LEFT BEHIND

Left behind by the Queen

I’ve been away from the computer for a few days as we traveled to see some of the grandchildren.
While we were making preparations to go, the cat began to get nervous and anxious as she was suspicious that SOMETHING WAS IN THE WORKS here at the house.

From her THRONE on the back of the couch in the den, she quietly observed the things that were taking place.

It didn’t take her long to figure out that changes were about
To be made that would greatly affect HER.

She likes to be WHERE we are at all times but when the musicman walked out of the room, she immediately went in there to check out what was going on.

She realized that WE WERE PERHAPS not going to be around here and decided to join in and become part of the plan at all cost.

Here is proof that she did not want to be left behind.



Musicman came back to find that she had quickly snuggled into one of the suitcases and had gotten quite comfortable.

However, no matter how clever she was, or how MUCH she wanted to be a part of the trip, it simply would NOT work out since we were going to the house that has 5 children, 2 dogs, 1 cat and 1 fish. So Sorry, Kitty KAT --You cannot go with us this time.

She did fine and was glad to see us when we got home, sometimes she will be mad at us for a few days and pout when we return, but I think she took advantage of the recliner being empty for a while. There is no doubt about it, she is one spoiled cat, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

She likes it here. She even has her own stationery and signature for important documents like this one. She was happy once I told her she would be the feature story for the 2 sisters this week, so she signed off with
This:

our adventure

I DO BELIEVE-------MY HUSBAND TRIED TO KILL ME—by the QUEEN

Did that catch your attention?

After a 2 week lay-off from the bicycle routine while recovering from recent surgery, he actually thought I would hop on the 2 wheels and be excited to GO AGAIN.

Today he wanted to ride bikes. Me? well, there has to be a first time again so that you can get started. I knew he was right, my head told me so, but my heart was still stubborn.
I tried several excuses: Too risky. Much too hot! It might rain and mess up my hair. We are going into town today, so we probably do not have enough time!

But After he brushed all the cobwebs off my bike and checked my helmet and gloves for brown recluses and dirt dauber nests- what could I say? But OK, let’s try it again as I dug back in the recesses of my mind to recall that I was ENJOYING this HOBBY just 2 short weeks ago, In fact I enjoyed it very much, so I tried to adjust my attitude and hopped on the wheels.

Once we started down the road, my reservations faded, and I enjoyed the ride.

I saw:

Fields of parched corn reaching to the sky beginning to burn from the lack of rain

Grazing horses.

Flitting butterflies.

Colorful "weeds.

"Wispy clouds.

The goats, white, brown and spotted wandering in the pasture

The geese families taking a walk for the day

A turtle slowly crossing the road

Gardens- both flower and vegetable varieties

I heard:
Rustling trees.

Lawn mowers.

Chirping crickets.

Birds singing

Croaking frogs.

Lapping water on the decks and piers

God.

I smelled lots of fresh air mingled with fresh cut grass and whiffs of fabric softener along with spicy and sweet flower scents.

Some of the things I thought about:

How I had let myself get so out of shape.

Why I hadn't invested in those funny biking pants with the padded bottoms.

Why we didn't do this more often.

How breathless pumping up the hill left me.

How exhilarating the rushing air in my face felt as I coasted down.

How I needed to focus straight ahead when danger (cars) were sneaking up behind us.

How God created such beauty that left me in breathless wonder.

What I would have missed hanging at home.

How sometimes you just gotta do it.

How many life lessons can be found in a simple bike ride.

And I thought about this poem that a friend sent me recently that was recorded in Tim Hansel's book, Holy Sweat.

"The Road of Life"

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.

He was out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.

But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable...It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"

I worried and was anxious and asked,"Where are you taking me?"

He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.

And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.

And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight."

So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life.

I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places,and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says..."Pedal."

~Author Unknown

JUST A NOTE:

By the way, the musicman and I rode our regular route and My legs are feelin' it.
If you don't hear from me tomorrow, call 911.

THE QUEEN

Days are the same

DAYS THE SAME? from the Queen

A friend sent me an email this morning that was loaded with anticipation and excitment because IT IS FRIDAY!!!






well, immediately I began to join in with the celebration:




isn't it great that Friday is here and we have the WHOLE WEEKEND to do just as we please!!

then I thought----

WAIT -- WAIT -- WAIT a minute---

WHAT AM I THINKING?

I AM RETIRED!!!!!!!!!

