Thoughts for the Month ~ October

[Carol]

I found my ceramic Christmas table tree - years ago, I had classes at a neighbor's house and still show a couple of things.  Of course, no one is visiting here - we keep in touch by phone.  It will end sometime. 

We are all happy to see the mountains clearly - there is very little fire still happening.  Snowfall came and it helped a lot. 

Marilyn:  I keep trying different bread recipes and they are getting better.  When we lived in the countryside, I made bread often.  Where in California? 

Janet:  sorry you are having problems getting in here.  It has to be hard to function when the whole family family has the virus.  Here, Denver is extremely high in numbers so they are shutting down restaurants and bars early.  I guess this is very near the tops in this nation. 

Good news - the Boy Scouts are taking donations for food - there are a lot of unemployed needy.  I have my bag ready for Saturday morning. 

Wishing I could go to bible study - even a church service in the church.  Thankful that we get the sermon anyway.  We used to pack things for Samaritan's purse - led by Franklin Graham  also sent boxes to our troops overseas.  Not anymore.  I forget what caused all this to stop for the troops.

     

[Carol]

I am trying the color Navy - Is this better than the purple?

We were listening to the President _ like him or loath him, he has worked on things no other president has touched - this last success is going to save a ton of money on prescription orders. 
The idea is there will be no so-called middle man in our drug system - we will get drugs directly and see lower prices.  About time!

Many thanks for today's verse "O  come, us sing unto the Lord:  let us make a joyful noise......

[Carol]

Hello everyone!  I hope more check in soon.  We are pretty much in Lock-Down on our own feelings about the virus here.  Because-- the numbers of the affected are so out of control.  Hospitals are flooded with sick ones and all the medical workers are exhausted. 

There is some good news though - now that a serum has been found.  Now to make enough for millions of people.  This is an era that will be written about for years to come.  We are blessed to have our faith and great and good relatives and friends.

Congratulations to Fotobirder on the beautiful bird photo.  Striking blue color - you are so talented and thank you for sharing.

This morning, the local boy scouts picked up bags on everyone's door knobs filled with groceries for pantries.  There are so many unemployed here plus a large amount of people living on the streets.  We have never seen so many in need. 

What is everyone planning for Thanksgiving?  We are going to be alone - looking forward to the family gathering as soon as possible.  I do have a turkey breast to bake - thankful that we can get together over the internet.  Mom would say, "It will be alright." 

[JudyB]

[JudyB]

  If everyone were to read one chapter a day of the book of Luke starting on December first, They would have read about the entire life of Christ by Christmas.  What better gift can we give ourselves?


This will be a different Christmas for many. Family and extended family cannot get together, many are alone.  How can we as the Christian family ease the loneliness of others?  Even here on CP there are those among us who struggle with being alone, others with people around them feel lonely as well...

I have an idea.  Can we through private message or on here give our address to enable others to send out Christmas cards?

Here is Mine
Judy Boneschansker
56 Stories Rd.
Powassan ON P0H1Z0

[Carol]

Judy:  You have an interesting address. I just want to say that I admire your courage and faith for all you have endured these years. 

I wrote a message to self on starting Luke in December.  Already that month is filling up with Don having VA (Veterans) appointments and more.  Don is not feeling well at all - he was ill all night and now all day.  No fever - we ate the same dinner last night and I wondered if it was the cause, apparently not. 

You mentioned being alone.  We have 5 houses in a row next to us with widows and my close friend is widowed (we were close with her husband too).  We all stay here and check on them.

Janet:  You mentioned a close friend - mine is a few houses away.  We can talk for an hour _ I tell her is it because she is so southern.  Just teasing.  She may have to live in a lower altitude - I know this altitude is hard on seniors - Don and myself included. 

[JudyB]

Taught by Turkeys
Bible in a Year:

Ezekiel 22–23
1 Peter 1
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.


Matthew 6:25–34
Do you know what a group of turkeys is called? It's called a rafter. Why am I writing about turkeys? Because I've just returned from a weekend at a mountain cabin. Each day, I marveled at the train of turkeys parading past our porch.

I'd never turkey-watched before. They scratched fiercely with spectacular talons. Then they hunted and pecked at the ground. Eating, I assume. (Since this was my first turkey-observation time, I wasn't 100 percent positive.) The scrawny scrubs in the area didn't look like they could sustain anything. Yet here were these turkeys, a dozen of them, all of which looked delectably plump.

Watching those well-fed turkeys brought to mind Jesus' words in Matthew 6:26: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Jesus uses God's provision for seemingly worthless birds to remind us of His care for us. If a bird's life matters, how much more does ours? Jesus then contrasts fretting about our daily needs (vv. 27–31) with a life in which we "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (v. 33), one in which we're confident of His rich provision for our needs. Because if God can care for that rafter of wild turkeys, He can certainly look after you and me.

By:  Adam R. Holz

[JudyB]

[JudyB]

[Jacqueline]

Quoting: " worthless birds " i disagree, no life is ever worthless...

Judy, thank you, yes " God On The Mountain " i love the song..

