Rain

Nina

 I sense people saying, “oh my, why would anyone Blog about Rain?” But I very well intend to Blog about Rain. Probably because of the effect it has on me. I have to give a little background, in order for this to make any sense.

I come from Oklahoma, where the Rain Storms get ferocious at times. It has been about 18 years since I have lived in Oklahoma. Both my husband and I are teachers. I am a Science Teacher and he is presently teaching Computers and Baby Sitting the Net for the High School. I do not work for a pay check. But he loves saying, I DO WORK, I JUST  DON'T BRING HOME A CHECK, BUT WE SHARE EVERYTHING HE MAKES. He loves allowing me time to 'Work at Home.' Which is great, because I love Music and get to play Music, a whole lot, the guitar, fiddle, banjo, piano, dulcimer and blues harp. And I love to write bunches about everything. I write this Blog, 4 Journals, I AM PRESENTLY WRITING 7 BOOKS. AND HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN 3. Plus I love sewing, knitting, cooking, cleaning, exercising and shopping.

But back to the Rain. Last night I woke up at 2, could not sleep so got up. The window was open and I leaned out of it and could vaguely hear Rain, pitter pattering on the Dry, Dusty, Parched Ground of the Desert. We had a Dust Storm on the same day. It was announcing a change in the Weather Pattern and boy, is Rain a change. But there it was. Too dark to see, but, oh I could hear it, if I tuned into the droplets.

Sweet drops of pure water! Now if anyone’s ever been affected by a dust storm, then you understand, how wonderful it is, to get that dust that lingers out of the air. There is nothing worse than a dust storm, and nothing more wonderful than rain, pitter pattering on the hard, caked dust of the desert. A real desert storm is indeed a magnificent animal. Dark, foreboding and unending, it blows and blows and blows dark furrows of dust everywhere. Even inside, you can taste the bitterness, of the dust in your mouth.

It’s hard not to think of death, at a time like this. For that is what our lives all end up, consisting of, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. Makes one quite humble, to realize, whoops, that’s our end state of being. What exactly did I think I had that I could be proud of. Then I realize, absolutely nothing, except what God has given me, even down to my gifts and talents. That is why, I dance in dust storms and ice storms and rain storms, with everything I got, to signify, I am still alive. I am told to give it everything I got. Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not to men. Col 3:23

A dust storm signifies the end to me. I’ve always hated them ugly things, and they smell awful and they are as dark as Night. The ending of whatever is happening to you, now. All stands still in an ‘ice storm’ and a 'horrid rain storm' and a‘dust storm.’ That is why I hate dust storms, They always quote that at funerals. But without an ending, there would never be, no new beginning over yonder, where our Spirit will be residing with Jesus, until our ashes and dust catch up with our Spirits. Yes, my friends, ashes and dust from here, the corruptible, become the new beginning over yonder, the incorruptible.

 For like in Ezekial, the dead bones come alive. Sinew is put back on the bones, ashes and dust become the new skin and walla, our new bodies are ready to meet our Spirit, when they are called, by the Creator to come forth. I always like to think, we are changed from the corruptible to the incorruptible, immediately if Jesus comes back before we die, so the old dust storms of our lives are left behind/a new beginning bursts forth. It’s kinda like throwing Spiritual Rain, on earthly dust here! Something mysterious happens.
   
    Rain signifies a NEW BEGINNING! For if you water the old dust, life springs forth to make new things grown. The seeds of hope, is what rain carries inside each tiny drop. And faith blossoms into flowers that we all love.
   
    How wonderful when rain, brings a cooling relief from a horrid heat. Makes one want to jump for Joy. How wonderful when crops begin to grow, because of the moisture, the rain brings, to loosen the hard clods of resistance, and give seeds a softened pathway, to find their way up out of the dust, into the light of life. How wonderful rain is. That is why I always loved the Oklahoma rainstorms. I would gaze out of the window and watch them, within the safety of our own house. I would look in the dark, rainy night and think, God was walking in the Garden of Eden, in the cool of the evening. My husband worked nights, and I was so afraid of the dark, till when THE DANCE came on the radio, I would dance with Daniel. Somehow dancing helped with fear. Brought me closer to God, anyways and so did the Garden of Eden. I SURELY MISS THOSE RAINSTORMS, THEY ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES HERE IN ARIZONA, EXCEPTING FOR THE ONE, THAT BROUGHT THOSE TORNADOES, IT POURED HERE, just like Oklahoma. BUT Tornadoes ARE RARE out here, AS I SAID BEFORE IN MY PREVIOUS BLOG. But one does not get too many rainstorms in Arizona.                       
    But fear can creep it’s ugly head, in amidst, the raindrops of Heavens Dew. Oklahoma is Tornado Alley. And I grew up with a fear, of the rain, for I knew what terrific devastation, it could bring with it. But one day, driving home from Oklahoma State University to Mannford, Oklahoma, I was alone, and it began to rain and I was not at home. For a moment in time, I wanted to run scared and I mean really scared! But I stopped my car along the edge of a pull off, and felt the rain hit my face, AND I EMBRACED THE RAIN, and I decided it was time for me to let go of the fear of rain AND TORNADOES. So I started dancing in the rain. Man did it ever feel good. So that is why I dance when it rains or blows up a dust storm. It is simply me saying, FEAR IS NOT GOING TO RULE MY LIFE. I AM GOING TO ENJOY, EACH AND EVERY MOMENT OF WHAT GOD GIVES ME, AND LIKE DAVID I’LL DANCE BEFORE THE LORD! AFTER ALL, HE SENDS BOTH THE RAINSTORMS, AND THE DUST STORMS. ALLS WE HAVE TO DO IS TRUST HIM, TO GIVE US WHAT IS BEST FOR US. SUBMIT!

