What a difference a week makes.  Last Sunday I was chilling on the porch in Red River.  A week later, I have been to Flagstaff, Arizona to say goodbye to my beloved Susan, been to Grand Prairie to attend her memorial service and onto New Boston to lay her to rest in Ringwood Cemetery.  Some things I feel compelled to share with you that I have come to hold near and dear to my heart.

1.  Keep in touch with those that make your heart smile.  I saw too many dear friends at Susan's funeral that make me realize that relationships and people are the golden treasure in life.  Reach out to those you love via text, email, a handwritten note, phone call or in person visit.  Keep in touch with those who increase the value of your life.

2.  Live everyday as if it is your last.  We do not know when our time up or when we might lose the one we love, but we ought to give our best and fullest everyday.  You just never know when it might be your last.

3.  Do good in this world for everyone you can.  Even if that good is nothing more than a smile or a word of encouragement.  Don't be selfish and live for your own good but give of what the good Lord has blessed you with to bless others.  No act of kindness is too small.

4.  Take care of your own health.  Don't ignore the warning signs and see your doctor for regular checkups.  If you have health issues, get on the meds and live healthy.  Walk, run, breath, meditate, do  yoga or push-ups, but just get moving and get healthy.  Eat better, let go of stress and be a healthier you!

5.  Don't let the things in this life that you can't take with you rule you.  Money is good but it doesn't go with you.  Things are valuable and sentimental but they can't go with you.  The most important thing in this life is your relationship with the good Lord.  Get right with Him and keep him in your heart every day.

This post is inspired because I am reminded of some pretty awesome people that I have lost in my life.  Most recently Susan Joy Simpson Hull, but also my dear cousin, Phyllis Grady. 

I'm back.................................  Obviously its been a while since I have posted on the blog.  Many things have occurred since my last post.  Ray has had knee replacement and some other life changing health issues, we have adopted two more fur babies - Rocky and Moose - to keep Sadie company, Jake has brought a wonderful young woman into our lives and given me a fantastic daughter in law, and a crazy accident which left me with a broken arm in both bones on my right hand, a fractured pelvis and big split on the hip.  Needless to say, the last 2 years have been rather challenging.

But now that I'm back, I plan on taking a little more time and focusing on the important things in life.  I promise to be more vigilant in keeping you up to date on my thoughts and what God lays on my heart.  So for the time being, I'll just close and promise to post pictures of my sweet fur babies soon.

Seasons

I love the crisp air of the fall, the vibrant colors, and cool evenings.  I love the snow.  It's pure crisp silent whiteness.  I love the spring with its new buds, blooms, and freshness after a cold winter.  I love summer when you can swim, wear cool loose clothing, and enjoy the long days of summer.  It's amazing how different each season is during each time of the year.  Some seasons are more pronounced like the fall in the mountains, the summer by the beach, the snow in the northeast or the spring in the south.

Just as each of the seasons change, so do we.  We look at things differently in during each season of our lives.  The things that were important to me 25 years ago are now so immaterial.  Today I ascribe to the less is more theory (except with shoes).  I am decluttering my life with stuff, negativity and obligations.   Relationships are more valuable than rubies and gold.  Family and friends are the treasures we enjoy on earth.  The true reward is in being content in the moment.  

I have thought a lot about the upcoming lent season and what it really means to me.  I am anxious to attend my first Ash Wednesday service this week and hear about the upcoming lent season.  

Happy Thanksgiving

What a month this has been.  I meant to post the 30 days of thanks but time got the best of me so I thought I would just take this opportunity to list so many of the things I am thankful for this holiday season. When you read this, I hope you are blessed.

Things I am thankful for today:

1.  My amazing husband, Ray, that I just celebrated 11 years of marriage with on November 22nd.  He is my rock, my anchor, and my source of laughter on most days.  We have been farmers, golfers, motorcyclists, campers, RVers, boaters, and travelers.  We have laughed, cried, and been happy together.  What a great blessing to my life.

