Counting the Blessings of My Life

October Glory

Today is the day before Thanksgiving. Normally, on this day, I am frantically planning all the details of the "event" tomorrow. We have had such extravagantly full tables of food, adding all the things I grew up with to new items that some new family members had grown up with that were just a natural part of their Thanksgiving meal.

There has always been the good stress incumbent with the entire family coming.....where will everyone sleep, will they have a good time, are we building wonderful memories for the children, can I still make dressing and gravy....on and on.

This year is different - in many ways. This year has been different.I have been working on getting my degree in history since my Emily went to college. Em is now 29 years old, happily married and living in Texas. Her leaving for school was eleven years ago. Many things, happy and sad, happen in life. In these ten years, God has blessed Ike and me with five perfect grandchildren, and a wonderful new son-in-law. My mother went to Heaven five years ago....my daddy joined her on November 3, this year. My sweet Brookie made that short trip from this earth to her Heavenly home on December 19, 2001. That is picture of her tree at the top of the page, planted in her honor. It is an October Glory maple, chosen because of the name. She was in her glory time in October, the month of Morgan Nationals where she showed her beautiful Morgan gelding, Sundance.

This past few months have been a blur of busyness. I took nine hours of school this semester so that I can graduate next May. My Daddy began to get much worse this fall. He was getting weaker and his mind was getting slower. He developed gangrene in his foot. He had to have two toes amputated.....then his leg......then he just kept getting progressively smaller and weaker, sleeping most of the time, without medication. Mercifully, the Lord took him home on November 3 and he was buried on the following Saturday, the 6th. His funeral was very honoring. Many family members were able to travel to Tulsa for his funeral. We enjoyed seeing each other. It does seem true that it takes a wedding or a funeral to have those big family reuions.

I am exhausted from the stress of school papers, tests, and other busy work required to get that "sheepskin." I don't truly know why I feel so strongly about getting this done at my age, but I do trust that God is leading and controlling my numbered days

Daddy's numbered days for earthly living ended this month. He was 87. That is a good long life. He was blessed in every way that mattered. He had good health always, he had a good job for as long as he wanted, he had a loving wife and four children. I don't know what else he could have wanted. He lived a life of honor and loved us well.

My life has been full also. I have never missed a meal, never had to sleep anywhere but in a bed, always had a roof over my head, and been given an incredible family to love and be loved by. I am counting my blessings today, feeling calm after the recent blast of life storms, waiting expectantly for my kids and grandkids to bounce through that back door, along with our grand-dog "Murphy.

We will celebrate another wonderful year of living in America together. Usually the children and we grandparents dress in costume and put on a Pilgrim story play. We shall see if they want to do that this year. One family will not be here this time. They will be missed.

We all have much to remember and appreciate about what God had done in our lives. It just takes time......and that is what we seem to neglect most often.......taking time!!!

Loss of a Special Friend

Ike and I have been very blessed in our lives together. We have shared joys and sorrows, highs and lows, births and deaths, but every time a new sad event occurs, it seems we can never really be prepared for it.

Our precious daughter Brooke, who went to be with the Lord on December 19, 2001, had a major love in her life. That was her sweet Fortunes Sundance, known as Sunny. Brooke's greatest enjoyment in life came from riding horses. This horse was not her first or her only, but he was the best of all. He was her quiet counselor. He brought her comfort when she might have had a bad day. He loved her as much as she did him. She spent all the time she possibly could riding and training and grooming him. No horse ever had a better life. Neither did any young girl either.

We even built a barn on our property so that she could take care of him herself. From these experiences, she developed into quite a wonderful rider. She was involved in Morgan Horse shows from a very early age and won many ribbons and trophies. Brooke grew up to become a trainer of young riders. Her specialty was young girls who needed something like riding horses to feel something special in their lives. There are many girls like that and she felt a special bond with them.

She also seemed to be able to communicate well with horses and to ride the unrideables. This was her gift in life and she used it well.

