More Studies in Daniel.

 More Studies in Daniel.

 

Two problems currently—as nearly always—seem to appear in our day to day lives. Whose laws should we obey? Is it permissible to worship someone who was a man?

 

Now should we go looking for trouble or martyrdom? Of course not. We should all seek peaceful lives and to live harmoniously with our neighbors and communities wherever possible. But when a government decides as Germany did recently that circumcision, for instance, is now deemed to be mutilation and thus illegal in all its forms, such a thing cannot be allowed to stand nor can it be obeyed, because its intent is obvious. Nor will we at Seed of Abraham Ministries ever stop preaching and teaching God’s Word concerning all forms of immoral sex, abortion, the sacred rights and duties of families to make moral decisions concerning our minor children, and that we are never to allow our Judeo-Christian faith to be intruded upon and suffer dilution by pagan, Muslim, Wiccan, or any other faith system because in our government’s eyes it is needed for tolerance’s sake. Whatever happens as a result of that position, happens. And I hope that is an attitude that will permeate the thoughts and lives of all who are listening to this message because day by day the government intrusion into our faith becomes deeper and wider; and biblical prophecy says it will get worse as we get nearer to the return of our King and Messiah. We have choices to make just as Daniel had.

 

Verse 19 explains that King Darius was most upset at this and couldn’t sleep all night, nor could he eat. Thus in the morning he hurried to the lion’s den in slim hope that somehow Daniel had survived. His voice full of anxiety he calls for Daniel to reply if he can, wondering if Daniel’s god had been able to deliver him from sure death. Daniel hollers in response to the king, “Oh king, live forever!” That he was alive is one thing, but to show such respect to the king in this circumstance was another. And Daniel tells the king that indeed Yehoveh sent an angel that shut up the lion’s mouths and he is thus unharmed. Further that he is innocent in God’s eyes, and so should be innocent in the King’s eyes. How can Daniel claim innocence to the king when he knowingly broke his government’s law? I think this falls right back to our discussion of civil disobedience not to unjust laws, but rather to immoral laws. An immoral law is not a legitimate law at all as far as a worshipper of God is concerned. I can come to no other conclusion than in God’s eyes His Believers are innocent when we refuse for the reason of righteousness, to obey a law of human government that amounts to an obvious and serious trespass against God’s moral laws.

 

Daniel was given a divine prophetic vision that was of profound progressive revelation. It was earth shattering and history changing. He received a vision of a future divine Messiah, but didn’t realize it. A whole new theological concept was born here in Daniel in Israelite religious understanding; a theological concept that had been gestating in Hebrew culture for centuries but had only at this moment reached a major milestone: the theological concept of a human-appearing deity, who is given the title of the Son of Man, who is directly associated with Yehoveh, the God of Israel. Such a concept wouldn’t have raised so much as an eyebrow of any gentile, because all gentiles saw their gods and goddesses as human-appearing deities. But the Israelites had spent centuries being punished in the most terrible ways by the God of Israel for harboring those kinds of thoughts because they manifested themselves in idolatry. And now, in what Daniel knew for sure was a vision from God, God crosses over an uncrossable line He seems to have set long ago. And as we read a little later in this chapter (starting with verse 15), Daniel knew what he saw, but didn’t know what it could mean; he couldn’t even wrap his mind around it when one of the holy servants of God in his vision told him what it meant.

 

So basically, we are given the basis for obedience when man’s laws conflict with those of God. Then we are shown that Jesus was the human manifestation of God—someone who we could actually worship without fear of being accused of idolatry.

 

Yes, this is so much to read and absorb. Pardon me for dropping this much into your laps, but these lessons have been fascinating.

 

Oh, and Judie reminded me that it was not she who was to have surgery Monday. Oh blitz! However, we can still pray for Bruce Goolsby that his neck will heal completely, and join those prayers with those for Tami Yonts who is slowly healing from several surgeries. Praise God that He hears our prayers!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Speedy Gonzales and the MRI.

 Speedy Gonzales and the MRI.

 

Sitting here reading online this morning and got a call from United Regional asking me if it would be convenient to take the MRI early. Yep, gotter done! Didn’t take long at all, but that room was like an ice berg! The tech person threw a heated blanket on me before we got started, so that helped. She played some of the golden oldies, but for the most part, that machine made more noise than the music. Oh well. At least my head did not have to go inside this time so claustrophobia was not a problem.

 

United had their chicken breasts on sale for 97 cents a pound, so the old woman filled up one side of the freezer with future food for herself and these two critters. It is so much cheaper and easier than whole chickens. Too much bone and work in the whole ones, so parts are cheaper and easier.

 

Really want to work on the front flower bed in the morning. Have not figured out exactly how to keep the freaking skeeters off my body, however. Jeannie walked over earlier and sat down on the bench on my front porch while we tried to find the taxi company here in WF so she could go get her a new phone or whatever. While we sat there, the nasty little black insects just about ate us alive! Even sprayed us with Deep Woods Off and still had bites on our legs. May just start a fire in the front yard near the flower bed and burn some of those little citronella things in the morning while trying to remove the weeds.

 

Wondering if we will get more rain since the forecasts for next week call for 40 to 50% chances of rain from Tuesday through the weekend. Don’t remember ever seeing this much rain through the end of May and into June, but my memory is not all that great for weather happenings unless it involved a stupid tornado or hail storm. Don’t need either of those for sure!

 

Reading again in the Torah lessons, Bradford talked about how Ninevah turned itself around and found favor with God in its repentance: “So if you want hope for a lost family member, your community, your nation that is redefining morality in a secular human way, maybe even your backslidden self, here it is. If you are a sinner, step 1: believe God (NOT believe IN God because James points out that even the demons do that). Step 2: sincerely repent and confess. And step 3: change your path and your ways. And then maybe, in His sovereign will, God will not punish you; or perhaps He will postpone it. But that is not for us to know or to choose. Rather, in faith we end our trespassing, do what is right in God’s eyes, and let the chips fall where they may. Any other attitude on our part simply proves that we haven’t sincerely repented and we sure don’t trust God. Rather, what we are really seeking is only better circumstances for ourselves (a self-centered motive).”

 

Who knows if our country will ever repent of the materialistic approach to life that we currently see. For ourselves, we need to ask God to show us our faults and to help us be repentant.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Thunder and Misting Rain.

 Thunder and Misting Rain.

 

Got up before the hens came off their roosts this morning and walked out to open the coop doors. Thunder was rumbling around above and misty rain filled the air. Not sure if Blake will be able to mow the mess unless it clears off soon.

 

A grandson got me out of bed asking questions about the Dickerson clan. Think we might have ONE young woman left here in WF, but most of the rest are in Quanah, Vernon, or the Dallas area. Saw one of the Dickerson offspring (Richard) at United Regional out on Barnett Road last year. He was the son of Olan who was another of the thirteen children Grandma D had. He is about my age. Can’t even imagine that Olan is still alive unless all the alcohol preserved him.

