Another Child At Church . . .

http://youtu.be/5wRsW9Bw8P0


This morning at Church a sweet baby girl named Lexi (Alexis) was baptized. Her Grandmother just happens to sit next to me in the second soprano section of the Adult Choir. 

I knew she was going to sing a solo today, but when I saw her folder, I had to ask about it. You see, it was an old folder with yellowed pages. 

She told me her grandfather was the first one to sing it after Robert McGimsey composed it. 

It seems that Robert McGimsey was walking home from a midnight church service in New York City in 1932. He heard raucous noise coming from various bars as he made his way back to his small apartment. He was inspired to write this hymn or, because it is appropriate to Christmas, carol. 

My friend's granddaughter was so sweet in her beautiful white gown and she did not even make a sound when our minister took her and walked down and back up the church aisle. 

Her brother, who I think is a little more than three was on his best behavior too as his grandfather flashed away to capture such a precious moment. 

From where I sit up in the choir loft, I couldn't see "Lexi's" parents very well but I know it was a proud moment for them. 

(My friend has been attending our church since she was a little girl and knows all the people and all the tasks there are in a church. Best of all, this year, she cooked several turkeys to go out to shut-ins tomorrow morning.)

Again today, the focus of Christmas was on little children and what a blessing they are to us all, especially at Christmas. 

Silent Night; Holy Night . . .

"Whatcha Doing?", a photo by d_wooden on Flickr.

Last year about this time, I posted a blog, about this same subject of looking out into the Church Congregation and seeing children singing along with the carols. In light of how close it is to Christmas and also the terrible tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, it is time to talk about little children again. 

Same carol as last year, about the same spot in church. Up in the Choir Loft, I can see these little children singing along. They all know Silent Night. They put their young elbows up on the pew - just like this girl has hers - and they sing right along. They all know the words to Silent Night. 

For 20 children, it was a very silent night and they met the man they have all learned about in Sunday School. If you believe, and so many of us do, all these children met Jesus last Friday. 

Suffer the little children to come unto me. . . 

Jesus loves the little children . . . 

One family went into see their little girl in her white casket and they took many colors of Sharpie pens with them. They drew colorful objects on that casket . . . butterflies and balloons and things their little girl liked.

Another family ordered many birds fashioned as brooches for people to wear at the funeral for their child who loved birds. 

I remember only too well the tiny white casket and I still think how awful it was not just for her father and me when Carrie Jane died, but for all our friends who came to be with us at her funeral. 

There is nothing so somber, so sad, so unfair, so bad . . . as losing a child. 

I lost a boy, Robbie at three and a half weeks and a girl, Carrie Jane, at six months. Both were born micro-cephalic which means their brains stopped developing at about three months into the pregnancy.

I recall the minister saying, "We do not know if she suffered." 

"Suffer" has two meanings at least. Last week's children probably did not feel pain because it likely was very quick. But perhaps they felt fear and panic.

The other suffer we know is when Jesus said one of the first things a child learns in Sunday School:

"Suffer the little children to come unto me." That takes the meaning of "allow" or "let". 

Little children are innocent and sweet. There is no pain like the death of a child. 

I still feel that pain today; it has never gone away. I feel the pain of all those parents in that community. 

God be with all the parents, grandparents, siblings and all the people who try to comfort each other. 

Lord, thank you for letting me, a humble soprano, look out each year to see beautiful children singing along with our so special Christmas carols. And, Lord, please take care of not just my children but all the children taken so young. 

Lord, please be with all the parents - all those left behind. 

And Lord . . . I know after all those years that there is no answer to the question, "Why?"

Hello Again From East Texas . . .

A soldier and his dog, a photo by bandstalker on Flickr.

For about four years now, we have been sending a letter each month to update our Troops who are serving our country. A letter goes into each box that is sent. The boxes contain various items that Troops can really use including toiletries, playing cards, cookies, canned goods and other requested items.

This week, we were told there are only 15 boxes going next month.

So, for four years, I have started each letter with,

"Hello Again From East Texas" and have signed it with "Blessings from The Suttons".

What did I write about? Well, I tried to look ahead because the letter would be received in about 3 to 4 weeks from when I took it to the Legion where they packed the boxes. I told them a little about what was happening back home and how everyone was missing them. Because I am keen on dogs, I envisioned that many of these people had left in addition to family, a dog behind.

So, I put comic strips across the top and bottom. Always, there was a Mutts strip and often Red and Rover. Sometimes there was a picture of our dog, Buddy.

So, even though there are just a few men and women still deployed from our area, I did that letter today and we took it to where they assemble the boxes.

