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Happy New Year!

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Morning Devotional...







Calvary Covers It All
T. Green

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him,..." —Luke 23:33

I have often praised God, as unabated tears flowed froms my eyes, tracing their unbidden way into the Lord's eternal storage bottle (cf. Psalm 56:8 ) as these words were sung:


(1)  Far dearer than all that the world can impart
Was the message came to my heart.
How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,
And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

(2)  The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore
Told His mercy and lover evermore
And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name,
And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

(3)  How matchless the grace, when I looked in the face
Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord;
My redemption complete I then found at His feet,
And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

(4)  How blessed the thought, that my soul by Him bought,
Shall be His in the glory on high;
Where with gladness and song, I'll be one of the throng
And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.


S. Franklin Logsdon said, "But this is only part of the story.  Calvary covers the present as well as the past, and has provided lavishly for the future..."  I'm sure you have uttered yourself or heard someone say, "I've got you covered."  Well, God has us "covered."  Covered with a blood-soaked shroud that hides our past, an over-coming blood that gives us victory now (cf. Rev. 12:11), and a glorious future clothed in robes made white by the blood of the Lamb (cf.  Rev. 7:14).  What transpired that sun-darkened, earth-shaking day on Cavary was the price a holy and righteous God demanded for the vile, putrefying sins of all mankind.  Jesus Christ paid the debt owned to God--in full!

The songwriter asked the melodic question:

"Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"

For God's glory, Christ's kingdom and your sake, I trust you are!"









I'm so thankful for this devotional by Tim Green.  This hymn is one of my favorites.

Thank you, Pat, for this great new spot in our forum. I, too, love that hymn. I'll be humming it as I read messages on email.

It was busy today, and then I discovered that while I was in hospital, the annual auto license bill came. It showed up when I was going through some papers I had missed. So, tomorrow I'll be getting the car inspected and then, hopefully, licensed early tomorrow.

Rain is threatened, so I'd rather get on out and, hopefully, miss the raindrops. I'd rather have them fall on the top of the car after it's parked safely in the lot here at the apartments. 

Y'all have a wonderful rest of the day with our matchless Lord,

Ruth Ann

Happy final day of 2012, everyone!  I am happy to report my sweet husband is back home and feeling fine.  And it's SNOWING!!    I am dressed to go to the gym, but when I called a little while ago, there was no answer, so I am not sure if they are open today.

I finished reading through the Bible this morning, using the one year NLT translation.  I am thinking I might read the one year in chronological order one for 2013.  I had a few questions about the timing of things this time through, and that should answer them.  How thankful we should be to live in a country where we can STILL own as many copies of God's Word as we like, and how we should take advantage of reading them!  I am guilty of letting so many days fly by in the past, while ignoring the Word lying right at hand.  I have repented, and vowed to do better.  I have read through the Bible each year for the past few years, so am improving, but there is always room for more.

I am going to forward a funny email to several of you, about an auctioneer.  So if you don't want to see it, just delete.    It's a short one.

If this snow keeps up, we won't be taking Beth along when we take John to Dodge City for his flight on Thursday.  I certainly wouldn't want to be caught out in bad weather with her on board, and also, the van doesn't handle nearly as well as the car on slick roads.

Ruth Ann, I didn't know you had been hospitalized.  I'm sorry.  Here are some hugs for you! (((((hugs))))) 

Would you like another story?

Hi everyone.  Just back from coffee at McDonald's.  We liked their new rehab of the place.  They have changed it quite a bit and should soon be finished and the construction trailers removed from the parking lot.  This is going to be a pretty much normal Monday for me as have a men's luncheon at Longhorn Steakhouse at 11:30 am.  This is the ROMEO's group and it is titled the Fiscal Cliff luncheon and am sure that will be a subject of some discussion, not that we can do a thing about it at this point.  Then this evening I will attend a meeting.  The rest of the day will be spent here in my office, resting and enjoying my easy chair and probably watching some football games.  Unfortunately, the Atlanta Falcons lost to Tampa Bay yesterday.

Marilyn, it sure is obvious you are enjoying your volunteer work at the animal clinic.

Gord, sure hope the flu doesn't keep Noreen from her scheduled appointment regarding the knee replacement.

Carol, glad you have found a nice quilting group to be involved with there in Phoenix and your project plans sound very worthwhile.  Glad you found a church where Don is able to hear. 