 

Ok, Blake mowed the grass and had him even mow down the Bachelor Buttons down in the east lots. It was beginning to look very dry and might have been a fire hazard. Certainly was a bunny hazard with cottontails hiding in there! Now it really looks nice.

 

Not sure if it was the pain pill or something else, but the old woman took a nap today and snoozed hard. If sleep doesn’t easily come tonight, at least my Kindle app is full to the brim of things to read.

 

The water bill got here today to the tune of $75.23. Not too bad, but it always irks me that they include an envelope to throw in the trash. Would really like to have the option of not getting that envelope. Seems wasteful. Oh well. Will get online in a bit and get the bank to pay it. That seems like the easiest way to go and the water department does not charge extra for getting paid that way.

 

The old woman has finally finished lesson ten and has started on lesson eleven in Tom Bradford’s Torah study. Yes, that is slow for someone who can read, but such is how things have gone today. Some things just take more thought than others.

 

It still feels like rain outside, and truly, it doesn’t bother me, but Patty wants it to dry out so she can have the dog groomer drive his truck and trailer into her yard so that Roxie can be bathed and get a blow dry. Imagine dog hair flying!!

 

Despite the nap, the body is sore and stiff in places. Maybe by Monday energy will abound—yeah, right! Only got some vacuuming done today, but maybe by Monday the living room floor might get mopped. We can hope, at least.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Faith Unto Discomfort?

 Faith Unto Discomfort?

 

“If we compare what we read in the New Testament of the personal cost to be a disciple of Christ, and then read in history books of the many persecutions of Christians who made that commitment of a renunciation of all things worldly, I think we probably need to admit that the standard we have set for ourselves is pretty low and we can do much better. And it seems to me that what we all ought to strive for as our goal is the faith unto death exhibited by Shadrakh, Meshakh and Abednego, instead of the faith unto discomfort that has replaced it for the most part. We need to have a faith that is so humble, full of love, and imbedded in us that it will brook no compromise and accept no rule of man that clearly conflicts with what God has clearly laid out in His laws and commandments.” Torah Lessons.

 

Some of the things that Tom Bradford mentioned included gay marriage, abortion, and fornication. It seems to me that most of us simply avoid confronting anyone about these issues. We don’t attend the marriage; we might behave like abortion might be acceptable, or we might blow off the idea that living together outside of marriage is not fornication since the person only has ONE partner. It IS a different world with different standards today, but those do not reflect God’s standards or His laws.

 

How does a person continue to love others who are obviously not obeying God’s laws. In my mind, we LOVE them first before everything else. The Jews during the days when Christ walked among them were so judgmental of Him because he accepted the tax men, the former prostitutes, and the ones who drank—probably to excess? The problem with the Jews’ attitude was that they condemned Jesus because of His associations. They had no idea what His relationships were really like with these people. The Jews condemned Christ because He did not condemn these people the way the Jews thought He should. It is terribly easy to be judgmental—then and now.

 

Most of us have read the story of the young man who showed up for church services with tattered jeans, a torn shirt, tattoos, and piercings. With no place to sit in the pews, he sat in the aisle in the church. An old deacon came down the aisle, and many a head nodded to see him walk toward the young man while assuming he would remove him. But how many were surprised to see the old deacon get down on his knees and join the young man on the floor?

 

If the old woman fails to understand or appreciate the ways of this world and how things have changed, at least perhaps like the old deacon, my actions will express love before all else.

 

My friend Judie B. has surgery Monday. Shona and Albert’s daughter Toni will be having a C-section Monday. My sister-in-law is having to adapt to having an oxygen machine on her almost non-stop. Kim R’s husband is recovering from spinal surgery. Let us pray for these and others who are trying to heal.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Truth and Spirits.

 Truth and Spirits.

 

Reading in Daniel from the lessons in the Torah by Tom Bradford has shown me that too many folks simply do not believe anything that is in the Bible. Some folks simply do not believe that there WAS a man named Daniel, but rather that he was some made up fantasy. They say that he could not have known all the things that took place in history; therefore, he was not the person he said he was. Can we not believe that God gave a man the ability to see visions and interpret dreams? Maybe looking back in history is the only way that some people can accept things at all; but too often, even with historical proofs, some people won’t accept what God gives us.

 

One of the things mentioned—heavily—in this study is that the god of Islam is not the God, Jehovah. They are not one and the same. Anyone believing that they are has no real faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Even Islam believes in Jesus Christ, but NOT as the son of God! And Islam has tenets that are terribly different from those given in the Torah. There is no way to “Christian-ize” Islam.

 

Bradford explained the differences of the calendars of rulers and reigns. It is difficult for us to realize that more than one calendar can be used during any time in history. Yet even the presidents’ birthdays in the U.S. have had a complicated switch at times on our national calendars. Not so hard to understand how calendars can be misconstrued by dates.

 

All these things are not the point of faith in God in my estimation. We may not understand everything we have read in the Bible, but the main point is that God has given us something as a guide and explained His love for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. We risk going down a slippery slope when we try to rationalize what God has given us. It might be best for all of us to continue to study, to read, to internalize the words from the Bible. Let us ask for help from God’s Holy Spirit to help us learn and to have faith.

 

Just had to get up and retrieve these two dogs. One wanted to find a way under the fence again to get to another rabbit. Patty said that her camera binged and rang with a rabbit party this morning when a mob of cottontails had a ballet performance out in her front yard. My dogs just keep the neighborhood entertained by barking relentlessly! Oh well. At least they minded me and came inside.

 

Let us hope that all the rain will not flood everyone who lives near a lake lot around here. This rain is simply so unusual that we could hardly be prepared for it to just continue day after day after night. May God be with those whose lives are affected by the overflowing rivers, lakes, creeks, and dams.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Pictures On the Wall.

 Pictures On the Wall.

 

Two poster boards hang above my desk here in the office. They are a record of our family—the beginnings and the extensions. A few critters have left their marks up there: Suzy, Lance’s first dog who helped him learn to walk. Baloo, the Chow Chow who loved Lewis stands behind the yard gate. Ruth, the Jersey milk cow stands quietly while Lance learned to milk a cow while his cousin Erin watched beside him. AnnaBeth sits quietly on the desk demanding the attention of a queen on her throne. A young buck lies on the ground behind Hanan’s truck—his only trophy. A silly dog rests its head on the diaper of Grayson while he learns to crawl on Jennifer’s kitchen floor. Strange, isn’t it, that our lives include some of the sweetest critters who love us. Our family history would never be the same without these animals.

 

Just as animals mark some of the history of a family, so do the backgrounds: the State of Texas tree the children wanted to climb, the beach in Key West, the tree on Smouldering Wood where Jennifer and Grayson hid, the rose gardens in Tyler where Hanan rested his feet, Rosslyn Chapel south of Edinburgh, Kilchurn castle in Scotland, a cow barn in Bonita, TX, a mesquite pasture near Lake Arrowhead, a basement parking garage where a motorcycle was parked in Santa Monica, the fairgrounds building in Duncan, OK, the back porch of an uncle’s house in Little Rock, Arkansas. Yes, these places mean something to our family.

