Christian Photographers Community

Birthdays mark the entrance into this world of those celebrating the day.  I thank our Lord, Jane, for sending you!

On the other hand, though, I wasn't aware you were engaging in the admission of aging data.

Aaaawwww AL ... Thanks (I think )  Aging is a wonderful thing .... I can't wait for it to happen for me!   

Hi everyone.  I will post early today as have another busy day planned (at least busy for me).

After coffee we will go to the church for our weekly Bible Study.  We are still studying the Book of Revelations but are about to finish.  I don't think this has been the study that our minister has really enjoyed but he has humored us.  Personally I think it is important to study this book but as any others.

This afternoon the air conditioning man will be here most of the afternoon.

This is also the day that our housekeeper is coming.  She was scheduled for Monday but had a little medical upset and wasn't able to come on Monday.  The yard was mowed and tended to on Monday so things will be in good shape for a couple of weeks by the end of the day.

We are not having choir practice this evening.  We are singing an anthem on Sunday that we have been practicing and our choir director, who is also a middle school teacher, needed to get away for a few days during spring break here for our schools.

Ruth Ann, there are still a lot kind and considerate people in this world.  Glad you found folks to help you.  I sometimes wonder who these stores are able to keep their doors open with the fewer and fewer employees they have.  I went to Lowe's this week for a couple of things and there was just no one around to help you. 

Looking forward to a great day and hope it is for you as well.

April and May are turning out to be really active months for us.  My only problem right now is to keep the dates straight & remember what is happening at which hour.   

Jane:  It seems you have found the real fountain of youth!   

Larry:  Trail Ridge Road would be too high for many people.  Our much younger niece in Albuquerque is having chest pains again - after having two heart attacks.  Her sister & BIL are driving from Fort Worth to pack her house & move her to FW .  We have been so concerned but not sure we could pack a two level house to help at all.  Something good always happens.

Ruth Ann:  It seems as though there is always an angel around us - pointing out to people what they can do to help. 

Company has gone and we cleaned most of our carpet area yesterday. Today, I take my sewing machine in for an update on something.   Also, a lesson at the same time.  Planning the Easter menu & everyone is pitching in - the grands are getting older but I bet they still want to do the egg hunt. 

Carol

Quote from: karmat on April 03, 2007, 09:35:50 PM
... I'm trying to "encourage" Bernard to work on our taxes (hey, we still have our Christmas tree up, the fact that we haven't done our taxes yet shouldn't be a huge surprise) without being "naggy," but naggy is my next step.

I think she forgets that I read this stuff, ya reckon   Or maybe that's the whole idea.  What Christmas tree?  That's an evergreen, woman, which means it is currently an EASTER TREE!!!!!

'Guys and Dolls' was great.  I love the shows when they dance, sing and act.  Great evening.  I drove and I am glad since it was raining.  Otherwise I might have had to keep my eyes shut.  I trust my own driving a lot better than others driving....   The next show is 'Wizard of Oz'.

I bought me an umbrella and stand for my bistro table yesterday.  Of course, as soon as I got home, I put it in the table.  All was well.  Then we got high wind and rain.  I looked out and the table, umbrella and stand was tipped over on the railing of the deck.  I uprighted it.  It hadn't been out there two hours!! 

I got up this morning and looked out my window to the north.  No umbrella.  I looked to the east...no umbrella or table or stand!  Then I noticed it was on the ground by the steps.  The strong winds last night caused my table, stand and umbrella to move about 15 feet before falling down the steps.  And it is soooooo cold this morning.  Right now only 29°F.  But the stand and table are back where they are supposed to be.  The umbrella is inside in a corner.  I think I need to get a bungy to tie the umbrella closed.  The wind opens it enough to make it like a kite!! 

I am off to IU this afternoon.  Walter is only going to have one hour session instead of two hours.  So I should be home an hour earlier tonight. 

The month of April is really busy for me...at least the first 2½ weeks. 
Maybe that will mean that May will be easy!!

It's a cooler day here in Nashville. And, after a rainy, stormy night, the sun is shining brightly.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Be-lated Happy Birthday, Jane.  I didn't get here yest. so was not aware it was your BIG day.  How old now.....?  Wish you were visiting the island this year...would find a way to get together.  Last year was kind of a bad year.

