Sometimes a song touches us at just the right time and at just the right place.  Such a song is on a CD that my sister Bea gave me for Christmas.  The CD is by Pam Aguilar, a young woman in Bea's church who is very talented musically, and faithfully ministers each Sunday at their small Baptist church a few miles south of Longview, Texas.  Pam is especially gifted in piano and vocal performance, and although she could sing before much larger audiences and play her lovely piano arrangements to, let's say, a mega-church if she chose to, she chooses instead to bless the small congregation of believers of Lakeview Baptist Church, Sunday after Sunday.   Lakeview Baptist Church is located very near the lovely, serene Lake Cherokee - hence, its name. 

I'll get to the song in a bit.  Just mentioning Lake Cherokee brought back some very special childhood memories.  I remember when the man made (really?) lake was formed, or it seems that I do.  Folks - rich folks as I remember - came from the Longview area and built lovely lake homes all around the lake which extended several miles, but its headwaters were only a couple of miles from where I grew up.  So, occasionally my daddy and I would venture out in his boat and paddle around the quiet waters, hoping to attract a fish or two ... any size would do, and any species would do!  Mostly bream took the bait.  If only they had known their ultimate destiny they would have high-tailed it in another direction, for sure!  That was 50+ years ago, but Lake Cherokee is still lovely, still has many lake front properties, provides many recreational opportunities, and is an excellent source of water via the Cherokee Water Company.  I really didn't mean to expound on a lake in East Texas, but sometimes my memories take hold and I can't help myself!

But back to Pam and the song that really spoke to me.  For a little over a month I have been going through some medical issues and tests of various kinds - you know, the kind you have and then you enter the waiting mode.  During the time you are waiting, your emotions take over and do not always lead you into a positive posture - faith, instead of doubt; or hope, instead of despair.  I found myself going through those times in spite of drawing on all my inner strength, and in spite of claiming God's promises of peace and assurance, no matter the outcome. (Thankfully, I have received some very good news regarding one of the tests; still waiting to have one more procedure.)  Have you ever been there?  The devil can really show out and zero in on our weakest points. 

A few days ago while I was still pondering and waiting test results, and listening to the CD (which finally made it into my car CD player), Pam sang In the Strength of the Lord from her collection entitled It's All About Him.  Its words really hit me and I realized that just maybe I was trying to fight this battle of uncertainty on my own terms, despite the reassuring prayers of my many friends who were aware of my situation.  This was not an unexpected revelation, of course, but the song brought a level of comfort to me that day.  I would like to share the words to the song and just maybe you will find strength in them, too, because each of us is wagging around some kind of baggage that we are struggling to carry, most likely.  The words were penned by Larnelle Harris who has blessed millions through his music ministry through the years.  I've emphasized the lines which pierced my heart that day.  I hope the message of the song will bring peace and comfort to any of you who may be trying to do it on your own.  Thank you, Pam, for using your talents to bless others.  Pam says, "My strong desire to delight in my Heavenly Father and inspire others to know Him is overwhelming at times.  Nothing compares to His presence and the stirring in my spirit that comes about when I am praising Him through sweet melodies." 

Pam is right: it is all about Him!  She sings from her heart and soul - a heart and soul which have been tested and tried through many personal heartaches.  So, no matter where you find yourself serving - small church, large church, or perhaps you are wandering around in the wilderness not serving at all - I hope the words will inspire, encourage and enable you to claim the promise that we truly do find our strength in the Strength of the Lord and that whatever our struggle, we are not in that struggle alone! 

Sometimes life seems like words and music
That can’t quite become a song.
So we cry inside, and we try it again
And wonder what could be wrong.
But, when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves
Like we’ve done a time or two before
We find His truth is the same
As it has always been
We’ll never need more
Chorus:
It’s not in trying But in trusting
It’s not in running But in resting
Not in wondering But in praying
That we find the strength of the Lord

He’s all we need
For our every need
We never need be alone
Still He’ll let us go if we choose to
To live life on our own
Then the only good
That will ever be said
Of the pains we find ourselves in
There are places to gain
The wisdom to say
I’ll never leave Him again

Global warming? Somehow I don’t think the memo made it to the Deep South. As I drink my first cup of coffee on this frigid Saturday morning, trying to thaw and get my bones moving, I am thankful that I do not have to venture out today. I’m blessed!

I love to reflect on my blessings. Seems there is something special about Saturday mornings that makes it more conducive to reflecting? Maybe it’s a hold-over from the days of working outside the home when the rush of the work week suddenly came to a stop and there was time to actually choose the day’s activities? Perhaps. But even after retiring – when every day is Saturday, “they” say – Saturdays are just in a league of their own in my opinion and deserve to be savored!

We are all blessed and nurtured and enriched from so many sources! For me, to be so blessed as to wake up in a very warm, comfortable home where I can choose to stay warm from more than one source of heat if I want to, is a true blessing; or, I can choose to simmer a pot of soup today, selecting from several varieties (thanks to Luke and Hannah who presented Daddy Bill with yummy soup mixes for Christmas!). Will it be Chives Potato Soup, Sailor Soup, 3 Amigos Stew, 4 Tortilla Soup, Country Harvest Lentil Soup, or Chicken ‘N Pasta Soup? Ah, I just love semi-homemade!

Or, I can choose to enjoy God’s beautiful world simply by looking outside my home from any number of windows (even though with a little effort on my part there might be more clarity. One friend suggested that when her windows needed washing, she just moved!) Even though the trees and shrubbery are bare and appear to be shivering; the sweet gum balls are decorating my outside kitchen entrance (they are so faithful, abundant, and provide a great surface for impromptu skating!); the limping vines and sweet little yellow tomatoes are mere facsimiles of what they once were; and the overturned deck containers that once nurtured plant life and lovely foliage are all in various stages of singing, “I’ve had it!”, and other unidentifiable greenery are in their final resting places, it’s still beautiful out there and reminds me that these “bones” shall live again! Spring is buried somewhere underneath all the deadness!

Or, if I choose to, perhaps I will re-read all the Christmas cards from friends from so many places. I will thoughtfully remember and cherish the memories that accompany those cards and letters because someone took the time (not to mention paying for the postage!) to send them our way. I will be thankful for friends who continue to enrich my life, over and over and over. Distance matters not. As someone said, "It's never far to a friend's house."

So what will I choose to do with this Saturday’s 24 hours? Right now I’m choosing to get another cup of coffee and search for the bacon and eggs! (Yes, my fridge is begging for space!) It’s Saturday, after all, and that’s the day Mr. Bill gets a real breakfast! As you might figure, we don’t “figure” Weight Watchers points on Saturdays! Oh, perhaps that’s another blessing? Maybe Saturdays cancel all calories? And, since he just planted a kiss on the way down to where he lives (at the bottom of the stairs), I guess I’d better get going and look for that skillet! For those not raised in the South, that’s also known as a fry pan!

