This picture was taken on Easter Sunday  2014 at an outdoor Easter service in Idaho. My nephew, Tom ,took the picture as the group sang “The Old Rugged Cross”.

I sat in a chair staring at the coffin that was in front of me. The cold crisp January air blew across my face, I heard the chilling melody of “Taps”.  I was in a trance like state when I  saw a solider kneeling before me handing me the American Flag  they had just folded. I laid it in my lap , my hands trembling.I was numb on the outside but screaming on the inside.  IT’S A REPLAY, IT’S A REPLAY, my insides screamed. Almost 40 years earlier in this very cemetery I had heard the haunting tune of “Taps” the soliders giving me an America Flag . At that time ,my young husband had fallen in the jungles of Vietnam. He had been killed by a sniper as the helicopter he was flying lifted wounded soliders to safety. I remembered my small son sitting beside me devastated and trying so hard to be a brave little solider.Now, he sat beside me again trying to comfort me and his younger brother . I wondered if he felt as I did, that it was a horrible replay of the past.

I continued to stare at the coffin that contained the lifeless body of my beloved husband Jim. Why did this happen? He was so healthy and full of life until the silent killer of colon cancer had made him  sick. He had tried with every fiber of his being to survive, his family needed him. Dustin, our son, was battling brain cancer and Jim knew how terrified we were of losing him and how much we all loved him. We had spent 36 wonderful years together, I didn’t know how I would ever survive the loss and pain that was before me. He suffered so much in the end. The pain he endured was unbearable and I knew he kept hanging on because of us. I heard our pastor as he talked about what a good man Jim had been, how much he loved the Lord and his family and his selfless service and leadership in the community.The cemetery was packed with people but they seemed to be a blur. Somewhere in the distance I heard a rooster crow.  I shook, not so much from the cold but from all the grief and pain. I looked up into the clear blue sky and said a silent prayer. “Please God”, I pleaded, Just let me know he’s okay and not hurting anymore”.  Suddenly without any warning two commercial jet planes were streaking across the western  sky to form a perfect cross.”Thank you,Lord,” I whispered, you have given me an answer,I now know he is safe in your arm’s”.   I hugged the flag close to my breast, God had heard my cry and I felt such peace.

I PACKED MY BAGS AND JOURNEYED  TO  A PLACE I DIDN’T KNOW

I SAID, “GOD WHY AM I GOING?’ HE ANSWERED, “CHILD YOU JUST GO.”

SO I FOLLOWED HIS LEADING EVEN THOUGH I FELT UNDONE

MUSTERED  UP MY COURAGE AND TOLD MYSELF THIS WILL BE FUN!

I SAID, “GOD I’VE  READ ALL THE BIOS , THESE WOMEN ARE YOUR BEST

YOU KNOW I’M JUST BEGINNING, I’M SURE I’LL BE STRESSED!”

HE REPLIED, “TRAVONNA, I’VE GATHERED EACH AND EVERY DAUGHTER

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, YOU’LL LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND

SHOUT TO THE WORLD THAT I EXIST.”

OH, WHAT A DELIGHTFUL TIME I HAD, THE FELLOWSHIP WITH NEW FRIENDS

LEARNING, LISTENING, REJOICING, NOT WANTING THE WEEK TO END.

GOD BROKE THE BARRIERS  OF MY FEARS, WHILE SATAN WATCHED AND HISSED

I SMILED AND SAID, “”THANK YOU LORD, WITH YOU I COULDN’T MISS.”

YES, WE ARE HIS CHILDREN, UNIQUE, EACH PACKAGED PERFECTLY FOR HIS GLORY

GOD ONLY ASK US TO SHARE THE BEAUTY OF HIS PRESENCE

AND THE MARVELOUS VICTORY OF  CHRIST’S STORY.

