Don't you agree?

I would like to share with you this valued bit of information known as "The Optimist's Creed". It goes something like this:

PROMISE YOURSELF.....

'To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind'.
.....Now that is what I call a challenge if there ever was one. Nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Regardless of what people say or do, nothing can change your peace of mind. That takes a lot of strength. Let them ramble, let them roar. They cannot disturb YOUR peace of mind.

'To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet'.
.....Why if that happened there would be no gossiping. No back stabbing, no slander, just plain ole talk of how you felt...and this could possibly control the whole course of the conversation, depending on your age of course. LOL Happiness is one of the most wonderful feelings we humans can experience. And, I think animals experience happiness as well. All you have to do is watch that tail wagging a hundred per when you walk in the door after leaving your favorite companion alone for an hour or so. As for prosperity, well, that depends on the given situation and may encompass a broader view then the other two. Again, depends on who, what, when and where.

'To make all your friends feel that there is something in them'.
.....That is easy. If they are your true friends you have no trouble doing that. No trouble at all. And after all, being human beings, everyone has something in them, it is just the way it is utilized that is the issue.

'To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true'.
.....Believe you me, I believe it can be said that each and everyone reading this creed will agree that they all know people that could not find a sunny side of anything and even if their life depended on it. I mean anything. I do not know about you, but I try to shy away from those people. We have to realize they are so unhappy with themselves that the only way they are comfortable is to try to make everyone else uncomfortable as they are, to make everyone else miserable, to lash out, to criticize, to find fault, even to the point often times of untruths. They succeed in many instances. But it is our choice.........we do not have to accept their opinions. We probably should look long and hard at including them in our lives. It is our choice. The difficult part is, just how that choice is determined and exercised.

'To think only the best, to work only for the best'.
.....Just coming from a most enjoyable Saturday evening church service, I can share that the pastor lit the candle of everyone that was in the congregation with a positive attitude. Yes, we need to think only the best. We need to work only for the best. There again, I saw that miracle at work in our community at a meeting on Friday. Those gathering wanted to work only for the best. We have to make it happen. It is our job. It is our duty. We need to think only the best. We need to work only for the best.....and it can be done. Eliminate negative attitudes, think positive and it will work!

'To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own'.
.....When my children were in high school debate, I was honored several years, to serve as one of the judges of the events and I appreciated the way the debates were always ended with all parties shaking the hands of one another. Winner or loser. They shared in a victory of sorts. A common bond. They had worked hard. One was better then the other. They recognized the common bond, however, and once the debate was over, went on their own seperate ways.

'To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future'.
.....If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves as to our accomplishments. Sure we did it wrong one time, but hey, let's turn it around. Lets' make it better in the future. Learn from our mistakes. It is better to have learned from a mistake then to have never made a mistake in the first place. Move on to better and bigger things.

'To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile'.
......Imagine yourself in a crowd of people. Who do you pick out to admire? The person with turned down mouth lines and with a smug look on their face? Or, do you especially notice the person, who in sincere honesty, walks up to you, or another person for that matter and you are just the observer, offers their hand of welcome and with a glow or spark in their eye, says just one little word like "HI"? I know I cannot speak for all, but for me, I certainly appreciate a person who is kind, considerate, has a willing smile, apart from one who is always sidling up to another person and whispering behind their hand. Anger is an unforgiving spirit of bitterness and it puts the body in a stressful environment to learning to have a loving and forgiving spirit would make it much easier to have that smile on your face, be open and ready to meet whatever fate deals in the future.

'To give so much time to the improvement of yourself'.
....Some members of my family enjoy yoga. Some enjoy playing tennis. Some enjoy music. Some enjoy playing bridge and other card games. Some enjoy community involvement. Many appreciate the awareness of God in their lives. Whatever improves our body, our mind, our spirit is an option each of us can chose. Thanks to the freedom we enjoy in being an American gives. We can improve ourselves. Again, our choice.

