WEBVTT
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Consider one another as a podcast focused on each other.
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Thank you for tuning in to this podcast that is all about stirring up love and good works in one another.
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I'm sitting down with our very own Fluffy this afternoon.
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We've canceled our dentist appointments.
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It's 2.30 in the afternoon.
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We're here at the vintage, where Fluffy is a little bit of a celebrity, I would say.
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Fluffy, thanks for sitting down and being on the podcast today.
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I'm really encouraged to be here and I joke about her celebrity status here, but you really do know a lot of people here, don't you?
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Uh you were just telling me 17 years here.
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Yeah, 17 and a half.
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That half is what gets you.
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That's what gets you the connections and the celebrity status.
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I want to talk more about just the way you connect with people.
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But of course, first we're gonna jump in to scripture.
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That's where I want to be.
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I'm looking at Psalm 92.
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I'll read the verse because I think it describes Fluffy very well.
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But I'll read the verse and then we'll talk about that.
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Psalm 92 and verse 12.
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The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree.
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He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord.
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They will flourish in the courts of our God.
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They will still yield fruit in old age.
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They shall be full of sap and very green to declare that the Lord is upright.
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He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
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You guys probably know that I like tree imagery, and there's a lot of it in the Bible.
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That yielding fruit is one that Jesus talks about, of course.
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It's one the psalmist talks about here, and Fluffy, I just see you as yielding fruit.
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I want to know more about just these years, these 17 and a half years here, how you've connected with the people here, whether it's the singings or uh evangelism and Costco, like you're saying, uh, how do you uh what motivates you to keep being faithful, keep declaring that the Lord is upright and yielding fruit?
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Well, with the church, I'm rather gregarious, but not here.
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I'm shy.
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And people don't believe that when I don't believe you.
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Oh really?
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Here you're shy, okay.
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And my grandchildren think I have constant company here because of everybody.
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Right.
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Uh nobody ever comes here, and I don't go to their apartment.
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Not even Cheryl's.
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Okay.
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If I see them in the hall, I may chat a little bit, and frequently I'll go down to our social room where I know there are people gathering.
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Some of the people there are definitely not Christians as we understand it.
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Sure, yeah, yeah.
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And I told Cheryl, I said, that's where we need to be going.
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Mm-hmm.
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Go to the people we need to be getting acquainted with and encouraging.
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So I do that because they drink a lot.
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Okay, okay.
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And that's worked well for me uh as far as interacting with people.
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Well, I keep my ears alert for newcomers to the community, and they will invariably say, We're looking for a home church, and of course I jump on that with both music.
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Yes.
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Oh, I love that opening.
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And that's a good opening for me to uh invite them.
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That's perfect.
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And uh for instance my friend Landa uh I met at Costco.
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I was Christmas shopping, and it was on a Sunday, and I had been to church and I had on a bright purple outfit.
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Oh and she said, Oh, look at you, she's kind of loud.
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And oh, look at you, and that started our conversation.
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We talked for 15 minutes, I didn't even know her.
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Right.
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And I invited her to church.
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Wow, and she said, Well, I can't promise to go this Sunday because I've already promised to go with somebody else.
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Uh-huh.
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But I will be there the next Sunday, and she was.
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Wow.
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And she's been at least three times.
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Three times since I've been here, that's for sure.
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Yeah.
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Oh, that's awesome.
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And but that's the way I usually approach anybody.
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I love that.
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Yeah.
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Said you're shy.
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Do you get nervous doing that?
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Or are the nerves different to see what you're doing?
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I just don't want to do it.
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I it's hard for me to reach out.
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If I'm in control, I'm okay.
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Yeah.
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But if they're in control, it's very hard for me.
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I appreciate you opening up about that, because you're right.
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People will hear this and say, fluffy, shy.
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But it's different when we're in our church buildings.
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Yeah.
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We can feel more comfortable.
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Well, yeah, where I feel I can trust everybody and I pretty much know what their response is gonna be if I say anything.
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But down in the social room, who knows what?
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You get laughed at or kicked out.
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Wow, okay.
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So that's hard to do.
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People are staying in the rooms.
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Yeah, that it makes me shy about reaching out.
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I'm tired of being hurt.
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Yes.
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And it makes it hard to reach out and put myself vulnerable.
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And it I I love that you're saying that because you you still continue to yield fruit anyway.
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Whether it's the scene that we had here, where you got so many people that we did not know, just residents here to come and show up to that.
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Over over 200 here.
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Okay, over 200 here.
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That makes it even better because there there's probably uh twenty people at that that you'd invited.
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It's a big percentage.
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And so to be shy and have that fear of rejection is so normal, but uh you've overcome it.
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You you still reach out to these people and that's encouraging to me.
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I don't take part in any card games or or uh any kind of games here, and there are many.
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I saw all the Bunko signs and everything going on.
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Uh huh.
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I do play cards once in a while with a friend Linda.
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Cool.
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But uh she's been preoccupied lately.
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So Okay.
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Well, I was thinking about whether it's in the Costco, like you're telling me before, or just Josh Ralston will tell me about how you are in the Sprout store telling everyone about yeah, uh, like, oh, you gotta come and hear Josh, he gives these great talks at church.
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So I can understand when I hear those stories, I just can't picture Fluffy being shy.
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But even maybe those conversations can be kind of uncomfortable.
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Well, that's what it is.
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I'm afraid of being hurt.
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Yeah, yes, aren't we all?
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But it's so encouraging when we get to meet Landa at services or or anyone else you've invited.
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Thank you for overcoming that.
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It's a good example to us when we see someone who's natural at it.
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We think she's not shy, but she is.
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I have the loveliest birthday card from my son Mike.
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He's very poetic.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And later I'll read it to you.
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Oh, yeah.
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He's sweet.
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Yeah.
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He's sweet.
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We love Mike.
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We love Mike.
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He couldn't be on the podcast today.
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He's in Italy.
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Having a good time.
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Yeah.
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But we love him.
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I want to rewind with you to I guess before you were even known as Fluffy.
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That's all I know you as.
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Well, I got that nickname when I worked at the Willows.
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Oh, at the Willow.
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Yeah.
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Several of us were having coffee one morning and talking about our weight.
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I was like 43 years old and very slender.
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Okay.
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You're 43, got it.
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And I said, Well, actually, I'm not fat, I'm just fluffy.
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And one of the little men that struck him so funny, he almost fell out of his chair laughing.
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And he nicknamed me Fluffy.
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And you stuck with it.
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And it's absolutely stuck.
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It has served me well in working with the public.
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If I don't want to use my real name, I give them my nickname.
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Yeah, not the government name, but the the fluffy nickname, and you stuck with that.
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And I love that you have because it does make uh your presence iconic.
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When I talk about you to someone who's visited, like someone, oh well, you know her, Fluffy.
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And everyone says, Oh right.
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Of course I remember Fluffy.
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It's a memorable name.
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But going even before that, before th those times, I'm just curious about oh, where you grew up.
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I I don't know that, or how you became a Christian if you were raised in the church or how that came about.
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I was born in Columbus, Georgia.
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Wow.
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Uh long ways from here.
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My biological father committed suicide and I was four years old, and he is buried in Columbus.
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And uh when I was almost seven, uh mother had as she was a male order bride.
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I don't know if you know what that means.
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That is an old term to me.
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Well, nowadays it would be the internet.
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Okay.
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But anyway, they corresponded for a few months and he sent her money to come to Washington and marry him with five children.
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I'm the baby of seven, but the two elders had already left home.
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And uh so we got on the train and headed for Washington State.
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We went angled up to Chicago and then went across the northern states.
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And when we got to Sparta, Wisconsin, mother had a paralytic stroke.
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She was 41 and very nearly died.
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And I saw all that happening.
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It happened that in that town they had a home for dependent children.
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So they put her in the hospital and put us in this home for six or seven weeks.
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And I know God was right there because when she walked out of that hospital, walked out, not in a wheelchair, on her own power, not even a nurse with her, she walked to the vehicle by herself.
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And we continued our trip, and when we got to Spokane, she and my stepfather were married.
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Okay.
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And this was August 21st, 1944.
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And we went 150 miles up in the woods to his ranch.
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Wow.
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Which was a God send blessing for a place for to rear children.
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You liked it growing up.
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Oh yeah.
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Because you're pretty young here.
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I yeah, I was almost seven.
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Okay.
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He had an upright piano.
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Oh.
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And I started teaching myself to play.
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That was one of my questions.
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And to this day, I I don't know one key from another, don't know one note from another.
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You can't read music.
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I'm no.
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Wow.
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I'm totally self-taught, and I have over 300 songs in my repertoire.
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Just memorize.
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Yeah, give her sheet music.
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She'll just put it away.
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I can I just sit down and play one right after the other.
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Do you still continue to learn or you just rely on that free time?
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No, I try to improve every time I play.
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I always have.
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Yeah, I just learned something.
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What?
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Just picking it up by ear.
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Improve up my rhythm.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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And I know what sound a key is gonna make before I hit it.
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Yeah.
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Okay, so you've been playing the piano since you're about seven.
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Well, uh, professionally since the late nineties.
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Okay, that's what it became ninety, not my age.
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Right, right.
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Professionally, where you you got these gigs that we'll we'll talk about, but just learning from a young, young kid.
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You were just teaching yourself.
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God had a purpose in my doing that because I got on the phone, nobody knew me.
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Right.
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And I got 18 different places hired me, sight and sing.
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Wow.
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To play.
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Yes.
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And oh wow.
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Yeah.
