GAZPACHO SALAD.. COOL!

2-3 c Roma tomatoes chopped
1 large/or 2 med Vidalia Onions chopped finely
2c green peppers.. or yellow/red..
2c finely sliced cucumber (I quarter my cuke first, then slice thin)
2c finely chopped celery
2 Tbsp minced garlic (I dont' do much fresh for this salad)
About a half cup of your favorite olive oil
a dollop of Worcestershire sauce
3/4c-1c cider vinegar (you can use a tsp of sugar or a packet of sweetener to take the edge off)
salt / pepper to taste..
toss it all together and try to have some left for supper.. I don't think so.

TEACHING AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

I'm teaching myself organization. Oh, I'm very organized at work.. typical for ADD.. there is a routine that has to be followed every day. So at home, that routine HAD been non-existant.. till now. I'm in the groove. I am teaching myself how to do routine things every day.. that's EVERY day. Down to brushing my teeth.. yep..even that has been a forgotten item on a few occasions much to my horror.
So today I'm up and dressed and breakfast is over and the dirty dishes are in the dishwasher waiting for bedtime when I'll turn the machine on. The kitchen floor is washed, and I'm now concentrating on my bathroom.. the floor needs washed there, and it'll be done after my little break. I try to take lots of little breaks to sit down, rest my back, and drink some water. It's not 10am yet. At the rate I'm going, I'll have the living room vacuumed and be ready to do some after lunch planning for tomorrow before lunch.
I have PT scheduled again today. It's a chunk out of the day, but worth the effort. Besides, all the planned cleaning will be done well before. The other spots I'd like to do can wait.. maybe tomorrow. Perhaps I'll go shopping after PT.. I need a new 9x12 cake pan, and a new dust pan. I'm going to plant some parsley in the old rusted cake pan. Then I'll pitch it in the fall- the cake pan, not the parsley.
And do my sinks shine? Yes ! They do.
It's such a good feeling to get up in the morning and find a clean shining sink with a fresh new towel/ dish rag all layed out for me to start the new day.
Has it been noticed? YES! It has.. by everyone who walks through the door. Good encouragement for me. Routine is great!

*****

HONEY BEES

Yeah.. they are out there.. hard to photograph.. the little critters zip back and forth and don't hold still for long.. but they are there.. this one is in the middle of the picture nearly. He was so active darting from one blossom to another, but I did get a picture. He was not alone.. there were others..I just zoomed in on this one.
The black raspberries and blackberries are in blossom.. yummy! Can't wait for red ones though.. my favorite.

It has been another wonderful day to be alive. How I have enjoyed today I can't begin to describe. It has certainly been a busy one.
I'm learning to organize at home. It will be some time before it really really shows, but it's coming one step at a time. Today I decluttered for about 15 minutes. It was the most refreshing thing ! When I got done, I stepped back and looked where things had been, and really, it looked different in the room.
I'm learning to establish some routines too. I love that. I have ADD and people like me desperately need routine. So here I am.. writing everything down I can to help me develop a plan. I'm going to be organized, and I'm going to enjoy it. Things are changing. No longer do I look at housework and sigh.. I set a timer and dig right in for an allotted time limit and then sit down, prop my feet up, and enjoy reading some emails while sipping on a nice cool bottle of water. Ah.. this is living.
I went to PT this afternoon and, as usual, enjoyed the exercise. It is energizing, and that is one thing I want.. energy to do the things that need done.. but without pain. So far, so good. I spend the first 30 minutes with ice and TENS, then some ultrasound to my trouble point (SI joint)... a bit of massage and I'm off to do exercises for another hour. When I am done, all my muscles are warmed up, and I am pain free. It's great.
After PT today Wendell and I went to lunch at Kings.. and then grocery shopping. He mailed the package to Valentines- Isaac's late birthday presents and Treat of the Month for everyone for May.
Shopping done, we came home and I took a short break and started supper. It is so enjoyable to cook when things are clean to start with. All dirty dishes are in the dishwasher, and before I go to bed, I'll be turning that on so there are clean dishes in the morning. Part of my AM routine is to put the clean dishes away.
Spot cleaning for hot spots comes next.. the kitchen table looked pretty scroungy.. so 5 minutes of super decluttering and it looked ready for supper.
Well. I'm learning. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Tonite, I have paper work for the office to complete and tomorrow morning before the kids arrive, I'll be taking them in to the office to be used on this Thursday. Oh, my.. I'm getting so organized.. it is almost scary.
Of course, there is more to do, and I have some nasty spots that need decluttered throughout the house. I'm going to work on those first..the ones that are the most visible.
In the mean time, I find a few minutes to look at email and then sit down and plan for tomorrow.. I do have a planner and I'm using it. Let's hope this works.. it should.
Wendy mentioned today that she sees no bees around their home.. where there are always swarms of them in other years. So I went out today and looked. I took a picture of one , but don't have it uploaded yet.. but soon.. very soon I will.. we do have bees. Honeybees.
Paperwork is calling my name.. gotta get that done so I can start the PM routine and be in bed at a decent hour.
-

