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Morning Devotional...

Psalm 41

Our Lord rules the earth according to certain definite and righteous principles.  The principles are: 1) He blesses those who love Him and care for others, and 2) He curses those whose hearts are hard toward God and man.

David loves, admires and worships a God Who rules that way.  In fact he wants to be like Him - he too wants to "consider the poor."  God hears him when he prays to do so, You may remember, in fact, that David  , was called "a man after God's own heart," and as David himself puts it,  "The Lord will deliver (such a man) in time of trouble.  The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies." In other words, simply put, God delights in the man who delights in Him and in His ways.

Because David loves such a God, he also loves the people of that God as well, so of course he wants them to increase in their knowledge of Him, and he  rejoices in them when they do.  It's for that reason that  he has them repeat in song the words of this psalm as they begin their day, with the hope that, when they leave the temple, their lives, too, will be characterized by love to God and service to His people that day.

With that in mind, David sings of prayer and answered prayer - in other words a loving relationship that God sustains with those who love him and who love and serve His people.  The particular prayer that David was thinking of on this occasion was prayed in an especially perilous situation, one in which David was very, very sick.  He describes it when he says, "I said, 'Lord, be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.'"  He tells of his enemies' hatred and of their hope that he will never rise again from his sickbed - even though they had been his "own familiar friends in whom I trusted."

But David particularly wanted the people to remember that the Lord did actually answer his prayer and help him.  So he sings, "By this I know that You are well pleased with me, because my enemy does not triumph over me.  As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your Face forever!"  David would not have realized how much the Lord loved him if it had not been for just such a perilous time, a time the Lord used to open David's eyes to that love.  He does the same for us.  He often opens our own eyes to His love by means of the trouble we experience and His deliverance from it.

Next, after describing how God blessed him and answered his prayer, he finally and simply leads the people in praise to the God Who deals in such a merciful way with them.  He sings,"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!  Amen and Amen!"

How's your own relationship to God?  Does it affect your relationship to other people?  Do you love them because you love Him?  Do you "consider the poor (poor in this world's goods, poor in spirit, poor because of a lack of friends)?"  And do you feel free to call on the Lord in all your own trials?  Not that you've earned His favor by your "goodness" - but He's glorified by the work of His own Spirit within you - and you'll experience how much He loves you!  It's a happy relationship with God, a relationship you evidence by loving God and caring for His people. If this is your case, then bless your graciously loving God today!
Al Moak


Here's a hymn that reflects these thoughts.  Just click to hear the music.

Good evening everyone.  Al I will read that tomrrow morning when I am less busy.  David is one of my favourite Bible characters.  Our pastor spoke on David this AM.

Janet, Etta Sue, Al praying.

HAve a good evening everyone.

This is Vote Number 1!!
Since there were so many entries, we are voting for our top 25 favourites from the list of 98 and then we'll vote again on a new poll on Thursday.

Where is everyone today? 

This week's Non-essential, Non-thinking  Trivia



Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night?

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly?

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave?

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures?

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room?

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system?

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving?

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving?

Turn it on or Turn it off


Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night? Turn off.  Only turn on the desktop to print something and the laptop would turn off anyway!

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly?  I use night lights instead of the overhead lights.

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave?  No

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures?  No

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room? Sometimes.  I like listening to music on the laptop with Bose speakers!!

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system?  Yes, but don't use it.

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?  Charge it at night.

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving?  Drive and cool down.

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving?  Drive and warm it up.

Hooray!  Bed, 11pm.  Got up, 9am.  Only up once during the night!  Praise God.  That's a first for me for about 40 years!!! 

But I am anxious to get this all off of me and then hope that I don't have to wait ages for the permanent InterStim Therapy! 

Praying for Beth and Darrell!  You hardly get home and it all starts again!

Cooler today and raining.  Looks windy also.  I need to go to Kitty's today.  They are gone and I am cat watching and getting in their mail and paper this week.  Think I will go to McD's for lunch, too! 

Turn it on or Turn it off


Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night?
I used to leave it on all the time just turn off the sound, now I turn it off most of the time, If I have lessons on the screen I leave it on.

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly?
Yes unless I forget to turn them off

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave?
Microwave

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures?
yes, sometimes

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room?
no

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system?
yes

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?
It is on all the time

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving?
let it cool while I am driving

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving?
start it earlier to warm it up.

The weather has been beautiful, we worked in the yard both weekend days.  I planted my garlic in the flower bed in front of the big plate glass windows,

Keith had blood work done last week and has to go back tomorrow to have part of it done again, his PSA was  up from 4 to 7.5 and his blood sugar was up as was his cholesterol, the cholesterol  not up too much just to 168 so that was no big deal. But he can sure use your prayers.

