I got to go to church at Western Hill Baptist Church in Victoria last night. I did not get there in time for the morning service but I got to make it for the prayer time and the evening service. It is good to see old friends still serving the Lord. Ray Robinson was the first to se me and he did not recognize me right away. Then Wilma Parish came up behind me and called me by name. As I talked with Ray she went to get the pastor. As he came around the corner I said, “That’s no fair. I didn’t get to surprise you.” “Oh yes you did.” He just stared at me and said, Tim Kline. What are you doing here? Are there any more out in the van?”
Some were taken aback by my new hairstyle but on the whole everyone recognized me. Randy Magaro still leads the singing. Earnie and Maryanne are back in church; Arianna is ten years old. Bro Wayne is still strong and clear thinking. He told me he recognized me before Pastor announced who I was. Alice Corbin was there but John was away visiting his son. I think there were three or four families I did not recognize. We had a great time after church sharing the pictures Mama had sent with me. Pastor, Wilma, Cindy Smith and Martha Robinson had so many questions that I wished Mama was there as much as they did. It was good. I am glad I got to go.
As I showed up for class this morning I saw a person who looked familiar but I was not sure. As we stared at each other he asked my name. I responded with, “Are you Steve Whiddon?” Yes I am and you are Tim Kline.” My hair threw him off. His weight threw me off. I told him he is half the man I once knew. And he told me he was exactly half; he has lost 162# since a stomach bypass surgery last year. He looks very different but he is the same Steve Whiddon we all knew almost a decade ago. He told me he has three canoes in his back yard gathering dust waiting on us to come back and put them to use.
He sat with me in the class today. It consisted largely of calculations on mud flow and density to operate a well. He has been through the class seven times and it is thoroughly confusing. So, true to his character, I had a private tutor. The instructors pretty much left him alone to keep me up to speed. It was almost enjoyable.
I have to take the pictures for him tomorrow.
Subscribe!
Posts
All Comments
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
News
I contacted the bank officer we have been in contact with concerning the farm to let him know of the changes in our credit report and he suggested that we run the numbers after some minor updates. He and I spoke about 10 a.m. with one question and he said he would get back to me in the afternoon. I did not mention to Mama that he would call me back the same day – just in case. She was ecstatic that he was willing to push the loan application through again.
True to his word he called me back as I was heading from Guymon, Ok back to Borger. He said the loan was approved and we could contact our realtor to make the offer. Mama was even more excited about that. Grandpa and Grandma were floored by how quickly the answer came back. I was more surprised by how pleased the bank officer (Kody King) was when he had positive news for us. We both felt like it was a major accomplishment.
So the paperwork is in the realtor’s inbox as of 05:45 a.m. this morning. Now we pray for the negotiation process to go quickly. I am praying they accept our offer as is, but I am willing to negotiate – up to a point. The farm is being sold out of an estate, so there are multiple persons involved. We are hoping since this is the only offer they have had in almost two years that they will be willing to take it. That might give us some indication where God is on this. We’ll see.
Cori and Nate are deep into the moving process. The house smells of fresh paint – so I am told. I am excited for them. So the low down on moves is, Brittany is moving, Cori and Nate are moving, Becky and Charles will be moving, Grandma, Grandpa and Victoria will be moving. Hopefully Mama and I will be moving also. Lastly, Chase will be moving to New Jersey in January of next year – temporarily; a family on the move.
I will be in Victoria, TX all next week so I am pressed for the time to do all the required spreadsheets and project updated that this job requires before the middle of the month, but I think I will make it. Nothing will be late, but it may not be as early as some are used to. Due to the size and required access of some of the files I maintain, I have to be on the company intranet to manipulate and update them, so I have to be in a COP office to work them; part of the challenges of the job.
I am headed to Elk City, OK today to do my last mid-year review within my group. That will take five to six hours out of the day so I may have to be here late in the evening to finalize all the updates, but it should all work out. Mama is forewarned.
Grandma made beans and fried cabbage for us for dinner last night so it may be better for me to be out of the office today anyway.
True to his word he called me back as I was heading from Guymon, Ok back to Borger. He said the loan was approved and we could contact our realtor to make the offer. Mama was even more excited about that. Grandpa and Grandma were floored by how quickly the answer came back. I was more surprised by how pleased the bank officer (Kody King) was when he had positive news for us. We both felt like it was a major accomplishment.
