Be Prepared

Summer weather is here!! I've always said that Summer is my favorite season, I think that's because I like all the light, not so much the heat, but I'll take it. I won't complain about summer, especially when I think about the flip side of the seasonal coin. We did take our walk earlier today, so that worked for us. Puppies are getting cuter and more playful by the day. I'm letting them run around the kitchen with papers down. They are wonderful to sleep in their bed box all night and then saturate their paper box come morning.

Today's upperroom was really helpful. It suggested being prepared to help those in need with food, toiletries or socks. I should have thought of that, don't we all love a new pair of socks! I've always tried to have a little money available, ones and fives, just in case someone needs a little help. It's awful to meet someone in need, that you want to help, and all you have is a debit card.

Have you heard about the book, The Shack? My sister read it, as did many of her small group friends at her church. She then loaned it to me. I guess it's being talked about and discussed in circles of believers. I hope to get in on a discussion and share my thoughts on it. In the meantime, I highly recommend it, it'll stretch the boundaries of your thoughts about God and people.

Today's gonna be a great day, I'm having company and Brad Paisley just finished singing Waitin' On A Woman. I love DVR cause I can now rewind it and listen to it as much as I like in the next hour.

You have a great day, luv, Susan

BAD TO GOOD

Wow, it is cool this morning. It was last night too, felt like early Fall. I can wait a little later to walk. I have to walk in two shifts so Pepper, Roy and Riff get in their needed morning exercise. I usually walk the Rowdy Boy's first, then Pepper, but since Roy seems to need to release more pent up, frustrating energy, sometimes I just let him go on both walks, he has that much pent up energy.

A couple of days ago, we attracted the attention of a friendly, playful boxer puppy. I don't mean puppy in the sense of a cute little thing. This was a six month old full grown, muscular, massive creature, he just so happened to still want to play and he really wanted to play with the little white fuzzies he saw walking by his driveway. Well, our attempts to get him to go home were useless and it was a miserable walk back home with him and my little mongrels. I then walked him home while they fumed in the house.

It was a nice opportunity to meet the neighbors at the top of the hill. They're really nice families, wouldn't have had the chance to say hi and introduce myself if Jerry, the boxer puppy, hadn't taken the time to romp around with us.

Tuesday I had to run to town. The truck felt a bit shakey as I neared my destination. While loading up my bags of birdfood, the stockboy mentioned my tire looked low and said there was an air pump out back. Well, I've never had to deal with this situation on my own before, but I attempted to handle the situation while praying for help. Mark on the cell told me I'd probably need assistance as I had never changed a tire before, let alone a special wheel and tire as on his truck. I continued to pray for help while I fiddled with all the tire changing paraphinalia. I was actually trying to get a lug nut off when a super nice guy approached.

He was driving a city garbage truck and he and his two man crew took care of the tire situation for me. Turns out he's a master mechanic, which is good to know, and he and his crew were a wonderful answer to prayer. My son, also drove over from Lexington, which is nice to know that he's willing to do that for his Mom as well. All in all, it was a great experience.

I thank God for turning the circumstances in my recent days from what originally appeared to be very bad into events that I could finally look back on as very, very good.

I hope you have a great day, gotta go get caught up on my upperroom. luv, Susan

Positive Role Model

What a steamy weekend. I hope you had a good one. Mark got to do some boating and we enjoyed all seven dogs, so it was a good time here. I'm reflecting this morning on the weekends' upperrooms. I especially liked being reminded that we can use our gifts and blessings and by passing them on, they are multiplied. I also, enjoyed being reminded that God is the potter, we are the clay. We need to sometimes be still and try to let ourselves relax and find our center in Him, so he can more easily mold us and make us into something wonderful.

While I contemplate these awesome thoughts I am enjoying two of my favorite music videos. Craig Morgan, a strong Christian, performing International Harvester and Trace Adkins singing I Got My Game On. These two are perfect for getting aerobic exercise while dancing. Trace, in his video, states to the comic, Rodney Carrington, that he needs a positive role model. Wasn't it amazing that God gave us the one role model we can all live our lives emulating. He came down and did that Himself. He could have been spending those thirty some years doing only Heaven knows what, and yet, He came down to earth and lived a human existence to show us how we are to live. If He was willing to do that for us, how should we live our lives in response?

The View just showed the best video about a lion that was reintroduced to two fellas that helped raise him and then released him in the wild. It is so special to see a grown, now wild lion, joyfully greeting these two long lost friends. It's probably available on the internet. My sister actually showed it to me a couple weeks ago on her computer. I highly recommend you try to see it.