And last, but not least....and this is my challenge for the week:

"That we be too large for worry,
too noble for anger
too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble". ~~~~~~~~~~~Amen, and Amen.

I did not consult Webster on this one, but what was taught to me by my parents in that department all hinged on 'kindness', being conscious of other peoples feelings. Basically I would define common courtesy as having 'good manners'. Be kind to one another in everything, respect your elders, show people you genuinely care for them.

In days past, we wrote letters. We sent people 'Thank You' notes to show we appreciated their kind deeds. Then the phones became very popular, so instead of writing a note, we called them on the phone. That was great, we not only were able to express, verbally, how we felt, we could have it be felt in the intonation of our voice, and we could hear the appreciation in theirs as well. What replaced the telephone? The computer. Now, we sit down, write a few lines, hit the 'send' button and we are through.

As a member of the female gender, I appreciate common courtesy in many forms. What woman does not like to have the car door held for her? It is nice when a male friend makes sure he walks on the curbside of the sidewalk even tho we no longer need protection from runaway horses. It is pleasant to be with a group of friends where the ladies don't use gamy language, and the gentlemen refrain from using curse words in their presence.

Running in the house? Heaven forbid! One never ran in the house. You want to run, go outside.

In my youth, on Friday evenings and Sundays, often times after church, we went to another family home, had Sunday dinner with them, and spent the afternoon and sometimes evenings as well, in their home. Or, visa versa. But as children, we were expected the greet the guests and treat them as such, possibly shake their hands if meeting for the first time, then we disappeared. Upstairs or outdoors to play, or even into the basement. We were to show our good manners and we also appreciated the fact that the adults rated a special place and time to themselves as well. In other words possibly this rule applied....'children are to be seen, not heard'. And, we did not interrupt adult conversations other. Any public display of childish temper might carry a high price.

"Respect your elders". Men were called, 'Mr'. Women were known as 'Miss or Mrs.'. I would never have dreamed of calling any of my teachers by their first names. It was always 'Miss Pearson' or 'Miss Strecker' or 'Mrs. Morgenstern'. Now Uncles and Aunts may have their preface followed by a given name but the rules were simple, just show respect.

I recall that, going to church as a youngster, we would go to Sunday School, and when church started, the men sat on one side of the church, the women on the other side. We children marched to the front pews for our designated area for the church service. And, supposing, just supposing you happened to sit beside a 'chatty Kathy'. Well, it was not long before you could feel the glare that dad or mom was giving you from their respective seats. That glare was so strong that it permeated through everything, reaching the back of your little head and you knew what you best be doing!

I recall going to the 'filling station' to have the car gassed before we headed off on a trip. The attendant came out of the building, and with a pleasant greeting asked what you needed today. 'Fill it up', was usually what he was told. He did just that, BUT, he also raised the hood of the car, checked the oil, checked the radiator, made sure you had no hoses broken or leaking, checked each tire, washed all the car windows. Then, taking your money, (no credit cards then), he would bring back change, tell you "Thank You", and you were ready to roll!

'A thousand words will not leave as deep an impression as one good deed!' Picture yourself in a group of people where one person monopolizes the conversation. Rattles on and on, saying nothing. How about cooling it, getting on with things, doing something, doing a good deed. That will surely be more remembered then all the useless, endless chatter which accomplishes nothing other then frustration.

Good manners is really nothing more then simply being kind
to one another. I think about when my grandsons say, 'Here, Granny, let me do that for you', or for example last Easter Sunday when the granddaughter took my car keys, went to the parking lot and brought my car to the front door of the church after services, so Grannys aching joints did not have to hobble out into the parking lot. They were being kind. They used their good manners each time an action of this sort was taken. They cared. They showed they cared. That made me happy and when you make others happy, you make yourself happy as well! No small act of kindness is ever wasted. That and any small act of kindness can act like a ray of sunshine, breaking through a cloudy day.

