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Well, we got Ivalou's car maintenance done.  Then we visited Judy B, classmate, at rehab.  She looks great and said, Yes, it is painful but each time I go to rehab it is easier.  And her other leg is much better also. 

Then Ivalou and I went to a Chinese Buffet.  And we just got home.  It is dark and neither one of us left a light on before leaving.  We didn't think we would be out this late!!!

Good devotional.  Far too often I hear people expecting to be exempt from trials, temptations and sicknesses, yet they want to bew like the Saviour.  Somehoe those two images don't match to me...."

QuoteJesus, our example for prayer, once prayed, "Everything is possible....Yet I want your will, not mine" (Mark 14:36).

Sometimes His will isn't pleasant, but it is His will and long term we grow and mature.

Thank you for praying, John made it safely to his destination and has now stopped for the night.  one dispatcher was more concerned about the frieght being late than the safety of the driver, truck or the freight.  Thankfully sgew isn't John's dispatcher.

The snow seems to have stopped.  We have been really dumpped on.  Looks nice but it is cold.

Off to bed, Night all and God bless.

Hi everyone.  I tried all evening to get online but there seemed to be a problem with the backbone, which I am assuming had something to do with the storms in the West and East.  So I will quickly post this morning in case we have the same problem later today.  It seems to be fine now.

My defibulator check went very well yesterday and all is done.  I also was able to get my tooth filled, and it was a big one.  I guess it is a good thing that it fell out as there was decay behind the filling.  Then by the time for us to meet with friends for ribs and the numbness had gone away.  It was also a beautiful day here, cool and windy but sunny.

JudyB, was glad to see your posting that John was safe.  You would think the dispatcher would be more concerned for the safety of the drivers and the timeliness of the delivery in circumstances like a bad storm.  It is hard to understand some people.

Etta Sue, we don't like to return home to a dark house either and my wife is very good to leave a light or two on when we leave in the late afternoon. 

Liz, sorry to hear you arae doing without power but glad you have heat and the ability to cook.  I liked your poem.

Janet, it sounds like your busy schedule has picked up where it left off before your trip.  You are one really busy lady.

Carol, hope you enjoy the PSP lessons and your birthday plans for Don work out well.

It is time to leave for coffee so I will quit for today.  I see Marilyn is still offline.  Hope she is all right.

Larry - I'm sure Marilyn will appreciate that you were concerned.  She has to wait for a new modem to arrive and be installed.  You know, of course, that when we're waiting for anything, then it takes twice as long.  I 'spect she'll be back within the next couple of days.

Just called and talked to her - she's still waiting, but it should be very soon.

Just heading our.  I have to take Mom to the lab for blood tests, her Doctors appointment is Thursday.  Tomorrow I have to take Heather to her doctor.  All these doctor appointments are scheduled well in advance.

It is another snowy day, so I will be travelling slowly,  This afternoon is piano, Elizabeth has quit, so I have started, this is going to proove interesting.  One thing Fran has me doing is site reading.  That is something I was never taught, and I have found there is a skill to it!  What you don't learn when you are "old".

Got to run
Love y'all God Bless
JudyB

JudyB ~ Thanks for the comment about the devotion.  We do tend to want our answers, not God's will.

Larry ~ When it is dark out here in the country, it is dark.  There is a dusk to dawn light between Kaye Don and Ivalou but it doesn't shine on my deck.  After dark, if I drive, I have to walk from the detached garage to the house.  If Ivalou drives I usually tell her I can walk from her house to mine...unless I have a lot to carry in the house...like groceries.  But I do have a switch in the garage that turns on an outside light and I can turn it off near my basement.  And if I know Ivalou is gone after dark with no lights on I turn on my flood lights, 5 of them, so Ivalou can see to get into her house.  She said that really helps her!  Us sisters have to watch out for each other. 

QuoteCheck yourself to see if your prayers are focusing on your interests or on God's.

Hard to do but I am trying - one son needs a job and I really concentrate on asking only for what is right.

Chinook winds here & it is 70 degrees F. outside, very odd. 

Larry:  What a busy day for you!  Great that you have the energy for all of those appointments and then meeting with friends. 