Well, I've got a busy day with dogs, puppies and other Monday responsibilities. I hope you have a great day, luv, Susan

FULL CIRCLE

It was a beautiful weekend. I hope you're enjoying this wonderful summer weather. My sister and brother-in-law took me to a wedding in Louisville Friday evening. One of the families, for whom I babysat, married off their older daughter. It was really nice. I was especially pleased to be there ,as I don't get to see these kids I watched so many years ago, very often. They're all grown up, just like my two.

We had only lived in Henderson a short time when I began babysitting. I first started watching a set of brothers. Their dad, a realtor, helped a new family buy the house next to his. His wife, Alice, introduced me to the new mom, who just so happened, to need a babysitter for their three children. My babysitting business really kept me busy after that, as I also was watching another set of brothers.

I hadn't intended on being a babysitter, even though that's what my grandma and my mom had done from time to time to supplement their families' income. But, after a good friend, upon first seeing our huge Henderson home for the first time, said that it was perfect for daycare, I pretty much took that to heart. I decided that God had made this home available to us for a reason and that could be it. So, I was very open, over the next fifteen years, to watching children for other busy families.

Like I said, it was good to be at the wedding and see Tami, Beth and Ray. After a beautiful ceremony, I know Tami and new husband, John are off to a good solid start with their marriage. I also enjoyed visiting with dad, Jim, he's a really great guy. And, I still very much miss wife and mom, Lynn. She was a super lady, who passed away several years ago. Her absence leaves a huge gap in the lives of everyone who knew her. She was that type of person who just gave so much of herself. We all miss her terribly.

It was nice for me that we were able to spend time with my friend, Alice and her husband at the wedding and the reception. Spending time with her made me feel like a chapter of my life had come full circle. That's a good feeling, no loose ends dangling.

I was able to convince our youth minister to have his group of kids help with picking up litter on our country roads over the weekend. They did a great job. I always encourage: reduce, reuse and recycle. Hope you have a great day. luv, Susan

Temporary Assignment

There's a lot going on in my life right now. For someone who doesn't have a real job, you might find that hard to believe. But, the things that are on my heart are my real job. I take my tasks of the heart very seriously.

I have to say that the Upperroom took me back to Paul's letters to Corinth. In his second letter, I especially am fond of chapter 4. It always has so much to say. I love the comparison of God to the potter and of us to the soft clay. But, we can also be considered a bunch of cracked pots. If you read today's page, you'll know that it's not the outside of the pot, but what is held on the inside that is the key. I hope each of us remembers that when dealing with others. God loves each of his cracked and imperfect pots, let us do likewise.

Further in this enlightening chapter, we are reminded that we are in a temporary situation. That's hard to grasp, but as a believer, that's how we are to view our our current surroundings. All of our possessions, even our relationships pass through our lives for a reason, and they all may be gone in the blink of an eye. We should be ready to let go at any time. I want to do my best in my current temporary assignment, yet fix my eyes on the eternal, unseen home that lies ahead.

These little puppies are two weeks old today. I see a three ring circus in the weeks ahead. Have a great day, luv, Susan

Like an Ox Going to Slaughter

I wish I wasn't so opinionated, but I am. I've been praying for some eight years now for wisdom and guidance and I guess He's been showing me both regularly. It's hard not to have strong feelings about things. I said things. Today's upperroom took me to 1 Corinthians. I was especially drawn to verse 15 which states " The spiritual man makes judgments about all things...." . That's right, things, not people. We are to love all people, not judge. Remember, judge not.

Anyway, I am seeing in the news that Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod, as we know him, is having marital problems. Coincidentally, so is Madonna. Well, you probably know, by now, the story. I've always thought that Madonna's behavior was less than acceptable. I've actually enjoyed some of her songs, but her behavior, not my cup of tea.

When she started dressing more conservatively and writing children's books, I thought, that I wouldn't want her reading to or being a role model to any child that I knew.

Well, when I watched yesterday's Southland Hour, I was reminded of some of the verses in Proverbs that had struck me years ago. I wish someone would have sat A-Rod down and read Proverbs 7 to him. It's a shame what his family is now going through.

I've so enjoyed watching the birds coming to my finch feeders, that is until some critter decided to start munching nightly on the thistle seed. I've had two feeders disappear into the woods. One I found chewed up, the other is gone completely. How wonderful when I took my walk the other day and a neighbor, I had just met previously, had some things placed out by the road for free. I was absolutely delighted to see among the cabinets and fluorescent light bulbs, a perfectly good finch feeder, much nicer than any I had ever purchased. Thank you God. You always give me just what I need.

