Partytime!

Yesterday, Jose hosted a party for his son's 21st birthday and dispite the heat, it was a huge success!! We had approximately 35 guests and lots of food. Jose fried a lot of catfish and several of the guests brought food and our neighbor stirred up a batch of hush puppy batter and I fried that up! I must have his recipe ,as they were the hit of the party!!
Believe it or not folks, I kept my cool all day except for a couple times when my precious grandchild set me off!! I made a good recovery though, so no-one got hurt!!! You all know how that goes!
This quote from the old flippy calendar kinda reminds me of myself: "I've reached the age where I
need three pairs of glasses: One for driving, one for reading-----and one to find the other two!"
Stay cool, folks and have a good day!

Too Busy to Blog

Hey there everybody! Don't have much time as it's about time to head for work, but I just wanted to say HI and how's everyone doing? It's getting hotter by the day out and should be well into the 90's this weekend! Ahhh......but it's summer and it doesn't do any good to complain! Heat and humidity are not my best friends tho, thank God for air-conditioning!
It's been a rather busy week for me and the weekend doesn't look any better, so if I don't get back to the blog scene for a few days, catch you all later...........have a good day and remember "God loves you!"

A Weed or not a Weed?

Folks, I learned a little lesson in gardening this morning. We were outside having our morning coffee when Jose asked me, "What happened to my pepper plant over here?" Well, it's like this;
yesterday morning I was talking with the neighbors over the fence and I happened to look down in one of the flower boxes and spotted what I thought was a big weed growing there. Well, I think you all know where this is headed. As I was talking, I kept thinking, why didn't he pull this weed?
It really bugged me. So, before I left to go about my various errands of the day, I reached down and yanked that "weed" up and tossed it beside the flower box! Never thought a thing about it until "what happened to my pepper plant over here?! " He had nursed that plant all summer(it came from Mexico), so I can imagine how upset he was! What could I do but tell him I was sorry?
He took it pretty good , considering that plant was his pride and joy! It could have possibly been saved, but Jose mowed the yard last nite and the plant probably got chewed up with the mower. I feel bad that I destroyed his pepper plant, but I had good intentions of ridding the weed from the flowers.
I see weeds in a different light now. I know that some good plants can look like weeds! Kind of like sin in our lives. Sometimes we have a difficult time discerning what is sin and what is not sin. Sin by any other name is still sin. In the world today many would disguise their sin to look like a "good plant" when in reality, it is a big weed. Like I mistook the good plant for a weed and plucked it up, sometimes we mistake "weeds" for good plants and allow them to flourish in our "gardens". The problem with weeds, as a good gardener would know, is that if left to grow they will overtake the garden and kill all the good plants or stop them from reaching their potential. I guess what I'm trying to get across here is this: We need to recognize the "weeds " and strive to cultivate the "good plants", weeds being sin and good plants being what God would have us grow! The lesson I learned today is :UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR SURE ITS A WEED, LEAVE IT TO THE GARDENER TO TAKE CARE OF IT!

Another Manic Sunday!

Hey, everybody! It's Sunday again! The weeks just fly by anymore....it's frightening how fast time goes! I was up at 5am this morning , a little too early, but I've got plenty to do so needed an early start. It's off to Camp Cilca for Amber and it will be a real challenge to get her awake and ready to rock and roll this morning, as she is not the morning person her grandma is! I will try my very best to keep my cool (remember yesterday's lesson on patience, Ruth!) and hopefully the morning will go smoothly! I plan on attending my church this morning and after that , of course, there's work!! Can't miss out on that, that's for sure!
I'm fortunate to have a husband who helps around the house....he is truly a blessing! He helps clean and knows his way around the kitchen often better than me! As I type this he is out there, either cleaning or getting ready to cook us an awesome breakfast!!! I'm so thankful for him...if he only knew how much I appreciate him! Sometimes, I'm ashamed of myself when I get owly with him.............sorry, Jose....I'm working on being more patient and loving! I should say "God is working on me." Without the Lord's help, I don't think I would be very tolerable at times! I would have to say that I'm a work in progress, indeed. I'm just glad that HE never gives up on me and he accepts me today, just as I am and forgives all yesterday's flubups! Thank you, Lord for that!! I've got stuff to do, folks, so its over and out..........have a blessed day and don't forget to go to your church today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Church Camp, Coming and Going!

