Christian Photographers Community

Joyce:  Thanks, I have always enjoyed the wisdom in the writings of Erma Bombeck.  She was so funny that her little windows on life made me laugh out loud.  Remember having sprinkled men's shirts and forgetting them in the refrigerator - well, I did just that thing.  Who can think of everything when there are 4 little munchkins in the house?  Your house will sell - we had one just like you describe and it finally sold. 

Larry:  Cannot imagine why your voice felt frozen - I hope that your cold improves. 

Well, I am feeling  because I heard Don tell me yesterday that we would leave a day early if snow was coming - it is - and he just told me that the plan was always Friday. 

Hi Everyone!

It's so nice to come in here and read all of your "newsy" posts letting us know what you are all doing.

We've had such a strange winter this year so far.  We've not had to do much digging out due to deep snow at all.  It's been kind of nice! 



Paul and I were reading our devotional the other morning and this one I thought I'd share with you all:


God is Nowhere

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God..."  Psalm 14:1

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God..."  Psalm 53:1


God has said it twice; that is a double dose of reality.

An infidel lay dying.  At the foot of his bed were these words written in chalk, "God is nowhere."  His little daughter came into the room and stood beside the death bed of her daddy.  He feebly and with some remorse asked her to read the sign.  She silently sounded out the words and then in her lilting voice, exuberantly read, "God is now here!"  The father's eyes filled with tears, for his child's rendering of the fateful sentence.  The dying man recognized the error of his former life and felt himself a lost sinner in the presence of God.  He humbly repented of his past unbelief and found God to be the friend of sinners and the Saviour.

My advice to you would be the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts:  and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa. 55:6,7).  It is a foolish thing and a dangerous game men play to believe that "God is nowhere."  He is everywhere and He is now here for you, "...whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:  if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there" (Psa. 139:7a & 8 ).

Thanks, Pat.   

That's a truly beautiful set of thoughts, Pat.  Some think of the omnipresence of God merely as a doctrine, but oh how we need to see it as an intensely practical doctrine!

Just checking in to let all y'all  know I am still around and here reading all the posts. I have been real busy with lessons in animations and in PSP stationery classes. I am learning how to change  parameters in scripts so they will be  more of my own creation, I sure do like what effects I am getting in PSPPX2 Ultimate. Etta  Sue you would love the program for your photos. The only thing is you will need a DVD player to install it on your desktop, I don't have a DVD on my tower so they sent me a download link then I put it on my tower and on my Netbook. I have an external drive that I keep  things n and that I  use to back up my desktop.

I have already been out around 10AM for my two walks It is beautiful here today  didn't even need my sweatshirt so just tied it around my waist and went on my way. Total walking time 40 minutes. Probably did about 2½ miles.

Today was a 'light sweater day' here, so nice.  I have been enjoying watching some of the Olympics;  I especially enjoy the figure skating and the couples figure skating.  That little redheaded guy won the gold in snowboarding tonight, he was really happy, of course.

We are going car shopping tomorrow.    The transmission is out of the Cruiser, and repairs would be around $2000, more than we want to spend on it.  Phooey.  I don't want to buy a car.  If you have extra prayer time (or is you just want to help us out) please pray that God will lead us to the perfect vehicle for our needs.  Thanks.  Darrel is thinking Ford Fusion...........  I don't know.

Anyway, it is time for bed, so good night all.

Marilyn, I have Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 so I doubt if I would pay for having the Ultimate.  I will check it out on the web and see if it would be worth it.  Right now I would love to know how to make snowy photos white instead of blue!  Anyone??

Well, the heat pump had ice under the cover and the fan was hitting it.  So he cleaned out the ice and left with me having the same amount in my billfold.  But this morning it was making the same noise.  I will wait and see if it changes during the day although I don't think it is suppose to get above freezing.  I just went out there to see if there was snow against the cover but not much.  And the compressor wasn't on then so it was quiet.  Oh, well.  Just glad I have that dilemma.  That means I have heat in my house!

