Panhandle People facing Disaster

The area in red is the Texas panhandle.  Just think of Texas as a pan...it's where you'd naturally hold the pan--the pan.handle.

People in the Texas panhandle are a different breed.  I was born and raised (not reared) in the area in red.  We panhandle people are resilient, tough, adaptable and very much in-control.  Panhandle people are so tough, we've just now admitted we're in a drought.  We've been told for 5 years we're in a drought, but we're just now admitting it.  We adapt.  If cotton and wheat won't grow in a drought, we begin looking for something that will.  Or we begin figuring out how we can sell tumbleweeds.  (Yes, they're real.)

The people in Fritch have proven how resilient we are.  They suffered through an F4 tornado in 1992.  It was terrifying and very destructive.  It took time to clean up and rebuild after that tornado.  It was a flash in the pan as far as the media and nation were concerned.  It didn't matter.  The people pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps and linked arms and made it.

Sunday night, a fire broke out in Fritch.  I heard one lady say it was like a black wall cloud was rolling down her street and she thought it was just a block away (the fire didn't come near her).  Andy & I had been to Borger that day and we heard there was a fire in Fritch (15 miles away) and as we were driving home, we saw the smoke.  In fact, I took this photo of it:

This small community has been hit hard.  I was there yesterday and saw the people of Fritch pulling together once again.  They've surrounded their wounded and are ready to defend them and protect them at all costs.

They hurt for their neighbors.  They didn't wait for Red Cross, Salvation Army or the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team to show up.  They just went to work helping those who were displaced.  Individuals and churches in Fritch & Borger immediately began reaching out and helping.  There were so many ways neighbors were helping neighbors, I know I'd miss something if I tried to enumerate everything that's been done.  

Let me just say the fire victims were taken care of immediately as they were put in motels, given gift bags and gift cards at the motel.  Snacks were taken to each motel.  A clothing and food operation was opened in Fritch for those in need.  Prom dresses were provided for girls who lost prom dresses.  Hair cuts and styling were offered.  Corsages and boutonnieres were offered by two different flower shops for Fritch prom go-ers. A local inflatable business offered a day of fun to the families who were anxiously waiting for the fire to be put out and to get back into the affected area.  Homes were opened.  Meals were cooked, pizzas were delivered, volunteers stepped up.  It was amazing and just a little overwhelming!

And can I just say the fire fighters in the Texas panhandle are some of the toughest heroes you would ever hope to meet?  If I could, I'd make a Superman cape for each one.  They saved as many houses in the path of the fire as were lost.  They fought hard.  In fact, they were busy evacuating people so they could fight that fire.  Not one life was lost due to the fire.  NOT ONE!

Here's what I hope the tough, resilient, adaptable and very much in-control people of Fritch will do...I hope they'll let the rest of us help. There's something in all of us which wants and needs to give and help when we see someone hurting.  That's why so much help has been offered.  We NEED to help! 

Fritch, it will be your turn to help some of the rest of us some day in the future.  We hope you'll let us help you today.  

Disaster Relief for Fritch

Years ago, I wrote this article after helping in disaster relief after hurricane Katrina.  I'm reposting it with the fires in Fritch in mind (which have destroyed over 100 homes and burned over 2500 acres!).  Please read it and I'll post a few new comments at the bottom.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, a group of us from Borger went to help with the clean-up near New Orleans, Louisiana.  I learned a lot on that trip.  Gayle White & I worked under a tent all day sorting clothing.  Next to us was a tent where they handed out toiletries.

Here's what I learned.  PLEASE, PLEASE do not send your cast-off clothing!  Go to Wal-Mart, Target, J.C. Penney and buy NEW socks, underwear, boots or tennis shoes, jeans, shorts and t-shirts--in ANY size--but especially adult sizes.  (Flip-flops are not useful in debris!)  Many of these stores will give you a handsome discount when they know you're sending things to Fritch for the fire victims.  Go to Ace, Lowe's or Home Depot and buy work gloves, buckets, face masks, and work goggles and send them to Fritch.  Same for the discounts...just ask!  Then go to CVS and Walgreens and buy soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine products, razors and shaving cream, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream and send it.  Ask for a discount--or use coupons and get them free!  (You might even go to motel chains and ask for their toiletry samples.)  Then go to United Supermarkets and Affiliated and buy baby food, formula and individually packaged snacks and send it.  Again...ask for a discount.  Everyone wants to help!!

What we found in that tent in Lousiana was a boatload of un-useful things!!  We spent HOURS wading through coats, prom dresses, and totally useless stuff.  IT'S HOT!!!!  No one wants your coats or prom dresses.  And wading through that kind of junk eats up the time volunteers could be using to do more helpful things.  When victims came to our clothing tent, they were mostly looking for t-shirts, underwear, and socks.  Buy bulk packages in all sizes.  It will be very much appreciated!!!  And for goodness' sake, tie shoes together!!!  We worked on a 6 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft box full of shoes not paired up.  I don't have to tell you how frustrated we were!!