This morning I went to pick up my youngest granddaught, Ashley from Bethel Baptist as she returned from a stay at Faith Bible Camp. She was so excited and I know she had a good time.
She had made several gifts for her mom and sister and gave me a little flower pot filled with red roses. I delivered her to her mom and picked up the oldest to help her prepare for her week at Camp Cilca. She will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. It's been kind of a hectic day, but I'm glad I can help them out, because I believe it is good for them to attend the camp. I never got to do anything like that when I was a kid, so I'm glad they have the opportunity to go. Amber has went for the last three years and Ashley has went the last two years.
As I was waiting for the church van, I listened to K-love and read some of a little paper back women's devotional called Prayers and Promises for Women. I keep it in my car just purposely to have something to read when I have "waiting time". I flipped through the pages at random and came upon a page titled "Patience". I thought to my self; I really should read this as sometimes my patience wears pretty thin! A verse in Lamentations tells us that the Lord is good to those who wait for him and seek him (vrs. 3,25-26.) And we are to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. Many find this a difficult task. Why? Well, probably because we are humans and it is our nature to be tempermental and contrary and unforgiving. Gee, that sounds like me sometimes! Do any of you ever get that way? I think we all do more often than we care to admit. Just remember, everthing happens according to God's timing, not ours. We have to learn to wait patiently upon the Lord.............he has certainly been patient with us!
I like the prayer at the end of the page about patience..........it goes like this:
Dear Lord, give me patience. Let me live according to Your plan and according to Your timetable. When I am hurried, slow me down. When I become impatient with others, give me empathy. When I am frustrated with the demand of the day, give me peace. Today, let me be a patient Christian, Lord, as I trust in You and in Your master plan for my life. Amen.
Thanks for taking time to read this and have a great day!

Alaska Callin'

My brother called today, but I wasn't home. Jose talked to him. He is in Alaska, but the time is alot different from here. The temperature there is 50. A little too cool, but would beat 105!
I may hear from him yet tonite. He said everything was fine and he's having a good time.

My life-lifter/life-sinker post got lost somewhere in the blogesphere. Oh well, I guess you aren't allowed to post more than once a day, so when I posted the correction, it deleted the original post. How do you like that? Learn something new every day!

Anyhow, I don't have much on my mind tonite so I'll just borrow from Barb's flippy calendar...this one's for tommorrow..she says; Enjoy the little things. One day you may look back and realize..........they were the big things. Goodnite and God bless!

technical difficulties!

That last post was kind of a bomb! I think blogger was having problems as the whole post didn't get published! That's right, there was more to it........and I would share it if I could just remember it! I'll do my best. I think it went something like this......What are the life-lifters and sinkers in your life? My list could go on and on. You all can make a list of your own! Also, the title was supposed to be life lifters not lift lifters-but you probably figured that out. I'm givin' it up for tonite, folks, its been a long day--the store got crazy after the storm.........I think some of the restaurants lost power and everyone came to Hy-Vee for food!!!

Forgiveness and Empowerment

I managed to stay up a little later last nite, thanks to a nap I took early in the evening. I watched a group of pastors on TBN that were discussing forgiveness and empowerment. It was really informative. I don't remember all their names, but the message they put out was awesome! In the first half of the program the discussion revolved around forgiveness and the importance of forgiving those who have hurt us. Many people are bogged down with resentment and hurt feelings from things in their past. God forgives us and if we are to have peace within our hearts we must forgive others. I don't think their is anyone who cannot say that they have not been hurt by another person sometime in their lives. We often carry that hurt with us until it becomes so much a part of us that we are overcome by it. We don't have to. God says, "As you are forgiven, forgive." Often, we find this hard, especially when the hurt is fresh and anger rules our emotions, but think about what Christ went through when he was here and all the pain and rejection he suffered. Surely, if he could forgive those who crusified him, we can forgive a friend or relative who wronged us in some way. Healing comes with forgiveness. If you are carrying around the baggage of resentment and are unforgiving of someone who hurt you, today or way in your past---start by forgiving them today.
The second part of the program revolved around Empowerment. This is a word that may take some explaining as it isn't used all that often. To be empowered is "to promote the self-actualization or influence of". This is from Webster's, folks! I looked it up cause I wanted to give an accurate definition. To be empowered in a spiritual sence would mean to have the same power that Jesus had when he was here on earth. Well, some would say that's impossible, no-one could do what Jesus did because he was The Son of God and all powerful.........but the reality is that if we are Christians, we are sons and daughters of the Living God and The Holy Spirit empowers us to be like Him. Here is where believing comes in! We must believe and act upon our belief to be empowered. Everything they talked about on this program was so in sync with what our pastor has been telling us. One of the pastors has even wrote a book entitled "Empowerment". The whole message simply came down to one simple statement; if Jesus is in us ( and, if you are a Christian, He does live in you!) then you are empowered to do the same things he did.............all we need to do is actualize the power, claim it! As the song says : If we are the Body, why aren't our hands reaching, why aren't our hearts teaching...........I hope those are the right lyrics(close, anyway). I think I've made my point clear here, even though I often find it hard to verbalize my thoughts. It should be our utmost goal to be Christlike........to be empowered by His Spirit............that was His gift to us.........we just need to use It!

