FAVORITE THINGS

I'm home today, trying to keep warm. It's cold and damp outside. I believe that's a good thing because we had been in need of rain. Well, I can't take the dogs for a walk and no reason to do laundry, so thought I'd spend some time on the computer. I think most people who know me know that I'm a procrastinator. I'm also a very slow reader. I just finished a book I started back in March about John, the Apostle. It was an amazing book about how he came to write the gospel John and Revelation in the Bible. It doesn't say much about 1 John, 2 John and 3 John other than a brief mention of them at the end. Evidentally, the same guys who wrote the Left Behind series, have also written at least four books called the Jesus Chronicles. They are about the writing of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Now, I think I'll check out the others, hopefully from the bookmobile or the library.

I'm also making it through The Purpose Driven Life. The third purpose is serving others. I really enjoy doing this in my life. In order to serve others, we have to make ourselves available and always be on the look out for opportunities to serve. I was so saddened to hear about the latest example of human coldness. I'm sure everyone saw the news footage of the man who intervened in a mugging and was stabbed, then left to die on the sidewalk in Queens, while many simply passed by. He gave his life trying to save a life, although no one was willing to get help to him. I simply don't understand how so many people can be so hardened.

UK sports are on my mind a lot lately. How crazy has recruiting been since all our star freshmen and Patrick Patterson have announced their departures? One high school junior, even at the expense of Louisville and Rick Pitino. I would really like to have teams like the Unforgettables or the Comeback Cats of 1998, but I'll not complain when Kentucky basketball is exciting and fun again. Michelle Obama's brother, who is a college basketball coach, even when comparing taking a coaching job to his brother-in-law's accepting the nomination to run for president, said, "Hey, if Kentucky called me, you can bet that I wouldn't turn it down". That was nice to hear on national television. I hope everyone in North Carolina heard it.

I've been impressed with all the new recruits, but none has impressed me more than the kid that was featured in the Sunday paper. Zachery Lipson is going to be a freshman manager for the basketball team. He has faced a lifetime of struggles, but his never say die attitude and his positive outlook can't help but be beneficial to our team and our university. His comment,"I feel like the Lord is calling me to go there and be of service", speaks volumes to me. I'm reminded of the blind trumpet plater for UofL that is such an inspiration to all who hear him speak.

UK football is also gearing up. Saturday was the blue and white game. The decision to go was a toss up as rain was predicted all day. Unbelieveably, the morning was sunny before clouds did move in. Figuring maybe we could see some of it, we chanced going. It was wonderful to be back at Commonwealth Stadium. We watched the entire scrimmage before heading for our cars. Rain did not start til everyone was driving out of the parking lot. Thank you God, for that and so much more.

I hope you are enjoying your interests as much as I've been enjoying Kentucky sports. April is always a special month for me, especially enjoyable when I have the opportunity to enjoy lilacs and bluebirds. I've been so blessed to have them both this year. May you be blessed with all your favorite things as well. Be safe and have a wonderful day, luv, Susan

HAPPY EARTH DAY

It is Earth Day today and I hope everyone is trying to do their part on a daily basis to help preserve the natural beauty and the life giving resources of our planet. I was reading the article in Saturday's Lexington paper about Matthew Sleeth, a former ER doctor who is now preaching nationally about the Biblical implications of taking care of our world. I especially took notice because this former ER doctor was from Maine, where he worked at emergency rooms along the Maine coast.

Our family tries to make it to an island off the coast of Maine every year, as this is where Mark's dad was born and raised. Evidentally, this doctor's two children had been attending or planned to attend college at Asbury Seminary, which is in our area. Not only has this man and his family simplified their life, they have written books about how others can love God by loving each other. At the heart of this is being aware that our actions may jeopardize our neighbors lives by polluting the air and water around us. How better to love our neighbors than by helping to insure we all have clean air and water.

As Earth Day progresses today, I hope we all consider how we can each contribute to keeping this world as beautiful and resourceful as God made it for us. I wondered myself how well I do while I was driving up and down Southland Drive in Lexington yesterday looking for a recycling place for the three bags of glass that I've had in my car since Monday. I hope to encourage recycling at my church and where I volunteer. As these places are maintained by Christians, they should be examples of caring for God's creation.

I was also pleased that this family has no dryer, all clothes are hung to dry. I've always tried to utilize this idea and hope others will as well. There was also an article about that in the paper. Maybe it'll catch on as a "new" trend.