So the paperwork is in the realtor’s inbox as of 05:45 a.m. this morning. Now we pray for the negotiation process to go quickly. I am praying they accept our offer as is, but I am willing to negotiate – up to a point. The farm is being sold out of an estate, so there are multiple persons involved. We are hoping since this is the only offer they have had in almost two years that they will be willing to take it. That might give us some indication where God is on this. We’ll see.
Cori and Nate are deep into the moving process. The house smells of fresh paint – so I am told. I am excited for them. So the low down on moves is, Brittany is moving, Cori and Nate are moving, Becky and Charles will be moving, Grandma, Grandpa and Victoria will be moving. Hopefully Mama and I will be moving also. Lastly, Chase will be moving to New Jersey in January of next year – temporarily; a family on the move.
I will be in Victoria, TX all next week so I am pressed for the time to do all the required spreadsheets and project updated that this job requires before the middle of the month, but I think I will make it. Nothing will be late, but it may not be as early as some are used to. Due to the size and required access of some of the files I maintain, I have to be on the company intranet to manipulate and update them, so I have to be in a COP office to work them; part of the challenges of the job.
I am headed to Elk City, OK today to do my last mid-year review within my group. That will take five to six hours out of the day so I may have to be here late in the evening to finalize all the updates, but it should all work out. Mama is forewarned.
Grandma made beans and fried cabbage for us for dinner last night so it may be better for me to be out of the office today anyway.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Back to work, big changes. Is it God or not?
It was not as hard as I thought to get up at 4 a.m. What was hard was staying awake on the drive to the office. I have not made the commute in almost three weeks and it was more of a struggle this morning than I remember it being in a long time, but I made it. I have some catch-up items to take care of then I will be on my way to Guymon to visit with the ladies there.
It is time for mid-year reviews and the paperwork has to be completed before the 15th of the month. With me out of the office next week it compresses my schedule significantly which is why all three working days of this week are travel days also. It is much more fun when Mama is with me but on these four hour round trips to my offices in Oklahoma it is difficult to include her. She will enjoy a full day with the boys today.
Stopping by the farm yesterday helped to reaffirm our desire to buy it. Grandpa found another property in the area for a really good price so Mama and I went to look at it yesterday – maybe as a Plan B. It was overgrown with mesquite trees with very little open ground. Not what we are looking for at this time; another affirmation that the farm on Van Bebber Road is worth pursuing. Also, as Mama and I looked yesterday she saw some elderberry plants growing next to the house, something I have been researching to grow in the area. It’s fun to pursue a dream.
There are some major changes on the horizon, personally as well as corporately. Mama and I are trying to prepare for them as best we are able. The new leadership I will have to adapt to at work and the renewed hope of relocation to Decatur are two of the changes we are preparing for. Buying the farm and relocating Grandma, Grandpa and Victoria is another biggie. Chase moving to New Jersey to finish his senior year is another one. He is trying to get the paperwork together for getting his driver’s license prior to the move so he can get himself around once he is there; an idea I am struggling with - insurance and experience wise. Finding a good church in the Bowie area is another major change we are working on. Sometimes it seems a little much, but it will be worth the effort to do all the preparation work even if it is some time before we get to implement our plans.
As I was talking to Grandma and Grandpa Kline about the farm I said that even if we are able to buy this farm it may be several years before we really know that it was the Lord who orchestrated the plan. So many times we convince ourselves that God is doing things we are greatly in favor of only to later find out it may not have been Him after all. Only in hindsight, licking our wounds do we realize how many warnings we ignored in our rush to do what we wanted.
I realize that getting approved for a loan is not necessarily God’s approval of our plan; although in our present circumstances, it could certainly lead us to that conclusion. We will only be certain it is God through careful, earnest prayer and, if we get the farm, through thoughtful application of the plan we feel has been given to us as we prepare. God’s blessings are without sorrows – the deep sorrows that come when we realize we have made a serious financial mistake by being led by our own desires. Things can look so right when in fact we have missed God completely.
Time will tell. For now, we press prayerfully, carefully forward.
