Midweek already! I missed my porch time yesterday. I had a meeting and stuff to do at the church that.started early and went long. Yesterday was the monthly Pastor's Circle meeting and it was my turn to host, so I had to be there early to get the coffee mad and the goodies set out. The meeting was a meeting and that is about exciting as it gets. The good side is that I got to have lunch at R'z, I got my bulletins run already, and --- I still have left over snacks for this morning's breakfast. I'm making silk purses out of sow's ears this morning.

It is 61 degrees already this morning but there will be no sunshine today. The rain is slowly moving in today so the sky is cloud covered and grey. But, that is alright since most of my day is going to be spent at the computer writing or trying to figure out my deceased mother's taxes. I've about decided that I am not going to die. There is just too much paperwork involved. I mean, if a person dies and there is no estate left to settle, and nobody pays the taxes ---- what are they going to do? ---- Dig them up, put them in a chair and call them a congressman!!!!  But, we got that to take care of and then we have to get started on our taxes.

I don't have a lot of birds this morning. I have a couple of Robins hopping around, three or four cardinals, a couple of woodpeckers and starlings, but that is about it. The good news is that the daffodils are starting to bloom here and there in the yard. And --- I did find some crocus blooming out by the mailbox. But all of the ones up by the house will have to be replanted I reckon.

I was dismayed at my meeting yesterday to hear yet again the discussion about Licensed Ministers wearing a stole. We have a young lady that is going through the discernment process for licensing and eventual ordainment. She was talking about robes and stoles and was informed that she should not be wearing a stole because she isn't ordained. I get so tired of hearing that. I really need to find out where it says that in our denomination rules or policies. I've always worn a stole despite being told the same thing. But I just hate the "you're not really a minister" mentality behind it all. Some times the "learned clergy" just drive me nuts with their pettiness. If an ordained minister minister feels threatened by me because I'm a Licensed Miinister and I'm wearing a stole when I preach the Gospel --- they need to find another career field. Okay, I'll get back down from my soapbox.

The rain has started and if I don't get out of this recliner to where I can't hear the raindrops falling on the roof --- I will fall asleep. So, I pray you will have a most blessed day. Give thanks to the Lord for the bushel of blessings you are receiving yet again today. Peace.

Another Monday has popped around hasn't it? It is currently 57 degrees already this morning and is going to 70 degree today. Thank you Lord for a day such as this. So, I'm sitting here watching the cardinals, doves, and finches have breakfast and come to the bird bath for a drink. I have unplugged the electric one for the summer and may go ahead and sit the other bird baths up.. I think the freezing is pretty well over for the season. We are supposed to get several inches of rain this week so I might as well let God fill my bird baths. It is supposed to be in the upper sixties and lower seventies all week. It would really be a super week if it didn't rain. That would allow it to get dry enough to get some raking done. I also need to get my yard treated for grubs and other insects. This is March already and that is the time to do that. Ms. Kate says she wants to get the Epson Salts put on the flower beds too. I don't know why she does that but she does and so does her sister. It is probably something they learned from their mom or from one of their gardening books and shows. Her sister is a Master Gardener so who knows.

I'm sitting here listening to an Andre Rieu CD, having my coffee and looking around at my flowerbeds and bushes. I still don't have any daffodils blooming but there is a wealth of buds on them. And, I'm not sure --- but from here it appears the fire bushes may be starting to leaf out. I can't tell by color because I don't see  a lot of shades of green but the bushes look "fuzzier" from here and a little bit harder to see through. I'll check them out after while when I go out to fill the bird feeders once again. We didn't have a single crocus come up this year. Perhaps the voles ate them. But the tulips are up so it is going to be really nice around here come Easter. I also need to get out and rake the last of the deadfall off of the lillies so they can do what they need to do. And --- it is time to get some mulch put down. Too much to do.

I started on my Easter Sunday message last night. I didn't get much writing done because once again I got caught up in reading and research. I probably spent at least an hour reading about cultural differences in beliefs about life after death. I find it fascinating how many cultures are basically saying the same thing but just in a different way. The "paths" to the afterlife vary greatly but the end journey and eternity destination are in many ways the same with varying terminology. Of course until someone comes back and sits down and writes a book about it ---- it is still all theory, regardless of how strongly you believe that theory to be true. As Christians, we base our life on the journey and how we make the journey as much as the final outcome. In other words, my personal belief is that getting to "Heaven" should be secondary to living my life as Christ would want me to and therefore doing things that please God. If, when I die I am rewarded with an eternal life in the presence of God --- that is the cherry on top of the sundae!

So, that is my sermon for the day. Now, I need to get out of my chair and get busy. I hope your day is full of God's blessings. Peace.

Well, I did a quick survey of everybody here in the sunporch this morning and neither me. Myself, nor I asked for showers this morning but we seem to be getting some passing by quick little shots anyway. The sun is cresting the roofline and these won't last long I suspect.

It has been a fun morning for watching my back yard guests. For a change I'm not over run with black birds. The pilated woodpecker has been here twice this morning as have several other varieties of woodpeckers. There have been a number of cardinals, goldfinches, house finches, titmouse, junkos, mockingbirds, and a couple of robins running all over the yard. The occasional starling drops in but doesn't stay long.