[Carol]

Good day everyone!  We have snow and that is never unexpected when living in high altitude country.  It is a real blessing if some of this lands in the fire areas.  Yesterday, Don was weak and ill all day - he did sleep OK last night and was a tad better.  Thankful prayers.  All the children want an update as soon as he wakes today.

None of the children will be here for Thanksgiving.  But, we have a telephone and give thanks for that special time.   

[JudyB]

This is such a sad story Mark was killed in the line of work, as a police officer. This is a video of the trip from Toronto to Manitoulin Island, home to his family.  He deserves all our respect, and from what I have read we will see him in heaven!



https://www.baytoday.ca/around-ontario/welcome-home-marc-watch-as-hundreds-of-people-from-to-to-manitoulin-salute-fallen-officer-2904963?fbclid=IwAR3AUXMZRiYqwh3Fo8SKLf5TJpUMQc_UyGC6kkk-OgkCTBRPVyY3VReD9mU

[Jacqueline]

What an honour, they done him proud...Reminds me on Princess Dianna's police escorting funeral car entourage journey on our UK M1 motorway, i was one of the first to stand on a bridge, an hour or so before it became crowded just to watch her car driving through, underneath, all happened so quick, although some had radios giving out details of where the car was now, where it had just left, where it had now joined, which junction it had now reached...6th September 1997..

[JudyB]

 
I didn't write this - but WOW does it speak to my heart!!!  Worth the read.
Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.
... and the month is already over.
... and the year is almost over.
... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.
... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it's too late to go back...
So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...
Let's keep looking for activities that we like...
Let's put some color in our grey...
Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...
I'm doing it after...
I'll say after...
I'll think about it after...
We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don't understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...
afterwards, priorities change...
Afterwards, the charm is broken...
afterwards, health passes...
Afterwards, the kids grow up...
Afterwards parents get old...
Afterwards, promises are forgotten...
afterwards, the day becomes the night...
afterwards life ends...
And then it's often too late....
So... Let's leave nothing for later...
Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family...
The day is today... The moment is now...
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.
So let's see if you have time to read this message and then share it.
Or maybe you'll leave it for "later"...

[Jacqueline]

Judy...
...thank you, for everything now going on with my sad-unhappy life, i sure needed that wake-up call...

[Marilyn]

Judy I am so sorry that I can't read what you have written, It is such small print. Would you please start using a larger font like a 3 or 4.

Not much new here, Yesterday and today I don't know what is wrong with me but the tears just keep showing up for no apparent reason. We are going to a friend's house for dinner today, another friend is picking us up at 2:30 to drive us. I don't drive after dark any more except after our usual Friday night diner which is just a short distance from home on a well let street.

[Jacqueline]

Marilyn...
... i have cried tears every day for the last 18 months...the sudden loss of my Richard, found dead by me, my deteriorating  Primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, and everything i have had to do and still doing in-between...Sorry this is not much help to you...but you are not alone in this crying tearful game of life...and of course we have this Coroner Virus still ongoing, Christmas once again is upon us, and not forgetting your hubby Keith's illness must be taking its toll on you, hence the reason for your tears...or maybe the release of other things building up...crying tears is our body's mechanism of disposing...

[Jacqueline]

Marilyn, i took the liberty of copying and pasting Judy B's posting for you, using font 3
************************************************************************************

I didn't write this - but WOW does it speak to my heart!!!  Worth the read.
Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.
... and the month is already over.
... and the year is almost over.
... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.
... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it's too late to go back...
So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...
Let's keep looking for activities that we like...
Let's put some color in our grey...
Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left. Let's try to eliminate the afters...
I'm doing it after...
I'll say after...
I'll think about it after...
We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don't understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...
afterwards, priorities change...
Afterwards, the charm is broken...
afterwards, health passes...
Afterwards, the kids grow up...
Afterwards parents get old...
Afterwards, promises are forgotten...
afterwards, the day becomes the night...
afterwards life ends...
And then it's often too late....
So... Let's leave nothing for later...
Because still waiting see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family...
The day is today... The moment is now...
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone what needs to be done right away.
So let's see if you have time to read this message and then share it.
Or maybe you'll leave it for "later"...

[Jacqueline]

Prayer for the end of the virus
SECAM, the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences in Africa and Madagascar, has suggested the following prayer for all those affected by the coronavirus:

Almighty and merciful Father, who show your love to all your creation.

We come before you asking for a quick control of the Coronavirus currently ravaging our world.

Hear graciously the prayers we make for those affected by the virus in various parts of the world.

Grant healing to the sick, eternal life to the dead and consolation to the bereaved families.

We pray that an effective medicine to combat the sickness be speedily found.

We pray for the relevant governments and health authorities that they take appropriate steps for the good of the people.

Look upon us in your mercy and forgive us our failings. Amen.

[Marilyn]

Thank you Jackie for re=posting Judy's post for me to read.

I have so much to do and it is getting to me big time. Keith has such a collections of things in the house that he absolutely refuses to get rid of. Two cars and a whole bunch of trains that he has collected over the years. He has horded so much and I am all alone in trying to convince him that he will. never ned any of this stuff again. I Have to sell  many things of his and he keeps toelling me to sell my stuff.  I am planning to move back to California to be close to Gilbert so they can help with Keith and I can be near them.

