Time has always been intriguing to me. The measurement of time even more so. A huge variety of devices have been invented to measure time. The sundials, the water clocks, the hourglass. Passage of hours at sea was marked by bells. Bells are used in church towers to signal time. Incense sticks and candles are used in temples to measure time. One must include the atomic clocks of todays modern world as well. Wonders never cease. Look at the tinest of wrist watches which adorn the wrists of ladies, the massive watches on a mans arm that tell the time, the date, the hour, the second, and it goes on and on because some are so heavily mechanized they can practically tell you what your next thought will be. Amazing, to say the least.

I have to admit, probably all of this little writing has been brought about by the fact that recently I uncovered a cuckoo clock, sent to me as a gift over fifty years ago, from the Black Forest and it set me to thinking about having it restored. And, that it is. It could be delivered as early as tomorrow. All I need to do is call the repairman, as he has notified me that he has it in working order once again after admitting earlier he had his doubts, something about the bellows and other things which, not trained in that light, I failed to understand. I just know it is certainly not a small clock as each one of the weights which are at the end of the chains which control the mechanism, weigh five pounds, so it must be strong enough to carry at least 10 pounds.

If my memory serves me correctly, I recall the last time we had it in working condition, was when our daughter was a baby. It was hanging on the wall of the dining room. She was just crawling when we hung it up on that wall. The minute she would hear the door of the bird cage open and the bird begin to sing the hour, she would start crawling as fast as her little hands and legs would carry her, to see the bird. She was facinated with it. We delighted in watching her, so if at all possible, someone would try to pick her up and let her get a better look at the bird before the door closed on its little home within the clock, and then she would clap her hands and giggle!

Think of all the old adages that we have learned about time........'Time is lost, not gained, by hurrying'........'Time will pass, will you?'........'A stitch in time saves 9.'.......And, I bet YOU could add one or two of your very own to this list as well.

I continue to be amazed at what part 'time' continues to play in my own life these days, different tho then in years past. For instance, I may wake up in the morning, plans are all in order, but for some reason, all the plans I had made seem to just fall apart, and then I find myself doing things entirely opposite of what I had planned earlier. Instead ...... I took time to stop and smell the roses........ Instead of a hurried trip here and there, I took time to call on a friend, take in a movie, do a little shopping all by myself, took time to bake something special for the family or the bridge club members. And NO, I did not get the sweeper run, I did not clean out a closet, I did not iron the clothes, I did not do any of my normal routines. But 'time' is different for me now. I no longer 'punch a clock', so my choices are much different but I still try to respect time. Time is important! Time needs respect! Sometimes what we spend years building, someone tries to destroy overnight, but we build anyway. 'TIME" is similiar to a coin, you can spend it any way you chose, but you can spend it only once!

So, guess it is 'Goodby August 2007', I loved the birthdays, the anniversaries, the dinner parties, the cool days after scorching heat, the fresh smell of rain, the joy of seeing a rainbow in the sky as well as the other majestic views God allowed my eye to see several days ago, watching the children return to school, sharing coffee and other goodies around the dining room table with friends, being thankful that test results were negative for a friend, the good news that recent surgery on a baby proved our most dreaded fears could be modified to a lesser degree by her family. So, all of these, brings me to my challenge which is:

Challenge of the Week:

"TIME is not measured by the number of breaths we take... instead it is measured by the moments that take our breath away!"

A seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN.
One morning, they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, 'I hope he doesn't come over here.' But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

'Where are you folks from?' he asked in a friendly voice.

'Oklahoma,' they answered.

'Great to have you here in Tennessee,' the stranger said. 'What do you do for a living?'

'I teach at a seminary,' he replied.

'Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I've got a really great story for you.' And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, 'Great .. Just what I need ...another preacher story!'

The man started, 'See that mountain over there? (pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's your daddy?'

He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad. 'When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question,
'Who's your daddy?'

But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast that he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, 'Son, who's your daddy?'

The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

'This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy.. 'Wait a minute! I know who you are! I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.'

With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'

'With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a Child of God.''

The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, 'Isn't
that a great story?'

The professor responded that it really was a great story!

As the man turned to leave, he said, 'You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!' And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over & asked her, 'Do you know who that man was -- the one who just left that was sitting at our table?'

The waitress grinned and said, 'Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!'

Someone in your life today needs a reminder that they're one of God's children!

'The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands forever.' ~~Isaiah

Fresh breezes and of course Kansas wind was the air conditioning that you needed. Need not 'dress up'. Pair of shorts, ole house dress, pair of jeans, nothing fancy. And, best of all, the kiddies could always be dressed in their pajamas because if the movie happened to last a little longer then anticipated, or if they had had a hard day of fun or playing, they would get tired and cranky, the simple solution was to just go to sleep and when the movie was over, and you reached home, daddy could carry them into their beds, without much fuss or bother! What a fun time.

