For as long as Evie could remember, Sunshine Valley’s biggest event of the year was their Fall Festival. She and her dad wondered down street after street of homemade crafts, candies and farmers selling garden vegetables. It brought back such pleasant memories of her childhood. Dillon had to be at work at 7pm. He joined them at 3 to wonder with them.
“I really didn’t think this was a thing.” He accepted the majority of a candied apple from her that had been purchased, sliced. “Eating them off the stick is half the fun.”
“Then give it back.” She teased.
“Nu. No backsies. It’s mine now.” He smiled, hungrily eating a slice with the included stick. She giggled.
At the end of town, a hot air balloon was tethered to the ground. Her dad asked, “have you ever been in one?”
“No. Would you like to go?” Evie asked.
Rebecca and Simon stepped up beside them. Simon asked, “how far up do you go?”
“80 feet.” The captain answered.
“For how long?” Rebecca asked.
“10 minutes.”
“Capacity?” Evie asked.
“Three, plus me.”
“How much would it cost to do a real flight?” Dillon asked.
The captain wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to Dillon. He showed the paper to Evie.
“Dad, would you like to go on a real hot air balloon ride?” He grinned like a child. To Evie’s knowledge, to attend her wedding, was the only time her parents had ever flown.
They chose sunrise for their balloon ride. Evie handed the piece of paper to the Ledbetter’s. Rebecca couldn’t conceal a cough.
“Take $100.00 off that for 2 people.” The captain commented.
Sara 2 took charge of setting up the Bible study group. Not everyone that wanted to participate had either a smartphone, a computer, or a social media account. It had to be organized the old fashion way. She put up a sign up sheet at church. And printed off material for their first class. She and Evie were talkin’ once, twice a week sometimes.
The first Bible study would be sharing your testimony. Getting to know each other. And handing out the first real lesson. The first one would be at Sara’s apartment. Room providing. Then they would decide if they wanted to move it around and how often they wanted to meet. Sara decided on snacks instead of a meal.
She about died when the first knock came to her door. It was Evie. She had showed up early to help with any set up.
“How many signed up?” She asked.
“10. I have seating for 6. Della is gonna bring some more chairs incase people show up that didn’t sign up. In all 15 people showed up.
“This is exciting,” Evie whispered. “A lot of people are here.”
She gave a nervous giggle, “I know.”
Rebecca and Simon showed up. Even Pastor Sam. And a lot of people Evie didn’t know. But that was a good thing.
Sara welcomed everyone to her home and what she prayed was the first of many Bible studies. It was made known that this was a Bible study and was not church. Everyone was welcomed regardless of religious standing. It was her goal to have them learn from each other and the Bible.
Everyone was asked to bow their heads in prayer as Bradley led the opening prayer.
Sara told them about a box she had sitting on the table. She asked everyone to put ideas down that they wanted to do a Bible study on in the future. And another box was on the counter, a blessing box. Each person could write down something they were thankful for and they could open the next Bible study with those.
Evie and Jack just sat there and listened as those that wanted to shared their testimony did. “God is good.” He said quietly, patted her arm.
“Yes, he is.” She smiled sweetly at him.
The testimonies shared were a mixture of stories; a drug addict, someone who was just lost in the world, a former criminal, a runaway. Stories were shared about how Jesus saved a marriage, a life, a family in crisis. Others still about that much needed job, a place to live, a much needed church family.
The group decided to move things around and meet at different homes. Snacks were perfect. They would meet once a month on the third Thursday of the month. The first Bible study would be about Noah and the flood. They were encouraged to tell their friends and make copies of the lesson.
Ginni, a friend of Sara’s offered to host the next one.
Bradley and Patty walked Jack home. Della and Evie stayed to help with the clean up. When they had finished, Sara plopped down on her couch with a great big sigh, “that was wonderful.”
Still working on the paperback. I heard someone say, “once you find what you want to do, everything else gets in the way’. As I continued my journey into writing, I’m finding, this is true. Who has time for housework? Yard work? And the like.
Maybe, I’ve figured out why my last 2 works haven’t appeared on my feed when I search for myself. I marked them for readers over the age of 18. ?? If you read this work or Winter Season, let me know what you think. Should they be marked for readers over the age of 18? I’m still learning and would like to know what you think.
Evie was at her dad’s house fixin’ lunch after she picked him up from church. He sat at the table watching her as she buzzed around the kitchen. “You remind me of your mother.” He said softly.
“Dad, I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.”
“I know you and Lily didn’t see eye to eye.” He said with a smile. “Could an old man ask you sum-um?”
She smiled, “my dad can ask me anything.”
“Did you invite that boy for lunch?”
Evie laughed, “I can’t believe that after all these years, you still call him boy.”
“I was rootin’ for you 2 you know. But Lily fought me ever step. Dillon has grown into a fine man. He’s kind, strong, good heart.”
