I Love....1976

1976 - or 1970 - or just the 70s...

How many amazing songs were released in 1976?  I bet the list is really long.  But thanks to TV commercials - there's one that runs in my head quite a bit....

And oh my heavens I am thankful for the invention of Alexa Show!!!

Keep It Coming' Love by KC & the Sunshine Band

When I was younger - I would play songs over and over and over on my 8 Track player or Cassette player - just depends upon what decade we are discussing - until I had all the words written down to the song.  I wanted to memorize the lyrics - I wanted to sing along.  

Now I have Alexa Show!!!!  (thank you to those kids last Mother's Day- what a great gift!!!).

And some songs I find that I did not know about before - like this one from 1970 ,,,,

Into The Mystic by Van Morrison

Music - just makes such a difference in my life.  And much to my mother's (and husband's) chagrin - I love the blare the music too!!!

Even at the office today - I heard an old song and thought - I need to know those words.  I also mentioned that I needed to know how to dance too.  I wish I could dance.  It is probably the one thing (okay there might be more than one) but one thing from my very conservative growing up days that is such an injustice.  Not learning how to dance is almost tragic to this girl!

Injustice.

Not really.  But I do wonder.  I wonder about all the rules - what in the world did I miss because of the rules?  What in Jesus' world did I miss because of the rules.

I heard someone say last week "I wish we had rules - I like rules".

Not me.  Because I have this inside churning to do it just the opposite if the rules states something.  If you cannot convince me that the rule makes sense - I am done.  I need to clarify - I did not expect this behavior from my children.  In fact it bothered me immensely when they did not follow rules.  I do think there is a fine line between disrespect and challenge.  Sometimes we should not challenge.  (the best part of this... my children never read what I write - I wonder if they will read this!  Can it be our secret???)

But with Jesus, the Bible, scripture - I think we should always challenge.

Really I do.

Challenge what you have learned - make sure it matches what you are reading.

Which brings me to the next point.

Reading.  I read a bunch.  Sometimes I finish the book - sometimes I don't.  But I always learn.  I have found that I must finish reading though - because if I don't finish I may miss the most important part.  But reading is a valuable part of my life.  It is about learning.  One of my favorite bosses in the whole world had us doing book studies each year.  I think that was some of the most valuable times.  As an administrative team we could read and discuss.  Many times I learned even more as we discussed the book and what the words meant to us individually.  To read is to expand - to grow - to learn.

We certainly do not have to believe everything we read.  We do not have to accept what the other person says as the gospel (literally or figuratively) but we can grow in the knowledge of God by reading what others are thinking.

So what am I reading right now.....

That of course is the book on tape that I am listening to.  Earlier this year I was reading books about Meditation (Dan Harris &  Light Watkins) - now I have found another author that discusses Christian Contemplation.  This is a very interesting subject to  me - and Phileena Heuertz is an author that intrigues me.  I believe I have much to learn from her.

But this is the stack beside my bed ...

Please notice the Rosary beads hanging from the lamp....  that is for another blog on another day ...

And one that I keep coming back to - and want to write about - but haven't put the words together yet...

And I am still listening to Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic".  That song is inspiring another blog post - one about the mystery of this life - the mystic being that we all are.  Oh heavens - I am so thankful for music

And Jesus.

Lady bugs... always remind me of Lisa - our secretary who has been gone for almost 3 years.  This one landed on my computer as I was listening to "Into the Mystic" - go figure.... 

Kerry & me with my mom at a Cmas function at the place she lives.  Don't you know to an 82 year old photo booths are a weird thing?????

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

A Stoke, A Summer, A Baby

As you know my mom lives in a retirement home just up the street from our home in Graham.  During the first half of this year - I certainly did not "check on her" enough.  But that was okay - for 82 she is in great shape.  During those early months she was walking around 5 miles a day!  She was completely self sufficient and had it not been for her failing eye sight - she certainly could have been living "on her own".

The phone call came on a Friday afternoon.  I was at work trying to finish up many tasks because we were headed to our favorite vacation destination for the farewell concert of Elton John on Sunday.  The caregiver explained that my mom had been resting all afternoon and now she did not want to get up for supper.  That behavior was quite unusual for her - she never slowed down.  I told them I would be there soon.  I tried to finish my work - but simply could not.

As it turned out - I never got to hear these lyrics in person.