Once, they were advised that some British soldiers were with our Troops and we were asked to find some English items. They told me because we Canadians should know approximately what an Englishman might like. I cannot remember exactly what we found - Peak Freen cookies, and Coleman dried mustard - I recall those.

At Christmas and New Years, we inserted the words to songs they would all remember . . . Blue Christmas (Elvis) and some others they would all know.

I am writing this blog today because even though I am glad our Troops are almost all home, I am a little sad.

I think we are generally sad when a routine comes to an end.

Many times, a note has been forwarded to us where a soldier has mentioned "The Suttons" letter. Sometimes, we have been invited to go over for a visit when a Soldier was on leave. Their families were with them and it was not unusual to see a father in the hall crying.

So, this is just about over, writing these Troop Letters each month. It is super everybody will be home, and we hope they adjust well to being back here. But it is a little sad to be finished that project.

God Bless Our Troops and God Bless America!

I Voted. Have you? Did You Remember It's A Secret Ballot?

I Voted. Have you?, a photo by Rocks In Her Head on Flickr.

Well, Election Day is just about here. Yes, I have voted. I voted last week. If you have not yet voted, make sure you know where you have to go and check the sample ballot in your newspaper. Then get out and vote!

I think it is supposed to be a secret ballot but you would never know it from all the comments - particularly on Facebook. 

I am a dual citizen - Canadian and American. I worked hard to get that status and am proud of it. 

Facebook: what can we say about Facebook that we do not already know? People make all manner of comments and many of them can be hurtful. 

I like Facebook because it lets me keep in touch with people in the Dog Fancy, my Canadian friends and the few relatives I still have. I can see pictures of my favorite children just about every day and see how they are growing and changing. I can get news feed and weather very current. 

I can repost lost dogs and help them get back home. I can help shelter dogs find wonderful new homes. I have one friend who drove 40 miles to pick-up a dog called Gypsy and give her a great new home.  I have met Gypsy and she is my friend too . . . of course, I did take her a box of Milkbone biscuits. 

I have seen a lot of posts . . . some of them factual, some just plain rotten . . . about this election. 

So, that is Freedom of Speech . . . or is it inconsiderate, rude, ugly?

Please do vote. That is your RIGHT! It is also your right to vote for whomever you please. Yes, please do vote!

. . . and please vote for whomever you wish. 

And . . . remember, if you invite me over to see your new dog, I will probably bring a box of treats for him or her. 

Yes. Yes. The dog part of this blog is not related to the Election. Think about it. Your dog just plain loves you. He may even love me. Dogs do not vote. That might be a shame because they would be a little kinder about it . . .

Let Me Hear It One More Time

DSCN0928, a photo by lrslocum on Flickr.

Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. 

Many of us learned this hymn when we were little children so it is familiar to most of us. Last week and today, we sang this hymn in church and I want to tell you the response. I get to see the entire congregation since I am in the Choir and sit up in the Loft facing them. Everyone joined in in this wonderful and familiar hymn. I think most of them thought about how long they had known this hymn! One couple were arm in arm and swaying to and fro as they sang it. 

With so many new things and so much change, how good does it feel to have something stay the same? I have never intended this to be a religious blog but Christianity is an integral part of my life. Some of you may not be of the Christian faith, but I bet you like a certain sameness in your life. 

When I go to my hometown, Toronto, I like to drive past the house I lived in when I was growing up and my school. Toronto is a very large city and not too much stays the same so I am always happy to see something that is very much like it was when I was a child. There is a certain feeling of security and comfort when we something or hear something we have known most of our lives.

Technology seemingly re-invents itself every few months. We just learn one way of doing something online or how to work a cell phone or computerized tablet, when a "new improved" one is invented. 

Hubby and I often think of old songs or someone who may have been famous many years ago and we enjoy reminiscing. I think all older people probably feel that way. We like the new technology that helps us do things more efficiently, but we also like the old memories that make us feel very warm inside.

One Down . . . One To Go: Surrounded by Kindness!

My right eye surgery took longer to heal than expected. I was in the supermarket and my eye doctor was there. He asked how I was doing and then went to his car for a prescription pad to write me two prescriptions to help me along. When I saw him this week, he said I am ready to have the other eye's cataract removed. We made the appointment which will be in about 10 days. How special was that for him to stop in the middle of shopping to prescribe some medicine for me?

Last Sunday, I could not see well enough to sing in the Choir. After church, several people came up to us and hugged us and asked how my eye was doing. That was special.

My neighbor's two little girls came with some wild flowers which we put in a vase. They lasted all week and were yet another reminder of people's kindness. 

Now, of course, I cannot yet see as well as I will when I have new lenses in my glasses, but at least I feel I am on my way to seeing a whole lot better. 

