New Addition?

It's the strangest thing I've ever seen. If not ever, then in a really long time. I'm sad to say I don't know a lot about them except they're ugly and eat dead things. No not them, Turkey Vulture's! (I know what you thought I was going to say…) 

Preacher man noticed them first, but as I sit at my desk, look out my side window, which faces west, I see over 50, sitting in the pine trees, sunning themselves.

So what's the deal with them anyway? I looked up some stuff and when I learn something new, you get to learn something new! So here we go class:
In many areas these huge birds are also called 'Buzzards". They are called Turkey Vultures, not because they eat Turkey's but I'm sure they have and will, but because when they stand on the ground, they look like a Turkey! This Vulture is unique in the way it finds carrion, the decaying flesh of dead animals, which is by smell as well as sight. Here's the coolest part I found, when they feel threatened, they defend themselves by vomiting powerful stomach acids.

The top 2 pictures I took last night as the sun was setting here in the Valley. There were well over 100 of them floating around up in the air above our house. I had a thought that maybe one of the neighborhood barkers was being eaten, but I can't report on that for sure yet. 

This morning, I took the last picture from my window. Are they look at me, like I'm looking at them? If they can see dead carrion from way up in the air and doing a circle around it the whole time, surly they can see me sitting at my computer, reading what I'm writing about them.

So here's what I'm going to believe until I find out something different. They are warming themselves in the pine trees. In fact, they look as though they might be praying! Yeah, that's it!  I have praying buzzards, watching over me as I blog! 

Heres a few things I'm not going to do. Threaten any of them! I do not want to go to the hospital ER and explain that my skin is burning off my body because a Turkey Vulture vomited on me. They might say something like, Stop provoking them lady and this won't happen! I am also not going to go under the tree and watch them. They seem to poop a lot too!

So that's your new information about life here at Oasis in the Valley. 

Don't forget to keep looking up!

I crack myself up sometimes!!

Neighborhood Watch!

The neighbors are gone to Branson for the week and while they have someone taking care of the place until Thursday at 10 am, which is when our time starts, I still have to keep an eye on things. 

You have to understand, there are more animals at that house than there are people! Let's see, we have Mattie and Dot, which are the 2 dogs, Loki, Scout and Sally which are cats. Wait, disclaimer, Loki is a cat, the other 2 are kitten's. We can't forget my 15 chicken friends, who have names I'm sure, I just don't know them yet.

Part of my job as a neighbor is to take veggy food scrapes to the chicken friends about twice a day, if I have it. If I get there first, I let the girls out of the hen house and almost get stamped with chicken feet as they scamper to the scrapes. 

The other day, we had over an inch of rain fall in like 30 minutes. Both Sally and Scout were outside and Scout literally doesn't have enough sense to get in out of the rain. Sally was under a car. However, these kittens do come when they are called and if it sounds like fun.

Sunday after service, I was standing in the Narthex talking with some folks and I saw Sally run up to the front doors of the church, and kinda stretch on the windows. I thought, Sally... Do you need you some Jesus?

I didn't take the opportunity to explain the Roman Road to Sally, however, I did pick her up and carry her back to the yard she is suppose to be staying in.

On a sad note, my cuke's have mildew and it looks like the pickling will be coming to an abrupt halt.       

Dragonflies!

The Dragonflies are back! This probably doesn't mean much to you, but it does to me, even though I'm not sure why it means something, but I'm sure it does. Let me splain:

When we got here last year, it was hot and dry. There hadn't been any rain in a month of Sunday's and it was around 100 degrees everyday. Being a Master Gardener, I take care of the yard, so I was watering just trying to keep up with the heat. I noticed that the dragonflies would show up in the morning and hover over my yard. I watered the yard yesterday and they showed up this morning!

Now I don't know why they hover over my yard, however, I like to think of different reasons why they're there. They are passing along blessings, protecting my house, or maybe wanting to communicate. When in reality, I'm sure they are eating some bug that needs to be eaten. 

I've been busy in the garden and the kitchen with the making of pickles. It takes a lot of time out of my day to do all this. There's the prep, the set up, then the canning followed by the cool down and clean up. Next thing I know it's afternoon. 

July has been a hard month and it's only half way done. I wonder...

VBS

Woke up this morning and my first thoughts were, What in the Sam Hill was I thinking!? I am so tired! Oh yeah, VBS. Which I believe should be changed to AWM: Adults Without Minds! VBS gives people like me a chance to act like we're 8 again and get away with it! Then, in the morning I feel like I'm much older than 8!

