April, A Child of Joy, A Woman of Courage

I remember that special day when my first daughter was born. Ken was in school at Tulsa University. I had been to the doctor  who said he was going to 'stir up things' He sent me home to pack my bag and go to the hospital. I called Ken to come get me. Our new Salad Master Pots and Pans were delivered while packing my bag (cookwear we still use today.)   I think Mary Hotson watched Kevin, our 13 month old son. And April joined our world later that day -- a little bundle of perfection and sweetness.      Here is newborn April with her Daddy, 1963.

Healing came with her arrival -- healing from the fear of having a baby with many challenges. April was always a happy child. She loved life and her family. She loved her brother.  They grew up very close.  Here she is in kindergarten, 1968.


 School was a special time for April for here is where she developed her appreciation and love for teaching which continues until this day.

Becoming a lady! 

April has had her share of disappointments and frustrations in life...but she is a survivor and she never gives up when the challenges pile up.

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain  She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight  She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.  She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens. 

 

She girds herself with strength and makes her  arms strong.  She senses that her gain is good, her lamp does not go out at night.  She stretches out her hand to the distaff and her hands grasp the spindle.  She extends her hand to the poor, and  she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She makes coverings for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness in on her tongue.

Many daughters have done noble, but you excel them all.
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised
Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. 

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and bless her, her husband also, and he praises her saying.    http://proverbs31woman.com/ 

Praise God for my eldest daughter, April.  A woman of God and a blessing to those who cross her path.

God fearing, honored, praiseworthy, manages her home, wise, industrious, compassionate, generous, diligent, good steward, works joyfully, kind, trustworthy  who could ask for more!

C3 Downtown Asheville

Oh how much I would love to be here in Asheville this weekend.  Look at the colors on the trees.  And look at my little lady and her hula hoop.  I know it had to have been a lot of fun.  Instead, I was sitting in a call center interpreting calls of all kinds between deaf and hearing people.

Bet You Didn't Know.....Old People Sometimes Go Out Every Single Night.

This is a busy week for Ken and I.  On top of working everyday.  We have something every night this week. Work Monday night. Tuesday evening was another  Philbrook Jazz Concert, Wednesday was Church and Thursday was the Amy Grant concert.  (Reported on below)  Tonight was our OASIS annual trip to the Thanksgiving Amish Dinner in Choteau.  There is always a greeting of odors as we exit the bus ....cow manure outside and apple pie inside.  . 

Three bus loads traveled to Choteau to the Miller Farm.

Below the Farm house you will see our leader, Scott Bloom and some of our Dinner Friends.  The white hair lady is Nadine Bastian.  Not shown are her husband Dick and new friends sitting beside us, Bob and Linda Wilson.  The place is powered by gas light bulbs which put off enormous heat

So this is someones plate full of Amish Comfort Food served family style.  Starting with cole slaw, potatoes, noodle, stuffing, green beans, oven fried chicken, turkey and gravy.  Oh, not shown is the hot roll and apple butter.

Do you believe that SOMEONE actually ate the whole thing.

burp

Broken Arrow Has Something New

The Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center has been open less than a year and last night Ken and I made our first visit to the BA PAC for their first ever packed-out night.  The PAC seats 1500 people and Ken was told we bought the last seats ... on the very top row with less than knee space leg room.    Here we are up on the third level looking down the catwalk or balcony (whichever it is caller.)

Very Interesting design and fun to visit.

Amy Grant travels with  a five-piece musical group plus her step daughter, Jenny-back up singer.  Amy reported that she will turn 50 years old in 35 days and has been singing the same songs for 33 years.  The show consisted of 2 hours of both new and old music along with stories and talk.  It was very enjoyable.   Funny thing, the participants were the older generation, probably Amy Grants age and older.

OK, I know you can not see anything -- this is the best I could get on my little 5-year old Samsung cell phone..  And this was zoomed all the way in.  It really is pretty high.  Ken's IPhone does better but he has not learned how to email photos or zoom in yet.

