Christian Photographers Community

Well, I got dumped out of here again!!  And have been so busy I didn't notice until today; then I had six days' worth of posts to catch up on reading!!

Jackie!  How nice to read your chatty posts!  You sound like one who always tries to see the bright side, and that's good.  My daughter also has MS, but we weren't informed until she'd had it for probably 20 years and had lost all mobility.  She also has Neurofibromatosis, and until a few months ago, all her problems were blamed on that condition.  I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt in falling from your chair, and hope you find something to prevent that happening again.

The "sewing bloopers" reminded me of a similar one I made years ago.  I was into painting shirts and tee shirts, and Beth wanted me to paint this big alligator cartoonish picture on the back of a chambray shirt for her.  I folded the shirt around a cardboard, covered with waxed paper and started painting.  It turned out really cute, until I took the pins out!    Then I discovered the whole picture was upside down!!    Man!  I threw it on the floor, stomped and grumbled, then said, "I refuse to be defeated!" and proceeded to figure out what to do.  I put the board on top of the picture, drew around it, cut it out, turned it right side up, and using wide rick-rack, put it back together.  I sewed one edge of the rick-rack to the square, the other side to the shirt.  It looked really good, and oh, how Beth loved that shirt!!  She had it for many years after she had outgrown it!  She may still have it tucked away somewhere!   

I was given a list of people at the care home to visit for the ladies' group at church, so today I got that done.  On the list were John and Beth Hamelin, so I knew where to find them!!     I'm trying to get all loose ends tied up before we leave Wednesday!

Liz!  So good so "see" you!  Yep, the ground hog saw his shadow!  Well, if he was here, he didn't, because it was so foggy here he couldn't have seen anything!  I wish we had some of that very wet snow!  Just not on Wednesday when we will drive to Oklahoma City!

Oh, wasn't that Super Bowl game something?  I started to go to bed when the score was 3-28, but Darrel said, "Tom Brady has come from behind before!" and I was texting a friend, so waited, and boy!  Was I glad I did!  That got exciting all at once!  I was so happy for Brady to win 5 Super Bowls, a new record.  And the first time in its history a Bowl game was tied and went into overtime!  Snoozer for the first half, though.

Jeanne, I hope you can go to your appointment.  Having to reschedule is a pain sometimes.

I'll try to stop in and tell y'all farewell tomorrow!

Well n ow that the day is almost over, I don 't feel an y older today than I did yesterday. I did eat too much though so back to  keeping my calories in check tomorrow.

Hi everyone.  It is another clear morning, at least at this time.  We started the day in the mid to hight 50's and may get up to 80 degrees this afternoon.  Our schedule is light today.  I didn't get to the Post Office or Aldi's yesterday so we will try to get that done today.  This is also the day for our city elections.  I wasn't going to vote because I knew none of the candidates pro or con until I found out the man who served as our Sunday School class president for this last two years was running for mayor.  He is a fine man, a retired engineer retired from the military and I think he would make a wonderful mayor.  That will be plenty for today as got up tired, which is becoming the norm, even after a full nights sleep.   

Carol, funny story about the shirts you made.  I will share it with Pat.  At least your were consistent. 

Marilyn, does Freckles raincoat match yours?  That freshly baked bread sure sounds good. 

Liz, it sounds like you are having a snowy winter for the record books.  Sure glad you haven't lost power during all of this.  I think I have only seen short glimpses of a Curling Match. 

Janet, glad to see your posting.  I had forgotten that Beth also has MS.  It sounds like you were very creative in salvaging the painted shirt.  You were like Bob Ross in no mistakes just happy accidents (or something like that as it has been a long time since I watched him paint on TV).  Since I am an Atlanta fan I was sorry to see the outcome of the Superbowl but also knew that Brady was capable of bringing his team back and winning the game.   

Marilyn, sorry I missed seeing that yesterday was your birthday.  So a belated Happy Birthday to you!!!  And remember--we're not getting older, we're getting better!!

