Bo's dad, Corky was diagnosed with Metastatic Lung Cancer today in stage 3.5 to 4. A very serious and grave diagnosis for him. I know he must be feeling very scared and upset tonight. He will begin a treatment of chemotherapy and radiation soon.

I know that Paula, Bo's mom, Bo and his siblings are feeling very sad and worried tonight. I hope they find comfort and rest in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is in control of all that happens and he knows best. But still, the trials we face in this life are sometimes very hard to deal with. The people we love in this world are very precious to us.

Our time on earth during this life is just a short stopping place on our way to heaven, if we know the Lord Jesus, if he is our substitute, our advocate, if he died for us on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. We can rest, assured, if we know him.

May the Lord's will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Would you take me to the mall? Would you take me to the YMCA? Would you take me to work? I need a ride to my friends house. These are questions I hear almost daily. But in just one month, I shouldn't be hearing them anymore. Mason will be turning 16, and he will be getting his driver's license (if he passes the driving test). Yikes! Mason with his driver's license. That's a scarey thought. No, really, he's a pretty responsible boy.

I have had kids that needed rides for the last 27 years of my life. Since I was 23 years old and had my first son, Cody. Now, Cody & Mason were both very good to use their legs and their bicycles to get around quite a bit. But still, there are lots of places legs and bicycles can't go and get there very quickly.

Part of me is glad Mason will be driving, and part of me is sad too. He is growing up and moving on, just like Cody did. And the old saying:

A daughter is a daughter all of her life, but a son is a son til he takes a wife.

is true in a lot of ways.

---Well, I still have a few more years with Corbin.

Isnt this a pretty picture that a friend sent to me? Her husband is a photographer and they live in Friday Harbour of San Juan Island, WA. His website is here.

(Double-click on the picture to make it bigger).

It was taken at Skagit Valley near Tacoma, WA. Did you ever go there, Jocelyne?

I think the snow geese are so pretty and fun to watch. We used to have some at Rita Blanca Lake in Dalhart sometimes. When they all take off together, it is just amazing to watch (like the ones in the background of this picture).

The wind is blowing so hard here today. 40-50 mph with 60-70 mph gusts! Corbin & I tried to run across the street this morning, but had to walk mostly. It was just too hard to run in the wind. I thought he was going to blow away just like a leaf.


And another one.

Corbin & I went to see a play tonight called 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.' It was put on by a local theater group of young people. We tried to get Mason to go with us, but I guess he thought it was just too uncool to go to a play on Friday night with (gasp) your mom & young nephew.

Bo stayed the night in Gruver to work tomorrow. He has taken most of the week off this week to be at the hospital with his dad who has had pneumonia, and is waiting for a diagnosis on a tumor in his lung. The doctors took tissue for a biopsy earlier in the week, but it was inconclusive, so they will try again on Wednesday of next week. In the meantime, he went home from the hospital today and will go back next Wednesday. May the Lord's will be done in that situation, as I know it will be.

Anyway, the play was really good and the young actors did a great job. I was somewhat surprised that they did as well as they did. I don't know what I expected exactly, but just thought it would be more amateur-ish than it was, I guess. Corbin enjoyed it alot too, although I don't think he understood what was going on thru much of it. You had to really listen to follow the story, but it had alot of funny lines.

I talked to sister Glenda today. It's her birthday and she was doing well. Happy Birthday Glender! She is three years younger than me, but was always much tougher than me growing up. I was a big wienie and both my sisters could beat me up pretty easily.

One time Gendy took me for a ride on her dirt bike. (I should have known better). We were about 11 or 12 & 14 or 15 years old or maybe a little younger. I can't remember for sure. Anyway, it was just a little 50cc motorcycle, and we could both barely fit on it, so I was kind of hanging off the back. She started going pretty fast and I kept telling her to SLOW DOWN! Of course, she didn't listen to me and just laughed at me as she sped down the blacktop road. We hit a bump and, --you guessed it, I fell off the back. Dang, that hurt. I had road rash all over, and got up limping home. She came back and rode along beside me telling me to 'get on and I'll take you home.' I wasn't about to ride with her again and I was furious with her. 'No way and get out of here and leave me alone!' I yelled at her. I can still remember how mad I was. LOL. That night I couldn't sleep all night, I was hurting so bad. I had big oozing scrapes on both legs and on my arms. --And she just went on her merry way, unscathed.

Thanks alot, Gendy!