“Let’s say we would have gotten married at 18 or 19, would he have been the same man that you are so proud of?”
Jack smiled, “better. He loves you.”
“He is my friend.”
“Sit child.” She sat across the table from him. “He has been mopin’ ‘round here for the last 40 years. Women have tried to get close to him,” Jack shook his head. “None were you.”
“Dad,” she sighed.
“Has he given you the envelope full of letters?”
That question shook her for a minute, “recently yes.”
“Tell me why keep them?”
“Too lazy to throw them away? Forgot about them.”
“When I brought Teka home, he volunteered to keep her.”
“I’ve been wanting to ask you about that. How did you get her?”
“I overheard your ex talkin’ at the last meet you went to. Thought it was a joint decision, way he talked. Little did I know then, it wasn’t.”
“Thanks dad.” She smiled. “Yes, I did invite him to lunch. But he hasn’t answered me.”
“Trust me, hummin’ bird, he loves you.”
While her dad ate, she thought about the letters and the kiss. Oh my, even though it was a light kiss, it was consuming her thoughts.
Her dad brought her back around, “go marry that boy.”
She gave a heavy sigh, “dad it’s not that simple.”
It’s been a minute since I’ve posted anything associated with my Waste not. Want not frugal living series.
I own. Yes, it’s mine! 🎉 A 2012 Chevy Sonic. The hood and the top of the cab have faded from the years of sun exposure. In some places a found small spots of rust.
A good cleaning.
Cover up and tape off the parts that didn’t need paint. 2 cans of spray flex seal on top of the cab. $33.00 including tax.
I think I need to buy one more can to cover the good. It soaked up that paint like me eating a cookie. When I buy the second can – $21.00 including tax. $2.00 for the drop cloth and $4.00 for the tape = $59.00. The drop cloth and tape I can use for other projects.
What’s something you believe everyone should know.
“With freedom of speech comes great responsibility.”
I have been screaming the above saying for years. Okay, so we Americans have freedom of speech. It is my belief that we need to be careful with our freedom. We (myself included) need to think about the words that flow from our mouths. I have heard people say, ‘they are just words. They have no power. The individual gives him power.”
“The pen is mightier than the sword, for by the sword are mortal battles waged, but by the pen entire cultures swayed, eternal societies arrayed, and souls of men saved“. Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Evie was in the middle of makin’ dinner for her dad and Dillon, when her watch alerted her that Sara 2 was about to ring her door bell. “Come in,” she smiled.
“Oh, it smells divine in here. I can come back.”
“Come in. You’re welcomed to stay for dinner.”
“Oh my,” she sighed. “Your house is so cute. I had to work on that weekend everyone chipped in to help.”
“I’m so very grateful for everyone. I was in no state of mind to do much.”
“What are you fixin’?”
“Orecchiette with Sausage & Peas.”
“What is orecchiette?”
Evie showed her one piece as they talked, “Italian meaning ‘little ears’, it’s shaped like small cups or ears.”
“Cute!” She exclaimed. “Can I help?”
“Thanks for the offer, at this point all I have to do is add everything together. Sit. What’s on your mind?”
“I loved the way you spoke at breakfast. And I have so many questions.”
“I’ll try. What would you like to drink? Pop, water, tea, coffee?”
“Water is fine.” When Evie sat the glass in front of her with the plastic star shaped ice cubes, she squealed, “CUTE!”
“Thank you.” The doorbell rang. She came back into the kitchen with Dillon and her dad. She introduced everyone. Her dad sat as Dillon sat the table.
For Sara, as she watched, Dillon acted like he lived here. He knew where everything was. Even sat a place for her like he knew she was staying. Got drinks, a salad and dressin’ out of the fridge.
Everyone sat down. But they didn’t pray over the food. Sara thought that was odd.
Jack spoke, “your dad started the new grocery in town? I can’t for the life of me remember his name.”
She blushed, “yes I am. Ryan.”
“This is wonderful,” she smiled.
“Thank you.”
“What I wanted to talk to you about? It might be good to have input from you two as well,” she smiled. “I’m struggling with something. Of course, I’ve been praying. But I need someone to talk to. And your words at breakfast have really struck a cord with me. And I was hopin’ to get to talk some more. Your knowledge of the Bible is amazin’.”
“Thank you. God has put some wonderful teachers in my life.”
“I feel like.” She forked her dish, “I think, maybe,” she paused. “God might be calling me to preach.”
Jack snorted, “a woman preacher ain’t right.”
“I knew it.” She sighed, “Everyone is gonna scream 1 Timothy 2 at me.”
“What about Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary, Priscilla, Phebe, Jesus’s mother Mary, or the Samaritan Woman at the well?” Dillon asked.
“Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah,” Evie added.
Sara looked sheepish, “I don’t understand.”
“Could the Samaritan woman have been the first female evangelical preacher? She called people to come to Jesus. ‘Come see the man that told me all I ever did’.” Dillon asked.
