Christian Photographers Community

Marilyn, happy birthday!!

Thanks for the good wishes on my being a new great grandma.  And the card, Pat, was really sweet.  Angel and baby are coming home tomorrow, so I'll be sure she sees it too.  I hope she's coming home tomorrow.  Her blood pressure has been way high since during labor.  Tonight it was 130 over 90.  She's only 18.  They're hoping it is simply that she needs rest and gets some sleep tonight.  They don't do much to help with babies like they used to.  They are kept in your room, you feed, change, etc.  How do new mom's sleep?

The storms were devastating.   How sad. I started praying as soon as I saw it on the news.

Ruth Ann, hope you are feeling better soon.

I'm headed to bed.  It's been a long two days.  Nita

Hi Nita and congratulations on being a great grandma!

Hi Pat....we are having a very mild day today. I give you a nudge and a gift in facebook last night. I have not really been in that site very much. Hope you are keeping well.

Hi everyone else.

oh i love when i wake up at 430am to arrive early to school so i can see we DON'T have class oh well i guess i can spend time looking for what i need to graduate next year i can also go to walmart (i know i don't spend enough there !!) anyways just thought i'd drop in have a good day
Sarah

Sarah, I can relate to that experience.  I did it many, many times.   I never knew whether to be annoyed or relieved!

Happy Birthday Marilyn.  Can't remember if I've said that or not.

Congrats Nita on the baby!!! 

We got a lot of rain and stuff yesterday, but it looks like a gorgeous day today.  Maybe we can go outside and play, or something!

Thanks be to our Father for the new great, Nita!  I don't have any of those yet, though I've got plenty of eligible grandkids.

I remember doing that often Sarah!!! 

How's everyone today?  We've had so much snow overnight and all day yesterday.

Thanks Colin!  Got it.

Happy Birthday, Marilyn....yesterday.  Perhaps I should start posting in the evening so I am not late in wishing happy birthdays...

Nita ~ Congratulations on the new g-g-baby!!  My, they come home from the hospital quick these days...too soon, I think! 

In Indiana, most of the time...if there is a funeral...there is one evening of 'visiting' and then the next day for the funeral.  When I was working, I felt the visitation evening was for those who work and couldn't attend the funeral.  Now I think it is to show respect for the deceased and their families.  You have time to visit with the families and to give them your condolences.  You don't do that at the funeral unless you are really close or family and you go to the funeral dinner that is most of the time given by their church.  Since I have become a Christian, I have noticed that a funeral or visitation for a Christian is a time of celebration...you hear people reminiscing and laughing and thanking God that their loved one is no longer in pain.  Not so at non-Christian funerals....a lot of tears at them.  This is only my personal observation.

More recently I have read in the obituaries that there is no funeral...only a memorial service somewhere.  Most of those times, there is no viewing because they are cremated.  Expense has a lot to do with those decisions. 

Back to happier thoughts...but then what could be happier than to know a loved one is with our Father in Heaven?

I just took a Pound Cake out of the oven.  My house smells sooooo good...do you smell it?

Today I am still on lake front property but all the ponds and lakes are frozen.  Finally my sump pump is getting a rest!  But thank God, I have the sump pump...takes the worry out of me when it rains cats and dogs! 

I smell it, Etta Sue...one of my favourite types of cakes!

Etta Sue, now you can go ice skating instead of swimming!    I just learned this week that one of the guys I went from first grade through high school with had a heart attack and died.  He was cremated--no service of any kind.    I hate that!  To me, it makes it seem as if the person was of no more value than an animal!  How do others feel about this trend?  I do realize that cremation is much cheaper than a funeral; but NO service??  It just doesn't seem right!  I have read of this being done several times lately, in the paper.

I went to work with Darrel today.  We pulled 6 lines of wire into the ceiling of a local supermarket for the camera system he is installing.  It just isn't possible to pull them by himself.  He was on the top of a 10' ladder, moving from one area to the next, and I was unrolling the heavy wires off 3 different spools as he needed them.  I'm so glad I am able to help him.  We got finished with that just in time for me to go to school to eat with my Youth Friends and then we made Valentines together. (The girls and I, not Darrel and I!)    Now I must do some laundry. 

Hello there, Colin!

Kevin, I am enjoying the Scriptures in your posts.  The Bread of heaven---I have heard three teaching about that in about a week, so am asking God what I am to take from that.

Ruth Ann, what a thoughtful friend you are.  Your friend will enjoy HEARING the concert, even if she cannot see well.  Thank you for being the person God wants you to be!   I have been praying you were safe from those awful storms, as I heard some were in your area.

Marilyn, that sounds like a lovely place to have a birthday meal.  Glad you enjoyed your day.

Hi, Sarah!  I've been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing.

