From the Heart
Louise Gibson
Embrace the Promise
When we wake up in the morning,
there is promise in the air.
We don’t know what the day will bring,
but the expectancy is there.
The time to be happy is now-
We have this day to explore.
Everyday is a special occasion-
What are you waiting for?
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.
Psalm 5:3
None are as old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David Thoreau
A Slice of Life
Bill LItes
Back on the Hector, the ship headed west, and after an uneventful week at sea, our first stop on the way to Japan was Honolulu, Hawaii, to refuel the ship and to spend a few days enjoying that beautiful tropical paradise. 
Honolulu was everything the travel brochures advertise it to be. That was a marvelous time, with swimming, snorkeling, surfing, touring, and an occasional wonderful and delicious evening luau, with lots of pretty hula dancers.
Then it was another week at sea before we arrived at our destination, Sasebo, Japan, where, for the next six months, we were scheduled to swing around a buoy in the harbor, servicing any Pacific fleet Navy ship needing
the type of repairs not extensive enough to require a shipyard. The USS Jason (AR-8), the sister ship we were relieving, had her steam up and was ready to head back to California when we arrived. There was a brief “Changing of the Guard” ceremony, then the Jason was gone, and we began the work for which the ship had been designed.
My duty on the Hector, while it was on station in Japan, was as a diesel engine mechanic. This task kept me busy repairing and overhauling the 
many boat engines used by the ship, as well as boat duty. Since we were tied up to a buoy in Sasebo harbor, anyone needing to leave the ship to go anywhere (ship to ship, or ship to shore) had to go by boat. There was the Captain’s Gig, used by the Captain and the other ship’s officers, and the Liberty Launches, used to transport the ship’s enlisted personnel and for every other task know to man. The three-man crew for each boat consisted of a Boatswain’s mate, a Quartermaster and an Engineman. This meant the ship had to supply enough three-man crews to man all the boats the ship might have in the water at any one time, and still maintain adequate shipboard operations.
When ships would tie up alongside the Hector for repairs, our ship’s boats would normally provide transportation for their personnel, as well as our own. Since the four-ship destroyer squadrons usually traveled together, we could sometimes have as many as eight ships tied up alongside at one time. As might be expected, this kept us very busy with boat runs, transporting people, equipment and supplies to and from the ship and the base, 24/7. One big surprise at Sasebo, during our stay there, was the day the Fleet Tug USS Tawasa (ATF-92) came along side the Hector, and there was my high school friend, Jim, from Albuquerque. We had a great visit and both remarked what a small world it was, that we should run into each other on the other side of the world from where we had first become friends.
—–To Be Continued—–
My Take
DiVoran Lites
Even though I haven’t studied it in depth, I do know that genealogy can be exciting and interesting, especially if you have a passion for history. If it is your own history, you can enjoy it even more.
My Mother’s grandparents lived with Mother’s family in their old age. Mother was named for her grandmother, Dora Bell. One day when we were in that hometown, we went past a small house on the main road where Dora Bell once had her own shop. She sold gifts and items she had designed and crocheted herself. She was very creative and she taught my mother to crochet too. Neither of them ever used a pattern.
For fun, they made tiny dresses, teddies, shawls, coats and hats for Mother’s, “Little Dolls.” She had homemade furniture and other clothes as well. When I was a child, I got to play with the “Little Dolls.” I remember the non-crocheted hats best. They had deep crowns and wide brims and must have been the fashion in the 1900s. I like seeing that type of hat in pictures. I think it’s still my favorite style.
My playing with Mother’s dolls, and the fact that she and her grandmother made the clothes made a wonderful continuity in my life. So did Mother’s story telling. I feel as if I know my great-grandmother, Dora-Bell as well as any other member of the family, though I was only four years old when she died. It gives me a warm feeling of belonging, and I understand characterization mostly because of my mother’s stories.
Dora Bell loved her family deeply. When she grew old and frail she wanted them around her as much as possible. Mother said when she was a teen-ager Dora Bell would get ill whenever Mother went away for a short time. Once when Mother went shopping in the next town, Dora Bell had a heart attack and Mother was convinced it was because she left her. They both survived. Maybe it wasn’t even a heart attack, perhaps it was a panic attack.
In a way, I can understand that and relate to her, but in another way, I can’t. Her first husband left her with two daughters to rear, and that was enough to traumatize anyone. I’ve been to the cemetery where Dora Bell is buried next to her second husband whom everyone dearly loved. Her daughter, my grandmother is there along with my grandfather and my other two grandparents plus some other relatives. My parents are there too. I don’t know, it all just gives me a feeling of belonging that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
So there’s another plus for knowing where you came from and where your ancestors came from too. What do you know about your family history? Does it give you a feeling of belonging too?
My Take
DiVoran Lites
I like good news better than bad news. My family had a toast, “Health, wealth, and happiness.” Options, solutions, suggestions on those subjects interest me. As a Christian, and a writer, I learn by reading the Bible and other spiritual literature. I learn by journaling, praying, going to church, and most of all by following the leading of the Holy Spirit who brings information into my life in many different ways, mainly by directing me in my reading. Here’s some general knowledge I’ve acquired lately.
