Get Your Own Dirt

Gravelly News by Glenna Goodson


God is sitting in Heaven when a scisntist says to Him",Lord, we don't need you anymore. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing.In other words, we can now do what yu did in the "beginning." Oh, is that so? Tell me....".replies God."Well, says the scientist, "we can take dirt and form it into the likeness of you and breathe life into it, thus creating man." "Well that's interesting. Show me." So the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil. "Oh no, no, no..." interrupts God, "Get your own dirt."

Diane O'Bryant, of Gravelly, her daughter in law and two grandchildren recently spent a few days in Pensacola, Fla. on vacation.Diane says she was really on her way to Gulf Shores but got lost and wound up in Pensacola!!Some ofthe things they really enjoyed was going to the beach, to the zoo, eating at the crabshack on beach. The boys and adults all had a great time.

It was good to be back teaching in the Wing Community Church last Wednesday ,after coming back from OKC.Louise Person was not there because one of her daughters had taken her to Ft. Smith to have sometests done. She will go back next week for the results. We still have our stinky" skunk under the church. Edie Turner saysshe is feeding him chocolate trying to make him sick so he will leave.After church. Loucinda invited me to her house to sample her stuffed peppers she had prepared that evening. They were really delicious!!

Anyone who knew Tommy Glen King, who died rece ntly, would you please go to the website to sign the online guest book at wwweastvalleytribune.com, in the June 25th edition. Add any comments and see what everybody else has said about him. Sarah, his sister, would really appreciate it.

My great niece, Emily, of Little Rock, has visited in Gravelly for several days. Her cousin, Jacob Swaim,Kathleen's and Steve's youngest,went home with Emily last week. He will stay a few days and come hime, then Cameron, his older brother, plans to go stay a few days.Ashly, the oldest Swaim child, will begin her 2nd year of college at Ar. Tech University, in a few days.

I called my cousin, Dortha in Waldron, last week to see how my Aunt Syble was dong. Dortha saidshe had had some very bad days but just that day she asked to please get up out of bed. The doctor did not think it would be a good thing so Dortha told her she could not get up. Aunt Syble just insisted and Dorthasaid"remember your bad knee, you might fall."So Aunt Syble says."Well just double up a quilt and put it by my bed and just roll me off onto the floor."Bless her "real" good.

Did you ever see a more fascinating thing to watch then a hummng bird? At my bird feeder there are over a dozen drinking and flying at one time.I sit in my lawn chair and watch them for ages.I have to fill up my feeder 3 times per day. O.L. Briggs told me he was going broke by buying so much sugar for his hummng bird water!!When my son, Russell, was here I was mixing up some more water for the hummingbirds and Russ said"Mom ,don't mix the sugar with your awful ,iron, water. Use this water I bought at the store this morning".So I poured mine out and fixed the mixture with the"good" water.The birds came one time and did not come back. After about an hour with no birds, I took the feeder down, and fixed their mixture with my "bad"water and they just came swarming to drink it. Now can you explain that?.Maybe those birds know more then I do about the water. Maybe that awful water that turns my clothes yellow. that smells bad and makes your tea taste awful, is better for me then I thought!!


My sister, kathy Minnie, took Lacey, her husband, for his first therapy on his shoulder Friday the 28th.After his surgery, now begins the weeks of therapy at Russellville.Russell, my son, rode with them to Russellville to catch the bus for OKC.That night I kept trying to get hm on the phone and became very anxious when I could not find him at home.He left Russellville at 12 noon and was sjupposed to be in OKC at 6:45.I finally got him on the phone at 10:30 that night!!He had gotten to Ft. Smith and there was a 4 hour delay!!When he finally got to OKC hecouldn't find anyone to come get him so he started walking home, luggage and all. Our house is
about 6 miles from the bus station. After walking for over an hour, he called a cab!!I bet you won't get Russ on another OKC bound bus!!!

Amy June Castleberry told me the coons were eating their watermelons.She says "You can see their little foot prints on the watermelons. They jump up and down on the melons to findthe ones that are ripe and when they find a ripe one, they eat it."Now I don't know how scientific that theory is, but June says it's true.!

I went with Loucinda, Friday to Russellville.She decided to drive a few miles out ofthe way and lookat some of her land in Ranger.The man that rents her land has a large herd of cattle on the land, and we saw several of the herd and Loucinda said"Look at our old cow,:" and there was a greyish,white cow that certainly stood out in the herd because of her color.When Loucinda and Robert had cows and sold them ,they kept this one cow. I had been at their farm house before they sold it and Robert could call that cow and have a bucket of food for her and she would come running and eat from Robert's hand.When they rented their land to the man with the cows they asked him to promise to always keep their old cow, which he did. The cow is 25 years old!

