MY MOST MEMORABLE ARE ABOUT MY FAITH

“You don’t know what you are asking of me! You want just three? THREE!?! Really? The most memorable? There are so many.”

I lean over and grab a file poking a little further out of the mental shelf. I hold it up shaking it. “See this file. This is just from my Freshman year of college and you want me to break down the most memorable moments… EVER?”

I disappear down the aisle labeled The Younger Years. File folders, video tapes, cassettes.. no DVD’s or CD’s down these aisles. Knick knacks are here and there. Teddy with one pale eye and one black is hanging out on one of the shelves. I’ll know it when I see it. Ah! There it is. My pink Precious Moments Bible with my name and a lamb on the front. I open it up to John Chapter 3.

On The Wings of a Dove

I had finally done it. My eyes were closed along with the rest of the Vacation Bible kids and I had raised my hands. I wanted to know Jesus. After the prayer was over, the kids who hadn’t raised their hands were herded out of the church. Miss Lynn came and sat next to me in the wooden pew and asked me if I would like to know about Jesus and told me how brave I was for raising my hand. She read from the Bible and showed me the scriptures of God’s Promise and Jesus’ sacrifice for me and the rest of world. I was so young and it was a lot to take in but I remembered John 3:16 from Sunday school. The big wooden cross that hung above the baptismal area seemed to glow a little brighter.She asked me if I understood and I shook my little head. With a smile, she said that we should pray and we scooted out of the pew and knelt on the floor. I laid my elbows on the red fabric of the cushion on the pew and brought my hands together like her. I closed my eyes and we prayed.We asked for forgiveness. We thanked the Lord. We asked for his blessing over me. With an AMEN, I felt God’s Love.

Closing the Bible, I set it back on the shelf. Now I have to look for the second Moment. I think I know where to look for this one. “It’s not going to be my favorite.” I say. It will make me sad, but it’s important. There is an aisle labeled hobbies. “You wouldn’t think it would be down this aisle, but it is.” There is a copy of a poem on the wall, I wrote years ago. An old fishing pole is propped up in the corner. Shoe boxes and books scattered everywhere.

“I really should organize this better, but I’m always digging through it for something else I need.” I say over my shoulder as I start looking through some shoe boxes. Then I see it. A red folder with not much in it which would probably not mean much to anyone else but I know what’s in it. I open the folder and there is a copy of I’ll Fly Away, Where the Roses Never Fade, On the Wings of a Dove, and some seeds of a flower my Great Grandmother had scattered around a local pond. Memories float up like fire flies, but I grab the one of the brightest and music starts to play.

Where the Roses Never Fade

A two hour car ride down to the final resting place. I have on the same blouse as I have worn to the others. It has become a part of these kinds of days. It’s so hard to say goodbye. I didn’t really get to. I came back and you had already flown away. You are the last of the Greats that I got to know. Ladies were first. Both of my Great Grandmothers left this earth and then Great Granddad left. You, Great Grandpa, were the last to go and it hurts so much more. I feel like a chapter has ended. I’m not ready for change.
 We all gather under the tent. Hickory has his arm around me and holds me close. I have cried until my eyes have gotten puffy but luckily I didn’t go into quite the hysterics like I did with Great Granddad. The pain is still the same though.
 We pray. They lower the casket. Like my Mother has allowed my sister and I to always do, we pick a couple of the roses from the arrangements. We can’t have our Great Grandparents back but we can hold on to the roses until they fade. We sing I’ll Fly Away and a slight breeze carries the tune over the cemetery. Goodbye for now, but not forever.

I let go of the memory and watch as it and the rest of the fireflies fly up into the rafters to be replaced by a sprinkling of rain. I stare at the wet spots on my shirt where it has made it darker in places. Sigh… Every storm runs out of rain, and then the flowers can bloom again another season. It’s a sad memory and one that still clings to me. Things have changed, but not all change it bad. “I’ve got one more to find for you.” I say and close the folder.

