Christian Photographers Community

Not long back from I guess my final ( second ) carols by candlelight church services in over a week..both started same time 6.30pm, this time I went to a church I haven't been to before, thought maybe a smaller church, a traditional church building but the place was absolutely filled with people...I did enjoy it very much...

Janet, I'm sorry to hear of your Sisterinlaw passing.  It must have been a shock for you and Darrel.  I was in Amarillo on the 21st, getting my second shot in right eye, wet MG, yes, wet is the worst of the two types.
I have appt to see the neurosurgeon in Lubbock on the 28th, concerning my neck pain.  I have had Opioid injections twice, and still have pain in neck as bad as ever.  I think my aspirin and Aleve help better.  They are limited of course, but the Opioid has done nothingConsidering going to a chiropractor even! 😃

Correction to my post...should be "wet MD" instead of MG.

Janice, I am an ardent believer in chiropractic!  My chiropractor is the only doctor I see, except for the occasional prescription refill or some such.  I do see eye doc, of course.  Thanks for clarifying about "wet" being the worse of the two.  Ugh.  This is scary!

Larry, thanks so much for emailing "Two Babies in a Manger".  I appreciate that so much.  Maybe I will get a Christmas letter and a few cards out, eventually.  No promises, but there is always next year, or we think there will be, anyway.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Hi Everyone. It was 55 degrees here this morning when I got up and we are headed to 65 degrees this afternoon.  Yesterday we got to 75 degrees and a very beautiful day.  We did get some rain last evening and perhaps during the night as I see the streets are still damp. 

Yesterday after my meeting I stopped at the grocery store as planned.  I was so relieved to see that three electric carts were available as it is a large store and I wasn't feeling up to par.  We expect Scott and Jennifer over later today.  Jennifer is planning on spending the night so she can get an early start on the Christmas dinner.  This will be the first time in about 34 years that she has spend a night with us.  She and her folks lived with us from the time she was about 6 months old until she was a year old when her mother left to visit her mother in Kansas City and never came back.  I expect to have a quiet, unhurried and restful day today.  I will probably watch some football this afternoon. 

Jackie, that sounds like a delightful carols by candlelight service.  Glad you were up to attending.  We have decided to not try to attend the Church services today as the parking is a problem.  Our Sunday School class elected not to meet this morning or I probably would have gone.  I have never understood people only attending Church on Christmas and Easter but better that than never attending. 

Janice, over the years my wife has used a chiropractor a lot and had a lot of relief.  They were also very helpful to our daughter as she could get some relief from the pain.  Pat's current chiropractor treated her three times a week for three months and then advised her he felt he had done all the good he could do.  Fortunately the shots she has received recently have helped her and that is a big relief. 

Janet, I bet your family and friends will understand why you didn't get Christmas cards done this year. 

We are not all Blessed in sharing Christmas the way we wish to be sharing it, many of us have issues, whether personal or family...and not forgetting dealings with our own medical issues, so in reality not everyone will be entertaining our festive season but...we are all in this together, our hopes, our wishes, our future...We are here to listen, to pray, and give hope when we reach our next year and give blessings that our next year will be just that little bit kinder to us, I think we all deserve a little bit of that..

I just wanted to add...we cant make, demand, or force our maker to make our life any easier, we can't nor don't expect miracles but, we can ask and pray that he lightens our load...

Hello, friends,

I've enjoyed spending time here today.  I enjoyed attending church by computer. It was a loving, family-type worship service. And the music was very good.

The shingles have begun to leave, so life feels better now.

May God's presence be real to each of us as we celebrate our Lord's birth.

Merry Christmas.

Ruth Ann

I'm here.  I am feeling so tired, so teary, and just not feeling like doing anything.
But I keep moving as best I can, knowing that in time, my joy will return.

Church was very nice this morning, and I'm looking forward to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service tonight.
Tomorrow we will go over to Diane's, and I know being with the kids, grands and great-grands will make me feel better.