Drive-ins used to be found across the entire nation, opening first in 1933, and admission fee then was 25 cents a person. Wow, what a bargain, compared to todays prices for admission to see a movie! Like most things of this nature, when they first opened, they went like gangbusters, but now they are on the endangered list. As a matter of fact, I would be interested in knowing where some are still in operation.

I can recall going to the drive in. Can you? Remember how a whole gang of we kids would make plans to go to the movie together. We would get there just a little before dark to find the right parking place. Looking for a place where a breeze would provide some relief from a scorching day of heat. Pull the car up on the little rise, put the car in park position so it would not roll out of position. Take the speaker from its stand, put it on the rear window, normally, depending on how many people were in the car, then putting the seat back as far as it would go, feet up on the front dash, and you were ready for a fun evening. Maybe you had your first date at the drive in. Maybe your first kiss...........now, of course, that depends on what age you are!!!!! But it was a fun evening, always. I cannot, for the life of me, ever remember when I did not enjoy an evening at that theatre!

The drive ins usually had a 40x50 screen with the sound provided by the loudspeaker system, invented by RCA called directional sound. With that invention, people in the back row could hear just as well as people parked in the very first row. It was usually promoted as a family theatre, and it was usually that, because the whole family went together. And, if it got too hot in the car, a blanket was always available so you could sit or lie on the ground and be out where a breeze could offer some cooling comfort. Later, of course, the seperate speakers became more popular as people could then control the volume to their own specific likes or dislikes.

I remember hot dogs as selling for 50 cents. Drinks a quarter, but as a rule these were special treats because we popped our own popcorn and took it with us. I remember best the cartoons. The movie always started first with world events, then cartoons before the main feature. Just before the main feature, a special showing of future and upcoming movies was shown, and this was the time you made that quick trip to ' you know where' so you could be back to the car before the main feature started, especially if you had children with you.

Oh how I wish I could remember some of the names of the movies but for the life of me, nothing in particular comes to mind at the moment. But, even tho I cannot recall the names of the movies, I remember the fun times we had there. While dating, then later when we were first married. It closed shortly after that, however.

Even tho the drive-ins were gold mines for a time, television arrived on the scene, and families began watching flicks on the tiny screen at home rather then heading for the drive-in or, to the movie palace, for that matter. Twin drive-ins replaced single ones in hopes of recovering the watching public and this opened the door to the younger generation for a time, especially on weekends, but then too, that was overtaken by time and modern technology until, as it is now, the drive-ins became a thing of the past. Extinct. Drive in theatres all across the nation will soon be just a memory!

But, in the meantime, when you come to our fair city, be sure to check out the marquee that is still standing on the south side of Highway 40, as a staunch reminder, that yes, we used to have a drive-in theatre. It's glow is no longer there. The lights are all broken, the colors faded. But, a glance still brings back memories of fun times. And remind me to have my camera with me next time and hopefully the grass will not be so tall, and I will be able to walk into the pasture and get a picture with a digital camera and send those of you who would like a picture as a reminder of the fun times that you used to share with family and friends at 'the drive-in'.

"Those were the days".............remember who sings that occasionally in a rerun of a once popular TV show that airs now and then??? Why, none other then Edith and Archie Bunker. By-gone days of yesterday, when things were simple, real, authenic and would you say better? Yes, those were the days!

Simple challenge this week:

'Remember, what matters in life is how you are remembered by WHOM and for WHAT!'

I can still go 'home' and that I did last weekend. I went back to my old 'stomping grounds' as Dad used to call this neat little rural setting that was my home until I graduated from the eighth grade. It was home. It was a town that you could engage in a lengthy conversation with a wrong telephone number, cause nine times out of ten, it was probably someone you went to church with on Sunday morning anyway. It was, and still is, a place that you could name more then one person who has hit a deer while driving (my son-in-law included). It is the type of place that a vacation means probably going south on 281 for the weekend, maybe as far as Oklahoma! Yippee!!