SO EVERYDAY IS LIKE FRIDAY TO ME
I CAN DO WHAT I WANT TO,
GO WHERE I WANT TO,
TAKE A NAP IF I WANT TO
OR PERHAPS READ A BOOK, WATCH TV, PLAY ON THE COMPUTER OR CREATE A BLOG IF I WANT TO,
I DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR FRIDAY,
I AM RETIRED!!!!!!!

SO EVERY DAY IS FRIDAY TO ME!!
WHOOPIE- EVEN GREATER EXCITEMENT THAN I HAD ORIGINALLY EXPERIENCED BECAUSE I REALIZED THAT EVERYDAY IS FRIDAY.

YES, LIFE IS GOOD, THE SUN IS OUT, BOATS ARE ALREADY PASSING BY THE PIER AND SOME ARE STOPPING TO TEST OUT THE FISHING WATER.

SO FRIDAYS ARE GOOD ON THE LAKE, EVEN IF YOU ARE RETIRED. LOTS OF ACTIVITY TO OBSERVE AND I GUESS IT IS TIME TO GET OUT THE GRILL AGAIN.

YES, FRIDAYS ARE SPECIAL

THE SISTERS SEND GREETINGS TO EACH OF YOU, WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THIS FRIDAY?

COME AND GONE- by Queen

As with life in general, things come and go and time moves on. The celebration for the 4th is now a thing of the past, yes, it is HISTORY for the year 2010.

Time was spent in the kitchen and outside on the grill with preparations for traditional servings of the chicken, sausage etc.

And a casserole too!! Food was special, why? I do not know, just the holidays I suppose

with the 4th hat turned into the centerpiece decorating the table, the cat was wondering what all the fuss was about.

She is not fond of a lot of noise---OR ACTIVITY, and the firecrackers that lighted up the sky did not seem to interest her at all, in fact, she left her chosen spot on the bed, to make a hasty exit from the room and retreat UNDER another bed!!! I think she had HAD enough celebration for the day.

Sorry I am so late posting about the 4th but was busy with condolences for 2 families. One in our church and one that lives in the capital city. It is a privilege to be able to play music that brings comfort to the grieving famlies.

Hope that all of you out in BLOG LAND had a great fourth of July. We live in a wonderful land and we are all blessed to enjoy our freedoms. We so easily say, GOD BLESS AMERICA- but that is truly our prayer for this nation.

The QUEEN

THE PARTY'S OVER

THE PARTY’S OVER by Queen

Yes, the calendar has welcomed in another year of celebration for the birthday which ended with a luncheon yesterday. The tables were festive with colorful flowers and the napkin rings and napkins decorated the table with springtime sunflowers. The youth intern at the church spent a lot of time making some cupcakes for the occasion that were decorated like sunflowers to complete the theme for the day.

The hostess did provide a sugar-free strawberry trifle cake for the diabetics in the group!

Grandma Sandy from another blog said it is best not to include pictures that show complete faces so we all posed to comply with that unwritten blog law.

Everybody had a good time posing for this one!! In fact everybody had a good time period!! Just sharing a lot of laughs and some good ole fashioned “girl time”.
It is an interesting group of ladies that cover a wide range of ages with each contributing different talents and experiences to the overall great times that we share together. We always enjoy adding good times and adventures to our memory books!
(MEMORIES??? That is why we have some young friends in the group, to help those of us who are adding a lot of candles on the cake--- to REMEMBER our special times together as we continue to age gracefully)




Another year, and another Birthday but the PARTY’S OVER till next year.

Well, MAYBE NOT ---- there is another celebration headed our way this weekend.

but that will be for another day and another post.

until then, I will always remain, THE QUEEN proudly wearing my crown

speaking of crowns- have you looked at clarionledger online and flipped thru the pictures of the girls that are in the pageant trying to capture the Miss Mississippi crown this weekend?? there are some pretty girls on there and then there are some that you wonder, WHO talked them into entering a beauty pageant???? let me know who you pick to be the winner.

SHE'S BACK- by Queen

SHE IS BACK—TWO is BACK
GREAT RELIEF!

The Queen is so excited to have the other sister back online and posting her message.
I told her that there was no problem about the Birthday wish being on the exact day because actually the BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION started last week at choir and has extended a whole week and will culminate with a luncheon today. So she is not late.



and I completely understand that she is getting on up In years—as she is MUCH OLDER THAN I AM!!!

this is what she should look like at her age----

However, if you could see or talk to her, you would realize that she certainly does not appear to be a woman with those numbers! Yes, you would put her more in the category of a sporty lady in her late 50’s at the most!!!

and that is without any assistance from the modern wonders of the medical world like the famous movie stars have!!!

