There are 15 hours left of the year 2021. How should I use them? 15 hours isn’t a long time but — If I left now, I could be in Disney-world if I had a desire to go there. Or, I could grab that Stephen King novel that has been sitting beside my Sunporch recliner for nine months and read it. I could grab my thermos cup, fill it with coffee and head to the basement study and finish up the sermon I have started for next week. I could go out and top off the bird feeders for the last time in 2021 but it has been raining, and is projected to start raining again within the hour, so that’s out. Or —- I could just sit in my recliner in the family room with the fireplace going and listen to Ms. Kate gently snoring over in the other recliner. Life is full of choices even at this late in the year. 

Yesterday I conducted my second funeral of the week. It was a family private affair. The deceased had already been cremated so it was a memorial service. I didn’t know him well but what I did know of him, he was a nice guy and loved his family. And, — I love his family too. I think that makes nine funerals I have done this year. Not all were my parishioners but were family members of parishioners. I was honored to be asked to conduct last rituals for their loved ones. Believe it or not, I consider that an honor requiring a great deal of trust. 

I’m glad to say that Ms. Kate and I are getting past this aggravating cold that we have. I’m hoping that was all it was and not Corona Virus. But, I took all precautions at both of the funerals I conducted this week and stayed away from people and wore my mask just so I didn’t pass anything along to anybody. I’m happy to report that last night was a great night. I don’t think I coughed or had to blow my nose even once during the night and I got a fairly good night’s sleep. Ms. Kate didn’t do too bad either although she got up early this morning and moved to the recliner in the family room. But she hasn’t been doing much coughing etc. either. Praise the Lord, I think we are on the mend finally. But this one has been nasty. We both had COVID last October/November of 2020 and it didn’t seem as bad for me but —- as you know,, we nearly lost Ms. Kate over it. 

Do you have any big plans for New Years Eve this evening. You know we don’t of course. Although, I think I may have to run out and get a can of Black-eyed Peas. Can’t start the year out without them. LOL

Do you have any big plans for the year 2022?  So far, our only planned trips are to Disneyworld at the end of January and maybe to PA for a military reunion in September. I know I have two wedding on the books for young parishioners, one in April and one in November, and we have Julie graduating with her BA in May. So see, ya’ got to have thing on the list to look forward to. One of the members of my St. Lucas church has mentioned that he would like to start a “new member movement” in 2022. I find that exciting because new member movements in rural family churches are a rarity. I’m thrilled to hear his ideas and seeing if he actually has a marketing plan. 

How about resolutions? I quit making resolutions years ago. I just hope to make each day better than the one before and try not to repeat mistakes and or sins. The rest of the time, I’m extremely comfortable to simply walk with God and let God point the way, and trust God if the path becomes difficult. 

As you spend the next few hours in 2021, take time to reflect on your year and give God thanks for each and every day. Then pray for full and confident guidance through out the next year. Peace. 

 Wednesday, December 29th: there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, I think wellness is on the way. I don’t know what kind of bug just hit me but it was a miserable doozy. And now Ms. Kate has it. That’s the benefit of living and loving together; —- the “in sickness or in health” part. But I am glad to say that I am at least 85% better than I was. I still have congestion lodged deep and have coughed so much and so hard that the rib and stomach muscles are really causing me a lot of pain. But that has decreased too. As you know, I had a funeral to do yesterday and of course it was cold, windy, and while it didn’t rain at thhe moments we were at the grave side, there was a lot of moisture in the air. I wore my mask when I was around anyone so as to hopefully not infect anyone else. And I tried to distance myself away as much as possible. But, this too shall pass. But just not soon enough to please me. However, I give God thanks for ever little bit of healing, I’m breathing much better today. I may feel well enough to have a piece of pumpkin pie for breakfast. I think I once heard “Eat pie—feel better”. Maybe it’s an old Native American tale. 

