To Spray Or Not To Spray??

As my husband, Steve, and I treated our beautiful daughter, Stephanie, and her boyfriend, Jeff, to a delicious meal at The Olive Garden, we caught up on the events in our lives.  While feasting on Italian salads, bread sticks, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, and shrimp fettuccine, I asked our daughter, “How is GH?”  Laughing she shared this story.

The background being Jeff rescued a cat from the Joplin Humane Society and this active cat is a resident in Stephanie’s apartment in Springfield.  GH, a beautiful exotic looking cat with ossi spots, a long tail and legs, and a Siamese shaped face, has loved to play with toys and with anyone who would pay attention to him.  The whole family has enjoyed him.  Well, except Jeff!

Stephanie and Jeff have agreed that GH and Jeff do not like each other.  GH would smell of Jeff’s shoes, jump on him, bother his laptop, and so on.  Jeff changed his shirt and somehow it ended up on the floor.  GH spied it and immediately attacked the fairly new shirt, chewing and tearing it all to shreds!  Jeff was very frustrated with this cat now.      

Stephanie took GH to the vet for a check up and inquired about GH’s behavior.  The vet suggested that Stephanie purchase a hormone spray!  I ask, “For the cat?”  Stephanie replies, “No for Jeff!”  Laughing, Stephanie continued to say the liquid could be sprayed on Jeff when he comes for a visit and would make Jeff smell like a cat!  Steve and I looked at Jeff and said, “Great idea!! When are you going to use it?”  Jeff expressed firmly that he was NOT going to be sprayed! Stephanie, Steve, and I just laughed and laughed at the expression of Jeff’s face.  Steve said, “Well, perhaps you could just spray your toes?”  Jeff shook his head no!!!

We decided that GH is probably just jealous of Jeff and is probably just protecting Stephanie!!  We suggested that Stephanie and Jeff give more positive attention to GH while Jeff visits at her apartment.  The moral of this story could be, “Be ye kind one to another…” , as it says in Ephesians 4:32.

Dream Today!

Recently I spent the day at Silver Dollar City.  While the kids were riding all the thrill rides, I was browsing the shops and enjoying my favorite meal, spaghetti, at the Spring House Restaurant.  While sitting at a table, I read a sign.  It said, “We create our tomorrows by what we dream today.”  How many of us actually are pursuing a dream today?

As I graduated high school and college, the speakers at the graduations encouraged us to dream.  Throughout my life I pursued different goals and dreams such as becoming a good teacher, supporting my husband through pharmacy school, owning our home, and being the best wife and mother I could be.  As my children grew I just thought I would return to the work force.  It was not a dream; it was just something I knew I needed to do to help the family.  Something was happening.  I was falling into survival mode! 

One of my favorite fictional stories is “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.”  In a particular scene Rudolph and friends were headed to the Island of Misfit Toys.  There was a very pretty doll and other toys warming themselves by the campfire.  It was getting so late that they thought Santa was not coming for them.  Someone said, “Well we might as well go to bed and start dreaming about next year!”  Suzy the doll says, “I haven’t any dreams left to dream!”  How many of us are at this point in this life?  This is what I call survival mode; we are just going through the drudgery of life or just getting by!   

I recall when my oldest daughter graduated high school, a Focus on the Family guest speaker, Todd Wilson, came to encourage the graduates.  Little did he know that he inspired me, a homeschool mom!  In his message he spoke these words of wisdom, “Do not let anyone steal your dream!”  My heart smiled as he admonished the graduates to persevere through any obstacle or hardship along their journey.  Let me ask you this.  How many individuals throughout the years have allowed the dream stealers to get them to the point of having nothing left to dream?  How many allow a failure to stop them?  How many are afraid of what people might think and allow this to stop them?  How many have developed such a closed mind set, that they fail to see opportunities God has placed before their eyes?

It says in scripture that God gives us an abundant life!  In John 10:10 it says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  I believe this scripture and know it is true.  We live in such a negative world that it is a challenge to remember just how much God does care.  He is helping us everyday.  I just continue to hold to God’s unchanging hand.

About two years ago an opportunity presented itself to Steve and I.  I am so very grateful to God for all He has done for my family.  We are now business owners for the first time in our lives!  Our awesome business encourages me to strive for my dreams.  I began dreaming again.  Through the personal growth, I am becoming a stronger person and a better Christian.  I am becoming a person who has undaunted courage and who has the strength of character to help other people build their dreams.  My business has encouraged me to write my memoirs for my family and is helping me to give my husband time freedom to work a pharmacy job because he wants to and not because he has to. It is allowing me to leave a legacy for our children; and that is only the beginning!  You see, I am creating my tomorrows by what I am dreaming today!!

