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This week's promise: Blessings come from obeying God

What does God promise to those who obey?

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3 NLT




Morning Devotional...

Great devotional today, Judy.  And thanks for the hymn, one of my favorites.   ;)

Yes, Judy, thanks for the devotional for this week.  That is one of the hymns my mother had me memorize when I was a kid.   :thumbsup:

I also learned Trust and Obey as a child, still know all the words.  I wish memorization and retention was as easy now!

We were invited to Diane's for the noon meal today.  On the way home, bout 3 o'clock, we watched the temperature on the dash climb up to 110*!!  THAT IS HOT!!   :'(    (That is sweat, not tears!)  Oh, my....and this is still June--July and August are still to come!  Please, Lord, send the rain!

Pastor preached this morning on how complaining makes our lives so much less enjoyable, and becomes a habit.....so the above isn't a complaint!  ;) ;)

I am waiting anxiously for the next update from Africa; should be here tonight.

According to Marilyn's description, Hawaii is front-wheel drive.  Kaye Don and I looked under the hood the other day and he showed me where to check the oil.  I said...that's not my job.  That's the job of where I take my car to be maintenanced!  He laughed.  But it was in the middle in front.  And the motor sure is shiny and silver looking!  Looks like a new motor!   :roflBig:

And the window sticker is the paper that was stuck on the window that tells all about the car...motor, color, standard options and other options.  I wish I had that sticker.  For instance, the manual says I may have heated side mirrors.  I don't know and won't know until winter now!  I brought the manual in last night but haven't gotten to Bluetooth yet.  I will and I know I can do it...get it working with my Droid.

Church was great yesterday and I used my Hamburger Speaker in Sunday School.  It wasn't as loud as I thought it would be so I am charging it now.  It plugs into my USB port to charge.  Handy. 

Ivalou and I went to a 90th birthday party for a woman that I have known all of my life.  She fell in the middle of the night a few weeks back and broke her arm but otherwise, she looks great sporting her shocking pink cast!  Saw some people that I haven't seen in years!

All this time it looked like rain any second.

Then when I got home and caught up online, Inky and I took a nap.  When I woke up, the sun was bright and the sky had beautiful puffy white clouds!!  Great weather for a picnic.  Ivalou and I went to the picnic and what a great time for all.  Games for big kids and little kids.  A silent auction for kids, men and women.  I got to hold two little babies and put the youngest one to sleep!  And, of course, Clarksville Christian Church has great cookers!!  The food was superb!  We were home by 8pm. 

Today is rehab at 12:30pm and VBS tonight at 6pm.  I got to thinking...it has been 60 years since I have been to VBS!  It's about time, ya think?  Pray for lots of little ones attending and for all the volunteers.  We are a small church with not many children but we are hoping for 40 kids.

Hi everyone.  Just back from coffee.  This morning was our daughter's hearing before the Administrative Judge regarding her Disability claim.  By the time I got home she had called her mother to tell her that the judge had approved her disability on the spot.  What a relief.  This will now qualify her for low income housing and some other things and it certainly lifts a burden from us.  She initially applied for disability three years ago.  

Jeanne Lee, do hope your TV is fine.  We recently went through that experience and became afraid our's would burst into flames with the terrible noise it made when you turned it on.  We no longer have that TV.

Marilyn, I didn't realize that about the engine and front wheel drive but it certainly makes sense.  

Judy, thanks for the new devotional for this week.  When we built on a solid foundation of Jesus Christ we really don't have to worry about withstanding the storms of life to which we all are subjected from time to time.  That is also one of the hymns from my childhood and still a favorite.

Janet, that kind of temperature is just a fact not a complaint.  Hope you have a good report on Shirley's condition.

Etta Sue, I have the same attitude on who should open the hood of my car.  I don't know what I see when I do open it so why do it.  The new cars I have purchased will usually have the window sticker removed and placed in the glove box.  However, I expect you have checked that if you are reading the book about the car.  Hope you learn a lot at Bible School. 

Wow! So many things I learn here at CP. How to work with the internet setup of my laptop, how to determine whether my car is front wheel drive or not, etc.

God is so good to grant each of us knowledge and experience according to our own needs, and when one has a need, it seems He provides someone with the understanding of our problems.

HOW GREAT IS THAT!!!

Yesterday I had the most unexpected blessings poured down all over me. At lunch, someone suggested maybe I could give a ride to some event a friend wanted to attend, so I grinned and said, "Okay, where are we going?"

We ended up at a huge church where this friend got to attend (and I was privileged to be the "fly on the wall") at a reception honoring the Christian broadcaster, who through 31 years of selfless devotion to God and others and the priceless music that adores our Lord, my friend had been brought from a life of deep sin. She actually had the courage to stand and give her testimony to this in a room filled with contemporary and traditional Christian artists, broadcasters, radio executives, etc., and give that testimony. She had been unchurched and this music was played each day on a secular station that she had to hear over a broadcasting system.

So, for 26 years, she had been blessed by this man's deep love for our Lord and others.

She is vision challenged, so couldn't see people pulling handkerchiefs out to wipe their eyes, etc. When she finished with her clear, ringing testimony, spontaneously they stood and gave her an ovation. As she was speaking I heard someone behind me give a loud, "Praise the Lord" and this was in a church environment where quiet is the order of the day.

And different people stood and led us all in some of the great old songs of the church. IMAGINE the harmonies, and the pure joy of singing His praises in that group.

After he was honored, the M.C. encouraged folks to just enjoy talking for a while, and she whispered nervously, "We can go as SOON as you want to go." It was touching my heart so much to see these great performers enveloping this little lady in bear hugs, and coming to ask for her address so they can keep in touch.

NO, I was in noooooo hurry to leave.

It was kinda like rain on my dry parched ground as we drove away feeling how Wonderful Our Lord is.

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann how awesome it must be to live in Nashville Tn among those great  artists and to hear them sing and applaud your friends testimony. Oh how I would have loved tio be a fly on the wall at that meeting.

Etta Sue and Larry most of the newer cars are front wheel drive. even my '88 Chevy is front wheel drive. I have always checked my own oil, Tranny fluid and power steering fluid. Added if need be. I once installed a starter and solenoid in one of my trucks when I lived in the desert.

I am still waiting on solid news about Shirley.  Her husband called while I was at the Chiropractor's office this morning.  Darrel said Delbert said he had gotten word that Shirley had dislocated her hip; but he didn't know what happened, or if it was the atrificial hip or her other one.  And no email update as yet, so please just keep praying for her.  The divil will NOT win!

