Stallone was our middle son, Austin’s dog. He was a GIANT bulldog. When Austin was off work, Stallone was with him. He went fishing with him and to the store. He was a happy dog and you could tell, so Austin didn’t put him on a leash and people didn’t mind.
Stallone’s size was intimidating though. He was visiting our office one day and when he came out of Kevin’s office a customer gasped and said “what is it?” Confused Kevin said, “He’s a dog.“ The woman said “he looks like one of those Chinese statues at the front of their buildings!” Sometimes he would stand by the front desk, peering out the window, not moving a muscle. People would come in and start to do business and at one point he would move causing the customer to jump and say “I thought he was a statue!”
Austin came to work for us and brought him to work with him every day. Stallone would come in the back door and come straight in my office. He would jump up in the wing back chair in front of desk and put his massive paws on it. As soon as I said “Good morning Stallone,” he would get down and go greet the others in the office. When he got done he would jump up on the couch rearrange the pillows to make a nest and fall fast asleep, snoring contently. He would awaken when people would come in the door, check them out and might get up to come to them for a scratch on the head or preferably his buttocks.
Stallone was the object of many funny pictures. He was quite a ham. His best picture that I can remember was he was upside down and Austin was on top of him and both of them had the biggest smiles. Stallone had a slobbering issue though, he would shake his head and what ever that slobber landed on, it would take the color off. But, we loved him in spite of it.
As time went along Austin and his wife Danielle had children. Three little girls that loved Stallone and he loved them as well. Bulldogs live about 10 years and he was 8 now and started having a few health issues. But for the most part he was still trucking along with life.
My husband and I went on a trip and on the return flight I fell fast asleep. My leg was crossed over the other one. As I dreamed Stallone appeared in it, he came running at me and knocked my leg off of the other one. I woke up to my leg flying off the other one and my husband startled asked “what’s wrong?” I said “Stallone ran into me!” He said “what?” I said “I’m afraid he is gone!” At the end of our flight we deplaned, got our luggage, went to the car and started to drive out of the airport. Austin called crying unable to speak. I said “I know Honey.” He said “You know? How could you know!“ I said “Stallone ran into me on the way to Heaven!” He’s gone right? Stumbling his words he said “yes.” I said “I am so sorry Honey, how good God is that He would allow us to have peace of mind about where he is.”
So, there’s your answer, dogs do go to Heaven, maybe not all of them but the good ones do!
I went to my eye doctor recently and while collaborating with the technician in deciding which frames to choose from she recanted a story I told her a year ago and said I should blog about it.
Our oldest son got a new job, and his training was in Salt Lake City, Utah. He invited my husband and I to bring his daughter and see one of the sites with him, Donut Falls.
Alltrails.com states.. This family-friendly hike is a short drive from Salt Lake City and boasts an incredibly unique waterfall. You will start your hike at the Donut Falls Trailhead. The waterfall gets its name from a donut-hole shape in the rock. The falls pours through the hole into a small pool in a cave before trickling down the rocks.
My husband and I are relatively fit, so we weren’t worried. We had brought our sons little girl with us as well since it was “family friendly.” By whose standards? We followed the trail on foot, enjoying the foliage and chipmunks, then we had to lower ourselves down a frail rope to the creek bed. Some people had to turn around and go back because it was not possible for them to hold their own weight or have someone below them to guide them down. My husband was first, our granddaughter and son next then myself. I was surprised that there wasn’t another way, believe me I would have found it.
We then went ahead up the creek/falls having to cris cross the frigid water, maneuvering unsteady rocks and climbing over downed trees. There was no clear trail on the sides of the waterway, and it was quite a hike. When we reached the end of the climb there was no way for our granddaughter to get to the top in order to see the “hole.” I was not even sure I could make it so I sat down on a downed tree to rest and eat a snack for energy replacement.
After we rested, we went back down the creek trying to navigate an easier way, up and down rocks, in and out of the water, over and under downed trees. We made it back to the start, went to the restroom and on to the car. As I got in the back seat, I removed my sunglasses to see my phone message, I reached in my pocket to get my regular glasses and they were missing! They were brand new and costly because I have a special prescription. Where could I have lost them, and should we even try to find them?
The day before we had gone on a hike up another mountain, Snowbird, that hike was “family friendly” We rode a gondola down, about a quarter of the way from the top my phone fell out of my pocket and plummeted to a rocky snow covered area we couldn’t for sure see. I prayed to God, I would find it and my precious husband never blinked an eye and said, “I will help you look.” He used the Find My app to give us a general idea and we found it, only the screen was barely scratched. I have kept it that way as a souvenir of answered prayer.