 

In my memories, the family house in Petrolia still has a decent sized back yard for children and their swings, the old farm on 2332 still has a creek that runs through it and a rock-covered hill above it, and this old hill still has a huge elm tree and a metal water tower on it. Things in one’s memories never really change that much, but the realities are never quite the same. A trip back to the cemeteries in Byers and Oak Hill tell a different story of our family. Those stories are different from the ones we want to remember. The sweet parents and grandparents, the tiny little girl, the great-grandparents and their cousins, all these are memories now. Then the cross made from chisels in my front flower bed where ashes covered the petunias and another memory of the man for whom it was made and the son who created it for his dad. Some days these memories leak from my eyes.

 

Maybe it is just this silly weather that makes me feel that things have changed so drastically in life. It looks like rain again. May God protect us from more storms.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Wabbits and Weather!

 Wabbits and Weather!

 

The dogs were out in back early this morning. Guess one of the wabbits was a little too slow. Sylvia would not let me have it for disposal until later, but she finally gave it up.

 

The wind blew and the limbs flew last night. From the forecasts for today, we are in for more (really) high winds, hail, and possible tornadoes. Wouldn’t mind so much if the wind would remove all these nasty mosquitoes! Put on “Bug Off” this morning before going out to take the dead wabbit to the trash. A mosquito found one place on my arm that was not covered in the bug off stuff. Not sure just how effective the stuff is when the nasty little zippers come find me despite the scent of all the weird stuff in this salve. But at least the smell does not bother me.

 

Just got off the phone with Sterling. Seems Jacqui has pneumonia and that pretty well explains why she has been feeling so rough lately. Anyway, he said the house certainly was empty without her. Even Toby, their little dog, was upset at her absence. Guess we all need to be thankful when someone cares enough about us to feel lonesome without us.

 

Gotta tell you about a former neighbor we had across the street some years back. A house is now where they used to live, but this morning the deep base sound of a truck or whatever reminded me of the former neighbors. Their kids had little ones and totally ruined their ears—at least their hearing—by playing the music in their van so loud that it shook my house and apparently did the same to the children’s ears. If parents had any idea what kind of damage they do with loud music, it seems like they would at least avoid that type of stuff. So many young ones go to these concerts today that shake entire neighborhoods with the sound system. Can’t believe they don’t have some kind of warning for those situations. Only went to one freaking concert like that when we were young. It made my head hurt terribly! Crazy loud.

 

Finally got all the hens inside tonight and now can just wait for the storms to hit. Patty has the little pills for Roxie to help her not lose control of her nerves. May go look for the thunder shirts here in a bit. Patty said we had hail last night, but the old woman must have slept through it. The dogs were restless but did not get too excited. Tonight may be an entirely different story. May God watch over us.

 

Let us continue to pray for our nation, our president, our industries, and those who are able to work and are willing to do so. So many places need willing workers, but it seems to me that so many are not really wanting to work. That may change. Or not. But meanwhile, most of us will have to buckle down and try to keep our outgo less than the income. May we be blessed with common sense.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

The Book Club.

 The Book Club.

 

Years ago, Grandmother Pollard was a member of a book club in which quite a few of the older ladies were members. They were all pretty active in Clay County in one way or another, and they were also the ones who managed to help any family who had something happen—a death or a birth—and needed a bit of help. A very few times, my presence was included in their gathering. They all enjoyed the books, but they also enjoyed politics and local events. They each kept a scrapbook about the club and its activities, but they were generally very careful to include any younger women who actually had the time to read a book and come to a club meeting. Those women were few and far between simply because the cost of the books, the available time, and the seasons in a farming community meant that younger women had more to do than meet up with the “old biddies” as some of the men called them.

 

Now, some years ago, the old woman was invited to a book club and learned some interesting things. For one thing, the type of books we read were not fiction and the normal type of light reading available and prevalent. We had one that introduced the idea that the brain can actually heal itself and rewire itself as needed after some trauma. THAT was very interesting. One of the wives whose husband was a doctor had us all at her house one day when we were all introduced to using the new Keurig coffee maker. But about the strangest things we talked about outside of the books was some of the ideas running around at that time. Most of the women were ardently against any guns being on campus. My gun sat silently in its holster in my purse during this discussion. Then one discussion by some of the same women included ridicule of the brain surgeon who was interested in politics. “Flat-earther” was one of the things they called him. To me, the idea of a flat earth was not any more ridiculous than the ideas presented on campus during the philosophy classes required for a degree program. Whatever. But whatever political viewpoints that came out during our meetings, what most startled me was the lack of social propriety encouraged by women during a speech by the same political figure. Whether or not one’s views were similar, rude behavior seemed to label those who walked out of his speech during the assembly. Thinking back now, it reminds me of Nancy whatever her name is, the Democrats’ spokes-person for rudeness. Grandmother and her club ladies would have been horrified at such behavior.

 

Thinking of how ladies’ clubs have changed over the years, it makes me believe that our attitudes have definitely changed in a downward spiral. Can we no longer disagree without becoming rude and disagreeable? Do we need students to stand on the steps of the administration building and shout political and cultural slogans? In my younger days, some of the students as TWU in Denton wanted to have a demonstration against the Vietnam War. The (then young) old woman stood up and flatly refused to have anything to do with such a demonstration since my brother and many of my classmates were over there serving in the military. My opinion was respectfully presented, but whatever words were used that day, the idea quickly dissolved and the “demonstration” never took place. Now we have terrorists killing Jews and expecting others to agree with their point of view. How horrible can our world become? Young women can be attacked and injured seriously because they “look like a lesbian.” Someone needs to teach parents to improve their viewpoint in life so that others can live their lives without being threatened for being different. May God give us forgiveness and help us to show more love and kindness to others!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

These Little Songs.

 These Little Songs.

 

It’s been a bright, sunshiny day! Does anyone else do this? Little songs run through my head occasionally that mean something about situations or people. Probably no one has one that says something about the intense heat and humidity we shall have in the not-too-distant future, but you get the idea.

 

If anyone made a song about the love we have toward our sons and daughters, that one might stick to so many folks. But maybe this weekend it would be a memorial song for those who have gone before us to make it a better, more secure future. Or maybe our hearts have to do the singing for us when our mates, our children, our parents, and even our close friends mean so much in our lives. Some days are just made for singing from the heart.

 

We had some rain late in the afternoon yesterday that included a humongous clap of thunder with smaller bangs all around it. Can’t say that one is the least bit familiar. Huge bangs are not all that unusual, but this one shook the house and sounded like major fireworks. My cell phone began to ding about the thunder and lightning—as if no one had noticed its closeness!! Laughable.

 

Hoping the skunk who has been scenting our neighborhood has found a different place to roam. It worries me to let the dogs go outside at night in case they happen to bump into each other. For some reason the dogs have a routine of wanting out around 3 in the morning. Not happening! Know for a fact that they can wait longer—at least until daylight.