It’s somewhat sunny and 42 degrees out today. I have nothing on my calendar that requires me to go outside today except to roll the trash can down to the curb and get the mail. Remind me to spray the wastebaskets as I empty them with Lysol disinfectant. I’m sure they are full of cold germs. Yesterday we received our new vaporizer from Amazon. Our last one served us well for many years until it finally gave up the ghost. I ran it all night and I think that help both of us with put breathing. Don’t you just love shopping with Amazon??? One of the things that I hate to do is go shopping for clothes. I found out that I can order my “fat waist — short legged” Wrangler Jeans through Amazon and they were shipped to me right away. I haven’t tried them on yet but if they fit, I’m going to order a couple of more pair. That company (Amazon) has got to be making a fortune. 

We’ve only a couple of days left to the year 2021. Can you believe it —- we actually made it through. All -in-all, it hasn’t been a bad year. The highlight of my year was our family reunion last June down in Branson where we had all 21 of the family together for the first time in at least two years. The sad reality is that it will be at least two years until the next reunion. But, we will have a couple of wedding coming up in either ‘22 or ‘23. And we have Julie graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in May of ‘22. So there are opportunities for at least parts of the family to get together over the next couple of years, assuming any or all of us live that long. I try to plan our reunions two years apart but s they all grow and have jobs etc it get harder to plan everybody together at one time all the time. It also gets harder for Ms. Kate and I to travel each year. So, we grab at every little opportunity we can get. 

I’ve rambled on enough for today. I guess I will spend part of my day at least down in my study working on my January 9th sermon. And maybe I will get some more services put together. May God bless you and bring you to a wonderful ending to 2021 and bring you a wonderful 2022. 

(For Anonymous) just received your message of December 9th, prayers are up and sent. Feel better, God has this under control. 

 Monday, December 27th and I am a miserable pup this morning. I have a cold, (I trust that is all it is) and I’m a walking talking “snot factory” and my breathing sounds like a coffee percolator. I’m about ready to get back in my recliner for the day. But, I have some writing to finish and one funeral to plan yet. I’ve taken my Mucenex and my Robitussin and I’m hoping everything settles drown. I probably should go get a COVID test but they tend to label everything as COVID these days. I’ve had both vaccines and the booster so I’ll hold off for a couple of days and see what happens. I have the funeral to do tomorrow and my doctor will be attending\, I may pull him aside for a conversation. 

So that’s it for today, sorry it isn’t longer but I’m tired. Have a great day. Peace. 

 Happy Birthday to my Ms. Kate. The love of my life turned 74 today. That is an amazing blessing because we have come close to losing her twice in her life. In 1993 she had two heart attacks and a double by-pass surgery. In 2006 (I think) she had a stroke and we could have lost her. But. God is the giver of all good things and has kept her with me. I can’t imagine what the last 28 years of my life would have been like had we lost her. Would I have had the career drive that I have had? Would I be a pastor today? How would my kids life be different? These are all unknowns and maybe not worth the wonder, butI do think about it because I need to constantly give thanks to God for the path we are getting travel together. My lady is a daily blessing. 

Today is Christmas Eve and it is 56 degrees outside. Tomorrow we could be topping 71 degrees. How weird is that?? It certainly isn’t normal. A year ago today it was 17 degrees for a high. The year before, it was 68. Who knows what to count on any more. I ‘m just hoping that it isn’t snowing at the end of January/ first week of February so we can make our vacation safely. 

Tonight we will do two Christmas Eve services; a 7:00 pm at St. Paul’s with the children’s program, Holy Communion, and Candle light. Then at 9:00 pm we do it all over again at St. Lucas, minus the children’s service. I expect a large crowd which will be wonderful. Sunday will be the first Sunday after Christmas and you cam bet the crowds will be significantly reduced. That’s just the way it is in “church-land”. 

So, now, we are waiting on Jim to arrive, Ms. Kate is going to be starting dinner before too long. The fresh rolls are already rising, The corn is thawing from the freezer and the ham will go into the oven probably about the time that Jim gets here. I don’t know how long that needs to cook. We plan to eat around 1630 because we have the services this evening. 

That’s it for this Christmas Eve. HJave a blessed Christmas. Peace. 

