Slipping and Sliding in 1975

 “Bolivar school students will have the privilege to attend school today,” informed the

radio announcer.  Early this morning small ice pellets traveled downward through a layer

of warm air, melted slightly, and traveled downward still through a layer of cold air and

freezing before the pellets landed on the cold ground.  The build up of pelting sleet

created slightly hazardous road conditions for Polk County Residents on their journey to

work and to school.  It was not enough to cancel school.

     My family lived on a farm 12 miles from the Bolivar City limits.  As my dad came in

the back door from doing chores, which consisted of feeding and watering his cattle and

horses, he let in a blast of cold arctic air.  “Hey, dad, we are having school today.  How

are the roads,” I ask?

     “Oh, the roads are a little slick, but not bad.  You can drive to school.  You can make

it provided you travel around 40 mph.  The only challenge will be the hill by Joe’s

house,” my dad shared.

     This distance to the top of this hill was a long steep with one hump on the way up.  On one side of

the hill was our Joe’s house, and on the other side was a cow pasture.

     “This is what you do in order to climb up the slightly slick hill.  Increase your speed to

50 mph and hold your foot on the accelerator without pushing your foot down or up.  You

will decrease speed slightly as you climb, but should have enough momentum to reach

the top.  If you start to slide or fish tale, then turn into the slide,” my dad informed me.

     “Oh, okay,” I replied.  I was apprehensive.  I was a fairly new driver and had never

drove on icy roads before.

     My brother and I set out on our journey.  As I drove the blue oldsmobile out of the

driveway, we slid on the blacktop.  I immediately turned into the slide.  “Whew!  We

made that turn alright without landing in the ditch,” I said.  “These roads seem slick to

me,” I told my brother.

     We traveled along slowly silently.  After a couple of miles we were approaching the

dreaded hill.  In an attempt to calm myself, I breathed in deeply and began accelerating

up to 50 mph and held my foot in place just as my dad told me to do.  The minute we

started up the hill we began sliding to the left.  I quickly turned into the slide.  We slide to

the right and I quickly turned into the slide.  Without realizing it I was oversteering the

car.  The car slide over on the wrong side of the road.  I kept turning and we were all over

the road.  Panicking, my brother yelled, “Oh Sis, oh Sis!”

     “Oh Jesus help us,” I prayed.

     A calmness came over me.  It felt like someone took over the steering wheel turning to

the right.  The car drove into a little driveway leading to the cow pasture.  We stopped

and we were quiet for a moment.  “Are you okay,” I asked my brother?

     “Yes,” he replied.

     “Thank the Lord!  I can tell you right now that I AINT trying this again by myself,” I

told Buddy.  “I will walk to Joe’s to call Dad.”

     Reflecting back over this huge event, I realize that Jesus answered my prayer on that

huge hill.  He protected my brother and I from the danger of an oncoming vehicle or

rolling over in the ditch.  Jesus protected oncoming individuals in other vehicles as well. 

     The Bible says in Psalm 46:1 that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in

trouble.”

     As I write these words, I realize Jesus did more than protect us.  Our car was in a little

drive with ditches on both sides.  It was slim odds that our car did not end up in a ditch or

hit by an oncoming vehicle.  Jesus is truly a miracle worker.

Live, Love, Laugh, and Thank the Lord for Furry Creatures!!!

Live, Love, Laugh, and Thank the Lord for Furry Creatures!!!

     One of our black cats runs directly in my path.  I step aside to avoid stepping on her. 

In the process I trip and almost fall.  Frowning, I wonder if this cat tried to trip me on

purpose.  Do these little creatures enjoy adding a little bit of aggravation in our lives?  Or

are they purely innocent?

    While sitting on the couch in the family room one evening, I was visiting with a

friend.  “Becky, wait a minute.  I think I heard something in this house.” 

     I was home alone.  I went to the front door it was unlocked, but closed.  The door is

extremely loud when it is opened so I knew no one had entered because I would have

heard the squeak.  I went to the back door.  It was locked.  I listened for more noise. 

There was only silence and stillness.  “Becky, I am back.  Everything seems to be great. 

Perhaps, it was my imagination?”

