Well What Do You Know...

It is time to dust off this blog.

This summer has been very busy, not to mention HOT, HOT, HOT!

Regardless of the heat, RonLinda have been busy.

It seems that we as a couple, now have a new reality. Life can change so quickly. One day we are going merrily on our way, and then BUMP! life changes. Oh, we are still moving forward, still living, still enjoying life, just adjusting to changes. Without getting "preachy" Ephesians 2:10 speaks about us being God's own handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus. that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.] I can only speak for myself, in that sometimes I forget Who is really in charge of my life, and it isn't me.

For me personally, part of my college career has come to an end. Meaning that I have completed what the Lord instructed me to do, and that was to "finish the Math". I accomplished that by taking and passing, in some cases, taking a class several times, three levels of developmental math and then this summer, College Algebra. It is amazing, exciting, breathtaking and very satisfying for me. To think that what was a giant impossible challenge to me has become past history! . I am very thankful to the Lord for strengthening me and for having confidence in me to do this. As my brothers and sisters will testify to, Math has never been a strength in our family. But it is indeed true that ALL things are possible to the Lord and to those who believe. He just needs us to trust Him and take a step, make a move, have confidence and believe that His Word never changes, and that He will never leave us or forsake us. Having said all that, I am not finished with my education. Perhaps the hard part is over.

The BUMP, and perhaps the new reality, occurred July 29, when Ron was laid off of work. We are by no means "Spring Chickens", nor are we really ready for retirement. It is interesting and disturbing how people our age are viewed. Being 60 is pretty cool, we are now eligible for Social Security, AARP, Viagra, and Senior Living Homes. All I can say to that is BOLOGNA! This Baby Boomer isn't finished yet! In fact, I am just getting started. So don't be planning my funeral or retirement. Please refer to Ephesians 2:10, and Psalm 103: 1-5. Pay close attention to verse 5 which states "Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's [strong, overcoming, soaring]! Yea God! This other thinking is worldly, carnal thinking and has no place in my life. Jesus paid the price for me (and you) so that we might have life and that abundantly.

Having said all that:

I have applied for my Social Security, which isn't a large amount, but still is my money. Ron will look for a job after we return from our trip in Ohio. He is also thinking of applying for his Social Security. I'll let you know.

Finally:

Howie was scheduled for surgery today to remove a tumor that has been growing on his eye. We kept putting off taking him to the vet, due to money availability, but today he was scheduled to have the surgery. The surgery has been postponed due to the result of blood work. It seems that Howie was bit by a lyme tick which passed on Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis, which are in his blood. His red cell count is a bit low. The vet gave us two options. First was to proceed with the operation, which at Howie's age(12 yrs.) could be risky or second-to postpone surgery and put Howie on a antibiotic called Doxycycline for two weeks. After that he will be tested again, and surgery scheduled. I told Ron we need to have a separate account just to take care of the dogs.

Alright, I think I have come to a stopping place. Big hug and kiss to you.

The Terrible Sad Day

This is a true story.

It was a terrible, sad day. It didn't start out that way. The weather was rainy, cloudy, gloomy which can be sad all by itself. We have a wood burning stove in our living room and I, thinking how wonderful a fire would be, started a fire. I left the room and my hubby called me. "Linda!" "There's a bird in the stove!" Oh gosh, that's terrible. Hubby opened the stove door and out flew a little bird with wisps of smoke curling off of it.

The story gets worse. We have a wall of mirror tiles in the living room and of course the frantic lil bird flies right into the mirrors. The only way to get the bird out of the house is to turn off all the lights and close the curtains. Birds fly to the light. Well that worked sort of.

The story gets worse. The little birdie sees a way out-our patio door and flies right into it, which knocked it down to the floor.

Sadly the story gets worse. We had a cat at that time, which was tracking that little bird. As soon as that bird fell on the floor that cat pounched on that birdie and grabbed it firmly in it's mouth.

Yep the story gets worse- now my husband is beating on the cat and trying to pull the bird out of the cat's mouth. Which of course, isn't working.

After a huge struggle with the cat, hubby opens the patio door and out runs the cat with the bird still in it's mouth.

Like I said at the beginning-it was a terrible sad day.

Next time remind me to tell you about the wild goose we found in our front yard- dead.

After School Pickup-the Hoppty

Lorren just posted something on facebook that reminded me of something which happened when she and Tobie and maybe Mona were in high school. I was working at a daycare in Killeen and the Director had borrowed my little blue truck and hadn't returned it. It was time to go to the high school and pick up the girls so she let me use the big school van. You know, the one with the big children painted on the sides and Happy Child/Little Angels written in really big letters on the sides. I think it was a 15 passenger van. The girls were not aware of my mode of transportation.

