Kenya Bound

Tonight husband and I drove over to the Bible college town to see our youngest and to take him out to dinner before he leaves on Thursday for Kenya. Usually when we show up to take him to dinner he asks if a few friends can join us, (we have had as many as 7 before)…we lucked out tonight, only one friend joined us. This guy is also going to Kenya and we were glad to meet him. We went to the local Cracker Barrel. Yum. I figured a tasty All-American meal would be good for the boys. We also delivered airplane goodie bags for youngest to pass out to the kids on the trip. It is a long flight you know.

So keep him in your prayers that God would bless their labor and help them be a blessing to those they meet. Pray that God would prepare their hearts for what they will see and experience. And while you are praying you might put in a word or two for me. While I love it that he is going, I know I will be at greater peace when he is home. I thought I was fine, but the tears came when we said goodbye. I am sure he expected that.

Globetrotters

I know I have really been slacking off in my blogging lately. I am truly sorry. Both of my sons have big events coming up and the details have me very busy. Youngest leaves this Thursday bright and early for his trip to Kenya. He is getting very excited. I spent a good part of today running around and purchasing various items for the trip. I think he is basically ready. We are making a trip this Tuesday to take him out to dinner and take him all his trip essentials. I am also getting excited, and I can honestly say that at this point I am not apprehensive at all. If I were to see him off at the airport, I might think differently, but as for now I am fine. We will see how I feel Tuesday evening. I still think I will be fine, because I know how well suited he is for this trip.

Oldest son is also making preparations for his upcoming trip. Today we purchased his ticket for Amsterdam. This is an item for prayer. He will have to have a special permit allowing him to stay and “work” for six months. Anything less and a permit would not be necessary. Ironically, you have to pay for this permit, and they are not cheap. This will cost about $600.00. Pretty hefty, when he will not be paid anything to “work” there his first 3 months, and after that he will receive only about $60.00 a month. Plus, these permits take time and are a bit of a process. As for now, since the permit will not be finalized for about 6 weeks, and since rarely they do not go through, we purchased only a one-way ticket. As soon as we know his return date, hopefully in early December we will watch for our best price to purchase the return ticket. (Unless he falls in love, marries, and decides to stay…)

Oldest son is also making preparations for his graduations this May from his two colleges. That will be a hectic day for sure, one commencement at 10:00 am, and the other, 30 miles away at another college, at 2:00 pm. He is not really anxious about the second commencement, but he is doing it for Mom. Then he will have 17 days at home before Amsterdam.

So, I do have good reasons for slacking off, and once again, I will try to do better.

This and That

I want to thank you all for your prayers on Saturday, I am much better now, it is just a one-day a year funk that I go through. I am focusing this week on the here and now. Meaning, our youngest son, who is here now for his college spring break. I will be very busy this week cooking real food, as he does not want anything from a microwave or remotely considered fast food. Yesterday I made him a Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake, which I hope he eats lots of. Two of his friends are coming to visit later in the week and he wants steaks when they come, but I am not sure the new budget will allow them. We will see, maybe if I buy nothing else at the store...for a week.

He is getting very excited about his upcoming trip to Kenya; we will go out later in the week to pick up trip necessities. His group will have a six-hour layover in Zurich, Switzerland. Oh, how he is hoping to get out of the airport. One of his goals in life is to visit all seven continents (I questioned him about Antarctica, but it is still on his list). He is planning on counting Europe when he lands in Switzerland. What do you think Bloggers, is that legal. Believe it or not, after Kenya he will have 4 of the 7 off his list. (If we allow Europe)

Well, now much more for now, but I wanted to let you all know that I am doing fine.

March 3rd

I do not like this day. I never will. It is odd that an event, which happened 29 years ago, would shape my life forever. I have often said that I do not want to be defined by the events of my life, but rather by my reaction to them. I am not so sure that my reaction to this event has yet been finalized. I am still reacting to it. But does this event “define” me? I never wanted it to, but in some ways I guess it does. I changed forever that day.

29 years ago today my mother died. Most people step around that word, calling it passing, left, departed, lost, even expired. I just say it like it is. She died. The word and everything about it is ugly. I know it has to happen, and that it’s the way God created us, but it still stinks.

I was 21 years old. Five weeks until my wedding day. Five weeks to adjust from the saddest most hurtful day of my life to the most wonderful day. I still miss her. I miss our times together, but mostly now, I miss what we did not have, and what we will never have. I have lived more without her than I did with her, and my entire married life has held this huge void. Not once could I call my mother for a recipe, household tip, or parenting advice. Never did she hold, kiss, or baby-sit my boys. She never visited my home, commented on my decorating, or helped me pick out curtains and wallpaper. Yes, I miss my mother, but I miss the idea of a mother just as much.

To be fair, I must tell you that God stepped in to help with that void, as two incredible people became valuable mentors in my journey to womanhood, and without them I cannot tell you what I would have done.