Steffanie (Ellie), John Michael (Jethro) and myself (Maybell) were the music part of the program. They were the music, I was the silly, which was perfect! See little miss sassy pants in the pink down front? Yeah, we got her number! Thinks she's a gymnasts and all. If my Niece were there she would have been put in her place.

So this was the first night, Preacher man and I get tonight off cuz the family is coming in town for a baseball game. Wednesday will be the program and we are done with this year! Thank you Sweet Jesus!

VBS is always a good indicator of how your church is doing with growth. Young kids, young families = growth. It's also a good time for members to come out, volunteer and give back. It can open your eyes to strengths and weakness. I mean let's face it, when you have to keep kids entertained for 2 1/2 hours, the cream rises to the top. Jethro and Ellie were the cream! It was a pure honor to stand up there beside them and shake my tail feathers!   

It's Hard

Do you ever have one of those day's, that turns into one of those weeks, and before you know it, it's one of those months? Wow, I seem to be there and for some reason, can't seem to do much about it. It's like my train has jumped the track and I'm still going in the right direction, just off the track and making a ton of noise, throwing up dust and rocks. I just can't seem to jump back on the tracks. Or am I just loosing it?

The month started out good enough with a discernment retreat for practicum class. Good news, God is still calling me to spiritual direction! By the time I got home, our world was already changing. Preacher man and I are back into youth ministry, which has turned out to be a blessing. 

Went to an Enneagram conference and found out I'm a 3. The Enneagram is an ancient personality tying system that identifies nine types of people and how they relate to one another. It's a power tool for explaining why persons behave the way they do, and why motivation is largely determined by personality.

Was in charge of church pictures. What a trip that was, and still is.

The hardest thing we've done this month was saying good bye to Sam. Words are so hard to come by to explain the hole a beloved pet leaves when they die. This past year, we've also said good bye to Yazi, but Sam was a Golden Retriever, and theres just not anything closer to a Jesus dog than a Golden. 

It was getting harder and harder to get Sam in and out of the house, as his hips continued to fall apart. His breathing was so labored and he just couldn't get around like he wanted to. His last morning, he was laying in the back yard and I went outside with his leash. He struggled to jump up and was so excited to be going on a walk. We went through the gate and had it not been for the bushes, I think he would have fallen. Preacher man was at the truck, and then Sam knew he was going for a truck ride. Sam loves to go! His eyes were so bright and his tail wagged so hard... It took both of us to pick him up and place him in the back. He struggled to his feet and was ready for a ride. As I stood in the yard watching them drive down the road,with tears running down my face, I could see his tail wagging.

Love is hard sometimes. I bet Jesus understand that.

I know Jesus was there to welcome my Sam home, with Yazi and Shyela beside Him. I know he's better off, but I don't want to hear that, so don't say it. It's hard to get up in the morning and not hear that tail hitting the floor in anticipation of me coming down the stairs for a morning belly rub. It's hard not to see the "Happy Dance" that he would do just because you were talking to him. It's hard to watch Gracie wonder where he is and when he's coming back. It's just hard.   

Walk like a Penguin!

The last word you heard from me, I had worked out with Jillian. I would like to report that I am able to move more like a person today instead of a penguin. Yes, that's right, I have been so beyond sore since Monday that I really thought about using the wheel chair from the church to get around in. The problem being it won't fit in the Mini and we live in a tri-level house! 

I went out and got a massage yesterday and that helped so much that I soaked in a hot tub of Epson Salt when I got home. Low and behold, I am moving much better. I'm not kidding, I was walking like a penguin. Dang Jillian! I might try it again tomorrow!

I'm thinking about changing my web site up. I'm not getting any comments and Preacher man says it's cuz it's hard to do on this site. Is that true? I know one or two are reading this thing and surely I'm saying something that you can comment on! You know, if you find this commenting thing to be true, would you drop me an email and let me know? kimer.workman@gmail.com is my address.
Also I'm thinking about changing the title, take a look and let me know the one or two you like the best?! Here's the list:

• Little Wheels
• Preacher's Wife
• Pickles & Sauce
• Kimba's Calling
• The Call
• Healing Heart
• PW Wisdom (Preacher's Wife)
• Broken
• Oasis Mystic (Oasis is the name of our non-profit)
• Woman at the Water Pump
• Not Prefect
• Enough

Do you have an idea? Let me know your thoughts!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Peace Out!

Feeding Time!

We started our Advent Bible Study last night, and if my counting is correct, there were 19 of us there. I was happy to see more than 12, but with a Sunday attendance number of 140, you would think a few more would have showed up.  The real bummer is this is Advent! Let's look forward to the coming of the King together!!