This house is so  full of cat urine that the carpet cleaners told me it is a lost cause they can't be of any help.  I am embarrassed to ask anyone to come here. and I am only one person. When Gilbert and Sonja came to visit they sat in chairs outside and camped in a tent on the back deck to sleep only coming inside to shower. I don't invite anyone to come in and will talk to people at the door our outside the front door. The smell of ammonia is so strong tht I can feel it in my bronchial area. My bedroom is the only room that doesn;t smell like cat urine because I have never allowed to cats to  be in that room/ Keith's bedroom the smell is so strong that I dread going in there to make his bed.

If there are typos in the post just ignore them I dob't want to go back to fix them it is too depressing.

[Jane Walker]

Hello, and Happy Day After!  Yesterday I was on my own, as usual, but managed a good microwave dinner (turkey and dressing in a creamy sauce, topped w/cheese) to which I added a salad, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.  I also had a lovely wine from Argentina.  I tried calling my brother in Arizona but he didn't answer several attempts so I called a former sister-in-law, and had a very enjoyable visit with her.  My daughter, Dottie, called to brief me on the activities planned in California, and later I saw the pictures posted on facebook.

For the first time in a very long time Dottie was with all three of her daughters and their families.  They all met at Jessica's house (she's got the most room) and each brought what looked like enough food to feed an army!  I know she was in 7th heaven having everyone together in the same place for the first time ever.  Her girls have added husbands, fiancés and kids over the years so there was a pretty good crowd.  It made my heart smile to see that.

Marilyn, I am so sorry you are having to endure this time so isolated from others who could be of help and support.  It must seem so overwhelming.  I know it doesn't help but I used to tell my daughter everything starts with the first step.  As the old saying goes "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time."  I went through some of what you are experiencing with Tom.  Before he was in the VA Home he had really messed up the place with his spurts of anger (rage) which comes with dementia. There were extensive repairs needed and a lot of legal stuff involved. Not to mention the static I got from his biological daughter who absolutely hates me! Also, his sister and niece and her husband joined in the fray after a while. Another problem was that all that was in California and I had to make numerous trips from Oregon to handle it.

Hang in there, Marilyn ... I'm praying for you.

[JudyB]

Jackie thank you!

OK as of Sunday I am starting a 4 week daily post, leading up to Christmas.  I will be including crafts..... You don't have to do the crafts, I just think It will create some fun for those of us who are alone, lonely in a crowd, or just want some fun!
I will include music and devotionals....  I hope you enjoy the devotionals, and have some enjoyment in the crafts!

I love you all. Merry Christmas!

[Marilyn]

Judy that sounds like a fun thing to do

Jane thank you so much, by the way, I lost yours and Nita's phone numbers when I accidentally deleted my entire contact list from my phone by not putting on my glasses to see what I was doing. Bad Mw!!!!!

[JudyB]

[JudyB]

If you have a printer, you can print that off and doodle!

Hoping you have pencil crayons or markers if you choose to take the challenge!!!!

[JudyB]

Marilyn PMed on FB

[Janet]

Not much happening in here since I was last here.  I had a dickens of a time getting here, again.   

I hope all of you enjoyed your Thanksgiving, whatever you did.  We just went over to Hugoton to the kids' and had a nice day with them,  but hadn't seen them since their bouts with the stinkin' Covid.  And I was really missing them.

I'm very optimistic that Donald Trump won by millions of votes and that it will be proven. So I am rejoicing and praising our good God!

I hope there will be more posts here next time I check!

[Janet]

I waited a while, doing other things, after I finally found my way in here, and now I feel pretty silly for saying nothing had been happening in here!  Several really nice posts appeared between my posting and getting back after dealing with a lot of mail clutter!  So nice to read all of them.  Jane, good to "see" you again!

Marilyn, I'm sorry things have gotten so tough for you.  I will remember to pray for you more often.  ((Hugs))

Carol, I pray Don's health will improve, as well.  This getting older surely isn't for sissies, is it?  Darrel seems to be doing well now.  He sits way too much every day, but I can't just be nagging at him all the time; that only makes us both unhappy.

Judy, the Christmas thing sounds like fun.  Hope I can get in here without it taking me 30 minutes each time!

[Carol]

We sat outdoors in the sunshine yesterday - though it was cold.  One son and one daughter as well as two grands came for a visit.  It was wonderful.  They are already planning to come for Don's birthday in a few weeks - at least those who can get together.  One grandson heads for Minnesota where he starts pilot training.  Brrrrr

Judy:  Such a sad ceremony - So sorry for family friends and those who care.I will look for my colored pencils.  If you have some easy knitting or very easy crocheting pattern - I will check it out.  I always have some little sewing project but that is in the basement and would like to just have something simple for being near the kitchen.

One son asked from my crock pot dressing recipe and I cannot find it but tried to think of everything in the process. 

Janet:  At this time in our lives, everyone has "something" happening - praying gives peace to the heart.  Thank you!

Jane:  WELCOME HOME!  We miss your notes.  How are you faring these days?

[JudyB]

Hey everyone a new page has been started.