Trinity Goes to a Rendezvous Camp

Last weekend we did this --and Trinity came along. Four days away from Mommy and Daddy was a long stretch for a three-year-old, but she had so much fun she did not want to leave. Every Memorial Day weekend, we go to Frontiers Camping Fellowship Family Camp. This one is different than others I've posted about because it is leaders of Royal Rangers (an Assemblies of God boy's group sort of like scouting) and their families. FCF is a group not everyone chooses to join, but those who do are sort of like other rendezvous reenactors I have posted about.

We see friends we sometimes haven't see for a year, have lots of fun, spend time singing and having devotions around a camp fire, and eat too much.

It was great to see you, Tom and Cindy and Bob and Darla and Stew and Debbie, and Gerry and Debbie and Gary and Heather...and so on. Here is Trinity, having a great time.


Mommy made T.'s calico dress, a plains Indian style. Trinity made the "beautiful" beaded necklace and the candy bracelet.


I'm making up my bed, Grandma!

Papa bought me a beautiful new dress. Look at my beautiful skirt. It goes out! Do you like it? (T. likes the word "beautiful.)

I love it too! Thank you, Papa!


Here is another new dress, actually more Civil War period, but...whatever. Well, it didn't exactly go with the pink plastic Disney Princess shoes, but other than that she looked like a doll.

Ewww! That ant is eating that dead catta-piller. Don't step on it!

Back to camp. She refused to change into something cooler.

Dancing with glowy things at night! Blow out the lantern, Papa, so we can see!


Four days of nonstop fun with lots of other children, necklace making, "glowy things" each night, marshmallow roasting, learning new words and new songs and socializing with the entire encampment, and Miss Trinity was exhausted by Monday. This is about 8 a.m. She showed a very plucky side. She insisted on trying everything the big kids did, including bobbing for apples (I did NOT expect her to stick her head in the water), Frisbee tossing, and many other things she couldn't do--but don't tell HER that. I love her confidence. I love this kid. :-)

Autumn Round These Parts

The feed corn is brown and drying in the fields; the soy beans are about ready for harvest. The trees are beginning to show more color, and the wind is usually blowing. We've reluctantly turned on the furnace and I have pulled out my sweaters from the chest in the basement.

Yes, autumn has arrived. So today we decided to get out our fall lawn decoration and add some corn stalks and pumpkins. Squash and pumpkins grow very well in the upper portion of the USA, and all around in our area are wagons loaded with beautiful varieties for sale. Usually there is a box somewhere for depositing cash.

Trinity came along to help us check out the best ones. Here she is with Uncle Kevin.

How 'bout this one, Grandma?

Papa selects a pie pumpkin, and Trinity picks out a few of the colorful gourds.

Back home, I start a pot of stew on the stove while Papa and Trinity work on a Lion King puzzle.

Oh yeah, football is on TV, of course. It IS Autumn, after all.

When is the last time you fell asleep with your feet in the air? This is Trinity's toddler size bed, snagged at the local thrift store.


I love the color in the fields and trees, the pumpkins, the scent of smoke, the warmth of a cozy sweater, snuggling under the weight of more blankets on the bed. Tonight I am feeling a bit at a loss. I still feel like I should be working on a sermon on Saturday. I am missing my mother (who absolutely loved Fall) and I am missing my sister too. Something about this time of year always makes me feel a bit melancholy, even though there are many things I love about it.

I miss fellowship and fun with certain close friends. I miss prayer with a group of others who longed for God's will to be done. I miss the sense of expectation and anticipation for what God was doing and would do.

Lately I keep thinking of Darlaine, and the odd thing is that for a millisecond I forget that she died. I always think of her being somewhere. I know, she is. But I mean somewhere in this world that just does not happen to be the same place as I am--not difficult because we never lived in close proximity after I got married.

So for a moment I think of her at her stove, or sipping a steaming cup of tea as she reads a book...or...and then I realize I will not see her, or hear her voice till eternity. I miss her with a sharp pain of loss. Strange time. I wonder how long it will before I realize she is really gone?

This will be the first Christmas since my mother died, though she was not really "present" last year and did not enjoy the season. How long before I do not feel guilty for using anything that was hers? I mean, I can feel guilty using a towel or a basket or anything that belonged to her. Not rational, I know. Doesn't matter.

I am missing things I always did at this time of year: decorating the sanctuary with fall flowers along with my secretary and friend. Doing our annual prayer walk around the towns of our area. Beginning to think seriously about what I will do for the annual Christmas Eve candlelight service.