Anyways, just picture the looks and reactions of my girls when I drove around the corner and parked in front of the high school to pick them up in front of everyone. Ha! so funny. They called that van the Hoopty.

Hee hee... mom's revenge?

So You Want To Be A Star?

A long time ago when I was six years old my cousin Jayme and I were on the Red Brown and AnnaLee show which was broadcast live in El Paso. Red Brown was a cowboy and AnnaLee was his wife. She wore a cowgirl's outfit with a big skirt with fringe and boots. The set was the backside of a covered wagon. The center of the canvas was open and each child would step up and through the opening and down onto the stage. There was a live audience full of kids and their parents. There was bright lights and cameras and alot of people.

I remember Mom and Grandma Jones helping us practice a song just in case Red Brown asked if we wanted to perform something. We practiced "Jesus loves me".

So now my cousin Jaymie and I are standing in line behind the covered wagon waiting our turn for stardom. Red Brown would ask each child their name and how old they were. I was so nervous I kept asking Jaymie "How old am I?". She would say "Six, you are six years old."

The rest is a blur-I don't remember if we sang or not.

I loved Red Brown and AnnaLee. I wish I could find a picture of them.

Angel Food Cake Recipe

Frances Jones Angel Food Cake

Heat oven to 350

1 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1 cup sifted flour- cake or regular flour

1 1/2 cup egg whites (11-12 large)

1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup granulated sugar

!. In one bowl sift together powdered sugar and flour; repeat sifting twice more.

2. In a large mixer bowl beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla, and salt at medium speed until soft peaks form.

3. Gradually add the granulated sugar about 2 tbls at a time. Sprinkle the sugar gently on top of the egg mixture. This way the sugar won't weigh down the whipped eggs. Continue beating until stiff peaks form.

4. Sift about 1/4 of the flour mixture over the egg whites, folding in lightly by hand. Repeat, folding in remaining flour mixture by fourths.

5. Turn into an ungreased 10 in pan. Bake 60 mins or until done.

6. To cool turn cake pan upside down and let cool.

7. After cake is cool to touch, turn the pan over and with a sharp knife carefully loosen the sides of the cake. Cover with a serving plate and flip it over.

8. Ice with icing of your choice.

This cake requires a cake pan with the tube in the middle.

Angel Food Cakes

Sister Kathie has shared a recipe for Angel Food cake that our Grandmother Jones used to make. Kathie said that once a month Grandma Jones would make 12 of these Angel Food cakes from scratch for her Ladies monthly meeting. TWELVE! Can you image? By hand-no electric appliances-a wood burning stove. I'm guessing a wood burning stove.

The recipe calls for twelve egg whites. That's 144 egg whites for 12 cakes. Can you imagine? Not to mention the powdered sugar and flour being sifted together three times each. Those ladies sure loved Grandma's Angel Food Cake. I wonder where she got the powdered sugar from?

I have made five of these yummy cakes. I had been fretting about what would I do with 12 yolks when the Holy Spirit told me buy the egg whites in a carton. Problem solved. I wonder what Grandma Jones would think of this new fangled invention called egg whites in a carton.

Where is my GPS?

Hi I'm back... took a lil break. Actually son Branden was on the computer. We are sharing right now, since his laptop crashed.

I was telling you about our visit to Mom and Kathie's house. I want you to know that there is no short cut to where Kathie lives or back to my house. It does not exist. The only way to get there or back home is just to drive or fly.

After we left Kathie's house we should have just returned to highway 281 but no not Linda. Linda wanted something to eat. So her sweet hubby turned left on Purgatory road to head to Burger King. Which took us out of the way to highway 281. The only smart thing to do was to get on I35. Remember that we are in a ancient van and even at a fast speed cars and trucks were passing us like we were standing still. Ron wanted to avoid the Austin traffic so we took the Johnson City exit. What we didn't realize, well maybe Ron did but I didn't, was that Johnson City was a hour's drive-and THEN getting on 281 to head up and over to Copperas Cove. It was sooo hot. Flames, flames shooting from the side of my head. A line from the movie Clue. That hamburger cost us extra time and I promise that from now on ... well.. I can't promise I won't be hungry.

The moral of the story is... any decision that is made always has consequences-good or bad. Make sure that you know exactly what you want to do before getting on a busy road full of cars and you can't find a way to turn around, finding yourself stuck headed in a direction which you didn't really want to go. Actually when the first opportunity comes to turn around-TAKE IT. Don't keep driving. That's just silly.

Amen.