Happy is finally all healed up and raring to go when I say "Walk".

Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night?
Turn it off

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly?
Turn them off when leaving the room

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave? microwave

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures? Often

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room?
No ... there are not any "rooms" to walk into.

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system?
No

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?
Don't have a cell phone

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving?
Let it cool down while driving

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving?
Warm it up while driving.

Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night? I do a shutdown, but it turns itself back on sometime in the early AM.

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly?  We have all flourescent, so sometimes we leave them on.

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave? Micro.

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures? No

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room? No

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system? No

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night? Don't have one.

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving? Cool while driving.

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving?  Do start it to warm it up a little.

Jane - that was a good idea using the colors.  Ya got me doing it!

Hi everyone.  A very busy but productive day.  After coffee at McDonald's and walking at the gym, I came home and installed a new handheld showerhead in the master bathroom.  Managed to spray water on the floor but wasn't too bad.  The instructions were non-existent but think I have it where there are no leaks. 

I then went to my regular Monday men's lunch.  We went to a Chinese buffet today and it was pretty good and certainly reasoable, only $5.39 plus tax.  I then stopped and bought a new door bell unit for the front door and then on to the oral surgeon's office.  I saw him and he will contact my cardiologist and then will tell me what medicine to stop taking, probably for 5 days, and they will schedule the extraction.  The visit today was $105 to talk with him and the extraction will be $300.  He said this will be a pretty tough extraction and I will probably have a 4 to 5 day recovery as it is a lower back tooth.  Not looking forward to the experience.  It has been many years since I had a tooth taken out.

I came home and installed the door bell unit on the front door so the bell works again.  There were a couple of other jobs that will have to wait until another day.

Pat left before 8 am this morning to take a good friend to the hospital where she had knee surgery.  They didn't take her to surgery until 1 pm and Pat called a little while ago and said that her friend was finally out of surgery but that it will be a couple of hours more before she will get home.  Just hope the Saturn will start for her or I will have to go and get her later this evening.

Al, thanks for the devotional for this week.  I have read all the messages but am tired tonight so will cut this short for tonight.

Feeling weary, went to have a fresh dressing on my foot today as my other came off over the weekend, felt sick when I came out the health crnter, so came home and had a sleep, just couldn.t pull myself too to have a drink of water, you know I don't think the hole in my foot due to the burn is getting any less, despite the antibiotics, and having the dressings changed every three days. A couple of weeks back I got a phone call from the health center, "We've got a priscription for some dressings for you to pick up," I thought, "I hope I'm not having to dress the wound myself." I didn't, but I do have to take them along when I go. The doctors receptionist actually tore one of the prescriptions up. Two prescriptions for dressings? Its a good job she did, I came away with three large bags of allsorts, it looked like a buying in from a supermarket, There's enough dressings to start a field hospital here, I hope they will take them back once my foot heals, chances are, once they are dispenced you can't return them.

Awww... Michael, I'm sorry you aren't feeling well.

I hope that you will start feeling better soon.  You are eating allsorts??  Those are my favorite candies!!!

We have some fun for you all.  Oldiesmann has added some new games for you to play!

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?action=arcade

Larry, I definitely pray that the extraction  won't be as tough as predicted and that the recovery time will be much shorter.

What day is it?  I have lost another day, as was really sick all night and all day yesterday.  I think it is Tuesday now, so I am even farther behind.  I had dysentery. Ugh.  And Darrel has shingles.  Double ugh.    Prayers will be appreciated. 

I will go inquire about having the shingles shot today, as I would like to avoid getting them if possible.

I will be back later, have doctor app't and need to see about my poor sick Beth.  The home called and she is really sick.  Boy, I hate to see her have more surgery in her weakened condition......mercy, God, please, mercy!

I'm so sorry, Janet. 

Praying for you here.

I am wireless now.  I set my alarm to wake me up and went to Ivalou's for her to remove the dressing and the wires.  She said the right wire was under the skin about a foot...the left only a few inches.  It hurt worse to have all the tape removed!  Ivalou is now getting a perm...the reason for me to go over early!  Then I came home a got a shower since I have had to sponge bath since surgery! 

I got news yesterday that one of my classmates was in a freak accident Saturday.  His Mother owns a mobile home park and he and his cousin were leveling a mobile home.  A cement block turned and the mobile home fell on both of the men.  Neighbors were having a yard sale and heard the crash.  They raised the mobile home with hydraulic jacks.  The cousin got out and only has a sore chest.  Fred had stopped breathing but the paramedics revived him and Fred was taking to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis by helicopter.  The died Sunday afternoon.  So sad.  I haven't seen Fred since graduation May 18, 1960!!  And the accident was a little over a half of a mile straight north of me!  We had 54 graduate in 1960...eight of them are gone now.   