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Like God was preparing this for you.
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Well, he has a purpose for my doing that.
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And bringing joy in the lives of those people in my life.
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And yourself too.
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I know it brings you joy.
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I remember being in this same room, me and a couple nice guys just moved this piano all the way up here.
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Oh, that's right, you helped move it.
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I did, yeah.
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I think Jonathan and David Kelly, and it's still right there, still playing there.
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And there was just so much joy when you got to play that piano.
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I could I could see that.
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It brings us joy too to hear, but something about you hitting those keys I'm sure you love for playing that piano for such a long time.
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God had a purpose.
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Yeah.
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With the piano or the stepfather, or anyone else.
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And I've said more prayers before I play and afterwards a prayer of Thanksgiving.
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Yeah, what does that prayer look like before?
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Just well, I just ask God to keep my mind clear and help me to totally focus, keep my fingers nimble.
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Yeah.
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Amen.
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And help me to bring joy to all those who hear my music.
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Yeah, that's a beautiful prayer.
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Yeah, we can apply that to so many things.
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I love that piano for you.
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Well, God had a purpose for that for sure.
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I'm wondering then, how did you come to know the Lord?
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Was that through your stepfather too, or how did that happen?
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Well, the kids' dad was a member of the Church of Christ.
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Oh, okay.
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And when we were engaged, I wanted to know about his religion because I we lived 70 miles from the nearest church.
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Wow.
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And even though my mother taught me a lot about God, we didn't go to services.
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I was baptized in Spokane, North Spokane congregation in 1955.
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Okay.
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Uh my brother, eldest brother, had an extremely sick wife.
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They were of different faiths.
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Yeah.
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And I didn't want to marry into that kind of situation.
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So I learned what I could about his faith.
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Oh.
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You just kind of seen how it didn't work for you.
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And I was baptized before we married.
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Okay, oh, interesting.
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In Spokane.
00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:13.919
Yeah.
00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.480
Okay.
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:19.200
And then I graduated in Spokane from high school.
00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:33.919
And that night at 1230, my brother, whose wife had died, and a co-driver, the three of us set off from Mississippi for me to be married.
00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.679
Right after graduating high school?
00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.000
Yeah.
00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:36.399
Okay.
00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:39.279
Set off short trip down to Mississippi.
00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.519
I had my bridal shower.
00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.519
I was baptized.
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:46.159
I had baccalaureate service.
00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:50.559
I had graduation service all within a week.
00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.039
And traveled 3,000 miles.
00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:55.120
Almost three.
00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.159
Wow.
00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:04.399
Well, and you're just 18 and we were married in uh Corinth, Mississippi, by brother Jimmy Allen.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:04.960
Okay.
00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.559
You might have heard of him.
00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:11.600
He was quite popular for he officiated down there in Mississippi.
00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.320
Yeah.
00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:12.799
Wow.
00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:18.240
And we lived six months with his parents, and I kept encouraging him.
00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.960
He already had two years of junior college.
00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:32.799
And I encouraged him to go on to Mississippi State and Startville to continue his education, and they didn't have anywhere for married couples to live.
00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.120
They were all taken up.
00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:40.000
So we had to wait six months till a place opened up where I could join him.
00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.559
Yes.
00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.960
And he would come home on weekends.
00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.000
Wow, that's hard.
00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:47.120
But he did go ahead and finish, like you encouraged him.
00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.840
Oh yeah.
00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:54.399
He eventually got a master's degree, and I got two and a half years in college.
00:15:54.720 --> 00:16:00.320
And then later went to Olympic college, and I've got three and a half years.
00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.120
Okay.
00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:05.519
I am curious then about that connection between Mississippi and Washington.
00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.320
I'm trying to understand.
00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.320
Well, he was in the Air Force.
00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.360
He was in the Air Force.
00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:21.039
Oh, he I was in high that part of my high school was in Colville, and they had an Air Force base there where he was stationed.
00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:29.919
I met him on a blind double date because I told my girlfriend when she called me and wanted me to go with him.
00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:34.879
She said it's my birthday and we're going to celebrate and then go to a drive-in movie.
00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.799
I've never been to a drive-in movie.
00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:43.120
I said, Well, you know how I feel about dating military guys.
00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:43.440
Right.
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:48.879
And she said, and I could hear her mother in the background telling her what to say.
00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.519
She said, Oh, he's from the South.
00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.559
You'll love him.
00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.919
He's blah, blah, blah.
00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.000
So I ended up going on a date that night.
00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.360
That's how I met him.
00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:02.000
A blind double date.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.919
That's yeah, it's quite trusting.
00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.559
I understand.
00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.759
But there's the link between kind of South and Washington.
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:10.559
I guess those would be the two major places you've lived then.
00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.480
Or am I missing somewhere in between?
00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.480
Oh, I've lived all over the place.
00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:14.880
Okay.
00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.960
Uh he was an agriculture teacher.
00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.920
Oh, interesting.
00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.200
In high school.
00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:33.039
And in the summer, we would go to Chicago to get a quick job to earn tuition money for the fall, and we'd go back south and go back to school.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:43.119
And so we lived uh his first teaching job was in southeast Arkansas, a little bitty town called Wilmot.
00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:47.200
And my first baby was born while we were living there.
00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.759
She was born in Durmont, Arkansas.
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.240
Okay.
00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:58.400
And then he got a job teaching in Shannon, Mississippi, uh, eight miles from Tupelo.
00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.039
Okay.
00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.799
Another real small town.
00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.880
All small towns you're living in.
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:10.319
And we lived there three or four years, and my son Mike was born while we were living there.
00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:10.799
Okay.
00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.319
We ended up going to his hometown.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.240
Big mistake.
00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.759
And he taught agriculture there.
00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:25.440
So then we built the house and lived there until we divorced.
00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.000
Okay.
00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.119
But there was a fair amount of time spent down there in those small towns.
00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.559
Oh yeah, 20 years.
00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.000
That was 20 years, okay.
00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:36.160
So then recently then, Washington has been home for how long for you?
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.519
Since 1981.
00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:44.960
The reason I came to this area of Washington, I was reared in northeastern Washington.
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:45.440
Okay.
00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:52.559
But I came to this area because my mother was still alive and she was in a care facility in Port Oregon.
00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.400
Oh, and I wanted to be near her.
00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.440
Oh, good for you.
00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:58.880
So I got to be with her for four years before she died.
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:06.240
And then was it after that where you started that work with the retirement home that you started in Kitab County?
00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:13.759
No, it was uh when I left the kid's dad and we divorced, I didn't know how I was gonna make a living.
00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.160
Yeah.
00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:23.119
And I kept praying about it, and I kept having the thought, look in the newspaper, looking the newspaper, and but I wasn't looking at you.
00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:31.519
When I finally did, and I had already thought, I've always had good rapport with the elderly people.
00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:37.440
Well, there was one ad, 85-year-old lady needed help.
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:47.279
Oh, and I called the lady in charge and got hired over the phone, and I was there six months.
00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.119
She was the meanest old bat.
00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:54.559
And her name was Holiday.
00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.599
Holiday.
00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.559
The meanest lady ever.
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:07.759
But anyway, I went from there to different living jobs taking care of ladies with advanced Alzheimer's.
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.240
Okay.
00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:16.400
Uh, until I married a second time and we became managers of the willows.
00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:25.359
I do appreciate you opening up about some of these things because it's easy in the pews to just not think about those those struggles and those hard times.
00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.079
I said we'd keep it positive and focus on the good.
00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.400
Yeah.
00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:35.279
But but if you were to kind of encourage maybe someone else who's going through their own hard seasons, it's coming for all of us.
00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.680
What kept you faithful during those hard times?
00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.960
What what did you cling to?
00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:40.960
What would you say to someone who's struggling?
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.240
You know, I I've questioned myself about that.
00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:49.920
Mike said he can't remember me not sitting down reading the Bible.
00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:54.319
And my mother had a stronger faith as I've ever seen.
00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:54.480
Okay.
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:59.119
But she taught me to always pray it be God's will.
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.279
Well, first of all, to pray.
00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.920
And pray that it be God's will.
00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:09.119
And she taught me a lot of positive things like that about God.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.680
And that stuck with me.
00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.640
In fact, it still does to this day.
00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.480
And my faith just grew and grew more and more.
00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:25.200
Yeah, we hate to admit it, but if you look back on your life, people are going to agree that the faith grows during those hard times.
00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.000
Yeah.
00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.200
As hard as that is.
00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:32.000
I look at someone like Fluffy, I think, wow, what an encouragement, what an example of faith.
00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:37.119
I wonder how she became such a standard for faith and fruitfulness, and then you learn.
00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.640
Through hard knocks.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.839
Through hard knocks.
00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.640
Very hard.
00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:45.359
Yes, th don don't let me push it too hard here, but I do appreciate that.
00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.079
Advice because when people do go through those hard times, sometimes they forget to read.
00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.119
They forget to pray.
00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.279
They think, I gotta pull myself up here.
00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.400
This is a hard time.
00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.839
I gotta make my way on my own instead of depending.
00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.599
Well, I had to be strong for my
00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.279
Mm-hmm.
00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.839
Uh, that helped me for a lot of years.
00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.119
It's a big motivator.
00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.599
Yeah.
00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.160
Yeah.
00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.440
Be strong for them.
00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.599
And clearly, like I said, we love Mike.
00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.880
I've gotten to meet him.
00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:15.200
You can see the impact that that strength had, that faithfulness had in his life.
00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.119
We'll focus on the positive for now.