I will still have astigmatism but that is not a problem. We first caught that when I was taking piano lessons back when I was about six or seven. Mother heard the teacher yelling and came to see what was wrong. What was wrong was that I could not see the notes!

So, even though I cannot see really well yet, it is encouraging that so many people are with me all the way through just another of life's ordeals. Blessings to all!

Some Thoughts Before . . .

Tomorrow I will be having eye surgery on my right eye. Probably because we have had so many life-changing events over the past four months, I thought about the "what if".

I don't really live that way now that I am older. I have a great Hubby, great Church, a few great friends and, of course, a wonderful dog! I am blessed.

The other day, my Nova Scotia sister-in-law posted some fall pictures and so, today I thought about showing you what is probably THE most beautiful sight healthy eyes can see . . . as far as scenery goes. I took this five years ago when we were there in autumn. When you have the opportunity: go to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia.

Yesterday I was Liturgist at Church . . . and lots of people helped me up and down the steps. (Yup, don't walk as well as I used to.) I did fine. No, I don't have a photo to show you, but I can picture in my mind very easily some people who came to church on a rainy day . . . not because I was helping but because they hadn't been there in a while. That was really a blessing! (Kinda funny: it rained the last time I was Litergist!)

I am thinking about Tom Darr . . . who drove Hubby over to have cataract surgery and how they stopped on the way back to have breakfast. He and Liz are in Pennsylvania now, but through Facebook, I can keep in touch.

I am thinking about my precious Shih Tzu, Fanny, who lost an eye. She never gave up and a very fond memory is of her modelling a T-Shirt at the Toronto Sportsman Show, oh, probably 25 years ago. Her shirt said (yes, yes, to all my teachers . . . a talking T-shirt), "FOUR ON THE FLOOR"! She walked out fine with her good eye toward the audience, enjoying the attention. I held her up so all could see her shirt and everyone was clapping and laughing. Fanny loved that! When we started to walk back, she balked . . . because she could not see the crowd. From the wings, the Editor of Dogs in Canada was calling to me, "Pick Her Up!"

Gotta love precious memories and I have so many. If you really think about it, you have some great memories too! You just don't realize what an interesting life you have . . .

With a little help ...

with a little help ..., a photo by tadelloeser  on Flickr.

The concept of reaching out to help others is as old as time
itself. There is nothing modern or updated . . . no app for that!

When we help others, we always help ourselves. Especially when nothing is said and perhaps the person does not even know where the help was from, well, that is so good!

If you carefully look around you, you will be pleasantly surprised
at how many people are actually reaching out to others in their
times of need.

Sometimes, it is a prayer - simple though it sounds - those who
believe in prayer know how much it works.

Sometimes, it is an outstretched arm to help someone up
a step. Sometimes, it might be a ride or a handful of flowers or a smile. Perhaps it is a telephone call to check on how someone is feeling.

Let people know you care; let them know you missed them at a meeting or at church.

When we think outside ourselves, we help ourselves; we grow. We are happier for having put our daily problems aside and reaching out. to lift up someone else.

And one day, when you need it most - someone will be there for you . . . to lift you up . . . just when you need a little help.

9/11 - We Must Never Forget.

9/11, a photo by scamp* on Flickr.

We must never forget.


I've told you before so the message is the same. We must never forget that horrible day - September 11, 2001. If you go down my blogs, you will find our story. Every person has a story of where they were and what they were doing on that day.

Peter Jennings sat at the ABC News Desk all day and into the night. His children called him and he wept. He also began to smoke again and we presume that led to his early demise.

Hubby and I were on our way to his college reunion at Rose-Hulman in Terre Haute, Indiana.

I grew up with the mentality that if a bomb were to strike or there was any serious trouble, we would get in our car and drive north. But that was in Toronto, not East Texas. It is a very long drive from East Texas to remote Northern Ontario. That is what was in my mind as I went to get my passport. We started our drive and there would be an overnight stop.

When I talked to our neighbor, she told me that we should be very alert to everything around us. We were.

Her daughter, a broadcaster, called and asked me if we were able to get gas. The answer was "yes" - at some places and after waiting in long lines. We did not let the tank get very low.

I called to "Dear Old Rose" to ask if the reunion was still on. I was assured it was. We later found that many had to rent cars as air traffic had been stopped.

I remember hearing that President (George W.) Bush was at Barksdale Air Force Base which is not very far from where we live, over the Louisiana border.

It was all scary and we did a lot of praying. We prayed we would be safe and we prayed for people everywhere.

When we did get to our stop . . . and I cannot remember where it was although I am thinking it might have been near Nashville or Memphis . . . we turned on the TV first thing.

