Staying Alive…..While I’m Alive!

Staying alive….ah ha ha ha….staying alive! Thanks for the song, Bee Gees! I’m living and loving this quest for seeing God in His majesty and brilliance – from my little Frisco, TX world to this spacious and magnificent slice of heaven here in New Mexico. I’m paying close attention to God’s way of opening my eyes to more and more beauty in this land that I love. I refuse to stop living and I refuse to stop learning.

You can see we’re still here in Red River, NM, and yesterday my cousins became my tour guides. I’m encouraging them to set up a business here because they sure do know what’s here to see and do – even though they’ve only been visitors just like me. Their jeep was the perfect vehicle to traverse from here to Questa to Taos and then, an out-of-the-way, but their determination for me to see, was the Rio Grande’s Gorge Bridge. I just had to get my picture taken there. Then we followed the path of the Rio Grande River along the winding gorge and road to where it meets the Red River and they become ONE.

That place is called La Junta Point which means “meeting or joining” in Spanish, two rivers converge. You can see here to the left is the Red River, that begins in the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains at the highest point in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak, 13,161 feet. Then, to the right is the Rio Grande River that begins in the San Juan (St. John) Mountains of southern Colorado and running for 1,885 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. La Junta marks the widest and deepest part of the Rio Grande Gorge – pictured below at three-quarters of a mile wide and a steep 800-feet deep.

Not only did I get an enlightening geography lesson, but I, once again, became captivated with the creativity of our Creator. I threw the question out to my cousins “Do you think God was responsible for this?” We all agreed – it had to be the meticulous and astounding creativity that exceeds anything that man could do.

So, Donna, get to your God-inspired reason for today’s blog! I’m glad you asked! Here’s my take for me AND you: if life has become monotonous, dull, boring, and you find yourself satisfied with social media, the evening news, and your recliner chair, then I urge you to consider getting into God’s creation. Capture the beauty of a sunrise, the glistening of a lake or two rivers converging into one. Sit beside a stream and watch the little critters that scamper around you. Breathe in the fresh air. And, breathe out the negativity, the boredom, and anxious thoughts.

So, Donna, get to your God-inspired reason for today’s blog! I’m glad you asked! Here’s my take for me AND you: if life has become monotonous, dull, boring, and you find yourself satisfied with social media, the evening news, and your recliner chair, then I urge you to consider getting into God’s creation. Capture the beauty of a sunrise, the glistening of a lake or two rivers converging into one. Sit beside a stream and watch the little critters that scamper around you. Breathe in the fresh air. And, breathe out the negativity, the boredom, and the anxious thoughts.

Just Push Back Those Curtains

You have met my dear 97-year-old mother-in-law via my blog before. She gave me a “lift” yesterday when I made my check-in call to her. If I don’t call her every couple of days, she calls me. She lives at my brother and sis-in-law’s home in Tulsa. They are among those I’m missing during this "at home" time, along with my Austin crew.

Mom amazes me. When I called, she had just returned to her bedroom, after cleaning up the kitchen from her breakfast and walking (using her walker) up and down the hall five times (her daily “staying-alive” routines). She added: “Now, I’m working on some purchase orders Karen gave me to check for her (for their business). Some of it was new for me, but I double-checked it and they are all right!” I said, “Mom, you are amazing. You don’t quit!” She retorted: “When the dark curtains start to close, I just push them back open. Too many people just sit and do nothing! We’ve got to be determined to keep moving forward! I put me behind me and try to help the guy in front of me!! Forward march! Onward Christian Soldiers (singing that line)!!”

She went on: “Maddie (her 18-year-old great-granddaughter) was here yesterday. She asked me about my family. I told her the name and placement of each one of the twelve: First there was Mary, then Molly, Ann, Dan, (me, Lydia), Penny, Dave, Alma, Amy, Richard, Hilda and Buddy.”