Merry Christmas to you all.  May we experience the REAL reason to celebrate!

Jeanne, Janice, and Pat--if you peek in, know that I love you and wish you every joy and peace!

...Janet, yes, lets...

Ruth Ann:  Blessings to you - it is so good to hear that your shingles episode is drawing to an end. 

Janet:  Hugs and blessings

Any problems I have are very small compared to so many of you.  My prayers to everyone for all the health and other issues in your lives. 

We have another week here and the children plus grands will be here off and on and everyone on Friday night.  Youngest son and DIL are about a 15 minute drive and they are bringing an entire meal to us tonight - we will enjoy the visit and thoughtfulness.   We have snow and it is cold outdoors.  Problems with the garage door not staying open - so, one person has to hold it when driving in or out.  It is an issue only when it is cold.  I visited with our good friend and neighbor who lost her husband last month.  She talked for over two hours - I knew she needed to talk and just set aside an afternoon for our friendship.  She is doing very well. She is such a sounding board for me. 

Take care -

Merry Christmas from the island.  I justl lost my post....
Will try again!

I am so sorry Janet.  So many years and so many prayers.  She is home now!

My life is very quiet as at 85 things certainly change.  Wendy is doing Brunch and Dinner and I will go upstairs from my suite and enjoy all her hard work.  Amanda and her boyfriend will be coming and we will eat Brunch and undeck the tree.
Then they will come back for dinner....turkey!

We have a lot of snow and more to come.  Not the best as rain is the usual thing on the island. Lots of side roads get blocked.

I do not get to church anymore but watched a lovely service on tv from The Marble Church in New York.  Learned that they have an app so will go back on the computer.

We are all having health problems but chug along and try to keep smiling.
For those of you who remember Squeek, she is still will us and over 21ys.now.
No longer hides under the Xmas tree and pretty sure this will be her last Xmas before Rainbow Bridge.  We love her dearly and do our best to keep her happy.

Let?s all trust in God for 2018, pray for the world and each other.

God Bless,
Liz

Please excuse the couple of typing errors.  I am doing this on an iPad and it has a small keyboard.

I meant to mention that I did not get a hearing aid as not comfortable and sooo expensive.  Have bought a Pocket Talker from Amazon and found this quite helpful. Was pleasantly surprised at the clarity of sound.
Liz

Hi Everyone. Merry Christmas to each of you. 

We have a beautiful bright and sunny Christmas morning.  It is 38 degrees when I got up and is only to get to the low 50's this afternoon.  Scott ended up having to work yesterday so they didn't get here until about 6:30 last evening and he was exhausted.  Pat had put together a simple chicken enchilada soup in the crock pot for our dinner.  After dinner he told a nap and the ladies played Farkle while the peanut clusters were being prepared in the crock pot.  Jennifer spent the night so she is here to start the Christmas dinner preparations to help her grandmother.  Later this afternoon we will have our Christmas dinner and after the dishes are finished and the food put away we will have our traditional gift exchange.  There are no big presents under the tree this year as Christmas came early for all of us but of course there are some small packages.  So we should have a very nice Christmas.

Jackie, I have found that seldom is life what I would have wanted it to be but have found peace with the blessings I do have. I am still around to enjoy it with the family I have remaining. Like you I am hoping that this next year will be better than this one has been especially for my family.  I liked your Christmas graphics. We certainly need to remember the message on the second graphic. Those were good comments you shared yesterday. 

Ruth Ann, glad that the shingles are beginning to leave and that you feel better now.  Our Church doesn't broadcast our services by computer although podcasts   the earlier contemporary services.

Janet, glad you are not having to deal with preparing the Christmas meal.  I hope you and Darrel enjoyed the Candlelight service last night.  I will be surprised if being around the little greatgrands and the rest of your family today doesn't brighten your spirit. 

