Christian Photographers Community

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Hey!  I get to be first on this new page!

Good thoughts, Pat.  I have always known that my life, and all that touches it, are part of the greater plans of my Father ... I'm so glad I can be "the darling of His care"  :) 

Thanks, Judy.  For sure, I know O Little Town of Bethlehem!  :)

Now Janet it is your turn to post a carol!!! 

Till then here is another.

Good morning everyone!    :wave:

It's been a while since I have been here, sooo, just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you all. Hope you all have a blessed holiday.

Don

Edit: I know everyone is busy but if you can find a minute say a prayer for me and my family. God knows our needs. I'll do the same for you! Thanks

Hooray!  So good to see a post form Don!!!  

Pat, thanks for that devotional.  It is good to be reminded God always has a plan for every happening in our lives.

P.S.  Jane, I love that new picture!  ;)

I knew I had seen some good news from Gord but I had to go back to last week to find it.  Praise the Lord for answered prayer concerning Gord's little grandson's recovery!   :thumbsup:

Still on the Droid.  Maybe they meant it would be fixed by 11AM instead of PM.

Good Morning everyone

We sure have got real winter, snow and more snow and it is still coming down. No wind but if that happened  oh boy.

From time to time I look at something and say what am I holding on to that for, yes a little more has gone to the garbage - a spot made tidy.     I will be finishing our Christmas cards and getting them in the mail  and also for sure I will be doing the dark sewing(Mending)

This evening the Lion's are hosting a Christmas dinner for the seniors of Nobleton, they also invite some to the ones that had lived here for years to return for old times sake. A large turnout it will be.  Dinner is at 6:30 p.m.

Ruth 

Hi everyone.  Winter seems to have arrived in Georgia as it is currently only 28 degrees and there is a cold wind blowing.  I went to coffee, drove through the bank to make a deposit, also drove through the Kroger pharmacy and my friend, Rod, and I went to the gym to walk.  I walked three rounds and was fine but decided to rest and then walk more rounds.  Unfortunately, while I was resting the chest pain came on so I didn't try to walk any further.  I am still feeling some effect from it but am OK.  

The housekeepers just left.  We have these two delightful ladies, who are cousins of each other, that are doing our cleaning now and they are whirlwinds with lots of energy.  They are here about 2 hours, which my wife appreciates rather than one being here 4 hours.  Now we have a nice clean house again.  I don't expect the yard people today although they may be here since it is the first of the month.  In December, January and February they come just once a month rather than every two weeks.  

My Monday men's group is going to the Hot and Cold Chinese Buffet for lunch today so won't be eating any dinner tonight.  Other than some desk work that will be the extent of my activities today.  I did finish reading a 400 page novel last evening.  I have been on a reading binge the last few days and read two novels with a total of about 800 pages this last week.  I don't ever remember reading two books in that length of time.  I was anxious to finish them as had requested them from the library.  I have no other requests so now can get back to using my ebook reader.

Our daughter is still in the hospital.  Unfortunately this means she is going to miss a long awaited appointment at the pain clinic.  Her GP wanted them to take over her case for pain management and when she saw the GP last week he would not give her a prescription for the pain pills to control the pain in her legs, which is very severe without the medicine.  I don't know where this leaves her as getting appointments is very difficult and her GP is leaving so she will have a new GP for her case.

Etta Sue, glad you have the Droid so that you can check in.  Hope they get you fixed up today.  Is the outage weather related and are you still having snow?

I am glad to see both Gord and Don leaving us a message.  Don, I think probably all of us can relate to the need for prayer for some unspoken needs.  You are right in that God knows and that is what is important.  

Pat, thanks for the devotional for this week.  I firmly believe that my life is in God's hands as the devotional discusses.  

Janet, hard to believe that anyone involved with music wouldn't be able to play the Christmas Carols or would not know them to play the accompaniment on a guitar if they can't play the piano.  In our church we are singing the carols.  This next Sunday evening we are doing our Christmas Cantata and in a couple of the pieces the composer has incorporated traditional Christmas carols with a little different arrangement.

Ruth, hope your dinner tonight is not snowed out.  I am sure you have good snow removal equipment to keep the roads clear. 

Finally.....Internet!  What a withdrawal!! ha!  I have no idea why the internet was out.  Yes.  We have snow and yes, it is COLD!  But this is the longest I have been without DSL ever!  All I was told when I called in was that it was a major outage! 

And did I say it was cold?  Only 8° when got up this morning.  Trash day.  So I called Ivalou to see if hers was ready and it was.  It wasn't too bad taking the trash but coming back I was facing the wind!  I finally put my hood closed over my face so all that was exposed was my eyes!  Brrr!  And my drive was slick from blowing snow and ice.  Ivalou called a few minutes later to see if I was back in the house.  There is a huge pine tree between us and she was afraid I might have fallen and couldn't see me.  We watch out for each other! 

Kitty makes Christmas Mice with cherries, chocolate kisses, melted chocolate, almonds and red jelly squeezable stuff.  I told her I could help her today but I just sent an email and told her I was staying in and would finish the gloves I am crocheting for her.  Brrr!

