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Morning Devotional...


"By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).


We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us. "... Christ Jesus ... became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption ..." (1 Corinthians 1:30). [But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:] 

Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect.  No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted. All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, "But I don't want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner." God's response, through Peter, is, "... there is no other name ... by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  [Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.] What at first appears to be heartlessness on God's part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way. "In Him we have redemption through His blood ..." (Ephesians 1:7). To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.

God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy.

Oswald Chambers

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My time on here has certainly been scarce lately but I've been caring for an elderly lady who has had so many illnesses lately and then a friend has altzheimers and I've been taking her places.

Oh, it's so good though to be busy.

That's a wonderful little message by Chambers!  It is absolutely true that our begging, even with all the urgency of conviction, is not what atones for us, nor does it usher us into God's Presence.  What Christ has done, and only what He has done - that alone is atonement.  When the Scripture says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," it isn't saying that our urgent confession is adequate to "move" God to forgive.  Instead, it's saying that He is already faithful and just to forgive the confessed sins because of our Saviour's totally adequate atonement.

It is not our begging, but it is His finished work that will ever save us.

Thanks for the nice devotional.

I wonder why so many feel threatened by our Christian faith?  The local paper had a picture of a mother and small son, with the story about her pulling him out of school because they are teaching too much about Christmas.  Seems that she is Jewish and angry the school is making a false impression on her child.  Interesting thing is the response from some of the parents of different faiths, including muslim, saying that they enjoy Christmas and don't mind in the least!!   :)

Nice thing happened the other day.  The owner of our 1/2 cat, Billy, phoned to say a lovely thanks for all our help and give a report on his progress. They are really a lovely couple, busy with two small children and work.  I felt badly about my grumbling and deleted my post, not usually upset by people.  Was a bad day health wise and lately doesn't take much.....

Took my daughter and Grand out for lunch today, then we went and bought a couple of cases of dog and cat food, etc. and went to the SPCA with a donation of money, etc.  They are so grateful for help and take such good care of the animals at this SPCA.  We find it hard to see all the animals so looking for love.  Would vol. if it were closer as they have folks come in to brush and pet them.  A young vol. was sitting brushing and playing with them while we were there and they had the nicest little pup and a black cat in the office. 

No rain today and cold, but no more signs of snow at this time.  I hope we have had our quota for this winter.  Love Etta Sues pictures ... brrrr!

Pleasant Day/Evening and God Bless.

Liz

Liz, that's lovely that the new owner phoned you.  That means a lot--at least it sure would mean a lot to me.

How lovely to go out to lunch, Liz!!  Do it as often as you can.  We're not getting any younger! 

Love

Pat

Thank Al, for your comment on the devotional.

A friend and I have been studying in depth the devotionals in "My Utmost for His Highest" for about 4 months now and they have been just wonderful.

I will attempt another short post---good thing I can "see" my keyboard with my fingers, and hope for not too many mistakes.

We had a sweet surprise today.  Grandson Mark and his girlfriend Meme came up and spent the afternoon with us.  They sat at my computer watching a slide show of my Peru photos for quite a while.  We went to the Home to say hello to Beth and Mom, then Darrel and I took the kids to dinner.  (Mexican food.)

See you tomorrow, and hope the world isn't still flickering.  ^-^

Pat :  I saw your sentence about it being "good to be busy" and 2nd that - I was really on the go today and feeling so tired but your sentence brought me up.  It is fortunate to be able to be busy.  Both of us have had days when we could not do anything for health reasons and I tend to forget about that as soon as those days are over.  Anyway, really loved your devotion.

 ;)  Good early morning to you alll.  I  have been able to browse through the post's and it is great to here how you all doing.  My oldest brother is here from Scotland so we have been doing some things and some visiting a;; over the place so it keeps us very busy.   I cannot believe that my grandson is just over six weeks old the time goes so fast.  Also my granddaughter was born Sept the 20th. it is hard to believe that she is 2 months.  We are haveing fun when we are with them.

At the time of Christmas our kids will be here but our middle son and his wife cannot come as they live in an other province and we will miss them big time. :)

Pat:   Thankyou for your devotional it was great and also pray and hope that you look after yourself.

To  all who have contiued to post may you all have a blessed and successful  Christmas  and New Year . God Bless  :coffee:

After having dug out from under the 9+ inches of snow we got over the weekend, it's nice to get out and drive around and not get stuck. Sunday morning was a trip after shoveling the driveway we took my truck to church. My wife's car would have bottomed out in the snow blocking our side street from the main road. Amazingly we actually had a church service, though I found out later there was an e-mail sent out telling people not to come to church because of the weather. There were about 20 people and everyone sat in the center section.