Janet, a frightening time for Darrel and you with his ER visit in the middle of the night.  I hope it was just a false alarm.  Glad he didn't have to stay in the hosopital another night. 

Pat, thank you for the new devotional thoughts for this week. 

Ruth Ann, glad you found the license bill and hope you don't have to pay a late penalty.

We just had a call from Stacey that she is headed to the ER at the nearest hospital after talking with her heart doctor's nurse.  She told Stacey that she may be having another heart attack.  She wasn't feeling well yesterday or last night.  Not a good way to start off the new year.

"Bo" Crocker was born on May 11, 1914 at Ford, Kansas.  He is now ninety-eight years of age.  He grew up in Colorado and Kansas, moving often during those years.  His dad was a registered pharmacist, who worked in drug stores in Hoisington and Great Bend, among other places.  The dad had trouble with alcohol, so frequently changed jobs and locations.  Bo, his sisters and his mother did whatever work they found in order to help out with the finances.  One job he remembers was picking cherries.

Bo had two older sisters and two younger sisters: Helen, Thelma, Roberta and Virginia.  The kids played marbles, and the girls played jacks, hop-scotch and jumped rope.

One unusual teacher he remembers was bald on top of his head, and let his hair grow very long on one side, and then combed it over, in a futile attempt to hide his baldness.

Bo's dad was an alcoholic.  He would do fine for months, then go on a 'bender' and get so bad he had to be hospitalized to get dried out again.  He once went for ten years without a drink, then had a time of stress and took that one fatal drink that sent him on another binge.  He was hospitalized in Colorado several times.

Bo attended many different schools, more in Colorado than in Kansas.  He said he never attended the same school two years in a row.  He graduated from Tribune high school in 1933 in a class of 19 students.  He went on to attend Ft. Hays State University for three years, then to Kansas University, where he only spent six weeks.  His dad always wanted Bo to become a doctor, but that wasn't Bo's dream.

After being at KU for that short time, Bo's dad learned there wasn't a movie theater in Ulysses.  (His dad was running movies at that time in the high school auditorium in Tribune.)  Howard Pfifer, Verlan Phillips and George Dougherty drove to Tribune to talk to Bo's dad about the possibility of starting a movie theater in Ulysses, and he later came here to look the situation over.  Bo decided that was a good time to stop school and go into the theater business, and his dad went to Kansas City to purchase the needed equipment.  The first location was 117 North Main, where there had been a theater before, but there wasn't much left there by that time.  They remodeled the building and put in the new equipment in October of 1936, and operated there through the 1940s. 

They decided they needed a bigger building more suited to being a theater, so they had the present theater built on the corner and opened there in 1948.  At first, Bo's brother-in-law and Bo operated it, taking turns working here and working in Tribune, to keep that one going.  A farmer from Tribune was in partnership with Bo's dad at first, but then the partnership was dissolved and the farmer took the theater in Tribune and the Crockers kept the one here in Ulysses.
Bo met his future wife Ethelynne here in Ulysses.  Her cousin had a date and no car, so Bo drove him and his date to Copeland.  Ethelynne, affectionately called "Etch" by her friends, rode back with them, and three months later, on the 4th of July, Bo and Etch got married, between the theater's afternoon matinees.  The Justice of the Peace married them outdoors across the street from where the Post Office now stands.

The Crockers lived at first by the football field, in a small basement apartment.  Later, they moved into a small 12' X 12' building.  They kept adding on, dug a basement and built over that, kept working on it, and the house is still there, at 203 North Durham.  They had one of the earliest indoor swimming pools, which was dug by hand.  Very progressive, for the 1960s when it was done!

Bo and Etch had one son, Ben C., born in 1939, and one daughter, Delores Darlene, born in 1940.  Darlene passed away in July of 1975, at the young age of 35, from cancer.  Since Bo had sold the theater to Richard Dudley in 1972, he and Etch were able to spend the last three months of her life with Darlene.  She had three children, ages 13, 7 and 3, and her husband had left her, as he couldn't cope with her illness.