I thought “well it worked yesterday,” so I prayed again. Dear Lord, help me find my glasses. My husband again without a negative remark or complaint went with me to look. We scoured every inch we thought I had trapsed. All the way to the top/end of the climb and I sat down again on the log to rest and cry. I looked over the water and within an arms reach were my glasses, under the water with only the arms sticking out waving in the air with the current. It was like “here I am!” I jumped up and shouted, “I found them” and did a victory dance. All the people were looking at me strangely, but my husband just smiled and helped me back down the trail to the car.
There is a song that comes to mind “His eye is on the sparrow” and the following verse says “and I know He watches me.”
“Alexa play the number one country music song Texas Hold Em by Beyonce”.
My Husband and I’s oldest son gave us an Alexa, it is a device that can play music and complete many other helpful tasks with an oral command. Alexa started playing the song along with the video.
What the …..? Who are you calling a “B” and what in the world are you wearing? Is your mother still your stylist? This Rhinestone Cowgirl is not impressed. In fact I am even more than upset as to where the country music genre has taken itself. Are we just supposed to sit back and watch, turn to a different station or do something!
“Single Ladies”, married ladies, where is our self-respect and flat out class anymore. I told my 86 year old mother-in-law “I think you are the last of the classy women.” I have four granddaughters and I would like to get back to where women are respected because they deserve to be respected by their actions and well thought out words.
I used to love Country Music until I started really listening to the words. I was singing thoughtlessly in the vehicle with our young sons in the back seat when I realized the words were not what I wanted planted in their heads. I remember belting out “Our D. I. V. O. R. C. E. became final today! Wait, NO!
Was I deaf all those years prior?
The words to David Allen Cole’s song, You Never Call Me By My Name read, “A perfect country and western song needs to include words about Momma, trains, trucks, going to prison and getting drunk”. Currently, the words have far outreached those boundaries and have gone straight into the pop genres foul mouth and sexual realm.
Country and Western Music, Western has been dropped from the title, did it start out like this? Brittanica states; Ultimately, country music’s roots lie in the ballads, folk songs, and popular songs of the English, Scots, and Irish settlers of the Appalachians and other parts of the South. In the early 1920s the traditional string-band music of the Southern Mountain regions began to be commercially recorded, with Fiddlin’ John Carson garnering the genre’s first hit record in 1923. The vigor and realism of the rural songs, many lyrics of which were rather impersonal narratives of tragedies pointing to a stern Calvinist moral, stood in marked contrast to the often-mawkish sentimentality of much of the popular music of the day.
So, I guess it did. I just remember Country crooners crossing over to near gospel music. Garth Brooks, “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.” Tanya Tuckers “Delta Dawn” to name a few. Thankfully, Carrie Underwood is bringing those and others to light on her “Savior” Sirius station.
I just ask that the women of influence please try to think about the little girls, daughters, mothers and grandmothers when they portray women in the lime light because in the end you could be causing great harm to us all.
Kevin, my husband, has a few tattoos. He has my name, Rochelle Diane, on the inside of his right bicep and the name Jesus on his chest over his heart. He has wanted me to go with him to get a tattoo as well but I have refused and would quote the Bible verse in Leviticus which states “Do not tattoo thyself as the heathen do” omitting the rest of the verse which says, “to honor the dead.” The Bible says in Deuteronomy 4:2 “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Why do you think God does not want us to honor the dead this way? I believe He is a loving God and does not want us to have a daily reminder of such a painful event. I do believe he wants us to remember the loved one but not suffer so in the remembering. Our son, Austin, justifies his tattoos by quoting “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;” Isaiah 49:16. Our music minister quotes “and on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:16
Approximately a year after my encounter with the Lord, I flippantly told my husband that what the Lord had said to me would be something I would consider getting tattooed on my forearm. With a grin on his face he said “get in the truck” I knew that was coming, Kevin had read the book I AM N by the Voice of the Martyrs and in one of the stories the Muslim group ISIS had put the Nazarene symbol in red above the doors of the Christians homes to notify them to renounce Christianity, move or be killed. Kevin was raised in the Nazarene faith, a follower of Jesus Christ from Nazareth.