Monday, Billy Bob, the cat who comes to dine, tried to dart out under the garage door when it was closing.  Got caught before I could make it stop, and we spent the day worrying.  My daughter went over to their home and asked if he was okay.  Seems like....while we were fussing and worrying, he was asleep on the bed.  CATS   Was happy to learn that they have bought a large piece of land and are building a new house.  So he will have room to roam.

I went to Vict. yest. to shop.  Sr. Day at the malls.  Got a couple of things, plus a pretty jacket, which turned out to be a tad to large for me.  Wendy liked it and it looks great on her, so she got an early Birthday Present.  Was a great deal, 40% off, plus my 15% sr. discount.  Of course, it was an even better price for her!!!

Must go and check on the latest news regarding pet food.  Then tackle a large pile of ironing, get dinner for Amanda, since the kids are off to a hockey game in Victoria today.  Cold outside......I wonder if we will ever have warm, dry weather again.  The Easter Bunny is going to leave lots of wet tracks.

I pray for all the needs.  Not given to expounding about it....simply pray.

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

Nards...........just stick a few plastic eggs in that tree and she will get the message! 

Ruth Ann, I'll just bet those people who stopped to help you went away smiling and feeling so good about what they did, because I just know that you expressed your appreciation in such a sweet way. 

We bought me a new printer yesterday.  I guess I killed mine, by pulling out a jammed piece of paper from the front.  After it started acting crazy, I went to their website and it says to NEVER pull out jammed paper from the front!     Like, who wouldn't?  After all, that's where you see it!  Who would think to unhook everything, take the back cover off and pull it out from the back?  GRRRRR.  So, when I get the new one installed (or Darrel does) I should be back in business, thanks to a very kind person here who called to give me some instructions!  Thanks SO much.

It has turned cool here again, frost is predicted  and even snow for tonight/tomorrow.  Wahhhh!!!  I am praying it doesn't freeze and kill all our fruit. 

Liz, sorry the jacket didn't fit you, but your loss is Wendy's gain this time.  I bought a cute little jacket recently that is too small for me, so I am hoping daughter Kerri can wear it.

It is time to get ready and leave for church.  We worked hard all day and I'm tired, but will go anyway.

See you tomorrow, kids. 

Quote from: Liz on April 04, 2007, 04:37:24 PM
Be-lated Happy Birthday, Jane.  I didn't get here yest. so was not aware it was your BIG day.  How old now.....?  Wish you were visiting the island this year...would find a way to get together.  Last year was kind of a bad year.

Liz

Thanks, Liz ... Yesterday I celebrated the 72nd anniversary of my birthday ...  Now, that's not old, is it? 

Both my daughters have April birthdays too ... Dot's is the 11th and Joy's is the 21st.  Looks like we've got this month all sewed up. 

I doubt if I am going to be doing much long distance visiting for a while.  I love the island and would really enjoy a get together with you but........ 

Etta Sue you asked about our family reunion.... They had it in or near Chicago last time and, there were not many showed up.  I guess the travel and all just gets too difficult these daze.  I haven't even heard mention of when or if there'll be another.

My high school class is having our 55 year reunion in Marin County (where we went to school) in mid September.  I am thinking about trying for that one since we are losing classmates all the time lately.  We had a huge graduating class and I have never cared about attending any of the "mini-reunions" they've had in the past 15 years but I made it three years ago and again last year, after learning of the death of a couple of my good friends and the cancer battle of another one.  I decided I should try to at least stay in touch while we can all still share a smile and a few memories.  Life is really short when you stop to think about it.

good evening!!!  i may just take the Christmas decorations down and hang plastic eggs on the tree.  'kay, Bernard? good idea, janet.

just running through.  it's like 3 am here, and i really need to go back to bed.  I laid down with kristi to help her go to sleep and left the computer on, so i got up to cut it off, and here i sit.

night night

oh yea, Bernard has heart surgery next wednesday (4/11).

Good morning, friends,

The sun is shining in the windows on this cold morning in Tennessee. I'm so thankful that my heaters still work. It's an old house, but where I've lived for the last 40 years.

Y'all have a good day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It is 37 degrees here in Georgia this morning. 

I am writing from the Saturn dealer where I brought the car to get the oil changed.  After about another 8,000 miles I will have to have the 100,000 service done and that is big bucks.  Fortunately that will be several months or a year down the road.  We don't plan any long road trips.  They have a wireless system here and I brought my own laptop with me.

