Shut Up, Listen and Obey

Sunday Sermon

This last Sunday the Pastor spoke on James 1 and was apologetic, however; "Shut up and Listen!" seemed a good sermon title to me.

    He encourage us to slow down and listen to people and God, think about how we respond and don't hold a grudge. I have spent a lot of the last 30 years working with the elderly and small children. Both groups are the most forgiving folks. The kiddos haven't learned to hold a grudge and the older folks have learned it isn't good for your health. Meanwhile, the people in the middle need to get over themselves.

    I spent the last week with the amazing Mrs. M. She and I both moved to Susanville, CA when we were six years old. My trip was from Oregon in 1966, but here trip was around 1938. She described the family trip from Oklahoma as resembling something from The Grapes of Wrath. My trip was just a mom with three girls, and a Norwegian Elk Hound in a 1959 Chevy Station Wagon.

   We both attended grade school and high school in the town, but the building were mostly different. The best part was we both had our Senior Year books and it was fun to compare our Rays from the Purple.

1950, 1974 to 1977

Our senior pictures were both black and white.

Ginnie Langley

The Amazing Mrs. "M"

17 year old me

Grammie Butterfly

We have had some great laughs. She wanted to tell her daughter that we got in a big fight. Since we have both passed the age of holding a grudges, I don't remember what that was about. It is a privilege everyone should enjoy~ to spend time with people who have lived through wars, the dust bowl, fires, floods and raising children. I have often said, "They have forgotten more than I ever learned."

    I had a little business that ended in 2013 cleaning houses and caring for older folks. It was Deena's Home &Garden or Deena's Overall Cleaning.(As I never got a business license, I called it whatever I wanted.) During a twelve year period I was blessed to share the lives of about a dozen folks in their final years. I felt it a pleasure to learn from them as they prepared to leave this time of being "robed in saggy skin" to being "robed in righteousness." 

    My last client, Earlene, took a lot out of me, but she gave me so much more than I could imagine possible from a lady in her 90's. 

Earlene Hamilton

Mrs. Earlene would be 101 this March.

A Legacy 

My clients left me with a legacy. Sure I have a few piece of furniture and odd trinkets, but more important are the memories. Earlene and I shared stories for about 8 years. When she died I shared a story that she told to me often. Her family thanked me. They had not Shut up to Listen to that story for a long time. 

I saw a Meme last week that said, " Listen to me repeat the same story over and over, you made me read the same book over and over and I did not mind." That is so true. As we age we forgot who we told what story too. We like a story and want to share it with all we meet. Sometimes, we even remember a story that someone else told and believe it is our own. That is all okay. It is not a lie, it is just remembering differently. 

I hope this last week of patiently listening will help me to be: An easy listener, a thoughtful speaker and a forgiving audience. My generation are on the cusp of being "the elderly". Our living parents are, "The Elderly." Our grandchildren think we are very old. I had a 7 year old tell me that his grandma was, "Old as Hell." He was corrected for an inappropriate statement, but his grandma is younger than me! 

#16days

I am excited that in 16 days my vacation will begin. I get to spend four days with my giggling granddaughters. I can't wait to tell stories, sing songs and listen to them tell me all about life.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my...

Boulder Creek Bears

Shasta Meadows Tiger

Changing Seasons

I am approaching another change in the seasons of my life. Earlier this month I applied, interviewed and was accepted for a transfer within my school district. March 1st will be my last day as a Boulder Creek Bear and March 4th will be my first day as a Shasta Meadow Tiger.

   Since August I have spent about 5 hours at Boulder Creek Elementary and then spent the last three hours of each day at Shasta Meadows for the ACE, after school program. A position at Shasta Meadow came open and I was excited to be accepted for the transfer. My job description is the same and my hourly wage will not change. The difference is the demographic of the student body. My new job is a school in a small neighborhood with only 2 classrooms per grade level, K-5. Boulder Creek has a student population of over 1,000 students with K-8.

House Sitting 

In 2019 I have the first 40 weeks booked with over 20 weeks of house sitting. One client has no pets and I will get to stay in her house through July when it may be 100 degrees plus for the month. Last month I was at my friend's house that I will be spending a total of 11 weeks during 2019. In January I needed to keep on top of wood heat, in March/April I am sure I will need no heat and then August/September may be sweltering.

   Last week we experienced a snow storm that wiped out power and closed school for three days. Our city is at 500 feet elevation and most people don't own a snow shovel. It has been about five years since there was any measurable snow. This storm dropped the snow so fast that many power lines and trees went down the first night and some folks are still without power. Thankfully we have this Winter Break from school for the maintenance people to get the classrooms ready for students again.

    One of the nice things about my house sitting is being able to stretch out on school breaks. (All of my school breaks have been booked and 1/2 of summer break too.) I love my little nest, but I realized when I was stuck up there for three days in the snow it was a little claustrophobic. This week I have two dogs; one dog likes to cuddle and one is a big dog who takes me for walks. I get to drive the Grandma around to activities and have a change in my schedule.

My snow girl while we had three snow days

3 am before another five inches fell

Granddaughters

The kitties opened their mouths with Em

Valentine's bubbles when she made a blowing motion

I am excited and thankful I get to spend time cuddling and giggling with these two in March.

March

My friend said that I will, "March forth on March fourth." Funny, Funny. It is said that, "March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a a Lamb." So, my hope is that as I join the Tiger Team it wont be a very ferocious lion and I will be able to settle into a routine quickly.