It is time for mid-year reviews and the paperwork has to be completed before the 15th of the month. With me out of the office next week it compresses my schedule significantly which is why all three working days of this week are travel days also. It is much more fun when Mama is with me but on these four hour round trips to my offices in Oklahoma it is difficult to include her. She will enjoy a full day with the boys today.
Stopping by the farm yesterday helped to reaffirm our desire to buy it. Grandpa found another property in the area for a really good price so Mama and I went to look at it yesterday – maybe as a Plan B. It was overgrown with mesquite trees with very little open ground. Not what we are looking for at this time; another affirmation that the farm on Van Bebber Road is worth pursuing. Also, as Mama and I looked yesterday she saw some elderberry plants growing next to the house, something I have been researching to grow in the area. It’s fun to pursue a dream.
There are some major changes on the horizon, personally as well as corporately. Mama and I are trying to prepare for them as best we are able. The new leadership I will have to adapt to at work and the renewed hope of relocation to Decatur are two of the changes we are preparing for. Buying the farm and relocating Grandma, Grandpa and Victoria is another biggie. Chase moving to New Jersey to finish his senior year is another one. He is trying to get the paperwork together for getting his driver’s license prior to the move so he can get himself around once he is there; an idea I am struggling with - insurance and experience wise. Finding a good church in the Bowie area is another major change we are working on. Sometimes it seems a little much, but it will be worth the effort to do all the preparation work even if it is some time before we get to implement our plans.
As I was talking to Grandma and Grandpa Kline about the farm I said that even if we are able to buy this farm it may be several years before we really know that it was the Lord who orchestrated the plan. So many times we convince ourselves that God is doing things we are greatly in favor of only to later find out it may not have been Him after all. Only in hindsight, licking our wounds do we realize how many warnings we ignored in our rush to do what we wanted.
I realize that getting approved for a loan is not necessarily God’s approval of our plan; although in our present circumstances, it could certainly lead us to that conclusion. We will only be certain it is God through careful, earnest prayer and, if we get the farm, through thoughtful application of the plan we feel has been given to us as we prepare. God’s blessings are without sorrows – the deep sorrows that come when we realize we have made a serious financial mistake by being led by our own desires. Things can look so right when in fact we have missed God completely.
Time will tell. For now, we press prayerfully, carefully forward.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Decatur, the boys, Becky’s house
It is always pleasant to be in Decatur and now that the tension is gone between me and my peer here who is in charge of this office it is even more enjoyable. Mama and I had a leisurely drive over. It seems to be a quick trip even though it is almost five hours each way. As we drove over yesterday the temperature went as high as 110 degrees. I would say “in the shade” but there is almost no shade available until you get close to Wichita Falls.
Mama is a little displaced today since there is not enough time to do any of the big things she would like to do; visit banks and see what they are like, look at other properties in the area, shop in Denton, etc. She will have to pick me up around 2 p.m. and it is already almost 10 a.m. So she is taking the morning off, reading her Bible and napping – at least that is what she is trying to do.
We had a slow and enjoyable evening last night. We ate dinner and went to Wal-Mart for some necessities. After that we went to tractor Supply and started looking at the book rack. We were there a while looking at some books we will need to study when we start raising animals on the farm. One book was specific to miniature animals – goats, pigs, cattle, horses, donkeys, lamas and dogs to name a few. It was interesting to read and even glancing through it gave us some good ideas. It made me feel good knowing how to show a woman a good time.
Becky called last night to tell us she and Charles were buying a house. I do not know the details but she is excited at the prospect. It sounds like a good move for them and I hope it works out well. At least it will fit their budget well.
Victoria is with the boys today. Chase is in the house but I do not think he will be much help. She is really good with the three of them. I think they will miss the extra cuddles and kisses without Mama there but for the day they should be good. Yesterday was the first time the boys had been with Mama since we went on vacation and Mama was a little worried about losing the routine.
She worried in vain. The boys were all delighted to see her and Victoria. Trace walked sleepily out of Victoria’s room (where he had been sleeping since being dropped off at 5:30 a.m.), hugged Mama and said, “I missed you Mama Kim.” It made her day.
