Foo-Foo

I don’t usually have a Valentine’s story. Things change. I began attending The Journey United Methodist Church in Buda, Texas, which sponsors an annual ladies’ Valentine’s brunch. Never having been to one, but loving fellowship with like-minded Christians, I registered to sponsor a table. Sponsoring involves decorating a table, providing scrumptious food and inviting seven ladies to attend. This event included food, fellowship, a inspirational message and silent auction on Saturday, February 11.


I had trouble keeping the invitation list reduced to only seven ladies. I wanted to invite 50, to bless people who had been a blessing to me. Domesticity is not my area of giftedness. I am more of a Mary than a Martha. I opted to pay for the food I needed rather than to cook. So, with the invitations and cooking taken care of, all I had left to do was to decorate. Easy, peasy, right? Wrong! For me, that is. 


The church has all of the table leaders to decorate their own tables. From table to table, there is a mismatch, but within each table is a beautiful opportunity for self-expression and creatively creating a masterpiece table setting. Except for me. As I mentioned before, this is not my gift. I was assured by the leadership that the tables are all different every year, running the gamut from tables with paper plates to tables with fine china and silver. I was assured that paper plates would be just fine. 

I arrived on Friday night empty handed to see what was being done in preparation before I went to get my supplies for decorating. I had received a text earlier in the day from a friend who offered to supply her grandmother’s dishes for the affair. I kept that in my mind as a possibility as I arrived to survey the scene. Much to my surprise, what I witnessed was some serious decorating. Ladies had fine china, with matching crystal, centerpieces of crystal vases full of an array of sweet-smelling, colorful flowers on tablecloths color-coordinated with the cloth napkins. Shocked at the beauty that I beheld, I uneasily left to do my paper plate shopping, and called my friend who had texted earlier. 


At first, I was rather shy about allowing her to help me. Then she explained. She said, “Kathy, I have attended these things every year, because I have always been invited by someone else. I was excited that you had invited me to sit at your table this year because I love coming to these brunches. Then, in the middle of the night, I awoke realizing that you may not have attended one of these events before and are not a ‘foo-foo’ person.” (Translation-we all know that this is not your gift.) “ I didn’t know if you had any idea how these people decorate these tables, so I want to offer to help. I have these dishes and vases and cups, and glasses. I would love to offer them, because I never get an occasion to use them.”


Now, I am thinking, this is a definite heaven-sent phone call. My friend was right. I am not a ‘foo-foo’ person to use her term. Not that there is anything wrong with people who are gifted in this area. This is just not my area. And not only did I know it, apparently everybody else did too. Lol! I am glad we got that out of the way.


She explained that she wasn’t available to decorate that evening, but would be there in the morning to rescue me. I went forward decorating with my paper plates and Styrofoam cups, just in case something fell through in the morning. I wish I would have taken a picture of my table when I was finished. She asked me which table was mine, and I assured her that she could walk around the room and would be able to know intuitively.

I arrived early in the morning to meet her, and she had already decorated my table. I was amazed at the transformation from the paper of the night before to the matching plates, saucers, coffee cups, water glasses, cloth napkins and water pitcher. She created a flower arrangement from an assortment of colors and flowers. They had a definite engaging scent. I was amazed at her gift. This was a natural for her. I had been blessed beyond measure by her. We discussed what a beautiful thing it is that we don’t all have the same gift. That enables us, through God’s grace to bless one another.


This was truly faith in action. She expressed her love for me through her actions, utilizing her phenomenal God-given gifts in an area that I needed help. Amazingly, I never had to go to her to ask; she knew the need was there and stepped up to meet the need. I, who had tried to invited her in order to bless her, received the blessing.


Approximately 150 women arrived on scene ready to enjoy the fellowship and food. One of the ladies at my table won a door prize. The same lady won the silent auction for a portrait package. We listened to an inspirational speaker who very creatively explained to us that The Holy Bible is a love letter to us from God. She said that the love story is still being written. 


