Christmas Day

Wow--we got to skype with James last night from A-stan, and Andy and Lauren and Abby and baby David in Anchorage after noon our time. (their morning of unwrapping presents) And we got to see Abby unwrap presents we had mailed them. wow This new technology is fantastic. And it helps to have such thoughtful, kind, loving sons who are willing!

I am afraid lunch was a little too rare, and too bloody for Ben. I even called my mom because it has been years and years since I have cooked a prime rib roast. We found one on sale at Tom Thumb. A little bit big for three, but hopefully, we can heat up the leftovers...

Cooking a prime rib roast at 500 degrees for one hour, then turn down the oven for half an hour or more as you finish with the smashed potatoes, dressing, and rolls.

The microwave quietly quit. Just like that. Last night, we noticed the light was not on and Bob and Ben tested it. dead. Lovely. How to heat up the dressing? and how will we heat up leftovers?? oh. well.

I like what Steve H. said on his facebook page to put the day in God's Hands.

My problem is getting everything to the table hot at the same time. We were finished and the kitchen cleaning underway by noon. And good thing, as that is when Andy and Lauren called. Way too much food left over is my other problem. ha

Since I had been without a stove for almost a year, I had not made mashed potatoes in a while, so I hid the beaters from myself. Looked high and low. And here I have to touch them every time I get out the pyrex measuring cups Andy and Lauren gave us. I had placed the beaters in the cups... (the mind is going)

I use those pyrex cups a lot for heating up hot water in the microwave...

And using the shiny electric mixer James and Amber gave us...made me tear up for James. James should be home. Home with Amber.

But, God brought it to my mind---pyrex bowls set in boiling water on the stove heated up the dressing nicely. Not that Bob nor Ben are big dressing eaters. The veggies were hidden in the dressing, so they did not get their daily requirement of celery, apples, cranberries, nor onions. And a little dressing goes a long way. Smelled good anyway.

So, I am thankful for sons that skype.
And good rain. And some sun today.
And a smooth lunch. And Ben wrapped his straight A grades. 4.0 None of us had every seen such numbers on a report card. We even showed Andy and Lauren.

Part of me wants to just drive around today. See whatall is open, and what is closed. Today is Christmas Day. It is a Saturday. Tomorrow lots of places will still be closed because it is Sunday. (and the candles at C. Barrel will be half price!)

The house still smells of prime rib smoke. Best to cook the next one someday on a day when we can open windows. (spring and fall)

I wonder if the puppies next door have found those prime rib bones?

Merry Christmas to all. And may I recommend this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbV_HTpyx0&feature=player_embedded

A Knitting Poem someone sent me for Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
Was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
'Cause the heels and toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep; he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was six inches too small,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
Reminded me how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both Dad and the boys.
And though I was tired, my brain a bit thick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplex-ed,
For not a name I heard was what I expected,
"Move, Ashford! Move, Lopi! Move, Addi and Clover!
Move, Reynolds! Move Starmore! Move Froelich --move over
Paton, don't circle 'round; stand in the line.
Come now, you sheep will work out just fine!
I know this is hard; it's just your first year,
I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; what I saw was amazing,
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing.
And then, in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned 'round St Nick I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe,
And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back,
And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace
A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
The scarf 'round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I espied a small label,
"S.C." was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
And I asked, "Hey, Nick, did you knit all this stuff?"
He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.
I learned how to knit when I was a kid."
He was chubby and plump, a quite well-dressed old man,
And I laughed to myself, for I'd thought up a plan.
I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,
And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair,
He spoke not a word, but looked in his lap
Where I'd laid my needles and yarn for a cap.
He quickly began knitting, first one cap then two,
For the first time I thought I might really get through.
He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks.
While I sat back drinking scotch on the rocks.
So quickly like magic his needles they flew
That he was all finished by quarter to two.
He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,
And over his shoulder he looked back at me,
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed past the moon,
"Next year start your knitting sometime around June!"

The Slippery Slope

When we, as a local church, allowed the "music ministry" to take over the Sunday before Christmas service...and next year, ON Christmas day...when we alllow just music instead of Bible teaching, it is a slippery slope to just a play on Sunday morning before Christmas. yikes.

To some, the music and the plays and the dog and pony shows--speak to their hearts. I am happy for them. But, I find it appaulling that on a Sunday which happens to be Christmas Day...our pastors and elders/planners wimp out.

I'd attend a regular service---with just a FEW hymns (even Christmas carols from the hymnal) and a regular sermon where the pastor opens the Bible and reads from it and teaches what the Hebrew and Greek words say. I don't believe in catoring to this being one of two days some people are able to rope their friends and relatives into the pews. (Easter and Christmas). I don't believe in using these days to attract the unchurched. Why lie to them? Why put on a show and then next Sunday revert back to the regular?? That is deceit. And what are we teaching the children? What are we modelling?

How about we as Christians take back Jesus's birthday? How about some Sunday in April closer to when Jesus was probably actually born, we acknowledge the clues from the Christmas story?? Where is the church that talks about Jesus?

Where is the line to see Jesus? I don't want to watch a stupid play about a family having hardships in Kentucky with costumes and parading on a stage. If I want entertained, I go to the movie theatre---the new Narnia movie is wonderfully done.

So, we vote with our feet, and stay home, and listen to good messages online this Christmas season: http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Voddie%5EBaucham

Start at the beginning of the six part series. dated 12-10-2010. Learn about Biblical, God-honoring marriage, parenting, and be encouraged.

Saturday

Drinking coffee. Reading blogs.

One blog I found a few days ago refers to a wild child as a feral daughter. And it reminded me of a blog of an Army wife who had a challenging daughter. And I found her in my list on my blog page. Kinda wish these two women could meet and compare notes.

Thank you, Bob for the coffee. And toast with cinnamon sugar.

I went without a stovetop for almost a year. Don't cry for me Argentina. I wanted to see if I could do without one. Most cooking is done in the oven or microwave, and we have a toaster oven, and crock pot. The only challenge came when cooking eggs. Eggs come out super fluffy in the microwave, which is okay with Bob. But, I missed hard boiled eggs.

When Ben came home from his first semester studying to be an electrician, I wondered if he'd like to install the stovetop. Sure enough! He could not wait! I think he tackled it before breakfast. And had it installed by noon!

Yesterday, he decided that the bathroom needed another outlet beside the mirror/medicine cabinet. So he installed one. It is neatly done, and pretty and white. Bob was here to oversee, and being an electrical engineer, I was not worried. My "important" job was to hollar when the correct circuit was flipped so Ben could work without electrocuting himself. Bob flipped the breakers---first the computer blinked, then the light in the kitchen, then the light in the hall...and finally, the frig and light Bob was wanting that was also the bathroom circuit.

What would an electrician's dream house look like?? Outlets placed like art on the walls?? Outlets spaced every few feet for convenience? And an electrician's wife? Would she be understanding? Would she want outlet covers?

But--back to frying. I was hungry for some dressing. I could only find one box of cornbread dressing at Walmart, so I mixed it with a box of regular. Too lazy to make a pan of cornbread...I fried up, "stir-fried" celery and onion and used canned chicken broth---low sodium, and orange juice for the liquid. I made a ton, but it freezes well. Canned oysters would have been a good addition. or chicken. or turkey. But, without meat, I don't have to worry about spoilage and put some in the freezer for another day. And I will cut up what we don't use today and freeze in freezer baggies, too. I did not use much butter except to butter the pans. It was still not cornbready enough, but I am getting there. Cracker Barrel only serves cornbread dressing on one day a week special. And not on Friday, when we usually go for Ben's catfish.

Time to badmouth our post office again. Yesterday, I was all ready to send one more package to the grandbabies in Anchorage, and was excited to just dash in, use the machine, and be in an out in minutes. Wouldn't you know, the machine was out of order. The line was out the door. And only two clerks, and then, half-way to the counter, the one clerk took her break. Fifteen minutes. We could see her sitting back there. Unbelievable. Why wouldn't the post office hire more folks for the crush? Packages were stacked everywhere. Sadly, I recognized no one in line, and no one wanted to visit. Most were busy on their phones. Bob left to get the car washed, and I finally made it to the counter after the lady came back from her break. union? The other clerk is too chatty. If he did not have to visit with everyone, we could have been in and out of there quicker.

Update on Ben

Our youngest son, now 23 years old, had surgery on Monday and is doing super. He tried taking the heavy-duty pain meds, but they made him throw up. So, Wednesday morning, he gave them up, and sweated throughout the day, but says it is just a little numb back there at the surgical site. He has to be careful getting up and down, and stands rather than sit. But, since he is glued back together, there is no open wound. no drainage. no packing or changing the dressing, like we did with James when he had this done at age 18.

Ben is determined to get up and be independent again. He is pretty bored with us. And while he appreciates our help, he is driven to do stuff for himself. My mothering is smothering to him. Someday, when he has a child of his own, he will understand. And that is as it should be. Even then, being a Dad is different. Dads are more into pushing the child to be independent, whereas the Mom is for nurturing, meeting needs, and preventative stuff.