I did a no-no last night.  I pop my popcorn the old-fashioned way...in a pan with oil and kernels of corn.  I put in three grains and when they pop, I know I can add the rest.  I put the three grains in and then decided to fix an orange to eat also.  I heard a noise and thought to myself...that oil should have popped those grains.  I took off the lid and fire was everywhere!  At least I had sense enough to put the lid back on and take the pan off the burner.  But instantly my house was smoked up and it still stinks!  Needless to say, I didn't have popcorn last night! 

And today while I was talking to Ivalou on the phone, I was looking everywhere for my cell phone and hoping I didn't drop it while taking the trash.  After going in 4 rooms, I realized I was talking on the cell to Ivalou!!   :roflBig:

Pray for me, People!!

Quote from: Etta Sue on December 06, 2010, 11:28:11 AM

And today while I was talking to Ivalou on the phone, I was looking everywhere for my cell phone and hoping I didn't drop it while taking the trash.  After going in 4 rooms, I realized I was talking on the cell to Ivalou!!   :roflBig:

Pray for me, People!![/b]

Etta Sue, I love that!  :lol:    <3

Me too.  Sounds like something I'd do.

Just in from a nice walk along Daytona Beach.  It's chilly and very windy but lovely.  It was so nice to experience the waves and breakers of the Atlantic Ocean.

Don, I'm praying for you and your family.  Thanks for coming in here today and posting as you've been missed a lot.

Etta Sue, thanks for being so "real."  We all do stuff like that, and when we can laugh together, it just makes everything better.  ;D

Don, Praying for you here in Kansas.

We had shirt-sleeve weather today!  SO nice!  Hard to remember that it's December.  But who knows what tomorrow may bring?

Pat, I am curious as to whether you found some nice shells when you went shell hunting?  I LOVE seashells!

Larry, that's such a shame about Stacey's pain Dr. appointment.  Sometimes stuff gets so frustrating, doesn't it?

I think we are going to Darrel's Diabetes Support group meeting tonight.  They are supposed to have goodies and the recipes for Christmas goodies diabetics can enjoy.

My tongue is really bothering me today.  How I wish it would HEAL.

Don WELCOME BACK you have been Missed!!!  I am praying.

Etta Sue I was humting all over the place for a knitting needle.  Ready to search other rooms.....only to realize it was in my mouth~!  I have done that with cooking too...I am outting it down to oldtimers!

Larry sorry about your daughter.   Hope she can get a new GP soom.  

John and I have had a fun day.  I do so enjoy it when he is home.



Pat I knew you would love that......so many memories eh!  I agree with Janet...did you get any shells?

 :)   Hi to all.Well we finally got winter and quite a lot of snow and my wife and I have not been out since last Friday as we both have been sick.

Judy B.  It was good to talk to you last night don't loose any more knitting needels I loose things all the time but I think that Etta Sue's is the best with the cell phone.

Larry.  Sorry that your daughter is still sick and we will remember her :)

Well must go for now as we are having a very late supper by for now. :thumbsup:

Pat:  Thankful for your message today - trials are so true.  Son-in-law (after one year of unemployment) has had a verbal offer & the Swiss company is putting together a package.  I love to walk beaches too! 

Gord:  Wonderful news for the new baby and all of you. 

Don:  Prayers for you and your family. 

Larry:  Stacey just has one trial after another - blessings for her.  Yes, it is a little too rough for us to live up the hill - there are great paramedics though.  Our oldest son helped dig out a fellow snowmobile driver from an avalanche - only the back of the machine was covered but it was a scare.  They carry GPS, cell phone, shovel and all kinds of equipment & it still makes me nervous. 

JudyB:  Sorry about your shoulder problem - surgery is when?  You are a fast knitter! Goats?  Don't ever let one get loose in the house - my brother's wife had a goat that was in the house & they had a time getting it outside.  We still laugh over that scene. 

Jane:  New picture & a new haircut!  Nice. 

Thanks all.  I wasn't that sick, just a stomach flip-flop.  I have been making cookie dough that is rolled & refrigerated then I give a roll of dough to a friend or neighbor.  It is so easy & just fun to hand out.  There are two pot lucks tomorrow - one at church in the morning & one in afternoon.  One on Saturday.  I will have to try to take afternoon walks for sure.  Eldest son & family coming tonight for dinner as they will drive to Fort Worth, Texas for Christmas this year.  Don's birthday on Wed.  Daily cleaning of this kitchen floor is what to dislike.   

Hi everyone.  It is again very chilly in Georgia, only 25 degrees this morning.  McDonald's was chilly but had a nice group of men there today for our morning coffee session.  After coffee we went walking at the gym and I managed to walk 7 rounds before I had to stop. 

Our daughter got out of the hospital about 4 pm yesterday.  They about starved her as had her on a 1200 calorie diet. 

Carol, hope the job works out for your son-in-law.  Will he be able to stay in Colorado or willl he have to move?  Giving the cookie dough is very nice and people can make just a few cookies and have them very fresh and warm out of the oven.

Gord, hope you and your wife are feeling better today.  Watch out for the snow shoveling.

Judy, sure you enjoy the days that John is able to be home.  Glad it was a fun one for you both.  Enjoying the Christmas music you posted.

Janet, does Darrel have any difficulty in controlling his diabetes?  It sure wasn't shirt-sleeve weather down here yesterday or today unless those shirt-sleeves were inside a nice warm coat.