Think, think, and think again when you're sending things to help.  Will it really be helpful?  Will this consume volunteers' time?  How can I best package this to make it easy for everyone?  (Gallon size  bags with a variety of toiletries per family is really helpful!)  And most importantly...will it really get there?  Some organizations don't automatically send your donations to the disaster site.  It may be put in a store or kept in their disaster donation storage.  Trust who you send your things through--to get it where you want it to go when you want it to get there.

SEND NEW THINGS!  Ask yourself, "Is this something I would want?  Would I wear this?  Will this be helpful?"  Then...send those things.  

*Here's an organization you can trust which will be helping fire victims (I am the former director of this Christian benevolence agency).  Instead of sending the clothing, toiletries, water and food to Fritch, you can take it all to Living Water in Borger who will distribute it to those victims only 15 miles away.  You  can know they will gladly be helping the victims of the fire.  They serve all of Hutchinson County and the area knows this agency well--and its reputation for helping--and will automatically be sending people to them for help.  They will accept your SUMMER gently-used clothing Monday-Thursday from 9-3.  The best thing you can do is bring them clean and folded and put in kitchen-size trash bags according to men, women or children and clearly marked.  Remember...men and women working in charred remains will be looking for jeans, boots, tennis shoes, socks, and work gloves--new or gently used.  If you have any of those things, please deliver them to Living Water!!  YOU CAN TRUST THIS AGENCY!!  Over 100 families have lost EVERYTHING!  Not only will Living Water help the victims, they will be sharing the love of Jesus with them.  Donate your TIME to Living Water---they're going to need extra hands to sort the clothing which comes in.  LIVING WATER HAS NO MORE ROOM FOR CLOTHING AT THIS TIME!  The best thing to do is donate money.

Living Water Benevolence Ministry, Inc.

103 W. 4th St.

Borger, TX 79007

806-274-6434

Director:  Selena McClellan

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team said they are going to need people to help clean out in the next couple of weeks and are willing to train on-site!

I'm challenging everyone in our area to stay tuned.  I'm sure we're going to hear in the days ahead of specific needs in regard to furniture and household goods people will be needing as they find a new place to live.  Honestly?  I've never seen more storage buildings as I have in the past few years.  If all of us just cleared out our storage buildings, we'd be able to set up all 100 homes with nice, used furniture!!  Let's be the hands and feet of Jesus!

If you know someone who lost everything and you have photos of them you can share, consider making them copies or creating a photo book for them.  A gift of love.

Pray, pray, and pray some more.  People are in shock.  Their loss is great!

Our Youth

 Last night, our church hosted the Top O' Texas Baptist Associational meeting.  People from about 17 different churches were here at First Baptist Church Groom for the Sunday evening meeting and meal.  Andy made an announcement this Sunday morning that he was hoping some of our people could come about 30 minutes early and be available to direct people to bathrooms, help them find seats, or just give them directions to the activity center for the meal after the meeting.  That was just in a little information blurb after the morning service.  We were overwhelmed by the response.  First of all, you have to understand that it's generally senior adults who attend these associational meetings.  But we had probably a dozen young people show up 30 minutes early and also many of our adults.  Andy quickly gave them instruction and they began handing out bulletins, greeting, giving instructions, giving up their seats for others (and sitting or standing at the back of the church), and just generally being helpful.

Youth intermingled with our adults at the back of the church.

Youth in leadership at our church.

I don't know if you've been around many young people lately, but it's so hard getting them to interact with adults.  Not these guys!!  I've never been so proud in all my life!!  Andy divided these guys up by twos and placed them all over the church after the service.  Two-by-two they were standing at various places in our church to give directions, welcome our guests, and just be helpful.  AND THEY DID!  These young people were looking senior adults in the eye, shaking their hands and welcoming them to FBC Groom.  I was amazed.  Not only did they greet others, but they stood back and waited to make sure we were going to have enough food and seats for our guests and were some of the last people served.  (We had more people come than expected!)  And because we knew during the service that we had more people than expected, some of our young men helped us set up more tables and ran with me to my house to get more chairs.  They stepped up to the plate.  I knew these guys were great, but I've never seen a group of youth shine like these did last night!  I was so proud.

And then last night and today, we've heard nothing but praises for their excellence in serving and greeting.  We've made a bunch of Baptists jealous over our youth group.  We didn't set out to do that, but we just can't help ourselves.  ;)

Pinafores by Ashley

My cousin, Ashley Yost, is a very gifted seamstress.  

(Dan & Ashley just got married last May!)

She makes these adorable pinafores for little girls--of all sizes.  Not only is she skilled in her craft, she has a great eye for fabric!  I love what she's chosen.  She's just started selling these on Etsy and I encourage you to take a look at all of the different things she has here.

The amazing thing about these pinafores is that they are REVERSIBLE!!  (You can see the contrasting fabric for each pinafore on her Etsy site.)

I know all of my girls have had these for their daughters and loved them.

When they'd be eating at a restaurant and the pinafore would get dirty, they'd just reverse it to the other side---and wallah!  A clean outfit!

