FRIENDS

This week I was privileged to host a luncheon for nine of my friends. This was the 2nd annual Christmas Luncheon and I was able to increase from five friends to nine this year. One of my friends was my sister, which was extra special since she had to leave her home in Virginia very early to make it to NC for the lunch. I have know these ladies from all my life, to 28 years to just a few days and each one is special to me.

I have been blessed by the Lord with many special friends. They are all different except for their love for the Lord, in that we all the same.

There is Marti Barkman, our Pastor's wife. I have known her going on 29 years. We have shared many experiences together with both of us having daughters the same age that grew up together. She has always been a blessing to me, we may not socialize much through the year but I know she is always just a phone call away if I need her. Which I have done in the past. She holds a special place in my heart for when my mom was dying and we needed to get her to my home from the hospital Marti was the first person I called to come to my home to wait on the delivery of the oxygen.

Linda Nance, I have known her about the same amount of time. We too have daughters the same age that shared many memories together. Linda to me is an amazing woman and friend. She is always so caring. When my parents moved here from Illinois in 1996, Linda became their friend. She was first known at the "Cake Lady" due to the cakes she would bake and bring to them. She even stopped by their home to entertain them in her special way as "LuLu the Clown". We have spent many hours together donating platelets in Durham. I so enjoyed those drives to Durham and back for the fellowship has always been so sweet.

Mae Counts, wow what a friend she has become over the years. She is one of the most loving and caring individuals I have ever met. I have known her again for almost 29 years. If I had to describe Mae with one word it would be consistency. She has a great sense of humor that I have enjoyed over the years. She and her husband, Gerald, made it a point to make my parents their friends. They were with us through the entire process of Mom going home to be with the Lord. There just is not enough words within me to properly tell how much this couple means to me and my family.

BJ Massey is another friend I have known for almost 29 years. We have shared many memories over those years. We learned to play golf which I have become a true believer that you never learn to play golf, but that is another story for another time. BJ is one of the most tenderhearted friends I have ever known. The love for the Lord just shines through her all the time. She is simply amazing with all she can accomplish, but she always has time for a friend and many friends she has. Our families has started a new Christmas tradition last year and that is to have a Christmas Supper at BJ's home. My dad looks forward to this so much, and he is not one for going to other peoples home. BJ and I have many fun memories on the golf course with our husbands and many with just the two of us. BJ cut the cake and served it at my daughter's wedding, which was no small feat. The cake was chocolate with chocolate frosting and then broken Hersey candy bars all on the outside. BJ's hands were covered with chocolate.

Barbara Coble again a friend for almost 29 years. She is so calm and sweet. Barbara always has a smile for me whenever I see her. She too has a very caring heart as all my friends do. Her love for the Lord is such an inspiration to me through the years. She has gone through some very hard times but one would never know it from her outward appearance. She too has an amazing sense of humor that I have so enjoyed over the years.

Leann McElhannon is a relatively new friend. I have probably only known her about 8 years but in those 8 years we have grown very close. She and I teach the 6th grade girls at our church which sometimes is quite a challenge. Leann lights up from the inside out when she smiles. She is the type of friend that will do anything within her abilities for you. She came to my home and vacuumed and dusted when my mom passed away to get the house ready for people to come and pay their respects. Even last night she came and helped me by making two cheese balls for our Christmas Drop-In. I was telling my sister how Leann honored me by asking me to help her home from the hospital from same day surgery. We have shared a lot of laughter and special times together. She is a friend I can pour my heart out to and know that she will encourage me to be a better person.

Ann Rose is an amazing woman. She is one of the most talented and humble ladies I have ever met. She is so caring and tenderhearted to all she meets. She enjoys life and helps all those around her to enjoy it too. She always pats me on the back at church when she comes and sits behind me. There is never a time I have seen Ann when she does not ask about my (as she puts it) "Sweet daughter". She helped me make curtains for my home many years ago and I know that if I needed her she would be here for me.

Marti Anderson is a very new friend. She is a missionary to Mexico City. She and her family are here in the states for an extended furlough. I am so glad I invited her to join us so I could get to know her better. She asked when to meet at my home and I jokingly said if you come early I will probably put you to work, which I did! She is what my daughter calls a "Kindred Spirit". I am so looking forward to getting to know her better thorough the years to come.

The last person is my sister, Paula. She has become my best friend. We have shared many memories over the years and not all of them pleasant. But with the Lord's grace we have overcome some very hard times and now are the closest of sisters. Paula gives up several days of work each December to come and help me get ready for mine and Walt's Christmas Drop-In's. This year it looks as if we will have between 40 and 50 people coming each of the two nights so it is no small sacrifice she makes. This year is especially a blessing to me since her husband lost his job back in January and Paula's job has been the only source of income for many of the past months.