Spring continues to keep this area alive with flowers and blooming trees. Mark relocated some iris from the woods last fall to rock enclosed flower beds he made at our mailbox and driveway. I wondered if they would actually bloom this year. I've been greatly delighted and impressed with the beautiful purple blooms that we now have out front.

I'm also happy that I made a trip to Whole Foods in Lexington, because I've been wanting some blue hydrangea's, and they had them right out front. However, contrary to a tip from a friend, you can't take recycling there, they have recycling bins for their instore refuse, only. Hence, my trip looking for a recycler on Soutland Drive. Also, the recycling in Paris closes at 5:00, not one second later, I learned on Monday.

I hope to drop off my bags of glass the next time I visit Paris, unfortunately Georgetown does not have the capability to handle glass at this time. I hope you have all the recycling facilities available to you and use them faithfully. Have a wonderful Spring day and stay safe, luv, Susan

A LIGHT UPON OUR PATH

My hope for you is that your area is popping out with Spring colors as much as here in Central Kentucky. Ohmigosh, it is so beautiful around here with the redbuds, cherry trees, dogwoods, lilacs and I could go on and on. I have a hard time watching the road to town because the trees are so colorful and beautiful. It's not hard to understand why my birthday present was a blooming cherry tree.

I got so many wonderful birthday greetings by phone, card and computer for my birthday. It's always good to hear from friends and family, especially those I don't hear from very often. One call was from a dear friend in my former prayer group. She was thinking of me, not only due to my birthday, but also because of a Bible verse. It was actually the daily verse in the Upperroom several days ago. It's Psalm 119:105 and says: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. It's easy to see why it's one of my favorites.

During our prayer group years back, my friend had shared with us that she was having trouble with fear of being alone and fear of night. I shared, not only the verse, but the hymn based on the verse because the words express that when we are afraid or alone, we can know that God is right beside us. When I left Henderson, I made going away presents for my prayer partners that had the verse on them.

I was again reminded of the verse watching the news this week. A little girl had wandered from her home to explore in the Florida wilderness. She was missing for four days before a member of her church felt God directing him to find her. Keep in mind that the family, the church, and so many were praying for her to be found. This man felt God telling him to go toward the sunlight, and eventually it led him right to her. What a miraculous story! The little girl was unharmed and had been praying to be found.

When we put our trust in God and let Him be our guiding light, good things can happen. Jesus was the light, the way and we can follow him by doing exactly what God has instructed us to do in His word. Our Bible holds the secret to living our lives the most optimal way they can be lived.

I hope your day is filled with sunlight and you can enjoy this season of renewal, revival and resurrection. Have a safe and wonderful day, luv, Susan

SEASONS COME AND GO

Wow, what the weather has been doing around here! In the past couple weeks spring arrived with all the blooming trees and beautiful flowers, then summer came right behind it, as we had days in the eighties that were hot and sunny. However, it seems that now the temperatures are going to plunge tonight into the thirties, so guess we're almost back to winter. What do they say about Kentucky weather, and just about anywhere else you go? If you don't like it, just wait, cause it'll change. Well, it has certainly been doing that of late.

I hope you and your family had as nice an Easter day as we did. It was one of the nicest days we've had for Easter in years. It seems we're usually trying to put up with cold, frigid breezes while having egg hunts outside or, due to rain, trying to hide eggs inside, or just calling the egg hunt off altogether. This year was just too beautiful not to be outdoors, so we did have the egg hunt. Please don't ask how old the little children were. We did have one four year old, the rest can all be considered legal adults in any state. My sisters and I evidentally don't want our kids to grow up.

It was especially nice having family from Illinois. We really enjoyed my mom's brother,his wife, daughter and her family in Lexington for a visit. It was a really special day. It started with a sunrise service over at church. That's usually teeth chattering when we are outside, at that time of day, but this year, it was really enjoyable watching the sun come up over the hill behind the church and seeing it shine across the way on a cow covered hill. We are, after all, way out in the country.

I'd like to say that I've been walking every day and have finished my book, The Purpose Driven Life. However, due to procrastination and poor time management, my walks have been few and I'm only on chapter 25 of 40 of my book. This is giving me an opportunity to spend more time thinking about discipleship, the third purpose, which is becoming more like Christ. There is so much to this, but it can be made easier to understand when you stop thinking selfishly and start thinking about the needs of others. That is what Jesus always did. I've often pointed out that the movie, Groundhog Day, shows this in such a humorous and sincere way. I'll mention that again next February 2.

In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying whatever season with which you've been blessed. God gave us all the seasons, so we know they're all good, even when we may not appreciate them. Have a safe and wonderful day. luv, Susan