READY, SET, GO

Since Easter week, it seems that I've been going, going, and going. Strange how we allow ourselves to become so involved with situations that we have a hard time stopping and taking a look at our life's path and, take time "to smell the roses".
I recall as a young child playing ready, set, go with friends. Seems I always had to do everything "full steam ahead"...couldn't do anything slow or halfway.
Aging teaches us great lessons. I now find myself unable to go, go, and go with all boilers running in high gear. I move at slower paces (arthur visits) and find I enjoy sitting around observing people and God's other wonderful creations. One of my favorite past-times is relaxing on my back patio with a good cold root beer in hand and listening to the birds sing.
Another past-time is going to our camp at Toledo Bend and relaxing on the front porch, again sipping on a good cold root beer and watching as the hummingbirds come up to me and buzz around in hope that I put out their feeder (I stopped putting out the feeder as the ants and "black bugs" created such a mess on the porch). Other birds come to eat at the feeder we put up in our front yard oak tree...cardinals, blue birds, mocking birds, blue jays, doves, and purple martins. Their little bodies cross the blue sky and water back and forth providing us with such beauty. Only God can provide that kind of entertainment! Since the hurricanes, the beautiful butterflies and mosquito hawks have also made a come-back into our yards.
Yes, aging settles you down to a more relaxed atmosphere; however, we still must continue on our journey's path and take care of the necessary things of life. Today, I put a pork roast in the oven for supper, have early morning hair cut appointment, need to press my clothes (didn't get to them yesterday as planned), check on my friend at the hospital, check on my mother, check with my daughter (we have book conference in Houston Saturday), and go get a few things from the grocery store....did I say aging has taught lessons in slowing down...guess the old grey mare may not be what she use to be...but she still goes strong. Hee-Hee.

EASTER TIME

One of the best times of the year, for me, is approaching...EASTER! This holiday has always been my favorite. It reminds me of new life and the resurrection of Our Lord. I so enjoy the butterflies, fresh leaves on the trees, birds chirping, new buds on the bushes, and the sweet smell of Spring...and knowing that my Lord and Savior has risen as he said.
For the past few years we've celebrated Easter at Toledo Bend. Our children and friends come in their campers to North Toledo Bend State Park. Opa and I stay at our camp about 25-30 minutes south of the park. Each day is filled visiting with everyone around a campfire, walking through the park, and sharing a meal, with blessing, in the evening together. We have bar-b-ques, grilled steak and potato nights, fish fries, and other delicious meals around the campfire.
This year one of our friends and her husband won't be able to attend as she has been ill (please remember her in your prayers). They will be missed.
At this time, I would like to wish everyone a very Blessed Easter. We are blessed with such good friends and family. A BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

GREEN EGGS AND HAM
There are many children (and adults) who remember and can relate to Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham book. In the book, Sam wants others to like green eggs and ham here, there, and everywhere. After a while of promoting his green eggs and ham, he finally convinces his friend to try them...and the friend finds that he really likes green eggs and ham!
We are all a bit like Sam's friend about trying things we aren't familiar with or don't quite understand. I recall the first time I was introduced to a computer. My first thought was that this was something that required a lot more skill than I had. A friend of mine helped me along; and as I watched and learned the process of the computer, I became amazed at how easy it was (as long as my memory did me good) :). One day, as I was struggling with learning more and more about the computer, it occurred to me that it wasn't having to learn the computer that was so scary, it was having to develop the idea that I could and would be able to accomplish the feat. I recalled back in high school how learning the typewriter was so overwhelming...and I had triumphed over that. So, I decided from that day forward that NO MACHINE was going to stop me in my endeavors to learn more...and learn I did.
At times we come across things such as food that we are unwilling to try. We immediately look at a dish of food and determine whether or not we've had that before. And we decide right then and there if we'll have some of it. Children, on the other hand, observe their heroes' eating habits...their parents and other adults that play a big role in their upbringing. They tend to eat what their heroes say is good.
This reminds me of a recipe...................

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

3 eggs 1 T. flour

1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese 1 c. squeezed (frozen & thawed spinach)

1 c. cottage cheese 1 pkg. deli ham (round-very thin slices)

4 dashes hot sauce

Spray medium size cups (muffin tin) with Pam.

Line cups of muffin tin with 1 deli ham slice each.

Mix together eggs, cheeses, hot sauce, flour, & spinach.

Put mixture in each muffin tin cup evenly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Makes 12 medium muffins.

When I first made these, I brought some out to the campsite where some of our friends were camping. They tried them out and loved them! I could tell that at first they weren't too sure about taking one. But I really was proud of our friends. They tried them and enjoyed them. In fact they wanted the recipe so they could have them more often. These friends were all adults...I'm sure children would have questioned the "green" stuff-spinach in them...but the oohs and aahs from the adults and the name of the recipe would have probably encouraged the young to at least try them.

Yes, the tried and true is what we do, but to venture out into the unknown has its benefits, too. How else would we learn new things or use our God-given talents?