Etch drowned at Zapata, Texas in 1980.  They had been going there for the winter for a number of years, from November until March.  They were out on the lake on a nice day, when a sudden storm blew up, capsizing their boat and throwing them into the water.  They were holding onto the boat, someone threw them a rope which Etch missed but Bo caught, and they took him to the dock.  They went back for Etch and found her floating about a foot beneath the surface of the water.  They had been married for 43 years, and her loss was a terrible blow to Bo.

Two years after Etch died, Bo married Hazel Merritt.  The Crockers and the Merritts had been friends for many years, and all wintered at Zapata.  Mr. Merritt had passed away earlier, and Bo and Hazel started spending time together.  They decided to marry, and since Hazel thought so much of Rev. Hubbard, pastor of the Christian church here for years, she wanted him to perform their ceremony.  So quite a large number of people (20 or more) journeyed to eastern Kansas where Rev. Hubbard lived then, for the wedding.  Bo and Hazel enjoyed 25 good years together before her passing in January 2007.

Ben C. passed away in 1995 in Wichita, Kansas.

Two years after opening the new theater, they felt the need for a drive-in theater, so they built that on the East side of Ulysses.  They kept the drive-in open in the summer and the indoor one open in the winter.  The other small theater also kept operating for a short time as well, then was closed, and remodeled into a mercantile.  The building has been used for various businesses over the years.  After the break-up of the partnership, Bo's brother-in-law went to Tribune to operate the theater there, and Bo stayed here.

Bo said they had a lot of fun running the theaters, along with their share of problems.  He recalled having the fences built around the drive-in.  He had hired Jerry Rouse and Leonard Hill to build one fence, and they worked so hard on it.  But the night after it was completed, there came a huge dirt storm which totally flattened and buried their new fence!

Bo's main help at the theater was his wife, Etch, who usually served as cashier.
He remembers lots of stories about the theaters, saying so many people have come to him and told him, years after the fact, the ways they used to sneak into the movies and the drive-in, to avoid paying for their tickets.  He said at the first small theater, one or two kids would come and pay for their tickets, then go sit on the front row.  One would sneak to the back door and open it for friends who were waiting outside, and they would come in and also sit on the front row.

Another incident he told me about was when one boy brought a bunch of baby rabbits in and turned them loose in the theater.  That created some pandemonium!

They only had one fire during all the years Bo ran the theater.  A light was left on accidentally, shining on a reel of film.  The film was very combustible, and caught on fire, making lots of black smoke.  The fire chief, Chet Riley, was running the machine, and it really scared him!  He couldn't get out of there fast enough!

During the dust bowl, people would come to the theater swaddled up to keep the dirt out of their hair and eyes, and tell them "We just had to get out of the house for a while!"  The movies provided a much-needed distraction for them.  Bo said, "It was a hard time to start a business, but we made it.  There sure isn't much social life when you run a theater, because when other people are socializing, you are working!"

About the condition of the world now, Bo says "It seems to me we are in a devil of a mess.  The only way things will straighten out is for the Lord to take over.  All we can do is live a day at a time and wait for God to help us.  But we must ask for his help and then allow Him to do it."

I asked him about his hopes for our country, and he said, "We need to leave it up to the Lord; we don't have the brain power to solve the problems."

He says things are more commercialized and expensive today; that there is too much greed and violence; and that we should all have the right to keep and bear arms, as stated in the Second Amendment.

Bo' hobbies are golfing and fishing.  Etch also loved to fish.  They spent 27 years in Zapata, always in the same camp, and going back each year was like going home, the people were all so friendly and happy to see them again.

Bo once went to Arizona and hunted rocks with Etch's brother.

The achievement that gave Bo the most satisfaction was paying off the loan on the theater building.  The whole family attended the burning of the mortgage; Bo's dad was especially happy and proud, as he had been the main instigator of the enterprise.  Bo added, "And living to the age of 98 is quite an accomplishment, too!

A valuable lesson he would like to pass along is this:  "Live a good, creative life.  Go to church and see that your family goes to church.  Love one another and show love to others, neighbors and all."

The first thing Bo saved his money to buy was a bicycle.  He had been standing on a street corner in Colorado Springs selling newspapers, and finally got a route, so he needed the bike.  It cost less than $20, and it took him five or six weeks to save that amount.  He was about 14 years old at the time.