In writing about each of these special ladies I have to stop and thank the Lord for bringing them into my life. I always told my daughter, Cristy, that the Lord brings special friends in and out of our lives when we need them the most. I have been bless with many more very special friends. It would be closer to say they are family. We have shared tears and laughter over the years and I am so humbled by their love for me. I pray that the Lord will help me to be a fried to them that they are to me. Thank you Lord for loving me and blessing me so much throughout the years with these special ladies.

Election

We have just voted in a new President to lead our country for the next four years. What will our country look like at the end of those years? Will we be able to even recognize it as it is today? I am praying that we will be able to so.

Looking back over this past election season I have learned a horrible truth. To get elected in our country today you just have to trash your opponents with lies that have a smidgen of truth. What does that say about the ones running for office and what does that say about the ones who elected them to that office. NO CHARACTER!!! If the official who based their campaigns on lies about their opponent and never said truthfully what they believed and wanted to truly do if elected how can we trust them once there are elected.

God in His wisdom and sovereignty gave America the officials we deserved. We as a nation have turned our backs on Him and He gave us elected officials that do not seek Him. My prayer is now that we as a nation beg his forgiveness and repent of our sins. II Chronicles 7:14 should be our daily prayer.

Now that we have these officials what should we do? I don't know about you but I plan on praying to God to convict them of their sins and trouble their souls until they cry out to Him for forgiveness. No one should say "Where was God during this election?" He was here, but the question should be "Where were we during this election?"

Not Cooler COLD!!!

I think we skipped the autumn and went to winter. I had actual sleet on my windshield this week. Its still October! I love cold weather when I can wear sweaters and wrap up under a blanket and drink hot chocolate. But I have noticed with this colder weather I still wake up and turn on my personal fan to cool down. I keep going by the thermostat in the hall and nudging in downward until Walt hollers "Is it cold in here?"
If he is in his office I go in and turn on his personal heater and shut the door. You know in the summer it is hard to get cooler but in the winter it is a whole lot easier to get warmer.

Looking for the Change

Cooler weather on the way? It has been in the mid to high eighties all week and it is the middle of October. I realize we have Indian Summer but this is just a bit excessive. I love the fall of the year. The leaves put on their show of colors that just takes your breath away. It makes the drive down the interstate so much more enjoyable. Each day as I take my walk I keep looking at the slow change of colors. Hopefully with the cooler weather coming it will be more of a change.

Another good thing about the fall is that the grass in our yard starts slowing down its growth which means I do not have to mow the yard every week.

When Did It Happen?

My dad is amazing. He could do anything he pu
t his mind to. He could build items for our home and school projects, he could work on cars and make them run again, he could plant acre size gardens. Do you get the picture my dad is/was amazing. He was so strong yet so very gentle. He gave nick names to all my friends when I was growing up. In fact, he was so well liked that my friends threw him a surprise birthday party one year. They brought him gifts they would have given each other. He was so touched by it all. He would take us camping and fishing as a family and with our friends. In fact I remember him inviting two or three guys from the church we attended to go fishing with us because they enjoyed fishing. We would take a day trip out in the country and would sometimes end the day at the Dairy Bar for hot fudge sundaes or banana splits. He taught me how to throw a baseball so I could play with the other children in our area.

My dad and mom built their own home when they were in their sixties in Southern IL. He kept cows that once a year he would slaughter one and share the meat with my sister and I. He even had hogs and only charged me ten cents a pound for the sausage.



Then one day he started having pains in his chest. He ended up with a triple by-pass, but never had a heart attack, thank you Lord. When we brought him home from the hospital he immediately called a Realtor and put his farm up for sale. He loved living on that hill but he did not want something to happen to him and leave mom out there alone. So to my joy and happiness they moved to NC in 1995. They lived with us for about nine months until they found a house which ended up being less than a mile from me.



He started taking things a bit easier after moving here. He did build mom a storage shed in the backyard and still planted a garden but much much smaller than those in the past. He had a few surgeries, a hip replacement for one. I smile when I think about all the things we have to write down when we go to a doctor for the first time. He has had so many things done, back surgery, compound fracture of his left arm which now has two metal plates holding the bones together (that's a story in itself). All this wear and tear on his body has taken its toll. Dad has had several mini strokes for the past three and half years. Each one has robbed him of a little more of his strength.



Yesterday I had to start taken steps to make it easier for him to get around in his home. We will be moving him from the den to the living room due to being difficult for him to get up and down the two steps to the den.