This got me to thinking about the purse party I had on Monday. I know it sounds strange, but stick with me and see where I'm going before you call me crazy and click onto something else. I sent out an email to 30 people, had the event posted on Facebook, made phone calls, and sent out 25 postcard reminders. Had about 35 people coming until the day of the party got here. Slowly, through out the day, the calls started coming in. I ended up with 7 people that night. We had a nice time and I was tickled that they showed up, but my point goes a little deeper than that.

As a church, we expect the Pastor to feed us. This is Biblical (John 21) and it's their job. It's also their job to make disciples of Jesus Christ! Tell me how that can be done if you are showing up once a week and expecting your tank to get filled, and last you for the week, on I might add, a 15 minute feeding? We are setting ourselves up to die from malnutrition!

The problem is not what we are getting fed on Sunday, it's what we are feeding ourselves Monday through Saturday! The sheep have their job to do too you know! It's our responsibility to eat! Anyone who lives on milk, still being an infant, is not acquainted with the teachings about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil. Heb. 5:13-14

Here's the deal: It's the Pastor's job to serve up Word, hot and fresh every Sunday! It's also their job to ensure that there are other feedings going on during the week to feed us hungry sheep!

Sheep of the church, it's our job, right, and responsibility to eat. If we refuse to study, apply it, pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others, theres not much the Pastor can do for us!

So when we talk to your fellow sheep, and hear things like I'm not getting fed, and we know there are feedings going on during the week, cuz we're at them, and don't see them. We might want to remind them that drinking milk is fine while your an infant, but if you want to mature in your faith, you have to train yourself and start eating the meat that's being offered.

Just my thoughts from this side of the street!

Things!

I find things pretty fascinating sometimes don't you? What things, you may ask. Well, life things I guess. 


For starters, I think animals are a lot smarter than we give them credit. Yazi being gone has created a hole in our little family/herd and it came out in a sweet way last night. Yazi had this red blanket that he laid on at night as we sat on the couch. Since the selling of the couch, it has taken a spot between Preacher man and I on the floor. Let me say again, this was Yazi's blanket. No one else has ever even thought about using it. Last night, Sam walked up to it, smelled it an laid down on it, just like that. Yazi's cat box was in my bathroom, on the tile floor which Gracie love's to lay on during the summer. Yesterday while I was blow drying my hair, Gracie came into the bathroom, looked at where the box use to be, laid down in front of that spot, and let out the biggest sigh. I believe they both know he's gone and they miss him. 


Another fascinating thing are plans and how silly they are sometimes. We planned on taking the Chevy to Sherwood on Thursday, didn't happen. We planned on Lois taking care of the herd while we were at Annual Conference, she fell a few weeks back and is just now getting out of the house, so needless to say, she ain't herd sitting. We planned on this dude named John to come by yesterday to learn how to take care of the herd, he was a no show. So the plan changed and I am staying at home to herd sit and Preacher man is going to AC without me. Poor guy, he'll be so bored without me there.


My last fascinating thing for the day has got to be list's! I asked Preacher man before he left what he wanted me to do while he was gone. I know what your thinking, Crazy woman, why did you do that?! I know right! Anyway, here's what the list looks like:

Wash dog beds

Walmart

Sam's

Pack Kitchen

Pack jewelry

Clean out freg

Pesto to June and Nancy

Check out freezer to see what goes

Is that crazy or what? Can you tell where Preacher man started getting involved? I'll give you a hint, right after Sam's! If I get all this done before he get's back on Wednesday, I might blow something up! Who know's,  may not even take a shower!

So these are the life things that fascinate me today. I'm pretty sure that I'll have a new list tomorrow, or maybe a revamped list of today. Either way, I bet a dime to a dollar, not all of this is getting done.

17 Days!

17 day's! That's it! I act like the end of the world will come, or maybe things will change in the United States and someone will shoot Obama, but alas, only the last day to be living in this house, on this street, in this town. That's all, and that's enough.


We had it all lined out, really we did. Mom and Dad were going to show up, load their ride with stuff, load the UHaul with motorcycle and plants. Preacher man in Chevy, loaded with strange long, don't fit anywhere else things. Me in Ford with back  full, and off we would go early Friday morning to Sherwood to unload and leave said Bike and Chevy. It was really a great plan. It had all the makings of something to be remembered in the annuals of history, really, it did. As it is with some many things in life, you better have a plan B and, unlike the General Conference of the UM church, this one better be voted in!

Yazi on heater vent in Wilmore

I went to Fort Smith for supervision from Sister Rachel on Thursday. This was the day that Preacher man and I had decided to have Yazi put out of his prolong ill heath. It was not something either of us wanted to happen, but we had kept Shy (our 1st dog) alive for over a year after she should have been allowed to pass on and I swore than, I would never do that to another animal, ever again! All I can say about that is Shy and Fred were waiting for him and I'm sure they are having a blast! 


