Good morning. Happy Tuesday. It’s a grey day here, kind of sunny, kind of cloudy but only 77 degrees so far. I went to take my trash out to the cans, ended up stopping to pull a few weeds, but it was comfortable out there because the humidity haas dropped considerably. According to my Accuweather app it is supposed to rain on and off today, —- I reckon we will see. 

My friend and parishioner passed from this life last evening around 8:00 pm. I have spent several hours with the family during the past few days as we listened for him to stop breathing. I was with him yesterday afternoon until around 5:30. He was a tough old bird for sure, and didn’t give it up easily especially considering he has been looking forward to this for five and a half years. The family is going to make the funeral arrangements at 1:00 pm today. I suspect the funeral will be Friday, or maybe Saturday at the latest. Both days are supposed to be good weather days which would be wonderful. Bob would have enjoyed a nice sunny day. 

I’ve been trying to work ahead on all of the stuff I have to do. I finished the sermon for the 21st of August last night around midnight. I also have to get ready to teach confirmation class this year. I’ll have two students. I ordered their books yesterday but still need to go to The Vineyard Bible Book store and pick out their Bibles. One would think that aa Bible is a Bible is a Bible; but tis not the case. I like the New International Version because it is easier to read\. I do not like the King James Version. I get wrapped around all of the the “Thee’s and Thou’s” and struggle to concentrate on what I’m reading. Many people like that version though. My seminary professors claimed that the best version was the old Revised Standard Version. I just know that when we have a Bible study we hear a lot of “Well, my Bible says this or that”. So I pick up the NIV Bible for them and I also give them a set of “cheater-tabs” to put \in their Bible. Those are tabs to mark each book of the Bible for easy reference. It has always been a big deal that students learned the Book of the Bible in order. I never did and still couldn’t recite them. But, I make sure that my students have a basic knowledge of which testament to look in; Old or New, and then they can find their tab and get busy. So today, I think I will work on my class syllabus and work on some material for my “new comers” class. 

But first, —- there is a piece of peach pie sitting over there on the counter calling my name. And my friends —- peach pie is not to be ignored!

Peace. 

 What a beautiful morning! The sun is shining and not but a few clouds in the sky. It’s 82 degrees ut feels like 98 because of the humidity. I filled all of the bird feeders last evening so all of my Backyard Buffet guests are happy, —- maybe too happy. They have half emptied one of the favorite already. Did I tell you that I spent almost $200 on bird feed this week?? Scheesh!  What is this — the Aviary Welfare Department? 

I grump about it costing that much but the cost of Black Oil sunflower seed has actually doubled. It is now $34 for a 40# bag. It was $17.00. I read an article that it is because of the drought. It’s sometimes hard to remember that much of the country is in a severe drought when we have an abundance of rain and then places like eastern Kentucky get washed away in a flood because of all of the rain. It doesn’t seem fair, does it?

I’m going to have my lunch in a bit and then head to the nursing home to sit with my friend Bob. He returned to the facility yesterday afternoon under Hospice care. Odds are that he won’t know that I am there but that doesn’t matter. But then again, maybe he will. I had a fellow pastor tell me once that she had gone to see a parishioner once and that he had been asleep so she sat in a chair and just prayed “with him” while he slept. The next time she went to see him he asked her if she had been in on that day and she said she had, He told her that “he felt her presence and her prayers even as he slept”. As pastors, we are often tempted to just leave our card, and maybe say a quick prayer and leave. But, we don’t realize that for the sick and or even the dying, there is an open consciousness that can reach out to us and join us in spirit regardless of what the rest of the body may be doing. That maybe sounds “paranormal” or something but when we really stop to think about our prayer life and our belief in God —— it is “paranormal”. We are praying to an unseen deity, and a Holy Spirit and relying on that Deity and that Holy Spirit for help in all kinds of situations. It might not be “television paranormal” but it is a reality. How’s that for a thought to end my blog for today? 

Have a blessed weekend. Give God praise and share whatever blessing God sends your way. Peace. 

 It isn’t raining this morning, at least not yet. But we are in an unsettled weather pattern for the next several days. It rained pretty well last night or at least during the early morning hours. I got up for a necessity run around 0330 and it was pouring. I noting this morning that it knocked down the “Magic Lilies” or as we call them — Naked ladies. I hate to see that. They looked so nice standing out there all alone looking all pretty and pink. 

This has been a busy week for me. I spent the best part of two days out in the back yard cleaning up limbs from storm damage. I have one limb left to cut up. It isn’t terribly big but it will take a little effort. I filled eight of my 40 lb sacks with cut up limbs and debris. I always save my bird-seed bags just for doing that. They are string bags and will hold a lot of stuff if I do it right. I had already filled most of my trash can with debris and limbs from the wind and storm last week. Now, the city is offering to let people bring their debris out to a certain location and they will dispose of it. That’s what I’m going to do with these rest of this. I have a neighbor two doors down that has a huge pile of stuff because he lost a really big limb off of one of his trees. I’ll ask him if he wants to put it in the bed of my truck and go with me to haul it to the dump site. Gotta be a good neighbor you know. 

I’ve also spent a good deal of time doing visitation with one of my parishioner families. Today they will be moving him from the the hospital back to the facility he was in but in the hospice portion.  I hate this for the family and I pray though that he doesn’t linger too much longer. So often people do that and I can never understand God’s purpose in that. If there is a blessing, at least he isn’t in any pain and sleeps 97% of the day. He will most likely pass peacefully in his sleep. I think that is what most of us pray for, for ourselves. I have begun working on his funeral. He’s just a really nice guy who would do anything to help anybody. But, his wife passed five and a half years ago and he’s been mourning her ever since and looking forward to making this journey to meet her. Given his condition, I wouldn’t want to deny him that and rejoice with him. 

Ms. Kate has some shopping to do today so I reckon we are on our way to the Dollar Tree to pick up stuff for her card making. I don’t mind as long as there will be breakfast involved at some point. I could handle a pancake or two this morning. And —- we have to stop at a grocery store and pick up some Pillsbury Pie crusts. We bought a bunch of peaches to make pies yesterday and we need (she needs) to get started on that. 

Have a wonderful day. Stay safe and \take time to give God praise today. Peace. 

 I’m very glad that we got our running around done yesterday and I got my hospital visitation done yesterday. Last evening it started to rain and thunderstorm with severe storms and wind. The severe part is over  for now but it is still thundering and we have a light rain going. There is massive storm damage all over the city and the area with trees down and flooding in some areas. I don’t know that I have ever witnessed a thunderstorm of this duration. Our power went out once but it didn’t last long. Besides, we have a “whole house generator” that kick on in less than thirty seconds when the power goes out. Yes, we’ve been through several Typhoons and a hurricane or two but those are designed for long duration and all of that\; but a thunderstorm here generally might last a couple of hours. This one has been going 12 hours so far and isn’t over yet. My back yard is a mess with limbs down and I’m quite fortunate. There are places where large trees came down. 

The worst part is that this storm is going to continue, and has continued down through eastern Kentucky where last weekend they were hit with a huge storm and flooding that has wiped away a large portion of the town and so far I think 25 people have been found dead. So, I’m not complaining one little bit. In fact I am giving God thanks that it hasn’t been worse this time. I can deal with my damage and Jim is going to come over and help Saturday with my clean-up. I would love not have asked him if he didn’t have my little saw. I need to put the chain back on the new one one more time and see if it will stay. 

I went to see my friend yesterday and sat with him. I did get to talk to him and got a response from him. They have put him on “comfort-care” status. I’m going to miss him; but will see him on The Other Side one of these days when it is my turn to step through the vail. None of us get out alive and I’ve told you before that it doesn’t bother me one bit. 

I think I need to use today to put a lesson plan together for my upcoming confirmation class. That is going to begin the first Sunday after Labor Day so it is only a month off. I’ll only have one student and I don’t know how that is going to work. I like to have multiple students so they can play off of one another. BUt it is just going to be me and a 14 year old boy. What do 14 year old boys even talk about —- when they do talk??? I reckon I’ll find out. 

I’m very happy to report that my daughter Lisa is retuning to work. It won’t be easy because she still has her wound vac and her ostomy bag but she’s strong and can handle it. She started doing “telework” yesterday but is going to try “in-person today. I pray it goes well for her. 

That’s it for this rainy Tuesday. Have a great day. Peace be with you. 

 Welcome to the new week, welcome to the new month. August: Can you believe it? I find it hard to believe. I don’t what month “it seems” like it is but to be in the eighth month of the year is ridiculous. And —- for many kids across this country, today is the first day of school. I’m seeing “back to school” pictures all over Facebook. What happened to the days when school started the first day after Labor Day? Why are we robbing kids of that extra month off? It sure isn’t like I see any evidence that they are getting any smarter by starting earlier and they still are going up into June. But, —- and here’s my rant; all of the after-school activities will start immediately and parents will either insist or allow that their kids be involved in everything, so it will be pick kids up from school and run them to this and that and maybe they will get home in time for supper and then do homework and finally crash for the night. Parents and kids are forcing themselves into exhaustion. I guess if everybody stays busy all the time, they don’t have to suffer through that awful quiet time of actually talking to one another and being involved in one another’s life. Just grab your Phone and text one another. Yes, — I know. That was snarky of me and hopefully not as true as it seems. 

I need to take Ms. Kate to the doctor’s office first thing this morning for some blood work and then maybe we’ll go to breakfast. After that I need to go to the hospital for a visitation. I have a parishioner that seems to be at End of Life. He’s in the hospital with pneumonia and several other serious health issues. He’s a really great guy and a very good friend. But, EOL is a reality for all of us at some point and I truly hate to see him like this. But —- I could be wrong, God does miracles all the time and that is what it would take for him at this point. In the meantime, I pray for his comfort and for comfort for his family. None of us want to lose a loved one but quality of life is also important and when we get to the point that we don’t do more than draw in air to our body, God’s final gift of peace is \the most desirable  in the realm of options.

