This has been a holy day for which I praise the Lord. The weather has been perfect; our church service was inspirational with our Savior in attendance. Aaron, my 17 year old grandson, a recovering drug user, led us through a service exploring the Ten Commandments. He led services, opening with prayer and closing with prayer. I pray and trust that the Lord will continue the work he can lead Aaron to accomplish during his life time. Life is so very fleeting and how blessed we are to see a young soldier for Christ make such a drastic change from evil influences and turn to God and to be brave enough to reject those who would wish them to sink to their level. Our lesson was completed today and Danny has done well exploring this series of lessons. We will now be studying Revelations.
We had 40, more or less, in services. Everyone was happy to have Aaron’s sister, LeeAnn and Aaron McFarlin visiting. Burr was inspired to share the Bible and a message with us and Jean completed the service with a beautiful rendition of the song she had lost. She found her song at the last moment.
I hear a sarcastic “put down” from a bitter vindictive person last week, who is such a dedicated advocate for the devil. I wish she knew how little an influence she has on those close to the Lord. Some people do not deserve even our prayers and so they have been turned over to Him. Our lesson today it was brought out that there are degrees of punishments in the hell just as there are different rewards in Heaven according to the good or bad we do in our life time.
Then there will be plenty of time to rejoice or regret our deeds; a whole eternity. May we choose the right road we walk.
I had supper Saturday evening with Burr and Ruth and Aaron and dinner Sunday with those three and Kasey who took time off from mowing to come eat one of his favorite meals of beans, corn bread and stewed meat. With that we had tomatoes from Kasey’s garden and pickled beets from Ruth’s kitchen.
Karen and Nicole came by Saturday evening to get some jalapeño peppers for salsa. They shared my peach cobbler with me. Nikki picked up some of her stuff she had left here, she is moving into a new unfurnished apartment and doesn’t have anything to furnish it with. Kasey gave her a table so she is begging and borrowing and will take most any thing offered. She works at Bass Pro and will be finishing her education with a Masters degree. She will be able to teach or have a career in the accounting field.
Hopefully there will be jobs. It is so hard to realize these young adults were once the little cuddly babies we rocked and cherished just a breath ago. Nicole was the best little person I was privileged to help raise. She only had one bare-hand butt spanking in her life and it was from her Uncle Burr who got tired of her repeatedly turning all the knobs on the TV. It must have made a lasting impression on her mind if not her butt for she minded what she was told and never once cried or screamed for things in Wal-Mart. She still represents all the good traits to be desired of women influence more than anyone else in our society – all that is good in life.
I think bad mothers deserve the hottest degree in hell for the young lives they destroy; but oh how wonderful and how much to be admired are the young ones who rise above their upbringing and come out better on the other side. I know a few.
I’m sorry to sound so preachy but justify it by saying that preachy is good sometimes and it all depends on the receptiveness of the ears or eyes receiving it.
I had three welcome calls Saturday evening; one from my sister Jo who I always love hearing from; and one from my good friend Hester whom I love and thank God for having known. Ray is in the nursing home in Ava and battling depression. They would appreciate prayers and visits. Hester goes every day. Hester is the kind of woman talked about – the kind that will go the last mile for those she loves. She exemplifies all that God intended women to be.
I got a call from Chrissy, Charlie’s daughter and my soul mate; she promised a visit. I anticipate; we’re all too busy people, all but me that is.
I hear I was on Facebook helping Kasey can tomatoes. I guess he thinks 40 tomato plants are 10 or 20 too many. I say you can’t get too many. He has canned tomatoes, tomato juice, tomato sauce and salsa, rotel tomatoes and now he is going to stew tomatoes with other vegetables for partially prepared soup. This is Kasey’s first garden and it has flourished and made a believer of him but next year he only plan on 30 tomato plants. I guess he intends to gradually decrease instead of doing half as many. He has an enjoyable part time summer hobby that we can enjoy all winter as well.
Karen and Greg also have worked hard to make a new garden spot and it paid off.
Greg and Kasey went fishing Saturday morning with no luck, Greg and Kevin went Sunday morning and caught fish; some mornings are better than others.
Kasey came Thursday and did chores for me before heading to St. Louis on the big truck. He and Terry came Friday and cooked a very good old fashioned breakfast for us. It is such a welcome treat to share meals which I no longer cook. I guess good came of my working because my kids all learned to do things and especially to fend for themselves if they got hungry. They, all five, are good cooks, as is Jean’s son and daughters and Jo’s, I’m assuming. I know Vicki and Randall are and Chris lives along so I’m sure he eats well.
I had lunch out with two of my five most favorite people Thursday, Karen and Kasey. Kasey took me to my doctor appointment and Karen brought me home since Kasey had to go to work. He drives into the night. Karen had to take off early. I hope my kids know how much I appreciate them and how very much I dislike having to depend on and inconvenience them. I know their lives are more rushed and stressful than when they depended on me; but I think that it must have been stressful milking 80 old Holsteins in a cold or hot barn and feeding, cleaning and getting five kids off to school but oh for the stress of those years again and to be the care giver. They tell me its payback time but they can’t yet understand; they will!
Jim and Jean shared dinner with Danny and Jamie Sunday and went for a drive after dinner.
When I pick up my pen to write Little Creek items, I always think what will I write? I have no news but then I just start writing what comes to mind and here I have filled five pages and probably bored some to tears, some to rage and some on the same wave length. I hear from so many that tell me they enjoy what I contribute and always that they want to read of old times and customs. Soon there won’t be any “old timers” to tell of early life in our beloved Ozarks. I like to relive memories of a hard but good life, good because it was so simple and peaceful and the big old problematic world did not intrude at all. I guess that is why people enjoy reading about it and sharing through memories and retelling and why I enjoy recalling and writing.
Not many of you remember the huge heavy beyond belief covers our grandmothers made to combat the cold heaterless cabins of three small non insulated rooms or sometimes two with open cracks through which the wind blew rain or snow and so even though weighted down those covers trapped our body heat and we endured till morning when daddy brought the little king heater to life and then to red hot. Soon we crept out from under when we began to smell ham or bacon cooking from the tiny kitchen. Soon the little cabin was warm and toasty and bursting with aromas and love and hugs and a substantial breakfast to tide us well over to lunch or we had dinner at noon and supper at night. The very best breakfasts were when mom fried a platter of squirrel with gravy over biscuits and thick blackberry or plum or grape jelly and jam to lazily enjoy at the end with hot coffee; so I relive those blessed mornings with you by writing of them. Like I say, I never know when I pick up my pen and paper where it will take me. I just start writing; but now I’m tired so I think I’ll jus nap and maybe dream of a past life for awhile. Till next I write to you, please be happy and glorify Jesus. We haven’t much time left to tell of Him and His message of Hope, nor even to share the old days and ways and a time when people cared for people better.
Winter will soon be here. Seasons are so fleeting, life also and so we should be busy with good works even little gestures of love and encouragements. I think I am still reveling in the blessings I felt today.
