Largest Steam Locomotive

Caleb was  quite impressed by this, one of eight of the largest surviving steam locomotives in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Mister Big

Caleb did his weekly bicycle race. I'll tell more about it later.

Will We Be Grilling?

Waiting for the egg to hatch before we use the grill.

It's a Pirate's Sand Box

It's a Pirate's sand box and the pirate is Caleb. He helped his daddy build this sandbox about three weeks ago. It was a weekend project that made this little boy pretty happy. 

You do realize a little dirt never hurt, especially if it is sand.

Now this is the kind of dirt we all want to avoid...oil spills. Of course since the liberals in command   won't okay the Keystone Pipeline, we not only will continue to pay extremely high prices for our fuel, but there will most likely be more oil spills.  

What can we do...vote them out!  And of course pray that God will see fit to save our country for those of us who honor Him.

Commercial...Free

Not only is this a commercial free site, but I have a layout of our granddaughter's first commercial...and it's  FREE.  

It is a Sheetz commercial. They are combination gas stations/fast food places in several states...Ohio being one. She is is North Carolina and they have these stations as well.

It was a humorous little bit. Since I had no stills, I stopped the video periodically to get these pictures. It will help us remember this take.

Whatever ones job, he or she  should take it seriously these days, because, seriously, there are fewer and fewer jobs. The economy just can't support them. So janitors, teachers, actors, representatives...whatever the job, lets do our very best. 

That is why this congressman is asking questions. This one might get your attention. It certainly did mine.

Rep. Bridenstine: Why Does USDA Need Submachine Guns?  

To find the answer, check here :

In Full Bloom

This peony tree was originally Ron's grandmother's.  I never saw it when she had it, but I know that Ron's mother had it next, then our oldest daughter. When Kim moved to Florida, she gave it to us. It loves this location and has been more beautiful each year.  I took these pictures this morning.

The flowers are so very lovely and fragrant.  No wonder the peony is my favorite flower.

The regular peonies are not far behind. They have large buds about to burst. Perhaps they will be open for the Memorial Day celebration on Monday.

Please pray for those who have served and those who are serving our nation. May God protect out interests as He once did when we were a more godly nation.

I received this story in my inbox  today and wish to share it with you. It is heart warming.

This story is confirmed in Elmer Bendiner's book, "The Fall of Fortresses."

*Sometimes, it's not really just luck.*

Elmer Bendiner was a navigator in a B-17 during WW II.  He tells this story of a World War II bombing run over Kassel, Germany, and the unexpected result of a direct hit on their gas tanks.  "Our B-17, the Tondelayo, was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns.   That was not unusual, but on this particular occasion our gas tanks were hit.

 

Later, as I reflected on the miracle of a 20 millimeter shell piercing the fuel tank without touching off an explosion, our pilot, Bohn Fawkes, told me it was not quite that simple.   "On the morning following the raid, Bohn had gone down to ask our crew chief for that shell as a souvenir of unbelievable luck.

 

The crew chief told Bohn that not just one shell but 11 had been found in the gas tanks.  11 unexploded shells where only one was sufficient to blast us out of the sky.   It was as if the sea had been parted for us.   A near-miracle, I thought.

 

Even after 35 years, so awesome an event leaves me shaken, especially after I heard the rest of the story from Bohn.

 

"He was told that the shells had been sent to the armorers to be defused.   The armorers told him that Intelligence had picked them up.   They could not say why at the time, but Bohn eventually sought out the answer.   "Apparently when the armorers opened each of those shells, they found no explosive charge. They were as clean as a whistle and just as harmless.

 

Empty?  Not all of them!   One contained a carefully rolled piece of paper.   On it was a scrawl in Czech.   The Intelligence people scoured our base for a man who could read Czech.   Eventually they found one to decipher the note.   It set us marveling.   Translated, the note read:

*"This is all we can do for you now...

Using Jewish slave labor is never a good idea."

 

 

 

 

First Things First

First Things First:Urgent Letter from Dr. Ben Carson

Dear Reader,

In February 2013, I gave a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. Standing a few feet from President Obama, I warned my fellow citizens of the dangers facing our country and called for a return to the principles that made America great.

Many Americans heard and responded, but our nation’s decline has continued.

