Silliness

On our way home from dinner Friday night, Les asked if I knew what this symbol was:



A cross-eye fish!

Go ahead and laugh or groan...

Pool Invaders, Take Two

I found this little guy this evening. It's been pretty hot, so I can't blame him for wanting to cool off.

1930s Marital Scale

I think this is hilarious! I would have been a superior wife during the Depression! Not sure what that says about the wife I am today!!

72 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

There were 100 questions and I answered them according to ME, not according to what I thought a 1930s wife would be like. I missed being Very Superior by 4 points, probably due to my lack of children! According to the makers of the test, the wife test has a question about the number of children, and that number is multiplied by 5 to produce the score for that question. I agree with that - any woman with children deserves extra credit!

The Sounds of Christmas

Around my house, Christmas music starts early. While I enjoy the sounds of the season, there is also a valid reason for such an early start!

For many years now our church has had a Christmas Recital on a Sunday night in December. Any of our children, young people, or adults that are taking music lessons are encouraged to learn a Christmas carol and play it. It's a lot of fun - from "one finger" songs by beginners to complex pieces by our most advanced musicians, with an occasional squeaking clarinet or trumpet thrown in for good measure! I met with Sis. White, our awesome Music Director and Pastor's wife, on Wednesday to start selecting songs.

So... it's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas...

Worry

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its strength.

- Mom's Bible

As a teenager I thought Mom was a total worrier! She never went to sleep until all her kids were safely at home. Of course now I understand that is just what moms do! When I was in my twenties I was glad she was up because those were times when she and I could talk without distractions.

I had a friend who once told me she never worried. Her reason? "Mom worries about my weight, Dad worries about my finances, my sister worries about my lack of a boyfriend, and my brother worries about my car! What do I have to worry about?"

I was probably about 8 or 9 the first time I heard the message and poem "Just Let It Unfold" preached by my pastor Elder Vaughn Morton. I have heard the message many times since then, and it always comes back to a choice: worry or trust? Whichever we choose, the outcome is still in God's hands - so choose trust!

JUST LET IT UNFOLD

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I;
The flower God opens so sweetly
Would in my hands fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day;
And I'll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

For the pathway that lies before me,
My Heavenly Father knows;
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.

(author unknown)

Bible Study!

Our church has been on a quest to start 30 new Home Bible Studies by August 31st. We will celebrate this Sunday by presenting Bibles to all our students and provide lunch after our morning service.

So after Ladies Prayer this morning, I taught lesson #1 of Exploring God's Word to Isabel Ramos!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Isabel is a neighbor of Sis. Maria Halverson. Sis. Maria could have taught the study, but wanted someone else. She really taught the majority of it because Isabel does not understand English very well, so I would say a couple of sentences and Maria would translate my words into a few paragraphs! It doesn't really matter to me who did what, God gets all the glory!

Please pray for Isabel to have an open heart to God's word, me to teach, and Maria to translate and teach even more!

A B C Verses

Mom loved children and she loved the word of God. So when she was teaching pre-Kindergarten at the Christian school she came up with a unique way to combine learning letters and learning the word of God. I found five pages of hand written verses - A through Z. If I remember correctly, the goal was to learn all the verses by the end of the year, quoting them out loud.

It should also be noted that Mom never had a computer or any type of Bible software. She found these verses the old fashioned way - by reading Mom's Bible!!

A - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:7

B - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23

C - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7

D - Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4

E - Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. Proverbs 21:2

F - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

G - Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

H - Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Deuteronomy 6:4

I - I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1

J - Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

K - Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3

L - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 150:6

M - My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

N - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

O - One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:5, 6

P - Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Proverbs 4:26

Q - Quench not the Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:19

R - Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

S - Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2

T - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19

U - Use hospitality one to another without grudging. I Peter 4:9

V - Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:15

W - We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; I Thessalonians 1:2

X - Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. Psalm 99:5

Y - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4

Z - Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. Luke 19:5

School Days

It almost seems impossible that school is already starting for another year. I remember so well getting ready to FINALLY go to school. As the youngest of four, it seemed my turn would never come! I had learned all my letters, could write my name, and was very anxious for my school career to begin. I couldn't wait to walk that one block to Del Mar Elementary School in Fresno!

I remember my first "boyfriend". Learning how to jump rope. The "Circus" book we made, with my 5 year old drawings of clowns, lions, elephants, and more - I know exactly where it is at Dad's house because Mom kept it!

My Kindergarten class included Sellivan Rought - the first African American student in our school. I remember feeling sorry for him, not because of his color, but because he was new to the neighborhood and didn't know anyone in our class. The color of his skin didn't matter to me - he was a scared little boy in need of a friend.

I'm sitting here stunned that my schooling started nearly 40 years ago! Where has the time gone?

I also have an overwhelming burden for our children and young people. I was so innocent at five. The world held such promise. And I was blessed with teachers that wanted to teach, that loved children, and weren't pushing an agenda or lifestyle that was contrary to the word of God.

Parents, please know that I am praying for your kids today.



My Kindergarten class in May, 1970

To Kathy

I have had the following poem in my possession, written in Mom's perfect, beautiful handwriting, for over 30 years. She knew me well. She also stepped aside with a smile, and a few tears...