My firend Peggy Dowdy, and I email each other about the books we are reading and what authors we enjoy.I told her I had a new book by Fannie Flagg called :"Can't \Wait to Get to Heaven" and how Iwas enjoying it. She emailed back that she thought I wrote someting like Fannie Flagg!!Gee, Peggy will be my friend forever!!! I think I will write a book!!

Saturday night, Loucinda asked O.L. Briggs and myself to go with her to hear the Ramblers Band at Russellville train depot.O.L. was already at Loucindas when Iarrived, ready to go on to Russellville. I asked him how he was and he said "Not very good." Iasked what was wrong and he said he thought it was just all the miles he had and maybe he needed an oil change.!We stopped at Dardanelle at the Dairy Delight to eat sjupper.It was a very good meal. We went on to Russellville to hear the Ramblers. Scott, Loucinda'sson, met us there andhad brought lawn chairs for us. O.L. says, :"you mean Ihave to sit outside" but it was fine cause it was in the shade.Bartley Bell ofthe Ramblers, came and talked to us a few minutes. O.L, and Loucinda know hm but I had to introduce myself.Hesaid"You're that crazy woman that wites that column in the Record."Orlan Ray Thomas told him he'd better be nice or I would write something bad about him.But nothing could be saidthat wasbad about that band. I really love to hear Bartley and Kelli Hill sing together.Toward the end ofthe program, Kelli did a yodeling number.We all loved to hear her yodel.The very closing number was Kelli singing "Amazing Grace."You just forgetr where yu are as you listen to that inspirational song!!

Saturday, I went to the Adventist church in Ola. I hadbeen gone and had not seen my firends for 3 weeks. It was so good to see Janice and husband,Peggy, Kelli,Jody and Dr. Sandberg and all the others.The hugs were really appreciated and all the lovethat was sensed!!

Sunday, I was so glad to be back in my .Baptist church of Rover. I had really missed Bro. Shipley's sermons.And then we had our 5th Sundaysinging that night.Larry Wilson hadcome to our church that morning with hisson and family and to say I was gladto see Larry was an understatement.Hebrought his guitar that night and played andsang two numbers for us.They were songs I had never heard before and they were just beautiful! Larry has been sick for several months, and hadalso hurt his handand could not play the guitar but now he is much better and I thank the Lord for that..He looks good and healthy and I pray to God that He will keep Larry well and keep him in the center of His will.!

Remember that a lot of money is tainted---"Taint yours, and "Taint mine."

You'd just have to hear her

Gravelly news by Glenna Goodson

A couple of blonde men in a pickup truck drove into a lumberyard. One of the blonde men walked into the office andsaid "we need some four-by-twos." The clerk said,"You mean two-by-fours, don't you?" The man said,"I'll go check." and went back to the truck. He returned a minute later and said, Yeah, I meant two-by-fours. "Alright, how LONG do you need them?" The customer paused for a minute and said,"Uh--I'd better go check." After awhile the blonde returned to the office and said,"A long time, we're building a house."

Last month Dr. Sandberg celebrated a birthday. He says according to many of the restaurant menus, he is a senior citizen at 55.

At our food pantry at Rover Baptist Church last Tuesday we helped 8 families. We receive our food from Rice Depot and U.S.D.A..The people of our church also bring a lot of food and contribute money to buy food.How wonderful it is to help people in need.

I saw Chuck McCool in Fowlers last week He shared that his real estate business in Hot Springs Village is doing well.

There will be a smoking ban beginning July 21st. in Fowler's Cafe. Don't gripe at the employer, it is a state law.

Dorothy Aiustin ,of Nola, broke her foot last week. It is so swollen the doctors are waiting to see if they put on a cast or do something else. Dorothy was just walking in her yard and stepped in a hole. That is the same way I broke my arm many years ago. My family and I had come to Ar. for Easter. .As we were leaving to go back to OKC, stepped in a hole, fell and broke my right arm.Dorothy has a good job and having a broken foot will make it harfd on her, so I wish for her the best. I know Roy will take good care of her.

I received an educational e-mail warning me to not answer any phone message with the area code of 809. It seems the agency is located in the Bahamas that is making the calls. If you talk to them, you can be charged $2425 a minute!!It seems nothing can be done by your telephone company--it's left up to you not to talk to them. No one needs to warn me. I never answer the phone if it is an area code of which I am not familiar. I'm not all that wild about a phone. I mostly consider it a waste of time.I like to talk to Loucinda every day, just to check in and we make sure each other is alive, each day. I had much rather read a book or write a letter. Letters are more fun then telephone calls any day, as far as I am concerned.I guess I have seen too many mothers neglect their children by talking on a dumb phone!!Sorry Mr. Alexander Graham Bell!!

