I Want Some Dancing Shoes!

Chase Brandon Guiling - 1 of

the 8 reasons I want to dance,

Great g'son #2

Back in the day as they say, approximately 35-40 years ago, we had a very active Jaycee/Jaycee Wives group in Bloomfield of which Ken & I were members along with many of our friends. We did/sponsored many community activities, probably the stellar one being the 4th of July fireworks display. These "bangers" were expensive, dangerous, & back then, our guys were the ones who stood on that hill across from our beautiful city park at the end of the day & set them off for the hundreds who flocked from all over the area for the display. 

 

We were younger & more carefree for the most part, raising our families, making a living, doing those things that life requires, but we did enjoy getting together & having a good time when the Jaycees would sponsor a fun activity. They would have dances at the country club, usually as a fund raiser, & I will never forget the first time we thought about going to one. I hadn't danced since high school, and not much then, since Ken couldn't go to the prom or other activities because he was from another town & already out of school. He asked me about attending, & being one not wanting to miss out on anything, I really wanted to be there; yet, I always felt guilty & embarrassed about dancing, didn't feel I was very good at it, (I'm still not great) & mom always thought going to dances was equated with sinfulness & I always relied on her to babysit. I couldn't lie even if I wanted to, because I knew Rhonda would gladly report that mom & dad went dancing at the country club!  The only thing mom has ever approved of at the cc is the swimming pool & that is if you purchased your sodas outside.

Ken & I decided to be brave, tell mom that the dance proceeds were going to the children's home (as I recall, I think that's the gospel)& that I sure did need the exercise & named a few people who were going that I thought might meet her approval (or at least their parents, including a couple of preachers), bought our jeans, cowboy hats, boots, & off we went. Well, Ken took to dancing like a duck to water. He thoroughly enjoyed it. I just love music, music, music as well as dancing, even though I'm a bit awkward. We really enjoyed those times together with these good folks & have some great memories. They made many contributions to our community. Now our children have taken over that task & are doing a great job. Not that we're not still out there, but, speaking for myself, not as often.

Yesterday morning at Trinity, we had a bluegrass group who provided our music comprised of Tony & Maggie Thorn, Dale & Cis Williams, & Eric Pendergrass. We have an up & coming young lady, Ashton White, who I think is about 6 years old & is under Maggie's tutelage, who sang "I'll Fly Away" along with Maggie & the congregation. They were over the top with 2 or 3 guitars, a bass & a banjo - you want to talk about some pickers for Jesus!  I just wanted to dance, dance, dance. I know now what people say when they talk about dancing in the spirit. Alas, I'm sure if I had done that, 911 would have had to have been called out, & I'm hoping they, too, were in church somewhere. I hope they were enjoying it as much as I was. Am I too childlike, overly emotional, etc.? I just wonder why we just all sit quietly in a pew when our spirits are speaking something else to us?  I know we have to have order in services & respect for those around us - no one wants chaos. I'm speaking of JOY,  the sheer JOY of thanking & praising God. 

He has given me many reasons to dance during my lifetime. Since I'm not quality dancing material & haven't had a dancing partner for several years, I'll save my "talent" for other times & places yet to come. As I've stated before, I'm fully convinced we'll dance before Him; what a beautiful sight to see - all those who were unable for whatever rhyme or reason to dance before Him & not have to worry whether or not someone will ask you to dance. All our dance cards will be maxed out when we fly away!   

Baby Brother

Joe & family, Me, Pam, Chris, Tammy, Kara

Mom's son made it home this weekend! The one of whom I told you earlier that she sits down every Sun. afternoon to write a letter even though I have emailed him all the family news, called him & now since this visit, I even can talk to him through skype (that's something they brought me for Christmas) along with a priceless new book. Joe is coming, Joe is coming was the theme all week after he had emailed me earlier in the week that barring some unforeseen weather condition or any other type of breakdown, they would be arriving Sat. morning along with their daughter, Morgan & her hubby, Tom.  My grandson, Chris, & his wife, Pam, who also live in Columbia cam home to celebrate Pam's birthday. Let the fun begin!

