LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE

Carole Brewer

Oct, 2015

Living the Abundant Life

"Abundant life" refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for mind, body, and soul. "Abundant life" signifies a contrast to feelings of lack, emptiness, and dissatisfaction, and such feelings may motivate a person to seek for the meaning of life and a change in their life”

Looking back at my life I see a pattern that has emerged (like the patterns of a quilt) being brought to completion, a knowledge and gratitude of being blessed to live the “Abundant life.”

What has brought me to this conclusion?  I was born in a family of 7 children, 5 sisters and 1 brother. It was during the time of a great depression, food and jobs were scarce. My father found a job with the Federal government called the CCC’s. He worked in the area of Jackson, Hole, Wyoming. It fed his family and provided for us.

 (During the time of the CCC, volunteers planted nearly 3 billion trees to help reforest America, constructed more than 800 parks nationwide and upgraded most state parks, updated forest fire fighting methods, and built a network of service buildings and public roadways in remote areas.) 

I was born and raised in The Rock Springs, Wyoming area. It was a coal mining community that provided coal for the Union Pacific Railroad.            The town I lived in was named Reliance and was owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The school and all the buildings were owned by the railroad. The miners rented the homes and worked in the mines.  The railroad employed all the best school teachers and furnished all the books and materials needed.  We were provided a quality education.

There was never a feeling of one’s family being better than anybody else’s, because our dad’s all did the same work with the same pay. After world war 11, many European families moved to Wyoming to work in the mines, they came through Ellis Island, requiring to learn English and taking an oath to live the Constitution of the US. Because of this, I grew up with many different nationalities, never thinking they were any different than me, we just called each other friends. I never ever experienced any kind of prejudice growing up.

All the community activities revolved around the activities at school. The band concerts, basketball and football games, Christmas programs, school prom’s, teenage dances, Halloween parties and church activities.

We were free to roam the streets in the evening time without fear of being attacked, playing innocent games outside until my mom called us in at dark.  In the winter we dressed up in the warmest clothes we had, grabbed a sleigh and went sledding until our feet and hands were frozen. Only going in the house to warm up by a warm coal stove and then darting back outside.    During Halloween, we went trick or treating 2 or 3 days in a row, and loved every minute of it.

 During the 4^th of July, the whole town would buy fireworks and light them until midnight.  If we ever found ourselves in trouble and away from home, we knew we could go to the nearest house for help. We grew up very independent and healthy because we spent so much time exploring our environment.

Because of the world war, there were many men who came home and Patriotism was a natural order of life. We learned to love God, Country, flag and community.  We had very few material advantages, but, never felt poor or that we were at any disadvantage, we were happy and content with what we had. Mom sewed, knitted and made clothes from other clothes and we thought they were beautiful.  It was a special treat to come home from school, and find the awesome smell of bread baking, and dinner cooking.

Christmas was a special time for everyone. Even though money was scarce, mom and dad managed to give us a wonderful Christmas. Believing that Santa’s helper was watching us to see if we were naughty or nice, and if we were naught, which we never were, we would be rewarded with a lump of coal. (Mind you we knew what a lump of coal looked like.)  Never ever seeing Santa at the shopping  stores, only store shelves filled with toys for little girl and boys.    We received a stocking filled with hard candy, orange or apple and nuts. Our Christmas stockings were the stocking that we wore, and we tried to pick out the biggest sock for Santa to fill.  We were allowed to pick out one gift that we really wanted from Santa. Sometimes it would be ice skates, a sleigh, snow boots or a special doll.  Usually a doll and homemade doll clothes were made by my mom would be under the tree. At times my dad would made dish cupboards from orange crates, painted with fun decals. We went to bed that night with sugar plumbs dancing in our heads.  An awesome dinner was cook, which was always such a special treat, afterwards, visiting relatives or friends to see and compare gifts.  Christmas Caroling was a greatly anticipated part of our Christmas traditions, it brought the complete spirit of the holiday to life.  

