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Looks like another rainy, gloomy day!  Ivalou was planning on going to church this morning but she just called and said she just woke up!  But she wants to go this evening to the Christmas Cantata.  There won't be as many people to run into her tonight! 

I am praying that everyone has a blessed day with their God!

Etta Sue, I loved both the quote from Max Lucado and the devotional.  Thanks!

I was away from home yesterday from 7 AM until 7:30  PM!  But I did have a good day.

Larry, there have been nine funerals here in our small town in the past two weeks, also a lot at Hugoton, At Lakin, at Scott City, and other small towns in our part of Kansas.  I always heard that deaths come in  threes,  fives, sevens, but I guess they come in  nines, too.  And a lot of them were younger folks.  All I know is:  we must live ready to die!  We don't know when our name will be called.

The TV situation is the same.....so we are enjoying the music on the new system!

We had another lovely day yesterday.  Today was predicted to be much colder; we will see!  Will be taking Beth to church this morning.

Grandson Mark is coming today to pick up his bed that is stored upstairs.  He is moving to St. Louis for another year of schooling---airline mechanics, this time.  He is determined to get a job in that industry, and how I pray it happend for him, he has been diligent and done his part, and it's time!

I will talk to you lovely folks later! 

Hi everyone.  Another overcast but warm day here in Georgia.  I had a very good day yesterday as the feeling of exhaustion has passed.  I tried not to do much that would tire me as wanted to enjoy the feeling after a couple of days where I didn't want to keep my eyes open.  I am going to church this morning but Pat will not as we both want to attend the Christmas Cantata presented by our church choir with orchestra accompaniment.  I have looked forward to this all year as in past years I sang in it and wasn't really able to hear the full effect since I was on the back row.  They are having a special dinner but we will not attend that and just go for the performance.  I will pick up something after church for lunch.  It is always hard to decide what to do, sort of like trying to decide where to eat out. 

Etta Sue, nice to have your very own technical person.  Each year the TVs, smart phones and computers become more integrated.  Like you I am not staying up with the curve even when I try to a bit. 

Ruth Ann, nice to see you indicate your oldest son is doing better.  Is he the truck driver?

Janice, I think with each year we store more and more knowledge and information in our brains so sometimes it takes longer to find the things we are looking for just like a file cabinet and occasionally a file gets lost or misplaced.  I find myself getting more forgetful.  Just last evening Pat asked me to come into the kitchen and put some things in the refrig that she was finished with.  I went in but she was going into another room with a glass of water so I took it and went with her and an hour or so later Pat called me saying she though I had put the things in the refrig.  I seem to be doing much more of this than in the past so try to do things when I think of them rather than later or I forget to do them. Glad you are liking the Kindle Fire as the tablets are great little small computers.

Etta Sue, very nice devotional thoughts for this week.  Thanks. 

Janet, nine funerals is way too many in two weeks, especially in small communities.  Glad you had an enjoyable day for yourself yesterday with your painting.  Mark will eventually find employment in the aviation field if he doesn't give up and keeps learning. 

Nice day here with sun and a temp of 40 F. Tomorrow is for snow,hail and then rain. Hope the snow rains off.  I do like to see the roads bare until at least after Christmas. People are so busy going about their bussiness and usually in a rush. Not giving too much care for road conditions.
Enjoyed the devotional, As I was reading I was reminded of the "gifts" the God gives us. They are not for our personal use or our own enjoyment, but that we may bless others with our abilities. Thank you, Etta sue. Right on time with that one!
It will be a quiet afternoon here. A day to relax and renew our strength for another week.
God bless and may you have joy, and His peace in your life today.

At church this morning, one of the younger ladies blessed Beth with a beautiful blanket she had made especially for her.  It will keep her nice and warm, and is in colors she loves.  So nice of Janie to do that for her.

Diane and Mark will be coming soon, will be nice to see them.  Even though they live close, we don't get to see them nearly as much as we would like, because they are all so busy all the time!  Abby hasn't gotten home from Amarillo yet, and Jeff is at the car wash in Liberal.  Toni and Curtis are in Coldwater, so the family is scattered around.

Larry, I'm sure you enjoyed the Cantata, but it may be a little bittersweet for you, too, since you are no longer strong enough to be a part of the singing.  But you can be thankful that God gave you so many years of blessing others with your musical talents.  And I surely know what you mean about the forgetfulness!! 

