The Three Minute Grandparent

Musically speaking, a Fermata is a Pause. A prolonging of the measure value of a note or rest, dependent upon the taste of the performer: indicated by a sign placed over or under the note, rest or chord. Merriam-Webster defines a pause as: a temporary stop : a period of time in which something is stopped before it is started again, or a control that you use when you want to stop a recorded song, movie, etc., for a short time. The pause in music is a very useful tool for musicians in that it offers variation in movement and intensity. It gives respite to a certain character or mood of music established by it rhythm, dynamic level or harmonic structure. It also provides opportunity for new and exciting entrances to subsequent passages. In our lives, both physical and spiritual, there are times when we must pause and evaluate our relationship with The Lord, our ministry and its effectiveness, our relationship with those surrounding us and basically the way ...

Traveling is long, exhausting work, especially when the days or miles are over 500.  Our drive to Abilene began around 9:00 AM and concluded 12 hours later.  Stops at rest areas, McDonald's, and Gas fill-up times stretched a normal ride into an abnormally long day. Sage brush, oil wells, wind power fields and few cars blended into an interesting day that became even more interesting as we searched for roads.  Google maps and the trusty paper map both took us through some narrow and seldom traveled by-ways. The arrival into Abilene was greeted with family hugs and sitting with grandsons..well worth the long day.  The rest of Day 2 and all of day 3 were spent in Abilene playing with grandsons. All in all, a great time. Oh, and we enjoyed our daughter and Son-in-Law, two of the finest people these grandparents know. More to come on Day 4 with a drive to Birmingham and visit with youngest sister and her husband.  Stay tuned.

Driving long distances and age generally do not go together well...combine this with a short night and we were rather stiff as we began the second day.  In all fairness, we had a wonderful evening meal with friends of our youngest daughter, then breakfast with another set of her friends. Meeting and eating with new friends was a great way to end and begin a day. Our drive began around 9:00 AM.  Grandpa drove through the morning hours while Grandma slept, a pattern which worked throughout the trip. Leaving Colorado Springs took us South down I-15 through high passes, around mountains and finally leveling out to North Easter New Mexico flat desert land. Hunger finally forced us to stop at.....a snake kingdom?  That's right.  The only spot to stop for a break greeted us with this sign. The New Mexico break area was a portion of the desert with a black top/pavement and nothing could persuade Grandma to eat in one of the picnic shelters.  Yes....we picnicked on the ...

First days of a trip are exciting: getting up early, finally packing the car, and actually getting underway!  Grandpa awoke at 3:30 and finally got Grandma up at 4:00 AM...or the middle of the night as she calls it.  Bags were already packed so loading the car was easy.  We had jackets on for the cool Montana morning, also the car heat was blasting. A blanket was wrapped around you know who and I drove. The town was dark and quiet as we drove to the interstate, mists were rising from the river and everyone else was probably asleep. First stop was 2 hrs later in one of Montana's finest rest areas off of I-90.  Still cool, still had jackets, and sun was barely up...yes, we were making time.  The long drive across Eastern Montana to Northern Wyoming was actually underway. 900 miles is a long time to drive but the two of us had time to talk, share and enjoy God's lovely scenery.  If you hear someone say, "There is nothing in Wyoming," they are not completely ...

We're going on an adventure.  You heard Bilbo say it in the second Hobbit installment. Adventures are, well....FUN!  They can also be dangerous.  You never know what you will find as you drive down a road.  We recently drove over 6000 miles and saw lots and lots of family.  Our adventure was long, tedious, tiring, expensive...and FUN.  We spent many nights with family and friends after hours of driving each day.  Was it worth it? YES and again, YES! More coming on the Great adventure in future blogs. Stay Tuned!

I want.   I must have.   Just gotta’ get that!   I can’t live without that. Do you hear yourself?  Have you expressed a similar sentiment recently? I hear this Grandpa in these phrases.  Before thinking through an issue or perceived need, one of these phrases tumbles out of my mouth and I have fallen into the trap of the immediate.  I find that I am not willing to wait, and I want it…NOW. But those who trust (wait) in the   Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31 (HCSB) What a wonderful verse for the consistently impatient.  This verse speaks volumes to me when I grow impatient.  The word for wait is more of trusting over the long haul, looking to God for all of our needs and the divine patience to know that God has our best interests at heart.  God loves me; why would he not want the very best for me?  So, ca...

Snowy days are fun.  22 degrees below zero is fun once in a while. Multiple days of below zero weather tend to be depressing and get just plain tiring after a while!  We have experienced the below zero weather on multiple occasions at this Grandparent's home, and it is now tiring!  Thanks to Ezra Jack Keats ,  the author of  The Snowy Day ,   a favorite book of our children, we have a wonderful picture of snow from a child's eye.  With mountains of snow to surf down, climb and tumble in, every child dreams of days of play in the white, powdery stuff.  Who doesn't want to climb the highest hill and coast down on a layer of snow? Not meaning to burst your romantic view of snow, however...the stuff is   COLD . After countless hours and years of clearing cars of snow, slipping on ice, shoveling walking paths, and tromping through feet of snow just to pick up some milk at Safeway, I must say...I still like snow. Yes, I am a romantic wh...

Moses was an old man by 21st century standards when he received the call from God to lead a nation of people out of slavery and into the Promised Land.  Exodus 3-4 is the Biblical account of Moses' call by God at the burning bush and his subsequent ascension into the leadership position and savior to over a million Hebrew people.  As I reread the account in Exodus, I was struck by the fact that Moses tried 3 tactics trying to persuade God to send someone else, He said: I'm not believable, I'm not a good speaker, and I really don't want to do this.  God had an answer for each of his positions: I will make you believable with signs and wonders, I will speak through you, and I will send your brother with you as a helper.  Moses eventually listened to God and became the leader he was meant to be. This is such a familiar story to many people and as a child and young adult, I felt that Moses should have jumped at the opportunity to be God's Man, after all, God was ...

Party Mix - the very name makes your mouth start watering.  Visions of nuts, cereal, pretzels and flavorings set off a hunger that can be satisfied only with a bowlful of Party Mix. The name sounds like a houseful of happy people celebrating something wonderful, perhaps a favorite winning football team. This is the second batch of Party Mix that began with a trip to WalMart and shopping for all of the correct ingredients.  Buying the "Named brand" will gave a formula touted as the "Original" Chex Mix.  While doing a google search, I found several original mix recipes, including one for Cats!  Can you imagine making Chex Mix for Cats? The Chex Mix is now in the oven and smelling wonderful all over the house.  Should you make it over to our home in the next few days, we will offer you some fresh Party Mix, after we send some to the youngest daughter overseas.  Come quickly, it won't last long.

The new schedule has begun at work and I like it!  Start time is 5:45 AM, yes I did say AM.  Breakfast is around 4:20 AM and leaving quickly thereafter.  Having worked all of 3 days, I am discovering some things: a light breakfast is best then eat a little more later on, and breaks are perfect for light snacks.  So...here it comes; First break is more like Sevenses, Meal break or lunch as it is called is more like Ten-ses and Second break is Twelveses. Perhaps you are wondering what these sevenses and Ten-ses are all about.  Do you remember the first of the Hobbit movies, "The Fellowship of The Ring?" and Pippin asked Aragorn about 2nd breakfast and 11-zies (Meal breaks) and Aragorn threw him an apple.  I have become Hobbit-like in my work and break times.  First break, Ten-ses, Second break or Second Breakfast..and it works for me.  I am eating less and spreading it over more break times. One problem is developing, the hair is growing on m...