Indeed it is. It is not only being written by God but by his saints who use their gifts to do his will.
Amen.


Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Thanksgiving Challenge and Joy Dare


Today, I am thankful for:


53. My friend, who rescued me from paper plates.
54. My friends who joined me at my table.
55. The wind blowing the smell of rain outside.
56. That God first loved us, so that we can extend this same love to others.


Linking up today with Laura and Jen, Jennifer Lee, and Ann :

copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins

Stress Relief Idea #27

When feeling stressed, most people tend to breathe in short, shallow breaths. When you breathe like this, stale air is not expelled, oxidation of the tissues is incomplete and muscle tension frequently results. Check your breathing throughout the day and before, during and after high pressure situations. If you find your stomach muscles are knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax all your muscles and take several deep, slow breaths. Note how, when you're relaxed, both your abdomen and chest expand when you breathe.

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Thankfulness Challenge and Joy Dare


Today, I am Thankful for :


50. Praying with people at communion
51. A wonderful Valentine's brunch with 150 ladies.
52. The life and gift of Whitney Houston. May she get the peace that eluded her in life.

copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins

Mexican Spinach Dip and Queso

I had the pleasure of attending an Emmaus meeting in Austin, Texas on Thursday night. After the meeting and worship, we were treated to refreshments. As I made my way to a table of chip and dip, a lady standing behind a crock pot asked me if I would like spinach dip. I told her that I would love some. She dipped it out of her crockpot onto my plate. It was the best that I had ever had! I shared with her that I would love the recipe, and she was gracious enough to email it to me. Now, I would like to share it with you. Enjoy!

Mexican Spinach Dip

1 10 oz pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained

1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, room temperature

½  white onion, chopped

1/8 to ¼ cup fresh or canned jalapeños, seeded, chopped

2 cans Ro-Tel tomatoes (1 drained, 1 undrained)

12 ozs. Mexican cheese blend

1/3 cup sour cream

¼ teaspoon cumin or to taste

½ teaspoon chili powder or to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Turn into a baking or casserole dish.  Bake 30 minutes or until hot and

bubbly.  Serve with corn chips or tortilla chips.

Here is a recipe that I got from a friend after tasting Queso at a Christmas Party for the Senior High Youth at my church. I have made this many times, especially during football games that I watched on TV. It is delicious!

Queso

1 pound of hamburger meat

2 cans of Ro-Tel Tomatoes

1 pound of Velveta

Brown hamburger meat and drain. Combine with one pound of Velveeta and 2 cans of Ro-Tel. Put on Medium heat. (Warm enough to melt the cheese). Stir regularly while heating. Keep on low heat, stirring regularly when serving on Tortilla  Chips or Fritos.

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Thankfulness Challenge and Joy Dare:

Today, I am Thankful for:

48. Babies with healthy lungs.
49. Beautifully decorated tables for Valentine's Brunch.


copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins

My God, Your God? By Wallace (Shaun) Shaunfield

Wallace Shaunfield was an engineer by trade. As a non-believer for 50 years, he concerned himself with facts that were provable, and tangible. Anything that couldn’t be proven using the scientific method had no place in his belief system. In this book, he explains his belief system, which he says that he really never analyzed in depth. 


A series of events that he explains in this book led him to move his family to Boerne, Texas, where he began attending church with his wife. She had been a devout Christian for the 50 years that he had been a non-believer. This series of events was no doubt the prevenient grace of God in operation, loving Shaun with a love that would not let him go, as Pastor Teresa Welborn used to say time and time again in her sermons.


He decided to re-evaluate his position about God by doing what every good engineer does: researching the facts. The analysis of his research led him to change his beliefs, and he became a born-again Christian, not long before his wife succumbed to the ravages of pancreatic cancer.


