something.
So sorry, but I must go. Roy just called!! He needs me!!
Good day mates. We are in beautiful downtown Denver today. Roy is installing an engraving machine for the Marines (love those marines!) and I'm now setting outside McDonalds (because if I go inside I will eat) using their free internet.
It's 3:30 in the afternoon here and it's a wonderful 52. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. I just made up the part about the birds; sorry. We checked out of the fabulous S8 before 8:00 this morning. Good thing I'm still on Texas time or he would have had to go without me. Ended up getting to Roy's first appointment over 1 hr early and so we went looking for a place to buy me a good morning diet coke. We were in Erie Co and Erie doesn't have anything. Drove for 20 minutes to find me a drink. By that time I was in the midst of a coke fit!!
Left Erie and came back to Denver for his install. Since 1pm I have been seeing the sights of downtown Denver. Saw and took pictures of the capitol of Co. Went by the US Mint. they wouldn't let me in!! Guess they're really busy making money. They probably will have those printing presses going 24/7 for the next 4 years.
I also went to Mile High Stadium now known as something else. Took picture and planned on going in but, again they wouldn't let me in. Okay is it just me or do they not like Texans or what? Nobody wants me to "come on in". Maybe I look like a bomber or something.
So sorry, but I must go. Roy just called!! He needs me!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
WAITING FOR THE PRESIDENT!!!
Okay so where is he? We're checked in to the beautiful Denver Super 8 (with bathtub) and I've been patiently waiting for President Obama to check in and give me a call. If he is here they are not telling me and I want to talk to him about the economy, abortion, socialism, medicare and much more.
I am very concerned that he will sign this ridiculous bill before I have a chance to guide him to a better way.
Okay so where is he? We're checked in to the beautiful Denver Super 8 (with bathtub) and I've been patiently waiting for President Obama to check in and give me a call. If he is here they are not telling me and I want to talk to him about the economy, abortion, socialism, medicare and much more.
I am very concerned that he will sign this ridiculous bill before I have a chance to guide him to a better way.
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