Highways and Byways in the SOUTH!

Oftentimes in the south, rather than seeing graffiti painted on overpasses and trestles, train cars and large trucks, one sees graffiti of grace that out shines the grime of the world. 

From church signs and billboards signs...Sulfur Springs-- 

Ever passed a cowboy church while cruising down the interstate? You will if you travel I-30 in TX. We also passed one between Greenville on US380 W heading toward McKinney. I've never seen a horse hitched up but I've seen lots of pick-up trucks. 

Recently a truck from IL driving thru Texas gave me a shout-out for family, prayer & praise!

Amen.Rucker's Candy!

IDS

Ailments! Ailments!! Ailments!!!

Has there been any kind of doctor/specialist I have not seen in the last year. Well 2 come to mind.....and one of those is already on my "to-call" list due to recent "events."

However, my main malady requires the Great Physician.

Self-diagnosis has me discovering a very personal symptom of IDS.

No, not irritable bowel syndrome though that could easily be in my my future, because "at my age" all maladies are possible.

IDS seems to be my ever-present affliction. 

Irritable Dotsy Syndrome!

Yep---and the RX is written by the HS in the Bible!

In everything give thanks! Aka all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

DOSAGE: daily, 24/7

May thankfulness overflow as I sing and make music from my heart to the Lord, always overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:19-20)

SATURDAY SUMMARY......

My doctors keep reminding  me that "at my age" one needs to keep physically active and intellectually stimulated----i.e. more than the mental floss that tends to fill my head. Last week it was demonyms. This week I added Monegasque. You know.....the residents of Monaco. 

In the scheme of important things, that info is nothing but useless trivia.

Instead, I need a clear, simple way to keep up with daily pills, (ever changing) prayer requests and praises....especially on Saturday. 

May my Saturday summaries help me in remembering. (Psalm 77:11, 1 Corinthians 11:2) 

• Remember your Creator. (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
• I remember your name in the night, O, Lord (Psalm 119:55)
• ..the Helper, the Holy Spirit....will bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. (Psalm 103:2)

Lest I forget..........Lord God of Hosts, be with us (me) yet, Lest we (I) forget---

lest we (I) forget. (Deuteronomy 4:7-9)

LISTEN!

Listen---"my one word" for 2020. Hmmmm!

I must need a refresher course. Yesterday I saw two H2H friends at Snapdragon Floral and I became a chatterbox. I did apologize, after the fact. Both graciously accepted.

That very morning, "get into the habit of hearkening" was my journal notation. How quickly I forgot.

 Contextually it was intentionally and continually hearkening to the Lord about everything. I think it was a reminder----after listening to God, "listen" to others. Listening is a way of honoring/respecting/putting others first. (Philippians 2:3b-4) May I hearken to others today!

DEMONYMS

Wordsmith Wednesday's new word----for me, that is...........

Usually I come across "new" words of interest while reading. 

This time it was a category on Jeopardy. 

Demon popped out but it was NOT demon...... 

.....rather demonyms--an ID for a group of people in residence in a certain area/state.....think New Yorker, Kentuckian, Tennessean or Texan as our family does. However, Dallas natives/residents/inhabitants are known as Dallasites---cited in print since 1873. Autocorrect has obviously not been informed of that demonym & insists (with .............) that I have misspelled it!

Not surprisingly, the demonym for all folks who live in Oklahoma is "Sooner," the state nickname. Many state monikers are folksy and seem to follow the state nickname, tho not always  acknowledged by the federal government. Division has ignited fierce debate. Are Indianians or Hoosiers preferred? Michiganians or Michiganadors?  

I don't think I got many of the answers right on Jeopardy. I assume only British & other avid soccer fans understood that people who reside in Manchester, UK are dubbed, Mancunians.

Rules are messy according to word scholars and I don't think demonym will become a "trending word" but as for me, it was a fun diversion as I waited for another appointment with Dr. Rowena DeSousa.

DIFFERENT PATHS TO THE SAME RESULT!

New Restaurant in town....what draws you there?

Oftentimes it's a word of mouth recommendation or an article in Mid-South magazine or Memphis Magazine.

These days it is likely an on-line review. Think YELP!

This time it was an eye-catching, memory jogging name seen as I drove by the SW corner of Poplar and Mendenhall. Southhall Cafe.

The name took me back to my hometown where our neighbors, the Southalls,  two-doors down from 2211 intrigued us by their reclusiveness. Brother, Buddy, & his chum, Barry Coleman, would climb the tree at the front corner of the yard and "spy" for hours hoping to catch a glimpse of the "old" couple. (They were probably in their 60s but they "aged" in our stories by the day.) Winslow and I would try to peek in windows or look over the fence, when we traversed the alley between my home, and her street that bordered the back of their yard. Oh, how our imaginations would run wild.

Those flashbacks were what drew me to the restaurant as a "must" restaurant to visit when my brother and his wife Charlotte visited us this week from Louisville.

The nostalgia may have gotten us there but the delicious food and wait staff will be the reason we return.