When Johnny Comes To The Farm

“Do you remember how much fun we had when Johnny spent several days over the summer with us?” I ask my family as we reminisced around the kitchen table after a meal one day.  As harmless as working, reading books, playing with cousins, and eating pickles seem, Johnny managed to fall into trouble.      

My brother and I spent many hours playing with various cousins.  Johnny, six years my elder, was the fun loving son of my mother’s sister.  During the summers of the early to middle 60’s Johnny spent days with us.  He would help my Dad on the farm.  My brother and I would beg my Dad to allow Johnny to spend the day with us just reading books and playing.

One particular morning my brother and I gathered around the kitchen table listening to Johnny read a book aloud to us while my Mother cooked dinner.  At the time I grew up on the farm lunch was actually called dinner.  “And the big brown bear came lolloping over the mountain.  ‘No, no!’ the princess cried.”  Grandpa Potts read in the book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , by Ian Fleming.  Johnny was reading with much facial expressions and voice inflections.  We laughed and laughed.  Johnny stopped reading and looked at us intently.  He said with a serious look on his face, “Are you to going to listen to this book or are you going to goof off?”  Being unsure if our cousin was serious or joking, we decided to seriously say, “We are listening.  Please read more.”  Johnny continued reading and acting silly and we continued laughing not only due to our cousin’s comical behavior, but due to the book being funny.

After awhile we decided to play under the kitchen table and chairs with toys.  The chairs had upholstered backs and cushions.  There was a horizontal space between the back and seat upon which my brother and I could stick our heads through easily.  Someone sat in the chair while I tried to pick it up and discovered that the padded back of the chair lifted a bit causing a larger space to put your head through.  A crazy idea entered my mind.  I thought, “Wouldn’t it be funny if Johnny stuck his head through the space and I pushed down on the chair back, closing the gap?  And, just what would Johnny do when he couldn’t get his head out?”     

The next moment I said, “Hey Johnny, it is your turn to put your head through here.”  What do you know; he did, and I nonchalantly pushed on the chair back, closing the space.  Shortly thereafter Johnny tried to pull his head out.  He tried a couple of times and my brother and I tried to help him.  “Oh Johnny, you are stuck!” my brother exclaimed.  “Aunt Lois, come here.” Johnny called.  “Yes?” asked my mother.  “I am stuck.  Can you help me?”  My mother bent over trying to pull Johnny’s head out.  His head really was stuck.  My mother sat down on the floor and began laughing hysterically.  She said, “How did you manage this?”  “Oh Lois, I don’t know; just stop laughing and help me.  It is not funny!” 

My mother tried controlling herself.  She began pulling harder on Johnny’s shoulders while my brother and I held the chair in place.  “Oh, Lois my ear is caught!  Stop!!” begged Johnny. More laughing from all of us as my mother folded Johnny’s ear over thinking that would provide more space.  “What are we going to do?” my brother asked.  My mother suggested we wait for Uncle Bill to arrive home for lunch, which could be an hour.  My mother began laughing again and Johnny moaned, “I can’t do that!” 

At that moment, I decided that my practical joke had gone far enough.  I innocently asked, “Does this chair back rise up if we pull up on it?”  My mother tried, and raised the chair back.  Johnny was so relieved.  My mother began laughing again.  We all did.      

This little secret of mine is just now coming out of the woodwork after 48 years.  In fact, I do not think my cousin Johnny knows, er, at least until now! 

Another great memory is watching Johnny at the dinner table visiting with my parents. They were all excited!  One of his favorite foods my mother prepared was homegrown home canned pickles.  He just sat there eating right from the jar one pickle after another pickle.  My Dad said, “You are going to make yourself sick.  You better call it quits for now.”  Johnny said, “I don’t get these pickles everyday and I just love them.  I will be okay.”  A couple hours later his stomach was hurting, and the laughter began all over again!!!!

I have read “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” by Robert Brault.  As I reflect on this cherished memory, I realize these little activities and little memories we made together, as a family, that summer fills a huge place in my heart.   

                                                           This is Johnny and myself.





One of the Best Days of My Life!!