Travonna Wootton

October 2013

When Dustin was finally away from the hospital and we had a few weeks before many rounds of chemo and radiation began ,we decided to leave Oklahoma City for a  week and go to a peaceful resort area in eastern Oklahoma. We rented a very nice furnished cabin with a balcony and perfect  view.  Things were a little better but I was still on the pills. One evening , while at the cabin, I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I had just finished showering and was about to grabbed for the pills when I heard this loud audible voice say, “TRAVONNA, IF YOU TAKE ONE MORE OF THOSE PILLS YOU WILL DIE!”  The voice was so loud it scared me to death.  I knew it wasn’t Jim or Dustin because they were on the balcony. I whispered, “Lord is that you?” I didn’t hear one more word, but I knew it was God.  That night I flushed those pills now the bathroom toilet. It was like throwing away my crutch.Many of my friends and family have said to me, what I heard wasn’t audible that it was probably a combination of circumstances. They explain it away by saying I was so upset and the pills were probably making me hallucinate . However,I know what I heard, and I believe if I had been at home and heard that voice and flush the pills down the commode I would have been at the doctors office the next day wanting more pills. The Lord knew to speak to me while I was in that remote area because the next few nights were terrible. I couldn’t sleep, I had headaches and felt awful.  Being in the middle of nowhere I couldn’t do much but endure the withdrawals.  When we returned home I thought about going and getting another script but by that time I was doing better.It didn’t happen overnight it was difficult but I know that if I hadn’t listened to God something horrible would have happened. I have never heard that audible voice again. God has spoken to me  many times through the Holy Spirit, but never in a Loud Voice.  I told my husband about the voice , he too, knew it was God.

We serve an Amazing Awesome God!

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

-Philippians 3:12-16

My grandson is pole vaulting this spring. He loves the sport and is very good at it. In fact, he will soon be competing in the Texas Regionals. We were all concerned because he had  shoulder surgery, last fall, due to a football injury. We didn’t want him to injure  himself again; nevertheless, he keeps reaching for the goals he has set for himself.

I’m so thankful for his wonderful parents who encourage him to set goals, they have reared him to trust The Lord and his heart. Also, for the Christian Coach who prays with his team before every meet. That’s almost unheard of in public schools.

As these young men and women press on to reach their goals, I  pray that as a Christian, with God by my side, I can climb that mountain or leap over  every  obstacle that is holding me back and  be the witness he wants me to be. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect; however, he is pleased when we are willing to press on reaching forward to those things that are ahead.

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

-Matthew 13:3-9

Our plants have arrived, all 150 thousand of them!

Now it’s time to plant. In our arid parched  country people say you have to be a man of Great Faith or a gambler to be a farmer. I know my husband is a man of faith and not a gambler so we always put everything in God’s hands.

Every year when the plants arrive I try to imagine how difficult it’s going to be for them to survive and I know some will not. Some will not survive because of lack of water even though we irrigate they will be in the wrong place. Some will be planted in soil that isn’t as rich in minerals and some will be eaten by wild animals and insects ,and yes ,the weeds that tend to crop up even though they are hoed many times throughout the season will choke them and they too will be lost.Others will not bear fruit because the bees wasn’t able to pollenate them. But MANY will survive in spite of everything. Their roots  will dig deep  into the soil and they will hang on for dear life.

In Matthew13:4-9 Jesus preached to a multitude about the parable of the sower. People are much like these tender plants . We don’t all have the same opportunities and all of us face different adversities but we must never ever give up. God will help us survive if we believe and allow him too. He loves us. He wants us to survive so that we may   bear much fruit and glorify him!

We had such a difficult winter he also removed all the dead shrubs  from my flower beds , now, I wonder what will live out in this wilderness . Verlin told me I had to make a decision soon.
Our grandchildren enjoy seeing all the wild turkey and deer this time of year. Also, eating  “chicken fried steak” one of their favorite foods. Sometimes it’s just fun to lay back and go fishing. I’m just happy they still want to come to “Nonnie’s”!

Willow, Oklahoma is my hometown. Here’s a poem I wrote about Willow. I hope you enjoy it and maybe come to visit sometime.

Where in the world is Willow?

Where the people are gentle
and the pace kind of slow
Where the cotton grows tall
And the wind sure can blow.

Where cattle and horses
Graze in the fields,
And windmills keep turning
like small ferris wheels.

