The Right Reverend Human  

Pause For A Limerick

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHEROKEE GAL,
MY PASTOR AND ALSO MY PAL.
SO WIDE YOUR HEART YOU EXPAND
AS WE STACK DEMAND ON DEMAND
HANG IN THERE - DON'T THROW IN THE TOWEL.


Happy, Happy Birthday Pauline!

DEBATE ON GOOD FOOD

We both had our appointments with cardiologist yesterday. Doctor said we are very healthy except for the minor fact that we are both TOO FAT! Ron left the room before the doctor got more serious about it.

Today's devotional says, "We are to fuel our bodies with good food and properly attend to their care." Well, the food has been "good" alright, but I more think it is to be good as in "good-for-you". Ron, of course, thinks just the opposite.

So, anyone who wants to pray for our attention to right eating and exercise, we will truly appreciate it.

However, you can put the prayers for us aside until you finish praying for Christy and Ethan's wedding. So far there are three horror stories to tell their children.....and someday the stories will be funny, just not yet. Oh, who to feel sorry for? The bride and groom or the mother-of-the-bride???

Retirement is the 7th Day

Chelle led her church group last night in a lesson on Pentecost. She planned to use Atomic Fireballs candy in the lesson. It will be interesting to hear how it went. I know it went very well.

Tandy had a house full of little girls last night for Beth's slumber party. He has worked hard all week getting the house ready for this special group. It is an almost given that these girls will go home today having had the time of their lives and Beth will be appreciative of her dad for making her birthday wish come true.

The devotional today says to imagine God as the nurturing mother coming home from work. She sits on porch in a rocking chair and views the goodness of her children working for the well being of others.

This analogy makes me happy on two levels. First to think of God with the face of a working woman who looks on her children with such pride! Second to remember that even God rested on the 7th day. Suddenly I realize after over 30 years in the workplace and playing dual role as head-of-household and homemaker, I can rest in this retirement. Ron keeps telling me it is okay not to always be doing something. He keeps saying that people need to take a course on retirement. We know that he earned his retirement in his over 30 years service.

My course on retirement was learned this morning. I now can see that Retirement is the 7th Day.

FUNKY MUSIC

Tandy called this morning. He held out the phone so I could hear Ryan marching in his first parade. Ryan played the base drum. It was so cool, and, of course I cried. I think if Tandy hadn't been laughing so hard he was about to cry too. He is doing an excellent job of embarrassing Ryan to death! That is rule one of parenting. As the band was warmng up, Tandy yelled at the flute player, "Play that funky music white boy" while Ryan ducked in shame. Then, during the parade, I heard Tandy yell, "That's my boy!" as the band was marching by. I'm sure Ryan ducked again.

So, what else is that guy and his family doing? Well, the boys have won their last four baseball games and Beth is having her first slumber party tonight. Hopefully you can check Odd's blog and get updates on the party.

AFTER THE RAIN

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Lord of all,
to thee we raise
this our hymn
of grateful praise.
...Folliot S. Pierpoint, 1864

Standing by an overflowing pond and listening to the sounds of nature after shooing away the baby chickens grouped around my feet, this verse was brought to mind.

Strawberry Pig

I am a strawberry pig. Our garden is beginning to overflow and I am filled with evil greed as I pick them and eat them all.

MADE UP HUMMINGBIRDS

Sunday Ron told me he saw a hummingbird scouting for feeders. Tuesday evening I remembered and put out two feeders. Wednesday morning I sat outside with my coffee and waited, only to be rewarded by the first visiting hummingbird of the season. Chelle called and said, “Our first hummingbird came to the feeder today.” I replied, “We had our first hummingbird visitor this morning as well.” Chelle then said, “I only put out the feeders last night.” And I replied, “I did too.” Chelle replied, “We saw the first hummingbird scouting for feeders on Sunday.” “So did we!” I shouted. Chelle used to complain that everytime she had a headache, I had a headache too. She thought I was making up my headache. Do you think she thinks I was making up my hummingbird?

Hardened Hearts

Anne Frank said, "...in spite of everything, I still believe people are good at heart." That is becoming a more difficult philosophy to embrace.

We must take our "good hearts" and wrap them tightly around innocent children who are victims of violence at the hands of repeat villains.

We must take our "good hearts" and harden them toward the perpetrators and predators. We must let the murderers know that they had their ONE chance (not their 6th or their 11th!) and now they must be corralled for the remainder of their natural lives or make them face the executioner. At that point we trust our Creator to judge.

Caring adults can blink and lose sight of their child. Children deserve some freedom, some exploring time, some time to be children. Children need freedom to stretch their imaginations. Therefore we must NEVER blink and take our eyes off known maniacs and deviant predators

SPEAK CHICKEN

I listen closely in an attempt to learn chicken language. There is a language among chickens. The rooster signals and even the baby chicks understand.

This morning the chickens are all alive. Last night Macy said,"Ann, are any of your baby chickens dead yet?" "No" I responded. "Good" Macy said, "I sure hope they don't die."

Watching chickens is peaceful and enjoyable. A squirrel joined me to watch. We both sat quietly. I spoke to the squirrel and all the baby chicks perked ups and came rushing to me. They swarmed like bees at my feet. Oh my, I wonder what expectations they have of their mother?