Not sure what Sterling saw, but he said he saw a picture of my son-in-law on Facebook. Hmm. Not much telling. The kids have several pictures of their boys with them in various places. They seem to travel quite a bit. Well, like Aberdeen at the moment. Loved the tee-shirt Jenn was wearing on the plane this time: “Scotland is calling, so I must go.” If I had to live anywhere else except here on Fenoglio Hill, Scotland would be my choice. Colder than most places, but it has heart the way Texas does.

 

Visited with Patty and Roxie this morning and had to dig into Roxie’s mouth to remove some garbage she found. It always makes Patty gag to think about what the dog might have found. Yep, it is definitely gag worthy. But such is life.

 

Got an e-mail from United Regional saying that they had reduced the fee for the MRI. Only $250 instead of over $300. Can’t tell me that this stuff is not jacked up in prices! And it can be paid out instead of up front for the total. Good enough.

 

No reading in the Torah today. In fact, have not even accomplished one little tiny thing except keeping up with the egg and water situation. Had to dump the big, black water tub again because of the danged ducks. Really wish they would find a better place to play.

 

Let us pray for our nation and those in the path of storms. Let us also pray for our president and his assistants that they will make the best decisions for all of us. Let us trust God to lead them and those who can make a difference.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Bit More Rain.

 A Bit More Rain.

 

A nice cool breeze was blowing a while ago when Mary R. came to pick up eggs and bring more egg cartons. We talked knees and how the body manages to adapt to one-sided problems. Those of us who have not yet decided to go for knee surgery, just have to do our best to keep all the parts working and staying in line with our backs and hips. Such fun! Could honestly be much worse.

 

Got a message from Jenn this morning to let me know that they had arrived in Aberdeen and the hotel where they will be staying mostly. Hope they were able to get a good nap before getting out and looking around. That flight is something else, and then they had a layover in London.

 

The thunder has Thompson under my desk and Sylvia in her dog bed next to the pantry. Bet Patty’s Roxie is trying to hibernate in the couch behind her. She is such a nervous little dog.

 

Have some pork chops on and a few potatoes in the roaster. The dogs ate up the last of their hamburger with rice and green beans. Apparently, it was mighty tasty. They cleaned up their bowls completely. The pork chops won’t last long at all. We share.

 

It’s now almost time to close up the coops. Last night the skunk smell was pretty strong. Not sure where it is, but as long as it does not meet up with these two dogs, it can just wander around all it wants. Well, and away from my hens would be good, too.

 

We may have more rain along this week. At least the fig and the lavender won’t have to be watered. My crepe myrtle is blooming on the west side of the tree. No blooms on the east side for some reason. Go figure.

 

No matter which desk—the one in the office or the one in the living room—Thompson thinks his place is on top of my feet. Sylvia is fond of a space right behind the Papasan chair next to the bookcase in the living room. These dogs!

 

The news keeps telling of more and more storms all over the place. The tornado alley going down through the middle of the country seems to have widened to include more states east of us. So sorry for these folks. As if a hurricane is not enough, now they have to endure the miserable tornadoes. But it is like one guy said, as long as it is just things and not people who are torn away, we can live through it. May God protect the people of this nation.

 

My allergies are so bad that it makes me wonder what is in the air to cause me to stop up or to sneeze so much. Crazy! If Daddy were still alive, he would be recommending Vicks vapor rub! My friend Roger says that Vicks keeps the skeeters off, too!

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Getting Sleepy.

 Getting Sleepy.

 

When a body doesn’t sleep the night before, it is not uncommon to feel extra sleepy sometime during the next day—or late afternoon. Such is the case today. Between sneezing all day and doing just a bit of fence walking, the old woman is somewhat worse for wear. Not a biggie, but there it is.

 

Started reading a book about a small town of about 6,000 people who all know each other and have a couple of clubs—one for the men and one for the women. They also have dog lovers, cat lovers, and maybe bird lovers, and about five or six different denominations of churches. This book has given me something to laugh about nearly all day—at least when the dog was not trying to find a new place to exit our yard. These danged cottontails are causing all kinds of trouble. Last night a skunk made its presence known, and Patty said when she opened the blinds on her front door, a big black and white kitty just looked at her from the wall next to the doorway before hopping down and taking off. Told her that she should be glad it was a real cat and not the striped kind.

 

Gary and Jennifer will be getting into London around 6:30 a.m. their time. That is one long flight. They posted a picture on the plane that made me smile. Nothing like enjoying life vicariously through one’s children.

 

Speaking of enjoying life through the children, one of our friends in the Route 66 Group has been married twice. Somehow, in my feeble mind, his current wife seems to love him for himself rather than for anything he might be able to give her. Now that is just my impression. But he still seems to long for the first family. In my estimation, if God provides a replacement that should be more than happiness that one could otherwise expect, it could be considered disrespectful not to stop pining for the past when it did not provide happiness. God gives us each day, each situation, and plenty of opportunities to be loving in THAT day. So, it is our job to do the best we can with what comes in that day—not look back like Lot’s wife to what was behind us. Just my opinion.

 

Just went out to fasten up the coops and saw Thompson take off to the end of the east lots. He had the pleasure of running a cat up a tree. Sylvia saw him take off like a rocket and just sat down and watched. Kinda don’t blame her. That dog is FAST!

 

Wish it were easier to find out about house inspectors and the rules that go with home purchases. The kids across the street have a humongous hole in their roof and the inspector who said the house was ok could not have had a brain cell active to not notice the problem. And they had to PAY for that inspection. Wonder if the bank that made the loan would help them find out more about it? May suggest that they ask around.

 

Let us pray for peace and for patience to deal with our everyday problems. Nothing that happens today will probably matter six months from now. And we know God watches over us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Not Much New Under the Sun.

 Not Much New Under the Sun.

 

Reading more of Tom Bradford’s lessons on the Torah today has given me the opinion—backed up by his statements—that the society during the days of Christ was not unlike what we have today. The Jews were living by the traditions of the Jewish synagogues rather than by the laws given in the Torah. No one was teaching the Torah at that time. The Temple was not really an active part of Jewish life back then. We think of the Jews as living closer to the Laws of God than what we can today. Yet very, very few Jewish scholars had even one book of the Torah, much less an entire copy of all that had been written out. Remember, the printing press was a long way into the future. What they had back then was laboriously copied by hand onto scrolls, not simply pages of script that would have been easily passed around. Anyway, according to what Mr. Bradford posted in Lesson 17 in Matthew, the men of that time were anything but faithful to their wives. In fact, sexual promiscuity was rampant throughout the land. Remind you of any people today? The “faithful” were only faithful to the traditions given to them through the synagogues—much like we see in the different congregations today in various churches. Some churches today are more political or profit motivated than God oriented. Joel Osteen’s church stands at attention in that statement. The overriding temptation of money and numbers is a clear symbol of today’s religious beliefs.

