Church and Habits

I am trying to make Church a habit.  Already, Sunday, I tried to just stay home.  Doing something daily takes a long time to be a habit.  Since church is only Sunday, I guess it’ll take a year for my little mind to feel I need to go each Sunday.  According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes 18 to 254 days for a person to form a habit. The study also concluded that, on average, it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic.  So, I have a ways to go.

My cousin and dear friend, Terri Jane Ramirez, sent a gift to me some time ago.  It’s an handmade tote bag.  I’m carrying it to church toting my Bible and notebook.  At church, I pretend I’m in College and take notes on the sermon.  It really helps me understand all the points the speaker is referring to.  I can’t look up all the Scripture in that short time and go back over the notes I take later.  I want to grow in knowledge, wisdom and understanding. I’m not the brightest card in the deck, but smart enough to know I don’t know much. 🤣

Proverbs 18:2

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

    but only in expressing his opinion.

Pavlova

Laura made pavlova yesterday for Sigrid.  I’ve never made it, but enjoy what Laura bakes.  Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova.  It has a crisp crust and soft, light inside, usually topped with fruit and whipped cream.  The dessert is believed to have been created in honour of the dancer either during or after one of her tours to Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s.  

Laura put fresh strawberry and pineapple on hers and used cool whip.  She’s trying to use up some eggs as we are gathering several each day.  I’ll have mine later today.   The photo is not Laura’s, just one I found on the internet.  It’s just egg whites, cornstarch, cream of tartar, and sugar.   It’s baked at 350 degrees then at a lower temp.  Have you ever tried pavlova?

 

Today

 Today, Clayton got his Covid booster and Greta got her first vac.  She’s 11 and he is 13.  I’m proud they did this.  Maybe, this new variant will pass and we can breathe easier again!  If variants keep coming, all the older folks who aren’t vaccinated  and the children with health issues may die.  It’s a scary world we live in.  Ignorance abounds.

Time

 Best thing you can give your children is your time.

Greta’s Team

Thankful for Laura and Erin.  

Greta’s team played well again.  She practices a lot.  That’s how you improve at anything.
 

Park Far

These are old still hide aways on the Howard Standridge homestead.  If rocks could talk, what stories they could tell. 

Lil Red and I walked yesterday before the rains came.  Walking cleans my mind and everything comes in focus.   My New Year’s vow of change is to “park far” and walk to the entrance.   It’s already hard for me.  Without thought, I look for a place near the door, but I’m trying to make this a habit.  Sister Fleta does this.  The first shall be last and the last first.  Park far and walk.

I’m going to try the Church I went to again today.  It’s not what I really wish for, but I will try to go until I might discover one that’s a better fit.  I don’t like the modern loud chanting music, but the message is good.
 

Eggs for Breakfast

 This week Laura made this cake.  The recipe called for a dozen eggs beaten high.  No butter.  The other ingredients were just flour, leavening, and vanilla.  It was really good so I had my slice for breakfast.  Eggs for breakfast.

Larry and I were married on this day 51 years ago.  We always went out to eat to celebrate.  The evening we married we went to Clarksville, AR to dine.  I had chicken livers.  We went back there for years and the place got worse and worse.  We finally decided we’d just dine out and not go to Clarksville.  Our last anniversary Larry was really sick, but he kept saying that he’d feel better and we’d go out to eat.  He just left worse though and we never went.  Happy Anniversary in heaven, Larry Gene.

Full Again

Pop’s pond was at low water but recent rains have filled it again.  Phinnie and I walked the banks yesterday on our stroll.    

I have decided in 2022 one change I am going to make is to “park far” and walk far to the door.  No wishing for a handicapped spot for me.  First shall be last, so I’ll be last and get first.  It’s a small change, but I think a good one.  

Wishing you blue skies and sunshine today.

 

Puzzle to Glue

 Finished a new puzzle I retrieved from high in a closet.  The Christensen girls  gave it to Pop one Christmas.  I was afraid a piece would be missing, but it was all still in the box.  I’m going to glue this one.

January

 My least favorite month is here.  Why?  It’s the coldest.  I hate the cold, but more I hate ice.  Snow isn’t a favorite of my either.  

January is named for the Roman god Janus.  Janus had two faces so he could see the future and the past! He was the god of doors.  Ours heads are not made like the head of Janus.  We have to choose to look forward or backward.  Janus unlocked the door, but we have to enter.

I get sort of depressed in January.  I crave the warm sun and my bones hurt more.   The days are short and the nights are long.  Sleeping is a problem for me.  January makes it a long problem.  I am so glad I don’t live in North Dakota.  I’d probably shoot myself.   My Daddy was the same.  

Speed on January.  Glad you don’t last.  February brings me hope.  I can see the spring coming then.  The sky is gray today and that’s all I can see.  

Janus holds that key.  Unlock that door Jan.  Let spring enter.  The full moon in January is called the wolf moon and the cold moon.  I don’t like wolves either.  They eat chickens.  I will endure, but I may not smile.

Happy Birthday Fleta

I think the first photo may be the oldest picture of Fleta.  It’s July 1948.  She was 6 months old.  I checked the weather for January 1948 and it was colder than today.  Highs were in the low 50’s and lows were low 30’s.  

Fleta is 74 today.  Patsy wrote of her birth in 2013 when Patsy was 74.  Happy Birthday, Fleta.  Bible verse for you is Philippians 1: 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.  

Red Haired Stranger

Tomorrow marks a big day in my life in 1948.   Until that day I had been the only girl child in our family on that day mama gave birth to a red haired stranger.  We named her Fleta and I went around telling everyone, now I have a sister to play with.

I didn't realize that by the time she was old enough to play I would be too old to play.  Little did I know she was just the first of a streak of girls none of which would be my playmates but they played together and squalling for me to hold them.   Yes, they did. 

By the time Fleta was 6 months old I couldn't leave the room with out her crying. I thought this was great for a while and then realized that this squalling kid curtailed my freedom.

The summer when she was one and a half I had started reading everything I could find to read. One day I carried her and my book out the road  and put her down to play or eat dirt it was her choice to make while I read my book when I next noticed the red head she was eating toad stools. I didn't know if they were poison or not but decided I would wait to see if she got sick before telling daddy . She didn't get sick so I decided no harm was done so why tell daddy and get him all upset.

Fleta wasn't anything like me, I run to fat and she is skinny. I don't know why but she has always acted like eating was a chore while I love to eat actually Fleta is the only person in our family that doesn't run to fat.

Fleta has a very sharp tongue while I am very sweet person.  Happy Birthday from Patsy.

New Day New Job

Today Sigrid starts to work after school.  I hope all goes well and they love her as much as I do.  I am grateful for this employer having faith to hire her.  I know she’ll do her very best.  My heart 💙 is grateful today.

Yesterday, Sigrid had to return to school.  Here’s her take on that.  Tears, not cheers.