Hot and muggy are the words for today. Right on schedule with the month of August. I’m momentarily caught  up with my writing so I have time to maybe get outside and do some flower-bed work. I really wish I knew where to find someone to clean these flower beds up but I guess I’ll try to do it all myself. Slow and steady has to be the watchword. 

Time to shower and get ready to start the day. Have a blessed week, have a blessed new month. Make the most of it and do something good for somebody. Peace. 

 Another rainy morning.This is the second in a row and I think tomorrow is not supposed to be any different. The grass is getting tall and the weeds are now a jungle. Sometime during the night a huge dead limb came down off of the tulip poplar tree. I reckon I’ll have to deal with that once it quits raining. Thankfully it missed the house. But it will be an hour or two of work. 

We’ve ben busy being busy around here. First thing this morning I got the laundry started. There will be the usual two loads but it hamper was full so it was time. Laundry is a chore that I don’t mind doing with or without Kate’s help. Heck, I’ve been doing laundry since I was a kid. I go back to the wringer washer days. Mom had a wringer-washer and a set of “wash tubs”. I don’t remember how it all worked. I know that the wringer was a dangerous piece of equipment and you could get your hand and arm caught in it pretty easily. I know that in the winter we hung the wash up on clotheslines in the basement and then in the summer we would carry it up the stairs and outside to the clotheslines. We had a set of “T” poles that dad had welded together out of four inch and two inch pipes that set probably fifty feet apart and then ran aluminum wire through them. We also had a couple of maybe seven foot 1x2 with a nail at the end to use to prop the lines up when the lines began to sag from weight of the wet clothes. I was a lot of work, but part of my “chores” as a kid. So, I don’t mind at all doing today’s laundry. It’s so simple; —- separate clothes, put clothes in washer, have coffee, take clothes out and transfer to dryer and put new load in washer. Have coffee and write a blog, take clothes out and fold, have coffee, etc. etc, etc. 

Ms. Kate and I went up to the churches yesterday and ran the bulletins. It was Kari’s day to come and clean so when she got here, we took off so we were out of her way and she would feel that we were looking over her shoulder. We got home around 1:00 pm and she was gone as we thought she should be. Then yesterday evening we decided to go for dinner somewhere. Thee first place we went, Hornville Tavern, was closed so we took a leisurely drive through the backroads to the Log Inn. The meal was delicious as it always is when we eat there. It is an old stagecoach stop from long again and Abraham Lincoln actually ate there one time. They have named one of the rooms “The :Lincoln Room”. The original building was a log building and you can see the the logs from the inside. It’s a neat place. It really gets crowded on the weekend nights. Their specialty is fried chicken and “Catfish Fiddlers” which is a whole small catfish. Their German fries are great too. 

Today, I want to get my sermon for the 7th of August written. I already have my service and sermon for the 14th of August done, and I have the worship service done for the 7th and have started on the sermon. It is one of those that is just hard to get started on, but it will flow once i concentrate on it. 

So, that’s it for today. Have a blessed day and a blessed rest of your week. Peace.  

 It’s Friday, or is it Fryday? It’s coming up on 1100 and it is 85 degrees with a “feels-like” of 97 right now. The ambient is supposed to go to 97 today and the “feels-like” up to 110. As the local car dealer says; — “It’s hot, Don”!

I started my morning off by getting my outside work done first thing while it was still cool enough to breathe. I got the plants watered, the yard mowed, and the bird baths cleaned up. They birds go through a lot of water during the summer, especially the blackbirds. They spend a lot of time taking their baths and they splash a lot of water out. Then of course they poop in their bird bath and I have to clean it out again. They are a pain in the butt to deal with. However, God made them too so I do my due diligence and take care of them too. 

This morning I had a Pileated Woodpecker visit the Backyard Buffet. It has been quite a while since one came through. It didn’t stay very long. Just grabbed a bite or two and took off again. I knew he was in the area because they announce their arrival in an area with their call. I’ve told you before how much I enjoy seeing them. 

Yesterday we went to the church and ran the bulletins and went over the hymns with the organist. Our regular player is on vacation and we have another parishioner filling in who also a very talented player. She is also the choir director for  St. Lucas. I’m very happy that St. Lucas is going to try to make a go of the choir again. COVID shut us down and we never got going again. That happened to so many choirs because some “expert” said we shouldn’t sing because it spreads the virus faster. I don’t know if that was fact or fiction. Of course this was the same people that said we should shut down the churches so they basically ruined worship experience for millions of Americans. The only good thing is that one. Of my churches got a matching-grant to buy and install video technology and we had a very capable parishioner that knew how to do it. Just proves to me that God’s people want to spread The Word; —- God will help them find a way to do so. After we finished at the church, we ran to Creek Farms and picked up a couple of cantaloupe and a couple of watermelon. I fixed one of the cantaloupe this morning after I came in from mowing the yard. They are delicious.

Julie and Jim are coming over for a turn-around trip tomorrow. Jim did the caulking in my shower last week but didn’t have the right tool to finish it up. So, they are coming over, he’ll do that and we’ll celebrate my birthday and they will head home to their pups.

Beyond that, I’m sitting here waiting on a friend to drop by with some corn on the cob. He brings us some every year and we really appreciate him sharing his crop with us. Some times he’ll just drop off a couple of dozen and sometimes he brings enough for us to put some up to freeze. 

That’s it for today. Stay inside if you can, and don’t get out in this oppressive heat. Peace. 

 Well, God actually did it!! God allowed me a full 78 year of life here on earth. I think that is pretty amazing. I know so many people who never got that chance. But then, I have many friends that have lived longer. But, I have gotten to the age where you begin to think about things like death and “not being here anymore”. Death, being dead, doesn’t scare me or bother me one bit. I have full faith in our spiritual resurrection through Jesus Christ. My only reservations about death are the manner in which it will happen. I’m like everyone, I don’t want to linger or suffer: —- just go to sleep and not wake up. But, I;m not going to worry about the when. 

Today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year to date. I had planned to go to the churches today but I’ll wait until tomorrow, I did my parishioner visitations yesterday. Visits went fine. Lots of driving because the facilities are quite a few miles apart. I’m sure glad we bought the Prius that gets 54 miles to the gallon. 

The Backyard Buffet has been really busy the past few days. I have a couple of Hummingbirds that constantly dance and challenge one another to get to the feeder. That’s quite entertaining. I filled all of the feeders three days ago and they are mostly empty today. This evening I’ll probably go out and fill them after the sun goes down.  The Blue Jay is sittin on a limb right outside the window and is fussing at me because his feeder is empty. He can just get his tail-feathers down on the ground and clean up some of the dropped stuff down there. There is never a lack of food for them around here. But sometimes they have to remember they are wild birds and not kept pets. 

I guess now I will celebrate my birthday bu taking a morning nap and or finish my coffee and read my Stephen King novel. . Have yourself a wonderful day. Peace. 

 Happy Saturday to you. It’s a rainy morning. It has been since about 0530. We’ve had a lot more thunder and lightning than actual rain but what we have had has really been a “good rain”, meaning it has been slow and is soaking in. I think we are supposed to have this through noon tomorrow or so. That all good with me. My tomatoes will enjoy it as well as my petunias. 

I don’t have much today. Ms. Kate and I have had a fairly easy week and a relaxing week. I carried the laundry out this morning and got that started. We do two loads a week and it is really nothing to do. Put it in thee washer, move it to the dryer, take it out and fold it. We have an iron and an ironing board around here somewhere, or at least we did when we moved in here 20 years ago!! LOL Needless to say, ironing is not on the list of things to do. But —- I know some folks that still iron their stuff, even their blue jeans. Why???????

Lisa is doing well, —— thank you dry much for your prayers. She had an appointment yesterday so they could work with her wound vac and told her that she’s healing very nicely and everything looks good. She doing her walking around the house and the Physical Therapist told her that she doesn’t need them. She amazes me. I will tell you that her attitude and her faith is a major part of her healing. Thursday her son, Matt, and husband, Gary, put her office back together for her and have her all set up with a desk with three laptops so she can begin to “tella -work”. She will start that most likely next week. She is currently the administer for two state-run health care facilities. And, —— she does all of the financial book-work for the business they own. And —- she is currently “wedding central” for her son’s October wedding and her daughter’s March 2023 wedding. So all of this was a pretty huge bump in the road but my girls all know how to smooth out a bump and use it to their advantage. 

Tomorrow is the second of our Congregational meetings. We had St. Paul’s last week and tomorrow is St. Lucas. To the best of my knowledge there isn’t much on the agenda so it should be relatively short. We’ll do it right after the service. That works very well but —- I miss the days of bringing in food and having a lunch before hand. Just one more thing that COVID ruined. 

That’s it for today. Have a blessed weekend. Go to your house of worship and give thanks for all of this week’s blessings. Peace. 

 Our baby girl, (yes, she’s 50) got home from the hospital yesterday. We are all so relieved. Granted, she has months of recovery to go yet but at least she is home, She is off of machines, she’s in her own bed and can get up and walk around her house when she feels like it and her dog will be sitting right beside her the entire time. Actually, keeping the dog off of her will be the initial problem because the dog is huge and does like to cuddle up on “mama”. I remember when Ms. Kate was home and recovering from her heart surgery and from her knee replacement, our dog, Lexie, never left Ms. Kate’s side the entire time for either of the recovery periods. I would take her out to do her business and it was right back top beside ”Mom”. 

Lisa has Home Health coming first thing this morning. They will do wound maintenance and other stuff that she requires. I’m sure there are several things that they will have to help her do for a while, but eventually she’ll be released from Home Health and have to do it all on her own. And she has Gary there to help when he’s not at the shop working. It’s just a blessing to have her home. It’s so scary to think that this thing could have killed her if that colon or intestine had burst and flooded her body with all of the abscess that had built up. Again, we just continue to give all the praise to God. 

