Merry Christmas!

Well it seems as if everyone has something to say about their Christmas this year and I am not one to be left out. This Christmas was, not surprisingly, warm - ish. Here in the desert things don't tend to get very cool, a light jacket has served all my needs this season. We went with my grandparent to their church a few miles down the road. They had a Christmas program with songs and scripture readings. After it was over I just couldn't keep my hands off of the piano any longer, (I hadn't played for about two weeks) and played... not quite to my hearts content, for we soon left for home.

Though I am not so fond of the materialistic side of Christmas I did enjoy the presents. :)

I had no idea we would receive so many gifts but the first time I walked into the house I couldn't help but notice them. There's no stopping my grandmother. :) The presents inside of the boots are our traditional gifts from my parents, our very own carton of eggnog. Dad got one too, dairy free even, Silk Nog is what it's called. You should have seen his face when he saw it. :)

Hidden Treasures

This is where I'm spending my time right now. Except I'm in the city part of it so I don't see all of this anymore. This was on a stop off of the highway.

I'm sitting here at my grandpa's house out in the desert, (it's quite amazing he has a front yard... with green grass. I have seen so many yards of pebbles lately.) and just enjoying life. I'm happy to see my older brother again, he's got a job out here at Chick-fi-la I am really glad about that. My little brother is so cute! He is going to start walking soon. *grins*

Skirts Vs. Pants

NOTE: Since writing this post back in 2011 many things have changed in my life. I no longer wear only, or even mostly skirts. I still have the same convictions about being a woman, and being proud, and standing out in the world as a Christian but the way in which I live out these convictions have changed.

Taken earlier this summer, my sister and I having fun in our new dresses.

Well It's been decided, I am officially a skirt/dress girl. I've decided to wear (almost) only skirts and dresses. Probably the first thing you may think of is "She thinks it's immodest to wear pants." or something along those lines. Well that's not exactly it. I came about this decision gradually over a course of years.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

One for each day of the month:

1. First and foremost I am most thankful for the new life God has given me and the assuence I will see him in Heaven some day.

2. Although I miss him, I am so grateful that my Grandpa is in Heaven where there are no more tears, sickness, and no more pain; not in the other place, Hell, in eternal torment.

3. I am amazed at how many things God has given me.

4. I love my life, my family, my dog, my friends.

5. I wish I could say I thank God every day, but I truthfully I don't.

Thoughts Before and After the Funeral

The last time I saw Grandpa alive on this earth. Going home to Alabama from his summer visiting us out here in the country.

Howard E. -------, August 28, 1927- November 14, 2011



All through out the first day that I had heard that Grandpa had died I thought there was something wrong with me. As if I was somehow a hypocrite and wrong to not be crying and going into a black hole of despair as I've always seen in movies and read in books. Isn't that the way you are supposed to grieve? Despite the fact that Dad told us, and has told in the past, that there is no one proper way to grieve, and that

Noveber 14, 2011

Howard E. ------, August 28, 1927 – November 14, 2011

Yesterday I woke either complaining about being tired, or saying good morning, I'm not sure which maybe the two in the same breath. Today I wake to heart rending sobs by the part of my Dad and the first thing out of my mouth is, "Grandpa died."

Help is Needed, A Great 4-H Project Idea, Dogs!

        As many of you know our family has been planning on taking a road trip to visit family this winter, mainly in the west. We were planning on leaving this week anyways but this morning Dad got a call and was told his father had died. (I will try to get a post solely on that later) We need to get down there quickly and these dogs are holding us up. You could keep them temporarily or permanently.

        Kids could take on the challenge of caring for and/or training a dog. You could use it as a practise run to see if your children are responsible enough for a dog yet.

The Ideal World Clinic

        

     Okay so I know I've been real quiet around here I've got a lot on my plate right now! Among other things tomorrow mine and Savannah's Girl Scout troop is having an event. It's called the Ideal World Clinic. Now it's the "Take Action Project" that goes with the book we were going through "GirlTopia" I really didn't like the book because of all the things they had in it. Buddha, Wicca, femenistic propaganda, things like that. (Our girl scout troop did a lot of "tweaking" and filtering, we're all Christians.) So anyways at the end we're supposed to take action and make an impact in the community, so this is what we came up with.

Working At Love

Besides being an emotion love is also an action.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8

First Paul tells you how important love is.
"1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."

