The Amazing Mason

One more

Mason started back to college on Monday taking Surgical Technology this time. Today we went and bought him some scrubbs to wear. Here he is:










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It's Been Raining!

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Yesterday morning Corbin, Lam & Quan came over. I was so glad to see them all. They were hungry guys so I made them some bacon & eggs for breakfast. Afterwards, we decided we would head out to Palo Duro Canyon. It was a nice cool day and that's what you need when going to the Canyon. Hiking around in the hot sun can be exhausting.

We stopped off at Subway and got some sandwiches to take with us. When we got there and starting to take off on a trail, we noticed it was pretty muddy because of the rain the night before. Ugh, that's was no good. So we got back in the car and drove around.

We pulled into the outdoor theater where they do the world famous play "Texas." Well, maybe not world famous, but famous in these parts anyway. We walked back stage and looked at all the staging equipment. It was pretty cool. I kept thinking, we probably shouldn't be back here, but we didn't see any signs that said 'keep out' or anything, so we kept wandering around and even took some pictures.












And then we looked up and there was a man with a mean look on his face. Uh-oh.

"You folks need to get out of here!" He said.

"Yes, sir! We are sorry, and we will leave right away."

He seemed very agitated at us and just stood there staring.

"You're not supposed to be in here." He said.

"So sorry Sir. We didn't take anything."

And we hooked 'em to the car. Whew! That was scarey. LOL.

We went across the street and got out of the car to try another trail. Corbin couldn't find his water bottle. He had given it to me to hold while I was taking their picture when we were backstage. I sat it down to take the picture. Oh dear, ----we left it there.

"We don't really need the water bottle," Corbin said, not wanting to go back over there.

I would have just said to forget it, but this water bottle was Cody's water bottle that he had while on the football team in high school. It says "Roye #32" on the side of it. I've had it for 10 years, and I wanted to keep it. O Brother.

So we got back in the car and headed across the street to find the boss of the outdoor theater. We waited outside for a few minutes because we sure weren't going back in there without permission. He finally came out.

"Sir, We left our water bottle in there. Could we go back inside and get it?"

"You left your water bottle?" He said.

"Y-Y-Y-Yes Sir. Could we please go get it?"

"Sure, you can." He said as he cracked a big smile.

"Whew! Thank you!"

And one of the twins (don't know which one, I still can't tell them apart) ran inside and got it.

We finally did find a trail to hike, so we did that and then went to the gift shop and looked around for a while.

It was a fun day.

We took this picture as we were leaving the park.








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Today was a busy day, but a very nice one. Friday is my day off, but there were a couple of things that really needed to be done, so I went to work for a couple of hours after going for a nice early morning walk. At noon, I left work and went to have lunch with Cody Lynn and Corbin at Chili's, and of course I loved that. After lunch, Corbin, Lam, Quan & I went swimming. I actually got in the water and swam. It was so hot just sitting on the side in the sun, and it was really fun.













After swimming, I met my friend at an Al-Anon meeting, which I enjoy attending, and it was a good meeting. I saw an old friend and his wife there, and they told me that her son had died just two weeks ago of a drug overdose, so she wasn't doing very well. Oh my, so sad. After the meeting, Rhonda & I went to eat Mexican Food and had a nice visit.

I got home and Haley, Mason's new friend is over visiting. Here's a picture I took of them.













It was a great day off!

I Love The Gospel

We have been visiting a ‘Calvinistic’ church the last few weeks, the only Calvinistic church I know of in our area. It’s the same church I wrote about a few months ago here. We decided then that we would not attend because of what we perceive as ‘works’ preaching.

I believe in gospel preaching. Preaching Christ and him crucified, and there is some of that going on at this church.

I decided to try the church again mainly because I wanted Mason to be around other young people, young people that have morals and values. And Mason likes the young people he has met there. I do too. In fact, Mason met a young girl there that he really likes. Her name is Haley and he has been hanging out with her quite a bit. A very sweet young girl. All the people at the church have been so nice and friendly. I genuinely like them. I went to a ladies gathering with them last Wednesday night, and talked at length with several of the ladies. Such nice people.