To Kathy

On that special day when I knew.
A brand new life within me grew,
I said, Oh No, it can't be true.

But, thank You, God,
For letting it be;
I prayed for a Girl,
And You gave her to me!

We could have spoiled you,
So easily;
The very last member of our family

You wouldn't let us,
You wouldn't sit still;
You'd rather be out
Climbing a tree or a hill.

You've packed away
All your dolls and toys,
Now you've started to talk to boys.

I love your blond hair,
And your pretty blue eyes;
The way they sparkle around the guys.

You're now a young lady,
In most every way;
But in my heart,
A Babe you will stay.

Help me step aside,
With a smile on my face;
While you, in life's journey
Find your perfect place.

Love,
Mom

7-8-77

The Holidays!

Now that kids are going back to school, I thought I'd add a little countdown to the holidays. This will stay at the top of my blog. There's nothing like this time of the year - the promise of cooler weather, falling leaves, family gatherings, and pumpkin muffins baking in the oven! Of course around here it also means earlier sunsets, Santa Ana winds, and wild fires!

If you're in need of Pumpkin Muffins, here's a great, easy recipe from Weight Watchers.

1 16 oz. can of pumpkin pie filling
1 spice cake mix
1/4 cup of water

Mix ingredients (no eggs or oil needed). Put in greased muffin pans. Bake according to cupcake recipe on cake mix. Be sure to bake the entire time suggested (i.e. if it says 33-37 minutes, bake for 37 minutes). Makes approximately 18. And if you're familiar with Weight Watchers points - these muffins are 1 point each and very filling!

Enjoy!

Mr. Churchwell

My final installment of "Les Week" comes from his high school days. I really didn't plan a "Les Week", it just turned out this way!

Les attended White's Creek High School in Nashville, Tennessee. His band instructor was Mr. Robert S. Churchwell, Jr. Mr. Churchwell had high expectations of every student in his class and didn't let anyone get away with sloppiness. Lateness or coming to class without all the necessary materials was cause for the following:

Mr. C: Boy, why are you late?
Student: Aww, Mr. Churchwell...
Mr. C: Boy, you're lying to me!
and if you'll lie, you'll cheat!
and if you cheat, you'll steal!
and if you steal, you'll kill!
I don't want no murderers in my band class! Get out now!!!

We have laughed about this many times - especially since Les can imitate Mr. Churchwell when he turns on his "Southern" accent (ask him to do it sometime!) There is much truth in this as well. Oh the progression of sin! The slippery slope we find ourselves on!

So Much to be Thankful For

The past few days I have been focusing on Les - his birthday, our meeting, and the fun we have. But without God's healing touch on Les when he was a young boy, this week's blogs would have never taken place. I've taken notes from a message Les preached a couple of years ago about his healing of Muscular Dystrophy and want to share them in his own words:

During my Kindergarten year I experienced a rapid decrease in my ability to get around. I lost the ability to jump, run, walk up stairs and would complain about my legs hurting. Once, Mom mentioned that I seemed to be struggling keeping up with the others at play. I answered that my new pants weren’t broken in yet and they were slowing me down. To this point, parents wrote it off as growing pains and growth spurts.

But on a camping trip with three boys and two Moms – Mom’s friend noticed how I walked and ran. She said something looked very wrong and that I should be checked out. Later that summer, my Grandmother was visiting and told my Mother that something was seriously wrong with me and that I should be taken immediately to a doctor.

At this point, I could not walk up stairs without help. At home I crawled on my hands and knees. In public, Mom or Dad would assist me.

At the doctor’s office, I was unable to hop on one foot, or jump over a small block using both feet. Our doctor referred us to a specialist and arranged for an appointment.

First thing the doctors had me do was walk up a flight of stairs, which I couldn’t do. One doctor commented to the other, “ Have you ever seen it this bad in one so young?” They thought they were out of earshot, but my Mother overheard them say this. Doctors ran more tests, prescribed some exercises to be done at home, then scheduled a follow-up visit for two weeks later.

Before getting in the car, I wanted to go over to a fountain near where the car was parked. Mom gave permission and watched from the driver’s seat as I went over to the fountain. She broke down in the car and asked God what was happening to her little boy. As she lay her head on the steering wheel weeping, the Lord spoke to her and said, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in doctors, believe also in me.”

A couple of nights later, Mom and Dad started to do our first session of exercises. As we began, conviction gripped their hearts. They decided that if God was going to do something, He would get all the glory and nobody would be able to take credit for any part of it. We never did those exercises again.

That Sunday in church, by the gift of tongues and interpretation in operation, a message came to congregation. The message started by quoting II Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” The Lord went on to say that there were needs in that place that only He could meet, and that if you would just have faith in Him, every need could be met.

As a spirit of worship swept through the auditorium, my parents felt like this was to them, and they took me up to have me prayed for.

A couple of nights later, the same family we had camped with was over for dinner and we three boys were in the basement playing. Upstairs, they heard a bunch of whooping and hollering and came down to see what was going on. When they stepped into the recreation room, the first thing they saw was ME running around the room with my friend on my back!

