Thrifting

Had a great time with Jessica today when we went thrifting about an hour away from her house.  It was a nice day and the trip was nice for conversation.  I had my knitting along and we listened to music on the Christian radio station.  Unfortunately, 2 of the 3 thrift stores she had planned on us going to happened to be closed today.  But a friend of hers told Jessica about another thrift store a little further up the road from where we were.  Then we went to another closer to home on our way back.  Surprisingly, the only thing I found were some little post-it type note pads.  Jessica found several articles of clothing for Kara, however.  She found a jacket for herself and some luggage in her favorite black and white houndstooth pattern.

Jessica put a roast in the crockpot before we left, so supper was basically taken care of.  We watched the last of The Lord of the Rings trilogy while eating.  She also made one of Ilene's wine cakes, so that was for dessert.  It was yummy warm!

I think I will finish up the skein of yarn on the poncho I am making and then call it quits for today!  Have a great Wednesday!

My thrifting companion for the day.

Kara's grandpa in Florida sent her a text to check out the moon tonight.  So she told me and we took our cameras out to capture it.  It amazes me to think her grandpa in Florida can look out his window and see the same moon we can see here in Alabama, or wherever!  Thank You, LORD, for sharing Your creation with us!

The Cross

"They put Him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised Him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with Him after he rose from the dead."  Acts 10:39b-41 ESV

This morning during my Quiet time, I read from Acts 10 where Peter was summoned by Cornelius and the Lord had just given Peter the vision of the unclean animals being let down from heaven in a sheet and the Lord told Peter to eat, but Peter would not because they were unclean to the Jews.  The Lord told Peter not to call them unclean.  So, when He realized Cornelius was Gentile, Peter knew what the vision meant.  The Jews didn't think the Gentiles could be saved, but God was showing them that was untrue.  Anyway, as I was reading where Peter was preaching about the cross of Christ to them, I noticed this shadow from the sun shining through the window.  I couldn't help but take a picture!

It was a beautiful day today hitting about 60 degrees.  But, it is chilly again tonight and to be cooler tomorrow.

I got some great shots of the moon during the day, too.

The picture of the buzzards flying was a shot that was zoomed in as far as I could zoom in.  Taken out over the lake several miles away!  LOVE the zoom on my camera!

Jessica had a financial meeting to attend tonight, so she asked if I could take care of supper.  So I made a meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli.  I tried to find the recipe with applesauce and a sweet sauce on top that I used to make when the kids were younger and still at home.  But, my taste buds were very disappointed!  This was definitely not the recipe that I remember!  I'll have to see if I have that recipe around somewhere in the cookbooks that are still at the parsonage.  The mashed potatoes were good, however!  :D

Tomorrow Jessica and I are going thrifting!  Have a great day!

Tell Me the Story

Jessica asked me to write a couple of paragraphs about mom and her story this week.  So, I thought I would do that tonight, what little I know.  I wish I had asked questions of mom and dad about their lives.

12-31-1983

Mom was born in Mississippi on January 29, 1934.  I don 't know what city.  I do know that she had to quit school when she was 16 to go to work because her dad was an alcoholic.  Her dad was Ralph E. Ryker.  Her mom was Myrtle G. Phillips.  I believe mom was one of eight children.  I remember her talking about going out in the fields to pick cotton when she was young.

At some point, mom moved from Mississippi to Indiana.  Mom was married once before she married dad.  I believe he was abusive.  I don't know how long the marriage lasted or when she was divorced from him, but she and dad were married in Osgood, Indiana on December 20, 1954 after a 3 month courtship.  I was born 9 months and 18 days later on October 8, 1955.

Mom worked for a chicken processing plant in Osgood.  I don't know when, she was a stay-at-home mom for as long as I can remember.  Dad was a mechanic at a gas station in town.  She used to drive and take his lunch to him.  When she went to get her driver's license, she hit the car in front of her and in back of her during the parallel parking.  She never did go back to try again for her license.

Dad didn't make those early years of marriage easy.  He would come home drunk.  I remember mom talking about having to help him up the stairs to bed and then having to clean up after him when he got sick.  I have a vision in my head of that, too.  Not sure if it is from seeing it or just a vision my mind has made up from the story.  But, eventually, he quit drinking.  She may have given him an ultimatum, I don't know.

We moved several times, once to California where we lived for 10 months and we lived in 3 different places during that short span of time.  We were home sick and came back to Indiana.  We began going to church in the town where we lived in College Corner, which was partly in Indiana and partly in Ohio, near dad's sisters, Aunts Opal, Peggy, Juanita and Joyce, who lived together in a big farm house on the outskirts of town.