 Good morning on this December 23rd. We’re having a great start to our day. As I write this, I have installers here to put in our new double ovens. We ordered these things back on October 11th and it has taken this long for the dealer to get them in. They are just a piece of the supply chain back up that is occurring all over the nation. The really great part is that our installer could get to us this quick after they arrived. I really appreciate that. The oven that we are replacing “still worked”. We had to always make adjustments on how to really set the temperatures because the thermostats were off and each oven had it own measure of “off”. Plus the automatic cleaning feature didn’t work so that was a pain in the rear. So, after 20 years of dealing with that —- it was time to “just do it”. And, I’ll probably do the first baking in it because I want to make Ms. Kate a birthday cake tomorrow. It will be an angel food of course because that is the simplest. We are neither one big cake eaters but we do like angel food. 

I goto notification this morning from another parishioner wanting me to do a funeral/memorial service for a loved one next week. That makes two funerals next week. That’s why I always try to work ahead with my sermon writing and services. One never knows what may pop up at the last minute. People certainly can’t plan when they are going to die, and I always try to make myself available if possible when my folks have a crisis in their lives. Both of my funerals next week will be private affairs so there isn’t a lot of involvement from other people. 

Julie and the pups are coming over today yet after she gets off of work. Jim has to work tomorrow so he will come over after he gets out of work then. They will both head back home on Sunday I think. I am so glad that Julie and Jim decided to move to our “local area” several years ago. Having them “local”, i.e. only and hour plus away is wonderful. For so many years they were more than a day and a half drive from us. 

I got the feeders all filled yesterday. The wrens were tweeting nd chirping about it as I filled them and the squirrels were up chittering about me being in their space and would I please hurry up. A lot of my guests are really rude. LOL

Well, the ovens are in and the installers are gone. They are a good crew; quick, efficient, and very reasonably priced. The ovens look fantastic. 

Have a great day. Peace. 

 December 22 and the first full day of winter. It’s 40 degrees out there but sunny and breezy. I had to go out and go to the grocery store this morning. We did on-line shopping yesterday at Meijer and they didn’t have some of the stuff we wanted. One of the hardest things to find has been Domino Confectionary sugar in a one pound box. Everybody has 2 lb bags but that isn’t what the boss wants. Nor did they have and heavy whipping cream. So they were standing between me and a pumpkin pie and Springerlie cookies. That could not stand. So, I went to Rulers; — nothing. I went across the street to the IGA and viola’ there it was. The sky opened up and the angels sang. I celebrated by going to Dunkin Donuts and getting us a couple of Bavarian Creme donuts. 

I have to fill my bird feeders today again. I think most everything is empty. It is surprising because I haven’t seen many birds out there. Maybe it is because it is still “warm” for the season. No snow, very few mornings have we even had a heavy frost. Sure doesn’t seem much like winter just yet. Weatherman says “no-way” to snow for Christmas. In fact, it is supposed to get up to almost 63 degrees with maybe a small rain shower or two. 

I got notification of a death with in the Faith Family this morning. The lady is not a member of our church  but is related to half of the congregation and has been on our prayer list for quite some time. Unfortunately, her husband is on the prayer list too. She will be buried in our cemetery on Tuesday and I’ll do a brief graveside service for the family. It is such a terrible thing to lose someone at Christmas but she had cancer and had been suffering for quite a long time. So, I give God praise that she no longer suffers. 

That’s about it for today. I hope you have a great day. Peace. 

 Good morning on this Monday of Christmas week. I don’t know how it is where you are but it is a sunny and bright 38 degrees here. The good news, for me at least is that it is supposed to be nice weather all week. Not being a fan of snow, that is great. On the other hand, I know this is because of global warming and that isn’t a good thing. We are supposed to have maybe 63 degrees on Christmas Day and that just isn’t normal. So,, while it is comfortable and pleasant, —- it is also scary to think about what is happening to our planet. 

We had a great weekend. Julie and Jim came over and Chris came by on his way back to Oklahoma. We visited and then went to Turoni’s for pizza. It was nice to see all of them. Chris left after dinner and Julie and Jim stayed the night. They will be back this week. Jules will come over on Thursday and Jim will come over on Christmas Eve.. They will head home on Sunday. Then all settles down for awhile. 