Sigh!

Another day of will it or won't it?  Looks like it probably will, later this afternoon - snow/sleet/freezing rain - maybe up to 2 inches...  So I guess the smarter thing will be to reschedule my 2:00 p.m. doctor's appointment.   Again.  This has been a very weird winter. 

Marilyn, wishing you a Belated Happy Birthday....well as they say, another year older, another year wiser...
Marilyn, remember, age is only a number...or so they tell us...

Jeanne Lee, It sure sounds like your weather is playing you the guessing game....I do hope your appointment gets the go ahead sooner, rather than later...the sooner you get the appointment over with, the sooner the better...

Janet, sorry to hear your daughter also has this horrible disease - illness, because no doubt, that is exactly what it is...there is no glossing it up...Guess we both have to rely on God, to give us the best advice, as how to cope with it...
Janet, funny story about your sewing - cartoon transfer...guessing daughter never found out the problems you had....

Liz, so nice to meet you, we haven't yet met.. You do have a lively kitty, not sure I would be in too much of a playful mood if kitty or my dog Toby was looking to play with me through the night....
Agree, it is all in the hands of our God, in watching over things..

We have yet to see any snow here in UK, think they had a little a week ago, but more up in the north...we seem to be getting a fare share of rain now...

Larry Hanna, sounds like you have picked a winner with your chosen Mayor vote...

Carol, let us hope and pray, May's medical appointments will be the be all and end all for the rest of this year....

Thank you for the Birthday wishes.  We went out for an early dinner to a place called Coney Station in  Coos Bay.  The steaks were outrageous sko we decided to have burgers instead. We had a humongous Mushroom burger that must have been at least 600-700 calories each plus the fries. We both ate too much and washed it down with a glass local beer.

So today I ahve been cathing nup on a few image that I had to create, went to the gym and have walked Freckles a couple of times anda bout about to take another walk with her while it isn't raining. Tomorrow i must  make arrangements to visit my new hospice patient.  I got her paperwork on Monday so I need to get over there and there is a Furry friends board meeting that I want to attend.

Hi everyone.  We had a very rainy evening with some lightning and thunder.  Right now it is 54 degrees and headed up to 73 this afternoon and there is only a 20% chance of more rain today.  We did get the items done yesterday that I mentioned including voting.  Our friend from Church was elected mayor and received just about twice as many votes as his opponent.  There were around 2,500 people in this small town that voted.  This morning Pat has PT at eleven and I will go to dinner at the Church tonight.  Our granddaughter said she wanted to attend this week so added her to the count and she and our son will come out to the house afterwards. 

Marilyn, sorry I missed knowing it was your birthday a couple of days ago.  So a belated Happy Birthday.  It sounds like you will be busy again with the new Hospice patient and your duties with the Furry Friends. 

Jackie, Janet wrote a wonderful book on Beth's battle with the Neurofibromatosis that began when she was 9 years old (if I remember correctly on the age) and it was written before the diagnosis of the MS.  She is a fine writer as well as an outstanding artist.  I think we make our lives happier, even with medical problems that will never be solved, by keeping as good an attitude as we can and trying our best to enjoy each day as we live it.  At least that is the way I try to live my life.  I know that sometimes this is easier to say than to do but it is worth the effort.  Maybe you will get through the winter without snow.  We had only a few minutes with a very light snow that didn't even stay on the ground. 

Jeanne, sure hope you were spared the bad weather. 

Marilyn, you have all year to get rid of those 600 - 700 calories...you can do it...  
Glad your Birthday went to plan...it is there purely to enjoy...

Larry Hanna, not much we can do about an illness - disease, that is here to stay...

We could still get some snow before our Winter is out, it wouldn't be the first to even have some Easter, it has happened in the past...

I got myself out of the front door, a tad of a struggle getting my walker down three large concrete outside steps, but I managed it by myself...just took a short downhill walk, talked to a neighbour near to the bottom of the slope for quite some while, sure makes a difference having someone to talk to...

