The Order of Organizing

I want to tackle my pantry and submit it into being organized. My next thought...should I buy the containers that would fit onto my shelves and then decide what I'm going to store in each container, or decide what I want on each shelf and then buy the containers that would fit the items? This totally feels like a 'Chicken/Egg' type question. Any comments of what you would do??

Wpg Mural - Where is it?

Can you give me the street name you would be on to see this mural? Normally you would see it from the other angle. The car at the bottom of the mural is closest to the street name I am looking for. Good luck. :)

The Impact

As published in the EMC Messenger on June 15, 2005
The story I wrote describing my parents' accident when Mom went to heaven.

by Delores Barkman

     “Call 911! We need an ambulance. Both people are unconscious, possibly dead.”

An elderly gentleman was being admitted in a small town hospital, having just arrived by ambulance. He was unconscious but his heart rate was fine. He had a few broken ribs and minor cuts on his face from glass hurled in the accident. He would survive. In minutes, he stirred and struggled to open his eyes. Total bewilderment showed in his eyes, then panic.

“Where’s my wife? What happened? Is my wife okay? Where is she?”

“Sir, she’s on another floor right here in this hospital. Are there any areas of pain?”

The head nurse checked his vital signs, and the man questioned where his wife was. Everyone was vague. The sheriff arrived and came to the man’s bedside. Heaviness showed on the sheriff’s face as he pulled up a chair and sat down.

“Are you feeling okay, sir?” the sheriff inquired.

“Yes, all right, but for a few places,” the man replied.

“Do you recall anything about your accident?” The man shook his head.

The sheriff gently laid a hand on the man’s knee. “You’ve been in quite a serious car accident. Your car was hit while you were crossing a service road and your car was totaled.”

Knowing the answer, the man asked, “And my wife?”

“She died upon impact. She did not suffer but died instantly.”

How does one process this news? He felt incredibly alone. The man’s eyes filled with tears but he remained silent.

“May I pray with you, sir?” asked the sheriff. The man nodded with a slight smile of joy for this sheriff with whom he now felt a connection in his spirit. After prayer, an inner strength filled the man and in his eyes was a look of peace. The sheriff knew here was a man of faith and he squeezed his hand.

An X-ray technician was waiting in the hallway. With misty eyes, the sheriff left the room.

As the technician worked, he wondered, “How could this man smile when he had been given such dreaded news? He seems so calm.” The man was cooperative.

Two nurses came in to give him medication, take his blood pressure, and check his bruises. “May I go see my wife?” he asked.

“We’ll just check with the doctor, sir.”

The man was wheeled to another floor to see the cold body of his wife. “She looks so peaceful and beautiful,” he thought. “We were just talking about heaven and now look at her. She’s gone and beat me to it.” He felt her hands and kissed her cheek. Yes, she was cold. Her body was not needed anymore. Tears trickled down his cheeks. He was ready to return to his room.

The nurse and other staff members marveled at this display of love, strength and faith. Saddened for him, they felt he had a hidden strength to carry him.

By next day’s end, some of his children had flown out to accompany him home.

“He’s leaving,” one nurse said to another.

“The man in 201 is leaving?”

“Yes. His family is with him now.”

“I’m going to say goodbye. He was so special,” she said.

The X-ray technician came in just then. “The man in 201 is leaving?” he asked.

“Yes, he is.”

“He’s a wonderful man. A strong faith, I think. I have to say good-bye to him.”

Hospital staff arrived to wish the man well and say good-bye. The family was amazed at the bond their father had established in this hospital so far from home. In one and a half days, this man had made a great impact on people.

Years have passed and this man still has an impact upon many people who meet him. He listens in coffee shops, mall benches or park walkways. He still has that quiet inner strength and faith.

He has a great impact on me. This man is my Dad.

Answer to 2nd What is it?

What is it?

Can You See?

Smudged glasses, grimy windows in Spring, a mud splattered windshield all bring on a very similiar feeling ... URGH! I get this tension that whells up inside of me when I cannot see clearly. You are identifying with this feeling as well. I know because it seems to affect us all in much the same way.

We want to see and we want our outlook to be clear. We want vision. We want direction. We want to know where we are going.

Over the years I have learned that those goals and directions cannot always come from my own making. I enjoy far too many things. Yes it keeps me from getting bored but it also keeps me from staying focused. I definitely need Jesus to show me the things best suited for me. His wisdom is totally superior. I do want His vision.

OK so the next warm, non-windy day, I'm washing my kitchen window inside and out!

What is it?

Here's a new thing I am adding to my Blog...a "What is it" catagory. After a short while I will post another picture in answer to the first picture.