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Smokey:  Congratulations on making it to church & a few other members as well.  And, everyone sat together, not scattered.  Isn't it funny how people tend to go and sit in the same side and nearly the same spot?  We do!  I guess we like that view and it isn't too close and we can hear better from that spot.  The only problem on some Sundays when we have to drive to Denver right away - we can't get out really quickly.   ;)  Actually, I would hate to have any emergency evacuation of that - there is one other exit but mainly people go through one main door to the foyer.  To me, it isn't the best arrangement but I am always looking for emergency exits and how to get out of a building so - that is an oddity in itself.  Now, how on earth did I end up writing so much on this?  Anyway, glad that you made it over the snow.

Our streets are pretty good here but icy in the parking lots & we sure don't want to fall.  The news on that ice storm in the midwest showed people actually slipping and falling.  There are some ice cleats that you can buy that attach to shoes and you can walk on the ice carefully.  We never used to get ice storms but that might be useful - the ice cleats I mean - when ice happens.  

Enough about the weather.  I am waiting for Don - he has another terrible night's sleep.  He wakes me, not snoring but just waking up so often.  Perhaps he should go to a sleep clinic as I have encouraged.  

I have a haircut today and then we are meeting younger friends at a grill for dinner.  Yesterday, baked two meatloaves, and our dinner of a tiny roast at the same time and froze the meatloaves - then, baked carrot/granola cookies - cleaned the kitchen - washed & ironed.  My back...... Don's back is really bad right now and he has to use the heated pad that also vibrates.  Just one of our feeling achy & old times.  

Prayers for everyone - Carol

Colin     Your poem about the tree - it just shows with clarity what we can be reminded of at all times if we only open our thoughts to what the Lord wants us to see and learn.  Thank you for all of your creative works - a wonderful gift to all of us.

Carol

God's people eagerly watched and longed for the promised Messiah.  So many of the prophets spoke of Him and glowingly described His everlasting reign.  And then the announcement came to Joseph - "You shall call His Name Jesus, for it is He Who shall save His people from their sins!"  "It is He!!!!"  The long-expected One, the Christ, anointed as Prophet, Priest, and King, yet born in a manger!  He is COME!  He lived, spoke in God's Name to people who came thereby to know true salvation, was crucified, burried, and rose again to  the right Hand of the Father, and everlastingly lives to be our wondrous Advocate.  Oh blessed arrival!  Should not God's amazing love be reflected in the love we express through gifts to one another at this time of year?  Oh never mind that some don't want the word "Christmas" expressed in public.  Let's celebrate His advent, not a "Christ - mass.

Hi everyone.  It is 1 pm and I am just now eating my lunch.  I have had a very busy morning but the rest of the day shouldn't be so busy.  After coffee I stopped aa the drugstore for a couple of items and came home and wrapped the last 4 Christmas packages.  I thought I was through with that yesterday, except for Pat's gift, but she remembered three other gifts that needed to be wrapped.  Then I had somewhere to go for the rest of the morning. 

Pat, thanks for the devotional.  I always like Chamblers writings.  I have his book and believe it came with a CD with the material in a digital format, if I can locate it.

Carol, I got an e-mail last evening from a cousin in Devner saying our last living aunt had fallen on the 2nd of December on ice in front of the retirement community where she lives and laid out in the cold for over an hour before anyone found her.  She has been hospitalized and now is in a rehab center.  She thinks she will be able to return to her apartment but her daughter is very doubtful as she is really weak and will at least initially go to her house after the rehab.  My aunt is 86 years old.

Ivalou was told last night at the sleep clinic that she stopped breathing 85 times for at least 10 seconds during her first sleep test.  Last night she wore a CPAP to see how well that worked for her.  She will know the results sometime next week. 

I got up at 8am and called Ivalou to see if she would like to go to Lapel for breakfast.  So I went to the bank and got some money from the ATM machine.  Then to Woody's for breakfast.  I told Ivalou to order me some coffee while I go get stamps at the post office.  It was still closed...would open in 10 minutes.  So went back to Woody's.  We both had a great breakfast and talked to several people we know.  One is leaving for Florida for three months after Christmas.  Said Florida is a waiting room for Senior citizens!!  So after breakfast, I went back for my stamps. 

We then went to the drug store and ended up at the Dollar General.  So we shopped Lapel...and believe me, that is about the only stores for shopping!! 

A few minutes after I got home, the phone company van was in my drive.  Seems that at the intersection west of me, a snow plow knocked over the junction box and there was snow inside of it.  He cleaned out the snow and voila! no static on my phone! 

That's about it for now.  Bright and sunny in Indiana and the temperature is ABOVE freezing!!!  Hurray!  Now for a nice snow for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.....and then warm up to 70° and stay there!  I can dream, can't I?  ???

I love your poetry, Colin!  My folder is getting stuffed on my computer.  I just love going back and re-reading them all.

Just in to say hello

I have been busy with going to the chiropactor  twice weekly which is helping, he is giving me a rest until after the New Year then will check things out again.   Then somehow finding time to take my Aunt for groceries (she needed groceries when I had the least amount of time) I do my best and keep going.

Today we had to go to a workshop for the school bus all I can say enough is enough and I will be glad when my day of retirement arrives. It was to have been an hour and the speaker did not know how to shut up I left soon after the hour my time is valuable.  The rest of the day was fine infact one of the children gave me a Christmas Gift.