Choose wisely today and give thanks for freedom afforded us in Christ!

Joshua 24:15 (New International Version)15

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

PS: My deepest apologies to you for the previous "publish" ... the formatting feature on this blogging outfit is not awake and doesn't mind me! So forgive if there are duplicate entries while I try to get it right!

Well, here it is 2010! I'm told that this is the appropriate way to say it: Twenty Ten, as opposed to Two Thousand and Ten! Whatever!  Seems it has been a mere few months since we were all in a twit over Y2K and the impending dangers that would befall us and upset our entire way of life as we know it! Thankfully, those predictions were just hearsay and did not happen. Amazingly, life went on: the sun still rises in the east and sets in the west; we did not all starve to death, nor were we deprived of our tethers to the Internet; the banks still managed my overdrafts with the same proficiency, and the storehouses that were filled to the brim with life’s essentials were not needed after all!  Were you among those who created a Wal-Mart East in your own home, just in case the predictions did come true? So much for doomsday prophets and prophetesses!

Looking back over the last ten years I recount a plethora of blessings, don’t you? Sure, there were some disappointments along the way, some heartache here and there. Some loved ones close to us are now enjoying the beauties of Heaven and we miss them. But for the most part we are a very blessed people. God is still a good God and is faithful and is still in charge of our lives and the universe and beyond.

I trust your 2009 was a good year for you and your family. We enjoyed some good times, for sure, with our immediate family. Precious memories were made. Our family met in Nashville this summer and that was a blast; we spent Christmas in Arkansas and God painted everything snowy white! Spectacular! Brilliant white diamonds danced on the ground and rooftops and tree branches, on our camper, everywhere! How special it was to truly have a white Christmas, surrounded by family and friends. Amazingly, we were snug and warm in our RV which is parked very near Andy’s home in Springdale. Even though the water lines froze to the camper, we still had enough in our reserve tank to take care of the essentials of daily grooming! After all, isn’t “enough” all we ever really need in life? More than enough is too much. This is a lesson I’m learning as I grow older. Excess is for sharing with others less fortunate who do not yet have enough.

I’m sure you all got some great gifts for Christmas and other occasions. I know I did. Speaking of enough, can a woman ever have enough cookbooks? I'm still working on this lesson and this just might be an exception to my new rule! I received for my birthday a wonderful book written totally about tomatoes! A subject close to my heart, having grown up in rural East Texas, and being the daughter of a genuine tomato farmer! Early on I learned the value of setting out small seedlings, protecting them from harsh cold weather by placing them in long wooden frames which were covered in a soft cloth. Next came actually planting them in the prepared ground where they would grow to maturity and then be harvested and sold in the local markets. My daddy always took great pride in his produce and was always among the first farmers to have tomatoes ready for shipping to other areas. I went right with him, helping to deliver the lugs (crates) of tomatoes. And, when time and money permitted, I was treated to ice cream at the Safeway store, one of our delivery stops. So the tomato cookbook is a treasure and I will enjoy perusing it and learning about the many varieties and ways of cooking one of my favorite fruits! Yes, it is a fruit, I’m told!  Thank you, Art and Merritt!  This is way TMI, but here is an interesting observation by some smart person: To really figure out if a tomato is a fruit or vegetable, you need to know what makes a fruit a fruit, and a vegetable a vegetable. The big question to ask is, DOES IT HAVE SEEDS? If the answer is yes, then technically, (botanically) you have a FRUIT. This, of course, makes your tomato a fruit.  So, now you know.

Another favorite gift was a another cookbook from my husband. It is by the Pioneer Woman! She is one you will really enjoy reading about, for sure! Ree Drummond was a corporate gal who turned cowgirl when she met her Marlboro man! She says she went from black heels to tractor wheels. Great website, and she was recently featured in Southern Living. Here’s the site: http://thepioneerwoman.com/ Great recipes and photos about her and her family. She adjusted beautifully to life Outwest and writes from the heart when creating her recipes (with descriptive photos of every step), using ordinary ingredients which are widely available in most any locale.

We were treated to an early Christmas present by Stacy who arranged for us to hear Handel’s Messiah presented by the Charleston Symphony and Chorale. There’s nothing like this music to enrich, inspire, and bring to mind the Scriptures relating to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His birth, death and resurrection! Hallelujah, indeed!

Back to cooking, Stacy introduced me to her scrumptious Chicken Burrito Soup which is so good for the soul on these frigid days. It will warm your heart - guaranteed - and impress your friends. I will share that recipe with you. It is yummy, easy, very crockpot friendly, and can be stretched any way you choose. If it’s too thick, just increase the broth, etc. It is similar to the taco soup recipes that are so good. If you are fortunate to have leftovers, then it’s your lucky day because it is even better on subsequent warm-ups.

Here goes: Slow-Cooker Chicken Burrito Soup  (Stacy has tweaked her original recipe just a bit, and here’s the tweaked version. I can attest it is very good and flexible-friendly!)

1 garlic clove, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 cans of Rotel (store brand is fine)
2 cans of kidney beans
1 can of black beans
1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 can of chicken broth, or enough to cover everything
2 tsp. chili powder (or more)
salt and pepper
2 tsp. oregano
1 packet of taco seasoning
2-3 tsp. cumin
red pepper flakes and Tabasco to your liking
3-4 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Drain and rinse the beans. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Put everything in the slow cooker and cook on high (original recipe said low) for 6 hours.

Feel free to top off the soup with a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions or other favorite toppings. A necessity to accompany the soup, in my opinion, is a hefty fistful or two of fresh, crisp Frito Scoops! - the best chip ever created! (Don’t dare let your cardiovascular doctor even get a hint that you might be ingesting such delightful cuisine!)

Our new year got off to a wonderful start by a great visit with our friends, Sam and Elisa Chaney of Mt. Pleasant, SC.  We first met the Chaneys in Greenville, but they hail from Louisiana, too, so of course we were drawn to each other immediately.  And, upon arrival we immediately navigated to the heartbeat of their home: their beautiful kitchen where preparations were underway for turkey gumbo and shrimp and corn chowder! Yum! These folks know how to put it together, let me tell you, and the presentation is always THE BEST!  After the feast, and joined by other friends of theirs, we enjoyed a long game of Mexican Train!  As usual, I almost won (yeah, right) by having the next to last most points!  Someone has to lose, so I usually volunteer for that position.

