Hi Mom,

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Love, Ian

Received this email from Ian today. That Boy! Always looking out for me! I think this is a good idea…cause right now when you comment on a post of mine…a little ghost comes up. It really doesn’t look like you at all! You are WAY better looking! And, I really do not like ghosts very much…flying around…sight unseen…hiding in the corners of your room…making weird “woo-ooo-ooooo” noises…like they think we know what they are saying…we don’t know ghost language…at least I don’t and I hope you don’t. Then they show up at those seance things and tell you something about someone who’s gone somewhere because they died of something and didn’t finish their talking while on this earth. I think that’s a bunch of hooey! I don’t know if that is even a real word. But it is a good word…and I think you get it. Do you remember ‘Ghostbusters’?…”Who ya gonna call?….GHOSTBUSTERS!” Remember they sucked those ghostly things up into a box. Wonder how many they could get in one box? Anyway…I liked the movie, even if I don’t believe in ghosts! “I ain’t ‘fraid a no ghosts!” I really liked that Patrick Swayze movie…but those were scary ghosts. Except for Pat. Do you think he could really jump into Wh**pi G*ldberg like that? That was one funny woman…when she was ‘ghost filled’. I think if there is any body on the planet who is open to being taken over by a ghost jumping inside of them it would be her! Now, I really don’t think ghosts are real…except when Pat sat down behind Dem at the potter’s wheel and helped her make that pot…that part looked very real to me….I’m just saying. Gee….I do tend to ramble on, don’t I…..

What I mean is…if you wish to remain a ghost on my blog, that is fine by me. Or if you wish to be seen in all your beauty…read and do!

EDITED : Yea for Kat! She’s the first to send her ghost packing! Come on, now…you can be next!

Yesterdy was a fun day at the pool. Tara brought JT……Lori brought Jezebelle……..Joy brought Pop……..And, Alex felt well enough to sit outside for a little and play with JT. We all had a ball! I made a cake…I MADE A CAKE!!! Strawberry with cream cheese icing. Yummy! Pop said he could not remember the last time he was in a pool.

When Mom and Pop built their second house…..they built 4!!!…..they put a huge pool in the backyard. Pop had one of the screen houses built over it. Which helps to keep the leaves out…but also much of the sun. So, it was always chilly. They built a nice pool house with a big covered deck.

We loved that pool. The boys and Joy’s girls wanted to stay there all the time. And, they all learned to swim there…..Alex being the last. Joy and I would pack food and drinks and come and stay for the day! The kids would swim and eat and swim and eat. Joy, Mom and I would sit and talk , or work on some project or idea. Those were wonderful times. We would have church parties out there. And, for mny years, we had a day camp for the girls in our church, called Camp Sunshine. (I’ll write about that one day) And, birthday parties…oh my! It was used every day! It used to be a wonderful incentive…or punishment! ********I don’t know why the picture below is crooked, probably the photographer! (ME)

I had to include the picture of Pop swimming. This is how I have seen him so many times swimming with the children. And then today he and JT played in the pool together. Sweet memories made today! Look at him…sure doesn’t look 84, does he?

But, the upkeep on all the grounds and pool got to be too much…and so the sold it, and built another one on the left side of that one. But, alas, no pool. But, they didn’t like that house very much…said it was too big. And, so they sold it and built another one on the right side of the first one. And, that is where Pop lives now.

I am leaving tomorrow to go to Birmingham. I have a very dear friend, Pamela, whose son is getting married on Saturday. I am going to decorate for the rehearsal dinner, and then direct the wedding. Joy is going to help me. We have built in a little time to do some shopping, too. The wedding is going to be outside on the grounds of a winery in a nearby town. I’ll make lots of pictures.

I have had some new friends stopping by to say hello on the blog! I am so happy to hear from you! Comments make us bloggers feel good!

Today I went to the gas station to get some gas. (I tend to start freaking when the gas needle get to a quarter of a tank.) Since the gas station is right across from the drugstore, I took care of two errands in one trip. *********** Just a quick rant before I continue. Why do people stop at the first gas pump, instead of pulling all the way to the second? So annoying. And, then, when a person finishes pumping their gas, and goes inside to pay…they will see a long line behind them waiting for the pump…will they move their car first? Why, no! You can just sit there and wait till they amble in, peruse the chip and candy aisle, search out the Big Gulp…and then go and pay. Then amble slowly out to their car. But, wait! There’s more! They will stand at the garbage container in between the pumps and s.l.o.w.l.y. open their chips and/or candy and drink…and only then get in to their car, AND MOVE OUT OF THE WAY !!! Rant over.***********

As, I got out of my car, I noticed an ‘older than me’ lady who was standing in front of the pump behind mine. I first noticed her because she was dressed in a way my Mom would have been. Khaki slacks, and knit top and a light coral jacket. She had on sensible shoes…..and they matched her pants. Her hair was ‘right from the beauty parlor’ neat, and she had a gold herringbone chain around her neck. Neat as a pin, she was.

However she was staring at the pump as if she had never seen one in her life…..and holding her credit card in her hand. Sensing distress, I walked around the pump.

