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A New Winter Tradition

Valerie Basham

February 12, 2014

Old man winter came blasting its way into our lives on Sunday, February 2nd! It was a church day, and the start to our missions conference. Here is what it looked like as we were leaving:

The view from our front door. It’s SO beautiful!

A little hard to see.

Across the street.

Our van had a “ledge of snow” on it.

Our guest speaker, Bro. Green, is from Michigan. That’s why I was a little surprised when on our way to church he said, “I’ve never seen roads this bad in all my life!” We’ve seen them like this often. Terry’s driven in much worse – ICE! I inquired as to how he could say that, since he’s from up north. “They get the plows and clear ’em off in no time.” Ah yes. Plows. Salt. The things of which we here in Oklahoma can only dream. We just blaze our own trail, here. 😉 We got a total of 5-7 inches (depending on where you measured) when it was all said and done.

A friend at church shared a recipe for snow ice cream with me. There was a bit of discussion on whether to use eggs or not. This man, Bro. Randy, ate it with eggs and lived to tell about it. Today, we are advised not to do consume raw eggs. Also, I was informed I should use whole milk. I didn’t have any, so I made do with…skim! I know. A sacrilege. Please forgive me.

Anyway, despite not having whole milk or using eggs, we really enjoyed our FIRST experience eating snow cream! It was delicious!

This southern girl sure did enjoy this new wintertime treat! Here’s the recipe we used:

4 cups clean snow

1 cup WHOLE (if available) milk

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together. Enjoy.

I really hope we get more snow this year and some next year, too, because I want to continue this new tradition. But, I’m learning that here in the wild frontier called Oklahoma, you just never know!

This recipe is kid approved!

Thanks for reading!

Missions Conference 2014

Valerie Basham

5 comments

February 11, 2014

Some of our dearest friends are missionaries. We were blessed to cross paths with three in recent weeks. Bro. and Mrs. Dan Vaughn, and two of their children, were with us in January. They were in our area for the church planter’s conference in OKC, so they dropped by. I’m so glad they did! We met them in West Virginia at a Jr. High camp that my husband preached at, and we became instant friends. It was great getting to see them again. They are planting a church in Weston, West Virginia, beginning in May. Our church voted to support them for one year while they begin this work. Please pray for them!

Bro. Dan, his wife, Hollie, and two of their children, Jeffrey and Olivia.

I captured a smile Olivia gave her dad. 🙂

Our missions conference began Sunday, February 2nd and ended on Wednesday the 5th. The first day had a very poor attendance due to the sudden snow storm we had. (More on that later!) We enjoyed hearing Evangelist Tim Green, Missionary Ransom Maggard to Liberia and Bro. Dan Roten, missionary to the Spanish speaking people of Oklahoma City.

Bro. Tim Green preaching on Wednesday evening. (Sorry it’s so orange! With all the excitement, I forgot to adjust the white balance on my camera!) We have known Bro. Green for several years. He is always a blessing!

This is our song leader, Bro. Fair. He enjoys giving me a hard time. He wanted me to tell you that you are totally awesome for reading my blog! He thinks this blog is the best one on the web today! 😉 Really. He said that. Or something kinda like that.

Okay, not really.

Bro. Maggard preached for us on Sunday afternoon, Monday night and Tuesday night. We enjoyed meeting him and hearing about his burden for Liberia.

Bro. Dan Roten has known my husband for a while, but this was my first time to meet him. His sermon was very good. It gave me a lot to think on for several days; lots of information! He and his wife were so kind.

This is just a random shot of some of the people after church. I love getting any opportunity to be around my church family!

My girls made some new friends from a church in Newcastle!

Lauren made a new friend, too!

I was practicing with my camera before church and got this photo of Lauren. She’s wearing her new glasses!

All of our guest speakers with my favorite preacher, my Pastor! 🙂

L-R: Bro. Tim Green, Bro. Ransom Maggard, Bro. Dan Roten, and Terry.

Terry and Bro. Green visiting after church.

And, since we’re talking about wonderful preaching and missionaries, I just wanted to honor this lady. Mrs. Mary Keener (pictured above, with Lauren, in January) is the wife of the late Bro. Forrest Keener, the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church for over 40 years. This woman worked tirelessly behind the scenes, helping her husband’s work go forward. She has a sweet spirit and a desire to continue to serve the Lord, even now that her husband is in Heaven. I hope and pray I can finish my course just as this lady is doing. We are so thrilled that she is part of our church!

Meeting missionaries and their families is always an encouragement to my heart. There are so many faithful, hard working, loving missionaries in our world today! The Gospel is going forth in a great way because of those on the foreign field. I pray it will go forward right here in southwest Oklahoma because of me. (We all know I have a big enough mouth to do the job! 😉 )

Please pray for our church as we work to spread the good news in Oklahoma!