Joe came along almost 10 years after I arrived, so let us say, I had it made for the first ten. An only child with all the amenities that affords. But, I desperately wanted a sibling. Most of my cousins had them as well as my neighbors, many of whom had several children & I have always loved a crowd! I wasn't born until dad & mom had been wed for 5 years, so I suspect brother was a surprise, maybe not, but when I have questioned mom about that, she still blushes. Four children, 6 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren later, she has never uttered the 3 letter word S-E-X in my presence. I don't think I even realized he was going to be here until she was quite far along in pregnancy & my paternal grandmother took me aside & tried to soothe the perceived shock; however, I was "tickled to death" as they say. He arrived in October of 1954 & dad & granddad Montgomery slipped me in to the hospital in Poplar Bluff to see him by telling the nurse's that I was 14. In those days, people just didn't roam hospital halls. There were rules. I suspect, however, that most could tell the diff  between a 9 & a 14 year old; nurse's are sharp - that's what Joe now is, an RN. 

Imogene had her son! I know now more of how Mary felt when she looked at the face of her newborn (am I exaggerating, family)? Actually, his name is Realey Joe; the name Realey Joe comes from dad's side somewhere & Joe is our maternal grandfather's name.  For the first couple of years, Joe wasn't very healthy & we attributed it to being "colicky". but then, a beloved sis-in-law of mom's, Aunt Thelma, insisted that he be taken to the "cussing" doc, Dr. Herbert, in Cape, & he straightened the matter up. Joe was anemic. Joe had beautiful blonde curls, (what happened, bro), was a smallish child, both of us were "stutterers" as kids, he never gave school his best, he was/is a natural born comedian, he is a Montgomery to the bone, (those of you who know Loyd - he's a lot like him). We would always have to say the poems up front at the Christmas programs which were at least 4 stanzas long, can be a difficult thing for those who stutter,(thankfully we grew out of it as adults for the most part). 

Bro tells lots of funny stories regarding me babysitting him during summer vacations; some of which have a grain of truth in them. I admit I was prone to send him off to the neighbors to play early in the a.m. & tell him not to return until shortly before dad & mom were due to arrive. The neighbors had several children, so what was one more in my way of thinking? Besides, in the day, they played outside. That way, I could read my Modern Screens & Photoplays that I had to keep hidden from mom. One time, a dog bit Joe on the leg while he was playing with these kids;  OMG!  I thought I would probably be shipped to Arkansas to live with my grandmother - I think dad intervened. I was always a daddy's girl!  Also, he shared my space in the front room during the summer on the pallet in front of the screen door where it was much cooler plus that's where we kept the window fan. I also told dad one time that Joe was the one who had switched the knob on his radio; we weren't supposed to touch it! Dad had it on the station where the Cardinals played when he turned it on, he wanted to hear Harry Carey's voice & NOT have to search for the station. When they were working, I would listen to music, then turn it back - oops, one time I forgot!  Poor Joe! 

Since I married at a young age, he got to be with our parents several years as an only child; maybe that's why he's so spoiled, Barb (his wife is also a Barb)! Just teasing; my kids always were/are crazy about Uncle Joe; he opened his home & heart to them when he moved away, became a dad by adopting 2 princesses, Morgan & Emma, went back to school & became an RN specializing in dialysis. He has spoken at conferences about this disease all over the nation (remember, I said he USED to stutter - isn't God good); I suspect he was motivated to do this after watching our dad suffer with this disease for many years & we lost dad to kidney failure in 1977 at the age of 57. 

About Thursday of this past week, that being grocery day, mom begins, Sis, Joe's coming home, what are we going to have? You know he loves blackberry cobbler & ribs. We've had this conversation hundreds of times, so I just smile. What are you going to have for them when they get here Saturday at noon?  What about Sunday? These questions to a woman who has done this many times before. I had brought home what I thought was a brilliant idea, some homemade tamales with all the fixins' for Sat. noon & Sat. night was covered because we were celebrating Pam's birthday at Dexter BBQ. They were in a brown paper bag in the fridge. Imogene finds it & can't figure out what in the world that "stuff" is that is covered in "wet corn husks"; try explaining that to someone who is almost deaf who thinks her only son should be fed a meal similar to one like inmates receive as their last requested one on this side of eternity, except she wants you to keep the budget on Always Save prices! Joe isn't picky, always does justice to whatever is served, is very complimentary to the cook. He & Barb assisted me prepare lunch yesterday for the gang. Guess what? We served ribs, steak, slaw, potato salad, baked beans, rolls, blackberry cobbler. There was a little bit left on the stove & after everyone had left, mom said, was there plenty?  I teasingly smiled at her & said, mom, everyone got to eat except Joe!