     I decided to move to the office/study room to sit on the office swivel[ chair..  Several

minutes passed as I listened to my friend continue to share her story.  I could see our son’s

room door from where I was sitting. 

     “A soft sounding click and a slow squeek,” filled the room.  The door slowly opened. 

An ominous feeling entered the room.  I took in a silent gasp of air and held my breath.

     “Someone IS in this house!” I thought.  My heart began racing!  Thump, thump,

thump.  The door continues to slowly open wider and wider.  It seemed like hours. 

Expecting to see a human figure appear, I prayed for protection and wisdom.  Suddenly,

something black and furry bolted like a streak of lightening out of  the room.  I barely heard

the cantor of four feet as it raced to the kitchen area.    “Whew!” I exhaled in relief!

     It was, Bonnie, our son’s cat.  Chris had left her in his room.  Bonnie was the one who

made all the noise I had heard earlier.  Bonnie was attempting over and over again to

open the door.  Bonnie, a smart cat, figured how to open the door after several tries.  She

was determined.

     “Becky, I’ll talk with you tomorrow.  Glad we had this opportunity to visit.  Bye.”  

     I walk into the kitchen.  “Bonnie, was it your goal to scare me?  You are ornery!  Do

you know that?”

     “Meow!” she replies with a sweet little innocent face.  She rubs against my legs.  I

could hear her purr.  I stroke her pretty little head.

     “Okay, I will feed you.  You are a spoiled little princess, aren’t you?”

     “Mew!” Bonnie agrees.

     As I watch Bonnie devour her bowl of cat food, I contemplate the situation.  It sure

seemed like Bonnie was trying to scare me.   But she was not.  She was sleeping, awoke

hungry, and was trapped inside Chris’ room.  At least until she figured out the technique for

opening the door.. 

     Despite all the antics cats challenge our sanity with, I am grateful for these little friends.. 

In fact I am head over heels in love with these soft, fury, and cuddly creatures..  They make me

laugh!

  

Psalm 126:2 says Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing,… 

  

Keep Swimming!!

Late one fall night my youngest daughter, Hannah, and I went to the Ritz 7 Theatre in Lebanon, Missouri to watch “Finding Nemo” in 3D.  It is a story about a Clown fish Dad (named Marlin) searching for his son who was captured by a dentist who was scuba diving one day.  The dentist took and kept Nemo in his enormous fish tank along with several other salt water fish.

There were a few connections I encountered while watching this animated movie.  Marlin, passionate and determined, set a goal to find his son.  He faced fears along the way such as sharks, jellyfish, a whale, and more.  He was blessed with a great friend, Dorie, who encouraged him and helped him find his son, Nemo.

Dorie said many times, “Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming.”

There were times Marlin wanted to give up; he hit many brick walls in his journey.  As it became too difficult, Dorie would not let him give up.  She encouraged him to press on.

Marlin and Dorie encountered other sea creatures that entered their life for a short period of time to help, too.  It was as if a team of individuals was helping Marlin to find his son, Nemo.

Nemo, stuck in a fish tank, passionately desired to escape.  His desire to escape escalated when he heard from a pelican friend that his Dad faced three sharks to rescue him.  It was at this time Nemo escaped through the little sink by the dentist chair.

Nemo and his Dad did find each other.  There was much rejoicing and celebrating.

In my business I have set goals in building my team.  I am excited and passionate about helping other business partners.  At the same time I have a great coach and team of people encouraging me and helping me.  I just have to say that encouragement is everything.  It is my goal to encourage someone everyday.  As I watched Marlin face his fears in finding Nemo, I must face my fears in finding my way to the top of this amazing company.  Reaching the top of this business means time freedom for my wonderful husband and children.  I have to say that when I see someone facing their fears and accomplishing their goals encourages me and others to face fears and accomplish goals.  We are all in this together.  As we all reach our goals, whether large or small, we should celebrate them because it builds confidence to press on to the next goal.

I am so thankful for Team National!  It is changing my life.  I am also thankful for a couple who thought enough of us to share Team National.

Keep swimming!

Made By My Grandmother's Hands

Time is fleeting.  Time allowed very few days to spend with my Grandma Rodgers.  On this one of a kind particular day my mother and brother were attending a function and I was excited to be staying with Grandma for the day.  The dress making, the time together, the bonding, and the feeling of love is a precious cherished memory that lasts a lifetime.     

