Mom Ate the Backs.

I want to tell you a little something about my Mom.

Randy Travis has as a song entitled, "Angels". In that song there is a question being asked about whether there are or are not angels around us. Some of the words go like this, "... are you telling me that you've never seen a angel?...Man are you blind? Just look in your Mother's eyes." Now I know she is not an angel, and I know she is not perfect, but I do think she is pretty special.

Fried chicken used be one of my favorite meals when I was growing up. It still is. Now, I do love the Wood/Vice family fried chicken that Sharlene cooks, but I am very partial to my Mom's fried chicken. One thing I remember about fried chicken when I was at home was that it seemed to me that Mom always ate the backs. To those of you who remember or still do cut up a chicken to fry, what do you think of the back, or the neck for that matter? Mom used to cook it all. Unless I am going to make some kind of soup, I feel the backs and necks are usless. Just not much there. Well, the way I remember it, Mom ate the backs. There were legs, (that is what we called them) thighs, breasts and wings. For a family of 7 one chicken did not let anyone overeat. I think Mom thought if she ate a less desirable piece of chicken there would be something better for the rest of the family. I think that is the way Mom thinks about lots of things in this life. She spends time and energy thinking about and doing for others. My Mom is special because she ate the backs.

She is pretty well known for that angel food cake that she makes. Maybe there is a reason for that too.

Mom loves her kids. Mom loves her grandkids. She loves her great-grandchildren. Mom loved my Dad. And she has a love for the Lord and a desire to serve him and to serve others. Back to another song. Glen Campbell sings a song that is entitled, "The Hand that rocks the cradle." That song has a line that says there ought to be a hall of fame for Mommas. I don't know about the hall of fame, but if there were one, I would nominate my Mom to be there.

June 22, 1972

June 22, 1972 It was my first summer home from college. My Dad said he could find me something to do at his real estate and insurance office. I thought that was o.k. I did not know how special it would be to have one of your children work with you until now. I believe he was proud. The pictures are from that June in 1972. The tall one on the right is me. June 22, 1972, is also a birthday. I was able to buy my first car that summer. It cost $2,300.00. It has less than 50 miles on it. The sales tax was 3%. It did not have air conditioning. I used to take 4 girls to A & W for root beer while in college and our family drove it until it had 100,000 miles on it. I know I have mentioned it before but I loved that car. I still have it rusting out on the hill east of town. After going out last night to take a picture I know that dream of restoring it is fading more and more each day.

A lot can happen in three years

Three years! A lot of joy has come my way in the last 3 years. Sharlene and I have had four grandchildren brought our way. It has been a wonderful, new experience to have them. The future seems so bright anticipating watching them grow. I am also pretty sure more will be on the way soon. That will be pretty cool too.

I have also had the pleasure to watch my beautiful inside and out daughters bloom into motherhood. It is such a blessing that they all live close enough so that we can be with daughters and their families.

The last three years have also been a long time to be without my Dad. He would have loved to hold these little grandkids and their mommies. I found this picture the other day. I think it expresses what his feelings might be if he could let us know today.





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Not even tagged (part 4)

O.K. here is my final bit for the "Tagged" blog from Jacqueline:

Here are my 11 questions:
1. When is the last time you laughed until you cried?

2. What are four things that are always in your refrigerator?

3. Based on your past experiences and on your responsibility as a parent, would you be willing to send your children or go on a camping trip with your parents?

4. Do you sleep on your stomach, back or side?

5. What is your favorite romantic movie?

6. What is your favorite home cooked meal?

7. Other than home, where is your favorite place to eat?

8. What has been your most memorable vacation?

9. What would you do if you were given $100,000.00 and all of your bills were already paid?

10. When you travel would you rather drive or be the navigator?

11. What is something you do to relax?

There we go. All done. Now, I will try to do some other things on a more regular basis.

Not Even Tagged (Part Three)

O.K. Now there were 11 questions that were asked by Jacqueline.