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Valerie Basham

1 comment

February 10, 2014

My family and I have driven around the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on several occasions. We’ve seen buffalo, prairie dogs and Longhorn cattle up close. For Christmas, Terry surprised me with a zoom lens for my Nikon camera! (I had planned to save up for it, so getting it at Christmas was a true delight!) I couldn’t wait to find something far away to photograph so I could see how it performed. On our anniversary, which was January 2nd, I got the opportunity to experiment when Terry and I went to the Wildlife Refuge. Here are some of the pictures I took:

A duck taking off!

I just liked these bare branches stretching out across the water.

This Longhorn was really close!

Some of my photos were a bit washed out. I warmed this one up with my editing program.

I caught this calf mid-jump! 🙂

I was able to get very close to the prairie dogs! (And there must be hundreds out there!)

I’m sure this little turret has a name, but I don’t know it. I thought it was rather medieval-looking!

The sun on glass…I mean, water.

Since I took these in winter, there wasn’t a lot happening with the animals. I didn’t see a single buffalo! And, one reason my photos were washed out, was because there was no color out there, unless you count various shades of brown. Still, there was an interesting beauty to the bare-boned trees and pale grasses. They are resting, waiting to burst forth with color in just a few short weeks. I hope to be there to capture some of that beauty, too.

Thanks for reading.

Hot Off the Press!

Valerie Basham

2 comments

February 8, 2014

I wanted to share that my husband and our church were featured in the “Religion” section of our newspaper, The Lawton Constitution! My husband has never sought the spotlight for himself, and I’m really glad he doesn’t! He gives the glory to God for all things, because we know everything we have is given by God’s grace – in fact, it’s Grace Alone! That just happens to be the title of his Sunday morning radio broadcast. We praise God for opening this door to be featured in the paper. A writer for the Constitution contacted him earlier this week and inquired about an interview! He was able to share about the paper our church prints, called The Watchman, about our radio broadcast, and our efforts at reaching our surrounding community, which we call “Bethelville”, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Here’s a photo of part of the article:

This article proves to me that if you’re just working in the background, day by day, hour by hour to promote Christ, and Christ alone, the Lord will open doors and direct your steps. My husband isn’t perfect, but he truly has a heart for lost souls and a heart to minister to those in our church and beyond. I’m thankful for this opportunity to share with our city the heart of Bethel Baptist Church! 🙂

If you’re in the area, please drop by and visit! You can find more information about us at http://bbc-lawton.org or on Facebook. The radio broadcast is on The Breeze 99.5 FM from 11:30 – noon on Sunday mornings.

I Slept Through the Winter Games

Valerie Basham

5 comments

February 6, 2014

I was just outside photographing a few wintry scenes in my yard. We are getting more snow as I type! I love the snow! I grew up in the south where it rarely made an appearance. I suppose you have to have that background to truly appreciate snow – even a dusting! – as much as I do.

(See it blowing from the roof of our neighbor’s house? Brr!) 🙂

After I came in from snapping the above photos, I was warming myself up while reading the headlines on my computer. I noticed the Olympic winter games are underway in Russia. I started ruminating on the last time the Olympics happened. Was I alive then? 😀 For some reason, I couldn’t remember them! I checked on Wikipedia and saw that they were in February of 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Then, it hit me. That was the week that Laci had her febrile seizure!

We had lived in Hope for about eighteen months. I was about four months pregnant with Matthew. It was a harrowing day. I had no idea what was happening to her. At first, I thought she was just “playing dead”, with her eyes open. Then, as I approached her little body stretched out on the floor, I thought she was choking! I tried to see if something was lodged in her throat, but her jaw was tightly closed. Then, in my hormonal, expectant condition, I panicked. I called 911 yelling at the poor dispatcher that my little girl was dying! I was on the verge of hyperventilating, not realizing how I was scaring my other three children half to death! The ambulance, with no siren, ambled (not exaggerating), up our driveway fifteen minutes later. Laci was unconscious by then. I really thought she was dying. I went to her funeral in my mind. My world, for those thirty minutes or so, was turned upside down. The paramedics finally informed me that she’d had a seizure and was now in a very deep sleep. When the EMT’s finally roused her as they were putting in an IV, her pitiful little voice saying, “I want my mommy.” was music to my ears! I thanked the Lord over and over for her life! At the ER, she began vomiting, a lot, all over me and her bed. That told the doctors what was wrong. She had caught a stomach virus and her fever went from about 99 to 103 in very little time. This caused the seizure. With my weakened immune system from pregnancy, I caught the virus in just a few hours. I was sick for over a week, and finally recovered because of special medication from my OB. In fact, everyone ended up getting it!

So that’s why I couldn’t remember the last Olympics. I literally slept through the 2010 winter games!

