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Morning Devotional...





For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16


Everything that God does is done without effort or strain. He does all his acts with equal ease and tranquillity. We are often tempted to wonder how God could love us, but honest as this feeling is, it is nevertheless the result of a wrong way of looking at things. God does not love us because we are hard or easy to love; He loves us because He is God, not because we are good or bad or more attractive or less so. God's love is not drawn out of Him by its object; it flows out from God in a steady stream because He is love. "God so loved the world," not because the world was lovable but because God is love. Christ did not die for us that God might love us; He died for us because God already loved us from everlasting. Love is not the result of redemption; it is the cause of it. One question may demand to be answered: Does God love some people more than others? If not, what was meant by calling John "the disciple Jesus loved," as if to say that He loved John more than the rest? The answer is simple. John was more responsive to the love of Christ and could receive and enjoy it to a greater fullness. The divine love could operate toward this loving man with a joyous freedom not possible with others who had not his simplicity and faith. The sunflower that turns its face to the sky all day long gets more sun than the violet that hides among the leaves. But the same sun shines in fullness upon both. God has no favorites, except as some of His children by their loving response make it possible for Him to shower more love upon them.

God loves us because He is God. He does not love some of us more or less than others. He loves each one. Out of His love He has provided redemption. Are we running to His love or running from it?



Father, You so love me that You gave Christ for me. He so loved me that He paid the penalty of my sin by dying for me. In thanks and worship I bow before You.

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Thanks, Don, for this week's devotional.  Dr. Tozer reminds us "we love Him because He first loved us" and there is nothing we can do to gain the love with which He has already showered us.

Hi, friends. Yes, I'm so thankful that my son is here for a couple of days. We e enjoyed sharing and talking.

Marilyn, my heart breaks for you as you pray with us for your beloved son. I'll be praying that all receive strength from our Lord as you go through this battle.

Don, thank you for the good devotional message. I don't always comment on them, but it's wonderful to ponder the devotionals each week.

Y'all have a great day.

Ruth Ann

Don:  It is always nice to be reminded of our loving Lord.  Thank you. 

Marilyn:  Prayers for your son - Roger - and all his family and friends. 

Hi everyone.  It is another 78 degree morning but will only get into the low 90's this afternoon.  Yesterday was a delightful day as when we got out of church there was a brisk breeze and the temperature was just in the high 80's.  We went to Ryan's Steak House for the buffet after church and then had a quiet afternoon and evening. 

I have my morning chores done and am now eating my breakfast.  I will attend my Monday noon meeting as I am in charge today.  I see at least three little birdies in the next up in the corner of our front porch.  I could see their little heads peeping above the nest this morning. 

Marilyn, I will remember your son in my prayers.  I understand a bit about your concern and the feeling of when will the shoe drop.  However, don't go there before you have to. Unfortunately, all we can do is pray and let them know we love them. 

Don, thanks for the fine devotional thought for this week. 

Jeanne, Ruth Ann and Carol it is always nice to read your postings whether it is a short or long posting it is the connection with friends that makes this place so special for me.

Roger's dr, has told him,  he could live 5 yrs, perhaps 10 maybe even 20. He will be on this medication for the rest of his life however long that will be.

Don't forget to vote for your five favorite photos in this month's challenge:  HERE.  Voting closes Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. EST.   

I tried to get in here yesterday and was told I was FORBIDDEN!!     But here I am, I sneaked in under the fence!

I missed Marilyn's post, so will attempt to go back and find it, but even if I don't, Marilyn, I will pray for Roger.

We had a lovely 2" rain on Saturday night.  That didn't make the wheat harvesters happy but will be a boon to the corn and milo crops!  As hot as it is, it should dry out enough to resume harvest soon.

I finished my painting yesterday and am pleased with it.  I might ask Jeanne to help me post it.  (I forgot how-- )

I lost all my emails, several thousand of them, but now they have built back up to around 1400.  Yikes!

I hope this site doesn't keep kicking me out!

Hi everyone.  It looks like we are going to have another reasonable day going up to 87 but only for one hour.  There is a good possibility of rain in the forecast for this afternoon. Last night we had about 1/2 inch of rain.

We are really looking forward to today as good friends from where we moved are coming for a day visit.  They are very active in the church we attended before we moved, he is the one I bought the PT Cruiser from and his wife is an active quilter and sewer.  He attends the coffee group I used to attend about everyday and he also is a part of the church men's luncheon group.  They are very interesting people and the ones who spend about 6 months a year at their home in Mexico where their son and grandchildren live.  They have a new little dog and will bring Crispy with them as he is a seasoned traveler.