Blessings to all        Ruth

I loved that "Bell" piece!
I hope you don't mind, I posted it on my blog.

Hi everyone.  Have a few minutes before leaving for coffee and will go directly from there to the church for Bible Study.  Pat overdid yesterday and is paying the price today so told me she was staying home this morning.  This evening I have the last choir practice for the year.  We will be working primarily on one piece that we are doing Sunday and haven't practiced very often.  It is suppose to be a little warmer here today.

Etta Sue, glad you got your phone fixed.  Guess your phone calls were being filtered by snow.  It sounds like Ivalou definitely needs the CPAP.

Pat, I very seldom go back into my e-mail and usually only keep it for 60 days or so.  There are some exceptions that I keep a lot longer.  Fortunately with Gmail I really don't have to worry about exceeding my space to store.

Ruth, when are you retiring.  Unfortunately some people just cant stop listening to themselves talk.

Hope everyone has a good day and hi to all who stop by later today.

Smokey!!  So very happy you enjoyed that bell!  I had it sent to me in an email so it's great that you put it on your blog!

Larry, I love gmail just for that reason.  I don't delete anything but spam--I just archive it.

Good morning from another bright, sunny Indiana.  It is suppose to get above freezing so maybe the streets will clear along with my driveway. 

I am taking Ivalou to get her protime blood test today and then we will stop for groceries.  Saturday we are invited to Kaye Don's daughter's (Robin) home for Christmas with her family and her siblings.  I went last year and it is so much fun to be with them.  Kaye Don and Barb will be missed.  Then I will spend Christmas Day with Ivalou and her family!  So we need to get food in to prepare for both meals. 

Inky has been sick to her stomach and I finally realized...duh...that it was the substitute food I got when the vet didn't have the food I normally used.  I put food in their bowl before going to bed so they will leave me alone in the night.   ::)  Every night for three nights, Inky got sick and always on carpet!  :clobber:  Night before last, I got up, cleaned up the messes, threw all the substitute food in the trash and filled the bowl with their normal food.  She hasn't been sick since.  A different cat really.  Doesn't act scared.  Her eyes are tiny slits instead of big black 8 balls!!

Etta Sue, our pets can sure get sick with a different brand than they're used to.  I'm glad Inky is back to regular food and you've gotten rid of that nasty old make-me-sick-to-my-stomach food.  Must have been something in it Inky was allergic to...or maybe just the sudden change.  I'm glad it's all well there in Inky World now.

We are raining here, and more with winds is forecast. 

My daughter is coming today to spend a few days.  Her son, my grandson(hehe)lives here, and she has lots of friends, so she wants to stay till Sunday and visit.  She's a big gift giver, so she'll be loaded with those too.  She is a sweetheart.  She's the one who lost her husband to a motorcycle accident 3 years ago.  She shared with me that this year has been the hardest. :(   She's strong and I know she will be ok.

Just wanted to pop in and say good morning.  I won't be around for a few days.  That probably is no surprise, as I often am not around. lol  But just wanted you to know.  Blessings,  Nita

Good Morning I only have a few minutes before I leave for Tai Chi then on to work after that to the Hand surgeon and to my other job.

I need a recipe for Potato soup and there is not one in our recipes.

Etta Sue I am glad you figured out what was making Inky sick.  Our pets are so precious to us and we do need to see to all their needs. My two seem not to be able to get enough of my attention lately, it must be that I am gone all day and they miss me, so I do spend a lot of time petting them and spoiling them.

Marilyn, I remember Etta Sue posted a recipe for potato soup a long time ago.  Whether or not it is still there, I have no idea.  I remember it used instant potato flakes.

Our cat is so spoiled since she became an "only child."  She loves to take the ornaments off the tree.  This morning, she ate something off the tree and was having a terrible time, but ran from me and wouldn't let me see what she had in her mouth.  Seemed she couldn't get it up or down!  She's a sweet cat---named Dinah.

I am going along with Grandson Mark to Liberal this afternoon.  He has his final check with Dr. Rane from the burns he got at work last summer; and I need to buy three more gifts and get more of my Christmas cards.  And I love spending time with Mark!  :)

Curtis, Toni and the baby, Alexis, are coming today from Los Lunas, N.M. to Kansas, of course we look forward to seeing them!

My vision is really bad this morning, but I'm believing for it to improve each day.  It is very unhandy having to use a magnifying glass for everything.

Hi, Larry!  Hi, Etta Sue!  And Pat, and Smoky, and Nita, and Ruth, and Marilyn,  and.....all of you!  May you each have a wonderful day!

Hi Everyone!

It's about 1 degree celcius above zero and things are actually thawing out!  That's wonderful.  I heard that on Sunday it's supposed to be 7 degrees celcius and that's high!

I have a friend coming to stay for awhile and they'll be surprised after our week of freezing cold snow storms!!

