As we continue to celebrate and enjoy time with our famiies this Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to share a very Southern poem written by my author friend Bonnie Latino. If you are from the South or love the South feel free to share this~Onisha
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via Counting Our Southern Blessings. – Venture Galleries.
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
Don't allow yourself to be intimidatedby the talents of others.God created you to be unique!He gave you special gifts of your own-You are far more talented than you thinkWe are all actors on the stage of life.Study the script, my friend.Notice that even the brevity of partsdoesn't determine the end!Do your best to honor the Lord-serve honestly and be fervent.In the end you'll hear the Master's words,"Welcome to the joy of the Lord,good and faithful servant"Quote by the Rev. Oliver G. Green:"Use what talents you have-the woods would have little musicif no birds sang their songexcept those who sang best."
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
This year, I decided to change Thanksgiving. Every year since my parents passed away and my 
brother’s chose to not spend the holiday with me, I have mourned, cried, tried denial and even went on a Thanksgiving cruise. Nothing has worked to chase away the Thanksgiving blues. This year I am changing things up.
First, I am working on my attitude. To be truthful, I have tried this every year and haven’t been successful. I would be fine up to “THE DAY” but would find myself in tears as my heart listened to the echo of years past, of kitchen banter, sharing recipes, children stories and just being family.
Secondly I needed to find something new and challenging on which to place my focus. I decided instead of roasting a whole turkey or even a turkey breast, I would purchase fresh turkey breast in a half-breast size. I chose four; each between two to three pounds and each adult in the family would be responsible for seasoning one. I seized the opportunity to try brining a turkey. I plan to rub it with poultry seasoning and garlic infused oil before popping it into the roaster. I can’t wait until my son and his wife arrive to find out how they are seasoning theirs. I think the mixture of flavors will make the house smell delicious.
Why am I, a woman who knows she is truly blessed sharing this story? Because very few people have perfect lives. At some point most of us will face sorrow, loss and possibly rejection. This is my way of coping and I wanted you to know that this Thanksgiving I will be praying for you, that your heart will be made whole and maybe you could do the same for me?
Update Friday November 29,2013
Thanksgiving was so wonderful I don’t have words to express it. Thank you for your prayers.
One of our turkey breasts was brined with red pepper, garlic powder and peppercorns, one used A1 dry rub and the last one was brushed with rosemary and lemon infused oil. Everyone was eager to test each one. They were all delicious but hands down the brined one was the favorite.
A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
While I was taking pictures of the VFM’s aircraft, I saw a C-47, painted with D-Day Invasion stripes, fly over a couple of times, and wondered where it was landing and 
taking off from. I walked down the street a couple of blocks, and came upon the entrance to the AOPA 2013 AirPortFest. I couldn’t believe my luck! I ask the people at the gate if there was a fee to enter, and they said “No” so I walked in and spent a couple of hours checking out all the latest in General Aviation aircraft. What a great show that was! And of course, that’s where the C-47 was giving rides around Ft. Worth, if you had the price of a ticket. I didn’t ask.
One of the most interesting planes I saw there was actually a glider. The German built Stemme S10 MotorGlider has a retractable Rotax 914 F2/S1 supercharged flat-four engine in the nose, providing 113.5 hp for takeoff and climb, retractable landing gear, and a range of over 900 nautical miles; all for that special low price of $390,000 (US) when “you” pick it up at the factory in Strausberg, Germany. Of course, you have to go by yourself as there is only room for the pilot.
The next day, before leaving Ft. Worth, I tried to visit the Hawk Field Flyers R/C Club field, and the Golden Triangle R/C Club field, but they were both closed. It was Sunday 
morning, and I guess they must have all been at church (?) So, I drove down to the Ft. Worth Stockyards Station and played the part of a tourist, while taking in the sights. Most memorable was the video story of the western cattle industry development, how Ft. Worth became the rail yard hub for that industry, and how the cowboy was instrumental in making all that happen. Then at 11:00, there was the real Longhorn cattle drive down Main Street. What a sight that was! Of course, back in the late 1800s, there would have been a lot more than 40 Longhorns running down a dirt street kicking up a lot of dust or mud, depending on the season.
The next day I drove the 35 miles on I-30 into Dallas, TX where I visited the Frontiers of Flight Museum which is located adjacent the Dallas’ Love Field. Dallas being the headquarters for Southwest Airlines, I guess it’s appropriate for the FOF Museum to use a Southwest Boeing 737, which is nosed halfway into one wing of the museum, and allows you to enter and explore the entire plane. Quite a novel idea I thought. Then I made the short 20 mile trip North on U.S. 75, up to Addison, TX where I visited the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. After that, I drove another 30 miles on the Dallas’ “Loop” Hiway system over to Denton, TX where I visited the Hanger 10 Flying Museum. Luckily, “Gretta” my road Garmin was with me all the way.
