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 ...