I got a lot of outside work done yesterday; yard mowed, lots of sticks and twigs picked up. Cleaned out most of a long flowerbed and fence area. I bought a few new yard tools last fall made by “Worx” and they are really good tools. I bought a new leaf blower and weed eater and they really have a lot of power. They are lightweight and cut through most anything. That flowerbed I worked on yesterday had some really tall stuff in it and a lot of vines and ivy. The trimmer walked right through all of it. Sop, if you are looking for new garden stuff, check out the Worx product. I got mine on Amazon but I think Lowes carrries them too. 

There was nothing worth anything on TV last night so I put together my service for the 24th of July. Of course I still have to write the sermon, but it was a great start. Today, we are going to the church to run the bulletins. We were going to do that yesterday but decided to wait. 

That’s it my friends. My day is officially started  and I have work to do, beginning with having a piece of peach pie that Ms. Kate made yesterday. Have a blessed day. Peace. 

 Good Tuesday morning. Can you believe that I’m actually doing a second day in a row? I can’t, LOL

We have a our cleaning lady here this morning. She comes every other week for about four hours. I’ve been wanting to have Kate use a cleaning lady but she was never ready to give up the control. But her health continues get more limiting and she finally gave in. We don’t keep a messy house but there are places that we just can’t get down and do anymore. Dusting and vacuuming get harder to do. Of course, Kate is like her sister, they both spend a day “getting the house ready for a cleaning lady to see it” the day before she comes. 

My daughter Lisa is supposed to go home from the hospital. She is up and dressed, waiting on the insurance people to approve the hospital sending along a “wound vac” which she absolutely must have at this point. I hate bureaucracies; I understand them, but I hate them. They are generally made up of people that have no reason to hurry with anything, put in their eight hour day and go home. And they are regulated to death. 

Anyway, she’s well enough to gone home and start at home recovery. It’s going to be a sixth month effort for sure. 

Time for me to get out of the cleaning lady’s way. Maybe we’ll go up to the church and run our bulletins etc. Or, I should maybe go outside and mow the yard first, We’ll see, Have yourself a great day. It’s going to be hot but the humidity is a little better today. Peace. 

 Monday morning again. And it has been another week since I put anything in a blog. I guess my life is just getting more dull every day. 

The good news is that Lisa thinks just maybe she will get to go home from the hospital today. I think she is being a little bit optimistic but I pray she is right. I know she is so mentally ready to be out of the hospital and in her own home. Her recovery still has months to go but doing that at home changes ones attitude and a changed attitude can increase healing. 

We had a wonderful weekend weather wise. Last week we had several days of very much needed, God-given rain. It came in many days of off and on showers and was a perfect soaker. You can hear the corn growing and sprouting tassels and ears now. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch of the imagination, but I think the earth is pleased. 

We went out to the farm stands again on Friday, I think it was. Actually we started at the peach orchard just up the highway,  then up into rural Gibson County to the far stand and picked up sweet-corn and cantaloupes and green beans; — then down to New Harmony for lunch and back home. It was a great “day-trip” and a nice drive. 

Ms. Kate has had a sore throat off an on for the past few days. She didn’t go to church yesterday. She give herself a COVID test and it came out negative which is wonderful. So, it is a “summer-cold” and those can be miserable. Julie has bronchitis again and has been suffering with that. So I have a bunch of sick ladies to worry about. But they are all three doing better today so I have just one more, or maybe three more blessings to give God thanks for today. 

We had a well attended worship service yesterday and then the St. Paul’s summer congregational meeting after that. There were no big “shake-em-ups” at the meeting, just the routine kind of stuff that these meetings always entail. My days of congregational meetings as an active participant are beginning to draw to a close. With my retirement date announced, I only have five more including the St. Lucas summer meeting this coming Sunday. St.Paul’s selected their three members to be on the Pastoral Search committee and this Sunday, I suspect St. Lucas will do the same. I am required to stay out of the process and will do so to the best of my ability. It’s hard to do though when you want the best for your parish. 

That’s it for today. I need to go to the optometry shop. I have a lens that keeps falling out of my glasses. I’ve had it fixed several times so I don’t know that I might not have to get new frames. Yuk. 

Have a blessed week. 

 Believe it or not, I actually wrote a full blog yesterday and somehow, I hit some key —- and it all went away. So, I said to heck with it. I was not going to try to rewrite it. 

Wednesday, the 6th of July. It has been a week since my last post and you haven’t missed anything important in my thoughts, that’s for sure. But, I have been busy. Today I am busy not going out in to the heat. Yesterday we officially hit 101 degrees actual temperature; — that is the hottest day in 10 years. The feels like was 110 degrees. Today and tomorrow promise to be no better. I may go out to the churches and run my bulletins and maybe run by the bank to deposit a couple of checks but that will be the extent of it. 

My daughter, Lisa, and her family were supposed to come up from North Carolina for the 4th of July weekend. Unfortunately she ended up going to the hospital with a very severe colon blockage and abscess.  That was a week ago and she is just this morning having surgery for it. She went into surgery at 0615 our local time (0715 her time) and is still in there. It is a very delicate surgery requiring both a general surgeon and a urologist. Ms. Kate and I, as well as the rest of the family are all waiting almost patiently to hear from Gary that the surgery is over and hopefully is a total success. We’re coming up on four hours now. For those of you that have lifted her up in prayer, thank you very much. Please continue to do so, she has another 5-7 days of hospitalization for recovery after the surgery is over. She has been one very sick girl for a long time but just didn’t know how sick she was. And she is a work-a-holic who grabs an over the counter medication and presses on because “she doesn’t have time to be sick”. Unfortunately, she comes by this trait quite naturally from her parents and siblings. None of us are very smart sometimes in the “self-care” arena. 

Ms. kate and i have been “binge watching” the television production of Game of Thrones (GOT). I don’t know if you have seen it or not but the country went wild over it when it first came out. Kate and two of the girls watched it but I never did. I would occasionally walk through the family room when it was on and stop and gawk at it for a few minutes, (men do that a lot) but I never sat down and watched a single episode. But, since TV is all reruns for the summer, I decided to watch it. I don’t know now if I’m glad I did or not. The best part of it is that Kate and I have watched more TV together in the last week than we have in a year or more. From my perspective, it was a very good story and perhaps I should have found the books and read them instead. But —- I remember the days when this show would have been rated XXX and not allowed to be seen on public television. The display of constant nudity and sexual activity, and vulgar language went way beyond actually contributing to the show to the point of becoming boring. So, if you have not seen the show, —- go find the books and read them. 

That’s it for today. Have a blessed day. May God bring peace to your soul and mind. 

 I have totally lost track of time. This week has been tough to deal with but God has continued to bless us. I told you Tuesday that my daughter Lisa was in the hospital and we didn’t really have any diagnosis for what was wrong with her or treatment plan, or the severity of her problem. Well the picture is a little more clear now. She has a severe obstruction of her colon and surgery is going to be required; — but they can’t do it until next Tuesday due to scheduling and the 4th of July holiday. They have gotten her past the “emergency surgery” stage and have her comfortable and she is satisfied with that. The surgery is very complicated so they want be very sure they are getting it right. In the meantime, she is getting some good rest now that the pain is managed. She is far from being out of the water —- but at least she can see the shore and can swim. Thank you to those who have been offering prayers for her and I ask you to continue to do so a while longer. 

Meanwhile, Ms. Kate and I carry on about our daily stuff while we worry and wonder. It’s hard when you can’t be there and worry in person. I wonder how many times I have preached that worry solves nothing and I know it is true. I wonder how many times I have preached “Just turn it over to God and let God handle it.” And yes, I fully realize that God has this whole thing in his hand and there is nothing that will improve Lisa’s health by my worrying about it —- but. There is that word —- “but”. It’s a “faith shaker” word isn’t it? It tests our patience; and maybe that is the real issue. We get impatient that God hasn’t “fixed it” on our time-line. 

We bought our first fresh corn on the cob yesterday at a local farm stand. I’m looking forward to having that and especially the cantaloupe that we also bought. The smell of that cantaloupe flooded the car as we were driving along. We also picked up some zucchini and some yellow squash. I have a nice Blackstone griddle and I think we’ll do some Tepanyaki grilling this weekend on that. I’ll grab my spatulas and do the clangy clangy thing and look cool. Okay, maybe I’ll just look like I making too much noise. LOL

I have to go out and pick up a dove off of my back porch. I heard a bird hit the window really hard yesterday  and saw it this morning. Poor thing, no doubt death was instant though as hard as it hit that window. 

Time to go take care of the bird and then go do a little bit of grocery shopping and go by the bank. I pray the rest of your week will be filled with joy. Peace. 

 This is the last week of June 2022. Half of the year will be officially gone just like that. So good morning and “how do you do”. 

We’ve been busy being busy around here. We were prepping for our up coming weekend of July 4th and doing all of the things one does when they are expecting company. But alas, tis’ not to be. My daughter Lisa and her family were supposed to come up from North Carolina this coming Friday and stay through the weekend. But, yesterday she was admitted to the hospital and may be facing surgery yet this week, we don’t know for sure. It’s an intestinal issue or it may be something else. We are waiting for her doctor to come and see her this morning. She’s in a lot of pain, so — I’m asking you to say a prayer for her. We will still have Julie and Jim here for the weekend. So that’s a good thing. Julie has a birthday on the 5th of July so we can celebrate with her on that. 

