Machinery

It has been an absolutely gorgeous weekend.  The evenings are in the thirties and forties with the days just over 70.  So whether you were at home or on the road, you were blessed by the climate.

Thursday was an extra day at home for me.  Our personnel committee gave us some bonus days as appreciation for our hard work and good attitudes during the move to the new church facility.  I used about half my day just to relax and read.  LOVED IT!

Our significant accomplishment this weekend has been to update our technology at home.  Our internet would keep freezing  - - frequently.  Our provider is Charter and they suggested trading in our modem for a newer one.  Did that - - - and I - - - - that would be me who is the least knowledgeable about electronics - - -  got to talk with the tech installer via phone to activate the modem.  That would be the moment my husband’s computer mouse just totally died and could not be revived.  I kept cool but the poor tech person had to wait for me to change out batteries - - to no avail - - - and then get another mouse from another computer.    However, my self-esteem was increased when I completed the activation and it worked!    . . . . but we still had the same problem.  Bill talked to the IT department at his job and they said we should update the router, too - - - - so we did.   Again, I am proud of us because our family got this wireless router installed and all computers responding with no phone calls to anyone!  That is major for us.  LinkSys is to be commended because their installation disk covered every problem we encountered with simple explanations for correction.  The end result is the internet is flying again with no freezing.

Today was a birthday luncheon at my son-in-law’s maternal grandmother’s home.  The party was for his mother and sister.  Here is that sweet young man finishing the job of pressure washing her home.  He did the siding and decks. 

  I was concerned about him getting chilled but as you can see, he is wearing waterproof clothing.  Our lunch feast was wonderful - - - T-bone Steaks, grilled, chicken, baked potatoes, salad, baked beans . . . . .delicious!!!!!  

Hope you, too, have had a very nice weekend.

. . . then the priest shall pronounce the house clean. . . Lev 14:48b

Blustery Day

Although I am not a Winnie the Pooh aficionado, the phrase from those books that talks about a blustery day seems apropos for us this Friday.  Or maybe I should only say it is quite windy but not yet roaring or tumultuous which is the definition for blustery.

Our temperatures have cooled considerably.  We definitely know it is autumn today rather than the last days of summer.  Our two, fifteen year old, cats know it, too.   They have both claimed a heater vent as their bed and will probably stay there until next spring.  How have they lived to be so old?  We have to credit Hill’s Science Diet Food.  That is all they have eaten and they are older than any other cat we have ever owned.

But this post is not about cats - - - but rather about the beautiful day outside.  See how blue the skies are - - 

- - - and even though there are leaves on the ground,  

there are many more that need to fall.

 

 

   . . HE . . . . gave us rain from heaven,  and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.  Acts 14:17b

$25 Deal

Today you will have small pictures that were taken with my phone.  I need to check the resolution settings on it because it seems like I have taken better quality ones before.  However, this post is not about what I need to learn about equipment but rather what I did learn yesterday!

Five of our library staff were free to attend our annual Tennessee Baptist Convention's Library Conference which was held at Morris Hill Baptist in Chattanooga.  This year's theme was Time to Read and as usual, Bev did a great job decorating our registration area.

The host church had autumn colors and centerpieces on our tables in the dining area.

Our speaker for lunch was Robert J. Morgan who just happens to be one of my favorite authors.  (Please don't ask me how many favorites I have.)  If you go to his website; it lists the books he has written.  This is the website for the church he pastors.  At the bottom of the page, it lists his professional blog.  On his professional blog, you can link to his personal blog which is quite interesting.  His wife has MS so he is (as he said yesterday), the chief cook and bottle washer.  His personal blog has recipes on it, too.   I do not know where the man finds the time in the day to accomplish what does has but after listening to him, we found out that God began preparing him for ministry in grade school - - where he and fellow classmates began memorizing Scripture in PUBLIC SCHOOL as early as first grade.  I have not yet read his book Red Sea Rules but intend to after hearing his description.  It is for people going through very difficult times.

Our introductory speaker as well as the afternoon teacher for the classes I attended was from Nashville's Media Services.  Doug Eaton LOVES his work and LOVES teaching.  I learned things that many of you may be familiar with like interactive white boards called Mobee --- and clickers that allow the entire class to interact with presentations.  We "old dogs" CAN learn new tricks!  One of my favorite toys he had was a document camera device - - that is a video projector/camera in one.  As he would see our eyes light up, he told us we had "techno-lust".   However, what I am going to be able to apply from that class is using digital photo frames to do electronic promotion in our library.  Oh my - - - it is going to be too easy and VERY effective!  So it was a fun day to learn new stuff with old friends.  And it is always fun to learn new ways to do our ministry.

Continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks were included in our registration fee of only $25 so I would say we got a GREAT deal, wouldn't you?   And the ride home was just as refreshing as the day.  Driving the non-interstate route, the road is bordered on the sides with trees in autumn color splendor.  The trees frequently canopy the road so you almost feel like you are in a paradise.

And for the rest of the week in review - - - - both of our daughters (who do not live in the same house and have not seen each other this past week) had the stomach virus.  You don't want to know how often or total times stomach contents were emptied.  Let's just say you don't want to catch it.  Praise God they are adults who can take care of themselves when sick.

There was a "truckload" meat sale at our locally owned grocery store so I stocked our freezer on Friday.  Praise God we are able to do that at reduced prices.  It took more than a few minutes to cook some of the ground beef, cube the pork, and the cooked chicken and  then vacuum seal everything but we are set for a couple of months on some meats and almost all winter on others.  What a blessing.