The contents of the toy box were scattered around the room in short order and the letters on the fridge were rearranged as soon as breakfast was over. It was business as usual. The baby slept for four hours after his morning feeding. He loves our bed! It was a little hard for Mama to leave yesterday afternoon so we could come over here.
We will probably only see the farm in passing as we head home. Bummer!
Mama is a little displaced today since there is not enough time to do any of the big things she would like to do; visit banks and see what they are like, look at other properties in the area, shop in Denton, etc. She will have to pick me up around 2 p.m. and it is already almost 10 a.m. So she is taking the morning off, reading her Bible and napping – at least that is what she is trying to do.
We had a slow and enjoyable evening last night. We ate dinner and went to Wal-Mart for some necessities. After that we went to tractor Supply and started looking at the book rack. We were there a while looking at some books we will need to study when we start raising animals on the farm. One book was specific to miniature animals – goats, pigs, cattle, horses, donkeys, lamas and dogs to name a few. It was interesting to read and even glancing through it gave us some good ideas. It made me feel good knowing how to show a woman a good time.
Becky called last night to tell us she and Charles were buying a house. I do not know the details but she is excited at the prospect. It sounds like a good move for them and I hope it works out well. At least it will fit their budget well.
Victoria is with the boys today. Chase is in the house but I do not think he will be much help. She is really good with the three of them. I think they will miss the extra cuddles and kisses without Mama there but for the day they should be good. Yesterday was the first time the boys had been with Mama since we went on vacation and Mama was a little worried about losing the routine.
She worried in vain. The boys were all delighted to see her and Victoria. Trace walked sleepily out of Victoria’s room (where he had been sleeping since being dropped off at 5:30 a.m.), hugged Mama and said, “I missed you Mama Kim.” It made her day.
The contents of the toy box were scattered around the room in short order and the letters on the fridge were rearranged as soon as breakfast was over. It was business as usual. The baby slept for four hours after his morning feeding. He loves our bed! It was a little hard for Mama to leave yesterday afternoon so we could come over here.
We will probably only see the farm in passing as we head home. Bummer!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Travel again, celebration activities
Mama and I will be traveling again today. I have business in Decatur on Wednesday and will have to be there early in the morning to make things work out. I am technically off today since it is the second of the two holiday days we get off for Independence Day, so we can travel at our leisure. It will give us some time together before I have to go back to work for real and before I am gone for a week next week.
We got the boys for the first time since we got back from vacation and Mama was up feeding the baby when I rolled lazily out of bed. He has grown so much it is almost hard to believe. At his current rate of growth Mama will have a hard time carrying him around very soon; good thing Victoria is here to help. By the way, Victoria got up at a little after 5 a.m. to get the boys from their father who has to be at work at 5:45 a.m. This ought to be an interesting babysitting job for Mama and her.
Since all fireworks were cancelled in the county, the City of Amarillo scheduled a laser light show coordinated to the live music of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. It was a good show. I’m glad of that because we got to the park at about 7:30 and waited until about 9:45 for the show to begin. The orchestra played a short concert of theme songs and patriotic numbers prior to the light show so we had some entertainment, but it was a long wait.
Grandma liked the orchestra. She pronounced her blessing on them; having heard” lots and lots” of orchestras perform, she felt like they were one of the best she had ever heard. I am sure they will appreciate her recommendation and praise. At least we all enjoyed it. Grandpa said this adventure counted as his once a year outing, so Grandma had better enjoy it. I was happy we were able to get out of the crowd so quickly – and it was a big crowd. The police in Amarillo did a great job of traffic control.
Yesterday I cooked ribs, burgers, hotdogs, chicken and turkey burgers. Mama made baked beans, macaroni salad and slaw. Grandma made chili for the hotdogs. I am discovering that I can’t eat like that anymore. Bummer!
We got the boys for the first time since we got back from vacation and Mama was up feeding the baby when I rolled lazily out of bed. He has grown so much it is almost hard to believe. At his current rate of growth Mama will have a hard time carrying him around very soon; good thing Victoria is here to help. By the way, Victoria got up at a little after 5 a.m. to get the boys from their father who has to be at work at 5:45 a.m. This ought to be an interesting babysitting job for Mama and her.