Carol, it sounds like you are having a full schedule and getting to spend a lot of time with the family.  I expect this week will go by quickly and it will be time to return to the warmer weather.  Nice of you to give your neighbor two hours of your time.  Sometimes a person just needs someone to listen to them as a burden shared is a burden halved (I think that is the saying.  Glad your neighbor is doing well. 

Liz, good to see your posting and nice to get a Christmas greeting from the island.  What does the meaning undeck the tree mean?  I am not familiar with that term.  It sounds like you will be enjoying a lot of good eating today.  You are sure fortunate to have had Squeek for so long. 

Merry Christmas!!!

Liz, so nice to see your posting this Christmas mornong.  Yes, I remember your Squeek. 

Wishing you a wonderful year.

So much family visiting every day and so !ugh help plus they all bring food too.  One son is bringing a mid day bbq to fix today.  Daughter and g daughter arrive tomorrow and oldest son and wife stay over the next night. Saturday around 6 pm we take off from the airport on first plane to Salt Lake then a very quick transfer to Tucson 

We get to Tucson near midnight and praying all cordonates.  Saving money this way and it is no pleasure. Don has felt fine at Denver altitiude and I am so grateful.   


Excuse typos from this kindle. 

Good Christmas Day to all. It seems like most all of the Christmas festivites happen before the real day.  Church events, family here with me, opened our gifts last night, etc.  I am blessed, my daughter (who lives just down the street from me) her 2 daughters and their husbands, and top it off with my one great grandson, age 11.  The last family mentioned are a military family, living at El Paso.  He has orders to Ft Sill, Oklahoma in fairly early January.  I hate that GrGrSon has to change schools, his current middle school in El Paso has an orchestra, and he plays the cello.  In OK, the school Sidney will attend only has band.  Maybe he will come to love a different instrument too.         I am sitting here nibbling leftover goodies!  Shame on me.  But somebody has to do it.  My Mom taught us not to waste food, so that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it. 😃                         

Hi Everyone on this day after Christmas.  It is a beautiful clear cool morning here in South Carolina and we will be in the low 50's again this afternoon.  We had a very nice and enjoyable day yesterday.  Our granddaughter did nice job on the Christmas dinner, which was delicious.  We had a nice small gift exchange.  Pat's sister gave us one of those Ring video doorbells that is motion activated so that anyone approaching the porch will be recorded and I will receive a notification and the video on my phone.  It also works as an intercom.  She also gave me a nice new sweater.  Everyone was tired last night after a great day.  I plan on a very laid back day today and have no plans of leaving the house.  I did fix Pat's breakfast this morning as her back was hurting as she was probably on her feet too much yesterday and did not use her walker, which was a first for sometime.  She is using it today.

Carol, It sounds like you will have to eat a lot so that you don't have left over food when you leave on Saturday.  Pat and I were both glad when Scott and Jennifer decided to go home about 4:30 yesterday and we could settle back into our own routines.  Sure hope all of your travel plans are not impacted by weather conditions. 

Janice, eating those left overs is rough job but as you say someone has to do it.    I think we have enough food left for our dinner tonight as sent half or more of the leftovers home with the Scott and Jennifer.  We do have a lot of candy left over.  I expect your 11 year old great grandson will adjust well to his new school and that is probably something he will experience again with being a military family.   

Very grey, dark, miserable and pouring with rain...I would of course rather see flutterings of snowflakes but that rarely happens here in UK over the Christmas period of C - Eve, C - Day, or Boxing Day...which I would have loved to have seen...If UK does get any white stuff, it usually happens during January or February but some years we dont get any snow at all, or nothing that settles long enough before the wet stuff washes it away...Then when it does come, UK is never prepared for it...

We had a quiet Christmas day and needed that peace.  Thankful for so many things and most of all, our family.