We went to the church yesterday and picked up my persona stuff out of the office. Hopefully after church on Sunday, we can get a bunch of guys to move the other stuff out of the office so they can paint. A week from today we will all be at the church making chicken pies. It is an annual fund raiser for the women's guild. We'll make about 200; that's about how many orders we have taken. It takes a lot of work though to roll out all of that dough, and stir all of that stuff. They don't make what I would call a "chicken pot pie" because hey don't put any veggies in the,.But, they always sell them quickly. I'm not a fan of the pies but the social environment to make them is super. If we get enough help, we can be done by 1400 hours at the latest.

I want to go to a place this morning that sells and installs fencing. Our's is looking pretty shabby and we need to replace it. I already know it ain't going to be cheap. Ms. Kate and I built the existing one about ten years ago. It was a lot of work.

That is about it for today. Time to refill the coffee cup and read some more of this book I'm reading. I hope your weekend is full of joy and love. Have a blessed day.

Welcome to the land of "One More". I've called it that because that is what I keep hearing from our weather forecaster. He says; "just one more cloudy day and the sun will be shining"; "One more cold night and it will start to warm up." Last night he gave the "outlook for March". He said it was going to be warmer and dryer than normal ---- but we just have "one more week with about four inches of rain coming, then it will be nice". Well that will put us half way through the month, with the first half being cold, dreary, and wet and snowy.  ------ yes, I'm being grumpy this morning because it is another barely above freezing, cloudy day. I need my coffee attitude adjustment.

I filled the feeders yesterday as you know. I also bought a new suet feeder that holds four suet cakes. There has been no lack of takers this morning. Those darn starlings have of course almost cleaned out the bark butter feeders already. They are like starlings on crack! But mostly this morning it is the finches and sparrows along with maybe a half dozen cardinals; --- and one squirrel. But it is early yet and a lot more visitors will be in before I leave my chair.

It is my day off and I have a book I want to read today. It is a locally written book about Gibson County that was loaned to me by one of my parishioners. My other job today is to go to the church and get my stuff out of the office at St. Lucas. They are going to paint my office starting on Monday and I have pictures and stuff on the walls to take down, my robe and stoles to get out of there and my laptop computer. I think Sunday they will get a bunch of the guys and move filing cabinets etc. out of there. The area is looking nice. They have painted the hallway, and bathrooms so far. They've put in new lighting and a new dropped ceiling, and a new furnace. My office is the last place that needs to be done. Everything is so much brighter and will make a better impression on visitors. Building need to be treated as if we care about them, and God's "House" needs to be treated with special respect. I hope in the process of moving stuff out they take the time to also get rid of a lot of the old books, Bibles, and hymnals that have been setting on those shelves for probably fifty years. I think the Bibles are all KJV which very few people read anymore. However, God's word is still God's word regardless of which version. I'll check that today too. There has to be a mission group somewhere that will take these for us and can use them.

Well, coffee and cardinals have changed my attitude. (Wow, I think I just got a sermon flash; "Coffee and Cardinals") The sky is no brighter than it was before but my attitude and outlook for the day is. The next step is to give thanks to God for this dreary grey day and the blessings God sends to brighten it up. The Holy Spirit is always right there when you need it. Take time today to acknowledge it and give thanks for it. Peace.

Happy cloudy and rainy Thursday morning. It is thirty nine degrees but actually doesn't feel all that bad out there. I went out first thing this morning and filled bird feeders. The first thing that flew in for breakfast of course was three starlings. But, --- they didn't stay long and now there is a squirrel on each of two feeders. Just what I went out in the rain for!!! But life is interesting. I just had a huge brown cat come streaking across the yard and chase a squirrel about fifteen feet up a tree. I've never seen this cat before but it sure got the attention of the squirrel. The cat has now either left the yard or is hiding under my yard barn. The squirrel has made its way back down the tree but is very cautiously deciding if it is safe or not. We'll just call this little drama; "As the Squirrel Turns".

We got the bulletins run yesterday and we had choir practice last night. Another Wednesday under our belts. The choir practice went fairly well even though a couple of our soloists couldn't be there. I'm doing a duet as part of the cantata. No, I have no shame. I'm also going to sing a solo for the Maundy Thursday service. I'm no singer by any stretch of the imagination but I get by and our organist brought me this piece of music and asked if I would sing it. One of our parishioners had brought it to her to play because he apparently likes it that much. He might not be as fond of it after he hears me sing it. But, I'm going to work it in as part of the communion service.

Today is my grandson Matthew's 18th birthday. It doesn't seem possible although we are going down to North Carolina in June for his high school graduation. He's a great kid but has no sense of direction as to what he wants to do next. But then at 18 --- neither did I. At least I was sitting there with a music scholarship for college. He has a lot of things he thinks he was to do but has taken zero initiative towards actually getting there. He has a part time job, a truck, a girlfriend, and a comfortable living arrangement at home. What else would a kid need?? He'll figure it all out. Now that he is eighteen, he can apply for more jobs. He is most interested (at least today) in becoming either and EMT or fire fighter. I've tried to nudge him toward the Air Force where he can maybe be trained as a a professional fire fighter at one of the best fire fighting academy's in the world. But --- I don't think he can see beyond his girl friends beckoning finger.