Well, I think I will never get accustomed to this sensitive touch pad on my computer.

I had a complete post written and signed off.  Then, I tried to bold and increase the font size, and POOF!!! Everything went away.

God bless us all, I pray.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is a bright clear morning here in South Carolina and we are headed to 53 degrees today.  I have to have my car at the dealer for an oil change at 10:15 and want to get a haircut this morning so will be brief today.   

I know I wrote a post here yesterday but someway it didn't get posted but nothing was missed by not having it here. 

Ruth Ann, do you use the touch pad in lieu of the mouse?

Jackie, nice to see you were able to get outside a couple of days ago and enjoy a visit with a neighbor.

Hello from the Southern Oregon Coast. The sun keeps coming and going here, I dixd take freckles out for a walk and it was misting on us, Now the sun is out once again.
Not much new here, We went out to dinner last night in stead of tonight with the usual group of Keith's High school friends.

Tomorrow the Furry friends group is  hosting the Canine Good Citizens testing in the mall for the public to get their dogs tested, we will also be promoting the Furry Friend Therapy Dog organization. All of our dogs have to pass this testing before they can become Therapy Dogs. Freckles won't get to participate this time as one of the friendly dogs to go into the ring and walk around  with me to test the friendliness of the dog being tested. But I will be part of  a crowd of people going into the ring to see how the dog will react to a lot of people being in the same space as the dog and it's handler. The dog being tested will  have to demonstrate that  it can obey the 7 basic commands  at the owners request. Sit, stay, heel, down, off , no, come. Plus the Sit stay, and the down stay while the handler walks away.

Not much been happening in my corner of the world these last couple of days....I have not ventured outside my door as my nerves through my body have been a tad more lively, making my walking not so good...

Ruth Ann, isn't it frustrating when we have a large written post that then disappears into oblivion, never to be seen again...

Larry Hanna, the upkeep of a car can be time consuming and pricey....I can still legally drive but I got rid of my car before we moved...

Marilyn, that sounds very much the same as what we call " The Kennel Clubs Good Citizen " dog training scheme....at the end if they pass they go up a class until they pass and receive their bronze, silver and gold certificate awards...

We have a new photo challenge starting today that will be open for entries for the next two weeks.  Plenty of time to get those cameras going!     Check it out HERE

I have posted 4 pictures, this is the first time in a very loing time that I have  posted anything in  the contests.

Hi, friends,

Here I come, trying to get another post together.

Larry, I much prefer the  mouse. Before the computer had to be reformatted last summer, I had a little file that, upon start up, gave me the choice of which to use: mouse or pad.  That went away in the computer re-do.  Also, there was a way I could "tell" the computer that I preferred the mouse and block the pad. Now, the pad is overly sensitive, and I'm continually losing all of my input.  It's most distressing.

Jacqueline, thanks for the empathy.  Yes, I'm frustrated right now.

Marilyn, I enjoy "listening" to your reports about you and Freckles.

Thanks, Jeanne, for setting up the new photo challenge, and thanks, Marilyn, for participating. I will be going to see the photos in a little while.

Well, it is time to try to post.  Wish me luck!

Hi everyone on a beautiful, clear 53 degree morning and we are headed into the mid-70's this afternoon with zero chance of rain.  After about two weeks I felt much better yesterday and am hoping for several days more like it.  I did get the oil changed in my car, then stopped and filled the gas tank at COSTCO and then got a haircut.  I then made a fast stop at the ATM at the Credit Union.  I told Pat I wanted to eat out last evening so we went to our favorite BBQ restaurant.  Pat had the half chicken and raved about it.  I stayed with he pulled pork sandwich.  Today should be a pretty light day as plan on staying home.  I hope to work on my income taxes this morning when I finish with the message boards.  I read my email and devotionals, as well as all the new postings since yesterday, before I got out of bed and have everything ready except beating the egg for Pat's scrambled eggs.  I expect her to sleep late this morning as she stayed up very late last night.  Today my only great granddaughter becomes a teenager.  So now I have two of my four great grandchildren that are teenagers. 