00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.680
Thank you for just opening up into that.
00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:23.119
It it really does help us learn about faithfulness through hard times.
00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.400
Thank you for your example.
00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.079
I said we'd return back to the pianos.
00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.200
Let's talk about pianos.
00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.720
That'll make us smile.
00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:32.240
You said playing professionally starting in the 90s.
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:39.039
So you've just been playing, kind of teaching yourself, and then you you said, you know what, I'm gonna start making money with this.
00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:44.799
Well, I used to uh stu I would work out at the Bremerton YMCA.
00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:45.519
Oh, cool.
00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:49.279
And on my way home, I would pass his nursing home.
00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:55.440
And there was a a member of the church who lived there twenty-something years, a lady.
00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:02.559
And uh so I would go by and see her, and I would just go in and volunteer and play the piano.
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:08.400
And the activity lady said, You know, we would pay you for what you're doing.
00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.240
You're giving it for free.
00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.759
So that's what got me into it.
00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.400
Okay.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:20.720
They just observed the playing, you going through your repertoire, and they said, Hey, we'd we'd pay you for that.
00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:34.079
I was only playing probably thirty to fifty songs at that time, and as the years passed I kept increasing my uh list and Yeah, you just keep learning, keep getting better.
00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.960
Do you have a favorite song that you play?
00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:39.279
My favorites I can't play.
00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.720
I love fascination.
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:44.960
Oh uh it's one of my favorites.
00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.160
But uh I like to keep it lively.
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.119
Yes.
00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:55.279
Uh there's one that I love, the rhythm from the Second World War called Elmer's Tune.
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.240
Elmer's Tune.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.640
That is very catchy rhythm.
00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.359
Okay.
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:20.319
And uh I'm often told I like your music because it's happy and upbeat, and I do try to I I have uh probably forty country western songs from years ago on my lip, but they're so negative that I I hardly ever play.
00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.039
Yes.
00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:24.640
Uh because I wanna I wanna keep it a B.
00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.720
Depends on the venue, I suppose.
00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.200
Yes.
00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:29.680
But where are the types of places that you're playing now?
00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.799
No, it's not quite as frequent.
00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.240
Well, at retirement homes and nursing homes.
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.440
That's why you're keeping it.
00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:37.359
That's where I've always played.
00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.880
Well, I take that back.
00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:42.240
For four years I played at a buffet.
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:48.640
Oh Angels Buffet behind the Bremerton uh Pancake House.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.599
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.880
East Bremerton.
00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.000
Oh, you just play there.
00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.000
It used to be a buffet there.
00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.559
Mm-hmm.
00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.960
And I played there until they closed.
00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.319
Oh, okay.
00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:58.559
Yeah.
00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:01.119
So now it's it's gonna be a retirement home setting.
00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:04.480
So you keep it lively and upbeat, just like that prayer you said.
00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:07.039
I hope this will be encouraging, exciting people.
00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:12.079
The point I started to make when I was Sizzler, that's the name of that registration.
00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:12.799
Sizzler.
00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.480
That is, yes, I do know the Sizzler.
00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:20.000
Their waitress would come to my apartment and I would pray with them.
00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.799
Wow.
00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.119
Yeah.
00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:23.440
Do you invite them to that, or how did that happen?
00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:26.400
And I would convert I converted one of them.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:26.799
Yeah.
00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.240
She was baptized.
00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.359
That's amazing.
00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.000
Yes.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:36.000
We just heard the encouragement on Sunday from Brother Don about inviting and how helpful that is.
00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.400
Yes.
00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:39.920
There are other things to invite people to besides a church service.
00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.119
Some people are really interested in that.
00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.680
Like you'd mentioned, some people say, I'm looking for a church home.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.880
Okay, invite them to ours.
00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.880
There's other people who aren't quite ready for that.
00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.279
But if you invite them to pray, it sounds like what you did.
00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.880
Yeah, let's let's come pray together.
00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.160
That's what they wanted.
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.079
And they were just teenagers.
00:25:54.319 --> 00:26:00.000
Well, I would say at least four different ones to my apartment.
00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.440
It's a great invitation.
00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:01.839
Yeah.
00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.039
Yeah, we see it in scripture.
00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.799
That's amazing.
00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.920
And it makes sense.
00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:14.799
We see the disciples say that teach us to pray.
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:21.039
And we are very blessed with our Bibles and good people who taught us things, like you said your mom did to teach you to read and pray.
00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.359
Yeah.
00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:23.680
There's so many people without that blessing in their life.
00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.680
Just like the disciples, people need to taught.
00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:28.559
If you offer that invitation, people will be interested.
00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.759
I love that invitation.
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.799
Let's pray together.
00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.200
And they'll learn, and it yields fruit.
00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:35.200
Oh, there's the theme again.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:41.440
I also later worked at JC Benny's for three years down here in the mall.
00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.240
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:46.799
But I had to quit that job because I had bursitis in both hips.
00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:51.359
And I was in agonizing pain when I would stand all day.
00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.599
Oh.
00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.920
And I had finally had to quit.
00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:58.799
But I I loved that job meeting the public on my terms.
00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.680
Uh yeah, yeah.
00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:02.160
Kind of your store, your setting.
00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.720
Okay.
00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:05.119
But with the piano gigs, you get to sit down.
00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.839
That's nice.
00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:07.039
That's really nice.
00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.799
Well, we're doing great here.
00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:18.559
But I people always do love to hear about someone's favorite something, whether it's a hymn or a verse in the Bible, either or both uh people would love to know.
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.839
I love the the book of James and Ephesians.
00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.599
I love those two books a lot.
00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.880
The whole book, okay.
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.319
We'll let you take the whole book.
00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.799
Yeah.
00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:29.119
James and Ephesians are great.
00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:33.759
Well, there's those two books are filled with encouragement.
00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.519
Encouragement, right.
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:38.720
Which makes me curious about your favorite song.
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.000
I think I know it.
00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.839
Your favorite hymn that we want to sing.
00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:49.200
I like singing be happy because I thought again, you know, you don't want to sing a dirge.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.640
Yeah.
00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.119
Right.
00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:57.279
And uh that's a song just as I am.
00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:09.440
It it has the most wonderful words, but but if it's not sung with a little pep to it, it can to me it can be discouraging.
00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:12.000
So you d yeah, almost like it's a bad thing.
00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.680
Like, uh, just as I am.
00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:17.519
Well, it's just not something I look forward to, I'll put it that way.
00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.240
Yeah.
00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:21.440
But the reminder, singing and be happy.
00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.079
Yeah.
00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.519
Oh, that's a great one.
00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.759
I also like my God and I.
00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.279
Are you familiar with that one?
00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:28.079
I I am.
00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.680
Is that something about walking?
00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:33.039
My God and I, we go the fields together.
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:36.880
We walk and talk as good friends shouldn't do.
00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:41.759
We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter.
00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:44.880
My God and I go through the meadows here.
00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.480
Isn't that lovely?
00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.200
It is.
00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.240
It is lovely.
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.279
My God and I.
00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:57.599
And I and and I would brought a song brought to mind Sunday, face to face with God my savior.
00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.039
Yes, oh I know that one.
00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.279
Oh, that's such a beautiful song.
00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:08.400
Well, I'm noticing a common theme here, uh, this kind of relational aspect of it.
00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:16.400
Uh, like probably a lot of people, I mean, just in my recent studies, I've met a lot of people who feel the same shyness and fear of rejection.
00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:16.799
Yeah.
00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:24.960
Just like you have felt, and to sing these hymns happily that are about this relationship we have with my God and I.
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.920
That makes sense.
00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.359
That's what you cling to.
00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:37.119
One that helped me to get through a nervous breakdown was uh I get emotional and I lose my memory.
00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.240
You take your time.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:43.440
Although I will say, I've been very impressed with your memory, just citing those words of my God and I.
00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.119
That's because I'm in control.
00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.319
Yes.
00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:49.519
Right, it changes when that controls.
00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.960
Oh, I know.
00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:55.119
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:00.640
If I walk in heaven's light, shun the wrong and do the right.
00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.359
Oh, oh, yes.
00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:03.920
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.880
Yes.
00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:07.680
And also does Jesus care.
00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.920
Does Jesus care?
00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.359
Yes.
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.240
Oh, yeah, that one.
00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.160
Mm-hmm.
00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.279
Yeah.
00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.079
I know.
00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.599
Yes, I do know that one.
00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.559
Does Jesus care?
00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:23.359
Kind of reminds me of Mark 4.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:28.400
The boat is sinking, there's a storm, and they say, Do you even care that we're finished singing?
00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:31.359
Those two songs I mentioned.
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:42.559
I had copied the words down and had them taped to my chair side table when I worked at the Willows to remind me that God was there with me.
00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.640
Oh, which two songs were those?
00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:49.440
Uh, The Jesus Care and I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.119
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:57.200
I think I recognize it, but the way you quoted the lyrics, this is so powerful.
00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:00.559
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:02.720
I know the Lord will find a way.
00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:06.640
If I walk in heaven, light shall the wrong way.
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.359
I know the Lord.
00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:16.799
Every sin I ever committed was because I didn't listen to God.
00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:21.759
He kept sending me red flags and I'd poo-poo it and go on and do what I wanted to.
00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.640
Yes.
00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:31.039
It was not until uh I moved here and I began going to Birmingham Church.
00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:34.960
That's when I really gave myself to God.
00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.839
Wow.
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:40.160
You talk about leaving the Lord, how did you find your way back?
00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:42.319
I never really left him.
00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:42.960
Okay.