    EVEN NOW IN ARIZONA, I HAVE LEARNED, NOT TO FEAR, THE DUST STORMS OF MY LIFE. And I drink for my infirmities. Just don’t get proud and say you don’t. DUST AND NIGHT AND DEATH, IS AS NATURAL, A PART OF LIFE AS ICE STORMS, RAIN AND TORNADOES, THEY ALL POINT TO GOD WITH AN AWESOME BEAT!  YES, IT IS SCARY, AND FEARFUL AND MAKES YOU WANT TO TREMBLE, WHICH NO ONE NEEDS TO LIVE WITH, BUT JESUS CAME TO TAKE OUR FEAR! REMEMBER THAT. SUBMIT!

                ‘so lets just dance.’ 

Privacy, Facebook & Miss Folks

It seems, the Older I get, the more I miss, People. I hate saying Goodby, but I wrote a Poem, saying, “If I were not going, I could not come you see. And I love arriving and saying, ‘HELLO.’
So I guess it’s just part of Life. Here's the Poems this reminds me of:

COMING
I've arrived with colors flying-With my wings tucked under from trying
To take off aloft-With the blowing of the winds

I've arrived and I'm not here-I've come up in the air so clear
I'm about to level out-With new wings about to sprout

I'll make it and I know it-As soon as I take up my landing gears
I don't want to make it easy-Or to assuage any fears

That I may harbor-From my very present years
Coming is really going-In reverse upon the tears

So I'll be a better person-Only and if

I leave it a better place-Than I have found it here

GOING
I'm going on to higher lofts-Up in the clouds so bare
I'll be a greater person there-Than ever I was here

Going is really coming-Or is coming here to be
For if you were not coming-I could not go you see

I hope without a doubt-That I am leaving every tear
I know I can't do one without-The other sowing sprigs of cheer

So when I close this door-And open that one over there
The tears I'll leave-The smiles I'll meet
I know without a doubt-That I am happy to be going

Or I could not be coming there

I guess I was deep in thought, at one point in my life.(now I laugh more) And I wrote, wrote and wrote, Poems, Songs, Books etc. These were just to alleviate my Need to Write so much. I use to write long letters, not so much anymore, I, Facebook, E-mail, Text, Phone and Blog now. I don’t care what, George says, about privacy in Facebook(in Ok) issue, I love Facebook and Farmville.

What Person is Private anymore, anyways? It’s just like living in a Small Town, if one person knows something about you, THEY ALL KNOW IT. I guess that is why, it don’t bother me to tell someone if I have Blue Eyes or not, by the way the Optometrist told me they were Blue. I always thought I had Green Eyes, but depending on what I am wearing, they change Colors. Anyway does it really matter?  I will even tell Gorgeous George, I have blue eyes, I'm not private, but it is self evident, if one looks at another long enough. Sometimes by looking, one can even figure out, if someone is Overweight or NOT. You can actually lose weight and people don't hardly recognize you. Yes, it is so hard to cover your Looks, but I guess it can be done, with a good Dye Job and a Hair Cut, one can look like someone else AND HIDE IN PRIVATE.OR just do it for fun!!! They might not be hiding, they might just be having 'loads of fun,' doing a changeroo!!! Which is a possibility!!!

Please realize, Blanket Statements are just that, Blanket Statements. But sometimes they do not cover the feet!

Well, I have no Privacy Issues, I write! That keeps Privacy on the Back Burner. So I’ll just go ahead and play around on Facebook. Let them that are smarter than me figure it all out. I still haven’t figured out what’s Public and what’s Private on Facebook and I quit trying. I enjoy it better that way. I figure anything written on the Web is Public Domain.

The Media makes a Man or Woman, and all of a sudden ‘George gets Private on us.’ HE IS A FAMOUS MOVIE STAR, for goodness sake, everybody loves, George.  How very Dorky. Curiosity is what makes people desire to know Trivia about another person, anyway. That is why I buy OK Magazine. To find out what, when, where and how. It’s bred into us from the word get go, when Schools want to know how to pronounce our Names, etc, etc, etc. How many Brothers and Sisters, do we have. What is our Address and Phone Number. We don’t bat an eye, we tell um. So I don’t care if Facebook, followers know I am Married. Some of my friends are Single. They are looking, but why not. It is better on the Internet than standing on the Street Corner hollowing, I’m Single. This way there is lots of visiting going on, and I get to oversee it all, for sure.

Back on Track! Not to Veer too far off the Subject, but I did anyway, this Blog was about Missing Folks. But Privacy and Facebook, just had to cover those too. It feels good to me, to address a few Dozen Problems no one has but me, or Issues that I do not even have, but could some day, Maybe, Maybe not! Besides, these Subjects do not Warrant a Blog, all by themselves, they’d each be too Short, so I joined them all. Hope no one minds, it’s a Trait of Mine to Talk about Two or Three Subjects at the same time, like Veer off the Subject sometimes into unbeknownst territory. Just thought this Time, I would use it to my advantage.