Today the danger is greater than ever before, and I have never shared a more urgent message than I do now.

Our growing debt and deteriorating morals have driven us far from the founders’ intent. We’ve made very little progress in basic education.

Obamacare threatens our health, liberty, and financial future.

Media elitism and political correctness are out of control.

Worst of all, we seem to have lost our ability to discuss important issues calmly and respectfully regardless of party affiliation or other differences.

As a doctor rather than a politician, I care about what works, not whether someone has an (R) or a (D) after his or her name.

We have to come together to solve our problems.

Knowing that the future of my grandchildren is in jeopardy because of reckless spending, godless government, and mean-spirited attempts to silence critics left me no choice but to write this book.

I have endeavored to propose a road out of our decline, appealing to every American’s decency and common sense.

If each of us sits back and expects someone else to take action, it will soon be too late.

But with your help, I firmly believe that America may once again be “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Sincerely,

Ben Carson 

In case you skipped down to see what I've written,  this is a quote: "As a doctor rather than a politician, I care about what works, not whether someone has an (R) or a (D) after his or her name. We have to come together to solve out problems."  And I say, Amen. We have been divided too long and a house divided against itself will fall. I am reading all that I can find about this man. I really don't have much time to read books. However, I will make an exception for his. I suggest we all do.

In the meantime, I will continue  to make layouts for our scrapbooks.  
Our grandson Oliver as such lovely big eyes.

National Prayer Breakfast

Here is our granddaughter, Lauren with a couple of friends after the Stateline Loop 5k in her home state of Pennsylvania.  

She puts her all into her endeavors.  A top student, she finished college in less than 4 full years. Healthcare was her chosen field.  At one time we thought she may become a doctor. I'm telling you that just so I can introduce to you Dr Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon.

Are you familiar with the National Prayer Breakfast?  Well this gentleman,  Dr. Ben Carson, spoke there in February of this year. Since then I've learned a lot about this man. I would be happy to vote for him, if he were to run for president.

I've learned there is a movement to draft him.  I'm sure I will be posting more about him, but for  right now, I'd like you to listen to him at the National Prayer Breakfast. here

First Easter Basket

Oliver's eyes nearly popped out when he saw his Easter Basket. The first thing to go into his mouth was a teether...how appropriate for a fellow  four months out of the womb and big time into teething.

While Oliver is reaching for tethers, we are yearning for a good cut of beef.

I remember  when George Bush was president and the liberals were accusing that loving man of wanting seniors to eat  dog food. Well I went to the grocery store today. Ron said he would like to grill steaks tonight. The closest I got to buying good steaks was  when I took pictures of the prices.

Then I left Giant Eagle empty handed. This store chain came to our area and is driving up the prices, even higher than the other stores must in order to stay in business in this economy. 

This part of Ohio had been one of the very cheapest places to eat well in the nation.  

I went  to a nice store down the street from me and bought one thin Delmonico steak and shared it with Ron.  The price was still high, even though it was a special price for those who shop at Buhlers. 

If our president and his Democratic congress don't change their ways, we will be fortunate if we are able to afford dog food by the end of his term in office. 

Of course those liberals are still playing the blame game. They are saying that the crops were bad, etc. and that is the reason for the high prices. The sad thing is there are so many uneducated and under educated people who fall for their games.  Oh, and I forgot to add those who have degrees and should know better, but have been indoctrinated.

Only God can save us now.

FoCo Bike Challenge

Caleb's Bike Races have started up again and he is very happy about it. As you can see, he is number 256. He seems so small with all the other children. There is a wide age span. But he doesn't seem to care.

In case you might wonder. FoCo stands for Fort Collins. 

I have missed posting quite a few days  already this month. Not sure why except for the last three. We went to Cleveland to see Jersey Boys on Thursday evening. The play was quite entertaining, but even more memorable was the way Cleveland had blossomed since we had been there the last time.  In front of Playhouse Square is a huge chandelier at the intersection. It was quite impressive over night. I would like  to make a layout one of these days, so I won't show you pictures. It was quite pretty. 

Friday and Saturday I was in the hospital due to a stress test I should not have had, which shocked my heart so that is started beating over 200 times a minute. I certainly don't want anything like that to happen to me again. I was kept overnight at the hospital just in case.  It doesn make me feel better though to know that my heart could survive that with no noticeable damage...what little they saw in the blood dissipated over night and left me fine.