My dad is my hero and in my mind he is the same as when I was little so I ask again when did it happen? When did he become so weak in body? The Lord took mom home three and half years ago and now dad is wondering when the Lord will take him. He is ready to go, but I am not. I know in my heart that he would be so much happier in heaven with the Lord so in a way I am ready. The Lord has given me so many wonderful memories of both my parents that will last me my lifetime and for that I praise Him.

I told dad last night when he thanked me for helping him that I am just paying him back a small way for all the things he has done for me through the years.

Did I?????

Usually on Sundays I fix a roast with potatoes, carrots and onion for our dinner. My Dad and niece Robin comes over to share the meal with us. As dad says,"Cheapest place in town to eat." He also takes home the majority of leftovers. I enjoy this time of the week with my dad because you never know what discussion will be brought to the table. This week we discussed the workings of the minor baseball league.

Well my roast and all the fixings with it were placed in the slow cooker ready for me to plug it in on the way out the door to church. Oh the aroma we are greeted with when we come home is so conforting. Well as we pulled into the garage and I opened my car door expecting to be greeted with the wonderful aroma of cooking meat I was surprised to smell nothing. As I start up the stairs to the kitchen I start the question "Did I remember to plug in the slow cooker?" The answer of couse is NO!!!!

Now comes the frantic moment what am I going to serve for dinner???? Thank you Lord for a wonderful husband who immediately steps in and says "Smithfield BBQ and Chicken". It helps that he had wanted some of their chicken, so this was a good solution to both issues.

So now when I leave on a Sunday I am pretty sure I will be plugging in the slow cooker. Trouble is the "Did I?" question is being asked more often, I wonder why?

Did You Ever Wonder

You go to events, like a football game, baseball ....and see things placed on all or some of the seats in the arena and wonder who does this and how did they get such a job. I use to wonder about things of that nature, I don't anymore because now I know. Several years ago my husband and I went to see one of his customers at their offices and was told they are at the football stadium putting out shakers, some call them pom-poms. So we headed over to the football stadium to see them there and ended up helping distribute the rest of the shakers. They had been at it ALL day and it was now very late afternoon. Several student groups had been in and out all day as their schedule permitted but they were not able to do the amount of work hoped for which meant the brunt of the work landed on the marketing office personnel.

One of the ladies suggested hiring a helicopter and taking the shakers up in the chopper and hovering above the stadium then just dump the shakers out and let the rotors do all the work. To say the least, that idea did not go over so well. They started asking Walt, my husband, if he had any ideas on how to make this an easier job. He said, "I have a great way for you to get the job done." He told them Pam could get this job done for you each week. They loved the idea and I have been doing it for at least the past 9 years.

He has always said it is good to stretch your horizons. Well I must admit he has stretched my horizons over the years. I am now the one who is responsible for putting out the shakers for all the home football games. I must admit I have had a great time doing it over the years. We have even been asked to put out t-shirts on all the seats. So I have distributed from 5, 000 to 60,000 shakers with a lot of great help over the years.

Tomorrow morning at 6:00 am I will be out there again putting out 5,000 shakers in the student section. We have placed them out in extremely hot weather, very cold weather and in torrential rain storms. So now you know my story of how the shakers in Kenan Football Stadium get there.

Oh So Tired!

Does your body ever decide it has had enough activity? Mine did on Saturday. I fixed breakfast and cleaned the kitchen then I had absolutely no energy. I just sat and read, napped and watched the Olympics while napping. About 10 pm that night the energy level started returning.

Now it is Tuesday and I feel a lot better. Which is a good thing since this is a very busy week. Thursday the Lord is giving me the opportunity to help out a good friend who will be having surgery on her knee. 5:00 am Friday is when the alarm will go off so I can be in Kenan Stadium by 6:00 am to put out shakers for the first UNC game of the season.

I enjoy this time of the year, football, fall and cooler weather! This week our good friends the Gages and Gorsuch's will be going to the game with us. I am looking forward to what the press says will be a good year for the Tar Heels.

This is my very first blog, so if anyone out there reads this have a forgiving nature. I am not a writer, just a wife, mother and grandmother who thought this would be fun to try.

My daughter and son-in-love are the writers. I am so in awe of their abilities, maybe you should check them out. I would love to tell you how to get to them but I am not sure how to do that yet. Hey I do know how to get to my email account and I have become to my pocketbook's harm pretty good at ebay. I have learned how to find a few things on the internet and I am on Facebook. So who knows I might even get the hang of this blogging. I have been told my niece Sharon has many blogs, I hope that is how you say that.

Well here it is, my first blog. I guess I am becoming "A Woman of the Ought's!)