Here are my answers:
1. Tea or Coffee? Which and why? Iced or Hot?
I love iced tea. I love brewed iced tea. I love it with lots of sugar, but I love it without too. Sometimes after spending a peroid of time in the kitchen cooking or just helping with the meal when I sit down and have that drink of iced tea, I believe that it is the best part of the whole meal.

2. What is your favorite age of children. Well, right now my favorite age of children is somewhere between 29 to 33. I just delight in that age.

3. Do you prefer to text of call? I enjoy annoyance texting, but I prefer to just talk on the phone.

4. What do you consider your greatest personality trait? I can listen to other people.

5. What is your favorite snack for T.V. watching? I don't think there is a favorite. Whatever is at arms length. Cookies - Candy - or a coke.

6. Would you rather read the book or watch the movie? I think I would rather watch the movie, as long as I could get up and move around and not have to sit still the whole time.

7. If you could describe your college experience in one word, what would it be? Before I give this answer, I will say this: I have told many people that I think no matter if you want to be a doctor or a gardener or a nurse or a carpenter, I think everyone should move away from home for a while. That may be to go to college, trade school, or just to go away from home. I think the time away will let a person see that there is more to the world than your own home address. After that time away maybe a person can know that he or she wants to go home or maybe they just would like to be a part of the world away from home. That being said, I did not use my time at college very wisely. In one word I would describe my time at college, even though I learned a lot and I value the time I spent there, I would describe it with this word: Wasted.

8. When it comes to Valentine's Day, would you classify yourself as one with high expectations, or more it's just another day beliefs? Explain. When I was young I wanted to give valentines to girls and hoped they would like me. My hopes were high, but I do not know what my expectations were. I enjoy the "love is in the air" atmosphere of valentine's day. It is nice to see everyone wanting to express themselves and their love to other people. I do not know where my expectations are but valentine's day is much more than just another day.

9. If you could eliminate one part of your daily routine, and not compeletely rock your world, you would stop doing what? Eating supper or as some say, "dinnah dahling". So much time of the evening is lost for the supper meal. If the evening could just start at around 5:30 so much more could be done.

10. If you could go back and tell your High School self one thing, what would it be? Relax.

11. What is your favorite month of the year, and why? I enjoy everyday. I think we can find something pretty good in about everyday. So it is hard to pick one month greater than another. I probably would choose April if I had to choose. Spring is starting. Things are getting green. Temperatures are beginning to be warmer. It is a nice month.

O.K. I am done with that. I am supposed to make another 11 questions. I will try or I will just wait another 11 months to post again. And when I do, I will include pictures.

Not Even Tagged (Part Two)

O.K. This is day two. I can't believe I am back again either. But to continue with the Tag Blog that Jacqueline received from Mandie here is part two. Mandie's tag contained 11 questions. Here they are with my answers.

1. Where is the favorite spot in your house? If you go back to page one you read that I like to cook--so-- I will answer that my favorite room is the kitchen. When everyone is home is is a nice place to be. Everyone is doing something and all doing it together. Getting the meal ready. We can banter (that is a Jacqueline word) we can compare cooking techniques and of course we can sample the food.

2. What is your current favorite song? This is a hard one. I will answer with two. Dolly Parton singing, "I will always love you" and Crystal Gayle singing, "When I dream"

3. What is your favorite game (card or board) to play? Without a doubt the game is SLAM. And I like to play it best with Sharlene.

4. If you could have lived during any time period, which one would it have been and why? I do not have a very good answer on this one. I will just say Victorian England. I guess just because it is where I would fit.

5. What was your favorite science class you ever took and why? My favorite science class was Biology that I took as a Freshman at OCC. I did not take Biology in High School so it was something real different for me. The dissections were very interesting.

6. If you could be an expert in any fighting technique, what would it be? I suppose I would like to Box. It looks very brutal on t.v., I dont like that part. When I was in High School a few nights we had little boxing matches in our basement. I got dinged a couple of times, didn't like that either.

7. What are three things you do every day? I talk to Jacqueline every day. I call my Mom every day and I take Maddie for a short walk/run every day.

8. If you could eradicate one animal on Earth, what would it be? I think it would be great if the Komodo Dragon was gone. So big and ugly.