Thanks to all who commented on my poem. Pat I tried to put in some more pics and have been told I am over the quota or something like that. Can you help me? Hi everyone else.

Well, it's definitely raining here today.  I think we'll stay above normal.  Thanks be to our Father, for watering and refreshing His earth.

I gotta get a little preparation done - I have two fellows as students in NT Greek at 6PM.  So I gotta run.

Well I saw the Orthopaedic Surgeon today, He put me in a different brace and we discussed several options. He said I have severe arthritis in both hands that showed up on the x-rays. He said he could give me a Cortisone shot to relieve the pain and it may and may not last up to a year or not even  work at all. here there is also the option of surgery in which he would go in and removed the tiny bone at the end of the long thumb bone then remove a piece of tendon  from my arm and stretch the remaining down to  meet where he removed the piece, roll up the small piece to form a "pillow" for the long bone to rest on. I would be in a cast a bout 3-4 months. However he said I could still work as long as I don't do any lifting and just keep on doing what I am currently doing.

Is this TMI?

Sounds like a lot of "procedure," Marilyn.    ???  Which will you opt for, or have you decided yet?  Whatever helps, I would say.   :-\

I have been w/o internet service for a few daze ... First, my ISP went down Saturday morning and stayed that way until Monday afternoon.  I guess no one works on the weekends.   :-\  It has been rather iffy since then.  But.... here I am now so I'll just "hey" to all y'all and skeedaddle outta here before I get shut out again. 

I've had a lot of reading to catch up on but I think I have that accomplished now.

See y'all later ...............

Good morning.  Early here.  Well, early for Etta Sue.  Still dark. 

Kitty and I are going out for breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  Then going to her house so she can fix lunch for her hubby.  Then she is to have a mammogram this afternoon so will go there.  She needs ink for her printer and it is at Robert's Camera Store.  By then we should be hungry again and we will stop at Don Pablo's.  Then to her house.  She made a DVD book of pictures that her grandson took in St. Louis this summer.  Alex is 10.  I want to watch it.  Then we plan to make Christmas Wreaths with corn flakes, marshmallows, syrup and green food coloring.  Then red hot to make them look like berries.  Full day....our Christmas present to each other!! 

That's it.  Suppose to get to 42° today and no rain until this evening.  Sounds like a nice day really!

I read an article in an Arthritis magazine I picked up in the Dr. office yesterday that says there is a less invasive procedure. There is a new implant out now that  replaces the  piece they take out it  and it dissolves over time as the new tissue grown in to fill that space. It acts like a spacer.

I go back in three week, In the mean time I will see the Hand Therapist twice per week starting Jan 3rd. I will probably do the cortisone shot first as the Dr. said my hand is not ready for the surgery yet, although I will discuss the new procedure with him.

The doctor said that the lower thumb joint is the most common place for Arthritis in the hands.  

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Quote from: Pat on December 20, 2007, 10:06:37 AM

O Little Town of Bethlehem  (http://www.christianphotographers.com/sounds/christmas/olittle.mid)

One of the thing I enjoy when visiting this site are the songs and hymns that I can listen to.  Thanks Pat

While there is a lull in my working on our classes 50th reunion I can not only look in but take that time to post.

What did we do before ATM machines?

Recipes for Potato Soup:  My mother being a great cook never had recipes.  She just added a little of this and a little of that. Once I asked her for her recipe for tomato soup cake.  She had a hard time writing down what she did...but the cake came out great when we folowed her directions.

Implants:  Wow what a great thing and yes it is my thumb that hurts at most times, though other joints join in the fun at other times.

Our family celebration is only 2 days away.  26 people in one house is a lot of noise and a lot of fun.  It is also one of the few times during the year when we are all together at one time.

I am the annual reader for the childrens part of our Christmas Eve service.  This year the story is about one of the camels that carried one of the three wise men to Bethlehem.  "Humphries First Christmas"

I want to take this time to thank all of you for your contributions to this site....makes it kinda homey.  Thanks to those of you that are administrators.....in order to keep this site operational.  Not knowing who started this site, I my thanks goes to Pat for inviting me here long ago.

Merry christmas everyone !

Hi Ed!!!!!!!!!  Are ya snowed in? :snowball:  Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Great to see you Ed and I'm so happy that you enjoy the music and carols.  It's lovely to hear that.  I know that I also enjoy them.  ;)  I hope you drop in again very, very soon.  Have a wonderful Christmas.

Hi Samantha!  How are you and the family?  I've been praying for you.

hello to all:

I enjoy all of the CP site although I do not spend a lot of time in any one particular place except for here.

It was asked when am I going to retire well it was going to be Christmas now I have extended it to perhaps June but it could also be sooner depending on one thing and Pat you will know who said it often if you can not say anything good do say anything at all, and that is me right now.  Feeling down about a lot of things.

