Letter Boxing

Last weekend I started letter boxing with my best friends. We were excited, we read up on it, we googled it, we read the clues and we headed out. One of my friends said her friend had been doing this for years and had never had a letter box not be there!

So our first clue directed us to a cemetery in Northeast Texas. My first hint at a problem should have been the sign over the road which read Zion emetery but no we headed toward our first clue - the parking lot and parked near the flag pole. We then headed toward the largest "Bull." This ended up being one of the family plots and the largest headstone. After trekking all over the "emetery," respectfully, we ended at our destination only to find that there had been vandals and our hunted box had been stolen and the prize inside destroyed and scattered around the area. This box had included shells and was "sea worthy." If you check into letter boxing you will see that many of the boxes have themes.

Disappointed we headed back home and wondered if we would letter box again. That evening we headed to a local college to discover the alumni hidden box. Upon discovering the secret location we found it empty. We actually cheated and talked to the librarian about the box being gone (you're suppose to remain spy like and not let anyone know you are letter boxing or discover the box location). He indicated that they didn't want everyone coming in and out of the library disrupting the shelves, etc. and also that the box which had been magnetized to the shelf had looked like a bomb! Disappointment once again. And to top it all off we had to run back to our car in pouring down rain, laughing all the way, drenched like rats! Now two down and not sure if we would continue we checked to see if there were more hidden boxes nearby!

We headed to the train depot where there was to be the first of a chain of boxes which would end in our having three stamps,(the result of finding your box) the engine, a car and caboose. Upon getting out of our vehicle we could smell heavy natural gas fumes. We quickly tried to discover the box but were overwhelmed with the fumes. We got back in the car and called 911 discovering that the eternal flame at the first train depot in Texas had been snuffed out by the evenings rain!

But, we are not quitters, we would not be stopped. The next morning we headed to Eisenhower's homestead and found our first box complete with self carved stamp inside a hole in a tree and left champions!!

Now, check out letter boxing online and see how exciting this can be. There are actually 13 hidden letter boxes in Springfield alone!! Happy hunting for those of you who are game. And those of you who I will be visiting get out your tennies cause we will be trekking your area soon!

My Mother with the Lord

Virginia Lea Paul, 86, of Springfield, MO passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, May 14, 2011 in the Maranatha Lodge. She was born in Clebit, OK on September 11, 1924 to Howard and Rose Ella (Leigh) Samples.

Virginia was a member of Calvary Temple in Concord, CA for 54 years before moving to Springfield, MO. She sold tickets for Greyhound Bus Lines for approximately 30 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 64 years, Alfred Paul.

Surviving Virginia is her daughter and husband, Peggy and Kenneth Horn, son and wife, Don and Rita Paul, granddaughter and husband, Heidi and Mike Westfall, great-grandson Andrew Westfall, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

A visitation was held Thursday, May 19, 2011, in the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S. Lone Pine, Springfield, MO. A celebration of life was held Friday, May 20, 2011 at 2:00 P.M. in the Maranatha Chapel, 233 E. Norton, Springfield, MO, with the interment following in Rivermonte Memorial Gardens.

The family wants to thank each of you who sent prayers and wishes our way. Also to each of you who took the time to attend the viewing or funeral we want you to know how very much it was appreciated.

Family members coming from out of state were Don & Rita Paul of Ashland, OR; Cal & Fern Baty of Springfield, OR; Melba Callender of Scottsdale, AZ; Glenda Huff of Gig Harbor, WA; and Joyce Headings of Salem, OR.

Snow Day!!

OK, who's the wise guy that put all that snow in front of my driveway today while I was at work?! I got home to a 2' high pile of snow along my entry to my driveway because the snow plow had cleared the street! And it had turned to ice by the time I got home! I got stuck and couldn't go in or out with my car across the full street and my bumper in the pile!

Finally a neighbor felt sorry for me and pushed me out. I got a pitchfork and broke up the ice, shoveled snow out of the way and pulled into the garage. I may or may not make it to work in the morning!! My feet are frost bitten and my fingers are frozen!! I am whining since Ken is in India!! He's having temps in the 80's!! Love you Ken.

Bad - Not Blogging!

If you check this blog site at all you know I have been bad in keeping you posted on what's going on - I apologize.

