Christian Photographers Community

Hi, friends,

Well, those first days of rest have come about. I was so exhausted I slept almost 24 hours straight. But, when I awakened today, it was early, and life seemed much less like drudgery.

I have an "ouch" in my right foot, but will see the doctor in a few days.  Wish it had been yesterday, but doctors really are over-busy these days. It's wonderful to be thankful for such a good doctor that I'm grateful he will be able to see me early next week.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

Hello friends

Pat the explanation of John 3:16 is so true but so sad because not everyone realizes salvation is for life
even if they go astray.

Janet; I sent you a new or updated forward.

Larry: Sounds like you and Pat will have a beautiful home, changes are always nice.

Al; Hello

Pat: Has your jaw thawed yet?

Have a great evening 

Thanks for asking, Pat.  Yes, doing ok.  I'm in a healthcare place, have a room with one roommate.  Thankfully, I have a room with a desk, computer, etc, from which I'm writing this.

Hi everyone.  I am writing early this morning as have a lot I want to tackle today.  Pat's computer came back yesterday from the Texas Lenovo repair depot and now it has to be set up and all the programs installed again as well as her files. I expect this will take today and probably tomorrow as well since I will be gone to the ROMEO's lunch part of the late morning and early afternoon.  We had a nice, if short time, with our friends playing dominoes and sharing a pizza before they left. 

Jeanne, it sounds like you are set for winter as you have the basics covered. 

Pat, I liked the John 3:16 description as well. 

Al, good morning and it is always great to see your posting and comments.  Hope you are doing OK.  Glad to read you have a computer desk and computer in your room.  Does your roommate also use the computer?

Marilyn, I hope you got tried out without getting too chilled from the rain out your way.

Ruth Ann, glad you were finally able to get the rest you need but sorry to hear of the pain in your foot. 

Ruth, we have a very livable home that suits us very well.  It isn't large and I don't think it qualifies as beautiful as it is not fancy in any way and we have things where they are comfortable to us and not for show.  However, Pat, with the help of our housekeepers, keeps a very clean house that we manage to clutter a bit in the two weeks between cleaning.   

A pretty sunny morning, but chilly.  And I guess from now, on for the next several months, we can expect more and more chilly until it gets downright cold.   

  for Al!  Do you do any pastoral care at the home?  We miss your daily messages. 

Ruth:  That rain your are experiencing must be rather cold at this time of the year. 

Larry:  We have a Chick-fil-a in our area and it is really hard to drive to that spot  so we wish it was more convenient.  On my youngest brother - he has been this way all his life.  Funny and so smart, easy to talk with anyone and just doesn't show up for the family gatherings at all.  He does have a "different" path in life. 

Pat:  Your message of John 3:16 with the addition by Ivor Powell is so "right on".  It is copied and printed and I will pass it on to my Wednesday bible study group. 

It has been a gloomy day of sad news as a dear and old friend in Minnesota is failing.  There is another chemo 8 week program they will discuss or otherwise, hospice will be discussed as well.  Wishing we could be there to help and we are looking at driving back to visit but that opens a realistic talk about weather issues at this time of the year.  Don is taking a long walk right now - I just napped for a few minutes.  It is so stressful having to absorb reality at times. 

Back to the gym today after two days' absence for me and several weeks for Darrel.  Got to do whatever we can to take care of our health.

Carol, sorry about your sad news.  As we get older, so many dear friends change residence from earth to eternal homes, it makes me homesick for heaven.

I like Chick Fil-A, but the nearest one I know about is in Amarillo, Texas.  That's a little too far to drive for a sandwich!

Larry, I am thinking your home is probably quite nice, even if not a McMansion.  And having a home suited to our individual needs is such a blessing.  And we can tell from your posts that you take very good care of your house.  Ours is certainly not fancy, either, but I love it.  It is quite unique, and I am certain there never was nor ever will be one like it!  So that's special, in a way.

Another lovely day here today.  I went to the high school musical last night, and it was a tremendous disappointment.  Stupid, dumb, no plot, bad language, sexual innuendos, etc.  I sat there wishing it were over, and that I hadn't gone.  Why don't they choose good, wholesome, fun, entertaining things for the kids to do?  It is just so sad for the kids to put in so much time and work learning their lines, etc. and the material is rubbish.          Okay, off my soap box now.