We had good services yesterday and they were very well attended. Of course the fact that we had a children’s program at St. Lucas brought in more than usual. We will have the children’s program at St. Paul’s on Christmas Eve. But that service is always packed. We will do a 7:00 pm service at St. Paul’s and then a 9:00 pm service at St. Lucas. Both services will be candlelight and Holy Communion services. Those are so very special to me. After the services yesterday we went to the cemeteries and laid wreaths on the graves of the veteran’s in our family, six in all.

We have two birthdays in the family this week. Tomorrow our youngest daughter, Lisa turns 50. That seems incredible to believe. Then on Christmas Eve Ms. Kate celebrates her 74th trip around the sun. I was thinking about that this morning and realized that out of the last 47 years, I have been on call, at work, or on duty all but five of those Christmas Eve/birthdays. She hasn’t had a lot of celebrations. Bless her heart. It’s a wonder she hasn’t kicked me to the curb by now. 

This Thursday we finally get our double ovens installed. We ordered those things on October 11th and they just came in on Friday. I’m glad to get them installed prior to Christmas. We ordered aa refrigerator the same day and don’t expect it until maybe January 16th. 

Okay, I got to get my day started, I hope your day will be blessed. Peace. 

 One week until Christmas Day. And minus snow, it kind of feels like Christmas weather out there for southern Indiana. Instead of snow we have rain and 47 degrees. I thought I would just take a moment and wish you all a happy weekend. 

I’m actually sitting here  at 1415 waiting on Julie and Jim to arrive. They are about 35 miles out yet. Then at around 1730, Chris will be arriving. He’s. On his way from Chicago back home to Oklahoma City. But his rout had to take him through Cincinnati so he will be stopping by here to see all of us, have a meal and conversation and then head out again for home. The benefit is that we also get an extra visit from Julie and Jim. Although he will have gone actually past their house this will save him the extra stop and save him time. 

Okay, here they are. Have a good one. 

 Friday morning already. It’s going to be a wet and soggy one, or so it appears. It hasn’t started raining just yet, but the radar shows a lot of dark green just below us. Accuweather tells me it will start at 1000. 

Yesterday was a run around day again. We started off the morning with a doctor’s appointment for Ms. Kate. It was a follow-up from a Doppler test that she had done a few weeks ago. The good news is that her blood is flowing properly with no dangerous blockages. Of course she has to stay on her cumaden \but that’s not a problem. From that doctor’s office, we had to go to another doctor’s office across town and have her routine blood work done. This was for her Protime test that she has to do every 4-6 weeks. I don’t know what that actually shows. But her doctor looks at the results and tells her it’s all ok or to increase or decrease one of her med’s for a day or two. next, we headed back across town and went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for Ms. Kate at Walgreens. It’s a good thing my little Prius gets 55 mpg. 

With all of the doctor stuff out of the way, we headed up to the churches to run the church bulletins, but stopped at Zack’s restaurant in Ft. Branch for lunch. By the time we finished lunch, and bulletins making and stuffing, it was time to head home because the sun position in the sky said it was almost nap time and we didn’t want to be too late for that to happen. As it was, we were already thirty minutes late by the time we drove home. But we pressed on and persevered, and got our nap in. LOL, Ya’ just got to be dedicated to the mission.

Today, Ms. Kate has a bunch of stuff on her list to get done and I have got to get next weeks sermon finished. I’m 3/4 finished and it is just sitting there waiting on me to come down to the office and finish it. Time and events are starting to crowd us. Tomorrow morning I start the day off with a Wreaths Across America ceremony at St. Lucas, and then I have a half dozen wreaths to take and lay on our family veterans. Julie and Jim are coming over with the pups for the night and Chris, Steph’s hubby, is dropping by for a visit and dinner. So we have a bunch of stuff to get done. Jim is planning to drop the mower deck off of the big John Deere and put the snow blade on. Who knows, we may not need it all winter, but I want to be ready. He gets that thing on there pretty quickly and I can barely get down on the floor to help him. 

That’s it for today my friends. A week from today is Christmas Eve. Are you ready to welcome the Christ Child and celebrate the day of His birth?  Peace. 