EXTRAORDINARY BLUE MOON

The name BLUE MOON is given to the 2nd full moon of any calendar month. The last one was seen on July 31, 2004, and the next one is due May 31, 2007 for most of the western hemisphere including the US. In the next 20 years there will be only 17 more.
To have a blue moon, the first of 2 full moons in a given month has to occur early in the month and then the 2nd one arrives at the end.
-

MEMORIAL DAY 2007

Yesterday on my way to work I noticed that the local VFW was having a service of Memorium to the fallen veterans at the Penn Township Veteran's Memorial. It is good to see that people do care. There were about 40-50 people and lots of cars lining the road.
Today is Memorial Day, or Decoration Day to some.

Dad always said the garden had to be planted over Memorial Day. There is not much danger of frost after this date. I can remember struggling to get my tomato plants in on that day- thinking they wouldn't grow if I didn't. How silly of me.

Today is a gainful employment day for me. I have been sent home early 2 nights now, and am hoping for the 3rd. I just have to be careful the number of hours I lose. I try not to lose more than 8 in a pay, but then the new pay period started yesterday, so I'm okay. It's been so very quiet at the hospital. I get all of the daily work completed before going to supper at 5pm, then it's sit and wait for something to come along.
There is always the night secretary who starts at 7pm and works a 12 hour shift. If they get an admission, she can help with it.

Gotta get moving here. Time to leave for work comes so quickly.
Pray for us..
-

What is joy to you?

Joy is not the absence of troubles,
but the presence of Christ.

I'm home a bit early tonite.. 4 hours to be exact. There was just nothing going on there at all. I'm not one who likes to sit around waiting for work. There is so much of it at home, I feel guilty taking pay for doing nothing.

I was thinking about Memorial Days in the past. How I loved them then and even now.
I remember going to the cemetery and planting flowers that weekend with Mum. She and Aunt Re never forgot to do this. They had a lot of flowers and an agenda. It was fun helping and I wish I were better at it myself now that they are gone. It is a long drive to the Plum Creek Cemetery where the most of the Bests and Clements are laid to rest. Wendell's family are buried at North Union just down the road. I guess I'll have to get the kids involved in planting flowers now. They will be very good helpers and keep up the tradition hopefully.

Like most families, we celebrated Memorial day by having a picnic.. Ah, but if you've never been to one of our picnics, you missed out on a treat. We had no grill. Dad and Bill usually went down into the woods and brought up old dead limbs of trees and then started building a framework for the fire. It was always a dandy.
Then they would go back into the woods and choose a fine tree branch or 6 and then carefully trim the end to a point and clean it of all the bark. These were our 'hot dog sticks'. We still do that today when we make our campfires. These sticks also doubled as Marshmallow sticks when we'd had enough hot dogs.
Mean time, Mum and we girls would be inside preparing the food. Macaroni salad was one of my favorites. Then the huge mound of juicy red sliced tomatoes on a big plate, and the strange little foil packets like little envelopes that were filled with hamburgers.. and then the little foil covered balls that held our potatoes for baking.
Ah.. such a treat! Large plates of condiments .. thick sliced juicy sweet onions.. mmmmm... it makes my mouth water to think about it. We always had a big jar of Heinz dill pickles too..
We had a homemade picnic table- dad made most of the lawn furniture himself. We took the food out on trays along with utensils and paper plates. The first thing that went on the fire was the potatoes. They take a little longer than anything else. They went right beside the hottest coals. We always waited till the fire burned down a bit so that the wood was sizzling hot coals. Then we put the hamburgers around the hot spots of the fire.. and finally we could put hot dogs on our sticks. It took a bit of patience to get the hot dogs just right.. hot and sizzly without burning them.. or worse, catching them on fire. Or catching the stick on fire and losing everything in the blaze. In a little while, the hamburger envelopes would puff up and that was the signal that they were done. It always worked perfectly. Dad would pull the burgers off the fire and they'd go on a plate. A little later, he'd check a potato with a fork and test it for tenderness. Yummy!
It was a feast, no less. The flavors were so perfect and the whole meal was a major treat.
Marshmallows came next.. Placing the 1-3 puffs on a stick, you had to stand close to the fire and let them turn a golden brown..sometimes turning the stick this way or that way to make sure all the marshmallows had the same coloration. Then.. well, we didn't make s'mores.. we simply ate them off the stick! D-licious !!!!
I wonder what my siblings remember about the picnics.. Dad sure knew how to get one put together. He knew how to place the pieces of wood and get the fire started without much ado..
Loved those picnics!