I really miss going knocking on my Friends and Families Doors. Oh, how I Miss that. Having them over for Meals and seeing them at Holidays and just gatherings because one thought of it happening. But I know all these People Miss me too. I just thought I would enumerate it, one more Time. Already faced it, just want to talk about it a little bit more. It’s not a subject that one can let go of lightly. CHEWING THE CUD, comes to mind to me. Missing people causes Loneliness, and Loneliness is a MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS, INCLUDING EATING OUT TOO OFTEN AND TOO MUCH, overbuying too much, never being able to settle down, too much. And my favorite is animals. I love animals, and they sure do help one get over loneliness sometimes, etc. So loneliness does have a habit of 'COMING AND GOING,' SOMETIMES.

Loneliness is kinda like a Cycle of Life, which I also wrote a Poem about: It also comes and it goes:

CYCLE
The wave of leaves-Float around

Sent sweeping by the-Winds abound

Hit by an adverse-Sound

Swish-Swash-Soon their aground

Sent back to the-Soil to grow

Helps to guarantee-The slow

Absorption of Life
Bursting forth

One just has to get HOBBIES, PROJECTS, AND LEARN MUSIC INSTRUMENTS, LEARN LANGUAGES, EXERCISE MORE. THESE ALL HELP. TRAVEL MORE, GET A PET. DO SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS. GET A NEW HAIRDO. Play on Facebook a whole lot.

BUT WHAT HELPS MOST OF ALL, IS TELLING SOMEONE, YOU MISS THEM A LOT. That is the beginning of Honesty, and Healing can arrive. And if one has a Disease, one has to get Healed or the wound festers. Pray first, then go to Dr, and tell them and they will give you advise as to what to do and not to do. Besides it always helps when you can talk about it.
Then there is hope of Recovery. Don’t keep it Bottled Up inside of you, Yell it out, Sing it out, Play it out, have Mad Passionate Love and Love it out. Talk to a complete Stranger about it all, thinking you’ll never see them again, laugh about it. Cry about it, HOW EVER YOU LIKE TO HANDLE THINGS, don’t let it go, a Day longer. Call that person up your Missing and just tell them. I bet you’ll find they feel the same way about you. This Shared Knowledge, is worth more than a Million to you and them. 

I hope you take this as a ‘fession,’ ‘that I am Lonely,’ MOST OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE FAR AWAY and I have a whole lot of downtime alone. I loved cooking for them, Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy-Sausage and Bacon for Breakfast, Fried Chicken-Biscuits-Gravy-Hash Browns-Tabolie-Corn on Cob, Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies, Apple Crumb Pie, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Dump Cake, Banana Nut Cake, German Chocolate Cake. Oh how I miss cooking for all the Kids and Grand kids. Yes, I can cook here, but my husband and I can't eat a whole Fried Chicken etc, with all the trimmings. AND MOST OF ALL, I DO MISS, HUGGING THEM AND KISSING THEM, SEEING THEM, AND LAUGHING WITH THEM IN PERSON AND JUST GENERALLY HAVING A BLAST VISITING AND DANCING WITH ALL OF THEM. I LOVE MUSIC AS YOU CAN TELL, and I would like for THEM AND YOU, to know, HOW MUCH I MISS THEM, FOLKS. But maybe we can become Friends, because I’ve taken the first step of many, that will get me out of this ‘Pit of Depression.’ Just telling everybody, I SURE MISS THEM!!! This leads to, RECOGNITION OF A PROBLEM!!! I will tell you something, it always helps to have an audience, cheering you on. Just ask those people at Carnegie Hall. Sure I'd love to play my fiddle there, along with my Grandson, but I ain't good enough. HE IS THOUGH!!!He's 10. DREAM ON!!!I ALWAYS SAY!!!Man. never take a man's dreams away from him, that's tacky............you let them make the call on it!!! After all, a Goal is a Dream with a Date affixed to it. Jewish Hil.

And by helping me, you’re actually helping yourself the most. ‘THE NEED TO BE NEEDED,’ is a strong urge, AND that is actually the FIRST PLACE YOU NEED TO FIND YOURSELF, STANDING BESIDE A PIT, REACHING DOWN INTO THE PIT AND HELPING YOUR FELLOW MAN OUT OF THE HOLE. 

   
NOW I FIND, I HAVE NO NEED OF PRIVACY, WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THE FEELINGS, THAT ALL THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHO REALLY KNOWS, JUST HOW FAR YOUR REACH GOES. EVERYBODY IS A PERSON JUST LIKE YOU!
WHY HIDE IT? QUIT BEING SO PRIVATE!!!

LOSE THAT ANONYMITY, AND, REACH OUT! 

Facebook is a start!!!

LOVE NINA

MORE LATER MORE

Around The Corner

Many Farms, Arizona

Navajo Rez tornado funnel cloud many farms

A funnel cloud touched down on the navajo reservation in the small town of Many Farms, AZ. This happen about 5:30pm mtn time.