In 1965 mom and dad made professions of faith.  And then I did soon afterwards.  We were all baptized at the same time at a Baptist church in Dartmouth, Ohio (maybe).  Not long after that dad got a job driving a truck for Rocket Transportation out of the Greater Cincinnati Airport in Northern Kentucky.  So, once again we moved into a huge house on a dairy farm in Union, KY.  The Big Bone Baptist church was not far and Brother Robert Ginn, the pastor, knocked on our door one day and invited us to church, so we went.  We joined the church and attended there until we moved to a house on River Road in Hebron, KY.  I'm not sure of the year, but I believe I had started my 7th grade at Ockerman Middle School in Florence, KY when we moved and I began going to Conner Middle School.  That would have been 1967 or 1968.

We began going to a church in Constance which was closer to our house on River Road.  In 1974 we had to move after a tornado totaled our house.  We moved into a rental in Union, KY until mom and dad bought a house on Hathaway Road in Union.  We began going back to Big Bone again until the church made Brother Ginn resign the church over the doctrine of election.

Brother Ginn started a mission in Florence that we attended and mom and dad were there until mom went into the nursing home and dad died.  Mom began with noticeable symptoms of alzheimer's in 1998.  Dad kept her at home and took care of her as long as he could.  In 2000, I believe, she went into a nursing home.  She was there until her death in 2005.  We buried her on July 4th.

I didn't appreciate mom when I was growing up.  I regret that as I look back.  She was a godly mother and I thought she was too strict.  But, I'm so glad she was because there is no telling where I would be if she had not been a strict disciplinarian!

Mom's favorite song was, "Tell Me the Story of Jesus" by Frances J. Crosby and published in 1880:

1.  Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Chorus:
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

2.  Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past,
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.

3.  Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain;
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see;
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
“Love paid the ransom for me.”

One thing I do know when I look back over my life, I can see God's hand directing, orchestrating and leading in our lives.  Thank You, Lord, for Your leading!  Thank You, Lord, for my godly parents!  I'm so glad You know what is best for me!  Even now as I approach the golden age of my parents before they left this earth, You know what is best for me and You are taking care of me!  Thank You, Lord!

Sweet Home Alabama

I had decided that I would be out of the house by 8:00 to make my trip to Alabama on Friday.  But, when I got in bed I decided I was not going to set my alarm, but instead just get up when I wake up.  I was in no hurry other than arriving before dark.  It is an 8 hour trip, so I needed to be gone by probably 9:30 at the latest.  So, I ended up waking up around 7:30.  I had just about everything I was taking already sitting by the door except for the last minute stuff like my toothbrush, etc.  It only took me about 15 minutes to load the car.  And I was ready by 8:00 anyway.

It was a very uneventful trip, thank the Lord!  I stopped at 1:30 for food, gas and potty break.  It felt good to walk around after 5 1/2 hours of sitting!  That meant only 2 1/2 more to go!  I arrived around 4:00.  Kara saw me coming up the drive way and ran out to meet me!  I love that!  I used to be able to pick her up and give her a bear hug, but I can no longer do that and she is almost as tall as me!

Michael helped me by getting all of my devices back to working order.  The computer in the man cave that would not boot up properly was because of the thumb drive that Tim had left in it the last time he transferred files from the office computer to that computer.  And I was getting an error message on his iPad that I needed to activate it.  Michael hooked it up to his Mac computer and got some system updates, etc and now it is good to go, too.  Thank you, Michael, for helping your technically challenged mother!

We began watching the Lord of the Ring series last night.  There are several discs that are 3 hours long each.  So we are splitting them up into 1 1/2 hour segments for each night.  We finished the first in the series tonight.

Today was a lazy day.  We played games, watched Kara show us the tricks she had taught the cats to do, went out to lunch and did some grocery shopping.  Jessica fixed beef stroganoff for supper and it was delicious!

Now its time to go to bed and get ready for church tomorrow.  Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow!

Playing Sorry.

A buzzard circling in search of food.

Very cloudy today.

Shiloh following instructions for a treat.

Love a fire place!

Kara taking some photos.

I love how the camera caught the sparks flying upward.  Looks like little sticks in the fire.

A Piece of My Heart

I am traveling to Alabama tomorrow to spend the next week with my son and his family.  I am soooo dreading making the long, lonely trip!  I would LOVE to be Samantha of Bewitched and wiggle my nose to instantly transport myself from here to there!  :D

I went to the parsonage to gather up some items that I wanted to take to Michael.  Every time I take something from the parsonage, I lose a piece of my heart.  Tim and I spent 9 wonderful years here.  It hurts my heart to know that part of my life is gone.