Ruth Ann, what a joy for you to get to be in that service!  Praise God!  That is just a tiny reward for your willingness to help out your friends.  A kiss thrown to you from Daddy God!  :)

I am trying to do some cleaning and organizing and if I don't get back to it, I will fall asleep on my keyboard.  I had another of 'those' nights.......

Today, as so many of my cousin's fellow professors, and 2 Christian college (now a university) presidents, and so many friends who loved her, I again marveled at God's love for us and how He simply knows our needs.

This well-loved saint's life of loving service to her Lord and to others was celebrated with sweet stories such as the church's Seniors Pastor (for whom I played as he sang God's praises many years ago) related how, as a student in a tiny Christian elementary school Jack first met my cousin Mabel. She was then a grad student with a speech major & literature minor. As they sat cross legged around her, they quickly noticed a little unconscious habit she had all her life, and they repeated this little "get ready to talk" habit when she came in the next time to try to teach these young ones to appreciate poetry. As she drew her breath, straightened her shoulders, and prepared to...unconsciously purse her lips together, she glanced at her mischievous students who in unison pursed THEIR lips together, and Mabel broke into giggles. When Mabel lived with us here in our apt. building for the last few years of her life, she attended this church, and gladly and willingly hugged her "Pastor Jack," who proudly stood and sang the last song, "How Great Thou Art." The loving teacher was also a humble, loving, respectful parishioner.

And her love for others now lasts and WILL last long after we shook hands, hugged each other, and left.

But, like the ole die-hard preacher's kid I am, I was close to the last one to exit and out of the corner of my left eye, I caught glimpse of a young man who said, "Ms. Bice..." and I turned to see who called my name. He and his wife have been called to missions and at the "fragile emotional time in our lives" he said, Mabel had prayed with them, loved them, and just when they would feel really low, a greeting card would arrive from Mabel with a handwritten note of encouragement. Ben said, "M'am, I don't know why, but I wonder if you could be our prayer partner now."

And we cried together as I related that my parent's great love for missions first funded a centrifuge (in lieu of flowers in my mother's memory) that went to the Hospital in New Guinea where they had hoped to finish their lives serving others. Mother was chief x-ray technician in a hospital. And, then in lieu of Daddy's flowers, the gifts helped fund a Work & Witness team to Thailand. And, of course, back in '73, gifts to the little church where my hubby and I worshipped, built a second story on our basement which held Sunday School rooms and was dedicated to my hubby's memory and the excess amount purchased our church's organ.

How did God work with 2 people who never met each other to hug (2 generations apart) and agree to pray together for missions as they move abroad with their 2 sons to serve Him???

More and more rains on my dry parched soul today.

 :)   I guess I can say good morning to all.  I have just gone through the post's and it is so good to read them all and Judy B. thanks for the devotional and the great old hymn and also a favourite of mine.

Larry:  It is so good to here that your daughter has been granted the disability and that will make such a difference in her life.   Hope that you and Pat ore o.k.

At this time I must go to sleep but will try to keep in touch sooner. :thumbsup:

Love to all in Christ.  Gordon and Noreen :cp:   


Happy birthday to Jeannine coming up. :hb2:       :hb3:

Larry, I was so happy to read that Stacey has FINALLY been approved for disability!  I hope that takes a lot of the financial pressure off both her and you and Pat.

Ruth Ann, what a lovely and touching report!  God bless you continually, you sweetheart!

I have been busy juggling appointments, as the hospital moved Beth's appointment from today to tomorrow.

I finally received an update from Eli, but not yet from Shirley.  He didn't mention her name, but I feel she must be okay, and wonder if the person they took to the hospital was her.  I will post the update below.

Date: Monday, June 27, 2011, 9:04 AM


Just got back from the other village run this last sunday...today is monday here! The beginning of the week was really trying. We had to take someone to the hospital and that was just really icky! Good news though is that they are all right and up and at 'em and ready to take on the rest of this mission trip. God has really showed healing in the midst of a lot of sickness. last week Tim was sick and a guy on our team named Chris contracted Malaria, and now we have a guy named Alex sick with some sort of parasite, may be Malaria or something else. Me and Tim are really mucusy and icky and Shelby and Wendy are ill as well. So it's a good thing that we are in the city for the rest of the week. We'll recuperate and get on with our lives...we have things to do and we're not going to let the enemy get us down. BUT!!! We are gonna get stronger before we go out into the middle of nowhere once again!

Had some pretty crazy things happen to us while we were out in the villages. Found out a witchdoctor was super ticked off at us for preaching against witchcraft, and apparently that got mad at us saying that 500 witchdoctors couldn't come against our God. Ha ha! 2 centipedes attacked me out of nowhere and a guinea worm came after us in our drinking water...good stuff... >.> Im fine though and I aint gon' let nature get me down...ha ha


i think i'll update later due to the fact that i'm bored....

He's bored?  ;D  Thanks for the latest from Eli, Janet. 

Ruth Ann, you continue to bring us such a beautiful testimony!  I pray our Heavenly Father continues to rain these wonderful blessings on you.  <3

That's exactly what I thought, Jeanne!  How could you possibly be BORED??  Kids!  Anyway, this just popped in from Shirley's daughter in law, and I was right.  Praise God!  When Shirley gets her update done and I get it, I will post it, as well.

Aunt Janet:

I heard back from Eli...Here is what he wrote:



Yeah she pulled out her hip and it was a really painful experience for her, but we took her to the hospital, got it put back in, and now she's up and at 'em. I think she's even said that it is better than before. I think we prayed a lot and she got healed. anyway, i didn't want to tell you too much due to her not wanting you guys to worry. she's going to email you sometime today, so i would just be expecting that. :) Don't worry about her, she's doing amazing right now...



Praise The Lord!!!! He told us just enough to make us worry..Silly boy!! But sounds like she is doing great now and even better than before...I can't wait to get an update from her..Sounds like they are in the city now for much needed rest and recouporation (sp?) I will send you undates as I get them..Have a good day..Leanne

VBS was great even though it was organized chaos!  No one seemed to know what they were doing.  There were only 27 kids but that was enough for the first night.  My old church, Park Chapel, had almost 250 kids...can't imagine that!!  By Friday evening, everyone will know what to do and when...the last night of VBS!!

I got ready for bed and my utility room floor was wet under my A/C unit.  I first thought Inky missed the litter box but it was the A/C leaking water!  I shut it off and the manual said if water leaked from the inside unit to shut it off and call the dealer.

So I called the dealer this morning.  I won't be home this afternoon...Euchre...but I told them the back door would be open and for them to come on in and fix it!  So far it is very comfy in here with ceiling fans and oscillating fan going.  At least the air is moving! 