2.  My wonderful family but especially my sweet Mother, adorable son and baby sister.  We are all crazy, but we stick together, stick our noses in each others business and stick around through thick and thin.  No matter what, we can always count on each other.

3.  My wonderful partner, Mike, and sidekick, Kim along with the great folks at Leasor Crass.  That adventure started three and half years ago and God has blessed our business venture beyond belief.

4.  My dear friends both old and new.  The girls, the neighbors, those who are like family.  They are my support system through this crazy thing called life.

5.  Our health is a blessing.  Through a heart attack, stress, a shoulder replacement, knee replacement, chronic illness, our health is not perfect but we are blessed.

6.  Our coffers are full.  We live in a home of comfort with light, warmth, food, clothing, and entertainment.  Stuff means less and less and learning that less is more has been an amazing blessing for me this year.  

7.  I am thankful for answered prayers of resolved issues, petitions for healing, requests for specific needs and God's abundance of blessings.

On this day before the official day of Thanksgiving, I urge you to stop and thank God for all that He has done for you.  Be blessed my friends.

Changing Times

Many years ago Ray and I found this wonderful spot on the Red River.  We both fell in love with it and visit it nearly every time we have come to the mountain.  

2007

We love it so much I took a picture of it and have it hanging over my tub in the bathroom.  This picture of this stream is so peaceful to me.  We've taken so many pictures there over the years and find great peace in just sitting by the river and listening to it babble as it flows over the rocks.

Summer of 2012

We take friends and family there every opportunity.

Fisherman Seth - 2007

The Haynes 2012

Erin and Laci 2007

Stephen 2012

Rhonda and Carla - 2012

Tiger

Family - 2007

Yesterday we visited my favorite little spot to read and relax.  I took a picture of the spot because it has changed so much over the last few years.  A beetle has wreaked havoc on much of the forest in northern New Mexico.  Because of this vicious attack, many of the trees have been killed, have rotted and fallen into the river.  The view of the river is much different today.

The course of the river has changed and flow has been redirected.  If you close your eyes, you can still hear the river babble as it flows over the rocks.  The water is still the same.  Its cold, pure and continuously running, but the landscape is very different.

I began to compare that beautiful spot to our lives over the last 11 years since we first visited that beautiful, picturesque spot.  We are all born beautiful and peaceful.  But just as the beetle has invaded the forest causing damage to the stream, things invade our lives causing damage as well.  We are tempted by sin, burdened by illness, devastated in the loss of loved ones.  We are changed forever by the violence that has erupted across America and the world.  We long for the day when there was just beauty and peace among us.  The damage has changed our view of life and our lives have often taken different paths because of the damage we have suffered.  

But just as standing at the river and closing our eyes, our lives can still be grounded in greatness in spite of the vicious attacks we face.  We can cling to the promises of God.  We can still move forward in the best way possible, but we must not focus on the damage but focus on God.  He can still move mountains.  He can still make the streams run pure and cold in spite of everything. 

If I've learned one thing today from my time in New Mexico, it is that life will change and in spite of the bad things that come our way, God is still the answer.  He should always be our focus.  We should close our eyes and seek Him and resist the evil of this world.  So while I'm here, I plan to spend a little extra time each day seeking His wisdom, resting my weary soul and seeking peace in this world that has changed so very much.

Hummingbirds

As I sit here this morning in my little RV in the park in Red River, I am watching the hummingbirds.   We have one with brilliant orange colors that is apparently the alpha hummingbird.  He or she (I am not sure how to tell the sex of a hummingbird) sits on the top of the feeder and drinks at his or her pleasure.  When another hummingbird approaches, there is a short skirmish followed by the other bird being run off, and our alpha hummingbird sits atop the feeder again guarding the feeder for his or her own selfish purposes.

I ponder this and am so thankful for parents who taught me to be generous and share.  I think our nature is to always "guard our stuff", but in reality, stuff is of little importance.  What's really important are the relationships we have in our lives with our friends and family.  Those real connections are what get us through a lifetime.