00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:45.440
And we know he didn't go anywhere.
00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.240
That's true.
00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:53.200
I had to fight very hard to uh find my way back to him.
00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:56.720
He was always deep down at my heart.
00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:00.799
And as I said, I ignored it, but it was always there.
00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.000
Right, okay.
00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:02.480
Yeah.
00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.160
So you stopped ignoring it.
00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.960
That's the key.
00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:07.519
The red flags of communication were always there.
00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.720
He didn't go anywhere.
00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.039
Yeah.
00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.720
You had to stop ignoring it.
00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.039
Yeah.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.720
That's easier said than done.
00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.559
Boy, that's for sure.
00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:18.240
And my kids stuck by me for for a while.
00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:22.720
They couldn't understand my ill behavior.
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:26.960
And so I want to read Mike's card to you.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:31.359
And he mentions you are finishing strong, mom.
00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.640
Yes.
00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.319
That's amazing.
00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:38.640
And the beautiful thing is, I know he means it and it comes from his heart.
00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.079
It makes me think of this.
00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.319
Second Timothy 4 7.
00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.920
I have fought the good fight.
00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.680
I have finished the course.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.599
I have kept the faith.
00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.319
Yes.
00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:50.240
There's so much out of our control.
00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:52.400
Terrible things out of our control.
00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:52.799
Yeah.
00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:58.000
I'd love, I'd love it if I could be the savior of the world and just fix it for everyone.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.799
But I can't.
00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.319
It's God's will, not mine.
00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:02.960
I can pray for them and try to teach them the truth.
00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.480
Yeah.
00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.759
It's hard to learn that.
00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:10.240
We want to save everyone, but well, isn't that wonderful that God is in control?
00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:10.799
Amen.
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:15.200
Instead of we can put all our burdens on him.
00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:24.079
And the beauty of that hellacious life I lived is that he doesn't hold that against me.
00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:26.000
He has forgiven me.
00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:30.640
And it took me so long to forgive myself.
00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.359
Right.
00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.720
Yeah, so long.
00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.359
Mm-hmm.
00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.440
But it is by grace that we are saved.
00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.920
You know, the scars are so deep.
00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.640
Of course.
00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:46.480
Until just the last couple of years I've had to sleep with a brilliant light on right by my head.
00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.039
Yeah.
00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:56.319
I was in a hospital at Northwoods rehabilitation from a from a surgery.
00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:04.720
And in the middle of the night, the first good night's sleep I'd had, the nurse very gently said, Miss Eunice.
00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.400
I said, Yeah.
00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:10.800
And I literally almost climbed over the headboard of the bed.
00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.360
Oh.
00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.639
Freaked you out.
00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:16.480
The next day a doctor talked to me for 40 minutes.
00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.400
He was so concerned.
00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.280
Yeah.
00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.320
Yeah, those deep-rooted scars you're talking about.
00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:22.559
Yeah.
00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.440
Stays with you.
00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:30.239
But there's nothing can stop all that fear but God.
00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:34.400
And my listening to him.
00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.119
Yeah.
00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:37.760
He was always there, but I didn't listen.
00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:42.880
It was until I started listening that he rescued me.
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.440
Yes.
00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:45.599
Because he's just like you said, he's not moving.
00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.000
No.
00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:48.400
When we start listening, he hadn't gone anywhere.
00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.360
We find him.
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.000
Amen.
00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.239
Just to tie it all together.
00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:54.239
I'm thinking about the song you pointed out.
00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:57.280
I I know the Lord will find a way.
00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:10.960
That seems like it's been a theme throughout your life as you're looking back at whether it's the piano that you got to play at seven or any other ways that you found the Lord and His people, you know the Lord will find a way.
00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.719
Oh, what amazing thing it is.
00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.559
Always his.
00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:15.920
Always will.
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.400
Yeah.
00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.199
Amen.
00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:23.519
There's more that we could obviously talk about, but uh for today, Fluffy, this has just been uh so uh encouraging to us.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:30.400
We've learned a lot, uh, but we want to consider you always, and especially in these ways where we can learn and be encouraged by you.
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:37.199
I I didn't tell you these personal things to make you feel pity for me because I'm not to be pitied.
00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.199
I have the joy of the Lord in my heart.
00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:39.760
Amen.
00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.440
And I'm not to be pitied.
00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.000
Of course not.
00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:44.159
I want you to focus on that.
00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:48.400
Yes, it's Jesus makes us all equal and we're all saved.
00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.199
The same way.
00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.239
Yeah, the same way.
00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:55.119
There's no pity there for those of us who rejoice in that, the joy of the Lord, the great one.
00:35:55.440 --> 00:36:01.039
You know, when the church was meeting in the funeral home.
00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.719
Yeah, yeah, don't remodel.
00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.599
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:05.440
I kept having panic at that.
00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:07.920
It's where they had to help me out of the building.
00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.559
Really?
00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:12.800
And I haven't had a single one since we quit meeting there.
00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:17.119
I was associating that with my biological dad's death.
00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:19.119
Yeah, because you're in a funeral home.
00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:21.679
Yeah, and that was such a traumatic time.
00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:24.000
Yeah, and then it kind of comes all rushing back to you.
00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:27.679
Didn't help that my mother fainted twice at his bedside.
00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:31.519
I mean, at his gravesite, and I thought she was dying.
00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:31.760
Oh.
00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:33.679
You know, when my little child minds.
00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:35.119
Yeah, of course that's what you'd think.
00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.280
Yeah.
00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.480
They both go.
00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:36.800
Yeah.
00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:38.400
It's so helpful for us to learn.
00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:41.119
Wow, like Fluffy is shy at times.
00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:54.159
She can be nervous about being uh out of her controlled element, but it's encouraging to us that you've found comfort in my God and I, and you invite people to church, you pray with them, and you're at yielding fruit.
00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.199
Thank you for your champion.
00:36:57.199 --> 00:37:01.280
I missed an opportunity the other day that's really troubling me.
00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:17.920
There's a woman on the other side end of the building who is not right mentally, and she chose to walk all the way home with me, and I got rid of her at the door.
00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:19.920
I did not invite her in.
00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:32.559
And I that has just troubled me deeply because maybe God put her to walk with me because he wanted me to talk to her and invite her in my home.
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.119
Sure.
00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:35.119
But God's the God of second chances.
00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.599
You let's be prayerful about that in Frank.
00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:40.960
There you go.
00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.599
Yeah, yeah.
00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.159
Yeah.
00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.119
That would be great.
00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:46.400
Fluffy, thank you again for letting us consider you today.
00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.920
It's been really encouraging.
00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:53.440
A lot of people from the start of this whole project said, You gotta interview Fluffy.
00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:55.519
And I said, Okay, like we'll we'll get to it.
00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:58.960
Now we have, so we're gonna consider this the season three finale.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:01.440
It's been awesome sitting down and learning from you.
00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.719
Thank you for your example.
00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:04.639
We love you so much, Fluffy.
00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:11.280
The Bible tells us to consider one another in order to stir up love and good works in each other.
00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:16.559
So thank you for stirring up love and good works in me just by listening to this episode.
00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:21.280
Brother Bobby Sands said, Fluffy, did you make this cake?
00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.559
I said, No.
00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:29.760
Sister Costco got up at three o'clock this morning and made that cake just for us.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.160
Consider one another as a podcast focused on each other.
00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:11.919
Thank you for tuning in to this podcast that is all about stirring up love and good works in one another.
00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:18.480
I'm sitting down with our very own Fluffy this afternoon.
00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:20.480
We've canceled our dentist appointments.
00:00:20.559 --> 00:00:22.559
It's 2.30 in the afternoon.
00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:26.559
We're here at the vintage, where Fluffy is a little bit of a celebrity, I would say.
00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:29.839
Fluffy, thanks for sitting down and being on the podcast today.
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.960
I'm really encouraged to be here and I joke about her celebrity status here, but you really do know a lot of people here, don't you?
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.119
Uh you were just telling me 17 years here.
00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:40.719
Yeah, 17 and a half.
00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.439
That half is what gets you.
00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:47.119
That's what gets you the connections and the celebrity status.
00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:50.719
I want to talk more about just the way you connect with people.
00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:53.679
But of course, first we're gonna jump in to scripture.
00:00:53.759 --> 00:00:54.719
That's where I want to be.
00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:56.719
I'm looking at Psalm 92.
00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.240
I'll read the verse because I think it describes Fluffy very well.
00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:02.799
But I'll read the verse and then we'll talk about that.
00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.920
Psalm 92 and verse 12.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:11.120
The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree.
00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:15.680
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord.
00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:18.159
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.920
They will still yield fruit in old age.
00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:27.920
They shall be full of sap and very green to declare that the Lord is upright.
00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:32.560
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:37.599
You guys probably know that I like tree imagery, and there's a lot of it in the Bible.
00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:40.640
That yielding fruit is one that Jesus talks about, of course.
00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:45.200
It's one the psalmist talks about here, and Fluffy, I just see you as yielding fruit.
00:01:45.280 --> 00:02:01.359
I want to know more about just these years, these 17 and a half years here, how you've connected with the people here, whether it's the singings or uh evangelism and Costco, like you're saying, uh, how do you uh what motivates you to keep being faithful, keep declaring that the Lord is upright and yielding fruit?
00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:06.799
Well, with the church, I'm rather gregarious, but not here.
00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:09.039
I'm shy.
00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.400
And people don't believe that when I don't believe you.
00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:12.800
Oh really?
00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:15.039
Here you're shy, okay.
