Experimental

Today, Paulette drove ORU to Wooster to eat at the Pine Tree Barn and look around the shop. It was a pleasant trip. One that provided enough time (if there really ever is enough time) to talk about joys that abound. We got a couple of good group pictures that you will see eventually posted here.

I haven't had much time this evening, but what time I did have, I've spent on this picture, which really is a combined photo, made up of two pictures that we took, since we couldn't find anyone to snap a shot here at the gazebo.   That part came out quite well, but this experiment turned out badly, in my estimation. So tomorrow, I will start all over and do something much more simple that shouldn't take anywhere near as long to do.  If you wonder what I'm talking about, please tune in tomorrow night for that layout.

I still have  some time before I go to bed to pray for our nation. I am praying that God does not give us who we deserve for a president, but what we need to set this nation back up as a nation of God, a light on a hill.

Experimental

Today, Paulette drove ORU to Wooster to eat at the Pine Tree Barn and look around the shop. It was a pleasant trip. One that provided enough time (if there really ever is enough time) to talk about joys that abound. We got a couple of good group pictures that you will see eventually posted here.

I haven't had much time this evening, but what time I did have, I've spent on this picture, which really is a combined photo, made up of two pictures that we took, since we couldn't find anyone to snap a shot here at the gazebo.   That part came out quite well, but this experiment turned out badly, in my estimation. So tomorrow, I will start all over and do something much more simple that shouldn't take anywhere near as long to do.  If you wonder what I'm talking about, please tune in tomorrow night for that layout.

I still have  some time before I go to bed to pray for our nation. I am praying that God does not give us who we deserve for a president, but what we need to set this nation back up as a nation of God, a light on a hill.

Autumn Leaves

I had almost forgotten how much fun little ones can have with leaves. Here is Oliver after throwing some in the air. Colorado doesn't have the trees with all the color as we do in Ohio, but they do have Aspens which make the hillsides a bright yellow. It looks as if these could have been from the Aspens, but I don't know for sure.  Oliver was having a good time on the playground equipment and swing as well as in the leaves.

Well, I just looked at the clock and know why I feel like a wilted leaf myself...and I must rise early tomorrow. It has turned into a big day. Hope to have time to post tomorrow night.

In the meantime, don't forget to go to God with your wishes for our country where we can enjoy our freedom he gave us, when he sent his son the die on the cross, and be risen.

Doggie Jealousy?

Since I've been publishing my digital scrapbooks on my computer, I've spent so much time, that I can't find a spare day for manual arts.  I haven't painted or drawn with colored pencils for years. I miss it; but like I said, I just can't find the time. On your bottom left is a picture I did of Ming, a precious, in my sight, dog we had in the nineties, while I was still heavy into colored pencils. Maggie was afraid of that picture for her first three years. She would walk around it, expecting, I think to be chased or worse.  For some reason, I had moved it a week or so ago, to an area nearer my desk.  On the 14th, I happened in on her while she was observing that picture. 

I imagined the attached conversation with Maggie:

"Mommy, who is this dog? 

She is Ming, a dog I had years ago. 

Mommy, she never moves. 

That is because I drew her.

Mommy, if you drew her, your name should be down in this corner.

 I didn’t sign that one.

Mommy, she looks like a princess. Do you love her more than you love me? 

No, Maggie, you are my Tomboy Princess.  

Don't forget your prayers for the election. Also, I have heard of several groups who will be fasting as well as praying for the election on Monday the 7th. One of those groups in Million Moms. If you don't find a  group, I recommend that you do it on your own. You will know that I am doing it as well.

More complications seem to come out daily. Please pray that everything gets to the people, that they open their eyes and pray God will show them the truth.

Oliver and the Chicken

I asked my kids and grandchildren to send me fall photos. I am really in the mood, so I've skipped a lot of pictures that I've needed to use for layouts and jumped right into fall. I love this time of year and the colors are fabulous. Of course not everywhere does one find the gorgeous colors we have in Ohio.  

These pictures of Oliver in Colorado, give me such joy. How sweet it is to see him follow in his big brothers footsteps and learn to love these farmyard fowl.  And what a pretty chicken this is. 