When I learned I was going to my Grandma’s house, I arose to gather my Barbie Doll and her clothes.  I carefully packed them in my black Barbie suitcase.  I grabbed my coloring book and box of crayons.  As my mother drove me to Grandma’s house she instructed, “Don’t make a mess for Grandma.  Help her prepare lunch for the guys and you can help her wash the dishes.” 

“Okay, I will.” I assured my mother. 

I couldn’t wait to arrive at the white farm house with the white milk barn in the back.  Robin, the English shepherd dog, greeted us in the backyard barking loudly and wagging her tail from side to side.  My Grandma opened the back door for us to enter.  “How are you?” she asked.

After my mother left I sat at the kitchen table coloring while, my grandmother did some dinner preparations.  Remembering that my mother told me to help Grandma I asked, “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing.” She replied.  “Why don’t you color a pretty picture for your Grandfather, while I fry this chicken up?  Do you want to eat a leg?”

“Sure would!  A chicken leg would be yummy with mashed potatoes and gravy, too?”  My grandmother made the best!!!

“Can’t have chicken without the trimmings!” agreed my Grandma.

The guys, my grandfather, my dad, and my uncle, arrived for dinner.  I listened to their conversation, as I ate.  I soon grew bored with their conversation; I went to play with my Barbie Dolls in the living room.

After the guys left I helped my grandmother clean up.  Suddenly she suggested, “Let’s make a Barbie Doll dress for your doll.”  I was so excited.  I ran to get my doll out of the case.  I had an assortment of clothes for my dolls, but not a handmade dress.

At the table I watched my Grandmother design a unique Barbie dress.  She had no pattern.  She laid my doll on a piece of newspaper drawing a pattern around the doll.  The pattern was a long sleeved, collarless, a-lined dress.  She made the pattern bigger to allow for the seams.  Grandma went to the sewing cupboard to pull down a box of material scraps she used to make handmade quilts.  “What material would you like for the dress?”  she asked. 

I saw beautiful greens, reds, and purple prints.  “I remember my cousin has a dress made out of this material.  Look here is the material I have a short set made out of.”  I said.  My mother, aunt, and grandmother sewed my clothes.  I found a pretty pink poke-a-dot scrap for my Barbie doll dress. 

My grandmother pinned the newspaper pattern onto the material and began cutting out the pattern.  I watched her sew the front and back sections together.  I loved the dress.  I thought grandma was finished, but not yet.  She handed me the button jar.  “Find a couple of buttons for the dress.”  I poured the buttons out on the table.  There were all sorts of fancy buttons of different shapes and colors; some of the buttons sparkled, some were in flower shapes, others were plain flat buttons.  I found two pink rose shaped buttons. 

“I like these two buttons, Grandma.  What do you think?” I asked.

“I think they will be perfect!” she agreed. 

I watched grandma thread a needle with pink thread and sew the two buttons onto the top of the dress.  Grandma clipped the thread on the dress and handed it to me.  “What do you think?”

“It is beautiful.  I love it.  Look there are pockets, too!  I didn’t see them!”  Grandma had sewed the pockets on while I was choosing the buttons for the dress.

I tried the dress on my Barbie doll.  It was a perfect fit!  My Barbie doll looked beautiful!  “Thank you, Grandma!” I said.

The pink poke-a-dot dress did not have the appearance of a professionally made dress.  However, it stands out among the assortment of dresses I owned.  It was special, because my Grandmother prepared it just for me.  I played many hours with that dress.  Always, I would tell my friends that my grandmother made this dress.  It is grand!

Forty some odd years later I still have the Barbie doll dress made by my Grandmother’s hands.  Every time I see the dress I am reminded of my special day with my Grandmother, just my grandma and I.  I remember the gentleness, the kindness, the love I felt on that day.  It was just an ordinary day, yet we were creating extraordinary memories lasting a lifetime.

