Eating Crow

 I went to Nebraska the first of this week, and as much as it pains me, I have to say "I was wrong". All last week I was be-moaning the fact that Kaiser had a seminar in all places...OMAHA,NEBRASKA. Of all the 52 states that I would like to visit, Nebraska would have been number 52.  Given that I am a huge OU fan, and that I dearly love the Big 12, suffice it to say I wasn't enthused about our trip.

  

My first surprise came when I on the way we passed through The Flint Hills of Kansas. Have you ever seen it? Gorgeous. No fences, No houses, No trees.. just pure softly rolling hills of prarie grass. It looked like a sea of green grass.

The pictures don't do it justice. I had to take them out of a rolled up window at 70 miles per hour!

As we came into Nebraska I began to see the corn fields. The stalks of corn were dried but they had not been harvested yet. They went on and on, mile after mile. It was amazing to see fields this large of anything other than wheat. I grew up in the deep northwest corner of Oklahoma so I have learned to appreciate beauty in all of God's landscaping. Here in the heartland, the beauty I see is God providing for his children. He gave us this place where we could abundantly grow food to eat, a place for cattle to roam, and a place where you can marvel at the great expanse of sky and feel how truly small you are in the scheme of things.

So, I do apologize Nebraska. I'm glad I came to see ya. I appreciate the corn you grow and the beauty of your lands and fields. You are a brother of the heartland and I am proud that we feed America.

BUT....

I still think your football politics stink!

Running The Race

Today I attended the funeral of a dear friend and brother in Christ, Doug West. He was a runner. He ran in marathons, 5K's, relays...but the most important race he ran every day was the Christian Race.

"24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." 1Corinthians 9:24

I beleive with all my heart he has the prize.                                          
I will miss you.

Tending Roses

This beautiful lady was my Granny, Martha Delena Scroggins. 


For those of us who have that special relationship with their Grandmother, you know what I mean when I say she was one of the most remarkable woman I will ever know. I was fortunate enough to grow up with her in our home my whole life. She was my secret keeper, my playmate, my teacher, my everything. She taught me and my sister how to do so many things with patience and love. There are too many stories to tell here, but some of my fondest memories are working with her in her garden. She taught me to dig in the dirt, to love the smell of rain, and to hold a wriggly worm. She loved daffodils, morning glories, and violets.

Barnes and Noble

That is why when I finished reading "Tending Roses" I sat right down, and through my tears, immediately wrote the author. I have never done that before but this book touched me so, I had to tell her how much it meant to me. To my surprise she wrote me back.

"Tending roses" is about a Grandmother and her granddaughter's relationship brought together in the twilight of the grandmothers life as they tend her roses as well as the garden of life. It explores the irreplaceable value that our elders can give to society with their wisdom, patience and love.

Lisa Wingate (Google)

I have recommended this book more often than any other book I have ever read. The author is Lisa Wingate and as you can plainly see, I am one of her biggest fans. She is a fellow Okie, and went to school down the road at a little university called Oklahoma State ( I try not to hold that against her :). She has a terrific website at http://www.lisawingate.com/.

If you had a grandma, if you are a grandma, or if you want to be a grandma.....Please read this book.

My two angels (Both Marthas) who are in Heaven watching over me (that's me on the right)

Mothers and Daughters

My Grandmother once told me it was a good thing I never had a daughter because she said, I wouldn't relate or get along well with girls. Well as usual Granny was probably right . My Mother on the other hand had two girls and as you can see she related to us very well. There was nothing, no matter how crazy, she wouldn't do for us. Even dress up as a bunny for a Kindergarten parade! Sometimes Mother/Daughter relationships are like that...in total sync. The love and understanding flow easily.

All to often, there are the relationships that come hard. The love is just as fierce, but there is no peace in the house. It is as though nothing is ever done the way the other would have had it. The  relationship gets sidetracked with misunderstanding, lack of communication, and perhaps a large dose of pride gets in the way.

That is the problem for Marta and Hilde in Francine Rivers' novel "Her Mother's Hope". You will find yourself rooting for both of these characters who could almost...but not quite, have a beautiful Mother/ Daughter friendship. The story begins in the turn of the century when Marta's own mother dies and she is forced to flee an abusive home and head out on her own for America. The story continues and spans decades through WWII. 

If you like it as much as I think you will, you will be anxious and excited for it's sequel "Her Daughter's Dream" which is released this coming Tuesday (9-14-10).

This book made me grateful for the relationship I have with my Mom and my Grandmother. I have been asked many times if I wished I had had a girl...Nope! Of course God always has it right and gave me just what I needed and would be good at...raising boys.

Company Is Comin'

It's a holiday weekend and the kids are coming home....better make cookies and all their favorites. In my house my cooking is a joke. My idea of homemade is to rip open a package, carefully follow all instructions and hope for the best.

I have a few dishes that are my kids' favorites. Ryan likes chicken and noodles and Tyler likes Mexican casserole, Mika likes my pasta salad, and I haven't learned what Kourtney likes yet BUT Kaiser wants ribs and of course it is cookies for Preston. So the cooking commenced in earnest Friday night and when all was done... it looked like Hurricane Earl hit the west side of my house.

As I have often said, I have no recipe to share...anything you see here you can go to the store and buy the mix.

 I do have a book (of course) to share that is about cooking. Not a cookbook, not a how to book....but a hilarous book about a cooking show and it's star. It is by Mary Kay Andrews and it is called "Deep Dish". Anything by this sassy southern belle is down right funny, and she will make you laugh straight out loud. I got hooked on her books when I read "Blue Christmas" and haven't picked up anything she has written that I didn't like.

Well the refrigerator is full so bring it on. There will be no time for reading this weekend, it is packed full of plans. Last big summer fling before we put up the boat, swim suits, and flip flops.