 It’s not as bright, not as sunny. It the temperature  out there is 43 degrees so that isn’t bad. We are expecting some light showers on and of today. I have to go to the grocery store and the post office at some point today so I should do that this morning, and if I don’t do it soon, there will be no more morning. I can’t believe I have already fooled around for two and a half hours on this silly IPad and still haven’t written my blog not have I played my Criminal Case game. I’ve spent most of the time. In texting conversation with my buddy Art Christmas. He and I get to talking and we are worse than a couple of old ladies at the wash line. (You have to be old enough to understand that picture.) Actually we’re more like a couple of old dudes sitting in porch rockers. 

Yesterday, we dedicated the day to “nothingness”. Ms. Kate and I made a concerted effort to do absolutely nothing productive all day. My big accomplishment was to go to Schnuck’s and pick up a couple of needed groceries and then run by Wendy’s and pick us up some lunch. But, as I said, today I need to go to the grocery store because my list is getting long. And I have a small package to take to the post office. We went last week and dropped off our packages and I was the only one in there when I walked through the door. But by the time I walked out, —- there was a long line forming. Timing is everything I reckon and I hit it just right. 

We have several events on our schedule for the rest of the week. I have the bulletin to run at some point this week but I may wait until Saturday to do that. On Saturday we are going to do a ‘Wreaths Across America” ceremony at one of the churches and I have to be up there for that to read a citation. This program is for families to lay a Christmas Wreath on the grave of any family members that are veteran’s of the military service. I told Ms. Kate that as a retired Colonel, I have an obligation to participate in ceremonies like this. The service is at 0900 so I will have plenty of time after the short service to run my bulletins. Some day this week, Ms. Kate has a doctor’s appointment, I think that may be on Thursday, but maybe it is Friday. And we may or may not have company coming this week. Steph’s husband, Chris, is making a business trip through the area and may stop by since he will be in the area. BUt it’s up in the air so we don’t know whether to plan for a meal with a guest or not. 

This coming Sunday the kids will be doing their Christmas program during the worship service at St. Lucas. Then on Christmas’s Eve, the kids at St. Paul’s will do their program. I am so thrilled that this is happening, between COVID and a lack of kids, it has been a few years since this has happened. 

Time to shower and start the real day. Y’all have a most blessed day. Peace.  

 Bright sun out there this morning doesn’t tell its 33 degree secret. It could be worse; it is December after all. I’ll take cold sunshine over nasty rain or snow. 

How was your weekend? I’ve had a good weekend. We got lots done around here. Yesterday of course we had two worship services and they were fairly well attended. There was a death in one of our families some distance away so that took several people away from attending yesterday. I pray for their safe return and we offer our sympathy and prayers for their comfort. Last evening both churches held their annual Christmas party. As I have said, we can only be at one place at a time so we elected too attend the St. Paul’s party. I ate too much of course. It’s hard to beat “church lady cooking”. Ms. Kate fixed a large casserole dish of “green bean casserole” and there was one spoonful left. I love the stuff although she isn’t crazy about it. I’m sure she’s glad that folks finished it so there were no leftovers. LOL

More and more pictures keep coming out of the horrific damage done by the multiple tornadoes in the fours states below us this weekend. The death toll also is climbing. I have asked my churches not to try to do something separate to help but to find other local organizations that are organizing efforts and contribute to those. We can be humble with our efforts and don’t need our label on the box. This isn’t a church parishioner recruitment effort. It’s really sad and heartbreaking to think of all of those lives lost and the amount of homes and businesses that are lying in a state of complete destruction and rubble. Where do you even begin with something like that? How do you even prove who you are or what you had? I don’t know and hope I never have to find out. Over the years our family has been involved in different phases of assisting in disasters like this but, all praise to God, we have never experienced it personally. People say, and I have too, that it terrible that it was so close to Christmas, but there is no good day for your house and everything you own to be blown into the next county. There is no good day for a factory to fall in on someone you love. Massive movement is in the works to help the victims but it will be a long time for the rebuild, and how do you live day to day in the meanwhile? I don’t know. But God will provide. As bad as it is, there will be good things and there will be miracles that come out of all of this. We only need to look for them. The massive amount of people helping people is in and of itself a miracle. 