Pat, glad you and Paul were able to enjoy a walk on the beach. 

Etta Sue, glad the fire in the kitchen wasn't serious.  It has been many years since we popped corn the way you do but you sure can't beat it.  Do you have one of those poppers with the stirrer on the top?  I wonder if you can even buy that type anymore.  I think most of us may have experienced the situation where we were looking for something and had it in our hand or pocket.  I recently did that with a writing pen. 

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Dark, cold and windy here this morning and we're not expecting to get up to freezing today.

I've about given up on most of the Christmas decorating.  I start thinking I'll put up the small tree and some lights, then I think of the electric bill.  Then I remember de-decorating and the fact that for the last several years the shed door has been blocked with snow and all the boxes had to be kept someplace in the house.  So I settle for a wreath, made by a friend several years ago, on my front door.

And now I'm off to the dentist to get rid of my last six upper teeth.   :(

YES!!!!  Got some nice little shells in Pensacola and some even littler ones here last night.  :)

I'm going to make a candle arrangement with some of the white Pensacola sand in a nice glass dish when I get home and put the shells around the candle.


Yesterday Lorraine took us to a Thrift Shop! ::)   I bought $22.00 worth of clothes--some with the original price tag still on them!!!  :thumbsup:  We're going to another one today on the way to Smyrna Beach and have fish and chips for lunch.

Good for you, Pat!!  My sis buys a lot of her clothes at the thrift store; and my older sister said this weekend that you can rarely find baby clothes in the thrift stors in their town, as due to the economy, young parents no longer consider it a stigma to buy gently used clothes.  ;)

I have lots and lots of sea shells, but I don't have any pretty white sand.  Maybe I can lobby for a trip to the beach, so I can get some...... ;)  I have been collecting shells ever since becoming a diver.  Some I have found, but have bought the nicest ones.

Happy birthday to Melaura and Gary!

Larry, I am glad your daughter is out of the hospital again.

I have river rocks around my house for landscaping.  I also have sea shells scattered on the east and north side in the river rocks.  Makes me smile when I see a pretty sea shell among the rocks. 

And Jean, I am with you.  Too much trouble for me to put up decorations and then take them down.  I never have much company so no one would see it but me and the kitties.  I did get my red plastic bows from the garage and I like to wire-tie them to spindles on the deck but it is too cold out there to do that right now!  I did get out a little tree that is motion detector that sings Ho HO HO!  Merry Christmas...when you pass by it.  The cats jump each time!!

I see the big truck just drove in my drive to fill up my tank of bottle gas....$$$.  But I haven't had a fill since May! 

Not going anywhere today.  Just want to make a grocery list so when I do go out I can get some groceries.

 :) :hb2: :hb3:  To  GARY  AND  MELAURA AND HOPE THAT YOU BOTH HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

To all others have a great week. :thumbsup: :coffee:

It has been a much nicer day than yesterday with lots of sun.

Our dinner last evening was the best, roast beet, mashed potatoes, mixed veg. a green salad, and cake for dessert, tea or coffee plus a glass of wine if you desired.   
\The entertainment was the guides and brownies singing carols followed by all of us a candy cane.  Then after we ate the Fiddlers group from the area played while those that could danced. 

Then we had a 10 am appointment which we had to have changed as we really did feel that it was later in the day.

Happy Birthdays to all.

Hello!  I found you all again!  hehehe..

We have snow... It will be staying now.......till April....would be nice to have it gone sooner, but that is my estimate. 

Ruth Glad you've had sun we have had snow..... trade places?

HI, Soni Baloney!  I miss you!  Good to have you pop in.

I had a busy day, and have another one coming tomorrow.  But it IS that time of the year!

Quote from: Sonifo on December 07, 2010, 05:41:24 PM
Hello!  I found you all again!  hehehe..

SONI!!!!  I'm soooooooo happy to see your post!  Don't be a stranger now!

Why don't doctors listen to 78 year old ladies about things they've dealt with all their lives?  >:( My GP refused to believe I needed Vitamin K before extraction of my teeth and wouldn't prescribe it.  So I had six teeth removed yesterday and it took over 4 hours before the bleeding stopped enough to stop biting down on gauze 2 x 2's and give up the ice pack.  Today there's still a little "oozing" and I'm avoiding any hot liquids, although my tongue is hanging out for a cup of hot coffee.  And of course I'm only eating very soft things like yogurt and drinking Ensure.  Maybe I'll lose a couple of pounds.   ;) 

Hello, Soni!!!  Come back and tell us all about yourself, those four lovely children, your daughter-in-law AND your precious grandson!  You are too young to be a grandmother!!

Brrr!  Still cold in Indiana.  I took some letters to the mailbox this morning in 8 degree weather.  No wind so it wasn't too bad.  Just glad to be back in the house!

Please pray for my classmate Rex in Mexico.  I haven't heard from him since a week ago yesterday when he called me on his cell phone from Tijuana.  Marina and him were there for her to buy some clothing for her little store in Magdelena and to get her daughter and granddaughter from Cancun at the airport.  They were to go back to Magdelena on Friday but I haven't heard anything.  Just wish someone in the family knew better English AND the computer to let me know...or his son...or his sister.  Just pray that I hear something soon.