Yesterday I had a pleasant surprise when I called the lumber company that had supplied our windows and found that the replacement panel for half the window will cost only $39.  One of the companies I had called wanted $40 just to come out and see the situation and measure.  I feel that is very reasonable as will be able to lift out the old window and quickly insert the new as these are tip our windows. 

This morning as I was watering my flowers I saw 4 little bird heads above the rim of the nest.  They must be growing quickly. 

Marilyn, that seems to be encouraging new for your son from his doctor.  Is your son in pain?

Jeanne, thanks for the reminder to vote and I will do so this morning.

Janet, over the years I had saved many emails but found I never went back to them, at least nothing beyond a month or so old.  I find there is too much new to read each day that I never referred to them.  I still save things but only for a limited time period, perhaps one year, and then delete them.  Of course I saw in separate folders anything I feel is important and may need to refer to in the future. I hope you are able to post a picture of your completed painting.  You are such a talented artist.

Hi everyone on an overcast morning.  Again today we are looking at staying under 90 degrees and there is no rain in the forecast.  I have a quiet day planned.  I don't know whether we will take Scott out for dinner or Pat will decide to fix something here. That will likely be the big decision of the day.

We had a wonderful time with our friends who visited here yesterday.  It was like we had never been apart but we have stayed in touch with occasional emails over the months.  We enjoyed having their 1 year old small dog, Crispy, here for the day.  It was very well behaved.  We went to Cheddar's for lunch and then, because of a long traffic backup on I-20 due to some construction on the east bound lanes at the Savannah River Bridge, we struck off from the restaurant and went downtown.  We drove through some beautiful old home neighborhoods featuring large homes and streets lined with crepe myrtle trees that are now in full bloom over here. 

Larry Roger never says whether or not he is in pain and I haven't asked that question.

I went to see the ENT yesterday, he said i may have to have a procedure on my nose to open the little ducts from the sinus cavities so that they can drain properly. In the mean time He has me  washing out my nose with a Saline solution and a little pray bottle. They open those ducts with a balloons.

Larry:  I remember the beautiful crepe myrtle trees when we lived in Texas. 

Medication and drugs are being discovered for new uses daily - there is so much optimism.

Don took the car and he probably thought I was asleep but I am just dragging - his compressor unit is noisy and it is causing me to lose about two hours of sleep every night.  No nap today - and yesterday I went out with friends for a birthday lunch.   6 of us celebrate our birthdays at lunch.  Super nice friends from church.  We had cajun lunch and it was yummy. 

My iPad is not online today but the old laptop is this minute.  Strange things happen.

We need to get out of here before the next predicted storm hits - last night was hail and flooding.  However, it did abate just before the quilting gals arrived.  The angel food cake I baked was about 3/4 height as it usually would be but the taste was still good  - along with raspberry sherbet and fresh strawberries with sun tea made out on the porch.  Wish you could have been here.  We spent the night just telling stories and laughing.   

Carol, that meeting sounds like a really pleasant time.  It's nice to have friends!

Marilyn, I hope if you have the procedure on your nose, it isn't unpleasant, and I'm still praying for Roger.

Larry, I really enjoy those days with not much to do, anyway no obligations.  Then we can enjoy our time at our  own pace!  I had an errand morning today.  Mailed a book, went to visit Beth, spent an hour with her and then another hour with my 99 year-old friend Maxine; then to the bank; took lunch to Dr. Saxon, then had lunch at the Senior Center.  Exciting, huh?   

Our Abby had all of her wisdom teeth removed last week and is still having quite a bit of pain from that.  They are trying to get things taken care of that she needs done before she leaves in August for college!  That just doesn't even seem possible, that she is all grown up already!  Where have the years gone?

We had another inch of rain last night and this morning!  The farmers are really needing some dry, hot days to dry out the ground and the wheat so they can finish the harvest.  This is the best wheat crop they have had in years, so I do hope they can get it out of the fields!

I think I may just take a short nap!   

That must be some other Abby who is getting ready to start college.  I'm sure it can't be the same little girl who I remember just last year spending time with her grandmother.....

Carol, the next time you have the quilting party with those refreshments, don't forget to invite me.   I don't quilt, but I can tell stories, and laugh, and.... eat those goodies!   

I believe I could do all of that, too, Jeanne!  How about it, Carol?

Sounds like a sleep-over to me.  We were all having such a good time and always do - so I said we should do a sleep-over once but of course, we would never get to sleep.   