Today is Euchre...then to go take care of Kitty's kitties... 

Larry, Etta Sue, Janet, Darryl.  YOu are all being prayed for.  Too many of our members are under the weather.  Know you are being prayed for.

Turn it on or Turn it off


Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night?  off

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly? off

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave?

microwave unless microwave is too small

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures? on

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room? on

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system? no remote

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?  on

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving?

get in and drive
8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving? warm up

Turn it on or Turn it off


Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night?  I turn it off after running a scan for viruses and removing tracking cookies.

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly? almost always turn it off. Seems so wasteful to leave them on, since they aren't fluorescent.

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave? rarely use the oven.

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures? sometimes - primarily keep some sound going somewhere in the apartment (and in my car when driving).

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room? yes - when working at the computer, my preference is easy-listening type Christian music from Pandora.com. At night, it's public radio.

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system? no

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?  on and on the charger.

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving? I start it and enjoy the warmth from the sunshine until it gets too stuffy, then I turn on the air conditioner. After all, lotsa people PAY to go into a sauna!

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes? I start it and drive, hoping it will warm up as quickly as possible.

Larry, sorry about your tooth.  Extractions are surely no fun, but I hope it goes well, and you recover quickly.

Michael, what happened to your foot?

Pat---allsorts is a candy??? Hmmm.

I managed to go to town, get my adjustment, go ask the nurses at both the Senior Center and the County (one sent me to the other) about the shingles shot.  But next I have to call the doctor's nurse, then wait h=for her to call me back.    Then I went to see about Beth, who is feeling so bad.    By the time I got home, I was worn out, so have just had another nap.  I will be glad when I get to feeling like me again!

I will do the little quiz thing later.

Yes, Licorice Allsorts!!  My favorite candy!

Hi everyone.  

Another day seems to have sped by.  I didn't walk this morning as wanted to be here when our neighbor came up to work on the sink in the kitchen.  He took the spray hose lose and the compression cap Lowe's sold me was the wrong size.  So he hooked the hose back up so we could use the sink.  

I went to a meeting and when I got home Pat and I went to Macaroni Grill for a nice lunch.  

Then we went back to Lowe's to return the shower head I had installed yesterday, which just wasn't going to work for us, and the compression cap.  We decided to use the existing shower head, bought a new coffee pot as ours had failed a few days ago, got a smaller compression cap and some sand to redo the pavers in the back yard and came home.  

We called the neighbor again and he came up and removed the hose again and once again the cap was the wrong size.  So he put the hose back on again.  He is going to redo the pavers in the back yard and a couple of other small jobs for us.  I am glad to have someone close by that I can call upon.  

Janet, so sorry to hear of all the illness with you, Beth and Darrel.  It looks like you got home just in time.  

Thanks for the expressions of concern for my upcoming tooth extraction.  I am not worried about the tooth extraction as this too shall pass and I know the dentist will give me medication to control the pain.

Etta Sue, sorry to read of the death of your classmate.  These accidents can happen so suddenly.  Glad you are wireless now.

Michael, I can imagine the bags of dressings as our daughter had to use many dressings when she was fighting the foot infection and had an open wound.  At that time we have having to take IV antibiotics twice a day.  Hope your foot isn't too painful.

The thing is, its not painful at all, as I have no sensation in my feet up to my knees, the nurses debride the wound before they dress it, could be pretty painful, not to me.

Janet, burnt it on a very hot water bottle, very cold night, put two bottles in not realising one was at the foot of the bed, having no sensations in my feet, I must have fallen asleep with my foot on the bottle, the following morning, blisters all over the left hand side of my foot, must remember not to do that again. Licorice allsorts just don't tempt me, trouble is I don't like the coconut rings, I lke the flat ones best, and your picture of them looks just scrummy.
   Mind you going up to the health center's quite nice, I get seen by Laticia, she's Chinese, four foot nothing, has a broad Lancashire accent, what a character, bless her, she is my usual podiatrician when I go to have my feet done, anyway that's my foot at the moment. You know, whatever you do, good or bad there's always a story to be had, and there's some blessing lurking in the background. You know Bill Bryson could make a good story up (true ones) just finding a hotel room or having a coffee. Try, Notes From A Small Island.

PAt We are alike in that too.....our chioce of candy!

Hi Everyone!

Have you all peeked at the games?

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?action=arcade

Today is the dentist.  Just cleaning and scraping!!  I hope that is all and that I don't have to return until my 6-month checkup! 