When he was on a Walk to Emmaus, he decided to write this book. In his own words, he says that “the purpose of this book is to motivate the objective, truth seeking non-believer to consider seriously the question of the truth of God, and then make up their own minds.” (p.3)


He addresses what he considers to be four fundamental questions: “1. Is God real? 2. What is the nature of God? 3. What does God expect from us? 4. What can we expect of God?” (p.4)

He spends a lot of time discussing evolution and consciousness in this book, and explaining them in terms of what the scriptures present. He also writes about the division between current scientific knowledge and scripture.


This was a very interesting read for me. I was impressed with the fact that as soon as he developed a belief system, he was eager to share this process with others. Isn’t that what we are challenged to do? To share the good news with others?


Another thing that I liked about this book and the author is the attitude that he had throughout the book: that as Christians, we share certain fundamental beliefs and then we also experience differences about other beliefs. He indicated a respect for the belief system of others who share the same fundamental beliefs as him.

I recommend this book for all non-believers to encourage them to analyze their own belief system against the facts that Shaunfield presents in this book. I also recommend it for believers who experience doubts because of the chasm between science and scripture.


Amen.

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Thankfulness Challenge and Joy Dare

Today, I am thankful for :


45. The Greater Austin Emmaus Board and members.
46. Pastors who know how to minister.
47. A willing spirit even in the face of a weak wallet.:)



copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins

The Apology

George and Mable reminded me of Snuffy and Loweezy Smith from the comic strip. They were parallel to the couple in both appearance and the relationship dynamics. The fact that Mable outweighed George by 300 pounds it never diminished her energy level. They lived in a rural Texas farmhouse surrounded by the fields full of the cattle that they raised. When you turned in to the long, dirt driveway and drove into their yard, you had to wait inside your parked car for either Mable or George to come out with their whip to chase off the mean cattle to keep from being attacked. No doubt they never had to worry about a burglary.


Once they had chased off the cattle, you would be warmly encouraged to come inside and indulge yourself in one of the dozen or so of eggs that they kept in a bowl on the long kitchen table. This was what they kept on hand for snacks. Mable would bring small bowls to hold the eggshells to be peeled off of the handy snack. I always secretly wondered why they had such a huge kitchen table. They only had two children and both of them were grown and had long moved off.


This story occurred back in the day before people had cell phones or even were able to dial their own home phones. Whenever someone wanted to initiate a telephone call, they would pick up the receiver on their home phone before hearing the voice of the operator who would say, “Number please”.

The caller would recite the number that they were calling before being connected by the operator. The telephone had proven itself as a comfort to Mable while living in the country without any neighbors living close. She tried calling one of her friends when the operator informed her that the line was busy. She got frustrated but said, “Ok”. The truth was that Mable’s friend liked to talk just as much as Mable did, so the line was frequently busy. Mable was always asking the operator to break in  on the call, but she never would.

One day she was particularly frustrated and wanted to talk badly. She tried calling her friend and the operator informed her that the line was busy. She asked the operator to break in on the call, tell them to hang up because she was trying to call. The operator refused.

Mable, in her frustration said, “Well, you just go to hell!” Then she slammed down the receiver. Unfortunately for her, as she did this, George had just walked through the back door. As he wiped his feet on the rug, he overheard Mable telling the operator to go to hell. He frowned and called to her. 

“Mable, who was that you were talking to that you told to go to hell?” 

George asked.

“Well, it was the operator,” answered Mable.

“Why on earth did you tell her to go to hell?” George inquired.

“I was trying to call Betsy. And you know that operator, she said the same thing that she always says: the line is busy. So I told her to break into the call and tell Betsy to get off of the phone so that I could call in and speak to her. You know she wouldn’t do it?! She makes me so mad!”

George replied, “Now Mable, that is no reason to tell someone to go to hell! You call her back and apologize to her right now!”


Martha didn’t want to fight with George because of the grumpy old operator. So she picked up the receiver.


“Number please”, said the voice on the other end.


“Is this the operator?” Mable asked in a sheepish voice, with George standing there watching and listening.