So glad that Stacey got her disability approved.  What a benefit that will be. 

And what an awesome treat to hear a great speaker in Nashville!

I have worked on furnaces, computers, a lot of electronic things, but a car was never my forte!  I leave that to the car mechanics....especially today with so many computers in the car! 

And I will look in the glove box...if I remember there was something in there when I started putting my stuff in there!  Thanks, Larry!

Hi Gord!!

Hey, friends, my "get up & go" got up and LEFT without me today. Whew!

I had lots of trouble sleeping - it was most likely triggered by intensely emotional feelings.

But, our Comforter allowed me the privilege of sharing memories just about all night long. And, then, I fell asleep sending a thankful prayer to Him for stick-through-it-all friends.

G'nite - errrr - G'day - errrrr--

Well, that's all folks. May our Lord grant peace and rest to those who need it today.

Ruth Ann

Good rainey day.  The belt came off the mower deck  Grrrrr.  Think I will drive it over to a mechanically inclined friend.  I personally think the belt is too big, but what do I know!  LOL.

My internet speed was way down at 12 Kbps this morning and over the weekend,  Right now it is more normal.  I may HAVE to go with the expence of satellite.

Picked up a new blackberry yesterday.  That is quite the learning curve!!! 

We have a new cat... a long haired white one.  She is pretty but needs a good brushing.  She is slowly getting used to our place! 

I found out why I have been struggling with dizziness.....Low blood pressure!!! I was told to drink more!  What has that to do with blood pressure?

Got to go much to get accomplished.

Judy, your fluid level and your blood pressure are indeed connected.  (Don't ask me how or why)  I normally have relatively low blood pressure but if I don't get enough fluids it fluctuates quickly back and forth between very high and very low.  A good tall glass of water calms everything down and I get back to normal.  Well, at least as far as my blood pressure is concerned.   ;D

Another update from Eli; and I also got one from Shirley (much more informative!) which I will post next.  Unless you are getting tired of them!?!

Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 8:04 AM


Hey guys. I wanted to give you all an update on how things are going so far. Sorry for the short message yesterday! Everyone is getting better. Grandma is doing great. She was in the hospital on sunday due to her hip popping out, but they got her on some nice meds and she got it popped right back into place. i bought her crutches and she gets mad because i make her use them. other than that, she's a lot more energetic and she's probably the most loved on the team. Everyone goes to her for advice and I get to brag on her a lot! It's fun having her. She's so funny! She's having a great time. I think she will be emailing a couple of you guys with details on what went on. She's such an amazing woman though! In the midst of all of her pain, all she did was praise God! She said it was worse than giving child birth to four children! Soooo, it had to have been bad! Regardless, she was praying and blessing the Lord. It was an amazing site to see, and it was almost like God was telling the rest of us that He wants us to do the same in the midst of such pain!

We did a lot of good teaching this week in the villages. We cut off some witchcraft charms, i got attacked by 3 centipedes, we got really close to encountering a guinea worm (google it), and everyone got sick. We're taking the week to recooperate. We aren't going to let the enemy bring us down. We have a job at hand.

One of the pastors told me that he was going to change, and that his church was never going to be the same due to my sermon. That felt really good. He said that he learned a lot of doctrine and a lot of practical stuff--he was really appreciative. It seems like that's the norm around here now. I guess that is what we really came for is to see changes in peoples hearts and to see the church grow.

Me and Tim have been doing a lot of searching--price checking that is. We have found out how much it is going to take us to buy/rent a house, food, gas, vehicle, etc. We're getting a pretty good feel of it all. We have also been talking to a lot of the people here about our vision and dream for Malawi. So far, many are in! I think we get to talk to the General Overseer of Foursquare Malawi sometime this week. We really want to talk to him and see what he thinks about us being missionaries here in Malawi. it was really cool this last week because he asked me to be a missionary, and i kind of shrugged it off--or played it off as nothing, but that was exactly the conformation that i was looking for in order to be all in on being a missionary in Africa. So now, I heading straight for the goal. No messing around anymore! Ha ha! Tim is super excited as well. I think he's a little more excited than i am actually!

The rest of the week, we're resting. I think that I got internet on my phone now, so i may be able to do a little more updating. We'll see if it works. If it doesn't, then oh well.

Please keep us in your prayers continually. We need them. Thank you guys once again for all the support and the wonderful replies. I love hearing from home. I don't quite miss home just yet, but that's because I feel I'm exactly where God wants me right now. Love you guys!

Eli

Dear Family and Friends at home.

I'm sorry I didn't get this to you sooner but I did try.  I typed for an hour and 20 minutes and when I hit send it was erased.  I was out of time and had to go so today I will try again.

We had an attack of the enemy out in the village where we last ministered.   When we awakened the last morning, two of our team members was sick.  One was down and the other needed to be, so as I was putting the cot together for her, my hip popped out of socket!  I was in agony of pain, of course.  Everyone began to pray for me, even calling the states to put me on a prayer list of a million people.  Eventually, they managed to get me down on the cot intended for Shelby, but there was no relief.  I don't have time to give all the details but for 11 hours,  they  prayed and did everything possible for me but to no avail. 

The van, which was our only transportation was gone to town to get a tire fixed and for fuel as it was low.

Even before that, a huge black centipede, 6 inches long and as large as my finger had dropped down from the rafters, almost falling on Eli's head.  They are said to be very poisonous, with pinchers like a crab.  Eli cut it into pieces with his knife and threw it into a fire outside.

Eli was supposed to preach that morning on the evils of witchcraft and the power of God to overcome it.  When the van didn't return, he went ahead with the service as we waited.  Tim was wetting paper towels from a pitcher of water and putting them on our foreheads as the other two were feverish and I had broken out in a sweat from the intense pain.  He even had poured some of the water on us.   Then as they packed up our stuff, Wendy was about to dump the pitcher, when she noticed something moving in it.  Looking closer she saw that it was a worm, as fine as a hair and six inches long.  She began to ask everyone what it was.  Eli came into the church then and was asked.  He had just recently studied about dangerous creatures of Africa and this was one of them.  It is called a guinea worm.  It will bore into man or beast and go to the heart and stop it.

The van returned with Issac and some pain medication, so they loaded everything up and had fixed me a bed on four seats, and we began the long treacherous drive back to Blantyre.  We stopped at a hospital  and borrowed a wheel chair.  By this time my bladder was about to burst!  The managed to get me into the bathroom, then called Eli to carry me to bed. 