9. Which way do you prefer to read: actual books, audio books, or Kindle/Nook/etc.?
Is this where Cliff's notes comes in? My answer is, the real thing, a book.

10. What is the one hardest thing you have ever had to do, an though you're glad you did it(and got the results you wanted), you probably wouldn't want to do it again if you had the choice? I am still thinking on this one. I can think of a couple of things. I found it very hard when I quit a job I was working at in Denver to tell my Boss. I was very nervous to speak in front of "my Register of Deeds girls". I may add to this one tomorrow.

11. What three things stress you out. (General or specific) 1. Money issues. 2. Questioning if I am doing the right thing and if it is going to please other people. 3. Public speaking (Although the fear gets less sometimes.)

O.K. There is part two. I am going to have to go to bed again. Seems like all I do is sleep. I will try to answer the questions Jacqueline asked tomorrow.

Not Even Tagged (Page One.)

Hello whoever is reading this.
Last week I was reading Jacqueline's blog which was a reply to a blog that she had gotten from Mandie. It was titled "Tagged" I read down the list of those who were to be tagged by Jacqueline relieved to find that my name was not on the list. I did not want to disappoint her by not replying to her tag. Well, my name was not on her list because she said she knew I probably would never get around to sending an answer. So now that there is no pressure, I am going to kind of send an answer to her tagged message to which I was not asked to send an answer. What a long sentence. Mrs. C. would not like that one.

Anyway the rules to her tag were these: 1. Post eleven facts about yourself on the blog post (mine will be on my blog post) 2. Answer the questions that were sent to me by Jacqueline (but actually they came from Mandie) Create 11 new questions to ask people I tag and then tag another 11 people. Well, I will do part of that. See that is why she did not want to send this to me. O.K. here goes!

Eleven facts:
1. I love Coca Cola. There are few things better than that refreshing first drink out of an ice cold can of coke. The first few drinks are the best. Bottled in plactic or glass does not taste the same. Pepsi is not the same. It is worse than Dr. Pepper! My kids will testify to the medicinal qualities of Coke. I have been cutting down lately (only had 4 this month when I usually have at least 4 a day) but I love Coke.

2. I Miss Miss My Dad. I think about him every single day many times. I miss him especially on Sunday and Wednesday. I keep wanting to hear that bass voice back there singing and it is not there. I wish I had asked him more questions about life, and scripture.

3. I love to walk outside and see the moon in the sky and the stars shining bright. When we lived on the farm it was horizon to horizon stars. On extra cold nights is seems that they shine brighter. I know that is not true. I just love to look at the night sky.

4. I love the smell of the pines of the cool crisp Rocky Mountians. I love the beauty of those Mountains.

5. I love my daughters. What a wonderful blessing I was given when my three daughters came to me. They are each unique individuals and I look up to each. They are so strong. I love their husbands and the blessing of grandchildren that they have brought to me. I love my daughters because of their mother. She was the influence of guidance, determination and steadfastness that they needed in this world. I love my daughter's mother. I literally would not be here today if I had not met, loved and married my daughter's mother. She is a rock.

O.K. that one may have been more than one fact, but for now we will just count it as one.

6. I love to cook. I enjoy the time in the kitchen. It is fun to share what is made there. It is fun to have the whole family cooking together there. To me that is one of the fun things at holidays - lots of people in the (my) kitchen.

7. Sometime I want to have Sharlene take me to Washington D.C. and New York City.

8. I would like to lose 30 pounds.

9. I love music. You probably already know that. I like all kinds of music. I love the harmonies of voices and of instruments. I would like to sit in the audience of a performace of a syphonic orchestra. It would even be better to be standing in front of the orchestra as its conductor. (There's a dream!)

10. If I did not have to learn how to back a 53 foot trailer and if my back would take all the riding, I would like to be a truck driver.

11. There is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for my good health. I also thank him for the good health of those that I love.

O.K. This is going to have to be the first post of a couple, because I am going to have to go to bed. I will try to add page two tomorrow. I have it already done on paper it just needs to be put here.

That's all for now.