Christian Photographers Community

Hi everyone.  Just back from coffee at the Senior Center and we had a nice group of men there today.  I plan on staying in the rest of the day as they say the heat index (whatever that is) means it will feel like it is 100 degrees by afternoon. 

Yesterday I updated a document I have had for several years that would be beneficial to my wife if I were to pass away as it has a lot of instructions on who to call and what to do about certain things that would have to be attended to.  I also updated our net worth statements.  The job took all day as I researched from various sources for current information.  Today my goal is to clean out my office and storage closet and get rid of a lot of papers that are no longer needed.  Of course, after that is done I won't be able to find anything. 

Carol, great that you had the conversation with your brother and hopefully that broke the ice and will be the beginning of a restored relationship. 

Good morning. 

What a busy day for me yesterday.  I even wore myself out. 

First was the class luncheon.  Kitty didn't go but she called me and said if I wanted to go swimming to call her when I got back home.

So we were going toward Carmel to swim and Ivalou called me.  Asked me if I wanted to go to the movies with Marge, Betty, Janet and her at 4:55pm.  I told her if I saw that I couldn't get to Noblesville by that time I would call Janet. 

Kitty and I swam our 32-33 laps, got dressed and head toward Noblesville.  We realized that we would be a tad late so I called Janet and told them to go on in, I would find them.  Kitty dropped off my swim bag at the house...wasn't that nice.

We saw the movie 'Letters to Juliet'.  PG rating.  No violence, no profanity at all, no nudity!  A great movie...especially for my generation or older! 

Then the five of us went to Applebee's for dinner. 

Tony called me sometime in the afternoon and he was coming to the house to clean out my eaves.  Little maple trees were growing on three corners of the house. 

Then home to crocheting.

Good not to see maple trees growing.

I did find out that a classmate that didn't graduate with us passed away yesterday.  His viewing is this evening.  I know it has been over 50 years since I have seen home.  Debating whether to go to the viewing or not.  Probably will.

My goodness, Etta Sue!  Do you ever stop long enough to draw breath?  Any one of your activities would have been enough for me for one day.   

I finally got the computer way from Keith. LOL  :2funny:

I got to see my kitties while I was home for those few minutes on both traveling days. Yesterday It was pouring rain and I had to put
grubby back outside. He jumped down over the side of the deck and headed for the dog house. At least he will keep dry there. The neighbor puts his food by the front door.  However I sure do miss my dogs and wonder how they are doing.

Savannah looked so pretty and she wore my mother's diamond pendant on the box chain, I bought that for my mom when I worked at Mervyn's; (on  Super Saturday's I worked in the jewelery dept) 60% off plus my 20% employee discount. So I sure got a good deal.

Pat sorry this is late I was in the car for 10 hours yesterday and didn't get on the laptop when we got back to SunRiver last night.

Delay Is Not Rejection

Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them. Finally, after two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go to Judea again."


John 11:5-7 NLT

God often delays His response out of love, as He works all things together for good.

Jeanne Zornes


Waiting with hope

Mary and Martha had sent their friend Jesus a message about the critical condition of their brother, Lazarus, and their urgent need for his help: "Lord, the one you love is very sick" (John 11:3). But instead of rushing off to Bethany, Jesus stayed where he was for two days before responding to Mary and Martha's plea. When he did arrive, he raised Lazarus from the dead in a magnificent display of his power.

Just as Mary and Martha struggled when Jesus answered their prayers for Lazarus in a time and way different from what they had expected, we get frustrated when the Lord delays in coming to us and answering our prayers.

As it did for the grieving sisters, two days (or two months or two years) of waiting can seem like an eternity to us. But in the midst of the "delay," God is not inactive. He is teaching us patience, perseverance, and faith and is planning to glorify himself in our circumstances. While we are waiting, he wants to cleanse our hearts and refocus us on Jesus. The Spirit always knows what will glorify God, and we can trust him when we're in the waiting room.

LORD, help me to wait for you in hope and perseverance, knowing that you will come. Grant me patience and faith in the waiting room of life yet to be.

Enduring love

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 136:1 NLT


The unforgettable responsive reading

It was midnight on Thursday, February 8, A.D. 356, and Athanasius, a leader in the early Christian church and passionate defender of the deity of Jesus Christ, was leading a worship service. Suddenly loud shouts and clashing armor could be heard outside the church. Soldiers had come to arrest him.

But Athanasius said, "I didn't think it right, at such a time, to leave my people," so he continued the service. He asked a deacon to read Psalm 136 and then requested the congregation to respond with the refrain, "His faithful love endures forever," which they did twenty-six times over the din of the soldiers outside.