OK here is from Ken's new IPhone

But here it is, the BAPAC from the top row -- high up and not comfortable seats.  We had  tiny binoculars which helped a tiny bit.   I think Ken was far more uncomfortable than me because he could not move his knee.

Seventy-Two Years .... What's To Do When You're Not A Party Animal?

Been thinking.....seems that somewhere around the age of 65 and 70 all birthdays should cease.  If 65 is retirement age, I'd like to not make such a deal of  the day after that age.    Guess it is a quirky weird wish.   I would like to celebrate life however.  I am very grateful to be alive and well.   And perhaps when I reach ninety, I'll want to celebrate the age and the date again ...... maybe.  
So, yesterday was my 72nd birthday and it was a good day.   I have so much to thank God for....HIS LOVE....HIS LIFE.....HIS GUIDANCE AND CARE....TRUST.....FAMILY.....FRIENDS  MY PRECIOUS HUBBY, KEN.  And the list could go on and on.   

Thinking back, the celebration of my birth first began in Greenville when we visited Bill and Nell.  They took Ken and I out for Lunch as a birthday celebration. Then ice cream and a Happy Birthday Song.   I talked a little about this in my http://scrivtravels.blogspot.com/ . 

We had a wonderful time together talking, re-acquainting, and of course, eating.  Bill loaned me a book he had just finished reading:  Deeanne Gist's Maid to Match  that I am reading right now.  It is written from the perspective of the Vanderbilt servants at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.   I love reading the book.

Then we visited the Ellers, Bonnie and Jim in Barnwell and talked more about birthdays and growing older.  There were some opinions expressed about aging in we agreed the aging process is real and can not be stopped.  However, we expect Jesus to come and rapture us before too much longer.    Oh how we long for that glorious day.   Goodbye creaky bones.  Oh, incidentally Bonnie made us a pie...lucky for us, this one was low sugar.

Next there was an early birthday celebration in Asheville at the Collier home October 1st,  Friday evening before we left to return home on Saturday morning.  Sommer prepared one of my favorites:  bun cha, crunchy salad and apple pie with almond crust.     Here I received my first Microplane zester and nutmeg grater.  I just love kitchen gadgets and have already been using them.  Ava made me a purse with woven potholders for my cell phone.

 

During that week we had talked about how to celebrate an early birthday.  Fun Depot sounded like a good plan but I opted out on that one much to Ava and Carson's dismay.   I chose dinner and games and we all had a ton of fun playing UNO.

Birthday morning the Scharpf family dropped by with special cards, posters and gifts.  A Gerber Daisey plant, Raspberry Cake, handmade soap and angel plaque.   They were on their way to the Tulsa State Fair and I was on my way to a job.

There were lots of calls and birthday wishes.  I heard from my boys, both Kevin and Joel.  I completed my job, returned home.  Ken and I went to Oliveta for lunch.  I had a birthday coupon for a free Greek pizza, we shared the spaghetti and were too full for the dessert, so took the cheese cake home for later.    We took in a few antique shops on Cherry Street, went home and took a Happy Birthday nap (a special treat indeed).   

Ken prepared a pork tenderloin on the grill with roasted veggies and I went to a workshop for needed CEU's on the evening of my day.  There was another Happy Birthday song and a cupcake.  Oh and Ken gave me more of my favorite -- kitchen gadgets, hard cheese grater, stainless measuring cups and spoons, multi colored spatulas, etc.   You do remember, I love kitchen stuff.
Working Sorenson today and another Birthday cake for all four of us "S" interpreters who have October Birthdays --- and more cards.  So, seventy-two years have been properly and adequately celebrated.  Way more than enough calories have been consumed.   I Love my life and as soon as I get off from the call center (10 more minutes) I'm off to meet Ken at church where we will celebrate our Saviour and HIS love for us together!   

So the final big Hurrah took place on Sunday evening when  the Scharpfs came over to help us eat the cake they had brought over on Friday.  We had soup and sandwiches and then the cake.    Lily decorated my nails with grapes and a butterfly.  The girls love to rub Papa's head and Elijah showed us his favorite hairdo.  No more celebration of 72 years, so now seventy-three years, here I come!