In closing, let me wish you and your loved ones a wonderful new year, full of love, joy, happiness and health. As I write these words, my own heart is sad because of the death yesterday of a precious friend in Kentwood - Wanzie Williams - whose loving personality brightened the lives of everyone she touched. To remember Wanzie is to remember her effervescent, contagious smile. No matter the circumstances, the always lived above them and always smiled and blessed me by her response to life and all it brings. She had her own heartaches, but kept trusting God.  Although I seldom saw Wanzie after we moved to the Carolinas, I will miss just knowing that she is no longer brightening that corner of her world. But we know she is a shining star in Heaven and is welcomed by her Savior and others of her precious family who are already there.

Hopefully, I will be a more faithful blogger this year! Blessings and love to each of you! And, now I would like to leave you with favorite verses from Ephesians 3:20-21:

3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Hi there ...

Don't you love how special recipes bring to mind special memories?  I do!  This afternoon we are expecting a visit from Danny and Becky Crow! The Crows live in Ellicott City, Maryland, but a long, long time ago Becky lived in Kentwood!  Danny is pastor at Covenant Baptist Church in Ellicott City.

Since they are rare visitors, I wanted to give them a big hearty breakfast in the morning before they proceed to their final destination - Florida! So nothing says breakfast like breakfast casserole!  Agree?  Your guests will think you are really a Proverbs woman, rising early and baking .... this will fool them every time if you don't tell your secret!

I pulled out my Kentwood Centennial Celebration cookbook (couldn't locate my red Kentwood FBC Youth Cookbook where the recipe first gained my attention - I fear it is in my camper in Arkansas), and turned right to Hazel Allen's Breakfast Casserole.  Now, those of you who know Hazel are already smiling!  Because that's exactly what she brings to the faces of everyone she meets, whether downtown, in the neighborhood, or wherever.   Her sister, Rose, is just like her!  Hazel just might show up anywhere, anytime, with a fresh story to relate!  I have used her recipe for years and always savor the aroma when it's baking, and I cherish the sweet memories each time I prepare this dish. 

I thought with the holidays approaching you might enjoy the recipe for this easy, make-ahead dish.  I love, love, love anything that can be prepared ahead of time so more time is left for visiting!  There are a ton of similar recipes on the Internet (cooks.com for one), but this one will always be my favorite ... just because.  Since I just got my casserole made and in the fridge chilling while the flavors "marry", I now have time to share the recipe with you! Here you go:

HAZEL ALLEN'S BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

1 lb. (hot) pork sausage
6 slices bread
Soft butter (lots of it!)
1-1/2 cups sharp grated cheese
5 eggs, well beaten
2 cups Half and Half
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard

Cook sausage; stir and crumble.  Drain on paper towel.  Spread bread with butter; cut in cubes.  Layer bread in pan or dish.  Sprinkle with drained sausage.  Top with cheese.
Mix remaining ingredients; beat well and pour over mixture. 
Chill for at least 8 hours or overnight.  Freezes well.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes.  Serves 6 or more.  Great for Christmas morning!

NOTE FROM VELTA:
I use regular sausage.  I think any kind of bread would work; I use a little more cheese and also add an extra egg.  I have made it with regular milk - but it's - well, it's just not as rich as it could be!   It's a no fail recipe and very forgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! God is so good and showers so many wonderful blessings on us.  I am blessed with a wonderful family and more friends than I deserve.  I am thankful!  Thank you, again, Hazel!  You are a blessing to so many and especially to your family and wide circle of friends!

PS: I apologize for the duplicate entries on my previous blog about our  trip! 

Well, good morning everyone from a rainy, chilly, spectacular Lancaster, SC!I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve blogged! Not quite that long, but close! Today seemed like a good day to get back on it. I awoke around 7:30 (slowly getting my body clock back on EST!), stumbled to the kitchen to find the coffee pot; looked outside and the rain was still falling very softly and the leaves were turning loose and floating to the ground. A beautiful sight, for sure! If they continue, the lovely “leaf carpet” on my deck will be even more plush!

On Saturday, October 3, we said good-bye to Lancaster and headed to Williamsburg, VA! Excited? Yes!!! Our dear friends, George and Marj Walrod, invited us some time ago to join them there for a week of sightseeing and great times of fellowship. (We were so disappointed last year when we were invited to spend a week with them in Williamsburg, but alas, my gallbladder surgery changed all my plans and the doctor said a resounding, “No travel!” The Walrods were kind enough to renew the invitation this year, bless them!)Williamsburg, as you know, is rich in history and so interesting! Much too much to see in a few days, but we made a big dent in it for sure.

The Walrods are like walking encyclopedias on Williamsburg and were the perfect guides and hosts. From day one, we had a marvelous time exploring Colonial Williamsburg and for a brief time we tried to imagine and experience a bit of what the early days in our history were really like. Seeing so much history reenacted in living color and its actors dressed in true period attire, was a sobering reminder of the hardships our founding fathers (and mothers!) endured! I came away thankful for many things: among them my Maytag washer and dryer, my air-conditioned home, my car, and other reminders of the materialism we enjoy today. The most important reminder, however, is the fact that as Americans we are all free and none are enslaved. How blessed we are today.

The College of William and Mary adjoins the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg and looks and feels just like you might imagine. Just the mention of it, conjures up words like rich, expansive (1200 acres!), and yes, ever so stately, in its 18th century architectural buildings! Its website claims that it is the second oldest college in America, having been chartered on February 8, 1693, by King William III and Queen Mary II of England. Sounds like a valid claim for “old”, huh? W & M became state-supported in 1906 and coeducational in 1918. So, now you know! Every day was filled with sightseeing, fine dining, and yes, even some rest times! We were all ready for a little relaxing each day after climbing stairs at every place we toured! Remember, there were no elevators or escalators back then. Walking alongside the carriage rides was a lot of fun, though! Of course, we were very mindful of where we stepped along the unpaved streets! The horses had the right-of-way and did what they pleased where they pleased!

Of course, I am always drawn to food wherever I’m living and breathing! One most interesting dinner was at King’s Arms Tavern, in Colonial Williamsburg. George and Marj had enjoyed some great cuisine there in the past, and highly recommended it. It was cozy; our waiter was in appropriate period attire, and dinner was perfect in every way! It was traditional southern fare served in an atmosphere of long ago. (Their dessert offerings were sumptuous, and I admit that I did sin and partake of the delectable pecan pie, but please don’t tell my doctor. She read me my Miranda rights before we left home and I made a vow to be very cautious of anything good going into my mouth while on vacation! Not a good thing to do before going anywhere!)

We had way too much fun to elaborate on everything while in Williamsburg, but among the good times was visiting the Bruton Parish Church, the first Anglican church built in 1660. It is still an active church. It is interesting that the present organ, the church's fourth, was presented by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1954. In 1761, merchant James Tarpley presented the church with a bell which is still in use today. Marj and I even got to pull the rope to ring the bell on the appropriate hour! More interesting facts at: www.history.org/almanack/places/hb/hbbruch.cfm

On Sunday we enjoyed worshipping with George and Marj at Williamsburg Community Chapel, which states that, “as an interdenominational church wherein all of those who love Jesus Christ and desire to serve Him may join in one common effort.” The music was outstanding and we very much enjoyed the service.