Today is an absolutely beautiful day. It is currently 73 degrees at 0930 and is only going up to 88 degrees today with wall to wall sunshine. It is supposed to be nice all week until the weekend and of course it is going to rain through the holiday weekend. That’s gong to ruin a lot plans that people are working on I reckon. But we need the rain so there will be no grousing allowed. We are under drought conditions here and it is even a lot worse as you head west. I’ve been reading articles about different lakes and rivers that are drying up for lack of rain. I even read that the Great Salt Lake out in Utah is now two thirds dry. That really impacts the eco structure. Over the years we have watched Lake Mead out in the Las Vegas area drop by the feet. California towns are starting to ration water and farmers are getting desperate to get water to water the food and crops that we as a country rely on. I’m amazed though that with all of the technology that we seem to be able to come up with, —— how come no one has a solution on how to turn ocean water into usable water. Wouldn’t you think that the world scientists could work on that instead of how to build a new weapon? I mean, it’s only the world’s food supply that is at risk but I guess there is no profit in it yet. 

I think I will stop and make some waffles for breakfast. I like waffles, always have. We are a week of yet but I hope you will spend some time thinking about the upcoming holiday, —- Independence Day! How fortunate we are to be able to celebrate that. So many people in this world will never have an Independence Day or a day in their lies without the threat of oppression. Give God thanks this week for your blessings. Peace. 

 There’s nothing much new on my horizon this morning to talk about. The sun is shining brightly and not a cloud in the sky; —- and it is hot already. It is another one of those “keep yourself inside” days for those of us with lung and or breathing problems. 

I had planned on going to the churches today and running the bulletins but since the weather is not conducive to my breathing, I’ll stay home. I don’t know if tomorrow is going to be any better but I do have an appointment tomorrow morning to have my Prius serviced at the dealer at 0800 and we will go up to the churches after that. It doesn’t take all that long to run the bulletins, especially since we are having only one service that combines the congregations. I love our summer schedule. 

We did go to the funeral that I told you about and it was the strangest funeral that I have witnessed. There was nothing wrong with it, but it was certainly different from anything that I am used to. We arrived and there was only the widow, one son with his wife and child, and a cousin that was there, as well as someone from th funeral home. The man had been cremated and the wake had already been held. The urn container was on a table beside the hole that it was going to be out in and the few people were just standing around talking under the shade tree. Pretty soon, here came the cemetery crew and they pulled up beside the grave, didn’t say a word to any of us; and before we realized it, they had put the urn container in the hole and was starting to fill it back in. We all walked over and watched them do that until they had completely filled it in, put the sod back and tamped it all down. Then they picked up their tools and drove away. Still no one had said anything. The family just started talking again and I finally asked if there had not been a pastor involved in this process and they said “no”. So, I asked if I could at least say some words and a prayer, and the widow agreed. It was so very strange to me. I guess that is what un-churched folks do; I don’t know. I thought it was very sad and it must be really hard when “dead, — is just dead”. 

Any way, it is time for me to head down to my office and start writing. Have yourself a wonderful day. May God bring you Peace. 

 June 21st; — the first day of Summer and it is going to be a hot one. Going to 95 again today, and the humidity is going back up again. No fun at all in that department. 

Yesterday I did my parishioner visitations; three different health-care facilities in three different towns. Thank goodness I have a Prius Hybrid that gets 53mpg. Gas yesterday was $4.89 per gallon where I went. That’s a little cheaper than many other places that I have seen. But, we are being held hostage with the prices of everything and those in charge of our country couldn’t care less. They just get in their limousines and private jests and do whatever brings them the most profit. (Yes, I’m in a snarky mood today) I’m not a politician and wouldn’t want to be but in my life time, I have never seen a more inept president or cabinet than we have now running this country. His only concern is to make sure that a minority person of every race, color, creed, and sexual orientation is recognized in society. His VP isn’t any better because she was chosen simply because she is “black” and female. Any time she is asked a policy question, all she does is laugh. It’s a sad time for America. But then, the guy who ran against him, and who was our president is an egomaniac who can’t comprehend that he actually lost the election. So, who knows what is going to happen; all I can do is trust that God is still in control, do my part as a good citizen, and love my neighbor. 

Today we are going to a funeral for one of Ms. Kate’s cousins. It was unexpected because we went to the “wake” last week and he had already been cremated and nothing was said at the time about a funeral and then suddenly yesterday afternoon we get notification that the funeral is going to be today at 1:30. Okay, we do what we do and will go. 

I got a text last night about 10;00 pm from my sister-in-law that she was at the ER and was waiting to be released. She had tripped over a stepping stone and fell and hit her head on another one. She got seen stitches in her head. After the funeral today, we’ll venture on up to her house and check on her. She is only a month younger than me. Dang old people!!! I'm betting she has a bad headache today. She was supposed to go to the funeral today too but said she wasn’t going. She’s very lucky that she didn’t do something worse. She’s a widow and lives alone. The range of things that could have happen is extensive. Obviously God was watching over her. 

Time to get busy for today. I want to get some writing done before we head out of the house today. Have yourself a blessed day. Stay indoors if you can. There is an ozone alreaady for all of us with breathing problems. Peace. 

 What a great last few days. The weather has ben perfect, we’e gotten lots done, andwe’ve had wonderful family time. As I told you, our daughter heather did come home for just one night. But it was a wonderful visit and we had time for good conversation. She came Thursday morning and we sat around and visited and then on Thursday evening we went out to eat at the Log Inn and invited Karen along. Karen is Heather’s Godmother. Friday at noon, Heather headed back to Louisville to catch an evening flight back to California. She made it just fine which is great The airlines got totally screwed up this weekend what with bad weather and all kinds of problems. So we are thankful she didn’t run in to that. 

Friday evening Julie came over. She came alone, sans pups and husband. Jim stayed home to do his yard work so he kept the pups with him. We had a wonderful visit with Julie. We spent Saturday visiting and then yesterday morning we all went to church. Came home and had a great Father’s Day meal, took a nap, and then she headed back home. 

My Father’s Day was perfect. Not only did I get to visit in person with two of my girls but Ms. Kate baked  a lemon angel food cake for me and fixed seafood pasta for me for lunch yesterday. I do love my some pasta, especially seafood pasta. You know, it’s a wonder I don’t weigh a lot more than I do. Ms. Kate is the best cook I know. 

Yesterday we had an infant baptism at church. I always tell folks that infant baptisms are my favorite part of being a pastor. It just seems so very special. I love doing them because I get to be part of the priests of parents bringing their children for dedication to God. It’s a special privilege to me. 

Today I’m going to go go do visitation of my parishioners. I have three different facilities in three different cities to go to, so it will take up much of the day. Visitation becomes a “timing issue” as much as anything. Sometimes they are in therapy, or having lunch, or napping so I always need to watch when I can go. But, today it is supposed not get too hot and no rain, so it is a good day to go. 

Having said that, I need to hit the shower and get the day started. Have a blessed week. Peace. 

 Well, we be excited around this house. We always get excited when one of our daughters come home for a visit. But today, our California kid is coming and should be here in about an hour. Granted, she only gets to spend the night but what a treat. Thankfully her conference was held in Louisville this time and that’s only a few minutes from her sister, Julie and about 90 minutes from us. I’m not sure when we saw Heather last; but I think it might have been almost a year. She will drive back to Louisville around noon tomorrow and catch her plane back to CA. 

But, she and Julie will probably pass one another in transit tomorrow (yes, she has had a couple of visits with her this week) as Julie heads this way for the weekend. She’s coming to spend Father’s Day with us. I’m so glad they made the move to southern Indiana. It has been a blessing having her here close. She come to see us whenever she can. We don’t go there very often because the girl is always working and going to school or something.

Then July 1st, youngest daughter, Lisa and her hubby Gary are coming up and they are bringing our grandson Matt and his fiancé with them. They will be here until the 5th and then head back to North Carolina. We’ll see them again on October when Ms. Kate and I go down there to perform Matt & Hannah’s wedding ceremony. 

The heat is oppressive again today. It is currently only  89 degrees but it is going to keep rising and the humidity and heat combined gives us a 103 heat index. It’s no time to be outside pushing a lawnmower for sure. In fact with the ozone, we shouldn’t even be running a lawn mower. There are certainly the “dog days of summer”. It is supposed to maybe cool off a little if some storms come through and then be “nice” for the weekend. Then Monday it starts all over again. Yuk. 

Ms. Kate is preparing a peach torte for our dessert today. That’s going to be scrumptious for sure. I think we’ll have a nice salad for lunch today and then tonight we are going to take Heather to the Log Inn for dinner and will meet Kate’s sister Karen there. Karen is Heather’s Godmother. 

I better get busy and help Ms. Kate around here before Heather arrives. She’s got a list of “Homey-do’s” for me to do right quick. So, you have a great day. Peace. 

Have you melted down into your shoes yet? Can you believe this heat and humidity? It is horrible. I feel so very, very sorry for all of the people that have to work outside in this. I know life must go on and we can’t just not go do our jobs, but it is dangerously hot out there. And —- I actually saw one of my neighbors out there jogging it the 99 degree heat yesterday. It made no sense to me. 

But, Ms. Kate and I are going to go out and challenge it too. But, we’re just going to the grocery store. So, in the car, park and walk in the store, and then we’re back in the A/C. That’s not too bad. We have put off going for two days now but we are up against a time line now to purchase some things that we need. We did go out yesterday for a bit. I had to do some banking and we went to Target so we could pick up a new hand vacuum. Our old one just was picking up stuff any more. I guess like anything, they wear out after a while. Anyway, we picked up a “Shark” handheld and it is very light and easy to handle. Let’s hope it lasts for awhile. We have one of those really heavy vacuums (I think it is a Kirby), but that thing weighs a tone. I remember we paid a fortune for the dang thing. (Got caught up in the “sales hype and wonderful deal”.) It’s awkward, hard to move around stuff, is corded and just a pain in the rump to use. So, it sits in its closet, taking up space. It’s too heavy for Kate to manage so I’ll get it out once in awhile and use it. 

