A Wow Weekend!

So, I have to make a decision! What to do? I love to write, you know. And mostly we write so other people can read our stuff. Right? When I had my books published I hoped people would read them. I found out even members of my family haven't read my books. I think even those I gave the books to haven't read them. Those who did, they told me they liked them. Maybe they are just being nice. I don't care. It makes me feel good, you know. And I write my blogs because I love to write and I want people to read them. So my last blog was written 3 days ago and I posted it on Facebook, where I have over 200 friends and I see this morning where only 12 people have read my blog ! So it appears to me, people just aren't interested in what I have to say. So what to do? I guess the things I write are somewhat boring. I think people just read a few short words you put on your status on FB. Like it is on Twitter. Twitter is so annoying.But also I think people are too busy to read long monologues. So maybe what I write is for people who are retired and don't have anything do. YOU THINK?
So what to do? I am still pondering this.
Meanwhile I want to say I had an awesome weekend. We went to a women's conference Friday night, where Nancy James spoke and the worship was so awesome, I love to hear Pastor Bennie play his saxophone! That team is so anointed. And he has a beautiful voice. He used to have his own band/group when he was in the world! They even put out a record in those olden days.
We didn't get home till 10:30 that night.
Saturday morning we went back and heard Nancy James again. I could have listened to her all day! She was very anointed and once she prayed for me and spoke prophetically! Wonderful morning.
Sunday morning Nancy James was there too. And that was the icing on the cake. I have never felt the presence of God like that in our church. I wanted to stay there all day and night. I didn't want to go home. Holy Spirit was so thick I could barely walk, I felt like I was walking through a fog, or cotton, or a cloud or something. We left the church after 1:00 PM because we had reservations at Outback!
We then went to San Antonio where we celebrated Julie's birthday at OUTBACK, (where else?). We had reservations, sort of , but we still had to wait about 45 minutes. There were 10 of us. Julie was in 7th Heaven! She loves their coconut shrimp. WE had such a good time there with family and friends. We didn't get home until 5:00 PM.
So, the joy of the Lord is my strength, and I was so joyful yesterday, it reminded me of how I used to feel back in the late 90's, when Eddie and I went to Toronto, Canada. And when Wanda and I went to Pensecola, Florida, and we went to Dallas, Texas, and Lewisville, Texas, where there was a great move of God happening, and those last two, my kids and grandkids went with us. We were in the presence of God there too! Those times experiencing the Lord's presence helped me with the trials and heartaches our family was going through then. When you know you are in the presence of Holy Spirit, you don't care about anything else but God. It is such a peaceful , joyful feeling, I really can't describe it.
People kept coming over to me, yesterday, saying "I want some of what you have". Because they saw how drunk I was. I kept saying, "Well, you have to jump in the River!"
All I can say is what I did. Let all your inhibitions go, and get in the river and don't worry about what people are going to say or think!
When it is just you and God, that is all that matters. It think that is what heaven feels like.