One final highlight of our trip to Williamsburg was the opportunity to spend some time with Jim and Carolyn Whitaker, dear friends in our church here in Lancaster, who joined us later in the week. Fellowshipping with fellow Christians is always enriching and makes for beautiful memories! Saying goodbye to the Walrods and Whitakers was filled with mixed emotions, for sure!

Our next stop was in Charlottesville, Virginia. For a long time I had heard how lovely this area was. I was not disappointed. We arrived early enough in the day to visit Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. www.monticello.org/. We took a bus up the mountain (boarding at a recently dedicated welcome center that was beautiful on its own and included a great museum). We had quite a wait once we reached the grounds of Monticello, but the tour was definitely worth the wait. The home was smaller than I had expected. But definitely recognizable as depicted on our five cent coins. Our tour guide was very good and we enjoyed a visit to the past. The grounds were lovely, too, with several gardens displaying beautiful foliage and blooming plants. I’m grateful to those souls who continue to preserve our rich heritage. We all benefit from looking back – with thankfulness.

Leaving Charlottesville, our next stop was a brief visit to the home of Stonewall Jackson (1824-63) in Lexington, VA. Sources tell us that next to Robert E. Lee himself, Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson is the most revered of all Confederate commanders. His home is rather small and unassuming, located only a couple of blocks from Virginia Military Institute where he was once a professor. More about him at www.civilwarhistory.com/stonewalljackson/jackson.htm

On Sunday October 11 we decided it was time to head for Arkansas! Our travel west included a brief stop in Memphis, TN where we enjoyed choir practice (for real!) with our close friends, Ralph and Peggy Jones. When we called them to see if we could “do” lunch, they asked if we could arrive by 9:30? No problem we said. So we marched ourselves right up into the mega-Bellevue Baptist Church just like we belonged there! There were a number of other seniors on hand and we belted out their Christmas carols just like we were regular, certified members! It was so much fun! After practice, the nice lady who filled in for their regular choir director shared a devotional thought from a book she was reading – What Difference Do it Make, a sequel to The Same Kind of Different as Me. Both were co-authored by Denver Moore (a homeless, illiterate, sharecropper’s son from Red River Parish, LA) and Ron Hall (a wealthy art dealer in Ft. Worth, TX), an unlikely duo. Perhaps some of you are familiar with the books and may have seen TV interviews with the two. We highly recommend them for their deep insights into the lives of true homeless folks contrasted with the materialistic lives of others. Without giving away too much, suffice it to say that these two contrasts intricately weave together and will bless you as you are compelled to examine your own hearts. A significant element is the influence of Deborah Hall, whose life transformed both men.

We finally reached Arkansas on Tuesday October 13 and more fun began! Our little camper was still in place and just as we had left it in Andy’s yard/pasture. Our home away from home, it gives both of us privacy and we do not wear out our welcome! Keeping up with Andy, Karen, Luke and Hannah is always a challenge but lots of fun, fun! Hannah’s school, Shiloh Christian, where Karen coaches volleyball, was in the throes of preparing for football homecoming and for hosting the state final volleyball games. We were in full swing helping out wherever we were needed, in addition to keeping the home fires burning, particularly on the gas range!An especially fun day for me was homecoming day when I followed Hannah around as she prepared for the homecoming court on Friday night. I became a little dizzy going with her from pedicures and manicures, to hair-dos, to the Clinique counter of Dillard’s, but all the effort resulted in a quite stunning Miss Hannah! She was lovely in her red, beaded formal gown. A good friend of hers was elected queen and she was happy for her. Of course, Hannah was already queen to us, so it didn’t matter to us that a few other folks disagreed with us!

The following week we enjoyed the games. I even stamped hands one day as schools from all over the state arrived for the play-offs. Bill collected money and then I “validated” the folks so they could come and go at will and enjoy all the games. It was fun! Lots of school spirit from the fans. Shiloh lost in the last next to last bracket and did not advance to the finals which were held on Saturday in Jonesboro, AR. Anticipating this possibility of losing, Hannah just picked up her violin the next day and proceeded to try-outs for all-state orchestra. She made 7th chair in the first violin section.

One of our most enjoyable days while there was a trip to John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR where Luke is a freshman. He greeted us and then we headed to find a place to do lunch. We had told him to pick out any restaurant in town and we would treat him. Guess what he chose? Taco Bell! Worked for us! Later he gave us a tour of the campus and even let us have a peek at his dorm and room! He loves JBU and is so happy there. There are many new buildings and face-lifts to the campus since Art and Andy were there several years ago. The fall foliage is so brilliant, especially the maples which always make quite a statement. It was very nostalgic to remember our very firsts visit to JBU when Bill, Art, Andy and I took a trip in 1979 to “check it out.” JBU stole our hearts, for sure.

Well, leaving a bit of our hearts in Arkansas we drove to my sister’s home in East Texas on Friday, October 30. We enjoyed several days with her and my brother, Claude, and Bea's daughter, Denise.  We just enjoyed catching up on our over-due hugs. Bea has some health issues that concern her and we are awaiting some test results to see what can be done.  One special day while there was a visit from Nick and Todd Dillard.  A visit from grandsons is a definite guarantee to brighten a grandmother's heart!

We also enjoyed dinner with my cousin and her husband, Betty and Howard Anderson, at one of our favorite restaurants, Cheddar’s. Wish we had one over this way.While in East Texas we made a day trip to College Station to visit Dora and Derry Magee. Dora is recovering nicely from recent knee surgery and it is obvious that Dr. Derry is taking very good care of her! We enjoyed a nice lunch at Fish Daddy's, visited some more, and then headed back to Bea's. Shortly after we began our trip back, we learned of the awful massacre at Ft. Hood. Once again, we were reminded that freedom isn't free and cannot be taken for granted, even on our very own soil.

At long last, after 3965 miles and 38 days of making new memories we are back home and lovin’ it. (The washer wonders why the sudden attention!)  We missed everyone here and will catch up eventually. I’m in a serious e-mail/Facebook deficit, too. Our wireless card did its best wherever we were, but there was not a lot of time to devote to either.Thanks for enduring this long litany of ramblings! I love you all!

As Thanksgiving approaches, let’s pause and do just that: give thanks – following lyrics by Dan Moen:Give thanks with a grateful heartGive thanks to the Holy OneGive thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His SonAnd now let the weak say, "I am strong"Let the poor say, "I am richBecause of what the Lord has done for us"We give thanks to You oh LordWe give thanks.(repeats omitted)

Hi everybody!