He Pussy Willow tree is blooming right out side my porch. Just another sign of the constant presence of God in our creation as the seasons continue to roll on. The daffodils aren't having buds on them yet but my sister-in- law Karen has some blooming. It's all good stuff. So --- with that thought, I'll just sign off and give the Lord thanks for yet another day to to something in His name. Peace.

No thunder this morning. However, I got up at 0400 and took neighbor Dan to the airport and it was snowing just enough to say "Yep, it's snowing alright!" But now it is just a cold grey thirty degree morning. The airport is literally a five minute drive from our house and it is a small regional airport so there isn't a lot of traffic in and out of it. I was probably back home and back in bed before he got all of their bags checked in and made it through security.

I still haven't filled my bird feeders and no body out there is happy with me. I could have done it yesterday after it quit raining but I was busy trying to finish up my sermon for the 13th. Henceforth --- empty feeders again this morning. But today, I will fill them. We are supposed to have rain again tomorrow or tonight sometime and it is still staying in the thirties so they need the energy. Amazingly enough though, the birds are still hanging around and they are still finding plenty of stuff to eat from the ground under the feeders. It isn't like I am starving them; they just need to work a little harder to get what they want. And --- there are some things like suet that I need to go buy.

So today is Wednesday again already. Man, the time does fly by. That of course means that we will spend the entire afternoon and part of the evening at the churches running bulletins and then staying for choir practice. What will I do with my Wednesdays when I retire??

I went to the John Deere dealer again yesterday to look at a new John Deere lawn tractor. It is a silly thing for me to do actually. In reality there is nothing wrong with my JD. Yes, ---it is nine years old and the seat is a little cracked but it runs good and gives me no problems. The newer version of what I have has a much quieter engine and is 18.5 hp verses the 15 hp I currently have and it sits  a bit higher and there is more room between the deck and the mower to work. The new one is not overly expensive, even with the cost of a new snow blade, (all told around $3500.00)  and I have the money to do it. My problem is two fold though; First, I'd be buying something that I really don't need to purchase because while it would be a nice upgrade from what I have ---- it isn't all that much better than what I have. I'd just be scratching my itch to have a new one. Secondly though and maybe my biggest !problem is that the dealer won't  give me anything for mine as a trade-in; and they are downright "snarky" about it  and it honks me off. So --- this is something that I need to think about and maybe even pray about. Or maybe the Lord has already given me the answer and I just don't want to hear it. That happens, ya' know!

My IPad is down tp 19% battery so I need to sign off. For some reason, it doesn't seem to be taking a charge very well. I plugged it in last night and it only went up to 45% by this morning. So, we will see what happens when I plug it in today.

Have a most blessed day. Stay in touch with God. God is waiting to hear from you. Peace.

There is thunder, lots of it, in the distance, but it hasn't started to rain just yet. It's early and I don't have any reason to be out of bed just yet, but here I am. We are supposed to be hit with a fairly strong storm this morning with a lot of wind and rain mainly. I have no doubt that I'll doze back off sitting here in my chair.

All of the girls made it home just fine from their travels. Like me, it is back to "the real world" for them too. Heather flew in to San Diego where she had a conference to attend. She sent us a picture of the beautiful beach where she is last night. Actually, San Diego is only a couple of hours from her home so a beach view isn't anything new for her. Daughter Lisa only has a couple of hours to drive for an Atlantic Ocean view too. Julie and Ms. Kate and I have "water views" too about ten minutes away but ours are of the Ohio River; her in New Albany/Louisville area and us here in Evansvile, 100 miles from her. Somehow, that doesn't seem the same; although the Ohio River is a pretty River for the most part.

I only have a couple of cardinals and a woodpecker this morning. Of course, I'm to blame for that as I never did get arounnd to filling feeders yesterday. A couple of starlings and blackbirds came by here earlier to check it out, saw there was nothing and left. There is still plenty of safflower seed for the cardinals, thistle seed for the finches etc, and a caged feed cylinder for the smaller birds. Everybody else will just have to suck it up.

Ms. Kate and I went up to the church yesterday and picked up the remaining things from the party. The house looks like a floral store now. We had thirteen tables at the party and Ms. Kate had put a fresh rose bouquet on each table. We also had a beautiful flower arrangement that was given to us by St. Lucas church. We picked up all of those and then went to Karen's house and dropped off half of them to her. She has a party at her house this week and was needing some flowers for her house, so it worked out well.

The wind is starting to pick up and it is getting darker outside as opposed to lighter. I've seen some cloud to cloud lightning off in the west now so I reckon the storm is almost here. I like to sit and watch storms as long as they aren't severe so this should be relaxing.

I hope your Tuesday is a good one; full of God's blessings and love. Take time to stop and give thanks for your blessings and to do something nice for someone today. Until next time --- Peace!