Quotes June 2015

"When you betray somebody else, you also betray yourself." - Isaac Bashevis

3 Oak Memories!

The Crops:

There was a plum tree right outside the gate and it had The best plums in the whole entire world.  I loved them so much.  Once when Wayne went to Louisiana, Sant went up there and picked me a shoe box full and sent them to me in WA State.  Inside the gate to the left was the a small section of ground that led to the field.  Between there and the field was an apple tree.  Crab apples, I would say.  I remember potatoes being in the small section.  Then (still on the left side of the house), there were peanuts.  I remember the shocks, how wet the peanuts were when you pulled them up.  That part of the field was pretty big and sometimes there were peas there and there were always peas in the next section.  The next section that went all the way to the woods was the cane field.  Sorghum cane.  This was a huge section and seems to have been where we spent most of our time working.  We planted, later kept the grass chopped out until the cane was fully grown.  After it was completely grown, we stripped it. That means one cane stalk at a time until the whole field was done and that means taking the leaves off the stalks.  These leaves were sharp and would cut your hands, arms, etc.  After it was all stripped, they were cut down, loaded onto trucks and taken to the mill. At the mill the cane was pressed (somehow. I don't remember this part too much) and the cane juice was cooked into syrup.  The syrup was put into tin buckets. Some were later sold and some were available for breakfast biscuits. :)  Further down in the field on the left side, I remember a small section of cane.
On the right side of the house was Mama's garden.  All I can remember for sure that was in the garden is peppers and sweet potatos or yams.  I believe this is where the greens were also.  Behind the house was an area where Mama grew her okra and squash.  It was huge and she would send me to cut it some mornings.  The crops in the back and on the right side that I remember were watermelons, corn and deep in the back was the ribbon cane.  Its leaves were way sharper than the sorghum. There were watermelons that were huge and I've never tasted better anywhere else. This is what I remember about the crops.

There were the pear trees in the back and one or two of the trees had the best pears I've ever tasted.  There was a huge pecan tree with tiny pecans.  They were good, but the effort to open them was not worth it sometimes because they were so small. :)  There were peach trees on each side of the garden and they were very good.  Sometimes I will take a peach, smell it and try to recreate that memory.  None smell or taste the same.  Living on the farm was difficult.  The work was hard and the sun was hot.  There was a lack of modern conveniences and although many don't think of Louisiana as a state that has cold winters, it was very cold.  We had mules and chickens.  There was a horse that I liked to brush everyday.  Mama also would raise calves and sometimes baby chicks.

Sunday Mornings:

I always welcomed the sounds and smells of Sunday Mornings.  Mama would be cooking her big fluffy biscuits.  There was the home grown bacon and drippings to go with the rice and eggs.  Of course we had syrup that we helped produce.  None better.  The sounds I'll never forget.  Daddy would have his radio on the station from Shreveport and you could hear the service from (I believe) Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.  The pastor was Rev Blake and no one sang "Guide Me Over" better.  It's where Thomas learned to love the song and knew every verse and why I asked it be sung at his funeral.  Gospel would be playing on that station when we left for church.  I even remember the static that was a part of that broadcast.  People always showed up before church to talk to Daddy who would be sitting on the porch after breakfast with his radio next to him.  Mr. Sam Williams always walked there from his house and you could hear him singing "A Charge To Keep I Have" as he entered the gate and as he left.  Aunt Fannie and Aunt Theo would stop by on their way.  Several others would come by before and after church.  Some days we ran out to get on Uncle Porter's bus to ride around the community as he picked up members and brought them to church.  We'd sit on the back seat and act like total Bells, which means we laughed a lot and sung a lot. :) (To be continued)

Random Music June 2015!

July Birthdays & Dates To Remember!

JULY 2015


Las Jr. & Candice - July 18th
Kamasi - July 19th
Tommie (TT) & Kimberly - July 21st

Wallace & Charisse's 33rd Wedding Anniversary - July 31st

Happy Birthday, Vata!

Congratulations, Carl!

Condolences To Sissy!

