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Morning Devotional...





Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity . . . Hebrews 6:1


Israel allowed themselves to settle down and became contented with circumstances that were all right, but which could and did break their spirit of adventure and cause them to accept the status quo as being final for them. Every once in a while through prophet, apostle or psalmist, God stretches out His hand and tries to arouse His people from their sleep. Somebody once said that man is made of dust and dust tends to settle. People tend to settle down and do the same things year in and year out, slowly going around in a circle. When this gets into religion, it is deadly and evil. The majority of Christians are asleep and in a spiritual rut. Sometimes Christians who realize they are in a rut put pressure on others to adopt their viewpoint. But even if truth does not convince and persuade a man or woman, nobody has the right to set up a pyschological squeeze on someone else. If people yield under pressure, it shows that they are too weak to resist. If they are too weak to resist, and if they take a religious position because they are too weak to resist, they will also be too weak to persist. When we follow Christ there must be persistence. We must go on.


Let's go on! There is more to experience in Christ. There are promises to be fulfilled. There are opportunities to be seized. Let's keep walking by the Spirit. Let's persist in going on!


Father, I want to go on. I want to grow, to mature as Your child. I know that is Your will for me. Change me by Your Spirit! In Jesus' name.

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

 Hi everyone.  It is an overcast day so far here in Georgia but a little warmer than the last two days.  Pat and I may make a day trip to the North Georgia mountains to one of the state parks and have lunch there.  The choir isn't singing today so thought it would be a good time to go.  We will make the final decision after she gets up.  It has been a long while since we did anything like this so it should be fun.  Nothing else on the schedule for today.

Carol, it sounds like you quilters all know the tricks that can be used.  In the big house we had before moving to our retirement location Pat had a very large room with a daylight walk-in closet for her sewing room and it was great.  We are a bit crowded here and she has fabric stored in a number of places in the house.  I don't know how she remembers where things are located.  Hope you didn't get another blizzard out your way.

Etta Sue, nice to have some face time with your son alone.  Obviously he enjoys spending time with you.  Barb should do will with her stent and probably will feel much better.  Hope she doesn't need a pacemaker.

Judy, sounds like a wise plan on the January 1st get together for family Christmas.  I do think it is nice when the little ones can be home on Christmas to enjoy the new toys. 

Don, thanks for sharing the devotional for this week.

I got to hold a 4 month old yesterday and put her to sleep.  My g-g-niece, Brenna.  She is a smiley one!  Her eyes sparkle and her belly tightens when she smiles!  Sweetie. 

I am running late and ready to go out the door to church.  I hope today will go well with what the building committee will be proposing to the congregation.  My answer is pray to the Lord and he will guide you to what to do.

Hello from lovely Bruges, Belgium!  We are enjoying our trip so far, and I must have finally been able to relax; I didn't wake up until 9 this morning!  Yesterday, I went on a trip to Flanders Fields and the town of Ieper, (That's an I, not an L) where so many suffered and died during the first world war.  We spent time in the museum there, visited several battleground cemeteries and other cemeteries, learned so much about that horrible "war to end all wars" ....NOT.  Only a short 20 years later, along came WWII.  Why do we never learn?

At the end of the day, after a lovely dinner, we went to Linen Gate where every day since the end of the war, they have played Taps and sworn to remember those who died in the war.  Since the day before was Veterans Day (Armistice Day) they had a lot more people in the band than usual---about 25 bagpipers, plus drummers, flag bearers and others.  After they marched to the gate and played, several men laid wreaths in remembrance, then they played again and dismissed.  It was a very moving ceremony, and to think they have done this EVERY DAY was amazing.

On the 11th, they had over 8,000 people from all over the world visiting there!  Many Veterans and families come on that day to say, "We will not forget them!"

Pat, we visited the very spot where Joel Mac Crea wrote the poem In Flanders Fields, and heard his story, how he was from Guelph, was a doctor, saw his best friend die from battle wounds, etc.  Our local tour guide read the poem there, and I certainly thought about you!

Today is a free day.  We met a lovely couple from Virginia who are Christians and we have really been enjoying them.  We went walking around Bruges with them, visited two very old chapels, had wonderful hot chocolate, then went to a lace shop and got souvenirs, then to a chocolate shop for tidbits to take along.  I also got chocolate for Diane and Abby!  YUM!!n Oh, yes!  We went to the chocolate museum and learned about chocolate from picking to finished products, very interesting!

This evening we are going to attend an English service in a church close by.  I think it's an Episcopalean one, doesn't matter the name, though.