I guess we will go to Garden tomorrow to shop for a new TV.  This one works for maybe an hour, then shuts off.  And the picture is getting darker and darker, sound fades in and out.  I was watching the one at the senior center the other day, and was amazed at the sharpness and clarity of the picture!  So it will be nice to have a new one.

My friend Pat and I went to the Parade of Homes last night, toured 5 homes here in town, all decked out for Christmas.  They were all lovely, but I didn't feel even a pang of envy that they were all much larger, more elaborate, more expensive, etc. than my home.  I am satisfied with what I have, and besides, I have a mansion waiting for me later on!  God has truly been good to me, and I have everything I need.  When someone asks me what I want for Christmas, I can't even think of an answer.  Sometimes I find it a little ironic that when we are young, we seem to want everything, then when we are older and could buy more, there doesn't seem to be anything we need.  I guess that's the way it should be!

Larry--or Carol---I am wondering about the Nook.  I downloaded lots of books, mostly for Darrel, but one only had 87 pages, another had 169, then just ended abruptly with the notice the book would be on sale on a certain date!  (already past)  Is Barnes and Noble the only place you can get books for the Nook?  Can you get them from a local library?  So much to learn....also, can you use them like the Kindle Fire, to post here, etc?  I'm thinking maybe so, since they are online.

Janet:  Before I forget - yes, you can download free books from your library using your library card.  Best to go right in and ask for the information and take your Nook with you.  A word of warning though - any library book can be checked out for only 14 or 21 days.  Arizona is only 14 days, all those old folks using the sytem    We often load books written by our local authors here so I am sure you can get some Christian writers and you can always ask them to buy more of those books.  You are a taxpayer!  Good luck. 

I just had to make something chocolate so brownies for dessert.  It was in the teens this morning and icy on the road with wind whipping as we walked the big parking lot into chapel.  Cannot imagine the homeless on the streets and they are out there.  There is to be a place set up with 8 bedrooms for that many women returning from the military with wounds both physical and mental in conjunction with the VA.  Finally, a place for the women to regroup to civilian life.  It is a start. 

Janice:  I got it - the memory - well, there it goes again. 

Don writes a letter and I add personal notes to almost every Christmas card.  Yesterday was quilt club with a brunch and we exchanged gifts - such a darling wall hanging I was given by a friend's daughter.  Another full week on the To Do List - it seems to never end. 

Ruth Ann and Janet:  Prayers for your young men going to work and health issues. 

Well......Brrrrr!  It got down to -10 here last night!  We have thick frost on the windows this morning!

Thanks, Carol, for the information.  I will take the nook to the library and check it out.  Mark did get the Pandigital to connect to our WiFi yesterday, but I haven't been successful in downloading any books on it yet.

We need to take the van to Garden so we can bring a TV home if we find the one we want.  Won't fit in the car, especially in a box!

I just keep getting so many great comments on the stories I'm doing for the paper.  So I guess I will keep on going!  Someday there will be enough of them for a book! 

Time to go work out!

John is still home.  He got out of South Dakota before the storm hit however we had about 5 inches when he  drove into the drive.  Then yesterday afternoon /evening  there was another major dump of snow. It is Christmas Card pretty now.  We would be happy if it ended the day after Christmas.

A friend had a problem getting his 5th wheel trailer into the garage, new trailer and renovations to the garage led to much frustration.  John was called on to help. He ran the scenario over in his mind for a few days and by the time he got there he knew what the problem was.  The trailer has a long overhang and the pivot point was in the middle of the trailer not towards the end like the previous one was.  With a bit of wiggling it was parked quite nicely and we had a happy friend!

Today will be spent getting him ready for the nexxt trip. Just watch they will send him backn into snow country.  fairweather drivers won't go there this time of year, its up to the old boy with the experience.

Have a great blessed day and God bless,

Hi everyone.  There is a good chance we will experience some rain later today and it is overcast here this morning.  We attended the Christmas Cantata at our church last night and it was wonderful.  There were about 25 in the choir and a 14 piece orchestra.  We sat right in the middle of the church and got the full effect of the music.  Didn't feel up to par yesterday and didn't sleep to well last night.  I don't think today is going to be any better so will rest as much as I can today.  I do have my normal men's luncheon and a meeting to attend this evening if I feel up to these events when it is time to go. 

