scared cat

When I was a teenager , I was full of it. I loved doing pranks or at least going along with them.
I had a seminary class at school. 1st period. Our poor teacher had the worst class of pranksters and rowdies. We were not in the right frame of mind. Three boys found a cat outside. They decided to put it in the piano. You know, the old kind of piano that had a wooden top. I knew what they had done, but I thought it would be fun to see what would happen. And of all things the teacher ask if I would lead the class in a hymn. I told a fib, (Sorry), and said," I can't sing today I have a cold." That doesn't matter, he said," just lead the music."

The piano player didn't know what the boys had done. She started to play and all of a sudden you could hear hear an excruciating sound. It sounded like a ruckus on the keys and a terrible screaching sound. errr,errrek, youw.

The piono player stopped and almost fell off her chair, The teacher, looking up said, "what is the matter," and the girl said," I don't know but this piano is making a terrible noise." He then said, "Oh it's probably coming from outside. Go ahead and play. Hesitantly, she started playing again. And again ekkk youw screech, It was terrible.

The teacher came flying over to the piano and lifted the lid. The Cat who was going crazy jumped out on him, He screamed, I thought he would have a heart attack. His face was beet red, and the blood vessels on his neck looked like they were exploding. He roared "WHO DID THIS?" We were all trying not to laugh, but we were dieing inside, trying to keep a straight face. He turned to me and ask,"Do you know who did this?" Being my little bratty self, I said" no I don't know, but If I ever found out I would really give it to them. Poor Mr. Reeder. It's to late to apologize to him now after all of these years. He's gone to the happy hunting ground. I wonder if he likes cats up there?

I am truly ashamed of my part in it. So if your listening up there Mr. Reeder please forgive me.

I have repented of my childish days. But I do still get a chuckle when I picture that cat jumping on his chest.

I hope my grand kids will never do something like that. So if your reading this do as I say not do as I did. Love you all. Keep smiling Charlene

Taps

I was looking at some of the writing I have done over the years, and decided to share one of my experiences.
I had the opportunity of singing in a choir at a cemetery for memorial day many years ago. This is what I experienced.....

May is a time for enjoying the beautiful flowers of springtime. It is also a time to remember our loved ones who have died for our country.

The morning is chilly, but crisp and beautiful, filled with a special feeling of quiet reverence. Time seems to stop as each of us are locked into our own private thoughts. An overwhelming feeling of pride fills my heart, as guns boom in succession. Each saluting our brave warriors for the battles they have fought in defense of our country.

Like lions roaring through a jungle after their prey, Jets in twin formation streak across the blue horizon. The rush of adrenalin and admiration sinks deep into my heart, reaching out to these giant men and women.

Old glory raises from half mask, rippling in the wind as it makes it's way to the top. Then slowly as in the memory of the dieing. It pauses.. turning back down to half-mask where it silently rests.

Our hearts swell with pride, mixed with grief as we enshrine the memories of all of our patriotic men and women. We rededicate our convictions to defend our freedom from Tyranny and dictators. We promise to protect the constitution and all other God given rights.

Our choir explodes with emotion and tenderness as we blend our voice in God Bless America. Salty wet tears well up in our eyes, ready to spill over.

Now it is quiet, almost ire. Each of us are in our own private battlefield, alone with many memories... Thinking of yesterday when our loved ones, barely old enough to play hide and seek, run through the grass, barefoot. Or my little boy sitting on my lap, running his fingers through my hair, declaring, "Mommy, I'll make you proud of me just wait and see!

Cherishing that moment, we dream of envisioning our children becoming boy scouts or girl scouts. Drifting on to the thoughts of high school, seeking their independence, leaving the nest for college.... THEN WAR! And before we get to that terrible scene, we are brought back to the real world with the sound of wailing bugles.



Four golden instruments, glistening in the early morning sun rise. Each wailing it's lonely cry as the taps get fainter with each note. In one corner the bugle cries, then echoed by it's counterpart, hundreds of yards away. The tears spill over like a gushing waterfall as I think of the many loved ones who have shed their blood for our country. As the last tap cries out, we bow our heads in deep reverence, thanking God for the many blessing we have, for these brave men and women, and for our wonderful country... Dear soldiers your scrifices will not be in vain!

Baby talk

I had this all typed out and then I somehow it got erased. Just my luck. I will try again.

This week we received a wonderful gift. We are great grandparents again. A beautiful baby girl. 6 pounds, with a beautiful head of hair.