When we were all together on Saturday night, Joey was teasing his younger cousin telling her that since he (Joey) has produced a son, she was out of the loop so to speak. He was going to inherit all. She does love her Joey. He's way up there on the totem pole. If the name Joe is in it, it's a given for Imogene; Joe, Joey, Joe Christopher, Tanner Joe. Joe jokingly says that when we are together & someone announces, Joe, it's time to go, half the crowd leaves!  The rest of us fit in somewhere underneath there, & that's just fine, we don't mind. There's plenty of love to go around. 

Little brother, have I told you lately how grateful I am for you, your love, life, contributions, encouragement, advice, counsel, help & handout/s to my family, etc. your priceless choice of a wife, those beautiful daughters, your anticipated granddaughter, all your help to the patients who you have served over these many years, your understanding during this difficult time of caretaking of our precious, beloved mother, our journey through "thick & thin", sometimes rugged, many times sweet, filled with laughter & tears. When I was frantically calling you for advice regarding Ken as he was dying, I felt such peace, because I knew you, too, loved him unconditionally, & you said, let him go. We love him too much to see him hooked to tubes, machines, suffering needlessly, give him back to the One who gave him to us. We still recall him with such sweet, wonderful memories when Joe comes home. 

One day, someone may have to call Joe home for either sis or mom. When that happens, make it a sweet trip of fond memories, recalling all the great times that we have all shared at the Avert farm, (just think if we had kept that until now & let Nestle Corp. buy it - oh, well), Aquilla place, now at North Prairie. It's an exciting event when we know the Gumby's are headed this way! Preparation, planning, excitement, we get to be together, catch up! Guess what, little brother? That's what it's going to be like in eternity - all the ribs & cobbler we want!  Even if you're bald & in good shape, I love you bunches!  Thanks, mom, for giving me a little brother, & to dad for his part in the contribution.  (And to the Mizes & all the others for their part in his raising)    Sis  ♥♥♥

It's All About Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day!  Do you recall the valentine that caused your heart to "flutter" rapidly, did you receive candy, flowers, other gifts, etc. on this day that can cause great joy as well as heartache? 


I can recall helping the kids with their boxes for school & we ARE NOT a creative group - that gene totally skipped our DNA, so the night before, we would start searching the house for a suitable box, try to think up a simple theme, get out the glue, construction paper, etc. & begin the "process".  By the time they (we) had completed a box for them, cut the top out (which has caused blood to flow because we saved that for last) & by that time we were high from "overgluing" trying to get it to hold together. I worked at school, so we would load up kids, boxes, & here we would go. The fussing would begin at about Erma Ralaford's house. Mom, he/she touched my box, now it's coming apart! I assured them if they would just hold on until we arrived, I would try to use what "influence" I had or what favors I could call in to get the art teacher/s to mend them in order to make them presentable. 


I always tried to park in back on these days because let me tell you, some of these kids (mothers) could come up with some dandies! I've seen works of art, construction pieces, themes; one year a kid in Loyd's class even decorated a small child's wagon! I don't know if any of the kids in the class spoke to him for the remainder of his school years, but it was something complete with an American flag. 


"Back in the day" as we fondly say, we would march up to Buck's Store shortly after Christmas, ask the ladies in the women's dept. to save us a large hat box. Each class had only one valentine box & of course, they wanted theirs to be the prettiest, the one that all other students, teachers, parents would  marvel over. We would begin to design, plan, fight over, collect our materials, get ready to create the valentine box. As I recall, one of my teacher's used it as a reward - whoever got their work, completed, behaved, etc. was allowed to work on "the box". Then, when it was our turn to work on it, we would whisper, giggle, point at the work of others & say sarcastically, boy, where did they get THAT idea? However, the Newcomer twins, who were rather quiet & quite artistic, could always cover up lots of mistakes (with suggestions from the lovely Carmaleen) & it seems to me in fond recollection that my class always had a lovely creation.