After we do our grocery shopping this morning, I think I will go do some pastoral visitation to a couple of fellows over on the east side of town. It had been a week and a half since I’ve seen them. I’ve considered waiting until next Monday but the forecast says that our heat will be returning again next Monday after a somewhat pleasant weekend. I can’t go tomorrow because we have company coming tomorrow and more company coming on Friday. It’s Father’s Day weekend, and Julie will be coming for the weekend, but Heather is coming for an overnight tomorrow. She in a conference in Louisville this week and it ends on the morning, so she is going to drive over here for the night and then fly back home on Friday. It’s way too short of a visit but we will take what we can get. She hasn’t been to our house in years. Then, on July 1st, Lisa and family are driving up from North Carolina and spending a couple of days with us. How wonderful is that??? I get to see all three of my girls within the next two weeks. 

Ms. Kate is ready to go so I’m out of here. Stay safe, stay cool my friends. Peace. 

 I gues I better write a few words before the battery on my IPad dies. I’m down to 20%. 

Good morning on this already hot, hot, hot morning. The feels like temperature is already at 96 degrees and it is just 0930, It is going to be a miserable day and a day to stay off of a lawn mower or our of the garden. But, I do have out door stuff to do so I reckon it is time to just suck it up, but take it easy doing my stuff. The weather lady last night said the feels like temperature is supposed to go to 115 today and for the next couple of days. We are in record breaking territory with those temps. The last time we had temperatures like this was five years ago, 

We had a good weekend. We did go to Springfield , IL area for my nephew’s going away party. He actually leaves for boot camp this coming Sunday which is also Father’s Day. I suspect his Dad will be shedding a tear or two. The young man has sighted up for Airborne Infantry. I wish him good luck and a safe tour of duty. 

We stayed in a Holiday Inn over in Effingham, IL on Friday night. The had an “in-hotel” restuarant so we had supper there. They had deep-fried alligator on the menu so I thought I would try it since I’ve never eaten alligator before. At best, —- it was “okay”. I certainly won’t say “it tastes like chicken” because it isn’t even close to chicken. I found it to be a little bit greasy and a bit too chewy for me. But, I can now say I have tried it and when I watch “Swamp People” on the TV, I can identify with their product. Obviously a lot of people liked it; it just isn’t for me. Maybe if I had it cooked some other way —- it might be better. The waitress said it was their best selling Friday night item, but I think that is just because it is “different”. 

We had about 65 in church yesterday and that is great. We were in the “old church” and I love it when we get a crowd and they start singing because the ceiling is high and the sound reverberates off of it. It sounds beautiful. I’m liking these combined services that we do during the summer months, and folks from both churches stay around and fellowship a lot more. I wish they would come together and become one, but there are just too many obstacles in the way for that, too much attachment to each church, two cemeteries, and frankly the two churches have two different personalities. Each church has two sets of “founding families”, and merger would be tough. St. Paul’s has the Block Family and Michel family; and St. Lucas has the Graper family and Kruse family. Yes, there are some other sprinkled in there but that composes the majority of the members in one way or another. Rural church are by and large, family churches. 

I have to do visitation this week and we have Heather coming in from California for just one night and then Julie coming in for part of the weekend, for Father’s Day. And we have a bunch of other things that we need to take care of. So it is going to be a week of running around. 

Time to quit. Battery is down to 14% and I gotta get cleaned up and start my week. Have a blessed week, please take care of yourself in this oppressive heat. Peace. 

 I think I can hear it raining but I’m not sure. It it is, it is only a light sprinkle. I don’t see anything on the sidewalk. But, if I stare through the air I can barely se it coming down, and I can hear the faint sound of rain drops on the roof of the sun porch. My Accuweather app shows it to be raining right now and to continue for another hour. If it is no heavier than this, it will barely wet the garden. 

We did do our running around that we planned yesterday plus made a stop at the funeral home for visitation. Kate had a cousin that passed away. There was hardly anyone there that we knew and he had already been cremated. We knew very little about him or his family. They didn’t get together much and from what I can tell, there was a lot of drama between the family members. But we stopped by and paid our respects to his wife. 

We still have not heard from Kate’s doctor reference her echocardiogram test that she took two days ago. I’m assuming that means that either everything is okay or the doctor has not seen it yet. But it gets frustrating waiting to hear results. Actually the test was ordered by the PA and I don’t know that the results didn’t go to her and I don’t know if she works at the doctor’s office every day. But, I would have thought that the results would have been put on her My Chart account by now. I reckon it is time for a call to the doctor’s office. 

We’re heading out of town this afternoon. We’re headed to Springfield for a party that is tomorrow. Certainly we could have made the drive up and back in one day but who wants to do a 10 hour drive and attend a party for an hour all in one day, —- not this couple of old farts. We’ll break the trip up and take our time. The route is all “back-roads” and two lane roads anyway. We could go interstate but the distance is a little farther. These days with the high gas prices we’ll take the shorter but slower route. Thank goodness I have a car that gets 52 mpg. A friend of mine just took a trip pulling his camper and was getting less than 10 mpg. I can’t imagine that. Another friend just went to California to se his son’s family and said the gas is $6.00 a gallon and that they gas station owners are having to re-fit their pumps to handle four digit gas prices. It’s pathetic what is happening to not only our American economy but the global economy. You cannot convince me that all of this isn’t a plan by some very, very wealthy people foro economic dominance. This country was energy independent before the current political administration assumed the presidency and immediately shut down our American pipeline “in the interest of ecology”, and now we are buying foreign oil and that has effected everything globally. But —- I’m not going to start a political rant here. I just will pray that cooler heads may prevail and that our election process will make a difference in all of this come November election. 

I think it is time to have a bowl of cereal and get on with my day. I pray you will have a wonderful weekend. Stay in touch with God. Peace. 

 Yes, the week is over half gone and I’ve let two days escape without a word. I make no apologies, I did tell you this was gong to be a busy week, and it has been. So, I have very little news or much excitement to think or talk about. Just “grindstone material. 

Yesterday Ms. Kate had to go for her echocardiogram at Deaconess Mid-Town. We had to be there at 0940 although I don’t know why. Her cardiologist didn’t start the procedure until about 1100. But I guess it takes awhile to get everything set up before he gets ready. She said that when we got her there her blood pressure was high, (understandable) so they had to wait to bring that back down. Then they had to inject her with whatever the medicine they give you to make your velodrome pressure rise. Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it ? That medicine makes your heart race and it makes Kate a little woozy. But, they got it all done and we were out of there by noon. We stopped at McDonalds and picked up something to eat. Kate is the absolute queen of the drive-thru. If we are out and want to grab something to eat, she always want something from a drive-thru. I don’t like drive thru pick up and prefer to go inside for my dining. It isn’t that she even likes drive-thru food, she just doesn’t want to be bothered going in some place. “My hair is a mess.” “I’m not dressed to go in.”  “I don’t have any make-up on.” “I just want to pick up something and eat it at home.” Yeh, —- that’s the reasons I hear. So, we go through McDonald’s, or Taco Hell, or Wendy’s usually and take it home. Although, I admit that when we go to the churches to run bulletins, we sometimes stop and grab some drive-thru and then go sit in the car under a shade tree at the church and enjoy looking at the fields and having our picnic. We’ve done that for years, even before I retired. When I was in the Air Force, sometimes she would fix a picnic lunch and we’d go to the local park on the base and have lunch. 

Tomorrow we are going to head out for an over-night trip up to Springfield, IL. Saturday is the graduation party for a young nephew and he is getting ready to head out for Army basic training. We’ll stop in Effingham, IL tomorrow night and then head out on Saturday. We’ll stay at the party for about an hour and head back home because I have Sunday services to do. 

Todaay though, is a relaxing day and a run around day to do a little shopping. Ms. Kate wants to go to a specific store to get a specific nail polish remover. (Could have just gone to Dollar General, but I guess not.) We need to go to the bank and pick up some cash and we need to go look for a graduation gift. So, I don’t know how much running around we will do or how long we will be out and about. But — I want to take advantage of a beautiful weather day and mow my yard. It should be dry enough from the rains by then. 

That’s it. I’m all caught up. Maybe I’ll get time tomorrow morning to jot a note. If not, I’ll see you Monday. Have a blessed weekend. Peace.

 Good morning, Happy brand new week. So far the morning looks pretty good. It is 75 degrees and i see the leaves of the plants outside my kitchen window are waving in a slight breeze. The prediction is for rain later in the day, but we shall see what is going to happen in reality I guess. 

Did you have a good weekend. We did, Julie and Jim and the pups came over. Jim had a bowling tournament on Sunday at Franklin Lanes. I used to bowl there once in a while many, many years ago. I hadn’t thought about the place even being open any more. He didn’t do very well compared to the competition. Says he struggled getting a 230, 180, and 180. I’ve never had a series that good in my life but —- he is a good bowler. But others were having a better day. He said the second game they rolled, four different people had perfect 300 scores. That is amazing. I’ve never seen a person roll a 300. Jim has done it once and that was this year. 

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday and we began our combined service summer schedule. I was disappointed in our turnout, there should have been more. But, other things often take priority over church attendance. I know that one of the main families were all at a wedding a couple of cities away. We broadcast out service on You Tube so if they want to watch it, they can catch it later. 

We have a busy week this week. This morning we have a lady coming to be interviewed to be a house cleaner. There hare just things that Ms. Kate and I can’t get down and do any more to keep the house clean so I want to hire someone to come in once or twice a month. We’ll see how that pans out. Then Wednesday Kate has a stress cardio gram test to be done. Then on Friday we are heading north toward Springfield , Illinois. I have a nephew that graduated high school and has joined the Army and his party id Saturday. We’ll drive half way,, spend the night and then drive up the rest of the way on Saturday, attend the event for an hour and then drive back home on Saturday.