Janice, your grandson will adjust to new ideas.  There is always a loss and a gain.  Hug

Sidney, my GGrSon, got his start in education in South Korea.  His Dad was assigned there for 3 years when Sidney was quite young. No American school nearby. The family was approved to go there too, but for previous assignments overseas, family had to stay home.  My GrandDaughter Patty home schooled him while in Korea. 

It sure is quiet in my house today, I loved having family here over the weekend.  It's just me and my little Boston Terrior named Jackie, now, and she sleeps a lot.

Today feels like Monday!  Guess I'd better get the days straight, because we have to go to Amarillo tomorrow for Darrel's sister's funeral, then get a day at home; then on Friday have to go to Wichita so I can see the Retina Specialist.

This was a really tough Christmas, being the first one in 55 years without my Beth.  But I also know there will be many more "firsts" to come, and God will love me through them.  And as you said, Larry, the grand and great-grandkids did lift my spirits.  They are all so sweet!

Liz!!  Wonderful to "hear" from you up there on the island!  I do remember your Squeek, and how good to have her for so long!

Janice, it's so hard to have our loved ones move farther away from us, but I hope Sidney will enjoy his new school, and find new interests and challenges there.  And how are your eyes doing?  I'm just beginning that journey, one I had no desire to go on, for sure!  I just pray they can help me to keep my eyesight until the Lord calls me home.  I hope you and Jackie are all snuggled in safe and warm!

Carol, I pray you will have a safe and good trip back to Tucson, even on the redeye.  Sounds like you have had a lovely family Christmas!

Has anyone heard from Pat or Jeanne?

John is sick; he had stomach problems, chills and fever yesterday, so didn't go to Diane's with us.  I called him last night, he hadn't eaten anything all day (but did drink his Zeal!) and this morning I called again, as he said if he felt better he would go eat with us.  He didn't, so we took him the plate of Christmas dinner Diane sent home with us for him, and then I picked up a dinner from the senior center for him, too, so he has lunch and dinner. I also took over his Christmas gifts, didn't want to be any later with that.  They had been sitting here under the tree.  I sure hope he feels better tomorrow!

Little Chelsea ran to hug me yesterday and said, "I'm sorry Beth died.  I miss her!"  She is the sweetest child!

Okay, I really need to try to make me write some thank you notes.  Get going, Janet!

Hi Everyone on a rainy and chilly morning.  The rain is suppose to continue all morning and then stop after noon. It will stay in the 40's all day.  I had planned to go for a haircut and run a couple of errands this morning but will wait until this afternoon when the rain has stopped.  We expect Scott and Jennifer to be over for dinner with us this evening.  Yesterday was just a quiet and restful day.

Jackie, it sounds like you sent your rain over this way.  Fortunately it is pouring just a light rain but it is chilly. 

Carol, nice to see you had a peaceful and quiet Christmas day. 

Janice, does your GGrSon remember much about his years in Korea? It is nice to have family visit and nice when the house is quiet again. 

Janet, you do have a busy week with all that travel.  At least you have a day between your travels to rest.  The first Christmas without our loved one is something we just get through and next year it will be better.  I have found that I tend to put out of my mind the negative things about Stacey's life like her illness and remember the good times like how much she loved Christmas.  For me I think this is the healing process that we always hear about.  We don't forget but the positives override the negatives.  God does see us through these times.  Glad you could be with your great grandkids as they certainly help us take our mind off of other things for a little bit as we see the joy of the children.  So sorry to hear that John is once again ill.  Nice of you to be sure he had food. 

Janet, the Retina specialist that I see, is in Amarillo.  I have had 2 injections so far, and they are very easy to tolerate. The nurse puts something in my eye to make it numb. When the doctor comes in, a quick needle that I don't feel, and then he is gone again! Piece of cake!  The worst part is the 100 miles to get there. 😃  This will be done about every 4 weeks. Next appt is January 22.
Good luck with your treatment, I hope it is as easy as mine has been.