How long before I am feeling comfortable in my own skin again? How long before certain worship songs do not make me teary-eyed? Or how long before I stop feeling out of place and a bit lost? How long till I am genuinely at peace with God--and with myself? How long until I am aware of God's presence or become aware of God's "voice"?

I don't know. Autumn is a strange time. Especially this year. But it was, nonetheless, a lovely day. And God is still good.

The Psalmist knew this too, and Psalm 13 reminds me that I can make a choice to praise God and be thankful, even when I do not understand.

How long, O LORD?
Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and hear me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes..
Lest my enemy say,
“I have prevailed against him”;
Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

But I have trusted in Your mercy;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

First a Little Fun, then a Little Update

A bunch o' chicks have arrived at Trinity's home.

Here is Kris, teaching Trinity to "pet very gently."

And Daddy, who has transformed an old chicken coop into what we are calling "The Chicken Hilton."

A little "Rhode Island Red." These are -- or will be-- the laying hens who will hopefully produce lots and lots of eggs for the family to sell.

And the pretty little yellow ones will be...ulp...dinner some day. But not for a long while. Aren't they just the cutest little things?

Now the update. Ken is slowly continuing to improve. His appointment with the infection specialist was delayed, but he is off the IV antibiotics (though the IV line, called a PICC is still in place) and taking two different oral ones. It has been over a month since we first visited the Emergency Room. He is hoping to go back to work part time soon.

First, however, comes a visit to the Veterans Administration Hospital for a whole day of evaluation for disability payments. We leave tomorrow, spend the night, and he will spend all day Tuesday getting poked, prodded, questioned, viewed and reviewed. He has received a small check from the USMC for years now, but there is a good possibility that this will be greatly increased because of long-term diabetes-related issues and consequences of a knee injury incurred while working for Uncle Sam. You know, bad news and good news. This is "good," because...

I am still unemployed. Still looking daily. Still praying "fervently"about minsitry opportunities and trying to trust God and do what I can in that arena...but mostly, right now, just needing to work somewhere. The situation is getting drastic. Wal Mart? Maybe. Nuff' said.

It seems that Ken's brother Kevin, who I wrote about here, will be coming to live with us in about a month. We thought this was going to happen just about a year ago, but he had a heart attack and was unable to travel, and other things changed. This time it looks pretty certain. He is an amputee, and there are lots of other issues. We look forward to it, but it will be challenging for all of us, especially considering our finances. Kevin gets disability, but...

Well, see you when we get back from the VA.

A Little Trinity Collage

I will soon try to post something deep and thoughtful, or at least get on with the doings in Little Big Foot. Meantime, here is recently-turned-two-years-old Trinity.

Digging in the dirt...trying on a hat...throwing pine cones into the stream behind our house.

Party Hats

Trinity does not think a birthday party is a birthday party unless there are hats. Kris just had a birthday. Here we are in their kitchen, wearing the improvised birthday hats Ken made. Necessity is the mother of invention. "Papa" Ken is at the tip followed by Trinity (who has learned to say "cheeeeese"), then Kris and Daryl and then me, with Mark (a guy from our church).

Lovely Things

There were some good things, difficult things, aggravating things, funny things, and sad things about this last week. I will share some soon. Some aren't suitable for posting :-o and some should be forgotten. But here are some lovely things that are on my mind right now.

My long-time cyber friend, Psalmist, (she's a Rev Gal now but she is also part of ECA and I met her online a long time ago) was able to pick me up at the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport. This saved my cousin, Shirley, a second trip since my sis and I arrived at quite different times. Psalmist and I have joked that we are long lost sisters because there are so many things alike about us. The ride to Shirely's home was all too short--except we did stop at Whatabuger--so that extended our visit a bit. I was touched that my friend did this for me, and I only wish we could have spent more time together. Well, maybe not that night. I was not at my best, to put it mildly, but sometime. I love you very much, Psalmist, and I thank you for your kindness.

Rev Gal Mary Beth from Terrapin Station had planned on attending the funeral. Due to a family mishap, that did not happen, but even though she had other things to do she made a point of coming to Haskell on her way to her parent's home. She stopped in during the visitation time the night before the funeral. It is funny how you can know that you would "click" with a certain person. Even though I just know Mary Beth from her blog, I recognized a friend and kindred spirit. It was so kind of you, Mary Beth, to take a moment to chat with me, and to pray for me as we stood by the casket. You were an encouragement.

