Nacho Ordinary Sunday

Our younger daughter and her husband came over for lunch today. We had nacho salads. YUM! Instead of grated cheese, have you ever used the Rotel & Velveeta dip instead? It is soooooooo delicious!My salad probably looked more like this - - - piled high (no sour cream). The funny thing is a few years ago I never cared about something like this but now it is one of my favorite meals.

The reason they came over was to finish filing their taxes. My husband had their information loaded on our computer. It was all finished except for a couple of questions. Now it has been electronically submitted. Isn't technology wonderful?

And it will probably be next weekend before I write again. Have a great week!

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Mark 12:17

Polk County

Today we headed towards Polk County - - - in the direction many white water rafters go during warmer weather - - also the site of the 1996 Olympics. Our goal was not that far down the road today but rather only 15 minutes out of town. This is the inside of our destination.

Yes, this kayak is hanging from the ceiling because this place is popular with those who run the rapids.

The tables are varying styles from traditional booths to rustic wood-hewn benches and even a taller table with a tree trunk support.

Scenes from many years ago line the walls.

This is located near the Ocoee Dam #1 on the TVA waterway. That is where this restaurant gets its name. The food is excellent and if you are in the area, it is well worth a visit. The wrap sandwiches are very hearty. It is difficult to finish one if you have an average appetite. They serve 3 meals daily and also have plate specials with meat and vegetables.

Eating here was a nice treat for this weekend. It does seem odd that we are enjoying normal lives while those in other parts of the world are dealing with weather-related disasters.

. . . He made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city . . . 2 Kings 20:20b

L.A.

My husband and I went to L.A. last weekend. We drove there in six hours! Of course, I must be talking about Lower Alabama rather than a city in California. We went for a family reunion with his siblings and had a wonderful time visiting. Bill is the baby of the three but when you get to be in the fifth decade, everyone seems the same age!

The place we visited was Dothan, Alabama. We had not been there before and were quite impressed with the size of the city. His brother and wife have a lovely house in a quiet residential neighborhood. The layout is great with the master bedroom on one side of the house and our guest room on the other so everyone has their privacy at night. Now if you were staying in the guest room at our house, our snoring might disturb you!
Bill's sister traveled from above Phenix City with her sweet daughters who never seem to age. Another beautiful grown niece and a very young, charming niece were also with us part of the time.

The traveling time was about six hours but of course we made a couple of stops on the way. Getting out and stretching is so necessary when you have arthritis in some joints. The time passed by faster because we listened to an audio book. This one was long enough for both "legs" of the trip. It's a great story - - - if you can cope with one of the main characters whining a lot - - but she is one of the reasons there is such a complex plot. He and I are now listening to the sequel on the way to and from work. We try and predict what will happen next.

Last weekend was a wonderful visit with precious family and beautiful weather - - - if you don't count the rain for the first hour on the return trip. It was great to have a break from winter and be able to be outside most Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:50

H.B., Abe

If you're near my age, you will remember today as being the day we actually celebrated Abraham Lincoln's birthday because it is his birthday today. However in the late sixties, a push was made to celebrate both George Washington's and Abe's birthdays on the third Monday of the month and call it Presidents' Day.

Did you ever make the stovepipe hat as a craft? Remember the great stories told about these presidents? Abraham Lincoln loved to read - - my kind of person. There was a story that he walked miles to return a borrowed book.

And George Washington - - - the young boy who "could not tell" a lie when his father asked, "Who cut down my beloved cherry tree?" It was George who was trying out his new gift of a hatchet.

Do you ever wonder how history and your family will remember you? I don't dwell on that but it does occasionally run through my head - - - - which incidentally is getting better bit by bit. One thing about being 50+, recovery doesn't go as fast as we would like. The body has definite limits regarding healing and living a normal life. It's just me who figures I should have my old energy back only two and a half days after beginning antibiotics!

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. I Timothy 2:1-3

Coma

Coma - - I am one of those people who evidently would have to be drug-induced to rest. If I am tired, you can't get me to move but if I am not tired, I can't just sit around. I was in this chair for almost an hour, rereading one of my favorite books. Obviously I left the cat there by herself. The reason for "trying to rest" is I am recovering from Strep Throat. The doctor asked if I had been around any children. Yes, I believe those would be the short people who check out beginning readers at our church library. However, during the week proceeding the diagnosis, I have been in grocery stores and other public places - - - places where I always wipe down shopping carts with the disinfectant wipes. Oh well. I was just glad to have a bacterial infection that could be treated with drugs. With a virus, you generally have to fight it with just your immune system.

The good news is I only ran fever for about 12 hours and had intense throat pain about that same amount of time - - so that's a blessing right there. Since I rarely have to take antibiotics, Penicillin is still a miracle drug for my body. So between it, vitamin supplements, and the good nutrition I ingest, my recovery seems to be progressing quite nicely. So I will do low energy things like computer work, etc. Don't feel badly for me being sick because I am being paid sick days to be "relaxing" at home. And we all know there are worse health problems to cope with than this - - - some problems that don't cure. Plus, being home gives me a chance to say hello to you and read all my favorite blogs. And even though I feel like a hyper-active kid forced to take a nap, I will go back to my chair and book before the day is over!

. . . . three days agone I fell sick. I Samuel 30:13

Super!

Super - For many of you, that refers to the football game tonight. Those who know me know that I don't care a thing about football. However, my computer sits in the den where the game is on TV. I have no clue what the score is but I just saw the halftime show with The Who. The instumentals and lights were excellent. I liked their voices better in the 70's. It was fun to hear the crowd sing with them.

Another SUPER is my camera is fixed!!!! I should be embarrassed to tell this but I am so happy it didn't cost me anything that I don't care who knows. My younger daughter and husband were here today for our older daughter's birthday. The younger has the same camera as me but a year newer model. She looked at my black LCD screen, then looked at the top of my camera, and pushed a button and Voila! My screen is back!!!! I didn't know I could toggle between the "eye viewer" and the LCD screen. Younger said, "Don't feel stupid. It happened to me, too and I almost had a heart attack when it did." So this technologically-challenged person will have pictures for you next weekend.

Super - - - that's what our celebration was today for the older's birthday. Great food cooked by me and even better fellowship together. Plus my husband got an old big TV moved to the basement in front of his treadmill. Our son-in-law helped do that. My husband has spent some time down there over the last couple of weeks clearing out old stuff and organizing a bit more.

Super meeting yesterday - - - - Our church librarians had an associational meeting. Our speaker was from Nashville. He is extremely encouraging and motivating. During his presentation, he made a point to incorporate each person into his talk. He would move around the room and ask rhetorical questions - - - even sat at each table to help with an "assignment" he gave at the end. Our host church provided a phenomenal breakfast.

Super shower - - After the meeting, some sweet ladies from our church hostessed a baby shower for the daughter of a friend. Don't you just love baby showers? The gifts are so cute and precious. We "ooo-ed and aaahhh-ed" over tiny shoes and soft blankets and the cutest little girl clothes.

Super date - - - we both had a busy, busy work week in addition to the weekend, so my sweet hubby invited me on a date last night. It was at our little Italian restaurant up the road. Now it's back to a super job tomorrow!

Finally, brethren, . . . . whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; . . . . . if [there be] any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Friday on Thursday

Most people still have one more day left to work this week but I am off tomorrow so today feels like a Friday to me. When you are on staff at church, your work week begins on Sunday making the end of a five day week on Thursday.

So tomorrow, I will do the weekly household things like laundry, vacuuming, and updating the checkbook. And I will definitely do what the clock suggests!

Sit down now, and read it in our ears. Jeremiah 36:15b