I walked into the hospital healthy, yet could have easily died there. Makes one think. Better to be ready for that  day...ready  to go to the Savior...just in case.

One Step Enough for Me

You know the grass is greener... Maggie wants to be outside all the time, but because we have no fence, she can only go when we are able to go with her.  But Chipper, because many who come here, including me, are allergic to cats, must stay out when the weather is good and in her basement hideaway the rest of the time. She wants to come indoors. We can't please either one of them. It is pathetic to see them staring at each other through the door, each one of them thinking, one step is enough for me. It will get me to where I want to go.  And each one wondering why the other one gets to do what she wants.

Are we ever satisfied with our life situations? Hardly. One can hear people griping all the time about what just isn't fair.  LIFE IS NOT FAIR!  Or, did you ever think of it this way? "Everything is fair to someone." That is what Andy Stanley says.

Not only do we want everything to be fair, but we want to know what is going to happen. We fear that which we do not know...so we worry day after day.

Max Lucado writes a short piece each day. This one made me stop and think a while. I will try to keep this in mind, until I can live it:

One Step Enough for Me

Arthur Hays Sulzberger was the publisher of the New York Times during the second World War. Because of the world conflict, he found it almost impossible to sleep. He was never able to get worries from his mind until he adopted as his motto these five words:  “One step enough for me” . . .taken from the old hymn, “Lead Kindly Light.”

“Lead, kindly Light. . .
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.”

God isn’t going to let you see the distant scene either. So you might as well quit looking for it. He promises a lamp to our feet, not a crystal ball into the future. We don’t need to know what will happen tomorrow. We only need to know He leads us.  As Hebrews 4:16 promises, “we will find grace to help us when we need it.”

Max Lucado

Old pictures...

My cousin no longer had pictures of her mother and asked if I did. So the night before last and yesterday I searched through some of my mother's old photos to find pictures of my aunt. I was happy to find a few for her and told her I would continue looking.

While on that quest, I found a picture I do not remember ever having seen before. I am thankful that someone had labeled it on the back; for I would not have known who these two people were.

We have a little towheaded grandson, Caleb, whom you have seen here,. If you've been here long at all, you probably know him well.  Because of him, I looked carefully at this long neglected photo. I copied it and enlarged it in Photoshop, so I could see if the little one looked like Caleb. He did somewhat, but not that much. But then we noticed that the older fellow looked very, very much like our son John.

I was reminded of a picture of John taken this December and examined the likeness. It almost looked like John had seen this picture and was trying to look like this man.

By the way. The little boy in the picture was my father, the man, my grandfather. The picture was taken in 1920. If you look closely, you can see they were out on the range and behind them to your right was a cowboy on his horse.  That is a real cowboy. They were Texans.

Reminds me of the good old westerns we watched when I was a girl.  Whatever happened to good, clean entertainment?

In Friday's blog I wrote about  the movies available to see today. I mentioned that I cannot watch them. The plan is to desensitize us, which is one step closer to bringing Satan up close and personal into our lives.

The next day, I read about a new movie that has been made for people like me...AH, I'm not alone. The movie is called Mom's Night Out.  You can watch the trailer here. I can hardly wait to see it.

Future President

This shirt tickles me. I haven't asked where he got it, but I do remember saying that his daddy should be president.  

Let's see, the year should be 2045  when he is elected. You see, I go straight from wearing the shirt to being elected. Forget about the run.. He won't need to do that. He'll be so cute...will he still be at 35?

Anyway, I would expect he'd be elected just on his platform alone. Back to the Land. 

He sure enjoys his time on the farm. He loves animals and he is not afraid to dig in and get dirty. He'll get the job done.

Think I'll show you more reasons that I'm super glad to be  a grandmother today.  Our granddaughter, Leah is in a commercial...no her parents are not like it says, but I like it anyway. You can see it here.

Aussie got his best time yet solving the 6x6x6!

I could go on and on. I don't mean to leave anyone out tonight, but I'll have to brag on the rest another night. They are all very special to me.

Happy Mother's Day to all, especially the ones who are responsible for my grandchildren.

