July 3, 2011

If you want a great fellowship and delicious meal, go to a Baptist church in the country.  That’s where we were on Sunday night.  Our son-in-law’s parents are members at

As you can see, the area is beautiful and peaceful.  The people are super sweet and know how to provide some delicious food.

 Last night was not a good point night for Weight Watchers but I knew it would not be.  The chocolate brownies were worth the overage as were the grilled hot dogs.  However, I did not eat any bread and had a lot of raw vegetables and fruit.  Notice I am not mentioning the potato chips or the onion dip.  Anyway, I am back on the WW Wagon today.  My six pound weight loss is an encouragement to keep on with the plan.

Speaking of food, if anyone has extra time on their hands, look at this watermelon fun!

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Taste-of-Home-Magazine/Watermelon-Fun

Supper followed an outdoor worship service.  A men’s quartet sang after dinner - - almost until dark - - - at which time they shot off the fireworks!

We had a very, very enjoyable evening with our daughter, her husband, and his family!  My husband even dressed in a patriotic manner for the event!

If the Son therefore shall make you free , ye shall be free indeed.John 8:36

Stay-cation

 

We are home for vacation and enjoying it!  Sleeping late - - relaxing - - eating well.  Not going out in the heat unless we want to - - - - and working on projects when we want to!  It's truly delightful.

 

Also, we have been shopping - - - a pressure washer for my husband to make life easier while taking care of our home. 

 He has cleaned the gutters this morning and likes the performance of this machine.  It is supposed to be quieter than most.  We are glad we haven't heard the noisy ones!

 

We have also bought a few necessary things (vacuum cleaner, microwave) for our older daughter's new home.  She will need these within three weeks.  Sears was our one-stop shopping for most of it.  They are having GREAT sales this weekend.

 

 Yes, these flowers are blooming in our backyard.

 

And if you are wondering what to celebrate this month other than Independence Day, check out this link.

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/julycalendar.html

And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. John 6:3 

Uh-Oh & Uh–huh!!

Mother Nature has been doing some pruning.  We have had VERY HIGH winds with rain again this week.  These pictures won't give the impact that you see standing by them.  We had a very large limb fall and break the top half of a Magnolia Tree.

 

The limb came from near the top of this 75' tree beside our house.

Here is a close-up of the tree top.

 

The next picture is just to the right of the above tree.  This came from an obviously dead tree that was about 15 feet away from the first tree.  We are very blessed that both of these fell away from the house. 

 

We generally have lots of limbs and branches so they get piled up and eventually burned.  This pile has been building for at least a couple of months.  It doesn't contain any of the stuff from above.  (Neighbor's house in distance.) 

It was not being cooperative in catching a flame.  Bill worked and worked on it until it became a matter of principle that he would make it ignite.  The (male) neighbor said, "Pour a little gasoline on it.  That will get it going."  Bill told him, "Lynda doesn't like it when I do that so I can't."  Smart man!!!

 

Perseverance is beginning to pay off.

 

And then it started raining!

 

And in other news, our first-born has been looking at houses to buy.  Here is the finalist.  Now she waits on the bank, some corrections on the home inspection, etc.

 

 Another major item this month is that Weight Watchers and I are happy partners - - thus far.  I have averaged almost 2 pounds lost each week.  This is the end of my third week.   The beauty of the plan is you have 'extra points' to work with as well as activity points.  Those help balance the days when over-eating happens - - - - and it happened about 4 times the last two weeks when we were treated to some special meals made by some precious friends.!  For me to be able to lose weight is a major thing since I never really tried to slim down before.  If - - WHEN - - I reach my goal, I will have to buy new clothes!!!

And put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony  Proverbs 23:2    (This is definitely one for me to remember!)

I Cannot Tell a Lie

 

I cannot blame my weight on any medical issue unless we can count slower metabolism due to aging or "Hand & Mouth" Disease as valid reasons.  Everyone has a catalyst.  Mine was a pair of white slacks.  I looked for the ones that were 'more comfortable' and then remembered I gave them away because they looked big.  I said I would not be that size again.  However, the two remaining pair are not comfortable!

 

So I 'bit the bullet' and did something others have done over the years and found successful.  I joined - - - - - 

 I am doing the online version because I don't have time or want to obligate myself to a meeting.   They have a one week trial version but I signed up for a three month commitment.  The computer will be a good accountability partner.  Yesterday was my first day and was an eye opener when I started recording what I am eating.  I need to lose between 20 and 25 pounds - - - not because the scale says so but because I know how I feel and we have mirrors in this house.

