EXPLORING THE SALT PLAINS OF OKLAHOMA...

COVID -19 has taken it's toll on us and we're itching to get out!  We decided to take advantage of a sunny spring day and go check out the Salt Flats of northern Oklahoma.  It is located about 2 hours north of OKC, but we had never been!  The Hubs loves a nice day in his convertible, so off we went.

We passed several of these fields of yellow flowers and I just had to make a stop for a picture!  

The Great Salt Plains State Park is near Jet, Oklahoma.  We drove around and saw the lake, ate our picnic lunch and then drove through the GSP Wildlife Refuge.  It is relatively small in comparison with the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, but nice.  It is a haven for birds and marsh animals.  There is also a huge spillway by the lake that you can walk along.  

We drove through the small town of Jet and saw a masked man!  About 6 miles west of Jet was the "salt flats" where you can dig for selenite crystals.

We got to the crystal digging spot in the afternoon.  It was warm and breezy.  It looks like a dried up lake, with the salt sitting on top.  

 This area was designated as a digging spot, so there were a lot of people in this area!  We walked out to the very end to have plenty of room and feel uncrowded.

We found crystals immediately.  The selenites are near the surface and are very fragile.  Our challenge was to dig them up carefully so they wouldn't break.  The Hubs wore himself out digging and finding crystals!  We took only the largest ones home with us.

 These crystals with the hourglass of sand in them can only be found here!  Pretty amazing!  This is the perfect day for those with elementary aged kids that enjoy digging.  We actually enjoyed it a lot, ourselves!

On the way home we stopped in Enid, Oklahoma and got hamburgers at a drive thru restaurant.  It was nice just to get away from the house and do something different for a change!  

SURREAL...

Well, here we are in the midst of Covid-19.  The. Whole. Country.  For me, reality is just hitting.  My life hasn't changed much and I was (and maybe still am) enjoying the introvert life.  Yes, I'm disappointed we can't meet with our church family.  I hate it that people are sick and dying without a cure.  My niece's wedding is up in the air after all the planning.  My daughter-in-law and niece missing their graduation ceremonies.  And, an Alaskan cruise planned for the end of May is out, after being planned for more than a year.  I feel pretty helpless, but I know prayer is my defense. 

It's surreal.  Never would I have thought in our intelligent, advanced, technical world would we have come to a halt like we have.  It's a lesson in humility.  It's a lesson to learn who's in control of our world.  It's a lesson that drives us to our knees and to trust more in God. New vocabulary and concepts are everyday discussions now:  social distancing, stay safe, mask wearing, work from home.  Whatever the final outcome of all of this, I love it that people are coming together for a common cause.  We've been divided and all with our own special interests for so long.  

I love this sign that I saw on my walk through the neighborhood.  We CAN do hard things!  We are adaptable - a big lesson from the first college class I ever took! I consider what we'll be telling our grandchildren about this time 20, 30, and 40 years from now.  Will we sound like our grandparents talking about Dust Bowl or Depression days?  For myself, I'm divided between the want to do something amazing with this gift of time and just relaxing and enjoying the time of rest.  

How about you?  

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE...

When it rains at Niagara Falls, enjoy it with an umbrella!

Well, we all have them and a JOB LAYOFF hit us this year.

The Hubs had worked 22 years for this company and you hear about this kind of thing, but you never think it will happen to you - a consistent, hard-working, loyal employee.  But if there's anything I've learned over my 50+ years, it's that NOTHING'S SIMPLE.  In fact we have a little saying at our house, NOTHING'S EVER SIMPLE, usually referring to home and car repair - LOL.

The Hubs will tell you that after getting the hint the week before it happened, he shifted into overdrive a couple of days.  He spent a few hours with his twin brother.  He talked to co-workers. By the time he got the call from the boss, he had an amazing response, "Lay it on me!"  His boss laughed and apologized that he had to make this call.  It happened to 153 others too.  It was purely a reorganization and was nothing personal.

For several weeks after that he had a lot of "conversations" with people in and out of the tech industry. He updated and submitted a lot of resumes.  Had a few interviews.  We considered moving to Tennessee for a job.  Even with the thought we could come back and retire here in a few years, we decided with our kids that live here, our aging mothers nearby, our church that we love so much - it was just too much to give up, although the adventure sounded fun and refreshing.  We talked a lot about our goals, our lifestyle, downsizing our home, making our home into a bed and breakfast (LOL - not for very long) and early retirement.

I tried as best I could to not say everything I was thinking.  He is the one who has supported our family financially for so many years.  He needed to do what was best in that regard.  A friend has told me more than once in conversation that you go where the job is, and I remembered that each time he considered a job somewhere besides here.  Thank goodness I had a big project going on - the women's retreat at church.  My mind was occupied with all the meetings, details, and specifics of that! But after that, I was pretty weepy, considering giving up the ministry and activities I love so much if we were to move away.

