15 Minutes, Flip, 15 Minutes

It all happened so fast. There she was just lying there minding her own business, trying to get her 30 minutes of sun by the pool for the week, 15 minutes on one side, 15 minutes on the other - she sets a timer, y'all, she's precise.

Now on her second 15 minute side, she had moved to a raft in the pool because she was literally melting into a puddle of sweat while lying on the chaise lounge. She got balanced on the raft and positioned herself at just the right angle for the afternoon sun, no shadows on either side, perfect alignment. (You tanners out there know).

A couple of bees buzzed her head, and since they were persistent, she splashed around trying to convey to them that she was neither a landing pad nor a source of food. She must have succeeded because she finally couldn't hear them anymore. She rested for a moment from all the energy expended from the splashing.

She then realized she had splashed herself out of alignment so she reached out for the pool edge to pull herself back.

ZAP!!!

What the heck?! She squealed/yelped and brushed her hand across her hip, rolled to look at it, and instantly realized there was a barbed, black stinger in her skin which she pulled out with lightning quick reflexes!

Seriously folks, what could she possibly have done to deserve that? She loves the bees, provides for them in spring with her yellow flowering palo verde tree and in the summer with her purple sage shrubs.

Yet here was this bee probably thinking those sparkly droplets of water on her skin would be an easy source of water to drink. Do bees even drink? She's giving the sucker the benefit of the doubt - the poor thing was thirsty, it felt threatened when she moved her hand to grab the side of the pool, it tried to push off extra fast and just accidentally used its stinger like the down direction of a pogo stick.

After she said "fudge" several times, she got out of the pool and patted dry. She could see the tiny thing floundering in the pool. He was so small and fuzzy, and he had sacrificed himself out of fear. She felt sorry for him.

As she hobbled into the house to find the insect lotion and Tylenol and to tattle on the bee to her husband, she tried to be brave and tell herself it didn't/couldn't hurt that much. She had birthed one baby without drugs. She had dislocated her pelvis during another birth. She had tried to walk before she knew about said dislocated pelvis. (Don't try that at home.) She was pretty tough.

Yet this bee. She marveled at how a small creature could make such a big impact. This small creature made her write all these words hoping for fake sympathy or at least to entertain someone. And she wonders if she can brave the outdoors tomorrow. There are lots of prickly small creatures out there...

Barbara Waters Scott: March 20,1946 - August 14, 2018 (Obituary)

Barbara Waters Scott, 72, of Buckeye, Arizona, beautiful wife of 48 years, proud mother and grandmother, beloved daughter and sister had her final heart’s desire fulfilled when she went home to be with Jesus on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

A memorial service honoring her life will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2018 at The Church at Sun Valley, 26252 W Desert Vista Blvd, Buckeye, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (https://www.nami.org).

Barbara (Louise) was born to John and June Waters at St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas on March 20, 1946. She grew up in Irving, Texas where she attended Irving public schools. In 1964 she graduated from Irving High School, 3rd in her class of over 300 students. The following year, she attended Texas Christian University on a full scholarship where she majored in English and minored in biology. Upon graduation in 1969, she briefly worked as a biology teacher at MacArthur High School.

In 1969 Barbara won the title of Miss Irving and, subsequently, competed in the Miss Texas pageant that summer. Several months later on April 10,1970 Barbara married Lyndell Scott and took on the role of homemaker. Just over a year later she was blessed to become a mother.

Barbara accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior as a young adult in her early twenties. After getting married and while her children were young, she and her husband, worked in the singles ministry at MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving, Texas. Barbara also greatly enjoyed singing in the MBBC choir. After their move to Midlothian, Texas, she continued to sing in the choir and also served as the church librarian at Oakcrest Baptist Church. When they began attending Waxahatchie Bible Church, she continued her volunteer role in their library as well. Later in life, she and her husband moved to Buckeye, Arizona, to live close to their children and grandchildren. There she took on a discipleship role with several of the women in The Church at Sun Valley.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Lyndell Scott; daughter, Rachel HagEstad and her husband, Patrick; son, Daniel Scott and his wife, Mindy; and 7 grandchildren, Michael, Jonathan, Benjamin, Matthew, Jayden, Jordan, and Austin. She is also survived by her mother, June Beyer Waters; sisters, Betsy Haynes and Marianna LePori; and brothers, Jim and Johnny Waters. She is preceded in death by her father, John Waters, Sr.; her sister, Teresa Roberts; and her brother, Billy Waters.

Barbara is remembered as a prayer warrior, mentor, and encourager. Taking the Great Commission to heart, she courageously shared the gospel with family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers as she felt God’s prompting. Her favorite book in the Bible was Philippians, and her most underlined passages were 4:6-7; 4:12b and 4:13.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” and “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” and “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”