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By Ruth Gadberry
Hello July! Not everyone is too excited about July but, like it or not, July is here. Don’t worry, it will be gone before you know it. Get out the sun screen, find a shady spot and maybe a swimming hole, pray for a few clouds and a breeze and pretend this is your favorite month of the year. Goodness, did you realize we are half way through 2020?
Yes, we really did have some showers again last week but nothing to brag about, at least for most people. There were sprinkles now and then but they didn’t amount to anything either. This weekend, July 4th weekend, is supposed to be great, with no rain. Hot? Well, of course. After all, this is July in Oklahoma.
There was a good attendance for worship services at First Baptist Church Sunday morning. Several people were out of town and others still haven’t ventured out because of the coronavirus thing. Lots of kids were there, many of them getting ready .to go to Falls Creek for their modified Youth Camp. Is camp a good idea? Some think it’s great and others are a bit hesitant about kids going to camp while the virus continues to rage.
There were several birthdays celebrated Sunday morning but apparently last week wasn’t a good week for weddings.
Good sermon, Preacher Joey! He preached about Gideon and there is a lot we can learn from Gideon. He is a favorite Bible hero for many people.
Yes, Bible study will begin again this Wednesday evening at 6:30. Hopefully it won’t be much longer before they can start Sunday School again as well.
You listen to the news and just don’t know what to think or do about the coronavirus. It seems to be gaining speed with more people testing positive for the virus. More people are recovering from it and many people who have it really don’t get all that sick from it. More like a mild case of the flu than the killer disease we’re fighting. Since more people are being tested, of course more people are testing positive.
Quite a bunch of people think they’ve had the virus and have recovered without actually being counted as a victim of the disease. They didn’t even go to the doctor but just treated it something like the flu and recovered at home. Should everybody be tested? You might test negative one day and positive the next day; would you need to be tested every day? Does wearing a mask really help? Should wearing a mask be mandatory? How about Social Distancing? Should everything be closed down again? For how long? These are questions they are still trying to find an answer for.
Beth and Ray went back to Duncanville last week for a dental appointment for Beth. They didn’t get to visit with their next door neighbors; the ones who kinda look out for their home, mow their yard, and bring in their junk mail. Someone in their family had the virus and they were quarantined at home. The neighbor on the other side of them can’t go back to work because one of the people she works with has the virus. Ray decided there really wasn’t any reason for them going back to the Dallas area for awhile. He’d like to see his kids and other family members in South Texas but decided that could wait for now.
Some places that have opened back up have already been closed again. Now a BIG question; what about schools? Will the same thing work for all schools? Should there be one set of rules and regulations? Should each school do what they think is best for their students and teachers? Do you think maybe we should talk to Almighty God about the virus situation? Ask Him to guide us through this crisis?
Sunday evening was a great time for JC and Ruth. Beth and Ray came out, bringing a cake, watermelon, and whatever. Then Roy and Kathy, Zack, Amber, Brooklyn and Carter came out bringing all sorts of food. Green beans and ham, mashed potatoes, biscuits, meatloaf, corn, cupcakes, more watermelon; food all over the place. When Zack cooks, he cooks enough for an army. No one went away hungry. Then they all gathered on the front porch where it was cooled by a nice breeze. They discussed the world situation, who to vote for, and all sorts of things while Brooklyn and Carter watered the plants and played with the surprises their Aunt brought them.
No, they didn’t bring Cocoa, Dude, or Mr. Goodbar this time. They left them at home in their own pasture.
Beth and Ray have a new driveway. Well, it’s just the old one but you might not recognize it after all the work that has been done on it. It’s gravel from the road, Woodruff Loop, almost to the garage. It’s concrete from the last cattle guard on to the garage. Yes, there are a couple of cattle guards. One just after you turn into the driveway from Woodruff Loop and another closer to the house. Now, as soon as they can get a yard fence built they can take down the electric fence and Zack’s horses can roam anywhere they want to except in the yard.