Also, during that time as my blogger teacher mentioned, we were allowed to send valentines to just those we chose. If we didn't want to send one to someone, we didn't, so I can recall checking to see if my "pile" was as large as the ones whom I considered to be popular. When my 4 were all still home, I practically had to eat less during valentine week (no comments please) to be able to get enough valentines & all the necessities for the occasion. Tammy came carrying in a large gift bag of "stuff" here yesterday; I thought mom was going to pass out when she saw the kids digging into the candy, books, videos, etc. that they probably left half of back in the room where they were playing.  After everyone left, she said, did I miss someone's birthday?  The times, they are a changin'! 


I certainly recall some of my faves & still have a few of them that varied sweethearts of mine have given me. Of course, ones from Ken. I have one that he forgot that it was Feb. 14, drove up in the driveway, one of the kids forewarned him, he rushed back to town & brought me a card with a sweet message signed by the "Cowman" which was his silly CB name (remember those in pickups)? It's a great day for FTD & florists deserve it, but don't send me flowers that will wilt & fade in a few days. I still love those handmade cards made by my kids, grandkids, kids in church, those are my treasures. Someone who will give you their heart in so many ways, someone who will love you with all your faults, flaws, failures, you are my sweethearts!  I THANK the One who loved me & all the rest with all His heart & provided that never ending love to all & for all -  love is indescrably sweet when shared with someone with a genuine heart of love!  ♥♥♥♥ to all, Barb

Church Ladies Strut Their Stuff!

4 church lady friends, Annette,Cis,Jan

I just returned from our latest event at church that was titled a decadent dessert evening to celebrate valentine's day; of course, prior to dessert, we enjoyed varied chilis & soups. Sarah shopped, decorated, had the place looking so "spiffy". There were 3 beautifully decorated tables laden with mouth watering desserts, the "slap your grandma" kind, those that were presented in lovely dishes that you could only stand 1 or 2 bites of or you would go into cardiac arrest or we would have to had a sleepover from everyone falling asleep from sugar overload. Everyone tonight was walking around the table gazing, oohing, aahing, carrying on over these "beauties" similar to seeing a newborn baby & thinking about that moment when they could pick up their plates & choose their selections. Absolutely Heavenly - (no pun intended)!  I know I put just a little more effort into dishes that I am going to take to church socials, then keep my eyes & ears open to see if anyone might notice my humble offering/s, because we have so many great cooks including some of the men.

Church ladies can cook! I attended a bereavement meal last week at St. Joe where 3 large tables were laden with food for this large family. The lady who chaired the event was telling me how proud she was because everyone just brought whatever they chose to, yet they had such a wonderful variety. I recalled the various times when Trinity has served these meals and I have thought to myself, this is such a wonderful meal that surely anyone in this family who doesn't go to church will join here next week!  Meats, casseroles, salads, vegetables, pies, cakes, iced tea, coffee; I tell you "Southern Living" has nothing on us! Plus, afterward, we get the pleasure of sitting around & getting to eat & visit with each other!! What fellowship & joy divine.

Dining & fellowshipping with my special friends at Trinity brings me contentment & joy. I am the type who likes to "table hop". I love to know what's going on in everyone's life, especially what brings them joy in life & in the Lord. Many have been friends for many years, some for only a short time, yet, those who gather around the table/s at Trinity are especially delightful; (there's always an exception, of course - there's going to always be someone who doesn't like you I'm sorry to say) even in the house of God. While this isn't a pleasant thing, God knows my heart as well as theirs & so the matter will be left in His tender, loving care. How could someone not be special to your life when you know they pray for you as I know my TUMC friends do?

