What a difference a day makes...

After returning home from San Antonio on Sunday...I made the journey to work on Monday...that night as I got ready to leave the office I looked to the west near the Joshua tree I call it and usually think of my "nephew" Josh...who I later spoke to and said that storms as this are common in Afghanistan...

But this night when I looked there were these clouds that were beginning to build--brought the word tornado to mind...they began building in the distance and so I pulled out towards the tree and began snapping pictures.    I was awestruck of this storm building off in the western sky...yet it had such an eeriness to it...that it contained nothing good in it!  It just kept building and building on itself...much like "storms" will do...

As I head towards home thinking I would just get away from it (probably one of my ways of coping)...I look in my rear view mirror and again had to stop and take a few pics before I topped the hill even though I could see it was coming towards me.   On my way over the hill there is a Virginia vehicle that was going very slowly and I had passed him and seen a laptop opened and so I wonder--is he a storm chaser or something?   However, he sees me pulled over and so he stops as well and gets out with a camera...and comes towards me so I hop in my truck thinking that I can just drive off should he be someone that I wasn't sure about.  But he asks in somewhat broken English, "Can I see if I drive through that?"..."that" would be what we see in the pic below...to which I reply I wouldn't think so and he explains he needs on the other side of "that".   Isn't "THAT" how it is sometimes...we do not want to go through the storm...through "THAT" we just want to be where we are going!!!

Anyway...What a frightening site to see as this seemed to keep growing and coming towards us.   I headed off in my truck and upon the advice of the shepherd who was at home with little visibility I stopped off in Ordway and hung out with the Great Grand Pfeiffs...Thankful for shelter from the storm.   And yes the storm passed...followed by a beautiful sunset!  By the time I got home and snapped it..I did not give it justice...but such a calm after the storm...as compared to one little Firecracker who told me the other day...the storm before the calm...that would be right before she fell asleep...

And so yesterday...reflecting on the day before...I read Isaiah 26:3 in my morning readings:

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."

 

And thinking of the drought I write...

 

Perfect peace...the drought comes to mind.  Not only for the dry barren land but also our dry barren soul's...Refresh us Lord and bring us rains...Rains for our lands...Rains for our souls...Inspire and lead us unto that you have...

 

Thy will be done...Give us this day our daily bread...And I think of manna from Heaven...God has provided...Let me look to the heaven's with thankfulness...and there it is Thanksgiving...Father God we praise Thee in our lowly station that we might follow You and do great and might things that only You can allow! 

 

I close this and then I read Isaiah 26:4-6...

 

Trust in the Lord forever,
For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
⁵ For He brings down those who dwell on high,
The lofty city;
He lays it low,
He lays it low to the ground,
He brings it down to the dust.
⁶ The foot shall tread it down—
The feet of the poor
And the steps of the needy.”

 

WOW!  As I think of our lowly station and then these words shared...And this morning I awaken not feeling top notch (I blame it on sinus from the dust) but there is moisture in the air...I step out my kitchen door and breath in the moisture of the cool morning and listening to the sounds of light rain falling...and I think it is well...and sometimes in the midst of storms...God gives us a day of refreshment...and for that I am thankful...as this is the southern view today...and it is moisture...an answered prayer...refreshment!

 

 

lyp

The next 30 years...Happy Birthday Heather!

As I sit here in the quiet of a hotel room...I know exactly where I was 30 years ago...I was hanging out in a hospital...WAITING...waiting for my life to ever change...but change for the better...all the same!

Waiting the arrival of one PRINCESS...our Heather...and I wonder where the 30 years have gone...from holding one precious little baby in my arms...who had to hang out her first years in the dairy barn...Of course some days I get glimpses of her...in another form...a little blond-haired blue-eyed girl that has so much looks of her mama.

I had thought I would include pics of the last 30 years...of playing with puppies...her fishing with my dad...playing ball...(any kind of ball...remind you of anyone).   But as I said...I am not at home and of course I wouldn't have thought of getting it done ahead of time.   So we will celebrate this one BIG...TEXAS STYLE...