What chance do we stand of restoring some of those welcome courtesies before they become forever extinct? Can we take the time, slow down, be more sincere, show others we care, genuinely, to bring back common courtesy?

We can think back. We can remember how nice the world was when we took time to be kind to one another. We will try to forget the war and violence and other kinds of human misery to which we are exposed. I would say it is time for an outbreak of courtesy and kindness. Agreed? Hey, it is up to us! We must never forget that what is done for another is done for oneself as well.

Hold that door open for someone. Even tho the person does not have the 'right-of-way' at the intersection, smile and give him a 'hi' signal. Let the person who has just one or two items go ahead of you in the waiting line. Invite that lonely neighbor over to share a sandwich with you some evening. Wave at that little child waiting at the stop light for the light to turn green so he or she can cross the street. Call your mom, your dad, your kids, your sister or brother. Send a 'thank you' note. Smile at everyone you meet today, maybe even top it off with a warm hug. Life may have lots of surprises in store for just one little change that each and everyone of us make today, tomorrow or forever!

Challenge of the Week:

"Kind words and good deeds are eternal. You never know where their influence will end".

There is one woman in our congregation at church, each and every time we meet, she has a butterfly on her shoulder. Varying sizes and colors, therefore duplicating a butterfly. I like them also. My children’s gifts are right in that category. Last year my daughter’s family gave me a dragon fly. Not nearly as pretty as a butterfly, but it has a gold colored stem and from it the wings protrude in this way making it to appears to be more of a singular butterfly in flight, but quite beautiful in itself.

I am not sure just why a butterfly intrigues me so much, maybe it is their particular nature. The way they are usually singular in appearance but as they fly and hover, they seem to bring with them an unspeakable, unmatched tranquility. Rarely does one see more then one butterfly at a time. They make no formal announcement, no humming, no buzzing, they just appear out of nowhere. They are quiet, no sound. One, therefore, must just assume what sound the double wings do make, is heard only by the butterfly itself.

And the beauty they give us. Truly comes from God. In all sizes, shapes, colors, you might say that they are like each and every one of us. Agreed?

The fascinating metamorphosis the butterfly makes can certainly be measured with this time of the year. Spring and Eastertide! Sunday, of course, is Easter Sunday, earlier this year then usual, but, as usual, spring is arriving in all her spendor, daffodils abloom as are the beautiful hyacinths (some which my baby sis shared with me from her garden last week and the fragrance lingered for nearly a week from my dining room table). And with the return of spring, will come the return of the butterflies. Not as bountiful in number as they were in my early childhood days. A newspaper article several years back relayed the fact that the sprays used on crops and flower beds for insect control had taken its toll on this beautiful creature. Quite possibly so. We are told that the butterfly is one of nature's finest plant pollinators.

There are many symbolisms associated with the exotic butterfly. In china the butterflies are deemed as symbols of beauty in old age when linked with the plum blossoms. Butterflies are regarded as symbols of one's soul by the Japanese, whereas two butterflies flying together are symbolic of a happy marriage ancient Aztecs believed butterflies to be the souls of warriors slain in battle, and that the fluttering wings were symbols of energy.

This Easter week, we celebrate many symbols of our faith. The walk to the cross, the display of Easter lilies, the children celebrating by Easter egg hunts, but we need to include the butterfly as one of the significant symbols of Easter. Its whole life cycle is meant to symbolize the life of Jesus Christ. The first stage is the caterpillar which stands for his life on earth. The second phase begins from the cocoon stage portraying the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. The third and final stage is the butterfly representing his raising from the dead in a glorified body and peace, symbolizing immortality.

If you are ever fortunate enough to have a butterfly light on your arm and you can touch it, note that the color will come off on your hand as you touch its delicate body. Like powder. Actually, these are scales which are removed by your touch. What joy that beautiful little creature, barely more then an inch or two in size, can give to us, allowing us the joy of seeing it in flight. I firmly believe that the butterfly is one of the happiest creatures that grace this earth of ours today!