 

Years ago, our family celebrated the holy days as they were stated in the books of the Old Testament. We knew about the Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the fall holy days. We gathered with others who believed the same way as we did. We thought we were doing what would please God. It never hurt us to learn these different ways of observing His laws, but on the other hand, we allowed the church to lead us into being judgmental of others. We never had that right. Learning more about what the Bible actually says has convinced me that this old person still has so much to learn in order to observe God’s intentions in our lives. Loving without judging others is a primary objective.

 

Each day the news holds up more stories of storms and disasters. Our prayers must be given to those in the way of these “natural” disasters. Meanwhile, we can pray for those who are facing surgery (Barbara Matthews), recovering from surgery (Bruce Goolsby), or trying to avoid surgery. We can be so very thankful for the advances in medical technology, but still remember that our bodies are only so tough.

 

My daughter and her husband are headed to Scotland this Thursday and my prayers go with them for a safe and enjoyable visit. May all who travel this summer be blessed with good, safe flights and welcoming homes.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

AC Wasps.

 AC Wasps.

 

Not that mosquitoes are any fun, but at least they don’t sound quite as bad as the wasps that got in my cooling unit in the office. So far, only one has come out to get smooshed and be thrown in the trash. Still can hear another one down inside there, but may not turn it on to see if it can come out. Whacked one and have one more to go!

 

Talked to my friend Carla in Connersville, Indiana. She said the bad weather messed up the street fair they were having, but her group stayed in the building where they were celebrating until the warning said “extreme.” Guess it doesn’t take long to feel threatened down here in our part of the world. Sterling said they had hail, high winds, and about two inches of rain to remind them that Arkansas had storms. His friend George had trees down at his place. Sterling took his chain saw and worked until he ran out of “oomph.” Patty and the old woman don’t have any of that “oomph,” so we just noticed that more limbs were down and can hope that Blake will remove them for us. My yard looked as if it had green chickenpox this morning. Leaves were everywhere. Just have to pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down and their homes flattened. God be with them! These storms have given us so many reasons to pray for others and to help them as we can.

 

Carla was telling me about a sermon she gave this Sunday to a nearby church. It centered on pickleball and the Beatitudes. It made me laugh when considering that was part of the book of Matthew that was in my study lately of the Torah lessons. Will be glad to read her sermon and see how it fits with what we might consider to be Christ’s intention when He was teaching on that mountain side. It never hurts to have a sense of humor when we consider how we should be treating others or just trying to live within the bounds of some sense of order.

 

Cooked for the dogs again yesterday and made them happy for a bit. Hamburger, rice, green beans, and some boiled eggs mixed together made two happy hounds. Sometimes the hens will hide eggs outside in a bunch of branches near the fence. It feels a bit like hunting Easter eggs or something when they do that. And those eggs never go to anyone else since they were not left in one of the clean nests. Nothing wrong with the eggs, but it is just the idea that they have been on the ground. Anyway, Thelma, the turken, has been hiding her eggs in the Nandini bush this past week. Yes, we discussed her choice of nests, but she jumped right back into the front yard again this morning. She simply is not convinced that the coops are the best place for laying eggs!

 

School will be out next week, so summer is on its way. All the mothers who have sent their kiddos off to school will now know just how ornery their little sweethearts have been this past year. At least, that is the way this old woman looks at it. Wonder how many of those kids will be wise enough NOT to tell mom that they are bored!! Taking them to Castaway Cove and other places to swim might work for a little while, but summer days are longer than other days. This is a good time to introduce them to reading at least one or more books a week. May they learn to appreciate life as much as their parents.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Silly Questions.

 Silly Questions.

 

Did you ever tell a parent that you were bored and want to know what you could do? Uh huh. One of us learned to iron that day. My brother got a gas-powered Maytag motor to clean up and get to working again. Don’t remember being bored? Well, we were always doing something—whether or not it was productive or safe was another thing altogether! But we could only climb the trees in the neighborhood so many times, and the books from the library over in Henrietta did not last an entire week even if we brought home all we were allowed to check out. Sterling ended up cleaning things outside or mowing. His little sister not only learned to iron, but she also got to learn to sew on buttons and mend little places on Daddy’s clothes. Don’t think either of us ever said anything about being bored again. Mom could always find something for us to do. Well, Daddy, too. One Sunday the button flew off his shirt as we were getting dressed to go. He handed me the button and the shirt and told me to sew it back on. When he was about to put the shirt on, he yelled, “Gene, she sewed my button on with PINK thread!” He did not ask me to sew on any more buttons.

 

Life is always interesting, but the older we get, the more we tend to fall into routines that may or may not keep us “entertained.” Roger was trying to show me how to do Wordle since he found me doing word search puzzles. Still have not found the kind he showed me, but that’s ok. One day when the old woman becomes tired of other silly things like cooking for the dogs or hemming pants legs, maybe the Wordle thing will be more compelling.

 

Seems like the weather patterns have moved over a state or so and become outrageously dangerous. Feel so bad for all those folks in the areas where the tornadoes have been hitting. And even after the tornadoes cease, that part of the country may have more problems with hurricanes later on. Eventually, housing construction will simply have to change. The designs and the materials could change enough to protect folks and their families. Between fires and storms, it seems no one is safe. It is time to consider something different. Watched a video this morning about how the salt mines had been used to store propane and other volatile gases. Then the mines had ruptured and let the fuels explode under businesses. Maybe someday hydrogen will be used to avoid problems like that.

 

Watching the news and seeing all the damage from the storms makes me wish that it were possible to separate the wood from the other trash to be used in some way that would be helpful. That nasty pink insulation was horrible after the tornado here in WF, but the city almost completely filled a big canyon with the rubble from the clean up of the streets and from the houses that were hit. Some smart kid will come up with ideas for building, insulating, and designing better storm protection one of these days. Even a centralized storm shelter for neighborhoods might be helpful. God gives us brains for a good reason. Let us try to help ourselves and others as we are able.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Working Up a GLISTEN.

 Working Up a GLISTEN.

 

Have to laugh at the idea that a woman doesn’t sweat; she glistens! HA! Dear Hearts, this old woman was soaking wet with perspiration this morning while weed eating around the front yard. Finally, got the back walkway cleared and went in to take another shower. Now the old body really could use a nap. Sigh.

 

Walked down to Patty’s to take her some pills that Michelle Malay sent for Roxie and her worry wart situation when we have thunder and lightning. While down there, Roxie found the droppings of one of those three strange dogs that were down there over the weekend. Yuck. Had to force her mouth open and get it out of her. She was not happy but did not try to bite me. Honestly, sometimes critters will almost tell you when they think they should bite and when they won’t. So far, old snaggle tooth fangs have not punctured me. She has never even growled at me. But then, my experience with small critters means that knowing where the teeth are is what matters.

 

Maggie Sewell came and got the grocery sack full of Clay County Leader newspapers. She said when she finishes them, she will pass them on to Shirley Standridge who grew up in Petrolia years ago. So many folks from there keep up with those who stayed in Clay County.