A few days after that, I went back to the doctor for my follow-up visit. The doctor ran full tests again. He commented to my Mother, “Looks like the exercises have helped.” But my Mother said, “We haven’t been doing the exercises. What happened is that a lot of prayers have been going up for this boy, and God has healed him of this disease." The doctor told her that he wasn’t sure about that, but whatever we were doing, to keep on doing it.

And that was the last time I ever saw that doctor.

That little boy who couldn't walk up stairs, is the man who now goes on 100 mile bike rides, has hiked the Grand Canyon, he skis, swims, golfs, and runs, and keeps me on my toes!

I am so thankful for praying parents and for a prayer answering God!

The Birthday Continues!

Les had to be in San Diego for meetings in the corporate office yesterday. This is what his office looked like this morning:

Birthday Report

We started celebrating Les' birthday on Friday night by having dinner at Buca di Beppo. Mmmmm! After being serenaded, of course Les got a free desert. Delicious Double Dark Chocolate Cake!! So rich we had to take two thirds of it home with us and feasted on it for several days.

On Saturday Les and Bro. Hector Flores rode the Cool Breeze Century in 6 hours, 5 minutes. It's 100 miles from Ventura to Goleta and back. This is one of Les' favorite century rides and it's "cool" that it falls close to his birthday every year. Three years ago he did his longest ride ever by riding from our house to Ventura, riding the Cool Breeze, then riding home - 200 miles! He's amazing!

Yesterday morning we hopped on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and rode to Santa Barbara. It is such a great way to travel - 90 minutes to go 80 miles in So. Cal! And I'm sure we would have spent as much on gas and parking as the tickets cost.

It was still a little overcast when we arrived in Santa Barbara around 10:15, but the day turned out to be gorgeous. We started out by having breakfast at the original Sambo's on Cabrillo Blvd. FYI - the Sambo's name came from the names of the two founders of Sambo's - Sam Battistone and Newell "Bo" Bohnett.

After breakfast our adventure was in full swing! We first rented a motorboat and headed out to sea for an hour. We saw a seal or sea lion - I'm not sure which one lives around Santa Barbara! We then rented a tandem bicycle and rode it for an hour. I guess the bike rental place must have known that Les is getting "older" because they gave us a tandem with a white basket on the front! We spent the remainder of the afternoon strolling up and down State Street. There was a farmers' market going - something you would never see on a Saturday since they had State Street closed for several blocks.

Our final stop for the day was at The Harbor Restaurant on the pier. We started out with Lobster Spring Rolls, then we both ordered Prime Rib - something we never eat! It was delicious. We finished our meal by splitting a piece of boysenberry pie that was actually a small pie of its own, lots of yummy crust!

A summary of the day - we rode (train, boat, bike) and ate our way through Santa Barbara and enjoyed every minute! All these pictures were taken with Les' iPhone - I was surprised that so many turned out as well as they did!

Happy Birthday, Les!

Today is my best friend's birthday!! We had known each other just a few hours, and were sitting at Lyons in Santa Maria, when the clock struck midnight. All of us at the table serenaded Les and wished him a happy 26th birthday.

Nineteen years later, I am more in love with this man than I ever thought could be possible. We have had so much fun together through the years. No one can make me laugh like Les!

Whether it's a look across the platform or a whispered word during service, our brains seem to land on the same thought every time. We've been on many adventures together, from Bible Quizzing trips all over California to vacations in fun places to my latest adventure - skiing!

Les, you are truly my best friend! You have been there for me through the dark days of losing Rod and Mom. You've supported me financially and emotionally. You are faithful and loving. You make me think when you teach and you're my awesome, faithful, choir bass player! But most of all, you make my life better by just being you.

I love you!!!

P.S. We're spending the day in Santa Barbara! Hopefully I'll have pictures to post tomorrow.

Our Anniversary... kinda, in a way

August 18, 1989 was the final night of Camp Meeting in Santa Maria. I had gone for the week and was planning on staying for Senior Camp which started the next day. This was my final year of eligibility as a camper, having turned 25 the previous April.

After service, my friend Yvonne and I were talking to Ruby Wilson when we spotted "him". His name was Les McElhaney and I had been introduced (briefly) to him at Youth Convention the previous March. At Youth Convention I was already going out with someone else, so I wasn't extremely friendly to Les - much to Yvonne and Ruby's dismay! This time, I was "free" and decided to thank God for second chances! When Les didn't even remember meeting me, I was happy to start over! This night was the beginning of something very special that eventually led to our marriage on May 25, 1991.

We spent all week of Senior Camp getting acquainted and finding out our common likes and dislikes. Because I had been a Senior Camp fixture for so many years, and Les was actually on the staff, the rest of the staff was very kind to let us stay out later than usual getting to know each other. I remember Bro. Harvey Cantrell coming by, shining his giant flashlight on us, smiling and letting us continue sitting there!! And the Hoppers helped me out when a certain pest from Fresno wanted to sit in on all our conversations!

