I have been out of the house more than Once!!!

Back in October, my life long (40 years this August)friend Suzie was given the best birthday present ever by her husband. Today, months later, I am still at a loss for words when I think about her birthday present that she shared with me. Suzie and Bobby know that I can never repay them for the things they do for me and the kids, but I do know that God will continue to bless them way beyond their wildest dreams because He knows that they do it because they love. They love Him, and they love others....a deep loving for other people. Anyway, I could go on about those two forever......Suzie chose the location, booked the flights, hotel room, activities, and then did exactly what I like....told mewhat to bring and when to be ready. I would love to tell you the details, BUT...like they say: What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas! I will say this much, Martina McBride even made her concert (a large conference room at a resort) all about friendship. The two plays contained "friendship" and the ladies at the spa talked about never having a friendship that spanned this many years. I smile today when I think of that weekend away from "mom would you..?"

Just this week was my next "leaving on a jet plane" moment! I gathered up some "guts" and went to Washington DC with 41 teenagers. Yep may I say we were loaded with hormones and testosterone! I was short on both of those, but not short on fun! We had a blast. The weather was amazing, and the cherry blossoms were in full force. This is the 100th year for the cherry blossom celebration. Afraid there will not be many blossoms left when they have the actual celebration, but we enjoyed them.

I survived. Makaley survived! We both enjoyed new friendships as well as already strong relationships. We did all of the "normal" touring stuff, but it was our bus driver who made it the best trip. Joe was a history buff. On his days off, he researches for new information about the town, the memorials, the buildings, the people, and anything else he can find. He was our tour guide at the Cemetery. I would have to say that the cemetery was my favorite. Not because I am a lover of cemetaries (although my grandmother thought no vacation was complete without visiting the cemetery because you could learn so much there) but because of the different emotions I experienced there. Pride...Amazement...Sadness...Pride...hurt...and more Pride. We were part of the wreath laying ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Solider. As they played taps, tears ran down my cheeks. The thoughts running through my mind were of family and friends as well as solders who I don't even know but because I know the pain of loosing someone you love so dearly, I understand a moment of a family's pain. Do you know the words to that simple tune? "Day is done...Gone the sun...From the lakes from the hills from he sky....All is well....safely rest....God is nigh." 24 notes that make my skin stand at attention and my hand automatically find a place over my heart. The solider didn't have to ask. After the ceremony, we exited the steps only to find ourselves witness to flag draped casket being carried to its resting place in a wagon pulled by a team of horses, and a military band marching ahead. Soon we heard the band then the sound of the 21 gun salute. Again, it was one the greatest places to be because of the history that never stops. My other place of awe was the memorial to those at the Pentagon on 9/11. Wow...that is an amazing tribute.

We walked and walked and walked. We listened, learned and loved. We ate wonderful meals(one night was all the fresh fish we could muster), and practiced our friendly Texas ways. Those people in Washington don't know what to do with 41 teenagers and 10 sponsors who say "hello", "hi", "how are you" when passing on the sidewalk. Students thanked those in military dress. And again they would just look at us with those sceptic eyes. Don't understand those Texans.
On my return, I realized again how much I miss my grandmother. She would have loved to spend the day with Makaley listening to every little word she said and combing through all of the photos. She would have even listened to the personal stories of the guys getting stuck in the baggage claim, the girls with the drama, the girls she hung with, the sponsor who wanted to roll down hills (don't know that person!) and any other little things that were important to her great-granddaughter. She was the one who for the first time in a long time said that we should spend the money, get on an airplane and fly 1300 plus miles to a city where there are hundreds on the street at a time, guards at every location, and strangers in charge of our lives for 4 days. (My family will understand that) She was so happy we were going. So Matt...we loved it! We had a blast. And, yes, Obama was at the White House. The kids were told he was the person in the window on the west wing (one had a very good camera and took a picture) but no Matt....I couldn't give him a piece of my mind.