I also have had the chance to hold a chicken myself because of Caleb's love for them. I was very surprised to feel how very soft their feathers are. I had always imagined them stiff...nothing like they really are.  Evidently, Oliver likes that softness as well and he wants to cuddle it.

Changing the subject to Max Lucado's weekday email today. I've quoted him before and I'll do it again. I really appreciate his words. He makes everything so simple. Today, he talked about problems.

Now, no one likes problems, so why am I posting this?  Because his words soften the blow a bit for me. I hope it is helpful for you as well.

Problems Happen

You’ll never have a problem-free life. Ever! This headline will never appear in the paper or on your screen: We Have Only Good News to Report!” You might discover a way to e-mail pizza and become a billionaire. You might be called out of the stands to pinch-hit when your team is down to its final out of the World Series.  You might hit a home run. It’s not likely, but it is possible. But a problem-free, no-hassle, blue-sky existence of smooth sailing? Don’t hold your breath.

But not all people see problems the same way. Some people are overcome by problems. Others overcome problems. Some people are left bitter; others are left better. Some people face their challenges with fear, others with faith. You don’t have a choice about having problems, but you do have a choice about what you do with them. Choose faith, won’t you?

Don't forget to keep up your prayers for this country and the problems we are having these days. Everyone and every country has problems. But some handle them better than others.

Hello Fall

Fall came late to Ohio this year. This picture was taken on October 15 and  one can only see small patches of autumn colors.  I love this picture of Ron taken at a church staff picnic. He was so relaxed and had a natural smile. I wish our picture for the church directory looked this good.

Am saying no more tonight, because  I am so tired, I would likely make a major mistake.

Good night all and keep praying that God works out the election to the benefit of Christians.

Remember, we need you who are Christian to vote.

October Colors

For a number of reasons, I've not been out much to see the fall colors this year and I do love them. It is my favorite time of the year.  

So, Sunday after lunch, I asked Ron to take me for a drive through a local park here at the lakes. I had been there earlier, before leaves had started to tun and imagined it would be quite beautiful by now. He obliged and off we went. It was just a short trip, so it wasn't long before I was disappointed. Oh there were some very pretty  sites there, like the one here, but I was expecting lovely colors all along the road. But for some reason, I think maybe the dense trees had been protected from the harsh cold. Most of way down that road, almost everything was green...even Maple trees.  But there was enough to make me very glad we were there. 

This is a big night here in Ohio. Our Indians baseball team is in the play-offs and they are on a winning streak. Even I, not especially a sports fan, am cheering them on to their  win.

You should have seen the  cool cake a friend brought here tonight to share with friends. It looked and smelled  scrumptious. Terrible time to be on a diet. But I was able to avoid it.

Please continue to pray for the vote.

Pastor Shares Concerning Trump

A pastor, Dalton Douglas, shares some powerful thoughts concerning Donald Trump:  "I've heard too many say lately that we, the American people have no choice in this November election!

Do you really think that God would leave us with no  choice?

Come on people! Where's your faith? He has heard our cries!

In defense of Donald Trump: Try to keep

this in mind,
 

Donald Trump did not steal your money.
 

Donald Trump did not raise your taxes.
 

Donald Trump did not quadruple the price of food.
 

Donald Trump is not starting a race war.
 

Donald Trump did not leave any US soldiers in Benghazi to be slaughtered and desecrated by Muslims.
 

Donald Trump did not send the US Navy to fight for Syrian Al-Qaeda.
 

Donald Trump did not arm ISIS and systematically exterminate Christians throughout the Middle East.
 

Donald Trump did not betray Israel.
 

Donald Trump did not provide financing and technology to Iran's nuclear weapons program.
 

Donald Trump did not give our military secrets to China.
 

Donald Trump did not remove our nuclear missile shield in Poland at the behest of Russia.
 

Donald Trump did not shrivel our military, and betray our veterans.
 

Donald Trump did not cripple our economy.
 

Donald Trump did not increase our debt to 20 trillion dollars.
 