Me: Excuse me, ma’am. Do you need some help?

Lady: Well, I reckon I do, Shug. Do you know where the directions are on this gas machine?

Me: Let’s see. There they are, right up there on top.

Lady: Well, that’s not going to help me a bit. I don’t have my glasses.

Me: I can help you. I’ve done this a few thousand times.

Lady: Well, how many cars do you have, shug?

Me: Only one.

Lady: So, maybe more like a hundred…

Me: (Feeling like a naughty school girl in front of the teacher) Yes, Ma’am. I’ll say a few hundred.

Lady: Be specific, dear.

Me: I bet you were a school teacher.

Lady: Taught in the County for 40 years.

I could tell.

Me: OK. Let’s see if we can get you some gas. Let me see your card. Look, you slide it right in here.

Lady: WAIT! Do you know where it is going? You can’t let just anybody see your card, you know. Don’t you know that?

Me: Yes, ma’am. But, it doesn’t go anywhere. See, you just slide it in here, so the machine can read it and it comes right back out.

Lady: You’re sure?

I nodded.

I put the card in and pulled it right back out. While I was at it, I showed her how to match up the strip on the back with the strip shown on the machine. Then I asked her what kind of gas she wanted. She didn’t know. I told her my husband told me to always use the first one. And, that’s what I did. And, that’s what I chose for her.

Lady: You always do what your husband says, hon?

Me: Well, I always try to do what he wants me to. Especially if he knows more about it than I do. OK, do you know how to put this into the car?

Lady: Well, I’m not stupid, Shug.

Me: Oh, it has nothing to do with stupidity. It’s just whether you’ve done it before. Neither my mother nor my sister know how.

Lady: Do you pump their’s?

Me: No. No, I don’t. But, I would if I needed to. OK. See, you just twist this cap off and then you put the nozzle into the tank and squeeze the handle. Just keep squeezing until it stops by itself. (I didn’t think I would confuse her with the doo-dah that holds the gas on for you).

Me: OK, you got it? Why don’t you try it?

Lady: No, that’s OK, you just go ahead and finish it up for me this time. I don’t want to get that gas smell on my hands.

Me: Well, allrighty, then.

I finished pumping HER gas and I showed her how it would cut off. Then I walked her through putting the nozzle back and tightening the cap.

Lady: I need my receipt, now. I have to have my receipt!.

So, I showed her how it would ask her and where to push. Sure enough, it came right out.

Me: Well, I think that’s got you fixed up.

Lady: Well, Hon, I couldn’t have done it without you. You just saved this old woman today.

Me: Well, I was glad to help you. If you don’t mind me asking, who usually gets your gas for you.

Lady: (she put her hand over her mouth and giggled) I’ve got a good plan. When I go to church on Sunday, I stop by the young men’s class and say, ‘what handsome fella wants to get me some gas today?’ And, then I tell them that if someone doesn’t get it for me….I’ll go home with one of them for the afternoon. I always have someone who will hop up and go get it for me. I hate for them to miss Sunday School, but what’s an old widow woman to do?

Me: (laughing) I think that sounds like a pretty good plan to me. But, what do you do if you need gas during the week?

Lady: (smiling) I just drive up here to the Shell station. Park my car by one of the pumps, and get out of the car. Then I just hold my card in my hand and wait. Doesn’t take long for someone to come along and ask me if I need help.

Me: Like I just did today.

Lady: Yes, Ma’am. You were my angel today.

Me: Well, I am so glad I could help you out…but I don’t know about the angel part.

Lady: Well, Hon, it’s like this…Before I leave home to come to the gas station, I pray that God will send me an angel to help me with my gas. And, He always does. Sometimes, they are kids, sometimes working men, and sometimes young ladies like yourself….but one always comes. I never have to wait more than 5 or 6 minutes.

Me: So, you really do know how to pump your gas…you just don’t like to.

Lady: Oh, I think I could do it if I had to. But, it really does intimidate me. And, I have such little strength in my hands now.

Me: Well, I hope God keeps on blessing you with helpers.

Lady: Oh, He will. He will. Thank you again, Dearie. Bye, now.

And with that she got into her car and drove off. I watched her go to the light and pull back into the traffic. So, she prays for an angel every time she needs gas…I wonder how many folks notice her and just walk on by…not taking a few minutes to help. And…..I wondered if maybe it was really the other way around. Maybe she was the angel God put into my path at the gas station. Whew! I’m glad I had on my ‘Be Kind’ hat that day…I haven’t been called an angel in a long, long time. And, truth be told…the blessing was all mine!

****************************************************************************

Q: WHY DID THE TURTLE CROSS THE ROAD ?

A: TO GET TO THE SHELL STATION !!

GUESS WHAT, FRIENDS? OREO IS HOME!!!!!

A man who lives about 2 miles from Tara and Will was off on a trip last week. He had someone coming in and feeding his dog for him while he was gone. He arrived home after dark, and noticed there was another dog in his yard. That did not surprise him because someone was supposed to bring him a new dog. He went on in and went to bed. The next morning, he noticed the dog again, and it was not the dog that was supposed to be coming to live with him. I’m not sure if he recognized the dog or checked his tags, but he called Will soon after and told him Oreo was there. Will went right over and got him. Tara said when Bullet saw his buddy in the back of Will’s truck, he went wild with excitement!