Nature-Patience

"Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Adopt the simple way of life with the ability to wait and endure without complaint and you have followed the words of Emerson. Many times we find ourselves hurrying through life without thought of slowing down. I know that I'm one of those people. Trying to get things done to be prepared for the next hurdle in life causes me to literally race through my activities. Then I find myself complaining instead of quietly waiting and enduring silently. I've always tried to be patient with others, but never quiet accomplished it entirely. Of course, a long time ago I quit praying for patience...and prayed for understanding (knowledge) instead. When I was working (as a secretary) for the church, I was called upon many, many times to have patience with fellow employees, parishioners coming to the rectory door, phone calls from marketing people, charity cases with and without cause, and so many other things. I found out that patience comes much easier when you're younger. As age creeps up on you, understanding begins to play a role in your life and you begin to not have as much patience with others. You may still excuse young children for not knowing any better, sick people for not being able to help themselves, physically and mentally handicapped people for being incapable of doing for themselves...but the rest, you find as being too lazy, too arrogant, and too unfeeling to be excused. The lenten season is the perfect time to practice being more patient again. But try as I may, knowledge gets in the way lots of time. So I continue to struggle with my hurried world and lack of patience at times, but with the knowledge that one day I may again be able to have more patience as age catches up with me and I become "as a little child" again.

Keep A-Fishing

If you strike a thorn or rose,
Keep a-goin'!
If it hails or if it snows,
Keep a-goin'!
"Taint no use to sit an' whine
When the fish ain't on your line;
Bait your hook an' keep a-tryin'-
Keep a-goin'!

These words of Frank L. Stanton (born 2/22/1857; died 1/7/1927) reminded me of our camp at Toledo Bend. Fishermen are out in their boats riding the rather "rough" waters in order to try and catch their limit of fish. We are just beginning to see signs of Spring, and already, the fishermen have lowered their nets. Spawning season is here and the fishermen can't wait to try their hand at the first catches of the new year. In spite of the cold, wind, and rain, they "Keep a-goin'!"

We are presently in the Lenten Season. As I try to find things to read for this important season of the church year, I begin to get the urge to jump forward into Spring. I try to slow down the pace and take in all the beauty that has been given to me by God...buds on the redbud trees, tassels on the oak trees, flowers on the azalea bushes and bridal wreaths, and birds of the air coming back to their old familiar places...they, too "Keep a-goin'!"

Today, I read that getting lost with God is like getting lost on the road. It often leads to unexpected encounters and events, but gives us new ways to reach our final destination. My daughter and I have found this to be so true in some of our travels together. As we travel to various places and get "lost" on our way, we find all kinds of adventure awaiting us on our wrong turns in the roads. We have managed to see and do things not found on maps as we "Keep a-goin'!"

As the new year unfolds, I am reminded of the many things I have planned for the year. A trip to Missouri for one of my grandsons' basketball tournaments, Easter week at North Toledo Bend State Park with family and friends, a trip to take one of my granddaughters to see some of the grandeur of the United States out west, a trip to Hodges Gardens to view all the splendor of flowering trees and bushes, and the many trips to relax at our camp at Toledo Bend...I, too "Keep a-goin'!"

Yes, there are many bends in our journey here on earth, but if we "Keep a-goin'!" even when the going gets tough, what a blessing we'll find at the end of the long traveled road.

I Did It!

After several hours of reading and trying to interpret all the instructions for upgrading my AT&T home page and e-mail, I finally was able to do so. The new homepage update lets me choose colors, content, and views that I enjoy. It also allows me to move the catagories around for my own enjoyment.

This morning I'd come to the conclusion that I'd have to end up calling AT & T about how to accomplish this feat, as I found myself unable to follow ALL their instructions and...not be able to use my homepage or e-mail. But, I just can't help but accept a good challenge. So I proceeded to try to get the homepage to respond, and I finally did it! But my e-mail was still a problem. After researching some more, I found my e-mail client needed to be updated also. So off to another challenge. More research and BANG, I was able to update the settings. Pays to read all instructions included when these updates come around!

I will now grant myself some relaxing time sitting outside on my back patio enjoying some root beer. When my children were small, I'd make a big pitcher full of sweet root beer for us to enjoy (especially after meeting a challenge of sorts on a hot summer day). Seemed that the bottom of that pitcher presented itself much too soon. Now I drink it out of a can! Times sure have changed.

Another challenge accomplished! Wondering what the next one will be.................

My Blanket

I'm anxiously awaiting Spring to arrive.

I'm anxious to be able to sit outside and drink a cold root beer (my favorite) on the back patio and hear sounds of springtime.

I'm anxious to watch the butterflies and birds dip up and down across the lawn in search of food.

As I recall springtimes of my past, I remember vividly going outside my parents' home and spreading a large blanket out on the lawn. My friend and I would lay on the blanket and listen to the outdoor sounds and smell the sweet aroma of a nearby baby magnolia tree. We would spend hours lying down on that blanket and talking.

Lemonade was the drink of the day at that time. My mother would make us some lemonade and we would enjoy a tall cool glass of freshly made very sweet lemonade.

When my friend's mother would call her home, I'd lay on my blanket and entertain myself with a good book...mostly fairy tales, as money was short and I didn't buy many books. The one I remember best was a large fairy tale book that one of my aunts had purchased for me in payment of babysitting her son for her. I also recall a Doris Day coloring book that same aunt bought for me for having babysat her son on another occasion.

As I got older, time was spent on a blanket in the summertime. With getting older, boys became a topic of our conversations. We became aware of cars that occasionally passed by blowing their horns. Our clothes began to take on a new look, too. No more ratty pants and shirts. Out came the short shorts and bathing suits. No longer did my friend and I lay on the blanket to pass the time, sunbathing became a must do, especially if you'd just gotten a new bathing suit.

Other times, friends in the neighborhood would join me on the blanket and we'd talk and laugh for hours. We discussed things of the past and plans for the future. The present was lived and we didn't get bored. Time would pass by and we'd all be so disappointed when our parents would call us to go inside.

Yes, much can be said about a girl and her blanket. My blanket proved to be a most useful article during my childhood days. It attracted many friends, many shared stories, lots of laughter, and so much comfort when you had nowhere to go.