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Church was awesome.  We had a baptism this morning and it is always great to welcome a new member to God's family! 

After Sunday School I went to Tony's.  He drove my car since her son is here from Florida and was driving their car and we went to 'On the Border'.  Great food.

Then we made a dry run to the Federal Building in Indy.  Now I know my exits and where the building is and where to park and what entrance to go in and all!  Feel better about the whole jury thing but still hope it is canceled!!

Etta Sue:  Thanks for devotions!  I especially like the last sentence on how to pray - asking for guidance first and foremost.  Do you really have a child 50 years old???
 
We went to the Lutheran church that is nearby and have found some very friendly people.  The early service has more senior people so that is the one we have been attending and it is good for Don's hearing.  Also, so nice to have the service we know from years of church and comforting.  We go to an entirely different church at home so now we have the best of both. 

Waiting for neighbors to arrive for the next two days.  And, we just called our friends to find out if they needed a bed this week but Mayo clinic hasn't been in touch with them about his last tests.  Other than that - a cold spell is coming. 

Hi Folks Hope everyone is having a nice day today and have been richly blessed. We went to church this morning and then were invited to some friends for lunch afterwards. This was a nice time of fellowship and just a great lunch. Its nice to get together with freinds once in a while and just be able to enjoy each others company. I am getting my food ready for the road this coming week as I will again hit the trail tomorrow. Where to I dont know yet. Wont know that until tomorrow. Looks like we are in for a cold week up here this week according to the long range forecast but thats the joys of living in the north. think when i retire in the not to distant future spending the winters in the south like maybe Florida looks more inviting all the time. Hope everyone has a great week and stays open to the messages given to us by our Lord. The speaker at church this morning was speaking about that and to get our spiritual priorities in proper order. I'll will run for now. be in touch again sometime at the end of the week when I get back from my adventures on the road. God Bless Bonesy

It's already the last day of January!!!  Now comes February, when we've been known to have some very severe and cold times, but it will soon be gone and we'll be that much closer to spring.   

Hi everyone.  We awoke to a misty, rainy morning in Georgia but it is 50 degrees so can't complain.  We are forecast for showers off and on throughout the week.

We had a very pleasant surprise yesterday afternoon when our step grandson and his wife stopped by with our almost 3 year old great grandson.  We had a little something for them for Christmas but they hadn't had a chance to come over as they are busy with work, attending college and taking care of the little one.  He was such a joy and they were here for a couple of hours.  He was on the go constantly.  I took a lot of pictures but not sure any came out very good as by the time I clicked the camera he had usually turned away. 

Last evening we attended a wonderful performance of the "Prophets" as I mentioned yesterday.  It was a 93 minute presentation where the actor recited from memory from the prophets with some multimedia shown at various intervals to emphasis certain points.  It was really excellent and if you ever have the opportunity to see it I would highly recommend it.  The program said the actor took a year to memorize the portions of the Bible that he recited in a very dramatic fashion with a few stage props. 

Following the performance the couple we had invited to attend with us went with us to Steak and Shake for supper and a nice time of visiting.

I have a friend who is coming over this morning to spend and hour or so and then will go to my Monday men's luncheon at 1 pm.  So will have a busy day.  This is also our daughter's 46th birthday.  She will come out on Thursday and we will celebrate it then along with my upcoming birthday.  So this will be a pretty busy week.

We did go to the gym this morning to resume our walking program but it was full of little children so not a good place to walk as they pay no attention to where they are going. 

Jeanne you are right, February is a short month and spring seems to be right on its heals.

Larry I am glad you had family over and enjoyed their company.  Little ones are always cute to watch.

We had lunch out yesterday, and a wonderful time of fellowship and laughs with friends.  John has gone, doesn't know what he is doing yet, but that will come.  He really dislikes leaving this late in the day, he would rqther be on the go at 4 in the morning, now his day is half donne and he will have to work into the evening to get the miles.

The sun is shining, the snow sparkling, and the dogs don't want to be out.  It is cold.

Bye for now
Judy

Yes, Carol, my son is 50 years old!  I am really proud of him.  He has had his ups and downs but has never been a disappointment.  Love him to pieces. 