God provided a new friend to The Hubs during this time!  An acquaintance at church became a confidante and calming presence to him.  This man was the husband of a friend of mine, and had been laid off from his job earlier in the year.  He has a new position out of state now, but is able to maintain their home here and visit family often.  They met a few times and his advice to The Hubs was this:

1. RELAX

2. GET A PROJECT

Now, I knew he needed a project, something to do in all the hours he was waiting around for the phone to call.  But I didn't want to cause any more stress with my suggestions.  He respected the advice given and guess what?  He immediately went to work on one of our upstairs bathrooms!  It hadn't been touched since our daughter painted the wallpaper around 2006.  He challenged himself to get it retiled and painted for under $300 or something like that. It was worth every penny.  He tore out tile, scraped wallpaper, retextured, replaced moldy sheetrock, re-tiled, grouted, and painted. We finished it up with new towels and shower curtain.  

Before and after

Working out nervous energy

Updated!

 

Other benefits of being "off work" were being able to participate in some things at church he ordinarily didn't have time for, and helping me with retreat things, even coming down to the camp to help set up.  Together we helped a family from church on their moving day, and the biggie - we went on a two week road trip to Maine!  All the while, trusting that

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR US. 

One thing that hit me a few weeks into this turn of events was that had this happened in July 2018, we would have been much more stressed.  At that time, we were headed to Portland Oregon for our son's wedding in August, and still had a semester of his college left to pay for.  This year we had no big financial obligations like that!  God's timing is right.   

As I wrote this post, I realized HOW IMPORTANT FRIENDS AND FAMILY are and were to us during this time of uncertainty.  The Hub's new friend I mentioned already, but we also were supported by others.  We went to eat dinner at Panera one evening, and coming in the door with some church acquaintances turned into sitting together and getting caught up.  Our friend prayed for The Hub's job search at dinner and that meant a lot to us.  Our kids were upbeat and supportive - our DIL's parents own a lake house and she invited us to join them for a weekend there.  We went on a previously planned trip to Georgia with our long-time Bible study group friends and that was such great time to know that we are loved whatever our circumstances.  We were encouraged by a former work friend that encouraged us to come up and stay at their home in Maine, which prompted an amazing 2 week road trip.  Several people at church encouraged us through conversation and texts. You just never know what simple acts of kindness will impact another's life.

A weekend with our kids at Lake Tenkiller in August

Our sweet Christian brothers and sisters - trip to Senoia, Georgia

Former work friend we stayed with in Maine

There was a lot of talking, praying and thought during this time.  It was a strange time of feeling "less than"  (for me, at least), clarification of our goals, a sweet time of togetherness for The Hubs and myself, and rest.  But, it's nice to be past it, to have health insurance paid for once again, and to not have to answer the questions anymore.  A lot of lessons learned.

I pray 2020 is smooth, but we all know LIFE HAPPENS.  And it's not all good.  Remembering our lives are in God's hands and trusting that he has a plan means I don't have to worry or fret about it.  Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan." NCV

FRIENDSHIP BOOSTER SHOT...

Recently I have received some friendship booster shots, and I'm so grateful!  Sometimes we get so busy as adults (and especially leaders) and we get into so much of a routine rut that we don't take time for friendships!  I'm including The Hubs on this.  As a couple married for 35 years, we are comfortable with things as they are, plus so busy with our family, that we don't reach out often enough to make new or maintain friendships.  Then we get to thinking that no one else really cares or wants to be around us.  I know it's not true but in my mind I start to make these excuses when we think about reaching out to someone for a dinner or night out.

Both these ladies are friends of mine and they've given me a friendship booster shot!  Quite unplanned, we've gotten to do some fun things together lately!

My friend Amy is from Texas and we've been online friends from blogging since about 2009!  We graduated to Facebook and Instagram in our friendship.  We finally got to meet in person when her husband had some business near my city.  It was so great to get to know each other better and talk about all the things that we sometimes won't share online.  I'm happy to say she's my sister in Christ and we share so many similarities.  Looking forward to another time to get together and we'll bring our husbands along!

Patty and I are friends because our kids are friends!  She did the chalk work on this sign for me recently!  Both our sons were good friends in elementary through high school and all loved music.  They performed together and spent many a weekend night having fun together.  She's also a sister in Christ at a church across town, but we hadn't seen each other much since the boys graduated.  Recently we reconnected with my son's wedding, then she joined my exercise class, then her oldest son's band was here to perform and of course, like a Mama Bear, I had to go support him!  It's been great to spend more time with her and her husband recently.  

Does fear keep you from seeking friendship?  It's really the bottom line for me, I think.  Fear of rejection.  I hope I can remember how enjoyable these times have been recently and get out there and make some new friends and maintain the old ones.  :)

RISKY BUSINESS...

Maybe I've found the antidote for when you are feeling old...try something new!  Just  take the opportunity, take a risk(within reason), and look at it as an adventure!  Just goes to show you not every old saying is true:  YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS.    

My first time surfing behind a boat this summer!

Walking around, alone, in NYC

I fixed the pool cleaner when The Hubs was out of town!

FEELING ALIVE AND A LITTLE RISKY!  :) Now if I could be like my friend Rhonda and take some risks and make some new friendships for Jesus!