After I leave Saturn I will stop by where I bought tires and see if they have time to rotate them.  When I get that done the car maintenance should be done for awhile.  The air conditioning man came yesterday and had to replace the contact box that controls the opening and closing of the valves or something like that on the heat pump.  They had carbon on them and weren't opening as they should.  The squeal we had heard was from a release valve that opens if the pressure gets too strong, which was the case when the contacts didn't release.  He also serviced the main air conditioning unit so should be all set for summer.

Karmat, I am sure you both are not looking forward to next Wednesday and this will be a long week of waiting.  I always dread the waiting and am glad when the day arrives so I can get things like this behind me and begin the recovery process.  It sounds like Nards can look forward to feeling much better.

Janet, what kind of a printer did you get?  Paper jams used to be much more common than they seem to be today. 

Etta Sue, sounds like you might want to take that umbrella down when you are not using it especially if unsettled weather is anticipated.  Glad you didn't lose your new umbrella.

Good to see everyone posting today. 

Brrrrr! Cold here in Indiana and windy.  If I still had the umbrella outside and decided to bring it in, I might have to change my name to Mary Poppins!!  And did I mention that it has been snowing yesterday and today?  No accumulation but you can see it in the air.  Little bitty tiny snow flakes but still snow flakes!! 

I got my mammogram and then Ivalou and I went to Kokomo.  We had lunch at a Chinese Buffet and walked around Hobby Lobby until it was time to go to the Art Association place.  The photography guild that I belong to got several firsts and seconds and honorable mentions but not Kitty or me.  We just got hung....   But all the pictures were wonderful and the winners deserved to be winners.  Now I can't wait to bring mine back home and hang my pelican in the living room.  I really like that guy! 

I am ready to call it a day and snuggle under the afghan I am crocheting and watch some TV.  Did I mention it was cold in Indiana?

 Hi, guys.  I think my hubby is getting spoiled.  I have spent most of my time this week helping him.  I really don't mind, but wish the cleaning fairies had chosen to visit my house while I was helping him.  Today we saw the orthopedic man again; he said the MRI shows a partial tear of Darrel's left rotator cuff, but he is reluctant to do the surgery yet.  He put another injection in the shoulder, and recommended further therapy.  If it continues to worsen, he will have to look at it with a scope and determine if the surgery would be the way to go.  He said they always complete the tear before doing the repair.     Sounds strange to me.

Yep, cold here in Kansas, too.    On tonight's news, Wichita was having a real blizzard.  Goodness, and I thought it was Spring!

Etta Sue, where did you get that nice picture of me?     Only, my kitty doesn't sit on the piano and sing with me.

Ruth Ann, glad you are staying warm.  Hope to talk to you again soon. 

I'm going to have to work hard tomorrow to have things in shape for company on Sunday!  Wish I had some help.  Well, I believe Darrel will help with the cooking, that is a blessing.

Karma and Nards, prayers continue.  God knows Nards' every need, and He will be the One in charge next Wednesday.  Any heart surgery is scary, but I hope knowing we are all praying for you will bring a measure of comfort.  (((((hugs)))))

Hi y-allI am still busy with the costumes, I have 6 completed and 3 more to go plus the long purple sash for the Jesus costume.   Hello to everyone.

TTYL

Hi Marilyn.  Happy sewing!!  I was thinking about you this morning and wondered how it was going. 

Here is the email update I sent to some friends of ours --

Bernard's MRI on Monday was completely normal, and he does indeed have a brain.    No tumors, no strokes, no MS.  YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We met today with Dr. Alan Johnson of Asheville Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.  As far as heart surgeries go, this is the easiest, most simple kind.  That is good.  His surgery will start around 11 and he should be finished around 2 and in an ICU room around 3.  The actual surgery on the heart only takes about 15 minutes.  The rest of it is getting Bernard to sleep and prepped for the surgery (I'll spare you the details, yuck.  I'm so glad God didn't call me into medicine).  He will be in ICU over night, then a regular room for 2 or 3 days, then home to recuperate for a couple of weeks.  The most difficult part (according to Dr. Johnson and all other open heart patients I've talked to) is waiting for the sternum and ribs to heal.  Apparently, that is a pretty painful little mess in there.  Bernard is ready to do this and amazingly calm.  I am to, on the outside. <grin>

So, Monday we go to Mission Hospital for pre-OP, Tuesday is a lovely day spent at Asheville Cardiology doing a catheterization, and Wednesday, bright and early, we will go to the hospital for the big day.