 

Well, it thundered a bit and dropped a few drops of rain here and there, but nothing drastic today. Watched the news about Missouri and felt sorry for those folks. Know Angel Ambrosius is petrified of storms. Understand completely. The one in ’79 gave my entire family a super good understanding of what a storm can do.

 

Went out to gather eggs again and see how many rat snakes were out grazing the coop. Missed the one yesterday, so will be keeping my eyes open. While weed eating this morning, found a nest the hens had made in a nandina bush in the front yard. Little sneaks! Anything to be different! See, this is the reason some folks keep their hens penned up. They don’t like those Easter egg hunts every day!

 

Let us pray for London, KY and those families who have lost members—and may the searchers find any who are missing. It is just too horrible to contemplate the damage and death involved. May God comfort the survivors and heal those who have been wounded by this storm.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Katys Place.

 Katy’s Place.

 

Just got off the phone with Katherine of Katy’s Place. She has something like 46 dogs to feed and care for, and 32 of them are special needs dogs. Probably most of these dogs are small ones, but even so, that is a LOT of dogs and a LOT of work. She has a vertebra that needs help, but she feels it is impossible to think of having anything done since she has no one extra to take care of the dogs if she is laid up. She is in a lot of pain, but her husband tries his best to take care of her. Love helps, but Dear Hearts, it is not pain relief for messed up bones. Let us pray for her and all the dogs. She said that their yard is hopeless right now, but she can’t mow it. Wish that were something that the old woman could help with, but even my yard has to have a hired hand to help. Wish someone in Petrolia would help her at least with the yard, but most of those folks are like me—old as dirt.

 

Read a bit of the news this morning and felt so sorry for those hit by the tornadoes and hail yesterday. Those folks have no electricity and have all kinds of destruction in Wisconsin, Illinois, and parts headed south. We know what that is like here in Texas. Again, we need to pray for those folks and the ones who are trying to restore power and rescue people and critters, or clean up the mess. And this storm system is headed south. May God protect and bless those in its path.

 

Put on some ribs to cook in the roaster this morning. We—the dogs and the old woman—finished up the sliced ham yesterday. Thought about taking the shredded chicken out of the freezer today, but Thompson is getting pretty picky about his meals right now. Yesterday, when Sylvia finished off the fatty pieces of ham, Thompson got a can of tuna. He never—well, so far—refuses tuna. Go figure.

 

Wondered if the two broody hens needed some green stuff in their coop this morning, and then it occurred to me that they had not been eating anything green while they monopolized the two nests in the front coop. Such is life for a hen.

 

Need to run up to United and pick up some chips to use with the guacamole stirred up yesterday. Forgot to get chips in my order, so now a quick trip is needed. The chips may be a considerable amount of carbs, but how else is one to eat guacamole?

 

After my shower this morning, the old woman noticed several new bruises. HOW does this happen? Well, maybe the question should be WHY does one forget what happened to cause the bruises? Strange places for bruises sometimes and no likely connection to “normal” activities. Go figure.

 

Let us remember not only those who serve to protect us, but those who also pray for us. Our prayers make a difference.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Broody Hens and Silly Ducks!

 Broody Hens and Silly Ducks!

 

Took the two blue-grey hens that would not come off the nests and put their happy tail feathers out in the little chicken house. No, they were not happy campers and at least a couple of hens who normally lay their eggs in that coop were somewhat disturbed. Tough. Had to put a different water holder in there a few minutes ago because they had kicked the other one to the back of the coop where the old woman would have had to get down and crawl to get it. Not happening!

 

Then there are those two mated ducks. The dogs are simply not as determined as the ducks. Plus, the ducks have found feed and water to suit them—well, at least the feed suits them. Dumped the big black tub and disgusted the ducks, but again, tough!

 

Blake the lawn man came and cut the grass and did some weed eating out front. Still have some spots that my weed eater can handle out there. Blake has no idea about what needs to be done up next to the house, so that will be the next job for me.

 

Just unloaded a bag of feed into the middle coop. That went quickly this time. It was half full just a few days ago, but it seems the girls like eating out of that particular feeder better than the one in the front coop. Go figure.

 

Was reading in Isaiah this morning. When the one chapter was finished, the next one started with something that Christ read in the synagogue. After chapter 60—which, by the way, was not written as a chapter until much after the ministry of Christ—He read from the first part of chapter 61—and only part of it. The words start with “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me . . .To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” And He stopped right there in the middle of what we consider to be verse 2. He did not continue with “and the day of vengeance of our God.” Those sitting there had to have been expecting Him to finish what was written as part of that scripture. But He had a reason to stop. HE was proclaiming the year of the Lord! HE was the representative of the WORD—to preach the gospel, the good news of God’s kingdom.

 

So much is written in the Bible that is not easy to understand, but knowing that we can ask for understanding helps us individually and as a people. The previous chapter made me think of Israel and how she has and will be a blessing to all nations. Maybe if we learn now what needs to be understood, we can be a help to others as well.

 

Got ONE tomato plant and one Hungarian pepper plant put into places that maybe the hens will leave alone even if they jump the fence. Can’t ask Roger to keep me supplied in tomatoes even though he plants them every year. Will just hope this one does well.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Happenings on the Hill.

 Happenings on the Hill.

 

Yes, something happens every day out here on Fenoglio Hill. This morning a “wabbit” managed to taunt Thompson so that he crawled under a high place in the fence and got out. The old woman just happened to see him, got him in, and then hauled two cement blocks over to the fence line in an attempt to remove that place from being a temptation. Sigh. And yes, it makes my back sore to pick those stupid big blocks up to put into the wagon. It’s always something.

 

Spoke with Michelle Malay a bit ago. She said that her dogs will eat out of date tuna too. It is terribly hard for me to see the expiration date on so many things. The cottage cheese carton is usually white, so that one is not too hard to see, but the whey floating on the top is the biggest clue to the freshness question. Cheese is an entirely different bag of taste and torture. Can’t smell it if the date is too hard to read.

 

Read something in Max Lucado’s 365 devotionals about Judas. He had a “religion.” He walked with Christ the same as the rest of the disciples. But somehow, he did not really “know” Christ. It horrifies me that reading the Bible, praying, and trying to learn more could still leave me without the heart of Christ within me. Knowledge is great; but knowing does not always make the person worth having around. Sad. Just sad. Making myself determined to be loving toward others is admirable, maybe, but actually BEING loving is much more important. This old woman wants to be less critical and more accepting when it is possible. Let us all try to be less negative and less judgmental. We don’t have to like everyone or what they do, but we don’t have to be critical either.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Changing the Sheets.

 Changing the Sheets.

 

So, the purple sheets got washed this morning and the gold sheets were put on the bed. The top blanket was folded and put away because it is getting so much warmer, and the green fuzzy blanket took the place of the grey fuzzy blanket. Everything has been washed and most of it put away now. Somehow that feels like a lot already. But my mom would have laughed. She had a ringer washer for our clothes for years. She also used the clothes line in the back yard instead of an automatic dryer. Oh, the changes we have seen in life!