There was Peter Jennings, still there. It was as though he was watching over the whole country.

When we reached Terre Haute (which means High Land), after booking into the hotel, we went to the church Hubby had attended while studying Engineering. We prayed and we read a Psalm.

We went to dinner at Hubby's favorite restaurant which I think was called Louise's.

The next day, we went to the Reunion Reception and everyone was talking about what had happened in New York City. Everyone had their own story to tell. Their love for "Dear Old Rose" would not stop them from getting their to see their old classmates.

I know you remember where you were and what you were doing. And I know you remember my fellow Canadian, Peter Jennings, who sat at that desk non-stop. We are patriotic, we Canadians. We love our adopted country, United States of America and will stand up for its safety and freedom.

We have our flag flying today and I have a patriotic outfit and jewellery - in fact a special bracelet my friend Bonnie made me - that I will wear to Bible Study this afternoon.

God Bless You; God Bless United States of American and all who are dual citizens and have been given opportunity here.

Very Old and Brand New - Naranjo Museum of Natural History in Lufkin, Texas - Dinosaurs!

Dr. Neal Naranjo has had a lifelong passion for dinosaurs and prehistoric artifacts that Hubby and I plan to see this weekend.

This is when the Naranjo Museum of Natural History will open in Lufkin, Texas (about an hour's drive up Hwy 59 from Houston).

To learn about this new attraction, you can visit their website at:

http://www.naranjomuseum.org

or phone (936) 639-DINO (3466)

Location 5401 South First St. , Lufkin, Texas TX

Email info@naranjomuseum.org

One More Friend . . . One More Adventure

It has been my experience over the years, that when someone close to you dies, you have about three weeks.

Three weeks? Well, people send cards; they come by; they make sure you are okay.

So, what happens after three weeks? Well, you start to process that the person is actually gone and you try to figure out how your life will be without that person.

Because we were with Hubby's son (my stepson), Mark for three days about ten days before his death, we have the gift of the fine time we had and that means a lot.

An uncle and my grandfather died when I was a teenager and then on my 22nd birthday, my father succumbed to cancer. Both of my children died in infancy, having been born microcephalic. (This means the brain stops growing within the first three months of pregnancy and the child can do very little even fundamental things.)

I won't be giving you a timeline of when others died, but suffice it to say, I am no stranger to deaths and funerals.

How we process these major changes in our life, shapes how happy or sad the rest of our life is going to be.

My mother was a great planner of funerals but she was a poor processor of deaths. So, you could say, she processed the funeral but not the death.

If you have been following this blog, then you know that we have been dealing with medical issues: Hubby's vision specifically. You also have been reading that angels kept crossing my path. People have been really tremendous, and just thinking about that makes me realize how very fortunate I have been to have wonderful people making things easier along the way.

Even before Mark's death, people were doing really nice things for us.

One friend who lives across and down the street picked up Buddy, our Lhasa Apso, from the Vet where he was boarded while we were in Houston for Keith's surgery. He told me to text to let him know as we approached home. He walked Buddy down to our driveway. So, when Hubby lifted his head off the pillow where he had to keep it 23 hours a day, what he saw was his pal, Buddy! What a nice thing for that man to do!

We brought a basket out to the coffee table to hold the notes and cards people sent us. So now we can go through those and truly appreciate how much people attended to us to show us they cared.

Last week I found out that I too will be having eye surgery. So, it is ongoing and life literally does keep on going.

As you know, we are in our Church Choir and so we practice every Wednesday and sing at Sunday morning service. Our Choir and all church friends have been especially kind.

Now it is indeed time to step out and do a few special things. This will be easy because lots of things begin in September.

One thing I did during the summer was to be the liturgist during our Sunday morning service. I had never done that before. So, naturally, I was quite nervous about it.

But wait . . . it gets better! Our Choir Director asked us to sing a solo that same Sunday. When Hubby found out I had accepted, he was a little surprised and asked why.

"Because they might not ask us again!"

We were given a CD of the service and after listening, I said:

"Gee, I think I am a better liturgist than singer."

So I will be liturgist again this month.

Funny, no matter how much people say it, it always surprises me that there is at least one more thing you can try to do that you have never done before. And . . . you just might be very good at it!

So . . . life is going on for us. Yes, we are getting older and yes, it is harder for us to get around as easily as we used to but we can do this.

Now, we have one more watching over us.

This year, Hubby will be in the Community Band, playing his clarinet again. I love that! Bet you did not know that he had not played for 40 years when he dusted off his clarinet to play when the Band started up here in town. He goes over every Tuesday night and next week he will have new glasses to better read the music.

We must never, never give up for that will be the end of us.