These values gave me the foundation for my adult life when life and trials came.  There were some that would be very difficult that required me to pray and look for answers, because I did not know what the solution would be. My faith in God grew and grew because of these trials, and continues to this day. I gave my children the value of work and having faith in God, Praying and learning to serve Him and others. Picking good friends, respecting adults by calling them Mr. or Mrs. including their school teachers.  They learned the consequence of bad behavior or choices, just as I had.

I am now in the twilight years of my life, and I thank God every day for living the abundant life. My brother and one sister have left us and gone home, but I continue to have full love and communication with my sisters who are left. I feel the contentment of peace, patriotism, gratitude, family and love of country.  It doesn’t ever leave me. I still keep in touch with some my old friends from school, plus having wonderful friends now that keep me laughing and loving life.  Gratitude of being born into the greatest country of the world and experiencing all the freedoms and privileges it has offered. I live now in the best of times and the worst of times. My wish is that we can again capture some of the wonderful days of my early youth and show the youth of today how to be happy, grateful for what this country has to offer.

FOX IN THE HEN HOUSE

EACH LEAF REPRESENTS AN EXPERIENCE, FRIENDSHIP, MIRACLE OR INSPIRATION

A LONG TIME AGO WHEN I WAS A CHILD, WELL ONLY 76 YEARS AGO.  I WAS BORN IN AMERICA TO A FAMILY OF 6 OTHER CHILDREN.   My FATHER SUPPORTED HIS FAMILY AS A COAL MINER IN THE STATE OF WYOMING.  I AM SURE IT WAS A MERGER LIVING BECAUSE IT WAS AT THE END OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. WE WERE POOR BUT MY PARENTS NEVER SAID THE WORD “POOR” AND AS A RESULT NEVER FELT INFERIOR TO ANYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY. 

THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED PEARL HARBOR WAS BOMBED AND AMERICA ENTERED INTO WORLD11.

  I REMEMBER OUR VICTORY GARDENS, THE SAVING OF TIN CANS, RATIONING OF ITEMS FOR THE WAR EFFORT. OUR COUNTRY BECAME UNITED TO WIN THE WAR BETWEEN JAPAN AND GERMANY.  MY FATHER WAS NOT DRAFTED INTO THE WAR BECAUSE HE WAS EMPLOYED IN A HIGHLY DEMANDING PROFESSION, AND THE FACT HE HAD 7 CHILDREN.  THERE WAS HOWEVER MANY MILLIONS OF MEN WHO WERE DRAFTED AND MILLIONS OTHERS WHO LEFT THERE FAMILIES AND JOINED THE MILITARY.  IT IS ON RECORD THAT EVEN CHILDREN 12 AND 13 YEARS OLD TRIED TO ENLIST AND FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTY, SOME BEING ABLE TO GET PAST THE RECRUITERS AND GOING TO WAR. (THERE IS A MOVIE CALLED “TO YOUNG TO BE A HERO” THAT TELLS THE STORY OF SUCH A YOUNG MAN 12 YEARS OLD.  THIS WAS A TIME OF GREAT LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PATRIOTISM.  I GREW UP IN THIS BACKGROUND.   WHEN VICTORY OVER JAPAN AND GERMANY HAD BEEN WON, MEN CAME HOME WITH THE FEELING OF GREAT PRIDE AND I REMEMBER THE CELEBRATIONS, IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT JOY AND LOVE FOR THE REUNITING OF FAMILIES.  LOVE AND PATRIOTISM WAS VERY INFECTIOUS, EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE I WAS STEEPED IN THIS ATTITUDE OF NATIONAL PRIDE.  SHOVEL IN HAND WITH HARD WORK AND LOVE FOR COUNTRY WE BEGAN TO REBUILD TO BE THAT SPECIAL COUNTRY AGAIN. I HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THE MUSIC OF THAT ERA AND WILL ALWAYS STOP AND LISTEN IF I HAPPEN TO HEAR A TUNE BY ONE OF MY FAVORITES ARTIST. MY MIND AUTOMATICALLY GOES BACK TO THAT ERA WITH THE SAME FEELINGS OF PRIDE AND PATRIOTISM. 