 

The hens have been happy enough this morning to lay enough eggs to fill up another carton. Sent some home with Michelle Malay yesterday, but she left a big basket of dog treats and stuff for my critters. Two cans of out-of-date tuna got fed to my dogs. Thompson said, “Thank you very kindly!” Go figure. Sometimes one dog will eat things that the other one refuses.

 

President Trump is in Saudi Arabia this morning. Here’s hoping that he can persuade them to sign the Abraham Accords. Even if not, it is good that he can visit with them in a good atmosphere of cooperation. Right now, my concerns see Russia at the Finnish border!

 

It occurred to me this morning that as much as learning from the Talmud lessons has helped me understand some things, reading my Bible is so relaxing and soothing to my spirit. Just don’t think that this bunch of knowledge can substitute for the Word.

 

Jennifer asked me to save some Bluebonnet seeds for her when the flowers dry up. So many of them sprouted between the slabs of stone on the walkway. Think the hens got out and scratched up the ones next to the house. Somehow a tomato cage or something is going to have to protect my new fig tree. According to the tag that came with it, winter hardy is not one of its characteristics. Probably should have put it in a great big pot to move around when winter comes again.

 

Will need one more sack of feed soon and will pick up one tomato plant and one sweet pepper plant over at the Feed and Garden Store. They have healthy looking plants with a decent price. Maybe tomorrow. It feels pretty warm right about now. Also, need to find a good container for the plants that is hen-proof!

 

My shower this morning included some coconut oil to keep the skeeters off. Not sure how effective it is, but so far three trips out to the coops have not included any slapping of the little black meanies! Despise those critters! Had to walk the fence line looking for places Thompson could have gotten under and nearly had a pint of blood loss because of the mosquitoes!! Ended up putting cement blocks in the two areas that might have allowed him to slide under. That dog and the dadgummed rabbits!

 

Tami Yonts posted that they took out a big chest tube this morning. Thinking that this is a major positive step in her healing. Let’s keep praying for her and others who need our prayers.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Counting the Costs.

 Counting the Costs

 

If anyone wants to learn more about some of the many meanings of the Sermon on the Mount or what Jesus meant when he spoke to the crowds, please read Tom Bradford’s Lessons from the Torah. This was from lesson 14.

 

For those of us living today who were born in the mid to early part of the 20th century and living in the West, it is hard to accept that now, in the early part of the 21st century, being a Believer is starting to bear a tangible cost, which we could have never anticipated. Being a Believer is no longer an accepted cultural norm nor is it as widely popular. When I was younger man, professing to be a Christian (whether you really were or not) was the expected. In fact, the terms American and Christian were very nearly organically linked. One of the first questions a person might be asked when meeting someone in the local community was "what Church do you go to?" The answer would only rarely be "I don't go to Church" or "I don't believe in God". Today asking such a question is fraught with negative social implications. Being a Believer in Christ is openly criticized in our education system, ridiculed by the mainstream media, and outright rejected and slandered by some of our top level political leadership. It is even called a threat to peace and tolerance by global interests. The general expectation upon Judeo Christianity has become more of an insistence that our faith is to be compartmentalized, unspoken, unrealized in public, and manifested only while we're in Church or Synagogue, or within the privacy of our homes. As a result our beliefs in the God of Israel and in Our Savior Yeshua are something we have become prone to being silent about; we keep it to ourselves for fear of confrontation or finding ourselves on the wrong side of the flow and political correctness of our society.

 

In the Remez interpretation sense, however, Yeshua's words in the 8th Beatitude are referring to the End Times when Believers will be hunted down and severely oppressed, on a worldwide basis. That is, persecution for pursuing righteousness in Christ moves from mere harassment and ridicule (as is now happening in the West) to persecution more as we think of the term; being hated, harmed and murdered. In fact, as we know from Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Revelation, being a Believer will eventually (in the End Times) be officially considered as making us an enemy of the State.... of global humanity. For now, in the West, the cost of pursuing righteousness is primarily ridicule mostly being incited by the cultural elite. Later the cost may well be our jobs, our personal freedom, and then our lives. I wonder: if so many of us are already reluctant to reveal our faith and instead keeping silent merely to avoid being called out at work or excluded from our desired social circles, what might we do when an admission of faith could bring community exclusion, jail or worse?

 

Some days, the reading is too close to home to ignore. What will we do or say when our beliefs become questioned?

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

The Coffee Effect.

 The Coffee Effect.

 

Going out for brunch yesterday was fun, but the old woman actually had some coffee with whipped cream. Delicious, but slightly—no, make that highly—caffeinated. Guess who could not sleep last night. Still yawning here at nearly 7 p.m. the next day!

 

Just a few minutes ago, Shonna called to let me know that Thompson got out. He has been barking at a cottontail rabbit all afternoon, so maybe it is not too surprising that he was determined to get out and chase that critter. Tomorrow the old woman will have to make the circle again and see if a new hole has shown up where a dog can get out. Sigh. SO glad Shonna called me to let me know he was out.

 

Have heard lawn mowers all afternoon. Someone was down at Speegle’s place on a zero-turn cutting the grass down there. Then someone was mowing over on the Miranda place as well. Maybe the less grass we have, the fewer mosquitoes we will have. Meanwhile, it will take some kind of spray or oil to keep them off our bodies.

 

Trying not to read the “news” that comes out on the computer. Just glad that at least two countries have agreed not to keep shooting at each other. Gaza is still a mess and who knows if they still have any hostages alive. That entire area is beyond repair. It just needs to be bulldozed and rebuilt if anyone is ever to live there again. Sad situation.

 

The devotional read today from Max Lucado made me feel pretty happy: If God wants me in His kingdom, then the old woman must be worth having. God’s grace requires me to have a good attitude about myself because HE has invited me to be part of His family.

 

Sometimes we need to stop worrying about the world and what goes on within it. Not my circus, not my monkeys. Satan may be a ringmaster in this world at the moment, but it will not always be that way. The time is not too far off that God will remove him and his influence. Praise God for His promises.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

A Daughter Day.

 A Daughter Day.

 

This has been a great day. Jennifer came today and we had a blast. Well, the dogs and the old woman had a blast. Jennifer kept me interested in what she was talking about, but maybe it just let her have someone to talk to who she didn’t have to see every day. It’s been so long since retirement has let me pick and choose to whom my attention was directed. Frankly, the hens do ask for attention every so often, and the dogs want special attention, but it is not like anyone will pout if my attention is divided evenly or somewhat lopsided. Having a Mother/Daughter Day was great for me.

 

After we ate brunch at Jimmy’s Egg, we stopped by United to pick up a couple of hams. They had TWO left over from their Christmas stock! Got them both and sent one home with Jennifer and put the other in the deep freeze. Decided to make some white beans with the ham bone out of the one bought the other day. It should be tasty. It’s been a long time since white beans were cooked around here.