God Bless
the U.S.A.
© MCA Music
By Lee Greenwood



If tomorrow all the things were gone I’d worked for all my life,

And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today,

‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom

and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land

God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,

across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,

Well, there’s pride in every American heart,

and it’s time to stand and say:

I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land

God bless the U.S.A.

God Bless The U.S.A. Words and Music by Lee Greenwood© Copyright 1984 by MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC. & SONGS OF POLYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.All Rights Controlled and Administered by MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved

LEST WE FORGET

To many Americans, Memorial Day is the day summer officially begins.. a day to have picnics, barbecues, and the local pools open. For some, it's a day of shopping for sales.

It actually has nothing to do with these things, but is a day set aside annually to honor those who have given their lives in war to preserve our freedom- lest we forget the great sacrifice they have made. Lest we forget that freedom is not free.

We are asked to devote only one moment of silence at 3pm your time across the nation on Memorial Day. Do not grieve that these brave soldiers have died, but thank the Lord that they lived. A moment of silence is all that is asked. A moment of prayer to thank the Lord for their lives they gave unselfishly.

Memorial Day (or Decoration Day) began way back around Civil War times:
In 1868, after attending a memorial service just a few months earlier, John Logan founded the Memorial Day observance. It was proclaimed a holiday through his General Order no. 11 and entitled Decoration Day and the first one was celebrated on May 30, 1868. A portion of the order reads as follows:
"The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet church-yard in the land."

There were storms predicted tonite, but not directly here..north of us around Slippery Rock. I am just as glad- they were predicting a pretty powerful electrical storm. I like rain, not the heavy mean stuff however.

It has been a very nice day today.. in the mid 80s with the sun shining so brightly. I went to PT and they were able to help me get the 'kink' out of my back once again. It seems to be an ever lasting battle. Well, I came home pain free once again. I gotta learn how to do some of those maneuvers they do on my hip.

Fun news... Annabelle has her first tooth! Can't wait to get a picture of it. Kids are coming here tomorrow for a visit while Mom and Dad run some errands. How fun. I'll only be here an hour or so till I have to go to work, but at least I'll get to see them.

So, I'm off to bed once again.. pray for us..

1 Timothy 2:1-4
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

YET ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY

We got all the way to 85 degrees today here in WPA. Ah... lovely ! I shan't complain- for when it's 85 degrees, one cannot have ice nor snow.. as I said.. lovely!

It has been a long day here for me. I was up at 4:30am and off to work to begin at 8am. It takes me a while to get my body moving, so I get up earlier than most would under the same circumstances. By the time I got home nearly 5pm, I was pretty well shot down. As long as I kept moving at the office, I was fine. I used my trusty TENS almost the entire day.. along with a few bags of ice on my office chair to soothe my back when I did get the chance to sit down.
I took an hour nap when I got home.. supper? Every man for himself. I fell asleep almost immediately and Wendell helped me get up an hour later. I could have slept through the night I think.

Friday morning I will go into the PT office for my therapy. I think I have 2 sessions left after this one. PT is very helpful, but my schedule is very tight and overlaps on some days- 3 sessions of PT/week, 3 gainfully employed days/week at the hospital, and then my 1-2 days in the office/week.. well, as you can see.. I do overlap a bit.
I get up too early and am up too late and then I run out of steam too soon. I need to slow down some.

253 days till I retire.. and I'm looking forward with relish to that time. I won't be sitting around wondering what to do.. I have grandchildren who need their grandma to play with them.. I think I can handle that.

Heading for bed now.. again. I need some well earned sleep through the night. The AC is softly humming in the background, and it's set only on 'fan'. That suits me just fine.
Sweet dreams all..

BIRTHDAY

IT'S ISAAC'S BIRTHDAY TODAY !!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FUNNY VALENTINE

THE PERFECT EVENING

JJ has a post on her blog where you can describe your perfect evening.. I felt relaxed just writing my description. Sorry, you'll have to visit JJ's Blog to see it if you are interested... And while you are there- add your own description of YOUR perfect evening.