While in the village they had attempted several times to pull my leg and get it joint back into place.  They had moved it quite a bit but I could tell my leg was still at least an inch short.  All that had been gained was lost by the time we  got to Grace.  It was then decided to call an ambulance to take me to the hospital.  It had been eleven hours since the ordeal began.

The ambulance arrived within ten minutes and I was taken to the hospital where they gave me an injection and I drifted  peacefully away.  The next morning the doctors began to arrive and by 9:00AM I was x-rayed and taken to the theatre, as it is called here, where I was the star of the show!  The Dr. put a syringe of something into the IV tube and in  what seemed like seconds later, he was tapping me on the shoulder saying, wake up, wake up!  It was over and I hadn't  felt a thing.  Back to x-ray, then to  the ward.   In the afternoon the doctor came in and said if I was okay after standing on my feet, he would dismiss me.  I swung my feet over the edge of the bed and slid to the floor.  To my amazement, there was no pain.  I think the doctor was as amazed as  I was.  I went home with two  sticks as the doctor called them.  (crutches)

The doctors and nurses as well as all the team members had treated me like I was something very important.  They were so helpful, encouraging and kind.  I will never forget this experience.

We know that  ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD AND ARE CALLED FOR HIS PURPOSE!

There is much more to this story, but I have to cut it short.  I am fine and praising the Lord for his mercy and grace toward me.

We will be here at Blantyre until Friday, then its off to another village!
Love to all.

Shirley

Hi everyone.  I am late getting here today as was a fairly busy morning. 

Ruth Ann, what a wonderful day you experienced just from doing a kind deed for someone.  I am sure you won't soon forget the day.

Marilyn, you have talents with cars that I certainly do not have.  I keep the oil changed on a very regular basis and have never experienced any significant problem with my cars. 

Gord, we are doing fine, just the normal aches and pains. 

Janet, Eli's report sounded like it might not have been Shirley and that it must not have been serious.  Too bad about the illness but guess that is the danger of being in a different climate and conditions than those a person is used to.  Now I see your later postings that it was Shirley but glad to see she is back on her feet.  What experiences they are having. 

Etta Sue, I think organized chaos sort of goes with that age bracket.  Glad you are enjoying it.  Hope you got your A/C fixed and are cool again.

Judy, hope you like the Blackberry and also get your mower fixed. 

 :)   Good Late evening to  all.  Well an other busy day for us and it is was my daughters birthday today and it is hard to believe that she turned 32 years old.  The time goes so fast and it is hard to think that her oldest son will start school this September. :thumbsup: 

Well it is late and I must get to sleep as we Have a Dr. app tomorrow and some other errands to do.  May the Lord richly bless you.  Love in Christ.   Gordon and Noreen. :) :cp:

Hi everyone.  Hasn't been long since I posted but wanted to get back on schedule of posting in the mornings.  We escaped any rain yesterday although storms were forecast.  Don't think we are to have anymore for a few days.

Today is Bible study and then at 5 pm Pat has a doctor's appointment and I will have a blood test to check my PSA count.  These blood tests are now down to once a year since it has been over five years since the cancer was treated.  We will then eat out this evening.  That will be our exciting day.

Gord, the years really fly by and our children become older too quickly (as do we).  Our son is 47 and our daughter is 46.  Our granddaugther is 25 and she has four children with the oldest being 7.  We are aging before our eyes.  :)

Time to leave for coffee.  Hope everyone has a nice day, I intend to do the same.

I have just a few minutes this morning before Beth and John come to pick me up to go to Liberal, where they will have photos taken and we will take Beth for her swallowing test.  Yesterday Sondra, Beth's favorite nurse, came and had lunch with us at Pizza Hut, then they all came here and visited for quite a while, until Beth got tired.  It was SO GOOD to see Sondra again!

I think Eli needs to take a writing class!  I was so glad Shirley explained things; too bad her first long email disappeared.  God surely answered my prayers on my sister's behalf!

Larry, hope you and Pat both get good reports!

Gord, the older we get, the faster it seems the days whirl past---and the weeks, month and years.  Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset; quickly fly the years.  One season following another, laden with happiness....and tears.

I started weeding out the clothes in my closet yesterday, am trying to decide who to give them to.  Most are quite nice, but I am not wearing them, so someone should be enjoying them.  So far, I have only gotten through half of the upper rod!

Well, I need to go "put on my face" before the kids get here.  (See--we call them kids, even when they are 46 and 54 years old, if they are OUR kids!  ;) )

Well, it's Winco day again.  Winco is the big warehous-like store, and we save an average of 20 % on groceries.    Then home, then lunch, then fitness center for our treadmilling.

I, for one, am NOT getting tired of the reports from Shirley and Eli.  My only regrets is a photo of them so I can 'see' who is reporting!

Euchre was fun yesterday.  A/C is fixed.  Two more kids at VBS and much less chaos last evening.  Amazingly, we have three sets of twins in this group of 29 kids!  Even Krista, the Youth Ministers wife, (with Ellie, an almost 10 month old and Emma, due to appear the middle of August,) said the time seemed so much longer last night.  That's because it was smoother! 

Today is the third day in a row of sunshine for Indiana!  Not a cloud in the sky!  Yay! 

Rehab at 12:30 today and VBS at 5:30.

Janet, tired of the updates from Shirley and Eli?  NEVER! 

Dark and windy today, but so far no rain.  We're 1.21 inches above average for the month of June and more than 5 inches for 2011 so far.  Used to be they would say "normal" temperature or rainfall or whatever, but now they only say "average".  I guess nobody knows any more what "normal" is.   :D

Say Jeanne haven't you heard "normal" is only a setting on your drier!

Today started off cloudy and chillly.  Now we have sun and a lovely breeze.   I spoke to the farmer about the belt on the tractor and he said he would be over tomorrow to "fix" it.  I hope he brings over a shorter belt, maybe it would stay on longer.

Woke up at 5 in the morning with the cat screaming howling. (try to imagine) I sat up in bed and saw this beautiful white cat covered in what looked like blood!  I got up and found it was one of the sticky fly tapes that we had hung.  It was wrapped around its body, back legs and tail.  At 5 in the morning I am really not awake!  I took the cat to the bathroom and used toilet paper to pull the tape off the body, Kitty didn't like that one bit.  When it was all off she started licking at the left over residue.  Panic time again, tinking that would be poisonous!  I hunted down a pair of scisors and "chopped" the fur off where the stickyness was.  What a hatchet job I did.  Kitty is quite happy now, and is laying in the bathroom sink purring.  Needless to say I am tired!

I have washed my sheets and think it is still windy enough to put them on the line to dry.