WHAT KIND OF CITIZEN ARE YOU?A dose of realism is overdue. Every parent should go back and re-watch the classic movie “A Rebel Without a Cause,” starring James Dean. It is a gem, because it shows that some things are worth fighting for.The generation that first watched this movie understood it: most of them had fought in World War II or lost family members in this fight against Hitler and his allies. They knew that sometimes you should fight, not just walk away and avoid fighting at all costs.

Today the majority holds a different view. Zero Tolerance means we don’t tolerate modern bullies (a good thing!) nor will we tolerate modern heroes who take a stand for things that really matter (ridiculous!). We’re so afraid of risk, we teach our kids to never take a stand.

THE RULE OF LAW:  A REPUBLIC FOR WHICH WE STAND IS THE RULE OF LAW. EVEN THE OLD TYPE WESTERNS TAUGHT THE RULE OF LAW.  A BANK ROBBER ROBS A BANK, RIDES AWAY, A GROUP JUMP ON THERE HORSES AND RIDE AFTER THEM.  CATCHING UP, THEY DECIDE TO HANG HIM HIGH. MAJORITY RULE, HERE COMES THE SHERIFF PULLS HIS GUN AND FIRES A SHOT IN THE AIR, NOPE, HE IS GOING BACK FOR TRIAL, THIS IS RULE OF LAW.

WAKE UP! WE ARE AT GREAT RISK, THE FOX IS IN THE HEN HOUSE AND WE ARE BEING DEVOURED!!

Saul David Alinsky (January 30, 1909 – June 12, 1972) was an American community organizer and writer. He is generally considered to be the founder of modern community organizing. He is often noted for his book Rules From that book here are Saul's thoughts on how to create a socialist state:

There are 8 levels of control that must be obtained before you are able to create a social state. The first is the most important.

1) Healthcare – Control healthcare and you control the people x

2) Poverty – Increase the Poverty level as high as possible, poor people are easier to control and will not fight back if you are providing everything for them to live. WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

3) Debt – Increase the debt to an unsustainable level. That way you are able to increase taxes, and this will produce more poverty. X

4) Gun Control – Remove the ability to defend themselves from the Government. That way you are able to create a police state. Pending

5) Welfare – Take control of every aspect of their lives (Food, Housing, and Income) x 

6) Education – Take control of what people read and listen to – take control of what children learn in school. X Common core

7) Religions – Remove the belief in God from the Government and schools. x
     EXAMPLE – Movie “ NOAH”. Story from the Bible, doesn't even mention the Word God.    The producer is an Atheist.
8) Class Warfare – Divide the people into the wealthy and the poor. This will cause more discontent and it will be easier to take (Tax) the wealthy with the support of the poor. x     Any of these sound familiar? 

IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF AGAIN?

WHAT WILL YOU DO?  BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETEND IT ISN'T SO?  WE ARE A COUNTRY OF EXCEPTIONALISM AND IT COMES WITH A PRICE, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE, PEACE IS OUR OBJECTIVE, IT COMES WITH A PRICE. WILL OUR 12 YEAR OLD TRY TO STEEL INTO THE MILITARY OR WILL THEY WORRY THEY WILL NEED TO LEAVE THERE I PHONS BEHIND? TOO BIG  A SACRIFICE?

Ronald Reagan
“Well, I don’t believe the people I've met in almost every State of this Union are ready to consign this, the last island of freedom, to the dust bin of history, along with the bones of dead civilizations of the past.  Call it mysticism, it you will, but I believe God had a divine purpose in placing this land between the two great oceans to be found by those who had a special love of freedom and the courage to leave the countries of their birth.  From our forefathers to our modern-day immigrants, we've come from every corner of the earth, from every race and every ethnic background, and we've become a new breed in the world.  We’re Americans and we have a rendezvous with destiny.  We spread across this land, building farms and towns and cities, and we did it without any federal land planning program or urban renewal”.

Glenn Beck, speaking at the Summer Retreat for the David Horowitz Freedom Center, said this ““We are at a crossroads.” “On 9/12, I really didn’t understand the progressive movement. It wasn’t until about 2005 or ’6, I’m thinking to myself, ‘What is happening to us?’ How did we go from this country that understood who it was to something I don’t even recognize? What happened to us?” “What happened to us was that we got fat and lazy. We said it would never happen here; it could never happen here.” 