SUNNY AND 82 DEGREES

It's really 82 degrees at 7:30pm. Lovely. I find that my new AC works quite well. I hope it gets as many years as the one in the kitchen that lets me bake in the summer.
It's been a nice day.. easy going and pleasant. I had PT at 10am and got out around noon after doing all my exercises and then a few new ones. I enjoy exercise. I'm looking for the day I can just go out and walk for a few miles.

Wendell helped me with supper tonite. He peeled potatoes. My thumbs don't work well at that task, so in order to have supper, he's gotta help a bit. He did a good job. We had German pancakes (Latkes).. and cole slaw..
Delicious and just enough. Dessert was strawberry tin roof shortcake. I made real shortcake for this and then discovered after the berries were ready that I had only a small dollop of Cool Whip. So we improvised with a couple tablespoons of Tin Roof Sundae ice cream (Turkey Hill, of course.. ) It was surprisingly good. The shortcake was perfect. I don't care much for the little sponge cakes at the grocery- to me they taste rather like a sponge and the texture is definitely sponge.

I believe I was still in high school when I made strawberry shortcake for dessert one evening. They came out beautiful.. golden and perfect.... but for one small detail- I had used baking soda instead of baking powder.. and I think perhaps a tablespoon instead of teaspoon... Poor Dad took a big bite and nearly choked on it.. "Are you trying to poison me?", he sputtered.... I couldn't imagine what he was referring to until I tasted the elegant dessert I'd prepared and spit mine out too... Yecchhhh !!!!! I believe we had plain berries that night.. hehehe...
Thankfully I'm a better cook these days.

When Paul went to school at Ohio Diesel, he shared an apartment with his friend Mike. I made Paul a booklet to help them cook their own meals. They did okay except for the rigatoni they made one evening. The sauce was perfect, but you gotta cook the rigatoni before you put it in the sauce.
I wish I knew what happened to that notebook.. it had things like: sour cream is not cream that has gone sour.. and of course by my own experience, baking powder and baking soda are not interchangeable.
There were others too.. a fun book to look back at and have a good laugh.

I'm having my last cup of coffee for the day.. after dinner coffee. It's nothing special.. Folgers .. my favorite all time coffee. I don't drink coffee as a rule after 8pm or I don't sleep well. I love it in the morning to get me going. Speaking of morning.. it will be here soon.. I have to be up and on my toes early tomorrow for the office. I love going there and doing my infusions with the patients. They are like a branch of my own family. They know me well and I know them too..and about their families. It's the most pleasant employment I've ever had.

So... I'm off to get myself ready for bed. Have a wonderful day tomorrow bloggers.. The sun should shine brightly and the temperature should be about 85 degrees.


*

I just realized that it is the 22nd of May.. where did the month go? Summer will be here in no time.. WOW! It seems like just yesterday I was moaning and groaning over the cold, snow and icy roads.. Hot Doggies!
I just checked the weather for today and it's going to be in the 80s.. at least till Thursday.. not sure after that.
I was chilly this morning when I got up, but refused to turn the little heater on at 57 degrees. Funny how that would have felt like a heat wave a couple months ago.
Well, the sun is shining and skies are blue.. it's a beautiful day. I'm gainfully employed today, so won't be enjoying too much of it. I'm ready for the heat- John put the AC in yesterday and waited till I went to work to mow the grass.. Thanks, John- I appreciate your kindness to my grass allergy.

I'm off to get myself organized and ready for work. I believe it's 255 days till retirement. I can hardly wait.
One more time of working holidays and every other weekend.. then peace.. sweet retirement.. The time is moving along- My body is tired of working till midnight and then trying to get up early the next day. It takes a toll. I think on my first day of retirement I'm gonna sleep in.. till at least 8am !! What a treat!
Enough dreaming.. the day will come soon enough. In the mean time, I have gainful employment to deal with and I'm needing to address that.
Have a wonderful day and pray for us...

"Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society,conforming... to our established rules.
That these rules shall be as equal as prudential considerations will admit, will certainly be the aim of our legislatures, general and particular." ---ThomasJefferson

A LOVELY SABBATH AFTERNOON

It was a lovely day today. Church was wonderful.. I was glad to be able to attend. Later today we had the 'kids' over.. and had a pretty fine rest of the evening. Mandy and John supplied pizza and salad.. and the rest was just fun.. including ice cream cones for everyone!
Here is big Paul showing off one of the kid's aprons they made at a Kids Workshop.. they planted chives, basil and parsley.I like to try to take at least one picture a month of the new babies.. they change so very fast. Annabelle is doing just that.. changing. She likes to be up,not laying down.. and can turn from back to tummy and tummy to back.
She's about 14#.. and is just over 4 months old. She's learning whose faces she knows and whose she doesn't recognize.. She can be very sober and serious, and then be giggly and squeal in the next breath.. She smiles and grins when she gets your attention.



