The Whole Truth of the Tooth Hole

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Liquid Eyes and Long Lashes

Lilly and Jackson, precious grandchildren, live a thousand miles from us. What a privilege to spend a day just talking and walking and delighting in their presence.

At the zoo, we were enchanted by the giraffes.

Their sweet faces are so appealing with their “liquid eyes and long lashes.”

I love the way they move—so smoothly and graciously.

We fed the giraffes lettuce and crackers.

Of course, we laughed when we saw their loooong tongues.

Lilly wanted to make sure that a baby giraffe received some food but was a bit tentative with mama standing above.

These pictures are deceiving as we really did not get to touch the elephants but we did enjoy watching them.

O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 104:24

I chuckled that the children's second favorite after the giraffes was climbing on the benches.

I love their playful natures.

Of course, eating ice cream ranked pretty high,

As well as the carousel ride.

Later, of course, a swim in the motel pool was in order.

Each chose a small gift to remember our day. Lilly chose a shark’s tooth necklace and Jackson a small stuffed animal—a monkey—named Yi Min. The Chinese translation of Yi Min means “happy and smart.” Jackson said, “That’s a good choice for me because I am happy and smart.”

Yes! And oh that we could all be like a child. As we left, both children, with “liquid eyes and long lashes”, were sad that our trip was so short—as was I! How I love them!

It was a very short visit—but long on memories.

Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

Stepping it up to a higher level

Bob sent a text to me on Friday. “Sowing seed 2moro. Need more hands.”

I replied. “Hmmm. Ok. You can have mine.”

And thus, in our fifteen years of marriage, and nearly as many years of being a beekeeper’s wife, yesterday was a first for me—and for my hubby.


In about three hours, using a handheld seeder, we covered six acres walking and sowing clover seed, hoping to increase our honey production.


We had the farmer’s permission, of course.

We spent about an hour doing another two acre field today.

We won’t see results this year because clover does not get flowers until the second year. Bob thinks we will sow clover again next spring if we see it coming up this year. Oh boy, oh boy!

I think our farmer may have sat inside his house and chuckled as he watched us.

Your wrist gets really tired as you hold the spreader and the trigger to keep it open and turn the crank with the other hand.


We traded off every other time down the field. When it was not our turn to walk the field we refilled the bucket with seed and provided a target so the other could walk as straight as possible.


We took a water break about half way through our farming experiment.


It gave us great pleasure to see our bees working hard and bringing in lots of pollen. (Althought this is a terrible picture and does not show much. Many, many of the bees had pollen!)


I chuckled a bit as I spotted my hubby at the end of the field holding up his hands to keep me straight.

And I followed his lead and did the same—one time. That was all that it took for me to figure out that holding up our hands was unnecessary—a bit over the top so to speak.

But while walking and holding the spreader and turning the crank and looking down the field at my hubby with his hands in the air, and waiting for my next turn to walk. I recalled the story of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses hands as recorded in Exodus 17:8-16.

Then I remembered to “hold up my hands” about some things that the Holy Spirit was placing on my heart.

And I came home to find the verse about God’s hands will guide me.

Psalm 139: 7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

Moving Day

But not to here. Not yet.

No, some bees got relocated, house and all, from here . . .

with a mighty heave . . .

to here . . .

For non beekeepers, I will explain . . .

Bees need to be moved in the evening. We wait until they are mostly in their hive for the day. Then they are sealed inside and moved as gently as possible.

As it gets dark, the bees are given passageways again for entering and exiting--but hopefully not until the morning. Bees return from where they leave each day. So if they are in the hive all night. Their GPS gets reoriented and they will return to the hive in its new location.

If the hives had been moved when the bees were in the field working, they would have returned to the same place they left and circled until they died. That is why the hive must be moved with all or as many of the bees inside as possible.

Then we assisted with another kind of moving project.

Young friends--children of our good friends--are beginning a new business. Their shelving units were on the truck and were delayed and delayed and delayed until the day before the city was to inspect the shelving. So a few of us went to see if we could assist with opening boxes, marking the outlets and putting the shelves on the walls.

It gave us such a sense of accomplishment and joy to see everything coming together. We are asking God to bless the business and make it profitable for this young family.

And as we left, Tim and Tiff graciously gave us VIP cards, t-shirts and some products to sample.

We were moved.

Where angels fear to tread . . .

This looks like a lot of fun!

And great exercise!

Although I'd much prefer to swim in water.

Who could resist this beautiful girl's encouragement?

But I did not succomb.

The next morning, walking friend, Lois, was appalled that I took the children.

Lois: Did you see the ramps?

Me: Yes.

Lois: Did you think about the ramps?

Me: No, not really.

Lois: Do you think people in wheel chairs jump on trampolines?

Me: Uh, guess not.

Lois: Those are for stretchers! There are an average of three ER visits per day from that facility.

I walked in on two legs.
I watched on two legs.
I walked out on two legs.

And all children were in one piece as well.

I believe in angels.