Fall is just ‘Around The Corner.’ Well, I always plan ahead, always. If August, which has been unseasonably Cool(in the 80's) and(Wet), does not feel like Summer, well then September is probably going to get the ‘Heat Index Rising, with horrid 3 Digit Numbers. After all this is the Desert. Since I’ve been back, part of July and part of August, have been turned upside down, COOL INSTEAD OF HOT, HOT, HOT!!!ON AUG 3RD THERE WAS ACTUALLY A TORNADO, THAT WAS SPOTTED ACROSS THE ROAD 191. They are very, very rare!!! More photo's coming!

So why not let September, get changed by you 'Around The Corner,' which should be pretending to get cool AND FALLISH, around here normally, but could get hot, hot, hot instead, WITH SUMMER'S HEAT FALLING DOWN AROUND THIS HERE TOWN!!! September could be, devastatingly drought like. That's cause the rest of the Country, will send the heat to the Desert, when they tire of it.

Well, I usually put up Capri’s and get out Winter stuff in September, for October, which is usually Cool enough to start the ole clothes Switcheroo. Yes, September’s Fall Piece, is falling into the Puzzle. And then Labor Day, Calendar Day, Turkey Day, Christmas Day, and then, New Year's Day, again.  Wow, I am really getting excited about all these Day’s, we have to look forward to, and all I had to do was take September, for a drive around this here Town, along with Sing my Fall Song!!! I wrote a Song, called GOLDEN LEAVES.  It includes March Winds a Blowing, Fall Leaves a Falling and Winter’s Snow a Snowing and Summer’s heat a Falling. THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU!!! NOW REMEMBER THIS IS A SONG, SOUNDS BETTER WITH THE GUITAR AND ME SINGING IT, well Ok, anybody singing it. BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS THE RIGHT TIMING FOR THE WORDS TO BE SHARED WITH YOU!!! MAYBE YOU’LL UNDERSTAND THE WEATHER CHANNEL BETTER AND LOVE  MORE ALSO!!!

GOLDEN LEAVES

Golden Leaves are falling down around this town
Golden Leaves falling down bringing pain to my heart
There are  things that happen that I don’t understand
There are things that I  know

Winter snows are falling down around this town
Winter snows falling round bringing pain to my heart
There are  things that happen that I don’t understand
There are things that I know


March winds are blowing around this town
March winds blowing round bringing pain to my heart
There are  things that happen I just don’t understand
There are things that happen that  I do

Summer’s heat is falling round around this town
Summer’s heat’s falling round bringing pain to my heart
There are some things that happen I just don’t understand
There are some things that happen that I do

I know I know I love you
I know I know I do
I don’t understand why I love you
I don’t understand why I do

No I don’t understand why I do
 

Tornado Touchdown in Rough Rock ABOUT 20 MILES UP THE ROAD ON A MESA

Here are a few pics of those Tornadoes. I actually  go to see one of the MF one's  as it passed over the air  going toward the Dog Kennels, where my friend Peggy was working, she saw it too and got inside the Brick Building. It was all kinds of wierd swirls, as I watched from my Porch, which were getting down and dirty, more and more swirliest and circular, by the moment. Thankful it, bypassed us all in the air.

But I am Stymied this year!! What to predict?

Which doesn’t usually happen too often to me. Usually my Pseudo Predictions are just that, Pseudo and just as tricky as a Casino. Care to wager? Weather wins every time, just like the House.

But I kinda really do, like being prepared, so I will pretend, I know what the Weather is going to do, and make sure, if I’m wrong, that I do not take down the Air Conditioner. You can usually wear, jeans and a long sleeve shirt when the Air turns Brisk, inside or quickly change to Capri's if it's hot out.

I am sure where ever you have planted yourself, you are facing similar circumstances. Trying to outguess what Mother Nature has planned for you there in the Mid-West, or plain ole, North, South, East and West. The last time I talked to someone in the Mid South, they say it is, ‘really, really Too Hot, To Play Outside, kind of Day!’ Guess they are Praying, for some of our Cool Rain, which is socked in, for the rest of the Week here. Thunderstorms everyday MSNBC, INTERNET SAYS!!!I love MSNBC!!! Their Weather is right on the Mark, right up their with the House.

But they are probably wondering, if their Weather is extreme, for where they live. Well, I know our Weather is ‘extreme,’ for the Desert. Cool usually is not a temperature, that ole Mercury hits around here, excepting for Night Time. And that is super great. For if one can just survive the Day, the Night cools, wonderfully. NOT so in some places. The Heat just stays as an uninvited guest. IN THIS CASE, THE WEATHER CHANNEL IS NOT YOUR FRIEND, IF THEY PREDICT THE, SAME OLE, SAME OLE, ALL THE TIME, YOU'D THINK THEY'D DO A JIG, WHEN THEY GIVE IT TO YOU or at least call you up and say, "sorry."

But whatever your Weather, turn on some Music and Dance. It is good for the Soul and downright excellent for your exercising body. Get a cool glass of-Tea, Coffee, Chicken Broth, Diet Coke, Diet Snapple, Gatorade, Sangria, Beer, Margarita, Strawberry Daquari,  Pina Colada or Martini with Olives, of course, after the dance. Put your Feet up, and make a Call to someone you LOVE!  AND TELL UM SO!!! DON'T WAIT, DO IT BEFORE YOU GO 'AROUND THE CORNER!!!'