By the way, I notice that more and more people offer to help us if it is difficult for us to get up or down steps and there is always someone who will offer a hand.

Yes, we are blessed indeed and we must keep on going.

This evening we were at a party where there were several people we know and a few that we had not met in person before. Facebook fans will appreciate that one man whom I had never met in person told me he always reads my blog.

Wow!

Another man told Hubby that if there is anything he needs help with, just call.

Wow!

We have more friends than we know and if we just keep our eyes open well . . . and soon both of us will be seeing much better . . . we will see that out time is not over yet.

We must never give up because for all of us of all ages, there is just one more new adventure around the corner and one more new friend to be made.

And yes . . . there is one more angel watching over us.

Another . . .

Butterfly's Time, a photo by Firefox Ink on Flickr.

Since the lady had a butterfly garden in Florida named for her, these pictures seem appropriate to post. She had lobbied for Florida land not to be developed and she won, even though it took ten years. I hear she was the kind of person who truly loved life and she lived to 93.

Hubby is the surviving person to witness her hole-in-one several years ago.

The call came from Hubby's grandson that the funeral for his maternal Grandmother would be this morning.

We were there. Grandson gave a fine eulogy to make us very proud of him.

Grandson has suffered two deaths - his father and his grandmother - in two months.

If you have followed this blog over the past three months, you know we have not been lounging.

It is hitting us quite hard, we know that. Hubby's surgery and the hearing aid that fritzed the day before surgery; the Explorer engine: most has been documented here.

Perhaps it is time for some kind of change or rest. But there are medical appointments and bills and recurring thoughts about aging.

I did not do well this morning - I felt very old - as I fumbled with a necklace that I could not fasten and looked very hard for earrings I could not find. Using Grandson's instructions, we drove right to the church in another town. Then I stumbled up the steps and that just made me feel even older.

So now that I know I am older and Hubby older than I, what am I thinking?

Well, first I think how lucky I am to have a Hubby who cares. He cares about me, his Church, his God and Old Friends.

I think about our Church and Choir and all the people there who are very special to me. I think about our college music students who help put our music together and help us up into the loft. And I must not forget the gentle people from today's church who made sure we got safely down their steps.

I think about our own Minister who has helped Hubby and me so very much.

Hubby and I try to never quit! A few Sundays ago I was liturgist for the very first time. Then as the Choir was on break, we sang a duet: Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling.

A lady sang that today at the funeral. She was better . . . well perhaps she was different. We all have different ways and different talents and . . . different beliefs and thoughts.

(Mind you, when I heard the CD of the service, I felt that perhaps my calling is more to be a liturgist than a singer.)

But we can never give up. We should always be reaching out. There is always someone who needs sandwiches made, meeting attendance, a phone call, a hug, a compliment, a kind word, some reassurance that things will work out. There is ALWAYS someone who needs a lift - yes, more than we do!

Last week, Hubby decided he should check why the windshield washer was not working. Hmm . . . perhaps not hooked up when the new engine was installed. So, it was off to Amber at Al Meyer Ford! We sat in the rental car waiting room. Amber came back in to tell us all was fine. We went out to the Explorer and just as we were ready to leave, the gal from the rental desk came running out . . . "I think this is yours!"

It was my silver magnetic Christian fish that I had taken off the SUV, put in my purse and later transferred to the back of the Ford Fusion the day the Explorer had to be hauled in.

Stepson Mark had a hymn for that, just as the cartoonist showed Steve Jobs with an app for checking him at the Heavenly Gates:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

By our love, by our love

And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love

Love is patient, love is kind
Never boasts, not full of pride
Always hopes, always trusts
The evidence of Christ in us

This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full

© 1966 by F.E.L. Publications, Ltd./ASCAP (1925 Pontius Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025)

Butterfly, a photo by adnan23 on Flickr.

Go to the right column and scan down to see Fido and Fifi blog! ~ Thanks, Buddy

Please go to Fido and Fifi to read the lastest blog!

http://fido-and-fifi.blogspot.com

The Olympic rings flag

The Olympic rings flag, a photo by Gavin Llewellyn on Flickr.

Time to watch the Opening Night of the Olympics. Please watch for David Tremblay, a wrestler from Canada. You can also like his Facebook page. Have known his uncle, Jean Tremblay for many years.

Blessed With More Angels . . . Made It Through

The picture above is my new found angel, Amber from Al Meyer Ford. Amber is in a Non-traditional occupation (for women) as a Mechanic.

Early yesterday, the day of step-son Mark's funeral, she called that the Explorer was ready. That pretty much ran concurrent with the Overhead Garage Door people calling that they were on their way.