The wildest thing he recalls doing as a teen was hunting rabbits by himself.
B o's favorite holiday song is "I'll Be Home for Christmas."  His favorite foods include desserts (he is especially fond of ice cream),  and any kind of good meat.
His favorite movies from the thousands he saw during his years in the theater business are The Ten Commandments, Gone With the Wind, and Ben Hur.
Bo's first car was a 1941 Ford Super DeLuxe, which cost $962.00 brand new!  It was a dark blue color.

His scariest time was driving home from California, pulling a trailer on icy roads.  He and Etch, who was pregnant with Ben C., had gone to move Bo's two sisters home from college.  As he was driving on a mountain pass with a big drop-off, he felt the car slipping, and was really scared.  But he maintained control of the vehicle and all turned out well.  Another scary time was in 1965 when a tornado hit Topeka, where daughter Delores was living.  A neighbor across the street from Delores was killed, but Delores was fine.  Bo and Etch could get no word about her for some time, so that was really worrisome.

Bo admired a Methodist preacher, Rev. Schuster, because he spent time with Bo's dad.  Rev. Schuster inspired Bo to love others more and to be more productive.

A banker once advised Bo to do well the things he knew how to do, and to hire people to do the rest, rather than spending his time trying to do it all himself and not getting good results.  He says he followed that advice and it proved to be good.

I asked Bo what time period of his life were his best years, and he said, "The early years of retirement, when I could fish and golf as much as I liked.  I had two good wives and enjoyed both marriages very much.  I was fortunate to have such good women."

The first president Bo voted for was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The worst crime he remembers is the Clutter murders, because that happened so near here.

I asked if he'd ever had his mouth washed out with soap and he said, "Oh, yeah!"
Bo's favorite comic strip is Beetle Bailey.  His favorite book is the Bible, which he is reading a lot.  He also enjoys Louis L'Amour novels.

He remembers lots of items being rationed during World War Two, such as food items, gasoline, oil, and tires.

I asked him to tell me about some of the changes he has seen come to Western Kansas since he moved here, and he said there is lots of growth around Ulysses.  We now have a good school system, good medical care, the Civic Center is a wonderful addition, and is used for so many things, we have a nice swimming pool, nice parks, entertainment.  We try to give our kids things to do, if they will do it.

Bo and Etch started attending church in Ulysses in the 1960s and took the kids to church, too.

The worst things to happen to Bo were the deaths of so many members of his family.

The best thing in his life was marrying two of the best wives a man could have.
Bo would like people to remember that he gave them good times and enjoyment in the theater.  "We had some good times together," he said.

The greatest lesson he learned during his years is to be truthful and honest at all times.

A favorite memory of Bo's is the births of their children.  Their daughter arrived before Bo could make it to Lakin from Ulysses.  This was a happy time because they had thought she would have physical problems, but she was born perfectly healthy.  They were so happy both children were healthy babies.

Bo's favorite kind of music is Big Band music.  He especially enjoyed The Lawrence Welk Show.

His favorite scripture is the Shepherd Psalm (Psalm 23) The Lord is my shepherd....
A favorite TV show of his is Jeopardy, and he enjoyed The Johnny Carson Show.
He said his punishment for misbehavior was usually a good swat across the butt.  But his dad favored talking to them, felt he accomplished more that way.  At school, they got rapped on the hand with a ruler.

I asked how he acquired the nickname Bo, and he explained that his mother always called him "Boy,"and his sister, two years older (Thelma) tried to call him that, but could only say the first part, "Bo," and it stuck.  So he has been Bo for his whole life.

Pets he remembers are a cocker spaniel and a white spitz dog.
Bo likes roses, red ones!

Come to Park View and visit Bo.  You will be happy you did, as he is really a fun person with whom to visit!

Hi everyone! We got quite a snow storm.  Actually two in 4 days both giving about 8 inches each. Have not been out yet Plan to later this afternoon to go out and clean off the steps.  We were plowed but the wind is filling in the drive way again.  We have a long drive way so it will be quite a trip getting down through it. Good that I have a 4 wheel drive. Really don't want to pay again to have it redone.
I was trying to upload the weather icon on the bottom of my signature.  When I do all that copys is the code. Just wondering if someone could help me with this.
Sun has come out at last so I should go do those steps.
Happy New Year and God bless you!

Chrisle, if you'll give me your zip code, or the town and state where you live, I'll see if I can remember how to get the graphic to show.   