Since I am going by myself...Ivalou decided she needed a day at home...I plan to eat out, go to the grocery and then maybe go see Charlene and the little ones that she babysits for.  That is always fun!

The A/C man called and canceled today for a cleaning and maintenance on my A/C unit.  Seems it has to be above 70 degrees before checking it out.  Ivalou's A/C is the same kind as mine so she is having hers done the same afternoon...now May 6.  Hope we get a discount for doing ours the same day!  One trip!

Pat, the picture of the candy is beautiful, but I don't care at all for licorice. 

I thought I was over my problem, ate a little bit of supper, and it returned with a vengeance!  But Darrel is better, we are continuing with the apple cider vinegar treatment on him.

I must run, got to meet Beth at the hospital, see what they will be doing for her. 

I asked Darrel to cook some rice for me this morning; since we ate rice every meal for over a month, I thought it might stay put.  So far, so good. It is surprising how good plain rice can taste if you haven't been able to eat for a while!

See you later...............

Janet, so sorry you're feeling so yucky.     I hope Darrel's case of shingles is as mild as what I had - some itching but very little pain and it was all gone in a couple of weeks.

Janet, during the time I've been "missing" from this site I thought often of Beth and wondered how she's been.  Each time the Lord brought her to my mind, be sure prayers were said.   

Janet   am so sorry you are suffering so much with  dysentery. and I do pray for  all of your when you come to mind. About the Shingles shot, all you need is the prescription from your Doctor and some pharmacies will do the shot for you. At least they did in California.  There was only one pharmacy that was doing the shots and that was in Eureka so I went there for mine and It was no cost to me with my medicare and my Part D.

Yesterday I went to the the office of Seniors and People with Disabilities to apply for food stamps and medicaid. I got all my paperwork done and still have to take them a copy of my life insurance. They have a program here that I can get 3 months of my medication only 1 copay and for generics my copay is only $1.10, for name brands it is $3.20.

Keith has to go to Portland today for a mediation hearing inthat lawsuit, the attorneys have told him that he is the expert witness as he is the only one who knows anything about this building and the original plans were done by a draftsman in his office over 10 years ago when the  office was owned by his father.

Hi everyone.  I have been running around all morning and guess I have some more to do as one of the items I bought at the hardware store is missing one of the pieces. 

Our housekeeper is here today.  She had her appendix out about 6 weeks ago and this is the first time she has been able to come so we were very glad to see her and have the house clean again.  It really didn't get dirty but after that long a good cleaning is needed.

Our neighbor is to come about noon to work on the fence again and perhaps do some other chores around here. 

I have choir tonight so it is a relatively busy day.

Michael, our daughter has neuropathy and has no feeling in her legs and feet and she thinks it may be attacking her hands as well.  She created a blister on the side of her foot and didn't even know it plus she doesn't realize when a bone breaks in her foot with the Charcot disease due to the diabetes.

Janet, glad you are feeling a little better. 

Marilyn, glad you are getting things setup for you.

Jeanne, good to see your postings here.

Pat, I am going to look over the games. 

Pat is just back from the chiorpractor. 

  The best laid plans of mice and men......  They canceled Beth's appointment at the last minute.  Seems they can't find her sonogram, so she has to go get another one done tomorrow.  She was quite disheartened.  She looked so nice today, all dressed up and no place to go.  She had on her new elephant shirt I brought her, and her elephant necklace.  She was feeling really bum, though.

I went to the doctor's office and waited to talk to the nurse.  She got the scrip for the shingles shot for me, but I'm not going to get it until I feel better from this other problem.  No use pressing my luck.  I have to pick it up at the pharmacy and take directly to the Sr. nurse for the injection, as it has to remain frozen.

Thanks so much for the kind words and the prayers.  I'm sure we will all get better, and SOON, I hope!  Now I'm going to lie down.  I was up until 4:30 this morning............

Oh, Janet.

Michael - sorry for your foot pain & slow healing. 

Almost on an overload here ourselves.  We leave later this afternoon for five days of grand-sitting.  What sitting?  Run run run.  We drove up there (50 plus miles one way) through the entire city yesterday for a play that our g-daughter seemed to be in a daze (must talk with her) and wasn't herself.  Our daughter says they are controlling her sassy talk right away - you know those years are tough to take especially since she has been the perfect child for years.  Anyway, we have five days with her and her hockey brother - give me strength.  We don't expect any problems because all our grands listen to us (so far). 

We were caught in freeway stop yesterday & finally got away on a street where we hit every red light & pothole.

Thankful for angels who watch over all of us. 

Turn it on or Turn it off


Do you mostly leave your computer on or do you turn it off every night?