We had more snow last night, which is almost all melted now.  Yea!

Hi, Pat!  We must chat again soon!

Oh!!  Before I forget, I have another praise report!  I no longer need glasses, either to drive or to read!!  First time in my entire life!!

hello all My best birthday present came in my email this morning it was a very long love letter from my friend. I have heard a word from him in over a week and I was beginning to think that God had closed that door between us. Today I am telling myself "oh ye of little faith" 

It is raining a light  mist type of rain today, just enough that I can't get out to walk with my furbabies.

I think I will go make a pot of soup.

Janet - relative to viewings/funerals, etc. - Personally, I strongly believe in memorial services.  I believe such services should be particularly oriented around celebration - of both the life God grants us for a time and for the absolute wonder and joy of eternal life with Jesus our Lord.  I see no particular point in a viewing, for the one we see is not the one who is eternal.  I think it's wonderful to pay respect to the loved ones - because we loved the departed one.  May God give each of us absolute certainty of eternal life, and may He increase our joy in Christ our living Lord. 

I was just talking to my mom on the phone and read something to her.  She totally fell over laughing and said that I just had to post what I read to her on here.  So here it goes.

The Wal-Mart Cat

A blonde was weed-eating her yard and accidentally cut off the tail of her cat which was hiding in the grass. She rushed her cat, along with the tail over to WAL-MART!  Why WAL-MART?


HELLOOOOOOOOO!

WALMART is the largest re-tailer in the world!!!

Hope you got a chuckle out of it as well.

God bless
Heather

Hi everyone.  First of all before I forget, Happy Birthday Marilyn and congrats great grandmother Nita.  Those great grandchildren are so special, at least our are to me.  We never had the privilege of really being close to our granddaughter or step grandson and lost our only grandson when he was 7 months old.  So I relish the time I have with our great grandchildren and consider it a miracle of God to put them into our lives.  

Janet, wonderful news on the eyes.  I can't imagine not wearing glasses as have done it for so many years.  Glad your other tests turned out well.

Al, I pretty well agree with you on the viewing at funerals.  I am certainly not an advocate of no service at all as the service is for the family.  

Pat, it sounds like you have had quite a blizzard up your way.  I spoke with my sister on ther birthday yesterday and she lives in Northern Iowa.  She was commenting on how much snow they have had this winter and currently have.  I had to rub it in a little bit when I told her it was about 60 degrees here yesterday.  She said she didn't want to hear it.  

Etta Sue, baking a cake sure does leave a house smelling good.  I have you all of my luncheon experience today.  I met a friend at a new place called the Snellville Diner (Snellville is the name of the town).  It has recently opened and never closes.  The food was delicious and a great variety of dishes.  As you enter they have those circular displays of cakes that beat about anything I have ever seen.  Each cake had to be 12 inches or more high and probably 10 inches around.  The hostess told us that to buy a whole cake cost $65 and a piece is $6.95.  Don't think I will be having any of that as it sounds too rich for my pocketbook.  

Ruth Ann I would love to go to a Gaither concert and really like the gospel music they sing.  However, I understand from a friend who goes each time they come to our area that the concert is about 4 hours long and that is just too long.  So I willl just enjoy their tv programs and the recordings I have.  I also like the Anthony Burgers music.  You can find a lot of both on YouTube if you have highspeed Internet.

Heather, now really!!

Hello from Arizona!  We are going to our time-share tomorrow, meanwhile staying at a nice hotel but an awful part of Phoenix suburbs - I can't imagine living here.  Sorry if anyone lives near here.  Drove through heart-stopping snow/ice/blizzard/fog - did I say ice?  Angels surrounded our vehicle -

Larry:  If Stacey's problem is esophogus irritation, then, that can by helped very quickly.  It mimics a heart problem in pain. 

Marilyn:  Happy Birthday

Nita:  Congrats on new g -g child.

Pat:  Sounds lilke you are home?  Glad that your trip was safe.

Carol

Good one, Heather! 

Hi Carol!  There's no place like home, right?

HI:    I did not realize that I had been away for a few days.   We had 2 days with the snow storms, but it was only today that we did not go to work.  It was a productive day as I got a sewing project finished for my daughter, now to start on some sewing for myself  what a good feeling when something is done and put away.

Happy Birthday Marilyn. 
Heather that was a good one.
Nita: Congratulates on becoming a great grandma.

Hi everyone ... I've "been away" for a while, myself.     Things and stuff just keep happening and I keep just going with the flow .... 

I fell on the cement floor of my carport the other day and have been very careful how I sit, stand, walk, or not as the case may be .... A bit sore in the seating area, to say the least.   