A Great Birthday

This past Monday, July 4^th, I celebrated my 54^th birthday!  Yes, over the years I have shared the same birthday as our GREAT United States of America!  And I have loved it! 

I received cards in the mail, email cards, email letters, text messages, facebook gifts, and facebook Happy Birthday Wishes!  These wishes were from high school classmates, college classmates, former students from when I taught high school, homeschool friends and children, friends from places I worked, church family, cousins, parents, my children, and my husband!  It was almost overwhelming to me when I realized just how many people remembered me on my birthday!  I felt so special!  God has certainly blessed me with many great friends and relatives!!!

I thank God for the family I grew up in and for Steve’s family, and for giving me a wonderful husband and three wonderful children.  I was showered with such gifts as money, a shirt, a necklace, a nativity scene Christmas Ornament from Peru, and a keychain that says “Number 1 Mom”!  I could not find the words to express how much I love and appreciate each family member and friend.     

I loved the fireworks on my birthday!  The blasting, whistling, popping, beautiful colors, parachutes, fountains, sparklers, and many other firework paraphernalia excited me!  At 9 years old my brother and I shot off fireworks works by ourselves for the first time! Wow!  Several years later during the summers I worked for Mid-America Fireworks in the Springfield, MO area selling fireworks.  I loved talking to the customers about each firework.  I had fun! 

Over the years we have celebrated the birth of our nation with family; we have barbequed, made homemade ice cream, ate watermelon, and shot off fireworks.  And at the same time we celebrated the birthday of my brother in law and me!  One year I nearly convinced my three young children that everyone celebrated my birthday by shooting off fire works!  They were awed for a short time, but they are smart kids and did not buy into that idea for long.  I taught them to cherish the USA, respect our American Flag, and appreciate that they live in the greatest country in the world.  And it was my goal to set an example for them in thanking our soldiers for serving our country.  They have sacrificed family time, personal time, and their lives.  The soldiers cared enough to keep America free!  God Bless the USA.

The Greatest Day Of My Life!!!

Growing up in Polk County, Missouri included many, many days playing with my younger brother, Buddy, helping on the farm, school, and going to Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.  As long as I could remember I loved going to church, and when we missed a Sunday, I was disappointed.  I especially loved learning in Sunday school.

One evening I felt a tug in my heart to go to the altar.  I did not know why?  I didn’t want to go to church anymore.  I did not know why?  I just did not like feeling bad.  The feeling initially happened during a summer revival.  It stopped or weakened some on Sundays throughout that year.

The next year Calvary Missionary Baptist Church held a revival in May of 1969.  My mother said, “Let’s go to Calvary’s revival.”  I said, “Okay”.  We went several nights and after listening to the Evangelist Austin McGinnis and Pastor Alpha Redford, I became aware of my sad condition.  I was under conviction.  You see, Jesus Christ died for me up there on the cross.  Hurting and fearful I did not want to believe it was for my sins that He suffered, and bled, and died.  I procrastinated.  My pride was getting in the way of what the Lord wanted me to do.  Foolishly, I thought God’s people would laugh at me.

I battle this all week, until one night, the church had a testimony meeting.  Hearing people share what God had done for them spoke to my heart.  At the end of the service there was a time where we all shook hands.  My feet were like lead, and my heart was so heavy and burdened that I felt I could not walk.  I was trying my best to hide what was going on in my heart.  I did not seek the Lord that night.

Driving home I thought I could die in an auto accident without the Lord.  I could not sleep; I could die in my sleep.  I made a decision that if I lived through the day I would go to the altar the next night.  I struggled all day.  I prayed.

I got dressed early and thirty minutes before time to leave some friends came.  I thought, “Oh no, Mom won’t take me to church tonight!”  Finally, the friends left and Mom said, “Let’s go.”

When we arrived at church I tried to sit on the end of the bench, but some people came in and I had to move over.  I did not know how I was going to get around them when the altar call came.  I thought the preaching would never end.