'The house that raised us', though is in such ill-repair, and so much in need of love and caring from a dear family, is still standing. My heart cries out when I drive by for it holds many precious memories. Memories of my brother going off to the war shortly after graduation from high school, and Mother hanging a white flag, bordered in red, with a blue star in the middle until he returned home from the Pacific over three years later, and where we said a prayer each night before we went to bed, praying for his safe return. It holds memories of anxiety for 'the first day of school each year', anticipating what new students would be there. It holds memories of many Christmas eve's, when we went to church for the Christmas eve services, and with the eagerness that only a child can have, knowing that Santa Claus would come while we were in church, but wondering why in the world mom always took so long getting to the car when we were sitting there waiting and waiting, and just knowing we were going to be late for the services. It holds the memories of the 'first date', the special occasions like Confirmation, graduations, weddings of friends and family. All these memories are tucked away into each nook and cranny of this 2-story home still commanding its corner of the block on Main Street. Yes, it was 'home', still is, will always be!

But you know, if and when and if the home is dismantled, or however it reaches its demise, I want to be absent! Losing the place where so many memories have been made would be just too hard! But, I'm not going to give up hope. Maybe there is a family out there yet that can have the foresight to see what this home 'has been'. 'Has beens' can have make overs. We can keep hoping!

As we drove through the streets, familiar sights and events were recalled. The house where the blind lady lived and was our telephone operator and all we did was go to the phone on the wall, take the receiver from its hook, and turn the little crank on the side of the phone, and she would answer 'hello' and we would tell her who we wanted to talk to, and she would ring them for us.

There was the home where one of my favorite people lived. My school teacher. From grades three through eighth. I remember one time she was sick with the flu, and so my classmate and I went by with soup that mother had cooked for her after school, and she asked us to bring in some wood for her wood stove, and so we went to the wood pile along side her garage and each carried in an armload of wood to last her through the night. Being unfamiliar with wood stoves, as we had a heating stove that burned fuel, I was extremely curious as to how it worked, and when I arrived home and told mother about it, she told us not to worry, they would make sure she kept warm, and they did. She called a neighbor and between the two families, they made sure she was warm, because it was winter and very cold, and had food.

Then there was the hotel (which is now a restaurant). Yes, they had rooms upstairs that they rented out, though quite infrequently but the main thing that this was the gathering place on Saturday night, and all during the week when we had an extra nickel that was burning a hole in our pocket and we would have to run 'up to Ben's' for an ice cream cone or a bottle of pop, of course in a glass bottle. It had those tall wooden booths that we loved to gather in after the show on Saturday night, share a five cent back of Planters Peanuts with a friend, and maybe even a bottle of pop, after all, that cost ten cents!

And, then on the vacant corner lot, several doors north of the church, was the place where we were exposed to our first 'theatre'. We brought our blankets, maybe some popcorn, and would sit on the ground and watch those old cowboy movies on a big screen and think we had everything in the world we ever wanted. That was our Saturday night entertainment! I don't recall ever having to worry about mosquitos! How is that?????

This tiny community, in spite of all it had endured through the years, has a booming, admirable spirit! And, the church is a prime example of this wonderful nature, and above all, an inspiration to those who, at one time or another, were a part of this tiny metropolis.

Each year, though the average attendance of the church is probably less then fifty members on a given Sunday morning, the ladies of the congregation bake their favorite pies (and they are delicious) or cake, a couple freezers of home made ice cream, and they offer an Ice Cream Social to all the surrounding communities! I look forward to that yearly event! I plan to attend every one that I can! Why????? Well, for one reason, it is the people! They greet you with open arms. They have great big smiles on their faces. They see people that they possibly see just that one time each year. The 'they' include me. Each year I look forward, with sincere eagerness, to see 'old faces', renew old acquaintenances, but I am open to meeting new people as well, and each year there are new people.

Though the congregation does not seem to be gaining in membership and they have had to change activities that they have enjoyed doing in the past,....... like dinners on the first day of pheasant season for the hunters......... due to reduced number of women in the congregation available to help, their spirit continues to be a blessing to one another, to the community, in one way or another. If I had to make a guess as to the continued success of these people, I would say it is in the hidden strength they have that comes from knowing where their home is!

Life is a journey, not just a guided tour. We all have a place we call 'home'. Big or small, in towns or in the country. But even though the happiest people in the world don't necessarily have the best of everything----they make the most of everything that comes their way,......... and one way is to retain precious, precious memories. Would you agree that possibly it is better to count the memories instead of the years??

So, to those people in that 'never to be forgotten community'
and ...... until next year, may I offer this challenge?:

Challenge of the Week:

'Good friends are like the stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are always there!'

In my challenge last week I forwarded pictures of the new windmills that have appeared on the horizon of the Kansas plains of late and this came about as a result of various articles I have been reading in local newspapers, listening to people discuss the pros and cons of this 'new invention', combined with my own personal observation of this project, which possibly is being brought into limelight position, more out of necessity than we might realize.

"Necessity is the mother of invention". Agree?

Stop and think for a moment, I believe we could be very honest in admitting to the fact that there is not a day that passes that we do not fail to put that statement into play.