After Brooke's death in a car accident, we kept her horses and took care of them and loved them also. They never received from us what only she could give them though. The horses were somewhat depressed acting after she was gone from them. They seemed to know.

This sweet Sunny had become the love of some of our grandchildren. Oh, how I loved to see them enjoy him and I wished that Brooke could see them. too. Perhaps she could.

It will be so hard to look out my office window into the green field and not be able to enjoy watching that big chestnut gelding shining in the sun. We have lost another special part of our lives. He wasn't just a horse, he was our Brookie's horse! I miss them both so terribly and always will until that day comes when I can run to meet her in Heaven. Oh, that will be good!

Summer Fun

Andrew

Well, summer finally came as it always has. It just seems like this past winter with all the snow and ice and the lingering cold days this spring made the arrival of summer more welcome.

We were just blessed with the welcome visit of our third grandson. His brother had gone to camp and it seemed like a great time for a one-on-0ne visit with a special boy.

We had so much fun just doing whatever we wanted. He wanted to swim and play in our dirt pile, which all the grandchildren love. Unfortunately, the first morning he was here, we had a record breaking rainfall with terrible flooding throughout many parts of the city.

No dirt pile this visit, but we were blessed to have been spared flooding here. We found other ways to occupy our selves. The posted pictures attest to the fact that he had fun and I just enjoy seeing him have fun. That is my fun!!

Hard Days in America

I have no picture today. I have this new computer and all my pictures are still on the old one. Nothing worthy of a picture is appropriate anyway today. I have just been listening to the news and watching our beloved land deteriorate in many ways. Our President Obama seems to be bent on the destruction of America, and is moving very quickly.
What does all this mean? I look at my precious children and grandchildren and my heart is so heavy for what they might have to bear. I feel helpless and almost hopeless until my mind and heart go back to the One who holds the whole world in His hands.
None of this is a surprise to our Father. He has known all about these days from the foundation of the world. It is just that we have not.
This country has been more blessed than any other country in the history of the world. America as a nation along with our elected leaders, has not been interested in God. Many loud-mouthed voices would have Him removed even from our history. They will not be successful. God is at work. Many Christians are waking from a deep sleep, induced by the comfortable blessings of life in this amazing land. We have work to do. Resting on our blessings will not accomplish the work of God. While He alone is in total control, He gives us our marching orders. What are yours? I am seeking mine. Right now I am learning all I can about our government and the Hand of God in its formation. Only God knows where this knowledge will be used and in what way.
Our only real hope is the Lord and He desires to help His children. We must ask, seek, and knock in humility and repentance. God in His Providence is woking out His plan and we get to be a part of His Story. What a blessing!

Some Special Blessings to Ponder

Mike Huckaby speaking at CHA Banquet
TAKING OUR COUNTRY BACK TOUR
Sarah Palin - LIVE


This truly has been an incredible month. We have been to Texas three time for family birthdays. I had a surprise birthday with my kids and grandkids. Life has been truly busy and hurried with the normal activities of my school at night, my teaching school a couple of afternoons, physical therapy winding up and two amazing events recently that I cherish.

On February 23, our annual Christian Heritage Banquet was honored to have as our speaker - the Honorable Governor Mike Huckaby. He was a fabulous speaker. We were totally sold out very early, with about 1000 seats filled. This was held at the Cowboy Hall of Fame, which is always going to be a special place in my heart because of Emma's wedding reception being there.
Governor Huckaby spoke about our country and the great need to train our students to be good citizens because they are the leaders of our future. He really seemed to get CHA and our mission of training men and women to propagate the gospel throughout the earth as fully educated men and women equipped by the Lord for His service wherever he may lead them. We had our picture taken with him and that was fun for those who sat at our table. Gov. Huckaby is truly a Godly man and I believe he would be a wonderful leader as president of our nation. We certainly could use one about now. I know God is in control of this also, but it can't help to hope and pray!

