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QuoteIf you want to see God move in your life, devote yourself to prayer. Friend, God does business with those who mean business.

Jeanne, thanks for this Thought for the Week.  So true, about prayer. 

I also would like to make an announcement here.  Our good friend, Nita, has a sister who is walking the pathway of illness with cancer.  She has been told she has only a short time left to live.  However, she has been writing of her journey, on Facebook, and I have permission to share her writings here.  If you want to read some great writing, and be inspired by the faith and peace of this dear woman, then you shouldn't miss keeping up with Faye's journey. 
http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=12515.0

Jane is there a link to her journal?

Here is a link to the photos I took of Harry our rescue cat. http://s224.beta.photobucket.com/user/tudogmom/library/Pets

The link is at the end of my post.

Good morning,,,no- good noon is more accurate.

Larry, Patty' s husband spent time in Iraq, also another deployment to Kuwait.  So this time a different direction.  And the family can go this time, that is a great plus.

My Nephew' s wife passed away early this morning.  So sad.  She has been sick a long time and was on a waiting list for a liver transplant.  Doctors took her off the list a couple of days ago, she was too sick to undergo the surgery.  Diana is with Jesus now and finally healed, Praise God!  Please pray for my nephew, Rick Poole.  (He is my youngest brother' s son), and the children.  They live in San Antonio, TX.

Jeanne, I too am thankful for a warm and comfortable home, with enough resources to meet all the bills.  I don't have a lot of wants as I grew up in a family of 7 children and money was scarce, so you learn young how to stretch the dollars.  This way, when you give yourself a treat, it is really special (like my recent gift to myself of this Kindle Fire HD).

Greetings to all others who stop in to visit today.
-- Janice

It has been a long time since we have attended such a little church  - and they do notice when someone is missing.  They all asked about Don right off.  He did better last night and right now I was going to suggest to him that we could drive to the local park and sit in the car just to get some fresh air this afternoon - then he just had a long coughing spasm.  He does need to get out though and it is going to be in the low 70's this afternoon. 

Friends called - he needs hip and knee surgery - just had a stent for heart.  They want to visit.  We can go there when Don is over this cold.  Our pastor at this church is coming for lunch next week - if we are doing OK. 

Thank you for the clickable to Nita's sister.  We can all learn from a good and faithful servant. 

Time to soak spit peas for a soup for tomorrow.  Banana chocolate chip bars are in the oven.  We have turned off the heat and now need to have someone check the air conditioner one of these days. 

There was a lonesome coyote across the street - hungry and looking for any scrap of food.  Hard to believe but there are cats outdoors here because I don't think people understand that wild animals live close to the community. 

As we pray we draw nearer to our Father.  THank you Jeanne for the devotional.

Hi everyone.  another very pretty morning here but we are to have a cold front move through this afternoon with 25 mph winds and colder temperatures the next few days.  However, it will still not be bad as will be in the 40s or 50s in the afternoon and the high twenties at night with no rain for the next few days.  Just the normal Monday men's luncheon (today at O'Charleys) and a meeting this evening.  I would have liked to see Atlanta beat San Francisco last night but for that game the better team won.  It will be interesting to see two brothers coaching the two teams in the Super Bowl.  I wonder if that has ever happened before.  Did any of you see that the original Batmobile, used in the old television series, was sold at action this last week for $4.6 or $4.8 million dollars?  That sort of staggers the imagination that someone has money to spend like that. 

Jeanne, thanks for preparing the new devotional thoughts for us for this week.

Jane, what a neat lady Nita's sister is to want to share her faith at this time.  It must be tough to know your days are few even when we are ready to go home to God. 

Marilyn, didn't you also have a photo or two of your rescue cat on Facebook?  I seem to remember seeing a photo or two. 

Janice, this deployment for Patty's husband should provide an interesting experience for the family.  The culture in Korea is quite different from ours I believe.  I only know one family from Korea who come to Atlanta occasionally to visit with my very good friend.  She is the head of the Precept Ministries in Korea and the man is a Presbyterian minister.  She speaks perfect English and he speaks very little English.  Pat and I were invited to take two meals with them when they were here.  My friend and his wife sponsored the lady through college and she calls them mom and dad.  Very sad that your nephew's wife was never able to get the liver transplant. 