I am feeling very tired so will see ya all another time.    Ruth

Hi everyone.  I had a very busy day yesterday doing research and then making decisions about getting DSL Lite for our daughter.  I got two different stories from ATT but guess the first one wasn't from the right section of the company.  It ended up that I was able to get DSL Lite (768K) for $19.95 a month.  I then ordered a new device that is out called Magic Jack that plugs into the USB port on your computer and to tha you put in the phone line and you can make unlimited local and long distance calls anywhere in the US and Canada for $20 per year.  This will provide her phone service.  She has been using prepaid cell phone minutes and those have become very expensive.  The device has a one time cost of $20 plus $6.95 shipping.  My friend Rod has one of these and I borrowed it yesterday and tested it out, including long distance calls to Missouri and South Carolina.  I also ordered the device and service for our home and we will be able to drop our long distance service and save over $200 a year and if I decide to drop my local service as well it will save us over $700. You can see what I am talking about if you do a Google search for Magicjack.

Ruth, it is a nice feeling to know you can retire at any time.  I am sure you will make the right decision.  It is too bad your last working months have not been pleasant.

Pat, glad it is warming up a bit up your way.  We are finally getting some decent rain this morning.  There is more in the forecast for the next several days.

Ed, this fine site was started by Pat several years ago.  I sort of have lost track how old the site it.  She gets the credit for its fine design and keeping it going.

Hi Samantha, nice to see you posting.

Marilyn, it sound like doing the shot is the least drastic and the other can be done later if the shot doesn't help.  I am sure your dogs do miss you while you are gone each day.

Etta Sue, cats really have delicate stomachs unless they live in the wild and then who knows since they wouldn't be getting prepared cat food.  It sounds like you have a number of fun events coming up during the next few days.

Jane, isn't it frustrating when your ISP doesn't work and you keep testing without results and wonder if it is ever going to come back.  Glad you are back online now.

Al, how many students do you have studying Greek?

Hi Colin.

Janet, I know you are enjoying having your grandsons around for the holidays.  Sorry that your eyes aren't improving as quickly as you had hoped.

Nita, I know you are going to enjoy your time with your daughter.  Good to see you posting.

I am driving to coffee this morning but have a pretty clear slate for the rest of the day.  I need to make a trip to the bank a little later but don't have any other scheduled activities.

Hey Larry!

That phone service sounds wonderful.  I'm going to keep that in mind.

As to when we first started:  Here's a link to our very first topic:

http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=2.0

Good Morning, To one and all who enter here today.

Ed  check out thee websites Artificial Joint Replacement (http://www.eorthopod.com/public/patient_education/6562/artificial_joint_replacement_of_the_thumb.html),
New Options for Joint Pain (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6384370), andThumb Joint reconstruction (http://www.nyphysicaltherapy.net/Home/PatientEducation/tabid/3433/ctl/View/mid/5695/Default.aspx?ContentPubID=267)

Larry my hand is not ready for surgery yet, It is not bad enough. I haven't decided yet on the Cortisone injection. For now it is the new brace and Hand Therapy we will see how that works out. I  just want the pain to go away. The Doctor said that my x-rays showed sever Arthritis in both hands. God healed me  10 years ago  of this and it was worse then than now. I believe God is going to heal me again.

Thank you Etta Sue for your reply to my email about the Potato Soup. I have looked at so many recipes that I think I can make it in my sleep now that I have althes recipes in my head.  :lol:

It is all frozen outside this morning, the paper said it would be 29° overnight, it was 33° at 8PM Brrrrrrr :snowball: :snowman: Well no snow here anyway.

Marilyn's right - thankfully no snow here - but I do see lots of frost on the roof next door.  But no rain this morning, either.  We've had a goodly amount so far this year, and we're a little above normal in rainfall.

Marilyn - thankfully, we can always know that it is God alone Who heals, whether by medical means or without medical means.  All the laws of nature are His laws, and man may only use them under His sovereignty.

Happy Friday to all of you!

We had a fun evening at the kids' last night.  The plan was to have Christmas with Meme before Mark drives her back to Salina today.  Her mother and two brothers are to arrive there today from California; her maternal grandparents live there.  Anyway, she was having such a good time, enjoying being around an intact family, she begged to stay until Sunday!  (Her parents are split, have been fighting over custody of the boys for FOUR years, bad scene I guess.)  So anyway, permission was asked and given for her to stay longer.  So we get to have an extra Christmas celebration.  Curtis and Toni are there, with baby Alexis, so this Grams was in seventh heaven!  And I get to do it all again tomorrow!!  Life is good.  :)

Larry, what a good deal that sounds like for telephone service!!  I'm going to have Darrel take a look.  Between cell phones and two lines here (one is a dedicated fax line for his business) our phone bills are WAY too high!  Thanks for the information.

Etta Sue, you girls have a lovely day today!  :thumbsup:

Marilyn, I think I would opt for the cortisone shot and get the pain under control right away.  But you know what you think best.  Good luck with it.

Ruth, I always remember little Flower the skunk in the movie Bambi saying "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."  So cute and what a good lesson or advice for all of us.  I do hope things improve on your job, and sorry you're having a rough patch.  ((((hugs))))

Hi, Ed!  Good to "see" you!