I have to look back at the old albums, but I believe Annabelle looks like her dad did at the same age.. must be a Blair thing..???
David loves having his picture taken and will pose anytime with about anyone. He hopped up on Uncle John's lap for this one.. I think he was trying to get down just then to see what his picture looked like.. he does that.

Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs." Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see." The Lord opened his servant's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
2 Kings 6:15-17 NLT


God's strength is greater

The Aramean army was advancing. Enemy horses, troops, and chariots were everywhere, surrounding the city with the express purpose of seizing Elisha. No wonder his servant was petrified when he woke up to the sight of a massive army bearing down on them.
When the servant cried out to his master, Elisha shared how he perceived in spirit the might of the Lord, which was far greater than the forces opposing them. And when Elisha prays for God to open his servant's eyes so that he, too, can see what Elisha has seen, immediately he perceives the horses and chariots of fire protecting them.
The Lord is ready to open our eyes afresh for each new situation and to show us his vast resources. His strength and might are far greater than the enemy's, but we, like the servant, see "through a glass darkly," and we need for God to open our spiritual eyes.

LORD, grant me the light this day in the unseen realm to see how your strength is greater than any foe that threatens to assail me. Open my eyes, Lord! Remind me of your awesome power and unlimited resources, and then let me take courage because you are fighting for me!

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for June 24.

I just realized I hadn't posted a blog entry since Wednesday.. WOW That's the longest I've held my breath since I started this blog a year ago... Amazing !!
It's just been a very very busy week.. no time to call my own.. a bit stressful... and I had a couple bad days that seemed better not to blog and complain. It's really been a wonderful day today. The temperature is moderate.. not too cool, not too warm. Sunny, blue skies.. really a great day.
Wendell and I started out with lunch out.. Old Country Buffet.. we get a discount now and it really is pretty inexpensive. Directly after that we went to Sam's Club and bought a new AC for the bedroom. The old one has just given out. No shame for it.. it's old and though a good one, all machinery comes to an end at some point. So I bought a new one that is big enough to cool the bedrooma and to use in our new place one day.
Not long after arriving at home, JJ called and we decided to go out to dinner for Mother's day- I needed some good ideas.. she said she wanted to go to the Ichaban Hibachi Grill.. It was so very entertaining and the food was so delicious. Thanks JJ !! I just wish Keith could have gone too.


I'm off to bed now.. church tomorrow. Everyone needs to be up and on their feet early enough to go to church..
See you all later..

RAINY DAY

After all the warmth and sunshine of yesterday, we have been sent a lovely rainfall. We need that to get the garden and flowers growing... I don't mind.. not that I could do anything about it anyway..
It's a necessity. I suppose that's why the bad back day yesterday.. but this morning isn't too bad at all. I'm thankful for that. I shall be going into PT today after lunch and then try to get Wendell moving to go shopping at Sam's Club. It sounds like he may take a while to get to the "moving" stage. Rain does the same thing to him as it does to me.. "welcome to my world".
I looked out the door this morning and the first thing that came to mind was that rhyme I remember as a child:

It's raining
It's pouring
The old man is snoring.
Fell out of bed
Bumped his head
And couldn't get up
In the morning..

HAH ! I love it !
How about

Rain Rain Go Away
Come again another day
Little Johnny wants to play..

Do you know any rhymes like that? Maybe I just have a good memory....Nah.. I doubt it.

Well, breakfast needs made and the dishes will again need washed. Gotta run........ Have a super day bloggers, Stay dry... Pray for us.
-

MOWING THE LAWN

I used to love to mow the grass here.. lots of it to mow. We had almost 8 acres of land of which about half was grass. At the trailer years ago, we planted something called Zoisia grass.. not sure of the spelling here. It was a fabulous grass that grows not more than 4-5" total and so thick that weeds can't penetrate. Amazing stuff. It spreads itself over time. We planted a couple hundred 'plugs'.. and then the plugger broke so we had to stop. The plan was to let the grass spread, get new plugs and plant them at our house.. Well, you have to admit, it was a great plan.. we never did finish.
As I was saying, I love to mow grass, but now am not able to do any of it. In fact, when grass is being mowed, I need to be inside where the air is not permeated with the pollens from grass flying in the air. I'm allergic to it. I'm now going to have to see an allergist the end of June, and if I have another uncontrollable attack, steroids would be the choice. My doctor has issued me an epi-pen. It's that bad. Mid April I had a shot of steroids to help me through till I got an appointment with the allergist. We shall see what all I'm allergic to.. I'm really not looking forward to being tested. I stopped by my PCP's office today and he gave me samples of some decongestants to try as well as nasal spray. Everything helps a little.

