gingerinTX

A place to keep up with the Consford family of San Augustine, Texas.

Our Lord has been so good to us.

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."

Oct 21, 2011

October 21, 2011

Good morning,
We are waiting for a French class that we bought on disk.  It should have come in the mail this week.  I am supposed to listen to it faithfully 30 minutes every day and hopefully I will be able to speak in 10 days.  I am excited about that. 

It is time to start cleaning up the yard and getting ready for winter.  I am clipping things back and pulling things down.  The yard was looking like a jungle that just went through a drought.  Nannie might want to go to a nursery today to get pansies and flowering cabbage to put in our flower beds for the winter.  She said, "Let's wait until it gets a little warmer." 

The end facing our house
Good help for building
Scissor lift piled with tools
The new shop building is coming along just fine.  Buster has 3 more arches to put up.  One end is almost up.  The scissor lift was delivered yesterday.  He is excited about getting it together and using it.

Uncle Larry and Aunt Lu bought a camper so that they can go places easier.  It is hard for Aunt Lu to travel due to her pain from Fibro.  They are so excited about having the camper.  Their first trip will be to Missouri to see Uncle Larry's family before Thanksgiving.  They will stop by to visit with Eli & Lori on their way home. 
There is a slide out on the other sided.  They will have so much fun going to shows where Uncle Larry will be demonstrating his wood carving.  He has a date for Silver Dollar City in Branson after the new year.  At Christmas time he will be demonstrating at the Miller's Crossing Ole Time Christmas.  We want him to think about the one in South Dakota too. 

Oh yes, I just talked to a publisher on the phone.  He wants to talk about a book about the kids in Africa.  I've been dreaming about a book.  Laura has been blogging everyday to have a good diary to draw from.  He suggested we concentrate on Chapters with different stories instead of an entire book to begin our endeavors.  It is an exciting idea. 

Have a great day! 
Nana

Oct 20, 2011

October 20, 2011


I wanted to start writing a little every day.  Laura's posts helps us to imagine what all is going on in Africa.  Perhaps, I can write to help them "see" what is going on in Texas. 

My parents were able to drive to Missouri to visit with Lori and Eli, John and Magan, and some of their friends.  Buster said that I could drive up to Lori's house to visit with them for the weekend.  We had a ball.  I asked Jeanie, my sister-in-law, to drive with me.  Sleep overtakes me at time while I am driving.  Jeanie wanted to visit her son and family in Missouri too.  We made a pretty good driving team.  I can drive for awhile during the day, but I drive better after dark.  She can't sleep while she is riding, so she likes to drive. 

The weather was great.  The fall leaves were starting to change.  It was a very nice drive.  My parents are doing exceptionally well.  Mom's cancer has returned, but she has a very good attitude about it.  They have decided to enjoy themselves and take what trips they want to take while she does feel well. 

While we were visiting I signed Daddy up for facebook so that he can see pictures and news from all the family quickly.  (Gil-Barb Davis)  We will try to keep them posted as to what all goes on.

Eli took us around through the local Amish Community.  We saw the working life of these unique people.  Eli was Amish until he was 18 years old.  That is about the same time Lori started praying for her future husband to follow Christ.  Eli was saved not long after they left the Amish.  We went to several of their home shops on our tour through the area.  The first stop was a bakery.  We loaded up on goodies for the rest of the weekend.  We stopped at a Quilt shop and another bakery.  We even stopped at a bulk store where the Amish ladies do their grocery shopping.  It was a wonderful trip that we wouldn't have been able to do without the guidance of Eli. 

Eli explained the difference between living an English Christian life and the Amish life.  The Amish work for their salvation.  Praise the Lord, our salvation is by grace.  According to the scriptures working for salvation is useless.  Ephesians 2:8-9 explains the fact clearly.  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
These people are in bondage.  The gospel of Christ gives us freedom from working to please God. Of course, when we are saved He helps us to live a life according to the scriptures; but we are saved throughout all eternity.  John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  What a gift we have been given.

Lori and Eli's church was a blessing to me.  They are not part of the modern rock band type church.  They sing the ole time hymns and songs.  They dress in modest dress.  Ladies and girls had Sunday dresses, while the men were in suits and ties.  The preacher preached out of the King James Version.  I enjoyed fellowshipping with them.  Some of Lori's decorating talents were already at work on bulletin boards and walls throughout the church. 