The new job is as I expected in that I love the people and the day to day. There is a lot to learn and a lot to catch up at the center and so I feel like I take one step forward and then two back most weeks! Hoping to soon feel like I am moving forward and able to make a difference.

Yesterday was one of the most "exciting!" We had to call an ambulance for one of the clients and someone locked their keys in their car. I got a frantic call that Mom couldn't find her beauty shop (I usually take her and was only needing to pick her up yesterday because of a kind friend). I set up her Christmas decorations in the evening and did labels for her Christmas cards and letters and had her write out her Christmas checks and stickers. If I look back on the day I actually had a full one, I just didn't get a lot done!

Man, I think I just got tired!!

HORN FAMILY TIMES

We are in the middle of a family reunion with Ken's sisters Ellene and Pat. Ellene lives in Richmond, California and Pat is from Pascagoula, Mississippi. We have been talking, laughing, sharing photos, and just having a good time together.


We visited Ava, MO on Friday the county seat of Douglas County where their Daddy was born. We tried to find his birth certificate but the book where it would have been recorded went from 1895 to one entry in 1910, the year he was born, but nothing else. Then they sent us to the Health Department and they weren't able to pull records up from that long ago. So, we had a fun trip and enjoyed seeing the area where Daddy is from but came home without a birth certificate. The picnic lunch in the car (since we couldn't find anywhere else to stop and eat it) was good!! We also fit in a visit to Bass Pro Shop on the way home and the girls caught big ones.


We visited Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage on Wednesday and though Ken wouldn't let me post any pictures of him there we all had a good time.


Today we celebrated Thanksgiving since we are all together and haven't been for a holiday for a long time. We enjoyed turkey with all the fixings and of course Pat's famous cherry pie which she let me help make so I could learn some of her secrets.









We are truly enjoying having the time together and are thankful for this opportunity since we live so far apart.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4, NKJ)

Lot's Going On

Thought I should update you on the resume situation since I mentioned it! I was excited about the position but knew with all we are doing with the house and other things it would be difficult going back to full-time work at this time. Well, another woman who already works with the office where I applied got the position so for now I shall remain a working from home employee only! Disappointed but okay with it!

The house updates keep moving forward, the downstairs is almost complete and I had someone bid the remaining jobs last Friday so I will soon know if we can get those things done or if we will be plodding along to try and do some of them! The front office is completed and I have one more bedroom to paint other than the master bedroom which is on hold.

We enjoyed Ray Stevens last night in Branson with friends Dennis and Jill Franck. We laughed nearly the entire show. He was very good. We really had a good time.

Ken's sisters Ellene and Pat are coming the end of October so I will be getting ready for their visit. Ken heads for Jordan soon and hopefully while he is away my friend Karen will visit from Texas.

As I titled this - a lot is going on - but we keep moving forward. OK a few steps back but moving - some days!!

Happy Birthday Mom

Resume and More Work on the House

Reminder: We are working on the home my parents lived in here in Missouri, making the changes that hopefully will help it sell in the future.

Hoping to finish up the downstairs painting today. Ken's off on Fridays so I will have help. It will be nice to have an area done. I need to find someone to cut a couple of shelves for the closets and I think that's it for the downstairs except carpet cleaning - yippee!

Also I submitted a resume for a job yesterday and will know more about that next week. Am hoping I can remember how to sit at a desk and work if I get the job! This video is hopefully not an example of how well I do!!



Sure glad I'm a redhead now!

Back to Normal...!

I'm home from reunion and rafting, company's gone, I'm running around catching up ... now what!? Back to normal, what's that?! Ken leaves for Sweden and a conference next week, We are still needing to do more painting at Mom and Dad's house, I can't get people over for bids, the yards are out of control, I think ignoring things for another week sounds good!

We did finish the new Onward Books project for Convoy of Hope - 7.0 Inside Convoy of Hope's Response to the Haiti Earthquake by Kirk Noonan. It turned out great and everyone is real happy with it. Now on to the next project, just a reprint but hey that's what keeps me busy!



Ken has been taking some beautiful photos. You can check out his flicker site but I have included a mosaic of butterflies that he did here:



Oh to be back on the river!!!