Here's the house we're waiting on to finish being built, so we can move into the builder's old house. It is supposed to be done by the middle of April. (First it was December, then February, now April). I went inside today and looked around and there's still quite a bit to be done on the inside so I'm skeptical about the middle of April. Now if they would work on it everyday, they could get it done, but from what I see, they only work on it about one day a week. And it's hard to get alot done working at that pace.

I can tell you one thing, if I ever do build a house, I will not use that builder.

Christ our Substitute

I love the gospel. It is truly a wonderful declaration to God’s people. And it IS a declaration, not an offering. The Lord Jesus Christ took upon himself all the sin of the elect and the punishment for that sin, and gave to us his holy & perfect righteousness. Now we can stand before the father, holy & without blame. Now we can enter into heaven and fellowship with the father. We have no sin. We are perfect. ---What? Me, perfect? How can that be? --Only, ONLY in Christ, my substitute. Praise his wonderful, holy name!

Jesus paid it all,
All to him I owe.
Sin hath left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.

I took this picture a few months ago when I was out on a bike ride one day. Cody, Adam & I lived in this house. This is the house we lived in when Adam died. I have such sweet memories as I look at it. What I wouldn’t give to go back for just a little while. But I know it would never be enough, and the thought of what would happen later would ruin it for me. So I guess there is no going back, is there?

I have been a bit under the weather the last few days. Wednesday afternoon at work, I began to feel sluggish and feverish, so I decided to head home and get some rest. Later that night my stomach began to feel queasy and that lead to a case of the ‘back door trots’ or the 'running off' as we called it growing up. (Do you have the 'running off,' my mother would ask) --Seems kinda funny now, but sounded perfectly normal back then.

Anyway, ---Not a fun time, and this went on most of the night and part of the next day. Then Friday morning, I felt somewhat better, albeit tired and unenergetic, but I decided to go back to work nevertheless and hopefully get some things accomplished. It was a pretty productive day and I felt better as the day went along.

But then, last night, it all started again. No, no, no, I said, I’m supposed to be getting better! ---All to no avail. I was up again all last night. Once I even slipped and fell on the bathroom rug, as I was making a mad dash to the comfort station. (no, I wasn’t hurt, just a little disheveled).

I’m better today, but again feel drained and tired.Ugh.

I ate some no-fat Pringles on Wednesday and again on Friday, you know, the new kind with the fat substitute olestra (also called olean). I can’t imagine that would make this happen to me, but I have read that olestra can have this side effect in about 2% of people that eat them. Funny thing is, I’ve eaten them before, several months back and was fine. So maybe I just have a bug.

Who knows?? But I don’t plan on eating no-fat Pringles again any time soon. (They sure were good though and with only half the calories as regular Pringles).

Hope you’re having a good day anyway.

Are you a hugger?

I read this post on a blog that I regularly read called Antique Mommy, on the subject of hugging. (wish I could be as funny as she is). Boy, could I relate and was so glad to know I’m not the only one feeling that way. I was beginning to think I was just really weird or something.

Have you noticed that hugging seems to be a big thing these days? I just gotta say I’m really not very comfortable with it. Now mind you, I love a hug from close family or friends, people I love and care about, but strangers or mere acquaintances, I can do without the hugs. A nice smile and a nod will do, thank you.

Frankly, I don’t even care for the handshake. I always walk away wondering where that hand has been, and consciously try to remember not to touch my mouth or face until I wash my hands.

Here’s a video that has been going around the internet for a while now about hugging. It really gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, but it almost makes you feel bad if you don’t like hugging strangers. Like you're just too uptight or something. I don't buy it. To me, hugging should be reserved for special people in my life!

What do you think?

Corbin came to spend the night with us on Saturday and that afternoon, Bo & I took him skating. It was lots of fun. Corbin is just learning, but he did really well. Then Sunday afternoon Corbin wanted to go BACK to the skating rink, so being typical grandparents, we said, w-w-e-e-l-l-l....OK. (John Rosemond. a leading parenting expert, says it's OK for grandparents to spoil their grandchildren).

I skated both days, but Bo only skated on Sunday. Thankfully Bo & I both stayed on our feet the whole time, although we didn't go very fast. Can't say the same for Corbin though. He probably has a few sore spots today.

After skating, we went to eat hamburgers at 'Buns over Texas,' a hamburger place here in town. After you place your food order, they ask your name. We gave them Corbin's name. When your order is ready, they call out 'Corbin, your buns are up!' We all got a kick out of that.