I had to take my computer down to the desk to get help getting online, but here I am!!    And here I go!!

What a great trip, thus far, Janet. Thank you for sharing with us.

I certainly feel reflective today - my eldest son is now 50. Where DID all those years go???

Y'all have a blessed day with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

Janet:  Bruges has to be my favorite ancient city and I have been so privileged to visit five times over the years.  We enjoy just walking the neighborhoods and so on.  Don used to work in Brussels several times every year so we do enjoy Belgium.  I hope you see a demonstration of lace making.  Eat chocolate. 

Happy Birthday to your son, Ruth Ann.  Tomorrow is our youngest son's birthday. 

I need to focus on jobs at hand because the holidays are racing towards us. 

Larry:  Winds were clocked at 99 mph in the Boulder area (our daughter lives right in that area).  Today, more to come this afternoon.  We just deal with it but it isn't fun to be on the freeway.  I will feel better when two sons come back over the pass today. 

We attended church this evening at an Anglican church (Church of England).  They were having Remembrance Sunday, and it was so nice, following our trip to Ieper yesterday.  And as we were leaving, the pastor presented us with copies of his book about infant baptism.  I already packed it and don't recall the exact title just now.

Just in from a nice dinner and visit with our new friends; showered and packed except for the few things to go in in the morning!

Carol, I love Bruges, too!  The architecture is fascinating!  I have snapped and snapped photos!  Things here are very expensive, including food.  But Darrel says "You only go around once!"

Until I can connect aboardc the ship, farewell!

It's so good to hear from y'all this afternoon. May our Lord be near to You, giving you His own Breath of Life today.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  Yesterday we changed the pace a little and Pat and I drove about an hour and a half into the North Georgia mountains to Unicoi State park.  The park is near Helen, Georgia, which is a town developed to look like a Swiss village and is quite the tourist trap.  We had been to a convention at this Park and remembered they had a very good restaurant.  We did have a nice lunch there but decided it wasn't worth the trip and won't do that again.  It was an overcast morning but we had some sun coming home.  We did see some beautiful autumn trees that we really enjoyed.  Nothing special on tap for today, just the normal Monday activities.

Janet, nice to hear from you.  Your trip with the laptop must have gone well through the airport and glad they were able to help you get online at the hotel.  Glad you are being able to relax.  You certainly had a busy day on Saturday. 

Carol, what winds in Boulder.  I hope it didn't do too much damage. 

A beautiful morning here and I saw one three deer earlier in the open space behind our house.  A real treat. 

Larry:  Your drive into the mountains sounds so relaxing and lovely.  One son drove over the pass & I don't know if he was there at the time when 113 mph winds were recorded but he said it was just awful.  Huge trees came down & roofs torn off in the Boulder area but no one was hurt so far.  We did not have anything here. 

Trying to firm up holiday plans with the children.  It is like trying to herd cats.  

Don:  Thank you for the devotions and the reminder to be persistent in faith. 

Good Morning from Oregon, I started to type California, Gosh, where am I anyway??  :

I have decided to walk up and down the stairs to the Train room upstairs several times per day to get work my legs more than just walking and going to the gym. Not much going on here, we went to the Chinese place for lunch yesterday. and then didn't eat dinner because we ere so full. All we had was two items each are far Chicken and Egg Foo Yung. $4.75 per person.

I think today I will make Banana Bread and freeze it, Carol I am using your recipe. I already have everything sitting out so it will get to room temperature.

Well time to get a load of laundry out of the dryer and  put in another load.

Janet, sounds like you are having a lovely time traveling.  Thanks for taking us on your trip with you. 

Larry, it is amazing how when you go back to somewhere you thought was fantastic, that the second time is not so fantastic!  I do that a lot!

Ruth Ann, happy birthday to your oldest son!!

Carol, happy birthday to your youngest son!!  I can't imagine wind being 113 mph!  Here, we have wind and it is straight line wind.  Right now my pine trees are dancing with the wind and I know it isn't near 113 mph.  Just looked at Droid and we are in a Tornado Watch.  And we are having gusts of 29 mph winds!

Marilyn, I see you posted while I was composing.  I am really slow today but hello to you!

No one was going out to eat yesterday after church so I asked Ivalou if she wanted to go to Woody's in Lapel.  So we went there.  Food is a lot cheaper there and plentiful as well.  After I went to the bank for $$ and to Dollar General for some items, we came home. 

I wish I didn't think that everything has to be spotless when I have Euchre here.  But the good thing is I know it was done November 2011!!  Everything is about done except setting up the kitchen so we can serve ourselves our food and setting up two tables to play Euchre!  Just remember a gift bag so I got that done, too! 