A friend from the Adventist Church gave me a loaf of bread that they purchase in Fayetteville. The bread is delicious. It has no flour nor oil in it. I'm hoping it has a lot less calories--I haven't asked yet I'm just eating twice as much and hoping for less calories.

It is so great that Elaine and Dale Lambert are the grandparents of triplets!!The triplets are almost 2 months old now--Two are home and one is still in Children's Hospital.at L.R. God's blessings on them!!

My sister and brother in law, Kathy and Lacey Minnie and Kathleen and her family left early Thursday morning for a short vacation in Branson. Lacey had his shoulder surgery Monday so I surely hope he is careful and that everyone has a good time.

A couple of weeks ago, the Adventist Church that has been meeting in the Ola Methodist Church while their church is being built, met in the club house at Ola, since there was a funeral in the Methodist church.Dr. Ruff preached the lesson which was a blessing. His daughter, Aaron played a piano spec ial for us.Dr. Ruff had chosen for her to play,"We Will Behold Him."There's not enough adjectives to describe her playing!You'd just have to hear her. I ate lunch with the church and sat by Aaron so I could talk to her. Many young people with her musical ability and a bright future assured for her in the medical field, wouldbe "full" of themselves. Aaron, on the other hand, is a humble person and she makes you feel that what you are saying is important to her. Now THAT is a gift!!

Since I will be leaving the 16th for OKC and will be gone for 10 days, I am sending my column in early so that it will be published for you readers next week. I will surely miss teaching the Bible Class at Wing--especially since we are having more people. I will also miss my S.Baptist Church at Rover.I will miss Bro. Shipley's sermons--Also I will miss Johnny Turner's teasing. He'll have to pick on Louise Gillum while I am gone!I

An observation: "Why must the phrase "It's none of my business," always be followed by "but"?

I'd better dig my wig out to wear

Gravelly News by Glenna Goodson

Two BLONDE GUYS were working forthe city works department.One would dig a hole and trhe other would follow behind him and fill the hole. They worked up one side of the street, then down the other, then moved on to the next street, working furiously all day without rest, one guy digging a hole ,the other guy filling it up again. An onlooker was amazed at their hard work, but could not understand what they were doing. So he asked the hole digger,"I'm impressed by the effort you two are poutting into your work, but I don't get it. Why do you dig a hole, only to have your partner follow behind and fill it again?" The hole digger wiped his brow and sighed, "Well, I suppose it probably looks odd because normally we're a three-man team. But today the guy who plants the trees, called in sick."

When Fowler's restaurant was at Danville, it was always filled with people. Now that they are in Plainview, it is the same. At any given time at Fowler's country cafe at Plainview, the parking lot will be filled with cars andthe cafe filled with people. Why is this? Because of the NAME. When people see the name"Fowlers" they say"their food is always good and the service is great." I wrote that to write this" You are known by your name!! A teen-ager once said to me when I was teaching,"Mrs. Goodson when you heard my name you probably automatically thought I was bad."How very sad!!My Dad used to say"Shug, don't dishonor our name."If you young people feel as if your name holds you back, be strong and make a NEW name for yourself.

Roy Fickle, of Nola, has had surgery on one of his feet because of his diabetes. J.B. Wagner told me Roy was doing well.

Kathy and I visited our Aunt Syble in the Waldron Nursing Home last week. Aunt Syble is not doing well. She does not know us now. Bless her real good.

Butterflies, our women's organization of Rover Baptist Church, had 11 people at our meeting the 3rd.Melanie Sawyer had charge ofthe program and she chose a patriotic theme because of the 4th of July coming up ,the birthday of our country.. Our country was founded by men that had great faith in God.We were always to be"One Nation under God."Then the following Sunday, Bro. Shipley, our pastor,reminded us that our country is great because we are good.When we are no longer good, we no longer will be great. We have certainly strayed--Remember The Judge from Alabama, Judge Roy Moore, that was stripped of his judgeship by refusing to remove the 10 commandments from his courtroom wall?This man was willing to lose his job to stand up for what he believed. Shelly Tippin e-mailed me a wonderful poem by Judge Moore and Shelly writes,"If more ofthe leaders of our country were like Judge Moore, I would not be fearful of the future for my two children."