JUST GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK ON LINE SISSY!! Or is it DOODLE #1?

p.s. I love my favorite perfume that arrived BEFORE my birthday! Remember?
That should count for something don’t you think?

your loving sister -THE QUEEN

EARLY OF A MORNING- by TWO

Usually I wake up early every morning or as my Grandmother always said…(early of a morning).. I just love the early morning time , it is my time… I always am reminded of that phrase in Psalms
The wings of the morning…. (don’t ask me the chapter and verse I just remember the phrase.) One thing I love about the early morning is the quiet, and I get to do anything I want to without considering anyone else, and knowing that it is a new day, never ever been used before… and it starts off with no mistakes in it.. of course it doesn’t take long for all that to change… For instance as soon as I open my bedroom door the cat (LUCKY) is standing there ready to beg for food… he is always hungry… and will not let me alone until I have given him one of everything available. Then he has to have full time attention by climbing all over me and wanting to be petted etc… then he wants out and then he wants in again, and so the day begins with not everything perfect… however if I stay in my room for a while I do get to enjoy the Wings of the Morning for a while…
This morning was a little different… I have been waking up at 4:00 every day for a long time now… and the first thing that pops into my head is… what day is it… and what do I have to do today…
Well this morning I woke up as usual and the first thought I had was, it’s July… and then horrors of horrors I thought…. What happened to Queen’s birthday..???? Oh no, I forgot it again this year… how could this happen to me two years in a row???? I forgot it last year too…What in the world???? The first thing I thought of is what excuse do I have?? What could be the reason for this?? And what can I blame it on… I quickly began to formulate my excuses and reasons and am still thinking on the blame thing….
Excuses
No. One…Since I don’t work anymore, I don’t keep up with the date…. I usually know the day of the week… but since I don’t write tickets all day long with the date on them..well I just don’t pay much attention to the actual date…of course I know whether it is the first of the month or the middle or the end usually…
No. Two… Since we pay the bills on line now… I don’t write checks with the date on them…
No. Three… Since I don’t belong to any clubs or such I don’t have to keep up with a certain date…
No. Four…. Since I moved the calendar clock that was right in my view, I don’t have any idea about the date…
No. Five… The excuses are getting pretty slim and probably it’s time to think of some reasons…
Reasons….
No. One… I had to go across town to see a friend and have lunch with her…I had been putting this off for a very long time because I just hate getting on the interstate and driving across town for nearly an hour , fighting all that crazy traffic and getting in a slow down from a wreck and big ole trucks always getting in front of me.. so that I can’t see anything ahead.. all that kind of stuff just makes me a “nervous wreck”… (I will ramble here for just a moment and tell you a quick story about being a nervous wreck.)
One time years ago when my kids were little… I scraped the back fender on the station wagon when I was backing into a parking place and there was a short pole I didn’t see.. The kids and some of their friends were all in the car and they just started jumping all around (no seat belts or special little seats then) and yelling and wanting to know “what happened, what happened.” I yelled at them to sit down and be quiet because we had a “wreck”… Everyone got real quiet… and then the oldest and most literal one… said, Momma was that a regular wreck or a nervous wreck?? That was when I realized I was always telling them they were making me a nervous wreck…
So back to my reason… The trip across town was the day of the Queen’s birthday… and all the traffic and the visit with the friend and the lunch and the trip back where I had to go over Spaghetti junction
Which is the most fearsome junction that goes over (up high) all the interstate below… and my fear of heights and bridges and such kicks in… and then when safely home no thought entered my head about the date or anything else… Just Praise the Lord I made it back… (pretty good reason , sounds good to me anyway.)
No. Two.. I am getting older and much more forgetful… 73 … what can you expect..??
No. Three… I forgot to turn the page on the permanent birthday calendar that my mother had… I keep it hanging on the wall of the pantry and each month you flip the page over to the next month and then you see everyone’s birthday recorded … It was still on the Month of May… Guess I missed several other June b’days… oh well, I am going on 74…
So now I will place the blame .
I think it was George Bush’s fault… I’m not sure why, but WHY NOT… One more blame can’t matter much to him…
I have done the best I can to explain my lapse in consciousness… even I don’t understand it.. But one thing is for sure.. this day started out with one big mistake already in it.
So I wish to ask for another chance next year to do better… but I will be going on 75 by then so don’t be surprised if I have to apologize again next year.
I hope the Queen had a really great day and will have many, many more…
I used to be a good sister... try to remember the good ole days…
To the Queen from TWO … glad you are my sister and no one else could do it better.. I just think every girl should have a sister… but it needs to be a real good one like you…Happy late birthday to you..

Sorry …. TWO