Now, I know that all of you are not dog lovers, and that’s OK. But, with all the bad news we keep hearing everywhere, isn’t it nice to just be happy that a lost dog was found and returned to those who love and care for him? You know, God cares about everything that we care about. If we are unhappy or sad, God cares. Isn’t it neat how Oreo found his way to a place where there was food and water outside? And, isn’t it wonderful how well the angels on duty protected him from the lions and tigers and bears in the woods? Just kidding, but, Joy said they were afraid a coyote would get him. I think she said coyote…bobcat?…wolves? I don’t know about all that, but I just thank you for your prayers for this sweet family who was hurting.

Sweet Suzanne is feeling better. She says when she went back to the doctor, the one she saw the previous day was not there, so she saw another one. He told her that he did not think it was a spider bite. He thought it was an allergic reaction to something. She came by here to let me see it and I do not think it is a spider bite either. I have had one, and this does not look like it. She put some ointment on it and she said it is feeling better today. But, it is spreading to her neck and chest. But, she’ll be fine. Thank you for taking that to the Father as well.

I do not have any other reports, yet, but will pass them along as soon as I do. One other thing. I have several good friends who are in Guatemala right now on a mission trip. Please remember them and their safety…both while there and while travelling.

Thank-you, friends, for the encouraging words and thoughts you have sent to me. Alex is about the same. And, I know it breaks God’s heart as much as it does mine. But, prayers not answered the way we want, are never prayers in vain. God hears them all, and does as He sees fit. And, I want you to know that I am OK with that. It does not change my faith. Because I have forgotten much of what happened in the past, today goes by so quickly, and I have no idea about the future. But, God remembers all that has happened before…He was there. This day is owned by Him. And, He is my future. And, because of this, I trust the decisions He makes…because I trust Him! That does not mean I don’t try to change His mind now and again…but He loves me and understands me. God bless you, my friends. And thank you for reaching out and praying for us. Please be so kind as to let me return the blessing at any time.

“How precious it is,Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly.” Psalm 139:17

“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’.” Psalm 122:1

(Above) Cades Cove Tennessee…NC

(Above) Grand Wialea Resort Maui, Hawaii

(Above) Townsend Baptist Church…….Georgia

(Above) Southside Baptist Church Dothan AL

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

I believe that so many times in life, we miss out on things because we do not open our mouths and make our wants and needs known. We are afraid, oftentimes, of what people will think. Will they think I am not strong enough to do things by myself? Will they think I am always whining about something? Will they begin avoiding me because they don’t know what all is going on? And, if they do know what is going on, they will surely drop me from their ‘friends’ list.

My friends, I am here to tell you, if any of those things were ever to be thought by one of my friends…I’d sooner not have them!

But, I am blessed with wonderful friends…Godly friends…friends who don’t care about all those things, they care about me and what I am going through. And, even if they don’t know the details, it is of no matter. They don’t have to know…they just know I asked and they answered.

“‚ĶThe prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

My family has many needs at this moment, and I am asking for your prayers.

My sweet Suzanne and Adam are going through some very trying times at the moment, in regards to a medical issue. I have asked for prayer for them before for this same reason…and nothing has changed. But, there is a glimmer of hope and I ask that you pray that God will answer their prayers, if it is His will. Please pray that Adam and Suze will have peace and comfort as they go about their daily lives while waiting on God.

Suzanne was bitten by a spider during the last few days. She went to the doctor and he told her there was a large amount of infection in her blood. They have started her on some meds, but it seems she is having some rections to it. Please pray that the meds will take effect soon.

Sweet Tara’s dear dog, Oreo, is missing. They live way out in the country, and they think he may have gotten lost in the woods. The other dog came home…but is obviously in much distress. He is missing his buddy. They are always together. Tara and Will have had this dog as long as they have been married. Will rescued it. And, they both love him dearly. I have prayed that the Lord give Oreo an extra dose of tracking skills, so he will find his way home. And, to put His angels that are on animal duty around him to keep him safe. Oreo is the same kind of dog that our sweet Scooter was.

Ian is also having some very hard decisions to make in regards to his health. Don and I can not make these for him, but the outcome of his choices will affect his life for well over a year. This is not an easy decision to make, as he has walked this path before. Please pray that he will have wisdom to make a clear decision, and that things in regards to doctors will fall into place.

Alex has been doing very poorly lately. He has not even been up since Father’s Day. His pain is at a very high level, so he stays medicated most of the time. This is a so hard to witness every day. Please pray that God will give him some relief. Please pray that we will find a doctor who knows more about his disease, and can actually help the pain. Oh, friends, he suffers so much every single day.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

The only reason I am not more specific on some of these is due to respect of their privacy. The telling of details should be up to them.

Thank you for being the kind of friends that I can come to openly and without hesitation, knowing that I can trust these situations to your caring hearts. Thank you for praying with me.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).