It was so warm here yesterday, over 76 degrees, that we turned on the AC as Ben was sweating. The wind turned around after midnight, and we closed up the windows and have the furnace ready to come on if it drops below 68 degrees in here. But, it was so nice to sit outside and enjoy a non-winter day. We sure need rain, however.

Cute Ben story---when Ben came home from the pre-assessment appointment, he said that the nurse asked him if he was bulemic. Ben thought that was the most ridiculous thing because he thinks he has gained a little weight since Thanksgiving and his jeans are fitting tighter in the waist band. Why on earth would the nurse aks him that? I suggested maybe she asked if he was anemic, as she was taking a blood sample. And Ben said, "bulemic/anemic, same thing, right?" And I laughed. No, anemic means low iron, dear one.

I did not get the memo...

So, when did hospitals start allowing cell phones??

And when did hospitals do away with hand washing?

And who is the cute interior bulemic anorexic decorator that decided dining chairs with arms will fit any fat momma in the waiting room and recovery room?

Our son had a "procedure" on Monday at the same hospital in which he was born. Twenty-three years ago. He has been a pretty healthy kid. Sure, we have had our share of broken arms, stitches, and the downing of a triaminic liquid bottle when he got mad at the age of 3 when I gave some pretty orange medicine to his brother, but not to him. But, when they asked when was the last time Ben was there, I had to stop and think. Was it the time he was jumping off the table at church in the youth room to try and impress a girl and needed a few staples in his head? Or the time he flew out of the swing at church camp? No, that would have been at a different hospital.

I was so tempted to leave Dr. Bergstrom a note when I saw she was still doing surgery. The very doctor that delivered Ben...and the doctor (Mycoskie) that set a broken arm when he fell off the jungle gym on the playground...listed up on the white board in recovery.

Ben's procedure required deep cleansing of an area. And oh, the phone gals will lie to you. One told me a fleet enema was something you drink the night before. The pharmacist laughed at that one. And one tole me all Ben needed to do was sign forms at the "pre-assessment" appointment. Nah. They wanted money. upfront. I am thankful our insurance covers this, but proving that to the hospital and plugging in all the correct numbers on the pre-registration form took an hour. And Ben called from the pre-assessment appointment with the glad news that they wanted money!

What if we shopped for other services this way?? Let's say our plumber required two grand up front just to come out and look at your plumbing needs. And you had to give reams of information about your employment and insurance and social security numbers to that plumber's secretary before any work was done? You'd have to plan those stopages in advance! And forget emergencies unless you were an illegal alien, and then you'd have to call the plumber at that establishment (JPS) who specialize in trama...I mean, illegals.

The waiting room was pretty empty at 5:55am. I wondered where everyone was. Ben was prepped, and bored by 6:15am, and got to wait a whole hour before being taken to surgery. Thankfully, his doctor prayed over him before the surgery. Ben was glad, and comforted, but alarmed because his doctor looked tired and sick. After the hour long surgery, the doctor found us in the waiting room and gave us all the instructions. We should have taken notes, as the nurse later informed us that our going home instructions were given orally by the doctor. Good thing both Bob and I were listening. Oh joy...now to convince Ben, that yes, the doctor said no sex until you are married...

The pilonidal sinus/cyst was deep and old and even had a hair mass ball. (we joked about the tumor twin from the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. the recovery nurse was not amused as she had not seen the movie being neither Greek nor fat) A pilonidal sinus/cyst is a guy thing. When a guy hits puberty, some hairs on the base of the spine area turn inward, get infected, and plague the victim until removed by surgery. Our son James had one excised at the Children's Hospital when when he was 18 years old. Being the oldest "child" on the surgery list, he got to wait all day without food or water for his turn. Ben says his did not act up until he left home almost four years ago. And having left home and being independent, he was not longer on our insurance. Ben is a hard worker, and enjoyed figuring out how to install solar panels on roofs. We enjoyed hearing his stories, and shuddered at the perils, and need for insurance. He had to resort to going to JPS a few times for antibiotics and he usually waited until a rainy day, as it ate a whole day of work, and rainy days they could not get on roofs.

When Ben returned to college to get his electrical license, and became a full time student, we saw this one-year window left to put him back on insurance, and get his pilonidal sinus cleaned out. We found a doctor on our insurance policy through no help at all of our primary "caregiver" and set this date between semesters to give Ben a chance to recover. Ben is grateful. And said some whacky things coming out of anesthesia...and one of his concerns was, "how much was this going to cost?" We are trying to plant the idea that he needs to be ready, willing and able to do this for his son someday, if necessary. And sadly, in our day, your insurance coverage is almost if not more important than your job. Having that insurance card, and pink check in sheet from the pre-assessment appointment was Ben's ticket past the security guard in the hospital lobby. It told them we had paid. It said we had money. It revealed we had jumped through the hoops. It meant we did not have to share a waiting room with anyone else for a few hours.

But, cell phones are okay now? And the waiting room has wifi. I guess the employed with good insurance need access to their laptops so they can continue to be employed and insured.

The hand washing bothered me. I was the only one I saw wash hands all day, and the sink in the public bathroom was so shallow that it was hard to wash and not recontaminate myself. The bathroom was as big as any you'd see at Subway or McDonalds. I hate the touchless towel dispensers...took me a while to figure that one out. I don't get out much. And they don't have them at Walmart.

There are these pumps at the door, and a nurse or aide supposidly took a squirt or foam germ killing hand spit when she came into your room. The nurse spends 90 percent of her time plugging things into her rolling computer. Don't you know that keyboard is sanitary??! ha. And any time she touches you or your IV or helps haul you to the bathroom, she puts on a glove. Yes, the very unsterile hand that grabs a glove is suddenly ready, able and touching everything---from the hand crank on your bed to the doorway as you totter, to the light switch. Fear not. No need to wash your hands in this modern age. Who knew?

Our son was drugged up and sent home by noon. No appetite, and one bout of the throw ups from the pills on an empty stomach, so we are encouraging crackers and "with food" with the pills. But, he is able to get himself up and down, and to the bathroom. And I felt bad waking him up to take a pill at 1am, but I did not want him to wake up having gone too long the first night. He is suppose to be able to shower tomorrow, and in six weeks, but one hundred percent.

If someone had told me, when I gave birth to Ben there at Arlington Memorial, hey, you'll be back in 23 years for a small, hour long surigical "procedure"...how the years have flown. And the window of our helping is quickly closing.. As it should be, but what kind of world will our grandchildren see? Right now, our grandchildren are all treated at military hospitals. Our prayer for Ben is that God bring along a good Christian girl in His perfect timing.

Ben knows way more about drugs than we do. He dated a pharmacy tech for over a year, and also watches these shows on tv that we have never seen. He called them up online on hulu dot com. Oh, my. Bob and I are getting an education. Please pray that Ben see through the agendas and propaganda. Sodom and Gomorrah were worse than what Hollywood puts out?

Stove top, Cook top. Burners. Electric

Back in January...January 5th to be exact (thanks to Bob showing me how to do a search---sorry, I never noticed that box there)...back in January, the burner blew, and Bob removed the old stove top. I was in no hurry to replace it. So, I set some boards over the hole, and enjoyed more counter space.

Today, Ben installed the new one. YAY.

Now I can cook hardboiled eggs. and pancakes...

Now I can fry in my iron skillet.

A black shiny whirlpool with four burners. $300.00

And Ben fixed my coat rack, and my towel door knob rack, and touched up paint...

Ben is very HANDY !!! Please, Lord, bring him a good Christian girl to marry in Your Perfect Time. In Jesus name. Amen.

Pondering Lessons from Sunday

Yesterday, Bob gave a good lesson in his series on fear.

He took his material from the story of David and King Saul in First Samuel 27 and 28.

King Saul was the first anointed king of Israel. But, he disobeyed God's specific instructions (see First Samuel chapter 15) and God directed Samuel to anoint David.

This story is intriguing to me because here is a man who is anointed king, but goes astray. And multiplies his sin by killing innocent priests who help David. King Saul goes berserk, and tries to kill David on numerous occasions.

I have wondered why God allows this. Why did God allow King Saul to live? Why not zap him at that first disobedience? God may be extending grace to King Saul, allowing him time to repent. And maybe God is allowing us to see the consequences of a self-centered life that maybe started well, but went astray. Maybe it is a warning to us to beware. Be alert.

At some point in King Saul's life, he probably passed a point of no return. A hardened heart, like Pharoah, some might say. And I wonder if there were times in David's life when he shook his head in prayer and wondered what God was doing. Those contemplations are found in the Psalms. And David was very clear about not executing the Lord's anointed, even given opportunity after opportunity. That, also, should be a lesson for us. As Christians, we believe in capital punishment done in full compliance with the rule of law.