When I got to church yesterday and church started with announcements, the first announcement was the church has no water!!  It seems that a well-drilling company has tried and tried to find what is wrong that the church doesn't have water to no avail.  So it is determined that the well is dry and we need a new well!  And the county commissioner says we need a 3-acre retention pond for drainage.  And the well went dry!  Actually no one knows where the well is.  They know where the septic tank is and where the water comes into the church but not where the well is.  They know where the well is on the property north of the church.  But we are going to have a new well drilled so that when the new church is built, it will be for it also.  They have already gotten a permit to run a line under the street to the existing church building that is close to 150 years old! 

Then after church, 4 of us ladies went to Logan's Steak House for lunch.  Home. And a nice nap in the afternoon.

This morning the heat pump guy came and all he discovered was the unit outside had ice in it against the fan blade and when it isn't turning, cool air will come out of the inside unit.  But he says there are heaters now that goes under the outside unit and keeps ice melted away.  So he is going to see if he has one or needs to order one and will come back!

Tony came this morning also.  I love it when he comes.  I love spending time with Tony even though I feel half the time he doesn't hear me.  I wish they would spend their money on hearing aids for him and new dentures instead of Smart TV's and new vehicles!!  Oh, well! 

Then I called Ivalou and asked if she wanted to go to Dollar General with me.  Yes, so while she was in Dollar General, I went next door to Subway for lunch.  We got done about the same time.  She said she needed to go to the drug store for some RX's.  So I went to the bank for myself to get some money...so she got some money also.  Then the drug store and then she told me she would buy me a cappuccino if I went to Ricker's.  So I got us both a cappuccino. 

Then home and I helped take her things in.  And came home.

It was predicted that at 1pm we were to get snow and up to 6 inches by 11pm!  It was almost 2 when I got home and no snow yet.  But buy the time I got sat down here to the laptop, it started snowing.  Marge, Betty and I are suppose to go to Ivalou's for pizza and a movie tonight.  Betty has already cancelled...she's afraid of the snow storm that is to come.  Now I am tempted to cancel also since I have to walk to the road, then walk to Ivalou's drive and walk up her drive to her house.....and back when I come home after dark.  The snow isn't sticking on the roads yet or the drives....but....

Everyone have a safe New Year's Eve!!

How interesting to read that, Janet!!!  I'd love to visit "Bo"!  And I hope that Darrell is a lot better.

Hi Christie!  If Jeanne forgets, I'll help you with the temp "thingy".  I love to view what th weather is like for others in various parts of the world.

Hi Ruth Ann!  Please feel better.

Larry, we'll be telephoning you soon!

Hi Etta Sue!

Pat, now why would you think I might forget?    

Janet, I did mean to tell you how much I enjoyed Bo's story.  (but I forgot....  )  Also, I enjoyed that auctioneer email.  One of those "I really shouldn't laugh, but HAHAHAHAHA!!" 

Larry, Stacey is always on my prayer list - and you and Pat as well.

Pat!  How lovely to see a post from you!  I need to be reminded of my password on Seniors and Friends, maybe I would see you more there?

I have been taking down the Christmas stuff, have most of it done.  Our snow is getting deep!  John came to take a shower, and when he tried to leave, he couldn't see where the ditch was, across from the house, backed off into it and was stuck.  While we waited for a friend to come with his 4-wheel drive pickup to pull it out, John and I did some shoveling--and it was hip deep to John in front of our garage!  WOW!  We haven't had snow that deep in ages!  Roy got the van out, then drove in front of John to "break trail" for him all the way to the highway.  So good to have friends!    This is the friend whose wife is doing dialysis now, and for whom I make deviled eggs often.

Time for my program!  Be back later!

Pat, thanks so much for the comments on Bo's story.  You, too, Jeanne, and glad you enjoyed the email, too!

Jeanne, well, I forget so guess I think everyone does? 

Janet, I can re-set your password on S&F if you tell me what you want it to be in an email.  Send me an email and I'll do that for you.  I know the folks would love to see you posting there.

How many of you all have a New Year's service at your church?

If so, are you going?

How late do you stay up?

Janet that's a good story about B. he was  quite a man. Very interesting, I like to \hear the stories of the elders. I use to sit for hours and listen to my clients tell me about their younger lives.