Today was PT day.. I was there over 2 hours. Ice, TENS, and then the sauna.. exercise and massage. I'm going back tomorrow too.. I only could stay in the sauna for 20 minutes this time.. at 143 degrees. I have to say, I got out sweating like a pig... ugh. .. or is that oink!

It is 86 degrees here in WPA.. a perfectly gorgeous day. The sun is shining so very brightly. It's also election day- primary. Wendell and I stopped on the way home from PT. I voted.. did you???

Gotta get some dishes done.. have a wonderful day..get out and enjoy the sunshine!

What do you serve your mind?

Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8 NLT

No one would allow garbage at his table, but many allow it served into their minds.
Fulton John Sheen

Watch your diet
What would we expect of someone who feeds only on fast food and unhealthy snacks filled with sugar and fats? A healthy body? Long life? No, we would expect physical health to be largely the product of physical intake. Is it any different in the spirit?

Modern culture is saturated with unhealthy spiritual food—from the lusts of the flesh and the eyes, to the human pride of the self-life, to elaborate and deceptive worldviews and philosophies.
Hundreds of television channels, dozens of newspapers and magazines, unlimited cyberspace images, and a number of other media compete for our attention. We let many of them actually win our attention. And much of what we feed on is unhealthy.
In our pursuit of wisdom, our minds often hunger for genuine nutrition.

"You are what you eat" applies not only in the physical world, but also in the spiritual. There's no way to take in junk without becoming junky.

God calls us to watch our diets. It pleases Him when we care for His temple, our bodies.
But it pleases Him much more when we care for our minds.
Our thought life is where His Spirit most prefers to work, shaping uncluttered hearts and imparting wisdom to uncluttered minds. Even so, we do not make a smooth highway for Him into our souls.
Through our entertainment, we let ourselves be bombarded by an incessant PR campaign for the ways of the world.
Find a balance. Watch what goes into your mind. Without hindrance, let His thoughts nourish you.
Adapted from The One Year® Walk with God Devotional by Chris Tiegreen, Tyndale House Publishers (2004), entry for April 4.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO MY SISTER-IN-LAW
CAROL
HAVE A SUPER DAY!!

MOTHERS DAY

A MOTHERS DAY GIFT

I received a Mothers Day Gift today.. WOW!~ I've never seen anything quite like this.. It's all fruits..
Mine was not in a vase, but in a basket .. and mine also had about 50% chocolate dipped strawberries. Oh, YUMMMMMO!!!!!! Not only beautiful, but delicious too!!! Fresh pineapple, melon, grapes and berries..
Thanks guys! That was worth giving birth for.. hehehe .. just kidding.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG......

Another beautiful day has come.. and stayed. It's so wonderful to have such beautiful weather. There was a threat of thunderstorm, but it never showed. What a lovely lovely day !!

Office was good. All IVs were started on one try and all did well. I enjoy this job so much. It's right up my alley as far as skills go. Next week we shall do 2 days because there are too many for Thursday.

Tomorrow is PT day again. Wonder what we'll be doing? It sure does help- at least for a while. The pain isn't nearly as bad as when I began.

The 'happy campers' are at home now.. they arrived in time for some supper and a quick viewinig of their short video of kids bowling.. looks like they had a great time.. and Mandy and John did too- they were full of stories at the supper table. They had one disaster after another, but Mandy says the good things definitely outweighed the bad.. on the way out they got hit by a drunk driver- he clipped their side mirror and smashed it. Mandy called 911 and they chased the driver. Well, you gotta hear the story from them- it was wild for sure.
Lots of good stories to tell for the next months.. and lots of pictures too.

I'm a weary nurse.. I've been up since 4am and need my bed .. Good night bloggers...
Have a super duper day tomorrow.... pray for us.

SAUNA

Well, I did it. I did the infrared sauna. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd imagined. 20 minutes and gradual upswing to 141 degrees before I got out. It made me sweat, but not bad. It was an interesting experience. I was cooled down quickly when I got out- no AC on in the PT office, but it still felt cool. I wouldn't mind doing this again some time, and perhaps they will let me.
We started more exercises today. I thought one was interesting- it had to do with balance. I stood on a semi inflated rubber ball on one foot and had to balance on it. I can do okay on the left, but the right is definitely a problem. I'm not balanced to begin with.. and this was not an easy exercise. They tell me I will be balanced before I end my PT sessions at the end of the month.
All in all, a fun and interesting afternoon. I go back Friday.