By Hannah Stewart

I never thought a civic duty would lead to one of the best days of my life.  It all started when my sister’s boyfriend said, “Let’s go to the Humane Society!”  My sister, her boyfriend, my dad, and I went to the Humane Society and looked around at the dogs and cats.  I love cats, so I ran ahead to look at them.  As I looked around the room at all the cats, I saw a cute, little, orange kitten.  I took him out of his cage to hold him.  I noticed he was the only kitten in the room.  I started to fall in love with him and wanted to take him home with me.  I asked my dad, “Can we take him home?”  My dad said, “Let’s go home and talk to your mother first.”

When we arrived home, I used my art of persuasion to convince my mom to say yes.  I informed my mom, “He was the only kitten there, I will pay for the adoption and vet fees, plus it is my civic responsibility!”  Mom was smiling and thinking about it.  I said, “He is your favorite color for a cat, orange.”  Mom finally said, “Yes.”  I was so excited!  I could hardly wait.

The next day we arrived at the Humane Society early to make sure no one else adopted him.  When they opened, we walked inside.  I could hear the little orange kitten neowing as if he knew I was there.  The caretaker opened the door to the room filled with the cats and then I saw two new kittens.  They must have been brought in after we left yesterday.  They were both a beautiful, creamy orange and white with green eyes.  Now, my decision was difficult.  I had to decide between them.  I was petting the two new kittens when I felt something hitting me on my head.  I looked up and the little orange kitten was vying for my attention.  He started meowing, rubbing his head against the cage as if to say, “Here I am!  Remember me?”  I decided that since I saw him first, I could not resist his sweet, little face.  I told the man, “This is the one.”  “Oh, you want the meower!”

We put the little orange kitten in the cat carrier and drove home.  On the way there, I took him out, and he sat on my shoulder just like a parrot.  When we got him home, we let him out, and he started to run from one end of the house to the other.  I was witting there trying to think of a name for him.  “Dewey?” mom said.  I said, “No.  That does not fit him” Then I remembered a book I bought titled, 2001 Names for a Cat.  I looked in the book for a while.  He ran fast like a jet, but jet did not seem to fit him either.  I saw the name Torpedo and knew that was the one because he was as fast as a torpedo.

Choosing a cat to adopt, caring for the cat, and naming him were all a part of my civid duty.  It made not only one wonderful day, but many.

Hannah and Torpedo relaxing!!!  Silly little kitty cat!!!

Car Bouncing

When my brother and I were seven and nine years old we lived in a two story white house along a gravel road approximately 3 miles from our grandparents’ (my Dad’s parents) farm.  In our young minds, it might as well have been 500 miles, because we could never spend enough time with them.

“When are we leaving?”  “How much longer will it take to finish the dishes?” my brother and I chimed in together.  “I am scrubbing the last pan now.  Go get your jackets on.” My Mother told us.  Finally, it was time to go.  My brother and I raced to the car and jumped into the back seat, while my Mom slid into the front passenger seat and my Dad positioned himself into the driver’s seat.    

As my Dad only traveled at a speed of 25 miles per hour on the curvy gravel road in the very dark night, I listened to my parents’ conversation.  On this particular evening, they were talking about the car we were riding in.  “This has sure been a good car for us.  I expect to get a few more good years from this car, a 57 Chevy.” My Dad told my mother who shook her head yes.  I was restless and bored.  Suddenly, a crazy and outrageous thought popped into my mind.  “Hmmm.  What if my brother and I bounce up and down in the back seat every time my Dad slowed the car down to turn a corner and after the corner was completed stop bouncing?”  I leaned over and whispered in my brother’s ear.  Yes, he thought it would be fun.

We bounced on the very next corner.  Because it was so dark, our parents did not notice my brother and I were bouncing.  Our parents said nothing.  As we approached the next corner, we bounced again.  My Dad looked at my Mom and asked, “Do you feel that?”  My Mom replied, “Yes.”  We traveled around another corner with more bouncing!  My Dad was really puzzled.  My brother and I managed not to laugh, but remain quiet.  At last we arrived at our grandparents’ farm.

My brother and I ran into the house.  My grandparents presented us with a bottle of soda pop.  We chose from all sorts of flavors, grape, orange, strawberry, 7up, Coke, and root beer.  “Pop, on the way over here the car seemed to jump up and down.  It was the strangest thing.”  My Grandpa and my Dad took a huge flashlight to go look at the motor in our car.  I just looked at my brother and pressed my lips together saying silently not to reveal our little joke.  After a great visit it was time to go home.