I think today is going to be a “day off” for both Ms. Kate and I; a day to do nothing. I may do some writing if I get around to it. I have one sermon left to write for this year. Can you believe that??? This year is almost gone!. Of course, I didn’t think that I would be heading into 2022 still working either, so there is that! That’s the problem when you are working for an Eternal God. —- He has no concept of time. LOL

With that, I better quit before the lightening strikes me. Have a most blessed week. Peace

 The sunshine out there sure hides a lot of truths about reality this morning. It looks warm and pleasant but it is cold and a really stiff wind going on. I took the last of the Christmas cards out to the mailbox and it chilled me off pretty quickly. It’s not “terrible” at 41 degrees but the temperature is going to keep on dropping to 27 by tonight. 

Last night was a bad night for Kentucky weather. As you probably went through like I did, there were terrible storms in Kentucky that started in Arkansas and traveled through the entire state of KY. It was a 200 mile pluse tornadoes. At least 50 people were killed that have been reported so far. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones and to those who have lost everything dues to these storms. I have seen some of the damage reports and television reporting of the damage and it is indeed devastating. Ms. Kate and I were down in the area where the stories were the worst Tuesday and Wednesday night. I’m glad we came home when we did. 

Our “Staycation” is over and we made the most of it. Ms.Kate finished up making the Christmas cards and as I got busy addressing them and getting them ready to put in the mailbox, we realized that we still did not have enough so she sat down and made some more. I used all but one of them. But, we have all of our cards made and sent out, all of the Christmas shopping done, (Thank you Amazon Prime), the trees are decorated and we beat the December 15th goal line. Tomorrow both churches will hold their Christmas parties. We will attend the one at St. Paul’s. They are both at the same time and we can’t be at both places at the same time. We attended the party at St. Lucas last time so it is St. Paul’s turn. Lucky them. 

I think we need to go out and do just a little shopping today and I want to run up to the church for a minute or two and take care of some business. I should and could have gone yesterday while I was out doing visitations but it was getting late enough and the storm predictions were making it sound like I needed to maybe be home so I decided to follow that advice. As it turns out, I could have gone to the churches after all but who knows. When you’re on the firing range and someone says “duck”, you duck. 

That’s about it for today my friends. Time to get my butt out of my chair and do a few things. Have a pleasant day. Take some time and say a prayer for the folks that have been impacted by the storms and say a prayer of gratitude that it wasn’t worse. Peace. 

 “When out on the lawn I heard such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.” Well, it wasn’t St. Nick but it was my neighbor’s large awning type gazebo. The wind had picked it up and blew it across his six foot fence and then across my four foot fence and sat it down lodged between my fence and my shed, It is barely touching my shed roof and I have zero damage but he has a mess to clean up. That thing had to have traveled fifty years of so before it got tangled up in the Dogwood tree. I was sleeping and Ms. Kate was on her computer when we heard the thud. I got up and looked around the house and out in the yard but it was 0130 and raining so I didn’t see it then. I went over and introduced myself to my neighbor and told him his gazebo was in my yard. Yeh, this is the owner of the Rooster Beagles. Oh well, it is his problem to solve. 

We are well into our Christmas card list. We addressed almost 60 Saturday afternoon. We’re maybe half done. We used to keep a file for printing labels and wouldn’t have to hand write them out, But we haven’t done that in a few years. 

I need to go up tp my sister-in-laws house and check on her place. She’s gone for a week so I need to see if she had any storm damage. So, that’s it for today. Have a good one. Peace. 

 Well, well, well, Hello you beautiful Friday morning. The sun is shining brightly, it’s 51 degrees, going up to 70 today and the wind is calm. Quite a nice morning out there, I’m having my bagel with creamed cheese and my coffee and enjoying my guests at the Backyard Buffet. It reminds me though that I have a lot of feeders to fill today. I got my order in from Wild Birds Unlimited the other day so I’m good to go for a bit for filling the feeders. Actually, they haven’t been around very much in the past couple of weeks. I think maybe they are finishing off the fields after the harvest. My cardinals, finches, and wrens are the main guests these days, and of course the squirrels, but there are only a couple of squirrels these days too. or maybe there is more but they aren’t all coming at once like they sometimes do. 

