Month: September 2017

Well folks, the time has come for me to depart from this wonderful workplace for the next 32 days. As I so often am, I was reminded once again of just how great of a workplace this office is this morning. Sure, our facilities are nice & the benefits very generous, but it’s the people we employ here that truly define our culture & atmosphere. I elected to have a private send-off with Ray & Dave this afternoon as oppose to a company-wide send-off. I know, SHOCKER. Oh, you mean that super introverted dude that sends out the production reports elected NOT to have a company-wide send-off?! Yeah, big surprise. However, this morning, Drew was excited enough to be rid of me for the next few weeks that he brought breakfast burritos for he, Stokes, & I to celebrate my departure. Before we dug into our breakfast, I laid out my sabbatical plans for Drew & Taylor. You all will eventually read the details of my excursions, but I figured it would be a good idea to share my plans for the first few days here.

Tomorrow morning (Sep. 30), I will be departing for Aurora, CO to visit my cousin (Sandra), her husband (Dalton), and their one-year-old daughter (Audrey). I will be visiting with them from Saturday through Tuesday morning. I am SO excited to spend time with my family & especially to get to know my new baby cousin! You can find a picture of the precious child below:

Isn’t she the most beautiful little girl you’ve ever seen?? Anyway, enough bragging. Tuesday, my adventure continues as I wonder into the Arizona wilderness to see the Grand Canyon with my own eyes for the first time. In addition to seeing the GC, I will be staying a night in a tipi. Yes, you read that correctly. A genuine, Native American tipi. I know I know, I’m a hippie. No apologies here, though. I anticipate having one of the best views of the cosmos in my life to date. Stargazing on Oct. 3rd will certainly be a night to remember as the area where I’ll be staying in is located in rural AZ with, I imagine, very little light pollution. I anticipate excellent conditions given the desert climate at the beginning of Autumn! I’m excited to enjoy the nature & admire our Creator’s masterful hand throughout my road trip, but especially in AZ. You can find a picture of my humble abode for a night below:

My road trip will also include a stop in Las Vegas to meet my dad for a Wednesday night church service…just kidding, but he is there on business so I figured I would crash with him for a night since I am in the area. The stark contrast between staying in a tipi in the middle of nowhere to taking the Las Vegas strip for the first time should be a pretty big culture shock. Again, I am excited to soak in the experiences. My other stops include Los Angeles, CA to visit some family, Austin, TX for Austin City Limits Festival, Laredo, TX to visit my grandparents, and College Station, TX to celebrate my sister’s Ring Dunk (R.I.P. her innocence)! I’ll catch y’all up on the remainder of my road trip as the days expire.

So back to why this place we call “work” so is great. After laying out the details of my trip to Drew & Taylor, Drew offered to pray over me & my adventures. He called in Addison, Lori, & Nadene, and they all laid hands on me for a blessing. I cannot express my gratitude for this simple, yet meaningful gesture. The sincerity of our people & the love of Christ that is on display daily is why I love coming to work here every day.

Finally, I would like to thank Kris & all those who have had a hand in making these sabbatical opportunities happen with this company. I look forward to a unique, rejuvenating learning experience as I explore the West. When you find the time, please keep me in your thoughts & prayers while I am on the road. Even as I write this it is hard to believe the time has come, but I am excited. I will miss you all, and I’ll be back soon.

Peace,

Alec

1 hour and 30 minutes until I embark on my first sabbatical.  Thank you Kris and FD for this amazing opportunity!!!

Please enjoy this giraffe photo.

Wedding pictures to follow!!!

Week 2

Last weekend I spent the weekend with a few guys from work, Ben and Steven (Kiki) from MIS. We went to Austin to celebrate Ben’s bachelor party. I typically spend most of my weekends either at the lake, ranch or with family. Austin was a whole new world to me. It also didn’t help that it was the “Pecan Festival” I think what they called it which was an art festival downtown. We can just sum up most of the people/environment – weird. Maybe I should stick to small town Abilene.  I had a great weekend with the guys, met some of Ben’s friends from Dallas/Hardin Simmons and got to relax with the guys.

This week has been a change of pace. While the first week I got tons of things done on my todo list, this week I had a sinus infection so I have been moving around the house slower. The weather also has had me stuck indoors so I’ve had a hard time with resting, but it has forced me to do it which I think is God’s plan. He knows if the weather is nice, I can find something to work on, I’d do it.

My service project is moving but moving slow. The company Children’s Grief Connection decide to go with signed the contract early this week (Neon), which means we have the ball moving, but now it is time to organize photos and content for the site. I created a sitemap for Coral and the team at Children’s Grief Connection to show them the current number of pages they have. On the first call, they thought they had 6-8 pages. After running the sitemap, they have 138 pages. You always forget about those pages that are 2 or 3 levels deep. They’ve talked about combining and removing some pages. Neon is going to set up the site with the first 4-6 pages, then I am going to convert as many as I can from their current layout to the new site.

This weekend

This weekend is opening deer season! Wahoo! As I get older, I enjoy deer hunting more and more. I enjoy relaxing with nature and having no outside world distractions. I also have enjoyed listening to audiobooks while I hunt to relax more and pass the time. I also enjoy hunting season because I get to see my dad side of the family, grandparents, uncle and aunt and cousins. During most of the year I might see them once or twice, but during hunting season I will most likely see them every other weekend.

Next week

I still am trying to figure out my plans for next week. One thing that came up last week unplanned is my grandmother will be moving into an assisted living center (Wesley Court) on Tuesday. She currently lives in Fairway and has been widowed for about 5 years and is having trouble take care of the house and herself the last year or so. Being on sabbatical, I can help pack and move something with my mom during the day Tuesday, then when the rest of the family gets off work Tuesday evening we can move furniture.

Wednesday, if all goes as planned, I hope to get back to the ranch to spend some time hunting and relaxing with family. I also have a few projects around the ranch I’d like to work on such as fixing some fence, taking some cows to auction/vet, and other things to help my grandparents out.

The work/school week can get so busy and turn into just a blur if we let it. Our girls get the worst end of it at times, by the time we pick them both up from their respective places, get home, eat supper and get ready for bed. Therefore, I’ve tried to use my sabbatical to break up that monotony, make week nights fun and productive, and hopefully create habits that will carry on after my sabbatical ends.

Disney Scene It was so much fun when we had our Swat Tournament at work, but we hadn’t taken the opportunity to play it at home since I’d bought the game. Emily, my oldest daughter, is only 5, and still too young to have seen most of the shows associated with the first edition. She has been dying to play the game, but having played it many times at work, I knew that it took quite a while and kept putting it off. So recently, I knew what we had to do. It was a beautiful rainy day outside, and Will made some pizzas so we could get supper out of the way. We sat in the living room and played Disney Scene It. Emily did awesome! She asked for a little help on some of the questions, but her proudest moment was on all play when we were supposed to be finding the missing item, and she shouted “MAGIC BEANS! It’s the magic beans!” This was the correct answer, and she beat Will and me to the answer without a doubt. She did not win, but told her dad good job and asked to play again, which made my heart swell.

Emily and I baked chocolate chip cookies tonight. We waited until after supper to try them. They are absolutely delicious. However, when bringing them to the table, Emily brought me the one with the least amount of chocolate chips and said it’s because I “don’t really like chocolate very much”. Will and I quietly laughed and we enjoyed our cookies. One day, Emily will realize that it’s not that I don’t like chocolate, but that she loves chocolate.

Emily’s school had an Open House that we attended, and it was completely student led. Emily didn’t know beforehand that we were going, so she was excited when I told her. It was a student led event. The school is doing The Leader in Me, so I was highly impressed. The principal of the elementary is one of Will’s classmates. From the time we walked through the doors, the students were directing traffic, holding doors, and helping out. Emily showed us her classroom, her stations, what she’s been learning and answered all our questions. They served a meal afterwards with students as the servers there, too.

Children can teach us so much that we have forgotten or given up on. They always ask the question. As adults, we often stop asking after a few failed attempts. When I first started working for FDLIC, I asked my dad to switch over to direct deposit, his bank is in Abilene so it made sense anyway, but his answer was always the same, “I have to go to Abilene to make deposits anyway,” or “I’m going to an appointment and can just stop by the bank”. I was at the funeral home picking up Emily (she rides the bus to the funeral home since Will and I both work and someone is always there), and Ryon told me to tell him again to switch to direct deposit, so I did. Which version of his norm did he give me this time? “Sure.” Sure! All it took was asking one more time, using someone else’s name, and signing him up right then when he said “sure”.

My hope is that when my girls are older, they remember us sitting in floor playing games, they remember baking, they remember the colored bags from Meals on Wheels and the smiles they received, and they remember falling asleep in Mom’s arms while waiting on the car to be fixed. I also hope that I never forget the love that I see in their eyes, the compliments they give me on a day I don’t wear makeup or get dressed up, or the hugs they give.

Week one is almost done.  This is my second sabbatical (Thank You Kris and FD!) so I know the feeling of being away from the office for a while.  But for this week, it still feels like vacation-mode.  I’m sure the feeling of “joblessness” will hit me again soon (HA).

This week I have been visiting my sister & brother in-law, nephew and his wife, and niece and her husband, that all live in Stinnett, Texas.  A small town about 60 miles north of Amarillo.  I helped out with some repairs on their houses and yards.   Actually not as much yard work as we had hoped for, because it has rained a bit every day that I have been here (5 days straight).   I haven’t seen the sun since I started my sabbatical!

We all needed this time together here in Stinnett, and it has taught us that we need to spend time with each other more often.  I am leaving today (Friday), and going to Wellington to stay a week with my parents.  Dad has a new hot-tub/spa thing that is currently in his garage. I am going to build him a “hot-tub house”, as he calls it, off the patio in the back yard, weather permitting.   Hopefully pics to come next week.