Psalm 18

The other day I was drifting in and out of sleep in the morning. I heard the house wake up, I was behind time but then I was thouroughly awakened by an explosive peal of thunder. My first cohearant thought besides "Wow!" I must admit, was of the computer. I got up and un-plugged it then it flahed upon me, "Wow isn't God amazing? I fealt it shake!" So then I wanted to find a Bible passage that expressed that, so here it is.

Matthew 14:22-33

Okay I couldn't figure how to turn this into a real, put together, thought out post, so I will just do it this way...

This is directly after Jesus fed the five thousand from the five loaves and two fish.

"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves:

Pruning Trees

There is a land which consists entirely of one large garden within which is one Mansion. The garden is vast and goes far beyond what the eye can see. Some parts of this garden are wilderness and other parts are gorgeous, some parts are humble but beautiful in their own quiet way. The garden reflects the interests and work of the gardeners. Each gardener is given certain plants to care for by the Master Gardner. Some of the gardeners do a nice jobs, others are no good at all, and some are in between. This story is about a gardener named Richard who lived in a fairly nice section of the garden near the Mansion.

"I Have Learned To Be Content"

"A body can't have everything."

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned to be both full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

What Is In A Babys Eyes?

For my baby brother pictured above.

What is in a babys eyes?

Innocense, happiness

dear precious heart may it always be so

Preparing our Sons and Daughters for Marriage

Our church is sponsoring a marriage and family reformation conference. This year it is titled "Preparing our Sons and Daughters for Marriage" We held one last year, and Pisgah Baptist Church let us use their building. I had a fun time last time and even got to play on a big grand piano! We had the first day just the teaching and food and the second day we met in the morning and finished off the previous days topic had lunch then headed over to the Van Till Farm and Winery for the rest of the evening. There were games and dinner cooked right in the wood fired oven outside on the patio, we had a bonfire in the evening and smores. It was a lot of fun. Pastor James McDonald (read his blog here)and his wife  Stacy were the speakers for last year and are coming for this event also.  This year it will be much the same. For a better idea of what is really happening click here to read the article on our church website 

~I am sorry this is so sloppily written, it is not composed well at all.~

Persuasions

   

   "There was only one Road in that region, but like all roads, it ran in two directions. In one direction, it ran eastwards up a gradual incline, and ended at the City. In the other, the end of the road was the Abyss.

      In some places, the two destinations were obvious;

All For God... Really? All of It?

     Lately I've been thinking about how my life honors God. Am I really giving it all to him? Am I doing all in my power to give a true and real reflection of Him? Well while considering this I ran across two things that I have placed a higher priority on than God. Music and the clothes I wear. Let's talk about this in the order they came to me.

Gossip

What did I learn these past two weeks? Well, always think before you say something. Two weeks ago today I was about to write something stupid as my status update for facebook. It could have easily been turned around then gossip would have been flying about in no time. Thankfully my parents stopped me. But then I was grounded. Something I did not like.

"Yes, Scripture Teaches Me To Obey My Own Husband..."

"As a wife, I communicate my confidence in this commandment and the principles behind it in the way in which I honor and obey my husband. Yes, Scripture teaches me to obey my own husband—not as a child obeys his parents, but as the Church is subject to Christ; as a bride who fears the Lord submits to her God-appointed head. Thankfully, God has not selected a stranger to be my head. Instead, I have my best friend and lover! And he just happens to be commanded to sacrificially love and protect me."

To read this article by Stacy McDonald in it's entirety click HERE

Reasons Why I Call My Blog Experience

I Experienced...

 The peace that comes with submitting to God

 The life I never would have had without Him

 Real hope

 The joy of serving others

 Learning to deal with the realities of life with my Creator at my side

 Passion for serving Him that I never had before

 The confidence that God is in control

Embrasing Your Womanhood

      We live in a culture today that puts constant pressure on girls to either out perform, or match boys and men in every aspect of life. They are expected to have a Masters Degree in education and psychology, a successful career with 2.4 children to boot. They are expected to be the masters of the ship, have everything in order. Girls are pressured to expose their body in the name of fashion. If you don't dress in a certain way boys will not like you. She has her own SUV she owns a big house with an immaculate yard. Her neighborhood is the best in the whole area. Her children go to the finest schools and day cares. These are the requirements for a successful woman.

Dad Had A Heart Attack

    Here's a picture of my Dad and the baby. We were at a Confederate Memorial park when this was taken.  