Jeanne that is terrible.  Do you have any straws?  Perhaps you could have coffee through a straw?  Perhaps you need a new GP? I know we can't change here...

SONI!!!!!  Welcome back!

I pray you hear something soon Etta Sue.

Now to sing again.

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Judy, I mentioned straws to the dentist and he immediately said not to use a straw.  It puts pressure on the extraction site and makes it bleed more.  I'll just continue drinking my coffee cold for another day or so.

Hi everyone.  It is almost 4 pm and it is only 34 degrees here in the South.  It didn't even get to 40 degrees today. 

I just spoke with Paul and they are planning on stopping here Friday night and then will continue on home on Saturday.  We look forward to another brief visit with them.  I am sure they will have some interesting things to say about their visits in Florida.

Pat and I attended Bible Study this morning but skipped the coffee afterwards.  We needed to do some shopping, including getting gift cards at Walmart for our three great grandchildren.  We did this for their birthdays and they apparently had a great time shopping on the Internet for the toys that they wanted.  Neither Pat nor I are really up to trying to do much shopping.  We are expecting our son and daughter-in-law to be here  on the 26th for our family Christmas.  This was a surprise and we are looking forward to it.  Pat has started to decorate the house a little by doing a little bit at a time.  Our daughter will be here also so it should be a fun day.

We have our next to last choir practice this evening.  I think our music is about ready.  We will have a dress rehearsal on Saturday morning with the orchestra.  I can't wait. 

Jeanne, I remember having one tooth extracted and it wasn't fun.  I can't imagine 6 at one time.  IT sounds like a good time for a lot of ice cream.  :)  Hope you will be feeling much better tomorrow.

I have been in touch with Marilyn and she asked me to e-mail her the entries for CP as she is missing everyone.  For some reason she has not been able to sign on and has tried many different things.  Today I suggested she contact her ISP.  She can get on Seniors and Friends but cannot even get to the CP site.  It makes me wonder about the ISP blocking a Christian site.  Stranger things have happened.

I will not try to address everyone today as it is getting late and I have some other things to do.  I was happy to see Soni pop in for a quick visit. 

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Hi everyone.  Peeked in here before going to coffee and see that only Judy has posted a hymn since I posted yesterday. 

We had a good choir practice last night and Saturday get to practice with the orchestra that is accompanying us on Sunday Evening.  I have been looking forward to these two events for a long time.

I have a quiet schedule today.  After coffee I will send off the Christmas box for our granddaughter and great grandchildren.  While Pat is at Bible study this morning I plan on wrapping her gifts.  She know about all of them but one, which will be a surprise for her, as she picked them out and ordered them.  Carol, yesterday she bought the quilting calculator at Jo-Ann's for a little less than half the normal price.  It looks like a very complicated device.  It is suppose to help figure out exactly how much fabric is needed for a quilt.  Do you have one and if so, do you like it?

Good morning /afternoon everyone!   Cold here today, but I am snug as a bug in a rug.   The dogs are enjoying the time to run and play. 

I am going to get my tea and lets sing again!

Cold here, too, Judy.  Not as cold as you, but cold enough.  I'm nice and snug, too, but I'm going to have to go out twice - once to catch the mail before it gets picked up and once for the impression to be made for my new teeth. 

Another cold day in Indiana.  Only 17 degrees right now!  

As I was preparing my coffee and cereal, I saw a fox in the lane to the woods.  I called Ivalou and she saw him, too!  I left my garage doors open all night twice last week.  I better not do that again or I might come face to face with a fox!  He was real skitterish!  Fox are in Indiana but not too plentiful.

Today is my class luncheon.  Not to enthused about it since it is a buffet at a casino.  Never been there.  But it is $5.95 for everything including your drink so you can't beat that.  And I plan to get in some groceries afterwards.  I am even looking forward to that!  It doesn't take much to please me....

I haven't heard anything about Rex yet.

I haven't yet left the house today.  I was going to go with Beth for her eye appointment, but the dctor was sick, so it got cancelled.

I started doing a little Christmas decorating, and just kept going.  I think I have done about all I am going to do.  I put up a small tree, as don't expect any company this Christmas, except maybe Beth.  But I enjoy the Christmas stuff, so why not?  I sure didn't get everything out, though!

Our weather is still pretty nice.  Sure not the same all across the country, though!

I had a call this morning that I won a prize from the electric company yesterday.  So I will go out and pick it up when I get out.

Larry, so far I have only wrapped one gift!  So you're way ahead of me on that score.

Hi Everyone...

Well, we're leaving Daytona in the morning and heading up to Larry's home.  It will be soooooo nice to see Larry and Pat once again. 

I'm going to miss the ocean waves and breakers here though.  I love the ocean so much.

From Larry's will you be heading back to Virginia?

Pat I think loving the ocean is inbred in us.  I wish I could go to one of the coasts and sit and watch the waves.  Where will you be for Christmas?

Janet you can do my decorating now that yours is done!  I am just not in the Christmas spirit yet.

Maybe singing will help!

We had a sunny and cold day.

My sewing that had been waiting for a long time is now done.

I have a counted cross stitch that is almost finished so that will happen in the next couple of days, then I feel that I will do baking to have on hand for the Christmas season. Carrot pudding and a few cookies as I am planning on it being a quiet day.

Judy: I am enjoying the Christmas music.