I’m not sure whether I’ll have time to tune in to the Olympics this year or not. But, these games remind me to count my blessings: my sweet Laci, who is now an energetic seven year old; that baby I was expecting is now an adorable three year old who keeps us all laughing, and I now can recognize a seizure if it ever happens again. I’m thankful that the Lord doesn’t punish us for panicking in stressful times, but rather He embraces us and helps us more than ever. Even in my fearful condition four years ago, I was crying out to my Lord Who was right beside me. I’m thankful for a husband who rearranges his life and works overtime and at odd hours to help me when I’m sick. I’m thankful that my mother was close by, and could stay with the kids while we took Laci to the pediatrician for a follow up visit. I’m thankful for the prayers of precious friends during that scary day!

I could go on and on…God is so good.

With love,

Let’s See…Where Was I?

Valerie Basham

6 comments

February 5, 2014

I feel like I’ve been sharing bits and pieces of my life with you and somehow got stopped mid-story. Where was I in all of my catching-up? I *think* I was about to share a few photos of my mom’s visit with us at…ahem…Christmas. Yes, (gulp) I know I’m behind. In my defense, life has been exceedingly hectic. As opposed to just normal hectic. Visitors, missions conference, school, Sunday school, outreach and more has dominated my life in recent days. I’m enjoying spending time cuddling with my kids and sipping coffee whenever I have a free minute. I will never regret falling behind on my blog, but I will regret missing tender moments with my kiddos – who lately seemed to have gulped down some Miracle Grow! 😉

Without further ado, here are some photos of my mom’s visit back in December and early January. She was here for only a few days, but we valued each minute. She got to see our home and church for the first time, and of course the kids dominated much of her time. She enjoyed reading Flat Stanley to them all and decorating some gingerbread houses with them.

A sweet lady in our church gave us some gingerbread men decorating kits, as well as some gingerbread houses! Grandma Kathy decorated the gingerbread men with the kids when she was here, and my mom made the houses. They had a great time.

The girls were very proud!

Mitchell used some of his Christmas money to buy a house to decorate on his own. He got it on clearance and had a lot of fun with it.

I really liked the little flower pots he put by the front door!

And his icicles! We have the real thing hanging from the eves right now! Brrr! (I love it!)

We took a few photos by the tree before she left.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to see my mom. She my hero and my favorite lady in the world! I miss her.

I apologize for being AWOL lately. When I don’t have time to update here, I do try to still post on my Facebook page. I am hoping I can post more regularly in the future. Thank you so much for reading!

Ice Storm

Valerie Basham

1 comment

January 21, 2014

Right before Christmas, we got a good dousing of sleet and ice. We were thankful that it wasn’t enough to stop the traffic and threaten power outages like we experienced in late November and early December. It was, however, just enough to make everything gorgeous.

This tree had long, icy fingers.

These bare, frozen bushes reminded me of a glass forest.

This bush still had some green leaves, each one encased in its own little ice tomb.

A dormant tree shrouded in ice against a bleak sky. It would have been depressing if hadn’t all been so beautiful!

The next morning the sun shone brightly, slowly melting away our ice-land. It was stunning to see the millions of sparkles! It was as though the Lord had showered the barren world with billions of sequins as if to say, “You think winter is ugly? Take a look at my creation now.” It was something to behold. I am constantly in awe of God’s creation. And, as my husband reminded me, it’s all just flood damage!

With love,

Christmas Snapshots

Valerie Basham

2 comments

January 20, 2014

I’m *finally* getting up a few photos of our first Christmas in Oklahoma. It was a bit of an adjustment this year, trying to figure out where to put the tree and decorations and how to arrange things so our family from afar could be comfortable. I think everything came together just fine. It was a busy, but very blessed time of year for us.

Some of the kids before we opened any gifts.

Lauren was wanting a hoodie. 🙂

Great-Grandma got the older kids these whistles-slash-flashlights.

Grandma (Kathy) made the little girls these adorable ponchos!

It’s no surprise that they wear them all. the. time. 🙂

My in-laws bought Matt a Navy SEAL outfit. He was adorable!

He’s a natural. 😉

Look at that face. *sigh* Why must they grow up so quickly?

Each of the kids bought everyone else a gift, using money that others gave them for Christmas. It touched my heart! Mitch gave his dad string cleaner for his guitar.

Bro. Terry (my father-in-law) bought the perfect gift for his wife: an iPad mini!

I think this is my favorite photo from our Christmas Day festivities. 🙂

Matt got more guns! Oh boy. 😉

Yep. Mitch bought his brother yet another gun. Matt uses them all equally, though.

Great Grandma got a cover for her iPad from my in-laws. She had been needing one for a while.

Great Grandma shocked me and Terry with this WONDERFUL Bunn coffee maker!!! I bless her name each and every morning. (And many afternoons, too.)

Grandma and Granddad bought remote control helicopters for the older kids! I think they liked them?