Mason played in a basketball tournament ALL day on Saturday from 8 am until 10pm. We went to watch his games, but left to do other things in between. He likes it better when we are not there, and he can just 'be himself' with his friends --without us around. Mmmmmm. Imagine that.

A good quote

“If we wish to conquer undesirable emotional tendencies in ourselves, we must assiduously, and in the first instance cold-bloodedly, go through the outward motions of those contrary dispositions we prefer to cultivate.” --William James.

I like this quote. I read it on a blog that I read regularly called The Happiness Project. I think it has alot of truth to it because I have found it to be true in my own life, if I will just do it. Another way of saying it is 'fake it till you make it.'

I used to think that if I didn't FEEL something, there was no point taking the action. I believe now that feelings can follow actions. If I really want to change something about myself, but I don't FEEL like doing what it takes, I can just pretend I feel like it, go ahead and take the action, and alot of times the feelings will come soon after. It's not easy and it takes work, but it does seem to work many times.

--I think that is a good thing to know.

Take a look at this guy.

We live on a street of townhouses. Most of the townhouses are occupied by older folks. They are all very friendly and nice. Great neighbors.

Right across the street from us is a couple in their 90's, Henry & Ivy. The street mailbox-center is right in front of their house and during the warmer months, they sit outside and talk to everyone as they go to pick up their mail.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that their truck was stuck in the snow at the end of the street and there were two men helping them get unstuck. A couple of hours later, our doorbell rang, and there was Henry. This 90-something year old man had walked across the slick street that was covered with ice and snow. He was holding out $5.00.

Hello Henry, How are you? …….Uh, what’s that for?

It’s for your husband and son, for helping get my truck unstuck this morning.

Uh, Henry, that wasn’t my husband and son. Bo is out of town and Mason has been in school all morning.

What?? That wasn’t your husband and son helping me?

No, it wasn’t

Are you sure? I could have sworn it was them.

Yes, I’m sure. It wasn’t them.

Well, OK then. ……….I wonder who it was.

Then he turned to walk away with a puzzled look on his face.

I don’t know, but please be careful crossing that street.

I cringed as I watched him cross that slick street again, but he made it home safely. Thank goodness.

This morning as Bo & I were sitting around, not doing much, the doorbell rang. I went to the door and there was Henry.

My wife wanted me to bring this present and card over to your son for delivering our paper every morning.

Your paper?

Yes, isn’t your son the one who delivers our paper everyday?

Uh….. No. That’s not our son. He doesn’t deliver papers.

He doesn’t? My wife said it was your son, and she sent me over here with this present (a container full of tootsie rolls). I’ve been over twice already this morning and you weren’t home. ….Well, what the heck, just give him the present and card anyway.

Oh no. That’s not necessary.

No, no, please, just keep it. And he turned and walked away.

Well, OK. Bye then.

Bo & I looked at each other and smiled.

About ½ an hour later, the door bell rings again. Ding Dong.

Yes?

It’s Ivy, Henry’s wife.

Can I have that present and card back?

Yes, mam. Here it is.

Thank you. I don’t know why he left it here in the first place since your son doesn’t deliver our paper.

And back across the street she went.

We got our natural gas bill last week and I about fell out of my chair. $31! --- $31? What??

Since we are in this smaller place, I have been turning the heat up MORE than I did in our bigger house, thinking it would be OK. But I was expecting $125 - $150 or so. We have had a cold winter so far. I was getting bills around $225 at our house last year and we had a mild winter.

Last month I got a bill of $25. I was shocked then too, but it was our first cold weather bill, and I thought surely they hadn’t read our meter yet or something. So I was expecting it to all catch up this month. I got this bill, and slowly opened it expecting the worse. And as I said, I about fell out of the chair.

I started to get worried, thinking something is wrong, ….I’m going to get a huge bill sometime in the future. This just can’t be right. Heck, I’ve been keeping the thermostat on 72-73 degrees.

So I called up my landlord. Our heating IS natural gas, isn’t it? Yes, she assured me it is.

OK, so next I called Atmos Energy. Could you check and make sure my meter is being read? I just can hardly believe my bill is right. She checked, and came back. Your bill is right. Your meter is being read.

Wow! This is weird. I feel like I’m ripping somebody off or something. But hey, I’m going to relax and enjoy it.

This will pay for those jeans I bought last week that weren’t in the budget.