1956

It was a good year. It was a very good year. I was 13. I was sheltered by the world, especially my neighborhood, church and family.

Not so in 2014. It is impossible to shelter a child these days.Profanity is yelled on the streets, on the radio and TV, even by clerks serving in stores.  One is safe from that only in church, a quiet closet (if one could find one without a TV, radio, or telephone reception, alone in the deepest woods...you get the picture.

Tonight we had company and sat down to watch a movie with an innocent sounding plot. It was so filled with cursing that I had to excuse myself. Others say that they hear it everywhere and can no longer be shocked. I'm sorry, but it 'offends' me. Now, if I were a liberal I would just demand that no one use those words. But I do believe in freedom, so I'm left with the choice of protecting myself from that type on thing. As I explained to my friends tonight. I don't want to be in a nursing home when I am old and losing my self control and start to swear like only a sailor did once upon a time. So I try to keep my ears away from such talking.

How about you? Have you been desensitized? What do your children hear each day?

Tradition

Here in the US, we generally color eggs for Easter. The next step is to have an Easter egg hunt. Over the years it has become a search for much more than just easter eggs. However it is still generally for the little children who search around the grounds for little treasures as well as eggs.  Many of the eggs are plastic and hollow, so that varying candies can be hidden inside for the little tykes to find.

Some of us think that decorating the eggs is the best part. Caleb is having great fun.

While some celebrate, others are suffering. It has always been and will always be that way... until that glorious day when Jesus comes back for the faithful, to take them home to live in a true utopia with him and his father.

Until that time, we must find the comfort  that he has promised us.   Lamentations 3:22-23: "because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness."

Seek peace of mind in times of trouble. Philippians 4:7  "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Look Up

We all have the same number of hours in a day, but those who did not sit in front of a TV can get so much more done in 24 hours. Lauren chooses to spend some time each week at Cross Fit. In my book, it sure is better than sitting in a chair surfing FaceBook or playing computer games. There is some personal social contact  with others that a person misses when his or her nose is in a devise.

Watch this and perhaps you will understand where I'm going  here.

Who Knew?

This has been a trying day. Lots going on with people I know and love. 

Was so glad to take my mind off trials and watch 24 tonight. It was the episode that was broadcast last night. We watched it quite late after Life Group. 

I'm comforted that God planned that even though we would have hard tests, bad times, he would take care of us and even help us carry our burdens. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.  God is always there for us, covering us with his wing. Shielding us from that which would be too much for us to handle.  He makes sure  there is some joy in our lives when we love Him and keep his commandments.

Knowing that I'll soon be seeing this little fellow and his big brother is keeping me going these days.

We are so thankful for their sweet smiles.

Impatiently Waiting

Maggie has routine that she likes to keep in the mornings. She isn't hungry when she first rises. She is much like me, it takes her a while. Neither of us drink coffee. I suppose that is our problem. Anyway the morning this was taken, she was laying in her accustomed spot on the foot stool, when her daddy came home from the "Y" much earlier than usual. She heard a noise, she looked toward the door. When she was sure it was the garage door opening, she jumped down and ran to the door. However, Ron was fiddling in the garage, gathering tools for a job. She was walking the floor waiting for him.

You could see in her eyes the questions as she waited very impatiently.

I don't think she got the trait from me, but I'm not a patient person. I expect that people will be punctual. I expect that a person will do what he/she knows to be right. I just expect too much out of a society of 'me firsts'.  I am impatient, knowing that our nation needs to stop spending money it doesn't have and won't be able to have for generations.

It is voting Day tomorrow. Please don't stay home. It is so important to show you stripes this election.

Just Us Girls

Chelle went with some of her friends to a place called  Dabble Studio where they first made a quiche. While it was in the over, each 'girl' painted her own interpretation of a city scape. It was a unique place, at least I had never heard of anything like it before. The girls had a good time.

The following Bible passage struck me differently this time I read it.   

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of 2 Chronicles 7

I had always thought it would take the majority of our country to turn back to God before he would save us.  However, this time the phrase, "if my people, who are called by my name turn back to God" stood out to me. His people who are called by his name would be the Christians. So, if the Christians in this nation would only take a look at themselves and discover that they have strayed from the word of God, and return to obedience to His word, He would save our nation.