At least the babies have learned about strength in numbers. They now move together as if they are a single cloud.

"All gifts are welcome" the devotional states, "no matter." Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, judging. Gifts are in varities but the same Spirit.

It is wonderful to be outside. We have big red strawberries popping out. A Big Blue Heron comes to our shallow pond to be nourished on frogs and crawdads. As I listen I hear, drifting along on a gentle breeze. the hammering and suddenly the loud strong voice of my beloved..."G__D___F_____!" end quote :-)

What's a Nora Bean?

Happy first birthday to Nora Bean. Just bet her Kansas grandparents are trying to devise some way to get to Chicago!

This is also a birthday, of sorts, for Boss Hog and the remaining 9 of the dirty dozen. They arrived at our home on this day last year. They were one week old at the time.

The new chickens survived the night. They were all shut in together last night with the babies sleeping below the normal chicken roost and all the big chickens grouped at the opposite end of the house, huddled in fright of the little girls.

It is my plan to go to HMS (Her Majesties Studio) every morning and start my day with meditation, planning and then move to exercise. I must get started really early today because it is going to be a scorcher of a day.

The refrigerator from Tulsa house has been moved into this house and all the groceries swapped out. The Tulsa refrigerator is still like new and it's kind of a fond memory to open it now and reach inside.

I'm going to spend a portion of my day attempting to mentally solve the exclusiveness of this small town. My meditation for today deals with inclusiveness and got me to thinking, that on a much smaller scale, this is not much different than the United States going to Iraq and seeking acceptance. We can volunteer our services. We can provide money for projects. But beyond our stepping forward, we are useless and never approached in friendship. Around here, the Emperor has NO CLOTHES and that is that! Well, I hope to motivate myself to become a fly in the ointment right along with M.H. (My Husband).

INTRODUCTIONS

Today the Twylas and Junes met Boss Hog and the Ladies. Ron invented a wonderful metal house for the little girls and put it in the corner of the hen house. This way they have a place to retreat and to harbor their own food and water in case the hens get aggressive. The Twylas and Junes ventured out of their house to the center of the hen house. The Ladies ventured into the hen house. Then the ladies ventured back out. They returned with The Boss. Boss Hog and the ladies grouped in the corner opposite the T's and J's. Each group sent a representative to the middle of the hen house. The big chickens were big chickens. The little girls were very aggressive and eager for some fowl companionship. Soon The Boss strolled over, looked at the five Twylas and the five Junes. Then he turned and marched out. All the gossiping hens followed him, leaving the new girls to stretch their tiny necks and try to see outside the chicken house as they gather their nerve to venture out. To Be Continued

THE SPIRIT

"It is all about me" once again as I struggle with weight, cholesterol, undue stress.

This Monday we are reminded of The Spirit and urged to be in touch with The Spirit within us and within those we encounter. Look for the presence. It is a great challenge to carry into this new day, this new week. We should be attuned to all our senses for revelation and release.

The good news -- We purchased new toilet for new house.

The bad news -- Refrigerator broke. (The chickens will be eating very well all week.)

Elizabeth's Day

She is a sweetheart our wonderful Beth
A beauty that takes away breath
Her ninth birthday is here
Let’s give her a special cheer......
(As her dad plots her future boyfriend's painful death!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!

and
Today is special for another Elizabeth

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOTHER!

I am so grateful this Mother's Day to have such a wonderful mother.

and another Elizabeth

ME

I am fulfilled to be a mother and mother-in-law and godmother and stepmother and grandmother and enjoy such a vital, interesting and spectacular passel of talented, charming, capable big and little kids.

What will be

The long wall is the outside of our master bedroom closet. The still open side is the bathroom, utility room. Since I took these photos an actual window has been put in place at the back. It is so exciting.

We're talking walls! 

More Progress 

Seis de Mayo

Here’s to the memory of my best friend Pat
Who would listen to me mindlessly chat.
Then with a most loving smile
After I had rambled quite a long while,
She calmly advised, “Oh you should not do that“.

Today is Patricia Ann’s birthday. It should always be celebrated. We are so much better off because she was in our lives.

Jessi and Travis, your mom's split present from me is in the mail.

Closing The Gap

Today the fence was finished. Last year our neighbor Cindy moved back to California and we had not put up the fence between her place and ours. The new neighbors moved in with their four pit bulls. Ron completed most of our fence but there was one section that was rocky and made driving fence post very difficult. The neighbor's pit bulls turned into eight plus they added four rat terriers. Last night, just as we let the chickens out and headed out for our evening drive, three of the neighbor's dogs came bounding through the space in the fence and headed for our house. Today's priority -- close the gap. It is done!

Report

I tiptoed into Hope's room to make sure she was sleeping and she was but when I looked at her little angel face I saw Chelle when she was a little girl. It's the first time I realized how much Hope looks like her mommy. She certainly acts like her mommy.

Mike was busy hiding in the woods so the neighborhood girls could not find him. They ride up and down the road on their motor vehicle looking and looking for Michael. (I keep forgetting he goes by Michael and not Mike.) I'm sure it won't be long before he stops hiding from the girls.