I just finished making egg salad for Don - it is his favorite and once a week - so the batch should last him three days.  We did get the iPod and iPad working - strange things happen. 

Janet:  It is so neat that you can visit Beth in her home with John.  Dreams come true!

Jeanne:  You don't have to quilt - you would be in awe of my friends precise workmanship.  They work at it all the time - still take classes and they can and do teach as well.  Don't know why they put up with me but I love them all.

Two of our grands will be at Colo. State (Ft. Collins) again this year.  One is doing a 5 year master's program with non-stop study even in summer - working full time too.  One grandson heads for Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota this year and he will be called a Gusty like the other students.  He has a summer job in Minnesota at his old school now.  Granddaughter is working at a nursing home - helping serve meals and taking online classes as well.  We cherish phone calls and visits as you can imagine. 

Hi everyone.  It has been a long night as awoke at 2:30 and was never able to go back to sleep.  Nothing bothering me and guess it was just one of those nights that I seem to be having more often.  It looks like it is going to be another nice day only getting up to 91 degrees this afternoon. 

This will be my usual Thursday morning with coffee with the guys and then to the church for the Wisdom group.  Yesterday evening Pat, Scott and I went to a Chinese Buffet that has a Hibachi grill for dinner.  I didn't have the Hibachi but ate from the buffet but Pat had the Hibachi and was pleased. 

Marilyn, that procedure on your nose doesn't sound like something that would be pleasant at all but perhaps necessary.  I hope the Saline solution will help the problem go away. 

Carol, I didn't understand your comment about Don's compressor unit keeping you awake.  It sounds like you had a nice birthday celebration.  Glad you got your iPad and iPod working again.  Electronics can give us headaches sometimes. 

Janet, sounds like you didn't have one of those no obligation days yesterday.  Nice of you to give Maxine and hour of your time and I bet she loves every minute of it.  Poor Abby as having any teeth pulled is not pleasant.  I agree with you that it doesn't seem possible that she is now ready for college.  It makes me realize how long we all have been writing on these discussions because, like Jeanne, I have her pictured in my mind as that little girl who loved to be with her grandmother.  I am sure she will always carry wonderful memory of you and Darrel and the time she spent with you.  I know I still treasure the memories of the many hours spent with my grandmother who was always happy to see me and find time for me.  It is unusual to see you write about needing dry weather.

Hello everybody Not much is new here on the Oregon coast. Tomorrow night is the monthly wine walk in downtown Coos bay. I am in charge of that for the Furry Friends table at an appliance store. We do not serve wine or food, we are there  to display our dogs and let the people pet them . We do put out brochures about the group and have a donation jar is anyone feels like donating. We take no more than 4 dogs each month because of the lack of space.

I went to the Dr. yesterday about the pain in my side an it is all related to my back problems and muscle fatigue from sitting in one place for a long time driving. It sure can be a PAIN (literally) getting old.

I too have a free day today to do whatever I want, I've taken Freckles for a walk early this morning, went over to the church around the corner to get some Whole Wheat Flour, shampooed my hair and now I am thinking about maybe going to church ladies coffee  weekly  get together. I still have to go to the Bank to change my name and get new checks. I am trying not to schedule  every day things to do. I do have some ongoing obligations with Freckles visiting medical facilities, but also do some extra ones each month.

Sunday is our potluck at church I think I will be taking Marinated Cucumbers, they always ask  for me to make them and there are never any left over to bring back home, just the empty dish.

Larry, you're right!  It is very unusual to ask for some dry days.  We got another almost half-inch last night; the fields are too wet to harvest, and every rain makes the wheat worth  less and less.  Farming is not an easy way to make a living!

I hope Abby has as fond of memories of her childhood, spending lots of time here with us, as I do!  She has grown up into a beautiful, considerate young woman, and we are proud of her.  But I wish we could spend more time with her!  However, the three little great-grands are begging for "a sleep-over at Grandma's, so we will begin making more sweet memories.  They are to come here on July 6th! 

Abby has been baby-sitting two little boys who are in Hugoton for a month with their dad.  Diane said, "He pays her better than I do!  Abby is really becoming good at managing her money, and knows how expensive college is, so is trying to make as much as she can, to take the pressure off her parents.  She's a sweetheart!  Prejudiced???    Nah! 

Carol, I visit Beth and John at the Care Home.  John has an apartment, but Beth cannot live there, as she needs 24 hour care, and it takes two people and a lift to move her.  But he is so faithful to spend almost all his waking hours with her.  What a blessing John is!!