That's is more likely that having those who are intrenched in sin and who hate God or do not even believe in Him, turning completely around and following our Lord, Jesus.

We as Christians should stop everything right now and access our lives to determine if perhaps we should  change our ways before it is too late to save our nation.

i

Fruits of the Spirit

I was glad to learn a new digital technique, using the patten stamp and blending. This was the first layout on which I used the method.

It makes me feel good to continue to learn new things as I work with Photoshop Elements.  I do wonder sometimes though how bad my memory would be if I didn't make an effort to keep it in high gear.

Tonight by making my last choice , self-control,  I understand that I am a spiritual being...I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Jesus. I choose self-control.

My list of choices :

LOVE    JOY    PEACE   PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS    FAITHFULNESS    GENTLENESS    and SELF CONTROL.

These are called the fruits of the Spirit in  Galatians 5:21-23.

iPhone?

It was Easter morning. I was fixing breakfast and listening to the story of the empty tomb. I didn't turn it on. I don't do that, but it was on and I was listening intently. Then Ron laughed! He  did! I was aghast. "How  can you laugh at that, Ron? What is wrong with you?"  Well, this is one of the ways we are the total opposite. Not that he would laugh at something so serious, but that he can read something while something else is playing loudly.  Supposedly he is ADD...has always been. His brother will say to him, Earth to Ron, to get his attention when he is so far away mentally that his eyes glaze over.  On the other hand, if someone is talking, if music it playing...no matter what, I have to listen. I can't ignore sounds.  Therefore I have to have total quiet to read.

So why is it, he is ADD and I'm not? I don't get it. He can cut out all in order to complete a project. I have to have quiet. It must be that we are both ADD, just in different ways.

If  I were to go to school today, I would be totally out of it. I would fail. I can understand why some have so much trouble in school. The classrooms  that I've seen lately are totally a mess. There is so much going on at once that a person who had trouble focusing would not be able  to get anything done. I'm glad I went to school when I did . While I did quite well, today, I would be lost.

Back to Sunday morning. Ron was reading email. That is why he laughed. He had completely tuned out the Easter story on his iPad. 

This type of thing drives me crazy. Ron will turn on the TV when he enters the room, but rarely ever turns it off. I don't know how to turn on the TV. I have no need to do so. But I quickly learn how to turn off TVs, iPads, computers, radios, stereos, etc. 

Please give me some peace and quiet, so that I can think.

Tonight I'm choosing gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it only be in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only to myself. I  choose to be gentle.

LOVE    JOY    PEACE    PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS    FAITHFULNESS    GENTLENESS.

pipSquigz

Oliver starts early with his Fat Brain toys. I love this bright eyed boy and can hardly wait to give him a big hug.

My writing may be disjointed this evening; but I have several thoughts,  things  that have crossed my path recently, that I'd like to share.

Number 1 is an Old Chinese Proverb that arrived with my Wordles puzzle this morning...

"If we don't change our direction, we're likely to end up where we're headed."   Now that is a scary thought after looking around and seeing which way the wind is blowing right now. It seems that no matter what good people do, other louder and more obstinate people jump up and do two things to take us back in the opposite direction.

We had Ladies' Bible Class this morning and our much esteemed leader, Paulette, taught us another lesson on joy...being joyful in the midst of whatever is happening in one's life.   This one had to do with what complaining does to ones joy and the joy  of those around us. She showed us a video of a man who had a collar around his neck, similar to a dog's collar associated with an electric fence. Whenever the poor man would make the slightest complaint, he would get shocked. You can imagine how many times he got shocked in less than 10 minutes..  It was being used to teach us how often we complain. The Bible verses also let us know that our father God in heaven was very displeased with those who complained in Bible days. Hence we can expect the same today.

We have an assignment of writing something for which we are grateful both morning and night for a week.  I am truly blessed that I can think of many things for which I am thankful.  I am trying my best to not complain, but to be grateful.

I've been writing about choices one can make. Tonight  I'm thinking of the choice to be faithful.

Today, actually tomorrow, I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates will not question my word. My husband will not question my love and my children will never fear that  I will stop caring for them.

I choose faithfulness.

    LOVE    JOY    PEACE    PATIENCE    KINDNESS    GOODNESS    FAITHFULNESS