Pat, I am sending you an email, hope to hear back ASAP.  Thanks!

Ruth Ann, hope you get relief for your foot really soon.

I went in and read to Beth for quite a while this afternoon, also took photos to show her.

I need to check my email, as Beth said John has sent his itinerary for his Christmas visit.

Hi everyone.  We are suppose to have a truly beautiful weekend but then turn pretty cold by midweek next week.  Yesterday was a lovely day.  I enjoyed the ROMEO's luncheon group and had a quiet evening.  I started working on Pat's computer yesterday morning but now find that they didn't get anything fixed as it is doing the same thing it did before I sent it to the repair depot in Texas.  I talked to the support person yesterday and will call them back today and get the process started.  It is obvious this computer is a lemon but they assured me they will get the problem fixed.  In the meantime Pat has no desktop computer to use.  She still have her laptop so isn't in a panic.  I don't know what if anything I will do today and may just stay home after I get back from coffee at McDonald's. 

Jeanne, we are beginning to see that colder weather is on our way as well, especially in the early mornings.  It is leather coat weather. 

Carol, regarding your brother I believe it is the right every individual to choose how they wish to live their adult lives.  Sometimes others can't understand and certainly can't know why they do as they do so all we can do is accept things that we cannot change. So sad about your old friend.   I learned yesterday that a friend from church, who has aggressive brain cancer, is failing fast and his wife has called in hospice.  He has gone from probably 275 pounds to 140 pounds in just a matter of weeks.  I sang in the choir with his wife, Virginia,  for many years.  They just suffered the lose of their son within the last month, who was probably not yet 30, with a bacterial infection.  The had been working in the Phillipines, where his mother was born, as a missionary and she was there with him when he became ill.

Janet, glad you were able to get back to the gym.  The important thing about our homes is that they meet our needs and I am sure from your descriptions and your eye for beauty that your home is gorgeous.  I just feel very blessed to have a home in a lovely place to live surrounded by many good friends.  I guess the play you saw is an indication of the decline of our society.  When I was in high school plays many years ago we did silly little comedies that everyone loved and didn't have to feel uncomfortable with.  So glad to hear that John has his Christmas trip planned as sure Beth could not receive a more welcome gift.

  Sipping a cup of coffee with hazelnut dry creamer.  Yum  Don set all the clocks forward and I just looked at the thermostat because it looks like it has leaped an hour back today.  Must be reset today. 

Larry:  Sorry about Pat's computer problems.  What did we do before spending so much time on trying to "fix" things. 

News from the typhoon in the Philippines is tragic - prayers for all.  I had a friend in school from that country and also knew another friend who went there as a missionary but probably they are back in Seattle now. 

It looks like a banner day here and the week ahead.     

Got to put more firewood in the basement today and it is snowing here Uggggg. Was hoping to get that done this year before the snow, but had to many of my weekends messed up with work. Well will have to get at it and get it done, then next week back to the bush for more wood. At least it is over half done. Been very busy with work and training of a new driver. He is out on his own now so I have my truck to myself again. Got a long weekend this week so the dealership can change the wiring harness on my truck. that is going to be a 12 hour job. Got to love the age of electronics. But a good thing about it is that if something goes wrong with the truck the computer will shut it down before anything is damaged. well of to do firewood I go for now Blessings everyone.

John, as I read your post, I was thinking that you and Judy are living with one foot in the cyber age and one foot in the past, with your need for wood to burn for fuel.  I miss many things from earlier years, and I love the smell of a wood fire, but I don't want to go out in the snow to get wood to burn!  Probably doing things like that keep us grounded, and closer to nature.  But I guess I am spoiled.  Hope you get good weather to finish the job!

Larry, why in the world don't they just admit defeat and give you a new computer?  That is crazy to waste so much time trying to make that one work.  With wages as high as they now are, it would probably be less costly for them to just replace the computer...IMO, of course.  What do I know?  It looks like another pretty day here.  I have been up since a little after four, but haven't ventured outdoors yet.

