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Her First Phrase

1 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

                   JUDY

 

 

 

Our oldest daughter, Karen, was born in Germany, just two months after we arrived in country. We, of course, doted on her. The German lady who was the church nursery worker doted on her, as well. On our last trip in Europe before heading back stateside, Frau Katie stayed with Karen while we were gone. They both had such a good time together, that we weren’t missed at all.

As Karen was learning to speak/talk, we discovered that she was not only speaking English, but she had some German words mixed in there as well! Apparently Frau Katie was speaking to her in German! That was quite a revelation.

I really don’t remember Karen’s “first word” the way many children do. But I do remember her first phrase. Here’s how it came about:

My Mother came to visit us in Germany, while Karen was just 22 months old – a good time to be learning to speak. We squired Mom around as much of Europe as we could in the time she was with us, and usually took Karen with us. We had a great time together. As we would be driving along, Karen and Mom – in the back seat together – would be “conversing” together. And every now and then I would hear Mom say, “Karen, look at that flag!” We would be passing a building or house that was sporting a flag of some type, and Mom was pointing it out to her.

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Mom’s time with us came and went far too quickly, and she returned to New Mexico. We had another year of our tour in Germany, and we returned to our routine. And as we would drive here and there, we would hear Karen say, “Look at that flag!” as she saw flags on buildings, just like when her “Oma” was with us. Gave us quite a chuckle to hear her say that, with the same inflection that Mother had given the phrase.

And that is what Karen’s first phrase was. What a fun memory that is!

 

 

 

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Does Anything Last Until the End

31 May

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

Goodness, spring is almost over and the spring cleaning isn’t done. Nudged by a bit of guilt, I rolled up my sleeves, and began with closets, then drawers. As I tossed out jars of who-knows-what in my bathroom drawer—old tubes of lipstick, creams that probably ended up there from when I was a teenager. But among the junk, to my delight, I found the little bottle of perfume I’ve been searching for for months. It was my favorite for its delicate, yet delicious scent.

 Without hesitation, I popped the glass lid off, brought it to my nose, and the scent was, well, blah. How could that fancy bottle of perfume lose its fragrance?

Visit Janet’s Blog and website Janet Perez Eckles  to read the end of this story.

 

 

 

His Way

 

 

 

 

 

Grateful for the privilege of inspiring you…

My website in English

En Español

My story (video)

Inspirational video  just for you.

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Keep Looking Up!

30 May

From My Heart

Louise Gibson

Lynn, Janice and Louise

Lynn, Janice and Louise

 

 

 

My daughters and I are bonded in love.
as we stand at the foot of the cross..
Each is blessed in so many ways-
Yet all have suffered loss.

 

Everyone is surrounded by distractions every day.
It can be easy to let them cloud our vision.
Keep your focus on Christ, dear friend.
It will help you make the right decision.

 

When you come to know Him,
Constant and abiding, always the same,
Bring glory, praise and honor
to His precious name..

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My Western Trip~Part 4

28 May

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Lites

After walking the streets and meeting many of the 1880s town characters at the old west “Calico Ghost Town” it was just a few miles down I-15 to Peggy Sue’s Nifty 50s Diner in Yermo, CA. Peggy Sue’s Diner really brought back a lot of the 1950s memories of the good times we had as teenagers at our local diners in Albuquerque, NM. To compliment the cozy atmosphere at Peggy Sue’s Diner, you can “Eat to the Beat” with good homemade food and great 50’s music. Then after a burger, fries and a milkshake, you can explore the extensive collection of movie and TV memorabilia that Peggy Sue has on display.

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The next stop was Barstow, CA where I visited the Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum and the American Railroad Museum, both located in the original 1911 Casa del Desierto (The Harvey House) Railroad Depot. The historic structure is an elegant presence in the Mojave Desert and is still used and often referred to as the Barstow Amtrak Station. This famous depot was, for many years, what unofficially became known as the “Crossroads for Travelers,” where the Old Mormon Tail and the Santa Fe Trail came together. Early 1900s travelers, following winding wagon trails across this area turned it into what was later called The National Old Trails Road. Then in 1926, when the Federal Government instituted a new highway numbering system, The National Old Trails Road became U.S. Highway 66, and the rest is history. DiVoran and I became well acquainted with the portion of Route 66 between Las Angeles and Albuquerque in the first several years after we were married, but that’s another story for another blog.

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The next day I had planned to visit the U.S. Naval Armament Museum at the China Lake Naval Air Station just outside Ridgecrest, CA. But, when I signed in for the security check, I was told that their computers had been down for several hours, and they didn’t expect them to be back on-line for another 3-4 hours. There were several people ahead of me, to be processed, and I didn’t have time to wait around in the “hope” that their computers would be restored anytime soon. So, I headed on over to Boron, CA to visit the Saxon Air Museum and the 20 Mule Team Museum. Borax mining and unusual desert rock formations are the big interests in this area. I had made several Space Shuttle recovery trips to Edwards AFB when I worked for Lockheed, and had been introduced to Domingo’s Mexican Food Restaurant there in Boron. So, after checking out the museums and the rock shops, I treated myself to a great lunch at Domingo’s. Nothing had changed since last I had eaten there, including the model train that runs around overhead, inside the dining room, while you are enjoying your meal.