Little things like not having a Q-tip when you need one. What do you do???????........., well if push comes to shove, you put a little cotton on the end of a match stick or a toothpick, and complete the job you had started to do originally.......... Or discover that the usual bottle of cleaning product you always use to clean the kitchen cupboards is empty. Well, improvise. Mix your own solution of a little clorox, a little dishwashing liquid soap, fill the bottle with tap water, and voila........you have just what you need!

If we admitted to the truth, we are a 'spoiled' generation. Truly spoiled. Our parents were not raised in this way. No air conditioning to keep us cool all summer.........if we were lucky enough to have electricity, we might have a fan. Woodburning stoves in the winter did the job. So, what is happening? We are being told day in and day out that utility costs are rising and will continue to do so. So, improvise. Make use of what we have. What is here now. What is available. And, we are reverting back to 'the good old days'. More and more ceiling fans are playing a major part in homes and businesses. Even yesterday, with a phone conversation with a friend, she noted that they were installing a woodburner because of the rising costs of energy, so we see more of those being used.

Enter here...........WIND POWER!

We are being told that wind turbine systems are one of the more cost effective forms of generating electricity from a renewable energy source........if you have the right site...........

We must have at least 1/2 acre of land with wind averaging 10 MPH or higher which will establish a good candidacy for wind turbine installation. Combine this with electric solar systems and you have a definite winner! And KANSAS is at the top of the list of winners in this department. Looking at my last electric bill from the City which is sitting on my desk awaiting payment by the 5th of each new month, I am convinced that something needs to be done and with the daily newspapers screaming of upwards of 13% increase this coming winter, I am really convinced!

Enter here, the pros and cons! Those living near the wind turbine units complain of the whoosh, whoosh, whoosh sound of the wind turbines. The one thing they fail to complain about is what they are being paid for each of those turbines installed on their land. One newspaper item stated a minimum of $6,000.00 a year for each turbine in place, a minimum, and upwards to $10,000.00 in other places. If 2 wind turbines can be placed on one acre, think what owning even something as small as ten acres can net you for a yearly income, and you do nothing, other than listen to the whoosh, or swhoosh, or whatever.

Is this something new??? Wind machines were used for grinding grain in Persia dating back as early as 200 BC! And, can you remember in the 1940's, when American windmill makers were producing 100,000 farm windmills each year, mostly for water pumping. Remenants of them are still on the horizons today. One can still see wind mills doting the landscape as we drive down many a country road. Some in operation, some standing as a ghostly reminder of the days that they were used. So, NO, it is not new. Instead, the new 'wind mills' we see today run from as small as 3 feet to as tall as 22 feet with these sizes used just for consumption by home or small businesses. The larger ones are 3 bladed and can be as tall as 300 feet. These are the ones which are producing the millions and millions of dollar projects which is being questioned.

But, OK, why not harness the amenities with which we have been blessed? Here come the complainers. True, they can be seen for miles and miles, but at night when they are lighted, they are quit attractive.........True, a bird now and then will fly into one of the units. But, what else could have been the fate of that bird that day? With the daily consumption of oil, gas screaming headlines of doom each day, we need to make some changes. Either we cut out consumption uses (dream on), OR we make changes.

Many of you living in this area, and for many others as they travel the beautiful I-70 highway which expands from coast to coast, have experienced the sight of these turbines near the Ellsworth, Kansas exits on this major crossroad. And, being the people watcher that I am, each time I pass them by, I am amazed to watch the other people as they come from the west, starting to leave the flat plains of eastern Colorado and western Kansas, make a small turn up a little grade, and there, with the blades slowly turning, you catch your first glimpse of this new project! They are awesome. Even more interesting is to see how the people.......yes they can, slow down even tho they are not doing it to save on gas consumption.............slow down and you see their heads continually glancing to their left and you see animation of the other passengers as well and can only imagine the conversation amongst them. Then, the same occurs as you travel from east to west. Since I do little traveling at night, I have not seen them lighted, but have been told that it is quite impressionable!

Our ancestors used the windmills for electricity and generator production. They used them to water the cattle and other farm stock. They used them to produce water for their own consumption. They used them to water their gardens to produce food for the winter months. Windmills are like a diamond in our own back yard. Priceless, valuable, and yes, can even be beautiful!

Using an old Chinese saying for my challenge, I will let the pros and cons of todays modern windmill in your own personal hands, but think about it..............

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

'When someone shares something with you of value, YOU have an obligation to share it with OTHERS'.

Have a good 'un. Nadene

HOWEVER, with time and acquired knowledge of the real world, I soon changed my point of view for I was soon to learn that sometimes hurdles you face derail you from the path you had planned to be on.