Back out of the aisle and into the hall. Again I talk aloud. “Now these memories seem like days ago, but this one feels like minutes. “Hard to believe it was back in…” There it is. “2010.” I walk right up shelf with the big W on the side. OSU orange and OU crimson patches on a quilt reside on one of the shelves but I reach past that for the photo album by the patent leather black and white boots and flip to the page I want. The whole room goes dark and I hear a machine start clicking real fast and a bright light comes on like a train is coming through. I turn my head and I’m transported…

Your Love is Extravagant

Dressed in white, we stand hand in hand. I look up into Hickory’s eyes and smile. My friend sings Casting Crowns on the steps while a guitar is being played.
 Our families are now our family. Moms and Grandparents lit my path and Daddy walked me down the aisle and now I have made a promise to this man. I love him so much and he must love me so much too, because he has also made a promise.
 The cross behind us seems to be glowing brighter.There are no words needed. This moment is je ne sais quoi. It’s intimate. It’s powerful. It’s the beginning of a brand new chapter.

A flash of a camera and all goes black. I hold the picture from the moment. “I could shut my eyes and live in that last moment forever. The happiness and joy of it all… But our love has grown.” I close the album and head back for the main desk to turn off the lamp. “Can’t stay in here too long. I’ve got plenty of other memories to make.”

With a wink and a smile…
~Kalamity

March 26, 2014 7

My Girl

I could get all ooshey gooshey over talking about ole Hickory but it seems like that is what I’ve been doing in a couple of other posts and I’m sure for those of you who have stuck around there has been a few eyes rolls. That is why today’s Daily Prompt, I would like to talk about my furry best friend. I can also blame my Sister-In-Law too.

We have another Jack Russell in our family. 🙂 Cassie’s cousin Penny is a cutie. I would like to also give a shoutout to her Stilly friend Louie. Whereever he is, we both hope he is giving them hell and playing ball.

Name: Cassie Rose

Breed: Jack-ed up Russell Terror *cough* I mean Terrier

Age: She’s 56 in dog years but she prefers 8 in human years.

How did we meet: She was a Christmas present for my boyfriend at the time. She ended up being my dog and turns out she was a keeper and he wasn’t. Ha! (On a side note: Probably not the best present for your bf/gf)

Describe how your love has changed over time: This is how a relationship goes with a Jack. Ecstatic because you have a puppy, Mommy mode kicks in when you have to train them, moments of rage over them getting into the trash and running away from you, moments of pride and joy when they are sleeping or behaving for a few seconds, hours of agony when they get loose a couple of times a year and you think they are lost forever, relief when you find them, companionship, and last but not least entertainment whether you want to entertain them or not. I don’t like to admit this but there has been times when I wonder how much longer I’m going to have to put up with her or really really want to ship her off in a box to my ex. Luckily those days don’t come as much as they used to in her old age. I think after her last dramatic experience of being lost, she has learned her lesson at running off too far although just last month I had to go pick her up around the block. I love my dog so much. I don’t know what I would do on the nights Hickory works without her.

Cute things she does: If she sees a ball, its game time. When I jingle my keys, she’s ready to load up. Her and I have this thing where she will be walking towards me and I will stop and stare at her and she knows it’s time to play. The famous head tilt when she is trying to figure you out or driving something crazy in the yard.

Things she hates: Vacuums are the enemy. She hates baths but still jumps in the tub when I’m taking a shower. Towels are also the enemy. Squirrels. Wheel of Fortune. When I hide the balls from her cause I don’t want to play anymore. Doorbell. Laser pointers and guns aren’t her thing either. Going out when it’s cold or rainy. Damn dog will not go pee in the rainy. She will actually hold it. Thunder.

Things she loves: Balls, her toys which manages to end up EVERYWHERE, cheese, I swear she likes the show Bitten. Peanut butter. When I jingle her food bowl. She doesn’t see them often but she knows when my parents come to the house and then they get to leave with her famous Jack White hair all over them. A good back rub which is probably about the only thing her and my husband have in common besides their distaste of each other.

I killed it Mama!!! (You shouldn't have...) — **I killed it Mama!!! (You shouldn’t have…)**

Things in common: We both yawn real big in the morning. We both love to travel. We both hate snakes and wasps. I run from them and she kills them. After I give her a bath, she manages to get water everywhere. I have been told I am notorious with a garden hose… We both love to snuggle under the covers although she is like a little oven. We prefer hot French fries, no cold ones. We both hate being alone. We have both lived in Louisiana for 3 months but we prefer Oklahoma. Country girls at heart.