Riding home, my brother and I started the same bouncing again.  This time my Dad began studying the situation more intently.  My brother and I laughed a bit.  My Dad asked us, “Do you know what that is?  Are you doing anything?”  We just shrugged our shoulders.  The next corner we stopped the bouncing until the last corner before home and we bounced on that one.  My Dad said, “Well, I will have to check it out further tomorrow in the light.”

The next day my Mom asked my Dad if the bouncing was still occurring.  Dad said, “Nothing.”  My brother and I laughed and laughed about our little joke in private later.  We kept it as our little secret.

 

This is a picture of my paternal grandparents taken on their farm near Goodson, Missouri.  On the back row is my grandmother, my grandfather, and my Dad.  On the front row is myself and my brother.  As one can tell the sun was very bright that day.  That is the reason for our funny faces!

 

   

Great Geysers

As I gather plastics, tin cans, and newspapers to recycle my eyes stop and stare at a Gatorade bottle.  Flash!  A memory of a homeschool science experiment pops into my mind.  I laugh out loud!  Scattered pictures of flowing bubbles, diving children, a shooting bottle cap, and a geyser appear in my mind.

Stephanie, our oldest daughter, conducted a science experiment in which she was to mix baking soda with vinegar in a plastic Gatorade bottle.  She learned that the following chemical reaction occurred.

Na⁺HCO₃^- + CH₃COOH → CH₃COO^-Na⁺+ CO₂ + H₂O

When she mixed baking soda and vinegar together it yields aqueous sodium acetate and carbon dioxide gas.  The gas fills the bottle causing the sides of the bottle to bulge when the cap is tightened.  Chris and Hannah wanted to observe what was to happen in the experiment.  Stephanie’s curiosity got the best of her.  She asked, “What happens if I shake the bottle?” And immediately she shook the bottle rapidly.  This mixing causes the chemical reaction to speed up.  “No, wait!”  I said, but it was too late.  The mixture bubbled profusely and rapidly to the top of the bottle.  At that point, Chris and Hannah dove behind the couch to take cover.  Who knows where the bottle cap would land once it was released from the bottle.  Fortunately the bottle was pointed upward and the cap shot off like a bullet to the ceiling.  The mixture was all over the table, the walls, Stephanie, and a big brown spot on the ceiling that remains to this day.

Chris and Hannah came out from behind the couch, when it was safe.  “Look at the ceiling!  There is a brown spot!”  A frown appears on my face!  Stephanie, Chris, and Hannah said, “We will clean the mess up, Mom.”  We all stood there looking at each other for a moment, and then we all burst out laughing. 

I remember reading a quote about laughter from Bob Newhart.  He says, “Laughter gives us distance.  It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.”  I am certainly glad I could look at this bottle cap shooting event with humor.  I am glad our frowns turned into smiles.     

New Year Resolution for 2012

Every year on New Year’s Eve I mentally write a few resolutions.  Each time I would try to accomplish them and obtain very little positive results.  I am learning that in order to improve my life I must seriously write my resolutions on paper, work on my resolutions daily, and actually see progress over time.

These goals are not something I just try to do.  I don’t just try things anymore!  I focus each and everyday on my goals.  Over time, when I see improvement or results in myself, personally, I become very excited!

Today as I sit before my computer to write my goals for 2012, I remember where I was last year in my life.  The area that I have grown the most in my life is self-confidence.  I have found myself doing things I never thought possible.  I want to continue to become a stronger and a better person.  Shortly before Christmas I read a favorite blog of mine, www.HolleyGerth@blogspot.com.  It is titled, “The Best Gift This Year” and it reads: 

“Have you been to the stores lately?  I’ve seen the shelves piled high with gadgets, new styles, and the latest whatever-you-want. 

And I’m telling you, I think I’ve found the best gift this year.

It’s not available in retail locations, online or for $29.95 plus shipping and handling.

Can you lean in and listen close while I whisper this secret?

Psst…it’s you.

Or, really, Jesus in you.

Yes, my friend, you offer Him to the world in a way no one else can.  And no one else ever will.

You are a one-of-a-kind original.  Not replaceable or exchangeable.