Mulberry FWB church hada 4th of July get -together for the youth of the community. Kathy tells me there were at least 30 young people there. The adults fixed them hot dogs, hamburgers and all the fixins.The young people played basketball, volley ball and shot fire works.

The Eagle Ridge Institute at Guthrie, Ok, , where my granddaughter Robyn and her children are, is having a family day July 22.. Fred, Russell andi plan to go. I plan to go to OKC for my eye appointment the 18th, and then we all will go to Guthrie the 22nd. I talkedby phone with Robyn and Jake last weekend.Jake was trying to cry and when I asked what was wrong, he says"My mom won't read mea bedtime story."I asked hm why and of course hesays he does not know. I tell hm to tell his mom if she doesn't read him a story, I will Zap her, so he turns to his mother and I can hear him tell her the exact words I said. He comes back to the phone and tells me"Well, she's gong to read me a little baby story, just 2 or 3 pages!" Aren't children fun?

My grandson and his wife that kept Jake and Allyson for one year, have two more foster children now.--a brother andsister, 7 and 8 years of age.I surely hope that when they have a child it will be a girl cause Ryan is really partial to girls.

Last Sunday night at church, Johnny Turner tells me my clothes don't match. Gee, I always thought orange, pink and green matched!!Then he tells me maybe I'dbetter dig my wig out to wear. Then this Sunday night he asks if Phyliss Diller is my sister!!I guess I'm just gong to have to have alll my hair whacked off.Our church had a bridal shower for Tommy Turner and his to be bride, Brittany.I saw right away that Tommy was like his Dad, Johnny. I thought of sending Brittany a sympathy card but instead I wish for them God's blessings.!

I saw Gee Spencer at Fowler's last week. Ms. Spencer is a retired teacher of Painview.She has the very unusual hobby of findng old cemeteries and sometimes graves in out of way places. Ms. pencer tries to find the date and name on the headstone.She shares with people on the inter-net who reveals the names on the gravestones,so maybe there will be a family member out there say"This person was my relative."Ms. Spencer is so interesting to

talk too. She told me she cuts out my jokes from my column and saves them.

Two of my cousins celebrated birthdays last week. Leah Highfill Hogan of L.R. was 81 years of age the 5th of July. Last year I was thrilled to be part of the celebration of Leah's 80th birthday party, asurprise party planned by her family.Dorthy Copeland Putman of Waldron, had a birthday on the 8th.Since Dortha and I have a birthday the same year, I will not tell you her birthday.

Mr/ Damon, of Gravelly, hadback surgery a few weeks ago. Since he can't go back to driving a truck for qite some time. he has been working at their store ot Gravelly.A guy came into the store a couple of weeks ago that had not been in the store but a couple of times. The fellow asks Mr. Damon, "Why are you using Wal Mart bags?".Mr. Damon says"We are affiliated with Wal Mart."The fellow just says"oh."I bet that guy wonders how our little store is affiliated with Wal Mart, but it sounds good!!

On the 4th of July, Loucindaand I decide we must do something, so we go to Russellville where they are having a lot of sales at the departmentstores. We shopt at mostly Penney's and Goody's and then go to Hastings..Loucinda tells me to stay away from the books, and she's right, I sure do not need any more books. She rentsa couple of movies. We see Debby Lofland, her son Jacob and Trever Jones in the store. I ask the boys how is it for them since school is out and Trevor allows that it is boring. Louci nda and I go to her son's home and we visit with Scott and Michael. Tammy had gone to visit a friend so we just visit with the guys.The family has a new dog--a beautiful orange bull dog, named Punkin Michael shoots 3 of his fire works for me and shows me what he has to shoot off that night.Speaking of
Michael, when Loucindacame back from her Alaskan cruise, she was of course, anxious, to see Michael. Scott and Michael came over and Loucinda says"Michael you need to pay more attention to me."
Michael says,"How much will it cost, you said to Pay.:" I hope Loucinda is keeping a book entitled "sayings of Michael."

I stopped by the home of Dennus and June Castleberry one evening last week.One son, Rex,is there putting in new tile for them hat was made necessary when their hot water heater burst. Rex has done a wonderful job!!One bathroom has grey and brown tile. June has beautiful grey in the kitchen. I was impressed!!

As you see our flag pass by does a knot come up in your throat because of your love for this flag of our country? .This flag is a symbol of freedom. Imagine that our flag could talk--perhaps these might be some of its words: " Wherrever free men gather, wherrever there is justice, equality, faith, hope, charity, truth or brotherly love, there too am I. I shall remain until like tho old soldier, I'll just fade away and be retired by time alone and may history never write my obituary, For I am the Stars and Stripes forever" Amen and Amen!! .