After a substantial breakfast the next morning (I wasn’t expecting anything but peanuts all day), it was back to Dallas Love Field to turn in my rental car and wait for my Southwest Airlines flight to Houston, TX where I would change planes for Orlando, FL. During my layover in Houston, I called my friend Leon’s sister, Mary, and had a nice talk with her about my great visit with Leon, and how he was doing.
Amazingly, most of the people on my flight out of Houston to Orlando were dressed completely different from those on my flight coming the other way just 11 days before. I didn’t see a single man wearing a 10-gallon hat or a pair of boots. It was mostly shorts, tee shirts and jeans. There must be something in the air or the water that makes people dress the way they do, but then that would be a subject for someone a lot smarter than me, and for sure in a different blog.
I arrived in Orlando in time to take DiVoran to a delicious Baby Back Rib dinner at one of my favorite restaurants before heading home to Titusville, and my own bed. Have you ever noticed how much better your bed at home feels compared to any motel bed? It’s just not the same comfort level is it? At least not for me, it isn’t. Now don’t get me wrong, I love to travel, visit museums and see the sites, but it’s always nice to get home to the one I love and to my own bed. So, until next time, enjoy each and every day God gives you and let’s “Keep ‘em Flying.”
—–The End—–
My Take
DiVoran Lites
In our Sunday school class, we have two drums. One is a Remo lollipop drum on a stick. I bought it at a consignment shop. It has a wonderful sound, and is beautiful with red, green, and blue stripes going around its face. I played it one day in church because it went with my bright red top. The other is a frame drum made by the same company. It would remind you of a tambourine with a drum top but no little cymbals. It also has a strong sound. Every Sunday during the Sunday school, but not in church, children play rhythm instruments and sing while the church music mistress plays the keyboard. Bill comes in to sing and pray with us and the assistant teacher is there too.
The two drums are always the first instruments the kids pick up. We have two ankle bracelets with big bells on them, a crow call, a stick tambourine, a wheel thing that makes a nice sound with metal ball chains, two sets of maracas. Something I’ve never seen before that my friend/associate teacher got at a thrift store is a bunch of plastic bubbles on a stem that hit together when you shake it. We have a triangle too. It is metal and has a metal mallet that makes a clear, ringing sound.
The only problem with the drums and crow call is that the ball on the end of the mallet of each gets such a work out that they take to popping off and having to be chased across the floor (not far) and stuck on again. Bill glues them, but the kids are so enthusiastic that they soon come loose again.
It’s fun to see how the newbies are usually at a loss as to how or when to play, but as the weeks pass, they become more and more integrated and sometimes we all play the same tempo and end at the same time. It must do a lot for us to learn to play together that way and to become cooperative and aware. It’s fun anyhow. Rhythm band anyone?
Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered together, there I am in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
Does that mean even when we’re making a clatter? I believe it does, don’t you?
Sunday Memories
Judy Wills
My Aunt Jessie…..the only “auntie” that I was close to. There was only her and my mother on that side of the family. Of course, my dad was one of 13 children, so I had lots and lots of cousins. But they were all in Texas or Louisiana….or SOMEwhere else.
Because Jessie never married, she became the breadwinner of the family after her father died, and
Grannie’s Favorite Chair
Granny lived with her. And because she never married, her security became the things she owned. She became an expert in antiques. Her love of antiques started when my grandfather purchased – for $5.00 – a beat-up old chair frame for her. She refinished and re-upholstered that chair, and it became the first of many antique items that filled her house and her life. It became Granny’s favorite chair.
She had several love seats. She had a coffee table that was magnificent – it was quite large and the top (covered with glass) was one solid piece of mahogany. Beautiful. (One family story goes that a large slab of wood fell off a train and someone – Grandpa? – found it, took it and made it into that coffee table.
She had an antique pump organ, and Victrola. Mother said Granny always loved to have music around the house.
She had curio cabinets. She had one piece of solid cherry wood that was a china cabinet. The top had glass doors through which you could see the lovely antique tableware she had found.
She was always on the lookout for estate sales, and shopped at as many of them as she could. She found wonderful sales, and was able to purchase many good things at great prices. At one time, she was the president of the Albuquerque Antique Club. Her house was large enough to accommodate all of her purchases, and she had a gift for placement of her pieces. As we prepared to have an “auction” of her household items, the auctioneer looked around, and said, “This is some of the best Victorian furniture I’ve ever seen!”
Unfortunately, Jessie never thought any of us wanted anything of hers. Because none of us had expressed an interest in any of her things, some time before she died I suggested we should all make a list of her things we wanted, and give it to her. If there was a duplication in “wishes” – hers was to be the final decision. She was quite delighted to see how much we loved her things, after all. And, I must admit that, after I had made my “list,” I finished it with the statement that we would rather have HER in our lives than anything of hers….but that we loved her and wanted to have keepsakes of her.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
Janet Perez Eckles
“Quick, Honey,” I said, “get your shoes in the closet, and make sure the remote controls aren’t all over the place.”
The videographer from a local TV network affiliate was about to arrive. And the clips were to be used as part of my intro as I keynoted an event. So I dashed around to and fro making sure the house was pretty tidy.