So, enjoy a blessed Easter with your family, your friends, your neighbors, which I plan to do and may this week's challenge inspire you to share in this blessed week of spring!

Challenge of the Week:

"Remember that those who bring sunshine to others cannot keep it from themselves. Joy is a wonderful feeling".

Dr. Greg Forbes, a very familiar face on our local weather channel had a very interesting presentation Thursday, after the events of the day and evening prior. He reported 67 tornadoes had occured on Wednesday with 29 of these in the state of Kansas. Unbelievable! He went on to do a graph of the history of this malady which told that during the months of January through March, we have few of these events; however, they increase during the next three months, with the month of May listed as the month reporting the largest number. What lies ahead for us this year? Starting off rather early in the season, I would say. But hey, Kansas is not alone. We are joined by Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, parts of Colorado, Missouri and even Iowa. ...... And, if I may insert a little extra here, at this particular time, I cannot help but remember the blessed Christmas Day that I spent with my family in mid-Florida this past December. We were under a tornado watch. We spent the day in the lanai, watching the pouring rain for several hours, canceling all family plans for the day. Yes, a tornado in Florida in December! Ah, Mother Nature at work!

Personally, I enjoy weather, the changes, the seasons. I sincerely believe that is why I live where I do. I like the four seasons. I appreciate change. Keeps monotony at bay, don't you agree? As I am writing this, the rain has started again, no lightening or thunder, all of a sudden, I heard the rain pelting the dining room window. Of course, the weatherman has been predicting it all day, and alerting us to the possibility of more storms accompanying this front. But, tornadoes are another thing. I have respect for their presence even tho, as far as I can recall, and during my entire lifetime as a Kansas resident, I can truthfully say that I have seen fewer then a half dozen. But, I remember them.

During my grade school days, I would spend the summers with my sister on her farm, on the Barton-Russell County line, and we were not given then, the news forecasts as of today. We watched the skies. It was during this time that the oil fields were booming and as a result, the oil companies furnished homes to their employees and the small homes were scattered on the farmers land. Quite a few of the families came from Oklahoma, where, in Tornado Alley, they watched the skies also. But, they had no storm caves. My sister and her husband did. So, when the skies darkened, the winds started to roar, all the neighbors would come driving in their cars, bring their families, and we would all congregate together, down in the cave, no electricity, depended on kerosene lanterns and flashlights, sitting through many a storm. Needless to say, we were all one big family during those times. The parents would try to keep the younger children busy as the winds howled, the door on the cave rattled. It was eerie!. During one particular storm, as I recall, large hail accompanied the driving winds and when my brother-in-law opened the door to the cave, he saw that all the windows on the north side of their home had been shattered, so the men grabbed buckets, anything to cover their heads, and ran for the house, stuffed pillows and whatever was available in the window frames to stop additional damage. Several of the men had welts on the back of their legs for a day or so from the pelting of the large hail storms during their treke from the cave to the house. It certainly was neighbor helping neighbor! And the very next morning, the same men, after making their rounds on the wells, drove in the yard, hammers and nails in hand, and helped my brother-in-law replace all the windows!

During my high school days, living on a farm in southern Russell County, dad, who was our weather man announced one day that it was time for a family conference as the wind was howling, pouring rain. We had a decision to make. A big decision, for he saw a tornado approaching the farm, about three miles to the west, and said we had to go for shelter. This is where the problem lay for you see, our cave was infested with snakes. Big, big bull snakes. Probably harmless, but who wants to sit in a cave with snakes regardless what kind they were. The other solution was a deep ravine, just behind the barn and we could all go and lay there until the storm subsided. We did not debate long, we couldn't, but just as we were all heading out the back door, the tornado turned, went north. Thank goodness, for us, at least! However, it did take the top story of a school in the nearest town, no lives lost though. But you know, the ironic part of it all is, to this day, I cannot recall where we had decided to go for safety. Oh well, guess it is no longer important.