It hurts especially when I am removing parts of Tim.  I am taking Tim's computer that was in the man cave to Michael with hopes that he can help me figure out why it no longer works.

This box has some of Tim's old ham radio stuff in it.  I don't know if Michael will be interested in any of it or not, but I remember Michael tearing radios and the like apart when he was a kid.  We would buy an old radio for $0.25 at a yard sale so he could enjoy tearing it apart.

The sign on top of the box is the sign that was by the back door of the parsonage.  Tim and I visited Charleston, SC not too long after we moved to NC in 2008.  There were a bunch of vendors by the water.  One of the vendors was selling these signs.  We purchased one and they made it after the fact and then mailed it to us.  Michael was the logical choice to give this to.  He is the only Day with a home that he can attach this to.  The girls cannot use it and Nathanael does not own a home.  I pray you will cherish the sign, Michael.

I thank the Lord for Tim becoming a Christian when we were teenagers.  I thank the Lord that He called him into the ministry, even though I told Tim that I didn't want to marry a preacher.  I thank the Lord that Tim was such a faithful servant for the Lord!

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul!
Thank You, Lord, for making me whole!
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free!

Sleep Over

Is it too late in the game of life for 50ish - 70+ "girlfriends" to have a sleep over?  Well, apparently not, because four of us in this age range did just that last night.

Calvin helped me move a few pieces of furniture from the parsonage to Ilene's yesterday.  When we were finished, I went back to the parsonage to get some of my craft stuff to fill the shelves that we took to Ilene's.  I left her a note in case she got back home before I did.  I told her I was planning to take her out for her birthday if she wanted to go.  I knew she would be tired from her trip to WV where she ended up attending not one funeral, but two.  I thought she might not want to go out again.

When I got back to the house she had been there about 15 minutes.  She got her things put away, took care of her phone messages and called our dear, Carolyn and Julie, to see if they wanted to go out to eat with us.  Carolyn had just eaten, so she asked us to give her an hour.

In the course of our conversation during the meal we decided to go back to their house and watch a couple of movies, China Cry and Paul, the Apostle.  And we decided it would be fun to do so while relaxing in our jammies.  And since it would be kinda late when we finished the movies, we were invited to stay the night.  It was about midnight when we went to bed.

This morning Carolyn fixed us oatmeal and toast for breakfast.  We visited more and then left for home before Carolyn had to leave for her doctor appointment.

I just love these ladies!  Thank You, LORD, for special friendships!

I bought some bird seed last week, so today I set up 3 feeders.

I set the feeders up just outside the edge of the area where the grass is cut, figuring on the brush to give the birds ample places to hide if they feel threatened.

 

Closer shot.

This is a new feeder I got and you stack these rounds of seeds on it.

The other feeder is hanging on these clothes line pole.

There's a zoomed in shot.

Ilene and I have eye doctor appointments tomorrow.  I am hoping that the cataracts are ready for removal!  But, probably not!  We shall see!

Have a great Thursday!

Patience

What a day! My patience certainly was tried all day!

I got a property tax/license plate renewal bill in the mail this weekend on the old 2007 Impala that I sold in December.  So I pulled out my receipt from the guy I sold it to, and the receipt where I had turned in the plates to the DMV.  Then, at 11:00, I headed to the DMV with the receipts. I took my place at the end of the line that was outside the building.  Forty-five minutes later, still 10 parties back from being at the front of the line, I made a call to Flow Chevrolet to let them know it looked like I was going to be late for my 12:45 appointment for a recall of front wiper transmission corrosion failure on my Equinox. They told me that 15-20 minutes late would be no problem.

In the meantime, I was now about 5th in line at the DMV. At nearly the one hour mark, I walked up to the counter and explained why I was there.  (At the bottom of the receipt where I had turned in the plates it says, "Note:  The county requires a copy of this receipt and a copy of the bill of sale within 1 year in order to process a possible release or refund of property taxes on this vehicle."  I figured this was the reason why I got the bill.) The lady at the counter handed the receipts back to me and said, "we don't want these.  You are going to have to go to the downtown office of the tax administration."  REALLY??? I wanted to say, "you mean I just stood in line for an hour for nothing?"  But I didn't! I politely asked her where I was going to have to go!  She explained to me in "femalese language" how to get there using landmarks....."follow this street til it dead-ends at this building......." 

Well, I wanted a little more, but for the moment, I had to leave and get to my Recall appointment.  I had time to stop and get some lunch to take with me.  I arrived in plenty of time, however, the mechanic asked me, "do you know if they ordered these parts for this recall repair?"  UMMM, NO!  I figured he was going to send me home, but he directed me into the waiting area. 