We have so many stories that I plan on sharing later.

~Kalamity

March 18, 2014 8

Good Old Barn Raisin’

“I don’t know about you but I’ve had it up to here with the lot of them stubborn men.” I whispered to Little Britches as we walked back to where the men were putting the door onto the newly raised barn.

“I’m right there with you, Sister.” She said.

We showed up at first light to help with the barn raising. It was all hands on deck. Well, all male hands on deck. Evidently, the women had stayed home to prepare the lunches and we didn’t get the telegram. That may be because the only one at the ranch that was a man was Pops and he didn’t get to town too often. All 5 of us women had shown up in our britches ready to grab a hammer to find that we were grabbing buckets and ladles for water. Not that we didn’t mind fetching water, but that isn’t something that takes all day.

I think the men knew we wanted to help so in the morning, they gave their best to show how much they appreciated the water with a wink and a smile. All hollering one after another like a bunch of calves looking for milk. It was cute at first but now it was getting on my nerves. It helped a little that some weren’t bad to look at.

Little Britches asked. “Did you see who Ash was keeping hydrated?”

“Yea, I noticed. I wonder if that boy is wearing diapers or somethin’ cause I ain’t seen him take a break since he started.” I said.

I noticed alright. Ashley Oakley kept close to the crew Perry West was in. Those West brothers were a pleasant site for sore eyes, but they were so rude. Maybe I needed to have a little talk with her about that. The irony wasn’t lost on me on the fact that I had been fighting with their Dad for years over cutting off our water in the closest creek. Now we have to travel further out for water for our herd while they get to lap up all they want. Their Dad had passed away the year before but Tyler West made it clear he wasn’t going to do anything to help me out. The only time that the creek runs near the house is when it comes a toad strangler. It just ain’t right. What do they need with all that water?

Belle Starr and Mama K had volunteered to round up the women in the wagon around lunch time while us three stayed on and fetched water. We managed to sneak around and get a makeshift table setup for food. By the time they got back, we were all starving. We all rushed to help get all the women out of the wagon. I was nice and even helped Mrs. West down. It was her sons that were rude not her plus she made the best cobblers around.

We all sat down and dug in. Great food and good conversation sounded like a whirlwind. I was catching this and that bit of gossip in between talking to Little Britches about her latest project.

Belle Starr was talking low to the girl next to her and my ear soon turned to listen.

“I’m surprised to see Mrs. West out here.” Said the girl.

“Why’s that?” Belle Starr said.

“I heard she’s not been getting around so good. It takes all she can to get up out of bed in the morning.”

“Well I had no idea….” Belle continued on talking to the girl while I turned to check on Mrs. West. She did look a little more worn than her usual self. Tyler was sitting next to her with his arm around her shoulder. She gave him a tired smile. It must be hard not having that old man of hers around anymore.

“Kalamity?” Little Britches was nudging me.

With a scowl on my face, I looked at her. “WHAT?”

“Dang woman. Are you done with that?”

“Oh sorry. Yea, I’m done.”

“You okay?”

“Yea I just need to get some air before we start up again.”

I decided to go check on Pepper and see how he was doing hanging out in the pen. He hates pens. He really doesn’t need to be in one. He doesn’t stray too far away from me but since everyone else’s was in there so was he. I decided to fetch them some more water and maybe I’ll get him some hay while I’m at it.

The sun was shining bright so I kept my head down while I was heading to get some water when I hit a brick wall and ended up with my ass meeting the ground.

I started to laugh but when I turned to see who the wall was, my smile died and a scowl formed.

“Why don’t you watch where your going?” I said.

“Me?” Tyler said.

“Yea, you!” I said.

“You walked into me!”

I did the most unlady like stomp with my foot. “UNBELIEVABLE!” I said and stormed to fetch the water. I rubbed my ass when I thought I was out of his sight. I fetched the water and headed back to the pen. I gave Pepper a good pat on the neck and went to fetch some hay from the old barn. I made it to the second wrung when I heard the door creak open.

“What do you think you are doing?” He said.

At the sound of his voice, my jaw set hard and I turned and looked at him.

“I’m getting some hay for my horses. Last time I checked everyone was free to their fair share.” It was a jab but I figured it effective and proceeded to climb.