It's a lovely day today- 82 degrees and tomorrow should be another. There is a chance of a thunderstorm tonite, but so far, the sky is majorly blue and white fluffy clouds complete the picture.

More later........
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ANOTHER SUPER DAY

I'm enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee. It is such a beautiful day coming right up. It is to be 82 degrees !! WOW!
Almost like summer is starting instead of spring. I guess it is getting close. I have been loving this beautiful weather we have been having these past few days.

Check out JJ's blog for her pictures of her vacation and the trip to NY with Wendell. It would appear they had a super duper time.

Today I am not gainfully employed, but I do have an appointment with the PT and today is my day for the sauna. I've never been in a sauna, so this is a new experience for me. My PT has told me to wear something light and cool. I haven't had time to pull out any summery clothes.. so I'm taking an extra large Tee shirt to change into for the event. 82 degrees should feel like 32 degrees when I get out. I don't know.. I'm just supposing. This sauna is recommended for arthritics, and though my arthritis in my back isn't much, it also should help the spasms I've been experiencing. Actually , I've been having much relief with the course of PT. Ice, TENS, and massage.. just right. She gave me some small exercises to do at home last time.
Right now, my schedule is so tight it squeaks.. there aren't any days soon where I can just be 'off' work or without an appointment. So I deal with it- it's not forever.
Besides, I'm looking to the day when I can go to the park and just walk for pleasure and health- if this is what I have to do to get to that point, I will not complain.

Gotta get myself going,.. pray for us...
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY

There is something exhilirating about putting a kite in the sky.. it's so delightful to me. Today we did just that- finally we were able to fly kites. The SpiderMan one that Daniel picked from the bunch of kites I had here flew the best. It went super high. I put the string on a reel and it unwound itself all the way- 300'. I know it would have gone farther had we had longer string, but then we risk the string breaking or worse than that- low flying planes. But it was a site to see.
I enjoyed having the grandchildren and everyone else over today. I'd planned carefully and everything went smoothly. Lunch was 'on the grill' and everyone offered something. I got chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream and chocolate Klondikes for dessert. Really yummy. I also had fresh sweet strawberries to add color and flavor to the meal.
I'm about ready to hit the sack.. but had to get a snack.. tonite it's raw potato and fresh orange. I wonder sometimes if I'm the only person in the world who thinks raw potatoes are a delicacy? I prefer raw to cooked any day.
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SECURE AS MT ZION

Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects his people, both now and forever.
Psalm 125:1-2 NLT

It is wise to break off the contemplation of enemies and dangers by crying out to God. Prayer is a good interruption of a catalogue of perils.
Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910)

True Security
What does it mean to trust the Lord?
It means looking to him as the source of our security and putting our faith in the grace, love, power, and protection of God when the inevitable pressures of life come.
It means knowing as the psalmist did that the mountains surround Jerusalem, God himself surrounds and shields his people.
When we trust the Lord, we don't have to focus on the wicked and what they are doing or might do to us. We don't have to rehash our own woes. Even though there are problems the size of mountains facing us, we can cry out to the Lord who created the mountains and is able to move them.
As we focus on him and his truth, he will encourage our hearts and help us to claim the great promise of verse 2: The Lord will surround and protect his people, now and forever.

LORD, I put my trust in you today. You are my security and protection, my shield, my fortress, and my hiding place, and I praise you. When enemies surround me and troubles multiply, help me to remember that you are ever faithful and that you surround and protect me, both now and forever.

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for June 7.

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BUSY HERE

I had a good day yesterday.. I cleaned until I ran out of steam and finally went to bed. Woo Hoo!! The really good news is that the kitchen floor is clean, as is the bathroom floor, dishes are all washed, and the house is starting to look like someone cares. I also burned papers yesterday. I'm a little gun-shy since last April's event with the 2 fire companies, but the wind was still and I stood by the fire till it burned down. So the house and the woods are still standing in case anyone had a concern.
Today is Sabbath. I'm planning on going to church this morning and then we will have a picnic later on here. This will be the first one of the year. It's supposed to be in the mid 60s, so it should be okay.. and if not, we'll eat indoors. It is a tad chilly here at 41 degrees, but the sun is shining and the sky is blue, and any seasonal depression that might have lingered from winter is gone.
Wendell and JJ will be home tomorrow. I am hoping that the visit to NY has been refreshing for them. I know that I wish I could have gone also, but I'm enjoying my time by myself too.
Well, my coffee cup is empty, and I need to hit the shower.
Have a super day bloggers.. pray for us and for our family travelers this week.
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KEEPING BUSY

Tomorrow I plan to be busy, but also relax from all the running this week. I'm about exhausted, but am taking the time to blog if nothing else. I got to bed in good time last evening, and am up at 7am- I usually try to get more sleep on hospital work days, but this morning I have to go to physical therapy and then to work, so my day is planned totally for me and I need to get moving. I'll likely be shot down pretty much by the end of my day.

