Flash:Born: November 29, 1952, Little Rock, Arkansas

A note from South Vine to the girl born November twenty-nine:
Just pretend that you feel fine, that the sun was hired for your day to shine;
Because it's your special day--November twenty-nine.
Enjoy plenty of hours simply supine, then select a delectable place to dine
To celebrate that special day--November twenty-nine.
You could even wear crinoline and dance in a line
To show off on your day of November twenty-nine.
Or make your dress all out of twine, or of any crazy design,
Perhaps a large sandwich sign, if you feel such an incline,
To scare all the people on November twenty-nine.
And even if you did (scare them i mean), they may not cry or whine
Or do anything inappropriate on November twenty-nine
For everyone & thing must happily align or felicitously entwine
For the special day for that Katherine (sorry for the intentional misspelled pun)
Happy Birthday, Sister of mine, born on November twenty-nine. --chuck parker

My brother just sent me a birthday poem of his own design.  Thank you for your kind and whimsical birthday wishes.  I'll be working on the dress of twine...by finishing this scarf o' mine.  (it won't be twine, but yarn didn't rhyme).
A delicious Thanksgiving dinner here, and a great time to have 4 days of nothing much that needed to be done.  We both found time to nap (too often) and read some books and watch a little football as well as Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.  Thank you Jane Austen and Peggy Lee.
Good night from this cold enchanted land.  Still humming the "Hallelujah Chorus"...will pass it on.
love kathryn

THANKS GIVING!!

I can still cook Thanksgiving dinner!  : )

First time we have had a chance to sit down since coffee

this morning. Coco and Scout were thrilled and put up with

a little photo shoot...that took 20 minutes to

get them to this point.

Beautiful, cold.  The perfect Thanksgiving

Snow, which is almost all melted and sun.

We wish you a wonderful relaxing evening.  Pumpkin pie,

pecan pie, leftovers, a game of cards or Scrabble, movies,

whatever. 

To God of All Blessings we say Thank You!

love kathryn and jim

coco and scout

sophie otherwise disposed

Something Worth Sharing This Week

Monday’s Reflection


“WHERE DID I GET THE IDEA that worship must always
be restrained, quiet, and dignified?
Throughout my long life, you have showered me
with blessing upon blessing.
Today I will not withhold the praise you deserve.
Awaken the passion that I’ve kept tucked away for
a rainy day.
It’s all about you, Lord. Not me — but you.
Before I get out of this chair, I will lift my hands
and say aloud the Lord’s Prayer. Today I will
consider what all those words mean.
I will sing a hymn of praise while I comb my hair
and put on my socks.
I will not wait for another day.
I will make a joyful noise!”
- Missy Buchanan

Wild winds blowing; leaves dancing on the streets until they are scooped up and flung into the air. I believe the winds and the falling leaves are also making a joyful noise unto the Lord!
 I love fall.  love you too,
kathryn

Marshall's and Moments of Grace

After the last doctor's appointment, I got into the car.  Sat there a moment, took a deep breath and looked across the Sandia Mountains; another gorgeous fall day.  Sometimes just a moment to breathe in and out,  look up with a thankfulness for this day, gives me a boost of energy. So with that little shot of energy,  I went into Marshall's.  I've been looking for a coat...not a heavy coat, not a puffy coat, not a car coat, just a short coat; minus the weight. I do not want a coat that makes me feel I'm carrying the weight of the world...just a coat to block the winds. Struck out on that mission.  I love to wander through the food aisle.  While enjoying looking at all of the jars and boxes,  I overheard a couple swapping the name of jams and jellies. He looked at me and said wouldn't it be great if there was a tasting table?  Yes! Cream cheese, crackers and an assortment of jams? Yes, let's do that! He started telling me his very eventful past couple of weeks.  About 2 weeks ago,  he had an MRI.  Lower back pain. He called for the results.  The would look for them and call him back.  The office called back and told him what was wrong with his back.....however, the bigger issue was an aneurysm in a vein in his upper leg - it was dangerous and it was leaking. Off to the vascular surgeon's office.  After a Doppler test - yes, there was an aneurysm and he had to go to surgery immediately.  He's now put back together with Gortex.  I said, WOW, you look great!  Look at you, you look wonderful. Wow! He said God is so good...I'm here.  I said I know, I have cancer. He and his wife looked at me with disbelief.  YOU look SO GOOD.  While we were sharing the "wow's" and sharing our thanksgiving to God, I noticed a woman standing looking at the tea...only she wasn't looking for tea, she was eavesdropping. 
I know you would really have to be there to enjoy the moment of God's grace in the food aisle at Marshall's - but I wanted you to hear it.  To remind you how these accidental meetings are actually rare gifts - gifts of grace -  from strangers, meetings in the oddest of places.  I hope you will recall these stories in your own life and smile - God loves you and includes you in stories.  Stories you have no idea others are sharing about YOU!