Cite for instance, just yesterday, upon arriving at the local hospital to do my physical therapy for my knee, a man, known in this area as a successful, professional businesman for many years, parked his vehicle beside me, and as we both got out of our cars, he reached in his backseat, took out his walker and proceeded to walk with me into the facility. Striking up a conversation, I proceeded to inquire as to his health. And, I loved his reply. It went like this.............'you know, Nadene, Had i known just a mere 50 years ago what I would be experiencing today, I certainly would have done things a whole lot different!'
Needless to say, then we both laughed. However, I knew he had a lovely family, a well paid profession so his family was not denied, he is a grandfather, still enjoys playing cards and snooker and enjoying life, goes to church faithfully. Feast and/or famine?

It is said that insight can help you handle whatever life throws your way and I sincerely believe that.

Hey, who would have thought, yes, 'back then', you would be doing what you are doing today? Remembering when the children were small. The worries about health and making ends meet, but the joy of listening to them say their nightly prayers when being tucked into bed, the pride they gave you when their accomplishments were pleasing to both them and you. Feast and/or famine?

True, everyone had to have a car. After all, with one commuting a distance to college, the other in high school, both parents needing a vehicle for business purposes of course the garage was filled with vehicles as well as the driveways, if not with your own vehicles, then with friends and families visiting. Now, down to one car. House is quiet. Everyone is gone, into a world of their own making. Feast and/or famine?

Then, along came the grandchildren. What bliss! Hours and schedules had to be adhered to, toys again were scattered hither and yonder, beds filled once again. But then what happened?? They started to school, then high school and then off to college. And, as happens in most scenerios, the empty nest syndrome then becomes most evident even to your own children. Feast and/or famine?

Just this past week I led the lesson in church circle and guess what it was about? Naomi, Ruth and Oprah. This is truly one book of the bible, First Book of Ruth, you want to read to be given a true understanding of 'feast and/or famine'. The readings begin with 'famine' in Judah, to 'feast in Moab', then it is reversed once again and again....... But, in all of this, Naomi maintained a selfless attitude by encouraging her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab even tho it would mean hardship for her. So, if we follow her example, we too, must consider the needs of others and not just our own and thus, by doing just this, by acting in such a selfless manner, others are encouraged to follow our examples..........Not an easy task, for sure!

Consider the turmoil of our world today. Listening to all the conventions (thank goodness that is over for another 4 years), the mud-slinging, the back-stabbing, but also the good things brought to light for people who have actually made a contribution to this nation, I couldn't help but think, how in the world can the people of the whole world not understand that everyone, and I do not say that lightly.......everyone, has a 'skeleton in their closet'. Only ONE perfect person has ever walked this earth. I just wish the news media had a little sticker in and on every microphone they had that said, 'no one is perfect', think about themselves as well and let it go at that! You know, if that were the case, I might be encouraged to watch more of the news broadcasts than I currently engage in.

Consider, prayerfully, all the people being affected by the hurricanes! Fay, Hanna underway as I write, Ike and Josephine on the horizon! All the MILLIONS of people in harms way as a result of these weather patterns! Evacuated from their homes, living in motels, with friends and family, searching the net each day for any GOOD news about their homes and when it will be safe for them to return. Unless we are in their shoes, we can only wonder what thoughts and concerns they are experiencing minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week!

'Feast AND/OR Famine'???!!!!?????

This has not been an easy challenge for me to write this week. I wait each and every day to hear from my family in Florida. I pray for the welfare of all people suffering, whether it be from health or weather. Our prayer lists are all endless, am sure, so will you please join me in this.............the CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK?

TODAY I WILL DELETE FROM MY DIARY, 2 DAYS.
.......YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW.........
YESTERDAY WAS TO LEARN......and TOMORROW WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT I CAN DO TODAY.

Have a good 'un..........and God Bless......and keep those prayers coming........Nadene

This morning, trying to think of a subject that would be appropriate for this weeks challenge, I happened to be on the phone with my dear neighbor. She called and thanked me for the apple butter I had made for her..............but taking a backstep here.........she brought me the apples so that I could make the apple butter. Isn't she a sweet neighbor?

I love making apple butter. My favorite receipe came from another friend who now resides in Oklahoma so lots of love goes into that crock pot as it bubbles away, hour after hour, filling my kitchen, my whole house with a smell of mixed spices which include lots and lots of cinnamon, a little nutmeg and of course, vanilla at the very end. This year, as I made it, I was thinking of my family members and how they like it. A granddaughter in college who will be getting a pint or two in her Christmas basket, and other family members as well. Pleasant thoughts that elevate the love that often times accompanies the cook stoves in our homes!