“We conquered communism. They just changed their outfits. Progressives are nothing more than patient communists.” 

IT HAS BEEN PREDICTED THAT WE ONCE AGAIN WILL BE DRAWN INTO ANOTHER WORLD WAR.    THE PREDICTION!  It would start in Tunisia and then it would spread across the Middle East into Europe and the rest of the world,” Glenn explained. “So this is just a more formulated updated version of this. The unrest will spread. Communist, Radicals, and Islamist will work together to destabilize the Middle East and the Western World. It will spread to Europe, first to restore the Soviet borders, next our enemies will see our lack of unity, military, and financial resolve and collapse and transform the U.S. and the West. The new world order will be China, Russia, socialist outliers, and poverty zones.”

As I've said before: America is the Last Beach.—Ronald Reagan

When we worry about the rattlesnake we forget the scorpion! --Thomas Chandler

  The crow may be caged but his thoughts are in the cornfield.      -- Belizean (on temptation

 The first delusion that the devil sells to the simple-minded person, is that, “if he is good to everybody, then everybody will like him.” For in being so-programmed, the simple-minded-person will drop his guards and forget what the real lesson of spiritual warfare is. And that real lesson is this, “you are a soldier of Christ, and no good soldier performs well, mingling all-day with civilian affairs, and a soldier is a soldier because he has enemies to keep at bay from encroaching on his territorial integrity

WILL WE BE ASKED TO FORGET BECAUSE IT MAY OFFEND SOME?

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every Kingdom divided against itself,  it is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against it shall not stand.

 Matthew 12:25

                

MAN WALKS AMONG US - Be Still

Each leaf represents an experience,  a value, a memory or a friendship

Every waking day we are bombarded with the chaos of the world events, Wars and rumor of Wars, gang fights, school shootings and marches for equal rights with entitlements. It seems there isn’t peace anywhere. Our minds try to live each day and find that peace which is so fragile; our family’s seem to be having financial, spiritual or marital problems.  It all seems so overwhelming. 

It remind me of the children’s fairytale  of “Little chicken Little”  There are several Western versions of the story, of which the best-known concerns a chick that believes the sky is falling when an acorn falls on its head. The chick decides to tell the King and on its journey meets other animals (mostly other fowl) which join it in the quest. The moral to be drawn changes, depending on the version. Where there is a 'happy ending', the moral is not to be a 'Chicken' but to have courage.

The challenge is to Be Still! And listen! to all the other wonderful thoughts and actions that are taking place in this awesome country called America.  A Café in Idaho where all the personnel donate their time and services for 3 hours on Mondays to give free lunch meals to seniors who come thru their front doors.  They are treated with full service and courtesy. While walking away from that café you have a wonderful sense that people still care and are willing to sacrifice to show it. Be Still! and listen. These are the peaceable warriors.  Special  Young women with families of their own who take the time to visit care facilities that have special angels living there who are sick and weary, women living alone who barely have visits from  their own families, looking forward to these visits with the hugs and concern that is shown. Be Still! and listen., These too are the peaceable warriors..  Husbands that have lost a love one from cancer or another disease, taking the time to send a “Thank You Card”  stating appreciation to you for your kindness and care for his family during his wife’s funeral, his wife finding you to be a true friend and loving her time with you. Be Still! And Listen”.  Look for the all the untold deeds that go about quietly and never ask for anything in return, these too are peaceable warriors.  Young men and women who have made mistakes in their lives and  looking for that connection again to past friendships and relationships, needing acceptance and forgiveness, finding family and friends with unconditional love Be Still! and listen, these too are peaceable warriors.  Young families who take others into their home and let them live there until they can stabilize their life again and make it on their own; sometimes these families have as many as 8 or 9 persons living under one roof trying to maintain cooperation from all who live within those walls.  These too are peaceable warriors.  Be Still! and listen to couples who give up their bed and sleep on a mattress so you can will be more comfortable. Creating a meal and apologizing for it not being good enough then not allowing you to help with clearing and helping with the dishes, because you are a house guest. These too are peaceable warriors. Be Still! and listen.  Young men and women who go to a foreign country and fight for the freedom and dignity that humans deserve, some never arrive back home but made the ultimate sacrifice, true heroes and warriors in every sense

Our challenge is to maintain an attitude of gratitude in all things, and then Be Still! and listen we too will be worthy to be the peaceable warriors.  