The only thing I actually had to do was fill the tank of the Ford Fusion rental car. By the way, that was a peppy car that was easy on the gas. Filled it up for under 14 dollars for the week. And, it has a super feature that makes it easy to fill the tank.

But, automotive-wise, the Ford Explorer is my favorite and after completing payment details, Amber brought it back to us. The picture above is Amber and me at the dining room table where we finalized all the details.

Then, Hubby and I were able to sit down to breakfast and I was off to another angel, my friend, Paula, at Bliss Hair Salon.

Paula came out, delighted to see the Explorer pull in and I actually napped while she did my hair. I should also tell you that Paula came in an hour earlier than my usual appointment.

Back home, I changed into my navy pantsuit which my neighbor, Ruby told me long ago is protocol for East Texas funerals.

I napped for eight minutes till the next ring of the doorbell which was our very special angel who doesn't want to be seen in print.

He drove us to Carroway Funeral Home so we were there nice and early.

Many of Mark's friends from old times came but also some people Mark had helped with their problems over the years were there. We were able to talk to each of them.

A lot of people made some beautiful food for after the service and people were able to mingle a while longer.

Once we were back, we were pretty much "finished".

Additionally, you did not hear but you sort of suspected that the garage door opener broke when I dropped it getting out of the Fusion earlier in the week.

Nor, have you heard that another Angel drove us to Livingston this week for Hubby's Retina check-up. He got a good one and we'll go back in about 2 weeks. His eye is healing while his heart is breaking . . .

On the way back, we stopped in at the Polk Pick It Up to hug Angel Dora and introduce her to Angel Sarah.

Our doorbell is still ringing. Yesterday, it was a Florida plant and today Buddy's best friend, David.

We have received cards and calls and hugs . . . there are more Angels out there than you ever knew.

More Angels . . .

When I catch my breath and can sit down again, I have more to tell you about. You cannot imagine how many people have helped us, including a great gal named Amber from Al Meyer Ford.

One Angel We Did Not Count On . . .

On Monday, June 11, Hubby's son, and my step-son, Mark Alan Sutton, suffered a fatal heart attack and went went up to be with his Mother, Jayne Sutton.

Today we will celebrate his life. Details are at

http://www.carrowayfuneralhome.com

Hubby's eye is on the mend and Blessings to all the other angels who continue to help us get through.

Ford Fusion In The Garage . . . Long Story Short: Angels Exist!

Ford Fusion, a photo by Crystal Clean Auto Detailing on Flickr.

So this brought us home today! I say, "Thank Goodness for Ford Fusion".

Backed our Ford Explorer out of the garage and took Hubby down to another town to have his first check up since his eye surgery last week.

I must tell you that I truly hate highway driving. So be it.

We got there early and the retina surgeon was able to see Hubby right away. His eye has not advanced quite as quickly as we might have hoped, but he is fine.

Started back up the road toward home. After a while, it was getting pretty hot in that car. Since Hubby cannot see too well, he could not tell what might be wrong from the dashboard commands.

Well, I kinda knew I should turn into the Polk Pick It Up Station when I saw smoke coming from under the hood.

It must have been pretty obvious as the car cut out halfway to the building because several people ran out of the store, one with a fire extinguisher in hand.

People were helping us out of the car and someone had the courage (or stupidity) to open the hood.

Well, not only do I not like highway driving, I really hate mechanical malfunction. All I know about that is does it run?

So, on my cell phone I have Al Meyer Ford and I dialed them to come and haul the Explorer back to their shop. Then I ask for the rental department. Yup . . . no loaners these days.

So I arrange for a Ford Fusion which scares me a little because I really like being up high in my Explorer.

Now, the Polk Pick It Up just happens to have an Angel as the Manager and she says she is driving into Lufkin to the supermarket, can she give us a lift?

New forever friend made.

And, Dora has already received a message on her Bluetooth that the Explorer has already been picked up.

So, Dora takes us to Al Meyer Ford where they are ready for us. They had called Jay Jackson Insurance to get our policy details.

She asks for my credit card and my drivers license. I am just about there . . .

"Your driver's licence is expired."

Oh, dear. I did not get a notice.

Dora drives us round the loop to the Motor License Office. We stand in line and are praying out loud as we see they have not yet taken me and there is only one minute left.

"Next!"

I ask and the clerk tells me that they only send out renewal notices randomly now.

Oh oh. I randomly have been driving with no license.

She takes a picture. She doesn't think it is good enough. She takes another and doesn't think I will like it. Do you want another? I say, "No" because my hair looks good and I have 25 minutes till Al Meyer closes.

Here I have to tell you that this licensing clerk gave me a full bottle of water. Richard Simmons: hear that?

Back to Al Meyer where I finishing signing my life away.