Ray Kurzwell, an inventor on a par with Edison, plans to live forever. However, the argument he gets most frequently isn’t, it can’t be done, but it’s this: only the rich will be able to afford the technology. Kurzwell’s, answer? “That’s what they said about cell-phones.”
Our school system seems to be about teaching children to take tests instead of encouraging them to love learning and to think for themselves. In contrast, Finland has the top-rated school system in the world. The secret is in the quality, training, and support of teachers. Although their government does pay for the education of their teachers, it’s not the politicians that are in control of the school system, but the excellent teachers who are earnest about their work, and well paid to boot.
In a growing trend, about 5,000 doctors in twenty-four states do not accept medical insurance. That gives them and their patients a chance at the best, most responsible and most reasonable care possible.
I just have one question. If I opt to live forever instead of living in fear of old age and debility, will I still have all the love, the income, and the health I’ll need to make life worthwhile?. I’m certainly looking forward to Heaven, but I can’t fully, imagine the splendors there. My life here is good, so I may have to make that decision someday. One thing I know: I’d rather imagine living forever, even here on earth, than to live in fear. I don’t want to put off enjoying life for some future time either. Being present in the present just makes everything so much more fun. How do you feel about good news versus bad news? It makes you think, anyhow.
SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Let me start off by saying that, after four years of college, Fred had another 
four years of schooling at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
During that time, his father, a U.S. Air Force Chaplain, 
was stationed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, just four hours away from us. We drove over frequently to spend a weekend with them.
After they had been in Louisiana for a few years, dad was transferred to Hawaii. As Fred’s education started coming to a close, we began to think 
about giving ourselves a graduation present by joining them in Hawaii for a visit. We were getting really excited about that prospect.
But Uncle Sam had other ideas! In January 
before Fred graduated in May, dad was promoted again and reassigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio. It was quite a bit of culture shock to go from tropical Hawaii to winter in Ohio in a few short weeks!
And there went our dream of a Hawaiian vacation! Shucks!
Fast forward about 39 years – boy that really zipped by, didn’t it? Fred’s parents were living in an assisted-living facility in Washington State. They had thought to make a trip to Maui for a week in a time-share owned by their youngest daughter and her husband, but needed/wanted some of the family to be with them to sort-of keep an eye on them. Since Fred and I were retired at the time, we graciously volunteered for that job. Really had to twist our arms to do that, right??!!
Two weeks before we were scheduled to depart, Fred’s mother, already afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, had a major set-back. She was placed in the Special Care Unit of the facility, where there were trained staff to care for her.
Since Fred’s dad had been trying care for her by himself – and he was encouraged not to visit her for a few weeks so she would become adjusted to her new home – we decided to go ahead with our plans. Frankly, he needed the rest from all that stress.
So Fred and I flew to Seattle, rented a car and dropped our luggage at the hotel where we would be staying for just one night. We drove to Shelton, an hour’s drive away, and spent the rest of the day with Fred’s mother, father, sister and her husband. We three then drove back to Seattle for the night, as our flight out was quite early the next morning.
In spite of being on the West Coast, the non-stop flight was really long to Maui. We arrived at the Kahului airport in the capital of Maui.
We had arranged for a rental car, picked it up, stopped by the Costco nearby and picked up groceries for the mornings we would be there. We planned on partaking of all the wonderful island foods for lunches and dinners.
~~~~More to Come~~~~
From the Heart
Louise Gibson
“Winning Against Worry”
You can win the battle and live victoriously-
Worry is an unhealthy vice that attacks you and me.
“Worry is an old man with bended head-
carrying a load of feathers that he thinks is lead.”
Anxiety is ultimately foolish because it concerns that which isn’t-
it deals with the “what if” and “could be”
As long as we entertain the “worst case scenario”
We guarantee our own misery.
At the moment, I feel like David.
A smile has replaced a frown-
I am standing on the promises of God, my Savior-
'WORRY, you are going DOWN!!!"
On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
In the midst of your quiet time have you ever breathed the prayer, Lord use me today and then gone about your day? Many of us do this hoping that God will bring someone into our life to whom we can minister. But what if something bad happens? Do we see that as a fulfillment of our prayer?
Ten years ago my purse was stolen in Wal-Mart. I was in shock and very angry. We had to change our door locks, car locks, cancel cards. I didn’t even have ID to go to the bank and get money. It was an awful experience and one I wouldn’t trade for a million dollars. You see, God took me up on my request to be used. My purse-snatcher was a young woman on drugs and unknown to the girl, her mother was my co-worker. When it was time for the restitution stage of her trial, I asked the judge in lieu of restitution to please send the young woman to drug rehab.
I ran into her mother today, funnily enough, at the same place we both worked ten years ago. We have each moved on to different jobs. What a wonderful time we had rejoicing in the news that her daughter continued to be free of her drug habit and doing very well. We just had a little praise session right there in the parking lot.