What a beautiful day it's starting out to be, puppies are eleven days old today. Have a great day, luv, Susan

They'll Know We're Christians By Our LOVE

I've been waiting for Brad Paisley's newest music video and it's finally here. He never fails to disappoint with his work. He does aim to glorify God in all he does, I believe that. That's why I'm such a big fan.

Several weeks ago I watched the Southland Hour, it's the weekly televised Sunday worship service from Southland Christian Church (Sundays at noon on Channel 36). I tape it. Anyway, John Weece was actually showing old tv clips as part of his sermon on Innocence. He summed up our definition of innocence by whistling the theme to the Andy Griffith show. Yep, that's it, all in that little tune. Andy and Opie going fishing on a Sunday afternoon, after church, in Mayberry, that little hometown where we have our family and friends, and we know everyone and everyone knows us, a simpler time, a gentler time, a time of....innocence.

The Andy Griffith Show has always been a favorite of mine. I've heard they even do Bible studies based on the storylines of some of the episodes. Yep, I can see that. I always believed that Andy Griffith and Andy Taylor were pretty much all the same person, a wonderful Christian husband, father and friend.

Now, if you watch the new Brad Paisley music video, you'll see, who else(?), Andy Griffith sitting on a bench with Brad, waiting on a woman. Which just happens to be the name of the new music video, Waiting on a Woman. It's really sweet, guess you could say... innocent.

I don't want to preach to my family, my friends or even the people I come into contact with each and every day. I just want to show them I'm a Christian, by my love. Like Andy.......and Brad.

I tried to talk John Weece into going to see Brad Paisley when he was performing in Lexington last year. Mostly, I just recommend that everyone listens to Brad's songs and watches his videos. ( I might add that God does have a sense of humor, as we all should.)

Hope you read today's upperroom, have a great day, luv, Susan
Happy Rainy 4th!!!

Do Not Grow Weary of Doing Good

This has been a really good day for me so far. I was able to take a couple of walks, feed and observe lots of wildlife, call and talk to family members and mail pictures to a favorite great Aunt. I think I'm especially in a good mood cause of last night.

When I was little, my favorite show was The Rifleman. I loved Chuck Conners as Lucas McCain and his son, of course, was Mark. You can't imagine how exciting it was when Johnny Crawford (aka, Mark McCain) came to our town of Fort Worth, Texas to appear and perform at the local Tandy Leatherworks. The concert was outdoors in their parking lot. Johnny Crawford had become quite the heartthrob as a television star and gifted musician and singer as well. As a diehard fan of six years old, I was in heaven.

Well, let's fast forward some 46 years. As a recent resident of Georgetown, Kentucky I read in the Lexington paper that Johnny Crawford was going to be in a play in Danville. I asked my sister if it was something she'd like to attend, she was a fan as well. So, last night, we went with her husband to the pioneer playhouse and saw a really sweet play about family relations and saw my first "crush" perform as a character other than the son of the Rifleman. The play and all the actors were wonderful and I was enthralled with one performance in particular.

After the final bows, the ensemble lined up for greeting. Pam and I took an end run around the other actors and asked for a picture with Johnny. He was so sweet and even recollected the concert in Fort Worth. He said he remembered it as '62 and mentioned he still has a saddle that Tandy had presented to him that day. It was sweet sharing our memories of that day.

I hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. I hope to do some encouraging by mail, phone, whatever. As yesterdays upperroom mentioned, God uses us to do unique and significant tasks while here. I believe many of my tasks are small acts of kindness and encouragement....things I've enjoyed doing all my life. Have a great day......God Bless the USA!!! luv, Susan

Remember the Past, Trust Him with the Future

I hope you had a wonderful weekend prior to the beginning of this week. I know it's already Tuesday, so I better get going. I already lost a day getting caught up. I just experienced a truly awesome weekend visiting with my family including aunts, uncles and cousins. They helped enjoy the new puppies and we got to spend time together. I only get to see my extended family on special occasions. This was my uncle Jr. and aunt Shirley's 50th wedding anniversary celebration. We had a great time. Thanks Deb and Mike for bringing us all home to celebrate.

In addition to that, Mark travelled to Florida and spent a super great weekend with his four brothers celebrating his parent' 60th wedding anniversary and his dad's birthday. Geographical distances make their reunions few and far between as well. From seeing the pictures, they had a really memorable time as well.

Remembering back to the pasts of these two families, I'm reminded of turmoil and troubled times. Thankfully, God has worked His miracles and both these families are strong, united and grateful for all their many blessings. We've learned we can trust God with our futures when we look at our present blessings and feel secure in his loving arms with our futures. Thanks be to God for each and every one of our family members. Have a great day, luv, Susan ps, did you read your upperroom?