I do love the artistry of tattoos. Another reason I had not gotten a tattoo in the past was because I could not decide on what to get, I was afraid that overtime I might regret what I got. This time I knew what I wanted, and I knew I would not regret it. I never wanted to forget what Jesus said. I have noticed how the mind does strange things especially when you get older, I’ve seen wives forget their husband’s names and that they were married 50 years. I just hope I do not mistake the tattoo for spiders on my arm if I cannot see well.
We went to Paris, Texas and sought out a tattoo artist other than the one Kevin had been to before. I was very uncomfortable there. We walked into Alpha Ink Tattoo Parlor and met the only artist in the shop that night. Christian music was playing on the televison which was an unexpected and welcomed surprise. We filled out the paperwork and he took copies of our drivers licenses. Tack started on Kevin and listened intently to Kevin’s story as he tattooed the Nazarene symbol on his shoulder. After he finished with Kevin, he started on mine and proceeded to tell his story. Tack had lived a rough life and was trying to live straight. He was going to an intense Bible study and he was putting a nondenominational worship center in Paris, Texas. A place where anyone of the Christian faith could stand up to the mic and preach, pray or sing. He had a great story of God’s faithfulness and protection. As he finished, he said “that’s a cool tattoo!” Thanks, I said, I designed it myself. I told him I had a life changing incident and handed him a two-page letter describing it. He said thanks and that he would read it.
The next day I had to go to the orthopedist because I had pulled something in the back of my leg and it was causing me great pain. When I got there they requested I show my ID. I went to look for it in my purse and realized that I had left it at the tattoo parlor. The Tattoo parlor wasn’t open yet because they don’t open until afternoon. I provided my concealed carry license which they questioned the ability to use until I told them about the background check needed to acquire one. After my appointment I ran a few errands, ate lunch and then went to the tattoo parlor to get my license. Tack was there working on someone and immediately stopped when he saw me. He said he knew why I was there and went and got my license. As he came toward me he said “I have to tell you something. I couldn’t sleep last night so I went into the kitchen, got myself a glass of milk and sat down to read your story. I balled like a baby. It is such a good story. My mother and her husband had moved in with me because they had fallen on hard times. She must have heard me and came downstairs. She entered the kitchen and asked what was wrong, I pushed the papers toward her and told her she had to read them. She balled too and then her husband came in the room. He asked what was wrong and my Mom pushed the papers toward him. He in turn cried as well.” Tack then leaned in and asked me “Can I print more copies and share them?” I said “Yes, you can.” He said “Thank you” and then I went home fulfilled.
I have kept up with Tack over the years on Facebook. He seems to have been tormented at times and I have tried to encourage him. I told him to “Tack Life” instead of so much death but he said sadly he couldn’t make any money doing that. Then I recently saw where he had posted a picture of himself kneeling down and praying with a child that was standing in front of him. Tack was wearing a t-shirt that had the Nazarene symbol on it and the website from I Am N, The Voice of the Martyrs. He also stated he was closing his shop, embracing his real name, Herman, and going into the ministry.
Thank you Lord Jesus for allowing me to see You working in others lives. Amen.
I saw the first movie, Mean Girls. Comedian Tina Fey wrote the script about high school social clicks, bullying and the damaging effect it has on teenagers. I had several of these experiences throughout school and it doesn’t stop at the high school level I can assure you. If you are a pretty girl and smart, you just might have a lifetime of it. Life itself is tough and many can’t stand under the weight of it. I have helped with a Celebrate Recovery program and saw some of the ramifications first hand.
Why does it have to be this way? A pecking order of some sort. I have seen this in the animal kingdom, hence the term pecking order. My husband and I have chickens and the chicks will kill a weaker one. One time we saved a young chicken that the other chicks had pecked her toes off. She ended up living a long life. We also have had horses fight to be the leader and one horse ended up being a loner the rest of it’s life. Sometimes I would rather be a loner but God keeps encouraging me to press on. You can’t be a witness when you are shut up in your home. That’s exactly where Satan wants us to be. I’m sure he was so pleased during the Covid pandemic.
I was surprised when I went to a Christian youth camp and experienced bullying at the age of 58 years old. My staff person had gone a few years before and came back furious about the actions of the young and old. My daughter in law went at a different time and had the same reaction. I didn’t understand their responses but quickly realized what had happened to them.
Before the camp I had been to the preparation meetings and read up on the materials. I taught a few Sunday School classes to try and get to know the students. The youth minister told me to be at the church at 8:30 to leave for camp and he added “most of the time people are early.” When I got there they were already loaded up and were finishing their meeting. I wasn’t late just not early. The girls were mad at me, giving me dirty looks. If I hadn’t shown up they wouldn’t have been able to go, shouldn’t they have been thankful I did?