NAH, YOU’LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY YOU LOVE UM. JUST ASK MY SONG!!!

Feeling Better

Hill Country Bible Church-JOIN THE JOURNEY, to which I am signed up to receive by e-mail and LOVE IT GREATLY. It has really given me some spiritual steps on which to climb. These peoples testimony’s really help me. I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT. Go in and sign up, you will know what I mean. Here are a few excerpts from one of them.

We all live with fear in our lives, whether founded or unfounded, but there is only one thing that we should have, and that is a reverential fear about our God Himself.
Many times in the Bible someone was afraid to move or to speak out and in almost every instance the Lord told them not to be afraid.  They were fearing the wrong things.  Other times, God did  want His children to be afraid.  One of those was when a few disciples heard God’s voice booming from the sky, and they “fell on their faces and were greatly afraid” (Matt. 17:6)  This was a healthy, holy fear; a reverence for the one and only God!  This fear is different; it is a good fear!

When we begin to “get who God is," then slowly, miraculously, our fear fades and faith takes over!  Friends, listen as He calls to us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.” (John 14:1)

Yes, I hear. Do not let your hearts be troubled. So I won’t. I will use common sense and I have made leaps and strides by drinking lots of liquids. Healed completely? That is God’s Opportunity, I don’t know yet, but I will not fear it, but I do feel better and want to clean up the house. That has got to be a sign, that all is well within my household. Actually wanting to read Flylady again and write again, exercise and sing and play music and piddle around with Facebook is a great indicator.. Flylady is super with the suggestions on just how to keep it organized. And I love organized, so she fits right into my niche. And she even has a men’s Flymen(or something like that) on Facebook.

Now I do believe that if one is feeling better, then one is on the road to recovery. Anyway that is the road I am traveling on now. The Faith road to forgiveness and healing and feel good. One just can’t use that excuse anymore, about feeling bad, to try to get out of doing things, it won’t work. One must get on with life, and get gumption to finish a few projects. I sure don’t want to temp the fates.

I actually want to get back to sewing with a great big, “YEA GIRL, YOU GO FOR IT.” I haven’t got to do that in months, so I am straining at the bit to get started. I have been given lots of ideas from my daughter, whom I spent the afternoon at Hancock’s getting material and patterns. She took me out to eat at this fantastic Greek Place and then we diddled the afternoon away at Hancock’s while it rained.

There was a great big ½ off sale and simplicity patterns for a $1.00 apiece. Got lots of material and about 20 patterns. Yup I got enough to last me till Christmas. Only thing is these are summer patterns, but she lives in a State that is hot up till November. So I still got time to get it all done. She is actually my daughter in law, but we act just like mom and daughter, so I call her my daughter. She sews and loves it, but with kids, right now it is too much on her plate, so she is tied up, but she is actually motivating me to get with it when I can. She and my Son been praying for me to get well, as well. THEY REALLY ARE A PRAYING FAMILY. THAT’S ABOUT TOPS IN MY BOOK.

Then we went to Starbucks, for about two hours, and sat outside on the patio, and had a very close knit conversation of life in general and she actually listened to some of my ‘wisdom’ and I LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT, and there she prayed for our 4th of July weekend and all we knew. IT rained cats and dogs all afternoon and the whole time we were at Starbucks. LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT and the talks were super, for I actually tried hard to listen to her point of view. And I did it.

I have just joined Lookville.com they are a fashion site. You can upload pics and ask others opinions on just how it looks. I find it quite interesting. Albeit I haven’t had chance to upload any fashions yet. But I am sure I will. This lady e-mailed me, that she LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT, MY BLOG THAT IS, and I LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT, and to take a look at her web site. I find it quite appealing. 
here is her email.
Hi there blogger!
Just visited your "Levinslair" blog and I was super impressed by its design and content. We started our site Lookville.com not too long ago. It's a place for people to have discussions, share tips, and ask questions about fashion. It's been going great so far and I would love to have you on it! check it out if you're interested: http://lookville.com/signup?c=BLGUS&ref=fb_us And we would love to hear your feedbacks.Ciao!- Daphne G.

See I told you so.
Any how, Thanks for all the prayers that have gone up spoken and unspoken. I truly appreciate prayers. They make all the difference in this here World Scene. They are the foundation I build my Faith on. May all the sick everywhere feel a special tug at their hearts as I lift them up to my Father in Prayer. May they feel special and feel, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED!

Love Nina
Later more later, 

Sickness

Now that we covered accidents, I thought I just might broach the subject of Sickness’s. No one wants an accident and no one wants to be sick. But alas, it happens to the best of us, both of them. But sickness is in a category all by itself, for it has a much longer stay, than an accident which is short lived. A Sickness will come in, welcome itself, make itself at home, and just look at you, like, ‘what’s your problem,” this won’t take long, why resist, it’s gonna happen anyway.

Now no one likes to be sick. My particular problem at this moment is Bronchitis, which will not let go. It’s as if, it is saying, I think I’ll just stick around awhile, might even spend the night, like a friend or relative.

But alas, we know, it’s no friend, and even the worse of my relatives, is mild compared to this dude. That does make me appreciate all my relatives more, for sure. And friends also.