I have lots to do today, getting ready for daughter and family from Salina who are coming in the morning!

Hey, Pat!  How are you?

Jane, glad you could get in long enough to say HOWDY, at least!  Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.

I see Al has popped in while I was typing---hi, Al!

See you later!

What a great time Kitty and I had together!  What a wonderful 'gift exchange' with each other....our time together.  We ate at Cracker Barrel, then went to Kitty's.  I watched a DVD that she put together for Alex, her grandson, of pictures taken when Bob and Kitty took him to St. Louis.  She also got kits to make books of pictures of the trip and one of Katie growing up.  Well, she isn't grown up yet...will be two in March!.  Kitty fixed lunch for us and Bob came home from work and ate with us.  Then we were off for Kitty to get a mammogram.  She was done in less than an hour which surprised her.  I told her I know why!  Then I let her know that everyone in the mammogram office that was leaving was saying Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Everyone was getting 12 days off for Christmas and New Year and Kitty was the last patient! 

Then we went to the Half-Price Book store and to Robert's Camera Shop.  Then to Don Pablo's and then home.  I am so glad I am not a shopper and have to face that traffic daily!  Worse than Florida in the wintertime!! 

Now I thought I was getting to stay home today but Ivalou had a mammogram yesterday also and they called her to come back today for more imaging.  One area is iffy so she wants me to go with her.  They told her they would have the answer for her today.  So at least, she won't have to wonder over Christmas if there is or isn't anything to be concerned about. 

So I best be getting on doing the things I like to do daily on the net.  Also doing some laundry!

Hi Janet!  I'm just fine thanks!  Just trying to get tidying done before tomorrow!  ;)

Etta Sue, I'm continuing to pray for Ivalou. 

God bless you both.

Would We Know?

If we had been the shepherds one night long ago,
I wonder if we'd recognize the star or if we'd know
The reason for His birth and if we'd really go
To worship at the manger.  I wonder, would we know

Is it really any different than if Jesus came today
I wonder, would we recognize His face in any way
Or would we turn away from Him
Not knowing what to say.

If Jesus walked among us in our hurried, busy pace,
I wonder if this stranger would really find a place.

Source Unknown

I get teary-eyed just thinking about the Christmas music at church.  It brings on so many memories.

Snowing a little here but 3 in. today south of Denver.  We had wind - good grief.  Glad that we didn't have to take the freeway.

Larry:  It is so upsetting to even think of your aunt injured and alone in the freezing cold.  I am so sorry. 

Some of the Christmas cards are bringing sad news of losses of old friends. 

Terribly on the go much too much this season and I can't control it but thankful to be healthy enough to keep on going.  Carol

I'd like to challenge us all to remember each day of the next year the meaning and implications of our Lord's advent - of His coming into this world in just the way He came and for just the reasons He came.  Let's be challenged to avoid forgetting His coming.  Let's not let it be only a once-per-year remembance and celebration.  Amen?

Amen, Al!

What a great challenge for sure.

Larry:    Does the phone line through the computer echo back when you are talking?   Some of the phone deals that we have in Canada which I am using one does echo and I have to be aware to whom I call because they might not hear  well, age of the person is the real hinderance.  

This was the last day of work for 2 wks and that feels real good.  I now have some time to myself to reflect.    I went to Wal Mart this morning and although the store does not really matter but I met a friend that had lost her husband 2 -3 years ago at the time she did not drive as she felt that she was too nervous but not  long ago she gave it a shot at trying and yes she is now driving for the first time ever and I think she is between 50 & 60 yrs young.  Good for her.

Until tomorrow.     Ruth  

Hi Ruth!   I remember the days of two weeks off!  But that was before I was in the office and then we didn't have much time off at all!  :(   Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

I have company arriving tomorrow so been a busy day today getting ready for this.

I just read what I posted about Ivalou having to return to the Women's Center.  It sure sounded like I was calm but my insides were doing flip-flops.  But those flip-flops were unnecessary!!!  Thank God, there was nothing to be concerned about.  But she does have to return for another mammogram in June!  Great news from God for Christmas.  You know, whether it is good news or bad news, God helps us turn the bad into good and if it is already good, my, how we praise God for the good.

Today Ivalou and I have been invited to Kaye Don's oldest daughter, Robin's home for his children to celebrate Christmas with a meal.  Kaye Don has four children, Robin, Tracy (a man), Lezlie and Keri and their spouses, their grandkids and a g-grandchild.  Not sure if the g-g will be there.  They live in Philly.  And Lezlie lives in Michigan.  But whoever is there, it will be great!  Kaye Don and Barb will miss it. 

Well, the temp is almost springlike today.  The high is to get to 52°!!!  It never got to freezing all night.  All the snow is off my deck and there is only patches of snow elsewhere.  Doesn't look like a white Christmas in Indiana....good for those who have to travel! 