In other news, last week was very busy for many, many people.  It was Vacation Bible School at our church.  If you are a Southern Baptist Church, more than likely you may be seeing some of the following images at your church.  The neat thing is the skyline in our sanctuary.  These pictures don't do it justice.  It was cut from foam-board and supported with wooden frames.   The lighting colors would change throughout the assembly time.  The shadowing with the lights was awesome.

 The following pictures were on the TV monitors throughout our building.

 

Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for?  I Corinthians 6:19a  The Message

Two Weekends

I know you can store just about anything in Rubbermaid but I don’t think that was the cat’s intention.  What is a cat's fascination with an empty container?

Last night we got to be with our daughter-in-law’s family.  They are so sweet.  They even cooked us supper.  Amanda's father-in-law is a mechanic and installed a new starter on Bill’s car.  (That's the old one below - - ready to go back to AutoZone for a trade-in credit.)  'R' has a garage equipped for engine repair on his property.

Our car – the one I drive during the week and the one we take on trips -  got an oil change.

Last Saturday, we went to Monroe, GA to visit some friends we have known for over 34 years.  They are a precious family, too.  I am so sorry I did not take any pictures because we had a great time with them.

On the way home, we stopped at the Ringgold, GA exit - - - one that was hit very hard by the tornado on April 27.  This is how it looked a month and three days later on May 28.  If you go back and look at video footage from April, you realize how much cleanup has been done.    Let’s just say it looks like construction crews still have some job security for a while.

Below is Hardee’s.  Twenty-seven and a half years ago, we lived in Trion, GA.  This was on our way to Chattanooga one Monday morning in November when it was time to deliver our second daughter.  My husband remembered how long he might be without food before the actual birth so we stopped here for his breakfast.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting .  Acts 2:2

Saturday

 

Ducktown is very close to my daughter and son-in-law's home.  I got  to visit with them a few hours yesterday.   According to Wikipedia, this next-door town was named after a Cherokee leader, Chief Duck.  The Cherokee name was Kawana which means "duck town" in English.

Traveling to and from Cleveland to Copperhill,  you will pass this 'store' in the Ocoee area.

 

 

This is on the deck to the left of the entrance door.

 

Much of the merchandise is retro-hippie.  You can find some pretty trinkets and accessories if this is your style. 

 

 

And while the majority of us are going about business-as-usual, there are many, many, many who are still dealing with the aftermath of the tornado.  Blue tarps on roofs are a common sight in some areas.

 

 

Not all fallen trees have been cut up yet.

 

The yards that have been cleaned up are ready for pick-up by the county.  Their trucks have been working diligently on curbside debris removal.

Our business-as-usual had us beginning the summer reading program this morning with over fifty already signed up.  You can see our display board with prizes now at www.libraryfbc.blogspot.com

Be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2a

Seasons - - of Life

 

Buttercup - - - beautiful yellow flower of spring and summer.  When we were children, we would pick bouquets of them - - as did our own children.

Now I have another Buttercup in my life - - a blogger buddy named Buttercup.  She sent me  bouquets of flowers . . . . on pages in a book - - accompanied by springtime poetry.

THANK YOU, BUTTERCUP!

Here's another bouquet of flowers I received this week from my older daughter.  Her college used them to decorate for graduation and then the employees had the option of buying one.  It will be planted in our yard.

Remember Missy - - Miss Kiss - - - Miss Kitty - - - who went to be with Jesus a couple of months ago?

 

She was sixteen and a half years old.  She had a stroke or something similar.  Today her sister went to join her.

Sissy had been losing weight - - was down to 7 pounds a month ago and down to 6.3 today.  Her kidneys had shrunk to half their normal size and were hard - - obviously in renal failure.  This was one 'unique' cat - - - quite the loner.  She belonged to our married daughter - - - spent all her time in Amanda's room - - - even after Amanda moved out two and a half years ago.  Sissy enjoyed 'one-on-one' time with people but wanted nothing to do with other cats.  That was her personality.  Love accepts people and pets as they are - right?  Please don't feel badly for us.  Both cats were rescue pets from the same litter whose mom had been killed.  They lived a good life - - - a lot longer than if they had been in the wild.

And speaking of wild - - - it's starting to get that way at work as we get ready for the summer reading program.  If you want to look at pictures, you can go to the link at www.libraryfbc.blogspot.com.   We will update it weekly.  We anticipate at least 500 children joining us this summer!

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.  Leviticus 26:4