Tonight is Photo Guild and I am driving.  We are going to a pizza place first and going to call in our order so we won't be rushed.  I am always the last to get done eating and with teeth missing and parts of teeth missing in my mouth, I am really slow eating.  Hopefully Thursday will be better! 

Don is into the Green Bay vs Vikings football game.  Purple is the color to cheer for tonight.  They are behind. 

Etta Sue:  I envy you driving around at night & thinking nothing of it.  Last week, I had two quilters in the SUV and it was so dark that it just made me really nervous.  Freeway was alright but I always think a deer will run across so I hate to go too fast at night. 

Marilyn:  I forgot that you had the recipe.  Do hope it tastes good for you.  It does freeze nicely. 

I made clam chowder tonight and baked rye bread.  There are leftovers. Sony is coming tomorrow to fix a problem that "can" cause a fire.  Yes, fix it please. 

Hi everyone.  Just a quick word to anyone looking in but not sure about posting here in CP.  Please know with certainty that we would welcome you with joy and you will quickly get to know us and feel a part of this community online.  We are always happy to see new folks join with us when they can.

We had a very warm day yesterday and suppose to be warm again for most of the day and then cooling and rainy weather is to move in.  I have a number of errands to run this morning and then a quiet rest of the day.  I did get notice yesterday, as I expect John did as well, that I am suppose to get the Kindle Fire on Thursday.  That is really a little faster than I expected.  Amazon released them one day early for shipment.

Carol, glad to read you escaped the bad storm.  Those wind speeds are terrible and certainly would do a lot of damage.  We firmed up our Thanksgiving plans with are children yesterday and now just have to get the order in for the food.  I talked with all of them yesterday and our son is feeling much, much better and sounds great.  They did not hire anyone to replace him while he was off sick so hopefully can soon get back to his old schedule as he needs the work.  Carol, I am really concerned about dear during night driving as well.  Fortunately I have only a short distance to drive at night but still have seen deer along side the rod both alive and dead. 

Marilyn, using the steps for some extra toning sounds like a good idea.



Etta Sue, it seems to be getting late in the season for tornados but guess they can happen anytime of the year. 

Hello again from the River Rhapsody!  We haven't sailed yet from Antwerp, will this evening, though.  Today we had a three hour walking tour of the town, quite interesting, with a local guide.  There is an old fortress from the 900s built of stone when all other buildings here were wood, so it is known simply as The Stone.  Looks like a castle!  Lovely huge old cathedral, and very ornate tall clock tower.  The carillons were playing, very nice to hear.

After lunch back on board, we had a chocolate demonstration, complete with samples....yum!  And of course, opportunity to buy the product, as well.  And at 4:00 we have a lecture about the European Union.  But between now and then, on MY schedule is a nap! 

Carol, those winds are even worse than we have at times in Kansas!  Whew!

I think I thanked Etta Sue instead of Don for the devotional.  Sorry, Don!

Larry, no problem bringing the laptop except it is so heavy it wears me out quickly.  And when I carry it on top of my rolling bag, the weight of it pulls down on my arm.  So I wish I'd had time to shop for a wheeled case for it like you have.

Now for that nap!

Good morning, everyone! 

Carol, I never minded driving at night but after hitting that dog, I am very leery now.  We have several deer here also.  My eyes dart left and right all the time!  Not overly cautious but alert!  And at night, I like to drive with my GPS on...I can tell where the crossroads are if I need to turn even though all the crossroads near me have green street signs out in the country.   

It's gun deer season here now so maybe the deer are in hiding!

Larry, we had a warm day yesterday also.  It was in the 70's about all day but not a nice day to be out!  Rainy, cloudy, yucky.  But the wind did die down.  There were tornado warnings north of us near Purdue and Notre Dame.  While we were eating pizza last evening, Cherie said 'Look outside!'  It was raining cats and dogs.  The radar on Droid showed we were right in the middle of a huge downpour.  So we waited it out before leaving.  We didn't want to melt since we are all so sweet.   

Janet, it sounds like you are having a great time.  I am so glad your laptop works there so you can keep in touch with us AND let us travel with you!  If only we could enjoy the chocolate and the food, too!    

Photo Guild was great last night.  We had two different critiquers and they were really informative.  They both let us know that cropping, vignetting and lightening and darkening were great options to use to make better photos.  One is a professional photographer for magazines so I felt he knew what he was talking about!  The other surprised me.  Usually her voice is annoying but she is really a good critique!