I'm still making my rounds to the doctors ... The latest opinion is that my "persistent cough" (which is not so persistent now) is caused by, as Carol mentioned, esophogeal irritation and the doctor is scheduling some other "oscopy" to check for hiatal hernia ...    Oh, well, one of these daze I'll have it figured out, y'think?

I gave blood again today.  It is getting more and more difficult for them to find a vein from which to draw the blood.  Today I was there for two hours or more!!  When they finally did decide on a vein, the blood was slow and even clotted in the tube.     Oh, well, I'm home now and trying to find a soft place to land for the evening.

I am sorry for not publicly congratulating my friend, Nita, on the newest member of her family!  I am really happy for you, and all concerned, Bestest. 

And -- a belated Happy Birthday to Marilyn, too!  I'll have to share an email I just got from my sister.  All you young'uns can just skip over it if it bores you.

Y'all take care now... and I'll be back (as you-know-who said).

Thought some of you'd appreciate this:


The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old.  I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old.

Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.  Oh, not my body!  I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt.  And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself.  I've become my own friend.  I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.  I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. 

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?  I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60's and 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set...  They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten.  And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.  How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?

But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.  A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.  So many have never laughed and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.  You care less about what other people think.  I don't question myself anymore.  I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old.  It has set me free.  I like the person I have become.  I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day.  (If I feel like it). 

May our friendship never come apart especially when it's straight from the heart!

May you always have a rainbow of smiles on your face and in your heart forever and ever!

  
    Good evening to you all.  I have beenreading over the posting's and they again are very interesting. As Pat has told you we have had bad weather up in Canada but we sure are praying for those less fortunate in the States.

Larry:  Thank you for the movie about the young man in the supermarket that story made me think a lot and a lot of people need to see a story like that when they complain that life is so terrible.

Marilyn:  Belated birthday wishes and it sounds like you had a great one. May the Lord grant you many more.

Janet: Hope that you are well and as per usual you sound like your are very busy don't do to much.

Pat:  The story about the bible is very good and it is hard to believe how he get's it back.  Hope that you are o.k and not overdoing it.  God Bless  Sis.

Nita:  Cogratulation's on the great Grandchild we are just loving our grandchildren and they are so beautiful

Heather:  Very good joke.  How are you doing hope well

Ruth Ann Bice.:  I am sorry to here that you had a bad low.  I have had a couple of them and they are not nice I do hope that you feel better tomorrow and we will be praying for you.

Colin"  Nice to see you on line keep those poem's coming and hope you can get an email of some time soon. 

To all other's hope that all is well and may the Lord richly bless you this coming weekend.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you (N.L.T.)

Jane, I like that--a lot!

Hi, Gord.  Nice to hear you are doing well.

Mitt Romney is out of the race now........decisions, decisions.  I am going to vote in our Kansas Caucus on Saturday.  It's the first one in 18 years, and I have never had that privilege.  I'm still praying about who to vote for, but am thinking Mike Huckabee at this point.

Laundry is all done, folded and put away...until tomorrow, anyway! 

Hi,friends,

It's been good to read all the posts today. It was another late evening at work tonight, but when I realized that at some point my formulas didn't make sense any more, I gave up and marked where I shall begin again tomorrow.

Then came home to see my friends online again. 

I normally don't have a low, but had stopped by Sam's Warehouse Club to shop on my way home, and put out a good bit of energy lifting a heavy "bucket" of laundry detergent.

Just as I got home, I was really trembly, so got up the steps and immediately reached for some dried dates to bring my blood sugar up. It was way down in the 50s, so no wonder I felt bad.

It usually takes several hours to get over feeling droopy and bad after one of those, but at least I didn't go unconscious. I keep a vial of the glucose tablets in my purse at all times, and then have dried dates at work and usually dried apricots at home.

I've asked for the day off a week from Friday so I can go down to Atlanta Thursday afternoon in time to let the kids go out on a "date" while the granddaughters and I have a little "date" of our own! Sure do love those young'uns! 

Y'all have a good evening.

Hello all!!  Today is Kristi's third birthday.  She is so proud of herself -- she says she is a big girl now.

Funerals and the like:  Around here, we have a visitation the night before, like Etta.  For many of the same reasons.  Now, though, many people are starting to have a visitation just before the funeral -- cuts down on costs.   Cremation doesn't bother me, but not having any kind of service would.  For me, the service is more of time for those who knew and loved the deceased to have some closure.  A friend of mine from High School died last summer, and they had a memorial and funeral in Indianapolis (where he and his wife and two young sons lived), then a month or so later, had one here, in his home town for those that couldn't make it to the first one.  I know that was probably rough on his wife and all, but in the end, she seemed to really appreciate it.

Just my thoughts. 

Take care and everyone have a good day!

