Living by a Whistle

   I live by a whistle.  That may sound like a strange thing to say, but if you live in a small town like Kenmare, you know what it means. Three times a day the whistle sounds. First at noon then at six pm, then finally the curfews whistle at 9:30.  I know, it's like living in the days of Mayberry RFD, but I actually like it and find it a comfort.

    I do have to confess that when I lived here before, and my oldest son was a toddler, I use to tell him that the whistle at 9:30 pm meant he had to be in bed or the police would come and find him if he was still outside.  It worked for a while to get my little night owl to bed.  He was often concerned when we came home late from some out of town Bible Study that the police were going to come. I assured him that if he was with his mom and dad, he was fine.  Okay, so my one bedtime threat had some flaws.  But it still was an outside governing 'rule' that said, 'you need to be in bed now.'  It was a constant; it was consistent, even when I failed to be.

    Some people like to run from any kind of rules and time order.  They may not break the law, but they'll bend the rules to fit what they want.  This is often the approach people have towards God's Word.  They bend it, and form it into what they want it to say, not necessarily what it says.  Or they just ignore it totally.

    But I find God's Word like the whistle, a constant, a steady, and always there. It's not going to change cause I want it to blow at three pm instead of six.  It's going to stay the same.  It can be my reference point to see if I'm still "on time."

    There are things that can block you for hearing the whistle at times.  Sometimes when you’re working on a job in the house, and there’s other noise around I can’t hear the whistle.  Distractions; things screaming louder than the whistle.  Things in our life can be that way too.  We let the cares of this world, sound louder than God’s Word.  They’re not bad things, they’re just the everyday living, that can get so loud that they drown out the Word of God speaking into our life.  We can’t hear any more through the busyness of life, or the pursuit of other things.

    Sometimes when I’m down in my basement, I can’t hear the whistle blow. The rock walls are just too thick.  So too in life, the walls we put up, keep us from hearing God’s Word speak into our life.

     But then there are times, when I’m quietly working in my office, and I hear the whistle blow, and it reminds me what time it is, and where I’m at in my day.  So too, with God, when we get quiet and hear His Word, it reminds us of where we are in life, and gives us the guidance we need to carry on. For His Word is a light to my path.

 I've decided my life will be way more 'on time' if I live by that whistle.  In other words; living by His Word.  Jesus, the same, yesterday, today and forever. He's my whistle!

   Got to go, the whistle just blew telling me it’s time to be in bed.

      

Happiness was Knowing You

    Last week in the middle of the night, I heard a crash beside my bed. Quito had come into my room, and had knocked something over. Too groggy to check at the time, I failed to inspect till morning light arrived.  What I found was my old purple rodeo clip board case, was laying on the floor beside my bed. I'm not sure how it even had found it's way to my bedroom, (or why I still have it) but there it lay, not having a home yet in my new abode.  Curious as to if there was still anything in it, I opened up the case.  Sure enough the rodeo program from the last rodeo Tyson competed in during High School was still inside, with my various, pens, marker, extra safety pins, for those rodeo numbers that never stayed on your back. But also in the case was an out of place item.  The above drawing that I did when I was 10 years old.  I must have given it to one of my cousins for Christmas, and somehow through the years it has made it's way back to me.  

   Snoopy, he was my favorite.  I would draw Snoopy and all the Charlie Brown characters by the hour when I was that age.  I loved to draw, and especially loved cartoons.  So I would try to draw all my favorites.  During that time, I even came up with my own set of cartoon characters and comic strip.  The Higgins Family was their name. Unfortunately, I have none of those drawings in my possession any more.

    But back to Snoopy.  It was dated Dec 22, 1971, Forty-five years ago today, I had a happy moment in my life, and drew a picture for a gift to my cousin.  My cousins were my best friends growing up.  

    Today, 45 years later, is an anniversary of loosing my very very best friend ever. My cowboy-hubby Todd.  It's been three years since he crossed that veil and entered into his heavenly eternal home, while I stayed behind to figure out what I'm suppose to do in life now, without him by my side.  That empty spot is still there, though the pain somewhat lessened with time.  There isn't a day that goes by, that I don't miss him.  While to others he may be long forgotten, every day is painful reminder to me that he's gone from this present life.  My hope in healing is the knowing that I'll see him again someday, and he's in a far better place than I am right now.  

   Though I can't do the happy Snoopy dance and say, "Happiness is being with you."  I can say, "My life was richer and fuller from being with you. Happiness was knowing you!"  With that, I'm so glad I married that ole cowboy, and had all those adventures together.  We were best friends, pards, and nothing is better than that.  

   Love and miss you Todd.

Facing Fears and a Blank Canvas

Facing the blank canvas

   

   I’ve struggled most of my life with insecurity, which I think is actually intimidation and fear in disguise.  That insecurity of not doing it right or good enough, has kept me from often doing things really in my heart to do. 

   In other areas I often jump in and start doing something not having a clue as to how to do it, but knowing somehow by God’s grace I can.   Recently I met a friend at Mendards when I was buying something to fix something in my house.  I confessed I had no clue how to fix it, but I was gonna try, since I lacked anyone to help me.  My friend laughed and said, “Has not knowing how to do something ever stopped you from anything Kelley?”  I laughed and said, “I guess not.”  But fear has stopped me, in many area from even starting.

    Last year, I found a few portraits stored under Kristi’s bed that I had done in high school. Two in pointillism and one done in coffee.  In High School and College, I was a fairly good artist, but to be truthful, I’ve hardly picked up a paint brush or drawing pencil in years. I’ve done a few quick simple paintings as a sermon illustration but that’s about it.  The other day I was talking to two young girls here in Kenmare about art, and it came out of my mouth, “I’ve had a painting rolling around in my head and heart for a couple of years, but I’m afraid to pick up the brush again, what if I can’t do this anymore?”  At that moment, I identified why I put it off. I was afraid.  Afraid of failure. So one way to make sure I won’t fail is, to never start. Right? Wrong!