Another one that I saw was just northwest of where I live now, hubby and I had been out for a Sunday afternoon ride when we noticed the clouds building up rather quickly and skidaddled home, saw a tornado forming, and headed for the neighbors basement. Of course, the men seemed to always have to make trips to the upstairs to give us an update of events occuring outside. They reported, just minutes after we were safely in the basement, that it had touched down several blocks south of here, and took the roof off of one home there.

And, the latest, I think I told you about was last Fall when I was driving down Main Street and heard the tornado sirens blaring, and at first thought it was a trial siren blowing, but when looking to the southwest, saw the tornado heading for our town. Thank goodness my oldest sis and her hubby shared their basement with Paige and I until the storm worked its way along the western part of Russell. Several buildings damaged, no lives lost!

My testimony of tornadoes is probably just a drop in the bucket to what many of you, reading this, could tell. But, we need to be watchful, ever vigilant, just like in life, but we can act in a defensive manner when needed. We can help our neighbors in need. We can be a friend in any circumstance and we must continue to always look on the bright side of life at all times for no one ever injuried his eyesight by looking on the bright side of the matter!

My challenge this week is:

"Nothing wastes more energy than worrying...........but we can be ever watchful".

Was it because April Fools' Day was Tuesday? It is because of the news items we are being bombarded with daily...........or should we call it 'BAMBOOZLED' with?.....A slang ward, nevertheless, meaning quite similiar. I really don't know, but I feel it is an interesting subject that leads to some more indepth study.

"T".....Webster dictionary, describing the word TRUST as a noun, further clarifes the definition as meaning confidence, hope, safe-keeping, management...To rely on, to believe in. To be confident. To confide readily.

Again, those 'ole' teachings reach out and grab me, and I can hear my parents advice which went something like this. 'If a person is not trustworthy of others, they are not trustworthy either'. That was always a deep saying to understand but, in my own mind, I took it to mean that if that person did not trust you, possibly he could not be trusted either, and you better be careful. Is this carried over to today?

In simplier days, I do believe we were more trusting of others. After all, we could come home from school and know that mom would be there waiting for us. Seldom was she gone. And, if she was gone, we would have been advised before we left for school that she would be away when we got home, so if we did get home, she was not there, and a big note was standing on the dining room table, stuck between the big green salt and pepper shakers, we knew something was amiss. Maybe someone was sick. The neighbors needed help. She had to run somewhere else for a bit. But we trusted in the fact that she would be there when we got home from school. Now, she in turn, trusted in the fact that even tho she was not there, we would do as we had been taught even tho she was not there to see that we had done what we were supposed to do. First of all, change from our school clothes into 'every day' clothes before we went outside to play. Possibly set the table for supper. Bring in fuel for the heating stove in the winter time. Or maybe take care and watch over a younger sibling until she did return. We trusted her, she trusted us. We were entrusted to take matters in our own hands. That was a good feeling!.......Hey, it meant we were 'growing up'! WOW.

"R".....REMEMBER, remember that we are not the only people in the world! We need to think about others. We need to observe others. We need to be grateful for things that are done for us. Writing this, the one thing that comes to mind at this writing, is all the friends that I know that are experiencing health problems at this time. Surgeries, planned surgeries, the flu bug, other health issues. How they are remembered by friends who take them to the doctors offices, who sit by their bedside, who call them daily, who take them groceries, get their mail for them. One of the ugliest personality traits in the world is selfishness and I do not believe that selfishness and lack of gratitude can be included in defining trust. So, REMEMBER, we need people, and yes, they need us too. REMEMBER, some things are urgent, others are important, you know the difference.

"U"................Yes, the last sentence above, brings us to "U". "U" are important! Statistics tell us that at least 15 people in this world love "U" in some way. "U" mean the world to someone! So, opening the door to numerous avenues, we ask ourselves, 'What are we to do?'. Well, there is not enough paper, time and words to tell each and everyone of us what we are to do. We have to trust ourselves to know what to do. After all, didn't our parents instill trust in their teachings?