I mean on the way here...I show one little Firecracker a plane and tell her that will be us and she says, "I didn't know Texas was in the sky."   And as we are driving a long she says everyone stand...yes she is in her car seat and I in my seat...but sheesh can't you guys pretend...ANYWAY after we pretend to stand in the back seat of the truck...she puts her hand over her heart...and yes she is wearing her "Daddy shirt" so right there on her heart is a picture of her daddy...but she begins to sing...Amarillo by morning...up from San Antone..."   Yes that is the main even of this trip...George Strait's farewell tour...but while we are here...they had talked of all the rain received before we got here...but yesterday was good...

I bet some of you thought I found some pictures of Heather at 3...NO this would be one little Izzybell excited to go on vacation...yes her mama was a lot like this...an I CAN DO IT MYSELF girl...

I catch a pic of them...on the plane...and I think what a beautiful pair of girls I am blessed to have in my life...that I am thankful that 30 years ago...that we would wait and wait and then one little baby girl would decide she wanted her own day finally at 11:39 p.m....after all day saying maybe I'll come later...not sure if I want to right now...but when she came she came with much urgency...that it was time...much like now when she makes up her mind...look out...

What a gift...these two share...this would be right before taking off...one little San Antonio Hard Rock bear buckled in for the flight...holding tight to mama's hand...before we got a little nervous on the takeoff...but they got each other's hands...no worries...

And much like my daughter has always been...on the way here...she is the one giving the gifts...loading up one little girl with presents to open on the way...I love this pic as it captures the gift...but it also is what a special mama she has become...but those who know them..probably picked up on the ear rub...

Because she may have had ulterior motives maybe...

Knowing full well that this would give one little Peanut...lots of energy and that it did...but so far an amazing time...and it is only our first full day...

Before leaving Heather did get a special present from Jay's mama...after we had celebrated a memorial day...thinking of one of the things  I have watched my amazing daughter do with such strength and dignity...and perhaps some think I am a "bragger"...but I am very proud of my kids and I think sometimes more should tell their kids...WOW!  You are amazing!

 

I loved last night one little Izzy saying I am HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY...and I hope that today her mama's birthday will be just that HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

 

 

 

So Happy Birthday to my daughter...you have been such a blessing to my life...and I remember thinking...how could I love anyone more...I shared this with Izzy telling her of when her mama was born and holding her in my arms and thinking...how could I love anyone more...and Izzy replied...me?   And though not more...she holds a special place...I have found that God gives us amazing people that only them and them alone can fill that special place in our hearts that is theirs...and theirs alone...SO HAPPY HAPPY Birthday...here's to may you have all "tinds of fun"...in your next 30 years!!!

 

LYAAA

Oklahoma...may they have "arms"

Tonight there is a mama whose life is forever changed...with an emptiness that hits so deep in her soul...and my heart cries with her...there is another mama that hugs her baby just a little tighter as it is hard to even fathom how frightened those little ones were during the tornadoes that hit in Oklahoma.   Times as these are those that we cry, "WHY!"   But it is also the time that we turn to our God for comfort...I think of this morning that I had read in my "Kasey Jo calendar" (God's Way Day by Day by Charles F. Stanley).    And I am in awe of how these words ring to the emotion that I continue to be filled with.   He had written...

"An old and familiar story is told of a young child who was troubled by a thunderstorm.  She sought refuge in her parent's bedroom...Her parents hugged her and cuddled her and attempted to comfort her by saying, "You are going to be all right.  God is with you.  He will take care of you."   The little girl replied, "Yes, but I still want to be with someone who has arms."  In many cases, I have seen God provide someone "with arms"...God sends His ministering servants to those in need of an expression of His reassurance and comfort."
 

May there be arms to comfort those that need arms...And the verse that was with it was Matthew 14:27 and so I had went to read more of this verse...I like to read them in their full context and so it read:

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, "Be of good cheer.  It is I, do not be afraid." 

 

 

And I think back of those storms and I was talking with my mother-in-law tonight of how frightened those children had to be...I remember just warnings of a tornado would fill me with fear as a child...how I would hope the wind would not stop blowing as my dad said the calm was more of a sign that the storm might be close...

 

 

Talk of the tornadoes just came on...a mile across...destruction...and I am reminded of a verse that comes to me often...I include it in a picture I stopped and took on the drive home.  We had a small amount of rain...but these clouds that loomed in the western sky...reminded of the power that hid those very mountains that often provide such a comfort to see them majestically standing off in the distance...but tonight they seemed to be hidden while the majesty of the sunset and the light of the sun seemed to find its way through the darkness...this picture is in color...though it almost appears black and white...