Mark 4:39

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, B Still and ceased, and there was a great calm

 

Psalms 46:10

 Be Still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

THE INNER CHILD

The autumn leaves of my journey
each leaf represents a step in my journey,
a miracle, insight, a friendship or living our
potential

Have you ever walked into a room and felt completely comfortable without realizing why? I have such a room……

I actually spend very little time there except to sleep and get dressed, but it still is my favorite room.

I expressed myself in the way I chose to decorate it to fit my personality and did so without realizing it on a conscious level. I did not have to please anybody but myself in the colors I chose or what kind of furniture I liked.  Without fail every time I walk into that room I say to myself, gosh, I love this room. The room faces the South and so it has an abundance of sunshine and warmth. The pictures I chose are a variety of subjects. I love pictures of the Saviour and have one that a friend painted and signed. I also love hangings that portray men and women who lived in the early 1900, dressed in gorgeous clothing and hats and parasols.  I am an avid lover of beautiful flowers and have several pictures with different varieties and colors. One such picture is of different stages of a budding flower to the full blossom.  Upon waking up one morning my eyes glanced over to these  pictures and I thought to myself, I wonder how much are we like those budding flowers, and what stage am I in. 

“A flower bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of the stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be specialized to develop flowers or short shoots, or may have the potential for general shoot development. The term bud is also used in zoology, where it refers to an outgrowth from the body which can develop into a new individual.”

As children we begin life like a bud with the potential to become that beautiful flower, full of life and innocence. When we are raised in a nurturing loving environment we grow and mature to our fullest potential, living happy content lives. Living in an environment contusive to learn and growing up strong and healthy.

When we are raised in an environment that is not loving and nurturing, our inner child will remain for some time in a dormant condition, we will withdraw and shut down waiting for the time for the warmth and sun to shine in our lives, to develop into a new individual.

Olympics this year is a super example of being the best we can be, reaching our full potential. We may not be Gold metal Ice Skaters, but we are Gold Medal contenders in our own way.  What are the solutions that help us to want to push forward and letting our inner child out? 

  First of all, just having the potential to become a flower and remaining a bud is pretty lonely, our spirits want to soar and feel the wind at our back. We want to become something more than a bud, we feel the need to grow and become something larger than ourselves.  With that desire and goal is our first step. We will stop letting different individuals dictate who we are, surrounding ourselves with people who build, inspire and see the best in us. We stop constantly trying to please somebody who cannot be pleased, living in constant criticism, feeding there ego and vanity. Learning to make our own personal decisions that fit our personality.  Our Inner child wants to burst forth and laugh and smile and feel free. It takes work, but we can become that Gold Medal winner. Open that door to enrichment and a fuller life.

Always be fearless. 

Walk like a lion, talk like pigeons, live like elephants and love like an infant child. --Santosh Kalwar

Be A Warrior

You haven't yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior's way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability--to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I've shown you by example that a warrior's life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior's sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death. --Dan Millman

The Saddest Life of All

Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. --Henry David Thoreau

MY NAME IS RALPHE AND I AM SPECIAL

EACH LEAF REPRESENTS A MEMORY, JOURNEY, INSIGHT, MIRACLE OR REFLECTION:

I was not especially a cat lover per say, I love most animals and cats were my least favorite. I didn’t dislike them nor was I allergic to them. I grew up with cats and my sisters and I would dress them up in our doll clothes and put a doll bottle in their mouth and haul them around in a doll buggy. Thinking about this treatment now, I realized the cats must not have been especially thrilled with this kind of fun. Growing up with cats and dogs, our cats just came around and also went without much thought. At that time we were not required to have them spayed or neutered. Mom mostly kept them around to serve the purpose to rid mice from coming into the house.