Running the Rogue

I have had a wonderful time with my friend Carol running the Rogue River. We were able to have three great days on the river. The first day was just Carol and I, the second Joyce joined us and on the third Beth was with us. All in all a great three days. And I didn't fall in! Well I didn't fall out of the boat! Well not going through rapids!!

We finished two of the days at our favorite restaurant sitting outside above the river eating delicious Mexican food.

Family Reunion

Mom and I are in Oregon at the family reunion. Tonight is the first night and we had 11 for dinner. Many more expected tomorrow. Yesterday's travel day was long as we got up at 3:30 a.m. and arrived at the airport at 5:15, three flights later we arrived in Medford, Oregon. I picked up the rental car and we headed out for Springfield/Eugene. After a short visit at the Baty's, the home where we will be having our reunion festivities, we headed for the hotel and a much needed night of rest.

Anniversary!

My cousin Melba just called to remind me that today is the anniversary of my last chemo treatment - one year ago. This was the day I rang the bell! Wow, I think we should celebrate! Ice cream?! Actually I am just really happy to have hair!

MOTHER'S DAY

It's Mother's Day a little early this year.

We are headed to the Evangelical Press Association Convention this week in Dallas, and then to Mississippi to visit Ken's family, so we won't be home next week for Mother's Day. We decided to celebrate the day with my mother early and go to church with her and then take her to lunch at her choice of restaurant.

Though we know she loved the company and the lunch, she especially loved getting her favorite cookies that she doesn't get too often since they are from Trader Joe's and we don't have those here! They are Lacey's with dark chocolate and she told me she only had three left from the last box she had been hoarding! She loves her cookies!!

After lunch we took a short drive around a small lake and saw fish and birds and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation.

All in all a great day spent together.

RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI THROUGH CONVOY OF HOPE

HAITI EARTHQUAKE UPDATE:


This little guy has two bags of the food like we bagged at the Convoy warehouse last week. This is some of the supplies that were in Haiti when the earthquake hit.

Convoy of Hope has confirmed that AID IS GETTING TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. Because Convoy of Hope already had a presence in Haiti, including a large warehouse (which had just been fully stocked with food and medical supplies a week before the earthquake) distribution of relief has not been hampered. Water, food and medical supplies are being distributed along with qualified in-country emergency medical personnel.

Other outside organizations have been frustrated by the overrun single-strip international airport and additionally do not have the in-country logistics in place. But because of Convoy of Hope's long-term commitment to Haiti, they are equipped and ready to respond. AID IS GETTING THROUGH and making a difference.

Please donate! Your gift can be put to work immediately helping the victims of this tragic earthquake through Convoy of Hope. Go to www.ConvoyofHope.org to donate.

Brrrr...it's Cold Out There

The weather has warmed up today. It's all the way up to 17 degrees. It's a "Mom" day today so I will be going out in it. Wondering what I will do while Mom's at the beauty shop. It may be too cold to run errands like I usually do! Brrr...

Mom has called several times regarding her appointment. One was talking about my driving in the snow. She was going to cancel her hair appointment since it might snow. She has asked if I have driven in snow before and then she called back and had changed her appointment to earlier in the day. Then she called back and said she wasn't going to lunch at the dining room so she'd be ready earlier. I nixed that one. We had already canceled our going to lunch since that would have us driving in the snow more! It's only a 10 minute drive from her house to the shop! She originally had a permanent scheduled but now only has a set and comb out. Who knows what she'll be having done by the time the appointment time comes around!

This should be an interesting day–and it's just getting started.

Door of Faith Orphanage

This is a video I just found while "googling," of an orphanage where I worked when I was just out of high school, way back in the '70's. How exciting to see how God is still using people to move His kingdom forward in this way. The kids still look the same and the orphanage does too, except there are many new buildings and new people.

I lived in a run down trailer while I was there and had wonderful experiences. The Freezes were the founders and Von and Agnes, their son and daughter-in-law were the administrators. Wow, great memories.

Thanksgiving/Christmas Letter 2009

Since we have much to be thankful for this year, we decided our annual letter should have a Thanksgiving theme.

T is for Thankful. We are thankful for the end of this trying year of cancer treatments and a good report for Peggy: cancer free. The diagnosis of breast cancer came just before last Christmas. Surgery in January, chemo from February through June, radiation July through September, and continuing side-effects and fatigue … made this year a long one. But we now seem to be near an end and coming through victoriously.