Today Kitty and I are going swimming.  And then Hobby Lobby and Marsh's grocery store.  Yesterday I got some black jelly beans at Marsh and Kitty wants some for her g'kids Easter baskets.  Love jelly beans and black are the best!  Hey, they are fat-free so that means 'healthy', right??

Just looked at the 7-day forecast and the high for all those days is 33° and that's today!!  No snow until Saturday evening but that isn't to end until Monday morning!!  I keep telling myself to love this snow...we will wish it was cooler in July!  It is beautiful I must say.  So thank you, God, for your beautiful eye candy!

Really I don't mind snow...it is the temperature that I don't like.  If I didn't have to bundle up to go outside, I would like the temperature, too!  And I will be happy to get back into my sandels and Crocs!!

Hi everyone.  It is a beautiful day here in Georgia and seems to be warming up a bit.  Still a bit of wind that has a bite but much better than yesterday.  

Last evening I attended the Ash Wednesday service at church, which was well attended.  Afterwards we had choir practice.  However, there were only 3 men there to practice and not too many women.  I learned last night that one of our church members was murdered earlier this week up in North Georgia.  The service is Saturday.  I do not know the person or the family.  

Today is Pat's ladies game day here at the house.  She is putting the last touches on the chicken soup she made for lunch.  It is a very good recipe she got from a friend several years ago and uses lemon to add a bit of a tart favor to the soup, along with lots of chicken.  A couple of the ladies are bringing side dishes so the soup and some veggies is all Pat had to make.  I helped her get the table leaf in the table and think things are pretty well organized.  She is feeling much, much better than at the end of last week.  

I will spend the day here in my office and then take a nice nap this afternoon.  I have already been to coffee and we walked a mile at the church gym.  It is nice to have a day ahead where you don't have to go anywhere.

Janet, I don't envy you in car shopping.  I always dread having to do that as always feel I have been taken advantage of whether that is the case or not.  I have also enjoyed the figure skating and the events I have seen on TV.  Yesterday was a good day for the USA in terms of medals.  

Marilyn, you are going to be an expert in PSP work.  It is obvious that you really enjoy it and the results are certainly great.

Pat, thanks for sharing that devotional thought.  My mind can't get around the idea that you could live in the universe and not see the handiwork of God all around you.  I know we often fail to acknowledge the glories and miracles we see happen in our daily lives but it doesn't mean they are not there.  Glad you have not had to deal with a lot of snow this winter.  It has been a strange weather season, but guess we tend to say that about every season.

Carol, I was talking with the choir director last evening about my throat just locking up in the higher range of notes.  She had no explanation but understood what I was talking about as did several other choir members who said they had experienced the same thing in the past.  Last night I didn't have any problem so think it must have related to the effects of the cold I had last week.  I was fortunate in that the cold was only a light one and seems to be gone now.

Joyce, thanks for sharing the Erma Bombeck advice.  There is much wisdom contained in her observations.

Judy, hope they have John's truck fixed by today.  Does he always drive the same truck?

Jeanne, sounds like you were wise in planning not to attend the meeting with bad weather.  Others must have come to the same conclusion.

Etta Sue, glad your heat pump problem wasn't serious.  I have had heat pumps freeze up and once they thawed out they were fine.  I don't think the fact that jelly beans have no fat really makes them a health food.   Good try though.  I do not care for the black jelly beans but do like all of the other flavors.  Pat likes the black ones.

In this morning's email:

Note >From Judge

During court one busy day, the judge quietly passed the clerk a note reading: "Blind on right side, may be falling. Please call someone."

Understandably alarmed, the clerk called for help before whispering to the judge that paramedics were on their way.