Well, time to quit. Peace. 

 A good Thursday morning to you. It is a cloudy morning here in Evansville. It looks like it could rain but I think all of the rain has passed us by now. So, we’ll just wait for the sun to come out, hopefully some time today. It started raining last evening around 7:00 pm and I think may have finally eased on out around one or two this morning.  But, it’s going to be a muggy day. We used to have a young weather forecaster on one of our channel that would always say “The Muggies are back again today”. He moved to the Florida panhandle so he should be really acquainted with The Maggie’s by now. 

My roofing contractor showed up yesterday morning. I showed him where the leak had come through the ceiling and he took some measurement. Then he went up on the roof and was gone for about ten minutes and came back down, finished. He said that the wind had blown up some shingles and broken the seal and there were several rusty nail in the shingles. He caulked all of them and resealed the shingles and said he thought that might take care of it. He said to give it a few rains before we decided to repair the ceiling just to be sure. And guess what? —- He didn’t charge me a thing. He said our roof probably has another 5 years left on it. I guarantee you that I will go to that contractor when it is time to replace it. So, if you live in my area, and you are looking for a roofer —- Head’s Roofing and Construction gets my recommendation. That’s the second contractor in a week that has come and made a minor repair and not charged me or sent me a bill. Earlier our A/C went out and our contractor came out, fixed a couple of wires and got it going and didn’t charge me a thing. It’s amazing. 

Today will be “run bulletins” day for this morning and then I will do visitation this afternoon. My one parishioner fell again yesterday. Bless his heart. That is the third fall in the last two weeks. I don’t know what he keeps tripping on or why he keeps falling and his mind is confused as to what happens too. Just last week he had to be taken to the ER because they thought maybe he had broken a hip when he fell. Fortunately he was okay. I give God praise that I have not reached that stage in life —— yet! I hope I never do. He has dementia and is confused so much of the time. When I go see him today, he may or may not recall who I am. It just depends on the day and maybe even the time of the day. I always remember a sweet lady parishioner I had years ago who always said, “I just hope I go before my mind does.”  Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for her. But, I suspect she didn’t know that. But I pray for that for me too. I would think it would be terribly frightening to constantly be in a world of strangers and new happenings every day. 

I guess I better get myself ready. I see the sun has finally peaked it’s head through the clouds. That sure helps to brighten one’s life. Thank you, Lord. It is much appreciated. 

Have a blessed day. Peace. 

 June 1st, 2022; last day of what is called meteorological Spring. So I reckon that means that tomorrow is the first day of meteorological summer. The actual first day of summer will be along in about 20 days. Now how’s that for boring facts first thing in the morning. 

I made breakfast this morning; eggs, sausage and pancakes. I don’t do that very often but I was sitting at the table about to start on my blog when I spotted the bag of Krusteze pancake mix sitting there on the shelf. I really like their pancake mix. It always turns out well. I’ve been using it for years and my grandkids all grew up eating “Papacakes” and looking forward to having them. When we got together for our last family reunion, they were all there and I put them all to work and we made a huge batch of “Papacakes” and waffles. It brought back a lot of fun memories from years past. When I first started doing that I would take my spoon and fill it with mix and then kind of “drizzle it” over the pan leaving little droplets of batter. They would of course cook quickly and I would gather them up and the kids would have “dots” to eat. Then they would tell us that they had 100 pancakes for breakfast. Those are precious moments that will last a lifetime.

Yesterday Ms. Kate and I went out and got all of the weeds out of the garden. Working together it didn’t take too long. I would hoe the stuff up and she would gather it together and put it in the trash can. My garden looks loved again. We are expecting rain sometime today and maybe in to tomorrow so I wanted to get the work done before the ground got muddy again. Then I did a little tree pruning on my Pussy Willow  tree. 

I wanted to go do visitation today before the rain but I’m waiting on a call from a contractor today. Did I tell you that I have a roof leak? I hate that because they are almost impossible to find. We didn’t know it until it showed up on our master bedroom ceiling. I had called our usual contractor three times and he still hasn’t gotten back with me so, I called another guy company that is well recognized and recommended yesterday morning and they got back with me yesterday afternoon to set up an appointment. He has three other appointments today but said he will call me as soon as he finishes the last job. OIIf course if it is raining or storming,, he doesn’t want to be on a roof, but he will call me either way. So, I’m staying home today and will spend the day working on my June 12th sermon. 

Speaking of that,. I might as well get out of my lounging clothes and into my jeans and get my day started. Have a blessed day. Peace. 

 Good morning and welcome to the last day of May 2022. In just 30 days, the year will be half over. But, let’s not wish it away just yet. I have a lot of things to do yet in 2022. 

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Ms. Kate and I had a good one. The weather was perfect and enjoyable, and this morning looks to be a repeat with a high of maybe 90 degrees. I just walked out to the gardens and they are sufficiently dried out that I can get in there and maybe get the weeds out. It has been entirely too muddy to even think about it. I have to try it today because we are looking at maybe having rain tomorrow and Thursday. Hopefully it won’t amount to any more than showers. 

I spent a lot of time out in the yard or Saturday mowing and weeding and trimming. There is a section of my yard on the north side of the house that had had a bunch of tree sapling grow and get big so I managed to get those all cleaned out. That area grows no grass but it sure grows a lot of ground cover vines so I took the weed eater and cleaned that out. I don’t know where all of the darned vines have come from that grow around here. If I don’t work at it, this place will be nothing but vines. I haven’t found a good weed killer to put on them and maybe I shouldn’t use that anyway. I suspect that there may be all kinds of beneficial bugs and things that rely on that habitat. And I’m not crazy about adding a lot of chemical to the soil. BUt, I did go get some “grub-ex” to put down to kill the grub worms. I may have already told you that. 

Sunday we had \pretty good attendance at the churches considering it was a holiday weekend that folks like to take off and go camping etc. After church, Kate and I went up to her sister’s house and visited for a bit and then went to a new restaurant in town called “Bubba’s”. The food was good, the service was good, but the place was like any sports bar —- too loud. Music was gping loud and that makes the customers talk louder. The several TV screens were showing a number of sporting events and fans were yelling and cheering. So, we may go back but will choose a quieter time like a mid-week late lunch period. 

Yesterday was a day filled with patriotism. We started at St. Lucas cemetery and had a good crowd there for the dedication of the new flag pole and flag. The two 90 year old veterans that I had raise the flag were very pleased at their part in the ceremony. Then at 0930 the local VFW showed up and did their 21 gun salute to our fallen comrades. From there, —  Kate and I followed them up to St. Paul’s cemetery where they did the same thing for the veterans buried in that cemetery. The folks from our two churches really turn out for those ceremonies. Finally at 1500 hours I went out on my front porch and played Taps on my trumpet in support of Taps across America. Neighbor Dan had his family out front fo hear it and stand at attention. Dan is a retired Army Command Sgt. Major. 

That catches you up of my Memorial Day weekend. I pray your was filled with good thoughts and prayers for a nation at peace. Have a good week. Peace. 

 Good morning. Welcome to another Friday. This is Memorial Day weekend and I imagine the highways and bi-ways will be a blur by this afternoon with people rushing off to get their weekend started. In our area the weather is predicted to be “perfect” so there will be lots of cookouts and BBQing going on. Boaters and campers will be headed out to the lakes and streams. Ms. kate and I will be right here doing what we do. The only extra thing will be a ceremony at the churches on Monday by the VFW and a dedication of our new flag pole and flag at St. Lucas. 

I really need to assemble my grocery list and go get my shopping done soon before folks start getting off work early and making last minute runs to the store. We haven’t had a solid trip to the grocery in maybe two weeks and the larder is getting bare, and that’s hard to believe. But, we’re out of essentials like ice cream and stuff like that. You know, — those cans of stuff that you grab and fix when nothing really sounds good, like ravioli and stuff. I want to go up to Dewigs Meats and maybe pick up some stuff too. And I think I need to get moving because the sky is clouding up and we do have a chance of more rain yet today. 

I finished my service for June 5th yesterday, That was my self-assigned task for the day so I started fairly early in the day and managed to get it all done. That doesn’t put me ahead to speak of but does give me a bit of breathing room. It’s amazing how easily it is to get behind and have to rush to catch up. 

Gotta get busy! Have a blessed and safe weekend. Peace.  

 Unbelievable! So many unanswered questions!!! Once again we turn on our televisions and we hear of yet another mass shooting, and once again it is in a school, —- not just a school, but an elementary school for heaven’s sake. Another deranged person has taken a military style weapon, covered himself in body armor to go shoot and gun down a classroom of innocent fourth grade children and their teacher. And — before he goes on his murderous rampage — he guns down his own grandmother, Why??? Why any of this? Why is he or any civilian allowed to buy military style body armor? Why is any person allowed to purchase military style weapons?  I’m not against guns or owning guns. I believe in the rights of citizens to be able to defend themselves and their homes as guaranteed in the 2nd Amendment of our constitution. But how does that transition over to the right to freely walk around and just kill people? 

We have a generation of people that have no concept of the sanctity of life. Their training to independently  kill with impunity begins at an early age with video games that teach you that there is nothing to killing to pulling a trigger and killing and the more you kill the better. And if you get killed — reset the game and go again. No body teaches them that real life doesn’t reset. 

One unfortunate fact of this latest and of most of these shootings is that we never know the real “why” it happens because most of them take their own life. In this case the police killed him, but the result is the same, we will never know why. What made this young man so angry that he had to take his anger out on 18 ten year old children and their teacher?? Why do these perpetrators always pick on the innocent? Why? Why? Why???? So many questions. Did you know that there have already been 27 school shootings this years? Did you know that since 2009 this country has had 273 mass shooting events with 1526 people killed and another 980 wounded??? And do you fully realize that this will continue to happen as long as people let it become third page news? 