Bye for now
Judy

My last post was thrown off when Windows suddenly shut down to reconfigure.  I spent a few hours making a quilt block for a cancer patient in our group and it is a new for me technique which took a lot of time.  Great to learn something new and the whole quilt will be something for her to cling to these days ahead. 

Dinner is minestrone soup with bran muffins. Well, my soups are always different so we shall see.  This one is almost a casserole. 

Gord - are you that old to have a daughter so old   :D    our oldest son is now 47. 

Judy, that poor cat!   ;D  I hope she learned to stay away from the fly tapes.  But they probably move and that's just a perfect attraction for her, so you may have to go through it all again.   :D

Hey, Janet, would there be a use for the clothing in Malawi? If Eli is returning there, he might be able to take the most appropriate ones.

Those reports are wonderful. One of our church members will be going on a Jesus film trip I believe sometime in the fall.

This has been another resting day, but now the energy is beginning to return.

VBS requires lots of work, Etta Sue, but it also has lots of rewards. :)

Y'all have a good rest of the day, friends.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  Got up early this morning as work up early and couldn't seem to go back to sleep.  Won't have a busy day today as only have my ROMEO's luncheon to attend at 11:30.  So will have a leisurely day.

Pat has to go tomorrow for a 6 hour glucose tolerance test.  She wants me to take her and then come back and pick her up as she has no idea of how she will feel when it is over.  I had my blood test yesterday and got the results last night.  My PSA had gone up just a tiny bit and nothing to worry about.  I shouldn't have to be checked again for another year.

Janet, our children will always remain as kids in our minds.  Hope your trip to Liberal and the doctor went well yesterday.  It sounds like you had a busy day. 

Al, your Winco store sounds a bit like Aldi's here where you can save quite a bit of Kroger or Publix, which are about our only other choices in our area.  Don't you just love treadmilling?  UGH!!

Etta Sue, sounds like you had a very successful second day at VBS.  Glad the A/C has been fixed.  When we own a home it seems that something always needs fixing.

Judy, you painted quite a word picture of your morning with the cat.  I remember those fly strips and how bad flies used to be.  We don't see too many of them around here but that is probably because we stay in the house with the doors and windows closed.

Carol, my wife is always trying some new pattern or technique with her quilts.  She is currently making a quillo for our daughter-in-law.  She has made several of them in the past and a friend recently gave her a lot of fabric including 6 quillo's already cut out.

Ruth Ann, glad you are getting some energy back.  I had one of those days last Saturday that doing anything just took too much effort but rest took care of it.

Time to go to coffee.  Hope all have a good day.

Heading out soon.  Kassie has physio on her foot, and then to surprise her we are going to Sudbury for a bit.  I am looking into the I  Max at the Science Center to see if there is any good science film running then on to do a bit of "dress" shopping.

Kitty woke me again last night but not as traumatic a reason.  She was trying to jump onto a shelf above my clothes in the closet.  The shelf is non-existant.......She wasn't a happy camper.  I closed the door which she didn't like either. Another blanket on our bed and I was quickly back to sleep.  The temperature dropped down to the high 50*F last night.  Good and cool for sleeping if  there are enough blankets.

I'm off have a great day folks!

Judy, poor Kitty! And pulling for more covers in late June!  Wow!  We are having days in the 106 and 107 range here all week.

John and I took Beth to Liberal yesterday.  We got there early enough to have their photos taken, then went to Applebees to eat.  By then it was time for her appointment at the hospital.  The test only took about ten minutes, but the explanation took quite a lot longer.  She explained the films to us, telling us which food or liquid Beth was trying to swallow as we watched the substance trying to go down her throat.  Kind of hard to explain.  But it seems that Beth's tounge and throat and jaw muscles are in a very weakened state, and that the food or drink often 'pools outside the epiglottis before she can open it (the swallowing motion).  This causes a tiny stream of it to go down into her lungs, and you all know what a danger this is, right?

Her best advice is to keep Beth's head propped up so her chin is level, and her ears are over her shoulders.  (It is usually reclined back somewhat, and that makes swallowing even harder.)  She also recommended tiny bites, lots of fluids, sauces, gravies, etc, and NOT to thicken her fluids, which made Beth very happy!  She hates those thickened things!  The final thing is that she gave her sheets of exercises to do for her tongue.  I hope they will incorporate those into her daily routine.

I wanted to update you, now I must go up there and talk to them.  I was too wiped out last night to go.  I have also written to Tate Publishing requesting that, if possible, they move the process along earlier, because Beth really wants to see the book!

Back later...................

The third day of VBS went smoother yet.  I am taking photos and before the end of the night Brad puts them on a slide show!  But they forgot the card reader and Krista had to go home and get it.  I could have brought mine but figured they had theirs. 

The hit for the night was a ball/panda thrower.  Picture this.  An electric leaf blower with a Y fitting toward the blower on the end and about 6 foot long PVC pipe on the end of that!  Then turn on the blower and someone picks up the end of it so that it aims good and another feeds balls or Pandas into the Y!  The balls and Pandas go clear across the sanctuary and the kids love to catch them. 

And every evening they all take turns playing games outside!  Last night everyone came back in soaking wet!  Glad it was hot outside.

And the Bible story last night was Jonah and the Whale.  Outside of a room was blue plastic table clothes taped to the wall to represent water...even fish were taped on the cloths.  Inside the door, the room was all covered with black plastic something with battery operated tea lights sitting around for a little light...the inside of the whale's belly!  Brad even brought some tins of sardines so it would smell fishy!  Grossed the kids out!  And some adults! 

It was so much fun. 

Blankets in June!  I don't even use blankets in the winter.  I am spoiled by A/C and heat!  I have about 4 degrees that I am happy about.  Below 68 and the heat goes on.  Above 72 and the A/C goes on.  Spoiled.  But I am paying for the comfort so I might as well be comfortable!

I remember those fly tapes.  Always had them in the house when I was growing up.  I didn't even know you could still purchase them.

My back was still out of kilter some yesterday but Jen put it all back.  It is much better today!  Tender from the adjustment but much better. 

And I called the A/C company to see what was wrong.  The drain was clogged up...they believe in the wall.  They went to the basement and opened it up.  I was told I wouldn't have to use the shopvac on the drain outside with this unit.  So I haven't.  But Jake didn't think it would have helped if I did but it won't hurt if I do use it once in awhile.  First I have to trim cedars to get to the drain! 

VBS tonight.  I wonder what will be exciting for the kids tonight!

We have the AC set at 75 or even a bit higher and nightime in the winter, we like a setting of 64.  We like cool nights and open windows whenever possible.   