Larry, Maxine is always so happy to see me, but yesterday her two daughters were there, so I didn't really get to visit with Maxine.  One daughter was trying her best to bulldoze me into buying some high-dollar Essential Oils, and becoming a dealer.  I told her I wasn't interested but she just kept on and on!  I finally got so annoyed I told her, "I don't believe what you are telling me and I am NOT interested."  Then began talking to her sister, who said very quietly, "You should have had to ride clear to Salt Lake City from Missouri with her!"  "Too much!"  I answered.  She was telling me those oils cured EVERYTHING in Bible days and that's why those people lived 4 to 5 hundred years.  Yeah, right.  Whew.  So I will go back after they go home and visit with Maxine! 

We are getting ready to go with the senior bus to Liberal for a special patriotic program called Liberty! tonight.  It is put on by the Fellowship Baptist Church, and they do an awesome job.  I know we will enjoy it!

Marilyn, have fun at the wine walk!

Gotta run!

I put some utube music on - religious - and sent the links to our neighbor who is not feeling well this week.  He may enjoy a few of the songs and can turn it off if not. 

Today was a great sale on fabric for the newest quilt yet to be cut out - so expensive.  The pattern is a lot more complicated than I thought -    Don cleaned the garage floor - he is having a lot of arm pain. 

Larry:  Don was sent an oxygen compressor machine to hook up at night.  He doesn't feel any different but the numbers show he needs a bit - at night only.  We are wondering if the lower altitude in Tucson - only about 3500 ft. will make a difference. It is so loud (to me) - losing sleep.  We shall see - no - do not want to move there as everyone is asking. 

Janet:  Sorry - I had not kept up but you must have mentioned it before - yes, Beth needs expert care as well as a loving family.  We once had a neighbor who only came to the house when she wanted to sell Avon - and I can't stand the perfume.  We had the same amount of rain yesterday - everything is green.  Abby sounds like such a sweet girl and so adult in her thinking - very thoughtful girl - you are blessed. 

Janet it sound like that lady was tryhing to hook you into the doTerra essential oils. They sure do try hard to get people signed up  so they can make money off you Just another pyramid scheme Been there done that and quit. Too much money.

Hi everyone on a relatively mild morning with 95 percent humidity.  We are headed up to about 90 degrees this afternoon.  A couple of times yesterday we heard some thunder and it looked stormy but we didn't get any rain.  There is only a small chance for today. 

This is the morning for the housekeeper to be here.  I plan a quick trip to Walmart for a prescription and then expect to stay home the rest of the day.  I did have a good nights sleep last night so ready to take on the day.  My morning chores are completed.  I don't know whether Scott will be coming out to spend part of the day with us or not.  This is the day that Sam died last year and he asked us Wednesday if we would be home today if he needed to be with us to help him today as he is not working. 

Marilyn, several cities over where we moved from have started having beer fest days once a year as a fund raiser.  I don't know whether they have food or not as have never attended one and have no intentions of doing so.  I am sure the wine walk will be a good way to get your message out about the Furry Friends.  I agree with you about the getting old being a pain.  Hope the pain you are experiencing will soon subside. 

Janet, how great it is that you are now be able to share your love and caring with the great grandkids.  Keeping up with three little ones at once may be a bit of a challenge.    Abby sounds like a very caring young lady who will go far in this life.  That sounds like a very unpleasant hour spent with Maxine's daughters. 

Carol,  there is nothing inexpensive involved with quilting.  I told Pat a couple of days ago that with all the fabric she has to get made up into quilts or other projects she is going to have to live until she is 150.  She just laughed and assured me that she needed every scrap of it but I noticed she made no comment about actually being able to actually use it.  I get joy out of seeing how much she enjoys her hobby.  Everyday she watches quilting videos on the computer and reads some quilting discussions.  Thanks for the explanation of the oxygen compressor as I now understand.  My former Brother-in-law had one of those and he kept his in another room with a long hose attached.  The CPAP machines Pat and I now have are quiet except when air escapes around the masks we wear at night. 

Hi everyone on this Saturday morning.  We are in for more hot and humid weather today with little to no chance of rain.  I have a quiet day planned with nothing that I really need to do although will probably make a quick trip to Aldi's to get some fresh fruits and vegetables.  I still need to do my outside chores but after working in the kitchen and getting ready for the day I needed to sit down and rest so decided to eat my breakfast and write on the discussions.