 

 

This verse makes me think of the connection with those that have passed on...to those who are here that have such sorrow and pain....and I am reminded of words that were given to me the other morning at my kitchen table...

Listen closely to Me...He says. There are abundance of sorrows that try to smother our souls. That smother the embers of the coals of Joy that sit and burn...Let the air come in that the Joy may burst to flames...There is enough sadness in this world. Be a light of hope and of joy though not forgetting that others feel the pain and sorrow as you do...
Do not fear nor be afraid for I am with you...
Sing a song of Joy for this day...
Showers from heaven will refresh your soul and sing the song of Kings-- of Christ who conquered death--and evil. Do not tarry in your journey walk swiftly so that you may reach your destination...Talking only words that are pleasing...not of boasting or pride--
 

Earlier I had read a prayer that my friend Susie Watts had prayed...

 May the people who have been in the devastating tornados be comforted and encouraged in their calamity and affliction ... Holy Father, I ask you to raise up an army of people to reach out and meet the overwhelming needs of these communities. Be with the grieving ... pour Your comfort, love and strength upon them all ... In Jesus Name, I pray ...

Amen Susie...Amen!

And so I add an extra...I love you...I am thankful for you...hug those babies a little tighter...tell someone you love them...and may God provide those who long for those "with arms" tonight to be held and comforted...I pray for those mama's...those daddy's...those husbands...those wives...and especially those children...that this morning had no idea what awaited them...I ask for healing...for peace.

May we all say a prayer for those...I read an awesome writing first thing this morning in Girlfriends in God by Mary Sutherland...I had read her devotional earlier before I had read in my Kasey Jo calendar talking of Jesus and the disciples...the storm...I would encourage you to read it... http://www.girlfriendsingod.com/category/devotions/

But there was one that just made me think of something my brother might say and so I share it with you...as you try and figure out the best way to pray...

Three ministers were discussing which position produces the most powerful prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system in the background. One minister shared that he felt the key to powerful prayer was in the hands. He always held his hands together and pointed them upward as a form of symbolic worship. The second suggested that real prayer was conducted on the knees while the third minister suggested that they both had it wrong. According to him, the only position worth its salt was to pray while stretched out flat on your face in humility. The phone man couldn’t resist offering his opinion, “I have found that the most powerful prayer I ever prayed was while I was dangling upside down by my heels from a power pole suspended forty feet above the ground.” Helplessness underlines our need for faith and our total dependence upon God, even when the skies are clear and the water is calm.

Today in Oklahoma...the skies were not clear...the waters not calm...and I know that helplessness hit these individuals as it does many of us now...but I pray that they find the comfort and peace that God can provide in times such as these...and may they hear and feel the words of Jesus...do not be afraid...I am with you...

lyp



 

 



 

Candlelight Vigil

A year ago we were in the Washington D.C. area for Police Week as my favorite son-in-law's name was being placed on the memorial wall for fallen officers.   Tonight Tim and I watched the live stream of this memorial.  Honoring those officers lost in 2012...it takes way too long!    I know there are some that think that it might be better not to think on this...but it is something that I seem to get  a nudge to do.   Too often we do not stop and think of the good...of those who do good...of those who love with no greater love than to lay their lives down.   Or just sometimes remember those that have went on ahead of us...with a laugh...a tear...

So I went through the pics and realize that I have many that I would like to put in a slide show but for tonight...I put a few pics in a collage...in memory of the candle light vigil.   They showed faces of those that seemed so familiar in the sadness in their eyes...and I pray for their strength.  I see a picture of Heather holding Isabel during the slideshow at the memorial...and I realize how much one little "Peanut" has changed in a year...

The background picture was during the ceremony in which they shine a blue line across the sky...very touching...this one seemed to pick up a smoke almost in it...There are way too many names on these walls.   But I put up one picture of one little girl that is a legacy of Jay Sheridan...in oh so many ways!!!   