On Wednesday, June 29 I had a heart attack.  In fact, I later learned that I likely had several heart attacks over several days.  Here's how it all happened:

1)  I was sitting at a McDonalds working (I'm a software developer and can set up just about anywhere to work).  I suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold sensation all over.  Since I was sitting

What We Did While Our Parents Were Gone. (centipede infested water, bitter plums, tans, half mile run, horse and showers)

Well we went down to the swimming hole yesterday. We were all ready to get into that cold water, but we didn't. This is the third year in a row that the centipedes took over our swimming hole! They were all in the water and all over the walls of the big pipe (goes under the road). Ick! We walked up stream instead. Wasn't as much fun. I got about four centipedes crawling on me as soon

Philemon

 

Philemon 1

Greeting

 ¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, ² to the beloved^[a] Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Don't Have The Right!

Okay, I got up at five in the morning, got ready for farmers market, and was still late when we got there. My brother was blaming it on me and I was blaming it on him. We couldn't find a spot anywhere to park it was so crowded; lots of vendors this time.

Three Stories

Happy Canary

Photo credit unknown

Under the blue sky was a hill, and on the hill a house, and in the house a table, and on a table a bird cage, and in the cage a canary, and the canary belonged to a girl who loved to hear it sing.

"Sing to me birdy" she said

So the bird sang and that song went out the cage, over the table, out the house, down the hill to a little old man who was quite sad. The man heard it and said

"Oh how beautifull that is, it sounds sweet to my great old ears."

So he went up the hill, found the house and saw the table, bird cage, bird and the little girl.

"What a sweet little bird you have there dear child." said the old man.

"Oh yes she is a darling, she sings to me every day when I aks her and makes me happy."

"Ah, it is a good thing to be happy. I am a sad old man, a little bird like that would make me happy."

"Do you like her?" the girl asked "You can have her if you like. I have had her a long time now and she has made me so happy. I am sure she could make an old man like you happy too. Take her, she is my girft to you."

So the old man did. He took the bird out of the cage and set her on his shoulder. Then he walked down the hill with his new friend singing all the way, and he was happy.

The girl watched th ean go and a warm feeling crept into her heart. She was glad she could give somebody so much joy.

Proverbs 3:27, 30

Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

Proverbs 3:30
Do not strive with a man without cause,
If he has done you no harm.

This just struck me as talking about our family's. It really got me thinking; perhaps it might stir you up too.

Learning to Love

          Last night I was cleaning up a mess after Grandpa in the bathroom and I learned something. Usually Grandma does it but she was eating and I didn't want to disturb her. Paper towls in hand wiping the floor I learned a lesson about love.

Prayer of Confession at our Church

Give ear, O Shepard of Israel, you who lead your people like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Stir up your might, and come save us!

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we might be saved!

Mothers and Daughters

~from Building Her House by Nancy Wilson~

I love the beautiful expression in Psalm 144:12 describing covenant daughters in a culture blessed by God: "that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace." What a wonderful way to think of our daughters!

To my Mother,

Mom, sometimes I may not understand you

but I do notice the things you do.

You are a helper Dad, do the hard work that we can't

Like;

research, getting our school scheduals together,

and working on life issues.

Thanks for all you do,

some day I want to be a hard worker like you.

Isaiah 58:9a-14

                                                     "you shall be like a watetered garden"

“ If you take away the yoke from your midst,

      The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
       ¹⁰ If you extend your soul to the hungry
      And satisfy the afflicted soul,
      Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

      And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Good News!

Children's Mercy
Hospitals & Clinics
http://www.childrensmercy.org/




----- ------

Your request for financial assistance has been approved for a 100% discount and will be effective from 1/15/11 to 5/26/12. At the end of the approval period, you must notify your Admissions Counselor listed below to re-apply for a continued discount. If there are any changes in your income please notify your Admissions Counselor immediately.

1 Kings 17:8-15

1 Kings 17:8-15

⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ⁹ “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” ¹⁰ So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” ¹¹ And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”

Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me?

                                                    "make a way that we may enter heav'nly glory."

                                                    

Why should cross and trial grieve me? Christ is near with his cheer;

never will he leave me. Who can rob me of the heaven
that God's Son for my own to my faith hath given

God oft gives me days of gladness; shall I grieve if he give
seasons too, of sadness? God is good and tempers ever

all my ill, and he will wholly leave me never.

45 Seconds: Memoirs of an ER Doctor from May 22, 2011

 

Emergency Department
after May 22 tornadoView more photos from our Flickr


My name is Dr. Kevin Kikta, and I was one of two emergency room doctors who were on duty at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, MO on Sunday, May 22, 2011. 