My husband and our staff person showed up late to tell me bye, she was dressed to kill and I in my long shorts and t-shirt. My husband loaded my luggage, kissed me and left with her. That sounds bad but she was having marital problems and that made me uncomfortable. I had boyfriends stolen in school and women have flirted with my husband on many occasions. Many a wife has lost their husbands to secretaries.
I was the last one on the bus. The other female sponsor drove her own vehicle because she was going to leave camp early with her daughter. Upon entering the bus I asked the youth leader where I should sit and he said anywhere. I looked and there were three kids in the back, several empty seats and a group of kids sitting together in the middle. Then the youth minister was sitting up front by the driver, they were longtime cohorts at these camps. I chose to sit in between the groups to try to start bringing them together. It was clearly the popular group with a few wannabes and the not popular group. As I started to go to the back a “popular” girl had her leg across the isle. I looked at her to move it and she challenged me. I stood my ground and asked her to move it, she reluctantly did after rolling her eyes.
I sat down and took a breath. Trying to calm down from the events of the morning. I had been to other youth camps and knew they can be challenging. Even I get put into the pecking order, remember what the chickens did when they were young. There is a Bible verse that is disturbing when you think about it. Jeremiah 32:20 reads ”Indeed the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have been doing only evil in My sight FROM THEIR YOUTH; for the sons of Israel have been only provoking Me to anger by the work of their hands,” declares the Lord.”
This is not the only place in the Bible where it says “evil done in their youth”.
Prior to camp I had been warned that there was a couple (boyfriend and girlfriend) that was not supposed to be a couple because the parents had broken them up. Of course if you know the Shakespearian story of Romeo and Juliette that doesn’t work. Youth camps are supposed to be no PDA zones, no public display of affection. The couple was sitting across from each other against their window then started moving closer to one another. Closer and closer until they were in the same seat and talking to where their lips were almost touching. Here we go, I thought and called the boy back to my seat and asked him to move back to his seat. I told him I had been chewed out before by a father after another youth camp for allowing stuff like this and I wasn’t going to let it happen again.
The popular group then became the whispering, jeering teenagers I had experienced in times past. The only comfort was that those same kids from the past came to me years later and thanked me for talking strictly with them and how they understood why. It doesn’t make it any easier when I am in the middle of it though.
I then introduced myself to the back of the bus riders and they seemed compassionate towards me having observed the events. They know the pain.
While I was on the bus ride the staff person called me to get advice on an application and although I told her how to complete it she just got frustrated and said she would tell the customer they would have to wait until I got back. Chances are the customer would move on to someone else and we would lose the sale. That was very frustrating to me!
The bus driver stopped for breakfast at a fast food restaurant on the way to camp. The adults sat at one table and the youth at another. I thought that we should intermingle. Listen to each other, learn from one another. I mentioned it to a sponsor and he wasn’t interested. The Bible says about God’s statutes “You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 11:19
We are losing our children because of the “dinner” movement. Only talking to them then.
Finally we got to the youth camp and then we had to wait for them to open the gates because we were too early. Ugh! Isn’t that interesting since we had left earlier than what I was told we would. Satan was really working hard on me since I was to give my testimony at the camp.
Upon arrival at the camp the youth director assigned the duties. Afterwards when they were completed he wanted to recognize a camper for a good job. The adults gave their opinions but he chose his pick, the boy I had reprimanded. I don’t know if he knew what had happened earlier or not. Later he told me the girl I had recommended had propositioned him if he let her use his phone. I admired his strength since he was divorced.
I had brought some games, puzzles and youth age coloring books. I placed them on the shelf and told them about them. The ring leader said in a snobbish voice. “We don’t color”. By the end of the week some of them did the games, the puzzles and they did color only the coloring book that was full of sarcastic quotes. It was a test I had given them and they failed miserably.
When the cook was setting up the kitchen and one of the boys asked to help, she wouldn’t let him. I questioned her because he was one of the unpopular kids. His parents had a restaurant out of town and he knew what he was doing. She said it’s because if he does he won’t bond with the others. I didn’t agree. This was something they always did in the past but times have changed. He ended up taking it upon himself one night and cleaned the mess hall which ended up gaining him respect from the kids!