But I stop and say a prayer for so many little ones that do not have their daddy's physically with them anymore...but they will have their love forever...and I was reminded of this as tonight when the memorial ended as I sit in the middle of my darkened living room watching the laptop...in awe of the technology we have.  But as I looked outside I seen most amazing sunset...so of course I grabbed my camera and headed out...and there with this beautiful sunset was the moon...my reminder of Jeremiah 29:13...

 ^"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

 

 

 

Do you see the moon....Amazing...that the camera did not capture near the beauty that seemed to take up the whole sky!   And one just stops in AWE!   I think not just of those that have lost their lives...but those who have lost a loved one...a loved one...one that is loved!   Prayers for strength and comfort!

 

lyp



A Jay Bird day...

So this morning a beautiful sunrise as I sat in my blue kitchen...we have painted a darker blue...BUT Tim and I being Tim and I...instead of having one dark accent wall...we have one light accent wall :) OH WELL! What can I say...

As I drove to work this morning...I see flashing headlights in the distance and it takes a minute to register...oh yeah that is what the police cars do...those headlights aren't just blinking!  So I start to pull over as the State Patrol car was approaching. There were two vehicles and so I kind of motion to them that there was something coming...and of course when I see a cop car...I think of Jay. At the same time...Charles Stanley was speaking on the radio and he began speaking the words to I'll fly away...probably one of my all time favorites...it was sang at my mom's funeral...but it was one of those songs I remember being sung by my mom...my aunt...my grandma.   The voice on the radio I then hear talking of family...and how we need to appreciate what we have for someday they will be memories.  I'll fly away...perhaps one that I would like sung when I die...Hallelujah By and By...I love this version by Allison Krauss...not just because the style reminds me of my mom and my Aunt Betty..As the words just seem to speak to me so...and what's not to love of Allison Krauss...

As all of this happens and I am listening I see a bird soaring and I again think of Jay...and just that though we miss him...he is in a happy place...and I drive a little further and come upon Crowley and there sits a set up for I am assuming a truck weighing stop...and there are several vehicles and I think those look familiar...and sure enough I notice State Patrol units...and I see standing there one of the Bandy's.   And again...I think of Jay.  

So I get to work and I realize that I missed a phone call from my brother, Shane.    But he leaves a message and sometimes he leaves the best messages...He tells me of how he and Jo were in the hot tub this morning and the birds were just carrying on...they had received an awesome rain. He tells me Jo says it makes you think of and at first I think he says Timothy Bird Walk...and I think I can not place that so I ask Mary who tells me...Tennessee Bird Walk...to which we look it up...and yes there was the joy...the WMC...we find a video that has Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan...that sang it in 70's...However, I find this video and so I put it in...a reminder to laugh...

I come to work and Bob and Alice (the doves) have in fact kicked the sparrows out of the nest and are taking possession...sometimes God gives us birds...There is beauty all around us that makes us think of those we love...whether we can see them or not.    We can feel them...

And I notice this picture on my daughter's profile.....

and I am reminded that another police officer has lost his life...and I think of the family and friends of Littleton Police Officer, Kevin Denner.   And I pray for them and think of them...and hope that they may have special memories...special days that they are reminded of their lost one...and pray for their peace!

lyp

Happy Birthday Chief

Today is the birthday of a special friend...a special member of our "family"...Chief Lynn Yowell of the Limon Police Department.   Lynn is one of those guys who is just one of "those guys".   One that is hard to maybe put in words...but one I admire very much.   If for no reason of the things I don't even know he has done for my daughter and her family.   When we lost Jay, the Chief "put on his uniform" (this is something that I have observed in watching many of the officers I have come to know...they put on that uniform and they are different...it is part of their armor I suppose...)  But in going through some of things that they go through...they need all the armor they can get.  I was just amazed sometimes in what the Chief got through when his heart was hurting right along with the rest of us.   Many things he just took care of without putting any more on Heather or Jay's family.   And I guess that is the thing that touches one of Lynn Yowell--his heart...

I have had others who do not live in Limon that observed from the outside and commented on what a guy that Chief is...to which I usually reply I know. I caught some pics of the Chief in action on Good Friday...that is when we ended up having Jay's memorial as there was quite the storm on March 9th. But the Chief wanted to make sure that a memorial was held.  