I am still basking in the memories of our wonderful family reunion in Nashville!  Our immediate family were guests of Dr. and Mrs. Derry Magee, known to most of us as Miss Dora and Dr. Derry.  They were very gracious and shared their accommodations with Art and Andy and their families, along with Bill and me, at the Wyndham Resort in Nashville.  Located very near the Opryland complex, we had an excellent location to enjoy a lot of wonderful family time and it was a great place to launch our daily "jaunts" around Nashville.  Art and Andy and their crews each had separate, lovely units of their own.  We were all very well "accommodated" for sure!  We were thrilled to share Dora and Derry's unit with them.  Lots of memories and old war stories were recalled during the week!

On Friday June 26 we all converged on Nashville and the fun began!  Dora and Derry had traveled from Texas and they came laden -literally - with all kinds of wonderful prepared foods!  Smoked pork loins, chickens, cream cheese pound cakes (I needed something to blame for the extra pounds, right?), and all sorts of things. So our first night did not even require a visit to the grocery!   We had come with a cooler full of "stuff" too.  If you know me well at all, you know that I'm never far from food!  That night everyone just settled in and we all agreed that we would just take it easy and make up our agenda as the week progressed. 

Also joining us at the condo the first night were Bill, Kellye and Mia Johnson, who live in the Nashville area.  Of course, Mia stole the show, and continued to steal the show the entire time we were there!  We were so glad that they made time to share in all of the crazy goings-on and joined us for several meals.  (By the way, Kellye makes a mean spinach artichoke dip! and for some who may not know, Bill is Dora and Derry's grandson and he works at Gaylord, which is part of the massive Opryland complex.)  On Saturday morning part of our crew joined us for a big breakfast at our place which we officially dubbed "The Hub".  It became the central gathering place and worked just great.  Several "big breakfasts" ensued and I was in my element, of course.

Our only "fixed" event was the Grand Old Opry on Saturday night.  Bill had bought the tickets well in advance, so after an interesting dinner (food served on tin pie plates and beverages in tin cups!) at Cock of the Walk Restaurant we drove a short distance to the real deal!  Little Jimmy Dickens is still kickin', let me tell you.  At age 88 he is still going strong and is still telling his almost-over-the-edge jokes!  I think all of our faces turned a little pink if not downright red!  But it was very enjoyable and created some memories for the grandchildren who had probably never heard of any of the entertainers ... well, with the exception of the star, Wynona Judd, who was saved till the end, of course.  Some of the entertainers were Steve Warner, Jim Ed Brown, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely, and a few other "oldies" as well as a few newer ones.  The old, hard, country sounds are waning, much to the dismay of those who are country die-hards, but there was a fair mix I'd say .  As always, the Opry is broadcast live over WSM radio, so we were also "treated" to the live commercials at the beginning of each new segment.  It was a packed out performance and following the one we attended, another one began shortly.

It had been two years since our immediate family had been together all at once.  That was our trip Outwest when we met in Jackson Hole, WY.  Two years might not sound like very long, but a lot can happen in two years and grandchildren can grow a lot in two short years.  So, one of the neat things about our get-together in Nashville was seeing the cousins interact and catch up with each other on everything going on in their busy lives.  It was fun hearing Anna share about her fiance, Justn Beam, and their wedding plans for next Spring, as well as her summer job, anticipated college graduation, etc.  Also, Hannah, Andy and Karen spent one day at Vanderbilt University looking around and having an official tour of the campus.  They found it lovely and rich in history, but terribly expensive.  Hannah will be entering college next fall and the "where" is a big topic right now.  She is considering several, but right now it probably won't be Vanderbilt.  In addition to the cost, it is a LONG way from Springdale, Arkansas!  Max had just returned from a mission strip to Barbados with a group from our church, so there was lots of news and sharing about that.  Just having them together was a huge blessing to Bill and me.  We just wish everyone could live closer to each other; we cherish any time that can be spent together. 

Art and Andy enjoyed just being brothers and catching up on the past two years!  They are sitll as close as ever, even though they might not communicate frequently, and that warms my heart.  Andy recently had a job change within Wal-Mart and we were all glad to have more insight into his new responsibilities there.

I won't bore you with everything we did, but suffice it to say that in one word it was WONDERFUL.  During the week various ones took in the Belle Meade and Cheekwood Plantations; also the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson.  We enjoyed the unbelievable beauty of the Gaylord Hotel with its three atriums and the most incredible foliage and waterfalls that I've ever witnessed.  I remarked that, as beautiful and breath-taking as all of this is, it does not compare to the beauty that we will enjoy in Heaven!  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. II Corinthians 2:9.

Another highlight of the week was the entire family visiting the Parthenon, which is a replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece.  It is quite an impressive, massive structure, and neither Bill nor I realized that it actually housed an art museum inside.  I'll share a bit from its website in case you'd like to know a bit more about the Parthenon in Nashville.  (Just skip the next paragraph if you are not interested.)  Here goes:

"The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville's premier urban park. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.

Originally built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition, this replica of the original Parthenon in Athens serves as a monument to what is considered the pinnacle of classical architecture. The plaster replicas of the Parthenon Marbles found in the Naos are direct casts of the original sculptures which adorned the pediments of the Athenian Parthenon, dating back to 438 B.C. The originals of these powerful fragments are housed in the British Museum in London.

The Parthenon also serves as the city of Nashville's art museum. The focus of the Parthenon's permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits."

I will add that the 42-foot statue of the goddess Athena was shocking!  Entirely gilded in gold!

Following our visit to the museum we enjoyed some fine Italian food at Maggiano's Little Italy.  Absolutely delicious and bountiful!  Served in courses, it was long, drawn out in a fun way, and so, so good!  Thank you, Art and Andy! 

So, this is a mini-version of our family vacation.  I'm leaving out lots of "stuff", like details of who won the Monopoly games or the Texas 42 domino games, the other board games (Anna had a new one: "What's Yours Like?"  Fun, fun!).  Or, the early birthday bash held in honor of Dr. Derry's birthday!  Dora had a lovely cake inscribed just for him!  It was like old times, for sure!  We all got our pennies together and "gifted" him with a McDonald's gift card so that he and his buddies can eat, drink and be merry for a few coffee sessions back in College Station!    I will add that the tradition of Texas 42 dominoes is being passed on!  The grands held their own, for sure, in learning this one!

We said goodbye to Dora and Derry on Thursday evening when they left to go spend a few days with Bill, Kellye and Mia.  We finished packing up our things and got as much done as we could before leaving for our respective homes early on Friday morning.  Why is it never as much fun re-packing as it is packing? I think I know the answer.  We had our last gathering at the local Cracker Barrel and of course, we all love the CB's food.  Then it was final hugs and maybe a few tears!  We were so thankful for the great week; we are thankful for our family, our blessings, our friends, and how God allowed us to come together and love on each other one more time! God is good!