My husband continues to paint on the outside of the house.  I will post pictures in a couple of weeks - - maybe.  We want enough done so you get the full effect.  In the middle of it all, you will wonder why we did such a change in colors.

And if you are still here - - - I have read your posts and commented often - - - but not always.  We won't talk about some of our internet interruptions the last two weeks!

Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed Thy commandments.  Psalm 119:66

2 Weeks ago

 

The first weekend has become somewhat of a tradition with my sister and  me.   There is one main event we always attend.  The above two pictures are extra places we visited. 

The event that is the reason for my sister driving five hours is the Nillie Bipper Craft Festival.   We have been doing this at least 10 years now.  I do know we have missed two years.  One was when we attended another craft festival in Nashville.  Then there was the year I went on a mission trip in October.

You can go to the link and read the article or just know that this festival has been happening over 40 years.  There were almost 100 crafters there this year.  My daughter was selling her earrings for the first time at this year's event.

This year, my sister brought her daughter, and granddaughter - - - who happened to need a little something to keep her warmer in the morning.  So she wore a sweatshirt my crafter daughter and I had made about 15 years ago!  That is some really good sequin glue we used.  My older daughter and I made her sweatshirt with a piano key pattern.  It was fun to do together even if it took longer than we anticipated.

The other places we visited were - - 

Dovino's Restuarant - - - one of our favorite places to eat.  We are there at least once a week!

The other place was - - 

Apple Valley Orchard where we had a hay ride through the orchard and a snack inside the restaurant of apple pie and Apple Cider Frozen Slush!   YUM!  We had a wonderful weekend with beautiful weather and great fellowship!

 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.  Proverbs 25:11

New Views

This is the view from our coffee bar area.  If you look just to the left of the TV screen under the Halo of lights, you will see what looks like a window.  It is the top half of one of our library doors.  When we are inside the library, we see these windows - - - which form the wall to the left of the above picture.

  There are creatures on the hill.  Can you see them?  How about a closeup?

These geese have been morning visitors many days.  Some times you will see them on the lake to the right of this picture.  The place where I usually park at work overlooks this water.

These are not my best pictures but I just wanted you to see what a blessing it is to work at our new location.  What a change from being downtown and seeing buildings everywhere.  The interesting thing is the road in front of our church is extremely busy but we have this bit of solitude behind us.

And for another new view of our church, check out our webpage that has been completely redesigned! 

www.clevelandfbc.com

. . .  Go up and view the country . . . Joshua 7:2b

What a Difference a Day Makes

This post does not refer to the song dealing with romance but rather with health!  I am 110% today!   Nine hours of sleep last night didn't hurt anything.  It was quite beneficial.

Our family is totally enjoying today - - - gorgeous weather - - -- - speaking of - - - - how is my Weather Vane Friend?  I saw she commented on another blog this week.  I miss her.  She was one of the first to follow me, and hers was one of the first blogs, other than family, that I followed.

And it is obvious I am bouncing all over rather than staying on track because this is what my intentions were for a  blog - - - to show you how I start many days.

On the elliptical in front of the TV.  A friend told me about this DVD that reads the Scripture while you see it in print on the TV.  I LOVE it!  It takes my mind off the distance I still need to travel plus it helps me fulfill my personal goal of reading the Bible in its entirety this year.  (I am over 3/4 done.   I am not reading through numerically but rather am jumping around for variety.)  The biggest bonuses to starting the day this way are it puts me in the right frame of mind to begin the day and jump-starts my metabolism.  Things like the elliptical and not drinking sodas have enabled me to lose about 7 pounds this year - - - and I have not yet given up chocolate!!!!  Here is the DVD in case you are interested.

It is read by Stephen Johnston.  I like hearing someone pronounce those Old Testament names.

And now since it is way past morning, I need to get back to the kitchen and convert yesterday's roast into a delicious vegetable soup.  Ahhhhh - - - - autumn - - - - LOVE IT!

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!  Psalm 118:24

Friday in TN

I have been on vacation in the mountains today - - and where would that be?   At my own home!!!   Our family has been quite busy recently so it is nice to go no where for one day!   However, I had some unwanted guests today.  They are transients who usually show up in our neighborhood about this same time every year.  No one likes them and no one wants to take them in.  I did everything I knew to discourage them - - threw water at them - - - made them work - - and even insisted they could wear only slippers at our house.  When I couldn’t avoid them, I escaped their aggravations by taking a nap.  If you had Arthur and Al bothering you, you would do the same thing.  Almost everyone knows Al.  Al’s other name is allergies and Arthur, of course, is arthritis.

I threw the water down my throat because drinking enough water everyday can cure about anything.  The work I did was my mild workout on the elliptical.  And the slippers -  - - - - because warm feet seem to calm allergy symptoms.  So now I am at about 85% of normal health and have felt good enough to be outside on this gorgeous day.  My desire was to begin cleaning the garage because cleaning can take your mind off of symptoms.  Plus the garage needed it.   Does it amaze you as much as it does me the things we will save?

My other great project was to cook a roast with carrots, rice, and green beans.  It was done almost an hour ago and is delicious!

My husband is enjoying a day off from work, too.  He is a volunteer at another golf tournament.  It is the Chattanooga Classic presented by Black Creek.  He is thrilled to be able to see the level of competition there today.

And I will try and update at least once more this weekend.

A cheerful heart is good medicine.   Proverbs 17:22a