Even though David got so close to King Saul that he was able to prove his ability and opportunity, and even though King Saul would have killed David given the chance, David did not lower himself to assassination. And David moved himself and his 600 men and their camp followers into enemy territory to protect them, and because he wisely did not trust King Saul's empty promises.

In First Samuel chapter 28, Saul is so desperate and terrified that he goes to great lengths to find and use a medium. a witch. a soothsayer. He disguises himself, and visited the Witch at Endor who thinks it is a trap because she knows that mediums and spiritists were a big no-no and had been banished. (see the Mosaic Law, Deuteronomy 18:10-11) She knew practicing divination and sorcery was outlawed and carried the death penalty. Saul demonstrates his attitude of no reverence at all for the Law by lying to the witch, and asks her to conjure up the recently deceased prophet, Samuel.

Even the witch is surprised at her "success" and realizes she has been tricked. Bob pointed out that she had never had a dead person materialize at one of her seances before. But, God uses Samuel to give King Saul a message: I Samuel 28:16-19

We learn: The Lord has departed from King Saul and has become King Saul's adversary. And the Lord has torn the kingdom out of King Saul's hand and given it to David. (calls him King Saul's "neighbor") And Samuel repeats King Saul's sin where he went astray. And promises that tomorrow, you and your sons will be with me.

King Saul does not take the news very well. Would you? Would I?

I don't see this as a loss of salvation. I think we will me King Saul in heaven, and hear him talk about what a stubborn idiot he was not to obey the Lord precisely. I think we will see a clean King Saul. Forgiven and Cleansed.

Maybe King Saul did not learn or listen in this life. But, I want to remember what God told him way back in I Samuel 15--

Obey the Voice of the Lord

To not obey precisely is evil the the sight of the Lord.

Trying to justify your disobedience by using it to sacrifice to the Lord is wrong.(like stealing money and putting it in the offering plate is wrong) or (like trying to justify the sin of gluttony and wondering why I am so fat)

Obey the Voice of the Lord: Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF DIVINATION, AND INSUBORDINATION IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY. (emphasis mine) Because you (Saul) have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.

Bob went on to point out that: "Faith in the Lord is not mere passively accepting what the Lord says is true; it is actively trusting that what the Lord says is important. To take God's Word lightly is to mock God. And to mock God is the first step on the road to our self-destruction."

What if---what if Saul had truly repented? He should have stepped down as king. He should have given the throne to David with the warning to always obey precisely.

These words married up very nicely with what we then heard from Dr. David Noebel during the church service. Dr. Noebel took his message from Hebrews 11:32. The most amazing list---a mixture of success, and martyrdom. I want to review and ponder this passage.

Hebrews 11

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

(Let us pause here. Abel. The first murdered human. Murdered at his own brother's hand. forgotten? no. We will meet him in heaven. He never had a wife or kids, but he is not forgotten. By faith Abel acted. He did not just sit around believing. He obeyed God. It cost him his life. I love how God brings Abel into the New Testament.)

v.5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to god. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

(from Abel to Enoch. I just love the Enoch story. He walked with God! And he did not die. He was transported. Transferred. Beam me up, Scotty. Too cool. And after he'd done his job of being a dad. Most lived a thousand years in his time, but he pleased God. Oh, to please God! He did not just sit around believing. He walked with God. And God invited Enoch to walk on home one day with Him. Seek God.)

v.7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became a heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

(Noah. Build an ark. It is going to rain. The only converts where his family. God started over with eight humans and pairs of animals. It should serve as a warning to us that God cannot tolerate sin. God has promised not to destroy the earth by flood, but fire will consume it and a new heaven and earth when God in His perfect timing is done here. I want to remember the "heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." Being an heir means sometimes you build something others make fun of, sometimes you prepare for something others mock you for, and sometimes God saves through a disater of Biblical proportions.)

v. 8-19 Abraham

v. 20 Isaac

v. 21 Jacob

v. 22 Joseph

v. 23-29 Moses

v. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.

v. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

(Rahab hid spies. Rahab risked her life. Rahab believed the stories of the Exodus and that God was at work. But, I just noticed the line---"did not perish along with those who were disobedient"---the people of Jericho. Who exactly did they disobey? GOD ! Amazing---here it is: even Gentile nations were responsible to God. were and are. What an amazing phrase. We all know the story of Jericho. Thanks to Veggie Tales, we can all see the story played out. But, we forget that the people of Jericho were responsible to God. And God took them out. After seven days of grace. Best not to mock the ones God sends to warn you and encircle you.)

Dr. David Noebel picked up at verse 32-40 and 12:1-3

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.

Who by faith
conquered kingdoms,
performed acts of righteousness,
obtained promises,
shut the mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword,
from weakness were made strong,
became mighty in war,
put foreign armies to flight.
Women received back their dead by resurrection;
and others were tortured, not accepting their release,
in order that they might obtain a better resurrection
and others experienced mockings,
and scourgings,
yes also chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned,
they were sawn in two,
they were tempted,
they were put to death with the sword,
they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted,
illtreated
MEN OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY
wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

Dr. Noebel said: ah, to be men of whom the world was not worthy. indeed.

Awesome Song: Where is the Line to see Jesus?

http://wheresthelinetoseejesus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=160

I don't know how to download it on I Tunes. I don't know how to promote it. But, what an awesome song.

I want to apply it all year----when those long lines form for the tickets to some concert or game...

And there is the wonderful line in the song about how we will all stand in line someday at the Judgment Seat of Christ ! Whoop!

Saw it on Viral Footage, then googled it. Becky Kelley. What else has she sung?

hormonal blog alert

I am thankful my "time of life" approaches. It has been a few years of skips, misses, floods, and wondering what is next.

But, what is with this bone-chilling cold? I get the sweating. I can take another shower for the sweating. But, to feel so cold and so frozen that it hurts to even get up and put on a few more layers...what is with that? I am so thankful my husband so kindly covers me with a huge, warm bedspread. I am so thankful that my husband is a warm, even hot bodied furnace between the sheets.

It used to be once a month. the chill. This bone-piercing chill would come upon me in the night where I just could not get warm. And I am a big, fat woman. I got layers of insulation. What do the ladies not so endowed do?? It is like my body is saying, so sorry. We must shut down the temperature regulating thermostat for some hormone fluxuations. Be right back. Yikes! Reboot. And put socks on and pile on the covers. A hot bath will not touch it. ha.

Only God can someday in heaven separate the wheat from the chaff...the hormones from the sin...the tides from the falls.

This has been your hormonal blog alert. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program. The opinions expressed here stem from a well labelled: way too much information for most. But, so sorry, I gotta dump it somewhere as I ponder just What Was That All About.

sweating will commence in three, two, one...

Eyjafjallajokull and Northern Lights

http://eldgos.mila.is/eyjafjallajokull-fra-thorolfsfelli/

copy and paste. even after noon our time, it is dark in Iceland and on clear nights, you can watch the northern lights !!! The greens and reds light up the mountain. maybe the moon is helping, but there are definite greens, blues and red.

Do Some Get a Sense the End is Near?

Janet, our music director at church, told the story at Wednesday night Bible Study about how she asked for volunteers to help with props for the children's Christmas play. Carol, a 70 year old retired nurse, called her the same day she made the announcement and volunteered to sew night caps for the play. The very next Sunday, Carol gave Janet the caps, and while Janet thanked Carol, Janet also said she did not need them until December, Carol said she had this sense she needed to get them done.

Carol was walking her dog the very next day, and was struck and killed by a pickup truck. Both her and her dog died. Was the pickup truck driver talking on a cell phone or texting?

Killed on a Monday, I attended her graveside on the next Friday. I bet there were over a hundred nurses in scrubs in attendance. Many spoke about how Carol had taight them and encouraged them. And it looked like some of the people she helped were also there. I think she did home health care, too. One of those quiet behind-the-scenes workers who touched so many lives. Our pastor talked about how he received so many notes and cards and presents of encouragement from Carol over the years. And then he found out he was not the only one.

I got a shout out !

I got a shout out from Liz today on the B-Cast. She got my knitted coaster in the mail and was using it! I am glad she liked it. Liz likes these heavy Starbucks mugs, and she has to set them down carefully on the glass desk or table top they use on the B-Cast. I saw a need. I like to knit dish rags, but a two strand rag makes a nice, thick coaster. I showed Bob the show this evening, too! YAY

The B-Cast with Scott and Liz

Bob's 13 year old plymouth is in the shop. It needed an oil change, and inspection, so today seemed a good day to do it as Bob had a dental appointment in Fort Worth, and meetings there. So, we dropped off the plymouth, then I took him downtown.

Well, the water pump needs replacing and the belt that drives everything. Lovely. But, for $500 it should last another year. ha. And an extra car will come in handy until Ben is done with college, and to go visit Amber. So, it is worth it. The tires on it are pretty new. And I just re-did the other sticker. The back windows leak a little, and it burns oil... but, don't we all?