Hi everyone.  I will start this posting and then finish after I get back from coffee.  We ended up getting very little rain here yeserday, just cool and damp and chilly.  Pat had a doctor's appointment around 3:30 so I took her up to the mall area, not a fun place to go this time of year.  I did go to Fry's as they had a very good sale on AA batteries and I stocked up with about 200 of them and will give some to our granddaughter to use with the toys that require batteries.  Had a quiet evening at home and went to bed early. 

Pat, since we have retired I find that I just never have time off anymore.  :) Hard to believe you have had this site open for almost 4 years.  The time goes by so quickly.

Ruth, on the MagicJack, I only used it a short time and my friend has only used it for brief periods but have had no problem with echo although when I called my son's cellphone he said he was getting a bit of an echo and some dropped words.  When I called him back on his house phone we had a crystal clear connection at both ends.  I am sure there may be some calls that the quality won't be as good as the phone company but you can always hang up and dial right back for a different connection over the Internet.  I will know more about that after using it for awhile.

Al, a very good reminder concerning the holiday and remembering all year long.

Carol, I think my aunt's situation is a good example of why older folks should not go out alone at night especially with icy conditions.  She probably would have been all right if she could have gotten her garage door open but couldn't for some reason so drove around to park in front of the building.  She was fortunate that she didn't break a hip.  We are getting some bad family news from the Denver area as learned last night that my cousin's wife, who helped me so much with the family reunion, is to have a mastectomy right after Christmas. 

Etta Sue, you certainly had a busy day with Kitty but it sounds like you had a throughly enjoyable one.  I hope Ivalou gets a good report back from the second imaging.  My best friends wife just went through that same situation yesterday and had the followup and was assured she was fine.  It is certainly making their holidays much brighter. (See you posted while I was posting that Ivalou got a good report.)

Janet, glad your family get togethers will continue a little longer and it sounds like Meme would like to be a part of your family.

Marilyn, glad to read that you are not having to do something about your hand immediately and if it is in God's will I am sure he will deliver you from the pain once again.

I have a meeting to attend this morning and then will grab a sandwich and head down to Atlanta to pick up our daughter for the holidays.  Not looking forward to the drive but sure it will be fine.

Wish I could drop down there, Etta Sue, and enjoy a coffee with you both!

Larry, that's not good news about your Denver family!  Take care and drive carefully to Atlanta!  Yes, 4 years!  Imagine that!

Hello everyone,  I finally have sometime to get caught up with my Internet reading. I have been so busy this morning cleaning , washing,  shopping and taking the dogs to the groomer (where they are now) I have done more laundry today than I usually do in two weeks. I washed all the dogs bedding, the sofa cover and the covering I keep on my bed as well as the two lord of my regular laundry.

I now have everything assembled on the table that I need to make my pumpkin cheesecake. I have to make it today as I will not have time  on Sunday or Monday. I will be working on Monday morning and in the afternoon making the soup for that evening and doing more straghtening up before the kids get here at 6PM.

Amen Al!!

Larry sorry to hear about your cousin's wife and your aunt. That I forgot to mention the other day.

Today my hands do not hurt Praise the Lord.

hello all,
it is very cold here and only getting colder. snow all over the place and supposed to get more tuesday night last i saw brrr. i don't like the snow too many travelers right now to mess with it all :( anyways hope all is well and christmas is good have a good week everyone
Sarah

Good Morning Everyone!

It's pouring rain here and Geordie sure didn't want to stay outside long this morning!

My company arrived from Virginia and now I must get breakfastt ready and then we'll be off to church.

I'll chat with you later...

Good Morning. All is well here. Good nights sleep and I've had my breakfast, and put on my makeup. The dogs are so nice and clean all spiffied up. They were sure happy to see me  when I went to pick them up.

Pat how is your Gyp doing? You only mentioned Geordie in your post.


All I have left to do in preparation for Christmas is make the potato soup for tomorrow night and bake the ham for Christmas day. I made my pumpkin cheesecake yesterday.

I pray you will all have a very blessed day.

Hi everyone.  I have a few minutes before leaving for church.  Yesterday morning I woke up with the tingling, raspy throat feeling and it seemed to progress a bit during the day but didn't feel bad.  So last night when I went to bed I put Vicks on the bottom of my feet and put on socks and went to bed.  I had read about people doing this with good success on the SeniorNet site so decided I had nothing to lose.  While I stilll have a bit of throat conjestion this morning the cold certainly isn't worse so will probably do the same thing tonight.  I was fearful that I wouldn't be able to sing in the choir this morning and our bass section is down a couple of men today so sure wanted to be able to sing.

I am going on to church and then Pat and our daughter will come up about 30 minutes later.  Our daughter is having such a time with the two herniated disks that sitting a long time is very uncomfortable but she wanted to go to church, which is such a blessing as for many years she wouldn't go to church.  I don't know whether we will go out to lunch but rather suspect we will.  Pat spent a lot of time in the kitchen yesterday fixing various Christmas related things.