Thanks for remembering us, and I'll keep you updated as we go.

Oh yea, some have asked for specific ways to pray.  Obviously, as God leads is cool, too.

1.  Travis and Kristi to not be too completely whigged out by the whole thing.  We are explaining bits and pieces to Trav, and Kristi is happily oblivious to the whole thing, for now.
2.  The doctors.  I know some of Bernard's docs are Christians, but I do not know about all of them.  My prayer is that something we do or say or are plants a seed or waters a seed that has been planted.
3.  That Bernard wake up from the surgery. 
4.  A quick and speedy recovery.

In Him,
Karma

So, such is life. 

It is cold here.  No snow, but I had to put the winter coats on the kids today.    The wind was very nippy.  Tomorrow is going to be a relaxed day, I think.  Bernard had mentioned only working part of the day, then coming home and spending some time with the kids.  I hope he does.  Starting Monday life is going to get very stressful and I want him to be as rested as possible.

Thank you so much for your prayers.  I simply cannot find the words to express how much they mean to Bernard and me.

Quote from: Janet on April 05, 2007, 09:46:51 PM
Hi, guys.  I think my hubby is getting spoiled.  I have spent most of my time this week helping him.  I really don't mind, but wish the cleaning fairies had chosen to visit my house while I was helping him. 

I think Karma feels somewhat the same about me, Janet.  I'm wearing her out   But she's a sweetheart about it...

Good morning, all of you.  Have a great day!

Nard

  I don't mind.  Really.  I think it is in my "wife contract" or something. 

I will, however, be glad when it (the surgery) is over, though.

It's funny.  Even though I don't work full time, I love Fridays.  I think it was from all the years I spent in a school environment.

Soooooo Happy Good Friday to you!!!!

Hi everyone. 

Nards, I have had my chest opened twice and there really was not a lot of pain as there are few nerves in that area of the chest.  You just have to be careful for a couple of months that you let the bones reheal and on your x-rays for the rest of your life you will see the wires they use to bring the ribs and sternum back together.  I did not have the same procedure to the heart that you are but I guess the entry is about the same except they will probably have to do more than access the arteries around the heart as they do with bypass surgery.  I have a feeling that within a few days after the procedure you will be feeling so much better that you will think you are a new person.  You are a man of strong faith and I found that was so helpful to me as I prepared for the surgeries.  I really think it is sometimes harder on our loved ones than on us as we get to sleep through these things.  Karmat, my wife still remembers her shock at seeing me in ICU and thinking I looked like I was about to die as I was very pale and was on a resprirator for a little while.  Just don't be shocked at how he may look as that is apparently very normal.  Recovery is also a great time to get some of that rest that you haven't had the time for before.

Etta Sue, it is 39 degrees here this morning and they are saying that on Easter morning it will be 26 degrees.  That is not going to be good for the flowering trees, flowers and plants.  Glad you enjoyed the show.

Marilyn, it sounds like you are about to finish the project with the costumes.

Janet, glad that Darrel will not be facing surgery, at least now, but it sounds like he is in for more pain for awhile.

Guess I had better get busy on some other projects.

Karma and Nards ~ You know my prayers are with you and my heart aches for all you are going through and will be going through.  Good news that his surgical procedure is the easiest and the most simple kind.  Easy for a heart surgeon to say.   When it is for one of your loved ones, it is scary!  Just love each other and try to do something this weekend together that keeps your mind away from next week.  Love yous all! 

Janet ~ My heart goes out to you and Darrel.  All I am going to tell you is stop....relax...rest.  You tend to go around like a whirlwind.  Slow down, take a deep breath and enjoy life...which I know you do or you wouldn't do all you do.   

Marilyn ~ Glad you are on the downside with your sewing.  You are over halfway done.  You will get them done since you don't have to work outside the house on Saturdays now.

Larry ~ When I got up this morning everything was frosted over.  It is only 31°F now.  I walked out to get the paper and at least the wind has died down.  Not bad out really.  Bright and sunny and my solar heat is running as I am typing.