Carol, yes, I'll share a cup of coffee with hazelnut creamer--sounds good!

My plan for today includes typing up at least one more of your stories!

I have been rereading in a book I labeled "Words to live by" in which I have kept all sorts of quotes from all sorts of people over a long period of time.  I think I'd like to start sharing one a day with you, so here is the first:

Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it!.......Mark Twain

John, as I told Judy, every time I hear on the news of a trucker with problems I offer up an extra prayer for your safety.

Larry, I agree with Janet that it's ridiculous for the Lenovo people to keep insisting on repairing rather than replacing Pat's computer.  I think by this time I would just say "Take it back and give me back my money.  I'll buy a different brand."

Brownies in the oven and tea or coffee ready to be started - just had a call from a quilting friend and they want to stop by and watch Don in his work shop - the son is interested in making pens.  What a perfect time - Don is downstairs with wood shaving all over his clothes & face, floor etc.  He has been working away.  He sure doesn't have the stamina for it as before though so it is fewer and fewer days he goes down to work. 

I pushed the wrong key and every I wrote is gone I wish all of you a good evening.

Oh, Ruth!  Be careful of those keys you push!  We want to hear what you have to say!   

Ruth, I did the same thing yesterday, after typing a pretty lengthy post!  Hate it when that happens.  So after you rest a while come back and tell us again, as Jeanne said, we want to hear what you have to say!

We are just home from church.  Pastor was gone, Assistant youth pastor spoke for the first time and did a great job.  We are invited to Country View Baptist church in the morning and for dinner following.  They are starting their revival services.

I'm excited!  I think I'm on the verge of publishing the children's book that's been in the works for a long time!  Then maybe a volume of the bio sketches I have been doing here for the past year.  Don't get excited now, I won't put your stories in it!    But it would be nice if folks here knew you!  Oh my goodness!  I just realized I should write my own for on here, too!  Hmmm

Janet. Doing the wood saves a lot of money We do have an oil furnace as well, but oil cost about 900 to 1000 dollars to fill a 200 gal tank and this old farm house would use at least 6 or 7 tank fulls a year. So we burn a lot of wood seeing as we have 40 acres of bush. Yes it also keeps us in touch with nature.
Jeanne. I appreciate your prayers. Things happen quick sometimes on the road with traffic and weather changes. Just coming home yesterday I went past 2 accidents due to weather. 1 of them was a police car.
Well 14 face cords of wood is in the basement. Need to get about 10 more from the bush Will be starting on that next weekend. Gods hand is in so much that is going on in our lives. Hoping to retire soon and stay home, and certainly looks like God is putting the necessary factors in place to make that happen. It is exciting to see this come together.   

John, I realize that by using wood you are saving a lot of money.  It just struck me yesterday what a contrast that is with the technology in our world today. I hope doing all the hard work of "harvesting" the wood keeps you in good physical condition, too, as a bonus.  I meant no criticism in any way, I hope you know that!  We would be in a heap of hurt if we had to depend on wood, as trees are few and far between out here on the prairie!  God bless....and come on, retirement! 

Going to watch Joel Osteen now!

Decide exactly what you want in every area of your life; you can't hit a target you can't see.

A few minutes before early (7:30 am ) church and this will be our first sermon from our new pastor.  I was at church twice last week - for bible study and for a funeral.  They did a wonderful job of having a huge number of counselors out for the college kids and believe me, the children stayed because they wanted to talk. 

The sunrise is very pink this morning.  Now, the sun is blinding through the kitchen window because leaves have fallen.  Have a wonderful Sunday. 

Carol, by way of contrast, our sky is totally overcast!  I have a cake in the oven to take for the church dinner.  They told me not to bring anything, but I feel better doing it, the invitation is appreciated.

Hope you enjoy your new pastor's sermon.