1.  Do you turn off the lights every time you leave a room or leave them on knowing you'll be back in shortly? Yes - a habit of years.  I have little night lights in a couple of spots, usually I walk in the semi-dark.

2.  Do you turn on your oven more or your microwave? No  but I just baked two batches of cookies (bake in batches usually)  In summertime, I put my large crockpot outdoors, have done that ever since we lived in Texas where it was hot until Thanksgiving. 

3.  Do you leave the TV on when you're not watching it just to have some background sound/pictures? Sometimes, I am always up and down.

4.  Do you like to turn music or the radio on as soon as you walk in a room? Not really.

5.  Do you have a remote for your radio/stereo system? No - I have a great little Tivoli radio.

6.  Do you keep your cell phone on mostly or do you turn it off every night?  It is either charging or forgotten in my jacket.

7.  Would you say you mostly in the summer start your car a few minutes earlier to cool it off or do you just let it cool down once you're in and driving?  Never - get in and go.

8.  Would you say you mostly in the winter start your car a few minutes earlier to warm it up or do you just let it warm up once you're in and driving?  No - it is against the law here, pollutes the air and these engines are made to start and go. 

Is that all?  I unplug lots of things when we are going for a couple of days - coffee maker, etc.  Turn the heat down & air off or up really really high and hot water heater down if we are gone for awhile.   

Larry that's the last thing your daughter needs, neuropathy in her hands, its bad enough in your legs, but to have your hands without sensation is really bad, fortunately I've only got it in the arm with the birthmark, so what ever I do now I have to do mostly with my left hand, and I'm right handed. Oh Lord do keep this neuropothy out of Larry's daughters hands, in Jesus name I pray.

Michael, how are you today?

Bearing up, I think, ok, but never brilliant, still cheerful though, its just this huge bandage, or should I say bondage It's got to be on till the wound heals, makes you not want to go out a lot of the time.

Well, just got back a little while ago from the place where they're dealing with my legs, etc.  I've now got some new thing-a-ma-jig garments to put on the leg at night.  It's supposed to help quite a bit to keep the swelling away.  During the day I'm going about with regular shoes, sox, etc., so that's a relief.  Please pray the new thingies will work.

 Good evening:   
Will be praying for all that have problems and in need of God's care.

We went for our morning coffee then when home I did some photo printing, and not really to much of anything being a dismal day I felt lazy. Last week when we went fishing for perch I caught the first then just before calling it a day Mel got the biggest one approx. 12 inches long, it along with some of the others we had a nice dinner the next evening. Yes they were deep fried. yummy

Time to call it am evening   

Good morning!  It's a beautiful day Today!

OK, so it's cloudy, chilly, windy and threatening rain.  But it's still a beautiful day that the Lord has made! 

Same kind of weather here too, Jeanne.

We have some errands to do and a wee bit of shopping so we'll get out and do that now.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hi, friends, my daughterin law's birthday dinner last night was good, and we all enjoyed being together. Getting to take the gals to their schools this morning was fun - grands are really GRAND, especially when I only get to spend a brief time with them each time I come.

Y'all have a great day in the Lord.

It is cold and windy here this am.  The temp is to climb though, with tomorrow being a high of 70F.

I have a lot to do this morning, so I will pop back in this evening.

Yesterday I got everything accomplished except visiting with Charlene and the little ones.  I forgot that she is a little hard hearing.  When you drive in the drive, there is an alert.  I thought she would hear that.  Then I rang the doorbell...it sounds in the living room.  But she was in the playroom changing a diaper and the other little ones all yelling and playing.  Less than 15 feet from me.  When I left, the driveway alert sounded again and she saw me leave the drive turning left.  She was sorry she missed me. 

To you north and east of me, it is beautiful here today.  Bright and sunny and suppose to get to 68°F today!  Tomorrow is to be 78°F!!!  Spring is finally sprunging!!   

I plan to fix a bite for lunch, then get on the mower and mow the yard.  After that I need to go see the kitties at Kitty's.  That's my day! 

Tomorrow, probably before I post, I go see the surgeon to find out what my next procedure is and when.  Then I get a mammogram!  Kitty is coming home tomorrow so we are going out to eat tomorrow evening since Bob is staying in Ohio to go to the airport to get their SIL around midnight. 

It seems those few days of electrodes has help me even without the electrodes!  Praise!

Good Morning Not much going on here today, Keith has gone to Portland, he left at 4:30am and will be back  this evening. He has to testify at the mediation hearing in regarding that lawsuit, the trial is in June  near here at Coquille. Was going to go to Portland yesterday and stay at two of his son's apartment for the night, but when he called them they told him to go stay in a motel. So he didn't leave until this morning.