"S" ......Ever heard the expression, 'Keep it Simple Sam?' Don't overdo. Don't overindulge. Love, gratitude, caring does not have to be elaborate, it can be simple. Keep it clear. Be sincere in your actions. I read a sentence one time that said this, and I loved it..."Judge a mans character by not what he drives, but by what drives him". Boy, that opens a 'kettle of worms', agreed?

Thinking of being told to 'take care of things, they will last longer and work better' comes to mind. Like regularly servicing your automobiles to keep them in proper working order. We need to be good caretakers of the gifts of air, water and resources necessary for day to day living. We need to think of becoming more conservative and caring about the future for our children, our grandchildren and not worry about having all the added 'special' things in life that we think we 'must' have. They are trusting in us to see that their future is secure, just exactly as our parents did for us. Are we being trustworthy about sufficient water, clean air for their welfare and their upcoming families? Makes us think, doesn't it????

"T"......TIMING is important. Important in all aspects of life. It is everything for it is a known fact that if you time your daily activities right, you'll sail through them faster, easier and even more sucessfully. So, what time is it right now?

I like this little prayer, which as you read it, am sure you will agree is definitely geared for the 'older crowd', but hope you enjoy it.....It goes like this....."Dear Lord, So far today, I'm doing just fine. I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy or bossy, been nasty, selfish, self-indulgent nor screamed at anyone. I have no binged, complained, cursed, eaten any chocolate. I have not charged anything on my credit card...................BUT, I think I am going to really need your help in a minute cause I'm gonna get out of bed!'...........Wait a minute, this doesn't just pertain to the older generation, this description pertains to everyone!?!

That would be a good prayer for everyone to use every morning. A time for prayer is anytime, good for any day and every day as well. Choosing a proper time is something you have to trust to yourself to see that it is done. Just as you know that going to the grocery store in the early morning when stock and produce are the freshest, or going to the doctor so that he/she are at their best while taking a java break midmorning while checking your e-mail gives you that much needed break. It is reported that our hand-eye coordination is best in the afternoon, so good time to do crafts, mending or even paint that picture you have been thinking about doing for sometime. Brings us to the late afternoon, everyone is beginning to wear down, so try to be extra nice. Say something nice to your co-workers, pass out a well-meaning compliment or two, end the day on a good note. It may give added spice to everyones life for the rest of the evening and night. When you help someone, the help is returned in two fold!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"Love, trust, gratitude, all have a message of their very own. They hear the words that are left unspoken".

Anyway, back to the socks............I was amazed to find how many pairs of 'unmatched' pairs I found in the drawers. True, no one would see if I wore an argyle with a plaid sock, but "I" knew. And, no way, so ....'ok, dump the drawers on the bed and sort them all out', which I proceeded to do. So, after about 2 hours, I had them in a situation whereby I knew which were going back into the drawer and which were usable, the other pile was ready to put in the bag that would be donated to the local church sponsored Thrift Shop and the others would find their lonely way to the garbage can!

I think we can compare a sock to life in this respect....'Life is full of little trival niceties that so often go unnoticed until we lose them'.........and so be it with socks. One unmatched sock is not much good for anything, unless of course, you have only one foot.

On thing, tho, I know for sure. I have TOO many socks! As I was doing all that sorting, I sort of took a trip back into time, thinking about my school days and when it was all the rage to wear bobby socks! Remember those days??? Bobby socks with black and white saddle shoes, and believe it or not, but I probably only had three or four pairs of socks compared to the two drawers that occupy my dresser now. And you know something, I was just as happy then with those three or four pairs of socks as I am now with drawers full.........hey, maybe I WAS happier! We all seem to be guilty of an overabundance of things in todays lifestyles. It is really sad that instead of just listing our blessings everyday, we find solace in going out and BUYING something different, something new, and many times we may even see ourselves buying just to 'keep up with the Jones'es'.