Wondering..........

I wonder how the "North to Alaska" man is doing? Haven't heard from him since before Montana!

I wonder if the new Walmart will be better than the old one...........or just bigger?

I wonder if Kramer can actually tell time or if he just thinks its cool to get us up at 5a.m.?

Do people really like the taste of Gatorade?................Yuk!

Will global warming ever reach the "boiling point"?

I wonder what ever gave me the idea of doing this post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Guess I'm really bored today!!!


............................Have a coo----ooool day!!!!

To Be a Seeker

I don't have much time this morning as its about time to leave for work, but this has been on my mind today and I felt as though I needed to share it. To seek after something is to put our energy into something of importance that helps sustain us either mentally or physically. I didn't get that from Webster's but it sounded logical to me! We are seekers from birth. A newborn seeks nurishment and care from his or her mother. As we grow and mature what we seek changes. As adults we seek love and recognition from our parents and people we become close to. What one person seeks may not be as important to another. I believe the most important thing we can seek in our lives is a close relationship with our Creator! He provides all our needs, comfort in times of trials, mercy, grace, forgiveness and all good things that we are constantly seeking in our lives. He is our Provider...........I could expound on this further, but I think you all get the message! If you are a seeker, and I think most of us are...........Seek God ! He is forever seeking YOU!

New Home for an Old Friend

Yesterday we went to get a bookcase from my friend who just moved in with her daughter. I hadn't seen her since the move. Even though I know that she is better off living with her daughter, I will miss going to her trailor to visit her and her dog, Pepper. I have known her for over ten years and she is a really good friend. She had to sell a lot of her things, they will be autioned off in a couple weeks at a place here in town. I'm sure this is very hard for her. Can you imagine how you would feel in her situation?
On the brighter side, I have to think of the positive things about her move. She won't be alone as much, and she will be safer, as her vision has gotten so bad she can't cook for herself. Pepper will be happy because there are three more dogs he can play with and he got a brand new bed that's a big pillow right next to Mildred's bed. I'm just glad that Mildred has a caring family who love her
enough to make sure she is well cared for. Being with family is much better than a nursing home! So, I am happy that she has a new home and I'm hoping she will be happy there, because she is a special friend of mine. But I'm also sad because I know that in her heart she really misses her own home and that giving it up meant giving up her independence..............she will be 84 on July the 20th. Here's to you, my friend, and many more!!!

North to Alaska!

The last I heard from my brother, he was headed into Montana. He is on his way to Alaska on his motorcycle! He reported via cellphone that all is well and he is having a great time! He is a "travelin' man," to say the least. He has been to Austria, Hungary ( his stepdaughter and her husband missionaried there several years), the Ukraine , Nova Scotia and the Netherlands(last year on the motorcycle!) He has been lots of other places, too many to mention! He once traveled to the east coast just to photograph lighthouses! He is a lighthouse enthusiast and has quite a collection and many photographs that he has taken all over the world! I admire his desire to travel and see the world. He must have got all the "travel genes" in our family because I am not one to want to venture very far! I have lived in an area of about a sixty mile radius all my life and spent most of my life within that radius!
We got a little rain! I spoke with my granddaughter last nite around nine and she was outside with the cellphone taking a walk. All of a sudden she said it had started to rain. She lives on the other side of town. We did not get a single drop! However, it did rain early this morning and there's more in the forecast.
I'm in dire need of some coffee, folks, so the brain isn't quite functioning up to par! I will bid you all farewell til the next post! Have a great day ...............today's calendar quote: Never weigh more than your refrigerator.