“Would you hold on a second?” Tyler came rushing over while I kept climbing. “I said wait!” He hollered but it was lost when my foot slipped and I ended up falling backwards. I let out a yip but he caught me before I hit the ground.

“Blast it, woman. I told you to wait and you won’t listen. You just think you can do anything. Don’t you?” He asked. I don’t think he realized he was holding me. He was too busy lecturing me. I, on the other hand, was very aware of his strong arms around me. This shirt was starting to feel a little too thin because I swear I could feel all his muscles flexing.

“Are you gonna answer me?” He asked.

“I’m fine.” I said. “If you will unhand me, I will get my hay and get out of your way.”

“You’re not in my way, Kalamity.” He uprighted me. “Are you sure you are alright?”

He almost looked concerned. That’s odd. I didn’t think he could have feelings. As if he would care for me. Now that was funny. Ha!

“I was fine till you showed up and made me fall.” I said and started back up the ladder. I made it to the second rung when a hand whirled me around.

“HEY!!! NOWYOUAREGONNAMAKEMEFALL!” I hollered at him.

“No, I am not! You stubborn, stubborn woman!!! I’ve already put out hay to the horses, including that ornery animal you call Pepper. Not only that but I threw down some more that I was coming back to get if you would open your eyes!”

I looked around and spotted the pile waiting to be taken to the horses and then back at him. Again, I find myself in such close proximity to him. I finally look him in the eye and say, “Oh.”

“Oh?” He tilts his head and his lips turn into a smile. My heart betrays me and does a flip flop. He looks adorable like that.

“Um, thanks.” I say and we both step off the ladder.

He runs his hands through his hair and says, “I think you aim to frustrate me.”

I laugh. “If you think I spend my whole day thinking about you, you have another thing coming.”

“You wound me.” He says and makes like he’s been shot. He scoops up most of the hay but I notice he makes sure and leaves me a small pile so I can carry something.

“You think you have me fooled by leaving me this pile.” I poke out my jaw and shoot him a matter of fact look from his pile to mine.

He stops right by the door and tilts his head again. My heart flip flops and I hope it isn’t written all over my face how handsome I am finding him right now.

“Dammit Kalamity.” He says and throws the hay on the ground.

Before I know whats happened, he’s kissing me and I’m KISSING HIM BACK!!! I pull back for a minute and look at him. I’m pissed but damn, he can kiss. I pull him back to me a little too hard to find my ass on the ground again but this time he rolls me over where we are on our sides. Those lips never left mine and they were so sweet. I couldn’t stop myself.

Well, I guess I could stop myself… I heard a giggle and then someone cleared their throat. Somehow we managed to make it to our feet and put distance between us but it was too late. There was no mistaking the hay in my hair and I think he was missing a button off his shirt.

Belle Starr stood in the door blushing at us while Little Britches just stared at me with a smirk.

Little Britches held her hand palm up towards Belle Starr and said “Pay up.”

If you enjoyed reading this, you can find the next part of this tale by clicking HERE. I have decided to write more on this and do so for entertainment purposes. I am in no way a professional writer so critiquing and encouragement are welcome.

~Kalamity

March 15, 2014 0

The Road Less Traveled

It was the hardest thing I had to do. Since I had left at the age of 18, HOME has been considered where my heart was. I would always call Mom and Dad’s home, but I knew I could end up living in another state and be happy as long as I loved doing what I was doing or loved whoever I was with. I saw myself as a potted plant being transplanted and setting up roots and adapting to my environment. I love traveling so as long as I got to come back and see Mom and Dad occasionally, I was doing good.

Still waters run the deepest…

I ended up working where I was going to school and loving what I did. It was unique. It was interesting and never dull. I loved it but something was missing. Like most of everyone, I wanted to find that person who would be a great companion, friend, partner, spouse.

In 2008, I was standing at one crossroads. I can see myself packing up my mental bags and stepping onto that chimerical gravel road. I had made up my mind. It just took a spark of something for me to get my feet moving down it. The harder path. The road less traveled. To live in one place, break up with the comfortable but pain in the ass that I was with, and start seeing or should I say talking to someone who lived a couple of hours away.