Crazy isn’t it? Why don’t I worry about taking a moment to take a deep breath and say thank you—thank you, Lord for the opportunity, for the exposure, for the way you guide the ministry. And how about worrying about cleaning my heart, my attitude, my habits and complaining tendencies instead?
That should be my priority as God doesn’t need a video camera. He’s already there sitting on the sofa of my heart. He’s observing where I put my faith. Where I tucked my trust. And how much joy I stored in this life of mine. I made a decision—to truly celebrate thanksgiving by making sure my heart is clean and adorned with gratitude…
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (II Chronicles 16:9).
Father, even though my life isn’t perfect, my flaws are evident, my weaknesses real, help me to have a heart that is lined with genuine appreciation for what you granted me and a heart that is perfectly clean for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• What are you grateful for today?
• What will you do to make the needed change in your attitude?
• What will you do to show gratitude?
Janet Perez Eckles,
Grateful for the privilege of inspiring you…
Inspirational video just for you.
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
If you have compassion for the homeless, and charity is on your mind- You are enrolled in God's army, called "The Army of the Kind".To an animal lover a homeless animal is a cause of great concern. All animals need our loving care, our affection they want to earn.At the moment, I feel like a recruiter- Won't you please "step up to the plate?" Do your best to fill a need, my friend, before it is too late.Join the army of people who care- Open your heart to the homeless everywhere. A kitten's purr will touch your soul Let rescuing God's creatures be your goal. Animal facts: Cats have overtaken dogs as the Number One pet in the United States. Cats do a better job of lowering stress and blood pressure-and purring may have a lot to do with that. All from a simple stroke of a feline fur.
A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Continuing into downtown Albuquerque, I was pleased to see most of the stores have been restored, and are open for business since the last time I was there. Gone are all the 
boarded up store fronts, while the Kimo Theater and the Indian Jewelry stores are still going strong. “Old town Albuquerque is a thriving tourist center, and the Rio Grande River actually had water in it. Of course, most of that water had probably come from the heavy rains and flooding in Colorado. The city has expanded toward all points of the compass, and is no longer the Albuquerque where I grew up. Now it’s just another big city, with all the big city problems, as far as I am concerned.
As it happened, this was the week of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and I 
would have been really disappointed if I had traveled all that way for the Balloon Fiesta, only to have rainy and windy weather the only two days I was there. Actually, I hadn’t even realized I was going to be in Albuquerque during the Balloon Fiesta until I had made all my motel reservations, and couldn’t change them. However, the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum Foundation has built a beautiful big Balloon Museum since I had last been in Albuquerque, so I was able to visit the museum in spite of the bad weather.
After saying goodbye to my friend Leon, I headed East on I-40 toward Amarillo, TX to begin the return leg of my trip. Leaving Albuquerque, as I was passing through the Tijeras Canon, I spotted one of the many ceremonial Penitente crosses on the hillside 
that had always been there since I was a teenager. We had heard all kinds of stories about the closed society of “Los Penitentes” or “The Brothers of the Pious Fraternity of Our Father Jesus the Nazarene” who lived somewhere in the Tijeras Canon area, and practiced their mysterious rituals there. They were known for their ascetic practices, which included self-flagellation in private ceremonies during Lent, and processions during Holy Week which ended with the reenactment of Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday. Thus, the crosses we guessed. I never knew anyone who witnessed one of their ceremonies or knew a Penitente personally.
Then it was on thru Moriarty, NM with its Tee-Pee Motel and Santa Rosa, NM, which I had missed on that scary day, on my way to Albuquerque, just a few days before. Then I passed thru Tucumcari, NM, back across the border into West Texas, thru Wildorado,TX with its many wind generators, and finally into Amarillo, TX.
While in Amarillo, I visited the CAF Dew Line Squadron, located at the Tradewind Airport, 
the Texas Air & Space Museum located at the Rick Husband International Airport, and the Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian located on I-40 just east of the city. This American Indian Museum had some of the most beautiful paintings, and when I ask about them, was told most of them were painted by an author named Thomas E. Mails, as illustrations for his book “Mystic Warriors of the Plains.”
The next day, after driving to Ft. Worth, I visited the Veteran’s Memorial Air Park, which has been combined to display artifacts and aircraft represented in the B-36 Peacemaker Museum, the OV-10 Bronco Museum, and the Forward Air Controller Museum, all in one location next to the Meacham International Airport . After leaving the VMAP, I ask for directions to the Vintage Flying Museum, which was just down the street, and was also adjacent to the Meacham International Airport.
—–To Be Continued—–
DiVoran and my daughter are both Indie authors. It is an exciting time to be an author. Did you know it is also an exciting time to be a reader?
12 Things You Should Know about Indie Authors Before You Snub Them.
If you are interested in DiVoran and Rebekah’s books, you can find them at Rebekah Lyn Books along with great writing books by Mary Sayler.
Old Things R New 