It’s now 7:30 am, time for some (more) coffee and some reading and study time.  I enjoy the early mornings.  I am alert (after a cup of coffee), and the world is still mostly quiet.

From something I read a long time ago — “Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak”.

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As I write this on Thursday, we have been at sea since Saturday evening. Both time and internet time are at a premium on the cruise, so I’m writing this on a sea day. We flew into Boston on Friday with the intention of doing a private car tour of Boston on Saturday morning before boarding the ship. A day or so before, the tour company canceled our Boston tour because of a car being in the shop (!). This is the sabbatical of the cancellation. We are on this cruise because our pilgrimage to Italy was canceled by the tour company (sigh). We also had one of our scheduled shore excursions canceled (after we had boarded the bus) due to bus mechanical problems, but were able to take an alternate tour that was fun. I’m taking the approach that all these cancellations are because we were not meant to do that thing at that time for some reason. Nothing to be gained by being upset.

Our cruise began in Boston and ends in Montreal. So far, we have been to Bar Harbor, Maine, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sydney, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (famous for Anne of Green Gables). Each of those places has been somewhat different, and we have enjoyed them all. We have never been farther northeast than Massachusetts, so it’s a new experience for us, and a visit to places we will probably never see again. Other than Halifax, which is a larger seaport, the stops have been quaint and idyllic places where the pace of life is slower than what we are used to. It’s interesting to imagine what life would be like there, but being on a cruise ship timetable does not really lead to experiencing the slower pace of things. Still, we have chosen excursions and time in port so that we were not under any particular time crunch. The weather has been warm, but I still cannot help but think of the bitter cold that is in place here for up to six months of the year, and marvel at the fact that people choose to live here. The sea water even freezes in some of the bays. It’s great in the summer, though! As much as the heat in Texas can be bothersome, I’m thankful that we don’t experience the bone chilling cold that is a fact of life in these parts.

It’s pretty chilly cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway right now, so we are not spending any time at the pool. This is a small cruise ship, and we are not finding much to do on our “day off”. It’s a good time for reading, writing and reflection. We are in Quebec city tomorrow and land in Montreal on Saturday morning. Both of those will be quite different experiences from what we have seen on the first part of the cruise. The Quebec old city is very European in feel (been there once before), and Montreal has an old city with a similar flavor. So, we are looking forward to seeing both of those. We return home Saturday evening, and will be happy to experience being in a bedroom that’s probably three times the size of our cruise cabin!

Last week was productive & fulfilling.  Jennifer and I delivered Meals on Wheels.  During the 5 days we delivered, we ran 3 different routes, making a total of 43 stops, and delivered 64 meals.  “…It is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35.  We really enjoy delivering Meals on Wheels mostly because of the personal interaction.  The amount of effort it takes to give and be a blessing to someone wanes in comparison to the amount of joy you receive by doing it.

I have started reading “The Fred Factor”.  The basic premise of the book is that the author, Mark Sanborn, moved into a new neighborhood.  He heard a knock on his door.  He opened it to discover his new postal carrier, Fred Shea.  Fred is an over-achiever to say the least.  He goes way above and beyond the call.  Fred offers to hold the mail while Mr. Sanborn is away on speaking engagements and even retrieves a package that was delivered by U.P.S. to the wrong address.  Mr. Sanborn “…concluded that Fred-and the way he did his job-provides a perfect metaphor for high individual achievement and excellence in the twenty-first century”.  He has identified 4 principles that he learned from his postal carrier that make up the Fred Factor.  1) “Everyone makes a difference”.  2) “Success is built on relationships”.  3) “You must continually create value for others, and it doesn’t have to cost a penny”.  4) “You can reinvent yourself regularly”.  In the chapters I’ve read so far, he goes on to discuss other “Freds” he has come across and how he makes a point to let their employers know when someone has really gone above and beyond the call.  I found this particularly interesting, because it is something I do as well.  I believe in rewarding extraordinary service.  He then discusses how management can incorporate those principles into their organizations.  More on the book later.

As I said in my 1st blog, My mom was in San Antonio and Jennifer & I were going to help her celebrate her 85th birthday.  We had a great dinner and party at Mi Tierra.  I grew up in San Antonio, and Mi Tierra has always been my favorite Mexican food restaurant.  It’s touristy, a little over-priced, kind of tacky, and WONDERFUL!!!  We had a great turnout and a great time.  My mom took the 5 candle off of her cake and put it in front of the 8 so it read 58 instead of 85.  Gee, I wonder where I get my goofy sense of humor.  The weekend also afforded me an opportunity to bury a hatchet or at least take neutral corners with someone.  We’ll just call it a work in progress and leave it at that.  But the weekend was about my mom.  Happy birthday to one of the 2 most important women in my life.

Last week, my husband Darrell and I delivered Meals on Wheels.  On Monday, the first two people on the list did not answer the door.  We deliver Meals on Wheels in the FDLIC route rotation, but we have never had anyone not answer the door.  I was worried that we were not getting off to a great start.  We called the Meals on Wheels office and told them the names of the people who did not answer the door.  I was really worried that something had happened to them, but we delivered to the same houses later in the week and they were home.  I was wearing one of my Alzheimer’s Memory Walk shirts on Monday and one of the men we delivered to commented on it.  He said that his wife was featured in a news story about Alzheimer’s the previous Saturday and that they participated in the Memory Walk that day.  I love talking to the people to whom we deliver meals.  Some of them do not have much contact with other people, and I am sure they are lonely.  I have always loved to visit with older people.  My grandmother took me to nursing homes with her to visit her friends and my church’s youth choir sang at nursing homes often.  Last week was wonderful.  The last couple of years have been really challenging for me and I really needed some time away from my normal routine.  Last year, my Mother died, my former boss for whom I worked for over fourteen years died and one of my sisters almost died.  This year, I have been working a lot of hours for a very demanding client.  It has been very stressful, and the time away has been great.  It also made me feel good to do something for other people by delivering Meals on Wheels.

WOW! The first week of my sabbatical really flew by!  The first day, I attended the wedding of my best friend’s daughter.   It was beautiful and emotional. Such a blessing to see the beginning for a sweet young couple.

The rest of week one had me busy finishing chores in preparation for our oldest son’s wedding.  More about that in my next blog.

I certainly got plenty of exercise going up and down the steps to our basement! I logged over 10,000 steps everyday last week!

My daily devotional is Trusting God Day by Day by Joyce Meyer.  On Friday, she asked this question: in what areas of your life does your mind need to be renewed?  I can really feel Him working with me during this time to spend time resting and renewing my mind….I guess this is exactly the right time for me to take my sabbatical.  I kind of struggled with that just before I left. 🙂

I miss my work family but I am feeling good about having this time off and so thankful for the opportunity!

The premise of the One Thousands Gifts Devotional I am currently reading encourages thankfulness and becoming more aware of God’s grace in our everyday lives. With that in mind, the following is a reflection on what I have been grateful for during the first two weeks of my sabbatical experience.

Day 1 – Wednesday, September 13th

I am very thankful to have had the time to devote to my son, Jonas. The first day of my sabbatical was his birthday and Dave and I took him to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. It was wonderful to be able to let him get ready at his own pace, instead of rushing him out the door. Sharing pancakes with him on his birthday was a delight.

I also managed to gather items for Jonas’ birthday party and meet up at Beltway Coffee with Allison. It has been ages since I’ve been to coffee shop, so enjoying her company on the comfy couch was a treat.

Day 2 – Thursday, September 14th

Waking up with a sinus headache that dragged into the afternoon, I was thankful to be able to sleep it off  while Jonas was at His Little Kids MDO, under the watchful eye of my mother. I am ever grateful for her wisdom and insight, especially with the challenge of having her strong-willed grandson in her class this year.

I am also thankful for my book club ladies’ quick action when I showed up and announced I had spilled a whole gallon of sweet tea in the floorboard of my car. Our book club is always a special time for me, and I blessed to have made so many friends because of it.

Day 3 – Friday, September 15th

I was blessed to be able to go to the free Needtobreathe concert at ACU with my husband, sister and cousin Melissa. The weather was great for an evening out and Jonas had a great time at his Nana’s house so we didn’t have to find a babysitter. Always a blessing!

Day 4 – Saturday, September 16th

Saturday was a busy day, starting with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. My grandfather died from Alzheimer’s, so this organization means a lot to me.

The rest of the day was devoted to celebrations. Our family went to a 1-year-old’s birthday party and then had Jonas’ later that evening. Jonas and his friends had a great time hunting dinosaur eggs, eating cake and other delectables, and getting nice and sweaty playing. I am grateful for the laughs and smiles of children. 

Day 5 – Sunday, September 17th

Jonas got to open his gifts from family after church. Another day appreciating the delight of a child.

Day 6 – Monday, September 18th

I could never say enough how thankful I am for my parents. I told my dad that we wanted to upgrade Jonas from a toddler to a twin bed and several hours later there he was with his trailer loaded up with the bed he had in storage. 

Day 7 – Tuesday, September 19th

I am grateful to have my sister here in Abilene. She moved up here from San Antonio and it is wonderful to have her around. On Tuesday, we went to an Arbonne Holiday Showcase together and had a nice visit with our friend, Laura, and with each other.

Day 8 – Wednesday, September 20th

Jonas had his 4-year-old check-up on Wednesday and did great! I am thankful for a healthy active boy!

Day 9 – Thursday, September 21st

I hadn’t seen by best friend from college since Homecoming last year, but since I have the time off from work, Jonas and I were able to make the trip to College Station to see her and her family. Driving that distance is no joke with a preschooler who doesn’t like to be confined, so I was very grateful for his Kindle and headphones and my audiobooks.