Hi Pat, no plans for New Years eve or anything different for tomorrow, Well I will take down the Christmas tree tomorrow. Tonight go to bed at the usual early hour of 8-8:30 watch TV for a while go to sleep, wake up at midnight when all the firecrackers and guns go off, that will go on of a couple of hours, then If I am lucky I will go back to sleep until around 6am.

Larry Yes I sure do love the work I do at the clinic.

Thanks Marilyn.

Sounds like me this year. 

Sounds like me, too.  I'll probably be shutting down everything around 9:00, falling asleep at 11:00, awake at 2:00, and sleeping from 4:00 to 7:00.  That's pretty much the regular schedule these nights.  Fortunately, there has never been much noise in this neighborhood to celebrate the new year at midnight.

 Jeanne and Pat The only thing different about tonight from every other night is the midnight exterior disturbances.

Have a happy New Year everyone.

And here is my wish for everyone for this coming year:

May you be blessed, enjoy good (or improving) health, and experience a measure of happiness and contentment this year. Our Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so we can look forward eagerly in the coming year to His daily presence and guidance.

May God bless us all this day,
Ruth Ann

Well, there wasn't much noise at midnight here.  A few pops and bangs around 9, then everyone apparently went to bed.  I like that.  Imagine what it'll be like when the eternal day begins!

Hi everyone.  It is a rainy day here in Georgia to start the new year.  I have been working this morning to finish up the 2012 Financial Reports for 2012 and the 2013 Budget for a group I have served as treasurer for the last three years.  I am hoping at their meeting tomorrow night they elect someone to be the new treasurer as have told them I will not serve another term. As I think I had  posted here yesterday Stacey went to the ER as wasn't feeling good.  They did a heart cath on her yesterday afternoon and found a 90% blockage at the site of another stent.  They put in another stent to open the blockage and she, of course, spent the night in the hospital.  We haven't heard from her this morning but would expect she might be able to go home today, although she sounded terribly tired and weak last evening after she had been brought back to her room.  Her enzymes were elevated so she may have actually had another heart attack as hadn't been feeling good for two days.  I have a quiet day planned today and will watch some of the bowl games today. 

I am writing no personal remarks to the postings as just don't feel up to it today, although they are certainly interesting postings.  Hope this is a nice day for everyone--stay warm.

Good morning and Welcome to 2013. Happy has to go for his monthly appointment at the Vet tomorrow to today is bath day for both dogs. First for me I am about to be on my way to the gym fr a nice workout, then over to the church as they are doing a public giveaway this morning, I don't know yet what they are giving to the public but I will sure find out when I get there.

Happy New Year everyone.  I pray 2013 is one filled with the Joy of the Lord, and the peace of God!

I spent the midnight hours on the road coming home from a loooong trip to London Ontario.  Heather needed help with the move and a trip that was to start at 9:30, didn't begin till 2:00 in the afternoon, thus extending our day till 2:15 am whe n we finally rolled into the driveway.  Looks like it will be a quiet day today.

I forgot, too!  I loved the story of Bo.  I have always enjoyed stories that the elder tell.  Now I am hoping others enjoy my stories since I am now an elder!!  And the auctioneer story was hilarious! 

And Larry, sad to hear Stacey had another blockage.  Hope she didn't have another heart attack.  So glad she is close to the hospital!

Our church doesn't have a New Year's Eve service....we had a Christmas Eve service that was solemn and touching.  Last night?  Well, I was in bed by 10pm.  I read before shutting off the light.  Just west of me is a lane with a few houses on it.  According to their vehicles they don't have much....but they seem to have fireworks for every holiday!!  So I did hear a few fireworks before turning off the light.  Then later, I heard quite a few of them...booming ones...not just firecrackers!  But when I woke up this morning and go up and about, the world looks the same as yesterday!

Ivalou was going to have Betty, Marge and I over last evening for pizza and a movie but we cancelled out.  Betty cancelled first...she worries about everything so she was worrying about the snow that we got yesterday afternoon and into the evening.  I went out and got the mail and took it to Ivalou and told her that if it got below 32 degrees, then the drives would be ice and I didn't think I wanted to walk on ice after dark.  (the snow is too deep to go across door to door)  So she cancelled the party!  I am glad.  We sure don't need to start the new year with accidents! 

The heat pump worked great last night.  Must have been a glitch somewhere since it is below freezing and it didn't ice up! 