After leaving home and receiving my MRS. Degree, we moved around a lot and then spent 4 years in the military; acquired a female dog while living in Hawaii, but not a cat.  Once we settled down and lived in a house, soon after that came a baby boy. My mom gave us a female toy poodle and we became a family of 2 dogs, 1 large horse with 1 small baby boy. Over the years I had 2 girls but no cats. Once in a while the girls would drag a cat home, begging to keep it; I soon learned you needed to have these stray cats spayed. But still I never learned to bond to these cats like I did to the other animals.

When I married the 2^nd time, my husband didn’t especially care for cats, so when we had a kitty it was mostly considered an outside cat.  This was my life for quite a few years until one faithful day our neighbor’s mother cat had a litter of babies.  The mother cat was just a run of the mill calico or multi colored. (first off, what is a calico cat? A calico cat is not breed of cat, it is a color pattern. To be called “calico”, three colors must be

present: black, white and orange (Carmel).  Now that a calico cat has been defined as a cat with three colors, the question is: why are they nearly always female? The answer is in genetics, coat color in cats is a sex-linked trait. The genetic coding for displaying black or orange is found on the X chromosome. This mother cat had 2 kittens left; one was a gray tabby and the other a gorgeous calico. Both females.  They were caught running around our yard and scampering up the trees.  One day we were outside saying goodbye to some family members, when both out of curiosity came to see what we were doing.  For some reason, I wanted to keep the calico. I then talked to my husband about keeping her, upon hearing me talking to my husband my grandchildren could not wait to talk to the lady who owned them about getting one.  I found out that they were also Manx cats, one with no tail. Manx breed originated on the Isle of Man, hence the name, where it is called stubbing or kayt Manninagh in the Manx language. They are an old breed. And taillessness arises from a genetic mutation that became common on the island as long as two or three hundred years ago. The hind legs of a Manx are longer than the front legs, creating a continuous arch from shoulders to rump giving the cat a rounded appearance. They have beautiful soft coats of fur due to many layers of hair.

“WHEN MOTHER NATURE SAW FIT TO REMOVE THE TAIL OF THE MANX, SHE LEFT, IN PLACE OF THE TAIL, MORE CAT.”  …Mary E. Stewart..

I named her ‘MISCHIEF” found out Manx kittens are very intelligent, sometimes being more dog like than a cat. She learned to get the dog out of her bed and would quickly slip into it, leaving the dog just wondering what the heck had just taken place.  Mischief would never show her claws or hiss at the dog, she was smart enough to get what she wanted. I soon bonded to Mischief and let her stay in the house if she wanted and she quickly became a part of the family.  I found a Vet and had her spayed and caught up on her shots. One day I seen her walking toward the field in the back yard where she liked to go and check on mice or gophers…..she never came back. I spent a lot of time looking and calling her name, but she just wasn’t around.  It took me a long time to get over losing her as she was a special kitty, very unique and I loved her.