00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:22.400
And my grandchildren think I have constant company here because of everybody.
00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:23.199
Right.
00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:28.080
Uh nobody ever comes here, and I don't go to their apartment.
00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:29.840
Not even Cheryl's.
00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:30.319
Okay.
00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:39.759
If I see them in the hall, I may chat a little bit, and frequently I'll go down to our social room where I know there are people gathering.
00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:45.680
Some of the people there are definitely not Christians as we understand it.
00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:46.719
Sure, yeah, yeah.
00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:50.319
And I told Cheryl, I said, that's where we need to be going.
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:50.879
Mm-hmm.
00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:55.919
Go to the people we need to be getting acquainted with and encouraging.
00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:59.439
So I do that because they drink a lot.
00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:00.400
Okay, okay.
00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:06.879
And that's worked well for me uh as far as interacting with people.
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:19.520
Well, I keep my ears alert for newcomers to the community, and they will invariably say, We're looking for a home church, and of course I jump on that with both music.
00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:20.080
Yes.
00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:21.120
Oh, I love that opening.
00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:24.960
And that's a good opening for me to uh invite them.
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:25.840
That's perfect.
00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:32.479
And uh for instance my friend Landa uh I met at Costco.
00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:40.639
I was Christmas shopping, and it was on a Sunday, and I had been to church and I had on a bright purple outfit.
00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:44.800
Oh and she said, Oh, look at you, she's kind of loud.
00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.520
And oh, look at you, and that started our conversation.
00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:52.400
We talked for 15 minutes, I didn't even know her.
00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:52.719
Right.
00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.479
And I invited her to church.
00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:02.479
Wow, and she said, Well, I can't promise to go this Sunday because I've already promised to go with somebody else.
00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:02.879
Uh-huh.
00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:06.240
But I will be there the next Sunday, and she was.
00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:06.879
Wow.
00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.840
And she's been at least three times.
00:04:10.159 --> 00:04:12.319
Three times since I've been here, that's for sure.
00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:12.879
Yeah.
00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:13.840
Oh, that's awesome.
00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:19.199
And but that's the way I usually approach anybody.
00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:20.079
I love that.
00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:20.399
Yeah.
00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:21.360
Said you're shy.
00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:22.720
Do you get nervous doing that?
00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:24.319
Or are the nerves different to see what you're doing?
00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:25.839
I just don't want to do it.
00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:28.160
I it's hard for me to reach out.
00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:31.519
If I'm in control, I'm okay.
00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:32.000
Yeah.
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:35.279
But if they're in control, it's very hard for me.
00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.839
I appreciate you opening up about that, because you're right.
00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.319
People will hear this and say, fluffy, shy.
00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:43.519
But it's different when we're in our church buildings.
00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:43.920
Yeah.
00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:45.279
We can feel more comfortable.
00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:52.800
Well, yeah, where I feel I can trust everybody and I pretty much know what their response is gonna be if I say anything.
00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:55.279
But down in the social room, who knows what?
00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:57.360
You get laughed at or kicked out.
00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:58.319
Wow, okay.
00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.839
So that's hard to do.
00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:01.040
People are staying in the rooms.
00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:09.120
Yeah, that it makes me shy about reaching out.
00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:10.720
I'm tired of being hurt.
00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:11.360
Yes.
00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.839
And it makes it hard to reach out and put myself vulnerable.
00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:21.600
And it I I love that you're saying that because you you still continue to yield fruit anyway.
00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:27.839
Whether it's the scene that we had here, where you got so many people that we did not know, just residents here to come and show up to that.
00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:29.680
Over over 200 here.
00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:31.360
Okay, over 200 here.
00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:36.720
That makes it even better because there there's probably uh twenty people at that that you'd invited.
00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:37.920
It's a big percentage.
00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:43.040
And so to be shy and have that fear of rejection is so normal, but uh you've overcome it.
00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:46.000
You you still reach out to these people and that's encouraging to me.
00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:53.680
I don't take part in any card games or or uh any kind of games here, and there are many.
00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.800
I saw all the Bunko signs and everything going on.
00:05:57.199 --> 00:05:57.759
Uh huh.
00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.360
I do play cards once in a while with a friend Linda.
00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:02.079
Cool.
00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:05.680
But uh she's been preoccupied lately.
00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:06.959
So Okay.
00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:20.959
Well, I was thinking about whether it's in the Costco, like you're telling me before, or just Josh Ralston will tell me about how you are in the Sprout store telling everyone about yeah, uh, like, oh, you gotta come and hear Josh, he gives these great talks at church.
00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:25.279
So I can understand when I hear those stories, I just can't picture Fluffy being shy.
00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:28.959
But even maybe those conversations can be kind of uncomfortable.
00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:30.319
Well, that's what it is.
00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.800
I'm afraid of being hurt.
00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:34.959
Yeah, yes, aren't we all?
00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:39.920
But it's so encouraging when we get to meet Landa at services or or anyone else you've invited.
00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:41.199
Thank you for overcoming that.
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.240
It's a good example to us when we see someone who's natural at it.
00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:46.000
We think she's not shy, but she is.
00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:51.680
I have the loveliest birthday card from my son Mike.
00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:53.439
He's very poetic.
00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:54.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:56.319
And later I'll read it to you.
00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:57.920
Oh, yeah.
00:06:58.079 --> 00:06:58.879
He's sweet.
00:06:59.040 --> 00:06:59.279
Yeah.
00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:00.000
He's sweet.
00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:00.879
We love Mike.
00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:01.519
We love Mike.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:03.199
He couldn't be on the podcast today.
00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:04.079
He's in Italy.
00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:05.439
Having a good time.
00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:06.000
Yeah.
00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.120
But we love him.
00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:12.800
I want to rewind with you to I guess before you were even known as Fluffy.
00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.720
That's all I know you as.
00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:18.079
Well, I got that nickname when I worked at the Willows.
00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:19.040
Oh, at the Willow.
00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:19.839
Yeah.
00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:24.959
Several of us were having coffee one morning and talking about our weight.
00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:29.120
I was like 43 years old and very slender.
00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:29.600
Okay.
00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.279
You're 43, got it.
00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:36.720
And I said, Well, actually, I'm not fat, I'm just fluffy.
00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:43.759
And one of the little men that struck him so funny, he almost fell out of his chair laughing.
00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:45.759
And he nicknamed me Fluffy.
00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:46.639
And you stuck with it.
00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:50.639
And it's absolutely stuck.
00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:54.399
It has served me well in working with the public.
00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:58.879
If I don't want to use my real name, I give them my nickname.
00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:03.040
Yeah, not the government name, but the the fluffy nickname, and you stuck with that.
00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:07.120
And I love that you have because it does make uh your presence iconic.
00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:11.920
When I talk about you to someone who's visited, like someone, oh well, you know her, Fluffy.
00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.439
And everyone says, Oh right.
00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:15.040
Of course I remember Fluffy.
00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.560
It's a memorable name.
00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:22.720
But going even before that, before th those times, I'm just curious about oh, where you grew up.
00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:27.759
I I don't know that, or how you became a Christian if you were raised in the church or how that came about.
00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.959
I was born in Columbus, Georgia.
00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:31.519
Wow.
00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:32.879
Uh long ways from here.
00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:39.840
My biological father committed suicide and I was four years old, and he is buried in Columbus.
00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:48.960
And uh when I was almost seven, uh mother had as she was a male order bride.
00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:50.639
I don't know if you know what that means.
00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:52.799
That is an old term to me.
00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:55.360
Well, nowadays it would be the internet.
00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:56.080
Okay.
00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:06.879
But anyway, they corresponded for a few months and he sent her money to come to Washington and marry him with five children.
00:09:07.120 --> 00:09:11.679
I'm the baby of seven, but the two elders had already left home.
00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:18.480
And uh so we got on the train and headed for Washington State.
00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:24.000
We went angled up to Chicago and then went across the northern states.
00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:29.679
And when we got to Sparta, Wisconsin, mother had a paralytic stroke.
00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:34.879
She was 41 and very nearly died.
00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.679
And I saw all that happening.
00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:43.679
It happened that in that town they had a home for dependent children.
00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:51.279
So they put her in the hospital and put us in this home for six or seven weeks.
00:09:51.519 --> 00:10:09.440
And I know God was right there because when she walked out of that hospital, walked out, not in a wheelchair, on her own power, not even a nurse with her, she walked to the vehicle by herself.
00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:16.320
And we continued our trip, and when we got to Spokane, she and my stepfather were married.
00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:16.799
Okay.
00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:22.240
And this was August 21st, 1944.
00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:28.639
And we went 150 miles up in the woods to his ranch.
00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:29.519
Wow.
00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:35.519
Which was a God send blessing for a place for to rear children.
00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.960
You liked it growing up.
00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:37.679
Oh yeah.
00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:39.120
Because you're pretty young here.
00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:41.120
I yeah, I was almost seven.
00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:41.600
Okay.
00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.159
He had an upright piano.
00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:44.399
Oh.
00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:47.279
And I started teaching myself to play.
00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:48.559
That was one of my questions.
00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:54.480
And to this day, I I don't know one key from another, don't know one note from another.
00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:55.919
You can't read music.
00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:56.639
I'm no.
00:10:56.799 --> 00:10:57.039
Wow.
00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:02.399
I'm totally self-taught, and I have over 300 songs in my repertoire.
00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.440
Just memorize.
00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.039
Yeah, give her sheet music.
00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.240
She'll just put it away.
00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:09.039
I can I just sit down and play one right after the other.