Some how or other, in all my travels this summer, I picked this frienenemy up. I should have known better, but it looks rather strange to wear a mask to visit all your families. Especially when there ain’t no Swine Flu Pandemic going around. That seems to have went to sleep to wake up at a later date and bug us no end.

But this mess, is horrible. This is as close to horrible as I can get. It almost went into pneumonia by laying it’s murky head on my lap, but my husband’s been pouring Chicken Broth down me, Our Daughter who is a Chemical Engineer has been advising him, on all the ways, she treats her children and husband when they are sick. She has done lots of studies on foods and is an excellent cook, giving only the best vitamins and minerals from the veggies themselves. She says chicken bones is a natural mucus thinner, and the broth itself is very healing for a sick one. I Also drink Gatorade, Tea with Honey and Water Galore, plus I stick in a Diet Coke and Coffee, whenever I can find alone and downtime. This is all to help loosen the phlegm

Now before you say go to Dr, I have gone to two of them. They just said, finish all the antibiotic or it will get pneumonic plague like. And take Mussinex that thinner of mucus. Breather too, twice a day. The last Doc even said, "I was beyond herbs?" Ooh that sounds bad. But what does that mean, even cinnamon rolls won't do me any good, or garlic either for that matter. I think they will, but who am I, anyway.....Sometimes I wonder about bedside manners, that actually upset me. I never heard of anybody in this world being 'beyond herbs.' That was downright tacky of her. I guess she didn't realize I'm a writer and you got to be careful what you say to me. Cause I got to get it out of my system.

But low and behold it’s still, hanging on. This is another case of ‘WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS’ routine. Where did God go?

    Well, I guess we all get sick, sometimes, and we all say, ‘WHERE DID GOD GO?’ HE’S THE HEALER OF ALL THINGS.

Or maybe you don’t do this. Well, I can’t hit the nail on the head, 100%of the time, can I? I like to think I can, if I am slow about it I can. But if I got any slower I ‘d be backing up, everybody tells me.

Anyway, the Lord says, ‘humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:8.

Well, 3 falls are pretty humbling, plus a sickness to boot, doubly so, for it lasts quite the length of days, so I figure I am pretty humble. I guess I have to learn to wait on the Lord!

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him......Psalm 37:7A
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
So as you can see, PATIENCE IS THE IN, WORD. You gotta give the Lord time to answer prayers. Yes he can do it instantly, but more than likely, he does not like us, telling him how to answer prayers. He gives what is right.

Now I need to do something besides WHINE ABOUT MY STATE OF BEING. I NEED TO HAVE PATIENCE. YES, THAT IS WONDERFUL. THAT WILL MAKE ME CHEERFUL OF HEART.

ALL THE DAYS OF THE OPPRESSED ARE WRETCHED, BUT THE CHEERFUL HEART HAS A CONTINUAL FEAST.

YOU SEE I CAN CHOOSE A CHEERFUL HEART, AND A CHEERFUL HEART I WILL CHOOSE, THAT MEANS I AM CONTINUALLY FEASTING AT THE TABLE OF THE LORD, LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH(The lame son of  Jonathon-eating at King David’s table for his whole lifetime-because King David had made a covenant with his best friend.

So show no pity to me, because I am I have fallen 3 times, or am Sick, PRAYERS, YES, but pity no. And I really do not like tears. I like Silver drops of Golden Deeds. Lay them deeds on people. They'll love you for it. That’s a song I wrote. I Love it.Course I realize, sometimes tears fall and one can't stop them. Don't even try. Let it happen and get it over with. You'll feel better because of it. Cleans the System! Blows out the Pipes! Let's people know your TOUCHED IN YOUR SOUL.

Now back to Why am I sick? I do not know that answer. But I don’t need to know. I am responsible for what I do know, not for what I do not know.

Now I am not saying that I am not responsible for what I do. For if I know to do good and do not do it, that is Sin and I am held accountable for that. That is the Sin of Omission. Not the Sin of Commission. But our Lord does hold us accountable for both of these. Unless we go have, 'a little talk with Jesus,' once we recognize this is in our life. Life ain't fair, BUT HE'S ALWAYS FAIR!!!

Love Nina
Later more later



 

Accidents

Those creepy, weird, unrealistic happenings that catch us off guard and interfere with our DAILY DOINGS.

    Man, I had 3 of them in one house while traveling this summer. No one was responsible in any way, shape or form. I fell off a back yard deck, onto dirt and whacked my elbow and shoulder, slammed my hip and rib into the dirt. Second, I stepped downward off a bar stool onto floor, wearing my bunny suit, which is fleece and hit the Pergo, which is like trying to ice skate on the living room floor. This caused me to hit everything I did not know I had, and jarred most organs. Then 3rdly I was walking too fast, turned a corner and whacked my knee right into a rock point, off a fireplace ledge and landed on the floor. That one I don't know what I hit, beside my knee hurting WOW LIKE/I think my wrist was sore from trying to stop the fall.

    Now, I really do not know why, but I was in a state of constant pain due to one or the other or the other happening, on top of being sick with Bronchitis. It is a good thing my bone density is nigh onto perfect or I would have broken a few dozen bones, plus turn my insides into Jello, while I was in the process, of going off the deep end, concerning ACCIDENTS. I REALLY WAS BEGINNING TO BELIEVE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING WAS OUT TO GET ME. AND THESE THINGS WERE ALL SELF INDUCED or seemed to be, OR I COULDA PLAYED MY PARANOIAC CARD.