Day 10 – Friday, September 22nd

On Friday, Jonas and I woke to the delicious smells of fresh muffins that Melissa’s husband Francis had baked and then had a great day playing with the kids. I loved having the chance to invest in my relationship with Melissa and her family.

Day 11 – Saturday, September 23rd

We left Melissa’s after another delicious breakfast, this time French toast. It was a wonderful visit, but also wonderful to come home and sleep in my own bed. 

Day 12 – Sunday, September 24th

I am so thankful to the Lord for an amazing church family.

Day 13 – Monday, September 25th

I am grateful for the rain and getting things done.

Day 14 – Tuesday, September 26th

Jonas has a little bit of a cold so we are having a nice quiet day inside. I am very thankful for modern medicine that can help my boy feel better and soft blankets to snuggle under.

Well, when I thought that I certainly had a plan for serving, it completely changed days before.  I was going to assist at a local nursing facility with whatever their needs were and even if it was just to sit and visit with the residents.  Instead, my own dad and stepmom had urgent home repair needs, and so did my mother and father-in-law, and so did my oldest son and his new bride.

Just a couple of weeks ago my son and his wife had just moved in to their new house.  They were there less than a month when a thief kicked in their front door during the day when they were at work.  They stole many important documents as well as electronics and personal items.  Now my kids felt very unsafe in the very house in which they are to build their new life together.  God has blessed me with construction and painting abilities from days of my youth.  So, i was able to replace the front door jamb with an ultra-secure door armor, and then repaint inside and outside in a way that totally hid all reminders of what terrible event took place.  Glory to God!

My in-laws have been in their home for 25 years and had smoke damage to paint and wallpaper from a wood burning stove through the years.  Once again I was able to strip paper, texture walls and paint so that they could once again enjoy the very home they host so many events in for the family.  Glory to God!

But perhaps the greatest gift during my time on sabbatical, has been the ability to “serve” my own dad with plumbing crisis, fence repairs, electrical issues, and any other thing that i could assist with that could let me have more time with him.  Here’s a little to the back story……..We had been estranged for almost 10 years until a couple of years ago.   I was once the middle child of three boys.  My oldest brother, John Jr. died in a car accident in 1981.  My youngest brother David, died after a 12 year battle with cancer in 2003.  My dad, who is not a Christian, has lost two children and has no hope of seeing them again (even though they were both believers).  He feels that when someone dies the lights just go out and it ends.  I tried to “preach” to him so much at the passing of my second brother in 2003 that he felt I was judging him and that angered him.  I was insensitive and not allowing for parental grief either.  I completely botched any evangelistic attempt to reach my dad with unwise words and fueled also by my own grief.  What he really needed was just to be loved on and reassured.  I failed in every possible way.

Fast forward to a couple of years ago when he received one of those scam calls that sounds like a grandchild calling his grandparents saying they are in jail and need $3,000 to get out.  This rattled my dad and forced him to call me after almost a decade to make sure that my son was OK.  We began talking again and most of our dialog has been pretty superficial.  But this month was a time for me to call him every day, see him 3-4 times per week and to just serve and honor my dad the way I should.   We have had some pretty deep conversations (still not about salvation though) and very nostalgic moments of watching home videos, looking at photo albums and him sharing his childhood memories of growing up in south Texas.  We have really deepened our relationship again and the greatest thing is, he is accepting of my love.  He also realized that it was easier for him to shut me out for fear of losing a 3rd son, rather than ever risk having to suffer that loss again.  I have received the second chance to “get it right.”  I will go forward just loving unconditionally with no agenda and leave the rest to God.

For this, Glory to God!   And a big thank you to FDLIC for creating this opportunity.

Tomorrow I officially start back to work.  My sabbatical has been just what I needed – I feel rested and revived and ready to go.  What a great gift to have 30 days off.  I am so grateful to work for such a wonderful company and with so many wonderful people.  While this time off has been great I have really missed my DIG family and can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow.

Thank you Kris and the Board of Directors!!

The Superlatives of Lucky

When the kids were growing up and before they were smart enough to know that hanging out with Mom and Dad wasn’t cool, like many folks, we too would play the game of “I Love You”. And, upon saying so, the second response would be, “No, I Love You More” and, this game would finally conclude with the last person usually stating that “I Love You…The Most” , and then bustling out of earshot so you know you had the last word. You can’t do any better than that. So this little scenario would play out for a moment until the next time. Like Tic-Tac-Toe. Mindless fun, repeated over and again.  In that game, you couldn’t do any better than “most”. Not then. Not even now.

I am a very lucky guy, from before the day I met Debbi, to having the opportunity to raise two great kids. Luckier still, to have been saved by the blood of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in August of 1997. For, it is down this path of “lucky” as I’ve called it, to give it it’s real name Providence.

We’ve been lucky to have the employer that we do.   Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, graced with leadership which allows for the  freedom to express ones  love for Christ and couple that passion with being ‘prayer warriors’, devoted to lifting up those who are sick and or hurting. And,  there are many who are, sick and hurting. Just follow those prayer warriors.  Pretty lucky.

I am still processing all of what occurred on my sabbatical.  True to what I was told, the sabbatical transformed from start to finish.  We can make our plans to our hearts content but God directs our path.  Our prayers and the answers we receive through the Holy Spirit help us to work through all of what we do and become.

I get my joy in doing.  And, tending to Debbi’s needs (which continues but diminishes daily), as well as our 2017 Stillwater United Methodist Church Parking Lot Build were the big rocks of what laid before us.  Praise God for allowing me to accomplish both.  It is with gratitude to FD for the opportunity to have done so.

In conclusion, and, to quote Lou Gehrig on July 4, 1939 ( and I paraphrase) ….”I’m the luckiest guy on the planet’. But, we all know what luck really is, don’t we?  And, just remember, God loves US the most.  You just can’t do any better than that.

Respectfully,

Steven

Testing out the blog. Trying to get all my DIGicon-Ducks in-a-row before I leave on this wonderful Sabbatical ! Thank you Kris and FD!

It’s hard to believe that my sabbatical is almost over it has gone by so quickly.  This past week has been extremely restful and slow-paced.  I’ve spent lots of time with Jeff, completed a few home projects and finished a book called Visioneering by Andy Stanley.  This book was a perfect follow up from our recent management conference.  The book is essentially about discovering your personal vision and is written around the story of Nehemiah and his vision to rebuild Jerusalem.  Over and over throughout the book Andy Stanley repeats the phrase that a vision is something that “could be” but most importantly “should be”.  I can’t say that I have discovered what my personal vision is yet, but I am leaving myself open to whatever God puts on my heart.  This week I have also had a chance to attend some of my grandchildren’s sporting events – it was baseball on Monday, tonight its football and Saturday its soccer.  Kids sure are busy these days!

Kickoff Sunday Sermon

At church, we are currently going through the Ten Commandments. If I paid more attention, I would notice that the 4th week (this last Sunday), would be the Sunday of my first week of my sabbatical. The 4th commandment is “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” It was the perfect setup and what I needed to hear to get my sabbatical off to the right start. Before my sabbatical started, I had something planned every weekend, a todo list of over 12 things I wanted to get done around the house or on our cars and other odds and ends. Jarred, the preach at Southern Hills, talked about how in today’s culture, people have a hard time taking a break and resting. It was very convicting because I am the type of person that has a hard time sitting still and always wants to be working on and improving things.

Plans

Like I said, before Sunday I had many plans. Every weekend was full of Weddings, guys trips, trips with my wife, and of course – opening deer season weekend. My weekdays consisted of getting done the todo list which consisted of cleaning the garage, kitchen cabinets, helping my dad do some marketing for one of his houses that’s on the market, work on Childen’s Grief Connection website and am taking two grad school classes. I also plan to spend time with my grandparents.

I also plan to spend time with my grandparents. My dad’s side lives on the ranch and is getting older, so they need help with managing the land which consists of feeding cows/horses, checking fences and many other odd and end things. I plan on heading out there when the weather cools down a bit. Also, spending time with my mom’s mom which has been widowed about five years ago, but lately has had small heath issues and is getting lonelier as her friends get older and not able to spend as much time with her. Both of my grandparents mean so much to me as they taught me many life lessons and both gave me life-changing job opportunities growing up. The ranch I learned to weld, drive tractors, 4-wheelers, and jeeps around the age of 7 (probably not legal), build fences and enjoy the outdoors. My mom’s side owned an oil and gas company which my grandfather (that passed away 5 years ago) taught me so much about business and the oil industry.

How It Has Gone So Far

Children’s Grief Connection

The first few days have been amazing! We started the website discussions with Childen’s Grief Connection. They are hiring a third party to host their website and adding a CRM (Client Relationship Managment) software into the website and their business. This will allow them to track campers/donors/volunteer information easier. They are also adding an e-commerce part to the website. I’m also helping build part of the website for a fundraiser. They have been using another third party software to collect donations, but taht software as raised their rates from $30 per month to over $250. We are hoping to have the new software up and going which should get their fees back down to a more manageable place for a non-profit.

Homework, Book Study and Trying to Relax

I have begun part of my todo list but have also decided to take off a few things and try to relax more. I’ve also decided to do all the thing I want to get done-such things on the todo list and class work during the day, then spend the evenings relaxing and giving more attention to my wife. With grad school, most evenings we get home, eat dinner, then I do homework 2-3 hours per evening and have not been able to spend the time in our relationship that I wish to. Being able to complete my coursework during the day has been amazing for our relationship! We are beginning the book “The Five Love Languages” this week and look forward to spending more time with each other. I’ve also decided to combine a couple of my trips and have a couple weekends of relaxing or not scheduled and see what happens.