Carol, do hope Don was up to going to the park and enjoying the outside air. 

Larry, that was a good and close game.  Darrel was rooting for Atlanta, too.  Which teams are going to the Superbowl?  That must be a first, for the coaches to be brothers! 

I felt better this morning, so went to the gym.  But I didn't overdo....20 minutes on the treadmill, and Kristi told me to stop and go home.  So I did.

Faye's messages are so uplifting and encouraging!  I find it really amazing that she is so upbeat and willing to share her journey with others, and I pray God will use it to help others, as I'm quite sure he will.

We should learn the results of Beth's CT scan today.  I so hope they found something they will be able to "fix" to help her.  Her attitude is so sweet it makes me weep at times.

I don't know what I am going to do today, but SOMETHING!   

Thank you, Jeanne, for the devotion.

Thanks, Jane, for the link to Faye's words.  Words of encouragement!

Marilyn, Harry is so fuzzy wuzzy!  Looks like a cat that would love to be loved!

It got cold during the night here.  And a wisp of snow this morning.  There is a white tinge on everything because the snow was tiny, not big flakes!  I am waiting on Jake to fix the heat pump and then I would like to go to Walmart and do some shopping!! 

That's about it!

Marilyn, that's a pretty cat!  He doesn't appear to be wild--is he?

No he isn't wild he is a lover. Loves to be held snuggled,and petted, and likes lots of belly rubs.

Larry that was  one fo the other cats you first saw on Facebook,. I did post all those pictures.s on Facebook yesterday of Harry.

Bad cold beginning.  I was able to get to the grocery store quickly this morning and bought necessary for our crummy colds, food plus honey and lemons which I boil water sip the three during daytime.  It does help.  The older we get , the worse a little cold overtakes our daily lives.  No one can come for a visit.  Watched old movies and knit today, slept a little in the chair. 

Larry:  We could see a lot of the car sales as they were on the local channels.  We are only a 20 minute drive from the sale area.  The man who built the Batmobile showed everyone all the features - what a creative idea.  They had two Lorean's gold plated - not sure if that is spelled correctly.  Cannot imagine.

Thank you for devotions and the song - another song I have not heard in such a long time. 

Hi, friends,

What a frustrating day! Yet, when I sat down to work on my Gratitude Journal, I realized that our Lord helped me resolve each issue, get to my doctor on time, and then have a nice dinner with my oldest son and two dear friends from church.

Sooo, all's well that ends well, as my grandparents used to say.

Yes, Larry, I own one of those lifting devices, but had not seen it advertised on TV - I was browsing around at Home Depot and found it there and then and there decided it was a must-have. It's helped me and several others. The piece of furniture is a double ottoman that looks like a leather covered cedar chest. It is not heavy, but is certainly good for storing little things that are needed from time to time, like warm blankets, etc. Since I use it as a coffee table, computer desk, etc., it really needs to be easy to move. I tried those silicone pads, but they weren't satisfactory. So, next is casters.

So, I easily tipped it over and began trying to get those casters onto it. Honestly, the wood under that upholstery must be "ironwood" to be so hard to get a screw into! Whew - it will take a while, but that chest will be upright and able to be pushed as I wish!

I'll be playing piano and singing for our devotional period tomorrow downstairs, then taking a friend to the doctor. And again to the doctor on Wednesday. And, AGAIN to yet another doctor on Friday morning early. So, looks like Thursday's gonna be catch up day - catch up on rest, catch up on data entry for SHIP where I volunteer, and, hopefully, catch up on giving my apartment more in-depth TLC.

G'nite, friends,

Ruth Ann

Good Day... achooooo  still sneezing but I did sleep until almost 6 am. 

Ruth Ann:  What a great idea, your Gratitude Journal. This entire month has been phsyical pain and then colds for Don and myself.  But - it was meant to be, to slow down and enjoy the ride so to speak.  Of course, we do want to stop coughing and some of that is happening.  As to your storage ottoman, you may have already used an electric drill to open that for the castors.  Good wishes on that project. 