I have to go to Lubbock tomorrow, to have a checkup on my last pain reliever injection for my neck.  This was my second one, and neither one helped.  I dread another 100 miles travel time.  Honestly, I would like to just quit going.  I have to use Aleve or aspirins anyway.  One of my Gr dtr's sees a chiropractor and suggests that I give him a try. I think I will, after this next checkup.

My iPad weather site this morning said 15*, feels like 11*...it was right on!  When I put Jackie out to do her business, that air was terribly cold.  She didn't hesitate to rush back inside!
y'all keep warm, if possible. I don't think I will even go out to get the mail today! My mailbox is beside the street.

Larry, sorry, I meant to add this onto my previous post....No, Sidney does not mention living in S Korea.  One thing that he experienced was this...they attended a little church there, and Sidney made a profession of faith there.  They did not have a baptistry, so he has not been baptized yet.

We left the 23rd for California, The drive down was so nice, overcast no rain. The motel we stayed in gave us a room with 2 beds so Freckles had her very own bed. Gilbert and Sonja came to the motel to hang out with us until it was time for our reservation at the place we were to eat. We went to the Teppanyaki table where the Japanese cook prepared our meal right in front of us. Freckles went there too. The cook tosses broccoli at the customers who are to catch it in their mouths. He missed mine 3 times and I caught one with my hand.

On Sunday the 24th, Keith and I went to services at my old church in McKinleyville. Late that afternoon we all went to Savannah's house, Gilbert cooked pizza and we took over two bottles of champagne. We opened gifts there. Went back to the motel about 8 and went to bed.

Christmas day, we went to Sonja's mother's house about 10 am and was there all day until about 7:30, more presents there. We had Prime Rib roast and all the goodies to go with it. I took cheesecake bars, 2 loaves of San Francisco Sour Dough bread, and a veggie plate. Jeannie (Sonja's mother), gave Freckles a new raincoat for Christmas, She makes them and sells them at craft fairs along with a lot of fleece vests, jackets, and pajama bottoms, kitty and dog beds etc. She sews at work and comes home and sews more. She sells a lot on eBay too.

Freckles and I had a visit at the cancer center today and we also stopped by to see my hospice patient.

Hi Everyone.  This is a first for me to be posting here in the middle of the night.  After sleeping for about 3 hours I woke up and can't seem to go back to sleep so decided I might as well accomplish something and am decided to get up for awhile.  Hopefully I will be able to go back to bed and sleep in a little while. 

Mid-afternoon yesterday I went to Great Clips for a haircut.  Wednesdays are senior days and the haircuts are $10 rather than the normal senior rate of $12.  While there I got notice that a prescription I had called in to Walmart yesterday morning was ready and the Walmart is in the same shopping center as the barber shop so I went over and picked up the prescription, which saves me a trip there today.  I needed power steering fluid for my Cruiser and there was one electric cart available so I was able to use it to get to the automotive section in the back of the store and check that item out at the pharmacy counter with the medicine.  While there I learned that they are starting and express prescription service where you can go online with the Walmart app on the phone and I suppose the site on the computer and order your prescription and pay for it and then just call for it at the express line.  I will try that service next time.  I came home and rested an hour and then headed back out to drop off an Amazon return at the UPS store and then went on to Firehouse Subs and picked up a couple of subs for our dinner last night.  Each of us had a half sub along with the chips and dip.  Pat has fixed a cheese and cheese dip in the crock pot.  That made a full meal. 

After Scott got here yesterday afternoon he put the power steering fluid in the car and then set up the headphone adapter in our bedroom so our headphones will work with either TV.  After dinner he started the set up of the Ring doorbell and we charged it up over night as it charges with the same cable as any android device.  He will have to install it in the day light so maybe next Wednesday he can do that if he get here before dark. 

This morning I see the eye doctor for the third and last appointment for the second eye surgery.  Then I plan on stopping at Costco for gas and to pick up a few items.  Then if I still have enough energy I will go on downtown and go to coffee late and then to the Wisdom group at the Church.  That will be a full day. 