The house is almost ready for Euchre.  The bedroom, bathroom, living room, dining room and utility room is all done except putting up my sweeper.  Now to concentrate on the kitchen. 

AND only once before this happened but I think a mouse is dead in the crawl space and where the water pipes come up and down in the baseboard in the dining room, it stinks!!  So I am trying to 'cover' it up with candles and such!  I will have to tell them what it is though!  Why now?

Hopefully when the Texas Chili gets cooking more in the Crock Pot, that will help also! 

Oh, yes!  I have a CD player that holds 60 CD's then you can play them randomly one song at a time and then another song on another CD.  I took out all the regular CD's and put in my Christmas CD's.  I know it isn't Christmas but I don't have any Thanksgiving CD's.   

I love having everyone here to play Euchre but oh, so glad when it is over! 

It is cloudy and gloomy again today.

Etta Sue, I might be tempted to come over to play, but first you'd need to teach me to play Euchre!

Marilyn, I can't do stairs any more. Certainly wish I could.

What joy to hear from you again, Janet - have a wonderful trip.

Carol, I don't normally "do" sports, but can certainly be talked into a televised, or radio broadcast of the professional ice hockey team here in Nashville, the Nashville Predators - we call 'em the Preds. They're in a rebuilding year, but it's still great to keep up with their games.

Larry, I got that rebuild information. Will attempt that in a day or so. With the really wet weather to be here tomorrow, that may be Rebuild Day.

Love to everyone,
Y'all have a great day, and ask someone near you to give you a "proxy hug" from the fat lady that sings in Nashville.

Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann.....   I will do that!  I'll ask my new friend Laurel tomorrow!

It is 2 AM and I haven't been asleep yet....   For some reason I did not expect to have any "J" nights while on the trip!  Usually I sleep really well when away from home.  It is proving to be a very relaxing time, which I believe we needed.  Last night after a fabulous dinner---took photos---we went into the lounge to listen to a cute young man from India named Keith play the guitar and other instruments and sing, and we even sang with him!  That is Darrel and Laurel and I did!    We also danced a little, great fun.  We hadn't danced in ages, and boy, are we rusty!  There was only a handful of people in there, so it was okay. 

Thanks, Etta Sue and Ruth Ann.  As long as I am not boring you, I will continue to check in when I have an internet connection.  So far, I haven't heard anything from my publisher, so need to make use of the computer since I lugged it along.

We are either in a lock or docked for the rest of the night.  Not moving, engines off.....

Next shore excursion is to see 15 historical, still working windmills in Holland (Netherlands).  I have always wanted to see those!  They always seemed shrouded in mystery to me when I read about them as a kid.

I want to send John an email so he can tell Beth when he calls her today.      TTYL!!

Gord:  Your comments always make me feel welcome
Etta Sue:  Michigan is doing OK so far, but the good temps will not last much longer.

New knees have allowed me to walk the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day 2010, do the local 2011 Red October Run (I walked 5K) for the first time since 2003.  Unlike past efforts, I was not last.  I came in the top 50, just barely...at #50. 

Good for you, Ed!  Good going!

We are at the small town of Willemstad, in the Netherlands.  I did the walking tour this morning, saw my first windmill; the town with more of them is this afternoon.  It is quite cold here, we have to really layer on the clothes when we go out!

It is almost lunch time.........see you later!

Hi everyone.  We have had what appears to be a lot of rain since late yesterday afternoon.  I think it has now stopped but believe we will get more during the day.  We need the rain so no complaint.  It is still warm here this morning.  Today is Bible study and then choir tonight. Yesterday I got fed up with my slow Internet service the last few weeks and decided to go back to Comcast cable internet service.  I should have it in place by the weekend.

Etta Sue, sure glad you all didn't melt in the rain.    Using the GPS at night is a good idea if you are not that familiar with the crossroads. 

Time to leave for coffee.  Will have to finish reading the postings after we get home.

Euchre is over.  I think they all had a good time.  My Texas Chili was really hot...temperature and flavor!  I couldn't find stewed tomatoes so put in a can of Tex-Mex Chili Style Diced Tomatoes.  Raised the flavor a bit!  Ivalou stayed and helped wash the dishes which really helped me a lot and my back.  Before long everything was washed, put up and away! 

I really slept in today!  I am ashamed to say how late so I won't!!  I am doing some laundry now. 

And I have a grocery list of items I need at Walmart so I think I will go there after Crochet Angels tonight!  I found out that is a good time to go to Walmart...not so crowded! 