As I looked at her I could imagine Her saying her goodbyes to her Father in Heaven. Her conversation would have been something like this. "Thank you Father for all you have taught me, I am going to really miss you, but I am so thankful that you let me have the parents that I wanted. I know that they will be good to me and will try to teach me right from wrong. I know that they will love me and when they hear me cry they will know that I need them too. It will seem funny to see all of those people around me all wanting to get my attention. Grandmas, Grandpas, aunts and uncles.
If I wiggle one little finger or toe or give them the tiniest smile they will all say," oou and ahh, and will want to slobber on me. But that's ok. Ill get even with them when they try to burp me.
I'm sorry Heavenly father, I will try to remember the things you have taught me. I will just love them all. Are you ready for me to go? Can I hug you just once more?
Goodbye dear Father I will see you again when my journey is over. I'll try to make you proud.

Here
I
come.

I'm crying. pick me up, and love me, just as my Father in Heaven has loved me. Weee! I'm so excited!

Hello Mother and father!
and smile back at me.

Baby talk

rambling

It is one of those days when I don't know just what I want to talk about, but if I start writing maybe it will come to me. I'm feeling pretty serious today. Some pretty heavy things have been happening this week. In my calling in church, I have the responsibility seeing to the needs of the women of our little branch. There has been a lot of sickness. And some serious things to tend to. Tomorrow, four of us are going to clean a dear sisters house. Her husband is away right now and she is very Ill. So we want to see if we can help her to lift some of her burden.
I know that is what God would want us to do. There are so many people in the world that need a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, or a voice to be heard.

I have had the opportunity of sitting with people in the hospital to help them to be more calm, or less frightened and confused. I have prayed with then, I have laughed with them, and I have sung to them. If they wanted to play cards, we would do that.
Many have said I'm not crazy am I? And I assure them that their not. One dear elderly lady had been being abused at home, and was dieing. As I listened to her talk about her children, my heart sank for her. When I would comfort her she would smile. The nurse called her family to tell them she was slipping away. But no one cared. No one came. So I just held her hand and told her that her father in Heaven loved her and was waiting for her. She died peacefully.

I feel it is an honor to be of service. When I think of how much My savior has done for me. I want to lighten someone elses burden.

I want to thank all of you for your blogs. It is nice to hear what comes from the heart.

I have some new news. We have another darling colt. Hes a stallion. That makes eight now. And were loving it. Except for the hay bill.

I gave a talk in church this morning and it really hit home with me. All of our experiences are stepping stones to help us grow. Think back when you have been faced with a trial or even a special moment. Haven't you learned something from it. Maybe you learned more patience, or maybe how to forgive, Or to appreciate what God has given you. I am thankful for all of the trials I have had in my life. They have helped me to be a more compassionate person. It has helped me to understand It's not what a person looks like or how much money he or she has. Even a drunk or a homeless person has a heart. and sometimes a heart of pain, who just needs to be listened to.

Thank you for listening to my rambling tonight. It is just that my heart is so full.
My cup runneth over.
Stay blessed. Charlene

Hi, today, I heard a Chicken story about someone who is just as naive as I am.
A friend of mine told me about a man who was dating a new girl in town. She had never been in a farming community. She came from a big city.
He brought her a chicken and ask her if she would clean it. she said," sure I'd be glad to."
He left then came back later, to his amazement she was bathing the chicken in the bathtub. soap and all.

I had a chuckle over that.

Speaking of animals, I remembered a bull story. When I was young, one of the jobs I had on the farm was to bring the cows in from the pasture to be milked. I felt pretty proud of myself ,because I had a way of getting them to come without going clear down to the bottom of the pasture. I would bellow like a bull, with my MOO ! sounds and they would come. It worked great, until Dad bought a new bull.

As I approached the pasture I did my usual call, the cows were coming and so was the bull. His head was down,shaking from side to side , his feet were pawing the ground, and he was snorting.

He was answering my call. I think he thought I was competition. I scrambled out of the fence just in time. Had I have not made it I probably would have looked like a squashed pumpkin.

I went home crying to my dad, but he didn't believe me. I think he thought that I just wanted to get out of some work.

Every day I went through the same thing. I didn't bellow anymore, But that bull still didn't like me. The only way I could get those cows to come would be to stay out of the fence, and carry a big stick, All the while the bull would be doing his little ritual.

Several weeks later, one day dad was talking to his neighbor while feeding the cows in the corral . All of a sudden the neighbor hollered ! "Look out Elmer," dad turned, and the bull was coming right for him. He beat him off with the pitchfork. That very day he took the bull to the auction. I think he finally believed me.

Since that time of long ago, we have moved here to our new home, we took some friends out for a drive deep in the woods, one day. All of a sudden we came upon a few cows and a bull. I told them my bull story. And said, to my friend, lets try it and see if I still have the touch. So I showed her how to bellow. Low and behold the bull put his head down , pawed at the ground and started after the car. I guess I hadn't lost my touch.

So if you want a deer, a moose or a bull to come, make sure your not in competition
with its mate.

Have a good evening .... Charlene