When the altar call came, my feet were heavy and it felt as if someone were holding my shoulders in place so I could not move.  I thought that I must at least try, so I took one step after another.  It became very dark.  I could not see where I was going.  I felt my way to the altar.  I prayed a little.  I didn’t know what to do so I sat up on the bench.  The people told me to pray, so I knelt down again.  I did this several times.  Eventually, I felt the Lord telling me to pray out loud.  How was I going to do that?  I did not know how to pray!  And the thought kept coming.  People are going to laugh!  I prayed out loud, “Lord, please save me!”  I heard no one laughing!  I just heard God’s people praying for me.

Suddenly, it seemed like the floor opened up and a huge burden fell out of my heart and rolled away.  I felt peaceful.  I heard Jesus say, “You are saved.  You can get up now.”  I looked up and told my Mother that I was saved.  Everyone was so happy.  I remember sitting on the bench singing and feeling so light and happy.  We all shook hands and hugged.  Everything seemed so bright.  I felt so light.  I thought I could just fly home.

I rode home not scared to die anymore.  I remember lying in bed not scared to die in my sleep, and when I woke up in the morning I still felt wonderful.  I am thankful to my m Mother for taking me to church and for my Father who did not stand in the way.  I am grateful for all the testimonies, and prayers that went up for me.

I have been saved 42 years this past May 30, 2011.  Wow!  God has blessed me in many ways.  I thank Him many times over for saving me, giving me a Godly husband and for saving our three children, Stephanie, Chris, and Hannah.  I know God has many more blessing in store for me.

How We Met

Since Steve and I have just celebrated our 30^th Wedding Anniversary on June 20, 2011, it is a time of reflection for me!  My heart smiles at the memories of our meetings in childhood, college, and church.  I do believe that God allows everything to happen for a reason and that God prepares our hearts for His blessings along the way in life. 

The first time I remember meeting Steve was when I was 5 or 6 years old.  You see, our families having friends in common would get together to play cards and visit.  Steve’s sister and I would play with our Barbie Dolls a lot and I just remember Steve playing on a tire swing with his brothers. 

Our second meeting was at Southwest Baptist University in the summer of 1975. I had enrolled in two freshman level classes:  Sociology and Biology.  Feeling insecure, I arrived at the field house early to search for the location of my Sociology Class.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a guy, whom I did not recognize, following me and catching up to me.  He was average height with brown waves in his hair.  He did not waste anytime striking up a conversation with me.  I learned his name, Steve, from Half Way, Missouri and then I remembered him.  However, Steve did not remember me from our childhood. 

Later that summer, a good friend of mine, Blye, and I were researching an assigned topic for our Sociology Class.  We were sitting at a study table at the Southwest Baptist University Library taking notes and planning out our assignment.  Blye jumped up and said, “My contact is bothering my eye.  I’m headed to the restroom.  I will be right back!”  I continued taking notes, when, suddenly, Steve just popped out of who knows where and began a conversation!  He startled me!  He stood at my study table and began asking questions and carrying on a conversation.  When Blye returned Steve left us to studying. 

I saw Steve a few more times that summer, but I only wanted to be friends. I had a goal to complete college without any distractions.  I had tunnel vision to complete school, get a job, and be self supporting.  And I did complete four years of college in three years. I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in biology and chemistry and taught secondary school for a couple of years.    

Then the next significant meeting was when I was 22 years old.  I saw Steve at revival services at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Bolivar, MO.  Steve was standing at the door and we said, “Hi,” and talked for a bit and I began to realize that Steve was actually a very nice guy and we did have a lot in common such church, goals, cats, and much more!!  Later during that revival he asked me out and the rest is history!

You see, I believe it was all in God’s plan and timing for us to meet.  A wise friend of mine from Versailles, MO gave me some wonderful advice once.  Opal said, “You should pray about who you are going to spend your life with.”  That suggestion made a lot of since to me.  I began to do just that.  Pray.  And God answered my prayer.  God is so good! Steve has blessed my life; he has been a great husband to me and father to our children.  And we have a lot of fun together.  These past 30 years have been a blessed journey and we have a bright future ahead of us.  And I thank God for giving me such a great guy!  As the Bible says in James 1:17, “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

There Is A Bear In The Backyard!!!

Many times my family allows ourselves to be too busy with extra-curricular activities.  Our responsibilities just pile up and overwhelm us.  Mowing the yard in May and June is a real challenge. 