Beth really wanted a stile across the fence. She has always wanted a stile but doesn’t have much chance of getting that. Wouldn’t a gate be much easier? Simpler? She would want a gate anyway. She might break her neck climbing over a stile. The crooked man in the nursery rhyme walked a crooked mile and found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile. Remember? He bought a crooked cat who caught a crooked mouse and they all lived together in a little crooked house. How long since you’ve even thought of that nursery rhyme? Beth just taught kindergarten for too many years!
Home Sweet Home. There’s no place like home. Home again, home again. It’s great to be home again. Just ask Claude and Sassy. They’ve been out of their home for several weeks now, even months. Well, it was before everything was closed because of the coronavirus thing. They came home from Sunday School and church services one Sunday to find their home flooded. They definitely had running water; everywhere. Water, water everywhere! Apparently a hot water heater burst or something. Anyway, it was wet! Everything soaked. All the carpet had to be removed. Even the walls were wet and needed special attention.
First, of course, the Insurance Company has to do its thing and that doesn’t happen overnight. Then someone has to be found who could do the work, and fit it into their schedule and all that sort of thing. Of course Claude and Sassy had to decide on new carpet and make decisions about things they hadn’t even thought about.
Fortunately Claude and Sassy had a place where they could live while the work, remodeling, etc. could be done. The house they moved into had everything they needed already there. They just needed their clothes and personal items. Well, you know how that goes; what you really need isn’t there when you need it. So you either have to go buy a new whatever it is you need, go home and dig through a box to search for it, or do without.
Now their house is completely restored. The Fix-it people took their time – a LOT of time, so says Claude and Sassy. Now they are back home and the fun part starts; searching through all the boxes, sorting out things, deciding where things belong, wondering why in the world they kept this or that or something else; that sort of thing. The boxes were, of course, labeled. You know, ‘living room’, ‘kitchen’, ‘hall closet’ and on and on and on. Only, can you believe this? Some of the boxes lied. They said something was in them but they found something entirely different when they opened the boxes. Imagine that.
Anyway, it was great to get settled into their old-new home again. It’s been a long time and someone broke into their house while they were out and took some things that they really didn’t want to part with. You know, there are some people in the world we could very easily do without!
Lots of deer are being seen lately and many of them have fawns with them. Two does and three fawns were seen in JC and Ruth’s driveway Sunday afternoon. No, don’t even bother asking; hunting isn’t allowed except maybe by family members.
Remember, this is a good time to be reminded that if you see a baby deer, don’t assume it’s an orphan and take it home with you. Most likely its momma is nearby, watching it.
When JC and Ruth got home from shopping in Atoka last week a neighbor followed them up the driveway and gave Ruth a bag with squash and cucumbers in it. Hey. this was the real thing. The fresh-from-the-garden stuff! Neighbors; they’re wonderful! Thank you so much!
You did vote didn’t you? Our nation is in destress and needs a LOT of help. You can start by voting and by learning as much as you can about each of the candidates. Has God gotten your attention yet? Have you asked, ‘I’m here Lord. What do you want me to do?’ Then do it!
How are you celebrating July 4th? Be safe, be happy, remember why we celebrate this holiday, and be thankful!
Ah! Ruth has finally located some guineas! Brayden Tisdale is the gal to contact. She can get all kinds; Ruth didn’t know there were that many kinds of guineas. Ruth didn’t want to start with baby guineas but preferred some grown up a little. You know, sorta like teenagers. Not grown up but not babies either. Baby guineas are kinda temperamental and are hard to raise without a momma guinea to take care of them. Hopefully these will already have a good start and will thrive and grow and be happy in the Guinea Inn.
Ray has decided he wants to have guineas in his yard this year too. This week he plans to build a home for them. When he gets it built they will all head over to visit Brayden and bring their guineas home with them. Hopefully they will gobble down every last tick and grasshopper in the yard.
We don’t need more strength or more ability or greater opportunity. What we need is to use what we have.