Beautiful just as you are because of your maker.

Designed just as He intended.

More amazing than you even realize

Loved, needed and more valuable than all those fancy things in all the stores in the world.

Yes, Ma’am.

You’re the real deal and don’t you forget it.  Promise?”

I agree with Holley!  God designs not only me, but each of us with our own specialness.  He loves us more than we can comprehend.  When any of us leave this world there will be a void that cannot be replaced.  God has placed combinations of talents and skills in each of us and it is up to each of us to develop them.  I want God to continue molding me just like the potter does with his clay.  Many times that means getting outside of the box and doing things I am not comfortable with.  It means to “Count it all joy when I fall into diverse temptations”, as James 1:2 tells us.  I have experienced the personal growth from this.  It is AMAZING and I LOVE it! 

There are people I help each and everyday in life, whether it is just a smile, an encouraging word, or actual coaching.  It is imperative for me to continue to grow in confidence and to become a stronger person and better Christian in order to help more and more people.  One of my favorite stories is The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J.R. Tolkein.  One of the awesome scenes in Tolkein’s writing is when Elrond, founder of Rivendale, encourages Aragorn, a Ranger who is helping the hobbits, a dwarf, the elves, and man.  Elrond admonishes, “Put aside the Ranger, become who you were born to be.”  Aragorn had not become all that he could be yet.  Aragorn had all the characteristics of a Christian king with his humility, healing hands, sacrifice, wisdom, and power over evil.  He did take up his sword and lead the people to victory over the evil ring and became king.

It is the same for me.  I am not all that God has made me to be yet.  But I possess certain God-given characteristics (as all of us possess) that I am developing over time.  It is a goal or resolution or more importantly a prayer of mine to keep on going and growing and becoming all that God created me for.  As I grow stronger each day, I know I will help more and more people.  I can’t wait!

A Christmas Letter To YOU!!

Dear Family and Friends!

We hope this Christmas letter finds you happy, healthy, and blessed!  As we reflect upon 2011, we remember all the blessings The Lord has given us this year and we thank Jesus for all He has done for us.  I just want to share some of these blessings. 

In March our family traveled to Florida to visit a pharmacist colleague and his wife who vacations in Lakeport and another couple in Jupiter.  We had a blast visiting, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals play baseball during spring training.  Toward the later part of the trip we traveled to beautiful Key West.  We rode bikes all over Key West visiting the Hemmingway House, Mallory Square, Fort Zachary Taylor, southernmost point of the U.S.,  the light  and light house,  and the beach.   

Our family traveled to Breckenridge, Colorado, in August for a Rodgers Family Reunion.  We spent several days in those majestic and beautiful mountains with our cousins.  I am so happy that we renewed our friendships with Kevin, Vicki, and Kathy; those three have a special place in my heart since we were all students at Southwest Baptist University together.  We are so thankful our children met the Rodgers cousins for the first time.  I am so happy to have met Linda, Blaine and Theresa as well as several other cousins for the first time; my life is much richer now. 

We all climbed a 12,000 foot mountain together and our children and other cousins climbed a 14,000 foot mountain on another day.  This was a new experience for me, but I am so glad I persevered through all the huffing and puffing and fatigue to reach the top of the mountain. It was worth it all!  I am grateful to Cousin Kevin for watching over our children and I am grateful to Cousin Theresa for being patient with me.  I was the last one to the top and she stayed with me the whole time.  Christopher, our son, has decided he loves all the adventure Colorado has to offer, such as the mountain biking, climbing mountains, and more.  I know the family gathers once every three years for this event; however, I hope it will be sooner.  Just got to say that I do not think I can wait that long for Linda’s great cooking! 

Steve and I have taken  amazing business trips to Kansas City, Missouri and to Atlanta, Georgia this year.  All I can say is, “We are so blessed!”  We have built relationships with so many inspiring and encouraging people.  Our lives have changed in so many ways.  It has been a dream of mine to make a difference in the lives of people.  When people look at me and say, “Thank you.  You have given me the answer to my prayer”, I know am doing just what God wants me to do.