“Evangelicalism is the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.” Evie defined. “Mary Magdalene, when she saw Jesus after his resurrection ran to tell the disciples.”
“But what about 1 Timothy?” Jack asked.
“When we read the Bible and study it, we completely remove history from it. Most people don’t even think about it. Timothy was preaching in Ephesus. Ephesus was the home of the temple of Artemis. Women were authorities in that branch of pagan worship. I believe Paul was encouraging Timothy to be careful. It was and is, so easy to have one wrong person undermine all the hard work he was doing for Christ. Especially in a pagan worship center.”
Dillon added, “if Paul truly hated women and gave them little value, why did he recommend Priscilla and Aquila? He mentioned her first. I believe that was a sign of respect. And that she was actually the stronger leader of the two.”
“You need a mentor.” Evie added.
Sara asked with excitement, “you?”
Evie blushed, “while I’m honored. No. You need someone who is a teacher, maybe in seminary. A history teacher, Bible teacher.”
“But you’re smart.”
“Thank you. You need someone smarter than me. I don’t think anyone knows the Bible inside and out. There are those who have a better understanding than most. I’m more than happy to have conversations like this one. But on the path you’re meant to walk, I’m not the person you seek.”
Ordered some pens with my blog address on them. Baby steps.
It took me a long time to jump on the Temu train. That’s where I ordered the pens from. Mostly as a test to see how they looked, felt, and wrote. They were $0.70 each $12.48 for 18. Other sites I looked at wanted setup fees. I would have liked to have put my little outline of Chico one them. Overall, I’m impressed. They are a little heavy for most pens. The writing is clean; ink flows well.
A special alert popped up on Evie’s calendar. She had received an invitation from Dillon to tour the sheriff’s office. The school was doing classroom tours. And the office was open to select members of the public, press and the like. She replied with her standard 💕.
The class that Dillon was speaking with just happened to be Mrs. Ledbetter’s. Evie was at the back with another teacher and a city cop. Dillon talked as they stopped in the room where the cells were.
One little boy asked above the group, “if you are the sheriff; that means you’re the boss?”
“Yes.”
“So why do we see that other man on t.v. all the time? My mom says he looks like a turtle.”
Dillon lowered his head trying so hard not to laugh. He finally said, “ I would like for everyone to close their eyes. When I ask you a question, raise your hands to answer.” He waited a minute for the children to close their eyes. “This room that you’re standing in, is there one cell?” 2 children raised their hands. “Two of you raised your hands. Are there 2 cells in this room?” He waited. “Most of you raised your hands. Keep your eyes closed, how many of you think there are 3 cells in this room?” He looked up and saw Evie, winking at her. “Four of you raised your hands. Now open your eyes.”
The same little boy that asked the original question trumpeted, “2, I was right!”
“But not all of you agreed on that at first. The reason Deputy Banks is the one you see and hear all the time is because it’s best to have one person do all the talking. We meet, gather all the information we know, then tell the public what we know. So there isn’t so much confusion.”
“My dad says the sheriff’s department is fucking useless and y’all need to hire Sunshine Sue.”
“Richard!” Mrs. Ledbetter scolded.
The other children in the group laughed at Richard’s cus word.
Bradley was standing in the back of the room. He put his hand over his mouth, to hide his smile.
Dillon cleared his throat, “the sheriff’s office has laws that we have to follow. Those same laws that we have to abide by, sadly don’t apply to Sunshine Sue?”
A little girl spoke up, “my mom says you should be on t.v. more, you look delicious.”
Dillon swallowed hard, looking up at Evie. She was smiling from ear to ear, then winked at him.
“That’s the end of the tour.” He smiled. “Any more questions?”
“I would like to ask,” Mrs. Ledbetter opened her mouth about the time a camera shutter went off. It was a reporter from the Sunshine Daily. Then she remembered, last year, she was allowed to have Simon meet her and take the tour with her. ‘Members of the press and select public’. Evelyn must be this year’s ‘select public’. Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d ever seen the sheriff active in the tours.
The reporter asked everyone to gather for a picture. She even gathered the adults standing in the back to come around. Dillon motioned for Evie to come stand beside him, on his left side. As she did, he put his arm around her waist. The city cop stood with Bradley. And the other teacher with Rebecca. “How would you kids like to do a fun one?” They all shouted. She looked at Rebecca, “is it okay?” She nodded yes.
Some of the children acted like they were trying to break out of the cells. Some posed as if they were fighting. One little girl set on the floor like she was crying. Richard, the boy that dropped the f- bomb, looked like he had his foot on another boys chest. He stood over the boy like a proud hunter standing over a buck. Bradley and the city cop held up their hands like they were handcuffed to each other; with a look of confusion on their faces. The teachers looked defeated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Dillon pulled Evie over to him, caught her in his left arm and kissed her as the camera clicked the picture.
Poetry & More 