I love eating apple butter. Great on toast, on waffles, on pancakes and someone told me they even put theirs on ice cream!!! Where ever, or when ever, it is good!

But apple butter was not really our main subject of conversation, it was related to the sadness that our country is undergoing. All the storms, Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, sickness, pending election of high ranking leaders of our great US of A! Through all the adverseries our family members, friends are enduring we need to always remember that attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. A difference in how we perceive our current condition. Not always easy, and as mom used to say, 'I have a heavy heart.' When we heard her say this, we knew that in her own special way, she was sending out her own special prayer chain for those who were undergoing stressful times in their lives! She did not have to say, 'I just said a prayer', we knew it! We knew she had grave concerns about conditions over which she had no control, or anyone for that matter, expect ONE! And, she focused her point in that direction!

As I write, in the background, I can hear my TV blaring with news of the hurricane IKE which has hit Texas and the Gulf Coast area. I think about great-nephews, sister-in-law and her family, friends and relatives of my friends who reside in the areas undergoing such devastation at this time. Their cares and concerns all come into quick view!

We are remembering the people in all those states, also the ones in Florida who are still not able to be in their homes after being hit by another hurricane several weeks ago. They stand, watching in horror, as lives are taken, wind and water destroy their homes, taking away their life's savings, their health is burdened by all the stress added to normal everyday living scenerios.

I look out my front door each and every day and see fields of milo that the farmer cannot get into to harvest because of the over abundance of rain which even Kansas is experiencing. The fields that lay in wait for the farmer to bring in his drill to plant wheat for the upcoming harvest of next year is off in the distance. We hear the news reports of flooding even on the normally dry plains of Kansas.

'Heavy hearts'. Lots of heavy hearts. Through all of this, I can only follow the wonderful example that my mother taught me and I am doing just that. Won't you join me?

Challenge of the Week:

"Work on todays problems only...........no one is strong enough to carry the burdens of yesterday, today and tomorrow........"

God Bless All..........Nadene

Websters new dictionary explains a reader as "one who reads......one who reads aloud prayers....lectures....one who corrects for the press."

Reading that definition, I had to agree this was quite applicable to my particular situation for, in spite of the fact that my eyesight is far from being in the best of shape these days, I continue to love to read. And read I do. I read aloud prayers. Every morning. As for one correcting the press, well, have to think a bit about that one. I started at the grade school level of writing local news articles for one of the local news papers. My salary,...... my parents received the subscription to the paper free for a year. I wrote many a real estate ad. I wrote article after article about all the Christmas activities in our community being involved in the projects that promoted this annual event. Habitat for Humanity played a big part in our lives for many years and I enjoyed doing articles for them. So, guess Webster put a good definition on my life style.

But, I do not like to stop with just reading as I fill journal after journal of events that happen to me, daily, monthly, yearly and when later, I happen across some of these articles and start to reread them, to refresh my memory of past events, all I can say is I find I have had a blast during my lifetime and I am so thankful that I have taken the time to record some of those special events which otherwise would have 'gone by the wayside'.

Just this evening was no exception for I happened across a Daily Guideposts for the year 1998, having received it as a gift from one of my siblings, and as I happened to be leafing quickly through it, soon one of the pages caught my eye. It was for the end of the month of September for that year. The title read, 'My Healing Journey". All of a sudden, everything came to a halt! This was back in 1998, right? But, as I read through the postings which I had done, noted the underlined quotes that must have been a comfort to me on particular days, moments of joy, memories were relived. Helped wash away any and all little doubts of joy that seemed to keep popping up during this day and trying to squelch happy moments which I should have been enjoying as well as appreciating!

Under that "Healing Journey", I found the entry saying that 'September was a fun month'. Here came the prayer to say aloud...'Lord, help me not to make life more difficult than it really is'.

And Grandparents Day for the month was underlined. Of course, a special day during even month of September. A time when grandchildren can remember those 'grannies' and 'paapaas' that mean so much to them. My notes said that Grandparents day all 4 loving grandchildren called, and one 6 year old grandson called and invited me to come for dinner after church! This opened the door to this prayer...."Lord, You may give me a lot to work with, or a little, but always help me to give every bit of myself in whatever I say and do".

Entries following disclosed being in a car with the whole family, listening to their chatter, watching and being a part of their hectic schedules and wondering just how in the world they manage to accomplish all they do, forgetting their youth, aware only of my aches and pains and recognizable limitations. I could utter the same identical prayer I had done in the previous paragraph!

