Faith

Just ran across a great poem and decided to share it with you all again. Have done it before--but it is so powerful.

"The Beautiful Gift" by Grace Noll Crowell

What can a mother give her children
Greater today than this one great thing,
FAITH in an old, sweet, beautiful story,
A Star-- A Stable-- A New Born King?

Shining FAITH in the young lad, Jesus:
Lover of high, white things was HE:
Jesus--straight as a Lebanon cedar;
Jesus--clean as the winds from the sea.

FAITH in the young lad come to manhood;
Jesus, compassionate, tender and true-
OH, my children--what more glorious
Gift in the world can I give to you?

Carry it high like a lamp in the darkness
Hold it for warmth when the day is cold.
Keep it for joy when youth goes singing,
Clasp it for peace when you are old.

What can a Mother give her children
More than a Faith that will not dim?
Take it--my dear ones--hold it forever;
A lamp for a lifetime--FAITH in HIM.

Friends

This is the third time I am trying to get this off to you. Don't know what I do. One time I only got the picture printed and the next time I looked up and only had a blank page, so her goes again. If I don't make it this time I am going to crash this &*&**** thing.

I had the best week with Henrietta. She drove up alone, from Iowa on Sat. She had spent the night in Nevada, Mo. and left this am. and plans to spend the night some place in Mo. past Kansas City. She plans to be home early enough tomorrow to mow the lawn yet.

Wally never wanted to ride and see anything while he was here so this time we drove around some. We drove to Lake Atlanta--Pea Ridge(Nat. Park)--Jane Mo.--Evonne--Eureka Springs and the statue--Gather--etc. She really enjoyed Eureka Springs.

We visited a lot--played cards--Pinnacle--golf--kings in the corner--crazy rummy--rummy--etc. That was sure fun. We ate out some--sleep off and on--went to the wellness center--etc. and really enjoyed each other. He took a loose leaf notebook along with all of Wally's letter that he had written the while he was in the army during world war 2. That was so interesting. We enjoyed each other.

Dad had his 83. I must say he is going down hill rapidly, lately. He still likes to have me come, sit with and hold his hand but we carry on no conversation any more. He fell twice this past week. Both time he got bruised, but no serious injury. He is caring less about if his hair is combed, or if he is shaved. He wets a lot ( in depends a lot) and also in a wheel chair. This week he went all over the bathroom floor twice, went on the bed and floor by it--needed a change of clothes because of missing the stool--etc. He is not irritated at all lately and still just as sweet and pleasant as always. So too bad. He still likes to snoop and enjoys candies-cookies-etc. that people bring him.

This morning before Henrietta left we went to Steak and Shake for breakfast. Neither of us had been there before for breakfast. Was that good. I must go again. We had two scrambled eggs--four large stripes of bacon--two slices of toast--hash browns and all the coffee we wanted for only $4.99. She also gave me a beautiful arrangement of cut flowers. Do I ever appreciate them, She is a wonderful, thoughtful, caring person with a whole lot more stamina than what I have.

Poem

"It is only a tiny rose,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not know to such as I,
GOD opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look too God for guidance
In each step of the way.

The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfold the rose."

Isn't this beautiful? In the last week I realize how blessed I am and safe in the arm of Jesus. Thanks for all the prayers. God is great.

Graduation

Congratulations to all of the graduates this year. Preschool--Eighth grade--High School and Graduate School. Sarah will be beginning kindergarten this fall. Jamie will be a freshman at Western . Kelsy will start college in Searcy planning on becoming a pharmacist, and Brett has become a Dr. of Theology this May and plans to find a college teaching job latter this year. Congratulations to each of you.

Friends

I've had a good time the past few weeks looking up friends I haven't seen for years. Of course they all have changed-but I've stayed the same. Really , they all look very good in my old eyeballs. None have become fat and sloppy-all are still kicking and best of all they all remained good friends

We have kept in touch at Christmas , but there is something about seeing them first hand. Some we went out to lunch, had coffee on their deck or just visited. All have had their share of hardship along the way--good and bad Dr. reports--some widows--but making the best of the daily routine.

Today I even got to meet the person who bought our old home in Bella Vista. A very nice man--goes to the Judson Baptist church where we used to go and a retired Postal worker. They remodeled the whole basement. Now a large library in the workshop. Tore out a whole wall and made a huge bedroom where the walk out door was. Added a sun room by the walk in door--redid the kitchen etc.

Must go see dad now. He is doing well and getting settled in nicely.

AFV

I should have had my camera ready to roll yesterday, but I didn't. Cindy came to town to get mulch and mow my lawn. The weather was nice ,but they predicted rain latter that afternoon and for the next couple of days. She asked if I wanted to come out and help her plant a few small free evergreens she got from a friend and help plant the garden before the rain came. Sounded good to me, so I went.

Got the trees set out--the garden planted--Rain clouds coming closer--spread most of the mulch--RAIN CLOUDS GETTING VERY HEAVY. The mulch was on Rich's truck and it had a large tire in the front of the bed, covered with mulch. Cindy got it uncovered and lifted it over the side of the truck and dropped it, but it didn't land flat. It rolled--rolled--rolled and then took a turn and started straight for the chicken coop. This is where the funny part took place. The door of the coop was open and the tire rolled right through the opened door and came to a stop when it hit the roost and shattered them. Cindy just laughed and (so did I). This would have made a good AFV shot.

She finished the mulch--took the truck and picked up the tire. There were a few sprinkles--she took in all the patio cushions--shut the windows--I left--got to the second curve on 127 and it just down poured. I stopped at the Reddick church where the cemetery is and waited until I could see again-got to the 73 turn off and the road was dry. We didn't get any rain in Rogers either, but at least Cindy's work was not in vain.

May it never happen again!!!!

Yesterday was not my day. In fact , it was one of the worst that ever happened to me. But nothing serious--not due to my senility--just queer.

After I had visited dad in the morning I decided to wash the car. I pulled in and decided I would just do my own washing instead of going through the automatic. I could save some money. I saw I needed quarters. I took the keys out of the ignition--laid them on the front seat--got out $3.00 from my billfold. Laid the billfold on the front seat on top of the keys. My cell phone was also in it--went around the corner -got $2.00 worth of quarters and went back to the car. Yep! It was locked.

Looked for the manager--no where. So I went up to a nice man two stalls down from me and asked him how I should handle this. "Do you know your kids cell # ?. No --it's all on the cell phone. Well, he was finished washing his old antique car , had some groceries in it, but he said "I'll take these home and then I'll take you to your friend who has your house key." Well--Debbie wasn't home, so he took me to ER where Cindy was working. He came in with me and stayed by me tell all was ok.

Cindy called Rich and fortunately he was in Rogers getting a hair cut. He came--took me home--unlocked the house door--I got the extra car key--He drove me back to the car wash, and all was well. By this time I had missed lunch and it was time to get back to dad and watch the MASTERS.

Rich suggested I get another car key --a magnetic box and put it under the car someplace. So I did. Got a new car key and house key. So when I got home I tried the house key--it worked. Tried the car key--it worked---BUT set off the panic whistle. I stopped, so I thought all was well. WRONG.

I opened the car door to go to dad--the PANIC whistle went off again. I tried everything. Couldn't do a thing. Called Rich--he didn't know exactly what to say. Called Gt. He told me to get out my manual and it would walk me through it. RIGHT. Thanks Gt. I might have been bald by now if it wasn't for you.