I have been working on my PSP lessons  I finished two already this morning. We are allowed to turn in 3 per day but only required to do 1 per week.

It is beautiful her today but cold, the sun is shining so pretty it makes me want to get out with the dogs and walk but it is too cold right now so I will do that this afternoon.

Good afternoon:  The sun has started to shine so that is good.  Soon we will be leaving to join a couple in King City for dinner - Red Lobster is the restaurant, as it happens we Mel & I had been there a couple of wks. ago but we are not saying anything as it is our friends birthday why put a shadow on things.  I like Red Lobster anyway.

Pat & Judy you probably both know Gloria Dalton, Gloria's grandson had a heart replacement soon after he was born and today I got the news that at the age of 10 yrs. he has passed away.  Even with all the issues he was a joy to the family.

Soon we must leave making a couple of stops before going to King City.
I will check in again soon.

Ruth, how sad for that family.  Thanks for letting us know.

The sun has come out, but the wind has picked up with some pretty strong gusts.  Leaves outside my window are blowing straight up before they swirl around and then fall! 

Hi everyone.  We just got home about 6 pm this evening after leaving at 9 am this morning.  Pat had a mammogram and ultrasound test done this morning.  We then went to the Marriott Hotel (where we had the Bash, Pat) and had the buffet luncheon.  No need for supper tonight.  It was very good. 

We then went to the Hyundai dealer so Pat could drive the cars and we could get an idea of what we wanted to buy.  We ended up buying a new Hyundai Sonata Limited.  It has all the bells and whistles, a couple of which we could have done without but which came with what we wanted.  They have to get the car from South Carolina and so won't be getting it until sometime next week.  What really sold me is that they offer a 20 year 200,000 mile warranty on the Power train.

We were at the car dealer from about 12:45 until after 5 pm and needless to say we are exhausted.  There is so much paperwork involved.  I am glad all this is over.

Larry:  There seems to be more and more paperwork these days - more that I ever remember.  What paperless society?  I'll have to check out your car. 

It is late and I am off to bed,  The girls are off school tomorrow.  That means a sleep in....WOOHOO.

We watched a movie that Doug gave us, a good one.  Kass as is normal was off to bed early and now for Elizabeth and I to head off.

The pictures that have been posted in the galeries are awesome.  If you have a few minutes check them out.   We have some very talented photographers on board here.   

God bless you all and have a good night. 

Judy, thanks for that reminder.  I get so fascinated by the pictures that are posted here in the various discussions that I forget all about the galleries.   

*Cheap Hearing Aid*

A man realized he needed to purchase a hearing aid, but he felt unwilling to spend much money. "How much do they run?" he asked the clerk.

"That depends," said the salesman. "They run from $2.00 to $2,000."

"Let's see the $2.00 model," he said.

The clerk put the device around the man's neck. "You just stick this button in your ear and run this little string down to your pocket," he instructed.

"How does it work?" the customer asked.

"For $2.00 it doesn't work," the salesman replied. "But when people see it on you, they'll talk louder!"

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Good one, Jeanne!

I must run, off to Pat's to get my hair done, then busy today, as it is the day I am hosting the book signing for my sister Shirley.  We had such a great visit yesterday at other sis Jeanie's house; and I read what Shirley has written so far on her next book.  A novel, this time, and very good!  I can't wait to read the rest of it......but will have to, as it isn't written yet!

I had another bout of dysentery last night.  This is really getting old.    I will go see the doctor next week to find out if I picked up a parasite on our travels.  Ugh.

See you later!

Hi everyone.  I am going to have a quiet rest of the day as far as I know now.

I did go to coffee and then walked at the gym with one of the other fellows. 

Before we left the Senior Center this morning we were given a special tour of the new blacksmith shop that one of our members has built in the city park.  They built a little building and have a plexiglass viewing area.  It contains a working fire pit and a lot of old blacksmith tools were donated to the city.  It is quite a nice project. 

I went to the surgeon and was told that the surgery scheduler would be calling me today or Monday to schedule the permanent InterStim surgery.  I was barely out of the parking lot when the cell phone rang.  The Physicians Assistant calling to tell me that Dr. Knapp's father had passed away and that Laura, the scheduler, would talk to him as soon as possible to see if he will schedule the surgery early for me.  But it may be later than Monday when she gets back to me. 

Then I got my mammogram. 

Then I had lunch at Arby's and came home. 

I was just settled in at home when two cycles came in the drive.  Tony and his friend, Bobby.  I have screens over my gutters to keep leaves and maple whirly-gigs from getting in the gutters and downspouts and I noticed a couple of them had blown down.  Tony fixed them for me. 