It will be good to hear from Marilyn again.

What a lovely Christmas carol that is, Judy!  I love that one.  It's one of my favorites.

Oh, yes...  from Larry's to Winchester, VA--for me for a few days.  I have to watch my time down here.

Pat, where do you plan to spend Christmas?

Judy, that's another song I have never heard.  :)

I got a lot done today by never leaving the house!  Got the Christmas decorating done, along with some cleaning, finished a batch of Christmas cards I was making, wrote my Christmas letter....all time consuming jobs.  And Judy, I'll be right over!  If I don't show up soon, see Etta Sue's advice to me on that subject.  ;)

How I would love to be near the ocean, too, Pat.  Nothing like it!  But I would not want to be on that big cruise ship that is tossing about in those huge waves!  Wow!  What a ride!  Bet they won't soon forget that cruise!

Darrel worked most of the day today!!  I am so happy, as I was getting really concerned as to his state of health.  He has been spending day after day just sitting in his recliner reading.  So I know he is feeling better now!  Thank you, God.

Another sweet little lady at the care home went home to heaven yesterday.  She is the mother of two of our church friends.  So good to know she's with Jesus now---and her husband.

Dear JudyB, I just finished listening and reading the latest Christmas Song... How absolutely lovely. I also listened to "Watchman, Tell Us of the Night"  I recognized the tune and discovered it is the same as "Come Ye Thankful People Come"

I, too, have been working on my Christmas letter which I hope to have emailed and posted soon. I think I am about two weeks later than last year.

My Christmas decorating will probably occur this weekend. I haven't even unpacked anything as yet.

The only time I have been near the ocean was with a family I was working for, as a Mother's Help in 1962. I do have some CD's that help me recall the wonderful experience.

Pat that is one of my favourites as well.  But my all time favourite is "What Child Is This".  We need to answer that question to be sure......

I have baking to do as well.  Thankfully I have a good mixer and don't have the heavy hand mixing to do.

Janet a time of mourning and rejoicing when a sister goes home.

There is another one to listen to Ruth.  Going into town tomorrow....Have a good day.

Stopping in to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.  Sounds like all are very busy getting ready for the holiday season.

I have put up my little tree and a few decorations as my daughter likes to see my little home all smiley.  They are not doing a lot of decorations this year as we are going to have a quiet Christmas.  Wendy is not feeling great and Amanda is not living at home now...  times change....  

We had snow a little while ago.  The kids were away in the US and I was busy outside feeding the rabbits and birds.   There are around 14 different species, including orioles and annus hummingbirds.   In the beginning the birds fought as they didn't realize there was plenty of food for all.  Now they eat together without a squabble.  Woodpeckers, Orioles, blue jays, little birds, including a family of 4 Quail, not a fight or squabble to be seen or heard.  Could be our politicians would benefit from spending time in a garden watching birds.   ;)

Wendy put a box down on the floor today and Squeek took instant advantage.  Despite her senior years and bad arthritis, she never misses an opportunity for a little joy.  

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I hope that all have a wonderful holiday season.

Liz








           

Liz what a wonderful picture of squeek.  How old is she now?  It is good to hear from you come back soon!

Here comes the sun......

Welcome Soni!  Hope you stop by soon.  It looks like a storm brewing in your direction. Take care.

Larry:  Super day coming for all of you with the family and I pray that everyone will be healthy and able to enjoy.  As to the new job for SIL, it is really a downer on pay & no health care paid..  Difficult but you never know, as it could work out later. 

We went to grandson's concert last night & the choir & all musicians played the  Christmas music as well as secular - nice for a jr. & senior high school.  Rare.  Fantastic music - we stood on our feet & roared & clapped.  Don can hear the percussion very well and he loved it. 

I have one day without anything planned.   :coffee: Nope, that is wrong.  I should not have said that and now I am thinking of what is not on the list but still needs to be done. 

Liz, wouldn't it be great if the politicians WOULD take some time to spend in a garden and learn from God's little creatures.  How lovely it must be to watch your birds at feeding time.  And I think we can all learn a lesson from your Squeek, as well.  Sure good to see a post from you again, and hope you have a peaceful, joyful, and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Carol, sounds like a wonderful concert!  So far, here in our little town, we sing Christian music and have prayer at most all public functions, including City Hall meetings.  Praise the Lord.  Now, don't go and get too busy, you need some time to unwind, too.   <3

I am going to get my hair done, then will drive over to Hugoton to pick up those cards Walmart messed me up on; as Mark picked them up yesterday.

Probably this afternoon, I will be addressing envelopes!

Hi everyone.  For the second Friday our Friday's Men's group met at McDonald's rather than the Senior Center.  They have a parade of Christmas Trees in the Senior Center.  The trees and decorations are donated by businesses and there is no admission charged.  I understand the trees are for sale and will be gone by next Friday.

We are looking forward to later today when Pat and Paul will be with us for the evening.  Once again Pat has made homemade soup so time won't be a factor and we won't have to go out to eat.  It is much more enjoyable to sit around the table and visit rather than out in public. 

With a little help from me yesterday afternoon Pat finished the Christmas decorating.  She limited it to the family room this year.  Our daughter loves Christmas so she will enjoy it as we will each day until the season is over. 