Pros and Cons

I laugh at the mention of this because a friend of mine brought up his own sort of list this weekend. I think we all make these out from time to time if not in our head. Putting them to pen and paper can really show us what paths to take and sometimes the best thing to do is to wad that list up and give it the finger. Life isn’t perfect and I have learned to love those imperfections.

Falling

Two years later would bring an even harder decision. We had made it through the hard struggles. The long distance didn’t cloud over the relationship we had built. We both would come running when there was a problem that needed fixing. We had fallen for one another, but I had also fallen for the job I had. I could see myself working there forever. So I made a list of everything.

Pros of Marrying him	Cons	Pros of Staying	Cons of Staying
I love him.	He hates my dog.	Love my Job	Faraway from family
He is a Christian.	How well do I know him?? Really…	Good benefits	All friends will leave when they graduate
Loves to fish and hunt	Won’t ever move from his hometown.	Awesome Boss and people I work with	No house… yet
We have a great time together and have a lot in common in general.	Lives with his parents	Work with Animals	Deal with College kids forever
Family loves him.	Not very independent	Could possibly be set for life on going to football games of my Favorite College Team	Traffic on Saturdays during the fall
Loves football	Loves OU football	Future Promotion offered if I stay	Boring Seminars
I like his family.	Not a country boy, doesn’t even own a pair of boots	Great places nearby like Hobby Lobby, and the lake for walking	Being grumpy from being lonely all the time
Friends like him.	Not chatty Cathy on the phone
Has a great job with great benefits	Drinks a little too much beer when we are out…

Looking at this now after 3 years have past, it looks completely stupid. A bunch has changed. I still think I left behind the best job I ever had but I wouldn’t change a thing. The moment that I laid those mental suitcases down next to imaginary mailbox that had my new address on it, I had found home. I just didn’t know it yet. I never doubted my relationship with him. The question lie in what waited as a career.

Leap of Faith

This list is just a bunch of CRAP now. Crap crap crap. The Pros are good on his side, but the cons were just dramatic details that I overexaggerated on. Sure he still hates my dog and loves OU, but he doesn’t kick my dog and keeps the smack talking to a minimum. He’s turned into quite the chatty husband and I still find myself shocked at him over little things. We have grown into this relationship. I took a big leap of Faith by leaving what I enjoyed and put roots into the ground instead of pots. One of the best decisions I have ever made. We have a nice home and I have a good job I enjoy. We still have challenges but we tackle those together. It’s always a group effort.

Good soil, good amount of sunlight, it rains when it needs to and a little when it doesn’t and just enough fertilizer.

~Kalamity

March 12, 2014 9

Bonjour!!!!!!!!!!

~Ashley Oakley

March 1, 2014 1

I’ve Still got the Beat, Grandpa

Daily Prompt: We Got the Beat

Have you ever played in a band? Tell us all about that experience of making music with friends. If you’ve never been in a band, imagine you’re forming a band with some good friends. What instrument do you play in the band and why? What sort of music will you play?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us PERFORMANCE.

Music has always been a big part of my life. I always enjoyed a good pickin’ and grinnin’ session. Dad would grab his guitar and Grandpa played a couple of different instruments. When I was growing up, they would play in church and then we would hang out at home playing O Danny Boy and John Denver. I loved it. I would clap and sing along with everyone else.
In 6th grade, I got to pick an instrument. I chose the flute. I think it was because it was what Mom and Dad could afford but I didn’t care. I liked it. 6th grade band was horrible but it was our first year. Grandpa made it all better though. He was so excited to be helping me practice and teaching me songs like When the Saints Go Marching In. It was so much fun to play with Grandpa and Dad.

In 7th grade, we ended up in high school band. Our school was a little weird and we really should have has another year but 7th grade was the best year in band. I made friends with upper classman. We did a parade and the most awesome Christmas and spring concert. The pieces of music were so hard but when we finally got to rock it, we really kicked butt. You would have thought we were playing in the big leagues.

Football season was also in its prime that year. We actually were going to State. We sat in the bleachers next to the fans and played We Got the Beat and Hang on Sloopy. Our band director would rock out this solo during part of Hang on Sloopy. It always blew everyone away. He could play a mean sax. We ended the football season with our tails between our legs and a busted drum head but it was totally worth it.