I like to start the day with a leisurely cup of coffee. Today it will not be leisurely, but quick.. and then to the shower and get something to eat so that medications can be taken without causing gastric upsets- though it's a daily thing- gastric upsets. I'd hate to find out what would happen on an empty stomach. AAAACCKK!
I'm really looking forward to a quiet and relaxing weekend. I have housework to do, but this will be after a really good nights sleep, and hopefully I'll be refreshed and ready to go.

I'd better get moving here or I'll be late for everything. Can't do that- I have a reputation to uphold- you know, "early Imms"?
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DO NOT BE AFRAID

The Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you."
Isaiah 43:1-2 NLT

Two Margarets

Margaret MacLachlan and Margaret Wilson, Covenanters in Wigtown, Scotland, were tried for their faith on April 13, 1865, for refusing to take the Oath of Abjuration, which stated that the Church of God is a department of the State. Found guilty of rebellion, attending field meetings, and worshiping in places other than a church, they were ordered to receive their sentences on their knees. When they refused to bow before anyone but God, they were forced down to their knees and then were sentenced to death by drowning.
On May 11, 1685, the two faithful Margarets were tied to posts and staked in the sea as the tide was rising. The older Margaret (MacLachlan) was farther out. They were given many chances to recant their beliefs, but they stood firm and resolute.
Margaret MacLachlan remained silent, her eyes closed throughout the ordeal, communing with Christ until death. As the tide rose eighteen-year-old Margaret Wilson began to sing a Covenanter rendition of Psalm 25:7. Then, she recited from Romans 8: "We are more than conquerors through him that loves us.…"
After the waves washed over her head, the soldiers pulled her out, pleading with her one last time to "pray for the king!" She prayed, but her pray was, "Lord, give him repentance, forgiveness, and salvation, if it be Thy holy will." The angry soldiers threw her back into the water, and she joined Margaret MacLachlan before the throne.
We may never face the rising tide of the sea, but the deep waters of trouble and loss can be just as overwhelming. How do you react when you feel you are about to drown in the rising tide of your own troubles?

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Christian History by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten (Tyndale, 2003), entry for May 11.
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A CHEERFUL SPIRIT

For the poor, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15 NLT

When I think of God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes leap and dance as they leave my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

A happy heart
A person's heart is a major concern of the Lord. God's Word tells us that he doesn't look at the things people look at. We look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart; that is, our "thoughts and intentions" (1 Samuel 16:7).
Today's verse tells us that a happy, or cheerful, heart make life "a continual feast."
How do we obtain—and maintain—this happy heart?
There are many clues throughout the book of Proverbs.
We should not let our hearts be anxious or proud because anxiety and pride are deterrents to a cheerful heart (Proverbs 12:25; 16:5).
Instead, God calls us to have pure hearts and to keep them on the right path (Proverbs 22:11; 23:19).
These are positive steps to achieving a happy heart because when we are being obedient to God's Word and experiencing his smile of approval, our hearts will be lighter, even in difficult times.
The Bibles gives us many other instructions about how to have "healthy" hearts, but a good place to start is to embrace the truth of Proverbs 15:15 and ask God to show us how to develop hearts that are happy, no matter what challenges we are facing.

FATHER, help me to have a happy heart. Remove the anxiety that sometimes weighs my heart down. Keep my heart from growing proud. Instead, give me a pure heart—a heart that is pleasing to you. Help me to hide your Word in my heart so that I can walk in your ways and enjoy life that is a continual feast.

Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for May 17.

UH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH!!!!

TODAY IS OUR SON IN LAW'S BIRTHDAY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH

GOOD INTENTIONS

I really did have good intentions.. I wanted to make sure the birthday greetings were all done for April, but I have a feeling I've missed some, and don't have time right now to recheck the calendar.

It was another glorious day here in WPA. At the moment there is an electrical storm going on, so I have to type fast .... just in case.

I have my first PT appointment scheduled Wednesday afternoon. I'm excited that I got the appointment so quickly. I do hope I can get my back working well enough to begin a walking program. I really need to get back to that.

All is well here.. more tomorrow.