I called Scott yesterday afternoon about 5 pm to see if he would join us for a good steak dinner.  He thought that was a good idea and came out later.  He was very down when he got here but seemed to be in much better spirits when he left.  He told us that good memories with his wife are beginning to push out some of the not so good memories of when she was so sick for so long.  Hopefully this will be a much brighter year for him. 

I hope all will be enjoying a happy 4th of July weekend.  We have no plans for anything special.  I know that those of you in Canada had your holiday yesterday whereas will be on Monday. 

Interesting that the USA and Canada's "birthdays" are so close together.  I'm sure all of you are praying for our country, as are we.

We got another THREE INCHES of rain last night, bringing the total in less than two weeks to 8 1/2"!!  Wow!  That is unheard of in this area!  It seems that wonderful wheat crop will be a total loss, and it was averaging 70 bushes to the acre--the best crop ever, or at least in many years.  They had only a small portion of it harvested when the rain stopped them.  So sad for the farmers.  What a hard way to make a living--sure takes a lot of faith!  But we are blessed that so many still want to farm.  Where would we be without them?

I went out to the Farmers' Market again this morning and visited with the nice folks who come there.  I really enjoy doing that, and buy a few things, too.  A loaf of bread, two jars of jam and some breakfast burritos today.    

Marilyn, the brand of Essential Oils being pushed at me was Young Living.  I do NOT like to be pressured to buy anything!!

I am excited about starting another painting!  I found a photo from Peru that is in a primary color scheme--yellow, blue and red.  I've never seen a photo with such a plain primary color scheme, so I am going to my studio to work on it as soon as I finish here!  FUN!!

Our garden is a muddy bog and the plants are rotting, especially the cabbages.  Our trash burning pit has about three feet of water standing in it.  I hope things dry out soon or we will have a plague of mosquitoes!  Ugh.

Pat!  Where are you?  Can you give me a call?  Or may I call you?  I miss you!

Well if I ever say anything about my life being dull or boring, bring out the wet noodles and give me 40 lashes!

First of all, on Thursday night while watching Perry Mason (mostly through my eyelids) I accidently set off my medical alert button.  At just about midnight the phone rang, scaring the dickens out of me, i ignored the ID 800 number thinking someone was playing games.  Then about 10 minutes later the front windows lit up bright so I went (in my flimsy summer nightgown  ) to the front door.  Two huge spotlights mounted on a large rescue vehicle were shining on the front of my house.  I man was walking across the lawn and asked if I was OK and was I alone.  Then he explained that the 800 number phone call was the medical alert company checking and when I didn't answer they immediately sent the rescue team.  I felt about 1/2 inch tall, ashamed at calling the crew out, especially at that hour, but after apologizing and thanking, I told them I was glad in a way, because now I can be sure what a great job of responding they would do if really needed.

Ok, that took care of that incident.

Then on Friday I tried to order a refill of a prescription using my new health providers number, only to have the pharmacy call back and tell me it wasn't covered.  So a call to the insurance company and they informed me that although they had cancelled by previous Part D coverage, the policy I have been issued did not cover Part D.  So, after a lot of time negotiating I was assured that as of August 1 my prescriptions would be covered but I would be required to have a checkup with my regular doctor - which I set up for that afternoon.  There had been a change of staff at the satellite clinic in town, so I had to hook jp with a new doctor or PA, which  was no problem.  Of course that meant that I still had no prescription coverage. 

In taking the normal blood pressure, breathing, pulse, etc. tests the PA that was taking me on decided thing were dangerously out of kilter and arranged for me to be taken by ambulance to the hospital for more testing and treatment.  Turns out the first tests the hospital ER ran gave me BP readings that were through the roof and I was not getting anywhere enough oxygen with my breathing.  So I was admitted and I'm still here.

I found out I would have no trouble getting online with the hospital's free internet access.  So I had my dear friend Carol, the one who takes me food shopping, get my Kindle Fire and my Mac laptop.  And here I am.  I may be going home tomorrow - or not yet.  The doctor handling my case here wants to see the reactions to meds- both oral and IV after tonight.   Also,  things have been set up for a visiting nurse to check on me about twice  a week after I get home.  And they are supplying a month's supply of the refill I need and are adding two new meds which they are ordering from Walmart at $4 each.  Carol will take me there to pick them up and then home to hopefully get over all this recent trauma.

Like I said, don't ever let me say again that my life is dull or boring!

Wow ..... Jeanne!!  I'll never again believe you when you say your life is dull and boring!  That's plenty of excitement (if that's the word) to last you a long while!  I'm glad you are getting the necessary attention and things are straightening out. 

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