I left there at 8:00 am to go pick Jeanie up.  It took me until 12:45 pm to get there and then we headed on home.  Jeanie drove while I took a short nap.  We enjoyed the fellowship and listened to a book on disk.  We enjoyed the fall colors on the way home.  Jeanie and I were very tired by the time we got home at 8:45 pm.

Mom and Dad left the next day to go to their other granddaughter's home in Missouri.  Magan is expecting a baby in February. 

Lori and Eli left the next day for a short trip to celebrate their anniversary. 

We have visited with Mandy and her family in Alberta, Canada; Lori and Eli in Missouri; now we are planning to visit with Joe and Laura in Africa.

Sep 21, 2011

Too Much Drama

Nannie walking outside
On Monday I took Nannie for a check-up at the Dr. office.  Dr. Oglesbee said we had way too much drama going on at our house.  Now, I have been thinking about that.  What part of our drama would we do without?  Can you just quit listening to your grown children's problems, can you ask others not to tell you about broken arms, illnesses, and problems?  No, and I would not want to live in isolation from our family and friends. 

We do not try to stress about each little problem.  We pray about them and go on.  Our Lord is in control of each situation. 

Some of the drama that is going on would be a part of every family's life.  My husband is a volunteer fireman for our county.  He has been out on many grass fires in the past few weeks.  We are suffering from an extreme drought situation this year.  We are under a burn ban and also water use restrictions.
 
We operate 4 rural water systems in the county as our way of making a living.  We have two technicians that help read meters and repair leaks.  We also have two secretaries to do the paperwork.  We each have taken a turn at a virus that has lasted 2-4 days.  Even Nannie has had the virus. 

One day last week our son in Ghana, W. Africa called to tell us that he thinks his wife's cancer is back.  She is just now getting well from Typhoid Fever.   Last year she had cancer on her forehead.  She had to face radiation treatments before they went back to Africa.
Joe, Laura,  kids in Africa

In just a few minutes after his call, our daughter in Canada called to tell us she was 8 hours from home with her three little girls and was having a kidney stone attack at the hotel.   Her three little girls face asthma, and severe alergies everyday. We were concerned that the girls would not be able to handle their mother being ill that far from home.
Dave & Mandy & kids

Of course, we could do nothing to help each situation, but pray.  Our Lord heard and answered prayer for both children.  Our son called the next morning to tell us that his wife's sores were gone.  Our daughter called to tell us that the pain had quit for the time being. 

Dad & Mom
My mom's breast cancer has returned.  I wanted to visit with her before she became ill. We took a week off to drive 24 hours one way to visit.  It was a glorious time.  She is feeling well, but tires easily.  It was such a good visit. Dad has lost weight, but he has been working outside more that usual.  I am praying for them as they go through this stressful time in their life.  I want to be with them, but the distance is a hindrance. 

Need a starbuck?
Our daughter in Missouri was going through a rough time at her work.  She wanted a part time job at Joan's craft store.  After she started to work, their boss quit and left the store with them.  She has been struggling to work and do the manager's job too.  She is more than capable of doing all of the work, but she was stressing as she went through the problem.  Things have settled down for her now and she is much happier. 

Our niece, Betsy, is our other secretary.  She is struggling now with her finances.  She got a job she can work on at our office.  She has been working many hours each day to keep up with both jobs.  She is almost finished with the second job.  This week her oldest daughter fell down the stairs at college and has hurt her arm.  She had to have it x-rayed.  Now she is in a brace.  The harder Betsy works the more behind she gets. 
Betsy fixing Johna's brace

Drama?  No, I don't think it is drama.  We all have problems.  We can look to see how God takes care of us through our problems. 

The biggest drama we face daily is the situation our country faces now.  Our country is in desperate shape.  She has not been putting God first.  In every area of the Country's life she has been pushing God out.  She is saying we don't need God any more.  It is a lie.  I hate to say that the leadership in our country is going the wrong way.  They are trying to do it without God's help.  It doesn't work.  Our country was founded on the one main principal that God is our leader.  Without God's help we will be in wreck and ruin in just no time at all.  We can pray and beg God for help, but we also need to have leadership that understands this very important principal.  In God we trust. 

The drama will continue at our house.  The principle in Proverbs is still true.  "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."  Proverbs 14:4.  Problems come because there is much going on in our lives.   I do not want a clean crib with no problems.  The strength of a family is measured by the problems that they face. 