As weird as it may sound, I do miss work – especially the people, but also the challenging projects, working with sales managers, talking funeral homes, and that busy feeling. I enjoy challenging myself to see what I can get done in a day and that high of success – when I complete a project, have a successful campaign or sign up another funeral home with Social Media Management.

I hope to have another post soon with the more information on the website for Children’s Grief Connection and update on how everything else is going!

I’m still “working” toward getting to the point where things slow down for me. Maybe “working” is the problem. I’ve already discovered that having an extensive list of things to try to accomplish while on sabbatical is not a good idea. Yet, the list is there and I’m “working” on it. There’s that word again. I do feel like I have had the physical rest and rejuvenation part, just not as much on the mental part. This weekend we leave for a cruise from Boston to Montreal. This will take me away from my list and from most other distractions (e.g. grandkids), so I’m hoping for and expecting some mental relaxation.

Last week I did a service project at the St. Vincent de Paul service center. This center serves the homeless, and currently serves refugees from hurricane Harvey. My expectation going in was that I would be working in the intake area for homeless. It turned out that what they really needed me to do was help stock the food pantry because of all the donations of food for the refugees by the local parishes. So, I spent a few hours a day moving food items from a shopping cart to the pantry shelves. This was not what I was intending to do for a service project, but, hey, service is not about me. As you might expect, this was a little bit tedious and boring, so I had to keep telling myself that what I was doing was benefitting people less fortunate than me in their life situations. Since the food donations actually exceeded the available shelf space (eventually), there was a little bit of creativity involved in figuring out how to arrange each of the different areas of the pantry to hold more food. That helped with the boredom part. It would be a stretch to say that I felt incredibly fulfilled by this service work, but I do see it as service work helping those who need help. In that respect I feel a sense of fulfillment.

This Friday we are off to Boston, and I’m looking forward to a further change of pace and some true relaxation.

In my 1st blog I talked about my friend Chris.  This is the only picture I have of the 2 of us.  His mother was kind enough to send it to me after he passed away.  This was taken in 1989 during the after party of his wedding (#2).  That’s him on the left.  I suspect most of you know that handsome guy on the right.  R.I.P brother.

There is a poem entitled “To A Mouse” by Scottish author Robert Burns.  The premise of the poem is that a mouse has built a nest in a farmer’s field.  The nest is necessary for the mouse to survive the winter.  The farmer inadvertently plows over the nest.  Knowing this ultimately will lead to the death of the mouse, the farmer starts apologizing to it.  While you may not be familiar with the poem, there is a good chance you have heard a more modern English translation of one of the lines from it.  “The best laid plans of mice and men go awry” or “The best laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry”.

That line describes part of the beginning of my Sabbatical.  In June of last year, Jen and I were driving back from The Woodlands where we had attended a concert.  My phone rang.  It was Chris.  He was the first friend I made after moving to Abilene in 1979.  I met him on the first day of school my junior year of high school.  When I say friend, I don’t mean one of the 800 people who “Like” some goofy video you post on Facebook.  I mean the kind of friend who always has your back – the kind of friend you can trust with your biggest secrets.  Chris was my best man when Jen and I got married.  I was his best man twice.  Neither time took.  Apparently I was better at being a groom than a best man.

Chris was calling with bad news.  He was sick – very sick.  He had end stage liver disease.  The doctors told him that best case scenario he might live 5 years but that even a cold could kill him.  One of my big Sabbatical plans was to go to Florida to see my friend one last time.  That plan came to an end on May 22 when his sister called me to tell me my friend, my brother, had died.

While I mourn the loss of my friend, I do have a new Sabbatical plan.  And it is a plan that I’m looking forward to.  On September 25, my mom will celebrate her 85^th birthday.  We have a big party planned at my favorite Mexican food restaurant in San Antonio, Mi Tierra.  I will do a follow up after we return.

We have started our service project which is delivering Meals on Wheels.  We have delivered twice so far.  We got off to a bit of a rough start on Monday as 2 of the recipients didn’t answer the door.  I called MOW per their instructions.  It always bothers me when they don’t answer the door, and we have to leave.  Obviously, the hope is that there’s nothing wrong.  Day 2 went much more smoothly.  We had a different route with twice as many stops (13 to be exact), but we didn’t have any issues.

I didn’t take a Sabbatical in 2010, so this is my first experience.  I expected going into it that the service project would be my favorite part.  It’s always a blessing to do a little good for the hood.  It doesn’t necessarily take a huge effort to brighten someone’s day.  A little effort and kindness can go a long way.

It is 11:03 pm.  If I’m going to get the required rest, I should wrap this up.

Ciao for now.

I’ve always considered myself lucky to have grown up in a small town, and now I am excited to be raising my daughters in a small town. Yeah, there are not many places to eat, but we learn to cook, we know how to entertain ourselves, and we know pretty much everybody.

When it came to choosing my service project, the first thing I knew for sure was that I wanted mine to be in Winters. It’s been a while since I worked in Winters, but when I did, I used to deliver Meals on Wheels. I enjoyed getting to see everyone on my route smile when I brought their food, or answer their questions, or just have a little laugh. Therefore, I chose Meals on Wheels, which has changed quite a bit. We used to cook the meals in Winters, then deliver them, rotating each week by church. Now, Abilene’s Meals on Wheels Plus has taken over our community when we didn’t have the means to continue. We still rotate weekly by church, but each day is also rotated as far as who drives to Abilene to pick up the meals for Winters and Ballinger. Ballinger meets us in Winters to get their meals, and they pick up every Wednesday. My mother-in-law and I went together to get the meals on Tuesday, which gave us an opportunity to spend time together.  While it makes you a little sad to think of these people in their younger days (I knew most of them before they were “elderly”), it also made me so happy to see that they would be waiting by the door, on the back porch, or watching their favorite T.V. show because that means they are doing good! My grandparents recently moved into a nursing home because they don’t know who we are and can’t take care of themselves, and because my grandfather had his mind the longest, he wanted to take care of my grandma and wouldn’t let us get them Meals on Wheels.

I also joined my dad at Lion’s Club that week, something else I haven’t been able to do in quite a while. The program was given by Larry Collom, one of our EMTs. He and his wife who is also an EMT had gone down to Houston as some of the first responders. It was amazing to hear him tell the tales. They were often the first people at the shelters and helping transfer people to hospitals, or to the doctors and nurses set up in the shelter who could render aide to these people. One of the shelters had an entire makeshift ER setup. The thing that stood out the most was not the amount of people, it was the people who were there by themselves. Anytime they moved or were transported, they’d grab both their trash bags to carry with them, which were now all their possessions.

Our Sunday School subsides during the summer months, and starts back up again after school starts. We’ve added an extra classroom this year so I can continue teaching the kids I had last year without holding them back for the younger kids in the class, and I am stoked. We are learning the meaning behind Lord’s Prayer, how to use the Bible, and have the same weekly Bible Lesson as the other three classes. One of my Sunday School students is the daughter of Emily’s kindergarten teacher.

I love that I know the people I deliver meals to, I love that I can join a Lion’s Club meeting just to hear a good program, I love teaching kids in Sunday School that I know.

6 days in!

Here’s a quick recap by the numbers:

91 : approximately how many cupcakes I baked (for an Alz bake sale and a dinosaur birthday party) AND the age of the line dance instructor at the Rose Park Senior Center where I joined my mom for a few exercise classes. I want to be as spry as him when I’m that old!

                                                                        20 : the number of pieces of chalk we used! I enjoyed my week helping the Alzheimer’s Association in preparation for the walk which included decorating the path with sidewalk chalk!

95,000+ : dollars raised for The Walk to End Alzheimer’s!!! The goal was $93,000!

0 : the number of to do lists made. Ha that’s not true….

4 : how many power naps I’ve enjoyed. One of which happened while holding an almost full mug of coffee! I’ll work on longer naps during the rest of my sabbatical 🙂

5 : the number of friends/family I don’t get to see often that I got to love on with my extra time off!

2 : the dementia care facilities visited. My parents and I were able to visit a couple of care facilities as options for my almost 98 year old grandmother. She’s still living in the house my dad grew up in! It’ll be a hard transition, but one place seemed like a great option with lots of activities for her.

15 : the number of days I’ll be in Washington (Seattle area) and Canada adventuring with my parents! Starting Tuesday 9/19.

I’ll leave you with this quote from a book I just finished.
“I chose to. I can leave myself to rot in the past, spend my time hating people for what happened, like my father did, or I can forgive and forget.”
“But that’s not easy.”
“Oh, but my treasure, it is so much less exhausting. You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day. You have to keep remembering all the bad things. I would have to make a list, a very, very long list and make sure I hated the people on it the right amount. That I did a very proper job of hating, too: very Teutonic! No, we always have a choice. All of us.”

I finished my Max Lucado three book compilation today and the final book in the series was In the Grip of Grace. In each of the three books I found a particular phase that stood out from the rest. In this book it was, “For all we don’t know about thorns (those areas where we fall short), we can be sure of this. God would prefer we have an occasional limp than a perpetual strut”. In the next paragraph he writes, “the parachute is strong, and the landing will be safe. His grace is sufficient.”

I enjoy Max Lucado’s style and the way he phrases words to clarify a message. As I near the end of my sabbatical I have asked myself if I have contributed enough, rested enough and generally followed the rules enough to be a good employee, worthy of the gift of sabbatical. I can go over each area and feel that I could have done more… even the resting, but in the end I know there is His grace.

When I left the Maderia Rehabilitation Center today after visiting a friend I realized how fortunate I am to be able to feed myself, walk without a walker, read a book. My friend is recovering from a fall and subsequent neck and shoulder injuries that have left him with speech, swallowing (no eating or drinking for over a month so far), cognitive and balance issues. He was jogging a mile per day prior to the accident, so you can imagine the emotional challenges that go along with the physical. I have been visiting to provide some support but feel bad when it is time to leave. Prayers for his recovery are welcomed.