Food is mentioned several times in the Bible, of course, & associated with joyous occasions. Church ladies, Mary &  Martha, almost had a falling out over the preparation of it until Jesus "straightened" them out. I can't help but think our Lord smiles when he sees his children gathered around tables, hears the chatter, laughter, joy & thinks to Himself, do you have any idea what is ahead for you when we all gather around the great banquet table together one day - no fear, envy, strife, sickness, death (& girls, no more cooking)! Thank you, Lord, for all these casserole queens, as my blogger teacher, Annette, call us; & thanks for any excuse (including valentine's day) to celebrate & give THANKS in the house of the One responsible for it all!

I'm Signing Up for Piano Lessons with Doyle Stogsdill!

I'm writing on this blog quite a bit this week; one way to talk to God, I suspect. About 7:15 tonight, I called Rhonda, my 2nd born, to inquire re. her beloved father-in-law, Pop, (that's what she, Rusty, & I call him, others call him Bro. Honey & other names, his birth name is Doyle) & when she answered the new, modern wonder known as the cell phone, I immediately knew something was amiss. What's the matter, Sis? She couldn't speak - he's left us, mom, she said, sobbing. She said they stood around his bed & watched him slip into the arms of Jesus. Rue is deathly ill with the "bug" that the family has been passing around; they have all been together in a small house & several of them have picked it up. I just spoke with Rusty a few minutes ago & he said they went on home tonight so everyone could get some rest, because we know Doyle is surely getting some well deserved peace & rest.

I got to know the Stogsdill's after Rue & Rusty were wed (I have forgotten when). I immediately fell in love with my irreverent son-in-law & knew he would fit right in with this bunch, especially since he was crazy about Rue's only son, Drew. Shortly following that, I received a t/c from his mom, Barbara (love that name) Jane, stating, the cafe's open, come on down! You who know me know that it took no arm twisting or begging - they just live down the street (6th sense again)! I stepped into their precious home for the first time. A smaller house, at least by today's standards, but BJ has it tastefully decorated with something in every nook & cranny that either she has made, or someone else has given her. It is truly a home filled with love. Pictures, books, creations she has sewn, the piano near the front door, cards from friends to Pop who has been ill for many years; I was overwhelmed with all that she did & she served such a meal. I had heard of her cooking skills & she had to cook almost 2 meals because Pop was what is known as a brittle diabetic. She sat the food on the table, took care of his many needs, put him in his wheel chair, brought him to the table & we ate. Although he couldn't communicate audibly due to a stroke, he had a way of communicating. He always teased me, pointing & shaking his finger at me.

Pop's first wife died with breast cancer & left him with 2 children. He was a General Baptist preacher. Rusty, a natural comedian, has told us stories that has had us in stitches about being a pk. Pop was also an accomplished pianist as is BJ. She was in a singing group out of the St. Louis area known as the McFarland Sisters. I can remember hearing them from my childhood at some revival services. So, Doyle & BJ met & wed, had Rodney & August (Rusty) that makes 4.  At that time, Pop would work in St. Louis during the week, they would load up the car on weekends, come to this area, preach & sing at various locations.

Many smaller churches (at least back in the day) didn't pay very much at all, some folks who lived in the areas where they ministered didn't have much money to give.  Many of them literally paid in donations other than money. (chickens, butter, garden supplies) Rusty said that BJ would pack up those horrendous  matching leisure suits for the kids (she made every stitch of clothing for all the kids, she still makes practically everything to this day including her jeans which amazes me - excellent seamstress w/o benefit of a fancy sewing machine). She worked at home raising the family & he made the living. They were called to the pastorate at the GB Church in Bell City. It actually had a parsonage! By that time, only Rod & Rusty were still at home.

Sometime during this time frame, Pop had a debilitating stroke. He lost his ability to speak, became wheel chair bound, & for the past 2 plus years, has been on dialysis 3 times per week, going to Poplar Bluff for treatment/s which lasted for 4 hrs. each time.  I have watched  BJ as she ministered to his needs in awe & amazement. It was love in action; you should have seen him smile at her & though he couldn't hear her, she would write him notes on a board she kept near. I wish people who think they are "passionately in love" & just can't live w/o illicit sex could observe a couple such as this for a while. Every time I went there for a meal, the 3 of us held hands & talked to God & Rhonda said this past Thanksgiving, Pop said the blessing - not that anyone but God could understand all that was said, but she said it was a very moving experience & one that his grandchildren would never forget.