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                        —–To Be Continued—–

 

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A Memorial Day Tribute

25 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

Growing up, I only had a small nodding acquaintance with the military. I knew that my Dad had served in World War 1 as a medic, because he refused to carry a weapon. And my Mother worked in accounting at Kirtland AFB in town. She would occasionally bring home some of those young airmen that she worked with. They were usually quite homesick, and she was attached to them. But that was my only connection with the military.

Until I met Fred.

He was in Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico (UNM) (a story in itself), but his family was far away in Japan. I learned that his Dad was a military chaplain, and that they had traveled the world.

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About the time Fred and I married and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, his family moved to Bossier City, Louisiana (Barksdale AFB) – near Shreveport – just about a four-hour drive for us. We visited them as often as we could on weekends. That was my first real taste of the military life – staying in their quarters on base.

But it wasn’t until Fred actually went into the Air Force that I came to know about true military life – we began to live it, ourselves. I began to see how dedicated men and women were to serving and protecting their country. I began to see how this country that I love so much could possibly be speaking German – or Japanese – if it weren’t for those who were willing to give their lives for our freedom through both World Wars.

I became fiercely patriotic. And I also became fiercely proud of my husband, his father, my brother, and our father – for the contributions they all made to our freedoms.
When Fred’s Dad died, the military funeral was absolutely breath-taking.

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The flag was folded and presented, with a salute.

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We have that folded flag in a case. It is a constant reminder to us of what the military life means to the men and women of our armed forces. I know that not all military personnel are as dedicated to this country – but I could probably venture a guess that at least 95% of them are willing to give up their lives to protect our freedoms.

Have you ever visited the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington Cemetery in D.C.?

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Seeing it, and the Marine guard, is one of the most moving and emotional experiences for me. I’m so glad that this country honors it’s military as it does. It shows that we still have “heart” and love of country. And I am so grateful that God has allowed me to live in this free country.

May God bless the U.S.A.

 

Psalm 147:7
Sing to the Lord with grateful praise

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Hear the Cry?

23 May

kitty with stuffed animal

 

From My Heart

Louise Gibson

 

 

Open your front door –

Just stand there and listen.

Do you hear it?

Believe me, it is there!

 

This time, close your door –

Turn off the television.

Listen to the sounds in your own home.

Hear it? Sure you do — It’s everywhere!

 

To be certain, listen to your own heart.

You hear that?

It’s unmistakable –

It’s coming through loud and clear.

 

“I want to be loved!”

But wait, there’s more!

“And I want to love!”

There’s no need so dear.

 

The world cries out for love that heals,

unites and inspires.

To love and be loved

is a basic need that every soul desires.

 

This is no news to God.

He created us for love.

Our love for God and our neighbor

fulfills the law of God above.

 

Footnote:

“Love is like the 5 loaves and 2 fishes.

It doesn’t start to multiply

until you give it away.”

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My Western Trip~Part 3

21 May

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

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On the way back to Las Vegas, it was suggested that I take the scenic route through the Valley of Fire State Park. This area has some of the most unusual desert rock formations I’ve seen. It made for a beautiful drive, as the sun was getting low, making the red hue of the rock formations glow like they were on fire. Maybe that’s where they came up with the name for the state park. You think?

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The next morning I started the day off with California Eggs Benedict at Marie Calendar’s (yumm), on my way to meet Bob at Nellis AFB. Bob had agreed to escort me on a tour of the Thunderbirds Museum, located there on Nellis. What a thrill it was to visit the home base of that great demonstration team, and view the planes and all the memorabilia tracing the team’s history over the years they have been in operation.

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Then I headed West on I-15 toward Barstow, CA. My first stop was at Goodsprings, NV to check out the 1913 era Pioneer Saloon of “Things Are Tough All Over” movie fame, staring Cheech & Chang.   The saloon has been operating continuously since opening in 1913, and the building and many of the saloon furnishings are original (including the pot-bellied U.S. Army Cannon stove), giving it a rustic and well used appearance. Part of the old west history of the Pioneer Saloon includes five bullet holes in one wall, and a hammered copper picture next to the bullet holes tells the tale of how they got there. The Saloon’s original bar was built in the 1860s by the Brunswick Company of Brunswick, Maine. The story of the arduous trip that brought that bar to Goodsprings, and the Pioneer Saloon, is typical of the transportation routes of the early 1900s. Made of fine quality Cherry wood, even after all these years, it shows no real signs of wear and still maintains its high gloss.