I will try to post a few pictures of our week.  I hope they come through ok.  I love you all!

Velta




A Texas-sized chair, for sure!




Derry and Bill enjoying conversation and birthday cake







Art and Andy and their families while visiting at the Hermitage





Dora and great granddaughter, Mia, enjoying meal time!



Anna inside the Gaylord

 
Hannah, visiting the gardens at Cheekwood Plantation




Max and Luke enjoying the moment

Oran and Carol Brandon West - 2009 - High school classmates of Velta

Sometimes there are events, happenings, occurrences - whatevers - that are almost magical!  Such an event happened to me on Monday evening of this week.

For starters, I and the Wests, were classmates at Henderson High School in Henderson, Texas.  Oran and Carol were an "item" in high school, so it is not surprising that after these many years they are still an "item" - and what a mighty item, I might add.

For many years the Wests have been affiliated with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Dallas, TX where Oran was in the accounting area.   They recently retired from actively volunteering with Wycliffe (it is of interest that virtually all of the thousands of folks with this wonderful ministry are VOLUNTEERS, meaning that their sole support comes from churches, individuals, etc.)  http://www.wycliffe.org/.  They continue to make their home in Dallas, TX.

Somehow I found out that they would be in my area while stopping over at the home of their daughter, Dr. Amy West, who lives near the JAARS Center in Waxhaw.  Fortunately, we were able to arrange a dinner together at the Olive Garden in Pineville, NC.  They were on a very tight schedule, so we felt especially blessed to be able to spend a few moments together and begin to pick up where we left off in 1955!

It didn't take us long to figure out who each other was (we had described what each would be wearing).  I was wearing a black and white blouse and Bill was wearing a red-checked shirt!  Carol was also wearing a black blouse and Oran, well, she couldn't exactly tell me at the moment what his attire would be.  I told Carol that I would just hug everyone who came into the foyer at Olive Garden, and eventually I would hug the right person!  54 years is a long time to not have seen each other and certain metamorphoses have taken place since then!

Well, the Wests were running a little late due to a medical appointment in Charlotte and very heavy traffic, so while we were waiting an elderly gentleman wandered in ... he had lovely gray hair and was wearing a red-checked shirt! Oh, dear, I thought.  If the Wests saw him first they might just think they had zeroed in on the wrong man who might not respond positively to a hug from some stranger!  Not to worry, though.  That gentleman proceeded to the bar area and left Bill as the only guy wearing a red-checked shirt!  Solved that problem!

Soon they arrived!  I had saved all my hugs for just the right folks!  After all these years we immediately recognized each other and were ushered to a nice, relatively quiet area of the Olive Garden where we renewed old memories and created plenty of new ones!  It is so amazing how Christians just immediately have a common bond that is so relaxing, affirming, and just plain good!  Two hours was not enough time to do justice to so many years, so we just decided this would be the first of many.  But we all four found time to share several old stories from the past!  They are blessed with four children!

One very interesting side note to the past: Carol was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and moved to Henderson, Texas, when she was five years old.  Her father taught Bible at John Brown University and also pastored a local Presbyterian church there.  When they moved, Carol said, it was because her father believed there were more opportunities for evangelism in Texas than in Arkansas.  Can't argue with that logic!  Tragically, Carol's father was killed in an automobile accident around the time of our high school graduation, but I'm sure he left a lasting spiritual legacy to her family and to the areas he served.

Oran and Carol were always such leaders in our school.  He was senior class president and she was piano accompanist for our choral teacher, Claudia Holder (to whom I will always be indebted for instilling in me a love of music),   Carol is also an accomplished harpist.

So, Monday evening was nostalgic and oh so rewarding.  I just love it when something like this happens! I am so blessed to have such an abundance of wonderful folks who have influenced my life for good.  Although through the years, because of distances and other circumstances, we were not in touch, I always followed them with interest, and were aware of their work for the Lord.  I was fortunate to see Oran on at least one occasion at a high school reunion.


As we said our good-byes, it was with mixed emotions.  Knowing our circumstances at this moment in time, our ages, and other factors, it is likely we will not see each other again this side of Heaven ... but if I have my way, I will give do my best to make it happen before then!

God is good - all the time.

Till next time,

Blessings and keep an eye and ear out for who you can reconnect with and build some more memories!

Hi everybody,

Hope everyone is enjoying Summer and doing all the fun things that you only dream about when it's not summer!

I wanted to talk about our trip to NW Arkansas, which included almost all of May.  Our  main purpose of the trip was to be in on end of school activities with Luke and Hannah.  It was a busy time, but loads of fun!  Luke graduated from Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville, AR and received two academic honors!

We were so proud of Luke!  As Scholar Council President, Luke gave a marvelous speech as part of the graduation ceremony which was held at the University of Arkansas student ballroom.  We were bustin' buttons, for sure!   The area friends and kinfolks turned en masse! He is such a wonderful young man and God has something very special in mind for Luke.  We just know it!  He has been accepted at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR where his parents graduated, as well as his Uncle Art and Aunt Merritt!  So we are happy for him and can't wait to see how well he likes college life. He will live in the dorm; the school is only about 30 minutes away, so that's a good thing.  Not too far to bring laundry home to mom over a weekend!

Luke mentioned in his speech how an experience in 2001 had helped shape who he is today.  He recounted how he was  involved in a very serious car accident in 2001 and was hospitalized for quite some time in Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR.   Just realizing that Luke might have lasting, serious effects from the accident was traumatizing for all of us.  But thanks be to God, he is just fine!  He does have some limitation in the movement of his right foot/knee area, but we are so grateful that there were no other serious injuries.  In his speech, he related how that he had never asked God why this happened to him; neither did he ever question why he was left with some physical disability.  He focused on the word attitude and how it is so important now and in his future. It was very inspiring to everyone who heard it.  I'm thankful that Luke knows at such a young age how important it is to keep a positive attitude about everything life throws our way!  No one loves a whiner!  When he was interviewed some time after his accident, he said, "I know God has a plan for my life."  We do, too, Luke.

We had a blast just loving on the whole family while we were there! That included doing laundry, cooking their favorite meals, putting up shelving in Karen's school office (Daddy Bill gets the credit for this!), attending Hannah's choral concert, and just hanging out with them!  Feel the love?  It is such a joy to prepare food when you know it will be enjoyed!  Well, most of the time.  I'm sure I bombed out on a few things!