While sorting the socks, I pondered as to what in the world could have happened to those missing, causing all these mismatched socks that were adorning my three piles of socks on the bed. Were they lost in the wash? Were they lost under the bed and sucked into the vacuum cleaner when cleaning under the bed? (Isn't that a riot when that happens and clogs up the hose on your vacuum?) Were they perhaps left at a friends house while visiting overnight? Do you have a pet that has a tendancy to enjoy your personal items of clothing and maybe hides them somewhere for his or her safekeeping? Any number of reasons can be the cause for a lost sock!

I recall when the children were still home, my daughter and I did not seem to have that problem as I wore more nylons then socks but, son and his father.........well, that was another situation! Father, being an ex-Navy man prided himself on the neatest of his attire and nothing bothered him more then not having matched socks when he wanted them, so he found a solution. At first, when I was introduced to the project, I found it rather amusing, but later on, had to admit was a pretty good idea. His solution to the problem was buying a huge bag of the largest safety pins he could find, and immediately upon removing his socks each night, he pinned them together and then placed them in the clothes hamper to be washed later. Needless to say, there were neither mismatched socks OR missing socks. Always a matched pair. Solution to that problem! So, education teaches us the rules which experience teaches as the exception!

But you know, those couple hours I spent sorting through those socks turned out to be fun! First off, I found a pair of socks that I remember buying to wear with the first pair of Berkinstock shoes that I bought. They were white, had a heavier then normal base fit and were cut to fit just below the ankle, while the second pair I found interesting were a pair of soft footies in pink. Oh so soft, sort of fuzzy, and oh so warm to wear! The one funny one that I found though, was really more of a knee sock, for it went to just an inch or so below the knee, was a heavy black fuzzy sweater type sock, and for the life of me I have no recollection when I purchased it and for what particular use. Needless to say, it will be headed for a new home north of town, in the city dump though it seemed to have served me well considering the big hole in the heel of the sock!

Hate to disappoint you because I bet when you read 'Sock It To Me', you were thinking more of a cliche then what it actually was, a 'day in the life of a true black sock'! Not to worry, though, remember a sock is like a person, for every sock......just like every person I have ever known during my lifetime...has changed my life in some way!

Challenge of the Week:

"Remember that the surest way to dig up the past, is to search for something....in your dresser drawers, in your attic or in your garage".

Have a good 'un..........Nadene

We all realize that are are times in the lives of all God's children when we are called on to suffer. Reading Romans 5:3-4 that 'suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope'. For me, also, suffering has also produced times of physical and emotional weakness. when we are going through health problems, or struggle with relationships in all areas of our lives. It is there, day in and day out.

But this dear friend was so young. He was only 56. He had a wonderful life yet to live. So much to give, as was his nature. Yes, he was a former pastor with whom I had worked very closely for many years. Many of you will recognize the name, Pastor Michael Fibranz. When the word of his death of last evening reached me this morning, I was devasted. So unexpected. A shock!

Every life needs a purpose to help keep it on target and not get lost in trivia and mediocricity, and so his was. Fully realizing that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away, he was always a bundle of energy, ready and willing to work at and with all !

Time spent in his presence was often gilded with laughter for I firmly believe that he believed that laughter definiely had its special benefits. It could not always solve situations, bit it could put us in a better frame of mind to deal with them. Serving as Vice President, and later President of the Church Council during his stay with our congregation, I worked with him on situations and problems within the frameworks of the church and saw these acts in operation more then once.