I found out that Barb, my SIL, did have to have a Pacemaker put in on Monday after the stent last Friday and that she got home last evening by 8pm.  Also one of her granddaughters is having little Abby today probably.  Angie went to the hospital at 9:30am and was being induced.  So by this evening Little Abby will be introduced to her Mommy, Daddy and big brother, Eli.  Wonder why Angie didn't wait until tomorrow?  Grandma Barb's birthday is tomorrow. 

I slept so good last night, yesterday I walked  so much and I was very tired by the time bedtime rolled around. Wal-Mart here is a super Wal-Mart and I made 3 trips to the back of the store and out to my car all because of a mistake on my part. I thought there was only one set of dishes in the huge box they gave me  of what I ordered online but  both sets of Corell dishes were int he box just shrink wrapped together. After I got home from there I walked to dogs while it wasn't raining. I bought the dishes for Gilbert and Sarah for Christmas as they have never had a full set of dishes only odds and ends that  they picked up at thrift stores.  I didn't know they wanted them until Gilbert mentioned  that to me when I was there over Labor Day.

Today is a slug day for me, I have a load of towels in the dryer and I am not doing much of anything else today. I will work on a new  web page for my website and make Spaghetti for supper. the weather today probably will not permit a walk for the dogs, we will see if that happens.

Have a nice day everyone.

Hi, friends, I suppose I'll call this a slug day for me, as well.

Have some things to take care of this afternoon, so will try to return later today.

May our Lord bless y'all REAL GOOD!

Ruth Ann

You two have a slug day, I am having a lazy day.  Kassie is home today and we have been sitting knitting.  I have a struggle with knitting, it still creates pain in my shoulder.  TMI for sure.

It is good to see the here,  I enjoy reading even though I don't always comment.

Have a freat day, everyone.!

Hi everyone.  It is now late afternoon and it has been a full day.  I had laid down to rest this afternoon after being gone all morning, and the mailman brought the mail to the house including the new Kindle Fire.  Of course, I had to open the box right away and start the process.  The first thing to do is to download the software and that took about 2 hours to complete so was able to get in my rest period.  However, during that time we had tornado warnings for the town just North of us and on into North Georgia.  There was damage over in Alabama and in mid Georgia from it but the warning didn't last long for our county.  Hope the storms are over.  Once the Kindle was up and running I put a couple of applications on it and now Pat has it and doesn't want to give it up.  (Poor me--just because I got it for her I think she should let me play with it.  )  I have choir tonight. 

Janet, I certainly won't be bored with your postings about all the interesting things you are doing and places you are seeing.  That lets us share a bit in the joy of your trip.

Etta Sue,  sure you are relieved to have your entertaining over for this time.

Marilyn, walking in Walmart is really exhausting.  Hope you like your dishes.

Judy,  nice to have some quiet time when you are doing something together with Kassie. 

Ruth Ann, nothing wrong with a "slug" day.  I enjoy those every once-in-a-while.  In fact, hoping tomorrow will be one of them.

Ed, nice to see you posting.  It sounds like you are doing very well with your knees to be able to walk so far.

Well my day hasn't exactly been a slug day. I did spend most of the day so far in creating a new web page  you can see it right here I am rather proud of it. it was a ot of work to get everything just right.

Ruth Ann,
I really like the poem you put up. It's a good reminder to us to continue trusting the Lord no matter what we are going through. Some of my colleagues at work are going through tough times - lots for me to pray about:)

Betty! How nice to meet you, and thank you for the comment about that poem. The author has written several good ones, so I'll share from time to time as the Lord leads.

We're so glad you joined us. I'll need to go to the newcomers page so I can "officially" meet you.

This weather could easily turn those fine drizzles out there into snowflakes, if the temps drop sufficiently. Yes, I KNOW it's finally autumn, but I still prefer beautifully warm, sunshiny days...

May our Lord be with each of us tonight.

Love y'all,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  It has turned colder here this morning.  Georgia did experience some tornados and at least one man was killed when a big tree fell on his SUV while he was driving up a street.  Fortunately, our county had no damage.  We had a good choir practice last evening.  Today will be just a laid back day with nothing on the schedule that I am aware of at this moment.   I am sure I will work (play) with the new Kindle as I set it up the way we want it to be.

Marilyn, very pretty opening page to your homepage.  I know it can be trying to get things just where we want them to be.  I don't do much coding anymore.

Betty, welcome to CP as don't think I have seen your postings before although see that this was your fifth posting.  I hope you will join with us as your time permits. 

Ruth Ann, sure hope we are a long ways from getting any snow flakes down this way.