Marilyn, hope you enjoy the Furry friends group and the testing of the dogs.  Do the dogs, once passed, ever have to recertify? 

Jackie, I hope today finds your nerves settled down so you can walk more easily.  I felt lucky yesterday that my car past the tests and only needed the oil change.  However, they indicated it won't be long before I need new brakes.  However, I won't have that done at the dealer as that is not a warranty item.

Jeanne, I did look at the new photo challenge and will look for somethings to photograph although I am really not a photographer. 

Ruth Ann, to solve your problem with the touch pad take an old credit card or some heavy cardboard so several file cards and take them over the touch pad.  This prevents those skips because we lightly touch the touch pad as we are working.  I have that on my laptop and have used it on several others as well as giving this suggestion to several other people.   On my current laptop I took maybe a half dozen or so file cards and cut them down to the size I wanted, then taped them to keep them together and then just taped down the two end on the computer itself with magic tape.  I can easily removed them if needed or just pull up one side to get to the touch pad.  I have always preferred using the mouse.

Here, north of Albany, we again got only the edge of the storm - about 4 inches accumulation.  But the next one looks like we'll get more of it, starting later today and lasting until Monday.  Oh well.  I guess we're overdue.   

Jackie the testing is absolutely the same. It is also the same testing they use for the show dogs for training to go into the ring.

I t all went well at the testingv we had several dogs come in to be tested  only 3 failed.

I had music practice last night and will be singing the special tomorrow.

Hi everyone.  While the morning starts for me at about 63 degrees we will be close to 80 before the day is over.  Pat and I will attend Sunday School and Church, get something to eat, come home and rest and then go back to the Church this evening for the Valentine's Banquet put on for Seniors by the young people of the Church.  We attended last year and it was delightful.  I did stay home all day yesterday and did get my tax information together except for one document that should be here later this month.  Yesterday afternoon I fixed cole slaw for dinner using a sour cream dressing recipe from Bobby Flay of the Food Network.  It turned out well.

Jeanne, I hope you won't be covered over by snow by this time tomorrow.

Marilyn, sound like a successful dog testing event.  I hope you enjoy singing your solo at Church this morning.

Larry Hanna, wishing you the very best on your special day....Happy Birthday...

Hi everyone.  It is going to be another beautiful day here going up to about 68 degrees this afternoon and zero chance of rain.

We had a delightful time last night at the Valentine's Banquet at the Church for we Seniors.  The tables were nicely decorated and we had name cards at our designated table.  As you checked in a young person directed us to our assigned table.  We were served with a delicious lasagna, salad and bread meal topped off with a nice slice of cheesecake.  Then the young people presented a nice program of Praise Music, interpretative and tap dance numbers, corny jokes and the highlight was a video called Car Karaoke that one youth made with several members of the senior group.  It was clips of these individuals in a car with the young man who was one of the MC's of the program.  The group included his grandfather who was a riot and really didn't seem to be able to carry a tune. 

The only down side to the evening was as we arrived one of the ladies had fallen outside the church entrance and hit her head on the pavement.  The ambulance was called and took her to the hospital.  I spoke briefly with the minister as we left last night and he said she had been admitted to the ICU for observation because of hitting her head. 

My schedule is light today as just plan on attending my Monday noon meeting and if I have the energy will stop at the Men's Warehouse to look for a sports coat that would look nice and be appropriate to wear to church.

Jackie and Marilyn, thanks for the Birthday Wishes.  It was a fine birthday and had several calls and ecards yesterday plus some cards earlier in the week. 

It looks like the storm is about over - for now.  The predicted 6 to 15 inch accumulation turned out to be about 7 inches.  That should mean there won't be much problem with the roads for tomorrow afternoon.  I may just be able to keep one appointment.  Wednesday doesn't look too hopeful, though.  That appointment has already been changed three times. 