The other pictures above were taken yesterday in Tulsa at the kick-off of the "Taking Our Country Back" tour. Glenn Beck just brings tears to my eyes with his amazing passion for our country. His heart is so real. He is the best communicator I have ever seen. He is such a great example to all Americans that we too need to educate ourselves about our heritage and do what we can to help good people get into positions of service, as well as doing all we can in our personal lives to live a purposeful Christ-centered life. He clearly told the group that the reason for our success as a nation is not our people, but it is our God. If we leave Him out and His principles, there will be a huge crash heard round the world as this great nation - the only current nation with a hope for freedom for all people - falls. If it does, we will know why and that God is still on the throne and His plan for the world will go on. We will have great trouble though. I am praying that American Christians will awaken from whatever it is in our lives that is keeping us from totally following His will. When I see and listen to Mr. Beck repeatedly and without fear warning America, I am reminded of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, who warned Israel repeatedly of impending doom if they did not repent and turn back to him.

Seeing Sarah Palin in person was such a thrill. I know she is just a person, but it was still fun! She gave a great speech, full of hope and patriotism....my biggest cup of tea! After she finished, they showed a video of all the names of young Americans from Oklahoma who have died in these current wars. There were ninety young men and women, and it is heart wrenching to think of the families and the sacrifice they have made of their children for our nation. While Sarah was watching the video, her little girl came out and stood with her. What a precious sight! She had on just what kids would, a knit shirt and pants and she hugged her momma and Sarah hugged her girl....sweet picture. I felt very blessed to get to attend this special event.

These things have set me pondering more. I wonder what God is doing. I wonder what His plan for America is. I wonder if American Christians will repent and pray so that God will heal our land. I wonder what He wants me to do about all this. I wonder why He has given me this incredible passion to learn and share with others what God has done in our land. I wonder!!!!!

Very Special 65th Birthday

Here you see the picture of contentment for me!


This birthday for some reason is one that I have been mentally dreading. Although my head understands that 65 is just a number, my heart and soul realize that my life on earth is way past the middle point. So what does that mean? It means I realize my time truly is shorter here and that I do not want to miss whatever God has planned for my remaining years.
It was so simple to understand my purpose when my four children were home, but when they became adults, moved away, and began their own families, my role looked very fuzzy indeed.
I do have the contentment of knowing that my Lord is in control and not I myself. That is very good, since I tend to go off in many directions and begin many things at the same time. (I am still that little girl inside this older body).
God is directing my steps, but sometimes I forget that and enter the deep world of 'woe is me!' Ridiculous, I know, but that is just what I tend to do when I am not seeking my answers from the right and only source.
On the week-end after my birthday, I was so completely surprised and blessed by first - Emily coming up Friday evening on the train. Ike made up a story about going to see the second half of a 'non-existent' ball game and asked if I wanted to go. I never want to go to a ball game of any sort unless there is a friend or relative playing, so of course I said "No". I started studying for a test I had coming up the next week and a few hours later, I heard the sound of a female voice. My first reaction was 'oh, no, my house is a mess!' I guess that is a normal female reaction, unless that lady is a "cleanie", which I am not. Anyway, how thrilled I was to see my girl. I could hardly believe it.
That's not all! The next morning we went to our weekly Saturday morning breakfast at Cafe 501 in Edmond. I was so happy to have Emily with us. It always makes me happy to see the faces of my children. Well, I had a few more faces to see! When I went into the back room, there sat my son Jay and his beautiful family. I was speechless and truly surprised, just knowing how busy they all are with their children's lives, and yet they made time to come. My son Scott and his family sadly were unable to come, but they called at breakfast to wish me a Happy Birthday, for which I was grateful! Scott is in the middle of an overwhelming project at work which includes traveling the country and he has no time to himself at all for a few more weeks.
God is so good! Whatever His will is for any person's life is the very thing that will truly bring joy and fulfillment to that person. In my case, it has been my children and grandchildren. The picture shown above is me with my Miss Annie, my youngest grandchild. She had blessed me with her presence, for the moment, at my side watching Cinderella. My face always reveals how I feel about anything. Ike says I should never play poker. I am as happy as I appear in this photo! Honest faces are good news and bad news sometimes.
Anyway, my children having taken the time out of their busy lives to honor their mother meant so much to me. What more could a mother and grandmother want out of life anyway. Take time to enjoy your own blessings in life. It is the personal relationships in life that truly matter and not the material things. Being sixty-five years old is not as bad as it sounds to you who are younger than I. You will see one day. Remember.....you are always younger today than you will be tomorrow. So true! So true! Enjoy!