Lessons in Life

On December 3 2011, we lost one of the greatest teachers of my time. She was born on Feb. 28, 1916. She taught her first years with just an 8th grade education. She received her GED in 1971 but her teaching stlye didn't change. She never taught in a classroom although her lessons were carried into my room on a regular basis. She was and is....my grandmother!!! I want to honor her by sharing a very very small portion of what she taught me. It is just a short novel.
She taught me the art of cooking. We perfected mud pies. Forget icing, I had Johnson grass, dried fruit,grass and honeysuckle for decoration. I didn't have to eat them thank goodness. She made thebest desserts for Sunday lunch, birthdays and gatherings. My favorite? hmmm apricot cobbler (you know you have to cook the left over crust with cinnamon and sugar on it), banana pudding(no instant pudding used), and her strawberry cake. The strawberry cake was always the best part of the birthday celebration. You never knew what would be in the center. Her best strawberry cake had a used medicine bottle filled with cash hidden in the center under all the icing.
And speaking cooking, she was not just the dessert chef . Let's talk red beans, fried chicken and pea salad. I sometimes think Kelly married me for her fried chicken. After he and I had been dating for about a year, my sister, my room mate and I blindfolded our boyfriends and took them on a picnic. My precious grandmother had made fried chicken and mashed taters. We hadn't gone far when Kelly said something about smelling her chicken. Yep...we each married our date....I am sure the chicken helped. Her #1 rule for cooking: It isn't done until the smoke alarm goes off!
She taught me all about fashion and dressing for success. On Sunday afternoon after church and lunch, the granddaughters would head to the middle bedroom for "dress up and modeling". We were styling because no matter what we selected to wear, we had the accessories to go with it. Matching shoes, hat, purse and sometimes gloves. My favorite....the hot pink suit with hat! Later after I was "gainfully employed" she would say to me...."be sure you wear nice clothes to school. Save the jeans for later. Look professional and you will be respected."
She taught me about "putting on my face" as she called it. During church on Sundays,I would place my head in her lap, and she would "pretend" to put makeup on my face. Patting on the foundation(keeps wrinkles at bay), lining my eyes and lashes, lining and applying lipstick. To this day, I don't use a downward motion while putting anything on my face. Gravity does enough of that!
She taught me to care for pets. My class at school had the "hatching chicken" lesson going on. When it ended we had a chicken with no where to go so my grandmother took her. Henny Penny became the "watch chicken" Even I feared her. She even made the newspaper about every other year. This chicken didn't know how to get off the roost. Iwould have been more than happy to let her rot there after she flogged me a couple of times. But my grandmother lovingly put her on the roost and took her off daily. Years later, she inherited a poodle (Buffy) who had a trust fund. That precious puppy had painted nails, bows, and Grandy's chicken often.
She taught me about Jesus. In the back bedroom of the house was the chest of drawers that is now in my garage. In the big bottom drawer was her stash of Bible lesson materials. We would tell Bible stories on the side of the bed using the bedspread as the flannel board. And in the bathroom for as long as I can remember....sat one of her Bibles. After she got her GED she would read in there. Go ahead, laugh...bet you read in the bathroom too. You would find a Bible by the bed also. One time she told me that she read the entire Bible yearly. Her life showed that in so many ways.
She taught me to be nosey. Living on a busy street, she would have many sirens go whirling by. Many a time we would hop in the car and follow because...well, we might know the people.
She taught me to dance. We bunny hopped through the house on Sunday, waltzed on Saturday, and jigged anytime we were happy. And if we were in the store passing through the "music" department, you just had to know that she was going to cut the rug right there in front of God and everybody in the middle of Montgomery Ward or Sears. Yep, I became the great Houdini...I could hide just about anywhere! She joked about us playing "Prop me up side the Jukebox when I die" at her funeral.
She taught me about love. Even though her husband passed away when I was just 6, my grandmother remained married to Frank Moran until the day she went to meet Jesus. Just last year the minister had those to stand who had been married for more than 5 years. She stood and I was okay with that. Then those married more than 10 remain standing. He continued on and on and she continued to stand. He said something to her about it and she announced to the auditorium something about still married to Frank Moran. She told me stories about starching and ironing his shirts because she wanted him to think about her every time he put one on. And she told me how she gave in to him so that my mom could have her name. She cried with me when Kelly died and without saying one word, I knew she understood my broken heart. She taught me about the love between a mother and her daughter as she cared for her elderly mom during Mother Ray's final years. She taught me about the love between siblings as she rejoiced over a card or call from each one,delighted in going for a visit or wept as she learned of their passing. She loved her last living sibling even when the rest of us thought she wasn't extremely lovable.
She attempted to teach me to see the best in every one. I am still in the early lessons for that one. She always encouraged me practice forgiveness. I am not certain that I could find one person that she held a grudge against. And when things weren't going her way, she would find some way to flip it into something humorous. She preached that life was too short to sit around and mope!
She taught me to drive! and my sister threatened to tell my great grandmother on her during one lesson(I was in the 6th grade)! I know to keep chicken wire in the car so you can get out of the snow drifts. Keep both hands on the wheel. And always chew gum when you drive on long trips. We traveled together many many times. I was her traveling buddy.
She taught me to be a protector. There were many nights that she would come stay with me when things just weren't right or I would come to her house. She always chased away the "boogie man". We once were stranded in Sweetwater Texas because of an ice storm. Since hotels were full, we ended up in a two story house with tons of "junk" in the attic with us. She instructed me to go to sleep, and she would wake me up if the house caught on fire.
She taught me that age is NOTHING and your heart holds it all. Dance till you can't move any longer. Love till you breathe your last. Trust in the One who created you. Drive till the paint wears off. Leave the handicapped spots for those older than you...you need the exercise even at 95. When you go, don't look back or stop to throw salt over your shoulders. When you depart this world, leave a legacy. A legacy of love, respect,pride and strength. Live so that when people say your name in years to come, that they can't say it without a smile on their face and "jig" dancing in their heart!
Love you Matt.....I missed calling you to wish you a happy birthday, but I know you celebrated in style. I have a smile on my face, a jig in my heart and a quiver in my chin.