I love how they criss-cross in the back.

(And they're easy to put on!)

These are perfect for summer.

There also great for winter--just add a long-sleeved shirt under the pinafore!

They're cute as a dress.  

(I really like them with diaper bloomers!)

They're cute over shorts.

They're cute over jeans.

They're cute over leggings.

Your little girl may like skirts better...she has them, too!

Her business is called LassieGirlInc.  

Her customers talk about her great quality and fast shipping!

Everything is reasonably priced.

(And she even has some things on sale!)

*If you don't see the size you need, she also does custom orders*

Making Cookies with Granny

I've been lazy today.  I'm still in bed in my pajamas reading an old journal.  In it (from 1999), I read the story of me remembering how my mom let her grandkids make cookies with her.

Granny had the recipe, she mixed the ingredients, but she let the kids stand on a chair and "help."  They agreed for the cookies.  Each ingredient didn't look like a cookie.  The dough didn't look like cookies.  But those kids trusted Granny.  If she said, "We're making cookies," they believed her and chose to participate in making them.  Now some grandkids didn't like getting their hands dirty.  They didn't want to help--they just wanted to eat the cookies!  But they missed out on the sense of accomplishment of "our cookies."  God bless Granny!  (The best I've been able to do with my grandkids is open a Pillsbury refrigerated cookie package and let them put dough on the cookie sheet.)

It reminds me of our lives.  God's promised so much.  And in the middle of our "cookie making," it may not look much like cookies--or the fulfillment of God's promise.  But we can say "It is Good!" just because we know He's in the process and we trust Him.  He has the recipe for our success!  By our act of getting on the chair, we're participating.  We're standing there in faith believing that He'll do what He says He will do.  And it may be a messy process and not at all like we think it should look.  We have to trust Him.

There's delight in sharing a cookie with Granny--a sense of working together and enjoying eating the fruit of your labors. There's also delight in looking back and seeing how God has fulfilled promises, how He's been at work in your life all the time...when each ingredient looked nothing like a cookie!

Hadassah

I've begun teaching my favorite Bible story to the kids at FBC Groom...Esther.  Did you know Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah?  But of course, since neither she nor Mordecai, her cousin who reared her, wanted to reveal their Jewish roots, she went by her Persian name, Esther.  Their family had been taken captive in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon and they
were now living in Persia (which stretched from India to Ethiopia) and Mordecai was serving under King Ahasuerus.  Mordecai must have loved Esther and taught her the things of God and especially  "obedience."

As I was teaching this to the kids last night and taught how Esther was brought to the ultimate beauty contest and went before the king, she stood out among all the other women.  I asked the kids what they thought made her stand out.  And they all agreed it was her obedience.  I left them with the cliff hanger of the secret she and Mordecai shared and how it would affect not only their lives, but the lives of a kingdom.

Obedience.  It's so appealing, so beautiful, so magnetic.  And of course, I would go on to say that as a woman (adult), it was her submission to God that made her stand out.  Obedience/submission...you can't have one without the other, right?  I can't obey if I don't first submit my heart to God.  I Peter 3 says that submission yields a gentle and quiet spirit which is beautiful before God.

The thing I was thinking on yesterday is that Esther's story is really God's story.  He just spoke it through Esther's life.  Through Esther, we learn that God loves His people and will go to any length to rescue them.  I think it's why I love this story so much.  My heart yearns to know how much God loves me...and that He will go to any length to rescue me.  I also long to know that He will speak His story through my life.

*Fun Fact

Hadassah of the Bible was in Persia, which stretched from India to Ethiopia.  Our Hadassah is from Ethiopia.  Hadassah of the Bible was an orphan taken in by a relative.  Our Hadassah was orphaned and taken in.  Esther means "star."  When Jay & Amy first got a photo of our Hadassah, she was wearing a little gown that had a star on it.  It was just God's confirmation to them that this was their child (Because they had already chosen the name, Hadassah.).  Esther 2 says that Hadassah was beautiful.  I rest my case on that one!   

Blogging Grades

Amy Dietz Wright & I were talking the other night and I told her I was going to give her an "F" for trying to blog 6 months worth of photos in one blog post.

But if I give Amy an "F," that means I have to give Marcy Hallden an "F-" for getting me started in the blogging community and then stopping herself.  Oh yeah...don't give me the whole twin bit.  Excuses, excuses...

But if Amy gets an "F" and Marcy gets an "F-" that means Sandra Langford gets an "F--" for her last post in November 2012 entitled, "Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!"

And last, but certainly not least, if Amy gets an "F," Marcy gets an "F-," and Sandra gets an "F--," Zach Dietz would have to get an "F---." His last post was three years ago!!  He had just finished Part 3 of a three-part-series and seems to have used up all his words!!

I'll be sending your parents your report cards.  I know you can bring those grades up!!