It was good to be with my sister, Paulette. We missed our sister, Darlaine. We cried together, but we laughed together too. Three of her five children (Michelle, Vickie and Kelly) were able to attend the funeral, and it was so good to see them. One of Darlaine's granddaughters (Sharon) lives in Texas and so she came too. What a nice surprise that was!

Those of you who know me or have read my blog for a while know that our Texas family was always so dear to Darlaine, Paulette, and me--who were the California cousins and were able to see our family only rarely. Paulette and I loved that we got to spend a little time with a few of them (Trey, Vicky, Shirley, and Pam). Poor Shirley was getting sick and so did not attend the funeral, but she shared her lovely home with us. We also were able to have short visits with two of our aunts. Both were sad to miss the funeral. Aunt Pauline (Shirley's mother) is the last of eight siblings. She is blind, and she is aged 94. Another aunt, Lee, was married to our uncle C.G. These two women are special to us.

I want to thank you, my blog reading friends, for your comments, emails, and phone calls. It really does help, I discovered, to know that people are thinking of you. The love and concern from Rev Gals and Pals, ECA friends, and others was truly a blessing to me. I appreciate you all.

I was already very tired before I left for Texas. The days at the nursing home as my mother spent her last hours, dealing with not just one but two funeral directors, arranging flights (the most stressful thing I did), arranging for some things at the church--all took a toll. Then after I arrived I had almost no sleep for days. I should have slept like a log, but I didn't and neither did my sister. Funerals are, of course, stressful too. On our last night in Texas it was after midnight when we were finally able to go to bed, and we slept soundly, but had to get up well before dawn in order to catch our flights! Arrgh. I slept for about 14 hours when I finally arrived home.

What I am saying is this--I am certain that God's grace sustained me, and I bless each of you who held me and my loved ones in prayer.

Here are a couple of pictures.

My sister, Paulette, and my nieces, Michelle, Vickie and Kelly.

Paulette and me in the middle with Deb (Trey's wife) Trey, Pam and Vicky.

Paulette and me with our grandneice, Sharon.

Clowning around with Sharon.

Our Aunt Lee, a gorgeous 82 year old, and her daughter, Vicky.

Paulette and me with our Aunt Pauline, aged 94 and the last of my mother's seven siblings. She looks like our mom, doesn't she? All the sisters looked alike because they all looked like their mother.

I think I'm going to take a nap. I can't believe I still need sleep! Thanks again, everyone.

Thankfulness 11

I'm thankful for my beautiful girls. Here they are in their winter coats as we headed out the door for church.

The Owl's Nest is Crowded These Days

Going from two inhabitants to five is interesting. We are, however, doing fine and mostly having fun. Son in Law, Daryl, has a job beginning Monday. It is not his dream job, nor what he thought he'd be doing, but it is employment and for now that is good. Kris has landed a seasonal job that will end after Christmas, so she is still looking. They found a wonderful farmhouse in the contry about 10 miles from us, and they will be moving come December.

Meanwhile, here are some pictures.

Trinity's Tigger costume was just right for a few trick or treat stops on a cold day.

And a Tinker Bell costume was just right for visiting "GrandmaMommy" at the nursing home.

Turns out that Tinker Bell's great grandmother was a a sort of fairy godmother--also dressed as a fairy! I don't think she quite realized it, but we did and it was sweet.

Kids and residents mingled in the dining room.

Exploring Grandma and Papa's back yard with Rex.

Wind! And leaves!

Another visit to the nursing home brings a smile to "GrandmaMommy." This is rare, but Trinity is doing great, smiling and waving at the people, and even being willing to sit on Grandmommy's lap for a ride in the wheelchair. We took Rex too, and we think he's going to become a great visitor at the nursing home too.

Record breaking warmth has allowed for days outside! We are enjoying it while we can, knowing it won't last. In the seventies in November! Fabulous!

More later.

Ken is recovering from a toe amputation and has returned to work on "light duty." I have finished the marriage sermon series and will be making CDs soon. I'm working on a devotional book to pass out at church for Advent, and putting together a series of sermons, "Christmas at the O.A.S.I.S." to remind us of our OASIS themed mission statement. I hope the month of December is going to include worship dance, dramatic reading, a skit or two. Depending on how my series of devotionals turns out, I'll probably post them here.

What's new with you?

Fall Colors in Wisconsin

Into the Woods

Maple Trees

This orange tree was astounding!

Ken looks over the valley below.

A leafy path through golden trees.