I ate lunch and then I called the number on the bill, which was the downtown location (with the address, if I needed it) but the receptionist, in her broken English (OY, VEY!!) gave me a number in Raleigh to call.  (Can you say, "Ring around the Rosey........?")  Of course, I was on hold, "waiting for the next available representative because of the high call volume" for 15 minutes, at least!

Finally!  Laura, bless your pea-picking heart, took my call.  Apparently there was some question as to the time the insurance on the Impala had been canceled.  I explained to her that I sold the vehicle on December 15th, canceled the GEICO insurance on December 17th (according to her records) and returned the plates to the DMV on December 18th.  She said she was going to have to go over things with her supervisor to get the approval to dismiss the bill.  She took my phone number "in case I lose you before I get back."  So, I was on hold for another 10 minutes.  But, alas, when she came back on the line she said I could disregard the bill.  It is all taken care of.  Why do I have this eerie feeling that it isn't all taken care of?! 

So, that took an hour to resolve.  And I'm still waiting to hear about the car, which was still sitting in the same spot I parked it in when I arrived.  Then, alas, the car was moved out of sight.  So I assumed that was a good sign!  About half an hour passed and the mechanic came to me and asked if I would like a complimentary car wash, too!  Well, how about that!  Thank You, LORD!  My reward for my patience?!  Why, yes!  I'll take it!  Thank you very much!  At 3:02 I left the parking lot with a brand-spanking clean car and assumed-to-be-fixed wiper transmissions!

I decided I needed to do some shopping after that,, so I headed to the Lifeway Christian Bookstore.  I had a coupon for a free CSB Gift and Award Bible, regularly priced $6.99.  I found two Veggie-Tales DVDs at 90% off.  One cost $1.49, regularly $14.99 and the other cost $0.50, regularly $5.00 (but I'm sure had already been discounted to that from $14.99).  I found two adult movies, "Paul, the Apostle" for $7.49, originally priced $14.99, and "China Cry" for $5.00 (probably originally $14.99).  So, I spent $15.46 and they said I saved $32.49, but I figure I really saved more than that!

I love the shopping bags you get from Lifeway!

A Bible and 4 movies.

My last stop was at the Dollar Tree next to Lifeway.  I found 3 puzzles.

After that shopping spree, I was ready to go home.  And now I'm going to fix something to eat because it is almost 7:30, and then I will do some reading and knitting before going to bed.  Have a blessed Tuesday!

Beautiful Words! Wonderful Words!

I pray you spent time with your church family feasting on God's Word today!  Sometimes I wish we could just all live together, singing, praying and feasting on God's Word from sun up to sun down! 

But, we are to spread what we learn in church to the world around us.  We are not to have our light hidden under a basket.  We are to be on a lamp stand, shining brightly for the world to see what Jesus has done for us, not keep the gospel within the 4 walls of the church.

Tonight Bobby's message was "How to Read the Bible."  He shared 3 points with us:
1.  Prayer should precede the reading of God's Word.
2.  Plan to read it habitually.
3.  Practice reading the Bible with the intent to remember it and profit from it.

Besides his message, Bobby shared C.H. Spurgeon's message of the same, "How to Read the Bible" that he preached on June 21, 1866.  He shared 7 points:
1.  Read and Depend on the Spirit of God.
2.  Read and Meditate.
3.  Read and Apply.
4.  Read and Practice.
5.  Read and Pray.
6.  Read and Try (test).
7.  Read and Tell Out what you read.
It was a good read with practical information, too.  And, the 7th point is exactly why we cannot "just live together, singing, praying and feasting on God's Word from sun up to sun down!"  Spurgeon said, "When you read a passage of Scripture and have any enjoyment therein (got something from it), go to your sick neighbor and tell what God has said to you."  We are to share it with the world!  Not keep it to ourselves!

I hope and pray that as I share with you from time to time what God has revealed to me from His Word that it will be a blessing to you, too!  They are "Wonderful Words of Life!"

1.  Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Chorus:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

2.  Christ, the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven.

3.  Sweetly echo the Gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify us forever.

Today's Photos:

Still some snow left, even though the temperature reached almost 70 degrees today!

The ground is sopping wet from the melting, too!

Beautiful skies!

I spent the afternoon in the parsonage doing some packing, etc.  So after being on my feet all afternoon, as soon as I got home tonight, I got my jammies on and my house slippers and propped my feet up to do some reading!

 And, that was my Sunday!  Have a blessed week!