Carol

Etta Sue, I love hearing about your relationship with your sister.  If my sisters and I lived as near as you and Ivalou, I know we'd be the same.   Thanks for sharing sister love with all the rest of us.   Tell Ivalou we know all about her. haha 

the storm has ended.  As far as I can see, anyway.  I know the utility workers and road crews and police personnel are really glad.  I've looked around outside and only had some fence damage.  My roof is intact.  I was worried I might lose some of it, but it held firm.  I'm due for another one, but that won't happen until next year.

Today is house cleaning day.  I can't put it off any longer.

I don't know much more about my sister, Faye.  I did learn she had two kinds of cancer, one rare, one stage 3.  I'll be glad when I can get some concrete answers.  Or maybe, with cancer, it takes a long while to get that.  She won't start chemo and radiation till after Christmas.  That must have been her choice.  I'm sure my nephew and family are coming out for Christmas.

ok.  Gotta get this day on a roll.  I'm staying away from Kim and Paul's for another day.  They need lots of time alone with that baby.  I'll call later and see if they have dinner for tonight.  Women from the church are delivering them but I'm sure I'll have my turn too.

Blessings, y'all.  Nita

Hello to all y'all

I had an appointment this morning and while I was away Marilyn called to see if Nita and I were okay after the storm.  She said not to return her call (she wouldn't be home) and, if her computer is still out of sorts, I can't email her but, as Nita just said: we're okay.   

Nita, I know how you are with your sisters ... and family.  I'd like that here, too.

Etta Sue~The devotional is just how I have been (trying to) praying for some time now ... "Not my will but Thiine be done" ....  He knows what's happening and He also knows how it will turn out ... He knows ME too .... 

BTW my appointment was with the ENT doctor.  Still trying to figure out the cause of my persistent cough.   Well, I think he is a very knowledgable Otolaryngologist ... and I feel very confident with him.  Actually, after the tests (which included putting a camera down my throat) it seems I have the makings of the same thing you experienced.  No surgery required at this point and we can look for reduction of symptoms within the next couple of months.  The reason it takes so long is because my condition is "well extablished" and has been with me for a long time.   Oh, well.....

The storm blew down a lot of trees, and a panel of glass all over my front porch, but I have no damage other than that.  A neighbor has a tree now lying in the lake, and there are other trees down in this park but none fell on homes or cars.  Both Nita and I live on hills so the flooding doesn't bother us.  I haven't ventured into town and don't have any plans to so I can keep my feet dry.   

I gotta get some housework done, too, Nita ....    Hey, someone's gotta do it and, since I'm the only one here, guess who gets nominated?   

I'll be back later .... now it's off to my corner again.....................

I am still hacking and coughing, ugh.    Tomorrow Pat and I are taking Beth shopping in Dodge City, and I am dreading it, as I'm still really tired and not at all in a shopping mood.  But Christmas is coming, whether or not I am ready.

Liz, I loved your poem.  So much truth expressed in so few words!  Hope your power stays on now.

It was 70 degrees here today too, Carol!  So strange for December.

I went for piano lesson today, and my teacher wasn't very happy with me.  Too many missed lessons, too little practice.  She was in the hospital, and then we were gone.  But she bragged and bragged on how well Darrel is doing.    I'm happy for him, but wish I were doing better.

Did I tell you that my 91 year old Mom was really sick while we were in Peru?  She had double pneumonia, and they took 18 # of water off her.  Now she has congestive heart failure, but she is feeling and looking so much better.  I'm thankful nothing happened to her while we were so far away.  God is so good.

Etta Sue, I think it's so neat that your sister/best friend is also your nearest neighbor.  Enjoy!   

I am fading fast, plan to go to bed early again tonight.  Maybe in a few more days we will get rested.  (I hope)  The trip was worth it, though! 

Janet - while you're in Dodge City tomorrow, be sure and stop in at the Long Branch saloon.  And say hello to the Marshal.  How far is that from where you live?

Al, Dodge is 80 miles East of our town.  I have been to the Long Branch several times---had a Sarsparilla!  (Tastes like root beer to me!)  And if I should run into the Marshall I will give him your greetings. 