Nostalgia

I guess the older I get, the more nostalgic I get.  In fact, I think it just happened this year!!  While Andy & I were toodling around the country this year, I found some treasures I just had to have.  And I realized at every junk store or flea market, I was looking for one thing--things which evoked a memory.  These are some of the things I found and I had no idea where I'd put them when I got them, but I wanted them.  And it's been fun finding their new home.

This red ladder came from Clarendon.  Sandra & I stopped there on our way to Scott's bone marrow donation, lugged it to Ft. Worth, let it stay with Aunt Juanita a few days and lugged it back home.  Why didn't we wait til we were on our way home to buy it, you ask?  Beats me!!  I totally love it.  It brings back memories of my dad painting houses--one of his many side jobs.  In fact, I think he had one very similar to this.

My mom had a set of these bowls while I was growing up.  I remember bread rising in the yellow bowl like this one on many, many days.  I don't remember her having the red or blue bowl, but she probably did and we kids broke it at some point.  I found this treasure in Ruidoso.  I paid more than I wanted to, but found out later I really got a good deal as I saw more sets on my travels!  Score!!  And by the way...I have these in my cabinet and use them every day.

Who remembers gym baskets?  Well...guess what?  I was the basket girl at Pampa Jr. High.  That meant I got out of P.E. I checked out the girls' baskets to them and then they changed clothes and put on their P.E. blue bloomers (yeah...real cute) and then reversed the process at the end of gym class.  After I'd checked the baskets in at the beginning of class, I snuck my way over to Patrick's to get ice cream.  (I actually had the gym teacher's permission, but my dad had forbidden me to go there.  And...he was a mailman in that area and I was always afraid I'd get caught...and did once...or twice.  I don't know why I was afraid, I hardly remember Daddy ever disciplining me!)  So yes...these gym baskets bring back some great memories.  I found these on 6th Street in Amarillo.

I have no idea what I'm going to find next.  

But I'm sure it will be something which evokes a memory.

A One Word Legacy

We had a tragedy in Groom, TX today.  A 14-year-old young man died.  I didn't know Blake Weinheimer...but I'll never forget the one word legacy he's left behind. Blake was a journalist for The Times of the Tiger and this year they took up the challenge from Mike Ashcroft of myoneword.org and chose one word to live by.  Blake chose the word "purpose."  This is what he said:

Purpose 

By Blake Weinheimer 

My word is purpose because I want everything I do this year to have a purpose. And, I want it to be a good purpose, not a bad one. I want to make sure that there’s a reason for everything I do, say and think. If there’s not a good reason for something, then why should I do it? Purpose is the word that I would like to live by for 2014. 

Honestly, I'd never heard of the "my one word" challenge.  But it's affected me.  What word would I choose?  What legacy do I want to pass on?  I believe Blake chose a good word to live by...and one for which he'll long be remembered.  And I believe his friends will take up this legacy and prize it.

Please pray for Blake's family and friends.  Our community is in shock and deep mourning.

My Worst Nightmare

I had a friend send me a video to watch tonight.  Thanks, Jerry Hamlin--I'll have bad dreams tonight!  It's absolutely my worst nightmare.

You see....my dad took us on a great vacation every summer.  Something I'm truly thankful for.  We took some wonderful trips!  He'd sometimes work 3-4 jobs just to save money so he could take us all over the United States to see our country.  Of course, mom was just as much a part as she budgeted that money and took care of us kids while he worked.   It really started when we'd drive to Red River and take that Old Red River Road that was a windy, steep, narrow road.  I can remember us having to hug the rock side of the road to let someone pass...or backing up to a place so someone could go around us.  It terrified me.  But the crisis trip was when we took a bus ride up Pike's Peak.  (At least, that's where I think it was!)  I was fine and having a good time and fully confident in our bus driver.  Until I moved to the very back seat....and the driver had to back the bus up to make a turn...and until my end of the bus was hanging over the mountain!!!
I screamed, "STOP!!!!!" 

And he did.  And he picked up his tour bus microphone and said, "Thank you."  And the whole bus laughed.  I was so terrified I didn't have time to be humiliated.  And I was just thankful he stopped!!

This video reminds me of those drives.



I remember one trip with Andy in the mountains when I made him stop and let me walk.  I truly don't like mountain roads.

Color in Winter

Photo courtesy of LaDonna Jennings

I love winter.  I'm sorry if you don't, and yet live in the same town as me.  When I hear weather reports with snow in the forecast, I begin praying and asking God to dump it here!  The colder the weather, the more energized I am!  My perfect winter day would include me sitting in a clean house by a picture window in a comfy chair while wrapped up in something warm and soft in front of a fire in the fireplace, thick snow coming down like huge feathers, reading a good book, smelling a delicious candle, drinking my favorite flavored coffee and crunching on something chocolate.  (Too detailed?  And I know it doesn't sound like I'm very energized in this scenario--except the clean house bit!)  I know many don't like winter...and I understand why.  My dad was a letter carrier and he hated delivering mail in the cold.  And I have a friend who suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD)--or a lack of sunlight--which brings about severe depression.  I know mommies dread having kids shut inside with no deliverance in sight.  So I understand why others don't appreciate the dark days, the cold, and the snow.