You never know that it will be the most important day of your life until the day is over. 

Matthew 6:25, 34

25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life what you will eat or what you will drink; nor your body what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is it own trouble.

Buying Goats

May 25, 2011
We were suposed to leave the house at 9:30 this morning but we just now left at 9:52.
Bed Bath and Beyond
Wallmart
Orshlin
Music store
Thrift store
Great Grandma
Grandma DD
Look at some goats
Sam's Club
Home

Proverbs 31:10-31

 ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?

      For her worth is far above rubies.

       ¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

      So he will have no lack of gain.

       ¹² She does him good and not evil

      All the days of her life.

Swapping Places

      Today I looked around at our house and I thought to myself. "God is great." We've gotten a whole house hold of stuff back almost for free. There is nothing that I can think of that we're missing. We are so much put back together that we have been able to have my dad's parent come up for the summer. Grandpa is not doing well, is sleeping all day; is not really aware of his surroundings that much. Grandma was getting worn out caring for him so they've decided to come up here for the summer. I could never have foreseen this back in January when we were living with some friends. We've swapped places, instead of people watching out for us God has enabled us to watch out for my grandparents. Praise be to God!

A New Leaf

He came to my desk with quivering lips; the lesson was done
"Have you a new leaf for me, dear teacher? I have spoiled this one!"
I took his leaf all spoiled and blotted, and gave him a new one, all unspotted.
Then into his tired heart I smiled; "Do better now my child!"

I went to the throne with trembling heart; the day was done
"Have you a new day for me, dear Master? Ihave spoiled this one!"
He took my day, all soiled and blotted, and gave me a new one, all unspotted;
then into my tired heart He smiled; "Do better now my child!"

~I got this poem from my Aunt Rita~

Matthew 6:25,34

25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?... 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble.

            If you were to look towards the front of my journal you would see that I definitely was not listening to what Jesus said. It is filled with pages and pages of worrying and discontent. But, the further on you go the less you will find worrying. Little by little God is teaching me not to worry and to put my full trust in him.

God's Promise

God didn't promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow,
or sun without rain.

But God did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears
and a light for the way.

And all who believe in his kingdom above,
He answers their faith with everlasting love.

`Author unknown`

~This poem was printed on a book mark in my great grandmothers Bible~

Canning

    Well the growing season is here and I'm pretty excited about canning. I've got plans for this summer, it will be so great to be able to pull out our very own canned food from our very own garden. We have a plum tree and an apple tree, then in the garden we have, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, cabbage, squash, cucumber, green beans, blackberry's?... and I don't remember what else but I counted them all up and there is eighteen different things. Zachary's going to sell a bunch at farmers market and whatever doesn't sell we will can.

~Short post I know~

It's a Nice Day for a Walk

...After church my brother and I walked home because we didn't want to go to town. (On errands) From church to our house is fifteen miles. We walked and walked and walked. On the shortcut road right off of the main road a man was digging a hole. He wore a red shirt and sunglasses; I think he was planting a bush. My brother asked if we could have a drink from his faucet.
     "Go right on ahead. There's one by the house and the shop."
         We went to the one by the house. Big brother let me go first so I stuck my head under the running water and got wet everywhere. He did the same then I had another drink and so did he.
     "Thanks," we called as we continued walking.
    When we got to the next I convinced brother to call his friend, who lived a little up the road, and see if he could take us the remaining five miles. He said he couldn't because his car was parked right outside his parents window and they were taking a nap. So eventually we got to their house and the boy ran out to meet us. We stopped in for a drink. My brother went downstairs with his friend and I stayed upstairs and talked to the two younger brothers. Their parents woke up and the mother offered me a piece of chocolate cake.
      The youngest piped up, "I made it."
    We stayed a few minutes longer while my brother and I ate our cake then we left. I put my sandals back on and we continued on our way.
    The last four miles to the house was a breeze, we got there in no time. I changed into some soccer shorts and a T-shirt, took care of Dixie, and made grilled sandwiches for our dinner. My brother went out and checked on his plants in the greenhouse and we finally sat down. I drank a glass of cold tea and he had water.

~An old farmer who passed us on the road and he slowed down and we talked. One of the things he said was "Well, it sure is a nice day for a walk today."~

Ezekiel 28:9-10

9 "Will you still say before him who slays you,
'I am a god'?
But you shall be a man, and not a god,
In the hand of who slays you.
10 You shall die the death of the
uncircumcised
By the hand of the aliens;
For I have spoken," says the Lord God.'"