To: Sissy and family

Your uncles and aunts share with you in the loss of your sister. May your time spent with her bring you joy. You followed your mother's advice and you know the 2 things that she asked of you. One was to look after Margaret. YOU DID THAT, Melinda. No one could have done it better. May your memories of her give you peace at this time. We, your Family loves you and are here for you.

Las, Jean, Mattie, Vata, Billie, Wallace, Glen and Rikki

Sharing Links! June 2015!

http://www.shoprite.com/product-recalls/

http://www.msnbc.com/watch/ceo-pays-for-workers-kids-college-tuition-454053955831

https://medium.com/@WhiteHouse/behind-the-lens-photographing-an-american-hero-e9ef4517520c

http://foodmatters.tv/content/10-signs-you-need-more-hydration

You may wish to have your children or grandchildren write one of these. Perhaps, you might even do one for yourself right now, and then again 10 years from now. It would be fascinating to look back on each year to help us picture 'where our minds were at' at any given point of time. Here is the poem template, so you can do the exercise. Enjoy this activity that examines the mind and warms the heart. 

'I Am' Poem

I am (two special characteristics)
I wonder (something you are actually curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual desire)
I am (the first line of the poem restated)

I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (an imaginary touch)
I worry (something that really bothers you)
I cry (something that makes you very sad)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

I understand (something you know is true)
I say (something you believe in)
I dream (something you actually dream about)
I try (something you really make an effort about)
I hope (something you actually hope for)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/13/us/rachel-dolezal-naacp-president-accused-of-lying-about-her-race.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

http://newscenter.kraftfoodsgroup.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=253200&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2026530

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lujBeHFvh4

http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/4881




http://www.tabelog.us/summary_articles/10-best-soul-food-restaurants-in-oakland-ca (Phillip Bell's restaurant, #1)

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/15/the-right-dose-of-exercise-for-a-longer-life/?WT.mc_id=2015-KWP-AUD_DEV&WT.mc_ev=click&ad-keywords=AUDDEVREMARK&kwp_0=18141&kwp_4=132188&kwp_1=156557&_r=0

Celebrating Aiden!

                                                                 

Aiden with his mom and grandmothers

Celebrating Angel!

Angel's award ceremony.  Angel received the Perfect Attendance Award, the Soccer Award (no pic) and the Math Award for "Thinking Outside The Box".

ANGEL

GLEN's HEALTHFUL MOMENT

Special Question for my Family

 

I would like for you to ponder, contemplate, think deeply as you ask yourself this question.

 

Who am I?

 

Nope -- has nothing to do with your job.  That is simply a 'means to an end'.  Has nothing to do with where you live or what title you hold as a mother, father, son, daughter, etc. -- none of that!!!  In fact, picture yourself on a deserted island -- alone -- and contemplate the answer to this question.  What are your aspirations?  What one thing makes you happy right away?  What other things make you happy?  What do feel you were placed here to do?  What are your gifts, talents, skills and abilities?.....etc.  Take days or a week or so to really answer this question.  It has to do with NOONE ELSE -- just you.

Happy Father's Day!

Lasker, Sr.
Lasker, Jr.
James Waylon
Kendall

Whalyn

Chris

Hank

Rick

Wayne O.

Rodney

Phil

Reggie

Wallace
James R.
Carl
Wayne H.

http://familybellgram.blogspot.com/2013/06/happy-fathers-day.html

http://familybellgram.blogspot.com/2012/06/happy-fathers-day.html

Deut 6:6-9

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 

7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 

9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Remembering Bozie On Her Birthday!

http://familybellgram.blogspot.com/2013/12/in-memory-of-boazie-ann-thomas-our.html

Random Photography!

by Wallace

by Rikki

by Rikki

by Nick

by Nick

Happy Birthday, Loretta!

GLEN's HEALTHFUL MOMENT!

Editing Out Guilt

 

WOMEN ARE OFTEN PLAGUED BY FEELINGS of guilt, but I learned an interesting thing recently: guilt is a strictly English word.  No other Germanic or Indo-European language has it.  We need to follow the lead of these other cultures and edit the word guilt--and guilt feelings--out of our lives.

