The Whisper Space

Traveled to Pinehurst & Vass today:

1. Excited to see roadside clean-up along US1 South, which is usually a mess!
2. Met my sister, brother in law, in Aberdeen, who drove to Cypress Presbyterian Church along with Mama & me. Enjoyed seeing numerous horse farms:)
3. Put silk flowers on Daddy’s tombstone(his 90th birthday was January 21st).
4. Mama didn’t seem to recognize her home church, always one of her favorite places.
5. Afterwards went by Mama’s Kitchen in Vass for lunch, but they don’t open till 4pm:( Was one of Mama and Daddy’s favorite places to eat.
6. Ate at John’s Barbecue. We all had fish or oysters–love their seafood:)
7. Talked to staff at Carolina House about Mama’s new drug Depakote. The Tech thinks it is a combination of two drugs that’s making her groggy, so she will fax her Dr.
8. Found gas for $2.07:)

I’m watching Seabiscuit, one of my favorite movies. I read the book (which was well-written) and saw the movie in the theater. It’s a film I love watching again and again. Both are based on a true story, which is always appealing to me–real life is wonderfully interesting! Add a magnificent horse that captures your heart and an ending that is a tear-jerker. The director & the writer created a work of art for the eyes and the emotions:)

Nothing like spending time with dear friends.
Today the snow/rain/sleet sent me to the Mall to walk with longtime friends Jeannette & Lorraine. I used to walk with them almost every day inside the Mall, but since I’ve discovered Apex’s Lake Pine walkway, I prefer getting my exercise there, outside:)
On our route today we ran into a fellow walking buddy from our past. We stopped a few minutes to say hey to Beth & her grown son David!:) Wonderful to see them:)
We continued on, walking, talking, and finally bargain shopping before heading to Panera’s for soup. My good friend Carol works at Chico’s. She graciously welcomed us in and waited on us:)
A perfect way to spend a wintry afternoon, walking with friends, running into friends, and being helped by a friend:)

My current music selection:
Red Mountain Music, 2 CD’s
Bill Leslie’s Peace Like a River
Jerry & Lisa Read Smith’s dulcimer/flute music
Still listening to Charlie Brown’s Christmas soundtrack
Still listening to The Chieftian’s Christmas music
Still listening to Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas music
Alison Krauss & Yo-Yo Ma’s lullaby duet
Other Alison Krauss selections
Vince Gill selections
Amy Grant selections
Alan Jackson’s Where Were You?
ZZ Top’s Leg’s, Well-Dressed Man, Give Me All Your Lovin’
Robert Palmer’s Addicted To Love
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Lee Greenwood’s Dixie & The Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Willie Nelson’s Pancho and Lefty
A few Beatles’ songs
Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart
James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James & Carolina On My Mind
The Beach Boys’ And Then I Kissed Her
Eddie Cochran’s Summertime Blues
Starship’s We Built This City
Phil Collins’ True Colors
Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, Holly Holy
From Born To Worship, Jesus I Am Resting, Resting
Norm Greenbaun’s Spirit In The Sky
The Everly Brothers
The Righteous Brothers
Kathy Mattea
Doc Watson
Bruce Cockburn
Jimmy Buffet’s Come Monday
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The Moody Blues
Mark Knopler & Emmylou Harris
The Bee Gees
John Denver
Cat Stevens
Vonda Shepherd

Well, well, as of January 6th we have a new member of the family.
Wyatt, a year old (January 10th) tri-colored Basset & a Texas boy. Coming from a broken relationship he has found his way to us. He’s a puppy for sure–so far he’s destroyed a rubber ball, an ornament, a tough-looking chew toy, a huge bone, & grabbed every stuffed animal within sight, & he’s only been here a day & a half!! He seems to love a good “pack howl” too, which we happily instigate every now and then:) Now if we can get an eating schedule & the house-training to kick in, we’ll be on a roll:) Looking forward to an adventure with this fella:)
And he does have a wallop of a burp, Mr. Wyatt!

One of my dearest friend’s survived a massive heart attack January 28th, thank God!
Discovered CSI re-runs
Mastered the Hallmark register, yeah!
Walked miles at Lake Pine about 5 days a week, loving every minute
Read many good books, including a few by Donald Miller, C.S. Lewis, Nicholas Sparks’ Three Weeks With My Brother, Charles Frazier’s Thirteen Moons, Heaven by Randy Alcorn, etc.
Continue to read Oswald Chamber’s devotion My Upmost For His Highest
Studied Isaiah
Took a plane trip to WI with family in September
Visited NC mountains in August with K to celebrate 37th anniversary
Assigned 2 care receiver’s in Stephen Ministry
Gained weight–ugh:(
Visited Mama in Pinehurst twice a month
Spent a harrowing night evacuating from chemical spill in town in October–whoa!
Spent 4 days at the beach with dear friends in October
Loved seeing C buy a townhouse next to S&K
Chartering new territory in C&C, courtesy of GOD
My Skybird gets a buddy named Alfie
Uncle Ewell died in the fall
Daughter in law’s K’s two grandmothers died
Saw the movie Cars
S&K adopt Westie named 3—so cute!
Painted bathroom yellow/primer fumes unforgettable
Visited Monet exhibit at NC Art Museum twice–amazing!

I must say one of my favorite gatherings is with my in law’s, the Mc’s:) A bunch of folks who are always interesting & funny, who enjoy doing things together, & are happy to be with each other. And this isn’t easy with the cousins having such a wide range of ages (from 32 to 12) & being from WI., Pa., and N.C.:)

We’ve just returned from spending this Christmas week together and it was a pleasure–everybody shopping, eating out, eating in, playing Scrabble, opening gifts, talking, watching movies, the guys repairing Grandpa’s lights and P.’s car radio, the 3 siblings recalling school years, nephews talking to aunts, aunts talking to nieces, cousins to cousins, great aunts & a great uncle dropping by, all while Grandma & Grandma enjoy the hustle & bustle around them:)

Christmas Eve—a day filled with wonderous expectations of Christmas Day! Too often it’s better than the reality of Christmas Day—-in our limited physical view.

But in our spiritual view—-a day of pondering the awesome fact that Jesus came into our world as helpless as we are, that He left Paradise to come to us, Spirit wrapped in flesh as we are, to a mother & father who had no idea how to parent, much less how to parent the Son of God!

Is that amazing love or what!
And that was only the beginning!

“Bah humbug” on this mild weather.
Now I’m not ordering frigid stuff, but I would like to put in a request for a little frost, a few light snows, and at least a few months of crisp days and chilly fireside nights. Summer is becoming a bully and crowding in on my “sweater, coat, gloves” time.
I’m listening for those sleigh bells & kid’s sledding….

Skipped walking,
sent out Comfort & Care email & emailed sister,
met dear friend at Perkins & exchanged gifts,
ran back home to start yeast bread,
realized forgot to take care of Manager’s gift,
left bread to rise,
cashed a check,
picked up Manager’s card & took care of gift,
stopped by the carwash (a mistake on a busy day!),
waited,
waited,
drove clean Cruiser home,
punched down dough,
checked out stocking gifts & put them together,
wrapped 2 gifts,
shaped dough,
am checking on emails….
and it’s only 2:30.
Whew!
Still have to visit a friend,
then bake bread!!
And supper may/may not be in this equation!
This is a day off work in December:)