I have shared this story before but today it hit home to me that being used by God doesn’t mean I will lead a Bible study, share a scripture with eloquence and passion or lead hundreds of people to Christ. It means I surrender myself to His use and that includes when bad things happen.
A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
My transfer finally came through, and my orders took me to the U.S. Naval 
Base in San Diego, and assignment to the fleet repair ship, USS Hector (AR-7). The Hector was one of three sister ships stationed in the Far East, to service the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s ships. The three ships usually rotated their operations between the U.S. west coast and Japan. The Commodore, who headed the Navy’s Pacific fleet repair organization, maintained his headquarters on board each of the three ships as they rotated through the San Diego Naval Base, about every six months or so. Soon after I reported aboard, I learned, as an Engineman Specialist, I qualified for the vacant position as the Commodore’s driver. What a cushy job that was! I spent most of my duty hours cleaning his Navy staff car, running errands for him, and driving him to and from his many meetings ashore, as well as, to and from his home in town.
My family had friends living near San Diego, who stopped to see them in Albuquerque during their vacation. DiVoran wangled a ride with them, as
they returned to San Diego area so she could visit me. As she was leaving on that trip, her mother, Dora, had told her, “Now don’t do anything foolish while you are there.” Of course, once she got there, we decided it would be a good time to get married. Our mothers hurried out to California, made all the arrangements, and we did the deed on Labor Day weekend in La Mesa, California. DiVoran and I spent the next four months in marital bliss in our little one-room Balboa Park bungalow, located just five minutes from my work at the naval base.
It was during this time, when we had our first disagreement about automobiles. When I first got to San Diego, I had bought a “Street Legal” 
1932 Ford five-window coupe hotrod, and was in the process of restoring it in my spare time. The car had been chopped, channeled, and gutted for use as a dragster before I bought it, and had only one wooden bucket seat for the driver, bolted to the frame. Hey, it worked for me! The rear end had been locked, so when you went around a corner, the inside wheel burned rubber. DiVoran couldn’t reach the peddles, and complained, “This was not the kind of car she had expected her new husband to ask her to ride around in.” That was mainly because there was no seat for a passenger, and she had to ride on the plywood floorboard, with no backrest and no seatbelt. Also, she didn’t like having to ride the bus to get to work at the diner where she was waitressing,
As it turned out, one of my shipmates had his eye on my hot rod, and I was able to swing a deal with him to trade my “Beloved ‘32” for his 1950 
Mercury sedan. DiVoran could drive that car, and life was much more peaceful in our little love nest after that. When it was time for the Hector to leave for its six-month tour of duty in Japan, I took DiVoran and everything we owned, in that Mercury, back to Albuquerque, so she could stay with her parents, and attend beauty school while I was gone.
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill and DiVoran Lites
Bill and DiVoran met in Albuquerque when they were seniors in high school. After graduation, Bill took off for Navy boot camp and DiVoran headed for Beauty School. They grew to know each other through letters while Bill was overseas. In September of 1957,they were married in La Mesa, California. Four months later Bill shipped out to Japan and DiVoran went home to Mother and Dad to finish Beauty School.
After Bill’s Navy tour, they reunited in 1958 in Inglewood California where Bill attended Northrop University. DiVoran went to work for Magic Mirror Beauty Salons as a stylist. They both worked hard, but they had a lot of fun too. They went to the beach, the movies, and the pizza parlor. They watched, “Rawhide,” and, “Wagon Train,” on their small black and white TV as the jets flew over their house every three minutes to land at LAX.
In 1962, God blessed them with an incredible daughter, Renie. In 1964, He sent Billy, a bouncing baby boy-who hasn’t stopped bouncing yet. Renie and Billy helped each other through childhood and teen-hood in Titusville, Florida. Bill worked in the Space Program, while DiVoran’s role was as a happy-to- stay-at-home mom. The family went on many exciting trips. One year they took off one weekend a month to go camping. Life got even richer when Renie married Ron, and Billy married Lisa. Then there were GRANDCHILDREN, Lacey and Jacob. Retirement is great! Bill still has a passionate interest in airplanes, writes blogs, volunteers at Valient Air Command as a guide, and with Car Care where people go to get their cars repaired, paying only for parts. DiVoran blogs, writes novels, journals, and paints. Once a week she teaches a wide range of children in Sunday School which is one of the high points of her week. Bill stands in too, when she needs help. Both thank God for the family and the friends He has given them. Nothing would have been the same without Him or them.
“Grow old along with me!/ The best is yet to be,/ The last of life for which the first was made.” Robert Browning
Clean Indie Reads Fall into Savings Sale
Are you tired of blood, guts, gore, and scenes that might make grandma (or even grandpa) blush? Our wonderful author DiVoran Lites along with the authors of Clean Indie Reads have joined together to promote books that you’ll be happy to share without blushing. NOW we’re running a one-week sale from Sept. 18 to 25. Every book shown on the following website will be on sale at 99 cents or possibly FREE. No contests to enter or hoops to jump, just click and buy. Worry-free reads at rock bottom prices. Support Indie authors by buying a “clean” read today. For a “sneak peak” click here
Old Things R New 