So now you know what happened to those two 10 year olds from those long ago camps in California and Tennessee. I could go on and on about this wonderful man I married, but for now I'll just say "I Believe in Youth Camp!"

Money in the Bank

I blogged here about Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, a couple of weeks ago. And while I still am not an Olympic enthusiast, just reading the front page of paper kept me aware of his record breaking feats.

Yahoo! News had an interesting article, recapping these events. I found the following statements very true in our own lives, as well:

"Bob has a saying, 'Putting money in the bank,' " Phelps said. "When we train every day, sometimes there are workouts you don't like, don't want to do. Bob says you're putting money in the bank.

"I guess I put a lot of money in the bank over the last four years, and we withdrew pretty much every penny in the bank. After Bob and I both grab a little break, it'll be time to start depositing."

Prayer, Bible reading, worshiping in services, soaking in the preaching, consistent living - all of those are "putting money in the bank". There are days when the bank gets fuller and fuller. And there are days when it takes everything we have in our bank to get out of bed and face what life has handed us.

Living close to God in days of blessing will enable the soul to have assurance and faith when trouble comes.

- Mom's Bible

Daddy's Girl

I've spent lots of time writing about Mom, but I don't want to leave Dad out. I am blessed with a wonderful Dad! Robert Lee Fultz worked long, hard hours providing for his family. I have some really funny memories of Dad - Rod and I loved teasing him, but he loved us all unconditionally - and still does! His unending patience with Fultz's Funny Farm is amazing! Most of all, I'm thankful that he is still living and I love him dearly.

Besides his family, Dad loves golfing, working on model trains, and going hunting with his brother, Ron. His hunting trips are really just "camping with a gun" because he's never killed anything! I remember words of wisdom, regarding finding a husband:

You know, sometimes when you're deer hunting, you just need to sit on a rock and wait for the deer to come to you.

Another priceless quote from My Baby Book:

DaDa is Kathy's first word. This was said on October 16, age 5 1/2 months. The others all said MaMa first! Wonder if she'll be a Daddy's girl - she's not now.

I could never choose between them- I would say there were times when I was Daddy's girl, but I loved Mom, too! I'm so thankful for TWO loving parents!

Irish Humor

With a last name of McElhaney I felt I should share this Old Irish Blessing:

May those that love us, love us;
And those that don't love us, may God turn their hearts:
If He can't turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.

Enjoy your weekend and may you find plenty of friends that do not limp.

The B-I-B-L-E

The Devil is not afraid of the Bible that has dust on it.

- Mom's Bible

From a very young age, Mom encouraged me to take my Bible to church. I've found that following along during the reading and keeping my Bible open during the preaching help me remember more than when I just listen. So many times, a verse speaks to me, and when I underline it, I can go back to it during my own study time and think about it some more.

I've been in many churches that show the verses on a projection screen. And while that is helpful, I don't think they'd like it if I tried to underline a key verse on the screen!

Since part of our armor is "... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," shouldn't we want to keep that weapon handy?

Better

Better is the house of mourning than the house of laughter ... you change when you hurt.

- Mom's Bible

I've read this numerous times and I'm still "chewing" on it. This thought comes from Ecclesiastes chapter 7:

2 - It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

3 - Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 - The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 - It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

It is hard for us to accept sometimes what is "better". God wants to make us "better" but our humanity resists those changes. Lord, I want my life to be made "better" even when it hurts.

Attitude

Seen on the back of an RV during my run yesterday morning:

Life's an Adventure... Take Your Attitude!

I can think of times when it's best to leave your attitude at home! It really depends on what attitude you have. "She has AN attitude" does not bring positive thoughts about that person. On the other hand "she has a good attitude" changes everything!

I received this email a few months ago:

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

For a Christian, Life's an Adventure... Take Care with Your Attitude!

Mom's Goodies

Every talent, strength, and compassion is a gift of God.

- Mom's Bible

Not every gift is one that can be used on the platform at church. The strength of men as they build a church, compassion to visit someone in the hospital, baking a cake or casserole for a family - all these are gifts that make the kingdom of God a better place.

Mom was not known in our family as a fabulous cook. She had a few things she liked to cook, but for the most part, cooking wasn't her thing. Now baking, that was a different story!

As far back as I can remember, Mom was a talented baker. Cookies, brownies, cakes, donuts. She learned to decorate cakes, so we had beautiful birthday cakes and she even made all of us kids' wedding cakes. At Christmas time she pulled out all the stops and made several kinds of candy. Teachers, pastors, neighbors, friends, and relatives were all recipients of Mom's goodies. She used her talent to bless others.

Mom's goodies always greeted us when got home from school. Hmmm... maybe that's why I always get the munchies in the afternoon!

The first time Les came to visit, in typical Mom fashion, she withheld judgment when she first met him. Dad thought he was great (even if he did call him by another name), but Mom wasn't ready to comment. At some point, I told Mom that Les liked brownies... and the second time he came to visit, what did she bake? Brownies! I knew he had won her over!

Whatever your gift... don't hide it. And if you feel like making me some brownies... ;)

God Answers Prayer!

Every miracle begins with an impossibility.