Today, parents will grieve and continue to grieve for the rest of their lives, never understanding how or why their child isn’t out playing with their friends instead of being buried. Today, politicians will wring their hands and profess anger and shock and continue to do nothing but argue and turn their attention to whatever lobbyist is giving them the most support and is going to get them re-elected. Today pastors and clergy all over the country will tell you to pray and start putting God back in the home and the school but have zero plan on how to make that happen. Today first responder will brace themselves for the worst and pray that they don’t have to respond to something like this ever in their career. 

My friends, I have no solutions to the crisis or multiple crisis this nation is going through. I can only pray. I pray for peace. I pray for peace within our homes and in our communities and within our nation. I pray that God will provide us a way to instill a renewed sense is civility within this nation and every nation. I pray that somehow God will erase hatred from our hearts and minds and give us a sense of the peace that Jesus has promised us. 

God bless you my friends. I wish you God’s peace. 

 Good morning! You know what I did yesterday??? Not a darn thing! You know what I accomplished yesterday? —- complete relaxation. I don’t know when was the last time that I just took a day off and did nothing and relaxed all day. I told Ms. Kate that I took a “personal day” away from life. 

Well, actually, I guess that isn’t totally true. We did go out to Denny’s for breakfast and then we did go to Sam’s and did a little shopping. We didn’t find what we went there for though. But that didn’t keep us from using some other needed items. The first thing in the cart was my cherry turnovers. I love my cherry turnovers and I can get them eight to a package there. Sam’s was a zoo yesterday too which only served to increase my desire to get out of there and go home and do nothing. There were so many of us “old people”there and most were either stopped and trying to “think about what they were buying or they were tailgating as we walked along. But every time we stoped to look for an item there was always someone wanting in the same spot or were crowded up against us. I know we are slow too. Ms. kate is one of those who thinks about it all too much and is a slow shopper. I like to take my list, go pick my stuff up and and get out of there. But, thank goodness that yesterday wasn’t a “samples day or it would have been worse. On samples day the old and young act like it is a free lunch and will actually stand and wait for the demonstrator to finish cooking that piece of sausage so they can get their free sample. Then they will circle back and get another piece and still not up the product, but they want “the free stuff”. People are really weird animals. 

So, since I took yesterday off, guess what —— all of my work waited for my return and I need to get out there today and get some deadheading done and the back yard need to be trimmed and mowed. If I hustle, or at least work steady, I can get a lot done before afternoon nap time. It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow so I nee to try to get some stuff done. 

That said, I guess I’ll finish this cup of coffee and cherry turnover and put on my jeans and get to work. Have a blessed day.

 Peace my friends.  

 And the Mondays just keep on coming, don’t they? It seems like we have one almost every week. 

So how was your weekend? Mine was busy of course as it always is. But, after all of the things I had on y schedule last week, I look at my calendar this week and I see nothing written down. So maybe I’ll get a chance to get out and do some much needed yard work if it stops with the showers and storms etc. The weather has been so very weird. Some local places are getting real storms and other places hardly get anything. We had a lot of tree branches broken off up at St. Paul’s church and the neighboring yard and yet we had noting to speak of at St. Lucas which is basically across the field. Some of the wheat fields have big areas where the wind laid the stalks to the ground and then area s where it wasn’t touched. Here at home, we’ve not had enough rain to even level off the bird baths while other people get deluged. It is really weird. This morning it is currently 57 degrees with a brisk wind making it feel like 53, and not a bit of sunshine peeking through the clouds. 

Ms. Kate and I had to call our heating and air conditioning folks late last week because the house wasn’t cooling off at all. The fellow showed up and fixed a couple of wires on the unit compressor (at no charge) and it is working fine now. However, that is only a bandage to get us through. He needs to come back and do something with the compressor, (maybe replace it, I don’t know). I think thee unit is about 12 years old and has been a good one. Hopefully we won’t have to buy a new a/c. Those are never cheap. But, we’ll go with the flow. If it wasn’t a good company, I might be a little concerned that they were just scamming us to sell a new unit but we’ve had these guys for 20 years now and they are a very reputable company. 

Today Ms. Kate and I want to go looking for a present for Julie for her college graduation. We have something in mind and now we need to try to find it. And, —- while we are out, we need to do some grocery shopping. We haven’t done any grocery shopping for probably more than two weeks. Other than a couple of essentials, we haven’t gotten groceries since we returned from our vacation. So the level of stuff to just grab and fix is getting pretty low. But, between Ms.Kate not feeling well and me being busy as heck, we just haven’t taken time to shop or actually to eat much other than pick something up at fast food. That’s not very healthy. 

Soup, having said all of that, I reckon it is time to get ready and go shopping. Then by the time we get don, maybe the weather will be  little sunnier and I’ll feel like being out side. 

I hope you have a blessed week. Peace. 

 Good morning and welcome to Saturday. This has been an activities stuffed week and I thought it was almost over but I just got a text that another parishioner is on the way to the ER because of a fall. I don’t know anymore than that. He lives in a nursing home and has had at least one fall a week it seems but this is the first time they have transported him. His daughter is there with him and she is a nurse so she can get a better version of the story than us civilians. 

Yesterday was one of those days where as a pastor,  you get to get to witness all of the spectrum of emotions that people have. I had a funeral first thing yesterday morning  and of course witnessed the grief that accompanied that. Then yesterday afternoon I had a wedding rehearsal for a wedding that I’m doing this afternoon. That had all of the emotions of nervousness, giddiness, tears, happiness. And now this morning, I just got a text that one of my senior parishioners fell and was taken to the ER. This is a week that just keeps on giving. 

Thursday night the area had a lot of hit and miss strong thunderstorms and even tornadoes in the area. What was amazing is that here at my house, we had some thunder and some rain, but not much. At. ,y St. Paul’s church the trees in the house next door really got torn up and rage parking lot was full of limbs. But  another parishioner lives just east of there and never heard a thing about any of it. I think we are looking at a similar scenario again today.  Hopefully it dies down some and I pray mo one gets hurt. There were lives lost over in Illinois Thursday night. 

That’s all I have for you today. I need to get on the phone and see what I can find out about my fellow at the ER. Hey, —- tomorrow is Rural Life Sunday. Give God thanks for all of our farmers and their families that keep the rest of us fed. Pray that the crops they just are planting produce a good harvest this fall. And —- today is Armed Forces Day. Pray for out military personnel in uniform and pray for their families who also sacrifice so much. 

Peace. 

 It’s Thursday morning and we are actually making our way through the week. It has been busy, busy, busy. Today will be no exception. The day is going to be a long one again concluding with a funeral visitation. But it’s all part of the job. Tomorrow we have a funeral and then later a wedding rehearsal. How’s that for the two ends of the spectrum. One person’s life come to an end and yet another couple are ready to begin a new life together. I love how God keeps it all in balance. 

I had a good day yesterday. It was visitation day and I took Holy Communion to some parishioners. I really enjoy my visitation days most of the time. However, there are times that I visit a person and they are asleep or they have been having a bad day and do nothing but complain about everything in their life. Frankly I hope I never reach a point where I have to leave my home and be in a nursing home. I’m not talking about a senior living place. My mother was in one of those and had an apartment. She was free to go and do but the place served two meals a day and it provided a safe place in case she would fall or some thing. BUt, once she had to go to the assisted living portion it was different. I look at the folks I visit and they can’t just go get a cup of coffee or a snack. They really can’t sleep in, so to speak because the meals are served at a certain time, and then they don’t have much to do except sit in their recliners and wait for the next meal. I know most nursing homes do have some activities but far too many of the residents have reached a point in their life where they just sit and stare and that’s very depressing. I’ve had parishioners that tell me they really want to die but God just won’t let it happen. Others tell me they really hope they die before they lose their mind to dementia and or Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately many don’t get their wish and each and every day must be scary because they don’t know who they are or their family is. Every experience is a new experience every tike they do it. When I see that, I’m reminded of the Drew Barrymore film, “100 First Dates” —— Well, that conversation got depressing really quick, didn’t it. 

The sun is shining and it is going to be a hot one today with a possibility of storms coming in later this evening. Hopefully it will be nothing strong. I think it is going to be close to 90 today.and the humidity is back. Sounds like a great shade-tree and lemonade day doesn’t it?

Time ti get on the road so I’ll jump off. I doubt I’ll see you tomorrow. So have a great day. Peace. 

 Good morning on a bright and sunny Tuesday morning. It is 69 degrees and the air is almost completely still. I got up early this morning for no known reason other than I woke up. The coffee is doing its job of completing the wake up process. 

I only have one thing on my agenda this morning. I’m meeting Pastor Shane from my home church and pastor Art and we’re going over to New Harmony for lunch. We had planned to eat lunch at the Red Geranium restaurant but found out it is closed M-T-W so I reckon we will go to The Yellow Tavern for lunch. I checked out their website and they have some good looking food pictured. The cakes and pies look really good. Art and Shane are both “dyed in the wool” Baptist so we will see if they survive walking into a tavern. Maybe they have been around me enough to gain some “sinner protection”. LOL. Hey — nobody says it’s wrong to go there to eat, —- well, my mother would have said that; — especially if I ordered a beer with my lunch. Anyway —- Art and I want to show Shane around New Harmony and introduce him to the uniqueness of that little town. It was in its beginning a Rappite Community something like the Oneida Society. Like many religious communities, it failed when its focus changed to being more of a commune than a religious society. That’s what happens when your focus changes to worldly things. 

I started and finished my Memorial Day service yesterday. As promised, it did mean a day in the basement but I had the work to do so I stayed at it. Today I have to finish the funeral service I preparing for Friday. I’ve been waiting for input from the family and finally received it late last night. I already have everything including the homily done. I just needed stuff for the eulogy. A couple of the grandchildren wish to speak at the funeral so we will see how that turns out. Some people do very well with speaking at the funeral of their loved one. Others get up there and their emotions take over and they lose it. 

