The Victoria Advocate, A Different Perspective

Off to a great start on a Monday morning. Washing machine woes, computer issues, and another round in my email server transfer. What do you do when everything goes wrong? I’m tempted to flop into my recliner and read a book or check my phone, but that only pushes the problems down the road. So Dave and I prayed. Far better solution than procrastination.  

Last week, I finished all corrections for Glitter and the Grouch. It’s available on Amazon for pre-sale, and my book launch recruitment starts mid-August. Gotta have people who want to help me get the word out about a new book release.

We were supposed to keep our five-year-old granddaughter overnight this past weekend, but sweet Ellie is going through a phase and only wanted her mama. Surprising, because she’s always been the independent one. Later, we learned there was a belated birthday party at her house, and she didn’t want to miss a thing. Eight-year-old Ria’s birthday is in February, but this year she got a summer celebration. Best of all was her mama made the famed “Castle Cake” from my childhood cookbook. It’s become a cherished tradition.

Nancy and her family dropped by for lunch on their way to Port Aransas for a last beach visit before the school year begins. Dave cooked “Football Sandwiches”—the small Hawaiian Bread sliders with ham and cheese, and we had plenty of fruit. The girls ate but were also excited to be at Mamaw’s house and had to check out their favorite spots.

Ellie made a beeline for the dollhouse, then found the Spider Man walkie-talkies. Ria inspected the food situation, and Annabelle found a giant zipper spider on the side of the house. That, of course, led to the question, “Mamaw, which do you find scarier—a tarantula or a zipper spider?” When I said tarantula because they jump, it wasn’t the answer she wanted. She assured me she wasn’t afraid of tarantulas at all—that zipper spiders were far more scary.      

Who loves crossword puzzles? For years, I was an on-again-off-again puzzler. But currently, they’ve been my go-to since I’m tired of jigsaws—those seem to be a fall-winter thing at our house. I worked through two “easy” puzzle books and had a new one on order. The first time I did an “easy” puzzle in the new book, half the puzzle was blank. Hm. Lots of variations on “easy.” I think the lesson here is it’s EASY to get puffed up over what we think we know. In reality, however, our knowledge is a drop—one tiny drop—in the proverbial bucket. One last note on puzzles. My eighty-seven-year-old mama is the crossword puzzle champ. She works the big Sunday puzzles with no problem. I become agitated just looking at them.   

Meanwhile, the Lord promised in this world, we’d have tribulation. It can be something as small as my broken washing machine or life-changing dilemmas. Not to mention the hysteria over the upcoming presidential election. (Keep praying, folks. America needs a miracle this election season.)  

In the same scripture, however, Jesus told us how to respond. He said, “be of good cheer.” It’s a specific command for us NOT to give in to fear or confusion, but to stay on an even keel and maintain a cheerful attitude. Why should we do this? Once again, the answer is clear—because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33 NAS)

God is bigger than any of our problems, and He can manage the thorniest world issue. When I keep that uppermost in my mind, I’m an overcomer.

One with an ever-growing laundry pile.