We had a horrendous storm here on the island.  A most terrible snow storm, high winds, then down came the hard rain.  We were without power after my last post, from noon on Monday until 3 PM today.  Candles and oil lamps (small) don't throw much light and it gets dark around 4 PM and not light until around 7:30 AM, so it surely was a long time....some still without power.  Lines down everywhere, flooding all over, businesses suffering large loss due to water, etc.  Some trees in the back of the yard are badly damaged and the kids have to get a tree fellow to come and stop them from collapsing on the rabbits and this house.  Some folks were not so lucky and they got hit....

This house was sure lucky with having gas heat and cooking possible, tho' not easy in the light of candles.  My SIL is looking into getting a small generator this week.  Much of the damage is due to development causing run off and flooding happening.  Not to this house, but many places have suffered terrible loss.  Washington is in a bad way, and the mainland (Vancouver) had it even worse than the island.  I feel that we are protected by a kind God, as Amanda had to get home and leave her car due to the snow.  Folks at work helped her and watched over getting her back home.  She is fortunate to have so many caring people where she is working...not usual in this day!

I got to enjoy the radio again and caught up on all the old music from the 60's & 70's.....Played solitare by candlight.  Would have gone upstairs and played Yatzee but didn't want to leave the cat alone with all those candles.  I was raised on a farm  in the Prairies and we used lamplight until after the war and power became available.....forgot how hard it is to function without our things working with the touch of a button!! 

Thanks for the comments on my little poem.  I am sorry about your Mom, Janet and your sister, Nita.  I will continue to pray for them and you both.

Time to go.  Cooked dinner and just finished cleaning up.  Wendy is so tired and stressed...so got one of my hasty meals together for them.  We went out for breakfast and no one has been eating much the past two days.  So it will be good to get back to normal....whatever that is!  Storm may not be done yet.  So best enjoy the wonders of light and TV again......

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

I found your account of the storms up there quite interesting, Liz.  We were living in SW Portland in Otober of 1962 and experienced the Columbus Day Storm, so I know whereof you speak.  In that one the entirety of Portland and Vancouver, Wash. were without power for some time, and there was much wind damage.  I thank our God that you were kept safe through your storms there.  And I pray you'll be able to get the damage repaired quickly.

Liz:  So sorry for the storm and damage to so many on the coast.  It sounds like you were able to cope probably much better than those who are so used to flipping a switch to make things happen.  We keep a wind-up radio around but I would have to look for it and wind-up flashlight as well.

Hoping and praying for all of you in the midst of these storms. 

Carol

SNOW!!  SNOW!!  SNOW!!  It is so pretty outside but not looking forward to going out in this stuff.  If I get a call from the Vet, then I am going to get cat food.  Otherwise, I will go with Ivalou when she gets her protime blood test.  She sure doesn't need to be driving in this but I will feel better if someone is with her. 

Nita and all the SrNetters on here ~ Ivalou and I went to the Calvary Bash I think back in 2003.  We went in the hotel, went to the basement where the lunch room was and as we exited the elevator, everyone said, 'There's Etta Sue and Ivalou'.  Ivalou was so surprised that everyone knew her.  They all talked to her like they had known her all her life!  She told me she really felt comfortable with all the people there.  She still can't realize how you can 'talk' to people through cyberspace and they become like family to you.  She doesn't have a computer! 

Well, like I say....I will be going out in this but not sure which way I wall be going.  I took this photo this morning out my front window.  You can see the red bows on my deck blowing in the wind! 



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I have a rather urgent prayer request, I am putting it here because it will be short term.

Behind us we have bush, lots of forest both owned by us and others as well as crown land.  This is a vast area of forest.  While the girls were heading to bed last night they complained that they were seeing lights shining in the sky.  I popooed it and sent them to bed.  Today while they were in the bush they heard a woman and a child screaming for help.  When the girls called they said they had been out all night lost.  Please pray for the woman and the child, I have called the police and they are geearing up to go searching for these two.  Please pray safety for the police, as well as success in locating the people.  It was a VERY cold night last night and today is not much better.

Thank you
JudyB

Oh, my Judy!  That is indeed a worrisome situation with the cold we've been having.

Liz, I'm so glad you're ok.  I've been hearing the news about your awful storm and yours as well you folks in Oregon and N. California.

We've had it as well.  It's been terrible.

Everyone, dress warmly!

Thanks for the devotional, Etta Sue!

