Christian Photographers Community

Hi everyone.  Our temperatures really dipped last night after a rainy and chilly day yesterday.  It is currently 33 degrees outside. We had a good choir practice last evening with only one member of the choir absent due to illness.  Our last rehearsal, which will be with the orchestra, will be Saturday morning.  Other than coffee today I think my slate is clear and I should be able to stay home all day unless Pat has other ideas or needs my help with some errands.

Judy. thanks for sharing the taxi driver story with us.  It reminds me that every life is precious and that a little kindness goes a long way.

How beautiful, Judy.  Thanks for posting that.

Janet ~ Chemo Wraps are rectangles at least 26" wide by at least 46" long.  They are for patients receiving chemo at the hospital.  The chemo is room temperature...72°...our bodies are 98.6°.  So when the patient is receiving chemo, they are chilled.  Therefore the need of something to wrap around their shoulders that won't interfere with their arms and chemo.  The patient chooses their wrap.  It is theirs.  They may take it home and bring it back for their next session or they may put their name on it and leave it at the hospital.  Jerri, the volunteer and my contact for the Chemo Wraps for the hospital, discovered she has breast cancer about 3 months ago and is taking chemo now. 

The Medicare Wellness Exam went well.  It seems like the government wants the doctors and the patients to be aware what all Medicare will pay for to prevent problems in the future!  My nurse is on top of it all!

And we only had 3 Crochet Angels last evening but it seemed we didn't want to leave.  I didn't get home until after 9pm.  It was a long session but fun to crochet and visit. 

Today is my class luncheon at a Cracker Barrel.  My decision is what will I choose to eat!  Cracker Barrel is sooo good!

Hi, friends,

Today's a fresh new day for us to praise our Lord and to welcome his blessings big and small.

I've written about a certain nearly blind friend who is undergoing great difficulties at this time. Well, my children in Atlanta have chosen to provide Christmas for this grandma and her 2 grandchildren. Each child is getting 8 full outfits of clothing from skin out including socks and underclothing. And, they each get 6-8 gifts. Then, a gift card to the grandmother's favorite grocery to get her Christmas meal. And, lastly, something nice for the grandchildren to give their grandmother. What a wonderful Christmas present to me! How I praise the Lord for leading them in this decision to help others.

Much love to all,
Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann, what a fabulous way to celebrate our Lord's birth!

Ruth Ann that is so sweet of the Atlanta kids to do that for Grandmother.

I went to see the vampire this morning and the first  poke didn't get enough for all the vials  so she had to poke me again. I came home and baked another loaf of Banana bread and will make a batch of fudge this afternoon and maybe another Banana bread.

We are still waiting for Keith's first grandson to be born, He was due the 2nd or the 7th, not sure. I think the 2nd and Keith thinks the 7th. We are going up to Portland the 16th and I told Keith last night we maybe in the waiting room at the hospital with Craig unless Jackson gets here before that.

Larry, I'm so sorry you have to give up singing in the choir, but I know it has given you and the ones who got to listen many hours of enjoyment.  And one day soon, we will get to sing in that great heavenly choir together!  What a day that will be!

Etta Sue, thanks for the explanation of the Chemo  Wraps.  I was picturing a head wrapping of some kind.  Those sound so nice, and comforting, too.

Ruth  Ann, it sounds as if your Atlanta kids take after you!  What a generous and loving thing to do for the grandmother and the kids.  God will surely bless them for this kindness.

Marilyn, sounds like you and Keith are having your share of new babies in the family!

I have been doing some framing, and am so tired.  We are still going to bed much earlier than usual, and Darrel is even getting up early.  Guess we aren't over the jet lag yet.

We were notified by Craig that they will be inducing Stephanie at 6:30 a, tomorrow. Gramps is so ecstatic. The boys mother and grand father went up today to be there for the birth.

Larry:  It is difficult to give up things you love - my heart goes out to you. 

Etta Sue:  Thanks for the information on chemo wraps.  Maybe I will take time again some day to knit prayer shawls or chemo wraps - this quilting is just overwhelming any spare time. 

If we didn't have to sleep, we could get so much more done in a day.  Fading tonight. 

And, so am I, Carol.

"Uncle Thomas" is so very close to crossing over. May God grant him mercies as he makes this transition, and may the family, in their sorrow, realize that God is merciful and kind, and not willing that any soul should perish.

He responded by lifting his hand, then squeezing the fingers of his Sunday School teacher this past Sunday to acknowledge he wanted forgiveness from sin and acceptance in the Family of God.

G'nite, friends,
Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  We had a most beautiful day here yesterday.  It warmed up into the 50s and was very sunny with no wind.  Another is on tap for today.  I will go down to Atlanta this morning and bring our daughter out for the weekend so she can attend the Christmas Cantata on Sunday evening at our church.  There is a nice dinner that always precedes the Sunday evening program and we will attend that as well.  On the way this morning I am taking my new desktop computer in to have the CD/DVD reader/writer checked out under the warranty.  I just have to take it back to Microcenter where I purchased it.  Will have to leave it for a couple of days.  It works but makes a terrible racket, which certainly isn't right.  That should pretty much be it for today.