Dogs and Flowers

If I were to be editor of a magazine the title would have to be Dogs and Flowers. This summer it seems my whole theme has been the dogs(Josie and Kramer) or the many flowers we now have in our care!! Granted, I don't claim to be a horticulturist or an expert on canines, but for some reason or another I believe that the mutts and all the greenery have been theraputic for both Jose and I.
We enjoy our yard a lot more and actually want to spend more time at home! I look forward to coming home to see my little "buddies", they are always at the back door to greet me if they are inside and if they are outside they are right at the gate to the fence fighting to be the first to get to me! There's something about having pets that helps bring up your spirits when you are down. I can always count on Josie and Kramer to make me laugh and even when our tempers flair and we get mad at each other, one of the dogs will do something goofy and we'll forget all about our differences and turn our attentions to them.
A silly little saying comes to my mind as I write this, I believe I actually had a button once that said this "The more people I know, the more I like my dog!" When you stop and think about it there is some truth to this saying! Don't get me wrong, I like people............but some dogs have qualities that most people would envy! For instance: Your dog is your friend at all times, some of your people friends only know you when you have something they want! Your dog listens when nobody else will, even if he doesn't know what you're saying, at least he's attentive! You'll never have to worry about being alone, because unlike some people who will desert you for someone else, your dog will be a friend till the end no matter what! So , I arrest my case, folks, I know I have two really good friends, one is short and fat the other is short and skinny........I don't question their friendship, they prove it every day with their wagging tails and their crazy antics.............Josie and Kramer......you Rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, folks, I believe that God created animals for our pleasure. I know that a loving pet can make a difference in the life of an elderly person or even a young child.. they are companions to patients in nursing homes and have been known to lower the blood pressures of people who suffer hypertention. Dogs are specially trained to help the blind and hearing impaired. Monkeys are also trainable to help the handicapped.
To anyone who gardens or raises flowers, I really admire your talents. When I'm out walking the dogs, I see so many really well cared for lawns with flowerbeds, that I know have resulted from much careful planning and hard work! They are all different and I'm sure they reflect the personality of the person who planted them. I applaud all you greenthumbers out there! Good job!
Well, its later than I thought and all the house is sleeping! I do believe it's time I turned in myself! Goodnight!

Happy Birthday, Amber!

Today, my granddaughter is 14. It doesn't seem that long ago when she came to us. I was at work in Galva. I took care of an elderly gentleman in his home and worked the night shift. About midnight I got a call from home from my daughter....she said she thought it was time to go to the hospital..I called in the other lady who worked the day shift and she came to relieve me and I went home to take my daughter to the hospital. Amber was born several hours later... my first grandchild! Let me tell you, that is a special moment! We were hoping the event would take place on the 4th that year...but that wasn't meant to be. Nevertheless, we still got a little firecracker!
This girl has a strong will and I do believe will go places others fear to tread!!! She is growing up and turning into quite a pretty young lady.........I don't want to embaress her and I am partial cause she's my grandbaby, but truthfully she is a "looker". But, as the saying goes, beauty is only skin deep. This one has an inner beauty that sets her apart.. it is my hope that the inner beauty will grow and outshine anything else about her! She has a great sence of humor and even tho we can clash like fire and ice, we get along pretty good considering the generation gap!
This post is just for you, Amber. You're special not because it's your birthday, but just because you're YOU! Stay in love with life and with the Lord and may your days be well blessed, always! Love.................Grandma.

Roses

I do believe we have another beautiful day in store for us! We have been up since 5 this morning. Yes, folks, I know that's mighty early, but Kramer can't tell time. His "inner clock" says "It's time to WALK! " and that's all that concerns him. I had to cut my walk short because Miss Josie was being lazy and didn't want to participate this morning. So I came back home, put the coffee on and waited for Kramer and Jose to make it back home.
My Mother's Day rose bush is blooming like crazy! I want to get a picture of it before the sun gets too high. It's the one with the orange-red bloom. My yellow rose bush is going to have a lot of blooms also. The roses have done really well this year, last year they were infested with some sort of insect that kept eating the leaves!
My brother left for a vacation on his motorcycle this morning. He is going to Alaska, of all places! I heard of an accident on tv this morning involving a motorcycle so now I'm worried about him. He was leaving early this morning. So, I called his cellphone and left a message for him to call. He will be gone til the latter part of August. Everyone pray that he makes it back safe and sound!!!
I feel the need to get busy , so I will wrap this up with a little message from Barb Johnson's flippy calendar, it's actually for today, July 6th: A benefit of growing older: There's nothing left to learn the hard way.---------------enjoy the weather, give a friend a flower today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kramer's Okay!