But even if you don't love the dark days, the cold, and the snow, don't you love looking outside and seeing a dot of color God has placed in the midst of the bleakness?  It gives hope.  Hope that in our darkest hour, God will take care of us.  This beautiful bird has done nothing.  It hasn't planted crops, it hasn't gathered food into a barn...but God feeds it.  God has promised the same for you and me.  Whether it's physical, emotional, or spiritual provision...He has it.  And it's more than enough.  You don't have to work for it...you just have to open yourself to the One who owns it all.

If you're walking through a winter not determined by a season, but by circumstances out of your control, God wants you to know He's enough.  He is all you need.  I'm praying you see a dot of color in your winter soon--to fill your heart with hope.

A Twelve-Year-Old Pianist in Pampa's Spring Festival

I was in 6th grade  in 1967 and had been through the traumatic experience of moving across town in Pampa, Texas and changing schools from Woodrow Wilson Elementary to Lamar Elementary.  Sixth grade was the last year of elementary school and most of the kids at Lamar had gone to school together since 1st grade (we didn't have kindergarten then).  And I moved after school started and was thrown into that mix.  My saving grace that year was my music teacher, Sue Higdon.  Apparently, my music teacher at Wilson had told her I played piano because she was ready to hook me up as soon as I stepped into the classroom (which also gave me some standing with my new peers).  I'd had piano lessons for all of two years. HA!  But apparently, I had enough skills to accompany the songs we sang. We'd moved in the fall of that year and the choir was already preparing songs for Pampa's annual Spring Festival.

Pampa's Spring Festival was one of the biggest musical events of the town--the other being the high school musical--all under the direction of Dr. Hugh Sanders.  But the Spring Festival was a concert of all of the choirs from elementary to high school and the junior high and high school bands which took place in the high school gym.  The bands were on the floor and the elementary and junior high choirs sat on the lower spectator risers while the high school choir in their gowns and tuxes had the prestigious risers placed in the center of the gym under the east basketball goal.  There were individual songs sung by the combined elementary schools, the junior high schools and the high school.  But the grand finale was a song sung by all of the combined schools and accompanied by the bands.  There were probably a dozen pianos scattered across the high school gym floor which the respective pianists of the schools played...of which I was one.  Imagine!  Me--a twelve-year-old in the midst of this grandness--the biggest thing Pampa did each year!

It was more nerve-wracking playing for the elementary schools' songs.  Of course, there were probably six more accompanists playing with me (of which some were adults), but I knew my mistakes would stand out more.  I'd practiced my heart out and was ready to give the performance of a lifetime.  And my mistakes were barely noticeable in the grand scheme of things.  But probably one of the greatest moments of my life at that time was accompanying the grand finale with all twelve pianos playing together with the band.  I was probably the only person who could even hear my piano. But a young twelve-year-old girl got to experience being a part of something BIG--something bigger than herself.  And the grandness of that moment was an experience I'll never forget!  And because I was made a part of something so magnificent, I caught the vision of eventually wearing a gown and singing and playing in the high school concert choir.  Which I did.

I was thinking on this experience this morning and was comparing it in my mind to the body of Christ.  What if we graced young believers this way?  What if their contributions were received and appreciated as much as those of the mature believers?  What if their mistakes were overlooked or not even noticed?  What if we enveloped them into the big picture of what God is doing and they felt important, loved, accepted...needed?  What if they caught the vision?

I finished my 6th grade year as an accepted member of my new class.  I can thank my music teacher for that.

Tour of Groom

I know most of you will never get to come to Groom to visit us.  So I wanted to give you a little tour of our new town.   

Of course, we are well-known for our 19-story cross.  If you've driven down I-40, you've probably seen it.  You can read all about it here.  It is well worth the visit--and don't miss the gift shop on the premises!  Come on a nice day so you can spend some time there.

The Grill! The Grill is one of two restaurants in town and has home cooked meals.  I haven't eaten anything there yet that I didn't love!  Be prepared to talk to the friendly locals if you visit.

This is downtown.   The thing that impressed me about Groom when I first came here was how well-kept the town is.  It's obvious our people take pride in it!

Groom S&H Grocery is owned by Charlene.  She does an amazing job---look at everything she offers here! (This is only a small portion) I knew it would be a small grocery store, but it's really remarkable...well-stocked and well-priced.  She also makes her own German sausage, banana bread, jellies, salsa, cinnamon rolls....amazing!  

Across the street from the grocery store is the Groom News.  It's a weekly newspaper and our owner/editor does a great job!

If you follow my blog, you may remember me talking about how quiet the town is--no loud traffic and you seldom hear a siren (I haven't heard one yet!).  That was before I heard the noises coming from the grain elevators!  (My cousins will be laughing at me!)  But I guess it doesn't happen often...at least at this time of year.

One of my new favorite stores--Little Bit of Everything.  And it truly has a little bit of everything!  You can even see what they carry on their Facebook page.  And if you know Jill Babcock, this is Jill & her kids leaving the store.  (She called me later wanting to know why I was taking pictures.  Ha--I got caught!!)  Hi, Jill!!