I am grateful for the time I have had to help others. For the time to help myself grow spiritually. Time by goes so fast I commit to working more on these areas of my life during the other 6 years and 11 months!

Kevin

The Lumber awaits cutting on Friday before the big Saturday

Saturday and the sounds of hammering ensues.

One house frame is erected to allow for people to write prayers, blessings and affirmations on any of the exposed framing.

The Journey Begins For The Selected Families

…grow apple trees, and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.

Yeah, I took liberties with one of the words in the title.  The song actually says to “Buy” the world a home.  But, for the purpose of our Blog, we’ll go with build.

Through the several adversities encountered in the organizing, preparation, execution and delivery of these frames,  God did indeed provide.  Prayers were answered on so many levels.  And, yet we fallen people still wonder how can this ever take place when faced with insurmountable problems.  But,  God was and is present in all of what you see.

Over 300 sets of “boots on the ground” volunteers from several churches, high school and collegiate athletic teams,  and service clubs participated.  I had someone ask why we solicit for the volunteers outside of our church.  And, was it because we couldn’t garner enough support from within.   We had over 100 of our own congregants present and accounted for.  But, the point of all of this was to spread the  project around and give others a chance to shine on a project such as this.  We could have done all of this with the 100+ Stillwater United Methodist Church people.  But others needed to feel engaged in putting a roof over the heads of  two fortunate families.

Lastly and most important the church is responsible for securing the funds to pay for all of this.  And, we do this by soliciting for donations in hopes we can get the $15,000 needed to complete this project.  Many of these resources come in the form of sacrificial giving from within and outside the church.  But, none of this would have been possible without the generous consideration given to “The SUMC Parking Lot Build” by The Director’s Foundation of Funeral Directors Life.  Thanks ever so much Kris Seale and your team of heroes who consider the best places to use the resources that they can provide.  None of what happened on Saturday, September 9, 2017 would have been possible without mutual approval of The Director’s Foundation to do so .

And, as a postscript, I want to be able to add to this blog with some photos of the finished homes and each family selected.    These homes were being used by The Fuller Center out of Americus, GA at a site location in Alabama.  Millard and Linda Fuller were the folks who started Habitat for Humanity.  And, in 2005 the Fullers parted company with Habitat and started anew.  Millard has since passed away, but his legacy continues through the Fuller Center.

Respectfully,

Steven

I can’t believe it’s already been 30 days since I began my sabbatical journey. I’ve been beyond blessed.   The last 2 weeks I’ve spent resting, reminiscing and spending time with my grandbaby.

My sweet granddaughter, Kleasy

I’ve continued with my daily devotional Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. It has really been hitting home and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. I read The Same Kind of Different as Me.  I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to see the movie when it comes out in October. It’s amazing how God uses people from such diverse backgrounds to bring people together.  I plan on reading the sequel, What Difference Do It Make?  My Mom has the book, we just haven’t been able to put our hands on it yet. Hopefully I’ll locate it soon.  I’ve also been able to read several novels during my time off.  I love reading, but sometimes I  get so busy I don’t get to read as much as I would like.

During my time off, I took my mother to her hometown of Holliday, TX to visit the graves of her parents and her sister. I also drove her around town to see the changes in the years since we used to go visit my grandparents. I also went to see my grandparents graves at Drummond Cemetery near View and my Dad’s grave at Elmwood Memorial Park. It was nice to just sit and remember the good times we had. I miss them all, but know I will see them all again someday.

My Maternal Grandparents and my Aunt Mary’s graves in Holliday

My Paternal Grandparents graves

My granddaughter, Kleasy, next to her namesake her great great grandfather Kleas Parmelly

My Dad’s grave at Elmwood Memorial Park in Abilene

I’ve really enjoyed being able to take this sabbatical. Thank you Kris and FDLIC for giving me this opportunity. I would also like to thank my co-workers in the accounting department for taking on my responsibilities so that I could take this time off. I know they did a great job.

Got back late yesterday from Wichita, KS where my mom lives.  She is on her third bout of cancer and last November she had to have emergency surgery for a ruptured colon that has taken her a long time to recover from.  The last time I saw her was Mothers’ Day weekend and that visit was a little troubling as it seemed like she had lost her desire to fight so I was anxious about this trip.  Mom has always been very independent.  She is very quiet and to herself and has a hard time letting people in especially when it comes to personal issues like her health.  We talk at least twice a week and I usually visit at least two or three times a year.  The most frustrating thing is I always feel like there is nothing I can do to help.

This trip was just what I needed and I believe it was what Mom needed too. She really opened up to me and we had some deep conversations like “why do bad things happen to good people”- that’s a tough one.   She had made so much progress since the last time I saw her and I am thankful that she has her fight back again!  I am grateful for my stepdad  – he has always been like a father to me and he takes really good care of my mother.

We all take so much for granted – most of all our health.  I realized how blessed I am at my age to still do the things that I can do physically.  I also realized how blessed I am to still have my mother in my life.  She is the strongest woman I know and I love her very much!

Well Linda and I had the vacation of a lifetime over the past 10 days.  It was scheduled for a week on Royal Caribbean and the week before we left it was completely reconfigured as to where exactly we would travel.  The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas were not going to work so we ended up shifting to the western Caribbean and stayed as far from hurricane Irma as possible.  We had planned the original trip (Linda had planned… just for the record) to be on the same trip that we had taken on our honeymoon, but with what we knew others were facing we had no complaints.

We watched CNN Caribbean on the ship daily to keep updated with the storm and and within four days we received word that we would not be able to return to Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday.  It was right in Irma’s path and our trip was going to be extended for at least 3 days.  Well okay… if we have to!  For some it was a real problem, but with my being on sabbatical and Linda owning her own business it was not causing us the problem that many on the ship were facing.  Six hour drives to airports from Costa Maya (added port of call), and then later in the week Cozumel with a much shorter drive allowed many to catch flights back to Ft. Lauderdale.

Listening to fellow passengers talking to loved ones that were in harms way was very moving and called for frequent prayer.  As the the storm changed paths we heard that our niece and nephew that live in Ft. Lauderdale were headed to stay with my two sisters in Tampa.  Only to hear the next day that Tampa was now going to be hit harder than the East coast.  As you now know the storm spared the homes of both of my sisters and my neice and nephew made it back to Ft. Lauderdale without incident.  No power for a few days when they returned but as of last night all of my family in Florida has power restored.

It was impressive to hear how Royal Caribbean was responding with four of their ships providing either supplies or housing or both.  They allowed us to contribute financially and they matched all charitable contributions.  The hospitality was great to start but when everything started to unravel they kicked it up a few notches with Call centers that provide free internet and phone calls to family, airlines and many employers.  It wasn’t nearly as much about the food and drinks provided as it was the true concern and effort that every crew member we interacted with displayed.

We got back last night and this morning I was back at Mathew 25 Ministries working to keep the supplies moving to the disaster relief teams for both Harvey and Irma.  It was so crowded today that it was very difficult to keep the product flowing.  As fast as we could load the “gaylords”, a type of box on a pallet, they would back up because M25M didn’t have enough forklift drivers to move them into the trucks.  Finally I asked if I could help and due to a “super disaster” type of clause in their rules I was able to help move the product faster.  One fire fighter from Wright Patterson AFB said that he had just returned from Florida after a week in Texas, and the reason he was unloading a trailer full of supplies at M25M was that it was considered one of the best charitable organizations in the country.  That felt great hearing that from someone that was on the other side of the shipments just a few days prior.

I’ll be back at M25M tomorrow and I am sure the pace will still be AMAZING!

Greatfully,

Kevin

So many times during my work week, when tasks start or already have piled up, house projects call, the unexpected phone calls come, etc. it seems that time alone with God is the thing that suffers most.  This is the worst possible “sacrifice” of all for me!  When prayer life is strong and regular, my focus on all things is better.  My faith in God in all things is more secure and natural, hearing His voice comes easier.

This month on the “You Version” Bible app, I have been going through a 30 day devotional titled “Prayer, A Holy Occupation” by Oswald Chambers (usually an author way over my head) as part of my renewal.  God has also reminded me through this that He is the Lord of numbers as well since I received the most powerful teachings during day 4, 8 and 12. (I think God loves to throw those types of things in to see if we pay attention)

Recap:

Day 4 – “So many of us limit our praying because we are not reckless in our confidence in God. In the eyes of those who do not know God, it is madness to trust Him, but when we pray in the Holy Spirit we begin to realize the resources of God, that He is our perfect heavenly Father and we are His Children.    Reflection:  What should “reckless belief” cause me to do today?

Day 8 – “It is at first difficult to learn a new and better way of breathing, consequently we are conscious of it for a time, but it is merely consciousness of what will by habit become an unconscious act.  So in the better and new way of breathing spiritually in prayer, we shall be conscious of forming the habit, but it will soon pass into normal spiritual health”  Reflection:  Is prayer as natural to me as breathing? How can I make it less of a conscious act and more of a natural response to God in my life?

Day 12 – “Prayer is not to be used as the privilege of a spoiled child seeking ideal conditions in which to indulge spiritual habits without constraint.  Prayer is the vita breath of Christians; not the thing that makes us alive, but the evidence we are alive.”   Reflection:   Do I pray so that I will be spiritually fit, or do I throw spiritual fits when I pray?

Being a sabbatical “veteran” I had some idea of what to expect from the first week. Last time it took me about a week or so to get my mind to slow down to a more relaxed and even contemplative state. I told myself that, knowing that, I would see if I couldn’t speed up the relaxation process this time. Didn’t happen. My first week seemed to be as hectic as any other week. I found myself wondering how I ever have time to work full time. Of course, seven years ago I didn’t have four grandchildren. That makes a big difference in how my time is spent.