Yup!  Winter in the north of New York State.   

My solo at church yesterday went very well. I was even able to get enough air in my lungs to hit that long very high note at the end,  surprised myself. i got lots of compliments that too surprised me, nut it was all about praising the Lord and He helped me hit all the notes perfectly. This is the one I sang.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8tEaiUMu98

Hi, friends,

Yes, Larry, thank you for the information about a workaround for the touch pad. I'm trying it now.

Marilyn, that song has been a favorite of mine for quite a long time.

I noticed on Facebook that there was a picture of Janet and hubby in a sidewalk cafe in Croatia.

Well, I will go for the evening.

Y'all have a wonderful evening.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone on this Valentine's Day.  We should get to the mid 70's today with no rain.

Yesterday was a pretty uneventful day.  I did attend my meeting and then stopped at Men's Warehouse but didn't buy anything as their sales are on the weekends.  I am simply not going to pay well over $300 for a sport coat. There was an Atlanta Bread Company near where I stopped so I went in and bought a loaf of French bread.  It is the biggest loaf of bread I have ever purchased and will share half of it with Scott and Jennifer tomorrow afternoon. 

Nothing on the schedule for today unless we go out to have our big meal to celebrate Valentine's Day.  I doubt that Pat will want to do that since we will be going to a nice restaurant tomorrow afternoon to celebrate my Birthday a few days late. 

Jeanne, I hope they have your roads open today and you are able to get to your appointment.  My great grandchildren live in Lake Luzerne, which I understand is not far from Albany, New York.   

Marilyn, glad your solo went well and you were pleased with your talent usage for the glory of God. 

Ruth Ann, I hope that work around solves that problem you were having.  We don't think we touch that touch pad but it is hard not to do so when we are typing. 

Larry, it doesn't take long for the roads to get cleared once it stops snowing, so that was no problem today.  I did get to the doctor'a appointment.  Now tomorrow may be another story.   

Lake Luzerne is just across the river (the Hudson) from me - in fact that's where my pharmacy is, - just 6 miles from my house.  Both Lake Luzerne and Corinth are about 50 miles north of Albany.

From Dr. David Jeremiah.

Cracked Pots

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
2 Corinthians 4:7


Recommended Reading
2 Corinthians 4:1-9

Everyone knows what it's like to be disappointed by someone we love or admire. Our husbands, wives, children, or parents sometimes let us down. Our heroes stumble. Our leaders falter. It can devastate us and damage our relationships because we place high expectations on those we love. Sometimes we forget they are broken people just like we are.

According to 2 Corinthians 4:7, we are all earthen vessels, jugs of clay, easily chipped. The Voice translates 2 Corinthians 4:7 like this: "But this beautiful treasure (the Gospel) is contained in us—cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us."

God blesses us cracked pots in spite of our sinful, undeserving nature; and high on His list of blessings is forgiveness. As we look to Him alone, He gives us grace (He imparts a million blessings we don't deserve) and mercy (He withholds a million judgments we do deserve).

If He gives grace and mercy to cracked pots like us, perhaps we need to extend the same to those we love.


"Let us make sure that we are not so hard on others because if the shoe were on the other foot, we would want someone to understand our circumstances and help us to redeem ourselves."
Jesse R. Watson, Jr., in Morning Coffee

Hi everyone on a dark, cloudy morning here in South Carolina with a very high chance of rain today.  We stayed in all day yesterday and it was a beautiful day but today Pat has PT this morning at eleven and we plan on going to the Chop House to complete celebrating my birthday.  It is becoming a new tradition to go to this nice restaurant to celebrate birthdays and special occasions.  Since we will be eating a big meal in the middle of the afternoon we will not be going to the Wednesday night dinner at church. 

Jeanne, I was happy to see that the roads were OK and you were able to get to your appointment yesterday.  I did see that there is now a third snowstorm headed to the NE.  You do live close to my great grandchildren.  Thanks for the information you provided on your area.