Puzzled, the judge pointed to a sagging Venetian blind on the right side of the room and explained, "I was thinking maybe someone from maintenance!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

 Etta Sue  I didn't know you already had X2. Good. To change your snow from blue to white  use the Hue and Saturation  and play with that until you are satisfied with the color of the snow. if you  have other things in the picture  besides the snow,  first go to layers promote the background layer;  then select the snow with the freehand tool. Got o adjust and select Hue and saturation.I have included screen shots

GO CANADA

Christine Nesbitt won Gold in speed skating ahead of the Netherlands.  It is a dray in this house whether we rejoice with her or mourn the Netherlands loss... they did get silver and bronze though

Well, I'm going to enjoy watching the olympics tonight.  Hockey game is just starting!

Hey it's after nine in the morning over there on the right coast.  Where is everybody?

I'm here Alan.

Doctor's appointment today so will be away for awhile.

Hope everyone has a lovely day this Friday.

Hi everyone.  Not much on the schedule for today.  I have already been to coffee and six of us walked at the church gym this morning. 

It is a beautiful day here and suppose to warm up a bit.  I have nothing on my schedule for today.  I did get another batch of Senior Golden Games applications to enter into the database and prepare a report on each one and a certificate so have plenty of work to keep busy today.

Does Canada still recognize 'If Day'?  I read about 'If Day' in my
Daily Bread devotion this morning. 

Marilyn ~ Yes, I have had PSPPX2 for quite awhile.  I also have PSP 8 on my laptop because of the Animation Shop with it.  Kitty tried to tell me how to make snow white but she was telling me she has a setting on the camera.  She has a Canon.  Mine is a Sony...no comparison in what they can do or the price.  Personally, I like my Sony...almost a point and shoot.  Thanks to your Hue and Saturation advice.  Will try that today! 

Kitty and I went swimming yesterday.  I will have to say that I think I am getting better.  At least, I swam three laps freestyle all the way across without floundering!!  I bought some goggles a few weeks back and that helps me to have my eyes open under water and I swim faster with my face in the water!  Thank God for Kitty's eye sight, though.  Before getting out of the water, I dunked my head backwards to get my hair out of my eyes.  Kitty said later that something was in the water.  My Goggles!  I had my goggles up on my head and when I dunked my head they came off! 

After we went to Hobby Lobby, Marsh's and Don Pablos to eat we went to Kitty's house for her to show me her Wii.  I talked her into getting Wii software titled Just Dance a few weeks back.  So I got to see that and her Wii Fitness Plus.  I will probably have a Wii one of these days.  Looks like a great way to get some exercise and have fun at the same time. 

Another sunny day in Indiana but still below freezing.  There are some spots of grass showing and all the snow is melted off the pavements.  Weird that it melts off pavement when it is below freezing and sunny but glad that happens.  Not planning on going anywhere today...a ho hum day!  Yay! 

Be it known to you, Etta Sue, that reading quickly the first time through, I thought you said that when you "dunked backwards" your head came off in the water!  Well, I'm glad it didn't, 'cause they're harder to put back on.

I'm concerned about Larry this morning.  It appears that he spooked a zebra from the local circus, which got loose and led police a merry chase down the interstate.

Funny Al!  I saw that on FOX news and saw that it was Atlanta and thought about Larry! 

I missed that bit of news about the zebra (and Larry?  ).

During my long wakeful hours I've discovered CNBC after the NBC Olympics coverage goes off and saw the the Canadian hockey won last night and then came curling.  I love watching that - and again the Canadian team won.     Of course, if Canada faces USA in anything I'll have to change my support.     I was happy to see that the overbearing and conceited Russian Pluscenko (spelling?) didn't get gold in men's figure skating, but I would have been even happier if he'd come in fourth instead of second! 

Hi everyone.  I want it know that it wasn't my zebra and I wasn't out there on the interstate chasing it.    Apparently the drivers slowed down so as not to spook the zebra, which was lose from a circus here in town. 

We had a nice evening yesterday.  We met the two couples we often eat with at Texas Roadhouse and then went to the home of one of the couples and played dominos. 

I had a quiet day yesterday and didn't begin to get done what I had intended.  Perhaps I will get some of it done today.  I have about 60 new applications for the Golden Games to process.