Some of the kids, which should have been “students”, because they have classes at the camp to grow their walk with the Lord, knew their way around the camp. Others did not and they all scattered to see who else was there. This always makes me uncomfortable. The youth minister never seems to worry about it. I went upstairs to get my phone and call home while they were gone. I could tell my tub of stuff had been moved up against the wall. When I picked up my phone to unplug it, it was unplugged from the wall. Warning shot fired…
I mentioned my long shorts earlier, the rules are that the females have to wear long shorts. A couple of the girls wore short shorts. I didn’t say anything, I was surprised their mothers let them and thought someone will call them out and it wasn’t going to be me. Sure enough someone did and they came complaining to me. I said “do you think that I want to wear them, it’s a rule.” I wouldn’t wear short shorts but shorter than the ones that come to your knees. They were surprised at my reaction but it made them think.
We had worship services at the camp and I don’t hold back much. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done for me. More eye rolls but by the end of the week the youth minister, buss driver and some youth were getting on board.
One of the girls was not from our town. Her clothes were borrowed and her glasses were taped and crooked on her face. The other girls shunned her like the plague so I paid special attention to her. One night she had fallen asleep before the others and was snoring. One of the snotty girls asked me to wake her up so she could sleep. I said “you know she reminds me of my mother. My mother was poor, she had thick glasses and has allergies but she is the sweetest mother anyone could have.” Not a word was said afterwards. They started including her in their trips the following days.
The girls shunned me for the most part. I watch what I eat, work out and have a strong relationship with the Lord not to mention my husband. That is intimidating to adult women let alone girls. They made fun of me just as I have been made fun of by their mothers. See where they get it, will it ever stop? I thought the “Me Too” movement would bring us together but instead it made women look foolish. I am a successful insurance agent, intelligent and am respected by men. You have to work for respect not expect it because you are a woman. My father was overlooked for a position because he was a male. Everyone under the female eventually quit because she didn’t know what she was doing.
Everyday was a challenge at the camp but after I gave my testimony the kids seemed to be more respectful. I was able to share a few more of my life’s stories which I think freaked them out! Too nieve I guess. I have been blessed to experience them.
The final day we were tired and were supposed to clean the cabin. I did all the cleaning, scrubbing the showers and toilets everything except vacuuming the floor. None of them lifted a finger and so I said they would have to vacuum. They got mad and complained to the youth minister. Since I was an outsider he supported them. What’s the saying “If you can’t beat them, join them.”
That’s not what Jesus would do, he would point out their hypocrisy to make them a better person. I have granddaughters and wanted to get to know how to help them navigate their lives by being with the girls. I don’t want them to go through what I have but as beautiful and smart as they are I’m afraid they will. Ladies we need to stop the pecking order! To be kind, caring and understanding of one another no matter our looks or status in order to change the world. Not climb over one another to do it.
I was in Walmart and around the corner came the poor girl from camp. She ran over and hugged me much to her mother’s surprise. She said “this is the lady from camp I told you about!” Her mother shook my hand and said thank you! That was worth the experience!
In the movie and play, The Lion King, there is a common theme, the Circle of Life. My husband and I were able to witness an amazing example of this.
After my horse accident, everyone including doctors, family members, friends but most importantly God told me that I can’t ride horses anymore, one morning I asked God a question.
After being stomped by a horse I shy away from having much to do with the cattle. Horses are highly intelligent, cows not so much. The chances of being run over by them is higher.
My husband and I live on a small ranch in rural Oklahoma. Black and red Angus cattle dot the landscape. It was mine and my husband’s dream to have a ranch one day.
My husband is most happiest when he is around the cows besides the granddaughters of course. The cows give him a peaceful sense. It has taken us 30 years working, first in retail then in the insurance business, to buy the ranch of our dreams. While headed to work one morning I looked into the field and I said “Cows, how can I enjoy cows?” I talk to God often and He knew that was a question for Him. He said “Well, I own them.” Psalms 50:10 reads “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.” I chuckled. Did you know God has a sense of humor. I said “that’s not funny!” I felt Him snicker.
As part of our herd of cattle we had two “eye candy”, long horn cattle, thought to be not worth much more than that, but, we experienced so much more. They were given to us by a lady down the street after her husband died and she could no longer care for them. My husband helped her get them back into their pasture after they had gotten out a few times. The last time she said “please take them if you want but don’t sell or eat them.”
One of the steers was docile, his name was Egor and the other one’s name was Boris, he was cantankerous. Boris was cantankerous because he has sick and in pain. He had what’s called “lumpy jaw,” the vet said there was nothing we could do for him. You couldn’t get close to him or he would charge at you.