Hi everyone.  Will be very brief today as have to leave in a a couple of minutes to attend a day of meetings a the Senior Center with our Learning Center volunteers and then our computer user group this afternoon.

Carol, they did give her medicine for her stomach but it may have been due to insulin that was contaminated.  The pharmacy called her to tell her to bring the insulin back as it had been determined it was not good and people were getting sick. 

Karmat, remember when Kristi was born.  The years really fly by.

Jane, those falls are terrible and the effects can last so long.  Sure glad you didn't break a bone.

Will need to leave.

Mornin' Folks!

I got up and made our healthy shake--I am making them with several kinds of fruits, add the Reliv products plus cinnamon to help  Darrel's blood sugar--anyhow, I was thinking my chiropractor appointment was at 8:30.  Then I thought I'd better check the calendar, and oops!  It was at 8:00!!    So I really rushed, and got there at about 8:10, but still had to wait a few minutes.  Whew!  Just so I didn't make him wait for me.

It's so hard to believe little Kristi is three years old already!  As Larry said, how time does fly!  Tell her Happy Birthday from all the Grandmas and Grandpas here on CP, and give her a hug from Grandma Janet, please, Karma.  How is Nards?  Tell him we miss him!

Our company wanted to sleep in the fifth wheel trailer (inside the garage) because they will have their two little dogs with them.  But Darrel couldn't get the heater to light, so guess they will need to stay in the house after all.  We do not mind the dogs at all, it was just their preference.  They really like to bring their own 5th wheel, but what with $3.00 gasoline, not feasible for only a 3 day visit.  I need to do a little cleaning this afternoon.  They will get in late tonight.

I had some encouragement this week.  Beth's condition is such that they needed to start using the sling lift to take her to the bathroom.  She hates that lift, and she stated it in no uncertain terms, got a little ugly with the DON and the girls.  I was praying she would have an "attitude adjustment" and when I was there for the tea, helping them make Valentines on Tuesday, Beth told me that she felt bad about the way she acted. S o she went to the DON's office and apologized.  She said "And I looked her right in the eyes, too, because I read that if you apologize to someone and don't look them in the eyes, it looks like you don't mean it, and I did mean it."  I told her I was so proud of her for doing that.  She said "well, if this is the way it's going to be, I might as well be nice about it."  Thank you, God.

As for the viewing/visitation at a funeral home, it is for closure for the family and friends of the deceased.  I had a cousin that was cremated and only a memorial service was attended.  No closure.  That was my first....about 15 years ago. 

My friend, Jerry, was cremated but his family did have a viewing first...just no procession to a cemetery after the funeral.  His daughter has the ashes...probably still on the kitchen table!!

I called Ivalou to see if she would come cut my hair today so I would have a short haircut for Florida.  To pay her we are having cornbread and beans...smells almost as good here in my house as the Pound cake smelled!! 

Sometimes sunny today but it is to get colder and colder over the weekend.  I am looking forward to Florida!! 

I, too, can't believe Kristi is three!! 

Kristi is three?  My goodness!  Give her a big hug from me, Karma!

We had two nights of visitation for Jack plus the afternoons as there were so many people who wanted to come and 150 were turned away at the funeral service as I had not realized that I should have had the service in a church instead of the funeral home that only sat 175 in the chapel.  There were folks in every room available listening to the service and the 150 that were turned away just wouldn't fit in.  It did me good to be able to meet with these folks.  I don't know what it would have been like not to have this.

Hi everyone. Hows it cuttin? Enjoyed all your posts especially Jane's! Beautiful my girl. Sorry this is short but busy busy busy so i shall see you all later. God bless.

Hi Colin!

Don't trip over your own feet as you keep busy, my friend!    Looking forward to another poem.

Hi everyone. I have had a busy day. after work I went to the bank came home and paid some bills on line, went to the podiatrist grocery store and gas station. Just got back from taking the dogs for their walks we walked briskly.

Tomorrow I am going to breakfast with a former client and then to the recyclers to get rid of some stuff.

The next 3-4 weeks are either going to whiz by or go very slowly. My friend is coming for a visit as soon as he gets back from England and West Africa where they are installing a pipeline. That is going to be an interesting visit. We are going to apply for my passport at that time.

Gotta go now and get my supper fixed.

Marilyn, that is quite a business place--podiatrist grocery store gas station!  Get it all done in one stop, huh? 

Passport?  Last I knew, you didn't need a passport to go from California to Texas!  Methinks an explanation is in order!  (Don't get mad at me now!) 

Well, we will enjoy our nice clean house all by ourselves.  Our company isn't coming.  Don is sick, and their car broke down.  Thank goodness it was BEFORE they left town, and not out on the road.

Pat cut and colored my hair today, so I will look nicer for the Valentine banquet tomorrow night.