The Adventures of a Raindrop

Photo credit unknown

This little raindrop's adventures began as soon as he was aware of his own existence. He didn't have a name and did not even know he lacked one. What he did know was that he was falling from the sky along with his fellow creatures. As he fell he turned to face up to his mother cloud and utter a hasty goodbye. Then suddenly his attention was drawn else where because right beside him an angry finger of lightning snaked out and singed his neighbor, turning him, for an instant, boiling hot. His companions face turned red but quickly cooled down. Down, down, down our little friend plunged, and he himself even got singed a few times.

Then quite unexpectedly the earth seemed to rear up towards him and he could see he was headed straight for a white mountain goat. Smack! He hit the goat square in the head between the horns. For an instant our friend caught sight of a young dark haired Shepard boy shout trying to get the goats safely down the mountain. Within a blink of an eyes the raindrop lost sight of the boy as he rolled down the goats nose and dripped off the end. He landed on an old worn out stone and the slope of the rock carried his round body downward. From stones, to hard packed earth, to grass and to plants he and his brothers were carried down the mountainside.

Zechariah 7:9-10

9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts:
'Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother
10 Do not opress the widow or the fatherless,
The alien or the poor
Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother,'

My God, The Only God

Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, is work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him.

Job 34:10
Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to commit iniquity

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my deliverer; My God my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

     With a God like this how can we not worship Him? God is perfect, and God is our strength and Rock. We the creatures are in no position to blame the Creator with wrong doing. Even if things in life aren't perfect God is perfect, sovereign, and the only place to turn to for shelter. As a bolder shelters those from the wind , so does God shelter us from trials and tribulations. Bad things may happen but with God (boulder) at our backs it is not as bad as it could be. God is a God of truth. All his promises we read in the Bible He will keep.
     Think about it, can people claim all of this for their false gods? No! Often times these gods, if you read the stories, were immoral, evil, and the cause of the peoples sufferings. The people served these gods in fear committing many atrocities trying to apeace their wrath. Human sacrifices and self mutilations were presented to these gods for nothing. Can a stone face really see, hear, comprehend?
     Our God is the one true God. He is perfect, loving and all powerful. The false gods are just a reflection of man. They are sinful and are not in control, even Zeus the god of gods had to manipulate to get what he wanted.

     God is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth an without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

Old Towns

     I like Town 1 and would like to know more about it. Across the bridge is an abandoned house. ----- and I explored it one Monday. We went down the cellar all through the house, and learned that the old pump well still worked. It gushed out brown rusty water. The windows are busted out and a good part of the walls. The roof had caved in in several places and there was debris all over the floor. It was not too old because it had electricity but I still walked lightly for fear the floor would fall through. None of the rest of our party would join us so we were the only ones that went. What made Town 1 "untown" itself? Where is the mill and the school house? Just imagine this little Town 1 was real once. People used those sidewalks, worked at the mill, and went to school. Real people with a real life. A real history and story.
       I know Town 2 used to be a big town. It was a mining community, rather large, complete with a milliners shop. But then the mines shut down and the people started moving away. Corrupt government was its last stroke and now all that's left is buried sidewalks, flat ground where the train tracks used to be, and broken down buildings. It does have a post office and two churches one of them stands empty. There is a mostly unused park and a still standing unused (clean) out house. The houses still stand. The Winery is the only attraction. Some buildings in town have been boarded up, and a whole section of it is entirely forgotten. Our church used the park once for a picnic and I believe that is the only action its had for years.

      Town 3 has some interesting history, ----- has told me a lot about it. He can even point out certain buildings that had something important to do with the War Between the States. I've seen some old houses that still have slave quarters and a separate entrance for them. I don't remember much of what he said but I do know the impression; he is smart! And determined it must have taken a lot of work to learn all that, and he's traced his family history far back. Our friends own a jewelry shop in Town 3. The store is in the building an old bar used to be.

Rainbow

Red is the blood that runs in every human body, every race and gender
Orange is the warmth of a loved ones affection
Yellow is what makes us happy
Green is the growing things that holds so much magic
Blue is the loyalty of two brothers
Indigo is imagination
Violet is passion

A Funny Thing At Work

     At work two Fridays ago when we were eating dinner I noticed a funny thing. There were four of us, three lady's and one man. Casey, Mrs. Debbie, and I each got a plate and fork, got our pizza and sat down to eat it. Mr. Garry walks up picked up a piece of pizza leaned against the counter and started eating.
     Later on Garry, usually mellow, walks towards the front room chanting to himself while doing a little dance "coffee, coffee, coffee." Mr. Garry is an older man with a full beard of grey, wears glasses, and talks quietly.