Since all fireworks were cancelled in the county, the City of Amarillo scheduled a laser light show coordinated to the live music of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. It was a good show. I’m glad of that because we got to the park at about 7:30 and waited until about 9:45 for the show to begin. The orchestra played a short concert of theme songs and patriotic numbers prior to the light show so we had some entertainment, but it was a long wait.
Grandma liked the orchestra. She pronounced her blessing on them; having heard” lots and lots” of orchestras perform, she felt like they were one of the best she had ever heard. I am sure they will appreciate her recommendation and praise. At least we all enjoyed it. Grandpa said this adventure counted as his once a year outing, so Grandma had better enjoy it. I was happy we were able to get out of the crowd so quickly – and it was a big crowd. The police in Amarillo did a great job of traffic control.
Yesterday I cooked ribs, burgers, hotdogs, chicken and turkey burgers. Mama made baked beans, macaroni salad and slaw. Grandma made chili for the hotdogs. I am discovering that I can’t eat like that anymore. Bummer!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Independence Day
Our pastor has been very careful to not refer to today as the 4th of July but rather as Independence Day. Like Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving, the memory represented in the day has been lost. It has become another day off with picnics and celebrations rather than a day in which we think about what we have been given in the country we live in. God bless the United States of America!
Don’t get me wrong, I have the day off and we will have a barbeque over at Grandma and Grandpa’s house – complete with multiple lectures on varied and unrelated topics – but I hope in the distractions not to forget what the day should be; a remembrance of the cost of the freedoms we have in America and that if we are not constantly vigilant both without and within, how quickly we will lose those freedoms.
Yesterday we told the story of Jonah to the little ones in our Primary Church. When the prophet Jonas was unceremoniously vomited up by a large fish on the shore of Nineveh, it seemed the people of that great city nation were ready to hear what he had to say. I do not believe God has any such miracle in store for us today in America. We are more like the story told of the man who sat on the roof of his flooded house as the waters rose ever higher praying for God to rescue him. Having rejected the help of a man in a canoe, a rescue boat, and a helicopter, expecting something more miraculous to happen, he eventually drowned. When he questioned God about not answering his prayer and letting him drown, God pointed out that He had sent help three times while he had wanted something more Heavenly.
We have been warned. If we do not speak up, no one will. If we lose what we have it will not be the fault of God. He has given us ample opportunity to reverse the course of self-destruction our country has been on. One voice, one home, one church, one city, one county, one state at a time we can initiate the required changes, but it all starts with you and me and our proper relationship with God. I think he is interested in helping, but He is waiting for us to begin the process in earnest.
Enjoy the day. Enjoy the freedom. Then ask God where you need to begin to get involved protecting the freedoms we all enjoy.
Don’t get me wrong, I have the day off and we will have a barbeque over at Grandma and Grandpa’s house – complete with multiple lectures on varied and unrelated topics – but I hope in the distractions not to forget what the day should be; a remembrance of the cost of the freedoms we have in America and that if we are not constantly vigilant both without and within, how quickly we will lose those freedoms.
Yesterday we told the story of Jonah to the little ones in our Primary Church. When the prophet Jonas was unceremoniously vomited up by a large fish on the shore of Nineveh, it seemed the people of that great city nation were ready to hear what he had to say. I do not believe God has any such miracle in store for us today in America. We are more like the story told of the man who sat on the roof of his flooded house as the waters rose ever higher praying for God to rescue him. Having rejected the help of a man in a canoe, a rescue boat, and a helicopter, expecting something more miraculous to happen, he eventually drowned. When he questioned God about not answering his prayer and letting him drown, God pointed out that He had sent help three times while he had wanted something more Heavenly.
We have been warned. If we do not speak up, no one will. If we lose what we have it will not be the fault of God. He has given us ample opportunity to reverse the course of self-destruction our country has been on. One voice, one home, one church, one city, one county, one state at a time we can initiate the required changes, but it all starts with you and me and our proper relationship with God. I think he is interested in helping, but He is waiting for us to begin the process in earnest.