This one made me chuckle today

1. you know those emails you get from folks? Most I delete. But, this one made me chuckle.

2. I am not a superstituous person. I am a bad speller, but that is for another post. ha Anyway, when threatened with bad luck or out and out rejection of the Lord Himself if I do not forward, I am declaring right here and now: I do not forward under threats. I occassionally forward if it is cute or funny, or if I think my dear husband would like it.


3. I do not know who wrote this, but enjoy:

--------------------------------------------------

The Blackberry Blues by anonymous

When I bought my Blackberry I thought about the 30-year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting
world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife and
everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. I had to take my hearing aid out to use it, and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dashboard, but the lady inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating." You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep
sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then if I made a right turn instead.well, it was not a good relationship.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife
and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to
learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.
I was recently asked if I tweet. I answered, No, but I do toot a lot."

PS I know some of you are not over 50. I
sent it to you to allow you to forward it to
those who are.

Post Election Gleanings

I am most impressed with Oklahoma: they had the courage to ban sharia law on their ballots yesterday. Way to go Oklahoma!!! Now all the states need to follow their lead.

Michelle Malkin is worth a read, and a warning. We still need to watch the politicians because power corrupts. http://michellemalkin.com/

And for humor: IMAO (new parents, too!) http://www.imao.us/

Congratulations even from New Zealand: http://www.newzeal.blogspot.com/

Baseball Stats

I find it so amusing to listen to the radio guys giving baseballs stats. Seems like in baseball they keep track of everything. My favorite so far this morning...post World Series: Hal Jay, our local morning fun guy: "The First time the Texas Rangers have lost a game in November."

That says it all. They tried. The game they won was awesome. But, last night, they were out-pitched by this dude that reminded me of the skate-boarder, ski olympic winner dude.

And I learned a lot about baseball. Baseball, as Bob says, is a game of inches. And luck, and weird bounces, and funky rules.

What does the umpire behind the plate actually see? wish they'd put a camera on his forehead. How in the world can he tell there whether it is a strike?

It was fun. Our lives revolved around catching the games. We ran outside during the singing of the national anthem to watch the flyover go by. We enjoyed all the patriotism, all the hoopla, all the comments.

The only thing I did not like was the spitting. That is gross. And the adjusting. Good grief. Why wear such tight "uniforms" that pinch and cause manly parts to need adjusting? I don't get that. And what is with all the long, flowing hair? And licking their fingers---with dirty hats and balls, and the spitting---it is a wonder they are not all sick with the crud.

The World Series was such a surprise. It was not something we planned on. It definitely caught the whole town by surprise. Arlington has been gearing up for the Superbowl. Streets are tore up and being redone for that. But, Arlington got a kick in its economy's pants with all the extra revenue from all these World Series games.

Now, today is Election Day. Time to take out the trash. Time to hold our elected servants responsible. Time to exercise our freedom.

People wait in long lines for tickets to the sporting events. Would people wait in long lines to vote? No, this is America. We make voting easy. By mail, by machine, by early voting...and tomorrow, the calls will stop. Halelujah. Two and three robo calls a day. Thank heavens for caller ID.

World Series in Town

We are enjoying all the hoopla that comes with having our local Texas Rangers in the World Series. Will we all be sneaking tiny radios in Bible Study tonight?

Last night, I wanted to see the weather reports, so I turned on the 9pm news on channel 4, and they usually talk about the weather early on. But, because of all the World Series hoopla, we got stories on the team, the coach, the press interviewing the players, the players hair, a treatess on spitting and weather was pushed to the end.

Blizzard conditions in North Dakota today...and a low with a barometer pressure lower than most hurricanes...and we need to learn about spitting.

My life. Boring alert. But, this is where I dump stuff.

I have decided that the post office folks need something to fuss at me about, so I have decided to leave something off on purpose and then they will have something to fuss about. They will be happy. They will justify their existence, and I will have helped make them happy. This morning, I mailed the "Christmas" package, and had failed to sign the custom form. Voila. James may get a smile out of the Christmas cards I included. Packages to deployed soldiers must be mailed by November 10th. Done. ha. I may mail more later...so what if they don't make it by December 25. Most packages are making it within two weeks. That is good enough. I can live with that. No home baked goodies, but I don't bake much, anyway.

We will bake James a pineapple upside down cake when he gets home. It is fun, trying to fill all the nooks and crannies with little things...like hand cream, dinfectant wipes, dark chocolate.

And armed with my knitting, and a small radio and ear phones, I showed up at the Toyota dealership for our 45,000 mile oil change, tire rotation, fluid check and pesky dashboard light indicators. They tried to sell me on the $275 plus stuff, but I kept repeating: no, just the oil change, check fluids, tire rotation, and anything we HAVE to do to keep it under warranty. I handed them the "passport" book that they stamp, and where I keep all the receipts, and handed them the coupon we get in the mail. When I was "done" an hour and a half later (dishrag knitted) I went to the window to pay, and they start in again about replacing the brake fluid. A brake fluid flush. I asked: if I had that fancy coverage from the beginning that covers ALL oil changes, would you be bugging me about the brake fluid flush?? They said no. I rest my case. Must not be THAT important. Two clerks, and two salesmen started in on the importance of the brake fluid flush for some 2,000 mile coverage. Huh? I swear, they have to be getting a cut or a percentage to be pushing it so hard. I am going to ask Bob to take the car in at 50,000 miles and let them talk HIM into this stuff. I give up. The more they pushed, the more I just wanted out of there. I had to pay over one hundred dollars for that oil change, air filter, fluid check, tire rotation and pressure check, and oh, a "free" car wash. Seriously. And that is with the coupon.

Brake fluid is clear. How in the world could I tell they actually flushed it?? If it needed topped off, then that is covered in the fluid check.

And what is this asking me if I had an appointment? I said no. Did I need an appointment? Was this a bad day for them? no. They just did not want to be stepping on anyone's toes? When I asked whose toes? I was just confused with the whole exchange. Change the oil, please, without lip. Without a sell-snow job. Reset the dang dashboard indicators, because I cannot. (tempted to tape over them)

If/when we ever buy another car, I will insist on buying the oil changes up front and get it over with. Leave me alone. I feel like dealerships are not honest up front. They sell you a car for $20,000. But, for $750 more, we could have bought the full service package, and not been taken to the cleaners with each and every oil change. The tune ups---yikes. How can people afford them? It ought to be part of buying your car. I don't mind bringing it in. I don't even mind waiting for an hour and a half. I cannot work on my own car, and I figure the dealership should know how to keep their own cars under warranty.

I get letters, coupons, etc., from the dealership almost every week. I try to stuff them into the glove box so that I am ready. I have made the mistake of waiting until you pay to pull them out. That somehow negates them. So, I pull them all out at the start...much to the impatience of the salesman. I sense a disconnect between the folks that sell you the car, and their own service department. Seems like if you had a good service agreement up front, they could not keep changing the rules on me.

And next time...buy the car where you plan on getting it serviced. The one time I have travelled back to where we got it (30 miles west) they gave me a loaner car. I did not have to sit around the waiting room. One lady today had to insist on her loaner. The saleman conveniently "forgot".

My life---dealing with the post office, getting the oil changed. I keep thinking these things can be conquered. ha

I got the driveway blown off better. It only unplugged itself once, and I only dropped the heads at the end of the job in the garage, so I did not have to chase it down our steep driveway. Less hilarity for the squirrels. One of these days I will figure out how to belay the shop vac such that it does not take off down the drive all by itself. I am glad the oak trees directly above the drive are males. The put out galls, not acorns. Acorns hitting the roof and rolling down happens on the other end of the house.

Tempting to go vote early and irritate Mark Davis. He is all against early voting. He allows absentee, if you are a trucker or thusly employed such that you cannot vote on THE day. Why do it when you have to stand in long lines??

I am enjoying Bryson's book on how we got the house we have today. Why is it configured the way it is compared to the "hall" of our ancestors before chimneys were invented.

Later: 20 minutes later: just got the mail, and lo and behold, yet another letter from Toyota--the dealership I was JUST at, telling me they only charge $109 to purge, replace, brake fluid, and test drive. (with illustrations of "dirty" fluid versus "clear" wow. And the $25 percent coupon is attached for "any servie" but must be presented "during writeup" there in the small print. I will keep it in the glove box for next time...

When a doggie licks your toes during grace...

When a doggie licks your toes during grace...you are gonna giggle.

We are so enjoying our daughter-in-law's visit. She brought her cute little doggie that looks like Toto. He licked my toes while Bob was praying before we ate our lunch. I thought I was going to gafaw out loud. Surely, God understands.

We got to see our youngest yesterday, too. He came up for some doctor appointments and we went out to his favorite place for catfood on Fridays: Cracker Barrel. He told us of his life as a college student. Funny stories. And he was very excited about the 107 on a math test. He said it is eighth grade math.