                                                                                 

The Perfect Dress

Every bride to be desires the perfect dress for her once in a life time special day.  The dress must be the right shade of white or color, the right style to fit the shape of the bride, and the dress must be comfortable.  Will the bride find the dress at the first location or after searching several locations?  How many opinions will she need to hear before she knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that she has found the perfect dress?  No one knows the answers to these questions.  The certainty is that the bride will persevere in her quest to find the perfect dress.

After Stephanie’s announcement of her engagement to be married in the fall, a trio of us began the search for the perfect wedding dress.  Every dress Stephanie tried on was unique and beautiful.  Every store had exquisite dresses.  Not every dress reflects the specialness and uniqueness of Stephanie’s personality as with any bride to be.

Initially the search party consisted of Stephanie, Hannah, and me.    Later three of Stephanie’s best friends joined the search team: Hannah, Nicole, and Jennifer.  We all had a BLAST searching for the perfect dress!!! 

We drove to Norman’s Bridal, The Dress, David’s Bridal, Karl’s Tuxedo’s, and more businesses in downtown and south Springfield.  The shops were filled with dresses from lacey and poufy to simple and elegant.  Stephanie modeled different dresses to observe the feel and look of each dress.

                                                           This dress is too white.

                                                          This dress is too feathery.

                                                  This dress is too mermaid looking.

                              This dress is too fluffy (Actually, Nicole calls this dress Swan Lake.)

                                  

                                                             This dress is too lacey

                                                            This dress is too black.

                                                                               

                                                         This dress is too shapeless.

                                                                        

                                               This dress is follow by too much of a train.

                                                                              

After many hours on different days of searching these five ladies and I were becoming tired.  A lunch and rest to revive us and we were ready to continue our quest for the right dress.  And wonder of wonder and miracle of miracles Stephanie said, “This is the dress!  This is the one!”  She just knew in her heart and so did the rest of us. 

This dress is just right: the right shape, the right shade of white, the right amount of lace, and the dress is comfortable.

“Ring-a-ding-ding” went the bell as Stephanie shook it up and down.  She was smiling a huge beautiful smile.  As a mother I must say that seeing Stephanie’s beautiful smile was worth all the hours spent in locating the perfect dress.  It was more than just finding the perfect dress.  It was about time spent together with my daughters and her friends.  It was about making a cherished memory to be enjoyed for years to come.

For me there are times I find it difficult to live in the moment.  I am either remembering the past and wishing to go back or looking toward the future and trying to anticipate what could happen.  When I do this, I miss the special moments in my life.  It is my goal to truly feel and enjoy the present moments.  I am so very grateful to be experiencing these moments with my daughter. 

Frog Legs or Chicken Pegs?

Most people will agree with me when I say that my husband, whom I love very much, is an ornery man who loves to tease people.  It is a sort of twisted pleasure of his. 

It was the spring of 1986.  Steve and I were excited.  We were excited about accomplishing our goals.  We both had worked hard and diligently for 3 years.  Steve was near completion of his senior year of Pharmacy School at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC).  It was time to celebrate our accomplishments.  We are grateful UMKC provided several opportunities to honor the pharmacy students with celebrations.

The class of 1986 was invited to Kaufman Stadium by Marion Labs to eat at the restaurant there.  We went along with the class and sat with Melinda and Hamid Abdanan.  They were serving us at our table with appetizers.  One of the appetizers looked suspiciously like frog legs.  I picked it up, sniffed of it to see if it had a wild game smell, started to eat it, and stopped.  Steve, “I asked.  What is this?”  He replied, with a smile and raised eyebrows, “Peg legs which is part of a chicken wing”.  I did not believe him. 

In the meantime our friend Melinda had a big mouthful of chicken peg leg.  “I said do not eat that?  It is frog legs!”   Pluh, pluh, pluh!  Melinda spit out all the food in her mouth onto her plate.  Steve and Hamid got a really good laugh out of that one. 

I still did not believe him so we called the waiter over to our table.  Holding up one of the pieces of chicken, Steve asked, “What is this?”  The waiter, looking confused, said, “Chicken, Sir.”  Steve looked at me and smiled in satisfaction.

Grrrr!  Steve was right!  Deep down in my heart, I knew Steve was telling the truth about the chicken.  I can not imagine him not telling the truth but the coy smile and raised eyebrows threw me off. 