One of the things that was a part of the memorial was the Mike James Memorial Award was presented...for Jay Sheridan (received by Heather and Isabel Sheridan), Russell Lengel, Albert Leach, and Josh Morrison.  This award was quite the honor for these officers...though the pain that we all relived as the Chief read a letter that brought back memories of that fatal night.

In this picture Jay's little Peanut had walked back over to see what her mom had received.   Although while the Chief was speaking...Izzy in her love for one Grandad and Grammy...I am sure she could feel their pain across the way and so she went and stood with them...holding Grandad's hand and Grammy's leg...letting me know that a part of Jay was touching them and all of us in our tears.   But at the photo above, the Chief is just watching...waiting for one little girl to turn around...bringing a smile to many of our faces in how one little girl can get these tough cops just hop to...

I can't help but smile watching them as uniform and all...they don't seem to mind showing a little vulnerability...I know we share our daughter with another "dad"...a bond that I wish they would have never had to form but I couldn't ask for a better one IF it had to be done...Heather once said that she and Lynn have more photos together than her and Jay did...another example...but this one just seems to capture these two...

So I didn't mean to make this a sad one...just one of respect and admiration to a very special guy...who WELL we won't say how old!!!   BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A VERY SPECIAL GUY!   We are thankful and blessed to know you!

I have many more pictures...perhaps for another blog...I tend to get too long winded...and there are MORE pictures...perhaps another day...another blog.    So I say Happy Birthday Lynn and hope you had an amazing Birthday!!!

lyp

Blown away...

I sit here watching the Voice and two of the singers sing the song BLOWN AWAY (A Carrie Underwood song that Izzy used to tell me her and Uncle Andoo like that song)...and I look out the window and I wonder if we will be blown away.   It is as though we are living in a dust bowl...Though I am thankful for the homes we have...the protections that I know were not in place for many during those days.

I see pictures from those up north who actually have snow.    And how we pray for moisture.   I was given a verse awhile back it seemed actually a whole chapter...But the following just touched me one morning....Isaiah 58...

It is an amazing scripture but the Here I am...had hit me and little did I know it was one of those that was one that I would call on more.   Not long after I read these verses, we made the decision to sell our cows.   Some might not understand what those who have raised cattle all their life...(no that wouldn't be me) but for the shepherd...they are a part of him.   As I have said before...he is a shepherd.   It is in his makeup to care for these animals and so it is a hard decision to let them go.   But with others we know and some we don't know...it is a decision that looms for many.  

The winds continue to blow...a friend said the other day that his grandmother said it was the worst that she had seen...and she has had many years looking at the prairie.  I saw pictures of some places up north that it appears as a desert...many talk of the dust bowl...and days such as this make you think of it.   I pray for rain...for any sort of moisture..."a sun-scorched land". 

I caught a few pics of the last cows being loaded up the few that were at the house...And the shepherd in true shepherd form told me that maybe they would get some green grass...

And so on to a new season...I wonder what waits ahead...but I seem to hear from many directions FAITH!    I pray for all of those who are making their own decisions...

I pray for those from the Boston marathon...This morning I woke up thinking okay I am going to finish off my taxes and so I decided to take a personal day.   I wanted to finish up some pictures I am working on for my friend Trudy Hardy's new and exciting venture...she is opening a coffee shop and bakery in Fowler...THE BUNKHOUSE!   It is such a cool place and I am  so excited for her...

I was reminded of those that were lost on this day.   That five years ago today...we had terrible winds and the Ordway fires...so though these winds blow praying that the fires stay away.   Jennifer shared of losing her husband Terry who was a fireman during that fire...my thoughts and prayers go out during these "anniversaries".   And thankful for our nephew Calvin and family that are there...

I realized that my "taxes" wasn't really a big deal in the whole scheme of things...so I hang on to those last lines of Isaiah..."like a spring whose waters never fail".    I think of finding the good...that picture I include is one I took the other night when we were working at the "shack" trying to get our equipment to cooperate.    I had stopped by on the way home and as I went to leave...the sun seemed to set and shine on the waters and so I of course had to snap some shots...and the peace that one feels in times as this...and I hear the silent whisper of God...Here I am...Here I am.

Well I think I will  head off of here...may tomorrow the wind have blown itself away.   For you all that have snow or rains...count your blessings...or send it our way.  

lyp