Typically, our calls are just a "check-in" call, but she was on a roll yesterday. Mom knows tough times. She finds great joy in talking about the past because she knows WHO brought them through those times. Floods of the 1950s in Winnipeg (Canada) filled their home. They had to move in with her parents when my husband was 4-years-old. It took a lot to get their home restored. Then there was the tornado in the late 80s (aftermath is pictured here with Dad, Mom and my husband). Mom and Dad were in a bathroom shower stall in the middle of the building, crying out to God for mercy. They came out unscathed and so did the big Family Bible you see here under Mom's arm.

Here we are in almost unbelievable times of 2020. If we listen or read news reports and take them just as they are, it may seem as if the best escape is for God to open up a window above us in the sky and snatch us away to a better place beyond the clouds. But, maybe we should take on Mom’s way of thinking. She has a habit of saying "And that's the way it goes". That's kind of the way she looks at life. When she could be down because she’s a widow, her only son died, has physical issues, must live with her kids and has to use a walker or wheel chair -- she just patiently and calmly says, "And that's the way it goes."

Perhaps that’s the way we should view life – “and that’s the way it goes”. It has a care-less tone to it, doesn't it? Not that we don’t care – but that we “Cast our cares on He Who takes over and handles the cares for us.” (Psalm 55:22) All of this is not too much for God to handle. Whatever the circumstances of our lives – no matter who we are and what our responsibilities are – we will never stump God, or leave Him wondering what in the world to do next. I'm quite certain that none of the stuff is enough to make God throw his hands up in surrender.

Mom is a “Bible-thumper”. It’s her daily go-to for answers. "That's the way it goes" -- trusting, leaning on and depending on He Who has us all in His mighty hands. Let’s leave the figuring out to God. His way (and Mom's way) is to live a calm, peaceful, and assured life. I think Mom's 97-years prove it works!

Staying Alive Ah Ha Ha Ha Staying Alive!

Day 198 of Photo Inspirations -- Staying Alive ah ha ha ha Staying Alive!
Remember that Bee Gees Disco song from the 70s?  It's funny that song came to me when I sat down at my computer to type my post for today.  I can't think of a better way to say "I'm stayin' alive while I'm alive!"   I'm saying that because I'm embracing this season of my life so much.  I've always loved children.  I started baby sitting for 50 cents an hour when I was 12 years old.  My husband and I deliberately started our family when I was 18 and he was 19.  We added 80+ kids to our world when we started a day care center a few years later.  We thoroughly enjoyed our own children and grandchildren, and in this sweet season of my life, God has ordered up lots more of those little darlings into my world.  I am constantly reminded how much He wants us to be like little children in our joy and faith.

I fell in love with my friend's new grandson a couple of weeks ago.  I held and cuddled him and it helped satisfy my longing arms for holding a baby again. There is nothing so therapeutic.  My little great niece is two now and I love to go see her weekly. How quickly they transform into little people in such a short period of time. Hanging around her makes me silly.  I do all  kinds of wild shenanigans with her.  At almost 93 now, I've seen how my mother-in-law has gotten so much "younger" in heart and spirit as she enjoys this precious little great granddaughter.

Another set of kids in my world are my godson and his siblings.  Last Saturday we played pickleball, hide n' go seek, putt putt golfing, swam and other silly fun things.

I love going to Texas to hang with my grandson and granddaughter there -- they've recently been in musical theater performances as well as speech and debate competitions.

And, now, for the next two weeks I'm hanging with my Washington family -- lots of boys in the house -- and, oh my, how I love the high spirited and high energy of boys.  I loved catching up on the hugs with them last night -- telling the "Super Brennan, Super Bryson" stories.

There is nothing that can compare to spending time with children.  We see such innocent, care-free, joy-filled, energy and excitement in them.  They exude hope and expectancy:  first words out of my youngest grandson when I arrived...."Nana, did you bring us something?"  Of course I did.  I love that.  His expectors were up.  Living in faith isn't a big deal for them.

If life has become monotonous, dull, boring, and you've just quit living out loud, then consider hanging out with children.  Capture some of that light-heartedness that they possess and they have more than enough to share with us.  It's not foolish and immature to spend time with them.  In fact, it's probably one of the most close-to-the-heart-of-God thing we can do.  I promise you, you'll learn something from their life of freedom and care-less attitude.  "And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:2-4.  Yes, I'm staying alive and enjoying every minute of the LIVING!