He conducted services of burial for my mother, the father of my children, my only brother and performed baptismal services for my two grandsons. We worked for months and yes, years, preparing for and completing the 100 Anniversary celebration of our congregation. What Fun! During one of the weeks of the celebration, we held an outdoor service at a parishioners home, located on a lake, was on a warm Saturday evening, and as the service was ready to begin, he, along with the local veteranian who owned the home, came riding down the long drive on horseback. Of course it was to remind us of what our ancestors had done back 100 years ago in order to attend church services. The elders were surprised, the children elated! I would give you odds this was one of a very, very times that he rode horseback! But he was at ease. He made us all feel that way, preparing us for the worship and fellowship which followed that night! My whole family was there. What a blessed memory!

Then, there was the time ..... and I believe it was his 45th birthday........the members of the council surprised him with a coffee at the parish hall with cake and other goodies..........theme color........BLACK. Black ballouns, and napkins. I can still see him and how he enjoyed our chiding him, in our way, about 'getting old'. Our birthday greeting cards were designed to enjoy all the laughter that surrounded us in that sharing of fellowship that morning.

However, of all the memories I have of this man, the one that I will hold most dear to my heart, was in the planning of a new service for our parish. Realizing that without a struggle there can be no progress, we plodded and planned for several years. Keith, John, Joyce and myself, until we were able to put into place a Saturday night worship service. In a strict, German, congregation where the word 'change' is almost unheard of, we made it work. We struggled, and the progress came! Though we were prepared for a much smaller number at the very first service...... thoughts were in the twenties...... we were amazed, when the first nights attendance was 72! Halleujah!! But Pastor Mike was so nervous. It was to be, and still is, an informal service. A 'come as you are, right from work, you are welcome' type of service. So, he came attired in his clerical collar, over which he wore a blue plaid shirt, jeans, along with white tennis shoes (he loved to play tennis). He kept asking for assurance that this attire was appropriate. As he told the organist, "I feel comfortable, maybe too comfortable". And of course, accompanied by that familiar laughter that seemed to roll out of him! The evening was a success, and this service is still held, on a regular basis, each Saturday evening at 6:00 PM, in the Chapel.

During all the associations of working with him, he always reminded us that he felt every 10 years, a pastor should "move on". He said that in that way, the congregation would not get tired of him. He thought we were tired of him. We weren't, and I would scoff at him when he said, 'Now, you know you go ahead and make plans, but I may not be here', and when the time came that he made the announcement official that he was moving his family to another parish, we all were very sad to see him make that move! But, we respected his wishes.

Yes, today has been a sad day. It has rained most of the day and as one parishioner stated............"I believe the rain we are having today is really the angels tears for us left here without him".......another wrote me after hearing about his passing with these words....."God has a wonderful soul back with Him again".

We need to realize that loving does set us up for sorrow, that's true. But, it also encourages us to hope.

In closing, I would like to share with you these words from I Thessalonians 4:14-15, 17-18, which reads as follows:

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep....And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

And so, I end this weeks challenge to the memory of Pastor Mike, with prayers offered to the blessing of his family, and to all the lives he has touched during his stay on this earth. He will be missed but I strongly feel he would be happy to share this weeks challenge with all as he has done with the many other challenges written in the past........

"IT IS NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE THAT COUNT...
IT IS THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS".

"Thank You, Pastor Mike" for being a part of my life!

Beginning in 1872 when a man by the name of Morton, living in the State of Nebraska, felt Nebraskas landscape and economy would benefit from wide-scale planting of trees, this man started something that, am sure, he had no idea would and did improve our whole nation..................His idea worked and today all 50 states celebrate the last Friday in April as Arbor Day!

Today made history for me. Remember my challenge last fall about the plum tree in my front yard? Well, MEMORY is the mother of all wisdom......and though I will always have the memory of that SPECIAL tree, today it has been replaced. Another Red plum tree has been planted in its place by some caring, understanding folks!And, for this, I am most grateful!

Challenge of the Week:

"Life is full of gifts that often pass unnoticed......."

But, in my case, this gift did NOT go unnoticed!....

PLANT A TREE TODAY and make your own precious memory, and maybe a memory for someone precious to YOU!