   Never starting because I’m afraid, is the same as failing. I’ll never succeed unless I try.  So this afternoon, I faced my fear.  Seriously I was shaking.  Can I still do this?  

   I spent the afternoon and evening at the easel first with a sketch pencil, then with a paint brush and jar of Sanka Coffee.  By the way, this is the same jar of Sanka I used in High School to do that other painting.  Price stamped on top of the jar is: $1.36.  You guessed it, I don’t get rid of things easily, especially if it’s still useful.  And this jar of Sanka was never meant to be drank, only paint with.

   My sketch wasn’t perfect, actually ended up a little ‘squatty’ looking, but I finished about 11 pm.  It is the painting I’ve imagined for the last few years.  It’s not perfect, but it is completed, and that’s the best part.

   I use to have a saying in High School and College the only thing coffee is good for is to paint with.  Tonight I found that true again.  Interesting enough, this past week, I felt strongly from the Lord, not to have any coffee to drink.  Maybe His reasoning was for my health reasons more, but in ‘fasting’ the coffee to drink, I actually found something deep within me again, my love for art and the feel of the paint brush in my hand.  I’d forgotten just how good it feels.  It’s somehow part of finding the Kelley that’s been in hiding, and too fearful to try again.

   I thank God, for this day, when I know I’m set free from that fear that’s holding me back from being who I really am.  Free to let the gift out that’s inside me. Not only in my art, but many other areas.  Cause like all gifts inside people, the gift is not for the one who carry’s it, but it’s for others.  I enjoyed painting a picture, but now others can enjoy the painting too.

   Don’t let fear hold you back from what’s inside.  Open up your heart and let the gift of God within you come out for all to see and enjoy. 

   I also found out, my sun room in my house is the most wonderfully lighted art studio one could ever wish for, well, at least till it got dark outside that is. 

Sketching the rough draft

Finished painting.  Todd and Quito.

   

Lessons from a Retired Cattle Dog

My crazy old dog all dressed up being a 'cowboy' 

   Quito has been in retirement for some time now, and has adjusted to the life of a 'city dog' quite well. I think he truly enjoys the pleasure of getting to be 'in the house,' compared to his  Cowdog life of always being in the barn or garage on the ranch.  But as an elderly dog, he has taken on a few irrational fears, but still not uncommon to the canine breed.

  Thunder and fireworks are an evil enemy, nothing short of comparing them to a terrorist or a demon in Quito's doggy mind.  A couple nights ago, I learned something from his terror though.

   It was 2 am, and I was sleeping fitfully in my camper (still my home at the moment), and trying to find a comfortable position in my not so comfortable mattress.  My lower back again aching from the awful support.  I shifted over to another portion of the bed and tried to fall back to sleep. Suddenly without warning, Quito jumped into the bed and snuggled up as close as he could to me, shaking and trembling in fear. Maybe he saw a spider!   

    Now you have to understand, he has never gotten on my bed before, although he has tried a couple of times.  I tried, without success to get him off, but he was not budging.  Now remember he is a 65 pound dog, so pushing him off the bed is no easy feat for me. I finally gave up and let him stay, panting, drooling, slobbering all over my sheets.  His whole body was shaking.  There was no fireworks outside, and from my ears, no thunder. What was his problem?  About 20 minutes later, I heard the first rumble. And yes, but this time, I had checked the radar on my phone, and knew a storm was approaching. As you can see, I don't really need a weather alert radio (I do have one though) cause I have a weather alert dog.

   When the thunder and lightening and rain moved in, a strange thing happened to Quito.  He suddenly calmed down, breathing went to almost normal, and I think he even fell asleep for a bit.  What?!  All this panic, and then calm when it hit?

    I got to thinking of how many times I've done that. Feared what was coming, only to find out when it hit it really wasn't that bad, and calmed down while walking through it.  The fear of the unknown gets us more than we like to admit doesn't it? 

    On Sunday, July 3, I came down to Bismarck to spend the 4th with my family and son. I made my annual trip to Art in the Park in Mandan, always a highlight of the 4th for me.  This time, I had Quito with, so it was also the shortest trip through Art in the Park for me.  On the way to Art in the Park, I stopped by my cousin's house to say hi, as I had parked in a parking lot close to her house.  

    Quito met several 'friends' in the Park, and I stopped and talked to several other dog owners about fireworks and dogs, and how they just don't mix too well.  After my quick trip though the show, I headed back to my vehicle.  As I passed by my cousin's house, Quito made a quick turn up their side walk, and was pulling on his lease for me to go that way.  I was amazed. It's not like he's ever been there before except for our brief stop earlier.  We'd passed by lots of houses, and how did he know that was her house?  I didn't stop, but went on to the parking lot. Which was fairly full of other SUV's similar to mine. I said, "Ok, Quito, find our car."  He went right up to our car, and stood at the back door waiting to be let in. I was truly amazed.  Sometimes I can't even find my own car in a parking lot, but here my dog can!  Maybe my Mom is right, she always says, "It's scary having Quito around, cause I think he's smarter than me."  Well, he really isn't Mom, but he sure is a smart dog. 

     Speaking of my Mom, if I just say to Quito, "Want to go to the farm?" He gets so excited he literally jumps!  He loves my Mom and Dad as much as they love him.  Of course part of it maybe that they let him come into the house now, at least as far as the laundry room and kitchen. :-) 

    I've learned a lot from this old canine.  Don't be afraid of the approaching storm, it really won't be that bad, and always remember where you parked your car. 

    Have a great day! 

    "Bark, bark" from Quito too!