I am enjoying watching the Olympics and it is certainly a good one for the USA.  Jeannie I agree with you on the Russian skater.  I think he was certain he would win another gold medal. 

Etta Sue, I think a lot of people enjoy the Wii.  I have never had the opportunity to use one or be around one.

Hope this is a good day for everyone.

I am back!  Seems a lot has been going on in your lives during my brief absence.  Mine, too!  We prayed about finding a car, prayed we would be led to the perfect car for our needs, at the best price; get the best trade-in, that the new one be reliable and trustworthy, and even a color we both like.  God is faithful!  He led us to one we both really like, even though it isn't one we had even considered before going.  We found a lovely Mercury Sable, '09 model, suede white, with more "bells and whistles" than we even knew existed!  It has 21,000 miles on it, a few more than we wanted, but not bad, and was a one-owner car and has been very well cared for.  Interior is two tone, pale gray and darker gray, which I like a lot.  I dislike black or charcoal interiors, and that's about all they make now, with the addition of tan colors, darker and lighter.

Also, they gave us over twice the book value of the Cruiser (sight unseen!) for the trade!  And, much to my relief, the mechanic found the transmission wasn't out after all.  It had a very clogged filter!  (I wasn't even aware there was a filter on the transmission!  And they even gave us two certificates to go eat pizza, so we can have a couple meals out!  I was very satisfied with the deal.  The total price, including fees and taxes was about what Darrel had decided we could do, so as I said, God is faithful!  We did drive a Ford Fusion, really a nice little car, but smaller and lighter, and the price was within a couple thousand of the Sable.  The sable is quiet, rides and handles like a dream.........I think we will be very happy with our purchase--especially when we get it paid off!    We test drove a really nice Lincoln, too, but it was several thousand higher, and BLACK inside.  The Fusion was black inside and out!  NO!  On a country road, it would never be clean!  Okay, enough already about the car!.....except for this  ...Darrel said after we got the PT back, that we could have driven it for several more months, but we had already made the deal, and a few months wouldn't have made much difference.

Etta Sue, I dislike black candy of any kind, so you can have mine!  Darrel got some of those sugar free jelly beans (he loves jelly beans) and they gave him the runs something terrible!  Hope you don't get that effect!

Larry, enjoy your slow day.  We all need those occasionally.  I won't be having one anytime soon!  Today is scrapbooking day, then my portrait class is all this coming week, then the following week I have to have a physical, and then surgery, for which we will go to Dodge City.  Yuck.  I'd rather skip it entirely.  I am more than tired of doctor's stuff.  We have been so busy that I even forgot to go have the nurse look at my TB test she did, now I wil have to have it done again. 

And now, before this gets to be a book, I will say .....  see you later!

Janet, praise God for leading you to the perfect car for your needs!  Amazing what He will do for us when we let Him!     I don't like black cars, either.  Not only do they get dirty the fastest of any color, but to me they always look like something either  for a funeral or a "mafia" car. 

Cars.  I hope I need to purchase another one someday.  That means that I hope I live long enough to need a different car.  But not enthused about the cost or using my money for it but I guess that is better than giving my money to a nursing home... 

And my least favorite color for a car is silver.  I feel silver isn't finished.  It looks to me like the primer and needs another color on top.  As for interior, I would rather have black than tan...that to me looks like newborn baby stuff!  I had a Tropical Teal Geo Prism once.  Loved that color.  More green than blue but if you could see a tiny square of that color in the parking lot, you knew it was your car. 

Well, my heat pump is still making noises.  But it is heating the house.  Just don't know if I should keep using it or shut it off and use that expensive gas. 

Today is a baby shower for Charlene's oldest twin.  Carol is due to have Claire Elizabeth sometime in April.  She conceived through InVitro and is having a hard time...she has fibroid cysts in her uterus as well as Claire.  She lives in Troy, Michigan, so it is hard for her to be away from her Mother right now.  I crocheted her the cutest shocking pink baby afghan and edged it with a ruffle of neon colors varigated yarn.  I think it is the prettiest baby afghan I have ever made.  Ivalou is going with me. 