I have realized working with the public that a lot of people are the same, they are in pain of some sort whether it’s physical or mental. So, they are cantankerous, hard to deal with. We never know what people are going through unless we ask.
Boris was black and white, his horns turned down and he had a brand on his side which was unusual to me. Most brands are on their hips or shoulders. He started rubbing the brand on a tree, he would rub it until it bled. We took him to the vet because it got to where it oozed and looked infected. The vet checked and said he had “Brand cancer” sadly again nothing they could do. I have also noticed that when people have an injury and get cancer it seems to start in the old injury. We let Boris serve his last days out in the pasture.
Egor was mostly brown and white, he was a happy animal. He kept all the low hanging limbs trimmed up on the place which made us happy. He would catch a limb with his horn and twist it until it broke off and then eat any green leaves on the branch. If a bull other than our own got in the pasture he would run it off or keep it from “the girls” until we could remove the rogue bull. It was funny to watch him keep the peace in the pasture. If the cows, females, started fighting with each other, he would break up the fight! Yes, Egor was unique.
My husband and I went on a weekend get away and came home to find Egor dead. Now, he was no spring chicken by this time. He was getting thin with age. It appeared that he was trimming trees and swung his head a little too much and caught his horn on the ground and broke his neck. We called the local taxidermist to come because we wanted to memorialize him. When he and my husband completed the task and hauled away the carcass there was still blood on the ground.
The next morning I was getting ready for work and out of the corner of my eye I caught a single cow going towards the death area. Cows are herd animals so I thought that was strange. She went over to where the blood was and sniffed around, pawed at the ground then lifted her head. She bellowed out the most blood curdling sound I have ever heard them make and the other cows came running over. It was like “I found something!” They also sniffed around, pawed at the ground and mooed in a distressed manner. They did this at the same time everyday for a week! They were mourning him even more than we were. Then on the last day a mother cow had her calf in the very spot at the same time they normally did the ritual and the mourning stopped.
I now look at cows in awe of how God made them and their community, how they are somewhat like people. How blessed my husband and I are to have had this experience. May we look and recognize more examples that are right in front of our eyes.
Dogs. How many of you have dogs? I have a love/hate relationship with dogs. Probably because my son was attacked by a dog. We have two Labradors, Pistol and Donald, bought to use for my husband’s hunting. When we got Pistol Pete, my husband Kevin asked me to teach him the basics. So, Pistol and I went to classes at Petco. Pistol did so well that the trainer said we should go to competitions. But, our son told me I could no longer be with Pistol, that it was time for him to go to Duck hunting school. Pistol and I were both sad. Pistol didn’t do well in school at first and the trainer had to pinch his ear to get him to hunt. I asked my husband for another dog, a protector, he in so many words said no. Then shortly afterwards my husband bought Donald, I was upset.
My husband is a hunter in every sense of the word and I don’t like the time it takes, money spent and even eating the kill. He asked me to finish naming Donald because he couldn’t think of a name to register him by. I didn’t even want to name him Donald in the first place. Kevin named him after President, Donald Trump. Our son named his dog, the dog’s brother, Trump. I respected the President but didn’t like him. The fact that he couldn’t hold his tongue, I believe, was the problem with his presidency. Anyway, I looked at our dog, Donald’s fathers name on the AKC papers… “Duck Commander.” Easy enough, I thought and out of spite sent the paperwork in. The registration came back with the name “Donald Duck… Commander.” Kevin was angry but fully understood why. He never really connected with him sadly, spite never wins.
Those two dogs Pistol and Donald will do anything they can to get my attention including what I call “Drive by licking!” They absolutely love to go for walks so I take them at least once a week. Other days they wait patiently while I walk on the treadmill until I am finished for at least a pat on the head. Sadly, some days I don’t even give them that. Remember, my son was attacked by a dog, I don’t let my guard down. The people that had that dog would have never thought he would have done that. Pistol and Donald diligently wait by the back door, day and night hoping for a moment with us. And when we come out they bounce around like they are puppies. They are 10 and 6 years old.
One day while watching them it came to me. What does Dog spelled backwards read? God! Not to be sac religious but do you see the direct correlation between the two’s nature? God and dogs are faithful and long suffering, patiently hoping for even a moment with us.