One is my sister. I leaned on her hard in those early days. We both hurt so badly and in many ways wanted each other to fill the void that we felt. I tried to turn her into a surrogate mother, and looked to her for all types of advice and assistance. I just did not realize that being “my mother” was not really a role she desired at that time, she was grieving too hard. She needed to be just my sister, and I was grieving too hard to notice. Over the years though, our relationship as sisters is stronger than ever, and our now our roles are clear.

My other anchor became my mother-in-law. I know, it does not fit with conventional wisdom, that I would have an incredible relationship with my husband’s mother. On the day of my mother’s funeral, my soon to be mother-in-law whispered in my ear that she did not want to replace my mother, but that she would “be there if I needed her”. She did not know what she getting herself into…I have never stopped needing her!

There are few bonds stronger than that of a mother and child. That this bond would be so strong this far from the grave is a mystery to me. Will I still ache on this day 29 years from now? Will I still grieve and have pity parties when I think about the times we never had? I guess time will tell.

In the past, I have tried to use this day to celebrate her, rather than grieve. I have worn my mother’s favorite color: pink. I have gone to visit my sister and aunt and we all wore pink. I do not know yet what all this day will bring. I will try to focus on the best parts of the time I had with her, but yet realistically, I will be sad as well.

If you have a living mother, take a moment for me, and think of her. Think of the ways she has enriched your life. Think of the things you take for granted, and cherish them now. And while you are thinking, think of me please, just on this day. I still hate it.

Lazy?

Sorry all, I know that I have been lazy in my blogging. I am not a lazy person; quite honestly I think I am a very productive person. I am just not able to sit at the computer as much as I would like. I have been lost in recent days to tax prep, FAFSA prep, and various types of paperwork.

I am currently reading 3 books, The Bible, Mean Girls ,(a great book I am reading with my high school girl group) , and Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey, (reading this and doing a 13 week financial study with my adult small group) and I have 2 Karen Kingsbury books calling my name. By the way, I highly recommend the Dave Ramsey study. ( I tried to underline these book titles, however Blogger would not let me)

Husband was off all weekend and we kept quite busy. It was wonderful having him help with the Saturday cleaning. Having small group meeting at your house seems to motivate you into cleaning a little deeper. On Sunday we went to SAMS and added to the Walton family inheritance. Big shopping day.

All for now, I know I am lacking in quantity. Perhaps more later.
Oh- Inkling, I am so glad you are enjoying your cookbook. I wish I could be there as well and have you or Henry David cook up something wonderful for me.

Bible Reading Update

Thank you Queen Mother for asking, you are the only one who has. I have suffered a bit with the Israelites. I guess I am still wandering in the desert of Exodus. Actually in late January I began Exodus, but for some reason, I stopped after the 4th chapter. I am however still reading. I have continued in the Gospels, and have since late January also finished Mark and Luke, I am now in John. I plan on returning to the desert and with the Israelites soon though. I have skipped some days, which I regret. I still desire to get to the point where reading my Bible comes as natural as breathing. I am going to continue to pick it up though, even if I miss a few here and there. The more I pick it back up, the more natural it will become.

Please continue to keep me on track.

NINE, count them, NINE Children

You might think I am in a nostalgic mood, because my recent posts seem to be based upon old pictures. Actually, I am in love with my scanner and computer and am learning new tricks. As I play more with this technology, I am finding great pictures from my childhood, motherhood and every other important “hood” of my life to scan and then import into my photo program, and eventually into my blog. Some members of my family are getting about 3 emails a day of old pictures which I have dug out of their hiding places. So far they have not complained, but soon when I uncover the vacation photos they just might start.

So, here we go again with some exciting photos from the archives of Silver Belle.
You might remember from my early posts that I am the last of 9 children. I thought you all would like to see the family photo. Well, the “almost family” photo. You see, in the first picture, my mother was pregnant with me. And wouldn’t you know it, this was the last family photo they bothered to have taken. Why, you might ask? Good question. We believe that due to the twin 's (top row middle 2 boys) upcoming trip to the wild blue yonder with the United States Air Force that a photo at this stage of Mother’s pregnancy must have seemed like the thing to do. Who knew that one of the twins would decide to make a 20-year career of the military, pretty much preventing another family photo opportunity?

But alas, thanks to the modern marvel we call Photo Shop, my oldest son was able to fix the problem of the missing baby belle in the family photo.
Photo 2 clearly shows an adorable baby girl upon her daddy’s knee.
Photo 3 is the one, which was shrunk, flipped, shadowed, “noised”, (technical term) and then added to the gang.

Yes, there are a few things that could have been touched up, but all in all I think it is a fine job. I finally have the much-needed place in the family photo and my dad has someone else to smile along with him in the shot.