And we got to see our deployed son today on skype. So sweet to see him and his wife praying together on skype. Always good to see him smile. And laugh at his jokes.

And last night---the firstborn skype-ed in and let us watch our granddaughter open a package from us. She loved the pillow pet ! Had to run get her other unicorn so that they could be together. So fun to see how she likes to line up her stuffed animals into families. And we got to see the precious one week old little guy. He tried to wake up for his debut, but his Momma had just fed him, and he was feeling very sleepy... So fun to see Lauren's MOM have a good time. An extra pair of hands, and eyes, and an extra heart, to give the young parents the opportunity to shower or nap or share their joy. Snow on the mountains out their windows...and the geese and swans are heading south.

Sweet Warbler

Last night we got a wonderful call from our firstborn as he and his family were traveling home from BabiesRus. So sweet to hear the granddaughter say, "hi, GrandDad" and then the grandson started waking up, and revving up his little vibratto. So cute. The first time we heard his voice. Firstborn tells us that the new little grandson has his days and nights mixed up. What? he parties all night? What? he keeps his parents up all night? Whoa. Hard to believe.

Abby starts giggling---she finds her brother's cries funny. I love it. And I ams so relieved. Some siblings find their baby brother's cry irritating. Better to find it funny. Too cute. And to get to hear his voice for the first time on Bob's sisters' birthday. Awe.

Watching the Live Rescue of the Chilean Miners

wow---such a good news story. So easy to sit here and cry as I watch these miners being pulled to the surface. The Chile flag is so similar to the Texas flag---it makes one do a double take. The story reminds me of the rescue of little baby Jessica back when our boys were little. Baby Jessica fell into a dry well shaft near Midland some twenty years ago, and rescue workers worked night and day to bring her out alive.

Carlsbad caverans is cool, temperature wise. I wonder why this mine in Chile is so hot and humid.

Watching Ustream live...I have no idea what they are saying, as there is no translation on this site. Amazing to see workers going down...quite a few of them, so these will need to be hefted to the surface, too.

I cannot imagine being trapped underground for months. I don't know how they did it mentally nor physically.

Stubborn Granny: That's me!

The post office has been advertising these nifty priority mail boxes---what a crock.

At first they had three sizes. Then they pulled a fast one---the "small" got tiny, as in the size maybe three DVDs. The "medium" size became small, and the "large" the medium size.

At least they give us a two dollar discount for shipping things to APOs. (as long as you fill out the customs form, and declare weight and content---all must be done with a LIVE clerk)

They installed this automated machine at our post office which almost replaced the clerks. (see paragraph above this one)

The machines are touch screen, and usually working. I like them because you can buy stamps, and mail a bunch of packages all with one swipe of your credit card. No lip. As long as you are not sending anything to an APO or overseas...

So, yesterday, I decided to mail a package to Alaska, using said automated machine, as it was a pretty simple transaction. But, there was NO way to actually give them the package. The post office actually blocked the big bin where you insert the package. I kid you not. I tried another post office, and they too, have blocked big slots. I guess they are combatting vandalism or bored criminals who want to insert stuff into the post office bins. Strange.

So, I have to wait until 9am this morning to hand them the package I have already labelled, stamped, and prepared for delivery. 9 AM. What do people do who have to work?? And have to be at work before 9 AM?? And we wonder why the post office is going under. I predict they fold within a year or so. Why not sell the post office to private industries who care and introduce competition into the mix. Anything the government does, be it drivers license, mail, passports---they do poorly. Time to close them down. Let free enterprise take over.

This has been your post office rant.

Next day: I actually went back to mail a package to our son deployed. I had to wait in line just to get the customs form, and so I dutifully went back to the end of the line again, as they were so rude to anyone not following their directions. I hate to hear elderly people spoken to in a rude manner. Yikes. Folks just wanting to ask a question were told to get in line like everyone else. I have never seen such rudeness. Bob thinks I should record it for You Tube. I don't have a camera.

Everyone is asked---anything liquid, perishable or hazardous? And if you dare say, no it is just a knitted dishrag---one clerk comes back at you with: that is not answering my question. It is a wonder the customers do not go postal.

But, another package of goodies---fig newtons, dark chocolate, instant Starbucks coffee, and socks I bought at the Army Navy store, but these socks shrunk down to child size---so maybe our son can find a child than needs them this winter. Here I thought I was helping by washing and drying them. I used warm water, like the instructions say to do, but I guess the dryer got too hot. And these socks are obviously made by the lowest bidder. Our son said his socks were disappearing in the laundry---I bet they are all shrinking and being lost thataway. Yikes. I will try ordering from Ranger Joe or something.

Eight thousand days

Playing around with the Wolframalpha site where calculations are easy.

If our new grandson David decides to be like his Dad and his Mom's Dad and go to A&M and be in the band...he would be putting on his boots at a senior at A&M in 8,000 days.

I know that life with a newborn is challenging. Tiring. Being alert 24/7. With what seems like no end in sight...but it passes too quickly. Soon they are grown. And we literally work ourselves out of a job. God gives us a precious little baby and we get to hold them, feed them, teach them, and watch them grow. At age 18, they are technically, legally adults. They go away to college, and we still get to help financially, and encourage them, but they are mostly done with us by then. ha

In eight thousand days, David may be putting on those senior boots and march into the now old Cowboy Stadium. Having met the girl of his dreams...and wondering why there are tears in our eyes.

All this to say...we have the gift of our children for such a short time. Though they wear you out, and though you can't wait for the next stage when they can sit up or eat regular food or walk or quit playing in the potty... my prayer for my sons and their wives: I pray you enjoy each moment. Each day. Each week, and milestone. I hope and pray that when they no longer need you that you look back with fond memories, cute stories, and a legacy of love and pictures in your mind as well as albums brimming with the gifts of each day, each moment.

Let us not rush through life. Let us savor each day as a gift.

I remember standing at Kyle Field watching Andy go back inside the stadium with the light shining out around him in the golden glow of sunset and hearing the roar of the crowd thinking---this is what heaven must be like: the glad celebration of being together, great music, great Light, Love, happy for Andy to be doing what he enjoyed, all grown up... but the light coming into the Cowboy Stadium was intrusive, mean, too bright and it blinded the players, and coaches, and fans. I wondered why the stadium was aligned to catch that light. That light is a weapon. Part of me also hopes heaven is like the quiet scene of getting to hold and kiss a tiny baby on the head. And marvel at the miracle they are. We would no more take a baby onto a crowded football field as it is a dangerous place, even for padded players. But, I think it is okay to raise a child in light of where they might go and what they might decide to become. It is not my choice, for my place now is in the stands. Cheering. Dreaming.

We want God's Best, God's plan for each of our children and grandchildren. My Mother's Dad lived to be almost 100 years old. 36,000 days. Two of my great-grandmothers lived into their ninties. And my grandchildren are being born one hundred years from their great grandparents---so even as Abby's birthday was 2007, so her great-great grandpa's was 1908. And David's birthday year, close to one hundred years from his great-grandmas. Neat math. So, if the Lord does not come back for another fifty years, my great-grandchildren will be born close to one hundred years from my birthday. (give or take 15 years) Even as my great-greats were born in the 1850s.

Grandson Named David

As our daughter-in-law suffered all weekend through on and off contractions, and my husband's nephew's wife seemed to be going through the same things, it was like a race developing and we wondered who would give birth first.

The birthday 10-4 reminded me of the old truckers code, so I googled what all the other numbers meant. I learned that:

10-1 means "receiving poorly"
10-2 "receiving well"
10-3 "stop transmitting"
10-4 "okay" or "message received"
10-5 "relay message
10-6 "busy, standby"
10-7 "out of service, leaving air"
10-8 "in service, subject to call"

there are more, but I liked 10-11 which means, "talking too fast" and 10-12 "visitors present"

Well, on Thursday morning, I got up, checked facebook, and noticed that there was chatter between our son and a babysitter. I thought it curious that Abby was staying overnight with someone who had a daughter close to her age. And what fun they were having...not to worry...now they are sleeping soundly. They only fought over one toy, a pillow pet. (I had to google pillow pet, having no clue)

So, I called our son's wife's mom, my dear friend from our teen years (we attended the same church, and had sleepovers). My friend had received a tantalizing message at midnight their time and they could hear the grandson's heartbeat swooshing away in the background. So, we knew she was in labor, and in the hospital hooked up to monitors. We did not have to wait long. My firstborn called me from Alaska about 8:30am our time with the good news: the grandson had been born at 11:32 pm while we slept. Mom and baby were doing well. And we were given his name: David Mace Williamson. My friend had guessed it days before, but had been told, "you are very, very close." David is a family name on the bride's side going back generations, in fact, my friend told me that she was suppose to be a David if she had been a boy.

I had to google what a mace was. It is so easy to type in: picture of a mace, and get instant mind improvements.