Also, on Thursday, the beloved Chevy of 25 years, starting making strange noises that Preacher man couldn't figure out, and it started stopping when it shouldn't. Long story short, alternator was dead, along with a oil gauge line thingy. We pick her up today. Needless to say the Chevy is still in Rogers. I have told Preacher man, that while my skills are great, I don't know, nor do I want to try, to drive two trucks at the same time to Sherwood.

Yazi loved Sam!

So here's my question: How come when it starts going bad, everything in the world wants to jump on that wagon and ride it to it's firey death? It's one of those, what else is going to happen, kinda times for us right now. Things are looking good down the road, but we can't even get out of the driveway with out getting flattened! This may not seem like a lot to you, but there is other stuff going on behind the scenes that I'm not going to bore you with. Things like annual conference, spiritual direction cohort issues, people, money and by the way, it's starting to get hot!


This is about the time that I really expect the heavens to open and God to start smiting, but instead, He shows me the Poverty of Spirit book by Metz and I open it and read. 
Becoming a human being involves more than conception and birth. It is a mandate and a mission, a command and a decision. We each have an open-ended relationship to ourselves. We do not possess our being unchallenged: we cannot take our being for granted as God does. Nor do we possess it in the same way as other creatures around us. We are challenged and questioned from the depths of our boundless spirit. Being is entrusted to us as a summons, which we are each to accept and consciously acknowledge. We are never simply a being that is "there" and "ready-made," just for the asking. From the very start we are something that can Be, a being who must win selfhood and decide what it is to be. We must fully become what we are - a human being. To become human through the exercise of our freedom - that is the law of out Being.

Yazi loves his fly swater!

To become, is what it's about. God is always wooing us to Himself to become what we were put here to become, fully human, in the moment, living now and present! We are hit from every side in order to pull us off this course of being, to muffle the sound of God's voice so that we react in self pity and anger. I'm right there! This pity party is rocking the house and I'm the only one that's shown up. So today, I stop it and I get back to the business at hand, Being!


That's not to say I won't be packing boxes, cleaning toilets, brushing dogs, feeding Preacher man, yelling at squirrels and going to baseball games! I still gotta be me, but I can do it with poverty of spirit. I can be as God is calling me to be.          

Bubba Boy!

I'm finding that today maybe the start of a process that Preacher man and I have to go through sooner than later. It's something that I have known in the bottom of my heart, but I have refused to talk about it, cuz, well, I just don't want to! I was raised to believe that if you don't talk about it, it will go away! What a crock that is huh?


My Sam dog is going down hill fast and I just don't want to go through this. His eye's are bright, his tail works just fine and his spirit is always ready to go on a walk. But, it's getting harder and harder to get him up, he isn't wanting to eat and he doesn't do worth a pooh on walks anymore. Gracie is even acting sad and I just am not ready to deal with this crap!


Why is it that the ones that love us with an unconditional love are the ones that break our hearts? He is trusting that we will care for him, I also think he is trusting that we will let him go when the time comes. If I can just keep him moving and eating and happy... but it's getting harder and harder to do! He's 13 and that's older than most Golden's get, and he's had an awesome life with us! I'm just not ready to let him go, he's my Bubba Boy!

Yazi

Did I ever tell you we have dogs on each side of us? Well, we do! We have two weenier dogs on the east side and two yipper-mutts to the west. It's so funny when we let Gracie and Sam out cuz they are what I would call large dogs and they both have very deep, loud barks, that have a way of either making you run or at least getting your attention. The yippers or you could call them what Preacher man calls them, ankle bitters are behind this 6 foot wooden fence and I believe that fence makes them think they are as big as my dogs. 


Anyway, when we let Gracie and Sam out they just kinda walk out into their own yard like, they own it. Then the yippers hear them and attack the fence, barking as loud as little ankle bitters can yip! Gracie and Sam are followed to the fence at a much slower pace, by Yazi, the Yoda of the yard.  Then Yazi sits down back from the fence and almost dares the yippers to come get him. Mark my word, we happen to know that Yazi does attack dogs, even dogs that are bigger than him and that happen to have been raised by him. He doesn't care who he bosses around! When it's 3:00 in the afternoon, he will start yelling at you, even though he doesn't eat for another hour. 


One of Yazi favorite things to do is walk up and swat the mess out of Christmas tree ornaments! I'm sure I have  a little to do with that as I lure him with the ones that make noise. Yazi is close to 15, has arthritis and just doesn't do the hokey pokey like he use to. So far the tree has been safe, but I'm keeping my eye out for flying ornaments!