Pondering Our Uniquely American Thanksgiving

One American Family at Thanksgiving

A New Generation of American Pilgrims

Another year has passed and what has been done? In our little American family, another year of maturing has happened. The count at this time is five grandchildren. We are praying for many more to come. Why?.....because that is the will of God for our family. He graciously sent four children to Ike and me to raise to the Glory of God. We had no idea at the time. We were just living our lives and trying to make a living, do the best we could to raise these children, and become all we could as Christians.

Now we have four grown children. Our two sons are married to wonderful ladies who have become good mothers to their children. One of our daughters is married to a wonderful young man who is building a business, loving his wife, and patiently waiting along with her for the children they pray will be coming in God's perfect timing. Our other daughter is in the best situation of all of us. She lives with Jesus in perfection and holiness. Our Miss Brooke was taken from earth on December 19, 2001, in a car accident on her way to work as a riding instructor.

We will never stop missing her sweet presence on earth with us, but we are all better people by having been blessed with her for twenty-four years. I know she is happy in Heaven.

Thanksgiving is vital to the Christian life. Giving thanks daily for God's care and provision in every area is just like breathing. It is the natural thing for a Christian to do. We have nothing and are nothing that He has not provided. Therefore, we should live in a perpetual state of thanksgiving to our God.

We have one day a year dedicated to giving thanks to God for our country. That day is Thanksgiving Day. The date is always the last Thursday in November, as chosen by President Abraham Lincoln. This is a very special "holy"day for us. Knowing American History gives us an understanding of what we have to be thankful for. God chose in his perfect timing again to bring a group of Godly people through some amazingly difficult situations to this land. The reason the Pilgrims came here was mostly to propagate the gospel to the people already living here. That is not the reason most people who followed them here came. There were various and sundry reasons, not all of them holy or Godly. At any rate, the Pilgrims came in obedience to God and no matter what kind of difficulties confronted them, they continued in their quest. It is a wonderful study that can be life-changing when you realize what it cost them and many others after to give us the freedom we enjoy today.

Is Thanksgiving 'turkey day'.......Heaven forbid! That statement breaks my heart and reveals an ignorance on the part of the speaker of our heritage. The truth has not been taught and it is all but lost. God is not finished with this country He established. It is up to us as citizens to pick up the mantle and re-educate our children and grandchildren in the truth of our history. It is vital to the continuation of this nation. Without a true knowledge of our Godly history, we have no idea what we are doing or why we are doing it.

These are some of the reasons that we make Thanksgiving our biggest celebration in our home.

It has been relegated to nothing but a day off work and a day to eat and watch football. That is very far from the real purpose. Ike and I are committed to doing all we can to communicate to our grandchildren truth. In order to communicate it, we have to know it, and that is why we spend so much time studying and searching for what really happened and not what some revisionist historian has written for his particular political reasons.

The children are the hope of any civilization. America's children are not recieving enough truth and it falls to us as their parents to make sure they know it because they will not receive it in school. It has been removed from our history books, excuse me, Social Studies books. History is not considered important anymore. How ridiculous!!! It is our foundation. It is our children's foundation and without that knowledge the future is bleak indeed.

The new generation of Pilgrims will very soon be our leaders as men and women in our country.

I think that I want my leaders to have knowledge of truth and to have wisdom that only comes from our Father. It is our responsibility to train them in the ways of God foremost and expose them to the truths found only in His word. Again, the only way for that to happen is to know those truths ourselves. Our challenge is great but our source is greater!