I was listening to a preacher the other day and he said a profound statement. He said we have replaced God and Heaven with whatever gives us pleasure here on earth. We don’t go to Him for comfort, acceptance and love. We want instant seen and felt gratification. We turn to substances such as alcohol, food & sex. We go to Disney world or some other place looking for the beauty of Heaven. If we would only focus on Him and be patient, we would see, feel and find those needs He freely gives to us.
Jesus says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
Revelation 3:20 Jesus speaking says… “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Write Book, check. Publish Book, check. Promote Book…I have been amazed at what it takes to do all of these things. People have asked me ”What’s it like to be an author?” I say “It’s like building a house, all the decisions, and then you have to furnish it!” By that I mean promoting, promoting is probably the most difficult yet rewarding part of it. When I published Rhinestone Cowgirl, A Different Kind of Addiction, my marketing representative said I needed to go to book festivals. I didn’t know anything about book festivals. I read information all day long by trade, I’m an insurance agent. Reading for pleasure comes when I fly for work or go on vacation. And the book normally comes from Amazon. I searched for a book festival close to me and found one in Oklahoma City, it was one week away. I emailed the coordinator and asked if by chance I could still get a booth and she said they did still have a space and to come on up, I could pay when I got there. I quickly gathered up some items, decorations for the table, an easel to hold the framed poster, book markers, business cards etc.
I arrived in my 2019 green Mustang with the State Farm logo on the side, parked in the reserved Author’s parking, and went to find my booth. I couldn’t find it and went to the registration building to inquire about it. A representative went out to help me look for the booth and couldn’t find it either. Then she asked another rep. and they said I was being placed in the Vender’s section (books aren’t sold there). I said “that’s Okay, no problem, I’m new to this anyway.” I went to my car and got some of my things to set up my booth, an authority came over and said I would have to move my vehicle because it was reserved for authors. I said “I am an Author!” I admit I had gotten a little frustrated at this point. And without further explanation proceeded to go back and forth until I was done. In his defense I guess the car gave him a different impression since another State Farm agent was actually there and had a booth of their own in the “vendor section”.
I set up between a cartoonist/comic book writer and two high class female book publishers. I wrote a non-fiction Christian book, we had nothing in common, so I thought.
Then came a downpour of rain! Upon securing my table with my car cover, I started visiting with my neighbors while trying to help them secure their booths as well. The cartoonist was a prior youth minister and said he had quit due to burnout and lack of help. The girls on the opposite side were all about social media promotion, taking selfies and Instagram videos. They had written a fictional book to self-promote the book publishing company they worked for. I felt they looked down on this boot wearing country girl until I helped them rig up a sign they couldn’t keep up due to the wind. The better-known authors at the festival were in a covered tent and were having a round table discussion. I was unable to go because I opted to watch the neighbor’s booths while they went, the weather had sum what subsided but hadn’t completely dispersed, and an occasional wind gust would blow over items from our tables.
After lunch the sun came out and the neighbors came back. People started coming to our booths and we interacted with the people. One of the larger known authors came by my booth and said “You are very brave!” I was a little surprised at that comment. I gave my sch-peal to several people (you have to have a sch-peal) I talked about how I had had an out of body experience, in body. I handed out book marks and business cards. I had on a hat that day because the weather had done a number on my hair. It had a rhinestone cross on it and a few people took one look at it and turned away. That was interesting.
Then a neatly kept long gray headed man with a neatly kept long beard stepped toward my booth with a quiz-a-tiv look in his eye. He was a large built man and had on a blue linen suit with sandals. He mentioned he was getting ideas because he had written a book. He handed me his business card while he read the back of my book. His card had his new book on it, The Santa Claus Chronicles. Then he gave me another card, it said “Santa loves you” with a check next to the nice box. It also said Jesus, God’s gift to the world. On the back it said he read the Christmas story at the North Pole City store in Oklahoma City. I snatched up a copy of my book, wrote “Thank you for your service” on the inside cover, signed it and pushed it in front of him. He was startled and asked how much he owed me. I felt compelled to say “Nothing.” A tear welled up in his eye and he said “Thank you!” I said “thank you as well.” I guess it’s unusual to give “Santa” a present.
At the close of the day my neighbors came over. They humbly thanked me and gave me free copies of their books, I gave them signed copies of my book as well. They had tears in their eyes. I don’t think I sold 10 copies that day but the rewards were priceless.
In 1925 Victor Radio company coined the phrase “The Gift that Keeps on Giving.” Kodak and other companies used the slogan also.