Our oldest daughter, Stephanie, will be graduating from St. John’s School of Radiological Technology and Stephanie desires to find employment in the Springfield, Missouri area.  Our son, Chris, is taking airplane flight lessons, working as a life guard at the YMCA, and playing his guitar and fiddle.  Our youngest daughter, Hannah, will be graduating Home School High School and has aspirations to attend Southwest Baptist University’s Physical Therapy School.

In the picture you see two guys; one is standing by Stephanie, Jeff Hall.  They have been dating for three years.  Jeff lives in Joplin, Missouri and yes, he and his cousin survived the tornadoes.  They lost of most of their belongings, but are getting their feet back on the ground now.  The other guy standing by Hannah is Jorden Luthy.  They have been dating for a year.  We were blessed to witness The Lord saving Jorden and seeing Jorden baptized this past summer.

This is Steve’s 24^th year at the same pharmacy location.  He is a great guy and has provided for our family very well.  We celebrated our 30^th wedding anniversary in June.  Life has been wonderful!

For years I have said, “When I get more time, I will write my memoirs to leave behind to my children!”  Last summer I asked myself, “Am I just going to talk about it, or am I going to just do it?”  I made the decision to write my memoirs, even if it is only one story per week.  I post a story on a blog every week just to keep myself accountable.  As I wrote and posted, there was something that happened to me that I never considered.  I never thought about how much fun all the reminiscing and writing would be.  Each of these memories is a cherished blessing!  I just look at life with a grateful heart more and more.  Each of you has blessed my life in specials ways.  I thank God for YOU!  The blog address is www.teresa-allyouneedislove.blogspot.com if you choose to read any of the stories and perhaps share any memories you have with me.  I would love hearing from you.

We wish you a wonderful and blessed Christmas Time and New Year (2012)!!!!

Steve, Teresa, Stephanie, Chris, and Hannah

Christmas Program Memories

Sunday night we traveled to Half Way Missionary Baptist Church to see the Christmas Program as we have done for the past 24 years.  Much of my husband’s family attends this church.  This particular Christmas Program was like all others except our children are nearly grown up.

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”  The narrator read from Luke 2:10-11.  While the choir sang, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, I watched the group of angels in an assortment of sizes walk and skip down the aisle to stand behind Mary and Joseph in the front of the church.  I smile and glance at Steve who was sitting beside me.  I saw him brush a tear from his eye.  “Are you okay?” I asked.  He responded, “I am just remembering when our children were younger and participated in the Nativity Story.” 

As we hold hands scattered pictures of our children participating in Christmas programs at Half Way Missionary Baptist Church and Bethel Missionary Baptist Church flood my mind.  Visions of our oldest daughter, Stephanie, age two and dressed in a white angel outfit with a beautiful gold halo, smiling with her arms raised upward.  She said, “Hey, Mom, I sure like the way those wings feel on my back!” 

A picture of our son, Chris, arrayed in a royal red robe and crown, carrying his gift of gold to the Baby Jesus.  His robe fanned outward as he proudly walked to the manger. 

And Hannah, tiptoeing down the aisle, angelically.  She was the youngest and the littlest angel!  Her smile glowed that night.  We were blessed to watch nieces and nephews participate with our children.

 

Many more moments filled my mind.  Our children acted each Nativity Character over the years.  And now our children are all grown up.  And it seems like we only took a breath and the years have passed all too quickly.  I am blessed and filled with joy.  I am thankful for all the wonderful cherished memories.

Lately, a friend once shared with me that she was worried about her young children.  I empathized with her and added, “Just enjoy every moment with your children.  You are a GREAT mother.  Your children will learn.  This journey of raising your children is full of joy, remember to look for it! 

Kate Nowak said in her book, May You Be Blessed, “Joy is everywhere and it is only when I refuse to see it that it appears to be absent from my life.”  We can fret about a crisis we are facing and we can fret about times already passed.  When we do that we do not see the joy that is everywhere and we miss today’s blessing.

Sunday evening I watched our children and niece and nephew, ages ranging from 17 to 30, banter with each other.  These kids were still not too big for a goody bag filled with an apple and candy.  They traded and bargained the candy and teased each other about pretty girls to ask out.  I watched an uncle and nephew tease a little girl and boy about stealing their Christmas gifts, and more.  It is not the end of joyful times, but the beginning of a lifetime filled with joy!

“This is the day the Lord hath made; we will  rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24