 

United had lavender “trees” up front and Jennifer picked up two. She should be thoroughly relaxed by the time she gets home and has smelled that stuff for two hours. She planted my lavender, a balloon plant, a fig tree, and another called a wishbone plant. Have never had a wishbone plant or balloon plant. They are both a deep purple shade. Very pretty. Now if only the old woman can keep them through the summer. May have to take them in this winter, but it would be worth trying to keep them. Might have to make the living room into a plant room.

 

Heard from Sharon Dickerson today. She has gone to have new glasses made and will probably get them by Monday or so. Have been thinking of having some new ones made with a blue tint in them to help my eyes adjust since the old woman spends so much time reading from a screen. Lance says it has really helped him, and Jennifer said that she may try it as well.

 

Patty’s step-son and his wife sent flowers to her for Mother’s Day. She was pleasantly surprised. It makes me feel happy for her. She really misses her husband and his sweet attention.

 

Spent some time early this morning reading in Matthew again in the Torah lessons. It will take quite a while to get through just that one book, but maybe then the book of Daniel will be on the menu for a while before trying the Revelation of Christ again. That book is almost too much without some side notes and helping explanations. Feel like Tom Bradford will be an immense help.

 

Saw that India and Pakistan have decided to settle down and try to get along now with a little encouragement from the US. Wish it were that easy to get other situations calmed down in other parts of the world. All we can do is ask God to help our president and his ministers or aides or whoever to work out some of the problems today. Let us pray for their wisdom.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

Once Upon a Clean Floor.

 Once Upon a Clean Floor.

 

Children and dogs have a lot in common. They make messes on the floors. As much as the old woman loves these two dogs, it certainly would be nice if they would not track in mud or water or whatever into the house and all over the front room floor. Both dogs have taken turns about stepping into the water trough outside and then walking across the kitchen floor and into the living room to leave wet paw prints wherever they step. Oh well. Whatever they track in also cleans up.

 

Mother used to yell at Sterling as he walked into her living room with his feet. Even his best friend, Benny, learned to clean his feet or take off his shoes before walking across Mom’s clean or waxed floors. But Mom used to keep her floors nice and shiny clean. This house probably never knew what shiny even meant. The children and Lewis did their best not to track in mud, snow, or whatever, but let’s face it, the house was made to live in. Have often considered that my family was much more important than clean floors.

 

Not sure exactly what has been accomplished today, but it seems some things have been done whether or not they really mattered. Have a habit of stacking my clean, folded clothes—pants and tops—on the dog crate rather than hanging them up. Today they were all hung up and some blankets put in the closet where they belong. Anyway, just spent some time trying to have the “flat filing” removed to wherever things belonged. The kitchen still has egg cartons on the table, but otherwise it looks pretty neat. Three of those cartons will go home with Jennifer tomorrow.

 

Have been making some tea in a 2-cup Pyrex container and drinking the tea over ice. When we married, Lewis drank tea and never coffee. It was just the opposite with me. Eventually he drank coffee and had convinced me that tea was good to drink. Still prefer coffee, but now it has to be decaf. Would never have considered decaf back years ago. Life and tastes do change.

 

Read some more of Tom Bradford’s Torah lessons today in Matthew. A couple of things struck me as interesting that would probably not have been something that would have come from simply reading my Bible. Matthew was a Jew and considered whatever he wrote to be a study of the Torah in the life of Christ. He basically made the points that like Elijah chose his disciple—Elisha—Christ chose his disciples, not the other way around. The Sermon on the Mount was like Moses up on Mount Sinai—lessons on God’s law where nothing was removed, but expounded upon. Christ fulfilled the law rather than taking it away. If some of these things seem too simple, maybe it is better to remember that we are supposed to hold these matters to be considered in our lives. Christ chose us—even before we were born.

 

We had a small shower this afternoon, but it didn’t even really wet the ground. We had plenty of sunshine earlier, so that felt good. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a rain like the ones we have had lately along about August. Sigh

 

Took Patty a few pieces of the ham that was sliced up. She called and said it was really good. Have thought about getting another one before they are off sale. It was only 99 cents per pound and this stuff freezes well in small packages. Whatever it takes to keep us fed and happy.

 

Let us pray for those in the south along the coast areas especially as the rains continue to soak and flood places. Not sure which is hardest on our lives—drought or floods. Let us ask God to give us a chance to raise crops as needed. So much of the weather patterns have ruined farmers and ranchers. Our food comes from their ability to produce the crops and raise the animals we eat. So if you get fed each day, pray for them.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.

For What It's Worth.

 For What It’s Worth.

 

Woke up at three this morning and did some laundry—well, got it put in the washer. Went back to bed and finished that up by putting it in the dryer. The dryer still had the dust cloths that Maria had used, so they had to be taken out. Finally got them folded and put away this afternoon. Nothing slow about this old woman. (joking)

 

Got the living room dust mopped, vacuumed, and then wet mopped. Finished vacuuming the kitchen and bedroom while the mood was still in that particular mode. Got the trash out to the bin and ready to go across the street in the morning. Had—absolutely had to empty the kitchen trash bin. Cooked ten pounds of chicken quarters last night and got the meat put in the fridge and the bones in the trash. Really overcooked it a bit so the meat was falling apart, but the dogs enjoyed a meal last night. They were still happy to eat more this morning. But the bones and stuff make things stink if not removed from the house.

 

United had their hams on at 99 cents a pound yesterday, so the old woman bought one. Will be slicing it up here in a bit and putting a bunch in bags to freeze. Will take some down to Patty in the morning and let Roxie get some exercise. Well, for that matter, the old woman could use some exercise. Just not all that keen on walking on this dumb knee. Really should not complain. It is SO much better than it was. The bones sound funny when the top one slips off the bottom one, but it is not terribly painful when that happens—so far. Just not looking forward to any remedies.

 

Cut some plastic sticky tape to fit the recliner where Thompson has poked holes in the leather. Yes, we both know that a recliner should not be the resting spot for a dog, but he lives here with me—and the other dog just follows suit. We share this house, don’t ya see. Lewis’ recliner was one of those huge ones for grandkids and grandpaws. It often had Lewis, a grandchild, and HarleyB, his dog, in it all at the same time. So, you see, this is nothing new.

 

Reading in Max Lucado’s devotional book this morning. He made the point that Jesus prayed for His disciples. But did you ever think about the fact that it was not only for those disciples. He prayed for US just as much as for them. Obviously, we need those prayers. Not just when we are faced with storms, illnesses, and those who would harm us in some way, but we need those prayers at ALL times. Let us praise Him and thank Him for His love and the intercession He makes for us with His father.

 

Getting a bit tired and need to go out and see about the eggs one more time. My sweet little hen who has the weak eggs has already laid today, and the grey hen who is broody got it all over her breast. Each time the egg is laid, it means that the nest has to be cleaned out. That just takes a bit of time, but it always makes me feel that there is probably something that could be done for her. Sigh.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.