But, it was the Lord that thought of this concept first. I never thought about it until my husband and I were leading a weekly Bible study at Goodland children’s home in Hugo, Oklahoma. What are the Spiritual Gifts?” one of the boys asked after it was mentioned in one of our studies. My husband and I try to do Bible study plans daily on the YouVersion Bible app. I searched the app for plans on Spiritual Gifts and found one by Hope Media to share with the boys.
Spiritual gifts are mentioned in the book of Romans 12:6. The apostle Paul talks about gifts given according to the grace given us: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Leading, Giving and Mercy. Now, are these for us to keep or to give to others? What good is prophecying if there is no one to listen or serving if there is no one to serve? Why would God give us gifts only to give them away? It’s because He knows the value of giving. He knows how rewarding it is to give. After all He gave his only son Jesus in order to give everlasting life to us. Luke 6:38 reads “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
What does this verse mean? It is saying that no matter how you give, whether it is of your time or money, the Lord will give it back to you and then some. It is so rewarding to teach God’s word and see the children’s eyes opened. The joy the word brings them. “The Gift that keeps on Giving!
My girlfriend who lives in California just had a baby girl and I wanted to go see them. My husband and I had 3 very young sons, all close in age and I thought I needed a break. I became even more exhausted from trying to make sure all was prepared and planned for my family before I left. When I got on the plane and settled in my seat I fell fast asleep before the person sat down in the seat next to me. I slept the entire flight. As the plane was descending I awoke and the man sitting next to me said “Did you sleep well?” I couldn’t speak because I realized he was Ryan Seacrest, the television host. He noticed my being star struck and laughed then exited the plane before I could gain my composure. I wiped my mouth hoping I hadn’t drooled all over the place while I was sleeping.
My friend picked me up from the airport, she too was exhausted from being a new mother. Our week included quick site seeing trips and visiting. San Francisco was a beautiful place. My friend seemed happy and I had a great time. The flight home from there invoked sleep again until I had a plane change in Dallas to connect to my flight home to Oklahoma City.
I was given a seat close to the front of the plane. As the plane was boarding I could see it was a full flight. Refreshed I was wondering and watchful as to who might be sitting next to me this time. I had a Bible study teacher who was an amazing lady who flew a lot. She would come back from trips and tell stories of people she was able to witness to and I dreamed of being like her one day.
A young man came in the plane talking non-stop to the stewardess. He paced back and forth in and out of the plane. He clearly had some sort of mental disability. He kept saying he had been to his sister’s wedding. “It was a beautiful wedding” he said over and over with such emotion. She escorted him to the isle seat on my row, I had the window seat and no one ended up sitting in the middle seat as he was the last to board.
Have you seen the movie Forest Gump? Tom Hanks must have met this man and modeled the character after him. The young man had a lot to say, over and over again. I just smiled and listened like the lady that sat on the bench and listened to Forest while they waited for the bus.
The young man was a huge Oklahoma Sooner fan. He told me several times that the flight path was over the stadium and asked me if I would let him know when I saw it. So, as we drew near I saw the stadium in the distance, pointed and said “there it is!” He didn’t give me a second to move and leapt across the seat between us, plastered his face in the window and stayed laid across me until we passed the stadium.
After the initial shock, I snickered and blew it off. He was so happy and thanked me several times for allowing him to see the stadium. As the plane stopped at the gate he quickly undid his seatbelt and bound for the door. As he was leaving he told the stewardess how he had seen the OU stadium. I gathered my things and rose out of my seat a little shaken.
As I stood up and looked toward the back of the plane to see if someone was coming others stood and stared at me. Then the crowd of passengers clapped for me. I was shocked, confused and embarrassed. I left the plane went to baggage claim and gathered my bags. I met my mother and our small boys at the passenger pick up. After hugs and kisses we went to McDonalds. We got our food and went to sit down as one of the passengers from the plane came over to my mother and said “your daughter is a saint!”
My mother was startled and was in shock, she knows I haven’t been a saint but as I told her the story she realized why he thought that way. I didn’t think I deserved that title, I was just being nice. I realized then there are different ways to be a witness.
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”
What a stark difference between the two encounters. Ryan Seacrest and Forest Gump. I actually didn’t see the movie Forest Gump until awhile after the plane trip. I didn’t know the story either and at the end of the movie I cried like a baby. My husband was shocked! I used to not cry much. I said “that’s exactly how the man on the plane was!”
This is a story I will never forget and about how important it is to be kind to someone.
Rhinestone Cowgirl 