It was snowing when I first got up but has now stopped!  But we are suppose to have more snow in the next few days!

I have not read all the posts.  I am on my way out, to return the car we borrowed. 

The funeral went well....if that is possible for funerals.  The family did well......it was/is taxing for families to bury a loved family member.  Jean will feel the loss today....after family goes home.

It was good to meet with family members that we haven't  seen since John's uncle passed away.  IT is sad that as we age families go their separate ways.  It used to be that we would meet up at weddings, now it is funerals.  Bob was the first of our generation on John's side to "graduate".  As was said about our brother "The final exam was a tough one."

One thing that was said Bob was well enough to go on a mission trip a year ago.  He started to go downhill rapidly about 3 - 6 months ago. His work here on earth was done.

I have a lot to do today so I won't be back till later.

Janet what are you having Surgery for?  Yesterday I went to the Doc who will be doing my Colonoscopy on Wednesday to pick up the prep and have him explain everything that he will be doing. Today I woke up with a full blown head cold that I knew was coming yesterday. I sure don't feel god and hope I am good enough on Wednesday so the procedure won't get put off and I have to do the prep again.

Al Where are you and what  have you been doing? How is Marbeth? I sure miss being able to call you to see how you are doing.

Where is Don? He is also among the missing.

I spoke to Don's wife last night.  They are busy in the greenhouses preparing for the coming year.  They are presently preparing their hanging baskets.

We are home, the girls and I.  They bought themselves hair dye, so guess what they are doing!!!  Hair grows out, or grows in which ever the case. 

I am tired tonight.  I will be back tomorrow.

Marilyn - not sure what you mean, "where are I."  Same place as before.  Marbeth is slightly better, but she has a tremor in her right arm and hand.  Pray that it'll go away.  Otherwise, all is relatively well.

I am home for a brief break before I go to the concert.  Had a good day, got a lot of scrapbooking done.  I worked on Alexis' and ran out of pages; think I did about 12 pages, which is a really good amount for one day. 

I went by the care home and had the charge nurse look at my arm.  I hope that prevents my having to get the TB test done again.    Beth was in a good mood and happy to see Pat and me.

I have a hemoangioma on the tip of my tongue.  It has grown from the size of a match head to the size of a marble, and the doctors think it needs to be removed.  It doesn't bother me, except I am self-conscious about it because it is so ugly.  Not often anyone sees it, but if they do, they always ask, "Oh, my!  Did you bite your tongue?"  The ENT Dr. says it will be painful and bloody, and that he will have to re-shape the tip of my tongue, so it won't be forked.  I told him I'd rather not speak with forked tongue.    He wants me to have a full physical, including chest X-rays and blood work, before I go.  I will probably have to stay at least one night, for pain control.  Sigh........
The surgery is set for March 4.  I just want to get it over with so I don't have to dread it.  Physical is the second.

It is foggy, drizzly and cold here and has been most of the day.

See you tomorrow!

Janet, that doesn't sound like fun!     I'll be praying for you.

Judy, thanks for letting us know that the reason Don hasn't been around is due to his business, not because he's sick. 

Al, prayers going out for Marbeth's hand and arm, and for your well being, too.

Well Al it is good to know you are still in your humorous self. I will pray for Marbeth.

The only thing I really dread about the colonoscopy is that I have to go with out my pain pills after Tomorrow night. The Dr. said if I really needed them I could take them. the only reason he said not to is because the thin the blood,. If he comes across a polyp there might be some bleeding but probably not because the cauterize  it right away. I just don't want to have my hands and feet in pain. I am probably stressing over nothing. God is in control  and there is nothing for me to stress about.

Janet I had forgotten that you had that on your tongue. Oops I am now 70 ya know.  haha