Donald Trump did not ruin our credit, twice.
 

Donald Trump did not double African American unemployment.
 

Donald Trump did not increase welfare to a record level for eight years.
 

Donald Trump did not sign a law making it legal to execute and imprison Americans.
 

Donald Trump did not set free all of terrorists in Guantanamo bay.
 

Donal Trump did not steal your rights, violate US Constitutional law, or commit treason hundreds of times.
 

Yet Trump is being ripped apart in the news, nonstop. Barrack Hussein Obama, Hillary Clinton and the criminals occupying our government, are not.

The media is the Democratic Party; save our culture. Stop listening to them!
 

Please share! 

Oliver Sees a Big Bear

It is a good thing I wasn't there in Colorado that day. I would not have been able to resist this fellow's smile. It was just way to obvious that he thought that  bear was the best thing he had ever seen.

Please continue to pray for the election and for those who have suffered greatly since we were 'given' the government healthcare problem and those who have dealt with hate because of all the devision being stirred up here in the states.

Dear Father, please teach us to love again. Amen

AKAICON Nashville

We love our granddaughter and son-in-law; but I just can't understand this ANIME stuff... It is way too counter-culture for me...at least its counter to my nature. I walk in the light and stay away from the dark as much as possible. I guess I'm just too old to appreciate it.

I do however, enjoy seeing Ashley dress up like ANIME characters ...not all the costumes are as  modest as hers are,  but the ones she wears are modest.

We are blessed by our children and grandchildren.

This evening ur daughter Kim came to see us from North Carolina. She said it has been unseasonably hot, in the 90's, there recently and when she got here it was about 48 degrees. Yes, she brought warm clothing. She grew up here, but has been in the south so long that cold is cold!


Don't be out in the cold on voting day. If you haven't voted already, please go to the polls and vote your conscience...remembering that even though King David was  called a man after God's  own heart, he made sinful decisions when he saw Bathsheba. No one is perfect. Some of the greatest of us have sins that can be found by those who really try.

But then there are those among us who practice sin day after day. Of which would God approve? Again, I tell you...God called David a man after his own heart.

Daughter with Friend's Kitty

Since I'm heading to bed now, I'll leave you with the chance to enjoy this little kitty without a lot of rhetoric from me.

I would like to let you know that a large group of us went to the movies tonight to see an EXCELLENT movie, called I'm Not Ashamed. I can't remember enjoying a movie as much as I did this one. First it was a true story, so that I knew how it ended...so there was no suspense, which I really like. I'm usually trying to figure out the end from the very first scene. Even without that challenge, I loved the movie.   It was about the Columbine shooting in the 90's, but more than that it was especially about one of the students there.  So it didn't play so much into the dark side of the movie, but the  interesting journal of one of the girls.

It Isn't Valentine's Day, But...

Although it had been six months since Valentine Day, the hearts won out for this layout.  Longer story short...Mason went to Chick-fil-A and  got a large piece of chicken shaped like a heart. It impressed he and his mom enough that they got this picture.  

I started working on this post early tonight, since I've been falling apart on the job late at night. Well, after getting started, I got a notice from Words with Friends on FaceBook.  I am not exaggerating. My friend just kept playing over and over. We must have played each of 6 games 4 times, maybe 5. Now here I am exhausted again. I am trying to cut down on games, since they strain my brain this late at night...and at my age, I don't need that.

I am not neglecting my friend and her need to keep her mind active...she said that, not me. But I am neglecting those who read my blog...and you are important to me. I love you all...yes, even if I don't know you. It is commanded by the Lord to love our fellowman as we love ourselves.

Please keep up the prayers. And join the nationwide movement of Christians committed to fighting for faith this election. It is up to us to protect our children and grandchildren.

Determination

Aussie is a hard worker. He works hard at everything he does...even his play.   I don't know if he enjoys his endeavors, or he just likes the results. Perhaps I should ask.

Rubik's Cube competition is one of his big interests. You might want to read the info about that on this layout.

Please continue to pray that all election fraud is found and eliminated.  

Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds were in Cheyenen, WY  on July 27 of this year. John took his family up to see the air show...all with their headgear to protect the ears.  Many cool memories were made and I got these great pictures...not that I took them, since I was in OH. 

Now I see that I left an 'n' out of the word Cheyenne. I'll have to fix that before I publish my next book. But not tonight,  I'm really tired.

Just watched the debate. Wow, I get so uptight listening to it all, but can't walk away. It is fascinating, especially for one who has lived through all these years with Hillary in politics...bad news.

I am praying very hard that God will pull us through this election and bring out the vote, and expose all the fraudulent votes. And I pray he will protect those who go to the polls to vote from those who want to take away our freedom. 

Family Birthday Lunch

Aussie, Mason and Ashley went with their family to Ginza for their birthday lunch. They took these pictures.

OH, my head is swimming tonight. It has been a great day. We enjoyed a boat ride, probably the last of the season with friends and had lunch out on the boat. We over filled our schedule and were not able to make the lasagna we had planned for dinner for out life group.  So, we had our boating friends pick up pizza on the way to life group. It was perfect. Easy and good...well, actually I didn't eat any because of my diet, but It really looked and smelled good.  

Sadly, the conversation at dinner with the group turned to the fix our nation is in. It is a very sad thing to see everything we have fought for over decades be ripped from our hands and placed in the laps of politicians. Please continue  to pray that God turns things around and oversees this election... and that each citizen vote only after examining his/her conscience before God, or at least with the love of fellowship with their fellow American citizens in mind. 

Big.,BIG Pumpkin

I love the story behind this picture. You can read it at the bottom of the layout, but in case you can't enlarge it, here it is. 

Caleb and Oliver still go to Farm Class. It is a wonderful class where they learn about farm animals and their care, farming the land, riding horses, etc.  Yesterday Caleb was there. The teacher/owner told all the children at the end of their time to grab a pumpkin to take with them...and I suppose, motioned over to the bins loaded with small pumpkins. As you can see, the fellow behind Caleb was so happy to dart there and get his pumpkin. Well that's what everyone did, except for Caleb. He was thinking big. He ran straight to the largest one and staked out his claim. The teacher was so amused that she let him take that pumpkin home...all 60 pounds of it.

I've had a very successful day, in my book. First my last book was delivered to my door this morning.
Then, I had a free day! I was able to make 8 layouts today. Generally, I am lucky if I get more than one completed.  With those 8, I now have nearly 1/7 of my next book ready to go. I think My Publisher relies on me to keep them in business.

It is a worthwhile hobby. And I'm so glad to do it. It is productive and keeps my mind off the mess we live in these days with all the division in this, our once United States.

Please continue to pray for God to lead us to vote for the right persons for president as well as congress.  God will lead us, if we let him. He is knocking at the doors of our hearts. Let him inside.

Falls Blessings

I didn't notice this poster as I entered church this morning. I guess there were people between it and me. However, it was the first thing  I saw as I came out after service. I asked Ron to take a selfie of us, but we were  blessed again by a friend who consented to take a picture of us. Thank you, Randy.

Our sermon today was about respecting authority even though we didn't  appreciate what they did, because God had put them there and told us to respect them.  That was a good point, but I wish he had continued  to say  that God puts them in office to either bless us or if we need  it, to punish us. 

Since that is true, I believe we should vote for one who  would  most closely  adhere to the word of God.  

I'm still calling on all of us to pray that we will turn from our wicked ways and keep within the boundaries that Goad has given  us, so that our leader will protect our  country and make it great in his sight again.  And VOTE your conscience.  Yes, don't listen to the drivel on TV. If you have read the Bible, you know what is right and what is wrong, unless you've been led by unscrupulous teachers.

Birthday for Three

A fourteenth birthday is pretty cool to celebrate, but to celebrate three at the same time is even more interesting. Every year they pull out their clocks and have pictures taken at the time they were born. So glad Chelle thought of that.  Of course every year if not more often, Aussie has to be reminded that he is the youngest. Maybe that is why he works so hard to prove himself.  

