Hamburgers smothered in pickles and cheese, Barbecue Snyders and a large Pepsi please. Three glazed donuts, no make that four, In a cardboard box down on the floor. As we prepared to watch our shows on TV, It was me, Jack and Rachel - just us three. Later that night for a little snack, We'd get our penny candy from out of our sack. Life at our house on a Thursday night Was very predictable, but it felt just right. Things couldn't be better, we'd always say, But it did one Saturday in the month of May. You see we three, became us four, As we added another box to the floor. Memories of yesterday still haunt my mind As I cherish the childhood I left behind.

I can't believe I'm telling this on myself, but....

The older we get our mind starts to go. We can't find our keys. We lose our glasses. We don't know where we parked at Walmart. It is so easy to blame everything on old age. But is it really? Or are we just so addled and scatterbrained because we have so much going on in our lives? I do things sometimes that are so funny, I just have to stop and laugh at myself. I was getting gas recently and had to stop and picture the outside of the truck to remember which side the tank is on!! It brought to mind one of my funniest "senior moments." It was about 2 years ago and I had stopped at the BP to get gas. That was right about the time they started the prepay policy. I went in and asked for $10. I went back out, walked to my gas tank....and discovered I had pulled in on the wrong side of the pumps. My tank was on the passenger side and I was at the drivers side. I was so embarrassed, but figured that nobody noticed since I had already paid. So I unlock the door and get in the car and put the car in drive. I figure I'll pull out and circle around and pull in so that I'm on the correct side. After all, I paid for that pump so that is the pump I must use. I make the loop around the tanks and pull back in. I put the car in park, get out, shut the door and walk around to the pump.....only to discover I pulled right back in there in the same direction and on the wrong side for my gas tank. I thought I was going to die. I got back in, pulled forward, turned around to come back on the right side. By the time I got turned around the right direction, I forgot I had not gotten my gas yet and proceeded to pull forward and over to the exit to leave the parking lot....WITHOUT GETTING MY GAS!! But I did catch myself before pulling into trafffic. I did a rush back up, got over to the tank, pumped my gas and made my getaway. So now, if you ever see me come to a complete stop BEFORE pulling up to a pump, you will know I am working out the logistics in my mind as to where my tank is and where I need to be.

Ain't that the truth....

Over the years in my Christian walk, I have had the privilege to hear many sermons and to talk with many people who love the Lord. Every once in awhile, I would hear a phrase or a comment and I would think "Ain't that the truth." I would jot them down to remember. Here are some of my favorite ones: God said it. I believe it. That settles it. When God shows up, He shows out. God never takes sides...He takes control. Stand still and rest in the presence of the Lord. God not only forgives, He forgets. If you have faith; He'll show you mercy and you'll receive grace. Stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. God can work His miracles out of our mistakes. It’s the believing that makes the waiting more endurable. Let go and let God. When you can't do anything, God can do everything.

And my all time favorite.... When faith walks in, fear walks out.

I received this in an email today and thought it was cute...... A man asked an American Indian what was his wife's name. He replied, "She called Five Horses". The man said, "That's an unusual name for your wife. What does it mean?" The Old Indian answered, "It old Indian Name. It mean... NAG, NAG, NAG, NAG, NAG!

Things I'll never understand......

There are things I see or overhear when I'm out and about that I will never understand. Here are just a few that make me scratch my head and go "huh?"(some I'm even guilty of myself). .... Why do people stand in line at fast food places and ponder the menu the entire time they are in line only to get up to the counter and say "Hmm, let me see, uh... I think....I want....uh, no, give me a cheeseburger, fries and a medium Coke. Oh and I want the cheeseburger with no catsup and oh, can you make it a large fries? No, no, I'll just take a medium." After finally deciding what they want, they are told their total. THEN and only then, do they open their purse and start rummaging for their cash or debit card. .... Why do people order the greasiest, fattest, high calorie foods on the menu and then ask for a Diet Coke. I don't think a diet drink will make much of a difference. .... Why do men pay for every single small purchase with a $20 bill, even if they have a ton of ones. Do they like the nice plump look on their wallet if they keep it full of the ones? .... Why do women pay for everything with the exact change? Counting out 86 individual cents just to avoid breaking another dollar bill? .... Also, why, when women get change back, do they drop it in their purse and not in their billfold. Then when they make their next purchase, they dig around in the bottom of their purse for 5 minutes, because they "know they have a nickle in here somewhere." .... Why do old men walk around with their hands in their pockets jingling their lose change and car keys. .... And the one that drives me the craziest is when a cashiers casually says "Hello, how are you today." They don't REALLY want to know. I was in line behind a lady who was asked that question and her response was that she had seen better days and proceeded to tie up the line by telling the cashier her whole woe is me tale about her miserable job, her worthless family and her low life ex who hasn't paid her in months. And the worse part is she could not multi task, each time she said something new, she stopped from putting her items on the counter so she could talk. Arrgghh. I was so ready to get out of there.

I love when God gets possessive

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Don't you just love it! This verse sums up our whole life. We are His. Don't worry about things. He will take care of us. Don't let anger settle on you. Tell Him who or what is bothering you and let Him handle it. Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't get into a tiff or a tantrum. You are HIS. He has called you by His name. When I was growing up, I loved being a Garretson. I was proud. That was my family. It was a name of honor. When I married Allen, I was happy to take on his name. Being a Keefer just enriched my life and added more family for me to love. But no name has every thrilled me more than when I was baptized and became a Child of the King. He called me by His name and I am His. I'm God's Girl and loving every minute of it.

Fall is in the air....

With the temperature so high and the humidity making it difficult to breathe, it's hard to believe that fall is just around the corner, but the signs are everywhere.

School starts in little over a week. Blue jeans and long sleeve shirts are making their appearance in stores. The boys are starting to put on their pads and helmets as that first football game is approaching. Bands are practicing their routines and cheerleaders are working on their pyramids.

Late at night, the oppressive heat disappears and you can feel fall in the air. I can smell the late evening smoke from a campground up river. In another month, the apple orchards will be alive with the busy activity of gathering apples for apple butter.

We make a big batch every year. This is the first year we have ran out before it is time to make it again. I'm counting the days. I love applebutter, but cannot stand the store bought kind. Applebutter tastes better when there is time and love poured into each homemade jar.

We've experimented with many types of apples over the years. Nothing compares to the flavor we get when we use Rome apples. We ended up with Rome's by accident one year and it was our best "vintage" ever. I almost cried when I opened the last jar.

So bring on the fall weather and the applebutter festivities.