But, sworn to silence, my son said to wait and let him call the close relatives first. He sounded so groggy from their all nighter. But, back to facebook, I was able to message chat with the granddaughter's babysitter.

Noon came and went. I went on to the chiropractor, and got some lunch. I called our other dear daughter-in-law hoping if she had gotten a call, surely, the message was going to be one we could shout from the rooftops...but, when I called our son to check, he still had not reached all the grandparents. (there are four sets) And the dog needed let out...and he was going to take the granddaughter to meet her brother. I hope they got pictures. And I hope she was not dissappointed---word was that she was expecting a baby sister, too.

I was glad to hear that our daughter-in-law was getting to eat a big meal for the first time in days...and more calls to her mom gave me the cute reports of much cooing and enjoying that baby boy.

Back to the trucker's code. To be born on 10-6 was kinda cute: for indeed he kept them pretty busy as we were all on standby. David was born on my Great Uncle Ralph Harvey's birthday. And my friend, Nancy's son, Cameron's 32nd birthday---I remember Cameron when he was four months old!

And I kept checking facebook for news of the other lady-in-labor, Bob's nephew's wife, also expecting her second child, but they knew she was going to be a girl. She had been scheduled to be induced at 7:30 on 10-7: Emily had a date with the doctors, and eviction notice in many ways. They broke her water, and labor started without drugs, but Emily was a nine pound, two ounce baby. Yikes. Labor took all day. Born at 3:13 pm Georgia time...I did not get word until hours later after talking to our nephew's mom by phone. By 3:18pm, my son had released me to brag with a facebook "chat" message. So, I had started emailing, and stole the picture off my son's facebook page to send around. In that first picture, David looked so much like his sister at that age I was suspicious my son had downloaded an old picture of the granddaughter!

It was fun to see the congrats roll in via facebook and email. I tried calling a few folks, but some were not home, or I got caught in long, boring stuff...and my mind was so easily distracted.

I did learn some serious news---my aunt has a blood clot in her leg. Not good. Yikes.

And phone chats with Bob at work as well as emails to try and keep him up on the latest...and what a beautiful autumn day to be born! 10-7 in my Grandma James' birthday. She would have been 97. She died a few years ago on my brother's birthday. Technically, with the time changes and daylight savings time, it was her birthday in Illinois when David was born in Alaska. I hope she knows about him. I think she would like that. As farmers, it must have been difficult to have a birthday during the harvest.

Our middle son's wife is next---her baby is due in January. I went out and bought two more sets of children's blocks. I had put up the granddaughter's name in blocks on top of my yarn keeper in our living room. Now I have added David and baby James the second. I may need more shelves!

And another little cousin is coming in May! Bob's first cousin's only son and his wife are expecting. More Williamsons!! Yippeee!!!

David was born fifteen hours ahead of Emily Williamson if you read their birth certificates. But, 11:32 pm Alaska time is like 3am central time, and 4am Georgia time, so technically, they were only born 12 hours apart. Just on different days. David was lighter. Seven pounds, 15 ounces is almost eight pounds, but Emily was over nine pounds.

I like what my daughter-in-law's mom said: there are two things a woman does not want to hear: that her hips are wide enough a ten pounder, and that she is having a ten pounder. I agree. My firstborn was nine pounds ten ounces, and the doctor had to spend half an hour stitching me up. Our hips may be okay with passing a nine pounder, but our lady parts are not. The doctor apologized to me after our firstborn came into the world---he said, if we had known you were having such a big baby, we would have done a C-section. My middle son was an emergency C-section when the monitor indicated his heart rate dropped, and then our youngest, born 14 months later, was a "planned" C-section where the anesthesia did not work. I guess they had trouble giving me enough, and were afraid of giving me too much, but it was like I was down in a well. I could hear what everyone was saying in surgery, and I could feel them cutting and taking him out... So forgive me if I shudder when people brag about having their babies at home. There is just so much that can go wrong.

I am so thankful our daughter-in-law's epidural worked well, and she only had to push once after two hours of hard labor. That is an answer to prayer. I am so glad she has relief from that little soccer player. He was a kicker! And there was just no more room in there. I wonder if she will soon forget the weeks and weeks of pain, sleepless nights and indigestion, nausea.

From the email and facebook updates, the other lady in labor had quite a long day and lots of pushing to get that big girl out. While I am thankful she did not have to have a C-section, I wonder whatall she did to her mom's plumbing. yikes.

Can't wait for more pictures. And a skype call or two...

Until then, 10-19: nothing, returning to base

Our kids are gonna think we are crazy...

I have been nagging my husband, Bob for years to download skype on his laptop...in case my computer is not working or something, then we can still see the granddaughter.

And I should add that I had given our only working camera back to James as it has video features, and Amber needed it.

Well, our Firstborn, is playing a game: guess the name of the grandson due any day now.

His latest tantalizing clue was about a score of 164. He knows we play Scrabble a lot, but when I pointed out that proper names are not allowed in Scrabble, he said that my rule is not valid---and indeed, there are boys names that also work as verbs, like: Mark, Will, Warren, ...in fact there are over a hundred of them.

Well, me and my big mouth pondered aloud last night how cute that would be to put on a Scrabble board. Bob instantly sprang into action: he just had to do it. right then.

So, now he is downloading Skype...so that we can take a picture of his work.

Aunt Sally is not going to believe this, but we skype together!(in the same room, seated not three feet away from each other!)

Five minutes later: we did it! Bob has his screen grab of the Scrabble board, and this is the second picture I took of Bob! Cute little wooden heart pull for the light above his head, eh?

rings

My wedding ring is too tight on hot days. So, I have a spare...a looser one I bought at Walmart to wear when the other one is too tight. I juggle them from finger to finger depending on the time of day and size of my fingers.

If I am not careful, my ring will slip off cold fingers and I won't have missed it, as what happened one day doing laundry. Thankfully, the ring got stuck in the washer rubber seal.

Today's adventure found me in the bathroom trying to be good by putting my rings on my fancy cut glass ring holder while I washed my hands. But, being the clumbsy bumpkin that I am, I accidentally bumped the holder next to the sink knocking it into the sink. The bathroom sink is like an inverted shell, so I watched with horror as the rings on their holder slid from side to side like a ride at Six Flags. Thankfully, the rings stayed on their pointy stem. And the holder did not break. And when I caught them, they did not fall into the drain. Yikes. That was a close one.

Soon I will write the book: Wearing Rings for Dummies

I have been known to go days without them. Or perch them precariously on the window sill where my husband has pointed out they might get stolen. And have you seen the price of gold these days? Hit a new high of over 1300 an ounce.

my efforts to embed are lacking

http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2010/09/eye_candy_but_f.html

This CBS 60 Minutes video of what it is like on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan is very enlightening. To hear the anguish in this captain's voice when he calls himself a failure for losing men speaks volumes about our brave American soldiers. One of his men have received eight purple hearts. In trying to help a villiage, you wonder if it was an ambush all along? And when American forces leave in a year, won't those terrorists continue to stream across the border and overrun Afghanistan?? Only by boming the shit out of the camps of "safe haven" in Pakistan will this war end. And our president does not have the will nor desire to do that.

Cool Weekend

My husband has some extra days of vacation to use, so he took off Friday to get a head start on his Sunday School lesson, and relax here at home.

This delicious cool front came thorough, and we actually slept with the windows open starting Saturday night. And we sat around like lazy slugs Sunday afternoon marveling at all the sounds through the open windows: Ice cream (music) truck, birdies singing, dogs barking, airplanes...

I cooked a roast in the oven on Saturday. We ate on it for lunch and an early supper. During the summer, I hate to run the oven and the AC because I feel like they fight each other. Bob got the yard mowed on Friday before it rained, and there was a cool patchy fog on Sunday morning. The possom trap stayed empty all weekend, so we have either finally caught them all, or Bob says, the possom have gotten smarter. One cat learned the hard way, but Bob released it quickly, and I am sure that cat will never be trapped again. Cats are smart that way.

It truly is autumn when the sunlight starts creeping onto the window sill and inside walls. And we may need to use the AC again during the day the rest of the week, but at night we should be able to open up.

I bet I have watched the granddaughter in her Saturday dance class on facebook a dozen times. The teacher reminds me of a mother duck with her little dancer ducklings. Our granddaughter knows which music is coming next, and is first to anticipate the next dance moves. So cute.

Our middle married son became a great uncle last week. Beautiful pictures of the great niece on facebook.

Our firstborn's wife is due any minute. And Bob's great nephew's wife is also due within days. Both dear ones are nesting---cleaning big time. So, when I could not stand the carpet a minute longer and pulled out the vacuum, Bob asked if I was nesting?? Ha. We did re-arrange the chairs and tables a bit as I was tired of looking around the kleenex box to listen to Bob. Putting end tables on the other side of the recliners allows us to hold hands! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Seems like we only hold hands at church anymore. We can both see the front door better now, too.