SHREVEPORT VOLUNTEERING...

Like many volunteer works, you leave with a sense of fulfillment from some small task, and awareness of how much more work there is to do!  We participated in a type of mission work this past weekend in Shreveport, LA.  It was interesting and such a blessing to both me and The Hubs.

We first heard about this from a friend at church.  She participates in the Fuller Center for Housing Bicycle team.  The team does long rides across the country, spending nights in church gyms along the way, and participating in building works the Fuller Center does in different areas of the United States.  The ride she was on started in June in San Francisco, and is going across the entire country to Atlanta!  Can you imagine?

She asked us to join the team to encourage them as they stopped in Shreveport for a building project. We drove down and got there Friday at dinner time and were treated to dinner with the bicyclists at the Fuller Center.  In typical southern hospitality, we were served home-made Gumbo, rice, salad, chocolate cake, and sweet tea!  It was delicious!  We heard a presentation about the Fuller Center and were given some instruction about the work we would do the next day.  After the dinner they told us there was a balloon festival nearby on the LSU-Shreveport campus.  So all of us piled into two vans and our vehicle and went to check it out.  I had never been to a balloon festival before.  It was awesome! For King & Country was playing a concert there and also they had fireworks!

A table centerpiece at Friday night's dinner at Fuller Center NWLA

 Balloon festival

I had my first experience "glamping" with the team in the Fellowship Hall of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament church.  It was the right price - FREE.  We got up early and were on the job site at 8 a.m.  We split up and did jobs like installing hurricane clips, painting, caulking, framing a shed, cleaning up the job site, mowing, etc.  We also met the future homeowners and the wife was able to stay and work with us that day.  It was hot and humid and we worked hard until 2:30 p.m. Some of the group went to work in their store of donated building supplies also.  

After cleaning up and resting the Fuller Center took all of us to a restaurant renowned for it's "All You Can Eat Catfish."  It was a great time! One of the things I enjoyed most was finding out where the different members of the bicycle team were from and asking the older ones about how they trained.  Would you believe they have several 70+ on this 9 week bicycle tour? 

One of the craziest things was our sleeping quarters.  It was, well, vintage, to put it nicely.  As we returned from the restaurant and flipped on the lights, we saw something running across the floor. And then we saw 3 or 4 more of them.  The Hubs took care of them for us.  Let me just say Louisiana grows much bigger cockroaches than Oklahoma does!  After someone reassuring us that "at least roaches don't bite," I zipped myself up as much as I could in my sleeping bag.  I finally fell asleep!  

We went to church with our friend the next morning and went by the grocery store for her to pick up some things, then said our goodbyes.  We left with a sense of appreciation for the Fuller Center for Housing, and a sense of wonder in the way God works in the lives of people.   

SMALL TOWN ENJOYMENT...

This past weekend we joined my husband's family (most of them) for a weekend in the small town.  We had decided with our kids that Easter would be next weekend.  I love it when we go down there, you never know what you'll get to do!

 We worked outside on my MIL's shed and I heard the train approaching.  Trains don't come by very often, so I was excited to see this one up close and personal!  I love this picture with the grain elevator and the old barns in the background.

 Even got a wave from the conductor!

We went out to a house and land that my SIL is going to own soon and looked around.  She showed us the owl babies that are nesting in their front yard.  They were so cute and white and fluffy!  Momma owl was hooting at us from a nearby tree.  

Sunday after church we went to my BIL's house for an Easter dinner.  His wife made us feel welcome with her cutely decorated tables!  I used to do this, especially when the kids were younger.  Even though I am personally trying to go more minimal with decorating, I loved it looking so festive.  Note to self:  to make guests feel special, set a festive table!

THE BABY'S 21ST BIRTHDAY AND OPENING OF THE TIME CAPSULE...

Our youngest just turned 21 years old!  The passage of time just is so crazy!   When each of our children turned 1, we asked relatives to write a message or give a little memento about that year to be put away in a time capsule and opened on that child's 21st birthday.

What's funny about the scrapbook is that I wrote on his first birthday that I made him a "wheel" cake because he loved anything with wheels on it.  It is still true today!  He's already owned more cars and  has worked on more than your average 21 year old.

So we got to see all the little treasures in our son's time capsule:

 1995 Family Christmas newsletter from Grandmother Sharon

An antique toy and a copy of a car magazine with notes in it from his Poppi

Cuff links from his Great Grandpa Foster

Sermon book with a handwritten note from Great Grandparents Albert and Amy Trent

Copy of a newspaper the week of his first birthday which happens to feature a picture of us!  (The article was about home-made baby food)

 Party goods from his first birthday party

From Poppi

From Great Grandpa Foster

 Tupperware from his aunt and picture key chain

Collector's stamps and a button from Six Flags

Pictures with special notes written on the back from his Great Aunt and cousin

An uncirculated dime

 A sweet letter and pic from Aunt Lori

Special card and letters from the parents

Notes and a crown from his then 6 year old sister and 4 year old brother

 Uncle Ken's promo materials

We had so much fun looking through the goodies and talking about days gone by!