- Mom's Bible

From Grandmother's Memories book:

"Some special things from childhood that I'll always remember are: I had tuberculosis when I was 9 years old. The day before I was scheduled to go to the sanitarium, Sis. Esther Bennett and Sis. Struble came to the house and prayed for me and God healed me completely!"

Two more special ladies in Mom's life! Sis. Esther Bennett and Sis. Struble. I'm so thankful for the power of prayer - especially the power of others' prayers when I can't find the words myself.

I Believe in Youth Camp

In June of 1974, a little blond haired, blue eyed girl attended Youth Camp at Bethel in the Hills in California. On the first night, June 18th, after hearing camp evangelist Bro. Randy Keyes preach, she received the gift of the Holy Ghost for the first time. I am so thankful for that initial outpouring and so glad that God keeps filling me with His Spirit time and time again.

This was my second year to attend Youth Camp and I became a regular. I never missed a camp (Junior or Senior) and some years went to Junior Camp as a counselor and Senior Camp as a camper. I am always to touched when I see children praying - I know that God is a keeping God, and seeing them get touched at a young age is beautiful to me.

Meanwhile, at a Youth Camp in Tennessee, a brown haired, blue eyed boy received the Holy Ghost on a Thursday night in June 1974...

Stay tuned to see how God brought these two 10 year-olds together 15 years later!



In case you couldn't figure it out, I'm the blond on the top bunk. Some of you Fresnans will spot Julie Davies and Tammy Allen if you look closely!

Replenishment

If I have learned anything about running, it is that hydration and nutrition are key. When I go for my Saturday "long run" (13-16 miles), I calculate the time I think I'll be gone and plan accordingly. I take water, plus some Hammer Gel for an energy boost after about an hour. The day before I turned 44, I decided to run a half mile for each year. Planning to run 22 miles meant more water, a little more Hammer Gel, and some Perpetuem. I won't go in to what Hammer Gel and Perpetuem are, just know they keep my body fueled for those long distances.

If you are like most Pentecostals, Sunday is not a "day of rest." There are bus or van routes to run, Sunday school classes to teach, instruments to play, specials to sing, choir practices to attend, and most importantly, hungry souls to pray with in the altar.

Amidst the busyness, there is also renewal - refreshing - revival - replenishment! Strength for the journey coming forth from the word of God! "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing:" Isaiah 28:12.

There's an old song that says, "fill my cup, Lord"... I don't know about you, but I'm taking a BUCKET to church today!!

Something Beautiful

Repeat to yourself and store in your memory some good thought every day.
Look for something beautiful everyday, no matter where you are.
Do something kind and helpful for someone everyday.

- Mom's Bible

After blogging about dishonesty, I had to get it off my mind, so I turned to Mom's Bible.

What a great God we serve! He's worthy of our praise. Read His word - you are sure to find a good thought for the day. Memorize verses that lift you up.

All we have to do is look and we can find something beautiful He has created. A rose as it unfolds, a sunrise for early birds, a sky full of stars for night owls!

An act as simple as letting that man with just coffee creamer or the lady with a loaf of bread go ahead of you in the grocery line will not only making their day, you'll feel good, too!

Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things.

I feel better just writing this!!

Honesty

I have no intention of making my blog political, but I just read something that was so absurd, I don't care who said, I had to comment. I pulled the following statement from a Yahoo! article regarding John Edwards' 2006 extramarital affair:

He said in his statement Friday he had "used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it," and he called that "being 99 percent honest."

99 percent honest? What is that? I realize he is a politician, so I shouldn't be surprised, but what a ridiculous statement!

If I pay for everything in my grocery cart, then decide to slip a Snickers bar in my purse, does that make it acceptable because I paid for 99 percent of my items?

If my mechanic fixes the problem in my car, but leaves one screw lose on purpose, does that make it acceptable because it is 99 percent fixed?

As Les mentioned in a Sunday School lesson a few weeks ago - if God forgives me of every sin but one, that means I am not saved! You can't be 99 percent saved!

It's all or nothing when it comes to honesty. You can no more be 72 percent honest, than you can be 99 percent honest. Flat out denying allegations that ARE true because of "falsities" is not being 99 percent honest - it's LYING!

Yeah, that got my blood boiling! I'll try to have something uplifting from Mom's Bible in the morning!!

Additional note added Saturday afternoon:
Isn't it just like the media to twist things around? Edwards' actual statement (found in today's LA Times) said: "When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough."
So now he's being 100 percent honest... we think.
Just making sure my blog is honest!

Words

More people have been hurt by a careless word than by a sharp sword.

- Mom's Bible

My friends at A Jewel Divinely Rare and I Love Tank have both blogged about this subject this week, so when I went running this morning, WORDS were on my mind.

On a regular basis as a child, one of my siblings or I would run to Mom with "she/he called me a fill in the blank". In typical Mom speak, her response would be "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" to one child and "don't be a tattletale" to the other!

Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

I learned this verse a long time ago, but until this morning had not given much thought to the last few words: "minister grace unto the hearers".

The Amplified Bible puts it this way: that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. God's favor? Whew! How often do we think about giving God's favor when we speak?

