Arkansas Monsters

What I dislike most about Arkansas - monsters. Yep. HUGE monsters - spiders, bugs, chiggers, etc. I was sitting on the patio the other day when out of the corner of my eye I saw something HUGE scurrying across the floor - I could only grunt, oh, oh, and run. Fred wondered what was my problem - when I could talk again I said "SPIDER" and pointed. He cornered it, squashed it and said, "oh for gosh sakes". I had the job of wiping up spider guts from the chair. Lots of them. But other than the monsters, I do love Arkansas, Where else can you get you teeth cleaned and your watch fixed all at the same time?? Only in a small town. We had our yearly dental appointment last week when, as I was sitting in the dental chair, the pin came out of my watchband. I told the dentist and he instructed me to sit still until he was done. then I stood up, the pin fell to the floor, he picked it up and proceeded to fix my watch for me. I love it!!!!! At one time previously, he drilled a small hole in a shell which I made into a necklace.

I know you are probably going to say, "oh no, here we go with the birds again", but I marvel so at the glorious creation of the Lord. I get such joy in the birds, the flowers, the beautiful Ozark Mountains, all of the earth.  As we are enjoying our down time, these things become so much closer to me. God created heaven and earth and everything creature in it. We are all one in nature.

papa cardinal in all of his crimson glory

even the blue jays are stunning

the woodpeckers love the bird feeders

the baby bunnies come up for grain

our daughter's 15 year old  hydrangea bush

they start out purple and the turn to blue



even the domesticated animals - our daughter's rescued dog, Gretchen



and also Diggler

We celebrated all sorts of birthdays and our anniversary this week-end - daughters Chandra - 54, Brenda 52, and Connie 50 as well as our 55 wedding anniversary. A busy month as all of these important happenings are within 4 days of each other. Our youngest daughter escaped the May plague, but was fortunate enough to be born on Christmas Eve!!!!! As usual, we celebrated with grilling, cake, and lots of laughter and remembrances.

 

 let the grilling begin - corn on the cob and grilled chicken sandwiches

 one of our twin great grand-daughters - Kenzie

and her "Sissie" Kinley

always sisters and holding hands

and wearing their boots

 such precious ones

pretending to be shy

 

 

On Saturday we went to the Fayetteville Farmer's Market, which is so much fun to just walk around and enjoy the sights. Such a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as authentic Ozark crafts. Every Saturday is an adventure in itself

 making wooden utensils on the square

 white oak hand woven baskets

 home grown fruits and vegetables

bouquets of all kinds

 a local musician and his best friend

hand turned wooden bowls

organic veggies

 everyone brings their dogs for a Saturday outing

 landscaping everywhere

 these look so healthy

 even bison meat

a local banjo player

 fresh eggs and hand spun yarn

our daughter, her husband, and the twins also enjoying the perfect day

 

At Prairie Grove Christian Church this morning, Vance continued his series on "Beginnings" as he delved into the story of Noah. The idea of the ark and all the animals two by two, have graced many nursery cribs and walls. But really, the rest of the story is no fairy tale. A huge flood encompassed the earth and killed every living thing except those in the ark. God was grieved at the way mankind had forgotten Him so He actually rebooted creation - He started all over again with Noah and his family, because Noah was a righteous man and found favor in God's eyes.If you read this story you know this story does not end happily ever after - Noah sinned and fell from grace. Because of grace, he was forgiven. God knows we sin but has promised to never destroy the earth by flood again. He shows us His promise every time we see a rainbow. In some versions of the Bible the rainbow is mentioned as a bow - have you every noticed that a rainbow looks like a bow, pointed toward heaven. The arrows of God's wrath are also pointed toward heaven, promising forgiveness, not towards earth to show destruction. Isn't God great?? A loving God who previously cleansed the world, and now grieves at the shape the world is in today.

 

As this Memorial Day approaches, let us not ever forget all of those who fought to preserve the right for us to live free as we choose - if not for them I could not be free to write this blog. So every time you see a service person, thank him or her for their service. My father was part of a Red Cross volunteer group who served overseas in WWI - not joining the military, but serving our country never the less. To him and all military people from  the Civil War until the present day, I salute you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arkansas Time

After leaving Joshua, Texas where we had a great visit with the Gee's(and getting my eyebrows waxed by Paula) we headed to Oklahoma for a long and comfortable visit with Chaplains Dennis and Sally Maloney. Reminiscing, brain storming and just enjoying each other's company. Too soon it was time to head to Arkansas before it got too late. I know I have mentioned it before, but I love Prairie Grove, Arkansas - small town friendly, beautiful, and home to us. Whenever God is done with us in the mission field, we will return here. Getting together with our three girls (we will be the the other one in Wisconsin in a couple of weeks) and their families made for happy smiles hugs, and lots of love.