And we watched a little baseball---which is unusual for us. The first seven innings of one game, and the last three of the next where the Rangers won a slot in the playoffs. We are late to this party--I don't even know all the players. And we watched the Cowboys win their first game. And found a cute British comedy, "Doc Martin".

Woke up Sunday morning thinking about James. I wonder when the last time he danced? And this spacing of the camps and travel outside is worrysome. I am afraid to say more. Seems the more we learn, the more questions we have, and the more we can pray more surgically.

We trust God is getting James ready for something. And we are so thankful he is able to use these new modern technologies to communicate with his dear wife. Technologies that the couples just ten years ago did not have.

Post Office Rant. Again.

Our post office sure does not make things easy. The lady in front of me had done all the work of printing out a label. All she needed was a piece of tape. They refused.

I was next. Our post office does not even bother to open until 9am, so I had bought my stamps in the machine to save time. I pulled the box out, and the customs form all filled out. I said it was going to Afghanistan. This is my twelveth box...but the clerk had to correct me. "Is it an APO?" She asked. Yes. Well, she said, it is not going to Afghanistan. Postage would be much higher going straight to Afghanistan. Good grief. Oh, and my twenty was no good. She had NO change. So, I had to use my credit card. And we wonder why the post office is failing big time?? Nice doing business with you. Not.

It is not every day I find BOB pictures on the internets

My husband's name is BOB

Sharia for Dummies

1- Jihad, defined as “to war against non-Muslims to establish the religion,” is the duty of every Muslim and Muslim head of state (Caliph). Muslim Caliphs who refuse jihad are in violation of Sharia and unfit to rule.
2- A Caliph can hold office through seizure of power meaning through force.
3- A Caliph is exempt from being charged with serious crimes such as murder, adultery, robbery, theft, drinking and in some cases of rape.
4- A percentage of Zakat (charity money) must go towards jihad.
5- It is obligatory to obey the commands of the Caliph, even if he is unjust.
6- A caliph must be a Muslim, a non-slave and a male.
7- The Muslim public must remove the Caliph if he rejects Islam.
8- A Muslim who leaves Islam must be killed immediately.
9- A Muslim will be forgiven for murder of: 1) an apostate 2) an adulterer 3) a highway robber. Vigilante street justice and honor killing is acceptable.
10- A Muslim will not get the death penalty if he kills a non-Muslim, but will get it for killing a Muslim.
11- Sharia never abolished slavery, sexual slavery and highly regulates it. A master will not be punished for killing his slave.
12- Sharia dictates death by stoning, beheading, amputation of limbs, flogging even for crimes of sin such as adultery.
13- Non-Muslims are not equal to Muslims under the law. They must comply to Islamic law if they are to remain safe. They are forbidden to marry Muslim women, publicly display wine or pork, recite their scriptures or openly celebrate their religious holidays or funerals. They are forbidden from building new churches or building them higher than mosques. They may not enter a mosque without permission. A non-Muslim is no longer protected if he leads a Muslim away from Islam.
14- It is a crime for a non-Muslim to sell weapons to someone who will use them against Muslims. Non-Muslims cannot curse a Muslim, say anything derogatory about Allah, the Prophet, or Islam, or expose the weak points of Muslims. But Muslims can curse non-Muslims.
15- A non-Muslim cannot inherit from a Muslim.
16- Banks must be Sharia compliant and interest is not allowed.
17- No testimony in court is acceptable from people of low-level jobs, such as street sweepers or bathhouse attendants. Women in low level jobs such as professional funeral mourners cannot keep custody of their children in case of divorce.
18- A non-Muslim cannot rule — even over a non-Muslim minority.

19- Homosexuality is punishable by death.
20- There is no age limit for marriage of girls. The marriage contract can take place anytime after birth and can be consummated at age 8 or 9.
21- Rebelliousness on the part of the wife nullifies the husband’s obligation to support her, gives him permission to beat her and keep her from leaving the home.
22- Divorce is only in the hands of the husband and is as easy as saying: “I divorce you” and becomes effective even if the husband did not intend it.
23- There is no community property between husband and wife and the husband’s property does not automatically go to the wife after his death.
24- A woman inherits half what a man inherits.
25- A man has the right to have up to 4 wives and none of them have a right to divorce him — even if he is polygamous.
26- The dowry is given in exchange for the woman’s sexual organs.
27- A man is allowed to have sex with slave women and women captured in battle, and if the enslaved woman is married her marriage is annulled.
28- The testimony of a woman in court is half the value of a man.
29- A woman loses custody if she remarries.
30- To prove rape, a woman must have 4 male witnesses.
31- A rapist may only be required to pay the bride-money (dowry) without marrying the rape victim.
32- A Muslim woman must cover every inch of her body, which is considered “Awrah,” a sexual organ. Not all Sharia schools allow the face of a woman exposed.
33- A Muslim man is forgiven if he kills his wife at the time he caught her in the act of adultery. However, the opposite is not true for women, since the man “could be married to the woman he was caught with.”
34-It is obligatory for a Muslim to lie if the purpose is obligatory. That means that for the sake of abiding with Islam’s commandments, such as jihad, a Muslim is obliged to lie and should not have any feelings of guilt or shame associated with this kind of lying.
The above are clear-cut laws in Islam decided by great Imams after years of examination and interpretation of the Quran, Hadith and Mohammed’s life. Now let the learned Imam Rauf tell us: What part of the above is compliant with the U.S. Constitution?

remember number 34 when you hear the ground zero mosque imam tell you it will be a multicultural center

The Golden Hour

3:45 pm Central Time

One son in college class.

One son sleeping half way around the world.

One son home for lunch in his time zone getting a hug from his daughter.

We need You, Lord: Your Call

Our soldiers are fighting and dying for your right to burn the flag or koran or Bible. But, is it smart?

It is hard for us to wrap our minds around destroying something sacred, because while we see the Bible as God's Word to us, it is still a book, and not to be worshipped. We are to worship God with all our heart, soul and mind. I agree with Sarah Palin, book burning is usually a negative message. And if/when the government starts telling pastors what they can and cannot say and do, we have a big problem.


Dear Heavenly Father,
Is it time to ignite a war with the muslims?
This pastor in Florida says he is praying for direction. Please make it clear to him whether he should burn the 200 korans people have sent him or not.
On the one hand, we cannot expect muslims to know peace, love, justice because they are in darkness. But, on the other hand, we need to find a way to shut down sharia law in our country, and make the muslims respect other nations, and treat their women and children with respect.
Does what this pastor in Florida is planning to do further the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What would Jesus do? Did Jesus ever order the burning of sorcery books? Did Jesus ever motivate some soldiers to go clean up the Holy Land and stop the murders there during the Crusades? Liberals want to re-write history and say the Crusades were bad. People were being murdered in the Holy Land. Why is it wrong to stop murder?
Your Will Be Done. You control the weather. You control history, and we long for the day You set all things right, and establish Your peaceful rule of the nations for one thousand years. You are also the God of Elijah. Elijah did not throw the false priests books on the alters, but the false priests were executed. How would You have us stand against sharia law and the muslims? Only You, Lord, can bring a spiritual solution to this clash of world views. Please protect our soldiers as they try to bring order to Iraq, and Afghanistan. And wherever our soldiers are stationed around the world, please protect them, and make them successful in bringing peace so that Your Gospel can be shared. If a dark place will not allow the Gospel, then please bring our soldiers home from that dark place, and give them a clear mission where they can do Your Good.
Your Way means nations respecting nations. Thank You for blessing our nation with the resources available to help the poor, the sick, the widow and the orphan. Please help us stand against those who abuse women, and enslave their people. We need You Lord, to open the eyes of the teachers in our country to teach our children patriotism, respect for the Constitution, respect and love of Biblical principles, and most of all, we need You Lord, to soften and open the hearts and minds all over the world to accept Your Son as Savior, Lord, King of kings, who died for the sins of the entire world.
In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

His Birthday Begins

I sent him cards. And he is hoping for a down day doing whatever he wants to do. Thankfully, his birthday falls on a Friday over there. deployed.

The Happy Birthdays are beginning to appear on his facebook page. He is all excited about homeschooling, and preparing for his son due in January.

He has a beautiful wife.

And we sure do miss him.

Twenty-four. Born on my Mother's (his Grandmother's) 50th.

Our miracle baby.

The picture is of Baby James holding his newborn baby brother, Baby Ben. And those are my Mother's hands---holding them for the quick picture, as they sit in my lap. Capturing a moment in time, long, long ago.

what I did without internet for 20 hours

August 31, 20101
I'm stuck. No internet. Truck down the street probably unhooked it.
(the trucks left at 5pm, and we were still down. No dial tone, no dsl line. Bob called the phone company and they said we could have an appointment Saturday---and are we sure it was them? Seriously. I was talking on the phone to my neighbor on Dogwood when we got cut off.)

I'm tired. Tired of sweating. August is done now. Can't wait for the cold fronts. Can't wait until we can open the windows. I'll need to vacuum out the dusty space between screen and sill.