A visit from Lori & Eli

The Battleship Texas
We were so glad to see the kids when they came for a visit.  They have been married for eight months now.  Lori & Eli definately are a cute couple.  They are very happy together and enjoy each other's company.  It is such a blessing to both Buster & me.  I think that one fear of every mother is that their daughter might marry someone who doesn't appreciate their daughter.  This is not the case here.  Eli really does love and care for our little girl. 

While they were here we did get many things done.  Eli brought his tools and could repair the lawn mower, the trimmer, and the Mule.  What a blessing he was to Buster.  He went on calls with him and tried to go on some fire calls.  We couldn't believe it - we had no fires called out while they were here. 

Lori and I worked on cutting out vynal letters for some of my walls.  We didn't get the kitchen finished, but she did inspire me to get that done.  We went shopping, garage saling, and looking at the shops in town.
Enjoying the waves

Buster took off one day so that we could go to the beach, ride the ferry, and see the Battleship Texas.  We did have fun! 

Eli loved to see things up close!
Buster enjoyed sharing one of his favorite sites

More Lilies

Every morning we find a new lily opened.  It is so exciting to see what they look like.  Last September we went to the Lily Farm.  We gave the owner some money and he picked out lilies for us.  What an adventure it has been to watch them open.
Yellow Brocaid
Rio Samba

Late Pink Rose

May 10, 2011

Our Yard

Roses do bring Joy to your heart.
I know that a yard full of flowers has been a dream of mine for many years.  This year we are blessed with an abundant supply of beautiful roses, lilies, annuals, and "come-backs".  It does take work, but it does keep my mother-in-law, Nannie, something to get up and see.  I think she would just stay in her room if she didn't have the yard to keep her busy.  You need to be creative to have each member of the family feel needed.   

When we had children at home, we had a garden for them to weed, water, and watch.  I think sometimes you have to also be creative to have enough chores for kids.  They need to learn responsibility and the joy that comes from hard work.  We had peas, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and all the other things that grow in a family garden.  They would have to get up early before it got hot to weed their "two rows" each morning.  We spent our time on eating gardens not flower gardens.  I would have our son move iron ore rocks from one spot to another as I would "change" my mind about where I would plant flowers someday.  We have an abundance of rocks on our place.  That is better than lifting weights any day for a young fellow.  He would laugh and say that our rocks were the most moved rocks in the country.  I would brag and say, " That looks great!  Wait until I plant those flowers."  He didn't learn the truth until just this last year when he had two boys that needed jobs to do.  Look out rocks!  It is time to move again.

We finally cemented some of the rocks together for a fountain.

We would spend days canning our goodies.  The girls learned many things during that time. Other times we would clean chickens "on the halves".  Our country side is full of chicken houses.  We would get 100 at a time and set up the yard for the big day.  The men and boys would kill and pluck those chickens while the girls would clean them out.  Our freezers would be full again. -- Memories.--

All the kids are gone now.  They have started their own families.  I know that each of them will think up creative things for chores for their children.  I would tell people that we weren't really raising a garden - we were raising kids.  I am so proud of those kids now.  Just follow their blogspots to find out what they are doing.  


We use some rocks for birdbaths now.
God has been so good to us!  I love to hear from each family and how they are doing with their families.  I love to hear from those grandkids.
I have no regrets of spending time in the garden with the kids or in having our son move all those rocks. . . 

May 2, 2011

Lilies Lilies Lilies



"Boot Scootin Beauty"

"Bold Awakening"

"How Beautiful Heaven Must Be"

"And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"  Matthew 6:28-30.


"Bold Awakening"







We found the http://www.lilyfarm.com/ only a few miles from our home only last summer.  They grow lilies and send them all over the world.  What a beautiful place to visit.  They call it "A little heaven on earth".  It is amazing.  We have visited three times now and I am ready to go again any time.  The peak season is the last week of May.


"Bold Awakening"


We bought several different varieties now.  They started blooming this week.  I am in awe! 




"How Beautiful Heaven Must Be"
We are looking forward to the others blooming now!  I can't believe that something so beautiful is growing in my yard.


Little Calla Lily



In the backyard
 Thank you, Lord, for your beautiful flowers.
"Lori Orange Lily"

"Yellow Brocade"

"Lavender Exaultation"