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.000
Do you still continue to learn or you just rely on that free time?
00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:15.279
No, I try to improve every time I play.
00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:16.159
I always have.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.840
Yeah, I just learned something.
00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:18.000
What?
00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:19.279
Just picking it up by ear.
00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.399
Improve up my rhythm.
00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:20.960
Yeah.
00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:21.440
Yeah.
00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:25.600
And I know what sound a key is gonna make before I hit it.
00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:26.639
Yeah.
00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:30.240
Okay, so you've been playing the piano since you're about seven.
00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:34.000
Well, uh, professionally since the late nineties.
00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:37.120
Okay, that's what it became ninety, not my age.
00:11:37.759 --> 00:11:38.240
Right, right.
00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:44.320
Professionally, where you you got these gigs that we'll we'll talk about, but just learning from a young, young kid.
00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.240
You were just teaching yourself.
00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:53.600
God had a purpose in my doing that because I got on the phone, nobody knew me.
00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.000
Right.
00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:58.320
And I got 18 different places hired me, sight and sing.
00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:59.200
Wow.
00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.080
To play.
00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:00.720
Yes.
00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:01.919
And oh wow.
00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.320
Yeah.
00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:04.399
Like God was preparing this for you.
00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:07.600
Well, he has a purpose for my doing that.
00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:11.600
And bringing joy in the lives of those people in my life.
00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.879
And yourself too.
00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:14.080
I know it brings you joy.
00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:19.279
I remember being in this same room, me and a couple nice guys just moved this piano all the way up here.
00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.039
Oh, that's right, you helped move it.
00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.919
I did, yeah.
00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.759
I think Jonathan and David Kelly, and it's still right there, still playing there.
00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.440
And there was just so much joy when you got to play that piano.
00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.639
I could I could see that.
00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:37.360
It brings us joy too to hear, but something about you hitting those keys I'm sure you love for playing that piano for such a long time.
00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.559
God had a purpose.
00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:38.799
Yeah.
00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:41.279
With the piano or the stepfather, or anyone else.
00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:47.519
And I've said more prayers before I play and afterwards a prayer of Thanksgiving.
00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:49.519
Yeah, what does that prayer look like before?
00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:57.759
Just well, I just ask God to keep my mind clear and help me to totally focus, keep my fingers nimble.
00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:58.240
Yeah.
00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.200
Amen.
00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:03.600
And help me to bring joy to all those who hear my music.
00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.360
Yeah, that's a beautiful prayer.
00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:07.200
Yeah, we can apply that to so many things.
00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.120
I love that piano for you.
00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.519
Well, God had a purpose for that for sure.
00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:14.159
I'm wondering then, how did you come to know the Lord?
00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.399
Was that through your stepfather too, or how did that happen?
00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.879
Well, the kids' dad was a member of the Church of Christ.
00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:21.679
Oh, okay.
00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:31.039
And when we were engaged, I wanted to know about his religion because I we lived 70 miles from the nearest church.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:31.600
Wow.
00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:37.840
And even though my mother taught me a lot about God, we didn't go to services.
00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:45.360
I was baptized in Spokane, North Spokane congregation in 1955.
00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:45.919
Okay.
00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:53.039
Uh my brother, eldest brother, had an extremely sick wife.
00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:56.320
They were of different faiths.
00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.120
Yeah.
00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:01.600
And I didn't want to marry into that kind of situation.
00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:05.440
So I learned what I could about his faith.
00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:06.000
Oh.
00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.919
You just kind of seen how it didn't work for you.
00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:10.559
And I was baptized before we married.
00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:12.080
Okay, oh, interesting.
00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.039
In Spokane.
00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:13.919
Yeah.
00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.480
Okay.
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:19.200
And then I graduated in Spokane from high school.
00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:33.919
And that night at 1230, my brother, whose wife had died, and a co-driver, the three of us set off from Mississippi for me to be married.
00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.679
Right after graduating high school?
00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.000
Yeah.
00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:36.399
Okay.
00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:39.279
Set off short trip down to Mississippi.
00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.519
I had my bridal shower.
00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.519
I was baptized.
00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:46.159
I had baccalaureate service.
00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:50.559
I had graduation service all within a week.
00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.039
And traveled 3,000 miles.
00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:55.120
Almost three.
00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.159
Wow.
00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:04.399
Well, and you're just 18 and we were married in uh Corinth, Mississippi, by brother Jimmy Allen.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:04.960
Okay.
00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.559
You might have heard of him.
00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:11.600
He was quite popular for he officiated down there in Mississippi.
00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.320
Yeah.
00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:12.799
Wow.
00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:18.240
And we lived six months with his parents, and I kept encouraging him.
00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:20.960
He already had two years of junior college.
00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:32.799
And I encouraged him to go on to Mississippi State and Startville to continue his education, and they didn't have anywhere for married couples to live.
00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.120
They were all taken up.
00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:40.000
So we had to wait six months till a place opened up where I could join him.
00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.559
Yes.
00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.960
And he would come home on weekends.
00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.000
Wow, that's hard.
00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:47.120
But he did go ahead and finish, like you encouraged him.
00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.840
Oh yeah.
00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:54.399
He eventually got a master's degree, and I got two and a half years in college.
00:15:54.720 --> 00:16:00.320
And then later went to Olympic college, and I've got three and a half years.
00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.120
Okay.
00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:05.519
I am curious then about that connection between Mississippi and Washington.
00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:06.320
I'm trying to understand.
00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.320
Well, he was in the Air Force.
00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.360
He was in the Air Force.
00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:21.039
Oh, he I was in high that part of my high school was in Colville, and they had an Air Force base there where he was stationed.
00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:29.919
I met him on a blind double date because I told my girlfriend when she called me and wanted me to go with him.
00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:34.879
She said it's my birthday and we're going to celebrate and then go to a drive-in movie.
00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.799
I've never been to a drive-in movie.
00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:43.120
I said, Well, you know how I feel about dating military guys.
00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:43.440
Right.
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:48.879
And she said, and I could hear her mother in the background telling her what to say.
00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.519
She said, Oh, he's from the South.
00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:52.559
You'll love him.
00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.919
He's blah, blah, blah.
00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:58.000
So I ended up going on a date that night.
00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.360
That's how I met him.
00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:02.000
A blind double date.
00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:03.919
That's yeah, it's quite trusting.
00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.559
I understand.
00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.759
But there's the link between kind of South and Washington.
00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:10.559
I guess those would be the two major places you've lived then.
00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.480
Or am I missing somewhere in between?
00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.480
Oh, I've lived all over the place.
00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:14.880
Okay.
00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.960
Uh he was an agriculture teacher.
00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.920
Oh, interesting.
00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.200
In high school.
00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:33.039
And in the summer, we would go to Chicago to get a quick job to earn tuition money for the fall, and we'd go back south and go back to school.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:43.119
And so we lived uh his first teaching job was in southeast Arkansas, a little bitty town called Wilmot.
00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:47.200
And my first baby was born while we were living there.
00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.759
She was born in Durmont, Arkansas.
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.240
Okay.
00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:58.400
And then he got a job teaching in Shannon, Mississippi, uh, eight miles from Tupelo.
00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.039
Okay.
00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.799
Another real small town.
00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.880
All small towns you're living in.
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:10.319
And we lived there three or four years, and my son Mike was born while we were living there.
00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:10.799
Okay.
00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.319
We ended up going to his hometown.
00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.240
Big mistake.
00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.759
And he taught agriculture there.
00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:25.440
So then we built the house and lived there until we divorced.
00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.000
Okay.
00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:29.119
But there was a fair amount of time spent down there in those small towns.
00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:30.559
Oh yeah, 20 years.
00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.000
That was 20 years, okay.
00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:36.160
So then recently then, Washington has been home for how long for you?
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.519
Since 1981.
00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:44.960
The reason I came to this area of Washington, I was reared in northeastern Washington.
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:45.440
Okay.
00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:52.559
But I came to this area because my mother was still alive and she was in a care facility in Port Oregon.
00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.400
Oh, and I wanted to be near her.
00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.440
Oh, good for you.
00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:58.880
So I got to be with her for four years before she died.
00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:06.240
And then was it after that where you started that work with the retirement home that you started in Kitab County?
00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:13.759
No, it was uh when I left the kid's dad and we divorced, I didn't know how I was gonna make a living.
00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.160
Yeah.
00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:23.119
And I kept praying about it, and I kept having the thought, look in the newspaper, looking the newspaper, and but I wasn't looking at you.
00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:31.519
When I finally did, and I had already thought, I've always had good rapport with the elderly people.
00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:37.440
Well, there was one ad, 85-year-old lady needed help.
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:47.279
Oh, and I called the lady in charge and got hired over the phone, and I was there six months.
00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.119
She was the meanest old bat.
00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:54.559
And her name was Holiday.
00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:55.599
Holiday.
00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.559
The meanest lady ever.
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:07.759
But anyway, I went from there to different living jobs taking care of ladies with advanced Alzheimer's.
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.240
Okay.
00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:16.400
Uh, until I married a second time and we became managers of the willows.
00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:25.359
I do appreciate you opening up about some of these things because it's easy in the pews to just not think about those those struggles and those hard times.
00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:28.079
I said we'd keep it positive and focus on the good.
00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.400
Yeah.
00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:35.279
But but if you were to kind of encourage maybe someone else who's going through their own hard seasons, it's coming for all of us.
00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.680
What kept you faithful during those hard times?
00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.960
What what did you cling to?
00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:40.960
What would you say to someone who's struggling?