I understand the grief of Pop's family, because I have walked that path, yet when I got the news tonight, I looked heavenward & said, Thank you, Lord. When I visited with Pop last evening, he looked at me as we held hands & I'm reasonably certain he knew who I was. All he could do was smile ever so slightly as we shared a prayer. I so look forward to being with him when we can talk together, understand each other, I can hear him play the piano, (I have only heard him on a recording & he was very, very good) he played by "ear", a talent I so envy, so I'm signed up for that class with him, so we can dine together at that sumptuous banquet table, both eat every morsel we want, he won't have to worry about sugar amounts, & I won't have to worry about weight gain. Best of all, he will be walking tall once more!

I thank you, God, for the privilege of having known Doyle Stogsdill; that he was one of your faithful, loyal shepherds during his sojourn. I thank You that he has been relieved of the pain of this world, that he is in a place full of joy, life, peace, beauty, glory, wonder, newness, best of all, God!  Sis, I know this is a sad week for you; life has these times. Tomorrow would have been your dad's 69th & now you face saying your earthly goodbyes to Rusty's dad. Try to remember that we, too, will wake up some day & be home with them.  Love you Doyle, Ken, & all the rest!  Practice on that golden Steinway, maybe there's hope for my piano playing with you teaching me!   See you, soldier!   Eternal love, Barb

Al Gore; you don't know nuthin' about being conservative! (No pun intended)

Em reading cards from TUMC friends

 After a very interesting Sunday of worship, visiting in the homes of a couple of friends who have been sick for a while, going to Wal-Mart prior to time for Super Bowl to begin (I am marking my calendar today to never, ever to do that again); went to a nice singing event at the First GB Church in Bloomfield, chased my son & family down & took up maybe 15 minutes of their priceless time in an eating place (not my home), I finally landed back home around dark thirty.


After yelling at mom, because of her severe hearing impairment & telling her about the sick & afflicted & their conditions & James Hendley's awesome testimony at church this morning (he grew up in church with her at Mt. Pisgah in Aquilla, so he's on the A list - he's a male, goes to church) answered varied other inquiries, checked the phone, all the things one does after being out a while, I went in to the kitchen & looked over to the right side of the table down on the floor where I saw something white lying there. At first, I thought it might be underwear that had fallen down off the back of the chair, since she often uses the backs of chairs to dry things such as this because it's close to the vent, but, I should have know better - we never do laundry on Sunday!  So, I leaned over further; it was 2 rolls of toilet paper. 


My throat was already scratchy from yelling, so I thought, let it be. I surmised that she had dropped them in the toilet stool while attempting to "reload" the container we have in front of the commode in which we keep toilet paper stashed. Actually, it's an old churn; did I kid you when I said we waste nothing around here?  I thought it was a pretty piece of pottery looking "stuff", so I sat it in the bathroom, put what I deemed to be a neat looking cleaning brush set for bathroom use in it. One day as I sat down on the commode facing it, I noted that Em had begun to use it to store toilet paper. 


This morning when I glanced to my right, (her chair is there because she refuses to move it - I once suggested rearranging the living room furniture, that's another blog), I noted she had the rolls of tp & scissors in her hand with the blazing lights on her side all on. She is also very vision impaired. One day when I was gone, she went into my bedroom, got a horrid  lamp that I had purchased from W-M with a plastic shade on it that I'm surprised hasn't melted or burned someone severely & moved it in beside her chair, so now when she wants to read she turns on a lamp that has 2 high wattage bulbs AND that floor lamp that snakes over the lamp. One would think the aliens have landed! I just put on my shades & smile. 


I didn't sleep well again last night, so I thought, I'm just going to observe & not ask questions. I will eventually figure this out - maybe. Of course, the phone rang. JJ called, delighted over a snow day, & I was still eying mom. She was carefully trying to unroll that dried tp off the roll a few at a time, cut them off, stack them up. Those gnarled fingers & hands that have done many things during her 90 years. She stacked up her "bounty" on the coffee table & after a while put them in an empty shoe box & took them to her "safe sanctuary", her bedroom, where she has quite an assortment of "goodies" that she would just as soon no one would ever enter or bother. For instance, she keeps it very cool, so there are canned green beans stored underneath her bed; again, Al, no wasted space.