Janet, do you have access to a library that offer Nook ebooks for lending?  If not, I suggest you might want to check on the Barnes and Noble web site each Friday as they offer a free book.  Here is the link I use.  I have gotten quite a few books that sounded interesting to me.  You just click on the buy link and be sure it is still free.  The reason you are seeing just a portion of the book is probably because they are giving you a chapter or two to get your interest. They also have quite a few books that are free that you can find by a search for free ebooks.
http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/The-NOOK-Blog/bg-p/Unbound/label-name/free%20fridays
It depends on whether you just have an ebook reader or the more advanced one that is a tablet, which would give you the email, and websites ability.  On the Pandigital you need to go to the market and search for Kindle or Nook apps, which will be free and then you can download books from both.  I hope I remember that correctly.  I also can give you a couple of links that offer free Kindle books everyday, including many inspirational books.  Just let me know if you get that application. 

I have read all the messages but will pass on more individual comments.

Larry, I hope some extra rest will get you feeling better today.  I'm glad you got so much enjoyment from listening to the cantata rather than participating.

Judy, it's so good to know that John is always under the protection of the Lord in his travels.  He continues to be part of my prayer time, especially during those J nights.

Hi everyone  Been a long time since I last posted here. Been a busy time but looking forward to time off over Christmas and New Years as I have booked my last weeks holidays for that time. Thank you for your prayers Jean. Its always encouraging to know that people keep me in prayer during my travels on the road. Last week was a beautiful trip out to South Dakota. No snow out there last week and the temp got into the fifties during the day. However I saw on the news last night here that Minnesota got hit with a winter storm yesterday. Glad the weather held till I got through that. What is always a concern this time of year is having to share the road with drivers who dont have the skill or knowledge to handle the adverse conditions. Like last sat as I was getting near home the roads turn quite slippery with snowpak and we guys in the big heavy rigs had slowed it down to about 35 miles per hour and people in their cars and pick up trucks were flying by us like we were going backwards. Then they wonder why the lost control. Believe me when the big guys slow down its time to pay attention and slow down

Good advice, John, to slow down when the big rigs do.  The first snow storm of the season always means more accidents as some seem to forget, over the summer, how to handle the conditions and the new drivers have to learn. 

Let me give you a hint...if you want your house to smell cinnamon-y, sweet and like a bakery, put a Cinnamon Roll Cake in the oven.  Mine just came out and my house smells heavenly.  Just a hint!!

Our Christmas Cantata last night was titled 'Emmanuel Celebrating Heaven's Child'.  Unlike Larry's church with an orchestra, our songs were sung with the accompaniment of a CD.  I do believe there were more people there last night than at church yesterday morning.  After the Cantata, we all headed to the basement for a Cookie Reception.  Moi?  Nope, I didn't indulge!  Just a cup of decaf! 

Tonight is Photo Guild...which may be the last time I attend.  I don't think I am going to pay for my membership.  Getting burnt out and when it isn't fun anymore, it is time to hang it up!

Ivalou didn't go to church yesterday morning...woke up too late to get dressed.  But said she wanted to go to the Cantata.  So I told everyone that she was going to the Cantata.  Well, around 5pm, I called her and she said she wasn't going because she didn't feel good.  So I asked her if this was the same not feeling good or a new not feeling good?  She said all she did all day was sleep in her chair and her legs are wobbly!  So are mine when I first get out of bed!!  She said she was just too weak to get ready and that she thought she did too much the day before at the Stevenson Christmas dinner...all she did was sit!  I fixed her plate and took it to her.  She sleeps in her glider rocker with ottoman...she says when she lays in the bed, her arm is good for a half hour but starts hurting...that was a month ago when she told me that!  She slept in the bed right after surgery and at Jo's house but not since she has been alone at home!  And her feet and legs are swelling....not laying flat, don't you think? 

So when it is your prayer time, would you please say a prayer for Ivalou to get more active and sleep in her bed instead of a chair and for God to give her strength! 

What scares me is my Mom had carpel tunnel surgery on both wrists.   Before the surgery, she got a lift chair.  We found out months later that she didn't go to bed after getting the chair!  And just gradually got weaker and weaker!  I am afraid of that for Ivalou. 

May God bless you all!

Etta Sue, that would be a worry about Iva Lou.  The less we exercise and move around the weaker we get.  I would think the swelling in her feet and legs would be more from inactivity than from not lying down flat.  I'll certainly add this situation to my prayers. 

John, good to see a post from you!  And it's good that some truck drivers, like you, have the experience, knowledge, and GOOD SENSE to drive in the winter weather conditions.  I sure don't pass any of those big guys on snowy or icy roads; figure they know how fast is safe to go!  Thanks for all you do to keep products moving!