I entered my sabbatical with a list of twelve things I wanted to accomplish during that time (probably a mistake). These are things that have kind of been on the back burner awaiting “a round tuit”. You know, I’ll do that when I get around to it. So far, I have only partially done two of them. So, I think I’ve adjusted my expectations. I’ve decided I won’t put pressure on myself to get a certain number done, just what naturally flows. In the second week I have a service project at the St. Vincent de Paul service center. This will be a good change of pace, but does cut into time available to do things on my list. I’m already thinking I could use two sabbaticals.

I had a backup plan for my service project and it was a really good one, too! I was going to physically work side-by-side with the inspiring team heading up our Yankton Food For Thought program (details later in this post). And we all know by now that my plans keep flying out the window while I learn to be still and follow His plan.

Since I was placed on the injured reserve list of sorts, I did indeed have to be still. That was for medical reasons, too; however, I soon learned, it was most importantly for spiritual reasons. I learned that I could have limited physical activity during my day as my body heals yet my mind would be running a marathon of thoughts and flooding my heart with turmoil. You know, those kinds of thoughts: “What if I had…”; “Maybe I could just…”; “I should have never…”, and on and on. I had a list of thoughts and emotions longer than I care to admit. But God’s own words tell us to be still, to not flinch in our faith no matter what disruption or trouble this world may bring.  I was reminded of this in my reading, and that’s when I was still and waited with a quiet mind and an open heart for His direction. His direction came and it was perfect!

I began to use the blessings God has gifted me in the areas of Marketing and Learning and Development to serve Yankton Food For Thought which supports two programs for students and families in need.

1. Sack Pack Program – Serves over 400 students weekly to provide weekend meals that are nutritious, shelf-stable, and child-friendly so every child has a better chance of being successful in the classroom.
2. School Food Pantry – Students and their families, who are in need, receive the opportunity, twice each month, to “shop” for food items at the School Food Pantry.

Here’s what we know: If kids are hungry they cannot learn at their full potential. That’s why the program is aptly named Food For Thought. A hungry child cannot learn and education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. If this program can provide the most basic need, which is food, to children and their families, hopefully we can start stabilizing lives.

This is where my servant heart led me, and my work with Yankton Food For Thought will continue well beyond my sabbatical. The new branding umbrella for these programs is just launching and my opportunities to make a difference are limitless. Education about this program is vital and making this program a part of our city’s culture moving forward is critical. I am blessed to serve in this way as God planned. I know that, soon, I’ll be amid the physical work as well to help make this program a success – but in His time, not mine.

During my mini Sabbatical, I achieved a dream goal I set when I started cycling in 2005 by doing the Hotter N Hell bike race in Wichita Falls, TX.

This year, I decided to just go for it.

There are several from FD that cycle and tackled Hotter N Hell this year.  Mark Owen conquered the 100K (62 miles) along with Steve Bassett, Harry Drew, Bill Wimberly, and Doug Ray from Legacy Group.

Mitchell McLean, and his brother, Marc, and Patrick Messersmith conquered the 100 miles.

And let me tell you:  Those guys are impressively fast cyclists.  I am so proud of our group from Funeral Directors Life.  I thought we did really well.

I absolutely enjoyed the entire race experience.

I was very impressed with the volunteers.  They were incredible.  They are out there all day, and their cheery attitudes and helpfulness really made a huge difference.  You can’t have a great race without a wonderful group of volunteers.

I had an amazing two weeks.  I enjoyed my time at Meals on Wheels and getting plenty of rest.  Thank you, Kris, and the Board for this wonderful opportunity.

First of All, I was completely humbled at the possibility of a sabbatical, and then the process! To think that so many saints are lifting you up in prayer while on sabbatical! Amazing!

I had a private send-off and prayer from Ray Thompson, thank you Ray! His prayer was powerful and humbling and really set the tone for my start. He prayed that Jesus would become greater and that Steve would become less. That is my heart’s desire as a Christian…………now live up to it Steve and get out of God’s way!

So, God has told me to just serve. Serve like crazy for the next 30 days. Serve my wife, serve my family, serve my church, serve my community. 1) My wife, we sat down and made a wish list of things she would like done around the house. Her list, not mine. 2) my family, my parents need a portion of their fence replaced. What man doesn’t love to swing a hammer! 3) my church, we have some needs at my local church campus and I will be able to help out with those where i usually cannot. 4) my community, the day before sabbatical start I met with a couple who does ministry at local retirement homes. They visit with residents and help the staff with any tasks or chores needed. They mentioned that more men are needed as most of the male residents do no open up to female guests. What an amazing thing to be able to show this generation they are valued, not forgotten, and serve them with whatever need they may have. OK,, who is really getting blessed here?

Finally, thanks to the Armor of God coin (Ephesians 6) I was given by Funeral Directors Life entering into sabbatical, it is a tangible reminder to “put on the WHOLE armor of God.” I am focusing on a different part of this verse every few days. This week was the Helmet of Salvation. What a great opportunity to renew my walk with Jesus, focus on the fact that salvation is secured not by anything I can do, but what Jesus has already done! Thank you Lord and guard my mind against the enemy trying to weaken that assurance.

Thank you again to my awesome company and extraordinary leadership for allowing yourselves to be counter-cultural and having sabbaticals! Can’t wait until my next post.

The first week of my sabbatical seems like it just flew by! I felt like I had accomplished little, until I sat down to write this blog. I thought I could include everything I had done in this, but I think I’ll just stick to the highlights!

The first day of my sabbatical was spent at the Winters Dove Fest. This is a nonprofit organization that brings the hunters and community together for a meal, music, and raffles. Unfortunately, no one I sold tickets to won any of the guns (sorry!), but we did have a good time! I got to see a lot of people in the Winters community, and even some family members I don’t get to see often.

I have always heard that I am a lot like my paternal grandfather, and never having the opportunity to get to know him, I’m not real sure whether this is intended to be a compliment or not. Much like him, I do not believe in yard work. While I have not taken things to his extreme as of yet, and cemented my whole front yard to avoid mowing, our hedges are a little out of hand. I have now trimmed all the hedges in the front of our house and feel so accomplished when I can look out our dining room window without seeing our hedges out of hand. The girls also enjoyed it, because they got to play outside the entire time I worked on them. The mayor even gave me a shout out on Facebook! (Life in a small town 😊)

Probably the most important thing I’ve done, and the hardest for me, is rest. I am a list maker and a planner, and I like to mark items off that list. It makes me feel accomplished and successful. However, I’ve had mono for the past 6 weeks or so and had strict orders to rest, and that’s hard to do with two girls, a full-time job, and City Council. This has been the perfect opportunity to just relax and rest when I get tired.

This week has also given me time to spend with some friends, one in particular who is about to move to Indianapolis. Paige and Leslye lost their mom last year, and have had a rough year. Leslye and her four-year-old are now moving for her husband’s job. I am happy to be here for them once again, and love getting to see the circle of friends, old and new, come together to support these girls who have been through so much.

This coming week will be a busy week. I will be helping with Meals on Wheels. Our meals come from Abilene, so we have a van that one person takes to Abilene in the morning to pick up the meals, then several people run the routes once they get back to town. The churches rotate by week, and St. John’s Lutheran has this week. We have a City Council meeting on Monday to set the budget and the tax rate. Exciting stuff, I know. It is also my youngest daughter, Sarah’s third birthday on Thursday.

My sabbatical began so abruptly I didn’t even arrange for a send off.  While I had some ideas as to what I would do nothing was really set in stone except a weekend getaway with Jeff.  The last day of our annual Management Conference, in my mind and my heart, everything came together – I’m to be still and listen.  So I’ve been very intent on slowing down and listening.  I haven’t been in a hurry to go anywhere or do anything and I’ve been focusing on counting my blessings and boy do I have a lot of them to count!

One of my many blessings is my husband Jeff.  I realized that I’ve really neglected our relationship so first on the agenda was spending quality time with no distractions.  We took a few days away from the real world and went to Las Vegas!  We slept late – no alarms to set and we just enjoyed each other’s company.  My favorite thing in Vegas is the shows so we went to see Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson One By Cirque Du Soleil.   My favorite was Bruno Mars.  What a fantastic performance – we were on our feet the whole time.  We ate some great food, shopped (okay my second favorite thing in Vegas is the shows) and laid by the pool.   Jeff is always so supportive of me and telling be how proud he is of me and I realized that I don’t tell him often enough how proud I am of him.  He has really done a remarkable job with the Skatin Place – he loves the kids and the fact that we can provide a safe environment for them on the weekends.  He is loving and kind and would do anything for a friend.

It’s hard to be away from FD – not just because I love my job but I love what we stand for and I love the people.  That’s why I had to come to the warehouse to help pack the backpacks going to Houston.  I realized how much I already missed everyone.  I watched the others at work and I got really emotional – we have such wonderful people at FD!  Another huge blessing in my life!

Today I’m going to meet Pat Baxter for lunch.  I’m anxious to hear all about retired life.  I know Pat realizes how hard it is to be away for our company – she was in the warehouse yesterday too!  Sunday I leave for Wichita, KS to spend a week with my mother.  She is going through her 3rd bought of cancer and I’ve really been concerned for her.  My sister will join me for a few days so it will be really great to spend time with both of them.

I have recently returned from a relaxing mini Sabbatical.

The first week, I was able to volunteer with Meals on Wheels.  I have always enjoyed helping out with such a great organization.  The people I visited with were so nice and appreciative of the meal.

My first day, I thought I needed to make a dent with some much-needed cleaning.  I took all my treasures (junk) out of my closet to go through.  I quickly convinced myself to rethink that decision.  My precious junk could wait.  I put it all back to save for another day.  That day still hasn’t come yet.