Arkansas roadrunner who decided to visit - two teenager offspring also dropped by

Fred (actually Fredricka) the Wilken guinea hen's nest - now has 10 eggs

in addition to the 10 eggs in the nest our daughter is trying to hatch 12 previously laid eggs

ever laying Fred

I love Prairie Grove - see why?/

Many years ago I used to paint using oils. Some of my pictures are still hanging around, these two in one of our daughters' house - I think each one of our 4 girls have one or two! I really need to get back to this -it was ever so relaxing.

nature - my favorite subject

I remember working on this one at 2 AM when I just could not stop

 

As I said, I love nature - flowers, animals just the beauty of God's creation. We are so blessed to stay at one of our daughters' homes where nature is everywhere. It is so easy to just sit and watch the watch the world go by. I do believe that Arkansas has the world's best acrobatic squirrels.

the squirrels are trapeze artists

 ladder climbers

 tightrope walkers

 long jumpers

making sure no one falls

as they continue their antics

One of our great-granddaughters (we have 3 with one more due the end of June and only 1 great-grandson) spent the day on Saturday before a partial family cook-out. Brielle is such a special little girl, already 2-1/2 years old. She was not afraid of us at all since last year. She rattles away in a language only she understands at times, then talks up a storm. She loves music, dancing, and riding the pony (which she calls "Whee" that belonged to her grandfather when he was a child.

 

 

 

 

Brielle on the "Whee"

 

 

 

The very best part of being back in Arkansas is Prairie Grove Christian Church, Pastor Vance Eubanks, our Sunday School class, and all of our church family. As soon as we entered the church I felt that I was home, a feeling that we have had since our first day at PGCC. Vance amazes me with his 'corny" jokes that brings groans from the congregation. Most of them are related to the day's Scripture verses and the sermon. Today we learned more about Cain and Abel, two very different brothers. The story is about bad blood, a bad deed, and bad consequences. Instead of trying to change himself, Cain developed a hatred for his brother. God asked Cain why he was angry (the basis for hate) not realizing that he, Cain was the problem. Cain killed Abel, the bad  explosive result of anger. Cain lost his job, as well as his family. Resentment leads to anger, which leads to hatred. Cain did not give God his best as Abel did. We need to always give God our best, He deserves it. We have to get a grip on our anger - pray for God to release these feelings in your heart because it affects everything and everyone around you. God is full of mercy - thank goodness He does not give us what we deserve!!!!

 

Make it a point his week to try to figure out (with God's help) where your anger stems from - and them pray for God to release you from it.

 

 

 

 

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whoops

If you have read Northward Bound, please re read it!!! It was posted before it was completed. This is what happens when you are having too much fun.

Northward Bound

We are on our way North to visit family and friends - planning about two months more or less. We left early yesterday morning and ran into severe rain and wind on the way to Joshua, Texas to spend a couple of days with fellow Chaplain, Roy and Paula Gee - so we are in Texas yet!!! Goes to prove that the sun has rose and the sun has set, and we are in Texas yet! Planning on leaving tomorrow to head for Arkansas, with a stop in Oklahoma to visit Dennis and Sally Maloney although the storms warnings are out for Oklahoma area.

A truly busy week last week, as we volunteered at CHI resale store on Monday, did some packing on Tuesday, spent the day at the hospital with friends Bob and Barbara O, as she had surgery on her foot. Ran around checking on locations for our ladies conference in February, Thursday we had to make a delivery run to Reynosa, Mexico, Friday was our produce pick up day, as well as delivery to the colonias then birthday celebration dinner with Barbara O. Saturday was the 3 month birthday party in Reynosa which we attended, early to bed and on the road Sunday morning at 4AM. Now to put it all In reverse for a couple of months.

so many fresh veggies

filled to capacity

no more room

unloaded and ready for distribution - the little boy is awed by the sight

more veggies

a beautiful flower in the colonia

came from this tree where they are yellow at first

a faithful worker for the Lord with Fred

packing boxes

more flowers amidst the poverty

more flowering bushes - the ladies love their  plants even if they grow wild everywhere

preparing a meal for us from their meager supplies as a good bye for now party

chicken empanadas, rice, beans, fresh guacamole, salad, Mexican sour cream

 

 

even a small gift for us

and an early birthday cake for Fred

as we ate, other ladies boxes up 70+ boxes to be distributed

plus bags of rice

Ida with beans too 

The birthday party in Reynosa was much fun as usual. We took a van load of of us to Reynosa where the kids were all excited about being treated to a movie, popcorn, and drinks. The move "jungle Book" was all in Spanish - luckily we were able to follow along the story line anyway. We then returned to the haven for pizza and more soda - followed by the opening of presents and squeals of delight from the birthday kids. For some of the kids, who had never even been to a movie before, all of this was almost overwhelming. God had laid it on our hearts to care and give - it is so warming to see the fruits of God's provision. "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute, open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy". Proverbs 31:8-9. We all need to stand up for those less fortunate than we are.

party time

homemade decorations

birthday kids

 

Paty - one the children we sponsor on the right

Darlene fixing Belinda's hair

Darlene and Jesse Curtsinger - devoted kids sponsors and volunteers with Belinda

us with Belinda

passing out presents

the first presents this boy has probably ever received

1, 2, 3 open presents!!!

smiles on these girls faces

Paty and us

us and our "girls"

 

Selene a birthday girl, who had an emergency appendectomy on Friday - notice the nurse call button on the wall

we took the party to her in a Mexican hospital which reminded me of a hospital setting in the 1940's - very sparse and old

the stand next to her (notice the rust on it) held two bottles - pain medication and saline. Celene was in pain at this time - she was awake during surgery - just given a pin block of some sort. Remind me never to wind up in a Mexican private hospital.

a beautiful building downtown Austin

just one section of a row of many apartment buildings - there were 12 units like these connected together - I am glad I don't have to live here.

 

 

Everyone have a wonderful enjoyable week - love yourself and your neighbors.