In some ways I never completely got over Mischief and knew if I had another chance to get another Manx cat, I would. I browsed on the internet looking for a chance to find one, to no avail. Looking on Craig's list and every animal shelter with the possibility of finding one.  A couple of years later, my daughter-in-law was down in the field when she saw something moving, upon investigating, found it was a black Mother Manx cat about ready to give birth.  She had been alone for long time as she was so thin you could see her veins in her feet and her ribs sticking out…and her belly full of little ones. We took her to see a Vet to find out her exact condition, and it was not good.  She was very mal- nurtured and had ring worm to an extreme. The Vet indicated she was close to giving birth and may not make it because of her condition.  We immediately went and found cat food that had tons of protein and nutrients to try and build up her system, made a bed for her in the bath room and kept an eye on her. The mother cat had a very good disposition and let us takes care of her without getting too upset.  When it was time for her to deliver, she had 6 babies, 2 were Manx. Both were gray and had the 6 toes. It was difficult for her to keep up with the nursing as they grew because she was so thin. We began to help out with the feeding and supplemented where we could.  One of the little gray Manx kittens didn’t seem to be growing and I soon realized he wasn’t strong enough to fight the others for his share. I separated him and would put the mom in with him. He still didn’t seem to be growing, so I began to supplement him with kitty food soaked in water or milk.  When they were about 7 weeks old, he was so small he fit in the palm of my hand and the rest were running and playing all over the garage. I would go over to the garage and feed them before going to work and he would just cry and cry, following me over the entire garage. While at work one day, I could hear him crying in my mind and that sound would not leave. When I arrived home I checked on the kittens, fed them and left to go into the house. I told my husband about what had happened at work and said that I believed it was meant for us to keep him.  I named him Ralphe and put him in a play pen on the patio.  At night I kept him in my bathroom with food and water. He still did not seem to be doing well, crying all the time.  We once again found a Vet close to where we lived and took Raphe to her. When she picked him up and held him her comment was “Oh my”. It did not sound good and I felt a lump in my throat. I knew it wasn’t good. My husband asked her if we needed to have him put down and she looked at me with tears in my eyes and said we will see what we can do.  He was so thin at 8 weeks old that she needed to put him on a special scale to weigh him.  She did what they called a reverse feeding, feeding him a cat milk supplement every two hours. We left him there for 2 weeks and she only charged us only $50.00. I could not believe how generous she was, it was a miracle. When we went to pick him up and bring him home, she mentioned that if we got to the point where we couldn’t afford to keep him, she would love to take him and keep him there.  That was not even an option…he was coming home with us!! Ralphe started to grow in leaps and bounds and would often come when I was sitting on the couch and curl up in my arms with so much love. He had the run of the house and stayed in the bathroom at night without crying, it was so awesome to have him so content and happy. At first we kept him in a cage on the patio to catch the sun and warmth. He loved being outdoors, so I soon let him out while we out doing yard work or just enjoying the patio. He stayed and I would see him chasing butterflies or bees or anything that moved. He was fascinated by humming birds but just chose to watch them his mouth twitching, so funny to watch.

As the summer passed he grew into a beautiful handsome cat. He was so curious and would follow me around the house watching what I was doing. One day I was doing my laundry and he followed me into the laundry room, I was aware he was there and wasn’t concerned.  I have a front load washing machine and when I finished putting the clothes in, I turned on the machine and left the room.  I had gotten very far, where I heard this terrible thump, thump coming from the laundry room.  I immediately knew what had happened, couldn’t get to the machine fast enough to let him out. I quickly grabbed him and grabbed a towel and proceeded to dry him off.  I now had rescued him for the third time. I can smile about the washing machine incident now, but it was pretty scary at the time.

When it came time to have him neutered and his shots, back to the same Vet we went. All the personnel in the office were so glad to see how handsome he had become and friendly he was. I had the Vet put in a micro -chip besides the other services just In case what happened to Mischief would not happen to him. My love for him grew and grew as he got older, he was a big tease, watching me

whenever I would go into the room I have my computer and run like crazy to beat me to the chair, jump into the chair and dare me to sit down. We have an older outside cat with a tail and he was totally awed by her tail. When she was drinking water or just laying around sunning herself, he would go behind and play with her tail and run like crazy to the nearest bush. It brought us to laughter watching his antics; he was so fun to have around.  One day during the summer after church, I let him outside to go for a couple of hours, something I did all the time.  He never came back, I stayed up all night waiting from him, and he never, never ever did this. His routine was to go and get done what he needed and would come in and eat and stay for the night.  My heart was broken and I still feel tears when I think of him. We are pretty sure he was killed by somebody who didn’t like cats.  I don’t know if I will want another inside kitty, get too attached to them. It has taken me a long time to stop looking for him to come to the back door to want in.