I have had situations, that given the opportunity I honestly don't think I could have ministered grace. I have had "conversations" in my mind about these situations, and the things I wanted to say definitely would not have ministered grace. So thank You, God, for keeping my mouth shut!

I once heard a story of Abraham Lincoln. He was upset with someone, so he wrote that person a letter. Abe said everything he felt and wanted to say. He then tore the letter up and put it in the fire! A great example of ministering grace by not saying a word!

Just a few minutes from home this morning I heard a perfect description of gossip. A neighbor was standing out at her trash cans and said, "Why did she put trash in the recycle?"

When you speak, always remember that God is one of your hearers.

- Mom's Bible

McElhaney's Menagerie

It seems that since I posted Fultz's Funny Farm, animals have been constantly in my path! If I believed that Mom was looking down on me, I'd think she was pulling a prank!

We don't have house pets for several reasons. When we were first married, we lived in a townhouse, not a lot of space and no yard. Not the place for animals! During that time, we learned that Les has very severe allergies which include pet dander. So, even though we have a yard now, still no pets. That doesn't mean we don't enjoy the ones God sends our way! There are also a few I would rather not have! You can figure which category they fall into:

Bobcats. When I was a child, my favorite animals at the zoo or to read about were the big cats. Lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards. I am fascinated by their strength and grace. We took our nephews (Wes and Reece) to the Santa Barbara Zoo on an overcast day last October and enjoyed the lions as they roared! So our very own bobcats have been a treat. The first one we saw was Christmas morning 2001, when we had been in our house less than a year. He was sitting on a fence post at the top of our greenbelt, surveying the land. Since that time we have had several visits, the most notable being June 2004, when Momma "B" had twins! The pictures I have posted were taken in our backyard.

Coyotes and Road Runners. Neither of them are as big as Warner Bros. would have you believe. Our coyotes aren't very wiley, but the road runners are fast!

Rats and mice. Ugh! There is good and bad about having open land behind our house. Rats definitely fall in the bad category. Between our bobcats and pool, the population has diminished a bit in the last few years!

Snakes. I haven't stepped on one yet, but I'm sure it will happen at some point when I take out the trash! I've only seen gopher or king snakes - no rattlers, hallelujah! The snake in these pictures came out when our gardener was replacing a tree. Poor Roberto, he was scared to death!

Lizards. When we first moved in, there were some metal trash cans left by the previous owner. The poor lizards would climb in those, loving the extreme heat the metal produced, but of course they couldn't get out. Those guys move fast on the ground - thus no pictures!

Birds. We've had so many birds, I don't know if I can list them all. I love watching the hawks soaring high above us. I've seen a few owls that really do say "whoo". This summer we had a nest, with one baby that kept falling out. We've also had ducks in our pool thinking it was a great pond! Then there is "chirper" - the bird that loves to chirp quite loudly at 5:00 a.m.

Vultures. Yes, they are birds. But they deserve their own paragraph! One morning in 2004, when we had the twin bobcats, I looked out and saw vultures circling. I couldn't believe it! I thought that only happened on old westerns!! But there they were... circling, circling, and occasionally swooping down. I thought perhaps one of the bobcats was hurt, but I saw them a few days later, so I assume the bobcats had made a great kill of which the vultures wanted the remains.

Deer. This is the time of year we usually see deer. As everything gets drier, they come closer looking for water and plants or grass to munch on. When our niece Claire was almost 4 she came for a visit (with her dad, Lance). It was almost Christmas, so I took her to our company's children's party and we all went to Disneyland. Les, Lance, and Claire also climbed the hill behind our house and saw deer while they were out. Upon returning to Indiana, Claire reported to her grandmother, "Nana, I climbed a mountain and petted a reindeer!" Awe, the embellishments of children!

We've also had raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, possums, and skunks!

Happy Camper

I'm a Happy Camper :)
- Mom's Bible

I know this was a Bro. Morton comment! And like so many in Fresno, Mom loved going to Donkey Rock Youth Camp. She was the camp nurse for several years. Not because she was a trained RN, but because she was the mother of four - 2 boys, 2 girls, so she'd pretty much seen it all when it came to bumps, bruises, etc. If I remember correctly, she first started going to camp to keep an eye on Rod because he was determined to go!

I found a steno pad filled with camp notes that said "1977 First time to Donkey Rock". I would have been 13 at the time, so this was probably not only her first time at that camp, but the first time they started going there.

I remember it well - Donkey Rock was as primitive of a camp as you'll ever see. I'm sure work has been done in the past 30 years, but we were truly "roughing it" that first year! The only electricity was in the chapel/mess hall/kitchen and the nurse's/cooks' cabin.

Her notebook contained a lengthy list of medical supplies, then pages of names of campers with various medical problems. Asthma, allergies, nose bleeds, head aches - any ailment a parent listed on the Youth Camp registration form was noted so she could keep a special eye on those campers. She wasn't looking for emergencies, she wanted to make sure all campers had a safe, healthy, great time!

When Rod and I got "too old" for JUNIOR camp, Mom kept right on going! She truly loved preparing, going, and being at camp. Like all good campers, she came home exhausted, but after just a day or so of rest, what she remember most of Youth Camp was the great time she had. Just another "Happy Camper"!