“Yes it is.”
“Well, are you the one that I told to go to hell while ago?” Mable asked.


“Yes it is”, answered the operator.


“Well, you don’t have to go to hell if you don’t want to I guess”, replied Mable. With that, she hung up the phone. For today, that was the best apology that Mable could offer.

The End

Note: The above story was related to me by my friend Kathy Shaw about people she knew from her childhood. She granted me permission to tell this story. I elected to tell it as if I knew these people.

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Thankfulness Challenge and Joy Dare


Today, I am thankful for:


41. The wonderful life of Kay Woertink.
42. Safe travels.
43. Curbside garbage pickup.
44. The countryside.




copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins

Nothing Left to Lose

This traumatic saga began on Dec. 7, 2009 when a 28-year old mother of two from West Valley City, Utah was reported missing after she failed to arrive at work. The mother, Susan Powell, has never been found. An investigation revealed that her husband, Josh Powell, said that he took his two boys camping in Utah in the middle of the night, in the midst of a blizzard. At the very least, this was very odd and suspicious. At the most, this could be a story of Josh Powell murdering his wife and hiding her body.


Soon after Susan disappeared, Josh moved his remaining family to Washington state, to live with his father, Steve Powell. 


Fast forward to September, 2011, when Steve Powell, was arrested for voyeurism and having child pornography on his computer. Josh, who was residing in the house, lost his sons to Child Protective Services, who placed them in the home of his in-laws.


Last Wednesday, all involved parties attended a hearing for custody, where a judge ruled that the children, then ages seven and five, would remain with their maternal grandparents. Susan still had not surfaced.


Then, on Sunday, Feb. 5, a representative from CPS in Washington took the boy’s to visit with Josh in what was to be a supervised visitation session. The boy’s ran ahead of the representative into the arms of their father, who immediately took them inside, locked the door, locking out the representative. He then attacked both sons with a hatchet before igniting a fire that exploded and killed all three of them.

Whether or not he murdered his wife, I do not know. His ability to carry out the brutal murder of his children tends to illustrate his ability to murder his wife. This is a tragic story.


According to reports, his oldest son had drawn a picture of the final family trip camping in which the child had said that his mother was in the trunk on that trip.


Had CPS not removed the children, would they still be alive? I can remotely understand the hurt and isolation that he felt that might have led to him taking his own life. But for the life of me, I will never be able to understand his desire to brutally murder his children, who had done nothing wrong. 


I don’t think that anything short of serious mental illness could have led to this case of domestic violence at its absolute worst. I think that once the Judge ordered a psychosexual evaluation along with a polygraph test, he knew that he would not pass both, and would never have custody of his sons again. Maybe he knew that an arrest for his wife’s disappearance would be imminent.

The forensic analysis will continue on this case for years.

Obviously, he was in a position in which he felt that he had nothing left to lose. Loss of hope can be an eerie thing. Did the public opinion contribute to this?

Do we need a better way of getting treatment for the mentally ill?

I don’t blame anyone in this tragic story but Josh. But, had he been able to retain his dignity, I am not sure that we would be looking at the tragic ending that we are seeing.

But those are just some of my thoughts on this heinous crime. What are yours? 

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Thankfulness Challenge and Joy Dare


Today I am thankful for :


38. The gathering of the Saints.
39. Active, healthy, happy boys.
40. The cool weather of February.
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Vaccine for Heroine Addiction?


According to information from the Latin American Herald Tribune, a vaccine has been patented in Mexico to prevent Heroine addiction. This vaccine has successfully be tested on rats and now will need about five years of Human Testing.
Linking up with Laura Boggess today at:

copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins

Stress Relief Idea #26

Create order out of chaos. Organize your home and workspace so that you always know exactly where things are. Put things away where they belong and you won't have to go through the stress of losing things.
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Thankfulness Challenge and Joy Dare

Today, I am thankful for:


36. Big hugs from my boys.
37. The songs of birds.


copyright 2012 by Kathy Robbins