The little girls were pretty happy to get the Barbie and her sisters Camper trailer!

Laci was so happy that Grandma got her a Doc McStuffin kit.

Terry and I bought the older kids digital cameras. They’ve been taking photos of *everything* so I guess that means they like them.

Yes, they definitely like them. 🙂

Bro. Terry and my Terry got a book about George Washington from Great Grandma.

Laci spent a good portion of her birthday money to buy this Barbie closet for Leslie. Another sweet Christmas moment.

As I was going through these photos, I realized that I don’t have any of myself and the gifts I received. I got a zoom lens from my husband, which was a wonderful surprise! We went out on our anniversary and took lots of photos on the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge using my new lens. I was blessed with lovely gifts from my in-laws, mother, Grandma Basham, and each of my kids. I was touched by each one. I am amazed at how such a rotten sinner like myself could be loved so much. I’m not just saying that, either. I often fail my husband and my children. I lose my temper, I complain, I can be lazy and on and on. Yet these wonderful people overlook my failings and love me anyway. They are daily a picture of Christ and His love for me, right here on planet Earth.

I suppose the gift that touched my heart the most was from Leslie Anne, my middle child, who is eight. She made me a bookmark, because she knew, (and as you probably know, too) that I love to read whenever I have a free moment. She used special decorations on it and put much time into it. She had also drawn a picture for me with a sweet poem . She had hidden these items carefully under her bed since October! My heart overflowed in the form of tears down my cheeks.

It touched me because that is exactly what Christmas is all about – sacrificial giving from the heart.

With love,

Christmas Photography

Valerie Basham

2 comments

January 10, 2014

We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas holiday. We got to see Terry’s mom, dad and grandmother, as well as my mom. We enjoyed a lot of good food, too! I hope to share some photos of all of that soon. Before we took the tree down, I wanted to try to capture some photos with a nice bokeh, or blur, in the background. I found a helpful article online on how to do this. I practiced first using little ornaments from the tree.

This is an ornament I bought at Mount Vernon last summer. We had a great time there, and this was a great souvenir. I love the blurry lights in the background.

Here’s the other side of that same ornament.

When I was about 12 years old, I baked chocolate chip cookies all the time! My aunt bought this Hallmark ornament for me then. I’ve had it a loooong time! 🙂

I practiced some with Laci. My lights weren’t quite large enough to show up a lot, but I liked the effect. Of course, I think she always looks great. 🙂

This is my favorite of the blur of the lights! I love Snoopy, too.

I still have so much to learn about my camera and about photography in general. I never plan to have a business or anything, but I do want to learn to take good pictures of my children and other family members. Terry bought me a zoom lens for my Nikon for Christmas, so I now have a new “toy” to play with! (And to learn about!)

Thanks for reading!

Calm Down, It’s Only Temporary

Valerie Basham

6 comments

January 7, 2014

Matthew, while we were shopping yesterday.

We were all talking rapidly and excitedly as we walked from the airport to the van after picking up Nana (my mom) for her Christmas visit. This was her first time to our new home in Oklahoma, and I don’t think sugar could have pumped our kids up more! The van was rather crowded and some of the kids wasted no time in turning that gleeful chatter into complaining about being cold or squished. In fact, there was quite a ruckus for a minute or two. Into that noisy moment, my three year old interjected, “Everybody, calm down! It’s only temporary!” I’m not clear on where he first heard that phrase, but it cracked us up! No more complaining, only laughter that such an astute sentence could come from the mouth of a little boy!

As all good visits do, this one, too, came to an end. We were more somber as we walked into the airport to see Nana off last Saturday. We huddled in a large circle as she came to each of us with a warm and tearful embrace. The children were sobbing and sniffing, tears streamed down my cheeks unabashed and, yes, people were staring. As I reached for my mom to hug her goodbye, I whispered with a slight chuckle, “Calm down, it’s only temporary.”

“That’s a good thing to remember.” Mom said.

As I sit here now, with life trying to right itself after a whirlwind of holiday activity, I’m still missing my mom and in-laws who came in for the Christmas break. I’m missing the tree and the music, the laughter and the food. I’m gazing down the unknown road that will be 2014. I feel sadness and fear with a little worry mixed in. I’m thinking how that phrase from my little guy is appropriate for the life of a Christian – for our entire lives. For the born again believer, this life in this flesh is the worst it can get. Are you sad? Me, too. But it’s only temporary. One day, we’ll be with our Lord and loved ones in Heaven. Are you lonely? It’s only temporary. Are you sick? Or broke? It’s all only temporary.

I’m a child of the King, and my home is not of this world. So this sorrow I feel certainly will not last forever. God has been so good to me, that even on this Earth my joy will surely come in the morning. (Psalm 30:5) The next time everything is upside down in your world, just remember to calm down. It’s only temporary.

With love,