 This is the Groom post office.  I often forget to go pick up my mail.

This is the local public library connected to the fire/ambulance station.  My friend, Tina, is the local librarian.

The four churches in town (Left to right, top to bottom):  First Baptist Church (11 a.m. Sunday service ), Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, United Methodist Church, Church of Christ.

The Groom Schools--Kindergarten through High School.  We are the Groom Tigers and our colors are red and black!

The Dairy Queen--the other restaurant in town!  It's located off one of our exits next to the motel.  The DQ has the friendliest staff!

This is one of my favorite sites--the Justice of the Peace.  Wouldn't this be a great place if you were wanting to elope?   The stuff movies are made of!

I wanted my friends and family who may never get to come to Groom to see where we live.  But...I hope I've made you want to come!  It's a great place to visit!  

Emotional Healing with Truth

In 1991, the book Love Hunger Weight-Loss Book came out and Jamie Green suggested that I teach it.  I began reading the book and realized it was more about emotional healing than losing weight.  And I also realized I needed to work through some emotional healing because all kinds of feelings were bubbling up as I read it.  At the same time, Major Ian Thomas was at our church and I had an opportunity to ask him what he thought of emotional healing.  He said something like, "A bunch of nonsense!"  Ha!  But God wouldn't let go of me.  I knew I needed to address this subject.  So I approached Andy about it and told him I thought I needed to work through some emotional healing.  His words were to the effect, "Just please don't get bogged down in this!  I've seen too many people start the process and never leave the swamp of emotions."  So we agreed I'd give it about a month.  (In hindsight, I know God was laughing at us both!)

I used the book (which I can recommend to begin the process) but I also began praying, "God, lead me to Your Truth!" I knew this beginning truth: "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set  you free." John 8:32

Honestly, that first process didn't take long--probably a month.  I worked hard.  I wanted freedom in my life.  It was a very alone time for me as I met with God and allowed Him to do spiritual and emotional surgery on me.  And...it was painful.  Before God could reveal Truth to me, he had to uncover the lies I was believing.  That was hard.  Because most of those lies had come from spiritual leaders in my life.  Of course, the Bible was my measuring rod and anything that didn't line up with the Word of God had to go.  BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!!  The freedom that moved into my being was unbelievable and worth every pain I experienced along the way.  

I never finished the book and I didn't lose weight--except the weight of the emotional baggage I'd been carrying around.  But I also have to tell you it wasn't a one-time-thing.  God knows we can't handle too much at a time--it would be overwhelming to us.  So He's come to me at different times throughout my life with more healing in store.  The reason I'm even sharing this is because He's brought me to that place again.

I have some helps for you since I've been through this a few times:

1. Before you begin, promise yourself you're not going to get bogged down in a cesspool of emotions.  Satan would like nothing better than to destroy you.  Find a spiritual partner you trust, can talk to openly, and who will hold you accountable.  Tell them what you plan on doing and ask them to make sure you don't get off-track or stay there too long.  If your emotions are overwhelming, find a godly counselor--it's OK!  
2. Promise yourself you're going to forgive others as God reveals hurts.  Make up your mind ahead of time. And remember that God is a jealous God--He never allows people to meet all of our needs.  He wants to be the one to do that.  So if you become angry over a person not measuring up the way you expected or needed, realize God wanted you to find Him in that place.
3. Let the Word of God be your standard.  If your thoughts or spiritual principles don't line up with the Word of God, toss them out!  Continually ask God for TRUTH that sets free!  Do this each time you meet with God.
4. I can promise you that anger will emerge.  You may become angry at spiritual leaders, parents, siblings, a spouse, a boss, etc.  But don't sit down and write them a letter or call them at this point.  The only message they'll hear is that you are angry.  And they'll become defensive.  You may never need to talk to them...you may just need to forgive them and move on.  (Forgiveness rule of thumb:  If it's been a public offense, it demands a public confession.  If it was a private offense between two people, it demands a private confession.  If it was an offense you only took up in your mind, the confession remains between you and God.)  And you have to remember...most of those people were probably doing their very best with the knowledge they had at the time.
5. JOURNAL!!  Spill all of those emotions in your journal--just between you and God.  It is a catharsis to write it all out.  And later, you'll be able to go back and look at your spiritual journey.  In the book, Love Hunger, there's an exercise they give to write and write until your subconscious takes over.  I did that and learned a few things about myself of which I was totally unaware.
6. I'm not sure how it's going to look for you.  But for me, once I became aware of lies, I was able to recognize them as lies, bring them to God and just confess, "these are lies!" And it's like He plucked them out and I turned my back on them.  I then asked Him to fill me with His Truth and I moved forward.  I'm sure it's not going to look like that for everyone.  But I see things as very black & white and that's the way it was for me.
7. Forgive yourself.  You may feel a lot of guilt for not knowing these things were there--or for passing them on to your children!  But God's grace covers this.  And He's delighted that you have come in agreement with Him and are being set free!  Put yourself in the place of a parent.  If your child had been held hostage and had been released, wouldn't you be celebrating?? You will want to share the truth you've discovered with your kids if they're old enough to understand.  Otherwise, course correction in your own life will be effective with younger kids.  And it may involve you asking forgiveness of others if you've passed on emotional wounds or lies.
8. Embrace the freedom!  It may be scary at first.  I liken it to a baby coming out of the womb.  That baby may flail because it's out of it's secure place and the lights are bright and it's cold!  It's totally unfamiliar.  But know that God has brought you into freedom.  And you are certainly going to warm up to it.  It becomes exhilarating!
9. Prepare to go through these steps again and again throughout your life.  You will become more and more free!  And it's never as hard as that first time.  God wants you to know the Truth and be set free by it!  You won't have to plan those times...I promise God will be faithful to bring you to them. 
10. Spend time praising God and getting to know Him and love Him on a new level.  Freedom affords that opportunity!  Stay in the Word and test everything you hear from now on before you receive it as truth!

