SUCKING IN THE YOUTH!

I HAVE told you that I live half a block from TCU--YES?  The path to the grocery, restaurants, etc is directly through the campus of TCU.  The sidewalk in front of my house is the path from many of the apartments, parking lots, etc to the campus.  I have a direct view of the students going to and from class.  I also walk to the store etc. from here.  I am watching and observing and taking in what the current dress is and the habits of the young.  First thing I need is a pair of black tights--I think I have some--but need to dig them out--they are the dress to go to any time the weather is cool.  You wear them under anything or just by themselves!  I am SUCKING IN THE AROMA of the young!

I have my first LA guest---Mona is here for a few days.  I have taken her in the short walking tour today --longer tour coming in the morning---GLAD she has her walking shoes with her!

HELP HELP AND MORE HELP!

I'M HERE!!!

I have safely arrived and am almost finished making my initial "Nest" preparations in the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS!

I first have to talk about ALL the help I have had making this move.  IT HAS BEEN AWESOME...

Help in Ruston with the Rhymes assembling a group of church men to load the truck.  Help in route--with the St Andre crew--driving---and unloading the truck (after helping load).

Help in Fort Worth with Adam and their friends Josh & Dana helping unload the truck.  Help from #1 & #2--Scott & Gabe---BIG HELP---couldn't start to tell you all they have done!

Help today from Josh again---who came to change the plug out on my dryer.

I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM!  It has been an arduous job--to say the least----BUT I'm here!  

NOW to begin living the "Big City Life"---side note---they have AWESOME grocery stores in large towns---from everyday stores all the way to designer groceries---I am GOING TO LOVE THAT!

DISCONNECTED---HEADED WEST!

I am to the point where I am losing the well planned--organized move---and instead throwing things at any available box or container.  Thank goodness for my sweet friends-Philip, Sonja & Glenda -who came last night---not only fed me, helped with the things too heavy to lift by myself, but most important listened to me.  THIS IS PAINFUL!  More is happening than just this move---but I have decided to leave that out of the story.  I have determined that if it does nothing for the cause of Christ--it does not need to be posted on the WWW. Although I will be back staying with Helen after a couple of weeks until the school year is over, this truly marks the FACT that I am moving---I am leaving what I know and love behind--my comfort zone--my people that I love---and trying to start again--at 64.  DAUNTING--OVERWHELMING!

For those that have been praying that I would be able to take this step--without losing sleep---I am NOT sure I should thank you.  I am convinced God gave me this cold so I would have to take a boat load of drugs---THAT MAKE YOU SLEEP-last night.  So if you looked out and saw that beautiful moon---you KNOW that normally I would be howling at it all night---instead I merely drifted in and out of a drug induced comma--struggling to get a breathe.  CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR!

SO I am about to unhook from my Louisiana Internet connection---for the last time---everything will be packed in the truck tonight and I will head West EARLY in the morning.  Pray for traveling grace and that I won't be throwing things at the truck as it pulls out tomorrow.  Pray for my strength---physical and emotional--as I leave the home that I have grown to love and the family and friends that I leaned upon daily and plant myself in unknown soil.

I will be "Unplugged" until this weekend--I don't have the patience to blog via I Phone---so my next post will come from my next nest to be---in the GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.  Praying that God will plant me and give me ministry that will glorify Him.  I am NOT closing this book---I am just starting the next chapter---with the entire book full of characters and places that I love still within reach of a quick turn back....

As Brother Jack once ended every Sunday Service--

Pray for me---As I Pray for You

Love You All!

FRONTAL ATTACK

I am reading a book Waking the Dead by John Eldredge---he is such a good writer---have also done a study of The Sacred Romance that he wrote.  Many men and the women that love them have read Wild at Heart.  This guy is a gifted teacher.  The one I am studying at the moment starts with the reminder that we are fighting a spiritual war here on this Earth-Good Reminder.  Satan seeks to "steal, kill and destroy".

I am down to one more day after today---and I am being attacked from the front----a Nasal Attack!  You remember I told you the stress had caused a LOVELY "Zit" to erupt.  Thanks for the cure suggestions--I currently have 3 layers of "Cures" on it!  NOW I started feeling a cold coming on last night.  You must remember I teach in a petri dish of 3 year olds every Sunday.  Somehow I have avoided getting their colds this year--after wiping a thousand noses-but I finally lost the battle to their cooties and developed a cold.  BAD TIMING!

The Devil decided to attack via the nose---he KNOWS who has my heart!

NO LONGER DIVERTING THE EYES!

Did I ever post about my shower and the mirror RIGHT in front of it?  If I did--sorry to repeat myself---if I didn't you need to know about it to understand the end of this post.

In my current home---THAT I DEARLY LOVE--I have this wonderful huge shower (I take showers always-no bathtub soaking)---ONLY problem is the full length mirror RIGHT in front of the door when you exit.  LORD!  I had to stay in that shower long enough to fog up every mirror OR divert my eyes when exiting.  WHO wants to see that sight???

I am sad to leave my house and the apartment I will be living in is smaller and NO new fancy bathroom.  A bathtub--HOT PINK--with a shower head---it's a 1920's house.  The GOOD news--one small medicine cabinet mirror only---

I WILL NOT HAVE TO DIVERT MY EYES!

PLEASE DON'T MENTION THE BIG ZIT!!!!

I KNOW I am stressed to the max---I have a big ---lovely---ZIT on the end of my nose---CHARMING!

One other indication would be the fact that I clicked on Camille's OLD address in ERIE-PA----when ordering a bedspread.  DO NOT KNOW how I can remedy that--but hopefully the cute couple that bought her house will NOT think it is a belated housewarming gift!

3 MORE DAYS---if you see a half crazed woman running down the road screaming with a red Rudolph nose---be kind---JUST IGNORE ME!

GOD'S GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

Today is Anna-Claire's 22nd birthday.  We all met for a run or walk and then went to the cemetery together.  It was a sweet time of laughter, tears, memories and prayer.  God has SO richly blessed us for LOTS of years now---WHO would have EVER dreamed this rag/tag---hugely diverse group of women and 1 token man would come together with a common love for running and live life together all these years.  WHAT a WONDERFUL---RICH---DEEP BLESSING!

We are sad with Stephanie and Tommy today--but we are also rejoicing knowing---they WILL see her again!