Now I am waiting on Kitty to call me to tell me she is home. 

Hi Etta Sue.   tralala back to you 

It is a very light rain this morning and we still can use all the moisture possible.  Today is a trumpet recital for our other grandson and we will see if these two want to go with us.  I am betting not.  It is just that age, that is what I keep telling myself.   

I have not been able to knit - this yarn is a cheapo and falls apart so it has been pulled off the needles three times & looks sad to me. 

Good Morning.  A wonderful day in Indiana.  It is already 75°.  Not a cloud in the sky!  Strong wind.  Birds singing.  Flowers swaying.  Traffic busy.  You guessed it!  I am outside on my deck with my laptop and a cup of coffee! 

Kitty called me to tell me she was home so at 4pm we went to Chili's for chips and salsa and our meal.  I needed a gift bag and bow so we went to Party Supplies.  Kitty needed a pencil drawing printed out 200% at Office Depot.  Then she will paint from it in painting class Thursday.  Then she was tired and we came home.  She stayed by herself last night...Bob stayed in Ohio...her first time by herself since Army days.

I finished my baby afghan, so put it in the gift back, put in the tissue paper, the bow and made a card.  Now I am ready for the shower May 3rd. 

I will probably go to church this evening to practice with Sunday Plus.

Good Saturday to all of you!

Our Book Signing was a success yesterday, and I was so happy that it was.  Shirley worked really hard on the book, and it was fun to see her so happy and excited, visiting with those who came.  Everyone who walked through the door, except one, bought one or more books!!  So that should really give her a boost.  She was so pleased with how everything went.  Sister Jeanie was a big help, as she came up with flowers and tablecloths to decorate the room.  Shirley left this morning, heading for home.

I am feeling a little better today, and will continue the BRAT diet for a few more days, as it sure seems to be helping.  (Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast.)  It is great to be feeling better.  Darrel is doing better, as well.  I hope before too much time elapses, I will feel like starting my story of our trip.  I'm wanting to get to a Walmart or Sam's, so I can get prints done, and also get the photos on discs.

You know how you plan things in your mind?  All the time we were traveling, I was thinking how things would be when we got home; who I would share stuff with, talk to about it, etc......and NOTHING has gone anything like I thought.  Too much expectation leads to disappointment.  But it's all right, I still had a great time, and enjoy the memories.

I need to go put more clothes in the washer, and fold those from the dryer.  Later! 

So good to read all your posts!

Larry, at breakfast today, Paul and I were talking about the Bash in your area.  I remembered the name of the hotel but I don't remember the name of the area and the main highway it was on. 

Paul has sure been enjoying the games in our Arcade on this site!  These games will sure keep you from Alzheimers!!!   

I've been having such a difficult job getting rid of entries in the poll for the SECOND ROUND of voting that will open this afternoon!

All of the bird photos have been so wonderful but with 98 in the list, it has been too difficult so we're "whittling" it down to just 30 or 31 entries and hopefully, we'll get many more votes in the next round which will determine the winner!

This was the most successful Challenge we've ever had on Christian Photographers!

Good morning.  I have been absent for a while because I've had company.  My daughter Joy and her husband stopped by for a couple nights on their way to a week at Newport with his daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters.  It was nice to have them here and I think they enjoyed it as well.  John had never seen where I live and he was quite impressed.  

They had a new little dog with them.  Just adopted a 3 yr. old miniature schnauzer named Zoey.  She is such a calm dog and has really bonded with them in just a few days.  She had a wonderful time walking in the woods around here, and seeing all the deer, squirrels, ducks, swans, and smelling their whole history.  

Janet, I'm glad Shirley had such a wonderful day at the book-signing.  I loved the book too ... and she signed it for me as well!    She dun good.

I have lotsa stuff to do today so I'd best get at it .... see y'all later.

Hi everyone.  This has been a very nice day and in about an hour I will leave to pick up our new car.  I didn't expect to pick it up until late Monday or Tuesday but they called and said we could pick it up this afternoon. 

We had something to do this morning and then were given tickets to a bar-b-que dinner put on at a local Methodist Church to benefit their ministry for people in the community needing food or other help. 

Jane, so glad you were able to have time with Joy and John.  It sounds like the little dog will be wanting to visit again. 

Pat, the location of the Bash was the Gwinnett Mall area on Pleasant Hill  Road.  Unfortunately the general area, including the Mall, have fallen into not the most desirable area.  Many of the places of business in the area, as well as the mall, have closed.  It is sad but a new and brighter mall was built a few miles north of this area.  They are trying to redevelop the area and spruce it up but don't know whether it will be successful.