"Oh, how I love all you've revealed;

I reverently ponder it all the day long."

from Psalms 119

The Message

Taking A Nap and Cancer

I was, as usual, not very clear when I made the comment on my partial thyroidectomy.  That particular tumor on my thyroid was benign. 
Colon Cancer:  I still do not have answers.  I finish my chemo regimen this week.  I believe Dr. Clark said I will have my PET/CAT scans in Dec.  I will also have to undergo some blood work, which is always ongoing. Perhaps by January, I will have the results and information on that cancer.
I do find my energy levels are at an all time low, however, Jim sent a devotional re:  napping. 
A great storm was about to engulf the disciples fishing boat.  The disciples were in a panic, they turned to find Jesus...napping.  Jesus knew ruled the storm and who was protecting them.
Another lesson.  I do not have to calm the waves and try to control anything going on in my life. You know something? Though I've spoken a lot about Jesus' balanced life, I've reached a point in time that talking about his "balanced life" has past.  Actually reaching out and grasping onto a corner of living his calm and rest, is comforting.  Do yourself a favor; take a nap. I am on my way to do that now.
Be Blessed my dearest friends and family,
kathryn

Baby It's Cold Outside!!

The heater went out on the bedroom side of the house.  Fortunately, it was just a disconnected wire.  That set us back about $88.00...for about 5 minutes of work. However, we are grateful for the heat to be back on, for a warm house, warm beds and a place to enjoy life and good food - so many, many GOOD things.
I've been looking at stacks of family photos for the past couple of days.  Memories flood in, sometimes tears flow and other times, laughter at just the thought of the "good ol' days".  Just a warning to Phil & Tina, Chuck & Patty and Teresa & Dan....photos will be coming your way.
I've mopped the kitchen floor, made a rustic apple pie and am resting (blogging is on the list of "how to rest" - I'm just sure of it).
This is my last week of chemo.  There are a lot of emotions running around my mind. I'm not sure that I've got that all sifted through so will wait on further comments.
I am grateful for this past course of treatment - more to the point, for the blessings of God's Spirit and for the faithfulness of prayers of "the many".  For my card warrior, Tina, you've lifted my heart so many times....sharing your days and making me laugh.  You have such a talent for sharing your 'ordinary' (is there such a thing as an ordinary day?!) 
Right now, Coco is playing with a squeaky toy in the living room, Sophie is hopping from chair to chair, trying her best to avoid Scout (aka: Pe Pe Le Pew).  It's a love/hate relationship - I've seen Sophie standing alone in the kitchen, bawling and making such a fuss - no dog in sight. 
I enjoy "real time" (not daylight savings time, I should move to Indiana).  Evenings fold around us, winter recipes calling me.  Sort of calling...I have days I want to cook and do and days that take out or a bowl of cereal is quite enough.
The past round of chemo (3 pills 2x a day) made me so sleepy...like putting a record on the record player and turning it to 33 l/3 or lower.  Only people my age and older understand this.   Sometimes the neuropathy is very bad and other times I am left with just a very low buzzing feeling in my feet and hands.  As I write this, I have not one thing to complain about.  I know others who are suffering so and are working so hard to stay 'in the game'.  God bless them and keep them all.
I need to get out some plates and make a pot of tea.
Enjoy your evening of good food, good company - either people or a good book, a quilt on this very cold night. 
Now as the sunshine pours into the back window, I am seeing a lot of dust that needs to be Swiffer'd away.  I am thankful to be upright and able to whisk it away!
love to all, kathryn

While Piled In Among the Quilts and Dogs.....

Do you enjoy a good quote?  I have them stashed in journals, I write them on an old chalkboard that hangs in the kitchen, on bits of paper, placed behind old windows that hang on my walls.  They touch my heart, remind me I/we are never alone.  An ordinary  person, strikes into that vein of genius and with such economy of words - they are discovered, landing squarely into my heart.  On occasion, quotes come at the perfect moment.  Written with such succinct precision, I find myself glued to their thought - kind of in awe of how THIS quote found me at just the right moment.
The best finds are very funny quotes.  How I miss Erma Bombeck.  We were kindred spirits, me and about 2 million other women.   
Today's stolen quote came from a precious friend from East Tennessee (Go Vols).  Thank you Norris, it came on the wings of angels.  At this writing, they are working missionaries in a province in China. Sometimes you just gotta love the Internet : ) most of all, I love my friend, Norris and his wife, Sallie.  Thank you.
Mike, I loved the song you sent today.  You never fail to say and send the best things.  love to you my dear friend.