Actually, all three were born within four minutes. Yep. I was there...4 minutes.  Ashley at 10:34, then Mason at 10:35 and Aussie at 10:38.

I'm proud to see them grow and develop into their own persons, but I do miss the little ones, who were so very cute.

Now one of the most entertaining things about them is their sense of humor. Again, each one is a little different, but all three are very funny.  It is the wisecracks that endear me to them. How clever they are!

Sorry I didn't get this layout done and posted sooner. The day the pictures were taken was July 27, 2016.  I'm behind as usual. 

Don't understand why (LOL) but I've been spending an inordinate amount of time on email and FaceBook. It could be an addiction to the computer, but its more likely an addiction to wanting a better life for my children and grandchildren.

 I remember when times were good. Americans were united and loving, for the most part. There have always been crooks, but not so many as now and usually the politicians were not the worst of the worst. When they broke the law, they were generally impeached, etc. Not now. Dishonesty and disregard for the law and other people's rights (given to us by God) is rampant in Washington, and thus has spread throughout the land. 

I ask you again to pray that people will repent, change their ways and that God will see fit to save our country before it folds under its debt and is overcome by god's enemies. Pray, then go vote. Don't vote for killing babies. Don't vote for keeping God out of our society. If you pray and ask God and then listen...I think you will know for which candidate to vote. Remember, no one is perfect, but some are truly corrupt and have been in government for a long time. Remember the Bible verse that tells you to look at a person's fruit to know what is in their hearts.  Don't just stay home. We need you to vote.

Journey

Our granddaughter, Lauren is gung ho with Cross Fit. She has even taken a second job of sorts as an instructor. She looks like a fragile female if her muscles are covered. But she is definitely strong like an ox. Actually I don't know if that is accurate, but she is certainly very strong! 

Seeing her lift weights is amazing! She has been going at it for several years now. Not too long ago, her boyfriend, Pat, joined her. I doubt he puts in as much time as she does, but it is good to see them enjoying it together.

I know that is looks like laziness on my part that I put her FaceBook post as the journaling; but I really thing those FaceBook posts are a sign of the times and will be of interest as the years go by and something much newer takes its place. 

Don't ask me what that might replacement might be. If I knew, I'd be working on making it happen instead of making scrapbooks.

Reading Glasses

She gets in the car, looks in the mirror at her new purchase. They are her first dime store reading glasses. She takes a selfie. Such a simple act, but she didn't know that I would get such a kick out of seeing this photo...and that I would have so much fun making a layout.  Thank you, Chelle for the pic.

I just sent another  book to My Publisher tonight. I give them quite a lot of business, usually making four books a year. I need to finish another by the end of December. I'm well on my way, but really need more time to work on them. 

Politics have kept me quite sidetracked from my art work. I must get 200 emails a day of a political slant. But I believe in knowing how I should vote. I want to be assured that I am doing the right thing for God and my country. There are lots of issues this year and some candidates with whom I'm not very happy. I've had to base my votes on the issues, more than character.  Not completely though. One presidential candidate is at least not a criminal who belongs behind bars. 

I am voting for the things I believe our Father in heaven approves. From reading the Bible, I know he does not approve of killing innocent babies. That is a very important issue. 

Unlike the usually election. There are very distinct differences this time.  One will keep things as they are with stagnant  growth, great debt,  and joblessness, division among the people..and unsafe streets. The other will change things for the better, going the opposite direction with plans to fix all the problems that subjugate and divide us.

All the while, I am still praying that God's will be done and we change our wicked ways and strive to do his will, so that he will heal our land.

Angels in Disguise

I think I may have to start doing a blog with no commentary; because by the time I get around to posting, I'm completely empty headed. And rather than throw all that gibberish at you all, I should just post a layout, PERIOD.  

Tonight I need to get to bed early enough to get up for church in the morning, and like the rest of the people in this world, I really need to be awake for the sermon. Sinners, we are...all of us. We need to meet together to help each other with our problems...so

This is Julia. I love the quote I found online. Angels are often disguised as daughters. It is true, for sure.

As Red Skelton used to say, Good Night and God Bless.