Since I had no internet, I drove over to the post office to mail Meredith's birthday card. The Wolf country radio station was playing The Thunder Rolls...and it made me cry. James' song when he was a little guy. He would sing it at the top of his lungs.

I had been listening to Glenn Beck's videos and decided to do some studying:

With firm reliance on DIVINE PROVIDENCE...

Why does God begin the Jewish day with sundown? Why does God start the day with darkness? Why does God start creation with darkness?
September 1, 2010 Wednesday
And the themes of wood: Isaac carrying the wood to the altar where God has asked Abraham to offer up his son. The wooden staff of Moses. The wooden ark. The wooden cross.
1st mention of wood/trees---Garden of Eden
Noah's wood? the ark
And approximately how many died in the flood? We are not told, but given the clues, and the fact that each generation was living almost a thousand years, the ten generations could have been as few as a hundred or a few thousand, or as many as four million?
Adam and Eve had three named, and "other sons and daughters". One murdered without a wife and kids. They seemed to wait until they were over one hundred to mate, and Cain's relatives boast of two wives. Not counting the nephilim nor their offspring "heroes" half men, half angel---guessing that a woman of childbearing age could give birth to ten or twenty in her lifetime...by that tenth generation, there could have been millions.
Yet, Noah waits until age 500 to sire three sons: Shem, Ham and Japeth. And they assist him building the ark, and eight humans are saved, but the Bible does not say if Noah had any more. Everyone alive today is descended from those six---Shem, Ham and Japeth and their wives. And those were only ten generations from Adam and Eve.
And they collected enough food for over a year for themselves and all the animals. Shem's son, the line of Christ, was probably conceived on the ark. Inside the wooden ark.
By the time of Abraham, there are cities of people, as Abraham was called out of Ur. Ten generations between Noah and Abraham. And by 100 years of age, Abraham is too old to have children. God performs a miracle to restore Abraham and Sarah.
Next tree/wood mention: Oaks of Mamre---Genesis 18, where the Lord appeared to Abraham. It does not say, but I am assuming the tent poles were made of wood?
Genesis 22 wood for the burnt offering. Abraham splits it, and has Isaac carry it. God provides a ram caught in a thicket (thorns) at the last minute, but Abraham was willing to kill plus burn his uniquely born son, because God promised that it would be through Isaac that he would become the father of many nations---and the whole world blessed, so Abraham was confident that God would resurrect Isaac.
Next wood mention: Jacob in Genesis 30:37 Jacob took fresh rods of poplar, almond and plane trees and peeled the bark, and bred spotted goats and sheep. Built his own herd.
Genesis 38 Tamar takes Judah's staff, cords, and signet ring in pledge.
Exodus 3 burning bush
Exodus 4 Moses' calls it the "staff of God" as God had demonstrated the miracles He would perform with it...turning the staff into a serpent.
1. Moses is told to throw your staff down, and it will become a serpent and it swallows up all the Pharoah's magicians and sorcerers' snakes.
2. strike the water of the Nile with staff, and God turns the water to blood and all the fish die.
3. God tells Moses to stretch the staff over the waters, and frogs appear
4. strike the dust: gnats
plagues 5 and 6 are staffless. cattle die, and soot thrown for boils
7. stretch out hand with staff to the sky and fiery hail pounds crops
8. with hand and staff: locusts
9. hand toward sky and three days of thick darkness
10. eat Passover Lamb with staff in your hand.
Exodus 15:25 God shows Moses a tree, and tells him to throw it into the water to make the water sweet. ...none of the diseases... Egyptians
Exodus 25 acadia wood is to be used to make the ark of the covenant, overlaid with gold. wood plus gold speaks of Jesus being the God-man.

Original Verses

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

LAUS DEO

I was curious about The Black Robe Regiment that Glenn Beck mentioned. These men and women were hesitant to join Glen Beck, a known Mormon. They assembled, and heard Glen say that Glen believes Jesus Christ is his Savior, and the atonement of Jesus. They admitted that the Lord came to each of them to do this---but, James Robinson said, the Lord had to use a Mormon. One backed out because he was afraid he'd lose half his congregation.

These are taking a stand against the perversion of the gospel. They are taking a stand against the social gospel.

Sad to hear that the Marines turned Beck down. He wanted them to present the colors. Sad to hear that the park service rescended their security, so Beck had to pay for it himself. But, God provided the funds. And via small donations.

Glen Beck says his rally is about turning back to God. Not about him.

The stories of how the conservatives, patriotic folks assembled and cared for each other, and helped each other, and picked up after each other... by their fruit...

We watched the rally via facebook on Saturday, and then again via c-span on Sunday afternoon. Good stuff. So wonderful to hear Jesus proclaimed, and His Resurrection talked about, and the emphasis on spiritual revivial. Restoring Honor. Honoring the troops. Getting the stories out there, of Marcus Lutrell, and true heros. The importance of teaching our children.

FAITH HOPE CHARITY

LOVE

That the leaders, speakers, black and white, needed security.

The fact that God is moving. God can even use a Mormon.

Your Will Be Done.

It was so encouraging, uplifting, and positive.

Pondering

Taking your child to college and dropping them off is a momentous exercise. With our firstborn, it involved helping him pack up his little Toyota pick up truck. And with each semester sometimes there was the van full of stuff. I remember he got very good at roping town the tarp, and packing his stuff.

With middle son, going to college in town meant dropping him off a few times for ROTC activities so that he did not have to leave his truck unattended on the college parking lot. And waiting for the Sunday afternoon phone call to pick him up. And packing and hauling to his post college camps and schools.

Our youngest moved out over three years ago. But, decided that now is the best time to go back to college and take a year long electricians course south of us, exactly 92 miles away. The brochures promised a dresser, bed and desk, so he packed mostly clothing, and the rest of the stuff into our back yard little house for storage, but after the first trip we realized he did indeed need a desk, and dresser and so he hauled some stuff out of storage, and packed the minivan and we drove back down on the same day. It is a beautiful drive. Just an hour and a half or so. I enjoyed the nice, clear horizon, and these flocks of white birds---doves? Flying in Vs---but too small to be ducks. There are spots on I-35 where the speed limit is 65 and most is 70 mph. A few crazy drivers, and lots of semi trucks as this is the route to Mexico. Corn was being harvested. And a small plane was dusting a cotton field. I always mistake a cotton field for soy beans until the white bowls of cotton appear. Same plant height and rows.

The dorm type apartments are remodelled gutted between classes, I suspect, as huge disposal containers sit in the parking lots. Ben's quad apartment had new carpet, and as I stepped near the door, my sandals snagged a piece of broken glass. I thought I'd stepped on a roofing nail. But, Ben pulled out the glass and cleaned my foot, and put on the bandaid from my bandaid stash in my purse. So, will that be my memory of dropping him off at college? Hauling stuff, and stepping on a piece of glass, and him cleaning my foot? After the second trip, we went to Walmart and stocked his frig. Not sure if the chow hall is open on the weekends. And I met his one roommate so far, David from Luling, Texas. We went to Cracker Barrel, as Ben likes their Friday catfish special. Guys are not very talkative---I always envy moms of girls at this point. But, from experience, I know that sons marry beautiful ladies who do talk... So, there are no tears goodbye. Instead, I will see him next Friday when he comes to our city to go to the doctor. Being a full time student means we can put him back on our insurance and get some surgeries taken care of. I have been itching to call him all day. Wondering of the other two roommates showed. Wondering if he got all organized. Wondering if he found where his classes are. What fun tools and books? The college sits on an old Air Force Base. We drove out the back on our way to Walmart and saw that half the old houses are boarded up. Enough places to remodel to keep a remodelling class busy. I wonder if his electricians class will do the actual wiring.

Our last "baby" in college. A very grown up young man used to being on his own. Someday, we pray he finds a good Christin woman and has a family like his brothers with cute little babies, and then sends them to college. Especially since college is needed to support a family with a good job with a good insurance program.

We watched Glenn Beck's rally in DC on the Mall via facebook today. C-span covered it too. It gave me such hope because it was highlighting a spiritual revivial--only by turning our eyes to God, and repenting, and following Christ will this country turn around and undo, and get out of debt that we have saddled our grandchildren with. Only God can heal our nation. Only God. It made me cry to hear Jesus talked about on the Mall in DC. wow. It was refreshing. And right. And there was no anger nor signs nor ignoring the millions gathered. The press will try to slant it and denigrate it, but we learned again about the wonderful, truthful words our forefathers spoke, and wrote and engraved on the monuments. Glory to God. Our Creator, Saviour, Redeemer, and Ruler of the nations. God rules the nations. God designed a plan of nations. Nations that respect, love, help, and reflect Biblical principles.

I want to remember, too, how my son led the prayer over our food at Cracker Barrel. Usually, Bob does it, but since it was Ben and his new roommate and I, Ben initiated it. Made this old mom's heart swell with gratitude.