    Feeling guilty drains our confidence and becomes a habit if we have been conditioned to be overly responsible for our own and others' behaviors and attitudes.  Millie, a client in her mid-fifties, came to see me because she felt depressed most of the time.  As we talked, it became apparent that Millie was a Responsibility Sponge who sopped up everyone's messes.  While discussing her unemployed thirty-year-old son, Millie sighed repeatedly and finally said, "I wonder where I failed?"  When I asked her why it was her fault her son was not working, she looked at me with surprise and said, "Well, because I'm his mother."

    Exploring Millie's background uncovered a family structure built on guilt and shame.  Because of her conditioning, Millie got in the habit of assuming responsibility for everything and everyone around her.  Since she, like the rest of us, had no real power over anyone's actions but her own, she felt discouraged and depressed.  Millie decided to edit guilt out of her life using the following technique.

    When you begin to experience guilt, ask yourself these questions:  What have I really done to feel guilty about?  (If there is something specific, decide whether you can rectify it, and if so, how?)  Why am I responsible for this?  Does this feeling and circumstance remind me of a pattern in my family?  Do I want to keep feeling guilty about this?

    If the answer to the last question is no, take a sheet of paper and write down what you feel guilty about.  Now, with the biggest, reddest marker you can find, cross it out--delete it.  If you find yourself still mired in guilt, remind yourself:  Guilt is a word and feeling I am editing out of my life!

The Woman's Book of Confidence -- Sue Patton Thoele

Happy Birthday, Octavian!

Prayer Requests!

                                                                 for: Marguerite

GLEN'S HEALTHFUL MOMENT!

Leaving Shame and Guilt Behind

 

THE PERSON WE MOST OFTEN STAIN with feelings of shame and guilt is ourself, and much of our guilt and shame comes from believing we have failed in some way or other.  Maybe we "should" have been more successful or "shouldn't" have had an abortion, or "should" have been able to stop his drinking.  Some of us can go on forever "should-ing" ourselves.

    Mary Pickford, the actress, had a bit of insight on this subject I think we would be wise to adopt.  "If you have made mistakes......there is always another chance for you.....  You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."  Very few of us stay down for long.

    Sadie and Ashley, mother and daughter, were talking about their past.  Ashley told her mom that she would tell her more about what she was struggling with but didn't want Sadie to feel guilty.  Sadie wisely, and with hard-earned self-love, said, "I'm over that.  I see we were in the same circumstances, but I didn't cause them.  If I'd had the power or the awareness, I would have changed the situation.  I didn't have either and I did the best I could."  Don't we all!

    Make a list of your seeming failures--the "shoulds" you think you need to feel shameful and guilty about.  Ask yourself if you did the best you knew how at the time; if so, think of a symbolic way to release these feelings.  For instance, a friend of mine gave me a jar labeled "Shoulds and Oughts".  Periodically, I take out the little scraps of paper on which I have put my shame and guilt and burn them as a symbol of letting go and moving on.

    Yesterday is irretrievable and tomorrow is unknown.  We have done the best we could, and now it's time for us to forgive ourselves for our seeming failures, congratulate ourselves for getting up after falling down, and then leave remorse behind us.

THE WOMAN'S BOOK OF CONFIDENCE...........Sue Patton Thoele

Happy Birthday, Aeneas!

Weather Watch: Louisiana

MORE OF I-220 WESTBOUND LANES CLOSED (From Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office)

Sunday afternoon, La. DOTD closed both westbound lanes of I-220 from Benton Road to the Red River Bridge due to high water. Additionally, the I-220 Westbound on-ramps at Airline Drive and Benton Road are closed, and the I-20 Eastbound and I-20 Westbound off-ramps to I-220 Westbound are closed. 

At this time, I-220 Eastbound travel lanes are open to all traffic.

All I-220 Westbound traffic must exit at Benton Road. Swan Lake Road and Shed Road on- and off-ramps are not affected.

Safety Reminder: DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

SOZO School Completion! Saturday, June 6, 2015!

Celebrating Kamasi!

Completed 10th Grade with straight As and 4.2 GPA.
Present:  Chris, Jean, Kamasi, Shirmiriah (Kamasi's Mom), Alijah and Ashley (Kamasi's sisters) Rick took Pictures.

Happy Birthday, Alexus!

Happy Birthday, Kendall!