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.240
You know, I I've questioned myself about that.
00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:49.920
Mike said he can't remember me not sitting down reading the Bible.
00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:54.319
And my mother had a stronger faith as I've ever seen.
00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:54.480
Okay.
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:59.119
But she taught me to always pray it be God's will.
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.279
Well, first of all, to pray.
00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.920
And pray that it be God's will.
00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:09.119
And she taught me a lot of positive things like that about God.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.680
And that stuck with me.
00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:14.640
In fact, it still does to this day.
00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:18.480
And my faith just grew and grew more and more.
00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:25.200
Yeah, we hate to admit it, but if you look back on your life, people are going to agree that the faith grows during those hard times.
00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.000
Yeah.
00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:27.200
As hard as that is.
00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:32.000
I look at someone like Fluffy, I think, wow, what an encouragement, what an example of faith.
00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:37.119
I wonder how she became such a standard for faith and fruitfulness, and then you learn.
00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.640
Through hard knocks.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.839
Through hard knocks.
00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.640
Very hard.
00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:45.359
Yes, th don don't let me push it too hard here, but I do appreciate that.
00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.079
Advice because when people do go through those hard times, sometimes they forget to read.
00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.119
They forget to pray.
00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.279
They think, I gotta pull myself up here.
00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.400
This is a hard time.
00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.839
I gotta make my way on my own instead of depending.
00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.599
Well, I had to be strong for my
00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.279
Mm-hmm.
00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.839
Uh, that helped me for a lot of years.
00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.119
It's a big motivator.
00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.599
Yeah.
00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.160
Yeah.
00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.440
Be strong for them.
00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:09.599
And clearly, like I said, we love Mike.
00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.880
I've gotten to meet him.
00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:15.200
You can see the impact that that strength had, that faithfulness had in his life.
00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.119
We'll focus on the positive for now.
00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:19.680
Thank you for just opening up into that.
00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:23.119
It it really does help us learn about faithfulness through hard times.
00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.400
Thank you for your example.
00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:26.079
I said we'd return back to the pianos.
00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.200
Let's talk about pianos.
00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.720
That'll make us smile.
00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:32.240
You said playing professionally starting in the 90s.
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:39.039
So you've just been playing, kind of teaching yourself, and then you you said, you know what, I'm gonna start making money with this.
00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:44.799
Well, I used to uh stu I would work out at the Bremerton YMCA.
00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:45.519
Oh, cool.
00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:49.279
And on my way home, I would pass his nursing home.
00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:55.440
And there was a a member of the church who lived there twenty-something years, a lady.
00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:02.559
And uh so I would go by and see her, and I would just go in and volunteer and play the piano.
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:08.400
And the activity lady said, You know, we would pay you for what you're doing.
00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.240
You're giving it for free.
00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:13.759
So that's what got me into it.
00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:14.400
Okay.
00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:20.720
They just observed the playing, you going through your repertoire, and they said, Hey, we'd we'd pay you for that.
00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:34.079
I was only playing probably thirty to fifty songs at that time, and as the years passed I kept increasing my uh list and Yeah, you just keep learning, keep getting better.
00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:36.960
Do you have a favorite song that you play?
00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:39.279
My favorites I can't play.
00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.720
I love fascination.
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:44.960
Oh uh it's one of my favorites.
00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.160
But uh I like to keep it lively.
00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.119
Yes.
00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:55.279
Uh there's one that I love, the rhythm from the Second World War called Elmer's Tune.
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.240
Elmer's Tune.
00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.640
That is very catchy rhythm.
00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.359
Okay.
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:20.319
And uh I'm often told I like your music because it's happy and upbeat, and I do try to I I have uh probably forty country western songs from years ago on my lip, but they're so negative that I I hardly ever play.
00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:21.039
Yes.
00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:24.640
Uh because I wanna I wanna keep it a B.
00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.720
Depends on the venue, I suppose.
00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.200
Yes.
00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:29.680
But where are the types of places that you're playing now?
00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.799
No, it's not quite as frequent.
00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.240
Well, at retirement homes and nursing homes.
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:35.440
That's why you're keeping it.
00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:37.359
That's where I've always played.
00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.880
Well, I take that back.
00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:42.240
For four years I played at a buffet.
00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:48.640
Oh Angels Buffet behind the Bremerton uh Pancake House.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.599
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.880
East Bremerton.
00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.000
Oh, you just play there.
00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.000
It used to be a buffet there.
00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.559
Mm-hmm.
00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.960
And I played there until they closed.
00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.319
Oh, okay.
00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:58.559
Yeah.
00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:01.119
So now it's it's gonna be a retirement home setting.
00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:04.480
So you keep it lively and upbeat, just like that prayer you said.
00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:07.039
I hope this will be encouraging, exciting people.
00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:12.079
The point I started to make when I was Sizzler, that's the name of that registration.
00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:12.799
Sizzler.
00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.480
That is, yes, I do know the Sizzler.
00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:20.000
Their waitress would come to my apartment and I would pray with them.
00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.799
Wow.
00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.119
Yeah.
00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:23.440
Do you invite them to that, or how did that happen?
00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:26.400
And I would convert I converted one of them.
00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:26.799
Yeah.
00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.240
She was baptized.
00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.359
That's amazing.
00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.000
Yes.
00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:36.000
We just heard the encouragement on Sunday from Brother Don about inviting and how helpful that is.
00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.400
Yes.
00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:39.920
There are other things to invite people to besides a church service.
00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.119
Some people are really interested in that.
00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.680
Like you'd mentioned, some people say, I'm looking for a church home.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.880
Okay, invite them to ours.
00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.880
There's other people who aren't quite ready for that.
00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.279
But if you invite them to pray, it sounds like what you did.
00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.880
Yeah, let's let's come pray together.
00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.160
That's what they wanted.
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:54.079
And they were just teenagers.
00:25:54.319 --> 00:26:00.000
Well, I would say at least four different ones to my apartment.
00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:01.440
It's a great invitation.
00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:01.839
Yeah.
00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.039
Yeah, we see it in scripture.
00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:10.799
That's amazing.
00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:11.920
And it makes sense.
00:26:12.079 --> 00:26:14.799
We see the disciples say that teach us to pray.
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:21.039
And we are very blessed with our Bibles and good people who taught us things, like you said your mom did to teach you to read and pray.
00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.359
Yeah.
00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:23.680
There's so many people without that blessing in their life.
00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:25.680
Just like the disciples, people need to taught.
00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:28.559
If you offer that invitation, people will be interested.
00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.759
I love that invitation.
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.799
Let's pray together.
00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.200
And they'll learn, and it yields fruit.
00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:35.200
Oh, there's the theme again.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:41.440
I also later worked at JC Benny's for three years down here in the mall.
00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.240
Yeah, yeah.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:46.799
But I had to quit that job because I had bursitis in both hips.
00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:51.359
And I was in agonizing pain when I would stand all day.
00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.599
Oh.
00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.920
And I had finally had to quit.
00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:58.799
But I I loved that job meeting the public on my terms.
00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.680
Uh yeah, yeah.
00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:02.160
Kind of your store, your setting.
00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.720
Okay.
00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:05.119
But with the piano gigs, you get to sit down.
00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.839
That's nice.
00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:07.039
That's really nice.
00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.799
Well, we're doing great here.
00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:18.559
But I people always do love to hear about someone's favorite something, whether it's a hymn or a verse in the Bible, either or both uh people would love to know.
00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:21.839
I love the the book of James and Ephesians.
00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.599
I love those two books a lot.
00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.880
The whole book, okay.
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.319
We'll let you take the whole book.
00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.799
Yeah.
00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:29.119
James and Ephesians are great.
00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:33.759
Well, there's those two books are filled with encouragement.
00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:35.519
Encouragement, right.
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:38.720
Which makes me curious about your favorite song.
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.000
I think I know it.
00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.839
Your favorite hymn that we want to sing.
00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:49.200
I like singing be happy because I thought again, you know, you don't want to sing a dirge.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:50.640
Yeah.
00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.119
Right.
00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:57.279
And uh that's a song just as I am.
00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:09.440
It it has the most wonderful words, but but if it's not sung with a little pep to it, it can to me it can be discouraging.
00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:12.000
So you d yeah, almost like it's a bad thing.
00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.680
Like, uh, just as I am.
00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:17.519
Well, it's just not something I look forward to, I'll put it that way.
00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.240
Yeah.
00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:21.440
But the reminder, singing and be happy.
00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.079
Yeah.
00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.519
Oh, that's a great one.
00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.759
I also like my God and I.
00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:27.279
Are you familiar with that one?
00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:28.079
I I am.
00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:29.680
Is that something about walking?
00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:33.039
My God and I, we go the fields together.
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:36.880
We walk and talk as good friends shouldn't do.
00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:41.759
We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter.
00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:44.880
My God and I go through the meadows here.
00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.480
Isn't that lovely?
00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.200
It is.
00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.240
It is lovely.
00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.279
My God and I.
00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:57.599
And I and and I would brought a song brought to mind Sunday, face to face with God my savior.
00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.039
Yes, oh I know that one.
00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.279
Oh, that's such a beautiful song.
00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:08.400
Well, I'm noticing a common theme here, uh, this kind of relational aspect of it.
00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:16.400
Uh, like probably a lot of people, I mean, just in my recent studies, I've met a lot of people who feel the same shyness and fear of rejection.
00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:16.799
Yeah.
00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:24.960
Just like you have felt, and to sing these hymns happily that are about this relationship we have with my God and I.