Tooth Fairy--My All-Time Favorite Story

When we first moved to Borger, the only housing available was a two-bedroom apartment with about 900 square feet.  Amy (9), David (6) & Zach (4) shared a bedroom and Matt (10) slept in the dining room on a daybed.  It was cozy.  And it actually worked.  

One night, David lost his first tooth and he was very excited that the Tooth Fairy would come and see him.  Zach became hysterical---he did NOT want that Tooth Fairy coming into his room.  He bawled and squalled and it didn't look like there was going to be an end in sight.  

So I took him into my bedroom and shut the door.  Quietly, I told him, "Zach, you don't have to be afraid of the Tooth Fairy.  I'M the Tooth Fairy!!"  His crying stopped and he just stared at me with his mouth open.  "Uh-uh," he said.  I shook my head yes and assured him I was the Tooth Fairy.  And then I told him, "I'll prove it to you.  Tonight, I'll leave a dime under your pillow when I put money under David's pillow and you'll know I'M the Tooth Fairy."  He giggled a minute, just staring at me.  He gave me a long look and then he asked, "How do you get to all those houses every night?"

My all-time favorite story.  

Hands. down.

Zach--just a little older than when this story took place.

The Fixer

Hi!  My name is Becky and I'm a Fixer.  I've been a fixer most of my life.  What that means is that I've felt responsible to fix things--either situations or relationships--or circumstances involving both.  I guess a nice way of saying it is I'm a natural born nurturer.  A not-so-nice way of saying it is I'm a control freak.

I think the key phrase in my life the past few months has been "feeling responsible."  I've felt responsible to fix relationships.  I've felt responsible to intervene between key people in my life.  I've felt responsible to fix situations around me.

Honestly?  I think moms come by this naturally.  We're forced into that situation as mothers.  We're negotiators for hostile takeovers by our children constantly.  We fix relationships by making our children kiss and make-up.  We fix situations by disciplining them when they disobey.  We're fixers just by having the role of MOM.

But if I'm completely honest, I would have to tell you it began in my life much earlier.  It was a little evident when both of my brothers called me "little mama"...and that wasn't a term of endearment.  I fixed my brother's lives by tattling constantly.  I wanted to make sure they walked the straight and narrow....just like me.  (This little problem with pride grew as I did.)

Not much has changed.  People in my life have felt the effects of The Fixer in their lives.  I've fixed Andy plenty.  I think, as wives, it's easiest for us to fix our husbands.  We want them to be loved and respected.  (Isn't that noble?)  Not just by the outside world but even by their own children.  So we want to tell them when they may have overstepped their bounds with their kids or hurt someone's feelings.  We naturally want good relationships in our family.  But we also don't want to be embarrassed by what our husbands may say or do in public.  So we may correct them later in private.  (not sure how I know that one!)  And we may actually feel good that we did it in private.  But God has stepped into my life in this area and told me to lay it down.  (Put the gun down, Becky...nice and slow.)   No more fixing.  No more feeling responsible for anyone but me.  When I feel responsible and intervene, I'm actually preventing what God may be trying to do in someone else's life.  They can't hear God for hearing me--loud and clear.  (It's pride...and it's ugly.  And it's the whole log and splinter thing, too.)

So...I've laid it down.  And there's no way I'd actually be sharing this ugliness with you young moms except I was talking with a mom of grown children today who told me she realized how overburdened she was feeling because she was feeling responsible for everyone in her life and too many situations to count!  It was affecting her physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually--to the point she was ready to throw in the towel!  It made me realize this is a problem common to us women.  I'm not alone--I'm not the only Fixer!  I was able to share with her the journey I'm on.  I'm learning to say to myself, "I am not responsible" and let the chips fall where they may.  I'm also trying not to intervene when the chips fall and chaos or hurt feelings ensue.  But just so you know, feeling responsible can become a very familiar place!  And in a stressful moment, it's easy to go right back there.  I know the only way to overcome this is through the power of the Holy Spirit--quickening my spirit in those moments and reminding me that I am not responsible.  The only person I'm responsible for now is ME!

