This past weekend has been a series of severe thunderstorms and tornadic activity here in Ellis County. Both Friday night and last night we had tornado sirens blaring and tornadoes which touched down in Ellis county. Fortunately none of them traveled through Hays, but our neighbors in Ellis were not as fortunate: some damaged buildings, trees and downed power lines.
Yesterday Bob and I went to Larned to decorate graves and missed the tornado activity in Ellis and Rush County, (by a hair) and decided to eat in Larned to wait it out. Coming back we ran into torrential rain, and were relieved to know that we made it back to Hays before another tornado had been seen near Rush Center -- which we had driven through 30 minutes before!
God was watching over us! Today, more rain, but the cooler temperatures were welcomed!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Jessica comes home today!
Jessica has her last "final" at 10:30 a.m. It's actually a final critique of her photography portfolio. After that she's on her way home. I know she's glad to be getting done with a very stressful semester. She begins working at the Hampton Inn tomorrow evening. She's actually excited about it. She liked working at the Hampton last summer and has maintained friendships from her work there.
Here's a poem I wrote quite a long time ago. It is rhyming instead of free verse.
Cycle of Grace 
In the primitive hours of morn
before a brand new dawn is born,
the full moon’s shimmering silent light
removes the weight of blackest night.
And you are Promise, Lord!
And through horizon’s door, ajar
the sprouting of the mother star
makes night once more hide its face
and cede its will to daylight’s grace
And you are Light, Oh Lord!
But in the sweltering heat of noon,
as faith begins to wilt, its bloom
a fragile flower frail and dry
and thirsting as about to die
Then you are Hope, Oh Lord!
The afternoon’s late cleansing rain
The blood of Christ makes pure again
And life is stored in full supply
For undeserving souls and I
Receive your Grace, Oh Lord.
The aging day reclines to rest
And night absorbs my sins confessed.
While through the darkness can be seen
Again through moonlight’s silky sheen
That you are Love, Oh Lord!
In the primitive hours of morn
before a brand new dawn is born,
the full moon’s shimmering silent light
removes the weight of blackest night.
And you are Promise, Lord!
And through horizon’s door, ajar
the sprouting of the mother star
makes night once more hide its face
and cede its will to daylight’s grace
And you are Light, Oh Lord!
But in the sweltering heat of noon,
as faith begins to wilt, its bloom
a fragile flower frail and dry
and thirsting as about to die
Then you are Hope, Oh Lord!
The afternoon’s late cleansing rain
The blood of Christ makes pure again
And life is stored in full supply
For undeserving souls and I
Receive your Grace, Oh Lord.
The aging day reclines to rest
And night absorbs my sins confessed.
While through the darkness can be seen
Again through moonlight’s silky sheen
That you are Love, Oh Lord!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Back from Lawrence
Wow! It's been way to long since I've posted anything here! We went to Lawrence on Monday and came back yesterday with most of Jessica's "big stuff". Thankfully, we had no rain on the way back, though it looked pretty threatening most of the trip. Jess is heading home Thursday after her last final and should be home mid-afternoon. It will be good to have her here this summer.
She was so tired when we saw her Monday; she had pulled another "all-nighter". Not an unusual circumstance for college students at the end of a semester. She worked a few more days than she had originally planned and consequently didn't have as much time to work on her design, drawing and photo projects.
She checked us into the hotel and looked so professional with her black blazer on. During our stay, she informed us that there was a German Baptist gathering south of Lawrence, so there were many German Baptists there with all their children. They made quite a picture with the women in their prayer caps, calico dresses and capes and the men with their beards, hats, slacks, vests all in black. Also staying at the hotel at the same time were some Nigerian dignitaries both men and women and their "guards" or assistants. Their dress was very showy and beautiful...the women in long colorful dresses and headpieces...the men in their long white flowing robes and hats.
Breakfast in the lobby was interesting with all the diversity! It occurred to us, that Jessica has had some valuable experiences working in the nicest hotel in Lawrence. She informed us that the "Russians" would be coming back next week--a group of four Russian men who visit about once a month! She hasn't had the nerve to practice her Russian with them, because they have such a "stern" appearance.
Anyway, our trip was pleasant...we enjoyed our time with Jessica and we got home safely. Can't ask for more.
She was so tired when we saw her Monday; she had pulled another "all-nighter". Not an unusual circumstance for college students at the end of a semester. She worked a few more days than she had originally planned and consequently didn't have as much time to work on her design, drawing and photo projects.
She checked us into the hotel and looked so professional with her black blazer on. During our stay, she informed us that there was a German Baptist gathering south of Lawrence, so there were many German Baptists there with all their children. They made quite a picture with the women in their prayer caps, calico dresses and capes and the men with their beards, hats, slacks, vests all in black. Also staying at the hotel at the same time were some Nigerian dignitaries both men and women and their "guards" or assistants. Their dress was very showy and beautiful...the women in long colorful dresses and headpieces...the men in their long white flowing robes and hats.
Breakfast in the lobby was interesting with all the diversity! It occurred to us, that Jessica has had some valuable experiences working in the nicest hotel in Lawrence. She informed us that the "Russians" would be coming back next week--a group of four Russian men who visit about once a month! She hasn't had the nerve to practice her Russian with them, because they have such a "stern" appearance.
Anyway, our trip was pleasant...we enjoyed our time with Jessica and we got home safely. Can't ask for more.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Tiny Turtle
We woke up this morning to rain and thunder, lightning. It was a nice rain and lasted until shortly after noon. By 3:30 it had cleared off enough that I could take Maggie on our daily afternoon walk. I decided I wasn't up to walking as fast as I usually do, so I just took her over next to the nearby golf course, where there are a lot of trees and good things to sniff at (from her point of view!)
As we were on our way back, I happened to be looking down on the ground and spotted what I thought first was an unusual stone, or a nut shell. Upon closer examination, I saw that it was a tiny turtle about the size of a quarter! I picked it up which it didn't like, and it crawled off my hand and fell. My first thought was to take it home. But really, why? I don't have children at home, I don't teach any more, and it would probably end up dead. I decided it was better to keep it right where I found it. But the thought of how near I was to stepping on it, crushing it with my foot, completely unaware of its fragile life, gave me pause. How many creatures do we kill each day, just by our mere walking? I feel like I was given a tiny gift from God, by being privileged to catch the tiny creature even for a moment. :-)
As we were on our way back, I happened to be looking down on the ground and spotted what I thought first was an unusual stone, or a nut shell. Upon closer examination, I saw that it was a tiny turtle about the size of a quarter! I picked it up which it didn't like, and it crawled off my hand and fell. My first thought was to take it home. But really, why? I don't have children at home, I don't teach any more, and it would probably end up dead. I decided it was better to keep it right where I found it. But the thought of how near I was to stepping on it, crushing it with my foot, completely unaware of its fragile life, gave me pause. How many creatures do we kill each day, just by our mere walking? I feel like I was given a tiny gift from God, by being privileged to catch the tiny creature even for a moment. :-)
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