WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is a heart and soul connection that only God can make that transcends our human understanding.

Such is a love is my connection with Kathy Wright and her wonderful family from Phoenix, Az.

It all began seven years ago, on April 24, 2007,  in the wonderful land of BLOGS.  I stumbled (no, in hindsight I know it was God's leading me) onto a blog called The Bumbling Genius by Kathy's husband, Danny.  I liked and approved of what I read and became a faithful follower of Danny's blog.

On April 2, 2008 Danny informed me his wife, Kathy, had started a blog called A Field Lilly and invited me to visit it and meet her.  I checked it out immediately and knew this was an instant connection.  

We followed each other faithfully and during the Cancer Battle of our daughter, Suzette, and her trip to Heaven on May 19, 2011 I found GREAT strength and comfort from both Kathy & Danny.

Our first MEETING, in real life, occurred on July 2, 2011 when we finally got to meet the Wrights - Danny, Kathy, Daughter Bethany, Son Daniel.  What a grand time we had celebrating July 4th together and their visit of 3 days, our friendship grew.  

Our second meeting occurred in September, 2012 when Mickey & I, along with help from Danny and their wonderful, dear friend Mary Lee worked hard on arrangement when Mickey & I decided to SURPRISE Kathy with an unannounced visit on September 29, 2012.  What a fabulous 3 days we got to spend with them and the friendship grew.

Fast forward to Sunday, April 12, 2005

Kathy & her lovely daughter Bethany came to Tulsa!!!

I planned a surprise Get-Together of the WOW Woman (Woman of the Word) Bible Study group, of which both Kathy and another DEAR Connection, Retha Naidoo, belong via the private fb group.

There were only 5 of us from the group who were able to make it Sunday afternoon after church for our Luncheon but we had a good time.

(Left to right, Jenny Oswald, Thelma Horton, Kathy, Bethany, Patty Ross, Susan Joyce, Kathy Robinson.)

  

Bethany celebrated her 15th Birthday on the 10th so I surprised her with a cake. 

Bethany blessed Mickey & I by playing a song for us on her violin.

It was beautiful and such a joy and blessing.

The bad part of this 3rd visit was that it lasted only about 5 hours.

Part of this visit was to encourage Mickey who has been fighting the Aorta Heart Valve replacement process for the past 8 month.

Mickey is giving Kathy driving instructions as they are leaving.

Kathy blessed me with this lovely bluebird picture with the verse 

His compassions fail not

They are new every morning

Lamentations 3:22-23

I had the perfect place to hang it, even with a nail already in place!, over the sliding glass doors in our living room.  Right where Mickey can see it as he watches his bluebirds building their nest, sitting on the eggs, and awaiting the new life of baby birds flying away.

Now - Mickey & I are waiting and looking forward to visit #4!!!

Don't know where -

 Don't know when - 

but are confident there will be a 4th. 

And we'll be seeing all 4 Wrights, including Danny & Daniel, next time, too.

How I thank my Father God for placing this wonderful family in our lives and the ability to stay connected, almost on a daily basis, via fb and still share our blogs.

BOOK & READING

I have always been a prolific reader from a very early age.  Being raised essential as an "only child" (I had one 1/2 sister who left home when I was 6) books became my friends.  In my childhood I devoured all the Nancy Drew mysteries.  Many times, in the middle of the night, my mother would be saying, "Turn off your light and get to sleep, Susan".

Right after I was saved, at age 18, a friend loaned me Hannah Whitall Smith's book, THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET TO A HAPPY LIFE.  It laid such a foundation of beginning growth in my then new walk with Jesus that over these ensuring 58 years I have read mostly Christian authors and self-help books.  Devouring series, first LEFT BEHIND by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.  Then, all Joel Rosenberg books to date, along with 3 Frank Peretti novels. 

One of my main loves in spiritual books have been classic writings by the many Spiritual Giant of Authors who are now in Heaven. During these years my focus was for Spiritual growth and not for casual reading. 

Just recently, with my husband's long and difficult medical situation, I decided it would be a good idea to start reading aloud to my husband.  My dear friend, Judy, who's Bible Study I attend on Monday mornings reads a lot of lighter Christian authors, so I asked her to loan me a couple.  The following Sunday she and her husband dropped off 2 Christian mysteries by Terri Blackstock.  We devoured them in a week and the following Monday I returned those 2 and received 4 more.  Which again, in the first week we have finished 2 of them.

I have a feeling we are going to be reading a lot, especially the next 4+ weeks as we await my husband Aorta Valve replacement procedure.

I Praise God for many things, and books, and the ability of those Authors who write them, and the many hours of learning and pleasure they have given me over these many long years. 

A Very Special Gift From FAR-FAR AWAY from Very Special PEOPLE

On February 11th I received a phone call from The Green Parrot Cafe informing me that our wonderful friends, from South Africa had contacted them and purchased a gift certificate for Mickey, son Marc, grandson Aric and myself to enjoy a meal.  Talk about shocked and stunned.  I can only imagine the love, time and effort that went into their doing this!  First, locating a local cafe here in Coweta and then going through all the work, and back & forth they had to go through, to accomplish this surprise.

Due to Mickey's health and the hospitalizations, Dr. appointments, procedures, and just generally being basically home bound the majority of the time,  it took us 52 days to reap the joy and thrill of this unique and wonderful love.              

The four of us  awaiting our order.

The three generation of Joyce men as we enter 

The Green Parrot Cafe

This Cafe was established in 1942, 73 years ago and when I was a 4 years old child in Santa Fe, New Mexico and had never even heard of Coweta, Oklahoma!!!

It is on the main street, which is Broadway, and is known by everyone who lives in Coweta.

It is a landmark and a hangout for many of the locals.

The only female in this group getting a picture of the front window and sign (and myself!)

One of the nice things about The Green Parrot is they serve breakfast the entire 7 1/2 hours they are opened, in addition to a large selection of other items and a daily special.

Our choices ran the gambit - Aric had breakfas: waffle, egg, bacon - Mickey & Marc both had the Chicken fried steak special with 2 vegetables & bread - Susan had hamburger with fries.

EVERYTHING home-style and freshly prepared.

ALL was delicious and we were filled to the brim.

Another interesting thing, on this particular day, other than the owner and cook, I was the only female and all the other patrons were men.

The inside is all panelled with knotty pine and has the old time counter, stools and malt machine

Plus lots & lots of Parrot pictures, figurines and other Parrot items collected over the years.

Yes, quite a unique place and a very unique gift for us from so FAR away.

In a perfect world we would LOVE to have Jason, Retha & Ethan with us eating here at 

The Green Parrot in Coweta, Oklahoma.

Mickey & I all smiles and full of joy and gratitude for so blessing us with such a strong SPIRITUAL and LOVING connection with Jason, Rethan and their son Ethan.

It brings tears to my eyes on many occasions when I marvel at the great work GOD has done, and is doing, in our lives and friendship together.  ONLY GOD!!!!