Both You and I are part of these stories as long as one of us is around to tell them.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Adventures in Confessions
I have a confession that haunts the ages.
It’s only been the last couple of weeks that I learned my grandfather’s full name is Thomas Wilbur Shaw, my mother’s dad. Now my other grandfather’s name is Paul Himes Nichols, which I’ve known from the get-go.
Further, I have a brother whose name is Paul Thomas Nichols. He died of SIDS long before I was born. Well, lookee there: they named him after his grandfathers. I was named after my parents, which I just figured out about a year ago. Confession: I must be pretty dense.
Another Confession: I really, really like Real Simple Magazine
I recently realized something so ancient, so universal, so common and so true that I'm surprised no one else has ever documented it before. Oh well, brilliance and creativity are bestowed only upon a few.
But pay attention to this: whenever two or more men get together to stack things; or to load a pickup; or pack a moving van, they will tie everything down securely when they're done. Then one of them will always--always!--affectionately pat the load and say, "That ain't going nowhere."
Have I discovered a wonderful truth or what?
God bless America. Please enjoy your 4tha July weekend.
Sometimes I walk all the way around the mall. It's only a mile around, but I can make it two miles by zig-zagging through the parking areas, too.
Well, yesterday I came across these three little kids just being the best of friends. And they're sitting on the kind of bench that kids like the most. Just a rough ol' log. They let me take several pictures and they showed me their critters. I'll put these pictures in my Benches Folder.
Three Friends by the Mall
Critters and Friends
They told me their names are (L-R) Hey You, Bea Quite and Hush Upp.
I love kids. One day they're gonna grow up and run this country. It's happened before.
I have a new favorite Web Site: Unclutterer.com. Great ideas and great fun. (That's where I first saw that greeting card.) Another new favorite Web Site is Coal Creek Farm. Whoever heard of a chicken doctor? But that's what she is. It's a goofy, family-friendly site. All good.
Think about it first, young people: Just before I went to bed last night, I heard this TV remark. "Fifty percent of all marriages end up lasting a lifetime."
Yesterday evening (Father's Day and the longest day of the year) I set out to take a couple of pictures of a church steeple I knew about. I accidentally took 83 photos. Here are only seven, not necessarily the best, but I'm too tired to judge them right now.
Pop Quiz: What is the Shawnee Indian word for "Beautiful?" Give up? "Olathe"(Pronounced o-LAY-thuh)
Wheat field, almost ready for combining, in Overland Park KS
Amber waves of grain in Overland Park KS.
Fences in Olathe KS
Abandoned barn(s) in Olathe KS
Grace Church Steeple, Olathe KS (Picture taken from 1/2 mile away)
Grace Church, Olathe KS (I think this is a Methodist Church)
Grace Church Steeple (from behind a "Christmas Tree")
I bought a birthday gift and a card Saturday for our nephew who just turned two. I was just about to check out when I had one of those Aha! moments.
I stepped out of line for a minute, and using my handy-dandy cell phone, called My First Wife. "Hi, Sweetie. Should I get myself a Father's Day card while I'm here?"
Three ladies standing nearby heard me. Two of them burst out laughing. "That's cute."
The third one screeched, "Oh, Sweet Goodness! I'm about to forget, too!"
I don't know who you are, sir, but you're gonna get a nice Father's Day card.
And no, My Sweet First Wife assured me that I didn't have to get a card.
Went out walking in The Big City Friday. Either three miles or 5K. While I was out there in the bright sunshine I decided to start a photo folder called Church Steeples. I'll begin with this one, even if it is a Baptist church.We have several great friends who attend this church, sometimes referred to as "the church on the hill."
While I was at it, I turned around and took this photo to include in my Fountains folder.
Trivia: At Christmas season, this fountain is the focal point of a spectacular light show. Lights are synchronized with music, which people can hear on their car radios. They park across the street in that church's parking lot to watch the show. I don't think the fountain is Baptist, though.
My First Wife and I have waited for two weeks while these lilies teased us and teased us. Finally, just a two days ago, they opened for us. When we finally saw them, we acted like we had just had a new baby. This is our second year with these beauties. Ain't they purty?
When they have more flowers to show, we'll show them here. Stay tuned.
Last week we visited our daughter's home. One of the first things we noticed was the huge bouquet of full white roses. (Kenju, you would have been proud.) Our SIL had just given them to our daughter to celebrate their wedding anniversary just a couple of days earlier. He sure done good.
During the course of the visit, I had occasion to be in their bedroom bathroom. I had never been there before except to peek in on the original tour of their home a few years ago. While I was there, I noticed a Sticky Note next to our daughter's sink. I don't know how long it has been there, but I can tell by the water stains and the curled corners that it's been there quite awhile.
"A... I will always fight for you. I will always pray for you. I will always love you. K..."
Ladies and Gentlemen, it just don't get any better than that. But would you keep this to yourselves. I don't want them to think I was snooping around.
Adventures in the Green, Green Hills of the Great Plains
I never thought I’d used the words “beautiful” and “Oklahoma” in the same sentence. But I did last weekend—more than once.
As a matter of fact, all the way through Kansas, Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle every blade and every leaf was a rich, rich healthy green. We’ve made that trip a ka-jillion times, but never has it been so bountifully beautiful. We kept saying to each other, “Man! Look at all this!”
The Bible says “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” And we saw cattle—fat cattle—on just about every lush, green hill we passed. These cattle are in the luscious Flint Hills of Kansas. Just think, in about a month, we’ll all be eating little portions of those cows. And look at all that green!
And you should have seen the wildflowers! Every mile through Oklahoma and Texas was painted with—well, just too purty for words.
I'm gonna take that trip alone some day, just to photograph barns. Like this one.
Our granddaughter entertained us at her recital. She played “My Heart Will Go On” and the “Mickey Mouse March.” (M I C...K E Y...M O U S Eeee!) Sorry. She rocked the house!
Then she was baptized Sunday morning, but we couldn’t see her. The baptismal water was way up high and she is way short. The pastor conducted the baptism, but let her dad lay her back into the water and raise her up out of it. We recommend that everyone get sons-in-law that are so committed to Jesus and family. Our granddaughter between a girlfriend and her cousin. She's holding the new Bible that Grandmother and Granddaddy (us) gave her after she was baptized.
It doesn’t get much better than mixing faith, family, fun, food, friends and fellowship all together. It was a peaceful, pleasant, purty Memorial Day weekend—sight and sound.
I apologize for the poor quality photos. Life happens sometimes.
Our little granddaughter will star in her first piano recital on Saturday. Then on Sunday she'll be baptized after recently asking Jesus to come into her little heart. We're excited. Please have a great weekend y'sevs.