Nothing going on for me today in Indiana but Good Friday Service at Ivalou's little church this evening.  I am looking forward to that. 

Everyone have a good Good Friday! 

Larry - it's not supposed to get that cold in Atlanta!  It doesn't even get that cold here, and we're considerably north of you.  I hope not too much of the fruit crop is ruined.

Bernard - I pray our Lord will guide the surgeon's hands and give them wisdom and insight to take care of you.  It's really our Lord taking care of you, and you couldn't get better care than that!  And I pray for Karma and the kids too, that they will bear up and receive needed strength duiring this time.

I had one doctor recommend triple bypass surgery for me about 6 years ago.  I'm thankful it wasn't done.  That doctor has since been kicked out of the profession and sued with a class-action suit for unnecessarily operating on many people over several years.  I know your docs are bettelr lthan that, but they still need our Father's guidance, and I pray for it.

Please all continue to pray for our Pat - she's been under the weather for several months now, still needs to get strength and energy back.  Our God is able.

Etta Sue dress rehearsal is Saturday at 1:30 I have to get them all done today. Not a hard task just put ting my mind to it and doing it. I will still take the dogs for their walks first though to get that out of the way. I am also ironing all the costumes as I go along.

Karma, thanks for the additional information about Bernard's surgery.  And having Larry to reassure you is a big help, I'm sure.  As Larry said, once that hole is "patched" and the blood is going where it should, you may just have a new man around there, so full of energy you will all be amazed.  Prayers continue.

Larry, my printer is an HP, and this morning, I fixed it!  HA!!  Imagine that!  So we have a new Canon printer on hand for a spare.  I was afraid to try to fix it, until I had another one on hand.  Darrel did the same thing to his a while back, so now he can fix that one, too.  And the bonus is, my desk got cleaned off. 

Marilyn, I hope you enjoy sewing.  I'm surprised nobody else volunteered to help make the costumes.  Pat and I were going to make the Christmas costumes for our church, but then they decided they weren't going to use costumes this time (Last Christmas, that is.)  I hope you haven't been too stressed about the job.

I have gotten a lot done already today, just stopped to check email and check in here, now must get back to it.  I need to call Beth and see if she wants to go to church with us tomorrow or go at the Home.

Hi, Etta Sue!  Want to come over for Easter dinner?  We're having turkey and all that goes with it.

I better get with it!

Quote from: mybcjazz on April 02, 2007, 09:58:35 PM
I pray that everyone is having a blessed Passover Week.

In His Grip,
Kevin

I love this Kevin!  How appropriate!  Thank you so much!

Good morning, friends,

I attended Maundy Thursday worship with my friends from a large, formal-style church. It was very sobering to go through the service with the appropriate Bible readings and prayers and then to watch as the lights dimmed and they literally "undressed" the sanctuary. Removing all goblets, table coverings, etc. At the end, the ministers also removed their colorful shawls, folded them and stood in silence in their black robes as the senior pastor walked to the podium where Bible readings are done, picked up the large Bible, held it aloft and shut it with a thunderous clap while the choir, out of sight, sang "What Wondrous Love Is This."

That large auditorium was totally silent during that part of the ceremony. I left feeling just a bit of the weight of my sins that had been placed on Jesus that night in Gethsemane as he prepared for the coming hours.

I'm so thankful to have gone.

My son and I will be in Atlanta tomorrow and Sunday, returning that evening so I can get to the doctor early Monday to have the stitches removed.

Y'all have a good weekend. Much love to all, and still praying for requests.

Ruth Ann

Larry - Thanks for the "insiders" viewpoint   To the rest of you, thanks so much for your prayers. 

HAPPY EASTER everyone!

Thanks Colin for that lovely poem.  Those words are so special.


Thanks for the prayers, Al.  They mean a lot. 


I will be praying on Wednesday for you Bernard and for you too, Karma as your job of waiting is very difficult. 


Hello to you all.  It's been snowing here all day and blowing a blizzard.

Janet no one else volunteered to do the costumes. I wasn't going to until I found out that no one else would.  Someone else  took time out of her busy schedule to cut them all out for me and I sewed them all up. I am finished now, they are all ironed and hung waiting to be delivered tomorrow for the dress rehersal.I will be doing laundry tomorrow after i come back from Curves. I have already been there 5 days this week.

TTYL