Life on Roller Skates!!

What a great weekend! Our house was busy this weekend which made it a lot of fun! Michael, Elizabeth and Addyson had graciously volunteered to come out and sit with Mom on Sunday so that Jody, Chance and I could go to the fair! Instead of waiting until Sunday, they decided to stay the whole weekend. I love it when that happens! Saturday, Elizabeth spent the day (between shifts at work) and again on Sunday, cutting and coloring hair. Saturday, she cut Bob’s and Michael’s while they watched the OU game – don’t even get them started! Then on Sunday while they sat with Granny, she cut Granny’s, colored Candace’s and cut Jimmy’s.





Saturday, Addy and I built a fort in the living room (out of a sheet and chairs). She played in it all day and then Sunday when Joey and Levi came over, they all played in it! Sunday morning it was raining outside and the kids decided they wanted to play in the rain. They loved it! It was a little cool, though. They each came in, got fluffy towels to wrap up in and went right back outside wrapped in their towels. Needless to say, the towels were soaked, too.




It’s always amazing to me when I look at an activity through my adult eyes and remember what it was like when I saw the same activity as a child. Yesterday Jody, Chance and I went to the fair. I remember the few times, when I was a child, that my family went to the fair and how big and wondrous everything seemed at that time. My parents, of course, wanted to go through all the buildings and look at the exhibits. All of us kids wanted to spend our time on the midway. My parents would always go through the exhibits first, knowing that’s where they would spend the most time and see everything they wanted to see before going to the midway. We never really got to eat much on the midway because the food was so expensive! We were allowed to ride a few rides and it was such great fun! My favorite was the Tilt-O-Whirl! I loved that feeling of going around and around, unable to lift my head from the back of the car in which we were seated. Wow! What a difference now! I look at the Tilt-O-Whirl and think about the motion sickness I would most definitely have if I were to ride it again! Now my favorite activities at the fair are first of all sampling the food! Oh, the food – corn dogs, funnel cakes, turkey legs, roasted corn, Indian tacos and pizza-on-a-stick! Pizza-on-a-stick?! Chance had to sample that one!

Of course, we all filled up after sampling only a few of the luscious treats – eyes are always bigger than stomachs! I also LOVE to walk through the buildings to see the exhibits! No Rides!! I don’t even play the games! Jody and Chance played a couple of games and it was fun to watch, but didn’t make me want to play them at all. We rode the space tower which I also really like. I don’t really do well with heights, but in the security of the enclosed car, it’s kind of exciting to be able to see everything that’s going on below. I’m a people-watcher and never tire of observing people and their interactions with others at an event like the fair. You definitely see a diverse group of individuals!
While we were atop the space tower, we saw some activities that looked pretty interesting that we had not seen while we were on the ground. When we “landed” again, we made our way to the lumberjack demonstration that we had seen from above. It was great! They demonstrated logging activities like a two-man saw and how it was used to cut timber and running down a huge limb to cut timber while balancing on top of the branch, but, by far, the best demonstration was the log-rolling contest! Two men, Ralph and Bob, stood atop a huge log in a pool of water and competed to see who could stay on the log the longest. They decided to go 2 out of 3 turns to determine the winner. Each man would begin using their feet turning the log and balancing to stay on top. Each would turn the log in different directions trying to throw the other competitor off!


Sadly, Ralph lost 2 of the 3 turns, but then asked for one more chance because he realized he was wearing the wrong shoes for the competition! He was allowed to change his shoes and took his place on the log again in a pair of roller skates! Well, that made all the difference in the world! Ralph was able to stay on top the log, seemingly, without effort! He was able to stand on top of the log in one position, not moving his legs from that position because the wheels on the skates would change direction without him having to exert any effort. He won the last competition and of course the crowd cheered for Ralph because of his ingenuity!
Since I have made my time with God through increased Bible Study, a major priority in my life, I am able to see lessons in most situations during my day. The log-rolling contest even gave me pause for thought. During my adult life, I have been through some very difficult times which were mainly due to the choices I made during those times. My choices have not always been beneficial to service to my Lord, nor beneficial for myself. I think during those times I struggled to stay on top, twisting and turning and constantly fighting to maintain control in my life. In contrast, when I let go and give my life to God, making choices with service in mind, I feel like I’m wearing roller skates and much more easily, without the struggle, am able to maintain peace in my life. God gave us all the tools we need to get through this life with comfort and peace that can be found nowhere else. It’s up to us to use those tools to guide us through each day.
I am again finding that peace and comfort in dealing with the struggles I go through now in caring for my Mom. I don’t question bringing Mom back home! I know that it was the right thing to do for her and for myself. It is difficult to see her when she’s so confused and when she doesn’t readily recognize who I am or the fact that I am her daughter – but even that can’t change the joy I feel by having her back home. I know that God will provide me with everything I need to properly care for her and help her to feel God’s presence and be comforted through prayer and through study. This time with my Mom is precious because of the closeness we share and the fact that she will not be here forever! We are only assured of NOW – no more is promised to us and I intend to cherish every moment that we have together!

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” --Deuteronomy 33:12