I am not going to mail Christmas cards again this year but yesterday wrote a Christmas e-mail that I will send to friends and family members.  I decided that will be better than nothing at all.  I tried not to make it very long.  If they don't care for receiving greetings in this manner they can just delete the message.  At least they will know that I thought of them.

Janet, we still have prayer and Christmas activities in our area.  Glad to hear that Darrel is feeling better.  I am finding that I am spending a lot more time in my easy chair than in my office.

Carol, it sounds like you enjoyed a great concert.  Glad Don could enjoy it also.

Liz, good to see you posting.  I think cats love boxes.  I know we had a hard time keeping our cat out of the suitcase when it was opened.  Guess he thought it was a box. 

Judy, thanks for the Christmas carols that you are posting.  It sounds like your knitting and sewing projects are coming right along.  Do you do a lot of baking at Christmas?

Etta Sue, the casino's usually put out quite a nice spread in their buffets.  Hope you enjoyed the class reunion.

Ruth, RuthV and Jeanne, good to read your postings.

Pat has gone to Walmart to try to beat the crowds today.  Our coffee maker failed a couple of days ago and she is getting a new one plus probably doing some grocery shopping and I don't know what else.   Other than making a quick trip through the drive-thur at the credit union I plan to have a quiet day and stay home.  I did get all the gifts wrapped yesterday.

The buffet at the casino was very good.  Again there were 17 of us.  Lots of talking, food and laughing!  And walking.  I am leery of valet parking so I parked at the casino end and walked through the casino...holding my breath because of the smoke...up the escalator and more walking to the buffet.  Then had to reverse all that to get back to the car and then walk more at the grocery store.  I survived! 

Home was where I did some laundry and made Party Mix.  Party Mix is a tradition in our family so now it is officially the Christmas Season for me! 

I was going to go swimming with Kitty but she emailed me and said she was up in the middle of the night with the flu.  I think it is God telling her to slow down!  She does too much for her age! 

And I finally heard from Rex...my classmate in Mexico.  It seems while in Tijuana, the afternoon that he called me, he got to feeling bad and had his SIL call for help.  He remembers being put into an ambulance.  They took him across to a hospital 6 blocks from the border in the U.S.  He was in ICU 6 days.  A blood clot from his leg went through his heart into his lung!  His wife can't come to the U.S. since her Visa was revoked but some how they got a woman to get Rex after 8 days at the hospital and take him to Phoenix where they spent the night with friends and then met Marina at Nogales.  But he is home now and we Skyped this morning for awhile.  He looks good and he says he feels good.  He is on Coumadin now and has to have a blood test every week to know what dosage to use for the Coumadin.  Ivalou is on Coumadin so I am familiar with that.  Rex should have been gone a dozen times.  God still has plans for him while on earth or he doesn't want him in Heaven just yet!!  Thanks for your prayers.

Posting for Marilyn:


On Fri, Dec 10, 2010 at 1:12 PM, Marilyn Fisher <marilyn_793@hotmail.com> wrote:
I still can't get on CP. however I can get on christianphotographers.org, which is a Christian Events site. I have tried 3 different browsers, cleaned the cache and done everything possible to to try to get on CP without any success.

I am getting as ready for Christmas as I can, I've made  2 batches of Rocky Road Fudge, the one I did yesterday I also added coconut and pecans to the marshmallows. In the first batch I  used chopped almonds and marshmallows. I am trying to do different things this year. I got a recipe from my neighbor across the street for Coconut Chocolate Chip macaroons, She brought some over last year and I went crazy over them, so I am going to make them and only one batch of Banana Bread.

I put up my little 3ft Christmas tree last week and set up a Ceramic Christmas village that I found hidden under Keith's train table upstairs, He didn't even know it was there, I put it all around the tree on the table thinking that if I covered the whole table top the cats would stay off the table. Grubby stays off but Fritzy being much younger and so curious still gets up there and takes the ornaments off the tree to play with them.

I also bathed Happy yesterday and he fought me the whole time I had him in the tub. At  one point he somehow managed to get his head down the front of my tank top. (Silly dog.) I still need to bathe Bebe today. If I had done her first I could have done them both in the same day. But Happy wore me out, he still has the skin fungus that we have been treating since last March. it's a good the the Veterinarian  only charges me for tests and not for  Happy's monthly visit to his office. He calls Happy's medicine  to Walmart  where it costs less than he charges.

I got a letter from Keith's sister on  Tuesday telling me that  his DIL's 35 yr old brother had passed away on the  1st and the funeral was that day.  She seemed to think it was from an overdose. Keith told me that the young man had tried to commit suicide just before Keith was  in Portland  in October. So prayers for the White family would be much appreciated.

Savannah tripped over her shoe strings, which were too long, outside of one of her classrooms and fell fracturing her wrist. At 14 she was so embarrassed but on Facebook she says looking back it was funny.

I can't believe  how much of an activist Sarah is becoming . The day after Thanksgiving she went to the mall with a big sign protested  Corporate Greed. The kids told her they would be very embarrassed if any of their friend saw her. So she wore Forest's  Werewolf Halloween mask and gloves. The mall police officer made her leave so then she went to Target.  gilbert just lets her do her thing and he stays home with the kids. Personally I think  she is  becoming TOO much of an activist and is indoctrinated the kids to her way of thinking. She make them read certain books and watch certain TV things. She is sounding more and more Socialist and it worries me for the kids sake. Please pray for my family.