Larry, glad you enjoyed the cantata, and I sure hope you will be feeling stronger tomorrow.  I am glad you don't overdo when you feel tired.

I am bushed!  After a night of not sleeping at all well, we went to the gym, and Kristi told me to "push as hard as you can, and keep adding to it, and stay here for 30 minutes."  I had already been on the treadmill for ten minutes.  She had me put a band around me, just underneath my bra, and a watch that kept track of both the time and my heart rate.  She then put it onto the computer to see how my heart does under stress.  I averaged 112 beats per minute, which is pretty good for my age!  But I have been tired all day.    Darrel didn't do nearly as well; he doesn't like to push himself, and was on a stationary bike, his heart averaged 79 beats per minute.  Kristi told him he is going to have to work harder!

Then we came home, showered, changed, ate breakfast and drove to Garden City.  We did a little shopping besides finding a TV.  We bought a Vizio, 60" one, and by the time we unloaded it, got it out of the box, moved the other one out, put the new one in, got it to working.....etc.....etc.....I am TIRED.  Sure is a nice clear and bright picture, though!

Etta Sue, I love having the house smell good, especially from cinnamon, but it also makes me hungry!

John gets into Dodge City on Thursday--you know what that means! 

Larry, thanks for the information on getting free books, I will check into that, and would like the other info as well.  Thanks.  This Nook is a tablet, but I don't know yet how to use all its features.  And Darrel is enjoying reading on it, so that leaves me little chance to play with it.

While we were working on getting the TV hooked up, I managed to knock the Christmas tree not only over, but off the table.  Talk about a big crash, and pops, when the ornaments shattered.    Broke two of my favorites.  Oh, well, it's all just stuff.  I picked things up and cleaned up the mess but haven't the heart to put things back on the tree yet.  Sigh.....

See you tomorrow!

It's been raining all day.  And my nose has been keeping time with it - drip, drip, drip.  Leading item on my shopping list is tissues.   

Hi, friends,

John, how nice to see you here. My second son, with whom you spoke about being a trucker, said he had just finished a shift of driving up and down mountains with chains on the truck. So, I think he's going through his "baptism in fire" or as in this case, "in ice", during the training segment. He will be finished and on his own most likely prior to Christmas. Again, many thanks to you and to Judy for being our friends.

Janet, I will try to call again before too long. Possibly a better time would be after dark - for I know I will be anchored securely in my apartment by then.  I agree - those articles interviewing the persons in the care facility are wonderful.

Carol, thanks for your prayers.

Etta Sue, how sad that Ivalou is weakening. My grandfather simply atrophied into a sitting position because of the years he sat prior to his death. I truly hope such will not be the case for me.

Oh, dear, I've not answered everyone, but wanted to let y'all know that I enjoy the comments, the music posted, and the devotions and prayers. May our Lord allow peaceful rest and reduction in pain and weakness this evening.

Love to y'all,
Ruth Ann

I feel good.  I just got back from the pool at Noblesville.  It sure looks nice with a new paint job.  And no chlorine smell!  But it is still noisy.  Noisier than everyone thought it would be.  They even painted the locker rooms.  Real nice.

Then I went to the post office to mail a big envelope and get some stamps. 

Now I am waiting until time to go to Ivalou's and take her to her class lunch at Cracker Barrel!  If she calls at the last minute and says she isn't going, then I will go to Noblesville and have lunch with SAMS at Claude and Annie's.  I think Ivalou will go.  But then, I thought she was going to go to church Sunday and to the Cantata Sunday night!

No rain today but I did see a few flurries at Noblesville.  It is dark and gloomy...great lighting for a nap this afternoon!!  Edit:  Yes, flurrying as I type...real fine stuff! 

Thanks to you all for praying for Ivalou.  I did find online about Rotator Cuff After Surgery and the steps that it takes to become 100%.  According to that, she is right on schedule!  There are four stages and she is still on stage one.  But it's her legs and weakness that I am concerned about.

 Hi everyone.  Feeling better today but had a very busy morning and think I have used up my energy for today.  I just got back from going to the Credit Union and the post office.  I also did a big grocery shopping trip to restock the refrigerator as it was about empty.  Fortunately I could use the cart or don't think I could have made it this morning.  It still was very tiring but at least it is done for a month or so in terms of the freezer and having the basis of meals.  Now eating a bite of lunch and will spend a good part of the afternoon resting.  It is pretty chilly here this morning and here at noon it is still cold and there is a light wind. 