Where old men and children
Work hand in hand
Cutting the wheat
And plowing the land.

Where a ‘Gang’ means a gathering
At the Willow Cafe
Discussing the weather
And the high cost of hay.

Where God is the answer
And the Bible no lie
Where neighbors know if you’re sick
And care when you die.

Where men risk their lives
When others are in trouble
With swift speed and action
They’re  there on the double.

It’s my ‘HOMETOWN’
It’s roots, it’s heart.
A ‘Rockwell’ painting,
A place set apart.

“Where in the world is Willow,”
Did you say?
Why! It’s south of Ocina
And east of L. A.

Blessings

Blessings come in many forms
They can be large or small.
Generously sprinkled throughout our lives
And our loving God has given them all.

Wonderful family, caring friends;
Honeysuckle and mistletoe
Fresh baked bread, a warm cozy bed
Snowflakes on a crinkled little nose.

Church bells ringing, a robin singing
A walk down a winding road
The smell of fried chicken, laughter and hugs
That lifts and lightens the load.

Enough money to pay the bills and some to give away
A knowing glance that says I care
A Christmastime sunset, a rainy day.

A picture drawn in crayon
Made especially for me
Logs burning in a fireplace
Lights twinkling on a Christmas tree.

Cattle licking an orphan fawn
And protecting him as their own
What a joy in itself
To see them all romp and rome.

Precious memories that swell the heart
And make the eyes glisten and fill
A sweet sadness mixed with hope
Knowing that it’s all in God’s will.

The love of Jesus deep and true
Hymns that pierce the soul
His guiding light that urges on
To share the greatest story ever told.

Blessings come in many forms
They can be large or small
Generously sprinkled throughout our lives
And our loving God has given them all.

The Lights of America

The lights are going out in America
We’re losing them one by one.
And there will be a day,
In bewilderment, we’ll say,
“Oh Lord! What have we done?”

Greed and lust snuffed out respect,
And so followed Honor and Truth.
Out went FAMILY VALUES,
What a blow that was for our youth.

The lights are going out in the land of the free,
See JUSTICE flickering there,
Swaying in the winds of corruption and deceit,
Bruised by equalities snare.

“SWEET LADY LIBERTY, where did you go?
Please don’t succumb to the night.
Is that you I see, In the storm of resistance,
Clutching your torch so tight?”

The lights are going out in the home of the brave,
While we SLEEPWALK through the nation of facade.
The walls are crumbling around us,
As we TRAMPLE THE LAWS OF GOD.

WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
It’s not too late,
The future with GOD we can handle
Remember, all the darkness in the world,
Can’t put out — ONE lighted candle.

An example of this was last week when a couple from our church were married in a ‘pasture’, everyone said, “Be sure and tell Travonna not to wear heels!” Even though I was reared in this community, my family did not farm. My dad raised cattle and owned a Barbershop in a larger town. I just didn’t like the outdoors that much probably because I would  blister every time I went  outside.

The Tractor Story

Verlin and I hadn’t been married too long when he asked me to help him get his semi truck out of the sand. My job was to get on the tractor, put it in gear and move it slowly until the chain that was hooked to the truck and tractor became tight.

I didn’t know how to drive a tractor so he gave me some tips, basically ‘Tractor 101.’ He said, “Now Babe, when the chain gets tight, give the tractor all it has and keep going until I tell you to stop.”  I said, “I think I can do that.” I didn’t realize until I got on the tractor that I had on red high heels and began slipping through the holes in the tractor floor.

I followed my instructions and got the big truck out of the sand. I looked back to see my husband waving at me. I waved back. Each time I looked back his waving motions became more frantic. Then it hit me…Oh, no! He wants me to stop this thing and I don’t know how. Finally, I just turned off the key. The cattle were even looking at me like I was crazy. The end result was I had driven that big tractor with the semi behind it for at least a mile.

Thank goodness Verlin has an easy going personality. He is very laid back. But when he finally reached me and the big tractor, he said “Hon, in farm language, he crossed his hands and waved them back and forth, this means stop.”