I’ve had a nagging feeling though about going to the church because of the ’works’ preaching and teaching. I’ve been praying that the Lord would show me if I should be attending or not. When I talk about my concerns with people, I am told, you will never find a perfect church. ----OK. I’ll keep going, I think, knowing all along in my heart that I am not looking for the perfect church. I know what dreadful sinners all people are, me included, and of course there is no perfect church. I can live with an unperfect church.

But, I just think there are some core things that I must have in a church that I am going to attend. One of those things is no works preaching. I believe the bible emphasizes repeatedly how it is all of grace and none of works. And not just in salvation. Look at Galatians 3.

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

I don’t want someone telling me what I need to DO for Christ. I want to hear Christ preached. I want to hear about what Christ has DONE, not I what I should DO.

When I hear about Christ and him crucified, it wells up within me such love for him. That makes me want to do the right things. (Not that I always do, in fact I fail miserably).

This morning in Sunday School, the lesson was on evangelizing. Teaching us a method to use to talk to people about Christ, about how even though we don’t want to talk to others about Christ and it sure is hard to do, we are commanded to, so we must work hard on doing this.

And yes, we ARE commanded to go out into all the world and preach the gospel. I know this. But give me a lesson on what Christ has done for me and I WANT to go evangelize. Give me a lesson about how I NEED to evangelize and I feel guilty because I don’t evangelize enough, or I feel pumped up to get busy and go evangelize to make some points with God. ---And what good is that?

There is lots of talk at this church about repentance and sanctification. Do I believe in repentance and sanctification? You bet I do. But probably not in the same way it’s being teached there. I believe repentance means a change of mind, a change in our thinking, and of course, as that happens, there will be a change in the way we do things, but the main focus is on the change in our minds in the way we see the gospel. The main point being that Christ does it ALL. We no longer work to gain acceptance with God. We rest in Christ alone.

And I believe sanctification means: being set apart and holy, which we are if Christ died for us. We are set apart and holy, as holy as we will ever be. We do not become more and more holy as we go along. When we are in Christ, we are as holy as we can get. God sees us as completely holy and perfect because that’s what Christ is. We don’t work to become more holy. Although we do grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord as believers.

There are so many pictures or allegories in the bible about works vs. grace. I know it must be so important to God. He will have us relying only on Christ. Christ gets all the glory. We get none. I believe that’s what it’s all about. Resting in Christ alone. And that takes all the pressure off of me. I don’t have to do a thing. What a wonderful gospel. I love that gospel and that’s what I love to hear preached.

What am I going to do about attending the church? I don’t know for sure, but I’m leaning towards not going there, and that makes me somewhat sad because I sure like the people there. I’m still praying about it, but I feel in a way that my prayer has been answered already.

Mason & I left after Sunday School and listened to a sermon when we got home on the computer. It was called “Christ, our Hope,” and it sure was good.

I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

Pride is concerned with WHO is right. Humility is concerned with WHAT is right.

I found this quote today and I like it. Not sure about who said it, (I didn't), but it's a good one, I think.

A Good Sermon

Today we listened to THIS sermon and I thought it was so good. If you've got 45 minutes to spare and would like to, take a listen.

A Wonderful Summer Day

Two Different Jesus’s

It seems that in religion today, as long as you believe in Jesus, well everything is just fine and we can all get along and worship together, no problem. I just have one question about that. Which Jesus?

There’s the Jesus who loves everybody & died for everybody (even though not everybody will be saved). The one who desperately hopes all will accept him and be saved. The one who failed to accomplish what he really wanted to accomplish.

Then there’s the Lord Jesus who loves his people and died to save them (and everyone of them WILL be saved). His death was completely effectual. In fact, his death is the only reason they will be saved. He is the victorious king!