Hi everyone.  It was 27 degrees here when I awoke this morning and not to get above the mid-40s today.  However, the sun is shining brightly and it doesn't appear we have any wind out there.  I didn't have to get out early this morning as it was Tuesday and we no longer go to coffee on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I do have a couple of things on the agenda today as will attend a meeting this morning and stop at the grocery store for a few items.  This afternoon the lady who is taking over my data processing responsibilities for the Senior Golden Games is coming by about 3:30 for me to help her with some questions she has. The applications for the games have been mailed so applications will soon be coming in to be processed.  She has the database on her laptop so will bring with her what she will actually be working on during the game's season.  That will likely be it for today.

Janet, Baltimore and San Francisco will play in the Superbowl on Feb 3.  It sounds like Beth has found acceptance of her situation and thus can find some serenity. 

Marilyn, I will check those photos out the next time I visit Facebook, not something I do everyday. 

Carol, it sounds like you now have the cold also.  Apparently the man who built the Batmobile is very well known in the car circles.

Ruth Ann, it is easy to let things get out of perspective when we are in the midst of them. It sounds like the casters should do the trick for you to be able to easily move the chest. 

Larry, you weather would seem tropical to us here in New York state.     The sun is shining, the wind is blowing and my outdoor thermometer registers 10 at 10:45 a.m. 

It is warming up here quite rapidly.  I went to the gym and did as much as I felt able, then stopped.  Kristi said that's what I should do, as I'm not quite over that cold yet, but lots better.

I stopped by to see Beth but she was sleeping so soundly that calling her name didn't rouse her, so I left her sleeping.  I went to inquire about the CT scan results, but they said they haven't heard yet.

It is about time to go to lunch at the senior center.  We haven't been there this week but will go today.

Ruth Ann, you do stay busy with your "taxi service", don't you?  You're such a blessing.  Hope you won the tussle with the hassock by now, and that you do have access to an electric drill to make the job so much easier.

Time to go--be back later!

It is day 2 of a really cold, cold snap.  I am keeping the damper open on the furnace to keep heat coming, however that means many trips to load the funace. 

As I was weeding out books to get rid of I came asross one that I hadn't read.  Peter Jenkins "Walk Across America". The first page looked interesting so set it aside to read.  Well I am now about half way through the book, Very interesting and his experiences are amazing.  I went to FB to check him out and he is doing a similar trip again with a 57 Chevy.  Looking forward to that book as well.  Larry if you haven't read this book I think you would enjoy it, not sure you can get it on your puter though!

Cimi is showing her age.  Al she does is sleep.  Her joints are bothering her, so I added salmon oil to her food and she is turning her nose up at that!  I may have to put it directly into her mouth!!

John is headed to Rome NY.  He is trying to get back in country today.  He is having problems with the truck, the "check engine" light is on and the coding indicates it is an exhaust problem.  With his truch the exhaust goes through a liquid called DEF, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, (I think) and it seems that this only happens in the really cold weather.  The question is what is causing the problem, is the fluid gelling of freezing.  So he needs to get back to Canada and to the Volvo dealership and find out. So this will hopefully will be a fast trip out of country and back in.....No big miles unfortunately. He was offered a 1000 mile trip to N Carolina that he had to turn down, and that is really the pitts!!!

Have a great day everyone!

Well, Jake didn't show up yesterday by 4pm.  I needed supplies at Noblesville that I didn't think I had time to do today after swimming.  So now the kitties have food and litter in case I get snowed in. 

Today I went to the pool and to Bob Evans for breakfast.  Once I got home I called Jakes...she said the appointment was today.  I don't think so.  The appointment was Friday and when they called to say he couldn't make it Friday, it was changed to Monday afternoon.  Anyway I told her as long as I had time to shower before he got here, okay.  If I have to leave at 4 and he is still here, I trust him to lock up and leave.

It is cold.  Only 12° right now.  It was down to 4° this morning.  We, meaning, Ivalou, Betty, Marge and I, are suppose to go to Outback Steakhouse tonight so Ivalou and I can use our gift cards from Kaye Don and Barb and they have to be used before Feb 10th.  Marge called last night and asked if we were still going.  Yes, why?  Well, she didn't think we should go it if was this cold out!!  I told her I don't want to do snow or ice or sleet but cold I can do!  Besides I am to pick her up at her work...it isn't too cold for an 80 yo lady to drive to work by herself!  So I told her unless I called, we are going.