And this afternoon until Thursday, central Indiana is in for ice storms and freezing rain storms.  Everything will be fine as long as we still have electricity!  This is my first ice storm out here in the country.  Without electric I have nothing.  So I have water in a bucket and water in pitchers, candles out ready to light, I made some macaroni salad, bake beans and a cobbler...all that can be eaten cold or room temperature. 

If the electric goes out and I can get the car out and go, Kitty and Bob have a generator so you can keep warm and such!  I would have to get Ivalou, too!  No way could I leave her at home by herself! 

Anyway, I feel like a boy scout...be prepared!  But when they say 100% precipitation...that means something!! 

A rough winter for a lot of people!!

Judy & Jeanne, my sisters, I have some drivel for you.  First of all, of course you know that December 22 is the winter solstice, the point at which the earth is tipped maximally on its axis. That being so, it only stands to reason that December 22 should be looked upon as exactly midwinter.  Before it, days get shorter and shorter, and after it, days get longer and longer.  They try to tell us that that day is the "beginning of winter."  How can it be the beginning, when it's the exact middle?  

If I'm right, then November 5 is the beginning, and Feb. 5 is the end of winter.  I once checked out the daily average temps, found that they decrease after Nov. 5, increase after Feb. 5.  So the solstice winter is from Nov. 5 to  Feb. 5.  Spring, then, begins with Feb. 5 and proceeds toward the spring equinox,  which is actually the middle of spring ("equinox" = midway).

There.  Now you have my version  of the daily drivel.

Very interesting drivel Al, I didn't know that equinox meant midway. that makes a lot of sense.

Now a lot going on here. Well just being my usual busy self. Did a load of laundry, went to the Fitness center, Went to the pet food store and to Ross. Ross didn't have what I was looking for.

It is a beautiful day here today 50° and sunny. going out this afternoon to walk the dogs and might meet with Nita so she can hear my flute.

My knee is acting up today now that my back is all better. It seems like one thing stops hurting and something else starts hurting.

My index finger on my left hand has been doing weird things too. It gets very cold/numb, very white and nothing I do will being it back to normal.  Must let the Dr know about this problem. I don't even have to have cold hands or be in the cold it just happens.

OK Al now explain why our temps go down in February, and don't moderate till March?  -30C in Feb is nothing unusual for us.  Can you explain pls?

You are too funny!

January and February always seem to be the snowiest and coldest months.  And we can usually count on at least one snow storm in April before winter gives up completely.  And today it looks as though February is living up to its reputation.  Over the next two days we may be getting more than 2 feet of snow.   

Brrrrr, Jeanne!  I don't envy you living there this time of year, but the views in Spring through Fall are spectacular!  Stay warm!  (Hope that propane arrived.)

It is bitterly cold here, below 0 and wind chill much colder than that.  We have to go to Garden City, hope all goes well.  We have totake the work car and its heater doesn't work very well, so I will take a blanket along.

I will stop by and check on Mom before we leave town.  Will call and check on Mother when I get off here.

Etta Sue, good for you for being prepared.  If your electricity stays on, nothing lost by the preparations!  Doesn't your propane keep you warm at all?  Or is it because you have an electric fan on the propane furnace that it doesn't?

I took all the scam stuff to the police station yesterday.  The detective said they are having a rash of different scams, that it happens about every three months.  He hadn't seen any just like this, so was happy to learn about it.  He asked if he could keep all the stuff, as he wants to contact the FBI about it.  I was happy to leave it with him.

I wish the sun was shining but it isn't.  It isn't raining or snowing either right now.  Like someone on FB said...the ground is covered with Dip 'n' Dots!  Ice pellets.  I have at least 2 inches of dip n dots on my deck and everywhere else.  I can only open my outside screen door half way but I have no reason to go out and do anything.  Traffic is moving on my road and the snow plow has been both directions.  But nothing is worth getting out in this.  Too dangerous.  And we are to get more of this and up to 6 inches of snow tomorrow!!  I may not get out until April!! 

Al, your drivel makes sense to me.  I knew that a day in December  was the shortest day of the year as well as a day in June is the longest day of the year.  Your drivel makes sense!  Like Jeanne, January and February is usually the worst months for snow and low temperatures. 

But this year for Indiana has been extremely cold.  We haven't had as many snows as usual but they haven't melted either!  I have snow on my drive that has been there since before December and a drift beside my bottle gas tank also! 