These really are two different Jesus’s, I believe. In the first one, what makes the difference in a person’s salvation is the person themselves, their decision to accept him, their work. In the second, what makes the difference is the Lord Jesus alone.

I do not believe God will accept a salvation in which a person makes the difference. Just as he would not accept Cain's sacrifice because it involved a work of his own. --But God most definitely WILL accept a salvation in which Christ makes the difference. Just as he accepted Abel's sacrifice because it was a blood sacrifice and picture of Christ. Christ will always get all the glory in the salvation of his people. Always.

Which Jesus do you believe in?

My Friday

It has been so windy here lately, but this morning for a few hours it was pretty calm. Yea! So I got out my bicycle and went for a ride. I only went five miles though. For some reason lately, I just don't feel like riding my bicycle. I get on it and go a few blocks and am ready to come back home. I don't want to get too far from home because I'm afraid I will get tired and then I can't stop until I get all the way back, so if I stay close, I can quit just about any time I want. --And it seems I WANT very shortly after starting. I don't know what's up with that.

Anyway, Corbin & his cousin, Max came over for a few hours this morning after my short ride.

They played outside with Lilly and took turns on the swing.









Mason worked from 6:30 until 1:30, then went and got a haircut, and has been on the computer all afternoon.

Doesn't his haircut look nice?? I think so.





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How Very Strange

Something very odd (to me) happened last week. My mother died. You might say, “Odd, how? People die all the time.” And yes, I know they do, but I’ve never had my mother die before. I stood by her bed with my siblings and watched her take her last breath. It felt so odd to be doing such. It happened exactly as the nurses said it would, those last couple of hours. Her breath got shallower and shallower until it finally just stopped. Several times she would stop breathing completely for a few seconds, then start again. Each time I would think, “….this is it. She is gone.” But then, she would start up again. A couple of times she made a loud gasping noise. But her breaths just got shorter and shorter and shorter. When they couldn’t get any shorter, they stopped. The nurse listened to her heart and said, “Her heart has stopped now. She is gone.” How very strange it all felt.

I kept talking to her as she was dying because people say the hearing is the last thing to go, and that she could hear me. I really don’t know if I believe that. In fact, I think I lean towards not believing it, or that if she could hear me, she probably couldn't make sense of what I are saying. My mother was on lots of pain medication and was talking out of her head some before she went unconscious, for one thing, and I guess I think that with all that was going on in her body, she probably couldn’t process very clear thoughts at that time anyway. But, I don’t know. I could be wrong. She may have known exactly what was going on around her. I just don’t think so, ....but that’s just my opinion.

I dreamed the other night that my mother was alive again, and was in the same miserable state she was in before she died. “Oh no,” I thought, “I don’t want this. I would rather her be gone and out of her misery." --I’m glad she is pain free now.

But I will miss her. Heck, I've only known her for 52 years! And she was a lovely, sweet lady. She loved me very much, I know she did. And I loved her too.

When I was in Tyler last week, Dorothy my stepmom gave me some bulbs to plant. They were Daffodils, Red Oxblood Lillies, & Red Spider Lillies. Today I got out and planted them in the back yard out my bedroom window. You can't see them all because some are just bulbs. ---Hopefully they will all come up.

Thanks Dorothy!


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Working Hard

Here's what I've got Bo out doing today:












And here's a front yard shot where he's finished already. Remember the trees we bought not too long ago. They're putting on leaves and doing good!











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Move On Down

I need to do a blog post to get that annoying picture to move on down, but I don't have much to blog about really. My forehead IS healing nicely and my black eyes are about gone, thank goodness.

Here's a funny picture of Lilly taking a nap out in the sun in the backyard.










And here's a cute one of Corbin & his friends. We took them to Palo Duro Canyon again for hike a couple of weeks ago.











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Aaaaccccckkkkk! Who Is That Woman???