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As I continued West on I-15, I experienced a gentle climb until just after I crossed the border into California, when I started noticing what appeared to be a rainstorm heading my way. Just as I entered the Clark Mountain Pass (elev. 4726), I ran into SNOW flurries. I had just stopped for gas in Jean, NV and it hadn’t seemed that cold there. I just couldn’t believe I was driving through SNOW in the middle of a bright sunny day. Of course, the flurries didn’t last long, but it was still a thrill just to have driven through them. Down the road a ways, I stopped in Yermo, CA to visit the historic Old West Calico Ghost Town.   Located just 3 miles east of Barstow, Calico was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, and today has been converted into a county park named Calico Ghost Town.  Silver mining and the population of Calico, supported by the Zenda Mining Company, peaked in 1887 and has steadily declined ever since. Walter Knott (of Knott’s Berry Farm) purchased Calico in the 1950s, and architecturally restored the town’s builldings to look as they did in the 1880s. 

 

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—–To Be Continued—–

 

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Happy First Anniversary Clean Indie Reads

20 May

I attempted to re-blogg this  post from our sister blog, Rebekah Lyn Book but it didn’t work so I will share the highlight here~Onisha

 

Clean Indie Reads

Anniversary Sale MAY 20th ONLY

We’ve brought you Flinch-Free Fiction for one year.


Now we bring it to you for less than one dollar!


Be sure to look for our novels

The Florida Springs Trilogy

Sacred Spring, Living Spring, Clear Spring

Julianne and Summer Storms


Click Photo to Visit Sale Happy Shopping!

Click Photo to Visit Sale
Happy Shopping!

 

 

Visit Rebekah Lyn Books to read about Clean Indie Reads and why I love them.

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Reflecting on Mother’s Day

20 May

Once again, we are blessed to have a post from Patricia Franklin. She is reflecting on her Mother’s Day experience this year. It touched my heart, I hope it touches yours too~Onisha

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

Mother’s Day – always a special day, especially when you don’t have any special expectations, but enjoy the blessings that come with the day. 
 Mine was great, simply because I got phone calls from all of my children — a rarity for me.  The boys usually call, but my daughter does not get that privilege very often.  We had a winter storm here for Mother’s day and it was cold, windy, rainy and snowy.  So I decided we would go to a movie.  We went to see “Heaven is for Real.”  I loved it.  The theater was full and everyone was crying by the end.  
The elderly lady next to me was huge, had a big box of popcorn and a gigantic drink. She also had a big bag.  Don’t know how she fit it all into her tiny seat. She was with her adult son.  At one time I might have remarked on the way she looked, but I have learned for the most part to look at people’s hearts and not the exterior.  Maybe it is my age, or maybe it is that working at a crisis center for so long, I have learned to see people the way they are inside.
At the end of the movie, the woman turned to me and said that she lost her husband two years ago.  The tears were streaming down her face as she continued “My son said he had to go first to prepare a place for me.”  I said “The children know”  (as in the movie) …  “I don’t know why the world finds it so hard to believe … it is really very simple.”  I had to leave the theater then, or lose my husband in the crowd.  So I patted her on the shoulder and left. 
It was very crowded exiting the theater. Usually everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere else fast, but something was different with this crowd.  Everyone was smiling and friendly and unhurried, instead of pushing and shoving and in a hurry to get out into that busy world again.  What a beautiful experience.  If only we had more uplifting experiences like this in our lives, imagine what would happen.
We then went to a restaurant and had dinner next to a family with two little red headed boys.  The smallest boy turned around in his high chair, smiled and spoke to me like he knew me.  We enjoyed watching the family so much and I told the Mom so as I left.  The little boy was blowing kisses to me and I thought how quickly they grow and are gone. This family seemed to treasure these precious moments.  It was very nostalgic to me and made my Mother’s Day very special.   A beautiful, simple day filled with love and care.

 

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Be Still and Know

18 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

 Judy Wills

JUDY

 

I’ve written before about my bout with cancer.  I seem to document my life with “before cancer” and then “after cancer.”  That’s probably not the best way to do it, but things just look different after cancer.

After I had been diagnosed – but before surgery and treatment – there was a minister/evangelist who came to our church for a weekend service.  He was not only a preacher, but also a musician.  Great voice…wonderful message.

I had known of the scripture – Psalm 46:10 (Be still and know that I am God) for many years.  But this BE STILLman performed a song that really touched me.  He used those words, but he inserted a couple of words that touched me deeply.  He sang “Be still – my child – and know that I am God.”  It certainly made that verse very personal to me.  It reminded me, again, that I am, indeed, a child of God’s, and that He loves me greatly.  I had known all that, ever since I had given Him my heart, but sometimes I just needed to be reminded of it.  God certainly got my attention with my diagnosis!

It was such a simple thing – just the addition of those two words in that song – but it meant so much to me at that time of my life.  And it’s something that I’ve never forgotten.  Nor do I want to.

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