I just thank God that the electricity is still on.  If that goes off, a lot of people will be in trouble!  Don't want to think about that!  I have a gas furnace but it is hot water baseboard heat.  The water is heated by the gas furnace. I need electricity to pump the hot water through the pipes...plus the thermostat is electric!   

The words "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord."  supposedly come from Job.  I have read job, and looked in the search engines on line, and cannot find such a verse.  Does this verse exist or is it one of those saying that have been repeated through the years?  Any ideas? Any direction here?

It is cold here but there is some cloud cover so I am hoping it warms up some.

The storm that is expected by Jeanne is also to hit Southern Ontario.  Storms don't seem to recognize borders do they?  Anyway RuthV is heading to Toronto today for Doctors appointments.  I suggested once she gets there she park and use public transit.  Pray for her and  Everette's safety.  This will be a long day for them.

Job 1;21 Very interesting book of the Bible, God teaches us in this book to listen to Him and not man. Have a blessed day.

I have enjoyed my study of Job.  Thank you for the direction.  I have suggested to many to read this book, only one who gave wise counsel, and he was a "young man", in comparison to the others.  Proves that God speaks to the young as well as the old!

In case any of you are interested, we are safely back home.  Not fun to be out at all in wind chill of minus thirty!

Minus 30º !!!  Not that's a "wind chill"      Glad you made it home, Janet .. now stay IN and keep warm.

Glad you made it back home safe and sound Janet. Now Stay home!!!

Hi everyone.  Wow, this has been a very busy day.  I was busy all morning and then about 3:15 two couples came over and we played dominos (Mexican Train) for a coupe of hours and then went out to eat together, as we often do.  It has been foggy here all day and now it is raining but is now 45 degrees. 

I sure don't envy you all getting the severe cold and snow and ice.  Pat just talked with her sister in Independence, Missouri and they have had a lot of snow and blizzard conditions.  The snow is continuing. 

Janet, glad to know you are safely home.  Did you go to see Darrel's mother? 

Etta Sue, all that ice sound pretty dangerous.  Please be careful.

I was just talking to John.  His intent was to make it to Chicago today and stop at a truck stop there.  Well he has made it as far as Milwaukee MN at I94 across from the Flying J.  He has stopped for the night.  Conditions are so bad that he can't see across the parking lot.  He said a lot of what was happening was lake effect from Lake Michigan.  At least he is stopped and safe.

Janet glad you are home safe.

Here I am in Toronto!  After spending the night, we have decided to cancel our three appointments and reschedule for the spring!!
The roads are bad. We are in the northern section of the city and would have to travel down into the city. Schools are closed and the driving looks treacherous.... we know how to drive in these conditions, however other drivers seem to have problems.
We will have lunch with friends and then head home.
We are classifying our trip as an adventurous holiday!! 

Ruth be careful coming home, the storm is up to here with Barrie and Huntsville hit hard.  If possible wait till the plows have been able4 to clear the roads.  It is still snowing heavily, and I can barely see Donny's house across the road.

John is marooned in a truck stop.  Everything is stopped with trucks stuck everywhere, in the driveway , fuel islands, everywhere.  Some drivers have snow up to their bunk doors, (standing up the handle would be at about my shoulder).  He was walking through snow up to his knees and there is a 3 foot snow drift in front of his truck.  The wind rocked his truck all night, but the wind has now eased.  I  suspect he didn't get much sleep.

How does your life reflect God's forgiveness?

Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness of sins.

Acts 13:38 NLT

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 NLT


Proclaiming God's forgiveness

Proclamation of the Good News of God's forgiveness is what my Christian testimony is all about. That includes forgiveness within my marriage. There is great testimony of God's power when I forgive Teresa as He has forgiven me.

Nothing about myself wants to forgive. It is only through the work of the Holy Spirit that I am able to forgive. Forgiveness is a divine reality that I must first receive from my Creator. Only then can the Spirit prompt me to share that forgiveness with others.

I remember when God humbled me with this truth through the words of Isaiah 53:4-6. Christ took on my sickness of selfishness and price and carried my pain to the cross. Jesus was pierced for my harsh words and snippy attitudes with my wife. He was crushed by my "white lies" and subtle dishonesty. The Savior took on the punishment for my years of neglecting my wife and forgetting my kids.