When I saw Al Gore on the "Today" show a while back after he (or someone) had written a book on conserving our resources, I laughed to myself, you guys don't know nuthin'!  You would be amazed at what could be conserved, how long something could be used & reused. Ask my blogging instructor for instance about her Bible. Of course, we would have gladly replaced that for her, but we know it's a book of love for her; no dust on her Bible, never has been, never will be. It is held together with duct tape, tears, & love. My brother recently purchased a high powered magnifying glass for her so she can continue to read the word that is so precious to her. So, when Em turns on the space age lights, I know it's time to meditate on the word - it happens every day of her life barring sickness.


I'm not picking on you or anyone else, Al, but a dear friend bought me a sign that hangs on my wall that I really cherish because it's a true reminder to me of mom & maybe you & all the rest of us need to read & heed:  "A Bible that's falling apart often belongs to someone who isn't".  May your cup run over, Al, with the love of the One who supplied us with all these awesome resources!  Blessings, Barb

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kenny!

Hey, soon to be birthday guy, do they have those banners like we had here (we always hung it behind the kitchen table, it now has a letter or 2 missing, but we can't stand to replace it, so it appropriately says, HAPPY BITDAY) & are you with a group preparing a special meal for all those who have a birthday on the 9th? I know your mom & those twins of ours, dad & all his buds, (that will be a fun bunch - I figure they've been placed under St. Peter's watchful eye) varied family members, special friends (hey to Carlene & Bev) & those other acquaintances from eons in the past you have had time to meet will insist on your smoked meat - I don't blame them. I know grandmother Viva will possibly bring her boiled custard that  was so larpin' good & have not to this day been able to emulate because all she ever said was it's a dash of this, a pinch of that etc. 

I thank God for the 56 birthdays you celebrated on earth & for the gazillions you will celebrate where you now reside, & just think, handsome guy, one day the rest of your earthly family, friends, loved ones who choose to will be there around that banquet table!

I have already requested to be an alto in the Heavenly Choir, hopefully close to Vestal Goodman, maybe put in a good word for me on that one.  Your actual birth date is on a Wednesday & that's always been a difficult day for me, (this makes 13 years w/o you)so I was looking at the calendar & noted this year it's on a Wed.  Great! I will be at Trinity that evening with friends we both love/d & cherish/ed so very much since we have begun our small group sessions; we eat, meet, study, have an absolute blast - the very thing/s you loved! Another answer to prayer.

I envision what would have been your 69th birthday invitation in Heaven as follows;  we will be celebrating your birthday in a home that is special because home is where you are special and loved by all and where a child wants to return to. Your cake will have one giant candle that all the children will blow out together & the Heavenly hosts/choir rendition of Happy Birthday will be beyond comprehension & the clapping will be deafening!

Afterward, you will have the meal prepared around the banquet table as promised in the Word after which you will sit around & shyly smile & receive many accolades over the wonderful meat!  

I admit that life here is often lonely without you; but I thank God that he created a beautiful thing/s called memories & the ability to know that beyond the shadow of a doubt I will have the JOY of seeing Him, you & all who await - I know you'll be on my welcoming committee when I step inside the gates of our eternal home.  

This world was a much better, richer place because of you, Kenneth Dale Rice.  By the way, thanks for the priceless gifts you left behind for me, Tammy Rene, Rhonda Suzette, Jennifer Jayla, Loyd Kenneth & theirs. As one of your namesake grandsons (Christopher Dale) said, to us you hung up your green cap too early, but to know you are free from the pain, suffering, sorrow that you had on this side & having a party makes my heart glad. You & Carlene may even be doing the boot scootin'boogie with your cowboy boots & hat, a version of "Heavenly Idol" (maybe we need another word besides idol, but we all know who our Heavenly Idol is)!  