Anyone who want to can  communicate with me either on Facebook or by email. marilyn_793@hotmail.com, email would probably be the best way.

On TV this past week was the movie "Silent Night", about 3 American soldiers and 3 German soldiers celebrated Christmas in a German home the last Christmas of the war.  It was an amazing story based on a true story.  If you have the opportunity to watch it, it would be worth while.

I went to Hugoton and got my cards, came home and napped a bit because for the past three nights, coughing has kept me awake.  Then I addressed most of the cards, took the ones I'm mailing out to the box.

I have my painting stuff ready to load in the car in the morning.  I will meet my friend Winona out at Santa Fe Feeders and we will go on to Minneola from there together.  This should be a fun meeting, as it's Christmas.

I'm praying grandson Mark gets a job; he has had three more calls and is trying to line up interviews.  He's been waiting a long time now!  He really wants to get back up in the air!  One job is for a flight instructor, for which he is qualified.

Judy, I've watched and thoroughly that movie two years but this year, since I cut back to basic cable, I can't get it.   :( 

I've been taking my garbage to the landfill myself since Gene died, because the private collectors were asking anywhere from $45 to $50 a month and they don't separate recyclables.  But it's finally got to the stage that It's really more than I want to handle, hoisting the heavy bags into the car and then tossing them into the garbage bins at the landfill, even though it only costs $3 a bag (plus the gas to get there).  Last week I found out from my neighbor that the outfit that picks hers up every week is only charging $25 a month and will take the recyclables, too.  So I asked her to have him see me when he came for hers and I've made the arrangements.  What a relief that's going to be.  Praise the Lord!

We got about an inch of snow last night but today it's supposed to go above freezing so that will be gone before long.  And that's OK by me!   ;)

Time for some fun.

This week's promise: God is merciful

Have You Found God's Amazing Grace?

"Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God'

They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good!

...Oh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel!

For when the Lord restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice."
Psalm 14:1-7 NLT

Rescued from rebellion

Young John Newton called himself an atheist, and his life demonstrated his lack of belief in God. Even the coarsest sailors aboard his slave-trading ship could not stand his filthy speech. He brutalized the male slaves and sexually abused the women, and he prodded other sailors to do the same. The ship's captain finally put him ashore on the coast of Africa, and there he became a servant of slavers.

Finally rescued by another merchant ship, Newton once again fouled the ship with his presence. In a drunken stupor he almost plunged overboard, and the captain wished that he had. Then, amazingly in the midst of a vicious ocean storm in 1748, God touched his heart. Years after his remarkable conversion, Newton commented, "I see no reason why the Lord singled me out for mercy...unless it was to show that with him nothing is impossible."

The fool who had said in his heart that there was no God was now transformed. He became famous throughout England, both as a preacher and a writer of hymns. Without a doubt, the best-known hymn of this former atheist is the following:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
JOHN NEWTON

from The One Year® Book of Psalms by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen,
Tyndale House Publishers (1999), entry for January 23

I can't understand why Marilyn can't get online here.  It's really weird.  Thanks for sharing that from Marilyn, Larry.

Well, we had a wonderful sleep here at Larry and Pat's and now we're still here!!!  Apparently, Paul wants to show me a couple of places in Atlanta!  Not sure what's up yet.

OK, folks.  Get those thinking caps on and get out the camera.  We have a new mini challenge - #52, A Personal Expression of Christmas"  here:  http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=11223.msg157828#msg157828

I can't figure out why Marilyn can't get on CP either.  She has no problem with other sites.  It has to be something with the web address but I even sent her a clickable and it didn't work either!  It's not that she doesn't have the right user name and password, she just can't get on CP!  Weird!  Probably something very simple. 

This evening, Ivalou and I are going to my son, Tony's house.  Charlene has made reservations somewhere in Indy to take us to eat!  So I had better get spiffied up!  I don't want to look like a 'hick from the sticks'! 

It is cloudy and suppose to rain today.  Yesterday and today has been heat waves.  Above freezing!  So nice to go out and not have that blast of cold hit you!  There are still spots of white stuff on the ground but if it rains, that will all be gone.  Just hope it stays above freezing if and when it rains!!  Snow, I can go.  Ice, not so nice!

It has not happened for a long long time, but I had problems getting on CP from other computers while on trips.  Library computers and family computers. 

Listening to Pandora to my old church music I set up.  Most of the songs coming in are super.  Not always "old".  I have my earbuds on.  Salad is made but not tossed for luncheon this noon and this is the quilting group.  Almost sick of going to so many places & too much food. 

Janet:  Prayers for a job for Mark. 

Tomorrow is a pizza party for Don's birthday this week and early church as well.  That should be enough for the day.  One grandson may not be there yet - he is still in school in Minnesota.  We just read a news article from South Dakota where he played & made a goal & assist.  Amazing that his name is in a newspaper - his team beat their winning team and they showed such great sportsmanship. 

Alan Jackson is singing "Standing on the Promises" - such a nice and clear voice.  Does everyone know how to set up Pandora on their computer?  It is FREE. Larry gave me the information and I am forever grateful. 

Hi everyone.

