Welcome to a blessed, bright new day, and a Friday the 13th at that! Does it being Friday the 13th bother you? Do you have superstitions about it being a bad luck day? I’ve never had any problems with this day on the calendar and I think we generally have maybe five of them a year. I’d say the worst part of Friday the 13th was the horror movie by the same name. I never quite understood how the main character of that movie allegedly drowned as a child and yet “came back” after years of being dead as an adult unkillable killing thing. But then I never understood its rival movie, “Halloween” either or the character from “Nightmare of Elm Street”. But, I went to see them at the time.

Yes, I missed another day of writing yesterday. I had an email/coupon from P.F. Chang restaurant yesterday that was good for one day only that was a buy one entree and get another free. Well, since that is one of Ms. Kate’s favorite places to eat we decided to go there for lunch. The only drawback is that it is on the other side of Louisville, KY —- about 125 miles from here. But — going to Louisville takes us by Julie’s house and work and we had a couple of things to take to her. So, we went to lunch, called her while we were there and asked her if she wanted us to pick her somethiing up for lunch, which of course she did, and then we took her lunch and the items that we had for her. We visited with Julie for a few minutes and then made the 125 mile trip back home. By then I was past being ready to write a blog. But, we had a great day and a great lunch of crispy honey shrimp and fried rice. And, — that is the kind of “day trips” Ms. Kate and I love to take.

The back yard buffet is full of customers this morning. I had a flock of starlings in here for awhile. They ate, they fussed at one another, they took baths and splashed water everywhere and they vigorously guarded their territory for awhile pecking at other birds that came on to eat. But they left and then came on the cardinals and finches, and chickadees, and woodpeckers, titmouse, wrens, doves, sparrows and a mockingbird. The only one missing today is the hummingbird. But as it warms up a little, they too could show up. So far the squirrels haven’t returned since I filled the feeders and that is fine by me. I feed will last a day or two longer. I need to go to Pet Foods and pick up another forty pounds of sunflower seed. I’m pretty sure I’m now over 800 pounds of sunflower seed for this year so far. The price has been holding steady at $18.00 for a forty pound bag so at least it doesn’t kill my billfold when I go in there. It’s all of the other fancy stuff that I buy at Wild Birds that makes my wallet try to seal itself closed.

This coming Sunday we have a “reunion” type of day at the church with a potluck meal. We hope to have a lot of members from the past and pastors from the past show up. My old friend Rev. Don Bernhardt will be giving the message. Don was pastor at Zoar for around fourteen years and he baptized my daughter Heather. I think he may have confirmed Julie too but I’m not sure. Too many years and too many places go through my mind when I try to remember.

I hope your weekend is filled with joy and blessings. I hope too thaqat you take time to give thanks to God for those blessings. While you are praying, please include all of the people affected by the horrible wild fires currently burning in California. The death toll to date has reached about 50 and there are currently 600 people unaccounted for. Between fires, floods, and hurricanes, and the terrible mass shooting in Las Vegas; we have thousands of people suffering devasting losses and pain, and they need our help and they need our prayers. They need to know that they are not alone in their grief and fear, and sorrow.  If you see an opportunity to help — please do. It is what Christ calls us to do.

Have a blessed day.