I am listening as I write this - oh how I love his music.  slowly.... hold me closer tiny dancer....his piano skills - wow.

I went ahead and left work.  I remember saying to Kerry that I was really bothered and I realized I had reviewed one work order for invoicing no less that 5 times.  So I left the lake and went to her apartment.  

She was laying on her bed - her eyes looked really strange - and she did not know who was talking to her.  I called the ambulance - on a non 911 emergency because I was convinced it was a UTI or dehydration - or you know something "normal for the elderly".  The local ER quickly diagnosed a brain bleed behind her left eye and recommend care flight for her trip to United Regional in Wichita Falls.  And Kerry and I headed to WF - to the ER - to a confirmation of the brain bleed from a  CT performed by one of our dear friend's girlfriend - to a locum doctor being on call in the ER - and less than 15 minutes to make a decision for surgery.

Any surgery is difficult - but for an 82 year old I suspect it is even greater.  But we knew we had to give her a chance - she was in great physical shape and we wanted to give her every opportunity to return to that state.  

Dr. Theodore Spinks was simply the best of a horrible situation.  He was scheduled to leave town the next morning and around midnight he performed a craniotomy on my mom.  We saw him after the successful surgery - and never again.  I don't know if he continues to work at United Regional as a Locum - or if he is on to other facilities.  But I do know and believe that it was simply a divine intervention that he was there that day.  

First picture after her surgery.  The dressing stayed on for 48 hours.  Today I notice how tired my eyes were!

She spent Mother's Day at the rehab hospital.

Not the best picture - Son One's eyes are closed, DIL is saying something, the 2 grands look perfect as always - but I want to remember and capture that incision area.  Oh my word!  She NEVER took any pain medication!  And the stitches were the kind that dissolve - Dr. Spinks' surgical skills are phenomenal.  

Bless her - she aged so much during those few weeks.

Mother's Day 2018 with 2 of her grandsons at the rehab hospital in WFalls.

Summer is the busiest time of year at our office.  That of course makes sense - it is when everyone wants to enjoy their PK lake home!  This year was different - Kerry is the sole proprietor and I was the bookkeeper (a completely new role for me).  We worked some very long hours - not alone - we have an amazing crew of people.  But since we spent May going back and forth to Wichita Falls to check in on my mom - June continuing to check at least 2 times a day while she was in the next level care area of the retirement home - it wasn't easy.  As a company we had the best month - ever - in our history and we are so proud to continue this 50+ family business.

She moved back into her apartment around the middle of July.  And in August we celebrated 32 years!

I almost forgot to mention....  

During the craziness of the Summer of 2018 - the precious ones lived with us!  A house was sold and before the signatures could happen on the new one - they had to have a place to sleep!  We had so much fun!  It is a great feeling to come home to family! 

Then this happened....

But of course it wasn't without a bit of fear...  notice who is missing in this photo - the mom!  We first saw the baby as Son One was holding him in the nursery.  Our precious Daughter One lost 40% of her blood after his birth and was being cared for immediately after the birth.  The unknown was frightening - but she rallied - the doctor took great care and she was holding and caring for that precious baby within a couple of hours.  

After my Picking Grapes adventure at Cathedral Mountain Vineyard - I shared pictures of those precious grandchildren and a friend said...

You should be so happy to be surrounded by them - 

A Stoke, A Summer, A Baby = God's protection, God's provision, God's miracle all wrapped in Love.

Cannon James Groves with is dad, his Mimi, and his DJ. Doesn't she look great!
(Lance Cannon Groves, Cheryl Cannon Groves, Jeanette Adams Cannon)

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

What Will She Think?

We were sitting at the baseball park watching her brother and she runs over and says, "this is my momma, my Uncle Willy, and my Mimi" - as she shows her new friend her family.

My Mimi

Those words might just be some of the best in my life.  Grandparents understand.  There is just something about being someone's.

My grandma lived in a different time.  She was born in 1900 - and she lived almost the entire 1900s - leaving earth in 1995.  She saw a whole bunch of stuff.  But she did wonder why we had one of those in our wedding.

One of our groomsman's is a black man.

My grandmother had taken on the same viewpoint of many white people during those days.  I only wish that "those days" were in the past - but I am not naive - they aren't - 

However - what will she think about me?  Will she be thinking what I have been thinking for a while - and particularly this week.