Janet, glad the book signing went so well and certainly glad to read that you and Darrel are feeling better.  One of the lessons I have learned in the last few years is to try to live in today and not anticipate tomorrow with expectation since often that leads to disappointment, as you indicated.  We can't change the past and only God knows the future and likely has something entirely different in mind for our tomorrows than we could anticipate.  We have to plan a bit but not tie ourselves to those plans.

Etta Sue, it sounds like things are well underway to your permanent problem solution through the upcoming surgery or whatever the procedure involves.  It sounds like you have had a couple of busy days.

It is warm here today, up to 87 degrees.  Tomorrow is suppose to be nice as well.

   

Not much going on here today, it is cloudy and maybe the sun will come out later. Keith had a 2nd blood draw and the PSA was up again from 7.5 to 9.1 in just two days. He doesn't have any insurance and doesn't get Medicare for  2 more years. He is being referred to  a Urologist.

THE PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
By John Bright

PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT

In our search for a suitable pastor the following scratch sheet was developed for your perusal. Of the candidates investigated by the committee only one was found to have the necessary qualities. The list contains the names of the candidates and comments on each should you be interested in investigating them for future pastoral replacements.

NOAH: He has 120 years of preaching experience but no converts.

MOSES: He stutters, and his former congregation says he loses his temper over trivial things.

ABRAHAM: He took off to Egypt during hard times. We heard he got into trouble with the authorities and then tried to lie his way out of it.

DAVID: He has an unacceptable moral character. He might have been considered for Minister of Music had he not 'fallen.'

SOLOMON: He has a reputation for wisdom but fails to practice what he preaches. Introduced idols into worship in his former church.

ELIJAH: He proved to be inconsistent and is known to fold under pressure.

HOSEA: His family life is a shambles. Divorced and remarried to a prostitute.

JEREMIAH: He is too emotional, alarmist, and some say a 'real pain in the neck.'

AMOS: Comes from a farming background. Better off picking figs.

JOHN: He says he is a Baptist but lacks tact and dresses like a hippie. Would not feel comfortable at a potluck supper.

PETER: He has a bad temper and was even heard to deny Christ publicly.

PAUL: We found him to lack tact. He is too harsh, his appearance is contemptible, and he preaches far too long.

TIMOTHY: Has potential, but is far too young for this position

JESUS: He tends to offend church members with his preaching, especially Bible scholars. He is also too controversial. He even offended the search committee with his pointed questions.

JUDAS: He seems to be very practical, co-operative, good with money, cares for the poor and dresses well. We all agreed he is just the man we are looking for to fill the vacancy of Senior Pastor.

Thank you all for what you have done is assisting us with our pastoral search.

Pastoral Search Committee Chairman

I have seen this before and as we are in a search for an associate pastor I will forward this on to the present team.  Thank you  and welcome again to CP.

Well the drill competition has finished except for the awards.  That is this afternoon.  I will let you know how they make out. 

Have a good and Godly day everyone for what good is it if it isn't a Godly day.

Hi everyone.  It another beautiful day here today, currently sunny and 78 degrees.  Pat has gone to visit a friend in a rehab center who had knee surgery last week. 

After church today we went to lunch with another couple and we had had big salads, which were quite good.  I came home and took a nap. 

With our new car we have XM Radio and a three month trial period.  I just called and activated it in my name.  I doubt very much that we will continue to use it after the trial period as it cost $13 a month subscription.  If we traveled alot it would be nice but it has a CD player, nice radio, and and can play an mp3 player through the speakers.  The first thing we had to do as we drove it to church and back today was figure out how to change the channels.  It was easy once I found how it was done.

I will rest up today as have several things on my schedule for tomorrow, including taking the small car in to have the brakes checked again. 

Judy, hope the drill team results are as you all desire.

lrescue02, I enjoyed the search committee report.  In our denomination our search process is so long and complicated I sometimes wonder if we don't try to apply similar criteria. 

Marilyn,  having gone through the PSA experience about 5 years ago I can empathize with Keith. 

WOOHOOOOOO THEY WON.  547North Bay won first in Drill Without Arms, Best drill commander, and Best Overall in Drill Without Arms  The other team that cleaned house is the Timmins Sea Cadets with the sea cadet with and without arms as well as the band classes.  As the commander m?c said they were all winners,  they all did well.  Our team lost on the Best overall Dress because they didn't have the 100 year pin on.  the competition was so close , the wnners won by a .2 difference. 
We celebrated by going to Dairy Queen!  We will be getting a DVD of the team doing the competition drill. 

It is a cold rainy day here, damp that goes to the bones. 

Have to go get John's meals.

It's that time again.  Time again for a new slate.

You will find a nice, clean area for posting here.