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God's Justice

This morning I was driving along listening to a sermon on the radio from a local Baptist Church here in town, a BIG Baptist Church here in town. The preacher was talking about the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Matthew 20:1-16. In presenting the story about paying all the workers the same wage, the ones that worked all day, and the ones who came in the eleventh hour, the preacher had this to say, 'The Lord is not just. He showed grace to all the workers, but he is not just.' He repeated a couple of times that God is NOT just.

Huh?? The Lord is not just? I must say, I just cringed as I listened to the man say this, because I believe the Lord is completely just. Completely. In fact, I rest in that justice, that he will always do what is right.

God sent his son, the Lord Jesus to this earth to die for the sins of his people because he IS just and and his justice demands that sin be paid for. And once the sins are paid for, God's justice demands that he accept the people that Christ died for because they no longer have any sin. They are as perfect as Christ, because God sees us 'in Christ.' He is our substitute. And because of God's justice, he can never change his mind or loose even one of those Christ died for because there is no reason to punish us. What a wonderful blessing and a comfort to know.

Because of God's justice, those Christ died for can rest easy. If God wasn't just, we would have much to worry about. I believe and rest in God's justice.

Here I am, and no, I didn't join a motorcycle gang or anything. A week or so ago when Whitney was moving, she gave Mason this little exercise wheel dealie.






.....And today I thought I would give it a try. Haha. Big Mistake. BIG mistake. I got down on my knees and gave it a push. Whoops! It took off so fast... my forehead hit the hardwood floor HARD. I was stunned for a few seconds, then felt something warm running down my face. Blood. Oh my gosh. I stumbled into the other room and looked in the mirror. I had a 2.5 inch gash on my forehead, it wouldn't stop bleeding, and my neck was really hurting too. What to do, what to do. I was at home alone. Bo was in Gruver, Mason at work. ......OK. I knew I needed stitches because it was a nasty looking gash. I got a wet rag and held it on the cut and drove myself to the Urgent Care center. Mason called in the mean time, and met me there, and Bo left the feedyard and started heading this way.

Yes, you definately need stitches, the Dr said.

Ugh, what about the scar, I asked.

Well, we could try using glue instead of stitches. Hopefully that won't leave as bad of a scar, but you will have a scar.

Great.

So he glued me up, bandaged me up, told me to watch for signs of a concussion, said I would have a sore neck for several days, and sent me home.

Didn't I just run my face into the garage door back in January??? Boy, oh boy. Seems I'm on a mission to destroy my face or something. Hopefully this is the end of that mission.

I got two monitors on my computer at work. Yea! I'm so excited.





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A Sad Tale

Today I picked Corbin up from school and I noticed he had a new haircut. It was really short and looked so cute.

"Hey, I like your haircut," I said.

"I might as well tell you right now Grana..... I got in trouble today and had to go to the office," Corbin said, with a big tear in his eye.

"Uh, oh. What happened?"

"We were in the library taking an AR test and my friends and I started whispering to each other, asking and telling the answers. The librarian heard us and sent us all to the office, and we each got a swat by the principal, and it hurt. Then they called Daddy and told him, and he said I would get in more trouble when I get home. I'm just so scared because Daddy told me not too long ago that the next time I get a spanking, he will use a belt. I've never had a spanking with a belt before, only by his hand."

Talk about a heartbreaking tale! I wanted to scoop him up, hug him, and tell him it's OK, I'll tell Daddy not to spank you. Of course, I would never do that and even think he needs to be punished in order to teach him never to do such again, but you know, he's my baby. LOL. We talked the rest of the way home all about how cheating is wrong, and whatever punishment Daddy and Mommy choose is warranted, and I hope he learns a good lesson, etc., etc.

When Jenny came to pick him up, he really started to cry and told her the whole story again. She had already talked to Cody, and told Corbin that Daddy would give him a punishment when he gets home.

Sniff, sniff.

I don't know what happened after that, but hopefully it wasn't too bad. And hopefully Corbin will not cheat on a test again anytime soon. Bless his sweet heart.