    I talked to my 7 year old granddaughter, who was the only one who witnessed me falling, and she kept saying, "Nina, Nina you OK?  I told her I was. So afterward  while I was still hurting, sitting in a chair on this same, said deck, I told her, I did not understand why I fell off the deck, other than getting slightly unbalanced, but I been there done that before. I told her I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong. Cause physically I was hurting, but mostly it is humbling TO FALL, and it sure cuts you in the quick of your emotions spiritually, to do something stupid and out of the ordinary.

    She tells me, that ‘maybe Nina does, do some wrong things, sometime, BUT WE ALL DO WRONG THINGS, and things just happen BECAUSE OF THIS, but it don’t mean we deserve it or nothing like that. That God just allows things to happen.
    Well, I am here to tell you, that made me FEEL BETTER.

    I CAN’T EXPLAIN IT ANY BETTER.

    I quit trying to think about it, then ACCIDENT TWO AND THREE HAPPENED.

    NOW I AM CONVINCED MAYBE people better stay away from me, just in case, God was more closely involved in all this, than I had previously thought.

    So I asked her Dad, my Friend, and he said, ‘look in the mirror.’
    Now that made me FEEL BAD.
    But maybe there is a combination of things at work here. By looking in the mirror I had to admit, my need for more of God’s Wisdom, than I obviously had. So, as GOD SAYS, if we ask He gives it, and don’t hold our faults against us.

     So I asked. NOW maybe I could control some of these ACCIDENTS. BY USING MY WISDOM I ASKED GOD FOR.
   
   1. Like on the DECK BUILD RAILS SINCE IT IS TWO STEPS HIGH so next time no one falls off. Course, this is contingent, on understanding no one else has ever fallen, and maybe it don't need rails, maybe I just need a walker. There is always that possibility.
   2. Like do not wear a bunny suit made of fleece on Pergo floors during the summer.
   3. Like slow down while turning a corner INSTEAD OF RUNNING so I can see the pointed rock jumping out in front of me to grab my attention, and say, I AM HERE, SEE ME!!! I AM HERE, FEEL ME!!!

    Now I am not saying all ACCIDENTS ARE ANSWERABLE, OR THAT YOU CAN STOP THEM ALL. BUT SOME, NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BEFORE THE BIGGY, NOT AFTER IT. COMMON SENSE WOULD DICTATE POSSESSING, THIS PREVENTION KIND OF THINKING. SAFETY OFFICER’S HAVE MY VOTE 100% NOW. TO A POINT, SOME OF THEM GET DOWNRIGHT RIDICULOUS WITH THEIR ORDERS, BUT STILL AND YET, SOME USE COMMON SENSE AND ACTUALLY IMPROVE A SITUATION. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M FOR SOME KIND OF OVERSIGHT.

MOSTLY BECAUSE:

 NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO ACCIDENTS. JUST DON’T GET COCKY, ON ME!!!
 NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO NATURAL DISASTERS. SURELY COCKINESS HAS NO PLACE HERE!

    Now I still, cannot give anyone else, any reason why some really horrendous ones occur, but I DO BELIEVE, ONE WILL NEVER GO WRONG, IN GOING TO A CHILD, WITH THE QUESTION, (THEY HAVE SUCH, SIMPLE ANSWERS) OR GOING TO A FRIEND, WITH THE QUESTION. TRUE FRIENDS WILL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH, ENEMIES WILL PRETEND THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR, BUT THEY ARE NOT, SOMETIMES!

I DO BELIEVE, ONE WILL NEVER GO WRONG IN GOING TO GOD, AND ASKING HIM, WHY? AND FOR WISDOM. EVEN WHEN OUR UNDERSTANDING IS DIM, WHICH HE TELLS US IS AN OK STATE TO BE IN. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO UNDERSTAND! GOD SAYS LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING! TRUST GOD!!!


    THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A TOUCH OF THE ‘UNEXPLAINABLE AND MYSTERIOUS,’ AS WELL AS, A QUESTION OF ‘WHY ME.’ WHAT DID I DO?

    Natural disasters, ring a bell, these we do not understand either. THE VOICE OF GOD IS LOUD IN NATURE.
  
    ALL IN ALL, NATURE’S WRATH BRINGS US FACE TO FACE WITH GOD.
        You will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. - Isaiah 58:9

Yiyaa

Well, I did it. I met my goal. Now what you ask? Well, for one thing, arriving at a goal, has the propensity to close the door on various sundry ideas and notions, that I have been writing about. It becomes the finished product of all one's, sum and totaled wish lists of goals, over and done with, never to be approached again,
ever. Like man, it's nice to have bragging rights for a change. It's called the JUST KEEP ON MOVING ALONG SYNDROME, NEW THINGS HAPPEN JUST AROUND THE CORNER. SHUT THE DOOR ON THE PAST!

 I really do not know, if I am capable of doing this, but I am working on it whole heartedly. Now we are on a Levins' Tour de Mid-West, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, so I have flat-lined. Visiting with everybody has left me brain dead. I didn't realize, how much one just depends on everyone else to make decisions for them, while on the road. I do like being co-operative and allowing others, to decide whats Ok. And WALLA, PEOPLE LOVE BEING IN CHARGE, FOR A CHANGE. GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE AT WHAT THEY DO BEST! HOSPITALITY AT IT'S BEST.

