Just Plain Jane

No beautiful graphic.  What a shame!  Had one I really wanted to use to.  But I can't get on my PC.  And this old thing Pete uses is so slow.  Not to mention the AOL 7.0 signs off rather frequently.  So, I'm just gonna give you plain old words.  No decorations.

I am feeling a little better.  But not near as far along to feeling well as you'd think I'd be after being on antibiotics since July 3rd!  Been going into work this week.  The Payables girl up and left.  So, I'm doing the morning shift and the bright little college temp is doing the afternoon shift.  Want to thank you all for your kind words, prayers and well wishes!

Friday, my ole man turned another year older.  We had a relaxing evening visiting with a couple of  folks outside.  Then on Sunday, my little Bug turned 7 years old.  So my sister calls and says she is cooking supper for all the July birthdays that night.  (See, my niece Kelly, her daughter had one today!)  So we all went.  And it sure was good!!  Just plain country cooking.  But someone else's cooking!  That is always a wonderful treat!

Tuesday, I came in from work to find Bubba busy in the kitchen.  He was bleaching the sinks and wiping down all the coutertops and backboards.  Neatening and tidying as he went.  What a lift to have a cleaner kitchen!!  He told me,  "Mom, you have a hard job.  Trying to stay on top of all of this.  Cleaning and picking up after us."  Toasty warm Mama heart!

You know, I was fortunate...no blessed....to have the same pastor from the time I was 16 until I was 42.  His name is Robert Carter.  After all that time, he almost seems like an uncle to me.  Anyhow....he is plain spoken, country and has a warm sense of humor.  One of his favorite jokes to tell from the pulpit, was recently in Arcamax Jokes Email.  I want to share it with you:

Typical Jim

There was a man called him Jim, who lived near a river. Jim was a very religious man. One day, the river rose over the banks and flooded the town, and Jim was forced to climb onto his porch roof. While sitting there, a man in a boat comes along and tells Jim to get in the boat with him. Jim says "No, that's ok. God will take care of me." So, the man in the boat drives off. The water rises, so Jim climbs onto his roof. At that time, another boat comes along and the person in that one tells Jim to get in. Jim replies, "No, that's ok. God will take care of me." The person in the boat then leaves. The water rises even more, and Jim climbs on his chimney. Then a helicopter comes and lowers a ladder. The woman in the helicopter tells Jim to climb up the ladder and get in. Jim tells her "That's ok." The woman says "Are you sure?" Jim says, "Yeah, I'm sure God will take care of me. Finally, the water rises too high and Jim drowns. Jim gets up to Heaven and is face-to-face with God. Jim says to God "You told me you would take care of me! What happened?" God replied "Well, I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What else did you want?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We think this gentleman is funny and foolish.  But we act just like him more times than not.  We cry and whine and carry on before the Lord asking for his help, but won't even bother to use the tools he blessed us with:  common sense, or health, or friends, or a strong back, etc.  Or we hear and see an answer but it doesn't fit the image of help we have pictured in our heads so we ignore it or refuse it.  We want the mighty, miraculous help like we see in the old testament.  Not the gentle, simple solutions.  Or maybe your downfall is quietly, patiently waiting and doing nothing.  Yes, we should watch.  Yes, we must pray. But these things are active verbs in thelanguage of the Bible.  Watching, while tending what needs tending and doing all you know to do.  Praying, not just in a quiet moment of solitude but in a conversational style that ever runs in our heads and hearts as the day progresses.

If you haven't given up on me, or rushed ahead of me, I've just gone over to the 10th Devotion on Marriage.

Time to mosey on out of here.  I just finished my supper while I was working on this.  Baby Lima Beans, Corn, Chicken & Dumplins, Fried Okra, and Hot Water Cornbread.