Pool Invaders

So... I was going to get in the pool this afternoon, relax a little... then I saw this:



Yes, that is a dead mouse... Rodents love trying to drink out of our pool (especially in this heat). What they have to learn the hard way is the tile at the top of the pool is too slippery for their little feet...

As I turned to get the net to get the mouse out, I saw this guy:



A frog! He WAS in the pool, but that picture didn't turn out.

So... I WAS going to relax a little! Never a dull moment.

The Corner

I can see to the corner, but God sees around the corner... don't worry.

(from Sis. Mary Coursey)

- Mom's Bible

Just as I am finding words of encouragement from Mom's Bible, she surrounded herself with encouragers. Of all the quotes that are written in Mom's Bible, only two have a name associated with them, this one and one other that I'll share at another time.

How do I even begin to describe Sis. Coursey? She was a Mother in Israel, a great lady. She was a part of Truth Tabernacle before I ever arrived, and part of many of my childhood memories. I don't remember her ever singing a special, playing an instrument, or even singing in the choir, but what I do remember is something far greater...

Sis. Coursey walked with God!

Sis. Hopper and Gayla, I'm sure you'll remember when she testisfied. She would get so excited about God and what He had done, she'd start shaking her fist, saying "Brother Morton" in her unique, quavering voice!

Most of all, if I had to describe her in only one way it would be - Prayer Warrior. Sis. Coursey didn't just pray at church, she lived her life with prayer. She didn't just pray when her back was up against the wall. She had a prayer life when things were going great in her life!

Her words "don't worry" were a result of years of praying and trusting in God. The way she lived her life gave her the faith to trust in the God who sees around the corner!

Moments that Change Us

This past Sunday, August 3rd, the LA Times had a lengthy story about Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps. I admit, I am not an Olympics enthusiast, but for some reason I read the story. About a third of the way through the article, I read this:

The fist pumps at the end of a race and the grinning poses atop the medal stand aren't as important as the moments that took place when few were watching.

Those moments show a teenager outgrowing his adolescence and coping with unexpected fame. There is triumph and disappointment, but also growth.

Study them, and you begin to see how time and pain -- two of the most powerful forces in a swimmer's life -- have shaped the second act of Phelps' career.

There was the word again - Moments. How our lives can change in a moment. It takes but a moment to kneel before God in repentance, but a moment to be buried in His name, a simple moment when faith takes over and we are filled with His Spirit.

Moments are what change us. The moment you hear "so and so said such and such about you." You have a moment to decide, will I listen to this, get offended, or take the high road.

It's the moment in service, when the word of God speaks to your heart. The moment you decide to obey or rebel. The moment we outgrow our "adolescent" ways and start becoming the Christian God's wants us to be.

"Moments that took place when few were watching." Moments in private prayer and Bible reading. Moments of triumph, moments of growth. Those moments of "pain and time" are certainly not unique to a swimmer. They are two of the most powerful forces in a Christian's life as well.

I want to make all my moments count, for "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye..." (I Corinthians 15:52) When that moment occurs, making all the right decisions during life's moments will make that final moment glorious!

Bobcat Sighting

A mother bobcat and her kitten were spotted in the "greenbelt" area just behind our house this evening. I wasn't quick enough with my camera, but I'll be keeping an eye out and have my camera ready now!

I felt like Tweety last night: "I tawt I taw a puddy tat... I did! I did!"

Family Myth or Fact?

As the youngest of four, I was subjected to the normal sibling abuses. Of course I was told I was adopted. I was tormented when I couldn't pronounce my "R"s correctly ("Kathy, say nurse, say purse"). And various other methods of torture. So you can image that I didn't always believe things that were said about me.

It wasn't until after Mom's death that I discovered my baby book. This book was lovingly filled out with numerous antidotes and milestones which I may share from time to time. But it also contained the truth! This story is recorded in my baby book not one, but TWO times!

"Kathy is showing her personality - 11 months. When she is having a fit she doesn't lay down and scream like most children; she sits down, kicks, and screams Mad, Mad, Mad!"

Does this look like the face of a child capable of such an act??



Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses... Yikes!!

The Final Score

This is the first thing I see every time I open Mom's Bible:

Rod sent Mom flowers when she finished chemo the first time and this note was attached. I'm surprised that the poem below was NOT in Mom's Bible. I know she read it, and I'm sure it is written down somewhere in one of her many notebooks.

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love

It cannot shatter hope

It cannot corrode faith

It cannot destroy peace

It cannot kill friendships

It cannot suppress memories

It cannot silence courage

It cannot invade the soul

It cannot steal eternal life

It cannot conquer the spirit.

-Author Unknown

This poem describes Mom's cancer battle. Cancer DID NOT WIN. Mom never gave up, she never lost her hope, her joy, her peace, her faith, and most of all she did not lose her soul.

Yes, the final score was Mom (and God) 1, Cancer 0.

Family Record

Before you read this post, please know that I am not trying to be morbid or melodramatic. These are actual notes taken from Mom's Bible.