 Except for fishing trips, and that is an island, all to its' self. Fishing trips just entail getting out of bed and getting the jump on the hungry catfish. Like I said, earlier, it is very nice to have bragging rights. I actually have a whopper to tell. I caught a 2 foot catfish in one of the Oklahoma Ponds of my husband's relative. Now I did good. I even got to fiddle at the old home place's pond. Now that I loved. MEMORIES HOW THEY DRIFT IN AND OUT OF ONE'S MIND. Albeit, not a fish in sight, but hey, one can't be a winner every time. Besides, that is when, Music becomes Master, to make one feel like keeping on, keeping on fishing, at another pond. That is the mark of a good fisherman, THERE'S ALWAYS THE NEXT TIME, THE NEXT POND, THE NEXT PLACE, IF YOU'RE A TRUE BLUE FISHERMAN.
WHICH I AM.

Now I really have, had a blast, visiting everyone. Each house I have gone to, has it's rewards, it's perks and it's 'to do list.' This is to keep us from being 'bored.' Papa cannot stand not doing something. And I fight doing too much, for sure, but I can be persuaded, with a wonderful meal cooked by the various kids at times. Each house has all the best loving Kids in the world and Grand Kids. They are all appreciative of what time we have to spend with each one of them.  Since we are slightly  limited in our 'time travels' we have to go back to work and let all of them get back to their particular 'ways of life.' Yes, I butt in and try to tell them what is best but that is the 'preacher' in this woman. Which happens occasionally, just can't help it.

I guess what I am trying to say, is this. Life is full, of its' up times and its' down times. It is an upper to get to see everybody. It is a downer having to leave. But life is not a CONTINUAL FISHING TRIP, OR IS IT?
I GUESS WE SHOULD CONSIDER IT TO BE ONE. SOMETIMES YOU LAND REALLY BIG ONES, SOMETIMES YOU SIT ON THE BANK FOR HOURS AND GET NOTHING BUT A PERCH, 2 INCH ONE, AT THAT. SOMETIMES YOU CUT THE PERCH UP AND USE IT FOR BAIT, CAUSE YOU RAN OUT OF BLOOD BAIT OR WORMS, and just maybe you'll get a big one, with bigger bait. But you don't and night begins to fall.  THEN YOU CONTINUE, TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON, TILL THE DARK REALLY SETS IN AND YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE BAIT OR THE HOOK.

BUT ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN. IT IS A BLAST AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU REALIZE, YOU DID NOT ACCOMPLISH ONE DARN THING EXCEPT FOR PASSING THE TIME OF DAY. BUT IT WAS A MARVELOUS FEELING TO  'WASTE IT,' YOUR WAY! EVERYBODY'S GOT TO HAVE THEIR RELAXING MOMENTS. AND THEN, THERE IS THE TIME, WHEN THE BONUS COMES, A REAL LIVE FISH AND YOU GET TO 'EAT THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR.' WOW! WHAT A SUPER, MARVELOUS FEELING TO KNOW YOU ARE AT ONE WITH MOTHER NATURE.  YOU'RE A TRUE BLUE FISHERMAN. LIFE OUGHT TO BE SO GOOD. BUT HEY, MAN, DID I NOT TELL YOU BEFORE, LIFE IS SO GOOD. IT'S NICE TO WEAR A LABEL, ONE THAT MONEY CANNOT BUY. IT DON'T TAKE MONEY TO BE LABELED A FISHERMAN, ALL  YOU GOT TO DO IS, CALL YOURSELF ONE.      

SO IF YOU THINK I WILL NOT BE BRAGGING ABOUT THAT 2 FOOT CATFISH, YOU ARE WRONG. WHEN I GO BACK, I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT WILL LISTEN. THAT IS CAUSE I REALLY GOT EXCITED ABOUT CATCHING THAT DUDE. NOW THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TODAY, EXCITEMENT!

EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE SAYING, EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IN THE FUTURE. YES, MY FRIEND, LET'S PUT THE EX BACK INTO 'CITEMENT,' INSTEAD OF ME 'INCITING' YOU TO GET 'EXCITED,' I AM GOING TO TELL YOU, TO READ THIS ALL AGAIN. YOU WILL INCITE YOURSELF TO DO WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING ALL ALONG. JOIN IN, FISH.

APPROACH LIFE LIKE A KID, APPROACHES FISHING. DON'T LET IT GET YOU DOWN, LET IT GET YOU UP! WHEN BAD COMES YOUR WAY, PLAN A FISHING TRIP! GRAB YOUR POLE, DIG SOME WORMS, AND MOSEY ON OVER TO THE NEXT SUITABLE BODY OF WATER, YOU SEE, AND FISH.  IT WON'T LOOK SO BAD, ANYMORE, TO YOU. BUT BEST OF ALL,

GET EXCITED!!! ABOUT LIFE. 

THAT IS 99% OF THE ANSWER. THE OTHER 1% WILL COME ALONG WHEN GOD GETS READY FOR YOU TO HAVE IT.


Love Nina
later more later