Well, Ivalou called this morning saying it is too cold out to go.  (I think Marge and her are ganging up on me!) I told her that I was in Noblesville and I was very comfortable in the car...and that I can start the car before we have to go out and get in it!  She said but what if someone falls and they have to lay there on the ground?  I know  she is concerned but we can't wait until warm weather...I wouldn't want to lay on the ground if it was 50° out!  Besides she could fall going to the mail box or walking around in her house!  So as of right now we are going tonight!  I am confident in my car and my driving!  We should be home before dark or shortly after it becomes dark! 

I was venting...can't you tell?

Etta Sue, it is strange the gift cards have expiration dates on them.  Hope your enjoy the meal.  Is the pavement where you all will be walking icy?  Hope you get your heat pump fixed today as know you are getting a bit frustrated by the delays.

Judy, sure hope John gets back in country but surprised any Volvo truck dealer couldn't attend to the problem with his truck.  He and I discussed what happens with a breakdown and he was telling me about the very good service available for truckers. 

Janet, sure glad you are feeling better.  Hope you had a good meal at the senior center.  I still remember what nice meals the senior center in my folks town of Maryville, Mo. served.  When we were staying with the folks we often went there to eat with them as was one less meal preparation and the meal was reasonable for guests, which we were.

Jeanne, that is too cold for me.  Think I would just stay in the house if possible when it is that cold.

The lady I am suppose to help this afternoon seems to be running late so had a few minutes to come back and catch up on messages.  We are greatly relieved in that just this afternoon the trash haulers came and took away a huge pile of trash that our next door neighbors had put on the curb about two weeks ago.  It was too much for the regular trash men.  It sure looks better over there.  Fortunately I only had to look at it when I was coming or going but still it was becoming a bit annoying.  The trash service will send a special truck for large items or large amounts of trash. 

It's me again.  I just read this and wanted to share it with you all:


I'm a Little Tea Cup

Love this story or not, you will not be able to have tea in a tea cup again without thinking of this.

There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked        antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.

Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup  spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a  time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me,  pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that. I  don't like it! Let me alone," but he only smiled, and gently said, "Not yet."

Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was made to suit himself and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he        shook his head from side to side, "Not yet."

When I thought I  couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought.

But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Oh, please, stop it, stop, I cried." He only shook his head and said, "Not yet."

Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I  just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then the  door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I  cooled and waited and waited, wondering, "What's he going to do to me  next?"

An hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me. That couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful!"

Quietly he spoke: "I want you to remember. I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I  brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any colour in your life. If I  hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."

The moral of this story is this: God knows what He's doing for each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and        make us and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kind that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing and perfect will.

So when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed almost beyond endurance; when your world seems to be spinning out of control; when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials; when life seems to "stink", try this.

Brew  a cup of your favourite tea in your prettiest tea cup, sit down and think on this story and then, have a little talk with the Potter.

Thank you for sharing that lovely story Larry. Seems it was meant for me, as I am about to have a nice cup of peppermint tea to soothe a sore throat; the reminder that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by the Potter is a good one.  Reminds me of a song we sang at my old church. 

You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me this is what I pray....

Change my heart, O God.
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God. 
May I be like you.....

(not the song in its entirety)

Bonnie

Though there isn't a great deal of snow on the ground, the air out there is definitely wintery!!  It's -21 degrees Celsius right now, which is about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. 

I had leggings on under my uniform today, for extra warmth, and even wore a scarf under my coat...not my favorite clothing item.  Even with all the extra effort, I was still chilled to the bone when I finally arrived home.

Carol, I hope you are feeling better real soon.

Etta Sue, I truly enjoy reading your comments about your day.  Seems you lead a very full life; praise the Lord.

Bonnie

- 21 is the same as - 5.8F... just to clarify

This book I am reading is amazing!  cant wait to get his oter books!  A Walk Across America!  a worthwhile read!

I'm sure glad  have a full pantry and freezer.  I'm planning on staying inside for the next several days - the temperature isn't expected to get above the single digits during the day and well below zero at night until at least Friday (at 10:00 a.m. my thermometer registered minus 5 F, or minus 20 C).  Then maybe more snow.  I can't imagine what it must be like for the homeless on the streets.  I am constantly praising God for my warm home and I include asking his protection for those who have no home.

Jeanne  YOu reminded me obout this song

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

The music is Here