The next entry brought an even broader memorable smile to my face as I read............'A delight to hear a share in a Sunday School class headed by my son and hearing the words later by my only son-in-law when he said, 'we bought the van for you, ma', when selfishly I had grunched about having to 'crawl up' into the van earlier, when they had come by with the big white new van, sharing the latest purchase with me. Shame on me. "God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated".

Some of my favorite readings are by Norman Vincent Peal and I love his rules for a perfect day, they can't be beat! Let me share them with you as my challenge of the week, but may I remind you in advance, they are not always the easiest thing to follow, ask me, I know!

"Challenge of the Week:"

'Rules for a Perfect Day'

l. Try to strengthen your mind by reading something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

2. Try to do somebody a good turn and not get found out.

3. Try to do a task that needs to be done, but which you have been putting off.

4. Try to go for one full day without finding fault in anything.

5. Try to have a quiet half-hour by yourself. Think of God, read the Bible; you'll get a little more perspective in your life.

And the beautiful ending..........'And, finally, don't be afraid to be happy; enjoy what is beautiful; believe that those you love............LOVE YOU!

Ah, let the optimism flow forth, ditch the pessimism! There is such a thing as perfect love!!!!

"Perfect love does not come until the first grandchild".

Now, do you agree?

Maybe it is one of those age things, again.......ahem, but it seems that this past year I seem to be initiated more and more into the realm and, yes, joy, in sharing with second generation extensions, both in family and friends! First comes the note...........'We are going to be grandparents'.........then after a few months, notice of the birth, followed by those gorgeous pictures of tiny little girls or boys all swathed in pretty pink and blue blankets, warm little cap pulled down over their brows, and most seem to be fast asleep, content to let the world go by as they dream along in la la land! The wonders of the net make this sharing all possible. It is great!

With one niece having to travel nearly half a continent to see her new granddaughter, I understand her anxiety for half of my grandchildren are in the same category. I would like to share with them every day, to be a part of all their sporting events, sharing in the honors they receive at school, just spend time shopping, sitting at the dining room table playing a game of 'Kings on the Corner' or any game board, for that matter, but as it is, my availability in those areas are limited because of the miles separating families and I regret that fact. My reasoning, I believe, for this reaction is just this simple. I never had a grandparent to share with. My one and only grandparent, passed away within 3 months of my birth. I missed out on this joy, this perfect love and being able to share important events with 'grandma or grandpa'. How I envied my friends when they were excited beyond excitement because "Grandma was coming", or "We are going to Grandmas and Grandpas for Christmas", or "I got this from Grandma for my birthday". None of that. So, years and years ago, I vowed, that if and when, I would ever be blessed with the joys of 'grandparenting', I would give it my all! That's why I think that having a Grandparent Sunday in October is so great! Nobody, and I do not say that literally, but NOBODY can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of their grandchildren. Grandparents are just duplicate moms and dads, but with more frosting on the top.

It's true.......for the most part.........that when grandparents enter the door, dicipline flies out the window. Oh, not all the time, believe you me, I am too staunch a German for that, but I have been known to 'give' a little now and then. For instance, the parents thought a night at the movies would be good, give Granny a little evening alone with the grandkids. Well, that was great with me. And, Granny has this bean bag, takes up lots of room in the spare bedroom and I have been tempted several times to give it a toss to make more room, but then up comes all these little memories of the grandkids and how they enjoy this big blue blob, and I give the 'thought' a toss instead. But, anyway, getting back to the evening of fun, when the parents walked in the door they were greeted by their siblings, all dressed and ready for bed in their pj's,.....I had complied there..... but happily jumping from the seat of the divan onto the bouncy bean bag, and having a blast. Of course mom and dad had something to say about that, 'Why mom, look at what they are doing, you wouldn't even let us bounce on our beds by jumping up and down on it when we were little'. True. But that was then, this is NOW! Grandparents-grandchildren relationships are simple! Grandparents are short on criticism and long on love. That is the way it should be.

I was given a little saying that I have framed, right beside the comfy chair in which I spend a lot of time, which says, 'Grandmothers are just antique little girls'. That's true. So true. What is also true is how amazing you find the fact that grandparents seem quite young once you become one. Sometimes, though, I have the feeling that my grandchildren believe I'm the oldest thing in the world, and sometimes, after about 2 or 3 hours of trying to keep up with them, I find myself believing that also. Example, several summers ago, I accompanied the precious ones to the Kansas City zoo, now that is a big one. I knew full well, upon arrival,...... as my knee was killing me,....... that there was no way that I would be able to keep up with the family, walking mile after mile, up hill and down hill, so I elected to stay in the bookstore. Well, the kiddos would not hear of that at all, so, ok, Granny rented a little electric cart. We had a blast! Sure I kept up with them, even got ahead of them now and then, but the fun part of it all was, about half way thru the afternoon, occasionally my little cart would go into a slower mode as I felt the arms of one of my grandbabies wrap around my waist as they hopped on the back for a little ride.....they were getting tired too, and the reprieve of a little ride on the back of grannies cart felt good to their legs and knees. Felt good to me, also!