Ghost town of Lodi

When is this heat and drought gonna end? This 100 degree weather is the pits. I hate summers anyway. But thank God for air-conditioning! I stay inside most of the time. Things are burning up all over Wilson County.
But we did go to San Antonio Tuesday for my brother's birthday. Jr. was 77 years old. I think it is amazing that all eight of us kids are alive still. And six were together Tuesday. We had good time eating barbecue and all the trimmings and singing happy birthday to Jr. and talking about the "good ole days".
Wednesday was a very interesting day! I met my new friend Liz Lopez down on First St. and we walked back to the backside of a large vacant lot, where under an ancient old oak tree which had a trunk that was so big three people would circle it with arms outstretched and touch (most likely 150 years old), there were two tombstones which belonged to the Trial family. They died in the 1890's. There are supposed to be four Trial family members buried there including Pierre Trial who was sheriff of Wilson County then. But we only saw two tombstones. We need to preserve that little graveyard.
Afterward we went over to Liz' aunt and uncle's house near there, the Ortiz family. They know a lot of history of Lodi. Because their house is situated in what used to be the Lodi community! Lodi was a town before Floresville was a town!
I am so glad I had my tape recorder with me. We stayed there two hours with Lee and Lillie telling me great stories about the olden days and about the history of their church, El Mesias Methodist Church (the church my grandfather Samuel Zook founded 100 years ago. I can't wait to write the stories. They are such a sweet couple. They were married about 1958, over 50 years. They showed me pictures of them when they were a young married couple. She was beautiful and he was so handsome, he looked like John Travolta, only better looking!!!!
Can't wait to go back to visit them. They built their house there in the 60's and it is so beautiful! And I found out that their son is the pastor of Harvest Church down town on 2nd street! Where our good friend Shorty, the Pizza man, went. And they told me that Shorty passed away recently! I never knew that! No one told me. I guess it was in the paper, but I don't know his "real name". I just knew him as Shorty! Because it was called Shorty's Pizza. Julie and Liz and I are so sad about that.

Tonight Julie, Liz and I are going to a Woman's conference in our church. Nancy James is going to be there! WE are so excited because we heard her once before in our church. We are in for a treat!
So, life goes on the slow lane these days. I thank the Lord for another day of life.

My Exciting World

It is Monday morning. It was a great weekend. TV is boring these days. Mostly I I work on writing on my book about my family history ...the Zooks or the Goodes, or the Evers, or the Brooks, which is Eddie’s mother’s side of the family. That is the most interesting one I think, besides the Zook History. I keep finding new things about the Zooks because the Amish and Mennonites were such an interesting part of American History. Maybe this week, I can get more motivated to write.

And the Brooks were such a mystery, and there are unexplained gaps in the early part of the last century, that needs to be filled in. Like why did Clough Brooks take the 4 children(including my husband's mother) from their mother, Gregoria Brooks in Mexico, in 1905, and hide them out from her, for years? Their daddy told the children that their mother abandoned them, but she searched for them for 5 years and found them in San Antonio, but he had already divorced her. She left and lived in Laredo for most of the rest of her life. I think about that book all the time.

So, I regress. Getting back to the weekend. Saturday - Rocia and her children came to help her clean the house. Her teenaged son, Pablo is so good and thorough. She moves the furniture where she can and dusts everything, including the pictures on the wall, the blinds, the ceiling fans, and all my knick-knacks and sometimes washes the windows!

At noon I went the local farmers vegetable stand on 10 St., to get some fresh vegetables, and then to Curl Up and Dye to get my hair done.

In between my local ventures, I avidly read a new book I got in the mail. It is Bad Dad, by Dave Lieber. It was so good; I could not put it down. And finished it that night! I have met Dave Lieber before. Kristi had a book signing for him at Sullivan Street, our Book Store Coffee House in Roanoke. He wrote a story about Kristi and Sullivan Street in his column that year too. And he and I exchanged books. He bought my Rainy Days and Starry Nights, and I bought his book that day. I had had a book signing at Sullivan Street that year too. Back to the book, that is the most interesting book, maybe because I knew the town he was writing about, Watauga, and some of the people in his story, I knew, mostly from reading about them in the Ft.Worth Star Telegram newspaper.

Also, Dave had written a column for the paper for years and was sort of a Watchdog writer. In fact now he writes that kind of column for the paper. Called The Watchdog! He stirs people up - makes them mad by telling the truth. Especially when he writes about local politicians like police chiefs, mayors, and city council men and women. You either love him or hate him, depending on what you have done. Or if you are victim or the perpetrator.

But this recent book is about when the shoe was on the other foot. Dave had tiff with his 11 year old son, at McDonalds, and to teach him a lesson about his little rebellious streak he told him to walk home –less than a mile away – shorter if he took a known short cut – but turned around and came back to get him – to teach him a lesson, and found someone had called the police, and they questioned him, sent him home with the son.