Grateful that I am not on the child murder trial in Florida.  We watched a little yesterday and today and that is about it.  Before we moved to this house, I was put on jury duty every few years in three different states - the last time I wrote the word Insurance in the background, which is true and they never called again.  I used to work for an airplane insurance company in Texas. 

This mornings walk was fresh and lovely and a deer was spotted so that is always a gift.  Somehow pulled a muscle a little so it was slow coming back and seems alright.  High winds now so we are glad to not be camping. 

Yes, fly catchers are still used & I am thinking of the barns where they hang several.  We did not have flies in Seattle - something good.  Very few flies here so that is nice, or mosquitoes unless you are near stagnant water.

We just got home from the wonderful LIBERTY! program put on by Fellowship Baptist Church in Liberal.  What a treat, so professionally done and so inspiring.  Really renews one's pride in AMERICA!!!

And....we turned over the calendar page and see that we have to go to Amarillo tomorrow to the heart doctor.  I had (temporarily) forgotten that they had moved our appointment up from the 12th to the first!  Good thing I put everything on the calendar!

Etta Sue, your Bible school sounds like so much fun, for both adults and the kids!  Good for you for helping with it.

I must get to bed........OH!  We have a brand new baby!  Got a Chiweenie puppy today....3/4 Dachshund and 1/4 Chihuahua.  She is blue!  The lady we got her from said she was calling it silver, but the vet said, "they aren't silver, they're blue."  Darrel hasn't decided on a name for her yet.

G'night!

 :)  Good morning to you  all or a very good night to you all.   It has been an unusual day with the weather but this afternoon was just great and nice and warm

Took my brother to a place called Port Colborne as it is where the Large Welland canal finishes and goes out into lake Erie. This is the lake where the song that some of you might remember came from because of the ship that sunk called the Edmund Fitzgerald.  So my brother was also a merchant seaman for a couple of years so it was interesting for him to see the shipping.

Larry.  Glad to here that you and pat are doing well and looking after yourselves. :thumbsup:

Janet. Where is Liberty?

Carol.  I am glad to see that you have A/C .  i AM SO THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE IT TOO AS WHEN IT DOES GET TO HAVING THOSE HUMID DAYS i AND MY WIFE CAN'T STAND IT . :thumbsup:

Etta Sue.  I am also glad to see that you have your a/c fixed.  I am so glad that you are able to enjoy the d.v.b. and I remember when my wife had them at our house and the kids had a lot of fun thank God for people like you that are willing to give of your time to do this.  God's Richest blessing's upon you and your team..  Gord. :thumbsup:

Hi Ruth Anne and Jeannine hope that you are both well.  Hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and that is to all C.P. Persons that I may have missed.
                                                    Love in Christ.  Gordon and Noreen :) :thumbsup: :cp: :pine: :bananadance:

Janet, a new puppy  :o  As if you don't have enough to fill your days!  :D

Etta Sue, by the end of the week everyone will know what they're doing at VBS!   ;D

I'm glad I live where I can get along very well with open windows and fans.  I really don't like A/C, although I worked with it for a good many years.  When Gene was alive we had two units - one in his bedroom and one in the living/dining area, but I slept with my door closed and a fan in my open window.   :)

Gord, it's always good to see a post from you.  Your day with your brother must have been great.

Time now to see what kind of trouble I'll get into today!   :D

Do you realize that half of 2011 is over?  How time flies!!

Fourth day of VBS went well.  The 'guys' that help with the outside games said the kids wouldn't get so wet last night.  Ha!  Little did they know that the balls placed in a tiny swimming pool of water and then launched in the Panda/Ball thrower for the kids to catch would get them wet!  Well, not when they caught the balls but when they squeezed the water out over their heads!!  The kids are having so much fun.  And I love it when they show they have made new friends!

Last night the treats (which are different each night and are prepared by the help of a different set of kids) were crosses.  Pretzel rods rolled in melted white chocolate.  Then a half rod rolled in the chocolate for the cross and then sprinkles on all.  I don't think there was a pretzel in the trash...the kids and adults loved them!  Of course the janitor may be sweeping up sprinkles for months!!

Tonight will be the last night.  Bitter sweet!

Today is swim rehab for me and Ivalou is right after me.  I may take Kitty to Frye's this afternoon.  I haven't driven Hawaii much this week!

Ivalou still doesn't have a new g-g-daughter that was due last Sunday!

Hi everyone.  Alone here at home as Pat is having her 6 hour glucose tolerance test today.  I took her to Kaiser and will pick her up this afternoon as she was concerned how she would feel when the test was over.  Plan on going to Sam's and perhaps Walmart to look for a DVD player with Netflix built in.  This is going to be our anniversary gift to each other.  I also need to find something for her birthday. 

Janet, hope the techniques suggested for Beth help her.  Certainly don't want fluid going into her lungs.  You will have your hands full with the new blue dog.  I bet she is pretty.

Etta Sue, cleaver ideas for Bible School.  Wouldn't care for the fishy smell.  Hope that is gone by Sunday.

Judy, I use a doubled quilt over my feet at night to hold in any heat generated by my feet and lower legs, which seem to always be cold.

Carol, I haven't watched any of the trial in Florida but know several people who have watched it a lot.  I will be glad when it is over.  I do see the brief news reports and have to think what a mess that family is.  Since I am now 70 I can opt out of further jury duty.  While I feel it is a civic duty the last time I served was almost too much for me and won't try to do it again.

Gord, I remember the Edmund Fitzgerald.  It sounds like your brother and you are keeping busy.

Jeanne, do you experience much humidity in your area? 

Larry, we do get some humidity, but nothing like what I was used to when I lived in New Jersey.  I seem to have adapted, though, and what seemed like nothing the first couple of years I was back here now feels just as bad and New Jersey.   :D

Gord Read this HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald).  Information your brother will enjoy.

We had a great day yesterday.  After dealing with the Physio we went on to Sudbury, about a 2 hour drive.  Kass drove most of the way but I took over in Sudbury.  The traffic was too heavy for her first time.  We did a little shopping then went to Science North.  The movie we chose to watch was on the Hubble Telescope.  This telescope has had major repairs and the astronauts who fixed it are amazing!  Then we got a look into deep space from the view of the telescope.  It made me think of the verse in Psalms "He stretches the universe.  Al perhaps you could give us an accurate quote?

We left there ans again I drove till we were out of Sudbury.  I had a friend describe it to me this way.  I drive instinctively.  For her to drive I had to think about what she was doing watch what others were doing, react to them and still react to what she was doing.  Wow, no wonder I was tired last night.  We had supper at a little Mennonite restaurant. John calls it Katie's Place but the actual name is Brunets.  This young lady and yes young, had a restaurant built, and she operates it.  All the food is off their own farms and all the baked goods she bakes.  It was like sitting at one of their home tables!  So much food and we couldn't finish.  We brought the left overs home to be eaten today.