H is for my wonderful Husband who stood with me and supported me, holding my hand and sometimes my head. Sitting through chemo treatments, cooking me macaroni and cheese, buying crackers and cheese, milkshakes and whatever else sounded good at the time. But most of all carrying me through this tough year with love, courage and strength, cheering me on, never letting me give up.

A is All the prayers our many friends and family prayed for us. Without those we would never have made it through. It was all of you lifting us up in prayer that held us together through this tough time.

N is for Never giving up hope that God is in control and is still on the throne.

K is for the Kindnesses we were shown by helpful friends who sent cards, phoned, cheered us on, visited, emailed, brought meals, prayed some more, went with us to chemo treatments, cheered us on some more, and basically carried us through this past year.

S is for Simplicity. We have learned to appreciate the simple things of life more … like life and health.

G is for God, the center of our lives and to Whom we owe everything.

I is for Incredible. That is what all of you are, and what God is, and what our lives are post-cancer. (Both of us are now cancer survivors.)

V is for Victory. We’ve got it.

I is for Ice. (We usually have an ice storm around January.)

N is for Next Year. It is going to be a lot better than this one!

G is for the Grace and Goodness of God, which we feel so very much.

Ken continues to keep busy, though with my treatments, he cut his travel way back throughout 2009. I once again did taxes for the elderly though on a more limited basis than normal. My bookkeeping for the beautician also continued but my loss of hair ceased the varied hair colors that were a fringe benefit of the job!

We found a home for our extra kitty. She decided that she wanted to fight with Purkitty so we had some problems with them living together. She found a good home with a college student here in town and soon had new toys and outfits! Her name was changed to Lily. We received several emails on her escapades.

Ken and I also completed four book projects. When Ken spoke at a Writers’ Conference in Arizona, I went along to visit my cousins in Scottsdale. Ken did some other teaching on writing, including a couple of classes for doctoral students at the seminary. We had Garage Sale #4 in May for Mom and Dad’s house and the house is finally on the market. We continue to sell items on Craig’s List.

In May Ken attended the Evangelical Press Association Convention in Oregon and won another EPA award, this year for “Grizzly Attack,” a pastor’s story of survival in Alaska. He went fishing in Texas with good friend Carl Miller. And we celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary.

In summer we went to Orlando, Florida, for General Council. We also went to Dallas together.

In October Peggy was surprised at a major Convoy of Hope event by being awarded with the first Key to Compassion award, named in honor of Matt Key. Matt died in an accident last year. The award recognizes an individual deserving of recognition for touching needy people with genuine compassion. (Ken wrote this part and is really proud of his wife.) The International Pentecostal Press Association Board (Ken is the president) met here in Springfield. We ended the sessions with dinner at Lambert’s Home of the Throwed Rolls.

As we look back we realize God has been faithful, and has blessed us with many things … the richest being faith, family, and friends. May you be blessed with these gifts at Christmas and all year through. Merry Christmas.


Love, Peggy & Ken & Purkitty

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today."

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YAY!" she exclaimed. "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything!

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

— Author Unknown


I have been feeling a little sorry for myself because it's taking so long for my hair to grow back in! I think I have needed an attitude adjustment. I'm glad I found this, I like it!

A Great Day for a Laugh

Talk about getting old! Not a bad day until I was leaving UPS and got in the car after noticing a new ding! A little upset, then I noticed the inside of the car was really messy. Man, I didn't remember being such a slob! I knew I had been running errands and throwing stuff in the back for dealing with later but I really hadn't realized how bad it had gotten!

"Oh man, this isn't my car!" It really wasn't my fault that someone had parked an exact model of mine right next door and left it unlocked!! People should really be more considerate - really! I sure hope they didn't see me get out and run...

Of course the first thing I did was ask the lady on the sidewalk if it was hers. She said "no" and I said, "it's not mine either." Later I wondered what she thought of that comment! Then I called Ken and we laughed and he said to watch out for the police! Nice husband. Then he proceeded to tell everyone on facebook about my senior moment!

Well at least I'm good for a laugh every now and then! Have a great day, I did.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Thought you might enjoy this video from an Oregon hospital. Celebrate breast cancer awareness! Get the word out. Have you had your mammogram?