But next thing he knew, he was arrested and CPS got involved. What happened during the next few weeks and months, was a nightmare for Dave. So, you can imagine how engrossed I was in the book. Wanting to find out what happened next! So, I finished the book Saturday night!

Sunday dawned with still no rain, hot and dry. After church we went to lunch at Trailriders on C St. It was so crowded. We had to wait for 30 minutes to get a table. I wish there were more restaurants open on Sundays in this town. Almost all of them are closed on Sunday. You have to alternate between Trailriders and Jack’s Café! Unless you like Mexican food. But eating Mexican food every Sunday you tend to get burned out!

The good thing is you see a lot of your friends at either Jacks or Trailriders, because there is no place else to go! We ran in Ross Barrera who we know. He is a local builder who has built lots of houses in Floresville and Lavernia. His homes are beautiful. He is a custom builder. We had waited for a table for 7, and we had room for one more so our friend, Freddie invited him to eat with us – he was alone. I love meeting new people and hearing their story. Well, he was not new, because we had met him in other occasions, like - he was the builder of Eric and Karen’s house in Eagle Creek near Lavernia, and that was where we first met him when they had their housewarming party. He is Eric’s uncle.

Well, Ross’s story is such an awesome testimony of how God restores someone when all is lost and he changes and turns his life over to God, and God begins to make all things new. He has chosen the right way! Wow. I want to write his story, if he gives me permission some day. You would not believe the things that happened to him. And he has overcome, and gives God all the glory. He is such a nice person. Ross Barrera is a man you should meet.And build your house!!!

So it was a nice afternoon, good food, good fellowship, good friends, and then home to take a nap! Julie and Liz and their friends decided to go to another movie at the Arcadia at 3:30. Then they went to Dairy Queen for dessert! Ha. Julie was so keyed up with her day, she couldn’t even go to sleep last night, either. She probably will sleep all day today!

And the day ended with Julie and I watching the Dallas Mavericks play the Miami Heat in the NBA finals. The Mavs won! I don’t watch my sports team play unless they are winning! I am a real fair-weather fan! And that's the truth.

We were watching a movie and kept going back to see what the score was…it was not until the last 4 minutes, that I watched it to the end. It looked like they were going to win then, so I sort of was confident. Wow. Their first championship ever!!!! Finally, after so many years. Can you tell I like the Dallas Mavericks. I don't broadcast this is Spur country!!!

So I went to bed happy, but I could not go to sleep even after taking a sleeping aid, reading, working a crossword puzzle, praying, and reading some more …I guess the last time I looked at the clock it was 1:00 AM.

So, it is Monday morning! I was awake at 6:30! I wonder what God has for me today. I love Mondays!

In the middle of the nighf

It's 4:30 a.m. I can't sleep. What is wrong? I usually sleep a deep sleep every night. Guess the Lord wants me awake for some reason. I was lying in bed praying. But then got up ...to see if there is something God wants me to know. So, I remembered that Pastor Bennie wanted us to read the BOOK of James. I read Chapter 1. Then I studied it and read the Wycliffe Bible Commentary on it. James said we must not be double-minded, like someone who is tossed on the waves of the ocean, up and down, believing one minute, not believing another minute. That means I must be consistent, praying, believing that God will answer me, and believing God is who He says He is. He is the Father of Lights, coming down from above. And one thing I know, I do not want to be known as "religious", the kind of person who just hears the Word of God, and it goes in one ear and out the other, and not be a "doer" of the Word. Acting on what the bible says. We go to church every Sunday, shake the preacher's hand, and say, "Good sermon pastor" but then during the week we don't act like a Christian...we talk the talk, but "don't walk the walk". That is what James is saying in that chapter...one of the things..
Well, it's now 6:30AM. Going back to bed. Maybe I can sleep now. I am praying for rain. It is so windy and hot here in S. Texas. Wish it would rain for a week!
Yes! I am soooo sleepy.