Just as the final verse was completed, the soldiers rushed into the church, brandishing their swords and spears and crowding forward up the nave toward Anthanasius. The people yelled for Athanasius to run, but he refused to go until he had given a benediction. Then some of his assistants gathered tightly around him, and, as he recounts it, "I passed through the crowd of people unseen and escaped, giving thanks to God that I had not betrayed my people, but had seen to their safety before I thought of my own."

Athanasius was portraying to his people God's love, which endures forever. He was willing to lay down his life for his flock—just as Jesus had laid down his life for his flock a few centuries earlier.

Since God's "faithful love endures forever," why is there ever any need to worry?

It seems I posted two days back to back but they were both too good to just ignore.  Someone may need to hear both.

Yesterday was a long day.  We took Kassie to school, and went to the graduation of the program she is in.  The teachers of the "program" are wonderful, really caring for the kids.  From there we had running around to do, including getting the schematics for the lawn tractor belt for the deck. I shredded the belt last week and we couldn't figure out how to replace it.  John and I spent time in the Christian Book Store, and bought 3 books.  I got my hair cut, and bought a camera! 

If anyone has the opportunity to get and read any of the Martyr's Song Series by Ted Decker, you would not be sorry. This is an amazing series of books some with a story within an story.  Be prepared to have a box of tissues beside you. Even though I have read the main story before, I still wept through this book.  Also the main story is a wonderful teaching tool

Last night was the Navy League cadets Annual Inspection.  Doug is a leader with Navy League.  Both Brytan and Kimi (our grandchildren) are cadets. 

We dropped Heather and the kids off, grabbed Kimi's clothes and brought her home with us.  She has been wanting a Gramma visit for a while now.  Her and Kassie are both still asleep. 

Now back to the camera.  I bought a Nikon Coolpix.  I am not sure what it will do just yet, but it is a start.  I am excited to take some pictures and check it out!.

Have a great day everyone.  Enjoy your summer!

Hi everyone.  It is going to be another very hot day here.  I was able to stay in after it got hot yesterday so it didn't bother me.  We have a meeting to attend this morning and then the rest of the day is free.  Sometimes to go to lunch with friends after the meetiing but it is now difficult for Pat as she is trying to not eat sugar and many carbs so eating out will not happen as often as before.  The conflict is that she often isn't feeling up to doing much cooking.  She is sort of caught in the middle.

Etta Sue, I am like Jeanne in that doing one or two of those things would be a full day for me as my energy would be gone.  That was really a full day. 

Marilyn, glad you had a safe trip and are back at the vacation spot.

Judy, thanks for the devotional messages.  Both of them were very good.  I think you will enjoy your new camera if you like to take pictures.  Each new version of the cameras seem to be better and better.  My friend, Rod, just got a new Casio that is 14 megapixel and does some amazing things.  He was able to take pictures directly into the light a couple of days ago and it turned out great. 

Well, after a full day of busy-ness, yesterday I hardly did anything more than crochet.  But I am over half done on my afghan.  But it is a smaller half...ha!  Each round is bigger...like a doily or round rug.  I have 38 rounds done and 30 to go! 

So since it is cloudy and rainy today, I planned on crocheting a lot more today.  But Kitty called.  She wants me to go with her to Carmel this evening so she won't have to wait by herself for her sister to go to an Alumni Dinner at the high school.  By then I will need a break from crocheting anyway. 

I need to call my sister.  Didn't talk to her yesterday but did see she had company last evening. 

Larry thank you for the encouragement on the camera.  Is it possible to get Meals on Wheels where you are?  That may be an answer to the mealtime problem.  Not sure if they work around diets though.

I thing it is about time for me to get a new camera, Mine is only 3.5 Mega Pixels. Half the time the batteries run down after only a few photos and I have to recharge them. Then sometimes the  lens won't come out.

We will be going home tomorrow, should get there around 3-5 pm. I will be so nice to use the desktop instead of this small keyboard on the Netbook.

Our friend who had one stent put in for heart yesterday is not feeling well.  He has four clogged arteries and the doctors explained that they wanted to stent the one that they thought was giving him pain.  He still has pain.  Maybe he will feel better tomorrow. 

Larry:  We have been in the low 40's all day with bouts of rain and hail.  I have a sweatshirt on this evening and we did turn the heat on for the afternoon.  Good luck in finding things after you organize; we do this all the time and can barely keep up.  One thing Pat could order is an omelet even make it with egg whites so you can still go out.  Perhaps, a veggie plate? 

Hi, friends, it's been a busy, busy time for me the last couple of weeks. One of the great times was a night and the next day spent with my DIL and sweet granddaughters, who came from GA to see me!