Dora and Hubby transfer things from the Explorer to the Fusion; we bid Dora the Angel "Goodbye" and we drive home. We did stop for barbecue take out (yes, Richard) and drove on home.

Buddy, the Lhasa hears the garage door go up and thinks to himself,

"That does not sound like my car but I think they are back."

How Important Is It To Vote?

You probably know that I have dual citizenship - American and Canadian - and have had for about eight years now. American and Canadian government systems are quite different.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Every vote counts! That is always true, no matter what election.

Where I live - in Angelina County, Texas - about 100 miles up from Houston, early voting is so simple that I cannot imagine anyone not taking a little time to go downtown to vote for the candidate they would like to see in office.

We have computerized voting here now and you just have to point to the box beside your choice for each of the offices. If there is an office showing where you don't know any of the candidates, you can leave it and go on to the next.

There are a couple of questions to answer which are easy but if you don't answer them, you can just go on.

Here in the United States, you do have to tell the person who checks you in whether you want to vote on a Republican or Democratic ballot.

I am definitely not the person to instruct you in American politics but for my Canadian readers, I just want to remind you that it is different.

Right now, we are choosing who will be running as the party candidate against the other party candidate in November. This ballot includes President.

SO, LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH SOME PEOPLE LIKE GREG SANCHES and want him to be Sheriff of Angelina County.

Several people have told me that they will go in and vote the Republican ballot so they can ensure Greg will be on the Republican ballot in November! Sweet to hear Democrats say that!

How important is it to vote? Well, we recently had an election for Mayor in our city. It is not a large city and there are probably 20,000 registered voters. The man who had been Mayor had done a fine job and I believe many people truly liked him. However, his opponent got more votes and we have a different - or new - mayor. How he did that was by getting all the people who wanted him as Mayor to get out and vote. That may sound simple but it is not. (About 2,600 votes were cast.)

Hubby and I voted on Monday - the first day of Early Voting. That was 2 votes for Greg Sanches.

The Saturday before, I wore my Greg Sanches T-shirt to a BBQ restaurant. Our server asked about Greg and when she could vote. That is 1/2 vote for Greg Sanches because we cannot be sure.

Today, I wore my Greg Sanches shirt to the Grocery store. As I was packing my groceries in the car, a couple stopped and asked where they could get a shirt like mine. I told them where - if there were any left - and told them,

"Don't Forget To Vote!"

"We just came from voting for Greg."

That is 2 votes right there.

There is a Sanches sign on our lawn and a sticker on our vehicle. That might be votes.

You are starting to get the idea, right?

Ever since I came here, Greg Sanches gave interviews to the local TV station when he was in other areas of law enforcement. He was always available.

A few months ago, while he was still with DPS, he and a comrade came to speak to our Golden Heirs group at church. They brought a dog trained in finding drugs . . . a major problem as we are so close to the Mexican border. That Retriever tore a marijuana soaked towel to threads. (He knew his job!)

Greg answered questions and gave us a better insight to the problems of our area. There should be a few votes there.

(I really am not going to give you a lot of stories, but for you people from Canada, Bob Rae is a good example of someone whose supporters got the vote out when he ran for Ontario Premier years ago on the NDP ticket.)

My point is this: If you LIKE a person and feel they will do a good job for you, YOU MUST GET OUT AND VOTE. Your vote counts and I mean that! No use to say later, that you meant to vote for him or her.

If you do not know Greg and what he stands for, there are many videos on YouTube, including this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZz9ujdqim8&feature=youtube

Reaching Out . . . Forgetting Ourselves

Hugs and fun, a photo by VOAWW on Flickr.

If we sit down and think about all the bad things . . . and they do happen quite often . . . we make ourselves feel lower and lower; worse and worse. When we keep our eyes and ears open to hear how others are doing, we can find all manner of opportunities to brighten someone else's day. And every time we brighten someone else's day, our own day gets so much better!

Times are tough. There is no disputing that. Everything costs more; crime is high; people walk around looking at cell phones instead of smiling at other people. It is not the most fun time we have known.

If you become a people watcher and really listen to what those around you are saying, you may be surprised at how much better your own life will get when you reach out to others.

It only takes a moment to reach out and say, "Hello, how are you?" It takes a few minutes to listen to someone tell you about their loved one who is sick. It only takes a few minutes to really listen to someone and make them feel a little better about themselves.

We must get back to interacting with others and helping one another like people used to do.

Blessings to you.

Write a Fit Poem!

Chairman George Miller, Richard Simmons and Rep. Ron Kind, a photo by House Committee on Education and the Workforce Dem on Flickr.