Karen surprised me - actually tricked me one Saturday morning.  After luring me to the local mall, before I knew it I was securely seated in a wonderful chair that massaged my back, neck and shoulder areas, while a nail technician was transforming my toe nails into a work of art! (if you haven't seen my feet, they are a piece of work!) A super pedicure!  What a relaxing experience!  Then she bought me several luxurious bath products at Bed, Bath and Beyond and so I am all set now to look good (at least my toe nails!) and feel good with good-smelling lotion!  Can't beat that combination!  I highly recommend the aromatherapy eucalyptcus spearmint stress relief lotion!
We enjoyed Hannah's violin practice session(s).  Of course, to me she did not strike any wrong notes!   She is one busy gal and studied for her finals almost the entire time we were there.  It paid off because she made top grades on all of them!  It was worth all the hard work.  She is a rising senior at Shiloh Christian School.

One of the best visits while we were in the NW Arkansas area was a visit with Lynette Duncan, Ruth and Ian.  Peter was working that morning, so we were sorry to have missed him!  Ruth and Ian kept us entertained, for sure!  They are just precious, and it is very evident that Lynette and Peter are doing all the rights things in the area of parenting!  It is always great to sneak in a visit with them.  Lynette is also a JBU grad and hails from Kentwood, so we always enjoy a bit of Louisiana when we get a chance to see them! Lovely family!


All in all, we had a delightful trip which also included a lovely visit with our Memphis friends, Ralph and Peggy Jones.  Always fun digging up old memories and making new ones!  They took us to a sweet little town, Collierville, TN,  where we strolled around town and Bill found a neat leather shop!  The best part though was his discovery of a genuine, old-time hardware store! Hog heaven!  They are becoming extinct among all the "You can do it, we can help" box stores!

We did have one minor inconvenience very early on our trip.  Our truck was chugging really hard trying to make it over the mountains just as we got into North Carolina.  It was towing our 5th wheel and as hard as it tried it would only go about 30 mph ...... so, God is so good!  Our roadside service folks through Good Sam's Club (RVers will know what this is) directed us to a repair shop and a lovely RV park where we were quite comfortable during the day and a half our truck was in the hospital!  A new fuel pump got us going again and we continued on our journey with no further problems.  We left our camper in Arkansas parked on Andy's property where it will await our next visit in October.

We appreciate the prayers and love of everyone who thought about us while we were gone! I thought you'd enjoy a photo or two of the graduation night!



Andy, Luke, Hannah and Karen


Daddy Bill, Luke and Granny Vee



Beautiful cake made by a friend of Luke's Aunt Lori! It was yummy, too!

Hard to believe we are well into May, already!  May brings lots of joys and celebrations!  Always, it brings to my mind the birth of my second born son, Claude Andrew Morris.  My sweet Andy entered this world by appointment on May 12, 1965!  At a pre-determined time – eight a.m. as I remember - I reported to the City Hospital in McComb, Mississippi, to get things moving along!  My kind obstetrician, Dr. Frank Butler, had decided this was the day!  The hospital was in a lovely section of old McComb, in a shady, serene setting.  (I understand the building is no longer used as a hospital, having been replaced by the new Southwest Regional Medical Center at a new location just off Interstate 55.)  Later that afternoon, a perfect, precious bundle of joy was in my arms, locked forever in my heart. 

We lived in Kentwood, LA, so McComb, MS was just a few miles across the state line from where we lived, and was where my doctor lived and practiced.  After a couple of days in the hospital, we were discharged, and Bill and I drove back to Kentwood with Andy, ready to show him off to everyone!

We lived in an apartment above the J. P. Morris & Sons general merchandise store.  Prior to being that type of store, however, several decades earlier it had been a funeral home and a car dealership!  A freight elevator was still operational and provided the perfect solution to avoid taking the stairs.  You know, back then, having a baby was still a BIG deal and exercise was very limited those first few days.  So climbing the stairs so soon after delivering a baby was not an option!  Times have changed! 

So, here we go: Andy and I hopped on the freight elevator (precious cargo!) and off we zoomed.  Bill operated some type of rope-pulley mechanism, and before you know it we were landing safely onto the second floor of the old store!  The elevator opened into a large warehouse type space, and several steps later we reached the entrance to our apartment.  (As an aside, this was the very apartment where Bill’s parents lived when he was born, so there  was enough nostalgia to go around!)

Granny Gray, my mother, had already come to Kentwood several days before Andy was born, so she was also there with open arms to welcome Andy: a snuggly baby boy, weighing 8 lbs. 2 oz., with a good covering of light brown hair!  He was named Claude Andrew – the Claude for my daddy and Andrew, just because we loved the name.  Of course, big brother, Art, was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his little brother, too!  To this very day they are extremely close.

Andy was always such a joy and he kept us smiling, for sure!  He was always, and still is, a precious son.  Precious is a well-worn word, but it aptly fits my Andy, affectionately known as MLB (Mama’s Little Baby to the two of us.)  He has always had a sweet spirit, and at age six he surprised Bill and me the night he decided to make a public profession of his faith at the close of a church service!  He knew Jesus had spoken to his heart and he wanted everyone to know it.  Since that time he has continued to grow in the Lord and is a consistent Christian husband to Karen and father to Luke and Hannah.

Growing up in the country provided lots of wonderful opportunities for Andy and Art and included such things as working in the vegetable garden with Butch, my sweet nephew; going fishing and hunting, digging  caves in the dirt clay banks with Tate Erwin who lived across the road from us, going on calls to deliver baby calves with Dr. Derry Magee, our dear friend and veterinarian.

Andy is my high school drop-out! Not really, though.  He realized Art was having so much fun in college that he decided he wanted to skip his senior year at Sumner High School and enter college early.  He met all of the requirements posed by the university and also met those of his high school, so off he went a year early!

It was at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR that Andy met his lovely wife-to-be, Karen Kerns.  Both graduated in May of 1986, Andy also sat for the CPA exam a few weeks later, and got married on June 7th!  Nothing like tackling major undertakings under pressure!  He and Karen lived in Tulsa, OK, briefly, while he worked at Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KMPG).  Andy is now a full-fledged CPA, and  a few years later by going to school at night, he also earned his MBA at the University of Arkansas.  Later he worked several years at Dayspring Greeting Cards in Siloam Springs, AR, where he was later named CFO.  Currently, he is one of several senior financial managers at Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, AR.

A few years ago while still at Dayspring, Andy decided to make a run for the Arkansas legislature (while Mike Huckabee was governor. by the way).  We never dreamed he was destined for the statehouse when he announced to us, "I think I am going into politics."  We thought surely he meant town council, school board or some other local arena.  Of course, Bill and I were among his most ardent supporters and we even got to campaign for him one weekend ... now, moms going door to door pleading to, "please vote for my boy" - well, who could refuse that plea!  Sure enough, he won handily, and we were on hand for the big celebration party.  This was quite the victory for a Republican candidate, since Arkansas is widely perceived as a Democratic state.  He lived in a conservative area of Springdale, and he thoroughly enjoyed his time in the legislature.  A job change prevented his running for another term, but someday I would not be surprised if we we got another call.... "Mama, I've decided to run for ....".