As with most Bibles, there is the typical family record in Mom's Bible. But beyond that, Mom recorded the date that each of her children were baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. She also kept a record of her battle with cancer that started with this:

4-27-90 Black day for me - but God is in charge. Cancer is not too hard for my God.

Colossians 3:15 "and let the peace of God rule in your hearts". This verse is underlined in her Bible with "5-90, Cancer can't take my Peace."

Then there is this:
1-22-91 3 mo. check-up A-OK!!
4-25-91 6 mo. - All clear - Amen!
3-31-92 Good report!
7-22-92 All clear :)

On another page:
Dec. 3, 1996 - Bone cancer - arms, legs, spine, pelvis, ribs - I need God.

Her unwavering dependence on God kept her from falling into the pit of despair or depression during an extremely lengthy battle.

Whatever you face today remember: "You are God's property and God is going to take care of you." (Mom's Bible, of course)

Guard the Portals of Your Mind

Guard the portals of your mind. Don't let evil thoughts creep in. Remember the happy days, the best part of living. We can control our minds if we keep the bad thoughts out.

- Mom's Bible

Wow! That's powerful stuff! I believe more people would live in victory if they would follow this creed. And while I could expound on this, I think it says all that needs to be said.

Fultz's Funny Farm

How do I begin to describe the parade of animals that made its way through the Fultz household? Mom had this crazy habit of adopting stray animals. Dad never knew what new creature would be residing in our home when he came from work each day.

Here are a few examples of our more unusual residents:

Sam, the squirrel. This was a baby squirrel that fell out of a tree in our backyard. Mom nursed him and we all tried to tame him. Rod did the best in that arena. We probably had him for at least 10 years.

Handicat, the cat. Handicat, so named for his numerous handicaps, had 6 toes on each foot, was cross-eyed, could climb up trees but could never get down. We'd have to call him "Disabilitycat" now to be politically correct, but that was in the 70s. He also had a habit of getting in fights around the neighborhood and always losing.

Squeaky, the tortoise. When one of our elementary school teachers retired she no longer wanted her classroom pet - so, of course, he became ours. He was very patient, taking our Barbies for rides, but he did ruin my first attempt at a garden - he ate everyone of my bell peppers, tomatoes, and watermelons!

We also had hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, lizards, turtles, and frogs! Mom would "talk" to the guinea pigs, whistling just like them!

And then there were the dogs... Always dogs.... I can never remember a time growing up that we did not have a least one dog. Here are a few of the more memorable:

Bridget, the little brown chihuahua. She had 5 litters of puppies and each time she would present us with at least 4 puppies so each of us kids could have one of our own ... until it was time to give them away.

Cocoa, otherwise known at Loco. When the twins were very small they became terrified of dogs. Not afraid, terrified. Climbing-up-your-body-SCREAMING-when-a-dog-comes-toward-you type of terrified. Mom just couldn't stand not having a dog, so she got Cocoa. He was barely weaned and missing his family. The girls were still terrified. Mom finally "helped" them overcome their fears by telling them they were bigger than Cocoa. It eventually worked and they loved that dog for many, many years after Mom passed away.

Nellie, Cocoa's long lost twin. One day, after Mom had Cocoa for a few years, Nellie showed up at the door. She looked just like Cocoa, but was a totally different dog! Mom and the girls went around the neighborhood asking if she belonged to anyone. One little boy said, "I don't know where he lives, but I know his name is Cocoa." Well that settled it with Mom, Nellie became part of the family.

One dog, whose name now escapes me, was very special to me when I was about 4 years old. It was probably one of Bridget's puppies because we were giving it away. On the day that we were taking it to its new home, I was scheduled for pictures. I cried and cried about giving "my" puppy away. Pictures were going to be a disaster. Until I got to take them with my puppy!

Pepper. Oh boy, how to describe Pepper! Her greatest claim to fame was her obedience. Rod would sit on the couch and say, "Come here, Pepper" and she'd jump on the couch. He would then immediately say, "Get down" and she'd jump off. Rod would do this repeatedly, and each time up she'd go, then back down. Up, down, up, down. It was an endless game with Rod and why she put up with him is beyond me!

Penney, named for the pennies Mom and the twins saved to buy her. This was the last dog Mom bought and she so wanted a lap dog, one that would just sit and let her pet it. Of course Penney was too hyper for that, she also decided she liked Dad better than Mom. Penney now lives with Krysten and Lauren, spoiled as always.

Just as she did with children, Mom nourished and nurtured every animal that came her way. Dad was very patient, but every once in a while he put his foot down. One peaceful Saturday afternoon, we kids were playing at home, Dad was trying to relax, maybe even take a nap on the couch, when Mom came home:

Mom (rushing in the house): Bob, I need a box
Dad: Huh? A box? What for?
Mom: There's a little animal I need to rescue.
Dad: Where?
Mom: Around the corner.
Dad (knowing it is now useless to argue): I'll go with you, let me get my shoes on.
Mom: Well hurry!
Dad (when they get to the animal): It's a mole! We're not taking that thing home!

Such fun times at Fultz's Funny Farm!