My second week, I was able to deliver Meals on Wheels on Tuesday with my daughter, Robin.  And on a few trips to Meals on Wheels, I got to visit with my coworker, Erica, when she was waiting to pick up meals to deliver.

I completely appreciate my time off.  During the two weeks, I took advantage of nap time, which happened on days ending in “y”.  I was able to take several bike rides after lunch during the week.  And as a special bonus, I had frozen yogurt for lunch one day.  Okay…two days.  Don’t judge me.

Heavenly Father,

Please put an end to flood waters for all suffering in Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath. Bring about dryness and low humidity as only You can. I pray for Your Peace to bless each soul with restful, restorative sleep. Jesus please melt their stress and mold it instead into a vessel of honor that holds their faith. May You bless them with moments of laughter despite the devastation. And may they see a tangible token today, a special gift, that reinforces in them the promise that You are the God Who Sees and Cares for all.

In Jesus’s precious name I pray, amen.

Last week, I was quite busy serving friends and family.

On the last day I volunteered at the church building, one of my best friends asked me if I wanted to go to Dallas on Tuesday, the 29th to help his mother-in-law move some furniture.   She had hired movers for most of the furniture, but some pieces were going to my friend’s house, so I helped him hook up and clean off his trailer and headed to Southlake.  Her house is big and she has really nice furniture, so it was crucial we had to pack the furniture well and be sure it did not break.  Luckily when we got there another friend of ours from the Metroplex was there and did a majority of the work.  The movers were also there still and had some helpful tools that we borrowed to move a bookshelf, a glass buffet, a couch, and a coffee table with chairs.  My friend bought me lunch at Mary’s in Strawn and dinner at Chuy’s.  We got back around 10pm, and after unloading I got home at almost midnight.  This will be a theme for the week.  While we were traveling, he asked if I would help him drive a moving truck to Austin on Friday and back on Saturday because his brother is moving.  His brother is also a close friend.

On Wednesday, I went to lunch with a Pastor from Beltway and accepted a new volunteer opportunity for the foreseeable future.

On Thursday I went to  my parents’ house to help them with whatever they needed.  They were cleaning their garage when I got there, but that was a quick job.  I started looking for things to do when I noticed that the grass around the house and shop was tall. I grabbed the weed-eater and started trimming.   It took me about an hour to finish around the main part of their property.   I then went to the entrance to the driveway.  While I was out there I scared a snake out of its hiding.  That got my heart rate up.  When I finished, I came back to Abilene with my Dad to pick up some oil for his old truck and went to Lowe’s for some tools.   I wanted to help him change the oil in his truck that day, but had to postpone that to later in the week.

On Friday morning I left for the Austin area with my friends.   It was a bittersweet weekend.  It was fun to hang out with them, but saying goodbye to one of them was hard.   I am sad because for a while he and his wife have been probably our closest friends.  He and I have similar interests and jobs, we also have similar senses of humors.   It will be hard with him not close.  I am, on the other hand, excited for him because he is now in a city where he can live up to his potential and earn fair wages for his talent level and his education.  After waiting for the movers and unloading more things at the storage unit, we did not leave the Austin area until 3 hours after we planned and had to drive the truck back through Austin traffic, on one-lane highways, and trough a rainstorm.   We got back to Abilene about 10:30, then unloaded some trash, filled the truck up with diesel, dropped it off, and after driving my friend and his son home, I got home at midnight on Saturday.

On Sunday, my Sister and Brother-in-Law came down to visit my parents with their two kids.  We hung out with them after Church that day until late evening and went back out there on Monday (Labor Day).  I changed the oil in my Dad’s truck, which was about 20 minutes of work that turned into 6 hours.   We first realized that the salesman at the auto parts store gave us the wrong filter, and then realized we did not buy enough oil.  In the meantime, we went to lunch and I went with my Dad to meet a contractor at a property close to my parents’ that my Realtor friend is trying to sell.  The contractor was supposed to meet us around 2:30, we waited until 3:30 and she did not show up.   We came to Abilene to buy more oil and made what we thought was a quick trip to Harbor Freight.  While we were in Abilene, the contractor texted and said she was at the property at 4:30.  She probably won’t get that job.   I finished changing the oil in a matter of minutes.   Laura and I came back home early in the evening.

I spent the last day of my Sabbatical resting.  I’ll see y’all tomorrow.

When I first planned my service week for my Sabbatical, I thought it was a chance for me to help out and do something I have some experience with that was also a former job.  Before I worked for DIG, I worked at Beltway Park Church cleaning the building late at nights.  My time there was beneficial for my faith.  It stretched me and I became friends with some incredible men.  One of those men still works there, but in a different capacity.

Several months ago two things happened that made me realize that this was a good time and opportunity for me to serve.  The first thing that happened was that the dates of my Sabbatical changed.  Later on, Beltway Park’s North Campus decided to start a Thursday night service, which started on August 24th.  That week was also the week we were back from vacation.

The first day of my Sabbatical, I went over to the church building to discuss what I would do and a time rage of the days I would work.  My friend told me that he was moving from the evening shift to the day shift and would be doing landscaping for the Church.   I was a little disappointed because I was looking forward to hanging out with him.   On the other hand, I was excited for his new opportunity. (This will also be a theme later in my Sabbatical.)   He introduced me to the man I would work with two weeks later, which was a Divine Intervention type appointment.

For the first day, I set up a couple of rooms for a conference the Church was hosting for a local organization.  I also organized part of the Sanctuary/Worship Center/Auditorium after the previous day’s services.  I also knew that the next day would be putting up all of the tables and chairs I set up on Monday.   Tuesday was an interesting day.  The head of the maintenance team was taking the day off because his wife was having surgery, and the man I was working with had an appointment 100 miles away and couldn’t work.  I got the opportunity to work with my friend for a few hours clearing out and storing chairs and tables.

On Tuesday night, Laura heard a noise that sounded like rain.  I told her I thought it was rain, until she went into the garage.  Our water heater was spraying water at the ceiling.  I was worried we had a $500 problem on our hands and it stressed me out.  I unplugged the water heater with a towel so I would not get shocked.  I turned the valve off to the water heater.  I thought that would solve the problem, but water just kept spraying.  I then released the pressure valve on the water heater, which took some of the pressure off of the geyser that was washing the paint off of the ceiling.  I then shut off the water to the entire house, and the water slowly stopped spraying.  Laura called her dad, and he and his friend (who can fix anything) came over.  We made a quick trip to Lowe’s and bought a hose for $11, put it on the water heater, and that was the fix.

Wednesday Laura came home at lunch time and I was to take our car to the church building to start working.  Fifteen minutes after she got home, I went to start the car and it would not start.  I thought the water heater would be the only stress of the week.  Because we only have one car, it is an inconvenience to have jumper cables, but no other car to jump it with.   Again we called Laura’s dad because everyone else we tried was not available.  Luckily he was close by running errands.

I got to the church building later then I had planned.   I helped set up a room and clean others.  Thursday was coming with its new church service.   I mentioned to the man I was helping how stressful the past 18 hours had been for me.   Later I would find out that was poor judgement on my part.  This man later told me that he had to rush his wife to the ER the night before and found out she had 67% of her lung function.   He never told me that I should have refrained from complaining about a water heater and a car battery, he was so gracious towards me.  A couple of pastors prayed for him that day and I encouraged him.

On Thursday I helped before the service for a few hours and picked up Laura from work and we went to the new service.  I mentioned to her about the man’s situation regarding his wife’s health.  After service, I stayed until 10 pm and he said he had met Laura and said how great of a woman she is because she told him we were praying for him.   I was encouraged by that.

Friday I helped him and his co-worker begin to prepare for Sunday.  His co-worker had only worked there for less than two weeks.   I was able to teach the new guy some things and get to know him a little bit.  The man whose wife had been in the hospital was getting released to go home on Saturday, but the diagnosis was bad.  The doctor said her condition was terminal and she had just a few years at most.   Hearing that broke my heart.

On Saturday we started earlier because most of the building was not being used.   Before I left, my friend, my new friends, and I got to pray for each other.   It was a growing experience.   The timing of it all fit perfectly with the things God had for me, and also for my new friend.

Wow!  There are no words to describe what I experienced last week at The Mountain High Camp in Red River, NM. I went to help with the “campers”, adults who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, and I’m the one who was blessed. I know now why they refer to this camp as “God’s Camp”. God’s presence was there always no matter what we were doing or where we were at. We started off the camp with a Hoe Down hosted by the members of the Faith Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River. On Monday we went out to Bobcat Pass just outside of Red River and played games. On Tuesday night we had a “Barn Dance” at the Red River Convention Center. Everyone had great time. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons we went fishing or shopping or both. It was more than I could ever have imagined.

My campers – Randy, Robert and Kelvin

I made so many friends, including campers, counselors, volunteers and families. I’m looking forward to going back next year. I’m so grateful  that God led me to this camp.

Two of my new friends and co-counselors- Melissa Hartley and Carol Pritchard

This week I’m going to concentrate on resting and reflection and I’ll be spending more time with my grandbaby.

Until next time…

Wow! What a glorious 30 days it has been. I was concerned going into this time off work, that I wouldn’t take full advantage of everything offered. I was also afraid I would learn some things about myself that I wasn’t ready to face. What I found out is that I did everything I needed to do. Somehow, even being sick for the first 8-10 days was part of the plan. It forced me to be still and reflect and take a hard look at my life and the things I’ve been avoiding.

Looking at Scripture in a new light has been amazing. I’m still reading a book by Rob Bell called “What is the Bible? How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything.” It is fascinating, and giving me  good reason to revisit stories I’d glossed over in the past. It’s filled with history lessons about the culture and customs of those days, and who doesn’t love a good history lesson?