Basketball season was just as good if not better. With the acoustics of the gym and getting out of class a little early to make it to the gym for the home games that were during class, we jammed out to those too. Pep rallies were pretty awesome too.

When that year was over, it was like the music really had died. The football team stunk after that. The band director left for greener pastures. There just wasn’t the same heart.

I stayed in band until midway through high school. I had a disagreement with the band director. Her strict fundamentals and marching band mentality drove the soul of why I was in band out.

It was my Grandpa and Dad that kept me playing. We played every time we would go see my Grandpa. Any chance to grab my flute and play… Mom bought me a better one off eBay. She was so proud and I was even prouder. We played in the talent show my Grandpa, Dad, and I. I played in my Grandpa’s band called the Joyful Heart at church and even at a nursing home.
When tornado season came, it was no longer my child hood teddy bear that needed protecting. I would grab my flute and head to the cellar. I think my Mom and Dad looked at me with approval. I had a real passion for playing the flute. I could play the drums and oboe, but drums weren’t as fun and Mom would always start looking for the 12 gauge when I played the Oboe. It wasn’t that I could play some magical piece like some of the great flute players. I can’t even name one. It was the feeling of being with the ones I love and being a part of something.

We were making memories. Memories that I didn’t realize would be the best gift ever. Grandpa flew away a couple of years ago. I taught myself a little of the guitar this past year and plan on working on it some more this year but I still love to grab the simple music book Grandpa let me borrow and play a song or two.

I hope generations after me can find the soul of the music like I have.
It really is priceless.

I’ve still got the beat, Grandpa.

Love,
Kalamity

February 25, 2014 9

Made With Love, Always

Daily Prompt: Ingredients

What’s the one item in your kitchen you can’t possibly cook without? A spice, your grandma’s measuring cup, instant ramen — what’s your magic ingredient, and why?

Photographers, artists, poets: show us KITCHEN.

A little dash of this and a tablespoon of that and ta-da! Something tasty is waiting to be eaten.

My Great Grandparents made big pots of potato soup, and goulash. It was always wonderful. The potatoes were cut to the perfect size and seasoned just right. Same with the goulash, everything tasted wonderful and like Christmas morning. They didn’t care what you added to it either. It probably didn’t need it but crackers or ketchup were always handy adding another layer of flavor. They also made pecan pies. They made their own crust and the filling was never runny. Everything they made tasted perfect, even scrambled eggs!

I wish I could cook like that. I think on most days that I am a good cook. Hickory’s plate is usually what he calls a happy plate when he is done eating. A happy plate is a clean plate. I know I have really done good when he goes back for seconds.

My Great Grandparents seemed to have one common thing when they were cooking. They cooked with LOVE. The big pots of soup were made with consideration that visitors would be by and they would be bringing their company and appetite. Together they would cook. Great Granddad cutting the potatoes and Great Grandma stirring the pot. Great Grandma would have her soaps on in the living room and Great Grandpa would be whistling a tune. Somebody may be sitting in the dining room and petting one of Great Grandma’s cats that had wandered in from the sunroom in the back. Plants hanging in the bay window. One of the Grandkids would be playing in the front yard. Conversation was always entertaining and there was never a lull in it. It was all filled with LOVE. The cooking, the baking, the conversations, and the rooms were all filled with LOVE.

My Great Grandparents passed away a few years ago, so all that remains are the fond memories I have. The house had become a hollow cave. The front yard looks like something Boo Radley would claim. It hurts to look upon it.

When I married, my husband, I gained a new Grandmother-In-Law. She is a sweet lady who likes to make things from scratch just like my Great Grandparents and reminds me of them. When we first got married, I asked her to teach me to make Hickory’s favorite pie, coconut cream. The experience took me back. I learned how to make my own crust and with it, I could feel my Great Grandparents smiling down at me to be learning something that they loved to make also.

My one ingredient that I love to make anything with is LOVE. It’s the most powerful ingredient. It doesn’t matter how simple or complex the dish is, it is always made with love. I think of my Great Grandparents and I can feel them approving of my main ingredient. Hickory will help me sometimes and he will whistle for a couple of seconds and I can’t help but smile thinking that my Great Granddad is whistling with him.

~Kalamity