I plan to watch the Rose Bowl Parade that has already started but I am recording so I can watch it and fast-forward through the commercials.  Then I will probably read a book.  Lazy day!  Hope the rest of the days in 2013 is like today!  Well, some of them.

I just got this in an email....I just had to share.  It's about bear tagging in Ontario!  So funny and so cute! 

Happy New Year!  Now I have to remember that it ends with 13.  These years are passing much too quickly. 

Janet and Larry:  You two have surely had too much concern over heart problems in the family this week.  May you find comfort in our promise that all of us send up a prayer for each of your concerns.

Janet:  Thank you for thinking of our boys - we have three sons and our daughter was a tomboy as well.  I used to have to dress warmly and check on everyone hiding in their homemade igloo when we lived in Minnesota and she was there with her brothers and the boy next door.  She would have a dress on for church and SS and disappear at the last moment we were in the car ready to go - wearing jeans.  I just got so disguested that we would drive with her to church with her boy jeans - what a pickle!  We talked with everyone yesterday so I feel good - I wish we could all live together like the Walton's but am sure they wouldn't take kindly to that anymore.     She is in dresses now & a marketing executive not afraid to speak her opinion but mainly a loving family woman. 

I was watching the Rose Parade and remembering when Grandma & Grandpa sold their farm in Minnesota and moved to Pasadena - we used to go there and walk a few blocks to sit on the sidewalk.  The flowers were stunning.  Now there is  a football game on t.v. - we are quite chilly this morning and not going out for anything.  No church services I can see - everything was yesterday. 

We went to a favorite & lovely thrift shop in Scottsdale and I found a new iron for $4.60 then to a Jo-Ann Fabric store going out of business - sad that all are losing jobs.  Barely any fabric places in this area.  But we had our highlight of going to In-and _Out Hamburger place.  The coffee is great and the prices are super - great little hamburgers. 

I would like to revive the weather thingy too. 

Everyone enjoy your new day. 

Judy, what a lot of driving you and John had.  I hope Heather appreciates it.     I'm so glad the Lord brought you home safe and sound.

Etta Sue, more days like today?  Well, I could stand it if they were a little warmer.   

Carol, my daughter had two older brothers and she was a tomboy, too.  It was always a struggle to get her out of jeans and into a dress, so I really know what you mean.   

My best wishes to everyone for a great and blessed New Year.

Here are my HAPPY NEW YEAR'S wishes to everyone, too!  We are having a lazy day here, for sure!  We watched the rose parade WITH NO COMMERCIALS!!! on Hallmark channel, so nice!  It takes all the enjoyment out of it when they have so many commercials or somebody you don't care for singing something you don't like!  So "Hooray for Hallmark!" I say! 

Larry, I sure hope Stacey is much better by now.  I feel bad even mentioning my small troubles when your family deals with such serious ones on an everday basis.  Blessings to you and yours!

Etta Sue, thanks for sharing about the bear tagging.  That's something most of us won't ever see, other than on a video!

Carol, we have never lived anywhere we got enough snow to build an igloo, but if we had, I think my kids would have loved doing that--at least once!  Those memories are so precious.

I stripped our bed and washed everything, then helped Darrel (or he helped me!) put his Christmas gift on the bed--a heated mattress pad.  He will enjoy that a lot, and I probably will seldom turn my side of it on!

I need to call Beth and John, see what they are doing today.  The county came and graded our road, which shocked us, for them to do that on a holiday!

Judy, that's too late for me to be out driving, especially in snow!  Glad you made it home safely.

Jeanne, smiles for you today, along with a big warm HUG!.

Al, blessings to you, too!  I pray this proves to be a much better year for you than last year.  Good to see your post today.

Ruth Ann, Happy New Year to you, and many rich blessings from our Lord.

And to all whose names I didn't mention, the same!

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I would like to revive the weather thingy too. 

Everyone enjoy your new day. 

Carol, give me your Zip Code/Postal Code and I'll get you your temperature thingy.  I love seeing what the weather is doing in various places.

Quote from: Etta Sue on January 01, 2013, 12:08:17 PM

I just got this in an email....I just had to share.  It's about bear tagging in Ontario!  So funny and so cute! 

Bear Tagging

Etta Sue, that's so funny!   And interesting.  Thanks so much!