00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.920
That makes sense.
00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.359
That's what you cling to.
00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:37.119
One that helped me to get through a nervous breakdown was uh I get emotional and I lose my memory.
00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.240
You take your time.
00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:43.440
Although I will say, I've been very impressed with your memory, just citing those words of my God and I.
00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:45.119
That's because I'm in control.
00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.319
Yes.
00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:49.519
Right, it changes when that controls.
00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:50.960
Oh, I know.
00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:55.119
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:00.640
If I walk in heaven's light, shun the wrong and do the right.
00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.359
Oh, oh, yes.
00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:03.920
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.880
Yes.
00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:07.680
And also does Jesus care.
00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.920
Does Jesus care?
00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:11.359
Yes.
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.240
Oh, yeah, that one.
00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.160
Mm-hmm.
00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.279
Yeah.
00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.079
I know.
00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:19.599
Yes, I do know that one.
00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.559
Does Jesus care?
00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:23.359
Kind of reminds me of Mark 4.
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:28.400
The boat is sinking, there's a storm, and they say, Do you even care that we're finished singing?
00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:31.359
Those two songs I mentioned.
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:42.559
I had copied the words down and had them taped to my chair side table when I worked at the Willows to remind me that God was there with me.
00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.640
Oh, which two songs were those?
00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:49.440
Uh, The Jesus Care and I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:53.119
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:57.200
I think I recognize it, but the way you quoted the lyrics, this is so powerful.
00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:00.559
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:02.720
I know the Lord will find a way.
00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:06.640
If I walk in heaven, light shall the wrong way.
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.359
I know the Lord.
00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:16.799
Every sin I ever committed was because I didn't listen to God.
00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:21.759
He kept sending me red flags and I'd poo-poo it and go on and do what I wanted to.
00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.640
Yes.
00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:31.039
It was not until uh I moved here and I began going to Birmingham Church.
00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:34.960
That's when I really gave myself to God.
00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:35.839
Wow.
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:40.160
You talk about leaving the Lord, how did you find your way back?
00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:42.319
I never really left him.
00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:42.960
Okay.
00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:45.440
And we know he didn't go anywhere.
00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.240
That's true.
00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:53.200
I had to fight very hard to uh find my way back to him.
00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:56.720
He was always deep down at my heart.
00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:00.799
And as I said, I ignored it, but it was always there.
00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.000
Right, okay.
00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:02.480
Yeah.
00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.160
So you stopped ignoring it.
00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:04.960
That's the key.
00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:07.519
The red flags of communication were always there.
00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.720
He didn't go anywhere.
00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.039
Yeah.
00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.720
You had to stop ignoring it.
00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.039
Yeah.
00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.720
That's easier said than done.
00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.559
Boy, that's for sure.
00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:18.240
And my kids stuck by me for for a while.
00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:22.720
They couldn't understand my ill behavior.
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:26.960
And so I want to read Mike's card to you.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:31.359
And he mentions you are finishing strong, mom.
00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.640
Yes.
00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.319
That's amazing.
00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:38.640
And the beautiful thing is, I know he means it and it comes from his heart.
00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.079
It makes me think of this.
00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.319
Second Timothy 4 7.
00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.920
I have fought the good fight.
00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.680
I have finished the course.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.599
I have kept the faith.
00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.319
Yes.
00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:50.240
There's so much out of our control.
00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:52.400
Terrible things out of our control.
00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:52.799
Yeah.
00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:58.000
I'd love, I'd love it if I could be the savior of the world and just fix it for everyone.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.799
But I can't.
00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.319
It's God's will, not mine.
00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:02.960
I can pray for them and try to teach them the truth.
00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.480
Yeah.
00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.759
It's hard to learn that.
00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:10.240
We want to save everyone, but well, isn't that wonderful that God is in control?
00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:10.799
Amen.
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:15.200
Instead of we can put all our burdens on him.
00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:24.079
And the beauty of that hellacious life I lived is that he doesn't hold that against me.
00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:26.000
He has forgiven me.
00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:30.640
And it took me so long to forgive myself.
00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.359
Right.
00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.720
Yeah, so long.
00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.359
Mm-hmm.
00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.440
But it is by grace that we are saved.
00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.920
You know, the scars are so deep.
00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.640
Of course.
00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:46.480
Until just the last couple of years I've had to sleep with a brilliant light on right by my head.
00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.039
Yeah.
00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:56.319
I was in a hospital at Northwoods rehabilitation from a from a surgery.
00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:04.720
And in the middle of the night, the first good night's sleep I'd had, the nurse very gently said, Miss Eunice.
00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:06.400
I said, Yeah.
00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:10.800
And I literally almost climbed over the headboard of the bed.
00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.360
Oh.
00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.639
Freaked you out.
00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:16.480
The next day a doctor talked to me for 40 minutes.
00:34:16.880 --> 00:34:18.400
He was so concerned.
00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.280
Yeah.
00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.320
Yeah, those deep-rooted scars you're talking about.
00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:22.559
Yeah.
00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.440
Stays with you.
00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:30.239
But there's nothing can stop all that fear but God.
00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:34.400
And my listening to him.
00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.119
Yeah.
00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:37.760
He was always there, but I didn't listen.
00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:42.880
It was until I started listening that he rescued me.
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.440
Yes.
00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:45.599
Because he's just like you said, he's not moving.
00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.000
No.
00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:48.400
When we start listening, he hadn't gone anywhere.
00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.360
We find him.
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.000
Amen.
00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.239
Just to tie it all together.
00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:54.239
I'm thinking about the song you pointed out.
00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:57.280
I I know the Lord will find a way.
00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:10.960
That seems like it's been a theme throughout your life as you're looking back at whether it's the piano that you got to play at seven or any other ways that you found the Lord and His people, you know the Lord will find a way.
00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.719
Oh, what amazing thing it is.
00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:14.559
Always his.
00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:15.920
Always will.
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.400
Yeah.
00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.199
Amen.
00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:23.519
There's more that we could obviously talk about, but uh for today, Fluffy, this has just been uh so uh encouraging to us.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:30.400
We've learned a lot, uh, but we want to consider you always, and especially in these ways where we can learn and be encouraged by you.
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:37.199
I I didn't tell you these personal things to make you feel pity for me because I'm not to be pitied.
00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:39.199
I have the joy of the Lord in my heart.
00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:39.760
Amen.
00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.440
And I'm not to be pitied.
00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.000
Of course not.
00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:44.159
I want you to focus on that.
00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:48.400
Yes, it's Jesus makes us all equal and we're all saved.
00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:49.199
The same way.
00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:50.239
Yeah, the same way.
00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:55.119
There's no pity there for those of us who rejoice in that, the joy of the Lord, the great one.
00:35:55.440 --> 00:36:01.039
You know, when the church was meeting in the funeral home.
00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.719
Yeah, yeah, don't remodel.
00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.599
Yeah, yeah.
00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:05.440
I kept having panic at that.
00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:07.920
It's where they had to help me out of the building.
00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:08.559
Really?
00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:12.800
And I haven't had a single one since we quit meeting there.
00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:17.119
I was associating that with my biological dad's death.
00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:19.119
Yeah, because you're in a funeral home.
00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:21.679
Yeah, and that was such a traumatic time.
00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:24.000
Yeah, and then it kind of comes all rushing back to you.
00:36:24.320 --> 00:36:27.679
Didn't help that my mother fainted twice at his bedside.
00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:31.519
I mean, at his gravesite, and I thought she was dying.
00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:31.760
Oh.
00:36:32.000 --> 00:36:33.679
You know, when my little child minds.
00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:35.119
Yeah, of course that's what you'd think.
00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:35.280
Yeah.
00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.480
They both go.
00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:36.800
Yeah.
00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:38.400
It's so helpful for us to learn.
00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:41.119
Wow, like Fluffy is shy at times.
00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:54.159
She can be nervous about being uh out of her controlled element, but it's encouraging to us that you've found comfort in my God and I, and you invite people to church, you pray with them, and you're at yielding fruit.
00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.199
Thank you for your champion.
00:36:57.199 --> 00:37:01.280
I missed an opportunity the other day that's really troubling me.
00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:17.920
There's a woman on the other side end of the building who is not right mentally, and she chose to walk all the way home with me, and I got rid of her at the door.
00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:19.920
I did not invite her in.
00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:32.559
And I that has just troubled me deeply because maybe God put her to walk with me because he wanted me to talk to her and invite her in my home.
00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.119
Sure.
00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:35.119
But God's the God of second chances.
00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:37.599
You let's be prayerful about that in Frank.
00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:40.960
There you go.
00:37:41.119 --> 00:37:41.599
Yeah, yeah.
00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.159
Yeah.
00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.119
That would be great.
00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:46.400
Fluffy, thank you again for letting us consider you today.
00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.920
It's been really encouraging.
00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:53.440
A lot of people from the start of this whole project said, You gotta interview Fluffy.
00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:55.519
And I said, Okay, like we'll we'll get to it.
00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:58.960
Now we have, so we're gonna consider this the season three finale.
00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:01.440
It's been awesome sitting down and learning from you.
00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:02.719
Thank you for your example.
00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:04.639
We love you so much, Fluffy.
00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:11.280
The Bible tells us to consider one another in order to stir up love and good works in each other.
00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:16.559
So thank you for stirring up love and good works in me just by listening to this episode.
00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:21.280
Brother Bobby Sands said, Fluffy, did you make this cake?
00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.559
I said, No.
00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:29.760
Sister Costco got up at three o'clock this morning and made that cake just for us.