When God is about to do something great, he starts with a difficulty. When he is about to do something truly magnificent, he starts with an impossibility.
                                                        -- Armin Gesswein

It is a chilly night in Abq.  The dogs will be running in and out quickly to do their business.  Enjoy your Saturday -- may it include just a bit of extra sleep and a good breakfast to follow!  love kathryn

Storms!....Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Typhoons

First the best news of the year.  No Cancer!!!  I had a benign tumor removed nearly 2 weeks ago.   I take heart in this great news and Praise God for his tender and kind mercies.

O! how I love a good storm.  Growing up in the heartland, rain, sleet, snow, hail, and of course, gorgeous sunsets 'across the fruited plain', made up the tapestry of daily life and continue to this day.  Then as now,  there were those, thankfully, rare events - tornadoes. 
David and I were talking about storms this morning.  A friend of theirs from Singapore was driving through southern Tennessee, when a sudden rain squall came up; driving horizontal rains so fiercely, his wife couldn't see him from inside of the station.  They did see the storm, but were far enough ahead, they remained out of harms way, however, he was soaked through. 
I told David some stories when an F5 tornado hit Jackson, TN in the fall of 1999.  South Jackson was just annihilated.  Overturned semi tracker trucks, stores and homes leveled; stories of survival were told with the state of shock etched into their faces and several people lost their lives as well. 
When I was in the 5th grade, eating a homemade hamburger, the skies were turning that very strange color of green.  My dad stepped outside and I went with him.  (if other members of the family were outside with dad, please tell me, as this is what I remember).  My dad counted off 8 'tails' of tornadoes, coming our way over I-35; east to west.  My dad pulled the car in the detached garage.  We went to the basement and listened as those winds screamed.  A huge explosion tore through the noise of the storm.  I remember my mom saying, in that detached, calm (shocked) manner, 'well, there went the house'.  Suddenly, it was over.  I believe there was a little light rain but the skies were clearing.  Our barn and a chicken house were leveled....the garage? The walls had collapsed and the roof was setting at an odd angle damaging the car beyond repair. If these tornadoes had hit the ground, there would have been nothing left of our little community. 
The house was not gone.  The explosion was from a closed window in the den, located in the front of the house - glass was found all over the house.  One post was knocked loose on the front porch.  We were alive, we would clean up our property and our lives would go on.  Though it would seem these particular storms are very frequent, they aren't.  But they are incredible in their power. Sparing one building and destroying another, driving straw into telephone poles and leaving a pan of cookies untouched,  making these storms all the more memorable. 
Like physical storms, there are storms of enormous magnitude in our personal lives. Waking to a perfectly 'normal' day and that night, way past normal bedtime, we are bathing in our tears, shivering at the thoughts racing furiously across what is left of my mind. Oh, that brain? It has turned to mush.  How? When? Where? Why? WHY????  Upon waking (if there was sleep at all) there is that moment of calm.  However from the look of dry, bloodshot eyes - there is an announcement in the brain - THIS is reality. 
Where do I go? Who do I talk to? How can I explain this? How do I escape? I can't.  I cannot.  I look around and everything looks the same and yet everything is changed. I am angry, sad and paralyzed. Food is not important, clothes - whatever I wore yesterday would be fine for the day ahead. I'm freezing and yet the day is very warm.
Storms, both physical and emotional, bring shock and destruction.  There is unleashed fury; a tornado, a hurricane or some other storm, destroying property or at least throwing power out for days on end.  On the emotional side there is bad news, difficulties that don't fall into a category; exploding, destroying everything, decisions made, leave us as "a cork in a storm on the sea".  And like those harsh winds and relentless and blinding horizontal rains, this storm reshapes whatever it strikes. Not unlike ocean storms, slamming into coastal areas, etching their calling cards into rocks and shorelines, we do not know the toll from this storm.  How far reaching is the damage it will do? Who has it affected?  Is there anything salvageable? 
We still have days of looking out the window; seeing calm skies, but after being slammed by this storm, we still are on the lookout for those blustery, angry clouds on the horizon.  This is a private storm.  Gratefully  this song stays in my heart as I again, reach out and keep a firm grip on hope.
love kathryn

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;
And the cables, passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy that blast, thro’ strength divine.

It will surely hold in the Straits of Fear—
When the breakers have told that the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore,
With the storms all past forever more.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.