Remember what a bargain grandchildren are...........we give them love, and possibly some 'loose' change now and then, but in return, we receive millions and millions of dollars worth of pleasure as well as 'perfect love' in every which way.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"Never forget that GRANDCHILDREN are God's way of compensating us for growing old".

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

Just when I was at my wits end trying to decide what I should chose for my challenge of the week, along comes the neatest thing from a 'sister cuz' of mine, giving me just the setting that I needed to fill in the gaps because, just minutes prior to receiving that transmittal, I had been 'moved' by a newspaper picture which I had just seen!

Upon opening our local county news, turning to the Community section, there were several pictured pages (in full color) of local grade and high students at their first day of school and the one that caught my eye and brought back even more fond memories of my very own school days....was the one entitled, 'Patriotic Tradition'!

Now, my cuz's transmittal dealt with Red Skeleton. Remember him? Excellant entertainer in his time! His presentation was entitled 'Patriotic Pledge'. Most appropriate, as well, for this week is Labor Day weekend!

I have to agree with Mr. Skeletons point of view. I was raised to be patriotic. My father chose this country to be his home. He was proud of it. He was proud to be US citizen and he raised his family to be that way.......and I still am.

When I started to school, the very first thing we were taught, the first day of school, was to go to our desks. The teacher would close the door to our room, walk to her desk at the front of the room, turn and faced the American Flag, and we automatically rose from our desks, stood beside them, placed our hands over our hearts and all resoundedly said the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag in unison! That started each day of school for all eight grades of my grade school years! I have never forgotten that......I never will!

And today, bless the photographers heart, that picture in our local paper included in the photos was a picture taken of our school children here in town that makes every citizen that reads this paper...... proud to be an American! As one friend expressed to me via phone earlier this evening.......'that picture of the children,' standing at attention, beside their teacher, all eyes ahead to the flag, 'should have been on the FRONT page of the paper'.

To me, as I viewed that photo, seeing the attentive faces of those students, the proud uplifted face of the third-grade teacher which appeared to bringing the school-wide assembly proudly 'together' for announcements and recognitions by opening the session with this traditional display of patriotism, was a near tear jerker!

I was taught that during the Pledge of Allegiance one stood at attention, all eyes directed to the flag, hand over heart (service men stand at salute or attention)........and when the National Anthem starts to play, you immediately rise to your feed and remain standing until the song is completed and in addition to this, when the US flag is carried past one, say in a parade or a ceremony, again the hand is placed over ones heart, and silence follows!

This, as I said earlier, being Labor Day weekend is a holiday! Traditionally meant to be the beginning of a new school year......and tho that tradition was altered for many years, am happy to say that our local school personnel have finally resorted to the original plans of our school administration and have changed the school starting day this year to a much closer conformity to the original plannings. With the warm weather we experience in this part of the country, and lack of air conditioning in many school classrooms, this is a wise decision!

With emphasis being placed on rest and relaxation and the end of summer activities, celebrations vary far and wide as to how families chose to share this special weekend!

In the Fashion world, Labor Day has become a point of demarcation between summer styles and fall fashions and this led to longstanding problems against wearing 'white' after Labor Day, but in reality, fashion etiquette was originally prohibiting the wearing of white shoes after Labor Day whereas white or 'winter white' clothing was totally acceptable. Thank goodness that is changed. Now, as for me, even tho I have strong inhibitions about the traditions involving the flag of our country, and the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, I have to admit, I am a trifle 'lax' on the fashion part of Labor Day.

So, I still might be wearing my white Berkies on Tuesday or Wednesday of even next weekend, I may start to 'let up' on the white tops and slacks and start about thinking of putting them to the back of the closet until next spring. But hey, I have read that wearing white AFTER Labor Day is now considered ....bold........daring.........and even innovative!!! What do you think about that, gals??

Remember, if you don't stand for 'something', you might just 'fall' for everything!

However you decide to celebrate this Labor Day weekend......maybe it is a family outing, a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's home, a barbecue, homemade ice cream and chocolate cake, or maybe you elect to just spend the entire weekend doing nothing more then what the day was intended......RELAX........but......what ever you do, remember that the day was created for ALL to enjoy!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

"Somebody is out there smiling because of something 'U' said ............or something 'U' did!"