Sunday, February 19, 1984

The day began with a phone call. At 1:00 in the morning our friend called. He was taking his wife to the hospital because she was having labor pains. I had told them to call me no matter what time it was. I did not tell him that I was possibly in labor as well. It was too early to know for sure, and I had not told husband yet. I returned to bed to inform husband of the news. All of it. As time progressed we were convinced that we would be making the same trip. By 7:30 we were entering the labor and delivery department of the local hospital. As I was being wheeled into a labor room, my friend was being wheeled out of the labor department and into a delivery room. Shortly after, we heard the news of their new healthy baby boy. What an encouragement as I prepared for the day’s events. This labor proved to be hard, with much intense back labor. Then, at 4:05 pm our firstborn arrived. He was perfect.

So, Happy BIRTH-day to me. What an amazing day it was. I do not want more children at this point, but I would live that day over in a heartbeat. To experience that joy again on this earth would be wonderful. That one day defined euphoria.

Our world changed that day, and for the better. The last 23 years have been a wonderful ride. Our son has grown into an incredible young man. The world is out there just waiting on him to finish school and soak it all in. God has plans for him, which he cannot imagine and we are so anxious to watch these plans unfold.

So, Happy Birthday to you oldest son, enjoy this day and think of the incredible adventures this year will bring. What a year it will be!

"Aunt Silver Belle, tell me about when you were poor"

(This is the actual outhouse from my childhood.)



Many years ago, a delightful little brunette would climb on my lap and beg for stories about when I was poor. I thought it no big deal that I actually had the experience growing up of trekking to the outhouse in the middle of the night, or using the “thunder bucket” when the rain and winds prevented such a trip. I thought nothing of telling how my sister and I made our own paper dolls cut from old pattern catalogs, or that clothespins carefully placed around the perimeter of my skirt would be the perfect substitute for the fringe on a cowgirl’s costume, just like Dale Evans wore. I could see the wonder in this brunette’s eyes as I described the way I would swish that skirt back and forth to hear the clothespins dance.

This little girl would listen as I explained having to go outside to the pump and work the handle up and down to get water, and how we were fortunate to have a similar pump handle next to our kitchen sink as our only means of inside water. She loved having me describe lying in bed and watching the flames flicker inside the coal stove and seeing the glow reflected on the wall. The stories of her aunt sitting in a cold metal wash tub in the middle of the kitchen floor to take a bath and how Aunt Silver Bell’s mother would heat the water to just the right temperature would make her happy for her own warm baths.

She could not believe it when I would tell her that my family did not go out to eat, that a restaurant was for the rich, and that even the most popular fast food establishment was reserved for the rare trip to the south to visit family. That, only after begging our father to please let us have something to eat other than the cold ham sandwiches our mother had packed. Knowing his love for Coca-Cola, we were able to persuade him on a few rare occasions.

She loved the stories of how my sister and I would get excited when bags of clothes from who we thought were rich cousins would arrive. Cousins we had never really met, but whose mom was anxious to get rid of some old clothes. Clothes that we thought would elevate our standing to that of a rich kid. Clothes were magic that way.

Little brunette could not understand how my family could not afford snacks at the grocery. Basics were all my parents bought, and those only if they were on sale. My sweet tooth was satisfied by the occasional taste of powdered Jell-O, I would sneak from the cabinet. (I am convinced I should have invented Pixie-Stix)

Yes, Farm Wife, Aunt Silver Belle was poor. But I am rich in memories, which provided a vast amount of stories to tell that curious little brunette. Make memories for your own little ones; tell them all you remember about your childhood. You can even tell them about when Great Aunt Silver Belle was poor.

SNOW DAY !!

I know that God is able to do exceedingly more than we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20) but let me make something clear. When I requested a snow day, I really did not ask for a BLIZZARD. Looks like it is here though in full force. I will use this day wisely as I am snuggled in my house, but I pray for those who must get out in this mess. Blizzards do not come often in my neck of the woods. I remember one way back when husband and I were dating, and miles apart. I do not think my boys have truly experienced this extreme weather.

I plan to post later today, another request for Farm Wife, but for now that is all. Keep warm, and safe.

Wally

Dear Readers,

I have had a special guest this weekend. Please welcome Wally into the world of blogging. He is the class penguin and he is traveling around the class enjoying big adventures. Much like Flat Stanley.

I tried to make Wally's weekend fun, so you will see in the previous posts that he was quite busy.

I will resume my regular blogging at a later date. These are for the kids in our class.

I am watching the big game. I was nervous for a while, especially when the Bears came out so strong, but the Colts did it. Mrs. W. sure was happy.

Mrs. W. and I made cupcakes for the big game. I especially liked this one.

The pews in Mrs. W's church sure are big, and they are blue like the Colts!

Yeah Colts! I knew you could do it!

Sorry Bears.

I loved the big chair in Mrs. W.'s Sunday School room.

This picture is of Wally in Sunday School today. He is reading the Bible.

Wally

This is me sleeping in my cozy bed. It was a bit warm. I wanted to sleep outside, but Mrs. W. had a problem with that.

Wally's Wonderful Weekend....

I loved the Outback Steakhouse.
The food was really good, and Mrs. W. has some really funny friends.