Looking back

This morning I was reading some of my old prayer journals. I like to do that periodically because when I read them, I always see how God has answered my prayers. Or how God will tell me something in a dream, and it has come to pass. In 2004 through 2006 there are many journals, I kept, telling dreams, which I interpreted then, and Lo and behold it happened just as I interpreted then!

In 2004 I was very depressed and the Lord told me to write down things that I was thankful for. So I began a list, and through the next days and weeks, I added to the list every day, things I was grateful for. The list grew and grew when finally I had over 150 things for which I was thankful. It helped lift the depression.

On April 12, 2006, I wrote down a conversation Eddie and I had. Just now reading, it brought a smile to my face!

Eddie, coming into my office: “There you are! What are you doing?”

“Talking to the Lord” (I was writing my prayer in the journal)

“I knew that! I could hear and I knew that was Him talking!”

“Really?”

“He was looking for me, and He found me, and He found you too!”

God talked to me through Eddie many times!

June 9, 2006 – I wrote a poem that day

How Can It Be?

I really am happy

How can it be?

A husband with Alzheimer’s

Yet I am content

How can it be?

Because of God!

He turns things

Into good

Only believe!

Only trust!

How can it be?

That I should see

The good things

That looks so bad?

Because God’s light

Shines in darkness

And makes all

Things bright

When I should be

So sad

Thank you Lord

For showing me

The light

This day is a good day because He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

It helps to stay on the sunny side of life. And hang around people who are optimistic and happy because there are people that depress you just by hanging out with them. That is, if you can help it, sometimes there are negative people that you have to work with, or in your family, and you can’t avoid them, but find time to draw away and let the negative vibes slide off of you! I pray for the armor of God to cover me daily. Like a shield!

June 24, 2006

A page in my prayer journal

I am sitting her listening to a CD and a song called “Glory Gold”. I feel God’s glory in this room.

Eddie just walked in, and said ‘I feel like I am on fire! God is coming! He’s going to help us. You know why? Cause we are under His hand!”

Then we both sat there with our hands raised up and Eddie said,

“The people are going home. We’re on our way home!”

Oh Lord!

Then I wrote “What I feel is …the world…it’s good!”

Good times.

I will rejoice today!

The News today is that Osama bin Laden is dead. After 10 years of chasing him, after he was the mastermind of the tragic Sept. 11, 2001 episode in America, they finally found him in Pakistan, and Special Forces killed him. That is the good news. Thank God फॉर ठाट.

This morning when I was praying, to thank God this terrorist was no more, and I was praying for protection to America, from other terrorists, suddenly, I had a vision: I saw a fly on a wall, and an arm came out with fly swatter to kill it, which it did, it fell to the floor dead, But then I saw another one in it’s place, and the arm with the fly swatter killed that one, and that kept on, with more flies being swatted and killed.

I kept quiet then asked God what that vision meant. He said “Even though the enemy is dead, you must keep watch, and be wary, and keep alert, for they will keep finding a way to come in your house. You keep saying you don’t know how they get in, but when the door is open, there will always be a few flies (terrorists) getting in. But don’t worry I will take care of you. There will always be flies, or wars and rumors of wars. But the end is not yet near.

I knew that last was from somewhere in the New Testament and I looked it up. I found it!

Matt. 23: 4-6 - Jesus told them, Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

But for now I can rest assured that Osama bin Laden, an evil man, is no more. And all those brave men and women, who have fought in a war in the Mideast and even gave their lives in it, have not done so in vain. And I thank my Lord that I can wake up this day, to a peaceful house and a peaceful town, and a peaceful America. But I will keep praying for America, and I hope we can keep it free. I will enjoy today, knowing another terrorist and enemy of America is no more.

Today I will rejoice in the Lord, always! And again, I say rejoice!

This is my life... it is what it is: Self Publishing...?

This is my life... it is what it is: Self Publishing...?