In June of 2003 my husband and son went to Atcheley Park to purchase our homeschool yearbook.   Our two daughters and I decided to stay home to catch up on such chores as organizing the kitchen, laundry, cleaning their rooms, and mowing the yard.  After speed cleaning and organizing the inside of our home together, I was to mow the yard.  It was almost to the point of needing a brush hog to come through.  I said to my two daughters, “You may stay in the house.  Watch TV.  Surf the internet.  That is great!  BUT PLEASE do not interrupt me unless it is an emergency!!!!!!!”  Together they shook their head and said yes.

I began mowing the front part of the yard.  I was so excited about what I had already accomplished and began traveling to the backyard when my oldest daughter, Stephanie, burst through the front door waving her arms in the air.  I thought, “This better be good!”  I was feeling frustrated due to the interruption!  I heard Stephanie say, “Mom, there is a bear in the backyard!”  I thought, “Yeah, right!”  But Stephanie looked frantic and she has always been trustworthy and honest so I decided to heed her warning!  I shut the lawn mower off and threw my leg of the top of the mower and sprinted to the house.

As I hopped on the front porch I looked at her in unbelief.  She said, “It is a bear!  Come see.”  She took my hand and led me to our bay window in the family room.  I passed my youngest daughter, Hannah (8 years old).  She was scared and crying!  When I looked out the window I saw a huge black hairy animal.  It appeared to be a bear?  I took a second look.  And yes, it was a black bear. 

The bear was sitting there eating a watermelon rind just outside our chain-linked fence.  Wow!  I just stared for awhile.  Our American Eskimo dog was barking and barking, while our cats sat peacefully on the table on the back porch.  We decided to grab the cats and put them in the house.  We called our dog, Nanook, to put him in the garage.  He was beginning to annoy the bear who was beginning to stand up.  I was just closing the garage door when Stephanie brought our dog in the garage.  As the door was closing, Nanook almost escaped to tackle the bear.  Thankfully, Stephanie scolded him, so he stopped running.  No telling what could have happened if he had escaped.

We called our neighbors and asked them to call the police for us while I called my husband.  Steve chuckled at my excitement.  By the time Steve arrived home the sheriff was here along with a conservation agent and the state patrol.  I saw the deputy holding a shotgun.  After the bear finished eating he walked to our pond and disappeared in the woods.  Wow!

We were all quite antsy about going outside for awhile.  We made sure all food was deposited into the woods and NOT by the backyard fence anymore.  That bear was just too close to the house.

One humorous aspect of this story is the fact that I told my daughters not to bother me unless it is an emergency!  I had really, really emphasized this!  My daughters demonstrated common sense in their decision to inform me about an unusual situation.  We all had never seen a bear in the backyard.  Bears in Missouri in the past have been uncommon, but the Missouri bear population is growing.  I have three wonderful and smart kids.

I Just Saw A Giant Rat!!

Chirping tree frogs and locusts and flashing fireflies produce glorious sounds and sights on a warm springtime evening in Missouri.  As I feel the gentle breeze blow the fresh scent of lilac across my face, I am thanking God for this beautiful evening and for my wonderful family. These smells, sights, and feelings remind me of a particular experience our youngest daughter encountered.

On most warm spring evenings our youngest daughter, Hannah, would feed the cats on the back porch.  It was a job she loved.  She would stand right outside the backdoor with a box of “Little Friskies” Cat Food shaking it and rationing the cat food out to our poor hungry cats, which mewed in anticipation hoping to get a delicious morsel.  Her green eyes would twinkle as she gave a black cat a morsel and a calico another morsel.  Tossing her long blonde pony tail Hannah said, “Here, Golden Sunshine, eat your food!”  And he would gobble it up.  Then laughing she would eat a morsel as well.  “Hannah!  Do not eat the cat food! Yuk!”  By the way she no longer eats cat food!   

On this particular evening I am remembering her Dad sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper, Hannah grabbed the box of cat food stepped out the backdoor to feed the cats.  She barely put one foot out the back door, when she suddenly burst back into the house with huge green eyes and a look of surprise on her face.  She said, “Dad, I just saw A GIANT RAT!”  Her Dad immediately jumped up to take a look.  He said, “Why that is a possum!  It does look like a rat with short grey hair and a long hairless tail.  I do not want it eating our cats’ food.”  He, then, ran the possum off of the back porch by jumping up and down and hooting and hollering like he just sat on a cactus!  That was a quite a hilarious spectacle!  It is safe to say that the possum would not return anytime soon!

Hannah learned 3 life lessons from this experience:  not to eat cat food, the difference between a possum and a rat, and how to scare a possum away from the back porch.