The "Buried Truths" podcast just honestly breaks my heart.  I wish it was just a fictional story that I am listening to.  Instead it is a brutal truth of what happened in our world in the 1940s, 1950s etc...  It is a horrible account of what happened to a couple of men that chose to vote - a couple of black men who chose to vote and chose to help other black citizens vote.  

Civil Rights. 

I wonder what she will think.  She won't have to worry about her Mimi supporting the ridiculous actions that are described in Buried Truths.  The prejudice behaviors of whites against blacks are easy to deny and speak against.  I honestly hope that my grandmother would have joined me.  

My grandma was a good person - I just hope that it was a lack of education and a lack of understanding - and honestly a lack of reading those red letters in the Bible and truly believing that they apply to EVERYONE.  I hope that is who she was.

But what about me.

What will she say about her Mimi?

Will she say that I was uneducated, not an understanding person, not tolerant, and that I really did not grasp those red letters?

This podcast episode on "Hidden Brain" spurred these thoughts this week.  One quote from the podcast is "... how do you convince people who once slaughtered each other to join hands and make peace? Is it possible to change a person's deepest beliefs?"

I realize we are not "slaughtering" each other in the true sense of the word - but who am I slaughtering with my thoughts - with my lack of understanding - with my less than loving ways spilling out?

I have a new friend.  She is the author of a book I am reading.  

Sara's book "How We Sleep at Night" is her story and one that just grips my heart.  

Fear can make one do some pretty stupid things.  I am convinced that fear makes your brain stop working.  Really.  Seriously.  I grew up in a society that used fear as a method of discipline and honestly for me it worked.

It has never worked for my children and I suspect it won't work for her.  I know that I will have to explain my reasons to her and I best come with an answer of proof rather than "we have always looked at it that way".

So before I stand on the premise that I get to decide who receives God's favor and who doesn't - I better know.  And I better have red letters to support.

I follow a Red Letter Christian's podcast with Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne.  I found this article today on the website...

Here's the link to the article - Stand .  Mr. Caldwell said exactly what I have been trying to say in this blog.  

I have dear friends, family, people I know who are a part of the LGBTQ community.  

I don't have all the answers - to ANY of our questions.  

I do know that I do not want her to wonder what her Mimi thought.

Her Mimi loves - that is what I want her to think.

One day my mom's earthly body will lay with this stone.  This scripture has defined my mom - she has always sought His help and recognized that her help has always come from the Lord.

My dad always spoke of love.  He began every prayer with the phrase "Father thank you for loving us."

I never talked to my dad about the LGBTQ community.  But there is no doubt in my mind as to how he would respond.  

With love. 

Matthew 22:34-40, NLT

I know this scripture.  However look closely at verse 40 - a verse I forget to quote when I am saying the Love your God part...

Verse 40.  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.  

I am the first to tell you that because "I love you then I feel compelled to share my viewpoint.  I know you need to see it my way.  I am right because I understand what God intended.  I know.  You don't. Blah Blah Blah."

But really - just LOVE.  And sometimes that means Stand and open our arms rather than our mouths.

Why do we make that so hard?

Photo by Mirus Studio

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.

I Think He Hates Me...

I know "hate" is a brutal word.  And as you read - you will quickly realize that I am not serious with my statement.  But I do wonder.

All along I have said that the current leadership promotes an atmosphere of "hate".  Somehow (and I know we can list the reasons of why - but this entry isn't about those reasons so I will not define that part here) - his position & his stance has prompted so many others to make a stand - take a stand - and be bolder than they have before in their expression of hate toward others.

I just feel like we are going backwards all the time.

And today I just have to roll my eyes.

Seriously - Amazon.  He is attacking Amazon.  Now this isn't new - I saw a news clip this morning from 2016 but honestly - I think he hates me.  He seems to attack everything I hold near and dear.  I thought about making a list - but that just spreads the hate.

Instead...

I find that expression unusual "grace to praise you with our whole lives".  

Grace to Praise.

So - we ask for divine assistance to praise you with our whole lives.

We ask for divine assistance to glorify you with everything that we have.

Help us to adore you with all that we are.

Such a better focus for today - rather than the hate that surrounds us.

We don't have to choose the hate.  

Seems fitting that tomorrow is the 50th Anniversary of the loss of MLK, Jr.

Love.

Only love.

For those of us who honestly belief the rhetoric of hate is detrimental to our world - we must be willing to stand against that hate - and stand for love.

That is quite a challenge but it is one we must embrace.

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.