Your name is on a headstone in Walker Cemetery  with mine beside it with the vital stats.  What it says beneath it, however, is what I love & what Annette sung at your celebration services, "May all who come behind us find us faithful".  Enjoy your birthday, celebrate, rejoice!  Put my name on your dance card, I'll see you when our Maker says, time to go get Cumi!  Forever Yours!

My mother is still raising her girl (even if she is going on 68)!I

I don't think anyone in my sacred, cherished family would be too surprised if the dear Lord decides to sound the clarion call for me first. To begin with, the top of our pyramid has taken good care of herself as opposed to her #1 & only daughter. She eats better foods, she has always exercised (used to pick 400 plus lbs. of cotton per day) & that didn't come from her, several others told me that; she chopped cotton, walked down approximately 1/4 mile for water before we got a pump, every time she got mad at dad, we would walk to Aunt Movidene's, she would take us to town to drag him out of Sandy's Beer Joint on the corner where the sheriff's office is now located (6th sense again). He did eventually get saved, PTL! As for her eating habits, oh my Lord!  She eats exactly the same foods, the same times of day; (i.e. bran cereal, prunes, soup, soup, soup, rice krispies, broccoli,vanilla wafers) I know the grocery list by heart, yet each Thursday she hands it me faithfully with a signed check. She has no idea how the price of things has risen, & would have a stroke if she knew eggs, for instance, cost at least $1.50 per doz. She does know that gas is costly because she can see/hear that often on tv & in our utility bills. The daughter is a carboholic, detests exercise, has read, been on, more diets than Oprah, spent enough money to rebuild Haiti trying to remedy the problem when all I would need to do would be to follow her example. She has had a pretty tough winter, has begun to fall, yet, she always says, I don't need a "device" as yet! She walks to the mailbox every day & gets very annoyed at federal holidays when there is no mail. Also, she can kind of nose through mine (which is fine with me). My life is an open book - I live in Bloomfield & am a Methodist! As my friend Annette says, take notes, there's a book here & I do agree with her. To the lady who has never been inside a beauty salon, never shaved her legs, never wears pants (shivers all winter long), still has finger waves, still has the same dresses she has had since the 70's so she could save every possible penny in order to maintain & have her own home because Homer was called home & opened that home to be my home because I needed a home, (her monthly check is a little over $800) all I can say is, most of the world out there just doesn't know what true womanhood entails. I salute you, Maude Imogene Malone Montgomery! (even if you did name me Cumi)

Is it too late for lipo/Bucket List Wishes

I would love to walk in to church this Sunday as per usual with a smile as if it were just any other Sunday EXCEPT I would be in a size 12. I have thought of this often, of how to pull it off w/o exercise, telling my kids/friends, just having it done, coming home & going on with life as usual except, of course, answering the phone from handsome widowers with ample money who also enjoy Bill Gaither concerts, church functions, family get togethers, books, going places, eating out approximately 50% of the time,  in short, I want lipo; however, I want it painless, I can do smoothies until the Lord returns as long as they are strawberry flavored, but I don't like lettuce all that well unless it's wilted. Also, I want to sing in a quartet, go on a cruise, learn & study the word more intently, visit with friends, neighbors, do the best I can with what I have been vested with. BTW, no one has said of late , you know Barb, that extra weight you have managed to gain the last 50 years makes you look so much nicer than these ladies who can shop in the jr. & regular sizes section of  Macy"s or - I have always loved knit & wanted my entire wardrobe to be knit or elastic similar to yours. Hiding when I see a friend come in & catch me in the women's section of  WM w/o saying I always cut through here to get to the groceries. My 50th class reunion is this year, but, frankly, by now as opposed to the earlier ones, there will be no staravation diets, worrying about what to wear, etc. I'm just grateful to be able to atte d (if I am) see & be with friends whio I attended Bloommfield Schools with for 12 years. Enough for now; see you next time, favored friends!   Blessings abundantly in all your cups, Barb

Erma Bombeck, I salute you!

After listening to a marriage fall all apart (almost) & listening to 2 teachers that I have admired for many years & a friend who is so far ahead of me in the field of technology, another of my prayers has been answered! I may be able to blog before I meet my Lord! I am grateful - this class is a blast & I still love learning! Cyberspace, you just thought you would leave me in left field & my g'children laughing at me!