Well, it's Tuesday morning and there is snow on those buttercups
around here.  You can just about count on this happening.
Temperatures are around freezing as I'm looking out our patio door.
The light snowfall is still clinging onto the grass that is glistening
as the sun is shining on it.  It is a beautiful sight I am
enjoying while drinking my cup of coffee.  It won't be long until the
sun melts away the skiff of snow.
      Talked with neighbor Jackie Blair on Tuesday night.  We had a
nice long talk on a lot of the happenings on the mountain.  Saw Donna
Prater while out shopping on Monday.  I heard her before I saw her.  I
knew that distinct voice.  We always enjoy being together.  She's a
mess and a half and a friend.  Ann Warren (my sister-in-law) and her
family are doing well.  Talked with cousin Ruth Brown last week.  She
was feeling pretty good.  I was also able to chat with Gracie Bratcher
and her sister Mai Nell Melton on Wednesday.
      We have some people that are in need of our prayers:  Cecile
Ferrell, Mary Melton, Sepal Pedigo, Gracie Bratcher, Tony Neal, Rose
Watts, Walter & Faye Ferrell, Charlie Mai Daniel, Jimmy & Faye Hale,
the people of Israel, and the leaders of our country.
      Have you ever thought you were eating a snack that was past its
expiration date?  I was eating these "veggie straws" just popping one
right after the other in my mouth and looked in the bag and some of
them were green.  I've always thought anything like bread that was
green looking was molded and tossed it out.  I was about to do this to
this bag of veggie straws when I took a look at the front of the bag.
There was a picture of the straws.  Some were yellow, orange, and yes,
green.  Felt sort of silly about the whole matter having assumed the
worst and giving the snack a guilty verdict before I had checked it
out fully.  By the way, I'm still enjoying my bag of veggie straws.
      I have taken my mom, "Mrs. Hester Warren" on chicken expeditions
here and there, when she was still with me.  She's been with the Lord
now for going on years.  I so enjoyed being out with her.  My
mom loved chickens and she bought some and she sold some.  On one of
our outings, we wound up going back into the boonies/or a no man's
land you could say, for her to buy some chickens.  Our destination
took us down a long, long road that I thought would never end.
Branches and bushes hitting my truck and I finally asked mom "is it
much farther to this lady's house?"  She told me "it was just a little
piece farther."  She had the directions in her hand, but I was getting
uneasy about this place I had never been to before.  I asked her
another question.  "Do you know these people mom?"  Her reply, well no
"I don't know them at all, but the woman sounded nice on the phone."
I'm still somewhat bewildered as something might be a fowl by the fact
we could be headed for an ambush with people pulling out rifles and
killing us.  I mean people can sound good on the phone or at your
front door.  That does not make them nice people.  I had a few dollars
in my pocket--mom had enough to buy the chickens.  Would that be
enough if these people wanted to rob us?  We might be headed to out
waterloo for all we knew even if they got our money.  Had it in my
mind this could be our last outing together buying chickens.  Thought
about "Aubrey" and our girls. "daddy" and the rest of the family.  A
lot of things cross your mind when you think certain death could be
waiting for you.  As we drove up to this quaint little house, a lady
came out and started talking to mom.  My fears soon diminished as we
would live to see another day as this wasn't a setup like I thought it
might be.  Mom and I had other expeditions after that but nothing that
compared to this one.  She kept listening to the radio's "Swap and
Shop" program, I believe it was called.  You'd do anything for your
mom, too, wouldn't you?
      Ran into Lisa Rhae last week.  She was our mom's home health
nurse when mom became bedfast.  Mom thought the world of Lisa.  She
was so gentle with mom.  Sure was glad to see her.  She's still the
same sweet person and so beautiful.  There are just some people that
you are fortunate to encounter, and you will always remember their
kindness and the compassion they showed to your loved one.
      If you have any news for the column, just give me a call at
(615)563-4429.  Have a great day!
     “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9