Because of Christ's forgiveness, Teresa and I can proclaim that it is possible to live in harmony with one another. We are grateful to be able to proclaim God's work in our marriage, to be able to demonstrate to those around us that we don't go to sleep with unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts. This testimony has only been possible through the divine provision of His forgiveness.

So far no sun here for the ground hog to see his shadow!! 

Good morning from New Iceland!

What a rocky night!  My power stayed on but around 1:30am, I thought Ali was doing something on my dresser...noises!  I yelled at her to stop but the noise kept on.  I turned on the light and Ali wasn't in the bedroom.  Then I realized it was outside.  The wind had picked up and was blowing chunks of ice from the trees and hitting the brick, windows and roof!  I came in the living room and the WeatherFX said the temp was 36 degrees.  I turned on the outside light and sure enough, it was raining...water!  Not sleet.  Not freezing rain.  Not ice pellets.  Not snow!  Rain!! 

So I went back to bed and around 6am, it was 21 degrees!!!  My side door is frozen shut.  But the back door is okay.  At least, I can get out!  The wind is gusting to 45mph.

People here are pretty sensible.  At least they are staying home.  I probably have about 2 inches of ice everywhere and nothing can touch it but salt and/or sun.  I don't have either!  It is to get to above freezing over the weekend but I don't know if it will thaw all of this ice! 

I know a lot of people are facing this bad weather.  The chill factor is to be 6 below tonight...nothing what Janet faced. 

I keep thinking about a sandwich from Woody's, a pizza at Pizza King...even a cappuccino from the convenient store...but I can't get out! 

The snow plow just went east throwing ice everywhere!!

I thanked God that the power didn't go out last night and that my friends and family are all inside safe and warm.  God is good!

Larry, no, we actually went the opposite direction from Amarillo.  We had to repair a security camera in the dialysis center in Garden City.  I called and his mom is improving, so we are trying to wait for a little better weather to make that 400 mile round trip.

It is still below 0 here, but the wind isn't blowing, so I don't really mind.  It's the wind that makes things so difficult.

Lots to do, phone calls to make, etc.  My sister who lives here and I are trying to get things in order for Mom's homegoing, which I feel is coming soon.

Hi Etta Sue!  You never miss the water till the well goes dry...   You will be able to get to all those 'goodies' when it warms up and thaws.  Meanwhile, just stay in and be cozy! 

I feel like a visitor here! ha....long time no see.

JudyB, I believe the verse you mentioned is found in Job 1:21, although worded slightly differently. 

We are in the depths of winter, unlike anything we have had here in a very long time.  Not much snow, just wind and sub zero temps.  At least last night's weather report on TV said our town was at minus16 windchill.  Brrrr

We had dear neighbors who sold their home here and are in the throes of winter...the moving van left here Friday heading for Maine.  Our friends left Monday after the closing on the sale of their house.  We had email from them last night from Shawnee, Oklahoma.  They had been stranded for 2 nights and were at a motel there.  (Blizzard)  They said they had taken leftover food from here, otherwise there was only beverages available.....no stores or restaurants open to buy anything.  They hoped to be able to leave there this morning.
They are moving to a condo in Maine, where their daughter lives.

The good thing about this is that our church's fairly new associate pastor (and family), bought the neighbors house....so now we can get better acquainted with them. 

Hope all are doing well, and keeping warm as possible.
Blessings,  Janice

Hi everyone.  Our temperature has been falling since earlier this morning and is now down to 39 degrees.  We did see the sun for a few minutes this morning but now overcast again. 

We attended Bible study, then I went to the DMV to get my car license for the two cars and then joined the group at Dunkin' Donut.  We didn't stay to eat lunch with the group and as soon as I finish here am going to have my afternoon rest period.  I have choir again this evening.

Etta Sue, sure glad you didn't lose power considering the ice that you had.  It is really bad weather across the country. 

Janet, glad you are not experiencing the wind.  I don't have the cities in Kansas well placed in my mind so wasn't sure Garden City might be on the way to Amarillo.

Judy, sorry to hear that John is stuck in his truck.  At least he is at a truck stop and know he takes his food with him.  Does he have heat in his sleeping area in his truck?

Janice, nice to see your post.  I can't image moving to Maine this time of the year.  We had a choir member who moved there during the spring.

Ruth, hope you had a safe trip home from Toronto.