Andy, Karen, Luke and Hannah enjoy a busy, fun-filled life, for sure!  Luke graduates high school this year and has been accepted at John Brown University; Hannah will be a HS senior next year, and Karen keeps everything and everybody moving at a rapid pace!  We just "hold on" when we visit them.  She is the girls volleyball coach and teacher at Shiloh Christian School which is affiliated with First Baptist Church of Springdale.

As Andy celebrates his 44th birthday this year, Bill and I are thrilled that we are here, too, to celebrate that event and got to exchange mother/son hugs on Mother’s Day!

I’m so thankful and blessed to be the mother of two godly sons and the mother-in-love of two godly women, Merritt and Karen.

I could go on and on … but you wouldn’t want me to get started on the grandchildren just now, would you?  That would take a while!

In closing .... my sentiments are expressed in this scripture:

No greater cause for thankfulness do I have than these things, that I should be hearing that my children go on walking with the Lord.  3 John vs. 4

Andy - wasn't he a cutie?

 
 
Andy, Hannah, Luke and Karen

Mama and her boys at Artist's Point
Yellowstone National Park
Art on left; Andy on right

Today is Good Friday.  I've been thinking about it, and how I hope I never take for granted the meaning of this day.  The day Jesus Christ, my Savior, willingly poured out His life for me.  I came across a little piece I had written about my earthly father some time ago, now slightly updated, and I thought I would share my thoughts with those who read the Blog.  Because of Jesus' death, we have a Heavenly Father.

My father, Claude Gray, Sr., was a simple man who lived a simple life.  Born in the piney woods of East Texas, daddy was a tomato farmer and also a constable for as long as I could remember.  Once the tomatoes began to ripen, he would sell them in the grocery stores in Henderson, Texas.  They always brought top dollar, because they were always among the earliest and they were always of top quality, as well.  My mother’s job was to sort the perfect from the less-than-perfect, which were called culls.  These culls were sold at a small price to individuals, or given away.  Some of my fondest memories are of going with my daddy to Jacksonville, TX where we would choose the young, very tiny plants and bring them home where they would be placed in the ground, in a protective frame, covered by some type of fine white netting to protect them until they matured enough to be transplanted into rows in the field.  Oh, I forgot to mention that a special treat was devouring a pint of strawberry ice cream (well, it seems like I remember eating the whole thing!) after a tomato delivery to Safeway!  (I was the youngest of 5 surviving children, so I was probably really spoiled rotten and get whatever I wanted - or what was available in those days of depression!  Three babies were stillborn or died shortly after birth.)

Daddy was a good daddy.  He took us to church at the Primitive Baptist Church* on the Sundays that church services were held in the community of Chalk Hill, a few miles from where we lived.   Fulltime preachers were scarce during those times and probably most were bi-vocational, as the country folk could hardly support a fulltime pastor.  On the Sundays when the foot-washing service was held, there was always a holy hush as the brethren – the important elders of the church, in my child’s eyes - were robed in white sheets and washed each others feet in an act of servanthood and sincere humility.  The reverence of this service made an impression on me, in addition to the questions the service itself raised.

There was not only foot washings, there were plenty of occasional shouts which erupted from some of the “sistren” of the church and from perhaps some of the brethren, too.   As I remember, the services were followed by dinner on the ground – well, it was on long tables, actually - spread with all kinds of delicacies.  Prominent among the displays from the country cooks was a large variety of meringue pies, decorated with the occasional fly or two, which really always bothered me!  “They don’t each much,” someone would probably say today.  Of course, that was before the days of Cool Whip, and it would have been impossible to have real whipped cream because access to ice was limited and the whipping surely would have melted before lunch time, which could be rather late, depending on how carried away the preacher got.

Before the days of paper towels, fried chicken was sometimes brought shrouded in newsprint or brown paper bags.  Tupperware had not yet come into its own.  Regardless, there was always a feast after a rousing sermon inside the little white country church at Chalk Hill.   Simple services for simple folks, yet so rich in the qualities that really matter.  Oh, and the music was always sung accapella from musical scores known as sacred harp.  As I recall, the melodies revolved around only five notes.  There was no pitch pipe available, and as far as I could tell, whoever led the singing had perfect pitch!  I don’t remember growling or shrieking in order to reach the right notes.  One of my favorites was Brethren We Have Met to Worship, and worship, we did.  Baptisms were held at a nearby lake, which to this day, is still a lovely, serene place.  The baptismal candidates were immersed in the cool clear waters of the lake while the host of viewers kept watch at the shore.  Bro. E. S. Morrisett was the pastor and he lived in Tyler, Texas, a barber by trade.

 My favorite and consistent memory of my daddy is of him reading his Bible all the time.  I cannot remember an evening when he did not read his Bible.  I can still see the merthiolate (a medication no longer available) or mercurochrome stains on its pages where he had doctored his weather-beaten hands while reading his Bible.  Frequently, he would beckon us to listen while he read his favorites such as Ephesians 2:8-9, and of course, the ones that emphasized predestination, one of the major tenets of the Primitive Baptists.  If God wanted to save the heathen, He surely did not need our help.  After all, if you were among the chosen, then that was that.  He was passionate about what he believed, and he lived what he believed.

 I loved my daddy; he died in 1959 as a result of a malignant brain tumor.  He was first operated on in 1950 at the Veteran’s Hospital in McKinney, TX, after the cause of his illness was finally determined.  He had suffered periodic seizures from time to time, and on occasion he would become disoriented and have trouble finding his way home.  I have troubling memories of daddy having seizures when we lived at the old Gray place, and mama would go outside and holler as loudly as she could, hoping that someone at Uncle Ned’s place, a half mile or so away, would hear her cry for help.   That was real voice mail.  Thankfully, the seizures didn’t last too long, but they were very frightening at the time to me.  I can only imagine now how terrifying they must have been to Mama.

Also, I remember one time he was checking his traps (he set traps during the winter for anything furry, I suppose, whose hides could be sold, but primarily for mink), and he got lost in the woods and had trouble finding his way home.  He was never quite the same after his surgery, and the malignancy recurred a few years later.  He was operated on again in the fall of 1958 by the surgeon who was famous for being General Patton’s doctor, and remained comatose until he died in February of 1959 at the Veteran’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas.  Recently, we were in Dallas and passed over Ledbetter Street.  An arrow pointed to the Veterans Administration.  Just seeing the sign evoked all kinds of emotions of that time in my life.  He was the youngest and last survivor of eight children.  He served in World War I.

I’m thankful my daddy knew and believed in God’s amazing grace:

Ephesians: 2-89

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

April 10, 2009