It seems today was also really busy with church matters. One of the older men in our church is visiting in Virginia, and of course, that WOULD be the time that he would fall, break some ribs and crack his pelvis! So, I was on the elder-phone-hotline calling all those who don't have computers requesting prayer for him and his family.

Then, of course, the usual 8-hours of designing and preparing a couple of large powerpoint files for use in tomorrow's service. Next was grocery shopping.

So, now it's time to get the meats and salads in the fridge, then find my bed. 

G'nite, friends.

Ruth Ann

Good Morning!

I went with Kitty last evening to take her sister to an alumni dinner at their old high school.  Kitty and I ate at Don Pablo's and then went to Micheal's.  Then back to pick up Sara.  Kitty's husband called and said there were storm warning.  That got Kitty scared.  We only had about a mile of windy weather.  Never did have a down pour...just sprinkles.  I wish Bob wouldn't scare Kitty like that.  She doesn't like driving in the rain anyway! 

Then I crocheted 4 more rows when I got home. 

I don't like to mow on Sunday but if the weather improves, I will.  Too busy the rest of the week but if I have to, I can fit it in!

Hi everyone.  It is suppose to be a scorcher here today.  The sun is out bright and early this morning.  I am ready for church and Pat is fixing her breakfast.  I have no idea whether we will be going out after church today or not.  We did go out yesterday at lunch time and Pat had a nice salad with chicken and a little cheese.  She said it was very good.  Other than church today I have no other plans for the day. 

I am reading a very interesting book called the Imperial Cruise.  It is really an eye-opener on our country in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  I hope to finish it today as have about 100 pages left to read.  I plan on taking a break from cleaning up my office.  It isn't dirty but I just just accumlated a lot of paper that is no longer needed and some of it needs to be shredded, which isn't much fun. 

Carol, sure glad you missed the hail.  I am still shocked at the terrible floods in Arkansas and all the killed and unaccounted for folks there.  What a tragedy on what was suppose to be a restful vacation.

Judy, we would not qualify for Meal on Wheels and hopefully are far away from needing such help.  I am sure I could learn to cook if I set my mind to it and there are lots of prepared things available.  When I was alone with my folks taking care of them years ago I did have to prepare the meals.  They were simple and probably not well prepared but we all survived the experience.  Don't remember having to discard anything as totally unpalatable.

Marilyn, always nice to get away and always better to return to the comfort of your own home.  I agree about the keyboard on the netbooks.  At least the one Pat has has a flat keyboard with no curves to the individual letters.

Etta Sue, it is nice to be able to spend all day doing what you wanted to do. 

Ruth Ann, it is really sad when someone travels and breaks one or more bones with a fall.  It creates a lot of problems.

Sure hope some more folks drop by today and leave a brief message if they don't feel inclined to write more. 

I'm here, Larry ... I arrived home from California yesterday evening and am still trying to recuperate from a week of emotional rollercoaster days and nights.  There were good days and not-so-good days and much stress at times, but I have survived to live another day! 

God is GOOD and He has always been my strong tower in the midst of any storm that comes along.

My income will increase dramatically since Tom's death, and my life style enhanced.  That's all because Tom paid into a Survivor Benefit Plan from his Air Force retirement ... also I receive his social security.  That, added to my (meager) telephone pension, will make life worth living for the rest of my life!  All things that no one can touch and/or compromise or take away from me.

I will admit that I still have a feeling of "I'm going to wake up from this one day and find it's all just a dream"  Or of waiting for someone to tell me there's been a mistake in the calculations and I have to pay it back!     I know, soon, I will not have that feeling of looking over my shoulder and will begin to enjoy what the Lord has provided.

So glad you made it home safe and sound, Jane.  I don't know why I kept having this feeling something was wrong.  I was praying....just in case.   I bet you will need some resting up for awhile.

We're having sunshine today, with clouds passing by, and then sun again.  No rain, so that's good.  People can get to their gardening and planting flowers again. It was warmer yesterday, with full sun.  I'm grateful for just being DRY!

Skeet, my son, mowed for me yesterday, and finally the dogs can go out without getting lost.   I tried to help him, but my shoulder kept telling me to stop.  He will use the weedeater to do the rest, later on today. 

Larry, that was such a tragedy about the camp being hit by the flash flood.  Many of my relatives in Texas and surrounding area go to that site regularly.  None were there that weekend, but knew others who were.  It's just so sad.  I sure hope they find the missing bodies.  And wouldn't it be wonderful if they found more, or even one person, alive?  My heart is hurting for the families.

It's Sunday again.  Where do the weeks go?  But Sunday means it's time for a new week here in Christian Photographers.  So just Click Here and we'll get started.