We only want what is God's will for our lives.  Sometimes it's hard to wait but wait we must!

I am back online. no time to  post much righ now I still have to read all I have missed and check the hundreds of email I now have.

Hey there, Marilyn!    Welcome back!! You really were missed, y'know.   

Why thankee Jane.

Ok I have read all of the posts for this week but still have to go back to last week or maybe not.  I got another job last week  cooking supper for a couple threedays per week, then the lady fell and was in the hospital for a few days and now that job has increased. Praise the Lord. I have the two jobs every day and then every once in awhile driving yet another person to town to shop.

The Caregiver Registry called me last week to interview me for a featured article on me for the next Caregiver quarterly newsletter. I can't get over  how much people like my work, to me it is just being me and the compliments overwhelm me.

I sure had computer withdrawals for a week and a half.  I was so mad at Earthlink  that they gave me a $5.00 refund on last months bill after the first call  and this month is free after phone calls every day telling them how unhappy I was; and the trouble they were causing me by not listening and sending me the new modem a week ago when I told them that was the problem. Theyhad to take me through all these troubleshooting changes and even sent out the phone ocmpany to check he lines. The telephone repair men updated  the lines from the pole to the house and installed an new box put new lines in for the house. The box and lines were not the problem. Etta Sue I wish you had told me about Earthlink before I signed on with them.  I am now stuck with them until Sept. 2008 then they raise the price to $ 29.95 from 19.95 and I will be changing at that time.

Gotta go now I am late for Bible Study.

Nice to see you back Marilyn!

.

Hi everyone.  Once again this was Bible study day with the pastor at the church and then I had choir practice this evening so spent most of the day at the church.

Marilyn, glad to see you back online and sorry you have had so much trouble with Earthlink.  I had a DSL account with them some years ago and they were fine but I think the company has fallen on some hard times and the quality of their service as declined.  Our church website is hosted by Earthlink but I access the files using FTP and haven't experienced a problem with that part of their service.

JudyB, certainly hope they can locate the woman and child.  That would be so frightening.

Liz, they have had a lot of film on the news concerning the flooding in the northwest.  Glad to see you back online. 

Etta Sue, that sure looks like winter up your way.  Glad you have a nice warm home.

Time to turn in for the night.

Hi, Marilyn.

Not many messages today.  Good to have you back with us, Marilyn.

Etta Sue--pretty photo, but B-r-r-r-r-r-r!!  Good you and Ivalou take good care of each other.

Liz, what an ordeal for you and the others on the island.  I'm so glad you are all right!

It was cold here today, but not a flake of snow.  Judy, I hope to read here tomorrow that the woman and child were found safely, and with no frostbite!  How awful for them!

Al, I didn't see the Marshall, but Miss Kitty sent you a big kiss!     

I don't think Pat and I will attempt to take Beth out for the day again, or at least not soon.  It is an exhausting ordeal for us.  Beth can barely drive her power chair, can't reach and get anything off a shelf, she falls to the side in her chair and can't straighten herself up; and she nearly slides out of the chair (in spite of the seat belt) and it is all the two of us can do to pull her up again.  I know she needs to get out some, but it is becoming a really hard job.  Poor Beth----and nothing we do seems to improve her condition in the least, just downhill more and more.  OK, enough of that.

Good news!  My niece Audra, who had the very, very serious heart surgery, did well, and is back home recovering.  She is not to lift, or do hardly anything for some time yet.  Her husband had used all of his vacation days to be with her at the Mayo Clinic, but his co-workers  donated one day each of their days off so he could stay with her the first week back home.  Now my sister (her grandma) is staying with her for two weeks.  The kids are in day care and pre-school (maybe he is in kindergarten) but anyway they are away during the day so Audra isn't being tempted to lift or do things for them.  Thanks for your prayers!    God is so good!

I am exhausted, heading for my pillow now!

Hi, Pat!  Love you!

It's so nice to see those of you who are checking in.  Janet, I'm praying for your niece!


Now, I'm going to post the winners of the last Challenge in here.

Would you all please go to this topic...

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=6428.msg113811#msg113811

and congratulate the winners?

Thanks so much...








Thank you to everyone who entered the 14th Mini Photo Challenge, and thank you to everyone who voted.

Here are the results of the photo challenge entitled:











































Pat