Most people who know me know I have fought a weight battle for most of my life. The one person who has helped me through his website, clubhouse, e-mail messages and regular Monday night meetings is Richard Simmons.

Now, I love writing but poems are not my strong suit.

Here is a poem written for tonight's meeting:


Because I love me
Exercise is my friend
Because I love me
My life is on the mend

Because I love me
I meet with Richard's Friends
Reduce the calories
And lots of knee bends!

I love me best
When the scale goes down
With chats with the rest
Success is found!

I never - ever - pretended to write good poetry, but if even one person sees this and goes to Richard Simmons' website and is helped, it is worth posting it here! (The challenge Richard set out was that the first line be "I love me".)

www.richardsimmons.com

Come To Our Concert!

At First Presbyterian: Mark your calendars for a joint recital featuring two of our SFA choir members, Shelby and Miles, Sunday, February 26 at 2:00 in our sanctuary This will be a fund raiser to help them with their SFA Europe tour! A love offering will be taken.

Westminster Kennel Club Show

Please go to our Fido and Fifi Blog for details to watch this dog show tonight and it will continue tomorrow.

http://fido.and.fifi.blogspot.com

A Day For Remembering . . .

 

Today is a time for remembering how precious time with friends really is. This picture was taken at The Pickle Barrel in Toronto in July, 2007. Hubby and I came off the highway to meet my "old friend" Belinda and her husband, D'Arcy, who took this casual shot of us. Even if you just pick up the phone; even if you just have a few minutes, take time to talk to your friends. Take time to give them a hug. Life is fragile and we must never take it for granted.

Today, it is four years since her death, yet I think of Belinda every day. She made me laugh: she worried about me . . . and many others. She stopped in to see people who needed a smile and she loved animals like no one else.

My guardian angel, you are going to have another grandson very soon. We pray he will be healthy; we know he will be handsome and I think he just might have a little dimple in his chin!

May everyone have such a friend in their lifetime!

Meeting People Where They're At

The notion that in everyday life we can do other than meet people as they are today is probably what causes more heartache and disappointment in life than any other.

The thought that one has before marrying that one can “change” another person might be the most obvious. Actually, a search for a perfect mate is probably the biggest optical illusion in our world – certainly our North American world.

When marrying, we try to first meet and then chose a mate with the most compatible traits and experiences. We learn to live with our mate’s opposing likes and beliefs because we love them so much for other traits like compassion, beliefs, sense of humor, intellect and probably because they like doing a lot of the same things we do.

When choosing friends, we should be using a similar process. We pick people we hope would like to be our friends because they have similar interests and intelligence. Perhaps their smile caught our attention. Perhaps they like helping other people. Maybe they have similar beliefs to ours.

When we come to the end of the road and face an open casket of a loved one, friend or relative, it is too late to say, “I am sorry”. It is one of life’s greatest hurts that a person cannot accept that someone sometimes does things they do not like. Who among us is perfect and can expect perfection of others?

There is no university course or degree that enables us to mold others to our belief of what is an appropriate way to live. Parents try to teach their children what is right and what will work in this world. As children mature, their parents have to hope that they did a good job when they were young enough.

Most of us find out that we cannot pick others choices in adulthood. If we do not agree with how that person lives, their hobbies, the things that give them pleasure, we need to step back. It is not in order – if we wish to keep them as friends – to try to tell them how to live their life.

I have some new friends who are teaching me how to make new friends. I do not have to know their life story; I am just meeting them exactly where they are today.

One has an especially pretty smile. Another always extends their arm to help me down steps and sends happy text messages that make me know I am accepted.

Another lady waves to me – just a little tiny wave – when I am up in the choir. I really look forward to her wave!

Another ran out to make sure I had a Bible Study book and another apologized for not giving mugs a week earlier.

These are gentle people. These are people who make us believe we are wanted. We want to reciprocate.

When we try to change others, we hurt them but even more, we hurt ourselves.

Reading dissertations on how I should behave probably is the grimmest task I have had.

Those of us who remember Popeye, know he had the right idea when he would say,

“I yam who I yam.”

We are who we are because of the life experiences we have had. We are not accountable to every person in this world to tell them our life experiences.

I do not ask others their life experiences and they may or may not know mine.

We must interact with people as we find them. We cannot change them – well not on purpose – and we have not had all their experiences. As we build a relationship, we may find we have had some similar problems and delights in our lives. Then perhaps we will become closer friends.

We fail each time we enforce our expectations on others because they must have their own thoughts on what they want. Only they know everything about themselves: where they have been and their experiences. This has shaped them and they know all too well their inadequacies.

Lest we forget that Popeye may have got his line from the Bible:

"God also said to Moses, I am who I am . . . " Exodus 3:14, NIV