John, good to see you posting and that is good advice on snowy or slick roads.  Hope you can enjoy your time off.  Any snow in the Georgia area and it is wild on the roads.  I grew up in Missouri and have lived in other places here we learned how to deal with snow and ice.

Etta Sue, you are wise to stop attending things that no longer are fun or interest you.  Our choir used a CD one year for our accompaniment and after it was over our choir director said never again would we use a CD.  Fortunately our choir raises its own funds with the annual chili show and talent dinner (that is the right title).  With the financial problems our church for the projected year I doubt an orchestra would be possible.

Janet, with my pacemaker I don't think my heart rate will so much higher than 60.  Your new TV should be great and you will see big changes from your old set.  Vizio has become a well respected brand.  Using your Pandigital tablet you should be able to get the Kindle app and you can get an email each day lisitng free or very low cost books from Amazon.  It is www.pixelofink.com  (That is pixel of ink)  The last time I checked I had over 600 ebooks from Amazon.  This site is tied into your Amazon account and when you click to buy a free book you get an email acknowledging it and it is then available in your archive and will remain there until you click to download it onto your advice.  When you finish with your book you can just put it back into the archive.  Nook books word the same way.  Sorry about your Christmas tree but better it than you new TV.

Jeanne, Pat and I relate to the drippy nose.  We go through many boxes of tissues and just got an order of 16 boxes with 240 tissues in each box. 

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Good evening everyone, I've been real busy lately and haven't had the time that I would like to spend on this site or any other site. We We had a nice trip to Portland over last weekend to attend the 1st birthday party of Jackson the youngest grandson.

I worked yesterday and now have a few days off before going back on Friday and Sunday. Saturday is Vaccination day and I don't have to work on V Day.

Etta Sue I am sorry to hear that Iva Lou may be spending too much stime sitting around and not getting up and moving around as much as she should. That certainly is not good.

Larry I am doing well with Win 8 It is much easier than I thought it would be I am now using PSPX5 which is the newest one and it had a lot of bells and whistles that I have yet to figure out, it is 64bit and some of my plugins don't work, but I will conquer that as well.

Janet it sound like Kristi is realy giving you a  good workout.  I am still going to the gym every day except the weekend and try to do a little bit more or do it faster. We just moved to a new location and no longer have 2 of the machines I really did like to use.

Hi Ruth Ann and Judy

Hi, friends,

Today, I've kinda taken it easy. I did go up to my oldest son's apartment (the one with the bad migraines), and we cooked and spent a little time together. He was coming down with one of the migraines, but was able to make it until we finished our little "Julia Child" session.

Now, it's time to prepare for bed. Tomorrow will be a busy day, since I'm to see the doctor bright and early.

Much love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  I am just back from Bible study. Pat did not go with me this morning as wasn't up to getting out.  I came home not feeling so good and have laid down to read the messages here and on the boards I follow each day.  I took some nitro and Tylonol and hope by noon to be back to par where I started the day.  Nothing else on the schedule for today.

Ivalou seemed so much better yesterday.  I guess this print out that I gave to her explained also that her balance would be out of whack because you use your arms for balance.  Therefore that is why she is wobbly.  Also when walking and wobbly she felt if she started to fall, she would grab a chair or table and would un-do the surgery!  She even walked to my house and brought me my mail and saw my Christmas decorations!!  That is great!!  She went to her class lunch and she seemed like my old sister!  Praise God! Thank you all for saying a prayer!

Today is a do-nothing day for me!  My house got cold last night so the bed felt so comfy.  I actually got up because I was too tired to continue laying in bed!!  Now with the fireplace and the solar heat working, the house is warming up. 

It is sunny today...a great difference than the last few days!  It is still below freezing but the sun makes you feel it is warmer than it is!  And looking out the window the is very little breeze and not a cloud in the sky!!

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Well I have to tell you all what's happened.  Yesterday momrning, a little before 4 AM, my wife of almost 58 years passed on to eternity.  It was sad, and I will miss her, but it happened peacefully in her sleep after a day when she seemed much better, cheerful, talkative, etc.  So I'm tlhankful for the way it happened.  And I'll be ok.  I've got several from tlhe church (including the pastor) coming over daily, fixing food for me and many other things - praise God for His people.  Just pray that I'll know how to proceed from here.

Al, I am so sorry!  I know what a huge hole there will be and the loss you will have to deal with.  I praise God for providing support by friends but most of all I pray He will give you His loving peace and comfort.