Pat. glad your company arrived safely and know that will make your holiday time very enjoyable.  We are so glad to live in the South this time of the year and not have to worry about bad weather and the roads.  For many years we make the trip to Missouri at Christmas and it was always a challenge, although many years in the past they didn't have snow until after Christmas.

Sarah, hope you have a nice Christmas and don't have to be out too much in that bad weather.  I saw on the news about the snows in the midwest and apparently it has gotten to your area this time.

Marilyn, your pumpkin cheesecake sounds very good.  It sounds like you are a cleaning dervish (what every that means).  :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Lord's Day.

Pat ~ I, too, wish you would drop down here for a cup of coffee or even hot chocolate.  I have some tea, too, so you can pick your choice. 

Brrrr!  The temperature dropped 20° while I was in church today.  The wind is fierce.  Woke me up in the night and this house is so sound, I hardly hear anything outside!  I see Mother Nature has trimmed my Maple Trees....twigs all over the yard, front and back.  But the sun is shining and the solar heat just came on. 

This morning in church we had one service and then there was two Childrens Programs.  Really cute programs...some adults, some teens and a whole lot of little ones singing and reciting Bible verses.  The story was the one boy's school assignment was to ask people what their best Christmas was...where?  when?  why?  In the end, it was decided the best Christmas ever was in Bethlehem, when Jesus was born because he came to save all of us. 

Tonight I am going with Ivalou to her church's Christmas Cantata and tomorrow night I plan to go with Ivalou to her church's candlelight service. 

Hi!  I didn't even turn on my computer yesterday.  I worked all day preparing food, as we were to have our family Christmas at Diane's last evening.  Well, plans got changed.  Youngest daughter, Kerri, and family left home north of Salina about 7:30 AM, but only got about 30 miles from home before turning around and going back home.  The snow was coming down, the wind was blowing hard; it was almost a total white-out.  And they couldn't see where the edges of the highway were, either.  She called to tell me they were going back home, and of course, I said the important thing was for them to be safe.  We can get together another time when it doesn't put them in danger.

We went to Diane's anyway, but did not take Beth, as I don't know what we would do if caught out on the roads with her.  She wasn't upset about it and we will take her tomorrow.  The kids and grands all decided to wait until tomorrow night to open gifts, as that's when we usually do it.  We had prepared a traditional turkey dinner (I did most of it) with lemon pie and coconut cream pie, etc., so everyone got more full than necessary!  Then we watched Shreck 3 (they did, I couldn't stay awake!) and we got home about midnight.  So I'm rather drowsy today.

Pat and I are going to the care home to have Christmas with Beth, Gloria, Doris and Eugene and Mom this afternoon.  We will go get a pizza for their supper as a little extra treat.

It's fun to read about others' plans for Christmas, and sometimes we get some good ideas that we hadn't thought about ourselves.  :)

Pat, say hello to your company, and you all have a wonderful time!

I came back to say that we got a beautiful snow, probably about 5 inches.  It is melting fast today, so the roads should be fine tomorrow!

I called my brother and we had a nice conversation per usual but it hurts me that I am always the one to think of calling him and he rarely calls me.  That is just the way it is and another youngest brother hasn't called either of us for about 12 years after our parents died. 

Larry:  Hope and prayers for your relative who is having the cancer surgery.  I just heard from a cousin that he has prostrate cancer and is scheduled for surgery of some kind.  You made me laugh when I read about Vicks on the feet to stop a cold.  My mother would put Vicks on our necks and then wrap a wool sock around the neck.  My bedroom in Seattle didn't have heat so it always felt pretty good when that sock heated up.  Never have heard of Vicks on feet. 

I made dressing and have it ready to reheat tomorrow, making spicey meatballs for an appetizer and a crab dip.  Made so many things and a Carmel sauce recipe was the most difficult - it does taste fine but surely isn't the beautiful brown color they said it would be, more like a lite coffee.  Have all my clothes ready for church and ready to pack the car.  We sold a car and a day later bought a 4-wheel drive one for the mountains.  What a merry-go-round it has been here, and the next few days, we will visit all four houses with the children plus other gatherings then I am sure we will be ready to come back home and put our feet up. 

Al:  Thank you for your note about remembering how Jesus came to us and not to forget how he left. 

Pat:  Thank you for all the great songs. 

InspiredGal:  Thank you for all the good wishes from you.

Janet:  I have been thinking about all your poor road conditions.  Stay safe.

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Thanks, Carol.  You and Don stay safe, too, in your new four wheel drive vehicle.  Those are good to have on mountain roads!

It isn't quite 8 and I feel it should be close to midnight!  Early to bed for me tonight!

I had a wonderful chat with our sweet Mieka girl this afternoon!  It was SO good to talk to her again.  She is in California right now, but lives in Germany and works in a children's home there.  She loves it.  She says to "tell you all a big HI, especially Pat, and "My Papa John" and Larry, and just everyone!"  I miss that girl!  :)

Time to lock the door, folks! 

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