Trip to Jefferson City

I stepped off of the train and waited for the rest of our party to collect themselves. Mrs. Sturm did a head count, all twenty-six were there. We started walking up towards the State Capital. I walked by Mom and Savannah and Mom needed help with the Mei Tie. The three of us stopped and by the time we got Jubal all situated in the Me Tie the rest of the party were far up ahead. We walked quickly to catch up. When we came to the corner of the street I looked towards the Capital. There it was towering before me; huge, defiant, and strong. Statues stood around the place and stone steps went up to the main doors. Mr. Cliff had waited for us so we followed him to catch up. The front doors were big, really big. We walked in and I looked around me. It was dimmer in here we were in a wide open hallway and as we walked it opened out into a large room. The roof was domed and it gave the place a sort of cathedral effect. The floors were cold, shiny, and marble and the ceilings and some parts of the walls had gorgeous paintings on them. The rest of our group was up on the second floor and I waved up to them.

“There they are” I heard someone say.

We located an elevator and went up. The elevator had golden colored doors, two of them, making a golden looking corner. The elevator landed and we got out and joined our group. I was in the back because I paused to look over the railing and at all the paintings. If I was a cartoon my jaw would have dropped to the floor. It was magnificent. They were turning into another hallway so I hurried to catch up. Marble floor again and more paintings, the hallway was sort of a half circle. I dragged behind looking at the paintings.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

       One thing that used to always confuse me was the word catholic, and I didn't know what apostolic meant. I am not catholic and never was so how is it that I confessed I believed in "one holy catholic and apostolic church"?  Well I learned that when it said catholic it meant universal. I actually learned this from my history book The History of the World in Christian Perspective. it said
          "... The invisible catholic church. Of course, there are many local churches; yet as God  looks down from heaven He sees one church made up of all true Christians. This one great 'invisible' church that only God sees can never meet in the way a local church does. Another name for this one great 'invisible' church is catholic, which originally meant simply 'universal' or 'one'." 
        I started listening closer to conversations at church and places and they all meant the same thing, universal. They did not mean the  Roman Catholic religion they were talking about the origanal meaning of the word.
          Then there was apostolic. I asked my pastor and he said it meant simply the church founded by the apostles. So what I'm getting out of this is that it's saying basically the Christian church.

More than Life

Without hope or you
a tragety, now I see.
It takes more than life.

Line one: I was going through depression, in rebelion to my Lord
Line two: House fire, baby brother's birth
Line three: I can't live my life without God

Proverbs

Proverbs 24:30-34
30 I went by the field of the lay man,
And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns;
Its surface was covered with nettles;
Its stone wall was broken down.
32 When I saw it, I considered it well;
I looked on it and received instruction:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest;
34 So shall poverty come like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.

Proverbs 26:13-16
13 The lazy man says "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets!"
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
So the lazy man on his bed.
15 The lazy man buries his hand in his bowl;
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Proverbs 28:19
He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

You Are My Sunshine

       One Sunday, in the month of January, my sister Savannah brought her lap harp to church. She showed Lonna and Audrey how to do it and us girls took turns playing You Are My Sunshine. Pastor Peter heard and wanted to try so Savannah showed him how. After practising a little bit he calls to his wife and plays to her while singing,

Plants

       There are three plants growing in the ground. They are all three slender and fragile easily crushed by anything. One grows straight up towards the light confident in the way it is going. Another grows up for a little while and then plummets back down to the earth. The last one is a pitiful sight, all confused and growing in nearly every direction except up.
        These plants represent the human race. Some are doing fine, they grow up and know what their living for. These people are the plant growing straight up. Others are going good for a while but then hit some bump or tragedy and plummet back down to the pit like the second plant and are depressed. The others are like the little confused plant. They look around for comfort, searching for meaning in anything they can find except for the One who can help them.

McDonald's

      

  We are sitting in the lobby of the Richmond McDonald's. They are in the middle of remodeling, construction work is going on outside, half of the lobby is being used for the storage of equipment, supplies, and tool. The buzzing, beeping and clanking of machines fill my ear along with the sound of paper bag being opened, cups being filled, and in particular, the loud voice of a talkative employee.