Leading worship in church was fun. I only served once during my Sabbatical, but it was life altering. I was able to listen to the sermon without getting angry – at anybody!! I was able to reflect on my own heart and soul with passing judgment on myself and letting guilt rush over me.

Attending church alone was the best. I honestly thought I’d never go back unless I was working during a service by singing or playing piano. I survived, and really feel compelled to find a church family. I’ve missed the sense of community I had being part of a local church.

So, I feel that spiritually I’ve been revived and renewed. I don’t know what the future will hold, but I need to have some hard conversations with friends and family members that have turned from the faith. I will probably never be the person who posts scripture on Facebook or puts like and share if you love Jesus on a post, but I hope I will once again be bold in sharing my beliefs and faith.

Something that hit me like a ton of bricks is the fact that I’ve been mean to myself and that I’ve been bitter and angry. I watched my personality transform over the last few years from one who loved and cared for people, to one who had no patience and little compassion. I used to be the life of the party type person, and I lost that part of me. I found myself becoming a grace-less person with little tolerance for anything or anyone. I had lost the joy of living. It dawned on me that I used to smile at people as I passed them in the mall or the grocery store, and I realized that I didn’t do that anymore. Since I moved to Lubbock in 2015, I have wondered why I haven’t made new friends. Well, I think we all know why. I wasn’t putting friendly vibes out there. I had become a loner, and I didn’t put myself in places where people gathered. It occurred to me that most of the friends I still have, I met at church or work, and I not only left my church, but my hometown and a job I loved. I’d become isolated. So, that is my post Sabbatical challenge, to make new friends in my not so new town. It’s cliche, but I want to find myself again.

Spending time with family was priceless. I also got to spend time with two of my Amarillo besties. Setting aside time for just me was something I will continue to do in the days and weeks to come. Spending time with my wonderful husband, Toney, has been a gift. We discovered that we weren’t laughing together as much because we were always stressed out. We found ourselves laughing together during my time away, and it felt like a much needed medicine. My second post Sabbatical challenge is the find and keep the fun in our marriage. We will carve out time for just us – no work talk – no kid talk.

I can honestly say, on this last evening of Sabbatical, that I am ready to go back to work. I have a renewed sense of purpose. I feel refreshed. I feel different. I am looking forward to serving families in my community with true compassion and care and to not put the almighty commission or leaderboards before their needs. I’m usually a person that dips her foot in ten different pools without completely getting wet. I’m scattered and out of balance, but now I’m ready to jump in – all the way – in this thing called life. I finally feel that I have forgiven myself and let the past be the past. It’s a new season!

Thank you, Kris,  for affording this 30 day opportunity to begin again. I’ll never forget your generosity and your care for your employees.

I realize my last two blogs were a little heavy, so I want to write about the fun and games of Sabbatical! I also want to mention my service project, so I’ll start there.

Originally, I was supposed to work at my daughter in law’s school. It’s a low income school with kids who are mostly raised by grandparents, so there is little parental support and very few of them volunteer. I thought it would be right up my alley, so I offered to volunteer in her classroom. These plans were made in early 2016, but they changed because our grandson was born in June, and she is still on maternity leave. So, I was talking to a social worker that is heavily involved in the community, and I mentioned that I needed a service project. Her eyes lit up, and she said she had just the opportunity for me. I had the privilege of working with Comfort Keepers and Meals on Wheels to call churches and private schools and encourage them to hold food drives or donate money to feed seniors on the weekends. I found out that 1 in 3 seniors in Lubbock doesn’t have enough to eat on the weekend because Meals on Wheels only delivers during the week. I plan to continue working with Meals on Wheels after Sabbatical is over. Nothing truly enlightening happened during that experience, but it reminded me that I need to serve others. I’ve been out of practice.

Grandkid paradise is the only way I know how to describe the rest of Sabbatical! This summer, 3 of my grandkids moved to Ft Worth from Amarillo. I saw them on a regular basis when they were only 2 hours away, but 4 1/2 hours is another story! An entire month passed without a visit, so, needless to say, when they came for a weekend, I was beside myself. We hung out and ate and laughed and hugged and did what we always do. There is never a dull moment with the Bowyer bunch.

After they went home, I flew to North Carolina to see the other 3 grands. They left Amarillo in 2015, and I have only gotten to visit them one time in the last two years!! So, I planned a long trip to go catch up on hugs and kisses! My oldest daughter also flew out so we could have a little mom-daughters time. Sometimes, I just miss hanging with my girls. When you add husbands and kids to the mix, it changes everything, and I was nostalgic for days gone by.

We helped Melissa, my oldest, live out a bucket list item – visiting Duke University. My son in law, Shane, and my grandson Brennan are crazy Duke basketball fans, so, we went to take pictures and buy souvenirs. We arrived at Cameron Indoor Stadium on a cool Wednesday morning with hopes of catching a glimpse of the iconic gym, but it was locked. We were so sad, but had the privilege of looking at memorabilia from teams past, and soaking up the atmosphere in the foyer. We weren’t there ten minutes when a gentleman walked up to us and asked, “Would you like to go inside?” After we picked ourselves off of the floor, we went in with eyes and mouths wide open. I’m not a Duke fan, but I can appreciate any place where athletic history is made and great athletes are molded. We took dozens of pictures, and admired the beautiful Blue Devil blue color that was found on everything. Another few minutes passed and another gentleman addressed us with, “Hello there. How would you like to know how to get on the floor?”It was too much. Standing on Coach K Court was overwhelming.  It was an amazing experience, and I could go on and on. Needless to say, it is a memory I won’t soon forget.

Hanging out in North Carolina gave me a much needed respite from regular life. I had no responsibility. I got to nap, sleep in, and just “be.” My son in law spoiled me with good meals. My daughter, Christi, and I had some great conversation. I got to watch my granddaughter, Aubrey’s softball team play twice. Catching up with my youngest grandson, Jamison was incredible. He is 5, and taught me about binary math. What??? He knows his times tables and can add large numbers. What a smarty pants. He is a joy, and smiles all the time. I was worried that he wouldn’t remember me, but he did! Barrett, my 9 year old grandson, is into video games and penguins, so, I spent a lot of time watching him play. I could write pages on all my experiences, but I won’t .Suffice it to say, it was a relaxing and refreshing trip. I am a happy Nana.

The icing on the cake of this visit was bringing Aubrey home to Lubbock for a few days. We got up early and stayed up late, and had more fun than I have room to write about. Before she flew home, I drove her to Ft Worth to see the cousins she hasn’t seen in two years. They face time everyday, but it’s not the same as face to face visiting. I cried when I sent her home. She is 11, and she is my girl. I will miss her greatly.

So, today, there is no company, and I am not traveling. I am home on my last day of Sabbatical. I am alone with my thoughts and a weird one crossed my mind. This morning, I did something I haven’t done in 8 years. I went to church alone. I’ve been on church staff or a church music team since I was 8 years old, and sitting in the pew alone is something I don’t know how to do. I’ve always had a job and a place to be. Toney works on Sundays, so he couldn’t go with me. I told God I would step out of my comfort zone and walk in like a big girl, and I wasn’t alone 5 minutes before I noticed two familiar faces that I had not seen in 10 years. It was a couple I was on staff with at a church in Dalhart, Texas. They asked if I was alone, and if so, would I like to sit with them. The moral of that story is that the Lord provides!  It was a wonderful experience, and I’m actually thinking I’m ready to start attending somewhere on a regular basis. It’s time.

Others who did their Sabbatical before me said that 30 days goes by fast and I thought nah but it sure did! It is hard to believe that tomorrow September 3rd is my last Sabbatical day off. As I look back on everything I have done during my time off I would not have changed a thing. I found a new organization that I can volunteer for, I would not have thought about trying to have my parents go back to church and the Bible study my wife and I are doing.

Those who have read the first week of my blog may be wondering about my parents since it was the main mission of my Sabbatical. Well, that is the bitter sweet of this all. Following up with my parents, my dad went to church last Sunday for the first time in over 30 years! My mom stayed home and watched one of those televangelist shows. Now, not the greatest for my mom, but it’s a start. My dad said he is going to try a different Baptist Church tomorrow and compare to the one he went to last week. I will continue to call them each week and see what I can do to keep this momentum going.

My family and I took a mini vacation down to Canyon Lake Texas. It has been beautiful weather down here so far and everything worked out as for hurricane Harvey. Having said this, down here the gas prices have sky rocketed and they are running out of gas since people decided to panic over gas shortages. That has made me upset since I had to go and wait inline for over 30 minutes and pay an outrages price for no reason! The only reason I went and did this is to make sure we will have gas to make our trip back to Abilene since some gas stations we went to were already out of gas.

Here are some of the pictures that we have done so far on our vacation:

We stayed at Yogi Bear’s Water Park

Brooke and Hunter jumping on the “jumping pillow” at Yogi Bear’s

Digging for fossils at Heritage Museum

Dinosaur tracks at Heritage Museum

Checking out Canyon Lake. Beautiful crystal clear lake!

Lindsey and I at Canyon Lake

This sabbatical has been an amazing historical event.  Too many things to cover and do justice.

I did read the book “God’s Kingdom Rules”.  It really helped me to see the theme of the Bible.  Jesus’ teachings focused on that theme starting with the model prayer at Matthew 6:9, 10.  For the sake of time I am going to list the scriptures that help us see “What is  the Bible’s message?”

Genesis 3:15; 22:18   Daniel 2:44; 12:1    Matthew 6:9, 10  Romans 16:20  1 Corinthians 15:22-28

Galatians 3:16, 29  Revelation 11:15; 12:9; 20:2; 21:3-5

Amazing how important the Kingdom that Jesus taught about is to vindicate his Father against the Lies that Satan charged  and to benefit mankind.