Hi everyone.  I will try not to write a whole book for a posting as I seemed to do yesterday.  I slept late this morning but am now ready to leave for church in a little while.  This evening friends have invited us to go with them to their church for a dinner theater where after a good dinner they will present the play "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". Yesterday afternoon I did talk with the Lenovo Tech again and told him I wanted a new computer as this one is obviously a lemon.  He is sending my request and information on to management.  Unfortunately, a lot of my case for the past several weeks isn't available as they are located in the Philippines and some of their servers must not be available.  I wrote on the other boards yesterday about the terrible wreck my niece had late Thursday night when she tried to avoid a deer and rolled her car.  She broke her neck in two places, her wrist and her shoulder.  She is in the hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.  We talked with my sister last evening and they had performed the surgery on the first break in her neck and pined her wrist.  The second surgery will be sometime early this week.  She is in for a long recovery.  The doctor told them she was very fortunate not to come out of the wreck paralyzed and he has seen this happen in many similar situations. 

John, I recall from my youth working one end of the crosscut saw as we cut up wood to burn in our stove on a snowy, wintry day.  We then went to coal oil and the folks finally ended up with propane on the farm.  Hope you were close to home when the computer shut down on your truck.  With the price of oil these days can sure understand why you want to burn the wood. 

Hi Judy, been missing your postings. 

Janet, I look forward to your "Words to Live By".  My mother often clicked out things like that from the newspaper or magazines.  Exciting times for you with another book in the wings.  Will you self-publish this one?

Jeanne, unfortunately I had only 14 days to return the computer to the store (Office Depot) since I didn't buy their extended warranty.  So I have to deal with Lenovo.

Carol, I bet Don will enjoy demonstrating his pen making to someone else but will need to rest afterwards. 

Ruth, I lost a posting a couple of weeks ago and it takes the  desire to write it again.  However, don't beat yourself up over it as we all do it on occasion. 

Hi Janet  No criticism taken from your post. I'm not that thin skinned. And yes working with the wood does help to get me in shape physically although in the beginning it is a tough go. But as the body gets used to it things get a little easier. Have also learned to pace myself to age appropriate level. Not trying to keep up to 39 year old's.
Hi Larry The truck computer  didn't completely shut me down I was able to get it back to the dealership near where I live and now I wait fro it to get repaired. It was a ruff ride home though because with these computers there is no telling when they decide that enough is enough and go into shut down mode. But they always give enough warning to get it off the road safely.

OK I am here, I check in frequently, however not much to say.  I will start next weeks devotional soon.......really soon.......I hope I don't bet sidetracked!!   I am a true SHE.

I have a size 4 sweater done for mu grandson.  It has been harder to do that a fill sized adults. K7 P6 then the next row knit with the K6 turning into a cable....I have had my fill of cables and this pattern.  I have torn it down and built it up and torn it down again.  It is together and I found a mistake.  Only Pat or someone who really examines it would find the mistake.....I hope. 

Church today was good.  Pastor was away and a friends husband spoke. 

I'm off back to knitting and sewing on buttons.

Meant to tell you that John has picked the sweater out that he wants...... it has cables!!!

I intended to write y'all yesterday, friends, but apparently got called away and forgot to get back to the computer. Ah, these senior moments seem to collide sometimes, with one leaving out the back door while another one sneaks in through the window.

I'm babying my hurting foot till I see the dr on Tuesday. so, it won't be too much longer to wait.

I've been concerned about my family in the Philippines. Just wondering if the typhoon had effect on the island where they live.

It won't be long till our area may be graced with its first snow flurries - maybe as early as Tuesday afternoon. My goodness, how time flies!

Must go, I'm awaiting a call from one of my sons.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Judy I wish I was a fantastic knitter like you and Pat. But fortunately I can do that with crochet. I still would like to be a better knitter

I'm not a knitter; not a crocheter; not a quilter; and rarely do any sewing these days.  But I must still be good for something!

A smile of encouragement at the right moment  may act like sunshine on a closed-up flower; it may be the turning point for a struggling life.
                                             Unknown

The sweaters I most enjoyed knitting were the "fisherman" pattern ones I made for my boys - two different designs.  They each had several patterns, all of different rows and I had to keep track with pencil and paper.  But they were so interesting they just flew!  And there was such a sense of accomplishment when they were done. 

The sweater was torn down and rebuilt again......for the last time.  Buttons are on I will post a picture tomorrow