Janice, sure sorry to read that the pain shots for your neck haven't helped your situation.  The shots Pat has had this last two months do seem to have been helpful to her in relieving the severe pain although she still has back pain when standing.  It is never too late to be Baptized. 

Marilyn, nice to read of your great Christmas trip.  You all sure were kept busy and it sounds like your drive down and back was good.  Yesterday I saw a neighbor out walking his dog in the rain and the dog had a raincoat on. 

Hello everyone.  I am just stopping by for a few words before I go to bed, as I'm exhausted again.  I hope one of these days I will get rested up again and feel like my old self.  (Maybe new self?)
I have been ransacking this house, looking for my Medicare card, to no avail.     I have a paper copy from my eye doctor, and they sent a copy of it along with my records to the retina specialist, so that will just have to suffice.  I will take my drivers license for photo ID.  Diane is going along again to drive for us, bless her sweet heart!

It was so bitterly cold yesterday in Amarillo that it made the funeral more depressing.  Some relatives we hadn't seen for a long time were there, it was good to see them.

I must get to bed, have to leave early in the morning, go to Hugoton, pick up Diane and head for Wichita!

Hi Everyone. The day started out in the mid-30's and will only get to the upper 40's today but no rain in sight.  Just two things on the agenda for today.  The housekeeper will be here around 10 am this morning and then Pat and I plan on going out at noon for our main meal for today.  She has been in the house all the week so needs to get out for a little while. I do want to get started on my year end cleanup and setup for next years records.

My eye doctor appointment went very well yesterday.  I need to use the eye drops for only another week.  I have 20-20 vision in my right eye and 20-40 in my left and it is still adjusting.  No need for prescription glasses.  Since my shirts always have a pocket in them there is no problem of keeping a pair of OTC reading glasses in them for close up reading.  I then stopped at the Credit Union to cash a couple of savings bonds that had matured.  Finally I stopped at Costco for gas and buying a few things that we needed from the grocery department.  I felt very fortunate that I was able to get one of the electric riding carts to get around in the store.  It was noon before I got home so too late to go downtown to the Church for the Wisdom group.  I had gotten one of the rotisserie chicken and when I got home we decided to have our main meal then while the chicken was hot and fresh. 

Janet, my thoughts and prayers are with you today as you check on your eyes.  I never carry my Medicaid card as it is just my Social Security Number with a letter after it.  Since we don't have Part B or D  it just says A after the number. 

G'Morning ...only a few minutes until I have to say Good afternoon!  Went to Lubbock yesterday and like Janet said....a bitter cold day!  Dr gave me an order for physical therapy, and I have to get out in the cold air to get registered so I can begin Monday.  No, wait...that is New Years Day...will begin on Tuesday. 
On the way, we saw where a bad wreck had happened, and the ambulance crew was taking a woman on a stretcher.  This was near the town of Muleshoe, TX...How many of you ever heard of that town? 😃  It's 35 miles from here. I hope that that dear soul was not seriously injured.  I said a quick prayer for her.

Hi Everyone. It is a clear, cool and sunny morning here.  My weather app a few minutes ago said it was 26 but the outdoor thermometer on my front porch said 37 but it is up high on my front porch so I expect it isn't quite that warm here.  I just have two things on my schedule for today.  I plan on attending a meeting this morning and then will stop at Aldi's for a few items.  We decided to have our main meal of the day at noon.  Yesterday at noon we went to the Texas Roadhouse and had a delicious meal as always.  We had stopped at Costco as needed to get the ink cartridges for my Epson printer refilled only to find that they don't refill the ones I need and they also don't stock them in the store.  So I will have to order them.  Fortunately I don't use this printer very often as usually use my laser printer that prints only black. 

Janice, I sure hope the physical therapy will be a big help to you.