Enjoy the day. Enjoy the freedom. Then ask God where you need to begin to get involved protecting the freedoms we all enjoy.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Grandma and Grandpa Kline
We finished early yesterday so I was on my way to see Grandma and Grandpa Kline by 9:30 a.m. I had to stop several times to take phone calls so I got there about 11 a.m. We spent a lot of time talking and I showed them the farm on Google maps so they could see what I was talking about when I described it to them.
Grandma is doing very well even thought the doctors say she has a slight heart murmur. Grandpa is doing okay I suppose although he looks like he is loosing muscle mass pretty quickly. They are driving to Indiana next week to attend a series of conferences they go to every year. The conference is sponsored by the Church of God – mostly the Black Evangelical arm of the ministries. My parents have become a patriarch of the ministries and will be missed when they are no longer able to travel.
They are talking about going to visit “elderly” friends in central Florida late in the summer. Raymond and Elnamay Hastings are both heading toward their ninety fourth birthday. I remember the Hastings when they traveled with us in our month long drive through Central America. At that time they were retired missionaries who had established numerous works in central Mexico. All my memories of them are humorous and pleasant.
We shared hotel rooms with them when we were between mission stations or missionary homes. I remember on the first night that Bro. Hastings lay on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head and Sister Hastings snuggled against him practically laying her head in his arm pit. She sweetly explained, “This is how I always go to sleep.” I was thoroughly disgusted. I have since changed my mind on that.
I took Grandma and Grandpa out to lunch, which was their dinner, about 3 p.m. We went to a Mexican restaurant that they know well and the waiter did not even need to write down their order. It is nearly the same every time they come. The last time I visited with them I took them out to breakfast and the waitress brought out their orders as she brought the coffee, then asked me for my selection. So much for variety being the spice of life.
The problem is that I can see Mama and I doing the same thing – especially if we move to Bowie where the selection of restaurants is limited. We are thirty plus years behind them but I know that when we go to a familiar eatery, though Mama may take a long time to study the menu, there is little variation in her selection. If the menus are limited in our later years, our choices may be fairly set also. We can just wave and say “the usual” to whoever may welcome us. I could actually be good.
The bottom line is Grandma and Grandpa are getting along well doing what they are doing. Mentally and spiritually they are in great shape, physically their years are beginning to tattle on them. It was a fun visit.
I am not sure how much longer my dad will be with us – neither is my mom. I am happy to be closer right now.
Grandma is doing very well even thought the doctors say she has a slight heart murmur. Grandpa is doing okay I suppose although he looks like he is loosing muscle mass pretty quickly. They are driving to Indiana next week to attend a series of conferences they go to every year. The conference is sponsored by the Church of God – mostly the Black Evangelical arm of the ministries. My parents have become a patriarch of the ministries and will be missed when they are no longer able to travel.
They are talking about going to visit “elderly” friends in central Florida late in the summer. Raymond and Elnamay Hastings are both heading toward their ninety fourth birthday. I remember the Hastings when they traveled with us in our month long drive through Central America. At that time they were retired missionaries who had established numerous works in central Mexico. All my memories of them are humorous and pleasant.
We shared hotel rooms with them when we were between mission stations or missionary homes. I remember on the first night that Bro. Hastings lay on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head and Sister Hastings snuggled against him practically laying her head in his arm pit. She sweetly explained, “This is how I always go to sleep.” I was thoroughly disgusted. I have since changed my mind on that.
I took Grandma and Grandpa out to lunch, which was their dinner, about 3 p.m. We went to a Mexican restaurant that they know well and the waiter did not even need to write down their order. It is nearly the same every time they come. The last time I visited with them I took them out to breakfast and the waitress brought out their orders as she brought the coffee, then asked me for my selection. So much for variety being the spice of life.
The problem is that I can see Mama and I doing the same thing – especially if we move to Bowie where the selection of restaurants is limited. We are thirty plus years behind them but I know that when we go to a familiar eatery, though Mama may take a long time to study the menu, there is little variation in her selection. If the menus are limited in our later years, our choices may be fairly set also. We can just wave and say “the usual” to whoever may welcome us. I could actually be good.
The bottom line is Grandma and Grandpa are getting along well doing what they are doing. Mentally and spiritually they are in great shape, physically their years are beginning to tattle on them. It was a fun visit.
I am not sure how much longer my dad will be with us – neither is my mom. I am happy to be closer right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