WHAT I LEARNED FROM RALPHE:

WE ARE ALL UNIQUE AND HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OFFER OTHERS:

WE NEED TO BOND TO OTHERS BEFORE WE CAN HAVE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS:

LOVE IS THE GLUE THAT BINDS US AND WE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BY THOSE WHO LOVED US OR WHO WE LOVED:

IT IS BETTER TO LOVE AND LOST THAN NEVER TO HAVE LOVED AT ALL:

TRUST IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFTS THAT IS GIVEN TO US FROM OTHERS:

RALPHE WAS A MIRACLE IN SO MANY WAYS, WITH THE HELP FROM SO MANY:

WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

AUTUMN LEAVES OF MY JOURNEY, EACH LEAF REPRESENTS A MEMORY, FRIENDSHIP, INSIGHT OR A MIRACLE

Green River Lakes is one of Wyoming's most scenic and popular fall scenic drives accessible by car. Located in the Bridger Wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the lakes are 52 miles north of Pinedale in the northern Wind River Range. The lakes are considered the source of the Green River, a major tributary of the great Colorado River system. Like many of the larger lakes on this side of the Winds, Green River Lakes were scoured out by glacial action, and then sealed off by an end-moraine dam.

As a young girl I would go and visit some cousins who lived along the Green River in Wyoming.  I would often go out early and walk down to a bridge where the green river flowed. It always fascinated me to watch the water floating by….ripples seemed almost hypnotic.  At times there would be logs, branches, or other debris as it floated under the bridge.   I would sometimes stand as long as an hour watching the river passing by, never feeling bored.  I never gave much thought as to where the river started or where it went and what happened to it after it left that bridge; I only lived in the moment and enjoyed it. On 4^th of July Holidays, we sometimes went as a family to visit my aunt and uncle to enjoy a picnic there on the recreational side of the Green River. It was fun to play along the river bank and walk among the trees and bushes that lined the river. Those days were relaxing, carefree and enjoyable.

Later I learned that the river ran through Utah and connected to the great Colorado River. It is this river that formed the Grand Canyon and continues to do so for eons of years. .  It is considered one of the 7 wonders of the natural world.

  The great Hoover dam was erected along the Colorado in Nevada. It is an awesome dam erected to supply water and electricity to farms, towns and cities throughout many states.   It is a source of life to millions.

Going forward to the late 80’s and 90’s my mom and step father owned an expedition business that rafted the Colorado and Green Rivers and many other rivers in the West.  They floated these rivers in a 12 man raft offering a spectacular view of the surrounding landscapes plus wonderful food and camping. The Colorado River offers a multitude of endless sights and wonders to those who are adventures and loves nature at it rawest and best.  

We too have the capability to be the best of our own creation, just as the little stream at the mouth of the Green River where it began its journey became something greater than itself, providing a multitude of spectacular beauty and a lifeline to many millions.  We also have a few challenges to become that awesome divine being that we were created for.  When I was in the 1^st grade, we brought our dimes to school and placed them in a card provided to us by the teacher for the 2^nd world war effort; at that moment we were making a contribution to something greater than ourselves, without realizing it we had started to become patriotic  and loving our country. To this day I feel chills when I see our flag or celebrate a memorial service. When our young men and women join the military and find themselves fighting for our country to keep us all free and safe, they are performing a service much greater than themselves, and it is awesome, we weep when we see them broken and bruised they become our heroes. Anytime we decide to volunteer or help with an organization without any thought of momentary pay, we become a step closer becoming something greater than ourselves.  Also true is helping a neighbor or a helpless family who needs a hand up. Any service we may perform to a religious organization, our reward is the peace and growth that comes to us performing something greater than ourselves.  With the sacrifice comes the blessing.

This is a song I learned at an early age and never forgot it. It goes as this:

1. "Give," said the little stream,

"Give, oh! give, give, oh! give."

"Give," said the little stream,

As it hurried down the hill;

"I'm small, I know, but wherever I go

The fields grow greener still."

1.           Singing, singing all the day,

"Give away, oh! give away."

Singing, singing all the day,

"Give, oh! give away."

2.           2. "Give," said the little rain,

"Give, oh! give, give, oh! give."

"Give," said the little rain,

As it fell upon the flow'rs;

"I'll raise their drooping heads again,"

As it fell upon the flow'rs.

3.           3. Give, then, as Jesus gives,

Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.

Give, then, as Jesus gives;

There is something all can give.

Do as the streams and blossoms do:

For God and others live.