She has a book stand was there with ONLY Christian books.  I bought one! How could I resist!

Today is a beautiful day, I have lawns to mow so I am off here and heading outside!

Judy, for years I "white-knuckled" whenever I was in the passenger seat, no matter who was driving.  I always felt I knew what I was aware of, but didn't know if the driver was aware of the same things.  Now I try not to "drive" for someone else.   ;)

Gord:  Do know the Edmund Fitzgerald ship that went down & there is a shipping museum in Duluth, Minn. with the sad story because the crew had left the Duluth harbor.  Still a mystery.  Those lakes are really rough at times.  It sounds like a very nice time with your brother.  Love my brothers - one will never come and see us and the other has a wife who won't come anywhere if there is snow in the mountains - which it is even now. 

JudyB:  All our children had lessons from school in driving and I sat in the hot seat on the right.  Worse of all was when our youngest had to practice and I was in a full neck brace for those first five months.  He was afraid I would get hurt.  Do you think I prayed?  You betcha and all was fine - I worried that he would take such a hard blame on himself if anything had happened. 

We had the most violent thunderstorm last night and it felt like a giant was moving the house.  21,000 lightning strikes in the Rockies - trees down. 

So thankful for a nice cool day out there right now and grandson comes to visit and stain our deck tomorrow so we do hope it doesn't rain.   

 :)  Good afternoon to all.  Just finishing doing the grass and the trimming in our back yard and had to also do some watering as the plants get very dry right now.

Carol:   If you go  to Judy B. last post and where she said to me to click on the HERE you will see a very interesting article about the Edmund Fitzgerald and if you are interested to find out what they think caused it to sink keep reading it further down.

It is a beautiful day here and we do have a holiday today which is Canada day.  We may go to see some fireworks tonight in Niagara falls :thumbsup:

Hope you all are having a good summer but you can keep all those 21,000 lighting storms Caro; as we don't need them.  God's richest blessing's.  Gordon and Noreen. :) :cp: :roflBig:

We are home from a fast trip to Amarillo to see the heart doctor.  Almost forgot they  had called and moved us up from the 12th to the 1st!  We both checked out good....Dr. Friesen slapped me on the back of my shoulder and said, "You're blessed!"  And I wholeheartedly agree, I am!!  He even said I can start taking my blood pressure medicine every other day instead of every day!!  Praise God!  He told Darrel he needs to exercise, which is what I tell him every day!  Hope he listens to the doctor!

Yes, a new puppy.  My thinking is that she will be the impetus for getting Darrel out of that chair at least several times a day, to take care of her!  He loves dogs!

Gord, Liberty is not a place, it is the name of the wonderful patriotic music program we saw last night at the church in Liberal.  Did you mean where is Liberal?  If so, it is in the very SW corner of Kansas, about 60 miles southwest of where we live.

We met Darrel's sister Dolores and husband Norm for lunch, and enjoyed getting caught up on their news.  She is still having a lot of trouble with the ankle she broke not long ago....had to have plates, screws, etc, so is using a walker.

Diane and Abby puppy-sat for us today, and said the puppy was a good girl.  They all fell in love with her and want one just like her!  I meant to tell you the vet said the blue ones occur just once out of 50 puppies, but this lady has two mama dogs and there were two in each one's litter, so she has (had) four of them!

Darrel has been telling me my slacks were all too baggy and I needed new ones, so I gave him the privilege of buying me four new pairs today!  ;)  Wasn't that considerate of me? 8)  That is all the shopping we did, though.  Neither of us slept well at all last night, and had trouble staying awake.  I drove most of the way down while he slept, thought he would do better coming home, but he fell asleep twice and really scared me!  So I insisted he stop and get something cold to drink to help him stay awake.  I still have a lot of living to do!!

Pat, you have really been scarce lately.  Are you all right?  I miss you.

I don't like really cold AC either, it makes me ache.  But I am so glad we have it, it is much too hot not to have it!

Time to scoot!

Hi everyone on a hot Saturday morning in Atlanta.  Of course, it is July in the south so this has to be expected.  There is no rain in the forecast for today that I know of.

Yesterday I did make it to Sam's and got a nice DVD BluRay player with built in wi-fi that has the Netflix and a number of other applications.  It was a Sony and works well with the new Sony TV we got recently.  It took me a bit to get it setup and then to figure our how to use it.  I plan on getting Pat her own basic Netflix plan so she can get some of the newer movies.  Stacey has been getting the movies on disc with the current plan and we just use the streaming feature.

Judy, sounds like you had a really full day.  The movie sounds wonderful and informative.  Also sounds like you know a really good place to eat.  Good driving experience for Kass.

Jeanne, I sometimes get "white-knuckled" when Pat drives and I think sometimes she is going to pull off the arm rest or send her feet through the floor when I am driving.  She gives new meaning to "back seat driver".

Carol, it is sad your brothers won't come to visit.  I feel almost the same way about my sister as she and her husband haven't been to our home more than a few times in over 40 years.  Of course, the same is basically true in visiting them except when my folks were in the nursing home in her town and I made a number of visits there and stayed with them.  Wow, I can feel for your young son in trying to learn to drive with the added pressure.

Gord, hope you enjoyed the fireworks.  Our big day for that is still ahead.  Don't look forward to the noise in the neighborhood.

Janet, always good to get a positive report from the heart doctor.  Isn't it a shock to see a loved one having to use a walker or cane for the first time?  Pat has to resort to the cane every once in a while and, of course, Stacey has to use cruthes or the transport chair to get around when she visits or her wheelchair when she gets around Atlanta.  Janet, I am overwhelmed with your generosity in allowing Darrel to buy you new slacks. :)  I find keeping a cup of ice to have something cold in my mouth while driving helps me stay alert.  I have done that on long trips for many years as used to fall asleep and wakeup as the car started off the road--not a good thing.  I take a cooler so always have ice available.

Time for coffee.

I took a grandmother and her 2 beloved grandchildren to a "splash & play" in a neighboring town about 30 miles away. My goodness! They had SUCH a good time, and then when it was over, ran, hand in hand, to thank the firemen who bleed the fire hydrants by hooking the hose up to the hydrant and using a fan-shaped nozzle and a contraption that aims the spray far up into the air. They notify the area newspapers, and it's free, so a lovely way for the children to play for free, scream and share space with other kids, and give "grandma" an hour & a half break.  ;D

Now, THAT'S a win/win situation, and I loved just watching them from the shade of the nearby pavilion.