Etta Sue, Kaiser has been big on wellness exams for a long time.  Both Pat and I have routine physicals once a year.  I bet your chemo wraps feel mighty good to someone who is cold.  I can sure relate to having the cold feeling.

Ruth Ann, what a wonderful gift you are being given.  You will have the satisfaction of knowing this family will have a wonderful Christmas, your family will have deep satisfaction at helping someone else and at our age there usually isn't much we need personally and sure don't need something to sit around and gather dust. 

Marilyn, it always seems like a long time waiting for the new baby to be born, especially for the mother.  It sounds like you are in a baking mood.  I now see that the birth will be today.  Sure you all will be staying by the phone.

Janet, thanks for your kind thoughts. I guess I really hadn't thought about singing int he heavenly choir but what a joy that will be.

Carol, one reason I don't get much accomplished in a day is that I always try to rest a couple of hours in the afternoon. 

Good morning!  It is still dark, and I have no idea what kind of weather we are in for, but yesterday turned out to be pretty nice.  I learned yesterday that they are having a little memorial service for Myrtle, who died on my shift Monday, at the home, in her neighborhood, this morning at 10:00.  I want to attend,  and feel it may put to rest any lingering doubts about why she died so quickly.

Yesterday at Beth's Care Plan meeting, the DON asdmitted her chair hadn't been ordered two weeks ago, but she had just ordered it on Tuesday!     I hope they can deliver it before John arrives, we will see.

I got in a whole flurry of framing to do, and every piece is large.  That will really make my time tight...so much to do, and of course, they all MUST be done in time for Christmas!  But God will help me get it all done.

I will try to get back later today, and hope my list of 'to-dos' is shorter by then!

I'm looking forward to taking part in the Heavenly Choir!  There my voice will be beautiful and I'll be able to sing out, not worrying about making anyone uncomfortable who hears me.    

I'm with you, Jeanne!  I will sing at the top of my lungs when I am in the Heavenly Choir!  Not now....

Well, it's snowing in central Indiana!!!  Not big flakes but it is snowing.  It seems to be melting even though it is below freezing.  I have Christmas music playing on the CD player so it would be wonderful if God would make these snow flakes big and fluffy and float to the ground!  Ah, then it would be Christmas!

I have Etta Sue's Stew on the stove.  Smoked Sausage, Potatoes, Carrots, Green Beans and Onions.  After lunch I plan to get out all my 4-ply yard and make a mess in the living room.  I want to put the yarn in piles by color!  Then when I start crocheting Chemo Wraps, I will choose what colors and then make each row a different hue of those colors...light to dark.  That will make it rainbow like! 

Oh, I finished the baby afghan I was making last evening.  Now on to Chemo Wraps!

Hi all!  Imagine hearing from me!  I'm using a coputer at Eureka Care Center, Eureka, CA.  I'm trying to get to the point at which I would be able to leave this place.  I'm really doing fairly well while I'm here.  I'm not able to get around very well on my own, though.  I probably won't be able to come back and read replies here very often.  In fact, I'm actually in the  midst of an Occupational. Therapy sesson at this moment.  So I need to sign off.

AL! How great to see a post from you.  Praise the Lord that you've improved this much and maybe you'll soon get another chance to use the computer during your occupational therapy.

Thank you AL for posting.  I will continue to pray for you and Marbeth.

PRAISE THE LORD~!!!

How wonderful to hear from you, Alan!!!  We've all been praying for you and now to see your photo pop up and see your typing is just such a wonderful thing!!!

God bless you, Alan as you mend.

AL!!  Wonderful to see your post!  Continue getting stronger, and do pop in and say hello when you can.  We have been missing you!

Wow Al good to see you.

Amazing Grace:  I was just thinking about AL and there he popped up looking great!

This morning we had a white snowy fog and it did lift just in time for us to drive a son to the airport.  Then, we just had to celebrate Don's yesterday birthday with a coupon for the percentage off of his age at the fish company.  We always go for lunch & love the sourdough bread. 

I am writing out cards and always try to put in a personal message without too much detail. 

Janet, since reading your first post about Myrtle, I haven't been able to stop thinking of you.  What a terrible position you were in and I'm so sorry.  I'm so happy to find out that they were able to let you know that her death had nothing to do with you.

Love you!

Thank you, Pat.  I attended a little memorial service they held for her today in their neighborhood.  It was really a traumatic day for me on Monday, but now I know for sure that I had nothing to do with her death, and that I was able to give her some happiness every time I worked there.  And she was ready and wanting to go HOME, so we can rejoice for Myrtle.

I miss you, Pat. 

Oh, yessss! Won't it be great to participate in that heavenly choir, but not until I bow at Jesus' feet and worship Him, then on to the Holy Spirit, and finally, to bow low to God our Father.

"Uncle Thomas" is almost home tonight. Blood pressures upper & lower below 100 and dropping, and respirations dropped from 16 per minute to 11-12 per minute during the 2 1/2 hours I was there. May God rest his soul and accept him when he passes away.