As a mom of young kids, you are The Fixer.  You have to intervene, teach, train, and negotiate with your kids...but not your husband.  And you don't want to intervene between your husband and your kids!  They are his responsibility, too.  And you just need to know that you need to work yourself out of a job as The Fixer in your kids' lives as they grow.  You'll do yourselves both a favor.

I'm a slow learner.  But I am learning.  I'm learning how much more God can do when I'm not The Fixer...and am out of His way.  He's waited a long time for this opportunity!

The Progressive Nature of God

I love being 57-years-old!  It's a great vantage point.  I can look back on my life and see the progressive nature of God in my life.  He is committed to changing us from glory to glory. (II Cor. 3:18)  The process hasn't always been an easy one.  Yesterday, I talked about the defining moments of my life and there have been many.  Many of those moments have come either when I've heard a preacher teach something or when I've read a book.  But at 57, I can look back and see how God has been on a mission of transforming me into the image of Jesus Christ and used many people to press me toward that goal.  It's kind of like jumping from one leap pad to the next.  Or one veil after another being lifted from my eyes.

Since I just finished a book that has yet again taken me to a new place and unveiled a part of God and His plan I hadn't known, I thought I might just give you a short version of some of the things I've learned over the years that have brought me to where I am today...not the finished product by any means.  But I'm enjoying where I am!  And I have to say...I've been blessed to be taught by some of the best teachers in the world!

• Dale Younce taught at a camp when I was 12-years-old and encouraged us to begin praying for God to prepare us for our mates and to prepare them for us.  I took him up on it!
• Jerry Bryan taught a regular class for us as teenagers and I learned things like the omnipotance and omniscience of God.  He systematically took us through the Word of God.
• I sat under Paul Burleson for several years and his teachings on the tabernacle deeply affected me.
• Major Ian Thomas came to our church and I heard about the saving life of Christ.
• I read Classic Christianity by Bob George.  His book encouraged me to begin seeking Truth...because knowing the Truth will set you free.
• I read the book Love Hunger by Drs. Minirth & Meirer which began a journey of emotional healing for me.  I began to see that in order to know the Truth, I had to be set free from lies.
• Bill & Anabel Gillham came to our church and taught about how we are made up by body, soul and spirit. I read Anabel's book, The Confident Woman, and it changed my life. 
• God Himself began revealing to Andy & I that just as we are made up of body, soul & spirit, it correlates to the tabernacle--the outer court, the inner court and the holy of holies.  We also saw the progressiveness of the way, truth & life.
• Around this time, I read Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere.  It deeply affected me.  It meant so much to me that he'd gone to Dallas Theological Seminary and yet was teaching on the Holy Spirit.  He gave me "permission" to pursue the life the Holy Spirit offers.
• Peter Lord came to our church and offered a very small class to those who wanted to learn how to hear God.  I was privileged to be a part of that class.  It was life-transforming to know that I could hear God!  He also has a book on the subject.
• At this time, I also read Peter Lord's book called, Keeping the Doors Open.  It's about dealing with a prodigal child.  I saw it more as a book on good parenting.  I highly recommend it.
• Many of the above things happened in a relatively short time.  Then God gave us opportunity to meet with a group of friends to learn how to pray, how to hear God, and how to minister within a safe environment where there was plenty of grace.  I feel like God put us in a hothouse and allowed us to grow in the things we were learning.
• We watched the Blessed Life video series (also in book form) by Robert Morris.  It changed how we viewed giving our firstfruits and the blessing it brings.
• I read Deadline (a fiction book) by Randy Alcorn.  It changed my view of heaven.  I still give this book to people who've lost a loved one.
• I went to a Joyce Meyer conference where I bought a tape of her teaching on prophesying your future.  
• Jim Cymbala's book called Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire went on my life-changing list.
• Jay & Amy told Andy & I about the book, Antagonists in the Church by Kenneth C. Haugk. It gave me permission to admit there are problem people in the church.
• I know there are many other books and speakers God has used to bring me to the place I'm at right now, but I just can't think of them all.  But yesterday, David brought me the book, Pure Grace by Clark Whitten.  It's going on my list of life-changers.  Clark closed the circle for me which Paul Burleson's teaching on the tabernacle and the Gillham's teaching on body, soul & spirit began.  He teaches on the four dwelling places of God and what it means for us as believers.  It has literally changed my paradigm!  

I know all of our journeys are unique.  But if God can use any of my journey to help you on your journey--SWEET!  It's just exciting to look back and to see the message God has pursued me with--Grace.  He's wanted me to get that He loves me unconditionally and there's nothing I have to do to earn His love, forgiveness or friendship.  It's a done deal.  Do I wish I'd "gotten" it early?  Absolutely.  But I love that my Daddy has chased me down and used so many different people with different backgrounds (and my own children!) to pursue me with His message of love.  That's the progressive nature of God--changing me from glory to glory!