Carol, just type in Pandora.com in your address line of the browser and then sign in to your account and away you go.  It works just like the app on the iPod Touch.  I was listening to it last evening for a bit when I went to bed and you hear some nice music by folks you probably wouldn't ever have the opportunity of hearing.  It sounds like your grandson is quite good at ice hockey.

Etta Sue, hope you all have a lovely evening with your son and his wife. 

Pat and Paul left here after lunch today to go to the Atlanta Aquarium and then I think they planned on heading up the road to home.  Hope they don't run into bad weather before getting home.  Paul is hopeful that they will finally be getting high speed internet at their home in Virginia perhaps this next week.  We had a lovely visit with them and hated to see them leave.  Paul went with me this morning to my final choir rehearsal for the Christmas Cantata last night.  We had the privilege of practicing with the 14 piece orchestra composed of professional musicians.  It was great.

Jeanne, sure glad you were able to work out an agreeable arrangement with our trash service.  They changed the way trash is picked up in our county by assigning areas so now we get one truck a week through the neighborhood and not five or six on different days.  We did have to pay for 18 months of service when we paid our property tax but now on it will be an annual fee.  If the fee isn't paid they put a lien on your property.

Judy, thanks for your postings.

Janet, know you will probably be back when you read this but hope you had a great time at your painting event. 

We are suppose to get a frigid winter air blast with some rain and by Tuesday to be down to 15 degrees.  Not looking forward to it.  Sure hope it isn't too bad for people to get out to the Cantata tomorrow night. 

Have a wonderful Lord's day folks!

 :)   Hi to all.  We have had two very busy days as we went to a beautiful Christmas concert  last night then today was our family get together in Toronto and a couple from our old church did all the cooking which it makes it so much easier for all the ladies. :thumbsup:

The children had so much fun meeting ther cousins anplaying with each other so it made for a wonderful day.

I will just say that I am tired and must go to the basement to help Noreen wrap some gifts.  Have a wonderful day with the Lord's people.   Gord and Noreen. :cp: :sleepy:

Yes, we had a wonderful time last evening at a lovely Italian restaurant.  Never heard of this before but what Ivalou and I ordered, we also got to order a togo for today!  So I had Alfredo Fetticini last night and today I am having Lasagne.  Hope that is spelled right but if not, hope you understand.  The only draw back was it was raining but the plus was I wasn't driving! 

While at the restaurant I got a call from Rex in Mexico...Mobile Skype.  He asked where I was and that according to Google Earth we were in for lots of snow....10"-12" last night.  Well, we got snow but maybe only a half inch!  It turned colder but it's winter.

I am all ready for church and this evening is our Christmas Cantata.  Sure hope the weather allows people to get out to the Cantata.  Ruth Ann and the choir work so hard. 

I left my Droid in the car.  I got it out of my pocket while driving home and couldn't get it back in the pocket with my coat on.  So I put it in the cup holder and said, 'I will probably leave my phone in the car now.'  I did. 

Everyone have a God-filled day!

Hi everyone.  We are expecting much colder weather to hit today with possibly a little snow in the air but they don't predict it will be anything significant here in our area.  I have my fingers crossed that it won't keep folks from coming back to the church tonight to hear the Christmas Cantata. 

Pat and our daughter have gone over to Wal-Mart so our daughter can do some Christmas shopping.  I will be attending church this morning.  Our newly reconstituted bell choir will be playing this morning but the choir will still be sitting in the choir loft to lead in the hymn singing.  I plan on resting this afternoon to be able to have the energy for the Cantata this evening.

I have been thinking of Ruth Ann and that we haven't seen her post for quite awhile.  I do hope she is all right.

Etta Sue, hope your phone didn't get too cold last night.  Being in the garage should have helped protect it.  It sounds like you all had a wonderful meal last evening.

Gord, good to see you posting.  That wrapping gifts can be a real task.  I hope we have that done for this year.  Our daughter will be wrapping her gifts here today so we don't have to haul them down to her apartment and then back out here.

We have been hit again with snow.  It stated between 6 and 8 .  Nothing was going on when John got up at 6, by the time I got up the storm was upon us.  Ruth G are you getting it yet?  Or will it bypass you!?

Have a great Lord's day.

This is not a Christmas Carol in the traditional sense, but it embodies the meaning of Christmas.   That is my humble opinion.

One of the laymen of the church has written a Christmas play, which will be presented next Sunday night.  Darrel and I had signed up that we would help if needed, and this morning, Eddie asked me to read a story and Darrel to be a shepherd.  So we are going to practice at 4:00.

Our museum always hosts Open House during Christmas.  I just came from there; today the Mennonite young people sang, then a trio, then the Mennonite children.  The museum is decorated beautifully, and the old school house evokes fond memories.  Nice!

I must get busy and start wrapping gifts soon!

Judy:  We are getting a rain snow combination and the roads are getting covered.
 

Good to hear from everyone.
Yesterday we went to a 60th wedding anniversary,  It was a gathering of 40 folk mostly relatives but a few friends were also invited a nice little gathering.
 
Mel had been away visiting with a friend of his but since he has just arrived home it is time to get dinner ready. Pancakes & sausage with real maple syrup.

Well, the weeks just keep coming.  So go here: http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=11229.msg157882#msg157882