Now, I have a big praise tonight. It was past 7 pm when I left the hospice facility this evening. Was worried about driving home, but felt the 4-lane road would be well traveled, so tail lights would help guide me.

At a traffic light, a lady riding passenger in a truck rolled down the window and frantically motioned for me to do the same. She shouted, "LADY! You have NO TAIL LIGHTS! The only time you can be seen is if you tap the brakes your center back windshield light comes on."

So, I thanked her profusely and pulled off the road to ask for guidance from God. Finally, I purposed to touch the brakes pretty often to help those behind me to know I was there, and asked God to guide me to where I could get lights.

Well, I drove on about 6 miles and pulled in to a national chain tire repair facility. The garage seemed dim, but a young man was working at the cash register.

When I went in I explained how desperate I was, and he said, that he was the only one there, but he'd come outside with me to check the lights. Fortunately, they were simply burned out and he kindly replaced them. I was beaming with thanksgiving as I wrote the check.

Only then did he tell me he had stayed late to catch up on some paper work and had been closed since 7 pm!!!

So, God works in His own perfect way to protect and guide us.

Tonight, I'm a Grateful Granny,
Ruth Ann

I've just finished reading the story about the three trees.  What a wonderful story.  It really brings to mind a lot of new thoughts about the whole of the Nativity and not just the central theme.  Without the wood there would have been no manger.  without the animals there would have been no stable.  Without the straw there would have been no bedding.

Isn't it wonderful how before we even ask - God provides what we need.  Not what we want, but what we need.

Thank you God.

Hi everyone.  Yesterday turned out to be an exceedingly busy day.  My taking my new desktop in to Microsoft turned into a study in frustration as they indicated they could not repair or replace the bad CD/DVD Rom although I could buy a new one and they would put it in.  I stopped back by and picked up my computer on my way home from getting Stacey.  It was about 2:30 when we got home and I was worn out but too tired to sleep so just rested for a couple of hours.  I had a good nights sleep and am ready for our two hour final choir practice of our Cantata with the orchestra this morning.  That is always a joyful experience.  I did bring Stacey's computer out and will work on it while she is here as it is running very slowly.

Janet, I was expect if if were a chair for the person responsible for ordering it that there wouldn't have been a delay. 

Etta Sue, your stew sounds delicious.  Nice idea on your use of the yarn.

Al, great to hear from you and know you are doing better.  We miss you.

Ruth Ann, the lady who told you of your tail lights not working sounds like on of those angels we encounter in life who we will never see again but who appear when we need them.  Glad you got them fixed and made it safely home.

Terry, good to see your post.

Ruth Ann, thank you for a joyful note on which to start my long day!  I agree with Larry that the lady who warned you may have been an angel; but also the young man who fixed them for you was surely put in the right place at the right time by our loving Father!  He is SO good!  ALL the time!

LARRY, how I wish I could be there to listen to your choir!  You have been a blessing to so many through the years with your music, and you continue to bless all of us here by your presence and posts. 

Terry, good to "meet" you, and welcome to Christian Photographers!

I am about to head out to my painting meeting, and when I get home, will go to the annual parade of homes here in Ulysses.

I HAVE CABINETS!!!!  They are in the garage at the moment, but they are really beautiful!  Lon brought them out yesterday as he had no room in his shop in which to build the rest of them.  The promise now is to be here Monday to take out the old ones and start painting the kitchen.

I wish you all a wonderful day!

Welcome, Terry!  Come back and let us know more about you.

And I know Janet is jazzed to see her new cabinets even though they are in her garage.

And I know it will be sad for Larry to know this will be his last practice with the choir.  Think of the memories you have made for so many people.

And Ruth Ann, I know from experience how it feels when others go that extra mile to help you in need.  Sounds like angels were abound in Nashville while on your journey home. 

I have my first Chemo Wrap about 11" wide right now.  It goes from off-white to dark brown...13 shades.  Then you start over with the off-white.  I have lots and lots of yellows and oranges.  Can't wait to start that one!  Will do that when it is super cold outside!!  (And my scrap-pile of yarn dwindles down)

It is bright and sunny with a little wind but....but...only 12 degrees when I got up.  I noticed in bed that my nose was cold.  The heat pump doesn't work when it gets below either 17 degrees or 14 degrees...can't remember.  So I reset the thermostat on the furnace to a higher degree so when the heat pump doesn't work, the furnace will.  And I know my house still isn't as cool as some of yours but I have about 5 degrees that I am comfortable in.  Higher than 72 and I am too hot.  Cooler than 67 and I am too cold! 

Today Ivalou and I are going to a niece's home for the Stevenson Christmas Dinner.  Robin is Kaye Don's oldest.  It isn't far.  Less than 2 miles away.  But she has a tricky driveway so I want to be there early so I can back in.  Plus we won't have to walk that far to her front door. 

The snow didn't stick yesterday even though it was below freezing most of the day.

Ruth Ann, I agree that both the lady who warned you and the young man who helped you were certainly angels sent by our loving Heavenly Father to protect you.  Praise God!

Janet, you must be so happy that another step in your renovation is nearing completion!

Etta Sue, my thermostat is programmed for 69 degrees daytime and 60 degrees for the night hours.