Time to go shower and get ready to meet the preachers. Have yourself a wonderful \and fully blessed day. Peace. 

 Days like this are rare. The weather is absolutely perfect. It is 69 degrees outside with only a slight breeze. The sky is perfectly blue and cloud free. I’m sitting here in the Sunporch watching the black birds decimate my feeder, (who invited them?) and this is the only day this week that I have nothing on my calendar for the next seven days. And guess who gets to sit ion his basement and write. I’m very tempted to take my lap top and go sit under a tree to do my writing. But that would not only be a hassle to set up but would also be too much of a distraction because I’d be sitting there looking around and not get a thing done. So, “Yes, master, I’ll return to the dungeon.” LOL

We had a good services yesterday at each church. There were a lot of folks missing I think due to the planting season. Or, maybe they were just out and about and taking advantage of a beautiful day. I don’t know. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m not much different than a restaurant owner; don’t worry about the customers that aren’t there, — just feed the ones that do show the best meal you know how to prepare. 

After my late service yesterday the ladies of the church had their annual Mother/Daughter gathering. \\They used to be called Mother/ Daughter Banquets and would be held at night with a program and games and speaker. But, the younger generation has assumed responsibility for the program and yesterday was a “luncheon”. At least they haven’t let the program die out. I remember when churches had one or more different groups of ladies and men’s groups. But today’s society are no longer “joiners” and programs like that have died out across the spectrum. —- Anyway, I decided that I was going to go have lunch at one of our favorite places there in Ft. Branch. But — I got there and it was absolutely packed; no place to park and a line out the door. My suspicion is that since it is high school and college graduation time that there were probably large groups have it celebration parties. So, I went around the corner to the next place and viola’ it was the same way. So, I went to Dairy Queen and had a hamburger basket with a small sundae. I probably saved myself $10. After I picked up Ms. Kate we went home and it was Sunday nap time, (always a favorite around here). 

Yesterday evening I actually took time to watch a movie on my television. I don’t know the last time I have done that. I sometimes turn the TV on when I’m down there working and will maybe stop and watch a certain show for a half hour or an hour, but to purposely sit and watch a movie is rare. BUt — that of course meant that I wasn’t getting the work done that I needed to do so after the movie I got busy. I finished up about 0130 but completed my service for this coming Sunday as well as creating the slides for the screen. Today, I start on my service and message for the 29th of May. It will be a Memorial Day themed service and message. That sounds like it should be fairly easy to prepare but I’m sure I’ll find someway to make it difficult. 

Having said that — it is time to get on to my task of the day. This is Monday and God has given you and me a brand new week. Make the best of it. Peace. 

 I’m stiff and sore this morning from doing a lot more outside work yesterday than I intended to. But, you know how it is. One thing always seems to led to another and suddenly you are at a point where it is a struggle to go back in the house. That was mu yesterday. But, the yard looks good, the trimming looks good. The garden looks good and i have to new very large flower pots established and Wave Petunias planted in them. I tried something different with the new pots. I saw a post that someone had put on Facebook about adding nutrients into the soil. So I filled the pots half way and then I put a half dozen raw expired eggs in each one and cracked the shells, The video that I had seen showed a guy planting his tomatoes and he put a raw egg in the bottom of the hole. The y show the difference between the tomato with the egg and the tomato without out the egg and there was a remarked difference. So —- I reckon we will see what happens. I told Ms. Kate that I was planting chicken seeds so we could raise baby chicks. She said something about me being a “dork”. I wonder what she meant. 

So today, I’m planning to remove the two azaleas in one of my back flower beds. It really aggravates me that I need to do that. Here’s a long story, — kept long. About three years ago we got a notice from the water / sewer department that they were going to be replacing the sewer lines that run between the houses at the rear of our property. They said that we (everyone) had to make sure that the easement was clear of fencing and bushes etc. They said that if we didn’t do it ourselves they would do it but would not replace anything that was on the actual easement. Former owners of our place had put up a white picket fence at the edge of the property which was inside of the easement. I had since rebuilt it because it was rotting and I built it in the same place. Ms. kate and I decided that if the city had to removed the fence, —- okay. But we knew they would not replace or replant shrubs. So I hired a guy @ $500.00 to move those two large azalea bushes. They have since died. So, today, I’m going to cut them back and dig them up. Lots of wasted money and  wasted energy but it needs to be done. Fortunately, they aren’t planted all that deep and once I get them cut back they will be much easier to dig up —- I hope. 

The writing is going slow on my sermon for next week. The theme for the church is Rural Life Sunday which one would thing would be fairly simple to write; — but, not so much. I keep getting off on rabbit trails and having to reign myself back in to a central thought. 

So, that’s it for this beautiful; Saturday morning. It is 10:00 am and the temp is already at 84. Gonna be a hot one today. Have a blessed weekend. Peace. 

 Friday the 13th! Do you feel “unlucky” today? Are you superstitious? I didn’t actually think about it until I saw the calendar on my screen so I reckon it’s too late to crawl back in bed and hide. Bring it on!!

You know, —- I’m supposed to be at least “semi-retired” but I don’t seem to have time to get stuff done that I need to do. It has been one of those weeks and next week doesn’t promise to be any better. I’ve been busy trying to get a funeral planned, get a young couple ready for their wedding, write my sermon, develop the worship service, plant some garden, weed a flowerbed, attend a funeral of a friend, keep my yard mowed and trimmed, help Ms. Kate with laundry and make some phone calls to parishioners and do some visitation. I’m my own worst boss and time manager sometimes. So, when I forget to write my blog like I have several times recently, just know my brain is probably in a different room than my body. 

I wish you could all see our flowers we have here at the house. The iris are blooming and we have so many varieties. The peonies are really coming into their own and the azaleas are blooming beautifully as are the poppies, blue bells, clematis, and roses. The place really looks beautiful. It won’t last too much longer though. Pretty soon all of the daffodils will start falling over and will dry out and look ugly for awhile. You don’t cut them off until they are dried out. Then the iris are going to be past it and will have to be pinched back and then cut back. Raising flowerbeds is an awful lot of work but the reward is a few weeks of joy as I walk around my yard. It’s worth every bit of the effort. 

Can you believe the price of gas? I went out a couple of days ago to get gas for my lawnmowers and decided to take my truck because it was getting down to a quarter of a tank. I filled up my can and then filled up the truck —- $80.00. I couldn’t believe it. I have never had to pay that kind of money to fill up my truck. I don’t drive it often so a tank full will last me a long time; but —— just wow!!! Then I went to fill up my Prius and it cost me another $40.00. Thank goodness it get 53 mpg, but I make a lot of trips and thee tank is only I think a ten gallon tank. And I just read this morning that there is going to be a diesel fuel shortage on the east coast for the next few weeks. If you think the supply chain is bad now — just wait. How in the world did this country get into this bad of shape??? I know lots of people blame the president but there is far more going on than just him being an idiot. I have no idea where to even start placing blame and thee fact of the matter is that placing blame doesn’t make things any better. It just makes us angry and gives us someone to “hate”. What I do know is that prayer is a solution\. It won’t bring the price of gas down, but it will give us the patience to deal on a daily basis with the chaos the world is experience in right now. 

Oh well, I have bird feeders to fill and other stuff to do.  Have yourself a great Friday the 13th. Stay away from ladders and black cats!!! Peace. 

 Hello Tuesday, how ya’ been? Yes, I know it’s afternoon but I have been just a bit busy these days.  We’ve been busy trying to find out what is causing Ms. Kate to feel so bad. We had doctor’s appointment on Thursday, I think I may had told you that. Well, the doctor made some changes to her medication and ordered a new prescription for her. For Tri-Care purposes for new prescriptions that may be a one time thing, we have to go through Walgreens. Well, we waited allof Friday, — no meds but I got a text from Walgreens saying the prescription was delayed, waiting the doctor for information. We hear this Friday afternoon and of course the doctor’s office by now has closed for the weekend which means that there is no way they are going to hear from him for the weekend, which means that Kate can’t start with the new medication until at least Monday. Well, yesterday morning I called Walgreens and was told again that they were waiting on the doctor. So, Kate called our doctor’s office and they knew nothing about it and they called Walgreens. Believe it or not —- the issue Walgreens was waiting on was that the prescription was for 30 days and they wanted to know if it was supposed to be for 90 days!!! The doctor told them to fill it for 30 now and then they will order one for 90\. It wasn’t five minutes after that call that I got a new text from Walgreens saying her meds were ready for pick up. Grrrrrrrr! The good news is that now she is doing better. 

The bad news is that because she was feeling \so bad, we didn’t dare take her over to Louisville for our daughter Julie’s graduation from IU. I took Kate to her sister’s house to stay and I went over to \the graduation. It was a lovely event. We are so very proud of her. That girl has always had a job, often two or sometimes three, has raised a wonderful so and been a great homemaker. She started out as a young teenager, like many military kids bagging groceries for tips at the base commissary and has worked ever since. For the last “X” number of years she has been managing College Bookstores.  I think the only time she has not held a job was when she was in Turkey with her husband who was in the Air Force. But as she posted last night on Facebook —“it’s been 37 years since she graduated from high school, but she finally has graduated from college.”  She is the perfect example of what you can do if you are determined enough and have the drive to succeed no matter how long the journey. Last night she said she is going to check to the tuition reimbursement of her company and possibly start on her graduate degree. She makes me tired!

I spent the night in Louisville and then came on home this morning, picked up Ms.Kate and we went out to BJ’s for lunch. And then —- it was nap time. Now, I’m up and have stuff to get busy doing. So, have yourself a wonderful  afternoon and evening. Peace.