Well, folks, the 4th has come and gone, without much todo here. I had the girls over for a cookout. We did hotdogs and burgers on the grill. I was too tired from work to go to the fireworks, so I took the youngest home and the oldest went to her friends house to spend the night. I retired to the couch for a nice nap! Woke up about 8pm and went outside for a while to check my doggies. Kramer , as I had mentioned earlier, has been under the weather. He spent one night in the garage. Jose said he broke a window trying to get out! Last nite he spent in the basement and it was a good night as he hadn't had an accident all night, so maybe we can actually trust him upstairs tonite! Poor guy! He has been really hungry today, but I'm still cautious about feeding him too much. Josie, on the other hand, is her old self and has been ruthless in her treatment of poor Kramer. She has been pestering him, wanting to play and chewing on his ears every chance she gets! I'm posting this outside in the backyard and he is laying on the picnic table to avoid her. Not that she couldn't get up there if she wanted to, she's just too lazy!
It is a wonderful day today, especially for July. Nice and cool and breezy. If only the weather could stay this way! The neighbors wrens have left the nest and the parents are flitting around in the Chinese elm. I hope they start another family. Wrens are my favorite bird! I love to watch them and listen to their chatter in the morning. This particular pair is a different variety of wren--they are bigger than most of the wrens I have seen and they even sound different. I need to get out the bird book and see which species they are! I see that the little ones have not gone! One is sitting on the fence chirping at me! I'll have to run in and call the neighbors and tell them to come check them out, as they think they all left! Do I sound like a bird enthusiast or what? Life's little pleasures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! bye now!

Giving Credit

I have referenced in several of my posts to what I call my "flippy calendar". This is a neat little desk calendar I picked up at a local thrift shop. I feel I should give due credit to the author of the calendar. It's called "Daily Splashes of Joy" by Barbara Johnson. She is a speaker and author and founder of Spatula Ministries............I feel better now that I have that out. I just may have to look up one of her books...she seems to be a positive person!
Today has been kind of a frumpy day for me..but I'm starting to pick up a little momentun this afternoon. It is hot and humid today and the short shower we had earlier didn't help matters. Our poor Kramer has been sickly for the last few days... He did rally around for a walk early this morning but yesterday I had to practically carry him outside. Josie had a touch of whatever he has about a week ago, but hers only lasted two days and she got better. He seems to be doing much better today though.
I'm working tommorrow and my next day off isn't until saturday which is my oldest granddaughter's birthday! She will be 14 and the only thing she wants is a computer! Last year it was a digital camera and I'm sure in two more years it will be a car!!!! I don't think I can afford a new computer but would consider a used one if it were affordable. I know that school has made computers at home almost a necessity for students. It's unfortunate that many kids parents can't afford them! And some schools aren't all that good about making their computers available to students. She will be going to high school in the fall so I'm hoping they will have more access to computers there. What happened to the days when you had to actually access a real book to do homework? Times, they be a changin' ...................too much!

Grace: Priceless!

June 3oth on the flippy calendar says; Justice is when we get what we deserve. Mercy is when we don't get what we deserve. But Grace is when we get what we don't deserve. I meant to post this the other day, but haven't been in the "posting" mood the last couple days. Grace is probably the most important possession we have and we never think of it in terms of a possession. Yet,
God has given us all Grace whether we deserve it or not. He is merciful, because if we all got what we deserved, we'd be in a world of trouble. So when we think of God's gifts of mercy and grace, remember the price that was paid for us the have the gifts! The best thing about them is that they are free, there's no downpayment, installments, 90 days interest free or 0% interest til June of next year! And what do we have to do? Just accept them! How easy can a deal be!!!! He gives and we receive! How about it? Are you receiving of His gifts today? If not, you're missing out on one heck of a deal.............Like I said.........Grace; PRICELESS! Enjoy your Independence Day!