We finished decorating the trees yesterday and they look nice. I guess the house looks like Ms. Kate wants it to now. I think adding the second tree is what made her happy, I don’t know. I just do what she asks. It’s a formula that has worked for almost 56 years. 

We have stuff to do again today. We are going to meet some friends for lunch today. We haven’t ben able to do that for months and have missed it. It’s always good conversation and good food. With the stress over Ms. Kate’s health issues for the past three months, it will be good to “download” and relax. I don’t know about you but, we have so few folks that we really consider close friends; you know, the kind that you can turn to and talk with about anything and everything. Ms. Kate and I were just talking about this last evening. For as much as we deal with the public, she and I are really not “social people”. Except for Julie and Jim, I don’t know of the last time we actually had any company in our home. It has been years. And, I may be wrong, but I think much of society might be that way, especially as we get older. She and I love being each other’s company and I, more than she, would just stay home. We’re neither good at “small-talk” and run out of things to talk about rather quickly. Granted, if Pastor Art and I get to “talking” on FB Messenger, we talk for a long tome. And if neighbor Dan comes over, it’s a two coffee pot conversation. But, that is about it for me and Kate only talks to her sister. I guess we are just old fuddy-duddies.. 

After lunch, we need to go out to the cemetery and put winter flowers on my parent’s tombstone. Then I know there is something on the east side of town that we need to do but I haven’t a clue what it is at the moment. It will come to me or Ms. Kate will remind me. 

That’s it for today. The weekend begins today. Take some time to relax, Don’t \forget to visit your house of worship. God got you this far this week. Stop by and give Him worship. Peace. 

 Good morning and happy Thursday, Can you believe another week is over half gone? Tick-tock,  we can’t stop the clock. —— Have you ever wondered what happens to and where the moments go as they pass by? Is there a place for well used moments and a place for wasted moments? Do they go into a special storage place where maybe God reuses them as He creates another universe or two. And if God reuses them, are they infused with all of the hopes and dreams of the people of this planet or are they stripped of all of the thoughts and hopes and dreams as well as all of the hate and violence that we put into our moments. When we pass through the veil that separates us from living into eternal life, will we be assigned an eternal duty of cleaning all of those moments and making them clean and fresh and holy for use by God once again? —— Or, are reused moments part of what we call deja’vu, where we recall thinking a thought before or doing a thing before. Perhaps God has provided each of us with our own little  time wheel and we actually get our own thoughts back again and again to make better use of, —  and occasionally an old thought or action memory slips through. I just wonder about things like this sometimes. However, these are definitely second cup of coffee thoughts for when you are well settled into your recliner. “First cuppers” can’t handle the pressure of thoughts like this.

It is a beautiful morning for us today. Not only is the weather going to be almost 70 degrees on this December 2nd, but we had very good news yesterday from Ms. Kate’s doctor. We have been worrying about the results of some tests that she had to have a few weeks ago, The ultrasounds had showed  several cysts on her kidneys and also a “mass”. That had caused the doctor to order a MRI to see if it was possibly cancerous. I told you that she had the MRI done and we were waiting on results. Well, yesterday she was told that she had some cysts but that they were benign and that she needs to go back for another MRI in six months as a follow-up. Our prayers have been answered in our favor, (prayers are always answered, sometimes in our favor and sometimes not) and we are sighing a huge sigh of relief. We are also giving all praise to God as we also pray for those who don’t receive positive results. 

Today we decorate the Christmas tree and I will start addressing the Christmas cards. I’m in a mood to do that. We received our first Christmas card yesterday. The “Golden Ornament” goes to my cousin Sharon for first card received. LOL

I saw on our Facebook Messenger family conversation that my second grandson, Matt, popped the question to his sweetheart and she said yes. So, another wedding is in the future. Life is good on all fronts this morning. 

So, with that, I think I’ll make some pancakes or a waffle for breakfast. Have yourself a most glorious day.  Peace.