Money can't buy health, friendship, love or even happiness.  

Genuine  relationships are the most valuable commodity of all.  I am so thankful for parents who taught me that concept.  The real root of all relationships is your desire to give and share.  Whether you are sharing a meal, your time, money or even your love for Christ, it forms the basis of all relationships.

I think I was blessed as my Mother and Daddy taught me to share the family meal time together.  Mother spent her time with us as children when she was not teaching.  Sundays were always spent as a family going to church followed by the visit with family either at Grannie and Daddy Bill's or at Uncle Lem and Aunt Lou's.  My parents were always generous with the tithes to the church, donations to the needy and a helping hand to whoever needed one.  

So as a lesson today, I plan to not be like the orange hummingbird that sits outside my feeder and is selfish.  I hope to build relationships by giving of my time, talents and money just as parents have taught by example!

Father's Day

This  coming weekend is not really a weekend I celebrate any longer as my Daddy passed away five years ago.  He was a school superintendent and wonderful educator.  He was a

servant leader before his time and believed that every child could succeed if given the opportunity.  I am grateful for the love of education he instilled in me which reminds me how blessed I am that I represent Texas Public Schools every day.  Although he and I won’t be celebrating this weekend, I will take this weekend to celebrate his love for me, his blessings on me, and his wisdom with me.  

I hope each of you has a Happy and Blessed Father’s Day.

Fae Perkins

Heaven gained an angel a couple of weeks ago.  Fae Perkins got her heavenly wings and was greeted by Jesus as she entered into heaven.  She made such an impact on so many lives during her tenure here on earth.  She was an avid church worker in so many areas. 

She touched my life when she was a GA leader so many years ago.  I will never forget the many lessons on missions she shared with so many young women through the Girls in Action program.

The other great skill that was often shared was the preparation of meals at the church for a family having a funeral.  During my time as a stay at home Mom, I was blessed to be placed on a “cooking" committee with Miss Fae, Miss Evelyn, and Miss Margie.  I was taught the art of cooking not only for the masses but making sure food was delicious.  I give Miss Fae credit for teaching me to make the best green beans ever from a can.  She could take anything in the cabinet and make it “homemade”.  What a joy and delight to have spent time with these amazing Christian cooks in the church kitchen.

I learned a lot more than just cooking from those wonderful women.  I learned about a servant’s heart. Fae Perkins had a true servant’s heart.  She was always willing to give of herself, her time and her talents to show Christ’s love through her loving spirit.  In teaching me literally how to make green beans to feed 25 people, she also taught me to how important it is to be an example of compassion, kindness, and generosity. 

I will be forever grateful for the time I spent with Fae Perkins.   

10 Things That Changed the Day My Daddy Died

10.  I worry about my Mother dying as she is the last link to she and my Daddy as my parents. I'm really just one parent away from being an orphan.

9.  Honor your father and mother.  There will come a day when you don’t “have” to make the drive to your Daddy’s house for Father’s Day.

8.  Enjoy every holiday with your Mother, because one day you won’t have her to make memories with on holidays.

7.  Pictures keep memories alive.  Take as many pics as you can of your parents.  It is a vivid reminder of the great times you shared as a family after they are gone.

6.  Don’t complain about your parents in front of me.  I would give anything to have one more conversation, dinner, or drive with my Daddy.

5.  Losing a parent is like joining a class of people that you don’t want to belong.  How do you “opt out” of the “I lost my Daddy Club”.

4.  You can’t explain it to people who still have their parents.  When you lose your Daddy, you have a hole in your heart that can never be filled.

3.  Life goes on – we call it “The new normal”.  It's far from normal.

2.  Holidays are never the same.  You can be determined not to mourn but it is still never the same.

1.  You may rock along for months, and then one day you just lose it all over again because you realize that your Daddy is just not coming back.

I miss you every day.