August greetings from the beautiful smoky mountains of Tennessee!   It’s an unusual, low humidity day, and we are savoring it as tomorrow the heat index and the humidity will go sky again reaching 105 with the humidity.  It’s hard to believe it’s mid-August already.  Our neighbor asked, “How do you like retirement?"  And I responded, "I’m still trying to close down everything that I’ve been doing for many, many, many years, and we still have ministry out of our home."   I continued to share with her that there are so many people hurting who need prayer, comfort, advice, counseling, and to just know that someone cares".   And the truth of the matter is.....when you care about people, you never retire from ministering.  

We are now seeing in our area the hustle and bustle of school busses on the streets and the school areas that once seemingly asleep now awakened and crowded with dropping off/picking up children including our two grandchildren who started school last week.  Ladawn‘s son, Dante, and his two children, Tarran and Nova, are all excited about this new year meeting new friends and getting all the new supplies---backpacks, clothes, shoes… Oh how I remember those days!  I couldn’t wait to get new shoes (penny loafers with pennies in them)!  Isn't that something---I can still remember all of that!  Give me a handclap for that one! 

Tarran is seven years old now and begins second grade.  He calls "Papa" every morning before running to the school bus.  Grandpa chats with him for 2-3 minutes and then they pray together that God will be with him and help him in school and also for Nova and the family. 

Speaking of Nova, she started pre-kindergarten, and she already has met new friends.  She’s full of life.  She will definitely keep everybody busy! LOL!  She said to me on the phone yesterday morning,  "Do you remember being in second grade?"   I said, “Yes."  And then she asked,  "Do you remember your teacher's name?" I responded, "Yes, Miss Johnson."  She continued to question,  “What do you remember about her?"   I told her, "She was very pretty, sweet and when we all got her spelling words correctly, she would give us a butter--a  yellow Butterman for reward-- and yummy was it ever good!"  She giggled, "Wow!  You remembered a lot!"   The quiz was good for me---I think I passed my senior moment!   Nova is full energy, and she told this grandma that she loves all school and school projects.   She has no lack for words and brings excitement to any situation.

 

 

It seems Larry and my schedule is full of doctor appointments and therapy.  We also regular take walks at the Home Depot or Lowes building to keep our bodies moving.  Everyone knows Larry; they watch him pushing a cart and call him by name requesting, “Well, what’s the 'joke of the day'?  He loves to bring sunshine to everyone he meets.

 

 

As for me...a couple days ago I had an experience I’m gonna share with you: 

I just have to chuckle, in my memories a year ago, I had posted this quote,  “ Practice the pause”.

I guess God knew I needed a refresher course.  Larry and I took our car to get the oil changed.  We decided to go early as it was going to reach mid 90’s and add to that the Tennessee humidity and whew--it was going to be HOT!   The plan was to leave early while cool, go to Lowe’s for our therapy walk to keep our bones and bodies moving, and then run ‘quickly’ to the store to get all few things. The first part of the plan went great.  The second part of the plan did as well.  I then charged into the grocery store, and it looked calm and pretty quiet.  I grabbed my eggs, a cucumber, a half loaf bread, grapes, shredded cheese and Larry’s treat …4 icecream bars.   I quickly headed to the checkout.  In those few minutes, the self checkout line was already extending way down the aisle, and there was only one other checkout line open with one checker!   I told myself, “It’s okay, patience, Gloria.”   Then an employee announced, “I am opening aisle 4", and directed me to follow a man and his cart.  I smiled thinking to myself, ”Yes, here I go. I will be in and out in a couple minutes."  That was UNTIL I saw the guy's loaded cart in front of me.  It was full from top to bottom and overflowing!!!!   I looked at Larry’s little box of 4 icecream bars and groaned knowing they would melt before I could get through the checkout!   Then I thought to myself,  “Self, get his attention, make sweet conversation, and he will look and see you only have 7 things and will graciously offer to go ahead of him."   Good idea, right?  I proceeded to make light chitchat, he looked in my cart and as if blind, he began to piece by piece slowly unload his cart.

Long story short….twenty minutes later, he is done, my ice cream bars are melting, and my patience was a bit frayed.  The checkout checker announced to him his bill totaled… $472.56.  Nonchalantly, he didn’t gulp at the price, but I sure did. Then they proceeded to bag, bag, bag and bag!!!!!   I chuckled to the guy with the big grocery bill and said, "You’re going to eat good.  Are you gonna cook all of that?”    He said, “Yes, I am."  I then exclaimed, “Boy, I’d like to eat at your house, but I wouldn’t want your bill," and he just chuckled.   As he left, I proceeded to apologize to the checker about my ice cream, “Ma’am, I’m so sorry.  Could I please leave this ice cream here because I know it’s melted?"  She was so kind to have somebody go back and get me another box of ice cream bars.

Anyway , the situation was not life or death, but on my part, it was a moment to practice patience and a pause. When I finally arrived back to the car, I turned on my phone, and there was my quote from a year ago to the day.   Again, I was reminded---sometimes you just have to chill, swallow and be more patient, and don’t make a small thing into a big issue.

So Lord here I am, practicing “MY PAUSE!”      Have a good day!

Gloria