A Day Away

I had things I wanted to do around here today, but with the promise of 55 degrees, and waking up to beautiful sunshine, I decided I wanted to go to Elisabeth's.

Spent some time playing games with these beautiful girlies!

 After lunch, Liz asked if I wanted to go to the Goodwill.  Ummm?  OF COURSE!  So, the kids stayed home (no surprise there because what kid want to go shopping with mom at Goodwill?) with Brad and we went to two Goodwills, Salvation Army and a church affiliated thrift.  We both found a few things.

I did not buy this, but I thought it would be good inspiration for some sort of project.

Liz needed a warm coat for standing outside in the cold at school in the mornings as she helps with kids unloading their vehicles.  So, she found this nice, warm, long, hooded winter coat!  It is beautiful and was a good price!  $10!

I, too, am looking for a coat for church.  This little jacket was reversible.  But, I didn't like it.  I will have to keep looking.  I'll know the right one when I see it!

Liz found a little jacket almost identical to the one I found yesterday.

I found a few books is all I bought today and a sleeveless vest that Liz talked me into buying.  :D

LOTS of the snow is gone in the front of the house.  But, the ground is still snow-covered in the back of the house.  Progress!

Tonight I have been reading a Bible study entitled, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.  I read the first 2 chapters tonight.  Very good read so far.

And that was my Saturday!  Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow!  Take advantage of worshiping in God's house in a country it is safe to do so.......so far!

He Cares For Me

Today the snow plow made several passes down our road. So I decided that I needed to get out of the house for awhile.  I first spent time cleaning the rest of the snow off of my car that the sun had not melted yet.  The side facing the sun was clear.  So that left the windshield, hood and top to clear.  When that was finished I was on my way.

First stop was lunch at Dairi O for a BBQ sandwich, fries and tea.

Next stop was across the street at Mega Thrift.  I was in the market for boots.  Not fancy ones (unless I found some that fit).  I found 4 pairs in my size, but only one pair fit....the cheapest ones!  Another example of how the Father watches over me to save me money when I have things I need to buy!  I also found 3 pairs of jeans and a nice jacket.  I also found 2 purses.  I've been looking for stiffer purses, not floppy, noodley ones.  One of them was brand new.  Still had a $49 tag hanging on the inside of it!  I paid $8.

Then I stopped for gas at Walmart.  $2.41/gallon.  I was almost on empty, so it cost me almost $40.  My last stop was in Walmart for birdseed and gatorade.  I'm going to have fun watching the birds at Ilene's when it warms up!

I got home in time to wash the jeans and jacket along with other dark clothes, but I didn't have time to dry them so I could wear them, so I let them dry while I was gone.  And I just remembered that Ilene doesn't like to run the dryer while she is gone.  I'll have to remember not to do that.  I've never had a problem with drying clothes while I'm gone, but I would feel terrible if I did here and something happened and burned the house down!

I did have time for a shower and fixing my hair before I left.  I went to Calvin and Sharon's, parked the car and rode with them to the restaurant.  There were 14 of us from church who met for dinner.  What a sweet time of fellowship we had!  We will definitely have to do that again!  I love my church family!  Thank You, LORD, for the sweetness of Christian fellowship!

On the way home, I heard this song playing on the Christian radio station:

My Father Watches Over Me

by William C. Martin, pub.1910

Matthew 6:26 - "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"

1.  I trust in God wherever I may be,
Upon the land, or on the rolling sea,
For come what may, from day to day,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

Chorus:
I trust in God, I know He cares for me;
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Though billows roll, He keeps my soul;
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

2.  He makes the rose an object of His care,
He guides the eagle through the pathless air,
And surely He remembers me;
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

Chorus:

I trust in God, for, in the lion’s den,
On battlefield, or in the prison pen,
Through praise or blame, through flood or flame,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

3.  The valley may be dark, the shadows deep,
But, oh, the Shepherd guards His lonely sheep;
And through the gloom He’ll lead me home,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.

Yes, He supplies my every need!

Today's pictures:

Another day of bright sunshine AND warmer temperatures!  It got to almost 50 today!

Finally can see the pavement on the road after being plowed!

The sky was a beautiful blue today!

 

Good to see this truck!

Tiny bird prints on top of the snow!

Ilene's hens and chickens surviving the snow.

 

It got warmer than they forecast!  Thank You, LORD!

$4

The purse with pink trim is actually black with red trim.  It is the one that had a price tag of $49 inside.  It is brand new, you can tell!  The other one cost $4.

Nice washable jacket.  It is more of a charcoal gray than light gray in the photo.

That's it for today!  Have a great weekend!