I felt a little embarrassed that Melinda spit the chicken out due to my warnings.  The four of us looked at each other and busted out laughing.  

William Arthur Ward said, “To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity.” 

Buddy's Mouse

Steve was a pharmacy student, and I was a research assistant in the Kansas City area in the middle 80’s.  Even though we missed our families greatly, it was an amazing learning experience for both of us to learn to depend upon each other more and more. Our relationship through our experiences strengthened as a result.  Even though we were studying and working hard, we found ways to laugh every day. 

Once in a great while we would shop for clothes, cookware, books, and appliances at the Bannister Mall near Grandview, Missouri.  On this particular day we were browsing in a toy shop, when my eye caught a life size fury little mouse.  I gasped, “Steve look at this.  It looks so real!”

“It does for sure!” agreed Steve.

“I have an idea!  Remember how Buddy is afraid of the mice in the milk barn?”  Steve shook his head yes.  “And you know how messy he is.  Let’s buy this mouse.  The next time we visit my family, we can place it strategically somewhere to startle Buddy.”

Laughing, we staggered to the check out counter to purchase our little pet.  The clerk with dancing brown eyes and a wide grin took our money and put our mouse in a small brown paper bag.  She knew what we were up to. 

As we left the mall, the wheels in my mind began turning round and round.  Where would we leave the mouse?  How will we slightly hide the mouse without being seen?  Steve and I brained stormed different ideas. 

“I know just what to do!  Remember how Buddy and Dad arrive home with hot bologna sausage, crackers, cheese, soda, bananas, and other snacks from the small convenience/package store nearly every Saturday afternoon?  Both of them devour the fatty food and love every bite. They are so messy on that counter leaving all the food and wrappers out scattered all over the place.  It becomes one jumbled up heap!” I reminded Steve as he smiled at me with ornery twinkling eyes.  “The advantage is planting our little fury friend in the mess.  I can just see Buddy moving from the sink to the counter to the refrigerator and back.  After he leaves the counter area to sit at the kitchen table, I can prepare a small snack for us and nonchalantly put the mouse in the mess.  After I leave the kitchen at some point Buddy will go back for second helpings.  I would bet on it!”

“Great idea!” exclaimed Steve

We wanted so desperately to observe Buddy’s reaction, when he bumps into our fury friend.  What would his reaction be? Over the course of a few weeks I play different scenarios in my mind anticipating over and over again my brother’s reaction, when he finds the mouse.  Would he jump in the air, back off, or yell?    

Finally, Steve and I acquired time away from school and work to travel to the Bolivar, Missouri area to visit our families.  Just as planned Buddy and Dad came home with hot bologna and all the fixings on that Saturday afternoon.  I watched Buddy devour a banana and throw the peeling on the counter in the midst of meat, crackers, wrappings, and other food items.  Perfect!  Buddy picked up his plate and left the counter while I sauntered to the counter.  I discretely removed the mouse from my sweater pocket and placed the mouse on the banana peel as if the mouse were eating the peeling.

Picking up my plate I went to the table to sit down, to eat, and to observe. 

The moment I sat down Buddy rose from the table saying, “I need some mustard on my sandwich!”  Carelessly he set his plate on the counter, opened the refrigerator door with an arm load of mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise.  I heard the refrigerator close.  Buddy took two steps to the counter coming to a halt, and then he threw his arms in the air almost dropping the containers of condiments.  His mouth dropped!  He screeched! 

I could hold the laughter inside no longer.  I had the privilege observing his reaction.  It was all I had expected.  Buddy gave me first a startled look, followed by a frustrated, and an angry look.  He then busted out laughing.  Dad and Mom looked and asked, “What is going on?”

Buddy says, “Sis just tried to give me a heart attack with this mouse,” as he picked it up by the tail.

Mom and Dad go to the kitchen counter to look.  “What a joke!” they chuckled. 

Reminiscing upon this fond memory of connecting with my family through laughter, I realize just how blessed my life has been.  I knew this little joke would bring joy and laughter to all, especially to me.  As the years fly by I understand more the importance of being someone with the type of spirit that lifts others up everyday.  It doesn’t have to be a joke.  It can be a smile reflecting a joyful and happy heart. 

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…