Will talk with y'all later.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

VBS is over for this year.  The kids had a great time and that is what matters.  They learned about God, Jesus and other things about the Bible.  They were having something about VBS today at 11am but I didn't go.  And tomorrow the kids are going to sing a couple of songs before church starts.

I need to go to Kitty's.  My neighbor across the road works at a nursery and brought me a half-flat of flowers.  I am not a flower person.  They grow or die.  I don't water flowers.  So if they need water, I would forget them.  Kitty is all the time working in her yard and flower gardens. 

I have made two batches of Candy Crackers.  Ivalou and I have potlucks to go to tomorrow evening and the 4th.  The 4th is where they shoot off fireworks from a boat on a lake.  Beautiful reflections!  Oh, we call them pitch-ins here but some of you don't know what pitch-ins are so I said potlucks...covered dishes...etc.   ;)

And now at least ONE of us wants to know what are candy crackers????

Make that two of us, Janet ....  ???   :D

Now there are Two of us who want to know what Candy Crackers are!!   :)  ;)

How about three?   :)

Candy crackers.....I think that is like we used to make using saltine crackers lining a cooky sheet.  Then you pour a butter/brown sugar syrup over them and bake.  There may be more than just the butter and brown sugar...can't remember for sure.

Add me to the list  of who wants to know what are candy crackers.

Carol and Larry, I have lived here in Oregon for  just over two years and We keep inviting Gilbert to bring the family and come to visit us here but he never has come. I always have to drive down there and half of the time I do I stay at my friend Willa's house. So I get to visit with her too. It is too hard to sleep at Gilbert's house on the couch  and with all the noise. They stay up until the wee hours.

Let's sing HERE. (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=11842.new#new)

Is this the recipe you are thinking of?

Nutty Cracker Delight
42 + soda crackers (this is a full roll)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup slivered almonds
Place crackers in a single layer in a foil lined, Pam sprayed 15x10x1 inch baking pan. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add sugar: bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; add vanilla. Pour evenly over crackers; sprinkle with nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately remove from the pan, breaking between crackers. Cool on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

 :)   Carol.  I was looking back at the post's and I did not answer your question about how old my daughter is she just turned 32 last week so you were right.

We had a beautiful day today but it was very overcast but very very hot it was around 90 f and then the humidity.

Must go for now hope that you all have a wonderful day in the Lords house tomorrow and God's richest blessing's.  Gordon and Noreen. :thumbsup: :cp:

---

Cornerstone Inn Candy Crackers
(single batch)

Lay out heavy duty aluminum foil onto cookie sheet/jelly roll pan with sides.  Spray foil with cooking spray.
Lay out onto the sprayed foil approximately
   Almost one wrapped sleeve of Club Crackers
In a Pyrex 1 quart bowl, add:
   ½ cups white sugar
   1 sticks butter (do not use margarine)
   1 Tbsp. white corn syrup
Bring mixture to a full boil in a microwave on high, stirring at least once during the process, until blended well.
Stir well again, until butter is completely blended, add
   1 Tsp. vanilla
Stir until blended.
Pour mixture over crackers quickly.  Spread to cover completely.
Sprinkle:
   ½-1 cups chopped nuts of choice (use pecans, walnuts are good, too)
Bake crackers at 350° for approximately 20 minutes or until crackers are nicely browned and break apart with a snap.  Cool, serve or store in a tightly covered container.  They keep very well.  ENJOY!

Use 2-3 cookies sheets and double/triple the recipe for more Candy Crackers.

---

A very lazy day yesterday...recouping from VBS and rehab! 

This morning I am doing the projection system at church.  Then I want to take the ladies to a waterfront restaurant for lunch if it isn't raining.  Then this evening is a pitch-in at Ivalou's grand-daughter's home. 

Oh, yes.  Ivalou's new g-g-daughter was born yesterday morning, July 2, at 6:42am.  She came into this world with dark, curly hair, 21 inches long and weighing 7 pounds and 13 ounces.  She goes by Brenna.  I don't know if there is a middle name or not.  Just Brenna so far.  Mommy and Brenna are doing fine.  I may see her this evening since Mommy and her sister lives just blocks apart.

Yes, Etta Sue they are very similar.

Off to churvh soon.  Silly kitty had us awake again last night.  I am off for a shower and ready for church.

Good Sunday morning to you all from a hot Atlanta.  We will attend church this morning and then eat out and come home and stay cool in our comfortable home the rest of the day.  No choir in July so can leave 30 minutes later than usual to get to the service on time. 

Ruth Ann, sounds like not only the kids but you enjoyed the splash and play.  That is a nice thing for them to do on a hot day.

Etta Sue, sounds like you have big plans for the 4th and shooting the fireworks from and over the water seems so much safer than on land.

My mother used to mix up powered sugar with a little butter and perhaps milk and put them on saltines.  That was a great treat when I was young.  Still sounds good.  Sometimes my wife will put canned frosting on graham crackers and make cookies and I like that as well.  Lately when she bakes chocolate chip cookies she just puts the dough in a dish and then cuts them apart when they have baked.  Think they are less dry than individual cookies and much less work for her.  All of the recipes from Judy, Etta Sue and Janice sound good. 

Etta Sue, forgive me for teasing you, but I am picturing a newborn baby with dark, curly hair 21 inches long!   :o  I know what you mean, of course, just struck me funny. 

Thanks for the candy cracker recipes.  Sound good!  I am determined to lose another 10#, so won't be making them any time soon, but want to print them off for later use, preferable when I am expecting company or need a "pitch-in" dish.

Larry, I remember what a treat it was to have graham crackers with frosting made of powdered sugar and milk between them.  Of course, anything sweet was good, as sugar was rationed during the war, and we never had sweets at home anyway, except on very special occasions.  But we all grew up healthy, even if we felt deprived at times.  ;)

Curtis was here yesterday and put another web browser on my machine, as he says IE really frustrates him, and the new email layout really bugged me as well.  It isn't Firefox; I forgot what he called it.  Anyway, I had to sign in again here on CP.

How are all of you planning to celebrate the 4th?  We don't have any plans.  Fireworks are banned here because of the drought, we wouldn't go anyway, probably.  I went by myself last year and that's not fun.  They are having a community picnic and other activities, and the Sr. center is open as well.  Or we could drive over to Hugoton and enjoy all the activities at the park there.  I imagine we will wind up just staying home........

Time to start another "Thoughts for the Week" HERE (http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=11843.0)

See you there!